《Hiding Behind Her Superficiality》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Chapter 466 Getting Kicked Out Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. waiting...on the way.. Chapter 2 Chapter 2 The car Elspeth chose was the first car in the line, which was driven by Callum. Therefore, they were the only ones in the car. She did not speak much but looked out the window with mixed emotions instead. Her mother passed away when she was young and she had been living in that town with her father, Grover Lynwood, for many years. However, two months ago, her father passed away due to sickness and his final wish was for her to find a good home. Although she knew that her father and Theodore had previously agreed on a marriage between their families but had always refused to ept it, this was her father¡¯sst wish. Therefore, she had no choice but to agree to leave for Damoria. Still, no words were exchanged throughout the car ride to the city and the car soon stopped before a beautiful vi. Subsequently, Elspeth alighted from the vehicle and followed the other five into the vi. When they entered, they were met with the scene of an elegant-looking woman sitting on the couch. Then, Max began toin, ¡°Mom, we¡¯re back! I¡¯m so tired.¡± Observing her five sons, Margot Luvon chuckled and asked a servant to prepare drinks before looking toward Elspeth at the back. After sizing her from head to toe, Margot thought that the young woman was not as ugly and plump as she looked in the photo. Instead, she was very beautiful. As such, she sneered and said sarcastically, ¡°You¡¯re Elspeth Lynwood, right? You even went through the trouble of having stic surgery just to marry into our family. That must¡¯ve been hard for you.¡± Since Theodore had agreed upon the marriage in the early years, the others could not go against his decision despite not fancying Elspeth. ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, I didn¡¯t have any stic surgery.¡± Margot snorted and saw the butler bringing in Elspeth¡¯s luggage, so she ordered, ¡°Mr. Graham, bring that luggage here for inspection.¡± A cold light shed across Elspeth¡¯s eyes. ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, that¡¯s my stuff.¡± ¡°And I know that. That¡¯s why I should inspect it. You came from a lowly ce and it¡¯d be bad if you brought anything dirty or dangerous into our home.¡± Once she finished, she hinted at the butler with her eyes. Meanwhile, the five Winthrop men were sitting on the couch with zero intentions to help her out. After all, they were not particrly happy about her arrival. Just as the butler, Luis Graham, was about to start his inspection, Elspeth grabbed her luggage. With an expressionless face, she announced coldly, ¡°No one is to touch my things.¡± Margot stood up and her eyes were tinted with a touch of rage. ¡°Ha. That¡¯s what I thought. If that¡¯s the case, I have no choice butText ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. to see what atrocious things you¡¯ve brought with you today!¡± After saying that, she hollered for the bodyguards. When four to five bodyguards marched in, the others put down their phones and watched the scene in anticipation that Elspeth would be flustered and surrender, but she instead remained unfazed. Just as the bodyguards were about to snatch her luggage, a deep voice came from the doorway. ¡°Stop.¡± It was Theodore who had just returned. He scurried over and looked at Elspeth with concerned eyes, asking, ¡°Elsie, are you alright? I¡¯m so sorry. I had a meeting at thepany and only managed to get back now.¡± ¡°I¡¯m alright, Mr. Winthrop.¡± Elspeth shook her head. He then turned to Margot and questioned, ¡°What were you doing? How could you treat our guest like that when she¡¯s just arrived?¡± ¡°Pfft! What did I do wrong? I only wanted to see if she brought anything inappropriate to our home!¡± Looking at Elspeth with a disdainful gaze, she did not feel like arguing anymore and went upstairs. Theodore sighed. ¡°My apologies, Elsie. There must be some sort of misunderstanding. I¡¯ll exin everything to her.¡± Elspeth shook her head to indicate that she did not mind. Honestly, she lost track of how many people had discriminated against her over the years. Then, she saw him ordering the servants, ¡°Elsie will be living here from now on. Therefore, you are not to be disrespectful to her!¡± Once that was done, he turned to his five sons seated on the couch. ¡°That applies to you punks too. You¡¯re not to bully Elsie and you can¡¯t watch her get bullied either.¡± The five men went silent while wondering why their father liked Elspeth so much¡­ Chapter 3 Chapter 3 After exchanging some pleasantries, Theodore brought Elspeth to her room. It was spacious and bright with delicately gorgeous decorations alongside everything one would need. ¡°Elsie, do you like how your room is decorated? I can get someone to redecorate if you don¡¯t like it.¡± ¡°Mr. Winthrop, I like it a lot. Thank you.¡± Looking at the elder before her, she felt a littleplicated. She had seen him many times since she was young and he had always been nice to her, but as she thought about that, she was reminded of her deceased father and her expression fell uncontrobly. ¡°It¡¯s been a tiring ride. Take a rest and I¡¯ll get you when it¡¯s time for dinner.¡± Nodding, she turned back into her room to arrange her things. After dinner, Theodore pulled her over for a chat on the couch and pulled out a bank card before giving it to her. ¡°Elsie, take this. Let the five boys bring you on a tour of Damoria tomorrow and buy whatever you want.¡± ¡°Thank you for your kind gesture, Mr. Windthrop, but I don¡¯t need this.¡± Right after she said that, she saw Margot with a disapproving expression out of the corner of her eye before the lady taunted, ¡°Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. There¡¯s no need to be so pretentious. Didn¡¯t youe here for our money?¡± ¡°Margot Luvon!¡± Theodore roared. ¡°Did I lie? Why are you screaming at me?¡± Feeling her lips twitch, Elspeth wondered how she had offended Margot. After a good while of reasoning, she finally managed to refuse Theodore¡¯s kind gesture. It was then the phone by her side rang. ¡°Elspeth, the company made a profit of 382 million this quarter, which I¡¯ve already credited to your ount.¡± She smiled. I, Elspeth Lynwood, am never short of money. The first day went by just like that. When she woke up the following day, she heard from the butler that Theodore had already left to deal with company matters. Meanwhile, the five young masters were having breakfast at the dining table and their father had told them earlier to bring her around the city. Just as Elspeth sat down, Callum spoke in his deep voice, ¡°I have a meeting at thepany today. The rest of them will hang with you.¡± After he said that, he put down his cutlery, got up, and left. The other four followed suit as well. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Elspeth. Unfortunately, I must rush to a shoot today, so I can¡¯t bring you around.¡± ¡°I have two operations pending at the hospital today.¡± ¡°I have to go on a business trip.¡± ¡°I have ss.¡± Elspeth was at a loss for words. The five men left the dining table one after another as she rolled her eyes and continued eating her breakfast. Following that, she spent the entire day in her room. Byte evening, her phone on the table rang. An excited voice sounded from the receiver. ¡°Elspeth, Elspeth! Are you in Damoria?¡± ¡°Is there anything you need?¡± she answered coldly. ¡°You didn¡¯t even tell me you came to Damoria. How sneaky of you! I don¡¯t care. We must have dinner, right now!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll head to the Winthrop Residence to get you.¡± Elspeth had no words to retort. Half an hourter, she notified the butler and left the vi alone. After having dinner with Harper Summerfield, she was forcefully dragged to a high-end bar in Damoria. ¡°Elspeth, the Winthrops didn¡¯t mistreat you in any way, did they?¡± ¡°Who could?¡± she sneered. Laughing awkwardly, Harper said, ¡°That¡¯s true¡­¡± Recalling the things Elspeth had done before, he thought it should be the other way around. Elspeth should be the bully instead of the target! Though she might look stunning, she was pretty much a devil. ¡°So, are you really nning on getting engaged to one of the Winthrops?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± She sipped on her wine and answered half-heartedly. If it hadn¡¯t been for Dad, I wouldn¡¯t have arrived at the Winthrop Residence. Now, I just have to go with the flow. As the two were in the lobby of the bar, they were clueless that someone had been staring at them from the private room on the second floor.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 4 Chapter 4 It was Callum. His friend invited him here after he got off work and he had just arrived when he saw Elspeth entering the bar with the man. While looking at them with inquisitive eyes, his friend beside him seemed to have noticed his gaze and looked in the same direction to see a woman in a ck floral dress with wavy hair that ran down the back of her neck. She had distinct facial features that looked stunning yet mysterious under the light. Matthew March opened his mouth to joke, ¡°Hey. Has Mr. Winthrop finally found love? Does she suit your taste? She does look pretty. Do you need my help to get you her number? Wait a minute¡­ Is the guy beside her Harper Summerfield?¡± Frowning, he asked with a tone of curiosity, ¡°Harper Summerfield?¡± Matthew nodded. ¡°Yes. He¡¯s the vice president of the mysterious Azure Corporation.¡± This mysteriouspany was precisely arge and powerful corporation; yet, only a few people knew who its president was as Harper had always been the one dealing withpany matters. ¡°Callum, I think you¡¯re much better than Harper, so I¡¯m sure you can get her.¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking too much,¡± Callum replied coldly. He then looked over at Elspeth with inquisitive eyes again. She has just arrived at Damoria. How did she get to know someone like Harper Summerfield? ¡°Callum, I¡¯m serious about what I said. Harper is a yboy and she¡¯s such a beautiful woman. How unfortunate¡­¡± Callum was rendered speechless. Without saying anything, he grabbed his wine ss from the table and took a sip. At that moment, he saw Harper leaving the bar and many pairs of eyesnded on the beautiful Elspeth. Soon, a vulgar-looking man approached her with a wine ss. ¡°Hey, beautiful. Why don¡¯t we get to know each other over a ss?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not short of friends.¡± The smile on the vulgar man froze as he continued, ¡°I just wanna make friends. How about I pay for your bills?¡± ¡°No need.¡± The vulgar man might have been under the influence of alcohol, so he looked at her calm expression and began to scream at her, ¡°Cut the act. Didn¡¯t youe out here in such sl*tty clothes to attract rich men? I just happen to be rich, so tell me, how much do you want?¡± Meanwhile, Callum was watching everything from upstairs and Matthew beside him urged, ¡°What the heck? Callum, save the damsel in distress!¡± With a frown, Callum was about to get up and head downstairs to help Elspeth; not because he was interested in her, but because of his father¡¯s orders. Just as the two rose to their feet, something unexpected and dramatic happened. The vulgar man was about to touchProperty of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Elspeth when he was suddenly smashed in the head with a wine bottle. Though they could not hear what was happening on the first floor, Callum could read lips and he saw her say, ¡°I don¡¯t want money, but can I have your worthless life?¡± She was arrogant and cocky. It was then Harper returned from the bathroom. Since the vulgar man knew of his identity, he quickly apologized, afraid that Elspeth might really take his life. After the incident, her mood was ruined and she no longer wanted to stay there anymore, so she bid goodbye to Harper and left the bar. She booked a ride on her phone and half- heartedly sat by the roadside to wait. Litting up a cigarette, she lifted her head and looked at the sky. Dad, are you doing well there? At that moment, a ck car stopped before her. She thought it was the car she booked, so she put out her cigarette and threw it into the dumpster before opening the door to get in. Yet, she saw a man in a ck suit. I didn¡¯t call for a shared ride. ¡°Excuse me¡­ I must¡¯ve gotten the wrong car. Wait, why are you here?¡± It was then that she noticed the man was Callum, who then ordered in his low voice, ¡°Get in.¡± She paused for a moment before sitting beside him. For some unknown reason, she felt guilty meeting him here. Wait, why should I feel guilty? ¡°What a coincidence. I came here with a friend. Did youe with your friends too?¡± Callum nodded. Turning her head to look out the window, she thought, Was Callum in the bar too? Did he already notice me, or is this just a coincidence? Chapter 5 Chapter 5 It was silent throughout the journey home as both of them did not voice their questions. When they arrived home and entered the vi, they heard Margotining entrically, ¡°This is her second day in Damoria, yet she¡¯s already staying outside until thiste hour. Who knows what kind of people she¡¯s hanging out with? How can such a person marry one of my sons?¡± As her words fell, Theodore immediately scrunched his eyebrows. He believed in Elspeth¡¯s character, but he was also worried for her safety. Just as he was about to phone her, he saw her walking in with Callum. ¡°Turns out Elsie was with Callum.¡± Theodore smiled as he noticed Callum¡¯s silence. ¡°Elsie, about the engagement, I was nning to have you take turns getting to know my five sons first. Then, you can choose the one you think suits you best. Is that okay?¡± ¡°Sure, Mr. Winthrop.¡± Elspeth nodded. Of course, Margot was not happy about that, but she knew Theodore would not change his decision, so she red unhappily at Elspeth instead. Early in the morning of the following day, Elspeth was woken up by several knocks on her door. With an annoyed visage upon getting woken up abruptly, she opened the door and looked at the ck-suited Callum. He ordered coldly, ¡°Wash up ande with me to thepany.¡± Why do I need to go to thepany with him? Oh, right. Mr. Winthrop said to take turns and spend time with each of his sons every day, starting with his eldest son, Callum. She then stretched and sauntered to the bathroom. It was already half an hourter when she was done preparing herself after which she dazedly followed Callum into his car before heading to thepany. At that moment, the man beside her exined in a firm tone, ¡°Elspeth, I promised to spend some time with you because of Dad. I can bring you to thepany and take care of you, but I won¡¯t fall in love with you, so you don¡¯t have to get to know me.¡± Raising her eyes to look at the man in the driver¡¯s seat, Elspeth hooked her lips, which made her look more energetic. Then, she taunted, ¡°Really? But after observing you guys for two days, you¡¯re the one I like the most. What can you do about it?¡± There was a trace of unhappiness in Callum¡¯s eyes as he warned, ¡°I advise you not to waste your effort on me.¡± Hearing that, she merely smiled and kept quiet. When they arrived at thepany, the two descended the car and all the employees walking past had their eyes glued on them. ¡°Oh, sh*t. Who¡¯s that beauty beside Mr. Winthrop? Look at her long legs. I think I¡¯m in love!¡± ¡°She¡¯s so beautiful. They both look like a perfectBelonging to N?velDrama.Org. match!¡± ¡°That¡¯s Elspeth Lynwood. I saw her when I delivered some documents to Mr. Winthrop¡¯s house.¡± Hearing that she was Elspeth, everyone was shocked as the person before them was nothing like the one in the picture. They thought that someone who grew up in a small town would look ugly and tacky, yet she looked like a youngdy raised in a wealthy family, which caused a stir among the public. Callum then gave his keys to the security guard at the security booth. Just as Elspeth took a step forward, she stopped abruptly and yelled out in surprise, ¡°Mr. Beischel!¡± The old man in uniform, Albert Beischel, looked up and revealed a smile. ¡°Gosh, Elsie! Why are you here?¡± Looking at the two, Callum felt perplexed, but she urged, ¡°You can go ahead. I¡¯ll apany Mr. Beischel to park your car.¡± After she said that, she got into the car with the security guard. Meanwhile, everyone was watching her every move. At first, they thought the country bumpkin would stick to Callum like glue aftering to thepany. Yet, they did not expect she would chat with the security guard for the whole morning. As such, the crowd was gossiping with mocking smiles. ¡°As expected from people from small towns. They¡¯re all unpresentable. No wonder they could chat for the entire morning.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯m guessing Mr. Beischel must be from the same town as her.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point of having good looks? She¡¯s still uneducated. I don¡¯t know what the Winthrop parents see in her to agree to the engagement.¡± Yet, what the gossiping public did not know was that she waited until Albert got off his shift before heading to a restaurant nearby. Right after they sat down, she received a call from an unfamiliar number. A cold voice directly ordered, ¡°Come to my office for lunch.¡± Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Hearing Callum¡¯s voice, Elspeth rejected, ¡°No, thanks. I¡¯m having lunch outside with Mr. Beischel.¡± After hanging up, Albert, who was sitting opposite her, smiled. He did not like listening to gossip, so he only found out from Elspeth herself as to why she came to thepany. ¡°Elsie, I¡¯ve seen all five young masters of the Winthrop Family. If I had to choose, I think Callum is the most excellent of the five. He¡¯s gotten a lot of big projects in the years since he became president. Plus, he¡¯s calm and has an excellent personality. I think you can consider him.¡± Elspeth was drinking water and immediately refused, ¡°No, no, no. Mr. Beischel. I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything to consider about an iceberg like him.¡± To her, Callum had a cold personality and what she said this morning was only to piss him off. Albert laughed heartily before talking about the other members in the Winthrop Family. After lunch, they returned to thepany and she continued staying in the security booth for the whole afternoon. When Callum finished his afternoon meeting, he asked his assistant and was told that Elspeth was still at the security booth. And this woman says she likes me the most? Now that she¡¯s at thepany with me, she spends all day with the security guard? What trick is she ying? Sitting at his desk, he stayed silent for two seconds before ordering, ¡°Do a check on Albert Beischel¡¯s background and find out his rtionship with Elspeth.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Winthrop.¡± The assistant had just turned around when he added, ¡°Bring Elspeth over.¡± A whileter, Elspeth arrived and began to observe Callum¡¯s office beforezily asking, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Dad won¡¯t like it if you stay at the security booth the whole day.¡± Hearing that reason, she rolled her eyes. ¡°Fine. It was you who called me toe here, so don¡¯t me me for disturbing your work.¡± Once she said that, she half-heartedly sat down on the couch. Ignoring her, Callum grabbed a file and saw that she was ying a game on the phone, which seemed to be on a full volume, and it made him frown. Eight minutester, the office was filled with the sounds of Elspeth criticizing her teammates. ¡°This game is to stay alive, not send yourself to death!¡± ¡°Dude, are you using your feet? Use your hands!¡± ¡°Geez. You¡¯re as useless as a mob! All you do is revive and nothing else!¡± Callum was speechless. He thought she was criticizing the yers quite elegantly because the people she was screaming at were retaliating with curse words. At this moment, he finally regretted bringing her to his office as her existence was purely a torture to him. Also, he began to suspect that when she said she liked him the most, she intended to say she hated him the most. Wait, the one she hates the most should be Max. Fortunately, after one round of the game, he managed to finish his work. Then, he grabbed his coat, called Elspeth, and left the office. Just as they got to the doorway, Callum¡¯s assistant returned. Callum looked at Elspeth and said, ¡°Wait for me at the parking lot.¡± She nodded and left. Inside the office, the assistant started to report his findings. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, Albert Beischel is indeed not an ordinary person. He owns many properties and buildings in midtown.¡± To put it simply, he¡¯s a bored old man who earns millions in rent and came here to be a security guard. ¡°As for his rtionship with Miss Lynwood, I haven¡¯t found anything yet.¡± Hearing that, Callum fell into deep thought for two seconds. How did Elspeth get to know someone like that in Damoria? Coupled with Harper fromst night, he had a feeling that she was not as ordinary as she seemed. However, he paid no attention to it as it did not concern him. All he needed to do was be certain that Albert did not have any ill intentions toward her.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Back home, the living room had a lively atmosphere as the other four members of the Winthrop Family were there, including Margot. Another young woman about the same age as Elspeth was also sitting on the couch. She wore a dress with a suit and she seemed to be a youngdy from a wealthy family. ¡°Callum, you¡¯re home. Come, sit. Ophelia returned today and came straight over after her flight landed.¡± The woman rose to her feet to greet Callum. However, he responded coldly, which caused a disappointed expression on her face. Then, she looked at Elspeth and said, ¡°You must be Elspeth, right? I¡¯m Ophelia Fleming, and I grew up with Callum and the others. We¡¯re friends from now on, so we can hang whenever you¡¯re bored.¡± Ophelia heard from her conversation with the others earlier that Elspeth was beautiful, but she did not expect her to be this beautiful. Her bare face looked fair and wless, which every woman would envy. Meanwhile, Elspeth had seen through her thoughts and replied tly, ¡°Sure.¡± At that moment, Theodore returned as well. The Fleming Family and Winthrop Family had been friends for centuries, so he was naturally polite to Ophelia. While the others were happily chatting, Elspeth was sitting on the side, waiting for dinner to start. Then, Margot said, ¡°By the way, Ophelia, I knew you wereing back and I specially bought some things for you. Let me head upstairs to get them.¡± First, she went upstairs, then she came back down and questioned Theodore unhappily. ¡°Where¡¯s the box of jewelry I just bought and ced in the drawer?¡± ¡°How would I know?¡± asked Theodore. She then turned to her five sons. ¡°Did any of you take it?¡± They all shook their heads. ¡°That¡¯s strange. Did it grow wings and fly away?¡± Then, Ophelia carefully suggested, ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, could someone have stolen it?¡± ¡°Who has the guts to steal something from me? You¡¯d better give it back and leave the Winthrop Residence this instant, or else, you¡¯ll be living in a dungeon cell!¡± Seeing no one admitted it, Margot ordered, ¡°Mr. Graham, search every room in this house.¡± Meanwhile, Elspeth, who was ying on her phone, was instantly intrigued when she heard that. An hourter, the butler brought a few people and searched through all the servants¡¯ rooms, but they did not find the lost set of jewelry. Then, the butler hesitantly asked, ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, besides the servants¡¯ rooms, we haven¡¯t searched through Miss Lynwood¡¯s room.¡± At that moment, a servant stood up and used, ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, Miss Lynwood just happened to pass by when we discussed the broken surveinceBelonging to N?velDrama.Org. camera yesterday. This afternoon, I saw hering out of you and Mr. Winthrop¡¯s room.¡± Her words proved that Elspeth knew about the broken surveince camera and had gone into the master bedroom, which made her look very suspicious. Hearing that, Margot was instantly enraged. ¡°Elspeth! I was wondering why you didn¡¯t ept the bank card from Theodore yesterday. You act aloof on the surface and do such heinous things in the dark! Mr. Graham, search her room.¡± Theodore immediately rose to his feet and argued, ¡°Nonsense! Elsie wouldn¡¯t do such a thing.¡± ¡°How is that nonsense? Theodore, do you think you know her well? What can¡¯t people from small towns like her do? She was alone at home all afternoon yesterday, so she¡¯s very suspicious!¡± Meanwhile, Elspeth kept a stoic face whileforting Theodore, ¡°It¡¯s alright, Mr. Winthrop. Let them search the room.¡± Ever since this incident began, she knew someone had nned this just for her. As for who the culprit was, she was going to find out soon. While the butler led a few servants to search Elspeth¡¯s room, the rest of them remained seated on the couch. Then, Elspeth pointed at the servant who used her and asked, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± I¡¯ve never entered Mr. and Mrs. Winthrop¡¯s room, so why did she frame me? Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Although the servant was confused as to why Elspeth would ask that question, she still answered, ¡°Nora Layme.¡± Soon, the butler came down and reported, ¡°Mr. Winthrop, Mrs. Winthrop, we found these in the lowest drawer in Miss Lynwood¡¯s closet.¡± Inside a ck stic bag were a jade bangle, a jeweled ne, and a bracelet; those were the jewelry Margot said she lost. Everyone was shocked. Were these actually found in Elspeth¡¯s room? Margot was furious. ¡°Theodore Winthrop, what do you have to say about this? Look at the woman you found for your sons. Besidesing from a small town, she¡¯s also a burr!¡± ¡°Elspeth would never do such a thing.¡± Theodore was convinced. Meanwhile, Ophelia pretentiously added, ¡°That¡¯s right. Maybe there¡¯s some kind of misunderstanding.¡± The situation was at a standstill and Callum came forward to advise, ¡°Mom, Dad, let Mr. Kerbye over and check for fingerprints.¡± If Elspeth had done it, her fingerprints would definitely be on the jewelry. Therefore, Theodore invited Adriano Kerby from the precinct to prove that she was innocent. While looking at him, Margot agreed, ¡°Sure, but if she did steal these things, she must break off the engagement and leave our home.¡± Before Theodore could speak, Elspeth answered, ¡°Deal.¡± While Adriano was examining the fingerprints, the family went into the dining room to have dinner. After they took their seats, Max gloated before Theodore and Margot came in. ¡°Elspeth, this might be yourst big meal, so you¡¯d better enjoy it.¡± ¡°You should enjoy it too. If I¡¯m still here tomorrow, I¡¯ll have Mr. Winthrop throw you out immediately.¡± ¡°In your dreams!¡± Despite his words, Max was feeling a little unconfident about that. If Elspeth did not steal the jewelry, ording to how much his father pampered her, he might really get thrown out of the house. After dinner, the results were out. Elspeth¡¯s prints were indeed on the jade bangle as well as in Theodore and Margot¡¯s room. However, Theodore refused to believe it. ¡°So, it is you! You can¡¯t argue yourself out of this anymore, right? Mr. Graham, pack this thief¡¯s things so that we can chase her out.¡± ¡°Wait.¡± Elspeth stood up and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t steal those things.¡± Carefully recalling yesterday¡¯s event, there seemed to be ayer of film on her door handle, but it was not there today. Therefore, she guessed the culprit must have gotten her prints from that. Margot sneered, ¡°Ha. The evidence is right before you. How are you going to exin yourself in this situation?¡± ¡°I can prove myself innocent. Mrs. Winthrop, please lend me the bangle.¡± While the crowd was confused about her words, they saw her grab the jade bangle from the table and put it on her wrist. ¡°Elspeth, what¡¯s the meaning of this?¡± However, she did not respond. Instead, she stretched out her arm and everyone could see her originally pale wrist swell up and turn red under the bright light. Pain and itch spread throughout her brain, but she did not care about them and exined with a smile, ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, this jade bracelet you bought is of good quality. With my condition, the better quality of jade I touch, the more serious my allergies get.¡± Theodore quickly urged, ¡°You silly child. Why did you touch it when you know you¡¯re allergic to it? Take it off. Quickly.¡± At this moment, Elspeth¡¯s wrist was so swollen that it had torn her skin. The two fingers she used to pick up the jade also had red spots on them. After taking off the jade bracelet, she looked at Margot and sneered, ¡°These symptoms wouldst at least three days, so I didn¡¯t steal them.¡± ¡°Perhaps you were wearing gloves.¡± Margot was not going to let this slide. ¡°If I did, then why would the bracelet have my fingerprints?¡± That question rendered Margot speechless.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Elspeth was allergic to jade, but there were not any symptoms showing on her hands before this. Therefore, any reasonable person would have figured out that someone had framed her. At that moment, she continued, ¡°Alright. I¡¯ve finished my exnation. Mrs. Winthrop, I¡¯d like to ask the reason why you transferred two hundred thousand to Nora yesterday.¡± Both Nora and Margot paled when they heard that. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Then, Elspeth took out her phone and opened a picture that showed the statement for Margot¡¯s transaction into Nora¡¯s ount. ¡°I just asked around and found out that a servant¡¯s sry is only three thousand a month, so why did you give Nora two hundred thousand?¡± She knew that a servant had no reason to frame her, so the servant must have been bribed. Therefore, after getting Nora¡¯s name, she checked her bank transactions and found evidence that Nora was indeed bribed, just as she had expected. Everything was just a show put together by Margot! When the others saw the bank statement, they were shocked and seemed to have understood the whole story. Only Callum had a trace of doubt in his eyes. How did Elspeth get her hands on that statement? ¡°I¡­ It¡¯s because Nora¡¯s mother is sick, so she asked for her sry in advance,¡± Margot stammered. She was not expecting such a huge turn of events. All she wanted was to get Elspeth out of the Winthrop Residence, but her n failed because she did not know that Elspeth was allergic to jade. After sighing, Theodore replied, ¡°I was there when Nora applied for this job. She¡¯s an orphan¡­ Elsie, be assured that I¡¯ll give you an exnation about this matter.¡± After saying that, he turned to Callum. ¡°Bring Elsie to the hospital to get her hand treated.¡± With a nod, Elspeth followed Callum out of the house. Right after she opened the car door, she heard him utter in his deep voice, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± She was stunned for a moment before realizing that he was apologizing to her on Margot¡¯s behalf. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± After she said that, sheughed. ¡°You guys must be disappointed. If her n had seeded, I would¡¯ve been chased out of the Winthrop Residence.¡± She then added, ¡°By the way, did you think it was me who did it?¡± ¡°No. You don¡¯t seem to be that dumb.¡± Hooking her lips, she agreed, ¡°You¡¯re right. What are all those mere objectspared to being Mrs. Winthrop? I¡¯m not that dumb.¡± That reply rendered Callum speechless. At the hospital, the doctor examined Elspeth¡¯s hand and criticized, ¡°Youngdy, you clearly know you¡¯re allergic to jade, yet you still went and wore it? And your boyfriend is so careless. You¡¯re lucky it¡¯s not serious. I¡¯ll prescribe you some ointment to apply to your skin and you¡¯ll be fine after a few days.¡± Callum pursed his lips to exin, but he did not manage to say anything in the end. After receiving the doctor¡¯s note, the two headed in the direction of the pharmacy to get the prescribed medication. Elspeth was waiting while sitting on the chairs by the side and he returned a whileter. ¡°Give me your hand.¡± She stretched out her hand and saw him taking out a box of ointment before applying it to her wound. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± The cold sensation and the pain that came along with it traveled throughout her brain. Of course, it hurt, but she still managed to keep a smile on her face. ¡°Callum, I never expected you to be so considerate despite your cold personality. I seem to be liking you even more now!¡± When he heard her flirtatious words, his face froze as he emphasized, ¡°I said it before. I won¡¯t fall in love with you.¡± ¡°Party-pooper.¡± Elspethughed. Of course, she was joking with him. After all, she had to observe these five Winthrop men slowly and carefully. However, a strange feeling gradually emerged in Callum as he looked at her back.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Chapter 10 Chapter 10 While the two were leaving the hospital, Theodore and Margot were quarreling back at home. ¡°Margot, how many days has Elspeth been living with us? Why do you have to treat her so badly? She¡¯s just a kid!¡± Margot sneered, ¡°Isn¡¯t all of this your fault? Theodore, tell me. Why did you bring Elspeth back here?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve told you before. It¡¯s because her father and I have agreed on an engagement between our children.¡± ¡°Agreed on an engagement? That¡¯s all bullsh*t! Isn¡¯t it because you were in love with Helena Joneson?¡± After she said that, Theodore¡¯s face fell. He and Elspeth¡¯s father, Grover Lynwood, were friends from the same school and attended military school together. Later, they met Elspeth¡¯s mother, Helena, who was the military doctor at their school. Both of them fell for her and decided to pursue her fairly. In the end, Helena chose Grover. As years flew by, Helena had already passed away. However, Theodore did not expect Margot to mention what happened back then. ¡°You know I¡¯m right. Even after so many years, you still can¡¯t forget about her. That¡¯s why you brought Elspeth back to our home and treated her so well!¡± Then, he sighed as he grabbed her hand. ¡°That¡¯s not true. It¡¯s been so long since the matter with Helena, and I only have you in my heart.¡± ¡°If so, why do you treat Elspeth so specially?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you? Back when Grover and I were on a mission to track down a drug trafficking ring, he took a bullet for me when we were both in danger. After that, his left leg became crippled, which was why he and Elspeth lived in that small town for so many years.¡± When he spoke those words, his face showed hints of sadness. ¡°Before Grover passed away, he entrusted Elspeth to me and said to take good care of her.¡± Margot¡¯s expression instantly froze at that while Theodore was lost in his memory. Actually, Helena isn¡¯t dead¡­ When Elspeth and Callum arrived home, Theodore and Margot were the only ones left on the couch. For some reason, Margot actually sincerely apologized to Elspeth. Naturally, Elspeth did not intend to bicker about it anymore, so she went upstairs to rest. Just as she got out of the shower, she heard a knock on her door before Margot came in. ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, what¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°I wanna have a chat with you.¡± After entering the room and seating herself down, she went straight to the point. ¡°Elspeth, I¡¯ve epted the fact that you¡¯re going to stay here in the future and I¡¯ve also agreed for you to marry my son. However, out of all five of them, you cannot pick Callum.¡± Hearing that, Elspeth was stunned and casually asked, ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Callum is the most excellent out ofBelonging to N?velDrama.Org. them all and I already have a daughter-inw in mind, so leave him alone.¡± Her words were clearly implying that Elspeth was not worthy of Callum and that the ideal daughter-inw she was eyeing on was Ophelia. ¡°I understand, Mrs. Winthrop.¡± Without saying another word, Margot left. When Elspeth woke up the next day, it was Edmund¡¯s turn to spend the day with her. He was the vice president of Winthrop Group. He and Callum were not that friendly with each other and he was said to always go against Callum. When Elspeth entered the car, Edmund asked, ¡°How was your day with him yesterday?¡± Seeing that he did not even address him by name, she could guess that the two were not exactly friendly with each other. She then answered half-heartedly, ¡°Not bad.¡± ¡°Let me tell you something. Callum is not a good person. He¡¯s merciless and difficult to deal with, so don¡¯t pick him.¡± A smile appeared on her face as she asked, ¡°So, should I pick you?¡± Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Edmund froze for a moment before letting out an awkwardugh. ¡°Better not.¡± At Winthrop Corporation, he busied himself with work while Elspeth spent her entire day in the security booth again. On the third day, she spent her day with ke Winthrop. He was a celebrity with millions of fans. Today just happened to be his birthday and the tenth anniversary of his debut. As such, he spent the day rehearsing for his concert that night, so he did not have time to care about her. Around the afternoon, Ophelia came over to the Winthrop Residence around the afternoon before attending the concert with the rest of the Winthrops. Elspeth had woken up from her nap and came downstairs when she saw Ophelia approaching her with a smile. ¡°Elspeth, we were just nning on going shopping for some clothes and getting a gift for ke on the way. Why don¡¯t you join us?¡± After pondering about it, Elspeth did not reject the offer and followed the others out of the vi. When they arrived at the shopping mall, Ophelia pulled her into a branded women¡¯s clothing store and said, ¡°Elspeth, you¡¯re so pretty. I bet you¡¯d look good in this dress.¡± The four men waited by the entrance while Ophelia nced at them before picking a dark green dress from the clothing rack. ¡°This looks good. Why don¡¯t you try it on?¡± Taking a look at that dress, Elspeth saw that it was the kind that looked mature. Seeing that Elspeth did not speak, Ophelia grabbed another one and asked, ¡°How about this?¡± Elspeth narrowed her eyes at the wide and revealing dress, then retorted, ¡°Ophelia, you don¡¯t have to pretend to be nice if you don¡¯t like me, and you don¡¯t have to use such methods to humiliate me. Though I grew up in the country, my taste in fashion isn¡¯t any worse than yours.¡± ¡°Elspeth, you must¡¯ve misunderstood me¡­¡± Ophelia¡¯s face fell. Indeed, she thought that since Elspeth came from the countryside, Elspeth would not know anything about fashion as she usually wore ordinary T-shirts. Who would have guessed¡­ On the other hand, Elspeth did not bother with how Ophelia was feeling and looked around the store. Then, she asked the attendant to bag up all the dresses she liked. When it was time to pay, she took out her phone. At that moment, a pair of long, slender fingers handed a ck card to the cashier. ¡°Swipe mine.¡± It was Callum. The cashier was stunned for a moment when she saw his handsome face, but she quickly received the card. ¡°Thank you.¡± Elspeth coldly thanked him. He replied tly, ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. It¡¯s my dad¡¯s orders.¡± After saying that, he turned around and left, leaving a speechlessProperty of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. woman in his wake. Meanwhile, Ophelia could not help clenching her fists at the scene as a trace of viciousness shed across her eyes. By the time they left the shopping mall, the two bodyguards behind them had their hands full of shopping bags, which could tally up to almost three hundred thousand worth of goods! Max, who was by her side, could not help but taunt, ¡°Some people are so shameless. Spending someone else¡¯s money without any constraint. Unmannered, as one would expect from someone who grew up in a small town.¡± It was obvious that he was implying Elspeth since he still hated her for saying he was immature! Although I¡¯m the youngest in the family, I¡¯m already eighteen. When she heard that, she wanted to respond, but Ophelia by the side beat her to it. ¡°Max, how could you say that? Elspeth is just buying a few things.¡± ¡°You call this a few things?!¡± Elspeth snorted and questioned, ¡°It¡¯s not like you paid for them.¡± Stunned, Max replied, ¡°That¡¯s Callum¡¯s money!¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. It¡¯s Callum¡¯s money. He didn¡¯t even say anything, yet you¡¯re here whining about it!¡± After she said that, she got in the car. Meanwhile, the others behind herughed. They did not expect her to be so unforgiving with her words and they found her quite interesting. Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Max¡¯s face fell again as he tugged on Callum¡¯s arm andined, ¡°Look at her. She spends your money like it¡¯s her own. Most importantly, everything she bought is for herself. None of it is for ke!¡± Meanwhile, Elspeth rolled her eyes when she heard Max¡¯sints. The night sky soon arrived and Elspeth changed into a simple ck dress and followed the others to the concert venue after dinner. Theirseats was on the second row and Ophelia dashed over to sit beside Callum right after they found their seats. Not bothering about it, Elspeth decided to sit beside Edmund. Soon, the concert began and ke came on stage wearing a ck suit. As a celebrity, he was indeed handsome. With the crazy intense crowd, Elspeth felt her eardrums were about to erupt from all the screams. Within an hour, ke had performed many songs and it was now time for the second act. The emcee came on stage and announced, ¡°Today is ke¡¯s tenth anniversary of his debut, so we have prepared a surprise session. Now, we¡¯re going to pick a lucky fan and have here on stage to sing a song with ke.¡± Thunderous apuse sounded from under the stage while the fans were screaming so much that their throats felt sore. Then, they saw the rolling numbers on the screen finally stopping at number 26. Those who did not get picked groaned in disappointment, but everyone was curious as to who was sitting in seat 26. At that moment, Edmund piped up, ¡°Woah. Elspeth, you¡¯re in seat 26!¡± While Elspeth was still in shock, the emcee had already called out for her appearance. ¡°Let¡¯s wee the fan from seat 26 onto the stage.¡± With narrowed eyes, she wondered, Is this just a coincidence? Sweeping her gaze around the few people beside her, she noticed the obvious gleam in Ophelia¡¯s eyes. It was then that she realized what had happened. Someone wants me to make a fool of myself. Under the pressure of everyone¡¯s gaze, she slowly walked up the stage. When ke saw who it was, he was surprised to see that it was Elspeth! The emcee chuckled. ¡°Wow! You¡¯re so pretty! May I know your name?¡± ¡°Elspeth Lynwood,¡± she answered. After she said her name, the crowd gaped. Elspeth Lynwood? The Elspeth Lynwood who was promised to the Winthrop Family? She actually looks so beautiful! Almost half of the crowd sitting below were fans who considered themselves as ke¡¯s ¡®girlfriends¡¯ and they were all discussing while looking at Elspeth with jealous gazes. ¡°Alright, then. So, we¡¯re going to sing Nancy Star¡¯s song, called ¡®Good Night¡¯. Miss Lynwood, have you heard of that song? For this interactive session, we¡¯ll only be singing the chorus part of the song.¡± Nancy Star was a popr female singer, but she was very mysterious as no one had seen what she looked like. However, her voice was a worldwide sensation. At that moment, the emcee had already ced the microphone beside Elspeth¡¯s lips. She pursed her lips, stating, ¡°I¡¯ve heard the song before, but I¡¯m tone-deaf. I don¡¯t know how to sing. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Meanwhile, the crowd below turned into an uproar. ¡°Get off the stage! What an embarrassment. She can¡¯t even sing. What do the Winthrops see in her?¡± ¡°Yeah. She should stop standing next to my idol. It looks embarrassing.¡± ¡°Elspeth, get off the stage!¡± The woman under the spotlight narrowed her eyes, knowing that these people were happy to see her make a fool of herself on stage. However, she loved to prove others wrong. Taking away the emcee¡¯s microphone, she looked at ke and suggested, ¡°I really don¡¯t know how to sing, but I can apany you.¡± This song¡¯s original soundtrack is apanied by a piano. ke looked at her doubtfully. You don¡¯t even know how to sing. How are you going to y the piano? Is this some kind of joke?Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Chapter 13 Chapter 13 ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s all quiet down and enjoy Miss Lynwood and ke¡¯s¡­ ¡®Good Night¡¯.¡± Elspeth strolled toward the piano while the crowd settled down. When the intro sounded, ke was shocked as he was not expecting her to know how to y the piano at all. Following that, he focused his attention and began to sing. Neither had the two rehearsed the song or partnered up for a duet and yet their chemistry was undeniable. As ke looked over at Elspeth in the ck dress with the microphone in his hand, many loved that scene! In the meantime, Ophelia was beaming. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Elspeth to be this good at the piano. It seems like she should be above Grade Eight. Plus, they look good together, with one singing and the other ying!¡± Despite her words, her heart was filled with hatred. This stadium was the property of Fleming Group, so it was easy for her to tamper with the lucky draw session. Her original n was to have Elspeth make a fool of herself on stage, yet she did not expect this¡­ While listening to her words, Callum¡¯s eyes were once again fixed on Elspeth. Her wavy hair was casually let down and she looked mysterious yet stunning under the bright light, which made him curious to know more about her. Yet, for some reason, she and ke standing together on stage became an eyesore to him. Do they look good together? I think not. After the song ended, the crowd apuded. Then, Elspeth went to the bathroom after leaving the stage and she was met with a woman in brown dress at the entrance. The woman was wearing a mask, which covered her face, but she exuded an elegant and noble temperament, just like what one would find in the wife of a rich man. ¡°You¡¯re Elspeth, am I right? I really like your piano piece. This is for you.¡± While saying that, the woman gave her a delicately wrapped-up tulip, which stunned her. She then received the flowers in confusion. ¡°Do you know me?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t. I just really liked your performance. I¡¯ll be leaving now. Goodbye.¡± The woman turned around and her eyes were filled with obvious sadness. Meanwhile, Elspeth was still frozen in her spot. As she looked at the bouquet, a strange feeling began to arise inside her. Two hours later, the concert ended. Elspeth, Ophelia, and the other Winthrops left together while Theodore and Margot were still at the Winthrop Residence, preparing for their son¡¯s birthday dinner. After the candles were blown out, everyone brought out their prepared gifts. Although they were a wealthy and noble family, the atmosphere at the Winthrop Residence showed that they were a close and harmonious family. Meanwhile, Elspeth also calmly took out the gift she had prepared. Thanking all of them, ke began unboxing his presents. There were vi ownership certificates, expensive watches, yachts, and many other luxurious things. When it was Elspeth¡¯s turn, she gave him a box that was neither big nor small. Everyone knew that she did not buy anything today and assumed that she might have just chosen a random item for a gift. As such, ke half-heartedly opened it but was instantly shocked. It was a microphone from the brand Lare and the only one produced in the world. This microphone had previously appeared at an auction, but it was bought by a mysterious person for ten million. Since he had missed the auction, the microphone had been on his mind for a very long time and he tried all kinds of ways to buy it off that person at a higher price, but he never found the buyer. Feeling doubtful, he asked, ¡°Is this fake?¡± However, he knew at a nce that this was not a replica! With an excited tone, he confirmed with her. ¡°My gosh, Elspeth. Is this really for me?¡± Elspeth nodded. It¡¯s just a microphone. What¡¯s there to be so excited about? Ignorant brat. ¡°Where did you get this?¡± ke asked curiously. ¡°I¡¯m good at ying the piano, and the person who bought it knows me and gave it to me, hoping that I would join the entertainment industry someday. But, as you know, I can¡¯t sing, so I¡¯m giving it to you.¡± After casually making up a reason, she continued, ¡°Happy birthday. I¡¯m worn out, so I¡¯ll head upstairs and rest.¡± Everyone was, once again, shocked by her. It seemed like all their presents were not as close to ke¡¯s heart as hers was. It was also then that the others began to see Elspeth in a new light. At first, they thought she was all looks, no talent, and uneducated. However, after spending these few days together, they found that she seemed different from what they had imagined.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Elspeth woke up early the following day because she had to spend the day with Arthur, who was a doctor and Hamilton Hospital¡¯s director. All five of the Winthrop brothers seemed excellent because Arthur was already a director at such a young age. Despite his gentle and elegant appearance, Elspeth did not get to talk much with him ever since she moved to Winthrop Residence as he was not much of a talker. The two drove a car to the hospital. ¡°I have two operations today and will be busy. You can stay in my office or go out if you¡¯re bored, but remember to bring the bodyguards along.¡± Elspeth nodded. After a whole morning of ying games, Arthur still had not finished his operations. Since she was too bored inside the office, she left the hospital and went for a stroll. When she returned homete at night, she still did not see him even until the next day, which was Max¡¯s turn. He was the youngest of all and still a college student. As the driver was on leave today and Callum just happened to pass by Max¡¯s school on his way to thepany, the three finished breakfast and left the vi together. Along the way, only Max¡¯s surprised voice could be heard inside the car. ¡°Yo, sh*t. Callum, I just got the news that someone beat your record at Death Canyon yesterday.¡± The Death Canyon was a well-known car race track and Callum set the fastest time there in five minutes and thirty-two seconds. For that very achievement, no words could describe how much Max admired his eldest brother! Yet, now, someone actually broke that record! Hearing the news, the man slightly raised an eyebrow. ¡°Callum, it was a woman! Unfortunately, she was wearing a helmet, so no one could see what she looked like.¡± The drowsy Elspeth was not participating in the conversation while Max at the front was busy chattering about how he wanted to find out who that woman was. Despite his investigation, he could not get his hands on her information. Before they arrived at his college, Max changed the topic and turned to Elspeth. ¡°Hey, country bumpkin. Have you taken a fancy to ke?¡± Hearing him call her ¡®country bumpkin¡¯ made her a little annoyed. ¡°What makes your tiny brain think so?¡± ¡°You gave him such an expensive mic without batting an eyelid. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re his fan. Sh*t. I guess all women love celebrities.¡± Feeling speechless, she rolled her eyes and alighted from the car, not intending to argue with the idiot. Meanwhile, Callum¡¯s hands were tightening on the steering wheel. Does she really like ke? ¡°Callum, I¡¯m getting off now. Oh, right. You¡¯ve got better connections, so can you help me findText ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. out who that woman is?¡± Max, a race car fanatic, now had a new idol. She must be an elegant and pretty youngdy. That¡¯s so cool! Not bothering with his request, Callum reminded him instead, ¡°Look after her.¡± ¡°Man. No one¡¯s gonnae for her,¡± Maxined while descending the car. As colleges tend to have fewer restrictions, no one cared that Elspeth sat in Max¡¯s ss. However, she felt that someone was watching her wherever she went. After all, the Winthrops had just announced that she would be engaged to one of their five sons, so she was the star of the show no matter where she was. After attending one ss session, she felt bored and heard a few young women saying, ¡°Does she like Max? Jeez. How shameless of her. Why doesn¡¯t she look in the mirror and see how old she is?¡± Elspeth was speechless. I¡¯m only twenty years old, for heaven¡¯s sake! What¡¯s more, who spread the rumor that I like Max? Feeling at a loss for words, she rose to her feet and went into the bathroom, but she was blocked just as she was walking out. Standing in her way, a few young women in uniform stopped her while the one in the lead red at her, asking, ¡°Do you like Max Winthrop?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Ha. Elspeth, Max is the most handsome guy in our school. Why don¡¯t you look at yourself and see if you¡¯re worthy of him?¡± Hearing those words made Elspeth even more speechless. Can¡¯t these women understand words? I¡¯ve already said I don¡¯t like him!! Chapter 15 Chapter 15 ¡°Oh, really? Who are you, then? Does Max know who you are? Are you worthy of him?¡± The young woman¡¯s expression froze, but it quickly turned into a sneer. ¡°How dare youe to school with Max! Girls, let¡¯s show her what we got.¡± As soon as Max found out that Elspeth was cornered in the bathroom, he felt a little reluctant to head over. If it had not been for his father¡¯s orders, he would not have cared about her safety at all! However, he was shocked when he arrived at the bathroom. She Lewson and her friends were school bullies who loved bullying others because they came from prominent families, but at this moment, they were running out of the bathroom with their tails between their legs. Some even had p marks on their faces with messy, wet hair. This very sight made Max¡¯s lips twitch. Then, he saw Elspeth exiting the bathroom casually. She was still wearing the ck t-shirt from this morning with her hair tied up in a ponytail, which made her look young and in high spirits. However, most importantly, she looked like she was unaffected. ¡°They¡­¡± He cast a nce at the fleeing She and herpanions. ¡°They were about to hit me, but I managed to beat them up first.¡± ording to his knowledge, She was a trained fighter! Elspeth added, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that you¡¯d have so many admirers despite being an average Joe. It seems like they¡¯re not only dumb but also have bad taste in men.¡± Hearing that remark, Max was furious. I shouldn¡¯t have bothered with this woman! For the rest of the day, no one came to bother her. Thest session for today was physical education ss and she watched the guys ying basketball while sitting on the bleachers. A while later, she felt a vague pain in her stomach and frowned slightly. Oh no. I forgot to take note of the date¡­ She was not afraid of anything, except for her menstrual cycle as the pain was excruciating! While having one hand on her stomach, she slowly got up and left the basketball court for the convenience store outside of the school gates. However, she failed to notice that a few people were trailing behind her¡­ Two hourster, Callum had finished his work when his assistant came into his office. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, I found it. The person who broke your record at Death Canyonst night was Miss Lynwood.¡± ¡°Who did you just say?¡± He raised his eyes to look at the assistant. ¡°It was Elspeth Lynwood.¡± Callum was usually very calm when facing everything, but he actually felt surprised this time. It was Elspeth? Wasn¡¯t she with Arthur the whole day yesterday? Since his hobby was racing, he was also curious about who had broken his record, which he had defended for a year. Therefore, he asked his assistant to investigate this matter. To his surprise, the results he got were beyond his expectations. Elspeth Lynwood. This woman is so mysterious. A smile shed across his eyes, but the phone on his table suddenly rang. ¡°Callum, something bad happened. Elspeth is missing!¡± Max only found out about her disappearance after he finished ying basketball. She was not picking up her phone and she was also missing from home upon being notified by the servants. Since he was afraid of telling Theodore, he decided to call his eldest brother for help. When Callum heard the news, his face fell.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Kidnapped By Crazy Fans ¡°Max, call the cops. Leave the rest to me.¡± The scene from the night at the bar appeared in Callum¡¯s head. He remembered how Elspeth had swiftly smashed the wine bottle into that man¡¯s head and that immediately calmed his mind. At least, I know she can protect herself. ¡°Alright, Callum.¡± Knowing his brother¡¯s swift and decisive nature, Max nodded and ran out despite secretlyining that Elspeth was a troublemaker. After Callum arrived at the college, he had someone pull out the surveince footage from inside the campus and at the school gates. Finally, he saw Elspeth¡¯s appearance at 5.00PM. She entered the convenience store and left with a ck stic bag before heading straight for the public bathroom. There was a blue figure tailing her from a distance. In other words, thest ce Elspeth went before she disappeared was the public bathroom. His eyes darkened as he led a group of people straight toward the public bathroom. It was already 6.00PM, so there were not many people passing by here. When Callum and the others approached the ce, they could hear the viciousughter of a womaning from inside the bathroom. ¡°Hahaha. Why aren¡¯t you fighting back anymore? Weren¡¯t you full of strength earlier? Why don¡¯t you continue beating me up? You¡¯re such a shameless woman. How could you seduce ke? I¡¯m going to scratch your face off!¡± When Callum heard the woman calling out his brother¡¯s name, he was sure that the woman was most likely one of ke¡¯s crazy fans. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± A weak woman¡¯s groan sounded. After listening to the voices, Callum could tell that there were about three people inside, being two men and one woman. Then, he mentally prepared himself. ¡°Let¡¯s head in.¡± Once the bodyguard received his orders, he kicked the door open. The woman stoppedughing and looked at Callum with a displeased expression. ¡°What are you? How dare you disturb my good time!¡± He raised his eyes, swept his gaze over the woman, and boomed, ¡°How dare you beat up someone under the Winthrop Family¡¯s protection!¡± Seeing the dignified man before them, one of the bullies in the back stammered, ¡°T-That looks like the eldest son of the Winthrop Family, Callum!¡± Anyone who had seen the news would have recognized the man who frequently gave speeches there. On the other hand, there was a group of strong bodyguards standing behind him. Inparison to them, the two bullies seemed like weak chicks. Callum then raised his hand, which his assistant immediately understood and ordered the bodyguards to capture the three. When the woman saw this scene, her eyes, which were filled with lunacy, immediately recovered into sanity. She made the decision to kidnap Elspeth on impulse, but she did not calcte the consequences of her action, which she clearly could not afford. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Winthrop. I-I was impulsive.¡± However, Callum merely replied in his cold and emotionless voice, ¡°Leave that for the jury.¡± One of the bullies kneeled on the ground. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Winthrop. I was blind and identally offended Miss Lynwood. Please spare us!¡± ¡°Tell that to the cops.¡± He continued to ignore their pleas before carrying Elspeth in his arms. At that moment, the police sirens sounded and the three fell limp on the ground with pale faces. Once the police brought the three away, only Max, who only just rushed over, and Callum, who had Elspeth in his arms, remained. ¡°This woman is so much trouble. She must¡¯ve done it on purpose to make our lives miserable!¡± Max was frustrated at the thought of getting a scolding from his father upon his return home. ¡°Alright, Max. That¡¯s enough. Let¡¯s bring her to the hospital.¡± ¡°You can bring her there yourself. I¡¯m not going!¡± After saying that, he marched away in anger. Meanwhile, Callum looked down at the heavily injured Elspeth, who seemed to be in pain, and brought her to the hospital. Relying on his rtionship with Arthur, he brought her directly to his office. Then, Arthur carefully checked on her condition and frowned. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with her? Is she severely injured?¡± Seeing her all curled up in pain, Callum wore a serious expression. ¡°She suffered many blows to her body and has a slight concussion.¡± Arthur finished his words and coughed lightly. ¡°But she¡¯s on her menstrual cycle and has severe cramps, so that exins why she¡¯s in so much pain.¡± As soon as Callum heard the words ¡®menstrual cycle¡¯, the tips of his ears turned red, but he still maintained a stoic face. ¡°Is there any way to lessen her pain?¡± Sticking both hands into his pocket, Arthur shrugged. ¡°The only possible way is for her to bear the pain. Alright. I have another operation pending, so you stay with her for now and remember to help her with her admission to the hospital. Her wounds would take some time to heal.¡± Subsequently, he pushed the door open and left, plunging the room into immediate silence. ¡°Water¡­¡± While slowly opening her eyes, Elspeth still had her hand covering her stomach as she weakly requested, ¡°I need some water.¡± Once Callum left, her phone began to ring. ¡°Elspeth, are you alright? I heard you were admitted to the hospital.¡± Harper¡¯s voice sounded anxious and worried. Feeling perplexed, she asked, ¡°How did you know about it?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you see the posts on Facebook? You were kidnapped by ke¡¯s crazy fan. Then, the paparazzi caught Callum saving you and carrying you to the hospital. The inte is literally filled with news about you and Callum now.¡± Elspeth browsed the web, and just like Harper said, this matter had dominated the top three on the hottest news list. Among the lines were Callum being worried for his fianc¨¦ and the two were actually having an underground rtionship. On top of that, theizens even created a ship name, Calysie, for them. ¡°Get someone to remove these hottest news articles. Also, you have to manage thepany on your own for a few days, but you can call me whenever there¡¯s a problem.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Then, Harper added hatefully, ¡°By the way, I¡¯ve already dealt with the crazy fanCopyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. privately. She won¡¯t be able to leave her metal cage for the rest of her life.¡± Elspeth hummed a reply, but she felt that this incident was not as simple as she thought. ¡°Also, Winthrop Group wants to establish cooperation with us and it¡¯s very profitable, but he has one condition¡ªto meet the president of Azure Corporation.¡± Frowning, she asked, ¡°He demanded to meet me?¡± ¡°I know it¡¯s inconvenient for you, so I declined the cooperation and said there would be another chance in the future.¡± ¡°Very good.¡± Elspeth hung up and smiled. He wants to meet me? Callum, we still have a long way to go. Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Pretending Early in the following day, Callum appeared in the ward again. ¡°I feel ttered that the workaholic, Mr. Callum Winthrop, has disregarded his work just to visit me.¡± With a smile, Elspeth peeled off another wedge of orange. ¡°The fruits are sweet. Would you like some?¡± After saying that, she plucked a banana and gave it to him. Not caring about her outstretched hand, he looked at her with cold eyes. ¡°My dad made me do this. Don¡¯t overthink it.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want it? Fine.¡± ¡°I have a question for you.¡± With pursed lips, he thought about it for a moment and could not help but ask, ¡°You actually broke my record at Death Canyon. How did a small-town girl like you get started on racing?¡± This woman is too mysterious. She clearly has an ordinary background, but why does she always do something unexpected? Elspethughed. ¡°It¡¯s just something I do to pass the time. Why do you care?¡± Slightly shocked, Callum looked at her rxed state and let his imagination run wild. Not only is she friends with Harper Summerfield and knows Albert Beischel, she also ys the piano well and even broke the record I set at Death Canyon. This ordinary small-town girl is not ordinary at all. ¡°Elspeth, I hope you don¡¯t bear any ill intentions.¡± Those words sounded like a warning, but he could feel a gentle tug at his heart. Knock! Knock! Knock! A series of orderly knocks woke him from his thoughts. After announcing her presence, Ophelia pushed the door open and entered. When she saw the two being alone, jealousy surged inside her, but she maintained her smile and went forward to pull Elspeth¡¯s hand. ¡°Why do you look so pale? Are you badly hurt?¡± Her grip was very tight and Elspeth smiled while looking in Callum¡¯s direction. Then, she immediately understood the situation. A woman¡¯s jealousy is so terrifying. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Also, Miss Fleming, you don¡¯t have to grab my hand so tightly. If I didn¡¯t know better, I¡¯d think you hate me.¡± She simultaneously pointed out Ophelia¡¯s thoughts upon retrieving her hand. Ophelia¡¯s face immediately fell, but she managed to keep her smile again. ¡°I¡¯m just worried for you. Mr. Winthrop would be devastated if something happened to you.¡± With a smile on her face, Elspeth retorted, ¡°You haven¡¯t even married into the Winthrop Family, yet you¡¯re already worried about Mr. Winthrop¡¯s feelings. How thoughtful of you.¡± Isn¡¯t she just a pick-me girl? Who doesn¡¯t know how to do that? ¡°Elspeth, you seem to not like me¡­¡± While Ophelia spoke, her eyes welled up with tears. ¡°Miss Fleming, aren¡¯t you being a little too presumptuous by saying I don¡¯t like you because of a few words I said?¡± It was rare for her to meet a woman who liked putting on airs like Ophelia. ¡°I only wanted to visit you, but I didn¡¯t expect you to say such hurtful words. I guess I¡¯m bothering you here. I¡¯d better leave.¡± She then stood up and acted like she was about to do so. Noticing the situation, Callum frowned and criticized, ¡°Elspeth, watch your words. Ophelia is only here to visit you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need her to do that. I¡¯m not feeling well, so Mr. Winthrop and Miss Fleming, please don¡¯t disturb my rest.¡± Elspeth immediately sent them away so that she would not have to bear the anger. When Callum noticed her slightly angry countenance, his eyes darkened a little. ¡°Okay. We¡¯ll be leaving now. Have a good rest, Elspeth.¡± Since Ophelia wanted to drive them apart so desperately, she hugged his arm and left the room after getting the ¡®permission¡¯. Once the two left and the world was quiet once again, Elspeth found that she could not calm herself down as she suddenly realized that she had forgotten something important. Only a few people knew that she was at the college with Max, so how did that crazy fan know her exact location and find the perfect time to kidnap her? A brave thought appeared in her head, so she called to ask the police to question that crazy fan. Soon, the name ¡®Ophelia Fleming¡¯ appeared on her phone and her eyes immediately turned ice cold. Just as she had expected, the person behind this was that pick-me girl! Again and again, you¡¯ve crossed my line, Ophelia. We shall see how this goes. Dayster, Fleming Group inexplicably met with a financial crisis and some of thepany¡¯s higher- ups began selling their shares. Since they could not hold on anymore, they requested the Winthrop Family for help to save their company. Margot was worried about her future daughter-inw, so she asked Callum to assist her and the Fleming Group¡¯s crisis was finally over. Due to her family matters, Ophelia did not have the time to visit the hospital and pretend to be nice. In other words, Elspeth could finally get some peace and quiet. Today, Arthur came to do his rounds and did a checkup on her condition. Subsequently, he removed his stethoscope and grinned. ¡°You made a fast recovery. You can be discharged today.¡± ¡°Alright. Thanks.¡± ¡°Is Callum noting today?¡± Thanks to the Fleming Group¡¯s crisis, he had not visited her for days nor was she not looking forward to it either. She continued to eat her breakfast while casually replying, ¡°That¡¯s his business. You¡¯ve asked the wrong person.¡± Not expecting the answer, Arthur chuckled and changed the topic. ¡°So, after fivepulsory dates with us, who are you most satisfied with?¡± With a raised eyebrow, sheughed. ¡°Well, who do you want me to say?¡± She speaks so well-roundedly. This is not going to be easy. Then, he smiled amicably and responded, ¡°Since you¡¯ve put it that way, I won¡¯t bombard you with any more questions. After all, I¡¯m not interested in you.¡± After saying that, he turned around and left. By the time it was afternoon, Callum still had not shown up, so Elspeth discharged herself and rode the Winthrops¡¯ car back home. Since her body was almost fully healed and staying home all day was not an ideal option, Theodore suggested letting her work at Winthrop Group, which received different responses. Max¡¯s reaction was the loudest. He nced at Elspeth, who was calmly drinking tea on the couch, and reasoned, ¡°She¡¯s just a woman from a small town. How can she possibly know how to run apany? Dad, you¡¯re overestimating her!¡± Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. ¡°Do you think you can, then?¡± Elspeth found it funny to see him acting so irritated. ¡°The bar is low. Of course, I¡¯d be better than you in any way!¡± Meanwhile, Callum remained silent as he watched the scenario. He had a feeling that she would bring him some sort of surprise. Theodore had a stern expression as he looked at Max with eyes filled with displeasure. ¡°Even though she came from a small town, you shouldn¡¯t throw sarcastic remarks at her. There¡¯s no dinner for you tonight. Head back to your room and reflect on what you¡¯ve done!¡± On the other hand, since ke had epted her microphone, he was naturally nicer to her. He even helped put in a good word for her. ¡°I think we should let her give it a try. Otherwise, she¡¯d only be staying at home all day, which is quite boring.¡± It was then that Callum finally spoke up, ¡°Let her try as an intern. If she can¡¯t do it well, we¡¯ll find something else for her.¡± The final decision had been made and nothing could change that decision. Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Chapter 18 A Challenge From an Old Friend ¡°Callum!¡± As much as Max was furious, Callum was still the one who established Winthrop Group, so he did not have a say in this situation and could only clench his fists in anger. Meanwhile, Elspeth looked at Max¡¯s angry expression and smiled casually. ¡°Hey, you look like you¡¯re not having it.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how you managed to convince my father, but you¡¯ll only be bringing trouble to the company. Who knows how you¡¯d sabotage thepany as soon as you step foot into it?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so quick to deny someone.¡± Not wanting to argue with a child, she stopped talking after that. It was confirmed that she would be joining thepany anyway, so no matter how angry Max was, he could only ept the fact. Staying true to his words, Callum knocked on Elspeth¡¯s door the following morning so that they could head to thepany together. It was her first day, so he had arranged for her to join the design department as an ordinary employee. She smiled and greeted her fellow colleagues. Just as she sat down, a stack of documents was heavily dropped onto her desk before her. ¡°Alright. These are the things you¡¯re going to be working on. Finish them by 12.00PM and email them to me. Don¡¯t think you can have it easy just because someone is back¡ªElspeth?¡± The ranting Ava Wiley suddenly stopped talking as she was stunned when she saw the familiar, beautiful face before her. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Ava.¡± Elspeth naturally remembered the woman before her. Back then, Ava relied on the fact that her father was the principal and bullied her because the guy she secretly liked had a crush on her; they even fought with each other. After that, Elspeth was expelled and went abroad. It was not until she finished her double major that she returned to the country. What a small world it was as they met again at this very ce. However, the current Elspeth was different from before, yet she was still as stubborn as ever. With a sneer, she looked at Ava¡¯s distorted face andughed. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Cat got your tongue?¡± Remembering that she was the supervisor here, Ava regained her confidence and reprimanded, ¡°I¡¯m telling you, I¡¯m your supervisor here, so don¡¯t y any tricks with me. I have many ways of chasing you out of here if you don¡¯t do your job well!¡± Wow. She¡¯s already using her position to threaten me. ¡°Then, you¡¯d better secure your seat tightly.¡± Elspethughed. After she said that, Ava instantly became furious. Not having it, she started taunting and mocking her by revealing events from the past. ¡°Who do you think you are to criticize me? Who knows where you¡¯ve been since you dropped out of junior high? Who knows? Maybe you¡¯ve found yourself a sugar daddy. Otherwise, how would you have gotten this job?¡± ¡°A sugar daddy?¡± Assuming that she had hit Elspeth¡¯s sore spot, she continued, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you and the security guard, Mr. Beischel, have a close rtionship. Maybe¡­ It was him who pulled the strings to let you have this job. You¡¯re so disgusting, epting every man thates to you. Oh, Elspeth, it¡¯s only been a few years, yet you¡¯ve already stooped so low.¡± Her rants attracted the other employees¡¯ attention and they were all listening intently. Originally, Elspeth was not bothered by what Ava was saying, but when she heard Albert¡¯s name, her gaze immediately turned sharp. ¡°You said I found myself a sugar daddy?¡± Noticing that the atmosphere suddenly turned chilly, Ava shivered, but she soon remembered that she was higher in the hierarchy here while Elspeth was merely a mistress with a sugar daddy, so the rage inside her burned again. ¡°What about it? You have the guts to do it, but you don¡¯t have the guts to admit it?¡± Since Elspeth was taller than Ava, she leaned forward slightly and sneered, ¡°Would Mr. Winthrop throw a fit if he finds out that his future daughter-inw is called a sugar baby?¡± ¡°You¡­ are the Miss Lynwood on the news who¡¯s engaged to a Winthrop son?¡± Ava rarely paid attention to the news, so she only knew a little about this from others. Never would she have expected that the one getting engaged to the Winthrop Family would be Elspeth, whom she had looked down on since they were young! If it was just Elspeth in the picture, Ava could use her however she wanted, but if the Winthrop Family was involved, then¡­ As she thought about their capabilities, she could not help but shiver in fear. Meanwhile, Elspeth was reluctant to continue reminiscing about the past with her ¡®old ssmate¡¯, so she concluded without bothering to look at her. ¡°d you¡¯re well-informed now, but Miss Wiley, you¡¯re disturbing my work.¡± That sentence was the final blow for Ava. Her expression darkened as she opened her mouth to say something, but she could not find any words to do so. She then straightened up and threatened, ¡°You! I¡¯m telling you, even if you¡¯re going to be a part of the Winthrops and have their protection, this company does not ept people with no abilities. Those who can¡¯t contribute will be thrown out of the company!¡± Still, Elspeth was unperturbed by her threats and merely smiled. ¡°Okie. We¡¯ll see.¡± After ring down at her, Ava nked her four-inches-tall high heels and angrily left while conjuring up a n to vent her anger. By 11.00AM, Elspeth had sent all the files to her an hour before the deadline, but they were soon returned to her with noments and only one simple word, ¡®Redo¡¯. What a textbook approach to vent your anger, Ava. She was very confident in her proposal, so she sent it back to her without editing anything. Of course, it was returned to her yet again. By now, she did not want tomunicate with Ava anymore, so she brought her proposal and went straight to the president¡¯s office. Callum was working when he saw her enter. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± he asked coldly. cing her proposal before him, Elspeth smiled and rested her chin on her hands. ¡°Callum, the director of your department thinks my proposal isn¡¯t good enough. Why don¡¯t you have a look at it yourself?¡± She was wearing a formal suit with a low cor, so the vague view of her figure made him afraid to gaze straight at her when she leaned forward. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. His pupils suddenly darkened as he looked away from her and focused on the proposal on his table. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take a look.¡± While casually flipping through it, his eyes gradually brightened up as he skimmed through the content. The ideas inside were unconventional and utilized clever ways to achieve their goals. Not only that, there were also some views which he shared with her. After he finished, he looked at her and asked, ¡°Is this the task Ava assigned to you?¡± ¡°Yeap.¡± She nodded with a smile. He then notified his assistant to get Ava. When she arrived and saw Elspeth, she red at her before asking carefully, ¡°Mr. Winthrop, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Callum questioned her in a stern tone, ¡°Is this the task you assigned to a newbie?¡± Trembling, she replied, ¡°Mr. Winthrop, I¡­¡± ¡°This is the most important proposal for this season, yet you assigned it to a newbie just to make things difficult for her? Ava, do you have any idea what you¡¯ve just done?¡± Though he was not one who lost his temper often, Ava, however, could feel the coldness in his voice today and became so terrified that she started shivering. ¡°I¡¯ll deduct two months¡¯ worth of your sry.¡± As much as she was exasperated by that decision, she could not voice out anything butined secretly. Truth be told, she wanted to p the smirk off Elspeth¡¯s face so badly. After she left, Callum resumed his attention to Elspeth. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, you¡¯re so impartial in giving out punishments and rewards.¡± She was not very satisfied with the results, but it was enough to teach Ava a lesson for the time being. Looking at her giddy face, he was lost in his thoughts. Another surprise¡­ Elspeth, you have not disappointed me thus far. Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Callum¡¯s Fashion Sense Seeing that Elspeth had done such a good job, Callum decided to assign the project to her. For thest two days after Ava received her punishment, she would run away with her tail between her legs whenever she saw Elspeth, but her gloomy eyes always made Elspeth feel like she was devising something big. At the pantry, Elspeth coincidentally bumped into Edmund beside the coffee machine. He batted his eyes at her and raised an eyebrow. ¡°I heard that Callum actually punished Ava for you. Seems like you¡¯re quite important to him.¡± Hearing the sarcasm in his tone, she kept her cool despite being bothered by it. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Mr. Edmund? Are you sad that your brother gave me more love than he¡¯s ever had in his life toward you?¡± Edmund¡¯s expression froze for a moment. ¡°Miss Lynwood, you¡¯re quite the jokester.¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who started it? I¡¯m just giving you a taste of your own medication.¡± Elspeth calmly brewed herself a cup of coffee. When it came to being sharp-tongued, she had never lost the upper hand. ¡°You¡¯re fun, Miss Lynwood. It¡¯s no wonder why you got special treatment from that workaholic, Callum.¡± Though he still had a smile on his face, the words he spoke were not very pleasant to the ear. ¡°Thank you, but you¡¯re talking a little too much.¡± She was the first ever to state he was nosy, as well as the first to win against him. Now that he was at a disadvantage, his expression fell. ¡°Alright. I won¡¯t disturb your coffee break.¡± Then, he left with a cup of coffee while Elspeth watched his back, seemingly lost in thought. On a positive note, Winthrop Group¡¯s business partner appreciated Elspeth¡¯s proposal and they made a hefty profit this season, so thepany decided to hold a banquet to celebrate thepany¡¯s development. Although Callum knew Elspeth was not the country bumpkin they thought she was, for the sake of the Winthrop Family, he still decided to bring her to purchase an evening dress. Having learned from her experiencest time, she chose a dress she liked and left it to him for checkout. ¡°Callum, I like this green one. Thank you.¡± When Callum looked at the sacramento green wavy gown that was decorated with turquoise, he shook his head at the bright and chic dress. ¡°I think this looks better on you.¡± He then reached into a rack of clothes and pulled out a wine-red long gown. The gown¡¯s hemline was styled in a rose pattern and bright diamonds embedded diagonally on one side. ¡°Callum, you can just tell me if you don¡¯t like me. Why let me wear such a seductive dress instead?¡± Elspeth had never worn a dress as red as this one because her preferred style of clothing was clean and simple. Hearing her doubt with his fashion taste, he felt gloomy. ¡°We wouldn¡¯t be here shopping right now if I dislike you.¡± Elspeth¡¯s mood mellowed out as she looked at Callum¡¯s serious expression and taunted, ¡°So, you¡¯re seriously helping me out with an evening dress? Ooh, Callum. Don¡¯t tell me that you¡¯ve developed feelings for me. Otherwise, why would you care so much about me?¡± ¡°You¡¯re in your head,¡± he said while tossing the dress into her arms. ¡°Gosh, you¡¯re so boring.¡± After shrugging her shoulders, she brought the clothes into the fitting room. Minutester, following the creaking sound of the door opening, a wine-red figure appeared right before him. Since Elspeth had tied her hair up for easier dress fitting, it naturally revealed her slim neck. The extreme fairness of her skin and the seductive red of her dress entuated her aura as it filled the space. Despite having seen countless beauty, Callum was still stupified by her appearance. ¡°Stunned?¡± She wore a mischievous smile as she stretched out her hand and waved it before the man¡¯s face. Calmly withdrawing his gaze, he replied, ¡°I just find it perplexing that the designer of our proposal has a problem knowing what clothing suits her.¡± His words were obviously implying that she did not haveText ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. taste in fashion. ¡°Jeez. Why are both of you so sharp-tongued?¡± She rolled her eyes resignedly whileining. Hearing that, Callum¡¯s eyes fell on her again while asking curiously, ¡°What did he say to you?¡± ¡°It was nothing. We bumped into each other and chatted a little, but you Winthrops tend to say hurtful words all the time. It¡¯s like I¡¯m in a diss battle simtion or something.¡± Finding her description hrious, Callum looked at her resigned expression and exined, ¡°Edmund has always been like that. You¡¯ll learn to get used to it, so don¡¯t mind him.¡± ¡°You know what? I¡¯ll take this. There¡¯s still half an hour before the banquet starts, so let¡¯s not waste any more time.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± The two returned to thepany together and found the entrance already swarmed with reporters. When the reporters saw them, they quickly surrounded the two. ¡°Are the rumors true? That you guys secretly fancy each other?¡± ¡°Is ¡®Calysie¡¯ real?¡± ¡°Can the two of you give a statement about that?¡± ¡­ Callum¡¯s cold gaze swept across the crowd, silencing everyone. Then, he took advantage of that brief moment and led Elspeth into thepany. Though it was said to be a banquet, it was more appropriately described as a small business gathering. Callum was the star of the show, so no matter where he was, he would be surrounded by a group of people, trying to get him to share his experience. Meanwhile, Elspeth secretly slipped away to hide in a corner to rest as she began enjoying the desserts on the table. She had not been sitting long when Ava walked over to her alluringly. ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t this our protagonist today, Elspeth Lynwood? Why aren¡¯t you with Mr. Winthrop?¡± Although her words sounded sarcastic, there was obvious jealousy in her eyes. Even a country bumpkin like her has the chance to be Mr. Winthrop¡¯s fianc¨¦, so why can¡¯t I have a chance too? ¡°Miss Wiley, how¡¯s your life been without any sry?¡± Elspeth did not bother much about herment and casually expressed her ¡®concern¡¯. Just as Ava recalled that incident, she shot Elspeth a dirty look. ¡°Elspeth, don¡¯t you celebrate too early. Ophelia grew up with Callum and she¡¯s the only one the Winthrops will recognize as his wife. You¡¯re just an orphan, so you¡¯re not worthy of marrying such an excellent man!¡± Shaking her head, Elspeth retorted, ¡°I never said I was going to marry Callum. What¡¯s more, you¡¯re talking as if you could do better than me!¡± ¡°You!¡± ¡°All five of them are excellent in their own fields, so are you implying that besides Callum, the rest of them aren¡¯t as good?¡± She attacked with pinpoint precision after finding the w in her words, making Ava stammer and unable to respond. Knowing that Elspeth was good with words, Ava stopped arguing with her. She then thought about her n and smiled wickedly. ¡°Stop picking up fights with me. I¡¯m telling you. You¡¯re going to get thrown out of here sooner orter!¡± ¡°I stand by my words. If you can, give it a try.¡± Elspeth smirked. Knowing that she could not win against Elspeth, Ava had no choice but to leave the scene in defeat. When it was time for the main event, Callum got on stage and began to announce their performance for this season. Suddenly, an unfriendly voice came from a corner. ¡°I think that there¡¯s a problem with this season¡¯s performance!¡± Once those words were out, everyone was shocked and the surrounding area became silent. Callum looked over and without any emotion, he asked in his deep voice, ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± When Ava heard his question, she immediately stood up. ¡°I¡¯m making a im that Elspeth has stolen someone else¡¯s proposal!¡± Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Elspeth Is Anny ¡°Do you have any proof that she giarized someone else¡¯s work?¡± Gritting her teeth, Ava submitted the evidence she hadpiled while Elspeth narrowed her eyes at the scene. So, this is her n¡­ ¡°The creativity of this designes from Anny¡¯s work. She¡¯s a famous college student from abroad. This woman who came from the countryside clearly giarized her work!¡± One was from a prestigious college while the other was a country bumpkin, so everyone could distinguish the situation at this point. ¡°That¡¯s some acting skill Elspeth has!¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine if she can¡¯t do it, but why does she have to giarize?¡± ¡°How can someone like her stay in thepany?¡± Discussions broke out throughout the room, but Callum avoided everyone¡¯s gaze and looked at the used in question. ¡°Elspeth, do you have anything to say for yourself?¡± Looking into those smiling eyes, he had an inexplicable sense of calmness. It was as if he was sure that she had done nothing wrong in this matter. Still, he wanted to hear her argument before anything. Smiling, she nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right. I did borrow some inspiration, but I didn¡¯t expect you to be so meticulous.¡± Ava thought she was nearing sess and started speaking without any restraint, ¡°Mr. Winthrop, not only is this country bumpkin free-riding, she giarized someone else¡¯s work! Someone like her shouldn¡¯t stay in thepany, so I suggest that you fire her!¡± Meanwhile, Callum lightly furrowed his brows while waiting for Elspeth to speak. ¡°Then, what if¡­ I¡¯m Anny?¡± That had Ava bursting out inughter. ¡°You¡¯re Anny? Stop joking, Elspeth. If you¡¯re Anny, I¡¯ll immediately tender my resignation and hand over my position to you!¡± How could Anny, the genius who finished her double major at an early age, be willing to be an ordinary employee after returning from her studies? ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± Elspeth asked slowly. Feeling that she had the upper hand, Ava raised her chin and confirmed, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m positive!¡± After that, Elspeth went on stage, took out her phone to connect it to the big screen, and made a video call. Secondster, a kind-looking, old foreigner appeared on the screen. That old man was none other than Professor Andrew, who had won two Nobel Prizes! How did Elspeth know such a person? ¡°Professor, I¡¯m sorry to disturb you in such a way.¡± Elspeth smiled to show her apology. On the other hand, Professor Andrew did not seem to mind as he became full of smiles after seeing her face. ¡°Anny, it¡¯s been a long while since youst contacted me. I¡¯m so delighted to receive your call that I no longer feel like doing my experiments.¡± ¡°Oh, no, Professor. Your experiments need you!¡± While the two were happily chatting in Edanian, the crowd went silent and no one dared to make a sound. Those who were able to enter Winthrop Group were basically graduates from prestigious colleges, so they were able to understand most of what the two were conversing about. However, the thing they found most difficult to understand was not the conversation but the fact that Elspeth knew such a person. Also, from how Professor Andrew had greeted her, she was indeed Anny! At that moment, Ava¡¯s victorious mood instantly copsed as she looked disbelievingly at the big screen. Looking at Elspeth, she felt herself crumbling into insanity. I lost. Completely. Soon, Elspeth hung up the phone and nced at the pale Ava with a smirk. ¡°Do tell me, Ava. Am I giarizing if I¡¯m inspired by my own creation?¡± Ava had her mouth agape, but she could not utter a word at all. On the other hand, the word ¡®surprise¡¯ was not enough to describe the feeling Callum had right now. Indeed, this woman will always bring me unexpected surprises. ¡°Ava Wiley, head to the finance department tonight to receive your sry and leave.¡± Callum despised having such arrogant people like Ava in thepany. Atst, he sealed her fate with one single sentence. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Now that the farce had ended, he decided to send Elspeth home, but she rejected his offer as she had something even more important to do. She came out of the door and ascended a car, which Harper had been waiting inside for a long time. ¡°Elspeth, how¡¯s your condition?¡± She chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ve been alright for a while now. Let¡¯s hurry up or we won¡¯t make it before it ends.¡± Nodding, Harper stomped on the elerator and the car sped off. The ce they were heading to was an underground ck market and there would be a high-tech computer being auctioned there tonight. It was said that theputer was left by the world¡¯s best hacker and it was the only one of its kind. She enjoyed tinkering with such things, so she needed to get thatputer. Arriving at the scene, they were lucky enough to make it before thest item was presented¡ªthe computer. The starting bid for it was ten million, which received a lot of responses from the crowd. Meanwhile, Elspeth stayed patient and waited until there were lesser bidders before starting her bid. ¡°A hundred and twenty million. Would anyone like to add to the bid?¡± Harper slowly raised the paddle. ¡°One hundred and thirty million.¡± ¡°A hundred and thirty million. Any more? A hundred and thirty million, once. A hundred and thirty million, twice. A hundred¡ª¡± ¡°Two hundred million.¡± The smile on Elspeth¡¯s face froze and she looked over in the distance to see a very familiar figure. Unfortunately, there were many with sses at the scene, so it was difficult for her to distinguish who it was. ¡°Three hundred million.¡± Harper continued to bid. Three hundred million for aputer was slightly exaggerated, so the others stopped adding to the bid, except for that unfamiliar man with spectacles. He raised his paddle and said, ¡°Four hundred million.¡± Four hundred million? Turning to face Elspeth, Harper asked if she wanted to increase the price, but she shook her head and surrendered. ¡°Let that person have it.¡± With a tap of the mallet, he no longer raised his paddle and theputer now officially belonged to the other person. After the auction, he was about to send Elspeth home when they were blocked by a group of men as they arrived at the entrance. The man in the lead was a man with blonde hair, blue eyes, and a pair of sses. He was manifesting a temperament that indicated that he was no ordinary man. ¡°Elspeth, it¡¯s been a while.¡± Even with the sses on, Elspeth could recognize who it was at a nce. She suddenly called out in surprise, ¡°Mark! Why are you in Damoria?¡± They learned from the same master and were both top hackers. Chuckling, Mark Griffin replied, ¡°I¡¯m here to get thisputer. Have you forgotten? It¡¯s your birthday in two days. I know this is right up your alley, so I came all the way to Chars just to get it.¡± ¡°How long will you be staying here?¡± ¡°Not long. I¡¯m leaving tomorrow. I was nning to mail this to you, but it seems like I can just give it to you now.¡± Feeling frustrated, Elspeth answered, ¡°If I had known it was you, I wouldn¡¯t havepeted for it. It¡¯s a waste of all that money.¡± Mark caressed her head. ¡°It¡¯s alright. It¡¯s just four hundred million. All that matters is that you¡¯re happy.¡± Meanwhile, a figure moved in the corner, but it quickly disappeared. The two spent some time chatting until Mark had to leave to catch his ne, so Elspeth returned to the Winthrop Residence. Early the following day, Elspeth came downstairs for breakfast and was met with strange gazes from everyone. Max snorted. ¡°How surprising. You¡¯re actually smart.¡± She took a seat and ignored his sarcastic remark. ¡°Alright, stop it.¡± Theodore red at Max and cleared his throat. ¡°Since today¡¯s the weekend, I¡¯ve decided that we¡¯re going hiking as a family.¡± Pfft! Everyone on the scene dropped their jaws in shock. Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Chapter 21 The Hiking Incident Hiking¡­ A tiring and hot activity in which they all had no interest. ¡°Dad, I have a few operations scheduled, so it might not be convenient.¡± Raising to his feet, Arthur was about to leave when he was grabbed by his father. ¡°So? Does your hospital not have other doctors besides you?¡± Arthur let out a nervousugh while tapping his nose. That naturally made ke and Max, who were about to make up their own excuses, keep quiet as well. ¡°So, it¡¯s settled. We¡¯ll leave in a short while.¡± No one could reject Theodore¡¯s orders, so they all changed into appropriate clothes and went to the most famous hiking spot in the city. When they arrived, Elspeth immediately spotted Ophelia, who was all smiles and wearing a gentle-looking dress. Margot beamed when she saw her favorite ¡®daughter-inw¡¯. ¡°Ophelia, I didn¡¯t expect you toe. I thought you wouldn¡¯t make it.¡± ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, how can I say no to your invitation?¡± While tugging on Margot¡¯s hand, Ophelia replied obediently. The straightforward Max took a look at Ophelia¡¯s clothes and pursed his lips. ¡°When do people ever wear such a long dress for hiking? How do you expect to hike up the hill in this getup?¡± Elspeth, on the other hand, grinned slightly. Max, you¡¯re starting to be interesting. Ophelia turned pale as she bit her lower lip. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t hike that often, so I didn¡¯t know¡­¡± Sensing her iing crocodile tears, Elspeth felt a headache arriving. This woman might be up to something. I wouldn¡¯t havee if I had known she wasing. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Why do you care about what she wears?¡± Margot rolled her eyes and tugged on Ophelia¡¯s hand. ¡°Ophelia, let¡¯s go. We¡¯ll take the lead.¡± She smiled through her tears. ¡°Sure.¡± Later, the two walked in front while Elspeth and the five trailed behind them, leaving Theodore at the back of the line. Along the way, Callum stayed silent, which prompted Elspeth to joke with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Callum, you¡¯re as quiet as a mouse, which is exactly what your name means, peace.¡± He looked at the scenery in the distance and ignored her taunts. Not paying attention to her track, she identally stepped and slipped on a rock, which then sprained her ankle. ¡°Ouch!¡± She clutched her ankle with her brows furrowed. Callum noticed her situation and looked down at her with inquiry. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°I sprained my ankle.¡± ¡°Can you still walk?¡± Seeing that Elspeth was breaking out in cold sweat, Callum decided to carry her into his arms when he saw her pained state. Last time, she was half-conscious when she was in his embrace due to her menstrual cramp. This time, she was fully awake, so she could feel his strong heartbeat and smell the fragrance of fresh mint wafting from him. ¡°Set me down. I can walk on my own.¡± ¡°Your ankle is so swollen, yet you¡¯re still so stubborn.¡± With a cold expression on his face, he disregarded her resistance and continued walking. ¡°There¡¯s a hospital at the peak. I¡¯ll let Arthur help you with the swelling when we get there.¡± Hearing that, Elspeth obediently stayed in his arms. Edmund, who was standing nearby, noticed what had happened and smiled wickedly. ¡°Oh, Callum. I didn¡¯t expect you to have a soft side. Has your cold heart finally been thawed?¡± So, a woman whom Callum cares about actually exists! ¡°Stop the nonsense,¡± Callum reprimanded him sharply. Max rolled his eyes. ¡°Phoney.¡± In the meantime, Arthur was busy dealing with hospital matters while ke was talking to his manager on the phone, so both of them did not have the time to care about what was happening there. Yet, that was not the case for Ophelia as she had to witness the love of her life carrying Elspeth in his arms. Elspeth, you b*tch! As she thought of that, her mood significantly fell, which alerted Margot. Seeing that Ophelia was upset, Margot asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Ophelia? You don¡¯t seem happy.¡± ¡°Callum¡­ Does he like Elspeth?¡± Margot turned her head sharply and saw Elspeth being carried in Callum¡¯s arms, which made her frown as well. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ophelia. I¡¯ll give you an exnation.¡± Once they arrived at the peak, Elspeth was sent to the hospital to receive treatment. Then, Margot took advantage of the group¡¯s absence and entered the ward. ¡°Elspeth, I have something to say to you.¡± Ever since they made amendsst time, Elspeth almost never talked to Margot. Therefore, when she saw Margot entering the room, she began to wonder whether an issue had grown between them again. Smiling, she replied, ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°You and Callum seem to be quite close recently.¡± Margot tried to make it as subtle as she could, but Elspeth caught on immediately. ¡°No, we¡¯re not. Callum and I barely talked to each other.¡± With a straight face, Margot warned, ¡°I¡¯ve told you before that he belongs to Ophelia. I don¡¯t care what thoughts you have about him, nor do I care about your rtionship with him, but let me make it clear that I will never agree to the idea of you being with Callum. You can stop with the daydream.¡± It turns out she came here with a warning. Casually smiling, Elspeth promised her. ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, you can rest assured that I have no feelings about Callum.¡± ¡°That would be the best.¡± Now that Margot had spoken her mind and gotten Elspeth¡¯s promise, she felt assured and revealed a satisfied smile. ¡°To tell you the truth, my other four sons are equally excellent, so you can choose any of them. Elspeth, you¡¯re a smart child. You know what to do, right?¡± However, this incident did not affect Elspeth¡¯s mood as she sat on her bed and began messaging Harper on herptop. ¡®You there?¡¯ ¡®What¡¯s the matter, Elspeth?¡¯ ¡®Send me a few of those great medicinal liquor. They¡¯re in the warehouse¡¯s bottom drawer.¡± ¡®Have you hurt yourself again? Elspeth, your luck sucks.¡± She was at a loss for words. Thanks for making me feel better, dude. Just as she finished chatting with him, Edmund came in. ¡°Miss Lynwood, are you feeling better?¡± He casually sat down beside the bed as if they were very close friends. However, Elspeth was unfazed, ¡°Mr. Edmund, may I ask why you¡¯re here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here out of concern for you, Elspeth.¡± While saying that, he wore an indecipherable smile. She was clear that both of them had not gone past the acquaintance stage, so he must have conjured up a n bying here. ¡°Just spill. I¡¯m not interested in ying charades with you.¡± Hooking his lips, Edmund replied, ¡°Then, what if I say that I¡¯m interested in you?¡± When Elspeth heard that, her lips twitched uncontrobly. ¡°And you think I¡¯d just innocently believe that?¡± He then leaned toward her while the smile on his face became wider. ¡°Why don¡¯t you believe me? It makes me sad.¡± Feeling grossed out by his approach, she backed away to avoid any physical contact with him. ¡°Please behave yourself.¡± Not minding her words, he asked, ¡°What are you afraid of?¡± At that moment, Callum came in through the door and saw the two in an intimate position. His eyes darkened a little. ¡°Am I disturbing your moment?¡± The scene before him was quite an eyesore for him, but Edmund was overjoyed when he noticed the slight changes on Callum¡¯s countenance. ¡°Nope. Just like you, I came here to visit Elsie.¡± Edmund deliberately used a nickname to imply that they had a close rtionship. He even spoke the word ¡®Elsie¡¯ in such an ambiguous, yful way.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Callum Is Actually Blushing Does Edmund have feelings for Elspeth? There was inexplicable displeasure in Callum¡¯s eyes as he hummed and turned around to leave the room. Seeing that he had sessfully made Callum unhappy, Edmund was now in a good mood. He even reminded Elspeth to take care of her health before he left and intended to caress her head, but she dodged his hand. Everyone at the scene was now lost in their own thoughts, which made the atmosphere overly awkward. Coupled with Elspeth getting injured, Theodore waved his hand and everyone descended the hill to head home. Meanwhile, Elspeth was admitted to the hospital where Arthur worked. Theodore knocked on the door to her ward, which rarely happened, and looked at her face while reminiscing about past memories he shared with hisrade. His expression softened as he inquired, ¡°Elsie, are you feeling better? Those boys are so careless that they can¡¯t even look after a girl. You don¡¯t deserve this.¡± A warm feeling filled Elspeth¡¯s heart. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, it¡¯s my fault. I wasn¡¯t watching where I was walking. They had nothing to do with this.¡± ¡°Elsie, you can rest assured that no matter who marries you, I¡¯ll give him twenty percent of Winthrop Group¡¯s shares and twenty vis in ydal so that you¡¯d have the best life you deserve!¡± After hearing Theodore¡¯s promise, Elspeth felt her heart tighten as gratitude filled up inside her. At the door, Arthur was about to knock with his hand raised in midair, but he was attracted by the conversation happening inside. He was stunned in his spot when he heard their conversation. We can actually get that many benefits by just marrying Elspeth? We only have five percent of the shares each, but once we marry her, we can actually get twenty percent? Later, Theodore left a few more words of concern before picking up a call and leaving in a hurry. Arthur found it difficult to suppress the excitement in his heart and he took a deep breath to calm his nerves before heading inside. When he saw Elspeth, his gaze immediately softened before he approached her to massage her ankle. ¡°Does it still hurt?¡± Despite knowing that he was diagnosing her condition, Elspeth felt an inexplicable awkwardness and backed away as if she was rejecting his attempt to get closer to her. She squeezed out a smile and answered, ¡°I feel better. It doesn¡¯t hurt as much anymore.¡± Smiling gently, he reminded her, ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. If there¡¯s anything you need, feel free to call me anytime.¡± Still, Elspeth was not ustomed to such friendly concern and was stunned. She could not figure out why Arthur, who did not give a damn about her, would suddenly change his attitude and be so enthusiastic toward her. With a shake of her head, she said, ¡°It¡¯s alright. I can manage on my own.¡± Smiling adoringly at her, he rubbed her head. ¡°I told you. You can¡¯t keep everything to yourself. A youngdy like you should learn to rely on others.¡± What? Elspeth froze in ce as if she had been struck by lightning. Just a few days ago, he told me he wasn¡¯t interested in me, so why is he showing me so much care now? Even until he left, she was still cracking her head to solve this mystery. During the days she was at the hospital, Callum never came to visit her. Since thepany was recently in its steady development stage, there were not many things that needed to be dealt with. After contemting, Elspeth thought that he might be avoiding her, so she specifically asked to carpool with him on the day she returned to work after recovery. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, since you¡¯re such a nice person, you wouldn¡¯t mind me carpooling with you, right?¡± Then, she spontaneously got into the passenger seat and buckled herself. Rolling his eyes, Callum questioned coldly, ¡°Why don¡¯t you take Edmund¡¯s car instead?¡± Elspeth smiled softly. ¡°I like your car better. Come on. Get in or we¡¯ll bete.¡± At that, he shook his head and brought her to work, knowing that he could not win against her. On the way, Elspeth focused on the scenery outside the window while the light breeze blew on her hair, creating a vague and beautiful sight. In the end, Callum broke the silence. ¡°What¡¯s going on with youBelonging to N?velDrama.Org. and Edmund?¡± Hearing that question, she turned around and batted her eyshes. ¡°Nothing.¡± Then, why were they¡­ ¡°I see you only believe in one side of the story. That¡¯s not something a person as smart as you should be doing.¡± The breeze was blowing on Elspeth sofortably that she softly squinted her eyes. On the other hand, Callum was stunned and his lips could not help but hook slightly. Feeling intrigued after catching the smile on his lips, she began to tease him. ¡°You look happy. Wait, are you into me? Is that why you care so much about what¡¯s between me and Edmund?¡± His expression immediately hardened. ¡°What? No.¡± That made her burst outughing uncontrobly. ¡°I cannot believe that Callum Winthrop is actually blushing. How interesting.¡± To avoid any more of her tricky questions, Callum stepped on the elerator and sped toward the company. When they arrived, Elspeth saw an uninvited guest. At the design department, Ophelia was sitting in the director¡¯s chair when she saw hering over. She then greeted Elspeth with a smile and said, ¡°You¡¯re back. How are you feeling, Elspeth?¡± Though she said that, she was secretly hoping that Elspeth would never get better. ¡°Thank you for your concern. I¡¯m doing well.¡± Elspeth did not intend to talk much with Ophelia because she was annoyed by her fake pleasantries all the time. Suddenly thinking of something, Ophelia announced with a smile, ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. By the way, Callum told me that one of his departments iscking a director, so I volunteered myself. Is that okay with you?¡± Chuckling softly, Elspeth replied, ¡°What¡¯s there to not be okay about? You¡¯re going to be Mrs. Winthrop in the future while this is just a department director¡¯s position. Honestly, this is nothing.¡± The color drained from Ophelia¡¯s face as she retorted, ¡°Elspeth, how can you be so mean? I was just worried that you¡¯d be annoyed since I¡¯m joining thepany as a supervisor while you¡¯re merely an¡­ employee.¡± So what, if you¡¯re an excellent student? Callum cares about me and gives me a position that¡¯s higher than yours. ¡°Jeez. Do you hide in my room or something? What makes you think I¡¯d be annoyed?¡± Elspeth snorted. ¡°Miss Fleming, I suggest you focus your efforts onpany matters. With the time you spend on talking to me, you could have written two proposals.¡± With no choice, Ophelia felt gloomy as she knew that she could not win against Elspeth in a tongue fight. With that, the two parted on bad terms while Elspeth returned to her desk and began to focus on work. By afternoon, she went to Callum¡¯s office to discuss the next step of their n, but she saw Ophelia inside the office, hugging his arm and acting like a spoiled child. ¡°Callum, it¡¯s noon. Let¡¯s have lunch together.¡± Meanwhile, Elspeth was standing outside the doorway and was about to leave when Callum called out to her. ¡°Elspeth,e in.¡± With pursed lips, she looked at them with a fiery gaze. ¡°No, thanks. I wouldn¡¯t want to be the third- wheel.¡± Callum removed his arm out of Ophelia¡¯s grip and sat back to his chair. ¡°Come over here. We¡¯ll discuss the n.¡± Meanwhile, Ophelia was at a loss for what to do after the obvious rejection. She did not expect the man who had never rejected her would actually ignore her for Elspeth. Though she was actually raging in frustration, she still managed to squeeze out a few tears upon looking at him. ¡°But Callum, I was the one who asked you out first.¡± Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Is Elspeth a ygirl? Callum answered in his cold voice, ¡°Well, I¡¯m giving priority topany matters. Is there a problem with that?¡± Having been rejected again, Ophelia bit her lip and stayed quiet. After she left, Elspeth watched her crying figure and could not helpughing. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re going to hurt your childhood sweetheart like that? She seems to be crying quite miserably.¡± Callum gave her a sideways nce and ordered, ¡°Look at the n.¡± Chuckling, she said, ¡°Looks like Edmund was right. You are an inconsiderate workaholic.¡± Instead of answering her, he lowered his head and looked at the n. The sun¡¯s rays shone down on his face, and through the vague reflection, Elspeth could see that his pupils were as deep as the ckhole. When the two finished revising their n, it was already 3.00PM and Elspeth¡¯s tummy just happened to rumble at an inappropriate time. With a raised brow, Callum offered, ¡°Let¡¯s go. We¡¯ll have something nice.¡± They tidied up and coincidentally bumped into Ophelia on their way out of the building before Elspeth smiled at her. At this point, Ophelia¡¯s already puffy eyes reddened even more as she ran inside while wiping her tears. The small incident did not affect their mood as Callum brought Elspeth to a noodle shack he frequented and ordered two bowls of ramen. While biting the end of her fork, Elspeth giggled. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the oldest young master of the Winthrop Family would enjoy this sort of delicacy.¡± Although Callum was slurping noodles, his actions remained elegant as ever. He ate a mouthful of noodles and asked, ¡°What do you think I eat on a daily basis? Steaks? Caviar? Lobsters?¡± ¡°I just didn¡¯t expect that you¡¯d enjoy such hearty meals.¡± Elspeth¡¯s smile became even more unrestrained, but she suddenly looked at him with bright eyes while stating, ¡°But¡­ I like them too. Although I¡¯d eat them almost every day, I still think that no food canpare to the noodles my dad made.¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Unfortunately, all of that has passed and I can¡¯t return to those days. Meanwhile, Callum stayed silent and lowered his head to eat his noodles, but his mood was slightly affected. This was the first time he heard her mention her family; though it was just a brief sentence, he was still deeply moved. The two went back to thepany and a colleague patted Elspeth on the shoulder when she was just about to get off work. ¡°Elspeth, log on to your Twitter. Something happened!¡± Feeling her heart sink, she logged onto her Twitter ount and scanned through the contents with somerge, attention-grabbing words. ¡®Elspeth Lynwood acts intimately with a foreign man while being engaged to the Winthrop Family.¡¯ ¡®Though Elspeth Lynwood looks obedient, she¡¯s actually a ygirl who ys with the Winthrop men¡¯s feelings.¡¯ ¡®Having been surrounded by so many men, who will get Elspeth Lynwood in the end?¡¯ ¡­ There was also a blurry picture on Twitter circling around. From it, Elspeth could make out that it was taken on the day of the auction when Theo was touching her head; they were smiling happily and seemed very close. Although they were both wearing sunsses, it was not difficult to make out that the woman in the picture was herself. Squinting her eyes, Elspeth felt a cold sensation pass through her. She seemed to know who was behind all of this, so she immediately called Harper to get rid of those news articles. In the meantime, she was called home by Theodore. When she came out of thepany, she just happened to bump into Callum, who was going home as well. However, he merely nced at her before walking away. It seemed like he had also found out about the hottest news articles. Atst, Elspeth returned to the Winthrop Residence under everyone¡¯s presence and was immediately met with Margot¡¯s lecture. ¡°Elspeth! I thought you were a good kid. I cannot believe that you¡¯re such a sl*t!¡± Frowning, Elspeth did not retort but tried to exin instead, ¡°It¡¯s all just a misunderstanding.¡± However, Margot was not having it. ¡°I can understand it if you don¡¯t like any of my sons, but how can you agree to spend time with my sons while secretly dating another man? Elspeth, do you think you¡¯re being fair to Theodore?¡± Elspeth knew that if she could not exin this situation clearly, perhaps even Theodore would be disappointed in her. ¡°Elspeth, all the evidence is crystal clear, so I suggest you admit your doings!¡± Max had long since despised Elspeth¡¯s aloof attitude and sneered, ¡°You¡¯d better get out of here as soon as possible. Maybe, by then, I¡¯ll be the bigger person and forgive you.¡± Shaking her head, Elspeth exined again, ¡°It¡¯s not what you guys think. That man is my senior.¡± A senior? Who are you kidding? While staring at her with his cold gaze, Max reprimanded, ¡°Even if he¡¯s your senior, someone who¡¯s able to interact so intimately with you must be someone close to you, right? Elspeth, things have already gotten to this point, yet you¡¯re still trying to reason your way out of this.¡± Meanwhile, Theodore was frowning with mixed emotions surging within him. He stared at Elspeth and asked calmly, ¡°Elsie, are they telling the truth? Are you and that man¡ª¡± She replied in a deep tone, ¡°Mr. Winthrop, that person is really only a senior to me. I can call him right now if you don¡¯t believe me.¡± At that moment, Margot smirked. ¡°What can you prove by calling him? Wouldn¡¯t you be able to trick everyone by getting your story straightened out with him?¡± Feeling a headacheing, Elspeth felt that it was indeed difficult for her to exin things in such a situation. Suddenly, ke, who was scrolling through Twitter, shouted in surprise, ¡°Hey, everyone. Someone just posted an official statement on Twitter.¡± The person was a mix of Edenian and Charsian and he looked just like the person in the pictures. Subsequently, the post wrote, ¡®I am a man with a fianc¨¦ and we¡¯re going to get married this June. Elspeth Lynwood is like a younger sister to me, and caring for her is the task our teacher gave me, so there is no need to blow this out of proportion. I hope that all of youizens can be kind with your words and spare the young woman.¡¯ Since Mark had received a lot of grand prizes abroad, he had substantial poprity, so no one dared to easily refute him. Therefore, the tides suddenly changed and some even began to guess which evil person would have the time to take the photo and frame Elspeth with baseless usation. Margot, who was furious earlier, began to calm down and looked at Elspeth¡¯s face while lost in thought. ¡°Elspeth, I¡­¡± With a satisfied smile on his face, Theodore assured her, ¡°I knew my judgment was correct. Elsie, you¡¯ve been wronged.¡± While nodding her head, Elspeth smiled. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, thank you for believing in me.¡± On the other hand, Max felt embarrassed as he tapped his nose while stubbornly saying, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I still don¡¯t like you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need you to like me, but don¡¯t ever use me of something I didn¡¯t do.¡± Elspeth threw him a sideways nce and replied. He clenched his fists. ¡°Don¡¯t push your luck,dy!¡± ¡°Alright, already. Now that this is settled, let¡¯s not pursue it anymore.¡± Theodore waved his hand to stop Max from spitting any more hurtful words. After the crowd had dispersed, Callum was still standing not far away while staring at Elspeth. He had a strange feeling when he saw her usual calmness andposure while dealing with this matter instead of crying and making a fuss. Sensing his gaze, she tilted her head and beamed. ¡°Do you think I have something to do with that man?¡± He remained silent, which in a way meant that he admitted to being bothered by it. However, it was not to the extent that he truly believed she was such a person. While looking at his expression, Elspeth shed him a smile, but it did not reach her eyes. Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Delirious When the crisis was over, Elspeth immediately had Harper find out the person behind the incident. Sure enough, it was Ophelia who had bribed a reporter to obtain the photo before she posted it on the Inte. Elspeth couldn¡¯t help thinking that she must have taught the Flemings too small a lesson, which was why Ophelia still had the capability to pull these tricks. ¡°Harper, inform everyone that all the contracts between Azure and the Fleming Group have been terminated. We will not cooperate with them in the future. The current coborations will be canceled with immediate effect. It doesn¡¯t matter how much thepensation for the liquidated damages is.¡± Harper¡¯s face turned frigid as heined, ¡°I just knew it was Ophelia again. Don¡¯t worry, Miss Elspeth. I won¡¯t let the Fleming Group off the hook just like this.¡± In a way, the Fleming Group had lost one of their biggest ie streams of at least billions of dors without the Azure Corporation. The Azure Corporation¡¯s announcement of their cooperation with the Fleming Group had aroused Callum¡¯s doubts. When he noticed how the Fleming Group would get into trouble whenever something happened to Elspeth, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Harper was helping her take revenge on Ophelia. Callum and Elspeth had just finalized the final n today, and Elspeth was about to leave when Callum suddenly stopped her. ¡°Elspeth, I have a question.¡± Ever since thest time he suspected her, she didn¡¯t feel like talking to him unless it was about business. ¡°Don¡¯t say anything if it is personal.¡± ¡°Are you the one who pulled the strings to put the Fleming Group into this mess?¡± Elspeth paused for a brief moment before she suddenlyughed. ¡°What? You think I am powerful enough to bring down a giant like the Fleming Group?¡± Hearing that, Callum said with a serious face, ¡°Even if you don¡¯t, Harper Summerfield and Azure Corporation do. Elspeth, Ophelia might be unlikable, but you don¡¯t need to do this to her.¡± ¡°You sure do care about her, Mr. Winthrop. You are even trying to find out who is responsible on her behalf.¡± Elspeth¡¯s gaze was colder than ice. Having been used, Callum let out a frown. ¡°Also¡­¡± Elspeth added, ¡°Do you really think Ophelia is as innocent as you think she is?¡± To that, Callum stated in a low voice, ¡°I don¡¯t think she has a bad nature.¡± He still remembered how upset Ophelia was for the longest time after she stepped on an ant when they were children. What more can I say then? She then stood up without a hint of emotion on her face. ¡°The Fleming Group¡¯s predicament and the Azure Corporation¡¯s cancetions of coboration have nothing to do with me. If you insist on figuring out who is behind this, Mr. Winthrop, why don¡¯t you give the president of the Azure Corporation a call and ask for the details, instead of picking a bone with your employee here?¡± After throwing that out, she turned around, and they parted on bad terms. It would soon be the Winthrop Group¡¯s anniversary banquet, where many celebrities and distinguished guests would be invited. And so, Callum entrusted Ophelia with the task of nning the banquet. When Elspeth learned of this, her hand that was writing lightly trembled. It turns out he likes her. No wonder he tries so hard to protect her. It is because she has his heart. Elspeth didn¡¯t know where this thought came from, but it was upsetting. After work, she immediately gave Harper a call and invited him to have a drink at a bar. He couldn¡¯t help but smile as he looked at the sparkling alcohol in his hand when they were in Luna Bar. ¡°Even someone like you can be in a bad mood, huh? What is the matter? Did the Winthrops mess with you?¡± Elspeth downed her drink as she muttered, ¡°I told you that won¡¯t happen.¡± Harper rolled his eyes at that. ¡°Why did you invite me over for this gloomy drinking session then?¡± She hooked a finger and knocked his head with it. ¡°It is either you drink, or scram.¡± ¡°I am drinking, alright? Drinking. Geez¡­¡± Elspeth soon started feeling tipsy after she drank ss after ss of alcohol. All that alcohol in her system must have done something to her courage when she suddenly proposed to y a game of truth or dare. ¡°Whoever the bottle points at has to go pick up someone, and if you fail, you have to drink three more sses!¡± Harper was the one who lost the first round. He unhesitantly brought alcohol with him to a woman he saw, and it didn¡¯t take long before he was back with her phone number. The bottle pointed to Elspeth during the second round. She, too, wasn¡¯t reluctant at all as she stood up and staggered to a group of people not far away. Callum was in the group when he saw the swaying woman. Is that¡­ Elspeth? He frowned. As she let out a lighthearted chuckle, her slender finger pointed at everyone surrounding her before it fell on Callum. ¡°You! You are the hottest one. I choose you!¡± Callum only quietly watched her while he waited for her next move. ¡°Hey hottie, what do you think of me?¡± Elspeth¡¯s face was flushed, and the long red dress she had on made her look even more gorgeous and eye-catching. As she muttered those words, she leaned against Callum and tugged at his tie. The fragrance that drifted off of her was like a hit of drug to him. The men around them were dumbfounded at the sight. ¡°As expected of the young master.¡± The man next to himughed. ¡°He is the focus everywhere he goes. Even a stunner like thisdy here has thrown herself into your arms. Look at her waist and legs. She is so fair she is practically shining.¡± ¡°I agree. Mr. Winthrop, one night of pleasure is worth more than anything. It is not often youe across beautiful women like her. Since she fancies you and she has had one too many, how about you ¡ª¡± Seeing their lustful eyes linger on Elspeth¡¯s fair and smooth legs, Callum growled, ¡°I will dig your eyes out if you keep looking at her.¡± The men around them immediately shut their mouths and stoppedmenting on Elspeth when they saw Callum getting angry. He suddenly felt irked, and he took off his jacket to wrap it around Elspeth. His eyes were dark when he asked, ¡°Elspeth, what are you doing?¡± ¡°Wha¡ªoh, it is you, Callum. Forget it. I don¡¯t want you.¡± She struggled to sit up, but the man suddenly lifted her into his arms. ¡°Be good. You drank one too many.¡± She pouted childishly when she heard that. ¡°I said no! Why are you pestering me?¡± ¡°Something can easily happen to you if you run amok when you are intoxicated like this.¡± Callum, however, ignored her protests and carried her to a room upstairs. Now that Elspeth waspletely drunk, she started rambling about this and that. ¡°Callum Winthrop is the most annoying person on earth. I hate him.¡± His gaze darkened when he heard that. ¡°Why do you hate Callum?¡± he asked tentatively. When she heard that, she blurted out all her grievances. ¡°He is always bullying me on other people¡¯s behalf. How can he do this to me? I didn¡¯t even do anything wrong¡­¡± ¡°He has never bullied you,¡± he stated impatiently. ¡°He likes¡­ Ophelia. That is why he keeps bullying me for her¡­¡± Elspeth started sobbing after she muttered those words. Callum had never seen her behaving this way. It pained him to see her like a young girl who had been taken advantage of. Even he suddenly felt like he had done something wrong after listening to herints. ¡°He will never bully you.¡± This was both his promise and assurance to her. She hummed, but she then countered, ¡°But he likes Ophelia. He will always be there to help her¡­¡± Elspeth lost consciousness and fell into a deep sleep after that. Looking at her face as she slept soundly, Callum said in a soft voice, ¡°I don¡¯t like Ophelia.¡±Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Chapter 25 Chapter 25 Chapter 25 Locked in the Washroom It was near afternoon when Elspeth finally woke up to a terrible headache. She groped around for her phone, and when she finally found it, she saw she had received more than a hundred messages and numerous calls from Harper. She first sent him a message to assure that she was safe before she started to recall what had happenedst night. She remembered how she had met Callum and gone all out teasing him, and¡­ She had no idea what happened after that. After massaging her temples, she quickly freshened up and went to thepany. Even though Ophelia was a bit of a b*tch, she did a good job in nning the dinner party. Having someone of her status decorate the venue in such a novel and unique style won her the praise of everyone. ¡°Oh, stop it, you guys. This really is nothing much. Callum was the one who taught me everything. I am only copying his skills,¡± Ophelia exined with a flush on her cheeks. Everyone naturally knew what was going on when they saw how bashful she was, so they teased her again. ¡°Miss Fleming, you and the president must be childhood sweethearts. We can tell that he likes you a lot!¡± ¡°Gosh, this is like a TV drama!¡± Elspeth felt emotions she couldn¡¯t pinpoint, and she soon returned to her own seat. Still, she could hear the mindless chattering going on. Someone had to pick now of all times to ask the wrong question. ¡°But¡­ isn¡¯t Elspeth the fianc¨¦e of the Winthrop Family? What if she chooses Mr. Winthrop when the timees?¡± Ophelia was in the middle of being praised when her face suddenly fell upon hearing the question. However, she had to force an awkward smile to keep up with her image. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Elspeth told me she doesn¡¯t like Callum.¡± Elspeth raised an eyebrow at that. She couldn¡¯t help theugh that slipped when she heard Ophelia uttering nonsense with that serious face on. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. ¡°Please don¡¯t make things up, Miss Fleming. I am not close enough with you to talk about something like this.¡± Surprised that Elspeth suddenly came over, Ophelia¡¯s face turned pale, but still she lowered her head and chewed on her lower lip. ¡°Elspeth, you were the one who said that. It is alright if you regret your words. After all, Callum¡ª¡± ¡°What is wrong?¡± Elspeth cut her off with augh. ¡°Am I not allowed to like him?¡± Ophelia immediately fell silent. She was so embarrassed she couldn¡¯t say another word. When she caught sight of Callum, who happened to be walking toward them, she smilinglyced her arm around his. ¡°Callum, I have decorated the banquet venue for tonight. Do you want to go take a look?¡± His gaze was firm as he impassively looked at Elspeth, who was not far away. ¡°You werete today, Elspeth. I will be deducting your three days¡¯ worth of sry.¡± Elspeth was so angry she couldugh, but all she did was grind her teeth and give the man a deadly stare. However, Callum avoided her gaze as he swiftly went with Ophelia to the venue. After half an hour, Callum¡¯s secretary suddenly came to Elspeth and whispered in her ear, ¡°Elspeth, Mr. Winthrop wants you to drop by his office.¡± As much as Elspeth was reluctant to be in contact with the man, she could only stand up and trudge to Callum¡¯s office despite sighing when she saw the troubled look on the secretary¡¯s face. She then opened the door, where she found Callum sitting in the lounge with a grim face. ¡°Why did you call for me?¡± She didn¡¯t approach him when she saw that he wasn¡¯t in the best of moods. Instead, she stood in a distance that was neither too far nor near and studied him. He pointed to the gift box on the table and stated, ¡°You wille with me to the dinner party tonight.¡± Even though his tone was stiff, it was obvious that he was asking her to be his partner. ¡°Me?¡± Elspeth repeated in surprise. ¡°Your childhood friend isn¡¯t going to be too happy about it.¡± Ignoring what she said, Callum had a scowl on his face as he picked up the gift box and stuffed it into her hands. ¡°This is your dress for tonight. Remember to wear it.¡± ¡°And what if I say no?¡± Unlike him, her face was smug as she wrapped her arms across her chest and looked at him. ¡°I will deduct one month¡¯s sry, then,¡± he announced in a low voice. Rendered speechless, Elspeth glowered at him before she walked out with the box against her chest. Ophelia happened to see Elspeth leave the president¡¯s office hugging a huge gift box. Her jealousy that started to bubble up inside was so close to consuming her. What a shameless fox! she fumed. At night, Elspeth took the box and went to the bathroom to change into the dress. Ophelia also went into the washroom to fix her makeup a while after Elspeth had gone in. She had on a baby pink dress that was the cherry on top of her adorable and gentle appearance. ncing at Elspeth, she no longer had the fa?ade she had on. The look in her eyes had been reced by unadulterated hatred. ¡°I am warning you, Elspeth¡ªdon¡¯t you dare get ideas about Callum. I won¡¯t let you off the hook otherwise.¡± Elspeth brushed her fingers through her fringe, her face still calm. ¡°Even if I did, it has got nothing to do with you, no?¡± Ophelia itched to tear Elspeth¡¯s mouth open when she saw how stubborn thetter was being. ¡°Elspeth, I grew up with Callum. No one can get between us. I hope you back off before youe to regret it!¡± Hearing that, Elspeth shook her head and clicked her tongue. ¡°He still doesn¡¯t like you even after all those years you spent together? Tsk! You poor thing.¡± ¡°What the h*ll did you say?!¡± Ophelia swiftly let out an angry shriek. ¡°Do you think he likes you? Ophelia, has he ever shown you that he likes you? Even a little?¡± Elspeth had asked the questions that Ophelia had avoided thinking about because she was reluctant to learn of Callum¡¯s true feelings. She was afraid she would get the answers she didn¡¯t want to ept. However, she had never seen Callum pay attention to any woman so much. It suffocated her to see how he asionally showed he cared for Elspeth. ¡°He is just confused about his own feelings, but no matter what, he will never fall for you!¡± Elspeth nodded andmented lightly, ¡°Fine. We will wait and see.¡± Ophelia¡¯s eyes were sharp when she smashed the lipstick she was holding on the floor and stormed off. After she left, Elspeth went to change into the dress, only to find out that the dress had been cut into shreds when she opened the box. She could tell at a nce that someone had done it on purpose. She threw the dress into the bin, and was about to head out to get a new dress when she realized that the washroom had been locked from the outside. Her phone happened to have run out of battery as well. ¡°What is with this sh*tty luck?¡± she muttered to herself with a frown. At the same time, Callum had been waiting for Elspeth for a while now, and he was starting to worry when she still hadn¡¯t appeared. Did something happen to her? He felt even more uncertain after he called her, only to reach her mailbox. Just as he was about to go look for her, Ophelia suddenly came to him with a sweet smile on her face. ¡°Callum, are you waiting for someone?¡± He nodded with his eyes looking into the distance. Ophelia couldn¡¯t help feeling jealous again when she saw the distraught look on his face. ¡°I bumped into Elspeth earlier, Callum. She was on her way to the washroom. She told us to head in first in case we waste time waiting for her because she will take a while.¡± Chapter 26 Chapter 26 Chapter 26 Roofied Ophelia sounded so truthful it seemed like Elspeth had really said that. Hearing that, Callum nodded and walked into the hall with Ophelia. The reporters surrounding the door were furiously clicking at their cameras that were pointed at the duo. In order to create a buzz, Ophelia even leaned close to Callum. She suddenly tripped, and was about to nt her face straight into the floor if it wasn¡¯t for Callum who noticed and quickly held her by the waist to stop her from falling. The reporters only more fervently took photos at such a scene that they couldn¡¯t possibly miss. They had even thought of the headlines, such as ¡®Is There Something Between Them? Fleming Group and Winthrop Group¡¯s Union!¡¯, and they were sure that this would be breaking news. Ophelia started blushing after she was saved. ¡°Thank you, Callum.¡± However, he unhesitantly pulled back his hand and told her to go in. He stalked in by himself then. Her good mood instantly went down the drain, but in order to avoid any awkwardness, she bit her lip and quickly followed him. Soon after, anothermotion that wasparable to that of Callum and Ophelia¡¯s when they entered the hall came from the entrance. Curious, Callum quietly looked over to the two figures that walked in. It was a jolly-looking Edmund and¡­ Elspeth? She had on a ck mini dress that looked seductive and sexy. Callum¡¯s eyes lingered on her when he saw the dress. The dress that he gifted her was supposed to be a white tube dress. He couldn¡¯t help thinking how she must really despise him to stand him up ande in with Edmund. As soon as Edmund¡¯s sharp eyes noticed Callum, Edmund beamed, ¡°Hey Callum. You are early.¡± Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Ophelia, on the other hand, was stunned in ce when she saw Elspeth standing there in a new dress. Ophelia had gone out of her way to destroy the other woman¡¯s dress, cut her phone charger¡¯s cable, and destroy the washroom¡¯s lock. So how did shee out? Ophelia wondered. Elspeth¡¯s smile was rather cold when she began, ¡°Miss Fleming, why do you look surprised to see me here?¡± Ophelia immediately snapped back to reality and shook her head. ¡°I am not. I am just surprised to see the two of youe in together.¡± Elspeth turned to nce at Edmund and smiled. ¡°Thank god for Mr. Edmund¡¯s help, or I would still be in the washroom. I wonder who would do something as immoral as breaking the door lock and cutting up my dress¡­ What do you think, Miss Fleming?¡± Ophelia was now tightly clenching at the hem of her dress. ¡°I didn¡¯t do it, so why are you asking me?!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything. You sure are nervous, Miss Fleming. Could it be that this does have something to do with you?¡± Elspeth gradually pushing into Ophelia got thetter all tongue-tied. It was right then that Callum suddenly spoke up on Ophelia¡¯s behalf to help her out of the situation. ¡°Enough, the banquet is about to start. I am d nothing happened.¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t help shooting him a re upon having the words she prepared cut off by him. ¡°That is right. The banquet will soon begin. Elsie, may I have a dance with you?¡± Edmund politely extended his hand and bowed. She nodded smilingly. ¡°Of course. It is an honor.¡± The couple then went for a dance on the dance floor. Their every moveplemented each other so well that everyone in the hall admitted defeat. Many stopped and cooed about how much of a match they were. With Edmund and Elspeth¡¯s good looks, they were the epitome of a match made in heaven. Callum thought they were an eyesore as he watched them, and he grumbled to himself, She doesn¡¯t look good with Edmund at all. Ophelia was eager when she blurted out, ¡°Callum, should we dance as well?!¡± She had prepared a dance that she wanted to show off tonight. Much to her disappointment, the man was in too bad a mood to have the strength to dance. He only brushed her off before he went to a corner and drank his sorrows away. It wasn¡¯t long before Callum felt a rush of heat course through his body. With his sharp senses, he realized he had been drugged. Ophelia soon came to him. When she saw the beads of sweat on his forehead, she faked concern and asked, ¡°What is the matter, Callum?¡± He still had the tiniest bit of consciousness left as he muttered in a low voice, ¡°I am fine. You should head over there.¡± ¡°Callum¡­¡± She reached out to touch his flushed and warm forehead, and sat down beside him. ¡°Are you feeling sick? Should I take you to the doctor?¡± Her touch was agonizing for someone who had been drugged. It felt like there was a fire when her soft hand caressed his burning face. Not wanting any ident to happen, Callum stood up while ignoring her advances, and entered the elevator to go to his office. Ophelia smiled when she saw him leave. As I expected. She then went upstairs with him. After Elspethpleted a dance with Edmund, she subconsciously looked for Callum, only to find that both Callum and Ophelia had disappeared from the hall. Seemingly seeing through her thoughts, Edmund let out a small smile and mused, ¡°Looking for my brother? I saw him go upstairs with his arm around Ophelia. Could they be¡­¡± Elspeth could guess what he was about to say even though he didn¡¯t finish his words. ¡°Go after them if you are curious.¡± Edmund had only told her this because he was confident Elspeth wouldn¡¯t go upstairs and get in Callum and Ophelia¡¯s way. And it wasn¡¯t like she could do anything even if she were to go up. She might only end up being more disappointed in Callum if she saw them doing things together. Rxed, Edmund took a sip of his drink as he let the dice roll. ¡°I am not going,¡± she coldly replied. I won¡¯t go and disturb them. However, her phone rang the next moment. She had gotten a short message from Callum, which stated, ¡®Come up to 302.¡¯ Elspeth immediately turned off her screen so that she wouldn¡¯t have to see the infuriating message. However, she started thinking something was wrong. Callum wasn¡¯t a beast who would gobble up anything that was presented to him. There was no reason for him to do something like she imagined he would with Ophelia on an important day like this. She was rushing upstairs by the time she was hit by realization. Being the careful man Callum was, he went to the printing room instead of the president¡¯s office. As he sat limp on the floor, he mustered hisst bit of consciousness to send a message to Elspeth. He had a feeling that this miraculous woman would have a way to help him. As soon as Elspeth came to 302, she immediately saw the look on his face as he held himself back. ¡°Were you roofied, Callum?¡± She had enough medical knowledge to notice his odd reaction. He looked like he had been drugged. The drug was obviously a potent one to make the clear-headed Callum a drowsy mess. He only hummed a reply, but when he opened his eyes and saw Elspeth within arm¡¯s length, he suddenly grabbed her by the wrist. ¡°Callum! What are you doing?!¡± Before she could even process what was going on, she had already been pulled into his embrace. Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Chapter 27 A Deep Kiss Callum held Elspeth beneath him, and he stared at her with a gaze so hot that she could see the mes in them. ¡°Callum¡­¡± His lips crashed against hers and silenced everything else she tried to say. It was a little awkward¡ªhe kissed as if he didn¡¯t know how to do it, but as his lips pressed against hers over and over again, he slowly deepened the kiss and even stuck his tongue inside her mouth. Elspeth knew that Callum was acting this way because he was drugged, so she bit down on his lip to try and make him regain his senses. Callum moved back a little and she seized this chance to flip on top of him instead. Noticing that he was still trying to make his move, she swiftly pped him and knocked him unconscious. ¡°How exhausting.¡± Elspeth stood up and kicked him. ¡°And he even tried to take advantage of me while out of his senses! He¡¯s a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing!¡± Calling an ambnce would make too muchmotion, so Elspeth called up one of the Winthrops¡¯ bodyguards and had him take Callum to the hospital. When Callum opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Elspeth, who was standing beside him with an indifferent expression. He was startled. ¡°Did you stay here all night taking care of me?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not very vignt at all, are you, Mr. Winthrop? Someone even managed to drug you.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t answer his question, and she started mocking him instead. Callum had to admit that she was right, so he didn¡¯t refute her statement and merely listened to whatever she had to say. ¡°Well, you¡¯re awake, so I¡¯m leaving now.¡± Looking at him now only reminded her of the way he protected Ophelia, which gave Elspeth a rather unpleasant feeling. ¡°Edmund¡¯s very interested in you,¡± Callum said all of a sudden. Elspeth cocked her eyebrows. ¡°And? What does it have to do with you?¡± ¡°Edmund always likesparing himself to me, and he keeps trying to one-up me. I¡¯m afraid that he¡¯s trying to get close to you because of me and not because he truly likes you.¡± Callum expressed his concern. When Elspeth heard this, she smirked mischievously and asked, ¡°Does that mean that you¡¯re interested in me? Is that why Edmund is trying to fight you on this too?¡± She had honed in on a crucial point and Callum was at a loss for words. He didn¡¯t know what to say. ¡°You can take it however you want,¡± he said a little awkwardly. He didn¡¯t take the bait and Elspeth didn¡¯t get to have her fun, so she didn¡¯t bother teasing him anymore. Callum rested for a little while longer before the two went back to thepany together. Meanwhile, Ophelia was extremely displeased that the n had failed, and she couldn¡¯t stand the sight of Elspeth. They spent the whole night together! Where did they go? And Callum was drugged too! Did they¡­ The more Ophelia thought about it, the more anxious she became. She even red at Elspeth menacingly. When Elspeth noticed Ophelia¡¯s reaction, she couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°Miss Fleming, are you curious as to what we didst night?¡± Ophelia had a twisted look on her face as she muttered, ¡°What did you two dost night?¡± ¡°Last night, we¡­ What do you think? A man and a woman spending the night together. Something must¡¯ve happened, right?¡± The thought of Elspeth sleeping with Callum unleashed the green-eyed monster in Ophelia. Blinded by jealousy, she could no longer keep herposure. ¡°Hurry up and tell me what the two of you did together! I¡¯ll make your life a living hell if you took advantage of Callum and slept with him!¡± ¡°Took advantage of him? How can you use that to describe something that happened between two consenting adults?¡± Elspeth smiled widely at the sight of Ophelia¡¯s outburst. It was very amusing to her. By now, Ophelia was no longer thinking straight. ¡°That¡¯s nonsense! Callum was drugged! How could he have consented?!¡± she cried out. Elspeth raised her eyebrows. Well, that¡¯s settled then. She¡¯s indeed the one behind it. ¡°I didn¡¯t say he was drugged. How did you know, Miss Fleming?¡± A look of ridicule shed across Elspeth¡¯s eyes. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Were you the one who drugged him, Miss Fleming?¡± Ophelia instantly regretted letting it slip, but it was toote. She weaseled it out of me again! After looking around to make sure that no one else overheard them, she threatened, ¡°Either way, I¡¯m warning you now¡ªdon¡¯t even think about putting your hands on my Callum!¡± ¡°It seems to me that you overestimate yourself, Miss Fleming. I¡¯ll just have to wait and see if you have the ability to make me suffer.¡± Elspeth stretchedzily and didn¡¯t waste any more of her attention on the woman who was bing a little maniacal. She turned around and went back to her desk. When it was time to get off work, Elspeth didn¡¯t feel like going back with Callum so she got a cab. That night at the dinner table, ke mentioned that he was going to shoot a music video for histest song the next day. Theodore thought it was a good opportunity for the young ones to spend time together, so he suggested having Elspeth go along with ke. ¡°Dad, why do you want her to go? Won¡¯t she just be a nuisance?¡± After the kidnapping incident, Max was convinced that Elspeth was just a walking ma for trouble. However, hisment only fueled Elspeth¡¯s desire to go against him. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll go and take a look tomorrow.¡± Max was furious but the only thing he could do was re daggers at her. The next morning, Elspeth got up early and followed ke to the filming location. Thetest song they were filming a music video for was a sweet and gentle love song, the kind that was in trend right now. Once Elspeth heard the opening melody, she instantly could tell that the song was going to be a hit. ¡°It¡¯s a pretty good song. I think it¡¯d be even better if you took the key down for thest few bars and add a little more sense of longing as you sing it,¡± Elspeth suggested in her clear, crisp voice. ke was a little taken aback. It sounds as if she knows a thing or two about music. Elspeth noticed his expression and smiled faintly without saying anything. It went without saying that the music video for a love song would feature a couple, but even after waiting about for several hours, the actress was still a no-show. Atst, the director called her manager up and it was then that they realized the actress had gotten into a car ident on the way. She couldn¡¯t make it to the shoot. The director was distraught. The production team had spent a lot of time and effort to select the right actress for the music video, and it was unlikely that they would be able to find a suitable recement on such short notice. Where am I going to find another youngdy who¡¯s pretty and has the aura I envisioned for our college girl character? Suddenly, ke came over and said with a smile, ¡°Director, I have a suitable candidate.¡± He pointed at Elspeth, who was daydreaming in a corner as the breeze rustled through her hair. She was wearing a simple, white dress that made her look as if she were the young female lead who had just stepped out of a campus romance novel. The director¡¯s eyes lit up at once. ¡°She fits the part even better!¡± He went over and quickly discussed it with Elspeth. She figured she would feel bad if she denied it since it was for ke¡¯s sake, so she agreed. She was led straight to the styling team first, and the filming began soon after. Thanks to Elspeth¡¯s outstanding looks and acting prowess, they wrapped up filming in next to no time. ¡°I have an idea. Why don¡¯t you record the song with me? You¡¯re the leadingdy in the music video, so it¡¯d be even better if you took part in the song too.¡± It was hard to refuse ke when he was being so sincere. After giving it some thought, Elspeth nodded in agreement. On the day the song, Sweet Tea, was released, it went viral across the Inte and topped the sales charts. Most of thements online were praising the female singer¡¯s clear and angelic voice, but at the same time, a lot of unpleasantments popped up as well. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡®She sounds almost exactly like Nancy Star. She must¡¯ve imitated Nancy!¡¯ As soon as someone made thatment, it instantly spread throughout all social media channels. Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Chapter 28 She¡¯s Nancy Star Thements started getting out of hand and the song¡¯s poprity was affected as well. ke realized how serious things had be, so he immediately went to the Winthrop Group to discuss with Elspeth what they should do tobat this issue. Elspeth had been in discussion with Callum about thepany¡¯s next coboration. She cocked her eyebrows in amusement when she heard about the controversy online. ¡°So they¡¯re saying that I imitated Nancy Star?¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t resist chuckling at that very idea. ke frowned at her reaction. ¡°This is quite a serious matter, Elspeth.¡± She doesn¡¯t seem bothered by it at all. A bold thought came to mind when Callum noticed Elspeth¡¯s reaction. However, he didn¡¯t voice it. He merely studied Elspeth thoughtfully as he waited to see what she would do next. Elspeth gave ke a reassuring smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll take care of this. It won¡¯t affect the release of your new song.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± For some reason, ke found himself havingplete faith in Elspeth once he saw just how unaffected she was. Ophelia knocked on the door and came in. When she saw that the three of them had gathered there, she couldn¡¯t stop herself from asking, ¡°By the way, I heard that there¡¯s a scandal involving the song that Elspeth recorded with ke. I think people are saying that Elspeth imitated¡­ What¡¯s going on, Elspeth?¡± Elspeth merely nced at her without saying anything. Nobody responded to Ophelia, but she forced herself to stay calm and suggested, ¡°I think if Elspeth really did do such a thing, she should just make a public apology on social media. Maybe everyone will forgive her.¡± A public apology? Elspeth knew that making a public apology at a time like this was the equivalent of digging a hole for herself. Not only would her reputation be destroyed, but ke would be affected too. ¡°I¡¯m not apologizing,¡± Elspeth dered outright. Ophelia instantly started fretting. ¡°Elspeth, even if you don¡¯t care about your reputation, ke still needs to care about his. If you have even a shred of conscience, you should go and apologize on social media right now. What if this ends up affecting ke¡¯s career?¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t let anyone be affected by this.¡± ¡°What else can you do? Imitating is imitating. You can¡¯t change what you did!¡± ¡°What if there is something else I can do?¡± Elspeth decided to have some fun. Naturally, Ophelia didn¡¯t believe her. She had looked into this already. Nancy Star has retreated from the public eye, so there¡¯s no way Elspeth is her, right? She studied abroad, so where would she find the time to be a celebrity? What aughable thought. ¡°What else is there that you can do? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re going to announce to the public that you¡¯re Nancy Star. Who¡¯d believe you?¡± Ophelia retorted mockingly as she stared at Elspeth questioningly. ¡°It so happens that I am.¡± ke was stupefied when he heard Elspeth¡¯s response. Elspeth Lynwood, the one that was supposed to be engaged to one of them, was actually Nancy Star, the person he admired with all his heart?! Even Callum was stunned too. Ophelia shook her head and sighed. ¡°Stop trying to put up a strong front, Elspeth. You¡¯ll only make things worse for yourself if you keep telling lie after lie.¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t be bothered to debate this with Ophelia any longer. She took out her phone, opened Twitter, and changed to a different ount. She went from an unknown alternate ount to an ount with tens of millions of followers. A new tweet popped up all of a sudden. ke realized that the only ount he was following on Twitter had just sent out a new tweet after a year of silence. It was just four words, but that was enough to leave everyone thunderstruck. ¡®I am Elspeth Lynwood.¡¯ In an instant, the tweet blew up on Twitter with several million retweets. A few people started cheering wildly in thements. ¡®See! I told you that Elspeth Lynwood is Nancy Star, but none of you believed me!¡¯ ¡®What a p in the face. Those of you who said that Elspeth imitated someone else need to p yourselves in the face!¡¯ ¡®So this is what Nancy Star looks like! She looks gorgeous in the music video! She¡¯s beautiful, has a lovely voice, is well-educated, and has five wonderful men to pick from! Her life sounds like something you¡¯d find in a romanticedy!¡¯ ¡°It¡¯s Nancy Star¡¯stest song. I can¡¯t believe how good it sounds! My wifey has such a mesmerizing voice! I¡¯m going to y the song 10,000 times!¡¯ ¡°Hey, you up there, scram! That¡¯s my wife!¡¯ Thements on Twitter flipped around within a minute. The song started rising on the streaming charts again and even broke its earlier record. ¡°Do you believe me now, Ophelia?¡± Elspeth rested her head on her hands. She looked as if she had gotten VIP seats at the theater and was about to enjoy a good show. Meanwhile, Ophelia looked like she had just swallowed a fly. How could Elspeth be Nancy Star?! Disappointment, jealousy, rage, and resentment all coursed through her veins as she clenched her fists. The only thing she could think of as she looked at Elspeth¡¯s attractive face was how much she longed to rip it apart! ¡°All¡¯s well that ends well, and everyone¡¯s happy now,¡± Elspethmented, but she brought up something else. ¡°You were criticizing me and doubting me just now, Miss Fleming. Shouldn¡¯t you apologize to me?¡± What Ophelia wanted to do was call Elspeth a b*tch, but the only thing she could do was force out a smile and apologize. ¡°So sorry about that, Elspeth. I misunderstood you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m not a petty person. Consider yourself forgiven.¡± Ophelia hade in to have a goodugh at Elspeth¡¯s expense, but Elspeth had turned things around so quickly and was so smug about it now. As such, Ophelia couldn¡¯t stand being in this room any longer. Once Ophelia left, ke, who had finally regained hisposure, spoke up. He couldn¡¯t hide the excitement in his voice as he said, ¡°Elspeth¡­ Wait, no¡­ Nancy! You¡¯re my role model! I love your songs!¡± Nancy had only been active in the music industry for one year and managed to win the most prestigious music award in her debut year before vanishing from the limelight. No one else could do what she did. Elspeth smiled. ¡°Alright, now. I¡¯m just a normal person.¡± ¡°I hope we can continue working together!¡± ke was on cloud nine after having found out that he had just recorded a song with his celebrity crush. He couldn¡¯t wait to work with her again. Elspeth nodded and smiled without saying anything. ke left first as he had to deal with the rest of the press releases, and soon, Callum and Elspeth were the only ones left in the office. ¡°I never thought you¡¯d have so many identities,¡± Callum remarked with a thoughtful look in his eyes. Elspeth chuckled at that. ¡°You¡¯re teasing me, Mr. Winthrop.¡± ¡°Must we talk like that?¡± Callum had no idea why he felt a little ufortable at the way Elspeth seemed to be keeping him at arm¡¯s length at all times. Elspeth only cocked an eyebrow. ¡°How should I talk, then?¡± Callum paused. In the end, he said nothing. Things were a little odd between them, and even the other Winthrops noticed this. Seeing as to how Callum seemed to be in a bad mood, Max suggested, ¡°I heard that there¡¯s a new race track at Death Canyon. Why don¡¯t we go and try it out together?¡± Theodore smiled when he heard that, and he said, ¡°In that case, take Elsie with you.¡± Max pursed his lips. ¡°Dad, this is a boys¡¯ thing. A girl like her would probably be terrified the moment she sat inside a race car. She¡¯d probably start bawling her eyes out. Why are you suggesting that we take her with us?¡± ¡°Oh? Are girls not allowed to race cars?¡± Elspeth piped up in interest. ¡°It¡¯s really not that I look down on girls. Some girls enjoy racing cars. It was a girl who broke Callum¡¯s record a while back. I¡¯m sure she must be a beautiful, sexy woman!¡± Max dered with a look of pure admiration. Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Unexpected ident Elspeth dispelled his fantasies by saying, ¡°I¡¯m the woman you¡¯re talking about.¡± Max leaped to his feet. ¡°How could it be you?! I don¡¯t believe you!¡± ¡°Suit yourself.¡± Max snorted. ¡°If you¡¯re really her, thene with us tomorrow and let me see just how good you are. Don¡¯t end up being too scared to even get into a race car.¡± Elspeth, however, wasn¡¯t going to let this brat get away with this so easily. ¡°What if I turn out to be her?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t call you a country bumpkin anymore if you really are her.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll have to call me Miss Elspeth,¡± Elspeth added with a smile. Max was determined as well. ¡°It¡¯s a deal! And if you¡¯re not, you¡¯ll get out of the Winthrop Residence at once!¡± ¡°Deal.¡± The next day, Max woke Elspeth up himself and called Callum to join them. The trio headed for Death Canyon. Max loved racing cars and thus, he looked up to Callum, who was an expert racer. However, once that mysterious woman broke Callum¡¯s record, he started imagining what she¡¯d look like. Elspeth changed into a crimson racing suit that made her the center of attention. Callum was also wearing red, and the two made quite the match when they stood together. ¡°If you have shoddy racing skills, then don¡¯t wait until you embarrass yourself. You can still admit defeat now.¡± Elspeth climbed into the race car and put on her seatbelt. ¡°Watch me.¡± The engine started and the car flew down the race track before anyone could even react. Initially, Max was still unconvinced, but once he saw the way she handled the car as shepleted the lap, his jaw dropped. ¡°T-This is impossible. How could this be?¡± Callum kept his voice low as he replied, ¡°I looked into who that person was thest time. It is Elspeth.¡± ¡°Callum¡­¡± Max stared at Callum with a pained expression. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me sooner?!¡± Callum raised his eyebrows without saying anything. By the time Elspeth got out of the car, Max was no longer the haughty brat he was earlier. ¡°Miss Elspeth,¡± he muttered reluctantly. ¡°Good boy!¡± Elspeth praised with a smile. After seeing how confident she was, Callum couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Shall wepete again?¡± Elspeth only rolled her eyes as she countered, ¡°Who wants topete with you? Not me, for sure!¡± Max immediately started egging her on. ¡°Miss Elspeth, dopete with Callum. I¡¯ve never seen anyone who¡¯s better than him!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re chickening out,¡± Callum added in his deep, rich voice. That sparked Elspeth¡¯spetitive streak. ¡°Fine. Let¡¯spete. We¡¯ll do it right here with this new race track. The first one back wins.¡± The two of them waited at the starting line and as soon as the horn went off, both of them mmed the elerators and their cars shot off into the distance. Elspeth was clearly more skilled, but Callum was a steadier racer and wasn¡¯t far behind. The two cars remained approximately ten feet apart the whole time. Elspeth smirked and was about to start elerating once more when her face turned pale. ¡°Callum!¡± she screamed all of a sudden. Callum¡¯s chest tightened. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± he asked. ¡°The car¡¯s out of fuel and it¡¯s going so fast right now. It¡¯s very likely that it¡¯ll stop abruptly!¡± Elspeth was too afraid to dwell on the consequences if that happened. When a car that was going at high speeds stopped all of a sudden, there was an 80% chance that it would swerve out of control. If that happened, the momentum would send her flying at least over 30 feet away. She didn¡¯t dare to think about the oue. Callum¡¯s expression was grim as he spotted the trail of fuel that kept flowing out of her car. ¡°Stay calm. Wait for me.¡± Callum sped up and moved closer until his car was parallel to hers. ¡°Hurry up and think of a way to jump over to me.¡± Elspeth bit her lip and held onto the steering wheel with one hand while she undid her seatbelt with the other. The winding race track prevented her from doing this easily. Once she was done, she stood up and leaped across as hard as she could. Thanks to the power of inertia, she fell straight into Callum¡¯sp and heard him groan. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Elspeth was a little frantic. Callum nodded and slowly reduced the speed of the car until it was within the normal range. The other car that had finally run out of fuel came to an abrupt halt before flipping over and crashing back down into a mangled heap of metal. Callum brought Elspeth back to base where Max was distraught, as he had heard the sounds from the crash earlier. When he saw them, he rushed over and asked, ¡°What happened? I heard a loud banging from the southwest area just now. Did the car explode?¡± Callum¡¯s expression was dark as he helped Elspeth out of the car. ¡°For some reason, the car ran out of fuel.¡± He instructed Max to get someone to deal with the wreckage. Elspeth was silent in thought for a moment before saying, ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s an ident. I think the car was tampered with.¡± Callum had the same thoughts too. All the cars here were inspected daily. Hence, it was impossible for one of them to suddenly start leaking fuel for no reason. When they went to the security room to check the security footage, they found out that the footage from yesterday had mysteriously disappeared. ¡°Someone¡¯s definitely behind this.¡± The two of them were frustrated that they couldn¡¯t find out who it was. To prevent any further idents, Callum suggested that they head back to Winthrop Residence before deciding what to do next. ¡°Alright. Let me go to the restroom first.¡± Elspeth nodded and went to the nearest restroom. While in there, she got out her phone and called Harper. ¡°Help me check the security footage at the entrance to Death Canyon and see who¡¯s been there in the last two days. Give me a list of anyone who seems suspicious.¡± Once she finished giving her instructions, she left with the Winthrop brothers. When they arrived back at the Winthrop Residence, Elspeth noticed that the house was decked out in a sea of balloons. After querying about it, she was informed that it was Max¡¯s eighteenth birthday the next day. Elspeth mulled it over and decided to head to the mall to buy Max a present. She took a guess at what Max¡¯s interests were, and seeing how fond he was of car racing, she decided to buy him a new racing suit. However, after taking a look at all the ones out on the floor, she didn¡¯t find any that she liked, so she asked to see the store¡¯s rarest, limited edition racing suit. The sales assistant checked with the manager before bringing out the most expensive racing suit they had in the store. Suddenly, a hand reached out to grab the suit before Elspeth could even touch it. ¡°This looks pretty good. Wrap it up for me.¡± The sales assistant looked rather conflicted. ¡°Miss Fleming, thisdy here was the one who asked for this racing suit first¡­¡± Ophelia didn¡¯t care about that. She red sternly at the shop assistant and said, ¡°I just said that I want this. Can¡¯t you understand what I said?¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°But what?!¡± Ophelia snapped arrogantly. ¡°This mall belongs to the Fleming Group! If you don¡¯t want to work here anymore, then just get lost right now.¡± The shop assistant eyed Elspeth nervously. Elspeth¡¯s expression was indifferent as she said, ¡°I came here first. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re trying to snatch someone¡¯s things, Miss Fleming.¡± ¡°So what if you came here first? Elspeth Lynwood, I can get anything I want. There¡¯s nothing that I can¡¯tProperty of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. get!¡± Ophelia smirked. She was going to get it all, be it the racing suit or Callum! All of a sudden, Elspeth came closer. Her eyes swept over the racing suit before she asked airily, ¡°Are you determined to take this suit, Miss Fleming?¡± Ophelia only shed her a haughty smile. ¡°What about it? It belongs to my family. I can take it if I want to.¡± ¡°If you truly wish to buy this suit, then I¡¯ll be more than happy to oblige.¡± Elspeth chuckled. But I¡¯ll make you pay, Ophelia Fleming. Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Refusing to Sign the Contract The day of Max¡¯s birthday soon came, and the Winthrops invited Ophelia to attend the birthday party. When Max opened the gift from Ophelia during the gift-opening segment, he eximed in surprise, ¡°Wow, this racing suit is really nice! Thank you so much! I hope you brought it without breaking your bank ount.¡± Ophelia smiled. ¡°You¡¯re wee. It¡¯s not very expensive.¡± Then, she cast a smug nce at Elspeth. When it came to Elspeth¡¯s gift, it was merely a tiny box. ¡°Elspeth, don¡¯t you think you¡¯re a little too stingy¡ª¡± Ophelia feigned confusion as she started bringing Elspeth¡¯s so-called ¡®miserliness¡¯ to light. Max unwrapped the gift and saw a car key inside. ¡°Oh my goodness!¡± he shrieked in excitement. ¡°This is my favorite car! This is the only one in the world, and you can¡¯t buy it even if you have all the money in the world! Elspeth, you¡¯re the best! How did you pull this off?!¡± Max was ecstatic. For him, this gift was the best present he had received! Ophelia looked at the racing suit and quickly realized that her gift was the shabby one inparison. ¡°Well, Miss Fleming, you are wealthy indeed to think of my gift as nothing,¡± Elspeth mocked. Ophelia lowered her head in embarrassment as she red fiercely at Elspeth. Callum¡¯s gift was the segment¡¯s finale, and Max highly anticipated just what he would receive this year. So, when he unwrapped the square box, he was surprised when he saw that all it contained was an asset transfer contract. ¡°You¡¯ve always liked Death Canyon, haven¡¯t you? You¡¯re an adult from today onwards, so this is my wee gift to the adult world.¡± The gift from Callum was equally surprising. As a result, Callum¡¯s generosity made the presents Max had received from Edmund, Arthur, and ke seem less note-worthy. When the party ended, Theodore asked the driver to send Ophelia home. As she gazed at the sky outside, she muttered, ¡°Mr. Winthrop, can you please let Callum send me home? It¡¯s getting dark outside, and I¡¯m a little scared.¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± Callum politely refused, ¡°I may not have time to send you home because there are some things I need to deal withter.¡± ¡°Is that so¡­¡± Ophelia smiled awkwardly. ¡°Okay then. I¡¯d better go back by myself.¡± ¡°Callum!¡± Margot snapped in dismay. ¡°Ophelia has requested you to send her home. Go.¡± ¡°But, Mom¡ª¡± Callum¡¯s eyes sank in displeasure, and he remained unmoved. ¡°No buts! Are you trying to piss me off?!¡± Margot barked furiously, covered her chest, and began to gasp. ¡°Sooner orter, I¡¯ll die of a heart attack because of all of you!¡± Her threat worked as Callum reluctantly sent Ophelia home. Along the way, Ophelia, who sat in the front passenger seat, lowered her head shyly. ¡°Callum, thanks for sending me home.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee. I¡¯m just doing what I was told.¡± He focused on the road and did not even bat an eye at her. She was taken aback by his cold attitude. Then, she bit her lower lip and muttered, ¡°Y-You liked me very much when we were kids, though. You often held my hand, took me to the yground, and dined in nice restaurants. Have you forgotten?¡± He pursed his lips in annoyance. ¡°That was all in the past. Also, you¡¯re younger than me, so I should take care of you.¡± ¡°But, I¡ª¡± She suddenly turned her head, her eyes full of tears. ¡°I like you! I have liked you for almost ten years.¡± ¡°What?!¡± A trace of surprise shed across his eyes. ¡°Yes, I liked you from the first moment I saw you. I liked to cling to you all the time when we were young. Can¡¯t you see that? I always thought you would marry me, so my dream since I was a kid was to marry you.¡± Her affectionate confession didn¡¯t touch him as he replied seriously, ¡°Ophelia, forget about me and like someone else.¡± ¡°No!¡± She suddenly leaned forward and wanted to kiss him, but he shoved her away. ¡°Ophelia, I hope you cane to your senses. We can¡¯t be together.¡± Callum¡¯s eyes were hooded with coldness. ¡°If you can¡¯t change your mind, it¡¯d be better for us not to contact each other.¡± Soon, they arrived at the Flemings¡¯ house. He motioned her to get out of the car and then left decisively. As she red at his car, she stomped her feet in a huff, and her resentment coiled around her heart like poison ivy. It must be because of that b*tch Elspeth! He would not have been so indifferent to her had it not been for Elspeth! You¡¯re so dead, Elspeth! It was already 1.00AM when Callum finally returned home. When Elspeth came downstairs to drink water, she saw him and snorted, ¡°Oh, you¡¯re finally home, huh?¡± He did not answer her question. Instead, he asked, ¡°Why are you still awake?¡± ¡°I¡¯m thirsty. What? Did you think that I would be waiting for your return, your highness?¡± Her remark irritated him, and he frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t stay up toote. We need to sign a contract with the business partner tomorrow, and you¡¯reing with me.¡± With that, he went straight to his room without waiting for her reply. Punctuality was of paramount importance to the partner. Therefore, they rose with the sun and went straight to the hotel where they had arranged to meet. The potential business partner for this project was Alphascape Group, which specialized in the jewelry industry. Alphascape Group was the onlypany in the market which couldpete with Azure Corporation. The vice president of Alphascape Group, Dominic Little, personally came to discuss the contract, but he kept ncing at Elspeth and checking out her body while reading the contract. ¡°I¡¯ve read the contract. It¡¯s well written. Miss Lynwood, did you write this?¡± Dominic stared straight at Elspeth with a lecherous grin on his face. She was utterly disgusted by his behavior so far, but she suppressed her emotions and nodded. ¡°Yes, I did, but if you have any criticism, please let us know. We will discuss it now.¡± Dominic suddenly extended his hand and grabbed Elspeth¡¯s hand. ¡°Miss Lynwood, you¡¯re so polite and graceful. How about I invite you to dinner, and we can discuss the contract privately.¡± Callum felt the rage burning inside him as he red at the chubby hand pawing at Elspeth¡¯s hand. So, he pulled her into his arms and said, ¡°Mr. Little, why don¡¯t you discuss this matter with me? She¡¯s my fianc¨¦e, so I know what her ns are.¡± Fianc¨¦e?! Elspeth¡¯s eyes widened in bewilderment, but to avoid being taken advantage of by this pervert and get the contract signed as soon as possible, she bit the bullet and leaned against Callum. Dominic¡¯s face turned gloomy. ¡°Oh? I didn¡¯t know that the two of you were engaged.¡± ¡°We will be engaged sooner orter,¡± Callum quipped in a deep voice. ¡°This meeting is such a disappointment.¡± Dominic muttered in displeasure, ¡°I think there is no need for the coboration to continue.¡± Elspeth huffed in derision at hisment, ¡°Mr. Little, we¡¯ve spent a week drafting this contract, but now, you¡¯re going to overturn the contract just because you¡¯re upset?!¡± ¡°This project is a dime a dozen for us. The profit isn¡¯t eye-catching enough for the Alphascape Group!¡± After he said this, he stood up and walked away, but after taking a few steps, he stopped in his tracks and grinned at Elspeth. ¡°But, Miss Lynwood, there is room for discussion if youe to see me in person.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s necessary, Mr. Little.¡± Elspeth¡¯s cold expression irritated Dominic, who scowled. ¡°Hmph! If that¡¯s the case, we will never coborate with the Winthrops from now on!¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Defending Her Dignity Callum embraced Elspeth tighter and sneered coldly, ¡°That¡¯s fine. We¡¯re not that desperate to work with you anyway.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see!¡± Dominic scowled nastily as he red at Callum viciously before departing in a huff. Elspeth didn¡¯t expect Callum to speak up for her, and she swallowed the retort that was at the tip of her tongue. Instead, she turned to him and asked, ¡°Hey, are you my knight in shining armor?¡± Callum felt his heart skip a beat when he glimpsed at her smiling face, but he quickly looked away and grunted, ¡°I can¡¯t just sit back and watch my employees being molested.¡± She knew his reticent character, so she stopped teasing him as she went straight back to business. ¡°What should we do now? Our coboration with the Alphascape Group has gone up in mes. This is such a mess.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already prepared a n B just in case. So, even if we lost the coboration with Alphascape Group, it wouldn¡¯t do much damage to us.¡± ¡°n B?¡± She was intrigued. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve decided to work with a foreignpany. It¡¯s a little more costly than we expected, but it¡¯s still well within our budget.¡± ¡°Why not Azure Corporation?¡± Callum paused for a second before asserting, ¡°They have always been mysterious, and there¡¯s no pattern behind their coboration with others. As far as I know, their president has always made decisions based on their whims. So, I think it¡¯ll be a waste of time to make an appointment to meet the president.¡± A waste of time?! He honestly didn¡¯t know the definition of perseverance even if it hit him, did he?! How could he give up just because she refused him once?! Elspeth snorted. ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ll take care of it. I can guarantee to be able to keep in touch with the president of Azure Corporation tomorrow.¡± ¡°You?¡± Callum suddenly looked at her with a deep gaze. Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. She ignored his disbelief as she already had a n brewing in her mind. ¡°Alphascape and Azure are evenly matched, and they are the biggest and strongestpetitors against each other in the jewelry market. So, if we can work with Azure Corporation, not only can we expand our market, but we can also give Azure Corporation a hand to develop their business and suppress Alphascape Group. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m sure the president of Azure Corporation will not refuse this kind of win-win situation.¡± As he recalled the rtionship between Elspeth and Harper, he nodded in agreement. ¡°Alright, then. I¡¯ll contact the president of Azure Corporation in a moment.¡± With that, Elspeth rose to her feet and left to make the proper arrangements. Everyone had assumed that Winthrop Group would face a slight financial downturn for some time after the failed coboration with the Alphascape Group. Yet, to everyone¡¯s surprise, Winthrop Group suddenly announced the news of a partnership with Azure Corporation. Thanks to Elspeth as one of the masterminds behind this alliance, the official announcement of the coboration was set in two days. A weekter, the jewelry was officially sent into production. She had nned to pre-sell some of them first. Then, if the response from their target audience was good, they could officially put their pieces into mass production. Ten minutester, she was suddenly called into the president¡¯s office. ¡°Elspeth, that pre-sale jewelry¡­¡± Callum looked at her face and announced, ¡°It is sold out within five minutes.¡± ¡°Really?!¡± Elspeth eximed in surprise. ¡°Yup. Not only that but there are also severalments on our official page demanding they be sold as soon as possible.¡± She hurriedly clicked on Facebook and saw that the news of Winthrops¡¯ jewelry sale was trending. She clicked on thements and skimmed through theizens¡¯ replies. ¡®Oh my goodness, the jewelry is stunning!¡¯ ¡®Stunning is an understatement! The new jewelry wins among all the jewelry of this style.¡¯ ¡®I still think Angel¡¯s design is the best, although Winthrop Group¡¯s products are quite eye-catching too.¡¯ ¡®Angel¡¯s products are extremely difficult toe by. You should be grateful to have a designer who can make something simr to her style.¡¯ Thements went on and on. As she scrolled down, she suddenly frowned as she read thetterments. ¡®Wait a minute. Don¡¯t you think the jewelry is rather familiar? Angel¡¯s prized work inst year¡¯s international jewelry designpetition is 70% simr to this!¡¯ As she read thements, a terrible premonition rose inside her. ¡®We want a refund! We don¡¯t want a giarized product!¡¯ ¡®Yeah! She should just stay as a singer! Why did she have to be a jewelry designer? What a joke.¡¯ At this moment, the phone in the office suddenly rang. Callum answered the call, and whatever he heard caused him to frown. When he hung up the phone, he said faintly, ¡°The sales department is receiving arge number of refund orders.¡± The news didn¡¯t fluster Elspeth. After a long silence, she enunciated, ¡°Tell the sales department to start selling ¡®First Sight¡¯.¡± As he regarded her resolute stance, he knew that she had a trick up her sleeve, so he immediately informed the sales department to begin selling ¡®First Sight¡¯. Once the jewelry was put on the shelf, thement section on Winthrop Group¡¯s official page was bombarded by hundreds ofints and criticism. ¡®What the hell?! Not only do they sell products that are almost simr to Angel¡¯s, this time, but they also didn¡¯t even bother hiding that they¡¯re copying Angel¡¯s work! This is ridiculous!¡±¡® ¡®Winthrop Group is really disgusting.¡¯ ¡®They should fire the designer! But don¡¯t tarnish thepany¡¯s reputation!¡¯ Callum¡¯s frown deepened when he read thements, but she reassured him with a faint smile when she noticed that he was worried, ¡°Trust me. I¡¯ll turn this into a huge win for the Winthrop Group¡¯s entry into the jewelry market.¡± It was supposed to be a jewelry sale in the afternoon, but after the controversy, it instantly became a press conference. Everyone wanted to know how Winthrop Group was going to deal with this. The reporters raised their cameras and clicked their shutters. They didn¡¯t want to lose a single detail. Elspeth took the microphone and slowly said, ¡°The jewelry design is a¡ª¡± ¡°Hold on!¡± a person interjected before she could even begin her speech. ¡°We want to know why you copied Angel¡¯s work! Don¡¯t you have your own inspiration?¡± Elspeth looked at the camera and said confidently, ¡°I didn¡¯t giarize her work.¡± However, the woman who interrupted her obviously did not believe her words as she bellowed, ¡°¡®First Love¡¯ and ¡®First Sight¡¯ are extremely simr to Angel¡¯s award-winning design, and ¡®First Sight¡¯ is a completely fraudulent work! May I know how you¡¯re going to exin yourself?¡± Elspeth raised her eyebrows as she looked at the woman¡¯s smug grin. ¡°Have you ever thought of the possibility that I am Angel?¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying! Angel has never made a public appearance and has always been abroad. You¡¯re not Angel!¡± The woman barked at her with a ferocious re. Elspeth looked at her with amusement and chuckled. ¡°What if I can prove that I am indeed Angel?¡± How does she know that I¡¯m not Angel since Angel¡¯s identity has never been revealed? The woman snorted derisively, ¡°How can you prove it? It¡¯s impossible that you are Angel.¡± Elspeth shook her head and took out a golden pen withrge diamonds from her pocket. It seemed to be worth a king¡¯s ransom. Some people in the hall recognized the pen and gasped in awe, ¡°This is the design that won the gold medal in the international designpetition! She may really be Angel!¡± Someone stepped forward and took a closer look at the pen. The logo engraved on the pen was indeed the official logo of the international designpetition. ¡°Oh my, Angel! She¡¯s really Angel!¡± Elspeth ignored the crowd¡¯s shock as she turned to the woman and asked, ¡°So, do you still want to use me of giarism?¡± Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Chapter 32 She¡¯s Just an Outsider The woman¡¯s face turned ghastly pale. ¡°I¡ª¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t lose herposure despite her ire as she continued all smiles, ¡°Miss, I hope that you have sufficient evidence before questioning others next time.¡± The camera sh blinded the scene at this moment as the reporters snapped photos of Elspeth. The news about Elspeth being the renowned jewelry designer Angel was far more interesting than Elspeth¡¯s giarism! Nevertheless, she didn¡¯t forget the reason behind the press conference as she changed the subject, ¡°This set of jewelry is a couple¡¯s model. ¡®First Sight¡¯, which is targeted toward our male audience, symbolizes love at first sight. Meanwhile, ¡®First Love¡¯, which is their counterpart for our lovelydies, symbolizes eversting love. So, they are perfect gifts for couples.¡± The press conference ended sessfully. Nheless, that night, Winthrop Group¡¯s official website once again announced that all the jewelry was sold out. Thement section of the social media website began to be lively again. ¡®Oh my gosh! Why did I hesitate?! I even doubted the jewelry¡¯s copyright issue! This is Angel¡¯s product, and I didn¡¯t buy it!¡¯ ¡®Me too! I didn¡¯t manage to buy them. Winthrop Group, please sell the product quickly! My wife said she will divorce me if I can¡¯t buy it!¡¯ As Callum read the news andments, he was astonished at the revtion. It had never crossed his mind that Elspeth was actually Angel. He acknowledged the number of bizarre things that she had aplished previously, but then, she appeared to be Nancy, and now Angel¡­ She was really an inscrutable woman. Both of them returned hometer than usual due to work-rted matters. Therefore, it was already 1.00AM when they finally returned home. Unfortunately, they were so swamped with work that neither of them had dinner. As a result, Elspeth¡¯s stomach grumbled in protest. ¡°I¡¯m going to make some quick supper. Do you want some?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Callum thought for a moment and nodded in agreement. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. After a while, she came bearing two sandwiches with a sunny-side-up on the side. The sandwich looked rather nd and simple. However, when he took a bite, he was surprised as it was quite delicious. ¡°I didn¡¯t know that you could cook.¡± She tilted her chin proudly. ¡°Hah! There¡¯s plenty you don¡¯t know about me.¡± ¡°How many more identities do you really have?¡± His tone carried a hint of genuine curiosity as he asked. She was taken aback by his blunt questioning for a moment before sheughed out loud. ¡°Do you even realize that you have been caring about me way more than you used to? Tell me honestly. You like me, don¡¯t you?¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t see his expression clearly, but she could hear a sense of chagrin in his voice. ¡°I¡¯m just a little curious.¡± He was indeed a little curious, but even more so, he wanted to know more about her. She seemed to have a unique charm that had seeded in luring him toward her. Before she could tease him, someone suddenly turned on the lights at the staircase. Arthur, who was in pajamas, stood at the end of the stairs and looked at them with a cheeky smile. ¡°Callum, Elspeth, why aren¡¯t you guys going to bed yet?¡± His implication was apparent. He was teasing them for flirting in the middle of the night. Callum suppressed theplex emotions under his eyes and blurted behind false bravado, ¡°I¡¯m going to bed. Don¡¯t stay up toote.¡± After he left, Arthur walked to her and asked, ¡°Do you like Callum?¡± She did not answer his question as she simply looked at him and remarked, ¡°You¡¯re quite the gossiper.¡± ¡°My mom has specified that she wants Ophelia to marry Callum. So if you like him, it won¡¯t be easy for you to be with him.¡± ¡°There is nothing I can¡¯t do as long as I set my mind on it.¡± Arthur¡¯s smile widened. ¡°Good. Got it.¡± Elspeth turned to look at him, only to feel that his smile was rather strange. It was different from the feeling she had when she first saw him. When she returned to the bedroom, she immediately called Harper. ¡°Did you find out who did it this time?¡± ¡°Yes. The IP addresses of thoseizens who posted negativements were all from the Flemings. Ophelia was most likely to be the mastermind behind this.¡± After a short pause, Harper continued, ¡°I also learned about the strange person from the surveince in Death Canyon. Hisst phone call was also to Ophelia.¡± ¡°Ophelia, huh? Harper, publish all the news on social media tomorrow. I want her to get a taste of her own medicine.¡± Elspeth¡¯s eyes were covered with ayer of frost. ¡°Alright, Miss Lynwood.¡± Harper beamed and immediately did her job. The next morning, Elspeth heard the sound of crying downstairs as soon as she woke up. She stretched her bodyzily and walked down the stairs, only to see Ophelia trembling on the couch and wailing piteously, ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, I didn¡¯t do it. I¡¯m innocent!¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the pathetic sight. Everyone in the living room turned to look at her, and she feigned innocence. ¡°Why are you looking at me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s you, isn¡¯t it? You framed Ophelia and cyberbullied her on the Inte, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°No wonder all of you are looking at me like that.¡± Elspeth snorted in disdain. ¡°You think I set her up.¡± Ophelia¡¯s eyes were teary as she didn¡¯t hesitate to hurl usations, ¡°Elspeth, I didn¡¯t do it. How can you do this to me?!¡± When Ophelia woke up this morning, she almost went berserk when she realized that someone had published everything she had done on the Inte. Luckily, there was no solid evidence to prove that she did it. She knew that Margot favored her, so she immediately came to Callum¡¯s house to convince Margot that Elspeth had framed her. ¡°Me? Set you up?¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°Can you please tell me why I would do that?¡± Ophelia nced at Callum and mumbled timidly, ¡°M-Maybe because you like Callum, so you don¡¯t like to see me around him.¡± Although Elspeth was smiling, there was not a single hint of mirth in her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s truly amazing that you could assume that everyone is as nasty as you.¡± ¡°B-But who else would do this to me besides you? I-I know that you¡¯ve always disliked me.¡± Margot frowned. ¡°Elspeth, quickly delete everything that is on the Inte and give us an exnation!¡± She didn¡¯t want her future daughter-inw¡¯s reputation to be tarnished now because it might affect the reputation of the Winthrops in the future. ¡°Did it never cross your mind that Ophelia really did all those things?¡± Elspeth nced at Margot, her gaze gleaming with absolute certainty. ¡°Impossible!¡± Margot snapped. ¡°I told you that Ophelia would never do such a thing! She¡¯s a nice girl, so she wouldn¡¯t have done such a thing!¡± Even Callum, who remained at the sidelines, spoke for Ophelia, ¡°She¡­ She wouldn¡¯t do such a thing.¡± Elspeth nced at him coldly. ¡°So, do you think of me as someone who would falsely use another?¡± She felt disdain when she heard Margot reprimanding her and felt that the woman was an unreasonable harpy. Regardless, when he echoed Margot¡¯s remark, she felt a dull pang in her heart. I¡¯m just an outsider. Since the beginning, they have isted me from their circle, and even Callum has not epted me. In that case, I have to release the solid proof. There¡¯s no reason for me to pull my punches with these people. Chapter 33 Chapter 33 Chapter 33 Kidnapping With that in mind, Elspeth posted all the evidence on the Inte. When the post was released, it spread like wildfire. This time, the post confirmed everything Ophelia had done. The news about the unsessful attempt of Ophelia¡ªthe daughter of the renowned Fleming Family¡ªto frame Elspeth became viral on the Inte and was the most discussed topic in various forums and social media tforms. The stock market of Fleming Group plunged instantly, and thepany was on the verge of copse. Ophelia initially thought that Elspeth was only suspicious of her, but she didn¡¯t expect her to have evidence in her hand! Just like that, the angelic image that she had painstakingly built with all her might dissipated instantly. There was even a high chance that she might have to be charged for what she did. ¡°Ophelia, I didn¡¯t know that you would do something like this¡­¡± Margot was the most devastated at the news. She did not expect Ophelia, whom she had watched growing up, to be so ruthless! Elspeth looked at the stricken Ophelia and grinned. ¡°That incident in Death Canyon and the rumors online that used me of giarism. Ophelia, don¡¯t you feel a bit guilty after everything you¡¯ve done?¡± Ophelia knew that denying it would be a futile attempt now, so she sobbed and exined, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I wasn¡¯t thinking straight. My friends taught me all these and said that this was the only way I could be with Callum. I¡¯m sorry. I did this because I love him too much. Sorry¡­¡± Elspeth felt absolutely nothing in the face of her crocodile tears. In fact, she felt rather amused. ¡°You love Callum? To show your love to him, you drugged him and wanted to trick him into sleeping with you, huh?¡± Ophelia stopped crying abruptly and stared at Elspeth in a daze. A trace of unease surged inside her. Callum¡¯s face sank in displeasure as he demanded, ¡°Did you do it, Ophelia? Did you drug me?¡± Ophelia parted her lips nervously, but no words came out of them. Everyone in the Winthrops was on Elspeth¡¯s side after seeing the evidence, and no one would listen to her. Hence, her exnations would be taken as nonsense. She lowered her head, her face ashen. ¡°This is your business now. Please leave me alone.¡± After she said that, she headed to the door. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Elspeth,¡± Margot suddenly called out to her. ¡°Yes?¡± Elspeth turned and asked, ¡°What is it, Mrs. Winthrop?¡± Margot cleared her throat and muttered, ¡°O-Ophelia has done so many bad things, but that is because she loves Callum too much. I apologize to you for her. C-Can you please take down the post on the Inte? People will look down on her.¡± She had always liked Ophelia, who was so sweet and soft-spoken, so she couldn¡¯t bear to see her in such a dismal state. Elspeth rolled her eyes and sneered, ¡°Oh?! So, her behavior was justifiable when she made a mistake, but I had to be kicked out of the house because I was used without proof?!¡± Do I look like such a pushover?! Margot looked a little embarrassed due to her request as she sighed and mumbled, ¡°Please, I beg you. Can you do me a favor?¡± Elspeth red at Ophelia coldly. ¡°I never dirty my hands unless I have to. So, she has no one to me but herself.¡± With that, she left without hesitation, ignoring Margot¡¯s plea. Margot knew that she got the short end of the stick, so she didn¡¯t say anything else. Even though she knew that the Winthrop Family would help Ophelia to settle this drama, she still felt utterly disgusted when she watched the news about Ophelia on the Inte gradually disappear. Nevertheless, Ophelia¡¯s actions were not without consequence, as her kind image was wholly shattered. This matter also drove a wedge between her and the Winthrop Family. One could even say that it was a good lesson for Ophelia. Sure enough, for nearly a week after that, Ophelia never bothered Elspeth again, nor did she show up in the Winthrop Family¡¯s residence or thepany. Elspeth thought that she preferred to stay out of public because she was avoiding the limelight and repenting for her actions. This afternoon, Elspeth was ready to go home after work. She was about to go through the motions when she felt something nagging at her as soon as she arrived at the underground garage. In the next second, seven to eight brawny men appeared behind her and charged toward her. When they saw Elspeth, they immediately rushed toward her. Although she was skilled in martial arts, she was severely outnumbered, so she smashed her handbag into the nearest man¡¯s face and turned to flee. Just as she was about to run to the garage door, a foot suddenly stretched out from the side and tripped her. Then, those men swarmed over and tied her up. The person who tripped Elspeth was none other than Ophelia. She slowly raised her head, her eyes dripping with venom. ¡°Elspeth, I¡¯ve been waiting for you for three whole days, and here you are!¡± Elspeth frowned at the implications behind her words. Then, Ophelia startedughing maniacally. ¡°I told you I won¡¯t let you off the hook. It would be best if you just kept your mouth shut, but no, you have to force me into a dead-end! I¡¯ve been suffering these days. Do you know that?! Thanks to you, the Winthrops and Callum despise me!¡± She clenched her fists tightly and shrieked. Elspeth was rtively calm as she replied, ¡°I think you only have yourself to me¡­¡± p! Ophelia pped Elspeth¡¯s face harshly. Ophelia used so much strength in the p that Elspeth¡¯s cheek instantly swelled. ¡°Shut the hell up! I wouldn¡¯t have be like this if it hadn¡¯t been for you! Callum was nice to me, but he hasn¡¯t smiled at me ever since you were around! Everything changed from the day you came! Didn¡¯t you have a good time in the vige? So, why did you have toe back?! Why?!¡± Ophelia¡¯s nerves were already frayed, and it worsened when she noticed Elspeth¡¯s indifferent expression. She started strangling Elspeth, and her fingernails ruthlessly stabbed into her flesh. ¡°Say something! Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?! You look down on me, don¡¯t you? You ruined my reputation, so don¡¯t even think about getting away with it!¡± Elspeth knew that she had to remain calm and quiet in this scenario. She couldn¡¯t fight back for fear of irritating her even more. After Ophelia had vented her anger, she was in a significantly better mood. So, she waved the men off, and the men took Elspeth away. Unfortunately, Elspeth was also blinded and thrown into a van. The journey was bumpy, and approximately one or two hourster, they arrived at a remote and isted ce. Elspeth¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Ophelia is indeed cautious and meticulous. She ordered her men to take me to a ce in the middle of nowhere so that I couldn¡¯t escape easily. One of the men pulled her hair and dragged her into a dpidated room. She was thrown toward the wooden bed in the house, and her shoulder mmed into the bed frame. Their manhandling cost her significant bruising; she could already feel her shoulder burning. Three men were guarding the house, while the remaining four men entered the house. They grinned lecherously as they leered at the beautiful Elspeth helpless and on the bed. ¡°Boss, look at her! She looks so tender and wless. I bet it must be fun to sleep with her!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never slept with such a gorgeous woman. Tsk tsk, Miss Fleming is so kind to introduce us to such a pretty woman.¡± Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Chapter 34 I Won¡¯t Leave You Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. The head of the gang red at the three men and said slowly, ¡°Miss Fleming said that we could do whatever we want with her as long as we don¡¯t kill her. Well, we have to have some fun with such a gorgeous woman¡­¡± The men began tough lecherously. Elspeth didn¡¯t expect that Ophelia would order the men to sexually abuse her in order to torment her. She red at the men coldly and smiled lightly. ¡°Do you know who I am?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± One of the men grinned lewdly. ¡°You¡¯re our little darling. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be gentle¡­¡± Another man was quite insightful. ¡°You are Callum¡¯s fianc¨¦e and a singer¡­ Wow, I wonder if your moaning will be pleasing to the earter¡­¡± ¡°Since you know that I¡¯m Callum¡¯s fianc¨¦e,¡± Elspeth hissed and red viciously at them. ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried that he wille after you?!¡± The men shook their heads and snorted, ¡°To them, you¡¯re nothing but an outsider. He will most likely break off the engagement if your reputation is ruined. Come on, let¡¯s have some fun together. Throw all those nonsense out the win¡ª¡± Elspeth interrupted before the man could finish his words, ¡°Do you know why I haven¡¯t married Callum after so long?¡± She raised her eyebrows and curled her lips into an ambiguous smile. The men were intrigued. They knew that she would not be able to escape, so they urged, ¡°Tell us.¡± She sighed regretfully. ¡°Because I¡¯m a loose woman living a promiscuous life, although I look docile and reserved and have AIDS. My pre-wedding health screening failed, and I won¡¯t be alive for long, so of course, the Winthrops will not let their precious son marry me.¡± She hung her head low and looked sad as if she really had AIDS and her life hade to an end. The men had not heard of such news, so they were rightfully skeptical about it. ¡°Are you sure you have AIDS?¡± It was very frustrating to know that they couldn¡¯t have sex with her now. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯m okay with it. After all¡­ It¡¯s nice to have someone with me in hell.¡± Elspeth smiled maliciously, and her smile made these lewd men suddenly lose any interest in her. They even began to second-guess their decision. ¡°Boss, if she¡­ Just forget it.¡± s, the head of the gang clearly had some brains. So, he narrowed his eyes and looked at Elspeth. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll wait and see. We have all the time in the world anyway.¡± They had to report their oue to their employer, so they mustplete the mission. The power behind the Fleming Family was so influential that they were no match to them, but Elspeth was just a nobody regardless of her various identities. Hence, it was easier to take control of her. So, she was locked in the dpidated house, and the men took turns guarding the ce. No one dared to untie her without the boss¡¯ permission. She didn¡¯t bother making a fuss as she preserved her strength, trying to think of an escape n carefully. She couldn¡¯t use her phone as it was confiscated. Her hands were tied behind her back, and she had already pressed on the ring equipped with a GPS signal. Once she pressed it, Harper would immediately receive the message about her current location. If Harper found that she was in a remote location, he would undoubtedly be aware that she was in danger and save her. Time passed, and Elspeth patiently waited. In the evening, the man guarding the door handed her a loaf of bread. She asked with a tight frown, ¡°Can you please untie me? I need to go to the toilet.¡± She did look miserable, as if she had been holding back for a long time. The man hesitated. ¡°No. What if you run away?¡± ¡°What?¡± She widened her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m just a weak woman, and you¡¯re a strong man. Do you think I can run away from you?¡± Once she saw his hesitation, she added, ¡°I can¡¯t hold back anymore. What if I pee in here? It will be so smelly. Am I right, handsome?¡± The man looked rather simpleminded, and he fit the bill too. So, when she called him handsome, he grinned bashfully. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll untie you, bute back quickly and don¡¯t sneak away, or you¡¯ll be punished severely!¡± Elspeth smiled at him, and her smile melted his heart instantly. He went to the door to check the surroundings, but as soon as she stepped out, a man blocked her way. He was the leader of the group. When he saw Elspeth being untied, he bellowed angrily, ¡°Who the f*ck untied her?!¡± ¡°M-Me¡­¡± The man sheepishly stepped forward. The boss whacked him brutally. ¡°Moron! How can you believe anything she says?! What if she runs away?¡± Then, they tied her up again. This time, they tightened the knot and even changed the guards around the house. As she observed the situation, the helpless Elspeth knew that she could not escape. Therefore, she had no choice but to wait for someone to rescue her. On the other hand, Callum became agitated as she did not return home after work, and he couldn¡¯t contact her. He searched around in vain and finally called Harper. ¡°It¡¯s veryte now, but Elspeth hasn¡¯t gone home. Is she with you?¡± Callum demanded in a cold voice. Harper sounded a little anxious on the other end of the line. ¡°She sent me her current location. It¡¯s an abandoned hut in Southdale. I think she is kidnapped.¡± Callum¡¯s gaze turned frigid when he heard the word ¡®kidnap¡¯. ¡°I¡¯ll head over there right now. Call the police, and we¡¯ll meet in Southdale.¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll send you the exact location right now.¡± They went on with their respective missions. Harper called the police while Callum drove toward Southdale. When he arrived at the abandoned hut, he found that the ce was brightly lit, and two men were guarding the door, but he couldn¡¯t see the condition inside the house. He went around to the back and peeked in through the window. He saw that Elspeth was tied to the bed, and no one was around, so he quickly devised a n. Due to the destitute condition of the hut, he could pry open the window easily. Thus, he sessfully sneaked in and tiptoed to Elspeth. ¡°Callum?¡± she whispered in shock. How did he know I was here? And¡­ why is he saving me? Callum did not have the time to exin. The rope was too tight, so he quickly grabbed a sharp rock from the floor and tried to cut the cord off. A few minutester, the rope broke. They quickly rushed to the window and jumped out of it when the door was suddenly pushed open with a creak. ¡°She¡¯s getting away! Get her!¡± The men chased after them. Unfortunately, Elspeth sprained her ankle. She broke out in cold sweat due to the pain and frowned. ¡°Callum, go, or they¡¯ll catch up soon.¡± Callum ignored her and carried her. ¡°Don¡¯t talk if it hurts.¡± The exmations behind them became louder. Finally, the anxious Elspeth urged, ¡°Leave! I¡¯ll only slow you down!¡± He lowered his head and looked at her seriously with a touch of tenderness in his eyes. ¡°No, Elspeth. I won¡¯t leave you behind.¡± Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Rescue A certain emotion surged in Elspeth¡¯s heart when she looked into Callum¡¯s determined eyes. They couldn¡¯t run far. Then, just as she thought they would be captured again, an ear-piercing siren echoed across the field. The men chasing after Elspeth and Callum suddenly gasped in shock and wanted to flee, but Harper darted over with the police and arrested them. ¡°Mi¡ªElspeth, are you okay?¡± Harper instinctively yelled, but he instantly realized his mistake and changed his way of addressing Elspeth. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Elspeth leaned weakly in Callum¡¯s arms and whimpered. Then, he exined softly, ¡°She sprained her ankle, so I¡¯ll be taking her to the hospital. You should go back, Mr. Summerfield. I¡¯ll take care of her.¡± A hint of difort inexplicably rose in Callum¡¯s heart when he heard Harper¡¯s concern for Elspeth. ¡°Okay.¡± Harper knew that it was inappropriate for him to stay here, so he nodded in affirmation and went to the police to arrest the kidnappers. It was already 3.00AM when Callum took Elspeth to the hospital. Arthur, who happened to be on the night shift, asked curiously when he saw them in such a disheveled state, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°She was kidnapped, and we just rescued her,¡± Callum said tly. ¡°Kidnapped?!¡± Arthur frowned. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you call home?¡± Callum nced at Elspeth in his arms and said dispassionately, ¡°It¡¯s not necessary. It would only make things worse if our parents got worried and nervous. She sprained her ankle. Check on her.¡± With that, he ced her lightly on the hospital bed. Arthur sighed. ¡°You¡¯ve sprained your ankle twice in a row. You need to be careful. Repeated sprains can leave some permanent effects.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Elspeth rubbed her nose sheepishly. After Arthur had dealt with her injury, he was called away by the nurse. Callum sat by Elspeth¡¯s bed and asked, ¡°Who kidnapped you?¡± ¡°Why are you even asking me?¡± She snorted. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t even believe me if I did tell you.¡± ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. Callum was taken aback by her words. Then, he looked into her eyes and apologized sincerely, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± He was prejudiced in the past. He was overly confident of his own opinions and biased toward Ophelia. Elspeth regarded the usually haughty Callum as being so humble. Therefore, she didn¡¯t intend to put him in a difficult position. Thus, she shrugged and replied, ¡°Okay, I ept your apology, but Ophelia was behind this.¡± His eyes turned cold. ¡°Is it really her?¡± She nodded and continued, ¡°She waited for me in the underground garage for three days. She also hired a group of men to kidnap and rape me, but I managed to buy some time withme excuses.¡± The aura around him turned frosty when he heard the word ¡®rape¡¯. ¡°She¡¯s gone too far this time. It¡¯s time to teach her a lesson.¡± Elspeth was astonished that he would believe her this time, and she felt slightly relieved. At this moment, the phone rang. She answered the call, and Harper¡¯s voice came from the other end of the line. ¡°Miss Lynwood, the men have confessed that Ophelia was behind this. The police have already gone to her house, and Ophelia will most likely be arrested tonight.¡± The men knew that honesty was the best policy for a reduced sentence, so they chose to cop a plea. After she ended the call, she closed her eyes and looked a little weary after the incident. Callum took notice of the dark circles under her eyes and blurted, ¡°Rest here tonight.¡± ¡°But your father will be worried if I don¡¯t return.¡± She sighed. He looked at her coldly and rebuked sternly, ¡°But if you do, your injury won¡¯t heal. Do you n to stay in the hospital for a few more days?¡± ¡°Fine. When you return, tell your father that I¡¯m staying with a friend for two days. Don¡¯t tell him about my kidnapping.¡± She had already caused a lot of trouble for Theodore, and she didn¡¯t want him to be worried about her this time. Callum agreed and left. Elspeth was discharged from the hospital two dayster. She heard the news that Ophelia was taken away by the police, but she didn¡¯t pay that any mind. Instead, she concentrated on her work. The ¡®First Sight¡¯ and ¡®First Love¡¯ series were selling like hotcakes, but they needed a brand ambassador to endorse the good products, and ke was the best candidate. He was insanely popr on social media, and his fans were young girls in their teens and early twenties, so they would definitely love the jewelry. When Elspeth returned home, she talked to ke about this, and he immediately agreed to her request. ¡°But these jewelry series are matching couple jewelry, aren¡¯t they? Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a little nd if I shoot themercial myself?¡± He suddenly had a wicked smile on his face. ¡°Elspeth, what about we shoot themercials together?¡± Indeed, ¡®First Love¡¯ and ¡®First Sight¡¯ were couple jewelry, so they would garner more exposure if the brand ambassador were a handsome man and a gorgeous woman, respectively. She was astonished by his suggestion and pondered the feasibility, but Callum cut in abruptly, ¡°Can¡¯t we find a suitable celebrity for the ad? Must she personally be a model?¡± ¡°Callum, don¡¯t be so petty. She¡¯s not yours. Also, even the director praised her good looks. The other day, he even asked me to persuade her to be an actress!¡± ke grinned from ear to ear, and his eyes were full of affection when he looked at Elspeth. In fact, he had a hidden agenda. Nancy had always been his idol. Hence, he truly looked forward to shooting a commercial with Elspeth. ¡°No. Elspeth is busy enough with work,¡± Callum refused in her stead. Thest time the two worked together on a music video, he saw somements that described them as a match made in heaven. He couldn¡¯t help the growing annoyance at that train of thought. ¡°Forget it. I¡¯m not asking you anyway.¡± ke pouted and turned to Elspeth. ¡°Do you want to shoot commercials with me?¡± She rubbed her brows, feeling like she was caught between a rock and a hard ce. ¡°Let¡¯s see how it goes. If we can¡¯t find a suitable celebrity for themercial, I¡¯ll do it in person,¡± she agreed uncertainly. Callum pulled a long face when he heard her vague reply, but he didn¡¯t say it explicitly. Rather, he simply red at Elspeth and left the dining room in a huff. His re confused her. She did not know why he was suddenly upset, but he had already departed for work, so she quickly ate breakfast and followed him. As soon as they got to the office, the secretary came over with a stack of documents before she could make herselffortable. ¡°Miss Lynwood, Mr. Winthrop asked you to finish all these within three days.¡± What? Finish this stack of documents in three days?! Elspeth felt her head pounding with a migraine. He was definitely doing this on purpose, but she couldn¡¯t find a reason to refuse his order, so she epted the documents and focused on her work. To her bewilderment, he arranged all kinds of work for her in the next few days, and she was as busy as a bee. Just as she had a short break, he would assign a new task immediately. Is it because he doesn¡¯t want me to shoot themercials? She snorted and inwardly rolled her eyes at him for being so immature. Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Chapter 36 False usation of Intentional Injury ke came to Winthrop Group a few dayster. He leaned against the door of the president¡¯s office and smiled leisurely. ¡°Callum, I have contacted all the female celebrities who are free recently, but either their images do not fit the model, or they don¡¯t want to be the model. There is no suitable candidate.¡± Callum donned a cold expression. ¡°We don¡¯t have to shoot themercials.¡± ¡°What? No!¡± ke frowned. ¡°How can you do that? We have agreed on this, so you can¡¯t go back on your words.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pay you the advertising fee, but you don¡¯t have to shoot themercials.¡± There was a use that Elspeth needed help understanding, so she went to Callum¡¯s office. Just as she was about to knock on the door, she heard their conversation, and aplex emotion surged within her. ¡°Hi, Elspeth!¡± ke immediately went to her and beamed happily. ¡°I can¡¯t find a suitable candidate for themercial. You promised you would do it with me if I can¡¯t find someone suitable.¡± Her lips twitched in response to his eagerness, but when she looked at Callum, who looked irate and chafed, she didn¡¯t know what to say. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about him. He¡¯s agreed to let us shoot themercials together.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say that,¡± Callum snapped coldly. ¡°In that case, why don¡¯t I give it a try?¡± The celebrities¡¯ efficacy in promoting the jewelry was the way to ease Winthrop Group¡¯s intervention into the jewelry business and achieve the first victory. Elspeth did not want to give up this n easily, so she looked at Callum carefully. Since he did not give her any adverse reaction, she tried again, ¡°This is for thepany¡¯s sake. It¡¯s quite a good n, actually.¡± Callum remained silent for a long while, and finally, he mumbled a quiet ¡®Okay¡¯ as an approval. With his approval, they could carry out themercial smoothly. So, ke postponed his new drama¡¯s shooting and focused on the jewelrymercial. The shooting location was not in the office but on arge outdoorwn. Callum personally came to oversee the shooting progress. He disguised his true intention by stating that he was only there to supervise them in case something might go wrong. It was inevitable for ke and Elspeth to pose intimately during the process. Both models were in character and utterly immersed in the atmosphere. Thus, they overlooked the gloomy and grumpy Callum. After the first scene, Elspeth went to grab a drink of water when she heard his t and cold voice, ¡°Good job.¡± She was surprised that he was there, so she quickly turned her head and saw him standing on the side. There were some indefinable emotions in his eyes as she asked, ¡°Why are you here?¡± He cleared his throat and said, ¡°As the president of Winthrop Group, I need to pay attention to any activities that mypany conducts, includingmercial shoots.¡± She nodded as his reason seemed usible. Then, when she saw ke walking toward them, she handed a bottle of water to him. ¡°Here, drink some water.¡± After ke unscrewed the cap and took a sip, he taunted. ¡°Callum, I didn¡¯t expect you toe over to watch this boring stuff.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t Ie?¡± Callum narrowed his eyes. keughed out loud. ¡°Hey, I¡¯ve been shooting a lot ofmercials for thepany. You wouldn¡¯t come no matter how I begged you to, but you decided to show up out of the blue this time. What a rare sight.¡± Then, he squinted and said curiously, ¡°Wait a minute. Are you here because of Elspeth? Wow, I can¡¯t imagine that you actually have fallen for a woman.¡± Callum red at him and hissed under his breath, ¡°You talk a little too much.¡± ke shook his head and chuckled. ¡°I liked her first, so back off. She¡¯s mine.¡± Callum felt even grumpier when he heard this. ¡°We don¡¯t know whether she¡¯s yours or not.¡± The atmosphere between the two men was getting tense. So, Elspeth quickly blurted out that she needed to use the restroom and fled the scene. She went to the nearby public restroom and saw a familiar face as soon as she entered. It was Ava, whom she had not seen for a long time. ¡°It¡¯s a small world, isn¡¯t it, Elspeth?¡± Ava red at her coldly. Elspeth was not in the mood to converse with this woman who clearly hated her. ¡°How are you doing, Miss Wiley? Did you find a new job?¡± Ava was enraged when Elspeth brought up this topic and growled, ¡°Don¡¯t think I can¡¯t do anything after you forced me out of Winthrop Group. Just wait and see. I¡¯ll make you pay sooner orter!¡± ¡°Whatever.¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes. After Ava ensured that there was no one around them, she suddenly charged forward boldly and extended her arms toward Elspeth¡¯s face. Nevertheless, Elspeth reacted quickly as she grabbed Ava¡¯s wrist and red viciously. ¡°Are you trying to hurt me?!¡± ¡°Yes! I want to hurt you so badly! You want to know how I¡¯m doing, don¡¯t you? After I was fired from Winthrop Group, no one wanted to hire me, and it was all because of you! You turned my life upside down, so I will let you have a taste of your own medicine!¡± Ava struggled to pull Elspeth¡¯s hair, but Elspeth pushed her back. As a result, she lost her bnce and fell backward, hitting her head hard on the sink behind her. The intense pain caused her to panic, and shepletely lost it when she felt the blood flowing down her neck. She hastily took out her phone and phoned the police. ¡°Elspeth, you¡¯ve hurt me! You¡¯ll rot in jail!¡± Elspeth remained silent as she looked at Ava, bellowing at her. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Soon, the police came and took away both women. Ava¡¯s head was injured, so she went to the hospital first to treat her wound and then to the police station to make a statement. Callum and ke were waiting for Elspeth to continue the shooting when they heard that she was arrested. They instantly put aside their argument as they rushed toward the police station. On the other hand, Elspeth and Ava sat side by side at the police station. They didn¡¯t say a word, so the police officer asked, ¡°What happened?¡± Elspeth remained quiet, but Ava immediately cried wolf. ¡°Sir, please help me! I didn¡¯t do anything, but she pushed me, and now I suffered such a serious injury. I want to sue this woman!¡± The officer gave Ava a tissue paper because she was crying sadly and looked quite pitiful with her bandaged head. Then, he turned to Elspeth and asked, ¡°Miss Lynwood, is what Miss Wiley said true? Did you have a grudge against her? Was that why you pushed her?¡± ¡°It¡¯s self-defense,¡± Elspeth said dispassionately. Ava knew that there was no surveince in the restroom, so there was nothing Elspeth could do, even if she lied. Hence, Ava became bolder and snapped, ¡°Elspeth, I could have asked the judge to reduce your charge if you admit that you hurt me intentionally, but you¡¯re so stubborn. I can¡¯t let you off the hook!¡± The police officer frowned. ¡°Miss Lynwood, please confess, and the sentence will be more lenient.¡± ¡°It¡¯s self-defense,¡± Elspeth repeated. Ava couldn¡¯t help raising her voice and shrieking, ¡°Officer, there¡¯s no need to ask her any question. Since she¡¯s so stubborn, just lock her up!¡± Elspeth chuckled in amusement. ¡°What if I have evidence?¡± Avaughed derisively as if she had heard the funniest joke. ¡°Oh, really? Show us then! I¡¯ll be your lapdog if you can bring out the evidence today!¡± Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Drinking Up Ava was confident that this was Elspeth¡¯s attempt at intimidation in order to buy herself some time, and she didn¡¯t have any evidence at all. There was no way she could have proof of her innocence! She raised her chin proudly and wanted to see what Elspeth was up to now. ¡°In that case, let me show you my evidence,¡± Elspeth answered tly and whisked out her phone from her pocket. She clicked on the yer, and instantly, everyone heard Ava¡¯s overbearing voice from the phone. ¡°Don¡¯t think I can¡¯t do anything after you forced me out of Winthrop Group. Just wait and see. I¡¯ll make you pay sooner orter¡ª¡± ¡°After I was fired from Winthrop, no one wanted to hire me, and it was all because of you! You turned my life upside down, so I will let you have a taste of your own medicine¡ª¡± ¡°Yes! I want to hurt you¡ª¡± In addition to the conversation, there were also the sounds of bawling and footsteps. It was apparent that Ava was the one who intentionally wanted to hurt Elspeth in the first ce. ¡°Sir, I think I¡¯ve made myself clear. I didn¡¯t hurt Miss Wiley. Instead, she was the one who wanted to hurt me, and I was just trying to protect myself,¡± Elspeth exined calmly. As Ava listened to the recording and her shrill voice echoed across the station, her face turned ghastly pale. No way! How did she know that I wanted to hurt her and even turned on the recorder in advance?! ¡°You set me up! You deliberately upset me and then recorded our conversation to set me up!¡± An idea popped into her mind, and her re became vicious and sinister. Elspeth, on the other hand, curled her lips into an indifferent smirk. ¡°What did you say just now? You wanted to be mypdog, right? Please don¡¯t. You¡¯re too heavy for myp.¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Then, she turned and smiled at the police officer. ¡°Sir, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll make the right decision.¡± At this point, everyone knew who was at fault in this matter. The police officer felt sorry for suspecting Elspeth just now, so he cleared his throat and apologized sincerely, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Lynwood. I misunderstood you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. What are you going to do with her? Will she be charged?¡± The police officer answered promptly, ¡°ording to our country¡¯s constitution, aggravated assault is punishable by up to three years in prison, but the specific sentence depends on whether you want to ce charges or not.¡± ¡°So,¡± Elspeth quipped, raising her eyebrows in amusement. ¡°It depends on my will.¡± Ava¡¯s heart sank when she heard this. No, I don¡¯t want to go to jail! I¡¯m only 22 years old. I don¡¯t want to go to jail! She stood up, tugged on Elspeth¡¯s sleeve, and wailed, ¡°Please forgive me! Please don¡¯t sue me! I¡¯m still so young! I can¡¯t go to jail!¡± ¡°Calm down, Miss Wiley.¡± Elspeth frowned. ¡°I know I¡¯ve always been terrible. I always bullied you when I was a kid, and all those nasty things I did to you in thepany. I¡¯ll do anything to make up for my mistakes, but please don¡¯t sue me! I don¡¯t want to go to jail. Please¡ª¡± Ava was genuinely terrified at this moment. She never thought that she would fall so low. ¡°Hah!¡± Elspeth chuckled contemptuously. ¡°So, you do know how nasty you are, huh? You¡¯d better save those words now and reflect on them in prison.¡± She red at Ava and thought, I won¡¯t attack unless I¡¯m attacked. I¡¯m not a pushover. Do you really think I¡¯ll let you off the hook after what you did to me?! Ava saw Elspeth¡¯s resolute and fearsome re and felt a chill down her spine. Finally, she gave up begging as she slumped to the ground and burst into regretful tears. The police officer ordered a few colleagues to take Ava away and detained her before smiling at Elspeth apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry for the misunderstanding, Miss Lynwood. I¡¯ll have someone send you back.¡± She waved him off. ¡°Don¡¯t bother. I can return myself.¡± The police officer didn¡¯t insist as he was also busy with his cases. So, he had someone send Elspeth to the door. As soon as she stepped out of the police station, Callum and ke rushed over anxiously. Callum was relieved when he saw that she was unharmed, but ke grabbed her shoulders and demanded, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± She smiled sheepishly. ¡°I bumped into Ava. She tried to hurt and frame me but was detained instead.¡± ¡°Oh? I heard about her. She¡¯s a nasty woman. What did you do?¡± ke was intrigued. Elspeth chuckled. ¡°She tried to hit me, so I pushed her, andter she falsely used me of initiating the fight. I turned on my recorder throughout the day because I wanted to listen to my performance during the shooting. So, our conversation was coincidentally recorded as a result.¡± Callum knew that Elspeth was brilliant and capable of defending herself, but he frowned at the mention of Ava. ¡°I fired her long ago, didn¡¯t I?¡± On the day he fired Ava, he notified all thepanies in the city not to hire her, or they would be Winthrop Group¡¯s enemies. He didn¡¯t expect that Ava would stubbornly stay in this city. ¡°Yeah, you did, but she still decided toe at me.¡± Elspeth shrugged in exasperation. ¡°Maybe she really despises me.¡± His gaze became grave as he thought, I have to teach this woman a lesson this time so that she won¡¯t be able to hurt Elspeth again. ke was relieved when Elspeth was fine. ¡°You must have been shocked after what happened today. Let¡¯s suspend today¡¯s shooting. We¡¯ll resume the shooting another day.¡± She shook her head and declined, ¡°No. Your schedule is full. I can¡¯t dy the shooting just because of this. Alright, let¡¯s go back now. Maybe we can finish all the shooting before dark.¡± They couldn¡¯t change her mind, so the three rushed back to the filming location to continue the shoot. Themercial officially aired three dayster. Within the first hour of airing, the sales volume of First Love and First Sight increased by thirty percent! It proved the fanbase significance of both ke and Nancy. The shippers were also utterly excited to see both ke and Nancy pairing up for themercial. They bombarded thement sections on Nancy¡¯s and ke¡¯s social media ounts, urging them to marry as soon as possible. ¡®Elspeth has a marriage engagement to the Winthrop Family, and she and ke are a match made in heaven! Therefore, she should marry ke!¡¯ ¡®Just look at their ad! They look so perfect together.¡¯ ¡®Please date!¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t mind if you can marry such a perfect woman! Go ahead! I¡¯m not sad! I ship you guys so hard!¡¯ Thements went on and on. Elspeth felt that the phenomena in thement section were normal, and she didn¡¯t feel bothered about that. Nevertheless, Callum was frustrated about it and chose not to talk to her all day today. In the evening, she returned home slightlyte due to work. As soon as she opened the door, a stench of alcohol wafted toward her. Margot and Theodore went on a trip, Edmund went out of town on a business trip, ke was busy with work, Arthur was on the night shift at the hospital, and Max was at school. Hence, the source of the smell was¡ª ¡°Elspeth.¡± She looked up and met Callum¡¯s bright eyes. Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Chapter 38 They Have Been Hacked Callum¡¯s voice pulled Elspeth back to her senses. She gazed at him as he looked rather solemn under the dim light, and her heart pounded against her chest. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Yeah?¡± Callum had a few sses of wine. He looked slightly different, and his gaze was more profound than usual. ¡°Do you like ke?¡± She couldn¡¯t help but raise her eyebrows at the question. ¡°What makes you think I like ke?¡± He took a step forward. ¡°If you didn¡¯t like him, why did you shootmercials with him? Why didn¡¯t you reject his confession? And¡­¡± There was a tinge of something in his voice, and his gaze was so deep that she felt that she was drowning. Elspeth held his shoulders and said softly, ¡°Callum, you¡¯re drunk.¡± When he heard the word ¡®drunk¡¯, he sobered up a little and took a step back. ¡°No, I¡¯m not drunk. I just want to remind you not to be with ke. What happenedst time was a lesson.¡± His remarks reminded her of what happened a few months ago when ke¡¯s obsessive fans kidnapped her, locked her up in the restroom, and beat her up. She felt a chill down her spine when she thought of the crazy fans¡¯ heinous faces. Thankfully, she didn¡¯t fancy ke, or his fans, obsessive or not, would have hunted her down any way they could. ¡°Got it. Thanks for the reminder, but I don¡¯t like ke.¡± She smiled faintly. ¡°Is that all? If so, I¡¯m going to bed now.¡± The current atmosphere was a bit strange. She didn¡¯t know what Callum was thinking about, and he was a little odd today, so she had the urge to escape from him. He didn¡¯t say anything in response, so she quickly blurted, ¡°Good night. Don¡¯t stay up sote.¡± Then, she hastily went to her room. The next day, Callum didn¡¯t call Elspeth to the office to discuss the new quarterly program as usual. She felt that it was rather odd but did not ask him about it. When it was almost noon, she suddenly heard a cry from the desk not far away. ¡°D*mn! There¡¯s something wrong with myputer!¡± She cast a suspicious nce at the shout. In the next second, all theputer screens in the nning department became nk. At the same time, horrified shrieks echoed throughout the office. ¡°My draft! I didn¡¯t save it!¡± ¡°I just finished drawing the outlines!¡± ¡°What is going on? Can someone please take care of this?!¡± As theints resonated in the office, she rose to her feet, cleared her throat, and said loudly, ¡°Alright, calm down.¡± ¡°How can we calm down like you, Miss Lynwood? Everyone¡¯sputers are broken, except yours,¡± someone whined. Elspeth cast a cold re at the person who spoke, and the person shut her mouth in fright. She designed her own operating system, and no virus could invade and hack herputer, which was why herputer was fine. Elspeth recognized the person who talked back to her. Her name was Linda Shaw. She was the closest to Ophelia when Ophelia came to the office. ¡°What? Miss Lynwood¡¯sputer is fine?¡± All the staff looked at Elspeth¡¯sputer and found that it was running smoothly. Linda clicked her tongue and sneered, ¡°Miss Lynwood, no offense, but why is yourputer okay when all of ourputers are broken? Did you¡­¡± She trailed off mid-sentence, but everyone knew that she was implying that Elspeth must have done something to hack theirputers. They began to suspect Elspeth¡¯s motives for doing so. Elspeth red coldly at Linda and asked, ¡°What are you implying?¡± Linda raised her chin to show that she wouldn¡¯t back down. ¡°I¡¯m not bad-mouthing you. I¡¯m just stating my opinion. If you didn¡¯t do it, prove it. You don¡¯t have to threaten me!¡± Elspeth turned to look at the other employees. ¡°Do you need me to prove my innocence?¡± A man slowly said, ¡°Miss Lynwood, I know you, so I don¡¯t think you¡¯d do something like this, but¡ª¡± ¡°Why not?!¡± Linda interjected. ¡°Everyone wants to be the best employee in thepany. By doing so, she can defeat the rest of us and steal the limelight!¡± Elspeth immediately understood what she was trying to do with her brazen remarks. ¡°Linda, it seems like you know ¡®my¡¯ motive better than I do.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Linda¡¯s face turned pale as she stammered, ¡°No, I don¡¯t! You¡¯re trying to use me, aren¡¯t you? M-Myputer broke down too!¡± She pointed to herputer and eximed, ¡°Myputer was the first to break down. The screen suddenly turned nk when I was working on the documents!¡± Elspeth raised eyebrows at Linda¡¯s triumphant smirk as she asked, ¡°Can I take a look at your computer?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Linda nodded confidently. ¡°Feel free to look. It broke down anyway, so there¡¯s nothing to hide.¡± She had hacked theputer with the most destructiveputer virus, so she was confident that Elspeth would not be able to restore theputer. Elspeth smiled mysteriously as she warned, ¡°Okay. Don¡¯te crying to meter.¡± She went to check Linda¡¯sputer and found that it was hacked by a virus called Efira. It was a notoriousputer virus, and there were only five people in the world who could crack it. Unfortunately for Linda, Elspeth was one of them. Elspeth quickly typed codes on theputer, and strings of iprehensible letters and mathematical symbols kept appearing on the screen. The employees watched on in amazement. Finally, she managed to crack the virus. The moment she restored theputer, everyone saw Linda¡¯s unfinished creation on the screen¡ªa simple sketch of a frog. ¡°Oh? The documents you were working on were this frog, huh?¡± Elspeth mocked. ¡°No! M-Maybe when the virus invaded myputer, it changed my documents into this frog!¡± Linda tried to exin herself. As more people looked in her direction skeptically, she flushed and added awkwardly, ¡°I did work on the documents. If you don¡¯t believe me, I can show you my backup file¡ª¡± She was too nervous and identally spilled the beans by saying that she had managed to save her file. ¡°You have a backup? Wow, Miss Shaw, you can predict the future, huh? You knew a virus would hit the computer, so you saved your file in advance.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t hesitate to expose her lies. When Linda saw that her scheme had been exposed, she snarled, ¡°Yeah, I did it, so what?! If it hadn¡¯t been for you, I would have be the supervisor when Ava was promoted! I¡¯ve been working diligently in thispany for years, and you came out of nowhere and snatched my promotion! So, I¡¯m pissed!¡± She had spent years of effort for thepany, but why didn¡¯t she get anything in return?! Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Someone Is Following Us Elspeth red at Linda coldly. ¡°Is that why you hacked everyone¡¯sputer and framed me for it? You¡¯re awful. Now, not only will you never be promoted as the supervisor, you¡¯ll be fired.¡± She turned and looked at her assistant. ¡°Inform Mr. Winthrop that a person has jeopardized the company¡¯s security, and I request for his presence.¡± The moment Linda heard that Callum would be arriving, she immediately lost her arrogance and slumped to the floor dejectedly. When he came, he saw Elspeth sitting on the chair, watching the drama unfold with amusement, while Linda squatted on the ground and bawled. Elspeth chuckled. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, your good old employee tried to set me up, and I exposed her tricks. What do you think should be done?¡± ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll be firing her ording to thepany¡¯s regtions.¡± There was no warmth in his voice. Linda lunged forward and hugged Callum¡¯s thigh while sobbing, ¡°No, Mr. Winthrop, please don¡¯t fire me! I¡¯ve been working here for so many years. I don¡¯t want to leave. Please forgive me! Please!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you one second to release me, or it won¡¯t be as simple as you being fired.¡± The temperature around Callum plummeted at her actions. Linda knew what he was capable of, so she hastily backpedaled. The farce ended with her leaving thepany in an utter mess. After the farce was over, Elspeth looked at her colleagues and smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about yourputers. I¡¯ll restore them now.¡± ¡°You¡¯re amazing!¡± The colleagues were so astonished that their jaws dropped. She was already a perfect woman; now, they discovered that she could even crackputer viruses! Was there anything that she couldn¡¯t do? Elspeth smiled faintly. ¡°I¡¯ll recreate a code on myputer and transfer it to yours. Everything will be fine. Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Elspeth, where did you learn how to crackputer viruses? It¡¯s so cool!¡± The male colleagues had gathered around her and were full of awe. She looked exactly like the hackers in the movies! It was amazing! ¡°I learned some tricks from a foreigner while abroad a few years ago.¡± She smiled bashfully. ¡°It¡¯s nothing great.¡± It was like Elspeth¡¯s fan meeting at this moment, but Callum felt irritated when he saw the scene. ¡°Don¡¯t you have work to do? Hurry up and return to your seats! If you don¡¯t return to your seats, you can kiss your one month¡¯s sry goodbye!¡± He rebuked austerely. The male employees hunched in themselves and scurried to their seats. She giggled at his cold demeanor. ¡°Are you jealous?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you have work to do?¡± ¡°Ooh, you¡¯re so fierce. I¡¯m scared. It¡¯s true that men always speak with tongue in cheek.¡± Callum nced at her lightly, and a subtle emotion shed across his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re a hacker.¡± Everyone thought that Elspeth only knew a thing or two about this, not him. Only the best hackers could easily crack the virus and restore theputers to their previous state. She shrugged and didn¡¯t bother hiding the fact. ¡°Oops, you found out about it. Awkward.¡± ¡°You¡¯re awesome.¡± ¡°Nah, there are others who are better than me.¡± After she said this, she gracefully returned to her seat. When Elspeth got off work and was ready to take a cab home in the evening, someone blocked her way. It was none other than ke, whom she hadn¡¯t seen for two days. Yet, it was something expected since he was an actor and was busy filming on the set these days. A bright smile appeared on his face. ¡°Come on. I¡¯ll take you to a ce.¡± ¡°No, thanks.¡± Elspeth shook her head. ¡°I have something to doter.¡± ¡°Come on, Elspeth. Let¡¯s go. There is a ce where the night scene is particrly breathtaking. You¡¯ll love it.¡± ke even gave the puppy eyes. Other girls certainly could not refuse his request, but she was different. She could vaguely guess what ke wanted to do but couldn¡¯t ept it. ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to.¡± ¡°Come home with me.¡± Callum appeared out of nowhere and parked his car on the roadside. The scenario became somewhat awkward all of a sudden. She stood between two cars, not knowing which way to go. ¡°Callum, I asked her out first. So, you can¡¯t snatch her from me,¡± the agitated keined with a raised voice. Nevertheless, Callum remained indifferent andposed. ¡°We have a project to discuss. Come on.¡± It sounded as if he was ordering her, but the reason behind the demand was impable. Elspeth gritted her teeth, apologized to ke timidly, and got into Callum¡¯s car. ¡°Hey! Elspeth! Wait!¡± Callum ignored him and drove away. She didn¡¯t know what to say on the way, and she felt a little apprehensive as she looked at his prominent side profile. ¡°Callum.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal.¡± Both of them spoke at the same time. She was startled by it and was forced to swallow back her words. After a long silence, he took the initiative to say, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to keep a distance from ke? You¡¯ll get yourself in trouble.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything.¡± His words stupefied Elspeth. ¡°Try not to go out alone with ke. You guys just shotmercials as a couple. If someone took photos of you in private, we would face a PR blunder.¡± Callum frowned in displeasure. Elspeth nodded in agreement and looked out the window. Suddenly, she noticed a car was following them while keeping a moderate distance, and the car¡¯s speed would change ording to their pace. ¡°Hey, I think that car is¡­¡± ¡°I know.¡± Callum said seriously, ¡°I see it too.¡± The Winthrop Family¡¯s residence was located in the suburbs, and they were now driving on a deserted path. It was likely that there would be some kind of ident. He stepped on the elerator to speed up. Sure enough, the car behind them also sped up, and they began a high-speed chase. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Watch out!¡± Elspeth was a little anxious. The speed they were driving was worrying and dangerous. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Despite that, he drove the car smoothly, but the driver behind them had excellent driving skills, too, and almost caught up with them. Next, the car behind them elerated, overtook Callum¡¯s car and blocked their way. ¡°Callum Winthrop! Get out of the car!¡± The people from that car got out of the car and yelled at him. He knew they were after him, so he turned and said, ¡°They¡¯re here because of me. I¡¯ll distract their attentionter. Leave as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll leave you alone under such circumstances?¡± Elspeth¡¯s nce was earnest. ¡°You saved me so many times. How can I do that to you?¡± ¡°Elspeth!¡± Callum frowned, and his tone became stern. ¡°Stop messing around.¡± She chuckled and flexed her wrist. ¡°If you think of me as a weak and useless woman, you¡¯re dead wrong.¡± He looked at her confident face and felt a different emotion growing within his heart. Chapter 40 Chapter 40 Chapter 40 Suspicion Callum and Elspeth got out of the car together. Still, if things went wrong, she discreetly pressed the ring and sent her real-time location to Harper. Outside the car stood a group of people who were ring at the two of them fiercely. ¡°Are you Callum Winthrop?¡± A man with a scar on his face and a cigarette in his mouth looked at the calm Callum and smirked viciously. ¡°Wow, you do look like a jerk. It¡¯s like you¡¯re asking for a beating.¡± A trace of wariness shed across his eyes. However, he calmed himself and asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not important. All you need to know is that someone asked me to teach you a lesson!¡± He swept his gaze across the men and red at the leader coldly. ¡°Do you know who I am?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Scarfaceughed boisterously. ¡°Everyone knows who you are, Mr. Winthrop! Your reputation precedes you.¡± ¡°So, do you know the consequences of offending the Winthrops and me? Do you have a death wish?¡± ¡°Huh! The Winthrops?! You guys are nothing! I¡¯m not scared of you at all!¡± Scarface taunted with a comical appearance. Elspeth eximed, ¡°They¡¯re just a bunch of trash. Don¡¯t waste your time on them!¡± ¡°Trash? How dare you call us trash!¡± Scarface looked around and shouted sternly, ¡°Beat them to death! Let them know who the real trash is!¡± The men charged wildly toward them and swung the baseball bats in their hands. She dodged them nimbly and immediately grabbed the chance to kick the thugs. Meanwhile, Callum was brutal in his retaliation. He punched the aggressor in the throat and flung him away. Then, he leaped and swiftly kicked the man¡¯s head with his right leg. The couple worked together seamlessly like perfect partners. Soon, the group of meny on the ground groaning in pain. They were obviously no match for the couple. ¡°D*mn! What a bunch of useless losers!¡± Scarface spat in disdain, and with a wave of his right hand, dozens more burly men came out of the woods nearby. This is an ambush. They¡¯ve been waiting for me here. Callum¡¯s gaze was cold, and it carried a tint of ruthlessness. The brawny men charged toward them fiercely. This time, there were more people, and Callum and Elspeth were obviously outnumbered. The couple began to tire as the fight dragged on, and they were forced to stay in defense. Scarface, who was quietly observing the fight, felt that it was the right timing now. So, he drew a dagger with a grin and stabbed it toward Elspeth, who was closest to him! Elspeth¡¯s pupils shrank when she saw the knifeing at her. In the next second, Callum reached out, grabbed the dagger, and kicked Scarface away. Callum felt agonizing paining from the palm of his hand. There were droplets of blood dripping to the ground. It was a gory and shocking sight. He couldn¡¯t even hold onto his calmposure as he frowned. ¡°Are you okay?!¡± Her eyes widened in horror. She didn¡¯t expect Callum to grab the dagger at such a critical moment! He shook his head lightly, his face and lips slightly pale due to blood loss. Elspeth turned and red fiercely at Scarface, who was curled on the ground in pain. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. ¡°Miss Lynwood! Are you okay?!¡± Harper finally arrived with his men. When he saw the scene before him, he coldly instructed, ¡°Arrest them!¡± The men behind Harper rushed forward and quickly subdued the gangsters. Harper walked over to Elspeth and asked lowly, ¡°Miss Lynwood, are you alright?¡± Elspeth nodded and pointed to the bloodied Callum as she murmured concernedly, ¡°He¡¯s injured because of me.¡± Harper hurriedly went over to help Callum up and gasped in horror when he looked at thetter¡¯s bloody palm. How much courage does it take for someone to hold a dagger without hesitation?! ¡°Come on. I¡¯ll take you to the hospital right now.¡± When they got to the hospital, Harper went to pay the bill, leaving Elspeth to take care of Callum, who was a little dazed due to the massive blood loss. The nurse bandaged him and tugged on his wound from time to time. It looked excruciating, but there wasn¡¯t a hint of difort on his face. Soon, the nurse finished bandaging his wound and left. Elspeth looked at his pallid face and asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡± Callum looked up at her. ¡°I have a question.¡± She was momentarily taken aback and could hazard a guess about what he was about to ask her. ¡°What is your rtionship with Harper?¡± How could Harper arrive in time every time something happens to her? How could he know her specific location? Why did she drink her sorrows with him? Why does he address her as Miss Lynwood? Why does he obey hermands as if he is her subordinate¡­ These questions swirled in Callum¡¯s mind for a long time. Elspeth knew that he was a meticulous man and would guess something was going on, but she didn¡¯t expect him to ask her so bluntly. ¡°I told you, he¡¯s my friend. We knew each other when I was abroad and got along quite well.¡± Even then, she did not want to tell him the truth. He coldly inquired, ¡°Tell me, are you the president of Azure Corporation?¡± Her heart skipped a beat. She desperately wanted to deny it, but he was far too clever. There was no way she could fool him now. So, in order to dissuade him, she showed a scheming grin and said lightly, ¡°Oops, too bad. You found out about it.¡± When Callum saw her reaction, he was confused and began to doubt his hunch was correct. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, do you feel honored that the president of Azure Corporation is working tirelessly as a small-time employee in yourpany?¡± Elspeth knitted her fingers together and pressed her chin against them. ¡°Do you believe me? I don¡¯t even believe what I¡¯m saying.¡± She was being ironic, but her points made sense. There was no reason for the president of Azure Corporation to work in hispany. Nheless, he retained his suspicion and lowered his voice. ¡°I hope you aren¡¯t lying to me.¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes at his threat. ¡°Rx, don¡¯t overthink things. Can¡¯t good friends have close rtionships?¡± The image of Harper worrying about her popped into his mind. It made him feel a little uneasy and upset, and his tone carried a hint of jealousy, ¡°You¡¯re my fianc¨¦e. Do you think it¡¯s appropriate to have a close rtionship with other men?¡± ¡°Hmm? What¡¯s going on here? Are you jealous? Don¡¯t tell me that you really want to marry me?!¡± Elspethughed uproariously and was even more amused when she looked at his serious face. ¡°Of course not.¡± He looked in askance at her. ¡°Then, please stop interfering with my private affairs.¡± It so happened that Harper had returned. So, Callum stopped talking and closed his eyes to rest. Harper heard their conversation clearly. Therefore, he forced hisughter down his throat while he said, ¡°Miss Lynwood, I¡¯m heading home now. Please take care of Mr. Winthrop.¡± She could hear the teasing in his words. ¡°Screw you,¡± she cursed while ring at him. Harper mimed ¡°I know¡± quietly and left with a smile, leaving only Elspeth and Callum in the ward. ¡°If you don¡¯t have anything else to do here, go home.¡± Callum opened his eyes and spoke sternly, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte.¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m staying here to take care of you.¡± She quirked a brow at his attitude. ¡°You don¡¯t have to.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re injured because of me. I¡¯ll be an ungrateful person if I just leave.¡± She sat down and took an apple from the table. ¡°Do you want to eat this? I¡¯ll peel one for you, okay?¡± Chapter 41 Chapter 41 Chapter 41 Rope Them In Callum didn¡¯t bother answering Elspeth¡¯s question as he took out hisptop with his unhurt hand and started working. She shrugged indifferently at his non-response. Then, she, too, took out theptop she carried with her from her bag and wanted to uncover the mastermind behind the ambush. She found out about the men¡¯s criminal organization based on their facial features as well as their recent call records and mary transactions. All the clues led her to Alphascape Group. ¡°Callum, do you know who the mastermind behind this attack is?¡± Elspeth asked tentatively. ¡°Alphascape,¡± he answered curtly while typing on the keyboard swiftly. She gasped in surprise. ¡°How did you know?¡± He replied in a mellow and calm voice, ¡°Recently, our shares have risen sharply, and our venture in the jewelry industry is booming. We have almost monopolized the low-end jewelry market and are climbing closer to high-end products. Who do you think is the most worried party now?¡± ¡°Alphascape was upset because of the failure of the cooperationst time, and they didn¡¯t get a share of the pie. So now, they are jealous of our results. This is why you think they have the motive, right?¡± ¡°You¡¯re very smart.¡± Callum smiled, which was a rare asion. Elspeth was surprised at his quick thinking. But then, she thought of something else and asked another question, ¡°What are you going to do now?¡± She had always been a vengeful person. She would not touch those who left her to her own devices, but if she were attacked, she would ensure that her attackers got a taste of their own medicine. Alphascape Group ambushed them, so she would not let them off the hook! A piercing gleam shed across his eyes. ¡°I won¡¯t spare them, of course.¡± When she learned that he would make a move, she was relieved. Margot called when Callum stayed in the hospital for two days. So, Elspeth improvised as she imed that they couldn¡¯t return home because they were working overtime in the office. Fortunately, Edmund was on a business trip in the past few days, so no one exposed their lie. Only when Callum¡¯s hand almost recovered did he officially return to work. Both Callum and Elspeth did note to the office these days. When they returned this time, she realized that there were some unfamiliar faces in thepany. As soon as he returned to work, Callum held a senior management meeting to discuss the cooperation n for the next phase. ¡°At this phase, I will stabilize the low-end jewelry market and invest a lot of money to develop high-end jewelry¡­¡± When he proposed his idea, her eyes lit up after hearing his proposal, and she recognized what he was nning. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good idea.¡± A doubtful remark suddenly echoed across the quiet conference room. Callum raised his eyes and looked at the man not far away, his gaze turning cold. ¡°What do you have in mind?¡± Elspeth shifted her gaze over. The person who raised his doubt was Houston Bishop, the head of the company¡¯s HR department. He was always on his high horse, to begin with. Today, he was even more arrogant and rude than usual. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, have you forgotten how to make a proposal just because you skipped work for a few days? Our low-end market is not stable yet, and the products are selling like hotcakes. If we rashly introduce high-end products, the development may not be as expected, and we will lose a lot of money. Who will be responsible for such a possibility?!¡± Houston rebuked aggressively. ¡°No, we won¡¯t,¡± Callum continued. ¡°The continuous development of low-end products will only lose the consumers¡¯ interests, not to mention that we will be limited to this market and miss the best chance to venture into the high-end market.¡± Houston retorted sternly as if he hadn¡¯t listened to a word, ¡°I disagree. Why don¡¯t you ask them? See what they have to say.¡± Callum swept his gaze over and inquired, ¡°Does anyone else have questions?¡± One of the department heads said meekly, ¡°Mr. Winthrop, I think Mr. Bishop is right. What if we really make a loss? Anything can happen¡­¡± The rest of the people began to whisper to each other about this. Elspeth rose to her feet and donned a bright smile. ¡°Allow me to borate on Mr. Winthrop¡¯s views to you.¡± Houston sneered scornfully, ¡°Miss Lynwood, I know you¡¯re taking Mr. Winthrop¡¯s side, but you¡¯re putting us in a difficult position if you help him unwisely.¡± She ignored his ims and spoke in a gentle yet intimidating tone, ¡°I believe you have heard of my mentor, who is an internationally recognized jewelry designer, right?¡± Elspeth¡¯s mentor was the world-renowned jewelry designer Joanna. Her product could fetch hundreds of millions of dors at times. Everyone was too stunned for words as they quietly listened to her. ¡°She once told me that she started from the most basic market, but if she only produced low-end products, she would never be able to bring her designs to the next level, even if a lot of money is to be made by selling low-end products. So, we need a qualitative change and want to expose our products to as many people as possible. Jewelry itself is an extravagant item. Its consumers consist not only of ordinary people but also of the rich and powerful who can bring greater revenue to thepany. These people won¡¯t bat an eye at low-end products. So, we need to develop high-end products in order to attract this group of consumers and increase their purchasing power.¡± After she finished her speech, everyone remained silent as they pondered over her words seriously. Nevertheless, Houston¡¯sughter pierced the air. ¡°Sure. That makes sense, but I¡¯m not convinced. Who knows if you¡¯re only saying this off the top of your head?¡± Elspeth stared at him with a burning gaze. ¡°I studied marketing abroad, and I ranked first in my major. Do you need me to say the rest?¡± Her remarks rendered him speechless, and his face turned nasty as he couldn¡¯t find a chance to add his two cents. ¡°Does anyone have any more questions?¡± She swept her nce at everyone in the conference room, but they bowed their heads in shame. Finally, she set her eyes on Callum and winked at him mischievously. She felt a burst of joy when she spotted a hint of surprise shing in his eyes. Finally, he said, ¡°That¡¯s it, then.¡± The meeting was adjourned, and everyone dispersed. Houston paced slowly to Elspeth and muttered, ¡°Miss Lynwood, I want to talk to you.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± She smiled politely. ¡°What do you want to talk about?¡± ¡°What is your rtionship with Mr. Winthrop?¡± ¡°He¡¯s my boss, and I¡¯m his employee. What exactly do you want to say?¡± Her calm and refined smile confused Houston, but he remembered his purpose clearly. He hurriedly donned a ttering smile and admitted, ¡°I have to be honest. Mr. Winthrop is rather harsh and strict. You must have suffered a lot since you work directly under him.¡± C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. ¡°Oh?¡± She raised an eyebrow. ¡°It sounds like you have a hidden agenda.¡± ¡°You¡¯re very smart, Miss Lynwood. I think you should know what I mean. I hope you can consider it well and give me a satisfactory answer.¡± Chapter 42 Chapter 42 Chapter 42 Debunking Elspeth tapped her chin and pondered aloud, ¡°So, are you trying to rope me in?¡± ¡°Haha!¡± Houstonughed. ¡°You never let me down.¡± He took his business card, ced it on the table, and slowly pushed it toward her. ¡°Miss Lynwood, I admire your ability and think you should not be limited to just the title of a director. Isn¡¯t it nice if you could have the title ¡®Vice President¡¯ printed on your card?¡± Houston left, and Elspeth was left alone in her thoughts. Vice President¡­ Houston is so greedy. He is eyeing the position of president. When she returned home at night, everyone had gone to bed except Callum, who was sitting alone in the living room reading documents. She stretched her bodyzily, sat next to him, and asked, ¡°How¡¯s your hand?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± he answered dispassionately, but his hand that was flipping through the pages paused for a moment. She didn¡¯t believe him and wanted to look at his hand for herself, but he dodged her. ¡°Just let me see it,¡± she muttered. He quickly changed the subject. ¡°What did Houston say to you today?¡± She leaned back on the couch and curled her lips into a smirk. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°To rope you in.¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes and pouted. ¡°How boring.¡± Callum ignored her reaction and asked solemnly, ¡°What are you nning to do?¡± ¡°What am I nning?¡± Elspeth looked at his eyes and smirked in amusement. ¡°I¡¯m gonna ept his offer, of course! He promised to make me the vice president. Only a fool would reject such a lucrative deal.¡± He remained indifferent and calm. It was apparent that he did not believe her at all. ¡°Why are you telling me this then? Aren¡¯t you afraid that I will know your n?¡± ¡°Callum, drop your act, okay?¡± She yawnedzily. ¡°Just tell me your n.¡± He raised an eyebrow, not expecting her to react so quickly. ¡°Take the deal.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Beat them at their own game.¡± Callum had his own n in ce. Elspeth was intrigued. ¡°Tell me how.¡± ¡°Promise to work with him and collect evidence. I will rece his pawns in thepany, and then I will wipe them all out.¡± Elspeth chuckled. ¡°So, you did notice that there are many new and unfamiliar staff in the office. I thought you only focus on your work and don¡¯t recognize your own employees at all.¡± He narrowed his eyes and dismissed her, ¡°Alright. Go to rest now. We will have another fierce battle in the next few days.¡± She nodded, stood up, and walked upstairs. ¡°Elspeth,¡± Callum suddenly called her. She paused, turned around, and looked at him cheekily, ¡°What?¡± ¡°You¡¯re really interesting.¡± Elspeth seemed to excel in all aspects and was unpredictable. He would never know what surprise she would create in the next second. All in all, she was fascinating. There was a hint ofziness in Elspeth¡¯s voice, ¡°Hey, I¡¯ll think you¡¯re in love with me if you say that.¡± ¡°In your dreams.¡± He scowled at her words. Elspeth giggled when she saw his expression changing so quickly. Then, she turned around and went to her room. As she left, he looked at her back silhouette, and his gaze gradually darkened. In order to bait Houston to speed up his actions, they decided to put on a show, making Houston believe that they had a fallout. The following day, Elspeth was in Callum¡¯s office and discussed the n peacefully when she suddenly reprimanded shrilly, ¡°I told you that¡¯s not what I mean. Why can¡¯t you understand anything I say?!¡± Callum¡¯s voice was equally sharp and stern. ¡°I¡¯m telling you that you¡¯re nothing but a nning director. Therefore, you have no right to interfere with my actions!¡± ¡°Just because you¡¯re the boss, you can order me around?! What a joke! I quit! I don¡¯t want to stay here any longer!¡± Bang! It sounded like someone had smashed a ss to the floor, and the earth-shattering sound echoed throughout the office. Everyone could hear their fight loud and clear. ¡°You want to quit?! Suit yourself! Thepany will run smoothly without you!¡± All the employees shivered and dared not speak. Elspeth wanted to smash another vase, but Callum quickly stopped her. ¡°Nope. One is enough. If our fight gets too intense, Houston may be skeptical.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± She beamed. ¡°You¡¯re very meticulous.¡± Then, she stopped speaking, and the office fell into a dead silence. After a while, she took out a bottle of water from her bag and sprayed it on her face, smearing her makeup and making it look like she had cried during the argument. Next, she grabbed her files and mmed the door loudly as she left the office. When she returned to her seat, she called Houston without even fixing her makeup first. Finally, she told him with a faint sob that she wanted to work with him on one condition. Houston would pay the end of his deal by appointing her as the vice president after the matter¡¯spletion. She initially wanted to take his deal right away, but there was a possibility that he would be suspicious if she took it without any conditions. Therefore, she especially emphasized the deal he brought up earlier. He was grinning ear to ear when he heard this, and he grew confident and gleeful. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Once this matter is done, I won¡¯t disappoint you.¡± Even Elspeth wanted to work with him. It would be a piece of cake for him to acquire thepany!Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. With that, he began to make his move concerning thepany¡¯s financial aspect. He fabricated the ount to create a dismal phenomenon of a massive financial copse. Elspeth and Callum knew precisely what he was nning. Nheless, they didn¡¯t stop him as they quietly watched him make his move while gathering sufficient evidence to put him behind bars. As they expected, in the second meeting, Houston mmed the financial report on the table and ridiculed, ¡°Mr. Winthrop, have you read the financial report for this quarter?¡± ¡°Is there any problem?¡± Callum did not waver from his position. ¡°We lost 300 million dors in this quarter. Do you know how much 300 million is? Mr. Winthrop, I told you long ago that we can¡¯t simply develop high-end products. Look! We lost so much money! What should we do?¡± Elspeth echoed, ¡°You do have to exin yourself.¡± Houston smirked smugly. ¡°In my opinion, you are no longer capable of managing thepany at your current level. Therefore, you should step down and give up your position.¡± Callum narrowed his eyes coldly. ¡°Are you saying that I should hand over thepany to you?¡± ¡°Oh, no, of course not. Why don¡¯t we listen to others¡¯ opinions?¡± Houston looked at his colleagues around him and beamed. ¡°Do you think we should elect another person as thepany¡¯s president?¡± No one said anything to back him up. He frowned in confusion and asked again, but the answer he received was resounding silence. She rose to her face with a smile on her face. ¡°You¡¯re done, right, Mr. Bishop? Do you mind if I say a few words?¡± Houston felt panic surge in his heart and thought that things were drastically different from what he had nned. Chapter 43 Chapter 43 Chapter 43 Selling Out Winthrop Group Elspeth slowly quipped, ¡°Mr. Bishop, if I¡¯m not mistaken, you must be wondering why these colleagues who you had bribed didn¡¯t refute Mr. Winthrop as you expected, right?¡± ¡°What?!¡± Houston¡¯s expression changed radially. ¡°Miss Lynwood, what do you mean by that?¡± She sneered, ¡°I think you know exactly what I meant.¡± ¡°Nonsense! You¡¯re making things up!¡± he shouted in a panic. ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. ¡°Am I? Why don¡¯t we take a look at this evidence?¡± She took the documents and photos out of the folder and mmed them on the table with a resounding snap. The documents scattered, and the images showed that Houston sneaked into the finance department office and the exact amount of money he had embezzled. ¡°What else do you have to say?¡± Houston¡¯s face turned ghastly pale, and the terror under his eyes heightened when he saw the evidence. ¡°No, these are all fake! Why would I hurt thepany? Don¡¯t you dare use me?!¡± Then, he suddenly roared wildly as if he had grabbed a life-saving float, ¡°Yes, you did this so that you could kick me out of thepany! You¡¯ll be punished for what you did to me!¡± Elspeth ignored his usations as she raised her eyebrow and decided his fate. ¡°If you have nothing to say, you can go and have a good chat with the police.¡± Then, she sat down leisurely and smiled. Houston had intended to run at the mention of the police but was detained at the door by the police, who arrived just in time. ¡°Just you wait! I won¡¯t let you off the hook!¡± He red at them fiercely, and the anger in his eyes was burning. After Houston was taken away, Callum said a few words briefly before dismissing everyone and turning his attention to Elspeth. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s that simple.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Her eyes darted around, and she was full of smiles. She was over the moon after getting rid of the scourge of Houston, and even her tone was gleeful. ¡°He is not that easily defeated,¡± Callum slowly said after pondering for a moment. Elspeth turned serious as she looked thoughtful. ¡°You mean to say?¡± ¡°I think he may have other ways to turn the table.¡± ¡°What?¡± She frowned. ¡°Are you saying that he wille back to bug us again? But he has been arrested!¡± He carefully recalled the look in Houston¡¯s eyes before he was taken away. ¡°He must have other tricks up his sleeves.¡± Sure enough, the news of Houston being cleared of suspicions and released came the next day. She sat in Callum¡¯s office and frowned in dismay. ¡°He really has other ns.¡± ¡°He¡¯s now a high-level executive at Alphascape.¡± ¡°Based on his character, he must have made a deal with them based on our information.¡± Elspeth gritted her teeth indignantly. ¡°Houston Bishop! I should have beaten him up to a pulp!¡± Callum pursed his lips tightly with a grave expression. ¡°You don¡¯t have to. It doesn¡¯t matter where he goes. What is important is that he has information about ourpany. Since he¡¯s now working for the Alphascape Group, he will certainly share this information with them, which is extremely unfavorable to us.¡± ¡°Such as¡­¡± Elspeth paused, but they both knew what he wanted to say. Alphascape Group would have detailed information about Winthrop Group¡¯s jewelry n and development n for the next quarter. ¡°What did you do to Alphascape the other day?¡± Callum¡¯s eyes shed slightly. ¡°They lost three points of interest.¡± ¡°No wonder. They had suffered such a great loss, so they must have waited for the best opportunity to strike. Unfortunately, Houston just so happens to be their powerful weapon.¡± Elspeth noted his serious expression as she emphasized, ¡°In that case, they will definitely strike soon. So, we have to be ready when the timees.¡± ¡°Just wait and see. We¡¯ll make ns when they take action.¡± She nodded, andplicated expressions flitted across her face. After the conversation they had in the morning, she saw the news that Alphascape Group was going to launch a new jewelry set on her phone in the afternoon. She was all too familiar with the design of the jewelry. It was designed to serve as a stepping stone for Winthrop Group¡¯s transformation into high-end products, but now, Alphascape Group stole her design andunched it quickly. But¡ª An idea popped up in her mind, and her frown eased. Although the jewelry looked fashionable and chic in style, its huge drawback was that it would be highly ufortable for the person who wore it. She had yet to make any adjustments because she was busy dealing with Houston these past few days. It was a subtle problem, so no one other than the designers would notice this problem. Alphascape Group might have shot itself in the foot byunching the product so hastily. At the thought of this, Elspeth grabbed the draft paper and began to design. She made some form of adjustment to that n, as well as the shape and style of the jewelry. Finally, she went straight to Callum¡¯s office with the draft and told him that she wouldunch this piece as the modified version. Callum¡¯s eyes dimmed slightly as he listened to her n. ¡°Are you sure? What if people suspect you of giarism? After all, Alphascape is the first whounched the product.¡± Of course, she had thought about it. ¡°Yes, when it isunched, some people may suspect the product¡¯s authenticity, but don¡¯t worry about it. Since I¡¯ve nned this, I have prepared a wless countermeasure. I have indisputable evidence to prove that we are the rightful owner of the original draft.¡± Callum didn¡¯t say anything in response, so Elspeth smiled and reassured him, ¡°You must not underestimate my ability. Don¡¯t forget that I was the one who drew the design. Rx.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not you that I¡¯m worried about. I believe in you, but I¡¯m just worried that this is part of their dirty tricks, and you won¡¯t be able to handle it then.¡± He looked at her smile with a hint of worry in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll assign some bodyguards to be with you in the next few days in case you are harmed.¡± How can she be so cheeky at a moment like this? She was surprised by his decision. Thus, she chuckled and asked, ¡°Why do you care so much about my safety?¡± An awkward look appeared on his face. ¡°It¡¯s not what you think. I¡¯m worried that something will happen to you and affect thepany¡¯s revenue.¡± Elspeth pestered him. ¡°I don¡¯t care. You¡¯re saying that I¡¯m important to you, right?¡± When he heard her non-stop teasing, Callum was somewhat flustered. ¡°Go back to work.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so boring.¡± She pouted. Only after Elspeth left did he calm down. Recently, his emotions had be easily influenced by her, and he didn¡¯t know whether it was a good or bad thing. This feeling of being out of control was really annoying. Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Fire Soon, under Elspeth¡¯s machinations, the new product wasunched and released for sale. As expected by Callum, on the first day of the new product release, some people noticed the simrities between the two products. They even discovered that Winthrop Group¡¯stest product was a replica of Alphascape Group¡¯s product! As a result, they began to wonder if Winthrop Group nned to destroy their own reputation. The news became viral on the Inte. Everyone was discussing why this farce happened and how to deal with it. ¡®I think Winthrop Group has tanked this time. Can¡¯t theye up with some new ideas? How can they steal Alphascape¡¯s design?¡¯ ¡®Nonsense! Elspeth designed these pieces of jewelry. Do you think she will giarize her own work?¡¯ ¡®Hey, don¡¯t be so sure about that. There are all kinds of people in the world, and almost everyone has giarized something in their lives. So, you don¡¯t have to defend her like a moronic fan.¡¯ ¡®Hear hear! I¡¯m taking Alphascape¡¯s side this time.¡¯ Most of the views on the Inte were in favor of Alphascape Group. Except for some people who stuck to their aspirations and fanatical worship of Elspeth, the rest used her of giarizing other people¡¯s works. However, Elspeth could not be bothered at all. She even conversed happily with the members of the Winthrop Family when she was at home that weekend. Max was rather anxious when he saw the news. ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried at all? This is a big deal. Your reputation may be tarnishedpletely.¡± Elspeth took a sip of water and asked casually, ¡°Do you think I will do something like giarize other people¡¯s work?¡± ¡°Of course not!¡± He refuted, ¡°You won¡¯t do such a thing. I trust you.¡± ¡°So, don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Edmund mocked, ¡°What if you can¡¯t turn the tide, though? What happens then will be a different story.¡± ¡°Do you have any good ideas for me? Do share.¡± Elspeth nced at him emotionlessly. ¡°It¡¯s none of my business.¡± He chuckled. ¡°I can¡¯t help you.¡± Arthur simply smiled without saying anything. ke knew how devastating the consequences of this kind of cyberbullying were due to his years of experience in the entertainment industry, so he was genuinely worried about her situation. ¡°This is not easy to settle, and it bes a bigger deal since thepany is involved. Are you sure you can handle it?¡± Elspeth gave him a reassuring look in response, yet Callum felt inexplicably uneasy as he watched the two interact. ¡°She¡¯s not as stupid as you think,¡± Callum blurted. She grinned from ear to ear when she heard this. Indeed, Callum, who had spent the most time with her, knew her best. ¡°We¡¯re going back to the office this afternoon.¡± Callum asked seriously, ¡°Are you ready?¡± Elspeth nodded and donned a triumphant smile. ¡°Yup. Later, I¡¯ll let Alphascape know the downfall of stealing my work.¡± The members of the Winthrop Family were taken aback, not knowing what tricks they had up their sleeves. Finally, at 3.00PM, they arrived at the new productunch as promised. This incident caused a great sensation on the Inte. Hence, many reporters at the press conference aimed their cameras at Elspeth, hoping they could capture something sensational and be the first to publish the breaking news. ¡°Hello,dies and gentlemen. I am Elspeth. I¡¯m d to meet with all of you again and introduce our new product, ¡®Wonderlust Pearl¡¯.¡± As soon as she finished her introduction, the entertainment reporter asked eagerly, ¡°Miss Lynwood, there are rumors on the Inte saying that Winthrop¡¯s new release ¡®Wonderlust Pearl¡¯ and Alphascape¡¯stest product ¡®Pearl of the Sea¡¯ are the same product. Do you admit that you giarized it?¡± giarized? Elspeth raised her eyebrow slightly and donned a professional smile as she looked at the reporter¡¯s face. ¡°Of course not, because this is my design.¡± ¡°Your design? ording to the timeline, Alphascape made the product announcement first, and then you announced theunchter.¡± ¡°Well, ording to the timeline, it is indeed Alphascape who released the product first.¡± Elspeth tapped her chin and smiled faintly. ¡°But just because theyunched the product first doesn¡¯t mean that they are the creator. I can provide some evidence to prove that I am indeed the creator.¡± With that, she opened herptop and cast the screen on therge screen behind her. ¡°As you can see, I have already started working on this design in September, which was three months ago.¡± There was a specific timestamp on the blueprint draft, and it verified her remarks. Next, the image changed, and it was her chat record with someone. ¡°This was a conversation I had with my mentor in October, where she told me what I could do to make this blueprint more precise.¡± The dialogue between the two people evolved heavily around the work, and this kind of detailed understanding of the product could not be faked. ¡°Finally, I would like to utilize the public resources to say something to Mr. Houston Bishop, who is now working at Alphascape Group.¡± Elspeth cleared her throat and enunciated, ¡°Mr. Bishop, do you like my presentation?¡± This press conference was a live webcast. After she said those remarks, there was an uproar on the Inte. ¡®Houston Bishop? He used to work in the Winthrop Group, didn¡¯t he?¡¯ ¡®Yeah, I know him! He¡¯s working at Alphascape now!¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m Winthrop Group¡¯s internal employee! Let me tell you, Houston tried to rope people into his team, embezzled thepany¡¯s money, and even tried to usurp the position of the president. He was fired!¡¯ ¡®Wow, this is so bizarre!¡¯ Elspethughed out loud as she looked at the shocked expressions of everyone present. ¡°Look at them! Don¡¯t they look like a bunch of ignorant fence-sitters?¡± She leaned in and whispered to Callum. ¡°Yes.¡± He knew that she would be able to settle the situation smoothly, but he didn¡¯t expect her to be so meticulous and perfect. ¡°Wow! This is the first time you¡¯ve answered a question like this. You usually would have called it boring.¡± She was genuinely astonished by his response but still satisfied with the current situation. He didn¡¯t even bother to deign her with her look as he turned around and left. She shrugged and didn¡¯t mind his response, or theck thereof. After all, he was an indifferent and emotionless man. He would do something heartfelt and affectionate when pigs could fly. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. On the other hand, Alphascape Group waspletely defeated this time, and they could no longer dominate the jewelry market from now on. The dust settled. In the next few days, she felt that her life was tranquil and calm, and it was so quiet that it was abnormal. Houston was a vengeful person. After he suffered such a devastating blow this time, he would definitely devise a more vicious n. However, it had been a week, and he had been unusually quiet. Elspeth was puzzled but did not let her guard down. This afternoon, she came to the office to deliver documents to Callum. As soon as she left the office, the fire lights on the ceiling shed, and then a huge siren reverberated in the building. Chapter 45 Chapter 45 Chapter 45 Take a Bet ¡°Fire! Fire!¡± someone shouted in the office, and the entire staff panicked as they rushed toward the door. The office was on the eighth floor. Due to the fire, they couldn¡¯t take the elevator. As the crowd stormed down the stairs, they found that the fire had spread to the fourth floor. They couldn¡¯t see the situation ahead due to the dense smoke that spread in the stairway, which was suffocating, so they were forced to turn back. Elspeth didn¡¯t run down the stairs with them. Instead, she turned around and saw that Callum was standing beside her with two wet towels in his hand. ¡°Cover your mouth with this. Don¡¯t breathe in smoke.¡± She took out her phone to call 911. Then, as she looked at the chaotic employees, she raised her voice and shouted, ¡°Guys, calm down! Panic would do you no favors and may bring you danger. If you don¡¯t want anything bad to happen to you, calm down and listen.¡± The people raised their heads and looked at her. Although they were terrified, they chose to believe in her. ¡°Now, grab the towel or cloth around you, wet it, and cover your mouth and nose. Next, wet yourselves as much as possible to avoid being burned by the fire and lower your body temperature. Finally, everyone, please line up in an orderly fashion and go down slowly. Don¡¯t rush down the stairs in a group. If the fire is too big, we¡¯ll stop and think of other ways.¡± Thanks to Elspeth¡¯s instructions, the originally chaotic staff began to move in an orderly manner. They were about to evacuate safely when the timid young girl in thest row panicked and lost her handkerchief when she saw the fire was burning. In an instant, she breathed in the dense smoke, rolled her eyes, and coughed violently. Elspeth frowned and handed her towel to the girl. ¡°Thank you, Miss Lynwood. What about you?¡± The young girl gratefully covered her mouth and nose with Elspeth¡¯s towel, but she was worried as she looked at Elspeth while covering her face with her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m in better shape. I can pull it through.¡± Despite that, Elspeth obviously felt a great difort tickling her throat and had the urge to cough. Callum shoved his towel into her hand and said dispassionately, ¡°Use mine.¡± She shook her head and pushed the towel back to him. ¡°No, I don¡¯t want the one you used.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to repeat my words.¡± His voice was mixed with a hint of irrefutable insistence. She pursed her lips in resignation and took his towel. As she covered her mouth with the towel, a faint scent of mint filled her nose. It smelled like the scent of the toothpaste he often used. Oh my, I¡¯m using his towel. Is this considered an indirect kiss? At the thought of this, she shook her head lightly. What the hell am I thinking about at a moment like this?! Focus, Elspeth, focus! As they walked down the stairs, she could clearly feel that Callum was walking unsteadily and couldn¡¯t keep up with the pace. ¡°Hey, are you okay?¡± He couldn¡¯t speak, so he reached out and squeezed her hand, indicating that he was conscious. Before he could retract his hand, she grabbed his hand and held it tightly. Her hand was small yet slender. As her warm fingers tightly sped his big hand, he felt inexplicably relieved. ¡°Come on,¡± Elspeth said softly. ¡°Don¡¯t be left behind.¡± She held his hand and walked down the stairs step by step. Under Elspeth¡¯s practical and logical guidance, everyone sessfully evacuated the building. As soon as he walked out, Callum felt highly dizzy and slid directly onto the stone bench beside the road. ¡°Are you alright? Hold on. The ambnce will be here soon.¡± He nodded. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± His voice remained steady, although a little weak. ¡°This fire happened so suddenly. I bet that Houston was behind this.¡± Elspeth¡¯s re turned cold and vicious when she mentioned Houston. Callum lowered his eyes to converge the coldness on his face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. When we find out the source, we will¡ª¡± Before he could finish, he felt an abrupt burst of pain in his body. The pain was so intense that he almost fainted. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. When she noticed his abnormality, she looked at his back and found that there was arge burn on his shoulders. The burn wound and flesh were bloody. The clothes melted and stuck to the flesh. It was a very horrible sight. Elspeth¡¯s expression suddenly became serious, and she chided him in agitation, ¡°Callum! Why didn¡¯t you tell me that you were scalded?!¡± He was so severely injured, yet he didn¡¯t even say a peep and forced himself to walk out of the building. As she looked at the wound and thought about the towel he gave her, she felt distressed and guilty. ¡°What¡¯s there to say?¡± ¡°What the hell?! Have you ever taken your body seriously? Do you really think you¡¯re invincible?¡± Callum didn¡¯t know what to say when he saw her going berserk. Fortunately, the ambnce came just in time to defuse the intensified atmosphere between them, and he was rushed to the nearest hospital. After the doctor examined his wound, he frowned tightly. ¡°This is a severe burn. There is no way to fully recover, and you may have a permanent scar here. However, it will fade if you apply some ointment to it.¡± Callum nodded indifferently. It wasn¡¯t a big deal to have one more scar on his body anyway. Elspeth looked at Callum, who was sitting on the bed, andmented seriously, ¡°I canpletely heal your scars.¡± He hesitated for a moment and blurted, ¡°You can?¡± She observed the degree and size of the burns and automatically generated a treatment n in her mind. When the doctor heard this, the doctor couldn¡¯t help bursting out inughter. ¡°Miss, I know and understand that you are eager to save your sweetheart, but you can¡¯t bluff.¡± Callum¡¯s heart skipped a beat when he heard the word ¡°sweetheart¡±. ¡°I¡¯m not bluffing.¡± Elspeth insisted. The doctor was taken aback and said with a hint of mockery, ¡°No offense, but I don¡¯t think you¡¯ve ever practiced medicine. Even if you did, you should know that it is impossible to fix his skin ording to current medical technology.¡± ¡°Doctor, just because you can¡¯t do it doesn¡¯t mean others can¡¯t. You¡¯re too narrow-minded.¡± Her remarks instantly provoked the doctor¡¯s desire to win. Thus, he sneered, ¡°You know, you can¡¯t take back what you¡¯ve said.¡± ¡°Yes, I know.¡± The doctor was enraged by her calm and rxed appearance. ¡°What an ignorant and cocky brat! How can you be so confident?!¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, why don¡¯t we make a bet?¡± Elspeth smiled politely at the doctor. ¡°If I can¡¯t cure him, I¡¯ll apologize to you, but if I can cure the burn on his body¡­¡± ¡°If you can cure him, I¡¯ll retire immediately,¡± the doctor interjected. Chapter 46 Chapter 46 Chapter 46 Pay It as It Lays ¡°Nah, you don¡¯t have to retire. Just give me some medicine.¡± A light shed in Elspeth¡¯s eyes, and she smiled lightly. The doctor was a well-known doctor in this hospital. So, when he heard that she wanted medicine, he frowned in confusion. ¡°What do you want it for?¡± ¡°I have my reasons. Just say if you want to give it or not.¡± The doctor¡¯s eyes darted around as he thought about it for a moment and nodded in agreement. Elspeth smiled in satisfaction as she took out a porcin-white bottle from her pocket. The whole bottle was crystal clear with a slight blue tint. She opened the bottle, poured the emerald green medicinal ointment onto Callum¡¯s back, and gently rubbed it. A cold sensation spread across his body, and he instantly felt the burning sensation on his back lessen significantly. ¡°I¡¯ll apply the ointment to you once a day from now on, and you¡¯ll recover after a week.¡± ¡°A week?!¡± The doctor¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief and bewilderment. ¡°Impossible! It is impossible for a skin transnt to recover and be as good as new in a week.¡± Elspeth closed the bottle cap and put it back into her pocket. ¡°Of course the scar won¡¯t fully be gone. That would be far too unrealistic. It needs long-term treatment. It is good enough if he can recover 70% to 80%.¡± ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll wait and see the exact result after seven days.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± She raised her chin proudly. After the doctor packed up his things and left, Callum stared at her deeply and asked, ¡°Why did you make that bet with him?¡± Although he knew that she was unpredictable, there was nothing she could do to treatrge-scale burn scars except for skin grafting. Could the magical ointment grow new flesh? No, that was ridiculous. ¡°Because I have the confidence to win,¡± she said, utterly self-assured, and her eyes shone brightly. She seemed to be fearless. ¡°I hope you don¡¯t make a fool of yourself.¡± ¡°Sure. Just wait and see.¡± She snorted. He didn¡¯t say anything, but the emotions were rummaging inside him. Elspeth would apply ointment to Callum¡¯s wound for the next seven days. The cold sensation gradually disappeared day after day, and finally, he didn¡¯t feel anything at all. He began to wonder if the ointment had lost its effect. Nheless, he couldn¡¯t see the condition of his back, so he could only wait until she revealed the result after seven days. Seven dayster, the doctor arrived as promised. He went to the bed and took off Callum¡¯s top to check on his back. Just one look left him in a shock. ¡°A-Are you sure he¡¯s still the same man?¡± That day, he clearly saw how severe the burns on Callum¡¯s back were. Even he couldn¡¯t guarantee a cure, which was why he dared to take the bet. Nevertheless, the scar on his back was so faint that he even poked it doubtfully. ¡°Amazing! This is so amazing¡­¡± The doctor couldn¡¯t help but admire Elspeth¡¯s superb medical skills. It was extraordinary for a girl in her twenties to have such uncanny skills. ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. Callum could hear the shift of the tone of Vance Tate, the doctor, so he was astonished too. ¡°So, your promise still stands, right?¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t care if she won her bet. She only cared if the bet would be honored. ¡°Of course!¡± Vance nodded excitedly. ¡°What do you want?¡± She rubbed her chin, thought for a moment, and said, ¡°I want a hundred years old Ganoderma.¡± ¡°What?¡± Vance was taken aback and frowned. ¡°I¡ª¡± ¡°Hold on. Don¡¯t tell me that you want to go back on your words, Dr. Tate?¡± Vance pursed his lips in embarrassment. Finally, he sighed dejectedly. ¡°Alright,e with me.¡± He led Elspeth to the hospital¡¯s pharmacy. As soon as he turned on the light, they heard a roar. ¡°Vance! I almost had a heart attack! Why did you appear like a ghost?!¡± Vance smiled apologetically at her before looking in the direction of the sound and snapping, ¡°Norman, we have a guest here. Can you show me some respect?¡± ¡°A guest?¡± Suddenly, Elspeth felt a gush of wind swirl over her, and in the next second, someone gripped her hand tightly. ¡°Are you the guest that Vance was talking about?¡± She didn¡¯t know what kind of response she should give the man because she didn¡¯t know who the person was, nor could she move as the person gripped her hand tightly. ¡°She is incredible! She can treat burns; the scars are almost as good as new! This is amazing! I¡¯ve practiced medicine for decades, and this is the first time I saw such a miraculous scene!¡± Norman Frost chuckled. ¡°Incredible? Miraculous? The wound is curable in terms of traditional medicine, but¡ª¡± He turned to Elspeth and asked, ¡°Who taught you these? Who is your mentor?¡± ¡°Sonny Schwartz.¡± ¡°What? Sonny Schwartz?!¡± Norman gasped in astonishment when he heard the name. ¡°Do you mean Sonny Schwartz, the renowned and talented doctor in traditional medicine? And you are his apprentice?¡± She was slightly bewildered by his reaction but nodded nheless. Renowned? Talented? He is nothing but an old man who enjoys drinking and will make a fuss when he loses at chess. ¡°She asks for a hundred-year-old Ganoderma. Do you think we should give it to her or not?¡± Vance interrupted and mentioned the request. ¡°Haha! Of course, we should! But can you please lend me your notes on burn medicine for me to study?¡± Norman had loved traditional medicine since he was young and had studied it for decades. He wouldn¡¯t let the chance of getting to know a novelty medicine slip out of his hand. ¡°Sure!¡± Elspeth agreed without hesitation. It was almost impossible for a person to formte precisely the same medicine without a specific form and guidance. If Norman could produce it, it meant that he was also highly talented, and it would be far from a waste for such a person to have the recipe. After she received the Ganoderma as promised, she departed happily. She called Harper and passed the Ganoderma to him for temporary safekeeping before returning to the hospital. At this moment, amotion was happening at the hospital entrance. Two women were arguing and making a ruckus. One of them was wearing a mask, sunsses, and a hat. She looked rather stunning but patiently refuted the other party while remaining polite and calm. On the contrary, the other woman kept shouting at the top of her lungs like a barbaric hillbilly. She even cursed the other woman with vulgar words. Elspeth didn¡¯t intend to meddle, but when passing by them, the hillbilly suddenly gasped as if she was suffocated and then copsed to the ground. Shey on the ground, foaming at her mouth and breathing rapidly. It seemed like she had an asthma attack and would stop breathing any minute. The elegant woman was shocked and wanted to check on her, but the hillbilly¡¯s friend pushed her away and began to curse her. Elspeth turned around to take a closer look and felt that the woman looked somewhat familiar. If she was not mistaken, the woman was the one who sent flowers to her after she sang a song with ke at his concert the other day. At the thought of this, she couldn¡¯t give the woman the cold shoulder. ¡°Let me check on her,¡± she stepped forward and said gently. ¡°You? Who the hell do you think you are, youngdy?! Do you know about medicine? If something happens to my friend, I¡¯ll ruin every single one of you!¡± Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Saving a Person¡¯s Life Elspeth disregarded the woman¡¯s chatter as she walked to the sick woman and prepared to perform first aid when someone tugged on her arm again. The woman¡¯s friend bellowed, ¡°Hey, don¡¯t you understand what I¡¯m saying?! Stop messing around! You¡¯ll be held ountable if you can¡¯t save her!¡± Elspeth red at her coldly. Her fearsome re frightened the woman, who immediately released her. ¡°Okay, you can hold me ountable, but if you stop me again and her condition deteriorates, you¡¯ll be held ountable.¡± The woman was shocked by her remarks and hastily retracted her hands. Elspeth squatted down and checked the woman¡¯s condition carefully. After she realized that the woman¡¯s condition wasn¡¯t serious, she took out a pill from her pocket and stuffed it into the woman¡¯s mouth. ¡°Hey!¡± Her friend shrieked. ¡°What did you feed her?¡± Elspeth had had enough. She turned around and threatened, ¡°This is a hospital. If you scream at me again, I¡¯ll ask the security guards to kick you out!¡± The woman shrank away sheepishly. ¡°I-I didn¡¯t mean it. Who knows what you fed her? You would kill her if the pill didn¡¯t work.¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t be bothered by her. So, she turned back to check on the patient. For some reason, the patient began to pant even more, and her body trembled violently as if she had some kind of reaction to the medicine. ¡°Look at what you¡¯ve done! She gets worse! What an ignorant brat! You kill her, do you know that?!¡± The friend finally felt confident to curse Elspeth now. I knew that this brat was unreliable from the beginning! I made the right choice by yelling at her! ¡°Come and save my friend! This girl is killing her!¡± she wailed, worsening the situation. A cold gleam shed across Elspeth¡¯s eyes. ¡°It¡¯s too early to tell.¡± At this moment, the patient suddenly stopped breathing rapidly and slowly opened her eyes with a puzzled look, not knowing what had happened. ¡°You¡¯re fine now. Please control your emotions and always bring your asthma medicine with you. You won¡¯t be so lucky to bump into me next time.¡± Elspeth stood up and gave her some advice. The crowd began to apud and exim in awe when they witnessed how Elspeth had saved the woman with just a tiny pill. ¡°Wow, she¡¯s amazing! So she¡¯s much better than my grandkid, who ys games all day long!¡± ¡°Yes! All doctors must be like this. I wonder if she¡¯s a doctor here.¡± ¡°No way! She¡¯s too young to be a doctor. I think she¡¯s still in high school¡­¡± Everyone looked at her in admiration and then looked in askance at the woman who was making a fuss earlier. ¡°What a shameful woman!¡± The woman knew that she had embarrassed herself and hastily got up from the ground. As more people gathered around them, Elspeth waved them off. ¡°Alright, nothing to see here. Please leave.¡± The crowd gradually dispersed, leaving only Elspeth and the three women. The patient with asthma was a little embarrassed. ¡°Thank you. If it hadn¡¯t been for you, I might have died.¡± Elspeth waved her hand. ¡°You don¡¯t have to thank me. Instead, you should thank her.¡± She pointed to the elegant woman. ¡°Her?!¡± The patient¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Yes. I knew her, and it was because of her that I helped you.¡± You gave me flowers, and I helped you this time. We¡¯re even. Then, Elspeth checked her watch and said, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. I need to go now.¡± With that, she turned and rushed toward the hospital ward. The elegant woman quietly shed tears as she watched her leave, but Elspeth couldn¡¯t see her tears. Callum was in the ward dealing with documents when she came in. ¡°The doctor said that I am almost healed, so I can be discharged in a while.¡± ¡°Wonderful.¡± She nodded absent-mindedly. He noticed Elspeth as she was in a trance and went to the heart of the matter. ¡°You¡¯re thinking about the fire, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yeah. I haven¡¯t been thinking about it for the past few years. Now that it suddenly came to my mind, I felt that it was rather strange.¡± ¡°Your feeling is justifiable,¡± Callum said in a cold voice. ¡°The building¡¯s prevention and control measures are in ce, and there are people to check the situation daily. There is no possibility of a fire. The fire first started on the first floor, which is a shopping mall. Maybe someone lit the fire when no one was looking.¡± At the thought of this, Elspeth narrowed her eyes slightly. ¡°W-Was it Houston?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been checking the surveince videos of the first floor and spotted him in those quiet corners.¡± He opened hisptop and showed the video to her. ¡°Huh! He¡¯s throwing the helve after the hatchet.¡± She snorted. ¡°I¡¯ll make him lie in the bed he had made!¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. He was discharged from the hospital at noon and returned to thepany. She went to the rooftop and called Harper, ¡°Where are you?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Miss Lynwood?¡± The noisy background echoed from the other end of the line when Harper answered the call. ¡°Are you at the bar picking up girls again?¡± She raised an eyebrow. He chuckled. ¡°Bingo.¡± ¡°Okay, I have an assignment for you.¡± At the thought of Houston¡¯s malicious actions, she lowered her voice and said, ¡°I want you to get rid of someone.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Houston Bishop. He set fire to thepany. You know what to do.¡± Harper immediately answered, ¡°Alright! I¡¯ll make sure he reaps what he sows.¡± Elspeth ended the call and returned to her office. As soon as she sat down, her colleague, Abbie, came to her seat with a phone and giggled, ¡°Elspeth, you¡¯re in the news!¡± ¡°What news?¡± Elspeth was confused. Abbie clicked on a webpage and showed her screen to her. ¡°Look! A stranger saved an asthma patient in front of the hospital, and she didn¡¯t tell anyone her name. Even though we couldn¡¯t see your face in the photo, I knew at first nce that this woman was you!¡± Those who knew Elspeth could immediately recognize her signature wavy chestnut-colored long hair. Not just Abbie; even theizens had also recognized Elspeth in the photo. ¡®Isn¡¯t this Elspeth? My idol!¡¯ ¡®She¡¯s so beautiful and kind! But, more importantly, she seems to know everything!¡¯ ¡®Oh my, can I marry her, please?¡¯ ¡®In your dreams!¡¯ ¡­ Elspeth couldn¡¯t tell how she felt about the news. Then, all of a sudden, in the corner of the photo, she spotted the elegant woman standing not far away from her and looking in her direction. She couldn¡¯t see the woman¡¯s expression clearly, yet she could feel a hint of tenderness from her. ¡°Elspeth? Elspeth!¡± Abbie waved her hand in front of Elspeth¡¯s face to regain her attention. ¡°Yes? I¡¯m fine.¡± Elspeth shook her head and showed a faint smile. Abbie breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Thank goodness. By the way, I heard that someone from the TV station wille to interview you in the afternoon, but¡­¡± Chapter 48 Chapter 48 Chapter 48 Tit for Tat ¡°But what?¡± Elspeth was intrigued. Abbie looked around. Only after making sure that no one paid attention to them did she lean over and whisper, ¡°But the TV host is ke¡¯s diehard fan. You previously shot that intimatemercial with him, so I bet she will attack you instead.¡± When Elspeth heard this, she didn¡¯t think it was something to be wary of. On the contrary, she looked forward to the afternoon interview. ¡°Alright then. Let¡¯s see how she will attack meter.¡± Sure enough, a TV host came to the office to interview Elspeth at 3.00PM. She was wearing a tight- fitting professional suit that wrapped around her curvy and slender body snugly. It was an enticing sight. The male employees in thepany stared at her in awe, hoping that she was there to interview them instead. The host sashayed, swaying her body as she went. The minute she saw Elspeth, she felt a strong sense of intimidation. She¡¯s so gorgeous! Her face and facial features are so exquisite, and even her hair carries a touch of elegance. So, this is my rival in love¡­ ¡°Hello, my name is Lenora Owen, and I¡¯m the host of the local TV station.¡± ¡°Hello.¡± Elspeth nodded at her with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m Elspeth Lynwood.¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Without further ado, I¡¯ll start the interview right away.¡± Lenora nced at the cameraman on the side and signaled him to turn on the camera. ¡°Ites to my attention that you don¡¯t know the patient. May I know why you decided to save thatdy at that time?¡± ¡°I was bored and just happened to witness her copsing,¡± Elspeth answered without hesitation. ¡°Did you ept thedy¡¯s thanks and money after that?¡± ¡°She did thank me, but I didn¡¯t ept any money from her.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you want any mary reward from her?¡± Elspeth looked at her aggressive stance and knew that this was her so-called attack. So, she changed the subject and asked, ¡°Will the government give a mary reward for the citizen¡¯s bravery?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Lenora secretly mocked Elspeth for being petty while donning a professional smile on her face. ¡°In fact, it¡¯s quite a lot of money too!¡± ¡°If I ask other questions, you¡¯ll be able to answer me, won¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Certainly!¡± Lenora was highly confident. ¡°When exactly will the money be paid out?¡± Lenora had never considered this question. A qualified host would not allow the interviewee to divert the topic of discussion to this area, but she had asked unprofessional questions in order to humiliate Elspeth. Much to her bewilderment, Elspeth picked on her weakness. What a smart b*tch. Her expression changed slightly. ¡°I¡¯m not so sure about that.¡± Elspeth feigned confusion and puzzlement. ¡°What? Didn¡¯t you say you could answer me on everything? So, why can¡¯t you answer my question? Are you a newly appointed host?¡± ¡°I¡ª¡± Lenora was rendered speechless, and her expression turned slightly gloomy. ¡°The government rewards 1,000 dors per person for their bravery and righteousness, but I have enough money to go by, so I won¡¯t do a good deed deliberately for 1,000 dors. Also, Miss Owen, please rehearse before the next interview. Don¡¯t embarrass yourself.¡± Then, Elspeth turned to the cameraman and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Please edit this scene out of the footage. I don¡¯t want Miss Owen to be humiliated.¡± Lenora¡¯s face flushed red due to rage, and she almost couldn¡¯t control her temper. The cameraman awkwardly mumbled, ¡°B-But this is a live broadcast, not a recording.¡± ¡°Hurry up and shut it off! Can¡¯t you see how mad Miss Owen is now?¡± Lenora suddenly came to her senses and realized that this was a live broadcast. She swiftly regained herposure and apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I made a few blunders earlier, so I wasn¡¯t pleased with myself. Please forgive me. Well, that¡¯s it for today¡¯s broadcast. Miss Lynwood, thank you for the interview. We¡¯ll see you again next time.¡± Then, she winked at the cameraman, signaling him to turn off the camera immediately. On the other hand, Elspeth stretched her bodyzily. ¡°Is that it? I¡¯m going back to work now.¡± ¡°Wait a minute! Why did you humiliate me just now?!¡± Lenora¡¯s face turned nasty, and her gentle demeanor was thrown out the window. Elspeth was dumbfounded. Is she actually trying to shift the me right back to me?! ¡°Miss Owen, I think you knew very well why I said those things.¡± Lenora scowled. ¡°You¡¯re not stupid, after all. Alright, I¡¯lle clean to you since you know it all. But, I¡¯m warning you to keep a distance from ke. This is yourst chance, or I won¡¯t let you off the hook!¡± ¡°You honestly read too much into things, Miss Owen. ke and I are just friends.¡± ¡°You¡¯re bluffing! Will friends shoot ads as a couple? Drop your act already! If I catch you seeing ke again in the future, you¡¯re so dead.¡± Elspeth simply cast an indifferent nce at the camera and smirked. ¡°By the way, there¡¯s something I forgot to tell you. I think your camera is still on.¡± Lenora froze in horror. Then, she turned to look at the camera, and her face turned stark white when she spotted the shing red light on the camera. Did everyone hear what I said?! Everyone heard my undisguised love for ke and my vicious threat to Elspeth! A horrified Lenora surged forward to turn off the camera before turning back to re at Elspeth. ¡°You did this on purpose, didn¡¯t you?! You knew that the camera was still running, so you wanted to embarrass me!¡± Elspeth shrugged and smiled indifferently. Due to Elspeth¡¯s poprity, many people watched her live interview. At this point, although the camera was turned off, they knew what had happened. As a result, Lenora¡¯s reputation was utterly ruined. ¡®Look at your favorite host! Haha, she always wears that gentle and soft-spoken appearance. This is new!¡¯ ¡®She¡¯s so petty! Oh my, she¡¯s disgusting.¡¯ ¡®I want to puke! How dare she like ke?! Does she think ke will like her back?!¡¯ ¡®Elspeth is so dashing! ¡®I have enough money to go by¡¯! Wow, she¡¯s so cool¡­¡¯ The embarrassed Lenora didn¡¯t want to stay there any longer. Since Elspeth disregarded her thoroughly, she wiped her tears in agitation and left with the cameraman. Elspeth shook her head as she watched her leave. Then, she remembered that she needed Callum¡¯s signature on one of her documents, so she took the documents and went to his office. ¡°Callum, I¡ª¡± Before she finished, she spotted Callum¡¯s phone on the table, and on the phone screen was the live broadcast that had just ended. She smiled brilliantly. ¡°Aw, you watched my interview! Do you care that much about me?¡± As soon as she said this, he quickly shut down the website and said faintly, ¡°It popped up by itself.¡± ¡°Wow, your phone is quite user-friendly.¡± She smiled ambiguously. ¡°What did you think about my interview?¡± Chapter 49 Chapter 49 Chapter 49 The Crisis of His Ex ¡°Not bad.¡± ¡°See! You watched my interview! Just admit it!¡± Elspeth flicked her hair, her smile mysterious and ambiguous. ¡°If you don¡¯t have anything else to say, go back to work,¡± Callum ordered her to leave for fear that she would use this chance to tease him again. ¡°Aw, don¡¯t be so indifferent. Are you a man? How can you be so calm when a gorgeous woman is flirting with you?¡± She clicked her tongue and was about to leave when Edmund walked in on her and said, ¡°This year, there are a total of one hundred people to participate in the interview. Eighty failed the written test, and the remaining twenty were waiting in the interview room. When can you go over?¡± Houston was supposed to be in charge of the recruitment, but after he was fired, they didn¡¯t have a qualified staff to serve as the head of the HR Department, so Edmund was temporarily put in charge of recruitment. Elspeth blinked as she quickly recalled that it was indeed the annual recruitment day. ¡°I¡¯ll go overter.¡± Edmund spotted Elspeth too and teased, ¡°Well, you guys seem to spend a lot of time together now. I think you don¡¯t have to get along with us anymore. Just marry Callum.¡± Although he was prompting her and Callum to be together, she could hear an intense mockery in his tone. A cold light shed across Callum¡¯s eyes. ¡°You talk too much.¡± Edmund shrugged casually and turned to say to her, ¡°You see what he¡¯s like, right? This is a friendly reminder from me to you. Don¡¯t regret it when you choose to be with him and are bullied.¡± ¡°It¡¯s none of your business,¡± Elspeth answered with a smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°How can you say that to me? I¡¯m telling you this out of the goodness of my heart. I¡¯m sad, Elsie.¡± Edmund pouted pretentiously. When he turned and spotted Callum¡¯s cold re, he sheepishly dropped his act and exited his office. ¡°I¡¯m interviewing potential candidates. Do you want to join me?¡± Callum suddenly invited Elspeth along, which made her a little ttered. ¡°Me? Are you sure? But I thought you didn¡¯t want to see me that much?¡± Most of the time, whenever she teased him a little, he would order her to leave. He had always been so serious and boring. Callum stood up, grabbed his coat, and walked toward the door. ¡°I think you¡¯re pretty good at reading people. So,e if you want, but forget it if you don¡¯t want to.¡± ¡°I¡¯lle!¡± Elspeth beamed happily at that. The interview venue was located on the second floor. Twenty candidates were waiting outside, all of them fresh graduates. ¡°Now, you¡¯ll enter one by one ording to the order.¡± After they interviewed several people in a row, he wasn¡¯t satisfied with any of them, and the frown on his face never left. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t you think you¡¯re too harsh? I think there are a few who are quite good.¡± Elspeth cupped her chin and asked while they were taking a break. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. Those who were interviewed just now either didn¡¯t have any working experience, were stuttering, or were too arrogant. It won¡¯t do thepany any good if we hire these people. So, I won¡¯t hire them if they don¡¯t fit the requirements. I don¡¯t need to hire these unqualified people to fill up the numbers.¡± Elspeth understood his implication, but Harper had single-handedly managed her business affairs. There was nothing much she needed to worry about except for the big decisions that he couldn¡¯t deal with himself. At the thought of this, she felt a little ashamed of her capability to read people orck thereof. The next candidate was a girl with shoulder-length hair. Her temperament was outstanding, and her facial features were tender and sweet. She had two shallow dimples beside her lips when she smiled. In fact, she was the most beautiful candidate today. Elspeth could clearly feel that Callum¡¯s body suddenly became stiff. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you shocked by her beauty?¡± she mocked in a low voice, but Callum suddenly regained hisposure and flipped the candidate¡¯s resum¨¦ and information. Then, after a long while, he looked up and asked, ¡°When did you return?¡± Elspeth blinked in surprise. He knew her. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, I don¡¯t think this question has anything to do with today¡¯s interview.¡± The woman ruffled her hair and looked aloof. ¡°I think you should ask me some questions rted to the interview.¡± Callum mmed the file shut and scowled indignantly. ¡°I know you did note here to interview for a job. So tell me, why did youe back?¡± The girl covered her mouth and giggled, ¡°I came back to keep an eye on you on behalf of my sister. After all, you¡¯re my¡­ brother-inw.¡± Brother-inw? Elspeth was a little confused. She looked at the girl in front of her and felt an inexplicable sense of crisis and intimidation. Callum began to breathe heavily. ¡°I¡¯m not your brother-inw! Don¡¯t call me that.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The girl raised her eyebrow. ¡°Judging from your reaction, I think you¡¯ve forgotten my sister, so I don¡¯t want to waste any more time here.¡± Callum didn¡¯t say anything in response, but he was no longer as calm as before. ¡°I¡¯m leaving now. I¡¯ll tell my sister to forget you.¡± The girl stood up and wanted to leave when Callum called out to her. ¡°Ginna, I no longer have a rtionship with your sister, and we¡¯ll forever be strangers in the future.¡± Ginna chuckled. ¡°Strangers? Hah, my pitiful sister. She is blindly in love with a heartless man.¡± With that, she turned and left decisively. Even if Elspeth didn¡¯t know the whole story between the two of them, she could more or less figure out the drama. ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. Ginna was probably the sister of the woman Callum loved. He might have broken up with the woman for some reason, but they still loved each other. Elspeth¡¯s heart skipped a beat when she saw Callum, who was usually calm andposed, suddenly lost his temper. Although he called the woman a stranger, she could tell that he still cared about her. ¡°Callum¡­¡± Elspeth called out his name. Callum turned around, and there was a hint of subtle sorrow in his eyes. ¡°Are you alright?¡± When he raised his eyes, his gaze was cold. ¡°Let¡¯s postpone the interview and call it a day.¡± Elspeth looked at him in a daze and nodded. The interview was cut short because of Ginna. A well ofplicated emotions surged within her, and she couldn¡¯t exin how she felt right now. It happened to be the end of the working hour too, so she decided to go home instead of staying in the office for overtime. She was home early, and Arthur was alone at home. ¡°Why are you here? Aren¡¯t you supposed to be in the hospital?¡± Arthur chuckled. ¡°I exchanged my shift with my colleague, so it¡¯s my break today.¡± Elspeth nodded and was about to head to her room when her legs unconsciously paused. She turned and looked at Arthur a little awkwardly. ¡°I want to ask you something.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Arthur sipped his coffee and asked gently. ¡°Uh¡­ Did Callum have an ex-girlfriend?¡± Chapter 50 Chapter 50 Chapter 50 Arthur¡¯s Provocation Arthur was slightly surprised by the question but still asked patiently, ¡°What? How did you know?¡± Elspeth deliberated over it until she decided it wasn¡¯t such a big deal to tell him, so she confided in him. ¡°At the interview today, a girl named Ginna Walker called Callum her brother-inw, and he responded in an exaggerated manner.¡± Ginna¡­ He raised his eyebrows and smiled. ¡°Callum did have a girlfriend before, and her name was Emma Walker. Ginna is Emma¡¯s younger sister.¡± She bit her lower lip before asking, ¡°Why did they break up?¡± He nced around and then lowered his voice. ¡°Since Emma wants to pursue her dreams, she refuses to be confined to the country, whereas Callum doesn¡¯t want to be separated from her. Emma was the one who suggested a breakup, but Callum hasn¡¯t been in a rtionship in years.¡± Although Elspeth nowpletely understood the story, she felt empty in her heart. ¡°Does that mean Callum used to like that girl a lot?¡± Arthur smiled matter-of-factly. ¡°Of course, he does. Otherwise, why wouldn¡¯t he date other women after so many years? Besides, even though Callum wasn¡¯t a gentle soul in the past, he used to smile a lot.¡± He stopped before going further. Looking at Elspeth¡¯s absent-minded look, heforted her with a smile. ¡°I know you might have feelings for Callum, but¡­ no one knows how he feels about his ex. Don¡¯t worry too much about it; he treats you differently. Perhaps, you might be the one for him¡ª¡± Before he finished speaking, she interrupted, ¡°It¡¯s fine. You don¡¯t have to exin.¡± If Callum liked his ex so much, how could he still hold anyone else in his heart? That wasn¡¯t right. If anyone else was interested in him, she wouldn¡¯t want him anymore. Elspeth turned on her heels and returned to her own room. She sat in the room but continued to feel uneasy, so she turned on herptop and began searching for Callum¡¯s past rtionships. For a top hacker like her, finding out any information was a piece of cake. It didn¡¯t take her long to find out everything that had happened between Emma and him. They met in college and were each other¡¯s first love. Then, they spent four happy years together in college. However, Emma wanted to go abroad for career development after graduating, so she broke up with him. Looking at Emma¡¯s photo, Elspeth thought she looked gentle and sweet. In terms of appearance, she was no less inferior to Ginna, whom she met in the afternoon. Photos of the two holding hands, eating together, and riding the bicycle made up Callum¡¯s first love experience. Elspeth raised her head and sighed deeply. Suddenly, a reminder message popped up on her screen. She withdrew her thoughts and read the message from Harper. ¡®Elsie, I¡¯ve already prepared the Ganoderma for you. Let me know when you¡¯re free to pick them up.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t until that moment that she recalled that the Ganoderma she intended to make into medicine for that old man, Sonny Schwartz, was still at Harper¡¯s ce. ¡®I¡¯ll stop byter. Let¡¯s meet at the bar.¡¯ Harper replied with an ¡®OK¡¯ before Elspeth turned off herptop. After packing and preparing to leave, she bumped into Callum, who had just returned home. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°That¡¯s none of your business. Isn¡¯t it?¡± she snorted. He didn¡¯t understand why she sounded harsh, so he frowned. ¡°It¡¯s already 7.00PM. Do you have to go out at this hour?¡± Elspeth looked at him coldly. ¡°I¡¯ll repeat what I said. That¡¯s none of your business. You should take care of your own affairs.¡± Callum instantly understood what she meant. ¡°Are you talking about what happened in the afternoon?¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Sheughed mockingly. ¡°You¡¯re such a busy man, Mr. Winthrop. I have no right to ask you about it, anyway. You should be more mindful of your ex-girlfriend, Emma.¡± When he heard the name, his aura instantly cooled. ¡°Who told you her name?¡± Seeing his impatient expression, Elspeth sneered, ¡°Do you think I can¡¯t find out myself, Callum?¡± Taking a deep breath, he calmed himself down. ¡°Whether someone told you or you found out yourself, don¡¯t bother paying attention to her anymore, and don¡¯t mention her name in front of me.¡± She looked away and countered, ¡°Callum, I¡¯m not interested in your ex-girlfriend at all.¡± After saying that, she walked past him and left Winthrop Residence. While in the cab heading toward Luna Bar, Elspeth felt an indescribable feeling. She could understand Callum¡¯s indifference and alienation before, but today, he was upset with her because of his ex- girlfriend. The more she thought about it, the more infuriated she became. When she arrived at the bar, Harper noticed she wasn¡¯t in a good mood, so he opened a bottle of wine for her. ¡°Elsie, what happened? Did someone wrong you at Winthrop Residence?¡± She took a sip from the winess and responded, ¡°I¡¯m fine. Have a drink with me tonight. I¡¯m not going back.¡± ¡°However, there is one important thing now. Through our cooperation with Winthrop Group, Azure Corporation¡¯s domestic development momentum has surpassed that of foreign countries. We can consider moving the headquarters back here and develop domestically.¡± Elspeth wasn¡¯t even in the mood to talk about work. ¡°Sure. Just figure it out yourself.¡± After downing a few sses, she still felt too sober. Suddenly, a gust of fragrant breeze wafted in her direction, making Elspeth raise her head. A figure in white was currently standing before her. There was a smile on the unfamiliar yet familiar face. ¡°You must be Elspeth Lynwood.¡± She remained unmoved. ¡°Miss Ginna, may I ask what you want to see me for?¡± ¡°I came here because I¡¯d like to chat with you.¡± Ginna took advantage of the situation and sat down beside her. When her gaze fell on Harper¡¯s face, she showed a somewhat hesitant expression. Elspeth then uttered softly, ¡°Harper, give us some privacy.¡± After Harper left, Ginna revealed her real purpose for talking to her. ¡°Miss Lynwood, I know you because you are indeed popr.¡± ¡°That¡¯s certainly not the case, Miss Walker. I¡¯m just an ordinary person.¡± Ginna covered her mouth and chuckled, ¡°Ordinary person? That¡¯s not necessarily true. You must be capable of attracting so many men pursuing you. Besides, you¡¯re talented. Not to mention the sons of the Winthrop Family, even I can¡¯t help my heart from beating for you.¡± Although they were words of praise, her sentences were full of sarcasm, making Elspeth feel uneasy. ¡°Did youe here to propose to me your business?¡± A hint of light lit up in Ginna¡¯s eyes. She then snickered, ¡°You¡¯re a smart person indeed. If that¡¯s the case, I will stop beating around the bush.¡± ¡°Go on,¡± Elspeth uttered without blinking. ¡°You know who I am, don¡¯t you? My sister and Callum have been together for a long time, and they are both in love with each other. I hope you don¡¯t meddle in their rtionship, Miss Lynwood.¡± Chapter 51 Chapter 51 Chapter 51 ident on a Business Trip After hearing that, Elspeth couldn¡¯t helpughing and said, ¡°I have nothing to do with Callum, not to mention meddling in their rtionship.¡± Ginna was so paranoid. ¡°Miss Lynwood, you are smart, but I have my own judgment.¡± She stroked her hair and continued, ¡°When you¡¯re with Callum, I can see the hidden emotion you two have, or I wouldn¡¯t havee all the way here to see you.¡± Elspeth looked at her coldly and reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Nothing is going on between the two of us.¡± ¡°That¡¯ll be the best. I¡¯m leaving tomorrow on a flight at 8.00AM, but I must remind you that my sister will be back in six months. So, I suggest you keep your distance from Callum; otherwise, you¡¯ll be the one who ends up getting hurt.¡± After saying those words, Ginna got up and left. Was Emmaing back soon? Elspeth¡¯s eyes were dim and hard to distinguish. Lowering her head, she took another sip of wine. When Harper returned, she had already passed out from drinking. When he leaned closer to her, she was mumbling someone¡¯s name. ¡°C-Callum Winthrop¡­ B*stard¡­¡± Sure enough, it was Callum who made her upset. However, now that she was drunk, Harper couldn¡¯t send her home, so he carried her upstairs to the lounge instead. When Elspeth woke up and found herself lying in the lounge upstairs of the bar. He had already left, but beside her were a new set of clothes and a bottle of powdered Ganoderma. Then, she got up, took a? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. shower, changed her clothes, and left the bar. She returned to Winthrop Residence with her items, and the moment she walked in, she noticed Callum reading on the couch. Since it was the weekend, he didn¡¯t go to work. He wore dark blue pajamas, which made him look neat and gentle, unlike his usual aloof appearance. ¡°Are you back?¡± He seemed to have forgotten their minor argument the night before and took the initiative to talk to her. Instead of responding, Elspeth snorted at him. ¡°Don¡¯t go drinking at night anymore. You reek of alcohol.¡± Smelling the faint scent of jasmine on her body, she frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t reek of alcohol.¡± Without uttering another word, Callum closed the book. ¡°Did you send your men to stalk me?¡± A quick possibility shed in her mind. His gaze was calm as he replied, ¡°No. My father sent someone to follow you in case something happens.¡± Hearing his exnation, she felt uneasy. ¡°If that is the case, I don¡¯t need your concern. I¡¯m going to sleep now. Bye.¡± Just as she was heading upstairs, her arm was yanked. ¡°Don¡¯t get worked up.¡± Callum softened his voice for the first time, trying to have a good talk with Elspeth. She wanted to break free but realized she couldn¡¯t, so she stared at him with fierce eyes. ¡°Callum, it¡¯s none of your business whether I¡¯m angry or not. Let me go.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going on a business trip this afternoon for two days, and my dad said that you have to apany me.¡± When he said that, his eyes were clear, and it didn¡¯t seem like he was lying. Elspeth intended to refuse him, but she realized that if Theodore was the one who wanted her to go, she would have to bite her tongue. ¡°Why does Mr. Winthrop wants me to go with you?¡± She couldn¡¯t figure out how Theodore found out about Callum¡¯s business trip and purposefully wanted her to apany Callum. When he noticed that she had calmed down, he let go of her and replied, ¡°Maybe he wants us to spend more time together and try to get along.¡± Now that Ophelia was out of options, Theodore hoped Elspeth could marry Callum, so he deliberately created opportunities for them to be alone. ¡°When do we have to leave?¡± Although she didn¡¯t want to be alone with Callum, especially after what had transpired over the past two days, she had an inexplicable aversion to him. However, if she refused him, Theodore might probably act pitifully toward her again. She wouldn¡¯t be able to refute him by then. ¡°3.00PM flight and we¡¯re going to Bellville.¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll pack my stuff now, then we can leave.¡± Elspeth let out a defeated sigh. Since they were only going to be away for two days, she didn¡¯t need to pack too much. After lightly packing her bags, she apanied him to the airport. The flight to Bellville took only two hours, and Callum booked first-ss tickets. Only a few seats were upied, and most of the passengers were typing away on theirptops. Elspeth covered herp with a small nket while sipping a cup of coffee. The ne was flying smoothly through the stratosphere when it suddenly began vibrating violently. A broadcast was made to remind passengers to remain seated. ¡°Callum, something seems wrong.¡± As the turbulence became increasingly apparent, she could not help but be serious. Then, he turned off hisputer and began to assess the situation. When he felt the amplitude, he calmed down. ¡°There¡¯s not much turbulence right now. Just wait and hear what the captain says.¡± The following instant, the ne experienced a sudden, severe tremor and began a steep nosedive! ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t panic. Please stay calm as the captain is controlling the ne¡­¡± The radio beeps became more frequent, making Elspeth realize the gravity of the situation. After a minute or so, the ne seemed to descend at a slower rate, but it was still a steep dive toward the ground. ¡°Callum, I want to go to the cockpit.¡± He responded with a frown. ¡°Don¡¯t cause trouble right now.¡± As the situation became more critical, she unfastened her seat belt and stood up. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to cause trouble. I just want to try if I can make the nend safely.¡± Before she left, her wrist was firmly grasped. ¡°Elspeth, human life is not a trivial matter, and the cockpit is the most dangerous ce of a ne. Do you know that?¡± ¡°I know, but trust me, Callum.¡± Her gaze was firm, and then she pushed his hand away. ¡°I have a pilot¡¯s license and have flying experience. I want to give it a try, even though I don¡¯t usually fly nes.¡± Nevertheless, Callum didn¡¯t let go of her. ¡°It¡¯s not safe.¡± The repeated words on the radio suddenly changed this time. ¡°To all passengers aboard flight G12548, do any of you know how to fly a ne? Do any of you know how to fly a ne¡ª¡± ¡°Listen up, Callum. The captain is incapable of handling this type of emergency. If I don¡¯t try, everyone on board will die.¡± He felt his heart tighten as he looked into Elsepth¡¯s determined eyes, but he still slowly released her hand. ¡°I¡¯lle with you.¡± Elspeth declined without hesitation. ¡°Don¡¯t. The air pressure in the cockpit isn¡¯t stable. It¡¯ll be risky for you toe.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t Ie with you?¡± She abruptly turned her head to find the source of the voice, which came from a stranger seated in the last row. Chapter 52 Chapter 52 Chapter 52 Dealing Together The man appeared to be in his twenties and had a dashing good look with a pair of charming peach blossom eyes. Even his gaze was gentle. ¡°May I have your name, please?¡± The man responded with an elegant smile.¡±You can call me Mr. Carr.¡± Then, Elspeth asked in a deep voice, ¡°Why do you want toe with me?¡± Jordan Carr smiled. ¡°Just like you, I have experience in flying nes. I believe it will be more efficient with two people operating the ce together.¡± Listening to his sincere words, she agreed to go with him. In the cockpit, the captains were showing signs of extreme anxiety. They had just started working as pilots, so they didn¡¯t have a ton of experience in the field. They were mentally copsing under the strain of the situation and had no viable solutions to weather the storm. When Elspeth and Jordan arrived, the captains were tense and frowned upon seeing the two of them. ¡°What are you two young people doing here?¡± Seeing that the two of them looked young, the captain couldn¡¯t help scolding, ¡°This is not a ce for fun. Go back to your seats!¡± She took a step forward and asked patiently, ¡°Hello, captain. I have experience in flying nes. May I give it a try?¡± ¡°You? Youngdy, aren¡¯t you only in your twenties? This is amercial ne, not your private jet. Go back to your seat!¡± As expected, the captain didn¡¯t trust her and tried to shoo her back to her seat. ¡°I haven¡¯t even tried yet. How do you know that I can¡¯t do it? Besides, the ne is facing an issue and is about to hit the ground soon. Will you sacrifice everyone¡¯s lives because of your subjective judgment?¡± At this moment, Elspeth couldn¡¯t care less about talking nicely. She just wanted to convince the captain to let her control the ne. Jordan, on the side, chimed in, ¡°Let her try. Aren¡¯t we running out of options? After two minutes, the ne is still descending, proving that the crisis cannot be resolved with your level of expertise.¡± His words were blunt, making the two captains lower their heads in guilt. Indeed, they had failed to handle the current situation, so they asked the stewardesses to broadcast for help. Thinking of that, the two captains got up and let the young people take over. ¡°We¡¯ll depend on you now. Don¡¯t me yourselves if it is irreparable. You¡¯ve tried your best.¡± The captains patted the young people¡¯s shoulders and sighed. Elspeth didn¡¯t have time to respond politely, so she sat down quickly and started controlling the ne manually. On the other hand, Jordan assisted in monitoring the aviation situation and the ne¡¯s trajectory. ¡°The ne has sufficient fuel, and the air pressure is stable. What is causing the problem?¡± She couldn¡¯t figure out why this was happening because all indicators were normal. He studied the numbers on the table intently for a while before uttering, ¡°Is there a possibility that the numerical value of the ne¡¯s flight path has been tampered with?¡± She was a little surprised. ¡°You mean manual modification?¡± Jordan pointed to the dashboard in front of him and exined, ¡°Look at the current flight trajectory. It should be flying in the direction of Bellville, but the ne is hitting a high mountain not far away at high speed. Even if it doesn¡¯t hit the mountain, it will hit the ground, causing the aircraft to explode.¡± Elspeth doubted the reliability of his words. ¡°But this is amercial flight.¡± ¡°What about that? To tamper with the flight data of a single aircraft, all you need is top-notch hacking skills.¡± He raised his eyebrows. ¡°What? Don¡¯t you know about hackers?¡± ¡°Ordinary hackers will not challenge something like this, and hackers with a conscience will not harm the public.¡± Although she possessed extremely top-notch hacking skills, she would never do such an outrageous thing. While Jordan studied the information in front of him, he murmured, ¡°If a hacker modifies the data, it may be possible to change the flight trajectory back to its original course, making it much easier to operate manually.¡± Elspeth abruptly stood up when she heard that. She hurriedly returned to retrieve herptop and started hacking into the traffic management department¡¯s informationwork. Although it was a little more challenging than anything else she had attempted before, the invasion was still sessful. After acquiring the relevant information regarding the flight, she modified and adjusted the flight trajectory, and even optimized and upgraded it on her own ord. Afterward, she started manually operating the ne with his assistance. He guided her through the process by giving her instructions from time to time. The two cooperated tacitly, and the ne eventually stabilized. ¡°We did it!¡± She couldn¡¯t help eximing as she watched the ne¡¯s condition gradually improve. Jordan softened this time. ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s all thanks to you.¡± She smiled lightly. ¡°Without your advice, I would not have been able to do this.¡± ¡°Come on, give yourself some credit. Let¡¯s head back now. The ne can fly on its own.¡± Elspeth nodded and returned to the first-ss cabin with him. Though it wasn¡¯t long before they left, Callum felt like he had been waiting for ages. When he saw her return unscathed and was able to sessfully control the ne, he was at a loss for words to describe how he felt. ¡°Did you get hurt?¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. She burst outughing, ¡°Of course not. I¡¯m Elspeth Lynwood. There¡¯s nothing I can¡¯t do.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t imagine you to be such a talented person, although you look young. You¡¯re truly courageous.¡± Jordan¡¯s eyes glowed with genuine surprise and gratitude as he spoke, making Callum uneasy. As a man, he naturally knew what Jordan¡¯s gaze meant. ¡°Same to you, Mr. Carr. You are such a knowledgeable person. Without you, I would never have thought of the possibility, and I would not have been able toplete the rescue,¡± she returned the praise politely. ¡°You can do it even without him,¡± Callum spoke coldly. His voice was remarkably abrupt, and only after that did Elspeth realize he waspeting with Jordan. Could he be¡­ jealous? She couldn¡¯t help snickering in her heart but she still defended Callum. ¡°This friend of mine has always been like this. He¡¯s a littlepetitive, so please don¡¯t take his words to heart.¡± After understanding the rtionship between the two, Jordan remained smiling. ¡°I understand. Mr. Winthrop is just¡­ eager to protect his girlfriend. That¡¯s why he is hostile to me.¡± He could naturally tell that Callum had overbearing protection and possession of her. ¡°What are you talking about, Mr. Carr? I have nothing to do with him. Don¡¯t speak nonsense.¡± Elspeth was surprised to hear that, so she couldn¡¯t help but defend herself. After hearing this, Callum didn¡¯t rush to refute but yanked her into his arms instead. ¡°Okay, problem solved. Go back to your seat. We¡¯ll arrive in Bellville soon.¡± Chapter 53 Chapter 53 Chapter 53 Attempted Assault ¡°Why do you care so much¡­¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes helplessly, but she was not as strong as Callum. So, she had no choice but to resign herself to being pinned down on the chair. Seeing that, Jordan stopped chatting with her and returned to his seat to rest. Soon after arriving in Bellville, she and Callum got off the ne and parted ways with Jordan. ¡°I suddenly realized I forgot to ask Mr. Carr¡¯s full name.¡± When Callum heard that, a sudden trace of coldness lit up in his eyes. ¡°What? Do you want to know his name?¡± She didn¡¯t realize he sounded off as she replied, ¡°Yeah. He¡¯s a friend who fights by my side, so I¡¯m curious about his identity.¡± A friend who fights by your side. Turning his head away, he stopped talking to her. Unexpectedly, when they arrived at the hotel, Elspeth saw that familiar face again at the reception. ¡°Mr. Carr, what a coincidence you¡¯re staying in this hotel too.¡± Jordan turned her head and saw Callum and Elspeth walking toward him. A smile bloomed on his face. ¡°You two are here too? We¡¯re neighbors for the time being, then!¡± She asked curiously, ¡°Mr. Carr, may I have your name, please?¡± He chuckled, ¡°Jordan Carr.¡± Jordan Carr! Elspeth was not unfamiliar with the name at all. It was only three years ago when the previously unknown NK Group shot to fame overnight. After only three years of development, thepany had already held a pivotal position in several industries. Jordan was the president of thatpany, but he maintained a low profile and never appeared in public. She was slightly surprised but still introduced herself. ¡°I am Elspeth Lynwood, and this is Callum¡ª¡± ¡°I know. You¡¯re popr all over the country, and I¡¯ve also seen you on TV.¡± Jordan then turned around and smiled at Callum. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you, Mr. Winthrop.¡± In response, he extended his hand and waited for Callum to shake it. Callum watched Jordan quietly with his deep eyes, and after a long time, he shook Jordan¡¯s hand firmly. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll return to the room first.¡± Jordan was not timid in the face of Callum¡¯s hostility but he had an amused smile instead. When Jordan left, she couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Callum, do you have a grudge against Jordan?¡± ¡°No,¡± Callum answered with a cold expression. ¡°Then, why do you look like he owes you millions?¡± He looked at her meaningfully but didn¡¯t exin. Instead, he uttered lightly, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go back and rest. We have a coboration to discuss at 8.00PM.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Elspeth hummed perfunctorily, but suddenly, she thought of something and turned around to ask him. ¡°Callum, do you know what caused the issue with the ne today?¡± ¡°Is it human-rted?¡± She was shocked. ¡°How did you know?¡± Callum responded with a voice as calm as a millpond, ¡°I know some flying principles, and it doesn¡¯t seem like a normal ident.¡± ¡°Then, do you think Houston or Alphascape Group could have been involved in this ident?¡± After giving it some thought, Elspeth concluded that, aside from them, no one was desperate to kill. He paused briefly before deducing, ¡°It isn¡¯t them.¡± She didn¡¯t particrly understand him. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Houston just set fire to Winthrop Group, so I¡¯ve already suppressed him. For the time being, he will not risk causing trouble. As for Alphascape Group¡­ I don¡¯t believe this matter is a simple one. If they¡¯re caught, they will face more than a dozen years in prison. Alphascape Group employs hundreds of staff, so I doubt they would dare to take such a big risk.¡± Elspeth admired Callum¡¯s meticulous thinking but still couldn¡¯t help feeling curious. ¡°Then, who do you think did it?¡± He shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but it is possible they are not targeting us.¡± She nodded thoughtfully. ¡°Alright, go to your room now. I¡¯ll see you at the hotel lobby in half an hour.¡± The two then returned to their room. She was just about to wash up and change into fresh clothes when there was a knock on the door. ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. ¡°Room service.¡± Without thinking too much, Elspeth opened the door. The next moment, a burly man rushed in and reached out to choke her neck. She backed away before kicking him in the face. Obviously, the man was strong. Since the kick didn¡¯t do him much damage, he decided to lock the door before he pounced on her. This time, he aimed for her waist. ¡°Let me go!¡± She struggled to break free by hitting the back of the man with her elbow. ¡°Stop struggling, beautiful. You¡¯re mine tonight!¡± The burly man took a deep sniff, and his intoxicated appearance was disgusting. Elspeth calmed down and began to observe the surrounding environment while thinking about countermeasures. The hotel¡¯s sound instion was so good that it was clearly unrealistic to throw something to attract the attention of others. She also took off her ring to take a shower earlier, so she wouldn¡¯t be able to contact Harper. The strength of the burly man was surprisingly great, and she couldn¡¯t break free. She was a little apprehensive and was ready to fight the man with all her might. Just as the burly man¡¯s stinky mouth was close to her skin, she raised her head in disgust. The next second, the door was suddenly kicked open. Callum looked at the scene in front of him and a trace of anger rose in his heart. He grabbed the big man by the cor to yank him up before he kicked the man to the ground. ¡°Who sent you here?¡± Callum¡¯s deep voice carried a menacing aura. The burly man could still pin Elspeth down, but now that Callum was here, he couldn¡¯t fight Callum. Worried about his safety, the big man pursed his lips in his refusal to make a sound. Callum crouched down; his eyes were cold. ¡°Refusing to tell me, huh?¡± The burly man was terrified by Callum¡¯s frightening eyes. He was a little scared, but he still managed to answer him, ¡°W-What can you do to me?¡± He didn¡¯t know who Callum was and only knew that someone had paid him to assault the woman in this room. Besides, when he saw Elspeth¡¯s photo, he was immediately aroused, which was why he hurried over. ¡°I will make you disappear from this world quietly.¡± Seeing how serious Callum looked, the burly man was suddenly terrified. ¡°Don¡¯t kill me. I didn¡¯t do it on purpose. I-I was instructed by someone!¡± Callum knew it was impossible for a stranger to locate her room precisely, so he concluded that the man was being manipted from behind. ¡°Tell me. Who is it?¡± The burly man began to think hard about the man he had traded with. ¡°He told me to address him as Mr. Bishop, but I don¡¯t know his full name. He said he would give me half a million after I was done. I was intoxicated when I saw thisdy¡¯s photos, so¡­¡± Chapter 54 Chapter 54 Chapter 54 A Pawn Houston? Callum and Elspeth looked at each other and instantly understood who was behind it. ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect that Houston would not give up and challenge my bottom line again and again. Does he really think I dare noty a hand on him?¡± She was gnashing her teeth in hatred. If it wasn¡¯t for Callum today, she would most likely be fighting this buff man to death. ¡°Erm¡­ Can I go now?¡± The burly man stood up slowly, trying to escape, but Callum kicked his knee hard, sending him tumbling to the ground once more. Callum then uttered in a calm and cold voice, ¡°Attempted assault also warrants legal repercussions.¡± ¡°Huh!¡± The man cried loudly without caring about the situation. ¡°But, I already told you about the mastermind behind it. Why can¡¯t you let me go?!¡± Elspeth shot him a threatening gaze. ¡°If you speak one more word, it won¡¯t be as simple as going to jail.¡± The man shut his mouth after being intimidated, feelingpletely dejected. She first called the police, sent the big guy to the station, and then merely tidied up a bit. In addition, she intended to settle ounts with Houston after returning from the business discussion. The two met in the private room on the first floor of the hotel. As soon as Elspeth walked in, she noticed a familiar man opposite her. ¡°What a coincidence. We meet again.¡± Jordan greeted her with a smile. She was shocked beyond belief, and her head whipped around to look at Callum as though she wanted to know why their business partner was Jordan. Callum exined patiently, ¡°Our partner is NK Group, but I just found out an hour ago that he is the president.¡± Jordan chuckled. ¡°I guess we are fated to meet each other.¡± The three then sat down, and Callum began to discuss cooperation with him. ¡°I can sell thisnd to you, but NK Group has to give Winthrop Group a 10% dividend.¡± Jordan¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, you sure know how to make demands, but ten percent is too high. What about five percent?¡± Despite that, Callum was unwilling to give in. With a determined attitude, he uttered, ¡°Ten percent is my minimum limit. If you¡¯re unwilling to take it, I¡¯ll have to look for anotherpany.¡± ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± Although he spoke with a smile, Elspeth could hear the impending storm from the lively conversation between the two. Callum chuckled in response. ¡°Of course not. We¡¯re all businessmen; seeking profit isn¡¯t crossing the line, is it?¡± Jordan suddenly stopped answering him and stared at her with a smile instead. ¡°If it¡¯s for Miss Lynwood¡¯s sake, then a ten percent dividend shouldn¡¯t be too much, though.¡± Hearing that, Callum furrowed his brows. ¡°Mr. Carr, you don¡¯t have to do it for my sake. You two should talk it out between yourselves.¡± Elspeth already felt the pressure from the surroundings and didn¡¯t want to get involved in the situation. ¡°Miss Lynwood, I admire your ability. NK Group rarely tolerates such counter proposals. This is my first time.¡± After hearing that, Callum mocked, ¡°What a flirt you are, Mr. Carr. I¡¯m sorry to tell you that Elspeth is my fianc¨¦e. Wouldn¡¯t it be inappropriate for you to take the offer for her sake?¡± In response, Jordanughed out loud. ¡°Miss Lynwood is an outstanding woman. Which man wouldn¡¯t be tempted by her? I¡¯m just an ordinary man. If you¡¯re unhappy about it, it¡¯s alright to tell me. You don¡¯t have to feel threatened.¡± Callum raised his eyebrows and countered with a hint of sarcasm, ¡°Of course, I won¡¯t. It¡¯s not like she will be satisfied with just any man.¡± Elspeth felt helpless in her heart. Why do you have to involve me when you¡¯re boasting? Jordan withdrew his smile and uttered with an unnatural expression, ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to be oppressive. For Miss Lynwood¡¯s sake, I shall agree to your unreasonable request. I¡¯ll treat it as doing her a favor.¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t need your favor.¡± Jordan stood up. ¡°If you are unwilling to cooperate with NK Group, then let¡¯s put this coboration on hold for the time being. We shall continue the conversation when youe to discuss with sincerity.¡± After saying that, he left the room directly. Elspeth knew that Jordan was upset, so she nudged Callum¡¯s arm. ¡°Callum, what¡¯s the matter with you? Why are you so impolite? You are here to discuss cooperation, not to quarrel with him!¡± He stared at her face with a burning gaze before spitting, ¡°Are you dumb?¡± She was taken aback by his mockery. ¡°Why are you scolding me?¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. He didn¡¯t bother to exin to her, so he stood up and walked out. After that, he returned to his room, but she didn¡¯t want to return to hers, so she left the hotel for a stroll in the garden by herself. She walked to an empty corner where no one was around and dialed Houston¡¯s number. ¡°Who is this?¡± Houston¡¯s voice sounded weak. He was unlucky. The same night he set fire to Winthrop Group, someone set fire to his residence. During that time, he was sound asleep in the room, and five family members came perilously close to being killed by the mes. They were extremely fortunate to have escaped the fire unscathed. However, his assets were frozen the following day. The reason for this was that during his time working for Winthrop Group, there were issues with his assets, and as a result of an investigation, all his assets were confiscated. It was even more infuriating that Alphascape Group gave up on him on the same day because they believed Winthrop Group had dismissed him from his position! Now, his family of five was crammed into a small rented house andined endlessly on a daily basis. Their frequent quarrels had almost exhausted him physically and mentally. ¡°Houston Bishop, do you know who I am?¡± The voice sounded pleasant to the ear, and he was almost immediately able to identify the person whose voice it was. ¡°Elspeth, are you calling to mock me too?¡± He sneered and inhaled a long breath of smoke. ¡°You sent someone to assault me. Do you really think I¡¯ll let you go easily?¡± Houston didn¡¯t understand what she said, so he questioned, ¡°Assault you? That wasn¡¯t me. Don¡¯t use me of what I haven¡¯t done!¡± She snickered. ¡°You know best whether you have done it or not.¡± This time, he burst intoughter. ¡°Are you putting the me on me because you were framed by others? Elspeth, oh, Elspeth. Why do you have so many enemies? If I were you, I would have killed myself and ended all this misery.¡± Hearing what he said, she suddenly sensed something was wrong. ¡°Are you sure you didn¡¯t do it?¡± ¡°How could it be me? My life has been ruined by you. My house and job are gone, and I can hardly afford to feed myself. How can I hire someone to take revenge on you?¡± ¡°OK.¡± After hanging up the phone, Elspeth started pondering the possibilities. He didn¡¯t sound like he was lying, so it seemed he wasn¡¯t the one behind this. Who could have used him as a spear, then? Someone capable of doing bad things in the name of Houston while also having a grudge against her¡­ She immediately realized who it might be. Chapter 55 Chapter 55 Chapter 55 Elspeth Is Tempted After realizing who it might be, Elspeth went back to the hotel and knocked on Callum¡¯s door. ¡°Callum, I have something to talk to you about.¡± Before Elspeth could finish what she wanted to say, she was interrupted by Callum¡¯s cold voice. ¡°I¡¯m in the middle of something now. I don¡¯t have time.¡± Noticing that Callum was currently not in a good mood, Elspeth stopped talking and kept quiet. The two were in a stalemate at the door for a while before Callum realized that his tone was a bit harsh. Just as he was about to speak to ease the situation, he received a call. Callum answered the phone and Arthur¡¯s voice sounded on the other end. ¡°Callum, Emma is back.¡± Those three words were like a stone being thrown into a calmke, causing ripples in Callum¡¯s already silent heart. Arthur and Emma were from the same department in college, so they were pretty close. Arthur wouldn¡¯t be lying to him. Without giving it another thought, Callum subconsciously blurted, ¡°Where is she? Tell me.¡± Since the surrounding was quiet, Elspeth could hear their conversation loud and clear. Emma, his first love whom he liked for years, was back? It seemed that what Arthur said was true. Callum couldn¡¯t forget her. ¡°She¡¯ll only be back for a short while this time. She¡¯ll be leaving for Eden tomorrow morning.¡± Arthur¡¯s intentions were obvious. If Emma was taking the ne back tomorrow morning, Arthur was implying that it wasn¡¯t toote for Callum to see her if he left now. Callum hummed and replied, ¡°I¡¯ll be backter.¡± After hanging up the phone, Callum lowered his head and suddenly saw Elspeth¡¯s dazed expression. His heart clenched unexpectedly. ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°What about the coboration? Are we still going to discuss it?¡± Elspeth questioned after taking a deep breath. Callum¡¯s gaze gradually turned dark. ¡°Let¡¯s give up on the coboration for now.¡± ¡°Cooperating with NK Group will bring a huge profit for Winthrop Group. Do you really want to give up?¡± Elspeth questioned in a deep voice, feeling bitter. From what she knew about Callum, he was someone who cared deeply about the interests of the company. ¡°I have something urgenting up, so let¡¯s cancel it for now.¡± ¡°Something urgent? Your urgent matter is to go back and see her. Callum, I can still negotiate the cooperation without you. Feel free to leave.¡± Callum frowned. ¡°It¡¯s not what you think.¡± ¡°Whatever. That¡¯s your business.¡± After Elspeth finished speaking, she didn¡¯t bother to listen to his exnation before turning around and leaving without looking back. Callum¡¯s eyes dimmed a little. He resisted the thought of catching up to her and left the hotel anyway. After returning to her room, Elspeth felt a ball of anger forming within her. Just then, Harper called. Elspeth answered the call, sounding displeased. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Hearing her tone, Harper was taken aback and inquired, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Elsie?¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Elspeth frowned and continued, ¡°Just go straight to the point. I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Azure Corporation encountered a problem recently. I think you shoulde back and take a look in person.¡± Harper¡¯s tone was serious as if there was a huge issue. Recalling how Callum lost control over the mention of Emma, she quickly told Harper that she would return as soon as possible. However, the discussion for coboration wasn¡¯t done yet, so Elspeth decided to negotiate with Jordan before leaving. When Elspeth found Jordan, he was drinking coffee behind the screen in the hall. The aroma of coffee filled the surroundings while smoke lingered in the air. ¡°I knew you¡¯de and see me, Miss Lynwood.¡± Jordan looked like he had expected her, which left Elspeth puzzled. ¡°Why do you say so?¡¯ ¡°I believe you¡¯re a wise woman. You know that cooperating with NK Group will bring you huge benefits.¡± When he was saying that, he was all smiles, but it wasn¡¯t a pleasant sight. Elspeth smiled in response. ¡°What about you, Mr. Carr? What are your thoughts on the cooperation with Winthrop Group?¡± Jordan intentionally built up suspense. ¡°I¡¯m sad that Mr. Winthrop isn¡¯t willing to work with NK Group¡­ but if you can offer me an interesting token, I might still consider proceeding with the cooperation.¡± As for the bargaining token, it would depend on whether Elspeth¡¯s offer was attractive enough. ¡°The development of Winthrop Group is obvious to all. I believe you understand that cooperation with us will be a win-win situation.¡± Contrary to his expectations, her words did not make his heart waver. Smiling, he suggested, ¡°I think you can offer me something else.¡± Frowning, Elspeth thought, Does this not work? ¡°I don¡¯t get what you mean. Please tell me directly.¡± Jordan no longer concealed it this time. ¡°I think you are a worthy token of negotiation, Miss Lynwood.¡± A trace of displeasure painted across Elspeth¡¯s face. ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re referring to.¡± Looking at her with an unnatural expression, heughed out loud. ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous. Although I admire you, I have no intentions of taking advantage. Frankly speaking, I have taken a fancy to your capability. I¡¯d like to offer you a cement in NK Group. If you ept it, I will definitely offer you a senior management position.¡± Fearing that Elspeth would not like the idea, he even made the conditions more attractive. ¡°You¡¯re probably already aware of NK Group¡¯s development strength, so it won¡¯t take long for us to catch up with Winthrop Group. Besides, if NK Group and Winthrop Group were to coborate, then it doesn¡¯t matter who you work for anymore since both parties would benefit.¡± His words were impable. He did not only introduce NK Group¡¯s development strength but also provided Elspeth with an excuse to leave her currentpany. If it were an ordinary person, they would have been tempted long ago, but she was different. She was Elspeth, or to put it bluntly, she had the status and money, so these things couldn¡¯t tempt her at all. ¡°I¡¯m just an insignificant employee. How could I be worth as a bargaining token for the cooperation between Winthrop Group and NK Group?¡± Elspeth¡¯s intentions were clear. This sentence was a tactful rejection. ¡°If you are not willing to take it, I will not force you, but NK Group shall not give in to this cooperation.¡± Hearing that, Elspeth got up and offered him a light smile. ¡°I understand what you mean now. If that is the case, I won¡¯t force it on you.¡± With that said, Elspeth got up to leave but was stopped by Jordan. ¡°Please wait, Miss Lynwood.¡± Elspeth smirked and turned around. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Sure enough, the shrewd Jordan would never let go of this coboration opportunity. In fact, she made the right bet. Helplessly, Jordan gave in. ¡°I¡¯m defeated by you, Miss Lynwood. Let¡¯s proceed with the coboration between Winthrop Group and NK Group. I¡¯ll draft the contract and email it to youter. Looking forward to the cooperation with Winthrop Group.¡± This time, Elspeth showed a sincere smile. ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°To be honest, I like you more now.¡± Unlike the vanity and frivolity of ordinary women, Elspeth¡¯s smile was like a ray of sunshine in the morning. Most importantly, Elspeth was smart and cunning, an attractive aspect that could easily lure any businessman. Chapter 56 Chapter 56 Chapter 56 The Way of Making Tea ¡°Thank you for your admiration, Mr. Carr. I hope that you don¡¯t only take interest in me, but also Winthrop Group.¡± Her words resolved the awkwardness between them. Jordan smiled in reply. ¡°Sure.¡± After dealing with Jordan, Elspeth booked the earliest flight back. She went back to Winthrop Group first and was going to take a few days off to settle the problem with Azure Corporation, but she bumped into Callum head-on. ¡°Elspeth,¡± Callum called out to her first. ¡°Hey, shouldn¡¯t you be reuniting with your first love now? Why are you here?¡± Elspeth felt annoyed when she saw his nonchnt expression as if nothing had happened. In that instant, she couldn¡¯t hold back her anger. ¡°No. It¡¯s not what you think.¡± When he returned in a rush the other day, Arthur informed him that he saw the wrong person. Emma wasn¡¯t back yet. Moreover, the reason he left in such a hurry was not to relive the memories he had with Emma, but because he had a doubt that hadn¡¯t been answered for several years, so he needed to face Emma to untie his knot. Just as Callum was about to exin the situation, he was interrupted by Elspeth. ¡°You don¡¯t owe me an exnation, Mr. Winthrop. I don¡¯t have time to talk to you about your old lover right now.¡± Leaving him with that, Elspeth went to the HR department to request leave without looking back. Looking at her resolute back, Callum felt ripples in his heart. Coincidentally, his phone rang at that time. The moment he saw the screen disying Jordan¡¯s name, he couldn¡¯t help but feel irritated. Connecting the call, he heard Jordan saying, ¡°Did you receive the contract, Mr. Winthrop?¡± Callum knitted his brows. ¡°What contract?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Miss Lynwood tell you? If it wasn¡¯t for Miss Lynwood¡¯s sincere desire to cooperate with NK Group, the cooperation might have been dyed for a long time¡­ Weren¡¯t you aware of that?¡± Jordan was surprised, and then quickly added, ¡°I thought Miss Lynwood would tell you the news first, but it turns out she didn¡¯t. How strange.¡± These words were obviously said to provoke him, but Callum ignored them and questioned, ¡°You refused to cooperate, so what made you change your mind?¡± Jordan raised his eyebrows. Slowing down his tone of speech, he added a hint of mystery to his words. ¡°Miss Lynwood gave me a bargaining token that made me waver, so¡­¡± Jordan had always shown his admiration for Elspeth, and now that he said so, Callum subconsciously thought of some strange ideas. ¡°What did she do?¡± He couldn¡¯t believe his assumptions, so he asked calmly. ¡°You should ask Miss Lynwood about it.¡± Jordan smiled. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, I have to go now. Goodbye.¡± Jordan hung up the phone, leaving Callum with an unsolved mystery. Thetter heard from the HR department that Elspeth would take a one-month leave starting today. After pondering for a while, he decided to call Elspeth. ¡°Where are you?¡± Listening to his questioning tone, Elspeth sneered, ¡°That¡¯s none of your¡ª¡± ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to take leaves. Come back and work.¡± Callum sounded so certain of what conditions she offered to Jordan. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have left so suddenly. ¡°I¡¯ve gone through the proper process to request leave. You shouldn¡¯t have the right to interfere.¡± Callum¡¯s voice sounded even more serious now. ¡°Don¡¯t make me repeat my words.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you today, Callum?¡± Callum suddenly let out a sneer. ¡°Elspeth, you are on your way to NK Group, aren¡¯t you?¡± Elspeth was taken aback for a moment, unable to fathom why he thought so. ¡°I know Jordan offered you some benefits, and you¡¯re leaving Winthrop Group because of this, aren¡¯t you?¡± Callum took a deep breath and continued. Elspeth snickered before uttering in a cold voice, ¡°Even if I did ept an offer from NK Group, it¡¯s my right to seekpanies with better conditions. It¡¯s not necessary for you to get worked up.¡± ¡°Alright, then. Go.¡± After saying that, Callum ended the call. Elspeth was stunned when she heard the beep tones from the phone. There was no way she was going to tell him she took a month off to deal with Azure Corporation¡¯s business, so she rather let him misunderstand her. Nevertheless, he didn¡¯t care about her at all. All he did was reprimand and suspect her. When Elspeth returned to the headquarters, Harper was already expecting her. Seeing Elspeth¡¯s return, he visibly rxed. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? What happened?¡± Harper hurriedly answered, ¡°Azure Corporation recently encountered problems with the cooperation with the foreignpany, Centaria Group, but thatpany is being absurd. They¡¯ve asked to see you.¡± ¡°See me?¡± Elspeth frowned. ¡°Yeah. They¡¯ve asked to meet Azure Corporation¡¯s president to have a chat over tea. If we refuse to, they will terminate the cooperation, no matter how much money they have to pay.¡± Then, Harper sighed. ¡°This cooperation is a big deal. If it were to be terminated, though the other party will pay a large amount of liquidated damages, ourpany will also lose a lot of money. Azure Corporation recently invested in a new project, and the capital turnover isn¡¯t enough, which in turn might cause huge damage to thepany.¡± Elspeth instantly understood the situation now. This time, she had no choice but to meet the other party. ¡°Elsie, this president is probably an expert in tea ceremony. Are you sure¡­¡± Harper barely kept his mouth shut. Elspeth understood what he meant, so she gave him a reassuring smile. ¡°Since when have I ever made a fool of myself?¡± As soon as those words came out, Harper¡¯s eyes, which had been droopy earlier, suddenly lit up. That¡¯s right! She¡¯s Elspeth. There¡¯s nothing she can¡¯t do! Elspeth smiled without uttering another word. The president of Centaria Group made an appointment with Elspeth in a teahouse on Sunday afternoon. There were not many people in the teahouse, and when Elspeth arrived, only a few people upied the ce. She stood at the door of the private room and knocked on the door. There was a powerful answer from inside the room, which was a cue for Elspeth to enter. The president was quite old and looked to be in his sixties, but he was standing tall and straight like a tree trunk. He held his cup before taking a sip of tea. When he saw Elspeth push the door open, he smiled and greeted her, ¡°As expected from the rumors of Azure Corporation¡¯s president. Every movement of yours exudes refined temperament.¡± Elspeth returned a polite smile. ¡°Same to you, Mr. Lou. You don¡¯t look like you¡¯re in your sixties. You look way younger than your actual age.¡± ¡°Hahaha.¡± Mr. Louughed heartily, ¡°Come on. Since we¡¯re having a tea ceremony today, tell me what you understand.¡± Elspeth had expected this, so she smiled and exined, ¡°The tea ceremony can be divided into the warming, setting, brewing, pouring, serving, and drinking process. Different tea leaves have their own characteristics. Some are hard, some are soft. We have a variety of tea leaves in our country, and they vary ording to the local conditions and customs.¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Good. You have a strong grasp of the basics of making tea.¡± Mr. Lou chuckled. ¡°I wonder who taught you that.¡± At the mention of that, Elspeth¡¯s thoughts drifted away. ¡°My father taught me this when I was very young. His way of making tea was also taught by my grandfather. My grandfather is proficient in tea art and has many friends who love tea art¡ªjust like you.¡± Chapter 57 Chapter 57 Chapter 57 Max giarized Mr. Lou suddenly became interested as he asked, ¡°What¡¯s your grandfather¡¯s name?¡± ¡°Hunter James.¡± Hearing that name, Mr. Lou instantly felt a bolt from the blue. Gradually, his eyes turned moist. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you are Hunter¡¯s granddaughter. Your grandfather and I were close friends! But¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t help pulling Elspeth¡¯s hands and sighing. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you are Azure Corporation¡¯s president. You are so sessful at such a young age. I believe Hunter will be able to rest in peace in the afterworld.¡± ¡°Mr. Lou, about the coboration¡­¡± Elspeth asked tentatively, but before she could finish her sentence, Mr. Lou interrupted her, ¡°There¡¯s no need to mention this cooperation anymore. Even if there are future projects in store, I would continue cooperating with Azure Corporation!¡± C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. After hearing that, his assistant widened his eyes. ¡°Mr. Lou, you can¡¯t say that¡­ Some of our cooperation depends on the ability of the partner!¡± Mr. Lou was infuriated as he red at his assistant. ¡°What? Do you think Elspeth is not capable enough, or are you questioning an old man¡¯s vision?¡± The assistant lowered his head in fright and stopped talking. Elspeth smiled after hearing that. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Lou.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Feel free to visit Lou Residence when you have time. You really did inherit your grandpa¡¯s temperament¡­¡± Mr. Lou then chatted with Elspeth for a long time until the sky turned dark. Only then did he reluctantly let her go. Elspeth originally thought that it would take a long time to solve the matter, but eventually, she sessfullypleted the task after a meeting. Now that Azure Corporation¡¯s crisis was resolved and they even gained a strong and solid supporter, Elspeth suddenly felt relieved. Right now, she should return to Winthrop Group to resume work, but when she thought of what Callum said to her that day, she no longer wanted to return to thepany. Callum should have gotten back together with his first love, and the two must be in a fiery session right now. If she were to go home, it wouldn¡¯t seem appropriate, and she would only be a buzzkill. Just as she was contemting whether to go home, a phone call came. ¡°Elsie, it¡¯s Max. Where have you been these few days? Why haven¡¯t youe back?¡± Elspeth was taken aback by his question and was about to exin when Callum¡¯s familiar voice sounded from the other end of the phone. ¡°Max, why are you not studying yet? You have an exam the day after tomorrow. Don¡¯t you know that?¡± Max replied pitifully, ¡°I know, I know. I¡¯m asking Elsie for help, Callum. One of her majors was marketing. She can definitely help me out with revision.¡± ¡°Look at you cramming everything at thest minute and refusing to study early on. You deserve to fail.¡± Though Callum¡¯s words were harsh, he was speaking the truth. Shrugging, Max continued asking on the phone, ¡°When will you be back, Elsie? I can¡¯t do this anymore. I¡¯ve been busy ying games this whole semester. I don¡¯t even know what they taught in school.¡± When Elspeth heard Callum¡¯s voice, she was ready to hang up the phone, but hearing Max¡¯s pitiful cry, she couldn¡¯t bear to reject him. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll be back by tomorrow morning.¡± A smile immediately bloomed on Max¡¯s face. ¡°Got it. Thank you, Elsie!¡± Elspeth hummed and hung up the phone. The next day, Elspeth returned to Winthrop Residence as promised. At that time, Max hadn¡¯t woken up yet. On the other hand, Callum was having breakfast in the dining room by himself. ¡°Oh? I thought you had forgotten where home is.¡± While having breakfast leisurely, he didn¡¯t forget to make sarcastic remarks. His words triggered the waves that had calmed down in Elspeth¡¯s heart. ¡°I think that¡¯s none of your business, Mr. Winthrop. You should worry about your own affairs.¡± Elspeth was naturally unwilling tog behind, so she spat words that sounded even more ruthless. Pulling a piece of tissue, Callum wiped his lips and uttered, ¡°I¡¯m taking care of you because my father ordered me to. I don¡¯t want to nag at you all day long either.¡± ¡°If that is so, then don¡¯t worry about me.¡± Elspeth was irritated upon hearing that. This time, Max rubbed his eyes and came out of the room. Seeing the strange and tense atmosphere between the two adults, he was a little puzzled. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you two? You both look like enemies.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Max,e and have breakfast already. I¡¯lle to your room to help you with the revision later.¡± Nodding his head, Max quickly finished breakfast and returned to his room. ¡°Elsie, I haven¡¯t learned much of this in the past six months. Do you think I can study everything at once?¡± Sitting in the bedroom, Max supported his head and bit the nib of his pen, feeling depressed. ¡°Of course not.¡± Elspeth pointed out the facts. Max let out a cry, and then came back to his senses. ¡°Then what should I do? I won¡¯t fail the exam, will I?¡± Elspeth supported her forehead and sighed. ¡°Of course, you won¡¯t fail the exam. As long as I¡¯m here, you won¡¯t fail the exam, but you probably won¡¯t be able to score full marks.¡± Full marks? He would be thankful as long as he passed his subjects. Hearing that he wouldn¡¯t fail, Max grinned. ¡°Alright, Elsie. Let¡¯s start then.¡± Elspeth opened the book and began to highlight the key points for him. She knew almost the whole book by heart. When highlighting the key points, she was quick as if she was the one who drafted the exam papers. ¡°Elsie, this¡­¡± Max was surprised because lecturers in school would usually highlight the whole paragraph, but Elspeth merely highlighted a single sentence after flipping so many pages. Moreover, she was done highlighting the points in a whole thick textbook within ten minutes. ¡°Believe me. These are themon questions that will be out on the test. If you take time to study them, it should not be a problem for you to score above 80 on the test.¡± Max nodded, only half-grasping what she said. ¡°Thanks, Elsie. I got it.¡± ¡°As for the judgment questions, if you see those that you¡¯re uncertain of, just leave them as false. This is just the final exams for the semester, so generally speaking, I doubt there¡¯ll be questions that are too difficult.¡± All these were obtained from her exam experiences, which were useful tips. ¡°Elsie, do you usually studyst minute before an exam?¡± Max could no longer hold back his curious inquiry. Rolling her eyes, Elspeth grabbed a book, rolled it, and knocked him in the head. ¡°Of course not! If I were like you, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to rank in the top 20, not to mention being top 1.¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll focus on my studies starting next semester and will never studyst minute again.¡± Elspeth nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Great.¡± The next day, Max sat for his exams. Meanwhile, Elspeth made medicine for Sonny in her room. She took a bottle of pink powder and poured it into the water to dissolve it, then took out the powder made from hundred-year-old Ganoderma and poured it in too. She then collected thebined liquid in a bottle and sealed it with a wooden stopper. Elspeth knew that the old man had trouble remembering things, so she specially put a seal on the bottle. Once that was done, she was about to go downstairs when she heard someone exim all of a sudden. It was ke who eximed, and when Elspeth went down to enquire about the situation, he replied with a frown, ¡°Max was reported for giarism. He¡¯s in the principal¡¯s office right now. The school informed us that they will punish him severely. They are going to expel him!¡± Chapter 58 Chapter 58 Chapter 58 Revealing the Truth giarized? Recalling Max¡¯s stubborn face and judging from his rebellious character, she couldn¡¯t imagine him to be someone who would giarize during an exam. ¡°Where is he now?¡± Elspeth walked downstairs and asked. ke¡¯s brows were so tightly knitted that even a fly could be crushed to death. ¡°He¡¯s in school now. The teacher just called us, but I have an opening ceremony to rush to now. There¡¯s no way I can postpone it as the consequences will be hard to bear.¡± All of a sudden, he thought of an idea. With a torn look, he inquired, ¡°Why don¡¯t¡­ Elspeth, do you mind visiting Max¡¯s school?¡± ¡°Me?¡± Elspeth never expected ke to make such a request. ¡°Yes. I heard that you were the one who helped Max study before his exams. If there is any misunderstanding, you might be of help to him.¡± ke¡¯s phone buzzed suddenly, and he nced at the screen to find an urgent message. While heading out, he asked, ¡°Elspeth, please help me out this time. I will go to you as soon as I finish my work.¡± Although she was a little overwhelmed, thinking of what Max might encounter, she decided to take a look at the situation. When Elspeth arrived at school and reached the principal¡¯s office, she heard Max¡¯s furious voice coming from inside. ¡°I said I wasn¡¯t the one who copied the note. How many times do I have to repeat myself?¡± Elspeth was surprised to hear that. Sure enough, her assumptions were right. Max was probably wronged. ¡°Max, is this how you talk to our teachers?¡± The principal was furious as he mmed the table. With a cold face, Max sneered disdainfully. ¡°I¡¯ve already made it clear. I wasn¡¯t the one who did it. Even if you ask a hundred times, it¡¯s not me.¡± The counselor then spoke up, ¡°Max, although you are from the Winthrop Family, your identity is first and foremost a student. No matter how strong your family background is, it cannot cover your wrongdoings.¡± After hearing that, Elspeth felt ironic. She couldn¡¯t stand it anymore, so she walked in directly. ¡°Good morning, sir. I heard Max was involved in giarism, so I¡¯m here to find out what happened.¡± Elspeth showed a polite smile, and all three people inside were stunned. Max was a little surprised. ¡°Elsie, what are you doing here?¡± The principal and the counselor naturally knew Elspeth, who was now a household name. After all, she was a public figure, so the principal talked to her politely. ¡°What brings you here, Miss Lynwood? Oh. You must be here for Max. Max has always been a stubborn kid, so I think it¡¯ll be better for you to ask him instead.¡± A trace of coldness shed in Elspeth¡¯s eyes. ¡°Are you sure that Max giarized in the exams?¡± ¡°Of course. This note was picked up from Max¡¯s desk, and the handwriting is exactly the same as his. More importantly, Max¡¯s good friend, Jacob Reyes, reported the matter to us, so we are quite certain that he did it.¡± Elspeth felt something was off when she heard that. ¡°Reported to you? Can I meet that person?¡± The counselor immediately asked someone to call Jacob. Seeing so many people, Jacob began to act pitiful the moment he entered the door. ¡°Miss, sir, what¡¯s happening? Did I do something wrong?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much, Jacob. Just repeat what you said about Max¡¯s giarism in detail.¡± C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. The counselor gave Jacob aforting look, signaling him not to be afraid, but to speak out boldly. After gulping, Jacob started exining, ¡°Well, I thought Max was behaving strangely this afternoon, so I paid special attention to him and was surprised to find him writing cheat sheets. I was tormented inside because as his good friend, I thought I should help him get rid of this bad habit, and also for the sake of the fairness of exams, I took the cheat sheet and submitted it to the teacher.¡± After hearing that, Max yelled at him directly, ¡°Jacob, I have been friends with you for so long. Is this how you¡¯re going to frame me?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t frame you. Admit your mistakes. giarism is wrong.¡± Jacob looked regretful, and seeing Max¡¯s ferocious expression, he shrugged in fright. ¡°That¡¯s enough, Max. Don¡¯t try to deny it anymore. Jacob is your friend. His words are credible!¡± The principal was almost certain of his decision. ¡°Max giarized without repentance, so after unanimous discussion among the teachers, we¡¯ve decided to expel him.¡± After saying that, the headmaster nced at Elspeth and uttered with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Lynwood. He¡¯s going to be a bad influence on other students, so I can only resort to this.¡± ¡°Wait a minute, isn¡¯t it too early to draw conclusions like this?¡± The principal asked suspiciously, ¡°Why? Do you have any insights on this?¡± ¡°Sir, here¡¯s the thing. I was the one who helped Max in his revision for the exams, so I doubt that he will resort to giarism.¡± After hearing that, the principal smiled helplessly. ¡°Miss Lynwood, that¡¯s not it. You should know¡ª¡± ¡°If you think that can¡¯t work, just make Max take the test on the spot. You should have backup test papers, don¡¯t you?¡± The principal was taken aback as if he didn¡¯t understand the situation. After listening to Elspeth¡¯s sentence, the counselor replied, ¡°Indeed, there are. The exam is divided into Paper A and Paper B. Paper A has been used, but paper B is slightly more difficult¡­¡± ¡°Take it out and let him sit for it,¡± Elspeth said without hesitation. The principal smiled. ¡°Sure. If we make him drop out fair and square, others won¡¯t talk behind our backs.¡± With that, the teacher took out the exam paper and ced it before Max. ¡°This set of paper is more difficult, so I¡¯ll give you 150 minutes, an extra half an hour.¡± Max pushed it away coldly. ¡°I won¡¯t do it.¡± Elspeth frowned. ¡°Do it.¡± ¡°Elsie, I did not even giarize in my exam. How can they make me do it again?¡± Max was annoyed this time, so he sounded harsher. In response, she chuckled. ¡°Just do it and leave the rest up to me.¡± Seeing her gentle smile, Max calmed down somehow. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll do it.¡± While Max was working on the paper, the others waited quietly. An hour and a halfter, Max closed the pen cap and handed the paper to the principal. When the principal marked the paper, his jaw dropped in shock. ¡°Did this test paper get leaked out? Why did you only get one fill-in-the-nk question wrong?¡± The counselor didn¡¯t believe it either, so he took the test paper and checked the answer carefully while murmuring, ¡°This is impossible¡­ The students don¡¯t even know that there is a Paper B.¡± ¡°Now that Max¡¯s level can be proven, let¡¯s talk about Jacob next.¡± When he was suddenly being cued, Jacob trembled. ¡°I have nothing to say. Maybe he lucked out this time and got the right answers¡­¡± Elspeth sneered, ¡°Seems like Max made a really good friend.¡± Chapter 59 Chapter 59 Chapter 59 Jealousy Kills Jacob was feeling a little guilty, his gaze flickering. ¡°The ssroom should have a surveince camera. After we check it, we will then know whether Max was framed.¡± Jacob felt relieved when he heard Elspeth suggesting to check the surveince footage. Fortunately, he had gone to the principal¡¯s room earlier and deleted today¡¯s surveince footage. Otherwise, he would be exposed right now. True enough, the principal shook his head and said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid we won¡¯t be able to do so. The surveince camera appears to be having issues today, and the footage is not saved.¡± Without the surveince footage, Max couldn¡¯t clear his name from everyone¡¯s suspicion. Furthermore, he had always been a rebellious student, so the principal subconsciously assumed that his words were bare denial. ¡°Let me check it now.¡± The principal then opened the surveince settings in theputer, while Elspeth went over to check. Things were as she had suspected¡ªthe footage had been deleted on purpose, rather than due to a w in the surveince system. She then spent a few minutes entering codes to recover the data on theputer. With that, the previously deleted footage then reappeared on the screen. ¡°Look at this, principal.¡± Elspeth smiled as she pointed to the image of the surveince footage. ¡°This figure appears to be familiar. Is that¡­ Jacob?¡± The screen clearly showed that during recess, when no one was in the ssroom, Jacob entered and sneakily ced the note on Max¡¯s table before leaving, pretending nothing had happened. ¡°This¡­¡± The principal stared at the screen in disbelief. How is this possible? How could Jacob be the one who framed Max? Elspeth, on the other hand, sneered. ¡°I knew it was you.¡± With his trembling voice, Jacob responded, ¡°No¡­ That¡¯s not me! The footage is forged!¡± However, Elspeth merely raised her brows and smiled mockingly. ¡°I¡¯m sure you know whether or not the footage is true.¡± Realizing that he couldn¡¯t hide the truth any longer, Jacob suddenly let out a viciousugh. ¡°Me? We are all humans, but how can he be born with a silver spoon and hold such a noble status? How could he obtain such a high score even for this examination that none of us prepared for?¡± It was clear that Jacob¡¯s heart was filled with jealousy. The long suppression umted into a volcano and erupted, which was why he did what he did this time. Elspeth lightly shook her head in response. ¡°No matter what, it is wrong for you to harm others. Max¡¯s giarism is minor, but your framing of him is not.¡± The principal naturally understood what was going on at this point. However, Elspeth did not stop there. She turned to face the counselor and smiled before saying, ¡°Counsellor, I believe you¡¯re rted to Jacob, yes? Your gaze has been fixed on him since you entered. When Jacob¡¯s acts were exposed earlier, you appear to be as nervous as he is.¡± Feeling ashamed of his earlier misjudgment, the principal quickly apologized to Elspeth. Then, he turned his head and reprimanded Jacob sternly, ¡°You¡¯re usually obedient, Jacob. I never expected you to do something like this. Don¡¯te to school from tomorrow onward. It¡¯s such a disgrace to the school that this happened here!¡± Jacob¡¯s face was ashen as he heard that and he turned around, about to leave. However, it was obvious that Elspeth was dissatisfied with the matter stopping here. Hence, she extended her hand to prevent Jacob from leaving. ¡°Wait. It¡¯s a crime to malign others for giarism.¡± She was smiling, but her smile was as cold as a sneer. ¡°The police should be here anytime soon. You better take some time toe up with an exnation.¡± Her sentence deprived Jacob of all hope as his legs wobbled, bringing his entire body to the ground. After the matter was settled, Elspeth then brought Max home. Mas stared at Elspeth when they walked on the road, and after hesitating for a long while, he finally expressed his gratitude. When she noticed his awkward demeanor, she couldn¡¯t help but tease, ¡°Why are you acting like a shy girl?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not! I just wanted to say thank you!¡± he responded, his face flushed. After a few moments of thought, he opened his mouth again. ¡°Thank you for helping me out today, Miss Elspeth.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± Elspeth said as she smiled and carressed his head. ¡°You just need to focus on your studies.¡± Max looked at her, a bizarre feeling rising in his heart. ¡°I understand why Callum likes you now¡­¡± That stunned Elspeth for quite some time. When she finally understood what he was saying, she smiled ironically. ¡°Didn¡¯t you know Callum has a crush on someone else?¡± Max was surprised by her words. ¡°Are you referring to Emma? She was Callum¡¯s first love; his feelings for her have long faded!¡± ¡°That¡¯s simply because you¡¯re unaware of it. Callum gave up a coboration project a few days ago just to rush back to meet her.¡± Perplexed, Max replied, ¡°What? Callum has been in thepany for the past few days, and not a single woman has managed to get near him!¡± Elspeth was taken aback when she heard that. Was everything that happened previously my own misunderstanding? Meanwhile, Callum was rushing to school after hearing about Max¡¯s incident. When he was on his way, he noticed Elspeth and Max walking by the roadside and slowly pulled over. ¡°Callum!¡± ¡°giarism? What have you done, you rascal?¡± Callum was obviously too concerned with Max¡¯s behavior at school to spare Elspeth even a nce. Max scratched his head, looking embarrassed. ¡°Everything is fine now, Callum. It is thanks to Elspeth! Otherwise, I would have been expelled from school as a giarist by now!¡± Hearing that, Callum turned to Elspeth, who was standing off to the side. It was only after a while that hemented softly, ¡°Thank you for helping Max.¡±? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. Such a sentence from him seemed to have distanced their rtionship. It was as if they were strangers to each other. That didn¡¯t sit well with Elspeth. However, she remained polite and responded to his gratitude. Max, too, sensed that something was amiss between Callum and Elspeth. Hence, he let out a light cough, intending to leave so that the two of them could have some alone time. Yet, before he could do so, Elspeth sensed what he was about to do and quickly said, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, you both may go back first. I¡¯ve got something else to do.¡± ¡°Where are you going, Miss Elspeth?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t meddle in other people¡¯s business,¡± Callum said indifferently. Elspeth, on the other hand, simply forced a smile. She then turned on her heel and left. As she walked down the street, she felt increasingly aggrieved. How could Callum treat me with such an attitude when he was the one who misunderstood my rtionship with Jordan? The more Elspeth thought about it, the more enraged she became, making her unwilling to return to the Winthrop Group right now. She even considered leaving the Winthrop Residence so she wouldn¡¯t have any contact with Callum in the future. ¡°Miss Elspeth!¡± A yell rang out from behind. Elspeth turned around to see Max panting as he ran after her. ¡°What happened?¡± Max quickly approached her. Something shed across his gaze as he asked, ¡°Miss Elspeth, are you giving Callum the cold shoulder?¡± ¡°No. You¡¯re overthinking things. Why would I do that when there¡¯s nothing between us?¡± She pursed her lips, suppressing all the bitterness in her heart. ¡°Don¡¯t say anything that you don¡¯t mean. I¡¯m sure something happened between the two of you. Why can¡¯t you both talk it out calmly instead of acting strangely toward each other right now?¡± Chapter 60 Chapter 60 Chapter 60 Ophelia Is Back To that, Elspeth merely sighed in response. ¡°Max, you don¡¯t understand¡­¡± However, Max cut her off and said, ¡°I¡¯m only two years younger than you, and I understand Callum better than you do. Though he appears to speak to you coldly, he cares a lot about you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve decided to move out from the Winthrop Residence, Max, so you don¡¯t have to go on any longer.¡± Max was shocked when he heard that. ¡°You¡¯re moving out from the Winthrop Residence? Why?¡± Looking at his stunned expression, Elspeth then exined, ¡°As what you¡¯ve said, my rtionship with Callum is strained. It¡¯ll be even more awkward if we continue to stay together.¡± ¡°You have feelings for Callum, right?¡± ¡°No!¡± Elspeth quickly denied it. Max let out a light chuckle in response. ¡°Why did you want to avoid him if you didn¡¯t? The Miss Elspeth that I know would never try to flee from someone she dislikes.¡± Elspeth was so taken aback by his words that she had no idea how to respond. ¡°Just admit it if you truly have feelings for him. After all, I can tell Callum likes you as well.¡± Max had already made it so clear that whatever Elspeth was about to exin would merely be seen as her attempt to conceal her feelings. Thus, she shut her mouth and remained silent for a long while. After hesitating for a few moments, she decided to go to thepany. Just as she stepped into thepany, she saw a familiar figure. Ophelia?! Elspeth furrowed her brows, preparing to turn around and walk away. But, before she could, Ophelia noticed Elspeth and began smilingly approaching her. ¡°It has been a long time since west met, Elspeth.¡± Elspeth was disgusted by Ophelia¡¯s words, but her expression remained calm and aloof. ¡°It has indeed been a long time. I thought you were still paying for your wrongdoings.¡± She expected her words to enrage Ophelia, but to her surprise, Ophelia merely responded with a smile. ¡°Thank you for your concern, Elspeth. I know I¡¯ve made numerous mistakes in the past. Hence, I returned this time to make amends.¡± ¡°I hope so.¡± Elspeth knew Ophelia wasn¡¯t as simple as she made herself out to be, so she didn¡¯t take Ophelia¡¯s words seriously. ¡°Elspeth, could I treat you to lunchter? I¡¯d like to properly apologize to you as well.¡± However, Elspeth turned Ophelia down right away. ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. I¡¯ve got something on at noon.¡± A disappointed look appeared on Ophelia¡¯s face. ¡°Is it because you still harbor resentment toward me that you¡¯re turning me down? Elspeth, I¡¯ve truly turned over a new leaf. Could you please forgive me?¡± Her pitiful appearance drew sympathy from the onlookers. ¡°In fact, Ophelia is somewhat pitiful. After all, she was simply overly obsessed with love.¡± ¡°She already knew where her problem lies. Everyone deserves a second chance. I think Elspeth is too cold-hearted.¡± ¡°Hey, tone it down! You¡¯ll be in trouble if Miss Lynwood hears it!¡± Hearing the onlookers¡¯ments and seeing Ophelia¡¯s pitiful yet detestable expression, Elspeth suddenly understood everything. Ophelia had intentionally returned to act pitifully this time in order to gain everyone¡¯s sympathy, and with that, everyone would see her in a new light. She had indeed changed significantly after spending a few months in jail. ¡°What do you suggest for lunch, then?¡± Ophelia immediately smiled when she heard Elspeth¡¯s words. ¡°You¡¯re so nice, Elspeth! I¡¯ve also asked Callum for lunch. The three of us can discuss where to eat lunchter.¡± When Elspeth heard that Callum would be joining as well, her heart sank. But she did not have the chance to change her mind, as Ophelia quickly left the office with the cking sound of her high heels. That left Elspeth with no choice but to join them for lunchter. At noon, Callum had some extra work to deal with, leaving both Elspeth and Ophelia waiting for him by the entrance. Since he wasn¡¯t there yet, Ophelia began initiating some conversation topics. ¡°I heard that the Winthrop Group soars to new heights when I¡¯m not around. It¡¯s all thanks to you, Elspeth.¡± Ophelia¡¯s eyes were filled with admiration as she said this, as if she was sincerely congratting Elspeth on her aplishment. ¡°Thank you for saying so, Miss Fleming, but that is not my effort alone. It is the result of the hard work of all the Winthrop Group¡¯s employees.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so humble. Callum has already told me everything. He said that you truly worked hard and that your capability is unrivaled. It would be the Winthrop Family¡¯s blessing if you could marry into their family¡­ Hey Callum! We¡¯re here!¡± Ophelia saw Callum as she spoke and quickly waved her hand, signaling to him toe over. Callum, on the other hand, had not expected Elspeth to join them for lunch. Hence, his gaze flickered when he saw her. ¡°Callum, I was just discussing what to have for lunch with Elspeth. Do you prefer Japanese, French, or Chinese cuisine?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine with anything.¡± Ophelia then smilingly asked Elspeth, ¡°How about you, Elspeth?¡± Faced with Ophelia¡¯s question, Elspeth simply suggested Japanese cuisine. But Ophelia immediately disyed a troubled expression. ¡°Oh¡­ But Callum has a sensitive stomach. He shouldn¡¯t eat Japanese food because it¡¯s mostly cold and uncooked.¡± She was obviously attempting to sow discord between Callum and Elspeth. That came as no surprise to Elspeth. Ophelia had always wanted Elspeth to stay as far away from Callum as possible, but she purposefully asked both of them out now. Clearly, she had no good intentions in doing so. ¡°Anything else is fine, then.¡± Ophelia, however, suddenly became aggrieved right after Elspeth¡¯s words. ¡°Do you dislike me, Elspeth, and that¡¯s why you don¡¯t want to have a meal with me?¡± she asked, tears streaming down her cheeks. Elspeth was getting irritated. ¡°Stop with the pretense. Are we still going for lunch or not?¡± However, Ophelia sobbed even more pitifully. ¡°I¡¯ve already apologized to you, Elspeth. Even if you don¡¯t want to forgive me, you don¡¯t have to be so aloof¡­¡± ¡°Are you done yet?¡± Elspeth was disgusted with Ophelia¡¯s words. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Stop being so fierce to Ophelia,¡± Callum opened his mouth unexpectedly. Fierce? Me? Elspeth responded with a scowl. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to teach me what to do, Callum. Since both of you think I¡¯m being ridiculous, I better not disturb your lunch. Enjoy.¡± To that, Callum merely shot her a nonchnt nce before turning to Ophelia and saying, ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s go, Ophelia.¡± Elspeth was stunned as she saw that. She did not expect Callum would actually let her leave. But, aside from being shocked, she was also disappointed. She was disappointed in him for failing to recognise Ophelia¡¯s deliberate words. Since that was the case, she had no reason to stay in the Winthrop Group anymore. Hence, she went back to her office, drafted her resignation letter, and immediately emailed it to Callum. After that, she returned to the Winthrop Residence to pack her belongings, preparing to leave. Arthur, who was at home, witnessed everything. He couldn¡¯t help butugh lightly as he said, ¡°What exactly are you doing? Do you no longer want to stay at the Winthrop Residence?¡± ¡°I simply felt that it is not suitable for me to stay here; I don¡¯t mean anything else,¡± Elspeth replied indifferently. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I¡¯ve already told you long ago that Callum is a heartless fellow. The only thing in his heart is his work. In other words, all of his feelings had died three years ago. Even if he had some feelings for you, those are worth nothing. Given your intelligence, you should understand what I mean.¡± She nodded in response. ¡°So?¡± ¡°So¡­ Do you want to consider being with me? I promise I¡¯ll be more than a thousand times better than Callum.¡± Elspeth, however, stared right into Arthur¡¯s smiling eyes and asked solemnly, ¡°But Arthur, do you like me?¡± When Arthur heard that, his smile immediately stiffened. Chapter 61 Chapter 61 Chapter 61 Margot¡¯s Medical Emergency ¡°Is love that important?¡± Arthur¡¯s words sounded ridiculous in Elspeth¡¯s ears. She retorted, ¡°It is indeed important! Why would you even be with someone if you do not love her? Arthur, what else do you consider more important than your rtionships?¡± He was taken aback at her surprising remark. ¡°There are of course more important priorities! You can¡¯t only live for rtionships alone.¡± In his life philosophy, rtionships were the most useless of all. He was so practical and detached that he appeared to be devoid of emotions. ¡°That¡¯s enough. I hope you will stop asking me to date you before you figure out the definition of love.¡± She shed a smile at him and finally clutched her luggage, ready to leave. Elspeth was immediately stopped by the butler once she marched out of the doors of the Winthrop Family. ¡°Miss Lynwood, you can¡¯t do this! How should I exin it to Mr. Winthrop if you leave?¡± Mr. Graham stared at her with a troubled expression. ¡°I¡¯m moving out of the Winthrop Residence, not severing ties with the family. Mr. Graham, take it easy.¡± She almost chuckled at his efforts at blocking her. Callum ran into Elspeth and Mr. Graham at the entrance upon his return. He looked slightly uneasy at the sight of Elspeth¡¯s departure but pretended to look unconcerned. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°None of your business.¡± Elspeth fired back and rolled her eyes. The fact that Ophelia tagged along with Callum only strengthened Elspeth¡¯s resolve to leave. Ophelia appeared dumbstruck. ¡°Elspeth, why are you moving out of the Winthrop Residence?¡± Despite the tone of her question, she was secretly overjoyed at Elspeth¡¯s exit. Great! Elspeth has finally given up and wanted out! That girl is no match for me! ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that. Isn¡¯t this good news for you?¡± Elspeth smirked at Ophelia¡¯s pretense. Thetter instantly felt unfairly used. ¡°Elspeth, you misunderstood me. I didn¡¯t mean it that way. I¡ª¡± Callum finally spoke up. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Stop bullying Ophelia.¡± ¡°You think I¡¯m bothered to do so?¡± Elspeth felt a gut-wrenching pain and desperately wanted to leave the scene. ¡°I shall not keep you from enjoying your time together. Time for me to leave. I don¡¯t want to be your third wheel.¡± As all her actions would be misinterpreted as bullying Ophelia, she would rather remove herself from the situation sooner. ¡°Elspeth, please do not overthink! There¡¯s nothing between him and me. I¡¯m just back here to meet Mrs. Winthrop, and Callum came with me since he was heading here too. It¡¯s not what you thought!¡± She answered coolly, ¡°I did not overthink. Whatever you do, that¡¯s your business.¡± On the other hand, Callum felt a chill at her firm decision to leave. ¡°What now? Are you going to move to Jordan¡¯s?¡± That instantly led to Elspeth¡¯s outburst. Fuming, she bellowed, ¡°Callum, stop that nonsense! There¡¯s nothing between me and Jordan!¡± ¡°Oh? Elspeth, you have a crush? All this while, I thought you were crushing on Callum. It seems like it¡¯s all in my own head,¡± Ophelia chirped with a smile. Elspeth could not stand the loaded conversations with the pair anymore. ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± Just as she dragged her luggage to the door, she was interrupted by a scream from upstairs. ¡°Madam! What happened?¡± Elspeth, Callum, and Ophelia put aside their heated exchanges and rushed up to Mrs. Winthrop¡¯s room upon hearing the scream. They were shocked by the scene that greeted them in Margot¡¯s bedroom. Margot was lying on the floor with her eyes tightly shut, looking like she had fainted from stress. The nanny by her side exined anxiously, ¡°She was just putting on a facial mask after jogging! And then she fainted! I have no idea what happened to her!¡± Elspeth bent over to check Margot¡¯s breathing and confirmed, ¡°Her breathing is shallow.¡± The nanny¡¯s jaw dropped, and she muttered in horror, ¡°What? Her breathing is¡­ shallow?¡± Elspeth ignored the nanny¡¯s emotional response and asked, ¡°Have you called 911?¡± ¡°Yes, I did, but our ce is too far out. It¡¯d take the ambnce an hour to reach here! What if something bad happens to Madam because of it?¡± There was a ruthless gleam in Callum¡¯s eyes. ¡°Is this how you take care of Madam?¡± The nanny trembled from head to toe and only stared at her feet in silence. Elspeth narrowed her eyes and asked, ¡°Does Mrs. Winthrop suffer from any illnesses?¡± Ophelia interjected, ¡°She has congenital heart disease, but she has been given a clean bill of health recently. She even chatted with me about it yesterday and told me that she has not taken her medicine for a while! I can¡¯t believe she suddenly fainted!¡± After closer inspection, Elspeth concluded that Margot must have had a sudden heart attack from excessive exercise. With that in mind, she ran out and brought back a set of needles from her bag. When she rushed into the room with the needles, Ophelia immediately looked petrified. ¡°No, Elspeth! You can¡¯t insert needles as you like! What if something went wrong? You couldn¡¯t shoulder that responsibility, could you?¡± Elspeth shot her a nce. ¡°I will take responsibility if anything goes wrong.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Ophelia stammered and was at a loss for words. She knew that Elspeth had knowledge of acupuncture, but part of her wanted to see how Elspeth would be in trouble if things went awry! She might appear worried, but she was ready to put all the me on Elspethter. ¡°I said she¡¯ll be fine.¡± Elspeth wanted to insert the needle, but the nanny clenched her jaw and advised her against it, ¡°I have called the family doctor, though. He¡¯ll be here in a few minutes. Miss Lynwood, why don¡¯t you¡ª¡± Elspeth gave her an icy side-eye. ¡°Mrs. Winthrop has lost consciousness for five minutes and needs immediate first aid. If anything happens to her because of dyed treatment, would you shoulder the me?¡± Trembling under Elspeth¡¯s stern look, the nanny finally nodded and shut up. Callum did not say a word because he knew Elspeth had exceptional skills. He waited quietly for her next move with an unexinable trust in her. Firstly, Elspeth applied the basic chestpressions for Mrs. Winthrop. When Mrs. Winthrop started breathing normally, Elspeth took out a few needles and inserted them into various meridian points with uracy. It did not take long for Mrs. Winthrop to start grunting. The nanny eximed, ¡°She¡¯s awake! Madam is awake!¡± Elspeth stored her needles away and exined calmly, ¡°No, she isn¡¯t. That¡¯s just a reaction to stimtion. She needs to be sent to the hospital. Anyway, she¡¯ll be fine while we wait for the ambnce.¡± The nanny nodded furiously. ¡°Yes, yes, I informed Mr. Winthrop and the other children as well. They will arrive in a while.¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Right then, they heard amotion at the door. Chapter 62 Chapter 62 Chapter 62 Her Mentor Was an Exceptional Doctor Before they could see the visitors, they heard Max¡¯s voice booming from the foyer, ¡°What happened to Mom?¡± Edmund¡¯s frosty voice followed, ¡°Has anyone called the ambnce?¡± Arthur, who was a doctor by profession, squatted down to check Margot¡¯s heartbeat and breathing. He hesitated for a moment. ¡°Hmm, it looks like¡­ she is out of danger.¡± Elspeth watched as the crowd flocked to the bedroom, and she stood up to announce, ¡°Mrs. Winthrop has stopped her medicine for a while now. It¡¯s likely what caused her cardiac syncope due to her congenital heart disease. But I performed some first aid on her, and she is fine now.¡± Arthur¡¯s eagle eyes spotted the needles that were scattered across the floor, and he asked, ¡°What are those?¡± She gathered the needles and stuck them back into the storage bag. She whispered, ¡°These are silver needles for acupuncture.¡± There was a hint of judgment in his eyes. ¡°You know how to perform acupuncture?¡± She scoffed. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Knowing that it was Elspeth who saved Margot, Max held more respect for her. Curious, his eyes widened. ¡°Miss Elspeth! That¡¯s so cool! Where did you learn your wonderful acupuncture skills?¡± She was slightly embarrassed by hispliments. ¡°I learned it from an old doctor when I was abroad.¡± Callum¡¯s sharp instinct told him that the old doctor must be an exceptional figure. ¡°What¡¯s his name?¡± ¡°Sonny Schwartz,¡± Elspeth replied. Those who were not involved in medicine did not react upon hearing Sonny¡¯s name. Arthur, who was usually calm andposed, had a rare outpour of emotions when he heard the name. ¡°Sonny Schwartz? Do you mean the Sonny Schwartz who is known as the greatest doctor of the 21st century?¡± She frowned, trying to recall. ¡°I think so.¡± ¡°Elspeth, do you know how great a man your mentor is?¡± Arthur had to admit that he was jealous of the fact that Elspeth received guidance from a legendary figure, whom he never had the chance to meet. She nodded. ¡°I guess.¡± Greatest doctor? Pfft. He¡¯s just an old man who loves tea drinking and chess ying with me¡ªand is a sore loser in chess games. Max¡¯s eyes were shining with admiration for her. ¡°I knew it! Miss Elspeth is something else!¡± She silently cringed at Max¡¯s sudden change in attitude. Thankfully, the ambnce¡¯s siren shifted everyone¡¯s attention away from her. At the hospital, the family settled Margot¡¯s admission, where they filled in the paperwork and had Callum stay back to take care of their mother. Then, the rest of the family went back to work. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Without surprise, Ophelia stayed back to apany Callum, but she appeared low-spirited. She had thought that Elspeth would bite off more than she could chew by administering bogus treatments, but to her dismay, Elspeth proved her expertise in the field of medicine and was revealed to be the prot¨¦g¨¦ of a famous doctor. The more she thought about it, the more envious she felt. She asked, ¡°Elspeth, how did you get to know that mentor of yours?¡± However, her question was met with silence from Elspeth, who did not want to give her attention. ¡°Elspeth¡­¡± Seeing that, Ophelia called out again. ¡°Through a chess game.¡± A chess game¡­ Ophelia mulled over it gleefully since she was good at chess. ¡°Can you introduce me to your mentor? My grandma has had asthma for a long time, and I would like him to treat her.¡± Elspeth merely smirked at Ophelia¡¯s anticipation, knowing that she had an ulterior motive. ¡°He¡¯s very busy and does not have time to make patient visits.¡± Ophelia gritted her teeth. ¡°I will pay him handsomely!¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t make any difference,¡± Elspeth replied coldly. ¡°Elspeth, are you overthinking it? I only want your famous mentor to treat my grandma. I¡¯m not going to snatch him from you,¡± Ophelia muttered and lowered her head, looking pitiful. ¡°Miss Fleming, it¡¯s not that I want to stop you from meeting him. He shows up and disappears unexpectedly all the time. Trust me, he does not have the time for your grandma.¡± Then, Elspeth dialed a number to prove her point. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°El! Have you finally thought of your mentor? You girl! You know what? I went to a chess game yesterday and lost big time! I check that guy¡¯s Facebook, and guess what? He¡¯s a national chess yer! What a young and sessful man¡­¡± Elspeth could not endure the bbering and called a stop to it. She exined, ¡°I did not call you to chit- chat. Someone would like you to treat their grandma. Are you taking this case?¡± Sonny sounded confused. ¡°I have taught you everything. You could totally treat that patient without me, or just tell her that you¡¯re there on my behalf.¡± She looked at Ophelia and chuckled. ¡°But the granddaughter wants your help specifically. What can I do about it?¡± He was momentarily taken aback and asked cautiously, ¡°What¡¯s her rtionship to you? Is she a friend or a rtive?¡± Elspeth shot a look at a nervous Ophelia and replied coolly, ¡°I don¡¯t know her well. We¡¯re just acquaintances.¡± Learning that, Sonny instantly went through an attitude shift. ¡°Gosh, don¡¯t bother me then. I¡¯m super busy and have no time for patient visits. Tell her to get someone else.¡± Then, he suddenly eximed, ¡°El! That guy invited me to another game! I need to deal with this. Got to go now!¡± Elspeth was speechless at his spontaneity. Ophelia had never dreamed that Ophelia would humiliate her in such an embarrassing way. While secretly cursing Sonny, she put on a pitiful look. ¡°Elspeth, you didn¡¯t tell him that we¡¯re acquaintances because you didn¡¯t want him to help me, did you?¡± Elspeth shrugged. ¡°You and I are not even acquaintances¡ªjust strangers.¡± Suddenly, she was reminded that she had some moving out to do, which had been interrupted by Margot¡¯s hospitalization. She excused herself, ¡°By the way, I need to pack my luggage. Take good care of Mrs. Winthrop.¡± Callum instantly objected, ¡°You can¡¯t.¡± She spun around and red at him. ¡°What? Do I need your permission to leave the Winthrop Residence?¡± He did not react to her anger. ¡°You have something to do with my mom¡¯s condition. If something happens to herter, I need to hold you ountable.¡± ¡°Are you questioning my skills?¡± Elspeth¡¯s voice went up an octave, but Callum merely gave her a dismissive nce without replying. ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t leave. I will wait until she recovers.¡± A faint smile appeared on Callum¡¯s lips when he heard her promise. At noon, Margot finally regained consciousness. When her eyes fluttered open, Ophelia quickly went up to her. ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, are you okay?¡± ¡°Cough¡­ I need water¡­¡± Ophelia immediately handed her a ss of water. Chapter 63 Chapter 63 Chapter 63 Pay Up Margot coughed lightly a few times. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me?¡± Holding her hand, Ophelia had a look of worry. ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, you passed out. Thank God the nanny found you in time; otherwise, things might have gone south very quickly. Are you hungry, Mrs. Winthrop? I can buy some food for you if you want.¡± She then looked at Elspeth, who was standing beside her. ¡°Elspeth, could youe with me?¡± Looking at Callum, Elspeth wanted to ditch this awkward atmosphere of the three being around each other, so she nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± Ophelia bought a lot of food, looking as if she cared a lot for Margot. However, these foods could not be consumed by a patient that had just woken up. Elspeth wondered what Ophelia¡¯s ns were, so she did not say anything about it. Reaching the entrance, Ophelia suddenly said that her stomach ached. Wanting to buy some medicine for it, she said that she would be right back. ¡°Elspeth, I¡¯ll have to trouble you to give these to Mrs. Winthrop.¡± Ophelia smiled apologetically. Finally, Elspeth knew what she was scheming. ¡°Okay.¡± She received the food and went straight into the ward. After standing around outside for a while, Ophelia entered. The moment she entered, she saw Ophelia helping Margot to eat with a packet of opened snacks on the table. Callum was not there as he seemed to be out. ¡°Elspeth! What are you doing?¡± Ophelia stared at her, wide-eyed. ¡°Do you not know that Mrs. Winthrop can¡¯t consume these kinds of greasy and fried foods? Why did you still buy these for her?¡± Yet, Elspeth only stated calmly, ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Seeing how shocked Ophelia was behaving perplexed Margot. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Ophelia? Is there something wrong with what I¡¯m eating?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell you the truth, so don¡¯t get too angry, Mrs. Winthrop. I took a look at all the foods, but they are not suitable for a recovering patient, such as yourself, to eat. I¡¯m only worried about your body¡­ Elspeth, aren¡¯t you being too careless?¡± Ophelia had a face full of hurt, acting as if Elspeth had done something extremely wrong. Smiling, Elspeth replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I know what to feed Mrs. Winthrop.¡± This made Ophelia step up with a slightly angry tone. ¡°Elspeth, you obviously know about medical knowledge, so you wouldn¡¯t have done this without intention. Why did you do this?¡± Wow, Ophelia sure is determined to paint me in a bad light. Looking at her, Elspeth had a dark expression. ¡°What if there¡¯s nothing wrong with these foods?¡± ¡°Nothing wrong? Elspeth, I¡¯ve looked at all the food. She really shouldn¡¯t eat these!¡± Are you kidding me? I¡¯ve checked all the food closely. She definitely can¡¯t eat these at all. ¡°Ophelia, is there a misunderstanding¡­¡± After seeing how exaggerated Ophelia was acting, Margot tried to talk some sense into her. ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, stop eating. I¡¯ll buy you something else.¡± Ophelia then wanted to take the food in front of Margot away, yet upon closer inspection, she was frozen at the stop. What¡­ What is this? In front of her was a delicious-looking and nutritious meal. The sheer number of snacks earlier had blocked her from seeing this meal. ¡°When did you buy this¡­¡± Ophelia smiled awkwardly. Elspeth gave Margot another bite before saying, ¡°When you weren¡¯t around. These snacks are for me. Do you have a problem with that?¡± At that moment, Ophelia waspletely stunned since she did not expect Elspeth to decipher her ploy and think of a solution so easily. ¡°Elspeth¡­ I¡¯m sorry. I misunderstood you.¡± For now, Ophelia could only apologize as it would have looked like she framed Elspeth intentionally otherwise. Elspeth raised an eyebrow. ¡°Hmm? You think you can chalk this up to a simple misunderstanding?¡± Feeling her face bing numb, Ophelia replied, ¡°Pardon me? Are you saying this is not a misunderstanding?¡± ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. ¡°You didn¡¯t even take a look before rushing in and assuming that the food I am feeding Mrs. Winthrop isn¡¯t suitable for her consumption. You implied that I had ill intentions. Funny enough, I wonder what kind of intentions you had instead, Miss Fleming.¡± Although Elspeth retorted calmly, there was a hint of warning mixed in with her smile, which was directed at Ophelia. Ophelia looked away and rebuked, ¡°What? Why would I frame you on purpose? Besides, I didn¡¯t know you bought such a nutritious meal, so it was normal for me to misunderstand you¡­¡± Looking at how pitiful Ophelia looked, Elspeth smirked in response. ¡°Ophelia, I know you don¡¯t have any regret.¡± Ophelia was on the verge of crying by this point. ¡°I¡¯ve already said that I only said the wrong things because I was so worried about Mrs. Winthrop. Please get off my back.¡± Seeing the crying Ophelia made Margot soft-hearted. ¡°Elspeth, how about you just forgive Ophelia? I¡¯m sure she knows what she did wrong. I think anybody can see that.¡± Elspeth might have believed that they would repent inside if it were others. But, when dealing with Ophelia, she knew that that woman would onlye back like a vengeful spirit again. Forgive her? Just like that? Not so easy, I¡¯m afraid. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Elspeth. I really do regret my actions.¡± Seeing how Ophelia was putting on an act disgusted Elspeth. Yet, Elspeth knew that if she were to persist on the matter, Margot would think that she was making a mountain out of a molehill and that she was a small-minded person who did not know mercy. The weak always easily acquired others¡¯ sympathy¡ªsomething that Ophelia was quite adept at. ¡°Fine. I can forgive you, but don¡¯t you think that you shouldpensate me somehow?¡± Blinking her eyes, Ophelia had an innocent smile. ¡°Compensation? Of what kind?¡± ¡°Three million. No more. No less.¡± For the Flemings, even though three million was not much, it was still an amount that could not be ignored. Not understanding Elspeth¡¯s game, Ophelia asked curiously, ¡°Why three million?¡± ¡°No reason. If you think that that is too little, you can choose to give five million instead. Just deposit it to my bank ount, thank you.¡± Since Elspeth knew that she could not do anything to Ophelia at that moment, she chose to let her part with some of her assets. On the other hand, Ophelia thought that things would have ended with a simple apology, yet Elspeth asked for three million without hesitation! This made her heart pang, for an apology was free, but three million was something very real! This woman always knew where to make it hurt! Seeing how ufortable her expression was, Elspeth could not help but make a quip. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t tell me that you can¡¯t even take three million out, Miss Fleming? It¡¯s fine if you can¡¯t. I can lend it to you first. Just remember to return it.¡± With hatred surging, Ophelia felt like she was grinding her teeth to dust. ¡°No need. I¡¯ll transfer it to you in a moment.¡± ¡°Thank you for your patronage, Miss Fleming.¡± The moment Elspeth said that, someone opened the door. Callum entered with a bag full of fruits before he noticed Ophelia¡¯s pitiable expression with tear stains still on her face. Frowning, he asked, ¡°What happened here?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Ophelia shook her head. ¡°Elspeth wanted me to transfer three million to her as an apology.¡± Leaving out all the crucial parts, Ophelia only said this sentence that would cause anyone to misunderstand the situation. Immediately, Callum shot Elspeth a cold gaze. ¡°Three million, is it? Give me your bank ount, I¡¯ll transfer it to you.¡± Chapter 64 Chapter 64 Chapter 64 Protecting Her Seeing Callum act like this made Elspeth lose interest in the matter. ¡°You sure are a gentleman, Mr. Winthrop.¡± Hearing her words, he turned stern. ¡°Ophelia¡¯s family has run into some problemstely, so three million is a lil¡¯ tricky for her. I¡¯ll transfer the money to you.¡± Naturally, Elspeth was aware of this, which was why she did it on purpose just to make things hard on her. Yet, she did not want to keep up this farce upon seeing how protective he was toward her. ¡°It¡¯s fine. You can keep it, Mr. Winthrop.¡± After all, what she wanted was not money. The scene before her made her feel like she was an outsider. She paused for a while before exiting the ward. The fact that Callum and Ophelia were no longer in sight eased her instantly. As Elspeth headed to the garden to cool off, she saw a bunch of people surrounding a girl, about to do something to her. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Elspeth stepped forward and grabbed onto the lecher¡¯s hand that was about to touch the girl before flinging it aside. Subsequently, she stood in front of the girl with a cold expression. That man¡¯s arm was almost dislocated from the force. Yet, just as he was about to fly into a rage, he suddenly saw the woman standing before him was much more beautiful than the girl, so he decided to put on a facade. ¡°Miss, I didn¡¯t do anything bad. It¡¯s this girl that stole my money. All I want is to get my money back. I don¡¯t have any other ulterior motives¡­¡± Although the man exined with a smile, his gaze maintained on her body. ¡°Stole your money?¡± Elspeth turned around and looked at the girl behind her with questioning eyes. ncing at her, the girl replied timidly, ¡°I didn¡¯t steal his money! This is my money! I didn¡¯t steal it from anyone!¡± C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. ¡°What a load of bull! Everyone here saw it. You sneakily reached out and stole the ten thousand I prepared!¡± Frightened, the girl shivered. ¡°I didn¡¯t! This is my money, you liar!¡± Watching the situation unfold, Elspeth understood that the man knew the girl had ten thousand with her, so he purposefully framed her, hoping he could grift that money with the public¡¯s help. ¡°You say that¡¯s your money. Where¡¯s your proof, then?¡± Elspeth looked at him with a hint of interest. The man held his head up with pride and replied, ¡°The money is mine. All these people around me saw it. That is the best proof.¡± ¡°These so-called people are the gangsters around you, aren¡¯t they?¡± She looked at the less-than- savory crowd and sneered. ¡°Who are you calling gangsters? You¡¯d better take a look at your situation! If you know any better, make yourself scarce! Otherwise, don¡¯t me us for whatever happens next!¡± The man threatened before reaching out, yet he was sent flying away by a kick from her. Crashing onto the ground, the man groaned in pain. ¡°How dare you hit me! Get that b*tch! Show her what it means to cross us! Don¡¯t say we didn¡¯t give you a chance, you wench!¡± Livid, the man wanted to skin her right there and then. Yet, the gangsters hesitated to attack after seeing how easily the man was subdued. ¡°What are you all standing around for? She¡¯s alone! Are you all incapable of defeating a single woman? Get her!¡± The gangsters gulped while looking at the calm Elspeth. With clenched teeth, they decided to strike in the end. However, it was a walk in the park for her to deal with these immature gangsters. With every kick she made, a person fell. In less than a minute, the gangsters were lying on the ground with groans heard all over the ce. ¡°Boss, we can¡¯t do it! This woman is too good. We simply aren¡¯t her opponents!¡± one of the gangsters spoke through gritted teeth while having bruises all over his body. ¡°Idiots! You¡¯re all useless fools!¡± the man scolded his subordinates fiercely, feeling uneasy after seeing how effortlessly Elspeth dispatched his group. Suddenly, he focused his gaze on the girl behind her and smiled evilly before pouncing at her. Seeing through his intentions at first nce, Elspeth shielded the girl and kicked the man squarely in the chest. ¡°Argh!¡± With another kick, the man felt like the pain was about to kill him. What did I do to deserve this?! ¡°I¡¯m gonna count to five, and all of you disappear from my sight. Otherwise, it won¡¯t end with just a simple beating.¡± She then extended her fingers before starting the count. ¡°Five.¡± ¡°It was this girl that stole my money. Why should I be the one to get lost?¡± ¡°Four.¡± ¡°Goddamn it, let¡¯s go!¡± The man was terrified that something worse would befall them, so he waved and scampered away with the rest of the gangsters. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Elspeth asked the trembling girl. The girl shook her head and did not speak before her tears suddenly fell. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I have to pay my mother¡¯s medical bills now. Otherwise, I won¡¯t make it.¡± Looking at the girl, Elspeth noted that she did not seem toe from a well-off background, so she asked, ¡°Why is your mother sick?¡± ¡°She has leukemia. It¡¯s difficult to find a suitable bone marrow donor. We¡¯ve already expended all our savings during her stay at the hospital. I¡¯m preparing to sell the house.¡± ¡°How old are you?¡± Taking a deep breath in, the girl replied, ¡°I¡¯m seventeen.¡± Hearing this, Elspeth became soft-hearted. ¡°Let me help you.¡± That stunned the girl. ¡°Help me? How?¡± ¡°I can pay your medical bills and find a suitable bone marrow. You don¡¯t have to sell your home.¡± Elspeth smiled and caressed her hair. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I-I can earn money.¡± The girl¡¯s eyes shimmered for a brief second before flickering out. ¡°How can I possibly have you pay off such arge sum? Thank you!¡± Looking at her guilty gaze, Elspeth suddenly had a thought. Where would a seventeen-year-old girl find the money for such an expensive bill? Yet, she did not voice this out, for she merely nodded and took the ring off her finger before proffering it to the girl. ¡°Then, let me give this ring to you. If you¡¯re running out of money,e to me with this ring. I can give you the money required to treat your mother, but don¡¯t sell this. It isn¡¯t worth much.¡± If Harper had heard her, he would haveughed to his death. After all, this ring was created by the Azure Corporation. It cost three hundred million, equipped with GPS and smartmunication options; it was virtually priceless. Yet, in the hand of a person that did not know more, it looked just like an ordinary ring that would only sell for a couple hundred. ¡°I understand. Thank you for your kindness.¡± The girl kept the ring away carefully. As the girl left, Elspeth looked at her with a thoughtful gaze. At night, Elspeth used the ring¡¯s GPS, only to locate the girl at a local bar. Luna Bar? Instantly, she knew that something was off. Chapter 65 Chapter 65 Chapter 65 Rescue Elspeth pondered for a moment before driving to Luna Bar. Loud music and gushing filled the ce as the shing lights rendered it difficult to discern one¡¯s face. She observed the location on her phone and finally found the little girl not far from her. Without the school uniform, which could put on an innocent facade over one, Lydia was being forced to drink by her client in a maid costume. ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. Is that¡­ the girl? The girl¡¯s scrunched-up expression whenever she downed the drinks and her forceful smiles squeezed Elspeth¡¯s heart¡ªshe was merely epting the cruel truth of her fate. Elspeth rolled up her sleeves to help because herte father spent his days like that before leaving her. He was bedridden, yet the family was penniless to afford the medical fees. In the end, all she could do was watch him slowly lose the spark in his eyes. Therefore, she made up her mind to make money and be powerful to protect the people around her. She approached them and grabbed the girl¡¯s arm, yanking her up from the seat. ¡°It¡¯s you¡­¡± The girl¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Lydia, is she your friend?¡± The drunk man leered at Elspeth¡¯s gorgeous face while wondering, This chick is pretty. ¡°No, no. I don¡¯t know her. She might¡¯ve gotten the wrong person.¡± Lydia quickly shook her head, fearing that he might take advantage of Elspeth. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be here. You¡¯re a student. You should be spending your time preparing for SAT, not hanging around here. Do you hear me?¡± Elspeth¡¯s gaze darkened as her voice deepened. ¡°It is your friend. You guys seem to get along pretty well. Come, we¡¯re all friends. How about a drink with us, prettydy?¡± said the man who reached out for Elspeth¡¯s waist. However, before his fingertips could touch her, she grasped his wrist and dislocated his arm. ¡°Argh!¡± How dare she dislocate my arm! ¡°Zip it, or I¡¯ll be fair and do the same to your other arm.¡± Still, the man made a call while enduring the excruciating pain. A group of bodyguards soon gathered at the ce. ¡°You¡¯re not getting away with this!¡± The man drew in a sharp breath. ¡°Get her, and don¡¯t pull your punches back!¡± Those were trained bodyguards, and she would be at a disadvantage in a face-to-face confrontation. As an afterthought, she grabbed a ss from the table to toss it at the man¡¯s face before escaping alongside Lydia. ¡°F*ck! After them!¡± With Elspeth leading ahead, the duo bulldozed through the crowd, heading toward the second floor. She opened one of the doors and shoved Lydia into the room before wheeling around to leave. ¡°Where are you going?¡± A concerned Lydia pinched the hem of Elspeth¡¯s sleeve. ¡°I¡¯ll distract them. They¡¯ll catch up anyways, so it¡¯s better if you hide here.¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°No more ¡®but¡¯s. I punched many of his men, so I¡¯m their main target. Watch out and seize the chance to slip out of the bar. You mustn¡¯t get caught.¡± Subsequently, she fished out a Winthrop Group name card. ¡°This is my number. Call me after this. Don¡¯t worry about the medical bills. I have more than enough to pay them.¡± She then shoved the card into Lydia¡¯s hand and closed the door. Right when she was about turn left at the corner, she bumped into the bodyguards. ¡°Over here! Hurry! Don¡¯t miss her!¡± Taking a step back, she pivoted on her heels and headed to the right. The hallway narrowed as she sprinted to the end. A sense of foreboding dawned upon her while there was a bulldozing crowd behind her. She dared not let her guard down, and she did not stop running or looking back. Suddenly, she noticed a door was left ajar, so she slid into the room and closed the door. However, she regretted her decision the moment she shut the door. It¡¯s a¡­ wine cer? The chiller was turned on to preserve the wine. Due to the cold temperature, Elspeth was already shivering despite only a minute passed. ¡°She¡¯s just right in there. Why are we stopping here?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the use of going in? It¡¯s a chiller. We can lock her up and let her freeze to death. It¡¯s dead cold in there.¡± ¡°You¡¯re indeed the smart one!¡± The men¡¯s menacing chuckles rang into her ears, and her heart sank into the pit of her stomach. Intending to send Harper her location, she touched her ring reflexively only to realize that it was gifted to Lydia. ¡°Crap.¡± She fished out her phone, but texts and calls were powerless in the no-signal area. ¡°Am I gonna freeze to death here?¡± murmured Elspeth while staring at the door. The chill made her shrink into a ball for warmth. Gradually, drowsiness got the best of her, and her eyelids felt heavy. She tried to stay conscious by pinching herself, letting the temporary pain prevail over exhaustion. As time ticked by, the hope of waiting for rescue slowly faded because there was no chance of surviving the cold. Her jumbled thoughts filled her head. Surprisingly, thest thing that slipped into her mind was Callum¡¯s face. Even the things he had done were still stinging her. ¡°Callum¡­¡± On the other hand, he was having dinner with Ophelia when he received a stranger¡¯s call. Figuring that it was a scam call, he shrugged it off. However, the phone rang again and longer this time, so he answered the call in the end. The girl on the other side of the line cried while pleading for help. As soon as he grasped the whole situation, he terminated the call to go to the bar. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? We¡¯re halfway through our meal, Callum.¡± Ophelia was flustered. ¡°Something came up. I must go.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s been a long time since we had a meal together. Why can¡¯t you stay a little longer?¡± The tenacious woman was not willing to let him go. ¡°I gotta save someone.¡± Callum¡¯s answer stunned her momentarily. ¡°Save who?¡± ¡°Elspeth.¡± He then ignored her to dash to Luna Bar. After searching almost every corner of the ce, he noticed the tightly shut door to the wine cer. Holding onto the chance of possibility, he booted the door to find Elspeth curling up in a corner. She was on the verge of losing consciousness. Her forlorn sight pierced his heart. ¡°Elspeth, wake up.¡± Someone¡¯s voice seeped into her mind. Elspeth slowly opened her eyes as she was told to. Looking at the man, she let out a soft chuckle. ¡°What¡¯s this? Why can I still see you when I¡¯m already dead?¡± Callum frowned. ¡°What¡¯s with the nonsense, Elspeth?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just curious. Why are you literally everywhere?¡± she muttered. ¡°Have I really fallen for you?¡± ¡°Stop talking. Save your breath.¡± He carried her to the hospital. Chapter 66 Chapter 66 Chapter 66 Condemnation As soon as Elspeth woke up, she found Callum sitting beside the bed. It seemed as if he had been waiting for a long time. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± She recalled being on the verge of freezing to death in the chiller. How did I make it out alive? ¡°Were you the one who saved me?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve just woken up, so you should take it easy. Rest up.¡± It was difficult to detect what he felt from his tone. He poured a ss of water and handed it to her. ¡°The doctor said you should stay in bed for the next few days. Call me if you need anything. Don¡¯t try to tough it out and handle everything by yourself.¡± Although he sounded stern and reprimanding, he did save Elspeth, so her resistance toward him eased a fair bit. Thus, she did not argue with him and drank the water with a nod. After a while, she could not resist asking, ¡°So, how on earth did you find me anyway? Did you nt a bug on me?¡± Callum¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°What do you mean I nted a bug?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t call you for help, so how did you know where to find me?¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°A woman called and told me you got into trouble at Luna Bar. She asked me toe and save you.¡± The wheels in Elspeth¡¯s head started spinning, and Lydia was the first person that came to mind. She must¡¯ve figured out my identity based on the name card. Then, she got in touch with thepany¡¯s customer service to ask for the president¡¯s number. That¡¯s how she managed to contact Callum. She seems pretty quick-witted! Elspeth¡¯s heart grew warm, and she could not help but smile faintly. ¡°Why are you smiling? You¡¯re hopelessly foolish, so much so that you¡¯d run into the chiller and allow yourself to get locked in.¡± There was a trace of reproach in Callum¡¯s voice. She rolled her eyes. ¡°I was just doing the right thing, okay? It¡¯s mypelling responsibility to rescue young girls from the sea of misery and help lost girls find their ways in life.¡± Look at her making it sound so righteous and grand. He felt an inexplicable sense of dness to see her back to her usual, joking self. Their rtionship became a lot more harmonious after everything that happened today. Later, Callum went to see Margot for a bit, so Elspeth continued resting in bed alone. All of a sudden, someone knocked on her door. ¡°Elspeth, you won¡¯t be displeased that I¡¯m here to see you, right?¡± Her smile froze when she realized it was Ophelia. ¡°What do you want?¡± Elspeth was not in the mood to chat with her. Ophelia¡¯s eyes began to water as she took in Elspeth¡¯s indifference. ¡°Elspeth, I¡¯m truly just here to visit you. Can you not be this fierce toward me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s one thing for you to put on this facade in front of others, but there¡¯s only the two of us now. You don¡¯t have to keep this up in front of me.¡± However, it seemed as if Ophelia did not understand what Elspeth meant. Her head remained lowered as she said, ¡°It¡¯s not an act, Elspeth. I just came to see you. I truly want to get along with you, so that¡¯s why¡ª¡± ¡°How are you gonna exin what happened with the mealst time?¡± Get along with me, huh? Is that what you meant by trying to knock me down a peg within the first three days of your return? ¡°About that¡­ I didn¡¯t know either. I was in the washroom when I suddenly remembered that Mrs. Winthrop shouldn¡¯t be eating those foods, so that¡¯s why I got so agitated. I wasn¡¯t trying to me you or criticize you for anything.¡± What a perfectly logical and understandable exnation. I¡¯m almost inclined to believe her. Elspeth smirked. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re up to now, but remember this: don¡¯t try to cross me again. Or else, I won¡¯t let you go.¡± Ophelia did not raise her head, but her eyes shed viciously. Suddenly, she raised her hand and pped herself hard. The p was so loud and heavy that even Elspeth was startled. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. Here. I pped myself to make it up to you. Elspeth, I came here today to make amends so that everyone thinks better of me. I¡¯m not trying to do anything else.¡± She wept. ¡°I know Callum likes you. I wouldn¡¯t dream of trying to take him away from you.¡± Elspeth could not help butugh at her act. ¡°What now? Are you trying to make a scene and let Callum see how much of a bully I am toward you?¡± Ophelia hid her face as tears streamed down her face. It was as if she was the most pitiful person in the world. ¡°That¡¯s not true, Elspeth. I¡¯d never even thought of that.¡± Now that the time was right, Ophelia did not waste any more words. ¡°I¡¯ll leave now. Take good care of yourself.¡± ¡°Door¡¯s that way.¡± Not long after she left, Elspeth was just about to close her eyes and nap when Margot and Ophelia came marching into the room. As soon as Margot entered, she snapped. ¡°What¡¯s going on, Elspeth? Did you p Ophelia?¡± Elspeth looked at Ophelia with an amused expression. ¡°I didn¡¯t p her, Mrs. Winthrop. She did it herself.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Why would Ophelia p herself for no reason?¡± Naturally, Margot did not believe Elspeth. Her heart was aching at the bright red p mark on Ophelia¡¯s fair face. She promised Ophelia¡¯s mother that she would take good care of her daughter, so she could not sit idly now that something like this happened. ¡°In that case, why would I p her no good reason, Mrs. Winthrop?¡± This question stumped Margot as well. She has a point. Seeing that Elspeth was about to clear her name, Ophelia stepped in. ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, Elspeth didn¡¯t do anything wrong. She just doesn¡¯t like me very much because I did something bad to her. She hasn¡¯t forgiven me yet, so I deserve this¡­¡± In other words, Ophelia was iming that Elspeth was a small-minded and mean-spirited person who still had not forgiven her for the incident a while back. That was why Elspeth pped her. Margot¡¯s fury swelled up again as she started condemning Elspeth. ¡°I know what Ophelia did to you was wrong, but she¡¯s not a bad person at heart. It¡¯s just that she liked Callum too much. She told me she¡¯ll let you have Callum. Can¡¯t you see that she has already changed? Why can¡¯t you forgive her?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t forgive her, of course. In fact, I¡¯ll never forgive her,¡± Elspeth dered without a doubt. ¡°I will never allow a woman like you to marry Callum!¡± Margot fumed. ¡°You¡¯re so heartless that you won¡¯t even forgive a young girl!¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough. If you still think I did it, then I can show you the evidence.¡± Elspeth pointed at the surveince camera in the corner of the ceiling and said with a smile, ¡°This hospital has surveince cameras in all its rooms. If you still suspect me, why don¡¯t you ask the hospital to let you take a look at the footage and see for yourself who did the pping?¡± That alone was enough to prove that Elspeth did not have a guilty conscience. Therefore, Margot became confused. Does this mean it wasn¡¯t Elspeth who pped Ophelia? ¡°Ophelia¡­¡± She turned to Ophelia, who squirmed a little awkwardly. Then, Ophelia quickly began to exin, ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, I¡­ Yes, I pped myself, but I just wanted to receive Elspeth¡¯s forgiveness¡­¡± She lowered her head as her eyes filled with aggrieved tears that threatened to spill. Chapter 67 Chapter 67 Chapter 67 Help Margot shot Ophelia a look of admonishment. You should¡¯ve told me so. Now, you made me misunderstand Elspeth. ¡°But¡­ she doesn¡¯t like me. I have no idea what to do. That was the only way to make her feel better.¡± Ophelia bit her lip. ¡°Still, she wouldn¡¯t forgive me.¡± She put on a victim act, trying to garner sympathy from Margot. And it worked! She¡¯s not lying. A sigh escaped Margot¡¯s lips. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have beaten yourself up. That must¡¯ve hurt, you silly girl.¡± Elspeth arched her eyebrow. Gosh. She perfected the art of faking. Look at her, all frail and vulnerable. ¡°If that is all, you should leave. Get some rest, Mrs. Winthrop. You shouldn¡¯t walk around too much,¡± said Elspeth coolly. She wanted them off. Things were awkward for Margot, so she did not argue. Her prejudice led to a misunderstanding, then this mess happened. Now that Elspeth was chasing them off, she could only take Ophelia and leave. Elspeth was about to take a nap, but not too longter, someone knocked again. ¡°Come in.¡± A frightened Lydia entered carefully and looked at Elspeth with guilt in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Elspeth. This is my fault. None of this would¡¯ve happened if I hadn¡¯t insisted on going to work.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. I offered my help and only got into this mess because I was careless. Don¡¯t beat yourself up over it.¡± Elspeth grinned. At least she owns up to her mistakes. ¡°Oh, right.¡± She took out the silver ring and handed it to Elspeth. ¡°I don¡¯t want to work at the bar anymore. Can you help me out?¡± She looked at Elspeth with anticipation in her eyes. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Elspeth paused for a moment, then nodded with a smile. ¡°Of course.¡± She whipped out her already prepared gold card and handed it to Lydia. ¡°There¡¯s about three hundred grand in there. PIN code¡¯s the first six numbers of my phone number. Come to me if you need more money. You know where to find me.¡± Lydia held the card tightly, tears glistening in her eyes. ¡°Thank you, Elspeth. I¡¯ll pay you back, I promise.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. I don¡¯t need it. Just promise me you¡¯ll focus on your studies, and don¡¯t go to the bar. Any bar.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± She stared at the ground and muttered, ¡°But my mother still needs a suitable bone marrow. I don¡¯t know where to find one for her.¡± ¡°Leave it to me.¡± She called Harper and asked him to find a matching bone marrow for Lydia¡¯s mother. He worked fast and returned with results half an hourter. Plus, the donor was close by. ¡°Alright. Your mother¡¯s surgery will happen in about half an hour.¡± Filled with delight, Lydia gushed. ¡°Really? Half an hour?¡± ¡°Yes, and she¡¯ll have the best surgeon, I promise. I won¡¯t let anything happen to her.¡± Lydia kneeled. ¡°Thank you, Elspeth. I-I don¡¯t know how to thank you. Just tell me if you need anything. I¡¯ll do anything for you.¡± Elspeth patted Lydia¡¯s head with a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. Just go to your mother.¡± Lydia nodded and left the room wiping her tears away. Alright, I made a promise, so I have to go through with it. Elspeth called Arthur, hoping he would do the operation. He might be young, but he was the most prominent doctor in the hospital, and he had talent far beyond most veteran doctors. He was a genius, so to speak. ¡°But what do I get from helping her mother?¡± He was smiling, but she noticed the underlying demand. ¡°Just a little help. Not like it¡¯d kill you. Can¡¯t you do something good for once?¡± Arthur coolly asked, ¡°And why should I do good?¡± ¡°Fine. Suit yourself.¡± She hung up. It¡¯s not like there aren¡¯t any other doctors who can help. Yet, before they could even go through with the surgery, Lydia made a sudden call and sobbed, ¡°Elspeth, the doctor said my mother¡¯s bleeding seriously. She¡¯s going to die!¡± ¡°What?¡± The first thought that went through Elspeth¡¯s mind was that Arthur did it. However, she soon denied the idea. They had an emergency, and nobody in the hospital could help. She had no choice but to make the trip to his hospital. ¡°Can you save her mother?¡± she pleaded. ¡°I told you that you need to give me a reason to.¡± He leaned over and stared at her, smiling. ¡°What do you want? Just tell me.¡± She was staring at him as well. Suddenly, she realized she might not have known Arthur at all. He wasn¡¯t like this. He was kind and friendly, but now? Now, he¡¯s nothing but a scummy businessman. ¡°I¡­¡± He heaved a deep breath. ¡°I want you.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Her eyes widened. He would not tell her the real answer, of course. Instead, he smiled. ¡°I like you. Probably longer than Callum did.¡± ¡°You said you never liked me. Dating me was going to be hard for you.¡± Elspeth wondered what was going on in his mind. Weird. He doesn¡¯t like me, but he still tries to get his hands on me. Love welled in Arthur¡¯s eyes. Not for her, but for something else. Yet, he said, ¡°Of course, I like you. I was just answering your questionsst time. Didn¡¯t tell you my real answer.¡± Ever since he found out Sonny was her mentor, he liked Elspeth even more. If he could get his hands on her, he could also use all the connections she had. It¡¯d be great for me, but I have to take this slow. If I make one wrong move, she¡¯ll know what I¡¯m after. I need to make her fall for me. Hard. Slow. ¡°I can ept any condition, just not that.¡± She had no feelings for Arthur, so the prospect of dating him was a nightmare for her. ¡°But that¡¯s the only thing I want.¡± He stretched his arms. ¡°Think about it, but just a reminder¡ªyou don¡¯t have much time. The girl¡¯s mother will die soon. Tick-tock.¡± Then, he smiled, much to Elspeth¡¯s chagrin. She felt anger coursing through her veins and spat. ¡°I thought you were a doctor. This is not how a doctor should act.¡± Chapter 68 Chapter 68 Chapter 68 Pretend to Be Together ¡°I¡¯m first and foremost a human being, then a doctor. It¡¯s normal for people to have desires, including me.¡± Elspeth¡¯s phone suddenly went off and vibrated violently. The word ¡®Lydia¡¯ appeared on her screen. She took a deep breath and caved in. ¡°Okay. I agree to your terms.¡± C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. ¡°You¡¯d better not n to renege on your words after the surgery ispleted because her mother would need at least three more months of treatment after the surgery.¡± She shot him a cold stare. ¡°Okay, I get it. Go on!¡± ¡°Aw, be nice. After all, I¡¯m now considered your boyfriend, so you should be nicer toward me.¡± Arthur stretched and rose to his feet. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll head over andplete the surgery. Be a good girl and wait for me toe out.¡± He pinched her cheeks and left with a smile. Almost immediately, Elspeth rubbed her face hard with her hands, feeling utterly disgusted. Since she needed a favor from him, she could not possibly reject his request. She had put in too much effort to rescue Lydia¡¯s mother to lead everything into disappointment in the end. Subsequently, Elspeth headed over to the operating theater and waited outside. Lydia was sobbing hard, so she reached out to take Lydia into her arms and gingerlyforted her by telling her that everything would be fine. ¡°My mom wouldn¡¯t bear to leave me, right?¡± ¡°She would never do that. She would always be by your side.¡± The surgery went on for nearly ten hours. When Arthur finally came out of the operating theater, night had fallen, and the streets were brightly lit. He was dressed in his white coat, and despite having a face mask, his exhausted face was evident. ¡°The surgery has ended. It was sessful, so there is no need to worry,¡± he reported the good news to Lydia with a smile. As soon as Elspeth saw the smile on her face, she immediately felt a huge relief wash over her. ¡°Elspeth,e with me to the office.¡± Arthur turned his head and directed a deep look at her. ¡°Sure.¡± The two of them walked into his office as he changed out of his white coat and donned his normal attire. Hereafter, he suddenly grabbed her hand. She jolted in fright from his sudden move, and instinctively, she could not contain the urge to fling his hand off her. ¡°What are you doing?¡± He frowned slightly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? We¡¯re in a rtionship right now, aren¡¯t we? Why can¡¯t I hold your hand?¡± She clenched her teeth vehemently. ¡°There is no need to rush things.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get used to this in no time. Besides, it¡¯s not a big deal, so rx.¡± Elspeth tried her best to suppress her anger and finally managed to stop herself from swinging his hand off. The couple walked hand-in-hand out of the room and ended up bumping into Callum, who was here to see Arthur. ¡°You guys¡­¡± Callum nced at their intertwined hands as anger simmered within him. Noticing his turbulent emotion, Arthur became full of smiles. ¡°Callum, we¡¯re about to have some supper. Would you like to join us?¡± The words that he spoke were meant to be provoking, so Callum¡¯s expression instantly darkened significantly. ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship?¡± Elspeth remained silent by the side while Arthur tightened his grip on her slightly and waved their hands in front of Callum. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Callum? Can¡¯t you tell from this?¡± At that point, it was no longer possible to rify the situation. At first, she had no idea how to exin things to Callum anyway, and now that she saw his death stare, she found it even harder toe up with the words to say. ¡°You two should enjoy yourselves, then.¡± As for Arthur, he revealed a smug look. ¡°We sure will. We¡¯ll try our best to make it home tonight.¡± Try¡­ At that moment, Callum¡¯s expression was thunderous. He curled his palm tightly into a fist. ¡°Enough. I thought you wanted to get some supper. Let¡¯s go.¡± Elspeth tugged on Arthur¡¯s sleeve and gestured for him to leave this awkward scene as soon as possible. ¡°Sure. Callum, we¡¯ll make a move now.¡± With that, Callum watched as Arthur left hand-in-hand with Elspeth. As soon as the couple walked out of the door, she immediately threw his hand aside. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you mad?¡± Arthur nced at Elspeth, who seemed to be suppressing her anger, yet his smile remained. ¡°I know you¡¯re in love with Callum, but you¡¯re now my girlfriend, so you shouldn¡¯t lose your temper at me because of some other man.¡± It was then she felt that she had made the wrong decision to seek help from him earlier. ¡°Arthur, do you truly feel happy behaving this way?¡± ¡°Yes, I do.¡± He had some goals he wanted to achieve, so he was indeed happy to be able to make progress. ¡°What¡¯s your point of doing all these? There is no way that things would work out between the two of us.¡± However, he did not care about all this. ¡°I think I have the confidence to make you fall for me within three months.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡± Does he take me as an easy woman? Fall for him within three months? More like hating him to the core within three months. ¡°Let me try.¡± Elspeth took a step backward. ¡°I told you there is no way I would fall for you, so you¡¯d better give up. That¡¯s all for today. I¡¯m not hungry, so enjoy your supper yourself.¡± ¡°Come with me. You¡¯re aware of the consequences if I get upset, right?¡± Arthur knew she was trying to find a way to get away from him and did not want to let her have her way. ¡°I¡¯m a patient and have been feeling poorly for the past few days. The doctor strongly rmended me to be on bed rest, so I can¡¯t help the situation.¡± He lifted his brows. ¡°I¡¯m a doctor.¡± ¡°Arthur Winthrop, there is a limit to my patience!¡± As soon as he saw that she was about to lose her temper, he realized he should stop because the situation could backfire if he went too far. As such, he shrugged andpromised. ¡°You should head back and get some rest, then. I¡¯ll have supper by myself.¡± Immediately, Elspeth felt a wave of relief upon gaining freedom. She was about to return to her room for rest when she was suddenly startled by a figure standing by the entrance. She could vaguely make out a flickering me in the distance. She reined in her emotions and walked over to take a closer look. However, she was stunned in ce. Is that Callum? The man had a cigarette in between his fingers, and the lights flickered faintly. Under the night skies, the lit-up cigarette butt was eye-catching. ¡°Callum, why are you¡ª¡± As far as she could remember, he never smoked. ¡°I need a smoke break. I¡¯ll head back soon.¡± She was unsure why she felt apprehensive, but she voiced out instinctively, ¡°Are you unhappy?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got nothing to be unhappy about. On the contrary, I think it¡¯s great that you¡¯ve entered into a rtionship with Arthur.¡± Hearing those words secretly hurt Elspeth a little. ¡°So, you think it¡¯s good news, then?¡± She tried her best to muster up a smile. ¡°Fine. Your wish shall be granted.¡± Elspeth turned on her heels and was about to head up the stairs when Callum suddenly pressed her against the wall. He held her firmly around her waist, and the burning rage in his eyes nearly consumed her. ¡°Can¡¯t you tell I don¡¯t mean those words at all, Elspeth?¡± Facing him, she felt her heart skip a beat and could not quite exin her feelings. She nced at the usuallyposed Callum behaving so out of control and confessed, ¡°I have my reasons.¡± ¡°What made you so willing to be with him? Elspeth, you¡¯re not someone who¡¯s so easily threatened.¡± The anger in his voice was unmistakable. ¡°I have my reasons¡ªthat¡¯s it. Of course, though, I won¡¯t actually date him. As soon as the timing¡¯s right, I¡¯m done with him.¡± In response, Callum¡¯s expression turned cold. ¡°And when is that right timing?¡± Chapter 69 Chapter 69 Chapter 69 Stay Away from Callum Admittedly, he could not tolerate this even for a minute. ¡°He¡¯s got something against me, so I need to endure this for the next two days.¡± Elspeth lifted her head. She was not sure why she was exining things to Callum, but as she was confronted with his current state, she inexplicably felt guilty. ¡°What does he have?¡± ¡°Previously, I helped that young girl to save her mom, and now, Callum is using this to threaten me. That¡¯s why I need to transfer her mom out of the hospital before I break up with him. Otherwise, I¡¯m worried he¡¯ll do something to her.¡± Elspeth had already nned everything, and all she had to do was send him away on a pretext. Then, she could organize the transfer to a different hospital. Afterpleting all that, she would then break up with Arthur right away. ¡°I¡¯ll help you,¡± Callum said out of instinct. ¡°I can manage by myself.¡± She revealed an awkward expression as she looked at him. With a smile, she asked, ¡°Callum, have you¡­ fallen for me?¡± This time, he was not in a hurry to deny it but stared at her intently. ¡°I have to admit that I¡¯ve fallen for you indeed.¡± Shocked, Elspeth did not expect him toe clean so frankly. ¡°Callum, you¡¯ve fallen for me?¡± He took a step forward and lifted her chin gently. ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯ve fallen for you, so I don¡¯t want you to be with him.¡± He had originally thought that his feelings for Elspeth were barely there and might even be nonexistent. However, he did not expect the turbulent emotions that arose within him upon seeing her with someone else. He experienced jealousy, sadness, and confusion. It was quite a while since he had experienced such complicated emotions. ¡°What about you? How do you feel about me?¡± Callum did not let her off the hook but pursued the topic relentlessly. At that moment, Elspeth was taken aback. She had been wondering about this in her mind for some time, but she persistently refused to admit it. She parted her lips as she attempted to say something, but suddenly, a ring light shone at them. ¡°Stop making noise in the corridor and return to your rooms.¡± Elspeth looked down and noticed they were currently in an intimate position. Furthermore, they were caught ¡®red-handed¡¯, so her face immediately flushed pink before she shoved Callum aside and left. Ophelia, who was hiding by the corner, overheard their entire conversation. She never expected to encounter such a situation just bying over to see Callum. She was just about to rejoice that Elspeth had started dating Arthur, but she did not expect Callum to confess his feelings to Elspeth! At that point, she panicked. After all, if Elspeth broke up with Arthur, it would not take long for Elspeth to be with Callum. I¡¯ll never allow this to happen! As Ophelia realized this, she unlocked her phone to find Arthur¡¯s phone number before dialing it. In the meantime, he was drinking at a pub, so he sent his geolocation to her and requested a meetup. Once she arrived at the pub, she saw Arthur enjoying his drink and appeared to be lost in thought. Of course, there was no way of knowing what was on his mind. ¡°Arthur, I came to see you today because I have something to discuss with you.¡± He lifted his brows quizzically. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Ophelia noticed he did not seem to get it, so she clenched her teeth and said, ¡°I wanna team up with you.¡± He revealed a slight sneer. She¡¯s risen to the bait. ¡°Team up on?¡± ¡°Callum is in love with Elspeth. Are you aware of that?¡± She kept her eyes on Arthur¡¯s face but noticed no change in his expression, so she continued, ¡°Most importantly, Elspeth is also in love with Callum, so if the two of them date, it would be disadvantageous to us.¡± She was betting on the fact that Arthur had something going on with Elspeth. ¡°Elspeth is now my girlfriend, so I¡¯m not worried about that.¡± He remained disinterested in teaming up with her. ¡°But then, I just overheard her saying something about transferring hospitals and breaking up. Are you sure you guys wouldst long together?¡± As soon as he heard that, his expression instantly darkened. ¡°What did you overhear exactly?¡± She continued her sentence only after noticing that he had some reaction to the news. ¡°I think you should reconsider teaming up with me. By doing so, both of us would be able to achieve what we¡¯re after.¡± She was after Callum, while Arthur wanted Elspeth for himself, so it would undoubtedly be a win-win situation if they teamed up. Naturally, he revealed a smirk by then. ¡°Since you¡¯ve spoken, then¡­ let¡¯s work well together.¡± He slowly stretched out his hand as Ophelia revealed a faint smile and sealed the deal. The following morning, an uninvited guest turned up in Elspeth¡¯s ward. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . She nced at the woman, who had a slight resemnce to Ophelia, and somehow, she was wary of the guest. ¡°You are?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Ophelia¡¯s mother, and my name is Grace.¡± She had a naturally elegant air to her and was full of poise as she articted herself. ¡°May I know the reason for your visit today?¡± Elspeth was unsure why Grace came over to see her, but she had a bad premonition upon seeing her confident smile. After all, a person who had brought up a daughter like Ophelia was surely a challenging person to deal with. ¡°I¡¯m here because of Ophelia. I realize that she hasmitted a lot of mistakes in the past and caused plenty of emotional damage to you. However, that¡¯s all because she¡¯s too infatuated with Callum. You should be aware that the Winthrops and Flemings have been family friends since ages ago, so they grew up in each other¡¯spany. Everyone hopes that the two of them will tie the knot with each other. However, ever since your appearance in Callum¡¯s life, he has no longer paid much attention to Ophelia, so¡­¡± Grace had made things clear, so if Elspeth continued to feign ignorance, it would be pretty evident that she was acting dumb. ¡°So, does that mean you hope I¡¯ll stay away from Callum and give your daughter a chance with him?¡± She went straight to the point and pointed out Grace¡¯s intention. The woman revealed a smirk. ¡°I know you¡¯re an intelligent woman, Miss Lynwood. Nheless, I won¡¯t let you suffer any losses. How about this? You can have however much you want as long as you stay away from Callum. Our family would be happy to pay any amount you seek.¡± Any amount? ¡°I would like to have the entire Fleming Group. How does that sound to you?¡± Elspeth immediately asked for an exorbitant sum while Grace¡¯s expression stiffened slightly upon hearing that. ¡°Miss Lynwood, I¡¯m here quite sincerely to discuss this so we cane to a mutual understanding. Feel free to mention a reasonable figure.¡± She ran a hand through her hair and continued, ¡°After all, I¡¯m doing this purely for the sake of my child, so I trust that you should be able to understand my feelings as a mother.¡± Elspeth took her time to respond, ¡°But then, do you know about Callum¡¯s first love? Even if I were out of the picture, he would not fall for Ophelia either. Don¡¯t you think they would never work out?¡± Unexpectedly, though, Grace¡¯s smile deepened upon hearing her words. ¡°That happened when he was young and immature. I don¡¯t think anyone would remember their puppy love back when they were a kid. Besides, Ophelia studied abroad, so she didn¡¯t even get the chance to interact with him. Therefore, it would be normal for him to fall for someone else.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re intent on getting rid of me, then.¡± Chapter 70 Chapter 70 Chapter 70 Mr. Winthrop¡¯s Pursuit ¡°I¡¯m not trying to get rid of you. I¡¯m just giving you advice so that you consider this carefully. I don¡¯t want you to make a decision you¡¯ll regret. You¡¯re quite youthful, youngdy. There are plenty of great guys in this world, so why are you fixated on Callum?¡± As soon as Grace finished her words, a stern male voice suddenly rang out from the door. ¡°She isn¡¯t the one who¡¯s fixated on me. I¡¯m the one who has fallen for her.¡± Callum wore a solemn look as he nced at Grace, who was trying to convince Elspeth to give him up. Somehow, he could not contain the burning rage within him. ¡°Callum, you¡¯re here¡­¡± She realized that he must have heard something, so she became embarrassed. Meanwhile, Elspeth found it hard to describe theplicated feelings within her upon hearing his words. The tips of her ears turned rosy. ¡°From now on, please don¡¯t approach Elspeth. My feelings for her are entirely my business. With or without her, I would never fall for Ophelia, so there is no point in you trying to convince Elspeth.¡± Callum maintained a protective stance before Elspeth and exuded a cold, distant aura. Grace saw his besotted look, and her hatred for Elspeth intensified. ¡°Your mom would never give your blessings.¡± She no longer put up a gentle and kind facade as she directly delivered some harsh words. ¡°You would only be allowed to marry Ophelia.¡± At that moment, he revealed a mocking smile. ¡°It¡¯s up to me on whom I marry, for it¡¯s my life. My mom can¡¯t do anything.¡± ¡°Fine. If that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s see how things end up.¡± Grace got up angrily and left by mming the door after her. ¡°It¡¯s not that nice of you to offend her this way¡­¡± Elspeth noticed Grace¡¯s fury, gradually feeling uneasy. ¡°I think it¡¯s quite likely that she¡¯ll see Mrs. Winthrop soon.¡± However, Callum was unfussed. He helped to tuck her into bed instead. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll always be by your side.¡± Since his impulsive confession, he was no longer the same person before, and she found it hard to resist his tenderness. ¡°Okay.¡± He parted his lips and attempted to continue the conversation fromst night, but someone pushed open the door once again. This time, it was Ophelia. She saw the two of them in an intimate position and felt her heart ache badly. However, she maintained herposure. ¡°Elspeth, how are you feeling? Does it still hurt?¡± ¡°Miss Fleming, it¡¯s none of your business.¡± ¡°Callum, she still isn¡¯t fond of me till now¡­¡± Ophelia had intended to put on an aggrieved act to cause conflict between the couple, but unexpectedly, he did not even bother to cast eyes on her this time. ¡°Elspeth needs rest, so why don¡¯t you leave the room first?¡± At that moment, Ophelia could not contain her burning jealousy upon seeing Callum stand up for Elspeth so openly. She was tempted to rip Elspeth to shreds, but she knew she could not reveal the slightest feelings toward him. ¡°Callum, I¡¯m just here to visit Elspeth. I won¡¯t be disruptive¡ª¡± ¡°Miss Fleming, you¡¯ve done enough.¡± Elspeth sneered and shot a warning look at her. Not expecting the two to gang up on her, Ophelia was caught by surprise for a moment before bursting into tears. Yet, she noticed the impatience and annoyance in Callum¡¯s eyes, so she did not dare to continue her outburst. Finally, she had no choice but to wipe her tears as she ran out of the room. ¡°Callum, you¡¯ve scared her.¡± Elspeth stroked her chin and stared at his face with a wide smile. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why do you seempletely different from before? Aren¡¯t you the one who came at mest time?¡± ¡°She was quite disruptive.¡± He massaged the spot between his eyes. Previously, he had done that purposely for Elspeth to notice and catch her reaction. After all, she was the one who had be entangled with Jordan first. ¡°So, how do you feel about this?¡± asked Callum solemnly as he supported himself by cing his palms against the bed. ¡°You were the one who confessed your feelings to me, right?¡± Elspeth did not answer his question but asked him a different one. Taken aback momentarily, he seemed to be oblivious to her reason for asking this. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°That means you¡¯d have to pursue me.¡± He frowned at that. ¡°Pursue you? Why?¡± ¡°Because you like me, and I have yet to reciprocate.¡± Elspeth had already considered the situation carefully. After all, Callum had given her a hard time repeatedly, so it was now her chance to give him a taste of his medicine. ¡°I¡¯ve never pursued anyone.¡± This was a blind area of knowledge to him. Ostensibly, she did not believe his words. ¡°You¡¯ve never pursued anyone? How can that be possible? You¡¯ve been in rtionships in the past, haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°She was the one who confessed, and I was interested in her too, so we ended up together just like that.¡± As soon as Elspeth heard that, she was much more excited than before and revealed a cunning smile. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m the first person that Mr. Winthrop fell in love with on his own ord. Come to think of that. It¡¯s something that I should feel proud of.¡± ¡°So?¡± ¡°So, I give you permission to pursue me.¡± At that moment, Callum felt a slight headache looming, but seeing her smile, he was resigned to things. ¡°Okay, I got it.¡± She could not help bursting into peals ofughter noticing his torn expression. ¡°I honestly didn¡¯t expect you to have any other expressions besides indifference, disdain, and annoyance.¡± Suddenly, he approached her and pinched her on the chin. Then, he revealed his usual indifferent countenance. ¡°Come again.¡± She was momentarily shocked. ¡°F-Forget it.¡± ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. After all, a wise man knew better than to fight when the odds were against them. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll head back to thepany for a meeting. You should get some rest.¡± Callum let go of his hand and took a few steps backward to grant her a safe spot. ¡°Okay.¡± After he left, Elspeth dialed Harper¡¯s number. ¡°Are you there?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Miss Lynwood? Did you encounter any troubles?¡± ¡°Did Azure Corporation invest some shares in Trident Hospital?¡± Harper was not sure why she suddenly brought up the hospital, so he asked perplexedly, ¡°Yes, Miss Lynwood. Are you unwell? Why did you ask me about the hospital?¡± ¡°I want to transfer a young girl¡¯s mother to our hospital, so I need you to contact the hospital director.¡± Though Harper was confused, he immediately handled her request. After Elspeth hung up the phone, she powered on herputer and hacked into this current hospital¡¯s secure gateway before essing the internalwork. Next, she tried to locate Lydia¡¯s mother¡¯s details and nned to secretly shift the information without anyone¡¯s knowledge. However, she took quite some time to search for the information but failed to locate anything on Lydia¡¯s mother. What¡¯s wrong? Could it be¡­ Suddenly, she had a bad feeling. No. I must be overthinking it. She logged out of the internalwork and decided to head over to the Information Department of the hospital directly to gain the details. However, she was stopped by Arthur at the entrance to the department. ¡°Elspeth, where are you going?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just taking a stroll.¡± She stretched and acted nonchnt. ¡°Taking a stroll at the Information Department? Elspeth, you¡¯re quite the explorer, huh?¡± Undoubtedly, he did not believe her nonsense and was aware of her intentions ofing over. However, he knew it was not time for him to expose her, for he wanted her to remain unaware. ¡°Anyway, everything¡¯s fine. If you¡¯ve got nothing else to tell me, I¡¯ll head back to my room for a nap.¡± Elspeth chuckled and turned around to leave. Chapter 71 Chapter 71 Chapter 71 Fake Information ¡°Hey, where are you going? I¡¯m your boyfriend. Shouldn¡¯t you be apanying me?¡± Arthur was unwilling to let her slip away, so he grabbed her wrist and whispered in her ear. Elspeth felt an inexplicable sense of difort when he touched her, so she struggled to get away but failed. ¡°Arthur, you know that I don¡¯t like you, and why I chose to be with you.¡± Unable to break free, she stared coldly at him. ¡°I know. That¡¯s why I¡¯m trying to win your heart.¡± He leaned into her ear and chuckled. ¡°Elspeth, don¡¯t try to anger me. Otherwise, even I don¡¯t know what I might do to you.¡± She looked at the madman before her. ¡°What happened to you, Arthur? When did you be so extreme?¡± He looked at her disbelievingly and smiled. ¡°Have you ever thought of the possibility that this is the real me?¡± Stunned, Elspeth could not figure out what caused a young man who grew up in a happy family to be like this. ¡°Alright, then. Let¡¯s not talk about this anymore. You didn¡¯t hang with mest time, so you can¡¯t reject me this time.¡± He took her hand and was about to bring her out when his phone suddenly rang. He was called for emergency surgery because one of the patient¡¯s conditions worsened and needed immediate surgery. ¡°Well, it seems like we can¡¯t go out this time either,¡± Arthur eximed regretfully while Elspeth felt relieved. ¡°You should hurry up. Don¡¯t keep the patient waiting.¡± A rxed smile appeared on her face as she waved goodbye. ¡°Don¡¯t get too excited, Elspeth. I can finish that small operation within two hours.¡± Once Arthur was gone, a person happened to enter the Information Department and left the door ajar. As such, Elspeth took the opportunity to sneak inside while no one was looking. Now that Arthur was caught up in surgery, she had ample time to find the needed information. Where would they keep the file? Quietly and carefully avoiding the person inside, she hid behind a bookcase, waiting for the person to grab the file and leave beforeing out of her hiding spot. There were more than a dozen bookcases, and Elspeth had no idea where to begin looking for the file on Lydia¡¯s mom. She had only looked through a few cupboards and found one hour had passed. With her current efficiency, she had a slim chance of finding that file. She sighed and was about to leave when she suddenly noticed that the files in the bookcases seemed to be arranged in some sort of pattern. The first ten bookcases were organized by letters, while the rest were organized ording tost names. Elspeth¡¯s eyes lit up as she instantly knew where to locate the file she needed. However, she had gone through every possible bookcase but still to no avail. If my guess is right, the file is inside Arthur¡¯s office. Seems like he has discovered my n. Afterward, she cleaned up her mess and exited the Information Department before heading into Arthur¡¯s office to search for the file. Time passed quickly, and it had been two hours since he left. She still had not found the hospitalization record for Lydia¡¯s mom. ¡°Are you looking for this?¡± A voice sounded from above Elspeth, who looked up in shock and saw Arthur smiling with a file in his hand. ¡°Yes.¡± She looked at him and frowned. ¡°Arthur, I¡¯ve said it time and again. I don¡¯t like you, so stop giving me a hard time.¡± ¡°But all I want is you.¡± He went over and trapped her between him and his desk after cing the file aside. Being suddenly surrounded by the smell of orchids gave Elspeth a strange feeling. ¡°They say orchids symbolize elegance. Do you think your actions fit that description?¡± His gaze turned frosty as he said that. ¡°What are you trying to say? That I¡¯m not worthy of you, but the merciless Callum is?¡± She could vividly feel Arthur¡¯s disgust and rejection toward Callum. ¡°He isn¡¯t like that.¡± ¡°All of you have been tricked by him, so you naturally couldn¡¯t see through his disguise.¡± Feeling Arthur¡¯s grip loosened, Elspeth took the chance while he was in a daze and stomped on his foot. ¡°Ouch!¡± The pain made him jump away, and she quickly took the file and sprinted out of the office, failing to see the wicked smile on his face. She ran back to her ward and locked the door to prevent Arthur froming after her. Following that, she turned on herptop and began uploading the documents for the transfer process, which went unbelievingly smoothly. After she was done, she called Lydia and asked that she pack up her mom¡¯s belongings so that they could transfer to another hospital at any moment. Lydia was unsure what was happening, but she fully trusted Elspeth because she had saved her mom. Soon, an opportunity arose. It waste at night, and Arthur was called for another surgery, so they had a considerable timeframe to help Lydia¡¯s mom transfer. Yet, before Elspeth arrived at the ward, she received a call from Lydia. ¡°Elspeth, something¡¯s gone wrong!¡± She was bawling her eyes out. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong with my mom. She began vomiting blood and passed out!¡± ¡°What? Did you call for a nurse?¡± ¡°I pressed the bell ten minutes ago, but nobody came. Elspeth, is my mom going to die?¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Elspeth¡¯s mind went nk as she realized the situation differed from how she imagined it. It seemed like the situation had gone out of hand. She instinctively wanted to call Arthur and question him about this but realized he was performing surgery and had turned off his phone. Therefore, she ran to the doctor¡¯s office and grabbed a random doctor. ¡°Doc, where are all the surgeons?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m not a surgeon¡­¡± She went around and asked several doctors but found all the surgeons on duty tonight had disappeared. Having no choice, she called the nearest hospital and asked for an ambnce. However, she was told that hospitals would not ept patients from other hospitals because they had no idea about the patient¡¯s conditions. In the end, her only choice was to call Callum. ¡°Wait for me. I¡¯ming over now.¡± He ran out of his mom¡¯s ward and rushed over. When he saw Elspeth¡¯s solemn countenance, he knew it was something serious. ¡°Let¡¯s head over to the ward. I¡¯ll bring Lydia¡¯s mom to the nearest hospital.¡± Chapter 72 Chapter 72 Nodding, Elspeth followed Callum to the ward Lydia¡¯s mom was in. Lydia was kneeling before the bed while crying for her mom. ¡°There, there. Don¡¯t cry. I¡¯ll bring your mom to another hospital.¡± Callum carried Lydia¡¯s mom on his back andid her down on the back seat of his car before speeding to another hospital with Lydia and Elspeth. The hospital refused at first butter hesitantly reasoned that it was against the hospital¡¯s policy after noticing the fury in Callum¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll give you three seconds to reconsider your decision. Are you going to save a life or lose your job?¡± Knowing the man standing before him was the renowned Callum Winthrop, the doctor spoke more gently. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, I¡ª¡± ¡°Three.¡± ¡°Okay, okay. I¡¯ll immediately send the patient to the emergency room, so please don¡¯t get angry.¡± The leading doctor waved his hand and beckoned the people behind him to send Lydia¡¯s mom to the Emergency Room. While Elspeth and the others waited outside, Lydia was tense as she kept pacing around anxiously while constantly ncing at the red sign above her. ¡°Lydia, you¡¯ve been staying up all night to take care of your mom. Come over and take a rest.¡± Elspeth felt distressed when she saw the dark circles under Lydia¡¯s eyes. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Elspeth. I want to wait for my mom.¡± Lydia shook her head and refused to sit down. The surgery took a long time. When the light above them went out, Elspeth¡¯s legs had gone numb from her sitting too long. Lydia immediately sobered up and sprinted to the operating theater door, anxiously waiting for the surgeon to A male doctor with sses came out and looked around, asking, ¡°Who is the patient¡¯s family member?¡± Hearing that, Lydia dashed over and said, ¡°Me. I am her daughter.¡± ¡°Sigh¡­ Unfortunately, the patient wasn¡¯t on the right meds after her previous surgery, which caused her to vomit out blood. Moreover, that particr medication has seriously damaged the patient¡¯s health, so¡­ I¡¯m sorry. We did everything we could.¡± Once the doctor finished talking, the atmosphere at the scene froze. A long whileter, Lydia¡¯s voice and body trembled while she spoke. ¡°She took the wrong medication? How could that be? The doctors personally brought her medication every time, and I watched her take them, so how could she have taken the wrong medication¡­ Doctor, are you trying to fool me?¡± Frowning, the doctor retorted, ¡°Please don¡¯t doubt a doctor¡¯s judgment. My condolences to you, and please remember to sign the notification of imminent death.¡± ¡°No, you¡¯re lying. How could my mom be dead?!¡± Lydia¡¯s emotions were out of control She couldn¡¯t believe that her mom would suddenly die after her painstaking efforts to save and care for her! Meanwhile, Elspeth also noticed something seemed off, and a bad feeling arose inside her Could Arthur be behind all of this? Elspeth quickly took out her phone to call Arthur, who finally picked up after she had made numerous calls. His voice sounded tired. ¡°Why are you looking for me?¡± ¡°Arthur, did you secretly change Lydia¡¯s mom¡¯s medication? Is that what caused her sudden death?¡± Shocked, Arthur asked, ¡°She¡¯s dead?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb with me. You better have a good exnation, or I¡¯ll never forgive you.¡± As Elspeth looked at the dazed Lydia sitting limply on the ground, she had the urge to kill the culprit. ¡°Elspeth, how can you use me? I have nothing against Lydia¡¯s mom, so why would I kill her? What¡¯s more, I intended to use her to keep you in check, so what good would I get if I killed her?¡± Though Arthur was able to exin himself, Elspeth didn¡¯t believe him. At that moment, Elspeth received a message from Harper, saying that the patient whom she transferred today wasn¡¯t Lydia¡¯s mom but a stranger with the same name. Elspeth felt her legs go soft as she tremulously used, ¡°Arthur, it was you. You killed Lydia¡¯s mom.¡± Baffled, Arthur thought the situation wasn¡¯t as simple as he had envisioned. ¡°I will never admit to things I didn¡¯t do.¡± After saying that, he hung up. He gave Elspeth the wrong file because he didn¡¯t want her to transfer the patient away that easily. Who exchanged the medication for Lydia¡¯s mom? Could it be¡­ He immediately figured it out and called Ophelia. ¡°Was it you?¡± Arthur¡¯s voice sounded furious. ¡°Was it you who changed the patient¡¯s medication? She¡¯s dead now!¡± ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. Ophelia covered her mouth while giggling. ¡°Arthur, what are you talking about? Who¡¯s dead?¡± ¡°Ophelia, I agreed to cooperate with you because I thought we had the same goal, but if I find out halfway that you¡¯ve tricked me, our cooperation will cease immediately.¡± Realizing that she had stepped out of line, Ophelia quickly reassured Arthur because she didn¡¯t want to lose such a capable ally. ¡°To be honest, it isn¡¯t that bad. You keep using that woman to keep Elspeth in check, and knowing Elspeth¡¯s personality, she will never forgive you for that. But if that woman¡¯s dead, though Elspeth might doubt you for some time, she will think she has wronged you after not finding any evidence. Maybeter, her guilt might turn into love, and she¡¯ll fall in love with you. Who knows?¡± Ophelia¡¯s words seemed reasonable, but Arthur still couldn¡¯t tolerate her stepping out of line. ¡°For now, I won¡¯t tell anyone about this incident, but if you ever do it again, I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯ll regret it.¡± As Ophelia didn¡¯t expect the usually gentle Arthur would make such a threat, she felt worried. ¡°Alright, Arthur. This is just ordinary medical malpractice, which can be solved by choosing a random nurse as the scapegoat. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± When Arthur heard that, he didn¡¯t feel like continuing this topic, so he hung up On the other hand, Elspeth was certain that Arthur had something to do with this matter, but the most important thing now was tofort Lydia. ¡°Lydia, how are you holding up?¡± Lydia didn¡¯t speak and stared nkly at the floor. ¡°Don¡¯t be too sad, Lydia. Although your mom passed, her love for you remains. You see, a person¡¯s life is like at flowering period. Your mom¡¯s time might have ended, but this situation might also be a relief for her Don¡¯t you think so?¡± Elspeth hugged Lydia¡¯s shoulders and softlyforted her. Lydia suddenly burst into tears. ¡°My mom¡­ she told me I should always be strong, but she left me all alone. I don¡¯t know what to do¡­¡± While she sobbed, she grabbed onto Elspeth¡¯s sleeves. Elspeth patted Lydia¡¯s back while assuring her, ¡°I¡¯ll always be there for you. Your mom can rest in peace.¡± Chapter 73 Chapter 73 Chapter 73 Double Death Elspeth first spent the past few days helping Lydia with her mother¡¯s funeral arrangements. After that, she texted Arthur to ask him out. Knowing that Elspeth wanted to find out what had happened to Lydia¡¯s mother, Arthur agreed to meet her at the cafe around the corner. As soon as he entered, he saw her sitting at a nearby table. Her hair hung loose over her shoulders, and she appeared particrly tall and slender in a ck dress. Seeing how she drank coffee across from him as though nothing had happened, he wondered if she was already numb with grief. Elspeth put down her cup of coffee, her eyes gleaming. ¡°You know my purpose in asking you out this time.¡± ¡°I¡¯d still like to exin the matter to you. I really had nothing to do with it.¡± She sneered. ¡°Arthur, do you think I¡¯ll believe you had nothing to do with it? Who else would be capable of such a thing if not you?¡± Angered by thedy¡¯s words, Arthur nearly blurted out Ophelia¡¯s name, but he eventually bit his tongue. Instead, he replied, ¡°Let me repeat this: I had nothing to do with it. If you don¡¯t believe me, just go ahead and look into it. If I¡¯m the one who swapped the medicine, I¡¯ll die a horrible death.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t seem convinced by his words. She stared at the man¡¯s face, thinking it would never be the first time anyone had sworn in that manner. Her hands clenched into fists under the table. ¡°You can say whatever you want, but I¡¯ll definitely get to the bottom of this. If I find out that it was your doing or that you had something to do with it, I¡¯ll never let you get away with it.¡± ¡°Why are you so hostile to me, Elspeth? Don¡¯t forget that you¡¯re still my¡ª¡± She cut in, ¡°Girlfriend, huh? Our contract has expired, Arthur. Not only are you a pervert, but I find that you also have quite a thick skin.¡± The thought that she had let this homicidal maniac touch her hand made her feel downright nauseous. Arthur didn¡¯t mind what she said, though. On the contrary, he thought she looked rather adorable to the eye this way. ¡°I also didn¡¯t expect you to be way more interesting than I thought¡ªespecially when you speak.¡± He rubbed his chin in amusement. Elspeth replied, ¡°Stop it. I don¡¯t have that much time to waste talking with you. I gotta go.¡± She had come this time to warn him in the first ce. Seeing how impervious he was, she felt she had wasted her breath talking to him. ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Elspeth looked back; a sense of unease arose inside her when she saw him suddenly stand up with a half-smile. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± He looked carefree with his hands in his pockets. ¡°Lydia¡¯s mother is dead, but there¡¯s still Lydia¡ª¡± His words sounded like a threat, but they also felt sort of like a hint. Now that she was rmed, replied frostily, ¡°Don¡¯t you every a finger on Lydia!¡± Arthur retorted, ¡°Why can¡¯t I? Elspeth, I really don¡¯t want you to leave me at all.¡± Previously, he had merely wanted her to stay by his side. But now, after seeing how flustered and exasperated she was, he had a different idea. If such a proud rose snaps in two in my hands, how wonderful it¡¯ll be! His lips slowly curled into a smile, and he looked at her with a gleam of passion in his eyes. Elspeth shot him a dirty look. ¡°Arthur, you really are a pervert,¡± she replied. With that, she stopped caring about what he said and hurriedly took a cab to Lydia¡¯s ce. Now that Lydia¡¯s ce was no longer safe, she had to take her somewhere new and settle her down. She kept calling Lydia along the way, but the phone calls didn¡¯t get through. It was the middle of the day, so Lydia couldn¡¯t have possibly turned off her phone. Even so, no matter how many times she called, all she got were busy signals. Lydia¡¯s ce was close to here, so Elspeth arrived after about a few ten minutes. After getting out of the cab, she rushed to the door and knocked on it, but still, no one answered. Suddenly, she recalled the spare key Lydia had shoved to herst time. She quickly opened the door with it, but the chaotic mess inside was difficult for her to ept. The floor was covered with a pool of blood, which had spread as far as several meters. Elspeth cautiously looked inside and saw what seemed like a body lying in the corner of the couch. Her hair was disheveled, her clothes were torn and tattered, and her neck was crisscrossed with wounds. She seemed to have suffered gruesome humiliation. Elspeth checked her breath, only to find that the body was no longer breathing. Tears instantly ran down her cheeks. Little did she think her self-proimed protection would end up bringing so much harm to Lydia and her family. Apart from feeling guilty, she was filled with tremendous hatred for Arthur. Subsequently, she called him right away, sounding totally out of control for the first time. ¡°What a butcher you are, Arthur!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Why did you kill Lydia?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who killed her.¡± ¡°Who did it, then? Tell me!¡± Arthur shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t tell you anything.¡± ¡°You mean to say you have a conscience, though it¡¯s weak, do you?¡± Elspeth let out a sneer while clutching her phone tightly with her fingers. ¡°Should I thank you for telling me beforehand that she¡¯s been murdered?¡± ¡°Elspeth, don¡¯t get too upset about that. She¡¯s got nothing to do with you in the first ce.¡± Not bothering to waste time talking to the man, Elspeth immediately hung up on him. Thanks to Lydia¡¯s death, Elspeth didn¡¯t sleep well for several nights straight. When Callum learned about this, he helped her take care of Lydia¡¯s funeral. Then, knowing that Elspeth had almost fully recovered from her injuries, he got her discharged from the hospital lest the sight of this ce might remind her of some painful memories. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Elspeth had Harper help find out who had murdered both Lydia and her mother, but the murderer had done an exceptionally fine job this time. The hospital paid several hundred thousand aspensation for Lydia¡¯s mother¡¯s death, iming that one of its nurses had administered the wrong medicine to her. As for Lydia¡¯s murder, no trace of the murderer was found. Knowing that their murderer couldn¡¯t be found out for the time being, she had Harper keep looking into it, whereas she returned to work at thepany. When she returned to her office, Ophelia was already mingling well with those in thepany. Everyone seemed to have forgotten what she had done back then; instead, they grew even closer to her. However, this was rather normal, for such was human nature. Ophelia said to her, ¡°Elspeth, you¡¯re back in the office? That¡¯s great! You¡¯ve been away over the past few days; I thought you were seriously ill.¡± Despite what she said, the look in her eyes seemed to suggest that Elspeth had been cking at work out ofziness. ¡°And besides, Callum had neglected his work just to stay by your side over thest few days. He¡¯s rarely been like this before.¡± Having just pulled a stunt on Elspeth, she was in a merry mood, so she merely mentioned this with a smile. Having just experienced life-and-death situations, Elspeth couldn¡¯t be bothered to y nice with Ophelia. She replied shortly, ¡°You think this is funny, Ophelia?¡± ¡°Are you mad, Elspeth? I was just saying. If you don¡¯t like it, I won¡¯t say it anymore,¡± Ophelia said while pretending to hang her head and weep. Unable to stand the sight anymore, those around them immediately came to Ophelia¡¯s defense, saying, ¡°Calm down, Miss Lynwood. Ophelia¡¯s just caring about you.¡± Chapter 74 Chapter 74 Chapter 74 Tampering with Documents Without Permission I know in my heart whether Ophelia cares about me, thought Elspeth. After darting a frosty look at Ophelia, she returned to her desk. Elspeth¡¯s desk had been piled high with documents before, but it was now empty. She frowned and asked the colleague next to her, ¡°Where are my documents?¡± I¡¯d gone to great pains searching for those documents for a long time, and they were already half-finished. Why are they missing all of a sudden? The colleague eyed her warily, saying, ¡°Ophelia took those documents away. You were away for a long time, so she helped you take care of them.¡± So, something I¡¯d only half-finished was taken away, finished, and taken credit for by someone else? Elspeth could hardly keep calm. She took a deep breath, but unexpectedly, just when she was about to confront Ophelia about this, Ophelia came to her of her own ord. She asked, ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this, Ophelia?¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Ophelia replied, ¡°Don¡¯t get all worked up, Elspeth. I did take care of those documents, but I did so for your own good, mostly because I didn¡¯t know when you¡¯d be back. Surely you wouldn¡¯t want our company¡¯s business to be dyed as well. If our progress got held up because you weren¡¯t back for a long time, you might not be able to bear the consequences.¡± Elspeth let out a faint chuckle. ¡°I know about these progresses, so I know very well whether they¡¯ll get held up or not. They¡¯re none of your concern, Miss Fleming.¡± Ophelia retorted, ¡°Elspeth, I only did this for the sake of thepany. It didn¡¯t matter if you alone were away, but some of these contracts involved teamwork. Won¡¯t you feel sorry for wasting everyone else¡¯s time?¡± These words heightened the seriousness of the situation. Elspeth realized that Ophelia had be more skillful at talking since her return. She raised her eyes and looked around, saying, ¡°Does any of you here think Miss Fleming has been held up? Just tell me so that I don¡¯t have to ask every one of you.¡± Ophelia¡¯s face froze for a moment. ¡°In any case, don¡¯t get too upset about it. After all, although it was me who finished those documents, I uploaded them in your name, so you don¡¯t have to worry about it.¡± Elspeth looked at Ophelia suspiciously. How could she possibly be so kind-hearted? Just as she had expected, she received a phone call in the afternoon from the investor, who imed something was wrong with the design sketches. Some data didn¡¯t tally at all, so the manufactured product wasn¡¯t functioning as it should. Elspeth was startled for a moment. It¡¯s just as I expected. The investor¡¯s voice had a hint of anger to it as it sounded on the other end of the line. ¡°Good thing I made a test product first. If I had put it into production right away, I¡¯d have lost a lot of money this time.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, sir. I¡¯ll revise the design now and send it to you this evening.¡± Elspeth turned on herputer, only to realize that her backup files were all missing. Don¡¯t tell me this was also Ophelia¡¯s doing? She gnashed her teeth in hatred. However, the top priority right now was to come up with a new n as soon as possible instead of ming Ophelia for what had happened. She read through the n; the investor asked for a design that was cool and alluring. The word ¡®cool¡¯ instantly brings the moon to mind, but what about ¡®alluring¡¯? she pondered while thoughtlessly drawing lines on the paper. Eventually, as she looked at the indistinct outline, her eyes suddenly lit up. A silver fox with alluringly fine eyes is strolling in the moonlight. Its eyes have to be ornamented with sapphire, which can have a small diamond mounted on top. The moon has to be surrounded by a veil of mist made of silver threads to make the fox appear even hazier. She even had a name for it. Let¡¯s call it ¡®The Silver Fox and the Moon.¡¯ Having done all this, she emailed the n to the investor. As she had expected, the investor was full of praise after seeing her design. ¡°You¡¯re indeed marvelous, Miss Lynwood. Only you cane up with such a design.¡± The investor¡¯s satisfied voice came through the phone. ¡°I didn¡¯t wait for you for nothing. Well, since this is the case, I¡¯ll officially put this into production this time. Let¡¯s hope your design can break the sales record again, Miss Lynwood.¡± ¡°Thanks for yourpliment, Mr. Crowley.¡± Elspeth¡¯s work had always sold well, which was why the investor coborated with her. On the first day of the productunch, ¡®The Silver Fox and the Moon¡¯ was met with universal acim as soon as it was promoted on the official website. Aizenmented, ¡®Oh, my God! This is so beautiful! Just as expected of Elspeth Lynwood, whose work is always extraordinary!¡¯ Anothermented, ¡®I love ¡°The Silver Fox and the Moon¡± so much. I haven¡¯t had the chance to buy the previous ones, which were all matching essories for couples, but this one is simply fabulous!¡¯ The thirdmented, ¡®I¡¯m gonna wage a war against whoever says that Elspeth Lynwood¡¯s design is ugly!¡¯ ¡­ Gloom enveloped Ophelia when she saw these news reports. I remember having made substantial changes to this work. It can¡¯t possibly look like this! Don¡¯t tell me Elspeth made a new design in just one afternoon? Is this how gifted she is? She was consumed with jealousy. Thinking of how Elspeth could easily create a new design, she became increasingly worried that Callum would be attracted to the former. At the thought of this, she suddenly realized that her engagement to Callum had to be finalized as soon as possible, or Elspeth mighte between them anytime. If they were to end up bing a couple, everything she had done woulde to nothing. After much deliberation, she called Margot and told her that she would being to the Winthrop Residence for dinner this evening. Margot had grown fonder of Ophelia since thetter¡¯s change of character, so she was naturally happy that thetter would being over. Elspeth knitted her brows when she came home in the evening to find that Ophelia was also present. Ophelia said, ¡°Elspeth, you won¡¯t be displeased at mying here, right?¡± She sensed Elspeth¡¯s displeasure, but she deliberately pierced her in this sore spot. ¡°I miss Mrs. Winthrop very much, so I came here specially to join her for dinner. You won¡¯t mind mying here, will you?¡± Margot smiled happily upon hearing this. ¡°How is that possible? This house belongs to the Winthrops, not the Lynwoods. Juste here as you please. Who would dare to forbid you from visiting?¡± Irritated by the sight of this, Elspeth said, ¡°Of course, I won¡¯t. Suit yourself.¡± She no longer had an appetite for dinner, as Ophelia¡¯s presence only made her feel incredibly disgusted. Just then, Ophelia urged, ¡°Elspeth, even if you don¡¯t like me, you should show some respect for Mrs. Winthrop, no? She cooked a feast all by herself today. You should more or less eat a little, no?¡± She sounded like she was advising Elspeth, but anyone would feel ufortable listening to this. When Margot heard this, she got displeased as well. ¡°That¡¯s right, Elspeth. It took me a lot of trouble to make this. You won¡¯t go so far as to waste the food, right?¡± Seeing how the pairpleted each other¡¯s sentences, Elspeth felt a headacheing on; she had no choice but to seat herself at the dining table. After a while, Callum came home as well. Seeing Ophelia at the dining table, he asked coldly, ¡°Why are you here as well?¡± Never did Ophelia think Callum would embarrass her like this in front of others. After being startled for a moment, she replied, ¡°I miss Mrs. Winthrop, so I came over to see her¡ª¡± Chapter 75 Chapter 75 Chapter 75 Drugged ¡°Callum, Ophelia only came here out of filial duty. The years I spent doting on her when she was little weren¡¯t in vain, after all.¡± Margot shot a re at Callum before taking Ophelia¡¯s hand and patting it. ¡°Look how nice Ophelia is. Now she¡¯s not only obedient but also sensible and gracious. Why don¡¯t you reconsider going out with her¡ª¡± ¡°What are you talking about, Mrs. Winthrop?¡± Ophelia blushed shyly while giving Margot a light push. Callum didn¡¯t say anything in reply, but his silence already spoke volumes. Seeing that the man didn¡¯t respond at all, Ophelia suddenly felt a bit embarrassed. She retracted her hands, saying, ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, now that Callum doesn¡¯t like me, let¡¯s not force him into it. It¡¯ll make it sound like I¡¯m threatening him.¡± ¡°What nonsense are you talking about, Ophelia? Your engagement to Callum was decided by your mother and me when you two were little. Moreover, you two grew up together, so how can he possibly have no feelings for you?¡± Margot said in a gentle voice,forting Ophelia for fear that she might be hurt by Callum¡¯s attitude. Callum replied at once, ¡°I already have someone I love.¡± Elspeth was startled, and her fork froze in midair with a meatball on it. ¡°You already have someone you like? Who is it? Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s Elspeth?¡± Callum nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s her.¡± Ophelia forced a smile. ¡°Oh¡­ Is that so?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t love her,¡± Margot blurted out subconsciously. Baffled, Callum turned to look at her with a puzzled expression. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because I said you can¡¯t. Callum, even if you have no feelings for Ophelia, you can¡¯t love Elspeth,¡± Margot said solemnly as though there were some dark secret behind this. The instant she said so, everyone at the scene fell silent. Having no appetite for dinner, they hastily finished their meal before returning to their respective bedrooms. Since it was gettingte, Ophelia decided to stay at the Winthrop Residence for the night before leaving tomorrow. It waste at night when Margot came to Callum¡¯s room with a ss of warm milk in her hand. After knocking on the door, she pushed it open and came in. ¡°Callum, I have something to talk to you about,¡± she said softly while putting the ss of milk on his desk. Callum seemed to have predicted what she was going to say. He asked, ¡°What do you want to say?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m not allowing you to go out with Elspeth. It¡¯s mainly because¡­ Sigh!¡± She let out a deep sigh as her thoughts wandered. ¡°You know what? Your dad had a first love when he was young¡ª¡± ¡°What does this have to do with Elspeth?¡± Seeing Callum¡¯s puzzlement, Margot exined, ¡°His first love was Elspeth¡¯s mother! Do you know that the woman you love is probably your half-sister who shares a father with you?¡± Callum found such words ridiculous. ¡°Impossible!¡± Margot sneered. ¡°Why is that impossible? Elspeth is just as stubborn as your dad. You know what? Your dad disappeared for six months when I was pregnant with ke. Nobody knows what happened during those six months. Now, look at Elspeth. Isn¡¯t she the same age as ke?!¡± This was so ridiculous that Callum simply couldn¡¯t believe all this. ¡°Still, you can¡¯t prove that Elspeth is Dad¡¯s illegitimate daughter.¡± Margot replied with a sob in her voice, ¡°I didn¡¯t know your dad was in love with an unattainable woman until half a year into our marriage. I was already pregnant with you at the time, so I put up with it instead of divorcing him. Do you know that?¡± Callum patted her on the back in an attempt to calm her down. ¡°Calm down first, Mom. All of this might be a misunderstanding.¡± ¡°A misunderstanding, huh? Have you ever wondered why your dad is so nice to Elspeth if it¡¯s not because of this?¡± ¡°Dad is friends with Elspeth¡¯s father. They¡¯ve been through thick and thin together, so it¡¯s very normal for Dad to be fond of his daughter.¡± ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t say any more about it. In any case, just remember that Elspeth isn¡¯t a good match for you,¡± Margot advised earnestly. ¡°Callum, I won¡¯t do you any harm. I¡¯ll definitely find you ady that¡¯s better than anyone else. You know¡ª¡± Callum replied, ¡°It¡¯s enough, Mom. I have my own judgment.¡± He wasn¡¯t that gullible. Although what Margot had said sounded very true, he was nheless doubtful deep down. Skeptical about her words, he saw her out of the room. ¡°Remember to drink the milk before it cools,¡± Margot urged before going back to her bedroom. Callum returned to his desk, picked up the ss of milk, and finished it in a gulp. After that, he sorted out his documents and went to bed. However, after lying in bed for a while, he felt unusually hot. He turned up the air conditioner, but it was of no use. He couldn¡¯t sleep, and his body was hot as though it were on fire; he even had some strange reactions. Before he knew it, Elspeth¡¯s face appeared in his mind; the thought of her smile, her delicate features, and her seductive red lips was tempting him. ¡°Sh*t,¡± he swore under his breath. What am I thinking about? Just when his mind was getting jumbled, he suddenly heard the sound of the door being unlocked. The lights were off, so he couldn¡¯t see clearly who the person was. All he felt was an ice-cold hand that caressed his face before naughtily moving all the way down. He seized the person¡¯s wrist. With thest bit of reason that he could muster, he asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± Judging by the person¡¯s silhouette, it had to be a youngdy. The only youngdy who can enter my room is probably¡­ ¡°Callum¡­¡± Feeling the burning heat on the palm of her hand, Ophelia was both surprised and anxious. Am I about to get my hands on Callum? ¡°Ophelia?¡± Ophelia mustered the courage to kiss him, only to be shoved away forcefully. ¡°Ophelia, what are you doing?¡± Callum panted out under his breath while feeling his body gradually be weak. ¡°Callum, I love you. I want to be with you forever, okay¡­¡± Ophelia said in a tearful voice as she hurriedly undressed him. ¡°But you only have eyes for Elspeth, and I can¡¯t ept you going out with her. Callum, you¡¯re mine. You can only be mine¡ª¡± Callum calmed down. With all his might, he clutched Ophelia¡¯s wrist to stop her from continuing what she was doing. ¡°Ophelia, even if you and I really end up sleeping together tonight, I won¡¯t marry you.¡± Ophelia never expected him to say something like this, and her eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Callum, how could you do this to me?¡± ¡°I know you¡¯ve changed a lot since your return this time, and I really thought you¡¯d gotten over me,¡± Callum said as his voice grew colder and colder. ¡°But I never thought you¡¯d drug me. Ophelia, you¡¯re really quite something.¡± Fearing that he might get angry, Ophelia lowered her voice to a whisper. ¡°Please don¡¯t get mad, Callum. I love you, but I don¡¯t want you to hate me¡ª¡± Callum let go of her and took half a step back. ¡°Get out of here now.¡± ¡°Callum¡­¡± Seeing that she seemed to have no intention of giving up, Callum gritted his teeth, picked up the ss on his desk, and smashed it against his head. The next second, he passed out.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Chapter 76 Chapter 76 Chapter 76 Have the Drug¡¯s Effects Worn Off Callum¡¯s self-harming behavior seeded in frightening Ophelia. Little did she think he would actually knock himself unconscious just to avoid touching her. A sense of humiliation rose from her feet; her eyes teared up with both humiliation and intense hatred. If it weren¡¯t for Elspeth, Callum wouldn¡¯t have treated me like this! Seeing Callum fall soundly asleep before her, she clenched her fists tightly beforeing up with a bold idea. Undressing both herself and the man, shey down on his sturdy chest, took a picture of them with her phone, and sent it to Elspeth. Having done all of this, she carefully climbed out of bed, got dressed, and returned to her bedroom. When Elspeth woke up early in the morning, she saw the photo, in which Callum and Ophelia looked intimate as though they¡¯d actually slept together. Feeling a twinge in her heart, she recalled what Callum had said the evening before, and she couldn¡¯t help curling her lips into a smirk. However, as she took an inadvertent nce at the picture, she suddenly realized that something was amiss. Callum¡¯s sleeping posture didn¡¯t seem normal in the photo. Instead, it looked more like he¡¯d been knocked out¡­ and his cheeks were abnormally red. Don¡¯t tell me he¡¯s been drugged. At the thought of this, she hurriedly got dressed and went to his room. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. The door to Callum¡¯s room wasn¡¯t locked, so she easily snuck inside. Callum was alone in his room. Seeing him soundly asleep in bed, Elspeth was startled for a moment beforeing forward to check on him. As she had expected, he¡¯d been drugged with something that wasn¡¯t very potent. Otherwise, he would¡¯ve been dead after enduring the drug¡¯s effects the entire night. Seems like Ophelia still has a bit of a conscience. Producing a pill from her pocket, Elspeth shoved it into Callum¡¯s mouth and forced him to swallow it. After a long time, Callum slowly opened his eyes. At a nce, he saw Elspeth, who was standing aside and waiting quietly. ¡°W-When did youe here?¡± ¡°Why ask so many questions? How did you get drugged?¡± Callum thought back carefully onst night¡¯s events before his eyes rested upon the empty ss of milk on his desk. ¡°My mom came in and brought me a ss of milkst night. She¡¯d done so before, so I drank it without suspicion.¡± Anger welled up in him when it urred to him that Margot might have colluded with Ophelia in doing this. Elspeth couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°What? You mean Mrs. Winthrop also plotted against you in secret?¡± Callum looked up and shot a frosty re at her. ¡°Stop being sarcastic. Tell me why you showed up in my room.¡± Elspeth threw up her hands before unlocking her phone to show him the photo. ¡°Look. Ophelia sent me this photo, perhaps to make me get the wrong idea about you and thus hate you.¡± Callum looked at her face with deep, dark eyes. ¡°Hate me, huh¡­ Elspeth, why would you hate me after seeing this?¡± Elspeth almost subconsciously blurted out that it was because she liked him, but upon seeing how the man looked like he was trying to coax it out of her, she immediately bit back what she was just about to say. ¡°Perhaps it was because I was disgusted. Why tell me that you two had done such a thing?¡± she replied without thinking. After finishing her sentence, she suddenly realized that something seemed wrong with Callum¡¯s expression. She quickly buttoned her lip, saying, ¡°That¡¯s not what I mean¡­ I¡­¡± Just then, her wrist was held in a tight grip. The next instant, she was pulled into the man¡¯s arms. ¡°Elspeth, repeat what you just said,¡± Callum whispered in her ear while staring at her. The two were less than inches apart. Elspeth was held in the man¡¯s arms like a chick, unable to break free no matter how hard she tried. ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything.¡± ¡°Not admitting it, huh?¡± Elspeth had struggled so hard just now that her cor button became undone, revealing the fair skin of her chest. When Callum inadvertently nced at it, his eyes gradually darkened. ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­ Mmph!¡± Before Elspeth could finish her sentence, the man¡¯s arms tightened around her, and her lips were unexpectedly sealed with a kiss. Callum¡¯s mouth was sweet as he had just taken the pill. As Elspeth¡¯s mind went nk, she let him kiss her passionately. Callum let go of her when he realized she wasn¡¯t resisting. Then, seeing that she was in a daze, he waved his hand before her eyes. Only then did Elspethe to her senses and realize that she¡¯d just been kissed by force. Still, she asked dumbly, ¡°Have the drug¡¯s effects worn off?¡± Callum took her hand and ced it on his chest. Elspeth¡¯s heartbeat also quickened as she felt the man¡¯s strong heartbeat. ¡°Have a guess.¡± Coming to her senses finally, Elspeth kicked at his chest. ¡°You rascal!¡± Callum leaned back slightly to dodge her attack. ¡°I didn¡¯t say the drug¡¯s effects have worn off,¡± he said, his tone as inconsequential as though he had just taken a sip of water. ¡°Alright, I shouldn¡¯t have bothereding over to take a look at you. I¡¯m leaving.¡± Elspeth turned around, opened the door, and went out, only to bump right into Margot, who was standing at the door and about to knock on it. Seeing the mess in the room, Margot was at a loss for words for a moment. She spotted Elspeth¡¯s disheveled clothes, undone cor button, and smudged lipstick. On the other hand, Callum¡¯s cheeks were red. His night robe gaped open, revealing his muscr chest. Margot was in disbelief. ¡°You two¡­¡± She had repeatedly warned her sonst night, but never did she think Elspeth would get her hands on him right away. ¡°Elspeth, how can you be so loose as ady? Don¡¯t you know both of you aren¡¯t supposed to be in the same room as you two are unmarried? Are you trying to go to bed with Callum to get married to him? I¡¯m telling you, not in a million years!¡± She nearly failed to catch her breath, and her illness, which had barely stabilizedst time, nearly recurred. Elspeth replied coldly, ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, you¡¯re overthinking it. I¡¯ll never marry into the Winthrop Family in such a way. I disdain to do such a thing.¡± ¡°Callum, I¡¯d like to hear your exnation.¡± However, instead of exining the situation, Callum replied impassively, ¡°I took the initiative.¡± Margot was foaming with anger. ¡°Callum, are you stupid? Did you forget what I told youst night? Elspeth isn¡¯t a good match for you; Ophelia is the only one who suits you best!¡± ¡°I thought you knew I don¡¯t like Ophelia.¡± Margot kept on advising him earnestly, saying, ¡°Callum, feelings can be developed, so you can¡¯t reject Ophelia just because you have no feelings for her at the moment. I¡¯ve known her for years, so how can I be wrong about her? Well, she didmit mistakes before, but she onlymitted such mistakes because she loved you so much. As long as you give her a chance, you¡¯ll slowly find out what¡¯s good about her.¡± Having listened to such words countless times, Callum could no longer stand listening to them. ¡°Alright, enough is enough. I love no one else but Elspeth.¡± Ophelia overheard these words as she stood at the door with a ss of warm water in her hand. For a moment, she lost herposure, and the ss in her hand dropped to the floor. Chapter 77 Chapter 77 Chapter 77 Strange Tears ¡°Callum¡­¡± Ophelia¡¯s eyes swam with tears at his words as if a part of her had been broken. ¡°Callum, even if you don¡¯t like me, I still want you to know how I feel about you. But you can¡¯t keep hurting me with Elspeth. It¡¯s unfair!¡± ¡°Ophelia, you should know by now that you¡¯re only a sister to me. Stop bothering me.¡± Callum¡¯s cold-hearted rejection was the fatal blow to Ophelia. Unable to hold on any longer, she turned around and ran away with tears flowing down her cheeks. At the tragic sight, Margot spat maliciously, ¡°Elspeth, you¡¯re the one who did this to our family. You may be resorting to any means to be thedy of the Winthrop Family, but I won¡¯t let you get away with it!¡± ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it,¡± Elspeth replied indifferently. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in being thedy of the Winthrop Family.¡± Hearing that, he added quickly, ¡°You have to. It doesn¡¯t matter whether you¡¯re interested or not.¡± Elspeth turned speechless. ¡°You two are really going to be the death of me!¡± Margot¡¯s chest heaved with anger as she raised a hand and roared at Elspeth, ¡°You¡¯re just like that homewrecking mother of yours. Clearly, her apple hasn¡¯t fallen far from the tree¡ªher daughter is just as shameless as her. You¡¯ve really taken after your mother!¡± At her words, Elspeth was taken aback. ¡°You know who my mom is?¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I? Your mother was someone who stole the hearts of countless men and even yed Theodore like a fiddle. How could I not know her?¡± Her words were biting and sarcastic as if suggesting that Elspeth¡¯s mother was promiscuous enough to seduce a married man. ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, please watch your mouth. It¡¯s one thing to insult me, but don¡¯t bring my mother into this.¡± A wave of anger surged within Elspeth at her words. She remembered that her father had once described her mother as a fairy¡ªgentle and gracious with a meek and kind personality. It was only because of this that her father had constantly waited for her mother toe back. How could someone as perfect as her do something like that? ¡°You can ask Theodore if you don¡¯t believe me. Have a look for yourself whether their rtionship was truly innocent or not!¡± Margot sneered. ¡°Who knows? You might even be his daughter!¡± At that, Margot left in a huff. After she left, Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but blurt out, ¡°Was Mrs. Winthrop¡¯s words true?¡± A trace of evasion appeared in Callum¡¯s eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± ¡°Still, I have to find a way to keep Mrs. Winthrop¡¯s mouth shut. Her usations are still an insult to my mother.¡± She looked at Callum who was next to her and suddenly had an idea. ¡°There¡¯s something we can do now.¡± When he saw Elspeth¡¯s heated stare, he instantly understood what she meant. ¡°You want to do a DNA test?¡± ¡°Mr. Winthrop isn¡¯t at home now because he¡¯s away on a trip, and he¡¯ll only be back in two weeks or so. But from what I know, it¡¯s possible to perform the test with your DNA.¡± Callum raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are you thinking that as long as we prove that we aren¡¯t blood-rted, it means that my mom was wrong?¡± ¡°Yes. I don¡¯t believe that we¡¯re blood-rted at all.¡± Upon saying that, she extended a hand. ¡°Give me a strand of your hair.¡± Callum frowned. ¡°Where are the scissors?¡± When she saw his hesitation, Elspeth grew frustrated and plucked a strand of his hair straight from his head. ¡°What do you need scissors for? I can just pluck one out like this.¡± At the sudden jab of pain, Callum gritted out, ¡°Elspeth!¡± Afraid of lingering in his fury any longer, she sent him an awkward smile and immediately fled the scene. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. In the afternoon, Elspeth took a sample of her and Callum¡¯s hair for a DNA test at the hospital. However, Arthur, who was walking past theb, witnessed the entire thing. Once Elspeth left, he turned around and headed for theb. ¡°What was thatdy here for?¡± Arthur asked, feigning nonchnce as he walked in. Upon seeing him walking in, the doctor in charge immediately stiffened. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, thatdy came for a DNA test.¡± ¡°What test?¡± The doctor ced the sample before him and said with a smile, ¡°This one right here¡­¡± Arthur picked it up and inspected it. There were two strands of hair inside, one long and the other short. This shorter hair¡­ A bold idea sprung in his head all of a sudden. After a moment of thought, he said to the doctor, ¡°Show me this month¡¯s report.¡± The doctor nodded and turned around to look for the report. Using this opportunity, Arthur sneakily retrieved the long strand of hair from the bag before stuffing his hair in. Once he was done, he stood up and said, ¡°All right, take your time if you can¡¯t find it. I have some other things to attend to. Just send it to my officeter.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Arthur left, the corners of his lips curling up into a malicious smile. After sending the documents, Elspeth prepared to return to thepany when she saw a familiar yet unknown woman who had fallen to the ground and seemed hurt. As soon as she walked over and took a look, she realized that the woman was the one who had given flowers to her. ¡°Miss, are you all right?¡± Elspeth kneeled and examined her thoroughly, only to find that she had sprained her ankle. ¡°There¡¯s a hospital nearby. How about I take you there?¡± Driven by severe pain, the woman was unable to refuse and nodded instead. As Elspeth helped her up, they drew close to each other, and a silver pendant suddenly caught her eye. The pendant looked familiar, and if she recalled correctly¡­ Her thoughts gradually drifted to her time in middle school. Whenever she came home from school, she would see her father ying with a silver pendant. However, his was a hollowed heart, while the woman¡¯s pendant was solid. After her father passed away, he took the pendant with him. Many years had passed since then, so she had not recognized it immediately. ¡°Miss, can I ask you something?¡± Elspeth spoke up cautiously. At her question, the woman seemed inexplicably excited and nodded. ¡°Sure. Go on, youngdy.¡± ¡°I want to know where your pendant is from. I thought it looks familiar; my dad has one, but it¡¯s a little different from yours¡­¡± The woman jolted before she began to tremble. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I said that your pendant looks simr to my father¡¯s.¡± ¡°Where is your father now?¡± Elspeth¡¯s voice sank as she replied, ¡°My father¡­ has passed away.¡± The woman¡¯s trembling hand suddenly froze. Soon after, a stream of tears rolled down her cheek. However, as she was wearing sses, only her flowing tears could be seen instead of the sorrow in her eyes. ¡°Miss, what¡¯s wrong? Why are you crying all of a sudden?¡± The woman¡¯s fluctuating emotions took Elspeth by surprise. Chapter 78 Chapter 78 ¡°Huh? Oh, uh, I¡¯m fine. My ankle just hurts so much that I felt like crying.¡± The woman smiled, but it looked even worse than her tears. ¡°Miss, I feel like I¡¯ve seen you many times. Ever since you sent me flowers, you¡¯ve always been so mysterious. Since we¡¯ve met again, why don¡¯t you tell me your name?¡± Elspeth sent her a small smile. ¡°I¡­ The name¡¯s Gardner.¡± ¡°Are you unable to tell me your full name, Miss? Well, that¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll just call you Miss Gardner from now on.¡± The woman nodded without replying. After sending her to the hospital, Elspeth gave her some advice before leaving the ce. When she returned to thepany, she was called to the office before she could even take a break. ¡°Elspeth, we called you here for a new task this time.¡± Callum turned around and ced a folder on the table beforenguidly pushing it over. ¡°We¡¯re nning to design a series of angel and devil friendship bracelets, but we haven¡¯t found a suitable ambassador yet. So, I was thinking of letting you do it instead.¡± Elspeth¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Why me again? Callum, I¡¯m the director of the Design Department, not a celebrity. Why can¡¯t you find a proper female celebrity to be the ambassador?¡± Callum exined, ¡°Because thepany will be able to save a huge amount of money like this.¡± Elspethughed. The Winthrops were mammoths in terms of their business and power, and it was impossible for them to pay any attention to amission fee. Callum¡¯s words sounded more like a joke to her than anything. ¡°Callum, are you trying to give me a hard time on purpose?¡± Callum was unfazed by her question. ¡°Of course not. I¡¯m doing this for the sake of thepany.¡± Mainly, he would have more time to spend with Elspeth if she took part in the ad. After all, every time she was in thepany, he had no way of talking to her other than discussing contracts. Naturally, Elspeth had no idea what Callum was up to and was rendered speechless instead. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t two people be a part of the shoot for this friendship bracelet?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll find someone suitable to take the shoot with you.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, ke emerged from thin air and said, ¡°Callum, why won¡¯t you let me take part in this advertisement? You even made me look for an actor for you. You¡¯re so cruel.¡± ke pouted, seeming unhappy. ¡°Cruel? You can¡¯t take part in the advertisement this time; it doesn¡¯t suit you.¡± Callum instantly turned him down. However, ke wasn¡¯t about to give up and scooted closer to ask, ¡°Why not? You already said that Elspeth is taking part in it this time. If she can, why can¡¯t I? Callum, are you doing this on purpose? I already know that you confessed to Elspeth in front of Mom and Ophelia. You¡¯re afraid that Elspeth and I would develop feelings for each other while filming, right?¡± Getting frustrated by his words, Callum frowned. ¡°Afraid? I have nothing to be afraid of.¡± ¡°Then, why won¡¯t you let me participate in the shooting and even made me look for a woman?¡± Elspeth froze. She looked at Callum, then back at ke, before breaking out into a chortle. ¡°What are youughing about?¡± ke¡¯s alluring eyes were full of confusion. Callum took to resolving his doubts, asking, ¡°Have you gone through the contract?¡± ke paused. He really hadn¡¯t gone through it yet. ¡°It¡¯s a friendship bracelet. What does it have to do with a man like you?¡± A trace of embarrassment shed past ke¡¯s face. ¡°Ahem. Actually, I was thinking that if I¡¯m filming with Elspeth, it won¡¯t be impossible to cross dress¡­¡± Elspeth was at a loss for words. ¡°All right, enough fooling around. About the actress, did you manage to find one?¡± ke nced at Elspeth and nodded reluctantly. ¡°As I was looking through the more recently popr actresses, I found that the morous looks you were talking about were simply impossible to find.¡± Clearly, two different types of women were needed to y the angel and devil respectively. As Elspeth was usually innocent and bright, she suited the role of the angel, which meant that the devil should be yed by someone who looked morous and seductive. ¡°Can¡¯t find any? Then you can forget about being a celebrity. I¡¯ll tell yourpany to shelve you, and you cane back and work here.¡± ke knew Callum¡¯s methods well, and he immediately began begging for mercy. ¡°Spare me, Callum! I¡¯ve already said that it¡¯s not easy to find someone. There aren¡¯t many girls like this in the entertainment circle. Even if there are, they¡¯re just vulgar. I can¡¯t find anyone who¡¯s an elegant beauty at all.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean they don¡¯t exist. I¡¯ll give you one day. If you still can¡¯t find a candidate, you can just quit your job.¡± Callum issued an ultimatum, and after hearing that, Elspeth sent ke a smile to calm him down before pointing at the news that popped up on the monitor and said indifferently, ¡°I think she¡¯s not bad.¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. On the front cover of the news was a young girl with a sweet and pure appearance. She was the most popr star at the time, Yelena Sullivan. ¡°But which part of her screams seductive?¡± ke was utterly bemused. Wasn¡¯t this a girl who was even more innocent and adorable than Elspeth? Elspeth smiled lightly. ¡°She¡¯ll be ying the angel, and I¡¯ll be the devil.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t look like a devil to me,¡± ke mumbled under his breath. Upon seeing Elspeth¡¯s confident and assured expression, Callum immediately calmed down. If she says so, she must have her reasons. Without wasting a beat, he sent someone to talk to Yelena about the contract, who unexpectedly agreed immediately. After working out a date to meet, they decided on three in the afternoon that Sunday. As Elspeth had never met this huge celebrity, who took the whole of Damoria by storm on TV, before, she was a little curious, so she went to the shooting set early. Not long after she arrived, Yelena followed suit. Unlike her innocent and lovely appearance on TV, the Yelena in front of her had an arrogant countenance, as if she were a spoiled princess. When her eyes fell on Elspeth, she casually looked her up and down before sayingnguidly, ¡°You¡¯re Elspeth Lynwood?¡± Elspeth nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right. That¡¯s me.¡± ¡°I heard that you have a marriage contract with the five sons of the Winthrop Family, right?¡± Yelena was still quite young, somewhere in her teens. She was a young idol but managed to be a B-list celebrity with her innocent and cute looks in less than a year. This achievement alone proved that she was rather skilled. Elspeth nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. Everyone in Damoria knows this.¡± Upon seeing that there was no trace of admiration for herself on Elspeth¡¯s face, Yelena was a little perplexed. Usually, everyone would look at her with a look of worship wherever she went. But now, why was this woman looking at her without even a hint of emotion on her face? No, she even looked a little¡­ mischievous? ¡°Then, which of the five Winthrop sons do you like the most?¡± Instantly, Elspeth understood what she meant. It seemed that this new idol was a secret admirer of the five Winthrop sons. Chapter 79 Chapter 79 ¡°What¡¯s the problem? Does my crush have anything to do with our coboration?¡± Elspeth asked. Yelena was taken aback because she had not expected anyone to refuse to answer her question. Grimacing, she stated, ¡°Of course it does! Don¡¯t bother asking why. Just tell me!¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell me who you¡¯re interested in?¡± Yelena flushed when she heard that. How did she find out about it? When the manager beside her heard that, she quickly grabbed Yelena¡¯s arm and warned her not to talk too much. ¡°Yelena doesn¡¯t have a crush on anyone.¡± You¡¯ve got to be kidding me! There are so many male fans watching. If Yelena¡¯s hidden love scandal bes public, it will harm her reputation. ¡°Okay. I¡¯m not going to ask anymore because you don¡¯t have one.¡± Elspeth chuckled and quickly skirted the subject. Since the key characters were present, Yelena and Elspeth began doing their makeup. Yelena did not pipe down. She was unhappy that the makeup artist did not showcase her beauty while applying makeup. At that point, she revved up her arrogance. ¡°This will make my eyes appear smaller! Also, what are those sequins? My face looks terrible. Are you certain you want this job? You should resign from your job if you can¡¯t do makeup for me properly! I¡¯ve never met a more incapable artist than you!¡± Elspeth frowned when she heard those words. She couldn¡¯t help but take a step forward to have a look. The moment she took a closer look, she knew that Yelena¡¯s makeup looked nice, but something was wrong. Yelena, who had worked in the entertainment industry for a long time, could identify the difference in makeup quality. ¡°Please don¡¯t me me, Miss Sullivan. I tried my best with this makeup look¡­¡± The artist was depressed. She tried her hardest but for some inexplicable reason, she could not perform well. Elspeth then touched the artist on the shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Just leave this to me. You may take a short break.¡± ¡°Mr. Winthrop, I had no idea that a respectedpany like the Winthrop Group can¡¯t even recruit a talented. artist. What a farce!¡± Yelena spoke inly while cockily crossing her arms. ¡°Miss Sullivan, don¡¯t be so quick to pass judgment. Is it okay if I give it a go?¡± At that, Yelena nced at Elspeth with disgust. ¡°You? Are you certain you can pull it off? Ordinary makeup artists do not appeal to me.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll never know unless I try. Please have a seat; I¡¯ll take care of it right now.¡± People around Elspeth assumed she was only attempting to appease Yelena until she used a makeup remover to clean Yelena¡¯s face before delicately applying a moisturizer. ¡°Are you certain you can pull it off?¡± Without makeup, Yelena¡¯s face was as smooth as silk. She was fair and attractive. ¡°Of course,¡± Elspeth murmured as she gently massaged Yelena¡¯s skin. ¡°Your face is adorable, so a small application of foundation should suffice. You also don¡¯t need to use a lot of concealers.¡± Yelena grunted in response. Her makeup artists usually wanted her to look fairer, much like a porcin doll with a warped beauty. ¡°The sequins will make you look vulgar, so I¡¯ll substitute a feather in the corners of your eyes. Then I¡¯ll cover it with ayer of gold powder.¡± Elspeth did all those while she was exining things. She quickly applied Yelena¡¯s makeup with quick gestures. Even the makeup artists¡¯ eyes opened in awe after the final touch. They had never seen Yelena looking like this before. She had always been referred to as Human Barbie. This was the first time she disyed her ethereal beauty. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Yelena stared at herself in the mirror. Her mouth hung open slightly and she was at a loss for words. ¡°You are incredible!¡± The little girl unconsciously spoke the truth. ¡°Do you like it?¡± Elspeth ced a golden headband on Yelena¡¯s head. ¡°Don¡¯t you feel like a goddess now?¡± ¡°I have the appearance of an angel. Elspeth, I didn¡¯t expect you to be that talented with makeup!¡± Yelena blushed as she remembered initially doubting Elspeth¡¯s abilities. ¡°I¡¯m very sorry. I was skeptical about your abilities¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Elspeth said with a chuckle. ¡°All that matters is that you like it.¡± A gleam shed through Yelena¡¯s eyes and she had a brilliant idea. ¡°Why don¡¯t you be my full- time makeup artist? We can talk about your pay. Your annual sry in the Winthrop Group may be hundreds of thousands, but I will pay you a million. How does that sound?¡± On the other hand, Elspeth felt that Yelena was cute and young, despite having a sharp tongue. ¡°Can you afford that, girl?¡± ¡°Without a doubt. Despite myck of poprity, I can manage to pay this tiny sum.¡± Elspethughed when she heard this. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not get into that right now. I¡¯ll put on some makeup and we¡¯ll talk about it after themercial shoot.¡± Elspeth altered her image. She ditched her innocent and adorable image in favor of a dark, tube-top outfit. She then applied some heavy makeup. However, the makeup looked natural on her and even gave off a touch of enchantment. Callum, who had been waiting outside, was taken aback when he saw her. He was initially unsure whether the style would suit Elspeth, but it turned out to be lovely. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s the deal?¡± Elspeth smiled as she noticed Callum staring at her in a stupor. ¡°Is it because of my dreadful makeup? I did it all by myself. It might not be as good as your professional makeup artist¡¯s work-¡± ¡°You call it horrible? Nonsense, Elspeth! Our makeup artist isn¡¯t even half as wonderful as you.¡± Callum. couldn¡¯t stop himself from praising her. She lowered her head with a chuckle. ¡°I appreciate it.¡± ¡°Elspeth, you are stunning!¡± Yelena jumped out of her chair. Elspeth wore a basic eyeshadow that could blend into the night. She added a few rhinestones to the corners of her eyes, and it made her look exquisite. As a result, Yelena suddenly felt inferior. ¡°You are so stunning that you will overshadow me in themercial¡± After all, she was a young girl. As a result, her initial emotion at seeing a gorgeousdy would be admiration and inferiority. Elspeth then pinched Yelena¡¯s tender face and she couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°What are you thinking? The makeup I applied for you is stunning and will bring you a lot of attention. Besides, I have no ns to be a celebrity, so don¡¯t be concerned.¡± Yelena was overjoyed when she heard that, so she lifted her chin and proudly stated, ¡°Of course! I am the Human Barbie, after all.¡± Elspeth learned that the girl was not as mean as she had assumed. She was outspoken but not as bad as those twisted insiders. ¡°That¡¯s correct. Should we begin filming, Human Barbie?¡± Yelena took the initiative to take Elspeth¡¯s hand in hers. ¡°Let¡¯s head to the shoot.¡± Chapter 80 Chapter 80 The pairing of Yelena as an angel and Elspeth as a demon was fantastic. They nailed both innocence and sensualism. When themercial aired, it garnered an incredibly enthusiastic response. ¡°The Human Barbie is stunning! Oh, God. She¡¯s so beautiful it¡¯s nearly suffocating!¡± ¡®Elspeth is the most stunning! Just look around the entertainment sector. Is there a more attractive and hotter star than her?¡± ¡®Stopparing the two. They are both stunning!¡± ¡®Elspeth is the loveliest. Try to change my mind!¡± Elspeth wanted to giggle as she read through the remarks. Because they saw her as an idol, her supporters even gave her the title Goddess Demon. It was Friday and she was about to collect the results of her DNA test. However, Max stopped her. ¡°Miss Elspeth,¡± he said. Elspeth was perplexed by Max¡¯s peculiar expression. ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Feeling slightly embarrassed, he began, ¡°Well, my college is holding an art festival and my group has prepared a show. However, we are missing a singer. So, I¡¯d like¡­¡± Max¡¯s look perfectly expressed his desire. All at once, Elspeth understood his meaning. ¡°Do you want me to assist you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± She then caressed her chin and thought for a moment. ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask ke for assistance?¡± ¡°He is busier than Callum. He¡¯s rarely at home. As a result, I had no choice but to seek you out¡­¡± She nodded, thinking that ke had to travel to many ces to film. ¡°This is the first time you¡¯ve pleaded with me,¡± she murmured. ¡°Alright, then. Do tell me about your show.¡± Max immediately smiled when he heard that. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Miss Elspeth! Please follow me.¡± There was a quick knock on the door as they were ready to leave. Elspeth answered the door, only to find a tightly wrapped-up girl in front of her. The girl was wearing sunsses, a mask, and a scarf. ¡°Elspeth, it¡¯s me, Yelena!¡± A sweet female voice rang out. Before Elspeth could react, Yelena saw Max and altered her pitch. ¡°Max, you¡¯re also here¡­¡± Max became impatient and irritated when he saw her. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you? You¡¯re even seeking me out in my home! What are you thinking? Why don¡¯t you be a normal celebrity instead of stalking me?¡± Elspeth could tell that the duo had an unusual rtionship, so she nced at Max and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°I was in the mall to get a racing suit when I noticed an obsessive fan harassing her, so I went to her rescue. She insisted on handing me money, which I ignored. I finally got rid of her, but she followed me to my college and confronted me at the gate.¡± ¡°Then, we should invite her in. After all, she wants to reciprocate your gratitude.¡± ¡°I told her not long ago, but now, she¡¯se knocking on my door. I have nothing to say, so please send her away.¡± After speaking. Max leaned out to push Yelena away. She was taken aback before getting annoyed. ¡°Max, I want to thank you for saving my life. Why are you so cold toward me?!¡± At that, Max chuckled coldly. ¡°Repay? So, why are you telling everyone in school I have a girlfriend?¡± Yelena averted her gaze when she heard that. ¡°No, I just said it because you were bothered by a girl.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough. You don¡¯t need to exin. This is my home, so please leave immediately.¡± Her gaze lowered and tears streamed down her cheeks because she had never felt so aggrieved. ¡°Stop sobbing. I despise women who cry.¡± Max became even more irritated when he saw this. Seeing that he was oblivious to what was going on, Elspeth shook her head and proceeded to hold Yelena¡¯s arm. ¡°Don¡¯t be sad, Yelena. He is apassionate man despite his nasty temper and harsh comments. Don¡¯t take what he said to heart.¡± ¡°I have never been humiliated like this before. I don¡¯t care! I¡¯m not going anywhere and I¡¯m staying here!¡± At that, Yelena was about to bulldoze her way into the house. Max only felt a headacheing on upon. seeing that. ¡°Stop causing a scene. Alright, alright! I¡¯ll apologize to you.¡± Yelena stopped crying when she heard that. ¡°Are you certain?¡± ¡°I¡¯m very sorry. I should not have offended you. From now on, don¡¯t bother looking for me. We will nevermunicate again, alright?¡± We will nevermunicate again¡­ After hearing this, Yelena did not feel delighted. Instead, her heart broke a little at those words. He apologized, but is this the oue that I wanted? *1..¡± ¡°That¡¯s all there is to it. You may leave if there¡¯s nothing else. We have some work to do.¡± Yelena¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Where are you going?¡± When Elspeth noticed Max¡¯s irritation, she replied in his stead, ¡°His college is holding apetition, so we¡¯re going for a rehearsal.¡± ¡°Competition? Can I help out?¡± She gave Yelena a long look before saying, ¡°Max, you won¡¯t lose If you invite a star to thepetition.¡± Max, however, tly declined without the slightest hint of hesitation. ¡°No, I said that I do not want us to communicate any longer.¡± ¡®Max Winthrop, you¡¯re a coward, aren¡¯t you? You dislike me because you are terrified that I will steal your spotlight!¡± Yelena purposefully provoked him because she knew an impatient man like Max would fall for it. Sure enough, Max scowled with a disgusted expression on his face. ¡°Stop tooting your own horn. Not everyone likes you.¡± ¡°Then, why don¡¯t you let me be a part of your show? Isn¡¯t it because you¡¯re terrified? If so, it¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll be the mature one and not steal your limelight,¡± she said while squinting at him. Max responded by rolling his eyes. ¡°Come along, then. I doubt everyone will vote for you simply because your look better.¡± Is he praising my beauty in another way? Yelena was overjoyed and she quickly grinned. ¡°All right, then!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get too worked up. Prepare to be embarrassed if there is no significant impact once you join us.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t bother getting involved because the duo got along so well. ¡°In this case, you two can go now I have something to do and I won¡¯t be participating.¡± Max was concerned upon hearing that. ¡°This show cannot go on without you, Miss Elspeth!¡± ¡°Why not? I have just as many fans as she does. What exactly are you concerned about?¡± Yelena exuded confidence when she spoke. Elspeth stifled herugh and extended her hand to push the two beyond the door. ¡°Okay, if that¡¯s the case, you two should rush to college to practice. I¡¯m also heading out.¡± Mascle Chapter 81 Chapter 81 ¡°Don¡¯t be concerned, Elspeth. I will take care of Max!¡± Yelena stated. Max locked his gaze on her. ¡°I don¡¯t need your care!¡± Elspeth nodded when she heard that. ¡°Okay. Go ahead, then.¡± After saying goodbye to Max and Yelena, Elspeth went to the hospital alone. Since it had been three days, the DNA test results would be ready. However, she had no intention of reading the report when she received it. She was confident that she and Callum were not biologically rted. Margot only told aplicated falsehood to keep the two of them apart. Elspeth then returned the report to the Winthrop Residence. She ran into Arthur, who was at home changing clothes. When he noticed the report in her palm, he lifted his brows and smiled significantly. ¡°What did you do, Elspeth?¡± ¡°It¡¯s none of your concern. Don¡¯t you have anything more important to do?¡± She had stopped being cordial to him since the previous event. Arthur turned pale upon hearing that. Then, he remembered Elspeth¡¯s rage was justified, so he regained hisposure. ¡°Don¡¯t be mad at me, Elspeth. You¡¯ll soon realize that sticking with me is the best option.¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but smirk when she heard him talking gibberish. ¡°You think that is the right decision? No, thank you. I can¡¯t get help if you try to get rid of me and kill me.¡± Elspeth would never be able to forget Lydia or her mother¡¯s death. ¡°Callum is not for you, Elspeth. He was in love with Emma but quickly forgot about her and fell in love with you. How can you possibly believe him? You should also be aware that she will return in a short time. Even if he wants to be with you, she will affect him immediately. Oh, and by the way, you and she are alike in that you are both obstinate.¡± Arthur is still attempting to brainwash me! ¡°Okay, we all know what you¡¯re thinking,¡± Elspeth coldly remarked while taking a step back. ¡°You should run along with your work. I won¡¯t bother you any longer. Goodbye.¡± After speaking, she went upstairs directly. Arthur shook his head helplessly and smiled. Elspeth will never learn without experiencing pain. In the evening, everyone in the Winthrop Family was present. Elspeth took the opportunity to take the DNA test results from her bag after dinner. Mrs. Winthrop, we need to rify certain things.¡± She ced the report in front of Margot and lightly said, ¡°I must make it clear that I am not rted by blood to Mr. Winthrop. I don¡¯t want to say anything hurtful since it will cause harm to everyone. I did the test with Callum because I want you to know that my mother has nothing to do with Mr. Winthrop,¡± Callum sat there quietly and silently ate while listening to Elspeth¡¯s exnation. Elspeth knew she was doing it for Helena, not herself. She couldn¡¯t stand it when others disparaged a nice woman like her mother. ¡°Hmph! Who knows if you made changes to the report? Margot didn¡¯t want to admit it, so she devised numerous ways to deny it. Surprisingly, Arthur, who rarely stood out and spoke for Elspeth, now stated, ¡°Take a look, Mom. Wouldn¡¯t your be wronging an innocent person if you misunderstood the situation?¡± Margot locked her gaze on him. She hadn¡¯t expected Arthur, who was usually gentle and non- provoking, to say something like that. He was even siding with Elspeth, which made her very angry. Furthermore, ke couldn¡¯t bear the thought of Elspeth being harmed. ¡°Don¡¯t hurt an innocent person, Morn. Elspeth couldn¡¯t possibly be Dad¡¯s daughter.¡± Max also chimed in, ¡°That¡¯s correct, Mom. Elspeth¡¯s mother is not like this.¡± Edmund did not speak for Elspeth, but his look indicated that he felt his mother was messing around. At that point, Margot grumbled to herself, Elspeth is an evil witch! She has captivated myds to the point where they dare question me! ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, my mother is a good and honest person. I can¡¯t let her face this kind of injustice now that her whereabouts are unknown. Please read this report.¡± Elspeth then pushed the report over. Margot was too humiliated to continue causing problems at that moment, so she could only pick it up and browse through it. When thest page dered that the two had no blood ties, she knew that her strategy had failed. ¡°What do you think, Mrs. Winthrop? Is it simr to what I said? Mr. Winthrop and I are not rted by blood, correct?¡± Margot replied slowly, ¡°Yes. What¡¯s the big deal? My husband had feelings for your mother. Even if you aren¡¯t his child, how can you bear to be with Callum?¡± Arthur was taken aback when he heard that. How is that even possible?! I swapped the contents, so they should be blood rtives now. Elspeth didn¡¯t have the time or inclination to take another test. Plus, I tampered with it, so how can the oue be negative? Then, an audacious thought urred to him. Can it be that either Callum or I am not a Winthrop? The notion sent shivers up Arthur¡¯s spine. Callum will never be able to turn over a new leaf if he isn¡¯t a child of the Winthrop Family. But what if that person is me? It¡¯s alright; everything is fine. I¡¯ve worked my way up to this position step by step. The family will be mine as long as I marry Elspeth. I¡¯m not going to give up now! At that thought, he didn¡¯t mention anything about tampering with the report. Instead, heforted Margot, ¡°It¡¯s fine, Mom. Elspeth has a contract with the Winthrops that requires her to marry into the family at some point. If that¡¯s the case, she should avoid marrying any of the family¡¯s sons.¡± Margot suddenly realized she had made a slip of the tongue and she sighed. ¡°I trust you understand what I mean, Elspeth. I¡¯m not stopping you from associating with the Winthrops, but Callum¡¯s fianc¨¦e is Ophelia, as we agreed long ago. Everyone will be in trouble if you interfere in his life. You are a bright youngdy and I believe you understand what I mean.¡± However, Elspeth only lightly grinned. ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, we are in the twenty-first century. Parents¡¯ orders and matchmaking are no longermon. If you believe Ophelia is best suited to be Callum¡¯s wife, why not ask him about it? Inquire whether he prefers to marry Ophelia or me.¡± For the first time, Elspeth had stated her stand. Callum curved his lips slightly after listening She understands how to fight back. That¡¯s the woman I admire. Chapter 82 Chapter 82 Margot was so angry that she trembled all over. Elspeth is incredibly articte, and I can¡¯t argue with her! ¡°Say no more, Mom. Elspeth has my undivided love¡± When Callum said those words, he turned to look at Elspeth, only to find her with a poker face and the tips of her ears bing crimson. How adorable. Callum had a bold thought that astonished him. It is the first time I¡¯ve felt like this ¡°I will not agree to your rtionship. No matter what you say, I will not ept it!¡± Margot abruptly stood up. ¡°Im sorry I agreed to let Elspethe to our house. You¡¯d still be listening to me if it weren¡¯t for her!¡± After saying that, she went upstairs alone, leaving the remaining six people in disbelief. ke was the one who reacted the most and he couldn¡¯t help but wonder, ¡°Elspeth, do you really like Callumn?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± she asked with a smile upon seeing his disturbed expression. ¡°I first fell in love with you, so how can you possibly like him?¡± ke frowned. ¡°You too, Callum. Why did you change your mind? When I asked you before, you said you didn¡¯t like¡­¡± ¡°ke, are youining that your path to stardom is too smooth sailing?¡± Callum¡¯s eyes were filled with rage, yet his expression wasposed. ke couldn¡¯t help but shrink back when he heard that. ¡°You¡¯re threatening me with this yet again, Callum! Okay, I don¡¯t want to be a celebrity any longer. It makes no difference to me!¡± Still, he had to admit that he hade so far thanks to Callum¡¯s assistance. ¡°Alright. You may begin working for thepany immediately. Bulgaria desperately needs a technical director, so why not go work there?¡± ke had a thunderous expression on his face. ¡°No, Callum. I don¡¯t want to go there. It would be preferable if you delegated this task to others. Being a celebrity is appealing to me.¡± ke understood Callum¡¯s meaning when he looked at Elspeth. ¡°Even though Elspeth likes you, I¡¯m not going to give up. You may tell me if he bullies you, Elspeth. I¡¯ll take you away right away!¡± ¡°Do you enjoy being a spare that much?¡± Callum¡¯s voice was threatening. ke lowered his head as he noticed Callum¡¯s increasingly ferocious expression. ¡°It¡¯s only a joke¡­¡± At best, he only had an infatuation for Elspeth. Hence, he¡¯d feel sorry if he got into a fight with Callum because of her. Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at that. Only Callum can handle a stunning beast like ke. The encounter came to an abrupt conclusion. Arthur was irritated after Margot left angrily. Only Elspeth and Callum¡¯s rtionship had been exposed, and there was an ambiguous atmosphere between them. When Elspeth awoke the following day, she heard Ophelia. Despite Callum¡¯s rejection, Ophelia ignored it and came over. She imed to be visiting Margot, but her thoughts were not on the older woman. When Ophelia saw Elspeth go downstairs, she began to make phony statements like, ¡°You¡¯re awake, Elspeth Elspeth couldn¡¯t understand why Ophelia seemed unconcerned and continued to speak to her although they weren¡¯t fighting. ¡°You can still act cordial although we¡¯re fighting. Only you can aplish this, Elspeth stated as she stretched her back. She thought it was ludicrous. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing, I¡¯ll go back and catch up on sleep.¡± Elspeth turned around and was about to return to her room when Margot stopped her ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. ¡°I have something to tell you, Elspeth¡± She walked upstairs while winking at Ophelia, implying she was to follow along. ¡°I like you, Elspeth. You are intelligent and attractive, and many guys admire you. But why do you insist on spending time with Callurn? I hope you¡¯ll understand and leave him as soon as possible. This is how you and I can get along. Don¡¯t be concerned. The Winthrop Family¡¯s sons are all elites. You can have your pick of any of them, except for Callumn. If they don¡¯t appeal to you, I can introduce you to the sons of other prominent families. I swear I won¡¯t mistreat you,¡± Margot stated diplomatically. Elspeth would only be branded ignorant if she didn¡¯t take the clue and agree. On the other hand, Elspeth took a step back and chuckled lightly. ¡°I¡¯ve exined myself thoroughly, Mrs. Winthrop. You and I can¡¯t decide whom Callum is with. It¡¯s entirely up to him whether he marries Ophelia or anyone of his choosing.¡± Margot was so enraged that she lifted her arm and tried to p Elspeth. However, Elspeth responded swiftly enough to avoid her strike. As a result, Margot could not maintain her bnce and fell forward. As Margot was ready to slide down the stairs, Elspeth stretched out her right hand to hold Margot¡¯s wrist. ¡°Please hold on tight, Mrs. Winthrop,¡± Despite their disagreement, Elspeth couldn¡¯t stand by and watch the older woman slide down the steps. Ophelia stood back and observed the situation. Then she gave a nasty smirk. ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, I want to marry Callurn. Are you willing to make sacrifices for me? I¡¯m sure you will understand.¡± Margot gazed at Ophelia in surprise when she heard that. Then Ophelia fiercely pushed Elspeth. Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but let go of Margot and take a step back before regaining her bnce. Margot, on the other hand, rolled down the steps wildly while screaming the entire time. Ophelia screamed unexpectedly when she saw Margot tumble to the ground. ¡°No!¡± Everyone at the Winthrop Residence was surprised and they came rushing out. They were all terrified as they saw Margot roll to the ground. Arthur, who was well-versed in medical abilities, approached her and performed a brief physical examination. He then grimaced. ¡°Mom fell and lost consciousness, and she might have numerous fractures. Call an ambnce right now!¡± Callum then took out his cell phone to make a phone call. He turned to gaze at Elspeth and Ophelia behind him after briefly describing the problem. ¡°What happened?¡± Elspeth was taken aback. When she opened her lips to exin, Ophelia immediately interjected, ¡°It¡¯s all my fault, Callum. Mrs. Winthrop fell identally due to my actions, as it enraged Elspeth. It¡¯s entirely my fault!¡± Ophelia sobbed as she spoke and even nced at Elspeth with sadness. ¡°But Mrs. Winthrop is not guilty. How can she be at ease if the assant is not brought to justice?¡± Falling from such a high stairwell would cause serious injury even if one did not die. Ophelia was free to change the truth now that Margot couldn¡¯t testify. Elspeth knew Ophelia would say something like this, so she gave Ophelia a stern look. ¡°You did it on purpose to frame me.¡± Chapter 83 Chapter 83 Meeting Elspeth¡¯s fierce gaze, Ophelia got behind Callum, seemingly frightened. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I didn¡¯t mean to do it. Please don¡¯t push me.¡± She looked as if she witnessed Elspeth push Margot off the stairs with her own eyes and the shock still. lingered in her mind. ¡°Ophelia, you¡¯re responsible for Mrs. Winthrop¡¯s injury and you know it. You pushed me in the first ce, which in turn caused me to release her hand. Why are you putting all the me on me?¡± Tears rolled down Ophelia¡¯s cheeks. ¡°Elspeth, Mrs. Winthrop practically raised me. I would rather risk myself than hurt her. Besides, there¡¯s some kind of history between both of you. There¡¯s no way I¡¯ll hurt her.¡± Callum¡¯s first thought was to deny Elspeth¡¯s responsibility in pushing his mother, but he began to waver when he saw the certainty on Ophelia¡¯s face. He studied Elspeth with scrutiny. When he found the nk look on Elspeth¡¯s face, he couldn¡¯t describe the feelings that surged within him. ¡°Callum, you suspect me too, don¡¯t you?¡± In a split second, anger arose inside her as she noticed his hesitant expression. ¡°He hasn¡¯t said a word, Elspeth. Why are you getting carried away? Are you perhaps feeling guilty?¡± Ophelia chimed in to stoke the fire, trying to drive a wedge between the pair.. ¡°Elspeth, I¡¯m not trying to me anyone.¡± Callum paused, voice stern. ¡°However, I don¡¯t know whom I¡¯m supposed to believe when my mother is lying here unconscious.¡± His words sent a pang through her heart. Who would have thought the man who promised to marry her last night was the same person who doubted her character today? ¡°You don¡¯t believe me, do you? Fine. It¡¯s my fault that your mother fell down the stairs.¡± Callum was taken aback when she simply took the responsibility. He didn¡¯t mean to me her, but it seemed like she had misunderstood his words. ¡°Elspeth, you know I don¡¯t mean that.¡± At that, Elspeth took a deep breath. ¡°If so, pray tell, what are you suggesting? Do you expect me to ignore the look you give me when all you do is stand there and look at me as if I¡¯m a suspect?¡± He did not dare to meet her gaze. ¡°You know what, Callum? Remember not to make promises you can¡¯t keep in the future.¡± Closing her eyes, she burst intoughter. ¡°It¡¯s ridiculous.¡± It was indeed a ridiculous situation to her, which exined the tears threatening to trickle down her cheeks. ¡°I will go. Are you happy now?¡± Ophelia was pleased to watch the fight unfold between the two. However, she wasn¡¯t impressed with the oue. Thus, she added, ¡°Not so fast. The ident might turn out to be a criminal offense. It can¡¯t be solved with just a reprimand. It needs a sentence.¡± Callum clenched his fists, and his eyes were shooting daggers at the talking woman. ¡°Enough, Ophelia.¡± ¡°Why should I stop? Callum, she¡¯s the cause of your mother¡¯s injury, but you¡¯re choosing to side with her? Have you forgotten all about your mother?¡± She couldn¡¯t understand it. Why is he hesitating and worrying about his romantic rtionship when his mother¡¯s life is hanging in the bnce? ¡°Mind your own business. I¡¯ll deal with my affairs on my own.¡± ¡°Then, ask her to prove it, Callum. If she can prove her innocence, I¡¯ll apologize to her. Or else, I¡¯ll never forgive her for hurting Mrs. Winthrop!¡± Her words came cut powerful, so much so that even Elspeth could almost believe that. ¡°Elspeth.¡± Callum turned to Elspeth with a hint of a plea in his eyes. She knew that look-Callum was asking her to show him the evidence to prove her innocence. He put too much faith in her, believing she could find a solution and get out of the mess. Unfortunately, he was wrong this time. No matter the conflict between her and Margot, or the fact that she let go of the other woman¡¯s hand in the first ce, everything pointed to her as the culprit. It was funny to learn there wasn¡¯t even a surveince camera around such a huge vi. ¡°I don¡¯t have any evidence.¡± When Callum heard that, the light in his eyes died down, The ambnce arrived and took Margot away on a stretcher. Callum cast Elspeth onest look before he withdrew his gaze. Then, he turned around and left with the ambnce. He paid no mind to exin his behavior to her. All he felt was calm after being hit by disappointment. Callum¡¯s stance was clear, and Elspeth realized something from the look he was giving her. The corners of her lips curled into a bitter and self-loathing smile. Arthur¡¯s right. Callum has always been a cold and heartless man. How is it possible for him to open up that easily and give someone his heart? It seems like he hasn¡¯t given me his full trust. If so, what¡¯s the point of staying? It shredded her heart into pieces and the pain was agonizing. Looking around the vi, which was in a mess after the ident, Elspeth felt like she was an outsider all along. Since nobody weed her, she chose to leave. And just like that, Elspeth left without telling anybody. Callum was keeping his motherpany in the hospital when he learned the news of Elspeth¡¯s departure. Her departure immediately left a void in him. Ophelia interpreted the lost look on his face as Callum being worried that Margot was unable to wake up. Hence, she immediatelyforted him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much, Callum. You know they say that the good ones are blessed. It¡¯s time for you to take a break. It¡¯s been a whole night since you¡¯ve been sitting there.¡± She wouldn¡¯t deny that she felt bad to see the stubble on his face and the dark circles under his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Edmund needs to manage thepany and Arthur is busy with operations. ke¡¯s career comes first and Max has his studies. There¡¯s no one else to look after Mom if I don¡¯t take responsibility.¡± Callum was looking at the bigger picture. Noticing Ophe was yawning from time to time, he felt sorry to drag her into this matter. ¡°That¡¯s enough. You¡¯ve been staying here the whole night just like I have.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Go to sleep now.¡± A smile stretched across her face. ¡°Callum, I willingly look after Mrs. Winthrop. She¡¯s always been nice to me. How can I turn my back on her when she needs me?¡± ¡°I appreciate it.¡± His words of gratitude were an indication to Ophelia that he was feeling sorry for her. As such, she waved her hands in dismissal. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, Callum. Even though you don¡¯t reciprocate my feelings, we grew up together. You don¡¯t have to thank me.¡± She was adept at pretending to be pure and innocent. As expected, her words made Callum ponder if he was being too rude to her earlier on. After all, he had coldly rejected her confession. Ordinary women would have run away in tears after his rejection, let alone not holding a grudge against him and being there for his mother without aint. ¡°Callum, what are you going to do with Elspeth?¡± Ophelia tried to beat around the bush, but the question alone ignited his fury in an instant. ¡°I told you it¡¯s none of your business!¡± The question made him irritable again. That name was taboo to Callum. Ophelia managed to push his buttons and he simply couldn¡¯t keep calm around the mention of the name. Knowing another question at the moment would result in ruining her good image, she changed the topic. ¡°All right. You don¡¯t have to get mad. I feel kind of hungry now. Let¡¯s go get something to eat, shall we?¡± Chapter 84 Chapter 84 Callum answered coldly, ¡°I¡¯m not hungry. You go ahead.¡± Noticing that he was in a bad mood, Ophelia realized her overstay would only make the situation worse. Thus, she rose to her feet and left the room in a hurry. After she departed, silence fell in the room in a split second. Taking out his phone, Callum involuntarily dialed Elspeth¡¯s number. To his surprise, the number he tried to call had been disconnected. He had a hard time digesting the fact as his heart gave him a lurch. At that moment, he was over with the thoughts that kept troubling him. After calling Arthur over to temporarily watch over their mother, Callum drove to thepany. On a typical day, Elspeth would have arrived at thepany around this time and gotten ready for work. However, just as he arrived at thepany, he received a call from the HR Department. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, Miss Lynwood just called. She is quitting her job. She also exined that she has emailed you the resignation letter.¡± Callum followed the words and opened his email. He wasn¡¯t surprised to find an unread mail in his inbox. The letter was written in a formal and serious tone, leaving no room for argument. She was determined to vanish from his life. After that, Callum called Harper. As expected, Harper answered the phone impatiently, ¡°Mr. Winthrop, are you calling for a discussion about the coboration project between Azure Corporation and Winthrop Group next quarter?¡± Callum answered with a low voice, ¡°It¡¯s not about that. Do you perhaps know where Elspeth is?¡± ¡°Elspeth?¡± Harper snorted. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, you guys live together, don¡¯t you? Howe you ask me about her? I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t help you with that. I¡¯m not her bodyguard, you know.¡± For a moment, Harper¡¯s retort put Callum at a loss for words as he was overwhelmed with emotion. ¡°Now, if you¡¯ll excuse me, I¡¯m going back to my work. After all, you¡¯re a busy man. There¡¯s no way you could spare me a few moments for a light talk, isn¡¯t it?¡± Once Harper finished his words, he hung up the phone. ¡°Good job.¡± Elspeth, who had been listening to his conversation in silence, raised her brows in amusement and shed him a smile. ¡°I¡¯ll treat you to the bar tonight.¡± Hearing such words from Elspeth as soon as Harper ended the call frightened him so much that he almost let his phone slip from his hand. ¡°Elsie, count me out if you want to drink. It¡¯s exhausting to drink with you.¡± ¡°What¡¯s with that look? Do you have a problem with hanging with me?¡± She narrowed her eyes and cast him at warning look. Harper broke into a cold sweat at her unexpected threat. ¡°Nonsense! I dly apany you. It¡¯s my honor to spend the night with you.¡± He must have had a death wish if he disobeyed the female tyrant. He wouldn¡¯t dare risk his safety to upset her which could lead her to assign him to some dangerous tasks. ¡°Good. Let¡¯s go right now.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t give him any time to back out as she immediately dragged him to the bar. She even chose somewhere else instead of Luna Bar, which she frequented, to avoid running into Callum. ¡°Elsie, you worry too much. His mother¡¯s life is hanging in the bnce at the moment. He won¡¯t be in the mood to drink.¡± Elspeth took a gulp of beer. ¡°You¡¯re right. He even thinks I¡¯m the culprit hurting his mother.¡± Harper¡¯s eyes blew wide in surprise. ¡°To be honest, he looks like a smart guy. He can be quite a fool during a crucial moment, huh? You¡¯re not the kind of person who would hurt someone. No offense but I doubt if Callum truly likes you. Howe he never gives you his full trust?¡± Elspeth fiddled with the beer ss as the ghost of a smile curled her lips. ¡°But he doesn¡¯t share your opinion. He thinks I¡¯m the one who did it. Even though it¡¯s an ident, he thinks I¡¯m still responsible for his mother¡¯s injury.¡± ¡°Then why did he call you? Was it just for show?¡± Her head tilted to the side when she pondered. Her eyes were shining with excitement as she was intoxicated. ¡°Maybe he worries that I¡¯ll run away.¡± Harper nearly choked on his drink. This girl just talks through her hat! ¡°What are you going to do next?¡± A scowl formed between his brows. He could understand that Elspeth was in a difficult position. ¡°You can¡¯t possibly leave without clearing the name, or it would seem like you are fleeing from justice.¡±C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. She responded with a chuckle, ¡°I won¡¯t leave. There¡¯s no way I¡¯m taking the fall. Our imperative is to gather evidence of Ophelia pushing Margot off the stairs.¡± Harper tilted his head to the side and wondered out loud. ¡°What are you nning to do?¡± ¡°There is no surveince camera around the vi, so that¡¯s not an option to find the culprit. It was just the three of us on the stairs at the time, and there were no others around. However, I remember Ophelia saying harsh words to Margot before Margot got pushed down the stairs. Margot definitely heard them, so-¡± Realization immediately dawned on Harper. ¡°So, for now, we should wait until Margot wakes up. By that time, she can testify against Ophelia herself.¡± ¡°You¡¯re only half right.¡± Elspeth shook her head with a smile. ¡°Our top priority will be tricking Ophelia into admitting her doing. We need to tape when she confesses because we can¡¯t guarantee that she wouldn¡¯t hurt Margot again.¡± The frown between Harper¡¯s brows fell deeper. ¡°What a cruel woman Ophelia is. I can¡¯t believe she would actually hurt the woman who raises her.¡± ¡°When ites to love, all of us are lovesick fools. However, Ophelia takes it to another level.¡± Admiration was written all over Harper¡¯s face. ¡°That¡¯s usible, Elsie. Your words make sense. So, what¡¯s going on between Callum and you? I can see you¡¯re not happy, which exins your behavior of trying to drink the sorrows away right now.¡± What¡¯s going on between us? The question put her in thought. He disappointed me and hurt me. What else? She took another gulp of her beer with a bitter smile to suppress the stale taste that rose in her throat. ¡°It doesn¡¯t concern you By the way, I need a favor.¡± A moment ago, Harper was still slouching on the couch. Her words immediately alerted him to sit upright ¡°I¡¯m all ears, Elsie. What can I do for you?¡± ¡°Find someone to keep an eye over Margot Don¡¯t let anyone from Ophelia¡¯s side get to Margot. Margot may never wake up again if Ophelia did something to her¡± Judging from Ophelia¡¯s character, Elspeth was positive that Ophelia would definitelyy a hand on Margot again. After all, Margot was Callum¡¯s mother. Even though Elspeth and she didn¡¯t always see eye to eye, Margot was still an elder. If anything happened to Margot, Callum would be devastated. Elspeth had lost her parents and she understood how much it hurt. Therefore, she didn¡¯t have the heart to see him suffer the same pain. ¡°Have you forgotten that Callum doesn¡¯t trust you enough? Why do you still care about him to the point your can¡¯t leave him alone? He doesn¡¯t deserve you.¡± Harper rolled his eyes. Elspeth is right. She¡¯s indeed one of the lovesick fools blinded by love. She cleared her throat. ¡°Margot is the mother of the Winthrop siblings. Since I¡¯m on good terms with some of them, I don¡¯t want to let them down.¡± This didn¡¯t convince Harper at all. He knew Elspeth was merely being perfunctory with him. ¡°All right. I get it.¡± After a couple of drinks, Elspeth began to feel a little lightheaded, and her stomach was churning. Hence, she walked away and headed to the washroom. She found a familiar figure outside her destination. Is that Callum? Why did hee here? Before she could call out to the man, he turned around. Then, she finally realized that the man wasn¡¯t Callum when she looked at his face. He merely shared a simr height with Callum. A lustful expression settled onto the man¡¯s face when he found a drunk beauty getting closer to him. ¡°Hey Gorgeous, are you lost? Why are you here, all alone and drunk? Do you needpany?¡± The man looked familiar, but Elspeth couldn¡¯t quite put a name to the face. Watching the man approach her, she staggered a step backward. Chapter 85 Chapter 85 Only when the person¡¯s face was almost an inch close to Elspeth¡¯s face did she see who he was. At that moment, memories shed across her mind, and she widened her eyes when she thought of a person. Isn¡¯t he the man who is always by Callum¡¯s side? Elspeth remembered that this man was always there, whether it was her first encounter with Callum in the bar or when she teased Callum when she was drunk. Moreover, she felt like this man had a close rtionship with Callum. ¡°You look a bit familiar¡­ Hey, aren¡¯t you Elspeth? Why are you drinking alone in the bar? Is Callum not here with you?¡± When the man saw that it was Elspeth, he quivered for a second. However, seeing that she was alone, he couldn¡¯t help but have some wicked ideas. As he spoke, he slowly sneaked his hand around her waist. Since Elspeth wore a dress that showed her waist, he couldn¡¯t help but keep touching her smooth and delicate skin. On the other hand, Elspeth tried to struggle out of his grip, but to no avail. Then, she red at the man harshly and said, ¡°What do you think you are doing?¡± Although the man acted like a pervert, he was good-looking, seemingly like a wealthy man. Seeing that Elspeth was a feisty one, the man grew excited. ¡°Let me introduce myself to you, Elspeth. My name is Hex Sullivan. I bet you have heard of Sullivan Corporation. That is my family¡¯s business. If you wish, you can be my girlfriend, and I promise you that you will have a great life.¡± Hex Sullivan¡­ Looking at his face, Elspeth smiled. When Hex saw her smile, he was captivated. Just as he was about to continue his words, a foot suddenly stepped on his harshly. ¡°Ahh!!!¡± Immediately, he loosened his hand that was around her waist. Then, before he had the chance to teach Elspeth a lesson, she grabbed his ear. ¡°Who do you think you are to be flirting with me? Do you think I won¡¯t fight back?¡± said Elspeth. Since she had taken some shots, she didn¡¯t restrain herself like she usually would. Plus, she was angry with Callum just a moment ago, so she was not in a good mood. At this moment, Hex had just dug his own grave. Hex was just a flirter. At that moment, he was frightened and covered his ears as he yelped in pain. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry. I really am. I won¡¯t do it ever again. Please just let me go!¡± Hex cried out. Never had he expected that Elspeth was a tough one. All I did was flirt with her, and yet she embarrassed me! In the end, before Elspeth was done with him, she heard a familiar voice behind her. ¡°Elspeth? What¡¯s going on?¡± Hearing the voice, Elspeth turned around and saw that it was Yelena. She almost couldn¡¯t recognize Yelena when thetter had worn heavy makeup. However, it was best for Yelena to do so since she needed to lower her profile with that reputation of hers. After all, who would have thought that this sexy woman was Yelena when she had always pictured herself as innocent? C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. ¡°Why are you here? Elspeth was confused. Before Yelena could exin, she saw Elspeth grabbing Hex¡¯s ear and couldn¡¯t help but twitch her lips. ¡°Elspeth, what are you¡­¡± ¡°He is a pervert. He assaulted me just now, so I am teaching him a lesson.¡± ¡°What do you mean by assault? It was an ident. Are you that uptight? I would never want a woman whom Callum rejected!¡± Hex yelled. A hint of glint shed across Elspeth¡¯s eyes when she heard his words. Then, she put more force onto his ear. ¡°Ouch! I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll never touch you ever again. Please forgive me, okay?¡± he borated as he thought, How unlucky of me to encounter such a crazy woman! ¡°Hex, are you here to hook up with some girls? I¡¯m going to tell Dad about this right now, and you will be grounded again!¡± Yelena fished out her phone and was going to make the call. When Hex saw her actions, he looked at her in horror and said, ¡°My baby sister. My dear Yelena. Please, don¡¯t tell Dad. He will kill me if he finds out about this!¡± ¡°No, he won¡¯t. He will just ground you for days to make you learn your lesson. He won¡¯t do anything else to you!¡± she responded. However, Hex was frightened by the prior experience where he was locked in the dark. He never wanted to relive that horrible experience ever again. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll apologize to her, okay? Just don¡¯t tell Dad!¡± Then, he turned around and apologized to Elspeth unwillingly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s all my fault. I hope that you can forgive me.¡± Realization hit upon Elspeth when she looked at the duo. Yelena Sullivan and Hex Sullivan¡­ They are siblings. When Yelena saw that Elspeth didn¡¯t budge, she frowned and said, ¡°She hasn¡¯t forgiven you yet. Keep apologizing to her, or I will tel§Û Dad!¡± When Hex heard her words, he had a painful expression. ¡°What? Why? I have apologized to her already!¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t say it sincerely, so that doesn¡¯t count. Keep going!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you try to fool me, Yelena. I know your dirt too. I know you have a crush on Ma-¡± Before Hex could finish his words, Yelena covered his mouth. Looking at their interactions, Elspeth was not angry anymore. Rather, she found it funny. ¡°Alright, stop fighting. It¡¯s fine.¡± Hearing her words, Yelena released Elspeth¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Hex has this attitude since no one has ever taught him manners.¡± When Hex heard his sister¡¯s words, he was going to retort. However, he bit back his tongue when he saw Yelena ring at him. ¡°Why are you here too, Elspeth?¡± ¡°Nothing much. I¡¯m just here to have some drinks.¡± As Elspeth spoke, she was almost sober. ¡°I have heard what happened with you and the Winthrops from Hex. Don¡¯t fret. I know you aren¡¯t that kind of a person. I believe in you!¡± When Elspeth heard her words, she felt touched and sad at the same time. Even Yelena chose to believe me no matter what, but Callum¡­ No, why am I thinking about this again? Then, Elspeth shook her head. Then, she asked Yelena, ¡°What are you doing here tonight? Aren¡¯t you afraid that someone might recognize you?¡± When Hex heard her words, he immediately interrupted and borated, ¡°It¡¯s only natural for her to be here when that Max kid is here too. She always follows him around like a stalker. If her fans were to know that the Human Barbie stalked someone like a serial killer, they would have unfollowed her.¡± ¡°Max?¡± When Elspeth said the name, she could see Yelena blush furiously. ¡°Elspeth¡­¡± ¡°Okay. Why here, though?¡± At that moment, Yelena fidgeted and didn¡¯t know how to tell Elspeth about it. On the other hand, Hex couldn¡¯t stand seeing Yelena¡¯s reaction and said, ¡°Today is my birthday, so I invited Max over. You know how I have many women surrounding me, so she fears that someone might steal Max from her. That is why she is here.¡± Chapter 86 Chapter 86 At that moment, Yelena was red in the face. She would be lying if she said she wasn¡¯t embarrassed when her thoughts were exposed. On the other hand, Hex had already forgotten his flirtatious attempts toward Elspeth and got familiar with her after talking for some time. ¡°Alright, now, let¡¯s go back. What about you, Elspeth? Do you want to join us?¡± ¡°No, thanks. You guys have fun,¡± said Elspeth. Hearing her words, Hex pouted and walked away. On the other hand, Yelena patted Elspeth on the shoulder while looking at her calm expression. ¡°I know you must feel terrible after you went through such a thing. Don¡¯t worry, Elspeth. The truth will soon be revealed, and you will be proven innocent.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Well, since I have snuck out and don¡¯t feel like sitting with them, why don¡¯t you apany me? We can have some small talk over there.¡± After Yelena finished speaking, she looked at Elspeth expectantly. Just as Elspeth was going to refuse her proposal, her phone suddenly rang. It was Harper, and he told Elspeth that he couldn¡¯te over since thepany had some urgent business. ¡°Come on. Hang with me. Your friend can¡¯t make it anyway.¡± Yelena immediately grabbed Elspeth and found a ce to sit. Then, she propped her head with her hands as she looked at Max, who was in the dark, with adoration. ¡°Why do you like him, Yelena?¡± asked Elspeth. She had always wondered how someone as proud as Yelena would fall in love with Max, who was bad-tempered. She remembered the first time she had met Max and talking to him was a disaster. ¡°Oh, me?¡± Yelena recalled the memory from her past. ¡°To be honest, my first encounter with Max wasn¡¯t when he saved me. I have known him for a long time before that.¡± Elspeth paused a little as she didn¡¯t expect them to have known each other for longer than that. ¡°Our first encounter was two years ago. At that moment, I was only fifteen years old and hadn¡¯t debuted yet. I was a trainee then, and the teacher kept scolding me for not dancing well. I had bruises all over my body, which was terrible, so I always cried at theke behind thepany.¡± As Yelena recalled the past, she felt that it was bittersweet. ¡°Max was only sixteen years old when we met. He was in high school, and the coincidence was that his school was right next to mypany. That¡¯s how I met him one time when I was crying by theke.¡± Elspeth imagined what had happened as she listened to the story. ¡°So, heforted you, and you fell in love with him?¡± Thinking about the scene, Yelenaughed and said, ¡°No. He thought I was going to jump into theke and quickly grabbed me. We both fell into theke since it was too slippery. He saved me from the water and gave me a scolding, but I thought that he looked cute.¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but twitch her lips. As expected, only a plot twist would fit these two gremlins. ¡°What happens next?¡± Elspeth asked. Then, Yelena propped her chin as she recalled. ¡°After that, he left. He told me not to give up on life and continue to live. At that moment, I still didn¡¯t know his name, not until he saved me again that day. And in that split second, I knew that it was fate. Haha, he can¡¯t escape from me.¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t recognize you?¡± Elspeth was stunned. ¡°Yeah. He didn¡¯t remember who I was. Hence, when I grabbed onto him excitedly thest time, he thought that I was a pervert and told me to stay away from him.¡± As Yelena spoke, she looked distressed. ¡°How could you not know Max when Hex knew the Winthrops?¡± Hearing her question, Yelena rolled her eyes. Then, she clicked her tongue and said, ¡°It¡¯s not the same. He always goes out drinking with them, but my lifestyle is different. I have never gone out with them; this is the first time I have ever entered a bar. It¡¯s interesting. Then, she looked around and winked secretly. ¡°I want to have a drink, Elspeth. Can you not tell Hex about it?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t drink when you are underage.¡± Elspeth refused. Hearing her words, Yelenay lifelessly on the chair. ¡°Alright then.¡± Suddenly, she jerked up and said, ¡°Look, Elspeth, who is that girl?¡± Then, Elspeth followed the direction where she had pointed and saw that a girl was sitting next to Max. The girl looked innocent with light makeup on. ¡°She looked like a student. Is this the kind of girl Max likes?¡± Yelena was frustrated and wanted to push the girl away from Max. ¡°Student¡­¡± Seeing that the girl was sitting there ufortably, Elspeth felt her heart throb in pain. At that moment, she thought of Lydia, the girl whom she saved but got her whole family killed. This time, she didn¡¯t dare to step up. ¡°Say, Elspeth, is she prettier than me? Cuter than me? Or better-looking than me?¡± asked Yelena. Hearing her words, Elspeth looked at the young and innocent girl and then back to Yelena, who looked stunning even with the makeup on. Then, she couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°It¡¯s only natural that our big star looks the best. After all, it¡¯s not easy to be a celebrity, let alone be crowned the title Human Barbie.¡± ¡°Hmph, I know that. Max has bad taste in women,¡± said Yelena. ¡°Alright. Stop thinking about it. She might just be a barmaid. How will Max fall in love with such a woman? You must be overthinking,¡± Elspeth coaxed her. ¡°I¡¯m not. Look at them. He even stopped her from drinking. He has never been so gentle before!¡± When Yelena saw the scene, she was enraged. At that moment, she couldn¡¯t suppress her emotions and rushed toward them. However, as soon as she stood in front of them, she realized that she would be giving herself away to appear in the public eye since she had snuck out. At that moment, her anger vanished, and she looked timid. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Max frowned and asked when he saw her lowering her head, looking embarrassed. Yelena had curves on her body, looking too mature for her age. Her face was even more stunning, and the heavy makeup made her look more seductive rather than innocent. Isn¡¯t she afraid of getting in trouble in the bar with such clothes and heavy makeup? Max thought. When Yelena heard his words, her eyes lit up, and she looked happy. ¡°Are you worried about me?¡± At that moment, Max averted his gaze and said, ¡°No.¡± When Yelena heard his words, she immediately turned gloomy and said, ¡°Alright then. Why are you with her?¡± ¡°Who?¡± Max¡¯s tone was still cold since he didn¡¯t know who she was talking about. ¡°That girl beside you. Why are you with her? What¡¯s so good about her?¡± Yelena questioned. When Max turned his head and saw the girl cowering in fear, he felt impatient and said, ¡°What¡¯s that got to do with you?¡± Chapter 87 Chapter 87 ¡°Fine. It¡¯s none of my business. You guys can continue to be lovey-dovey here. Sorry for disturbing you.¡± Yelena held back her tears and finished her sentence. As soon as she said that, she ran away crying. From afar, when Elspeth looked at Yelena leaving the ce, her forehead furrowed. Just as she wanted to chase after Yelena, someone grabbed her on her right wrist. ¡°Elspeth.¡± She turned around and saw Callum with a cold expression. ¡°Why are you here?¡± He came from the direction of the washroom. Oh, no wonder. She was a little surprised just now about Callum not attending the event since he had such a close rtionship with Hex, but it was just that he was in the washroom, so she didn¡¯t notice him. ¡°Oh, right. It¡¯s Hex¡¯s birthday today. You should be here as his crony.¡± Her words were ironic, but he didn¡¯t mind at all. He just stared straight into her eyes. ¡°What do you want?¡± Her mind was filled with going after Yelena, and because the person stopping her was Callum, her tone was slightly impatient. ¡°Get out of my way if you have nothing to say. Don¡¯t waste my time.¡± Callum was dumbfounded. This was the first time he saw how much Elspeth didn¡¯t want to see a person. ¡°Since we met here, I want to talk to you.¡± She had been hiding so well, so he had been finding her for a long time and he finally came across her today. ¡°I don¡¯t have time.¡± ¡°I just need five minutes.¡± When Elspeth saw that he was so persistent and her wrist was being grabbed so tightly, she could only nod resignedly. across After they randomly found a ce to sit down, Elspeth looked at him across from her and got straight to the point. ¡°Is this about your mother¡¯s incident?¡± ¡°I want to know how she fell down the stairs.¡± Elspeth scoffed at that. ¡°I thought you suspected that I did it.¡± After a moment of silence, Callum calmly replied, ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± His aura turned cold all of a sudden. ¡°No.¡± ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. His answer arose something bitter inside her. I knew it. Just like what I expected. ¡°Since you don¡¯t believe me. I have nothing else to say. I¡¯m busy. I need to go now.¡± She stood up and was ready to leave but was stopped by Callum again. ¡°I¡¯m not saying that I don¡¯t believe you, but¡­ Ophelia can¡¯t harm my mother.¡± He would rather suspect that Margot fell identally than hold Ophelia ountable for it. For Ophelia, Margot treated her like a birth mother would, so she couldn¡¯t harm Margot. ¡°So, you really think that I hurt her, right? Fine. It¡¯s my fault then.¡± Elspeth sneered. She was not only disappointed in him but hadpletely lost her hope in him. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to look for me anymore. I will find evidence to clear my name. Before I find anything, please don¡¯te into my life and disturb me.¡± This sentence drew a clear line in their rtionship. ¡°Must you be like this?¡± She smiled. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, is there any use for you to say all these now? It¡¯s better for you to calm Ophelia down. When the truth surfaces, she won¡¯t be just staying in the police station for a few days.¡± ¡°Elspeth¡­¡± Callum frowned. ¡°Stop calling my name. I¡¯m leaving.¡± Callum had always been clever. It was out of her expectation that he couldn¡¯t see clearly in these things. She didn¡¯t want to waste her breath on this man who couldn¡¯t distinguish between what was right and wrong, so she turned around and left right away. Seeing her leave, Callum felt strangely frustrated. After he sent a text to Hex, he left the bar and returned to the hospital to look after Margot. On the other hand, as soon as Elspeth left the ce, her phone rang suddenly and caught her off guard. It was a text from Yelena, but the content made her on tenterhooks ¡®Save me, Elspeth!¡± Those words frightened Elspeth. Just as she wanted to dial Yelena¡¯s number, her actions came to a halt at the Based on Yelena¡¯s hasty personality, she would never contact her through text messages. So, there were only two possibilities. Either someone held Yelena down, took her phone, and threatened her to send the text, or she was hiding, so she couldn¡¯t call her. At this thought, she quickly used her phone to locate Yelena. With some hacking skills, she was able to find Yelena¡¯s location within seconds. This ce.. She frowned when she saw the location. Isn¡¯t this the ce where I talked to Callum just now? Even though she had some doubts, she still rushed to the ce in a hurry. Not only that she had a close rtionship with Yelena, but Yelena was also a top star in the entertainment industry. If anything happened to her, the whole industry might be in chaos. When she rushed to the location, Callum had already left. She looked up and down carefully and even looked under the bench but didn¡¯t find anyone. Where is this location, then? Suddenly, her steps came to a halt when she heard a slow and rhythmic knocking from the bottom of the wooden floor. Knock. Knock Knock. Elspeth immediately knew where Yelena was. At this thought, she dashed toward the entrance of the basement. Basements were usually used to store wine, so the door was shut. There was even a password lock hanging on it. If an outsider entered the wrong password, the rm program would be activated automatically. By that time, Yelena might be in great danger. She carefully studied the password lock and found out that this kind of lock was not difficult to decrypt as Mark had taught her how to do it before. The decryption process just needed a few simple applications. So, she took out her miniptop from her bag and keyed in a series of codes, hacking into the hotel¡¯s security system. After that, she got her hands on the basement¡¯s password in the nick of time. Once the door was opened, Elspeth crept into the basement step by step. Even though the basement was dark, she didn¡¯t dare turn on the lights, so she could only depend on the faint glow of the luminous pearls on the wall to find her way. The source of the knock was getting closer. She just needed to open the door in front of her before seeing Yelena. At this moment, the knock suddenly became a rapid thump, but within three seconds, it turned back into a slow knock. Elspeth¡¯s hand on the doorknob froze for a moment. She stayed alert as she held a dagger that was hidden in her sleeves in her left hand and hid it behind her back, while she continued to open the door with her right hand. As expected, the first thing she saw after opening the door was Yelena being tied up on a chair. Her hair was a mess, and she looked feeble. Noticing that Elspeth was unmoved, she tried hard to say something, but only grunts could be heard. In the end, she jumped up sharply, knocking her head against the ceiling. At this moment, Elspeth smiled secretly, as it was just like what she thought-the rhythmic knock was not caused by Yelena, but the heavy thump was. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m here to save you.¡± She put on a faint smile. Just as she took a step forward, the door was suddenly shut. ¡°I knew it! I knew you would walk into this trap on your own feet!¡± When she turned around, she saw a strange man with a face mask, looking ferocious. Puzzled, she asked, ¡°Do you know me?¡± ¡°Of course! Not only do I know you, I even hold a grudge against you!¡± ¡°Well, let¡¯s hear it.¡± The man put on an evil smile with a death stare. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t because you chose Yelena, the Winthrop Group should be coborating with my artist. But now, not only did she not want me as her manager anymore, but she even asked every artist in the entertainment industry to boycott me. I lost my job. How am I supposed to feed my family? Now, don¡¯t you think you should go to hell?¡± It was a minor problem for his artist to abandon him, but he would rather be dead than alive if he couldn¡¯tnd another job Chapter 88 Chapter 88 ¡°May I know which artist you are referring to?¡± Elspeth could tell he was a pitiful man after listening to what he said. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter whom I¡¯m referring to. The point is¡­ you are the cause of my misery!¡± The man almost lost his mind. At that moment, the only thing he could think of was to grab onto Elspeth and torture her to release his pent-up rage. ¡°Both you and Yelena are the cause of my misery! Both of you should die!¡± With that, he charged at them with a dagger in his hand. The quick-witted Elspeth was able to dodge his attack by grabbing his wrist and pushing him onto the ground. ¡°You!¡± The startled man looked at her as if he never expected that she could respond that quickly. He even forgot to pick up his dagger from the ground. ¡°Timothy. I know how upset you feel after being fired, which is why you are venting out your anger at us, but do you think that you¡¯ll feel better after killing us? If I¡¯m dead, there will be numerous people going after you, your wife, and your children. Is that what you want?¡± Her firm tone of voice finally made Timothye to his senses. ¡°How do you know my name?¡± ¡°I know that among the female stars who are Yelena¡¯s rivals, Fiona is the most arrogant and well- known. Her poprity is almost on par with Yelena¡¯s and her achievements are all thanks to you, Timothy. Unfortunately. she didn¡¯t cherish it and instead drove you away. I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll regret it in the future.¡± Timothy never expected her to utter such words as he was just about to kill her earlier¡­ ¡°Timothy, if you don¡¯t mind, I can refer you for a decent job.¡± ¡°What decent job could you offer me? Fiona made the entire inte cklist me. She never thought of giving me a way out.¡± He sounded unsure. ¡°If I say that I can refer you to the position of director in one of the most famous management companies under Azure Corporation?¡± ¡°Are you referring to¡­ Luminous? Luminous Entertainment was regarded as the most profitable entertainment as of now. Timothy had previously had a hard time in Gleam Entertainment under the Alphascape Group. Although he had poprized countless celebrities under thepany, he couldn¡¯t make it to a director since he did not concern himself with the gift- giving culture and came off as someone morally lofty. But Luminous! Everyone knew how robust it was! Even Gleam Entertainment wasn¡¯t itspetitor. As the President of Azure Corporation, offering someone a job there was a piece of cake. ¡°D-do you mean it?¡± Timothy asked in a quavering voice. He never expected that the aplished lady standing in front of him was that capable. ¡°Of course. I know Azure¡¯s vice president.¡± Elspeth winked at him cheekily. Seeing that made Timothy¡¯s heart waver as he wasn¡¯t sure whether he¡¯d be given a second chance in his career. Before he could thank her, he suddenly looked at her cautiously. ¡°What if you are lying to me?¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I¡¯ve never lied to anyone. One more thing. I set up my phone beforeing here. It will automatically make a report to the police if I couldn¡¯t locate Yelena within half an hour. The choice is yours. You either get a be the director at Luminous and thrive in your career or¡­¡± Elspeth nced at him and paused as if she was implying something. The options were simple: he could either choose to have a bright future or a dim one where he had to spend his life in hiding. Moreover, he knew that there was no chance he could win against Elspeth in a fight and doing so would be a dead end. ¡°Your child needs their father. Don¡¯t you agree, Director Stevens?¡± Elspeth smiled as she spoke, and it made Timothy change his mind. ¡°Alright, I-I¡¯ll release Yelena.¡± With trembling hands, he untied Yelena¡¯s ropes and tore off the ck tape on her mouth. ¡°Elspeth, why the heck did you help him!¡± As soon as Yelena was released, she ran and stood behind Elspeth before giving him a fierce re. ¡°I¡¯m not helping him. I have my agenda.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± In Yelena¡¯s eyes, Timothy was a nasty man who kidnapped her, and he deserved to be arrested. She couldn¡¯t believe that Elspeth helped him! ¡°Timothy is a capable man.¡± Before this, Elspeth had heard from Harper that Timothy from Gleam Entertainment was a capable, virtuous, and proud man. Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t get the promotion he deserved. On top of that, it was the conflict with Fiona that caused him to lose his mind. ¡°Thank you, Miss Lynwood,¡± Timothy uttered with tears in his eyes as he never expected that someone whom he hated to the core would go to great lengths to help him out. At the same time, she acknowledged his capability and also spoke his mind. ¡°No problem, Mr. Stevens. I know that you¡¯re an outstanding person. However, try not to go astray and do something on an impulse that you¡¯ll regret for the rest of your life.¡± ¡°I understand, Miss Lynwood.¡± After hearing that, Timothy instantly got on his feet and eximed, ¡°Miss Lynwood, you¡¯re my savior.¡± ¡°Alright, get up now. You can go home if there¡¯s nothing else. Tomorrow I¡¯ll ask someone to send you the contract. By then, you¡¯ll just have to report yourself at Luminous.¡± Elspeth helped him up with a smile. At that, he nodded but suddenly recalled the setting where the phone would automatically alert the police. ¡°Miss Lynwood, about your phone¡­¡± he asked solemnly. ¡°Nah, it¡¯s fine. I made it up.¡± Elspeth chuckled, which left him in speechlessness when he heard it. ¡°You just told him that you¡¯ve never lied.¡± Yelena mumbled as she stood behind. Elspeth stretched her hand out and knocked Yelena¡¯s head as a result. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s it.¡± Timothy couldn¡¯t help but smile as he realized that Elspeth had an adorable side to her that was different from earlier on. ¡°Then, we shall take our leave. Just wait for the news from us.¡± Elspeth then took out a name card with her name and contact on it and passed it to him. ¡°Send me your address tomorrow.¡± With that, Timothy nodded as he took the card. Elspeth and Yelena then walked out the same way they entered and were back on the ground floor. ¡°What happened? Why did you wander around and even got yourself kidnapped?¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but rant. ¡°Hey, I was having a bad mood.¡± Yelena scratched her head and smiled. She then frowned upon the mention of her bad mood. Chapter 89 Chapter 89 ¡°It¡¯s all Max¡¯s fault. If it wasn¡¯t for him, I wouldn¡¯t have left the ce in a fit of anger and bumped into my rival¡¯s manager who then kidnapped me.¡± The thought of Max being intimate with that woman made Yelena¡¯s blood boil. ¡°You¡¯re mad because you have feelings for him and yet you¡¯re ming him.¡± Knowing that she couldn¡¯t outargue that. Yelena immediately changed the subject. ¡°I remembered that you came for me shortly after. What took you so long?¡± Yelena was just curious, and she wasn¡¯t ming Elspeth for the dy. ¡°Because¡­ a dog got in my way,¡± Elspeth hissed. At the same time, Callum, who was at the hospital, suddenly sneezed. ¡°A dog?¡± Yelena seemed puzzled as she found it interesting that someone would keep a dog in the bar. ¡°Alright, you should leave now. Stay close to your brother.¡± ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°I want to take a walk alone,¡± Elspeth said after taking a deep breath. After she bid goodbye to Yelena, Elspeth took a walk by herself by the river. It was already nighttime and both sides of the river were lit up by streetlights. A few couples were seen being on dates. Suddenly, she heard a couple arguing.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . ¡°It¡¯s all your fault. If it wasn¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯t have lost the treasure huntpetition!¡± The man sounded annoyed. ¡°That¡¯s because you don¡¯t believe in me. You wouldn¡¯t have lost if you believed me!¡± The woman raised her voice and responded. ¡°Believe in you? Why should I? I know you very well and you don¡¯t even y these games. I know you too well.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah! But do you know how much effort I¡¯ve put into thepetition? You never saw my change and you just think I¡¯m the same idiot as before!¡± With that, the woman turned around furiously and almost fell into the river. Luckily, the man acted fast enough and grabbed onto her. ¡°Let go! You should just let me die!¡± Hearing that, the man suddenly pulled her into his arms, and he was so startled about the fall earlier that tears Noticing that she was at fault too, the woman looked down as she apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I was bitter too.¡± Elspeth, who heard their conversation, suddenly came to a realization. Arguments don¡¯t mean that I don¡¯t love you anymore. That¡¯s right; it was just an argument, and instead of never seeing each other again, all they had to do was to clear up the misunderstanding since being harsh to each other wouldn¡¯t benefit any of them. Since Callum and Ophelia grew up together, to him, Margot had seen Ophelia as her daughter, and it wouldn¡¯t make sense for a child to harm her mother. While Elspeth, conversely, had not been on good terms with Margot. Callum didn¡¯t me her for that since he never scolded her about it but yet, she was being unreasonable. It was a normal reaction for him to doubt her, but he was willing to talk to her, which showed that he had feelings for her. After thinking it through, Elspeth felt that she could see things clearer now. To prove her innocence, the most urgent task on hand was to quickly gather the evidence of Ophelia¡¯s doing instead of being entangled in rtionship issues. With that in mind, she made a call to Harper and asked about the progress of Margot¡¯s condition. ¡°I just rushed back to thepany because of this.¡± Harper chuckled. ¡°I have sent someone on the lookout for the past three days and Ophelia finally showed her true colors. Earlier tonight, she was trying to pull off Margot¡¯s infusion tube which my men found out and he managed to take pictures.¡° ¡°It seems she is worried that she will get into trouble if Margot regains her consciousness.¡± Upon hearing the good news, Elspeth became more joyful, and her tone of voice became much lighter. ¡°Miss Lynwood, you sound happy. Did something good happen?¡± Harper felt at ease when he saw that Elspeth was back to her happy self. He initially thought that she would be disheartened for a while after what happened between her and Callum. It was out of his expectation that she was able to get back on her feet so soon. ¡°Nothing. So, how¡¯s the progress on Lydia¡¯s case?¡± Hearing that, Harper was thrilled. ¡°The blood stain found in Lydia¡¯s house perfectly matched that of an ouw who used to be imprisoned in Damoria. He was sentenced to ten years in jail and within two months of being released from jail, he hadmitted murder. Based on the investigation done by my men, we found out that 20 hours before Lydia¡¯s death, the man had done a transaction with Ophelia. She had transferred 5 million to him. Doesn¡¯t this prove that Ophelia is the one behind all these?¡± Elspeth realized that she had wronged Arthur¡­ ¡°Ophelia is the mastermind behind this homicide!¡± She finally felt calm after getting the good news. ¡°Alright,pile the documents tonight and I¡¯ll see Ophelia in the hospital tomorrow morning.¡± At the same time, she wanted to let Callum see with his own eyes that Ophelia was a hypocrite. The next morning, Elspeth brought the documents along and headed to the hospital where Margot was hospitalized. To get rid of Margot, Ophelia had been staying awake for three days straight. She had to put on a facade to deceive Callum although she wasn¡¯t pleased about it. ¡°Callum, when do you think Margot will wake up?¡± She pretended to worry about Margot¡¯s condition, but she actually felt uneasy about it. ¡°Arthur mentioned that she is recovering well so maybe she will wake up in the next two days.¡± Callum sounded d. However, Ophelia got nervous after hearing that. If Margot regained consciousness, it would mean that the truth about her being the one who pushed Margot down the stairs would be uncovered. At the same time, Elspeth entered the room, and it startled Ophelia. ¡°You seemed surprised to see me. Did you do something bad?¡± Elspeth pointed out. Hearing that, Ophelia avoided making eye contact with her and scoffed, ¡°Elspeth, don¡¯t try to use me! Everyone knows that it was you! Why would I harm Margot? She liked me so much. I wouldn¡¯t do something like that to her!¡± Her statement sounded so valid that even Callum was fooled by it. But not Elspeth though. ¡°If you¡¯re so insistent about that, then let¡¯s let the evidence talk.¡± Elspeth then tossed the documents on the table and uttered, ¡°Do you want to take a look at it yourself or do you want me to help you with it?¡± Seeing that Elspeth came with a bunch of documents made Ophelia even more nervous. ¡°Those are forged evidence! Do you know that it¡¯s a crime to frame someone?¡± ¡°Forged, you say? Let¡¯s see if they are forged or real then.¡± Elspeth then spread the documents out and tossed them onto the table one by one. ¡°This one shows that you contacted an ouw and here¡¯s a screenshot of the 5 million transfer that you¡¯ve made to him. You killed Lydia and her family! I never expected that you are behind all those.¡± ¡°This picture shows that you¡¯re about to remove Margot¡¯s infusion tube and someone managed to take a picture of it. Isn¡¯t it obvious why you¡¯re trying to do that?¡± Ophelia, on the other hand, felt dizzy after seeing those pictures. Chapter 90 Chapter 90 Ophelia truly hadn¡¯t expected Elspeth to be so capable to dig up so many clues. She trembled in fear, and her legs were barely supporting her as she almost fell to her knees. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything? Weren¡¯t you debating with me with such eloquence just now? Why are you so quiet now?¡± Elspeth smiled as she saw how shaken Ophelia was. She knew right then that the information she dug up was bona fide evidence. ¡°I didn¡¯t! These are all fake; you faked them!¡± At this moment, Ophelia could no longer keep her calm. She couldn¡¯t help the trembling in her voice, and as she looked at Elspeth¡¯s confident expression, she felt like the world was spinning. Elspeth continued asking. ¡°Then, exin to me how these things can be faked. If you don¡¯t believe the photos, you can get the videos tested to see if they¡¯re authentic or not.¡± Callum stood at the side. When he looked at the evidence tossed onto the table, he was genuinely shocked. He had never thought that Ophelia would be the person who harmed Margot. Ophelia was the little girl who had grown up with him in the Winthrop Family, and she would cry when she identally stepped on an ant. He couldn¡¯t believe that she would hurt her own family. ¡°You have to exin yourself, Ophelia.¡± He was still willing to give Ophelia a chance to deny these things. ¡°I¡­ Callum, you know me. Mrs. Winthrop is so nice to me, so why would I harm her?¡± Callum took a deep breath. ¡°After all this, how can I trust you?¡± T He was about to say something, but at the next moment, the door was suddenly pushed open. Arthur was making his rounds with a nurse, and when he saw the three standing there in confrontation, he let out a chuckle. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Looks like you have a serious situation here.¡± ¡°Arthur¡­¡± Ophelia bit her lower lip and sent Arthur a pleading look. ¡°Arthur, how can I possibly be the culprit who harmed Mrs. Winthrop and that Lydia girl? I don¡¯t know that girl at all, and I¡¯m closest to Mrs. Winthrop! Why would I harm her?¡± Arthur lowered his gaze, smiling. ¡°Of course, I believe you. Come, show me what evidence you have.¡± money is for murdering Lydia. As for this photo with my mom, it was too dark and I can barely make out anything in it. You¡¯re clearly checking the infusion tube, so how did it turn into you pulling out the tube?¡± He had instantly turned things around for Ophelia with just a few words. Ophelia could finally calm down her anxious heart. She looked at Arthur and gave him an unwonted smile. ¡°Yes, Arthur, you¡¯re still the same person who understands me best since young.¡± Callum¡¯s eyes seemed to be covered with a thin mist, and no one could decipher his true thoughts. However, a gleam did sh across his eyes. ¡°Also, Mom hasn¡¯t woken up yet, so how can we be certain that Ophelia has done all this?¡± Ophelia nodded fiercely. ¡°That¡¯s right. If Mrs. Winthrop wakes up, she¡¯ll prove my innocence!¡± She didn¡¯t know when Margot would regain consciousness, but she knew that she had to grab every opportunity she could get to clear her name. It was a good thing Arthur was here or she wouldn¡¯t know how to get out of this situation. ¡°If that¡¯s so, then Ophelia might not be the mastermind behind all this.¡± Callum lifted his gaze calmly. ¡°The others can leave. Elspeth, I have something to talk to you about.¡± Arthur and Ophelia left, just as they were told. Once they arrived at the bend in the corridor, after making sure that no one else is around, Arthur finally stopped smiling. ¡°You¡¯re so careless. If I hadn¡¯t stepped in for you, Elspeth would¡¯ve destroyed you this time.¡± Ophelia knew that he had done a lot for her, and he had also spoken in her favor. She put on a grateful expression as she said, ¡°Thank you, Arthur. If it weren¡¯t for you, I would have been finished right here, right now. I might even have had to go to jail.¡± Arthur snorted. ¡°So, what do you n to do next? As long as my mom stays unconscious, Elspeth cannot trouble you no matter how capable she is.¡± Hearing that, Ophelia was a little stunned. ¡°But that¡¯s your own mom. Why- Arthur scoffed. ¡°My mom? She¡¯s Callum¡¯s mom. I¡¯m not even rted to her by blood! Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. When he had doubts before, he took a DNA test and discovered that he was the true outsider in the family. He had no blood rtion to the Winthrops at all. In all those years, it was no wonder that Theodore and Margot were the most lenient on him, and also the most distant. It was because he wasn¡¯t even a son of the Winthrop Family in the first ce! Arthur sneered incessantly. ¡°So, the Winthrops¡¯ lives have nothing to do with me. Just like you, I¡¯m simply a poor kid whom the Winthrops took care of for some time.¡± ¡°Then, Mrs. Winthrop¡­¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about my mom. I¡¯ll think of ways to stop her from waking up. All you have to do before Callum and Elspeth find other evidence¡­¡± He gave her a look, and Ophelia immediately understood. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll think of a way to deal with it. I still have some matters to attend to, so I¡¯ll leave now.¡± After Ophelia took her leave, Arthur finally lifted the corners of his lips. This woman is so stupid, things might get ruined if I continue working with her, he thought. However, before she could get herself in deep trouble, he would think of a way topletely remove himself from the equation. Meanwhile, there was an awkward atmosphere around Callum and Elspeth in the ward. He was about to speak when she broke the silence. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± He was slightly stunned as he had never thought that Elspeth would apologize to him straight away. She had always been a proud woman, and she would never easily show her weakness. ¡°I know my attitude wasn¡¯t the best, so I¡¯m apologizing to you. Even if you think I was falsely using her, or I was too emotional in making decisions, they¡¯re all your opinions, and I ept them.¡± Elspeth noticed the obscure look in Callum¡¯s eyes, knowing that today¡¯s events must have further affected Callum in a bad way. ¡°I believe you.¡± One simple sentence was enough for Callum to state his position. ¡°You believe me? Why? Didn¡¯t you say before that Ophelia couldn¡¯t possibly be a suspect?¡± Elspeth was intrigued by Callum¡¯s words. ¡°I don¡¯t mean it like that.¡± Callum rubbed between his eyebrows. ¡°I never suspected Ophelia before this because we grew up together. But today, I¡¯m suspecting her because I noticed a tiny detail.¡± Elspeth stared straight at Callum¡¯s face. ¡°What is it?¡± Chapter 91 Chapter 91 ¡°When we were young. Ophelia and Arthur weren¡¯t that close to each other. Moreover, because Arthur has always been a gentle person since young, and he looked quite prone to getting bullied, Ophelia looked down on him and chose to stick to me instead.¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but tease, ¡°Looks like you have always been a heartthrob since young. No wonder people are fond of you.¡± ¡°Come on, rein in the jokes for a bit.¡± Callum put on a serious expression. ¡°So, I never expected Arthur to speak up for Ophelia.¡± ¡°That means you believe me now?¡± ¡°Yes. Your calm andposed attitude were a stark contrast to Ophelia¡¯s panicked state. It¡¯s difficult not to suspect her.¡± Elspeth was instantly in a good mood, and even her attitude was considerably more agreeable. ¡°So, what¡¯s next?¡± ¡°Now I feel like neither Ophelia nor Arthur can be trusted. I¡¯m going to transfer Mom to another hospital. It has been a week, but she hasn¡¯t woken up yet. Something is wrong here.¡± Elspeth blinked at him. ¡°Looks like you¡¯re not as dumb as I thought you were.¡± Callum was speechless. Still, when he saw Elspeth returning to her usual self, his mood was lifted greatly. ¡°If that¡¯s so, I can tag along and help. We can¡¯t have Arthur and Ophelia realize that we have already caught on to them.¡± ¡°No need. I have my own ns for this matter.¡± Azure Corporation held shares in almost all the hospitals in the area. Elspeth didn¡¯t think that Callum could handle this better than her. When Elspeth heard what he said, she was about to tease him when she suddenly realized that Callum didn¡¯t know her identity at the moment. So, she could only swallow the words she was about to say. ¡°Well, fine. But if you need any help, you can call me anytime.¡± Elspeth nodded. Then, she suddenly received a call from an unknown number. The voiceing from the phone sounded familiar. It was only then that she remembered she had been ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be there right away.¡± After ending the call, Elspeth curved her lips into a faint smile. ¡°I have something to do right now. Gotta go.¡± Callum nodded. ¡°All right.¡± After bidding Callum goodbye, Elspeth went to a caf¨¦ nearby, which was the location she and Timothy had agreed to meet at earlier. Elspeth had just arrived when she saw Timothy seated a short distance away, drinking coffee. Just like his name, he looked reserved and polite, and he exhibited no trace of his maniacal behaviorst night. ¡°Have a seat, please, Miss Lynwood.¡± Elspeth smiled as she sat down. ¡°So, have you already made the preparations to join Luminous?¡± The way Elspeth treated him made his eyes slightly red. ¡°Miss Lynwood, thank you.¡± ¡°For what?¡± Timothy took a deep breath. ¡°I know you banked in 2 million to mest night. The 2 million was enough to pay for my wife¡¯s treatment.¡± Elspeth paused for a moment, then said, interested, ¡°How did you know it was me?¡± ¡°Miss Lynwood, I am now helpless and all alone. You¡¯re the only person who would¡¯ve helped me out, so how can it be anyone else?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. This is your due reward, isn¡¯t it?¡± Elspeth smiled faintly. ¡°This is also considered¡­ ransom for Yelena.¡± Timothy¡¯s face turned red in an instant. He kidnapped Yelena because he had run out of options. His wife was seriously ill, and he needed money urgently to pay for the treatment. But he had lost even his job, so where could he get money to pay for the treatment?? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. After thinking about it, he could only choose the fastest and riskiest route kidnap Yelena, so that someone would be forced to pay him I million as ransom. ¡°Sorry, I wasn¡¯t thinking straight¡­¡° Elspeth waved her hand. ¡°It¡¯s okay, the other 1 million serves as a wee gift for your joining Luminous. swear to be forever loyal to Luminous!¡± ¡°You¡¯re exaggerating, Mr. Stevens. You don¡¯t have to swear oaths like that.¡± Even though giving out 2 million felt like it was for nothing, at least she managed to win the loyalty of an excellent manager. If Elspeth knew that this dejected man wouldter serve a huge contribution to Luminous, she would praise herself for her current decision. ¡°If things go smoothly, you can report in at Luminous tomorrow. Just mention my name and you should be all right.¡± Elspeth stood up and got ready to leave, but Timothy called out to her, stopping her. ¡°Miss Lynwood.¡± Elspeth turned around with a confused expression on her face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Timothy thought for a bit, then couldn¡¯t help but blurt out, ¡°You¡¯re the president of Azure Corporation, aren¡¯t you?¡± Elspeth¡¯s smile froze on her face. ¡°Why do you think that?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re not the president of Azure Corporation, why would you spend so much effort to get me to work at Luminous? If a mere mention of your name would grant me entry at Luminous, it¡¯s easy to imagine the high position you¡¯re in for me to be treated like that.¡± Timothy wasn¡¯t one to hold onto traditions and stereotypes. Instead, from all his struggling years of experience withpanies, he could tell that the brilliant youngdy in front of him was his boss. ¡°Since you¡¯ve already guessed it, I¡¯ll stop pretending. Yes, I am the president of Azure Corporation, and I sincerely want you to work in mypany.¡± Elspeth readily admitted it. After all, even if the bottom staff didn¡¯t know who she was, by the time Timothy joined thepany, he would be one of the executives at Luminous and would find out sooner orter. ¡°All right, got it. Thank you, President.¡± Seeing that Elspeth wasn¡¯t hiding it from him, Timothy grew more attached to her. ¡°Arthur?¡± Elspeth saw him sitting on the chair, and he blocked her way just by extending one of his long legs. She was feeling more annoyed now. ¡°Why? Did you not want to see me?¡± Arthur took a sip of coffee with a leisurely smile on his face. He never thought that he would encounter her here. It saved him the trouble of looking for her. ¡°If you have nothing important to say, please stop appearing in my life. I¡¯m utterly disgusted every time I see you.¡± Arthur shook his head, an exasperated look on his face. ¡°It must be fate that we ran into each other. Since you¡¯re here, why don¡¯t you sit down and have a chat with me? Perhaps you¡¯d be interested in the truth behind my mom¡¯s incident¡­¡± At the mention of Margot, Elspeth instantly stopped in her tracks. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Seeing that she had turned around, Arthur grew more confident. ¡°I have a deal to discuss with you.¡± Elspeth sat down on a chair nearby and raised her head, her eyes wary. ¡°Tell me. What deal are you thinking of?¡± ¡°A deal you¡¯ll be interested in.¡± Arthur raised an eyebrow. ¡°I know that you¡¯re suspecting that matter, and you found some evidence to prove that instead of you, Ophelia was the one who harmed my mom. In an attempt to clear your name, you must¡¯ve put in quite a lot of effort, right?¡± Chapter 92 Chapter 92 Elspeth tightened her grip on her skirt while on tenterhooks. ¡°So, what are you trying to say?¡± She suddenly had a bad feeling. ¡°I¡¯m saying that Ophelia is indeed the one behind this incident, including the deaths of Lydia and her mother. Ophelia is the mastermind. Of course, I¡¯m not a part of any of those,¡± Arthur told her everything without hiding, which made her slightly confused. ording to Callum¡¯s analysis, Arthur and Ophelia are most probably colluding with each other, but why is he framing her so brazenly now? ¡°So, what¡¯s your point?¡± She didn¡¯t believe that he just wanted to be a good guy and help her clear her name. ¡°Well, if you can agree to one condition, I¡¯m willing to help you prove that everything is Ophelia¡¯s fault.¡± Ophelia was just a usable pawn for him. Now that the pawn was useless, it was understandable for him to abandon her. It would be so much better if he could use her in exchange for a bigger benefit. His condition was quite tempting because Elspeth couldn¡¯t find any chance to look for the evidence that would prove Ophelia was behind everything in the near future. All she could do was wait for Margot to wake up, but her condition was not stable. It was hard to tell whether she would wake up or not. Yet, Elspeth didn¡¯t show any sign of anticipation on her face and instead said impatiently. ¡°What condition are you talking about?¡± ¡°Marry me.¡± When she heard that, she stood up sharply. ¡°No way I¡¯m agreeing to that.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t rush into rejecting me first. I don¡¯t mean for you to stay with me for the rest of your life. I just want to fake a marriage. We just need to sign the marriage certificate. When the timees, we can file for divorce by then.¡± In his eyes, marrying Elspeth and obtaining the 20 percent share was the most tempting thing for him. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. As for the rtionship part, he thought that it was a little precarious, so he didn¡¯t want to force it. ¡°Why do you want to do that?¡± He wants to fake a marriage, which means that he has no feelings for me at all. Since it¡¯s not to get me, what kind of benefit can he get from me? ¡°The reason¡­ Of course, I have my own reason. If you change your mind, you can drop me your reply anytime.¡± Arthur was rushing back to the hospital for work, so he didn¡¯t have time to convince her here, but she wasn¡¯t someone who could be convinced either. ¡°Oh, right. Don¡¯t think about recording.¡± Elspeth was shocked by his sudden turning back, and what he said shocked her further. ¡°You really keep your eyes open, Dr. Winthrop.¡± Although that was what she said, she still reached out her hand to stuff the recorder pen back into her pocket. He got me. After that, she returned home, which was a vi not far away. After she moved out of the Winthrop Residence, she bought a unit in a vi area in Southdale because the location here was near the hospital, so it was easier for her to check on Margot¡¯s condition and look for evidence. When she came home that day, she suddenly noticed a familiar figure standing outside the vi beside hers. However, she didn¡¯t care much about it. Just as she wanted to enter her vi, that familiar figure suddenly turned around and called her name. ¡°Elspeth.¡± The face and voice were just as she thought. It was Jordan, whom she hadn¡¯t seen in a long time. When Jordan found out that Elspeth lived here, he showed an unbelievable and surprised expression on his face. ¡°The Winthrop Family¡¯s fianc¨¦e actually lives here. How surprising!¡± She knew that he was teasing her, so she wasn¡¯t bothered by it. ¡°It¡¯s not quite nice for me to stay too long in the Winthrop Residence. Of course, I need to have my own house.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then we¡¯re neighbors. The closer person gets the chance first. Mr. Winthrop might be behind me this time.¡± When she heard that, she was speechless. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I should head back home now.¡± She turned around and was ready to leave. Jordan didn¡¯t stop her either. He just gave her a smile from afar. After Elspeth returned home, she thought about it for a long time, but still decided to tell Callum about everything that had happened today. To avoid arousing his suspicion, she made up a reason for going to a caf¨¦ to erase the event of her meeting Timothy. ¡°Seriously, what¡¯s wrong with Arthur? First, he wanted to be in a rtionship with me, and now, he wants to marry me. What benefit will he get if he gets me?¡± She still couldn¡¯t understand Arthur¡¯s intention now, but she just felt that he was a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing. Every move he made was calcted. ¡°Arthur said that he wants to marry you?¡± When he heard the word, he felt strange all of a sudden, but he realized the reason for what Arthur was doing very quickly. It had been quite some time that Arthur had been pestering Elspeth. Different from Edmund¡¯s competitiveness and ke¡¯s jokes, Arthur approached her with an intention that seemed like he had found some benefit that he had desired for a long time from Elspeth. ¡°Yes. That psycho. I thought that he was a good guy when I first met him, but it turns out that he¡¯s the most ¡°We still don¡¯t know what Arthur¡¯s intention is. Since he knows the whole truth, he will definitely think of a way to stop you from obtaining the evidence and stop my mom from waking up.¡± It seems like my concern was right. Arthur is no angel. ¡°Previously, Lydia¡¯s mother died because Ophelia secretly changed her medicine, which caused her condition to worsen. If you¡¯re free, you should check on your mother¡¯s medicine. Who knows if you might find some problems there? As for her transfer, you need to be careful about Arthur hiding her data. That will affect the transfer formalities. Oh, by the way, remember to rest more. You can change your shift with me. I can look after Mrs. Winthrop¡­. Of course, that is if you trust me,¡± Elspeth thered all the way, but Callum suddenly kept quiet on the other side of the phone. ¡°Hello? Is the line bad?¡± She thought that something was wrong with her line and that Callum didn¡¯t hear what she said just now. Sometimeter, a sound of cloth rustling came from the other side of the phone. After being silent for a long time, only then did he ask, ¡°Why are you helping my mom? I remember she treated you badly.¡± When she heard that, she was stunned at first, but she took a deep breath and answered with a smile, ¡°Because she¡¯s your mother.¡± That¡¯s your mother. No matter what she did to hurt me, I will still help her because you will be upset without her. She didn¡¯t say those words, but she knew that he would understand what she tried to imply. ¡°I want to tell you something, Elspeth.¡± His tone wasn¡¯t as cold anymore; it had turned serious. ¡°Let¡¯s be together when everything¡¯s over.¡± Chapter 93 Chapter 93 On this arid night, only the sound of cicadas chirping could be heard, but Elspeth could hear her heart pounding as well. Her heart was suddenly beating so quickly because for those words toe out of Callum¡¯s mouth, it meant that he was 100 percent serious about it. ¡°Okay.¡± When Callum heard her answer, he couldn¡¯t react for a second. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that you will only be with me after I pursue you?¡± She smiled. ¡°If I waited for that, I don¡¯t know how many seasons might have changed.¡± She supposed he was the kind of man who knew nothing about romance. Previously, she had looked through his past with his first girlfriend, but they were all just mundane memories. They didn¡¯t even kiss. Hearing that, he felt strange all of a sudden. ¡°So?¡± Meanwhile, drowsiness struck her, and she yawned, so she wanted to prepare for bed. ¡°So, let¡¯s sleep. It¡¯ste already. Let¡¯s talk about the restter.¡± Without much warning, she hung up the phone, leaving Callum feeling miserable on the other side of the phone. On the next day, Elspeth woke up in the early morning, and she wanted to look for Harper to discuss what they were going to do next. However, just as she entered her car and wanted to start the engine, she suddenly found out that her car was out of gas. This was a rather remote ce, so getting a cab was impossible under normal circumstances, but without a car, she couldn¡¯t leave this ce. ¡°Good morning, Miss Lynwood.¡± Jordan woke up early today too. When he saw her troubled look, he couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°What happened, Miss Lynwood? Are you in trouble?¡± ¡°No.¡± Although she answered ¡®no¡¯, he could see everything. ¡°Has your car run out of gas? It¡¯s okay. I have a few cars, I can lend you one.¡± He was pretty generous, as he took out a car key from his pocket right away and handed it to her. Seeing that, she took a step back. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Thank you.¡± She would need to owe him one if she borrowed his stuff, but she didn¡¯t want anything to do with him at all. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not someone who would take advantage of a person in trouble.¡± When he saw her reaction, he couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°You can take it. Don¡¯t need to return it to me.¡± ¡°Why are you here?¡± After asking that, she suddenly had a bigger doubt. ¡°How do you know I¡¯m here?¡± Without any expression, he said calmly, ¡°Hop in. I¡¯ll drive you.¡± Yet, she didn¡¯t react immediately as she said nkly, ¡°What?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let me repeat.¡± Seeing this scene unfold from the side, Jordan smiled, but with a sense of coldness. ¡°Why do you care so much about Miss Lynwood¡¯s life, Mr. Winthrop? Didn¡¯t you chase her out of your house?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think this has anything to do with you, Mr. Carr.¡± At this moment, Elspeth noticed that Callum¡¯s expression was a little disgruntled. To avoid the awkwardness and solve the problem, she quickly entered Callum¡¯s car. Jordan was smiling, his smile furtive. In the car, Elspeth was still curious about how Callum knew where she stayed and why he was there to pick her up in the early morning. Seemingly seeing through her doubts, Callum said calmly. ¡°This vi area is one of the Winthrop Group¡¯s properties.¡± ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. Right, the Winthrop Group is so rich and powerful. It¡¯s just a piece of cake for them to look into personal information. ¡°And why did youe to pick me up?¡± At this moment, an awkward expression covered his face. ¡°You said that I don¡¯t know how to pursue a girl. I just think driving the girl to and from work should be counted as one way.¡± ¡°Whom did you learn this from?¡± After carefully thinking about it for some time, only then did he slowly answer, ¡°Matthew.¡± Last night, after he hung up the phone, he couldn¡¯t sleep at all, so he asked the dissolute Matthew, who had much more experience in dating, out for a drink at Luna Bar. ¡°You¡¯re disturbing me thiste at night and ruining my chances with the girls just to consult me on techniques to hit on girls?¡± Callum gave him a death stare and corrected him, ¡°To pursue a girl.¡± ¡°There¡¯s not much of a difference.¡± Matthew leaned backward with a rxed expression. Firstly, you need to do something to make her feel touched, like drive her to and from work, buy her some small presents, and you can also sweet talk her. All women are into that. Even when she¡¯s a savvy woman like Elspeth. She¡¯ll like that ton¡± ¡°Sigh. You¡¯re opulent, Mr. Winthrop. You can buy her anything. Even a house.¡± That was the end of his memory. As he looked at Elspeth¡¯s puzzled face, he took out a card from his bag. ¡°This card has all the money you spent buying that vi. I¡¯m giving you the house for free.¡± When Elspeth heard that, she couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°Why? You have so much money that you wanted to burn some?¡± Callum was stunned. I don¡¯t think this is what Matthew meant by ¡®Girls usually melt when they receive presents. ¡°Since you said so, I should appreciate your kindness, then.¡± She took the card from his hand and put it into her bag. ¡°You can never have too much money.¡± ¡°Is there anything else you like? I can buy it for you.¡± From that, she waspletely convinced that Callum had no idea how to pursue a girl. ¡°Callum, that¡¯s not how you pursue a girl. Since you¡¯re here to drive me, send me to the Azure Corporation building. I need to meet Harper.¡± When he heard that she needed to meet Harper again, he felt salty all of a sudden and acted strangely. ¡°Why do you need to meet him again? Is there anything that I can¡¯t solve for you?¡± After hearing that, Elspeth didn¡¯t know why, but she felt speechless. Because I¡¯m his boss! However, she just shouted that in her mind. She could only force a smile on the outside and ask, ¡°Are you driving me there or not then? If you¡¯re not, I¡¯ll just go there on my own.¡± Callum gave up and could only nod to agree, but he seemed quite reluctant as he purposely drove at a snail¡¯s pace. In the end, the road suddenly turned congested, so he stopped the car slowly on the side of the road. ¡°This might take another half hour. Should I ask my assistant to fly a helicopter here?¡± Elspeth was immediately stunned. Does this idea note across as a little outrageous for him at all? ¡°We¡¯re in the city center, Callum. Can you think about the consequences before you do anything? Where¡¯s your rationality?¡± If a helicopter appeared in the sky out of nowhere, it wouldn¡¯t just be congestion, but an ident. ¡°I don¡¯t care what other people think. I just want to send you to your destination.¡± If those hopeless romantic young girls heard this, they might be infatuated at once, but that was not the case for Elspeth. She just wanted to kick Callum after hearing that. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I can wait. I¡¯m not in a rush.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how to pursue a girl, but I really want to treat you well. You must tell me if there¡¯s something that I¡¯ve done wrong.¡± Suddenly, she didn¡¯t know what to say anymore. At once, silence engulfed them. She turned around to look outside the window, but the sound of shouting and cursing outside attracted her attention. Chapter 94 Chapter 94 Outside, the two middle-aged men were arguing with each other, seemingly as if it had something to do with their cars. The man who was talking looked confident, and he looked unconvinced even when he was the one who crashed into the other person¡¯s car. Looking at the man, Elspeth found him familiar. When she thought about it, she realized that it was Houston, who had disappeared for a long time. At this moment, the clothes on his body looked as though they had been brought from the flea market. Moreover, his self-confidence was gone, and he was left with the philistinism of a lower rank citizen. Elspeth felt pity when she looked at him, but she knew he had probably put himself in such a situation, so she didn¡¯t think much about it. However, when Houston turned around and saw her, an idea came to his mind. At that moment, he dashed forward, pointed at Elspeth, and said, ¡°This is my wife, and she will pay for it. I don¡¯t have any money!¡± After all, he was in this state because of her, so he wanted payback by making her lose some money. When the man heard his words, he seemed to have believed it and walked toward Elspeth. ¡°Are you his wife? Alright, then. My car has been damaged, and it was worth around a million when I bought it. Do you want to pay me through PayPal or by cash?¡± Listening to his words, Elspeth smirked coldly and answered, ¡°I don¡¯t have anything to do with him. You should ask him to pay you when he¡¯s the one who damaged your car.¡± ¡°How can you be so insolent?¡± the man said. He knew that Houston would not have any money with that appearance of his, so he wanted to me Elspeth for it. Who knew he might get some money out of her? Seeing that Elspeth didn¡¯t budge, the man suddenly sat on the ground and cried for justice. ¡°Look, everyone! This woman¡¯s husband crashed into my car, and she won¡¯tpensate me. This is just wrong!¡± At that moment, many people surrounded them and whispered to each other. Some were giving snarky comments, whereas some felt pity for the man. On the other hand, Elspeth decided to ignore the man and looked at Houston. ¡°It¡¯s been months since west saw each other, Mr. Bishop. I can see that you are getting more and more shameless as time passes,¡± she said. Seeing that he was no longer involved in the matter, Houston smiled and said, ¡°I know that you are a kind person, Miss Lynwood. Why don¡¯t you help me pay for it? After all, I¡¯m broke.¡± Just then, he caught sight of Callum sitting in the car. A hint of terror shed across his eyes, but he still managed tough and said, ¡°Oh, you¡¯re here too, Mr. Winthrop. It¡¯s good to see you.¡± Nheless, Houston wasn¡¯t too bothered by this. After all, his family was living miserably, and offending Callum would just mean that his life hade to an end. When Callum heard Houston¡¯s usations, he felt ufortable. After watching Elspeth being dragged into it, he red at Houston coldly as he said, ¡°I¡¯ll give you a chance to redeem yourself, Houston. You should ¡°Do you think that I will listen to you, Mr. Winthrop? Why should I fear you when I have nothing left to lose? You can¡¯t threaten me.¡± Houston burst outughing. ¡°In that case, don¡¯t regret your decision.¡± Then, Callum got out of the car and looked at the man who was crying and throwing tantrums. ¡°You wantpensation, don¡¯t you?¡± he asked coldly. Hearing his words, the man stopped crying and asked, ¡°Are you going to give it to me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you two million. However, my girlfriend and I were troubled when this man imed to be her husband. I¡¯m sure you know what to do, right?¡± Then, Callum let out a rare smile, but it was more of a sneer. The man knew what he meant. Seeing that he had earned some money, he smiled and showed his yellow teeth. ¡°Of course, sir. Don¡¯t worry, I will teach him a lesson!¡± Hearing his words, Callum frowned and went back into the car. ¡°Alright, everything has been solved. Let¡¯s go,¡± he said. As Callum was about to start the car, Houston suddenly went mad and rushed toward them. Then, he opened the car door through the open window and dragged Elspeth out. ¡°Since I¡¯m going to die today, why don¡¯t I get someone toe along with me?!¡± Following that, he took out a knife from nowhere and ced it on Elspeth¡¯s neck. ¡°What are you doing, Houston?!¡± Callum¡¯s expression changed when he saw Houston¡¯s movements. ¡°Are you scared now? Why are you frightened when you looked so high and mighty just a moment ago? I bet you never saw thising. Callum!¡± Houston dug the knife deeper into Elspeth¡¯s skin, leaving a bloody scar. ¡°Soon, you will be in hell with me, Callum!¡± Heughed crazily. Seeing that Houston was distracted, Elspeth took the opportunity to kick him in the shin. Houston groaned in pain and loosened his grip on the knife, and the weapon fell to the floor. At the same time, Callum kicked him in the chest, causing Houston to fly away. ¡°That was dangerous.¡± Callum was upset when he saw Elspeth attempting such a risky move. ¡°The knife was just by your neck. If anything had gone wrong, we¡¯d be rushing you to the hospital right now.¡± ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. Hearing his words, Elspeth raised her eyebrows and said, ¡°Do you think I¡¯d put myself in that situation? I¡¯m not that dumb, Callum.¡± When Callum heard her words, he lowered his eyes and thought, She¡¯s right. She¡¯s more analytical than I am. On the other hand, the man tackled Houston and kicked him. ¡°What do you think you are doing? How dare you try and hurt someone else¡¯s wife? I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± ¡°Please¡­ Please don¡¯t kill me!¡± Houston spat out blood as he was being kicked. fists werending on him endlessly, and his mouth was covered; he couldn¡¯t even scream if he wanted. At that moment, the road was clear. Callum was expressionless as he looked at the scene. Then, he said to Elspeth, ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll take you to Azure Corporation.¡± Elspeth nodded and followed. When she sat in the car, she suddenly had mixed feelings. Seeing that she was not in a good mood, Callum asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Houston is a person who has done many bad things. Technically speaking, this is his karma. However, I feel pity for him for some reason,¡± replied Elspeth. Hearing his words, Callum gulped and said. ¡°It¡¯s fine. The world would be a better ce without bad people like him.¡± Suddenly, Callum¡¯s phone rang. He answered the call, hummed in response, and hung up. Since Elspeth sat close to him, she could hear the person on the other end of the phone saying that Houston was dead. w In the end, the man who could adapt to any circumstances kicked the bucket by the roadside. At this moment, it was all over. After that, Callum drove the car speedily and arrived at Azure Corporation within minutes. Just as Elspeth got off the car, she met an administrator. ¡°Hello, Miss Lynwood. What brings you here?¡± The administrator smiled and greeted her. At that moment, Elspeth felt chills run over her spine. Then, she looked around nervously and saw that Callum had already left. Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief. Chapter 95 Chapter 95 ¡°I¡¯m looking for Harper. Where is he?¡± ¡°He is away on a business trip, so I don¡¯t think he is around today. By the way, who is the man who gave you a lift, Miss Lynwood? Could he be your boyfriend?¡± The woman nodded in a preupied manner. ¡°No.¡± Elspeth blushed, bing speechless at once. ¡°Come on, I¡¯m already a mother of two kids. Do you think I can¡¯t tell what that little gesture meant? Miss Lynwood, that man seems like a decent person. Why don¡¯t you give him a chance?¡± ¡°Do you seriously have no idea who he is?¡± Elspeth raised her eyebrows and looked at her. ¡°Who is he?¡± The woman asked, seemingly confused. ¡°His name is Callum Winthrop.¡± ¡°Wait, what? Callum Winthrop?¡± the woman responded, her voice going several octaves higher. Elspeth nodded, finding the woman¡¯s surprised look amusing. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Callum Winthrop may be a golden bachelor whom everydy out there wants to marry, but the way I see it, he is a little too cold and indifferent. Thus, I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll be a good match for you¡­. You deserve someone better.¡± Elspeth chuckled in amusement, recalling Callum¡¯s words when he told her he would give her a ride to work in a helicopter earlier that morning. ¡°Alright, since Harper isn¡¯t here. I should probably get going.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Remember, don¡¯t tell anyone about what you saw today. Also, work hard and ease up on the gossip.¡± She advised her subordinate, not knowing whether her words were taken seriously by the administrator behind that smiling face. After a while, she decided to make a trip to the hospital, but before she set out, she heard her phone¡¯s loud ringtone. ¡°Hey there, Elspeth. Are you free now?¡± Callum spoke, his voice shaking. ¡°If you are, pleasee to the hospital now.¡± Elspeth¡¯s heart sank when she heard that. ¡°I¡¯ll be on my way right now.¡± She gged down a cab and made her way to the destination. The moment she entered the ward, she saw Callum standing in the corner not far away with a cigarette between his fingers. Several cigarette butts were scattered on the ground. ¡°What happened?¡± Callum turned around and fixed his gaze on Elspeth, his eyes turning red. ¡°The doctor said my mother will never wake up again.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. ording to the doctor, that¡¯s how she¡¯ll live for the rest of her life.¡± ¡°I told you to look into the medication. Have you done it yet?¡± Callum nodded his head in response. ¡°Yes, I have. There¡¯s nothing wrong with the medication, which is why I don¡¯t understand how something like this could happen to her.¡± ¡°Are you saying that your mother¡¯s condition worsened before she ended up in this state?¡± ¡°No worries. I¡¯ll find the best doctor to save my mother.¡± He took a deep breath. ¡°When she wakes up, I¡¯ll be sure to make Arthur pay!¡± Deep down, Callum could never forgive Arthur for his unforgivable inhumanity of hurting their mother. ¡°Callum, may I have a look at your mother?¡± Aware of Elspeth¡¯s talent in healing, Callum didn¡¯t turn her down and nodded in agreement. After examining Margot¡¯s body thoroughly, Elspeth realized Callum was right upon finding nothing wrong with the medication she took. However, she quickly found something else far more gruesome and scarier as she squinted and stretched out her arm to reach for the venttor. It¡¯s cold. ¡°I think I know why your mother is in this state now, Callum.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the reason?¡± Callum desperately asked after being stunned for a second. ¡°Take a look at the venttor. If it was working like it was supposed to, it should radiate heat and feel hot, but instead, it feels ice cold. Thus, I believe someone must have removed the venttor support from your mother when you were away and only put it back on when you returned. As this kept going on over time, your mother suffered from ack of oxygen, resulting in her vegetative state.¡± As soon as Elspeth¡¯s words made sense to Callum, he clenched his fists while his gaze turned cold. ¡°This must be Arthur¡¯s doing.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t be certain for now; Ophelia could also be the one behind this, after all.¡± Elspeth looked up. ¡°Anyway. your mother¡¯s condition is our priority. Finding the culprit can wait.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already engaged the best doctor in Damoria. He will be here soon.¡± Callum nodded. At the same time, Elspeth, who was about to give the man a suggestion, swallowed her words when she heard his reply. Soon, a doctor who looked to be in his 40s or 50s arrived. The doctor was dressed decently, and he had a pair of sses with a golden frame that made him look professional and reliable. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, I¡¯m going to run a check-up on Mrs. Winthrop now.¡± As the doctor examined the patient, he repeatedly frowned and rxed his eyebrows. In the end, he sighed and said, ¡°Mr. Winthrop, your mother¡¯s condition is ratherplicated. If you want her to live, pray hard for her.¡± 1 N ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to help, but rather I can¡¯t, Mr. Winthrop. After all, I can¡¯t promise you anything. If anything goes wrong, it will ruin my reputation.¡± ¡°Your reputation? If you fail, you can get lost from Damoria.¡± Seeing Callum¡¯s response, Elspeth stood up for the doctor and tried to defuse the situation. ¡°Alright, take it easy. He is just a regr doctor. What can you expect him to do? He is not a divine being, you know. Perhaps I should ask my mentor for help and have hime over to check on your mother.¡± The doctor, feeling as if he had been humiliated, reacted dramatically. ¡°Who are you calling a regr doctor here? I¡¯m the best doctor in Damoria. Who is your mentor? How dare youpare him to me?¡± I must have bumped my head or something to help this guy. ¡°Sonny Schwartz,¡± Elspeth said. The doctor instantly shut his mouth up when he heard the name. Nevertheless, he quickly thought she was bluffing and murmured to himself softly. ¡°Who knows whether you¡¯re telling the truth? Why would a big shot like Sonny Schwartz be your mentor? Keep telling yourself that!¡± However, Elspeth wasn¡¯t concerned at all. Instead, she made a video call, whereupon an old man with gray hair appeared on the screen. He seemed healthy and fit for his age, and his eyes were sparkling. ¡°Oh. my dear Elspeth! You¡¯ve finally thought of calling me. Do you know how lonely I am, living abroad alone? Anyway, when are youing back? I¡¯m¡­¡± ¡°Hmm, you haven¡¯t beaten Mr. McCall in chess, have you?¡± Elspeth knew what Sonny was about to say and beat him to the punchline. ¡°Haha.. How smart! When are you going to help me win a match against him? His cocky attitude grinds my gears every time. You must knock him down to size for me!¡± She rolled her eyes around and smiled. ¡°In that case, let¡¯s make a deal.¡± I¡¯ll promise you anything.¡± Sonny patted his chest confidently. Elspeth turned the camera to Margot and gently replied, ¡°I need your help to wake her up.¡± Chapter 96 Chapter 96 Stunned by Elspeth¡¯s request, Sonny asked, ¡°I-Is thisdy asleep or something?¡± After a brief pause, he said something that left everyone surprised. Knowing how humorous her mentor was, Elspeth rolled her eyes upward in silence. ¡°She is in a vegetative state now. Can you help her?¡± ¡°Oh,e on. It¡¯s not that serious. I¡¯m sure you can handle it yourself, Elspeth.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how I can do that,¡± Elspetli responded casually. ¡°What? You don¡¯t know how to handle that yourself even after I taught you so seriously? Dear god! You just broke my heart¡­¡± Sonny pretended to cry, thinking it should make his mentee feel helpless when she saw an old man like him so sad. ¡°Alright. Stop crying, okay? I¡¯ll book a flight for you taking off in an hour. It should take you about four to five hours to get here, so be here as early as you can,¡± Elspeth chuckled and added, ¡°or you can forget about getting your revenge in chess.¡± As Sonny was about to reject Elspeth, he quickly changed his mind and wiped his tears after hearing Elspeth¡¯s threat. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll help her. It¡¯s not a big deal anyway. Ugh! I have a feeling I¡¯m going to suffer horribly at your hands!¡± Sonny had no choice but to pack his clothes after the conversation despite his reluctance. Meanwhile, Elspeth shifted her eyes to the doctor and raised her eyebrows, asking. ¡°So, do you believe me now? If you don¡¯t, you¡¯re wee to wait here until he shows up.¡± In the face of Elspeth¡¯s confidence, the doctor started to suspect that he might¡¯ve been wrong after all. Furthermore, having seen the video call between Elspeth and Sonny, he was filled with guilt and shameThis content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . instead of arrogance and belligerence. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I should get going now. I still have some business to attend to¡­¡± Already ashamed of his ineptitude, the doctor knew that more humiliation would be waiting for him if he continued to stay behind. Although he was tempted to watch and learn from Sonny, his ego would not allow him to tolerate any more humiliation. ¡°Alright, see you around, doctor.¡± After the doctor was gone, Elspeth turned her attention to Callum. ¡°My mentor is going to be here soon, Callum. Your mother is going to be alright.¡± Callum nodded, feeling somewhat relieved when he saw the reassuring look on Elspeth¡¯s face. Four hourster, Sonny arrived with a huge suitcase as he hurriedly made his way to the hospital. ¡°Where is the patient, EP?¡± ¡°Why are you wearing this ugly outfit again?¡± Elspeth knitted her eyebrows when she saw Sonny. ¡°Come on, it isn¡¯t that bad. Even the olddies who live around my ce say that I look fine in this outfit. Beauty is in the eve of the beholder, my dear.¡± Sonny pouted, feeling bitter. ¡°Alright, whatever. Now, put down your luggage and take a look at this patient.¡± Elspeth led the way and took Sonny to Margot. When Sonny began his work, he immediately dropped his yful attitude and became serious. Upon bending over to take a closer look at Margot, he stretched out his hand to feel the pulse on her neck and wrist before he finally stopped chuckling mischievously. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing. Although it isn¡¯t anything serious, it¡¯s going to take some time.¡± ¡°In that case, why are you frowning?¡± Elspeth speechlessly asked. ¡°I¡¯m just a little upset to think that I have to stay here for a few days,¡± answered Sonny with a bitter look. ¡°I want to go back and y chess. I don¡¯t want to stay here and breathe in the air filled with the scent of disinfectant and medicine.¡± The corner of Elspeth¡¯s lips twitched, but even so, she patiently asked, ¡°Well, are you going to treat her or not?¡± ¡°Y-Yes, I will. Now, I need everyone to be out of this room so that I can perform acupuncture on her.¡± After making sure everyone had left the room, Sonny closed the door behind him right away. As they stood outside the door, Callum gazed at Elspeth with an unfathomable expression, but thedy saw through the concerns in his mind. Thus, sheughed it off and said, ¡°Alright, I know what you¡¯re worried about. Sonny may look like a yful, childish old man, but he is pretty serious and professional when ites to his work. Hence, I¡¯m pretty sure he¡¯ll save your mother.¡± Callum nodded his head without answering Elspeth directly. Instead, he asked, ¡°Well then, do you still need to return to the office?¡± ¡°Return to the office¡­¡± Elspeth instantly felt awkward, for she hadn¡¯t told Callum about her departure when she left thepany in a fit of pique earlier. ¡°Uh.. Am I expected to go back?¡± ¡°Well, the position of the Design Department¡¯s director is still there for you. I¡¯ve always made sure of that,¡± Callum answered. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be back then.¡± Elspeth nodded in agreement after feeling Callum¡¯s sincerity. ¡°Perhaps we should bring everything you need back to the office while Mr. Schwartz treats my mother. I bet he is going to take some time before he¡¯s done.¡± ¡°Now?¡± Elspeth asked in a surprised manner. ¡°Of course. I was hoping you¡¯d return to Winthrop Group by today.¡± Not long after finishing his sentence, Callum was reminded of what happened earlier that morning. ¡°I also hope that you¡¯d move back to the Despite that, Elspeth was still reluctant to do what Callum said, especially when she thought about what happened in the Winthrop Family. ¡°But I¡­ ¡°Say no more ande with me.¡± Callum couldn¡¯t stand the thought of Jordan getting close to Elspeth. Sensing his jealousy, Elspeth immediately thought of Jordan. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you bothered by Jordan?¡± ¡°I¡¯m d you know what I¡¯m thinking.¡± Callum gave thedy a cold re. Elspeth chuckled on the inside and nodded in a way that made her seem as if she was reluctant. ¡°Okay then, I hear you. I¡¯ll go with you. Your mother is in good hands, so don¡¯t worry about her. My mentor will take good care of her.¡± After that, the duo briefly discussed their next move before returning to the Winthrop Group together. Over the next few days, Callum barely returned to the office and put Edmund in charge in his absence. On the other hand. Edmund went to great lengths to make sure everything was in ce on his watch, determined to prove his worth to his brother. ¡°Elspeth?¡± Edmund was rmed when he saw Elspeth. ¡°Come on, Callum. How could you bring her back here? I thought she was gone.¡± Although Edmund was not his father¡¯s favorite child, he was grateful for his mother since she treated all the children fairly. Therefore, now that Margot was in trouble, he couldn¡¯t help but think that Elspeth was responsible, having a strong prejudice toward her. ¡°Elspeth will be back to work from now on.¡± Callum gave a terse reply without any intention to borate further. ¡°Seriously, Callum? Have you forgotten what Elspeth did that day? That¡¯s our mother! No one knows when wil Mom recover from her miserable condition now, yet you¡¯re getting close to thisdy?! Is this how you repay Mom for her kindness?¡± Edmund lost his temper and continued his speech angrily, ¡°I only agreed to let you look after Mom and run thpany because you insisted, Callum, but I certainly didn¡¯t see thising. What¡¯s the meaning of all this?¡± Upon hearing his brother¡¯s response, Callum was caught off guard, not expecting a dramatic response from Edmund since he was usually easy-going and mild-mannered. ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t me.¡± Elspeth took a step forward and tried to exin her innocence. Chapter 97 Chapter 97 ¡°It wasn¡¯t you?¡± Edmund snickered. ¡°How could that be? Then, tell me, who else could it be if it wasn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Ophelia.¡± He couldn¡¯t help but let out a scornfulugh. ¡°Ophelia? She grew up under my mother¡¯s care. How could it ever be her?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you don¡¯t believe me. You¡¯ll know it when I¡¯ve found the evidence to prove my innocence.¡± Elspeth knew it wasn¡¯t easy to break people¡¯s rose-tinted sses perception of Ophelia. So, she didn¡¯t want to waste time arguing with Edmund. ¡°So? What do you want? Find evidence to prove that you weren¡¯t in the wrong? You?¡± Callum coughed lightly and interrupted them before they could start squabbling, which promptly shut them both up. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . ¡°Alright. Stop it. It¡¯s not Elspeth¡¯s problem.¡± Edmund didn¡¯t expect Callum to take Elspeth¡¯s side. He was incredulous by Callum¡¯s stance, but he forced himself to calm down, especially since they were still in public. ¡°Fine. Since you believe her, I¡¯ll wait and see whether she¡¯s just all bark but no bite,¡± he sneered before turning around to leave. Callum sneaked a nce at Elspeth and noticed she didn¡¯t seem to be in high spirits, so he couldn¡¯t help butfort her. ¡°Don¡¯t take Edmund¡¯s words to heart. He¡¯s always been a little mean.¡± ¡°I¡¯m alright. I¡¯ll be heading back to the Design Department.¡± After she bid goodbye to Callum, she returned to the Design Department alone. When her colleagues saw her, they were all smiles, but they soon fell into awkward silence. Naturally, she noticed their unusual expressions, so she curiously inquired a colleague she was rather close with, ¡°What¡¯s up? Why is everyone looking at me weirdly?¡± Her colleagues scanned the room before muttering in a low voice, ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear? After you left, Mr. Winthrop didn¡¯te to work often. So, Mr. Edmund asked Ophelia to take over your position.¡± ¡°That means Ophelia is now the director of the Design Department?¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but feel frustrated when she heard Ophelia¡¯s name being mentioned yet again. ¡°Okay. I got it.¡± She then walked inside to see that Ophelia was now sitting in the seat that belonged to her and doing her work. She couldn¡¯t suppress her smile after seeing just who was before her. ¡°Oh my. Isn¡¯t this Elspeth? Why are you back to work so suddenly?¡± ¡°Yeah. I just decided to visit this ce on a whim. I didn¡¯t expect someone to stop and take over my ce right after I left.¡± Ophelia ducked her head as if she was being bullied. ¡°I didn¡¯t. Edmund felt it wasn¡¯t right to not have a director for the Design Department. So, he asked me to step up to rece you. If you¡¯re not happy about it, I can talk to him now to return the position to you.¡± Elspeth let out a light chuckle. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t have the habit of taking what belongs to others.¡± ¡°Elspeth, I- I¡ª¡± A male colleague who was standing by the side saw the tears rolling down Ophelia¡¯s face. That kindled his protectiveness, and he didn¡¯t hesitate to criticize Elspeth. ¡°Why can¡¯t Ophelia take over this position? Do you think you¡¯re the only one left who is capable in thispany? Besides, you were the one who left, and Ophelia merely stepped up to the role. She didn¡¯t snatch your job from anyone. Why are you being so mean?¡± Elspeth smiled at him, and her beauty dazzled him. ¡°Don¡¯t talk when you don¡¯t know the whole truth. Haven¡¯t you heard of that saying before?¡± The man was still dazed by her beauty and agreed in confusion. Ophelia was ted when he was helping her, but anger rose within her as she saw him mesmerized by Elspeth¡¯s beauty. Why did all those men fall to their knees for Elspeth like she was a goddess? Oh, how she wished she could slice Elspeth¡¯s face so that nobody would ever look at her again! ¡°It¡¯s okay. Thank you, Darling, for your concern. I know Elspeth probably felt wronged. It¡¯s nothing.¡± Ophelia lightly nudged the man¡¯s arm as she smiled bashfully at him. ¡°If Callum found out that you¡¯re calling people Darling¡­¡± Elspeth watched Ophelia¡¯s phony act as she stifled a Fear immediately took root within Ophelia¡¯s heart at Elspeth¡¯s remark, so she unintentionally pushed too hard, and the male colleague who helped her stumbled. ¡°Ophelia, you..¡± He suddenly felt like a simp for helping her as he was brushed off and derided for defending her. ¡°Darling, I didn¡¯t mean that¡­¡± Ophelia opened her mouth, wanting to exin, but the man wasn¡¯t willing to listen anymore as he turned around and stomped away. ¡°Alright. That¡¯s enough. If you continue, Callum will hear you. Oh, right. I returned with him today.¡± Ophelia snickered, ¡°Stop pulling my leg. I know Callum¡¯s looking at the contract in his office now. He¡¯s not going to be here.¡± ¡°Well, I am.¡± A familiar voice rose behind her, and cold sweat covered her back. She stiffly turned her head and saw Callum¡¯s emotionless face as her heart pounded against her chest. ¡°The things I said just now. Callum, you¡ª¡± He calmly cut her off, ¡°I heard all of it.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it like that. I called him Darling because he was older. That¡¯s why I¡ª¡± She wanted to exin herself, but he wasn¡¯t interested in her lies as he walked toward Elspeth and lowered his head to ask, ¡°Edmund told me that he appointed the position of director of the Design Department to Ophelia. Is that so?¡± His posture was simr to that of a man whispering sweet nothings to his lover, which made Ophelia green with envy. ¡°Yup, but it¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t need this job.¡± Elspeth wasn¡¯t bothered by Edmund¡¯s decision or that Ophelia had taken over her original job. To her, being the Design Department director wasn¡¯t a big deal, nor was the position all that attractive. She was being mean to Ophelia on purpose earlier because Ophelia had done several disgusting things back when they were colleagues. So, it was only natural that she wouldn¡¯t have a good temper to deal with that repulsive woman. ¡°This is different.¡± Callum pondered in silence before slowly suggesting, ¡°Why don¡¯t you be my secretary? I¡¯ll double your pay, and it¡¯s not a tiring job.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Elspeth instinctively rejected his offer without a second thought, ¡°I¡¯ve never worked as a secretary for anyone. I¡¯m not suited to the role.¡± Being a secretary meant she would have to bend her back for Callum. She wasn¡¯t that crazy. Callum seemed to notice the true reason behind her rejection as the corner of his lips curved up ever so slightly. ¡°I¡¯m not going to bully you. I just wanted to offer you an easy job with higher pay.¡± Since she couldn¡¯t be the director of the Design Department, she could be his secretary and stay by his side. In his opinion, that was a win. ?? Ophelia, who never left, was so shocked that her jaw dropped, utterly ruining her usual poised demeanor. Why is Callum speaking so gently to Elspeth? He even asked her to be his secretary! She had begged and pleaded with him for a long time, but he never budged. He never once thought of making her his secretary. So, how could he give that position away to Elspeth so easily? ¡°Callum, what¡¯s up with you and Elspeth?¡± Chapter 98 Chapter 98 Callum stretched out his hand and wrapped it around Elspeth¡¯s shoulders. ¡°What do you think?¡± he asked, expressionless. ¡°You can¡¯t do this! Mrs. Winthrop already said that she wants you to marry me, not Elspeth. What will she think if you do this when she¡¯s lying unconscious in the hospital right now? How can you date the woman who pushed her down the stairs?¡± Ophelia raised her voice, practically screeching as she was unable to ept his decision. ¡°I have told you time and time again that I¡¯m not interested in you. Don¡¯t think that you¡¯ve won after ganging up with my mother to force me to yield. And to think that you¡¯d shove all the me on Elspeth. Hah.¡± Callum took a threatening step forward as he said with undisguised annoyance, ¡°How do you face your conscience every day while you y the victim, Ophelia Fleming?¡± One had to apud her for her tenacity as she still insisted on putting up her act. ¡°Do you think that I¡¯m the one who did it? Callum, why would I harm Mrs. Winthrop? She¡¯s been nothing but kind to me, so why would I ¡°Stop it. Don¡¯t make me lose thatst bit of good impression I have of you.¡± After he spat thatst sentence, he dragged Elspeth straight into his office, leaving Ophelia behind, her heart beating wildly as it was utterly filled with terror and frustration. In the office, Elspeth ced her palms on the desk, resting her weight on them as an amused smile spread across her face. ¡°Callum Winthrop, why did you suddenly speak up for me today? Aren¡¯t you the least bit suspicious whether I¡¯m the mastermind behind this incident?¡± ¡°I know you didn¡¯t push my mother down the staircase.¡± ¡°Oh? What made you change your mind so suddenly?¡± Callum stared out the window as he observed the bright city lights and exined, ¡°Thest time when we were at the hospital, you were so eager to prove that you¡¯re not the problem. You even helped me to look after my mother despite her disdain toward you. Furthermore, you seeded in getting Mr. Schwartz back from abroad. If a person like this is actually the culprit¡­ Then, I suppose I can only admit defeat against this individual. I can admit that such a person scares me with how far they¡¯re willing to go to achieve their goals. More importantly, I genuinely trust you. This trust has been built up over the days we¡¯ve spent together. My trust in you cannot be diminished by such a one-sided story filled with holes. Besides, my heart will always be biased toward you.¡± Elspeth felt her heart a warm river flowing through her heart at his confession. Who would have thought that a man like him would trust me so unconditionally? ¡°So, what¡¯s on your mind, Callum? Do you really want me to be your secretary?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never worked as a secretary before in my entire life. Listen to how confident you sound. Do you really think that everyone is as eager as Ophelia to stick to you like gum?¡± Elspeth said in exasperation, rolling her eyes at him. ¡°She won¡¯t be the director of the Design Department for long.¡± Callum lowered his eyes to hide the darkness in them. ¡°I¡¯ll make her pay the price the instant I have the necessary evidence to prove that she¡¯s the one behind my mother¡¯s condition.¡± Elspeth could only give him a firm nod in the face of his resolute decision. ¡°Okay, I¡¯llpromise and be your secretary for a few days.¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Good. Start by making me a coffee. No sugar.¡± After he gave out his first order, he plopped into the office chair and started reading through a business contract. ¡°You sure slip into your role very quickly, eh?¡± Elspeth grumbled under her breath. Then, she picked up his mug and trotted out to the coffee machine nearby. s, her timing was impable as she overheard the most recent gossip about Edmund the moment she stepped out of Callum¡¯s office. ¡°Did you guys hear about it? Our vice president signed a contract with Alphascape Group, and it seems like this agreement caused us a big loss!¡± ¡°Oh, my God. Is that true?¡± ¡°100% truth. I heard from the vice presidentst time that he signed this agreement unexpectedly. He signed the contract the other day under influence but has yet to tell the president about this. Maybe he¡¯s worried that he¡¯ll be med for it?¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t we always been loggerheads with Alphascape Group? So, why on Earth did Edmund sign a contract with them so easily?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t easy at all. He had put in a great deal of effort to sign a contract with them. Maybe because Callum is simply too outstanding, so Edmund wanted to prove himself by striking a big deal with Alphascape, but it didn¡¯t ur to him that they could be so dishonest¡­¡± ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough. Let¡¯s get back to work before somebody overhears us.¡± The gossipmongers scattered back to their respective offices, and only Elspeth was still quietly making coffee in the pantry. When she raised her head to look for a teaspoon, the first thing she saw was Edmund, who was standing nearby and here to make a coffee, just like her. He ended up getting scammed because of his naivety despite putting in such a great deal of effort to prove himself. So, there was no way he could ept his failures with a bright grin on his face. In addition, he felt even worse now that people were gossiping about his misstep behind his back. ¡°Hey, Edmund- Elspeth began, but before she could finish her sentence, he cut her off harshly. ¡°What? Are you going to mock me, too?¡± Elspeth was briefly stunned by his rude manner, and a look of confusion washed over her face. ¡°Mock you? About what?¡± ¡°Stop lying. They¡¯ve practically given you my weakness on a silver tter. I know you overheard everything.¡± He snorted and continued, ¡°So, just cut the pretense.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not pretending. I simply wanted to ask you just what kind of contact you signed with Alphascape that got you scammed of millions.¡± from Edmund¡¯s face flushed crimson when she brought the topic up so candidly. ¡°I merely bought a property them, but they gave me a piece of problematd instead. That¡¯s why I made a loss¡­ Yet, I never once imagined it would be an utterly useless plot ofnd. I know that I¡¯ve already thoroughly checked the inspection papers before making that purchase, and I was sure that it was marked qualified. But how¡­¡± Even now, he still couldn¡¯t understand how he got himself into such hot water. ¡°You know that we¡¯ve been at loggerheads with Alphascape Group all this while, and it¡¯s risky business to coborate with the old foxes there. Furthermore, Callum wasn¡¯t around-¡± ¡°Callum! Callum! Callum! It¡¯s always about him! What? Will the world stop spinning if Callum is no longer around? Ever since we were young, everyone has been using him to put me down. It¡¯s even worse since we¡¯re from the same family. Is he that great while I¡¯m such a massive disappointment?¡± As far as he could remember, Callum had been the pride of the Winthrops. Even if he did make a mistake, everyone would create all sorts of excuses for him. He couldn¡¯t ever recall anyone ever doubting Callum¡¯s abilities. However, if Edmund were the one who fumbled at something, everyone would immediately conclude that he was never capable of anything worthwhile in the first ce. ¡°Nobody is using Callum to put you down. You¡¯re the one who has been using him to motivate yourself. Or maybe, you¡¯re just easily affected by his achievements, and you can¡¯t see what you¡¯ve achieved because you¡¯re so busyparing yourself to him.¡± Elspeth paused and sighed before she tried to give him solid advice. ¡°Remember, Callum is merely a person who is a little more outstanding than most people, but he¡¯s not the greatest man alive. He d?s have his weaknesses, too. Don¡¯t put him on a pedestal and kick yourself to the ground just because of what others have to say. Of course, they will sing his praises because they want something from him! Always put yourself first Her words caught him by surprise because it was the first time someone would take the time to say such things to him. ¡°So, don¡¯t belittle yourself. Now, that¡¯s off the table. Can you tell me now what exactly happened?¡± Chapter 99 Chapter 99 ¡°The president of Alphascape Group gave me a call out of the blue the other day, iming that he wants to discuss a coboration with me. Knowing that we¡¯d always been at odds with them, I didn¡¯t agree to meet him, but thepany vice president kept inviting me, so I reluctantly agreed. After that, I went to check out thatnd, and he said that they didn¡¯t have much time to deal with it. On the other hand, we happen to be well- funded, so they wanted to sell it to us. I didn¡¯t think that thend would turn out to be like this. I swear, it really didn¡¯t hit me that he would scam me so tantly..¡± Elspeth could sense his remorse and said, ¡°Alright, I get the idea.¡± Massaging the center of her forehead, she thought, Edmund had let his guard down. ¡°I¡¯ll contact Alphascape Group in a few days and make them take back thisnd by hook or by crook.¡± Her words made Edmund¡¯s heart stir. It suddenly struck him that even though he was the vice president of Winthrop Group, he didn¡¯t even have the guts and courage that she had, and he felt ashamed of himself. ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll speak about it when the timees. Edmund paused for a second. Something popped up in his mind suddenly and he asked, ¡°Elspeth, my mother ¡°She¡¯ll be fine soon. I¡¯ll let you know once she¡¯s awake.¡° All of a sudden, she recalled that she was out to make coffee for Callum and realized that she had been away for too long after checking the time. So, she hurried back. ¡°What happened? It took you thirty minutes just to make a coffee?¡± Callum said with a frown, staring at her. Elspeth cleared her throat awkwardly. ¡°Nothing happened. I just got carried away, so I took a little more time.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. There¡¯s something I want to discuss with you.¡± Then, he ced the form on the table in front of her. ¡°I just found out that Edmund signed an agreement with Alphascape while I was away, and we made a loss of 7.5 million.¡± ¡°Maybe he let his guard down. Just guide him properly.¡± As Callum didn¡¯t think that she would speak up for Edmund, he couldn¡¯t help but snap. ¡°What? Are you worried that I¡¯ll tell him off?¡± ¡°He¡¯s your brother, not mine. You can tell him off if you want. It has got nothing to do with me.¡± Shrugging, she appeared uninterested in being involved in their affairs. ¡°The important thing now is to get back this 7.5 million. This is Alphascape¡¯s problem, and I won¡¯t let them get away easily with this.¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Leaning in closer she asked. ¡°No vou have any ideas then?¡± ¡°I have a n, but I¡¯ll need your help.¡± Out of reflex, Elspeth held her chest. ¡°Are you nning to ask me to seduce that old man?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Callum cast her a surprised look. ¡°Why would you even think of that?¡± Sheepishly, she rubbed her nose. ¡°Well, carry on.¡± ¡°I n to get you to ask Dominic Little out andy a honey trap for him at that time. Although Dominic is vicious and scheming, he has a weak spot for beautiful women,¡± he exined, turning the pen in his hand casually. ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll hire someone else to y the part of the beautiful woman.¡± ¡°Why should I be the one to ask him out?¡± Callum paused. ¡°That¡¯s because I want him to assume that you¡¯re the honey.¡± ¡°So, when should I ask him out?¡± Shaking his head, he said, ¡°Have some patience. We¡¯ll wait until my mother wakes up.¡± Just then, Sonny happened to call Elspeth, and she frowned slightly when she heard groans of pain from the other end of the call. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Why does it sound like people are fighting? she wondered. ¡°What are you guys doing over there?¡± Realizing that he had called her, Sonny hurriedly answered, ¡°A few burly men barged in earlier and wanted to take away the woman on the bed¡­¡± Everything he said afterward sounded like a blur to Elspeth, but she quickly informed Callum about this and they rushed to the hospital together. Pushing the door of the ward open, Elspeth saw the wreckage within and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Where are you, Sonny?¡± ¡°Here!¡± Suddenly, Sonny crawled out from under the bed. ¡°I¡¯m over here!¡± The floor was covered with trembling men, and one of them wanted to get up but realized that he couldn¡¯t do ¡°Who are they?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, either. These men wanted toy their hands on me, but luckily, I know some self-defense, or I would have been hurt.¡± He seemed like he was scared quite badly as he patted his own chest to calm himself. ¡°I used the silver needles on their numbing points, and they will need half an hour to return to their original state.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, why did you hide under the bed?¡± Elspeth thought that he had hidden under the bed because he was in some danger. ¡°That¡¯s because I¡¯m afraid that people will take me as the culprit if they walk in and see that I¡¯m the only one standing here. If that happens, they might call the police on me and you¡¯ll never see me again.¡± Covering his eyes, Sonny sobbed sadly, but he would peek at them from time to time. When he saw Elspeth ignoring him, he cried even more sadly. Meanwhile, Callum was relieved to find Margot unharmed on the bed. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Schwartz. My mother would have been in danger if it wasn¡¯t for you.¡± Hearing that, Sonny realized that someone else besides Elspeth was in the room, and he quickly stopped crying. With an awkward chuckle, he scratched his head which was full of silver hair, and said, ¡°I enjoy helping others. Moreover, you¡¯re Elspeth¡¯s friend, and that makes you a friend of mine as well.¡± ¡°How¡¯s my mother doing. Mr. Schwartz?¡± At the mention of Margot, Sonny nodded in satisfaction. ¡°She¡¯s fine, but she¡¯ll be unconscious for the time being. However, I can assure you that she¡¯ll wake up in less than twelve hours.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Schwartz.¡± ¡°Since she¡¯s fine, you can leave now.¡± The edges of Elspeth¡¯s lips curled into a smirk. ¡°I¡¯ve booked a flight for you and you can leave tonight.¡± The smile that was on Sonny¡¯s face froze. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Tll repeat myself, then. You can return tonight. Mr. McCall must be missing you a lot since you¡¯ve left him for an entire eight hours.¡± Elspeth beamed, revealing her pearly whites. ¡°You¡¯re so ruthless, sending me away right after you¡¯ve made use of me.¡± After Sonny wiped the tears away from the edges of his eyes, he picked up his small luggage and prepared to leave. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right, Elspeth stopped him as she watched his despondent back. ¡°What is it, Elsie? You can¡¯t bear to see me leave, can you? I knew that you care about me, that¡¯s why you suddenly came to your senses- ¡°My silver needles are a little worn out. Leave yours behind for meter.¡± Not only does she not care about me, but she¡¯s even taking advantage of me, Sonny realized. Boo- hoo, I¡¯ll never trust anything she says in the future! Chapter 100 Chapter 100 Sonny didn¡¯t answer her. Instead, he wiped away his tears and left sobbing. ¡°Don¡¯t freak out, Callum. That¡¯s just how he is.¡± Elspeth turned around and gave Callum an apologetic smile. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Mr. Schwartz¡­ has got quite a cute character.¡± After all, Sonny was his mother¡¯s savior. Therefore, even though such behavior of Sonny was puzzling. Callum couldn¡¯t possibly make negative remarks about him. ¡°Alright. We will stay by Mrs. Winthrop¡¯s side tonight and wait for her to wake up. It¡¯s thest day, so we must not let anything else happen to her.¡± At that, Callum nodded and said, ¡°Okay.¡± ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. Nheless, they were fortunate, for no one came to harass them again this evening. The next morning, Callum, asleep, suddenly felt a slight disturbanceing from his palm. And since Callum had always been a light sleeper, he instantly woke up and stared at the warm hand in his palm. Then, his gaze trailed upward, and he saw Margot, who had been in aatose state all the time, slightly curling up and gently moving her fingers in his hand. Even so, Margot still had yet to open her eyes. Elspeth, too, sensed Callum¡¯s movements and woke up after him. When she saw Margot¡¯s fingers move rhythmically, Elspeth showed a surprised expression. ¡°It looks like Mrs. Winthrop is about to wake up soon.¡± As soon as she said that, Margot¡¯s eyes trembled hard before she gradually opened them. ¡°I¡± Margot wanted to speak but couldn¡¯t as her throat felt extremely sore. At this moment, she, who hadn¡¯t drunk water for days, was like a water-deficit nt that might wither to death at any time. ¡°Water¡­¡± Elspeth immediately poured her a ss of water and gave it to her. ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, how are you feeling now? Are you alright?¡± Looking at Elspeth, Margot felt that her disarrayed memory was starting to awaken. Her memory traced back to the day when she witnessed Ophelia, who had always been her darling, suddenly show such an eerie expression and inflicted harm on her. Ophelia actually pushed me down the stairs! ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m fine¡­¡± ¡°You are a fine youngdy. I have misjudged you.¡± Elspeth was instantly off the hook as soon as these words escaped Margot¡¯s lips. ¡°Mom, it was Elspeth who saved you.¡± After hearing Margot¡¯s words, Callum couldn¡¯t help but feel guilty when he remembered how he had defended and wholeheartedly stood up for Ophelia in the past. ¡°Oh, Callum. It¡¯s all my fault. I misjudged Elspeth and even constantly treated her badly. I was wrong.¡± As Margot held Elspeth¡¯s hand, she couldn¡¯t help shedding tears. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Mrs. Winthrop. Right now, all you have to do is to have a good rest and take care of your health. We can talk about this after your health has recovered,¡± Elspeth gentlyforted Margot. Just then, the door suddenly opened before she could say any more words. ¡°Callum, I¡¯m here to visit Mrs. Winthrop¡­¡± Ophelia walked in with a basket of fruits. However, before she could finish expressing her polite remarks, she saw Margot, who had gained consciousness. Ophelia¡¯s facial expression instantly changed. ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, y-you¡¯re awake?¡± ¡°Yeah. What¡¯s the matter, Ophelia? What¡¯s with that face? Aren¡¯t you happy to see me? Aren¡¯t you d that I¡¯m awake?¡± Margot regained herposure and asked Ophelia with a smile. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m happy. It¡¯s a good thing that you¡¯re awake. I¡­¡± At this moment, Ophelia was so shocked that she couldn¡¯t even speak. Now I really regreting here at such a wrong time. Then again, why did Mrs. Winthrop suddenly wake up? Arthur had assured me that it was absolutely impossible for Mrs. Winthrop to wake up. ¡°Okay. Don¡¯t worry. I know what you¡¯re afraid of.¡± Calmly taking a sip of tea, Margot added, ¡°Ophelia, am I not treating you well enough?¡± After all, Margot was a woman who had gone through numerous hardships for decades in a wealthy family. Therefore, never once did it cross her mind that she would be set up. Now that she was no longer fond of Ophelia, her attitude toward Ophelia, too, had be fewer petals and more thorns. ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, I¡­ As Elspeth looked at Ophelia, who was trembling like a leaf, she couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Ophelia, why don¡¯t you just confess your crime? Isn¡¯t it tiring to put on a show?¡± Ophelia lowered her head aggrievedly. ¡°I really don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about, Elspeth. I¡¯m just here to visit Mrs. Winthrop. I can leave if you don¡¯t like seeing me here. There¡¯s no need for you to treat me like this.¡± Everyone understood the hidden meaning in Ophelia¡¯s words. They knew she merely wanted to find an excuse to sneak away after realizing she couldn¡¯t stay here any longer. Winthrop had been there for you ever since you were a child. Don¡¯t you feel the slightest bit of gratitude?¡± As Ophelia didn¡¯t expect that Elspeth would shed all pretenses of cordiality, panic abruptly crept into her heart as she looked at Elspeth¡¯s solemn expression. ¡°I didn¡¯t. It was you who pushed Mrs. Winthrop down the stairs. It has nothing to do with me!¡± Ophelia still tried to defend herself even until this very moment. ¡°Since you¡¯re not willing to admit your mistake, don¡¯t point the fingers of me if no one is willing to forgive you when the timees.¡± As she spoke, Elspeth turned around and looked at Margot, who was sitting on the hospital bed. With a smile, she asked, ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, can you tell us what exactly happened that day?¡± ¡°The person who pushed me down the stairs was Ophelia!¡± In an instant, Ophelia¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°What evidence do you guys have for saying I pushed Mrs. Winthrop?¡± ¡°Evidence? Isn¡¯t the witness right here in this room? What other evidence do you need?¡± Elspeth squinted her eyes. I can¡¯t believe Ophelia is resorting to being this unreasonable now that she¡¯s exposed. Ophelia sneered, ¡°Why must your words be the end of this matter? I have witnesses to prove my innocence too.¡± ¡°Fine then. Find the witness. If you can find the so-called evidence, then I will apologize to you and never set foot in Damoria again for the rest of my life.¡± Elspeth talked tough to Ophelia, cornering her. With that, Ophelia braced herself to make a phone call. After a while, Arthur, who wore a white coat, walked 1. When Arthur saw that Margot had woken up, a glint of a scheming look was visible in his eyes before it was reced with a gentle smile. ¡°Mom, you¡¯re awake?¡± There was a hint of warmth in Margot¡¯s eyes when she saw Arthur. ¡°I just woke up not long ago. By the way, why did youe here all of a sudden?¡± ¡°Ophelia gave me a call just now. She asked me toe over, saying that you have woken up. So, I¡¯m here to check on you.¡± ¡°Arthur, so you are Ophelia¡¯s so-called witness?¡± When Flh saw the interaction between Arthur and Onhelia she was even more ontimistic that the two of ¡°Witness? What witness?¡± Arthur was confused. There was a trace of confusion in his eyes as he looked at the pleading expression on Ophelia¡¯s face, acting like he didn¡¯t get it. Ophelia grabbed Arthur¡¯s hand and pleaded, ¡°Arthur, I called you here because I want you to prove my innocence. I couldn¡¯t be the one who pushed Mrs. Winthrop down the stairs at all, right?¡± As Arthur was somewhat fastidious when it came to skinship, he backed away slightly when he saw her grabbing his hand. A trace of disgust shed in his eyes as he said, ¡°How am I able to prove your innocence? Ophelia, I didn¡¯t even witness the incident with my own eyes, and I don¡¯t have any evidence either. How am I supposed to help you?¡± Chapter 101 Chapter 101 The words that escaped Arthur¡¯s lips sounded reasonable and impable. In fact, what he said was reasonable. He indeed had nothing to do with this matter after all. He was merely an unnecessary witness that Ophelia called over. In the end, all this was nothing but a disguise to conceal the panic in her heart. She thought that Arthur could bring her a glimmer of hope. To her surprise, Arthur, who had always helped her, shifted the me to her at this moment. ¡°What do you mean? Arthur, that¡¯s not what you told me before. You said you would always help me!¡± At this point, Ophelia waspletely panic-stricken. The reason why she was able to pretend to be calm just now was because she knew she still had Arthur as her trump card. Thus, she was in disbelief when Arthur actually didn¡¯t testify for her. ¡°We aren¡¯t that close, are we? Everyone knows that you have feelings for Callum. You and I are nothing but acquaintances. We aren¡¯t exactly childhood friends either as our paths didn¡¯t actually cross that often. In that case, how am I able to help you prove your innocence?¡± ¡°No! You conspired with me to frame Callum and Elspeth before. You can¡¯t do this to me now, or I will reveal all your affairs!¡± Since his back was facing everyone, Arthur could care less about facial expressions. He looked at Ophelia, who was in front of him, with a murderous gaze and said, ¡°What proof do you have? Ophelia, you have to pay for setting somebody up.¡± Although his voice sounded t, it still intimidated her. With that, Arthur flung his hand so hard that it caused Ophelia to wobble and nearly fell to the ground. ¡°Ophelia, do you have anything else to say?¡± Elspeth chuckled. Her words echoed clearly in the quiet ward. ¡°1..¡± Ophelia stammered. She didn¡¯t know what to say when suddenly, she spotted a fruit knife on the table out of the corner of her eye. Her lips curved upward into a sinister smile as a devious thought popped into her mind. While no one was paying attention, she reached out, took the knife, and put it on Margot¡¯s neck. Ophelia chose Margot as her victim, for she knew it was indeed difficult for her to attack Callum and Elspeth as the two of them were too vignt. ¡°What are you doing. Ophelia?¡± Looking at her somewhat manic state, Callum felt the situation was nothing but tricky. away! All of you were captivated by her charm and made me lose everything. It¡¯s all your fault!¡± At this moment, Ophelia couldn¡¯t absorb any words that were spoken to her. She only had one thought in her mind, which was to kill Elspeth and everyone in front of her. Callum frowned. Seeing that the knife was about to sh Margot¡¯s neck, he made a quick decision and immediately softened his voice. ¡°Ophelia.¡± As Ophelia had never heard Callum call out her name so gently, she was stunned for a moment. In disbelief, she asked again, ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°Ophelia, let¡¯s get married.¡± Ophelia suddenly couldn¡¯t help but shed tears of joy. ¡°I finally get to hear you say those words to me.¡± Seeing that Ophelia was distracted, Arthur, who stood beside her, seized the moment and abruptly rushed over to snatch the knife from her hand before he kicked her away. However, because he was careless when he snatched the knife from Ophelia¡¯s hand, it shed deep into his palm, causing him to hiss in pain. Seeing this, Elspeth tore off the bed sheet with all her strength. Then, she wrapped it around Arthur¡¯s injured palm a few times and tied it tightly to avoid blood loss. ¡°Don¡¯t act so recklessly next time. Also, remember to treat your wound properlyter. Otherwise, you¡¯ll get a bacterial infection.¡± Elspeth nced at him as she reminded him. Is she concerned about me? All of a sudden, Arthur felt a little dazed. He looked at his hand and was stunned for a whi.. betore he came back to his senses and called the security guard toe over. Realizing all hope was lost for her, Ophelia fell to the ground. Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision. The security guard hurriedly rushed over. He wanted to take her to the police station but was stopped by Margot. ¡°Let her go. I still can¡¯t bring myself to see her getting captured.¡± Margot still couldn¡¯t bear to hurt the youngdy she had loved for more than 10 years, even until the last minute. ¡°After the harm you¡¯ve inflicted on me, we no longer have anything to do with each other. Ophelia, don¡¯t you ever set foot into the Winthrop Residence from now on.¡± Arthur ordered from the side. ¡°lust throw her out Guard the door and don¡¯t let her in ¡® With that, the security guard dragged Ophelia out. Instantly, the atmosphere in the ward became peaceful. Looking at the blood oozing out of Margot¡¯s neck, Elspeth involuntarily asked with concern, ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, are you alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. She probably identally shed my neck just now.¡± Margot frowned as she held back the pain. She would be lying if she said she wasn¡¯t touched when she saw how much Elspeth cared about her. ¡°Elspeth, I know I was wrong before. From now on, I will not interfere with any of your affairs with Callum ever again. I will surely not spare him if he doesn¡¯t treat you right.¡± As soon as she said these words, she gave Callum a fierce re as if she was warning him. ¡°But how about the Flemings? What shall we tell them?¡± After all, Callum and Ophelia were considered to be bound together through parental betrothal, but now that the Winthrops and the Flemings had fallen out to such an extent, it seemed they could no longer proceed with the marriage. Margot snorted. ¡°The Flemings have got quite the skill in raising such a lovely¡¯ daughter, don¡¯t they? Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll deal with Ophelia¡¯s parents. After all, they have been our family friends for so many years. They won¡¯t dare to retaliate after they find out the shameful things their daughter has done.¡± Arthur clenched his fist slightly after he heard what Margot said. I can¡¯t believe that the incident this time brings about Callum and Elspeth¡¯s rtionship. ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, since you have just woken up, you probably still aren¡¯t doing too well. We¡¯ll leave first,¡± Elspeth suggested. She wanted Margot to have a good rest after she saw that Margot wasn¡¯t looking very good. Margot nodded tiredly before shey down to rest. ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. Then, the three of them tip-toed out of the room. Standing in the garden outside, Arthur said with a smile, ¡°It looks like you two can date openly now.¡± ¡°What does it have to do with you?¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes. The sarcasm in his voice made her feel annoyed. Upon hearing that, Arthur looked down, hiding the emotion in his eyes. ¡°Because I have feelings for you too. If you date him, then what about me?¡± ¡°Stop pretending. Arthur. It¡¯s quite meaningless.¡± Arthur sets his eyes not on me but on the huge benefits that he can reap from me. Even though Elspeth still had no idea what those benefits were, after seeing him relentlessly pursuing her, she foured he was retainly not a mediocre fioure get the wrong idea about me.¡± It was uncertain whether Arthur was telling the truth. Despite his tone not indicating an interest in Elspeth, there was a touch of lingering tenderness in his eyes. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just tell me directly what you want from me? Perhaps I can help you.¡± However, Arthur seemed to not hear her and asked back, ¡°Will you be willing to get married to me then?¡± At once, Elspeth lost the desire to talk to a guy with a persistent nature like him. In the end, it was Callum who stepped forward. He wrapped his arms around Elspeth¡¯s shoulders and warned, ¡°She will be your sister-inw from now on, so stay away from her.¡± Arthur smirked and said, ¡°Sister-inw? I shall wait and see then.¡± no Chapter 102 Chapter 102 Arthur¡¯s words that day did cause a heavy impact on Elspeth. Callum noticed that Elspeth was in a daze so he couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What¡¯s on your mind, Elspeth?¡± Elspeth snapped out of her thoughts and the nk look in her eyes disappeared. ¡°I was thinking about what Arthur said. I think¡­¡± ¡°You also think that Arthur isn¡¯t as simple as he seems, right?¡± Callum looked into Elspeth¡¯s eyes and immediately guessed what she was thinking. ¡°Previously, Arthur used Mrs. Winthrop¡¯s life to threaten me, but this time, he grabbed the weapon in Ophelia¡¯s hands to save Mrs. Winthrop. Does he care about Mrs. Winthrop or not? What do you think?¡± Arthur¡¯s actions and behavior were too strange. Elspeth couldn¡¯t figure out what Arthur was up to. ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°I think he faked the whole incident of him snatching the weapon.¡± Although Callum did know Arthur for decades now, he didn¡¯t understand Arthur all that well as their rtionship wasn¡¯t great. However, after hearing what Elspeth said, even though he had his suspicions, he couldn¡¯t resist querying further. ¡°Faked it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It had to have been an act. Think about it. Would a normal, decent child joke around with his mother¡¯s life? You can¡¯t possibly think the incident with Mrs. Winthrop¡¯s respirator tube being pulled out was just an ident, right? The nurses would check on her every day. Arthur¡¯s the hospital director. Who would have dared to do such a thing if they didn¡¯t have his permission?¡± Elspeth¡¯s analysis was wless. ¡°Mom has always been very good to him.¡± Callum pressed his lips together. His tone became a little grim. ¡°I know. Mrs. Winthrop loves all her children. Still, look at what Arthur has done the past few times. Do you think he¡¯s someone who knows how to be grateful?¡± Elspeth snorted at the recollection of what Arthur said in the past. Callum lost all trust in the younger brother he had known for over a decade. ¡°But, before that, you must remember to take good care of Mrs. Winthrop. Even though she¡¯s not in any danger now, you must be prepared for anything and everything.¡± Callum nodded. All of a sudden, he had an uneasy feeling in his chest. ¡°You need to be careful too.¡± ¡°I know. If Ophelia tries to get back at me, I¡¯ll be prepared for her too.¡± A thought urred to Callum. He walked over to Elspeth and held her shoulders. ¡°If she does do something to you, you don¡¯t need to show her any mercy. Just do whatever you want.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Elspeth¡¯s heart flitted with joy at his words. ¡°By the way, it¡¯ll soon be the fifth anniversary of ke¡¯s debut in the industry. I think he wants to hold a concert on that day, so we should attend it.¡± Elspeth remembered that ke mentioned this to her this morning as well, so she nodded. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s attend it together when the timees.¡± ¡°However, there¡¯s still something we haven¡¯t dealt with yet.¡± Before Callum could finish speaking, Elspeth cut in. ¡°You¡¯re talking about Alphascape, right?¡± Callum had a small smile on his face as he said, ¡°That¡¯s right. Since my mother¡¯s situation has been resolved. why don¡¯t we start making our move tonight? One of my men has checked and informed me that Dominic doesn¡¯t have any meetings tonight, whether internal or external. Let¡¯s invite him out and discuss a particrly significant business deal.¡± Elspeth burst outughing. ¡°Sure. Let¡¯s do it tonight. I¡¯m free too.¡± Thus, the two of them invited Dominic out without further ado. Dominic had only just pulled one over Winthrop Group. He was still a little intimidated and felt apprehensive of Callum, but when he heard that it was Elspeth who specifically invited him out, his beady eyes shone. My, my. What a night it¡¯d be if I got my hands on that fine young woman¡­¡­ Elspeth didn¡¯t even have to say much before Dominic rushed over impatiently. Inside the private room at the hotel. Dominic spotted Elspeth sitting nearby and his eyes remained glued to her the whole time. ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. As Dominic spoke, he reached his hand out to cop a feel of Elspeth¡¯s body. Elspeth dodged ever so slightly before saying with a smile, ¡°There¡¯s no rush, Mr. Little. Let¡¯s talk business first before we talk about anything else.¡± Her lilting voice made Dominic feel hot and heady. He quickly nodded. ¡°Sure. Of course. Let¡¯s talk business first, and then we¡¯ll talk about the rest.¡± ¡°I want to be clear with you regarding that piece ofnd.¡± Elspeth pursed her lips and announced with a look of reluctance, ¡°We don¡¯t want thend anymore. Can you rescind the contract?¡± Dominic was taken aback as he didn¡¯t expect Elspeth to be this direct. She didn¡¯t even bother starting with any pleasantries first. ¡°That¡¯s sudden. Why do you not want it anymore? Is there a problem with that piece ofnd?¡± ¡°Well, Mr. Little, there¡¯s a gold mine underneath that piece ofnd, and Winthrop Group isn¡¯t involved in the mining industry. That¡¯s why I think it¡¯s better if thend went to yourpany instead.¡± Dominic¡¯s eyes grew wide. ¡°A gold mine?¡± Why didn¡¯t he know there was a gold mine underneath that piece ofnd? Furthermore, he was the one who inspected thend himself. It was a piece ofnd that wasn¡¯t even fit for construction. Elspeth¡¯s eyes widened as well. She looked a little lost as she said, ¡°That¡¯s right. Didn¡¯t you know about this? Thend isn¡¯t fit for construction because it has arge deposit of gold beneath the surface. That¡¯s why it¡¯ll affect all construction work¡­ What happened? Didn¡¯t the surveyors tell yourpany about this?¡± Her ster acting seemed to have done the trick as Dominic began to panic. If there truly was arge deposit of gold beneath thend, then they would have incurred a monumental loss. But, what if¡­.. Elspeth is lying? What if it¡¯s just this woman¡¯s attempt to hoodwink us? It would be too late if they only found out once the contract was signed. ¡°Then¡­ can you let me take a look at the geotechnical report? If it¡¯s true, then I¡¯ll immediately draw up a new contract and buy thend back at the original price.¡± Elspeth responded with a smile, ¡°Now, now, Mr. Little. That¡¯s not very nice of you. We¡¯re the ones who discovered the gold mine. Logically speaking, thend already belongs to us, and now that there¡¯s gold there, the price to be paid for thend needs to be multiplied as well. Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s only reasonable?¡± ¡°On what grounds?¡± Elpeth cocked her head and smiled. ¡°Mr. Little, you¡¯ve been working in the corporate world for decades nOW. Don¡¯t tell me you still don¡¯t know the rules of business.¡± ¡°Miss Lynwood, although I admire your talents, I don¡¯t understand what you mean by this. Thend belonged to us in the first ce and we¡¯re trying to get it back now. How did it be yournd?¡± Elspeth leaned back and turned to Callum. ¡°Why don¡¯t we just forget about it, Mr. Winthrop?¡± Chapter 103 Chapter 103 Callum replied, ¡°Since Mr. Little isn¡¯t sincere about wanting to discuss this with us, then we don¡¯t need to waste any more time.¡± He started rising from his seat as soon as he finished speaking. Dominic shot up at once as he was terrified that the deal would fall through just like that. He carefully tried to appease Callum. ¡°Not at all, Mr. Winthrop. We can still talk about this. How¡¯s this? I¡¯ll pay 150 million. That¡¯s double the price that Winthrop Group bought thend for. Why don¡¯t you sell it back to me at that price?¡± It pained Dominic to offer that much, but he gritted his teeth and tossed the number out anyway at the thought of how valuable the gold mine would be. ¡°Oh? 150 million? Is that all¡­ That piece ofnd isn¡¯t worth merely 150 million.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t seem satisfied with this number as she shook her head in response. ¡°150 million is already a very generous offer. What if you¡¯re just tricking me? I would be at a great loss¡­¡± Dominic looked troubled. His heart squeezed at the sight of Elspeth¡¯s reaction. ¡°Tricking you? Mr. Little, if you think we¡¯re trying to trick you, then we might as well forget about this deal.¡± Elspeth stood up at once. ¡°Wait! Hang on. I¡¯ll offer more, okay? Really now¡­¡± Dominic had topromise and offer 225 million to repurchase thend, though it killed him to do so. ¡°Let¡¯s sign the contract now and finalize the deal sooner rather thanter.¡± The moment Elspeth made the suggestion, Dominic immediately became cautious. ¡°Let¡¯s not get so impatient, Miss Lynwood. Didn¡¯t we say we would talk about ourselves once we¡¯re done discussing business? If you came here today because of me, then why don¡¯t you just be mine? What¡¯s 225 million? I can even offer 500 million or 750 million if need be.¡± Elspeth¡¯s smile stiffened. ¡°What bold ims you make, Mr. Little! Are you sure that¡¯s possible?¡± She was disgusted by this portly, perverted man, but for the sake of tricking him into signing the contract, she had to put on a dazzling smile. ¡°Of course! Come and be my precious little darling, okay? Let¡¯s have some fun¡­¡± Dominic tried to grab Elspeth¡¯s hand as he wanted to pull her into his arms, but Callum shoved him away. ¡°What are you doing, Mr. Winthrop?¡± Elspeth exhaled in relief. ¡°He¡¯s out. Thank goodness he finally fainted. How repulsive.¡± Callum nodded. ¡°I didn¡¯t think he¡¯de over all by himself without any backup just so he could get it on with you.¡± A hint of jealousy shrouded his words, but Elspeth didn¡¯t pick it out. She assumed that Dominic was just someone who lowered his guard too easily and chuckled. ¡°Let¡¯s carry on with your n. First, we¡¯ll get him delivered to the hotel room, and then¡­¡± Elspeth was nauseated at the thought of the look in Dominic¡¯s eyes. She never thought that he would be this deplorable. Callum called his people over and carried out what they had nned. First, they threw Dominic into a hotel room before getting a woman to lie on top of him. Next, they took out a camera and began snapping away. Once everything was done, Callum and Elspeth rested for the night and waited until the next morning when Dominic woke up. Just as they predicted, when Dominic woke up and saw the messy room, he panicked and hurriedly left. The men stationed outside saw him exiting and began taking photos of him with his face in full disy. Dominic felt a sense of dread. At the very next second, his phone started ringing. When he answered, he heard Elspeth¡¯s clear voice coming through. ¡°Did you sleep well, Mr. Little?¡± Dominic was startled for a moment before he snapped angrily, ¡°What on earth are you trying to do? How dare you trick me? That does it. I don¡¯t want thatnd anymore. Give it to whomever you want. I¡¯m calling off all the deals between Winthrop Group and Alphascape!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make such hasty decisions, Mr. Little. Let¡¯s talk about your wife.¡± Dominic¡¯s expression stiffened at the mention of his wife. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°I heard that your wife has a bit of a fiery temper, Mr. Little. She¡¯s the jealous type too, it seems. What¡¯ll happen if she found out that you got involved with another woman, Mr. Little? Do you think she¡¯ll demand a divorce?¡± From what Elh found out Dominic seemed like an aplished and well-regarded man in nublic hut he ¡°Why, you!¡± No matter how dumb Dominic was, he could tell he had been set up. ¡°I know how upset you must be right now. You know, you should¡¯ve considered the danger of retaliation when you decided to trick Winthrop Group back then. What makes you think we won¡¯t seek vengeance?¡± Elspeth chuckled. Dominic clenched his jaw and uttered stiffly, I¡¯ll sign the contract.¡± The three of them met inside a private room in the hotel and signed the contract. When Elspeth took the contract, Dominic side-eyed her phone which was on the table and he instantly tried to snatch it. Elspeth stretched out her finger and pushed it lightly toward Callum. ¡°What are you doing. Mr. Little? Do you wish to renegade on our deal?¡± It all happened too fast. Dominic didn¡¯t expect this to happen. He lowered his head awkwardly. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Now that you have the contract, can you delete what you took?¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Elspeth shook her head. ¡°There¡¯s no rush. I¡¯ll delete the photos and the videos once everything is in order with thend ownership returning to you.¡± ¡°I hope you¡¯ll keep your word, Miss Lynwood!¡± Dominic red at the two of them before leaving in a huff. ¡°Everything¡¯s over now, Callum.¡± Elspeth waved the contract in her hand with a mischievous smile. ¡°Yeah, and it¡¯s all thanks to you, or else we wouldn¡¯t have been able to trick that old fogey and lead him around by the nose,¡± Callum replied with a chuckle. ¡°But you promised me that you¡¯ll start a rtionship with me once everything is over. Are you going to keep your word?¡± ¡°Well, we have to give him credit for being gullible. Oh, by the way, when are we attending ke¡¯s concert? He gave me the tickets yesterday and it says the concert¡¯s on the 29th. What¡¯s today¡¯s date?¡± Elspeth felt a little awkward when she heard Callum¡¯s question, so she quickly changed the subject. ¡°The 29th.¡± ¡°Does that mean ke¡¯s concert has already started?¡± Callum¡¯s eyes shed unhappily at the sight of her being so frantic. She didn¡¯t agree to go out with him, and she was now anxious because of another man, so it¡¯s not surprising that he wasn¡¯t happy about it. ¡°Are you in that much of a rush to attend ke¡¯s concert? Do you like him that much?¡± Elspeth looked confused. ¡°Huh?¡± Didn¡¯t we agree that we¡¯ll all attend his concert? Everyone¡¯s going and I¡¯ve already wasted so much time, which isn¡¯t very good of me. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯m heading back to the office to drop off the contract and talk to a few people. You can go ahead first.¡± Chapter 104 Chapter 104 Elspeth was startled, and before she could even respond, Callum had left. All of a sudden, her phone started ringing. She nced at the screen and answered when she saw it was ke who was calling. She heard ke¡¯s deep voiceing through the phone. ¡°Are you busy after work, Elspeth? If you¡¯re not, can youe to my concert?¡± Elspeth nodded. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll be right there.¡± When she got to the venue, she found that it was filled to the brim. She had to squeeze her way through to the front where her seat was. The concert went on for a while and Callum had yet toe. Elspeth began to lose interest and her mind started wandering. ke¡¯s singing has improved a lot. He sounds more emotive now, she thought to herself. ¡°To thank my fans for your loyal support, we¡¯re going to select one person at random toe up and receive a mystery gift from me.¡± ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. The light shone down on Elspeth and she couldn¡¯t avoid it. She was now under the watchful eyes of everyone. ke smiled at her. ¡°It¡¯s Miss Elspeth Lynwood. Pleasee up on the stage to receive your prize.¡± Elspeth had no choice but to go along with it and head up the stage, but she had a bad feeling about it when she saw ke staring at her affectionately. ¡°The mystery gift from me is¡­ a kiss!¡± As soon as those words came out of ke¡¯s mouth, the tens of thousands of young women beneath the stage began to scream and wail. ¡°Why wasn¡¯t I the one ke chose?!¡± ¡°I want to share a kiss with ke too!¡± ¡°ke has never gotten close with any woman. Could this be his first kiss?!¡± Elspeth looked at ke with a stiff expression. ¡°This doesn¡¯t seem right.¡± ke moved the mic away and quietly replied a little helplessly, ¡°I don¡¯t have a choice either. It¡¯s what thepany wanted, not me.¡± However, he wasn¡¯t about to tell Elspeth the truth. Elspeth felt her hair standing on end at the thought of kissing ke. ¡°I still don¡¯t think it¡¯s appropriate.¡± ke smiled as he drew nearer. ¡°It¡¯s my first on-screen kiss, Elspeth. You should enjoy it.¡± Elspeth stood awkwardly on the stage. When she saw him suddenly approaching, she couldn¡¯t avoid him and thus, she instinctively closed her eyes. The expected kiss did not happen. Instead, a gentle kiss fell on her forehead. ¡°Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! ke¡¯s so gentle!¡± ¡°Thank goodness it¡¯s not a kiss on the lips, or else I¡¯d die from grief!¡± ¡°It¡¯s so sweet! I¡¯m going to get diabetes!¡± At the veryst second, ke held himself back and chose to kiss Elspeth on the forehead. He knew he had to be patient and not jump the gun lest Elspeth started despising him. Elspeth opened her eyes and saw ke¡¯s smiling face. Her heart settled back in ce. She had only just regained herposure when she felt a piercing gaze on her. She turned to look and saw Callum standing there with a furious look in his eyes. His entire body was emanating a chilly air. When did Callum arrive? As soon as Elspeth caught Callum¡¯s gaze, he turned around abruptly and left. She felt as if she had been caught cheating. This made Elspeth¡¯s mood sour even further. She got down from the stage with an unfathomable feeling of wanting to exin herself to Callum. Yet, it didn¡¯t seem as if she had a reason to exin this to him. What was she supposed to say? What was she supposed to tell him that she didn¡¯t know about this and couldn¡¯t get out of it as she didn¡¯t want to ruin ke¡¯s concert? Elspeth lowered her head. She couldn¡¯t hear what was going on around her. All she knew was that Callum was He was sitting on the couch with hisptop in front of him as he worked, and he acted as if he didn¡¯t see Elspeth. Elspeth tried to start a conversation. ¡°Did you attend the concert today?¡± Callum hummed in the affirmative without saying anything. ¡°Are you angry?¡± Elspeth asked tentatively. After hearing question after question, Callum couldn¡¯t help but sneer. ¡°Whether I¡¯m angry or not, what does that have to do with you? Weren¡¯t you getting all intimate with ke?¡± Elspeth¡¯s temper red up as well. ¡°Nothing is going on between ke and me. Can you not say such ridiculous things?¡± ¡°What I saw was just a hallucination of mine then, huh?¡± Elspeth was reminded of the kiss that afternoon and was struck dumb. ¡°It was just an event during the concert. I was forced to and had no choice¡­¡± ¡°You were forced? You seemed to be enjoying yourself to me.¡± When Callum saw ke kissing Elspeth, the rage he felt nearly made him lose all his senses. Elspeth¡¯s gaze grew cold. ¡°Why are you being so unreasonable, Callum? You¡¯re not that kind of person.¡± Her words helped Callum regain some of his cool. ¡°I apologize. I overstepped my boundaries. I shouldn¡¯t interfere with your private matters.¡± He got up and walked off. For some reason, Elspeth felt aggrieved as she remained standing there The two of them were in conflict and the whole Winthrop Family could tell. Even everyone at the office knew that Callum and Elspeth weren¡¯t getting alongtely. From¡¯ that day onward, the two would stay away from each other and didn¡¯t bother talking at all. They wouldn¡¯t even look at each other. Soon, it was nearing Christmas, and during a meeting, Callum suggested designing a new set of couple rings to be made just in time for the Christmas sales. One of the employees immediately stood up. ¡°Can I be in charge of this, Mr. Winthrop?¡± Callum paused before asking. ¡°Can you do it by yourself?¡± ina smiled and said, ¡°Of course! Miss Lynwood came up with an excellent proposal as soon as she joined thepany. I want to give it a try too.¡± She turned to Elspeth and smiled at her. ¡°I won¡¯t be stealing your thunder if I took on this project, right, Miss Lynwood?¡± Elspeth smirked. ¡°There¡¯s hardly any thunder of mine to steal. If you want to do it, then go ahead.¡± One of the fellow employees snorted. ¡°Elspeth is Angel, an internationally renowned designer. Who do you think you are?¡± ina lowered her eyes when she heard that. ¡°I know I¡¯m not as talented as Miss Lynwood, but¡­ I just want to do a good job too. Anyway, thepany said they¡¯ll give new designers a chance too, right? I just want to do my part and contribute to thepany¡­¡± Callum frowned and nced at the person who¡¯d mocked ina earlier. ¡°Is that how you treat a new Colleague?¡± he asked icily. The person shrank back upon noticing Callum¡¯s displeasure and said nothing else. Elspeth¡¯s heart turned chilly when she heard what Callum said. ¡°That¡¯s settled then. ina will handle this project. ina, if there¡¯s anything you¡¯re not sure about, you cane and ask me. If there¡¯s nothing else, then the meeting¡¯s adjourned.¡± Chapter 105 Chapter 105 Once the meeting came to an end, those who mocked ina huddled around Elspeth. ¡°Elspeth, I think the boss was just being unfair.¡± Already upset from losing the project, Elspeth wanted to know why her colleague was saying that, and she arched her eyebrow. ¡°How so?¡± ¡°You should¡¯ve been the one handling this project. I can¡¯t believe the boss gave something that important to that bitch. This is so unfair to you.¡± Elspeth shook her head dismissively. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who writes up the proposal. As long as it¡¯s good.¡± Disappointed, the employee said, ¡°You¡¯re just too naive, Elspeth. That b*tch is gonna y you like a fiddle.¡± Elspeth only smiled, but she said nothing. She¡¯s just a youngss trying to make a name for herself in her new job. Not a b*tch. Then she felt everything around her spin. Must have overworked myself. She shook her head and tried to walk, but then she cked out and fell forward. Through the ss door, Callum saw Elspeth lying on the floor. He came in and picked her up. Looks red. Too red. He put a hand against her forehead. Scalding. ¡°You idiot. Didn¡¯t even realize you had a fever?¡± he muttered silently and was about to take her to the hospital. ina noticed what was going on, and she came over. ¡°What happened to her, Mr. Winthrop?¡± She sounded worried as if she actually cared for Elspeth. ¡°Caught a fever. I¡¯m taking her to the hospital.¡± ina stared at Callum with anticipation in her eyes. ¡°Can Ie? I¡¯d like to keep an eye on her. She helped me a lot, and I want to do something for her.¡± Callum looked at her. She seems genuinely worried. And he nodded. They went to the hospital, and the doctor did a little checkup. Then Elspeth was taken to a ward and hooked up to an IV infusion. Callum headed to the reception to go through some paperwork, while ina went to the restroom. And only Elspeth was left in her room. Someone slowly opened the door. The silhouette looked around to see if anyone was around. Good. The coast is clear: They heaved a sigh of relief and approached Elspeth¡¯s bed. She was none other than Ophelia. Unlike her past self, she seemed frail and listless, not unlike someone who had been tortured. Now she was wearing a coat and pretending to be a doctor. Nobody would suspect a `thing.¡±Atst, you¡¯re mine. None of this would have happened if not for you. The whole Winthrop household hates me now. Even my father wants to send me abroad. Called me a disgrace. This is all your fault!¡± Her face was contorted with rage and fury. She set her eyes on Elspeth¡¯s neck and was just about to throttle her, but the sounds of footsteps echoed across the air. Someone¡¯sing. Quickly she pulled her hands back It was ina. She just came back from her restroom trip. ¡°Oh.¡± She saw inaing out of the ward. ¡°Did they change doctors?¡± ¡°Um, the attending physician sent me here. Wanted me to check on the patient. She¡¯s fine, so I have to go now.¡± Ophelia hung her head as low as possible, worried that this woman might find out she was lying. The panic in her eyes would betray her. ina thought this doctor felt weird, but she asked no questions. Instead, she nodded at her and entered the ward. Ophelia heaved a long sigh of relief and left in a hurry. Elspeth woke up just in time to see ina smiling at her. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Smugly, ina said, ¡°We sent you here. Mr. Winthrop and I.¡± She sounded proud as ifing together with Callum would close the gap between her and him, but it worked. For some reason, Elspeth felt jealous. ¡°Thanks.¡± ina smiled. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Miss Lynwood. You¡¯re an asset to thepany. If you fall sick, Mr. Winthrop is gonna worry.¡± So, she¡¯s trying to say Callum is worried only because I can bring profit for thepany, not because he likes me. This girl is annoying. Especially the way she talks. ¡°If you care about thepany so much, you should go back to work, then. At least you can show off your skills,¡± Elspeth shot back. She had no patience to even behave politely. ina chuckled. ¡°No, no. I came here so you guys wouldn¡¯t have a chance to stay in a room all alone.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m gunning for him. I¡¯m hot and educated, and my familypany is the industry leader. I could¡¯ve gotten any job I wanted, but I came to hispany. For him.¡± Gah. Another girl has a crush on him. Elspeth held her forehead. What is up with him and trashy women having a crush on him? ¡°You aren¡¯t close with him, and I think he only wants you for the novelty. Maybe he¡¯d like me more if he spent more time with me.¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t believe a sweet and innocent-looking girl like ina could turn into a shrew when no one was looking. Callum wasing to the ward after he paid for the expenses. ina heard the sound of his footsteps, and she put on a sad look. ¡°I know you don¡¯t like me, Miss Lynwood. I can leave. Please don¡¯t get mad.¡± Oh, he¡¯s stopping. He¡¯s at the door. And ina added, ¡°I know you never liked me, but I was just trying to help. I didn¡¯t ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. Elspeth noticed him, of course, but she didn¡¯t even bother exining. Instead, she was looking ahead calmly. Callum frowned. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ina wiped her tears. The moment Callum entered the ward, she quickly got up and stared at the ground. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Nothing happened.¡± ¡°Did she¡­ abuse you?¡± asked Callum hesitantly. She doesn¡¯t look like that kind of person. And ina never did anything that would get on her nerves. Elspeth sneered. ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t heckle newbies. She¡¯s just manipting the narrative to suit her agenda.¡± Okay, wow. That¡¯s an usation. He solemnly said, ¡°She¡¯s just a newbie. Go easy on her.¡± ¡°I never heckled her. Do you trust me?¡± Elspeth peered into his eyes seriously. Callum then felt a lump forming in his throat. A long timeter, he curtly said, ¡°I see.¡± Disappointing. Elspeth stared at the ground. ¡°You need to leave. I want to get some rest.¡± Okay, this is awkward. And ina¡¯s sobbing. At that, he said, ¡°Come with me, ina.¡± Elspeth closed her eyes and turned her back on Callum. Chapter 106 Chapter 106 Since she was in the hospital, Elspeth couldn¡¯t do a lot of work, so Callum handed her job over to ina. When she heard of that, all she did was smile bitterly. So, he¡¯s kicking me away in favor of ina, huh? It was a frustrating thought, so she put it aside and focused on recovery. Once news of Elspeth¡¯s hospitalization reached Theodore, he asked all his sons to take care of her until she was healthy again. She had no one else taking care of her after all. Margot was absolutely attentive when it came to Elspeth. She paid her a visit of her own volition and agreed with her husband¡¯s suggestion. Callum was the first one to go, but his appearance only made Elspeth furious. She wouldn¡¯t even look at him. ¡°You¡¯re a busy man, Mr. Winthrop. No need toe.¡± Callum looked at her calmly. ¡°Dad told me to take care of you. That almost made Elspethugh. ¡°He wasn¡¯t holding you at gunpoint. You don¡¯t have to force yourself.¡± Coolly, he said, ¡°I am not forcing myself. I¡¯m doing this willingly.¡± ¡°Not the point. Point is, you should go back to work and show the new girl the ropes. You can drop the act now.¡± The fact that Callum cared for ina so much hurt Elspeth, and she was spiteful over that. ¡°We¡¯re innocent.¡± ¡°Says you.¡± Elspeth smiled. ¡°But I know you like a kind, gentle, and hardworking woman like her. Everyone dos.¡± A hint of frustration welled in Callum¡¯s eyes. ¡°That is enough.¡± Gods, must she bring that woman up? This is upsetting. Oh, he¡¯s getting impatient. A smirk curled Elspeth¡¯s lips. ¡°Embarrassed? Why the overreaction?¡± A long silence ensued. ¡°I wasn¡¯t overreacting.¡± ¡°Good. I thought I caught a glimpse of your true, ugly self just now,¡± she snapped. Ah damn. I should not have said that. Okay. She killed the conversation. Callum stood up. ¡°I have work to do. Take care now,¡± said Callum coldly. ¡°Good day.¡± She saw him off and covered her head with the nket. Then she forced herself to sleep. It was Edmund¡¯s turn the next day. News of the spat between Callum and Elspeth reached him, and he asked, ¡°Did you guys fight? You and Callum, I mean.¡± It was surprising to find out that Elspeth wasn¡¯t the one who sabotaged his mother. And after all the help she lent to hispany, Edmund thought he should show thedy some concern as thanks, to say the least. Still feeling snappish, Elspeth answered curtly, ¡°No.¡± ¡°As if you didn¡¯t. I can smell the storm just from seeing you two stand in the same room.¡± He smiled. ¡°Finally realized he¡¯s not worth your time, huh? Do you feel likeing back to me?¡± why don¡¯t you go back to work? I really don¡¯t want to hear you talk. You never stop talking.¡± ¡°Really? Oh, here¡¯s a tip. Callum¡¯s heartless. Not even his ex could rein him in. I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll be able to keep him in check.¡± It was harsh, but it was the truth. A truth she had to ept. Then Edmund made a few more remarks snide ones- before he left. ¨C Arthur came on the third day. In case he went off on another lecture about why she should date him, every time Arthur showed up in her room) she would pretend to be asleep and avoid talking to him. The fourth day came, and ke arrived despite his busy schedule. He set aside a whole day just for her. When he saw with his own eyes that she was in the hospital, he asked, ¡°Why¡¯d you catch a fever all of a sudden?¡± ¡°I dunno. Work, the cold. Could be anything. But I think I¡¯ll be fine soon.¡± She assured him. Elspeth didn¡¯t want him to worry. But ke kept frowning. ¡°You would¡¯ve been discharged by now if it were a normal fever. What¡¯s the doctor¡¯s orders?¡± ¡°Said I needed to rest for a few days. Overworking has taken its toll on me, Fever, low blood sugar level, and my body¡¯s going to break if I don¡¯t rest.¡± ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. In most cases, she would love to get out of the hospital right away. The hospital was a boring ce, and it set work back a lot. She was almost out of ideas to entertain herself, but her physician told her she would have to rest for a week before she could be discharged. A long sigh escaped ke¡¯s lips. ¡°The doctor¡¯s right. You need some rest.¡± And then his eyes glinted. ¡°But how do you feel right now?¡± ¡°I think I¡¯m fine. Mostly. Don¡¯t feel sick now,¡± answered Elspeth honestly. A smirk carved its path across ke¡¯s lips. ¡°Why don¡¯t I take you around? It¡¯s almost Christmas, and the shopping area is awesome.¡± She was about to say no, but then she was reminded of the moment when Callum defended ina, and a spark of frustration zed within her. ¡°Sure,¡± answered Elspeth. They straightened themselves out, and ke wore a pair of sunsses just in case he was recognized. Since Elspeth was quite famous as well, she too wore a pair of sunsses and a mask. Ah. Fresh air. Been a week since I tasted freedom. The scent of fresh air and freedom cheered her up a lot. First, ke took her to a roadside stall for dinner. They had nothing but grilled stuff and beer. Surprised, Elspeth said, ¡°I didn¡¯t take you for a barbecue lover.¡± ke narrowed his beautiful, devilish eyes. ¡°Just because I¡¯m a celebrity d?sn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t like street food.¡± ¡°I know, but what if your fans find out you¡¯re here? They¡¯re gonna flood this ce.¡± Just imagining that scene made her burst out inughter. have you. Curious, Elspeth cocked her eyebrow. ¡°You don¡¯t have a barbecue buddy? But you¡¯re famous.¡± ¡°Well¡­ Will youe with me next time?¡± he asked seriously all of a sudden. But Elspeth didn¡¯t get it. Confused, she raised her head, and through the corner of her eye, she saw a couple standing at the roadside. At first, she couldn¡¯t see them clearly, but she saw the woman standing before the guy. She was staring at the ground in silence, her shoulders shaking. Then, the woman pounced into the man¡¯s embrace only for him to push her away a whileter. It was fast, but Elspeth knew who they were right away. Callum and ina. And the sparkle of delight in her eyes vanished. Chapter 107 Chapter 107 So, she¡¯s his special one now, huh? Look at them, all lovey-dovey in public. And he actually said he likes me? He told me he¡¯d date me, but now he went and date another woman. His love means nothing. A thousand thoughts raced in her mind, but all of them culminated in a sigh. Edmund looked where she was looking, and he saw his brother and another woman standing on the roadside. Confused, he asked, ¡°Who¡¯s the girl?¡± Elspeth shifted her attention away and answered calmly, ¡°Just Callum¡¯s employee.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t look like that to me.¡± ke smiled. ¡°Whatever it is.¡± All of a sudden, she lost her appetite. And her mood. He was delighted to see his brother being intimate with another woman. If he gives up, I¡¯ll have better chances of dating Elspeth. He suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t we go for some sightseeing? If you make a wish upon thentern, your wish wille true. It¡¯s why everyone goes for some sightseeing there.¡± She rose from her seat and whispered, ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± Surprised, ke said, ¡°But we still haven¡¯t done any sightseeing.¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m tired, and I have to rest.¡± She had a listless look in her eyes, her heart filled with nothing but ice-cold sadness. ¡°You love him, don¡¯t you? Callum, I mean,¡± asked ke. Man, I wish this is just a phase. Once she gets over him, I¡¯ll have a chance. She instinctively answered, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Really? Then, why do you care about him so much? You love him. Just admit it,¡± said ke seriously. Elspeth knew he was right. She probably did love Callum, but it didn¡¯t matter as long as the love was not reciprocated. He just sees me as something new. Once the novelty passes, he¡¯s going back to how he used to be. And he¡¯ll probably fall for someone else. Coolly, she said, ¡°Just never ask me that kind of question again.¡± ke had more to say, but Elspeth left without so much as a nce. The fifth day brought Max with it. Max had a short temper, but after Elspeth took his breath away with her charisma and skills, he had nothing but respect for her. ¡°Want an apple, Elspeth? I¡¯ll peel one.¡± He snickered. Elspeth shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I don¡¯t need anyone to take care of me, you know. Just go to school if you have to. I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Max knew she only wanted the best for him. He solemnly said, ¡°I made a promise to keep an eye on you the whole day. And I¡¯m not leaving until the day is up.¡± Elspeth wanted to argue, but someone knocked on the door. Elspeth nodded. ¡°I can see that. Now you can leave.¡± ina was obviously not wee here, but she entered the ward anyway, disregarding the dismissal. She held her head high like a rooster that had just won a fight. ¡°I¡¯m here to announce something.¡± And your next line is¡­ Elspeth smiled. ¡°You got promoted.¡± Yes, and ina was delighted about it, especially when she triumphed over Elspeth. ina grinned. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, but Mr. Winthrop wanted me to take over your job. I¡¯m now the Design Department¡¯s director but thank you for all the help you¡¯ve given me.¡± Elspeth saw thising but hearing it from her still stung, Max felt unsettled just from seeing this woman. Her smile, especially, annoyed him, and he frowned. ¡°Who is she, Elspeth?¡± She smiled. ¡°Your brother¡¯s junior and thepany¡¯s new director of the Design Department.¡± So, she¡¯s here to show off? Oh, Elspeth¡¯s romantic rival, huh? Max was adamantly backing Elspeth, and he would not allow anyone to mock her. ¡°I can¡¯t believe Callum would promote this girl. Look at her. She looks underaged. Everyone¡¯s gonna think Callum has a thing for minors.¡± ina¡¯s face fell, and she shivered in rage, yet she couldn¡¯t go on a tirade. Not when the one calling her names was Callum¡¯s brother. So, she patiently and sadly said, ¡°This is just my style. You can¡¯t insult me for¡ª¡± ¡°Oh, stop.¡± Max sneered. ¡°Cry me a river. That might work on Callum, but I¡¯m immune to it.¡± Humiliated, ina left in tears and said no goodbyes. ¡°I thought Edmund was the straightest shooter in the family, but you aren¡¯t bad.¡± Elspeth felt a lot better seeing ina humiliated. And she started thinking better of Max. At least for today, he¡¯s brilliant. He can deal with a conniving b*tch easily. ¡°I don¡¯t like conniving b*tches, especially when they start drama.¡± He sneered.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . ¡°Thank you, really,¡± she thanked him genuinely. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Callum likes you.¡± A smile hung on his lips. ¡°I¡¯ll protect you too.¡± Elspeth froze for a moment. ¡°He doesn¡¯t really like me.¡± That earned her an eye roll. ¡°Are you seriously telling me you can¡¯t see it? He¡¯s nice to you. Even said he¡¯d marry you. That¡¯s the first time he ever said that about any woman. There¡¯s no way he doesn¡¯t like you, or my name isn¡¯t Max Winthrop.¡± She took Max¡¯sment to heart. And it warmed her a little. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. I should go back now. Think about it, alright?¡± He got up and said goodbye. Even after he was gone, Elspeth still couldn¡¯t calm down. Yet sleepiness came for her all the same. She slowly closed her eyes and fell asleep. But a whileter, she heard someone whispering around her. ¡°Pick up the pace. She¡¯s gonna wake up. Do not wake her up.¡± ¡°Wonder whom this babe annoyed. I can¡¯t believe we have to kidnap and kill her off. I don¡¯t think I can do this.¡± ¡°Not the time to be a gentleman. We¡¯re getting one and a half million for this. One. And. A. Half. Million. You can get whatever woman you want. Now pick up the pace and tie her up.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah. Man, her skin¡¯s perfect, Lemme cop a feel.¡± Elspeth felt someone holding her up. Just when she was about to open her eyes to see who they were, one of the criminals noticed her waking up. He whipped out a chloroform-drenched handkerchief and pressed it against her face. That knocked Elspeth out, and everything turned ck. Chapter 108 Chapter 108 When Callum came to visit the next day, Elspeth was nowhere to be found, though her bed still felt warm. He wondered why she wasn¡¯t around, since she still had a few more days left before she could be discharged from the hospital. She¡¯s probably in the restroom. He frowned and waited for half an hour, but still, she didn¡¯t show up. He had a sinking feeling in his stomach, and he quickly called Arthur. ¡°Get me the surveince footage. I want to find out where she is.¡± Arthur was simrly worried when he heard of her disappearance. He needed to marry Elspeth to reach his goals. If anything were to happen to her, then his n would be ruined. Quickly, Arthur went through the surveince footage and found something strange. A few silhouettes were pulling a suitcase and looked around furtively, then they left in a hurry. No. Don¡¯t tell me¡­. He sent Callum a photo. ¡°Went through all footage in thest three hours, and these two are our suspects. I think they stuffed her into the suitcase and took her away.¡± Callum saw the photo and his heart sank. ¡®How long ago was this?¡± ¡®About an hour. It hasn¡¯t been too long since they left, but the footage isn¡¯t really clear, so you might have to put in a bit more effort.¡± Arthur shrugged. He didn¡¯t care about Elspeth¡¯s safety. All he cared about was the benefit she could bring him. But I guess she¡¯s going to die this time. I might have to come up with another n. Callum looked at the photos and called the cops, then he asked his assistant to find out all the details about these suspects. The two of them were ex-convicts who were just released from prison not too long ago. They had no job, but they needed money, so they walked a path of crime. The cops recognized them immediately, and they went through their database for these criminals¡¯ details. One was called Daniel, while the other was named Emerson. Both lived in the slums. Callum made a mental note of that. He told his men to search for these suspects¡¯ parents and find their phone numbers. He then made a call to one of them, but nobody picked it up. Then he made another call, and this one got through. ¡°Who is this?¡± Daniel was in the passenger seat, picking away at his teeth. He had just finished a roasted chicken when this stranger called him. Surprisingly, he didn¡¯t even suspect anything and just picked it up. ¡°Where are you?¡± Daniel looked outside the window and rolled his eyes. ¡°In the middle of nowhere. What-¡± Wait a minute. Something¡¯s wrong. ¡°Who are you?¡± he asked, but there was no answer, Sh¡¯t, I shouldn¡¯t have said so much. He quickly hung up. ¡°Damn it. That must have been her friend. I almost told him where we are.¡± Emerson was unfazed. He kept driving and smiling. ¡°It¡¯s alright. He can¡¯t find us no matter how powerful he is. Besides, even if he does find us, we can always move.¡± Daniel nodded, grinning. Then he turned his attention to Elspeth, who was deep in sleep. ¡°Man, that drug is powerful. Can¡¯t believe she¡¯s still asleep. Who is she anyway? Never knew we had a beauty like her in Damoria.¡± Emerson scoffed. ¡°We just got out of prison. Your guess is as good as mine.¡± ¡°She¡¯s hot, though. We should have a bit of fun before we kill her.¡± Ooh, I can¡¯t wait to screw her. He got a little ¡°Ah, buzz off, you. You have to stop thinking about sex all the time. We have a job to do.¡± ¡°Damn it.¡± The bumpy ride and the sound of argument woke Elspeth up, but one look around her was enough to tell her she was in trouble. My mouth is sealed. Great, I¡¯m kidnapped, but these are probably amateurs. Either that or they¡¯re too confident in their skills. I can¡¯t believe they didn¡¯t tie me up or take my stuff away. However, she didn¡¯t move. Okay, they¡¯re still happily chatting away. Guess they can¡¯t see me. Quietly, she held her phone behind her and texted someone. She couldn¡¯t see the screen, so she relied on her feelings. Then, she sent her location to whoever would take her message. After that, she tucked her phone away and pretended to sleep. Resistance was an option, but her fever took all her strength away. There was no way she would be a match for two guys, so she set that option aside. Eventually, they slowed down, and she thought it was time to wake up. So, she ¡®woke up¡¯ and looked at them in fake confusion. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Oh, good morning, Barbie. Was worried the ride might be too bumpy for you.¡± Daniel leered and tried to touch Elspeth¡¯s face. ¡°Mind telling us who you are? Your enemy wants you dead. I pity you.¡± Oh, so they don¡¯t know who I am. Good. I have better chances of survival. Exins why they¡¯re sox with me. Turns out they have no idea who I am and think I¡¯m just some random aristocrat. If they knew I¡¯m the Elspeth, they probably wouldn¡¯t have taken this job. Elspeth retreated and pretended like she was just a poor little girl. ¡°Who sent you?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t tell you that¡­¡­.. Oh, fine. It¡¯s not like you can see the sun of tomorrow anyway. Might as well tell you.¡± She¡¯s a defenseless girl. She can¡¯t harm us. So, he spilled a lot of information. ¡°Know who the Flemings are? One of the top families in Damoria. Yeah, their young miss sent us. How on earth did you get on her bad side? She wants you dead, you know.¡± ¡°So why aren¡¯t you two doing your job?¡¯This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . ¡°We would, but our employer is a bit of an oddity. She wants to kill you herself. She¡¯s on her way here as we speak. We¡¯re waiting for her.¡± He clicked his tongue, wondering how someone like Ophelia could be so cruel. Elspeth felt fury arise within her. I know Ophelia hates my guts, but tomit murder? Unlike his friend, Emerson was a bit smarter. He refused to divulge further information, and he patted his friend¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Alright, you can stop talking now. Our employer told us to keep everything confidential. You can¡¯t just tell the victim everything.¡± Chapter 109 Chapter 109 Daniel clicked his tongue and shook his head at his friend. ¡°T`have no idea why you¡¯re so scared. She¡¯s just a defenseless girl. What can she do to us? You¡¯re being paranoid.¡± Elspeth said nothing, so her kidnappers kept a lookout in the abandoned warehouse and chatted the time away. Yet, Ophelia didn¡¯t show up. Eventually, the kidnappers got worried. ¡°Do you think she¡¯s in trouble? It¡¯s gettingte.¡± ¡°Shut it. Just mind your own business.¡± The kidnappers cursed under their breaths. We¡¯re still not paid. If she goes back on her word, then we¡¯d have done all this for nothing. Just then, someone knocked on the door. Three long knocks and two short ones. Oh, that¡¯s the code. Delightfully, the kidnappers opened the door. Ophelia carefully darted into the warehouse and looked inside, especially Elspeth, who looked worse for wear. Even though she was covered in a mask and sunsses, there was no mistaking the sneer behind her disguise. ¡°So, how does it feel, Elspeth?¡± Elspeth wasn¡¯t scared. She stared at the listless Ophelia andughed. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, but you seem like you¡¯ve aged ten years. What¡¯s with the kidnapping? Callum¡¯s going to hate you for this, you know?¡± ¡°Do I look like I care what he thinks, Elspeth? I¡¯m over it. He doesn¡¯t love me. He¡¯d rather give all his love to you. I know that, but I just can¡¯t let it go. I loved him first and I loved him more than you do, but why did he choose you?¡± She spoke in an almost hysterical tone. Obviously, she was not in the best state of mind. Elspeth wouldn¡¯t talk to her in most cases, but this was a special circumstance. She must buy some time for her reinforcement. ¡°You¡¯re mad, Ophelia.¡± ¡°No, no, no. You¡¯re mad. Not me.¡± Ophelia approached Elspeth and crouched down. When she noticed her captive was not tied up at all, she hissed, ¡°Why isn¡¯t she tied up? She could¡¯ve run away!¡±. Daniel was a little shaken seeing the look in Ophelia¡¯s eyes. She looks so innocent, but she¡¯s evil. ¡°She¡¯s just a gal. Not like she can do anything, so¡­¡± If looks could kill, Daniel would have died. Ophelia growled, ¡°Tie her up. She¡¯s a crafty b*tch. You let her loose and she¡¯ll trip you up.¡± Emerson quickly found a used rope in the garage and wiped the grime off with his shirt, then he tied Elspeth 1. Ophelia stared at her captive and patted her cheeks. ¡°How does it feel? I bet it feels nasty. So, ready to grovel and beg for mercy?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not toote to back out, Ophelia.¡± Her warning gained her nothing but one hard p on the face ¡°Do not try to order me? around. None of this would have happened if not for you. I¡¯m ruined now, but it¡¯s fine. It¡¯s fine as long as I can drag you down to hell with me!¡± She roared inughter. From the moment she kidnapped Elspeth, she knew she couldn¡¯te out of this ordeal alive. Well, so much for your kindness. Blood trickled down Elspeth¡¯s lips, but she kept her silence. Don¡¯t want to make this crazy b*tch mad. Her hands were tied behind her back, and now she was cutting through the rope furtively using her ring. ¡°Proud, arrogant Elspeth. You¡¯re always looking down on everyone, but why aren¡¯t you putting on your tough girl cap now? Trying to get my sympathy?¡± Ophelia yanked her hair up and dragged her over. ¡°You¡¯re disgusting. You deserve this. Someone like you shouldn¡¯t even exist.¡± Sh¡¯t. She¡¯s gonna pull my scalp off at this rate. The pain was making Elspeth tear up. ¡°Ophelia, you can still Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. ¡°Shut it. Your voice is annoying. Makes me.. murderous.¡± She whipped out a dagger from her pocket and swung it around. ¡°Poison dagger. One little cut, and poof, you¡¯re dead. Want She never finished that sentence. Someone mmed the warehouse¡¯s door down and in came ke. Ophelia was surprised, wondering why he hade. ¡°Ophelia?¡± The moment ke got the SOS, he set aside all work and drove all the way here. Never did he expect Ophelia to be the mastermind. She¡¯s usually so nice. All her niceties were nothing but a facade that she had no patience to keep up with anymore. ¡°Surprised to see me?¡± Impatiently and icily, she snapped, ¡°This is the real me.¡± ke looked around. Okay, two thugs who probably know a bit ofbat, and Ophelia has a knife. If I rush in, she might hurt Elspeth. He found himself in a stalemate. For some reason, Elspeth was a little disappointed that it was ke and not a certain someone else. Oh my god, ke. You¡¯re going to be nothing but dead weight. ¡°You should leave, ke. It¡¯s dangerous here.¡± ¡°Not as dangerous as you being kidnapped,¡± answered ke seriously as he stared at her face. ¡°I don¡¯t have time for this bickering.¡± Ophelia hunkered down and waved the knife in front of Elspeth. ¡°You know, I¡¯ve always wondered something. Why do men fall for you left, right, and center? Maybe it¡¯s your looks, Wouldn¡¯t it be fun if, say, I¡­ destroyed your face? Let¡¯s see if they will still love you then.¡± Ophelia brought the poison dagger closer to Elspeth¡¯s face. Its edge was glinting menacingly, and then Ophelia held the dagger high up in the air, ready to strike a blow at Elspeth. Just then, ke charged ahead and mmed his foot into Ophelia¡¯s back. The impact sent her staggering forward. With Ophelia caught by surprise, Elspeth finally had the chance to break free, and break free she did. The rope had been cut off a while ago, and now she stood up and shook the broken rope off. ¡°Our employer is hurt! Quick, get that woman!¡± The thugs panicked. Their quarry was trying to run so they gave chase, attempting to surround her. ke was a civilian with nobat experience while Elspeth was weakened, so they couldn¡¯t fend off these thugs. It didn¡¯t take long for them to fall into a disadvantageous situation. Elspeth barely had any strength, so ke stood over her, taking all the beatings. The thugs didn¡¯t hold back, and before long, ke felt everything around him spin. He seemed like he was going to faint any moment. Chapter 110 Chapter 110 Elspeth felt an ache in her chest-she hadn¡¯t expected ke to go to such an extent. In the past, she had always thought that ke simply admired her as an individual and that he hadn¡¯t actually fallen for her. However, she was doubtful of her assumptions when she saw the way he acted then. ¡°Get up, ke. You can leave-I¡¯m fine on my own,¡± Elspeth uttered. However, ke shook his head even as he felt punchesnding continuously and incessantly on his back. His lips were drained of color because of how much pain he was in. ¡°How could I leave you here? I want to be with you. I don¡¯t want to abandon you¡­¡± + Ophelia got to her feet and gritted her teeth in anger when she saw ke protecting Elspeth. ¡°Good job, ke. How dare you kick me! You clearly know what¡¯s going on between Elspeth and Callum, yet you¡¯re still trying to cling to Elspeth. How disgusting!¡± she cried. ¡°Let Elspeth go, Ophelia. Otherwise, the Winthrop Family will never forgive you.¡± ke looked up as he forced the words out of his mouth. Ophelia let out a heartyugh when she heard how weak ke sounded. ¡°What a joke! Do I look like I¡¯m afraid of them now? I wanted to go easy on you for old times¡¯ sake, ke, but since you came all the way here, I don¡¯t think I have to show you mercy anymore.¡± Ophelia gave Daniel and Emerson a look that signaled them to stop. ¡°You guys did well. I want you guys to wait at the side; I¡¯ll give the money to you once I¡¯m done with these two.¡± Daniel and Emerson nodded and bowed they were both ted to hear that they were about to get paid. ¡°Great! You take your time. We¡¯ll wait around at the side,¡± one of them replied. After that, Ophelia turned around to see that ke was still stubbornly protecting Elspeth. A surge of anger shot through Ophelia¡¯s body, and she raised the dagger in her hand before stabbing it into ke¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Argh!¡± ke writhed in pain as he felt his vision turning blurry. Tears welled up in Elspeth¡¯s eyes. ¡°Are you even human, Ophelia? You¡¯re hurting ke!¡± ¡°So? Anyone who stops me from killing you deserves to die! Do you understand?¡± Ophelia pulled the dagger out of ke¡¯s shoulder before using a handkerchief to clean the blood on it. ¡°Alright. It¡¯s your turn next. Do you know how long I¡¯ve been waiting for this, Elspeth? I want you to die before my eyes right now!¡± Ophelia had just raised the dagger when she felt a rock hitting her wrist out of nowhere. She instinctively flinched and dropped the dagger. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Ophelia¡¯s senses were immediately heightened as she turned to check the entrance. There was no one standing there, but when she turned back around, she saw Callum standing in the distance with an icy look on his face. ¡°Callum, how did you¡­.¡± Ophelia knew that she was dead meat, and she was close to breaking down at that point. She couldn¡¯t help but shudder in fear at the sight of Callum. ¡°Let them go,¡± Callum ordered. When Ophelia realized that Callum had juste here to save Elspeth, she felt jealousy boiling in her once more. Then, she picked up the knife before holding it against Elspeth¡¯s neck. ¡°Why should I do that? I¡¯m not letting her go. In fact, I want to make sure that they die with me!¡± she cried. ¡°That¡¯s enough, Ophelia!¡± Callum had never expressed such rage in his whole life, and Ophelia was stunned to see him acting that way. ¡°I¡¯ve told you a thousand times, Ophelia-I was only nice to you back then because you were a child who was staying in my house. I had to be nice to reassure your father that you were in good hands. I never once developed feelings for you, Ophelia. You¡¯ve always been like a younger sister to me and I would never think of marrying you. If you have basic morals, you will stop pestering me and just forget about ¡­ Fleming Family suffer the consequences. Do you think you¡¯ll get to escape this punishment by killing yourself? I¡¯m going to make sure you guys suffer more than that.¡± It was rare to hear Callum speaking so much, but when he saw Ophelia¡¯s knife being held against Elspeth¡¯s throat, he felt genuine fear for once. Callum was genuinely afraid that he would lose Elspeth someday. Ophelia had imagined what Callum would say a million times in her head, but she hadn¡¯t expected it to still hurt her so badly when she heard it directly from him. Ophelia was well aware of everything that Callum had just told her. Ophelia could tell that Elspeth was Callum¡¯s one true love just from the way Callum looked at Elspeth. Furthermore, Ophelia also knew that Callum only saw her as his younger sister, but Callum was simply too perfect-he felt like a wless sculpture that Ophelia wanted to keep for the rest of her life. However, Elspeth¡¯s appearance destroyed Ophelia¡¯s n, sending Ophelia into a frenzy. The best n Ophelia coulde up with was to employ all sorts of tactics to stop Callum and Elspeth from being together. However, at that point in time, Ophelia was no longer certain of her actions. What were all my efforts for? All her efforts had only brought her to a dead end. She had ruined the entire Fleming Family, and she had made Callum and the Winthrop Family dislike her, yet she hadn¡¯t seemed to gain anything despite all of that. She hadn¡¯t managed to hurt Elspeth at all¡ªthe only person who was hurt was herself. Ophelia froze as she contemted her situation for a moment, and Callum seized this opportunity to snatch the knife away from her before kicking her a few feet away from them. Ophelia spat out a mouthful of blood as she felt her body m onto the ground. ¡°There¡¯s no turning back now, Ophelia.¡± Callum made a phone call, and a group of people in armored suits rushed in just ten secondster. The group of people helped ke out before Callum hurried over to help Elspeth to her feet. Then, he shot Ophelia with an icy re. ¡°The police will be here soon. Perhaps you should starting up with an exnation for yourself. You¡¯re ending up in jail this time.¡± Callum had lost any patience that he once had for Ophelia¨Dright then, he simply felt disgusted when he saw the malicious look on Ophelia¡¯s face. ¡°Have you ever liked me in the past, Callum? Even just a little bit.¡± There were tears in Ophelia¡¯s eyes as she questioned him in a cautious but hopeful tone. Callum noticed how weak Elspeth was, so he lifted her into his arms in fear that she was about to faint. Callum¡¯s face remained hard and cold after he heard Ophelia¡¯s question. ¡°Never.¡± With that said, he turned and walked away without even giving Ophelia onest nce. Meanwhile, Daniel and Emerson trembled with fear as they remained in the corner. They hadn¡¯t expected the people they had beaten up and kidnapped to be people from the Winthrop Family. The Winthrop Family is thergest and most powerful family in Damoria! We wouldn¡¯t live to spend our ten million even if we sessfully received our pay! Furthermore, the police areing now¡­ We just got out of jail a while ago¡­. When they heard the sound of the police sirens, both Daniel and Emerson simply shut their eyes in resignation. Ophelia wiped off the blood on her lips before she got to her feet and looked around her. The space was empty apart from the two people who were shivering in one corner. Ophelia curled her lips into a scornful smile. Her eyes flickered when she nced at the dagger in her hand. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . The very next second, she sent the dagger directly into her heart. Fresh blood spurted out of her body. My biggest regret in this life is to have fallen in love with Callum. I hope I don¡¯t see him in my next life, Ophelia thought. Chapter 111 Chapter 111 Callum felt sorry when he saw Elspeth grimacing and covered in a cold sweat in his arms. He brought her to the hospital to treat her wound. When her injury was bandaged, he lifted her into the bed. ¡°Elspeth, are you okay?¡± Her focus was solely on ke. The dagger was sharp and also dark in color, indicating a high possibility that it was poisoned. Having sustained a stab wound, ke could very well be fighting for his life right now. ¡°Bring me to see ke. Right away.¡± ¡°Why are you still harping about him at this time?¡± Callum was perplexed by her fixation on ke the second she regained consciousness. Was it because ke took the stab for her? She sounded anxious. ¡°Something will happen to ke. Bring me to him now.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve gotten him the best doctor, so don¡¯t worry. He¡¯ll be fine. Your only task right now is to focus on your recovery. Forget about everything else.¡± On one hand, he felt a little envious and wanted to keep Elspeth from giving ke too much attention. On the other hand, she sustained injuries, some major and some minor, across her body. Seeing that she was in a weak condition, he did not want anything happening to her. ¡°Okay, I will stay put. You should get someone to keep an eye on him, then. If anything happens, please let me know right away,¡± she pleaded as she stared at his face. ¡°Sure. And you should get a good rest now.¡± Suddenly, something popped up in Callum¡¯s mind, and he questioned, ¡°How did ke know about your emergency before I did?¡± ke had been busy with filming and did not have time to visit Elspeth in the past two days. Callum wondered how his brother got hold of the news faster than himself, who dedicated time to investigation and monitoring. ¡°They didn¡¯t take away my phone, so I secretly texted ke and sent him my geolocation. And he came for me.¡± Elspeth did not see anything wrong with her words, but they were simply jarring to Callum. ¡°Why do you always text him first every time you got into trouble?¡± He was green with envy at her unfair treatment of him. She chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s no secret that our Mr. CEO here is busy all the time. When would you have the time for me? Tthought you had to mentor your new hires.¡± Her words reeked of sarcasm, but she did not mean it seriously. She only wanted to banter. Truth was, she had thought that it was Callum who got her text. His face soured when he realized that Elspeth was still mad at him and ina. ¡°I told you before that my rtionchin with ina is not what you imagine We are merely hoss and emnlovee ¡± ¡°Boss and employee, you say? And deres that normally involve hugging?¡± She was reminded of the scene by the roadside stall. ina threw herself at Callum, who did not push her away. That was a sure hint of his feelings for ina, Elspeth decided. ¡°You saw that?¡± Callum was taken aback, for he did not expect Elspeth to have witnessed the scene. ¡°So what? I saw you really enjoy hugging Miss Sullivan. You do not have to exin your rtionship with her to me. Even if you fall for her, it is none of my business anyway.¡± She sounded cynical, but she felt extremely saddened when she looked at his face. It¡¯s true. Men¡¯s sweet talk can never be trusted, else I would be left with nothing once the rtionship gor¡¯s past its honeymoon phase. Callum was speechless at her remark. He felt a slight sting of pain when he heard her describing their rtionship with such indifference. ¡°Alright. I have something to deal with. Leaving now,¡± he said to her and tucked her in. Then, he left the ward. Callum went to ke¡¯s operating room personally. After all, they were brothers who shared an amicable rtionship. Callum felt sorry to see him hurt, especially when it was for Elspeth. The lights in the operating room remained turned on when a doctor emerged from within. She admitted, ¡°The patient is in a bad condition. He¡¯s in a state of hemorrhage and shock. We suspect that the poison has spread in a state of hemor across his body. Why don¡¯t you.. sign the notification of imminent death for now?¡± Callum¡¯s face darkened the moment he heard that. ¡°I do not care what means you will exhaust, but save ke Winthrop. The notification of imminent death? Pfft. Even the Grim Reaper cannot take him away. If anything bad happens to him, you quacks will have to bear the brunt too.¡± Knowing that Callum was notorious for his ruthlessness in the whole of Damoria, the doctor shivered. ¡°O- Okay. We¡­ will try our best.¡± She hurried back into the operating room as Callum stared grimly at the door sign. After some thinking, he made a call to Elspeth. ¡°ke¡¯s condition is quite critical. The doctor said he is hemorrhaging and going through shock. The poison must have spread in his body. He¡¯s likely¡­¡± Callum stopped himself right there, but he was prepared for the worst-case scenario. Elspeth put aside her grudge against him and hopped off the bed, putting on her shoes in a frenzy. ¡°Tell me now! Where is the operating room located?¡± ¡°The east-most side on the third floor.¡± ¡°Wait for me. Before I arrive, tell the doctors to stop his bleeding. Do not move his body around!¡± She rushed to the venue as soon as possible. When she arrived, she saw Callum sitting on the bench outside with a long face, staring at the ground, thinking. He shook his head. She wanted to ask more questions, but the door flung open. Out came the doctor from just now, who looked quite nervous. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to save him. We¡¯ve tried our best¡­¡­¡­ His condition is too grave. Putting aside the poisoning, we couldn¡¯t even stop his bleeding¡­¡± Then, she urged with a look of anticipation, ¡°Why don¡¯t you sign the notification of imminent death?¡± Elspeth looked at the trembling doctor and went up to her. ¡°Do you have a sufficient supply of herbs in your hospital?¡± The doctor was surprised and confused by the question. What herbs?¡± ¡°Medicinal herbs,¡± The doctor puffed her chest proudly. ¡°Of course! Our hospital has the biggest collection of medicinal herbs. You want something, we got it.¡± ¡°If so, could you let me operate on him?¡± The doctor was stunned by her proposal and pursed her lips, looking unconvinced. ¡°Girlie, don¡¯t y around. Not to mention you¡¯re still recovering. And do you really think that the operating room is open? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. to all? Quit fooling around. We¡¯re trying our best to save the patient¡¯s life, so don¡¯t cause trouble here.¡± Elspeth frowned deeply, but she suddenly thought of an idea. ¡°Have you heard of Sonny Schwartz?¡± ¡°Sonny Schwartz? Of course. Who doesn¡¯t know the legendary Sonny Schwartz?¡± The doctor¡¯s eyes sparkled with admiration at the mention of Sonny¡¯s name. ¡°I¡¯m his prot¨¦g¨¦¡ªthe one and only.¡± The doctor widened her eyes with a wild look of disbelief. Chapter 112 Chapter 112 ¡°How could you be Sonny Schwartz¡¯s prot¨¦g¨¦? He¡¯s been living in seclusion for a decade. I heard that he went abroad to take on a professorship at a medical university. How did you get to know him?¡± ¡°I studied abroad. It¡¯s not surprising that we crossed paths.¡± Taking on a professorship? Sonny is just azy bum living his retirement life in a city abroad. ¡°I heard that the country hasn¡¯t found a breakthrough in AIDS treatment. What if your hospital takes the lead?¡± Elspeth made an enticing offer. ¡°AIDS? It¡¯s an incurable disease. Girl, you are too young. Putting aside the legitimacy of your rtionship with Sonny Schwartz, you have to know that no one could cure AIDS after so many years. You¡¯re making it up just to get into the operating room.¡± The doctor looked gleeful for seeing through Elspeth¡¯s ¡°trick,¡± or at least that was what she thought. ¡°I am not bluffing. The treatment for AIDS has gone through new developments overseas, and we have cases of full recovery. Doctor, I believe you know right from wrong. If I go in there and save a life, not only will you save a patient, but you will also open up a new opportunity for the hospital, and for that, you would be promoted ordingly. Even if I couldn¡¯t save ke, Callum is here to witness the process, and I will shoulder the responsibility. What is there to worry about?¡± Elspeth calcted the pros and cons, and the doctor seemed to sway in front of the offer as she shot a look at Callum, waiting for him to say something. ¡°Let her in.¡± Hearing that, the doctor felt reassured and got her staff to bring Elspeth the scrubs and mask. Then, she led Elspeth into the operating room. An eternityter, the operating room sign was still turned on. The hospital staff went in and out multiple times to deliver medicinal herbs. Two hourster, the operating room sign was finally switched off. Callum¡¯s mind snapped back to reality as he stared intensely at the closely shut door, awaiting the exit of Elspeth and the doctors. The door was opened, and Elspeth emerged first, looking tired and walking with an unsteady gait. She seemed to have overexerted herself, but he could not read her expression. ¡°Elspeth, how did it go?¡± She stared into his eyes and beamed. ¡°He¡¯s safe.¡± His anxious heart was finally calmed. ¡°That¡¯s great. I¡¯ll send you back to rest in your ward. Let¡¯s discuss this further when you wake un It nained him to spp her oyhausted ¡°That¡¯s fine. I need to look after him in his ward because he is at risk of hemorrhage at any time.¡± He frowned. ¡°You could always ask a nurse to do that. Else, we could get someone from the family to look after him. Your body is weak. Can¡¯t you rest now?¡± She rolled her eyes at him. ¡°I am the only one who knows his condition the best because I operated on him. A nurse does not know how to spot his adverse reaction if there¡¯s any. If they miss the best time to respond, ke would be in trouble.¡± Although she was right, her exnation made him uneasy. ¡°Why do you care for him so much?¡± Staring at him, she couldn¡¯t help but snicker, ¡°He got hurt when he saved me from Ophelia. Even if I have to give up my life, I will still save him.¡± ¡°You said you saw me hugging ina. Could you tell me who you were with at that time?¡± Elspeth¡¯s silence confirmed his suspicion. ¡°You were with ke, right?¡± Her silence was equal to admission. She did not want to argue with him. Not long after, ke was wheeled out, and she followed him into his ward without as much as giving Callum another look. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Callum, who got left behind, was taken aback and speechless. In the ward, Elspeth looked at ke with guilt. His eyes were tightly shut, and his lips were pale. Had she not sent him the text, he would have been filming happily on the set instead of lying in the patient¡¯s bed lifelessly right now. Since she had used the best herbs for hemorrhage and created a detox prescription from Sonny Schwartz¡¯s teaching, ke should have been awake by now. Why is he still unconscious? As if he heard her thoughts, ke stirred in the bed. His fingers trembled a little, and he opened his eyes in the next second. ¡°Elspeth¡­¡± She snapped out of her daydreaming and quickly went up to him. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s wrong?¡± After he confirmed that Elspeth was fine-other than looking exhausted-he felt more reassured. ¡°Nothing. I just wanted to know if you¡¯re okay. I¡¯m relieved now.¡± She rolled her eyes at him. ¡°That is not a valid reason to save me and endanger yourself! You¡¯re an adult, ke! Can¡¯t you take good care of yourself? Why would you save someone who has nothing to do with you?¡± He took her words seriously. ¡°What do you mean you have nothing to do with me? Elspeth, to me, you are as important as my dad and my mom. I know I always treat you carelessly with an interest that comes and pres ¡± Her mind went nk when she heard the confession. ¡°Okay now. You must still be in recovery and not in your right mind. We can discuss this again when you¡¯re feeling better. Are you thirsty? I¡¯ll get you some water.¡± She dodged the topic of conversation and got up to leave. However, she bumped into Callum at the door. He had a long face and appeared to be in a foul mood. ¡°Look after him for me. I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± She waved the mug in her hand awkwardly, but Callum did not reply. After she left, Callum and ke were the only ones left in the ward. With a sour face, Callum nced at ke and blurted out, ¡°I overheard your entire confession just now.¡± ke was not embarrassed at all. With a smile, he looked at Callum and said, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Callum? I¡¯m confessing to the girl I love. I¡¯m not forcing Elspeth to be with me. Why the long face?¡± ¡°You knew that she is your future sister-inw.¡± ke shed him a sarcastic smile. ¡°In the past, I would have believed that you would treat her well. But from the moment I saw how upset she looked in the past few days because of you, I finally realized that my assumption was wrong. I should¡¯ve never backed out. She will never be happy with you.¡± ¡°And how could you be so sure of that?¡± Chapter 113 Chapter 113 ¡°Elspeth and I saw with our own eyes you acting intimately with another woman. Besides, when Elspeth was hospitalized, how often did you visit her? Even Max said that the new design director went to look for trouble in the name of visiting Elspeth. It seems like you¡¯re pretty close with the woman now, eh?¡± Callum had a very cold aura about him. ¡°It¡¯s not like what you guys saw.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care if it is or isn¡¯t. All I know is that Elspeth needs me now, and you¡¯ll only make her unhappy.¡± Snorting, ke continued, ¡°This time, Elspeth sent a message for help to me first. One day, I will be the one who resides in her heart, not you.¡± Although his words seemed a bit childish, ke meant every single word he uttered. Callum knew it would be pointless to argue any further, so he gave up after seeing how smug ke was acting. He stood up and left the ward. Coming back with water in her hand, Elspeth saw that Callum was gone and asked, ¡°Did he leave already?¡± With a nonchnt expression, ke replied, ¡°He left. He felt ashamed due to my words and left.¡± ¡°Okay then. Don¡¯t get out of bed for these few days. Just rest up. I¡¯ll take care of you until you¡¯re healed.¡± He was shocked at her statement. ¡°You mean, you want to keep taking care of me? Don¡¯t you have to work?¡± The word ¡®work¡¯ made Elspeth feel bitter inside. Yet, she had to put up a strong facade. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t have a job now, anyway. The design director has been reced, so I have the time and energy to take care of you.¡± ¡°I knew that Callum couldn¡¯t be relied on.¡± Clenching his teeth, ke knew that he must not let go of this chance. ¡°Just treat these few days as a vacation then. Oh right, since you¡¯re jobless now, I have a proposal for you. Do you want to hear me out?¡± Elspeth, upon hearing his words, suppressed her sadness. ¡°What proposal?¡± With smiling eyes, ke stated, ¡°Coincidentally, my manager seems to have a bit of a problem with her family, so she took a month off. How about you take her spot as my temporary manager for now?¡± Manager? Elspeth was stunned. Even though she managed an entertainmentpany, she had not tried her hand at being a manager of a celebrity before. Yet, ke was being very Insistent. ¡°Since you¡¯re already taking care of me for these few days, it won¡¯t be much to ask for you to continue doing so for a few more weeks, right? Oh, my great Miss Lynwood, you¡¯re the best. Just look at my injuries. Ouch, it hurts so much! Could you bear to see me going to the set alone?¡± Although he tried very hard, no tears wereing out of his eyes. All this made Elspeth cover her forehead with her hand. ¡°I¡¯ll find someone more suited for you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to. Who would want to be a temporary manager for only one month? Besides, with my identity, any Tom, Dick, and Harry wouldn¡¯t be able to cope either He almost wanted to beg her by holding onto her arm and swinging it. Seeing this, she nodded helplessly. ¡°Fine, fine. I¡¯ll agree to be your manager. But you¡¯ll have to rest up and quickly get discharged.¡± ¡°Sweet!¡± When Elspeth was taking care of ke these few days, Callum never came to the hospital. Instead, it was Arthur who would pop in from time to time. ke, who did not know what his real motives were, still thought that Arthur was the same gentle and quiet brother of his. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. One day, Elspeth was out. Arthur used following up on ke¡¯s condition as an excuse to chat with him. ¡°Do you know that Ophelia is dead?¡± Although ke had roughly predicted this, it still made his heart skip a beat. ¡°What can I say? Ophelia deserved it. She tried to frame Elspeth repeatedly and even went for her life. These kinds of people are a menace to society.¡± Recalling what Ophelia did to Elspeth enraged him. ¡°You seem to care a lot about Elspeth. Don¡¯t tell me you really fancy her?¡± Despite Arthur looking like he was just chatting, he was, in fact, trying to worm information out of ke. ke, who was always forting with his brother, immediately admitted it. ¡°Yes. I do like Elspeth.¡± ¡°But you know about Callum and Elspeth¡¯s rtionship. Are you really thinking of duking it out with your eldest brother?¡± Snorting, ke replied, ¡°So what? Callum won¡¯t treat Elspeth well anyway.¡± This piqued Arthur¡¯s interest. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ke wanted to vent his anger about Callum. Noting this down in his mind, Arthur saw that he got pretty much what he wanted, so he stood up slowly and said, ¡°Okay, time¡¯s about up. Don¡¯t get too worked up about this. What if it¡¯s all just a misunderstanding?¡± ke replied with a snort, ¡°So be it. I won¡¯t let this chance slip away this time.¡± Smiling. Arthur left the ward without saying anything else. This is interesting. If ke and Callum are fighting over Elspeth, then someone will bother Callum without me needing to do a single thing. If Callum loses, then Elspeth will naturally choose me. As for ke, Arthur never considered him a threat at all. Meanwhile, Elspeth went to find Harper, preparing toe up with a new prescription for ke. ke was almost healed by then, and he only needed a little bit more medication. On the way there, she was driving past Namean River when she heard someone cry for help. Since the crowd surrounded the river, no cars could pass, so Elspeth got out of her car to look. She asked a random passerby, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Someone fell into the river. I think it¡¯s a girl who¡¯s about eight years old. She seems to have been in the water for quite some time now!¡± The person who was talking was a woman in her forties. She was staring at the river with a look of worry. This made Elspeth frown. ¡°If it¡¯s been so long, why hasn¡¯t anybody gone down to save her yet?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know? The Namean River is very deep. A normal jo isn¡¯t capable of doing this. Even if that person knew how to swim very well, they wouldn¡¯t be able to guarantee their own safety.¡± Elspeth saw the little girl struggling to stay afloat and felt her heart clench in pain before preparing to jump. Suddenly, the woman grabbed onto her arm. ¡°Wait a second, youngdy! Have you thought it through? This really isn¡¯t suited for us normal folks! You might lose your life in the process!¡± Elspeth knew that the woman was worried for her and smiled. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Don¡¯t worry. Nothing will happen to me.¡± Suddenly, the girl who was struggling seconds ago went limp and started sinking slowly. The crowd began to specte what happened. ¡°Why isn¡¯t anybody saving her?¡± ¡°You can try. I don¡¯t know how to swim.¡± # Elspeth knew that the girl¡¯s legs must have cramped up from theck of stamina and that it would be toote if she didn¡¯t act now. Taking her jacket off, she jumped into the river without hesitation. This shocked the onlookers. ¡°Someone¡­ Someone jumped!¡± Chapter 114 Chapter 114 Elspeth certainly knew how to swim very well, as she saved quite a number of drowning children when she was abroad. Although the river was deep, it was a piece of cake for her. With all her might, she swam toward the spot where the water sshed. The girl had drowned due to fatigue, so the moment she dived down, she saw the girl slowly sinking. Swimming to her side, Elspeth scooped her up and swam to the surface. Finally, the crowd breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing that they were fine. ¡°What are you all waiting for? Grab a piece of wood for me.¡± Because Elspeth had not fully recovered her strength yet, it would be a pipedream for her to swim to the shore while carrying the girl. Someone reacted in time, managing to find a long and thin log from the pile of wood nearby and holding it in front of Elspeth to let her grab onto it before pulling it toward the shore. Although Elspeth and the girl were safe, the girl was choking on water and remained unconscious. There were already people who called for an ambnce, but the urgent matter then was to awaken her first. Pressing down on her chest, Elspeth then blew oxygen into her mouth. Soon enough, the girl spewed water out. ¡°It¡¯s fine now! She¡¯s awake!¡± It wasn¡¯t until the bystanders saw she kept spewing water out that they finally calmed down. Fatigued, Elspeth crouched down on the side, only to notice there was a word sewn onto the girl¡¯s cor. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. ¡°Joneson.¡± This little girl is wearing some pretty expensive-looking clothes. They seem to be custom-made. Also, she¡¯s wearing a ruffled blouse and fringe skitt, which are both currently in trend in Konig. Could she be someone from the Joneson Family? She knew a little about the Joneson Family. They weren¡¯t based in Damoria. Instead, they were based in Konig, where they were one of the top dogs. The more important thing was that all the family members were involved in the army and politics, as they were from a long line of important officials. Just as she was trying to deduce what happened, a ck Rolls-Royce parked right in front of her before a couple stepped out of the car. The man was in his early thirties and had a striking figure with him looking like he was still in his twenties instead. Meanwhile, the woman had an extraordinary aura, yet she had a gentle expression. The moment the two saw the girl lying on the Tloor, they were shocked. The woman immediately went up and touched her cheeks. ¡°My sweet L, what happened to you? If something terrible were to befall you, how could your father and I continue to live on?¡± Elspeth, seeing the woman beside her be so agitated,forted her. ¡°She¡¯s out of danger, for the time being, anyway. Once she rests in the hospital for a few days, she¡¯ll be all right.¡± The woman wiped her tears. ¡°You are..¡± ¡°She fell into the water just now. I saved her.¡± With a face full of gratitude, the woman stated, ¡°Thank you, youngdy! You¡¯re our savior! When L wakes up, I will thank you properly then!¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just did what seemed right.¡± The man, who was beside them, stayed silent until he saw Elspeth¡¯s face and was taken aback. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Seeing how stunned he was, Elspeth replied, ¡°I¡¯m Elspeth. Elspeth Lynwood.¡± ¡°Elspeth Lynwood¡­ Lynwood¡­¡± Suddenly, the couple stared at her, wide-eyed. The man whispered to his wife, ¡°I remember my sister married a guy by the name of Lynwood as well.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. She has identical eyebrows. She looks so alike that I think she¡¯s your sister¡¯s daughter.¡± Before they could confirm this, Elspeth suddenly remembered that she had other matters to attend to, so she bid her farewell in a rush. ¡°The girl should be fine now. Just watch out that she doesn¡¯t develop a trauma. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be leaving now. Goodbye.¡± The two held back their question and nodded as she left. Reaching the Azure Corporation, Elspeth was soaked, so she changed into a fresh set of clothes in her office first before drying her hair. Stepping into the CEO¡¯s office, she saw Harper and Callum sitting together, looking liba ihm: wana talkina shout kucinare. ¡°Miss Lynwood, you¡¯re..¡± Elspeth was not too shocked, for she only stated calmly, ¡°I have something to talk to you about. If you¡¯re not free, then I¡¯lle some other time.¡± Harper noticed that Elspeth did not seem to be in the best of mood and ignored Callum, so he deduced that the two must have had a tiff again. ¡°Oh no, I¡¯m not busy at all. Mr. Winthrop just dropped in to discuss some details of our coboration for the next season. We¡¯ll wrap this up in a jiffy.¡± On the other hand, Callum kept looking at Elspeth. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll wait for you by the side then.¡± Elspeth sat on the couch by the side and waited. At first, she was still willing to wait, but she felt more and more perplexed by their conversation. Why is Callum talking about useless things? It¡¯s all things that have nothing to do with business. He looked like he was dragging the time out and did not want her to talk to Harper. Just thinking about that made her frustrated, so she started to y games on her phone to alleviate her emotions. Seeing her in-game resources being taken by her teammates, Elspeth smacked the table out of anger. ¡°Did your mother not feed you or something? You¡¯re still not leveling up despite taking up all my resources? Are you an idiot?¡± Callum and Harper were speechless at her demeanor. ¡°Look at how you¡¯re ying! Even a baby is morepetent than you!¡± ¡°You dare retort me? Think about how long you¡¯ve stayed in the base to buy your equipment. I thought you wereying eggs!¡± ¡°How much did the opposition pay you to y like a fool? It¡¯s so unfortunate that we have to y four against six!¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t know how to y, please donate your hands to charity. If you really want to, you can use your legs to y too.¡± In the end, Elspeth still lost despite giving her all in that round. Although Elspeth¡¯s words had nothing to do with him, Callum still assumed that her words were directed at him Just as Callum stood up and prepared to leave, Elspeth called out to him, ¡°Aren¡¯t you still discussing business,¡± Mr. Winthrop? Why the rush?¡± ¡°Elspeth, you know what I mean.¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes at him. ¡°And? What do I have to do with it?¡± Staring at her face, Callum asked, ¡°Why are you looking for Harper today?¡± ¡°Why do you want to know? Do you always tell me what you want to do before looking for someone?¡± Elspeth retorted unreservedly. Callum did not seem to mind her words. ¡°If you wish to, 1 can tell you my schedule at any time.¡± ¡°No need. I have no use for it, anyway. I¡¯m not interested in your affairs, Mr. Winthrop.¡± Her words made Callum feel empty. ¡°Alright now, give it a break, you lovebirds¡­¡± Harper¡¯s words shocked both Callum and Elspeth. Fuming. Elspeth bellowed, ¡°Harper, what did you say?!¡± ¡°What? Aren¡¯t you two a pair?¡± Harper was having trouble understanding what was happening and only knew he got scolded. ¡°We are not a pair, and we will never be.¡± Chapter 115 Chapter 115 Not only did Elspeth¡¯s words surprise Harper, but even Callum also dropped his gaze onto the ground. Thetter figured that there was no purpose in staying any longer. ¡°I¡¯ll get going first. As for the coboration, let¡¯s carry it out based on what we¡¯ve decided.¡± After Callum left, Harper heaved a sigh. ¡°Elspeth, why? You like each other, so why aren¡¯t you being honest with your feelings? What¡¯s the fun from this?¡± Elspeth¡¯s mind was a mess. She couldn¡¯t discern her own feelings upon hearing his words. ¡°Do you think that I¡¯m the problem?¡± Now that the two people were not in the right state of mind, he was at a loss for words. ¡°I¡¯m not sure about that, but from the way I see it, I¡¯m certain that you guys still have feelings for each other. So, why can¡¯t you be together?¡± She couldn¡¯t help but smile at him. ¡°Harper, have you ever been in a rtionship?¡± That question caught him by surprise, hence the brief pause. ¡°I did when I was a freshman. I was eighteen and I fancied a ssmate. She¡¯s not that pretty; she wouldn¡¯t catch someone¡¯s eye if she were in a crowd.¡± ¡°But that very same girl saved me. When a bunch of bullies hit me up for money, she gave them everything she had and pulled me up to run away.¡± ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. ¡°I began to take notice of her since then. I always bought her drinks. Though she¡¯s in, there¡¯s just something special about her. She gave me a lot of helpful advice too.¡± ¡°Then? Did you go out with her?¡± Elspeth could not smother her curiosity. Harper smiled self-mockingly. ¡°No.¡± ¡°After all that? Why?¡± Why didn¡¯t they go out when they liked each other? He took a deep breath. ¡°She told me that she had a boyfriend. It had been three years at that time, but he was in the country.¡± The air went still, for Elspeth did not expect it to be that kind of oue. ¡°What happened next?¡± ¡°She left. She returned to the country and got engaged with her partner.¡± Elspeth was disappointed by the ending. *This is not just mere storytelling. I¡¯m telling you this so that you wouldn¡¯t let the opportunity slip through your fingers when you meet the right person at the right time. After all, our situation is different. My story was wrong right from the beginning.¡± Tears seemed to be filling Harper¡¯s eyes. He shook his head. ¡°No, I won¡¯t.¡± At the sight of the man dwelling in sorrow, Elspeth was at her wit¡¯s ends as she sighed. ¡°So, you became a phnderer? I thought you were like that from the start. Can¡¯t believe that¡¯s the reason for your change.¡± ¡°That¡¯s notpletely true. I didn¡¯t take a liking to any of those women. It¡¯s just a force to stave off the pain.¡± Harper let out a smile. ¡°Putting that aside, aren¡¯t you going to dispense the medicine? I¡¯ll take you there.¡± Elspeth headed to the underground dispensary before going to the hospital, where she bumped into a man at the entrance. He looked familiar to her; he seemed to be the father of the girl whom she saved. ¡°What a coincidence, Miss Lynwood. I was going to thank you for saving my daughter back there, but you seemed to be in a rush. I¡¯m d that fate brought us here. If there¡¯s anything you wish to have, I can fulfill it.¡± She was stunned for a second before bursting into a chuckle. ¡°I thought you would¡¯ve given me a check right away.¡± He shook his head. ¡°No. A peculiar person like you won¡¯t care much about something material like money. ¡°Nothinges to my mind at the moment. If you really can¡¯t get over it, let¡¯s just settle it with you owning me one.¡± The girl¡¯s father nodded before something shed across his mind. His expression turned into an awkward one. ¡°Would you like to see L then? She heard that ady saved her and would like to thank you in person.¡± Lowering her head, Elspeth gave it a thought before nodding. She followed him to a VIP ward. L had porridge inside the ward. As soon as she noticed Elspeth¡¯s arrival, her eyes twinkled. In addition to her fair and smooth skin, L¡¯s features were distinctive; one could tell that she would bloom into one finedy someday. ¡°Miss, are you the one who saved me?¡± Elspeth nodded. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s me, kid.¡± ¡°How may I address you?¡± Elspeth caressed L¡¯s head with a smile. Tm Elspeth Lynwood.¡± ¡°I¡¯m L Joneson. You¡¯re so pretty and I love your voice. Could you feed me porridge, please?¡± The man¡¯s expression became stiff almost instantly. ¡°She¡¯s your savior. How could you let your savior do that? Be a good girl and let Mommy do it.¡± ¡°No. no, no! I want only Elspeth! I won¡¯t have it unless it¡¯s Elspeth!¡± The obedient girl suddenly threw a tantrum insisting that she wanted Flh to be the one feeding her ¡°Sobs¡­¡± When L began to put on a teary face, Elspeth found it hrious and tried hard to hold in herughter. ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯ll do it, so stop crying.¡± L broke into a smile in a split second. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah. Here.¡± After Elspeth barely fed L a few spoonfuls of porridge, L figured that it was too slow. And so, she lifted the bowl to devour everything in one go, surprising the other two adults. ¡°I¡¯m done eating. Could you stay here and y with me, Elspeth?¡± The request put Elspeth in a tough position. ¡°But I have something else to attend to right now. I can stop by after that, though. I¡¯ll be at the hospital and I don¡¯t break the promises I made.¡± Disappointment loomed over L, yet she quickly put on a smile. ¡°Okay. Where will you be? I can look for you when I¡¯m free.¡± Elspeth blurted ke¡¯s ward number and grabbed her stuff to leave. Suddenly, a knock resounded from the door. She opened the door to reveal a familiar face. ina? ina was equally baffled to see Elspeth. Why is Elspeth here? ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Elspeth. I heard you were kidnapped a few days ago, but I didn¡¯t have the time to pay a visit. You know how it goes. I¡¯ve been swamped with work ever since I became the design director.¡± Chapter 116 Chapter 116 It was a provocation, but Elspeth couldn¡¯t care less about it. ¡°What brings you here? You have nothing to do with the Jonesons,¡± ina continued, holding onto the certainty that Elspeth was here to butter the Jonesons up. ¡°Oh? Why are you here then?¡± Upon hearing the question that she had been waiting for, ina raised her head proudly. ¡°We¡¯re rtives. My mother is old Mr. Joneson¡¯s niece and that makes L and I cousins. Do I have to exin more about the reason for my visit?¡± ina heard that the eldest son of the Joneson Family was on a vacation with his family in Damoria, but his daughter fell into Namean River which resulted in her hospitalization. When ina received the news, she put off her meeting and made a dash for the hospital. Her mother once told her that riding the Jonesons¡¯ coattail would be a great boon to them. The Joneson Family was one of thergest influential families in Konig, let alone in Damoria. As long as she could get in L¡¯s good books, it would be a breeze to request something whenever she required help in the future. Elspeth chuckled upon realization. Just cousins? Is that something to be proud of? She countered coldly, ¡°Save that for yourself. Someone might mistake you as old Mr. Joneson¡¯s granddaughter.¡± Noticing her displeasure, the man frowned. ¡°ina, she¡¯s L¡¯s savior. It¡¯s not like what you think it is.¡± ina was stunned. ¡°You mean the woman who saved L was Elspeth?¡± ¡°Yeah. Who else could it be? You? A mere distant cousin?¡± Having said that, Elspeth figured that it was unbing of her to mock ina in front of others, so she decided to leave. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Meanwhile, realizing her defeat against Elspeth, ina hurriedly turned to face L with a smile. ¡°L, I¡¯m here to keep youpany.¡± ¡°Nope. I¡¯m good.¡± It seemed like L did not favor ina. L¡¯s gaze was glued onto Elspeth the whole time. ¡°Elspeth, don¡¯t forget about your promise. I won¡¯t be staying in the hospital for long.¡± The girl was sharp enough to know that she needed not to stay in the hospital for a long period. ¡°Okay. Until next time.¡± Elspeth looked back at L with a grin before gazing at ina¡¯s stiff yet awkward expression. Elspeth lifted her chin as she could not be bothered to put up a fight with ina. Her patience rendered it impossible for her to put up with ina¡¯s antics. While ina was on the verge of going mad, Elspeth dly left to go to ke. ¡°Elspeth, where have you been? It¡¯s been four hours. I called you over twenty times, but you didn¡¯t pick up the call.¡± Akin to an abandoned child, ke gave her his puppy eyes, hoping she wouldfort him. ¡°I saved a kid on my way back and¡­¡± She suddenly realized something and quickly searched through her pockets. She lost her phone. ¡°I might¡¯ve lost my phone in the river, but it¡¯s alright. I was thinking of buying a new one.¡± The mention of a river stunned him, and he soon became concerned. ¡°What river? Did you fall into the river? Are you alright?¡± The corner of her lips twitched. ¡°I didn¡¯t. Didn¡¯t I just say that I saved a kid on my way back? I identally lost my phone when that happened.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t do anything risky like that again in the future.¡± Elspeth chuckled. ¡°Yeah, yeah. Oh, I dispensed new medicine for you. You have to finish all of them ordingly and you should be able to recover by then.¡± Lowering his head, ke murmured, ¡°But I don¡¯t want that.¡± She smacked his head right away. ¡°What are you talking about? I¡¯ve used only expensive ingredients for the medicine. If you don¡¯t finish them, my efforts will be wasted! I won¡¯t let you get away from it!¡± He covered his head in pain. ¡°Ouch! Fine, fine.¡± ¡°Oh, right! If you¡¯re free these days, you should learn how to be a qualified manager. If you don¡¯t understand anything, don¡¯t be shy and just ask me.¡± The thought of Elspeth being his temporary manager excited him. However, it was not a big deal for her. Speaking of bing a qualified manager, no one would know better than she herself, the president of an entertainmentpany. After all, every rule managers should abide by was etched in her head before she recruited one. ¡°Okay. It¡¯s been a long day. If there¡¯s nothing else, I should head back home now.¡± Despite the heavy heart to let her leave, ke did not make her stay as he nodded. When Elspeth left the hospital, she saw a car parked by the entrance. The indifferent-looking man, Callum, stood next to it. Instead of a big reaction, Callum questioned emotionlessly, ¡°Can we talk?¡± His serenity facade somehow vexed her, and she bypassed him. ¡°No. I have nothing to talk to you about.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been skipping work for a week. Have you forgotten that you¡¯re my secretary right now?¡± She snickered. ¡°Secretary? Everyone¡¯s lining up to be Mr. Winthrop¡¯s secretary. Why must you insist your secretary be me?¡± ¡°A day¡¯s pay cut makes up every hour you skip work. And you¡¯ve been neglecting work for fifty-six hours.¡± This cold-blooded man. She was reluctant still. ¡°I¡¯ll resign. How¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Yes, you can, but you have to hand in a three-thousand-word resignation letter and two years¡¯ worth of penalty.¡± Elspeth was enraged, ¡°Callum Winthrop, that¡¯s against the employment contract. I can file a charge on you.¡± ¡°I know, but I have connections in thebor bureau and the police department. I have the bestwyer in Damoria too. Your chance of winning the trial is slim.¡± Callum did not mind it at all. She was at a loss for words as annoyance hit the roof. ¡°Callum Winthrop, I just don¡¯t get it. You¡¯re the one blowing hot and cold, yet you¡¯re bugging me right now. Just what do you want?¡± Callum drew in a deep breath. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to go.¡± As if they were a string of incantations, she had the urge to cry upon hearing that. ¡°Don¡¯t you think that it¡¯s toote for this? If I want to be the design department director, will you let me rece ina?¡± Silence sat in the air for a second before he answered, ¡°No.¡± If he did that, not only would it be a cause of displeasure amongst the employees, but it would also present a sense of discouragement to the fresh blood like ina. ¡°Then, there¡¯s nothing more to talk about between us.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°What I mean is you gotta calm down. The problem between us is not as simple as you think it is.¡± She sniffled while fighting back her tears. ¡°As for the resignation letter, I¡¯ll send an email to youter. Please take a look at it when you have time.¡± There was no reason left for him to stop her now. His fingers curled slightly as he wished to reach out and hold her, but he did not dare to do so. Chapter 117 Chapter 117 After Elspeth resigned, she focused all her attention on taking care of ke so that he could get discharged as soon as possible. During that period, she also visited L¡¯s ward but found her asleep. She did not want to disturb her, so she gave the gingerbread cookies she had made to L¡¯s father, Nichs Joneson. While ke was hospitalized, Elspeth had kept on a tight leash. Now that he was finally discharged, he desperately wanted to bring her out to have fun. ¡°Elspeth, how about we go to the amusement park today? It¡¯s been long since I¡¯ve been to one!¡± He lowered his head pitifully, seemingly eager to go there. Since Elspeth had matured early, she lost interest in ces like amusement parks ever since she was young. Therefore, she immediately rejected his offer. ¡°I¡¯m not going. You can go there by yourself if you want to.¡± ¡°Please! Can¡¯t you apany me there? I was injured because of you, yet you don¡¯t even care about your savior. You¡¯re such a heartless woman¡­¡± He deliberately acted miserable by blinking his watery eyes, rendering him pitiful. When she heard that, she knew he was using that matter to guilt trip her again. She gritted her teeth and rebuked, ¡°You could have chosen not to save me!¡± Noticing her anger, ke immediately surrendered. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Don¡¯t be angry. How could I bear to leave you danger¡¯s way? I would even give my life to save you.¡± ¡°ke, you¡¯ve been in the entertainment industry for so long and have seen all sorts of women, but why do you keep pestering me?¡± That was something Elspeth could not figure out. She was clueless as to what she had done to attract his attention. u in ke was still goofing around but instantly became upright after hearing what she said. ¡°The thing about liking someone is that it¡¯s all about feelings. Even if I¡¯ve seen many kinds of beautiful women in the industry, I only have you in my heart.¡± Although it made her cringe, what he said was justifiable. In the end, she could not stand his pestering and followed him to the amusement park. ¡°We¡¯re starting work tomorrow, so of course, we have to have some fun before returning to work. Come on, Elspeth. Let¡¯s head over to the rollercoaster. I love that.¡± While saying that, he eagerly looked at the carts that went by above his head. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . ¡°I¡¯m afraid of heights.¡± ke tugged on Elspeth¡¯s sleeve and swayed left and right. ¡°Pwease. Just apany me for one ride.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not going, even if my life depends on it.¡± At that moment, a child who happened to pass by heard her words andmented disdainfully. ¡°Mommy, that youngdy is such a scaredy cat. She isn¡¯t even brave enough to ride a rollercoaster.¡± That rendered Elspeth speechless. ¡°Look, even a child is mocking you. Come on and y with me.¡± Gulping, she looked at the carts high above the sky and secretly walled inside. Fine. I¡¯ll go! As such, the two got on the cart and fastened their seatbelts. Elspeth felt terrified when she felt her legs suspending in mid-air. What am I going to do? I suddenly regret my decision¡­. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. If you are, just hold onto my hand to ease your fear.¡± ke beamed while stretching his hand out and cing it on the back of her hand. Then, the carts slowly moved forward while her heart thumped at the same pace. Whenever they reached a turn, she would lose control of her emotions. Her face would turn pale, and her stomach rolled as if she was about to puke. Suddenly, the high-speed carts came to a stop. At first, everyone thought the sudden halt was because of the storyline and were excitedly waiting for it to continue moving. Five minutes had passed, yet the carts remained stationary. It was then that everyone began to panic. ¡°Oh, God! Has the machine broken down?¡± ¡°That can¡¯t be true, right? Are we stuck here?¡± ¡°Stop talking and be careful of falling. No one can help you if you do.¡± ¡°I¡¯m still young. I don¡¯t want to die!¡± ¡°Mommy¡­¡± The people in the carts began voicing their concerns, and most were vividly terrified./ Meanwhile, ke noticed his partner¡¯s difort and asked, ¡°Elspeth, are you alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. I just feel like puking from all the shaking.¡± He felt guilty and apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I thought it would be fine. I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d get sick from the ride and that we¡¯d encounter such a thing. I shouldn¡¯t have brought you here.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I agreed to apany you here. Just keep calm. We¡¯ll be fine once the workers find out about this, so don¡¯t get too anxious and keep yourself safe.¡± Although Elspeth was feeling utterly distressed, she still forced down her difort and assured ke. Meanwhile, the workers below finally discovered the rollercoaster had malfunctioned and quickly arranged for a crane to bring the passengers down. As everyone was transported down one by one, ke finally felt relieved. ¡°Elspeth, we¡¯re almost safe. I¡¯ll bring you somewhere to rest after we get down.¡± She nodded and ¡®suddenly heard a familiar voice. ¡°Daddy, is there something wrong with the ride?¡± Barely managing to turn her head, she looked over and saw it was L. Afraid that L might get traumatized from this incident, Nichs reassured her, ¡°No, that¡¯s impossible. This is just a new kind of performance the workers are disying. Isn¡¯t it cool?¡± ¡°Yes, but it feels a little terrifying. What if something happens while they are bringing us down?¡± The girl was not ignorant and felt her heart sink while looking down at the ground below. ¡°That won¡¯t happen. The workers are very experienced, so there won¡¯t be any problems.¡± Elspeth could not help but call out to the little girl. ¡°L.¡± . L was still looking at the ground below when she heard her name being called. Then, she looked up in surprise. ¡°Elspeth, you¡¯re here too?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m here to have fun.¡± Nichs smiled. ¡°What a coincidence.¡± ¡°Yeah, it is.¡± Elspeth nodded with a smile. ¡°Elspeth, the gingerbread cookies you made were so delicious. Can you make some more for me? But¡­ I¡¯m going back to ydal soon and won¡¯t be staying long in Damoria.¡± Elspeth could not help but grin. ¡°Well, since you like them so much, I¡¯ll send some over to you.¡± The crane brought a bunch of people away, leaving only ke, Elspeth, and the three Jonesons in the cart. At that moment, one of the workers from below yelled, ¡°The rollercoaster is about to fall. We can only take four more people. Have you decided which four will being down?¡± As soon as Elspeth heard that, she immediately paled. If they can only take four more, does that mean one of us will get hurt? ¡°Why don¡¯t you guys head down? I¡¯m a man, so I should stay.¡± Nichs was a responsible man, so he came forward and offered to stay behind. ¡°No, you¡¯re L¡¯s dad. What will she do if something happens to you?¡± Chapter 118 Chapter 118 Elspeth knew what it was like to lose a father, so she immediately rejected Nichs¡¯ idea. ¡°Let me stay behind. I can¡¯t let you stay no matter what.¡± ke looked at her and asked affectionately in a voice filled with reluctance, ¡°You will remember me, right? I saved you twice.¡± After punching him, Elspeth retorted, ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? It¡¯s not a matter of life and death yet. What if nothing happens?¡± ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll zip.¡± He pouted. ¡°No matter what, I¡¯ll stay behind. I¡¯ve made my decision, so none of you can stop me.¡± Noticing the situation, Nichs sighed. ¡°You¡¯re such a good kid. If only this never happened.¡± When Elspeth saw him sighing, she assured him. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Mr. Joneson. Let¡¯s all calm down. What if the crane can take all five of us?¡± The operator raised the crane again. After the Jonesons boarded the crane, ke supported Elspeth and wanted to send her up the crane. However, she gave him a hard kick on the back. Immediately, she ignored ke¡¯s shock and yelled at the people below, ¡°We¡¯re done!¡± Hearing that voice, the operator started the crane¡¯s engine and slowly moved away from the rollercoaster. ke anxiously wanted to get up but could not do so due to the shaking. ¡®Elspeth, what are you doing? Elspeth!¡± ¡°ke, how can I face Mr. Winthrop if something happens to you?¡± She waved at him. ¡°Alright, then. Take care of yourself. Perhaps¡­ I can¡¯t be your manager anymore.¡± Although her words sounded saddening, they were indeed words one would say during a life-and-death situation. She turned her head away and wiped the tears from the corner of her eye. Never would she have expected to die in a rollercoaster ident after numerous survivals. Suddenly, the carts began shaking violently. Elspeth held on to the seatbelt and thought of something before quietly unfastening it. The people below were in a cold sweat as they watched the carts jolt violently. ¡°There¡¯s still someone up there!¡± ¡°What? What¡¯s that person going to do? Would that person die if something happens?¡± ¡°Of course, she would! I remember her being a young woman. What a shame! Gone too early.¡± ¡°Call 911! What if there¡¯s a chance to save her?¡± It was at that moment the train of carts shook again before half of them fell out of its tracks, dangling in midair due to the weight. Someone on the ground shouted in surprise, ¡°Oh, no. It¡¯s about to fall!¡± ¡°That¡¯s it. That young woman is about to die.¡± As they discussed it, the rollercoaster carts suddenly fell from the tracks! Fortunately, the workers had transferred the passengers to a safe spot so the falling carts would not injure anyone. When the carts plunged, they blew up a cloud of dust. The train of carts was not massive, so it did not cause much of a stir upon impact. Moreover, the surrounding security personnel went over quickly and checked if there were any wounded or casualties. Someone screamed in shock, ¡°There¡¯s no one here.¡± What? There¡¯s no one there? ke was stunned. ¡°How could there be no one? My friend was up there! What do you mean no one?¡± The security personnel carefully checked all the debris before announcing, ¡°Really, there is no one here. You can check if you don¡¯t believe me.¡± Not wanting to argue with them, ke instinctively looked up and was stunned by what he saw. ¡°Elspeth is up there!¡± You took me by surprise, Elspeth. You¡¯re safe on the track! ¡°Elspeth¡¯s over there. I see her! Sir, please send the crane over and bring her down!¡± When L saw Elspeth, she ran over and grabbed one of the security personnel before shaking his arm. Seeing such a cute girl asking for help, the security personnel smiled and nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, young lady. I will bring your friend down safely.¡± ¡°Thank you so much, sir. Hell is paved with good Samaritans!¡± The security personnel¡¯s smile froze. There¡¯s nothing wrong with that sentence, but why do I feel¡­ weird about it? Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Although the words sounded strange, the security personnel rescued Elspeth as quickly as he could. Since she was afraid of heights and climbed up the tracks as fast as she could, she felt her body go soft when the carts fell and sank into unconsciousness. ¡°Elspeth!¡± ke ran over and carried her in his arms. When he saw her ghastly face that resembled the dead, he felt a pang in his heart. ¡°I-I¡¯m fine.¡± At the sight of her stubbornness, he caressed her cheek. ¡°Alright, save your breath. I¡¯m bringing you to the hospital.¡± She shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not going to the hospital. I¡¯ve had enough of that ce. I¡¯ll be fine after resting somewhere.¡± Nichs came over from the side and offered, ¡°How about we bring Miss Lynwood to the vi we rented? It¡¯s not far from here. About a five-minute walking distance.¡± A hesitant expression appeared on her face. ¡°That¡¯s too much trouble. I think I should just find a motel nearby.¡± L grabbed Elspeth¡¯s hand and stubbornly persuaded her. ¡°Elspeth,e to our ce. It¡¯s huge, so you can get a good rest.¡± ¡°Since L has so sincerely invited you, you should stop rejecting us, Miss Lynwood. You¡¯re our savior, so save the formalities.¡± L¡¯s mom, Anya Hopkins, was a sensible person. When she saw Elspeth¡¯s state, she joined her husband in persuading her. ¡°Alright, then. Thank you so much.¡± Later, Elspeth got into Nichs¡¯ car and headed toward the Jonesons¡¯ vi. ke brought her upstairs to a guest room on the east side. Right after they entered, she struggled to get out of his embrace. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Is it that bad to be in my arms?¡± Elspeth rebuked, ¡°I¡¯m just not used to being carried around.¡± Suddenly, she was reminded of a familiar embrace and scent whenever he hugged her. When she thought of that man, she felt ufortable inside. ¡°Well, you stay here and rest while I head downstairs.¡± Nodding, she replied, ¡°Okay.¡± After sending ke away, Elspeth felt her world had finally quieted down. Now that she was away from the bustling environment of the amusement park, she did not feel as sick anymore. Besides the shock of the fall and her fear of heights, she did not suffer any physical injuries. Just as she had expected, she saw the incident at the amusement park had made the headlines when she looked at her phone. Some of the entertainment reporters had even concealed the truth and described a photo of her lying on the tracks as her being scared to death, literally. Feeling speechless, she muttered, ¡°These reporters do like bending the truth.¡± She was annoyed and was about to call Harper to remove the news when she received a call. Chapter 119 Chapter 119 ¡°Elspeth, are you alright?¡± The one who called was Callum. His voice sounded anxious, confirming his worry for her. He could see that the person in the news was her. Even when the picture was taken from afar, he immediately recognized the familiar figure lying on the tracks. Meanwhile, Elspeth could not hold back herughter. She pinched her voice so that he would not identify her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir. The owner of this phone has passed away half an hour ago. May I know whom I¡¯m speaking to?¡± He froze for a moment. ¡°I¡¯m her boyfriend. Has she really passed away?¡± Though she could not hear the emotion in his voice, she had a bad feeling about what wasing. ¡°Yes, sir. She¡¯s going to be cremated soon.¡± ¡°Elspeth, do you think this is funny?¡± Callum could not bear it anymore and exposed her lie. Stunned, she asked, ¡°How did you know it was me? I thought I did well.¡± ¡°How could I not recognize your voice?¡± He took a breath. ¡°Also, don¡¯t ever trick me again.¡± ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. His words sounded like he was exhorting his girlfriend. ¡°Have you been boredtely? Why are you suddenly so concerned about me?¡± Without answering her question, he asked, ¡°The first picture in the news. I saw ke carrying you in his arms. Were the two of you at the amusement park?¡± She could hear a trace of anger in his voice, and the air instantly turned awkward. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll hang up. I still have something to do.¡± After saying that, she immediately hung up and called Harper. ¡°Hey. Could you help me deal with the trending hot topics?¡± However, Harper seemed to have just woken up. He opened his eyes and looked at the hot topics unrted to Elspeth. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? These had nothing to do with you.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± She pulled her phone away to look at today¡¯s news. Just like what he said, the news articles about her had disappeared. ¡°Well, if that¡¯s how it is, I don¡¯t have to trouble you anymore.¡± Seeming to have thought of something, Harper asked hesitantly, ¡°Could it be Callum?¡± Elspeth had also guessed that, but she was embarrassed to admit it before him. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Alright, that¡¯s all for now. Stop¡¯being so curious.¡± ¡°Tsk! Elspeth, you must¡¯ve guessed it was him too, right? I know you have some bias against him, but you have to admit that you do have feelings for him¡­¡± Her face fell as she threatened, ¡°Harper, another word from you and I¡¯ll send you on a business trip to Birdia.¡± ¡°Elspeth, I was wrong. I won¡¯t talk nonsense anymore and shut up. I¡¯ll keep quiet, okay?¡± She coughed softly. ¡°Alright. You can continue with your work if there¡¯s nothing else. I have some stuff to do.¡± After she said that, Harper sensibly hung up. Having taken enough rest, Elspeth went downstairs as she wanted to leave early. Nichs and Anya were watching in downstairs and smiled when they saw her. ¡°Miss Lynwood, did you get a good rest?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to call me Miss Lynwood, just Elspeth will be fine.¡± It sounded strange and estranged to her. ¡°Oh, sure, Elspeth. Why don¡¯t you stay for lunch? L has been wanting to have a meal with you.¡± Elspeth looked around and did not see ke anywhere, so she shook her head and rejected, ¡°No need for that. I still have something to attend to, so I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡± ¡°You must be looking for Mr. ke, right? L insisted on bringing him to the garden. I think they¡¯re still ying there.¡± When Elspeth thought of the scene where a child was pulling on ke, insisting that he y with her, she could not help but smile. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll go check on them.¡± Hearing that, Nichs knew she had agreed to stay for lunch, so he looked at Anya and hinted at her to start cooking. After excusing herself, Elspeth went to the garden alone. Just as she arrived, she saw ke sitting on a cane chair with a chain of flowers in his hand, earnestly and patiently braiding a gand. A handsome actor braiding dainty flowers was such a huge contrast that it created an interesting scene. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you had such a talent.¡± While watching his skillful actions, Elspeth thought it was childish and funny. ¡°This is nothing. You might not know it, but the hot-tempered Max used to be very shy when he was young. He liked all sorts of cute things, but the other three older brothers weren¡¯t willing to make such things for him. I was the only one with a nice temper and learned to make all kinds of gands for him.¡± The thought of the manly Max Winthrop enjoying such things made Elspeth burst outughing while holding her stomach. At that moment, L returned with a bunch of flowers and handed them to ke to make more gands. ¡°Elspeth, your boyfriend is amazing. The gands he makes look so pretty!¡± When L mentioned him, her eyes were filled with admiration. ¡°Ahem¡­ Boyfriend?¡± The moment Elspeth heard what L said, she almost lost her breath. ¡°It was ke. He said he¡¯s your boyfriend and that you will be getting married next year. It¡¯s such a pity because I was thinking of introducing my older brother to you so that you can be my sister-inw, L was a little disappointed when she mentioned this matter and sighed heavily. ¡°If that¡¯s how it is, you two have to get along well. It¡¯s not every day that you find a boyfriend who¡¯s good at making gands. You should treat him well.¡± That rendered Elspeth speechless. ¡°Calm down. Don¡¯t listen to what he says. We¡¯re not a couple.¡± The little girl who had been sighing instantly perked up. ¡°Is that true, Elspeth? Does that mean you can be with Frank? Let me tell you, Frank is very handsome. Though his personality is a little cold, many women are looking to capture his heart. He¡¯ll being to Damoria tomorrow to pick us up. You should come!¡± Elspeth was at a loss for words. How can such a little child who looks about seven to eight years old be so enthusiastic about being a matchmaker? ¡°You can¡¯t agree to that!¡± ke became anxious. I haven¡¯t even said anything, and that kid is thinking of introducing another man to Elspeth. Doesn¡¯t that mean I¡¯m going to have another love rival? No, that absolutely can¡¯t happen! ¡°Why are you arguing with a child?¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes, wanting to p him into reality. Seeing that she did not reject the offer, ke turned to threaten L, ¡°If you dare to introduce a boyfriend to Elspeth, I won¡¯t make any more gands for you.¡± However, L was smart and countered, ¡°If you don¡¯t make more gands, I¡¯ll introduce a new boyfriend to Elspeth!¡± Meanwhile, Elspeth was speechless. Does anyone here care about my feelings? Chapter 120 Chapter 120 Very soon, Anya had finished cooking, so L stopped arguing with ke and held Elspeth¡¯s hand while returning inside, leaving an angry man behind them. At the dining table, Nichs kept spacing out and could no longer suppress his curiosity. So, he looked at Elspeth¡¯s familiar-looking face and asked, ¡°Elspeth, may I take the liberty of asking a question?¡± Smiling, she agreed. ¡°I can feel you¡¯re overflowing with questions. I don¡¯t mind. Just ask away. I will tell you everything I know.¡± He nodded and asked, ¡°What is your father¡¯s name?¡± ¡°My father¡­¡± Elspeth seemed to have spaced out. ¡°His name is Davion Lynwood.¡± Instantly, the atmosphere at the table froze. Seeing that Nichs was silent, she added, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Do you know my dad?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t just know him. Elspeth, do you remember your mom¡¯s name?¡± After a moment¡¯s silence, she answered, ¡°Helena Joneson.¡± When he heard that familiar name, his eyes teared up uncontrobly. He wanted to express the truth but realized L and ke were still present. Therefore, he suppressed his urge to speak to avoid making Elspeth feel awkward. ¡°That¡¯s all. What a nice name. Maybe I¡¯d mistaken her for another person.¡± Once lunch ended, Elspeth took the chance when L and ke returned to the garden to head to Nichs¡¯? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. room. Nichs and Anya were inside. When they saw her, they inexplicably began to shed tears. ¡°Elspeth¡­¡± By now, Elspeth had figured out the gist of things and asked, ¡°So, I¡¯m a Joneson. Is that correct?¡± She clearly remembered that her mom had never mentioned having any rtionships with the Jonesons from yda!. Moreover, she thought her mom came from an ordinary family because her dad was just an average carpenter. ¡°Not only that, your mom is my biological sister and your grandfather¡¯s only daughter,¡± Elspeth had heard of the Jonesons from ydal. About twenty years ago, the Jonesons¡¯ daughter ran away from her marriage, allegedly to have eloped with a famous sculptor. As Old Mr. Joneson loved his daughter so much and was afraid of ruining her image, he suppfessed the news and did not release the man¡¯s name or picture. Later, the matter was gradually forgotten, and the Jonesons also tacitly agreed not to acknowledge her. Elspeth did not expect that she had such a close rtionship with the incident that caused a huge stir at ydal back then. ¡°Did you know? My dad has been looking for your mam for ages but never found any trace of her.¡± Nichs wiped his tears. ¡°Our family¡¯s only daughter ran away with a man called Davion Lynwood, and my dad was so pissed that he needed to be hospitalized.¡± Elspeth felt her heart skip a beat as she would never have imagined her gentle and frail mom to be so brave. *Fortunately, Davion was a well-known sculptor back then, so he might have treated your mom well and not let her suffer any grievances¡­¡± Sculptor? Elspeth frowned. ¡°Isn¡¯t my dad a carpenter? How could he be a sculptor?¡± Nichs was shocked, ¡°Did he hide this from you too? He used to be a world-renowned sculptor under the alias, Litchi. Back then, his artworks were spected at a high price, but my dad was never satisfied with him because he was an artist that needed to travel far and wide to gather inspiration. Also, Dad wasn¡¯t convinced that he could take good care of Helena¡­¡± At that moment, Elspeth could not help but sigh when she remembered her father, who had toned down his talents and be a carpenter in a small town for decades. Perhaps this is love. To be willing to give up something for each other. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right. You haven¡¯t told me where your parents are. Can I visit them?¡± Nichs¡¯ eyes were glimmering, full of excitement. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I need to tell you something.¡± Elspeth hesitated and exined, ¡°My mom has gone missing, and as for my dad¡­ He passed away.¡± Nichs found it hard to believe. ¡°Missing? How did she go missing?¡± How can a living person suddenly go missing? However, Elspeth was uninformed about the details, so she could only exin ording to her knowledge. ¡°Back then, Dad and Mom got into an argument. Mom ran out in a fit of anger and never returned.¡± ¡°I knew Davion wasn¡¯t a reliable person! Back when Helena ran away, I should¡¯ve brought her home and carried on with the wedding.¡± Nichs frowned as a rage of fire burned inside him. ¡°That¡¯s not it. Dad was diagnosed with a terminal illness without a cure. Mom sold the jewelry she loved to buy expensive medications for him, but Dad insisted on not dragging her down with him and chased her away. He still loved her and anticipated her return every day. Dad had always been a prideful person, yet he was willing to be an ordinary carpenter in a small town. It¡¯s a pity that he fell ill and had no choice but to make my mom leave him so that she could have a better life.¡± Her exnation shocked Nichs. ¡°Why didn¡¯t he let your mom bring you with her?¡± While shaking her head, Elspeth replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know either, but I guess Dad believed he could still take care of me despite his illness. Maybe he was afraid I might drag Mom down and hinder her from finding a better husband.¡± After hearing the full story, he sighed in resignation. ¡°He was a good husband, but not a good father She denied. ¡°He was a good father, but he loved my mom even more. He tried his best to give everyone the best ending they¡¯could have.¡± Besides him, that is. Not only was he seriously ill, but he also lost his hobby and the love of his life. When he passed away, even his daughter wasn¡¯t by his side. ¡°Though your mom has a childish temper, she¡¯s an excellent woman. I don¡¯t think she¡¯s missing but merely left. Nichs sighed again. ¡°But she was unwilling to return to the Joneson Family for some reason. Probably because she was afraid that we might force her to marry someone else.¡± Since Elspeth did not know the whole story, she did not dare to make anyments about it. ¡°Alright, then. Let¡¯s leave it for now.¡± He looked at her and smiled kindly. ¡°Dad still doesn¡¯t know that his only granddaughter has grown up into such a pretty woman. Why don¡¯t youe home with us and learn your roots on the way?¡± Hearing that, she felt her heart sink. ¡°It¡¯s not the right time to do that yet. I still have something to attend to. . How about I visit Old Mr. Joneson when I¡¯m free?¡± ¡°Although I know I shouldn¡¯t make things difficult for you, to tell you the truth, my dad hasn¡¯t had a good sleep because of Helena, so I¡¯m sure he will be happy to see you.¡± She took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯ll head over to ydal in a few days to visit Old Mr. Joneson. How about that?¡± Chapter 121 Chapter 121 ¡°Sure, that works too.¡± After exchanging a few pleasantries, Elspeth left the room. It suddenly began to rain, so ke hurriedly shielded L while running back inside. When Elspeth saw the two in their soaked state, she could not help butugh. ¡°You two are so yful. You too, ke. You¡¯re just like a child.¡± His eyes narrowed into slits when he smiled. ¡°I wasn¡¯t being yful. This kid insists that I make her twenty- two gands, saying that she wants to give them to her twenty-two ssmates.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good that you know to share.¡± Elspeth caressed L¡¯s head. ¡°Alright, L. Head upstairs to take a shower and change your clothes. Or else, you might catch a cold.¡± ¡°Okie.¡± She nodded. ¡°You should take a shower too, but you don¡¯t have a change of clothes¡­¡± Elspeth scanned ke¡¯s tall, sturdy figure and frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t have any clothes you can wear in my car either. W are we gonna do?¡± It was not sensible to head out and buy clothes now due to the heavy rain. When Nichs noticed the situation, he took out a set of clothes from his wardrobe. ¡°If there¡¯s no other option, you can wear mine instead. We are simr in height, and you¡¯re slimmer than me. It¡¯s not perfect, but it¡¯ll make do.¡± Since he had rather good taste in fashion, ke did notin too much and brought the clothes into the bathroom. The rain did not show any signs of stopping even after he finished his bath. Seeing that it was almost nighttime, Elspeth was worried that they might not be able to return home. ¡°It¡¯s fine. There are plenty of guest rooms upstairs. If you don¡¯t mind, you can stay the night. We have everything you need.¡± Anya took out a nket. ¡°You two can stay in these two rooms. There¡¯s nothing to be shy about.¡± After ncing at the roaring storm outside, Elspeth could only agree. That night, the storm gradually died down, but she could not fall asleep because of her conversation with Nichs that afternoon. She could not believe that she was the only granddaughter of the Jonesons. I have always thought I was just an someone I don¡¯t like too? But besides Mr. Joneson, I haven¡¯t met anyone from the family, nor do I know their character. To be honest, I don¡¯t feel anything for the Jonesons, which is why I don¡¯t want to go. While she thought of that, she gradually felt tired and dozed off while having thoseplicated emotions remaining inside of her. The following day, Elspeth woke up bright and early but found Anya preparing breakfast already. Since they were heading back to ydal today, they had to start packing early. After breakfast, Elspeth decided to leave early with ke because she did not want to bump into anyone from the Joneson Family. However, Nichs called out to her. ¡°Elspeth, the oneing to drive us is my nephew. Would you like to meet him?¡± She knew what he meant. He wanted her to meet her cousin so that they could get to know each other. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s necessary. After all, we don¡¯t know each other.¡± She did not wish to meet strangers under such circumstances, so she instinctively rejected him. Meanwhile, ke remembered L mentioning that she wanted to introduce other men to Elspethst night and hurriedly helped her refuse the offer. ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s a need for that either. We¡¯re starting work today and still have some things we need to attend to. So, we¡¯ll be taking our leave now.¡± Having no other choice, Nichs and Anya could only agree. Yet, just as the two exited the door, they heard the sound of a car driving in. Oh, no. I have a bad feeling, Elspeth thought. Just like what she imagined, there was a discontinued Porsche parked outside. Then, a man with extraordinarily handsome features descended the car. He looked remarkably attractive because he and ke had simr almond-shaped eyes, but the difference between them was that the man had a mole at the corner of his eye and had longer hair. Also, his lips were thinner than ke¡¯s, making him look like the charming handsome princes that lived magnificent lives in novels. If ke seemed wicked, then that man was seductively handsome. It seemed like the Jonesons had great genes because they were able to produce a man that was more stunning than a celebrity. Uncle Nichs, Aunt Anya, are you done packing?¡± Although he looked stunning, he kept a stoic expression, and his voice sounded cold. ¡°We¡¯re done packing. By the way, Frank, this is Elspeth Lynwood. You guys should get to know each other. Who knows, you might meet each other again.¡± The moment Nichs saw Frank, he immediately introduced him to However, Frank seemed unfazed by It. Elspeth Lynwood? She looks okay, and her figure is nice. I don¡¯t know her personality, but she keeps pursing her lips and seems depressed. He had secretly ced thosebels onto her. If Elspeth found out about his thoughts, she would want to toss him on the floor and beat him up. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Frank Joneson.¡± As he spoke, he reached out his right hand. She shook his hand and replied, ¡°Hi, Elspeth Lynwood.¡± The atmosphere between the two was a bit off. ¡°Be nice to each other. We¡¯re going to be a family soon.¡± Nichs seemed dissatisfied with their awkward greeting, so he added that to lighten the mood. ¡°Uncle Nichs, this can¡¯t be another girlfriend you¡¯re trying to set me up with, right? You came to Damoria on vacation, not to find me a wife. This is already the fifth woman you introduced me to. If you¡¯re so bored, how about we y some golf?¡± Frank suddenly turned his head with a displeased expression. Elspeth was confused. What the heck is he talking about? I¡¯ve never seen a man as full of himself as this guy. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You¡¯re not my type.¡± She frowned and had no good impression of the man before her. Just as I expected, I made the right decision to not return to the Jonesons today. If that family has a bunchContent ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. of these weirdos, I will only be making things difficult for myself. ¡°It would be best if you didn¡¯t.¡± Afraid that they might start an argument if this conversation continued, Elspeth walked away. When ke saw that happen, he was secretly happy and followed behind her. Meanwhile, Nichs stood behind them and watched her leave angrily, sighing. ¡°Why did you have to say that in front of her face? How could she not be angry?¡± Frank still wore a cold look. ¡°Uncle Nichs, don¡¯t find me any more girlfriends. I don¡¯t need them.¡± Nichs felt a little embarrassed and said, ¡°This time, it¡¯s not a girlfriend.¡± ¡°Then, who is she?¡± ¡°She¡¯s your cousin sister.¡± Frank was stunned. ¡°Uncle Nichs, you had an illegitimate daughter?¡± Speechless, Nichs retorted, ¡°What illegitimate daughter? Don¡¯t you remember you have a missing aunt?¡± Turning to look at the fading figure, Frank felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity. It seemed like that woman did look quite simr to the woman inside his grandpa¡¯s album¡­ Chapter 122 Chapter 122 ¡°She¡¯ll return to the Joneson Family in the future, so you¡¯d better watch your behavior. Don¡¯t hold a grudge against her.¡± At that moment, Frank¡¯s mind was a mess. ¡°I got it.¡± She¡¯s my cousin. This is interesting. On the other hand, Elspeth was raging at the thought of her snobbish brother. ke noticed her dissatisfaction and secretly rejoiced at that, but he pretended to be furious. ¡°That¡¯s alright. That guy has such a bad temper. We won¡¯t have to see him again from now on.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. This isn¡¯t important. By the way, is this your first day back at work after the break? Did the director speak to you on the phone?¡± He frowned in response. ¡°He called to speak to me right from the start. He urged me to go back on set early this morning. He¡¯s such a nuisance.¡± ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s make a move right now and join the filming set ASAP.¡± Elspeth noticed that he was unwilling to go, so she urged him to head over. ¡°Okay.¡± Both of them joined the filming set, and this was the first time that she had stepped foot on a filming set. Although she interacted with some movie stars and their managers previously, she had never visited a filming set. They arrived to find that there was an ongoing scene. As soon as the director saw ke, his expression immediately brightened up. ¡°You¡¯re here atst, boy! I wouldn¡¯t be able to film this scene without you. I was so worried you would quit the set!¡± ¡°You¡¯re just exaggerating, Mr. Thorn.¡± ke went along politely. Suddenly, the director¡¯s gazended on Elspeth, who was by ke¡¯s side, and he revealed a strange expression. ¡°Who¡¯s thisdy here? She looks familiar.¡± ¡°She¡¯s my newly appointed manager. Her name¡¯s Elspeth.¡± As a director, he usually paid attention to the trending topics on the Inte, so he naturally knew her various identities. He sincerely admired this youngdy¡¯s capabilities. As he looked at her stunning features, he could not help feeling a flutter in his heart. ¡°Miss Lynwood.¡± With a smile, he stretched out a hand to her. Although Elspeth was slightly unwilling to shake LI- Lad The director furtively tickled her palm while everyone was unaware. At that point, she could not contain the disgust that welled within her and swiftly retracted her hand. ¡°Miss Lynwood, I hope we¡¯ll be able to work well from now on.¡± The director felt his heart skip a beat upon noticing her furrowed brows and icy-cold expression. It would be very exciting to conquer a woman like her. Elspeth could not stand the lust on the director¡¯s face, so she came up with a random excuse and took a seat by the side. As for ke, he went ahead to film the scene. While she sat on a rock by theke and spaced out, a figure suddenly approached her. She had not even taken a good look at the person when she was shoved into theke out of nowhere. Plop! The huge ssh naturally attracted the attention of the people around. The extras on set yelled out that someone had fallen into the water, so the filming team instantly halted the shoot. ke ran over frantically and noticed Elspeth was resting in this area earlier on but could not see her in sight. Therefore, he immediately deduced that she was the one who had fallen into the water. Meanwhile, Elspeth was in a tough situation inside theke. Truth be told, she was not afraid to fall into theke as she was a good swimmer and able to swim back to the shore. Yet, coincidentally, her leg cramped upon plunging into the water, so it took her a huge effort to get out of theke. Suppressing the pain, she could not help but choke repeatedly on theke water. 1 Just as she thought she was about to sink, she felt a pair of hands lift her body and swam toward the edge of theke with her in tow. ke carried her to the shore and removed his shirt to cover her upon noticing that she was dripping wet. At that moment, the director rushed over with a frantic look. ¡°Send her over to the lounge to take a rest. She can also take a shower to avoid catching a cold.¡± ke considered the director¡¯s words for a moment, then took Elspeth in his arms and carried her to the lounge. Behind him, the director smiled with a sh of cunning glint in his eyes. ¡°Elspeth, I need to carry on with the filming. Stay here for a short while, and you can take a shower too. There are plenty of clothes you can change into, and they¡¯re clean. Feel free to pick any.¡± ke ced her on the bed and gave her some instructions patiently. Elspeth had mainly choked on some water and was already feeling fine, so she nodded in response. After he left the room, she took a shower and got changed before resting on the bed. She remained on guard, for she locked the door from the inside. from the outside. Elspeth groaned silently upon seeing the director at the door. ¡°Is there something you need, Mr. Thorn?¡± Despite her fluster, she put on a nonchnt act. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Miss Lynwood, I do enjoy your haughty look. I wonder how you¡¯d look like when you¡¯re pinned underneath a man in bed¡­¡± As soon as he imagined himself in that scenario with a powerless Elspeth, he could not seem to suppress the urges that raged within him. After all, men tended to enjoy a contradictory situation, and he was not exempted either. ¡°Mr. Thorn, I hope you¡¯re aware of your identity, and it would be disastrous to your reputation if word went ou that you assaulted a woman.¡± She had some slight recollection of this director, and he was renowned for being a noble and upstanding figure in the entertainment industry. However, it was unexpected that this man appeared so friendly and affable on the surface but was actually, in private, so immoral. ¡°I don¡¯t care. You don¡¯t have any proof anyway. Besides, this is my turf, so do you seriously think someone would stop me from having my way with you? Oh, there¡¯s another thing that I don¡¯t mind telling you too. I arranged for someone to shove you into theke earlier on. I¡¯m sure that you didn¡¯t expect this, huh? Had he not done that, I wouldn¡¯t have gotten the chance to spend some private time with you¡­ The director nced at the captivating Elspeth in front of him and could no longer contain himself as he pounced on her. She dodged by retreating and grabbed a vase by the side. Subsequently, she smashed it to the ground. The loud sound of the broken vase was ear-shattering, but the director was undaunted. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why did you do that? Be careful because you might hurt your dainty, delicate hands.¡± The director revealed a sardonic smile. ¡°I¡¯ve modified this room with excellent soundproof, so no one would be able to hear a thing from the outside.¡± As soon as Elspeth heard that, she instantly realized that this director was a beast and must have assaulted other women in this room too. She took out her phone and dialed randomly, but the director suddenly grabbed it and hung up the call before flinging her phone to the ground, after which she angrily kicked him on the shin. ¡°You¡¯re strong, aren¡¯t you? It doesn¡¯t matter, though, because I¡¯m well-trained. You wouldn¡¯t be able to overpower me unless you¡¯re as strong as two strapping men. Miss Lynwood, you should just surrender to me..¡± The director pounced on her and started to tear her clothes. For a moment there, both of them fought violently. Suddenly, the door was kicked open. rage as he grabbed the director and punched him in the face. Elspeth straightened her clothes before standing up with an icy-cold expression. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Call the cops.¡± At that point, a look of extreme fear shed across the director¡¯s eyes. How is that possible?! I hung up the call immediately just now! How could someone appear so soon?! Chapter 123 Chapter 123 The director covered his face with his hand, and despite panicking, he desperately carried on and plotted. ¡°ke, don¡¯t call the cops. You¡¯ve always wanted to be the lead actor in this film, haven¡¯t you? I¡¯ll give you lead actor spot and promise to include you in every film of mine from now on. Please don¡¯t call the cops!¡± the However, ke was not one to be easily bribed. As he saw Elspeth looking worse for wear in front of him, he took his phone and called the cops without hesitating. ¡°You can save these words for the police later on.¡± At that point, the director raged. ¡°I¡¯m warning you right now. If you call the cops on me, no way you¡¯ll be able to survive in this industry from then on!¡± ¡°Whatever. I don¡¯t mind leaving this industry!¡± ke¡¯s grip tightened around the phone. Yet, Elspeth was bothered by his words. ¡°ke, you¡¯re being ridiculous.¡± He turned around and revealed a tender smile at her. ¡°It¡¯s fine. If I no longer get the chance to star in films or perform, I¡¯ll just go home to inherit the family fortune.¡± He said that casually and rather happily, but she noted the sh of pain in his eyes that he tried to mask. The director was renowned in the entertainment circle, and it would be akin to offending half of the people in this industry by going up against him. Despite Callum¡¯s influence, the corporate world was a different one from the entertainment industry, so there was no way he could assist ke. Still, she did not expect ke to forsake the industry because of her. She was surprised to learn that he would let his career plunge into ruins. ¡°Young one, you¡¯re too immature.¡± The director stood up and revealed a mysterious smile. ¡°None of the policemen in this area would dare to go up against me. Do you think I¡¯d be afraid of you calling the cops?¡± Elspeth lifted her brow as she did not expect the director to be in cahoots with the police in this area. Soon enough, the cops arrived and were stunned as they looked at the three in front of them. One was a renowned director, while the other was the young master of the Winthrop Family, so both individuals were not someone they could offend. ¡°Mr. ke Winthrop, you were the one who lodged a police report, right?¡± The police officers fawned over ke and revealed ttering smiles. ¡°Mr. Thorn just assaulted my manager. Nol Actually, it should be considered attempted rape. It was fortunate that I arrived in time to stop him, and that¡¯s how I managed to foil his attempt.¡± keid out everything clearly, so the police officers had no way of ying dumb. Ultimately, they had no choice but to shoot a recioned link at the director by the side There was no significant change to the director¡¯s expression, for he merely revealed an insincere smile while asking, ¡°You im that I attempted to rape her, but do you have any proof?¡± Proof? Elspeth shot an icy re at him. ¡°Are you unaware of what you just did?¡± The director shrugged and feigned innocence. ¡°But Miss Lynwood, you don¡¯t have any proof at all. If you can show me proof of a voice recording or surveince footage, then surely, I would not be able to speak so brazenly right now.¡± 1 He was sure that Elspeth and ke did not have the proof to nail him, so he showed impudence quite smugly. At that point, she lifted her brows while displeasure was evident in her voice. ¡°Are you saying I¡¯ve lodged a fake report?¡±. ¡°I¡¯m not too sure about that. Perhaps you wish to take advantage of me and use my connections to enter the entertainment industry, so that¡¯s why you tricked me here. Anyway, I wasn¡¯t the one who came over intentionally to seek you. Everyone in public knows that I¡¯ve always been a noble and prideful man. Your im of my attempted rape would be a joke to the public if word went out.¡± He lifted his chin smugly, and his eyes were full of disdain and coldness. ¡°What do you mean by that? How dare you make false usations about me!¡± Elspeth did not expect the man to use her of being the perpetrator when he was at fault. She sneered out of extreme anger. ¡°You¡¯re such a renowned director, yet you¡¯re spewing such disgusting words. Aren¡¯t you ashamed of yourself?¡± ¡°Miss Lynwood, from the start, I¡¯ve never said a single derogatory word to you, but I must say that you¡¯ve gone too far. Sir, the two of them are in cahoots while I¡¯m up against them just by myself. They im that I¡¯ve attempted rape, but how can I possibly attempt raping an actor¡¯s manager on my set?¡± The director had now managed to gain the upper hand and no longer bothered to even cast eyes on Elspeth or ke as he remained focused on refuting their words. Due to the director¡¯s im, the police officers were at a loss for what to do, so they could only smile resignedly at ke and Elspeth. ¡°We¡¯re sorry, but this is entirely out of our hands, and we can¡¯t conclude on this matter. Why don¡¯t you lodge a report next time when you have proof¡­¡± With empty words and no evidence on hand, the party that had a glib tongue would be the one with an advantageous position. At that moment, Elspeth felt a burst of anger, but she could note up with any evidence, so she silently shot a death stare at the director before escorting the officers out of the room. Once the officers left, the director straightened his clothes and slowly revealed an arrogant sneer. ¡°Miss Lynwood, I don¡¯t mean to be rude, but you should¡¯ve just let me have my way. Is there any point in causing dispute for both sides like what¡¯s happening right now?¡± After he said that, he turned around and nced at ke, who was currently maintaining a stance with his wouldn¡¯t be able to bring me down.¡± With that, he finished with a final blow to ke. ¡°That¡¯s enough here. You¡¯re no longer needed on this set. I¡¯ll rece the second male lead with someone else. As for your career, well¡­ You¡¯ll find yourself worthless soon enough in this industry.¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . ke kept his head lowered and remained silent, looking as if he was defeated. At that, Elspeth inched closer to him and clutched his hand. ¡°Are you alright?¡± He lifted his head, and there appeared to be a glisten of tears in his eyes. He took a deep breath, and his swollen red eyes finally subsided slightly. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing that you¡¯re fine.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, of course! The most important thing is that you shouldn¡¯t take his words to heart. He can¡¯t destroy your career at all. Don¡¯t worry. Everything will be fine.¡± ke shook his head and realized that she did not seem to understand theplexity of the situation, so he exined to her patiently, ¡°I¡¯m one of the artists under Joyous Entertainment, and Mr. Thorn¡¯s elder brother is the CEO. That¡¯s the reason why Mr. Thorn is always so arrogant and full of himself. With this, I¡¯d surely be put under a permanent job ban. Even if I had generated substantial ie for Joyous Entertainment, I¡¯m pretty much out of job now that I offended Mr. Thorn.¡± Joyous Entertainment was indeed renowned in the entertainment industry. Elspeth looked him squarely in the eyes and asked intently, ¡°Would you consider joining another company?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that easy to do that. I signed a three-year contract with Joyous, and it¡¯s only been two years since then. If I approach them first to break the contract, I¡¯d have topensate them by paying billions as a breach of contract damage.¡± He heaved a sigh. ¡°Besides, there wouldn¡¯t be any difference even if I joined anotherpany. Joyous Entertainment is too well-connected, so none of the other companies would take me in.¡± As soon as he finished his sentence, a familiar voice rang out from the doorway. ¡°Is everyone okay?¡± Callum looked slightly disheveled and must have rushed over after casting his work aside. Despite his look, the regal air he exuded shone through. ¡°We¡¯re fine, Callum. It was fortunate that you informed me in time because Elspeth would¡¯ve otherwise been assaulted by that b¡¯stard.¡± At that moment, ke¡¯s inadvertent words stirred Elspeth as soon as she heard him. Callum was the one who informed ke? How did he find out, though? Chapter 124 Chapter 124 Did the call that went on the air and was hung up in an instant woke him up? If that were the case, it meant that Callum was genuinely careful and considerate¡­ Pfft! Caring, my butt! ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re okay.¡± Looking at Callum¡¯s face, Elspeth suddenly had an idea. ¡°Callum.¡± Her clear voice swiftly pulled his gaze to her. He didn¡¯t say anything as he gazed at her, but his heart was already thundering away. This was the first time in forever that she took the initiative to start a conversation with him. ke offended the director because of me. Things may get difficult in the future.¡± Her eyes sparkled. ¡°Hence, that is why I would like to ask you for a favor.¡± ¡°Tell me. What is it?¡± Elspeth let out a sly grin. ¡°You¡¯re a wealthy and generous man, Mr. Winthrop. Surely you have a few million you can spare, right?¡± Being the smart person that Callum was, he immediately understood what she meant. ¡°Why? Do you want me to pay for ke¡¯s liquidated damages?¡± ¡°A-ha! What a coincidence. Great minds do think alike.¡± ¡°What are you going to do after that, though?¡± His quirked brows were enough to show how much he wanted to probe. ¡°Are you going to let ke be a vagrant?¡± Naturally, she was confident enough to reassure him. ¡°I have other ideas, of course. I want ke to sign with Luminous instead. You don¡¯t have to worry about this. I can help ke with the arrangement. But before that, you need to help ke with his so-called redemption.¡± ¡°Luminous? Are you talking about thepany that has produced countless movie stars?¡± Whenever there were nominations for awards, Luminous Entertainment would always have thergest number of artists nominated. Callum couldn¡¯t help cheering up as he looked at her. He knew that a corner of her long-frozen heart had begun to melt. ¡°Sure, but I need you to agree to one condition.¡± Callum¡¯s tone grew solemn as he stated his intention. ¡°I want you toe back to the Winthrop Group. Also, you have to move back to the Winthrop Residence today.¡± ke, who was beside them, was the first to voice his disapproval. ¡°No can do, Callum. Elspeth is my manager. How can you tell her to return to the Winthrop Group? What am I supposed to do if she¡¯s gone?¡±. Callum¡¯s cold gaze swiftly darted in his direction. ¡°You¡¯re near unemployment. Do you want Elspeth to starve with you?¡± He would never allow Elspeth to have anything to do with ke after this. ke immediately shrank back and shut his mouth when he was reprimanded. ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. ¡°Today?¡± Elspeth noticed how Callum was the type of person to take a mile when given an inch. Not only was he forcing her, but he was also making decisions for her concerning her time. Il terminate ke¡¯s contract when you move back to the Winthrop Residence.¡± A few million was neither too big nor too small an amount. Callum could just treat it as the price for a lesson learned. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll move soon. Just let me pack up before I go.¡± He casually replied, ¡°You don¡¯t have to pack. There¡¯s everything you need in the Winthrop Residence.¡± ¡°I still need to bring all my clothes!¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯ll get you new clothes.¡± Saying that he was eager to bring her home was an understatement. ¡°As wealthy and generous as you may be, there is no need for you to spend money this way.¡± Upon seeing this, Callum no longer insisted and only nonchntly offered, ¡°I¡¯ll send you back so that you can start packing.¡± ¡°You should go home, ke. We¡¯ll go back to the Winthrop Residence after-Elspeth is done packing up.¡± Not wanting to let them spend time alone together, Callum took the chance to separate them. Although ke wasn¡¯t entirely pleased about it, he knew he didn¡¯t have what it took to snatch Elspeth. And so, he could only nod and return to the Winthrop Residence obediently. ¡°Why are you sitting so far away from me? Scared that I¡¯ll eat you up?¡± Callum held the steering wheel without looking to the side, but his words immediately embarrassed her. She was the one who wanted a break, yet she was also the one who took the initiative to reach out. Callum must think that I¡¯m a joke, she cringed. At the thought of that, she turned her head to look at the scenery that was moving past them like a slideshow outside. Still, she didn¡¯t stop quibbling. Im not far from you,¡± she said. ¡°You¡¯re practically stuck to the window. Or are you wiping the window for me?¡± She could only scoot backward a little when she couldn¡¯t answer him. ¡°Why do you care so much about ke?¡± She had helped ke a lot and even took the first step to be his friend. Just the thought of how she took the initiative to talk to Callum for ke¡¯s sake put him in a bad mood for some reason. He regretted agreeing to help her. ¡°That¡¯s because ke saved my life, and he¡¯s helped me too much. Wouldn¡¯t you be grateful if you were in my shoes?¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but think that Callum¡¯s intelligence and wit seemed to be muddled by love. He showed no signs of intelligence at all. ¡°Is it only gratitude?¡± He gripped the steering wheel tighter as he asked in a tone that was neither serious nor lighthearted. ¡°What do you think? Do you think that I have a crush on him because he saved me, and I want to marry him or something?¡± After throwing out all this nonsense, she rolled her eyes. ¡°You think this is a romantic movie, don¡¯t you? You think I fall for everyone.¡± The corners of Callum¡¯s lips curled upward when he caught the meaning behind her words. ¡°Are you saying that I¡¯m the one you have feelings for?¡± The moment he found the loophole in her words, the shy Elspeth turned as red as a ripe tomato. ¡°Nol-I didn¡¯t say that!¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised that you¡¯re the type of person who does not own up to what you say.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t maka ma hii ime Callum Winthenal¡± Cha throw him the manneet ca cha could muntar hut ha thauah? ¡°Alright.¡± Callum swiftly changed the topic. ¡°Come with me to the Winthrop Group.¡± At that, Elspeth suppressed her anger and looked at him with stubborn eyes. ¡°I won¡¯t go back. I don¡¯t mind the Winthrop Residence, but I refuse to go back to the Winthrop Group.¡± ¡°Why not? Does it have something to do with the position of the Design Department¡¯s director?¡± Callum didn¡¯t know why she was angry, and he unknowingly uttered those huntful words. ¡°What¡¯s my refusal to go back to thepany got to do with the position?¡± She sneered. ¡°Do I have to willingly stay as your obedient secretary who follows you around every day and listens to your orders?¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t know what Callum wanted. She was sure that he wanted her to take over as a secretary. After she asked that, she added mockingly, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t fight over the position with the newbie, Mr. Winthrop.¡± Callum finally understood after the various twists and turns. He took a deep breath before asking, ¡°Will youe back if I give you the position of vice president?¡± Never mind being his secretary, she wouldn¡¯t go back even if he reappointed her as the director of the Design Department. Hold up. She stopped her train of thought. Vice president? Chapter 125 Chapter 125 ¡°Why do you insist on me going back to the Winthrop Group?¡± Being the vice president was equivalent to taking over half of the Winthrop Group. It wasn¡¯t something that he should be joking about. Why would Callum make me such an expensive offer? He looked at Elspeth with a hint of tenderness. ¡°That¡¯s because I like you. I don¡¯t want you to be so far away from me.¡± He had done his fair share of thinking these days. He might not be able to change ina¡¯s position and let Elspeth take over as the director of the Design Department, but he could give Elspeth something better. ¡°Don¡¯t you mind the way I treat you? Now, let me tell you something. You are the future mistress of Winthrop Group. I can even give you the wholepany, so don¡¯t be mad at me anymore, okay?¡± As though he had gotten over how upset he had been feeling these days, he let out a long sigh of relief after saying that. ¡°L¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t utter a reply as she looked at his face. To be honest, his words were simr to a confession that hit her hard. What she cared about was her position in his heart and his attitude toward her. ¡°Alright, Callum.¡± She didn¡¯t know what to say, still in a daze. It seemed that she had been too sensitive. Callum eventually stopped the car at the gate of the vi. Instead of getting out immediately, he took Elspeth in his arms. She did not hide this time. As shey against his chest, she felt his beating heart and caught a whiff of his clean fragrance. She suddenly had an impulse. She raised her head, revealing her eyes. While she was looking at his exquisite jawline, she suddenly made the bold move of moving across his face and kissing him. The air was instantly thick with intimacy the moment their lips met. On the other hand, a fire could be seen burning in his eyes as his gaze dimmed. By the end of it, Elspeth had turned into a melted puddle in his arms. Callum gulped with difficulty while he hugged her soft body. ¡°Go and pack up. We need to go home in time for dinner.¡± She obediently nodded in response. Her cheeks were so flushed that she couldn¡¯t wait to get out of the car and let the fresh air calm her down. She had just walked to the door of her house when she saw a man sitting on the rocking chair outside. ¡°Jordan?¡± she called out in surprise when she noticed him in her yard. He stood up unhurriedly. ¡°You haven¡¯t been home for two days. I thought something happened to you.¡± ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°Well, the thing is, my rocking chair broke, and I wanted to sit in one. That¡¯s why I¡­ Pardon my intrusion:¡± He smiled lightly and asked, ¡°I wanted to ask if you would consider working at ourpany. I can give you everything Callum has given you and more. How does that sound? Do you need time to consider it?¡± Just as she was about to shake her head and refuse, Callum appeared out of nowhere, burning with rage as he red at Jordan¡¯s face. ¡°That is needless worry on your part, Mr. Carr. Elspeth is happy at the Winthrop Group. She doesn¡¯t need to switch to yourpany.¡± ¡°I am asking for Miss Lynwood¡¯s opinion, not yours, Mr. Winthrop. You shouldn¡¯t stick your nose into someone else¡¯s affairs.¡± What Jordan saidpletely irked Callum, who then pulled Elspeth into his arms with a hint of possessiveness in his eyes. ¡°What if Elspeth is my fianc¨¦e now? It shouldn¡¯t be a problem for me to interfere with my fianc¨¦e¡¯s interaction with an ill-intentioned man, yes?¡± He especially emphasized his description of Jordan. Had Jordan not been a patient man, they would¡¯ve started a fight on the spot. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll see if you and Miss Lynwood can make it to the end, Mr. Winthrop.¡± Jordan dropped the sentence and turned around to leave. Before Callum could say anything. Elspeth quickly exined, ¡°He and I are not close at all. We don¡¯t even have much contact usually.¡± ¡°I know.¡± It was obvious that Jordan came for Elspeth. Although his words were full of tender mncholy, both Elspeth and Callum could tell that his oaze didn¡¯t have a hint of love Like Arthur he was only interested in the benefits ¡°Stay away from him in the future. It¡¯ll be bad if he plots something against you.¡± She could tell that Callum meant his words. ¡°I got it,¡± she reassured him. She then went in and quickly packed a few things before she followed him back to the Winthrop Residence. Both Theodore and Margot, especially Margot, had missed her a lot as it had been a few days since she returned. Margot even held her hand and greeted her lovingly when she saw Elspeth. ¡°Elspeth! Where were you all this while?¡± At a nce, Elspeth could tell that Callum hadn¡¯t revealed her whereabouts the past few days. She felt a little more relieved upon noticing that. She deliberately covered up the fact that she had contact with the Jonesons and only told them that she had been taking care of ke as his manager and other matters. Although ke wasn¡¯t the brightest tool in the shed, Elspeth was confident that her rtionship with the Jonesons would soone to light if other members of the Winthrop Family found out about this matter and. looked into it. Hearing what Elspeth said, Margot nodded, relieved. ¡°That¡¯s good. Come! Let¡¯s have our dinner now. I cooked lots of yummy dishes after ke told me that you¡¯reing back today. We were all waiting for you toe back!¡± ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Winthrop.¡± ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. Since it was the weekend today, all members of the Winthrop Family gathered to have dinner together. They were in the middle of eating when Theodore suddenly looked at Elspeth and asked solemnly, ¡°Elspeth, it has been half a year. Which of my sons are you most interested in?¡± Margot, who was sitting beside him,ughed. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s Callum. You must not know because you¡¯ve been on business trips, but Callum and Elspeth get along very well. If not for how long Callum takes to ease up to people and Elspeth¡¯s bashfulness, they would have gotten together already.¡± Theodore was not surprised by his wife¡¯s words. After all, Callum was the best sessor that he had trained; Elspeth being interested in Callum only proved that she had good taste. ¡°Is that true, Elspeth?¡± Theodore looked at Elspeth with a smile. ¡°Do you like Callum?¡± Not knowing what to say, Elspeth only lowered her head, but the tips of her ears had turned slightly pink. ke muttered grumpily on the side, ¡°It¡¯s not like Elspeth is Callum¡¯s private property. What makes you think she can only like Callum? What if she likes me?¡± Theodore didn¡¯t expect ke to have feelings for Elspeth too. As the father of both men, he couldn¡¯t help feeling conflicted. ke would end up getting hurt if Callum and Elspeth liked each other. Somehow, this reminded him of his younger years when he lost to Elspeth¡¯s father and had to settle with loving Elspeth¡¯s mother one-sidedly. However, these were his sons they were talking about. He couldn¡¯t pick a side between Callum and ke, but he also couldn¡¯t bear the thought of ke being hurt. Arthur pursed his lips just then. ¡°I like Elspeth too,¡± he announced. ¡°Me too.¡± Edmund added. Theodore¡¯s gaze promptly fell on Max, who looked embarrassed as he turned the other way. ¡°I don¡¯t, so don¡¯t look at me.¡± Theodore was surprised to find that four out of his five sons were interested in Elspeth. After thinking about it, he could onlye up with a final decision. ¡°Let¡¯s do it this way. Elspeth can choose whomever she wants. The rest of you shall withdraw voluntarily.¡± Chapter 126 Chapter 126 Just like that, Theodore dumped it on Elspeth to make the tough decision. She felt a painful headache hit her as she looked at the people in front of her. Logically speaking, she should choose Callum. But now that she saw how expectant the four men were looking at her, she couldn¡¯t say Callum¡¯s name for some reason. ¡°Take a good look, Elspeth. Whom will you choose?¡± ke¡¯s sinister eyes fell on Callum as he urged unrelentingly, ¡°You must think carefully.¡± She sucked in a deep breath. ¡°I won¡¯t choose.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± asked Callum, whose face instantly fell when he heard that. Seeing how dark his face turned, she realized that she had unknowingly offended the young master, and her heart skipped a beat. ¡°Elspeth, don¡¯t hesitate to choose whomever you want.¡± Edmund¡¯s words were always tinged with a hint of displeasure. ¡°Fine. I choose Callum.¡± Hmph.¡± Edmund huffed. ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± She instantly understood what he meant. He was just trying to make here to terms with her feelings quicker and make them public. She remembered that he didn¡¯t like her at all. He must have deliberately said so just now topete with Callum. Edmund might be a tad evil and foul-mouthed, but he wasn¡¯t a bad person. ke, on the other hand, was not happy, and even his breathing suddenly became silent as he looked at Elspeth with his eyes filled with pain. As for Arthur, it was as if nothing had happened. His emotionless smile remained stered to his face, and Elspeth couldn¡¯t tell how he felt at this moment. Satisfied, Theodore nodded. ¡°There we have it, then. In that case, when are you and Callum going to get engaged?¡± Not only Elspeth but even Callum was startled by the unexpected question. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . ¡°I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s too early for that. Callum and I are not even a couple. Why are we getting engaged so soon?¡± Elspeth choked. Margot wanted nothing more than to see the two of them together. ¡°Callum is already 24. He¡¯s neither too young nor too old to get married. Even though you are only 20, you can already get married ording to thew. You can get engaged this year and get married at the end of the year. Who knows? I might have a grandchild in a year!¡± Her words shocked Elspeth so badly she could barely squeak. ¡°That¡¯s too rushed, Mrs. Winthrop¡­¡± Margot rolled her eyes at Elspeth. ¡°Geez, don¡¯t get all shy on us now. It¡¯s alright. You can slowly let your feelings grow. You can even do that after marriage!¡± Rendered speechless, Elspeth stole a nce at Callum. He cleared his throat. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t think Mom¡¯s wrong¡± Judging from his approving tone, it seemed that he was satisfied with his mother¡¯s arrangement. Elspeth only forced augh without saying another word. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t worry about our marriage. We are still young, so we should work on our careers first.¡± Still, Callum was clear-headed enough to say the things that calmed Elspeth down. For a moment there, she thought that he would urge the two of them to get married as soon as possible as Margot did. However, his next words made her regret ever quietlyplimenting him for what he said just a second ago. ¡°Nheless, it¡¯d be great if we get engaged early on.¡± As long as they were engaged, Elspeth would no longer be known as the Winthrops¡¯ fianc¨¦e. Instead, she would be Callum¡¯s fianc¨¦e. She would be his and only his. She couldn¡¯t stay in this awkwardness any longer, so she blurted out an excuse to leave. She sat outside by the flower bed for a while. Not long after, a figure suddenly emerged from not far away and sat down beside her. The person who came was ke. It was as though he had just had his heart broken. Despite the sadness oozing out of him, he still forced himself to smile in front of Elspeth. ¡°That¡¯s because it¡¯s all happening too quickly. After all, Callum and I don¡¯t know each other well. I can¡¯t just get engaged to him now.¡± She admitted that she liked Callum. However, she had reservations about whether they could live the rest of their lives together. ¡°I envy you guys for being so clear-headed. Unlike me, I¡¯m just blindly rushing forward, and I don¡¯t hide the fact that I like you. I¡¯m not as brilliant as Callum, and I¡¯m not as rich as him. I¡¯m a disappointment. I understand if you don¡¯t like me.¡± Elspeth only noticed ke holding a bottle of wine when he brought it up and took a swig of it while smiling sadly. ¡°You¡¯re not bad at all, ke. You are someone tons of people pursue, and you are every young girl¡¯s dream. You¡¯re not a disappointment.¡± She offered a smile andforted him, ¡°The reason I don¡¯t like you is that we didn¡¯t meet at the right time and ce. The Big Man up there probably doesn¡¯t think I¡¯m the one for you. The right woman might be waiting just around the corner!¡± Touched by these words, ke raised his head with expectations and doubts written all over his face. ¡°Really?¡± he muttered. ¡°Of course! You¡¯re only 20 years old. You have a whole future ahead of you. Surely, you¡¯re not worried you can¡¯t meet someone you¡¯ll fall in love with, are you?¡± She stretched out her hand and offered him a candy that appeared out of nowhere. ¡°Here, you will cheer up after eating this candy. I truly appreciate you for all the things you¡¯ve helped me with. We will be good friends, right?¡± Good friends¡­ ke stared at the candy before hesitantly epting it. Instead of eating it, he held it tightly in his palm before he let out a chuckle. ¡°Am I a child you¡¯re coaxing? You even bring candy around. I¡¯m too old to have candy still.¡± She raised her eyebrows and refused toment on his words. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with having candy? I like candy. Life is as tough as it is. How are you supposed to make life better if you don¡¯t have something sweet to bnce out the bitterness of life?¡± ke knew that the hardships she had gone through couldn¡¯t be summed up in a few words. After all, she started from nothing, but still, she got to where she was today. That being the case, it was indeed a little naive for him to be caught up in the pure and innocent ideas of love he had. ¡°Do you understand where I¡¯ming from? With her head cocked and a bright smile on her face, she looked especially gentle under the moonlight. ¡°Yes.¡± He suddenly stood up and put one hand in the pocket of his pants. ¡°I think I should work on my own business now.¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t help feeling proud of him. ¡°If you¡¯re getting signed to Luminous, we can¡¯t use the manager assigned to you before.¡± Elspeth immediately became serious when they talked about work. ke had also noticed the problem. ¡°Well then, will you be my manager now?¡± He smiled. However, he immediately realized how he had asked a stupid question. Chapter 127 Chapter 127 ¡°I almost forgot that Callum had asked you to be the co-president of the Winthrop Group. Surely you won¡¯t have the spare time to be my agent.¡± ke mocked himself and sighed. ¡°It¡¯s fine, though. I¡¯m sure the president of Luminous would find me a new agent.¡± Elspeth felt awkward when she heard his words. After all, he was right. She was going to give him a new agent. At that moment, she suddenly remembered that Timothy had asked her to find him an artist a few days ago. He wanted to train the talent since he had nothing to do after entering thepany. As a man who wanted to be sessful, Timothy was ufortable with the idle feeling he had. Hence, she asked, ¡°Do you know Timothy, ke?¡± When ke heard her words, he was stunned. I know who Timothy is. Rumors say that he is a talented man. However, he is not famous and underappreciated. From what I remember, he used to be an agent for a female celebrity before he quit for some reason. Could it be that he has gone to Luminous? While thinking about it, ke asked, ¡°A-Are you going to let him be my agent?¡± ¡°Bingo! That¡¯s right!¡± Elspeth smiled and snapped her fingers. ¡°Are you sure? I heard that he is a proud man and wouldn¡¯t train any ordinary artist.¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. ke didn¡¯t know much about Timothy, only knowing that he trained those who were gifted. Timothy would endure the artist¡¯s bad temper if the artist was arrogant but talented. On the contrary, he would never ept artists who worked hard but were not gifted, even if they were humble. ¡°An ordinary artist? Are you sure that¡¯s who you are, ke?¡± Elspeth nced at him. ¡°Have you forgotten that you were nominated for Best Actor? Moreover, you have many fans. You are only a B- lister because you haven¡¯t achieved a higher status. If Timothy were to train you, you¡¯d be an A-lister in no time.¡± ¡°Alright. Thank you, Elspeth.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so formal. This isn¡¯t a big deal to me.¡± Elspeth chuckled. If Timothy finds out he¡¯ll be working with ke after his promotion, he¡¯d be delighted, she thought. ¡°How is this not a big deal? I should be grateful since you helped me get into Luminous and gave me such a great agent.¡± ke thanked her. Then, he seemed to have thought of something. Since he couldn¡¯t hold back the question he had, he asked, ¡°Who exactly are you, Elspeth? How are you able to get me into Luminous? Don¡¯t tell me that you are the president of thepany.¡± At that moment, Elspeth almost choked on her saliva and said, ¡°What are you talking about? How can I be the president of Luminous when I am out here running around? Do other presidents act as I do?¡± Following that, she was slightly flustered by her words. Come to think of it, I am quite irresponsible. I¡¯m letting Harper do all the hard work. ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ke nodded as he dismissed his confusion. As the sky had gotten darker, ke was exhausted and went to bed. However, Elspeth was getting hyped. She was thinking about the words Callum had told her tonight. ¡°I never know what you are thinking, Callum,¡± she mumbled. However, never did she expect that Callum would hear her ¡°If you are unsure of anything, you can ask me. Why do you have to hide from me?¡± said Callum. Although his tone was t, Elspeth could sense that he was unhappy. ¡°I¡¯m not hiding from you.¡± Elspeth smiled awkwardly. ¡°If that is so, why didn¡¯t you want to be engaged with me?¡± Just as Elspeth was about to exin, her words were stuck in her throat when she saw that he was serious. Those words she had told ke seemed to have disappeared from her mind. ¡°Is it because you don¡¯t love me enough? Or did you just realize that you had never loved me?¡± Callum wallowed in self-doubt. ¡°No, I just think that it¡¯s too fast. After all, I have never been in a rtionship before. I know nothing about it¡­¡± Although Elspeth¡¯s exnation was slightly dumb, Callum was still surprised when he heard it. ¡°You¡¯ve never been in a rtionship before?¡± Oh dear, it never urred to me that she¡¯s never fallen in love before. She looks like she has been in many rtionships, thought Callum. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that? Are you looking down on me because of this? Elspeth was embarrassed. Never did she think that Callum would make fun of her because of this. ¡°Has no one ever asked you out?¡± asked Callum. At that moment, Elspeth tilted her head and pondered for a moment before saying, ¡°I don¡¯t think so. Boys never liked me when I was young.¡± However, he was dissatisfied with her words. ¡°You¡¯ve forgotten to count ke.¡± ¡°That was after. I¡¯ve never liked anyone before, and no one has ever liked me. Perhaps it has something to do with me being the reigning champion of the school¡¯s karatepetition.¡± Then, she shook her head. ¡°No man would ever love a woman who knows how to fight. Everyone loves a lovely girl who wears dresses.¡± Until today, she could still remember how one boy was frightened by her karate moves when he tried to ask her out. As he ran off, he told her that no one would ever like her since she was a violent tomboy. While Elspeth fell in thought, Callum felt his heart beating wildly as he heard her words. ¡°I like it.¡± However, Elspeth misunderstood him and thought that he also loved obedient girls. At that moment, she couldn¡¯t help but lower her head. ¡°See, I told you so. You like¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m saying that I like you.¡± How could he not? Who wouldn¡¯t fall in love with her when she had a bright smile. and had helped him multiple times? ¡°You¡¯re surely something for falling in love with someone like me.¡± ¡°They don¡¯t like you because they are ashamed of themselves. They think they are not worth your time, but I don¡¯t think so.¡± Callum would never feel ashamed of himself when he was with the girl he loved. ¡°That is why I want you to marry me as sooner as possible. Is that okay?¡± Callum scooted closer to her and held her hands. ¡°Will you be my fianc¨¦e?¡± ¡°Snap out of it, Callum.¡± Elspeth tried to struggle out of his grip, but she realized he had held her tightly. ¡°I¡¯m clear in the head.¡± Callum shook his head. Then, he pulled her into his embrace and said, ¡°You don¡¯t have a choice, Elspeth. You can only say yes to me.¡± ¡°I never knew that you were the dominant type, Callum.¡± ¡°I used to think that I should listen to you. That is why I have always listened to your opinion. However, you always make me sad. That¡¯s why you must listen to me this time,¡± Callum said truthfully. Chapter 128 Chapter 128 Elspeth was flustered by his words and didn¡¯t know what to say. ¡°That is why I want to be with you as sooner as possible. After we are engaged, you won¡¯t escape from me anymore.¡± At that moment, Elspeth found an opportunity to escape his embrace. Then, she asked Callum, ¡°Do you still remember what I told you, Callum?¡± Hearing her words, Callum knew what she meant and didn¡¯t force her. ¡°You told me to court you before we can be together.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I think a good rtionship starts with us getting to know each other. Only then will we know whether we are suitable for each other or not. Do you understand, Callum?¡± Callum nodded and said, ¡°Yes, I do. That¡¯s why I won¡¯t force you.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Elspeth finally smiled. ¡°Pleased to meet you, my future boyfriend.¡± Just as she reached out her hand so they could have a handshake to make peace, she was pulled into his embrace. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for you,¡± said Callum. Then, he kissed her on the lips softly but firmly. Even after returning to her room, Elspeth could still feel the kiss on her lips. For the whole night, she was restless, which caused her to wake upte the next morning. After she got up, she was about to go down when she heard a heated argument from downstairs. She came down and saw that Theodore was furious. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Mr. Winthrop?¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but ask. Theodore seemed mad as he mmed his hand against the table and shouted on the phone, ¡°Get back home immediately, Arthur!¡± Arthur is always calm and gentle to others. Why is Mr. Winthrop so angry? Elspeth thought. Before she could have the time to think it through, she heard Arthur¡¯s voice on the phone. ¡°You don¡¯t have to care about me, Dad. After all, you only see Callum as your son. Hence, why do you care about me?¡± ¡°What the f*ck are you talking about, Arthur? This is yourst warning. Come home this instance!¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll be back in a second,¡± Arthur replied faintly. It seemed like he still listened to Theodore. Seeing Theodore shaken up with fury, Elspeth quickly soothed his chest to help him breathe. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Mr. Winthrop. Maybe it is a misunderstanding¡­¡± Hearing her words, Theodore widened his eyes and said, ¡°A misunderstanding? Do you know what he did, Elsie? He sold the hospital just today! If it weren¡¯t for the bodyguards, I wouldn¡¯t have known since he wanted to keep it a secret from me! Moreover, he has joined the Alphascape Group! Do you know what this means? The Alphascape Group and Winthrop Group have never been on good terms; he is going against us!¡± Theodore couldn¡¯t stand straight after he finished his words. He sat down and drank some water to soothe his anger Never did Elspeth expect Arthur to make such a sudden move. He looked calm when I chose Callumst night. Why did he suddenly turn into a different person? However, none of them knew the answer to Arthur¡¯s changes. All they could do was interrogate him when he returned. Soon, Arthur returned. There was a smile on his face as though he had good news. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a chance to exin yourself, Arthur. Why did you sell the hospital and join the Alphascape Group?¡± Arthur didn¡¯t care that Theodore was angry as he sat down cross-legged. He looked different than before, and they felt that he looked unfamiliar. ¡°Why are you trying to intervene in my decision to join the Alphascape Group when you refused to let me work in the Winthrop Group?¡± At that moment, Theodore looked at him in disbelief. ¡°Do you know what you are talking about, Arthur? | refuse to let you work in Winthrop Group for your own good. Do you know that?¡± from ¡°How is that any good for me? I know you are afraid I would try to take the title of president away Callum.¡± Arthur scoffed. ¡°Even Edmund, that dumb*ss, can be the co-president, yet I don¡¯t even have the chance. Don¡¯t you think this is funny, Dad? How can you say that you don¡¯t have a favorite when it hase to this?¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Hearing his words, Theodore opened his mouth and tried to retort. However, he realized that he had nothing to stand against his words. ¡°How can you say these to Mr. Winthrop, Arthur?¡± Elspeth frowned when she heard how Arthur talked to Theodore. ¡°I¡¯m talking to my Dad, Elspeth. You don¡¯t have a say in this as an outsider.¡± Arthur looked at her coldly. ¡°Arthur! Show some respect to Elsie! She is not an outsider but your future sister-inw!¡± Theodore snapped. ¡°Yes, she is my sister-inw. All of you only care about Callum. That is why you never want me to show myself and force me to be a president in that stupid hospital. I admit you care for me since you are willing to give me my own hospital, but I still don¡¯t understand why you refuse to let me work in the company.¡± When Theodore heard his words, his rage died down. Then, he sighed deeply and said, ¡°Oh, Arthur, you are overthinking this.¡± Since Arthur was obedient and had never tried to have anything for himself, Theodore thought that this was how his personality was. Hence, he cared for him and never forced him to do anything he hated. However, he never expected Arthur would hold such a grudge because of his decision. ¡°How am I overthinking this? Tell me, Dad. How many lies are you going to tell me?¡± Arthur had lost all trust in Theodore. ¡°You¡¯ve changed, Arthur. You used to be obedient and always listened to what I said. You are an amazing child, but you are too soft-hearted. I had always protected and sheltered you since I feared you would get hurt. You used to say that you want to be a doctor that saves lives. That is why I supported your dream and bought you that hospital. However, I never knew that you had such thoughts. It¡¯s my fault. If I had realized this sooner, none of these would have happened.¡± Theodore¡¯s apologies were sincere, and even Elspeth was touched by his words. However, Arthur seems to have ignored him and smirked coldly. ¡°Your words would have touched me if I didn¡¯t know the truth. However, I know everything, Dad, or should I say, Mr. Winthrop. I am not your son, am I?¡± At that moment, Theodore was pale in the face. Never would he have guessed that Arthur would know about this. ¡°How did you know?¡± he asked. After all, he had burned the adoption certificate years ago, so there was no way Arthur would¡¯ve found out about this. ¡°That¡¯s not important. The important thing is that you can¡¯t lie to me anymore! You cared for me only because you were guilty and afraid of karma, weren¡¯t you? You never thought of me as your son!¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Theodore was heartbroken by his words. Arthur looked at him with cold eyes as he spoke. ¡°You were the one who killed my real father, right?¡± Chapter 129 Chapter 129 Theodore looked at Arthur¡¯s contorted face as he was deluged with a sense of disappointment. ¡°Do you know what you¡¯re talking about, Arthur?¡± Despite the smile on Arthur¡¯s face, he appeared dispassionate. ¡°I do know what I¡¯m talking about. You were the one who killed my parents with your car and made me an orphan. You were afraid of retribution, so you took me in despite your unwillingness. I¡¯ve found out about all that.¡± ¡°The incident is not like what you think, Arthur. The ident happened because your father was drunk driving. I happened to pass by the ce and saw that you were the only survivor. At that time, your face was covered in blood, and you were seated there alone. I didn¡¯t have the heart to see you suffer, so I decided to adopt you. How can you use me of killing your parents?¡± As though having expected what the other man would say, Arthur sneered. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, you should at least try to fabricate a story I have never heard before. I knew you were going to say that, so do you think I¡¯ll believe you?¡± A month ago, he identally found out that Theodore wasn¡¯t his biological father. Instead, his father had been a lorry driver. Shocked and sorrowful, he went to a bar and got himself drunk. The president of Alphascape Group happened to be there and broke the truth to him, which solved the mystery that had been hidden from him for over 20 years. He had always regarded Theodore as his father, but it wasn¡¯t until that moment that he realized Theodore had killed his parents. He had acknowledged a murderer as his father for a long time, and he wasn¡¯t valued in thepany. As such, he was determined to get his revenge. When he saw how disappointed Theodore looked, he only thought that the other man felt guilty and didn¡¯t dare tell him the truth. ¡°Say no more. From now on, I¡¯ll have nothing to do with the Winthrop Family.¡± Arthur nced impassively at Elspeth and snorted. ¡°I heard that whoever marries Elspeth will get 20 percent of the Winthrop Group¡¯s shares. You wanted to give it to Callum from the beginning, right?¡± Theodore was stunned. ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter; what matters is that you¡¯re too biased. It¡¯s to the point where I feel queasy.¡± The moment Arthur was done speaking, he was ready to turn around and leave. However, Elspeth stopped him by saying, ¡°Mr. Winthrop has raised you for years, Arthur. Don¡¯t you feel grateful to ¡°Are you serious?¡± Arthur whirled around, feeling as though countless needles had been jabbed into his heart. ¡°Before I found out the truth, I was willing to put up with all this. However, now that I¡¯ve discovered he killed my parents, what right do you have to tell me I should be grateful to a murderer?¡± Arthur no longer appeared calm and collected. Instead, his gaze was filled with hatred. He then left the ce, leaving behind an astounded and sorrowful Theodore. Beside him, Elspeth had mixed feelings. ¡°Please don¡¯t be sad, Mr. Winthrop. I¡¯m sure Arthur has been fooled by some wicked people. He¡¯ll realize that you¡¯ve always loved him.¡± Arthur has repressed his emotions for a long time, and what happenedst night was only a trigger. It¡¯s no wonder he has always wanted to marry me. He¡¯s only after 20 percent of the Winthrop Group¡¯s shares. Now that I¡¯m together with Callum, Arthur¡¯s dream has been crushed. As such, he can¡¯t keep pretending to be a nice guy. ¡°I hope he¡¯ll find out that I¡¯ve done nothing wrong sooner. I wonder what those blockheads from the Alphascape Group said to Arthur that made him misunderstand that I killed his parents!¡± Theodore then started coughing. Elspeth fished out a piece of tissue and helped cover his mouth, only to find the tissue getting dyed red. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, you¡¯re coughing blood! You must be too furious!¡± When Theodore saw the blood stains on the tissue, his fury got stuck in his throat. Finding it difficult to breathe, he passed out directly. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Elspeth promptly took out her phone and gave Callum a call. ¡°Pleasee back at once, Callum. Mr. Winthrop has cked out!¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Callum was on the way to hispany. Right after he heard what she said, he turned the steering wheel and returned to the Winthrop Residence. When he arrived home, he saw Theodore lying on the floor with traces of blood on the corner of his mouth. Meanwhile, Elspeth appeared anxious beside him. With a frown, he asked, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Arthur found out that Mr. Winthrop wasn¡¯t his biological father, and he misunderstood Mr. Winthrop for killing his parents. As such, he sold the hospital and sided with the Alphascape Group. Despite Elspeth¡¯s brief words, she managed to exin the matter clearly. ¡°Mr. Winthrop requested Arthur toe back. He then said nasty things and infuriated Mr. Winthrop.¡± Callum never expected that such an over-the-top incident would take ce in his family. ¡°Arthur has finally revealed his true colors.¡± He wasn¡¯t bothered by this matter as his attention was all on Theodore. After they sent Theodore to the hospital, they stood in front of his bed withplicated feelings. ¡°Arthur has sided with the Alphascape Group, and it¡¯s not clear what he¡¯s up to. All the same, he¡¯ll certainly join forces with the Alphascape Group and retaliate against us. Why don¡¯t we y it by ear? If Arthur does something that harms the Winthrop Group¡¯s interest, we can promptly counterattack.¡± Elspeth analyzed the situation calmly. Then, she looked at Callum and his dark expression. At that instant, she realized the man was in a tight spot. ¡°Callum, are you sad? You were still brothers the day before, yet both of you have fallen out now. I understand that you must be feeling downcast.¡± Despite Callum¡¯s silence, his expression had exposed his emotions. Elspeth let out a sigh and went on to say, ¡°This is beyond your control, Callum. Arthur can¡¯t see sense and has gone down such a path. It has nothing to do with you, so you don¡¯t have to me yourself for not being a good elder brother.¡± Callum nced at her as emotions undted in his heart. All of a sudden, he could no longer contain his longing as he took a step forward and wrapped his arms around her. This time, Elspeth didn¡¯t push him away out of embarrassment. Instead, she patted his back to give him some constion. Although Callum was a decisive person, he wasn¡¯t on good terms with Arthur despite spending the past 20 years or so as brothers. Now that Arthur had suddenly fallen out with the Winthrops, Callum was calm enough not to blow his top as Theodore had done. ¡°Callum, how¡¯s Dad?¡± ke and Max arrived at the hospital. When they saw Theodore lying motionless on the bed, they were anxious. The instant Elspeth saw them, she released Callum as her heart pounded into a gallop. After pulling herself together, she said, ¡°Mr. Winthrop only passed out because he was too furious. He¡¯s fine now, so please don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Ms. Layme told us what happened while we were on our way here.¡± Max was a hot-tempered ungrateful brat. Just let him go. What¡¯s the point of dad getting furious at him?¡± On the other hand, ke was rtively calmer, but what he said was equally cruel. ¡°Since he has decided to leave the Winthrop Family, it¡¯s pointless to feel sad for that kind of person.¡± Chapter 130 Chapter 130 ¡°Alright, Max. You should go back to university now. I¡¯ll take care of Dad.¡± When Callum suddenly realized Max had skipped sses toe to the hospital, he was furious. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of Dad, Callum. Since you¡¯re busy with work, you should go back to thepany.¡± Max would usually obey Callum, but he was suddenly obstinate at this point. ¡°Alright, stop arguing. Since I¡¯m jobless now, I¡¯ll look after him. Both of you should go and do your own things.¡± There was no doubt that ke¡¯s words were convincing. After giving it some thought, Callum nodded in agreement. He sent Max back to university first. The moment they arrived at the entrance, Max saw a familiar figure. Elspeth recognized her as well. She eximed, ¡°Isn¡¯t that Yelena?¡± At that moment, Yelena was holding a man¡¯s hand as they shuffled toward the entrance. Max found the man familiar. He soon recalled that he was an infamous thug in the university. However, he was handsome. As such, even though he was a rascal, many women still fell head over heels for him. ¡°Is Yelena in love?¡± The moment Elspeth finished speaking, she quickly covered her mouth as she realized she had said something wrong. It was a well-known fact that Yelena had been wooing Max. Even if she was a flirtatious person, she couldn¡¯t possibly fall in love with someone else barely two weekster. ¡°I don¡¯t care whether she¡¯s in love.¡± Max didn¡¯t seem to mind it as he looked away, but he still paid attention to them from the corner of his eye. Suddenly, the man extended his hands and pulled Yelena into his embrace. Unable to take it anymore, Max strode forward and took Yelena¡¯s hand before yelling, ¡°Yelena, a woman like you is not supposed to make out with another man on the streets in broad daylight!¡± A hint of surprise shed across Yelena¡¯s face when she realized it was Max, but she was puzzled as to why he seemed to be criticizing her. ¡°What are you talking about? Do you mean the man beside me? He¡¯s-¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. When the man saw how anxious Max was, he realized something as he wrapped his arm around Yelena¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Are you Max? Yelena has mentioned you on several asions. You¡¯re pretty famous in our university.¡± ¡°I know who you are; you¡¯re an infamous thug.¡± Max had always been sharp-tongued, and he was especially displeased when he saw the man¡¯s arm around Yelena¡¯s shoulders. Yelena red at him. ¡°Who are you calling a thug?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you unhappy because I called your lover a thug?¡± Max snorted. ¡°You told me you liked me a few days ago and wanted to be my girlfriend, yet you¡¯re making out with another man here. You¡¯re pretty interesting.¡± As he doubted Yelena¡¯s sincerity, she was so anxious that she was on the brink of breaking into tears. Nheless, after pondering for a moment, she realized Max was rarely so agitated. Is it possible that he¡¯s jealous after seeing me with another man? Does he like me? Upon realizing the truth, she felt a sense of confidence rising within her. ¡°Max, regardless of whom I¡¯m seeing, what does it have anything to do with you?¡± ¡°Fine, then. Yelena, I don¡¯t care whom you fall in love with, but do you know who he is? He¡¯s an infamous scoundrel in our university. Are you sure you want to be with him?¡± Then, Max swept a dispassionate nce over them. ¡°You¡¯ve lost my respect.¡± Yelena felt aggrieved. Just as she was ready to refute him, Max suddenly turned around and left as he wasn¡¯t willing to hear what she had to say. ¡°Max!¡± Max entered the university without sparing her another nce. ¡°What kind of a man have you fallen in love with? He doesn¡¯t respect you at all, and he¡¯s conceited. I think you¡¯d better give up.¡± The man lifted his head and blew his fringe away from his face, looking indeed like a thug. However, his gesture didn¡¯t make him look indecent. Instead, he appeared somewhat attractive. ¡°Why did you agitate him just now, Finn?¡± Yelena was frustrated. It was because of Finn¡¯s provocation that Max became furious and left. to attend. Tell my mom that I didn¡¯t y truant. I¡¯m going in now.¡± The moment he finished speaking, he entered the university as well. Suddenly, Yelena turned around and saw Elspeth and Callum not far away. After bing startled for a moment, she asked, ¡°Why are you here?¡± Hearing that, Elspeth couldn¡¯t help breaking intoughter. ¡°If we weren¡¯t here, we wouldn¡¯t have witnessed such a funny misunderstanding.¡± ¡°Did you guys hear everything?¡± Yelena hung her head low with a red face. It seemed that they had also seen her using Finn to lie to Max. ¡°Max is a hot-tempered and sharp-tongued guy, so you should spend some time trying to change him for the better. If you want to get together with him, you have to work on that.¡± Elspeth winked at her as a form of encouragement. Yelena nodded. ¡°I got it, Elspeth. Anyway, there¡¯s something I need you to help me with.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± A bashful Yelena replied, ¡°The thing is¡­ it¡¯ll be my 18th birthday next Wednesday. I¡¯d like to invite Max to my birthday party. Can you make him attend?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you personally invite him?¡± Yelena let out a sigh. ¡°I¡¯ve tried approaching him many times, but he isn¡¯t willing to talk to me. In that case, how am I supposed to invite him to my birthday party? Pleasee up with a way to make him attend my birthday party without him knowing anything about it.¡± Elspeth agreed to it. After Yelena was gone, Elspeth and Callum returned to the Winthrop Group. On the same day, Callum held a meeting that all the managers attended. During the meeting, he directly appointed Elspeth as the vice president. ina was the first to object to the appointment. Elspeth hadn¡¯t seen ina for a few days, and she realized thetter had be even more harsh and unkind. has never been a vice president. Moreover, she hasn¡¯t even joined thepany and doesn¡¯t have a proper job title. If you rashly make her the vice president, it¡¯ll break the rules.¡± Elspeth had already expected ina to say such things, so she refuted with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t you think there¡¯s something wrong with what you¡¯ve said, Miss Sullivan? Weren¡¯t you directly promoted to a director when you were just an ordinary employee back then? Oh, I¡¯ve almost forgotten that you were just lucky. You weren¡¯t even promoted because you had the talent. Therefore, it¡¯s only normal that you can¡¯t see sense.¡± When ina heard her mockery, her face turned livid in an instant. ¡°Don¡¯t you think you¡¯ve crossed the line, Elspeth? Are you saying that I wasn¡¯t talented enough to get promoted? 1 graduated from the best university in Damoria as a design major. I¡¯m very much qualified to be the director of the Design Department.¡± ina was confident whenever she brought up her academic qualifications. She was a bright person, so what was wrong with her bing the director of the Design Department? Rted Posts: Chapter 131 Chapter 131 hapter 131 ¡°If we talk about academic qualification, everyone here in this room graduated from top universities. These two directors sitting in front of you are top students from Konig University. As for the experience, you don¡¯t have presentable work up to this point. I saw your Christmas special edition jewelry. There¡¯s a reason the sales for that were mediocre.¡± Everything Elspeth said was like a sword stabbing into ina¡¯s heart, making the confidence that was left in her shatter instantly. ina suddenly felt as though she was just a clown, showing off her immature skills in front of experts and embarrassing herself. ¡°Miss Lynwood, we¡¯re all colleagues. How can you say that to me?¡± With her innocent look, all the male colleagues around her relent the moment she cried. Since reasoning couldn¡¯t work, ina wanted to y the victim but was exposed mercilessly by Elspeth. ¡°You start crying whenever you can¡¯t win an argument. Miss Sullivan, is that all you learned in Winthrop Group?¡± At that moment, ina¡¯s tears were hanging from the corners of her eyes. It didn¡¯t seem right to let them fall or wipe them off, so they were left hanging awkwardly there. ¡°Enough. There¡¯s no need to argue anymore. I¡¯m the one who decided on this. Does anyone else here have any second opinion?¡± After looking at the conflict between ina and Elspeth, Callum cleared his throat and looked at Elspeth with a resigned and affectionate gaze. Although he knew at Elspeth wouldn¡¯t put herself at a disadvantage, the things she said would surely upset ina for quite some time. Just then, Edmund sluggishly raised his hands. ¡°I do.¡± Elspeth thought that he was going to stir up trouble again, but his following sentence shocked everyone. ¡°I want to take a few months off for a little distraction. I¡¯ll pass the vice president position to Elspeth for the time being.¡± With Callum¡¯s arrangement and Edmund ¡®vacating¡¯ the position, there was nothing for ina to say anymore. Resentfully, she bore into Elspeth like a monster. ¡°It¡¯s settled then,¡± Callum gave the ultimate word, finalizing the decision on this matter. After the meeting, ina went to Elspeth with a humble smile on her face. ¡°Miss Lynwood, I was a little too harsh in the meeting just now. I hope you don¡¯t mind, but I didn¡¯t mean to doubt your capabilities. I was just considering the best for thepany.¡± Although that was what came out of her mouth, Elspeth could tell what was on her mind. With Elspeth as the vice president, ina was afraid that she would rack her brain for ways to chase her out of the company. I¡¯m really not that free, though. anything to you.¡± Elspeth put on a faint smile. ¡°Also, no worries about all the drama. Just like you said, considering what¡¯s best for thepany, we should maintain the status quo. ¡°You¡¯re right, Miss Lynwood. By the way, you had a lot of contacts when you were the director of the Design Department, right? Can you¡­¡± Hearing that, Elspeth understood ina¡¯s intention. So, she was beating around the bush for so long for the contacts on my list. ¡°It¡¯s been too long. I don¡¯t even remember what contacts I had¡­. Aren¡¯t you the director of the Design Department now, Miss Sullivan? Meeting new people. shouldn¡¯t be a lot of work for you,¡± replied Elspeth in a perfunctory tone as she patiently typed on herptop. ¡°How is it not? Can you please look for a little while longer, Miss Lynwood? I can¡¯t contact some of the people¡­¡± ina was so mad she was gnashing her teeth. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that Elspeth had the resources and contacts that an ordinary person couldn¡¯t get, she wouldn¡¯t talk to her so politely; she would have already left with a long face. ¡°What? There are actually people you can¡¯t reach? You¡¯re so smart and talented, and you even graduated from the best university in Damoria. How can it be possible? Quit being modest.¡± With a hand propping up her head, Elspeth looked at ina with an engrossing gaze. Now, let¡¯s see what you got in store for me, Miss I-graduated-from-the-best-university. When ina heard that, she was ashamed to ask for her favor again, so she red at her and left furiously. ¡°You¡¯re really something else, Miss Lynwood. ina always acts like a harmless little flower, but she actually deceives others for their sympathy andpassion with her thorns. In fact, everyone knows how she behaves in private. If it isn¡¯t because she¡¯s the director of the Design Department now, no one will bother talking to her at all.¡± The colleague beside Elspeth showed admiration when she saw that Elspeth made ina leave with her words. This aroused Elspeth¡¯s interest, so she asked, ¡°Oh? What is she usually like?¡± After looking left and right and seeing that no one was listening, only then did the colleague say in a low voice, ¡°ina is the daughter of the Sullivan Corporation. Although she always puts on an innocent and adorable look, she¡¯s very good at ordering people around in private. When she talks to the male colleagues, she¡¯ll give them nicknames and talk to them coquettishly, but when she talks to the girls, she orders them around arrogantly. She¡¯s super double standard. Very few of us actually like her, other than those men who are hooked, falling so badly into her spell.¡± Elspeth nodded and didn¡¯t think much about it. She knew that ina wasn¡¯t a good person, but since everyone else knew that, it made her feel more at ease. Just when she thought the world was back to peace and she could focus on her work again, a scream suddenly broke the silence. ¡°Which one of you is Elspeth? Step forward! I want to see which fox dares to hook up with my husband at work!¡± was a woman in her thirties standing there. So, she asked, ¡°I¡¯m Elspeth. What can I do for you?¡± When the woman saw Elspeth¡¯s exquisite face and felt her refinement, she was stunned at first. Then, jealousy rose from the bottom of her heart. ¡°So, you¡¯re Elspeth, huh? You sl¡¯t! Why did you hook up with my husband?!¡± With that pretty face, she¡¯s definitely a sl¡¯t! Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Firstly, I didn¡¯t hook up with your husband. Secondly, I don¡¯t even know who your husband is. Do you have the wrong person?¡± Elspeth was so confused by her words, but with her grace, she still asked politely. Despite this, the woman went crazy. When she heard Elspeth¡¯s reply, rage flowed through her ¨¤ like lava, and she stepped forward to grab Elspeth¡¯s shirt. ¡°I¡¯m going to see how much longer you can deny! You seduced my husband, making him stoping home for so many days, but you still dare to pretend to be innocent? I¡¯m gonna tear your shirt apart and show everyone your true self!¡± Elspeth had some skills in fighting, so that woman couldn¡¯t even get near her. Instead, the woman¡¯s wrists were tightly gripped, rendering her unmovable. As soon as the woman noticed that she wasn¡¯t a match for Elspeth, her knees buckled, and she started sobbing on the ground. ¡°Where¡¯s the justice? Even a mistress can bully the legal wife now! Is there still justice in this world?!¡± At this moment, everyone in the office started whispering to one another, discussing Elspeth being a mistress. Seeing this scene unfold from the corner, ina smirked with satisfaction. I really want to see how she gets out of this. Chapter 132 Chapter 132 Many employees in thepany knew Elspeth, and they could roughly remember that there was a man who turned up out of nowhere, saying that Elspeth was his wife. In the end, he just made a fool out of himself, but this time¡­ looking at how desperate that woman was crying, she really might have been cheated on. All the colleagues had a wait-and-see attitude, but only Elspeth stood alone, not far from them, with a calm face as though she wasn¡¯t bothered at all. After crying for some time, the woman noticed that she was being watched like a monkey in a zoo. Fright took over her, so she stopped crying and swiftly got up from the ground. ¡°What excuse do you have, huh? You¡¯re the one who seduced my husband first. Why are you quiet? Are you guilty?¡± When Elspeth saw the woman bawling, she knew that this person wasn¡¯t purposely causing a scene maliciously. Her husband had most likely cheated on her. ¡°Tell me. Who¡¯s your husband?¡± She was a little troubled. It seems like I need to deal with another person¡¯s family problem again. ¡°My husband is the key person in yourpany and the leader of the Technical Department, Evan Steward!¡± After she imitated the words that her husband said every time he returned home, it elicited an unexpected burst ofughter. ¡°What are y¡¯allughing at? What¡¯s so funny?¡± She had a southern drawl, and though her words. were comprehensible, her tone sounded unsophisticated. Instantly, the employees started whispering. ¡°Mr. Steward looks so serious on the outside. I didn¡¯t know that he has a wife.¡± ¡°He even blew his own horn in front of his wife. That¡¯s hrious,¡± ¡°I feel bad for his wife. She¡¯s been fooled so badly. Pity her.¡± Meanwhile, Elspeth took a deep breath before asking, ¡°Are you really married to Evan Steward?¡± Realizing that she was being doubted, the woman raised her voice. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s true. If you don¡¯t believe me, I can return home now and grab our marriage certificate.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. There¡¯s no need for that. I believe you.¡± Elspeth shook her head. ¡°But I still need to tell you this. I don¡¯t know Mr. Steward, and neither do I have his number or follow him on any social tform.¡± With disbelief written on her face, the woman gasped a little. ¡°How is that possible? I saw him DM you on Instagram that night when he came home drunk. It was your name in the chat box. I When Elspeth heard that, she arched her brows. ¡°What happened then? Didn¡¯t you confront him?¡± ¡°Of course, I didn¡¯t! My husband is a hardworking and conscientious man. So, it must have been you who seduced him first. I¡¯ve read the messages, and the one who starts texting first is always you!¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t know how to react. ¡°To be frank, I¡¯ve never met Mr. Steward. But, Mrs. Steward, you can try asking my colleagues whether I have anything to do with him.¡± Startled, the woman studied all the mocking gazes from all around her and decided to continue arguing. ¡°I don¡¯t care. They¡¯re all on your side. I won¡¯t believe them.¡± ¡°If so, can you tell me why I would hook up with your husband?¡± With her chin lifted, the woman told Elspeth everything good about Evan. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s because he¡¯s extraordinary. He¡¯s good-looking, has a good temper, and works for such a bigpany. He even received many awards. I think it¡¯s normal for a woman to fall for him.¡± At this moment, Elspeth rubbed her chin, making a thoughtful expression. ¡°So, are you saying that he¡¯s extraordinary?¡± ¡°Ain¡¯t that it?¡± As her words resonated around the room, they elicited another burst ofughter. ¡°Do you know who my boyfriend is, then?¡± It was obvious that the woman had no idea as she looked into Elspeth¡¯s eyes nkly and asked, ¡°Who¡¯s your boyfriend?¡± ¡°My boyfriend is the president of thispany. Now, you tell me. Whom will I choose? A handsome and rich president or an ordinary tech guy?¡± The woman was misdirected as well. ¡°Of course, a handsome and rich president.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Now, am I pretty?¡± Elspeth smiled brightly at the woman. Of course, the man knew Elspeth was beautiful. She had eyes akin to the stars, as though they could touch one¡¯s soul. Not only that, she had a mysterious aura with a bluish tint in her eyes. Most importantly, from her attire, she didn¡¯t seem like a woman whom an ordinary man couldy hold off, so even when the woman knew that her husband was extraordinary, he might not be good enough for Elspeth. ¡°You are. You are very pretty.¡± ¡°So why would I fall for an ordinary man?¡± This was how confident Elspeth was. She deserved a fine man with any of her hidden identities, so why would she fall for a so-called ¡®key person in ¡°Even when the president of thispany has feelings for me, he needs to pursue me step by step. Who do you think your husband is for me to call him ¡®darling?¡± Elspeth¡¯s words were so impable that even ina was shocked, watching from the side. ina had thought of several ways that Elspeth would counterattack. It might be using glib phrases to win the argument, asking people to throw the woman out, or confronting Evan straight away. Yet, she had never imagined that Elspeth would use such a confident and This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . outrageous way. It was a useful tactic, as the woman was stunned after hearing all that. Then, the expression on her face turned perplexed. ¡°So, who¡¯s the person who slid into my husband¡¯s DMs?¡± As Elspeth lowered her head, she asked, ¡°Do you know what¡¯s her Instagram handle?¡± With sudden realization, the woman replied, ¡°Yes! I took the chance to note down her handle on my phone when my husband was asleep. Here!¡± When ina heard that from the corner, her back was soaked in cold sweat instantly. Didn¡¯t Evan say that his wife is illiterate? Why is she so smart? She even wrote down my handle. Isn¡¯t this going to expose me for sure? She took a few steps backward, preparing to leave the office. However, the moment the colleague beside her saw that she was in distress, he asked, ¡°You don¡¯t look so well, Miss Sullivan. Are you sick?¡± Awkwardly, ina chuckled. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m unwell. I¡¯m thinking about going to the hospital.¡± ¡°Let me give you a ride. You¡¯re cold-sweating.¡± I should already be out of the office with the time I wasted on this small talk! ina was so pissed, but she still continued saying, ¡°Thanks. It¡¯s fine.¡± Within seconds, their voices grabbed Elspeth¡¯s attention. When she noticed that ina looked like she wanted to run away, she gradually took out her phone to compare the Instagram handle. As expected, it was ina¡¯s doing. Although she knew that it was ina, she still asked people around her with a surprised expression, ¡°Can you guys tell whose handle this is? I can¡¯t figure it out.¡± As soon as her colleagues around her saw the ID, they recognized it immediately. ¡°Isn¡¯t this ina¡¯s? I¡¯m very familiar with her username. I evenplimented her, saying that her handle is.nice.¡± At once, ina¡¯s action of running away came to a halt, and she felt embarrassed. Suddenly, an idea popped into her head, and her fingers moved swiftly across her phone. Now that I¡¯ve changed my Instagram handle, no one can recognize that it¡¯s me! Chapter 133 Chapter 133 ¡°How can it be me? I changed my handle a long time ago. This ID is not mine.¡± ina faced the people in front of her with an innocent look, as though she had really been falsely used. ¡°Let me see¡­ Eh? She changed her ID. Is it not her, then?¡± The colleagues around her suddenly doubted themselves. I thought we had the culprit already, and everything made sense, but why is there suddenly a twist? However, those who knew ina¡¯s way of thinking had already seen through everything. ¡°Pffi! It can be her alternate ount. After all, Miss Sullivan is always busy socializing with different men. Who knows if our Mr. Steward is one of them?¡± With a pale face, ina bellowed, ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?!¡± ¡°I think all our colleagues here know if what I said was nonsense since they¡¯ve seen everything. I¡¯m not in your department, so I¡¯m not afraid of your revenge on me. Miss Sullivan, you hooked up with more than one man, am I right?¡± The person who was talking looked quite familiar to Elspeth. She was an androgynous girl named Avery Lennon, who was a fresh graduate. Speed Demon had always been her nickname in the Operation Department. Elspeth didn¡¯t know that ina had already pissed off colleagues out of her department. At this thought, she couldn¡¯t help but click her tongue in her mind. ¡°Avery, shut up if you don¡¯t know how to talk properly. Why are you ndering me?¡± Avery had quite a straightforward personality. ¡°You know it in your heart whether I¡¯m ndering you or not. How dare you frame Miss Lynwood? Shame on you!¡± Hearing that, Elspeth put her hand over her mouth. It looks like this Avery girl has a fighter spirit as well. She¡¯s quite eloquent, but the most important thing now is to finish ina. ¡°You said that you changed your handle, right?¡± Her gazended on ina¡¯s face without fear. ¡°And you changed it a long time ago. Am I right?¡± ina thought that Elspeth was trying to trick her into talking, so right away, she answered, ¡°Either way, I¡¯ve definitely changed it before this happens.¡± There¡¯s no proof. Even if I lie, so what? Yet, Elspeth wasn¡¯t bothered at all. ¡°I¡¯m giving you one more chance. Are you sure you don¡¯t want to tell us the truth?¡± At this moment, ina¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I identally took a screenshot when I wasparing Instagram handles. Do you want to take ¡°You took a screenshot?¡± ina¡¯s face turned pale in an instant. ¡°Why did you do that?¡± ¡°I was afraid that someone would deny it.¡± Elspeth took out her phone and waved it at ina. ¡°So? Do you want to see it yourself? It was still your ID when I checked just now.¡± ¡°Okay. I admit it. It was my doing.¡± Thest line of defense in her heart had copsedpletely. As she looked at Elspeth¡¯s smiley face, she couldn¡¯t understand why she lost all of a sudden. ¡°Well, I lied. I didn¡¯t screenshot it. I just wanted to see if you¡¯ll admit it.¡± It was a fact that Elspeth didn¡¯t take a screenshot just now, and she didn¡¯t expect ina to retort with a countercharge. After all, ina was still young. She spat everything out after a little bluff. ¡°You¡­.¡± Just when ina was going to curse at Elspeth, the woman, who was listening from the side the whole time, stepped forward after understanding the whole picture. So, the woman that Evan cheated on me with is actually this woman here! As the furious woman stepped forward, she glowered at ina and shouted, ¡°Why did you hook up with my husband?! You b*tch! You know very well that he¡¯s married, but why did you still seduce him?!¡± Feeling humiliated, ina chuckled. ¡°Nothing happened between your husband and me. We were just flirting. Also, your husband is not my cup of tea. He¡¯s the one who keeps pestering me After rolling her eyes, Avery said, ¡°Ma¡¯am, don¡¯t listen to her bullsh*t. She¡¯s famous for being an hical social butterfly in ourpany. Your husband is not the only one she flirts with.¡± When the woman heard that, her resentment grew inside her like a tumor. She rushed forward right away and gave a tight p on ina¡¯s face. ¡°Since you¡¯re so good at flirting, I should teach you a lesson in the name of justice! I really want to see who will be on your side!¡± Meanwhile, Elspeth looked away for a moment, giving tacit approval to this behavior. With the body of an ordinary girl, how could ina fight a woman who cooked and didundry every day? Within seconds, ina was pped until she could see stars in front of her eyes, and her face was filled with red palm prints. ¡°I think that¡¯s enough. You might kill her if you continue.¡± Elspeth pretended to stop the fight as she pulled the woman aside. ¡°I¡¯m gonna call the police and sue you for murder!¡± Hearing that, the woman refuted right away, ¡°Sue me for murder? I should be the one suing you for cheating with my husband! B*tch. You¡¯re sick! Aren¡¯t you afraid that God will punish you for hooking up with so many men?!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know that such a thing was happening in mypany.¡± As soon as Callum ended the video conference in his office and removed his earphones, he heard a loud noise from the outside. So, he stood at a distance and listened to everything, understanding the whole picture. At this moment, he had a poker face on and looked enraged. However, the employees noticed something strange. By right, this should be bad news since it would affect thepany¡¯s image internally and externally, but they noticed that his face wasn¡¯t as sullen as they imagined it would be. Instead, there was a mere smile on the corners of his lips. Is that a smile? Or is there something wrong with our eyes? Callum¡¯s stance on the matter was crucial, so ina stared at him, asking for his help with her eyes. She hoped that he would take her side after seeing her so pitiful. However, she had forgotten that the person on her opposite side was Elspeth, the woman whom Callum treasured the most. ¡°ina, I didn¡¯t know you had so many hidden talents.¡± His voice was bitter, and disgust could be seen on his face. ¡°A person with dishonorable behavior doesn¡¯t deserve to stay in thispany. ina, please sign the resignation paperter. For the sake of your career advancement, I won¡¯t make this a big deal, but don¡¯t let me see you again in the future.¡± When ina heard that, her face turned as white as a sheet. F¡¯ck. It¡¯s really the end for me. Only after ina was chased out did Elspeth notice that the woman whom Avery had pulled to the back was sobbing, and many employees gathered around her tofort her, but most of them were women. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . ¡°Why are you crying?¡± The woman cried for too long, making her snivel when she talked. ¡°My husband and I have been together since junior high. After I graduated from there, I stopped studying and worked to pay his school fees and let him continue studying at a good university. He said he¡¯d treat me well, but he still cheated on me in the end¡­¡± After hearing that, Elspeth turned sentimental as well. Chapter 134 Chapter 134 Time had taken away her beauty. Once her husband had met someone more beautiful than her, he would forget about the promises he made to her. After all, a crooked wife was nothingpared to a beautiful maiden. ¡°Cheating is a sin. Why don¡¯t you just get a divorce?¡± Elspeth patted her shoulder and suggested. ¡°How can I? I still have a child waiting for me back at home. I can¡¯t get a divorce for the sake of my child.¡± The woman sighed deeply. Then, she seemed to have remembered something as she stood up. ¡°I still have to get back home and feed my child. Sorry to bother you guys.¡± She smiled kindly. The woman surrounding her sighed and felt pity for the woman to have such a bad marriage. In the end, the man in question said nothing. Once he heard that the woman hade to his office, he ran out and hadn¡¯t even returned. Initially, Elspeth was going to ask Callum to fire this irresponsible man. However, she suppressed the thought since she didn¡¯t want the man¡¯s wife and child to suffer. Once it was over, Elspeth went to the rooftop by herself. Just as she was enjoying some time alone, Callum appeared out of nowhere and sat beside her. ¡°I heard you called me your boyfriend.¡± Never did Elspeth expect that he would have heard her words. At that moment, she blushed and said, ¡°Don¡¯t take it seriously. I said it just to make her go away.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you were serious. Now that everyone knows about it, it would be awkward if you were not my girlfriend.¡± Callum looked at her seriously. His heart was beating wildly as he looked at her flushed face under the sunset. ¡°1-I can¡¯t just ept this.¡± When Callum sensed that Elspeth would agree to be his girlfriend unless he did it the proper way, he chuckled. Then, he found the loophole in her words and asked, ¡°Does that mean you will be mine if I confess my love to you?¡± At that moment, Elspeth was shocked since she didn¡¯t expect Callum to be smart. After all, who wouldn¡¯t want their date to be as decent as possible? Just like that, Elspeth was being dragged outside of thepany. Looking at her stunned expression, Callum snapped his fingers. At that moment, a truck filled with roses slowly stopped in front of her. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. A bouquet of roses would be lovely, but this¡­ Elspeth couldn¡¯t handle it. Looking at the truck, she could only sense wealth rather than the romantic feeling she wished she had felt. Since it was off hours, everyone from thepany was leaving. They were astonished when they saw the truck that was filled with roses. ¡°Dang. I have seen people who gave nine, ny-nine, and nine hundred and ny-nine roses. This is the first time I have ever seen such a scene. I bet there are a million roses in it.¡± ¡°Did you see Mr. Winthrop? Didn¡¯t Mr. Edmund say that they are a couple? I bet he is flirting with his girlfriend. ¡°Of course, it is her. Who would be richer than her?¡± Since Elspeth was just in front of them, she could hear every word they said. At that moment, she felt her lips twitch and was too stunned to speak. Is this romantic? Her expression and reaction were not what he anticipated. Hmm¡­ This is kind of odd. He couldn¡¯t help frowning. Why is it different from what Matthew said? He told me that girls like roses. The more, the better. Thus, I bought every rose I could find in the flower shop. However, judging from her look, she doesn¡¯t look happy. ¡°Don¡¯t you like it?¡± Callum¡¯s heart dropped when he saw her awkward expression. At that moment, Elspeth smiled stiffly. ¡°I love it. This is the first time I had ever seen someone give a girl a whole truck of roses.¡± Hearing her words, Callum thought, Although she looked somewhat weird, she must have liked it. I guess she is still shocked by this surprise. After she snaps out of it, she will be excited and rushed toward me. ¡°If you like it so much, I will give you double the roses than today,¡± he said. At that moment, the smile on Elspeth vanished. ¡°You did well. I prefer that this never happen again.¡± ¡°Why? I thought you liked it?¡± Callum was confused by her words. ¡°Let me ask you something, Callum. How are you going to deal with all these flowers?¡± ¡°We throw it away?¡± he asked. When Elspeth heard his words, she rolled her eyes at him and said, ¡°Throw it all away? Are you wasting your money, Callum?¡° When Callum heard her words, he thought he understood her meaning. Then, he took a card from his wallet and gave it to her. ¡°This is all the money I have. Since you are now my girlfriend, I¡¯ll give it to you.¡¯ Hearing her words, Elspeth was stunned and didn¡¯t react. ¡°I don¡¯t want your card.¡± ¡°Just take it. Sooner orter, the Winthrop Group will be yours too.¡± Although Callum spoke in a low voice, the crowd could still hear it. ¡°Did you hear that? Mr. Winthrop is flitting!¡± ¡°Even a blockhead like him can fall in love, so flitting is nothing.¡± ¡°Money¡¯s not everything, but it sure can buy love.¡± ¡°When will I ever meet such a man like Mr. Winthrop¡­¡¯ ¡°Don¡¯t you daydream about this! Let¡¯s just admire him!¡± ww When Callum heard their conversations, he couldn¡¯t help but smile. Maybe Elspeth is thinking the same thing as them. My actions must have touched her. However, Elspeth felt awkward. Looking at the group of people behind her, she suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t we give them these flowers?¡± Before he could say anything, the crowd was excited. ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Winthrop!¡± When Callum heard the entitlement that they gave to her, he was delighted. As the crowd went to take the roses, Elspeth and Callum stood behind them while nning what to do next. ¡°Should we drop by the hospital and visit your father?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for that.¡± Callum shook his head. ¡°Edmund just went there. He told me he would take care of Dad for the time being.¡± talked about Edmund, he did not seem troubled like he used to. ¡°He told me that I have to take care of thepany so that he would take care of the family.¡± After hearing his words, Elspeth felt that Edmund had matured since he had helped her during the meeting, given her his ce, and helped take care of Theodore. ¡°Where are we going then? Back home?¡± Immediately, Callum¡¯s eyes darkened as he spoke. ¡°We¡¯ll find Arthur for an exnation.¡± Chapter 135 Chapter 135 At that moment, Elspeth was shocked. ¡°Arthur? Have you asked him?¡± ¡°I just called and told him to meet up at 7.00PM, and he agreed.¡± Since Elspeth didn¡¯t know what Arthur was up to, she was nervous. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you. It would be safer that way.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Then, Callum drove Elspeth to where they agreed to meet-a caf¨¦ near thepany. Although Arthur was low profile and wore sunsses, the duo still spotted him as soon as they entered the caf¨¦. When they walked toward him, they saw that he had prepared two coffees on the table. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Callum? Is there anything you need?¡± Hearing his words, Elspeth smirked coldly and said, ¡°Don¡¯t you think you are being hypocritical at times like this, Arthur?¡± ¡°Hypocritical? Don¡¯t judge me. Elspeth. If I am a hypocrite, what does that make Mr. Winthrop?¡± As Arthur spoke, he sipped his coffee and smiled faintly. When Callum heard his words, his eyes darkened. Then, he looked at Arthur coldly as he said. ¡°Don¡¯t you know what kind of a person Dad is when you have spent so much time with him, Arthur?¡± ¡°I have never doubted him. However, everyone knows that you are his favorite, Callum. Thus, you don¡¯t have to pretend to be the good guy here. It makes me look like I am ungrateful. Do you think this is funny, Callum?¡± Arthur spat out. His usual gentle look was gone, and he was filled with hatred. ¡°Do you really think Dad likes me more, Arthur?¡± asked Callum. Arthur was annoyed with this subject. ¡°What do you think? He gives you all the money, and I can¡¯t even work in thepany. Howe I can¡¯t get it when even Edmund, that stupid fellow, is allowed to?¡± ¡°You should me yourself?¡± Elspeth¡¯s words made Arthur lose his mind. ¡°What do you mean by that? Should I me myself? Why should I take the me when he is the one who favors the others?¡± ¡°If you weren¡¯t a hypocrite and said that you wanted to save lives, Mr. Winthrop wouldn¡¯t have encouraged you to be a doctor. If you aren¡¯t meek, which is not suitable in apany filled with decention he wouldn¡¯t have stonned you from working in the cam wv Did w think that so that he could be the perfect heir. He had worked hard to gain what he had earned. Do you know all these? No, you don¡¯t. All you think about is that he had taken everything away from you. How arrogant of you to think this about him,¡± said Elspeth. When investigating Callum and his sweetheart, she checked about his childhood. That was why she could understand Theodore¡¯s feelings and hated Arthur¡¯s presumption when she found out about Callum¡¯s childhood. ¡°Whatever you say. It doesn¡¯t matter anyway since I now work for the Alphascape Group. We are enemies now.¡± Then, Arthur stood up. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. Please excuse me as I have a meeting to attend.¡± At this moment, Callum, who had been silent throughout the whole conversation,mented, ¡°You are immature, Arthur.¡± When Arthur heard his words, he stiffened. Then, he smiled and said, ¡°Whatever.¡± After he had left, Elspeth coaxed Callum when she saw that he was unhappy. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°I hope so too. However, with Arthur¡¯s personality, he would surely pick a bone with the Winthrop Group. I¡¯m afraid there will be a tough battle for thepany.¡± Although Arthur had an extreme personality, he was gifted in business. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have managed the hospital in excellent condition. If he were to work for Alphascape, it would be a challenge for the Winthrop Group. ¡°Have you told Mrs. Winthrop about Mr. Winthrop¡¯s illness yet?¡± Callum was gloomy when he heard her words. ¡°I didn¡¯t have to say anything. Since Max can¡¯t keep secrets to himself, Mom would have already known about it. Moreover, she might have met up with Arthur before.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go and take a look at the hospital.¡± After discussing it for a moment, they decide to visit Theodore at the hospital. When they entered the ward, they saw Margot sobbing by the bed. Meanwhile, ke and Edmund were standing beside with grim expressions. When Margot saw Elspeth and Callum, she cried, ¡°Why is my life so difficult, Callum?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mom. Just forget about him. It¡¯s not worth it to cry over someone as worthless as him.¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. ¡°I always thought he would see me as a mother if I treated him well. For all these years, I had kept him away from knowing his identity, but he still found out in the end-¡± Margot wiped her tears and gave a hup. ¡°I know. He has his pride, so he won¡¯t be able to ept the truth any time. That was why he was blinded with hatred. However, it¡¯s fine. I will talk to him about it.¡± Margot nodded. At that moment, the others sneaked nces at each other and smiled bitterly. After all, how would Margot be able tomunicate with Arthur when he blocked everyone out of his heart? However, since Margot wasn¡¯t well, none of them said anything to her. In the end, Margot wanted to keep Theodorepany, so Edmund stayed back. Initially, ke wanted to stay too, but Callum was done with his contract. Hence, as long as Elspeth led him to Luminous Entertainment, he would be able to debut again, then he wouldn¡¯t have the time to take care of Theodore. To prevent anything from happening, Elspeth decided to take ke to Luminous herself. She would be able to prevent anyone from exposing her identity. As for Callum, he returned to thepany after realizing he had some things to do. On the way to Luminous, Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but ask when she saw ke in a daze. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you?¡± ke took a deep breath and said, ¡°I feel worthless. I can¡¯t do anything straight. I mean, I needed you to get me a job.¡± ¡°What are you talking about, superstar?¡± Elspeth smiled and rolled her eyes at him. ¡°I¡¯m still waiting for you to be famous and earn millions for Luminous. Don¡¯t you dare say anything bad about yourself?¡± Listening to her words, ke was flustered. Just as he was about to say something, he suddenly realized something was off in her words. Then, he asked in confusion, ¡°What do you mean by making money for Luminous? What is going on between you and Luminous, Elspeth?¡± At that moment, Elspeth realized that she had let words slip out of her tongue. Then, her smile stiffened. ¡°It¡¯s not what you think it is. I¡¯m sure you know that Luminous belongs to Azure Corporation. Hence, Harper told me that she would give me a bonus when herpany profited. That is why I wished that Luminous would be working well. There¡¯s nothing wrong with that.¡± However, ke was not satisfied with her words. ¡°Elspeth, don¡¯t tell me that¡­ you are the president of Azure Corporation.¡± Chapter 136 Chapter 136 At that moment, Elspeth frowned and looked at him seriously. ¡°What makes you think that? Have you ever seen such an idle president like me?¡± Although her words were simple, it was the truth. At that moment, ke trusted her and was back to being depressed. ¡°When we arrive at thepany, you might encounter Timothy. I hope that you will be in your best condition. After all, he has a strange personality, so¡­¡± Although Elspeth didn¡¯t finish her words, ke knew what she meant. Suddenly, he was anxious. When they arrived at thepany, Elspeth found it funny that everyone was holding back from greeting her. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. After all, she had just called Harper and told her to inform her employees to act like they didn¡¯t know her. She was happy with the result. Then, she took ke to the office, where the acting president of Luminous was waiting for them. When the acting president saw Elspeth, he widened his eyes before he started stammering. ¡°W-What do you want?¡± Since he was being informed not to say her entitlement, the acting president didn¡¯t know what to call her. On the other hand, Elspeth felt her lips twitch when she heard his words since he sounded unweing. ¡°This is a new talent that I found for the Luminous. I¡¯m sure you know him, right?¡± Looking at ke¡¯s face, the acting president nodded his head furiously and said, ¡°Yes. Isn¡¯t he ke?¡± For the past few months, ke had been focusing on starring in a movie. However, his work had not been published, so he wasn¡¯t as famous as when he debuted. At that moment, most people thought he had left the industry and asked about his condition on Twitter. Since ke rarely looked at his Twitter ount, he had lost many of his fans. Just like that, an A-lister was being downgraded to a B-lister because he was shooting a movie. However, the acting president knew that ke was just in his twenties and was in the phase of starting out. Plus, he would have great potential since his acting, looks, and voice were incredible. ¡°I¡¯ll get the procedure done, so he can be one of us.¡± The president seemed like¡­ he was fawning. This was the first impression that ke had about the acting president. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± ke initially thought he would need to pass a primary interview, like asking about his conditions or going through some training. ¡°Don¡¯t I have training or an interview?¡± he asked. Hearing his words, the acting president nodded his head thoughtfully and said, ¡°Technically speaking, you should.¡± After he had finished his words, he saw Elspeth¡¯s serious expression and quickly changed his words. ¡°However, you don¡¯t have to do these things since you must have experienced it in your formerpany.¡± The acting president chuckled and seemed to let ke do whatever he wanted. At that moment, ke was stunned and felt like it was a dream. When Elspeth heard his words, she nodded in satisfaction. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, you should stay in the company, ke. I remember Mr. Stevens doesn¡¯t have anyone on his hands, right? Hence, let him train ke.¡± Hearing her words, the acting president slightly opened his mouth and said, ¡°Mr. Stevens¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± The acting president recalled what Timothy had done in thepany recently and felt nervous. Lately, thepany¡¯s talents have been stressed out because of him. I can¡¯t understand why he wanted to have special training for each of them. It is tiring and hard to follow. Many of them had told me about it. However, I can¡¯t do anything since Elspeth brought Timothy in. All I could say was that I was just following orders. However, this is the second person that Elspeth had brought in. I wonder if these two will fight¡­ ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I will contact Mr. Stevens right away!¡± Soon, Timothy picked up the call and headed downstairs. He seemed busy as he was talking on the phone while walking. Although he spoke in a low voice, his words were cruel. ¡°I have said this before. If he can take it, then let him stay. Otherwise, kick him out of the group. I don¡¯t want to hear that they are tired. After all, everyone is tired; he isn¡¯t special. He is an employee if he stays in thepany, not some superstar. There is no reason for him to bezy. Oh, be sure to train the newbie. He has potential.¡± When he saw Elspeth, he hung up the phone and smiled teasingly. ¡°You¡¯re here, Elspeth.¡± Although he didn¡¯t say anything, Elspeth could tell from his eyes that he was watching a show. Does everyone have nothing to do? ¡°Hello, Mr. Stevens. I need you to train him. Can you train him and be his agent?¡± Technically speaking, Timothy would ept Elspeth¡¯s proposal since she had given him a job and saved his wife. However, he had aplicated expression when he eyed ke up and down. ¡°ke?¡± ¡°Hello, Mr. Stevens.¡± ke nodded his head politely. ¡°I am very strict when ites to training. No matter how sessful you are, you have to start all over. Although I may not look fierce, you will have a tough life if you were to follow me. Can you do that?¡± When Elspeth heard her words, she almost burst outughing. Oh, did he just say that? Come on, whom is he trying to trick? ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I can handle it.¡± ke smiled. ¡°Good. Thene with me to the training room as I test your abilities.¡± After Timothy talked to ke, he looked at Elspeth and smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll be taking him away. I¡¯ll treat you to a meal if he has great potential.¡± ¡°No problem,¡± replied Elspeth as she raised her chin. When the duo left, the acting president turned back to his usual self and asked, ¡°Why don¡¯t you want the others to know your real identity, Miss Lynwood?¡± Everyone, including him, thought about this before and never knew why. Hearing his words, Elspeth pursed her lips. Just as she was about to say something, a voice cut her off. ¡°Elspeth.¡± When Elspeth turned around and saw Callum, her heart skipped a beat. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Callum walked up to her side and gave her some takeout. ¡°I was just done with work. I¡¯m here to take you home.¡± ¡°You must be Mr. Winthrop. I have heard a lot of things about you. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you.¡± When the acting president saw Callum, he knew that this man had a close rtionship with Elspeth. Hence, he praised Callum and talked highly about Elspeth. However, he seemed to have said the wrong things since Callum hated small talk. Before he called out to Elspeth, he had seen the acting president standing close to her with a lewd smile. In that split second, Callum thought he would do something terrible to Elspeth and had a wrong impression. ¡°You¡¯re wee, Mr. Dainsel. However, it is hypocritical of you to say such words.¡± The acting president, Rowley Dainsel, didn¡¯t know what to say when he heard the sarcasm in Callum¡¯s tone. This is an unexpected oue! Rowley thought. However, he didn¡¯t seem to sense that Callum was jealous and thought he was just a cold. Then, he tried to change the subject by saying, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing more to say, I¡¯ll take my leave. Please take care, Miss Lynwood.¡± When Callum heard his words, he was unhappy. ¡°Why are you caring so much about my girlfriend?¡± Chapter 137 Chapter 137 Elspeth realized that Callum was jealous when she saw how displeased he looked, which made her chuckle. ¡°Callum, you¡¯re acting like a child.¡± He had always looked like a grown mature man who asionally showed his nasty side, but she never expected him to act childishly and argue with her as a child would. ¡°Follow me home.¡± Callum was even more annoyed when he saw Elspeth¡¯s smirk and pulled her away without excusing themselves. However, the acting president didn¡¯t mind at all, and all he could think of was they were a couple. He never expected the aromantic Elspeth to finally get herself a boyfriend who turned out to be the president of Winthrop Group. I might be the one with first-hand information. With a smile on his face, he walked around and spread the news throughout thepany. On the other hand, as soon as Elspeth and Callum got into the car, the atmosphere suddenly became tense. ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with that person?¡± Callum asked coldly while he grabbed onto the steering wheel. Hearing that, Elspeth wanted to rify that the man was just her subordinate but realized that it didn¡¯t sound right, so she came up with another reason. ¡°He¡¯s just a friend whom I met when I was overseas. Turns out he¡¯s the president of thepany. What a coincidence!¡± Elspeth lied nonchntly. She was bold enough to do so, as Callum wasn¡¯t able to get any information on her since she had covered up all information. ¡°Seems like you have a lot of friends from different age groups.¡± Callum¡¯s tone was chilly, and it sounded daunting. ¡°Nah, it¡¯s mainly because I¡¯m sociable, so it¡¯s normal that I have a lot of friends.¡± Elspethughed dryly. ¡°In that case, you should teach me how to make friends.¡± Callum was annoyed at the thought of the majority of Elspeth¡¯s friends being male. She imed that she isn¡¯t a men¡¯s ma, but why are most of her friends male? ¡°There is no need to. Given your personality, anyone would be terrified if you tried to befriend them.¡± Since Callum had a callous personality, most people would be fearful of him. ¡°So, what do you mean?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Elspeth pretended to not understand. Seeing how she was ying dumb, Callum suddenly pressed a button next to the front passenger seat, and the car seat was fully reclined at the press of the button. Elspeth suddenly fell back on the reclined seat due to inertia, and it happened so suddenly that it startled her. The next second, Callum got on top of her, and he got so close that she could feel his breath in her ears. There was an amorous vibe between them. ¡°What are you doing?¡± she asked. ¡°You tell me,¡± he whispered back into her ears while grabbing onto her hand to stop her from moving. Elspeth¡¯s face was flushed, and she avoided his gaze. ¡°You¡¯re the wise and mighty Callum, and anyone would like to be your friend, including me¡ª¡± Before she could finish her words, her lips were sealed with a kiss. However, it wasn¡¯t the romantic kiss that she was expecting. Instead, it was a forceful one where Callum bit and sucked on her lips roughly. ¡°C-Callum?¡± Is he a beast? In the end, he finally let go of her. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. ¡°Tell me. Would you want to be my friend?¡± His voice was hoarse after all the kissing. Hearing that, Elspeth gulped as she knew that she shouldn¡¯t be messing with him anymore. ¡°I don¡¯t want to,¡± she answered honestly. However, Callum wasn¡¯t that pleased about her answer and gently brushed her lips with his thumb to wipe off the saliva. ¡°Then you should keep a distance from other men because I don¡¯t like it.¡± ¡°But we mostly meet about work. I never meet them in private.¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯te to terms with that. Although Callum was jealous, he was still rational. Despite being displeased about it, hepromised. ¡°You can¡¯t get in touch with other men for anything besides work-rted matters.¡± Briefly after, he suddenly recalled something and added, ¡°That applies to ke too.¡± ¡°He¡¯s your younger brother. What are you afraid of?¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t fathom it. ¡°He¡¯s my brother and not yours, so just keep a distance from him.¡± Elspeth nodded. Her eyes were flickering, and her lips were slightly red from being kissed. Callum was enticed, but he held back his urge. With that, both of them drove home amidst the awkwardness. Since the nanny was on leave and Max was still in school, there was no one at home. Noticing that, Callum looked over at Elspeth and smirked suggestively. ¡°It¡¯s just the two of us.¡± ¡°I¡¯m hungry. I¡¯ll go cook something.¡± Elspeth took a step back. ¡°You can cook?¡± Callum looked at her with disbelief. ¡°How can I not know how to cook when I¡¯ve been living overseas by myself for so many years? I can cook with whatever ingredients I have.¡± She chuckled. ¡°Are you a good cook?¡± He looked at her earnestly. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± She was stunned, and her face was blushing. ¡°What¡¯s your signature?¡± He suddenly had a bad feeling after seeing her reaction. ¡°Mac and cheese,¡± she replied after giving it some thought. Callum was lost for words as it seemed like a simple dish to make. However, he wasn¡¯t in a position to choose. He nodded in agreement as his stomach couldn¡¯t stop grumbling. With that, she went into the kitchen and started cooking. Not long after, she came out with two bowls of mac and cheese. The macaroni looked burnt, and it didn¡¯t look appetizing. Seeing how Elspeth was anticipating him to taste it, he was too embarrassed to reject it and took up a spoon to taste it. It tastes¡­ horrible. ¡°It tastes pretty good,¡± he said. ¡°You¡¯re the first one who praised my cooking! If you like it, I¡¯m willing to cook for you every day.¡± She was surprised to hear his verdict. He was overwhelmed at the thought of it, but it indeed sounded romantic. Elspeth¡¯s eyes were flickering under the lights, making Callum¡¯s heart pound. He suddenly stretched his arm out and pulled her into his arms. The mood became amorous as he held the back of her head and slowly leaned in for a kiss. Just before their lips met, the lights on the second floor were switched on, and Max was wide- eyed when he saw the scene in front of him. ¡°I didn¡¯t see anything!¡± Then you should keep your eyes shut! Elspeth¡¯s face was red hot from embarrassment. She pushed Callum away and took a few steps back. ¡°Nothing happened in the first ce¡ª¡± Callum, on the other hand, let out a few coughs embarrassedly as he looked at Max, who was standing on the second floor. ¡°Are you hungry?¡± He tried to change the topic. Hearing that, Max immediately nodded and walked down the stairs. As he looked at the odd-looking mac and cheese, he mumbled, ¡°I¡¯m hungry, so I came out to look for food.¡± After taking a bite, he immediately spat the food out. ¡°Oh my gosh, what is this? Is it even edible?¡± Elspeth, who was standing behind him, instantly forgot about the embarrassment from earlier on, and her expression turned grave. Chapter 138 Chapter 138 ¡°Max, I¡¯ll give you another chance to think about what you said,¡± Elspeth muttered. Callum felt sad for Max as he saw her about to lose her anger. Max¡¯s contorted smile faded as Elspeth¡¯s expression turned thunderous, effectively showing her anger. ¡°I didn¡¯t intend it that way, Miss Elspeth¡­¡± Max chuckled with embarrassment as he was afraid Elspeth would p him. ¡°Is it that bad?¡± she asked after taking a long breath. Max couldn¡¯t betray himself by telling a white lie, so he could only try to respond politely, ¡°No, but I think it can be better¡­¡± Come on. It means it¡¯s dreadful. Elspeth felt a twinge of sadness. She grew even more depressed as she remembered Callum¡¯s praise earlier. Callum did it tofort me. Despite his cold and indifferent exterior, he is rather kind. ¡°It¡¯s delicious. Don¡¯t believe his nonsense.¡± Callum couldn¡¯t stand by while his girlfriend¡¯s mouth was turned downward into a pout. ¡°He meant that the vor is not horrible, and he will finish it,¡± he answered while coldly staring at Max. Max wanted to cry when he heard that. When did I say that? However, as Callum¡¯s stare became more aggressive, Max relented and nodded like a woodpecker. ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯m going to finish this te, Miss Elspeth.¡± Only then did Elspeth nod in satisfaction. As a result, Max could only eat egg fried rice with resigned sorrow at the dinner table. Not long after, Elspeth yawned and was about to return to her room as she felt sleepy. She stood up and returned to her room. However, Callum did not leave. When he saw the pitiful Max, he pulled out a card and tossed it to him. Max raised his head and nced at Callum as if he didn¡¯t understand what he was doing. ¡°Take it,¡± Callum responded quietly. ¡°If you wish, you can buy the racing car you mentionedst time.¡± Max suddenly felt that the egg fried rice in front of him was unbelievably tasty. It¡¯s merely a bowl of egg fried rice. I¡¯ll put up with that for the limited-edition racing car! Then, he eagerly worked hard to finish the dishes. Elspeth discovered Max was instantly docile after she awoke the next day. He was even bing submissive. As such, she thought Max had brain damage from the egg fried ricest night. It was Wednesday. Elspeth suddenly remembered Yelena¡¯s request, so she warily asked Max, ¡°By the way, are you free today?¡± ¡°This week is a holiday, and I¡¯m free today,¡± he replied frankly. She nodded. ¡°Can you apany me somewhere?¡± Max was taken aback when he heard that. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Elspeth was afraid that if Max knew the location, he would decline the invitation, so she kept it a secret for the time being. ¡°You¡¯ll know when you get there. For the time being, I¡¯ll keep it a secret. You should clean up and dress nicely.¡± However, he frowned at that. ¡°Are you setting me up on a blind date? I¡¯m not interested.¡± Max couldn¡¯t even legally get married yet. Therefore, he would never go on a blind date. Elspeth¡¯s lips twitched as she wondered what had brought him to that conclusion. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. This isn¡¯t a blind date.¡± I¡¯m going to give you a girlfriend. Although he felt strange, he was still willing to go because he received such a big favor from Callum last night. Max took Elspeth¡¯s advice and dressed up a little. He changed into a casual gray suit and wore his cologne, and his elegance instantly improved. He was already attractive, with a brave and strong personality. Hence, he looked even better in the suit. She was pleased with Max¡¯s appearance and drove him and Callum to the Sullivan Residence. Max felt agitated at the entryway when he realized they had arrived at the Sullivan Residence. He turned to nce at Elspeth and ruefully questioned, ¡°Why are we here?¡± Elspeth only said with a smile, ¡°Today is Yelena¡¯s birthday. You¡¯re pals with her brother, so put up with it.¡± ¡°You know I don¡¯t get along with Yelena, so you¡¯re making it difficult for me.¡± ¡°Max, you¡¯ve arrived. If you argue with me, I will p you in front of everyone.¡± Elspeth was smiling, but her words were as cold as ice. Max looked to Callum for assistance. However, Callum looked at him indifferently. As a result, he felt helpless and said nothing further. Yelena greeted them at the entrance and was pleased to see Max approaching. ¡°Max, you¡¯ve arrived!¡± Max snorted bitterly since he still remembered her being intimate with her delinquent lover and didn¡¯t want to talk to her. ¡°You now have a boyfriend. We should maintain our distance.¡± He took a step back to put some distance between himself and Yelena. She was perplexed when she heard that. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Almost immediately, she burst outughing as she remembered something. ¡°Are you referring to Finn? He¡ª¡± Before she couldplete her sentence, a man in ck jeans put his arm around her shoulders and smiled. ¡°What are you doing here, Yelena? I thought I lost you.¡± She sighed and rolled her eyes. ¡°Can¡¯t you be gentler, Finn? I feel like you¡¯re striking me every time you do this.¡± ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. ¡°I would never do that! When I punch someone at school, I am not this nice.¡± They were chatting merrily. Meanwhile, Max realized he was an outsider, so he went into the residence with Callum. Elspeth stayed behind. She giggled when she saw Elspeth and Finn hugging, knowing Max was unaware of their rtionship. ¡°You can¡¯t do this if you like Max,¡± she stated. Yelena was taken aback. ¡°Finn is my cousin. Max is not aware for now, but I¡¯ll notify him.¡± Elspeth shook her head as she stared at the lonely Max. ¡°I believe he¡¯s in shock. You should notify him as soon as possible.¡± Yelena pouted. ¡°I intended to say it earlier but never got around to it. I¡¯m not sure why.¡± Finn¡¯s eyes glowed with a tinge of darkness. He smiled as he caressed Yelena¡¯s head and inquired, ¡°Shall we return? The celebration is about to begin.¡± Nodding, Yelena entered the residence. The Sullivans were a respectable family. The Konig passed down the family line and their forefathers came from affluent families. Although ina¡¯s father came from a family branch with a business in Damoria, their riches and prestige were not equal to Yelena¡¯s. In other words, ina was different from Yelena. Because it was Yelena¡¯sing-of-age party, the birthday party was exceptionally grand. Elspeth strolled among the crowd while greeting familiar faces. When she became tired of walking, she sneaked to a corner to take off her heels to rest. Soon after, she noticed a familiar figure approaching. Chapter 139 Chapter 139 ¡°Miss Lynwood, it¡¯s been a while. How have you beentely?¡± Jordan¡¯s speech retained its carefree tone as if nothing in the world was worth his time. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Mr. Carr. I believe you are overly concerned about me.¡± Although Jordan had no ulterior purpose for Elspeth, his look suggested an impure motive. ¡°It¡¯s something I¡¯ve said before. I respect you, so it¡¯s natural for me to be concerned about you.¡± Jordan laughed and moved in closer. ¡°If you insist on a reason, it¡¯s because I adore you.¡± Elspeth was terrified when she peered into his beaming eyes. ¡°There are a lot ofdies in the world. Why can¡¯t you just let me go?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about not letting you go. It is because you have something I like.¡± Jordan swirled the wine ss in his palm, feeling rather happy. ¡°You know I¡¯ve been missing you for a long time.¡± Elspeth was anxious, but she didn¡¯t want to say anything too harsh because they were in public. ¡°I¡¯m not sure how you feel about me, but I don¡¯t like the vibe you give me.¡± Jordan shook his head. ¡°You¡¯ll like it someday.¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t answer and didn¡¯t want to, so she lowered her head and sipped her drink. After some time, she felt hot and went to the open-air balcony to get some fresh air. It was winter and the air was so chilly that it made one¡¯s heart shiver. Elspeth drew her plush coat closer to her body as her nose turned bright red from the cold. However, the confusion in her head was relieved. Before she could react, she heard quiet sobs and a man speaking from the corner. Elspeth recognized the two voices, so she held her ground and leaned in to listen to them. ¡°Can you exin why you¡¯re rejecting me, Max?¡± Yelena lowered her head and sobbed softly as she was afraid of drawing attention to herself if she cried too loudly. Her makeup was also in disarray due to her tears, yet she still looked cute. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I told you I don¡¯t care about you. Plus, you already have a boyfriend. You¡¯re a dreadful two-timer!¡± It was obvious that Max had misunderstood something, which was why his words were so cruel. ¡°No! Finn is not my lover. He¡¯s my cousin!¡± Max was taken aback. He had not anticipated such a rtionship. Indeed, Yelena did not appear to be such a free spirit. She would be unable to hug boys other than her cousin. In a hurry, she exined, ¡°He is my aunt¡¯s son and my cousin. Although he and I have a wonderful rtionship, it is not what you assume.¡± Max was bing very embarrassed. His mood significantly improved after he realized he had misunderstood. ¡°I got it.¡± He couldn¡¯t exhibit his happiness publicly because it wasn¡¯t like him. As a result, he could only nod to indicate that he understood. ¡°Are you now my boyfriend?¡± Regardless of how foolish Yelena was, she could perceive a difference in Max¡¯s mood and attitude. She smiled through tears and her eyes sparkled as she sought his approval. She deserved to be a star. She looked beautiful when she smiled after professional training. Elspeth quietly sighed as she watched from the sidelines. Max couldn¡¯t bear it, no matter how oblivious he was. Sure enough, Max flushed immediately. ¡°I said no such thing. Don¡¯t say anything stupid!¡± ¡°Oh, please. You mentioned something previously. You said you got it. What did you get? You can see my feelings for you. Doesn¡¯t that imply you ept my confession?¡± Yelena was the best at arguing. Max couldn¡¯t win against her, so his gaze darted around before deciding to flee. She held him back anxiously, knowing he was about to flee. Due to inertia, she fell on him the very next second. Max was taken aback because he had never experienced anything like that before. ¡°What exactly are you doing, Yelena?¡± Yelena touched her forehead in pain. It turned out that she had mmed against his chin hard. Why does this guy have such a strong jaw?! ¡°All I wanted was to stop you from leaving. Falling on you was an ident¡­¡± Yelena stroked her arms and prepared to stand. The next second, she stepped on her long skirt and slipped. She then tripped over him once more. Max could feel his bones cracking but as the girl on him was innocent, he could only clench his teeth and swallow his pain. ¡°Alright. Just get up right now.¡± He would surely be paralyzed if she kept pressing on him. ¡°Okay¡­¡± Yelena got up, filled with remorse. However, she slipped again,nding on him for the third time. It was an absurd fall. This time, their lips unconsciously touched. Yelena widened her eyes. Max didn¡¯t want to give her another chance to justify herself. He clenched his teeth as he stared angrily at the perpetrator on his body. ¡°Yelena Sullivan, what are you up to?!¡± Yelena swallowed as she felt Max¡¯s rage. ¡°It was just a coincidence!¡± Yelena got shoved aside before she could exin herself. Max straightened up and wiped the dust from his clothes. ¡°Did you realize that was my first kiss?!¡± Yelena expressed her scorn in a low voice as she observed him acting as though he had been vited. ¡°That was also my first kiss. Why should youin when I didn¡¯t?¡± Max flushed as he locked gazes with her. When he realized no one else was around, he abruptly ended his conversation with her and walked away. It was as if he were fleeing. Yelena¡¯s grin was silly as she caressed her lips. He ims it¡¯s his first kiss, which means I stole his first kiss. That¡¯s fantastic! She then walked off with light steps. From the other side, Elspeth noticed the girl skipping away. She couldn¡¯t help but smile knowingly. She saw everything. ¡°I saw everything.¡± Jordan arrived out of nowhere and spoke jokingly to Elspeth¡¯s side profile. At that moment, Elspeth had the impression that someone had just voiced out her thoughts. When she saw Jordan¡¯s weird smile, she sensed that something was off. ¡°What exactly do you want?¡± He shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t want anything. I¡¯d only like to speak briefly about what I witnessed and heard earlier. Didn¡¯t you notice it as well?¡± Elspeth was suspicious since she knew he was referring to Max and Yelena¡¯s interaction. ¡°So what if I happened to see it?¡± Chapter 140 Chapter 140 ¡°Nothing. However, it will be a different story when a reporter sees it. If memory serves, Yelena is building a pure and innocent image. Her career will be shattered if her fans discover she has a crush and has even kissed someone.¡± Jordan then continued as he seemingly remembered something, ¡°Yelena invited not just her friends but several celebrities. With so many people around, everyone has the potential to propagate misinformation. What¡¯s the difference?¡± ¡°However, we were the only ones who witnessed it. Nobody else will know if you keep your mouth shut.¡± Elspeth was upset when she heard the threat, so she spoke bluntly. ¡°Could it be that you wish to take advantage of Yelena? I¡¯m sure you¡¯re too preupied for that.¡± Jordan lifted his brows when he heard that. ¡°Do you believe I¡¯m that kind of person?¡± ¡°Of course not. I hope you can consider this seriously.¡± Then, he chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s amusing that such an intelligent woman as you can¡¯t grasp what I¡¯m saying.¡± Elspeth frowned at that. ¡°What exactly do you mean?¡± Jordan shook his head before leaning close to her ear and whispering, ¡°Others were peeking, too.¡± Elspeth quickly understood the situation. Jordan was trying to remind her of the reporter. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, the person was carrying a camera and snapped many pictures,¡± Jordan said. ¡°If my guess is correct, Yelena should be making the headlines tomorrow.¡± Elspeth¡¯s expression turned icy as she asked, ¡°Did you get a good look at the reporter?¡± Jordan took a breather before smiling. ¡°That is something I cannot reveal. If you want to find out, trade with me.¡± Frowning, she muttered, ¡°What can I give you in exchange?¡± ¡°Come to mypany and I¡¯ll make you vice president.¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. She declined it without hesitation. ¡°It¡¯s not possible. I¡¯m not going to quit my existing employment.¡± ¡°Then you¡¯ll never receive an answer from me,¡± Jordan murmured while spreading his palms. Then, he swirled his ss and turned to go. ¡°The deal is off. I hope you can find another solution.¡± Elspeth did not intervene and let him go. Jordan will always coerce me if I ept his bargain when he has dirt on me. As for what may happen tomorrow¡­ It should be fine as long as we perform some damage control. Elspeth sighed and was going to return to locate Callum, but someone stopped her. She was preupied and didn¡¯t want to talk to the person, but the individual in front of her refused to go even after she respectfully asked them to do so. She looked up and discovered that it was ina, who had been sacked from thepany two days before. ina looked well-off despite being sacked from the organization. Even if she didn¡¯t have a job as a corporate director, she was still a Sullivan. Her life was nothing if not luxurious. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, Elspeth.¡± ina could keep her cool better than Ophelia. Previously, she would have immediately pped the woman. Elspeth didn¡¯t mind and forced a grin when she noticed ina¡¯s arrogant expression. ¡°Miss Sullivan, if there¡¯s nothing else, please excuse me. Obedient dogs do not cause problems.¡± She didn¡¯t want to interact with ina in any way. ina¡¯s face became crimson with rage as she heard that. ¡°Who are you calling a dog?! Elspeth Lynwood, I assure you that you will regret how you have treated me!¡± With that, ina took several deep breaths to calm herself down. Elspeth only gave her a chilly stare. ¡°Suit yourself.¡± ina scoffed when she saw Elspeth¡¯s tenacity. ¡°Elspeth, aren¡¯t you curious as to why, despite your exnation, Arthur believes in Alphascape and not you?¡± Elspeth was about to leave but she came to a halt when she heard those words. ¡°How much do you know?¡± ina arrogantly raised her chin and continued, ¡°I said you¡¯d regret how you treated me. I¡¯m presently working with Alphascape. Therefore, I¡¯m well-versed in this topic. Do you want me to tell you something?¡± ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll apologize in panic and beg you to tell me the truth after hearing that?¡± ina¡¯s mouth was agape because she did have such thoughts. ¡°ina, you¡¯re too na?ve. I¡¯ll look into it myself and my findings will be more extensive and comprehensive than what you know.¡± Elspeth pursed her lips, then added as she remembered something, ¡°But I must thank you. I wouldn¡¯t have known Alphascape was behind it if it hadn¡¯t been for you.¡± ina flushed as she realized she had done something silly yet again. I came specifically to be humiliated. ¡°Don¡¯t be too pretentious!¡± She threw Elspeth a nasty re, knowing she couldn¡¯t win the argument verbally. Meanwhile, Elspeth did not feel better despite being out in the open for so long. Her dizziness didn¡¯t go away, so she returned to find a ce to rx. ina did not stop her or say anything after seeing Elspeth was ufortable. She took a step back and watched Elspeth walk away shakily. Then, she triumphantly smiled discreetly behind Elspeth¡¯s back. My drug is colorless, odorless, and longsting. Anyyperson would have missed it. Even though Elspeth is clever, she can¡¯t help but drink at a friend¡¯s party. As a result, she is bound to unwind. I just directed an attendant to take her to a specific room. If she goes in, a few men will be waiting for her. At that time, she¡¯ll be doomed! ina felt triumphant in the face of Elspeth¡¯s awful situation. She returned to the party and pretended to be unconcerned to prevent suspicion from others. On the other hand, Elspeth was about to locate a room to rest in when an attendant appeared out of nowhere and guided her into a room. As a result, an rm went off in her head. All of this is far too coincidental. If I¡¯m not mistaken, I¡¯m being drugged. However, I must not alert the enemy, or I will not know who is responsible. As a result, Elspeth feigned to agree. When the attendant was not looking, she quietly took an antidote from her little pouch and ate it to get rid of the drug in her system. After that, she held her forehead in her palm to appear dizzy and let the attendant escort her upstairs. Elspeth had been to Yelena¡¯s house before but was unfamiliar with theyout. However, the attendant was worse than she was since he took her almost everywhere as he looked for the correct location. They eventually came to a halt in front of a room. Elspeth offered a weak smile. ¡°I appreciate you bringing me here. You can continue your work and leave me alone if there is nothing else.¡± The attendant nodded and left afterpleting his duty of guiding her to a room. Elspeth knocked on the door. The door was unlocked but there was no response from within. And so, she took a deep breath and gently pushed the door inward. Chapter 141 Chapter 141 It was pitch ck inside and there were no lights on. As a result, there was a strange and tranquil mood. Elspeth was taken aback but her expression remained calm. She reached out and turned on the lights. She was preparing to investigate to find out the perpetrator when she heard a muffled sound not far away. She could hear the words because it was quiet. ¡°I told you that was my limit. Please don¡¯t force me to drink anymore¡­¡± Elspeth recognized the voice and thought she had heard it before. The person on the bed immediately twisted sideways and she heard a rolling sound. I believe someone drank too much and is now napping here. Is ina attempting to drug me and send me to a drunk person so we can sleep together and damage my reputation? While quietly viewing the situation from the sidelines, Elspeth criticized ina¡¯s nasty style of doing things. There was no smell in the room save for a faint scent of roses. It meant that the individual in the bed was having a good night¡¯s sleep and was not under the influence of drugs. Elspeth turned on her phone light to shine on the man¡¯s face, fearing this was a trap. Her expression turned thunderous the next second. It turned out that it was Hex, Yelena¡¯s brother, who was syed out on the bed. The re of the light on Hex¡¯s face didn¡¯t bother him. He smacked his lips as if eating a delicacy in his dreams. ¡°Hex, you¡¯re so pitiful! Today is your sister¡¯s birthday and yet, you¡¯repletely drunk.¡± Look at his silly appearance. No matter how lustful Hex is, he is unlikely to have the courage to hurt me. Furthermore, his family despises ina¡¯s family. Thus, they will not coborate. What exactly is going on? Before Elspeth could figure it out, a scream pierced the air. The very next second, there were hasty footsteps outside. As the crowd grewrger, Elspeth was able to creep out while no one was looking. It would be challenging to clear her name if it was discovered that she was in the same room as Hex. However, she nced at Hex before departing. If such a massive upheaval didn¡¯t wake him, it meant he was sleeping like a log. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. The corridor was not particrly wide, but it was crowded. Those who couldn¡¯t fit through the corridor lined up on the stairs. After all, cries from a real birthday party would result in either news or gossip, so everyone gathered to enjoy the show. ¡°What happened? Who screamed?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Let¡¯s take a look here. Maybe it¡¯s from a big wig.¡± Everyone made simr remarks. The scream came from the room at the corner near the stairs. When the security guy kicked open the door, he observed the chaotic scene inside. He couldn¡¯t decide whether to close the door or cover his eyes first. Inside, a few naked males were shredding a woman¡¯s clothes. They couldn¡¯t see the woman¡¯s face clearly, but the scene was awful. Most of those who attended the party were teenage girls who had never seen anything like this. As a result, they all yelled in shock. Some even hugged each other and cried. When the men realized something was wrong, they stopped moving and dressed in shame. Before they could flee, the security guard stopped them. At this point, the family¡¯s head should havee out to control the situation. But Yelena¡¯s parents were on vacation and Hex was nowhere to be found. As such, Yelena, who had just turned 18, had to take the initiative. Although she was a celebrity who frequently attended grand events, she had never been in such a situation. Elspeth wanted to walk over and reassure her, but it was so crowded that she couldn¡¯t. Yelena was shaking among the crowd, looking helpless. Suddenly, she noticed a pair of captivating eyes staring at her from the corner. It was Max, her crush, who was staring at her. He seemed to be telling her that she didn¡¯t have to be terrified. As a result, she gained confidence and her voice became more stable as she announced, ¡°We will look into this issue. Please take the initiative to exin what happened if you know what transpired.¡± She acted like a daughter of the Sullivan Family. Finding out who the woman inside was became critical at that moment. The journalists were holding their cell phones and cameras up to take photos. They needed this image to make the next day¡¯s headlines. At that point, Callum was bing concerned. Elspeth was not with him and he was concerned that she might be framed. However, when he saw that the woman had silky, straight hair, he feltforted and turned away. The security guy approached the woman and turned her body. The woman had been flung about and was unconscious at the time. Her snow-white skin was bruised but thankfully, her face remained unharmed. As a result, she could still be identified with one look. ¡°ina?!¡± Several of the girls who were friendly with ina cried out. They couldn¡¯t stomach looking at her directly, but a sidelong glimpse revealed her face. The journalists snapped photos quickly. Because the Sullivan Corporation was a hugepany, they wondered if the Sullivans could handle it properly. How exciting! ina prefers to sleep with a few men in other¡¯s homes! ¡°Please remain calm. Let¡¯s escort¡­ Miss Sullivan to rest in another room.¡± Yelena calmed down and she rxed when she realized it was ina. She had always despised ina because the woman was ttering and constantly framing Elspeth, which she considered repulsive. Truth was, Yelena was d that this urred, regardless of who was responsible. Elspeth was shocked to learn that it was ina who was inside. Suddenly, the truth dawned on her as she sneered slowly. ina was probably attempting to frame me, but she failed and fell into her own trap. She deserves it! Callum eventually found Elspeth behind the group as the crowd dispersed. He was relieved to see her unharmed. However, he quickly became enraged. ¡°Why did you go missing for so long? What happened to you?¡± Elspeth looked around to make sure no one was around before she smiled deviously like a fox. ¡°ina drugged me earlier. Fortunately, I took the antidote and flushed the poison from my system. I intended to y her game and see what she had in store for me, but the attendant misdirected me to the wrong room, so ina took the fall instead.¡± ina probably didn¡¯t anticipate being harmed because she was unfamiliar with theyout. What goes around,es around. ina is finished. Chapter 142 Chapter 142 Chapter 142 As he red at Elspeth, Callum reprimanded, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare do it again! I was worried sick.¡± Her grin grew wider when she caught the sight of his worried look. ¡°Assuming I¡¯m the woman inside the room, what will you do?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll dig every witness¡¯ eyes out and feed the men who darey their fingers on you to the fish in the sea.¡± Even though his approach was cruel, she could feel a sense of security from him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You¡¯ll never find me in this kind of situation. After all, I¡¯m cleverer than most people.¡± She had confidence in herself. Recalling a detail that she almost missed, she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°By the way, why are you so sure the woman inside the room wasn¡¯t me?¡± ina and Elspeth shared simr stature and it could be quite confusing if someone didn¡¯t pay attention to their features and mistook one of them for the other. Callum didn¡¯t even deign to look at her as he answered casually, ¡°Both of you have different hairstyles.¡± ina had soft and straight hair while Elspeth had ck and wavy hair. Their hairstyles gave them different vibes. Elspeth remembered another thing, which was the fact that the group in the room before wasn¡¯t wearing anything. She failed to suppress her curiosity as she murmured, ¡°Are you sure you didn¡¯t peek inside?¡± ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. Callum¡¯s expression changed at her assumption. It wasn¡¯t the awkward expression one would show when his secret was being exposed, but the expression of evident disdain to the degree where he found her theory offensive. ¡°She isn¡¯t worth my time.¡± He could tell ina was the person responsible for the incident just by instinct, and Elspeth was almost being made the victim in ina¡¯s ruse. Thus, Callum could never take a liking to ina. He felt nothing but disdain for the woman. Elspeth knew his personality, so she decided to stop teasing him further. Instead, she took his hand and the pair returned to the hall downstairs. The birthday dinner had to be called off and it ended hastily after the incident. Just as the guests were ready to make their departure, the victim of the incident regained consciousness. Wrapped in a nket, ina rushed downstairs like a mad woman. The onlookers failed in their attempt to stop her. She never imagined herself to be the victim. Her eyes were misted over with tears as she announced, ¡°Somebody set me up!¡± She was trying to cover up her mistake by shifting the crowd¡¯s attention to another person. For now, she was ready to do anything and me someone else for it. Elspeth, who stood nearby, was engrossed in ina¡¯s story. Feeling like she was missing something, she served herself a te of pastries and enjoyed them while listening to ina. At that moment, ina shot daggers at Elspeth. Her whine resembled a ghostly wail. ¡°Elspeth set me up! She told me to wait inside the room. It¡¯s clear she¡¯s the one responsible for all of this!¡± Tears rolled down ina¡¯s cheeks as she tried to me Elspeth. Some of the guests present were firmly in her corner. They were enraged and refused to believe that the most precious woman in their minds was humiliated. When ina revealed it was a setup, they didn¡¯t hesitate to point their fingers at the so- called culprit. ¡°That¡¯s right. ina will never do such an indecent and shameless thing. There must be someone behind all of this!¡± The remarks were ringing in ina¡¯s ears. Every word they said pierced straight through her. However, she considered herself to have gone through thick and thin. The merement didn¡¯t even affect her. On the other end, Elspeth couldn¡¯t help butugh out loud. The suddenughter attracted everyone¡¯s attention. All of them were curious about the reason she burst intoughter. ¡°ina, are you sure you want to dig your grave?¡± Elspeth considered her words as thest reminder for ina. If ina nned to continue such nonsense, she was asking for trouble and Elspeth would dlyply. However, ina didn¡¯t want to suffer the loss. Although she might eventually pay the price, she would drag Elspeth down with her. ¡°What are you trying to imply? I know you set me up! I want justice!¡± Elspeth narrowed her eyes and frowned. ¡°Before you ask for justice, do you mind wearing a shirt?¡± ina finally realized that her current attire was less than appropriate. However, she was in Yelena¡¯s territory, and Yelena didn¡¯t even bother to prepare the clothes for her. The crowd burst intoughter. Ashamed of her condition, ina wished to flee the scene and get as far away as possible from the crowd. However, she had passed the point of no return. All she could do was bite back her retorts and whines. Turning her head to Elspeth, ina continued with an expression of resentment, ¡°Elspeth, did you change the topic because you¡¯re worried that I¡¯ll expose your conspiracy?¡± It was Elspeth¡¯s first time seeing the culprit ming a scapegoat with such an unconventional excuse. As such, she didn¡¯t bother to stifle herugh. ¡°ina, aren¡¯t you ashamed of saying such a thing?¡± ¡°Elspeth, I trusted you. I particrly respected you when I was staying at my formerpany. I even addressed you as ¡®Miss Lynwood¡¯. Who would have thought you would frame me and force me to leave thepany? I don¡¯t me you for that, but tell me right here and now why you¡¯re conspiring against me yet again.¡± ina had tears in her eyes and the look bought her sympathy. Nobody would suspect her even though she was figuring out something else in her mind. As long as she could hold Elspeth ountable for the incident, ina would only im the title of the victim in the story. Even if the media spread the news, she was mostly safe. However, she would be doomed if the media portrayed her as a promiscuous woman who slept with many men at once in someone else¡¯s house. Thus, she made up her mind and med everything on Elspeth. After all, the men didn¡¯t know ina. Elspeth couldn¡¯t make waves with her words alone when there was no solid evidence against ina. ¡°Hold on. Let me get things straight. You weren¡¯t forced to leave thepany because of me. Instead, you have misbehaved by having affairs with many men at once. Your behavior ruined one¡¯s family, so we had to fire you.¡± Elspeth spoke clearly and her tone was steady. She soundedpletely truthful. The crowd erupted into chatter as they turned to ina and scorned her. Some of the guests were victims of love affairs. As they looked at ina, who had a look as pure as an angel, they couldn¡¯t help but spit and scold her when they remembered her doings. However, ina¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t waver. ¡°You have the right to say anything as you please. I¡¯m not that capable of interfering with your freedom to speak. After all, I only lost a job at that time, which I have no problem enduring. Now, however, you¡¯re ruining my reputation! My dad is known for being kind and gentle, but your lies put me in a position of letting him down.¡± ina¡¯s words fully expressed a kind and gentle daughter¡¯s filial piety toward her father. However, she was met with Elspeth this time. ¡°It¡¯s a surprise to learn you¡¯re aware that you let your father down.¡± Elspeth chuckled. ¡°It seems like I have to teach you a lesson on your father¡¯s behalf.¡± ina swallowed anxiously as she widened her eyes in disbelief. ¡°ina, will you admit that you tried to set me up? I¡¯m supposed to be the victim of your n in the first ce, no?¡± ina shook her head with all her might. ¡°Nonsense! I would never do that to you! If you¡¯re holding me ountable for it, why am I now the victim? You¡¯re lying!¡± Overwhelmed by the turn of events, the reporters felt d that they didn¡¯t leave earlier, or else they would have missed the big news. Elspeth didn¡¯t answer the other woman. Instead, she turned to Yelena. ¡°Do you mind calling in all the servants?¡± Yelena nodded before summoning all the servants to gather around them. ¡°As soon as we learned about the incident, Callum asked his bodyguards to surround the ce. He made sure that no suspect could escape without alerting his men,¡± Elspeth began casually, but her words terrified ina. Chapter 143 Chapter 143 Truth be told, Callum only ordered his men to surround the Sullivan Residence because he worried that he couldn¡¯t find the suspect if Elspeth was in danger. He didn¡¯t expect to get a lucky shot that he could use his men¡¯s help to prevent the suspect from escaping right now. ¡°A servant led me to the room just now. I still remember his face.¡± Elspeth pointed at one of the servants in the crowd. The man¡¯s legs went weak at her words as if on cue, his body trembled uncontrobly. ¡°Why worry? I haven¡¯t said anything yet.¡± Folding her arms, Elspeth paced back and forth in front of the man as she watched the sweat rolling down his forehead. Once she thought the time was right, she began, ¡°I have a question for you. Did ina ask you to lead me to the room?¡± The man kept ina¡¯s words in his mind. As he remembered his innocent child, he gritted his teeth and answered, ¡°I don¡¯t even know Miss Sullivan at all. I only brought you to the room because you asked me to because you drank a little too much.¡± Elspeth raised her brow. ¡°It seems like you made up your mind.¡± She offered the man a chance to speak the truth, yet he refused. Thus, she decided that she had no reason to sympathize with him. ¡°I have nothing to do with this. You¡¯re only wronging an innocent man.¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ina raised her chin. A proud look was showing on her face. ¡°Did you see that, Elspeth? The heavens see every act of man. Aren¡¯t you afraid of the consequences your lies will bring?¡± Consequences? Come on, it¡¯ll only lead to your damnation. Elspeth thought to herself. Studying the man¡¯s uniform, she smiled. ¡°You have a daughter, am I right?¡± He was taken aback for a moment because he didn¡¯t expect to hear such words from her. However, when he noticed that Elspeth¡¯s gaze was resting on his cor, he couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°How did you know that?¡± ¡°Your shirt is ironed, and it doesn¡¯t have any odor. This exins that you are married, and your wife irons your clothes every day. A moment ago, you involuntarily switched on your phone when you were anxious. I noticed you set the picture of an adorable girl as your lock screen. She resembles you a lot. I suppose she¡¯s your daughter.¡± The man was in awe of Elspeth¡¯s delicacy. However, remembering his daughter was in danger at the moment, he insisted on his stance. ¡°How is this rted to my daughter?¡± ¡°It indeed is rted to your daughter. The reason you¡¯re working for ina is that she threatened you. She¡¯s using your daughter as a bargaining chip.¡± Elspeth made a thorough analysis while ina was starting to get nervous. ¡°Nonsense! I don¡¯t even know him! How am I supposed to threaten his daughter if I don¡¯t know him?¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t reply. Instead, she waved at Yelena. After that, the woman presented someone else¡¯s purse in front of her. ina¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Hey, that¡¯s mine! Give it back!¡± She reached out a hand to snatch it. At the same time, she let go of her hand, which was pulling the nket tightly the whole time. It was only when the nket slipped off her shoulders that she remembered her condition. Having exposed her naked body in front of the guests twice resulted in ina¡¯s shameful expression. She wrapped the nket around her body tightly without a word. Elspeth took out a pink hairpin from the purse. It looked like it belonged to a girl as a bunny adorned it. ¡°Is this hairpin your daughter¡¯s?¡± The man narrowed his eyes at the sight of the hairpin. After going through an intense inner struggle, he eventually nodded. ¡°It is.¡± ina shot daggers at him. ¡°Nonsense. I don¡¯t know your daughter.¡± Regret emerged on the man¡¯s face. ¡°All right, I¡¯ll speak the truth. Miss Sullivan forced me to put drugs in Miss Lynwood¡¯s drink. She wanted to frame Miss Lynwood and ruin Miss Lynwood¡¯s reputation. However, I forgot about the route and took Miss Lynwood somewhere else. Atst, Miss Sullivan entered the room herself. You can punish me however you want, but my daughter has been kidnapped. Please save my daughter!¡± Kneeling on the ground, the man begged again and again. The love of fatherhood moved the crowd. Meanwhile, ina was enraged that her face contorted in anger. ¡°I didn¡¯t kidnap anyone! You¡¯re working together to frame me!¡± ¡°Is it really true? ina. Stop looking for excuses at this point. You better plead guilty. Maybe you can avoid a severe sentence.¡± Wrapping herself in the nket, ina slightly crouched. As Elspeth was taller than her, when Elspeth was looking down at her, ina felt like she was facing a trial. ¡°I didn¡¯t hurt anyone! I didn¡¯t.¡± ina was on the verge of a mental breakdown. Turning to Callum, she lunged at him and pulled at his trousers. ¡°Callum, you know I like you, don¡¯t you? Are you not going to say something?¡± Callum only kicked her away before turning around and putting an arm around Elspeth¡¯s waist. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me. You disgust me.¡± ¡°Disgust you? Callum. That¡¯s not what you said before. You said you feel sorry for me, and you would take care of me.¡± ina¡¯s statement brought back memories of the said night. The sight of ina throwing herself into Callum¡¯s arms under the tree shed before Elspeth¡¯s eyes. She remembered he didn¡¯t immediately push ina away. Instead, he even paused before taking a step back. As she remembered that night, her mood went down in a split second. She tried to struggle out of his arm, but he held her tighter. ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about. Please stop your attempt in tarnishing my reputation. I never felt sorry for you or promised to take care of you. You¡¯re imagining things.¡± After Callum finished the words, he turned to the reporters, who were overwhelmed by the shocking news, and began, ¡°Sorry for using the public resources. Elspeth and I are seeing each other. I hope you guys can announce the news, so somebody can give up on their ambition sooner.¡± The ¡®somebody¡¯ was none other than ina. Blood drained from ina¡¯s face. She watched Callum, who kept calm the whole time but all he could see was Elspeth alone. Jealousy, envy, pain, and madness surged up in her heart at the same time. Grabbing the fruit knife from the table, ina lunged at Elspeth. As Elspeth was trained, ina¡¯s attempt to stab her was fruitless. As a result, Elspeth dodged to a side to avoid the attack while ina fell to the ground. The knife slipped off her hand and slid away. ¡°You better let his daughter go as soon as possible and stop trying to do anything. Otherwise, it won¡¯t be a civil crime but something more serious, and you¡¯ll be going to jail.¡± ina scraped her lips from the impact and the pain was too hard for her to endure. She spat out a mouthful of blood and gave in to reality. ¡°I didn¡¯t kidnap his daughter. All I did was steal her hairpin and suggested to him that his daughter was in danger. I managed to fool him into thinking that I kidnapped his daughter. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can check on her yourself. She¡¯s safe in the kindergarten.¡± Realization dawned on the father. He immediately made a call to the kindergarten. As expected, his daughter was still in one piece. He was only reacting out of his love for his daughter, which made him ina¡¯s pawn to harm Elspeth. As the matter came to this point, ina had no choice but to give up. She had a hard time digesting the turn of events. She loved Callum with all her heart, and he was already reciprocating her feelings. When did everything go wrong? Why did it have to end like this? She got herself involved in her conspiracy. There was no way she could make her way back to the socialdder. ina had picked up a bad reputation after today. Even if nobody called the police, she would no longer have a ce in Damoria¡¯s social circle once the news spread out. Elspeth watched ina lying on the ground. ina seemed to be mentally disorganized, so Elspeth didn¡¯t call the police. It was a crime to kidnap. Fortunately, ina reserved her sanity. However, Callum wasn¡¯t as calm as her. He gestured with a wave of his hand for the bodyguards on his side to manhandle ina. As he remembered ina¡¯s n almost worked, the violent side of him was threatening to break out. His piercing gaze bored into her. ina¡¯s heart was aching at the look he gave her. ¡°I¡¯m not done with you. There is something we need to settle between us.¡± Chapter 144 Chapter 144 Noticing Callum¡¯s expression, ina could feel her heart skip a beat. ¡°Callum, what are you trying to do?¡± ¡°What do you think? It¡¯s time to pay the price.¡± She widened her eyes in disbelief before looking around. ¡°Callum, what you are doing is against the law. Did you see the reporters around? You can¡¯t deny your doing if what you did is revealed to the public.¡± He remained calm even after she warned him. Casting a nce at the crowd with ease, he asked, ¡°Did you see anything?¡± No single person in Damoria would im they didn¡¯t know Callum¡¯s name. Even though he kept a low profile, he wasn¡¯t the kind of person to mess with. A few years ago, someone talked badly about Callum after facing failure in his business. The next day, the man and his family got banished from Damoria. Nobody ever knew Callum¡¯s true ability, but they held one principle, which was staying out of his way as far as possible or showing respect to him whening across him. ina must have a death wish to cross Callum. The guests were all sophisticated. They knew better than to stand up for ina, who was a nobody and ended up getting on Callum¡¯s bad side. If so, they rather kept what happened today a secret, in hope of gaining Callum¡¯s favor and striking a deal in the future. The guests shook their heads. Even the reporters pretended not to see anything by putting their phones and cameras away. ina finally recalled that nobody in Damoria could even par with Callum¡¯s status or influence. A sane person would never get on his bad side. As thest hope slipped from her hand, she went limp and allowed the men to drag her away. Once ina left, some of the guests tried to clear the awkward silence by lightening the mood. ¡°I told you, Miss Lynwood¡ªWait, it¡¯s Mrs. Winthrop now¡ª¡ªis a good person. There¡¯s no way she would hurt someone.¡± The crowd changed their attitude within a few seconds. Listening to the crowd¡¯s praise, Elspeth had a feeling that it was all due to their awe of Callum. Pleased to hear people addressing Elspeth as Mrs. Winthrop, Callum couldn¡¯t suppress a smile that formed at the corner of his lips. As the incident came to an end, the guests preferred to avoid staying any longer in the ce that fostered a lot of drama. Thus, they took their departure. Soon, only the Winthrops, the Sullivans, and Elspeth were left. Watching Callum¡¯s calm expression, Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Where did you take ina? Please don¡¯t tell me you asked your men to tie her up and beat her.¡± ¡°I merely sent her somewhere where she can experience real pain.¡± Even though he kept it casual, she could feel a sense of maliciousness in his words. She doubted whether ina could make it out alive this time. However, Elspeth wouldn¡¯t feel bad for her. After all, ina started it. Elspeth had been holding the principle of ¡°tit for tat is fair y.¡± d to find Elspeth unscathed, Yelena sighed in relief. ¡°Remind me to install surveince cameras around the household, so the same thing will never happen again.¡± Her tone betrayed a hint of indignation, earning augh from the rest. ¡°Well, you don¡¯t have to take such precautions. All you need to do is protect yourself instead of letting other people step on you as they like.¡± At the sight of Yelena gripping her knuckles while putting on a serious face, Max couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes. ¡°Stop making me save you from all your troubles. I don¡¯t have the leisure to save you all the time.¡± She pouted her lips. ¡°What¡¯s the problem ofing to my rescues if you can? I¡¯m going to be your family¡¯s future daughter-inw sooner orter. Having you do the rescue duty on me is not a big deal.¡± Such a bold statement that came out from her mouth made his ears flush with red blush. ¡°How do you bear zero shame spitting out such words as ady yourself!¡± ¡°I am a fully-fledged grown-up myself. In just another two years, I¡¯m eligible for marriage. Besides, you¡¯re my choice of marriage partner. Do you think I would let you go from my grip?¡± Yelena couldn¡¯t care less about hisment. Narrowing her eyes, she sent him a smug grin. ¡°U-Unreasonable!¡± Even though Max was usually good at aeback or a roast, he fumbled for the right word today. ¡°Oh? May I ask whom you are referring to?¡± Yelena simply threw him a question. It was Elspeth¡¯s first time to see Max at such a disadvantage. Waving her hands to stop themotion, she barely stifled augh. ¡°That¡¯s enough, Yelena. Stop teasing Max. He¡¯s a shy boy. If there¡¯s one more sentence from you, he¡¯ll flee the scene.¡± As if she pointed out what was on his mind, Max was blushing profusely. His flushed cheeks mirrored the sunset. ¡°By the way, since such a thing happened, I¡¯m sure it will show up in tomorrow¡¯s headline. When the timees, remember to manage your public image to prevent the unexpected.¡± Undeterred by Elspeth¡¯s warning, Yelena answered nonchntly, ¡°Rx. What can go wrong when Callum has made sure the crowd will keep a secret? Even if there¡¯s a headline tomorrow, it¡¯ll all be about ina. Why do we need to keep an eye on it?¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but sigh quietly at Yelena¡¯s innocence. However, others didn¡¯t know a thing about the kiss between Yelena and Max. Thus, she didn¡¯t point it out, and only reminded Yelena a little. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°It won¡¯t hurt to keep that in mind.¡± Yelena would dly listen to Elspeth¡¯s words. After the few of them exchanged a light talk, Elspeth bid farewell to Yelena and prepared for departure as the night was closing in. At that moment, Max noticed a familiar figure sitting on the couch behind him. It seemed like Finn wasn¡¯t leaving yet. He even turned on the television and was watching with amusement. ¡°Why is he still here?¡± Even though Max understood that Finn was Yelena¡¯s cousin, Finn would always be an eyesore to him. When he heard Max mention him, Finn raised his head and grinned at the other man. ¡°Well, I¡¯m a resident here. It has nothing to do with you, has it?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t change the topic. It¡¯s inappropriate for a grown man living in the same household with a woman.¡± Besides, Yelena had the habit of wearing little clothing. No one could guarantee that Finn wouldn¡¯t see what he shouldn¡¯t at night. Max was frustrated to think about the two living under the same roof. ¡°Yelena is my cousin. It¡¯s a normal sight to have both of us hugging and bonding over close interactions. But back to you, why are you being so dramatic? Max, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve developed romantic feelings for her. Let me give you a heads-up, I don¡¯t approve of you being in a rtionship with her. Therefore, you better turn your feelings away before things get worse.¡± Max coldly replied, ¡°You can keep that advice to yourself. I can promise you a girl like her is not my type anyways.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know how d I am to hear you say that. Most people are not good enough for her.¡± ¡°It¡¯s none of my business whom she wants to be with anyway.¡± At that moment, Max only wanted to hold his ground. Thus, he didn¡¯t manage to catch the glimpse of the disappointed look on Yelena¡¯s face. ¡°All right, both of you stop this debate this instant. It¡¯s gettingte now. We should all head home to freshen up and call it a day.¡± Yelena turned her gaze to look at Max coldly, ¡°Whoever visits me is none of your business, so please head back to your ce.¡± Max got irritated by the fact of him getting kicked out. Meanwhile, he also realized his action overstepped a boundary. Thus, he simply kept it all to himself and immediately left the ce without any hesitation. Elspeth could only smile dryly at his behavior. This little brat with his inappropriate choice of words. The sight of affection is obvious even to me, but he just can¡¯t be honest. What a stubborn man. Chapter 145 Chapter 145 Worrying that Yelena might overthink, Elspeth cast a consoling nce at her. ¡°Don¡¯t mind him. He has always been this way; don¡¯t take his words to heart.¡± Hearing this, Yelena, who had been maintaining a calm front earlier, could no longer control her sadness as tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°I am fine,¡± she said while sniffing, pretending to be fine. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll tell him off when I get hometer!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Elspeth then quickly left with Callum, worrying that if they stayed on any longer, they wouldn¡¯t be able to coax Yelena once she started wailing. When they returned to the car, Elspeth found Max sulking alone in the backseat. ¡°Why did you say that just now? Do you really not like her?¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t control her urge and ask. ¡°I don¡¯t like her, of course. Would anyone like her? She¡¯s so silly and has no brains at all.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still being so obstinate, huh? If that¡¯s the case, why do you need to worry about whether a man is in her house or not? When did you start showing such a keen interest in other people¡¯s affairs, Max?¡± Elspeth observed Max¡¯s slightly rxed expression and continued, ¡°Let me guess. You¡¯re angry now because she chased you out but not that man, am I right?¡± Max opened his mouth, wanting to retort, but he was at a loss for words. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. Hex is sleeping in another room. You don¡¯t have to worry too much.¡± Elspeth was simply making a casual remark, but Callum secretly noted it down. Yes, I admit that I just can¡¯t stand her being alone with other men, even her cousin, but I¡¯m a nobody and have no say in her matter. This exined why Max could only swallow his rage. Wait. Is this an indication that I like her? Max wasn¡¯t sure as well. He went silent for a while before raising his head to look at Callum and said, ¡°Callum, send me to Luna Bar.¡± He couldn¡¯t understand his feelings and wanted to have some alcohol to trigger his heart and emotions. Callum understood what Max meant and did not stop him. After sending him to Luna Bar and watching him enter, Callum turned his head and looked at Elspeth. Elspeth felt uneasy having his gaze firmly fixed on her. ¡°Why are you looking at me?¡± she asked, her brows furrowed. ¡°How did you know that Hex is sleeping?¡± Elspeth¡¯s heart sank when she heard this. It was toote for her to lie now. ¡°I was brought to a room earlier, and that room happens to be Hex¡¯s,¡± she said truthfully. That was when she saw Hex sleeping soundly. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Callum felt relieved hearing this, but his expression remained displeased. ¡°Are you still unhappy? Why?¡± He moved closer to her without saying anything, but his heart softened when he saw her back away due to being startled. ¡°I am jealous.¡± That stunned Elspeth. She couldn¡¯t figure out why Callum said so for a moment. ¡°Jealous? Why?¡± With a gentle voice and a light groan, he answered, ¡°You were in the same room with him and even saw him sleeping. That makes me jealous.¡± After speaking, he felt his words were insufficient and continued, ¡°You did not even see me sleeping before.¡± His entire speech left Elspeth speechless. Why did he be so¡­ childish? He was the serious- looking CEO of the Winthrop Group only a moment ago, but now he acts like a forlorn child who just had his favorite toy taken away, staring pitifully at me. Such an adorable contrast he had! Elspeth hurriedly swallowed her saliva and responded, ¡°No, that was a mere incident. I didn¡¯t stare at his sleeping face; I just gave him a passing nce. I then left right away as well.¡± Finally, Callum nodded satisfyingly after hearing what Elspeth said. He then straightened his body and continued driving. After all that had happened today, both of them were exhausted when they reached home and went to bed early. When Elspeth opened her eyes the following morning, she saw Callum sitting in front of her wearing a suit. ¡°Holy! You almost scared me to death!¡± She was given such a fright that she nearly yelled obscenities, but Callum ignored her and said straightforwardly, ¡°Something happened to Max and Yelena.¡± All sleepiness Elspeth vanished when she heard that. ¡°What happened?¡± she asked, her eyes wide open. Callum did not say anything in response. Instead, he took his phone, clicked on Twitter, and handed it to her. She immediately noticed some words written in bold. It read, ¡®Female Star Yelena Is Now a Joke After Boyfriend Caught Flirting in a Bar.¡¯ Underneath the post were details about how Yelena and Max met, photographs of their idental kiss, and a photo of Max in a barte at night with a gorgeous woman next to him. All three of their faces were mosaiced, but it served no purpose. Everyone knew who they were. Elspeth immediately began to panic. This would be more difficult to handle than the news of them both kissing. Thements below were a mess as well, with a lot of humiliating words directed against Yelena. ¡®Yelena is just a miserable woman who is in no way deserving to be a celebrity.¡¯ ¡®She appears morous, but look, she is secretly in a rtionship and even got cheated on. Serves her right!¡± ¡®What? My goddess is dating someone! I¡¯m not liking her anymore! ¡®Even if she is single, you have no chance with her. Please be rational.¡¯ There were many more who were eager to add insult to injury as well. ¡®I told you guys that she has a messy private life! A few days ago, I saw her behaving intimately with another man in front of her high school. That man is not Max!¡¯ A photo of the back of Yelena and Finn was attached. Some of them spoke up for Yelena, but the matter soon escted and the supportive remarks were swiftly overshadowed by the humiliating ones. As Max and the unknown woman weremoners and did not have any fans, they did not get attacked as much. Most of them were Yelena¡¯s haters using this opportunity to defame her. Elspeth quickly gave Yelena a call, but the line was busy. Then, she called Max, but the call was not unanswered as well. Max most likely isn¡¯t up yet, whereas Yelena¡­ her telephone line is probably being bombarded by her manager and fans at the moment. Callum seldom got interested in the entertainment industry, but this time, he too, had a headache when he saw the news. ¡°We have to go to Yelena¡¯s house now. Callum, send someone to look for Max. Make sure that he won¡¯t be made used by anyone this time. The incident now is definitely staged. I¡¯ll ask Harper to find out who the mastermind is, and then liaise with the public rtions team to handle it.¡± After Elspeth calmly voiced out her analysis, she was surprised to see Callum looking profoundly at her. ¡°Why? Are my words confusing?¡± Callum shook his head in response. With his gaze fixed firmly on her, he said, ¡°You¡­ You seem to have a thorough understanding of the entertainment industry¡¯s dark side. Do you have an entertainmentpany?¡± Chapter 146 Chapter 146 Elspethughed awkwardly at that. Sh*t. He is doubting my identity again. Though Callum did not have any proof, she still felt nervous. ¡°No, I¡¯m just being rational. Is it a problem to be good at logical reasoning?¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Hearing that, Callum retracted his gaze and said nonchntly, ¡°Nothing. It¡¯s just that you seem to run your own entertainmentpany from what you¡¯ve just said.¡± Elspeth almost couldn¡¯t catch her breath and coughed a little. ¡°If I had an entertainmentpany, why would I need to work for you? You¡¯re reading too much into it.¡± However, Callum did not agree with what she said this time and merely remained silent, seemingly in deep thought. ¡°That¡¯s enough; stop thinking about me. Let¡¯s hurry to Yelena¡¯s house now. Many people are now aware that she is the daughter of the Sullivan Family after the birthday banquet yesterday. I¡¯m afraid people are swarming around her house now.¡± Callum nodded in agreement and quickly sent Elspeth to the Sullivan Residence. Yelena¡¯s rumor directly caused a 5% decline in the Sullivan Corporation¡¯s shares, resulting in huge losses. When Hex learned about the matter, he went to thepany early in the morning to handle the situation. After all, this concerned his sister whom he doted on. He couldn¡¯t possibly ignore the situation and leave her in a lurch. At the same time, Yelena almost copsed when she read the news after she woke up early in the morning. She was upset not only because she was being defamed, but also because Max went to the bar to drink and did not return for the entire night. Worse, he even behaved intimately with another woman. Seeing her dejected expression, Finn felt sorry for her. He went closer to her and put his arm around her shoulder, allowing her to lean on him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Yelena. This won¡¯t affect your celebrity career. Don¡¯t think too much about it.¡± Yelena, however, shook her head, still looking forlorn. ¡°I am not worrying about this.¡± ¡°What are you worried about then? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re concerned that Max messes around with another woman. I have told you previously that he is not a decent guy, but you refuse to listen. See, I got it right.¡± Finn¡¯s words did not offer anyfort to Yelena at all. Instead, she became more depressed. At this moment, the helper knocked on the door and pushed open it. Seeing Yelena¡¯s sad expression, she said, ¡°Miss Sullivan, there is a crowd outside now. Miss Lynwood¡¯s and Mr. Winthrop¡¯s car can¡¯t get in.¡± Yelena¡¯s face lit up when she heard that. ¡°Elspeth is here, you mean?¡± ¡°Yes, they are outside now. I¡¯m here to ask if we ought to let them in through the back door.¡± Yelena nodded. ¡°Do that now. Ask them to be careful and not be discovered.¡± If the fans and reporters found out that Yelena was still in contact with Elspeth and the others, they might get implicated. Finn, on the other hand, seemed displeased. When he saw Yelena¡¯s eager expression when she waited for Elspeth, he sneered coldly and remarked, ¡°Stop hoping. Max drank so muchst night, and he couldn¡¯t possiblye here now.¡± Hearing that, Yelena lowered her head, and a tinge of disappointment shed across her eyes. When Elspeth entered, she saw Yelena sitting on the couch gloomily, wearing a lifeless expression. ¡°You¡¯re here, Elspeth.¡± The moment Yelena saw Elspeth, she dashed to her embrace and began sobbing. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I know about it. Don¡¯t cry; I will settle it for you.¡± Yelena shook her head in response. ¡°My manager just called and told me that if I couldn¡¯t settle this issue within 3 days, thepany would terminate my contract. What should I do now? I don¡¯t even know where I should start or how I should settle this!¡± Every photo that was posted was genuine. Her feelings for Max were genuine too. Apart from the fact that they weren¡¯t a couple, everything else was real. No exnation could be offered for this. ¡°Let me ask you, Yelena, did you tell anyone about this?¡± ¡°About what?¡± Yelena was startled. ¡°Your feelings for Max.¡± After some thought, Yelena responded, ¡°I think I did not tell anyone else other than you guys and Finn.¡± Hearing that, Elspeth immediately turned to look at Finn. Finn flew into a rage when he saw Elspeth looking doubtfully at him. ¡°Why are you looking at me? She¡¯s my sister; I¡¯d never do anything to hurt her!¡± Elspeth pouted her lips in response. ¡°I didn¡¯t even say anything. Why are you so agitated?¡± ¡°Maybe it was all of you, trying to ruin Yelena¡¯s reputation so that she can never be together with Max. Given how influential the Winthrop Family is, it makes sense that you all look down on the Sullivan Family.¡± The moment he said this, Elspeth narrowed her eyes. Finn¡­ is questionable. Suddenly, Elspeth¡¯s phone rang, alerting her that she received a message. It was a message from Harper. She nced at the message and understood what was going on right away. ¡°Finn, where have you been recently?¡± Finn wasn¡¯t bothered by her question. He lit a cigarette, and as the smoke lingered, he put on a thug persona and answered, ¡°I didn¡¯t go anywhere other than school and here. Why? Are you suspecting me now?¡± ¡°Why do you have so many gambling debts then?¡± Finn¡¯s expression immediately changed. How did this woman know about my debts? ¡°And you owe quite a lot. 450 thousand.¡± When Elspeth said the precise amount, he panicked. ¡°Where did you get this?¡± To that, Elspeth casually touched her chin and replied, ¡°That¡¯s not the issue. What matters right now is that you suddenly have 450 thousand funds transferred to your ount today, allowing you to repay all your debts.¡± Though she did not manage to find out where the money came from, the very fact that there had been a transaction was sufficient to show that something was amiss with Finn. ¡°What does this have to do with Yelena¡¯s matter now?¡± Elspeth gloated over his reaction when she heard that. ¡°Are you still unwilling to acknowledge your involvement in this?¡± Finn knew that Elspeth wasn¡¯t an easy person, and everything she said seemed to be setting traps for him. Hence, he right away looked at Yelena and asked, ¡°Yelena, do you think that I am involved in this?¡± ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t think so. Finn has always treated me well and has protected me all this while. He would never do such a thing.¡± What a silly girl. Elspeth began to reprimand Yelena in her heart, but the calm smile on her face remained. ¡°He knows that you think this way. That¡¯s why he took advantage of it to harm you.¡± But Yelena still couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°Is that true?¡± she looked at Finn and asked. ¡°Stop listening to her nonsense. It¡¯s impossible¡­¡± Elspeth, however, did not allow him the chance to continue and kept pushing him for an exnation. ¡°Then, please exin how you got that 450 thousand.¡± Finn dodged her gaze, not knowing what to say. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, the Campbell Family was just a small family up to your father¡¯s generation. They cannot fork out this much at all. Given that the money came from an unknown private ount, Yelena most likely did not have any knowledge about it as well.¡± Yelena nodded, indicating that she indeed did not know anything. ¡°The most crucial thing is, aside from us, you are the only one who is aware of Yelena¡¯s feelings for Max, and also the details between them. We have no reason to harm her. That left you the only one who would do so. You sold her personal details for 450 thousand. Am I right?¡± As he listened to her wless analysis, Finn became flustered and began sweating profusely. Chapter 147 Chapter 147 Truth was, everything she said was right. There was absolutely nothing he could deny, but he had never wanted to harm Yelena. Those who wanted the information told him that Yelena would be safe after the matter passed and would not be affected at all. The worst thing that could happen was for her to leave the entertainment industry and return to being a commoner. A tinge of ruthlessness shed across his eyes as he said, ¡°That¡¯s just your assumptions; they are not the truth!¡± ¡°I believe you know better than I do. Don¡¯t make me cite more evidence.¡± Elspeth looked at Finn with a confident expression, appearing as if she knew everything. Does she really know about it? Chills went down Finn¡¯s spine and for unknown reasons, he felt extremely uneasy. ¡°Are you certain that you do not want to confess, Finn?¡± His heart sank when he heard his name being called. ¡°Fine. I was the one who did it, the one who leaked her information. But the person imed that it wouldn¡¯t affect her. She is a celebrity, and doing this will only increase her poprity¡­¡± His voice was getting softer as even he felt that what he said didn¡¯t make sense. ¡°You¡¯re so dumb!¡± Elspeth gave him a harsh look and went on, ¡°How could you possibly trust everything a stranger says? Yelena has always been portrayed as a pure, innocent young woman, but now that you have unexpectedly caused a scandal for her, she will lose a lot of fans!¡± Finn opened his mouth in surprise. He knew he was at fault this time. ¡°What should we do now then?¡± His original intention wasn¡¯t to hurt Yelena. After all, he couldn¡¯t bear to hurt his cousin whom he yed together with since they were small. Yelena, on the other hand, was still in a state of disbelief ever since she heard the truth. She had never imagined that her close cousin would be the one to frame her. ¡°Finn, you¡­¡± Finn was aware that he was the one to be med now. His usual ruffian chic vanished, leaving him feeling helpless. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Yelena¡­¡± Seeing his helpless demeanor, Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but scoff. ¡°What¡¯s the point of apologizing to her now? If you truly want to amend for your wrongs, tell me who transferred the money to you.¡± Finn faltered for a long while but couldn¡¯t squeeze a word out. ¡°Why? Are you not willing to reveal? Or are you under threats?¡± However, he shook his head. What he said next made Elspeth frown immediately. ¡°I have no idea what¡¯s his name.¡± ¡°Do you know how he looks then?¡± After a moment of thought, Finn said slowly, ¡°He looks demure and gentle, yet his gaze was aloof. One thing that I remember clearly is that he has a tiny butterfly-shaped pink scar at his brow.¡± The moment he finished his sentence, everyone¡¯s eyes lit up. The traits that he described all pointed to Arthur! Finn did not know who Arthur was, but Callum knew Arthur very well. When Arthur was 5 years old, he fell off a tree andnded on a hard stone, leaving a butterfly-shaped scar on his brow. At the time, Margot said that this scar was a blessing because it was his brow and not his eyes that the stone struck. This meant that Arthur was the mastermind behind this scandal! Elspeth¡¯s heart trembled a little when she realized that things weren¡¯t as simple as they thought it was. Arthur, in framing Yelena, most probably was targeting Max and the Winthrop Family. ¡°I think Arthur isn¡¯t the only one involved. The Alphascape Group is behind this as well.¡± This was most likely a n that both Arthur and the Alphascape Group came up with to cause great losses to the Winthrops for them to feel panic, but Elspeth was not going to let them have their way. ¡°It¡¯s time for you to make amends,¡± she said while ncing sideways at Finn. Finn did not understand what she meant. ¡°What do I need to do?¡± ¡°You still have the number that you used to contact him, right? Give him a call and tell him that 450 thousand is insufficient. Demand 700 thousand, or otherwise, you¡¯ll reveal that they were the ones who asked you to frame Yelena.¡± To that, Finn bit his lips and replied, ¡°But¡­ I have already sold the evidence. Since I do not have any proof, they wouldn¡¯t be afraid of me exposing them at all.¡± Elspeth grinned in response. ¡°This phone call that you are about to make now will be the evidence.¡± Hearing that, he suddenly understood Elspeth¡¯s n. Then, he fumbled for his phone and started dialing. Everyone around him held their breaths and silently watched him making the call. As they had anticipated, the person at the other end of the call started mocking Finn sarcastically when the call was answered. Elspeth reminded Finn to turn on the speaker and she then secretly recorded the entire conversation. When the call ended, Finn bowed his head, looking just like a young child who had done something wrong. ¡°That¡¯s enough. The next step is for Yelena to execute.¡± Then, with a smile, Elspeth turned to Yelena and instructed, ¡°Go to Twitter now and exin your rtionship with Max and the unintentional kiss both of you had. Oh, and also your rtionship with Finn.¡± Yelena, however, sulked when she heard that. ¡°But if I exin it now, everyone will know my feelings for Max. I¡¯ll lose more of my fans.¡± Elspeth shook her head in disagreement with Yelena¡¯s assertions. ¡°Do you intend to keep your feelings for Max a secret from your fans forever, then? Yelena wanted to refute Elspeth, but nothing came out of her mouth. She knew that Elspeth was right; she could never be together with Max if she continued to keep her feelings from her fans. Thus, after some thought, she wrote a lengthy post exining everything honestly, including her adoration for Max.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. All of the fans were blown away when they read the post. ¡®My goddess truly has someone she likes! And from her post, it appears to be a one-sided rtionship.¡¯ ¡®Max doesn¡¯t even take a look at my desired goddess! What a jerk he is!¡± ¡®Well, Max is, after all, the young master of the Winthrop Family. Why would he like a celebrity?¡¯ ¡°You¡¯re wrong. She deserves to be loved!¡± The matter quickly took an absurd turn. Many of them began to sympathize with Yelena for her one- sided feelings, and even her hatements were reduced. Many peopleplimented her for her candor. Instead of having the number of her fans drop, she even had more fans shipping her and Max. Even though things had turned for the better, Elspeth felt that something wascking. Suddenly, she noticed a new Twitter post that contained only a video and no words. In the video, Max was pestered by a woman in the bar, but he immediately shoved her to the ground and shouted for her to get lost while pointing at the entrance. This was the truth; Max wasn¡¯t flirting with the woman at all. Someone purposefully just screenshotted a portion of the video to fabricate a false narrative. And that person with such nefarious intentions was¡­ Then, Elspeth clicked on a few buttons and posted the recording of the previous telephone conversation on the inte. The voice in the recording was familiar to start with, and together with Elspeth¡¯s intentional hinting, the culprit behind the video was soon identified. The person was Arthur Winthrop, who actively participated in medical events! Being the director of a prestigious hospital, he frequently attended important events and gave a lot of speeches. It was clear that the voice in the recording belonged to him. Chapter 148 Chapter 148 A satisfied smirk appeared on Elspeth¡¯s face when she saw that theizens¡¯ viewpoints had changed, and everyone was now actively seeking the truth. At this point, Callum, who was beside her, ruffled her hair and said, ¡°It has been hard on you to think of all these ways.¡± ¡°Not at all. You were the one who managed to track down Max¡¯s video, right?¡± Callum slowly raised the corners of his mouth in response. ¡°What a smart woman. Indeed, the woman I like.¡± ¡°Where is Max, though? Shouldn¡¯t he show up and rify things now?¡± ¡°He was drugged in a room at Luna Bar. Was unconscious when I found him and has not woken up yet.¡± Arthur! Elspeth did not even need to put her mind to it to know that Arthur was involved. In fact, she was certain it was him. ¡°It will be alright. Max will be awake in no time. What¡¯s important now is theizens¡¯ opinions.¡± They then scrolled through their Twitter feeds and found that the news about Max and Yelena had been greatly reduced and was drowned by other revtions. The Alphascape Group was probably afraid that the situation would escte and quickly used other scandals to distract the public from it. The funny thing, though, was that ina was the chosen scapegoat to distract the public. She indeed got her deserved bad end. ¡°This matter has finally been resolved. If Arthur wants to do something more, he can¡¯t get away safely too. I believe he wouldn¡¯t dare to act rashly.¡± Hearing that, Yelena heaved a long breath of relief. She then looked at Elspeth with a grateful expression, saying, ¡°Thank you for helping me, Elspeth. Without all of you, I wouldn¡¯t have known what to do.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. This issue started because of us. You are framed because of your close rtionship with us. Remember to be more careful next time.¡± Noticing that Yelena was the only one handling the matter all this while, Elspeth asked, ¡°Where¡¯s your manager? Didn¡¯t she need to take care of certain public rtions matters for you?¡± Yelena, on the other hand, wasn¡¯t bothered by this. ¡°Whenever things happen, she would simply wash her hands off, leaving me to deal with everything. I¡¯m used to it now.¡± ¡°How can she call herself a manager then? Do you want to consider terminating your contract? I can introduce you to somewhere new,¡± Elspeth said as she narrowed her eyes and smiled cunningly. ¡°When will your current contract end?¡± Yelena rubbed her chin and began to recall. ¡°From what I remember, the contract is only for 3 years. So, it should be over after next month.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great. Go to Luminous. I can guarantee that you will be the top celebrity, acting only in the best films.¡± Luminous? ¡°Didn¡¯t you previously introduce Timothy there? Would it be too much trouble¡­¡± Before Yelena could finish her sentence, Elspeth pinched her smooth face and interrupted, ¡°Of course not. Not only that, I will ask Timothy to be your manager personally.¡± ¡°Aww, thank you!¡± Yelena was ted. She had long wanted to leave her current entertainmentpany. Her current company always wanted her to make use of her fair and pure appearance, but she also wanted to participate in high-caliber films rather than justmercial advertisements and magazine photo assignments. ¡°That¡¯s a deal then. It seems that the crowd outside has dissipated. We shall leave now.¡± Elspeth then stood up and said goodbye to Yelena. After Elspeth left, Yelena looked at Finn and felt disappointed. She sighed and questioned, ¡°Finn, I truly don¡¯t understand why you did it. If you¡¯re in financial difficulties, you can just ask me for money. Why did you need to borrow money from the outsiders?¡± 450 thousand, to the Sullivan Family, was merely a pittance. Finn felt guilty to even look at her, and his face flushed. ¡°How could I possibly ask you for money? No man would ask for money from the person¡­ he¡­¡± ¡°The person he likes?¡± Yelena was particrly sensitive and immediately made out what Finn was too shy to say. A bold thought arose in Yelena¡¯s mind. ¡°Finn, don¡¯t tell me that¡­ You are my cousin!¡± Seeing that Yelena was shocked, Finn gritted his teeth and said, ¡°I am not your cousin by blood. Your real cousin died at birth. I am just an adopted child whom my father adopted from the social welfare department. I¡¯ve known this since a long time ago.¡± ¡°But no matter what, we are cousins. Legally, we are rted.¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t you like me? Is it because I am your cousin legally? That¡¯s not what I want! In fact, the main reason I worked with the Alphascape Group wasn¡¯t because of money; I wanted to force you out of the entertainment industry! You are now a famous celebrity well-liked by many; even Max has ulterior motives for you. I know I am not good enough for you, but if you leave the entertainment industry, I will have a chance. Yelena, I genuinely like you¡­¡± As he spoke, Finn¡¯s expression grew increasingly distorted. Noticing that, Yelena knew he might get dangerous and hurriedly dialed a shortcut number on her phone. ¡°You can only be mine, Yelena. I¡¯ve taken care of you since you were small, so you are mine!¡± Then, he forced himself onto Yelena and started ripping her clothing off. ¡°You are an adult now, Yelena. I can make you mine now¡­¡± Finn was a thug for a long time and got into fights frequently. Hence, he had a great force, immobilizing Yelenapletely. She could only bite fiercely at his wrist, leaving a neat row of teeth marks. ¡°Ouch!¡± He quickly let go of his hand out of pain. Yelena did not let such an opportunity pass as she stepped hard on his feet and sprinted outdoors. Finn immediately chased her from behind. Just as he was about to grab her wrist, a leg protruded out of thin air and kicked him in the chest, sending him flying off to the side. Though her eyes were narrowed in terror, Yelena could still see the stern expression of the person who appeared and could no longer hold back her tears. ¡°Max, I am scared¡­¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. She was, after all, a young girl who had just reached the age of majority. The only thing she could do in such a situation was to feel horrified and scared. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared; I am here now.¡± Max gently ruffled her hair before moving his gaze to Finn, who was writhing in agony on the ground. ¡°You are such a beast!¡± Max yelled. He had heard everything clearly through the phone earlier. This thug has a thing for Yelena all along! Even tried to force himself on her when he realized he couldn¡¯t win her heart. Such a shameless b*stard! ¡°I am a beast, a b*stard, but I am at least better than you, a coward who doesn¡¯t dare to face your feelings for Yelena!¡± ¡°That¡¯s none of your business,¡± Max said as he carried Yelena in his arms and left the Sullivan Residence. Finn, who was left behind, stared coldly at Max from behind while secretly nning a more sinister n in his heart. Meanwhile, when Elspeth and Callum returned to thepany, the position of the director of the Design Department was vacant. Callum then decided to adopt a new n to allow the most qualified neer to fill the position so that the Winthrop Group could have new blood. Both of them agreed to such a strategy and began interviewing neers on the day itself. However, when they came to thest candidate, Callum¡¯s expression became unnatural. Chapter 149 Chapter 149 As Elspeth looked at the young woman in front of her who had a sweet smile and an innocent, adorable face, she couldn¡¯t help but think of the woman she never met but could never forget. Emma, Callum¡¯s first love. This woman shares a simr style and features to Emma. Elspeth¡¯s mind shed back to Ginna, the young woman she saw at the interview, and to her surprise, Ginna looked a little simr to the woman in front of her now. Callum¡¯sposure broke when the young woman started speaking. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Callum?¡± Elspeth was the first to notice that something was off about Callum and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Callum shook his head lightly. He began flipping through the papers on the table. The young woman had a list of impressive credentials, but it was the name Emma Gatling that pierced him right through the soul. How can there be such a coincidence? They have simr looks and simr silhouettes. Even their first names are identical, with the only difference being theirst name. Elspeth saw the name as well. Her chest constricted. She felt as if she couldn¡¯t breathe. ¡°Do you want to hire her?¡± Callum checked the whole document, and once he saw that she majored in design, he nodded. ¡°Since she majored in design and received this many international awards, those that came before her don¡¯t stand out in any way over her. Let¡¯s make her the director of the Design Department.¡± Although Callum¡¯s reasoning was solid, Elspeth still felt as if her heart was being pricked by something. ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit early to make this decision? Let¡¯s wait until she¡¯s worked for thepany for a little longer first.¡± Callum nced at her in confusion. ¡°Didn¡¯t we say that we were going to choose the Design Department¡¯s director from one of the new candidates?¡± ¡°She should at least go through a probationary period with thepany, right? Otherwise, the other employees might not be too pleased if they heard about this.¡± Elspeth had a point too, so Callum didn¡¯t fight her on this. He got his secretary to take the new hires away. It was customary for the senior executives at Winthrop Group to mentor the new hires. As the vice president, Elspeth was tasked with mentoring Emma. ¡°Hello, Miss Lynwood. I¡¯m Emma Gatling. I graduated from the same university as you, so you¡¯re my senior.¡± Emma introduced herself in a friendly and personable manner. She had a pleasant smile that made it hard for others to dislike her, but due to her face, Elspeth couldn¡¯t develop any fondness for her at all. ¡°What do you wish to learn? I¡¯m neither knowledgeable nor aplished, so there might not be much you could glean from me.¡± Emma reacted with a shocked expression. ¡°When I was still in school, everyone heard about what you did. Although you graduated two years ahead, the stories of your glorious aplishments are still ringing in the halls of the school.¡± These were mere words of courtesy. Elspeth couldn¡¯t be bothered to listen to them. She smiled politely before showing Emma to a desk. ¡°Since we¡¯re from the same college, can I call you Elspeth?¡± Elspeth nodded. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll be mentoring you now. If there¡¯s anything you¡¯re unsure of, feel free to ask me.¡± ¡°Thanks, Elspeth. I have a question now, actually.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Can you buy me a cup of coffee, Elspeth? I just came here, and I don¡¯t know where the shops are.¡± What a request¡­ Is she trying to order me around like an errand girl? Elspeth¡¯s brows creased slightly. She pointed at the coffee machine nearby and said, ¡°You can use that coffee machine for free. Just prepare a cup for yourself whenever you want. If you think it¡¯s too much work, then there¡¯s also instant coffee over there.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not used to drinking those types of coffee, Elspeth. Please help me out with this, if that¡¯s okay with you. I¡¯d like a velvettte from Rossin. You¡¯re such a nice person, Elspeth. I¡¯m sure you won¡¯t refuse to help me, right?¡± Emma¡¯s smile looked so harmless that Elspeth couldn¡¯t tell whether Emma truly needed help or was trying to mess with her. ¡°You can just have it delivered.¡± Emma shook her head in all seriousness. ¡°You never know whether that¡¯s sanitary or not. It¡¯s better if you saw the coffee being prepared in person.¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Why don¡¯t you go over yourself then? These words were on the tip of Elspeth¡¯s tongue, but in the end, she swallowed the question back down. Emma¡¯s expression turned a little awkward. It was as if she noticed Elspeth¡¯s reaction. Well, it¡¯s just this once. There¡¯s no harm in helping her. Elspeth smiled and said, ¡°Wait here. I¡¯ll go and get it for you in a moment.¡± Emma broke out into a smile. ¡°Thanks, Elspeth.¡± Elspeth got her bag and left. As soon as she stepped out of the office, she ran into Callum who looked a little disheveled as he rushed back into the office. Before she could greet him, he walked off as if he hadn¡¯t seen her. Elspeth stared after him from behind. He walked straight over to Emma¡¯s desk and bent down to talk to her. Elspeth didn¡¯t know what he said, but Emma soon cupped her lips andughed sweetly. I hope I¡¯m overthinking this. Elspeth shook her head and drove out to the coffee shop. After buying the coffee, Elspeth ended up getting caught in rush hour traffic. She started getting frazzled as she watched the time slowly ticking away. She felt a little uneasy as well. All of a sudden, her phone rang. She answered the call and heard Callum¡¯s deep, stern voiceing through. ¡°Where are you now, Elspeth?¡± ¡°I¡¯m out buying coffee,¡± Elspeth answered in all honesty. ¡°It¡¯s still working hours now. There¡¯s coffee in the office and you can also have it delivered, so you don¡¯t need to go out and buy it yourself.¡± Callum did his best to control his tone, but Elspeth still caught the reproach in his voice. Her mood soured right away. She wanted to exin herself but what Callum said next stopped her. ¡°We¡¯re having a meeting in five minutes. I already informed everyone about this an hour ago. Didn¡¯t you get the message?¡± Elspeth was startled. What meeting? ¡°I didn¡¯t hear about it.¡± ¡°Remember to check your texts next time.¡± Callum sighed. ¡°You were always a careful, meticulous person, Elspeth. What made you like this today?¡± Before Elspeth could defend herself, Callum ended the call by saying the meeting was about to start. Elspeth checked her texts. She hadn¡¯t seen it at all, but it was sitting there quietly in her list of read texts. She stared at the cup of coffee on her front passenger seat. While she didn¡¯t know what to say, she felt her heart constricting in pain as a hoard of negative emotions spread through her. After nearly half an hour of getting stuck in traffic, the roads started clearing up again. Heavy rain started falling, and it seemed to reflect Elspeth¡¯s mood as she slowly drove down the streets. She was back at the office, but just as she was about to get out of the car, she realized that she didn¡¯t have an umbre. Callum wasn¡¯t picking up her calls, so she gritted her teeth and jogged back into the office with the coffee in hand. The rain was too heavy, and the bag waspletely drenched. Elspeth was also soaking wet as she held the coffee out in front of Emma and said coolly, ¡°Your coffee.¡± Emma frowned as if she didn¡¯t know what Elspeth was doing. ¡°What coffee?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this the coffee you wanted?¡± ¡°When did I ask you to get me coffee?¡± Emma eximed in startlement. Chapter 150 Chapter 150 Once she heard that, Elspeth instantly figured out the source of her unfortunate circumstances today. ¡°This is the coffee you asked me to get for you two hours ago. What¡¯s the matter? Are you going to deny it now?¡± Emma had a look of realization. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so sorry, Elspeth. I forgot about it. It was such a long time ago, and there was a meeting just now, so it slipped my memory. Are you okay? Look at how wet you are! It¡¯s all my fault. You wouldn¡¯t have had to go so far if it wasn¡¯t because of me.¡± She gave Elspeth a tender look of concern as she suggested, ¡°Hurry up and dry yourself off, or you might catch a cold.¡± Elspeth was a little doubtful at Emma¡¯s seemingly genuine remorse. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Although Emma seemed harmless, Elspeth could always see the traces of a taunting, calcting look in her eyes. However, it would only sh across her eyes momentarily. Elspeth never got a clear shot of it and kept assuming she was seeing things. From how things have been going, she might not be a bad person, but she¡¯s definitely not easy to get along with. Elspeth nodded without saying anything. All of a sudden, she cocked her eyebrows as a thought flitted across her mind. Before the whole affair with the coffee, her phone had been left on the desk the entire time as she exined something to Emma, and she had left her phone for a moment to print out a document. She had a good hunch for why the text had been listed as read now. She changed into a new outfit before heading straight to the CEO¡¯s office. No one knew what happened with Elspeth inside the office. All they saw was that her expression had turned even darker when she walked out. Someone asked her what happened, but she only said that she had missed the meeting due to her negligence, so Callum gave her a talking-to. She didn¡¯t say anything else. However, Emma knew that the conflict between the two wasn¡¯t simply over this. When Emma heard what Elspeth said, she had a look of worry as she asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Did Mr. Winthrop reprimand you? Elspeth, I¡¯m the reason why all of this happened. Why don¡¯t I talk to him about it? That way, everything will be smoothed over.¡± Elspeth eyed her coldly. ¡°Don¡¯t bother with the act, Emma. Don¡¯t you realize how fake you sound? I¡¯m the one who got in trouble, not you. Don¡¯t stick your nose where it doesn¡¯t belong.¡± Emma froze as if she didn¡¯t know what Elspeth was saying. ¡°What are you talking about, Elspeth?¡± There was a hint of aggrievance in her voice. Elspeth realized she had been a bit harsh, so she sighed. ¡°Sorry about that. I was in a bad mood, so I spoke a little too hurtfully.¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Elspeth. I think Mr. Winthrop is a little stern, but he treats you very well, so you don¡¯t have to worry. He¡¯s your boyfriend, isn¡¯t he? I¡¯m sure things won¡¯t be too bad between you two.¡± Elspeth looked a little convinced. ¡°Alright. Anyway, this has nothing to do with you, so don¡¯t worry. Just focus on your work.¡± With that, she went back to her desk. She flipped through the documents on her desk before asking loudly, ¡°Where are my documents?¡± A female employee nearby spoke up tentatively, ¡°Just now, Mr. Winthrop asked someone to take the documents away. He said something seems up with youtely, so you don¡¯t have to be in charge of important documents. He¡¯ll go over himself for the time being.¡± Elspeth snorted. ¡°What now? Is Mr. Winthrop negating all my previous efforts just because I¡¯m a little off today?¡± The female employee was a timid one. When she noticed Elspeth was in a bad mood, her voice lowered to nearly a whisper. ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t know. Maybe Mr. Winthrop thinks you¡¯re under a lot of pressure, so that¡¯s why¡­¡± She trailed off as she knew this was never a stance Callum took with the employees. He believed that if an employee couldn¡¯t perform, then they should just leave thepany. He would never go so far as to show consideration for their condition. Elspeth couldn¡¯t stand it any longer. She stood up and said to the employee beside her, ¡°I¡¯m going out for some fresh air. Help me tell Mr. Winthrop that I¡¯m taking the day off. He can take it out of my sry.¡± She left as soon as she finished speaking. The female employee knew Elspeth was angry, so she nodded timidly and did as told. Callum was in his office, going through some documents with Emma. When he heard what happened, he raised his eyebrows and said harshly, ¡°If she wants to leave, let her leave. It seems to me that I¡¯ve been too indulgent with hertely.¡± Emma¡¯s heart leaped with joy when she saw that he was angry, but she advised him, ¡°Don¡¯t be upset with Elspeth, Mr. Winthrop. She¡¯s a proud woman, and she won¡¯t be happy if she heard what you said.¡± ¡°She won¡¯t be happy? Who in thispany doesn¡¯t have a sense of pride? I¡¯m running thepany with a team of employees that perform their roles well. It¡¯s not her one-woman show.¡± His expression was grim as he spoke. He looked deeply disappointed. ¡°There, now. Don¡¯t be mad. Look at this, Mr. Winthrop. We can make these arrangements for this season¡¯s designs¡­¡± Emma quickly changed the subject when she noticed he was getting angrier. She tapped on the report on the desk and exined her idea clearly. When she looked up, she saw Callum staring thoughtfully at her. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Mr. Winthrop? Why are you staring at me? Is there something on my face?¡± He snapped out of it. His gaze was clear once more as he said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. You just look a lot like someone I knew.¡± ¡°Someone you knew? You don¡¯t look like someone with a lot of female friends, Mr. Winthrop. Do I perhaps look like your ex-girlfriend or your childhood love?¡± she teased lightheartedly but soon realized he didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°It¡¯s an honor for me to share a resemnce with your ex-girlfriend, Mr. Winthrop.¡± She could tell he wasn¡¯t in a good mood, so she dropped the topic after that. Callum watched as she approached her work with a serious attitude and sighed abruptly. ¡°Elspeth used to be like you. She was serious when it came to her work. She was always full of confidence then. She was a dazzling star that made everyone else seem dull inparison.¡± When Emma heard what he said, she lowered her head to hide the calcting look in her eyes before smiling faintly. ¡°Then, I hope I will be as aplished as Elspeth.¡± He smiled at her. ¡°Do your best, and you might seed in doing so.¡± Just then, a thought seemed to ur to him as he asked, ¡°If I recall correctly, you graduated from the same university as she did, right?¡± Seeing that Callum started to have interest in her after being let down by Elspeth, Emma found herself swelling with pride. ¡°That¡¯s right. But I only majored in design, so I¡¯m not as excellent as Elspeth.¡± ¡°I see. You can get back to work now.¡± She nodded and left. However, she didn¡¯t head back to her desk right away. Instead, she went to the washroom. It was empty as everyone was busy working, and she made a call. ¡°How are thingsing along, Emma?¡± ¡°Mr. Little.¡± She looked at her sparkling nails and chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m on the verge ofpleting your n.¡± Chapter 151 Chapter 151 Throughout the following days, tension brewed between Elspeth and Callum. Everyone could tell, but no one addressed it. During a meeting, Emma suggested that thepany should expand its offerings and branch out into making perfume. Her suggestion received unteral support. Elspeth was the only one who objected, but she received Callum¡¯s criticisms and reprimands in return. The rtionship between the two fell to an all-time low. Callum gave Emma full control of the project, which inspired many thoughts and guesses from the others. Could Emma be the next Mrs. Winthrop? However, Elspeth was still the vice president, so no one dared to voice their hypothesis. That afternoon, the employees heard the news that she was leaving thepany. Emma¡¯s desk was near Elspeth. When she walked over and saw Elspeth packing her things with a neutral expression, her heart sang with glee, but she pretended to be sad that Elspeth was leaving. ¡°Mr. Winthrop would be so upset that you¡¯re leaving, Elspeth.¡± ¡°What do his feelings have to do with me? We¡¯ve broken up.¡± They broke up? Emma¡¯s heart was about to leap out of her chest as she probed, ¡°Did you really break up with him? Why?¡± Elspeth nced at her coolly. ¡°We broke up over texts just a moment ago. We¡¯re not suitable for each other, and we¡¯ll only keep fighting if we stay together, so it¡¯s pointless to continue such a rtionship.¡± Although Emma was aware that Elspeth was a decisive person, she was still doubtful about seeing Elspeth leave without a moment of hesitation or a trace of reluctance. ¡°Do you not have any feelings for him?¡± Elspeth paused as her eyes flickered withplicated emotions. ¡°So what if I do? When there¡¯s no longer any trust between two people, all that remains is suspicion and constant torment.¡± This was exactly what Emma wanted to hear. Her worries melted away as she gave Elspeth a pained smile. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be so rash, Elspeth. What if it¡¯s just a misunderstanding?¡± ¡°Do a good job. You¡¯ll be able to rece me someday. Well, that¡¯s it. I¡¯m leaving now.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t say anything more. She gathered her things and dropped by the HR Department to get her final paycheck before leaving without looking back. Now that Elspeth¡¯s gone, I can get the ball rolling on the n to ruin Winthrop Group. Emma smiled smugly. A few dayster, an issue cropped up over the perfume brand that Emma oversaw. Although the design was chic and modern, something happened during the production process, and most of the final products failed to pass the quality inspection. The otherpany that coborated with Winthrop Group on this project immediately asked to terminate the contract and demanded 150 million inpensation. After looking into the situation, Callum realized that the factory producing the perfume was known to be a problematic one as it often produced poor-quality items. Many people had filed officialints over this matter, but for some reason, the factory was still running. An emergency meeting was called at Winthrop Group, and during the meeting, Emma looked aggrieved as she slowly exined all the ways she had been wronged. ¡°This factory¡­ Elspeth¡¯s the one who rmended this factory to me. Before she left, she told me to work with this factory. I don¡¯t know why things would turn out this way.¡± Elspeth wasn¡¯t around, so no one was here to expose Emma¡¯s lies. Once the others heard what she said, they began to assume that Elspeth had an ulterior motive behind her departure. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right. Before Elspeth left, she told me there was no future in Winthrop Group. She asked me to consider Alphascape instead.¡± Listeners could ascribe any meaning they want to a person¡¯s words, and true enough, the moment Emma brought this up in her hesitant, careful way, everyone else exploded in fury. ¡°She must¡¯ve been a mole from Alphascape! She must¡¯ve gotten Emma to do those things tond the Winthrop Group in hot waters!¡± It only took a moment for Elspeth to bebeled as a mole from Alphascape Group. Callum cleared his throat, and the room fell silent. ¡°Whether or not Elspeth¡¯s a mole isn¡¯t the issue now. The priority is to salvage the situation and cover our losses.¡± The other directors sneered in contempt. ¡°It¡¯s 150 million, not 15 thousand! How can we turn things around so easily? We should be focusing on finding Elspeth and making her pay!¡± ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. The others agreed with this. She was the one who caused the crisis, so she should bear the losses! Callum¡¯s eyes darkened as he saw the way everyone else was ganging up on Elspeth as if they couldn¡¯t wait to sue her in court. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a little too absurd? Elspeth has already resigned, so we can¡¯t find her.¡± A thought seemed to ur to Emma. ¡°Before Elspeth left, she told me that Alphascape is a good company to work for. Could she¡­ be at Alphascape now?¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible. She¡¯s not that kind of person.¡± Seeing the way Callum refuted without hesitation, Emma said, ¡°But Elspeth said you two have broken up, and she said that you share different ideals in life. Maybe¡­ she¡¯s not the type of person you think she is.¡± Since their best interests were on the line, the others weren¡¯t about to let things slide so easily. One of them suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t we head over to Alphascape and look for her? Make her exin herself!¡± He stood up in a huff at once. However, before he could leave the room, the door opened, and everyone was shocked to see who it was. Elspeth?! They were going to look for her, but here she was, delivering herself up. ¡°You came just in time, Elspeth. We¡¯re just about to settle the score with you.¡± ¡°What a coincidence. I¡¯m here to settle a score, too.¡± Elspeth sat down calmly as if she belonged in the room with everyone else. An uneasy feeling rose in Emma¡¯s heart. ¡°What score do you have to settle, huh? Aren¡¯t you the one who damaged thepany and left to join Alphascape? Why are you pretending like you¡¯re the victim now?¡± These were such harsh usations, but Elspeth wasn¡¯t bothered by them. ¡°It¡¯s only been a few days since I left. I didn¡¯t expect to see that someone has shoved all the me on me.¡± Elspeth¡¯s gaze fell upon Emma, who felt a chill run down her spine. Why is shepletely different from the way she wasst time? She was still friendly and warm toward me just a few days ago, but now, she¡¯s cold and distant, as if she¡¯s worlds apart from me. Had it all been an act? Emma was engrossed in her spections while Elspeth leaned carelessly into her seat and addressed the angry crowd, ¡°Tell me. How did I damage Winthrop Group?¡± One of them immediately said, ¡°You told Emma about that lousy factory, and that¡¯s why thepany has incurred 150 million in losses. We don¡¯t have that kind of cash flow right now. So, don¡¯t you think you should take responsibility for this?¡± Elspeth smirked. ¡°Was Emma the one who told you this?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Stop changing the subject. Tell us how you¡¯re going to resolve this.¡± She was about to speak when someone knocked on the door beforeing over and politely addressing her as the CEO, passing a stack of documents to her. ¡°CEO? What CEO?¡± Everyone assumed that Elspeth had be a senior executive at Alphascape, so they froze in shock when they heard the word ¡®CEO.¡¯ Even Emma was startled as well. Chapter 152 Chapter 152 ¡°The CEO of Azure Corporation.¡± Elspeth¡¯s subordinate dered coolly after noticing everyone¡¯s shocked expressions. Azure Corporation? Isn¡¯t that thepany that burst onto the scene and became one of the top three companies in the country in just two years? And she is the CEO of Azure Corporation? Isn¡¯t that a little too unbelievable? As Callum stared at Elspeth, who had an aura ofplete confidence and assuredness, his mind began to wander. He recalled the way she came to his office a week ago to discuss her departure from thepany. ¡°I suspect something¡¯s wrong with Emma, but I don¡¯t know whether or not you believe me since she shares quite a resemnce with your first love.¡± Her voice was reserved as she spoke, but he could see the insecurity in her eyes. His heart panged as he realized that he had neglected her feelings. ¡°I trust you.¡± Elspeth¡¯s eyes lit up slightly. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one I like now, so I trust you.¡± Callum sighed. ¡°In any case, that was all in the past. I stopped caring about her a long time ago.¡± What he cared about was how abruptly the rtionship ended. He merely agonized over the fact that his feelings had been for nothing. In truth, he didn¡¯t miss his first love in any way. ¡°By the way, here¡¯s a word of advice. You should look into Emma¡¯s past. Perhaps you¡¯ll find something useful.¡± ¡°Since you¡¯re not going to protect her, then everything won¡¯t go wrong.¡± Elspeth seemed a lot more confident now as she smiled and asked, ¡°I have a n. Care to hear it?¡± ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°I think Emma¡¯s goal is to drive a wedge between us and use that to bring about a crisis in the Winthrop Group. Why don¡¯t we go along with it and act as if we¡¯re fighting?¡± Callum was willing to go along with the n, but a thought shed across his mind, causing him to frown. ¡°But doing this is incredibly risky. We¡¯d have to elevate Emma¡¯s position. What if she does something that¡¯ll harm thepany?¡± Elspeth had already ounted for all the possibilities. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. When the timees, I¡¯ll resign so that she can carry out her n to its fullest. You don¡¯t have to worry about the losses thepany might incur. No matter how much it is, I have a way of covering it.¡± So, her solution was to expose her identity as the CEO of Azure Corporation. If she¡¯s Azure¡¯s CEO, then her promise to turn the tides wasn¡¯t a lie. Callum¡¯s eyes shed smugly. He had been right¡ªshe was indeed Azure Corporation¡¯s CEO. After all, she arranged for someone to enter Luminous Entertainment with great ease, and even the vice president of Azure Corporation treated her with courtesy. However, the others who were present didn¡¯t believe this, especially Emma. ¡°Elspeth, even if you don¡¯t want to take responsibility for this, you shouldn¡¯te up with such a tant lie. Your reputation would be ruined when your lie¡¯s exposed.¡± It was as if Emma was giving her advice out of concern, but in reality, she was merely trying to tell everyone that Elspeth was just faking it. The others snapped out of their dazes as their minds cleared at once. How could Elspeth be the CEO of Azure Corporation? If she was, then why would she have worked diligently at Winthrop Group? Wouldn¡¯t she have just stayed as the CEO of Azure? ¡°It¡¯s not up to you to dere whether or not it¡¯s a lie.¡± Emma dropped all pretense of niceties as she shed a cold smile. ¡°Show us something that proves you¡¯re the CEO of Azure Corporation, then.¡± ¡°What if I am?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re the CEO of Azure, then I¡¯ll get on my knees and apologize to you!¡± Elspeth¡¯s interest was piqued. She stared at Emma in amusement. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re willing to apologize to me?¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Of course. Stop trying to put up a strong front, Elspeth.¡± Emma never considered the possibility that she might lose. It was the same previously when she had full confidence she could enter Winthrop Group and drive a wedge between Elspeth and Callum. Elspeth tapped away on her phone. No one knew what she had sent, but soon, a man appeared at the entrance to the meeting room. Everyone knew who this was¡ªHarper Summerfield, the vice president of Azure Corporation. He saw where Elspeth was seated and walked over with a smile. ¡°Why did you ask me toe here, Elspeth?¡± Elspeth gestured at Emma and cocked her eyebrows. ¡°She said she doesn¡¯t believe that I¡¯m the CEO of Azure. Go ahead and tell her whether or not I am.¡± Harper was unbothered as he said, ¡°Who the heck is she? You don¡¯t have to care what she thinks. Either way, she¡¯s not the CEO of Azure.¡± Emma turned pale at the humiliation she felt. ¡°Still, if we don¡¯t clear things up now, she¡¯s going to continue running her mouth and causing trouble.¡± Elspeth shook her head and said with a reluctant expression, ¡°Go ahead and tell her whether or not I am the CEO of Azure.¡± Harper¡¯s cavalier expression instantly disappeared. He looked at Emma indifferently as he dered, ¡°She¡¯s the CEO of Azure Corporation. If there¡¯s anything else you¡¯re not satisfied with, feel free to ask me.¡± He was rather poised and intimidating when he grew serious. Emma froze in shock. By now, she could no longer act dumb, even if she wanted to, so she chuckled awkwardly. ¡°Not at all. It¡¯s good to hear that Elspeth is the CEO of Azure¡­¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right. You just said that you¡¯d get on your knees and apologize to me if I were the CEO of Azure. Are you going to keep your word?¡± Elspeth casually brought this up, and Emma¡¯s expression immediately soured. ¡°Elspeth, we graduated from the same university. Aren¡¯t you being a little too unkind¡­¡± A proud woman like Emma wasn¡¯t about to get on her knees and apologize. She wanted to get out of it by appealing to emotions instead. ¡°Thanks for reminding me. I nearly forgot about this.¡± Elspeth took out a document from the stack of papers in herp and threw it onto the table. ¡°Emma Gatling¡­ You¡¯re not Emma Gatling, right?¡± Emma¡¯s heart started pounding. ¡°What are you talking about? How can I not be Emma Gatling?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have thought to look into your background if you didn¡¯t keep emphasizing the fact that you graduated from the same university as me.¡± ¡°Emma Gatling was a top student. Her photos can be found everywhere, and you look nothing like her. You stole her identity because you wanted to use her name to enter the Winthrop Group and fool everyone, didn¡¯t you?¡± Elspeth hit the nail right on the head. Emma couldn¡¯t say anything in her defense. It was the truth, after all. Emma had been too confident. She thought Elspeth wouldn¡¯t think to look into things, so that was why she dared to talk about her identity. Who would have known? Emma¡¯s eyes hardened as she said, ¡°What does this have to do with you harming Winthrop Group? Even though my identity was falsified, I never did anything to harm thepany.¡± At the sight of Emma¡¯s fervent attempts to defend herself, Elspeth dered icily, ¡°Since you refuse to admit it yourself, don¡¯t me me for exposing every single thing you¡¯ve done instead.¡± Chapter 153 Chapter 153 Emma was on edge at the thought of the things Elspeth could have discovered. She was afraid Elspeth might have found out about her deal with Alphascape. Elspeth would surely run her out of thepany and might even report her to the police. 150 million¡­ It¡¯s 150 million! Emma knew she would be heading to prison if the Winthrop Group pressed charges against her! Thankfully for Emma, she was good atworking, and some of them came to her defense when they saw Elspeth taking such a forceful stance. ¡°Even though Emma¡¯s identity is a lie, she¡¯s a good person. She helped me out a lot.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I couldn¡¯t finish my work once, and it was Emma who helped me with it.¡± ¡°Emma switched tasks with me so I could take the day off when my son was sick.¡± It was clear that Emma had managed to win the hearts of many of those in the room as they began putting in a good word for her. ¡°Oh? Are you defending her regardless of what she does simply because she helped you before?¡± Elspeth wanted tough. ¡°What makes you think I¡¯m the one who caused thepany¡¯s crisis?¡± These people were ruled by their hearts, not by their reason. Some shied away, but some were still trying to fight Elspeth on this. ¡°Show us the proof, then. We just think that Emma¡¯s too nice to do such a thing, whereas you¡¯re the CEO of Azure Corporation. Maybe you snuck into thepany to destroy us so that there¡¯s one less obstacle in Azure¡¯s future.¡± They were not going to see through Emma¡¯s facade if Elspeth didn¡¯t show them the evidence, so she gave the documents to her assistant, who then passed a copy to everyone. ¡°These are records of Emma¡¯s calls with Alphascape Group. There are quite a number of them, and every number can be linked to one of Alphascape¡¯s senior executives.¡± Then, she added, ¡°Furthermore, Emma gave the owner of the factory 100 thousand to ruin the products, and the owner agreed to do so out of his greed. However, he¡¯s also a coward, so when I said I was going to sue him, he confessed to everything. This is the statement from the owner with his signature and fingerprint.¡± Those in the meeting room pored over the documents. After studying the documents for what felt like hours, they had to admit that they had been blinded by Emma. She was nothing like what they thought she was. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ¡°Emma, do you know that the things you¡¯ve done are enough to ensure you suffer for the rest of your life?¡± Now that everything had been exposed, Emma didn¡¯t bother keeping up her act anymore. She put on an aggrieved expression as she wailed at Callum, ¡°Mr. Winthrop, seeing as how I resemble your first love, can¡¯t you let me off the hook?¡± Callum felt nothing but disgust when he heard what she said. ¡°Why should I let you off the hook just because you share a resemnce to her? Don¡¯t be so full of yourself, Emma.¡± As he looked at her crying visage, he recalled the memories of that rtionship. However, not only did he not feel any sympathy, but he became even more annoyed. ¡°I don¡¯t have any feelings toward her anymore. Didn¡¯t Arthur tell you that?¡± Emma froze in disbelief. That¡¯s impossible! Arthur told me that Callum¡¯s still hung up on his first love and that I¡¯d definitely get out of everything if I just relied on my face. Why does it seem as if he despises me even more now? Emma might have been confident, but she was just a young woman. After realizing how firm Elspeth was on this, her body went limp with fear. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you everything Alphascape had told me, so please don¡¯t press charges against me!¡± Elspeth knew full well what Alphascape had done, so she couldn¡¯t be bothered to listen. If Alphascape was willing to send a woman as stupid as Emma over, it proved that she was nothing more than an expendable chess piece. In that case, how could she possibly know any of Alphascape¡¯s secrets? Elspeth chuckled and shook her head. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary, Emma. You can tell the police instead and see if they forgive you.¡± The police?! Emma almost cked out. The police soon arrived to take her away with them. She left thepany in despair. However, there was still an urgent matter that required a resolution. Winthrop Group owed 150 million, and they couldn¡¯t gather the funds that quickly. Everyone was distraught. The atmosphere became dark and moody. Elspeth stroked her chin thoughtfully. ¡°I heard that Winthrop Group suffered a loss of 150 million. Is that right?¡± Callum nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s about 150 million if webine the forecasted profits and penalty.¡± After hearing that, she nced at Harper, who instantly got the hint and wrote a check for 150 million before passing it to Callum. ¡°It¡¯s just 150 million. We at Azure can still afford that much.¡± Elspeth wasn¡¯t exaggerating, as Azure did indeed have that much spare cash on hand. While it wasn¡¯t necessarily a drop in the bucket, the sum was still fairly measly in the eyes of Azure. Everyone at the meeting was shocked to see how generous she was with the money. At the same time, they were even more in awe of Azure Corporation. They brought out 150 million just like that! Even though Winthrop Group¡¯s one of the most dominant companies in Damoria, we still can¡¯t do it quite so easily. Just how deep-pocketed is Azure? ¡°Don¡¯t look so surprised. Winthrop Group can always share some of the dividends with Azure once you¡¯ve recovered from this.¡± The others swallowed their saliva withplicated expressions when they saw Elspeth¡¯s unperturbed reaction. Not like our dividends would mean anything to them. If we bring over Winthrop Group¡¯s profits to Azure, they might end up thanking us for treating them to a meal instead. That being said, everyone now had a newfound respect for Elspeth. She wasn¡¯t angered by their suspicion and was willing to expose a mole on behalf of Winthrop Group. She even helped them pay off their debt. Mr. Winthrop must¡¯ve saved the world in his previous life to meet someone as good as her. Callum knew Elspeth wanted to do them a favor out of the kindness of her heart, but he was still somewhat reluctant. ¡°It¡¯s a loan. We¡¯ll pay it back.¡± ¡°Why do you need to pay it back? We¡¯re in a rtionship. What¡¯s yours is mine, and what¡¯s mine is still mine.¡± Elspeth ignored the dark expression on his face as she continued, ¡°Since the money¡¯s with me, what¡¯s wrong with me giving my boyfriend some allowance?¡± After hearing it all, Callum could tell she wanted him to ept the money with an easy heart. He couldn¡¯t resist stroking her head. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll transfer Winthrop Group¡¯s shares to you. That way, you¡¯ll have ownership of the company, too.¡± Everyone was shocked to hear the conversation between the two. An allowance of 150 million? Transferring your shares just like that? A rtionship built on fortune¡­ is more touching than I expected. Callum sensed that something was amiss with the atmosphere. He nced around the room and saw everyone else staring at them as if they were watching a romance movie. Their piercing gazes made him feel rather awkward. ¡°You can all get back to work now if there¡¯s nothing else. Anyone who stays here for gossip will forfeit half a month¡¯s sry.¡± Callum lived up to his reputation of being a merciless boss. His domineering order killed the mood as everyone fled the scene at once. Elspeth hooked her arms around his neck andughed until her sides ached. ¡°In a way, they¡¯re quite adorable.¡± Callum didn¡¯t join in on theughter. His eyes bore straight into her. ¡°The CEO of Azure Corporation, huh?¡± He smirked. His voice grew dangerous as he said, ¡°So, tell me. Why did you hide this from me?¡± Chapter 154 Chapter 154 Elspeth blushed after being questioned. As she looked at the solemn Callum, she replied nonchntly, ¡°Mm.¡± Since Callum was observant, she dared not lie to him. ¡°I was worried that you might think I have an ulterior motive¡­ Would you let me stay at Winthrop Group if you found out about my identity?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Callum replied without hesitation. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll admit that I was being narrow-minded.¡± However, Callum¡¯s expression remained solemn. ¡°So, what are your ns after revealing your identity?¡± He was worried that she would leave Winthrop Group after her identity as the president of Azure Corporation was revealed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. I won¡¯t go back to Azure Corporation.¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but chuckle after figuring out what he was concerned about. Callum¡¯s grave expression finally brightened up by a tad. ¡°Earlier on, you mentioned that Winthrop Group will belong to me. Do you still mean it?¡± Elspeth teased him when she saw how grim his expression was. She was trying to lighten the mood, but Callum took it seriously. Of course, Callum wouldn¡¯t hand it over to her just like that. As he stood up, he replied nonchntly, ¡°Winthrop Group will be yours if you get engaged to me.¡± ¡°Callum, doesn¡¯t it ur to you that you might be asking for trouble?¡± she asked in surprise as she had never seen such an upfront person that would give his establishedpany away as promised. ¡°I can start anotherpany after giving it away but where can I find another wife after she has left me?¡± Callum smiled. Elspeth blushed at the mention of the word ¡®wife¡¯. I never said that I¡¯m going to be his wife. He sounded like she would agree to marry him immediately. ¡°Stop with the nonsense. I never said that I¡¯m going to get engaged to you.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± His gaze darkened after hearing that. ¡°Can you repeat yourself?¡± Seeing how he was inching toward her, she immediately took a step back. ¡°I haven¡¯t had time to think about it and you shouldn¡¯t be forcing me. Shouldn¡¯t we let it happen naturally?¡± She realized that she was the one asking for trouble! ¡°When are you going to marry me if I don¡¯t pressure you to do it?¡± Callum pulled her into his arms and whispered in her ears. ¡°Why are you in such a rush?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t wait any longer.¡± The thought of numerous men hovering around Elspeth made him furious. ke, Jordan, Harper, and the abnormal Arthur¡­ All of them seem to be interested in Elspeth. If he didn¡¯t make her his wife soon, he was afraid that they might cause a stir between them. Although Elspeth was touched by his reply, she would still be troubled even if both of them were together. ¡°Let¡¯s not rush it. There¡¯s something that I need to take care of.¡± There had always been a matter that gnawed at her mind, which was the unresolved matter about her mother. She believed that there must be something behind her mother¡¯s departure. Her mother wouldn¡¯t have left them heartlessly when she was that in love with her father. However, it was a big mystery and she had no idea where to start. If this matter wasn¡¯t resolved, she wouldn¡¯t feel at ease when she was with Callum. ¡°You must have heard that my mom and dad had a conflict, and she left us after that.¡± Elspeth looked at Callum with flickering eyes, and she seemed dispirited. ¡°I know.¡± He gently caressed her hair. ¡°I would like to find my mother first before getting engaged.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you hate her?¡± ¡°She left us when I was young, so I had no memory of it. However, I know that she is a kind woman so she wouldn¡¯t have given up on us that easily. I suspect that there¡¯s more to it.¡± Elspeth shook her head. Callum could understand her suggestion since anyone would wish that their parents were present to witness them getting engaged and married. Since Elspeth¡¯s father had passed away and her mother could still be found, Callum had no reason to disagree. ¡°Let¡¯s look for her together.¡± ¡°Thank you, Callum.¡± Elspeth finally let out a smile. ¡°No problem. Let¡¯s head home now. I think my dad might know something about it. You can ask him. Maybe we might get some clues from there.¡± Hearing that, she nodded and both of them headed to the Winthrop Residence after getting off work. When Theodore, who was reading the papers on the couch, saw the couple walking in together, he felt somewhat emotional. Elspeth went up to him to greet him before asking tentatively, ¡°Mr. Winthrop, I heard that you were close to my parents. Could you please tell me about what happened in the past?¡± Theodore couldn¡¯t bring himself to reject her request when she saw how eager she was to know the truth. Although the incident bothered him still, he was willing to let her know about it. ¡°Your parents are kind people, s¡­ Your mother went missing when you were two years old. Poor Davion had to carry on with life and raise a two-year-old by himself.¡± Theodore was ruminating about the past, but Elspeth¡¯s emotions were stirred up by it. ¡°Missing?¡± Noticing that Elspeth might not be aware of the truth, Theodore realized that he might have misspoken and he suddenly didn¡¯t know what to say. ¡°Elsie, didn¡¯t¡­ you know about this incident?¡± ¡°Before this, my dad told me that my mom was mad at him, so she left. She hadn¡¯te back ever since.¡± Elspeth shook her head. It seemed like her hunch was right. It wasn¡¯t that her mother had left, it was because she had gone missing. Hearing that, Theodore let out a sigh. ¡°Your father was indeed seriously ill and was left with ten years to live. Because of that, he didn¡¯t want to hold your mother back. He nned to send her back to her own family, but she suddenly went missing. There wasn¡¯t any news about her. He probably kept it a secret from you as he was worried that you might concern yourself with it and affect your studies.¡± Theodore then smiled. ¡°She would have been very proud if she knew that her daughter had turned out to be an outstanding and beautiful woman.¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Elspeth knew that Theodore was trying tofort her, but she couldn¡¯t help feeling sorrowful. ¡°I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll be able to locate her since she went missing.¡± Theodore, who wasn¡¯t expecting her to have such an intention, felt touched by her decision. ¡°All these years, I helped your father look for her, and the search even continued after your father passed away. s, there isn¡¯t any trace of her.¡± What could have been the reason behind Mom¡¯s disappearance? So many years had passed, but there was no news about her. The thought of it made Elspeth frown. ¡°Right, do you know about your mother¡¯s family?¡± Elspeth was caught off guard when Theodore suddenly asked her about it. Since Theodore was concerned about her, she decided to let him know that she had investigated them, but she hid the fact that she had met the Jonesons earlier on. ¡°I did a check on them. They are the Jonesons from ydal.¡± Since the Joneson Family was affluent, it was easy to get information about them. Theodore nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right. They are the Jonesons from ydal. However, they had always looked down on your father, thus¡ª¡± He was interrupted by the butler who scurried over. ¡°Sir, a group of men appeared at our doorstep and they requested to see Miss Lynwood.¡± Chapter 155 Chapter 155 ¡°See me?¡± Elspeth was puzzled. ¡°There are around a dozen men who look like bodyguards, but their uniforms are made of premium fabric. They might not be just anybody.¡± The butler nodded and spoke incoherently. Hearing that, Elspeth suddenly had a hunch of who they could be. ¡°Miss Lynwood, you should go take a look.¡± Elspeth nodded in agreement and walked out as she didn¡¯t want to cause the Winthrop Family any trouble. Upon stepping out of the house, Elspeth saw a group of men standing before her. As soon as their leader saw Elspeth, the frown on his face turned into a smile. ¡°You must be Miss Lynwood. Mr. Joneson mentioned that he made ns with you and asked me to send you there.¡± Elspeth recalled that she had promised him that she would visit the Joneson Residence in a few days, but she had been so busy that the visit had been dyed for a month. ¡°You must be the butler. I¡¯m sorry but I can¡¯t pay a visit to the Joneson Residence for now as I have some matters to take care of,¡± Elspeth said with a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, Miss Lynwood. Mr. Joneson told us that if you refused toe with us, we would have to persuade you to do so,¡± the butler replied apologetically. Hearing that, Elspeth understood that she had no choice but to go. She frowned as it didn¡¯t feel like what her uncle would have done. However, since the butler worked for the Joneson Family, it was most probably someone else¡¯s idea. Her grandfather whom she had never met before could be the one. ¡°You¡¯re leaving me with no choice,¡± Elspeth said as she squinted her eyes. The butler wasn¡¯t mad after hearing that and instead, he took a look around before asking, ¡°Could you get your men to back off? I have something to discuss with you in private.¡± ¡°All of them are our men. Elspeth is my fianc¨¦e, so she is considered part of the Winthrop Family. There¡¯s no need for us to back off.¡± Callum sounded displeased. ¡°Miss Lynwood, how could you simply get engaged to someone?¡± The butler was surprised to hear that. The butler¡¯s remark didn¡¯t sit well with Elspeth as his views were archaic. It made her feel ufortable. ¡°This is not something that you should interfere with. Just say what you want to say.¡± Elspeth was done being courteous to him. ¡°Old Mr. Joneson instructed that we have to bring you back. If not, we¡¯ll be punished. I¡¯m sure you wouldn¡¯t prefer it if we forced you.¡± The butler¡¯s words were a tant threat and Elspeth had no idea what they had up their sleeves. Before she could speak, the outraged Callum red at the butler and spoke in an icy cold tone, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare touch her.¡± The butler shuddered upon noticing Callum¡¯s aura and knew that he shouldn¡¯t mess with Callum. ¡°Miss Lynwood, I¡¯m sure that you wouldn¡¯t want us to start a fight.¡± The butler¡¯s tone softened. ¡°I¡¯ve already made myself clear. I don¡¯t have time to go over there with you right now. I¡¯ll visit personally after some time,¡± Elspeth sneered. Upon hearing that, the butler¡¯s gaze turned vicious. He waved his hand, and the bodyguards formed a row. ¡°Miss Lynwood, don¡¯t me us for using force as you¡¯re being uncooperative.¡± Since they were standing in front of the Winthrop Residence, it would taint the Winthrops¡¯ reputation if a fight broke out. With that in mind, Elspeth finally responded after giving it some thought, ¡°Let¡¯s discuss this somewhere else.¡± Seeing that Elspeth was up for a discussion, the butler stopped using force and smiled. ¡°Sure, since Miss Lynwood is willing toe with us.¡± With that, he signaled the men next to him to open the car door. ¡°Miss Lynwood, let¡¯s discuss this at a cafe.¡± Callum wanted to follow but was stopped by the butler. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, you aren¡¯t invited.¡± Elspeth looked at Callum, signaling to him that she would be back soon. Upon getting in the car, she was surprised to see that someone was sleeping inside. His head was leaned back on the seat and he had supple, fair skin. Elspeth was surprised to see a familiar face. After bumping into her uncle the other time, she investigated everyone in the Joneson Family. The man sitting in front of her was Frank Joneson, also known as the Prince of ydal. He was Michael¡¯s second grandson. Michael had two grandsons, the eldest one of whom was Keh, who was an e- sports master. He topped the charts yearly but since he spent most of his days in the club, he wasn¡¯t as well known. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Frank, on the other hand, was well known throughout ydal as the Prince of ydal. s, he had a callous personality and usually refused to hang around anyone. However, this cold personality of his didn¡¯t stop girls from doing all they could to marry him. His looks were even as attractive as Callum¡¯s. Noticing that someone got in the car, Frank slowly opened his eyes. When he saw Elspeth, he scoffed without saying a word. His actions baffled Elspeth. Seeing Frank¡¯s look of disdain, she immediately took back her opinion about him being good-looking. ¡°Are you Grandpa¡¯s long-lost granddaughter? Are you a fake?¡± The first thing he uttered had angered Elspeth. ¡°I wonder how many dogs the Joneson Family has. I keep hearing dogs barking in Damoria.¡± She simply implied that he was a dog. Frank wasn¡¯t mad after hearing it, but he gave her a hostile re. ¡°Such a rude woman. You will still be a ssless woman even if you returned to the Joneson Family.¡± ¡°If you are indeed capable, you should stop me from going back. I¡¯ll remember to visit your grave with flowers every year in the future.¡± She rolled her eyes at him. Frank¡¯s expression was grim as it was his first time losing an argument. ¡°I don¡¯t understand why Grandpa wanted me to bring you back. You have been living by yourself for so many years and look what you¡¯ve be.¡± ¡°I¡¯m aplished. Thank you for yourpliment,¡± she replied sarcastically. ¡°Aplished¡­ You can sing, draw designs, and open apany. Do you regard these as aplishments? Yes, Azure Corporation is one of the top threepanies in the country, but do you know what Joneson Corporation¡¯s international ranking is?¡± Elspeth tried to hold back herugh after hearing his questions. ¡°So, what do all these have to do with you, Frank?¡± He was furious at how chatty she was. Finally, they arrived at a cafe. Elspeth sat on the chair with a straight face as she uttered, ¡°I really don¡¯t have the time now.¡± The butler didn¡¯t know what to do when she saw how stubborn Elspeth was. Since there were in public, he couldn¡¯t use force. ¡°Mr. Joneson, you should try to persuade Miss Lynwood.¡± ¡°You can do it yourself.¡± Frank was reluctant to speak to her. ¡°Do you see this? It¡¯s obvious that the Jonesons don¡¯t wee me. Go back and inform old Mr. Joneson that I won¡¯t be visiting.¡± Chapter 156 Chapter 156 After Elspeth finished talking, she looked at Frank¡¯s cocky expression and acted as if she was in pity. ¡°Mr. Joneson, please don¡¯t make things hard for me and try to talk to Miss Lynwood. After all, this is old Mr. Joneson¡¯s order. Things won¡¯t be pretty if we can¡¯t take her back.¡± Although Frank was annoyed, he still nodded and said, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°How are you going to persuade me then, Mr. Joneson?¡± asked Elspeth while she raised an eyebrow in amusement. ¡°I¡¯m not going to. Just go back with me.¡± Hearing his words, Elspeth clicked her tongue and said, ¡°Is this how you ask for a favor?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not asking for a favor, Elspeth!¡± Frank retorted. Elspeth was driving him going crazy. How on earth does she have such a glib tongue? Why am I the one who needs to talk to her? ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll stop messing around. Why are you in such a rush to bring me home?¡± Elspeth stopped smiling and asked. Frank was frustrated and pinched the area between his brows. ¡°Grandfather said he misses you.¡± ¡°Is it just because of this?¡± Frank thought for a moment before saying, ¡°He did want you to change your surname to Joneson and be one of us.¡± Then, he looked at her like she was something unpleasant. ¡°I¡¯ll never understand what he sees in you. He said that you¡¯re a young and promising woman and that you¡¯re no doubt a Joneson.¡± ¡°I¡¯m ttered. Unlike someone arrogant, he has an eye for talent.¡± Elspeth smiled faintly. Frank felt disgusted by her figure of speech and red at her. ¡°Well, what do you say?¡± he asked. ¡°I¡¯m not going to be a Joneson. I¡¯m a Lynwood,¡± replied Elspeth. She wasn¡¯t going to recognize the Jonesons as her family when it was Grover who had raised her. When Frank heard her refusal, he was confused. After all, many people wanted to curry favor with the Joneson Family, yet Elspeth had her own principles and refused to be one of them. All of a sudden, he felt that she wasn¡¯t that annoying anymore. ¡°It¡¯s better if you tell Grandfather about this by yourself,¡± said Frank. On the other hand, when the butler saw that things weren¡¯t going well, he said, ¡°Please don¡¯t make things difficult for us, Miss Lynwood. We¡¯re just following orders. If you don¡¯t wish toe with us, I might have to force you to.¡± ¡°And how will you do that? Are you going to kidnap me?¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t mind his threats. ¡°Of course not.¡± The butler smiled. ¡°You¡¯re important in the family, so I would never use force on you. However, the Winthrop Family might face some problems.¡± The butler had noticed that the Winthrop Family was important to Elspeth when she wanted to talk elsewhere. As the saying went, hit where it hurt the most; since the Winthrop Family was her weakness, he would use it against her. As expected, Elspeth¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare. I just hope that you know what¡¯s good for you. After all, you know how strong the Joneson Family is. It will be a piece of cake for us to go against the Winthrops, and no one will notice it,¡± said the butler. Then, he thought, Even if people knew about it, no one would say anything. After all, who would dare to get in the way of the Joneson Family? Elspeth clenched her fists under the table and took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± To be honest, she was able to get out of this matter, but she was unsure what would happen if they were to use the Winthrop Family against her. After all, she knew how strong the Joneson Family were when she investigated them, so she didn¡¯t want to risk the safety of the Winthrop Family. Helena¡¯s matter would have to wait. Finally, the butler smiled brightly and said, ¡°You¡¯re indeed a smart woman, Miss Lynwood. Let us get going, then. We should be there in a few hours.¡± However, Elspeth shook her head. ¡°I have to go back to the Winthrops as I still have some business to deal with. Can you give me two hours?¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Of course.¡± The butler nodded without hesitation since he was afraid that Elspeth would have second thoughts if he pressured her too hard. When Elspeth returned to the Winthrop Residence, Callum was waiting for her in the living room. Seeing that she looked unhappy upon her return, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did they bully you?¡± Elspeth saw his worried look and smiled as she shook her head and said, ¡°No way. I¡¯m Elspeth. Who would dare bully me? Only I would do that to others. However, I have to pay a visit to the Joneson Family.¡± ¡°Do you really have to go?¡± Callum felt like the Jonesons were up to no good and he was worried that Elspeth might get in trouble there. ¡°I don¡¯t have a choice. They insisted.¡± Elspeth sighed. ¡°To avoid unwanted problems, it¡¯s better if I go and look. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m old Mr. Joneson¡¯s granddaughter. They won¡¯t hurt me.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to go if you don¡¯t want to. I¡¯ll protect you.¡± Callum looked at her with a sense of protection. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I should be back soon. In the meantime, take care of thepany.¡± Initially, Callum wanted to tag along, but he hesitated as he thought about Winthrop Group. Hence, he said, ¡°Take care of yourself. Call me if anything happens. I¡¯ll be there as soon as possible.¡± Elspeth nodded. Then, she bid her goodbyes to Theodore before she left in the Joneson Family¡¯s car. Elspeth had lived in a small vige in Damoria when she was young. When she was older, she went abroad for some time before returning to Damoria. Never had she thought that she would arrive at ydal like this. ydal was the capital of the country. Unlike Damoria, which was a city where the nightlife was bustling, ydal was a busy city that boasted a luxurious lifestyle. Although the Joneson Family lived in the center of ydal, the environment was quiet and clean, which meant they had a high status there. As soon as Elspeth saw the Joneson Residence¡¯s courtyard, she couldn¡¯t help but feel amazed. After all, it looked like a colonial style manor rather than a courtyard. When Frank, who was beside her, saw her amazed expression, he couldn¡¯t help but mock her. ¡°Ignorant fool.¡± ¡°What?¡± Elspeth raised her eyebrow and looked at him. ¡°Do you think I can¡¯t afford it?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you are rich or not. You are still an unworldly person. Upstarts are just country bumpkins who have lots of money.¡± Frank snorted. After Elspeth heard his words, she tried to calm down but to no avail. Seeing that there was a flowerbed beside her, she kicked Frank into it when he wasn¡¯t looking at her. Frank wasn¡¯t severely injured since she didn¡¯t use much force. However, for the Prince of ydal to be kicked into the flowerbed, he would be aughingstock for years toe. Frank crushed a bunch of flowers and fell to the ground, which was hrious. Frank only realized what had happened after some time. He couldn¡¯t believe that he had been kicked into a flowerbed by a weak-looking woman. Then, he brushed off the flower that was on his head and stood up. Seeing that Elspeth wasughing hysterically, he gritted his teeth and growled, ¡°Elspeth!¡± Just as he was going to jump out of the flowerbed and teach her a lesson, a pebble flew toward him out of nowhere and hit his leg, which caused him to lose his bnce. Then, he fell back into the flowerbed once again. ¡°Frank!¡± Suddenly, someone called out to him not far away. When Frank heard that familiar voice and thought about his miserable state, his heart sank. Damn it. This is embarrassing. Chapter 157 Chapter 157 It was a tall and slender man who was about Frank¡¯s age. His skin was fair, his eyes were clear, and his hair was light brown. He had a smile on his lips, making him seem friendly. Looking at his face, Elspeth thought about his identity. If my guess is right, he must be Frank¡¯s best friend, Spencer White, she thought. Spencer was famous in ydal since the White Family was in politics and had high status. However, Spencer looked lively and youthful rather than a serious person. Spencer had seen Frank in the flowerbed from a mile away, and he thought it was hrious. Spencer teased as soon as he reached them, ¡°Oh my, I never knew that you like flowers too.¡± When Frank got up, he felt his butt hurt. He endured the pain and snarled, ¡°Why did you do that to me, Elspeth?¡± Initially, he was going to say ¡°kick¡±, but he was too embarrassed to say it since Spencer was here. Hearing his words, Elspeth shrugged and was secretly delighted when she saw his frustrated expression. ¡°You started it by talking rudely to me.¡± At that moment, Frank red at her. Since there was an outsider, he could only let her off the hook. After all, he couldn¡¯t possibly fight her. ¡°Alright, don¡¯t be so calctive with women. I¡¯m here to ask you something,¡± said Spencer. Frank averted his dark gaze from Elspeth and looked at Spencer. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°We are going to have a wine tasting in a few days. Do you want to join us? I heard that¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going. That¡¯s boring.¡± Frank rejected him without hesitation. Spencer didn¡¯t say anything and chuckled as he looked at Frank¡¯s annoyed expression. ¡°I heard they are giving away the ancient wine ss you always wanted. Are you sure you don¡¯t want to go?¡± Although Frank was bad-tempered, he was a collector. He had a full set of wine sses, but one was missing. He never expected that thest wine ss he was searching for would be in the hands of the organizer of the wine tasting event. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡± On the other hand, Elspeth was uninterested in their conversation. ¡°Where¡¯s Grandfather?¡± Spencer had noticed her from the start. Elspeth had long wavy hair, looked elegant, and had a sense of innocence about her. When did Frank have such beauty around him? he thought. ¡°Who is she, Frank? Is she your hidden girlfriend? Are you taking her to meet your family?¡± When Frank heard his words, he frowned and said, ¡°There¡¯s no way that would happen. She¡¯s my long- lost cousin that I told you about before. I¡¯m bringing her back to the family.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Spencer looked enlightened. ¡°So, this is the legendary Miss Lynwood. It¡¯s nice to meet you.¡± For unknown reasons, Elspeth didn¡¯t like whatever Spencer said. ¡°Nice to meet you, Mr. White.¡± Spencer was ttered. ¡°I haven¡¯t even said who I was, but you already knew. Am I that famous?¡± ¡°Oh yeah. Rumors say that you always spend time with Mr. Joneson. The two of you are inseparable and have feelings for each other. It¡¯s a lovely sight to see.¡± Elspeth was quick-witted. She isn¡¯t wrong with her words, but having feelings for each other¡­ Isn¡¯t that used to describe a couple? Spencer thought. However, he wasn¡¯t mad and thought Elspeth looked cute when she was temperamental. So, heughed and said, ¡°Your cousin is interesting, Frank.¡± When Frank heard Spencer¡¯s tone, he felt proud rather than disgusted for some reason. He wondered if it was because he and Elspeth were rted by blood. ¡°That¡¯s enough talking. I¡¯ll take her to Grandpa while you wait for me by theke. I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± Frank raised his chin toward Spencer. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. After Spencer heard his words, he nodded and strode off. Seeing that he was gone, Frank red at Elspeth hatefully and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go. You¡¯d better watch your mouth when you¡¯re in front of Grandpa.¡± Hearing his words, Elspeth snorted and said, ¡°Mind your own business. I know the rules.¡± ¡°Whatever.¡± Frank didn¡¯t want to talk to her anymore and led her to the living room. The living room was crowded with people, and everyone was curious about Elspeth whom they had never met. They had heard that she was outstanding and wanted to see just who she was. When Elspeth stepped into the room, she wasn¡¯t scared by the sight of them. When the crowd saw her at first nce, they were amazed by her beauty. Then, they started having different thoughts in their mind. With those looks, she was even prettier than Helena, also known as The Beauty of ydal. The people approved of her when they saw that she was bold and didn¡¯t chicken out as she faced the crowd. Is she the same person that the detective told us about? I thought Elspeth was a country bumpkin from a small vige and knew nothing. However, by her looks, she doesn¡¯t look like one. Elspeth didn¡¯t care about the others and only noticed the sixty-year-old man who sat in the middle of the living hall. He was looking at her with teary eyes. Is he my grandfather, Michael, the head of the Joneson Family? When Michael saw Elspeth, who looked simr to Helena, he was filled with emotions. However, he suppressed his excitement and asked, ¡°Are you Elspeth?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Hello, old Mr. Joneson.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t feel the familial bond with them and wondered if it was because she had never gotten in touch with them. On the contrary, she felt nauseous and resistant as she looked at Michael. When Michael heard her words, disappointment shed in his eyes. However, he quickly regained his composure and said, ¡°You should call me Grandfather, not old Mr. Joneson, Elspeth. Come here and let me have a good look at you. You are all grown up now.¡± Then, he beckoned Elspeth toe over, but she didn¡¯t move. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Elspeth suppressed the uneasy feeling in her and exined, ¡°I don¡¯t like to be near strangers with whom I¡¯m not familiar.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Michael nodded. ¡°After all, we have been separated for twenty years. It¡¯s understandable if you don¡¯t see me as your grandfather. However, we have everything you need. If you ever need anything, just tell me, and I will tell Mr. Wordsworth to get it.¡± His words indicated that she would be living here. However, Elspeth shook her head and said, ¡°I¡¯m here today because old Mr. Joneson invited me to come. I have no purpose here and do not wish to be one of the Jonesons. I wish that you can leave me be.¡± Everyone was surprised by how straightforward she was. At that moment, Michael¡¯s smile stiffened. ¡°What did you say?¡± Elspeth gritted her teeth and repeated, ¡°I do not wish to be a part of the Joneson Family. I hope that you can understand this.¡± Chapter 158 Chapter 158 ¡°Leave? You¡¯re my granddaughter, Elspeth. How can I bear to watch you staying outside all alone?¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t know if he was telling the truth, but she felt that he held extreme views, and so he was probably not benevolent. ¡°I don¡¯t need the Joneson Family¡¯s protection. I can protect myself.¡± Michael snorted and said, ¡°Whose help do you need if not ours? The Winthrop Family¡¯s? Mr. Wordsworth told me that you are engaged with Callum. I never understood what good you saw in him when he is nothingpared to you.¡± In that split second, Elspeth knew why she had a nauseous feeling when she looked at him. When she heard his words, her face turned gloomy and she thought, He¡¯s trying to control me by saying he cares for me. He looks like someone who wants all the power to himself. ¡°I have the right to choose whom I want to marry. It¡¯s the 21st century, yet you still want to arrange my marriage for me?¡± Elspeth retorted. Her stubbornness shocked the crowd. After all, aside from Frank, Elspeth was the only one who dared to talk back to Michael. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll leave that be, but you have to promise me that you will stay here.¡± Is he putting me under house arrest? Elspeth¡¯s face darkened even though she had expected the oue. ¡°No. I can¡¯t stay here, as I still have ces to be.¡± However, Michael wouldn¡¯t approve of anyone disobeying him. ¡°Listen, Elspeth. If you be a good girl and stay here, nothing bad will happen to Callum,¡± he said calmly as if he wouldn¡¯t hurt Callum the moment Elspeth disagreed with him. They are threatening me with Callum again. Elspeth knew that the Joneson Family had men in bothw enforcement and the underworld. No one couldpare to them in terms of power, nor would they be brave enough to challenge Michael. Elspeth¡¯s eyes darkened as she hummed in response. Only then did Michael look happy and praise her for being obedient. Frank suddenly said impatiently, ¡°Alright, that should be it. Can we leave if there is nothing more to say? Do we really have to put such a big effort into weing her?¡± Frank was Michael¡¯s favorite. Seeing that he was impatient, Michael stopped asking Elspeth questions and rolled his eyes at Frank. ¡°How can you say that? She¡¯s your cousin! We will be family from now on!¡± ¡°Family? I doubt that she wants this.¡± Frank snorted. Although his words were harsh, he was saying what everyone already knew. Seeing that Frank was about to fly into a rage, Michael didn¡¯t argue with him. He then cleared his throat and said, ¡°Alright. Everyone get back to what they are doing. Frank, since Elspeth is unfamiliar with the surroundings, why don¡¯t you take her for a stroll?¡± ¡°What? Why me?¡± Frank¡¯s eyes twitched. ¡°That¡¯s because you guys are also the same age. The both of you will have many things inmon.¡± Michael wasn¡¯t wrong. After all, the Joneson Family didn¡¯t have many offspring. Nichs¡¯ wife¡ªAnya¡ª gave birth to Keh and L; Dn¡¯s wife gave birth to Frank; and Elspeth was the child of Helena. There were only a total of four children in the house. Hence, it was understandable that Michael didn¡¯t want Elspeth to leave. Although Frank was getting impatient, he didn¡¯t say anything more and agreed to it in silence. ¡°Well then, you must be tired from all the traveling. I have asked someone to clean out a ce for you to stay. Frank, take her to Cluist Pavilion. She will be staying there.¡± Frank nodded when he heard Michael¡¯s words. Then, he looked at Elspeth, who was daydreaming, and said faintly, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Elspeth breathed a sigh of relief and followed Frank out of the room. After a few steps, she suddenly said to Frank, ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°What for?¡± Frank raised his eyebrow. ¡°I suppose you said those words on purpose to save me.¡± She thought that Frank must have known that she didn¡¯t want to stay with Michael any longer. The reason he said those words were to help her get out of that situation. ¡°Don¡¯t tter yourself. I don¡¯t have the time to help you. Have you forgotten that you kicked me into the flowerbed?¡± Frank would be annoyed every time he thought about this and his face turned as ck as thunder. ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. ¡°No matter what, I still owe you a thank you.¡± Looking at him, Elspeth felt that Frank might be a nice person. After all, he wasn¡¯t as arrogant as he seemed. ¡°To be honest, I understand why you would be unwilling to stay here.¡± His sudden words surprised Elspeth. ¡°What did you just say?¡± Frank seemed to realize that he had made a mistake and put on his cocky expression once again. Coldly, he uttered, ¡°Nothing.¡± Since Cluist Pavilion was not far away, they arrived within five minutes. Frank led her to the door, where he stopped and said, ¡°Take a look around inside. Call me if you need anything, but I hope you won¡¯t.¡± Then, he turned around and left. Elspeth clicked her tongue and gave him a nce before entering the room. The room was huge, and the name of the room sounded ancient. Looking at the antique decoration, Elspeth could guess where Michael¡¯s feudal views came from. Suddenly, her phone rang. When she saw that it was Callum, she picked up the phone. ¡°How did it go? Did anyone bully you?¡± Although Callum sounded calm, Elspeth could still hear the concern in it. After thinking for some time, Elspeth still decided to lie to him as she didn¡¯t want him to worry. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. No one bullied me. They are all¡­ nice.¡± Unfortunately, she was terrible at lying, and Callum could tell that she was being dishonest at once. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Yeah. Don¡¯t worry about it. I said I¡¯m fine, right? You have to believe me. After all, when have I ever lied to you?¡± Elspeth giggled. ¡°When are youing back then?¡± Callum¡¯s words took a turn. ¡°About that¡­ I will be home soon. Old Mr. Joneson asked me to stay for a while since he misses me.¡± Callum could tell that Elspeth was locked up there. ¡°Do you want toe home? I can pick you up if you want,¡± Callum said softly. He didn¡¯t care if the Joneson Family was behind this. He would do anything it took to protect Elspeth no matter what. When Elspeth heard his words, she was surprised and quickly shook her head. Then, she realized that he couldn¡¯t have seen her actions and sighed. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I just need to stay here for a while. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m being locked up here. You don¡¯t have to do this.¡± After all, she would find a way out herself. Callum stopped pressing her about it since she was insistent. He only hung up the phone after talking to her for a while more. Looking at her phone, Elspeth sank into deep thought. There¡¯s no way I can stay here for long. If Callum senses something wrong, he wille over immediately. Who knows what will happen then? Suddenly, she thought of Frank and smiled. I have a n. Chapter 159 Chapter 159 On the first day Elspeth moved in, Michael told Frank to take her to the best mall in town for a shopping spree. Frank wanted to refuse, but Michael promised to raise his allowance if he brought Elspeth around town, so he reluctantly took the job. The old man grinned and whipped out a card from his pocket before giving it to Elspeth. ¡°You¡¯re part of the family now, so you too get some allowance. Spend it how you like. Tell me if you need more.¡± The card was ck in color, but the words on it were golden. Elspeth had the same card, and it wasn¡¯t the kind of card that was given away freely, not even to those with power. Michael might be a git, but he was generous with his money. Elspeth was about to refuse, but the old man could be stubborn and sneaky when he wanted to, so she took it. You owe me, old man. Just taking what¡¯s mine. They went to the mall, and Elspeth walked around. Frank followed her with his hands in his pockets. He was also sulking. There weren¡¯t any clothes she liked after visiting several shops, so she bought none. ¡°You can take a rest if you want, Frank. I¡¯ll holler at you once I¡¯m done.¡± She smiled. Oh, he¡¯s wobbling. She clicked her tongue, ¡°Honestly, your stamina sucks.¡± Frank was about to take her up on the offer, but he wouldn¡¯t take that insult from her quietly. ¡°What did you say? Keep walking. We¡¯re not going back until nighttime.¡± Oh good. He¡¯s annoyed. Delighted, she walked away and came to a boutique. One of the dresses inside caught her eye. It was a long fitted ck dress with diamonds embedded along its hem, and the bottom of the dress was pleated to resemble flowers. Its sleeves and cor were connected by nothing but beautiful strips of fabric, revealing the skin of its wearer. Noticing her interest, the retail assistant approached her with a smile. ¡°Good eye, miss. This is our store¡¯s pride and joy. Only three of its kind in the world, and this is thest one. You look perfect in the dress. Would you like to try it on?¡± Elspeth wasn¡¯t interested. She was just observing the dress. This looks familiar. The retail assistant wouldn¡¯t give up and continued, ¡°It¡¯s a nice dress, miss. Why don¡¯t you try it on? You won¡¯t regret it.¡± Then she saw Frank, and her eyes shone. ¡°You can ask your boyfriend. I bet he thinks you look great in this dress too.¡± Elspeth cocked her eyebrow. ¡°He¡¯s not my boyfriend.¡± Frank rolled his eyes. ¡°I would never fall for a woman like her.¡± The retail assistant stood there in awkward silence. Okay, this is interesting. Then, a sickly-sweet voice said, ¡°I like that one. Let me try it on.¡± Elspeth turned around and was met with a girl in expensive clothes, though it couldn¡¯t hide herck of grace and ss. Elspeth took a step back. Thinking that Elspeth was scared of her, the girl raised her head like a proud little peacock. ¡°Good. Don¡¯t even try to get in my way, peasant.¡± Excuse me? Elspeth was about to leave, but then she turned back around. ¡°What did you say?¡± What? Is this peasant talking to me? A frown creased the woman¡¯s forehead and she snapped, ¡°I want this dress, so you¡¯d better stay out of my way, peasant.¡± ¡°You really ought to get your head checked, woman.¡± Wait, why did she say that? A long, long whileter, she realized that Elspeth was mocking her, and it made her anger re. ¡°Do you have any idea who I am? I¡¯m Jordan of the Weiss Family. Nobody talks to me like that.¡± How dare this peasant talk to me like that? She¡¯s dead! Jordan no longer cared about her image and was about to p Elspeth when Elspeth held her hand in a vice grip. No matter what she did, Jordan couldn¡¯t escape, and she shot Elspeth a nasty re. ¡°Nobody stops me, peasant! My father will hear of this! And he¡¯s going to exile you and your family from this city!¡± Just then, Frank stood up and approached Elspeth. ¡°Is that right, Miss Weiss? Did you just say your father would exile my family?¡± He had a smile on his face, but the fury in his voice was unmistakable. ¡°Should I call your father right now and ask him how he¡¯s nning to exile us?¡± Jordan was bbergasted. Frank? Why is he here? Frank was no troublemaker, but anyone who got on his nerves would meet a grisly end. Wait. She¡¯s part of the Jonesons? Jordan wouldn¡¯t even have talked like that to Elspeth if she knew Elspeth was a Joneson. ¡°She¡¯s your family?¡± Jordan knew most of the Jonesons, but she had never seen Elspeth. Elspeth wasn¡¯t part of ydal¡¯s upper society, which was why Jordan dared to talk down to her. ¡°She¡¯s my sister and my grandfather¡¯s grandkid. You have a problem with that?¡± Jordan shook her head as hard as she could. ¡°No. No problem at all. She¡¯s perfect for the dress. It¡¯s all yours, Miss Joneson.¡± Do not call me that. Elspeth said, ¡°Lynwood. My name is Lynwood.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry for crossing you, Miss Lynwood. Please, forgive me.¡± Jordan might be a spoiled brat, but she would never offend the Jonesons. Now, she had no choice but to beg for mercy. If her family was ruined because of this, she would be done for. Elspeth was about to shrug things off, but Frank wanted to be cheeky. ¡°Trying to save your skin?¡± He was up to another prank. ¡°Then you¡¯re paying for the dress.¡± Wow. He looks like a scammer now. For some reason, Elspeth thought it was amusing. Jordan thought her apology was enough, but she was wrong. She grimaced at the thought of the hefty price tag on the dress. Thest time she was here, she saw that this dress cost about seven hundred and fifty grand, which was about five months¡¯ worth of her allowance. She saved up for a long time and begged her father to chip in just so she could buy it, but now she had to give it all up and get nothing in return. Oh my god¡­ She¡¯s hesitating. ¡°What? You won¡¯t do it?¡± Frank sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll call your father then. See if he can exin himself.¡± Panicked, Jordan said, ¡°I¡¯ll do it! Don¡¯t call my father.¡± She took out a card from her bag and reluctantly gave it to the retail assistant. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Thedy swiped the card and returned it to Jordan. ¡°Your remaining bnce is seven dors and thirty- eight cents, Miss Weiss.¡± Elspeth burst intoughter. Chapter 160 Chapter 160 ¡°I see you have it hard, Miss Weiss,¡± mocked Elspeth. Jordan¡¯s face turned sour upon hearing that, but she couldn¡¯t fly into a rage, not when Frank was around. If he pulled another fast one, she would be done for. ¡°If it¡¯s fine with you, Miss Lynwood, m-may I go now?¡± Any further and the prank will lose its meaning. Elspeth nodded, permitting Jordan to leave. Seeing no sign of anger on Elspeth¡¯s face, Frank decided to let Jordan off the hook as well. ¡°Leave. Next time you see my sister, stay out of sight.¡± Jordan wanted to scream, but it was not the time. She forced a smile, gave them a nod, and left. Once she was gone, Elspeth finally burst intoughter. At the sight of herughing so merrily, Frank couldn¡¯t help but teased, ¡°Look at you. Laughing at her when she¡¯s practically broke. Have a heart, would you?¡± Thement was shrugged off, and she looked at him. ¡°I can say the same to you, Mr. Scammer. You came up with that idea.¡± He rolled his eyes at her remark. ¡°I did it for you. Would you be fine with it if she had left without paying the price after she yelled at you?¡± Elspeth froze for a moment before letting out a chuckle. ¡°Someone¡¯s concerned about me, huh?¡± ¡°I am not concerned about you. It¡¯s just that you¡¯re part of us, and this is my job.¡± Someone¡¯s dishonest. However, she didn¡¯t argue further. ¡°I got a dress for free. Sweet! Now, let¡¯s go home.¡± Is she only buying a single dress? ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to get anything else?¡± ¡°No. Let¡¯s go home.¡± Just then, Frank was reminded of something. ¡°Grandpa wanted me to lead you into ydal¡¯s upper society. Why don¡¯t youe with me to a wine tasting tonight?¡± She wasn¡¯t interested in that sort of event. ¡°Not interested.¡± ¡°I just helped you out. You owe me a favor, and now¡¯s the time to pay up.¡± Elspeth shot him a re. ¡°That¡¯s not how you use favors.¡± Regardless, I do owe him one. ¡°I need a partner anyway. Juste with me.¡± He then looked at her andined, ¡°Wait, you don¡¯t have any makeup on? Gods.¡± I know she¡¯s prettier than most women, even without makeup on, but at least doll up a little. ¡°Are there any makeup rooms here?¡± The retail assistant quickly approached her. ¡°We have one here, Miss Lynwood. And fitting rooms, too. You can try out the dress you just got. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll shine the brightest during the wine tasting.¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. The retail assistant is a smart one. Elspeth nodded while smiling. ¡°Thank you.¡± She then went to put some makeup on, leaving Frank alone outside. Out of boredom, he scrolled through his phone, but nothing good came up on his feed. ¡°Frank!¡± a silvery voice called out to him from behind. He turned around and saw a woman in white. ¡°Fancy seeing you here, Frank.¡± Frank wondered why the girl was calling out to him. He stared at her and thought she looked familiar, but he couldn¡¯t recall where he had seen her before. ¡°And you are?¡± Okay, that¡¯s awkward. The woman introduced herself, ¡°I¡¯m Tiffany. Tiffany McFarlene. Don¡¯t you remember me, Frank? We met at the bar.¡± Oh¡­ Um, still not too sure who she is, but okay. Frank nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°I see. What do you want?¡± he said curtly. He was never nice to those whom he wasn¡¯t close with. ¡°Well¡­¡± What¡¯s wrong with him? I¡¯m one of the hottest women in ydal, but he seems like he¡¯s not even interested in me at all. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be leaving. Good day, Miss McFarlene.¡± Elspeth should being out by now. ¡°I¡­¡± Tiffany gritted her teeth and mustered her courage to ask, ¡°I¡¯d like you to be my partner for the wine tasting tonight.¡± If it weren¡¯t for Jordan¡¯s text, she wouldn¡¯t know Frank was right here in this mall. Jordan wanted her to get back at some woman who got on her nerves, but Tiffany couldn¡¯t care less. She just wanted to be Frank¡¯s woman. ¡°Sorry, but I already have a partner.¡± She was stunned upon hearing that. What? Who dares to take him away from me?! Wait, I don¡¯t remember him asking anyone in our circle. They would¡¯ve posted it all over social media if he did. Just when she was about to ask who his partner was, Elspeth came out of the fitting room. The dress fitted her perfectly, and she had a powerful glow-up with the makeup. Everything around her seemed to lose its luster in her presence. Even Tiffany was dumbstruck for a moment. ¡°There¡¯s my partner. Sorry, Miss Tiffany.¡± Good. I expected no less from my sister. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t go out with someone like her. Look at her, dressed up like a wh*re. I bet she¡¯s not clean.¡± Tiffany was fuming with envy. I never knew there was someone this hot in ydal. How is it possible for someone to be this gorgeous? ¡°If I¡¯m a whore, then what does that make you? You came all the way to beg Frank for a chance to be your partner. I remember there¡¯s a name that people call for someone like you. An easy woman, perhaps?¡± Elspeth wouldn¡¯t let anyone talk down to her, especially not some stranger. Since Tiffany wasn¡¯t even her business partner, Elspeth didn¡¯t see a need to hold back. Besides, the Jonesons would back her up if anything were to happen. She could fight back against those who insulted her however she pleased without worrying about consequences. ¡°How dare you! I¡¯ve known Frank for years. You¡¯re just his new toy! Nothing more, nothing less. You don¡¯t get to talk to me like that.¡± Elspeth almost burst intoughter. Why do women in ydal think they¡¯re all hotshots, anyway? They¡¯re simply ridiculous. ¡°I didn¡¯t see himing to your defense, my longtime friend. If I¡¯m his new toy, then you¡¯re just an abandoned doll used by many and ignored by the one you love.¡± Did she just call me a slut? Tiffany lost the argument, and all she could do was stomp her foot in fury. ¡°Just you wait! I¡¯m not letting this slide!¡± Then, she turned to Frank, putting on a sad look. ¡°Look at her, Frank. I didn¡¯t even do anything to her, and she called me a slut.¡± Wait, what? But I heard you calling her a whore. Do you think I¡¯m stupid? ¡°She¡¯s my sister,dy. So, shut up.¡± I¡¯m sorry, but what? On the very next second, Tiffany put on an ingratiating smile. ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re his sister, huh? I¡¯m very sorry. I thought you were his¡ª¡± Just cut the crap already,dy. Elspeth harrumphed. ¡°Okay, okay. Let me guess your next line: ¡®I¡¯m sorry, please forgive me. It¡¯s a misunderstanding. I can apologize.¡¯¡± Chapter 161 Chapter 161 Tiffany froze. Y-Yeah. That¡¯s my line. So, what should I say now? ¡°I don¡¯t need your apology. If you like Frank, you can woo him. But I¡¯d advise you not to mess with me, or else you¡¯d be sorry. I can tell you that my ways of getting revenge are much crueler than Frank¡¯s.¡± Elspeth smiled and turned to Frank. ¡°Let¡¯s go. We have a wine tasting to attend.¡± Frank nodded and left with Elspeth, leaving Tiffany feeling humiliated and furious. The wine tasting was held in a vi¡¯s backyard belonging to a mysterious wealthy man, and only the city¡¯s finest were invited. Frank was very famous in ydal, and everyone thought highly of him. This was their first time seeing him with a woman. And more importantly, the woman was a beautiful one, and she resembled Frank. Those who knew of Elspeth pointed at her, whispering, ¡°I know her. She¡¯s the Jonesons¡¯ granddaughter. She was lost when born. Grew up in a small town, so she¡¯s not of prestige.¡± ¡°I see. I thought she was a richdy. Though, she seems noble enough.¡± ¡°Probably just a pretense.¡± The conversation failed to escape Elspeth, and she shot the two of them a warning look. The guests felt a shudder run down their spines, and they mped their mouths shut immediately. The wine tasting began a momentter, and sses of wine wereid out on the table, glimmering beautifully. The host walked onto the stage and announced, ¡°Anyone who can name these drinks correctly wins the prize.¡± The guests exchanged a look, but none moved. There were about a dozen sses of wine on the table, and no mouthwash was provided. It seemed simple enough to taste and identify the wines, but it was a challenge in reality. Unless the taster had a great tongue, their taste buds would be fooled by the mixture of all the drinks they had. Ten minutes went by, but there were still no volunteers. They didn¡¯t want that antique ss anyway, and none of the guests wanted to embarrass themselves, so they only watched quietly. Frank eventually took the challenge, but he made a wrong guess for thest ss of wine. He came back looking dejected, and Elspeth smiled. ¡°You really want that ss, huh?¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. He nodded. ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ve been collecting them, and that¡¯s thest one of its series. It¡¯d be a pity if I couldn¡¯t get all of them.¡± Spencer was raising a toast with the other guests nearby, but he came over upon noticing Frank¡¯s dour mood and patted his shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Not like anyone can guess it anyway. We can just buy it off later.¡± Elspeth looked at him like he was an idiot. ¡°Why would you want to pay for it when you can get it for free?¡± Spencer wasn¡¯t mad at her remark. He was used to her way of speaking, so he only smiled as he replied, ¡°It¡¯s not a simple challenge. Not everyone can guess the drinks correctly.¡± She mused over that. ¡°What if I can?¡± Frank¡¯s eyes lit up at that. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yep, but I have a condition.¡± I knew it. ¡°Name it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell you about my terms when the timees. But for now, I¡¯ll hold on to that favor first.¡± With that, she approached the table. ¡°Here for the challenge,dy?¡± Elspeth nodded in affirmative. ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± She went through the drinks and guessed everything correctly. When she got to the final drink, she had a taste and answered without a moment of hesitation, ¡°Billionaire Vodka.¡± ¡°Ah, a pity, but that¡¯s the wrong answer,dy.¡± She got it wrong too? The light in Frank¡¯s eyes dimmed slightly. However, Elspeth shook her head, smiling. ¡°No. That was the correct answer.¡± ¡°Are you questioning my professionalism?¡± The sommelier sounded upset. ¡°I am an internationally famous sommelier hired by Mr. Zekeley for this event. My word is authority.¡± The guests couldn¡¯t believe Elspeth was challenging the sommelier, and they burst intoughter. ¡°Look at her! That bumpkin is challenging the sommelier!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe it! She¡¯s already lucky enough she was invited!¡± ¡°Bah, just chase her off. She¡¯s a party pooper.¡± Did he just say he was internationally famous? Elspeth eyed the sommelier up and down before commenting, ¡°Really? But I¡¯ve never heard of you.¡± The sommelier¡¯s face was ck as thunder. ¡°I know you¡¯re upset, but please do not insult me,dy.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t trust me, just have a taste of the Billionaire Vodka.¡± She looked at the sommelier calmly. The sommelier had a taste, and he looked shocked. ¡°Billionaire Vodka is a product of Leos Verres, a brand-namepany. Every bottle of this vodka contains five liters of pure vodka. With the use of the best grain, the vodka is made with the traditional Rotlia brewing method, going through five distitions before it can move on to the next procedure. And then, it would be filtered through the ice, followed by Scandian birch, then gauze made of crushed diamonds and gemstones. The bottle this vodka is stored in boasts a premium feel as it is covered in heaps of white feathers and decorated with three thousand white diamonds. They¡¯re made entirely by hand, making every bottle of Billionaire Vodka a work of art.¡± Elspeth looked at the sommelier as she smiled. ¡°You¡¯re a sommelier. You should know that much.¡± The sommelier turned red in the face, and he stammered, ¡°O-Of course I do.¡± However, Elspeth wouldn¡¯t let him off the hook just yet. She pressed on, ¡°In that case, why did you say this wasn¡¯t Billionaire Vodka?¡± The sommelier paused for a moment before answering with great reluctance, ¡°B-Because Mr. Zekeley said this was tequ when he gave it to me.¡± ¡°And you believed him before you even had a taste. Honestly, I wonder how you even got your certification.¡± Elspeth was very direct with her words. The sommelier only felt awkward a while ago, but now, he felt insulted. ¡°Well, this is just a lucky guess of yours. If I¡¯m not a sommelier, neither are you. You don¡¯t even have a certificate. What makes you think you can insult me?¡± She cocked her eyebrow. ¡°But I am a sommelier.¡± ¡°Is that supposed to be a joke?¡± The sommelierughed. ¡°Just because you know a bit about alcohol doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re a sommelier. Where¡¯s your certificate, then? Show me.¡± Elspeth shot him a look of disdain and shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t have it with me, but you should have heard of Rarity, right?¡± Is she talking about that Rarity? The renowned sommelier? ¡°That¡¯s me. I¡¯m Rarity.¡± Chapter 162 Chapter 162 ¡°Of course. She¡¯s the youngest sommelier to make a name for herself. She¡¯s better than me.¡± The sommelier couldn¡¯t believe Elspeth would lie through her teeth, and he guffawed. ¡°And you im to be her? Is that a joke?¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t I be her?¡± Elspeth looked at the sommelier with a smile. ¡°Three years ago, Rarity made a name for herself at an international wine-tasting event and was dubbed the Tongue of God. Haven¡¯t you seen the video? I looked different back then, but you should be able to recognize me immediately.¡± The sommelier looked awkward while the guests quickly searched for the video. Every sommelier was shown clearly on the screen, including Rarity, the winner of that event. ¡°Whoa, it is her!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe a world-famous sommelier is right here at this event. This is incredible!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe someone said she was a bumpkin. She¡¯s Rarity herself. How could someone be so stupid?¡± ¡°Rarity is old Mr. Joneson¡¯s granddaughter? Whoa, she¡¯s the family pride.¡± The crowd burst into a discussion, and Elspeth stared at the sommelier, standing straight up so he could have a better look at her face. ¡°That was me. It was a famous event, but not everyone cared about it. It isn¡¯t something rted to their everyday life, just like how most people have no idea that Willem-Alexander is the king of Hollish.¡± She looked at him mischievously. ¡°So, world-famous sommelier, don¡¯t tell me you have no idea this video exists.¡± The sommelier felt embarrassed. He did bluff a little. At most, he was a slightly famous sommelier, and everything he knew about Rarity was merely from stories he had heard from others. He had heard about her, but he had no idea what she looked like. ¡°I am sorry, Miss Rarity. I shouldn¡¯t have suspected your judgment.¡± The sommelier was proud, but he was willing to admit his faults and acknowledge his betters. Elspeth shrugged it off. ¡°Next time, have a taste of the drinks at a wine-tasting event. You are a sommelier, so use your tongue.¡± The sommelier was nearly forty years old. Elspeth was about half his age, and he was a little fidgety about being lectured by her, but he wasn¡¯tining. ¡°Sorry, everyone. The champion for this event is Miss Rarity herself!¡± He took the ss from the podium and handed it to Elspeth. ¡°Here, this is yours. You deserve it.¡± She took it with a smile. ¡°Thank you.¡± After that, she noticed everyone was treating her differently, especially the men who previously thought she was a bumpkin. Now, they were trying to be her sycophant. She shot them a look and approached Frank. ¡°Here. The ss you want.¡± She tossed the ss to him. ¡°Don¡¯t forget. You owe me one.¡± Frank was still bbergasted, and Spencer looked surprised as well and teased with a smile, ¡°So, you¡¯re Rarity. Couldn¡¯t have guessed that.¡± She looked into his eyes and smiled beautifully. ¡°Just because I¡¯m pretty doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t be a sommelier.¡± At the sight of her lovely smile, he could feel his heart skip a beat. ¡°You are indeed pretty.¡± I can¡¯t believe that Winthrop guy is dating her. How lucky of him! Just when Elspeth was about to call him a pervert, someone shouted, ¡°Look! There¡¯s something up there!¡± She looked into the sky and saw a big barrel ofrd hanging from a drone. On the very next second, the barrel ofrd was dropped into the backyard. rmed, Elspeth grabbed Frank and dodged the attack. Spencer easily evaded the iing barrel as well, thanks to his agile feet. However, everyone else wasn¡¯t as lucky. They were drenched inrd and couldn¡¯t even walk. Everyone slipped and groaned in pain. Elspeth turned to Frank and asked, ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°Yeah, but¡ª¡± The sentence was never finished. A shocked Frank quickly pulled her into his embrace. An agonizing, burning sensation washed over his body, and before long, the pain knocked him out. Wait, that¡¯s acid! Elspeth felt a wave of paining from her arm. Her skin was burned, but she held back her pain and raised her head. Right then, she saw someone hurrying away with a bottle of acid in their hand. Not the time to chase after them. She held Frank up, but what met her eyes was the injuries he had sustained for her sake. ¡°Call 911, Spencer!¡± Realizing the severity of the situation, Spencer frowned. ¡°No time. I¡¯ll take him to the hospital.¡± Elspeth nodded and let him take Frank to his car. Then, they went to the hospital. Frank was taken into the operating room, and Spencer looked at Elspeth¡¯s bleeding arm. ¡°I¡¯ll get a doctor for you,¡± he said quickly. ¡°Sure.¡± She nodded. She scrolled through the news while the nurse was dealing with her wound. As she expected, the attack was reported, and everyone¡¯s eyes were on it. It even showed up on Google Trending three times in a single day. ¡®Jonesons¡¯ granddaughter is renowned sommelier, Rarity. Embarrassed a ydal sommelier.¡¯ ¡®Attack on the event. Lard causes injuries!¡¯ ¡®Acid attack on Frank Joneson! The Jonesons are furious!¡¯ Elspeth felt waves of paining up her arm, and the nurse was trembling even though she was just supposed to rub some salve over the wound. Probably a newbie. Eventually, Spencer couldn¡¯t take it anymore and took the salve. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡± He smiled. Elspeth thought he would handle it poorly, but to her surprise, he was better than the nurse. The pain was gone, and only a cool sensation was left. She stared at the serious Spencer, and she had conflicting emotions about him. He seems different from what I thought. Just then, someone flung the door open. Callum stood beyond the door, watching Spencer rubbing the salve on Elspeth¡¯s arm. He seemed worried at first, but then he looked angry. Elspeth pulled her arm back in a hurry. ¡°What brings you here, Callum?¡± She wasn¡¯t worried about him seeing anything, but he might do something stupid if he found out she couldn¡¯t go back. ¡°I saw the news. You¡¯re hurt, so I came as fast as I could.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. Look.¡± She stood up and gave herself a twirl while hiding her arm behind her back. She tried to show him she was fine, but Callum was not convinced. His eyes were fixed on the arm she was hiding, and there was fury gleaming in his gaze.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. Chapter 163 Chapter 163 Elspeth started to panic when she saw Callum keeping quiet. ¡°I really didn¡¯t¡ª¡± Before she could finish her words, Spencer found himself speaking up for her, ¡°What¡¯s this? Did youe all the way here just to interrogate your girlfriend, Mr. Winthrop?¡± He felt his heart aching when he saw the helpless look on Elspeth¡¯s face. Callum was already worried about Elspeth, and the look in his eyes grew colder after he heard how protective Spencer sounded. ¡°I¡¯m talking to my girlfriend here. Why are you interrupting us?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested in interrupting you guys. I think you should show your girlfriend a little more care after what just happened to her!¡± Spencer protested. ¡°Either way, it¡¯s none of your business. Stay out of this!¡± Callum hissed. Spencer scoffed. ¡°Do you know what this is? Acid! Do you think it¡¯s a small matter for acid to be poured on one¡¯s arm? The person who stopped the acid fromnding on Elspeth is in surgery now. Meanwhile, you¡¯re not doing anything about it, even as her boyfriend. You¡¯re just here questioning her. What a great boyfriend you are!¡± he hissed. Callum gazed at the woman before him. There was a glint in his eyes and a sorrow in his gaze. Elspeth was about to call out for him when she felt a tug of pain that shot through her arm. She bent down as she hissed in pain. It hurt so much that cold sweat began to form on her forehead. When Spencer saw her in pain, he hastily asked if she needed a doctor. She shook her head. When she next looked up, she realized the other man was gone. The door was left slightly open, telling her that someone had just walked out. ¡°He left. I need to find him.¡± She had just straightened her figure when Spencer held her back. ¡°Why are you looking for him? He doesn¡¯t even care about your injury.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not that type of guy.¡± Elspeth let out a sigh. She figured there was no point in trying to exin herself when she was in this condition. I might as well look for him after I¡¯ve recovered. ¡°I wonder how Frank is.¡± She felt her chest tighten when she recalled how he had leaped forward to protect her. She could still remember the injury on his back. His skin was bloody and raw¡ªjust the sight of it had made her heart race with fear. ¡°He should still be in surgery. You know how severe his injuries were. It¡¯s going to take a while before he¡¯s out of the operating room,¡± Spencer replied. ¡°I suppose you¡¯re right, but worry not. He¡¯ll recover.¡± Elspeth¡¯s eyes glinted with tears. It sent a pang to her chest when she thought about how a man as handsome as Frank was going to have a back that was so horribly scarred. Spencer thought she was trying tofort him, so he shed her a smile. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I know he¡¯s never going to bepletely healed. Fortunately, he was injured on his back. He¡¯d probably cry if he had been sshed on his face.¡± ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. ¡°I¡¯m not kidding.¡± Elspeth gazed at him earnestly. ¡°Are you serious?¡± He was stunned. He had never heard anything so ridiculous. ¡°Are you able to make his skin as wless as before?¡± She smiled when she saw the look of surprise on the man¡¯s face. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d see that look of surprise on your face, Spencer. Of course. Have you heard of Sonny?¡± she asked. ¡°Do you mean the legendary, mystical Sonny Schwartz?¡± he asked. She shed him an awkward smile when she heard the way he described Sonny. ¡°You¡¯re exaggerating it. He¡¯s my mentor. Can you trust me now?¡± she asked. Spencer¡¯s eyes lit up immediately. ¡°You¡¯re Sonny¡¯s student? Can you do me a favor in that case?¡± he asked. Elspeth nodded when she saw the hopeful look on the man¡¯s face. ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°I¡­ I have a childhood friend who has always struggled with some odd illness. She prefers staying in the dark as she¡¯s afraid of the sunlight. Can you help me to take a look at her?¡± he asked. ¡°She¡¯s afraid of light, huh?¡± She frowned. ¡°It seems like it. We¡¯ve contacted a lot of hospitals, but no one managed to help her. Can you help me take a look at her condition? She¡¯s a good girl, but she led a really rough life. Her mom passed away when she was young¡­¡± Spencer sighed at the thought of his friend¡¯s bitter life. ¡°Do you like her?¡± Elspeth teased when she saw the look of concern and heartache on the man¡¯s face. ¡°No way. I don¡¯t like her romantically. I only care for her like she¡¯s my sister.¡± He got defensive when he saw the yful smirk on her face. For some reason, he didn¡¯t want her to have such a misunderstanding with him. Elspeth stopped smiling after that. ¡°I¡¯ll try my best. You can bring me to meet her sometime soon.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± After a while, a nurse came over to inform them that Frank had been transferred to the ICU. His family members were all waiting outside the ward. Elspeth felt her heart sink as she thought, Frank is pampered by his family. I bet they¡¯re going to be furious at me. Spencer noticed how nervous she looked, so he patted her on the shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ll speak up for you. Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± he uttered. Both of them went over to Frank¡¯s ward. They had just arrived at the entrance when a middle-aged woman rushed over and held her hand up to p Elspeth. Smack! The loud p rang across the hospital¡¯s hallway. Elspeth had enough time to dodge the attack, but when she thought about how Frank was still unconscious in the ward, she forced herself to take the smack. Anya had every reason to be angry at Elspeth¡ªElspeth was the reason her son was in such a bad condition, after all. Any mother would do what Anya did. ¡°How did my son turn out like that after going out with you for such a short while? You¡¯re a walking curse, Elspeth!¡± Elspeth hung her head low, one side of her cheek red and sore. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± She bit her lip and took in all the other party¡¯s criticisms. Spencer couldn¡¯t bear to see how Elspeth was reprimanded, so he quickly stepped forward to speak up for her, ¡°This wasn¡¯t Elspeth¡¯s fault. Frank was the one who jumped out to protect her. She didn¡¯t do anything wrong.¡± Anya scoffed at this. ¡°Hah! Would Frank have had to do that if Elspeth hadn¡¯t done something that triggered others to harm her? She¡¯s the root of all problems!¡± Right then, Elspeth looked up with an icy look in her eyes. ¡°I admit I was wrong and am willing to treat Frank¡¯s injuries. However, that doesn¡¯t give you the right to shame me like that.¡± ¡°Woah. Are you talking back to me now? Well, tell me. How will you heal his scars after acid was sshed on his skin? You sure are talking big!¡± Anya didn¡¯t believe Elspeth could treat Frank¡ªshe assumed that Elspeth was just trying to get away with her faults. ¡°I¡¯ll suffer as much as Frank did if I fail to heal himpletely,¡± Elspeth vowed. Both Anya and Spencer were equally stunned upon hearing her words. What nonsense is she saying?! ¡°Stop talking nonsense, Elspeth. This isn¡¯t a light matter.¡± Spencer tried to stop her, but he held his tongue back after Elspeth red at him. ¡°I mean what I say.¡± She sounded so confident that Anya even started questioning herself. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll give you one month. You¡¯ll have to stick to your end of the promise if you fail to treat him by then.¡± Anya gave Elspeth a threatening re. Chapter 164 Chapter 164 ¡°One month?¡± Elspeth asked. Anya scoffed. ¡°I knew it. You can¡¯t do it at all. One month is a long time. If you can¡¯t make any changes by then, how dare you im that you can heal him?!¡± ¡°One month is too long. His wound would¡¯ve healed on its own by then. All I need is two weeks,¡± Elspeth replied. The other woman was shocked to hear this. ¡°Two weeks? That¡¯s fast. You¡¯re lying, aren¡¯t you? You¡¯re just trying to run away, right?¡± ¡°If I wanted to run, I could¡¯ve done it the moment he got injured. Frank saved me, so I¡¯ll make sure he is completely healed.¡± Even though Elspeth sounded convincing, Michael immediately protested against her words, ¡°You¡¯re just a youngdy. What do you know about treating others? I know you¡¯re an impressive woman, but you don¡¯t have to take responsibility for everything. You¡¯re getting too big for your boots.¡± He clearly didn¡¯t believe Elspeth. ¡°I¡¯ve already contacted another doctor, and the doctor will come over to treat Frank after we¡¯vee to an agreement.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s the doctor?¡± she asked. Michael told her the doctor¡¯s full name in case she didn¡¯t know who he was. ¡°It¡¯s Sonny Schwartz,¡± he uttered. It was Sonny again. She gazed at the older man as she replied in a calm tone, ¡°It has been seven years since Sonny emerged from the hills. He¡¯s not going toe out to save anyone.¡± Only if I¡¯m the one who asks him, she thought. ¡°I don¡¯t care how much it costs. I¡¯m going to get the man toe over.¡± Michael had an abundance of money. He was willing to spend anything for his precious grandson. Elspeth felt likeughing at his words. ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, you can always try calling him. You can ask if he is willing toe over.¡± Michael sensed a challenge, and he didn¡¯t want to be shamed in front of others. So, he dialed Sonny¡¯s number and put him on loudspeaker. ¡°Am I speaking to Mr. Schwartz?¡± he asked politely once the call connected. It sounded rather chaotic on the other end of the line. People were arguing with one another. ¡°Hey! You¡¯re not allowed to change your move in chess. What are you doing, Sonny?!¡± Sonny heard the other man on the line, but he had to shout to get his voice across the call. ¡°Yes, this is Sonny speaking. What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Michael Joneson, and I¡¯d like to hire you to treat my grandson. Would you be free to do that?¡± Sonny rejected the request without any hesitation. ¡°I don¡¯t have time, and I¡¯m not in the country. I won¡¯t be able to treat your grandson.¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. ¡°Tell me how much you want me to pay. I¡¯ll pay you any amount you want,¡± Michael uttered. ¡°This isn¡¯t about money! I don¡¯t need money, and I don¡¯t like money. I¡¯m impressed that you managed to get my phone number. Anyway, I haven¡¯t left the hills in a long while, and I have no intention of doing so,¡± Sonny replied. Sonny made himself clear, and Michael¡¯s face turned sour when he heard the other man¡¯s words. He was about to end the call when Elspeth edged closer to speak in her clear and crisp voice, ¡°You¡¯re ying chess again, aren¡¯t you, Sonny?¡± Sonny froze for a moment before he changed to a yful tone. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Elspeth! What¡¯s going on? What are you doing there?¡± He had sounded stern and icy just moments earlier, but he seemed a lot warmer after hearing Elspeth¡¯s voice. Everyone apart from Spencer seemed utterly shocked. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what I¡¯m doing here, but could youe back to help treat my brother? They don¡¯t trust my skills,¡± she uttered with a helpless look on her face while shrugging her shoulders. ¡°Who¡¯s the one questioning your abilities? You¡¯re my very own mentee, and you¡¯re a smart girl. I¡¯d be honored if you told others you were my student after you treated them¡­ Wait, your brother? Are you from the Joneson Family?¡± Sonny knew about the Jonesons¡ªthey were famous in ydal. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you more about this when you¡¯re back. Just let me know if you¡¯ll be able to make it,¡± Elspeth said. However, Sonny rejected her again. ¡°No, no. I¡¯m not going back. I feel like I¡¯m just a tool you summon whenever you need me! You can treat whatever illness your brother has. I trust you. I¡¯m going to end the call now. I need to get back to my chess¡­ Hey! Why did you move your piece!¡± Sonny ended the call hurriedly, and he sounded like he was rushing to get back to ying chess. Michael waspletely silent at that point. He parted his lips to speak, but when he saw the nonchnt look on Elspeth¡¯s face, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to say much. Meanwhile, Anya, who had intended to strike a bet with Elspeth earlier, looked utterly embarrassed by herself. I can¡¯t believe she is Sonny¡¯s mentee. Most people never get to meet the legendary doctor in their lives, yet Elspeth simply orders him around so casually! What other secrets is this woman hiding? ¡°Well, am I allowed to treat Frank now, Grandfather?¡± Elspeth asked. Michael had no choice but to let out a sigh. ¡°The youngsters nowadays are pretty impressive after all¡­ Fine. I¡¯ll trust you with Frank.¡± Despite saying that, he couldn¡¯t help but question Elspeth, ¡°How exactly did you meet Sonny? How did you be his student?¡± ¡°I met him while I was studying overseas,¡± she replied. She had no intention of exining herself to the man¡ªall she could think of now was how she should treat Frank. ¡°I think you guys shouldn¡¯t visit Frank for the next few days. Even if you guys show up, you will have to look at him through the ss window without entering the room. I don¡¯t want anyone to be in contact with him. His wounds are still fresh, and I¡¯m worried he might get an infection if we¡¯re too careless with him.¡± Everyone was aware of the situation, but after what just happened, people seemed to take her words more seriously as they were all impressed with her. ¡°Where should we go now, then?¡± Michael asked. ¡°You guys should head home. You all cane over once I¡¯m done treating him,¡± Elspeth suggested. He took another nce at Frank, who was in the ward. Then, he nodded. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s head home,¡± he uttered in a rather hesitant tone. After the Jonesons were sent home, Spencer was the only one who remained. He took a seat beside Elspeth. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you leaving?¡± She turned to give him a faint smile. He froze for a moment when he saw her smile. ¡°Because I want to stay with¡­ Frank.¡± He nearly told her he wanted to stay with her, but he held his tongue back and used Frank¡¯s name in the end. ¡°Alright. It seems like I misunderstood you in the past.¡± Elspeth¡¯s statement came out of nowhere, and Spencer was confused at first. ¡°What do you mean?¡± he asked. ¡°Frankly speaking, I used to have a rather bad impression of you. I thought you were the type of person who only seemed gentle and warm on the outside but was secretly mean on the inside. I hadn¡¯t expected you to be so nice to your friends,¡± she exined. She realized how Spencer started blushing after hearing her words, and she couldn¡¯t help but giggle at the look on his face. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re such a shy person, too. Are you blushing after hearing mypliment?¡± He had no idea why he was blushing, but his face felt hot when he saw the girl smiling. ¡°Stop grinning at me like that. It¡¯s almost as if you have a crush on me,¡± Elspeth protested. ¡°Yeah. I do have a crush on you.¡± The words slipped out of his mouth before he realized what he was saying. She had been joking at first, but she turned silent after hearing the man¡¯s response. Spencer then realized that he might have said the wrong thing, so he quickly rified, ¡°Why are you keeping quiet? I was just kidding. I¡¯d never like you. I already have a love interest.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡± She let out a sigh of relief. All of a sudden, she noticed how Frank¡¯s finger was moving a little when she gazed into the ward. It seemed like he was about to wake up. Chapter 165 Chapter 165 ¡°I think Frank should be waking up soon. Let¡¯s go in to take a look.¡± Elspeth was worried that Frank would be traumatized if he woke up and found out his back had been destroyed. ¡°Sure,¡± Spencer replied. Both of them suited up in protective suits before they entered the ward. When they walked in, they found Frank on the bed with his eyebrows knitted tightly and his forehead covered in sweat. Their heart ached for the man when they realized how much pain he was in, even when he was unconscious. Elspeth took a step closer and saw that Frank¡¯s finger was trembling. She reached forward and held onto his hand. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Miraculously, Frank opened his eyes just momentster. He was lying on a duck-down quilt to ease the pain of his back injury, but he winced in pain the moment he moved around a little. ¡°Are you okay, Frank?¡± Elspeth¡¯s heart sank when she saw how much pain he was in. ¡°I¡¯m fine. At least I¡¯m not dead yet.¡± Frank would be lying if he imed that he didn¡¯t care about what happened. He was well aware that his skin was probably ruined aftering in contact with so much acid. However, even if he had the chance to turn back time, he would have done the same thing for Elspeth. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll treat your back injury, and I¡¯ll make sure your skin looks as good as before once you¡¯re all healed,¡± Elspeth reassured him. Frank was still his same arrogant self even though he was injured. ¡°I don¡¯t need that. I¡¯m a man¡ªwhy does it matter if I have a few scars on my back?¡± ¡°Alright. Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t just treat you. I¡¯ll also make sure to deal with the person who sshed that acid on you,¡± she added. Her pupils narrowed, and her gaze hardened at the thought of the person who had rushed off after sshing the acid on Frank. She had just arrived in ydal a while ago, and she had only offended a few people, so it wasn¡¯t going to be hard for her to find the culprit. ¡°You can start with Jordan. We just offended her not too long ago, so I¡¯m sure her hatred for us is fresh in her mind.¡± Despite the pain that he was in, Frank still managed to analyze the situation rationally. ¡°I don¡¯t think Jordan has the guts to do such a thing, but¡­ the Weiss Family might do so.¡± Elspeth narrowed her eyes. She couldn¡¯t help but curl her lips into a scornful smirk when she recalled the weak and helpless look on Jordan¡¯s face. The Weiss Family, huh? They sure have some nerve! ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯m sure the Jonesons will find the culprit. I know Grandpa¡¯s going to do something after hearing about my injury,¡± Frank uttered. The confidence of the young master of the Joneson Family is really one of a kind, huh? He¡¯s so certain that someone will be there to get revenge for him after he was wronged. That must feel great. Elspeth let out a chuckle. ¡°Well, that¡¯s up to the Joneson Family. However, I work on my own, and I¡¯ll make sure to hunt those people down to get revenge,¡± she uttered. They chatted for a while more before Frank got tired. He chased them out of the ward as he wanted to take a nap. After that, Elspeth decided to head to the Joneson Residence as she wanted to get some herbs and medication from Michael. She figured Michael could get her whatever she needed since they ran such a huge business. Spencer gazed at Elspeth thoughtfully after they left the ward. ¡°Do you want to head home? I can give you a ride,¡± he offered. She shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. You can go ahead. I have other matters to handle.¡± He was clear about his boundaries, so he no longer questioned the woman. Instead, he simply nodded and left. Elspeth had just stepped out of the hospital when she saw a familiar figure. Callum was standing outside the hospital, smoking cigarettes. It seemed like he had been there for a while¡ªthere were many cigarette butts on the ground beside his feet. ¡°What¡­ What are you doing here, Callum?¡± He let out a sigh. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean what I said. I was just worried about your injury,¡± he uttered. All the hurt and sorrow that Elspeth had internalized earlier seemed to flow out of her after she heard his words. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Callum. I really am¡­¡± She hadn¡¯t expected herself to get all soft and mushy in front of someone else. However, for some reason, she couldn¡¯t contain the urge to cry whenever she looked into the man¡¯s loving gaze. She was reminded of a quote that she saw online. Being loved is an experience worth tearing up for. ¡°I know. I¡¯m sorry,¡± Callum replied. Elspeth took a deep breath before she spread her arms open. He immediately got the message and stepped forward to pull her into a tight hug. He was careful with his actions and tried to avoid her arm as he didn¡¯t want to hurt her. Elspeth felt an inexplicable sense of security and satisfaction when she felt his body heat on her skin. ¡°I want you to tell me the truth, Elspeth. Did Old Mr. Joneson ground you?¡± Callum could tell she was lying from the start, but he still wanted to hear the truthing from her mouth. ¡°I don¡¯t think he grounded me, but he does want me to stay in ydal. He doesn¡¯t want me to go back to Damoria.¡± Elspeth felt the temperature around them drop after she finished her words. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me the truth before this?¡± he asked. She let out a heartyugh as she tried to lighten the atmosphere. ¡°I just didn¡¯t want you to worry¡­ You would¡¯ve offered toe over and help me if you found out about this. But¡­ I don¡¯t want you to get involved in this mess,¡± she exined. ¡°This isn¡¯t just about you, Elspeth. You¡¯re my girlfriend. It¡¯s my duty to do these things for you.¡± He gently pressed his palm against her face. For some reason, his heart ached when he heard her exnation. In the past, Elspeth had always been one to deal with everything on her own. She refused to burden others with her issues, and this was the first time someone had ever offered to be a constant support for her. She sniffed lightly. ¡°I got it. I¡¯ll tell you about everything from now on.¡± ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll stay here for a few days, and we can head back together once everything is settled,¡± Callum suggested. ¡°What about thepany?¡± she asked dumbfoundedly. ¡°I got Edmund to return to thepany, and I told him to keep an eye on everything. All of my meetings will be done virtually. Don¡¯t worry. I have it all nned out.¡± He felt his heart melting at the adorable sight of Elspeth with her lips slightly open. He couldn¡¯t control himself from leaning forward to kiss her. Elspeth hadn¡¯t expected the passionate kiss, and she lost all senses when she felt the man¡¯s lips against hers. The man sucked on her lips as if they were popsicles, and she felt herself immersing in the raw and passionate kisses. It took a while for Callum to finally release his grip on her. When he pulled his lips away, he could see Elspeth panting slightly from their kisses, and he smiled as he wiped off the saliva he had left on the corner of her mouth. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll send you home now.¡± She nodded as her cheeks turned red. Callum headed directly to the hotel after he sent Elspeth home. Michael was waiting at the front door when she stepped into the house. He rushed over to her when he saw that she was home. ¡°How¡¯s Frank, Elspeth? Is he awake?¡± ¡°He woke up already. He just needs to receive some treatment before he is fully healed,¡± she exined. Michael felt more at ease after hearing that, and he spread his lips into a seemingly compassionate smile. ¡°Who was the person who sent you home, Elspeth?¡± There was a mysterious look on his face. She felt her chest tightening as she quickly came up with a lie. ¡°That was a friend from ydal. I happened to bump into him in the hospital, so he sent me home.¡± ¡°A friend? Are you sure that it wasn¡¯t Callum who came from Damoria?¡± Michael was a genius¡ªhe got it right with his first guess. ¡°What¡¯s so great about Callum, Elspeth? He might be good-looking and have some money, but there are tons of other men like him. Why don¡¯t I find you someone better?¡± he asked. Elspeth frowned as a look of disdain surfaced in her eyes. ¡°He¡¯s the only person I like.¡± Michael¡¯s expression turned grim when he saw how stubborn she was. ¡°I don¡¯t approve of you two!¡± Chapter 166 Chapter 166 Elspeth didn¡¯t seem surprised to hear the old man¡¯s words. ¡°You have no say in my rtionship with Callum,¡± she replied with a scoff. Michael didn¡¯t lose his temper yet, as he still wanted to have a civil conversation with her. ¡°Elspeth, Callum is just another regr guy. There are tons of men in ydal. Why don¡¯t I introduce you to someone better, huh?¡± He genuinely didn¡¯t want her to marry a man that didn¡¯t meet his standards. He believed a man had to have at least two of the three roles¡ªa military soldier, a government officer, and an entrepreneur¡ªto be eligible for marriage with Elspeth. Michael was a short-tempered man, and he felt his blood boil when he saw how rebellious she was. ¡°You¡¯re just like your mother! Both of you are so stubborn!¡± Elspeth froze when she heard the mention of her mother. ¡°My mother might be happier if you weren¡¯t around,¡± she replied in a scornful tone just momentster. Rage bubbled in Michael¡¯s chest, and he felt his body trembling after hearing what she said. Why is it that all the girls in this family are so disobedient?! ¡°I¡¯ll say this onest time. I don¡¯t want to see you dating Callum! You¡¯ll have to deal with the consequences if you go against my words!¡± he hissed. She was already fuming from the old man¡¯s words, but she finally lost it when she heard hisst sentence. ¡°I¡¯m not done with my treatment of Frank, Grandfather. Don¡¯t you dare test my limits! Otherwise, I can always decide not to treat him.¡± Did she just use Frank to threaten me?! Michael widened his eyes. Even though Helena was a stubborn woman, at least she was obedient enough to go along with his words without fighting him. She wouldn¡¯t openly threaten him the way that Elspeth just did. Elspeth, on the other hand, was a lot more daring and confident with her words. ¡°We can talk things through, Elspeth¡­¡± His expression softened after that. ¡°I¡¯m not stopping you from being with Callum. I¡¯m just concerned for you. I¡¯m only worried that he¡¯s not good for you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll decide who¡¯s good or bad for me. If you want me to treat Frank, then you¡¯ll have to stay out of my rtionship with Callum.¡± She got to her feet and headed upstairs straight away after finishing her sentence. ¡°Elspeth!¡± Michael let out a sigh after calling her name. ¡°I got it. I won¡¯t say anything from now on. But Frank¡­ I hope you take good care of him.¡± Elspeth knew that the old man¡¯s promise was only temporary. Even though he imed that he wasn¡¯t going to meddle with her rtionship, she knew he would find new ways of tearing them apart after Frank was healed. However, now that she had Frank¡¯s treatment as leverage, she didn¡¯t have to worry about this matter for the time being. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll do my best. However, I would like you to hunt down the culprit who was responsible for today¡¯s incident,¡± Elspeth uttered. Michael frowned upon hearing her words. ¡°I¡¯ve already found out about this. It was the Weiss Family! It seems like they¡¯re getting a big head. How dare theyy hands on my grandchildren?!¡± he hissed. ¡°I don¡¯t mind the fact that they tried to harm me, but what matters is that Frank has been injured in the process. I hope you punish these people for the sake of Frank.¡± She gave the old man a faint nce before she turned to leave. The next morning, Elspeth paid a visit to Frank¡¯s ward and found him in bed, scrolling through Twitter. ¡°Did you check Twitter, Elspeth?¡± Frank urged her to check her phone when he saw her. She pulled her phone out to see a notification. ¡®Elspeth is dressed in imitation designer clothes. Is she doing it intentionally, or is she trying to act rich?¡¯ There were images attached to the tweet; a photo that showed her ck skirt, a picture of her purchasing the item, and a receipt for the purchase. More details were shown in the following tweet. ¡®This skirt was designed by the famous designer, Jenny, and there¡¯s only one piece in the whole world. Jenny has never put her design on sale, so the one that Elspeth is wearing has to be a fake!¡¯ Elspeth tutted when she saw the detailed exnation on the post. ¡°Elspeth, I was the one who brought you to purchase that item in the store. Should I step forward to speak up for you?¡± Frank felt rather guilty. Things wouldn¡¯t turn out this way if I hadn¡¯t urged her to buy this outfit. ¡°There¡¯s no point in you exining any of this. They might make a post about you if you do that. Then, your reputation would be ruined as well,¡± she uttered. He was utterly impressed by her thorough analysis of the situation. ¡°Who¡¯s the one behind this?¡± Frank wondered. Elspeth chuckled. ¡°It may seem like they¡¯re trying to attack me, but they¡¯re actually trying to attack the whole Joneson Family. People have been trying to mess with me since I came back to the family. Do you think it¡¯s just the two jealous girls who are behind this?¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. He froze for a moment before he finally understood what she was saying. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure they must have teamed up to start this news about me. Then, the other people who dislike the Joneson Family probably just tagged along and spread the news to the rest of the public. That¡¯s probably how this ended up trending,¡± she deduced. A dark look surfaced in Frank¡¯s gaze. ¡°I¡¯ll tell Grandpa about this. I¡¯ll tell him to find the culprit,¡± he uttered. ¡°It¡¯s fine. It won¡¯t take long for me to find out who¡¯s behind this anyway,¡± Elspeth replied. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Frank was confused. The Inte consisted of a vast amount of data that wasrgely protected, so how would she find the culprit? Elspeth didn¡¯t bother exining herself to him when she saw the look of astonishment on his face. Instead, she simply pulled herptop out of her bag. Her fingers flew across the keyboard for a while before she sessfully hacked into ydal¡¯s informationwork. ¡°What are you¡­¡± Frank was dumbfounded to see what she was doing. He didn¡¯t understand all the codes on her screen, but he knew what she was doing. She was hacking into ydal¡¯s information network! Even though the ounts that wrote the posts only revealed their IP addresses and not their personal information, Elspeth sessfully got her hands on all their details. A look of disdain formed on her face as she looked at the IP addresses and personal information on her screen. ¡°They have zero skills.¡± They don¡¯t even know how to protect their personal information! Frank didn¡¯t even know what to say after hearing the dissatisfaction in her tone. After a long while, he finally managed a single word. ¡°Hacker.¡± There was a hint of uncertainty in his voice, and it tickled Elspeth¡¯s funny bone. ¡°You can sound a little more confident, you know. I am a hacker,¡± she uttered. He was too stunned to say anything for a while. Elspeth was a mystery to him. She was a sommelier and a hacker¡ªshe was nowhere close to being a regr girl. She had achieved standards that most women would never reach in their lifetimes. Frank thought he would be attracted to her if she weren¡¯t his sister. For a while, he simply watched as she confidently typed some codes into the system before going through the personal details of a few ounts. He couldn¡¯t help but feel a strong sense of admiration for the woman. Wait. I don¡¯t look up to her at all! While Elspeth continued typing on the keyboard, Frank scrolled through Twitter to see the increasingly nastyments that were made about Elspeth. Thesements got him frustrated. Why didn¡¯t I realize how annoying theseizens could get? Chapter 167 Chapter 167 ¡°Okay, it¡¯s just as I thought. These people had some mary transactions with the Weiss and McFarlene Families during the past few days, probably to set me up.¡± Looking at these things, Elspeth grew even more suspicious. ¡°But I couldn¡¯t find out who was the one stirring up the rumors. Is something wrong with my sixth sense?¡± Seeing how engrossed she was, Frank assured, ¡°You must have your reasons foring to this conclusion.¡± Noticing the abrupt change in his attitude, she couldn¡¯t help but feel suspicious. ¡°Why did you change so suddenly? You¡¯re not the kind of person who will assure me.¡± He cleared his throat. ¡°That¡¯s because I know you¡¯re capable, and Mr. Winthrop wouldn¡¯t tter you for no reason. By the way, what are you nning to do, then? You can¡¯t let them think that you¡¯re such a person, can you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take care of this, of course.¡± Despite what she said, she was not the least worried at all. ¡°What are you going to do?¡± Without a word, she found a picture from the folder on herputer and uploaded it simply in a post. A few minutester, this picture was pushed to the top and became a trending topic with the highest views. Also, there were all sorts of surprisedments in thement section. ¡®This dress was designed by Elspeth?!¡¯ ¡®Elspeth is the designer, Jenny? She¡¯s amazing!¡¯ ¡®Isn¡¯t Elspeth too much of a genius? How could there be such a talented person?¡¯ ¡®Talented? She¡¯s simply the best!¡¯ Meanwhile, Jordan and Tiffany, who were silently gloating behind the screen at the abusivements from theizens about Elspeth, suddenly turned pale the second they saw the news. With a frozen smile on her face, Jordan uttered, ¡°Who the hell is this Elspeth Lynwood? How could she be Jenny?¡± ¡°At this point, there¡¯s no denying that she¡¯s indeed Jenny. Damn it, I thought I could get her good by saying that she was wearing an imitation so that she won¡¯t have the guts to cross us again, but who would have thought¡­¡± If it was true that Elspeth was Jenny, then this matter was as good as over. She was Jenny, so it didn¡¯t matter even if the clothes she wore were imitations. Even if they were imitations, who would have the nerve to question her if she imed them to be authentic? Tiffany was so mad that her gastric started to act up. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine that Elspeth had this move up her sleeves. Equally mad, Jordan suddenly had a daring idea when she saw Tiffany was in just as a foul mood as her. ¡°Tiffany, I have an even better idea.¡± Seeing the mystery on her face, Tiffany couldn¡¯t help but ask curiously, ¡°What is it?¡± Jordan leaned close to her and whispered into her ear, and a devilish smirk appeared on Tiffany¡¯s face. ¡°Let¡¯s do it.¡± At the same time, when Elspeth saw that thements were starting to favor her, she rxed and whisked out her cell phone to y a few rounds of games. Seeing that she was also ying ¡®Conqueror¡¯s Honor,¡¯ Frank said in surprise, ¡°You¡¯re ying this as well? How are you doing in the game?¡± ¡°Seasoned female yer and the representative of ten consecutive losses. Although I constantly curse when I y, it did nothing for my skill, and I learned nothing,¡± she replied and grinned. ¡°Thus, I have given up, and anyone cane and beat me.¡± Not able to stifle himself, Frank burst out inughter. ¡°Well done!¡± Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Elspeth rolled her eyes at him and picked her character. ¡°Did you seriously buy that? I¡¯m a tactical and scheming yer.¡± Heughed even harder. ¡°Really? If that¡¯s true, my brother will definitely like you very much.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± she uttered, intrigued. ¡°You know my elder brother, Keh, don¡¯t you? He¡¯s the esports madman who has been at the top of the Conqueror¡¯s Pro League for so many years that he¡¯s begging for someone to beat him.¡± Finishing the game beautifully, Elspeth then turned to him. ¡°The top of what?¡± ¡°Conqueror¡¯s Pro League. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve never participated in that before.¡± Then, she recalled she happened to be abroad when ¡®Conqueror¡¯s Honor¡¯ was firstunched, and she had sufficient time to participate in the Conqueror¡¯s Pro League, whipping away the top spot. However, she stopped ying the game for a few years after that and only yed for fun asionally when she was back, without any interest in making it into any rankings. ¡°I¡¯ll give it a shot, then.¡± Very quickly, she ended the game with a win of 12-0 and searched for the name of the number one gamer in Conqueror¡¯s Pro League. All of a sudden, she was shocked. ¡®CrazyKen.¡¯ What the hell? she thought. ¡°I can bring you to meet my brother if time permits. He¡¯s training in the club every day andes and goes without a sound. It might be a little tough to meet him.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Without hesitation, Elspeth added Keh as a friend along with a one-liner that read, ¡®Are you even fit to be number one?¡¯ Sure enough, her friend request was promptly epted, and she read his reply. In brief, he intended to have a one-to-one battle with her, and she readily epted his challenge. After a discussion, they both decided to spar by using the same character¡ªCharlotte. With this character, it was a battle of the speed of casting the skills. Elspeth was surprisingly quick and skillful at casting the skills, and she gained the upper hand against Keh. In addition, the types of equipment she purchased for her character were different from others, making her character inflict more damage than his. As she expected, Keh lost the game 2-1. ¡®Do you want to continue?¡¯ she typed leisurely. ¡®Yes!¡¯ Helplessly, she started another game, and this time, she chose Daphne as her character while he picked Shirley. Due to the restraint between characters, Elspeth should be on the losing end, by right, but she appeared to be undefeatable right after she purchased the second piece of equipment for her character in the early game. Although she dealt less damage than her opponent, she positioned herself very cleverly. Using the minions and bushes, she avoided a lot of hits and even caused a chain explosion with her character¡¯s passive skills, blowing Keh¡¯s character up directly. His character, Shirley, sprawled on the ground, and words popped up in the chat box. ¡®You¡¯re amazing.¡¯ Leaving her character standing on the same spot, Elspeth replied, ¡®My passive skill is chain explosion while your character¡¯s passive skill is turning into a passive state after releasing a set of skills.¡¯ Ha ha. This joke isn¡¯t funny at all, Keh thought, unable tough at it. ¡®Who are you anyway?¡¯ Staring at the name ¡®Elsie,¡¯ he thought, Why is a grown man giving himself such a girly username? ¡®Your sister,¡¯ she replied simply. ¡®Are you trying to be funny?¡¯ While Elspeth was speechless, it slowly came to Keh after a while. Staring at the name ¡®Elsie¡¯ on his cell phone, he thought that this name sounded a little familiar. She¡¯s that cousin I¡¯ve never met after her return! Suddenly, he exited the game in a rush, and Elspeth was surprised to see the profile picture turning dark. Did I give him a scare because this is too sudden? Or did I shatter his confidence because I beat him, and he¡¯s now crying silently from the emotions? No matter how she thought about it, it seemed ridiculous to her, and she turned to Frank. After a long moment of hesitation, she asked, ¡°Is your brother emotionally weak?¡± Before he could answer, the door of the ward swung open suddenly. Chapter 168 Chapter 168 Staring at the figure at the door, Elspeth automatically racked her brain to put a name to the face. In the end, she came up with the name, ¡®Keh.¡¯ He looked very much like Frank but without the delicate aloof features. He appeared a little young with his rounded eyes, which seemed to be smiling at the edges, and a dimple on his cheek. It didn¡¯t ur to her that Keh would look younger than Frank. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ¡°You¡¯re Elspeth¡ªno, wait. You¡¯re Elsie, right?¡± Next to them, Frank couldn¡¯t figure out what they were speaking about and nodded in a daze. Bursting intoughter, Elspeth said, ¡°You actually made your way here? You¡¯re nuts!¡± The esport fanatic whoes and goes without a trace. ¡°Your skills are amazing. If it¡¯s okay, will you join our club? We¡¯ll definitely give you the best treatment.¡± While speaking, Keh¡¯s eyes were shining brightly as though he was looking forward to her joining the club. All of a sudden, it struck Elspeth that not only did he look young, but his personality was also somewhat innocent. Nevertheless, she shook her head and turned him down. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t like this job, and I¡¯m doing it just for fun.¡± Taken aback, Keh didn¡¯t think that a person who could beat him so easily was not fully invested in gaming. ¡°We have apetition with another team in a couple of days. May I invite you to participate with us?¡± After careful consideration, she turned him down again. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I really don¡¯t want topete.¡± Out of the blue, she kind of regretted battling him because she felt that he was stuck on her, and she couldn¡¯t get rid of him. ¡°But¡­¡± Charisma wasn¡¯t his forte, and he was so anxious that he almost burst into tears. Meanwhile, Elspeth was struck by guilt when she saw that he desperately wanted to invite her but was at a loss for words and almost drove himself to tears instead. He¡¯s my cousin, after all. I should just say yes, she decided. But he doesn¡¯t seem so bright. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Excitement washed over Keh¡¯s face instantly. ¡°That¡¯s great! I¡¯lle home to pick you up when the timees,¡± he said. Then, he checked the time on his phone before adding in a rush, ¡°I can¡¯t stay for chit-chat because I have something else to do today. I gotta get back and train the new batch of kids that just arrived.¡± After saying that, he left without turning back. While he came without warning and left without a trace, the only thing that remained the same was the stunned look on Frank¡¯s face. Although Keh never said a word to him the whole time, he still found it ridiculous. ¡°Elspeth, do you know when thest time my brother returned home was?¡± Tilting her head, she asked curiously, ¡°When was it?¡± ¡°A year ago, during Christmas,¡± he answered, thinking this situation was unbelievable. ¡°He¡¯s now coming home because of you. If Grandpa finds out about this, he¡¯ll ce you on a pedestal, for sure.¡± The edges of Elspeth¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious.¡± ¡°It¡¯s true. For the past few years, my brother onlyes home once a year during Christmas and always only for a short time. Who would have thought he¡¯ll break this rule because of you?¡± All that didn¡¯t bother Elspeth, who only cared about the teampetition that would take ce a few dayster. I better train all the new characters, lest I make a fool of myself during thepetition. After that, she chatted a little more with Frank before leaving the hospital. Thest time, she had nned to ask for the herb from Michael to treat Frank, but after they ended things on a bad note, she decided she didn¡¯t want to look for him again. The only way to find the herb now is from the ck market, she thought, frowning. Just when she was at the door, ready to go to the market personally, she caught sight of Callum¡¯s car parked at the side of the road. He was watching her with his deep-set eyes, which were filled with tenderness. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here because I miss you,¡± he said, smiling. ¡°How did you find the perfect timing and even wait for me at the door?¡± There was no way Elspeth would believe his saying, and she stared at him intently after climbing into the car as though trying to bore holes through him. ¡°Okay, I have a slight cold. So, I came here for some medicine.¡± His honest answer made her frown. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me about it?¡± Callum was honest, and his tone was even a little aggrieved. ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re taking care of someone else. How can I bring myself to trouble you?¡± In other words, he was jealous, and Elspeth couldn¡¯t stop herself from pinching his cheeks at his little jealousint. ¡°Alright, don¡¯t overthink the situation. He¡¯s my cousin. Don¡¯t be jealous of my brother. Why are you acting like a child, Callum Winthrop?¡± What made an emotionless president of apany into a whiny and clingy guy who¡¯s seeking attention? ¡°Yes, I¡¯m jealous. How are you going to pacify me?¡± Subconsciously, he licked his lips and gazed at her. His enchanting eyes coupled with his seductive gesture were very tempting, and her heart skipped a beat. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Seeing the dazed look on her face, he chuckled and pulled her into his arms, whispering into her ear, ¡°Kiss me.¡± His hot breath traveled down her ear, turning her face bright pink, and she shook her head gently. Looking into his eyes, she was at a loss for words all of a sudden. ¡°Kiss me, okay?¡± he repeated seductively. Tightening her jaw, she raised her head and pecked his cheek, and this immature gesture from her was especially alluring. He pulled her closer and was about to kiss her when someone knocked on the window, startling Elspeth so much that she jumped away, but her face remained flushed for a long while. Lowering the window, Callum red at the security officer with daggers in his eyes for foiling his ns. Initially, the officer wanted to warn them that their car wasn¡¯t allowed to be parked there, but when he saw the daggers in Callum¡¯s eyes, he gulped instead. ¡°Well, no parking here¡­¡± Elspeth gave him a nod, her eyes looking apologetic. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. We¡¯ll move right away.¡± Then, Callum looked away and stepped on the gas pedal. Twirling her head, she saw his solemn face and giggled. ¡°What are youughing at?¡± ¡°Your face¡­ Fu-ha-ha! No wonder he was stunned and confused. He must have felt that he spoiled the moment for us!¡± Through the rearview mirror, he saw a bright lipstick stain on his cheek, and it was very eye-catching. ¡°The moment, eh? Do you want to continue, then?¡± Just a second ago, Elspeth was stillughing, but she immediately stopped and stared at him in dumbstruck silence, like a sheep that was about to be ughtered. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t mess with you anymore. Where do you want to go? Are you going home?¡± She shook her head. ¡°No, I want to go to the ck market.¡± Will he lecture me about this? she wondered, and sure enough, his eyes gleamed sternly. ¡°Why are you going to the ck market?¡± Chapter 169 Chapter 169 ¡°I need some herbs for Frank¡¯s injuries, so I have to auction it from the ck market,¡± Elspeth answered honestly, gazing at his solemn face. ¡°I¡¯ming along.¡± Without thinking, she shot him down. ¡°You have a cold now and should take a good rest.¡± She was genuinely worried about Callum and thought he shouldn¡¯t be up and about when he was having a cold because it would be bad if it became worse. Knowing her worries, he gazed at her and smiled gently. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m fine.¡± Nobody knew how he was feeling better than himself, and he was sure he would be fine. However, when Elspeth saw the blush on his face, her heart raced with anxiety. Somehow, she had a feeling that it wasn¡¯t a cold as it seemed more like a fever. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll let you know when I feel unwell,¡± he said, pushing down the gas and starting to drive. The ck market was located in the suburbs and rather hidden, where an average person wouldn¡¯t be able to find out its location. However, Elspeth wasn¡¯t any regr hacker, and she knew all about the underground ck market of each city. After entering and seeing that almost everyone was a stranger to her, she put her mind at ease. Holding Callum¡¯s hand, she searched around for the herbs that she needed and came to a stop in front of an old man in the end. In this warm underground ck market, this old man was tightly wrapped in a long-sleeved top. ¡°I would like these herbs from you. State a price.¡± The old man in front of her didn¡¯t answer immediately and asked calmly, ¡°What are you using it for?¡± ¡°Burns,¡± she answered honestly. Startled, the old man narrowed his eyes. ¡°These herbs are mainly used to treat chest burns. Why do you have the idea to use it on burns?¡± ¡°My mentor taught me that using these herbs to treat burns will bring surprisingly good results.¡± Since this old man didn¡¯t know who her mentor was, she reckoned it wouldn¡¯t hurt to mention something like this. ¡°Are you Sonny Schwartz¡¯s student?¡± Surprised, Elspeth didn¡¯t think he could tell she was Sonny¡¯s student just because of the herbs. Does he know Sonny? Are they connected? ¡°Sir, do you know¡­ Sonny Schwartz?¡± Both of them knew Sonny differently, and the old man could hear it from her tone. ¡°We¡¯re more than acquaintances. I hate him so much that I want to kill him.¡± The hate in his voice caught her by surprise. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Realizing that he was too hostile, the old man didn¡¯t answer and slowly kept away the herbs in front of him. ¡°I¡¯m not selling it.¡± When she saw that he was acting weird, she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Why are you not selling it suddenly, sir?¡± ¡°No reason. Go away and don¡¯t get in the way of my business,¡± he said, chasing her away and looking very impatient. ¡°Sir, I went through the entire ck market, and you¡¯re the only one with these herbs. If it¡¯s possible, will you tell me exactly what¡¯s going on? I really need these herbs.¡± Her tone was tinged with anxiety. In addition, she had an earnest attitude, and a pained look appeared on the old man¡¯s face. ¡°These herbs can¡¯t treat burns at all.¡± His words threw her into confusion because she remembered witnessing Sonny treating a lot of patients with burns using these herbs. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°These herbs¡­ They can relieve burns for a while, but take a look at my hand.¡± He rolled up his sleeve and showed her the wound on his arm. ¡°Look, this scar is a result of the treatment I received from Sonny Schwartz twenty years ago. At that time, it had turned better, but the condition rpsed after that, and the wound became more serious than before!¡± Elspeth checked his arm, which was a gruesome mix of mottled burns and old wounds. ¡°These are not merely burns.¡± Next to them, Callum had been silent the whole time, and both of them turned to him when he spoke suddenly. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Are you saying I inflicted these wounds myself?¡± the old man snapped, irritated. ¡°That¡¯s not what I mean.¡± Gently, Callum felt the old wounds on his body with a cold look in his eyes. ¡°These aren¡¯t burns. Most probably, someone poisoned you and caused the wounds to decay.¡± After listening to him, the old man turned even more solemn. ¡°Did Schwartz poison me?¡± In reply, Callum shook his head. ¡°Certainly not. Mr. Schwartz has always had an excellent reputation and is a person with integrity. Furthermore, it will affect his reputation if he fails to treat you to recovery, and reputation is the biggest taboo for medical practitioners. He probably won¡¯t do something such as smashing his toe with a stone.¡± ¡°So, what are you trying to say?¡± ¡°Did you offend anyone previously?¡± Callum asked, looking straight at his face. ¡°It¡¯s almost impossible to find this poison in this city, but it¡¯s verymon in Willowton.¡± The old man thought carefully. Suddenly, his eyes flickered as he recalled a familiar person. Willowton¡­ There¡¯s only one person, then. ¡°I got it. Thanks for telling me this. I¡¯ve always thought that the burns were not treated well, but I didn¡¯t think it was because I was poisoned!¡± The old man¡¯s heart shuddered, and he took out the herbs from behind and passed them to Elspeth. ¡°These are free. You can have them.¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Thest thing she was expecting today was solving an old case randomly, but she couldn¡¯t take these herbs without feeling guilty. ¡°I¡¯ll pay you ording to the market price. You shouldn¡¯t give it for free.¡± Taking out a card from her chest, she then passed it to the old man. ¡°There¡¯s one million in here. If there¡¯s any extra, take it as my apology gift to you. After all, all these happened because of my mentor.¡± ¡°Although I don¡¯t need all this money¡­ Sonny Schwartz has a very fine student!¡± A hearty chuckle escaped the old man¡¯s lips. ¡°If you¡¯re still single, I¡¯d really wish to introduce my son to you.¡± Hearing this, she could feel the air around the person next to her dropping. Oh, no. This guy is angry again. ¡°Thanks, but it¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°Oh, well. You can stille back and look for me if you guys break up. I¡¯ll save my son for you.¡± The edges of Elspeth¡¯s lips twitched as she kept the herbs away and left. Beside her, Callum stared at her face and couldn¡¯t stop himself from kissing her as punishment, which made her jump a distance away in surprise, holding her face. ¡°What are you doing?¡± He snorted and said, ¡°You¡¯re catching unwanted attention.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for it. Moreover, shouldn¡¯t you be proud that your girlfriend is so popr?¡± she asked, and his face rxed. ¡°By the way, I have a question for you, Callum.¡± A light shed past his eyes. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°How did you know that the wound is caused by poisoning?¡± A few seconds went by quietly before he slowly said, ¡°Because I was poisoned as well when I was young.¡± That was a terrible past, and he chose to forget it but was forced to recall it today. ¡°Who poisoned you?¡± she asked with a frown. Chapter 170 Chapter 170 Feeling the wound on his arm, Callum smiled softly. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Alright now, do you need other herbs?¡± he asked, shifting the topic because he didn¡¯t want to bring up the past. Scratching her chin, Elspeth said thoughtfully, ¡°I still need a 500-year-old ginkgo, but it can only be bought from the auction. We¡¯ll have to wait until evening.¡± He scanned around. ¡°Are you hungry? We¡¯ll grab a bite if you¡¯re hungry.¡± Simr to a smallmercial street, the underground ck market had all sorts of facilities within, including food, drinks, and entertainment, but the prices were sky-high. Checking the menu in front of her, Elspeth was bbergasted to see that just a te of pasta was priced at 100 dors. She didn¡¯t even bat an eyelid when paying one million for herbs but felt it was daylight robbery when the pasta cost one hundred. Bearing the pain, she ordered the pasta. Just then, she saw a familiar person at the next table when she returned the menu. Isn¡¯t that¡­ Arthur? Isn¡¯t he in Damoria? What¡¯s he doing here? she wondered. However, the important thing now was he shouldn¡¯t discover them here. In a hurry, she came up with an idea and fished out two pairs of sunsses from her bag. After putting on a pair, she shoved the other into Callum¡¯s hand. ¡°Arthur is around. Put it on quickly.¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Callum understood it and put the sunsses on obediently. ¡°Why is he around here?¡± he whispered. Actually, he had caught sight of Arthur earlier, too, but he wasn¡¯t sure. It seemed like he had been right all along. ¡°What else could it be? Most probably, he¡¯s also here for the auction. Do you think he¡¯s here for the ginkgo, too?¡± At the thought of this, Elspeth¡¯s heart raced nervously. ¡°It¡¯s okay. The Winthrops are loaded.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about the money. If Arthur is up to some hanky-panky, it will be tough to get the ginkgo this time.¡± She thought about it, and all of a sudden, she came up with a great n. At the auction, she looked around, and as she expected, she saw Arthur seated not far away with his head lowered and reading something. The almost unnoticeable smile on his lips made her worry, though. While she was uninterested in the items that were auctioned in the beginning, Callum was rather engrossed in the auction and even bought a few pieces of jewelry for her. Thanks to his cold, his voice sounded different from usual, and that prevented Arthur from recognizing him. Soon, it was time for the grand finale of the day¡ªginkgo. Staring at the ginkgo leaves locked in a ss incubator, Elspeth lit up. ¡°500-year-old ginkgo. Starting price at 1.5 million!¡± Sure enough, Arthur, who had done nothing earlier, was just waiting for this, and he raised his paddle decisively, calling the price 1.5 million more than the starting price. After that, every time he called a price, Callum would follow closely and call a price as well, but each time only a dor higher. Yes, only a dor, which seemed like he was making enemies with Arthur on purpose. Noticing this weirdpetitor, Arthur twirled his head and stole a look. Elspeth hurriedly ducked, and Callum was wearing sunsses. In addition, the surrounding was dark, so Arthur couldn¡¯t recognize them. He stared in their direction thoughtfully before looking away. Both of them continued to bid. In the beginning, others were bidding as well, but soon, many gave up as the price went up. In the end, only Arthur and Callum were left to bid for the ginkgo. As though losing patience, Arthur called directly, ¡°100 million.¡± That amount was way over the value of the ginkgo, and Elspeth tapped Callum. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Give up the bid.¡± Ignoring her words, he raised his paddle. ¡°200 million.¡± ¡°Okay, is there anyone higher than 200 million?¡± Arthur gave it one final thought and decided to give up the bid. ¡°200 million going once. 200 million going twice. 200 million going thrice! Congrattions, sir! This ginkgo is yours!¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes at him. ¡°That¡¯s extravagant. If I had known this would happen, I would have just ckmailed Grandfather for money.¡± Hearing that, Callum stroked her head. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m rich.¡± At a loss for words to describe him, she rolled her eyes and uttered reluctantly, ¡°I have money, too. But some things are not worth the money, and we should be clear about which is that, okay?¡± What a spendthrift. I wonder who is so unlucky to be his wife, she grumbled silently. Oh, I¡¯m that unlucky person. While she was filled with frustration, he suddenly turned to her and said in a serious tone, ¡°Here¡¯s the money. Watch it for me.¡± ¡°Deal!¡± Nheless, it still lifted her spirits that he had sessfully bid the ginkgo for her. When they were at the door, their way was blocked by a group of people out of nowhere. ¡°What now, Callum? You¡¯re actually at a ce like this? Didn¡¯t you mention before that the things in the ck market were filthy, and you¡¯d rather die thane here?¡± Standing in the front of the group, Arthur put up an arrogant stance as he stared at Callum, which seemed especially ironic. He can be arrogant all he wants now, but wait and see what will happenter! ¡°What are you nning by getting people to block our path?¡± Although Callum looked a little unwell, the cold air he exuded still sent shivers down one¡¯s spine, and the people around him only dared to surround him but not do anything to him. ¡°I know it¡¯s really bad to have you surrounded like this, but¡­¡± Arthur smirked, and suddenly, his expression shifted. ¡°Hand over the ginkgo.¡± Without flinching, Elspeth held the ginkgo closer to her chest. ¡°What? Are you here to rob us when you didn¡¯t call for a price in the auction earlier?¡± Arthur turned to her and grinned. ¡°Elspeth, if you¡¯ll date me, then I¡¯ll give the ginkgo to you as a present.¡± ¡°Present? Arthur Winthrop, Callum is the one who bought this. Aren¡¯t you ashamed to say something like that?¡± Today, she learned that a person could be so shameless. However, he acted as though he hadn¡¯t heard her and said casually, ¡°If your answer is no, don¡¯t me me for taking it by force.¡± The people around them started to hop provocatively like they would lunge any second to steal the ginkgo. ¡°Hold on!¡± Suddenly, a deep voice boomed from behind, and it gave Arthur a bad feeling as he raised his hand to stop his men. Turning around, he saw a group of people approaching them, and he narrowed his eyes. ¡°May I ask who this is?¡± That person sniggered. ¡°I¡¯m Irving Cole. How did it miss me that there¡¯s someone else calling the shots in the market that I¡¯m operating?¡± The sarcasm in his voice was exceptionally clear, and Arthur knew he had hit a hard nail. So, he kept away his hostility and said, ¡°You must be kidding. This market is still under your power, and I¡¯m just here to collect a debt.¡± The luck of me to bump into the boss of the ck market before I can even make a move, he thought. Both of them are really lucky. ¡°Collect a debt? Well, tell me about it. Why are you collecting a debt from my goddaughter?¡± Goddaughter?! Chapter 171 Chapter 171 Startled, Arthur pointed to Elspeth and asked, ¡°She¡¯s your goddaughter?¡± Even Elspeth and Callum were equally shocked. Isn¡¯t this the old man who was selling us the herbs earlier? And it turned out that he was the owner of the ck market. This was too far-fetched! Also, when did I be his goddaughter? Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but wonder. However, Irving didn¡¯t allow her to react as he red, his temperament rising high. ¡°What? Is it weird that I have a goddaughter?¡± Arthur chuckled apologetically. ¡°Of course not.¡± Influential and powerful, Irving also had many men working for him, so Arthur could only soften his attitude and speak to him peacefully instead of colliding head-on with him. In this situation, any normal person would stop before things got out of hand and leave while they still could. ¡°So, tell me. What does my goddaughter owe you? It seems to me that you¡¯re about to rob them, Mr. Winthrop. The ck market has always operated normally. Don¡¯t you think that you¡¯ve gone too far?¡± The entire ck market had to show Irving some respect, but who did Arthur think he was for him to have the nerve to act as he pleased on Irving¡¯s turf? Knowing that he was at the losing end this time, Arthur gritted his teeth and apologized to Elspeth, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Lynwood. I was rude earlier, and I ask for your forgiveness.¡± Then, he was about to leave with his men, but Irving¡¯s men stopped them. ¡°Don¡¯t be in a rush to go. Make things clear. If it¡¯s my goddaughter who¡¯s at fault, I¡¯ll apologize to you on her behalf.¡± Obviously, Irving wasn¡¯t ready to let Arthur off easy, and he turned to Elspeth with a smile. ¡°Tell me what happened.¡± Seeing how Irving was ready to be her backbone, Elspeth immediately understood the situation¡ªhe wanted to help her vent her frustrations. ¡°During the auction earlier, he was the one who gave up bidding. But now, he wanted to rob us. Perhaps he doesn¡¯t have so much money, so he has no other choice but to rob my ginkgo,¡± she answered honestly without embellishments. Opposite her, Arthur was livid from the anger. When Irving came over earlier, a lot of people started gathering around, and after Elspeth¡¯s statement, everyone now knew that he was here to rob them because he didn¡¯t have the money. Irving snickered at his lie. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, is Elspeth telling the truth?¡± Stumped for words, Arthur couldn¡¯te up with any exnation now that things hade to this stage. Never did he imagine that Elspeth had such strong backing. Goddammit! However, all he could do now was exin in a soft tone to set up an innocent and gentle persona. ¡°Well¡­ I really need this ginkgo, so I wanted to discuss with Miss Lynwood to purchase hers because I don¡¯t have that much money¡­¡± Despite knowing that his exnation was very crappy, he had to find himself an excuse, somehow. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Then, his gaze fell on Callum and lit up expectantly. ¡°Besides, he¡¯s my brother. Why would I fight with him? I swear I only wanted to negotiate with Miss Lynwood, not rob her.¡± At the sudden mention of his name, Callum ignored his plea for help and retorted nonchntly, ¡°You¡¯ve already broken all ties with the Winthrop Family. Why are you still using this family name when you¡¯re outside?¡± Arthur¡¯s face went stiff. He didn¡¯t expect that a person as aloof as Callum would shoot him down so directly. There were also some socialites around them, and they agreed with Callum after he said that. ¡°That¡¯s true. Last month, Arthur Winthrop announced on his own that he¡¯s cutting off all ties with the Winthrop Family, making Mr. Theodore Winthrop so mad that he¡¯s still feeling unwell in the hospital now.¡± All of a sudden, Arthur became the topic of criticism as the audience started pointing their fingers and looking down at him while Callum and Elspeth stood silently at the side and watched him getting scorned. Embarrassment washed over him, but he still held his head high despite the people around him jeering at him. He channeled all of his hate on Callum. Meanwhile, Elspeth didn¡¯t want to push Arthur to a corner and smiled at Irving. ¡°Forget it. We were friends in the past, after all. Let¡¯s not make things too ugly.¡± Irving nodded in agreement. ¡°You¡¯re considerate and gentle. Okay, we¡¯ll let Mr. Winthrop go, then.¡± Right after he said that, something popped up in his mind and he added, ¡°Also, in the future, please avoid stepping into any ck market that I¡¯m operating, Mr. Winthrop.¡± His words made Arthur, who was already feeling in the dumps, ball his fists tightly. Callum and Elspeth¡­ Just you wait! After he left with his tail between his legs, the people around them dispersed because there was nothing else to watch. Irving turned to Elspeth with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing that I showed up on time. Otherwise, you¡¯d be in trouble.¡± She returned his smile. ¡°Thanks for your help, Mr. Cole.¡± The way she addressed him sent disgruntlement through his chest. ¡°I already said you¡¯re my goddaughter, and that makes you someone under my protection. From now onward, you¡¯re my goddaughter for real.¡± Biting her lip, she felt caught in a dilemma. ¡°How could I¡ª¡± ¡°Why not? Since you can¡¯t be my daughter-inw, you can be my goddaughter. I¡¯m really quite happy with you, youngdy. You¡¯re talented and brilliant. I should really introduce you to my useless son and make him learn from you!¡± Elspeth burst intoughter at his words. The boss of the ck market was just another regr father, and the way he nagged was a little simr to her father. At the thought of her father, she couldn¡¯t help but let her gaze drift away, and she was more determined than ever to find her mother. As though reading her mind, Callum stroked her hair. ¡°If that¡¯s what Mr. Cole says, just ept his intention.¡± ¡°Okay, Uncle Irving,¡± Elspeth said tentatively, which made Irving smile from ear to ear. ¡°Good. Come to me if you need anything, and I¡¯ll give them all to you for free. There¡¯s everything here. As long as you want it, I¡¯ll set it aside for you beforehand.¡± Without a doubt, being spoiled in such a generous manner moved Elspeth, and she said, ¡°Thanks, Uncle Irving.¡± However, getting such an ace card identally was kind of a surprise. ¡°If there¡¯s a chance next time, I¡¯ll introduce you to my son, but I gotta go now because of some other matters. See you.¡± After Irving left for his business, Elspeth and Callum left the ck market as well, and she could sense that something was amiss with Callum¡¯s condition the second they went out because his steps were light, and there was an abnormal blush on his face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Callum?¡± Holding his arm, she used her right hand to feel his forehead, which was burning hot. ¡°You¡¯re having a fever, Callum!¡± Immediately after the words left her lips, Callum, who was swaying on his feet, passed out the next second. Chapter 172 Chapter 172 Elspeth didn¡¯t expect Callum to faint. She didn¡¯t know what to do other than support his body and let him lean on her. She was at a loss. Then, a clear voice came from behind her. ¡°Elspeth? Why are you here?¡± Spencer couldn¡¯t help but feel sad when he saw the intimate scene between the two people in front of him. He knew it wasn¡¯t his ce to ask about them, so he could only greet them like this. ¡°Spencer, Callum passed out, and he has a fever!¡± Her eyes were filled with panic. ¡°Come. I¡¯ll help!¡± Spencer understood immediately and helped her carry Callum into the car. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°No worries. Do you want me to bring you to the hospital?¡± Spencer couldn¡¯t express how he felt. She even thanked him for helping a man, but he was unwilling to let go of any chances to be alone with Elspeth. The unconscious Callum didn¡¯t count. ¡°You don¡¯t have to.¡± She shook her head apologetically. She looked at Callum, who had passed out, and her heart ached as she was not in the mood to talk. ¡°You must be busy. You should get going.¡± This was an underground ck market. Spencer probably had something to do here. She didn¡¯t want him to apany her and waste his time. She felt very apologetic for even troubling him in the first ce. Remembering that he had something to do, Spencer nodded, albeit a bit reluctant. ¡°Alright, I will.¡± With that, Elspeth said goodbye to him. She had wanted to send Callum to the hospital, but she saw how flushed his face was, so she took him back to the Joneson Residence instead. Just as she was helping Callum into the house, Michael, who was about to step out, stopped her. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Although she didn¡¯t want to interact with Michael, today was an exception. She exined, ¡°Callum has a fever, and no one was taking care of him, so I brought him back.¡± It was okay for them to be intimate outside, but now, she had even brought him home! Michael was naturally upset about this and grumbled, ¡°As the president of the Winthrop Group, he doesn¡¯t even have a property in Konig? What¡¯s the point of dating such a person?¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t want to argue with him, and Callum¡¯s body was hanging weakly on her shoulders. She was desperate to bring him in so he could rest. Therefore, she didn¡¯t bother arguing with Michael. ¡°I won¡¯t allow him to enter the Joneson Residence!¡± Michael roared, seeming to be insinuating something. ¡°If you don¡¯t let him in, I¡¯ll leave with him.¡± She knew Michael disapproved of Callum, so she turned around and walked out. ¡°Elspeth! What is the meaning of this?¡± Michael was trembling with anger. He really didn¡¯t understand why his granddaughter was being so disobedient. It was like she didn¡¯t care about her grandfather¡¯s feelings at all. What did she think he was doing this for? He just wanted Elspeth to marry an excellent man! Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. How was this Callum guy worthy enough for her? Her expression became colder when she noticed Callum wincing in pain. ¡°I¡¯ve made it very clear. If you don¡¯t like Callum, I¡¯ll go back to Damoria with him.¡± Michael took a deep breath and asked, ¡°What about Frank?¡± ¡°It¡¯s your call.¡± Her words were ruthless. ¡°Okay, okay!¡± His face turned red with anger. He could only obey her wishes for the sake of his precious grandson. ¡°You can let Callum stay here today, but he has to leave the Joneson Residence after he wakes up!¡± After all, Frank was still lying on the hospital bed. If his back couldn¡¯t heal, his life would be ruined. Elspeth¡¯s eyes were trained on Callum, and she didn¡¯t spare a look at Michael. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll bring him in, then.¡± With that, she no longer bothered herself with Michael, who was almost exploding with anger, and left instantly. Michael¡¯s assistant stood next to him, looking perturbed. ¡°Old Mr. Joneson, what should we do? If this continues, she will certainly end up married to Callum.¡± Michael held his breath and said in a quiet voice, ¡°It¡¯s okay. This is just a phase. When I introduce a better man to Elspeth, she will understand my efforts.¡± Right then, he remembered something, and he asked, ¡°I heard that the boy from the Carr Family has returned to ydal. When you have time, make an appointment with him. Let him and Elspeth meet.¡± The assistant understood what he meant andmented with a smile, ¡°Old Mr. Joneson, you¡¯re very wise. She will definitely see your efforts.¡± Michael narrowed his eyes. There was an unreadable look in his eyes. ¡°I hope so. I really hope she won¡¯t follow her mother¡¯s path.¡± In the room, Elspeth put Callum down on the bed and carefully tucked him in. She looked at his closed eyes and felt an indescribable emotion in her heart. She got up to prepare some hot towels for him. Before she ced them on his forehead, he grabbed her hand tightly, and she couldn¡¯t move. ¡°Callum¡ª¡± Before she could finish speaking, he tugged at her hand, and she lost her bnce. She fell directly on him. Elspeth noticed the slight tremble in Callum¡¯s tightly shut eyes and figured she was causing him pain by pressing down on him. She was just about to get up when he suddenly opened his eyes. There was an indescribable gentleness in his gaze. ¡°I heard everything.¡± She looked up at him with a look of astonishment. ¡°I heard what you said to Old Mr. Joneson.¡± Elspeth thought of what she said, and her face turned red. ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything. Pretend you didn¡¯t hear anything.¡± Callumughed weakly at that. ¡°Why are you embarrassed for speaking up about your love?¡± ¡°Oh, shut it!¡± She was furious and smacked his chest softly. Suddenly, a pained expression shed across his face. ¡°Callum, are you in pain?¡± Elspeth sensed something was wrong, and she wanted to lift his shirt, but Callum stopped her. ¡°I¡¯m okay. I was messing with you. It doesn¡¯t hurt at all.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡± Suspicion rose within her, and she lifted his shirt only to see a bandaged wound. There was blood seeping through the bandage. Callum watched as the suspicion in her eyes faded into a pained look. He pulled his shirt down quickly to cover it. ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s just a small injury. I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t listen to his dismissive words. With a hint of anger in her tone, she inquired, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Tell me the truth.¡± Seeing that he remained silent after a while, she raised her voice impatiently as she asked, ¡°Callum, are you going to tell me or not?!¡± Chapter 173 Chapter 173 Callum paused to think for a moment before he finally relented and said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I eavesdropped on some people in the hospital that wanted to harm you. I found out before they could do anything, and¡­¡± He heard a conversation between two people that morning. They were plotting in the corridor to knock Elspeth out and take her away. However, he didn¡¯t notice they were carrying switchde knives. He immediately tried to stop them, but the two men panicked and tried to flee from the scene, and they managed to cut him in the chest. ¡°So, you stopped them for me? The fever is caused by the inmmation of the wound, isn¡¯t it?¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t know why, but as she spoke, she couldn¡¯t help but feel like crying. Every word was like a needle poking at her heart, and she teared up from the pain. Callum knew she would be worried, so he didn¡¯t want to tell her. However, he didn¡¯t expect her to cry over it. His heart ached when he saw this. He pulled her into his embrace and gentlyforted her. ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s a small injury. It¡¯s not like I haven¡¯t been hurt before. You don¡¯t have to feel this way.¡± She cried like a child for the very first time, and her nose twitched uncontrobly. ¡°You were hurt this time because of me. Even if I didn¡¯t get hurt, I could still feel the pain from your wounds as if they were mine.¡± He pinched her nose softly. ¡°I¡¯d be even sadder if you were the one that had gotten hurt.¡± ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. With a solemn face, he continued, ¡°Elspeth, I¡¯m just d you¡¯re not hurt.¡± He was happy that he was able to stop something bad from happening to her. ¡°Miss¡­¡± Just then, someone rapped on the door. The two of them pulled away from each other instantly. Callum let go of her hands, allowing her to open the door. The man at the door smiled kindly when he saw her. ¡°Hello, Miss. I¡¯m the Jonesons¡¯ family doctor, Dr. Leonard Hyde. Old Mr. Joneson asked me toe and take a look at Mr. Winthrop¡¯s condition.¡± As he spoke, he subconsciously nced at Callum. He could sense an icy, unfriendly aura exuding from Callum. It was somewhat intimidating. ¡°Okay,e in.¡± Leonard looked kind and friendly, so Elspeth didn¡¯t refuse him. She let him into the room and allowed him to take a look at Callum. After a careful examination, his face became solemn, and he couldn¡¯t help but frown. ¡°Dr. Hyde, what¡¯s wrong with Callum?¡± Leonard stared off for a while thoughtfully before letting out a sigh. ¡°His wound isn¡¯t an ordinary cut. There was poison on the knife. The poison is now spreading throughout his body. The situation doesn¡¯t look very good.¡± A pang shot through her heart, and she asked, ¡°What kind of poison is it?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t tell. This type of poison is rather strange. I¡¯ve been practicing medicine for so long, yet I¡¯ve never encountered such a poison before¡­ Maybe it¡¯s because I don¡¯t know much about poisons, so I can¡¯t tell from a nce.¡± That being said, how could the doctor hired by the Jonesons be ipetent? The fact that he knew nothing about the poison meant that such poison was rare, not to mention hard to be treated. Elspeth looked at the wound on Callum¡¯s chest and felt it was familiar. She thought for a while but couldn¡¯t remember who had suffered a simr injury. ¡°Thank you, Dr. Hyde. Please think of a way to prescribe a medication to suppress the toxins from spreading.¡± Leonard nodded. ¡°I will. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Then, she saw him off and went back to Callum. He looked up at her worried expression and smiled comfortingly. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Don¡¯t worry. Aren¡¯t I fine for now?¡± Even if he was okay for now, he still looked pale to everyone else. She shot him a look. ¡°You might be okay now, but what about when something happens? What should I do if you die?¡± ¡°What are you talking about? Nothing will happen.¡± ¡°But Callum, I feel like I¡¯ve seen this kind of wound before.¡± This seemed to pique his curiosity. ¡°Where have you seen it before?¡± ¡°I think it was¡­¡± Elspeth narrowed her eyes and suddenly remembered something. She quickly took out her phone to call Harper. ¡°What¡¯s going on, Elspeth?¡± It sounded chaotic on Harper¡¯s end. He seemed to be in a meeting. ¡°What was the injury that you hadst time?¡± Although he didn¡¯t know why she would suddenly ask that, he still answered honestly, ¡°I was bitten by a poisonous snake. If it weren¡¯t for the miracle doctor, I would have died a long time ago.¡± Elspeth¡¯s eyes lit up at his words. ¡°Yes, a poisonous snake!¡± With that, she hung up the phone and began to study Callum¡¯s wound. His flesh was turned out, and there was dark blood leaking from the wound. The tissues around it were damaged. These were the symptoms of a wound after being bitten by a poisonous snake. ¡°Callum, your wound is caused by a cut from a knife dipped in a snake¡¯s venom.¡± Callum listened to her conclusion and asked in a serious tone, ¡°Then, what do you think we should do next?¡± ¡°It¡¯s very simple. We just need to use ginkgo. I¡¯ll get Sonny to get it.¡± The ginkgo she had right now was reserved for Frank, and it could only be used once. Thinking of this, she immediately decided to call Sonny. ¡°Elspeth, what¡¯s the matter?¡± It was rare for her to call first. Sonny couldn¡¯t help but feel surprised. ¡°Mentor, do me a favor.¡± He seldom heard her addressing him in such a way, and his hand trembled slightly. The chess piece in his hand almost fell. ¡°Elspeth, what happened?¡± She had a temper, and she was arrogant, so she rarely called him a mentor. Yet, here she was, addressing him as a ¡®mentor.¡¯ It was as if she had had a change of heart. Elspeth thought about it and asked, ¡°Do you still have century-old ginkgo? The older, the better.¡± Her request made his heart ache for a bit. ¡°What do you need it for?¡± Century-old ginkgoes were hard toe by, and the longer it was preserved, the rarer they would be. The one he had was eight centuries old, and it took him a lot of effort to find it. ¡°Saving one life is better than building a reputation for yourself. Of course, I want to use it to save a life.¡± Sonny listened to the impolite tone on the other end of the line and pursed his lips indignantly. ¡°Can¡¯t you be nicer to me? I¡¯m your mentor¡­¡± However, Elspeth wasn¡¯t in the mood to joke with him. ¡°Ship it over immediately. I want to see it in four hours. Get it done right away.¡± With that, she couldn¡¯t be bothered to bicker with him any longer and hung up the phone. She then turned to look at Callum. His lips were pale as the toxins spread across his body. He was on the verge of losing consciousness. ¡°Callum! Stay awake! Hang on, Callum! I¡¯ll definitely save you!¡± Although he was starting to slip away, he forced a weak smile to reassure Elspeth. However, in the next second, his head fell to the side, and he passed out. ¡°Callum!¡± Her pupils narrowed in terror. The light she had in her eyes drained, and she was extremely worried. All she could do now was wait patiently for Sonny to deliver the herb. Chapter 174 Chapter 174 After four hours had passed, Elspeth still hadn¡¯t received the ginkgo. She didn¡¯t know what to do. In the end, she called and found out that Sonny had sent the ginkgo to the Winthrop Residence in Damoria. She then made a call to Winthrop Residence, but no one answered. She was met with the dial tone instead. The moment she hung up the phone, an unknown number called her. When she picked up, the voice on the other end of the phone shocked her. ¡°Elspeth, what are you looking for? Is it the ginkgo?¡± Arthur¡¯s prideful voice was heard over the phone. As soon as she heard his voice, the bad premonition she had was immediately confirmed. She immediately understood that the ginkgo was now in his hands. She felt her heart drop. ¡°I heard Callum is seriously injured. You¡¯re not nning to give this ginkgo to him, are you?¡± Elspeth¡¯s voice was cold when she answered, ¡°You were behind this, weren¡¯t you?¡± Arthur seemed like he was in a good mood as he said, ¡°Of course not. But I¡¯ve heard about what¡¯s going on.¡± ¡°Arthur, give it back to me.¡± He was far from an angel, nor was he easygoing. He was still furious after getting humiliated thest time they met. ¡°Give it back? Why should I give you something that I¡¯ve found? Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a coincidence that I saw this parcel right when I decided to go back to the Winthrop Residence? If I didn¡¯t open it out of curiosity, I wouldn¡¯t have known that this was the life-saving ginkgo.¡± ¡°What exactly do you want?!¡± Callum didn¡¯t have time to spare, so Elspeth couldn¡¯t just let Arthur have the ginkgo. Arthur was pleased that he managed to provoke her and threw his final blow. ¡°If you want it back, you¡¯ll have to agree to my conditions.¡± Although Elspeth was furious, she had no choice but to calm herself down and asked, ¡°Tell me, then! What do you want?!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no fun if I just tell you outright. How about you take a guess?¡± Elspeth could hear the smile in his voice, and she knew what he wanted without a second thought. She asked tentatively, ¡°The Winthrop Group¡¯s shares?¡± ¡°Oh!¡± The corners of Arthur¡¯s lips curled up. ¡°Elspeth, you know me so well. Why don¡¯t you break up with Callum ande with me? Not only will the ginkgo be yours, but the Winthrop Group¡¯s shares will also be yours.¡± Elspeth felt disgusted and interjected instantly, ¡°Arthur, are there any other conditions?¡± Her words surprised him. ¡°Of course not. I only want the shares and you. I don¡¯t want anything else.¡± ¡°Arthur, I am your elder brother¡¯s girlfriend.¡± He pursed his lips for a moment before a devilish smile formed on his face. ¡°I know, but isn¡¯t that more interesting?¡± ¡°Shameless.¡± ¡°Go on.¡± Elspeth knew she wasn¡¯t in a good position to negotiate. In the end, she didn¡¯t bother arguing further and immediately told him to meet up. ¡°Come to ydal. Bring the ginkgo, and let¡¯s talk.¡± She couldn¡¯t give up the Winthrop Group to him, but she knew she couldn¡¯t tell him about that. Otherwise, it would infuriate him. Arthur didn¡¯t trust her, fearing that she might lie to him. ¡°Don¡¯t try and trick me into going to ydal before ambushing me there. I¡¯m telling you. If you try to pull something off, I can destroy you any time.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t bother to argue with this lunatic and said softly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t lie to you. Don¡¯t we have to meet up to sign the transfer contract?¡± Although he was still on edge, he hesitantly agreed to her request. Damoria was only two hours away from ydal by ne. Callum was still in aa due to the poison. Elspeth mused over it and decided to temporarily allow the family doctor to take care of him. Then, she went out alone to meet Arthur. They made an appointment in a five-star hotel not far from the Joneson Residence since the hotel had really good sound instion. When she finally arrived, Arthur was already inside, drinking tea by himself. ¡°You¡¯re finally here. I thought you lied to me.¡± Raising his chin slightly, he motioned for her to take a seat. She picked a seat furthest away from him and didn¡¯t bother touching the cup of water. Arthur yed with the cup in his hand and teased her, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you scared of the ss of water? I¡¯m not a monster. How could I do something to you here? I wouldn¡¯t dare to drug you.¡± However, she ignored him and went straight to the point. ¡°Did you bring the ginkgo?¡± ¡°I did, but it¡¯s not with me at the moment. It¡¯s upstairs in the hotel room. Do you want toe and see it with me?¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. When Elspeth looked up, she noticed that he was staring at her with great interest. There was a faint smile on his face and a hint of sarcasm in his voice. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Tell me. Are you only going to hand it over after I¡¯ve transferred the shares to you?¡± Arthur shrugged. ¡°I suppose so.¡± ¡°But right now, Callum is in aa. I can¡¯t transfer the shares to you until he wakes up.¡± What she said made sense, but Arthur wasn¡¯t satisfied with her answer. ¡°Once you¡¯ve used the ginkgo, and Callum is awake, what leverage do I have left?¡± She wasn¡¯t being pushy or dismissive. ¡°If you don¡¯t trust me, then record what we said. If I don¡¯t keep up my end of the deal, you can sue me any time.¡± However, he shook his head. ¡°Elspeth, you¡¯re too smart for your own good. As long as you say something indirectly, verbal promises won¡¯t have legal effects. Do you think I¡¯m stupid?¡± Such a weak lie couldn¡¯t fool him at all. He saw Elspeth sitting there with her back straight, and an evil thought surfaced in his mind. He leaned closer to her and clung to her. ¡°Or you can sleep with me tonight, and I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± She looked at him in disgust. When she saw his perverted smile, she lifted her hand and pped him in the face. He didn¡¯t react immediately as the smack came as a shock to him. After a while, he slowly turned to look at her with a menacing look. His reddened eyes were wide open as he stared at her viciously. He was disgruntled by what had happened, yet he seemed to enjoy it as well. ¡°Spicy, but I like it.¡± Arthur pushed the tip of his tongue against his inner cheek and felt the wound in his mouth. He felt a subtle pain. ¡°With such a big reaction, it must mean that you haven¡¯t slept with a man yet, have you? Callum is such a gentleman. I would have pounced on you a long time ago.¡± ¡°Arthur, you are disgusting.¡± Seeing that her negotiation failed, she decided to get ginkgo another way. She stood up and prepared to leave. However, before she could even start walking, her whole body went limp, and she fell back onto the chair. Warning bells immediately went off in Elspeth¡¯s head. ¡°I lit an incense in the room. I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯m not a gentleman. I¡¯m a monster.¡± He caressed her face with his right hand, smiling devilishly. ¡°Elspeth, do you think Callum would be mad if I slept with his girlfriend, whom he has yet to sleep with?¡± Elspeth wanted to fight back, but she gradually lost consciousness. Thest thing she saw before her world went dark was an evil and hungry look in Arthur¡¯s eyes. His face was smug as he waited for the opportunity. Chapter 175 Chapter 175 Arthur stared at the unconscious Elspeth beside him as a smirk crept up his face. You still fell into my hands! Just as he was about to carry her up to the hotel room, a loud crash echoed from the sandalwood door as it was kicked wide open. Callum¡¯s face went dark as he saw Elspeth lying motionless in Arthur¡¯s arms. Although he looked sickly, he still managed to exude a threatening aura. ¡°Put Elspeth down, Arthur!¡± When he was unconscious, he overheard Elspeth say that she would meet Arthur at the hotel. He tried his hardest to pry his eyes open when he felt the emptiness beside him to look for her. Just as expected, he found her there. ¡°That was quick of you, Callum,¡± Arthur sneered. It was frankly not within his calctions that Callum would still have the strength toe over when he was poisoned. Nevertheless, Arthur had to give him credit for his tenacity. ¡°Well, I wouldn¡¯t have known you were such a b*stard if I didn¡¯t.¡± Callum coughed softly with a hand over his mouth and tried to suppress the ill effects of the poison on his person. His gazended on Elspeth in Arthur¡¯s arms as fury lit up in his eyes. ¡°Aren¡¯t you releasing her?¡± ¡°Let her go?¡± Arthur jeered, ¡°Have you forgotten that you¡¯re poisoned, Callum? You won¡¯t be able to beat me no matter how proficient you are at fighting.¡± ¡°Who told you that I came alone?¡± Suddenly, a group of burly men showed up from behind Callum. They were all packed with muscles, making it an intimidating scene. That made Arthur¡¯s smile disappear in an instant. ¡°You¡¯re pretty clever.¡± ¡°You only have one minute, Arthur. Put Elspeth down and hand over the ginkgo.¡± Callum¡¯s words felt like a joke to Arthur as he sharply rebuffed, ¡°Elspeth is in my hands now. Shouldn¡¯t you be the one listening to my demands?¡± How dare Calum threaten me? I guess he doesn¡¯t care about Elspeth¡¯s life! ¡°You¡¯re only one man here, Arthur. You don¡¯t even have a single chip to barter against me.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Arthur had no regard for Callum¡¯s taunt as he smashed the ss onto the floor and picked up a shard, threateningly holding it against Elspeth¡¯s neck with a manic smile. ¡°Elspeth¡¯s life for my freedom. That should be enough, Callum.¡± Callum hesitated for a moment before calmly answering, ¡°Okay. Release her, and I¡¯ll let you go.¡± ¡°Aww. You wanna y the hero and save the damsel in distress. I¡¯ll return her to you once I get out.¡± Then, Arthur held onto Elspeth¡¯s waist as he slowly made his way out. Callum didn¡¯t stop him as he followed quietly behind. Then, he even caught Elspeth, who was thrown to the ground as Arthur got into the cab. After the car drove off, Callum once again looked down at Elspeth, who was in his arms, only to see that she had opened her eyes, and they contained a hint of gleeful triumph. ¡°You¡¯re alright?¡± It was good news to him that Elspeth wasn¡¯t unconscious, but she tricked him too! ¡°Yea. It was an act. He said that the ginkgo was in the room, but it didn¡¯t feel right for someone as sneaky as him to reveal his ace up his sleeves to me so easily. So, I pretended to faint under his drug and frisked him.¡± Elspeth raised her dainty hand and yfully shook a small ss bottle that disyed the ginkgo for all to see. Callum shook his head in resignation as an amused smile crept onto his face. ¡°Arthur will be furious.¡± ¡°Who cares? He was the one who started it!¡± He looked over her from top to bottom. Once he was confident that she was alright, he finally rxed a tad before asking, ¡°How did you discover the drug?¡± She felt that Arthur¡¯s drug was like child¡¯s y and scorned, ¡°I noticed it with just one whiff. That¡¯s such a simple drug that I didn¡¯t even want to waste my time making it when I started learning medicine.¡± Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Callum almost forgot that the person he was worried about was Elspeth, the medical genius. He was purely overthinking it. ¡°Wait. Why are you here? Didn¡¯t you pass out?¡± His eyes darkened as he quietly replied, ¡°I realized you were missing when I woke up and recalled what you said when I was unconscious. So, I came here and found you.¡± Fortunately, he arrived in time. If Arthur had been more ruthless¡­ He didn¡¯t dare think of the consequences. ¡°Let¡¯s go. You and Frank will recover just fine once I¡¯m done whipping up the antidote.¡± Callum nodded in agreement, and their entire procession returned to the Joneson Residence. The process of making the medicine was brief. Elspeth soon came over with a bottle filled with light yellow powder after tinkering for a while. ¡°I can¡¯t do anything advanced with theck of equipment here. So, I can¡¯t turn them into pills, but the effect is the same. Here you go.¡± Callum picked up the medicine bottle and watched the liquid swirl around as he raised an eyebrow. ¡°What happens if you poison me to death?¡± Elspeth, on the other hand, was amused by him. ¡°If I wanted you dead, I would have transferred all your assets under your name to mine. Besides, who would use such an expensive herb as a poison? That¡¯s a huge capital. It¡¯s easier to slit your throat in your sleep.¡± She was right. The market price for this ginkgo was sky-high. People fought for it as it was extremely scarce. It was indeed overkill to use it as poison. However, he still found what she said funny and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the imagery. ¡°What are youughing at?¡± ¡°You¡¯re cute.¡± He was only stating the facts. Elspeth shot daggers at him with her hands on her hips like a petnt child. ¡°What¡¯s cute?¡¯ Callum nced at her from the corner of his eyes beforementing, ¡°Small things¡­ are cute.¡± She couldn¡¯t fault him for saying that. Elspeth was tall and fair with long slender legs. It was just that she wasn¡¯t really curvy. She immediately understood what he was hinting at and covered her chest. She returned the favor by scanning him up and down before teasing, ¡°Hm, you too. Small and cute.¡± Her insinuation immediately triggered his dissatisfaction as his eyes darkened. His tone was dangerously low when he drawled, ¡°Small?¡± Elspeth hadn¡¯t realized the severity of the situation as she thought her retort was sessful at his disappearing smile and nodded her head proudly. ¡°What? You¡¯re annoyed by what I said? Don¡¯t worry, Callum. Even if you really¡­ I wouldn¡¯t leave you.¡± Callum restrained his temper, and his tone was even as he tossed her a question, ¡°Why don¡¯t you give it a try?¡± ¡°Try what?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s small or not.¡± Elspeth¡¯s face instantly became beet red. She couldn¡¯t continue the dirty conversation and sat on the edge of the bed, looking a little lost. Callum lifted his hand and curled his finger as he gave her a knock on the head. ¡°Remember to stop saying nonsense next time. Else, don¡¯t me me for bullying you.¡± Elspeth understood what he meant by the word bully despite being inexperienced in terms of intimacy. So, she scrambled to back away. ¡°Fine, you win. Have a good rest. I¡¯ve got to go to the hospital to treat Frank.¡± With that, she ran out of the room as though a pack of hellhounds was on her tail. The doors were mmed shut before Callum could even say goodbye. Then, he slowly curled his lips into a small smile as he recalled her panicked reaction. After all, it was only a matter of time before¡­ Chapter 176 Chapter 176 Elspeth ran out of the room with her heart pounding wildly against her chest. She only calmed down after taking a few deep breaths. Then, she held the other bottle of ginkgo medicine as she strode to the garage and got into the car toward the hospital. In the hospital, Frank was sitting on the bed watching an esportspetition. He seemed to be in good spirits. ¡°Frank, the medicine is ready.¡± She threw the small bottle of medicine at him without a single hint of warning. ¡°It¡¯s such a tiny bottle. Is that enough?¡± Looking at the silver ceramic bottle, Frank was filled with doubt as he looked at the teeny silver ceramic bottle. It¡¯s only the length of my finger. I can probably use it once. ¡°Open it, and you¡¯ll see.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t bother to exin and only told him to see for himself. Frank opened up the bottle as a pleasant fragrance swept over his face. It was light but fragrant with the unique smell of ginkgo. Inside the bottle was some sort of paste, and he tried pressing on it with his fingers. It felt warm to the touch as if it was freshly made. Frank was a little curious and asked uncertainly, ¡°Do I spread this on my back?¡± Elspeth replied in a deadpan tone, ¡°You can swallow it too. I¡¯ll prepare the equipment for a gastric lavage for you.¡± He realized that she was mocking him when he heard that and was a little annoyed as he huffed in reply, ¡°Then, who¡¯s going to help me put it on?¡± ¡°Why are you looking at me? It won¡¯t be me.¡± They were of a different gender. So, it would be weird. Besides, he had a temper on him, and she wasn¡¯t foolish enough to be a willing subject to his ¡®tender¡¯ mercies. Suddenly, a thought popped into her mind as she smiled. ¡°You could ask Spencer to help you. It could help you both to be closer.¡± Frank was so mad that his ears went red and rejected her hotly, ¡°Over my dead body.¡± The nurse by the side couldn¡¯t hold it back any longer. Her eyes were sparkling with admiration as she suggested, ¡°Mr. Joneson, I could help you. I love putting on medicine for people.¡± When he stared at the chubbydy in front of him who was so eager yet shy, he turned his head and looked at Elspeth with a solemn face. ¡°Call Spencer now!¡± Elspeth pressed her lips together, afraid she wouldugh and hurt the nurse¡¯s feelings. If sheughed, it would definitely cancel out all the good deeds she had done. Suddenly, Frank told her that he was thirsty and specified he wanted coffee from a particr ce. She knew that this was payback for being mean to him earlier, so she didn¡¯t refuse him and drove to get it.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. She also knew that he wanted her to leave since he was shy and didn¡¯t want a girl watching him as someone thered the paste over his injury. Spencer had clearly rushed over, considering his timely appearance. To his immense amusement, Frank only needed him because Frank couldn¡¯t spread the paste himself. So, he gave Frank a light punch as he chortled, ¡°What? Am I the Joneson Family¡¯s nanny now, Mr. Joneson?¡± Frank was still rather shocked by the nurse earlier. So, he wasn¡¯t in a good mood and coldly ordered, ¡°Stop fooling around and get to work.¡± Spencer lifted his shirt and lightly spread the paste onto his back. Without Elspeth there, he was a little distracted, causing his hand to slip and identally press on Frank¡¯s wound. ¡°Argh! Careful. It hurts! Are you doing that on purpose?¡± Spencer immediately came back to his senses as he shook his head apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean it.¡± When Frank¡¯s grimace had smoothened out, he continued to wonder, ¡°Elspeth is such a two-faced woman. Why would anyone still want someone like her?¡± Spencer used some strength and once again pressed on Frank¡¯s wound. Frank let out a howl this time, ¡°What are you doing, Spencer?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Spencer was emotionless as his fingers turned gentle. ¡°My hand slipped.¡± It was Frank¡¯s fault for prodding right at his sore spot anyway. Frank kept hissing from the pain. That shut him up, and he stoppedmenting about Elspeth. After a while, she returned with coffee and saw that Spencer was done applying the paste. So, she asked how Frank felt. He closed his eyes as he focused on his injury. He felt that his back was cool due to the paste, but his wound still stung and itched too. ¡°The pain is still there, but it¡¯s eptable.¡± ¡°If it hurts, that means the medicine is working. I added a medicinal herb for you. Even though it would hurt a little, it could get rid of that temper of yours and reduce your chances of experiencing any inmmation.¡± Elspeth smiled once she saw that Frank¡¯s injury was healing just as she knew it would. ¡°The wound on your back would be partially healed within a few days. Remember to avoiding in contact with water.¡± Spencer, who was standing by the side, saw that she was nning to leave and asked hesitantly. ¡°Elspeth, we talked about the sickness of that friend of mine. Do you have time now?¡± Only then did she recall his request. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re talking about that person with heliophobia?¡± ¡°Yes. I told her that I would look for someone to help treat her. She was delighted.¡± Spencer tried to make his request as discreet as possible, hoping that she would take a look at his friend. Elspeth nodded. ¡°Sure. No problem. We can go now.¡± A glint of joy shone in Spencer¡¯s eyes. ¡°Great. I¡¯ll send you there.¡± Then, they bid Frank goodbye, left the hospital, and got in Spencer¡¯s car to a colonial-style home in the suburbs. The whole house screamed fancy, and Elspeth felt rather oppressed as sheid her gaze on the heavily ornamental wooden furniture. Soon, a middle-aged couple greeted them as they entered the living room. ¡°You should be Miss Lynwood. Spencer mentioned you. You¡¯re as young and beautiful as I expected!¡± The man of the couple looked at Elspeth¡¯s face as a glimmer of darkness shed across his eyes. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Fowler. Where¡¯s the patient?¡± Elspeth was a little peeved at his strange gaze and wanted to leave the moment she was done with her diagnosis. ¡°Allow me.¡± The woman led Elspeth and Spencer to exit the living room toward the backyard and entered a small courtyard that was sealed tightly. Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but frown at the darkness as she entered the room. ¡°We have no choice. Tina¡¯s afraid of the light.¡± The woman noticed Elspeth¡¯s difort and smiled apologetically. On the other hand, Spencer seemed fine, as he could move around freely. The three entered the room at the very back. As Elspeth noticed the girl¡¯s silhouette curled up on the bed, her mind was miles away as she slowly stepped forward. The girl heard the door creak and looked up but shrank back timidly when she was met with an unfamiliar face. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, Tina. This is Elspeth. I¡¯ve told you about her before.¡± Spencer patientlyforted her while giving Elspeth a look. Elspeth immediately got his hint and smiled. ¡°Hi, Miss Fowler. I¡¯m here to help. But first, may I give you a checkup?¡± Tina shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. You don¡¯t need to check me.¡± Elspeth wasn¡¯t fazed by her rejection and tried to persuade her, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. No matter what, it doesn¡¯t hurt to decideter what you want to do after I¡¯ve taken a look at you.¡± Then, she looked at Mrs. Fowler and Spencer, who were standing behind her, and requested for them to leave. ¡°Could you both leave the room for a minute? I¡¯ll call out for you if I need some help.¡± Spencer nodded and walked out with a hesitant Mrs. Fowler. Once both of them had departed from the room, Elspeth turned back to the girl with a solemn look on her face. ¡°Tell me the truth, Miss Fowler. What exactly is going on here?¡± Chapter 177 Chapter 177 Tina dared not look Elspeth in the eye, and her body shrunk back into her corner when she heard those words. ¡°I really didn¡¯t¡ª¡± ¡°This room is filled with a strong scent. While most people wouldn¡¯t be able to identify it at the get-go, I know what that is. It¡¯s an ointment for bruises.¡± Elspeth knew that the truth behind Tina being covered with countless bruises and that she was going out of her way to avoid exposure would be revealed soon enough. ¡°Miss Fowler, I¡¯ll keep it a secret. I won¡¯t tell anyone.¡± Elspeth promised in a gentle tone. ¡°Believe me, Tina, alright?¡± Tina¡¯s eyes reddened upon hearing Elspeth¡¯s reassurances, making her look like a porcin doll close to shattering. ¡°Don¡¯t cry. Tell me. I¡¯ll help you.¡± Tina took in a deep breath before slowly recounting her story, ¡°My mom divorced my dad and remarried Alex Fowler a few yearster when I was four.¡± Elspeth listened attentively to Tina, but she could already guess what had happened in her mind. ¡°Unfortunately, Alex showed his true colors just a couple of yearster and started abusing me. He would beat me up whenever my mom wasn¡¯t around. My mom really liked him. So, despite all the violence he had hurled at me, I kept my silence. I kept it a secret and didn¡¯t even tell Spencer. Alex¡¯s abuse worsened because of myck of reaction.¡± Tears rolled off Tina¡¯s cheeks as she told her tale. It was agonizing to bare her story to another after keeping it a secret for so many heartrending years. ¡°Then, the heliophobia¡­¡± ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. Pain shed across Tina¡¯s eyes as she muttered bitterly, ¡°I don¡¯t have heliophobia. I just didn¡¯t want to see people. The beating was frequent, and I was constantly covered with bruises. I was afraid people might notice. So, I came up with an excuse to avoid ever leaving.¡± Only Spencer, her childhood friend, didn¡¯t distance himself from her and often came over to apany her. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you fight back?¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t wrap her mind around it. Why would Tina be willing to suffer the beating for such a long time? ¡°I¡¯ll tell you only because your eyes were¡­ It was filled with such strength despite being gentle. You make me feel safe. But you¡¯re also a young girl. You may be able to treat me, but it¡¯s probably impossible for you to save me from this hell.¡± Tina knew very well that her mother liked Alex. She didn¡¯t have the heart to destroy her mother¡¯s dream. ¡°My mom likes him. I don¡¯t want to disappoint her.¡± Elspeth listened to her, and her gaze turned sharp at thatment. ¡°How do you know that your mom wouldn¡¯t feel disappointed instead? You saw how she looked at you just now. Do you really think this is good for her? Her daughter suffering in silence for her happiness? Any mother would be miserable if they knew what you¡¯ve hidden. You should talk to her about this. Maybe the happiness you thought was right for her was only a fa?ade.¡± Tina opened her mouth to defend herself, but no words came to mind. She couldn¡¯t find the words to refute Elspeth¡¯s remarks. Elspeth gazed right into Tina¡¯s frightened eyes, then turned to walk out of the room where she saw Spencer and Mrs. Fowler. Then, she asked Mrs. Fowler, ¡°Mrs. Fowler, pleasee in.¡± Just when she was about to leave, she nced at Spencer. ¡°You too.¡± Spencer nodded and hastily followed her in. ¡°Mrs. Fowler, Tina isn¡¯t sick.¡± Mrs. Fowler was in disbelief, ¡°How is that possible?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll understand when you see the wounds on her body.¡± Mrs. Fowler gingerly moved forward and lifted Tina¡¯s long-sleeved shirt and long pants. Sure enough, all sorts of wounds covered her body. Some looked like knife cuts, whipshes, and even pinch marks¡­ It was a scary sight to behold, and Mrs. Fowler immediately burst into tears when she saw all the wounds covering her baby daughter¡¯s body. ¡°Your husband, Alex Fowler, abused her. That¡¯s why she pretended to be sick because she didn¡¯t want to see people.¡± Tina also started crying silently as she saw her mother¡¯s remorseful face. Mrs. Fowler carefully embraced Tina in a bear hug. This was the first time she had hugged Tina in six months. She never knew that Tina had been suffering all this while! ¡°Thank you, Miss Lynwood. If it weren¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯t know what else that beast would do to Tina.¡± Her heart felt constricted as she delicately caressed Tina¡¯s hair, treating her daughter with utmost care. ¡°What do you n to do now, Mrs. Fowler?¡± A ferocious glint shed across Mrs. Fowler¡¯s eyes. ¡°Divorce. Ours was a casual rtionship, to begin with. I married him only because I wanted Tina to have a better life. I always thought that a father figure was important to a child¡¯s development. Who knew¡­ I was so blind to have made such a huge mistake.¡± Elspeth scanned the wounds on Tina as a thought popped into her mind. ¡°But Tina¡¯s injuries can¡¯t be in vain. We need to make Alex pay for this.¡± As Mrs. Fowler¡¯s mind was filled with thoughts of leaving this dumpster fire behind, she didn¡¯t think of that. ¡°But¡­ the Fowler Family is considered a prestigious family in ydal. I¡¯m a mere citizen. I can¡¯t go up against him.¡± Spencer, who was standing by the side, sneered when he heard that. ¡°The Fowler Family is nobody. They can¡¯t evenpare to the White Family. Tina is my friend, and I will make him pay for making her suffer!¡± At the same time, Tina thought of something and murmured with a slight waver in her tone, ¡°There was once he beat me up when he was drunk. He kept muttering about working with the Alphascape Group and evading tax worth a total of 200 million. Maybe this could be strong evidence to bring him down?¡± The Alphascape Group? Elspeth recalled that the Alphascape Group headquarters was in ydal. So, maybe she could kill two birds with one stone this time and bring down the Fowlers as well as the Alphascape Group in one fell swoop. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Bringing him down is like child¡¯s y.¡± Spencer gave her aforting look. ¡°Pack up your stuff, all your precious items and such. You¡¯re noting back here ever again. Once the divorce is finalized, you can both stay in one of my vis, and no, I won¡¯t be taking no for an answer.¡± A trace of sunlight shone into the room, showing Tina¡¯s tears flowing down her face like precious diamonds. ¡°Thank you, Spencer.¡± Elspeth and Spencer quietly left the Fowler Residence as if nothing was out of the ordinary. This way, they wouldn¡¯t startle their prey and let him live for a while longer. After that debacle, Elspeth returned straight to the Joneson Residence and saw Callum was reading in the study. So, she told him what she had learned from Tina. ¡°You¡¯re saying that the Alphascape Group evaded a few hundred million in taxes?¡± ¡°Yea. If we can find evidence that they worked with Alex to evade tax, they¡¯re done.¡± It didn¡¯t matter how powerful the Alphascape Group was. They would still be under the mercy of the law. ¡°I¡¯ve never thought of that. Since he would go as far to evade tax, he¡¯s probably involved in several shady dealings.¡± Callum lowered his eyes as he was deep in thought. ¡°Leave this to me. I¡¯ll make sure to catch them both red-handed.¡± Elspeth nodded in agreement as she canceled any mental ns in asking Harper for help to investigate this matter. ¡°Old Mr. Joneson came by just now.¡± Elspeth¡¯s heart leaped to her throat as she forced herself to speak, ¡°What did he want?¡± ¡°He asked how I was recovering. He said that if I¡¯m well, I should leave the Joneson Residence as soon as possible.¡± She knew that it was just another excuse, so she wasn¡¯t worried about it. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Take the time you need to heal. You can leave once you feel better. You don¡¯t need to be bothered by him.¡± The corners of Callum¡¯s lips curled into a smile. ¡°Are you saying that you want to sleep with me?¡± ¡°What?¡± Elspeth had not considered this issue. A better way to put it would be that she utterly forgot about this issue. ¡°There¡¯s only one bed in this room. So, doesn¡¯t that mean that you want to share the bed with me by asking me to stay?¡± Chapter 178 Chapter 178 As soon as the words ¡®sharing the same bed¡¯ fell from Callum¡¯s lips, Elspeth immediately felt her face burning red. She was at a loss for how to answer and could only give Callum a fierce re. ¡°Fine, then leave.¡± Callum didn¡¯t seem to notice her re as he turned his head away. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll prepare the guest room for you.¡± He shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve already built a rtionship with your bed, and it says it doesn¡¯t want to part with me.¡± The corners of her mouth twitched at his daring. ¡°In that case, why don¡¯t you call out to it and see if it agrees with you?¡± Then, she saw him sitting on the bed, holding the side and asking, ¡°Do you want me to leave?¡± The bed shook violently three times, making loud creaking noises. Just as she was about to interject, he added, ¡°Do you want me to sleep with Elspeth?¡± He rocked his body, and the bed creaked once. Callum shrugged and spread his hands. ¡°Look, I told you; you need to sleep with me. Otherwise, your bed will be very upset.¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but feel amused at his antics. ¡°Callum, how childish can you be?¡± ¡°Also, a ghost will hide under your bed tonight if you insist on sleeping alone. While you¡¯re sleeping, it will climb out from under your bed and watch you sleep¡­¡± She smacked her palm against his head. ¡°I¡¯m not scared of ghosts.¡± He took the p without protest and looked at her aggrievedly. ¡°But I¡¯m scared. I don¡¯t dare to sleep alone.¡± In that case, who were you trying to scare with that ghost story? Elspeth rested her forehead against her palm as she tried to find a way out of this. Eventually, when she saw how persistent he was being, she pointed at the ground and announced, ¡°You can sleep in my room tonight. But you will sleep on the floor, and I will sleep on the bed.¡± Callum opened his mouth to probably say something cheeky. s, before he could say anything, he promptly swallowed his words after seeing the evil eye she was giving him. ¡°Also, I will kick you out if I find you climbing into my bed.¡± The bed smelled like her, so he was truly very reluctant to leave. Nevertheless, he obediently listened to her demands and slept on the ground. That way, he could at least lie to himself better as he was sleeping in the same room as her. She could not get a good night¡¯s sleep that night. It was her first time sleeping in the same room as a man, so her nerves remained tense throughout the night. On the other hand, he seemed utterly unaffected and slept soundly that night. Callum fell silent when he woke up the following day. The moment he noticed the deep and dark circles under Elspeth¡¯s eyes, he hesitantly said, ¡°Was it¡­ Very tiringst night?¡± Elspeth yawned and snapped irritably, ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s all thanks to you!¡± After the butler passing nearby heard her words, he was so shocked that he nearly slipped and fell. When she saw the horrified look that the butler was giving her, she immediately knew that he had misunderstood her words. Her voice became a little anxious, ¡°It¡¯s not what you think!¡± He nced at the butler lightly and smiled at her. ¡°Don¡¯t be shy. I won¡¯t press you for answers.¡± After the butler heard those words, he couldn¡¯t help but shudder. ¡°Didn¡¯t I prepare a guest room for you last night, Mr. Winthrop? Why¡­¡± He never expected the two to sleep together, even though Michael had explicitly ordered them to sleep separatelyst night. Elspeth seemed to realize upon hearing the butler¡¯s mutterings. Sure enough, a glint of murderous intent appeared in her eyes. ¡°Callum Winthrop¡­ There was a guest room prepared for you, wasn¡¯t there?¡± Callum rotated his wrists with an indifferent expression. ¡°The bed in the guest room is too hard. I couldn¡¯t sleep well.¡± What bed would be harder than the ground? She gritted her teeth and forced a smile. ¡°You sure are something.¡± He graced her with a small smile. ¡°I know how capable I am. But there are others here. It¡¯s inappropriate to talk about that here.¡± After he said that, he nced at the butler with a seemingly unintentional look. The butler smiled awkwardly, cold sweat pouring profusely down his back. Why are they telling me about their bedroom matters? If old Mr. Joneson discovers that I failed in my task, I might be fired on the spot! The butler cursed vehemently at Callum in his heart, but he still had to pretend to be pleasant and generous on the surface. ¡°I don¡¯t know anything. Old Mr. Joneson is calling for me, so I have to go.¡± Elspeth had never seen the butler walking so quickly before. Yet, she merely turned to roll her eyes at Callum when she saw the butler fleeing in panic. ¡°Why are you giving me that look?¡± She took a deep breath, trying to restrain her temper for her sanity¡¯s sake. ¡°I¡¯m going to the hospital to visit Frankter. Will you being with me?¡± The humor in Callum¡¯s eyes vanished instantly when he thought about how she was running around every day because of other men. ¡°No.¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. She looked at the sulky expression on his face and asked coolly, ¡°Why? Are you nning to stay at home and have tea with Grandfather?¡± When his mind brought up the vision of the old man who was clearly unhappy with him yet had to fake a genial appearance, he furrowed his eyebrows deeply. ¡°In that case, I will drive you there.¡± So, they cleaned themselves up without further ado. Then, they left the house and headed to the hospital in Callum¡¯s car. Inside the hospital, Frank was chatting away with Spencer. When he saw Elspeth and Callum walking over, he quirked his eyebrows lightly at the sight of theming together. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± When she saw that Frank seemed to be fine, she was secretly amazed by his speedy recovery. ¡°Let me check your back.¡± ¡°No!¡± ¡°No!¡± Two voices rang out at the same time. Frank was one of pure awkwardness and embarrassment. On the other hand, Callum looked cold and forbidding. His expression almost seemed like he was about to skin Frank alive. ¡°I am a doctor. Why are the both of you kicking such a fuss?¡± Therefore, she decided to strong-arm her way through their rejection as she lifted the cloth covering Frank¡¯s back without warning. She looked at the flesh that was gradually healing on his back and nodded in satisfaction. ¡°You¡¯re recovering well. It¡¯ll probably finish healing in another two or three days.¡± Frank never imagined that a woman would possess such strength. She held his arm so firmly that he couldn¡¯t even budge. ¡°Elspeth, are you really a woman?¡± She looked at how easily he was being manipted and mockingly said, ¡°If I¡¯m not a woman, would that make you one?¡± A man being held down by a woman. Just who is more humiliated here? Frank flushed, shamefaced, but he could not refute her words. At this point, Callum¡¯s expression was as dark as the bottom of the pot. He suddenly felt highly irritated when he was forced to watch their yful yet casual interaction. ¡°Are you done?¡± Frank¡¯s self-preservation radar probably died from difort earlier, as he even had the heart to joke teasingly, ¡°What¡¯s this? Are you jealous? I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re jealous of your own uncle! Callum, you¡¯re such a petty man.¡± Callum shifted his cold gaze to Frank¡¯s face, and the look in his eyes was threatening. ¡°Why are you ring at me with that look? Look at him, Elspeth. Your boyfriend is such a fierce man.¡± Callum narrowed his eyes. ¡°Whom are you saying is fierce?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with saying something about you? You¡¯re living in my house! If you¡¯re going to give me such an attitude, then I¡¯ll just kick you out!¡± Elspeth had always thought that Frank was an unreachable man before she got to know him personally. He had always seemed so arrogant that it was hard to approach him. Moreover, he always had a sour expression on his face. After she actually got to know the man beneath the mask, she realized that he was actually a childish man. His words were often aggressive and mocking. Not to mention, he was often sarcastic to everybody. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough. You¡¯re both injured. Can you calm down for once?¡± Her head was buzzing with their noisy quarrel. Frank swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue and muttered angrily, ¡°I would never forgive you if it weren¡¯t for Elspeth.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re going to be like that, then don¡¯t me me for being rude.¡± Callum was nearly 1.9 meters tall. Coupled with his frigid expression and terrifying temper, he certainly looked like he would attack somebody at a moment¡¯s notice. Chapter 179 Chapter 179 Frank swallowed nervously, rightfully scared that Callum might actually punch him in the next second. In the end, Callum suddenly frowned with a look of hurt in his eyes. ¡°Honey, he bullied me first.¡± Elspeth was deeply shocked. Is Callum ying coy with me? Even Frank and Spencer standing nearby never expected Callum¡¯s reaction. Instead, they were so shocked that their jaws were agape. A 1.9-meter-tall stern-looking man acting spoiled certainly looks pretty ridiculous. Wait a minute¡­ ¡®Honey¡¯? Elspeth curled her finger and unceremoniously flicked him on the forehead. ¡°We¡¯re not married. Don¡¯t get ahead of yourself.¡± ¡°It¡¯s only a matter of time.¡± The corner of Callum¡¯s mouth quirked into a triumphant grin. He had plenty of techniques to deal with her. Spencer couldn¡¯t stand the sight of them being so intimate with each other. A look of inexplicable sadness entered his eyes as he stood up. ¡°I¡¯m afraid something came up. I¡¯ll be leaving first.¡± After he said that, he left without another word. Simrly, Callum and Elspeth had other matters that needed their attention and left quickly so that they did not disturb Frank¡¯s rest. Frank watched them leave with a smile on his face. However, the moment they left, the smile slid off his face, and he made a phone call. ¡°Come back. I know you¡¯re still here.¡± After some time, Spencer entered the hospital ward with the smell of cigarettes lingering wafting from his body. There was a slight red tinge at the corner of his eyes. ¡°How did you know I was still here?¡± ¡°Pfft.¡± Frank snorted and pointed out in amusement. ¡°Do you think I don¡¯t know you well? When you looked at Elspeth, your eyes were practically falling out of their sockets. If I couldn¡¯t figure out what you were thinking, then all the years we¡¯ve been best friends would have been a waste.¡± ¡°But Elspeth has a boyfriend now. They also looked well-matched together. My feelings for her are nothing when they¡¯re happy together.¡± Spencerughed bitterly and sighed in dejection. He never once thought of fighting Callum for Elspeth. Yet, the sight of them standing in front of him as a couple was agonizing to him. Rather than saying that it was a painful sight, he might as well admit that he was jealous. ¡°I should be supporting you in your pursuit for happiness, but Elspeth¡­ She is somebody who will stick to something forever once she decides on it. Nobody can change her mind.¡± Frank regarded Spencer carefully and continued, ¡°Besides, Grandpa has already chosen the most suitable candidate to introduce to her. I¡¯m afraid Callum will encounter many hardships in the future.¡± Spencer shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I know it¡¯s impossible. I will slowly let go of my feelings.¡± Frank bumped Spencer in the arm. ¡°Do you want a drink?¡± Spencer burst intoughter and agreed. He knew that Frank only suggested this to cheer him up. ¡°Yes!¡± Meanwhile, Callum followed Elspeth out of the hospital ward. As soon as he got into the car, his expression became stony. He was not willing to say another word to her. ¡°Why are you mad?¡± Elspeth could not understand the reason for his sudden tantrum. He had been acting weird ever since they entered into a rtionship together. His moods would always fluctuate greatly, constantly leaving her in confusion. ¡°He likes you.¡± The expression on her face seemed to say, ¡®You have to be kidding me¡¯, and the corners of her lips twitched in amusement. ¡°Callum, have you been bewitched? He is my brother, who is rted to me by blood.¡± Callum pursed his lips. ¡°I was talking about the other one.¡± ¡°In that case, it¡¯s even more impossible. He has a childhood sweetheart. He will never have feelings for me.¡± He studied her indifferent attitude and scowled angrily. ¡°My intuition is never wrong.¡± His eyes had practically turned bloodshot when we were together. Not even a ghost would believe that if he imed he did not have feelings for her. ¡°Okay. Fine. Even if he does have feelings for me¡­ Of course, that situation will never happen. In any case, the two of us can¡¯t be in a rtionship.¡± She really wanted to pry open his head to see what was rolling around in his brain. ¡°We¡¯ve been together for a year now, Callum. You should believe in my feelings for you.¡± Finally, she inhaled deeply before she continued seriously, ¡°Also, please believe that I love you.¡± They were standing very close to each other. Callum stared at Elspeth¡¯s face and pondered for a long time before he finally spoke up slowly, ¡°Your concealer is too thick.¡± A long silence stretched out between them. She was so furious that she huffed, ¡°Don¡¯t make me p you when I¡¯m trying to flirt with you.¡± He nodded and stopped teasing her. ¡°Then, shall we head out to investigate Alphascape¡¯s tax evasion issue?¡± ¡°Of course. I¡¯ve already asked Harper to contact his friend in the tax bureau to check Alphascape¡¯s financial ounts. As long as we can find Alphascape¡¯s real financial statements, then we will have enough evidence to prove that Alphascape has been evading their taxes.¡± The n was simplistic in nature, but it was challenging for them to actually get their hands on Alphascape¡¯s financial statements. ¡°Alphascape is an old stick-in-the-mud. There are ny-nine protection barriers around their financial information. I can¡¯t even break into their internal system.¡± There were too manyyers of firewalls around their system. Even if she were an excellent hacker, it would take a long time for her to break those codes. He rubbed his chin and mused, ¡°That leaves only one solution.¡± The two exchanged a look and instantly understood each other¡¯s intentions. Several minutester, Callum¡¯s car parked under the building of the Alphascape Group. ¡°We have two choices. Our first choice is to sneak into Alphascape¡¯s financial department and search for their ounts. But that is too risky.¡± Elspeth considered their options and suggested, ¡°The other choice is to meet with Alphascape¡¯s financial director. I¡¯m certain he is involved in the fraudulent ounting.¡± Callum turned on hisptop and pulled up the personal information on Alphascape¡¯s financial director. ¡°Zain ck. A thirty-eight-year-old man with two children, a boy and a girl. He likes gambling and drinking. His wife is domineering, so he keeps two mistresses on the side.¡± After she heard the brief introduction, she blinked her eyes in shock. ¡°Two mistresses? That¡¯s too¡­¡± ¡°These are just the official data statistics. He likely has even messier rtions other than these two.¡± She breathed a curse under her breath that sounded something like ¡®Scumbag¡¯ and began looking into his personal information. When she saw his bald head, she couldn¡¯t hold back a sense of disgust. ¡°Such a man would never even find himself a wife if he didn¡¯t have some money.¡± He couldn¡¯t helpughing when he saw the expression of righteous indignation. ¡°What are you nning to do? Do you have a n?¡± She smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll prepare for¡­ a seduction n.¡± As soon as he heard that she nned to use herself as bait, his expression immediately turned frigid. ¡°No. There¡¯s no way I will allow it.¡± If that sleazy old man tried to do something to Elspeth, then I won¡¯t be able to stop myself from chopping off his arms. ¡°Then, tell me. Do you have any better ideas?¡± ¡°Find his weakness, threaten him, and force him to hand over the financial statements.¡± That was indeed his usual method. Nevertheless, she noticed something deeper happening beneath the surface. ¡°First of all, everything he has done so far is still within the confines of thew. There is nothing we can use to ckmail him. As long as he refuses to admit his wrongdoings, you will never find anything to threaten him.¡± He coldly said, ¡°If he doesn¡¯t admit his wrongdoings, then he can die.¡± ¡°We won¡¯t be able to find the evidence once he¡¯s dead. Callum, I know you mean well. But we need to find the evidence on the Alphascape Group, or we will never be able to defeat them.¡± Her words were full of sincerity and reason. Hence, he had no choice but to nod in reluctant agreement. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. ¡°Don¡¯t let him touch you, or I will kill him.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Their next step was to wait for Zain toe out of his office. Chapter 180 Chapter 180 Right now just so happened to be the time for the employees to clock off. Therefore, they were met with the sight of a greasy and fat middle-aged man slowly walking out of the building with a smile on his face. Elspeth got out of the car with her bag in hand. She walked forward while faking that she was about to make a phone call. Then, she suddenly bumped into Zain by ident due to her negligence. The momentum caused her to lose her bnce and sprawl to the ground. To make matters worse, the screen of her phone shattered upon impact. ¡°Hiss¡­¡± She pretended to be in great pain as she looked up with tears in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I was looking at my phone just now, so I wasn¡¯t looking at the road.¡± Zain initially nned to fly into a great rage, but his anger dissipatedpletely when he realized that the person who bumped into him was a beautiful and delicate woman. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Are you alright? Here, let me help you up.¡± He stretched out his hand to help her up. However, she stood up on her own with an apologetic look. She patted the dust from her body and began bbering in embarrassment. ¡°How can I trouble you? It¡¯s my fault that I fell down in the first ce. But my phone¡­¡± She nced at her phone on the ground, feeling a dull pang in her chest. The lecherous man had been trying toe up with a reason to ask her out. So, when he saw the phone lying on the ground, his heart leaped with joy. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll buy you a new one to rece this. But, Miss, how should I address you?¡± Sheughed softly. ¡°I am Abigail Joneson. What about you?¡± He found her smile absolutely breathtaking. ¡°I am Zain ck, the financial director of the Alphascape Group.¡± A n had already formed in his heart as he deliberately exposed his high-ranked status in a big company. He figured that if he revealed his identity to her, she would definitely behave like all the other women and fawn over him. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, and I have something going on. Please excuse me. I have to go.¡± Elspeth lifted a hand to look at her watch with an anxious expression. ¡°If it¡¯s about my phone¡­ I dropped it myself, so I¡¯ll just buy a new er. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± It was his first time meeting a woman like her who was neither greedy for money nor vain. Not to mention, she was an absolute beauty. A mixture ofplicated feelings washed over him for a moment. If only I could make her mine¡­ The moment I do, I will immediately divorce my in-looking hag of a housewife and marry her instead! ¡°No. Half of the me lies with me. At least let me pay for half of the costs. Otherwise, I won¡¯t feel at ease!¡± She hesitated for a moment before she answered, ¡°Um¡­ Why don¡¯t we exchange phone numbers for now? Then, you can transfer the money to me once I buy a new phone.¡± Although he was not happy with the arrangement, he reluctantly nodded in agreement. It was not good to be too forceful during their first meeting. After all, courtship was a gradual and progressive process. Elspeth gave him her phone number to make this incident more believable. However, it was a spare number. Even if he tried to investigate the personal information behind this number, he would not be able to figure out her true identity. Once they finished exchanging contact information, she smiled and waved at him before walking away. Zain remained extremely distracted after Elspeth left. Although he constantly checked his phone, it wasn¡¯t untilte evening that he finally received the friend verification message on Facebook. Elspeth stared at the messages that she received from the other party. Despite feeling annoyed, she was forced to adopt a gentle tone. ¡®The new phone cost 6,000. You can just transfer 3,000 to me.¡¯ ¡®Ding dong. You have received 30,000 in your PayPal ount.¡¯ She slowly sent him a message that contained only a single question mark. ¡°Miss Joneson, I added an extra zero by mistake earlier. I¡¯m very sorry for my blunder. But I don¡¯tck this small amount of money. So, you can go ahead and keep the change.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ Okay, then. In that case, why don¡¯t I treat you to dinner tomorrow? If I treat you to dinner a few times, then we can consider the debt paid off.¡± Things had yed out exactly as he wanted. Thus, he replied to her message with two smiley emojis as though he was delighted with the arrangement. The next day happened to be the weekend. Elspeth arrived at the agreed meeting ce early in the morning and waited for Zain to make his appearance. Callum was worried and decided to follow her, so he could be there if something went wrong. ¡°I will be sitting right behind youter.¡± She rolled her eyes in frustration. ¡°Do I look like a feeble woman? Do you think I won¡¯t be able to defeat that wretched man myself?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a worry but a concern. Any man other than myself is not a good person.¡± His response left her feeling speechless. When Elspeth noticed Zain approaching from a distance, she quickly moved away from Callum and greeted Zain with a bright grin. ¡°You¡¯re here, Mr. ck.¡± She wore a short white dress and a matching pair of high heels, showing off her gorgeous figure. Zain practically drooled at the sight. The woman in front of him was far more attractive than those unrefined women caked in a thickyer of makeup. ¡°Yeah. What are we having today?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know your preference, so I randomly chose an Asian restaurant. I hope the food is to your liking.¡± He nced at the menu and saw that every single dish offered was not cheap. Hence, he silently praised her for being sensible. ¡°I¡¯m sure it won¡¯t.¡± They randomly ordered several dishes and began making small talk with each other. ¡°Mr. ck, don¡¯t you need to work today?¡± After she said that, Elspeth abruptly realized that she had made a slip of the tongue and smiled apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I forgot that it¡¯s the weekend.¡± Who wouldn¡¯t like a dumb and easily deceived beauty? Unfortunately, Zain was no exception to that rule. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. As long as it¡¯s an invitation from you, I will dly apany you even if it were a weekday.¡± Elspeth frowned slightly. ¡°Are you not busy with work during the weekdays?¡± ¡°Not really. I just need to check and bnce some ounts. So, it¡¯s quite leisurely.¡± She broke out into a smile. ¡°Wow! You should be super knowledgeable about the Alphascape Group¡¯s ounts.¡± ¡°Of course. I made the ledger myself, so it¡¯s only natural for me to know these things.¡± After she heard that, she ced her chin on her hand. A hint of anticipation and vague admiration appeared on her face. ¡°How amazing. I also studied ounting but kept making mistakes when preparing the ounts. As a result, I¡¯m always getting scolded by my boss.¡± When Zain noticed the aggrieved and distressed expression on her face, he couldn¡¯t help feeling sorry for her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If there¡¯s something you don¡¯t know, I can teach you.¡± A light shed through her eyes before she quickly fluttered hershes. ¡°Really?¡± However, the light in her eyes soon dimmed. ¡°But I¡¯m very stupid. Can you show me Alphascape¡¯s ounts and teach me the procedures step-by-step?¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. He felt slightly doubtful and hesitant when he heard that she wanted to see Alphascape¡¯s ounts. Then, he heard her asking him to teach her the procedures step-by-step. His heart immediately began to flutter in anticipation. There was no way he would let such a golden opportunity slip through his fingers. Hence, he immediately agreed to bring the ount statements tomorrow to discuss them with her. When she noticed that he had taken the bait, hook, line, and sinker, she slowly curled her lips into a smile. The next day, they agreed to meet at the same restaurant. Zain truly did bring the ount statements with him. Elspeth flipped through the ount statements in her hand, studying the records from top to bottom. Finally, a look of amazement appeared on her face. ¡°How amazing. The ount statements are so detailed.¡± ¡°That¡¯s nothing. The most important point is that you are too careful. I believe your boss is constantly reprimanding you because you are too honest in your ounting.¡± She tilted her head to the side and looked puzzled. ¡°What do you mean?¡± He looked around and lowered his voice. ¡°You just need to learn how to falsify the ounts!¡± ¡°Do you mean to say that Alphascape falsified their ounts?¡± While she made sure to look surprised on the surface, she secretly turned on the recording function on her phone. Chapter 181 Chapter 181 At the mention of the Alphascape Group, Zain seemed to be more clear-headed. Nevertheless, he only hesitated for a moment before he continued, ¡°I prepared Alphascape¡¯s ounts myself. Well¡­ there¡¯s a secret to it¡­¡± Elspeth feared that he might try to squirrel away some secrets during their discussion, so she decided to add some fuel to the fire. ¡°Zain, please tell me. I¡¯m very curious.¡± How could he resist a beautiful woman calling his name in such a coy manner? He smiled in what he thought was a roguish manner. ¡°Naturally, I¡¯ve tampered with the ounts. Think about it¡­ Alphascape¡¯s annual taxable ie alone exceeds 1 billion each year. That¡¯s such arge sum. It¡¯s only to be expected that the boss is unwilling to pay such an exorbitant amount. Thepany will save a lot of money if I just slightly tamper with the numbers. Besides, I also benefit from the deal in the form of a bonus.¡± After he said that, he secretly made a ¡®nine¡¯ gesture with his hands. ¡°Mr. ck, you¡¯re truly an amazing man.¡± She propped her chin on one hand and smiled mysteriously. ¡°It¡¯s nothing special. So, do you understand now?¡± He looked at her face and could barely stop himself from drooling. Even a noble and virtuous woman like her has fallen for my charms. Doesn¡¯t that mean my charisma is off the charts? She stared at him, feeling absolutely disgusted by the vulgar expression on his face. When she figured that the problem was almost resolved, she secretly kept away her recording pen and prepared to reconvene with Callum. ¡°Mr. ck, let¡¯s end things here for today. I have something going onter, so I have to leave now.¡± Elspeth was leaving before they even started their dinner. Zain was so stunned that he couldn¡¯t find his voice for a moment. ¡°The food has just been served. Why don¡¯t you leave after the meal?¡± She turned back and smiled at him. ¡°Mr. ck, I¡¯ll invite you out for dinner again tomorrow. Let¡¯s stop here today. I¡¯m afraid I forgot to turn off the gas at home. An ident might ur if I return toote.¡± He understood the situation¡¯s urgency, so he did not stop her. So, he could only watch her sashay away, already looking forward to their meeting tomorrow. As soon as Elspeth walked out of the restaurant, she immediately met Callum, who hade to pick her up. The two of them quickly entered the car in order to avoid Zain from catching up if he had a mind to do so. She held her phone as though she were offering up some priceless treasure. ¡°I¡¯ve already recorded everything he said earlier. This can be used as evidence.¡± ¡°The recording alone is not enough.¡± They needed concrete proof in order to take down Alphascape once and for all. She blinked and pulled up something on her phone. ¡°I installed a Bluetooth camera in my ring. Once I connect the ring to my phone, the photos will automatically be downloaded into my phone. So, everything should have been captured on record when I flipped through the ount statements earlier.¡± A trace of surprise shed through his eyes. ¡°That¡¯s absolutely brilliant.¡± ¡°Of course. Whenever we steal confidential information, we have always used the Bluetooth ring I designed.¡± She was very confident in her creation. ¡°We don¡¯t want to expose these wrongdoings just yet. We need to find a suitable opportunity for maximum coverage of their misdeeds.¡± He analyzed calmly. ¡°If we take the initiative to attack, it is very likely that we will end up beingbeled as an enemy who is trying to provoke Alphascape or even be painted as nderers. We need to wait until Alphascape makes a misstep.¡± She nodded in agreement. ¡°That makes sense. Let¡¯s return to the Joneson Residence first.¡± Callum drove Elspeth back to the Joneson Residence. A figure barreled toward them as soon as they stepped through the door. Elspeth jumped in fright, sweating profusely when Keh¡¯s infinitely magnified face appeared before her. ¡°You¡¯re always not around whenever I decide to pay you a visit. Are you avoiding me on purpose?¡± Keh scowled deeply, and his tone was forceful. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. She suddenly felt like she was an irresponsible scumbag who slept around with the other party. Well, a female scumbag. Unfortunately, Callum seemed to have the same idea. His expression was quite hideous at the moment. ¡°Elspeth, why don¡¯t you exin to me just who this evil man is who sprang out of nowhere?¡± She opened her mouth. Just as she was about to exin that Keh was her elder brother, Keh began introducing himself. ¡°I am not an evil man. I am Keh Joneson, the team leader of the number one FX Club in the country.¡± As soon as Callum heard the surname ¡®Joneson¡¯, his mood improved slightly. ¡°I see. You¡¯re Keh Joneson, the eldest son of the Jonesons, who is addicted to e-sports.¡± Callum only received another round of Keh¡¯s serious introduction. ¡°I am Keh Joneson, the team leader of the number one FX Club in the country.¡± Elspeth stared at Keh¡¯s beautiful yet immature face, suddenly feeling as though this was a kind of beauty that was gifted as an apology for forgetting about installing a brain into this person. Was he handsome? Yes, absolutely. Unfortunately, his good looks were in exchange for his intelligence. ¡°So, did youe looking for me because you wanted to drag me into your team? Let me be straight with you. I don¡¯t have the time to join your team for the long term, and I don¡¯t have any interest in e- sports.¡± Keh didn¡¯t hide his disappointment at her words. Regardless, he could not force her by pulling seniority even if she was unwilling. So, he nodded in understanding.¡± I know you are reluctant to join the team. I came to invite you to participate in the teampetition. One of our participating team members was involved in a car ident, so I¡­¡± She did not seem bothered. ¡°Can¡¯t you use your reserve members as a recement?¡± He frowned at her suggestion. ¡°The person you would be recing is an ADC yer. He is the only shooter with the best performance on the team. However, I think your skills are well-rounded, so I came to you.¡± When she saw the puppy dog eyes coupled with the expectant look on his face, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to refuse him. At the end of the day, she agreed to follow him to the club. Callum immediately chimed in, ¡°I¡¯ming with you.¡± Elspeth looked back at him with a bewildered look. ¡°Why? It¡¯s not like you y games.¡± He did not relent and insisted, ¡°I want to learn, can¡¯t I?¡± Naturally, he had other things in mind when he said that. The entire club was filled with men. If any one of them harbored any ill intentions toward her, it was his duty as her official boyfriend to deal with them. So, it was better to find the root of the problem and nip them in the bud. ¡°Okay. You cane with us.¡± The three of them left the house before they could even announce their return. This time Callum drove them to the FX Club. As soon as they stepped through the door, two or three men immediately crowded around them. ¡°Ken, you¡¯re back. This is¡­¡± The three people were initiallyughing and joking, but they immediatelyposed themselves at the sight of a beautifuldy standing nearby and straightened themselves. As for Callum, who was standing nearby¡­ He was very handsome, but his aura was too cold. Hence, they simply pretended not to see him. ¡°This is my cousin, Elspeth.¡± One of the men stretched out his hand to shake hands with Elspeth. ¡°You¡¯re so pretty. Can we be friends?¡± Elspeth was about to raise her hand when an arm stretched past her and grabbed the hand. ¡°She doesn¡¯tck friends. I¡¯ll be your friend.¡± It was a typical over-protective provocation. Callum¡¯s jealousy was practically drowning her. Still, she quickly suppressed a smile before he could notice her amusement. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. He has always been like this. He craves the affection of others because he¡¯s used to being ignored. You just need to be more friendly toward him.¡± That man originally thought that Callum was her jealous lover. But, after he heard her misleading exnation, he immediately seemed to understand something. ¡°Take it easy, and don¡¯t take everything to heart. Buddy, you seem to be in a bad mood. Did something happen?¡± The man tried to be Callum¡¯s buddy, but all that only resulted in Callum tightening his grip on the man¡¯s hand instead. Chapter 182 Chapter 182 In the next moment, the man felt a sharp paining from his wrist. It felt almost as though the bones in his wrist were being fractured. He began to wail in agony, ¡°Ow! It hurts! Buddy, I¡¯m only trying to comfort you! Why are you being so hostile?¡± Callum snarled coldly, ¡°Don¡¯t touch me.¡± Once he liberated his hand from Callum¡¯s grip, the man flicked his wrists and gritted his teeth in pain. ¡°Miss, your friend has such a strange personality. Who would want to be his friend? That would require great patience. Forget about finding a girlfriend! He has such good looks, but his personality is terrible. Those who love him probably have masochistic tendencies!¡± Callum turned to look at Elspeth and angrily demanded, ¡°Why don¡¯t you just tell them that I¡¯m your boyfriend?¡± Elspeth looked at the injuries covering his handsome face and the crystal-clear teardrops that seemed to hang from the eyshes beneath hisrge European-style double eyelids¡­ She couldn¡¯t help feeling slightly distressed at the sight. Handsome men sure are good at manipting your emotions. She cleared her throat. ¡°This is my boyfriend. I am that person who has masochistic tendencies.¡± While he wasn¡¯t abusive, whenever he acted like a boyfriend who was easily wronged, it definitely made her seem like a terrible girlfriend. The three men loitering around were so shocked that their jaws practically fell to the floor. Afterward, they did not dare to tease her again. If they continued to tease her, their hands would probably be broken by Callum. Their hands were the most essential tools of their livelihood, after all. Keh was clearly not on the same wavelength as the others. So, when he saw that they were almost done talking, he quickly said, ¡°Let¡¯s head to the training room.¡± Then, he saw the three men beside him shooting desperate looks at him. He couldn¡¯t help feeling confused. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Do you have a cramp in your eyes?¡± The three felt themselves screaming inwardly as they collectively groaned at him being a dumb*ss. ¡°Ken, isn¡¯t the training room off-limits to people who are not part of the club? So, why did you bring your sister there?¡± Only then did he realize that he had forgotten to introduce them to Elspeth. He smiled apologetically. ¡°This is Birdy, Susy, and Carrot of the FX Club.¡± After that, he turned to the other three. ¡°This is my younger sister. She will be recing Wolf in the teampetition.¡± ¡°Her?¡± Birdy could hardly control the corners of his mouth from twitching. ¡°Ken, are you joking? Wolf ys the role of the shooter. How can you give such an important central position to any random person?¡± Even Susy was astonished. ¡°Ken, we¡¯re going up against the AD Club, the newly-debuted dark horse! If we lose to them, we will never be able to hold our heads high in the esports industry again!¡± Carrot did not seem to mind. ¡°Miss is so pretty. When the timees, we won¡¯t even need to y seriously. If she smiles at the opposing party, all the men on the opposing team will definitely be distracted and flustered. We will definitely win!¡± Elspeth thought to herself, Has thepetition bracket been drawn? Keh nced at them coolly. ¡°I yed against her in a one-on-one two days ago, and I lost.¡± Birdy frowned. ¡°Winning or losing one game is nothing. Who can guarantee that they won¡¯t lose¡­¡± ¡°It was two games.¡± ¡°You¡¯re amazing, Miss.¡± Aside from Keh at his peak condition, there was nobody else who could win two consecutive games against Keh. Elspeth was clearly outstanding if she had seeded in beating him twice in a row. ¡°But I still want to see Elspeth¡¯s true strength for myself.¡± Birdy was a serious person when he was not fooling around. At the moment, he was studying Elspeth with a critical expression on his face. ¡°Can I y against you in a one-on-one battle? I¡¯m considered the second-best yer in the club. I will recognize your skills as long as you win against me.¡± Elspeth did not seem to mind and nodded in agreement. ¡°Sure. Where shall wepete?¡± He pointed with his right hand. ¡°Right here.¡± They took out their phones and entered the one-against-one mode. He mainly yed in the top solo position and disyed great finesse with the character ¡®Pocahontas¡¯. She knew that his purpose was to defeat her soundly. After all, beating her was equivalent to defeating Keh. Who would let such an excellent opportunity to increase their fame slip through their fingers? Since she was meant to rece the shooter position, she decided to y as a shooter and chose the character, ¡®Gongers¡¯. Gongers was not only known for her shy moves and generally recognized as the original character of the ADC world. However, Elspeth chose Gongers simply because the hero was beautiful. Gongers was incredibly agile and flexible; she could easily leap up and down the canyon. Comparatively, Pocahontas seemed clumsy and slow. So, it didn¡¯t take long before Birdy¡¯s screen went ck. After several consecutive rounds, Elspeth¡¯s Gongers shed across the screen in a storm of dazzling moves. On the other hand, Birdy¡¯s Pocahontas copsed to the ground again and again. Elspeth did not try to destroy the towers and simply watched her minions working frantically to destroy them. Finally, when Birdy was on the verge of death, she tapped at the top right corner and pressed the ¡®Surrender¡¯ button. Elspeth had lost. No, the truth was that she won the game and humiliated Birdy at the same time. When Birdy stared at the word ¡®Victory¡¯ shing across his screen, he felt his face turning as red as a tomato. He never expected her to choose to surrender at thest moment. Instead, her choice only made his loss even more humiliating. ¡°Do you want to continue?¡± Be that as it may, he had no problem epting the truth. Elspeth was somebody whom Keh couldn¡¯t defeat. So, it was perfectly understandable if he could not defeat such a talented individual. ¡°Miss, you truly are pretty and skillful. Why don¡¯t you create an ount and broadcast your ythrough live? With a beautiful voice and good skills like yours. you will easily rise to be one of the top streamers in no time!¡± Carrot acted like a fan of Elspeth¡¯s appearance. He held his face in his eyes and stared at her with hearts in his eyes. Elspeth couldn¡¯t helpughing when she heard his suggestion. ¡°Your imagination sure is wild.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true! I have my own live stream ount too. I have umted quite several fans these days.¡± He dug out his phone and reverently showed her his ount as though he was handling a precious treasure. When she saw the 5 million fans indicated on the screen, she smiled and encouraged him, ¡°You¡¯re amazing! I believe you will break through 10 million soon!¡± Callum pointed out lightly, ¡°You have 30 million fans. Don¡¯t you feel embarrassed making such a im?¡± Her identity as Nancy Star certainly had many fans. It was just that she had been fading out of the entertainment industry for the past two years. She had not released any new songs recently. So, how could the men in the club, who were only interested in games, recognize her? ¡°30 million fans? Who are you?¡± Carrot¡¯s mouth fell open in shock, and he had a look of disbelief on his face. When she saw that Callum had let the cat out of the bag, she could only answer honestly, ¡°I have another identity that goes by the name of Nancy Star.¡± His eyes widened to the size of saucers. ¡°Nancy Star? I love your songs! I listen to your song ¡®Good Night¡¯ every single night before I sleep! It¡¯s very nice!¡± The corners of her mouth twitched at his enthusiasm. ¡°Is there a possibility that my song is called ¡®Good Good Night¡¯?¡± Beside them, Birdy clutched at his stomach and howled withughter. ¡°Hah! You fake fan!¡± Carrot scratched his head in embarrassment. ¡°I may have misremembered the name. My memory isn¡¯t that good.¡± ¡°A man who can memorize the introduction and exnation of every skill in a game? Can somebody like that forget the songs of his favorite singer? Carrot, how can you call yourself a fan? Don¡¯t you feel embarrassed?¡± Suzy snorted and teased him mercilessly. Keh¡¯s head was filled with the teampetition that would take ce the day after tomorrow, so he wanted to rush them off to training. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s enter the training room to do some training and get used to each other¡¯s tactics. Stop fooling around. Chop chop.¡± ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. The three professional yers immediately schooled themselves and became solemn. ¡°Understood.¡± Elspeth nced at Callum, who was standing behind her. ¡°Are you following us in?¡± Callum shook his head. ¡°I will wait here for you. After all, you will need a quiet environment to adjust to the new group. It would be bad if I distracted you.¡± She was secretly amazed by his unusually sensible, generous, and understanding attitude¡­ ¡°But¡­ You have to give me a kiss before you go.¡± Chapter 183 Chapter 183 Fine. I knew he would never be that good. The people surrounding them covered their eyes as though they were pained. ¡°Go ahead. We¡¯ll pretend we didn¡¯t see anything.¡± Elspeth looked sullen. ¡°Carrot, your entire face is practically showing between the gaps in your fingers.¡± Carrot chuckled in embarrassment and quickly covered his eyes. Callum raised his chin. ¡°Look. Hurry up and kiss me.¡± Elspeth looked annoyed and embarrassed, but she still leaned forward and kissed him. ¡°Woohoo! They kissed!¡± Carrot¡¯s voice sounded exceedingly striking in the quiet environment. He was a Calysie fan, so witnessing their mutual affection was a bonus. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough. Let¡¯s head inside.¡± Elspeth gave Carrot a fierce re, frightening him so severely that he shrank back slightly. A wave of sadness suddenly filled his heart. My Goddess sure is fierce. They entered the training room. The environment inside the training room was extraordinarily bright, which was entirely out of Elspeth¡¯s expectations. Still, she didn¡¯t let her shock show as she calmly sat in front of the table, turned on the game, and donned amunication headset to chat with them. They had already chosen the lineup in advance. When she studied the opponent¡¯s lineup, she realized that the opponent had an obvious advantage over them and couldn¡¯t help frowning in response. However, the situation was reversed a few minutester. The opposition seemed to encounter headwinds, causing them to be steadily pushed back and defeated. After she won the game, she took off her headset and asked suspiciously, ¡°Was the opposing party a machine? Why were they defeated when they had such a huge advantage?¡± Suzyughed awkwardly. ¡°The opposing partyprises our club members, but their skills may be slightlycking¡­¡± ¡°Slightly? They were practically sending their soldiers to death for no reason during the 5v5 earlier! We managed to enter their territory in seven minutes! What¡¯s the difference between this situation and a six-point shot?¡± Although¡­ what she said seemed to make sense, they finally gained a thorough understanding of her skills at this moment. Hence, they couldn¡¯t help admiring and worshiping her. ¡°Goddess Elspeth, are you sure you won¡¯t consider joining our club? With your skills, you will have no problem winning every single battle with some training!¡± Elspeth scratched her cheek. ¡°The problem is¡­ you can¡¯t beat me. What skills will I learn here?¡± Her statement stopped them cold. She was right. She had easily defeated the number one in their team and could already be considered victorious in every battle. ¡°In that case, please prepare yourself for the teampetition that will be held the day after tomorrow. By the way, Elspeth, do you have anything to say to them?¡± She nced around. Then, she unceremoniously pointed out their weak points to their faces with a smile. ¡°Birdy, you don¡¯t know how to adapt when you¡¯re attacking. It¡¯s like you¡¯re stuck right in the middle of the warpath. Susy, you¡¯re a solid midner. However, your support abilities are too weak. Furthermore, you¡¯re always thinking about how you can kill more enemies and don¡¯t seem to know how to cooperate with your ADC. As for Carrot¡­¡± She observed the look of excitement on Carrot¡¯s face. He was eagerly waiting for her toment on his performance. Thus, she smiled. ¡°As for you¡­ You walk too slowly. But that is not your fault. It¡¯s simply because you have short legs.¡± He was a chubby man with a round body. After he heard those words, he immediately became unhappy. When he lowered his head in aggrieved silence, she pped her palm against her forehead and added helplessly, ¡°I was talking about your hero, not you!¡± When Keh saw that she did not make anyments regarding his performance, he probed suspiciously, ¡°What about me?¡± She shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know what to say. A wild suicide bomber?¡± Suicide bomber¡­ Isn¡¯t that part of the suicide squad? Hepared his battle record with hers. He had died twice during the game. On the other hand, she was not only given the title of ¡®Most Valuable yer¡¯ but also held the record for zero deaths. She truly is a goddess. It had been a long time since hest met an opponent who was evenly matched or even more skillful than him, so his heart was filled with the excitement of meeting a challenger and a fanatical sense of worship. s, she was not willing to apany them during their training. Besides, Callum was waiting outside. He was bound to be sulky if she stayed here for too long. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. As soon as that particr thought appeared in her mind, she immediately thought of leaving the training room. ¡°Goddess Elspeth, why don¡¯t you stay at the club for the next two days? We have everything you need at the club. I guarantee that you will befortable here.¡± When Birdy saw that Elspeth intended to leave after one match, he was naturally reluctant for her to go since they had learned a lot from her after a single game. Elspeth shook her head. ¡°My boyfriend is waiting outside, so I need to go home¡­¡± ¡°Go home? We will also arrange for food, amodation, and other basic necessities for your boyfriend. Will that be okay? She nced at them and wondered, ¡°Why do you want me to stay here? Isn¡¯t it enough if I show up during the teampetition?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the same. Besides, there are many children in the club who are young and energetic. We need your help to teach them a shocking lesson.¡± Carrot snickered wickedly, clearly harboring ill intentions. The corners of her mouth twitched in response, and she couldn¡¯t help thinking that their behavior was very childish. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t tease you anymore. But I believe that we need to sort out certain aspects of our cooperation. We also wish to match your rhythm in order to increase our chances of sess.¡± She nodded in resignation. ¡°Fine. But I¡¯m leaving right after the teampetition.¡± Keh breathed a sigh of relief when she finally gave in to their request. ¡°Good. In that case, let¡¯s resume practice.¡± The five of them continued their endless training again. When the lights came on at night, Elspeth noticed that the sky was getting dark and stretchedzily. ¡°I¡¯m done. I¡¯m tired.¡± All of a sudden, she recalled that Callum was waiting for her outside. Her eyes immediately widened in shock. Sh*t! I forgot about Callum waiting outside! She hastily ripped off the headphones and left the training room. It was there where she saw Callum sitting on the couch alone as soon as she stepped out the door. He propped his head against one hand and seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep. Hmm? Why does he look so delectable even when he is sleeping? She shook her head, trying to shake away the naughty thoughts in her head. Then, she leaned over, trying to catch a glimpse of his face. ¡°Callum Winthrop,¡± she called out his name softly. Unfortunately, he was in a deep sleep and did not hear her voice. She reached out her hand to poke his cheek, but the man in front of her abruptly snapped his eyes open. In the dark of the night, his ck eyes glittered with inexplicable light. It felt as though he was enthralling her by sight alone. She couldn¡¯t help but feel that she seemed to be dragged into the depths of his eyes when she stared into his eyes. Before she could react to the sudden turn of events, she felt something sping her hands. In the next moment, she fell into his arms. ¡°Callum, weren¡¯t you asleep?¡± Callum chuckled. ¡°I slept for a while. You were inside for too long. How would I survive if I didn¡¯t sleep the time away?¡± His voice was hoarse, indicating that he had indeed fallen asleep for some time. When she heard those words, she couldn¡¯t help feeling guilty. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I was in the wrong this time. I forgot about the time when I was ying games.¡± His gaze softened considerably when he noticed her taking the initiative to admit her mistakes. ¡°Don¡¯t apologize. Tell me you love me instead.¡± His response stumped her, and she didn¡¯t know how to react. Finally, all she could do was raise her head in surprise. Regardless, his lips abruptly pressed against hers the next moment. His entire personality did a turnabout, causing the possessiveness and tenderness that belonged to her alone to vanish in that instant. Four men stood trembling in the corner, not daring to make a peep. ¡°Isn¡¯t this a little inappropriate for children?¡± ¡°Shut up! Your voice is so loud that we¡¯ll get caught!¡± The four of them quarreled between themselves. When they looked up again, the two people who had been kissing affectionately earlier were standing in front of them. Elspeth, in particr, had a sinister smile on her face. ¡°Tell me, should I gouge your eyes out? Hmm?¡± Chapter 184 Chapter 184 The four of them shivered and wanted to exin, but they didn¡¯t know how to start. ¡°How long have you been watching us?¡± Elspeth took a deep breath and asked. Carrot was an honest child, so he said truthfully, ¡°From the start of the kiss until now.¡± Elspeth felt her blood pressure rise at once. Nevertheless, the two of them were doing embarrassing things in public, and it was really not the fault of these four people. Elspeth thought about it and let them go. On the next day of training, the four of them simply did not dare to look directly at Elspeth. Elspeth could feel that the training was extra tormenting for them, so she proposed to end the training early, to which the four unanimously agreed. Anyway, the practice was almost done and there was no point in practicing more if they were not learning anything new. The four of them saw Elspeth off with smiles on their faces before releasing big sighs of relief. Soon, the day of the game arrived. Elspeth followed Keh and the four of them to the car and headed for thepetition venue. As soon as they entered, they were greeted by a stout man with an inch scar at his brow bone. He was a little oily-looking and had a smile that looked unkind. At once, rm bells sounded in Elspeth¡¯s head. As she watched Keh talk pleasantries with the man, she knew that this was their final opponent¡ªthe team captain of AD, Jaipor Lass. Today¡¯s match would be broadcasted live, so there were quite a number of fans and news reporters gathered outside. The AD captain, Jaipor, smiled broadly at the reporters, and said, ¡°I have full confidence in our team. AD will definitely beat team FX.¡± Keh didn¡¯t care about his opponent¡¯s provocation, and when the microphone was passed to him, he just asked in confusion, ¡°Where is the ce to receive the reward after the match?¡± The crowd was speechless. Soon, it was time for the game to start. Elspeth and Keh sat down, put on the headsets, and began to enter the battle state. During the hero selection stage, they encountered a big problem¡ªthe opposite side had banned all of Carrot¡¯s best support picks, so Carrot panicked all of a sudden. ¡°It seems that they had nned and learned about the heroes Carrot often uses in advance, and as such, they could strike with precision.¡± Keh frowned, feeling a little unsure. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. However, Elspeth was not too concerned. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Carrot. Just pick any hero and follow me.¡± Birdy tried to dissuade her. ¡°Elspeth, two heroes tagging with each other would be an easy target for the enemy. Are you not afraid of that?¡± ¡°Not as long as our rapport is good.¡± Carrot gritted his teeth and chose a hero. When the battle began, Carrot¡¯s hero identally got killed, and the opposite side began to taunt Carrot. ¡°Sorry, Elspeth, I¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. Take your time.¡± Elspeth concentrated on the control of her hero, which had a flexible rolling skill. She quickly dodged all the attacks while sending the opponents to die,nding a double kill. Soon, the round ended with an overwhelming victory for Elspeth and her team. ¡°It¡¯s outrageous! There¡¯s even a girl on their side who only ys a trashy support tag.¡± ¡°Yeah, that hero was disgusting. Many times, it jumped in to strike at thest moment. Just like that, I was killed.¡± After Elspeth took off the headset, she began to hear such words, and she couldn¡¯t help but snort with laughter. Carrot looked at her, frowning. ¡°Elspeth, they¡¯re cursing us; why are you not angry?¡± Elspeth raised her eyebrows with an incredulous look. ¡°They¡¯re praising you. They¡¯re saying that you yed the support hero well and it disgusted them.¡± When Carrot thought about it differently, he felt it was really like that. So, he grinned and asked, ¡°They said you only yed a trashy support tag. Was that also apliment to you?¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes. ¡°This means they¡¯re big dumb*sses. I¡¯m obviously ying an archer. How could they even end up inpetitive gaming if they have such bad knowledge?¡± The opponents stood up after hearing this. Just after experiencing defeat, they were in a bad mood. Hence, when they heard they were being taunted, they immediately got upset. At that moment, the intermission was over, and they had to sit down again to continue the game. Elspeth and her team only needed two wins in three games, so as long as they won this round, they no longer had to deal with this group of people. As soon as Elspeth put on the headset and started the game, she suddenly found that there was actually no sound in the headset. Soon everyone else found out about this bug. They looked across the room and saw that the opponent team had normalmunication, yet they themselves could not hear each other¡¯s voices. All of a sudden, they began to panic. But with good mental strength, they quickly calmed down and started the game. There was no rule to say that one couldn¡¯tpete well without communication. After all, they had honed their rapport with each other for so long, and it was not something that disappeared even when they couldn¡¯tmunicate. It was a difficult game as many situations could not be exined clearly withoutmunication. Soon, the opposite side pushed in hard, reaching the towers on Elspeth¡¯s side. The only hero alive on Elspeth¡¯s side was her own hero, while the other four people alive were the opponents¡¯, frantically trying to shatter the towers. Elspeth calmed down. She deceived the opponents to use up their skills and then ran as fast as she could to the towers. When the opposite team saw her wounded, they rushed to take her down. Elspeth blinked to the side, cleared the front line, and the towers began to hit the opponents. In the end, Elspeth released all her skills and directly took four kills! Keh¡¯s heart was surging with emotions. After his resurrection, he rushed to the opponents¡¯ side of the field and took down the smaller towers on his way to the main towers. Taking advantage of the opponents still in cooldown mode, the five of them cooperated to shatter the main towers. Soon, the game was over with a narrow win for Elspeth¡¯s team. They now had two wins, which meant the opponent team had lost for good. The opponents took off their headsets and all of them looked at Elspeth with resentful faces. ¡°This woman is so disgusting; did she really y that?¡± ¡°I feel like she must have cheated. How do you think she could have yed so well?¡± ¡°Yeah, I think there were several times where her hero didn¡¯t take any damage when the skills hit her.¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t help butugh when she heard their thoughts. She raised her eyes with a disdainful look and asked, ¡°Why are you all looking at me, you bunch of stupid pigs?¡± Keh said, ¡°Rubbish.¡± Birdy added, ¡°Trash.¡± Susy said, ¡°Disgraceful!¡± Carrot held his tongue for a long time before saying, ¡°Bad people!¡± Elspeth was speechless. The other team was not happy to hear the taunting curses from this side. ¡°We demand a review of this woman¡¯s record! How can she be the MVP? How can they even win?¡± Elspeth did not care. ¡°Feel free to check. If you find out anything about me, I¡¯ll consider this game my loss.¡± ¡°Who is this woman? How can a woman y so well?¡± Elspeth snorted angrily. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with being a woman? Can¡¯t a woman y well?¡± Soon, the review results came. It reported that Elspeth really did not use any cheats. Jaipor¡¯s face fell. ¡°Impossible! We don¡¯t believe that Elspeth can be so powerful!¡± ¡°What makes that impossible?¡± Jaipor sneered, ¡°A gamer who has not been heard of before can suddenly learn to y the game and defeat everyone so quickly? This is definitely not possible!¡± Elspeth dug her ears and asked, ¡°What day of the week is today?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t change the topic!¡± Jaipor was about to continue to argue with Elspeth when the team member behind him suddenly trembled and pulled Jaipor¡¯s hand. ¡°Jaipor, look!¡± Chapter 185 Chapter 185 Jaipor was annoyed. He turned his head and said impatiently, ¡°Look at what?!¡± ¡°Look at today¡¯s Conqueror¡¯s Pro List! The ID at the very top is actually ¡®Elspeth¡¯!¡± Today happened to be a Monday, and the new list of top yers updates every Monday. Last night, they had been training for today¡¯s teampetition, so they had not paid attention to the list for several days. They did not expect that it would be Elspeth¡¯s ID at the top of the list¡­ The ID of the woman right in front of them! A trace of unease suddenly crossed Jaipor¡¯s heart, but he still insisted on saying, ¡°Impossible, this must be the ID of Keh, who changed the name beforehand.¡± But soon, he found that the second ID disyed on the list was ¡®CrazyKen¡¯. ¡°My ID did not have this name before, but I was afraid that you would say that this is not my ID, so I just deliberately changed it temporarily.¡± Elspeth smiled. She added with a sarcastic face, ¡°What? Do you need me to personally go online with my ID to show you whether I¡¯m at the top of that list or not?¡± At that, Jaipor felt a deep humiliation. Now that the live broadcast was still going on, he didn¡¯t want to look bad, so he could only grit his teeth and apologize to Elspeth. ¡°Sorry, I misunderstood you.¡± After apologizing, he was ready to lead his teammates back. Elspeth said lightly, ¡°Don¡¯t rush off yet. Let¡¯s take care of some personal matters first.¡± ¡°What other personal matters do we have to deal with? We don¡¯t even know each other in private.¡± Elspeth took the headset and threw it in front of Jaipor. ¡°Mr. Lass, do you want to exin why all the headsets belonging to my team were not working?¡± Sweat began dripping down Jaipor¡¯s forehead. ¡°You should ask the organizer this. Why are you asking me?¡± ¡°Because what was captured by the surveince camera is that you unplugged our headset connection cable, which was why we had to y through the entire game without working headsets. Of course, it also proves that you are indeed useless at the game.¡± Jaipor was puzzled. ¡°Surveince camera? What surveince camera?¡± He had not seen any surveince cameras at thispetition venue anywhere. Elspeth replied with a smile, ¡°Sorry, when I came here just now, I also found no surveince camera. To avoid unnecessary problems, I specially installed the pinhole cameras I have everywhere.¡± With that, Elspeth connected the surveince footage to the big screen using Bluetooth. ¡°See for yourself. Isn¡¯t that you?¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. On the screen, Jaipor was looking around. Taking advantage of everyone¡¯s inattention, he secretly came behind them, unplugged the cables for the headsets, and went back unnoticed. He was smart enough to avoid the live broadcast camera and create the impression of going to the restroom, but he didn¡¯t expect Elspeth to have cameras around. ¡°You¡¯re eager to win, but that¡¯s not how the game should be yed. Mr. Lass, the character of your team is evident.¡± Once these words came out, Jaipor knew that he waspletely finished. All these things were broadcasted live. Thus, their team was now infamous. Jaipor closed his eyes tightly; for an iparably tough-looking man like him, it was surprising to see that tears were flowing down his face. After the game, the two teams went out to face the reporters¡¯ questions ording to the usual practice, and in front of everyone, Jaipor said brutally, ¡°I announce that Team AD is henceforth dissolved.¡± Team AD, which had been in the limelight for a year, was dissolved today. Jaipor left despondently with his team members while Elspeth and the others began receiving reporters¡¯ questions. ¡°Miss Elspeth, may I ask how you y the game so well?¡± Elspeth smiled lightly. ¡°With my own hands.¡± The reporter still did not give up, throwing Elspeth another question, ¡°Then can you give some experienced advice to the children who love to y such games?¡± Elspeth thought about it and said, ¡°Pay attention in ss and y fewer games.¡± The reporter felt that she could not take it anymore, so she turned her head and asked Keh, ¡°Mr. Joneson, do you have anything to add?¡± Keh saw that it was finally his turn and asked with a smile, ¡°Where is the ce to receive the award?¡± The reporterpletely gave up and left in a hurry, covering her face. This tournament was considered to havee to an end, and Elspeth finally reced Keh as the new top yer. She even set off a frenzied trend of ying with archers aptly named ¡°Elspeth Style¡±. Even the game¡¯s designers, on seeing the excessive usage of archery heroes, began to significantly weaken the heroes¡¯ archery skills to keep the game bnced. But this all happened afterward. Soon, Elspeth returned to the club. Callum was already there waiting for her. Looking at Elspeth¡¯s face, Callum felt reluctant to leave her, but he still said, ¡°Elspeth, I have to go back to Damoria in the next two days. Thepany has run into some problems, but I should be able toe back in a week.¡± When Elspeth heard this, she was actually a little sad for a moment, but still nodded. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Just go.¡± Callum let out a long sigh before walking up to Elspeth and gently hugging her. ¡°Remember to miss me.¡± Seeing how arrogant he was even while saying such words, Elspeth looked helpless. ¡°Then let¡¯s see whether I have time to miss you!¡± Callum frowned at once. ¡°No time? I¡¯m only away for a week, not dead. I have ways to check in on you.¡± Elspeth was speechless. Before Callum left, he insisted that Elspeth send him to the airport. When the two of them left, it was like they were leaving for good. Keh and the others were reluctant to let Elspeth leave, especially Carrot who was in tears. Wiping his tears, he looked unhappy as he said, ¡°Elspeth, can you not leave? If you leave, I will have to listen to your ¡®Good Night¡¯ song to sleep well again.¡± Elspeth tugged her lips. ¡°That¡¯s called ¡®Good Night, ¡®Good Night¡¯.¡± Carrot choked for a moment, while Birdy on the side said, ¡°Elspeth, will you continue to participate in next year¡¯s battle tournament?¡± Elspeth said cursorily, ¡°Sure.¡± Keh stared at Elspeth for a long time and asked, ¡°How shall I transfer the prize money, of which four million is yours, to you?¡± Elspeth helplessly but politely refused the money and hurriedly said goodbye. Then, she followed Callum to the airport, and after sending him off, she suddenly received a phone call. It was a call from Michael. ¡°Hello, Elspeth? Today, one of my friends¡¯ grandsons is back in ydal. Could you help me go to the airport to pick him up? I¡¯m old, and there is no one else to help me. Um¡­¡± Although Elspeth knew that it was a trick from him, she still reluctantly agreed. She was even wondering if the old man had sent someone to monitor her movements. ¡°Great, I have already told him. You can just stand by the exit and wait for him when the timees.¡± After saying that, Michael hung up the phone. Elspeth had a premonition in her heart that the person arriving would be somehow rted to her. The ne that Michael said the man would soon arrive at the airport in ydal, and Elspeth was standing at the exit looking out when she suddenly saw a familiar figure in the crowd. That person slowly walked toward her and smiled. ¡°Miss Elspeth, long time no see.¡± Chapter 186 Chapter 186 Elspeth froze. Looking at the man in a suit with a refined smile, she was secretly wary. ¡°Mr. Carr, you¡¯ve come to ydal too?¡± A trace of surprise crossed Jordan¡¯s eyes. ¡°Too? Who else is here?¡± Elspeth had no reason to hide from him. ¡°My grandfather asked me to pick up someone; he said it is his friend¡¯s grandson.¡± Jordan snorted withughter. ¡°Could that be me?¡± Elspeth froze; she really did not expect Jordan Carr, the man that was currently in front of her, to be the person she was going to pick up. ¡°What else did your grandfather say?¡± Seeing that she was in a daze, Jordan stretched out his hand and waved it in front of her. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Elspeth jerked back to her senses. Looking at Jordan who was standing extra close to her, she couldn¡¯t help but take a step back. ¡°Well, he told me to bring you safely to the Joneson Residence.¡± Jordan raised his eyebrows. ¡°Then why don¡¯t we go now?¡± Elspeth spread her hands with an innocent face. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to drive. Mr. Carr, will you call a cab?¡± Jordan was speechless. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I can drive.¡± Elspeth kept her innocent look on and said, ¡°I don¡¯t have a car.¡± Jordan gritted his teeth. ¡°I do.¡± ¡°I¡¯m particr about cars. I¡¯m not used to sitting in other people¡¯s cars.¡± Jordan sort of understood what she meant. ¡°So, you want to say that you don¡¯t want to go back with me, right?¡± Elspeth smiled and nodded. ¡°Mr. Carr, you¡¯re really smart.¡± ¡°Why not? Will I eat you?¡± Elspeth shook her head. ¡°We¡¯re not rted. Not to mention, I have a boyfriend now, so naturally, I have to stay away from other men.¡± Although Callum was not present, she also wanted to abide by such rules. ¡°Miss Elspeth, you¡¯re a really loyal and dedicated woman. I like you more now. What should I do?¡± Jordan¡¯s words caused Elspeth to recoil. ¡°Mr. Carr, if you really think so, then I have to avoid you.¡± Jordan withdrew the smile on his face. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m just teasing you.¡± Elspeth looked at him. Although he was teasing her, there was not the slightest romantic interest in his eyes, so she rxed. ¡°Then let¡¯s go, I will send you back.¡± Elspeth and Jordan got into the car. This car was a gift from Michael, but she had only driven it a few times. It was pink and tiny, which made Elspeth feel inexplicably self-conscious. She was used to driving race cars, so she was not used to driving this kind of cute and tiny pink sports car. Elspeth took Jordan back to the Joneson Residence. On the way, Jordan was especially chatty. ¡°Elspeth, who do you think called me toe back here this time?¡± Elspeth ignored him.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. ¡°It¡¯s your grandfather.¡± Elspeth still did not speak as she turned a corner. ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious about what your grandfather asked me toe here for?¡± Elspeth drove intently, then picked up a bottle of water from the side and took a sip. ¡°He said he wants me to marry into the family.¡± St! Elspeth sprayed a mouthful of water on his face. Jordan suddenly regretted telling her about it as he looked at his light-colored suit with all the water stains on it. He felt a pang of sadness in his heart. ¡°Jordan, is it fun to joke around about this kind of thing?¡± Elspeth looked at his face and wished she could throw him off the car. ¡°I¡¯m not joking,¡± Jordan answered truthfully. Elspeth could not stand him anymore, so she stepped on the gas pedal and sped up, driving as fast as she could. When they arrived at the entrance of Joneson Residence, Jordan reluctantly got out of the car, his figure swaying. ¡°I have car sickness.¡± Jordan felt something rising in his throat and wanted to vomit. Elspeth saw his suffering expression, so she stopped making things difficult for him. She just avoided him and entered the door. When Michael saw that the only person who came in was Elspeth, he was a little confused. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Where is the person I asked you to pick up?¡± Elspeth reached out and pointed behind him. Then, Jordan walked in weakly, stumbling a little. Michael was still puzzled and asked, ¡°Was h-he beaten?¡± Jordan hurriedly exined, ¡°No, it¡¯s because I¡¯m carsick.¡± After saying that, he found a chair and sat down, which made him feel better. Michael suddenly mentioned Callum, ¡°Elspeth, why did Callum note back with you?¡± Elspeth lightly said, ¡°Callum went back to Damoria, so he didn¡¯te. Besides, you don¡¯t like him. Why are you asking that?¡± Michael appeared embarrassed for a moment. He did not expect Elspeth to be so direct, but he still had to smile and say, ¡°Look, I have long said that Callum is unreliable. His focus is on work, so even after marriage, he won¡¯t be family oriented. He¡¯s unlike Jordan here who came over just after I gave him a phone call.¡± Elspeth raised her eyebrows slightly. ¡°How can I be sure that a man who can easily abandon his work will not easily abandon me in the future?¡± This statement was not wrong. Michael did not know how to continue, so he looked toward Jordan for help. Jordan only knew that Elspeth was someone who always addressed him respectfully as ¡°Mr. Carr¡±. Truth was, he had no idea that she could be so venomous. ¡°I think what you said is somewhat true, Elspeth. But what if I am the kind of man who can please you both spiritually and materialistically?¡± No girl would reject this kind of man, right? Elspeth was indifferent. ¡°If you give me everything, then what value do I have left for myself? Are you just trying to make me obediently listen to you?¡± Jordan was embarrassed. ¡°You misunderstood what I meant. I mean¡ª¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to speak further. We are not suitable for each other.¡± Jordan hooked his lips. ¡°But do you really think we don¡¯t match?¡± ¡°The two of us are not destined to be for each other.¡± Jordan did not expect Elspeth to say this, so he was surprised. The two of them were arguing with each other, but Michael thought it looked very promising. ¡°When you two youngsters are talking, it reminds me of the time I had with your grandmother.¡± Elspeth was not willing to stay here any longer and directly stood up. ¡°Forget it. There is no way that Jordan and I can be together.¡± Michael suddenly became angry. ¡°What do you know? I¡¯m doing this for your good! Callum is no match for Jordan, so don¡¯t be silly!¡± Elspeth sneered, ¡°If Jordan is so good, you can marry him yourself.¡± After saying that, she turned to leave. Jordan said patiently and soothingly at the side, ¡°Old Mr. Joneson, don¡¯t be angry. I think Callum is also quite good. After all, his family¡¯s fortune is also the most abundant in Damoria. Thus, he is also considered a good match.¡± Michael sighed. ¡°I know that his family is not bad, but Elspeth belongs to the Jonesons, so she cannot have any connection with the Winthrop Family.¡± Jordan froze; he did not expect there to be such a thing. ¡°Why?¡± Michael looked around, making sure no one was around before slowly saying, ¡°Actually, other than Elspeth¡¯s mother, I originally had another daughter. She didn¡¯t like to go out, so the public didn¡¯t know about her and thought I only had one daughter. But¡­¡± His eyes suddenly became vicious as he continued, ¡°Callum¡¯s uncle raped her when he was drunk one night, causing her to go insane and jump to her death that very night! This is a big feud, so how can I let Elspeth marry Callum?¡± Chapter 187 Chapter 187 This matter had been left unmentioned for a long time. In fact, Michael had always tried to hide it. Back then, he thought of a way to send Callum¡¯s uncle to prison, and then because it was a family scandal and could not be publicized, he hid the matter away, so much so that the younger generation did not know about this matter at all. At the mention of it again, Michael felt his heart seizing up fiercely. Looking at Michael who was in obvious pain, Jordan knew that it was inappropriate to talk more about it. He then casually spoke a few more words and left. In the next few days, whenever Michael met Elspeth, he told her about how good Jordan was. Elspeth naturally did not want to talk to him about this, so she simply stayed in the hospital to take care of Frank. At this moment, she was lying on the hospital bed, eating melon seeds and ying games in a leisurely manner. Frank was dumbfounded as he said, ¡°Elspeth, do you ever take my feelings into consideration?¡± Elspeth had her headphones on while ying the game, so she did not hear anything. Frank became annoyed and took off her headphones. ¡°Elspeth, respect me a little, okay?¡± Elspeth finally heard Frank¡¯s usation, but her eyes still did not leave her phone screen as she casually replied, ¡°How am I disrespecting you? I rushed over here just to take care of you.¡± ¡°And then you¡¯re the one lying in bed right now; what about me?¡± Frank¡¯s voice carried a hint of indignation. Elspeth took advantage of the momentary cooldown after taking five kills to look at Frank, only to see him wearing a hospital gown and holding an IV drip in his hand with a sulk. On the contrary, Elspeth was lying on the bed that belonged to Frank in a leisurely way¡­ ¡°Sorry, I was too used to lying down when ying the game.¡± Elspeth smiled awkwardly and jumped down from the bed. Frank began to nag, ¡°I just went to the bathroom for a moment and you were already lying in my bed. Who¡¯s taking care of who?¡± Elspeth felt a headache when listening to him. ¡°Well, I was just lying down for a bit. Don¡¯t be so petty.¡± Frank chuckled, the annoyance in his eyes clearly obvious. ¡°Heh.¡± As the two bantered with each other, a figure in white soon walked in. Looking at the grinning Jordan, Elspeth thought that she had to face what woulde head-on no matter what. ¡°Elspeth, you¡¯re also here?¡± Even the way Jordan addressed her had changed. At first, he still cautiously called her ¡°Miss Elspeth¡±, but today he started calling her ¡°Elspeth¡±. Elspeth greeted him with a fake smile. ¡°Can¡¯t I be here?¡± Jordan choked when he heard that. Surprise flitted across his heart, but he still spoke calmly without any change in tone. ¡°Of course, you can. It¡¯s just fate that we¡¯re meeting here.¡± ¡°Is that so? I think it is bad luck. Ah, I¡¯m just joking¡­¡± Not joking. Frank was smiling, but when he heard such rude words, his smile froze on his face. Even if you don¡¯t like him, you shouldn¡¯t say something like that! Nevertheless, Jordan did not seem to care. He looked at Frank with a face of concern and asked, ¡°Are you feeling better? I heard you were injured. Because of that, I wanted toe back to visit you, but I kept getting dyed by matters.¡± Seeing Jordan so concerned about himself, Frank also felt quite warm. ¡°I¡¯m fine now thanks to Elspeth.¡± Their two families were close, and Jordan had yed with Frank before during childhood. Elspeth smiled wickedly by the side and said, ¡°If I knew the two of you were in cahoots, I should have given you an extra terrible medicine.¡± She had thought that Frank was on her side and she didn¡¯t expect that the two of them were childhood friends. The two of them noticed the wariness in Elspeth¡¯s eyes. It was clear whom Frank was siding with. He nced at Elspeth and then at Jordan before giving them an impish smile. ¡°If Grandpa wants to let you two be together, I agree!¡± As soon as Frank said this, he felt two gazes on him. Jordan¡¯s gaze was one of surprise, while Elspeth¡¯s was malicious. ¡°Frank, your life is still in my hands. If you talk nonsense again, I¡¯ll really poison you to death!¡± Clearly, her threat was very effective because Frank shrank back and spoke in a low voice. ¡°I¡¯m doing this for your own good. After all, Jordan¡¯s family is wealthy, and he¡¯s my childhood friend, so I can guarantee that he has a good character¡­¡± Elspeth lifted the fruit knife in her hand with an enigmatic smile. Seeing the sharp de, Frank hurriedly stopped talking. ¡°Well, if Elspeth doesn¡¯t like me, then I¡¯ll just go.¡± Jordan stood up and prepared to leave, looking more or less gloomy. Elspeth smiled lightly. ¡°Goodbye.¡± Jordan thereafter left, and when Frank looked at his slightly lonely figure, he couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve ever seen him like this. Before this, if anyone bullies him, he¡¯ll just screw up the other person¡¯s family business.¡± Elspeth pretended to be surprised. ¡°Wow, Jordan is such a gangster, huh?¡± Hearing this, Frank rolled his eyes. ¡°Actually, I think that you and Callum being together is not a good thing.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Frank sighed. ¡°You know that Grandpa doesn¡¯t like Callum, so you will definitely have to go through many trials and tribtions with Callum, and these trials are naturally not yours to bear.¡± Elspeth¡¯s heart trembled when she heard that; she had known it for some time. ¡°Otherwise, why would Winthrop Group run into problems? Elspeth, you¡¯re very smart, so you¡¯re probably more aware than I am.¡± Elspeth came to realize the truth after this reminder by Frank. However, she just couldn¡¯t understand how Callum had offended Michael to the point where Michael disliked Callum from the bottom of his heart. ¡°If you really want what¡¯s good for Callum, you should go along with what Grandpa wants. After all, Callum is in the dark, and he will have to suffer a lot.¡± Although Frank also did not like Callum because he always felt that Callum had an odd and confusing temperament, Callum treated Elspeth very well, and Frank refused to break them up forcefully. ¡°What benefit did Callum give you to care about him so much?¡± Elspeth raised her eyebrows, a little surprised. ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. The corners of Frank¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°Elspeth, can¡¯t you think of better things?¡± Elspeth tilted her head, puzzled. ¡°So, you like him now?¡± Forget it¡­ Frank looked at Elspeth¡¯s face, and for a moment, he didn¡¯t know how to reply to her. However, after Frank said that, Elspeth suddenly had a strong desire to return to Damoria. She said goodbye to Frank and went to the airport alone, but just after she booked a ticket and went to wait at the gate, men from the Joneson Residence had already found her. The butler quickly stood in front of her, wiping the cold sweat from his brow. ¡°Miss, don¡¯t run around. Come back with me.¡± Elspeth looked at him coldly. ¡°I can¡¯t go anywhere, and I can only stay here in ydal, right?¡± The butler didn¡¯t know how to answer, so he could only carefully exin, ¡°Yes, that should be the case, but it¡¯s not exactly so¡­¡± Elspeth stood up; her tone was unpleasant. ¡°So, what now? What are you going to do? Take me back by force?¡± Chapter 188 Chapter 188 Mr. Wordsworth was sweating profusely now. ¡°Of course not. Why would I¡­¡± ¡°Leave me alone then. I am the granddaughter of the Joneson Family, not a death row inmate,¡± Elspeth retorted. It was not the first time she found him annoying, but she hadpletely lost control this time. ¡°Miss, please don¡¯t make things hard for me. I am just a butler in the family. I only wish to do my job and support my family. Your actions are really pushing beyond my limits¡­¡± She did not expect a man in his fifties would burst into tears in public. Although his cries were not that loud, it was extremely embarrassing for her. ¡°Alright,¡± she said. ¡°Enough. I won¡¯t go. Stop crying. How can you cry in front of so many people when you¡¯re at this age?¡± Mr. Wordsworth finally heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing herply. ¡°Very well, Miss. I¡¯ll send you home first.¡± Home? ¡°Grandfather said I can go anywhere I want as long as I stay in ydal, right?¡± Elspeth deliberately asked as she stroked her chin. Notprehending what she was trying to say, he nkly nodded in response. ¡°That means he won¡¯t do anything no matter howte I stay out, right?¡± As if her words hadpletely blindsided him, he nodded once more. ¡°All right,¡± Elspeth said, standing up and tearing apart the ticket in her hand. ¡°The ticket is destroyed. I won¡¯t be going anywhere, so stop following me.¡± Evidently, he was hesitant to believe her sudden change of heart. ¡°You¡¯re not lying, are you?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Her biggest priority right now was calming him down. She could not directly bicker with him, and there was no way she would win in a fight against the many people he brought with him. ¡°Very well, Miss. If that is all, I¡¯ll be heading back first.¡± There was a look of appreciation on his face like she was his daughter who had finally grown up. To him, it seemed like she was an obedient girl. Later that day, when he was busy searching everywhere for her, he felt like pping himself in the face for having that train of thought. He should have dragged her back to the Joneson Residence! When she returned to the hospital, she found Frank in his bed, watching a ser match. ¡°Were you the one who tattled, Frank?¡± she coldly asked, standing in the doorway. Frank had not expected to be used of a crime like that by name. ¡°Tattle?¡± he eximed as he shot up straight. ¡°Tattle about what?¡± ¡°Oh? Are you admitting to your crime?¡± she asked. ¡°I say.¡± Frank sighed, exasperated. ¡°Why are you throwing a tantrum now? You want to borrow my private helicopter?¡± he asked, confused. He squinted at her. ¡°Why do you want a helicopter? Let me guess; you were going to Damoria to look for Callum, but old Mr. Joneson¡¯s men stopped you.¡± Elspeth chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re smart.¡± ¡°You¡¯re quite the brave soul, Elspeth. You know just how close of an eye he¡¯s keeping on you, yet you insist on going to Damoria right now.¡± Naturally, he disapproved of her action. It was too dangerous and would likely infuriate old Mr. Joneson. ¡°I¡¯ve made up my mind. No one can change it,¡± she dered. ¡°I wonder who on earth you took after,¡± he said, sighing. ¡°You¡¯re so stubborn, alwaysmitting to whatever you decide on.¡± Her heart skipped. Her father, Davion Lynwood, was a kind and gentle soul who was often the mediator of the town. She likely inherited her temper from her mother. ¡°However, if you borrow my private helicopter, would¡­¡± ¡°I have it all nned out,¡± she interrupted with a smile. ¡°Grandfather forbade me from going back to Damoria, but I¡¯m not always supervised. When asked about the helicopter, just say that Spencer borrowed it. If Grandfather asks about me, tell him I¡¯ve been staying with you this whole time.¡± Only Elspeth could have thought up that n. For some reason, that n did not sit easily with him. ¡°What if hees here? How do you n to exin yourself?¡± ¡°If worsees to worst, just tell him I went out to have some fun,¡± she answered. ¡°You don¡¯t know where I am, but you know I¡¯ll be back in the evening. I¡¯ll try to get back as soon as possible to avoid giving you extra trouble.¡± This would be considered Frank¡¯s first time telling such a big lie to old Mr. Joneson, but he was not really nervous. Instead, weirdly enough, he was more excited than scared about doing something forbidden. He nodded in agreement. Coincidentally, Frank¡¯s private helicopter was parked at Spencer¡¯s ce. Thus, she headed over to Spencer¡¯s home. Spencer¡¯s eyes shed when he saw Elspeth walking into his home. ¡°Frank told me everything over the phone just now. You¡¯re going to sneak over to Damoria using his helicopter, yeah?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± she replied. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I was there. I miss the people there.¡± ¡°No need to exin yourself,¡± he said with a chuckle. ¡°I know you¡¯re doing this for Callum.¡± Since he said that, there was nothing she needed to hide. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± she replied, smiling. ¡°After all, a day apart as lovers would feel as long as three years.¡± Hearing that made his eyes darken in sadness. However, because he was looking down at the leaves on the ground the entire time, she merely thought there was something else bothering him. With her borrowed helicopter, she got ready to leave the city. ¡°Elspeth.¡± Suddenly, Spencer called out to her. As her head snapped around to look at him, he was enthralled by the sight of her beautiful face shining in the sun. The question he wanted to ask stuck to the back of his throat, unwilling to leave his lips no matter how hard he tried. Elspeth, would you have fallen in love with me if I met you first? In the end, he said, ¡°Let me know if you need anything. Stay safe.¡± They were better off as friends. Then, he could at least be there whenever she needed help. ¡°Okay. I¡¯m off!¡± Elspeth called back. Oblivious to his emotions, she did not notice how his bright and sunny personality abruptly vanished, reced by the demeanor of a mncholic young girl. A few hourster, shended in Azure Corporation¡¯s headquarters without incident. She acquired a pilot license during her time overseas, and she was quite a good pilot. Harper knew she was on her way and insisted on a wee party, but she did not care for that at all. She immediately drove off to Winthrop Group instead while thinking of ways to surprise Callum. When she pushed open his office door, the sight of two people in the office rendered her speechless. She recalled her first reaction was to shout, ¡°You have given me quite the surprise, Callum!¡± She had not expected the woman she was worried about to be here. Emma, Callum¡¯s first love, was sitting right there beside Callum. She was coyly flirting with him while tugging at his arm. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. As for the man featured in Elspeth¡¯s dreams, he looked really annoyed and upset. When Callum saw her bursting into the room, joy and surprise shed across his face. ¡°You¡¯re back.¡± However, with Emma¡¯s presence beside him, Elspeth thought he was in the middle of betraying her. She soon snapped out of her anger. He did not react as if he had been nning to get back together with Emma. Hence, she took a deep breath to calm herself down before teasingly saying, ¡°Yes. I¡¯m back to see what nonsense you¡¯ll be up to behind my back with some young thing.¡± Chapter 189 Chapter 189 ¡°Nothing is going on between Emma and me, Elspeth,¡± Callum calmly exined. Since he had not done anything wrong, he would not cower. He then turned to bark at Emma, ¡°You should be going. Do not make me repeat myself.¡± The difference in attitude was clear to all. ¡°Come now,¡± Elspeth said. ¡°Don¡¯t be so quick to kick her out. She traveled far to get back here. We should still treat her like the guest she is. After all, it is Emma, right? I know her.¡± Elspeth might not be screaming and shouting, but he knew this was just the calm before the storm. As for who the storm¡¯s target would be, he knew it full well. At that moment, Emma stood up and directed a sweet and innocent smile at Elspeth. ¡°Hello. My name is Emma Walker.¡± Then, she held out her hand in an elegant and refined manner. Elspeth did not shake her hand, though. ¡°You¡¯re so polite, Miss Walker,¡± shemented with a scoff. ¡°Howe you would go around seducing taken men?¡± Emma did not visibly respond to that aside from showing a slight hint of sorrow on her face. ¡°Miss Lynwood, I know you are Callum¡¯s girlfriend, but we are good friends. Are you jealous of his friends as well?¡± Friends? No friend would coyly flirt around while holding the other person¡¯s hand. Elspeth had not intended to expose Emma¡¯s lies, but her deceitful behavior pushed Elspeth to immediately mock her, ¡°Friends today, sisters tomorrow, and dearest the day after; that¡¯s what happens in all the shows. You sure know how to y around, Miss Walker.¡± As for Emma, the angrier Elspeth was, the happier she felt. Emma had only been away for a few years, and another woman was already by Callum¡¯s side. What was she meant to think of that? However, she would not be as forceful as Elspeth. She had to be demure and gentle so that he knew she was the kindest, most considerate woman in the room. ¡°I know you¡¯re upset, Miss Lynwood, but if you can¡¯t even ept our friendship now, how can you be his wife?¡± ¡°Callum, I want to hear from you, not her,¡± Elspeth said. Following that, she turned to look at him with a pleading gaze. ¡°I can¡¯t even be considered friends with her,¡± Callum replied, not even ncing at Emma. Emma clenched her jaw and stared at him with tearful eyes. ¡°Am I that intolerable, Callum?¡± He kept quiet, an implicit agreement. Soon, tears streamed down Emma¡¯s cheeks. ¡°I could take all the words she can throw at me, Callum, but I cannot leave you with misunderstandings about me. The two of us had been together for so long. You know me¡ª¡± ¡°You are someone who will abandon love for a better future,¡± he interrupted. The air around him was colder than ice as he slowly walked over to Elspeth. Then, his lips spread wide in a doting smile without hinting at his previously icy demeanor. ¡°Are you tired?¡± After all, she had rushed back. ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. Emma was dissatisfied with how little care Callum showed for her. Nevertheless, there was nothing she could do. Her only option was to grit her teeth and swallow down all the agony she felt. That was her only way to win him back. ¡°I wasn¡¯t, but after talking to that lying witch, I¡¯m exhausted.¡± Elspeth stuck out her tongue. She looked so cute and yful, a much better behavior in his eyes than Emma¡¯s sly manner. ¡°Come, let¡¯s get some food.¡± Not once did he nce at Emma¡¯s face. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Emma asked with eyes full of hope. ¡°Arthur had said he wanted to meet up one day. Why don¡¯t we¡ª¡± She did not want to give them even a second to be alone together. Elspeth turned to look at her andughed. ¡°Callum, the witch wants to dine with us. Should we bring her along?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like the taste of a witch¡¯s brew,¡± Callum calmly replied as he draped her shoulders with his suit jacket. He then wrapped his arm around her waist before leading her out of the room. When Emma saw how close the two were, she wished she could tear into Elspeth¡¯s pretty little face so that she could never seduce him again. At that moment, her phone started ringing. When she saw the caller ID shing on her screen, the hatred in her eyes receded as she smirked. ¡­ Meanwhile, at the restaurant. Elspeth let her smile fade away. ¡°Callum, Emma mentioned Arthur wanting to meet up with her. Since when did he pay so much attention to a woman? Say¡­ does he like her?¡± ¡°Before I got together with Emma, Arthur would frequently look for excuses to invite Emma out. One time, Arthur returned from their outing with a dark expression. Since then, he never invited her out when it was merely the two of them.¡± Callum silently thought about it. It was undeniable. Based on what he remembered, Arthur likely loved Emma. Perhaps Arthur was reticent about his emotions orcked the courage to be forthright about them. ¡°Come to think of it, Arthur¡¯s grievances and resentment all appeared overnight,¡± he said. Elspeth was about to ask more questions about the past when a familiarugh rang behind her. ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t, dear Callum and Elspeth.¡± Arthur had sharp eyes. When he saw Elspeth, he immediately walked over with Emma in tow. When Elspeth saw the two of them chatter side by side, she thought they were perfect for each other if one ignored Emma¡¯s love for Callum. ¡°It has been a long time since west met. Why don¡¯t we sit together?¡± Arthur¡¯s words were polite, but he immediately sat down without waiting for a response. Emma was also going to sit down when Elspeth questioned, ¡°Did we say yes? Why are you sitting already?¡± She did not think Arthur was here to y nice with them. However, she stole his ginkgo the last they met, so he might be plotting to get back at her. To her surprise, hepletely ignored her and smiled at someone behind Emma. ¡°You¡¯re here too? Come sit with us!¡± She followed his gaze to find the other three sons of the Winthrops standing there. What is going on? Why are they all here? The awkward air lingering around Emma vanished as she grinned and said, ¡°The Winthrops were so nice to me when I was still with Callum. I wanted to meet up with everyone now that I¡¯ve returned. At least I want to share a meal or something.¡± Max was an impulsive man. The sight of Arthur¡¯s fake smile had him instantly blurting out in a mocking tone, ¡°Why is Arthur, that traitor, here too?¡± Edmund was only present because Emma was friendly to him before. Seeing Arthur, he stered on a smile as he harshly spat out, ¡°Not everyone here is a Winthrop, though.¡± Emma knew what had happened before, so she exined, ¡°Arthur is not as bad as you thought. I didn¡¯t invite everyone so we could catch up, but I also wanted to ease the tension between you guys¡ª¡± Her act of being the saintly mediator disgusted Elspeth, though. She could not resist snapping, ¡°How would an outsider know about the Winthrops¡¯ Family business?¡± Emma¡¯s mouth gaped and closed before sadly lowering her head. ¡°I¡¯m only trying to be nice. Anyway, you¡¯re an outsider too, Elspeth.¡± Callum¡¯s face darkened when he heard that. ¡°She is my fianc¨¦e,¡± he retorted. ¡°You cannot be compared to her.¡± Chapter 190 Chapter 190 As soon as Callum finished speaking, everyone fell silent. As for Emma, her heart was throbbing in pain as she cried. ¡°Even if you don¡¯t like me anymore, Callum,¡± she said as tears rolled down her cheeks. ¡°We were once in love. Why are you being so cruel to me?¡± Elspeth could not contain her sarcasm in response to Emma¡¯s dishonest behavior. ¡°You brought up your previous rtionship with him while his current girlfriend was present. Three guesses as to why he was so vicious.¡± What else is there to say besides being disgusted? ¡°I¡ª¡± Emma ducked her head down, hiding the intense fury burning in her eyes. While she would love to p Elspeth right then and there, everyone was watching. She had to make everyone think Elspeth was the bully. However, to her surprise, Arthur decided to step up and calm everyone down. ¡°It¡¯s all in the past, so let¡¯s leave it be,¡± he said with a smile. ¡°After all, Callum is dating Elspeth now, and Emma is happy for them.¡± Emma nodded with a look of gratitude on her face. ¡°Dad¡¯s birthday party is happening in a few days,¡± he continued. ¡°I n on returning to do my duties as his son.¡± Max¡¯s hands clenched into fists as he retorted, ¡°Return? Arthur, how can you say that without embarrassment? I have yet to deal with you for how badly you angered dadst time. You have the nerve to offer yourself up!¡± Edmund shot Max a look as he coldly said, ¡°Why do you care about someone like that? His skin was thicker than a city¡¯s defenses. Who knows what he actually thinks about all this?¡± Evidently, none of the Winthrops liked Arthur anymore. However, Arthur acted as though he heard nothing as his smile remained gentle and calm. ¡°Then, it¡¯s settled. If that¡¯s all, I have to go. See you the day after tomorrow.¡± Afterward, he stood up and left. The other Winthrop men were only rxed after he left the room. To regain her dignity, Emma passed a te of food to Max. ¡°Don¡¯t nk out. Here, I think you love this dish the most.¡± ¡°Thank you, sis,¡± he replied without thinking. Emma¡¯s smile brightened. She then shot Elspeth a smug look as if it were proof that she was the hostess. Soon, Edmund red at Max. ¡°What did you say?¡± It was only then that Max noticed he had made a mistake. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for misspeaking,¡± he said, ncing awkwardly at Elspeth. Elspeth had to admit that Emma was sessful in grossing her out. ¡°Why, what a natural Miss Walker is at offering food to others. If memory serves me right, I am paying for the meal. If I don¡¯t like someone, I can ask her to leave immediately.¡± Elspeth narrowed her eyes as she said that in a mocking tone. It was clear to everyone who ¡°her¡± was. If Emma could not hear the message, she would have lived under a rock for over twenty years. ¡°Callum went to pay now, so I think it shouldn¡¯t be you, Miss Lynwood.¡± Suddenly, Elspeth nced at Callum, seated beside her, before asking him with a raised eyebrow, ¡°Do you have a problem with paying when I am the host of the meal?¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± he calmly answered after wiping his mouth. Callum¡¯s answer was a tant show of protecting Elspeth. If Emma had stayed at the stable longer, she might die from anger and frustration. So, she rose to her feet and uttered, ¡°If you don¡¯t like me, I¡¯ll leave.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re self-aware,¡± Elspethnguidly said. ¡°Still, you¡¯re a little slow at that.¡± Emma had been prepared to take a step forward when she heard that. It caught her by surprise, almost making her trip and fall. She is so rude and disrespectful! Hence, Emma decided to let herself fall in Callum¡¯s direction. While he no longer liked her, the situation was about morals. Therefore, no matter what, he would¡­ Bam! Elspeth¡¯s quick reflexes and extended foot saved Emma from hitting the ground on her face. ¡°I know I¡¯ve made it clear where you stand among us, but you don¡¯t need to stand on ceremony. You are a celebrity. Your face cannot withstand such abuse.¡± No matter how angry and frustrated Emma was at Elspeth¡¯s innocent act, she could do nothing about it. She was currently sprawled out across Elspeth¡¯s foot in an inappropriate manner. With great effort, she crawled up from the floor and tidied up her hair while wishing she could bury herself in a hole somewhere. It was immensely humiliating to trip and fall in front of many people. ¡°Excuse me.¡± Her departure was even more hurried than Arthur¡¯s, giving the impression that she was fleeing in a panic. Max waited for her to leave before lowering his head in apology. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to call her that ¡ª¡± Elspeth waved the apology away. ¡°It¡¯s fine. You¡¯re still a kid.¡± Max rolled his eyes hard. ¡°I¡¯m not a kid. I¡¯m an adult, okay?¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Yelena?¡± she then asked, staring at him. It had been a long time since shest talked to Yelena. She wondered how Yelena was doing. ¡°That cousin of hers isn¡¯t actually her cousin, yet he¡¯s constantly hovering around her door. Unable to deal with him any longer, she moved out and is currently staying in one of my mansions,¡± Max replied. ¡°You¡¯re staying together?¡± Elspeth was shocked. He blushed. ¡°I said she¡¯s staying in my mansion, not that we were staying together!¡± ¡°She¡¯s still young. Remember to respect her boundaries.¡± Everyone knew what she meant by that. Edmund patted Max on the head as he said with a mysterious smile, ¡°I don¡¯t even have a girlfriend yet, and you two are already living together. Amazing.¡± Max was not someone who could handle being teased, though. He burned bright red from his neck up to his ears. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll stop. Bring Yelena to the Winthrop Residence tomorrow. I need to talk to her,¡± Elspeth said. He nodded, and to avoid unnecessary awkwardness, he immediately kept quiet. ¡°Well, it¡¯s gettingte, and we¡¯re almost done with the meal. Let¡¯s head back,¡± ke abruptly said. He had been silently sitting in the corner the entire time. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. It was only then that she noticed his presence. Embarrassed, Elspeth asked, ¡°How have you been lately at Luminous?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. Everything¡¯s good,¡± he replied. No one knew what ke went through that made him suddenly snap into a quiet, contemtive mood. He looked so vastly differentpared to his usual charming and sly temperament. She did question him any further and soon followed the other four men back to the Winthrop Residence. As Elspeth stepped into the house, Theodore spotted her at the door. There was a nearly undetectable look of awkwardness on his face for a brief moment. ¡°Did you miss me, Mr. Winthrop? I have been gone for so long,¡± she casually said, smiling as she sat beside him. ¡°You¡¯re back, Elspeth,¡± hemented with a stiff smile. His smile told her something was off about the situation. ¡°What is it? You don¡¯t look so good.¡± He shook his head. ¡°Nothing. It has been so long since west met that I don¡¯t know what to talk about.¡± That was definitely not what was going on. Unwilling to expose Theodore¡¯s lie, Elspeth merely smiled as she pondered his behavior. Chapter 191 Chapter 191 For the next two days, Theodore kept avoiding Elspeth. Although she was confused about his behavior, she could do nothing. It was soon the day of his birthday party. As the Winthrops are famous in Damoria, many members of high society were there. In the hall, the four sons of the Winthrops were dressed in elegant suits, which attracted the gazes of many young girls. ¡°The Winthrops have such great genes. Every son they give birth to is so handsome,¡± said one woman. ¡°We should be admiring Elspeth Lynwood instead. As a future family wife, she can have any of the four sons,¡±mented anotherdy. ¡°She¡¯s already dating the most capable of the sons, Callum. The others are still single. Maybe we¡¯ll stand a chance?¡± ¡°I choose ke. The sh of his canines when he smiles is mesmerizing!¡± Hearing thedies¡¯ gossip, Elspeth turned to Callum and let out a tsk. ¡°The most capable of the sons¡­ They sure are bold to say that.¡± He calmly nced at her with a rxed look in his eyes. ¡°Well? Are they wrong?¡± ¡°How have I never realized what a narcissist you are?¡± Still, Elspeth could not argue too much with him. After all, he had the right to be proud of himself. Suddenly, there was amotion near the doors. Everyone turned to look in that direction to find an elegantly dressed woman in exquisite makeup walking into the hall. The people around her were all happily apuding and cheering. Emma was smiling brightly as she cheerfully greeted those around her. Finally, she walked over to Theodore and handed him the gift she was holding. ¡°Happy birthday, Mr. Winthrop! May you lead a long and happy life,¡± she eximed. Her gift was a luxurious watch covered in rare gems. It was one of a kind and extremely hard to find. Then, he grinned brightly when he saw it. ¡°You¡¯re too kind. Thank you, Emma.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my duty. When I was with Callum, you treated me like your daughter. I am so grateful to you for that.¡± Journalists and cameras surrounded them. They raised their cameras and started recording when she said that. It was big news, after all. Emma Walker, the great celebrity, used to date Callum Winthrop, the eldest Winthrop son; no matter how one looked at it, the news would go viral! The youngdies of the hall were preupied with a different train of thought. No longer were they looking at Elspeth with admiring gazes. ¡°Say, do you think Elspeth was a homewrecker? Emma is so beautiful and refined, and she¡¯s a celebrity. How could anyone not like her?¡± someone whispered. Yelena was nearby, and when she heard that, she immediately barked, ¡°What are you saying? Elspeth is an amazing woman. How could she be a homewrecker?¡± ¡°Emma is an international celebrity who has been to Hollywood. She¡¯s a superstar and even has fans in Frouca. Elspeth is only domestically famous. How can she be better?¡± ¡°What?¡± Yelena¡¯s lungs were bursting with anger. ¡°Elspeth is so much better than Emma in every aspect! She simply doesn¡¯t care to debut as a star formally. If she did, Emma would be nobody.¡± ¡°Sure, but Emma got together with Callum first. There were no rumors about him before that, which means she is his first love¡ª¡± A person¡¯s first love was a perfect ideal woman who was both unattainable and unforgettable. Not even Callum could avoid that pitfall. Soon, Yelena¡¯s following words were stuck in her throat when she heard that. Unable to continue retorting, she shot Callum and Elspeth a pleading look. The couple was standing not far away, so they heard everything. Unexpectedly, Elspeth did not get angry. Instead, sheughed as though nothing had happened. ¡°Aren¡¯t you angry?¡± Callum whispered into her ear, curious. She was not worried. Since she did not actually steal Emma¡¯s boyfriend back then, she did not need to be angry at what people said. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m inferior?¡± she asked in return. ¡°Of course not,¡± Callum replied with a silent chuckle. Elspeth was a top-tier hacker, racecar driver, singer, CEO of Azure Corporation, designer, and famous esports yer¡­ These titles made her unparalleledpared to the others. More importantly, her beauty was more outstanding than most celebrities. What was there to criticize her for? By standing there, she was the brightest star in the room. ¡°Let us ignore them then. Justice exists in humanity¡¯s hearts. If they do not understand that¡ª¡± Then they are not humans who will understand human speech. Why argue with them? ¡°As expected of the woman I love.¡± He smirked and wrapped an arm around her waist. They were standing so close together, with their affection clear in their stances, that the gossiping group swiftly went quiet. As Callum headed to the bathroom, Elspeth sat on the couch alone as she scrolled on her phone. It was clear that Emma was wrong in judging the air in the room. After she finished greeting Theodore, she walked over. ¡°What did you give Mr. Winthrop, Elspeth?¡± She spoke so loudly that everyone around them looked over at them. ¡°Nothing much,¡± Elspeth calmly replied with a smile. ¡°Only a tiny gift.¡± ¡°A tiny gift?¡± Emma eximed exaggeratedly. ¡°This is Mr. Winthrop¡¯s birthday gift. How can you give him something small after how nice he has been to you?¡± Elspeth did not intend to continue the conversation any longer, but a certain someone simply insisted on offering her head up on a silver tray. ¡°Oh, I get it now,¡± Emma said, continuing to poke at her. ¡°He thinks about me so much while he¡¯s not as affectionate and kind with you. Well, that can¡¯t be helped¡ª¡± ¡°Are you done?¡± Elspeth interrupted when she saw how puffed up Emma¡¯s chest was. ¡°May I ask what your present was, Miss Walker?¡± ¡°Oh, nothing much. It¡¯s a watch,¡± Emma replied. Then, as if afraid that Elspeth was ignorant, she emphatically continued, ¡°It is the Heart of Rupert. It¡¯s not that expensive, but it¡¯s the only one in the world. It is good enough for him.¡± Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Elspeth¡¯s eyelid twitched as augh burst out of her. ¡°That watch was bought by a secret buyerst year. Until this day, no one knows who bought it and where it went. How did you get your hands on it?¡± Emma grew even smugger when she heard that. ¡°That mystery buyer and I go way back, and we happened to bump into each other one time overseas, so he sold it to me.¡± ¡°What a coincidence,¡± Elspeth smirked as her eyes gleamed eagerly. ¡°The buyer happens to be my vice president. You are an old friend of Harper¡¯s?¡± Harper loved collecting watches. Every new addition to his collection had to be shown off to her. Naturally, Emma did not know Harper. However, she still pretended she did and nodded. ¡°Ah, yes. That¡¯s him.¡± ¡°Let me call him right now and ask.¡± Elspeth pulled up her phone app and acted as if she was actually going to call him. ¡°We can also ask him about where the watch really is.¡± Emma was stunned. If Elspeth called him, her entire lie would be exposed! She was not a fool, though, so she hurriedly stopped Elspeth. ¡°Stop. Wait. It has been a long time since Ist met him. Perhaps, he had already forgotten about me.¡± ¡°Miss Walker, you are an internationally renowned star. How could he forget about you?¡± Elspeth did not stop and was looking for Harper¡¯s contact number. Emma¡¯s smile went stiff. It was clear Elspeth wanted to humiliate her. Chapter 192 Chapter 192 ¡°Yes, she¡¯s a big celebrity,¡± someone from the crowd said. ¡°There¡¯s no way she would be forgotten. Emma is so humble.¡± The girls standing around them were avid fans of Emma. All of them thought Emma had a conflicted look on her face because she was embarrassed. ¡°See? Everyone thinks you¡¯re feeling guilty,¡± Elspeth said, smiling brightly at Emma. ¡°Oh, wait. They think you¡¯re humble. It is only a phone call, Miss Walker. It¡¯s nothing big.¡± Emma gritted her teeth and kept quiet, too scared to speak. The call went through. Harper was sleeping when Elspeth called, so he answered the call with messy hair and a sleepy look in his eyes. Even so, his attractiveness could not be hidden. ¡°What is it, Elsie?¡± he asked. Emma had been hoping Harper would actually be the seller she had contacted, but her heart sank when she saw his face. ¡°Is the Heart of Rupert still with you?¡± Elspeth asked. Harper took a sip of water to wake himself up. ¡°Yes. Why?¡± ¡°A woman here says you sold her the watch. Can you see if it¡¯s her?¡± When Harper spotted the awkward smile on Emma¡¯s face, he frowned. ¡°Who is this? Why would I sell off the watch? You know I only buy watches, and I never sell anything.¡± ¡°Forget about her. Can you show everyone here the watch?¡± Elspeth asked. She was afraid the crowd would think she was lying. If Emma seized the chance to pull the wool over their eyes, her reputation would be smeared again. However, Harper was confused but still brought out the watch from his collection. The moment the box opened, everyone¡¯s eyes were glued to it. It was gleaming with a faint blue glow surrounding it. A red diamond heart was embedded in the center of the watch. It looked so much more dazzling than the watch Emma gave Mr. Winthrop. ¡°If that¡¯s all, I¡¯m going back to bed.¡± He shrugged and hung up right after saying that. Elspeth looked at Emma¡¯s pale face and doubtfully asked, ¡°Why don¡¯t you exin where you got that watch from, Miss Walker?¡± ¡°I-I assigned the task to someone else,¡± Emma replied, stuttering. ¡°I spent quite a few million on it. I didn¡¯t think¡ª¡± ¡°Yes, it doesn¡¯t matter if you bought an imitation product,¡± Elspeth interrupted. ¡°The most revolting people are those who intentionally buy imitation products.¡± The smirk on her face was so menacing that Emma nearly fainted. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ¡°You don¡¯t look well, Miss Walker,¡± she continued. ¡°Do you feel dizzy? If you do, feel free to pass out right now. If you¡¯re unconscious, you don¡¯t care how others see you.¡± Emma was prepared to pretend to faint, but when she heard that, she froze, unsure what to do. If she had passed out at that moment, she would have fallen into Elspeth¡¯s trap. ¡°Of course not. Naturally, I am willing to¡ª¡± Emma said. ¡°You¡¯re willing to apologize?¡± Elspeth interrupted once more. ¡°You¡¯re a public figure, though. It would be bad if the media found out what you did.¡± She spoke as if she was merely reminding Emma, but her words were meant for the journalists standing around them that it was also major news. The journalists swiftly understood Elspeth¡¯s words and began taking photos while their pens raced across their notepads. ¡°Hurry and apologize now, Miss Walker. Otherwise, your reputation will suffer when they break the news,¡± she continued. Elspeth beamed a smile at Emma, but her cheeks and lips were left uncharacteristically unsmiling. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Emma dered to the crowd. ¡°I did not mean to buy an imitation product. I only wanted to surprise Mr. Winthrop¡ª¡± When they saw tears roll down her cheek, their hearts softened. ¡°Let¡¯s not nitpick about this. After all, she did it with good intentions. She didn¡¯t know it was an imitation watch.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± said another member of the crowd. ¡°Emma is not that kind of evil person. I believe in her.¡± Seeing that the crowd forgave her because of a few drops of tears, Emma immediately began crying harder. ¡°Stop crying, Miss Walker. If you keep on like that, everyone will start to think I¡¯m bullying you,¡± said Elspeth. ¡°Elspeth, I know you don¡¯t like me, but you didn¡¯t need to be so hostile,¡± Emma replied, sniffling. Seeing that the crowd was starting to defend Emma, Elspeth chuckled. ¡°Hostile? Miss Walker, don¡¯t you think you should go to an appraiser whenever you buy something? You are a public figure. One single mistake would negatively affect your career.¡± Emma shouted in her mind, Stop talking! She was panicking hard inside but still had to act feeble and meek. It was ridiculously hard for her. ¡°Look at how tactless Elspeth is while Emma is always so kind and gentle,¡± someone whispered. ¡°So, what if she bought an imitation watch? Who can ensure they would never make a mistake like that in their entire life?¡± Hearing that, Elspeth turned to look at the speaker. It was a young girl who seemed pretty well-off. Judging by how she dressed, she looked like someone from new money. ¡°You mean to say you have bought imitation products before?¡± Elspeth asked. ¡°Of course,¡± the girl replied with a huff. ¡°No one can be certain they would never buy imitation products. This is merely an ident.¡± ¡°Wait. Who told you everyone would buy an imitation product at some point?¡± Elspeth found that statement hrious as she looked at the girl disdainfully. ¡°Pardon me, but I became a certified appraiser at sixteen. Not once in my life have I bought anything fake. Not everyone is like you; even after buying a fake product, you¡¯re proud of that fact instead of reflecting on your mistake.¡± It was a p in the face for the girl, making her clench her jaw in anger. Still, there was nothing she could retort. As for Emma, she was feeling increasingly humiliated. Someone stepped up to defend her, only to be disgraced. That meant she was indirectly disgraced as well. ¡°Elspeth, forgiveness is a virtue,¡± Emma said. Her eyes had softened as though the incident had taken the wind out of her sails. Forgiveness is a virtue; that is not a phrase she deserves to use. Elspeth nced at her before smiling gently, ¡°Well, please remember to be careful in the future. Don¡¯t ever let your ns be leaked.¡± Emma red at her before scurrying away. With that, the encounter was over. As Elspeth stretched, Callum returned from the bathroom. The victorious look on her allowed him to guess what had happened. ¡°She was annoying you again?¡± he asked. Then, he picked up a tiny cake from the te nearby to feed it to her. ¡°Yes,¡± Elspeth replied. Her eyes slid close in satisfaction. ¡°It¡¯s fine, though. She can¡¯t win in a fight against me.¡± ¡°I know, but you should still avoid going toe to toe with her.¡± Callum already had a n in the works. ¡°What? Are you feeling sorry for your poor first love? Are you scared that I might bully her?¡± she shot back. ¡°No way,¡± he replied, shaking his head. ¡°I am worried for your sake. She is a popr and in-demand star in the country. If you anger her, her brainless fans will never forgive you.¡± Elspeth was not afraid of that possibility at all. Instead, she was more worried that Emma could continue to stay in Damoria if she kept causing trouble like that. ¡°Callum, is Arthuring?¡± He pursed his lips as a dark look shed across his eyes. ¡°Yes, but he is not here yet, so I¡¯m not sure if he will actuallye.¡± She was shocked to hear that. There were so many journalists here. Would Arthur not be in an awkward position if he came? Speak of the devil; soon after their conversation, there was amotion at the door. The crowd was whispering louder than when Emma arrived. Chapter 193 Chapter 193 Arthur was wearing an all-white suit that evening and looked incredibly striking. The first thing he did was not greet Theodore with a happy birthday. Instead, he walked over to Callum and Elspeth. ¡°Emma told me you were being mean to her. What did she mean by that?¡± Emma had apparentlyined to Arthur, so he hade to question them. How hrious! Elspeth sneezed. ¡°I would never dare do that. I don¡¯t have the guts to be mean to her. She intentionally came over to disgust me. My only choice was to fight back. Still, what a coincidence. She was so irresponsible as to give an imitation watch as a gift.¡± Then, he politely smiled. ¡°Even if her gift isn¡¯t a genuine product, she meant well by it. You knew she was a public figure, yet you repeatedly humiliated her in front of many people.¡± Do I have to ept responsibility for everything? She looked at Arthur with disdain as she retorted, ¡°Arthur, it is your business if you like her and want to protect her. I do not like her, so please never mention her name to me.¡± Surprised that Elspeth would say something so vile, his face went stiff. ¡°What a crude woman,¡± he spat out. Callum shot him a cold re as he stood in front of Elspeth. ¡°Whom are you calling crude?¡± he asked, upset. Arthur did not respond to Callum¡¯s question and merely shot Elspeth a stern look before turning around and walking toward Theodore. Meanwhile, Theodore had been busy entertaining some guests. When he heard that Arthur was present, emotions warred within him. Hence, he was worried when he saw Arthur approach him. ¡°Happy birthday, Dad,¡± Arthur said. Theodore flinched when he heard the familiar term and responded, ¡°Hey.¡± During theirst conversation, Arthur repeatedly addressed Theodore as ¡®Mr. Winthrop¡¯ before he left, and every time he did that, it hurt Theodore. Still, Arthur was willingly calling him ¡®dad¡¯ now. Did that mean he wanted to repair their rtionship? ¡°I am so sorry forst time, Dad,¡± Arthur stated. ¡°I med all of you without knowing everything about the situation. I even said I would cut off all contact with you guys. It¡¯s all my fault. I hope you can forgive me. I still want to call you Dad.¡± His speech was so moving that everyone present was touched. Everyone except for Callum and Elspeth. ¡°Say, why do you think Arthur came here to make up with your father?¡± Despite the tears in Arthur¡¯s eyes, Elspeth did not think things were what they seemed. Callum calmly peeled open the cherry and fed it to Elspeth. ¡°Why else? Money and power. The Winthrops could grant him a greater social standing than anything he could achieve.¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ¡°You mean he¡¯s up to something again?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Callum replied with a nk look as he wiped his hands clean. ¡°Judging by the current situation, though, he is definitely not doing this out of the kindness of his heart.¡± However, the rest of the Winthrops were not as cautious as him. Except for Edmund, who was hesitant to believe Arthur, ke, and Max both let down their guards and dashed over to hug Arthur. ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re back.¡± ¡°Even if we¡¯re not blood-rted, you will always be my brother!¡± They had lived together for decades. How could their brotherhood be cut off in an instant? However, Arthur continued to cry as cameras loudly clicked and shed. Tomorrow¡¯s headline was set in stone. Seeing that made Elspeth smirk mockingly. At the end of the party, Theodore suggested dining in a private room in the hotel¡¯s restaurant. He wanted a reunion dinner since Arthur had returned. When the food was all served up, someone rushed into the room. ¡°Sorry I¡¯mte.¡± Elspeth scowled. Why was Emma invited? Theodore smiled and exined, ¡°I invited Emma. After all, she flew so far to be here with us. She even put so much effort into my birthday celebration. I had to invite her as well.¡± Then, as if afraid everyone was still confused, Arthur added, ¡°The watch isn¡¯t the only gift Emma prepared. There is also a luminous pearl of the Southern Sea. It¡¯s merely arrivingte.¡± When Elspeth heard that, she knew the pearl was likely given to Emma by Arthur to save her reputation. Theodore chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I like it, even if it¡¯s not genuine. You¡¯re so kind, Emma.¡± ¡°No, Mr. Winthrop. I would never have given it to you if I had known it was fake.¡± Emma ducked her head low in guilt. ¡°Alright. Make yourselffortable. Sit down, and let¡¯s eat.¡± After Emma sat down, Callum suddenly spoke up. ¡°Dad, is your mind going from old age?¡± Theodore red at him. ¡°What are you saying? I¡¯m still sprightly. How could I be losing my mind?¡± ¡°Why else would you do something like this?¡± Callum rebuked. He knew Theodore had been avoiding Elspeth for the past few days. Hence, he could not help but be suspicious of Theodore¡¯s sudden affectionate behavior toward Emma. ¡°Callum!¡± Theodore barked. ¡°Today is my birthday. Can you save it?¡± Seeing that, Callum stood up, dragging Elspeth with him. ¡°Enjoy your meal. We have somewhere else to be.¡± For a moment, she was stunned. Then, she hurriedly pulled her hand out of his grip. ¡°Enough, Callum. Today is your father¡¯s birthday. Don¡¯t be rash.¡± Although he did not say anything, the peaceful look on her face calmed him down significantly. Theodore was shocked. He had never realized Callum had a rebellious side to him. ¡°What is going on with you, Callum?¡± Callum did not answer him, however, nor did he say another word from then on. Instead, he downed ss after ss of wine. It had been awfully long since Arthurst saw Callum so frustrated. It cheered him so much that there was no way to hide the wide grin on his face. Throughout the meal, Theodore kept chatting with Emma. Compared to that treatment, Elspeth, his future daughter-inw, seemed like an outsider instead. ¡°What do you do overseas, Emma?¡± asked Theodore. She smiled and answered, ¡°I mainly work in the entertainment industry. I¡¯ve even acted in a few famous films from Hollywood. You surely have seen some of them, Mr. Winthrop.¡± ¡°Of course, I have. You are an international superstar. I have heard of every film you acted in, especially ¡®Napoleon¡¯s Savior.¡¯ It was an exceptionally great film.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too kind, Mr. Winthrop. I¡¯m only an actress. I¡¯m not as capable as Elspeth. No wonder Callum likes her.¡± Emma might be smiling on the outside, but she was burning with hatred on the inside. While I was abroad, I had never heard of her. What right did a moderately famous woman have topete with me for Callum? Theodore awkwardly smiled. Callum has dated both of them, which makesparisons between them awkward. ¡°You¡¯re both capable women¡­ Oh, right. Emma, when will your parents be back in the country? They went abroad to do business, right?¡± Chapter 194 Chapter 194 Emma¡¯s expression softened at his question. ¡°Yeah, they¡¯ve been doing business abroad all this time. But if you want to meet them, I can make a phone call and ask them toe back.¡± Theodore replied with a wave of his hand, ¡°No, you don¡¯t have to. They just came into my mind, that¡¯s all. Your dad and I used to be drinking buddies back when we were younger, you know.¡± They chatted happily, with Arthur chiming in from time to time. Contrary to the three who were talking andughing cheerfully, Callum and Elspeth were seemingly nonexistent. He bent his head and whispered in her ear, ¡°Are you really not unhappy?¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t describe how she felt. ¡°No, I¡¯m fine,¡± she replied, but her smile looked somewhat strained. Seeing that she seemed a bit ufortable, Callum led her out of the hotel as soon as the gathering was over. As they walked outside, Elspeth let out a wistful sigh. ¡°I can see the change in my dad¡¯s attitude toward you, actually.¡± She couldn¡¯t help but let out a wryugh at the man¡¯s words. ¡°Yeah, even you could see that, so how couldn¡¯t I?¡± Callum stopped to look at her. He said earnestly, ¡°Still, you don¡¯t have to be worried. There¡¯s no way my dad would dislike you all of a sudden. He probably has a reason for doing so.¡± Naturally, Elspeth knew full well about this. She decided to ask Theodore about it when they went home tonight. As the couple strolled along the bridge, it suddenly began snowing. Elspeth was stunned; she hadn¡¯t paid attention to the calendar for a long time. Seems like Christmas is coming, she thought. Before she snapped out of her trance, Callum surprised her with a bouquet of Lenten roses he produced from nowhere. Though not as delicate as roses, the flowers looked extraordinarily hardy. She asked, ¡°Callum, did you steal these from someone else¡¯s backyard?¡± She sounded disapproving, but inwardly, she loved these flowers very much. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Callum darted her an impassive nce. ¡°There are stalls selling things on both sides of the bridge. Weren¡¯t you looking at these just now?¡± Elspeth looked back and saw there was indeed a flower stall where she had been standing. What was more, she¡¯d been staring nkly in that stall¡¯s direction just now. ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t like¡­ Achoo!¡± She smiled in embarrassment before emitting a loud sneeze. Before she could finish her sentence, Callum fixed her with a murderous stare. ¡°Are you saying that you like Lenten roses very much?¡± Coming to her senses, she nodded vigorously. ¡°Yeah, I like them a lot.¡± Callum frowned when he noticed that she was shivering with cold. ¡°Feeling cold?¡± Cold? It¡¯s thanks to your tone that the weather turned chilly! Elspeth looked at her clothes¡ªwhich weren¡¯t really warm enough¡ªbefore emitting another sneeze. ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Then, why are you shivering?¡± Callum lowered his gaze as he took off his jacket and draped it around her shoulders. ¡°I¡¯ll send you back.¡± Elspeth gave him a smile of gratitude. ¡°Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Winthrop, but my legs are numb.¡± Speechless, Callum crouched down and let her get onto his back. Now that she didn¡¯t have to walk by herself, Elspeth suddenly became talkative. ¡°Callum, I¡¯ve heard that a couple can remain together in their old age once they¡¯ve walked together in the snow.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if a couple can remain together in their old age after walking in the snow, but I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll get hospitalized for that.¡± She was displeased with the man¡¯s unfeeling remark. How unromantic. Theodore was sitting in the living room watching TV when they arrived home by car. Seeing that Elspeth was back, he pretended to leave again, but she stopped him before he could do so. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, may I ask what is going on with you?¡± Theodore replied with a forced smile, ¡°I¡¯m fine, Elspeth. Don¡¯t think too much about it.¡± Elspeth¡­ Now he calls me Elspeth instead of Elsie, thought Elspeth. Unable to get the truth out of him, she decided to look into it herself. After she returned to her bedroom, Theodore summoned Callum into his study. No one knew what Theodore had said, but the next day, Callum became somewhat quieter than usual. Seeing that he wasn¡¯t in a good mood, Elspeth asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Callum shook his head. ¡°I gotta go to my office. You should go to Azure Corporation early if there¡¯s nothing else.¡± ¡°Are you telling me to go to my ownpany?¡± Elspeth was astounded. He was just fine yesterday; why is he beginning to distance himself from me today? Callum pressed his lips together without saying a word. A sense of difort surged up within Elspeth. ¡°Callum, just tell me if there¡¯s anything. Don¡¯t keep it from me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. I gotta go; I¡¯ve got work to deal with at my office,¡± Callum replied before leaving; his broad figure looked deste from behind as he left. Elspeth gritted her teeth before going to the Winthrop Group after him. Once arriving at the Winthrop Group, she found that her stuff had been cleared away on Callum¡¯s orders, while her desk was upied by the new director of the Design Department. She was depressed when she walked into the man¡¯s office and saw him working as if nothing had happened. ¡°Callum, can you tell me what on earth is going on with you?¡± Callum looked up; his eyes were full of meaning that she couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s just that you¡¯re not supposed to stay any longer in the Winthrop Group ording to the rules.¡± She smirked. ¡°Well then, were you lying when you told me before that the Winthrop Group is mine as long as I go out with you?¡± He shook his head. ¡°No, I wasn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Then, what do you mean by doing this right now?¡± Callum let out a sigh. ¡°Well, if you want to keep on staying here, I¡¯ll have another desk cleared up for you.¡± Naturally, Elspeth was unwilling to let go easily without finding out the actual reason behind this, so she nodded and let Callum do so. He had the cubicle furthest from his desk cleared up and designated it as hers. The cubicle seemed several times better than her previous desk, but the distance between it and his desk made her feel ostracized. Furthermore, Callum was supposed to have lunch with her during lunchtime, but she saw Emma in his office at noon. The scene was oh-so-familiar: Callum was sitting there working while Emma was sitting on the couch waiting for him to finish his work. They didn¡¯t appear overly intimate this time, but the man¡¯s silent acquiescence pricked Elspeth¡¯s heart nheless. ¡°Elspeth, what brings you here?¡± Emma asked in surprise, as though Elspeth were aplete outsider. Elspeth didn¡¯t even look at her. ¡°I¡¯m here to talk to Callum. It should have nothing to do with you.¡± Emma giggled with her hand over her mouth after listening to her reply. ¡°Elspeth, just forget it if you¡¯re here to ask Callum out for lunch. He¡¯s agreed to have lunch with me.¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t believe her words. Calm and determined, she looked into Callum¡¯s eyes, asking, ¡°Tell me, Callum¡ªis it true what she said?¡± Callum didn¡¯t make a sound, but his silence had spoken for itself. ¡°Look, Elspeth, why don¡¯t you stop embarrassing yourself? You¡¯ll put Callum on the spot by doing this.¡± Chapter 195 Chapter 195 Unable to hold it in anymore, Callum said impassively, ¡°This is what my dad wanted.¡± ¡°Callum, am I still your girlfriend?¡± Elspeth¡¯s eyes reddened. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she fought them back with tremendous effort. Callum¡¯s hands clenched into fists when he saw her on the verge of tears. ¡°Elspeth, I¡­¡± he began, only to bite back what he had wanted to say because he couldn¡¯t bring himself to say it. Emma raised her chin proudly. ¡°Elspeth, I told you long ago that Mr. Winthrop likes me the most. You were never a match for me.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t believe her at first, but now that she had listened to this, she suddenly found such words especially irritating to the ear. She asked, ¡°Do you also want to tell me to know my ce and leave Callum instead of keeping you two from getting back together?¡± Emma¡¯s face froze. She actually guessed it right. ¡°I didn¡¯t say¡ª¡± Instead of getting angry, Elspethughed. ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯m officially Callum¡¯s girlfriend at present, so you¡¯d better not impose your ideas on him for the time being.¡± As long as Callum doesn¡¯t break up with me, I won¡¯t easily give him up to this woman! ¡°Well, in that case, Callum and I are going out for lunch. Care to join us, Elspeth?¡± Emma suggested derisively. She only meant that as a taunt, but she didn¡¯t think Elspeth would actually ept her invitation. ¡°No problem. Where are you guys going?¡± Emma wished she could bite her tongue off at this very moment. What nonsense did I say just now? Why would I invite Elspeth to join us for lunch?! ¡°W-We¡¯re going to Kaiseki Restaurant.¡± Kaiseki Restaurant was a Japanese restaurant, but to the best of Elspeth¡¯s recollection, Callum couldn¡¯t eat anything raw or cold due to his weak stomach. Knowing that Callum would refuse, she suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s go somewhere else.¡± ¡°Kaiseki Restaurant is fine,¡± Callum said impassively. Surprised, Elspeth turned to look at the man, who looked away to avoid her gaze. Emma¡¯s heart was bursting with pride. Subconsciously, she stepped forward and took the man¡¯s arm, saying with a smile, ¡°Callum and I used to dine there every day back when we were in university. Tuna sushi was his favorite.¡± Unused to having someone else on his arm, Callum pulled his arm out of her grasp. Elspeth retorted in a sarcastic voice, ¡°In that case, do you know that Callum has been suffering from gastric problems and can¡¯t eat raw and cold food since he started working?¡± Emma had been away for so many years, so how could she know about these things? Feeling somewhat embarrassed, she quickly said, ¡°Um, how about we go somewhere else¡ª¡± She really loved Callum and feared that he might get an upset stomach from eating raw food. Hence, she suggested that they go somewhere else for lunch. However, Callum replied impassively, ¡°No, it¡¯s not necessary. This restaurant is fine.¡± ¡°Alright, Callum, it¡¯s up to you.¡± Emma looked at him gratefully. After all, this was the first time he had spared her feelings in front of Elspeth. Elspeth was seething with anger. Normally, she would¡¯ve questioned Callum for this, but now, she couldn¡¯t lose her temper and storm off easily. She sensed that the man was apparently avoiding her on purpose. The three thus went to lunch together, only this time, it was Elspeth who was ying gooseberry. Emma ordered some food that would suit Callum¡¯s pte. Then, she asked, ¡°Elspeth, do you have anything you¡¯d like to eat?¡± Before Elspeth could reply, Callum answered, ¡°She likes sashimi and tempura.¡± The smile on Emma¡¯s face vanished instantly. Callum mmed up after finishing his sentence, and a brief silence fell upon them. The meal was extremely torturous, with Emma doing almost nothing else other than helping Callum with the food. When Elspeth looked up asionally, she could see the man¡¯s intense gaze resting upon her, only to shift away the next moment. This strengthened her belief that he was hiding something from her. At the end of the meal, she split up with Emma and Callum. Thinking that Elspeth couldn¡¯t stand the man being nice to her, Emma smilingly left on Callum¡¯s arm. Meanwhile, Elspeth suddenly received a phone call from Yelena. ¡°Yelena, where are you right now?¡± There seemed to be a ridiculously loud noise on Yelena¡¯s end of the line, and she even heard a cat¡¯s shrill screeches. She asked worriedly, ¡°What happened?¡± Yelena could be heard sobbing fitfully on the other end of the phone. ¡°Elspeth, I¡¯m now in Max¡¯s vi! My cousin somehow found out that I¡¯m here. Now that Max isn¡¯t here, he¡¯s been banging at the door!¡± No wonder I keep hearing muffled bangs. ¡°Send me your address. I¡¯ll be there in a minute.¡± Shortly after that, Yelena texted her the vi¡¯s location.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Elspeth rushed there by cab. As soon as she arrived, she saw a group of men banging at the door like crazy. Upon taking a closer look, she realized that they really were led by that Finn guy! Seeing how uncontroble the men before them looked, the cab driver gulped in fright. ¡°Miss, how about I help you call the cops?¡± Elspeth let out a sneer. ¡°It¡¯s fine, you don¡¯t have to call the police. I¡¯ll deal with him.¡± She got out of the cab and stood aside. Seeing how Finn smashed all kinds of misceneous items against the door, she curled her lips in disdain. ¡°Finn, what are you doing? ying music, huh?¡± Finn stopped. Having raised a racket here for half an hour, he was already tired and out of breath, but Yelena, that youngdy, wouldn¡¯te out. ¡°Elspeth? Why are you here?¡± For some reason, he panicked inwardly at the sight of Elspeth. Hasn¡¯t she gone to ydal already? How did shee back so soon? Elspeth taunted, ¡°Finn, you¡¯re really quite something, eh? How dare you run amok on the Winthrop Family¡¯s turf?¡± Finn wasn¡¯t that afraid; with someone backing him up, he was greatly emboldened this time. ¡°So what? I¡¯m getting Yelena out of here today!¡± Elspeth took a step forward and caught hold of his hand to keep him from banging at the door again. ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell me the reason you¡¯re looking for her?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong about me looking for her? I¡¯m her cousin! On the other hand, you have absolutely nothing to do with us, yet you have to poke your nose into our business every day!¡± Revolted by the man¡¯s cocky tone of voice, Elspeth put out her hand and pped him across the face immediately with a look of revulsion. The p was so loud that everyone around them was stunned by the sight of what happened. Finn was wholly stupefied; this was his first time being hit by a woman. At first, he wanted to p Elspeth in return, but he would be lying if he were to say he wasn¡¯t intimidated by her threatening manner and the ferocious look in her eyes. Still, with everyone around him watching, he couldn¡¯t afford to lose face. After clenching his teeth, he growled, ¡°How dare you hit me! Beat her up, guys!¡± Elspeth kicked down a young punk who lunged at her before grinding him beneath her heel. ¡°This is what will be of whoever dares toe at me! Any of you want to give it another try?¡± Having never experienced such a situation, the young punks around her stood rooted to the spot. Yelena seemed to have heard the fight outside and got onto the second-floor balcony. Seeing Elspeth alone against Finn and his fiveckeys, she quickly shouted to her, ¡°Stop fighting, Elspeth! Finn is just a madman. I just called the police, and they¡¯ll arrive in a moment!¡± Finn spat loudly when he heard the word ¡®police.¡¯ ¡°How dare you call the police?! If we can¡¯t get you out of here today, we¡¯lle here again tomorrow!¡± Chapter 196 Chapter 196 Only after Finn had left did Elspeth text Yelena and get her to open the door. As soon as she entered, Yelena threw herself into her arms with tears gushing from her eyes. ¡°What happened? How did Finn find you here?¡± Yelena sobbed, ¡°I don¡¯t know. Perhaps he learned that from someone.¡± ¡°Stop crying, everything¡¯s alright now. By the way, I happen to have something to talk to you about. I forgot to tell you about it atst time¡¯s birthday party.¡± Yelena held back her tears. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I told you about itst time. You can sign with Luminous Entertainment after your contract is terminated.¡± Yelena¡¯s tears instantly gave way to a smile. ¡°Really? Can I really sign with Luminous Entertainment?¡± Seeing the look of disbelief on her face, Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but give her a knock on the head. ¡°Did you forget who¡¯s running thepany?¡± Yelena knew that, of course. If Elspeth were to stop concealing her identity, she¡¯d be Luminous Entertainment¡¯s president both in name and reality by now. I¡¯m perhaps the only person who understands how it feels when my bestie bes my superior overnight, no? She leaned over to Elspeth, giggling. ¡°Well, if that¡¯s what you say, I guess I won¡¯t be standing on ceremony with you.¡± Knowing what her friend was up to, Elspeth curled her lips into a smile. ¡°In that case, why don¡¯t you come with me now?¡± Yelena couldn¡¯t be any happier toply, of course. After grooming herself a little, she went to Luminous Entertainment with Elspeth. Elspeth took her to see Timothy, who was studying a screeny while looking madly impatient. It¡¯s so hard to look for a suitable script for ke! he thought to himself. He had studied the script for quite a while. ke had the looks of a high school hunk who was more on the gentle side, but the actresses proposed for the role of the female protagonist were either in or out of tune with the character, which was a total headache. ¡°Timothy, what¡¯s giving you such a headache?¡± Elspeth came up with a smile and patted him on the shoulder. Despite her young age, she conducted herself with an air of sophistication that was beyond her years. Having nothing to hide from her, Timothy exined frankly, ¡°I¡¯m looking for a screeny for ke, but there isn¡¯t a suitable one.¡± Elspeth wasn¡¯t worried about that at all. How could ke have troublending a role in film or on TV with his handsome looks? A lead male protagonist with ke¡¯s looks would easily win the hearts of countless girls with just a wink. ¡°Is the problem about the lead actress?¡± Timothy nodded. ¡°Yeah, the lead actresses are no good. I can¡¯t find a lead actress that¡¯d make a great couple with him.¡± Upon hearing this, Elspeth decisively dragged Yelena in front of him from behind her. ¡°In that case, what about her?¡± Having kidnapped thedyst time, Timothy had to admit he was rather embarrassed at seeing Yelena right now. However, having spent a long time in the workce, he had learned to know which side his bread was buttered on, so he soon regained hisposure. ¡°Yelena, huh¡­ She¡¯s not one of ourpany¡¯s artists, no? Wouldn¡¯t it be a waste of time and energy to negotiate with her agency to sign her on for the script?¡± Thinking from Luminous Entertainment¡¯s perspective, he thought it wasn¡¯t worthwhile doing so. Elspeth shook her head. ¡°Yelena¡¯s contract with her agency has ended already, so I¡¯m going to sign her with Luminous Entertainment. What do you think?¡± A bad feeling suddenly crossed Timothy¡¯s mind. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me¡­ you want me to be her talent agent?¡± Elspeth snapped her fingers with a smile. ¡°Bingo! That¡¯s exactly what I want you to do.¡± Timothy immediately objected, ¡°I already have enough headache acting as a talent agent for ke alone, and now you want me to be Yelena¡¯s talent agent as well? Why don¡¯t you kill me right away instead?¡± He really didn¡¯t want to manage two talents at once. If this were to go on, he¡¯d definitely have his lifespan shortened. ¡°I¡¯ll double your sry.¡± Timothy hesitated for a moment. ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°Triple.¡± Hearing the word ¡®triple,¡¯ Timothy suddenly thought it was every employee¡¯s duty to give their all for theirpany, so he shouldn¡¯t shirk his duty. ¡°I got it. I¡¯ll work hard as her talent agent.¡± He eyed Yelena up and down; the youngdy¡¯s pretty and innocent looks were simply made for teen romance dramas. ¡°I have eyes on a TV show that¡¯s calling for a lead actor and a lead actress, and I suggest that we buy the rights to the show. Trust me; the show will definitely be a big hit!¡± He was very confident in his judgment. Elspeth trusted him, too. She replied with a nod, ¡°I got it. If there¡¯s anything you want to do right now, just go to the Finance Department for funding. There¡¯s no need to go out of your way toe to me anymore.¡±This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. This was the first time someone trusted Timothy so much, so he would be lying if he were to say he wasn¡¯t touched. At this moment, he was full of zeal and couldn¡¯t wait to start showing his capabilities immediately. Elspeth turned to smile at Yelena. ¡°Alright, now that your ce isn¡¯t safe anymore, why don¡¯t you stay here for the time being? There are hotel suites on the third floor. Just let Timothy pick the suite you like so that it¡¯s convenient for you toe to work,¡± she said. Then, she said to Timothy, ¡°As for the contract, Timothy, can you help print it out? The stamp is in the safe in my office; the passcode is six eights in a row.¡± With that, she left the room and returned home, leaving Yelena and Timothy in complete bewilderment in the office. Can the passcode¡­ be disclosed to anyone? Elspeth didn¡¯t go to the Winthrop Group in the afternoon. When she returned home and saw Callum, she was startled for a moment and almost unable toe to her senses. It¡¯s not time to get off work yet, yet Callum is already at home. Something is amiss, no? ¡°Where have you been?¡± Elspeth noticed that Callum seemed to have heaved a sigh of relief the instant he saw her. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Only now do you know toe to me of your own ord, huh?¡± Callum looked away impassively. ¡°I only came home to fetch some documents.¡± He¡¯s got nothing in his hands, yet he says he came home to fetch documents¡­ Elspeth clicked her tongue. ¡°Tsk, tsk. Callum, I don¡¯t know what you¡¯ve gone through, but keep in mind that if you¡¯re still in love with me, you can tell me what you¡¯vee across. We can solve it together,¡± she said earnestly and sincerely, but the man turned around and left as though he hadn¡¯t heard her. He didn¡¯te home that evening. At the dining table in the evening, Max poked his fork into one of the beef ribs on his te, asking casually, ¡°Why haven¡¯t I seen Mom at hometely? Where has she been?¡± Theodore smiled. ¡°Your mom has gone traveling with her friends. You won¡¯t get to see her for a long time.¡± ¡°She didn¡¯t even answer my phone call when I called herst time. Why would she have no time answering the phone while having fun out there?¡± Theodore shot him a re. ¡°It¡¯s not easy for your mom to go out and have fun. Why would you disturb her by calling her every day? Can¡¯t you let her have fun to her heart¡¯s content?¡± Max mulled over his words and thought there was some truth in them. Margot hadn¡¯t gone out traveling for a long time; she¡¯d never had time to go out because she¡¯d always been looking after them at home. ¡°Alright, but you¡¯re probably right. Once Callum and Elspeth get married and have kids, Mom will probably have to take care of her grandchildren at home.¡± He only mentioned it thoughtlessly as a joke, but the instant he said that, the others immediately fell silent. Elspeth bit her lower lip without saying a word, whereas ke¡¯s heart twinged sharply as he was still hung up on her. Theodoreughed in an attempt to lift the atmosphere. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right. Your mom will have to take care of her grandchildren by then.¡± Chapter 197 Chapter 197 Elspeth knew that Theodore¡¯s response was enough to speak for itself. At the moment, he didn¡¯t want her to go out with Callum at all, but no one told her the reason for that; it was as if she had been sentenced to death without rhyme or reason. ¡°I¡¯m full, so I¡¯m going to bed first,¡± she said impassively before getting up and retiring to her bedroom. Max looked at Elspeth¡¯s te and noticed that she had barely touched her food. Why would she say she¡¯s full when she has barely eaten? ¡°Miss Elspeth, what¡¯s going on?¡± Edmund shot him a re. ¡°Keep quiet while others are talking, you brat.¡± He saw through the situation better than anyone else. Although he was unaware of the problem between them, he could tell from Theodore¡¯s response that Elspeth had almost been disqualified from bing Callum¡¯s fianc¨¦e. It was just that this was outside his jurisdiction, so he didn¡¯t want to intervene. After returning to her bedroom, Elspeth sat on her bed in a trance. She put on her thinking cap, but she couldn¡¯t for the life of her figure out the reason why she was suddenly treated like this. Unable to wrap her head around it, she decided to call Harper instead. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Elspeth? You sound listless over the phone.¡± Hearing the noise on his end of the line, Elspeth raised an eyebrow, asking, ¡°Are you drinking at the bar again?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m at our usual ce, waiting for you at Luna Bar.¡± At first, Elspeth had wanted to wash up and go to sleep, but she was suddenly unable to sleep after hearing Harper¡¯s invitation. As a result, she went downstairs and drove to Luna Bar. The bar was rowdy and crowded with people who were drinking and seeking pleasure. Making her way ahead to their usual booth, she saw Harper sitting there drinking alone. She opened a bottle herself and finished it in one go, asking, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You look even more depressed than me.¡± Harper snorted withughter. ¡°I¡¯m not depressed. By the way, what¡¯s the matter with you? Does Callum allow you toe out for a drink at such ate hour?¡± Upon hearing Callum¡¯s name, Elspeth gulped down another mouthful of wine. ¡°Don¡¯t mention him.¡± ¡°What happened? You two quarreled or something?¡± Elspeth shook her head. ¡°No, we¡¯re not quarreling. We¡¯re on the verge of breaking up.¡± Harper¡¯s face twisted into a dramatic expression. ¡°Breaking up? What kind of unsolvable problem are you twoing across to the point where you two are breaking up?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Suddenly recalling what he had seen and heard, Harper couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Is it because of that lady named Emma Walker? I saw her on the news. Is it true that she was Callum¡¯s first love?¡± Elspeth made a half-hearted attempt at a smile. ¡°She wasn¡¯t, I guess.¡± She trusted Callum; she was willing to trust him even if he was holding hands with Emma. Harper rolled his eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t understand men at all. Men could never forget about the first women they were in love with.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± Elspeth suddenly became interested in the topic. Seeing him talk about the subject with ease, she couldn¡¯t help butugh, asking, ¡°So you mean you can¡¯t forget about your first love, too?¡± ¡°Yes, of course¡ª¡± Suddenly, a hostess was shoved to the ground from the adjacent booth. The man who shoved her to the ground swore, ¡°What the hell are you doing here, working at a bar without letting people touch you? You think you¡¯re still a f*cking virgin or something? Who the f*ck do you think you are?¡± The youngdy burst into tears, looking particrly disheveled as her maid costume was creased all over. The man shot a look at those around him, who immediately came up and grabbed the youngdy¡¯s hands. He yelled, ¡°Get her! I¡¯ve got to see today who such a stubborn chick is!¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. The youngdy cried while attempting to run away, but she was alone and outnumbered against the man and hisckeys. They held her in such a firm grip that she couldn¡¯t move at all. Elspeth was just about to go over and offer help to the youngdy when Harper, who was beside her, rushed forward and kicked away the hoodlum who was clutching thedy¡¯s hand. ¡°How dare you make a scene at Luna Bar! Who do you think you are?¡± Seeing how hisckeys suffered at the hands of another man, the man swore angrily, ¡°F*ck you! Who the hell do you think you are? How dare youy a hand on one of my people!¡± Harper waved his hand, after which five men dressed in security uniforms immediately showed up around him. ¡°Throw these people out of here for me,¡± he ordered. The security guards here were all well-trained. Moreover, most of them were ex-soldiers with Herculean strength, so it didn¡¯t take long before they chased all the men out of the bar. In the end, the man red at Harper and threatened with feigned audacity, ¡°I¡¯lle back again!¡± Elspeth kicked him in the butt. ¡°Just get the hell out of here!¡± Scared sh*tless, the man fled from the scene for fear that he might get hurt again. The youngdy trembled all over with fear. After the danger was over, she sat on the couch and gingerly thanked Elspeth and Harper, saying, ¡°Thank you for saving me just now. If it weren¡¯t for you two, I¡¯d have been bullied by that guy¡­¡± She wasn¡¯t especially pretty, but she exuded pure innocence from her every pore, which did easily attract those who had evil designs on her. Harper had always behaved like a loafer, but strangely, he didn¡¯t say a word at this very moment. When Elspeth looked up at him, she realized that he seemed to have tears in his eyes, as though he were trying hard to suppress some strong emotions. Seeing that he was silent, the youngdy also looked up at him, only to be stunned instantly. ¡°Harper?¡± Harper nodded with a polite smile. ¡°It¡¯s me, Brianna.¡± Brianna was speechless with emotion; this was the first time she met Harper in the country, after all. ¡°What a coincidence! Why are you here? You¡¯vee home from overseas?¡± ¡°Yeah, I just came back recently. What about you? Why are you¡­¡± Why are you working at such a ce? Brianna could tell clearly what Harper hesitated to ask, and her smile faded. She knew how unsavory her job was. Having basically figured out who Brianna was, Elspeth feared Harper might say something that would frighten her. She said immediately, ¡°Miss Brianna, if you need cash, you can borrow from me. It doesn¡¯t matter whether you can pay it back or not.¡± As a young woman like Brianna, she naturally understood that the only reason for her to wind up in such a situation was that she was desperately in need of money. A light flickered across Brianna¡¯s eyes. ¡°Really?¡± she asked before hesitating for a moment. ¡°Well, never mind. You don¡¯t have to. I can earn money by myself.¡± What a gentle youngdy who stands on her own feet. No wonder Harper would like her, thought Elspeth. She quickly suggested, ¡°Still, this isn¡¯t a job for you. What about this? You can work as a receptionist at the bar. It¡¯ll pay higher than working as a hostess.¡± In reality, the paycheck of a receptionist wasn¡¯t much, but she could raise Brianna¡¯s paycheck a little. As for how much the raise was, it was entirely up to her. Learning that she could earn even more money without working as a hostess, Brianna was delighted. She instantly epted Elspeth¡¯s offer. Elspeth knew that Brianna and Harper must have a lot to say to each other upon their first encounter in the country. Seeing that Harper had almost calmed down, she suggested, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m going somewhere else. Have a nice chat, you two.¡± Harper nodded with a look of gratitude in his eyes. Leaving the space for them, Elspeth went alone to the bar counter and ordered a ss of wine. While waiting for her drink to arrive, she suddenly saw Callum sitting in a booth nearby with Emma seated next to him. Seeing how close together they were sitting, Elspeth suddenly felt a burst of anger surging from the bottom of her heart. Holding the ss of freshly made drink in her hand, she slowly walked over to them. Chapter 198 Chapter 198 Leaning coquettishly against Callum, Emma looked no longer like when she was in her college days. ¡°What would you like to drink, Callum? Let me order it for you.¡± Callum slightly closed his eyes while looking rather weary. ¡°Just go back.¡± Unwilling to let him go, Emma leaned even closer to him. ¡°Callum, I¡¯m only here to have a little fun with you. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re so mean.¡± Callum opened his eyes. ¡°How did you know I¡¯m here?¡± A smile appeared on Emma¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s because we¡¯re telepathically connected, of course¡­ Alright, I was just joking. It was Arthur who told me that you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°How did Arthur know that I¡¯m here?¡± Callum narrowed his eyes; for some reason, he felt kind of ufortable deep down. Thinking that Callum was finally paying attention to Arthur and changing his attitude toward him, Emma hurriedly replied, ¡°That¡¯s got to be because he cares about you. You¡¯re his eldest brother, and besides, he¡¯s very sorry about the previous conflict between you two. He told mest time that he was looking for an opportunity to apologize to you in private.¡± Naturally, Callum didn¡¯t buy her story, but before he could ask her about it, he noticed Elspething toward himself. ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t Elspeth! What brings you here to Luna Bar as well?¡± Callum never expected Elspeth toe to the bar, nor did he expect her to find him here. For a moment, he didn¡¯t know what to say. Elspeth let out a sneer. ¡°What does mying to a bar have to do with you?¡± ¡°It has nothing to do with me, of course, but no decentdy woulde to a bar alone at such ate hour, no? Not to mention you have to watch yourself as Callum¡¯s girlfriend¡­ Back when I was going out with him, he never allowed me to go to a bar,¡± Emma replied. Recalling the sweet moments that she had shared with Callum back then, she covered her mouth and giggled, looking all bashful. Elspeth smiled a faint smile. ¡°Callum has never restricted me on this. Perhaps it¡¯s because you look especially adulterous to him?¡± ¡°How dare you!¡± Emma¡¯s face turned livid with rage. This Elspethdy really has a caustic tongue that puts people at a loss for a retort! ¡°Look at your girlfriend, Callum! She¡¯s got such a fiery temper; she¡¯s not gentle at all.¡± She had wanted to act coquettish in front of Callum, only to find him saying nothing; he had no intention of sticking up for her at all. Elspeth didn¡¯t want to continue listening to Emma babbling. She turned to look at the man right away, asking, ¡°Callum, are you going home?¡± Callum didn¡¯t answer her. Not only that, he even slowly closed his eyes. Emma taunted, ¡°Say, Elspeth, are you blind or something? Callum is obviously in a bad mood. Aren¡¯t you upsetting him by pushing him to go home right now?¡± Thinking she knew Callum very well, she spoke in a voice full of consideration for the man. Elspeth looked daggers at her. ¡°It¡¯s not your ce to interrupt when I¡¯m speaking to Callum!¡± She had a pair of pretty eyes that were full of tenderness, but when they were aze with fury, even Emma had the daylights scared out of her, to the extent that she shuddered with fright. Only then did Callum slowly say, ¡°You go home first, Elspeth.¡± He was openly chasing her away. Elspeth took a step forward. Seeing how Callum¡¯s eyes were as calm as a stagnant pool of water, she could hardly suppress the bitterness in her heart. ¡°Callum, are you telling me to leave?¡± Callum said nothing while looking as usual. Elspeth took a deep breath. Then, she said impassively, ¡°I¡¯m staying.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know what¡¯s good for yourself, Elspeth? Callum already asked you to leave, so why are you insisting on staying?¡± Emma was inwardly pleased with herself. She was understandably delighted, for Callum had defended her without hesitation in front of Elspeth. As expected, as long as I keep at it, Callum will fall in love with me again sooner orter! ¡°Talk nonsense again and I¡¯ll have you thrown out of here, Emma!¡± Elspeth wished she could stitch up Emma¡¯s lips when she saw how Emma kept going on at her. Emma let out a snort ofughter. ¡°You want to have me thrown out of here? Who do you think you are? This ce isn¡¯t yours!¡± ¡°This ce is mine.¡± Elspeth stood while looking down at Emma, being a head taller than thetter. Emma¡¯s countenance changed at once. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°This bar is mine. Don¡¯t you worry that I¡¯ll have you thrown out of here after you yelled at me on my turf like that?¡± Elspeth loved to see the look on Emma¡¯s face when thetter was displeased with her yet unable to do anything about her. Just when the atmosphere between the three grew somewhat awkward, Harper came over after having gotten Brianna settled. When he saw how Emma clung to Callum, who didn¡¯t turn her down right away, his inner dislike for the man grew. Then, looking at Elspeth beside them, he let out a whistle, saying, ¡°Elspeth, why are you here? Everyone¡¯s looking for you. The young man in a basketball jersey just now liked you a lot. He even asked me for your phone number, so I gave it to him.¡± Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Callum¡¯s hands balled into fists in secret when he heard this. Harper continued, ¡°I was sorry about that at first, Mr. Winthrop, but judging from the way you look, I guess you won¡¯t mind it. After all¡­ you¡¯re having anotherdy in your arms.¡± Although he addressed Callum respectfully as Mr. Winthrop, his words were full of ridicule and disdain for thetter. Seeing no change in the man¡¯s expression, Elspeth was disappointed deep down. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Yeah,e on! They¡¯re all waiting to toast you.¡± Just when Harper held Elspeth¡¯s arm and was about to leave with her, Callum suddenly stood up. Then, his voice rang. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± Startled, Elspeth curled her lips into a smirk. ¡°Callum, I thought you weren¡¯t going home, weren¡¯t you?¡± Harper let out a snortingugh. ¡°Aww, what a spoiler.¡± Seeing that Callum would still be visibly moved by Elspeth, Emma was incredibly displeased. ¡°Callum, why are you going home now?¡± Callum quietly looked into Elspeth¡¯s eyes without paying attention to anyone else. ¡°Let¡¯s go home together.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t let him have his way, though. She asked with a smile, ¡°Say, Callum, are you being jealous?¡± ¡°It¡¯s bad for ady to have drinks out there at night.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re not being jealous?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Harper is one of your people.¡± The smile on Elspeth¡¯s face vanished at once. ¡°Leave me alone, then.¡± She turned to smile charmingly at Harper. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get a couple more drinks and drink ourselves drunk before going home.¡± With that, she turned around and left without even sparing Callum a side nce. Emma looked at Callum¡¯s face; it didn¡¯t show any strong emotion, but she could nheless sense a hint of dejection from it. ¡°Callum, don¡¯t be upset over such a woman. I¡¯ll always stay by your side,¡± she said, assuming a kind and understanding demeanor while looking at him with eyes full of pity. Callum¡¯s voice was full of indifference. ¡°You should go back early. If a public figure like you gets photographed while lingering at a bar¡­ Surely you don¡¯t want to appear on the news tomorrow.¡± Emma leaned over to him. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving, Callum. I¡¯m staying here with you.¡± Seeing that only half of the man¡¯s drink was left in the ss, she checked the time as her lips curled into a smile. The drug will take effect very soon. Chapter 199 Chapter 199 Elspeth returned to her booth nearby and began to chug her drink. ¡°Don¡¯t drink that much¡­ Oh, Elspeth, you really don¡¯t have to drink that much!¡± She wished fervently that she could drink herself silly; that way, she wouldn¡¯t have to think about what just happened. At the sight of her wasting herself away in this manner, Harper felt as terrible as she did and began to criticize Callum just as fervently. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, Callum really is cold-blooded. If it won¡¯t work out with him, we¡¯ll ditch him and find someone else. You aren¡¯t married anyway, so changing your partner won¡¯t even hurt you!¡± Before he was done criticizing, he felt a pinch on his arm. ¡°Ouch!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t badmouth him!¡± As Elspeth looked at Harper, her eyes were exceptionally fierce, but her face was flushed from the alcohol, giving her a trace of daintiness. ¡°All right, all right, I won¡¯t interfere, but you have to remember that if that man lets you down, I¡¯ll destroy his entirepany.¡± Harper had always thought of Elspeth as his own sister. Although he usually acted yful before her, he would definitely be the first one to take matters into his own hands if something happened to her. ¡°Callum¡­ He¡¯s just a fool. I know he¡¯s having a hard time, but why won¡¯t he tell me? Say, isn¡¯t Callum a fool?¡± Elspeth was drunk, and her words were weak and disjointed, but her mouth never stopped talking about Callum. Harper rolled his eyes and conceded, ¡°Yes, yes, you¡¯re a fool, and he¡¯s an idiot.¡± However, none of his words entered Elspeth¡¯s ears. As she looked at him in a daze, his features slowly ovepped with Callum¡¯s. The next second, she pounced on him with a grin, demanding, ¡°Callum, tell me, do you like me or not?¡± Harper¡¯s eyes widened, but Elspeth was too strong. He was afraid to push her away, which led him to remain frozen in ce instead. ¡°Okay, okay, I like you! Now, hurry up and let me go!¡± As if Elspeth only heard the words ¡®I like you,¡¯ she leaned down and homed in on Harper¡¯s lips to kiss him. A secondter, someone seized her from the back by her cor and lifted her. With hazy eyes, she turned around and immediately saw a cold yet fuming Callum. ¡°Huh? Callum?¡± He didn¡¯t say anything to her and only looked at the befuddled Harper and lowered his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m taking her home.¡± Although Harper was not a fan of Callum for the time being, leaving Elspeth to continue drinking here was not an option either, so he nodded and allowed him to take her away. After all, he was Elspeth¡¯s boyfriend, so it shouldn¡¯t be much of a problem. After hoisting Elspeth to his car, he tossed her into the passenger seat and fastened her seat belt but did not start the car immediately. At that moment, she had sobered up for the most part. She looked at Callum¡¯s glum face and asked in surprise, ¡°What¡¯s this about?¡± ¡°You kissed him?¡± The tone of his voice quirked upward like his eyebrows. ¡°Kissed who?¡± Callum leaned forward and said, ¡°Elspeth, I know you¡¯re not drunk.¡± As Elspeth had drank with him in the past, he was aware of her alcohol tolerance. Besides, the spot where Elspeth sat allowed him to see everything clearly, and he knew that she wasn¡¯t anywhere near being tipsy enough to be unable to tell who was who. Elspeth smiled, her eyes immediately bing awake again. ¡°You¡¯re quite smart.¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Holding his anger back, Callum asked in a calm voice, ¡°Why did you do that?¡± As if she had been greatly wronged, Elspeth pouted and retorted, ¡°Would you havee over if I didn¡¯t do that?¡± She had deliberately chosen a position that was visible to him to drink, her sole goal to have him watch her actions. As it happened, she won the gamble. Not only that, but Callum was also smarter than she thought. Though he had seen through her tricks long ago, he was still willing to take the bait. ¡°You like me, Callum. Your eyes can¡¯t lie, and the way you looked at me earlier was different.¡± A trace of cold sweat emerged on his forehead as he exined, ¡°Someone put something in my drink.¡± Only then did he calm down and realize his body was behaving differently; he felt incredibly hot. Elspeth fell silent, thinking that she¡¯d been too ahead of herself again. ¡°Then, what are you going to do?¡± she asked helplessly. ¡°Why do all these women like to put things into your drinks? Does sleeping with youe with any insurance?¡± Callum had also guessed that it was Emma whoid the trap. If that were the case, it was no wonder why she was so furious when he could not resist going to Elspeth earlier. It was because she had tampered with his drink, and the drug was about to take effect. ¡°Take me to the hospital.¡± He closed his eyes, his expression a little pained. Elspeth asked in surprise, ¡°What, you don¡¯t even feel anything when a beauty like me is in front of you?¡± Truthfully, she was only fooling around. If something happened between her and Callum, she wouldn¡¯t be able to handle it. However, he shook his head. ¡°No.¡± Inexplicably, Elspeth felt a little irritated by his words. After taking Callum to the hospital, the doctor gave him a brief treatment and kept him in the hospital for further monitoring. Elspeth was about to stay in the hospital with him when she was given an eviction order. ¡°You should go back. I¡¯m fine alone.¡± However, Elspeth refused and remained seated, pretending to be dizzy. ¡°My head hurts from drinking too much. I was careful enough when I came here, but if I get caught for drunk driving when I go back, it¡¯ll be against thew.¡± Upon saying this, Elspeth turned to look at Callum¡¯s face with a sly smile. Left with no choice, he closed his eyes and said nothing. At midnight, Elspeth sat on the bench by the bed, slowly nodding off. Seeing that she was about to copse, Callum offered, ¡°Why don¡¯t you sleep on the bed?¡± Instantly, she shot awake and refused, ¡°Don¡¯t mind me and get your IV. I¡¯ll just take a short nap like this.¡± Knowing how stubborn she could be, he could only turn off the lights in silence. In the dark, hey with his eyes open, unable to fall asleep. A long whileter, Elspeth suddenly heard a soft voice as she was drifting off to sleep. ¡°Elspeth, it¡¯s not worth it.¡± While Elspeth was sleeping, she vaguely felt a piece of clothing draped over her body. The action was done very lightly as if it were out of love and affection. When she woke up the next day, the bed was deserted, leaving only herself sitting on the bench and feeling as if her bones were about to break. The clothing draped over her body was not Callum¡¯s coat, but a hospital gown. When the doctor, while making his rounds, walked in, upon seeing that Elspeth was awake, he smiled. ¡°I see you¡¯re awake, Miss Lynwood.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s the patient of this ward?¡± ¡°Mr. Winthrop left for work early this morning. He also reminded me to not wake you up, but to wait for you to wake up on your own.¡± Elspeth nodded and stood up to stretch her body before she went to thepany as well. It was only after going to thepany that she learned that Callum was going to Waterside on a business trip to invest in a film project for three days. He was already on his way to the airport by the time she arrived. She lowered her gaze, unable to shake the feeling that Callum¡¯s every action was to avoid her. With that thought, she turned on her phone, and a news story popped up on the screen. The international superstar, Emma Walker¡¯s, first new drama after returning to Chars had officiallymenced in Waterside. So, that¡¯s how it is. Chapter 200 Chapter 200 As Emma and Callum both left Damoria for Waterside, Elspeth¡¯s world went quiet all of a sudden. She was toozy to tackle the issue as well and took a leave of absence from thepany before moving to Luminous Entertainment. Timothy was surprised to see her. ¡°What wind blew you over? You never cared about Luminous Entertainment in the past; your heart and mind were all on Callum and Winthrop Group.¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t Ie back to my senses now?¡± After her motives had been exposed, Elspeth could only chuckle lightly. ¡°By the way, we¡¯ve already signed the contract for the show I told you about earlier. Filming will probablymence tomorrow.¡± Elspeth nodded. ¡°You can do as you see fit.¡± Timothy parted his lips a little hesitatingly and said, ¡°All right, but the coborator listed a condition.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Truthfully, Timothy had no idea if Elspeth would be angered by what he was about to say. ¡°That person said¡­ he would only agree to work with us if you went over.¡± Elspeth¡¯s head began to ache at his words. ¡°Who is that?¡± ¡°The chairman of Carr Group, Jordan Carr.¡± It¡¯s him, huh. Elspeth was taken aback for a moment and did not return to her senses immediately. Thinking that Jordan was an old acquaintance of hers, Timothy let out a sigh of relief. ¡°It¡¯s good that you know each other.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t just know him as we even go way back.¡± At the end of her sentence, her voice subconsciously hardened. Since Jordan knew that she had left Damoria and was in Luminous Entertainment, it meant that Michael had known long ago as well. However, why wasn¡¯t he sending anyone after her? ¡°What are you going to do? Will you go or not?¡± Although Elspeth couldn¡¯t wrap her mind around her thoughts, she noticed the excitement on Timothy¡¯s face that showed how much he cared about this coboration, so she ended up nodding. ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± Hearing that, Timothy was ted. ¡°In that case, we should make use of our time to rest. If the filming starts tomorrow, we¡¯ll have to go to Waterside today.¡± Waterside? Subconsciously, Elspeth¡¯s thoughts drifted to the ce where Callum and Emma were. She had never taken part in anything rted to filming and thus was unable toe up with a response in time. ¡°That¡¯s right, the filming set is in Waterside this time.¡± Now that things hade to this, Elspeth had no other choice but to nod and resign herself to her fate. On the ne, Yelena sat beside Elspeth while ke sat behind the two, looking somewhat mncholic. ¡°Elspeth, I heard that this film is directed by Mr. Aiden. I¡¯ve worked with him before, but only once, unfortunately. There weren¡¯t many opportunities, you see. However, he¡¯s really nice, and all of his films are always a huge hit!¡± Yelena chattered profusely next to her, as excited as a bird that had just escaped its cage. Elspeth nodded, knowing the director she was talking about, and listened to Yelena with a smile. ¡°But¡­ It¡¯s just that Emma will be at the filming location too. She¡¯s filming something as well, but it¡¯s for another film.¡± Upon mentioning Emma, Yelena recalled everything she did to Elspeth, and she only felt distaste toward her. Elspeth¡¯s hand jolted. ¡°What about Emma?¡± ¡°Nothing. I just don¡¯t like her because she seems fake.¡± As Yelena was still young, she was unable to keep her mouth shut. Fortunately, they were sitting in first ss, and only ke and Timothy were listening. Timothy rubbed his nose, pretending he heard nothing. Worried about what ke would think, Elspeth turned to look at him and exined in a whisper, ¡°Yelena only said that out of¡­¡± Before she could finish her sentence, ke gave her a gentle smile and assured her, ¡°I understand.¡± Elspeth froze for a moment before she returned the smile. After getting off the ne, the four stayed at a hotel next to the filming set. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. As the hotel specialized in receiving celebrities, the staff showed not the slightest hint of reaction at the sight of them and immediately gave them four rooms. However, Yelena refused to relent, insisting on sleeping with Elspeth. In the end, only three rooms were booked, and Yelena entered the room with her arm around Elspeth¡¯s. Seeing this, Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but tease, ¡°What¡¯s with you? Why do you want to stay with me at your age?¡± Yelena huffed. ¡°I just want to sleep in the same room as you. When you went to the bathroom earlier, I heard someone say that Emma is staying here too. If she tries to bully you, I¡¯ll teach her a lesson!¡± Upon saying that, she raised her fist, baring her sharp teeth. Elspeth couldn¡¯t help chuckling at the sight of this. I appreciate the thought, Yelena¡­ Later that night, Elspeth headed downstairs with Yelena for dinner. As she watched her gobble her food, she realized that Yelena had been starving. Before she could speak, a taunting voice sounded beside them. ¡°How uncouth. Even the way you eat is improper.¡± Although the voice was pleasant, it was iparably shrill and, in turn, lost some of its charms. The voice had Elspeth stiffening up. When she raised her head, Emma was looking at Elspeth and Yelena, feeling a pang of revulsion in her heart. Elspeth really is everywhere! ¡°What a coincidence to see you here, Miss Walker. I didn¡¯t know you were capable of such a piercing voice. It is because Callum isn¡¯t around you?¡± Instantly, Emma went red in the face. ¡°Whom are you saying has a piercing voice?¡± Although she was extremely unhappy from the mockery, once she thought of Callum, Emma became smug. ¡°Do you know who invested in my first drama aftering back to Chars? It¡¯s Callum! I know you like Callum a lot, but you should know that I was his favorite woman before you. Even Mr. Winthrop is urging Callum to marry me!¡± Elspeth narrowed her eyes and rebuked, ¡°Since Callum and Mr. Winthrop like you that much, why aren¡¯t they letting you into their family?¡± This matter had always been a thorn in Emma¡¯s side, and her face darkened before her smile turned scornful when she suddenly recalled something. ¡°Oh my, I dare notpare myself with the likes of you, Miss Lynwood. You¡¯re staying with your fianc¨¦ before marriage; no wonder you¡¯re being disliked.¡± At that moment, Yelena was unable to hold her tongue any longer. She leaped to her feet and berated, ¡°You¡¯d better watch what you¡¯re saying. Everyone knows that Mr. Winthrop likes Elspeth, and the fact that Callum shields her openly and privately speaks volumes. Who do you think you are to judge? You¡¯re acting so high and mighty for an ex-girlfriend. What, are you trying to y the pregnant mistress in their rtionship?¡± Elspeth had never expected that Yelena had such a sharp tongue. A smile surfaced at the corners of her mouth before it morphed into one of mockery. ¡°Miss Walker, if you don¡¯t want to embarrass yourself in front of everyone, I¡¯d advise you to keep your voice down.¡± It was only then that Emma noticed many of the restaurant¡¯s patrons were looking at her oddly, particrly those who knew what was going on between them. Upon hearing the word ¡®mistress,¡¯ they looked simultaneously enlightened, contemptuous, and disdainful. Despite Emma¡¯s face flushing red, she lowered her voice and threatened, ¡°Remember this, Elspeth, I won¡¯t let you off easily!¡± After saying this, she nced around before leaving in a huff. Chapter 201 Chapter 201 Although she had angered Emma enough for her to leave, Yelena¡¯s anger still did not dissipate. At the sight of Elspeth¡¯s distraught state, she assumed that she had been hurt by Emma¡¯s words and hastened tofort her, saying, ¡°Elspeth, don¡¯t worry too much. Just think of what Emma said as pure bullsh*t.¡± Elspeth knocked on her head and chided, ¡°How can a young girl speak so crassly?¡± ¡°I just forgot because I was busy trying tofort you.¡± Momentster, Elspeth suddenly realized something. ¡°Yelena, did you tell Max that you¡¯re here?¡± Recalling this matter, Yelena nibbled on her fork and replied, ¡°I did. He said that he wanted to submit a leave of absence at school ande over with me, but I refused and came over secretly without telling him the date.¡± Elspeth let out a chuckle. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t you want him to stay by your side all the time?¡± Yelena furrowed her brow and sniffled. ¡°That¡¯s what I thought at first, but Max really is like my dad. Do you know that he even nags me about putting on hand cream before I go out? I can¡¯t stand him!¡± Although she said that, Elspeth knew that Yelena still liked Max. However, her feelings were no longer pathetic and were gradually being reciprocated. ¡°If you say that, I¡¯m going to tell Max to start ignoring you,¡± Elspeth teased. Yelena¡¯s face fell. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t do that, Elspeth!¡± At those words, Yelena suddenly realized that she had been teased. Her face immediately flushed red and she rushed back into her room. Elspeth had just eaten and did not want to go back yet, so she went for a walk alone in the back garden of the hotel. While walking, she suddenly received a message from Jordan. ¡®Where are you? Can we meet up now?¡¯ Immediately, she turned her phone off, pretending to have not seen the message. However, right after that, Jordan appeared before her out of thin air. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m so d to see you.¡± Elspeth let out a dryugh in response. ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± Upon saying that, she turned around and made to leave. Jordan immediately grabbed her wrist. Upon feeling the frailness of her wrist and seeing her pale face, he asked dubiously, ¡°What¡¯s this? Why have you lost so much weight after going home? Is Callum not feeding you?¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes. ¡°You think I need to rely on him for my meals?¡± Jordan rubbed his nose. She¡¯s got a point. ¡°You know, I heard something big when I came to Waterside this time.¡± He looked at her, revealing an eerie smile. ¡°What is it?¡± He loosened his hand and stood by the pond, gazing at the fishes as he said, ¡°I heard that Callum is in Waterside as well.¡± Elspeth had already known this and didn¡¯t have much of a reaction. ¡°Besides¡­ he specifically came for Emma.¡± Elspeth remained silent. Although she had already expected this, she still felt her heart skipping a beat upon hearing the confirmation. ¡°Callum¡­ Whatever he does and however he does it, it has nothing to do with me.¡± Jordan raised his eyebrows, thinking that Elspeth¡¯s reaction was rather baffling. It made sense, though. She was simply different from other women, and because of this, it made her all the more fascinating. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re not angry. How are you so calm when your fianc¨¦ is getting together with another woman right in front of you? Elspeth, you really are amazing.¡± She squeezed out a smile and said, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say I don¡¯t care at all, but if you say something like that in front of me again, I¡¯ll push you into the pond.¡± It was now December. If he were to be pushed into the pond, it would be freezing. Jordan paused for a long moment before he slowly said, ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°In that case, let¡¯s talk about something else. How have you been?¡± Elspethughed lightly. ¡°Can¡¯t you see how I¡¯ve been doing? You people probably have been tracing my actions since the day I returned.¡± Although Jordan had been exposed, there was not a trace of embarrassment on his face. However, he realized Elspeth had said ¡®you people¡¯ instead of ¡®you.¡¯ His usual smile emerged on his face as he said, ¡°Old Mr. Joneson is concerned about you.¡± Elspeth was disbelieving. ¡°With Grandfather¡¯s personality, he would¡¯ve sent someone to capture me long ago. He¡¯s concerned about me, you say? No, what he¡¯s concerned about is whether the Joneson Family can find someone even more powerful to leech off.¡± ¡°Anyway, you can think whatever you want. We have a long way ahead of us.¡± With a small smile, Jordan swiveled around and returned to the hotel. Hisst few words felt familiar to Elspeth, and only after careful thought did she realize that those were the words she once said to Callum. Callum, we have a long way to go. But was it true of her? Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. She looked at Jordan¡¯s retreating back, unable to shake the feeling that his words had some hidden meaning to them. The next day, the new drama kicked off, which meant that it was time to officially start shooting. After getting up at five o¡¯clock with Yelena to put on her makeup, get dressed, and memorize her lines, Elspeth deeply realized the challenges of being an actress. After they finally began filming, a supporting character with a small role suddenly lost her temper. ¡°Why do I only have a few seconds of screen time? Wouldn¡¯t my makeup be wasted, then? This is ridiculous! I won¡¯t do it!¡± Upon seeing the actress throwing a tantrum right after the filming started, Elspeth narrowed her eyes and stepped forward. Seeing that, Aiden immediately blew a fuse. ¡°Don¡¯t do it if you don¡¯t want to! How spoiled!¡± His assistant said in a small voice, ¡°But Mr. Aiden, it¡¯ll be difficult to find a suitable recement on such short notice¡­¡± ¡°There are so many actresses out there. Simply pick one from them. What¡¯s so difficult about that?¡± ¡°The thing is, they¡¯re not as pretty as her¡­¡± Hearing that, the girl became even more arrogant. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to toot my own horn, Mr. Aiden, but with my looks, how about you give me a bit more screen time? I don¡¯t want to make things difficult either; I¡¯ll simply settle for a few more scenes in each episode¡­¡± Aiden was turning red with anger, but he couldn¡¯t find a way to refute her. ¡°So, you think you¡¯re pretty with that crooked face and ghastly makeup? It¡¯s always the ugly ones who have the most to say.¡± Elspeth did not hold back when scolding her; she knew what the girl was insecure about and deliberately picked on her weak points. Hearing that, the girl immediately rose to her feet and demanded in a harsh voice, ¡°Who did you just call ugly?¡± After taking a closer look, she found herself looking at a girl whose appearance was much more outstanding than her own, and her anger immediately skyrocketed. ¡°How are you any better? You must¡¯ve gone under the knife many times to get that nose and face, didn¡¯t you?¡± Elspeth possessed a set of refined features and a petite face. Her nose in particr was tall and sleek, making her look even better than the heroine, Yelena. The girl was filled with jealousy, envious that she had not been born with such a perfect face. Yelena bellowed furiously, ¡°Do you know whom you¡¯re talking to?¡± ¡°Who can she be? She¡¯s not any of the main actresses, so she¡¯s probably just a side character like me¡­¡± At that thought, the girl immediately felt much better about herself¡ªuntil she heard the next sentence. ¡°She¡¯s our investor, the president of Luminous Entertainment, Elspeth Lynwood!¡± Investor?! The girl¡¯s face immediately turned pale. Chapter 202 Chapter 202 With a pale face, the girl said in a small voice, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Lynwood, I¡¯ve gone too far. Please be the bigger person and spare me. I¡¯ll do whatever you say.¡± She¡¯d boasted to her ssmates that she was going to be filming a drama. If they found out that she had been kicked out, she would no longer have a ce to stand in school. Elspeth narrowed her eyes. ¡°Whatever I say?¡± ¡°Yes, yes!¡± After flipping through a few pages of the script, Elspeth noticed that the girl was ying an antagonist who was trying to end her life by taking pills. ¡°This won¡¯t do. Since she¡¯s so eager to present herself, make her fall into theke.¡± The girl¡¯s face immediately turned white as a sheet. ¡°If I fall into theke in this weather, I might catch a cold¡­¡± she stammered, clearly frightened. However, Elspeth only raised an eyebrow with an expression full of doubt. ¡°What, didn¡¯t you just say that you¡¯d do whatever I say? Why are you unwilling to do something as simple as jumping into ake now?¡± At her words, the girl immediately wailed noisily, nearly falling to her knees in desperation as she pleaded, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Lynwood! I won¡¯t do it again! Please don¡¯t make me jump into theke!¡± Elspeth looked at the assistant who was whispering in Aiden¡¯s ear earlier and noticed that he was avoiding her gaze. Hence, she asked with a smile, ¡°Mr. Assistant, is there anyone else who would suit this character?¡± The assistant had been bribed by the girl and was about to decline, but after meeting Elspeth¡¯s sharp gaze, he hurriedly nodded in fright. ¡°Yes, yes, of course there is.¡± After saying that, he pulled someone out from the crowd of actors. The girl was young with red lips and a seductive face, making her perfect for the role of an antagonistic woman. ¡°Haven¡¯t we got someone here? She looks better than this crooked-faced girl.¡± Elspeth nced at the trembling girl nearby and said indifferently, ¡°Miss, please leave the filming set right now.¡± With one sentence, she easily ended the girl¡¯s fate. A look of hatred shed past the girl¡¯s eyes. After shooting a fierce look at Elspeth, she left in a huff. Upon seeing how tactful Elspeth was to take care of such a huge problem on his behalf, Aiden suddenly felt d that they were working with Luminous Entertainment. The filming proceeded as usual, and as everyone knew that the investor was here to supervise the work, there were no more disturbances. Soon, it was noon, and Yelena came to look for Elspeth after changing out of her costume. They had been given a two-hour break, so she decided to take Elspeth for a stroll. ¡°Since it¡¯s your first time working at a ce like this, I¡¯ll take you out for a spin. Actually, if we ignore the filming, this ce really isn¡¯t bad at all.¡± Elspeth knew that this ce was specially built for the purpose of filming, but she did not understand it. However, once she went out, she was met with an antique building across the street. It was a rather¡­ unique sight. Upon seeing her interest, Yelena took her straight inside. In the building, a historical drama was in the works, and both the male and female leads were dressed beautifully. Yelena had not been aware, but when she saw the people who were currently drinking water inside, her face immediately darkened. ¡°Let¡¯s go somewhere else! I don¡¯t think we should stay here!¡± Elspeth felt dubious after seeing her expression change instantly, but she instantly understood after taking a look at the people inside. It really was a small world¡ªthey had bumped into Emma. ¡°Why not? She¡¯s not the one who bought this piece ofnd, so why can¡¯t we stay here and have a look?¡± As long as she didn¡¯t affect Emma¡¯s filming, Elspeth thought it wouldn¡¯t be a problem even if she took a nap in the building. Yelena pouted. ¡°It¡¯s mostly because I keep recalling what she saidst night whenever I see her. What¡¯s she boasting about? She¡¯s not even his official girlfriend, so what is she being so proud of?¡± Yelena had always had a fiery temper, but she normally did not have any nemeses and would not reveal this side of her often. However, now she was venting all of her boiling temper on Emma, and her tongue was as sharp as it could be. ¡°It¡¯s fine. You know what, I¡¯m kind of curious about how good her acting skills are. Let¡¯s go in and take a look.¡± Yelena nodded reluctantly, and the two waltzed in. Emma noticed Elspeth at first nce, but because she was still in the midst of filming, she could not spare Elspeth any chatter and could only put her all into her acting, intending to show her skills off to Elspeth. Seeing that, Elspeth chortled. ¡°Yelena, what do you think about Emma¡¯s acting skills?¡± As Yelena was still young, her acting skills were naturally not as good as Emma, who had close to five years of acting experience. She merely said, ¡°Not bad, I suppose.¡± In other words, she meant that Emma was extremely good. Elspeth took a look before shaking her head. ¡°If you ask me, I think her acting skills are just average at best. It¡¯s mostly her looks; it helps cover up most of her ws.¡± Elspeth had never taken part in acting before, but she had her own understanding of it, which greatly shocked Yelena. ¡°Oh, uh¡­¡± ¡°Also, look at her posture earlier. It¡¯s clear that she put too much power into it. And she can¡¯t keep up her bearing either.¡± While Emma was having her break, she could hear everything that was being discussed around her. Immediately, she spat angrily, ¡°Does Elspeth know what she¡¯s talking about? She hasn¡¯t even acted before and she¡¯s talking about how bad my acting skills are?¡± Next to her, her manager joined in on her barrage and said, ¡°She¡¯s just an outsider who knows nothing about acting. Just take her as someone who¡¯s arrogant and spewing nonsense.¡± However, Emma did not want to leave things as they were. She instantly rose to her feet and walked toward Elspeth. ¡°Elspeth, I heard you said that I¡¯m bad at acting.¡± Not expecting her to find out about her short critic from earlier, Elspeth burst intoughter. ¡°I didn¡¯t say you were bad. I just meant that you needed more practice.¡± ¡°What do you know about acting? Have you acted before? Have you attended an acting academy? You don¡¯t know a thing about acting, yet you¡¯re here picking at my acting skills. Elspeth, you¡¯re just jealous that I¡¯m more outstanding than you!¡± However, to Elspeth, her words meant that she had hit her weak spot. She spread her arms and admitted, ¡°Indeed. Those things that you just mentioned, I have none of them.¡± Hearing that, Emma scoffed coldly. ¡°I know, so hurry up and apologize to me, or I won¡¯t let you go.¡± How arrogant and presumptuous¡­ Did Callum really fall for someone like her in the past? Elspeth sneered inwardly. She lifted her head to look at Emma andmented in a calm voice, ¡°When I said your postures were too powerful, I wasn¡¯t fooling around.¡± All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Emma¡¯s eyes grew wide. ¡°What postures?¡± ¡°When you looked affectionately into the male lead¡¯s eyes earlier, you could¡¯ve slightly lowered your head to better express your coyness, and it suits the reserved personalities of women from ancient times more as well. However, you just stared at him boldly, so much so that he even forgot his lines.¡± As she spoke, Elspeth felt like bursting intoughter. ¡°Real acting is capable of bringing your audience into your shoes so that it would be more complementary and genuine. Pray tell, Miss Walker, have you achieved that?¡± Chapter 203 Chapter 203 Naturally, Emma refused to admit that she was bad at acting and said, ¡°You¡¯re just all talk. Come and do it yourself if you can!¡± Soon, the director was notified of this matter. Unwilling to admit that the actress he handpicked was ipetent, he said with a cold expression, ¡°Since you know so much, Miss Lynwood, why don¡¯t you give us all a demonstration and let us have a look?¡± Elspeth had never acted, and it was impressive enough for her to have some insight. However, making her act was a deliberate attempt to embarrass her. Emma was certain that Elspeth couldn¡¯t act as well, and she lifted her chin with a gleeful expression. Let¡¯s see how she¡¯ll turn the tables this time! Yelena knew that Elspeth had no experience in acting and immediately stood in front of her. ¡°You¡¯re just being a bully now. Elspeth is an outsider. How would she know how to act?¡± The director¡¯s expression soured as he said, ¡°I thought Miss Lynwood was here to start trouble by the way she talks, but I didn¡¯t think she was just a cowardly chicken.¡± Elspeth let out a smallugh. ¡°I¡¯m mostly afraid that the male lead wouldn¡¯t be able to keep up.¡± ¡°The male lead is an award-winning actor whom I personally handpicked. The one who wouldn¡¯t be able to keep up is you, isn¡¯t it?¡± the director refuted, thinking that Elspeth was being too full of herself. ¡°All right, then. Let¡¯s give it a go.¡± Immediately, the director got to work and brought over a costume for Elspeth to put on. However, she shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t need a costume.¡± ¡°Without a costume, the male lead won¡¯t be able to get into his role. I was just giving you a chance by giving you a costume, but you don¡¯t even know what¡¯s good for you.¡± Feeling as if his good intentions had been looked down upon, the director grew upset. Upon hearing the dispute between the two, the male lead walked over and looked at Elspeth with a gentle smile. The girl in front of him emitted an air of confidence, and it was much more reassuring than Emma¡¯s pomposity. In fact, he was rather looking forward to Elspeth¡¯s performance. ¡°Hello. I¡¯m the male lead of this drama, As White.¡± Elspeth recognized him; he was an up-anding award-winning actor who was on par with ke. ¡°Let¡¯s start, then.¡± She reached out and took the script, flipping a page before she decided on a scene. ¡°Let¡¯s do this part where the soldier is about to leave on a mission, and the female lead bids him farewell.¡± Emma chortled. ¡°Of course, you¡¯re so confident. You chose the easiest part.¡± Elspeth smiled without replying. Instead, she walked toward As and asked with a soft voice, ¡°Can we start now?¡± Although they were the same person, As had a feeling that she had already entered her role at the moment, and even her voice was filled with the meekness of a girl from the ancient past. With that in mind, he nodded in agreement. Elspeth stared at him, her face filled with expectation as she asked, ¡°Cassius, when will you return?¡± As furrowed his brow and lowered his head, his thoughts unreadable as he exined, ¡°Deidre, you know that a soldier must protect his country¡­¡± ¡°Deidre knows that the country is more important to you than Deidre is, but Deidre can¡¯t bear to let you go.¡± As she spoke, tears began to roll down Elspeth¡¯s face, wetting her shirt. Her tears coupled with her beauty made her a pitiful sight to behold. As immediately panicked. Upon seeing her tears, he felt his heart ache. ¡°Apologies, Deidre. I¡­¡± Before he could finish, a thin hand sealed his lips. ¡°Please don¡¯t forget about Deidre.¡± At that, Elspeth dropped into a bow with red eyes. ¡°Deidre asks for nothing except three things. One, for you to have a long life; two, for your name to spread acrossnds; and three, that Cassius won¡¯t forget about Deidre, that we will one day meet again.¡± These words and Elspeth¡¯s tear-ridden face made As step forward and wrap his arms around her waist immediately. ¡°I won¡¯t leave anymore. I¡¯ll stay, even if I have to give up my name!¡± Elspeth slowly pushed him away, her expression returning to normal and even carrying a hint of a smile as she said, ¡°Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. White.¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. The sight was a feast for the eyes, and none of them was able to extract themselves from the farewell they had just witnessed. ¡°Cut!¡± The director was the first to return to his senses and called for a halt. As if awakening from a long slumber, As realized what he had just said and done, and he immediately flushed red. ¡°As, what¡¯s wrong with you? Your lines were supposed to be ¡®I understand. Await my return, and I shall make you my wife then.¡¯ What the heck did you say just now?¡± The director was unhappy with As¡¯ mistake and frowned. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, director. Miss Lynwood¡¯s acting was so good that I couldn¡¯t hold myself back.¡± Knowing that his skills were not a match for hers, As rubbed the back of his head embarrassedly. ¡°Please don¡¯t say that. You¡¯re great at acting too, Mr. White.¡± However, her intention was not to exchange praises with As. She looked at Emma behind her, whose eyes were wide with disbelief. How could it be? How could Elspeth be so good at acting? She refused to believe it! Clearly seeing Emma¡¯s doubts, Elspeth smiled and said, ¡°Although I have not undergone any professional training, I know how to express my feelings with my actions. Once you¡¯ve mastered the true essence of acting, as long as you can memorize the script and aren¡¯t afraid of the stage, it¡¯s impossible not to act well.¡± At her speech, Emma was at a loss for words. As a trained professional, being criticized by a mere layman made her head heavy with shame. Upon seeing Emma¡¯s defiant look, Elspeth smiled and said, ¡°By the way, I¡¯m notpletely clueless to professional knowledge. When I was living abroad, I met someone called Payton Schwartz, who took me in as his apprentice and taught me much of what I know.¡± Elspeth had not wanted to learn acting either. And to be honest, she was not interested in acting at all. However, Payton was Sonny¡¯s brother, and when he saw that she was studying medicine, he was unhappy with her for being biased and insisted that she learned to act, so she was forced to learn a lot about acting. Payton Schwartz? Hearing that, the director perked up and abandoned the furious Emma to ask, ¡°Are you talking about the acting professor from Konig University, Payton Schwartz?¡± Payton only epted five students a year, and those who were able to receive his guidance were mostly outstanding actors or at least movie stars. Payton had only one apprentice in his life, who was so well protected that no one knew who that lucky person was. He had never thought that it would be the girl in front of him. Immediately thinking that he had greatly misjudged her, the director asked with a ttering grin, ¡°Miss Lynwood, are you interested in this show? I¡¯ll give you the role of the second female lead. What do you think?¡± Elspeth shook her head pridefully. ¡°I don¡¯t want it.¡± ¡°Then¡­ The female lead! I¡¯ll let you be the female lead!¡± The director couldn¡¯t resist inviting Elspeth into the cast. After all, if she agreed to take part, they wouldn¡¯t have to do much to promote the show. All they had to do was say that Elspeth was Payton¡¯s apprentice, and thousands of people would be there to watch the show. This was the greatest benefit to him. Instantly, Emma grew upset. Looking at the director¡¯s shameless attitude, she said angrily, ¡°Director, I¡¯m the chosen female lead right now. How could you simply give up the role to someone else? If you insist on doing this, I¡¯ll tell Callum to withdraw his funds!¡± The director looked troubled, all of a sudden at a loss for what to do. Chapter 204 Chapter 204 Elspeth let out a lightugh. ¡°That¡¯s enough. I don¡¯t act, and I won¡¯t join the entertainment circle either.¡± After politely refusing the director, she looked at Emma and blinked. ¡°So, Miss Walker, do you understand what I¡¯ve just said?¡± All at once, Emma felt like a recement. Why could she only get what Elspeth didn¡¯t want? At that thought, she was even more infuriated and instantly took her costume off, wailing that she would leave the filming site. ¡°My goodness, please don¡¯t leave. I was out of my mind earlier, but you¡¯re the female lead, how could I give that to someone else?¡± The director was a guileful man. Knowing that he was unable to convince Elspeth, he hurriedly rushed over to hold Emma back. Callum had invested three hundred million in this drama and was theirrgest benefactor; he was so focused on inviting Elspeth that he nearly forgot about this fact. ¡°Didn¡¯t you like Elspeth more? Go to her, then. I won¡¯t take part anymore. We¡¯ll withdraw the funds!¡± Boiling with anger, Emma took out her phone, her voice full of sobs as she said, ¡°Callum, someone is picking on me onsite. Can youe over?¡± With that, she hung up, looking all smug and prideful. ¡°Just wait and see. Callum will being over in a while, and you can be arrogant all you want when he immediately withdraws his funds then!¡± Elspeth waited quietly without saying a word. Knowing Callum was about toe here, she felt mixed emotions emerging in her heart. Her chest grew tight and heavy. As expected, Callum soon reached the scene. His eyes swept through the crowd, and to his surprise, he spotted Elspeth and Yelena amongst them. Upon seeing him, Emma immediately rushed forward with a coy expression. ¡°Callum, they were all picking on me earlier, and Elspeth was even trying to take my ce as the female lead. And the key thing is, the director even agreed! Let¡¯s withdraw our funds. I don¡¯t want to do this anymore!¡± ¡°Elspeth wants to be the female lead?¡± Callum repeated, thinking that her words were oundish. Emma¡¯s face soured at his words. ¡°Yeah, she wants to be the female lead.¡± Elspeth had no control over what Emma wanted to say, so she let her do as she pleased. Refusing to pay her any attention, she simply ignored her usations. However, Yelena was unable to hold herself back and revealed the truth. ¡°What do you mean by that? You¡¯re just so bad at acting that the director doesn¡¯t want you anymore. Stop twisting the truth.¡± Callum¡¯s sharp gaze flicked over to the director. Seeing this, the director immediately shrunk backward. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that. I was just thinking it would be a pity for Elspeth if she didn¡¯t be an actress with her skills, so I wasn¡¯t thinking about what I was saying.¡± ¡°I invested three hundred million for Emma to film in peace. Now that you¡¯re nning on letting Elspeth take her ce, I assume that you¡¯re giving up on the money, are you?¡± Callum¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t loud, but it carried weight. However, upon hearing this, Elspeth felt her heart sink. ¡°What is up with you, Callum Winthrop? How can you pick on your current girlfriend by defending your ex? You¡¯re such a b*stard!¡± Even when he was faced with Yelena¡¯s usation, Callum did not falter. ¡°Was what I said wrong?¡± By definition, Callum was only preserving his personal interests. He invested the money because of Emma, and if she was unable to take part in the filming, it would be a loss for him. Elspeth understood this, but she was getting even more confused now. She failed to understand the reason why Callum treated Emma so well, to the extent of deliberately ignoring her for Emma¡¯s sake. Was it really as Emma had said¡ªhe had never been able to forget her? And now that Emma reappeared by his side, he was trying to get rid of her by giving her the cold shoulder? Elspeth lifted her head and looked into Callum¡¯s eyes. In his gaze, there was no trace of warmth, only an icy cold. Even so, there was an instant when an inexplicable emotion shed past his eyes, but it went as quickly as it came, and Elspeth nearly thought that she had been mistaken. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Yelena.¡± Elspeth was still unwilling to believe it. Either way, she had already taught Emma a lesson, so she considered it her victory. She then turned around and left. After shooting a re at Callum, Yelena followed suit. Behind them, the director desperately apologized to his benefactors, nearly going down on his knees and kowtowing to beg for their forgiveness. Emma scoffed. ¡°Okay, okay. On behalf of your sincerity, I guess I¡¯ll continue filming.¡± At this, the director finally smiled. ¡°Yes, thank you, Miss Walker!¡± Callum ignored what was happening near him. Instead, his eyes were fixed on Elspeth¡¯s decisively retreating back, his thoughtsplicated. ¡°What are you thinking, Callum? It can¡¯t be about Elspeth, right?¡± Emma asked pretentiously, putting on a caring act. ¡°Look, she doesn¡¯t even care about you anymore. Why don¡¯t you just break up with her already? It¡¯ll be relieving for her too.¡± Callum didn¡¯t even spare her a single nce. ¡°It has nothing to do with you.¡± In fact, Emma had everything to do with it. She had been waiting all this time to im the title of Mrs. Winthrop for herself. Still, even though she was angry, Callum had been fulfilling her every wish recently, making her feel as if she were on cloud nine. ¡°Callum, you should go back to the hotel. I have to continue filming, so I can¡¯t stay with you.¡± Callum hummed indifferently in response. After he left, Emma watched his retreating figure with a triumphant smile. Callum will definitely belong to me! Meanwhile, Elspeth and Yelena returned to their filming site, where Aiden had been waiting for Yelena to resume filming. After Yelena was called away to shoot a scene with ke, Elspeth sat alone in her seat, spacing out. As their manager, Timothy had been silently standing by their side. Upon seeing that Elspeth was distracted, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You look like you¡¯re in a bad mood.¡± Elspeth shook her head with a bitter smile. ¡°Not at all.¡± ¡°Clearly not, I can tell.¡± Timothy said knowingly, ¡°I¡¯ve been your age before, so I understand. You¡¯re having rtionship problems, aren¡¯t you?¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s all over the news for everyone to see, all right?¡± Now, Callum and Emma were constantly together, and Emma was a public figure, so nothing could remain hidden. Everyone assumed that Callum and Elspeth¡¯s breakup was just short of an official announcement, and they might have already cut ties in private. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Timothyughed awkwardly. ¡°I¡¯m justforting you. Let me tell you, there are plenty more fish in the sea. Besides, you have amazing conditions, and it¡¯s not like men who are better than Callum don¡¯t exist. You don¡¯t have to waste your tears over a jerk.¡± Of course, Elspeth knew that as well, but she was still hell-bent on her instincts and needed Callum to give her an exnation. ¡°Okay now. Go and read some books, listen to some songs, and go for a walk. You¡¯ll eventually let him go.¡± He could onlyfort her this much; nobody could save Elspeth except herself. Elspeth nodded at his words, her eyes still staring into the distance. Timothy shook his head with a sigh. Taking out his phone, he was about to scroll through Twitter as a way to pass time when a piece of news that was gradually taking its ce on the trending topics caught his eye. He swiveled around, his expression turning somber as he asked, ¡°Elspeth, did you meet Emma earlier?¡± Chapter 205 Chapter 205 Elspeth was startled for a moment. The next instant, she unlocked her phone and searched for the news article. Its title read, ¡®Callum Winthrop bristled at Elspeth Lynwood¡¯s daring provocation on set while defending Emma Walker.¡¯ What an ironic news title, she thought to herself. The photo attached to the news article showed Elspeth alone confronting Callum and Emma in an apparent standoff. In fact, it was pretty well taken; Emma looked all submissive and aggrieved in it as if Elspeth had really bullied her. At this moment, Yelena came over for a short break while having a drink. Noticing that Elspeth looked kind of surly, she leaned over to read the news article as well. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± she asked. Then, seeing the article¡¯s headline, she instantly let loose a torrent of abuse. ¡°This has got to be that Emma woman¡¯s idea with the purpose of undermining you! How dare it say that you provoked Emma? It was that woman who came up asking for trouble in the first ce!¡± Elspeth tugged at her sleeve. ¡°It¡¯s okay, just let them say whatever they want. What the article says isn¡¯t true, anyway.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so big-hearted. I¡¯d never put up with that if I were you,¡± Yelena said before pointing at Callum in the photo with visible disgust in her eyes. ¡°Callum was snubbing you on purpose by defending Emma in front of so many people, no? What the hell was he doing?!¡± She was ready to explode when she saw Callum like this, but it pained and exasperated her to see Elspeth looking like she didn¡¯t mind this at all. ¡°What about we post a statement first, saying that you and Callum have broken up? That¡¯s better than being mocked byizens asking whether you¡¯ve been dumped.¡± How unmanly of Callum to avoid taking on responsibility for this! Elspeth shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s not necessary.¡± Yelena asked, ¡°Then how are you gonna handle this? Surely you can¡¯t let everyone get the wrong idea that you provoked Emma on purpose?¡± She was boiling with rage at the thought that Emma must be gloating over this from a safe distance at this moment. Elspeth¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°I already have an idea.¡± There¡¯s no surveince camera on the set of filming, so it¡¯s certainly impractical to look for surveince footage. Suddenly, she seemed to recall something, and a smile spread on her lips. ¡°Yelena, do you still remember the few people who were standing beside you at the time?¡± Yelena thought about it for a moment. ¡°I think I do. There was one next to me who looked super ugly with very heavy makeup on. The instant she saw you act, she got awestruck and even took out her phone to take pictures¡­¡± she replied before suddenly realizing what Elspeth was up to. She eximed with a smile of surprise, ¡°You¡¯re so smart, Elspeth!¡± Elspeth stood up and stretched. ¡°Alright, don¡¯t worry about this. Just focus on your acting. I¡¯m going out and will be back in about half an hour if nothing crops up.¡± Confident in her friend¡¯s resourcefulness, Yelena immediately nodded before going back with a spring in her step. No one other than Yelena knew where Elspeth had gone. In the afternoon, however, a video was uploaded to the inte, showing Elspeth in that particr scene in ultra-high definition. No sooner had the video been uploaded than it caused a huge stir in the entire entertainment industry. It was watched by an endless stream ofizens, many of whom left theirments. Aizenmented, ¡®How can such great acting by Elspeth be called provocation? It should be called outshining, no?¡¯ Anothermented, ¡®I¡¯ve watched Emma Walker¡¯s performance before, and her acting was mediocre. So what if Elspeth was provoking her?!¡¯ The thirdmented, ¡®I¡¯m one of the crew members on set. Elspeth is not only pretty but also a skilled actor; even the lead actor had difficulty keeping up with her.¡¯ Some even revealed Elspeth¡¯s identity right away. Onemented, ¡®You know what? Elspeth is Professor Payton Schwartz¡¯s only prot¨¦g¨¦. No wonder she¡¯s so skilled in acting!¡¯ Anothermented, ¡®Payton Schwartz is a rare bigwig in the industry, and his prot¨¦g¨¦ has to be at least a master at acting. There should be nothing wrong with Elspeth advising on Emma¡¯s acting, no?¡¯ A thirdizenmented, ¡®How affected of Emma Walker to look all hurt like a phony goody-two- shoes at being criticized.¡¯ Seeing how the tide immediately turned against Emma on the inte, Yelenaughed and tapped away at the keyboard, following the crowd in tearing Emma apart. Timothy¡¯s lips twitched at the sight of this. ¡°Let¡¯s not get involved in this, alright? You¡¯re a public figure, after all.¡± Yelena gave him a disdainful look. ¡°How boring! Who told you that public figures don¡¯t like engaging in gossip? I have four other alt ounts, any of which I can switch to if this ount gets banned. I have to avenge Elspeth!¡± Both Timothy and ke were rendered lost for words by her reply. Elspeth came back soon after that. Seeing how the two men froze in stupefaction while Yelena tapped away at the keyboard in high spirits, she couldn¡¯t help but smile in amusement. ¡°What are you all doing?¡± Yelena replied, ¡°You¡¯ve got no idea, Elspeth. Emma has really shot herself in the foot. So many people are criticizing her now!¡± Having gotten the anger and resentment off her chest, she was filled with pride and exaltation. Elspeth replied, ¡°We¡¯re all ves of opinion, so you can¡¯t be too careful. We have to be even more careful from now on, especially you. Once you be an object of hatred, your reputation will be finished.¡± Yelena was already sick of hearing the same thing countless times. ¡°Yeah, yeah, I got it. Say, Elspeth, what do you think Emma is doing at the moment?¡± All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Elspeth didn¡¯t even frown at the mention of the woman. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Meanwhile, in the hotel room¡­ Emma had hatred written all over her face. After dialing Callum¡¯s number, she poured out all her grievances, saying, ¡°Callum, Elspeth bullied me again¡ª¡± Callum replied, ¡°She wouldn¡¯t have done so if you hadn¡¯t messed with her in the first ce.¡± He knew Elspeth very well. She was the kind of person who would never offend anyone unless she got offended, in which case she would root out the person who had offended her. ¡°But I really didn¡¯t do anything this time. I¡¯m being targeted for no reason. Now the inte is full of news articlesmbasting me. I dare not even go out anymore¡­¡± Callum only felt his head throbbing as Emma expressively poured out her grievances. ¡°Alright, I got it. I¡¯lle up with a solution.¡± After hanging up the phone, Emma clenched her fists and gnashed her teeth in hatred. Elspeth and Yelena, that buffoon¡­ I won¡¯t let off anyone who tries to undermine me! At the end of her thoughts, a sinister smile suddenly appeared on her face. In the end, the incident didn¡¯t bubble for long before it got overshadowed by other news articles and caused its headline to be pulled out of the list of trending topics. Yelena looked displeased. ¡°I seriously don¡¯t understand why someone could be so meddlesome as to pull this out of the list of trending topics on purpose. Say, could it be Callum¡¯s doing?¡± Elspeth fanned herself with the fan in her hand without even looking up. ¡°It¡¯s got to be him.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got to hand it to him. Just hurry and break up with him instead of letting him keep you dangling, will you?¡± Elspeth knew Yelena was saying that for her own good. She was also particrly disappointed with Callum, but there had to be a reason for his sudden about-face. If she were to break up with him hastily without finding out the reason, she would definitely regret it. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough. There¡¯s no way to bring Emma down for the time being, anyway, so why don¡¯t you concentrate on your acting instead of worrying about this? Your show and Emma¡¯s will probably be aired at the same time. If you end up embarrassing yourself, you won¡¯t be able to do anything about it.¡± The instant Yelena heard this, she couldn¡¯t help having a look of frustration. ¡°You¡¯ve got no idea how pure and innocent ke is. He said this would be his first time filming a kissing scene. We¡¯re talking about his very first on-screen kiss, you know? And it¡¯s gonna be spoiled by me, so he¡¯s really reluctant to do it. The director told me to break through his psychological barrier and get the scene done in two days.¡± Chapter 206 Chapter 206 ¡°Can¡¯t you two use some creative positioning instead?¡± Elspeth asked in puzzlement. Yelena rolled her eyes. ¡°I wish we could, but ke wouldn¡¯t do it no matter what, saying he would easily reject me if we got too close.¡± ke is so chaste, huh¡­ Wait a minute, is he really that chaste? Elspeth suddenly recalled the warm and passionate kiss ke had nted on her forehead at his concertst time, which surprised her inwardly. Yelena blinked her eyes with a groveling expression. ¡°Elspeth, can you help me talk him into doing it? You and ke are close, after all.¡± ¡°I got it. I¡¯ll go to him in a moment.¡± Keeping her promise, Elspeth went to ke shortly after that. ke was sitting by theke to keep his mind off things. When he saw Elspethe over, his face turned red. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°I heard you¡¯re gonna do a kissing scene with Yelena?¡± ke nodded. ¡°Yeah, but I don¡¯t feel like doing it.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t know how to persuade the man into doing it either. After all, anyone would feel nervous and ill at ease at having to kiss a stranger whom they didn¡¯t know very well. She said, ¡°ke, such a day wille sooner orter. You¡¯re an actor, you know.¡± ke hung his head. ¡°But I don¡¯t feel like doing it for the time being.¡± He still had aplex that he had yet to ovee. The smiling youngdy with wavy hair was still standing in his memory, making him unable to make up his mind no matter what. ¡°Can you tell me the reason for that?¡± ke stared at Elspeth¡¯s face. His lips parted, and he almost blurted out what was on his mind; he wanted to tell her the truth. However, before he could say anything, Timothy suddenly ran toward them in a great hurry. Seeing that both of them were present, he heaved a sigh of relief, but he still sounded anxious. ¡°Bad news, Elspeth! Someone just came down with food poisoning!¡± ¡°What?!¡± Elspeth¡¯s brows furrowed at once. Timothy took Elspeth and ke to the scene of the incident. Elspeth nced at the floor, the person lying on which was an actress ying a rtively important supporting role whose part in the show was almost as big as that of the lead supporting actress. Seeing that Yelena was safe and sound despite her pale face, Elspeth was d that she didn¡¯t get poisoned. The next second, however, what Yelena said instantly left her with her heart in her mouth. ¡°Elspeth, I really have no idea what happened. She took a bite of my snack and suddenly copsed to the floor. They say that she got poisoned and that I poisoned her on purpose for fear that she¡¯d upstage me, but I-I didn¡¯t¡­¡± Elspeth knew Yelena¡¯s character; she wasn¡¯t jealous of anyone, nor would she poison anyone on a whim. From her exnation, it sounded like she had just taken a snack out of her bag and was about to eat it when the female costar came over and took a bite of it. The next instant, the female costar felt unwell and passed out soon afterward with her lips turning ck and her face turning pale as if she had been poisoned. Aiden was standing aside while looking all worried. ¡°What should we do now? Don¡¯t tell me the filming has to be postponed again after all the trouble it took to get it started?¡± The second supporting actress has to be hospitalized for food poisoning, with the lead actress being the prime suspect at the moment. If word gets out about this, I can forget about filming the show! Soon afterward, the cops arrived and took Yelena away immediately. Seeing Yelena¡¯s tearful eyes, Elspeth eventually couldn¡¯t bring herself to leave her alone, so she followed her to the police station. Naturally, ke insisted on tagging along out of his concern for Elspeth. Before leaving the filming set, Elspeth turned to look at Timothy and whispered, ¡°Help me check the surveince footage.¡± Timothy¡¯s eyes flickered slightly. ¡°Roger that.¡± Elspeth followed Yelena to the police station to get their statements recorded. Looking at her gorgeous face, the cop couldn¡¯t bring himself to say anything that would put her on the spot, so he began to interrogate Yelena instead. ¡°Since you say you didn¡¯t do it on purpose, do you have any evidence to back that up?¡± Yelena shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Perhaps the snack got poison in it, but I really didn¡¯t poison the snack. I wanted to eat the snack at first.¡± The cop frowned. ¡°Such an exnation isn¡¯t convincing enough.¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Seeing how Yelena turned pale as though she were about to burst into tears in fright, Elspeth chimed in, ¡°I have something to say, sir.¡± ¡°Shoot.¡± ¡°I suspect that she was set up by someone.¡± The cop became interested at once. ¡°Why do you say that?¡± Elspeth exined, ¡°First of all, if Yelena were intent on poisoning thatdy, she wouldn¡¯t have waited for thatdy toe to her of her own ord. Instead, she would bring the snack to thatdy. If it were someone other than thatdy who asked Yelena for the snack, she would end up poisoning that person without knowing. No clever person would do this.¡± The cop nodded thoughtfully. ¡°What you say does make sense.¡± Elspeth continued, ¡°Secondly, thatdy is pretty, but she¡¯s far less prettypared to Yelena. Yelena has a pretty good reputation on the filming set, so you can get someone to ask around about it. There¡¯s no way she would hurt anyone out of jealousy.¡± A faint smile yed on the cop¡¯s lips after he listened to Elspeth¡¯s exnation. ¡°Miss Lynwood, there¡¯s nothing wrong with your exnation, but I¡¯d still like to say that you¡¯ve got no evidence to back it up.¡± Elspeth clenched her fists. ¡°I know I have no proof of it. I¡¯ll do my best to find proof of it, but I hope you can refrain from holding Yelena in custody before that.¡± The cop was surprised. ¡°But this is against the rules.¡± Elspeth argued, ¡°Yelena is a public figure. If people learn that she¡¯s been held at the police station, it¡¯ll greatly affect her career as an actress.¡± ¡°That¡¯s none of our business.¡± The cop admired Elspeth¡¯s gift of the gab, but he insisted on ying it by the book and wouldn¡¯t listen to her at all. ke¡¯s face was grim as he sat beside them. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Don¡¯t tell me that the Winthrops have no say in this anymore?¡± ¡°Mr. Winthrop, we¡¯re just judging the case as it stands. And besides, the Winthrop Family¡¯s influence doesn¡¯t extend into the police department.¡± Naturally, the cop knew who ke was. Even so, seeing the man¡¯s surly expression, he merely smiled without attempting to grovel at him. If it were ke who had been taken into custody, he would consider releasing the man. After all, nobody would want to offend the Winthrops. Yelena Sullivan, huh? Never mind about her. Just when the three were burning with anxiety, a voice suddenly rang in the police station. ¡°What about the Carrs? Do the Carrs have a say in this?¡± Jordan came in with a smile that didn¡¯t reach his eyes. Seeing that Jordan had arrived, Elspeth asked, ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°I heard about what happened from the crew members, of course. I invested in the screeny, so I have to voice my concern about it, no?¡± Those in the police station turned pale instantly. They could brush off the Winthrops, who had been merely a bunch of businessmen, but the Carrs had served in the military for generations and happened to have great power over the army. ¡°The Carrs do have a say in this, of course. What brings you here, Mr. Carr?¡± Elspeth was inwardly revolted by the look on the cops¡¯ faces. Jordan let out a soft chuckle. ¡°I invested in a TV show, but the show¡¯s lead actress is being held at the police station. Say¡­¡± Slick as he was, the cop was immediately all smiles upon hearing this. ¡°We¡¯ll release her right away!¡± After all, who wouldn¡¯t do the Carrs the favor? It wasn¡¯t until she had left the police station that Yelena thanked Jordan as if awakening from her daydream. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Carr.¡± Jordan threw a meaningful look at Elspeth before letting out a soft chuckle. ¡°You should thank Elspeth instead.¡± Chapter 207 Chapter 207 Yelena immediately realized that Jordan had special feelings for Elspeth. She whispered in Elspeth¡¯s ear with a smile, ¡°Elspeth, look how good Mr. Carr is. He seemingly bailed me out, but in reality, he did that because he cares about you. Why do you have to be hung up on Callum? Isn¡¯t it better to choose Mr. Carr instead?¡± Elspeth gave her a dirty look. ¡°Why are you so anxious to mind someone else¡¯s business? You¡¯re not out of the woods yet. I should¡¯ve left you alone at the police station just now.¡± Yelena screwed up her face at once. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m wrong.¡± ¡°No matter what, thank you for helping Yelena out today,¡± Elspeth said, looking as usual despite thanking Jordan for what he did. Jordan raised his eyebrows. ¡°In that case, why don¡¯t you return the favor by giving me your hand in marriage?¡± ¡°Over my dead body.¡± Jordan frowned. ¡°Over your dead body? Are you sure about that?¡± Elspeth shot a re at him. ¡°Get lost.¡± Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Jordan smiled. ¡°Alright, I shan¡¯t keep youpany any longer. I¡¯ve got something else to deal with.¡± ¡°That¡¯s most wee. Take care and goodbye, then.¡± Instead of taking offense at what Elspeth said, Jordanughed heartily. After the man had left, Elspeth nced around her; only then did she notice that ke looked rather surly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ke shook his head with a sigh. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. It¡¯s just that I¡¯m too useless.¡± I was no match for Callum before, and now I¡¯m no match for Jordan. It¡¯s like I¡¯m never qualified to stand side-by-side with Elspeth. ¡°No, you¡¯re not. You¡¯re an actor. If you had the ear of the police, you would¡¯ve been cklisted in show business long ago, okay?¡± Elspeth joked in an attempt tofort him. ke smiled a forced smile. ¡°Okay, I know that.¡± The three were just about to get in the car and return to the set of filming when they heard a stern voice. ¡°Yelena!¡± uttered the voice between clenched teeth. Yelena trembled with fear the instant she heard the voice. She hid behind Elspeth, not daring toe out. Max came to Elspeth¡¯s side and dragged Yelena out with his hand clutching her cor. ¡°I thought of forgiving you for secretly leaving me behind and nned to visit you after some time, but little did I think you¡¯d make such a spectacle of yourself!¡± Yelena gulped. ¡°How did you find out?¡± Max¡¯s anger zed up instantly. ¡°How did I find out, huh? Are you still not gonna tell me about it?¡± Yelena hung her head. ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that.¡± The instant she lowered her head, she noticed a hint of unease flickering across ke¡¯s eyes nearby and immediately figured out everything. ¡°ke, did you snitch on me?¡± ke rubbed his nose while looking imperturbable. ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± Max pinched Yelena¡¯s cheek a little hard, causing her to cry out in pain. ¡°Don¡¯t you think you should exin everything to me at this hour? What the hell happened?¡± Elspeth felt a headache creeping up as she watched the three people raising hell around her. ¡°Let me exin it. This time¡¯s food poisoning is most probably Emma¡¯s doing.¡± ¡°Emma?!¡± the three replied in chorus. Elspeth¡¯s lips twitched when she saw the looks of disbelief on their faces. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t tell me you guys never suspected her?¡± Max thought for a moment before faltering, ¡°Well, Emma is a bit like a baby, but she¡¯s a nice person in general. She was nice to the Winthrops before, so I don¡¯t think she¡¯s such a person.¡± Elspeth looked intrigued upon listening to this. ¡°Is Yelena a member of the Winthrop Family?¡± Stumped by the question, Max was at a loss for a reply. Seeing that ke also had the intention of refuting her, Elspeth then asked, ¡°Emma got up to where she is now after working in show business for almost five years. Say, ke, do you think she could be who she is today without any tricks up her sleeve?¡± ke knew better than anyone else how dirty show business was. At the thought of this, he mmed up and stopped defending Emma. On the other hand, Yelena wasn¡¯t that astounded by Elspeth¡¯s usation. She asked anxiously, ¡°In that case, did Emma eat my box of snacks in secret?¡± Elspeth was rendered speechless by her question. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough. At this point, we have to find the evidence first before we can throw usations at her.¡± Convinced by her words, the other three nodded before following her back to the set of filming. Elspeth had Yelena bring the box of snacks over before bringing it to her nose and smelling it. It smells familiar¡­ like cyanide grass. Such a poison is overwhelmingly aromatic and hard to obtain. Normally, it¡¯s rare in the country. Seeing Elspethe back, Timothy came up to her, saying, ¡°Elspeth, I just checked the surveince footage as you told me, but the corner where Yelena was is a blind spot that couldn¡¯t be captured on the surveince camera, so there¡¯s no footage that can be used as evidence. Coincidentally, there wasn¡¯t anyone suspicious either.¡± Elspeth¡¯s eyes narrowed. That would mean the person whoced Yelena¡¯s snacks with poison should be one of the crew members, which was why they knew where the surveince cameras were and wouldn¡¯t draw suspicions. Realizing this at once, she came to the director¡¯s side, asking, ¡°Mr. Aiden, no one went out while I was away, right?¡± Aiden was in low spirits, but he nodded nheless. ¡°That¡¯s right. The police had the set of filming sealed off while you were away just now.¡± ¡°Good to hear that, Mr. Aiden. Now I need your help to gather everyone.¡± Aiden was surprised. ¡°Why?¡± Elspeth¡¯s lips curled into a smile. ¡°That¡¯s because I¡¯ve found out who poisoned the actress.¡± Upon hearing this, Aiden instantly perked up and asked his assistant to call everyone over. ncing at the crowd before her, Elspeth said coldly, ¡°Let me say this onest time¡ªthe one who laced Yelena¡¯s snacks with poison, pleasee forward by yourself. Otherwise, you¡¯ll have to bear the consequences when I find you.¡± Everyone trembled all over with fear, but no one came forward after a minute. ¡°Alright, then. Now hold out your hands, everyone.¡± Everyone obediently stretched out their hands. The crew members were mostlydies, so their hands were fair and tender. After looking at them one by one, Elspeth soon stopped before a youngdy, asking, ¡°Your hands smell so good. What perfume are you wearing?¡± The youngdy replied with a smile, ¡°I don¡¯t like floral perfumes, so I¡¯m wearing a honey-peach-scented perfume.¡± Elspeth had been smiling just a second ago. In this instant, however, she rebuked in a stern voice, ¡°It was you. You were the one whoced Yelena¡¯s snacks with poison!¡± A hint of panic instantly flickered across the youngdy¡¯s eyes. ¡°You¡¯re throwing mud at me! Why would you say I was the poisoner?¡± Elspeth walked around the youngdy while sniffing at her. Then, she exined, ¡°The person who hired you to do this told you that the poisonous grass is aromatic, but they didn¡¯t tell you that its scent would produce a strange smell when mixed with any kind of perfume. Not only that, the strange smell couldn¡¯t be washed off.¡± The youngdy¡¯s face nched at once. ¡°Coincidentally, however, the honey-peach-scented perfume you¡¯re wearing today is best at producing the strange smell mixture, so¡­ Are you still not gonna admit it?¡± Thedies around the youngdy sniffed at her. Just as Elspeth had said, she had a smell on her other than the scent of honey peach. The youngdy slumped to the ground in fright. After all, she never thought she would be found out so quickly. Elspeth bent down and stared into her eyes. ¡°Who made you do it?¡± Chapter 208 Chapter 208 The youngdy¡¯s lips parted. ¡°I-I have no idea.¡± Elspeth narrowed her eyes. ¡°You have no idea? Then who gave you this and made you do it?¡± The youngdy turned pale. ¡°I-It was a stranger who made me do it. She said the grass would cause diarrhea, which could then cause the filming to be postponed. But I never thought it¡¯d cause poisoning ¡ª¡± Elspeth let out augh. ¡°How much were you paid to do this?¡± ¡°A hundred thousand in cash.¡± Just a hundred thousand in cash? That¡¯s so stingy of Emma, thought Elspeth. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± The youngdy hemmed and hawed for a moment. Nevertheless, she answered honestly, ¡°My name¡¯s Alicia Thornton.¡± All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Figuring out what had happened, Elspeth shook her head in resignation. ¡°I called the police just now. You¡¯d better turn yourself in; perhaps you¡¯ll get a lighter sentence.¡± I¡¯m going to jail¡­ Alicia broke down at once; she slumped to the ground and burst into loud sobs. Elspeth was in no mood to hear her wailing, though. Instead, she dialed Callum¡¯s number. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Callum sounded cool and distant over the phone. Elspeth¡¯s chilly voice sounded even more heartless than the man¡¯s. ¡°Please tell Emma that I won¡¯t let her off if she does something against my interests again.¡± Callum¡¯s imperturbable voice finally showed a hint of emotion when he noticed that something was wrong with her voice. ¡°Did she do anything again?¡± Elspeth let out a soft sneer that sounded even chillier than the freezing winter. ¡°She knows in her heart what she has done. Just keep in mind to pass on the message for me.¡± Callum fell silent for a moment. Then, he said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯llpensate for the losses she caused.¡± Elspeth sneered in bitter disappointment. ¡°Callum, why do you need to take responsibility for what she does? What are you, her dad?¡± Callum didn¡¯t say a word in response to such jibes, but Elspeth sensed that the man¡¯s breathing became somewhat heavier on the other end of the line. ¡°Alright then, protect her if you want,¡± she said before hanging up right away. Then, she called Harper, saying, ¡°Harper, help me look into Emma¡¯s recent transaction records or the transaction records of those close to her. Mark the transaction that was worth one hundred thousand and made to one Alicia Thornton.¡± Anger welled up inside Harper when he recalled the person whom he had metst time. ¡°Did that woman get someone to hurt you again?¡± Elspeth let out a snort. ¡°Yeah. She¡¯s really quite something.¡± ¡°Take it easy, Elspeth. I¡¯ll make her feel sorry for that.¡± Harper smiled. Then, he immediately hung up the phone before Elspeth could realize what he meant. Harper was quick in doing things. Soon after the phone call, Emma came to Elspeth of her own ord. Elspeth was resting on the couch on the filming set when Emma suddenly barged in and raised her hand in an attempt to p her. However, the pain didn¡¯t hit Elspeth as she had expected; she caught hold of her hand and flung it away, causing her to lurch backward. ¡°Darn you, Elspeth!¡± Emma snarled furiously. She growled, ¡°What the f*ck did you do? Why did you have to hurt me like that?!¡± Surprised, Elspeth asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Still ying dumb, huh? Why did you spread nderous rumors about me on the inte?¡± Wait a minute. When did I nder her? All I did just now was ask Harper to look into her, so he probably has exposed her for who she really is on the inte by now, thought Elspeth. ¡°How did I nder you? Don¡¯t you have a clue about what you¡¯ve done?¡± she retorted, looking totally at ease with her arms folded across her chest. Emma was obviously beside herself with rage. ¡°See it for yourself!¡± She took out her phone and flung it to Elspeth¡¯s side. Elspeth picked it up and looked at its screen, on which Emma¡¯s photo was apparently shown. In the photo, Emma was drinking with a bunch of foreigners with a coquettish smile on her face. Not only that, but one of the foreigners had his arm around her waist, while the other even daringly kissed her on the cheek. The photo was tagged with the hashtags #AFilthyB*tchBeneathHerAngelicPersona and #AViciousGoodyTwoShoesWhoPoisonedPeopleInPrivate. So, this is what Harper meant by ¡®making her feel sorry¡¯¡­ Elspeth couldn¡¯t hide her amusement as she looked at the photo. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Miss Walker? Aren¡¯t you the woman in the photo? But I really never expected you to have such a¡­ wild side to you.¡± Although she used the term ¡®wild,¡¯ Emma knew full well that she had deliberately said that to turn her stomach. ¡°Who let you spread these photos online?!¡± She was on the verge of a mental breakdown. Never did she think Elspeth could actually find these things! ¡°Oh,¡± Elspeth responded. ¡°What makes you so sure that these things are my doing, Miss Walker?¡± Emma gnashed her teeth in hatred. ¡°Who else would spread these photos online if not you?¡± Elspeth replied, ¡°Emma, I told you long ago not to get under my skin, or I won¡¯t let you get away with it. Didn¡¯t Callum pass this on to you?¡± Emma was startled for a moment. The next instant, she said with a coquettish giggle, ¡°Callum didn¡¯t tell me that, of course. He knows my character better than anyone else does. On the contrary, he told me to stay away from you, saying that you¡¯re bad-tempered, entric, and very vengeful.¡± Elspeth raised an eyebrow. ¡°Did he really say that?¡± Emma¡¯s giggles were fiendish and grating to the ear. ¡°Of course. He also said he¡¯d dump you and go out with me very soon. Just wait until he breaks up with you!¡± Elspeth merely picked her ears after listening to her words. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll wait for it, then. Goodbye.¡± Seeing Elspeth like this, Emma was exasperated, but she couldn¡¯t do anything about it. In the end, she hurled several threats at Elspeth before leaving resolutely. When Elspeth saw the news again, Emma¡¯s public rtions team hade out and exined everything on her behalf, iming that the poisoning wasmitted by one of her close aides who was out of control. The photos were imed to beposites, in which case Emma¡¯s face was nted on the woman in the photos using deepfake technology. Theizens seemed to buy the story, but some found out and revealed that Emma had a profligate lifestyle abroad, causing her to lose arge number of fans. However, such information was deleted soon after that. Elspeth knew it was probably Callum who helped Emma cover her *ss to protect her dignity. At the thought of this, she felt very irritable, so she drove to a well-known local bar right away. Before leaving the filming set, she told ke to make sure that Yelena was doing her acting job. She also asked ke and Max to protect her together without giving any opportunity to those who might have designs on her. Max nodded with a chivalrous expression while vowing to keep an eye on Yelena. Yelena pulled a long face as a bout of despair overcame her. After saying goodbye to the three, Elspeth went to the bar. The bar wasn¡¯t far from the filming set. When Elspeth arrived, it happened to be 6.00PM. The sky darkened early in winter, so it was already dark at the time. In the darkness of night, she stepped into the bar, but a figure followed her inside before she could sit down and have a drink. Elspeth didn¡¯t recognize the man when she first looked at him. Upon taking a closer look, she immediately tensed up as though the man were a formidable enemy. As she had expected, it was Jordan again. She didn¡¯t understand why Jordan would never leave her alone, so she looked at him with a hint of displeasure in her eyes. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you, Mr. Carr? Are you fond of stalking someone?¡± Chapter 209 Chapter 209 Jordan wasn¡¯t offended by her sarcastic remarks, though. Instead, he joked with her as usual, saying with a smile, ¡°No, I¡¯m not. I just happened to run into you because fate brings us together, no?¡± ¡°Then why are you sitting at my table?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just making do with your table. The others are all taken.¡± Elspeth pointed at the several free tables nearby before letting out an angryugh. ¡°Mr. Carr, do you have bad eyes or something?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right that I always have bad eyes. As it happens, I¡¯m not wearing my sses today.¡± Indeed, Jordan had always looked serious with his sses on. Now that he had taken off his sses, he looked somewhat¡­ devilishly handsome with a few locks of hair dangling over his forehead. ¡°You¡¯re only here because you have something to ask of me. What is it that you want to tell me this time? Spill it.¡± Jordan didn¡¯t hide his intentions either. He replied frankly, ¡°Old Mr. Joneson wants you to get engaged to me.¡± Elspeth snorted withughter at once. ¡°Engaged? Jordan, you know there¡¯s no way I would get engaged to you.¡± ¡°Oh, really? That¡¯s not for sure, though.¡± Jordan gave her a meaningful smile that betrayed an undetectable hint of slyness. Elspeth grew suspicious. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Is he doing something behind my back again?¡± A sly smile tugged at the corners of Jordan¡¯s mouth, which revealed an inexplicable hint of ridicule. ¡°Well, I¡¯m not certain about this, but Old Mr. Joneson really went to great pains to make you go home.¡± Elspeth stared at the man¡¯s face as her suspicions lingered. ¡°Then why are you telling me about this? Aren¡¯t you worried that I¡¯ll prepare for this in advance?¡± Jordan crossed his legs while pouring himself a ss of wine. ¡°That¡¯s because you can¡¯t change anything.¡± Elspeth smiled. ¡°Jordan, I have to say you¡¯re pretty thick-skinned.¡± Jordan had an arrogant smile on his face. ¡°Even if I want to go out with you, I¡¯ll make you agree to it with my own capabilities. So what if I tell you in advance? You¡¯ll have to go back and get engaged to me sooner orter, anyway.¡± Elspeth thought that the man before her was no longer the Jordan she knew. In short¡­ he looked a bit crazy. She stood up. I¡¯d better leave as soon as possible. I can¡¯t drink here any longer, after all. However, no sooner had she walked a few steps than her wrist was held in a tight grip. ¡°What¡¯s the hurry to leave? Aren¡¯t you curious about what¡¯s going on with Callum?¡± Although Elspeth was still able to mention Callum¡¯s name withposure, it was nheless a sore point with her. She stopped before looking at Jordan¡¯s face with a rare look of anger and embarrassment on her pretty face. ¡°Why mention him?¡± Jordan replied, ¡°If it were me, I wouldn¡¯t have put up with it when my boyfriend spent time with another woman and defended her in every way possible. Don¡¯t you care about this at all? Do you know why Callum had such a sudden change in attitude?¡± Elspeth was startled for a moment. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because he couldn¡¯t get over his ex, especially his first love. Don¡¯t you know how much weight the words ¡®first love¡¯ carries?¡± Jordan only gave a smirk of ridicule, from which Elspeth even detected a hint of sympathy. Though it lasted only for a second, his reaction betrayed feelings of pity and regret. Elspeth¡¯s heart twinged suddenly. Are the beliefs that I held onto previously just wishful thinking? Everyone has noticed Callum¡¯s change of heart, yet I¡¯m the only person who believes from start to finish that he would never change. ¡°Callum would still be attracted to Emma after four years of separation. If you don¡¯t believe it, just wait until he dumps you and gets back together with her.¡± Jordan chuckled softly before letting go of her. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Elspeth¡¯s heart ached. Maintaining herposure with great effort, she turned around and prepared to leave. ¡°Oh, right, there¡¯s one thing that I forgot to tell you.¡± Jordan leaned over to her ear. He whispered, ¡°Actually, I really like you.¡± Elspeth stepped on his foot immediately. Jordan broke out in a cold sweat; he had to clench his teeth hard to prevent himself from crying out in pain. ¡°Elspeth¡­¡± He forced a smile. ¡°Even though you don¡¯t believe this, I really like you. I absolutely won¡¯t lose to Callum in that regard.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t bother to pay attention to what he said. At this very moment, all she wanted to do was find a secluded spot and quietly withdraw into herself. After leaving the bar, she was ready to go somewhere else for another drink, but she suddenly noticed a familiar figure at the door. Arthur? Why is he here? Seeing Arthur walking straight into the bar, she hurriedly followed him inside. Taking great pains to avoid Jordan, she followed Arthur to a booth and seated herself behind him, lowering her head to conceal herself. When she looked up again, her jaw dropped in surprise at the sight of the familiar person before her. Arthur and Emma? Why are they meeting up here in the middle of the night? Before she realized what was going on, Arthur asked, ¡°How are you doingtely? Is Callum treating you well?¡± Emma raised her chin proudly. ¡°Of course, he is. He¡¯s very cold toward Elspeth now; not only does he only have eyes for me, but he also helped clean up my mess many times. If it weren¡¯t that he hadn¡¯t broken up with Elspeth yet, I would¡¯ve made our rtionship public.¡± ¡°You mean¡­ Callum¡¯s snubbing Elspeth and going out with you?¡± Arthur looked rather surprised before smiling inprehension. After all, Emma was his first girlfriend, so it¡¯s only natural that he still has feelings for her even though they¡¯ve broken up. Seems like he was just pretending to dislike her in front of us previously. Emma replied, ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right. I think Callum doesn¡¯t like Elspeth that much. Whenever she called him, he¡¯d frown and keep the conversation short before hanging up on her. I think he hasn¡¯t broken up with her because she hasn¡¯t brought it up yet. Otherwise, he would¡¯ve freed himself from her long ago.¡± Elspeth was stunned in ce as she listened to their conversation from behind. Emma was a cosseted lady, but what she said didn¡¯t seem to be false. Could Callum really be waiting for me to break up with him? ¡°By the way, Arthur, did you get me here because you have something to talk to me about?¡± Arthur nodded. ¡°Yes, I do. I¡¯m here this time because I¡¯d like to know if you really love him.¡± ¡°Of course, I do. I¡¯ve loved him for eight full years.¡± Arthur drew back his lips into a forced smile that had a hint of unspeakable bitterness in it before it disappeared in an instant. ¡°In that case, do you mean what happened between usst time doesn¡¯t count anymore?¡± A hint of shame and resentment shed across Emma¡¯s face. ¡°Arthur, I only slept with you by ident last time because I was drunk. I already made it clear afterward that we should forget about this. Do you have to go so far as to threaten me with this?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not threatening you.¡± Emma stood up with her eyes full of disdain. ¡°I¡¯ve always loved Callum. He¡¯s handsome, talented, and steady. If you¡¯ve got any ideas, you¡¯d better nip them in the bud,¡± she said. With that, she turned around and left, ignoring the frenzied look in Arthur¡¯s eyes. Arthur sat for a long time without saying a word. After that, he finished the wine in his ss in one go and left after Emma. Chapter 210 Chapter 210 Elspeth was most surprised by this. Little did she expect that such a thing actually happened between Arthur and Emma¡­ She didn¡¯t know how she returned to the hotel. When she came back, Yelena was already asleep; she even muttered something in her sleep when she heard Elspeth return. Elspethy awake in bed all night. The next day, she found Callum¡¯s address with herputer hacking skills before hurrying there early in the morning. Callum was watching the news while jotting down notes nonstop. ¡°Callum, I have something to ask you about.¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Callum didn¡¯t say a word, but his fingers trembled for a moment. ¡°Emma is still in touch with Arthur at the moment. Do you know that?¡± Callum¡¯s eyes darkened; there seemed to be a cold gleam in his gloomy eyes. ¡°I do.¡± ¡°In that case, do you know they¡¯ve slept together before?¡± Callum frowned slightly with an indiscerniblyplicated look on his face. ¡°What are you telling me this for?¡± Elspeth asked coldly in a stern voice, ¡°Arthur is nominally your brother, yet he¡¯s slept with your ex- girlfriend. Do you still want to go out with Emma now?¡± Callum averted his gaze. ¡°This has nothing to do with you.¡± ¡°Callum, tell me that you¡¯re faking all of this and that you have your reasons for doing so. I¡¯ll believe you if you say that.¡± A frosty expression came over the man¡¯s face. ¡°Elspeth, stop being unreasonable, will you?¡± ¡°Callum, do you really love me?¡± Callum fell silent¡ªa silence that struck a chill into Elspeth¡¯s heart. ¡°I¡¯m gonna ask you this again, so tell me the truth. Do you still love me?¡± Callum¡¯s voice was dry and hoarse. ¡°I loved you before.¡± Elspeth felt as though her heart had been thrown to the bottom of a valley and crushed beneath one¡¯s heel. Her face turned pale, and she bit her lip involuntarily. She clenched her fists so hard that her fingernails dug into her palms, but she didn¡¯t feel any pain. ¡°Callum, we¡¯re done.¡± Turns out everything they said is true; I¡¯m the only person who stupidly held out till the end, yet all I got was ¡°I loved you before,¡± she thought. She felt the world spinning around her, so much so that she even felt like throwing up. Pulling herself together, she took a deep breath and walked out. After Elspeth had left, Callum stood upright in front of the French window from which one could overlook the forest of high-rise buildings, staring at the sky far away from the ss window with jet- ck eyes. After a long time, he finally dialed a number, saying, ¡°I¡¯ve broken up with Elspeth.¡± ¡°Was she the one who brought it up?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The man¡¯s voice was old, but he sounded very candid. ¡°That little girl is as stubborn as a mule. She¡¯d never give up easily unless she broke up with you.¡± ¡°Can you release my mom now?¡± ¡°As I said, I won¡¯t make things difficult for you as long as you¡¯re willing to go out with Emma and make Elspeth break up with you of her own ord.¡± The man guffawed. ¡°I¡¯ll release Mrs. Winthrop once Elspeth¡¯s engagement party is over. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t hurt her.¡± Callum took a deep breath. ¡°I got it.¡± Standing outside in the sun, Elspeth had a look of confusion in her eyes. Suddenly, she felt somewhat numb. Jordan called just in time. ¡°Elspeth, I¡¯ve got a piece of bad news to tell you.¡± Holding back her tears with tremendous effort, Elspeth smiled in the ring sun, saying, ¡°What kind of bad news could be worse than I am now? Tell me so that I canugh at it. As it happens, I just had a breakup.¡± ¡°Congrattions on your breakup, then,¡± Jordan said before he was startled for a moment. ¡°Wait a minute. You¡¯ve broken up with him?¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right. You want tough at me, don¡¯t you?¡± Jordan¡¯s voice took on a frosty note, which was pretty rare. ¡°No, I don¡¯t. I just think that the Callum guy you liked is quite an *sshole.¡± Elspeth was in no mood to talk about Callum, though. She came back to the subject, asking, ¡°So what¡¯s the bad news?¡± ¡°Old Mr. Joneson ising to Waterside in three days to pick you up. I told you why; it¡¯s because he wants you to get engaged to me.¡± Elspeth agreed without hesitation, ¡°Okay, but he doesn¡¯t have to pick me up. I¡¯m going back today.¡± Jordan didn¡¯t know whether tough or frown at her reply. ¡°You¡¯re really entric, huh?¡± Elspeth replied, ¡°This is called frankness, okay? I¡¯m just not afraid of loving or hating anyone. Since he chooses to keep going out with Emma, I won¡¯t care about him anymore. I¡¯ll live without him.¡± Jordan broke into a quiet, faint smile. ¡°There¡¯s no hurry to go back, though. There are many fun ces in Waterside, so don¡¯t you want to visit them and have some fun?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t,¡± Elspeth refused without hesitation. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to find an opportunity to get back at Callum for the way he treated you?¡± Jordan¡¯s voice sounded tempting over the phone. ¡°As it happens, you¡¯ve got a free handsome guy here, who is your future fianc¨¦ and is willing to have fun with you. Don¡¯t you want to take the opportunity to show off a little?¡± At first, Elspeth wanted to turn down his suggestion, but on second thought, what the man said seemed to make sense. After all, she had suffered so many injustices over the past few days. A few minutester, they met up at the swimming pool. ¡°Why are we here?¡± Jordan¡¯s eyes were zing with passion as he eyed Elspeth up and down. ¡°I want to see you in a bikini. I¡¯ve never seen you in one before.¡± Elspeth¡¯s face turned pink instantly. ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡± ¡°Alright, I was just joking. We¡¯ve got to take some intimate pictures to provoke Callum¡¯s anger.¡± After pondering for a moment, Elspeth reluctantly epted the man¡¯s suggestion. They changed into their respective swimsuits, with Elspeth wearing a pink swimsuit that outlined her perfect figure and revealed her fair and tender skin. Then, the two took two pictures of them snuggling together. As soon as they finished taking pictures, Elspeth immediately distanced herself from Jordan. Jordanughed as she posted the photos on her Instagram with the caption, ¡®Having a great time swimming with my boyfriend.¡¯ The Instagram post instantly attracted everyone¡¯s attention. Stupefied, the Winthropsmented on it one after another. Harpermented, ¡®Wow, you finally have a good eye for men once.¡¯ Max asked, ¡®What¡¯s going on, Miss Elspeth? Who is this guy?¡¯ kemented, ¡®I wish you two happiness.¡¯ Edmundmented, ¡®Yo! I just knew you and Callum wouldn¡¯tst long.¡¯ Yelenamented, ¡®Haha! That *sshole isn¡¯t worthy of Elspeth. Your boyfriend is so handsome!¡¯ Max replied to Yelena¡¯sment. ¡®Who the hell are you calling handsome?!¡¯ Only Callum seemed not to notice the post as though he had vanished off the face of the earth. Jordan shook his head with a deep frown. ¡°It¡¯s not provoking enough.¡± Elspeth raised her eyebrows. ¡°Should we continue, then?¡± Hitting it off at once, the two went to see a movie together. Elspeth didn¡¯t pay close attention to what the movie was about, but she took a lot of pictures. After choosing a few well-lit photos, she clenched her fists and posted them on Instagram, asking, ¡°How should I caption them this time?¡± Jordan replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know. How about ¡®Let¡¯s watch movies together again in the future¡¯?¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes. ¡°How boring,¡± she said. Then, she lowered her head and continued searching for a good caption. ¡°What are you looking for?¡± Elspeth let out a chuckle. ¡°The best captions for rtionship announcement on the inte.¡± Jordan was rendered speechless. After posting the photos on Instagram, Elspeth quietly counted the number of likes andments. Suddenly, her phone rang; she took a look and was surprised to see that it was a phone call from Callum¡¯s number Chapter 211 Chapter 211 Elspeth could notprehend why Callum would call her when he was the one who said that he didn¡¯t like her anymore. She took a look at Jordan¡¯s encouraging expression, hesitating to pick up. ¡°Just pick up. Didn¡¯t you do all this just to see Callum¡¯s reaction?¡± After giving it some thought, Elspeth finally picked up the phone. However, what she heard next was not Callum¡¯s voice, but the sharp yet sweet female voice that belonged to Emma. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t waste your energy anymore, Elspeth.¡± Emma¡¯s voice carried a hint of mockery as she continued, ¡°I saw all of your posts. Oh, yes, you guessed right. I used Callum¡¯s phone.¡± Elspeth¡¯s expression turned disappointed and the light in her eyes faded. ¡°So? What are you trying to say?¡± Suddenly, Emma let out a burst of strange yet shortugh that sounded like a cat that had its tail stepped on. ¡°I wanted to tell you not to waste your energy anymore. Callum hasn¡¯t even clicked on a single one of your pictures, and if it weren¡¯t for me, nobody would even see your posts. Also, you just broke up with him, but you already found another man. Callum is too busy being disgusted with you, so do you think he¡¯d call you to ask why you were with another man?¡± Although Emma¡¯s words sounded awful to the ears, they hit the nail on the head regarding Elspeth¡¯s current situation. Suddenly, Elspeth heard the trickling sound of water from the other end of the line. Before she could decipher what it was, Emma asked in a stunned voice, ¡°Callum, aren¡¯t you done showering yet?¡± Elspeth felt her heart tighten. The next second, Callum¡¯s voice sounded over the phone. ¡°Almost.¡± Hearing that, she thoroughly gave up all hope. Taking a deep breath, she continued, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I won¡¯t disturb the both of you anymore.¡± Emma¡¯s voice was filled with gratification that she¡¯d never had before. ¡°It¡¯s good that you know. Stop embarrassing yourself in front of us.¡± This was the first time she was able to act so proudly in front of Elspeth, who wasn¡¯t even able to say anything. However, before Emma could dwell on her happiness, Elspeth¡¯s voice was heard again. ¡°But do you know why I haven¡¯t slept with Callum after all the time we¡¯ve been together?¡± Upon hearing this, Emma nearly soared with glee. It was fantastic news to her that Callum and Elspeth had not taken their rtionship to the next level yet. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because¡­¡± Elspeth lowered her voice before continuing, ¡°Callum can¡¯t get it up.¡± Pfft! Next to her, Jordan nearly choked himself on his water upon hearing her words. ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡± Although Emma berated Elspeth, she was still unable to shake off her doubts. ¡°I¡¯m not joking around. You can find out for yourself if you ask Callum, but he¡¯s prideful and sensitive, so you have to be extremely careful when you ask him. Remember, if he gets angry, it means that he¡¯s confirming it. You have to stop asking questions and just get him some supplements.¡± Emma scoffed. ¡°Stop being a busybody.¡± With that, she hung up the phone. However, Elspeth knew that she had taken her words seriously. True to her expectations, after Callum emerged from the shower, Emma asked cautiously, ¡°Callum, I want to ask you something.¡± Callum, who had just gone through a breakup, was not in the best of moods, but he still responded in a low voice, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Are you¡­cking in that area?¡± His brows furrowed at her words. ¡°What area?¡± ¡°Well¡­ Um, you know, that.¡± Immediately, Callum understood her words, and his expression darkened. ¡°What are you implying?¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Oh no, he really got angry. With that thought, Emma stered a smile on her face, but her thoughts were a frantic mess. She tactfully stopped asking more questions, but in the following days, whenever she visited Callum, she would bring an invigorating meal with her. Soon, the entire building realized that his body was ¡®not working¡¯ through the strong fragrance of the food. However, this was a story forter. After sessfully pranking Emma, Elspeth felt extremely refreshed. Meanwhile, Jordan had not recovered from her previous words, but upon seeing Elspeth¡¯s hearty smile, he found an exasperated smile appearing on his face as well. ¡°I thought Emma was really going to piss you off this time.¡± ¡°Why would I? Do you think I¡¯m someone like that? I¡¯ll always be the one watching people burn, not the other way around,¡± Elspeth said confidently. He rubbed his chin as he watched her delete her posts, feeling conflicted. ¡°What are you nning to do next?¡± She tilted her head in thought before saying, ¡°Why don¡¯t we go back to the Joneson Residence in advance? There¡¯s nothing else for me to do here, and I want to see that brat, Frank, too.¡± ¡°Before I came over, he got a beating for hiding the news rted to you.¡± Elspeth let out a bellyugh at his words. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯s the apple of the Jonesons¡¯ eye. This much is nothing.¡± Hearing that, Jordan curled his lips into a smile, his eyes darkening as he said, ¡°That¡¯s right. It was the first time I¡¯d seen Frank being scolded like that, but he still insisted on not telling anyone about you.¡± Elspeth stoppedughing, suddenly feeling touched. ¡°Then, do you think I¡¯ll still have to keep looking at him sulking if I go back now?¡± Jordan had no idea what to say,pletely rendered speechless by her words. ¡°Okay, since I¡¯m done with everything, I have nothing else to stay for. We might as well go back to ydal.¡± Jordan nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s go back together.¡± Before Elspeth left, she went to visit Yelena and the others. At the sight of Elspeth standing next to Jordan, Yelena dove into her arms tearfully. ¡°Emma just posted on Twitter, saying that she got together with Callum and they¡¯re going to be engaged soon. She even said that Callum broke up with you a long time ago. Are you okay?¡± Was Callum going to get together with Emma so soon? ¡°She¡¯s right. I broke up with Callum long ago.¡± Max stepped forward hesitatingly. ¡°Miss Elspeth, I really wanted you to be my sister-inw.¡± Elspeth smiled and sent a p across his head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Don¡¯t think about it too much. Although I can¡¯t be your sister-inw, we can still be friends. We¡¯d just meet a little less often.¡± Sensing something off about her tone, ke asked, ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°Back to ydal.¡± Yelena¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Why are you going back to ydal instead of staying in Damoria?¡± A smile appeared at the corners of Elspeth¡¯s lips as she looked at Yelena¡¯s silly expression. ¡°That¡¯s because I¡¯m part of the Joneson Family. I¡¯m going back for my engagement with Jordan.¡± Engagement? Their eyes widened at her words, and as they looked at the rtivelypatible couple, their hearts were filled with conflict. ke in particr was emanating so much disappointment that even the dazed Yelena could sense it. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, ke. ydal isn¡¯t far from Damoria, so it won¡¯t be a problem. We¡¯ll have many chances to meet.¡± ke uttered in a strained voice, ¡°I know.¡± Chapter 212 Chapter 212 After bidding the three a farewell, Elspeth began to prepare for her trip back to ydal. She had nned to make a Twitter post to announce that she was about to get engaged to Jordan in order not to look as pathetic, but she was met with Jordan¡¯s disapproval. ¡°Some people are already calling Callum an irresponsible scum, but if they find out that you¡¯re also engaged to someone else, wouldn¡¯t that ruin your credibility?¡± Jordan smiled mysteriously with a hint of imperceptible slyness as he continued, ¡°It¡¯d be better to wait a few days before posting it. Not only will it make Callum seem like a b*stard, but you can even keep up with your grieving and pitiful persona. Isn¡¯t that a better n?¡± Elspeth did not expect Jordan to have such a cunning side to him and did not know what to say in reply. However, she did agree with his idea. Upon seeing that she had given up on making a Twitter post, Jordan caressed her hair. ¡°Our engagement will eventually be exposed either way, so why not use this as a chance to teach Callum a lesson?¡± Elspeth was extremely shocked by his n. ¡°It¡¯s a shame that you aren¡¯t working in public rtions.¡± Jordan finally stoppedughing and said with a serious face, ¡°Is yourpany still hiring? If you are, I¡¯ll sign up.¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes. ¡°Oh, shut up.¡± ¡°So, why are you telling me this?¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t wrap her mind around why he would put himself in such a position for her sake. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you before? It¡¯s because I like you, and I really want to be with you.¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t quite make out the truth of Jordan¡¯s words. Looking at the smile on his face, she was unable to think that he would approach her with any other purpose, but he didn¡¯t seem particrly sincere either. That night, they took a ne back to ydal. Upon seeing howpliant Elspeth was, Michael was overjoyed and immediately allocated twenty percent of Joneson Corporation¡¯s shares to her. With the marriage between ydal¡¯s Joneson Family and Bellville¡¯s Carr Family, every powerful and influential family in ydal, Bellville, Damoria, Waterside, and even those along the coast offered their congrattions. This matter took the inte by storm as well. As Elspeth owned many different identities and had fans from different areas, the news even overpowered Emma and Callum¡¯s poprity all of a sudden. ¡®Callum really is a b*stard for getting together with Emma right after ditching Elspeth. It¡¯s a good thing that Elspeth was smart enough to run away with another guy!¡¯ ¡®You can say that again. I really thought that Emma was innocent instead of being such a disgusting and evil person. I can¡¯t believe she¡¯d steal someone else¡¯s boyfriend and be shameless enough to post about it!¡¯ ¡®The Carr Family aren¡¯t just anybody. They¡¯re wealthy and powerful, and they¡¯ve never had any scandals. Mr. Carr and Miss Lynwood really are a match made in heaven¡­¡¯ Theizens¡¯ opinions were mixed, but most of them praised Elspeth¡¯s engagement with Jordan and despised Emma and Callum¡¯s actions. Meanwhile, in Waterside, Emma was nearly driving herself up the wall. She had never expected that her hasty announcement of her rtionship with Callum would spark such a massive bashing. ¡°Callum, Elspeth is being too much. She¡¯d gotten engaged too, but she still pulled something like this to ruin our reputation!¡± Because of this issue, she lost millions of fans; nearly one-tenth of her followers unfollowed her. Callum looked at her coldly. The sharp decline in the Winthrop Family¡¯s stock market was already enough of a headache for him, but Emma just wouldn¡¯t stay silent. Upon receiving such an icy stare, Emma immediately stopped her chattering mouth. She stared nkly at Callum and swallowed. ¡°Callum, I¡­¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you announcing things in a hurry, why would your fans hate on you?¡± He rose to his feet, his demeanor turning cold as he said, ¡°I already told you not to provoke Elspeth anymore or we¡¯ll immediately break up.¡± Emma feared that Callum would break up with her the most, and she shuddered at his words. ¡°I understand, Callum. I won¡¯t mess around anymore.¡± After seeing Callum¡¯s irritated expression, Emma decided against lingering around any further and immediately returned to her hotel, where she made a call in her room. ¡°Old Mr. Joneson, you¡¯re too much. I helped you break Callum and Elspeth up, but you stabbed me in the back!¡± At her words, Michael scoffed. ¡°Isn¡¯t this your own doing? Emma, had you behaved a little, you wouldn¡¯t have been scorned.¡± ¡°You know best whom I¡¯m doing this for! Surely you don¡¯t want Elspeth to find out that her breakup was something that had been nned a long time ago, right?¡± Michael inhaled deeply and conceded, ¡°Enough, don¡¯t threaten me. I¡¯ll help you settle things, but if you cause any more fuss, don¡¯t me me for not holding back.¡± Emma gave him a panderingugh. ¡°I understand. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t bother you anymore.¡± Michael hung up mercilessly. ¡­ On the other hand, in ydal, Frank still had not been discharged from the hospital even after a month since Elspeth¡¯s departure. This was because Michael was afraid that he¡¯d mess around before he fully recovered, thus forcibly locked him up in the hospital for another two weeks. When Elspeth went to visit him in the hospital, Frank was still being forced to take his supplements. Upon noticing her arrival, he instantly pounced on her and yelped, ¡°Elspeth, hurry up and tell Grandpa that I got better a long time ago and that I can get out of bed and y now!¡± Truthfully, as Elspeth looked at his pitiful expression, she had to stifle herughter. ¡°Okay, I got it. I¡¯ll deal with it for you, but before that, you have to wait here obediently.¡± Frank¡¯s excited expression immediately disappeared and he sat in a corner, sulking. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. A long pauseter, upon seeing that Elspeth was not intending tofort him at all, he immediately deted. ¡°Okay. Let me ask you something now. Why did you break up with Callum?¡± Elspeth knocked his head. ¡°Didn¡¯t you read the news?¡± Frank huffed. ¡°Why would Callum suddenly move on to someone else when he likes you so much? I think there must be a misunderstanding somewhere.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I used to think as well.¡± Elspeth¡¯s eyes darkened as she spoke. ¡°But I¡¯ve asked him and sought confirmation many times, and I know that¡¯s not the case. He really couldn¡¯t forget about Emma.¡± Thinking that he had stepped on her weak point, Frank became frantic. ¡°Okay, it¡¯s fine. Jordan is genuinely a good man too. Besides being obsessed with work, everything else about him is quite all right.¡± Besides being obsessed with work¡­ Elspeth curled her lips at the thought. What a good hobby to have if you ask me. ¡°It¡¯s true. You might not believe this, but Jordan has sessfully sat in his office for 32 hours straight without moving before. He nearly turned into a wooden statue then.¡± Elspeth was reminded of Callum, who was a workaholic as well. It was currently three in the afternoon, and ording to his habits, he must be having a meeting. He liked to drink coffee during his meetings ¡ªa cup of bitter Americano without sugar. Great, I¡¯m thinking about Callum again. ¡°But¡­ Jordan had a first love too.¡± Chapter 213 Chapter 213 ¡°So, he had a first love. What about it?¡± ¡°That was three years ago, but the girl went missing. He liked her back then and spent a long time looking for her, but unfortunately, she passed away. Because of this, he became depressed before he ced all his focus on his work. That¡¯s why he managed to make thepany such a huge sess in two years.¡± That means that Jordan is a fool in love too, Elspeth mused. ¡°All right, let¡¯s stop talking about this. Since you¡¯re already seeing each other, you should enjoy your time together. Anyway, I think that the two of you are quite simr.¡± Elspeth shook her head with a smile. ¡°Two people who are simr to one another can¡¯t be together. If the person I¡¯m dating is like me, what¡¯s the point of dating them?¡± Different things could only be gained from two people who could make up for each other¡¯s ws, after all. ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°Okay, I was just saying. Don¡¯t overthink it.¡± She stood up and continued, ¡°I promise to tell Old Mr. Joneson to have you discharged from the hospital. Right, I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡± ¡°So soon? Stay and talk to me a bit longer, will you? It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve talked to someone my age. That old geezer whoes to check on me every day keeps forcing me to take my medicine. I can barely take it anymore.¡± Elspeth turned around with a bright smile. ¡°Shall I find some pretty nurses for you, then?¡± Frank¡¯s expression instantly darkened at her words. ¡°Shut up.¡± Soon, Elspeth learned of another piece of news. It seemed that someone was behind the scandal between Callum and Emma this time, fanning the mes and aggravating the situation. Because of this, things at Winthrop Group were getting out of hand. Although Elspeth did not intend to interfere with Callum¡¯s affairs, she had put too much effort into Winthrop Group that she couldn¡¯t just sit back and do nothing. Hence, she immediately called Callum. ¡°Did you find out who¡¯s behind all this?¡± ¡°I did. It¡¯s Alphascape Group and Arthur¡¯s work,¡± Callum said, his exhaustion seeping through his voice. ¡°Then, what are you going to do?¡± He replied nonchntly, ¡°I¡¯ll go with the flow.¡± Elspeth immediately burst with anger at his words. ¡°Go with the flow? What are you thinking, Callum? Are you going to let Winthrop Group fall into ruin just like this?¡± ¡°That¡¯s all I can do for now.¡± Elspeth sneered. ¡°You have so many better ns, so why don¡¯t you solve the problem? Didn¡¯t we have proof of Alphascape Groupmitting tax fraud? Why are you¡­¡± Before she could finish, Elspeth came to a sudden stop, realizing that she was the only one who had the evidence of Alphascape Groupmitting tax frauds, and the photos as well as the recording were still on her phone to this day. However, because he had greatly wronged her, he would not seek her help at all and would rather watch Winthrop Group fall. ¡°Callum, I¡¯ll send the evidence to you.¡± However, she froze upon seeing that she had been blocked on WhatsApp. ¡°I¡­ forgot to block your phone number. From now on, don¡¯t call me anymore.¡± Elspeth had no idea what he was thinking when he said that. He hung up the phone after speaking, and when she called him again, the call no longer went through. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Callum, I¡¯ll help you for onest time. She took a deep breath and suppressed her mixed feelings as she looked up the phone number of Alphascape Group headquarters. After getting the evidencest time, she used all kinds of methods to grind away Zain¡¯s interest. ¡°Hello, who is this?¡± A familiar voice sounded on the other end of the phone. It was Dominic, whom she had never seen in a very long time. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Mr. Little.¡± The voice immediately turned somber. ¡°Elspeth?¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Little. I see you still remember me.¡± Dominic was clearly not in a good mood. Having been cheatedst time, he was still reluctant to believe that this sultry-looking woman was actually hiding so many tricks up her sleeve. ¡°Aren¡¯t you about to marry into the Carr Family? Why are you still in the mood to call me?¡± Elspethughed slyly. ¡°I have something to ask of you this time, of course. You¡¯re the ones behind Winthrop Group¡¯s scandal, aren¡¯t you?¡± A hint of difort could be heard in Dominic¡¯s voice. ¡°What are you talking about? That¡¯s impossible.¡± ¡°You should know a hundred times better than I do as to whether you did it or not. I don¡¯t care how you nned this whole thing and thus framed Winthrop Group, but from now on, I don¡¯t want to see any more negative news about Winthrop Group.¡± Dominicughed heartily. ¡°What are you talking about? What makes you think you can order me around, Elspeth?¡± ¡°Because I have proof of Alphascape Groupmitting tax fraud in my hands.¡± The moment she said that, Elspeth knew for certain that Dominic¡¯s expression must¡¯ve darkened. ¡°Why should I believe you?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, Mr. Little, I can read it out loud for you.¡± With that, Elspeth immediately started reading out the annual summary of their transactions. She hadn¡¯t realized earlier, but only then did she find out that Alphascape Group had evaded such arge amount of taxes. Dominic started sweating profusely at her words. ¡°Okay, enough. Stop reading it.¡± ¡°Do you believe me now?¡± He hurriedly said, ¡°Yes, yes, I¡¯ll take care of the news about Winthrop Group now! But you have to promise me that you won¡¯t tell anyone about a single thing you just said to me!¡± Elspeth agreed with a smile. The people at Alphascape Group were rather efficient workers. She had just sat down for a rest when she saw on the news that Winthrop Group¡¯s name had been cleared. I suppose he won¡¯t have to worry as much now. We¡¯re over, Callum. ¡­ Back in Damoria, it had been a long time since Matthewst saw Callum, and when he finally managed to look for him in his office, he saw Callum standing by the window, spacing out in silence. ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Callum snapped back to his senses at his voice, revealing a tired smile as he looked at Matthew¡¯s face. ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°Well, what do we have here? Mr. Winthrop usually looks so arrogant every time he sees me. Why did he smile at me today?¡± Matthew¡¯s words carried a hint of teasing. ¡°I saw that Winthrop Group¡¯s crisis had been lifted. You really are the real deal for dealing with those geezers at Alphascape Group without saying a word. News coverage of Winthrop Group¡¯s vindication was everywhere today, did you know that? Even Mr. Little personally made an appearance to defend yourpany.¡± Callum¡¯s eyebrows furrowed. ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you see the news?¡± Callum naturally did not see it. His thoughts were in turmoil, Winthrop Group¡¯s finances were tanking, and he had pulled the plug on Elspeth, so there was no time to spend on useless scandals. However, the moment he saw the news, he froze. A person popped up in his mind immediately, and without thinking, he knew that this was Elspeth¡¯s handiwork. ¡°It wasn¡¯t you?¡± Matthew scratched his head and asked, ¡°Then, who helped Winthrop Group out of its crisis this time?¡± Callum¡¯s eyes had just met his when he immediately came to a realization. ¡°Elspeth?¡± Callum remained silent. ¡°Say, don¡¯t you regret losing such a loving person?¡± Callum still didn¡¯t reply, but a trace of hurt shed past his eyes. After seeing him looking so downcast, Matthew ced both of his hands on his shoulders and asked with shining eyes, ¡°Why don¡¯t we steal the bride?¡± Chapter 214 Chapter 214 A trace of an unidentifiable emotion churned in Callum¡¯s eyes. ¡°Get out.¡± Matthew¡¯s newly ignited enthusiasm was extinguished at once, and he awkwardly rubbed his nose. ¡°I¡¯m just kidding, and you¡¯re the one who¡¯s supposed to steal the bride anyway.¡± ¡°Why should I?¡± Matthew looked at him with a frustrated expression. ¡°You obviously like Elspeth, so why don¡¯t you just stay with her? Although I don¡¯t know why you want to be with Emma, anyone with decent eyes can see that you don¡¯t have any feelings for her at all.¡± Was it that obvious? Callum touched his face, his expression shifting. ¡°My mom was kidnapped by Michael. He told me to break up with Elspeth and let her get engaged back home.¡± Matthew¡¯s eyes widened at his words. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier something this important?¡± ¡°Telling you won¡¯t change anything.¡± ¡°Even if you didn¡¯t tell me, you should¡¯ve told Elspeth. Callum, did you really think that she wouldn¡¯t understand?¡± Callum¡¯s eyes darkened. For the first time, he actually had the slightest idea of backing out. ¡°If I can be threatened once because of my family, then there will be many more times. A rtionship like this would be nothing but endless agony for Elspeth.¡± Upon thinking of Jordan, he curled his lips. ¡°Jordan is not bad either.¡± Matthew held back the urge to p him across the face and said, ¡°You¡¯re Callum Winthrop, not just anyone else. If you can¡¯t even get the girl you like, why are you still alive? Might as well just give up on life.¡± Callum looked at him, suddenly at a loss for words. ¡°So, you have to make everything clear. You have no time for regrets. Elspeth isn¡¯t like other girls. She definitely can solve any problems with you.¡± Callum¡¯s heart drummed at his words. He was suddenly at a loss. Breaking up with Elspeth, was that what he really wanted? ¡°Besides, you don¡¯t even know what kind of person Jordan is. If Elspeth gets picked on in the future, you¡­¡± ¡°I got it.¡± Matthew was taken aback. ¡°What did you get?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s steal the bride.¡± Immediately, Matthew choked on his own saliva. ¡°Do you understand what you¡¯re saying? I was merely making a joke. I wasn¡¯t telling you to actually do it.¡± However, Callum only looked at him indifferently. ¡°Okay, you can go back if you have no more business here.¡± Upon seeing his sudden change in mood, Matthew felt confused. However, Callum had already chased him out, so he had no choice but to keep his mouth shut and leave. The preparation work for Elspeth¡¯s engagement party wasplete, and the ceremony would be held the next day. That night, Elspeth was taking a walk in the garden outside the Joneson Residence for some fresh air while calling Yelena to report on the schedule. Just as she was about to return to bed, she suddenly saw a figure tumbling in from outside the fence. rmed, she quietly hid behind the rockery and watched the figure when she inexplicably felt a sense of familiarity. Just then, she saw the man¡¯s watch reflecting a light blue glow in the dim light and instantly knew who it was. Instead of shouting for help, she sneaked up to his side. Elspeth immediately stepped forward and pressed a hand over the person¡¯s mouth with a sneer. ¡°Callum, what are you doing here?¡± Although he had been easily discovered by Elspeth, Callum didn¡¯t say anything. Instead, he grabbed her wrist and brought her into his arms. As he was extremely strong, she couldn¡¯t even move a muscle, but she could feel that he was holding her very tightly as if he wanted to take her into his own body. ¡°Don¡¯t get engaged.¡± Elspeth took a deep breath. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because I love you.¡± ¡°Your words seem really flimsy right now, Callum. I really don¡¯t know how to keep talking to you.¡± Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Callum¡¯s eyes were filled with affection and pain as he said, ¡°There¡¯s a reason why I treated you like that. I¡­¡± ¡°Because Mrs. Winthrop was kidnapped, so you had to keep quiet and force me to break up. Later, you really ended up doing it, right?¡± Elspeth¡¯s words greatly astonished him. ¡°How did you know that?¡± ¡°Of course, I do. Grandfather told me everything the first day I came back.¡± Elspethughed lightly before she sighed. ¡°But honestly, I didn¡¯t think you would keep everything to yourself. Grandfather was right. You don¡¯t even dare to stay with me, so who are you to make me your own?¡± ¡°I just don¡¯t want you to keep living this vtile life with me.¡± A crack appeared on Callum¡¯s normally calm expression. ¡°If Old Mr. Joneson can stand in the way of this once, there will be a next time, and countless times more. I can¡¯t predict what else he will use to threaten me in the future. Instead of having to face that, I¡¯d rather let you be happy.¡± Elspeth smiled bitterly. ¡°Happy? You think being with Jordan is happy? Callum, I¡¯ve been through so much with you, and I haven¡¯t even uttered a singleint. Yet, you insisted on pushing me away.¡± ¡°Callum, I do not wish to be with you anymore.¡± Elspeth¡¯s words struck hard at Callum¡¯s heart, and his face turned pale all of a sudden. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m the coward,¡± he apologized, slowly letting go of her hand. Elspeth watched him behaving like this, feeling inexplicably frustrated. Before he arrived, she¡¯d sworn to herself that she would never forgive him. However, when he actually arrived, there was an indescribable bitterness in her heart. Frankly, the moment she saw such a prideful man like him wretchedly scaling the wall toe in, her heart instantly softened. ¡°Callum.¡± That single word was like a gentle tap on Callum¡¯s heart. ¡°What?¡± ¡°The first time I found out that Mrs. Winthrop was kidnapped, I went looking around and found out where she was. I have already taken care of her issue, and I can take her away anytime. Now, I only have one thing to say to you.¡± Callum¡¯s breaths turned heavy. ¡°Tell me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you a chance to take me away.¡± Elspeth gazed into his eyes that were glowing brightly under the moonlight. Suddenly, Callum smiled. ¡°Okay, I will.¡± The next day was the engagement party, and Elspeth escaped in the middle of the night. Her friendly rtionship with Michael in the past few days made him think that she was going to stay obediently in the Joneson Residence and get married, so he lowered his guard. As a result, this turned out to be the perfect time for the two to escape. With Elspeth¡¯s escape, the engagement party could not be held. Michael was furious, and the Joneson Family became the joke of ydal and even all of high society. After learning the news of Elspeth¡¯s escape, the male lead of the engagement party, Jordan, turned pale. Seeing that Jordan seemed to be in a bad mood, Michael patted him on the shoulder as if tofort him. ¡°Listen, Jordan, you have nothing to worry about. I promise to make it up to you.¡± Jordan¡¯s lips curled into an eerie smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll personally bring Elspeth back.¡± Chapter 215 Chapter 215 Elspeth followed Callum to a ce that Michael could never have thought about. In FX Club, Keh looked at her cheery face and shrank backward. ¡°So, you decided toe to my ce?¡± ¡°Keh, we¡¯re buddies, aren¡¯t we? You won¡¯t leave me alone, right?¡± Elspeth blinked her eyes pitifully. ¡°The thing is, Grandpa will kill me if he finds out.¡± Although Keh was unwilling to visit home usually, he still feared Michael. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t sell you out.¡± At the moment, this club was the safest ce for them. As long as they escaped Michael¡¯s search, they would be able to solve this matter when the storm subsided after some time. When Birdy and the others who had yed with her previously saw Elspeth, they were ted. ¡°Elspeth, don¡¯t leave now that you¡¯re here and stay in our team. Trust me, you¡¯ll go viral,¡± Birdy suggested with a grin. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Carrot nodded and took out his phone. ¡°Miss Idol, I¡¯ve been livestreaming recently. After you left, I gained a few thousand more followers. I think I¡¯m close to a million followers!¡± Elspeth chortled. ¡°Livestreaming? What for?¡± ¡°Well, not only can you interact with your fans through livestreaming, but you can also¡­ earn money!¡± Susy gave him a yful p on the arm. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to him. He doesn¡¯t even earn that much.¡± The group was just chatting when Elspeth received a call from Harper all of a sudden. ¡°Bad news, Elspeth! Thepany¡¯s in trouble!¡± Harper sounded panicked as if he was facing a huge crisis. ¡°The Joneson Corporation is cracking down on ourpany, and it¡¯s really causing a considerable impact. We¡¯re now facing a shortage of funds.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t we take out a loan?¡± Harper hesitated before saying, ¡°I did try to take out a loan, but they said that Old Mr. Joneson had issued an order not to lend any money to Azure Corporation.¡± Not to lend any money to Azure Corporation¡­ Elspeth¡¯s brows furrowed. She realized that things had be trickier than she expected. ¡°Take care of things first and appease the staff. As for the money, I¡¯lle up with a solution.¡± After hanging up, she looked at Callum and sighed. He nned for her to go under the radar for some time, but his idea was rejected. ¡°Why should I hide? I will show myself to everyone as I like.¡± Although Callum was taken aback, he could understand. After all, this was Elspeth¡¯s way of dealing with things. ¡°Then, what are you nning to do?¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t answer immediately but turned her gaze to Carrot instead, her lips curling into a smile. ¡°Start a livestream.¡± Upon hearing the word livestream, Carrot instantly sprung up from his seat. ¡°Elspeth, you¡¯re gonna livestream?¡± ¡°Yeah. Mypany is in debt now, and we can¡¯t take out a loan, so I can only try livestreaming.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great! I¡¯ll teach you!¡± However, Elspeth shook her head. ¡°No need for that. I have an ount.¡± Just as Carrot was looking at her in confusion, Elspeth logged into an ount with a single word in its name¡ªMist. However, after he saw the number of followers, Carrot¡¯s eyes nearly bulged out of his skull. ¡°Eight million?!¡± He had a slight recollection of this streamer. She never showed her face, but her voice was exceptionally pleasing to the ear. Her streaming activities included chatting with her audience, ying games, and posting vlogs. Either way, she was engaged in various fields. However, just by relying on the variety of genres she offered, she managed to gain eight million followers in one fell swoop, bing the most popr inte celebrity at the time, and just her ount alone fetched a price of 100 million. ¡°You¡¯re Mist?¡± Carrot¡¯s eyes gleamed as he said, ¡°You can make up for yourpany¡¯s losses just by selling your ount, much less livestreaming. You can definitely do this, Miss Idol!¡± However, Keh became conflicted. ¡°If you start a livestream, won¡¯t you easily expose that you¡¯re at my ce?¡± Elspeth curled her lips into a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I don¡¯t show my face in my livestreams, so they won¡¯t be able to find me. Besides, not many people know it¡¯s me.¡± A corner of Callum¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°Yes, even I had no idea when I spend day and night with you.¡± When she turned around and saw Callum¡¯s conflicted gaze, Elspethughed dryly. ¡°I just didn¡¯t have time to tell you. You know how many identities I have.¡± After everything he¡¯d been through, Callum had long since gotten used to her multiple identities. ¡°Okay, since it¡¯s a livestream, let¡¯s make it nine o¡¯clock tonight. Hm¡­ what should we do for the livestream?¡± Before Elspeth coulde up with an idea, Carrot immediately shot to his feet. ¡°Video games!¡± He had a point. Streaming games was a good idea while they were in the club. Elspeth smiled. ¡°Sure. In that case, I have a n.¡± As soon as she said that, she turned her attention to Keh and smiled eerily at him. ¡°Why are you looking at me?¡± ¡°The theme of our livestream tonight is to challenge all the members of FX Club.¡± Keh¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Are you seriously going to fight all the members of FX Club?¡± Elspeth was picking her ears. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is that bad? Right, Keh, you¡¯ll be thest one, or I¡¯m afraid that they won¡¯t fight me.¡± Keh was rendered speechless. However, now that things hade to this, he had no other choice but to helplessly agree to her n. He posted it in the club¡¯s public group chat, and as soon as he was done, the club members were abuzz with excitement. The live challenge sounded thrilling just from the thought of it. In particr, those who were curious about Elspeth¡¯s real skills were rubbing their fists together, wanting topete with her. Once the clock struck nine, the livestream started. As Elspeth looked at the rapidly rising number of viewers, she slowly curled her lips into a smile. Within minutes, there were already a hundred thousand viewers. Once a sizable crowd had gathered, Elspeth¡¯s sweet voice sounded from the livestream. ¡°Hello, everyone! So nice to meet all of you here! Today, I¡¯m starting this livestream just to host a small little challenge. Enjoy the show and give some gifts if you can.¡± The moment she finished speaking, the viewers immediately began buying her gifts. ¡®Mist, will you give me your number if I give you thirty Universes?¡¯ Elspethughed sultrily. ¡°Sir, if you give me a hundred, I¡¯ll tell you whether I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± ¡®Hahahaha!¡¯ The chat was filled withughter at her words. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s cut to the chase and start the challenge.¡± Elspeth looked at the first person who challenged her and quietly judged them for being an unranked yer. ¡®Miss Elspeth, I¡¯m a huge fan of yours. You¡¯re so good at ying Daphne. Can I y a round against you?¡¯ Elspethughed. ¡°Of course, you can.¡± After decisively selecting Daphne and joining the game, Elspeth was surprised to see that the person had also picked the same character. All of a sudden, the game turned interesting as the two same characters fought against each other. Soon, the number of concurrent viewers reached three hundred thousand. Chapter 216 Chapter 216 Despite the opponent¡¯s superior skills, Elspeth held the upper hand. The opponent agreed to surrender five minutester. The first game got off to a strong start, so the viewers gave gifts one after another. In a short period, Elspeth had received gifts nearly worth 700 thousand, but it was not enough. The second individual stated he admired Elspeth but was too weak to make it through the first few minutes. Elspeth¡¯s abilities astounded everyone; some even wanted to be her apprentice. Many teams heard the news and urged her to join their team, offering a high fee of 15 million. However, Elspeth did not answer and calmly ordered, ¡°Next.¡± Her voice was clear and melodious, which was enjoyable to listen to. Someizens became envious when seeing her receiving numerouspliments. ¡®I know many folks with good voices and excellent gaming skills, but they are not attractive. They feel inferior in real life, so they seek to prove their importance online.¡¯ These words immediately resonated with many people. ¡®That¡¯s right. People I know are the same way. They have a wonderful voice but are as obese and ugly.¡¯ ¡®My online dating partner is also the same. Gosh, he¡¯s fugly. I¡¯m fine with it though as long as he doesn¡¯t show his face. I¡¯ll just imagine him as whomever his avatar is.¡¯ Some others came up in support of Elspeth. ¡®You guys are simply envious of her. This streamer must be pretty. She is not the type with a cute voice. I bet she is a beautiful mature woman.¡¯ Carrot had seen Elspeth and didn¡¯t want anyone to speak ill of her. ¡®I saw the streamer herself. She is stunning. I adore her!¡¯ So, one started to argue. ¡®You¡¯re a simp!¡¯ Carrot flushed with rage. ¡®Rightfully so!¡¯ Elspeth was unable to moderate the growing live chat. As the viewers fought, the number of watchers in the stream progressively increased, eventually reaching five million. The number of followers was also growing. It was projected that there would be more than 100 million fans after the stream. Everyone mored for Elspeth¡¯s face to be revealed. As a result, Elspeth grinned. ¡°I will do a face reveal if I receive a total of fifty million today.¡± As a result, the audience became agitated. It was inconceivable for a streamer to receive gifts worth fifty million. As a result, the viewer assumed Elspeth was just bluffing and unwilling to reveal her face. Elspeth grinned and resumed her game. Keh was the final opponent. He was extremely popr, with tens of millions of followers. As a result, when they matched, it quickly drew another batch of viewers. The number of viewers eventually surpassed tens of millions. He chose his favorite character. On the other hand, Elspeth chose another character at random whose weakness was Keh¡¯s hero. In other words, if Elspeth were at Keh¡¯s level, she would lose. He sat beside Elspeth. So, he was taken aback when she chose that hero. ¡°What do you do if you lose, Elspeth?¡± Elspeth smiled with her sluggish face. ¡°I¡¯m not going to lose.¡± So, they began the game. Elspeth was at a disadvantage in the beginning. However, as she umted gold and experience, she gained momentum. ¡°Sorry, not sorry.¡± As she said, she defeated Keh and destroyed his base. Keh had always been the ranking¡¯s champion. So, after defeating him, Elspeth became the invincible yer. The chatroom was bing animated. After all, Keh was vanquished by an unknown female streamer. Before they could react, they learned another bit of news. The total tip amount in the stream had crossed fifty million! And very soon, it climbed to one hundred and fifty million. The gift count had surged and was still on the increase. Nobody expected the tip to exceed ten million dors. Elspeth broke the record. Several people contributed significantly to such an achievement. This time, Elspeth¡¯s fans persisted, urging her to reveal her face. She kept her promise and turned on the camera as the stream ended. A beautiful face with delicate makeup appeared in front of the viewers. Everyone was taken aback. E- Elspeth?! Soon, an unusual dialogue happened in the chat. ¡®Isn¡¯t she Nancy Star?¡¯ ¡°No, she¡¯s not! She¡¯s the e-sport queen, Elsie!¡± ¡°Shut up. She¡¯s Rarity!¡± ¡°What exactly are you saying? You foolish followers, she¡¯s the president of Azure Corporation!¡± ¡°No, she¡¯s the Jonesons¡¯ missing grandchild! You don¡¯t even watch the news!¡± Looking at the fight on the chat, Elspeth felt a headache. ¡°Alright, everyone, stop arguing.¡± The discussion quickly went silent after Elspeth spoke. However, it became berserk again after three seconds of stillness. ¡®Elspeth, you must begin streaming more frequently from now on. Next time, I¡¯ll send you lots of Universe!¡¯ Elspeth smiled. The stream was cut off before she could say anything. She could only see a line of words as the screen turned ck. ¡®Your stream was reported and discovered to vite our Terms of Service (TOS) or Community Guidelines.¡¯ Elspeth received a message on her cell phone the very next second. ¡®I know you¡¯re streaming, Elspeth. ¡®Don¡¯t even consider making money through a stream.¡¯ It was from Michael. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. That¡¯s not polite. Elspeth frowned and blocked him. Do you want to drive me up the wall? Fine. I don¡¯t think you should me me for being rude, then. Then, Elspeth sent a short video. ¡°I sincerely apologize to my followers. For whatever reason, the Joneson family has forced me to marry and tried to shut down my business. So, I have to do livestreaming. Unfortunately, my stream was reported yet again.¡± She did not say the cause of the report. However, herments were sufficient to exin everything. Because the stream had been halted, everyone was waiting for Elspeth to make an announcement. As soon as she did, thement section went wild. At that moment, everyone knew Michael had forced Elspeth to marry. He even tried to shut down her business. Thus, manyizens took to the Joneson Corporation¡¯s official Twitter ount to scream and curse. ¡®You¡¯re a jerk for mistreating your grandchild!¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t understand. It is not your concern who your granddaughter dates or marries. Why are you forcing her?¡¯ ¡®I will never buy anything from the Joneson Corporation again!¡¯ ¡®Elspeth is a genius in various fields. Us Elspeth supporters are normally peaceful, but we won¡¯t hesitate to defend her.¡¯ Even though Joneson Corporation was a massive corporation active in various businesses, Elspeth¡¯s fans had managed to boycott Joneson Corporation¡¯s businesses. Their performance across numerous industries began to deteriorate. Michael was bing increasingly preupied. ¡°We are receiving tons of jewelry refunds, Mr. Joneson!¡± ¡°Mr. Joneson, people are withdrawing themselves from the games. The gamepanies said they are copsing!¡± ¡°There¡¯s a crowd demonstrating in front of thepany, Mr. Joneson!¡± ¡°Mr. Joneson¡ª¡± ¡°Bring Elspeth here!¡± Michael eximed aggressively as he pushed a flowerpot to the ground. Chapter 217 Chapter 217 Needless to say, Michael could not find Elspeth at all. After he searched through every part of ydal and Damoria¡ªand even Frank¡¯s territory¡ªnot even her shadow was found. Now that Joneson Corporation was decimated, Michael had no choice but to make an official statement that he would not intervene in Elspeth¡¯s marriage and career, giving her the liberty to maneuver her life. It finally appeased the fans as they let the Jonesons off the hook. Elspeth released a short clip to tell everyone that she had forgiven him. Her cheeky counter made his blood pressure spike to the roof, resulting in his hospitalization. When the news reached her ears, she was relieved that he would not get in her way for a long time. Today was the day Elspeth and Callum returned to Damoria. While Callum was in the middle of an online meeting, Elspeth received a message from Frank. ¡®Elspeth, there¡¯s something I haven¡¯t told you. Could you drop by the coffeehouse?¡¯ It was surprising and doubtful, but she prepped up to go to the coffeehouse, nevertheless. A pall of ominous air shrouded the garage. Before she could enter her car, someone brusquely grabbed her wrist. She realized it a little toote because the intruder¡¯s hand had reached over and covered her face first. A strong smell wafted her nose, and drowsiness sat upon her eyelid. Watching Elspeth fall in a swoon, the intruder heaved a sigh and looked at the man standing at the side. ¡°We got her.¡± Jordan sneered. ¡°Good. Bring her to my ce.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡­ By the time Elspeth regained her consciousness, she was fettered on a bed. Jordan, who was standing nearby, zeroed in on her like she was a masterpiece. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Elspeth.¡± A nervous Elspeth put on a calm face. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you¡¯re like this, Jordan. Are you angry because I didn¡¯t get engaged with you?¡± ¡°You still have the heart to joke, huh?¡± It was the same old smile he had on his face, but a tinge of menace traced his lips. ¡°I brought you here because I need your help.¡± At the sight of that deranging eyes, she cursed inwardly but dared not enrage him. ¡°What kind of help?¡± ¡°You know, it¡¯s about my first love. Frank should¡¯ve told you about her, right?¡± Her gaze dimmed. ¡°Isn¡¯t she dead a long time ago?¡± ¡°Yup. She¡¯s supposed to be dead.¡± The glint in Jordan¡¯s eyes zed over. ¡°Let me tell you a story.¡± She was not in the mood to listen to it. ¡°Just kill me or zip it, Jordan.¡± ¡°Hear me out. You might be able to depart this life in peace after that.¡± In peace? He must be outta his mind. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ¡°She¡¯s a wonderful person like you. Confident; pretty; and bright, but she¡¯s not as calctive as you are. Can you believe someone like her was diagnosed with scurvy? Her blood is special, so they can¡¯t find the right donor for her. She needs to undergo many treatments for her dear life.¡± ¡°So what? Are you trying to save her life with mine?¡± she retorted coldly. Cruelty and an unfathomable glint shed across his bright eyes. ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ve been looking for that very person for a long time. I performed a DNA test with your hair, and to my surprise, you¡¯re the most suitable option.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that she¡¯ll hate you after knowing what you will do to me?¡± Jordan¡¯s expression did not change. ¡°Let her be. My only objective is to save her. Besides, no one will know even if you¡¯re dead.¡± ¡°Do you actually think that you can kill me?¡± He looked at her empty hand. There was no ring now. ¡°Your smart ring and phone have been destroyed. Whom are you trying to call for help?¡± Elspeth¡¯s heart squeezed. There was nothing she could do, but she did not want to yield that easily. Suddenly, Jordan¡¯s phone rang. ¡°Mr. Carr, the doctor said that we have to put off the blood transfusion first. Elspeth¡ª¡± ¡°What about Elspeth?¡± He frowned. ¡°She¡¯s too thin. She might lose her life in the middle of the transfusion.¡± Jordan did not expect that to be the reason for postponing the operation. At the same time, Elspeth had an idea upon overhearing their conversation. He looked at her with knitted brows. ¡°You better be good and take your meals from today onwards. The butler will serve you food ordingly.¡± ¡°On one condition¡ªset me free from the bed.¡± She smiled. ¡°No can do.¡± He pinched her cheek, smiling. ¡°You one sly kitty. I will never let you go that easily.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll starve.¡± The indifference in his gaze morphed into ire. ¡°And I¡¯ll kill you without anyone knowing.¡± ¡°You¡¯re crazy!¡± she barked. ¡°Thanks for thepliment. If you¡¯re saying that I¡¯m a madman who sacrifices for his love, I dly ept it.¡± He rose to his feet, intending to leave. ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± She red at him. He checked his wristwatch, which showed 12.00PM¡ªit was indeed lunch time. ¡°The butler will bring you something soon. The room is soundproof and here is the only residence around the area, so save it if you¡¯re gonna scream for help.¡± Jordan left thereafter, leaving Elspeth firmly shackled on the bed. On the other hand, an anxious Callum noticed her disappearance. He searched everywhere she could¡¯ve been, but in vain. Harper rushed all the way to ydal upon knowing the news. ¡°Where was thest time anyone saw her?¡± Callum inhaled a deep breath. ¡°The garage at the basement, but the car is still there. And there¡¯s no suspicious vehicle around. ¡± ¡°That mean¡¯s she¡¯s kidnapped, right?¡± ¡°Yes, but I can¡¯t think of anyone at the moment.¡± A figure seeped into Harper¡¯s mind. ¡°Could it be Arthur?¡± ¡°No. If it¡¯s him, he would¡¯ve brought Elspeth here to threaten me by now. She is never his target.¡± Then, who else could it be? The only person that hasn¡¯t revealed himself ever since we eloped is¡­ Callum¡¯s eyes lit up as he grasped the situation. ¡°I know who.¡± ¡°Who?¡± asked the dubious Harper. Callum¡¯s low voice sounded urgent. ¡°Harper, find out where Jordan lives. Get all the addresses, including his assets. Quick!¡± Chapter 218 Chapter 218 Elspeth did not have a good time in the bungalow over the following days. She was forced into eating various kinds of food and having her weight measured, yet things did not go as Jordan expected. Her body weight did not change but instead began to decrease. One day when her blood had just been drawn and she felt very weak, someone came in to deliver her meals. She thought it was the butler but as she focused on the person, she realized it was a young girl. She looked pale and sickly, yet her eyes were bright and she looked very sweet and attractive. ¡°Who are you?¡± Before Elspeth could ask the question, the girl did it first. ¡°I¡¯m Elspeth Lynwood.¡± Elspeth looked at her and made a bold assumption. ¡°Who¡¯re you?¡± The girl smiled shyly. ¡°I¡¯m Angie Moone.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with Jordan?¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. The girl froze at the mention of him. ¡°He¡¯s my boyfriend.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re his first love?¡± She grew more embarrassed at the question. ¡°I am, but why are you here?¡± Elspeth¡¯s limbs had been cuffed, which looked somewhat terrifying. Angie hadn¡¯t had much life experience since she had been under Jordan¡¯s protection in the bungalow after bing of age, and the sight scared her a little. Sensing her kindness, Elspeth immediately realized that this was someone that she could recruit and abruptly put on a hurt expression. ¡°I was captured. Can you help me?¡± When it came to such a young girl, eliciting her sympathy should be sufficient. ¡°That b*stard Jordan kidnapped you?¡± Angie stared at Elspeth, who looked close to tears, and asked sympathetically, ¡°Don¡¯t cry. Can you tell me why he did that?¡± Elspeth nced at her weakly, sounding pained. ¡°Because of you.¡± Angie was stunned as suspicion rose inside her. ¡°Is he nning on using your blood for my blood transfusion?¡± Elspeth nodded, remaining silent. ¡°That b*stard¡ª¡± Angie¡¯s voice immediately started shaking. ¡°He told me yesterday that I will have a blood donor soon and it¡¯ll be donated voluntarily by someone approaching death. I didn¡¯t think¡­¡± She looked at Elspeth, whose wrists had already be blistered due to her lengthy capture, and felt more guilt and dismay. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will never use your blood. Let me talk with Jordan and I¡¯ll discuss this with him properly.¡± Elspeth opened her mouth. ¡°Or you can help me¡ª¡± The door opened before she could finish. Elspeth immediately had a bad feeling when she saw Jordan standing in the doorway. When he saw Angie inside the room, a look of surprise crossed his features. ¡°Angie, you¡ª¡± Angie rose at once, looking furious. ¡°Jordan, how can you do this? Elspeth is a living, breathing person, yet you want her as a donor for my blood transfusion?¡± Jordan did not show any reaction, nor did he look awkward at being exposed. ¡°But I have no other way.¡± ¡°So, you can just kill someone in exchange for my life?¡± Angie¡¯s using voice echoed in the room, making Elspeth feel touched. Elspeth was definitely willing to donate blood for Angie¡¯s blood transfusion if Angie really had a terminal illness and was about to die. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, her life isn¡¯t valuable.¡± He moved forward and gently put an arm around Angie¡¯s waist as if he was afraid of breaking her. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to live like a normal person and not take your medication? I promised to heal you, so I will never let anything happen to you.¡± Angie¡¯s tears began to fall. ¡°But I don¡¯t want this. I want to live like a normal person without sacrificing others.¡± ¡°Elspeth¡¯s weak and has a terminal illness. Don¡¯t feel so guilty.¡± She shouted angrily, ¡°Liar!¡± Jordan moved his hand upward slowly to stroke the back of her head. In the next instant, he used a knife hand strike to make her faint. ¡°She¡¯s too kind and will easily be fooled by you.¡± He carried Angie¡¯s limp body and looked at her face lovingly. ¡°I will save her, no matter the price.¡± He took Angie away, and the girl never showed up again after that. Soon, Elspeth¡¯s weight reached the stage where she could undergo the surgery. She was taken for a shower before beingid on the operating table. Her hands and feet were bound by heavy cuffs, making her unable to move. She could only wait for someone to save her. She was injected with the anesthetic and as she watched the thin needle about to prate her skin, she closed her eyes helplessly. However, the expected feeling of pain did note. Instead, there came the sound of the door crashing open. Elspeth opened her eyes to see Callum standing in the doorway, looking thunderous while being apanied by a group of people. Jordan, d in his protective suit, looked furious. When he saw Callum preparing to approach, he grabbed the scalpel from the surgeon¡¯s hand and ced it against Elspeth¡¯s throat. ¡°Callum, you are really slow.¡± ¡°It took a week to investigate all 108 properties under your name.¡± Callum sounded calm, the dark circles under his eyes unmistakable. ¡°But I arrived just in time, didn¡¯t I?¡± He was panting in a way that showed he had run here. The scalpel pressed against Elspeth¡¯s throat made his heart drop. ¡°Just in time? I don¡¯t think so. I always seed in anything I want to do.¡± Jordan smiled savagely. ¡°If the operation fails, Elspeth cannot survive either.¡± Callum¡¯s voice was stern. ¡°Jordan, you¡¯re a psychopath!¡± Jordan threw his head back andughed. ¡°I¡¯m a psychopath? I¡¯m just doing it for someone I love and so are you. Why are you calling me one?¡± ¡°It took two years for me to find such a perfect match for Angie to treat her. She can finally live a happy and healthy life. Why should I let Elspeth go just because you love her?¡± He looked nearly mad and the gaze he leveled at Callum was bloodthirsty. He then nced coldly at Elspeth, gaze full of scorn and even a hint of disgust. ¡°If I let her go now, then what¡¯s the point of me using nearly half a year to get close to her, huh?¡± Callum¡¯s pupils contracted as his heart raced, but he couldn¡¯t show too much panic or concern. ¡°Jordan, please stop right now or you will regret it.¡± Jordan¡¯s lips formed a wild smile. ¡°What do I have to regret?¡± In the next instant, his expression changed as he saw someone in front of him. Angie, who should have been unconscious, had suddenly appeared beside Callum. Chapter 219 Chapter 219 ¡°I found the girl. She told me this is the ce where you kidnapped Elspeth and asked me to rescue Elspeth as soon as possible.¡± Callum was eyeing Jordan coldly, and his gaze could give the onlookers shivers. ¡°Even the person you cherish wants you to stop making mistakes. Don¡¯t you understand?¡± ¡°She is a kind girl, and her kindness is the most precious thing in the world. However, some people have to take advantage of her kindness for selfish purposes.¡± When Jordan was done, he turned to Callum, returning a cold gaze with the same intensity. Angie fixed her gaze on Jordan as tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°Jordan, I know you¡¯re doing this for me, but you went a little overboard.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to say anything. Soon, you¡¯ll live a life like normal people.¡± Even though he demanded her silence, he was still watching her with affection. ¡°But I mean every word. All you¡¯re doing is hurting me and upsetting me. Even if I can live a normal life in the future, I¡¯m living in constant guilt.¡± Jordan¡¯s smile froze on his face. ¡°You need to stop, Jordan. All I need is yourpany for the rest of my life.¡± Saying too many words in one go for the first time resulted in her going limp and falling to her knees with a thump. Even though the pain from her knees made her frown, sincerity remained on her expression. He watched her with aplex expression including disappointment, knowing the tables had turned. He could no longer make his ne true. ¡°I can save her.¡± Elspeth, who had been keeping quiet most of the time, chimed in all of a sudden. Her gaze that met his was burning with a hint of blinding determination. Jordan¡¯s eyes immediately brightened with the glint of hope. ¡°Did you just say you can save her? You aren¡¯t lying to me, are you?¡± She forced a smile. ¡°I have excelled in my skills as Sonny Schwartz¡¯s student. I¡¯ll try my best to save her. As long as you get me the ingredients I need, I can save her life.¡± Jordan¡¯s voice was shaky. ¡°Of course.¡± He almost forgot that Elspeth was an apprentice to Sonny, the medical expert. Letting go of Elspeth, Jordan took a few steps forward as he tried to help Angie back on her feet. However, Callum¡¯s men stopped him in his tracks by pinning his arms. Angie forced herself to her feet without any help. The next moment, Callum felt a tug on his sleeve. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, please spare him. I told you where Elspeth was, didn¡¯t I?¡± Callum pressed his lips into a thin line as he weighed his decision. When he met Elspeth¡¯s approving look, he finally nodded. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll let him go.¡± At the sight of the men loosening Jordan¡¯s arms, Angie jumped at him and wrapped her arms around him tightly. ¡°Jordan.¡± He caressed her hair to ease her worries. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m here with you.¡± The pair took their time in each other¡¯s embrace. Jordan only remembered to free Elspeth from the shackles when Callum showed a displeased expression on his face. She was so weak that Callum strode over to help her to her feet. ¡°You promise to save Angie. Remember to keep your word. ¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes at Jordan¡¯s demand. ¡°I did, but not now. I¡¯ve been locked up for seven days. Can I have a break?¡± He could only reply with a dryugh in embarrassment. ¡°I need a rest. Just a while. Once I rest up, I¡¯ll help her.¡± Angie cast a grateful smile at the other woman and nodded. ¡°There¡¯s no need to rush, Elspeth. Take your time.¡± Watching Angie¡¯s pale face, Elspeth caressed the young woman¡¯s head. ¡°I assure you, I¡¯m a lot smarter than Jordan.¡± Jordan¡¯s expression changed a few times. He tried to retort, but he just couldn¡¯t find the right words. Angie didn¡¯t bother to stifle herugh. ¡°You¡¯re the first person to tell him that. You¡¯re an interesting woman, you know. No wonder even a distant man like Mr. Winthrop would fall for you. I would have fallen hard for you too if I was a guy.¡± Jordan had a faint smile on his face. ¡°I won¡¯t. A girl like her is too calcting. I like girls like you, obedient and innocent.¡± Callum tightened his arm around Elspeth. He cast Jordan a side nce full of warning. ¡°Coming from a guy who didn¡¯t even leave a good impression on her after half a year. She doesn¡¯t need you to like her.¡± Jordan was usually a man who could keep hisposure even if it was the world¡¯s end. However, he gritted his teeth when he heard Callum¡¯seback. ¡°Callum, must you speak just to make me feel bad?¡± ¡°I¡¯m being a gentleman.¡± ¡°By roasting me?¡± Callum¡¯s eyes darted to Angie, who looked pure and unsophisticated, before remarking snidely, ¡°You started it. I¡¯m not gonna take it out on the innocent girl.¡± All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Jordan rubbed the tip of his nose in embarrassment. ¡°Forget about it. Pretend I didn¡¯t say anything.¡± ¡°Very well. I¡¯m taking Elspeth home to rest.¡± After Callum announced, he tried to drag Elspeth away. Before the pair could make it far, Jordan blocked their path. Staring straight into Elspeth¡¯s eyes, he asked, ¡°What are the things you need? I¡¯ll get them ready.¡± ¡°A thousand-year-old ginseng, a saussurea that ages tenfold, and the pure spring water from the mountain with an elevation of 19685 feet above sea level.¡± Jordan¡¯s face almost scrunched at her list. Noticing his helpless expression, she couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°Just kidding. I¡¯ll get everything covered.¡± She realized there were indeed advantages in finding herself a godfather in the underground ck market. As a rough idea was formed in her mind, she wanted to leave the ce as soon as possible. ¡°I¡¯m leaving. I¡¯ll inform you once I get the medicinal herbs ready.¡± Jordan was unhappy, but he was in no ce toin. ¡°Okay. I won¡¯t keep you.¡± His dejected look gave Angie a goodugh for the first time since she fell sick. After Elspeth bid farewell to the pair, she departed with Callum and returned to their vi in ydal. The moment she walked into the house, she was pulled into a tight embrace. Callum rested his head on her shoulder as he stood still like a statue. ¡°I was scared.¡± His words were soft. ¡°The first few days when I couldn¡¯t get a hold of you, I almost turned ydal upside down to search for you everywhere. It was onlyter that I pinned down Jordan as the target.¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t get a good rest through the nights. I was afraid that any dy would put you at risk.¡± ¡°It was the first time you disappeared for so long. I was really scared of never seeing you again.¡± ¡°Thank God I arrived in time to save you. Elspeth, for the first time, I¡¯m proud of myself. I wasn¡¯t even this happy when I expanded Winthrop Group¡¯s business and made it thrive.¡± He spoke very clearly, and every word drilled into her mind. ¡°Oh, Callum.¡± She put a hand on the back of his head and gave him a soothing pat. His hair was soft under her palm. ¡°I know you have been trying your best to love me.¡± Callum raised his head. It was Elspeth¡¯s first time to see him shed tears. Even though his expression remained as calm as ever, she was still shocked to find dampness on her shoulder. ¡°Callum, are you crying?¡± He averted her gaze and denied it, ¡°I am not.¡± ¡°You could have fooled me if you didn¡¯t wet my clothes.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t expect him to cry after everything as his character was made up of coldness and detachment. It made sense that he was expressionless all the time. She could never imagine the situation that would make an adult Callum cry aside from his wailing when he was born. ¡°I¡¯m scared.¡± The lingering fear still clung to him as she was almost gone. He had witnessed how the tip of the syringe almost sank into her arm. At that moment, he was engulfed in the fear of losing her. ¡°Callum.¡± She took a deep breath before suggesting, ¡°Let¡¯s get engaged.¡± Chapter 220 Chapter 220 The idea of getting engaged delighted Callum. ¡°Sure.¡± He nodded. ¡°But first, I need to heal Angie.¡± Her illness is not easy to treat. ¡°I want to visit the ck market in Konig¡¯s underworld. Do you want to go with me?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Callum responded with a smile. Elspeth then went to bed to catch some rest. While she slept, she could feel someone staying by her side, gently caressing her face. When she awoke the next morning, she felt revitalized. As she walked downstairs, she smelled the pleasant aroma of cooked rice. ¡°Callum?¡± At that, Callum popped his head out of the kitchen. He looked at Elspeth who had just awoken and said smilingly, ¡°I am cooking. It will be ready soon.¡± Callum Winthrop is cooking! Elspeth was so surprised that she stared at him with wide eyes. On the other hand, he was dressed in an apron while his face was smeared with flour and his hand clutching adle. He appeared exactly as if he were a stay-at-home husband. ¡°Callum, if you¡¯re being forced into this, blink twice.¡± Elspeth then went closer to him and began poking his cheeks. ¡°No one forced me.¡± Callum red at her, his lips pursed before he continued, ¡°I¡¯m just concerned that you haven¡¯t been eating well thest few days. Hence, I decided to cook for you.¡± Elspeth¡¯s body shook at the mention of food. ¡°You¡¯re wrong, then. Jordan made me eat big portions every day so I could be ready for the surgery as soon as possible. Gosh, I¡¯ve consumed nearly all of the delectable foods avable. It would be detrimental to my figure to continue eating at that pace.¡± Callum raised his brows at that. ¡°So, are you not eating now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that! It¡¯s my honor that Mr. Winthrop is cooking for the first time, for me! I will eat!¡± She then sat at the dining table, and her eyes stared wide again when she saw the entire table filled with various delicacies. ¡°I can¡¯t even prepare all of these. How did you manage it, Callum? You never have to cook for yourself.¡± Callum looked at her, and his expression was unnatural. ¡°I am indeed not cooking for the first time.¡± Elspeth¡¯s smile froze. She could imagine him cooking for his ex-girlfriend in the past and her voice sounded weird as she posed her question. ¡°I see. How did it go then?¡± Callum, however, didn¡¯t notice that, as he answered, ¡°It went fine. It was just that too much of my cooking isn¡¯t good for your health.¡± He remembered his assistant¡¯s agonized expression when he tried his food for the first time¡­ In the end, Callum had to try his own food for better judgment. Suddenly, Elspeth became enraged and pped the utensils on the table. ¡°How nice to be your ex- girlfriend, huh?¡± That stunned Callum. ¡°What?¡± he asked, perplexed. ¡°Didn¡¯t you learn to cook for your ex-girlfriend?¡± He shook his head. ¡°It isn¡¯t for her. I only recently learned to cook.¡± Realizing that she had misunderstood him, Elspeth embarrassingly lowered her head. ¡°Is it for me?¡± ¡°No; it¡¯s for me,¡± Callum answered with such a serious expression that Elspeth was confused. ¡°Why?¡± Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. He then looked at her, and after seeing that her expression wasn¡¯t particrly displeased, he said, ¡°I understood from the egg fried rice you previously made that both of us won¡¯t be able to survive long if we rely on your cooking skills.¡± That rendered Elspeth speechless. Fine! But he indeed has a ir for cooking. After they had finished their meals, Elspeth red at Callum and said, ¡°Wash the dishes.¡± He obediently did so. After he washed the dishes and Elspeth cleared the table, they both went to the underworld¡¯s ck market. Elspeth went straight to look for Irving. Seeing that she had personallye for him, Irving was delighted. ¡°I thought you¡¯d forgotten about me, Elspeth! It seems like you do remember an old man like me! Why are you looking for me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m thinking of getting something from you.¡± Irving was even happier when he heard that. ¡°Tell me exactly what you want. I¡¯ll get you anything within my capability.¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking for the highest quality saussurea, ginseng, and female ginseng.¡± Irving touched his chin when he heard that. ¡°I can find these items for you, but their quality¡ª¡± Elspeth smiled and said considerately, ¡°Just try your best.¡± ¡°Oh, someone ising tonight to auction off these herbs. His herbs are always of high quality. Do you want me to bring you to him?¡± Her eyes lit up. ¡°Sure! I can buy other things from him as well.¡± He nodded before making a call. Not long after, a man in ck came in. The man was in his fifties, had a strong build, and walked in steadily as if he had trained his body. His face, however, appeared to be familiar. Elspeth stared at his face, her mind connecting him to someone she knew, but such a link seemed absurd to her. ¡°Hello, what¡¯s your name?¡± The man took a nce at Callum, who was standing beside Elspeth, as his eyes blinked and said, ¡°Just call me Blue.¡± ¡°Mr. Blue, I want to buy from you high-quality saussurea, ginseng, and female ginseng. If possible, please also provide me with other herbs that are good for blood replenishment.¡± Her words made the man frown. ¡°Are you going to perform the blood cleansing procedure?¡± Blood cleansing was a traditional treatment, and only one person in the world, Sonny Schwartz, had sessfullypleted it. It was a method of cleaning a person¡¯s blood so that the person¡¯s blood could recover to its pre-illness condition. All three ingredients, saussurea, ginseng, and female ginseng, were required for both the process and the individual¡¯s subsequent recovery. However, such treatment was too ridiculous and risky, as there had only been one sessful case so far, and thus had long been lost. Elspeth responded with a nod. ¡°You have good judgment, Mr. Blue.¡± ¡°Since you need them for treatment, I¡¯ll give them to you.¡± She was ted to hear that. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Blue. How much should I pay you?¡± The man, however, shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t want any money, but I want to know something from you.¡± ¡°Please go ahead.¡± ¡°I want to know about the Winthrop Family.¡± At that, Callum raised his head and looked at the man profoundly. The man continued with his eyes gleaming as he looked at Callum, ¡°I suppose you are the son of the Winthrop Family, right? I have a few questions.¡± Since it was only a few questions, Callum nodded and agreed, ¡°Ask away.¡± ¡°I heard a while back that one of the Winthrop Family¡¯s young masters, Arthur Winthrop, had a falling out with the family after discovering that he wasn¡¯t the family¡¯s biological child. Is that true?¡± Callum¡¯s pupils shrank when he heard that. He then turned around and exchanged nces with Elspeth. ¡°Yes. That¡¯s true.¡± The man frowned when he heard that. ¡°Does he believe the Winthrops are to me for his parents¡¯ deaths?¡± Callum nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± The man clenched his fist tightly when he heard that. ¡°Last question. Can you bring me to Arthur?¡± Elspeth was surprised. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because¡­ I am his father,¡± the man exined, his eyes filled with anguish. Chapter 221 Chapter 221 The man who was rumored to have died in the car ident was actually alive! Looking at the slightly pained expression on his face, Elspeth asked, ¡°What about Mrs. Blue?¡± ¡°She passed away in that car ident.¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. She immediately knew that she had reopened an old wound by ident. Sighing heavily, she looked guilty as she apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for probing.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. It¡¯s been decades now. I have gotten over it.¡± The look on Yoel Blue¡¯s face turned gentle in an instant. ¡°Since you are alive, why haven¡¯t you gone and seen him, Mr. Blue?¡± He opened his mouth and must have been at a loss for words as he only slowly began after a long minute, ¡°It is because of my selfishness. After I recovered back then, I learned that the Winthrop Family had adopted him. And because he was but a young boy, and I wished for him to live a good life as a Winthrop, I went incognito and left Damoria. ¡°I have been keeping myself updated about him all these years. I only hurried back recently after I heard about Arthur¡¯s falling out with the Winthrops.¡± Elspeth was filled with anger the moment Arthur¡¯s name came up, but still, she tried her best to calm down. ¡°Mr. Blue, Arthur has gotten especially twisted these years. With how ambitious and aggressive he is, he might not listen to you.¡± Yoel¡¯s sad and helpless eyes were staring nkly ahead. He seemed to have lost the light in his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. I¡¯m sorry. I single-handedly made Arthur who he is today. If only I hadn¡¯t been greedy for a better life for him, he wouldn¡¯t have¡­¡± ¡°Please talk things out with him if you do meet. You are his birth parent after all. I have a feeling he will listen to you.¡± Elspeth suddenly felt hopeful that the man in front of her was someone who would be able to save Arthur. ¡°Let¡¯s do it this way,¡± she added. ¡°I will take you to him after I save my patient with your herbs. Don¡¯t worry. Every problem will be solved then.¡± She smiled and took out a card which she passed to Yoel. ¡°I know that you said you¡¯re not taking money from me, but rules are rules; I will pay you ording to the market price. There are 1.5 million on this card. There should be change left excluding the price for these herbs.¡± Yoel¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°I can¡¯t ept this¡­¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t say that, Mr. Blue. 1.5 million is nothing if you can talk Arthur into cleaning up his act.¡± No word could better describe Elspeth than ¡°generous¡±. 1.5 million wasn¡¯t much for her anyway. This would be her doing a favor at a tiny cost. After she exchanged contact with Yoel, she went back to the residence with Callum. She then quickly stored the herbs before she left for Jordan¡¯s. Jordan was trying to coax Angie into eating when Elspeth arrived. This was the first time she had seen that troubled look on Jordan¡¯s face. Seeing this, she turned to smilingly lock eyes with Callum. Jordan must have heard herughter when he whipped his head in their direction. The sight of them walking over immediately made him look ufortable. ¡°Ah, NK Group¡¯s president! Still busy after work? I see you¡¯re coaxing your girlfriend into eating.¡± Not only did Elspeth¡¯s rtionship with Jordan not take a turn for the worse after the kidnapping incident, but they even becamerades. Jordan scoffed and mocked her in return. ¡°You¡¯re always skipping work to stick to your boyfriend as well, president of Azure Corporation.¡± ¡°Enough with the nonsense.¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes and cut to the chase. ¡°I¡¯m ready to treat Angie¡¯s sickness. Are you ready, Angie?¡± As soon as Angie heard that, she quickly huddled over and cheered, ¡°Yes! I¡¯m ready. Put the oatmeal away, Jordan.¡± Jordan looked somewhat glum. ¡°Of all the times you could havee, you just had toe right when it¡¯s time to eat. You being here has made her lose her appetite even more.¡± Upon hearing that, Elspeth put on a straight face. ¡°Be good, Angie. Eat your oatmeal, or I won¡¯t treat you.¡± ¡°But I can¡¯t take another bite! Jordan takes care of me like he is raising a pig. Who even feeds ady two big bowls of oatmeal the way he does?!¡± Angie frowned. Jordan naturally had his reasoning. ¡°You are different from otherdies. You have a weaker constitution. If you don¡¯t eat well, you will be as thin as a piece of paper.¡± ¡°But look at Elspeth! She¡¯s super pretty because she¡¯s skinny!¡± Angie pointed to Elspeth who was not far away. She was well-proportioned and tall, and she looked especially fresh and extravagant even in casual clothes. ¡°She¡¯s unhealthy.¡± Elspeth¡¯s eyes must have rolled to the back of her head when she heard that. ¡°Now who are you calling unhealthy?¡± she huffed. Callum leaned in toward her and whispered in her ear, ¡°I think so too.¡± She reacted by pinching him. ¡°What did you say?¡± She gritted her teeth and grinned. Even though he was in pain, Callum didn¡¯t let it show. ¡°Alright, alright. You¡¯re not skinny.¡± She finally let go of him after hearing a satisfactory answer. Angie thought that she wouldn¡¯t have to eat the oatmeal after Elspeth came, but now that two people were forcing her to eat, she could only force herself to finish it bitterly. She then took a short rest after taking her medicine. Soon, Elspeth brought her to a room upstairs to begin her treatment. No one knew what the two of them were doing in the room, but after 30 minutes, the door creaked open, and Elspeth was the first one toe out. Jordan, who was a little emotional, stared at Elspeth¡¯s face. ¡°How is she?¡± he asked in an expectant voice. Unlike him, Elspeth let out a helpless expression. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡­¡± His face immediately fell. ¡°You what?!¡± ¡°I said¡­¡± A cunning grin appeared on her lips. ¡°It went really well. She¡¯s alright now.¡± The man beamed as soon as he heard that. Elspeth couldn¡¯t help thinking how he probably wouldn¡¯t get as happy even if thepany made a profit of 5 billion now. ¡°However, she is still resting now. You will need to feed her more energy and blood-nourishing food in the future. As for how you can get her to actually eat something, I¡¯ll leave it to you to find a way.¡± With a smirk, she dumped the hard part on him. Callum could tell that she was deliberately ying tricks on Jordan. ¡°Got it.¡± Jordan¡¯s head was a mess at the mere thought of him needing to feed Angie. But she was the rose he had painstakingly grown after all. He would have to continue coaxing her as best he could. ¡°We¡¯re off, then. Don¡¯t text for no reason, and don¡¯t text me even if there¡¯s something you need me for. I¡¯m a busy woman.¡± Elspeth pulled Callum along to leave right after she said that. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I don¡¯t ever want to see you unless the situation calls for it.¡± Jordan knew how petty Elspeth was. He knew that she made it sound bad just to make things difficult for him. Elspeth inwardly cheered as she brought Callum away after she saw the indignation on Jordan¡¯s face. It was about time they headed back to Damoria. After Elspeth gave Yoel a call to tell him to leave this ce with them, the three of them proceeded to get on a flight back to Damoria. It was a beautiful morning. Chapter 222 Chapter 222 When they arrived in Damoria, Elspeth first found a ce for Yoel to settle down before she went back to the Winthrop Residence with Callum. She was quiet the whole journey back home. Callum, who knew what she was thinking, casually brought up, ¡°If you have a question, ask away.¡± ¡°I want to know what is going to happen between you and Emma.¡± She had been a lot busier these days. Having to handle Michael and the problem with Jordan and Angie, Elspeth hadn¡¯t found a chance to ask Callum about this. ¡°Merry meet, merry part. Since the issue has been resolved, she and I will naturally go our separate ways. We no longer have anything to do with each other.¡± Elspeth was extremely satisfied with his answer. ¡°So?¡± ¡°So,¡± he solemnly exined, ¡°I¡¯m going to publicly refute the rumors first. Firstly, Emma and I were never really together, and she was the one who was making things up. Secondly, it is you who are, legally, my fianc¨¦e.¡± ¡°Considering how proactive you are in handling this, Mr. Winthrop, I¡¯ll stop picking on you.¡± That put a small smile on his face as he murmured, ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Winthrop.¡± ¡°What?!¡± She immediately turned as red as a tomato when she heard the way he addressed her. ¡°Who are you calling Mrs. Winthrop?!¡± ¡°It is only a matter of time before you are mine. Nothing wrong with calling you Mrs. Winthrop a little earlier. Isn¡¯t that right, Mrs. Winthrop?¡± Callum¡¯s voice was deep and maic, and he sounded particrly alluring when he called her ¡®Mrs. Winthrop¡¯. It was like music to her ears. It was a good thing that she wasn¡¯t someone who had a weakness for pleasant voices. Otherwise, she would have been defeated by Callum¡¯s voice alone. She didn¡¯t say anything in reply and only red at him before she turned to the other side. After they arrived at the Winthrop Residence, Callum, being the gentleman that he was, opened the car door for her and walked into the house holding her hand. However, they were immediately greeted by the sight of a wailing woman as soon as they stepped into the building. Emma was shedding tears in front of Theodore and Margot. When she saw that Callum hade home, she subconsciously rushed over and blurted, ¡°Callum! Callum, you¡¯re back! I saw the news about Elspeth running away from her wedding. Did you go to her?¡± She suddenly froze the moment she noticed Elspeth standing beside Callum. ¡°Callum, w-why did you bring Elspeth home?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me bringing my girlfriend home?¡± His reply was calm, but the damage was so potent Emma swiftly turned as white as snow. ¡°Callum, how can you bring Elspeth home when I am your girlfriend? W-What about what happened a few days ago? What was that all about?!¡± Getting annoyed from all the sobbing, Elspeth answered without missing a beat, ¡°Looks like luck¡¯s not on your side.¡± Emma was like a puppy that had been kicked and she blew her top almost instantly. ¡°You have no right to say anything, Elspeth!¡± That elicited augh out of Elspeth. ¡°No right, you say? Surely you don¡¯t mean to say that you do. I have no idea how you got involved with Grandfather, but the moment you tried to sabotage my rtionship with Callum, I have every right to get you out of my sight.¡± Emma straightened her back when she heard Elspeth¡¯s words. ¡°This is the Winthrop Residence. It¡¯s not your house. Why would Mr. Winthrop kick me out of here when he likes me?¡± She then turned to look at Theodore. To her surprise, Theodore was looking at Elspeth with a guilty expression on his face. He didn¡¯t seem to like Emma as much as he did before. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Elspeth. I¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright, Mr. Theodore,¡± Elspeth cut him off with a smile. ¡°You were impatient because you wanted to save your wife. I understand.¡± Theodore¡¯s eyes were wet with warm tears. He couldn¡¯t believe he almost lost such a wonderful daughter-inw. ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡± Emma was still confused about what was happening. ¡°You only knew that Grandfather promised you to get you Callum, but you didn¡¯t know that he also kidnapped Mrs. Winthrop to force Callum to submit. Emma, you were the only one who thought you were loved. Everything hase to light now. It¡¯s time you wake up from your daydream.¡± Emma looked at Callum in disbelief. Her heart broke when she saw the loving look in his eyes, which were trained on Elspeth. Theodore chimed in then, ¡°Emma, I know that you have feelings for Callum, but Elspeth and he have been promised to each other a long time ago. Even if you and Callum were in a rtionship before, it¡¯s all in the past. Please, it¡¯s time to let him go.¡± Emma felt herself breaking down as soon as she heard that. ¡°I don¡¯t believe this¡­¡± She struggled to add, ¡°Mr. Winthrop, I¡¯m the one you like the most, no? You wouldn¡¯t have treated me so well before if you didn¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°Emma, it¡¯s fine to be stupid, but ttering yourself is a big no-no. Don¡¯t you know why Mr. Winthrop was nice to you?¡± Elspeth sneered and uttered words without a hint of mercy. Emma couldn¡¯t stop her thoughts from running wild anymore and she burst into tears. ¡°I like you so much, Callum. How could you do this to me¡­¡± Callum¡¯s head felt like it would split open anytime now, but he grew even more annoyed hearing her crying. ¡°Stop crying and go home if there is nothing else. Don¡¯t make a fool out of yourself here.¡± Make a fool out of myself? Emma lifted her head to look at his face, her eyes filled with disbelief. She didn¡¯t think there woulde a day when he would say such words to her. She was even more surprised by him humiliating her mercilessly in front of everyone. Now that the rose-colored sses she had on were shattered, she gingerly peered at the man who felt like a stranger to her. He felt so unfamiliar it was detestable. She then carelessly shifted her gaze to Elspeth as though she was unwilling to spend even one second on her. ¡°I know! You teamed up to lie to me, didn¡¯t you? I was wondering why Callum was willing to be with me all of a sudden. This is all a scheme!¡± She looked like a lunatic as she stood up, chortling. ¡°I know everything now. I won¡¯t let you off the hook. I will never let this go!¡± She then dashed out of the house without a care. Elspeth only lifted her gaze then. ¡°To be honest,¡± shemented, ¡°I¡¯m worried about her mental state.¡± Callum hugged her shoulders. ¡°It¡¯s alright. She only has herself to me for everything. It has got nothing to do with us.¡± Even though it was true that everything was of Emma¡¯s own doing, Elspeth couldn¡¯t help thinking that the woman was rather pitiful. ¡°I don¡¯t think thest thing she said was a joke.¡± Elspeth looked to Callum with her eyebrows furrowed as a strong sense of danger hit her. When Callum heard that, he pulled her into his arms and held her tight. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I will protect you,¡± he reassured her. ¡°Ahem!¡± It was only when a cough rang out from the side that the couple noticed Theodore was still there, and they awkwardly detached themselves from one another. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ¡°It¡¯s normal for you youngsters to be passionate in love. Don¡¯t mind me. Just pretend that I¡¯m not here.¡± Theodore let out a stiff smile when he realized that he was being a third wheel. ¡°Geez! Don¡¯t start imagining things, Dad. How¡¯s Mom doing?¡± Callum was always thinking about his mother. Even though his father repeatedly told him on the phone that his mother was fine, he was still worried. Theodore stood up and stated, ¡°She¡¯s upstairs. I¡¯ll take the two of you to her.¡± Chapter 223 Chapter 223 The two of them went upstairs with Theodore and soon, they were greeted by the sight of Margot lying in the room, her breathing even as she slept soundly. ¡°After your mother came back, there was nothing wrong with her except for the heart attack caused by shock. Look at her. I¡¯ve just tucked her in, and she will probably only wake up after a few hours.¡± Callum visibly rxed upon hearing that. ¡°I¡¯m d. You have to let me or Elspeth know immediately if something happens, Dad.¡± After he said that, he threw a nce at Elspeth standing beside him and smilingly praised, ¡°You have a capable daughter-inw.¡± Once again, Theodore could barely hold back his tears at Callum¡¯s words. But since Callum was here and Margot was still resting, he could only lower his voice and say, ¡°Indeed. I¡¯m as grateful for Elspeth as much as I am sorry. It¡¯s all my fault. When I found out that your mother was kidnapped and rushed to the doctor, I was so out of my head that I forced Callum to break up with you. The two of you wouldn¡¯t be in such a mess if it weren¡¯t for me.¡± Elspeth shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Mr. Winthrop. I know how you feel. If it were me, I would have made the same decision as you.¡± He sucked in a deep breath when he heard that. ¡°Thank you for understanding and thank you for saving her life. If it weren¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯t even know when I would see her again.¡± The three of them continued to chat without knowing that Margot, who was lying there, had already woken up. When she heard what they were talking about, she couldn¡¯t help but open her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re awake!¡± Theodore eximed in surprise when he saw Margot open her eyes. ¡°Why are you up so early? You haven¡¯t even slept for long.¡± Margot immediately scolded, ¡°How dare you tell me to sleep when you know that Elspeth would be home?! You don¡¯t want me to see her, do you?¡± Theodore flushed red at her words. ¡°D-Did not!¡± Seeing him cower, Elspeth covered her mouth andughed. ¡°Elspeth.¡± Margot stretched out a hand and Elspeth hurried over and sat next to her. ¡°Come here. Let me take a good look at you. Why are you so much rounder and healthier looking than when you first came to our house? I heard that you and Callum broke up. Tell me, did he treat you badly and starve you when you were together? I will beat him if that¡¯s so!¡± She had given her whole heart to this charming and intelligent daughter-inw of hers. No one else even mattered to her anymore at this point. ¡°Of course not. Callum and I get along just fine. He treats me really well.¡± Margot¡¯s fierce gaze was on her as soon as Elspeth finished speaking. ¡°Why are you still calling him Callum? Don¡¯t you two lovebirds have any intimate nicknames for each other?¡± Elspeth froze upon hearing that. This was beyond herprehension. ¡°Geez!¡± Margot huffed. ¡°You know, something along the lines of babe, honey bunny, cutie pie¡­ Nicknames like that!¡± Elspeth almost choked on her saliva. The corners of her mouth twitched as she stammered, ¡°Aren¡¯t those nicknames¡­ a little¡­ too much?¡± At that point, she was at a loss. Margot patted the back of Elspeth¡¯s hand and patiently exined, ¡°Not at all. It¡¯s just right. Isn¡¯t this what young couples do? Theodore used to call me baby when we were dating.¡± She then shot Theodore a re. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right?¡± Theodore¡¯s wrinkly face was flushed out of embarrassment now. However, to not make his wife angry, he repeatedly bobbed his head in agreement. ¡°That¡¯s right. That was our nickname back then.¡± Unable to think of a better word to describe her shock, Elspeth could only blurt out, ¡°How avant-garde, Mr. Winthrop.¡± Theodore had never been in such an embarrassing situation in his life and he could only tug at his sleeves as he stood there, not knowing what to do. Margot only continued to reminisce when she saw his reaction. ¡°You see how he¡¯s behaving now? He looked exactly like this back when he went to my father and asked for my hand¡ª¡± ¡°Okay, okay. That¡¯s enough. Let the youngsters solve their problems. You¡¯re not well yet. You should rest.¡± Theodore quickly stopped her as he couldn¡¯t handle hearing more of Margot¡¯s stories. Callum and Elspeth could read the room well. Seeing Theodore being on the verge of losing his mind, they tactfully stood up. ¡°Alright, Mrs. Winthrop. We¡¯ll be out of your hair. You should rest now. We¡¯lle to see youter.¡± Margot didn¡¯t stop the couple as she felt quite weak. Instead, she grumpily took a nce at Theodore. ¡°Sure, sure. Come see me when you¡¯re free.¡± Elspeth responded with a nod before she tugged Callum along and left at the speed of light. When they got downstairs, Elspeth looked at Callum¡¯s face and instantly grew serious again. ¡°Let¡¯s go to Arthur next and have him meet Mr. Blue as soon as possible. We might be able to persuade him to turn around.¡± However, she noticed that Callum was distracted after she spoke. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± She waved her hand in his face. His eyebrows were knitted into a frown. ¡°Babe is a little icky, baby sounds somewhat cheap, and cutie pie is a mouthful. Let¡¯s call you Mrs. Winthrop.¡± He¡¯s still stuck on the topic of nicknames after such a long time! Elspeth inwardly sighed as she held her forehead. ¡°Let¡¯s not worry about this first. You should think of a way to get Arthur to agree to meet up.¡± ¡°This is important enough to me!¡± ¡°Callum Winthrop! Stop being such a kid!¡± He looked calm as he refuted, ¡°I¡¯m not. This is an intimate nickname that couples should call each other. You, too, shouldn¡¯t call me Callum.¡± Seeing how unrepentant he was, she dragged him to a corner and held his hand. ¡°Babe?¡± she purred. The tip of the man¡¯s ears turned red. ¡°Baby boy¡­¡± His throat bobbed. ¡°Hubby!¡± That was the final straw that prompted Callum to grab Elspeth¡¯s wrists in return and press a kiss on her lips. The moment he kissed her, she felt her mind go nk. Her heart thundered away when she felt his breath and heartbeat. This level of excitement should be illegal. ¡°Callum¡­ Mmph¡ª¡± His lips devoured hers as he sucked in her taste. Only after a long, long time did he let her go. Elspeth felt like she almost ran out of breath. Panting, she red at Callum who had a triumphant smile. ¡°Callum Winthrop, you are such a jerk!¡± He paid no heed to the look in her eyes as he drawled, ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who seduced me first, Mrs. Winthrop?¡± ¡°I was teasing you, not seducing you!¡± She was about to blow her top because of him. ¡°You standing here is enough to seduce me.¡± Callum¡¯s voice was still slightly raspy after they kissed earlier. Hearing him speak in the seductive way only a mature man could immediately made her heart race. What a seducer! ¡°Call me hubby from now on.¡± There was no way she would do as he pleased. She turned the other way and shouted, ¡°No! I won¡¯t do it!¡± ¡°Call me your baby boy, then.¡± Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. She calmed down after hearing his words. Compared to hubby, this she could ept¡­ Hold up. Why does he want me to call him that? She red at him. ¡°I¡¯m going to start the car engine. You should inform Mr. Winthrop that we are going out. We will go find Arthur together.¡± Chapter 224 Chapter 224 Elspeth and Arthur rendezvoused at the office in Winthrop Group. After the move Jordan pulled the other day, Callum didn¡¯t feel safe letting Elspeth meet up with people anywhere else. The safest ce would be thepany. It wasn¡¯t long before Arthur opened the door and came striding into the room. ¡°What is this, Callum? What bullsh*t are you and Elspeth up to this time?¡± He scoffed and plopped on a chair, his eyes fixed on her. ¡°Arthur, I have something to tell you about your birth parents¡¯ death.¡± Before she could say anything more, Arthur¡¯s face fell and he warned, ¡°Callum, I don¡¯t mind talking if you don¡¯t bring up this sh*t.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t still think that your father is the murderer of your family, do you? Arthur, you wouldn¡¯t have held onto your grudge against Mr. Winthrop who has raised you for decades if your brain functions even a bit!¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t hold back at all. She had nothing to say to Arthur. Arthur let out a soft chuckle at first before hisugh erupted into a full-blown chortle. ¡°What do you know, Elspeth? It wasn¡¯t your parents who died, and you weren¡¯t the one who was raised being preferred over someone else. What right do you have to stand on the moral high ground and criticize me? Who do you think you are?¡± Seeing himughing maniacally, Elspeth took a nce at the restroom at the side. Someone walked out right then and called out, ¡°Arthur!¡± It was Arthur¡¯s birth father, Yoel Blue. Arthur was taken aback as he looked at this familiar yet unfamiliar man in front of him, and he suddenly didn¡¯t know what to say. Yoel and Arthur were way too alike! Yoel was what Arthur would look like in twenty years. Arthur was stunned and with a doubtful heart, he gingerly asked, ¡°Are you my¡­ father?¡± When Yoel heard thatst word, he couldn¡¯t hold back his emotions anymore and swiftly burst into tears. ¡°Arthur! It¡¯s me, your father!¡± Suddenly, Arthur nced at Elspeth and immediately grew cautious. ¡°Bullsh*t! Elspeth must have found a man who looks somewhat simr to me and lied about him being my father. You are not my father. My father died twenty years ago!¡± No one would be able to ept having a person who was supposed to have died twenty years ago suddenly appear in front of them. Seeing Arthur losing his calm, Elspeth spoke in a calmer voice. ¡°No matter if you believe it or not, this man is your father. I have a copy of your DNA certificate here. If you don¡¯t believe it, you can run the test again yourself. You¡¯ll know whether he is your father or not.¡± Arthur took a deep breath and looked at the man in front of him, his eyes were a mix of both warmth and indifference. ¡°Why are you back now of all times?¡± Yoel took a step forward to hold Arthur¡¯s hand, but the younger man avoided him. Yoelmented, ¡°Arthur, I must have been possessed in the past. Your mother died in the car ident and I was seriously injured. As ast resort, I left you behind because I thought you could live a good life with the Winthrops. I didn¡¯t think¡ª¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You didn¡¯t think I would fall apart with the Winthrops? And you came back because you can¡¯t ept how things have turned out, right?¡± An unhesitant Arthur exposed Yoel when he guessed what the man was about to say. Yoel was slightly stunned as he nodded. ¡°Arthur, our car ident back then was not caused by Mr. Winthrop. It was because I was running away from my debts. Mr. Winthrop had no choice but to drive and follow us¡­¡± Yoel remembered that the ident happened in the afternoon. Due to his owing a huge sum of money, he had no choice but to abscond with his family in a fit of desperation. Unexpectedly, he met Theodore on the road. Left with no other way, he drove away quickly. However, he forgot that this section of the road was a high-risk section and he hit a stone at the side. As a result, he was seriously injured and fell into a coma while his wife died on the spot. The only person who came out of the ident unscathed was the child his wife tightly protected in her arms. Just thinking about this made Yoel feel sorry for both Arthur and Theodore. ¡°So what? That still makes him the one who pushed you and my mother to death.¡± ¡°Arthur!¡± Yoel¡¯s voice immediately turned stern when he heard those words. ¡°You must be grateful. Theodore has raised you for so many years. Even giving you a bite of food is benevolent of him. He even raised you so well. How can you be so heartless?!¡± Arthur sneered at that. ¡°Do you think I will forgive them just because of what you said? How ridiculous. I don¡¯t hate them only because they killed you and my mother. I have been wronged since I was a child. I will never forget what I lost. I will have everything that is rightfully mine!¡± That put a frown on Elspeth¡¯s face. ¡°Wronged? What do you mean?¡± Arthur realized that he had said too much. His eyes were slightly red, but he still calmed down. ¡°No matter what you say, I won¡¯t forgive the Winthrops.¡± He nced back at Yoel with hatred and disappointment in his eyes. ¡°And you¡­ I will never, ever forgive you!¡± After finishing speaking, he mmed the door and left. Yoel copsed to the ground all of a sudden. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. It¡¯s all my fault that things have turned out this way¡­¡± Elspeth quickly helped him up when she saw this. ¡°Mr. Blue, don¡¯t think too much about it. I told you that Arthur¡¯s thoughts have been somewhat distorted since he was a child. Understandably, you can¡¯t persuade him.¡± Yoel let out a deep sigh. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to him again. I¡¯m his biological father, after all. I¡¯m sure he will listen to me, even if it¡¯s only a little.¡± After speaking, he also went out, leaving only Elspeth and Callum to look at each other with exhaustion in their gazes. ¡°Callum, why do you think Arthur turned out this way?¡± Callum¡¯s voice was as calm as ake. ¡°Comparison is unavoidable in a wealthy family like the Winthrops. I was also like this when I was a child.¡± She immediately became interested when she heard his words. ¡°You mean¡­ you felt sad because you lost to someone else when you were younger?¡± He began to reminisce as he thought of the past. ¡°When I was young, there were five children in my family, and I was the best at studying. ke and Max would stick to me all the time. Edmund used to tear up my test papers and say that I got zero marks every time after my school exams. And because of that, I would be punished by not being given dinner.¡± Elspeth identally let augh slip as soon as she heard that. ¡°Edmund grew up evil, huh?¡± Callum shot her a glum look. ¡°You¡¯re making fun of me,¡± heined. ¡°Ahem! My apologies. Please continue. I¡¯ll listen well and I promise I won¡¯tugh. Not if I can hold it in.¡± ¡°And after 12.00AM when everyone in the family had gone to bed, Arthur would sneak over to bring me food in case I was hungry.¡± Elspeth rubbed her chin. ¡°A young Arthur seems kind.¡± ¡°But Arthur was actually the one who tore up my test papers.¡± ¡°And yet he brought you food at night?¡± Elspeth eximed. Chapter 225 Chapter 225 ¡°I¡¯m not too sure either. I always thought it was Edmund who did it, or else he wouldn¡¯t have made fun of me every time. But I¡¯ve asked him about it before and he said it wasn¡¯t him.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t look convinced at all. ¡°How do you know he wasn¡¯t lying?¡± ¡°No. Even though Edmund has a sharp tongue and he likes to gloat, he never lies. When he does, the tips of his ears turn red. He can¡¯t hide it for more than three seconds.¡± With his understanding of Edmund, Callum knew that Arthur was the one responsible for all of this. Does this mean that Arthur has been setting people up since he was a child? Surprised, Elspeth looked at Callum and asked, ¡°In other words, Arthur has been jealous of you since way back. He¡¯s not making a break with the Winthrop Family because he thought that Mr. Winthrop caused his parents¡¯ death. This is solely him acting on his long-time grudge, correct?¡± Seeing how quick she was on the uptake, Callum looked at her with an approving look. ¡°Mhm. You guessed it right. That¡¯s what I was thinking as well. Arthur¡¯s reconciliation with the Winthrops probably has something to do with Alphascape. It might be bad for the Winthrops.¡± Elspeth suddenly thought of something. ¡°Have you told Mr. Winthrop to be careful?¡± ¡°It¡¯s useless. My father will never want to be wary of Arthur. After all, Arthur is the child he brought up. He won¡¯t think badly of Arthur even if Arthur were to hurt him.¡± Callum knew Theodore all too well. Although he could be brutal in business, as a father, he was just a kind, loving man. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ¡°We need to get ready, then. We must not let him get ideas on Mr. Winthrop.¡± The corners of Callum¡¯s mouth curled into a smile. ¡°Oh? You¡¯re worrying about your future father-inw already even though we¡¯re not officially married. Is this a case of love me, love my dog?¡± ¡°My foot! I¡¯m just concerned about Mr. Winthrop. He has been nothing but nice to me. I don¡¯t want anything to happen to him.¡± Callum patted her head andforted her in a soft voice, ¡°I know that you are worried about my father, but you have worked too hard, Elspeth. You are always thinking about this and that every day. I think you should start to think about yourself.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± He pulled Elspeth into his arms and rested his chin on her forehead. ¡°Our couple¡¯s lovey-dovey time, of course! Don¡¯t you agree, Mrs. Winthrop?¡± He¡¯s doing it again! Feeling flushed and worked up, she felt like a cooked prawn. She couldn¡¯t understand how a man who had never dated anyone was so skilled at flirting and teasing. ¡°Callum, you pretend to be indifferent, but you¡¯re actually a surprise package, aren¡¯t you?¡± This was a term that Callum had never heard of. After pausing for a moment, he asked in return, ¡°What¡¯s a ¡®surprise package¡¯?¡± Elspeth held her forehead in resignation. ¡°Pretend I never said that,¡± she muttered. ¡°Say it!¡± He held her wrists in a tight grip. ¡°Tell me, what does a ¡®surprise package¡¯ mean?¡± It didn¡¯t sound like apliment to him. Finding it hard to say it, she shook her head and blushed. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I was just guessing.¡± Callum pursed his lips and the next second¡­ Elspeth felt like hiding in a hole when he found the meaning on Google. He read out loud, ¡°A ¡®surprise package¡¯ generally refers to people who are quiet on the outside and passionate on the inside. ¡®Surprise packages¡¯ don¡¯t easily express and show their emotions and emotional changes, but they would perform in unexpected ways in specific asions or environments.¡± After that, he nced at Elspeth with intrigued eyes. ¡°Oh, so you think I¡¯m ¡®passionate on the inside¡¯ and I ¡®perform in unexpected ways¡¯.¡± Hearing him say the word ¡®passionate¡¯ immediately made her turn red in the face. ¡°That¡¯s not what I mean¡­¡± She struggled to get out of his hold on her wrists, but he only held on tighter. ¡°Elspeth, are you trying to do something different with me?¡± The woman quickly froze. She couldn¡¯t even begin to imagine what he was talking about. The way his Adam¡¯s apple rolled and the clear and distinct sound of him gulping made her imagination run wild. ¡°Let¡¯s put everything aside first. I will take you to Waterside tomorrow.¡± ¡°Why are we going to Waterside? Are we going to watch the filming?¡± She didn¡¯t like that ce very much. ¡°Of course not.¡± Callum lightly knocked on her forehead with a knuckle. ¡°Other than the film and television industry, Waterside is a famous tourism spot. I¡¯m going to take you there to have fun.¡± ¡°But¡­ I don¡¯t want to¡­¡± She could never get used to traveling. ¡°You don¡¯t seem very happy about the idea,¡± hemented. When she thought about her childhood experience, she couldn¡¯t help but have a bitter expression. ¡°If only you knew. I went to the beach with my father when I was young and I was stung by a jellyfish. And when I went to y in a forest, I was caught in a bear trap. There was this other time when I went to a ropeway, but I almost died because it hadn¡¯t been maintained for a very long time¡ª¡± ¡°Stop! So, what you¡¯re saying is, you get bad luck whenever you travel?¡± Callum couldn¡¯t helpughing. Just the thought of her ¡®sad experiences¡¯ made himugh. ¡°Exactly! That¡¯s why I don¡¯t like to travel. I would rather have you kill me than bring me on a trip.¡± Elspeth was going to meet her end anyway. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll take you somewherepletely safe.¡± ¡°I sure hope so!¡± She giggled. ¡°But where are we going?¡± He had a mysterious look. ¡°You¡¯ll see when we get there.¡± He was indeed mysterious enough to not tell her this secret even when they boarded the ne the next morning. Elspeth had always been a curious one. She couldn¡¯t sleep well the whole night because none of her guesses were right. The next day, she, with dark circles around her eyes, went to meet up with Callum. Callum both felt sorry and entertained when he saw the unconceble exhaustion in her eyes even though she had full makeup on. ¡°Alright, alright. You can catch some sleep on the ne. I¡¯ll wake you up when we get there.¡± She then nodded and fell into a deep sleep against his shoulder. When he saw how docile she was when she slept, he felt a strange feeling spread across his chest. The feeling prompted him to lean forward and press a chaste kiss on her forehead. He thought that she had fallen asleep at first, but the jolting of her fingers out of nervousness gave her away. He only noticed the moisture on his shoulder when they got off the ne. She was perspiring? Was the air conditioner not cold enough? Even though he was surprised, he didn¡¯t say anything and took her directly to the hotel first, but when they arrived, the front desk told them that there was only one room left. Elspeth nced at Callum. ¡°How about we get another hotel?¡± she asked. The man didn¡¯t even hesitate to answer. ¡°We¡¯ll stay here.¡± She was then dragged all the way to their room. Despite theck of emotions on his face, Elspeth couldn¡¯t help feeling a little apprehensive. ¡°Callum, I really think that men and women should keep their distance from one another¡­¡± Chapter 226 Chapter 226 ¡°We are in a rtionship. So, sleeping in the same room shouldn¡¯t be a problem, right?¡± Elspeth saw a hint of slyness in Callum¡¯s gaze. Callum still had the same appearance, but the coldness and dignity in his soul had vanished. The Callum before her was a big ferocious wolf dressed in sheep¡¯s clothing. ¡°Can we sleep separately, Callum? I¡¯m not quite ready yet.¡± Not so much prepared as not prepared at all. Callum¡¯s eyelids did not flutter. A smile gradually crept to his lips as he noticed a sh of dread on Elspeth¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Everyone has their first time.¡± How dirty-minded! Elspeth shivered as she cuddled up on the bed. Kneeling beside her, Callum put his hand beside her to take away the quilt. The next thing Elspeth knew, Callum, who was usually dignified, was lying on the sofa in a suit, leaving the bed for her alone. ¡°Let¡¯s sleep.¡± Elspeth was unable to react in time. She expected Callum to impose himself on her. ¡°Callum, you¡¯re the epitome of a gentleman.¡± Elspeth¡¯s eyes were welling up with tears. The impression he left on her became even more positive. He calmly closed his eyes and said, ¡°I¡¯m not. I¡¯lle back to bed immediately if you say anything else.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t! I¡¯ll sleep now.¡± Elspeth was terrified and hastily closed her eyes. Elspeth couldn¡¯t sleep after some time. And the consistent breathing sound by her side surprised her. In a setting like this, he could sleep. ¡°Callum,¡± she called out quietly. The sound of breathing faded quickly, followed by Callum¡¯s somewhat scratchy voice. ¡°What is it? Did you have a nightmare?¡± All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. ¡°No, I can¡¯t sleep.¡± Callum was a square. ¡°Keep trying. Count sheep or something. Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t be able to enjoy tomorrow.¡± ¡°I tried, yet I can¡¯t sleep. I¡¯m not sure why.¡± In fact, Elspeth knew the reason best. It was most likely because Callum was in the same room with her, and she felt nervous. She didn¡¯t want to say anything for fear of making him upset. ¡°What should we do now?¡± Elspeth pondered for a long time beforeing up with a suggestion. ¡°How about you tell me a story?¡± Callum shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not very good at telling stories.¡± ¡°When I was a kid and couldn¡¯t sleep, my dad would tell me stories to soothe me to sleep.¡± Elspeth felt nostalgic as she recalled her childhood. ¡°Fine.¡± Callum scowled and added, ¡°There is a construction schedule for Damoria this year. The implementation is expected to begin on August 30th. To ensure that no one is injured¡ª¡± ¡°Stop! Callum, I¡¯m looking for a story, not a piece of news!¡± Elspeth felt conflicted as she gazed at the dark figure not far away. How can a man be so unromantic? ¡°Then tell me what you want to hear.¡± Given hisck of experience, Elspeth quickly suggested, ¡°For example, a gentle and sweet story about small creatures.¡± Callum couldn¡¯tprehend what Elspeth was saying, so he took out his cell phone and looked up a story. ¡°Cute Bedtime Stories for Girlfriend¡­¡± Callum grimaced as he read the suggested stories. He took a long time to choose a favorite. ¡°Once upon a time, there was a little prince who enjoyed eating cherries. The realm was filled with cherry trees, and the cherry fairy resided among them. The little prince thought that the cherry tree would grow red and sweet fruit, but it did not for a long time, so the little prince was disappointed. Then a cherry fairy appeared and told the unhappy little prince, ¡®Kiss me, and the cherry will grow.¡¯ As a result, the little prince puckered up and kissed the cherry fairy. The cherry tree was instantly covered in blushing cherries the moment the cherry fairy blushed. The cherry fairy whispered coyly, ¡®The cherries are already sweet enough, so don¡¯t kiss again,¡¯ as the little prince puckered up. ¡®But you are sweeter than cherries,¡¯ the little prince murmured while blinking.¡± Callum¡¯s voice was soothing with distinct hoarseness that drew one in. Elspeth expected to be so aroused by his voice that she would be too excited to sleep after hearing it. However, what happened was that she grew so drowsy after hearing his rhythmic voice that she passed out. She had no idea when she had fallen asleep. The quilt was on her body when she awoke the following morning. There was no Callum on the sofa. Elspeth started feeling uneasy. Just as she was ready to leave, the door swung open. It was Callum. His shoulders were slightly damp, and he was holding an umbre and a bag of shrimp tacos. ¡°Are you awake?¡± Callum ced the umbre by the door before setting the meal on the table. ¡°I went out and bought tacos. I believe you will be hungry when you wake up.¡± Elspeth nodded. She had only just awoken and hadn¡¯t eaten much the night before, so she was hungry. At this moment, she felt warm andfortable as if they had been married for many years. The tacos on the table made her gulp. ¡°What¡¯s the problem? Not a fan of tacos?¡± Callum scowled unexpectedly. Elspeth shook her head hurriedly. ¡°No. Of course, I enjoy it. They are my favorite.¡± After speaking, she sat at the table and took up the shrimp taco to bite into it. ¡°Mmm! Nice! It tastes fantastic. You try some.¡± Callum¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°I had a cup of coffee outside. I¡¯m not hungry yet. Tacos are not my favorite. You can have them all.¡± Elspeth nodded. The itching all over her body caused her to drop her food and scratch before she could start the second portion. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Callum lowered his gaze to the crimson marks on her arms. He then grimaced. ¡°Do you have a seafood allergy?¡± Elspeth¡¯s bangs were drenched in sweat. ¡°Yes¡­ I¡¯m allergic to seafood. However, it is not serious. I should be fine after a while.¡± It stings. So itchy¡­ Elspeth was short of breath and felt prickly and unpleasant. ¡°Stop being stubborn. You should have told me that you have a seafood allergy!¡± Callum quickly dialed 911 and sent Elspeth downstairs to meet the ambnce. Elspeth huddled in his arms while mumbling, ¡°I¡¯m fine. Not to mention that you bought them for me, so I have to finish them.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be silly! What if you die?¡± Callum¡¯s tone suddenly became cold. ¡°If I die, find a beautiful girl to marry and have a child named Elle Winthrop,¡± Elspeth added with a smile. She then sighed, ¡°It has a nice ring to it.¡± Callum was enraged, and his stare was frigid as he heard her joke. ¡°If you die, Elspeth, I shall smash you to ashes.¡± ¡°Yeah. Take my ashes and¡­ What are you talking about? Are you going to smash me, huh?¡± This isn¡¯t what you¡¯d expect to see in a novel. Why do you never y by the rules, Callum? Chapter 227 Chapter 227 With Callum¡¯s effort, Elspeth was admitted to the hospital. When Elspeth smelled the familiar disinfectant, she grimaced. ¡°Can I not be admitted to the hospital for treatment?¡± Callum cast an icy gaze at Elspeth. ¡°What do you think?¡± Elspeth gave a nervous smile. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯ll work.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± The aloof dreamboat stepped aside as he spoke and began scrolling through his phone. ¡°How about our travel itinerary?¡± ¡°It will be rescheduled due to unforeseen circumstances. It¡¯ll help if you remain in the hospital for treatment. Don¡¯t worry. There¡¯s plenty of time.¡± Elspethy resentfully on her bed. Soon after, a doctor arrived. She was doing rounds. Elspeth recognized the doctor¡¯s face but couldn¡¯t recall where she had seen the doctor. The doctor eximed in astonishment the next second, ¡°Cal, you¡¯re here!¡± Elspeth frowned and looked at Callum when she heard that. ¡°Hey.¡± Callum gave the doctor a nod. ¡°How have you beentely? How is Archie doing?¡± Elspeth deduced the doctor¡¯s inner feelings because she shyly nicknamed Arthur Archie. ¡°Everything is fine.¡± Callum remained the same. He was uninterested in meeting unfamiliar people. The doctor seemed to know him. She kept quiet after exchanging a few words. Then, she came up to Elspeth¡¯s bed to do her work. As she stared at Elspeth, the doctor grimaced. ¡°Elspeth, what brings you here?¡± Elspeth finally remembered the doctor. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, Moriah Oliver.¡± Elspeth had an unfavorable opinion of Moriah. She met Moriah four years ago while studying abroad. Moriah was also a medical student who knew Sonny was abroad, so she did everything she could to find him and wanted to be his apprentice. By ident, Sonny picked Elspeth as his apprentice. With that, Moriah gave up her pursuit, and she held grudges against Elspeth since she suspected Elspeth of stealing her item. Jealousy grew in Moriah the moment she saw her mortal enemy. Her face was extremely gloomy. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve seen you, Elspeth.¡± Her words sounded sarcastic. Moriah was not someone Elspeth wanted to deal with. She ignored Moriah and closed her eyes to rest. She didn¡¯t even bother looking at Moriah. Moriah checked the ward and walked out after observing Elspeth¡¯s refusal to speak. Just a few steps away outside the door, Moriah noticed a familiar figure. ¡°Archie?¡± The man turned his head when he heard that. It was Arthur. He softened his expression as he looked at Moriah. ¡°What a strange coincidence. We hadn¡¯t seen one another in a long time. So, you¡¯re employed here.¡± Arthur smiled and gently patted her. Her emotions were awakened as she fixed her gaze on him again. ¡°Archie, could you tell me why you came to Waterside today?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here on business.¡± Arthur lifted his hand and checked his watch. He frowned. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. I have to leave right now.¡± Moriah nodded, and her idle heart began to beat rapidly once more. ¡°Can we have dinner tonight, Archie?¡± Arthur was about to dismiss her. He changed his mind when he saw Elspeth¡¯s name on her case page and answered, ¡°Of course.¡± Elspeth was bored in the ward and was staring at Callum. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Do you want something to eat?¡± Elspeth smiled. ¡°No thanks, Cal.¡± Elspeth had never addressed Callum this way. Oh, someone¡¯s throwing a tantrum. ¡°Jealous?¡± Elspeth chuckled and tried to act cute. However, the coldness between her brows could freeze Callum¡¯s heart. ¡°I¡¯m not, Cal.¡± ¡°Speak properly.¡± ¡°No, Cal, I am speaking normally.¡± ¡°Elspeth!¡± Elspeth stopped fooling around immediately. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll stop.¡± Despite this, she believed it was unjust because Callum was the one who drew Moriah in. ¡°Moriah likes Arthur,¡± Callum replied as he saw through Elspeth¡¯s feelings while grinning. ¡°You are not required to exin anything to me. I am aware of that.¡± Elspeth snorted and quickly wrapped herself in a quilt. However, Callum yanked her out of the quilt. ¡°Are you willing to listen to my exnation?¡± ¡°Yes, yes! Ouch! Don¡¯t tug on my clothes.¡± Callum rolled his eyes and let her go. Why do I think that Callum is bing more frightening? Elspeth stroked her neck and attempted to decipher his actions. Is he upset? ¡°Callum, are you upset?¡± Callum did not respond and instead sent a document to his assistant, requesting that he handle some tasks. ¡°Please don¡¯t ignore me. At the very least, tell me why I deserve to be ignored.¡± He snorted coldly. ¡°You understand why you¡¯re here.¡± Oh, he¡¯s still mad at me for concealing my allergies. Elspeth waved as though she didn¡¯t care any longer. ¡°I understand you may be feeling guilty. Don¡¯t be guilty. I forgave you a long time ago.¡± When Callum heard that, he got a headache and stopped talking to her. The red marks on Elspeth¡¯s body faded dramatically in the afternoon. So, she wanted to go out to sunbathe. Callum disliked sunbathing since it was too hot for him. Furthermore, it was December. So, one would only feel the frigid breeze even if they sunbathe. The weather this season could cause a cold. However, he couldn¡¯t persuade Elspeth not to go. To avoid incidents, he could only follow her. They made their way to the garden. Elspeth gulped as she watched the wild withering grass. ¡°What¡¯s the big deal about this?¡± Before Elspeth could respond, a massive sneeze erupted. ¡°I warned you it was cold. You¡¯re the only one who enjoys running about in December.¡± Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Elspeth had grown ustomed to Callum¡¯s uncaring tone of voice. ¡°This is Risedragon Grass!¡± she cheerfully remarked as she walked forward to inspect the withering nts in the yard. ¡°What grass?¡± ¡°Risedragon Grass is a therapeutic ingredient that can boost the body if consumed,¡± Elspeth said strangely. Callum instantlyprehended everything, ording to Elspeth¡¯s look and the name of the grass. ¡°That¡¯s enough. You¡¯ve spent enough time outside. You should return with me.¡± Callum didn¡¯t want Elspeth to stay outside and continue talking about what she saw or felt, so he grabbed her cor and was going to drag her back inside. They arrived at their ward to find a group squabbling. Moriah was one of them. Chapter 228 Chapter 228 Moriah¡¯s neck reddened in anger as she fought with the man. ¡°Please be reasonable. You should be aware that his illness is not easily cured. Even if you called the best doctor in the world, they can¡¯t heal him magically.¡± The man became enraged and yelled at her nose, ¡°Do you know who he is? Even if you cannot treat him, his condition should not worsen!¡± ¡°The patient¡¯s feelings determine the illness. Perhaps his illness deteriorated because you enraged him.¡± The man scowled. ¡°Stop telling lies! His condition deteriorated far too quickly. He could still communicate normally around lunchtime, but in the evening, he experienced facial paralysis. This hospital is awful!¡± Elspeth clicked her tongue. ¡°This hospital was also dubbed the greatest in Waterside. However, I¡¯m wondering how much of it is true.¡± Elspeth believed her thoughts were quiet, but Moriah could hear them. So, Moriah came up with an idea and pointed at Elspeth as she said, ¡°You don¡¯t like our hospital much, do you? How about you seek treatment from thisdy? She is also a medical graduate, and her abilities are not bad.¡± Elspeth went utterly still. She had no idea how she became embroiled in it. She didn¡¯t want to kick the can down the road. She was about to turn around and walk away since she assumed the family would not ept the ridiculous request. However, the man stopped her. ¡°I¡¯m sure her medical abilities must be superior to yours. I¡¯ll let her give it a shot!¡± Elspeth thought, am I a bargaining chip to you? When he saw Elspeth, the man rushed over and bowed. ¡°Greetings, miss. I want to request that you check on the patient. May I ask¡­¡± ¡°N-No, I can¡¯t do this.¡± Even if she could heal the illness, she didn¡¯t want to be called in to treat someone on the spur of the moment. ¡°You¡¯ve got this.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± ¡°You certainly can!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t!¡± After Elspeth stubbornly refused, the man implored in hushed tones with tears welling in his eyes, ¡°Miss, please! I have to take care of my parents and the entire family. My wife is sick at home too, miss. I¡¯m the sole breadwinner in the family. Please be gracious and grant my request.¡± Elspethmended him for not tripping over his words with his tant falsehood. ¡°How many people did you dupe with that?¡± The man embarrassedly touched his nose. ¡°So far, no one has fallen for it.¡± Elspeth was mean, so Callum looked at her. ¡°You are sick. Don¡¯t be concerned about others right now.¡± However, Elspeth wanted to prove him wrong. ¡°Life is more valuable than anything else. I¡¯ll do it.¡± So, Elspeth agreed to the request on the spur of the moment. Moriah began to speak sarcastically in the ward. ¡°Do you want me to show you the case list, Elspeth? I believe you should not make matters worse for the patient.¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes. ¡°So, why are you still talking? Send me the list!¡± Moriah was surprised and uneasy as if she had trodden on manure, but she listened to Elspeth and delivered the case list. Elspeth scanned the list before turning to face the unconscious guy on the bed. Then, she clicked her tongue. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you couldn¡¯t treat him with such a minor illness. It¡¯s been more than a month! The longer he stays here, the worse his condition bes. Yet, you me it all on the patient.¡± Moriah clenched her fists. ¡°We take our patients seriously. Therefore, it can¡¯t be our fault if we¡¯ve done our best. Not to add the fact that it is not amon illness. You¡¯re far too arrogant. If you can, cure him!¡± She wanted to see what Elspeth could do. Elspeth examined his face, and the mocking sneer vanished. ¡°Where is the air conditioner¡¯s remote control in the ward?¡± The man growled, ¡°The hospital took away the remote control, saying that they need to unify the temperature and will not allow us to intervene.¡± Elspeth had never considered such foolishness. ¡°The air conditioner in the ward is what paralyzes his face. Too much air is being blown into the patient¡¯s face. Is such a big hospital unaware even of this general knowledge?¡± Suddenly, the man became enraged. ¡°I knew it was strange for him to experience sudden facial paralysis!¡± Moriah felt guilty, but she insisted on saying, ¡°You¡¯vee to heal him, not make excuses. You talk too much!¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes at Moriah before pulling a set of silver needles from her pocket. Sonny had recently given Elspeth a new set of silver needles, each of which was etched with the letter S. She felt it was lovely and always took the set with her. She examined the patient¡¯s face for acupuncture points and brought out a few silver needles to poke him. The patient¡¯s mouth corner moved slightly after a while. It was a sign of awakening. Moriah scowled, ¡°Is that it? I thought you could entirely heal him.¡± However, Elspeth was not in a hurry. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not done yet.¡± As she said, she brought out a couple more needles and stuck a few on the patient. Elspeth waited quietly after she had finished everything. Everyone in the ward held their breath, afraid to disturb them. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. After a long time, the patient in the bed began to stir. The patient gave out light coughs and spoke hoarsely with his dry throat because he was not used to being able to speak suddenly. ¡°Can you tell me what happened?¡± Elspeth poured a ss of water and inserted a straw to allow him to take a few sips. ¡°Thank you so much, missy. You are¡­¡± The man was overjoyed before Elspeth could even introduce herself. ¡°She¡¯s your savior, Dad! Her name is¡­ Is¡­¡± He turned to gaze at Elspeth, for he did not ask for her name previously. ¡°What¡¯s your name, missy?¡± She was speechless. ¡°My name is Elspeth Lynwood.¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct! Elspeth.¡± As tears flowed down his cheeks, the man gazed at the patient. ¡°Do you realize how untrustworthy the doctors in this hospital are? It¡¯s all thanks to the excellent doctor that your facial paralysis has been remedied.¡± Elspeth¡­ The man pursed his lips as if he was thinking about something. Then, he remembered and said, ¡°You¡¯re the well-known Elspeth.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not. I¡¯m just a little famous.¡± Elspeth smiled faintly. The old man¡¯s voice was robust and full of brilliance now that his facial paralysis was cured. ¡°You¡¯re not. I saw your live stream before, and I sent you a hundred thousand Universes.¡± Elspeth was taken aback when she heard that. A Universe costs five hundred. So, a hundred thousand Universes would cost fifty million dors! Elspeth looked at the patient. She had no idea he was her top gifter. She made the right choice saving him. ¡°Then, I must cure your illness. The one hundred thousand Universes shall be your medical expenses.¡± Moriah reacted with jealousy after hearing that. ¡°What a scam. Fifty million for medical expenses.¡± ¡°You are free to treat him.¡± Moriah instantly fell silent. Chapter 229 Chapter 229 Elspeth learned more about the patient¡¯s symptoms and spoke with him briefly. After they exchanged a few words, the patient was identified as Joseph Canfield, the wealthiest man in the city of Waterside! That was why he was so kind as to give her a hundred thousand Universes all at once. Elspeth was knowledgeable and generous, making Moriah appear less attractive inparison. Although Elspeth was dressed in a hospital gown, she outperformed Moriah. Moriah was bing envious. Even though she knew that Joseph was Waterside¡¯s wealthiest man, she believed he was dying and that pleasing him was futile. As a result, she had been treating his case coldly. She never expected him to be cured. What was more, she indirectly gave Elspeth the chance to connect with him. Moriah couldn¡¯t take it any longer and took a step forward with a ttering look. ¡°Are you in good health, Mr. Canfield?¡± ¡°I¡¯m much better thanks to the hospital¡¯s treatment,¡± Joseph replied coldly, remembering the woman who caused him trouble when he was sick. It was obvious that what he said was sarcasm. Elspeth giggled and covered her mouth while Moriah¡¯s face became thunderous, which did not look good on her. ¡°So, Moriah, if you have nothing better to do, you should check on the other rooms. Isn¡¯t it your job to make rounds?¡±Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. With a gentle face, Elspeth showed Moriah a way out. Moriah snorted and turned to leave, knowing she couldn¡¯t gain anything from Joseph. ¡°Moriah is too proud and arrogant. No wonder she has been just a ward-round doctor for so long.¡± Even Joseph couldn¡¯t take it any longer and uttered hurtful words. Elspeth was overjoyed to hear this and wished Moriah could hear that before leaving. ¡°Everything is fine. If you leave all of your medical care to me, you don¡¯t have to worry about anything.¡± He liked her even more. ¡°What a sweetie you are. This is my business card. Please get in touch with me if you are avable. By the way, do you have a boyfriend?¡± Elspethughed as she looked at Callum. ¡°I do have a boyfriend.¡± Only then did Joseph notice Callum off to the side. Joseph smiled awkwardly. ¡°I assumed you were single and wanted to introduce you to my proud grandson. That¡¯s all right. You young people should lead your own lives.¡± Callum, who had always been quiet, stood up with a hostile tone. ¡°If it¡¯s alright, I¡¯ll take Elspeth back to her ward. She is still recuperating.¡± Joseph knew Callum was upset, so he nodded quickly. ¡°Sure. You may leave now.¡± Callum took Elspeth¡¯s hand and exited. In the corridor, she could feel his anger and dared not to speak for a long time. ¡°Elspeth.¡± Elspeth shuddered and froze when she heard her name called. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°When can I marry you?¡± ¡°I said we¡¯d think about getting married after we found my mom, right?¡± she said as she chuckled. Callum was disappointed with the response. ¡°We should get engaged now. After we find your mother, we will marry.¡± ¡°Why are you suddenly in such a hurry? You made a promise to me.¡± Elspeth was picked up and pressed against the wall as soon as she said that. ¡°I don¡¯t want other men to covet you. Everyone should know that you are mine.¡± She was stunned. Do I give him too little security? ¡°Do you want to get engaged to me?¡± Under the dim light, Elspeth couldn¡¯t see Callum¡¯s face clearly, but she could see the gleam in his eyes. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get back and get engaged.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Before Christmas.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± As he rxed, she smiled and kissed the corner of his mouth. Moriah looked at Arthur who was sitting across from her in the restaurant, and all herints in the afternoon vanished. As a result, her mood significantly improved. ¡°How are you doing, Moriah?¡± Moriah lowered her head, shyly saying, ¡°I¡¯m doing well. I¡¯ve been promoted to chief of staff at the hospital. I¡¯ll be able to catch up with you soon.¡± I¡¯m very close to joining you and bing as great as you are! ¡°I¡¯m not a doctor anymore.¡± Arthur sighed and looked disappointed after saying that. ¡°What?¡± Moriah couldn¡¯t believe the guy she¡¯d loved for so long would give up his passion for bing a doctor. ¡°Callum and Elspeth have always despised me. To avoid them, I had to sell the hospital and work for someone else.¡± In a few words, he portrayed himself as an innocent guy whom his brother and future sister-inw abused. However, Moriah bought it. She was distressed and enraged as she looked at Arthur¡¯s handsome face. ¡°Don¡¯t give it much thought. Someone will help you get even for what you have suffered!¡± He smiled and nodded as he realized his trick was working. ¡°Everything is fine. It¡¯s nothing new to me. Not to mention that I havee to terms with this reality.¡± ¡°Why should you bow to them? Cal seemed nice, but I didn¡¯t expect him to bully you together with Elspeth!¡± The more she talked, the angrier she became. Arthur could feel a strong resentment from her. It was exactly what he was looking for. ¡°Are you familiar with Elspeth?¡± Moriah immediately angrilyined about Elspeth, ¡°I was the one who found Sonny first while I was studying abroad, but he chose Elspeth as his apprentice instead! He imed that meeting Elspeth was fate. Bullsh*t. It must be her bribing him to be her mentor! I despise her so much!¡± After venting, Moriah let out a long sigh. ¡°That¡¯s great¡­¡± Arthur murmured softly. She didn¡¯t hear him and asked in confusion, ¡°Sorry?¡± Arthur regained hisposure and rified, ¡°Nothing. Let¡¯s call it a day here. Moriah, please let me know if you¡¯re being bullied. Don¡¯t bear it on your own.¡± Moriah felt better after hearing those words. Then she added, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I will never let anyone bully me, and I will never allow others to bully you too!¡± Arthur didn¡¯t want to say much after achieving his goal. He gave her a small smile, just enough to fascinate her. Moriah quietly clenched her fists. Anyone who bullies Archie and me will never be forgiven! She was unexpectedly summoned to the director¡¯s office the next day. ¡°I have a question for you, Moriah,¡± the director asked with a deep voice. Moriah recognized it as a sign of rage. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°What happened between you and the patient in Room 360? He sent us two pennants today!¡± Moriah leaped for joy. ¡°Is it apliment?¡± ¡°Just look at it for yourself!¡± sneered the director. Her face paled as she looked down. The first pennant printed, ¡®Miss Elspeth Lynwood, a Benevolent Doctor¡¯ while the second pennant had the words ¡®Why Is Moriah Not Retired Yet?¡¯ on it. Chapter 230 Chapter 230 Moriah had never been humiliated to this extent. Thus, she was instantly irritated. ¡°But, doctor, he just humiliated me!¡± Instead of siding with her, the hospital director looked at her furious appearance and sneered, ¡°Do you know who he is? He¡¯s the millionaire of Waterside. Are you sure you can afford to offend him?¡± Parting her lips, Moriah stuttered, ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°If you want a way out, you better take the opportunity and apologize to him as soon as possible. If they give up on you eventually, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t even be able to help you!¡± The hospital director¡¯s words sounded like a warning to her. ¡°Okay. I-I understand.¡± After leaving the director¡¯s office, Moriah tightened her fists and pondered for some time before entering Room 360. She bumped into Elspeth once again. Looking at Moriah¡¯s ashen face, Elspeth wondered what happened to the woman, but she found it amusing to see her defeated look. ¡°Mr. Canfield, I¡­ I¡¯m here to apologize to you. I know I¡¯ve caused you a lot of trouble, but I hope you can forgive me for my previous acts.¡± Moriah looked pitiful as she hung her head. Joseph Canfield wasn¡¯t considered a harsh person. Seeing the look on her face, he decided not to pick on her anymore even though he had no intentions of being on good terms with her. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I don¡¯t want to make things difficult for a youngdy anyway. You may leave if there is nothing else.¡± It was obvious that he was trying to kick her out. Even though Moriah wasn¡¯t satisfied with that, she didn¡¯t want to stay any longer upon seeing Elspeth¡¯s delighted appearance. Eventually, she left. Once Moriah left, Elspeth looked at Joseph and asked, ¡°What did you do?¡± Moriah didn¡¯t seem like one to apologize willingly, so Joseph would surely have done something behind her back to make her do so. Joseph had no intention of hiding it from her, so he shared the whole incident with her. Elspeth broke out inughter after hearing that. ¡°You think it¡¯s funny too, El?¡± She shook her head. ¡°I just think you still have that evil trait in you despite already being at this age.¡± His face flushed in an instant. ¡°Seriously? I thought it was just a tiny punishment. I wasn¡¯t trying to pick on her or anything.¡± Even though Elspeth wasn¡¯t saying something serious, Joseph was quite flustered at the sight of her calm appearance as she sipped tea. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You need to teach her a lesson so that she doesn¡¯t repeat her mistakes.¡± Elspeth¡¯s words were like a hint to Joseph. ¡°Got it. You¡¯re trying to say I can bully her as much as I want, aren¡¯t you?¡± She went silent. Since when was I trying to say that? ¡°But based on my knowledge of her, Moriah tends to pull tiny tricks. Whether it is targeted at you or me, we should be wary of her. We shouldn¡¯t let our guards down.¡± Joseph nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Her little tricks won¡¯t be able to fool me.¡± ¡°Great, then. Hurry up and take your medicine.¡± Elspeth had spent hours brewing the medicine. He couldn¡¯t just let it go to waste. Grabbing the bowl, he could already feel the bitterness spread in his mouth. ¡°Can I not take it? I don¡¯t think I can swallow it anymore.¡± ¡°Of course not. Bitter medicine facilitates healing. Just listen to me and drink it.¡± With a crinkled face, Joseph countered, ¡°I can¡¯t take bitter food.¡± ¡°No pain, no gain.¡± ¡°Why do your words actually make sense, huh?¡± Josephined. ¡°Well, the medicine was not supposed to be bitter. I could¡¯ve made it sweet but was worried that you might be unable to take it, so I made a bitter version.¡± He was instantly dumbfounded. ¡°Then, why didn¡¯t you make me the sweet version?!¡± Joseph acted like a stubborn little kid right now. The corners of Elspeth¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°When I gave you a body checkup, I discovered you had two cavities.¡± Joseph was speechless this time. ¡°Alright. Take your medicine. I¡¯m leaving now.¡± Afraid that he mightin even more, she quickly fled the scene. Once she returned to her ward, she noticed Callum packing his stuff. As she observed his skinny silhouette, Elspeth pounced on him and hugged him from behind. ¡°Did you miss me, Callum?¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. As an anti-romantic, Callum responded, ¡°You were just out for an hour. It¡¯s not like you¡¯ve been away for days. Why would I miss you?¡± Elspeth pouted as she was unable to ept his answer. ¡°I was missing you while I chatted with Mr. Canfield.¡± ¡°What do you miss about me?¡± As if she recalled something, Elspeth¡¯s expression contorted. ¡°Wait. There¡¯s something I have to tell you.¡± Callum became serious all of a sudden. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Do you know Moriah? She apologized to Mr. Canfield this morning. At first, I found it absurd, but he told me he gifted the hospital a banner with the words ¡®Why Is Moriah Not Retired Yet?¡¯ written on it.¡± He smiled at that. ¡°Mr. Canfield is quite a dandy.¡± ¡°But when Moriah left eventually, the look in her eyes was really scary. She must be plotting something.¡± Whenever Elspeth had a strong sense of urgency, it definitely wasn¡¯t without reason. In the afternoon, she woke up from her sleep and realized that the room was too cold for her to sleep. Looking back at Callum, who was dozing off with his head propped up on the sofa, she thought he must be made of ice. How could he even fall asleep in such a cold room?! She thought it wasn¡¯t done by ident. Getting off the bed, she went to wake Callum. ¡°Callum, the heater seems to have broken down.¡± Callum raised his eyelids and revealed his sober gaze. It seemed like he didn¡¯t fall asleep. ¡°I don¡¯t think it broke down. Someone must have deliberately turned it off.¡± Without even having to mention the name, the two were able to guess who they were. He looked at Elspeth¡¯s face and ruffled her hair. ¡°Wait here. I¡¯ll go and see the hospital director.¡± Elspeth held his hand tightly and offered, ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± And so, Callum had no choice but to take Elspeth along to see the hospital director. The hospital director was one to keep up with the news, so he knew Callum was the new heir of the Winthrop Family. Hence, he spoke to the man politely. ¡°May I know what brings you here?¡± Callum¡¯s tone was cold when he asked, ¡°May I know who is in charge of the heater in the wards?¡± ¡°Erm¡­ It has always been Moriah in charge. What¡¯s wrong? Did something happen to the heater in the ward?¡± Elspeth nodded. ¡°Yes. The heater in our room isn¡¯t turned on at all.¡± The director was shocked to hear that and realized it must be Moriah¡¯s trick. ¡°It must be an ident. Would you like to return to the ward again and check on it? Perhaps they¡¯re fixing the heater¡­¡± Chapter 231 Chapter 231 Such words weren¡¯t convincing at all. However, Elspeth did not dwell on it as she knew that the director was only trying to protect her employee. Just as Elspeth was about to leave, Moriah walked right in. She was aware Elspeth was in the room but did not even look at her. ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re here, Moriah. Why isn¡¯t the heater in Miss Lynwood¡¯s ward working?¡± To that, Moriah casually answered, ¡°Their heater overheated this afternoon and had to be turned off. I¡¯m preparing to look for the technicians.¡± The tense expression of the director eased slightly when she heard that. ¡°There you go. It¡¯s just a misunderstanding.¡± As Elspeth had no evidence to show otherwise, she nodded and went back to the ward with Callum. After they returned, the temperature in the ward didn¡¯t get any better. It had been more than three hours since they noticed the temperature change, but the situation had not improved. Elspeth was afraid of the cold and began to tremble. As such, Callum had no other choice but to wrap her in a nket. ¡°Moriah is indeed taking revenge and her target is me,¡± Elspeth said in frustration, her brows furrowed. ¡°I¡¯ll look for the director again.¡± Elspeth grabbed Callum¡¯s wrist when he was about to leave. ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s not that cold. Furthermore, the director won¡¯t be able to resolve this no matter how many times you seek her out.¡± What she said made sense, which was why Callum dropped the idea. Suddenly, as if he had thought of something, his eyes shone as he said, ¡°Give me a moment. I need to make a call.¡± Then, he went outside. After more than half an hour, Callum came back, apanied by three to four men who were carrying arge rectangr-shaped item. Callum began to give instructions while standing by the door, saying, ¡°Put this inside and get It settled.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Elspeth was perplexed. ¡°This is a new heater that I¡¯ve just bought. Since the heater in the hospital is not functioning, it might as well be reced.¡± His words were so domineering that Elspeth was taken aback and unsure what to say. Within minutes, the director heard about this and called them. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, I-I heard you are recing our heater. Is that true?¡± From her tone, she seemed to find Callum¡¯s actions to be uneptable. ¡°The heater has been broken for half a day, but it has yet to be repaired. Your hospital is not efficient at all. You should just dismiss your employee in charge of the heaters.¡± Callum had never hesitated in being sarcastic to those who deserved it. ¡°But it is still unreasonable for you to rece our heater without asking us¡­¡± ¡°I was about to donate 15 million to the hospital, but it seems unnecessary now.¡± Callum had spent a long time in business and knew exactly how to manipte people. The moment he said that, the director, who was ming him earlier, immediately changed her tune. ¡°You are free to do whatever you want, Mr. Winthrop. You¡¯re a blessing to our hospital. When do you¡­¡± She left her sentence hanging as she didn¡¯t want to express herself aloud. ¡°It depends on my mood,¡± Callum nonchntly replied. He meant that if he was in a good mood, the 15 million would be immediately credited to the hospital¡¯s bank ount but if he wasn¡¯t, the hospital would receive nothing. The director gritted her teeth when she heard that. She stared at the table as she considered options before saying, ¡°How about I ask Moriah to apologize to you? If she refuses, I will immediately dismiss her!¡± Callum looked at Elspeth as if asking for her opinion. Elspeth simply raised her brows and asked, ¡°Do you still believe Moriah will change for the better when things have already progressed to this point?¡± Callum understood what she meant. ¡°We don¡¯t need her apology,¡± he said down the line, his voice low. The director knew the hidden meaning behind his words. It wasn¡¯t that an apology wasn¡¯t required. In fact, Callum detested Moriah so much that he didn¡¯t want her anywhere near him. ¡°I know exactly what I should do. Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Winthrop. I¡¯ll give you a satisfactory exnation.¡± When the conversation ended, the new heater was installed. They finally managed to adjust the temperature. Sensing the warm air blowing on her, Elspeth felt alive again. ¡°Are you serious about donating 15 million to the hospital?¡± Elspeth could never believe Callum, who was a businessman with only his interests and benefits in mind, would perform such a charitable act. He smiled in response. ¡°Of course not. But if she dismisses Moriah, I may consider donating the money to the hospital. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s worth doing anything that benefits you.¡± Such words weren¡¯t as corny as the others, but Elspeth¡¯s heart swelled with tenderness for him when she heard them. Faced with Callum¡¯s determined expression, she found herself at a loss for words. ¡°Take a good rest now. You should be able to get discharged tomorrow.¡± Elspeth nodded, her heart full of joy. That night, Elspeth went to say goodbye to Joseph. When he knew that she was leaving soon, he sobbed so hard that Elspeth felt awkward looking at him. ¡°I¡¯m just an old man with nothing to offer you and it¡¯s also too tacky to give you money. So, let me give you something that will prove my identity and allow you unrestricted ess to anywhere in Waterside.¡± With that, he took out a gold trinket and ced it in Elspeth¡¯s palm. That warmed Elspeth¡¯s heart. Money was nothing to her, but her identity was a priceless treasure. ¡°Doe back frequently to visit me¡­¡± Despite his emotional words, Elspeth felt likeughing for unknown reasons. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You will be discharged soon. When you get to go out for tea or meet up with your friends, you won¡¯t think about me again.¡± What she said was reasonable. However, Joseph simply stared at her with reddened eyes and mumbled, ¡°You are just finding excuses to stay away from such an old man like me. I know what you are thinking of.¡± Elspeth was rendered speechless. The next afternoon, while Callum waspleting the discharge procedures and Elspeth was packing her bag to leave, Moriah came looking for them. Seeing that Elspeth was about to leave, Moriah couldn¡¯t help but yell, ¡°Elspeth, you¡¯re a sl*t! You previously stole my position and now that I am finally the Head of the Department, you are again asking the director to force me to resign! What exactly do you want from me?!¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t these exactly what you deserved?¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t stand seeing Moriah ying the victim and sneered. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. That made Moriah guilty as her expression became unnatural. ¡°What nonsense are you spewing? When did I ever do you any wrong?¡± ¡°Really? Well, do you want to exin the heater¡¯s issue then, Moriah? Why hadn¡¯t any technicians checked on the heater after I¡¯d waited all afternoon?¡± Moriah obviously had no exnation for this. ¡°I¡­ I was too busy¡­¡± she muttered softly. ¡°Since you¡¯re so busy, I¡¯ll ease your burdens for you,¡± Callum said as he entered the ward. Chapter 232 Chapter 232 Moriah immediately put on an aggrieved expression when she saw Callum. Callum has had quite a nice impression on me previously. He wouldn¡¯t detest me for no reason if it weren¡¯t for Elspeth! If I beg him for mercy, perhaps he will sympathize with me. ¡°Cal, I¡­ I was framed by this woman. You have to seek justice for me!¡± She then pretended to cry, which stunned Callum. When did I ever have such a close rtionship with this woman? Elspeth looked at Callum¡¯s expression and knew exactly what he was thinking. Thus, she couldn¡¯t control herself from bursting out inughter. ¡°Why are youughing?¡± Moriah was still in the dark, but she still stubbornly argued, ¡°Do you really believe that Cal will listen to you just because you¡¯ve been with him for a while? I¡¯ll have you know that Cal is a man of principle! He won¡¯t be fooled by you!¡± Callum, however, looked at Moriah and said in an icy cold voice, ¡°To me, Elspeth is my principle.¡± Moriah¡¯s expression immediately changed to one of defeat. ¡°How can you help Elspeth bully me, Cal? I¡¯ve known you longer than she has. How can you be so nice to a woman you¡¯ve only just met?¡± Moriah couldn¡¯t understand what Callum was thinking and she was overwhelmed with jealousy. She never loved Callum because she knew that Callum waspletely out of her league. He was someone distinguished and invible; no one would ever be worthy of him. But he was now someone¡¯s boyfriend! It was impossible for Moriah to not be jealous. ¡°Callum, do you both know each other very well?¡± Elspeth abruptly asked. Callum quickly walked to her side and wrapped one of his hands around her waist, saying, ¡°Of course not.¡± ¡°No? Cal, have you forgotten that you¡¯ve previously hugged me¡ª¡± Before Moriah could finish her sentence, she felt Callum¡¯s cold re on her, making her embarrassed to continue further. Such a stare from him sent chills down her spine. ¡°Pray tell, when did I ever hug you?¡± Moriah was at a loss for words. Indeed, it wasn¡¯t a hug. It was just that she had a heat stroke and Arthur had handed her to Callum. She could never forget Callum¡¯s disgusted expression at the time and how he quickly went to wash his hands without any hesitation after putting her down. Elspeth leisurely yawned as she drawled, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, we shall get going. Moriah, you can go look for the director if you have anything to say.¡± The director¡­ Moriah gritted her teeth when she heard that. Elspeth was the one who requested the director to force Moriah to resign, so there was no way the director would help her now. But Elspeth was no longer interested in continuing the conversation. At that point, a few people dressed as workers walked in. Elspeth instructed, ¡°Remove the heater. After all, I was the one who bought it, and I don¡¯t want the hospital to have it.¡± Moriah¡¯s jaw dropped when she heard this. What a stingy woman! ¡°Oh, Miss Oliver, the heater stopped functioning while you were in charge. The director said that if I take my heater away, you will have to pay for a new one.¡± Moriah was so enraged that her teeth almost broke from her grinding them together. ¡°Elspeth Lynwood!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no use in saying my name. You should start thinking about how to pay for that without an ie.¡± With that, Elspeth then smiled at Moriah before waving to the workers for them to leave with her. Callum also took a look at Moriah and asked her to behave herself before he left. Moriah was the only one left in the ward as she stood there motionless. When Elspeth returned to the hotel, she was much happier. Callum curved the corners of his lips as well when he saw how happy she was. ¡°Why are you so happy?¡± ¡°Moriah is indeed a terrible person. Hence, it¡¯s not too much for us to give her a lesson, right?¡± Moriah¡¯s matter was still on her mind. ¡°She got what she deserves. Let¡¯s start making ns for our uing trip.¡± However, Elspeth gave him a mysterious smile. ¡°Perhaps you should exin to me why you hugged her back then.¡± Her smile held hints of darkness to it. Callum was a little helpless when he saw that. Why is she harping on this? ¡°Arthur had previously attended an event with Moriah, but Moriah had a heat stroke and fainted. He happened to run into me halfway and asked that I take her to the hospital. As a result, I had no choice but to take her from him and throw her in the backseat.¡± As Callum¡¯s attitude was sincere, Elspeth retracted her doubtful gaze, but she questioned again, ¡°Is there anything else?¡± ¡°I washed my hands more than ten times after that. I even sent my car for a car wash.¡± The corners of her mouth twitched. ¡°You¡¯re so rude.¡± Her depressed feeling about him hugging Moriah vanished in an instant. ¡°Can we meet Yelena and the others before we travel? They are still shooting here, right?¡± Callum didn¡¯t want their travel ns to be disrupted, so he asked in a slightly reluctant tone, ¡°Can we not do so?¡± ¡°But I haven¡¯t seen them in a long time! Besides, they are all actors in mypany. Jordan and I are the only investors, but Jordan has been apanying Angie every day. Without me going, there would be no one to supervise them.¡± Elspeth said it so sincerely that Callum found no reason to turn her down. Hence, he agreed helplessly. Both of them then drove to the shooting location. When they reached the ce, they stumbled upon Max feeding Yelena water. Everyone in the crew wasn¡¯t surprised because they had seen Max and Yelena act this way before, but it was such a rare scene for Callum and Elspeth that they were taken aback. Elspeth was surprised by how fast the couple had progressed, while Callum was shocked because he had never seen Max being so gentle. Max¡¯s loving actions of feeding Yelena water and wiping her mouth were even sweeter than Elspeth and Callum, the real couple. ¡°It¡¯s so good to be young,¡± Elspeth said sentimentally. But Callum misinterpreted what she meant and assumed she expected to be treated the same way. ¡°Do you like people feeding you water too?¡± he asked doubtfully as he turned his head and looked at her. ¡°No, I don¡¯t. I like money. You can buy me some gold.¡± ¡°But I¡¯ve given all my money to you to manage them. I can¡¯t afford to buy gold now,¡± Callum mumbled with his brows furrowed. The man was a CEO, but he was a pauper as well. Even the money used to purchase the heater yesterday had to be approved by Elspeth. Although he couldn¡¯t buy her gold, Elspeth was still pleased with what he said. ¡°This means that you did not hide any money. That¡¯s good. Please keep it up.¡± As both of them were speaking slightly louder, it drew the attention of the young couple nearby. Yelena immediately became nervous and had her face flushed when she saw Elspeth smiling. Elspeth then walked over to Yelena and caressed her head. ¡°What happened? You don¡¯t seem to be happy seeing me.¡± Yelena shook her head vigorously in response. ¡°Of course not! How would I be unhappy seeing you? I miss you so much!¡± ¡°Where¡¯s ke and Timothy? Are they fine?¡± Elspeth asked while looking around. However, the mention of their names made Yelena grimace as she said hesitantly, ¡°ke is fine, but Timothy¡­¡± Elspeth knew that something was amiss, so she prompted, ¡°What happened to Timothy?¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°He¡¯s in trouble,¡± Yelena gritted out through clenched teeth. Chapter 233 Chapter 233 Elspeth¡¯s expression changed as she asked, ¡°What exactly happened?¡± Yelena¡¯s gaze darkened with sadness when she mumbled, ¡°Do you recall the previous drug incident? A crew member of the ¡®Song of Viollenys¡¯ was behind it. Timothy went to demand an exnation, but they beat him up before throwing him out, severely injuring him. They even threatened and said that because our CEO is now despised by everyone, the rest of us should stay out of trouble or they will kill us the next time¡­¡± ¡®Song of Viollenys¡¯¡­ It¡¯s Emma again! ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me this earlier?¡± Elspeth asked as she stared at Yelena with a reproaching gaze. Yelena hesitated for a moment before answering, ¡°You weren¡¯t having a good time either. Timothy was also fine, so he asked me not to bother you with this matter.¡± She was a soft-hearted person. She knew Elspeth was having a bad time being detested by the entire onlinemunity. Therefore, she did as Timothy said and kept the matter hidden from Elspeth. ¡°Where¡¯s Timothy now?¡± ¡°In the hospital.¡± Elspeth and Callum then hurried over to the hospital. The hospital Timothy was in happened to be the one where she had previously stayed due to her allergy, but they had never met in the hospital, not even once. When Elspeth arrived at his ward, she saw ke feeding Timothy water. When they saw her, the both of them exchanged nces guiltily. ¡°Drinking water, huh?¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t say much, but the coldness in her eyes was terrifying. Timothy almost trembled out of fear as he smiled fawningly and asked, ¡°Hello, Elspeth. What brings you here?¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°If I¡¯m not here, how would I know our respectable Mr. Stevens is here, enjoying his life with a broken leg?¡± Timothy¡¯s injuries were serious and one of his legs was broken. As such, it was hung mid-air, looking rather amusing. ¡°I¡¯m just resting. I¡¯ll be able to return as soon as I¡¯ve had enough rest. The shoot will not be dyed.¡± The next second, Timothy gave Yelena, who was standing behind Elspeth, a stern re, as if questioning her for leaking this information. ¡°Don¡¯t re at her. If she hadn¡¯t told me and I had discovered it on my own, I would have scolded her along with you all.¡± Elspeth¡¯s tone was so cold that Yelena couldn¡¯t help but hide behind her, afraid to say anything. ¡°You all have gone overboard. How could you go over there and demand an exnation? Aren¡¯t you afraid of getting beaten up?¡± Elspeth could feel a headacheing on when she deduced what had happened. ¡°Tell me why you went looking for trouble for yourself.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve no idea what happened, Elspeth. When the police took the person away, she repeated that it wasn¡¯t her idea. She imed that someone from another crew instructed her to do so and she had no idea how things would turn out. So¡­¡± ¡°So, you went looking for them?¡± Elspeth asked with a frown. Timothy touched his nose in embarrassment. ¡°I¡¯m just indignant that Yelena was framed,¡± he muttered. ¡°You¡¯ve no idea that ke was there, and he was good too! Being young is indeed different. He managed to defeat the few men with no injuries to himself!¡± ¡°What about you? Why didn¡¯t you defeat them, Mr. Stevens?¡± Timothy gulped and replied, ¡°Well, I am weaker, but we were still in an advantageous position initially! It was just that their bodyguards arrived in time and threw us out¡­¡± The thought of both of them being thrown out was enough to make Elspeth feel disgraced. ¡°Both of you are adults, so stop acting like kids! Especially you, Timothy¡ªyou are already thirty! Even your son willugh at your childish behavior!¡± ¡°My son has visited me, and he says that I am a hero,¡± Timothy said with a light cough. At this point, Callum, who was standing off to one side, put his arm around Elspeth¡¯s shoulders and said nonchntly, ¡°Our son won¡¯t be this silly.¡± Elspeth nodded in agreement. Timothy was speechless. ¡°So, are they the ones who caused you these injuries?¡± Coldness shed across her eyes as she stared at his swollen legs. ¡°This¡­¡± Yelena wanted to say something from behind, but Timothy¡¯s re stopped her from doing so. He put on a smile and said, ¡°I¡¯m fine¡ª¡± But Elspeth ignored him and turned to Yelena, who was standing behind her, and said, ¡°You can continue.¡± ¡°Mr. Stevens¡¯ leg injury was caused by himself. He sprained it when he came back.¡± Timothy¡¯s face immediately flushed with embarrassment. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Don¡¯t expose me anymore.¡± Elspeth, however, couldn¡¯t control herself and burst outughing. ¡°Stopughing. I already know it¡¯s funny.¡± After all, it was indeed amusing for him to not get injured during the fight but to sprain himself when he was on the way back. With this, everyone in the ward began tough. The ambiance became more harmonious and Elspeth decided not to pursue the matter. After chatting with Timothy, both Elspeth and Callum returned to the hotel while Yelena and ke went back to the set to continue filming. Callum noticed that Elspeth was a little absent-minded. ¡°What are you thinking?¡± he asked. ¡°Emma is most likely the person behind this. I don¡¯t want to let her off so easily,¡± Elspeth replied, her voice cold and her gaze dark. ¡°What do you n to do, then?¡± Elspeth touched her chin. Seemingly in thought, she said indifferently, ¡°I¡¯m going to teach their crew a lesson.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Callum raised his brows and asked. ¡°You¡¯ll know soon.¡± Elspeth then let out a faint smile as a n was formted in her mind. The next morning, a piece of news on Twitter appeared, conveying that the release of the ¡®Song of Viollenys¡¯ would be dyed and would no longer be broadcast together with ¡®The Moment I Met You¡¯. ¡®The Moment I Met You¡¯ was a romance drama starring Yelena and ke, which focused on the characters¡¯ school lives. Many fans began to voice their opinions,ining that they had waited so long, only to learn that the show had been postponed. Other fans began to specte as to the true reason for this. In the afternoon, Emma revealed that her face was riddled with e and blemishes. She even posted proof of her hospital treatment and announced that such a situation was unlikely to improve in a matter of weeks. Hence, she could not continue with her work and the shooting had to be dyed. Someone on the Inte thenmented, ¡®Since she can¡¯t shoot, just rece her.¡¯ Such a thought immediately gained a lot of supporters. It caused a chain reaction, as such ament also sparked many people¡¯s ideas and arguments. ¡®Emma¡¯s acting isn¡¯t particrly good either. Look at all of her previous shows. They are all bad!¡¯ ¡®Emma doesn¡¯t look special and neither is she easily recognized. Maybe it¡¯s just me, but I really can¡¯t seem to appreciate her beauty.¡¯ ¡®Emma is not suited to be cast in a historical drama at all. Have you all seen the film stills? She looks terrible! The show should rece her, or else they will never get a high rating!¡¯ Meanwhile, Emma, who was in the hospital for treatment, had hoped for theizens¡¯ concern and sympathy. However, when she read all of thements, she almost blew her top. Chapter 234 Chapter 234 Emma browsed through thements section. Almost all of them were pointing out her ws and asking her to quit the film, or even stop acting altogether. Even more, some people forwarded Elspeth¡¯s video to humiliate Emma, indicating that even an amateur acted better than her. Her body was shaking involuntarily in anger. Waking up to find red spots on her face not only held up her chance to shoot films but also forced her to be admitted to the hospital. To make things worse, even theizens were criticizing her. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Just as she was feeling utterly upset, Arthur suddenly called her. Taking a deep breath, she read the caller ID on the screen, feeling nothing but irritation. Nevertheless, she answered the call. ¡°Hello? What is it, Arthur?¡± His voice betrayed a hint of panic, but he managed to hide it. ¡°What happened to you? Have you seen thements online?¡± Emma med everything on her bad luck, so she answered sadly, ¡°I have no idea. I woke up to find red spots on my face. However, Elspeth probably has something to do with thements online. She surely is out to suppress me!¡± Just the thought of this matter made Emma grit her teeth. ¡°Have you ever thought that Elspeth might be responsible for the red spots on your face?¡± His words put a frown between her brows. ¡°Really? Elspeth is staying in Damoria for the time being, isn¡¯t she? Besides, I doubt she¡¯s that capable.¡± However, Arthur understood Elspeth¡¯s capability to manipte others very well. Thus, he sneered, ¡°There¡¯s one thing you need to know. Elspeth¡¯s capabilities are beyond what you can imagine. You don¡¯t even know how many identities she is using.¡± Thinking that he was exaggerating Elspeth¡¯s abilities on purpose, Emma frowned deeper. ¡°So what? Even if she has exceptional abilities, she can¡¯t do anything to my face, can she? I visited the doctor a while ago. He says that I¡¯m allergic to nts. It might be caused by¡ª¡± ¡°What if I tell you her mentor is Sonny Schwartz, the expert on traditional medicine?¡± The new information changed everything, and a cruel look formed on Emma¡¯s face. ¡°I get what you mean. What should I do?¡± ¡°Keep this between us. For the time being, stay in the hospital to rest and recuperate. I¡¯ll deal with it when the timees.¡± As soon as Emma heard that, her voice turned gentle. ¡°Arthur, thank you so much. I can¡¯t even begin to imagine what I would do without you.¡± The man on the other side of the line curled his lips into a faint smile. ¡°If so, meet up with me tonight.¡± Emma immediately took the hint. Their meeting wouldn¡¯t be as simple as it sounded. Instead, it would end up being more intimate. ¡°You¡¯re such a naughty boy.¡± She feigned shyness on the surface, but she was trying to suppress the feeling of repugnance in her heart. She decided that once she dealt with the despicable Elspeth, she would dump the clingy Arthur. By that time, Callum would definitely regret breaking up with her. Meanwhile, Elspeth burst intoughter after she read thements. Callum was sitting on the sofa as he took his time to peel an orange for her. Noticing her amused reaction, he smiled slightly. ¡°What is it? Are you that happy just because you dealt with Emma?¡± ¡°She had iting. The negativements are all over the Inte. It¡¯s hrious.¡± He nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right. Her mistakes are unforgivable, so she has to pay the price.¡± He wasn¡¯t feeling bad for Emma at all. After everything she had done, she had lost his favor. ¡°Aren¡¯t you feeling bad even for a little bit? After all, she was your girlfriend once and you would take a bullet for her.¡± Elspeth was upset to recall this chapter in Callum¡¯s past. ¡°I think there¡¯s something you need to know.¡± She was confused to see the seriousness that gathered on his face all of a sudden. ¡°What is it about? If it¡¯s rted to Emma, I¡¯m just messing with you. I don¡¯t¡ª¡± ¡°First of all, I didn¡¯t make any vows when I was dating her. Besides, what Arthur told you wasn¡¯t exactly the truth. We broke up only because she wanted to pursue her dreams, and our view of the world was ipatible. Secondly, my affection for her gradually died down after she left because I didn¡¯t fall that hard for her. Thus, she had nothing to do with my obsession with work. Lastly, the reason I would still be affected by the mention of her name is that I wanted to know what kind of woman she was to turn her back on her love and choose to break up without hesitation, just to pursue her so-called dream. It was onlyter that I learned she had been seeing a man from another country for a long time. He¡¯s the director who discovered her and made her famous.¡± It was Elspeth¡¯s first time hearing such words from Callum, so she had difficulty digesting the information. She was also relieved to see him sharing his story in a calm tone without showing any hint of regret or other emotions. When he was done, he looked into her eyes and asked, ¡°Now, do you have any questions?¡± ¡°S-So, in conclusion, she cheated on you?¡± Elspeth¡¯s way of thinking was unconventional. Even Callum couldn¡¯t keep up with her when he heard such an unexpected question. When he finally registered the question in his mind, he gritted his teeth. ¡°Don¡¯t you have a better question?¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but chuckle upon discovering a new side of Callum. ¡°Think about it, the famous Mr. CEO gets cheated on. It¡¯ll definitely make a good headline.¡± Callum¡¯s expression immediately turned dark. ¡°Okay, okay. I¡¯ll stop.¡± When his expression continued to darken, she shook her head with a smile. ¡°By the way, I talked to Yelena today and learned that the crew hasn¡¯t been shooting for a few days mainly because a certain person quit the shooting after being poisoned. They couldn¡¯t find a suitable candidate to rece her on such short notice.¡± Theplication of the situation made Elspeth frown in annoyance. ¡°Can¡¯t you find a suitable actress in yourpany? Just call the candidates over for an audition.¡± If Callum¡¯s memory served him right, it was only a supporting role. It wasn¡¯t like it mattered. Fixing her gaze on his face, Elspeth forced a smile. ¡°Unfortunately, the actresses who suit the role are all shooting other films at the moment. I don¡¯t think I can find someone suitable on such short notice.¡± After pondering for a while, Callum eventually looked at her. ¡°Maybe you can consider ying the role yourself?¡± Her smile froze as she stared at him. ¡°Me? Are you sure I fit the role? Besides, I¡¯m not interested in acting at all and I can¡¯t stand the environment.¡± In short, she was justzy. ¡°Why not? You fit the role, Elspeth. Do you remember your role in ¡®Song of Viollenys¡¯? The video went viral online. If you think you¡¯re inadequate to act, I don¡¯t think any other person in the industry would be suitable for this job.¡± Elspeth scratched her cheek, slightly embarrassed by hispliment. ¡°Back then, I was just trying to make aeback at Emma. Honestly, I¡¯m not a good actress.¡± ¡°Time will tell. As for me, I have faith in you. Moreover, your recent video has made an impression on theizens. Joining the crew at this critical moment will only bring people¡¯s attention to the film.¡± Callum was indeed making good use of his financial acumen as his n was aimed to maximize the benefits. Atst, Elspeth had no other choice but to agree with him, ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll try.¡± Chapter 235 Chapter 235 On the second day, Elspeth joined the crew. Her visit surprised Aiden. ¡°Miss Lynwood, are you here for the shooting?¡± He had watched the video of Elspeth outperforming Emmast time. Based on his professional opinion, Elspeth did an excellent job and indeed lived up to the title of Payton Schwartz¡¯s student. Her appearance and acting skills would make her a top celebrity within three years if she tried. To his surprise, such a talented woman offered to y a supporting role. ¡°That¡¯s right. There¡¯s a shortage of actresses, isn¡¯t it? For the sake of fairness, I¡¯ll demonstrate my acting skills first. You can decide whether I pass or fail.¡± ¡°Of course. I¡¯d be honored.¡± Aiden was sweating profusely at this point. He heard that Elspeth rejected the female lead role when another crew offered it to her. As such, Aiden wondered if he had done anything special to have her volunteer to y a supporting role in his film. The scene Elspeth auditioned for was when her character found that the female lead was unconscious, so she carried the other woman on her back and sent the female lead to the hospital. Sizing the skinny Elspeth up and down, Aiden hesitated and suggested, ¡°If you have trouble carrying her, we can modify the scene to which you carry her by putting her arm around your shoulder.¡± She nced at Yelena, who was lying on the ground and pretending to be unconscious. ¡°What¡¯s so hard about carrying a woman as slim as her?¡± Aiden swallowed nervously. ¡°Recently, Yelena has gained 22 pounds to prepare for her role. Now, she weighs around 115 pounds. The other actors gave it a try, but only ke managed to carry her. The rest failed.¡± ¡°That¡¯sme. Can the rest even count as men?¡± Callum smiled, agreeing with her, ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± One of the actors stepped out to confront Elspeth when he heard suchments. ¡°How dare you say that? Yelena is the one to me for gaining weight, which was why we couldn¡¯t carry her. It¡¯s impossible to carry a girl as heavy as her!¡± Something shed through Yelena¡¯s eyes when she heard that. Even though she was hurt, she forced a smile. After all, she could still lose weight if she wanted. For now, she only gained weight to meet the character¡¯s profile. She kept telling herself that the harshments weren¡¯t bothering her. Elspeth scoffed at that. ¡°Loser.¡± ¡°What did you just say?¡± The young man¡¯s eyes widened at the insult. She only rolled her eyes, not bothering to answer him. ¡°Mr. Aiden, shall we begin?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± With a slightly embarrassed smile, the director answered, ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± Elspeth took a deep breath as she prepared to start. The next second, she rushed over to Yelena¡¯s side. Her usual nonchnt expression was reced by anxiety as she looked at the unconscious woman. ¡°Tess, are you all right?¡± However, the woman had her eyes shut tightly and her forehead was bleeding the entire time. Thus, Elspeth stretched out her arms and carried the woman without hesitation. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. She bent down and lifted the woman with a clean and quick move, making it look effortless. She carried Yelena in her arms, which was a lot harder than carrying the woman on her back. The onlookers widened their eyes in surprise. The young man who shed with Elspeth a while ago was now flushing red, desperate to flee the scene. Both Elspeth¡¯s emotions and lines met Aiden¡¯s standard. Furthermore, she finished the scene in one take, so he yelled ¡®cut¡¯ in satisfaction. After that, Elspeth walked over to the young actor. Fixing her gaze on his face, she raised her brows. ¡°I¡¯ll have you know that I already got my first gold medal in kickboxing when you were still learning the alphabet in kindergarten. You should work out more often during your free time. Your abilities are really embarrassing.¡± The younger man flushed redder when he heard that. Indeed, he had no idea about what happened in the world of kickboxing. However, he was surprised nheless to learn the petite woman in front of him was a champion in the sport. Even a woman like her could carry Yelena with ease, but he couldn¡¯t do it. The fact that she was stronger was a blow to his ego. Noticing the surprised looks on the crowd¡¯s faces, Elspeth tilted her head in confusion. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Yelena put her hands under her chin with an amazed expression while her eyes were sparkling with excitement. ¡°Elspeth, you¡¯re so cool! A kickboxing champion? It¡¯s my first time meeting someone as cool as you!¡± ¡°Silly girl, you¡¯re ttering me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m merely speaking the truth. You make carrying me look like an easy job. You¡¯re doing way much better than those actors.¡± Making sure there was nobody around, Yelena began in a low voice, ¡°Truth be told, the guy just now had a crush on me, but he was enraged to learn I¡¯m dating Max, so he kept saying those harsh words to me.¡± Elspeth dismissed the other woman¡¯spliment with a casual tone. ¡°As I said before, they¡¯reme.¡± Then, she turned to Callum. The man couldn¡¯t keep his emotions from showing on his face. ¡°What do you think, Callum?¡± His nod meant he agreed, but his voice betrayed a hint of hesitation. ¡°I think so?¡± He didn¡¯t know what to make of his woman. In short, she had quite an attitude. Once again, he was impressed. She was indeed his ideal woman. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t use kickboxing on you.¡± Elspeth walked over with a smile and held his hand. He whispered to her, ¡°That¡¯s because you can¡¯t beat me.¡± In return, she shot daggers at him. ¡°Are you challenging me? Wanna see who¡¯s better? Let¡¯s give it a go right here, right now.¡± Her boldness left him speechless. Elspeth was now an official member of the crew after passing the director¡¯s test. Callum naturally wasn¡¯t going to leave her in the crew all by herself, not even when everyone knew better than pulling something on her as they knew he was dating her. He would stay by her side regardless of whether the others were aware of it. ¡°Callum, don¡¯t you feel hot standing under the sun?¡± Today, Elspeth was shooting a scene at an artificial beach, where the outdoor temperature was high. The lean Callum stood right under the sun, looking both handsome and miserable. After all, a hot day around 104 degrees Fahrenheit was meant to be taken seriously. However, he dismissed her concern. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I want to watch you shoot.¡± Callum¡¯s concern was understandable. Soon, Elspeth was going to shoot a somewhat awkward scene in which an admirer of her role, who had been crushing on her for a long time, would kiss her on the beach when she was caught off guard. That was how the character lost her first kiss. Callum¡¯s expression turned thunderous as he perused the script. The crowd around him suddenly felt a chill as they shivered uncontrobly, wondering what was wrong with the weather as they just felt the temperature drop. Just when the pair was about to kiss, Callum stepped in and called off the shooting. ¡°What is it, Callum?¡± He remained expressionless. ¡°You are not to shoot any kissing scenes.¡± Elspeth sighed. ¡°It¡¯s just acting. You know I don¡¯t have feelings for him, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± The other actor looked like he was up to something. Callum could tell the man was interested in Elspeth judging from the man¡¯s flushed face, which was quite eye-catching. ¡°What if I do a cheat shot?¡± Iciness dripped off Callum¡¯s voice. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it.¡± ¡°Then what am I supposed to do? There are twenty-three kiss scenes from here on, including this one. Don¡¯t tell me that you want me to avoid all of them!¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t have a choice either. Callum¡¯s carelessness was to me as he signed her up for shooting this film without perusing the script. It was fair to say he had iting. There was a conflicted look on Callum¡¯s face. ¡°Delete all of them.¡± ¡°Mr. Winthrop, this is a romance film that is set on campus. Nobody will watch it if there are zero intimate scenes to attract the audience!¡± Aiden chimed in, his expression mirroring Callum¡¯s. He was against the idea to delete all the scenes and he would very well cry on the spot if Callum insisted. Callum suddenly hung his head low as a glint of hesitation shed across his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± Chapter 236 Chapter 236 Callum volunteered to act. Even Elspeth had a hard time believing her ears, let alone Aiden. The next second, she burst intoughter. ¡°Callum? Acting? You can¡¯t be serious!¡± ¡°What are youughing at?¡± Callum¡¯s eyes bored into Elspeth and herughter died down under his intense gaze. ¡°This is serious, Callum. You¡¯re proposing to switch one of the actors. Did the director¡ª¡± He raised his brows. ¡°I¡¯ll invest 100 million in the film. Is the offer enough to ask for a role in exchange?¡± Aiden, who was feeling dejected a moment ago, looked overjoyed when he heard Callum¡¯s promise. ¡°Of course, Mr. Winthrop! Now that you ask, I¡¯ll dly give you a chance to act. However¡­¡± Callum frowned. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s only a supporting role. I wonder if it is what you need.¡± Callum¡¯s expression turned softer and evident relief emerged on his face. ¡°It¡¯s all right.¡± The original supporting actor was keeping quiet the whole time as he dared not voice out his anger. After all, he was well aware that he was incapable ofpeting against Callum for the role because Callum exceeded him in wealth and appearance. The director gestured for the actor to leave. He immediately took the hint and left without a word. However, the recement of the actor made Elspeth ufortable. The film was about a love story set on campus. To fit his character¡¯s profile, Callum had to take off his suit and wear the school uniform. He looked youthful in the school uniform. The way hemanded attention in his school uniform completely surpassed ke, and Aiden immediately regretted his decision. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, what about this? Do you want to y the male lead? Since your presence is stronger than ke, the effect might be astray from what I imagine it would be.¡± Aside from Callum, Elspeth was also outshining Yelena. Even though the couple was only ying supporting roles, their acting skills and good looks beat ke and Yelena, who were the main leads. Callum cast a nce at the embarrassed Aiden and asked, ¡°Will Elspeth y the female lead?¡± The director was taken aback but gave an honest answer. ¡°No, she won¡¯t.¡± ¡°Then, I¡¯m not interested.¡± After he got rejected by Callum, Aiden turned to Elspeth and persuaded, ¡°Miss Lynnwood, if the supporting characters are getting more attention than the main leads, it might affect the show.¡± The corner of her lips twitched. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. After all, the story is aiming to attract fans to root for their favorite couple. There is no such thing as another character stealing the show. By the way, whose fault is it?¡± Aiden was speechless at that. Given the situation, he had no other choice but to continue shooting. He had to admit that the chemistry between a real couple couldn¡¯t be faked and it showed in the kissing scenes. There were twenty-three kissing scenes in total for the couple. Callum kissed Elspeth with heartfelt eagerness in every scene, and his dedication to showing his affection for his love made the onlookers blush fiercely. Thest scene was set in an ancient city. Thus, the crew had to borrow the venue from the crew of ¡®Song of Viollenys¡¯ to shoot the scene. ¡°Ourst encounter ended in a fight. I doubt they¡¯ll lend us the ce.¡± Elspeth narrowed her eyes. ¡°Now that Emma has been admitted to the hospital, it¡¯s safe to say they aren¡¯t shooting at the moment. They shouldn¡¯t take up a public ce without a good reason.¡± Hesitation was written all over Aiden¡¯s face. ¡°But they rented the space before we could.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll talk to them.¡± She stretched her arms. ¡°There are a few matters I n to settle between us. Moreover, I haven¡¯t received the apology I deserve.¡± Callum was perspiring profusely. ¡°What are you up to this time?¡± Meanwhile, Yelena was looking forward to it. ¡°Elspeth, I¡¯ming with you! Nobody can beat us if we work together.¡± Max caught her by her cor and dragged her toward him. ¡°Yelena Sullivan, don¡¯t even think about it!¡± ¡°Max Winthrop, I¡¯ll break up with you if you do that one more time.¡± The man chuckled. ¡°Are you dreaming in broad daylight? I never agreed to be your boyfriend.¡± Her eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°No way!¡± She remembered the time when she got drunk and she asked him whether he wanted to be her boyfriend. He said yes! ¡°What makes you think we were dating the whole time, Yelena? I finally know why the crew has been whispering to each other with weird looks when they saw me. I assume you are the source of the rumors.¡± Max was so angry to the degree that he was smiling broadly as he pinched her cheeks. The girl pouted sadly. ¡°That¡¯s because I like you. I thought you agreed to be my boyfriend.¡± Now you mention it¡­ The memories of the night came back to Max. Yelena¡¯s face was flushed after she had too many drinks. She staggered to his side with a wine bottle in her hand. The next second, she fell right into his arms. ¡°Max, will you be my boyfriend? I like you so, so much!¡± When he saw her bright smile, he curled his lips into an amused smile. ¡°Sure.¡± The next second, the woman in his arms passed out, leaving him with noeback. When he thought of it, he couldn¡¯t help but shift his gaze away from her. ¡°Alright, alright. Enough reminiscing. All you did was puke on my shirt and the smell still clings to me today.¡± Yelena red at him, hoping that he would stop recounting her embarrassing moment. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Yelena. You stay with the crew. Callum and I will handle it.¡± Yelena sneered. ¡°The guy over there has been breaking your heart. How could you forget about that? Is it because of his pretty face that you forgot we are besties?¡± Elspeth cleared her throat. ¡°It isn¡¯t what you think. The main point is Callum is a potential human punching bag. He can endure pain.¡± When Callum heard that, he frowned instantly and questioned, ¡°Care to repeat?¡± Elspeth mumbled something he couldn¡¯t make out and eventually used the excuse of nature calling to flee the situation. Watching Elspeth¡¯s receding figure, Yelena red at him. ¡°I¡¯m warning you, you¡¯d best stop bullying Elspeth, or else I¡¯ll make you regret it!¡± His sightndedzily on Yelena, who was so short that she barely reached his chest. ¡°Mind your own business. I suggest you use your free time to pursue Max.¡± Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Yelena stomped her feet helplessly at his snarky remarks, but she couldn¡¯t do anything. After all, Callum was Max¡¯s very own elder brother. The discussion came to an end for the time being. The next morning, Elspeth took Callum along to visit the crew of ¡®Song of Viollenys¡¯, with the reason being they wanted to borrow the venue. When Yelena saw a fired-up Elspeth, she had the feeling that she was looking at her own enthusiastic mother who was about to set off on a shopping spree. It was as if she was going to rob the ce of everything that came into her sight. Just as Elspeth arrived at the ce, she was met by the sight of the director casually enjoying his morning tea. When the director saw the approaching woman, he swallowed his nervousness and asked, ¡°What brings you here, Miss Lynnwood? Is there anything I can help you with?¡± Elspeth frowned a little at the faked pleasantries before she smiled. ¡°I do want to ask you for a favor, so I¡¯ll be frank¡ªcan we borrow the venue for a bit to shoot a scene in our film? It might take around one day to finish it.¡± ¡°About that¡­¡± The man trailed off as if something was bothering him. ¡°My concern here is that we haven¡¯tpleted the shooting, so we are unable to provide the venue for your convenience.¡± Elspeth scoffed when she heard that. ¡°A little bird told me that the shooting has beenpleted for a while now, aside from Emma¡¯s scenes. For now, Emma is in the hospital. She isn¡¯t recovering at all, at least not at any time soon, so what is this problem that you¡¯re referring to?¡± Seeing the fact that Elspeth was Payton¡¯s apprentice, the director gave in and blurted out the truth in hesitation, ¡°Actually, Miss Walker disapproves of the idea of helping you out.¡± Chapter 237 Chapter 237 ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you worried that Emma would threaten you?¡± Elspeth found itughable. The person before her eyes was a famous director in the country, but he was so timid in front of Emma. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of Emma but the financier behind her. Do you know that he¡¯s a powerful guy from a foreign country? No one has the guts to offend him.¡± Elspeth snorted. ¡°Really? Tell me who he is, then. I¡¯ll see if he¡¯s as powerful as you say he is.¡± After learning the financier¡¯s name, Elspeth fell silent for a moment. Then, she asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Emma?¡± ¡°She¡¯s recuperating in her vi now. What¡¯s the matter? Do you want to go looking for her?¡± Elspeth nodded. ¡°Of course. Since you¡¯re not willing to lend me the film set, I can only look for her.¡± Embarrassed, the director rubbed his hands and nodded. ¡°In that case, you¡¯d better go there on your own. I¡¯ll send you her address.¡± Despite Elspeth¡¯s silence, she secretly despised the director. After receiving the address, she turned around and left. Callum looked at her and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to look for her?¡± I¡¯m not going now, of course. Elspeth stretched her back and shed him anguid smile. ¡°I¡¯ll go there when I¡¯m ready.¡± Callum knew that she had a n, so he stopped probing further. In the evening, Elspeth headed straight to Emma¡¯s vi. She politely knocked on the door, and a woman in casual clothes stepped out. The woman was none other than Emma. Since her e hadn¡¯t subsided, her appearance was slightly affected. When Emma registered Elspeth¡¯s presence, her expression changed drastically. ¡°Why are you here? How did you find my ce?¡± ¡°As long as I want to look for you, I¡¯ll find you wherever you are.¡± Elspeth shot her a dispassionate look. Gazing at Emma¡¯s livid expression, she said with a smile, ¡°Mind telling me why you¡¯re not allowing the director to lend me the film set?¡± Upon learning the other woman¡¯s purpose for visiting, Emma snorted and returned to the living room. Then, she sat down on the couch and started watching television. ¡°I suggest you save your breath. You¡¯ve offended me on several asions. Even if you beg me, I won¡¯t lend the film set to you. You¡¯d better give up immediately.¡± ¡°Who said that I¡¯m here to beg you? I¡¯m demanding it from you.¡± Upon hearing that, Emma directly blew her top. ¡°That¡¯s funny. Since you¡¯re threatening me, there¡¯s no way I¡¯ll lend it to you!¡± Elspeth walked into the living room and scoffed. ¡°I heard that the financier behind you is very powerful.¡± Emma¡¯s lips curved into a satisfied smile when she heard that. ¡°That¡¯s right. You can¡¯t afford to offend the man behind me.¡± Is that really the case? Look at how conceited she is! Elspeth smiled. ¡°Why don¡¯t you introduce him to me, Emma? I¡¯ll see how powerful he is.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll never be as powerful as he is. Are you trying to snatch him from me? What¡¯s wrong? Is Callum unable to help you any longer? Is that why you¡¯vee all the way here to throw your weight around?¡± There was no denying that Elspeth had a beautiful oval face. Apart from her fair skin, she also had a pair of alluring eyes. If Elspeth appeared in front of that guy, Emma would feel threatened. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Not everyone loves relying on a wealthy man like you do.¡± When Elspeth heard Emma¡¯s words, she couldn¡¯t help bursting intoughter. ¡°Do you think I need to depend on any man?¡± This woman is crazy. Does she think every woman has to rely on a man as she does? Emma¡¯s expression turned gloomy. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Without responding to her, Elspeth fished out her phone and dialed a number. The voiceing from her phone was loud and sounded familiar to Emma. Around ten minutester, someone unlocked the door from outside. Emma¡¯s expression changed instantly. ¡°Why are you here, Eric?¡± Eric was a handsome biracial man who looked like a prince from a medieval painting. Elspeth is around. Why would Erice to visit all of a sudden? ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Can¡¯t I be here?¡± Eric didn¡¯t seem fluent in the localnguage. He frowned as he looked at Emma. Emma shook her head and took the initiative to grab his arm before saying sweetly, ¡°Eric, are you here to see me because you miss me?¡± Elspeth shot the woman a look and pursed her lips. ¡°Just so you know, I¡¯m still around. Do you have to be so lovey-dovey?¡± Emma noticed that Eric had never moved his eyes away from Elspeth since he entered the vi. His loving gaze made Emma feel worried. As such, she decided to stick close to the man. Has Eric fallen in love with Elspeth at first sight? I can never let that happen! ¡°Eric, this woman has been oppressing me, and I can¡¯t win the argument.¡± Emma shook the man¡¯s arm with an aggrieved expression. ¡°You¡¯re a powerful man. Why don¡¯t you teach her a lesson for me?¡± This time, Eric didn¡¯t readily please Emma as he typically did. Instead, he nced at Elspeth and said, ¡°Hi.¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes. ¡°It seems that you still haven¡¯t brushed up on the localnguage, Eric.¡± Elspeth knew that Eric wasn¡¯t proficient in the localnguage, so she decided to speak to him in a foreignnguage. Upon hearing that, Eric bashfully hung his head low. ¡°I don¡¯t live in this country. It¡¯s only natural that my knowledge of the localnguage hasn¡¯t improved one bit.¡± ¡°Why did you fall in love with this woman? It¡¯s beyond me.¡± Elspeth was speechless. Eric looked lovingly at Elspeth and replied with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s because this woman resembles you, especially her mouth. Whenever I kiss her, it feels like I¡¯m kissing you.¡± Elspeth retched. ¡°Ew, please don¡¯t say that.¡± Recalling what she was there for, she continued, ¡°Eric, she has been reckless and arrogant because she¡¯s your woman. Can you help me with something?¡± Eric smiled. ¡°Sure.¡± As Emma listened to their conversation, she felt disgusted. Eric understands the localnguage. Why does she need to speak a foreignnguage? Emma had limited knowledge of thenguage they spoke. As such, she found it hard to grasp what they were saying. Nheless, she managed to catch a very important piece of information through their conversation. Elspeth and Eric are not just friends; they¡¯re probably very close. Suddenly, Emma had a premonition. ¡°Do you know her, Eric?¡± Eric gaped at Elspeth with an affectionate expression. ¡°Of course, I do. She¡¯s the dream girl I told you about before.¡± In an instant, Emma¡¯s heart sank. Meanwhile, Elspeth remained unperturbed, but she felt pleased when she saw Emma¡¯s contorted face. Chapter 238 Chapter 238 Eric had always been a straightforward person. Elspeth understood that, and she knew he had been in love with her for a long time. Nheless, she had turned him down on several asions and made it clear that she had a partner. She never tried to please any man with her appearance. However, it wasn¡¯t the case for Emma. At this moment, she felt despondent and fearful. If her only financier was in love with Elspeth, it would be terrible news for her, for she would be rendered powerless and helpless. ¡°Eric, when did you get to know Elspeth?¡± At the mention of this topic, Eric appeared much softer. ¡°At that time, Elspeth was a 15-year-old who arrived in a foreign country for the first time. I saw her standing up for another young girl in front of the university¡¯s entrance, and I was amazed by her ferocious moves. As such, I started paying attention to her.¡± ¡°Eric, you¡¯re the son of the Oil Magnate, so you¡¯re not supposed to pay attention to women who love to fight.¡± Hearing that, Eric shot her a displeased look. ¡°What are you talking about? If not for the fact that your temperament is starkly different from hers, I would¡¯ve loved you more.¡± Emma¡¯s face paled instantly. ¡°Do you love her, Eric?¡± she asked with herst bit of hope. She prayed that she would get the answer she wanted. Eric¡¯s response surprised her, but it was also somewhat expected. ¡°Of course. It¡¯s my dream to marry her.¡± ¡°But you told me you love me!¡± ¡°I love you because you resemble Elspeth, especially your mouth. However, I love her more in comparison.¡± Emma couldn¡¯t ept the truth, for the two men she longed to get loved Elspeth instead. That¡¯s right, Callum is still in the picture! Why did I forget about him? ¡°Elspeth has a partner, though. She doesn¡¯t love you at all!¡± Elspeth¡¯s expression changed when she heard that. Nheless, it was derision, not embarrassment. ¡°Miss Walker, do you think everyone loves hiding such matters as you do?¡± Emma flushed instantly as she nced at Eric and said, ¡°Don¡¯t listen to her nonsense!¡± Eric didn¡¯t seem to mind it as he said regretfully, ¡°I know that Elspeth has a partner. I just hope that the man will treat her well. If I find out that she¡¯s been mistreated, I won¡¯t let that guy off!¡± Emma squatted and bawled her eyes out, feeling nothing but despair. ¡°Eric, you told me you¡¯ll marry me when you¡¯re 30. Did you lie to me?¡± Eric frowned. ¡°When did I say that? It was probably some nonsense I said when I was drunk.¡± ¡°Emma, have you forgotten about what you¡¯ve done before?¡± When Elspeth saw the other woman wailing, she couldn¡¯t help but mock her. ¡°Do you always cry like this in front of any man?¡± Elspeth finally came to realize that Emma loved no one. Emma wanted Callum because he was a handsome young man with a bright future. On the other hand, she wanted to get together with Eric because he was a good-looking guy with money and power. At the end of the day, she only loved herself. Emma shuddered. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to her nonsense, Eric!¡± She knew that she couldn¡¯t lose Eric¡¯s favor. Otherwise, she would be left with nothing. During Eric¡¯s visit to this country back then, he caught sight of Emma in the crowd and started wooing her. He even promised that as long as she was willing to date him, he would give her everything she ever wanted. At that time, Callum couldn¡¯t give her anything. As such, she epted Eric and dumped Callum. Then, she left the country and moved into Eric¡¯s ce. Eric kept his promise as he spent lots of money to promote her. If Eric started despising her, she might lose everything. When that happened, she would be a C- list actress who had no choice but to sleep with other powerful men to get a job. However, Eric didn¡¯t love her, so he wasn¡¯t curious about what had happened to her before. He gave her a gloomy look before turning to Elspeth with a smile. ¡°Let¡¯s ignore her. What do you need help with?¡± He started speaking in a foreignnguage again. Elspeth nodded. ¡°Come along with me to the film set. I¡¯ll tell you when we get there.¡± They then left the ce together. As Emma watched them leave, she yelled, ¡°Are you dumping me, Eric?¡± Naturally, Eric wouldn¡¯t want to miss the chance of spending time with Elspeth. Upon hearing Emma¡¯s words, he turned his head with an icy gaze. ¡°If you don¡¯t stop making a scene, I¡¯ll dump you.¡± Emma copsed on her bottom and fell into a dazed state. After getting into a car, Elspeth and Eric headed straight to the film set. While on their way, Eric gazed at Elspeth¡¯s profile as emotions undted in his heart. ¡°If not for the fact that you have a partner, I would¡¯ve dumped Emma and wooed you instead.¡± It was the first time Eric spoke to her in the localnguage. Perhaps he believed that he had to confess his love for Elspeth in hernguage. Elspeth shook her head. ¡°You don¡¯t have to dump her for me. I¡¯ve never loved you, so there¡¯s no need for you to woo me.¡± ¡°Alright, then. It seems that we¡¯re not meant to be together.¡± Eric shrugged and left this topic behind. When they arrived at the film set, they left the vehicle together. Soon, they attracted everyone¡¯s attention; they wondered about the nature of their rtionship as the beautiful woman and the handsome man left the car together. Nevertheless, they knew who Elspeth was and that her partner was Callum. As such, they wouldn¡¯t dare say anything. Right then, Yelena emerged from the crowd. When she saw Elspeth standing beside an attractive man, she beamed. ¡°Have you found a new boyfriend or something, Elspeth?¡± Eric smiled charmingly and took Yelena¡¯s hand before kissing the back of it. ¡°Hi there, beautiful youngdy. My name is Eric. Nice to meet you.¡± Yelena smiled bashfully. ¡°Hi. My name is¡ª¡± Before she could finish her words, she was suddenly pulled into an embrace. When she looked up, she was surprised to see Max¡¯s furious expression. ¡°Why are you here, Max?¡± Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Max had been trying to restrain his temper for a while, but he couldn¡¯t help blowing his top at this moment. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Have I disrupted your conversation with a foreign hunk?¡± Yelena pouted. ¡°Well, it¡¯s only natural that women love looking at charming men. You should respect what I love to do.¡± ¡°What are you talking about, Yelena? You¡¯re being flirtatious, don¡¯t you know that?¡± Max was starting to lose control. ¡°Hey! I love you, but you don¡¯t love me back. You¡¯re not my boyfriend. What right do you have to butt into my affairs?¡± How dare he say that I¡¯m flirtatious? In that case, why didn¡¯t he ept me when I wooed him back then? Chapter 239 Chapter 239 ¡°Aha! Let¡¯s see how you¡¯re going to refute me!¡± Yelena felt that it was fun seeing Max getting exasperated. It was her first time gaining the upper hand in their rtionship, so there was no denying she was exalted. ¡°You¡¯re unreasonable!¡± Max was so furious that he almost cked out. It never crossed his mind that this young woman, who had always been obedient, could be so rebellious. He suddenly thought of something and squinted. ¡°I¡¯m disciplining you on your brother¡¯s behalf. If you don¡¯t behave yourself, I¡¯ll inform him.¡± Yelena clicked her tongue. ¡°Hex? Do you think he can discipline me?¡± She appeared scornful. Why does he keeping up with excuses instead of telling me what¡¯s on his mind? ¡°He said he¡¯d tell your mom.¡± The next moment, the smug smile on Yelena¡¯s face froze. ¡°Forget it. Just pretend that I said nothing.¡± Then, she snuck behind Max, looking crestfallen. Seeing that, Elspeth pressed her palm against her forehead helplessly. This was the best chance at forcing Max to confess his love for Yelena, but the woman easily yielded to his threat. Meanwhile, Eric didn¡¯t read too much into it as he extended his hand to shake hands with Max. ¡°Hello, nice to meet you.¡± Although Max looked at him coldly, he still reached out to take the other man¡¯s hand forcefully. ¡°Well, I¡¯m not too happy to see you.¡± ¡°Ouch!¡± Eric couldn¡¯t help but yelp as he felt pain in his hand. He turned to Elspeth, looking dumbfounded. ¡°Your friend is full of strength.¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± Elspeth let out a dryugh. ¡°He¡¯s like that. Don¡¯t read too much into it.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Eric nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s go in now.¡± Elspeth then brought him to the film set of ¡®Song of Viollenys¡¯. Yelena wanted to tag along, but Max forced her to stay behind. When the director registered Elspeth¡¯s presence, he felt his head aching again. ¡°Miss Lynwood, the decision isn¡¯t mine to make. As I said, I can¡¯t afford to offend the person behind Miss Walker.¡± ¡°Look, Eric. Everyone is scared of Emma now.¡± Elspeth turned around and shrugged helplessly at Eric, who stared at the director with a stiff face. ¡°What did Emma tell you?¡± The director appeared hesitant, but he still told him everything. ¡°Emma said that if we lend the film set to Miss Lynwood, she¡¯ll tell the person behind her to destroy our production team.¡± After a pause, he continued, ¡°I thought the person was probably Callum since he¡¯s on good terms with Miss Lynwood. As such, he¡¯d likely agree to it. However, Miss Walker said that the person behind her is the son of an Oil Magnate. She even showed us proof. Left with no choice, I could only give in to her demand.¡± Upon finishing his words, the director let out a sigh, appearing helpless. ¡°What if I tell you the Oil Magnate¡¯s son is my friend?¡± The director widened his eyes. ¡°Are you serious?¡± Seeing that the director didn¡¯t believe her, Elspeth turned to the man beside her. ¡°Eric, how are you going to prove your identity to them?¡± Eric smiled and fished out his passport. ¡°Well, I suppose this is good enough to prove my identity.¡± When the director took a look at the passport and made out the famous name, his face paled. It really is him! In an instant, his legs turned to jelly as his voice softened. ¡°Sir, why are you here?¡± Eric kept a gentle smile on his face. ¡°I¡¯vee to Chars to deal with the matter regarding Emma. She has threatened all of you using my name and harmed Elspeth¡¯s interests. I¡¯m displeased with that. As such, I want to tell you that for all matters rted to Elspeth, you have to prioritize her needs first.¡± Only then did the director realize Elspeth was this wealthy man¡¯s favorite woman. On the other hand, Emma was just a paper tiger. ¡°You could¡¯ve called instead ofing all the way here.¡± The director was a tactful person, so he agreed to everything Eric said without hesitation. ¡°I got it. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll lend the film set to Miss Lynwood at once. She can use it for however long she wants.¡± Elspeth smiled. ¡°If he only gave you a call, would you have believed him?¡± The director appeared embarrassed, for Elspeth was right. Nheless, since Elspeth was able to invite such a powerful man to the film set, the director didn¡¯t dare refute her. As such, he nodded in agreement. ¡°You¡¯re right, Miss Lynwood.¡± ¡°Alright, we only need the film set tomorrow. We¡¯ll stop bothering you for now.¡± She was giving them a heads-up; since she needed the film set the next day, they¡¯d better clean things up quickly. The director nodded and saw them off, seeming as though he was worried that he would offend them in any way. Upon leaving the ce, Elspeth stopped in her tracks and looked at Eric¡¯s profile. She then asked, ¡°When are you going back, Eric?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no hurry. Since I¡¯m here, I¡¯ve decided to look around.¡± Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Then, Eric turned around and gazed at Elspeth before saying sincerely, ¡°By the way, do you have some free time tomorrow? I want you to be my exclusive tour guide.¡± The next moment, Elspeth felt a cold sensation on her back. Just as she expected, she turned around and saw a gloomy-looking Callum. ¡°I was wondering why you left all of a sudden. Turns out you went looking for another man behind my back.¡± Callum spoke slowly and calmly as though he was announcing a death sentence to a convict. Elspeth shuddered and hurriedly replied, ¡°I can exin, Callum. It¡¯s just a misunderstanding¡­¡± ¡°Oh? Is it a misunderstanding? Are you going to tell me you were nning to let me know after the dust settled because you were worried I¡¯d get mad? Is that why you did it without my knowledge?¡± Watching as Callum¡¯s face fell, Elspeth smiled and nodded helplessly. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Do you know you¡¯re in the wrong?¡± Elspeth nodded repeatedly. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°How are you going to make it up to me, then?¡± Callum inched closer to her and looked at her face with an inscrutable expression. ¡°I¡¯m going to¡­¡± Elspeth was usually a talkative person, but at this moment, she could hardly finish her words. ¡°Why don¡¯t we head to Capolis tomorrow and shoot a kissing scene there? He¡¯ll watch on the sidelines.¡± Callum enunciated the words ¡®kissing scene¡¯, and there didn¡¯t seem to be room for rejection. Elspeth was speechless as she thought that the man was rather childish. However, faced with the man¡¯s grim expression, she couldn¡¯t possibly turn him down. ¡°Goodness! If I have to watch you kiss, I¡¯ll go mad!¡± Eric cried upon learning the news. ¡°I want you to watch us kiss and let you know that you must not covet my woman.¡± Callum gave him a dispassionate look. ¡°That¡¯s not what I mean! I¡¯ll be jealous of Elspeth if I watch you two kiss!¡± Eric looked at Callum lovingly as emotions undted in his heart. Elspeth and Callum were too stunned to speak. A momentter, Elspeth questioned, ¡°What do you mean, Eric?¡± All of a sudden, she had a premonition. Chapter 240 Chapter 240 ¡°The moment I met Callum, I felt that he was different from other men. He¡¯s deathly attractive to me.¡± As Eric spoke, he sped his hands together to show that he was in love. ¡°He¡¯s a man, Eric!¡± Elspeth helplessly pressed her palm against her forehead. At that moment, she regretted asking Eric toe over. ¡°You¡¯ve changed, Elspeth!¡± Eric widened his eyes in disbelief. ¡°So what if he¡¯s a man? It doesn¡¯t deter me from admiring him. If I had known your boyfriend was such a brilliant man, I wouldn¡¯t have been so worried.¡± Elspeth was surprised by Eric¡¯s transformation. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re admiring him and not loving him? You¡¯re drooling, Eric!¡± She pursed her lips, feeling speechless. ¡°Well, ignore such insignificant details.¡± Eric waved his hand and walked up to Callum with an admiring expression. ¡°Hello there, Mr. Winthrop. Can I call you Callum? I¡¯m going to spend several days in Waterside. Why don¡¯t you show me around?¡± It was Callum¡¯s first time being wooed by a man, so he would be lying to himself if he said he wasn¡¯t frustrated. ¡°No.¡± Eric pouted, looking aggrieved. ¡°Come on, I know nothing about this ce.¡± His face was effeminately beautiful. When he acted coquettishly, even a man¡¯s heart would melt. Nheless, Callum remained unperturbed and was somewhat annoyed. Now that Eric seemed to have lost interest in Elspeth, Callum could set his mind at ease for now. However, he still wasn¡¯t fond of this effeminate guy. ¡°Can¡¯t you ask someone else to show you around?¡± Elspeth rubbed her nose. ¡°Your lover is here anyway. You can ask her to be your tour guide.¡± At the mention of Emma, Eric felt frustrated. ¡°You know that I just dismissed her for you. I suppose she hates me very much now. Moreover, I¡¯ve just lent you a hand. If Callum isn¡¯t willing to bring me with him, you¡¯ll have to do that.¡± Certainly, Elspeth had to stay by Callum¡¯s side. In that case, Eric would still achieve his goal. Elspeth had already figured out Eric¡¯s intention. Naturally, Callum wouldn¡¯t allow the woman to spend time with Eric alone. As such, he shot the other man a look and said coldly, ¡°You cane with us.¡± Eric nodded smilingly. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll see you tomorrow. I¡¯ll return to the hotel and get some rest now.¡± He was ready to hug Elspeth before he left, but he stopped when he caught sight of Callum¡¯s stern gaze. ¡°That¡¯s petty of you.¡± Eric pressed his lips together. After Eric was gone, Callum shifted his attention to Elspeth. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to exin what¡¯s going on?¡± Having been a couple for so long, Callum had figured out Elspeth¡¯s n. He was also aware of Eric¡¯s identity and his rtionship with Emma. Nheless, he was still upset, and as jealousy burned within him, he inched closer to Elspeth until her back was pressed against the wall. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°I shall settle the score with you now, Elspeth.¡± The woman forced a smile. ¡°I can exin.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to exin.¡± As Callum watched how cautious she was, which was different from her usual self, the fire of lust rose within him. ¡°Kiss me, and I¡¯ll forgive you.¡± Elspeth was stunned, for she never expected Callum toe up with such a demand. ¡°There are people around us.¡± They were not in the hotel at this moment. Although they were in the corner, they might draw the others¡¯ attention. ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s dark here, so no one will see us clearly.¡± As his Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, Callum said in a hoarse voice, ¡°Come on.¡± Left with no choice, a blushing Elspethnded a peck on his cheek. ¡°That doesn¡¯t count.¡± Elspeth knew what he meant. To save herself from further embarrassment, she looked at the man¡¯s thin lips and gritted her teeth before kissing him. The next moment, she was pulled into the man¡¯s embrace. He wrapped his arms around her and pressed her head against his chest. ¡°You mustn¡¯t do that again.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing between us. I only asked him for help. He¡¯s Emma¡¯s lover. In fact, Emma dumped you for him.¡± Callum narrowed his eyes. ¡°You know I¡¯m not doubting you. I¡¯m just not happy that you weren¡¯t frank with me.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be sure to tell you before I do anything in the future. That¡¯s a promise.¡± Elspeth put on a meek smile and wrapped her arms around the man¡¯s shoulders before blowing some air at his neck. Callum was pleased with her obedience. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll forgive you.¡± Elspeth nodded and struggled out of his embrace. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go back and get some rest. We¡¯re going to have fun tomorrow.¡± Then, she added, ¡°Oh, don¡¯t forget to bring Eric along with us.¡± At the mention of that guy, Callum¡¯s expression darkened again. ¡°Don¡¯t bring him up!¡± ¡°Alright. I know you don¡¯t like him, but since you¡¯ve promised him, you should take him with us.¡± Eric wasn¡¯t a bad guy. Moreover, he appeared to have some special feelings for Callum. It seemed that it would be interesting to watch the two men interact with each other. The next morning, Elspeth and Callum were still asleep in the hotel when she heard a series of rapid knocks at the door. ¡°Open the door, Elspeth! The sun is already up in the sky!¡± Upon hearing the familiar voice, Elspeth got out of bed with much difficulty and opened the door, only to see an excited Eric all dressed up. ¡°Whoa, Elspeth. You still look wonderful without any makeup on your face.¡± Afterplimenting the woman, Eric looked around the room. ¡°Where¡¯s Callum? Why don¡¯t I see him?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t sleep with Callum.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on? Aren¡¯t you guys a couple?¡± Eric came from a liberal country, so he didn¡¯t understand why they were so conservative. A helpless Elspeth said, ¡°Stop being so promiscuous. Just because we¡¯re a couple, it doesn¡¯t mean we have to sleep together. We¡¯re not married yet, after all.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Eric¡¯s eyes brightened instantly. ¡°Does that mean I still have a chance?¡± ¡°Eric, I¡¯ve already turned you down¡ª¡± ¡°Do you think Callum will ept me?¡± Upon hearing that, Elspeth realized that she was wrong about what was on Eric¡¯s mind. Watching as Eric became infatuated with Callum, she felt as though she was the outsider. At that moment, she was vexed. With a frown, she threatened him by saying, ¡°If you don¡¯t stop lusting after Callum, I¡¯ll call your dad and tell him to haul your *ss back to your country.¡± Hearing the woman¡¯s threat, Eric panicked in an instant. ¡°Don¡¯t do that! You know that my dad is fond of you. If you say anything bad about me, he¡¯ll teach me a lesson!¡± Elspeth snorted. ¡°Behave yourself, then.¡± Eric nodded meekly before saying, ¡°The other day, he asked when we¡¯d be getting married.¡± Elspeth almost choked on her saliva when she heard that. Chapter 241 Chapter 241 Eric¡¯s father, also known as Oil Magnate, was a middle-aged man that Elspeth identally saved while running an errand in the past. She just thought that saving a life was the least she could do, but she didn¡¯t expect that the man wanted his son to be her boyfriend. Eric initially threw a tantrum, but when he saw Elspeth¡¯s face, he was instantly smitten. He was even willing to be her husband, let alone her boyfriend. ¡°I think you should just tell your father the truth. We¡¯re notpatible, so there isn¡¯t a chance.¡± Eric let out a regretful sigh. ¡°You¡¯re right. I suppose we¡¯re not meant to be together. What¡¯s more, the man I¡¯m infatuated with belongs to you. I¡¯m despondent.¡± Noticing Elspeth¡¯s re, he kept his mouth shut at once. As usual, Callum brought Elspeth breakfast, but when he saw another man in her room, his face fell instantly. Before Elspeth could exin, Eric had alreadye up with an excuse. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, I meant to look for you, but I entered the wrong room.¡± ¡°I heard everything.¡± Callum pointed at the door. ¡°You didn¡¯t lock it.¡± Just as Elspeth let out a breath of relief, Callum went on to say, ¡°Mr. Eric, I suggest that you stop using me as an excuse. Both of us are men, so I know what you¡¯re trying to do.¡± At that moment, Eric¡¯s expression turned awkward. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean, Mr. Winthrop.¡± Callum shot him a dispassionate nce. Eric felt dejected as the other man seemed to have seen through his mind. ¡°Alright, stop ying such guessing games. Aren¡¯t we supposed to head out and have fun today?¡± Callum had dressed up and brought breakfast with him. To adapt to the environment, he was d in sportswear, making him look rather athletic. As for Eric, he was wearing his usually mboyant clothes. ¡°Do you realize that you¡¯re the only one who isn¡¯t ready?¡± Elspeth took a look at her pajamas and realized that he was right. ¡°I know I¡¯m not ready. Get out now, both of you. I have to get changed.¡± Eric insisted, ¡°We¡¯re best friends, so there¡¯s nothing I can¡¯t see.¡± Elspeth said through clenched teeth, ¡°Are you leaving or not?¡± ¡°Alright, alright.¡± A crestfallen Eric left the ce. Elspeth then shifted her attention to Callum. ¡°Are you going to tell me that since you¡¯re my boyfriend, there¡¯s nothing you can¡¯t see?¡± Callum gave her a dismissive look. ¡°There¡¯s nothing much to see anyway.¡± With that, he also stepped out of the room. Elspeth was pleased with Callum¡¯s reaction, thinking that she had found the right man. Just as I expected, Callum wouldn¡¯t¡­ Wait a minute. Did he just say there¡¯s nothing much to see? ¡°Callum!¡± she roared so loudly that even Eric and Callum could hear her clearly from outside. Eric hunched his back. ¡°How did you offend her, Mr. Winthrop?¡± Elspeth had always been a calm and collected person; he rarely saw her lose control. Since it was the first time, he found it novel and interesting. ¡°Nothing.¡± As Callum recalled how enraged Elspeth was, he found her attractive. Soon, Elspeth dressed up and left the room. Without sparing Callum a nce, she said smilingly to Eric, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± There was a gloomy expression on Callum¡¯s face, and it seemed that he had shot himself in the foot. ¡°Elspeth,¡± he called out calmly. Initially, he thought Elspeth would mock him like she usually did, but much to his surprise, she left the ce without responding to him. He thought that the woman would leave the matter behind soon, so he didn¡¯t insist on speaking to her as he followed behind in silence. However, when he saw that Elspeth only bought two bottles of water from a convenience store, he was unsettled. It seemed that she had forgotten about him. ¡°Elspeth.¡± The woman shot him a look. ¡°Aren¡¯t you a wealthy man, Mr. Winthrop? Don¡¯t tell me you can¡¯t even afford a bottle of water.¡± Callum strode forward and walked alongside Elspeth. Then, he directly grabbed the water bottle from her and took a sip. After her water bottle was snatched, Elspeth snapped, ¡°How dare you take my stuff? Do you have no shame at all, Mr. Winthrop?¡± ¡°Your water tastes much better.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t expect Callum to be so shameless. As such, she cocked her head to the side and snorted. ¡°Alright, please don¡¯t get mad at me.¡± Callum made the woman face him and looked gently at her. ¡°If I said I wanted to see you get changed, it¡¯d make me sound licentious.¡± I did want to see her get changed, Callum thought. ¡°You wanted to see my naked body. You¡¯re a terrible guy!¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes. Despite that, a part of her heart melted. ¡°Alright, please forgive me. To show how apologetic I am, I¡¯ll pay for everything today.¡± Hearing that, Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. On the other hand, Eric¡¯s eyes sparkled as he asked, ¡°Will you pay for me as well?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll either pay for yourself or pay for all three of us.¡± A dejected Eric hung his head low. As they chatted among themselves and ambled forward, they soon reached Waeldestone Abbey, which wasn¡¯t far away from the hotel. Waeldestone Abbey was a well-known spot in the area, and it was said to be the best ce to pray for love. It was tiring to walk up the mountain. Eric didn¡¯t have much physical strength, so he soon moaned in exhaustion. Since he didn¡¯t have much strength left, he had no choice but to use a cable car. ¡°It¡¯s not a long distance. Do you even need to use a cable car?¡± Elspeth sounded scornful. Although Eric was embarrassed, he still looked expectantly at her. ¡°Can you take the cable car with me? I¡¯ll feel lonely if I have to use it on my own.¡± Naturally, Elspeth wouldn¡¯t want to take the easy path, so she directly turned him down. ¡°Use it on your own. Callum and I aren¡¯t that weak.¡± Eric drew a deep breath and took the cable car on his own. On the other hand, Callum and Elspeth continued to walk up the mountain. Since the weather was gloomy, not many chose to trek up the mountain. Most of them took cable cars instead. When they were in the middle of the mountain, a gale blew through them all of a sudden. It seemed that it was about to rain. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Callum turned to Elspeth and saw that her forehead was beaded with sweat, so he asked, ¡°Are you exhausted? Why don¡¯t you get some rest?¡± ¡°We¡¯d better hurry up, Callum. It¡¯s going to rain at any moment. We won¡¯t be able to walk when the ground bes slippery.¡± Hearing that, Callum stopped persuading her as he hastened his pace. Just then, a p of thunder was heard from the sky. It seemed that it was about to rain soon. When they were 300 feet away from the peak, Elspeth noticed some rocks in the distance. However, her expression changed drastically as she took a closer look. ¡°Callum!¡± When Callum turned to her and saw that she was rmed, he became vignt at once. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Look!¡± Looking in the direction she pointed, Callum instantly saw that those originally unmoving rocks started rolling down the trail all of a sudden. Chapter 242 Chapter 242 Callum managed to wrap his arms around Elspeth and rolled toward the underbrush with her in the nick of time. The rocks rolled down the steps made from bluestones with a series of thuds. Still reeling from the shock, Elspeth looked at the man. ¡°Fortunately, you saved me at the most critical moment. Otherwise, I would¡¯ve been struck by the rocks.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that.¡± Callum looked up and saw several people disappearing into the darkness. Just as he expected, some people had tried to harm them. Elspeth squinted. ¡°They probably knew we¡¯d be here, so they took the opportunity to harm us.¡± ¡°You¡¯re intelligent.¡± It wasn¡¯t until the rocks were all gone that Callum pulled her up. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t keep using the trail to prevent anyone from targeting us again.¡± Callum took a deep breath and nced at the thicket beside them. ¡°Why don¡¯t we go up the mountain from here?¡± All of a sudden, Elspeth had a strange idea. ¡°Are you trying to make out with me in the thicket?¡± Callum thought, Are you alright? ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll stop messing around. Let¡¯s go.¡± When Elspeth fished out her phone and saw over 20 missed calls, she rubbed her nose. ¡°I guess Eric must be anxious now.¡± An unfazed Callum replied, ¡°Just let him wait.¡± Elspeth knew that he only meant to mock Eric. Soon, they passed through the thicket together and finally reached the peak of the mountain. When Eric saw them emerging from the thicket instead of the trail, he was shocked. ¡°Did you walk up the mountain or go on an adventure in the forest?¡± A helpless Elspeth rolled her eyes. ¡°We were ying PUBG in real life.¡± Eric scratched his head. ¡°I don¡¯t get it.¡± Thinking of something, Elspeth asked, ¡°Eric, did you see anyone suspicious? Were there people near the end of the trail?¡± Eric looked away. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t see anyone¡­¡± ¡°Hey, Eric! Were you the one who tried to harm us?¡± Soon, Elspeth realized that Eric hadn¡¯t looked away from her. Instead, he was avoiding a wealthy- lookingdy. ¡°Hey, handsome boy. I was looking for you. Why did you keep avoiding me? Can you give me your contact number? I love handsome young men like you.¡± Eric pretended that he didn¡¯t understand the localnguage. ¡°What are you talking about? I don¡¯t understand thenguage.¡± The wealthydy, who looked like she was in her forties, covered her mouth and chuckled. Then, she spoke fluently in a foreignnguage. ¡°I¡¯m pretty rich. Would you like to be my friend?¡± Hearing that, Elspeth broke outughing; even Callum couldn¡¯t help smiling. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t need any friends. All my friends will fall into danger. I¡¯m a jinx.¡± The woman frowned. Left with no choice, she turned to Elspeth. ¡°Is he your friend, miss?¡± While trying to stifle herughter, Elspeth nodded. ¡°Yes, he¡¯s my friend.¡± The woman¡¯s eyes brightened instantly. ¡°In that case, you must have his contact number. Can you give it to me? I¡¯m willing to buy it from you. Just name a price.¡± Elspeth turned to Eric and arched her brow in surprise. ¡°Your contact number is worth quite some money, Eric. Should I give it to her?¡± Meanwhile, Eric was on the brink of breaking into tears. Seeing that, Elspeth decided to stop teasing him. She then said to the woman, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but my friend suffers from AIDS. He¡¯s a gay man who identally contracted it in the past. If you want to be together with him¡­¡± Hearing that, the woman shook her head in shock. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for disturbing you.¡± Then, she left the ce in a hurry. Elspeth looked at Eric and stroked his head with a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, Eric. She¡¯s just a woman.¡± Callum remarked impassively, ¡°What a useless man.¡± Feeling displeased, Eric stamped his foot on the ground and said to Callum, ¡°If you were me, would you have epted her?¡± Elspeth fell into her thoughts for a moment before she lifted Callum¡¯s chin and said frivolously, ¡°I¡¯m pretty wealthy. Do you want to get together with me?¡± Callum replied with a smile, ¡°Sure. However, I must be your only one.¡± This is from N?velDrama.Org. A pleased Elspethnded a kiss on the man¡¯s lips, not caring about the presence of others. When Eric saw that, he put on a bitter smile. ¡°You guys are flirting, but I was harassed by a middle- aged woman. Are both incidents even the same?¡± After Elspeth was done flirting with Callum, she was exhrated. ¡°Alright, we¡¯d better hurry up. It¡¯ll be lunchtime soon.¡± It was tiring to walk up the mountain in winter. The temperature was low at the peak, so they could see their breaths turning into a fog. Eric nodded with an excited expression, for it was his first time visiting an abbey in Chars. Since he was eager to explore, he soon forgot about what had happened earlier. They then headed straight to Waeldestone Abbey. Upon their arrival, a stone statue at the entrance caught Eric¡¯s attention. ¡°This stone is ugly. Why did they put it in such a conspicuous spot?¡± A baffled Eric went over and touched it. Elspeth promptly pped his hand away. ¡°Stop saying nonsense. He¡¯s a famous figure in the local area. Since you¡¯re from another country, you probably have a different view of beauty.¡± Suddenly, Eric sighed with an aggrieved expression. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. At the very least, all of us think you¡¯re beautiful.¡± Upon finishing his words, he realized that Callum was glowering at him. He¡¯s a petty man who gets mad when someone elsepliments his girlfriend! Elspeth took a look at them and felt speechless. Then, she shuffled toward the pink silk tree on her own. It was a short tree. Love-seeking people would tie wooden strips to the low-hanging branches using red threads. As the wind blew through the tree, the wooden strips would thud against each other. It was a beautiful sight to behold. Elspeth followed the tradition and picked up a wooden strip with a red thread. Then, she meticulously wrote some words on it and carefully tied it to a branch. Callum and Eric were looking in another direction. When Elspeth realized that no one was paying attention to her, she left the ce without any worries. Unbeknownst to her, Callum had been observing her from the corner of his eye. When he saw the woman leave, he shuffled toward the tree and looked for her wooden strip. Eventually, he looked fixedly at a wooden strip where the words ¡®I pray for everyone I love to stay safe and happy¡¯ were written. He could easily recognize Elspeth¡¯s handwriting. After giving it some thought, he also picked up a wooden strip and wrote a few words on it. Then, he tied the wooden strip just beside Elspeth¡¯s one. The wind breezed through the tree and dried the ink in an instant. When the wooden strip turned, it showed that Callum prayed for Elspeth to stay safe and happy. As Elspeth kept moving forward, she soon realized she had lost her way. She turned around to look for Callum and Eric, but they were nowhere in sight. All the same, she was annoyed by the two rowdy men. Now that she was finally left alone, she decided to keep moving forward. Soon, she heard a faint cry from a distance. As she listened intently, she soon found the direction and scurried over. Chapter 243 Chapter 243 The intive sound suddenly stopped soon after Elspeth entered a court, and she was about to turn and leave when the door behind her suddenly shut tight. Shoot, I¡¯ve been had. Those guys probably haven¡¯t had enough and quickly devised a n to subterfuge me, seeing that I¡¯m alone. At that, she looked toward the coping, intending to climb over the wall. However, it was too high, and she couldn¡¯t even reach the top. Hence, she wandered around, traversing a corridor and a bridge before arriving at a massive side court. Elspeth had sensed a depressing atmosphere before even entering the ce, but her curiosity drove her to continue forward. With that, she walked into the ce, which was smoke-filled despite being brightly lit. As she went further in, she found an octogenarian dressed in a cleric¡¯s robe, lighting candles at the altar. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to intrude, Abbot¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you for a long time, child of God.¡± ¡°Have you been waiting for me?¡± Elspeth was stumped. ¡°Yes.¡± The abbot turned around with a rigorous smile. ¡°The Holy Father guides those who have a predestined rtionship with fate.¡± Elspeth smiled in response. ¡°Well, technically, I¡¯m an atheist.¡± Nuanceced the abbot¡¯s face as the young woman continued, ¡°I was drawn over by a strange noise. I haven¡¯te looking for you, Abbot.¡± Just like that, the smile on the elder¡¯s face stiffened. ¡°But if there¡¯s something you¡¯d like to say, I¡¯m all ears.¡± Elspeth smiled so harmlessly that the abbot became rather ill at ease. ¡°Well, you see, it¡¯s been a long while since Ist had visitors, and you¡¯ve shown up out of the blue. It¡¯ll be nice if I can have someone to talk to¡­¡± Well, this isn¡¯t what I was expecting¡­ Elspeth thought he must be some prophetic saint who would tell her some kind of secret that must not be told if she talked to him. But when she found the elder smiling somewhat reservedly, she was suddenly baffled. ¡°Are you not going to tell me some kind of secret?¡± She looked skeptically at his face. ¡°I am but a simple man, child of God. I know no prophecies.¡± The abbot¡¯s eyes curved into crescents as he smiled. ¡°In science, we must trust.¡± Trust in science¡­ The head of the abbey is telling me to trust in science¡­ The elder¡¯s words stupefied Elspeth, and for a moment, she didn¡¯t know what to do. ¡°Okay, if you say so. To be honest, I don¡¯t know what led me here. Can you tell me how to leave this ce?¡± Elspeth gazed at the strange octogenarian and thought she should still head out first. At that, a hint of disappointmentced the abbot¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯re the first person in many years to enter the Abbot¡¯s Court urately. Can¡¯t you sit down and chat with me for a moment?¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°A storm will being in an hour. There¡¯s no need to rush,¡± said the abbot as he invited Elspeth to take a seat. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Helpless, the young woman sat down and pulled her phone out to call Callum, only for her heart to sink as she realized her phone was dead. ¡°Is your phone dead, child of God?¡± Elspeth nodded in response. ¡°Here, allow me. I¡¯ll revive it.¡± Is it me, or is this conversation somewhat odd¡­ As baffled as she was, she still handed the elder her phone. ¡°I see affably in you, child of God. You must be favored by the Holy Father.¡± ¡°Thank you, Abbot.¡± Elspeth smiled courteously. ¡°If my guess is right, you must be a Lynwood, are you not, child of God?¡± He should know my name if he knows myst name, then! ¡°Do you know me, Abbot?¡± ¡°Of course. I surf the too.¡± The young woman was rendered at a loss for words. ¡°However, you look exceptionally like the woman who often donated money to our abbey twenty years ago.¡± The abbot gazed at her like he saw another person through time. ¡°I¡¯m sorry?¡± ¡°If my guess is right, she¡¯s probably your mother, Miss Joneson.¡± ¡°Do you know my mother?! In that case, do you have other news about her, Abbot?!¡± Elspeth sprang to her feet at once. But to her dismay, the abbot shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know her situation, child of God. However, I can tell you that those who are fated to meet will meet again. There¡¯s no reason to rush.¡± Was there anything useful in what you just said? Elspeth quirked the corner of her lips and said, ¡°Well, can you tell me what you know about my mother? Perhaps I can find some clues from it.¡± Seeing the expectant look on her face, the abbot knew he couldn¡¯t rain on her parade. ¡°She was a very gentle woman. She woulde and donate money every month for three years. All of us in the abbey came to know her.¡± ¡°And then?¡± ¡°Later on, she held a baby girl in her arms every time she came. She visited less and less frequently with time, and she disappeared in the end. I assumed she had gotten busy.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it.¡± Elspeth lowered her head as a hint of sadness shed across her eyes. ¡°She had gone missing.¡± However, the abbot was unruffled. ¡°There¡¯s a reason for everyone and everything. The Holy Father saith, ¡®say nothing¡¯. You will have to find the answer yourself, child of God.¡± ¡°Is there no other way?¡± The abbot paused for a second before answering, ¡°The answer you seek is right under your nose.¡± Right under my nose¡­ Elspeth took a deep breath and was struck with a realization. ¡°Thank you, Abbot. I get it now. Can you show me the way out now?¡± The abbot sighed in response. ¡°Very well. I¡¯ll see you out.¡± With that, Elspeth traversed theplicated route under the abbot¡¯s lead and finally returned to that tree. After seeing the elder away, she began searching for Callum and found him in a gazebo not far away. On the other hand, Callum dialed Elspeth¡¯s number multiple times only to receive the cold, monotonous voice of the answering machine every time. Hence, he strode toward her when he found her approaching his direction and sped her shoulders, asking, ¡°Where have you been?! Do you know how worried I was?!¡± Elspeth¡¯s heart skipped a beat when she noticed the hint of anxietycing his usually staid face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but my phone was dead. When I was walking, someone suddenly shut the door from behind me. I didn¡¯t know where I was, and it was an abbot who guided me out of there.¡± ¡°Someone shut you in?¡± Callum narrowed his eyes. ¡°Yeah! I thought it was weird too. I have a feeling that someone¡¯s ambushing us.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Callum nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s head down the mountain now. We still have scenes to shoot at night.¡± Since they had to shoot the kissing scene at Capolis at night, Elspeth decided to make a trip to Waeldestone Abbey during the day, but who¡¯d have thought something like this would happen?! ¡°Well, we¡¯ve already made our wishes anyway. Let¡¯s go.¡± On the other hand, Eric heaved a sigh of relief after exiting the washroom, seeing that Elspeth had returned in one piece. ¡°I thought you had gotten lost. Callum and I have been looking for you everywhere. We came back and waited here, in an obvious ce, worried that you wouldn¡¯t see us after you returned.¡± Chapter 244 Chapter 244 A chuckle escaped Elspeth as she said, ¡°Me? Lost? No way!¡± ¡°Yeah, Callum said there¡¯s no way you¡¯d get lost, and you can find your way back. I thought he was just joking, but who knew that he actually knows you pretty well? What a relief.¡± With that, Eric reflexively went to ruffle her hair, but Callum pulled her to his side promptly and said, ¡°Alright, we better head back now. We have scenes to shoot tonight.¡± To that, Eric grunted in response, his face sullen. I swear, this man can¡¯t get any pettier! What? Is no one else allowed to touch her?! As they walked, a thought struck Elspeth. ¡°Callum, did you write on the tag used to ask for love?¡± she inquired. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What have you written?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a secret,¡± Callum smirked, stirring the young woman¡¯s curiosity. ¡°Tell me, or I¡¯ll go back to the abbey and read it myself.¡± While speaking, she pretended as though she would head back up the mountain. ¡°Go on, then. We¡¯ve just descended halfway down the mountain. You might even get to stay in the abbey overnight if you go back up there now.¡± Instead of dissuading Elspeth, the man taunted her. At that, Elspeth snorted indignantly. ¡°You¡¯re unbelievable. I can¡¯t believe you won¡¯t even tell me this.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll jinx it if I say it. What about you? What did you write?¡± Callum¡¯s counter stumped the young woman for a moment. ¡°J-Just something simple and general like peace and happiness.¡± Callum would never know that she had written two tags and hung each one at a different ce. As for the other one¡­ Hmph, there¡¯s no way I¡¯ll tell you! ¡°Mine¡¯s simple too, very much like yours.¡± Just like that, the young woman¡¯s curiosity wasid to rest. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m not curious anymore. Let¡¯s hurry back.¡± Since the rain at the foothills had just stopped, the weather was still cooling, so the road down the mountain wasn¡¯t too tiring. The two had to return to filming, and Eric insisted on following. ¡°We¡¯re going to shoot a kissing scene next. Can you take it?¡± Elspeth joshed, leading Eric to huff in response as he said, ¡°That, you don¡¯t have to worry about.¡± In the end, the three headed to the production site, and when they arrived, the director was directing Yelena, who immediately went up to Elspeth upon seeing her. ¡°You¡¯re back, Miss Lynwood. You should go and get ready. We¡¯ll be filming in just a bit.¡± To that, Elspeth nodded and headed to the dressing room with the clothes the director had handed her. Just as she took her clothes off and picked up the school uniform, she immediately sensed something amiss. It was very light¡ªso light that it wasn¡¯t right. As such, she checked the outfit thoroughly to find that most of the fabric had been snipped away; even the id shirt to be worn on the inside became low-cut. With that, Elspeth reached for her clothes only to discover that they were gone. Someone is f*cking with me, aren¡¯t they? She calmed her mind at once. There were no other clothes avable in the dressing room other than the shredded uniform in her hands. Time ticked away, and her jewels would be on disy if Callum hadn¡¯te to get her. Meanwhile, outside, a little-known actress suddenly shouted, ¡°My bracelet is missing!¡± Losing an item wasn¡¯t the end of the world, and the director would be willing to get a recement to rest the case if the lost item wasn¡¯t too valuable or expensive. ¡°It was a gift from my maternal grandmother, though. It means a lot to me. I have to find the bracelet!¡± The director frowned in response. ¡°We¡¯re going to shoot the scene soon. It can wait until after filming.¡± ¡°But I really need to find it. It¡¯s something my grandmother left me. Please, I beg you¡ªhelp me find it!¡± bawled the actress, on the verge of passing out. ¡°Alright, alright, cut it out. I¡¯ll help you find it,¡± the director agreed helplessly, made troubled by her crying. With that, the others around began helping her, and the actress turned her gaze to the dressing room when the bracelet was still nowhere to be found after they had searched high and low. ¡°The bracelet might be in there. I¡¯m going to take a look inside!¡± With that, she reached for the door. As everyone was searching for the missing bracelet, they were now gathered by the door and would see everything going on in the dressing room once the door opened. ¡°No, wait! Elspeth is still in there!¡± shouted Yelena, recalling that Elspeth was changing inside. However, it was toote. The actress had twisted the doorknob and opened the door. What was happening in the dressing room shocked everyone at once. Callum was holding Elspeth in his arms with his back facing everyone while the young woman only revealed her side profile and messy hair. That wasn¡¯t all. Both of their lips were abnormally red, and what went down in there until a second ago quickly became evident to everyone. ¡°Look. They¡¯re all looking at us,¡± said Elspeth unabashedly as she rubbed Callum¡¯s earlobezily. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Do all of you have nothing better to do?!¡± Callum lifted his eyes and swept his contemptuous gaze across the floor. The frostiness he exuded sent chills down everyone¡¯s spines. Meanwhile, Elspeth shot Yelena a nce, which thetter understood at once. At that, she shoved the actress who had opened the door and mmed it shut. ¡°What are you guys looking at? Have you guys no shame watching a couple flirt?!¡± Everyone came to themselves at once; even the actress who had lost her bracelet was flushing from embarrassment. That said, a hint of disappointment still shed across her eyes. How can this be?! When did Callum go inside? At that, she looked toward the dispersing group of people. As furious as she was feeling right then, she had no choice but to put it to rest for the time being. Meanwhile, Elspeth stood in the tiny, dim dressing room with barely any clothes on. Though she couldn¡¯t see very well in there, a searing hot sensation enveloped her as her skin pressed on Callum¡¯s. ¡°How did you know I was in trouble?¡± She was very shocked, surprised that he knew she was stuck in there even when she hadn¡¯t given him a call. ¡°You never take this long.¡± ¡°Well, you know me well.¡± She smiled. ¡°Put on some clothes first.¡± Callum turned around right after handing her a second set of clothes. ¡°I¡¯ll stand guard.¡± ¡°Okay, you can turn around now.¡± Elspeth poked Callum¡¯s back after putting the clothes on speedily, and the man smiled as he looked at the innocent, adorable young woman in a school uniform. ¡°If only you were the one whom I met in college.¡± ¡°Now¡¯s not toote either,¡± said Elspeth with a hint of seduction as she wrapped her arms around his neck, allowing Callum to give her a peck on the lips. ¡°I know. I¡¯m already lucky enough to meet you.¡± ¡°We¡¯d better get out then, or the guys outside will let their imaginations run wild.¡± Elspeth giggled. ¡°Also, I n on finding out who was f*cking with me!¡± If the person outside decided toe up with other ideas, her reputation would be over for good. ¡°Very well,¡± Callum smirked. Chapter 245 Chapter 245 Very quickly, the couple exited the dressing room, and the actress with the missing bracelet heaved a sigh of relief when she saw Elspeth behaving as though nothing had happened. Looks like Lynwood isn¡¯t nning on pursuing the matter. Lo and behold, Elspeth scanned the room and monotoned, ¡°Who was it that was desperately looking for their bracelet just now?¡± In an instant, the actress froze as chills ran down her spine. No one said a word, and the atmosphere quickly turned awkward. At that, Elspeth ambled to the actress¡¯ side and smiled as she looked at thetter¡¯s fair, delicate face. ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell us what bracelet it is?¡± The actress¡¯ countenance turned awful at once. ¡°It was an ident, Miss Lynwood. The bracelet is something my maternal grandmother left me. I-I was just so desperate to retrieve it. I didn¡¯t mean to do that to you.¡± With the way she put it, it became as though Elspeth was unforgiving. At that, thetter smirked. ¡°It looks like I¡¯ve misread the situation, then. What¡¯s your name?¡± Seeing that Elspeth decided not to pursue the issue further, the actress breathed a sigh of relief and answered, ¡°I¡¯m Joy Dowan, Miss Lynwood.¡± ¡°Joy Dowan¡­¡± Elspeth nodded thoughtfully. ¡°It¡¯s a nice name.¡± ¡°Thank you, Miss Lynwood.¡± Smiled Joy as she thought Elspeth wanted to get familiar with her. ¡°I like your name better.¡± ¡°Well, even the daughter of Dowan Enterprise¡¯s CEO has joined the film industry.¡± Joy would always behave like a diva on set because of her social status, and now, seeing that Elspeth pointed it out, she naively thought that the former wanted to win her favor, so she hurriedly answered, ¡°It¡¯s thanks to my family¡¯s support that I can pursue my acting dream without worry.¡± With that, she nced at Elspeth. Seeing that thetter remained unruffled, she added, ¡°Also, it¡¯s fortunate I became an actress that I get to personally see you in action.¡± It became apparent that the young Dowan was sucking up to Elspeth, and those who normally weren¡¯t on friendly terms with Joy rolled their eyes one after another. What an *ss kisser! However, a chuckle escaped Elspeth as she exposed the young woman. ¡°But¡­ I have gotten the chance to chat with Mr. Dowan over some tea in the past. Howe he has never mentioned anything about the passing of his beloved wife¡¯s mother?¡± Her words rendered everyone in the space stumped. ¡°I¡­¡± Little did Joy think Elspeth was familiar with the situation at home. At that, she chuckled awkwardly and feigned genuineness. ¡°M-My mistake. It was my paternal grandmother. Yes, it was her.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t answer her directly but pulled herptop out and retrieved information on the Dowans and other various details; even Joy¡¯s horoscope and whatnot were stated in detail. ¡°It seems that Mr. Dowan¡¯s mother is still around. Does this mean that you¡¯re wishing for your grandmothers¡¯ deaths, Miss Dowan?¡± Joy was dumbfounded, and she had nothing more to say when her fig leaf had been removed. She had so naively believed Elspeth wanted to pull her to her side and befriend her. Who had thought the woman was only finding the right time to expose her?! Livid, she gritted her teeth in anger while the others gazed contemptuously at her. The next second, tears poured from Joy¡¯s eyes as she attempted to muddle through the issue using self-harm. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Lynwood! I let my emotions get the better of me. I only said so on purpose because I wanted everyone to help me look for the bracelet. I just wanted everyone to take it seriously! I didn¡¯t mean to lie¡­¡± Continuing to lie now would only make things worse, and she wouldn¡¯t be able to patch them up either. Knowing her father¡¯s hot temper, she¡¯d be grounded and forbidden from pursuing her acting career if Elspeth called her father. ¡°Why would you rather y mind games with me and instead just say so in the first ce?¡± Elspeth raised her chin as her gaze burned with anger. ¡°Do you know what I do for a living? I can dig up information about your ancestors from the Renaissance period, let alone things about your little family.¡± At that, Joy bawled even more uncontrobly, actually feeling a little fearful of the way Elspeth smiled frostily. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. ¡°I¡ª¡± ¡°Tell the truth, and I can still reconsider keeping you in the production,¡± warned Elspeth with a devil- may-care attitude while blowing her nails. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll admit it! It¡¯s because I¡¯m jealous of you! I¡¯m jealous that you¡¯re prettier and richer than me, and you¡¯re also seeing Callum. I shredded your costume and stole your clothes to humiliate you¡­ I¡¯m sorry. I know what I did was wrong, and I shouldn¡¯t have done it!¡± Joy was genuinely jealous of Elspeth, for thetter was good at everything. Even luck was on her side! How could anyone not get jealous easily?! ¡°In other words, you were aware that what you devised was wrong, yet you still did it out of your so- called jealousy, am I right?¡± Joy was rendered stupefied, unsure of what to say for a moment. ¡°Since you love to be jealous, I should ask the director to add a scene for you. Let¡¯s see¡­ We¡¯ll showcase how jealous you are of me. What do you think?¡± Elspeth gibed, leading Joy to shake her head in refusal like her life depended on it. ¡°No, it¡¯s fine, Miss Lynwood. I will never do something like this again. I swear on my life!¡± ¡°To err is human, to forgive is divine,¡± Elspeth said the harshest words with the brightest smile. ¡°Since you¡¯ve learned your lesson, go home and write a reflection letter. Ten thousand words¡ªno more, no less. Return to the set once you¡¯re done with it.¡± Joy¡¯s eyes widened with incredulity. Ten thousand words?! Isn¡¯t that just another way of kicking me out of the production?! For one, Elspeth didn¡¯t put it too bluntly, and she nodded with approval when she saw the terror enveloped on Joy¡¯s face as she guessed thetter had understood the underlying message. ¡°Alright, Miss Dowan. I hope you won¡¯t cause any more trouble. I have recorded the entire conversation. If you create another issue that upsets me, I will send this recording to your dear father. By then, it¡¯ll be up to him what will be done.¡± Elspeth waved her phone with a devious smile. Joy¡¯s face turned ghastly pale. ¡°My father¡­¡± ¡°By the way, I wouldn¡¯t be so hopeful that Mr. Dowan will take your side if I were you. Between correcting his daughter¡¯s behavior and losing the chance to partner with Azure¡­ I¡¯m sure any wise man would never choose thetter.¡± At that, she approached the director and smiled. ¡°We should get to filming, should we not? We¡¯ll have less time to sleep if we drag this on.¡± The director had been reeling in bewilderment from Elspeth¡¯s words and finally came to himself when the young woman turned to him. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go.¡± The director nodded before turning to Joy. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink this, alright, Joy? Miss Lynwood¡¯s words are for your own good. If you want to star in a film, I¡¯ll cast you in another one.¡± Joy was only ying a side character anyway. It was better to offend the young woman than to cross Elspeth. Joy, on the other hand, stumbled and finally couldn¡¯t take it anymore, turning around and running away while crying. On the way to the ¡®Song of Viollenys¡¯ set, Eric effused non-stop. It was his first time seeing Elspeth all fired up, and he was incredibly curious as well. ¡°Say, Elspeth, why still kick her out when she has already apologized?¡± Chapter 246 Chapter 246 Elspeth burst intoughter. ¡°You are dumb.¡± ¡°Why are you calling me dumb?!¡± Eric¡¯s face fell, and he turned to Callum, asking, ¡°What in the world does she mean?¡± ¡°Nip it in the bud,¡± Callum implied inly. Eric wasn¡¯t proficient in Charish, to begin with, so he waspletely lost when Callum threw a ssical Charish at him. ¡°You Charics sure are strange,¡±mented Eric. ¡°You people have a habit of implying your words.¡± Needless to say, he was baffled. ¡°That¡¯s why I say you¡¯re dumb.¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t yammer anymore once we go inside, or I¡¯ll have someone chuck you back out.¡± Eric felt exceptionally aggrieved. He was Oil Magnate¡¯s son, and his family was as rich as an entire country. So be it that Elspeth cared nothing for him, but she even threatened to chuck him out. Hmph, I¡¯m never visiting you again! The group of people went to the ¡®Song of Viollenys¡¯ set together, where the director had been waiting at the entrance for some time. Upon seeing Elspeth walking in the front of the group, he hurriedly went up to greet her, saying, ¡°You¡¯re finally here, Miss Lynwood. I¡¯ve been waiting for you for a long time.¡± ¡°Spoken like a true ve.¡± Aiden snorted disdainfully at his fellow director¡¯s a*s kissing. The director of ¡®Song of Viollenys¡¯, Vincent Yount, went to the same film school as Aiden in the same year. However, the two never got along with each other and were like fire and water. After they began working, they instantly became sworn enemies when their benefits grew increasingly bigger and better. Vincent, too, snorted disdainfully after hearing Aiden¡¯s snide remarks. ¡°Well, I wonder who begged Miss Lynwood in secret before he finally managed to invite her to join the cast?!¡± At the thought that Elspeth starred in Aiden¡¯s film, Vincent felt incredibly ufortable. I¡¯m a good director too! How did such a good talent end up in the hands of trash like Hunt?! ¡°My, howe you failed? If you¡¯re so great, have Miss Lynwood agree to join your cast. Miss Lynwood aside, even Mr. Winthrop joined the cast and funded the production. Are you angry yet, Yount? Are you?¡± Indeed, Aiden was good at angering others. ¡°Alright, cut it out. We¡¯ll talk about thister. Give it a break, you two. You guys can talk it over after we¡¯re done shooting, okay?¡± Elspeth stepped in as the peacemaker when she saw how grim Vincent looked. ¡°As if I make anything of him.¡± Aiden looked away, and Vincent¡¯s setting rage had alleviated a little as well. ¡°As if I enjoy picking a fight with him.¡± ¡°Now that you two have stopped fighting, let¡¯s start filming.¡± Aiden nodded in agreement. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s not argue with the ipetent man.¡± At that, Vincent, who was just about to drop the argument, hit the roof once more. ¡°What did you say, Aiden Hunt?! You dare trash talk again, and I¡¯ll tell everyone how you stepped on dog sh*t after the film department¡¯s belle from college called you a pervert!¡± ¡°But you already have.¡± Eric chortled as Elspeth guffawed. Aiden, on the other hand, rolled his sleeves up and got ready to be physical with Vincent when Callum spoke up. ¡°Keep fighting, and I¡¯ll withdraw the funding.¡± The man¡¯s words were like a tub of ice water, drenching the two directors through and through. Callum had invested tens of millions into the two productions. If he got upset and withdrew the funds, where would they find someone else with such arge amount of funds on such short notice?! With that, Aiden and Vincent fell silent, well aware of what was more important. ¡°Forget everything else. Let¡¯s start filming!¡± Finally, the group of people went further inside. The scene was set under a bridge in Capolis; Callum and Elspeth¡¯s characters would dere their love for each other in a rowboat before Elspeth¡¯s character fell into theke by ident. That said¡­ Does nobody think this plotline is super ridiculous?! The girl falls into theke right after kissing¡­ What is the guy? A Loch Ness Monster?! The director exined the scene; the couple would first pledge their love to each other, and the male character would look frantically for his beloved after she fell into theke. With that, their romance would be brought to a climax. As ridiculous as the scene was, Elspeth didn¡¯t turn it down since she knew how to swim. However, Callum suddenly had an intense sense of urgency. ¡°Is it safe for her to fall into theke?¡± ¡°Hey, rx.¡± The young woman patted her chest with a confident smile. ¡°I¡¯ve been trained by a professional swimming instructor. Had I not been obsessed with studying, he would¡¯ve forced me to join the national team.¡± However, Callum still felt uneasy, and he pulled a director aside, asking thetter to get a few more boats and lifebuoys just in case. Very quickly, they began rolling the cameras, and Elspeth and Callum stood on the boat in the cid lake water. If they weren¡¯t filming, the stunning night view would be the perfect ce for a date. It just so happened that a wide-angled shot was used for this scene, and Elspeth leaned toward Callum with a smile, speaking from her heart instead of reciting her lines, ¡°The moon tonight sure is beautiful.¡± At that, Callum looked toward the bright moon before shifting his gaze back to Elspeth¡¯s twinkling eyes. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s very beautiful,¡± he sighed, having the butterflies. ¡°Not that!¡± s, the man was ill-educated when it came to romantic pickup lines. ¡°Why?¡± This is from N?velDrama.Org. Seeing that he was genuinely lost, a disappointed Elspeth exined, ¡°When the Juranian author, Romulus Adelmund, was still teaching Edanian in school, he requested his students to trante a line from a book¡ªthe ¡®I love you¡¯ the male character blurted when he was strolling under the moonlight with the female character. His students tranted word by word, but Romulus thought there was no vor to it. He believed ¡®the moon tonight sure is beautiful¡¯ was a better trantion. It was gentle, subtle, and touching, and it merged the love into the moonlight that the two basked in.¡± ¡°It is indeed beautiful.¡± Callum smiled gently after catching her intention. ¡°If someone tells you ¡®the moon tonight sure is beautiful¡¯, it means that they love you, and if you happen to reciprocate the feeling, you can reply with ¡®and the wind is gentle too¡¯, meaning I like you just as much.¡± ¡°I understand now,¡± said Callum thoughtfully, leading the young woman to sigh. ¡°What have you understood?¡± At that, Callum cupped Elspeth¡¯s cheeks and riveted his eyes on her while saying, ¡°The wind is gentle too.¡± A Cupid¡¯s arrow struck the young woman¡¯s heart at once. She blinked her eyes, looking as bewildered as an innocent girl. The couple had forgotten they were still filming a scene at this point, and Callum lowered his head to nt a gentle kiss on her lips. The kiss was devout, passionate, and intoxicating. Meanwhile, a breeze blew against Elspeth¡¯s hair, tickling Callum as it brushed against his face. ¡°I love you, Callum,¡± dered Elspeth emotionally to receive an even more passionate kiss in return. As the kiss ended, Elspeth was panting slightly as she leaned in his arms. ¡°Alright, we still have a scene to shoot.¡± With that, she rocked the boat suddenly and deliberately fell into theke. She flopped around in the water and shouted for help a few times before getting ready to reach her hand out to Callum so that he could pull her up. But the next second, something odd suddenly grabbed her leg and yanked her deeper into the water. Chapter 247 Chapter 247 A long while had passed, and Callum began sensing something wasn¡¯t right when Elspeth still hadn¡¯t surfaced from the water. By right, the young woman wouldn¡¯t pull such jokes on him, especially in deep waters andte at night. The rowboat had already taken them to the center of theke at this point, and the crew at the shore couldn¡¯t even see them, so shouting for help wouldn¡¯t do much at all. Their only way ofmunicating with the crew would be through the video cameras around them. With that, Callum waved at them to draw the crew¡¯s attention. Meanwhile, at the shore, excitement surrounded the crew as they shied away from Elspeth and Callum¡¯s passionate kiss. Amongst everyone, Yelena probably reacted the most dramatically to the scene as she gushed, ¡°Oh, sweet baby Jesus! No, they¡¯re so sweet together! Ah, I can¡¯t take it anymore! Calysie forever!¡± Contrasting to Yelena¡¯s excitement was Eric¡¯s sadness as a hint of frustration shed across his eyes when he saw the two leaning in each other¡¯s arms. Max, on the other hand, patted Yelena¡¯s head and said, ¡°Keep it together, will you? You¡¯re still a girl.¡± ¡°Why should I? It¡¯s not like I don¡¯t get to experience this. ke and I have a kissing scene too!¡± Max instantly turned grim, recollecting the fact that Yelena and his brother indeed had a kiss scene. ¡°Will that be your first kiss?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯ll be my first on-screen kiss. I guess it will have to be ke¡¯s¡ªhey!¡± The young man yanked Yelena to him and attacked her lips before she could even finish her sentence. ¡°What the heck, Winthrop?!¡± Panic enveloped her face as she wiped her lips. ¡°I¡¯m just preparing you to kiss a guy in case you get all shy in front of the camera.¡± Max bulled so justifiably that Yelena couldn¡¯t do anything despite feeling exasperated. ¡°Well, since you¡¯ve already kissed me, will you be my boyfriend?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± said the young man, cool as a cucumber. She was livid as she wanted nothing more than to mangle him. Suddenly, Aiden shrieked, stopping the two from arguing further. ¡°What is it?¡± they asked as they approached the director, who quirked his lips as he looked at the nk monitor screen. ¡°Now what? The camera¡¯s dead. Who knows if we can salvage the shot just now?¡± ¡°Well, I guess we can only reshoot.¡± Yelena spread her arms out with resignation. ¡°Besides, scenes like these aren¡¯t difficult to shoot, and I get to ship my couple a few more times.¡± Just then, Eric lifted his head. ¡°Should we tell them toe back, then?¡± ¡°One can destroy everything but marriage.¡± The young woman rolled her eyes at him. ¡°It¡¯s not like they¡¯ll get lost. Why ruin their moment when it¡¯s such a perfect chance for a date?¡± At that, Eric nodded gloomily, saying no more. However, he still snuck away, put a lifejacket on, and drove a boat toward the couple. They¡¯re not getting their chances, not on my watch! Back at the center of theke, Callum knew the cameras were likely broken when zaps came from inside of them. Elspeth wasst seen about a foot away from the rowboat. Callum gritted his teeth, removed his jacket and shoes, and jumped straight into the water. However, there was no one there. Could Elspeth have sunken to the bottom of theke? Callum wasn¡¯t an expert swimmer, and he had difficulty diving further down theke. In fact, his limbs began feeling numb when he went three feet down the water. Elspeth had clearly jumped into the water. There¡¯s no way she could¡¯ve disappeared into thin air just like that! With that, he swam around, and just as he wanted to return to the boat, he felt a stinging sensation coming from his leg that forced him further down theke. Sh*t, a cramp! He frowned, for even a professional swimming instructor would fear a cramp underwater, but there was no one else around at this time, and he would only swallow a few mouthfuls of theke water even if he called for help. As panic-stricken as he felt right then, he couldn¡¯t do anything but allow himself to sink further down. Suddenly, an arm extended toward him and wrapped around his waist. Surprised, Callum looked up and found a steadfast Eric, who rolled his eyes as he dragged Callum back to the surface with difficulty. When they finally surfaced, Eric handed Callum the lifebuoy he threw down theke and climbed back onto the boat before dragging Callum up. ¡°All I found was your shoes and clothes on the rowboat as soon as I got here. What? Have you guys nned to die for love?¡± ¡°Thanks for saving me,¡± said Callum inly as he put his wet hair back. ¡°Save you? I was just worried that you wanted to end yourself. Imagine how devastated Elspeth would be if she hears you¡¯re dead.¡± Despite joking, Eric swept his gaze across his surroundings. ¡°Where¡¯s Elspeth? Where have you hidden her?¡± ¡°I was down there looking for her. Something has happened to her.¡± Eric¡¯s smile stiffened at once. ¡°Don¡¯t f*ck with me, Winthrop. What happened?¡± ¡°She jumped into theke, flopped around a couple of times, and that was it. I thought it didn¡¯t feel right, but I couldn¡¯t find her after I went down there.¡± Eric stared icily at Callum while heaving visibly, evidently livid. ¡°Winthrop, you useless son of a b*tch!¡± Just then, a revtion struck Callum as he said, ¡°I knew it! You kept sticking to me because you wanted to hang out with Elspeth! You can fool everyone, but you can¡¯t fool me. You like Elspeth, don¡¯t you?¡± At that, Eric punched Callum in the face, leaving a bloody red mark on it. ¡°What¡¯s your point in this right now, Winthrop? Tell me where Elspeth is!¡± The punch left Callum woozy, but he wasn¡¯t nning on holding Eric responsible for it. Instead, he stumbled onto his feet, rubbed his sore, cramped leg, and took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯ll take another look.¡± However, Eric shoved him to the floor and said, ¡°Stay here. I¡¯ll go.¡± The next second, he dove into the water again, and it wasn¡¯t after ten minutes that he slowly swam back with Elspeth. Meanwhile, a glimmer shed across Callum¡¯s eyes as he mused, Elspeth passed out and sank to the bottom of theke after choking on water. On the other hand, Eric hurriedly gave Elspeth CPR, and when it came to giving her the two breaths, he suddenly stopped and nced icily at Callum. ¡°You¡¯re her boyfriend. You save her.¡± Callum was slightly taken aback, for he hadn¡¯t expected Eric to make such a concession. Still, he nodded and gave her CPR. Very quickly, Elspeth coughed up the water and was out of danger, but she remained unconscious. ¡°Elspeth does well in water; something like this couldn¡¯t have happened.¡± Callum frowned. He wasn¡¯t wrong. Elspeth had warmed her body up thoroughly before jumping into theke. There was no way she would have met with a cramp as he did. With that, he looked toward her legs and found a visible red mark on her ankle. He measured it with his palm and instantly broke out in intense malice. ¡°I¡¯ve figured it out.¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Eric saw the mark on her ankle too, and the smile on his usually giddy face disappeared in an instant. Callum mumbled as he caressed Elspeth¡¯s face, but the frosty, malicious tone was enough to strike fear into one. ¡°I will have him beg for death once I find out who did this.¡± Chapter 248 Chapter 248 It wasn¡¯t until Callum returned to the shore on a boat with Elspeth in his arms that the crew came to their senses and hurriedly called 911. On the other hand, tears pooled in Yelena¡¯s eyes as she was riddled with anxiety. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. This wouldn¡¯t have happened if I hadn¡¯t suggested not interrupting you two.¡± The young woman was convinced that it was her self-assertion that led to Elspeth¡¯s state. At that, she lowered her head in repentance as though she hadmitted evil. ¡°Since you know you always do more harm than good, keep your mouth shut the next time.¡± Yelena shuddered, and tears began rolling down her cheeks. Seeing how upset and repentant Yelena was, Max pulled her into his arms. ¡°Callum, she just stopped the crew from going to you guys because she hoped you two could have some alone time. There¡¯s no reason for you to yell at her, is there?¡± It was then Callum realized his malice was through the roof, and he tucked away some of his anger while withdrawing his gaze. ¡°Forget about everything else. What¡¯s up with this?¡± ke steered everyone¡¯s attention back to the incident, overwrought with anxiety as he looked at the unconscious Elspeth lying on the ground. ¡°Someone grabbed Elspeth¡¯s ankle after she jumped into theke, attempting to drown her.¡± Malice overcame Callum once again as he rted the incident. His heart wrenched painfully at the thought of his beloved panicking and iling underwater. ¡°That guy sure is evil.¡± ke clenched his fists in anger. ¡°Do we know who it is yet, Callum?¡± ¡°Nope, not yet.¡± Callum shook his head. Just then, a thought struck Aiden, and he hurriedly said, ¡°That reminds me¡ªCapolis protects its architecture well, so there are many surveince cameras around. Why don¡¯t we check the footage?¡± It was a pretty good n. Callum nodded in agreement, then turned to his brother. ¡°ke, you, Max, and Yelena follow the ambnce to the hospital and look after Elspeth while Eric and I check the surveince footage. We must get to the bottom of this case.¡± ke nodded in agreement, knowing he wouldn¡¯t be of much help either if he stayed. With that, Callum followed the director to the monitor room only to be told that the cameras were broken three days ago, so there wasn¡¯t any footage at all. ¡°This culprit thought it through,¡± Callum swore as he clenched his fists. Eric, on the other hand, furrowed his brows. ¡°Why don¡¯t we wait for Elspeth to wake up before we make the next move? Perhaps she saw something.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Callum nodded in agreement after falling silent for a moment. To that, Eric smiled. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, why don¡¯t you head to the hospital and see how Elspeth is doing? I have something else to attend to.¡± The two men were barely acquainted. As such, Callum just nodded without asking any questions, assuming Eric had work to see to. Eric, on the other hand, headed to Emma¡¯s mansion after bidding Callum farewell. Speaking of the mansion, it was ultimately Eric¡¯s asset in Chars. Thus, he used facial recognition to enter the ce instead of the password. However, strange noises came from upstairs as soon as he entered the house. With that, he sneaked upstairs and stood by the door for a moment instead of charging right into the room, listening to whatever was going on inside. He booted the door open the next second, and Emma, who was still gasping and moaning a second ago, screamed in fright and covered her body hurriedly. Arthur, on the other hand, got down from her and looked at Eric. His eyes, too, wereced with a hint of shock. Meanwhile, Eric felt blood rushing to his head, and his heart twinged at what was clearly the aftermath of a sexual interaction between the two people in the room. ¡°Just how sick are you to live in my house and f*ck another man, Walker?¡± Yes, he didn¡¯t love Emma¡ªor at least he believed so¡ªbut which man could ept such betrayal? ¡°Eric, listen to me. It¡¯s not what you think. He forced me into it. It¡¯s all him¡­¡± Emma panicked. She couldn¡¯t lose Eric¡¯s favor, and she wasn¡¯t willing to let go of his good looks or his money. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Save the exnation for someone else. Do you think I¡¯m oblivious to everything you do? I should consider myself lucky for never having sex with you. I knew my decision was right. To think you can be this revolting.¡± His words were one of ridicule and revulsion through and through, and Emma felt as though she had been pped in the face as herplexion turned ghastly pale. Eric wasn¡¯t lying. The two had been an underground couple, but never once had he touched her. ¡°Eric, you have to believe that I love you¡­¡± However, there was not enough exnation in this world she could give Eric to remove the aversion on his face. Meanwhile, Arthur smirked. ¡°Come on, Emma, what¡¯s the point of exining to him at this point? Do you not see that there¡¯s no love but only hate in his eyes?¡± She was naturally aware that Eric didn¡¯t love her, but it still felt awkward and humiliating for the fact to be put so bluntly. ¡°Don¡¯t make things worse, Arthur. I won¡¯t love you even if Eric doesn¡¯t love me.¡± Eric, on the other hand, chuckled and sneered. ¡°Stop selling yourself, Walker. Look at what a b*tch you are.¡± ¡°I know you like Elspeth,¡± said Arthur after taking a deep breath, causing Eric to narrow his eyes at once. ¡°So? What are you trying to say?¡± ¡°Honestly speaking, we can be pretty good partners, don¡¯t you think? You like Elspeth, I want Winthrop Group¡¯s shares, and Emma wants to be with Callum. The three of us can get along pretty well.¡± Come to think of it, he¡¯s not entirely wrong. Eric nodded thoughtfully. ¡°So? What do you propose?¡± ¡°I want to use your power to bring Callum down, and I¡¯ll help you break him and Elspeth apart,¡± Arthur stated. ¡°Once they¡¯ve broken up and Elspeth resents Callum, you cane in and be her sce. Think about it, how can she not fall in love with you when you show up during her most vulnerable state? By then, won¡¯t it be up to you what your rtionship with Elspeth will be?¡± Arthur¡¯s words were indeed tempting. Eric smirked but didn¡¯t answer directly. Rather, he turned to Emma. ¡°Let me ask you this, then.¡± Having suddenly be the center of attention, Emma froze for a split second before tucking her neck. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I want to know if you¡¯re responsible for Elspeth¡¯s drowning.¡± ¡°This has nothing to do with Emma. I did it,¡± Arthur interjected just as Emma was about to answer. ¡°Why harm her?¡± Aversion surged within Eric as he gazed at Arthur while forcibly suppressing his difort. ¡°The same reason why you¡¯vee to question Emma.¡± Arthur smiled nonchntly. ¡°I¡¯m just sticking up for the person I love. What¡¯s there so impossible to do?¡± Chapter 249 Chapter 249 ¡°Oh? If you like Emma so much, why are you letting her get together with Callum?¡± Arthur lowered his head, and an unfathomable light shed across his eyes. ¡°That¡¯s because love is a sacrifice.¡± Love is a sacrifice, my foot! he thought. In reality, he would eventually snatch Emma back. When Callum¡¯s reputation was ruined and Arthur had the man under his foot, Emma would return to his embrace. However, now wasn¡¯t the time. ¡°Fine, I get it. How do you propose we work together?¡± Eric was slightly annoyed. Seeing Eric¡¯s reaction, Arthur knew that the former was tempted. Hence, he continued, ¡°First of all, we have to destroy the Winthrop Group. You see, if Callum loses his financial stability, do you think Elspeth would still follow him willingly?¡± Eric smiled. ¡°It looks like you¡¯ve been nning this for a long time. There must be at least 20 years of history between you two, but you don¡¯t seem to consider that at all.¡± ¡°What is there to consider? I want to achieve my goals. That¡¯s my utmost priority.¡± Naturally, Arthur was more confident now that sess was on the horizon. ¡°In that case, do you think I¡¯m just like you?¡± With that, Eric kicked Arthur squarely on the torso, sending him rolling off the bed. Arthur didn¡¯t have his clothes on, so he could only guard his jewels with his hands. He looked like a mess. ¡°What exactly are you so gleeful about? Arthur Winthrop, people like you deserve a hundred deaths!¡± When Eric pictured Elspeth suffering, he had the urge to tear Arthur apart. Eric dialed a number. Soon enough, a group of men in ck walked in. ¡°Throw this man outside, and don¡¯t let him wear any clothes.¡± Arthur widened his eyes. ¡°Y-You can¡¯t do that!¡± ¡°Why not? Arthur, what you¡¯ve done is simply disgusting. Even if I let you off the hook, Callum certainly wouldn¡¯t.¡± Eric grinned coldly. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me! Stop, don¡¯t touch me¡ª¡± Arthur couldn¡¯t fight back, so he was frightfully dragged outside and left alone on the road. Emma was about to beg for mercy on Arthur¡¯s behalf, but when she saw Eric¡¯s determined expression, she was so scared that she shrunk back, not daring to utter a word. After Arthur was tossed out, Eric grabbed Emma¡¯s neck with his hand. There was cold bloodlust on his face as he said, ¡°And you. Remember, if you do anything to harm Elspeth, I won¡¯t let you off either!¡± Emma was in so much pain that her tears were threatening to fall. ¡°Understood.¡± Elspeth, Elspeth again! When Eric decided that it was enough, he flung her onto the bed. He pped his hands, and a butler immediately appeared. ¡°Lock her up,¡± Eric ordered. ¡°As you wish.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go about causing trouble before your face has healed.¡± With that, Eric turned around and left. In the hospital, Callum stood guard at the entrance of the operating room, his heart especially anxious. Not long after, a doctor walked out. ¡°Fortunately, the patient held her breath underwater for a long time, so she didn¡¯t inhale too much water. Her condition has already stabilized, so you can go in to see her now.¡± It was only then that Callum rxed his creased eyebrows. ¡°Alright, I got it. Thanks, doctor.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± Elspeth was sent to the regr ward. Fearing that Elspeth would be bothered, Callum arranged a VIP suite for her. ¡°You guys can go in first. I¡¯m still a little wet, so I¡¯ll go and get changed first.¡± Soon enough, Elspeth regained consciousness. Not long after she was moved off the operating table, she woke up. Yelena and Max rushed into the room, whereas ke slowly trailed behind. As soon as Yelena saw Elspeth, she began wailing loudly. Because of her reaction, the atmosphere felt a bit off. ¡°Elspeth¡­ I thought you were a goner¡­ But I¡¯m so d you¡¯re still alive!¡± As Yelena spoke, she threw herself into Elspeth¡¯s embrace, her snot and tears smearing Elspeth¡¯s body. Elspeth was speechless. She had just woken up, so her voice was slightly weak. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I almost drowned, but I didn¡¯t die.¡± Yelena¡¯s sobbing instantly ceased. The next second, she let out a guffaw. ¡°Elspeth, how are you still joking at a time like this?!¡± Elspeth said, ¡°Have you considered the possibility that I¡¯m speaking the truth?¡± Max patted Yelena on the head, his voice stern as he said, ¡°Elspeth just woke up. Don¡¯t bother her too much.¡± Yelena nodded. ¡°I know. I¡¯ve finished what I wanted to say, haven¡¯t I? I was worried sick just now.¡± At the side, ke remained silent. He noticed that Elspeth was a little weak, so he nced at Max. ¡°Get your girlfriend out of here.¡± Max nodded, then bewilderment and worry colored his expression. ¡°I got it. Hang on, ke¡ªwhat girlfriend?¡± ke didn¡¯t reply as he nced at Max nonchntly. Max¡¯s face turned red. He looked at Yelena and huffed before he turned around and ran out. Secretly overjoyed, Yelena ran out after him. In an instant, only ke and Elspeth remained in the room. Elspeth felt a little awkward. After all, ke had confessed to her before. Also, ever since she rejected him, ke had never properly spoken to her. ¡°Come on, you don¡¯t have to worry about me. I don¡¯t have feelings for you anymore.¡± ke¡¯s words weren¡¯t quite believable, but when Elspeth looked at his face, she sensed that he seemed to have epted the current situation. ¡°I know. You¡¯ll meet someone better.¡± Elspeth smiled as sheforted him. ¡°I¡¯m not in a hurry at the moment. As for you two, this is my first time seeing Callum in such a panic. As such, you can rx and love him boldly. He¡¯s a good man.¡± When Elspeth saw how sincere he was, she felt like one of her burdens was lifted. ¡°I got it. Thank you, ke.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee. You¡¯re my boss now, so I should make you happy for my betterment, right?¡± ke smiled mischievously. A hint of liveliness was injected into his already handsome and alluring face, and he looked even more attractive now. ¡°Yeah.¡± The tension between Elspeth and ke finally returned to normal. They chatted happily, so engrossed in their conversation that they didn¡¯t notice Callum walking in. When Callum saw the two chatting harmoniously, his expression instantly sank. ke noticed that, and he felt a little gleeful inside.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Since Elspeth already belonged to Callum, ke decided to annoy Callum a little bit so that it would be worth his while. ¡°By the way, something is off about this incident.¡± When Elspeth noticed the odd look on Callum¡¯s face, she hastily changed the topic. Callum nodded, his expression as cold as always. ¡°I know. I¡¯ve already sent someone to look into it, and we should receive the results soon.¡± Elspeth frowned. ¡°Sending just one person would be too slow. I¡¯ll get another person to help.¡± With that, she called Harper immediately. However, she heard noises at the baring from the other end of the line. ¡°Elspeth, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Chapter 250 Chapter 250 ¡°I have a request, but if you¡¯re not avable at the moment, forget it.¡± Elspeth had a lot on her mind. If Harper was at the bar at this hour, he must be seeing his old lover. Elspeth decided not to bother them. ¡°I see. Why don¡¯t I get Lisa to follow you? She¡¯s qualified now, and I have to say, she¡¯s not my disciple for nothing. I¡ª¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t be bothered to listen to him rambling on, so she hung up right away. Harper thought, How disrespectful! Elspeth looked at the two beside her and smiled awkwardly. ¡°Sorry about that.¡± ke knew that he wasn¡¯t needed here, so he stood up. ¡°I have something to attend to, so if everything¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡± Anyone could see that ke was just finding an excuse to escape; he didn¡¯t have anything to attend to. Meanwhile, Callum was quite satisfied with ke¡¯s behavior. ¡°Alright. Call me if anythinges up.¡± ke faked a smile. Callum was acting like a big brother again. Just moments ago, Callum had such a foul expression that ke thought Callum would kill him. With that, ke walked outside. He had just made his way to a flowerbed in the hospital when he noticed a girl in ck. She wore her hair in a high ponytail, and there was not a sliver of emotion on her cold face. She must have run into something¡­ ke thought. He lowered his head and saw someone lying on the ground. In an instant, he realized what was going on. The guy on the ground was probably trying to scam her. Still, this icy-cold beauty was quite good-looking. At first nce, she looked decent with a small face andrge, watery eyes. She had nicely shaped lips as well, and she looked like a perfect model. At second nce, she seemed very cold and distant. She exuded a standoffish aura, making the cold weather even colder. She was a peculiar girl, but she had nothing to do with him. ke was about to leave when the girl¡¯s unbelievable actions stopped him in his tracks. She retrieved several bills worth hundreds from her pocket and tossed them at the guy on the ground. ¡°Is this enough?¡± The guy thought she was trying to escape, so he wailed, ¡°You bumped into me, and now you¡¯re trying to dismiss me with this measly amount? Goodness, how heartless you are!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t cry.¡± The girl took out another pile of cash. ¡°Is this enough?¡± After seeing therge amount of money, the guy thought that the girl was easily fooled, so he sobbed again, ¡°No, it¡¯s not enough. This isn¡¯t nearly enough to cure my sickness!¡± The girl was already running out of cash. She frowned upon assessing the situation. ¡°In that case, what should I do?¡± ¡°Give me money! You¡¯re supposed to give money under these circumstances!¡± The girl nced around, and her gaze soon settled on ke while he stood nearby. ¡°You,e here for a bit.¡± ke subconsciously walked over. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. ¡°Do you have money right now? I can return the moneyter.¡± The girl felt a little troubled. She couldn¡¯t stand the person sobbing and wailing so loudly on the ground. ke was a little curious. ¡°Why me, though?¡± The girl said straightforwardly, ¡°That¡¯s because you look richer than everyone else here.¡± ke was baffled. What an honest girl, he thought. ¡°I do have money, and I can also resolve the problem for you.¡± ke smiled brilliantly. When he saw her cold expression, he was even more curious about her identity. ¡°However, in return, you have to tell me your name.¡± The girl was a little annoyed. ¡°Lisa Dawson.¡± ¡°Hm, that¡¯s a good name.¡± Having achieved his goal, ke took out a card from his pocket. ¡°Here. Ten million on this card. Use it however you like.¡± Is he that generous? The girl¡¯s expression turned cold as she looked at the guy lying on the ground. She asked, ¡°Is that enough?¡± No matter how greedy a person could be, they knew better than to dy a good offer. When the guy on the ground heard that, he immediately jumped up. ¡°Thank you, pretty woman. It¡¯s more than enough.¡± Lisa was a little doubtful when she saw the guy moaning on the ground suddenly jump up like that. She asked, ¡°What sort of sickness do you have?¡± The guy hastily covered his leg. ¡°My leg got hurt. I think it¡¯s a fracture.¡± Lisa wore a slight expression of understanding. This was the second expression she had put on other than coldness. ¡°What a coincidence! I know how to set bones. If I help you fix your leg, you won¡¯t have to go to the hospital anymore.¡± The guy¡¯s expression changed drastically as he broke out in cold sweat. ¡°It¡¯s okay, youngdy. Thank you, but I think I¡¯ll¡ªah!¡± Lisa acted swiftly. She grabbed his leg and began pulling at it. The guy was in agonizing pain as he felt his leg being pulled apart at one point before it was put back into ce. ¡°You were fine.¡± He was the first person who dared to lie to her. The guy howled, ¡°You knew I was fine, so why did you disconnect my leg and put it back together again? You¡¯re just making me suffer for no reason!¡± Lisa was unaffected. ¡°I just wanted to prove that I know how to set bones.¡± The person was speechless, and so was ke. ¡°Well, since you¡¯re alright now, I¡¯ll be taking the money back.¡± Lisa picked up the cash off the ground, then passed the card back to ke. ¡°Take it. I probably don¡¯t need it at the moment.¡± ¡°Hahaha, alright. Just send me a message if you ever need it.¡± ke felt that this girl had an amusing way of talking, just like Elspeth when they first met. Lisa nodded. She was about to turn around and leave when ke spoke up again. ¡°Can you give me your contact information?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have any. I don¡¯t make calls.¡± ke persisted. ¡°What about your Instagram ount?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t use Instagram.¡± ¡°What about Facebook?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t use Facebook either.¡± ke jokingly said, ¡°Tell me your address, then. I¡¯ll send you a letter if somethinges up.¡± He was overdoing it. Lisa frowned, then hesitated for a bit before taking out her phone. ¡°Here, scan the code.¡± ke was instantly amused when he saw that the cold and unsociable girl had Spongebob as her profile picture. The contrast was rather adorable. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡± Lisa lowered her head, then turned and left without another nce at him. ke watched her leave, a peculiar emotion surfacing within his heart. He looked at the newly added contact on his phone, his lips curving slightly into a smile. How amusing. Meanwhile, Elspeth waited in the ward for a while, but the person she was waiting for still hadn¡¯t shown up. She frowned tightly and said, ¡°Do you think she ran into some sort of trouble on the way here? Why hasn¡¯t she arrived?¡± Callumforted her, saying, ¡°It¡¯s okay. She¡¯s a grown woman now, so she probably won¡¯t run into any idents. Also, if she¡¯s faced with something she can¡¯t deal with, she¡¯ll definitely contact you.¡± He had a point. Elspeth nodded and fell silent. Soon after, the door creaked open. Elspeth looked at the girl in front of her, slightly stunned. It was Lisa, but her face¡­ ¡°Lisa, what happened to you?¡± Lisa was bewildered as well. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Elspeth?¡± ¡°Take a look in the mirror.¡± Lisa went to the mirror, confused. When she saw the red glow on her cheeks, her usually cold expression shifted. ¡°Lisa, are you¡­ dating someone?¡± Chapter 251 Chapter 251 Elspeth¡¯s words caused a ripple to spread through Lisa¡¯s heart. ¡°No.¡± When Elspeth heard Lisa¡¯s awkward reply, she was in glee. The youngdy never lied, so she probably wasn¡¯t in a rtionship, but she had probably met someone she liked. ¡°I see.¡± Elspeth shrugged, then continued, ¡°Right, I wanted to see you because I have something I need your help with. I need to look into something.¡± Lisa nodded emotionlessly. ¡°I know. Harper told me everything.¡± ¡°Good. How long do you need to figure it out?¡± ¡°Half a day.¡± Elspeth narrowed her eyes. ¡°Half a day¡­ That can do. See me again in 12 hours.¡± Lisa nodded, then walked out. Throughout the whole process, she didn¡¯t even spare a nce at Callum. ¡°This subordinate of yours¡­ is quite odd.¡± Callum eventually settled on thisment. Elspeth smiled. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Are you interested in this youngdy?¡± Even though she hadn¡¯t said anything, he could still hear the jealousy in her tone. She is jealous. Callum smiled as he took Elspeth into his embrace, touching her nose as he said, ¡°What are you thinking? That¡¯s nonsense.¡± Elspeth huffed and turned around, refusing to look at him. In the afternoon, Lisa visited again as expected. Noticing Elspeth¡¯s faint smile, Lisa said calmly, ¡°I¡¯ve looked into it. Arthur was the one behind this.¡± ¡°How did he do it?¡± ¡°He was the one who sent someone to lie in wait underwater, and the person deliberately dragged you into the water. He was trying to drown you.¡± As Lisa spoke, she nced at Elspeth¡¯s expression. Elspeth suppressed the rage in her heart as she asked, ¡°In that case, where is Arthur now?¡± ¡°However¡­ someone else has already taken care of Arthur.¡± Elspeth was immediately stunned. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but I heard that Arthur was left naked at the intersection of Terrace Street. A group of bodyguards stood guard while everyone looked at him. After that, Arthur felt so embarrassed that he removed all the headlines and hashtags overnight. As such, only a handful of people know about this incident.¡± Terrace Street¡­ Isn¡¯t that the street next to Emma¡¯s vi? Elspeth suddenly remembered the secrets she had heard before. When she recalled all the dirty business between Emma and Arthur, she immediately understood everything. ¡°After sending you to the hospital, Eric disappeared for a while,¡± Callum stated indifferently. ¡°It must be Eric¡¯s doing, then. Judging from his casual behavior, I didn¡¯t know he could be this cruel.¡± Stripped naked and tossed out into the streets for everyone to see¡­ Arthur was probably beyond pissed to have endured such humiliation. When Elspeth imagined Arthur¡¯s flustered look, she couldn¡¯t helpughing. Lisa nodded slightly. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be leaving now. You can call me whenever you need help.¡± Elspeth took the opportunity to ask, ¡°Lisa, do you have a ce to stay?¡± It was only then that Lisa realized she didn¡¯t even have a ce to lodge. She thought for a bit, then said calmly, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I can stay at the hotel for the time being.¡± Since the expenses were necessary for work, she could im reimbursement from Harper. ¡°Harper should have told you that you¡¯re my private investigator now. Don¡¯t you want to stay with me?¡± Elspeth winked a little alluringly. She didn¡¯t mind the expenses; she was just worried about Lisa¡¯s safety. After all, Lisa was a beautiful youngdy, and Elspeth feared that she might get bullied. ¡°Well¡­¡± Lisa turned her gaze at Callum, who was standing next to Elspeth. Seeing the man¡¯s equally cold expression, she spoke hesitantly. ¡°It¡¯s okay, don¡¯t mind him. I¡¯m not living with him.¡± Callum spoke up. ¡°But¡ª¡± Elspeth red viciously at him, then said to Lisa, ¡°We can stay at my vi. If you¡¯re okay with it, we¡¯ll be staying there for the time being.¡± ¡°Is it the one next to Jordan¡¯s ce?¡± When Callum remembered Jordan constantly teasing Elspeth back then, he was infuriated. ¡°I can give you a vi near Winthrop Group.¡± He was hinting that she couldn¡¯t run away from him. ¡°Callum, you¡¯re not making me go back to work at the Winthrop Group, are you?¡± Callum nodded and said without hesitation, ¡°Well, you¡¯ve been co-president for so long, so what¡¯s stopping you from continuing?¡± ¡°What about Edmund?¡± Callum curved his lips. ¡°Edmund will being back to work as well. So what if apany has two co- presidents? Are you worried that he might take your ce?¡± Elspeth said with a fake smile, ¡°I was worried I¡¯d be taking somebody¡¯s ce!¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a problem. He said that you can take care of all the work, and he just wants to be a co- president on paper and ck off. Hence, you won¡¯t be idling around.¡± She frowned. ¡°In that case, the Winthrops are just treating me like an employee, huh?¡± ¡°If you marry me, the Winthrop Group will eventually be yours. Shouldn¡¯t you put in a little effort for the company you¡¯ll own?¡± Callum patiently advised, acting as if he could immediately write up a document to transfer the Winthrop Group¡¯s shares as soon as Elspeth married him. Elspeth blinked. ¡°Are you saying that I can merge the Winthrop Group with Azure?¡± He didn¡¯t mind that one bit. ¡°Sure, as long as you¡¯re happy with it.¡±All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. ¡°Good. There¡¯s no turning back on your word now.¡± When Callum saw the cunning look on Elspeth¡¯s face, his heart melted. He didn¡¯t even bother assessing if it was a worthy venture or not as he nodded. ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Love you!¡± Elspeth hugged Callum and nted a kiss on his cheek. As Lisa listened to their conversation, a pink tint crept onto her face. ¡°I almost forgot. Lisa is still here.¡± Elspeth¡¯s face turned red in embarrassment. When she saw how ufortable Lisa was, she coughed and said, ¡°I¡¯ll give you the keys to the vi, and I¡¯ll also give you a card to buy everything you need. You can go back to tidy up first.¡± With that, she turned around and opened her palm. ¡°Give me the room keys and send me the location while you¡¯re at it.¡± Lisa suddenly spoke up. ¡°I know the location of Mr. Winthrop¡¯s vi, so you just have to give me the keys. I don¡¯t need the card either. I still have some money from Harper.¡± Callum looked at her, amused. ¡°Oh? You¡¯ve even thoroughly investigated all my properties.¡± Lisa would never tell him that Harper had gotten someone to investigate everything about Callum, for he feared that Elspeth would get cheated on. ¡°It¡¯s part of work, after all.¡± Anything concerning Elspeth could be considered work. When Elspeth heard that Lisa didn¡¯t want the money, she said in fake anger, ¡°What does Harper have to do with me giving you money? How much did he give you?¡± Lisa said honestly, ¡°Three million.¡± ¡°What can you buy with just three million?¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes and produced a tinum card. ¡°Here¡¯s 30 million. Take it. I¡¯ll top up the card when it runs out, so don¡¯t worry.¡± Lisa was stunned. As expected of a president, Elspeth was indeed wealthy. While holding the keys and the tinum card, Lisa went out. She hadn¡¯t walked far when she bumped into ke, who hade to visit. Chapter 252 Chapter 252 As ke was about to greet the familiar face with a smile, his expression turned solemn when he noticed the tinum card in her hand. He wondered why the card was with Lisa. As far as he remembered, the card had always been left untouched in Elspeth¡¯s purse. Moreover, the bunch of keys had the same keychain as Elspeth¡¯s. He couldn¡¯t fathom why it was with Lisa. Don¡¯t tell me¡­ ¡°Is she a thief?¡± he whispered to himself. He then hurriedly went up to grab Lisa¡¯s wrist and persuaded her, ¡°Lisa, why are you stealing things? You could let me know if you are broke. I¡¯ll lend you the money. Return the items at once, or you might go to jail if they catch you.¡± ke was so worried about her that his forehead was covered in sweat. Lisa recalled who ke was and found his words funny yet odd. ¡°Why should I inform you if I¡¯m broke?¡± ke was equally surprised, not knowing why he blurted out such words. ¡°That¡¯s because stealing isn¡¯t right. Moreover, the items that you have stolen belong to Callum and Elspeth.¡± Lisa looked at him helplessly upon hearing that. Rumor has it that ke is a smart guy who can memorize his lines by heart while filming, but why doesn¡¯t that seem to be the case? ¡°I didn¡¯t steal anything.¡± Lisa struggled to free her wrist, but ke gripped it so tightly that she couldn¡¯t escape. With that, she threw a kick at him, and he finally let go to dodge the kick. Her hand was supple and soft. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me.¡± Lisa had taken martial art sses, so defeating ke wasn¡¯t an issue for her. However, since he was Callum¡¯s brother and Elspeth¡¯s friend, she didn¡¯t intend to hurt him. Seeing how stubborn she was, he went up to her and hugged her tightly. ¡°Alright, listen to me. I¡¯m giving you a word of advice because you seem naive. Go and return the items.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t touch me! I¡¯m not returning them.¡± Hearing that, ke had no choice but to carry her in his arms, and the sudden sensation of being lifted startled Lisa. She jerked her shoulders and clutched onto him. It was the first time in 18 years that a man was carrying her, and it felt rather odd. ke then entered Elspeth¡¯s room while carrying Lisa in his arms. Elspeth and Callum were chattering and bantering with each other, and they were so surprised to see ke carrying the blushing Lisa in his arms. Their jaws dropped at once. ¡°Both of you have made great progress!¡± Hearing that, ke finally realized that his actions weren¡¯t appropriate and immediately put Lisa down. Following that, he locked the door, fearing that she would escape. ¡°It¡¯s not that. She has stolen something.¡± Elspeth was surprised upon hearing that; based on her understanding of Lisa¡¯s character, she¡¯d never do something like that. It could be a misunderstanding, but what caused it? ¡°If you didn¡¯t say that she had stolen something, I would¡¯ve thought you were here to announce your marriage to each other,¡± Callum said sarcastically. ¡°That¡¯s not it. She did steal something¡­¡± ke replied in embarrassment. ¡°I didn¡¯t steal anything.¡± Lisa was speechless when she saw how silly he looked. How could there be such an idiotic man? she thought. ¡°I think I know what you mean. Let me introduce her to you. This is Lisa, my private investigator. She is in charge of investigating various matters for me, and I was the one who passed those items to her.¡± Elspeth then nced over at ke and tutted. ¡°I won¡¯t be introducing you. I think she knows who you are at first nce,¡± she said. ¡°Of course. I¡¯m pretty famous, after all.¡± ke raised his brows. ¡°No, it¡¯s because she has already run a check on you, including¡­¡± Elspeth smiled mysteriously before continuing, ¡°Including the color of underpants you¡¯re wearing. She knows everything.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe it!¡± ke¡¯s expression turned sour. This is from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You have ten underpants in total, and you¡¯re wearing the pink one today,¡± Lisa announced confidently. ke stared at her with widened eyes, for he couldn¡¯t believe that she knew about it. Callum, on the other hand, couldn¡¯t contain hisughter upon hearing that. ¡°Don¡¯tugh at him. She knows yours too.¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes at Callum, making thetter speechless as well. ¡°Alright, so has the problem been solved?¡± Elspeth nced at ke resignedly. ¡°Problem solved. I¡¯m sorry for the misunderstanding.¡± ke felt bad when he realized that he was at fault. When Lisa thought of how silly he looked when he carried her over to make her surrender, the anger she harbored somehow disappeared. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± However, ke felt bad and wanted to make it up to her. ¡°If you¡¯re going somewhere, I can give you a lift. You can take this as an apology,¡± he offered. ¡°No, thank you. I have a car.¡± Lisa rejected his offer, not wanting to get involved with him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯ll give you a ride.¡± With that, he grabbed her wrist by force and dragged her out. Meanwhile, as Elspeth watched them, she rubbed her chin with her finger and asked, ¡°Do you think they will end up together?¡± ¡°Instead of being concerned about this, shouldn¡¯t you think about how you¡¯re going to deal with Arthur?¡± Callum asked nonchntly after taking a sip of water. Right, I was so distracted that I almost forgot about that. After giving the matter some thought, she sighed. ¡°Eric has already taken action against him, though. I feel that he might do something out of desperation if we do something to him.¡± Elspeth thought of letting the matter go. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. I¡¯ll help you with it.¡± Callum smirked. As Elspeth¡¯s boyfriend, he couldn¡¯t sit well with the fact that some other man was trying to woo her. Thus, he decided to take care of it. The next day, there was news about a faction within the Alphascape Group. There seemed to be a problem with a batch of stocks handled by Arthur. Someone used it against Arthur and imed that he was the person behind it, causing Arthur to be suspended from his position. When Elspeth found out about the news, Callum was peeling an orange for her. She instantly suspected that he had something to do with it. ¡°Did you do it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m only teaching him a lesson this time round. He¡¯ll be fine since Dad will get someone to help him. I¡¯ll wait until he stirs something up that disgusts Dad, and that¡¯s when I¡¯ll take him down.¡± Is Theodore going to get someone to help him? ¡°You have a point. After all, Theodore is a nice person. Arthur was ignorant when he insisted on severing ties with him and even suspected Theodore. Even so, Theodore is still supportive of him.¡± Elspeth was furious at the thought of it. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Dad decided to help because Arthur is his son. If Arthur doesn¡¯t appreciate that, he will get a taste of his medicer on.¡± Elspeth nodded as she agreed with Callum. The next moment, a news notification suddenly popped up on her phone, and the headline read, ¡®Son of Oil Magnate Has Fallen for Elspeth. What Will Happen to Callum? Who Will Win the Girl?¡¯ Below the headline were pictures of Elspeth with Eric, as well as another picture of her in Callum¡¯s arms. Callum narrowed his gaze and was infuriated upon seeing the news. ¡°They sure are ballsy, stirring up trouble again.¡± Chapter 253 Chapter 253 Naturally, Elspeth wasn¡¯t concerned about such minor matters, but since it involved Callum and Eric¡¯s reputation, she couldn¡¯t take things lightly. ¡°I¡¯ll get Lisa to take the news down so that things won¡¯t get out of hand.¡± Hearing that, Callum lifted his hand and stopped her as he exined, ¡°If we interfere with their ns at such an early stage, it will be hard to find out the people behind this. Emma and Arthur currently have their hands tied, so they won¡¯t be able to cause any trouble for the time being. If that¡¯s the case, then who is the one behind this?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Elspeth nodded. ¡°As such, the most important thing right now is to bring our rtionship to light and let everyone know that you¡¯re my girlfriend. Then, the whole matter will be resolved. Don¡¯t you think so?¡± Elspeth agreed with Callum¡¯s reasonable analysis and immediately opened her Facebook app to publish a post about her rtionship with Callum, notifying the public. ¡°This won¡¯t be sufficient. The public wouldn¡¯t be interested in something abstract. The key is to engrave this matter in their hearts.¡± With that, he looked her in the eye and uttered with a smile, ¡°Let¡¯s get engaged.¡± Although it sounded like a great idea, something was off about it. ¡°Should I inform Eric about this?¡± She thought that she should ask for Eric¡¯s opinion since he was involved in the matter as well. Just when she was about to give him a call, someone entered the room. It turned out to be Eric whom they hadn¡¯t met for some time. ¡°Long time no see, Elspeth,¡± he greeted her while cing a bouquet of roses next to her bed. Elspeth smiled when she saw the roses and thanked him, saying, ¡°I should be thanking you instead. If not for you, I would have died in theke.¡± ¡°What are you talking about? It wasn¡¯t just me. Callum put his life on the line while trying to save you.¡± Elspeth was aware that Callum couldn¡¯t swim, and it broke her heart when she saw how calm Callum was about that matter. She had assumed Eric was the one who rescued her since Callum looked neat when she first saw him after she regained consciousness. Moreover, he never mentioned it to her. However, after giving it some thought, she realized that the shirt Callum was wearing wasn¡¯t the school uniform both of them wore while on the yacht; it was his formal wear. ¡°Callum¡­¡± Tears started welling up in her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t cry. I didn¡¯t feel like letting you know since it isn¡¯t something glorious.¡± For someone like Callum who had a big ego, almost getting killed while trying to rescue someone was humiliating to him, so he would never reveal it. ¡°In other words, were you nning to hide it from me?¡± What if something happened to you since you don¡¯t know how to swim?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t nning to, but I wouldn¡¯t have told you if you didn¡¯t ask about it.¡± Callum tried tofort her. ¡°Alright, I got it. I have a new n.¡± Elspeth took a deep breath while trying to hold her tears in. ¡°What n is it?¡± Callum suddenly had a bad feeling about it. ¡°I will teach you how to swim once we¡¯re back in Damoria.¡± Callum was bad at swimming because he had a fear of water. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t want to learn.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Elspeth asked puzzledly. ¡°I almost drowned when I was younger, and I feel scared whenever I get into the water.¡± ¡°Why did you almost drown?¡± Elspeth frowned, not expecting him to have experienced something like that. ¡°It was because of Arthur,¡± he uttered with his eyes shut. He still remembered that experience. When Arthur was a child, he liked to sit by theke. As the eldest brother, Callum would often go over to check on him. One day, one of Arthur¡¯s toys suddenly dropped into the water, so he asked Callum, ¡°Callum, could you please go and get it for me?¡± Although Callum couldn¡¯t swim, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to reject Arthur when he saw how much he was looking forward to it. Thus, he forced himself to do it. Before Callum got into the water, Arthur tied a rope to his body and said, ¡°Callum, don¡¯t be scared. I¡¯ll tie this rope around the tree so that you won¡¯t get lost in the water.¡± However, the rope broke when he entered the water, and he was washed away by the huge waves shortly after. After he was rescued by the nearby residents, he suffered from a fever. Ever since that incident, he never went into the water anymore. ¡°Why weren¡¯t you afraid when you were rescuing me?¡± Elspeth asked puzzledly. This is from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. When I jumped into theke, it never urred to me that I was afraid of water. Perhaps I was in a rush to save you.¡± Callum couldn¡¯t understand his behavior as well. ¡°It must be the power of love,¡± Elspeth said with a straight face. ¡°Stop it now, both of you. Can¡¯t you see that I¡¯m sitting here?¡± Eric frowned and chided them. Hearing that, Elspeth recalled that he was there to visit, and she decided to bring up the news she had just seen. ¡°By the way, did you see the trending news today?¡± ¡°Of course, I did. I wouldn¡¯t havee here and interrupted your date if I hadn¡¯t seen it.¡± Eric pursed his lips. ¡°How are you going to take care of it?¡± Elspeth asked as she sensed that he wasn¡¯t in a good mood. ¡°Naturally, I want to take the news down.¡± Hearing that, she looked over at Callum before ncing at Eric again. She said innocently, ¡°That was my exact thought, but Callum wants to lure out the person who posted the news and doesn¡¯t want it to be taken down.¡± ¡°Callum, if you drag this on, I¡¯ll be portrayed as a simp!¡± Eric was furious. Upon seeing his reaction, Callum nced at him and asked impassively, ¡°Aren¡¯t you a simp?¡± Aren¡¯t you a simp¡­ Aren¡¯t you¡­ Callum¡¯s words echoed in Eric¡¯s head, and he had had enough upon hearing that. ¡°Callum, don¡¯t think you can insult me just because you know something about me. I¡¯m not whom you think I am!¡± Meanwhile, Callum ignored him after giving him a half-hearted reply. ¡°What does he know? And what about being a simp?¡± Their conversation had aroused Elspeth¡¯s curiosity. ¡°Nothing. I¡¯ll say it again¡ªI¡¯m not a simp!¡± Eric raised his voice so much that it almost made Elspeth deaf. ¡°Fine, fine! You¡¯re not one.¡± Elspeth thought that he was a petty man, and she didn¡¯t know what both men were hiding from her. ¡°How are you guys going to take care of this, then? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re going to let them think that Elspeth is a two-timer. I refuse to get myself involved in such a narrative. It¡¯s detrimental to my reputation.¡± Hearing that, Elspeth looked at him before she joked, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. You don¡¯t have one.¡± ¡°There you go insulting me again.¡± Eric pursed his lips. ¡°I¡¯m nning to shut their mouths by announcing our engagement,¡± Callum suddenly said. Since an exnation might be taken as a cover-up, only a wedding engagement could shut their mouths. ¡°What did you just say?¡± Eric¡¯s jaw dropped upon hearing that. ¡°We n on getting engaged.¡± Chapter 254 Chapter 254 Although Eric was against it, he chose to keep quiet when he saw how calm Callum was, not to mention Elspeth was smiling at the mention of an engagement. ¡°Alright, since both of you have decided on the engagement, I have noments. My only request is for my name not to be associated with the both of you once the announcement is made.¡± He didn¡¯t want to be seen as a simp. ¡°Alright, don¡¯t worry about that. We won¡¯t let your reputation get tainted.¡± Just then, she suddenly thought of Emma and asked, ¡°Right, I¡¯ve been wanting to ask you this¡ªhas Emma been stirring up trouble recently?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bring this up. She¡¯s been calling and begging to see me these days. I couldn¡¯t take it anymore, so I changed my number. Right, I¡¯ll send you my new number.¡± The thought of it gave Eric a headache. Elspeth could understand why Emma was acting that way. If she lost Eric¡¯s backing, she would lose all of her trump cards. Thus, she wouldn¡¯t be that stupid to offend Eric. ¡°Do you like Emma a lot?¡± Hearing that, Eric scratched his head and replied sluggishly, ¡°I think so. You can say that we have been together for three years. Although she¡¯s my sugar baby, I do have feelings for her.¡± ¡°In that case, do you know what happened between her and Callum?¡± Since Eric was her friend, she hoped that he wouldn¡¯t get fooled by Emma even though they weren¡¯t particrly close. Eric saw thating and answered boldly, ¡°I¡¯m Oil Magnate¡¯s son. Do you think I didn¡¯t run a background check on her before we got together?¡± With that, he nced at Callum and said with a smile, ¡°I knew that she hadn¡¯t broken up with Callum when we first got together. However, I wasn¡¯t bothered by it. I always make sure that I get my hands on everything I like, after all.¡± Callum¡¯s gaze darkened slightly upon hearing that, but his emotions calmed down shortly after. How could he say that outright when Callum is standing next to him? Fearing that Callum would be triggered by the revtion and stab Eric in the chest with a fruit knife, Elspeth quickly changed the topic. ¡°Well, do you know what happened between her and Arthur?¡± Arthur¡­ A glint of hatred shed across his eyes at the mention of that name. ¡°Of course, I do,¡± Eric replied with a smile. ¡°You don¡¯t seem mad about it. Indeed, you are a generous person.¡± Generous? His smile froze. ¡°You have a great personality since you aren¡¯t mad about that. If it had been Callum¡­¡± Before she could continue, she felt Callum ring at her and immediately shut her mouth. She meant to say that if Callum had been in Eric¡¯s shoes, he would have killed and decapitated the man. ¡°Although I¡¯m her boyfriend, I dislike being betrayed. That doesn¡¯t mean I love her dearly, okay?¡± Elspeth was speechless after hearing that. ¡°If shees after me in the future, will you stand against me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll help you, but as ast resort, I hope that you will let her live.¡± ¡°Got it. Mr. Eric, you sure are a Casanova.¡± Elspeth chuckled. ¡°Nah, I¡¯m not even that wealthy. I¡¯m nothingpared to you.¡± Ericughed. Are you nothingpared to me when ites to wealth? She didn¡¯t believe him, for she had seen how wealthy he was. ¡°Alright, if there¡¯s nothing else, both of you can leave. I¡¯m going to sleep soon.¡± After chatting for a while, Elspeth yawned and asked them to go home. ¡°Have a good rest.¡± Callum stood up and tucked her in, and Eric left after that. Once both men were gone, her expression instantly changed. She immediately made a call to Lisa. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Elsie? Is there something I can help you with?¡± the woman asked. ¡°You¡¯re still at Damoria, right?¡± ¡°Yes, Elsie. Didn¡¯t you ask me to return to the mansion here? Lisa nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. The reason I asked you to go back was to help me out with something.¡± ¡°What is it? I¡¯ll do whatever you say.¡± Lisa seemed intrigued by it. There was a reason why Lisa was loyal to Elspeth. Three years ago, Lisa worked as a cashier in a convenience store since the Dawson Family¡¯s business couldn¡¯t be sustained. She worked as a staff in the store to earn a living. Fortunately, Elspeth spotted her talent and offered her a job. Since Lisa had a talent for hacking, Elspeth made Harper take her in as his apprentice. The training carried on until today and being able to work for Elspeth was the most important thing to Lisa. ¡°Please investigate if Matthew and Hex are up to anything recently.¡± Lisa was surprised to hear that since both men were Callum¡¯s best friends. Although Lisa had her suspicions, she epted the assignment without doubting Elspeth¡¯s decision. Elspeth continued staying at the hospital for the next few days. She felt ufortable staying there, so she begged Callum for ages before he finally agreed to let her return to the hotel and recuperate. ¡°I¡¯m a doctor too, so why won¡¯t you let me go home? I can no longer stand the horrible smell of disinfectant in the hospital.¡± After returning to the hotel, Elspeth frowned while rubbing her waist as she sat on the couch. Her body was sore after lying in the hospital for the past few days. ¡°I can see that you¡¯re trying to sneak out. What are you trying to do?¡± Callum was worried about her since he knew very well how willful she normally was. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go back and finish filming the drama.¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°No. The ident happened only recently, and Arthur might try to hurt you again.¡± Callum shook his head. ¡°But we¡¯ve dyed the filming for half a month, though. If we dy it any further, I¡¯m afraid we won¡¯t have time toplete the filming. Since Emma has returned on set, we can no longer put it off.¡± Both dramas would be aired at the same time, so there was apetition between them. Callum knew very well that Elspeth was apetitive person. Seeing how enthusiastic she was, he replied calmly, ¡°You¡¯ll have to agree to several conditions first.¡± ¡°What are they?¡± ¡°Firstly, you cannot do anything dangerous, such as falling into the water. You can¡¯t film scenes like that.¡± ¡°Fine, Fine.¡± She nodded profusely. ¡°Secondly, you are not allowed to get too close or talk to male celebrities except for work-rted matters.¡± Elspeth¡¯s mouth twitched upon hearing that. ¡°Is this about the time I shared a cookie with him?¡± This man is vindictive! Chapter 255 Chapter 255 ¡°Don¡¯t interrupt me. Thirdly, you must stay by my side at all times and stay within ten feet of me.¡± As soon as Callum spoke, Elspeth fell silent instantly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why aren¡¯t you saying anything? Do you have any objections to what I just said?¡± He furrowed his brows, his tone showing a hint of dissatisfaction. After shaking her head, she pointed to her stomach. ¡°What if I need to go to the washroom? Are you going to follow me there too?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wait outside. It shouldn¡¯t be a big deal.¡± When she heard his answer, she chuckled. ¡°Of course not, but your name will be topping the trending charts tomorrow. ¡®Callum Winthrop, the eldest son of the Winthrop Family, enjoys squatting outside the women¡¯s washroom. Is this the extinction of humanity or the decline of morality?¡¯¡± As she said that, she felt like it seemed a little impolite, so she shut her mouth after that. Meanwhile, she studied his expression since she was afraid that he would deliver a p to her face. ¡°Is there a problem with me waiting for my girlfriend outside the washroom?¡± he asked. Never mind, it¡¯s impossible to reason with this stubborn man. She wouldn¡¯t argue with him, for he had immersed himself in his theory. Anyhow, she didn¡¯t believe there would evere a day when he would wait outside the washroom for her. But soon, she realized that she was wrong. He would stick to her like glue on set, even when she went to the washroom. Even though Callum didn¡¯t think much of it, this strange scene quickly caught everyone else¡¯s attention, and it was no longer just a simple matter. Many young girls on set harbored romantic fantasies about him, and some of them had never been in a rtionship before. One day, two young girls went to the washroom together and saw him persistently guarding the door. Their hearts trembled greatly. ¡°Does he have some kind of fetish?¡± asked one of the girls, her voice shaky. At the thought of this, the other girl¡¯s heart shattered, and she looked at Callum in disbelief, saying, ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but I didn¡¯t know he¡¯s the type to¡­ Are all men so perverted when they¡¯re in love?¡± Callum never thought he would one day be described as perverted. Despite being frustrated, his gaze toward the two girls remained icy and bloodcurdling. The two girls hoped he could look at them for a longer time, but¡­ it shouldn¡¯t be at the entrance of the washroom! They started panicking and moved at a faster pace, but the moment they were about to step into the washroom, they retreated right away. The girls hurriedly left the scene while holding each other¡¯s hands, for they couldn¡¯t use the washroom in peace at the thought of someone waiting outside. Although this incident did not cause any serious consequences, it made Callum stop waiting at the washroom¡¯s entrance. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. For Elspeth, it was good news. Filming had finallye to a wrap, so the director organized a banquet, inviting all the actors to a hotel for a meal. As some put it, it was a farewell dinner but also a chance for the director to woo some celebrities and recruit potential actors and investors for a new production. Max attended the banquet as a friend. In actuality, it was the director¡¯s way of selling favors to Yelena and Elspeth. After all, Yelena¡¯s acting as well as Elspeth and Callum¡¯s wealth had caught his eye. Since it was just a casual dinner, they didn¡¯t have to dress very formally. After Yelena and Elspeth applied some light makeup and tidied themselves up a little on set, they took a chauffeured car to the hotel that Mr. Aiden told them about. At that moment, Elspeth realized what it meant when people said one could never escape their enemies. While looking at Emma¡¯s smiling face in front of her, she cursed the woman in secret. ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t this Elspeth? Is your crew having a farewell dinner here as well? What a coincidence!¡± Although Emma¡¯s words sounded courteous, Elspeth could hear provocation behind her words, especially with that ¡®oh¡¯. She didn¡¯t click her tongue, which was still tolerable. ¡°Right, let me take a look. Is your face better now, Miss Walker? I heard it was all swollen and scary- looking before, and it seems like there¡¯s still a mark¡­¡± Elspeth said, pretending to check Emma¡¯s face. When Emma heard there was a mark on her face, she started panicking. As someone who relied on her looks for her job, her face was her top priority. At this thought, she quickly took out a small mirror from her bag and made sure that her face was smooth and wless with no blemishes at all. Only then did she feel relieved. Elspeth found her reaction hrious, so she couldn¡¯t help but burst outughing. ¡°Alright, alright. Don¡¯t keep looking at yourself in the mirror here. After you go in and turn right, there will be a washroom. Take your time to look in the mirror there. Go on.¡± Just as Emma red fiercely at her, she saw Callum walking toward them, so she held back the harsh words that were about toe out of her mouth. ¡°I know you don¡¯t like me, Elspeth, but you don¡¯t need to speak to me in that tone. What you said was so hurtful. If the people around us heard it, they would probably think you were bullying me.¡± Emma¡¯s extraordinary acting skills shone through as she shed tears and made herself look pitiful. ¡°Who is bullying whom now? Why are you like this? You were the one who started it, you know. Do you want me to list all the disgusting things you¡¯ve done previously?¡± Indeed, no one could outdo those who weren¡¯t fearful; all this while, Yelena always had the mannerisms of a wealthy family¡¯s daughter and spoke her mind. Although her words were harsh, she was genuinely in the right. As Elspeth looked at the small but fierce fighter next to her, she couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°Callum, I know you like Elspeth, but you can¡¯t just let her bully people like this.¡± Emma didn¡¯t expect Callum to be on her side, but she just hoped he would be reasonable and speak up for justice after seeing so many people bully her. ¡°I was the one who asked her to bully you.¡± Even when Callum didn¡¯t know what kind of person Emma was, he wouldn¡¯t hesitate to side with Elspeth, not to mention that he was aware of Emma¡¯s wickedness. ¡°Did you hear that? Even your former sweetheart doesn¡¯t care about you, let alone Callum, who is already sick of you. You just like topete with Elspeth for everything. Don¡¯t you fear that you¡¯ll end up losing everything one day?¡± Yelena had been hanging around with Max for a long time, so she had also be a hot-tempered person. She was like a little chili pepper now, and people couldn¡¯t help but be attracted to her charm. Anyhow, Elspeth liked the woman¡¯s current personality. ¡°Alright, are we done yet, Miss Walker? Yelena is quite eloquent. If she says something that hurts your fragile heart, it won¡¯t be worth your while.¡± Elspeth looked at Emma¡¯s face, which had darkened with anger. For the first time, she felt extremely satisfied even without talking much. ¡°You!¡± Emma knew she couldn¡¯t win against so many people, so she had no choice but to temporarily hold back her tears and escape from the scene. However, thinking about Callum¡¯s indifference and Yelena¡¯s pushy behavior, resentment surged through her. I¡¯m going to tear Yelena¡¯s mouth apart one day! Chapter 256 Chapter 256 Without Emma kicking up a fuss, Elspeth and the others entered the banquet hall and found their seats. Mr. Aiden already had too much to drink, so his cheeks turned rosy, making him stand out even more. ¡°We¡¯ve finally finished filming for our drama, ¡®The Moment I Met You¡¯. Everyone, please enjoy yourselves and eat everything you want. After all, I¡¯ve seen how hard all of you have worked for this drama. Thank you, everyone!¡± Meanwhile, Max kept putting food on Yelena¡¯s te. ¡°Enough, Max. I don¡¯t want to eat that much. I¡¯ve told you so many times that I¡¯m on a diet. I can¡¯t finish everything,¡± sheined. ¡°Why are you on a diet? You¡¯re not even fat, so why are you trying to lose weight?¡± She replied dramatically, ¡°Are you saying that I¡¯m not fat? Max, are you out of your mind? Have you seen a celebrity who weighs more than 120 pounds?¡± Of course, he knew that she had gained some weight for the sake of this drama. Her little face had also be rounder, but he still found her skinny. Although she had a face that looked like a child¡¯s, she stood tall at almost 5¡¯5. As such, weighing 120 pounds was just right for her; she was even slightly underweight. ¡°So what? I don¡¯t mind,¡± Max muttered under his breath, but Yelena heard everything. ¡°What did you say? I heard everything. I knew it! You secretly like me and want to be with me, but you¡¯re too embarrassed to say it.¡± Hearing that, he rolled his eyes and hit her head yfully. ¡°Stop talking nonsense. Come on, have a few more bites.¡± Yelena stopped rejecting him and began eating without a care in the world. Max has already said he doesn¡¯t mind my little bit of weight, so why should I care so much? What even is a diet? I should stop thinking about that! When Elspeth saw them flirting with each other, she felt like an emotional father looking at his daughter who was about to get married. At the same time, Callum was busy putting food on her te as well. He even knew that she had germophobia, so he used the serving spoon to pick up the dishes. The moment she saw the mountain of food on her te, her speechlessness was no less than Yelena¡¯s. ¡°Callum, I don¡¯t like papaya¡­¡± No one knew what was up with Callum, but he took a huge ss of papaya milk for her, seeming as though he wanted to help her boost her bosoms. As his eyes scanned her chest area, he calmly said, ¡°You need a little boost.¡± What? Which part of me needs boosting? Although she was smiling on the outside, she was gritting her teeth so forcefully that she nearly broke them. Suddenly, she thought of a way to get back at him. She took a raw oyster and put it on his te right away. ¡°You should eat more of this too. As the saying goes, you are what you eat. You¡¯ll perform better in bed after eating this.¡± Hearing that from the side, the others were shocked and pricked up their ears at once. ¡°Am I not good enough now?¡± As Callum narrowed his eyes, he looked perilous. Elspeth knew she had said something that would provoke any man, but her anger was festering in her. ¡°How would I know? It¡¯s not like I¡¯ve experienced it before.¡± As soon as she said that, she became clear-minded instantly. Sh*t, why did I ask him such a stupid question? Instead of being enraged, Callum simply grinned. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s try it tonight. You¡¯ll know whether I¡¯m good in bed or not.¡± ¡°You¡¯re very good even without me trying, actually.¡± She nodded sincerely. ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth. Trust me, I¡¯ve always believed in you about this. There¡¯s no need to try such unnecessary things.¡± ¡°Alright, then.¡± He nodded in satisfaction. He wanted to tease her a little, so when he saw the hint of panic on her usually smiley face, he was quite happy about that. ¡°Okay, okay. After dinner, we¡¯ll each go back to our own homes and sleep in our own beds without disturbing each other.¡± She shrunk a little, distancing herself from him. As he arched his eyebrow, he said, ¡°You¡¯re afraid, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Why would I be¡­¡± How can I not be afraid? He looks so much stronger than me. If he does something to me, I won¡¯t be able to defend myself¡­ ¡°I feel a little dizzy. I¡¯m going to use the washroom.¡± She stood up after saying that. Although she was only feeling slightly dizzy from drinking too much, she wanted to avoid this topic by excusing herself to the washroom. Just then, Callum wanted to stand up as well. ¡°Do you need me to go with you?¡± With a fake smile, she replied, ¡°Nope. Do you want to be seen as a pervert again?¡± At the thought of the two girls¡¯ terrified looksst time, he felt ufortable all over. Do I really look like a pervert? After excusing herself from Callum, she went to the washroom alone. The lights at the entrance of the washroom were dim. She stood in front of the basin and held the water in her hands before sshing it on her face. After that, she felt much soberer. Before Elspeth could lift her head, two people suddenly came out from the cubicles. When she heard them mentioning Yelena, she didn¡¯t raise her head and took the chance to wash her face a little longer. ¡°Do you think Yelena will receive karma after pissing so many people off?¡± The young girl in a white dress had a beaming smile, but she looked incredibly mean. ¡°Well, it¡¯s her fault for using her beauty to take other people¡¯s resources away, isn¡¯t it? Many people want to scourge her because of that.¡± The other young girl in a ck dress looked enchanting but mediocre. These two people seemed vaguely familiar to Elspeth. They were probably just minor characters in ¡®Song of Viollenys¡¯. ¡°Personally, I think Yelena looks average. She¡¯s only relying on Elspeth. Without Elspeth, she¡¯s nothing.¡± Hearing that, Elspeth looked up and nced at the girl next to her through the mirror. She was a mere six out of ten, and she¡¯d look in if she was barefaced. There were plenty of people like her in the entertainment industry. For someone like her to say that Yelena looked average, there was probably something wrong with her. ¡°Exactly! As long as we find the right opportunity without Elspeth beside her, she can be taken care of within a few minutes.¡± ¡°Oh? Are you going to take care of her?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare. People are already lining up to teach her a lesson, and it¡¯ll be a long time before it¡¯s my turn.¡± The two of themughed, but when those words reached Elspeth¡¯s ears, it wasn¡¯t as simple as a joke. Her internal rm instantly went off, and after the two of them left, she quickly ran back to her table. Most people had already left by then, leaving only Callum and a few men who were still drinking. She asked anxiously, ¡°Callum, where¡¯s Yelena?¡± ¡°That little girl can¡¯t handle her liquor. She passed out after a few drinks, so Max and ke took her back to the hotel. What¡¯s wrong? Do you need her for something?¡± This was the first time Callum had heard her asking about Yelena in such a worried tone, and he felt uneasy for some reason. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, actually.¡± When she heard that the two men had taken Yelena back to the hotel, she finally rxed. In the end, Elspeth and Callum also returned to their hotel room and were about to rest when she suddenly received a call from an unknown number. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Perplexed, she answered the call, and on the other end was Max¡¯s urgent and desperate voice. ¡°Elspeth! ke and Yelena have been kidnapped!¡± Chapter 257 Chapter 257 Kidnapped? The word hadn¡¯t fully registered in her alcohol-fogged mind, but Elspeth was already grabbing her car keys and getting ready to rush out. However, Callum stopped her by grabbing her arm firmly. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Her voice was filled with anxiety as she answered, ¡°ke and Yelena have been kidnapped by a group of people. Max just called and told me about it, so I have to hurry up and find them. They might not be far away yet.¡± At once, his expression turned cold. This was no small matter since both ke and Yelena were very famous actors. Once it became known that the two of them had disappeared together, the consequences would be unimaginable. As such, he decided to go with her in search of them. Perhaps they could find some important clues. After all, two people were stronger than one. Elspeth didn¡¯t object as well, and she nodded in agreement before they drove to the location where Max had been abandoned. When they arrived, she saw Max sitting by the road, looking dejected as he mumbled to himself. ¡°Max!¡± She called out his name, pulling him back from wherever his mind had wandered. At the same time, when Max saw her and Callum rushing over, his eyes lit up. ¡°Elspeth, Callum! You¡¯re finally here!¡± After looking around, Elspeth asked, ¡°You said that they left you here and brought ke and Yelena with them, right?¡± ¡°Yes! I don¡¯t know why, though. Perhaps they¡¯re ke and Yelena¡¯s maniacal fans¡­¡± If they were maniacal fans, things would be even scarier. The frequent reports of maniacal fans in recent years were enough to make people tremble in fear. ¡°Okay. Which direction did they head off to?¡± Max pointed to the east. ¡°Over there, to the east. They drove a ck van. I even saw the license te, but based on their modus operandi, the license te is probably fake.¡± After a nod, Elspeth got into the car right away. ¡°Get in the car, you guys. We¡¯ll look for them together.¡± This immediately hyped Max up. Based on what he knew of her, Elspeth would go alone, so he didn¡¯t expect her to take him along. ¡°Don¡¯t get too excited. I¡¯m bringing you along because I think you¡¯re a good helper and can help identify the vehicle. Tsk, you look strong, but you can¡¯t even win a fight against one person.¡± Her remarks left him somewhat speechless. When Max saw Callum¡¯s indifferent face, he knew that Callum wasughing at him in secret as well. I¡¯m not weak. I¡¯m just bad at fighting! The three of them drove for a long time but still hadn¡¯t found where ke and Yelena were. Suddenly, Elspeth received a message on her phone. It was a message sent to her public phone number, not her personal one, indicating that the sender was not someone she knew well or someone close to her. As soon as she read the message, her heart wrenched. ¡®Elspeth, you¡¯re wee to visit Room 405, International Hotel to witness an amazing show.¡¯ Since it was an anonymous number, she couldn¡¯t find any personal information about the sender. However, the address was in Waterside. Immediately, she connected this number with tonight¡¯s event. ¡°Let¡¯s go. We need to hurry to International Hotel.¡± She floored the elerator, driving the car at more than 70 miles per hour. International Hotel was not far from where they were. On the way, Elspeth kept wishing to get there quickly, hoping that nothing had happened to Yelena and ke. However, when she arrived at the hotel, she found an endless stream of reporters rushing in, making the scene look spectacr as if there were some big event going on inside. While on tenterhooks, she quickly pushed through the crowd and rushed in. When she saw that almost everyone was going to the fourth floor, she hurried to Room 405 immediately. Meanwhile, Callum and Max were pushed aside by the crowd and lost track of Elspeth in an instant. The door to Room 405 was left open, and Yelena and ke were inside with their clothes lying on the ground. They were hugging each other in an amorous posture while their bodies were covered by a sheet, and it was clear what had happened. ke¡¯s face was slightly covered, so one could only vaguely see who he was and clearly wanted to save his reputation for him. On the other hand, Yelena was not so lucky. Not only was her facepletely exposed, but even her chest was slightly revealed. However, judging from the current situation, both of them were unconscious, so probably nothing had happened. Elspeth decisively kicked a reporter desperately taking pictures in front. She then shouted, ¡°Get them all out of here!¡± The next second, several men in ck appeared out of nowhere as if they had been notified in advance, and they kicked the reporters to the ground. When she saw that almost everyone had been kicked out of the room, she nodded and said, ¡°Bring me everyone¡¯s cameras. I¡¯ll delete the photos myself.¡± Hearing that, several reporters began toin, ¡°How can you do that? We took all the photos ourselves. Who are you to delete them? You¡¯re just taking advantage of your power to bully us commoners. How disgusting of you!¡± They wanted to publish the most shocking news to gain poprity, so no one wanted to give up their cameras. At this moment, Elspeth slowly walked to his side and reached out her hand. ¡°Give it to me.¡± ¡°This is my camera. Snatch it from me if you dare!¡± The person scoffed. ¡°I even dare to kick you, so what makes you think that I don¡¯t dare to snatch it?¡± Almost immediately, Elspeth reached out her hand and snatched his camera away, kicking him six feet away in the process. The only reason she couldn¡¯t kick him 30 feet away was that the ce was too small. She was so skilled at photography that she was able to delete the photos with just a few clicks. When she saw the lewd photos of beautiful women he had secretly taken, she furrowed her brows and deleted them with a click the moment his creepy look shed across her mind. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. The many on the ground and almost passed out from anger as he watched her delete the photos he had painstakingly taken. Seeing this, the others were afraid of getting beaten up as well, so they obediently lined up to have their photos deleted. ¡°Very well. You guys have made the right choice by listening to me.¡± Elspeth was very satisfied with their behavior. Even though there might be some who slipped through her, she had taken the greatest precautions she could. ¡°Okay, those who deleted their photos can leave now. By the way, don¡¯t even think about restoring them. I run the entire repair industry in Waterside. If I find out that any of you have secretly restored them or posted the undeleted photos online, I will definitely visit you.¡± I¡¯ll never go easy on anyone. Although she didn¡¯t say thest sentence, her words were already engraved in their minds. Only when the reporters around her all nodded in unison did she let them go. After the reporters left, Elspeth looked at the men in ck around her and knitted her brows, asking, ¡°What¡¯s up with you all? Why are you guys suddenly following me?¡± She had sensed their presence with her sensor ring earlier, so she sought their help. ¡°Mr. Payne ordered us to follow you around the clock, Miss Lynwood,¡± they reported. Chapter 258 Chapter 258 Follow me around the clock¡­ The corners of Elspeth¡¯s mouth twitched slightly; the memory of Callum¡¯s unyielding vignce at the bathroom door flooded back to her. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Go back. Why follow his orders?¡± ¡°Because Mr. Edmund is the one who pays us,¡± one of them replied. His words took Elspeth by surprise. She knew they were trying to keep her safe by following her, so she couldn¡¯t get mad at them. ¡°I¡¯ll pay you triple. Just don¡¯t follow me, alright?¡± ¡°We really can¡¯t do that. We can¡¯t disobey Mr. Edmund¡¯smands. Just let us keep youpany.¡± The ck-d figures were clearly torn. ¡°Okay, okay.¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes. ¡°If you insist. But do me a favor, alright? Don¡¯t get in my face unless necessary. Got it?¡± The two breathed a collective sigh of relief, nodding in unison. ¡°Understood. We know what we¡¯re doing. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Then why won¡¯t you listen to me and go back? She became a little annoyed. ¡°Alright! Go on! My friend is arriving soon. Just remember, don¡¯t blow your cover.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We won¡¯t be foolish enough to expose ourselves to your boyfriend!¡± Boyfriend¡­ Just how much do you know about me? She rolled their eyes in response. ¡°Suit yourself.¡± ¡°Oh, and Mr. Edmund knows about your rtionship. He¡¯s worried that you might encounter some trouble, so he decided toe back from abroad early.¡± The information was leaked explicitly to her to threaten her into obedience, though Edmund wasn¡¯t sure what kind of pressure that was supposed to be. Elspeth¡¯s face paled. ¡°Noted.¡± She knew he was going to give her a hard time again. As soon as the companions sensed her distress, they quickly vanished into the shadows. A momentter, she spotted Callum and Max rushing over from another direction, looking anxious. When they saw Elspeth unharmed, they breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Elspeth, where did you go just now?¡± Max asked worriedly. Elspeth pointed to a nearby room. ¡°I was in this room with ke and Yelena.¡± Max¡¯s heart sank. ¡°This¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. They¡¯ve only been in there for a little while. They were probably drugged and left here.¡± Elspeth offered a reassuring smile, which relieved Max. ¡°But you¡¯ve seen all those reporters around too. I stopped a few of them and deleted the pictures from their cameras. However, that doesn¡¯t mean we¡¯re safe because many of them got away.¡± Hearing herment, Max furrowed his brows. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll find them now. I¡¯ll make sure to delete all of the pictures.¡± ¡°It¡¯s useless. There are so many news outlets out there. Even if you get to each and every one of them, the news would already be uploaded,¡± Callum exined, after which she gently nodded. ¡°But what do we do? We can¡¯t let people misunderstand the situation between the two of them, can we?¡± Max¡¯s concerns were not unfounded, as it wasn¡¯t just a rumor but tant infidelity; no matter how they exined it, it would have already left an impression. Yelena was no ordinary celebrity, with attention naturally drawn to her like a moth to a me. Her romantic affairs were always under scrutiny, even more so when she was caught sleeping with the male lead of her uing film. Who would doubt that the two of them were set up? Adding to the drama was Yelena¡¯s prior announcement of her fondness for Max. If she were misunderstood as a two-timer, bystanders would quickly turn their backs, fans would abandon her, and Max¡¯s supporters would cause a scene. Yelena¡¯s career in the entertainment industry would be finished! Everything that happened was no mere attempt to stir up publicity but an apparent attempt to destroy Yelena. Elspeth¡¯s heart raced even faster, but she took a deep breath. ¡°Let¡¯s not worry about this for now. I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Regardless, Yelena¡¯s reputation for sleeping around was thoroughly established. They would have to find a way to remedy the situation. ¡°Alright, then. Let¡¯s go in and take a look at them,¡± dered Max, clenching his fists. Although his mood was sour, he hadn¡¯t forgotten about Yelena¡¯s state. However, Elspeth coughed dryly to get her attention. ¡°Yelena¡¯s clothes¡­ Ahem, it isn¡¯t quite appropriate for you to enter now. I think I should go in and help her change first.¡± Callum narrowed his eyes. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, does that mean ke is also in disarray?¡± He didn¡¯t want his woman to see another man¡¯s body. Besides, it was ke, a weakling who spent most of his time in the entertainment industry without much exercise! Elspeth rolled her eyes. ¡°It isn¡¯t appropriate if you find a male at this time just to protect her reputation, right?¡± ¡°We can find a female servant.¡± Elspeth immediately showed an exaggerated expression. ¡°A female servant? Are you afraid that not enough people are aware of this?¡± This is from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Fine. just this once.¡± Even if Callum was ufortable, he had to endure it; after all, it would be more difficult to deal with the situation if they woke up anyter. Elspeth was quite strong; after entering, she put on Yelena¡¯s skirt on her with just a few simple movements, carried her out, and swiftly transferred her to another room. On the other hand, she only identally briefly nced at ke after she took Yelena out of the room. Honestly speaking, he¡¯s really nothing more than a decoration with no practical use, pleasing to the eyes, but useless. Coughs! I mean¡­ Yelena slumbered till 8.00AM before waking up, while ke was up and about bright and early. Looking at the three people before him, a hint of ambiguity crossed ke¡¯s face. As he lowered his head and found that he wasn¡¯t even dressed, he instantly felt a mix of embarrassment and helplessness. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?!¡± ke eximed. Elspeth was the first to speak. ¡°Like finally, ke. Tell us what happenedst night. Come on!¡± Her anxiety was genuine. After a night of contemtion, the more she thought about it, the more bizarre it seemed. In fact, she even had a hunch about who was the mastermind. ¡°Last night¡­¡± ke recalled, suddenly realizing. ¡°Last night, I took Max and Yelena back to the hotel. But on the way, we encountered someone unconscious by the side of the road. We thought we¡¯d go down and help, but we never imagined that as soon as we got out of the car, Yelena would be taken away. Then, at the intersection, three or four people took me too, leaving only Max. Afterward, we were knocked out. And then¡­ That¡¯s all there is to it.¡± ke rubbed his neck. Bro! Why do I feel so sore? ¡°So, those people were precisely on target with their capture, urately guessing that Yelena and ke were in the same car. ke thought about it and couldn¡¯t help but agree. ¡°It seems that¡¯s how it is.¡± ¡°Well then, there¡¯s no need to investigate further. I know who¡¯s behind this.¡± Who else could it be? Only Emma Walker from the banquet has the power to act so quickly! Chapter 259 Chapter 259 The anger in Elspeth¡¯s turned to a burst of disbelievingughter. As she was just about to give an impassioned speech, a soft chime, like the awakening of a dream, rang from her phone. Yelena, in the next room, seemed to have woken up. Elspeth looked at the people around her; everyone knew that Yelena was awake. Soon, they marched over to the next room. Looking at the four people standing in front of her, Yelena, who had just woken up, immediately screamed and covered her eyes. This is from N?velDrama.Org. Ah¡ª Elspeth was speechless. ¡°What are you screaming about?¡± ¡°I just woke up, and I haven¡¯t put on my makeup yet! My bare face is seen. I don¡¯t want to live!¡± As a celebrity, especially a popr one, how could she let others see her bare face? Elspeth had nothing more to say. ¡°But we¡¯ve seen your bare face before. What are you nervous about?¡± Yelena was so triggered that she was about to explode. ¡°But Max has never seen it. If he sees it, he might call me an ugly beast again!¡± The painful experience from a few years ago was still haunting her. She used to constantly meet Max with her bare face in private while she was an emerging young talent. Max mockingly asked when he saw her, ¡°You¡¯re simply an ugly beast, and you still want to pursue me?¡± It was ament that had left a shadow in her heart. Elspeth chuckled. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you still worried that Max will dislike you for being ugly? Stop kidding. Of all these people, besides Max, weren¡¯t we all here when you put on your makeup? We didn¡¯t even say anything, so who gave Max the right to judge you?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t even say anything.¡± Max looked at her being silly, helplessly rolling his eyes. Only then did Yelena¡¯s dejected attitude eventually subside. ¡°Okay, okay. Tell me quickly. What did you losest night?¡± After asking, Elspeth finally realized that she was a fool. Yelena was so drunkst night that she couldn¡¯t remember anything, so Elspeth had no choice but to dismiss the thought. ¡°By the way, something might happen to you guys today,¡± Elspeth cautiously said. Yelena and ke spoke in unison, asking, ¡°What?¡± ¡°You two were stripped and left in the roomst night, and photos were taken by a reporter. It might hit the news headlines today.¡± Bad news travels fast, doesn¡¯t it? Elspeth touched her nose. ¡°This matter might be a bit embarrassing, but both of you have to hold it together.¡± After hearing this, Yelena burst into tears. She had held on for so long and was finally on the brink of a breakthrough, but this event was likely to knock her back to square one. What would Max think of me? He would surely think I am dirty and unkempt, and he would despise me. Sobs¡ª Yelena was crying so tragically that even Elspeth thought that she was bullying her. ¡°Okay, stop crying. It¡¯s getting a little annoying.¡± Max¡¯s tone was not impatient, but with just one sentence, he frightened Yelena again. ¡°Now everyone is getting annoyed with me. I know that men are all mean. I was wrong about you!¡± Yelena hummed and turned her head away, ignoring him. Elspeth looked at the childish tantrum and couldn¡¯t help but smile. As she turned, she noticed that Callum and ke were also secretly smiling. Indeed, she has the heart of a child. ¡°Wait, I cried for the wrong person. Elspeth, what should I do now? How can I be rehydrated?¡± With this statement, Elspeth instantly became serious when she thought of how emotional Yelena was. Elspeth announced, ¡°Although this matter may have a certain impact on you, it will not have a profound effect on your future. So, just face it with confidence, and don¡¯t dwell on the past. I¡¯ll figure it out for you.¡± Yelena wiped her tears and nodded, feeling a little relieved. ¡°Really? How?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll soon know.¡± The morning news was quickly dominated by a breaking headline: ¡®Elena and ke Had a Sexy Night Out. What About Max¡¯s Status as a Boyfriend?¡¯ The apanying picture was blurry, likely due to Elspeth¡¯s meddling. Some reporters had already deleted the pictures, so no matter how hard the others tried, their pictures were all unclear. This was actually advantageous for her future ns. However, thements section was a bleakndscape. Yelena¡¯s fans were trying their best to defend her, but their numbers were few, and many fans were expressing their shock and announcing their decision to unfollow her. On the other hand, ke¡¯s fans were equally disappointed, with many eximing that his persona had fallen, wondering how ke could be willing to be a homewrecker. But soon, thements were filled with usations of Yelena leading ke astray or drugging him. At the end of the day, the insults flowed onto Yelena¡¯s social media page. Just as she thought, the whole incident was aimed at Yelena. In an outburst of anger, Yelena proimed, ¡°What nonsense! How could I possibly be so frivolous? I¡¯m such an innocent person. How could I be two-timing? The person who framed me is really f*cking sickening!¡± Listening to the barrage of foulnguageing from Yelena¡¯s mouth, Elspeth was momentarily at a loss for words. Is this really the Yelena that I know? Where has the initially naive, cute, lively, and simple youngdy gone? Even now, she was trembling slightly. Max immediately questioned, ¡°Yelena, what kind of bullsh*t is that?¡± Elspeth understood instantly and knew who taught her how to swear. Then, she wrote an article, and when she was ready to publish it, Callum looked at her with piercing insight. ¡°I think I know what¡¯s going on.¡± ¡°The old switcheroo. You want Max to rece ke.¡± Elspeth was surprised. ¡°How did you figure that out?¡± Callum chuckled. ¡°You¡¯ve been staring at ke and Max for half an hour. If I didn¡¯t know your heart belongs to me, I¡¯d think you had a roving eye.¡± Elspeth frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t have a roving eye. Was it that obvious that I was looking at them?¡± ke nodded, his senses heightened as a result of the constant sh of cameras he faced long-term. ¡°It¡¯s pretty obvious. I noticed too. I thought you were nning to silence me to protect Yelena.¡± Elspeth replied with a smirk, ¡°I¡¯m not quite ready to kill someone yet, but I do have something I want to talk to you about.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°I want everyone to believe that Max is the one they¡¯re looking for. This way, I can establish their love identity and restore Yelena¡¯s reputation while also providing an exnation for the fans.¡± Max whispered, ¡°What about my reputation?¡± Yelena, on the other hand, was unfazed. The public announcement might tarnish her once naive and sweet image, but she no longer cared. She was tired of being known as just a maiden. She wanted to do what she wanted. If it weren¡¯t for her age, she would¡¯ve gotten a marriage certificate already! Chapter 260 Chapter 260 The paparazzi picture incident certainly didn¡¯t cause anyone dissatisfaction since it was the wisest course of action under the circumstances. Elspeth cast a sidelong nce at Yelena. ¡°If there are no objections, I¡¯ve drafted an article for you. You can publish it as is. And you too, ke. I know you¡¯re innocent too, so you should roughly know what to say.¡± Max frowned. ¡°What about me? Is there anything I can do?¡± ¡°Nothing, just sit tight in the hotel and don¡¯t let anyone threaten you,¡± Elspeth replied, sizing up Max¡¯s physique with some dissatisfaction. ke could be excused forcking some skills since he had spent most of his time in the entertainment industry, but Max was a different story; he couldn¡¯t even hold onto Yelena. Max gritted his teeth in frustration, knowing what she meant. Meanwhile, Yelena had already published the article online, causing a tempest in a teapot. However, it wasn¡¯t directed at her but at the situation. The sudden switch from ke to Max caught many people off guard. ke¡¯s fans breathed a sigh of relief, and even the more polite ones leftments apologizing for Yelena¡¯s post. Some of her fans still felt that the cute and innocent Yelena wouldn¡¯t have slept with a man so easily, but most were reasonable. She had all the right to sleep with her boyfriend now that she was an adult. In any case, it appeared that the situation wasn¡¯t as terrible as they initially believed. Most of the criticisms were directed at the people instigating the online harassment, and once they realized they had been targeting the wrong person, the storm died down a bit. But suddenly, in the next second, a much more explosive news story surpassed the poprity of the article and took the top spot. The article was written by Max himself and was posted on the official ount of the Winthrop Group. ¡°Yelena is my fianc¨¦e. Due to her busy filming schedule, we will have the engagement banquetter. After we reach the right age, we will have our wedding. Besides, Yelena and I did not have a substantive rtionship. If anyone doesn¡¯t believe it, she can show you the medical report.¡± This statement proved two things: First, the two were a legitimate engaged couple, and Yelena did not engage in premarital intercourse. Second, Yelena was still a virgin, and the two only slept together without having intercourse. Either way, either point could silence the rumors. In a sh, thement section exploded. User A: ¡®I knew Max and Yelena weren¡¯t like that!¡¯ User B: ¡®I don¡¯t know too well. Have they always been this close?¡¯ All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. User C: ¡®He¡¯s the man that Yelena pursued and got. Damn. They got engaged so quickly. This is so thrilling, isn¡¯t it?¡¯ User D: ¡®This is just my two cents, but I think people who pry into other people¡¯s privacy must have some brain issues.¡¯ Others joined in on the criticism, but this time, the target of the insults switched to the person who leaked the news. Even worse, some have revealed that the news was leaked by the Walkers. Fangirl of Yelena: ¡®This is definitely Emma Walker¡¯s doing. The two shows wrap up at the same time and are probably going to be released on the same day. If it were you, wouldn¡¯t you stab your I don¡¯t give a hoot: ¡®I think you¡¯re right. Even if Emma isn¡¯t behind this, it¡¯s still fishy. It¡¯s the dirty side of money. Real sickening.¡¯ I swear to marry Yelena: ¡®Bullcrap. They f*ck with Yelena every day. If I had the money, I¡¯d definitely wipe out the Walkers!¡¯ Ya Ya: ¡®Hey, dude! Just how drunk were you to name yourself that? Geez!¡¯ I swear to marry Yelena: ¡®banned for three days for using profanity¡¯. Oh well, now there was no need to change the id. The inte was full of twists and turns, and everyone offline was equally surprised. Elspeth turned to look at Max with shock written all over her face. Even Callum raised an eyebrow with some unease. Yelena, on the other hand, had the biggest reaction, her eyes widening in disbelief. ¡°Max, d-did you write this?¡± Max was a bit disdainful of her thought process. ¡°I didn¡¯t write it¡ª¡± Yelena hung her head in disappointment. But the next second, Max continued, ¡°I asked my dad to publish it.¡± ¡°So, you want to marry me now? Weren¡¯t you the one who didn¡¯t want to be with me before?¡± Max only cleared his throat as he looked at Yelena and blinked her eyes, looking both curious and happy. After all, his words and actions were contradictory, so he was embarrassed. ¡°I¡¯m just afraid you won¡¯t be able to get out of this trap this time, so this is the most effective and quickest idea¡­¡± However, he had already had such thoughts for a very long time. Max would never say that out loud, though, because once she knew about it, she would probably be gloating for days on end. Although Yelena wasn¡¯t entirely satisfied with his answer, she knew that Max cared about her, and she felt much better instantly. ¡°Max, even though I know you were too shy to admit that you liked me before, I will continue to persist and like you. Don¡¯t worry. From today on, I will take on the title of your fianc¨¦e¡ª¡± Before she could even finish her sentence, Max swiftly reached over and covered her mouth, preventing her from spewing any more shameless nonsense. ¡°Max, Max! Let me go. You¡¯re going to suffocate me!¡± Elspeth exchanged a knowing smile with Callum, understanding each other without speaking a word. ¡°Alright, you two. Stop fooling around. Let¡¯s hurry back to Damoria before anything else happens. If we stay here any longer, who knows what kind of trouble we might encounter.¡± Elspeth¡¯s sense of impending danger was strong, having been through so much. So, she proposed they head back home as she felt that Waterside wasn¡¯t a ce they should linger long at. Even Yelena, who loved to y around, readily agreed with her proposal as she was bored with the ce. The others had no objections either. They all boarded Callum¡¯s private ne and flew back to Damoria that night. It wasn¡¯t the case for Eric, who imed to have some business in Waterside. He stayed back but promised to return on the day of Callum and Elspeth¡¯s engagement. After they arrived back in Damoria, Yelena, and ke went straight to thepany. With one project after another, they only had a little free time. Max returned to school, where he was busy with a racing competition. With an easiermute as an excuse, Elspeth stayed at Callum¡¯s property, conveniently located near Winthrop Group. In reality, it was to fulfill Callum¡¯s desire to meet her as much as possible. Elspeth didn¡¯t mind, though. It was Callum¡¯s own property anyways, so he could do whatever he pleased as long as he remembered to pay the utility bills. On a beautiful day, Elspeth decided to pay Yelena a visit because posting messages online was not enough. The most important thing was to hurry up and hold the engagement banquet. Chapter 261 Chapter 261 When Yelena heard that Elspeth was in town, she headed straight to the lounge and found her perched on the couch sipping coffee; she lunged towards her and gave her a big hug. ¡°Elspeth, Elspeth! Today, Timothy offered me another role, and this time it¡¯s not the dumb and sweet leadingdy. It¡¯s a bad*ss, cool second female lead. I looked at the script, and the character is so likable. I really love it!¡± Elspeth smiled. ¡°That¡¯s great, but that¡¯s not why I asked you toe over.¡± ¡°Then, what is it?¡± Yelena had been cooped up in the office these days, not knowing what was going on with Elspeth. ¡°Do you remember the framing incident fromst time?¡± Indeed, she would not be able to forget that, so she nodded vigorously. ¡°Of course, I remember. Wasn¡¯t it resolved already? Wait, don¡¯t tell me Emma Walker, that two-faced, is causing trouble again?¡± Elspeth shook her head. ¡°No, it¡¯s that you promised the people something with Max. You should follow through with it.¡± What did I promise? Her mind immediately caught on. ¡°OMG! You¡¯re not talking about us getting engaged, are you?¡± ¡°Yes, when are you guys nning to get engaged?¡± All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Elspeth¡¯s words stirred up a storm in Yelena¡¯s mind. The engagement wasn¡¯t something that she had put much thought into, as she always felt that Max was just joking around. Plus, if they were really going to get engaged, Max should be the one toe to her. If he didn¡¯t make a move, she wouldn¡¯t have the audacity to shamelessly go up to him! ¡°Alright, you know that Max is not expressive. Have you forgotten how he was? Even if he truly likes you, he will not have the audacity to bring up the engagement himself.¡± Now, that kind of makes sense. Upon hearing this, Yelena felt her expression soften. ¡°Is that so? Then how do I get him to propose?¡± ¡°I have a n,¡± Elspeth replied with a lightugh. Then, Yelena leaned in, listening to her n, and a smile crept onto her lips. ¡°But won¡¯t that be shameless?¡± In response, Elspeth rolled her eyes. ¡°We can all see that he likes you. We¡¯re just allowing him to express himself. How is that being shameless?¡± Yelena usually listened to Elspeth¡¯s advice, so her concerns were quickly brushed off as well. The two wereughing and joking when suddenly, Timothy burst through the door with a grave expression. ¡°Bad news.¡± ¡°What?¡± Yelena asked, taken aback. ¡°The director changed his mind about the role he promised you this afternoon. He said he¡¯s giving it to Emma instead.¡± Emma Walker again! Elspeth¡¯s eyes shed with a hint of iciness. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Let¡¯s call the director first and find out what¡¯s going on.¡± So, Timothy gave Elspeth the director¡¯s number immediately, and without hesitation, she made the call. The director seemed to be enjoying thepany of beautiful women on either side of him, but Elspeth¡¯s status was too unique to be ignored. He reluctantly answered the phone. ¡°Hello, Miss Lynwood. Is there something you need?¡± ¡°Just wanted to ask why the female lead role you promised Yelena isn¡¯t avable anymore all of a sudden.¡± When Elspeth brought up the subject casually, the director giggled awkwardly while simultaneously disying a tinge of apathy. ¡°It¡¯s just a role. We chose the person who¡¯s most suitable for the role. If we find someone better, of course, we¡¯ll consider recing the previous choice. Besides, we haven¡¯t started filming yet, and there¡¯s no contract signed, so it¡¯s not a breach of contract.¡± Since the decision was made verbally, it is permissible for the director to go back to his own words. Besides, his mouth began to water when he recalled the soft curves of Emma¡¯s body fromst night. Emma had said that if he helped suppress Yelena, she would sleep with him just once! How could he resist the allure of a starlet like her? ¡°Promises are meant to be kept, so it¡¯s downright heartless of you to go back on your word.¡± Elspeth initially hoped to persuade him through reasoning, but she quickly abandoned this idea after realizing he was not reasonable. ¡°Fine. Since you have your own ideas, we won¡¯t bother you anymore. Let¡¯s hope that you won¡¯t regret it in the future,¡± Elspeth said, then hung up the phone. On the other end, the director yelled with a spat, ¡°That b*tch dared to disrespect me. I¡¯ll be dumb if I let her take part in this film!¡± Yelena hung her head, feeling despondent. ¡°I really liked the script. To be honest, I didn¡¯t expect my role to be gone just like this.¡± Her disappointment was genuine. This drama was perfect for her to transition into a new role. If she seeded, she would be spared from many unnecessary criticisms. But it was all for naught¡­ ¡°Do you really want to star in this series?¡± Elspeth felt a little uneasy, too, when she looked at Yelena. ¡°Yes. But if I can¡¯t, it¡¯s okay too. We can always find something better to film, right?¡± Yelena didn¡¯t want to cause any trouble for Elspeth. Even if she had a n, Yelena wouldn¡¯t pursue it; she wouldn¡¯t forgive himself if Elspeth had to beg the arrogant director on her behalf. Yelena attempted tofort herself, but Elspeth paid no attention. ¡°If you really want to join, I have a way.¡± She smiled mysteriously. Yelena was ecstatic upon hearing this. ¡°Really? Can I still be in this drama?¡± ¡°Yeah. If we can¡¯t do it the soft way, we¡¯ll do it the hard way.¡± Yelena couldn¡¯t help but worry. ¡°You¡¯re not going to beat him up, are you? That¡¯s not a good idea. Even if you won, it¡¯s not worth the risk of future retaliation.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t do anything foolish.¡± I¡¯m lying. She had a brilliant idea brewing in her mind long ago. When Yelena noticed the glimmer in Elspeth¡¯s eyes, instead of feeling relieved, she became more concerned. Elspeth had been cautious all this time. She wouldn¡¯t go over the line, right? Elspeth continued to talk to Yelena for a short while, but she was clearly absent-minded throughout the conversation. Then, she left, telling Timothy not to ept any acting jobs for Yelena for the time being; she could do variety shows and advertisements, but no more dramas. Timothy was puzzled. Yelena¡¯s career was on the rise, and not taking acting jobs would hurt her status. Elspeth should not make such a mistake, right? But, because Elspeth had given the order and he couldn¡¯t go against it, all he could do was nod in agreement. Yelena was kept in the dark about what Elspeth did. Elspeth left thepany before calling Lisa. ¡°Hey, bring some men out tonight with you. We¡¯re getting down to business,¡± she said with a sly smile on her face. Just wait and see. Chapter 262 Chapter 262 With lightning speed, Lisa emerged and addressed Elspeth as ¡®Miss Lynwood¡¯ when she saw her. Elspeth waved her hand dismissively. ¡°Alright. You¡¯re already Harper¡¯s disciple, so there¡¯s no need to say those anymore. Let¡¯s just stick to the rules for now. Elspeth will do it.¡± Lisa nodded in agreement, not questioning themand as it was her duty to obey. Elspeth flexed her wrist and pulled out a veil to cover her face, after which she led her men to the intersection andy in wait for their target. It was a route the director frequently passed by. ording to their research, he would buy roasted chicken here every night and carry it home with a bottle of alcohol. To be honest, it was the first time Elspeth held a bold operation. As the target walked toward her, she flicked her left wrist, and her two ck-d men flew out like swords. Soon enough, the director was bound and tossed into a narrow alleyway. Being in such a situation that was new to him, he was terrified. Due to the fear of losing his life, he was crying for mercy before anyone touched him. ¡°I beg you. Please don¡¯t kill me. I can give you money, no matter how much you want, as long as you don¡¯t kill me¡­¡± She calmly approached and red at the obese man on the ground. She frowned as she kicked his chubby body. ¡°I don¡¯t want your life or your money. There¡¯s only one thing I want.¡± The director¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Really? I¡¯ll give you whatever you want!¡± ¡°I want a spot in your next movie.¡± With these words, the director finally understood whom he was dealing with. In the next second, he red at her fiercely. ¡°I thought it was one of my enemies who found me, but I never expected it to be you, Elspeth. I admit you¡¯re wealthy, but what use is money alone? I am well-connected, both in the underworld and in legitimate businesses. If youy a hand on me, I won¡¯t spare you!¡± Well-connected to both the underworld and the legitimate businesses¡­ With a mischievous smile, Elspeth quipped, ¡°Come on. Tell me. Can your connections help you block this?¡± And with that, she pped the director with such force that it nearly knocked his neck crooked. ¡°Ah¡­¡± the director squealed like a pig. Looking at Elspeth¡¯s face through her veil, he could see those eyes that were as clear as water yet chilling as ice. She was a formidable beauty indeed. The director¡¯s sweat dripped down his neck, emanating a greasy odor. ¡°Are you not giving in yet? Huh?¡± ¡°What kind of talent does it take for you and your whole crew to gang up on me?¡± he retorted, his neck stiff with defiance. ¡°I¡¯ll get someone too. Why should you be the only one who gets to call the shots?¡± Elspethughed and pped her hands, slow and rhythmic. ¡°Fine, call someone. I want to see whom you¡¯ll bring today.¡± With a nce at Lisa, she made a subtle gesture andmanded nonchntly, ¡°Untie him and give him his phone back.¡± At these words, the director finally realized that his belongings had been stolen by Elspeth¡¯s aplices without him noticing. How fast were these people? The director couldn¡¯t even imagine. He wiped his sweat, and when he noticed Lisa leaning over, he discreetly scattered something onto her nose tip. Before Lisa could even see what it was, it disappeared. She thought nothing of it, assuming it was poison and popping an antidote pill. With his trembling hands, he dialed a number. ¡°Jaxon? Yes, it¡¯s me. Can youe over now? I¡¯m in a bit of trouble; if I can¡¯t solve it, I might not make it out alive. Yes, I¡¯ll pay whatever you want, and remember to bring your best men too¡­¡± The director groveled and begged, using every ounce of ttery he could muster. Jaxon¡­ Why does that name sound so familiar? Elspeth searched her memory and suddenly realized something, a sly smile ying at the corner of her lips. After hanging up, the director felt his confidence surge. But time ticked by, and still, no one arrived. ¡°Are we done here?¡± Elspeth grew increasingly impatient. She had onlye to secure a spot, and if he weren¡¯t willing, she¡¯d have to resort to more extreme measures. The director was starting to get anxious, his growing unease expanding like a balloon. ¡°Maybe there¡¯s traffic on the road. Just give him a little more time, and he¡¯ll show up.¡± ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll wait one more minute. If he doesn¡¯te by then, I¡¯ll just have to off you,¡± Elspeth threatened. Of course, Elspeth had no intention of actually killing him. Her words were just meant to intimidate him, but they had the desired effect. The director, a middle-aged man, was so frightened that he actually wet himself. Disgusting. Elspeth furrowed her brow and took a few steps back. Just as her patience wore thin, a cloud of dust appeared in the distance, and the director, who had lost all light in his eyes, suddenly perked up. ¡°He¡¯s here!¡± Elspeth wasn¡¯t all that surprised. Instead, she crossed her arms and waited for the group of people to approach. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. The leader was a skinny teenager with cropped hair and a sharp, almost predatory gaze, like a cheetah waiting to pounce. He nced at Elspeth and seemed momentarily surprised before turning his attention to the director. ¡°You called me for this?¡± The teenager sounded so annoyed like the director had caused him a great deal of trouble. The director, taken aback, quickly exined, ¡°This woman is threatening me. She doesn¡¯t know that I¡¯m under your protection. Can you help me teach her a lesson?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Jaxon furrowed his brow and seemed hesitant to help him immediately. The director writhed on the ground, especially agitated. ¡°Jaxon, don¡¯t worry; I¡¯ll give it to you even if it¡¯s three million, so just name your price. Just help me teach this woman a lesson, and I¡¯ll pay you tonight!¡± Jaxon cleared his ears and grinned menacingly. ¡°You honestly don¡¯t know your own limits¡­¡± ¡°Yes, yes, that¡¯s right! She doesn¡¯t know her limits!¡± The director looked at him with a gradually growing intent of malice in his eyes, his heart blooming with joy. Yes, that¡¯s it. Give her a p and make her realize who¡¯s in charge! But before he could finish his thoughts, Jaxon turned around and kicked him hard in the leg. ¡°Ah! Jaxon, what are you doing?¡± The director was caught off guard; he never expected that the person he had called in to help him deal with Elspeth would not only not assist him but also kick him! However, none of the people present were surprised, not even Elspeth or Lisa, who just watched silently. ¡°Jaxon, did you hit the wrong person? It¡¯s not me¡­¡± Jaxon kicked him again, harder this time. The director was in so much pain that he couldn¡¯t even speak. His bones were probably broken. ¡°No, I¡¯m doing it right.¡± Jaxon squatted down, gripping the director¡¯s chin tightly. ¡°Do you know who made me move against you?¡± The director didn¡¯t know; he could only cry out in pain. ¡°It was the founder of the Evil Wind Sect, the Great Elspeth! I¡¯m not dumb enough to risk my life for you.¡± The Evil Wind Sect¡­ The notorious assassin group? The director¡¯s legs went weak, and he almost fainted. Chapter 263 Chapter 263 The director might not know about the others, but he would surely know about the Evil Wind Sect as it was a terror-stricken existence! As long the Evil Wind Sect were to hunt someone down, the person, no matter their identity, would be killed. At that moment, the director didn¡¯t know what to say. All he knew was that he had messed with the wrong person, and he couldn¡¯t me anyone but himself! If I faint at this moment, will they let me go? Will I have a quick death after I faint? he thought. However, with all the people watching him, he couldn¡¯t faint even if he wanted to. ¡°M-Miss Lynwood. Wait, no. I mean The Great Elspeth! Please spare my life. If you spare me, I will do anything you ask me to!¡± The director quickly scrambled to Elspeth¡¯s side and grabbed her pants. His tears and snot almost got on her legs. ¡°Who do you think you are? Did you think you could make it out alive when you offended her?¡± Jaxon snorted coldly. ¡°Alright now. Stop scaring him, Jaxon. It won¡¯t be fun if he were to faint because of your words,¡± said Elspeth. Hearing her words, Jaxon cocked an eyebrow and smiled wickedly. ¡°You¡¯re right. However, why do you want this man? Did he do anything bad to you? If that¡¯s the case, I can tell my men to kill him without youying a finger on him.¡± Monster! thought the director as he was paralyzed. Just as he saw the shadow guard was about to strangle him, he thought of something and eximed, ¡°I have something for you, The Great Elspeth! Aren¡¯t you enemies with Emma? I have a recording of her having sex with me in order to get this role!¡± Elspeth wouldn¡¯t be interested in any other female celebrities¡¯ sex tape, but this was different. It was Emma¡¯s! At that moment, Elspeth smiled and raised her hand, signaling the man approaching the director to stop. ¡°Thank you for sparing me, The Great Elspeth! Honestly, I didn¡¯t know this recorder would save my life! After all, I was just going to enjoy it myself, but it¡¯s better than nothing.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ever tell anyone about what happened today. You got it?¡± Elspeth demanded coldly. At this moment, the director was quick in his head. He knew what she meant and quickly nodded. ¡°Of course, The Great Elspeth¡­ I mean, Miss Lynwood. I didn¡¯t go anywhere today except to buy beer and some fried chicken. Don¡¯t worry, for I have a tight-lipped. If words were to spread around, you could kill me any time.¡± Hearing his words, Elspeth nodded and nced at one of the shadow guards beside her. When the shadow guard noticed her gaze, he knew what she was thinking and immediately hid in the dark. ¡°I¡¯ll send someone to follow you. You won¡¯t see him anywhere in sight, but if you were to betray me¡­¡± Elspeth trailed off. Although she didn¡¯t say about the consequences, the director knew. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t tell a single soul about this. Can I go now?¡± The director gave her a ndish smile as his shirt was soaked in his sweat. ¡°There is still one more thing,¡± announced Elspeth as she squinted her eyes. When the director heard her words, he stopped and asked, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I want you to sell your movie to Luminous.¡± As the director heard her words, he felt terrible. After all, he had chosen this movie after putting much effort into it. If he were to sell it to Elspeth, he would have a huge loss! However, he felt that his life was more valuable than losing some money. ¡°How can I sell it to you¡­ It¡¯s only natural if I give it to you as a gift!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll buy it from you with the original price,¡± Elspethmented faintly. She didn¡¯t want to take advantage of him. Hearing her words, the director breathed a sigh of relief and thought, I¡¯m d it¡¯s not a huge loss. ¡°You can go now. I¡¯ll send someone to sign the contract. If you regret it¡­¡± ¡°No, I won¡¯t. I¡¯ll be waiting for your arrival.¡± After the director had ttered her, he wiped his sweat and quickly left the scene. He felt he had lost big time by messing with someone he shouldn¡¯t because of Emma! When Elspeth saw that the problem was solved, she said nothing and waved her men off. Just as she was about to leave with Lisa, Jaxon stopped her. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since west saw each other. Why don¡¯t we find somewhere to catch up?¡± Hearing his words, Elspeth frowned and replied, ¡°I don¡¯t think that we are that close to each other.¡± ¡°I know. How will someone as mighty as you look me in the eye? However, I still want to treat you to dinner for what you did for me in the past.¡± Their encounter was quite the story. When they first met each other, she offered him a meal. At that moment, Jaxon was miserable. Still, he refused to ept her kindness due to stubbornness. Although Elspeth had bought him pasta, he refused to have any. ¡°I don¡¯t eat free food that others offer me,¡± he said. ¡°Stop acting cool when you are starving. Just pay me back next time.¡± Elspeth was a young girl at that time and felt that Jaxon was hrious. ¡°What¡¯s your name? I¡¯ll repay you.¡± The girl raised the hem of her skirt and smiled. ¡°My name is Elspeth. We¡¯ll meet next time, so don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Does that mean it was you who had given me those million that have been popping up in my bank?¡± asked Elspeth as she twitched her lips. Although Jaxon didn¡¯t say anything, a hint of embarrassment shed across his eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s just forget it. I see that you are living a good life. ording to intion, it¡¯s fine if you give me a few million. I¡¯ll let you off this time.¡± Hearing her words, Jaxon found it interesting since she was the one receiving his money and bragged about it. It¡¯s a shame that she has a fianc¨¦, he thought. ¡°You can buy me dinner. However, let¡¯s have some pasta since I am still full from earlier. Thus, we don¡¯t have to eat something expensive. Moreover, stop sending me money. It makes me think that you are my sugar daddy.¡± Elspeth felt it was suitable to end things with him with pasta since their stories began with it. When Jaxon heard her words, he chuckled and said, ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll stop doing that. Since you want pasta¡­ I remember that there is a restaurant that sells pasta just around the corner. It¡¯s open right now. Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Elspeth nodded. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go home first, Lisa? Help me take care of the house.¡± Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Since Lisa only listened to Elspeth¡¯s orders, she would not interrupt them. Moreover, she wouldn¡¯t have thought that if it was appropriate for Elspeth to be out with a mante at night, or the possibility of Callum getting mad, or whatsoever¡­ At that moment, Jaxon jumped on his dirt bike and handed Elspeth a helmet. ¡°Here, wear this and hop up.¡± After hesitating, Elspeth decided to wear the helmet and sat on Jaxon¡¯s bike. Sitting behind him, she wrapped her arms around his waist and swore she had hugged him because she was afraid of falling. After Elspeth had left, Lisa went home alone. Just as she arrived, she saw a ck Maybach by the door and knew that Callum had returned. At that moment, her heart dropped. When she entered the house, she saw Callum sitting on the sofa, as expected. ¡°Where is Elspeth?¡± His voice was as cold as ice. Chapter 264 Chapter 264 Elspeth¡­ She is out on a date. No, wait¡­ she is returning a favor. Since Lisa knew that she couldn¡¯t hide it from Callum because he was smart, she decided to tell the truth. ¡°She is out eating with a friend.¡± She even emphasized ¡®friend¡¯ because she was afraid that he misunderstood her words. ¡°A friend? Guy or girl? Why won¡¯t she answer my call while eating with her friend?¡± As Callum spoke, his expression darkened. At that moment, he could tell that Elspeth was with another man. She still went out with her friend, even though it was in the middle of the night. Plus, she tells Lisa toe back, which means they are alone. Lisa was scared that he would get mad and quickly added, ¡°They used to be friends. He was just going to return her a favor.¡± In the middle of the night? What favor is he returning? Callum thought. Then, he stood up and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± When Lisa heard his words, she knew that he was off to find Elspeth. Should I call Elspeth and tell her about this? Maybe not. After all, her phone was dead, so I wouldn¡¯t be able to call her, not to mention that she hadn¡¯t answered Callum¡¯s calls. As Lisa thought about it, she looked at Callum¡¯s grim expression and felt that Elspeth was doomed. You are on your own with this one, Elspeth¡­ After Callum had left, Lisa felt something was wrong with her, as her body was getting hotter. At that moment, she was suspicious of the powder the director had sprinkled over her. Since it was a crucial moment, she didn¡¯t have the time to think about it. However, judging by her experience, this was an aphrodisiac, not a poison! As soon as she thought about it, her whole body went limp. It was as if her bone had dissolved as she melted on the ground like a puddle. At this moment, someone had called her. She managed to take out her phone and saw that it was ke. ¡°Why can¡¯t I get through Elspeth¡¯s line, Lisa? I have something to tell her. Are you with her at the moment?¡± However, Lisa couldn¡¯t answer him. She didn¡¯t have the antidote to this medicine, and on top of that, Elspeth had not been making these kinds of medicine recently. ¡°Hello? Are you there, Lisa? Why aren¡¯t you answering me? Have you fallen asleep?¡± ke bombarded her with questions. Then, Lisa let out a muffled moan. It was soft and weak. ¡°Aren¡¯t you awake? Lisa?¡± As ke heard the noisesing from the phone, he felt something wrong. Then, he seemed to have figured out what was happening and asked seriously, ¡°Are you in trouble, Lisa? If yes, hum in response.¡± Hearing his words, Lisa hummed in response. At this moment, ke could tell that Lisa had been drugged by the noise she had made. Lisa also knew that she would be making weird noises. It was embarrassing enough for her to do what ke had told her. ¡°Okay. Don¡¯t say anything, and don¡¯t hang up. I¡¯ll be there as soon as possible.¡± When Callum bought this vi, keughed at him for doing something unnecessary. However, never would he think that it woulde in handy. After Lisa had heard his orders, she nodded and kept quiet. As she leaned against the sofa, she could feel her body burning. In the meantime, Elspeth was at the nearby restaurant. It was her first time there, and to be honest, it was a mess. However, the messier the ce was, the tastier its food was. ¡°It¡¯s right in there. This cheap restaurant is not what you have experienced before, so you might not be used to it,¡± Jaxon said with a smile. Elspeth could hear a hint of embarrassment in his voice and replied, ¡°It¡¯s fine. I had eaten hardtacks before, not to mention the cheap restaurant.¡± Seeing that Elspeth was curious about the ce, Jaxon felt less anxious. ¡°Come on. It¡¯s this ce.¡± As he spoke, he took her to an old restaurant. The words on the board were blurred, but she could still tell that it had ¡®Wilcox Restaurant¡¯ on it. ¡°The owner of this restaurant is also a Wilcox?¡± Hearing her words, Jaxon smiled and said, ¡°You are quite smart, the Great Elspeth.¡± ¡°Alright now. Stop calling me that. It¡¯s weird. Just call me Elspeth, as everyone does. Of course, you can call me Miss Lynwood if you wish.¡± After all, Elspeth felt like she was just about three years older than him, so it wouldn¡¯t be bad if he addressed her as such. ¡°I¡¯ll call you Elspeth then. Come, Elspeth, I¡¯m sure you will like this restaurant.¡± Although Elspeth was surprised by his words, she still followed him into the restaurant. Honestly, the restaurant didn¡¯t seem to be looking good, as there were only a few people in there. When they entered the building, it was empty. The only being there were the duo, a cat, and a dog, which were fighting by the corner. After Elspeth had ordered a meal, she sat by the corner and yed with the dog. At this moment, the owner came out and saw them. A glint shed across his eyes as he spoke. ¡°Hello, fellow customers. Would you mind if you guys switched ces since the lights in our shop aren¡¯t that great?¡± As Elspeth looked at the man, she felt that he looked kind and had simr looks to Jaxon, which might be that they were blood rted. However, she could tell from his eyes that he seemed to want something from them. Thus, Elspeth shook her head and insisted on sitting here. ¡°I like cats and dogs. I don¡¯t think we have to change seats since we are here for a meal. It¡¯s not like anything will happen.¡± Then, she looked at her surroundings. ¡°Plus, it¡¯s dark in here, boss. Thus, nothing will change if we were to change seats.¡± Hearing her words, the owner twitched his lips and thought, How can she say these straightforwardly? That¡¯s just embarrassing! Even so, the owner only smiled and went back to cooking the food. ¡°Please pardon me. My uncle is an enthusiastic man. He has no bad intentions, though,¡± said Jaxon as he cleared his throat. Elspeth nodded and took a sip of the tea, indicating that she didn¡¯t mind at all. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I can tell by his looks, so you don¡¯t have to be nervous. However¡­¡± At that moment, Jaxon was tense. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I can see why your uncle¡¯s business is going out. He didn¡¯t clean the shop or tidy it. Moreover, it¡¯s dark here. How will the customers be willing toe when it¡¯s dirty and pitch ck in here?¡± It was obvious that Jaxon had had enough of Elspeth¡¯s nagging. ¡°Although being in the dark is a disadvantage, this is a cheap restaurant in the night market. Some people might think that this is an expensive ce if the shop is clean.¡± Jaxon indeed had a keen sense of business. When Elspeth heard his words, she nodded and said, ¡°Why don¡¯t youe and work at mypany? I am generous with money. Maybe you can earn more than what you are doing now.¡± ¡°I-I¡¯ll think about it,¡± replied Jaxon. Soon, the portions of pasta were served. Jaxon pushed one of them toward Elspeth and cleaned the utensils with hot water before giving it to her. Then, Elspeth began eating. After some time, she felt dizzy and fainted on the table. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. At this moment, the owner came out from the kitchen. When he saw Elspeth lying unconsciously on the table, he smiled wickedly and threw his apron to the ground. Chapter 265 Chapter 265 ¡°After so many years, the time has finallye.¡± Toby was thrilled when he could relive the hatred in him freely, for he had a hard time suppressing it. ¡°Also, why didn¡¯t you insist on eating at that table? If you had brought her there, I wouldn¡¯t have drugged the food.¡± He was unhappy that he had wasted his ingredients. Jaxon, who was smiling wickedly before, regained hisposure and said faintly, ¡°It¡¯s fine. She¡¯s now unconscious, anyway.¡± ¡°You did great this time, kid. Now, our family will be able to get our revenge!¡± said Toby. Hearing his words, Jaxon asked, ¡°I still don¡¯t understand. You kept telling me that it was Elspeth who wiped out the Wilcox Family, but you never told me the reason why.¡± As he spoke, he thought about her smile. Although she is quite an evil character, she couldn¡¯t have killed my entire family. ¡°You¡¯ll understand it when the timees. I want you to know that to bring back the Wilcox Family¡¯s reputation, we have to kill her. Only when we take over Evil Wind Sect will our deceased family members be at ease.¡± As he spoke, Jaxon already knew what he was thinking. After all, Toby had been eyeing Evil Wind Sect for a long time. Now that Elspeth had been drugged, he couldn¡¯t even hide the smile on his face. ¡°What are you going to do next?¡± he asked. When Toby heard his words, he thought carefully about it. Although Elspeth is wearing light makeup andfy clothes, she is still quite the beauty¡­ ¡°Stand outside and guard this ce. I¡¯ll kill her without anyone¡¯s knowledge by using hydrogen fluoride. As soon as she dissolves into a puddle of bloody water, no one will be able to find her!¡± he said half- truthfully. When Jaxon heard his words, he didn¡¯t want to guess if Toby was lying or not. He just felt pity for Elspeth. With that, he stood up and left after giving a final pitiful nce to Elspeth, who remained unconscious. Just as he left, Elspeth immediately opened her eyes. In the meantime, Toby was about to touch her. When he saw that she had opened her eyes, he thought he had not used enough dosage and would drug her again. However, Elspeth kicked him before he could even act. Her movements were fast, and he was kicked in the shin. ¡°You!¡± Toby crouched and covered his wounded leg as he howled in pain. ¡°Stop groaning. I¡¯ll throw you outside if you keep doing that.¡± As Elspeth spoke, she rubbed her wrists as they were getting sore from lying on the table. ¡°How is this possible? Why are you still awake?¡± At this moment, Toby was dumbfounded. After all, he had told Jaxon to watch her swallow the food. Moreover, his drugs were the real deal. Thus, he couldn¡¯t understand why this was happening. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m still awake. I¡¯ll be long dead if I¡¯m not cautious around people like you. Moreover, how could I overlook the hatred in your eyes when it was tantly obvious?¡± Fortunately, Elspeth had not swallowed the food since she had taken precautions. Instead, she hid it in her mouth,y her head between her arms, and immediately spat under the table when the duo was talking. Since no one had noticed her, Toby didn¡¯t catch it either. ¡°Although I have underestimated you, it doesn¡¯t matter. This is my base camp. I can do whatever I want.¡± Since Jaxon was still outside, Toby felt he had a higher chance of subduing her. ¡°Why don¡¯t you try and see?¡± Elspeth was not afraid of him. After all, she had a tracking GPS on her. If she were to stay in here for too long, the shadow guards woulde in and look for her. At that moment, she wouldn¡¯t be afraid if Jaxon called his men to assist, for she would be the final winner. ¡°Hah! Since you are so confident in yourself, I will not hesitate anymore!¡± Toby, who was still smiling, immediately turned cold and struck her. Is he going to p me? Elspeth thought as she avoided his attack. Then, she grabbed his wrist and forcefully pushed him away. Toby used much of his strength to stop himself from falling, but he smiled all of a sudden. It worked. Before Elspeth was able to breathe a sigh of relief, she felt her body weakening, and she couldn¡¯t muster up any strength. ¡°What have you drugged me again with?¡± ¡°Since you don¡¯t know about it, you¡¯ll take these secrets to the grave.¡± Toby smiled coldly. She is too dangerous. Initially, I was going to have some fun with her, but I think it¡¯s best if I kill her now. As he thought about it, he took out a knife and slowly walked toward her. Suddenly, a stir sounded outside. Toby was unhappy that someone had ruined his mood. Then, he nced at the door and decided to end things quickly. At that moment, the wooden door seemed to have been kicked by someone as it shook violently. In that split second, Toby decided not to kill her as he ced the knife against her face. ¡°It seems that someone¡¯s here for you, Elspeth. Why don¡¯t we guess who it is? Is it your husband? Say, won¡¯t it be fun if I slit your throat right in front of him? I wonder if he will still love you after your face is ruined.¡± Elspeth red at him and said, ¡°Just do whatever you want, you coward. You are disgusting.¡± The smile on Toby¡¯s face vanished when he heard her words. ¡°Fine, then. Since you are ungrateful, I might as well kill you as you wish!¡± Then, he raised the knife and aimed it at her shoulder. Bang! At this moment, the door burst open, and the sudden light blinded Toby, making him miss as he stabbed the chair. Just as he was about to take it out, Callum entered the ce. Then, he grabbed a te from the table and crashed it against Toby¡¯s head. The te hit Toby¡¯s eyes, and he screamed in agony as he threw away the knife. On the other hand, Callum helped Elspeth get up and sat her by the chair. However, he was rough with her, seemingly as if he was getting revenge. As Elspeth thought about it, she instantly knew why he was angry. I¡¯m just eating with someone. How petty of him! Instead of leaving with her, he picked up the knife and slowly approached Toby, who was still moaning in pain. ¡°Were you trying to kill Elspeth?¡± As he spoke, he was ying with the knife. The knife shimmered coldly as he fiddled with it. No matter how confident Toby was before, he couldn¡¯t utter a word at this moment. It felt like a cat had gotten his tongue as he was being terrorized. ¡°Please don¡¯t kill me¡­¡± he begged miserably. He never expected Callum would arrive so quickly and barge into his ce when he initially thought of threatening Callum, the most famous man in Damoria, to test his strength. However¡­ ¡°You aren¡¯t afraid of death, are you?¡± Callum¡¯s cold voice, which was filled with killing intent, sounded. Chapter 266 Chapter 266 Toby¡¯s toughness just now was nowhere to be found at this moment and he was weeping his eyes out. ¡°It¡¯s not like that, Mr. Winthrop. Let me exin. I¡­¡± ¡°Your so-called ¡®nephew¡¯ has already told me the whole truth at the door just now.¡± Although Callum spoke calmly, his voice held great power. ¡°What?! Didn¡¯t he stop you?¡± Jaxon has been looking for the murderer of his parents all this while, so why would he let Callum in? Just then, Callum used the de of the dagger to lift Toby¡¯s chin. Coupled with the chill from his aura, Toby¡¯s heart race, as though it was going to stop anytime. ¡°He did, but he didn¡¯t need to. After all, you know better than anyone who killed his parents.¡± As soon as Callum turned around, a young man walked in, a stream of light shining behind him. Jaxon looked at Toby, who was in front of him, with a hint of resentment in his expression. ¡°Do whatever you want to him, Mr. Winthrop. He needs to pay the price for killing my parents. Even if you¡¯re not going to take care of him today, I¡¯ll do it!¡± He had known the truth of what happened back then all along. His Uncle Toby, who pretended to treat him so well, was the real culprit of the murder of his parents, but Toby dared to frame it on Elspeth. Toby did all these things just to im the Wilcox Family¡¯s wealth and the Evil Wind Sect as his own. If you¡¯re smart enough, you should have figured out who will benefit from your parents¡¯ deaths. Callum¡¯s cold voice continued to linger in his mind, unwilling to dissipate. He knew; he had known all along. This was the day he was waiting for. Even if he didn¡¯t have enough power, he could make Toby pay with the help of others! ¡°Jaxon Wilcox, don¡¯t let these people deceive you! We¡¯re family. How could I possibly harm you?! Your parents died in an ident three years ago, but the one who caused the ident was Elspeth!¡± If Elspeth had any strength left, she would have stood up and pped him hard. What kind of nonsense is this?! I just happened to pass by at the time. Why would I, an underage girl still in school, kill Jaxon¡¯s parents with no reason or motive? On the other hand, Jaxon also remembered that after the ident, it was a little girl in a red dress who pulled him out of the rubble and gave him a te of spaghetti. With a smile, Elspeth said, ¡°If you believe me, I can investigate the ins and outs of this matter in three days and assure you that it was absolutely not me who did it.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± Jaxon lowered his head, his voice devoid of emotion. ¡°I know it wasn¡¯t you. I didn¡¯t even suspect you at all. I found out the truth a long time ago. I just wanted to lower Uncle Toby¡¯s guard through you and then kill him.¡± In fact, he also wanted to meet the little girl who saved his life. When he talked about killing, there was no emotional fluctuation in his voice, as if it was as casual as eating a meal. From there, it was obvious that he had killed many people over the years and had since be used to it. ¡°However, I never intended to let you die. I had already reced his knife with a retractable one that wouldn¡¯t hurt you at all.¡± Hearing that, Callum picked up the knife and examined it. This is from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, you can try it on him.¡± The ¡®him¡¯ that he was referring to was obviously Toby. Toby shook his head in terror. ¡°No, please¡­¡± At this moment, Callum stabbed the knife into Toby, but it turned out to be a real knife instead of a retractable one. In an instant, blood gushed out and flowed continuously. Toby widened his eyes, realizing that the knife was poisoned. It was the poison that he had personally applied to it. Back there, he had discovered that his knife had been reced with a retractable one and he also knew that Jaxon would be softhearted toward Elspeth, so he added an extrayer of poison to ensure that she would die immediately. Unexpectedly, he ended up reaping what he sowed! Seeing how tragically Toby would die, Jaxon widened his eyes in shock. When Callum let go of his grip, Toby immediately copsed like a house of cards. As he stood up, he looked at Jaxon next to him with a hint of coldness and scrutiny. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me. He secretly changed the knife himself. Judging by how he looks now, he should be poisoned. He will die very brutally.¡± There was some pity in Jaxon¡¯s voice. This uncle of his had helped him to some extent, especially in the business aspect. Toby had taught him many tricks and guided him ording to the standards of a sessor. It was a pity that he had killed Jaxon¡¯s parents. This was something that could never be forgiven! Seeing that Jaxon wasn¡¯t lying, Callum withdrew his gaze and lowered his head to look at the unconscious Elspeth. ¡°The Great Elspeth from the Evil Wind Sect,¡± he muttered with a mix of surprise and expectation. ¡°I didn¡¯t know that you still have so many identities hidden from me. It looks like I really need to ask you about it one by one.¡± After speaking, he walked out with Elspeth in his arms. Suddenly, Jaxon called out to Callum from behind, ¡°Wait, Mr. Winthrop!¡± However, Callum didn¡¯t stop walking, so Jaxon could only follow behind to ask, ¡°Can you take me in?¡± With Toby¡¯s death, the Wilcox Family would probably be divided among others. Jaxon was just a young man who was just barely of age. Without Toby¡¯s shelter, he wouldn¡¯t be able to protect his family. At a time like this, defecting to the other side would be the best choice. Callum remained silent and thought about it for a moment. Then, he answered, ¡°Tidy up things here and report to the Winthrop Group tomorrow.¡± Jaxon smiled with gratitude when he heard that. ¡°Thank you.¡± After that, Callum returned to the vi with Elspeth but as soon as they reached the door, he saw ke¡¯s car parked nearby. Frowning in surprise, he walked into the living room, where he heard a low moaning from inside. The front door was left open with a small gap, and the sound from the living room could be heard. ¡°Don¡¯t go¡­ I don¡¯t mind. Help me¡­¡± At this moment, Lisa¡¯s gaze was blurred to the point of almost losing consciousness. When she saw ke in front of her, she felt that he was a moving block of ice, as the heat she was feeling inside her was alleviated by his coolness after hugging him. On the contrary, ke felt that he had run into trouble, for he mourned his bad luck in his mind. ¡°Wake up and have a good look, Lisa. I¡¯m ke. Ah, don¡¯t kiss me! I really think you should think it over¡­¡± He dodged left and right to avoid her rosy lips, but he didn¡¯t dare to push her away for fear that she might hit the table, so he was forced to be kissed several times. ¡°I want¡­¡± When she felt the resistance of the body in front of her, she frowned in dissatisfaction. Since her usual image was that of an icy beauty, her delicate side was something he had never seen before. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ Lisa. Miss Dawson, I really can¡¯t¡­ do that with you. It¡¯s inappropriate. You¡¯re still a young girl. Please don¡¯t act on impulse¡­¡± However, she shook her head and hugged his neck directly. ¡°I don¡¯t mind. I¡¯m so hot. Please help me¡­¡± When ke was going to continue refusing, he suddenly heard sounds of movement from the door. Almost immediately, his gaze turned cold. Chapter 267 Chapter 267 The next second, a smile tugged on ke¡¯s lips and he stopped pushing Lisa away. Instead, he wrapped his arms around her waist, causing her to moan. ¡°Have you really thought it through?¡± Lisa nodded and continued moving closer to him. Meanwhile, at the door, when Callum heard the two people had already progressed to this stage, he lowered his head to take a look at Elspeth, who was still unconscious in his arms. After a moment¡¯s pause, he turned around and carried her back to the Winthrop Residence. As the voices at the doors faded away, ke immediately let go of the girl in his arms, making her heated body wriggle. She was seemingly somewhat dissatisfied. ¡°Enough, Lisa. I¡¯ll take you to the hospital. If I do anything to you, Elspeth will definitely kill me tomorrow.¡± At first, he didn¡¯t notice it butter, he realized that someone was standing at the door. He knew it was either Callum or Elspeth. No matter who it was, as long as they knew something happened between him and another girl, they would let down their guard on him, especially Elspeth. She shouldn¡¯t be as wary of him anymore. This way, he could finally have a proper conversation with her because ever since he confessed his feelings to Elspeth, both Callum and Elspeth had been acting very awkward with him. What he wanted the most was to be friends with her. ke then looked at the girl in front of him and took a deep breath. But I feel quite guilty for ruining her reputation. At the same time, Lisa seemed to have finally listened to him. Perhaps because she had been unsatisfied for a long time, she fainted right away with a flushed face. Seeing that, he sighed heavily and carried her to the hospital. The next day, Elspeth woke up and found herself in the Winthrop Residence. Theodore and Margot happened to be at home and when they saw Elspething downstairs, they greeted her with smiles, ¡°Good morning, Elsie. You¡¯re finally awake.¡± Having gone through so much, they treated her as if she were their daughter. Especially Margot, who even seemed to be so biased toward Elspeth that she would scold Callum on Elspeth¡¯s behalf. ¡°Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Winthrop. Where¡¯s Callum?¡± Hearing that, Margot chuckled as she covered her mouth and teased Elspeth. ¡°You just woke up and are already looking for Callum? It seems like you two really have a good rtionship. Don¡¯t worry, Elsie. He went to the office to handle some things. He should be back soon.¡± After a nod, Elspeth suddenly pped herself on the forehead when she remembered that today was the day the drama would be released. While I was unconscious, Callum probably took the lead with ke and Yelena. At this thought, she quickly got ready and rushed to Luminous. Since early morning, Timothy had already been at hisputer, waiting for the premiere date and ratings which were crucial for the drama¡¯s future promotion. Yelena skipped her training and waited with him in front of theputer as well. As soon as Elspeth entered the room, she looked around but didn¡¯t see ke, so she asked, ¡°Where¡¯s ke?¡± He¡¯s usually very particr about these things. How can he forget about this? Timothy shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. He hasn¡¯t messaged me about taking a leave, so he probably overslept.¡± As long as nothing serious has happened to him. Elspeth didn¡¯t dwell on it. She looked at theputer in front of her and felt a little nervous. This was the drama she had personally signed up for, but she hadn¡¯t been very involved with it until now. Seeing the data on the screen, she couldn¡¯t help but feel anxious. The drama premiered with the first three episodes at 9.00AM. Coincidentally, therge-scale historical drama, ¡®Song of Viollenys¡¯, also premiered with the first three episodes at the same time. It was obvious that they were copying them. However, Elspeth wasn¡¯t too worried about that. giarism? I¡¯m not afraid of that! At 9.00AM, the unremarkable numbers on the screen began to skyrocket. Most people were drawn in by the fame of Yelena and ke and were amazed by the strong chemistry between the two of them. Thements section exploded with discussion, with some marveling at the chemistry between the two and others praising the drama¡¯s plot. Soon, the discussion evolved in a way they didn¡¯t expect. I Love Potato wrote, ¡®OMG, did anyone watch the third episode? I think I saw Elspeth and Callum in it! Is this for real?¡¯ Carrots with Soy Sauce typed, ¡®The point is that their acting is so good! It¡¯s my first time seeing them act, so I thought it would be awkward¡­¡± Kisskiss chimed in, ¡®They¡¯re so cool! Real couples are just so great to watch!¡¯ Your Girl is Here also added, ¡®Don¡¯t you guys think that Elspeth is even prettier than the female lead¡­ Ah! The carrying of the female lead in her arms shows off her charisma!¡¯ Stone wrote, ¡®Calm down, girl. You¡¯re about to lose your mind over her!¡¯ ¡­ No one promoted that, but Elspeth and Callum¡¯s acting skills had won everyone over. Seeing the comments gradually turn into a discussion about Callum and herself, Elspeth didn¡¯t know whether to ¡°Elspeth, they say that you¡¯re practically the ideal person that girls these days want to marry. Congrattions! You¡¯ve attracted arge number of female fans through this drama. I¡¯ve never seen such a strangements section before. Haha!¡± Elspeth held her forehead in her palm as she muttered, ¡°Although it¡¯s not quite what I imagined, it¡¯s not a problem.¡± As Yelena held Elspeth¡¯s hand, she said with a serious face, ¡°The closer person gets the chance first. Even if someone is to marry you, I should be the one marrying you first.¡± ¡°Do you want to shoot moremercials, Yelena?¡± Elspeth threatened with a sly smile. As soon as Yelena heard that, she immediately withered. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! If you arrange moremercials for me, I¡¯ll die right away and you¡¯ll need to bring a big chicken drumstick to visit me at my gravestone every year during my death anniversary¡ª¡± She keptining, causing Elspeth to have a headache from listening. So, she covered Yelena¡¯s mouth with her hand and made her continue reading the comments. Things were going so well but suddenly, a strange twist happened. The number of viewers for their drama dropped somehow. Elspeth carefully searched for the problem and found that all of their audience had gone to watch ¡®Song of Viollenys¡¯! ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± She frowned. Suddenly, Timothy, who was next to her, had an unpleasant expression and he said in a serious tone, ¡°Elspeth, take a look at the news.¡±Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Shock overtook her when she saw it. It was written in bold letters that the novel ¡®The Moment I Met You¡¯ on which the drama was based had been exposed for giarism! They even put this novel side by side with another novel and highlighted the parts that were giarized. In an instant, everyone was turning against ¡®The Moment I Met You¡¯, and the ratings were plummeting. Coupled with their fellow peers in the industry maliciously discrediting them, the ratings hit rock bottom. ¡°What should we do, Elspeth? I remember reading this novel before, but no one pointed out the giarism.¡± With a nod, Elspeth replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll see what¡¯s going on.¡± She checked the IP address of the article and sure enough, it was from the entertainmentpany where Emma was. Seeing that, she squinted her eyes while cruelness shed in them. So, you¡¯re still not being honest, huh? Well, if that¡¯s the case, don¡¯t me me for retaliating! Chapter 268 Chapter 268 Yelena was so anxious that she paced back and forth in the room. It was a highly anticipated drama even before its premiere, so she couldn¡¯t ept if the drama had flopped just like that! ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I have a solution!¡± Elspeth spoke confidently. ¡°A solution? Since things havee to this extent, if we can¡¯t prove that the author didn¡¯t giarize, we won¡¯t be able to turn the tables.¡± Why would there be rumors about the novel being giarized? And even if it was giarized, why would it be exposed exactly at this time? ¡°Yes, so don¡¯t be too worried. Let¡¯s see how things develop from here. The more it is discussed, the better it is for us.¡± Elspeth wanted to see whether Emma could have thestughter on. ¡°Elspeth, the post has been liked and shared more than 100 million times. If we don¡¯t rify this issue, both Luminous and the drama will be done for!¡± Timothy, who had been monitoring the figures, was disheartened when he saw that most of thements were nastyments. However, Elspeth seemed calm and was typing away on the keyboard as if there was no one around her. ¡°Elspeth, the server is now down! This is horrible! Luminous is beingmbasted!¡± The main thing was that they lost half of their followers. Yelena¡¯s 10 million followers had been reduced by half. ke had taken a worse hit as he lost almost 30 million followers! ¡®The drama and cast are awful! Get out of the entertainment industry!¡¯ ¡®Stop making dramas. It¡¯s disgusting!¡¯ ¡®Still noting out with a statement? Cowards!¡¯ ¡®I must have been blind to stan these people!¡¯ Soon, a wave of book fans came to defend the writer. ¡®What do you mean giarize? Lucrece is the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, so it can¡¯t have been giarized.¡¯ ¡®A novel like this is unprecedented. I¡¯ve never read something like that before. The novels that you im are simr are written by yourself?¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ve read Lucrece¡¯s novel for almost five years. I¡¯d know better if they are giarized. If you dare to chat offline and im that it¡¯s giarized, I¡¯ll tear your mouths apart!¡¯ And it went on and on. ¡°Elspeth!¡± Yelena couldn¡¯t take it anymore. ¡°I have an ount too. Can you allow me to chat with them? They have lost their minds.¡± Yelena thought that theizens had overreacted even if they had selected a giarized novel by mistake. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m almost done.¡± Elspeth stretched and finished typing thest few words. After that, she logged into her ount and posted the article that she had just typed. Everyone was on Elspeth¡¯s page waiting for a statement as being Luminous¡¯ person in charge, she had toe out to deal with the issue. ¡®I¡¯m sure that all of you are aware of the issue with Luminous¡¯ script. Below is my rification on the issue of¡­¡¯ The article had caused a buzz upon being posted. ¡®Forget about everything else, but Elspeth is the author of the novel?¡¯ ¡®This article is written by Lucrece, who is the author of the novel and the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature.¡¯ ¡®They sought Elspeth¡¯s help probably because they don¡¯t dare to confront the famous author.¡¯ ¡®Whether or not the novel is giarized is the book fans¡¯ issue. It has nothing to do with the entertainment industry.¡¯ Some people even posted some nastyments which were refuted by the book fans. They never would have thought that the author of the novel, actor, and investor were the same person! An anti-fanmented, ¡®So what if you are the author? Can you prove that you didn¡¯t giarize?¡¯ Following that, someizens posted below thements, ¡®Blockhead, you should read the whole article beforementing ignorantly.¡¯ The article clearly stated the publication date of all the suspected giarized novels. The information on their website could be validated too. Upon checking, they realized the publication dates of the novels wereter than Elspeth¡¯s, aka Lucrece¡¯s, novel! With that, the anti-fans were so embarrassed that they stopped posting. The server which had almost copsed finally went back to normal. Most of them had probably left to avoid embarrassment. At the same time, Yelena and ke¡¯s followers were increasing, bing 10 million, 20 million, 50 million¡­ Soon, the number of followers had returned to their initial figures and was 30% more than before! Yelena¡¯s eyes lit up when she saw that. ¡°That¡¯s great, Elspeth! And here I was wondering why you have been so calm throughout it. Turns up you have a great n up your sleeve! It¡¯s impressive that you managed to search for all the publication dates. They won¡¯t be able to deny it now that we have the proof!¡± ¡°Of course, since this is just child¡¯s y for a hacker. Emma sure is stupid.¡± Elspeth ridiculed Emma. Meanwhile, Emma, who was about to sit back and watch the fiasco, suddenly sneezed. ¡°How strange. Why am I sneezing when the heater has been switched on?¡± She rubbed her nose. After a long wait, she was finally going to read about the tragic state Elspeth and Luminous were in. However, she noticed that most of the nastyments had disappeared. Some of them were deleted by the users themselves and some were done by Elspeth without anyone¡¯s notice. ¡°What happened?!¡± The enraged Emma simply grabbed onto someone and asked about the situation. Seeing that Emma was furious, the person stuttered, ¡°E-Emma, you¡¯ll find out after visiting Elspeth¡¯s Twitter.¡± Elspeth again! After reading the well-written article, Emma realized that it was impossible to use them of giarism! Before she could make sense of the situation, another piece of news was published. This time around, it was a video. In the video, the man and woman were making love to each other. The woman was blushing while lying on the bed as the man thrust into her. Their important parts and the man¡¯s face were blurred out, but the woman¡¯s face was in high definition. As soon as the video was published, it caused a stir on the Inte. The reason being the woman in the video was Emma Walker, the hottest star from Falcon Entertainment! ¡®This is big news!¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s crazy!¡¯ It was now Emma¡¯s turn to be the talk of the town. Emma was stunned when she saw the video. A few secondster, she screamed so loud that everyone in the wholepany could hear it This is from N?velDrama.Org. ¡®Goodness, she looked so innocent, but she turned out to be a tramp!¡¯ ¡®So disgusting! I won¡¯t be watching any of her dramas!¡¯ ¡±It¡¯s ¡®Song of Viollenys¡¯, right? She¡¯s so disgusting that I won¡¯t be watching it!¡¯ The viewership of ¡®Song of Viollenys¡¯ dropped by 50% upon the release of the video and its ratings were extremely low. At this rate, it might even be taken down shortly after its release! ¡°Elspeth¡­ It must be Elspeth!¡± Emma took a breath and there was a glint of malevolence in her eyes. She swore that she wouldn¡¯t let Elspeth off the hook. However, before Emma went to see the director, the president of thepany had gone to see her first. ¡°Emma, it is apparent that you are now notorious. To cut our losses, thepany has decided to keep you out of the public eye.¡± It was extremely difficult to cultivate an excellent star, but they had no choice but to abandon Emma at this point. Chapter 269 Chapter 269 Ever since that day, Emma never appeared in the public eye again. Her drama, ¡®Song of Viollenys¡¯ had been taken down due to poor viewership. Soon, the central television station announced that they would be taking down any works that were rted to Emma due to her poor character. This also made the actors that had coborated with Emma hate her. Elspeth, on the other hand, was named The Nation¡¯s Idol because of her drama. Since the beginning, she was indifferent about joining showbiz but now, she became the hottest star. She was really lucky. Meanwhile, the director kept his word by sending the drama over and signing the contract. Elspeth had assigned this task to Timothy and he had full authority over this. He could even get the funds directly from the finance department if there was a shortage of funds. However, Elspeth was more puzzled about that day when Callum was secretly doing something by himself instead of for her drama. He had been somewhat mysterious the past few days. These days, she had been staying in the Winthrop Residence and hadn¡¯t returned to her vi. Thus, she didn¡¯t know what happened to Lisa. Elspeth¡¯s call was answered after two rings. ¡°Hi, who is this?¡± Is that ke? She was so startled that she almost dropped the phone. ¡°ke, tell me the truth. Why do you have Lisa¡¯s phone?¡± Elspeth had an ominous feeling that her dear Lisa had been taken by an unworthy man and yet, she didn¡¯t know about it. ¡°Erm¡­ She¡¯s in the hospital. I¡¯m taking care of her¡­¡± ke¡¯s voice quavered and he sounded guilty. ¡°Hospital?!¡± Elspeth¡¯s head started spinning and she didn¡¯t care about the rtionship between them anymore. ¡°What happened? Send me the address now. I¡¯ll be there real soon!¡± Seeing that they couldn¡¯t hide the incident from her anymore, ke obediently sent her the address. When Elspeth arrived at the hospital, she saw Lisa lying on the bed with a long face and ke was sitting next to her while skinning an apple. Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Elspeth, you¡¯re here!¡± Hearing that, Lisa tried to sit up as she called out, ¡°Elspeth¡­¡± Seeing that, Elspeth made hery down again. ¡°Alright, alright. Tell me why you¡¯re at the hospital. Are you feeling unwell?¡± Elspeth looked concerned, but Lisa was too embarrassed to speak. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I just got poisoned. I¡¯m recovering well so I¡¯ll be discharged tomorrow,¡± she exined as she coughed. The next moment, Elspeth turned to look at ke and said, ¡°Your turn.¡± ke blinked his eyes and spoke the truth as he was startled by Elspeth¡¯s cold tone. ¡°The other day when Lisa was poisoned, I happened to be looking for you, so I gave her a call and ended up saving her.¡± He couldn¡¯t tell her what poison it was, or else Elspeth might misunderstand him and take him as a man who took advantage of others. He was worried that she might start ignoring him. ¡°What poison?¡± Elspeth insisted on knowing the truth. Hearing that, Lisa blushed and didn¡¯t dare to speak when she looked at Elspeth. ¡°Speak.¡± Seeing that Lisa was ced in a tough position, ke had no choice but to reveal the truth. ¡°She had taken a love potion mixed with poison.¡± Elspeth¡¯s head went nk upon hearing that. She realized that this was the reason why ke had gone missing and that she wasn¡¯t able to contact Lisa. ¡°The both of you¡­¡± ¡°Nothing happened between us! Don¡¯t even think about it!¡± ke quickly exined. ¡°Elspeth, it¡¯s true. He sent me to the hospital that night and nothing happened between us.¡± There was a hint of embarrassment in Lisa¡¯s gaze. ¡°Alright, then.¡± Elspeth heaved a sigh of relief. She knew how ke felt about her, so if he did sleep with Lisa, she would feel bad for the other woman. ¡°Since you¡¯re fine, I¡¯ll look for Callum and discuss something with him. Rest well.¡± Just as Elspeth was about to leave, ke called out to her. ¡°Elspeth, is it about your engagement?¡± ¡°How did you know?¡± She was surprised. ¡°Of course, I know about it!¡± ke smiled bitterly before continuing, ¡°The whole Winthrop Family knew about it since Callum announced it.¡± Announced¡­ He sure is a big show-off! Elspethughed resignedly and prepared to settle ounts with Callumter on. ¡°Hey, do you like Elspeth?¡± Lisa asked the dispirited ke after Elspeth left. ¡°Hahaha! Is it that obvious? Even you can tell.¡± Lisa bit her lip and probed, ¡°Was the reason you¡­ didn¡¯t do it with me because you like Elspeth?¡± ke was surprised to hear that and he gazed at her, but she looked away. ¡°No, I felt like I shouldn¡¯t taint your reputation.¡± Since he was a man of integrity, he wouldn¡¯t have taken advantage of her. ¡°If you like her, then why don¡¯t you fight for her?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t be able to win her heart.¡± ke sighed. ¡°She doesn¡¯t like me. Moreover, Callum is more outstanding, so it¡¯s right for her to like him.¡± ¡°Who says so? I think you¡¯re nice.¡± Lisa¡¯s words made him smile. Since ke was a handsome man, he looked even more attractive when he smiled and Lisa, who never wanted anything for herself, was mesmerized by his smile. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not talk about this anymore. Do you eat peaches? I¡¯ll slice them up for you¡­¡± ¡­ Before long, Elspeth had arrived at the Winthrop Group¡¯s CEO¡¯s office. Callum was going through some documents. When he noticed her, he passed her the papers before she could say anything. ¡°You came at the right time. Go through these documents. Is there something wrong with it?¡± Elspeth suppressed her anger and read through the wordy documents which gave her a headache. ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s any problem with it.¡± ¡°There are unreasonable uses in the contract, and you didn¡¯t spot them. What happened? You seemed distracted.¡± Callum frowned. Elspeth punched him on the chest and asked, ¡°It¡¯s all because of you. Did you announce to the Winthrops that both of us are getting engaged?¡± ¡°I did that to keep off love rivals,¡± Callum stated firmly and proudly. ¡°Love rivals? You mean ke?¡± He nced at her and said, ¡°You know it too, but I think he has put the thought off since he is too embarrassed to face you.¡± When Elspeth heard that, she suddenly recalled what happened earlier. ¡°Do you know about what happened between the both of them?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the silly one who passed out after being poisoned by someone. That¡¯s why you didn¡¯t see anything.¡± He tapped the tip of her nose. ¡°Which base did they get to?¡± Elspeth was wide-eyed. ¡°The base where we didn¡¯t get to,¡± Callum smirked as he leaned forward. Chapter 270 Chapter 270 Callum touched Elspeth¡¯s waist with one hand and felt that she was too thin. I guess I¡¯ll have to make her have more food. Certainly, Elspeth was annoyed by the man¡¯s tititing words. As such, she subconsciously gave him a kick. Callum was enjoying this lovely moment when he felt a kick on his body. His expression changed as he released the woman and moved away. ¡°What are you doing, Elspeth?¡± ¡°Jerk! You¡¯re just as perverted as ke. No, you¡¯re more perverted than him!¡± Before Elspeth was done criticizing the man, she was pulled into his embrace. ¡°Alright, stop throwing a tantrum. We¡¯ll get engaged in a few days. What¡¯s the point of you kicking up a fuss now?¡± Elspeth was still reeling from the shock of the incident regarding Lisa and ke when she heard the man bring up the engagement. At that instant, she was dumbfounded. ¡°What do you mean that we¡¯re getting engaged in a few days?¡± ¡°Have you forgotten about what we said in Waterside? To stop the rumors from spreading, we have to get engaged to save ourselves from embarrassment.¡± Callum stared at her. Despite his calm expression, he appeared dangerous. ¡°Do you n on going back on your word?¡± Elspeth shook her head. ¡°I won¡¯t do that. However, something has been bothering me recently, so I¡¯m not in the mood to get engaged to you.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Elspeth nced at him, appearing to be in a dilemma. ¡°You know, Yelena loves Max, but he¡¯s an obstinate and egoistic guy who wouldn¡¯t easily tell others about his feelings. I¡¯ve been pondering on how to make him fulfill his promise.¡± ¡°That¡¯s easy.¡± A smile yed on Callum¡¯s lips. ¡°I¡¯ll help you make Max propose to Yelena in three days.¡± Elspeth¡¯s eyes sparkled like stars. ¡°Are you serious? Can you really do that?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a condition, though. After we seed, you have to get engaged to me at once.¡± Elspeth was all over the moon, so she agreed to it without hesitation. ¡°Sure. Maybe I¡¯ll persuade Yelena to get engaged at the same time as us.¡± Callum was startled as he had never thought of that. The idea of two couples getting engaged on the same day sounds interesting. Moreover, I can make use of this incident. With a smile, Callum nodded and leaned in closer to say something to the woman. ¡°Will that work? I¡¯m worried he¡¯ll be pushed over the edge.¡± Elspeth felt uneasy. ¡°We¡¯ll have to push him over the edge to make it happen.¡± Although he had a point, Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but wonder if it was appropriate for Callum to do such a thing to his younger brother. Elspeth said, ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± he asked, to which she replied, ¡°You¡¯re amazing.¡± The man was rendered speechless. The next morning, Elspeth got up early and went looking for Yelena. Yelena was still asleep when she heard the doorbell ringing. Still d in pajamas with a bear print, she rubbed her eyes and opened the door. Since she was back in Damoria, she stayed in her own vi. Hex hung out with Matthew almost every day, so he wasn¡¯t at home most of the time. As such, Yelena was left alone. Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Elspeth gazed at the woman and smiled. ¡°Do you want Max to propose to you, Yelena?¡± When Yelena heard that, she became energetic in an instant. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I have a n.¡± Elspeth then went on to rte the n that she and Callum had been devising for three hours. When Yelena was done listening to the n, her eyes brightened as she appeared excited. ¡°Will that work?¡± With a smile, Elspeth gently knocked on the other woman¡¯s head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Callum and I understand Max very well. This n will definitely work out.¡± ¡°Alright! Let¡¯s go, then.¡± Yelena appeared even more excited than Elspeth as they headed to their first destination, a wedding dress boutique. After all, they would get engaged sooner orter. As such, they decided to save some time by trying on wedding dresses first. As they walked around the store, Yelena soon fell in love with a white mermaid wedding dress. She eximed in amazement, ¡°Wow! This dress is stunning! I really love it, Elspeth. Hold on to my bag for me. I¡¯ll try it on now.¡± Elspeth nodded with a smile. Just as she was about to extend her hand, it was pped away by someone. As a result, her hand was in pain. She retracted her hand and saw another person taking the dress away. Elspeth shot the person a cold look and realized it was Emma, who had disappeared for quite a while. Everyone, including Elspeth, knew that Emma had been suspended from work by herpany. Despite her heavy makeup, it couldn¡¯t conceal how tired she looked. Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but sneer. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Miss Walker? Are you trying to vent your anger on others just because both your career and love life have taken a hit?¡± Emma¡¯s expression changed as she felt humiliated. ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? You haven¡¯t bought the dress, which means that anyone can get it. Don¡¯t you understand? What gives you the right to say I¡¯m venting my anger on you?¡± Elspeth was surprised to see that Emma had be more sharp-tongued when they finally met again. ¡°Nonsense! I was about to try it on when you snatched it from us. We have the right to buy it first.¡± Yelena blew her top. She had the urge to punch Emma when she saw thetter¡¯s smug smile. She¡¯s just a spent force. What makes her think she can put on airs like she¡¯s a princess? Emma snorted. ¡°The dress is in my hands and there¡¯s no one else. What¡¯s the point of you saying all this?¡± ¡°How dare you?¡± Elspeth appeased Yelena and said to Emma with a smile, ¡°You have a point. Ignoring the fact that there are surveince cameras around, we indeed can¡¯t find other evidence.¡± ¡°So what if there¡¯s surveince footage? The dress is in my hands, so it¡¯s mine.¡± Just then, the staff member finally woke up from her sleep. The moment she realized how intense the atmosphere was, her heart sank. What¡¯s going on? Elspeth snorted. ¡°Usually, the person who can offer a higher price will get the dress. Why don¡¯t we bid for the dress? It¡¯ll go to the highest bidder.¡± Certainly, Emma wasn¡¯t willing to do that. Even when she was at the peak of her fame back then, she was still significantly less wealthy than Elspeth. How was she, a celebrity, supposed topare to a businesswoman when it came to wealth? ¡°You have more money than me. I won¡¯t agree to it.¡± If she agreed to thepetition, she would be no different from being dumb. ¡°Well, we canpete in something else. For example, how well we understand the design of this dress.¡± Emma appeared doubtful as she fell into her thoughts. She had no idea what Elspeth was up to. Nheless, she had taken part in countless fashion weeks and had been the ambassador for many luxury brands. She supposed she had a better understanding of fashionpared to Elspeth. As far as she was concerned, Elspeth majored in jewelry design at a foreign university. I guess she has nothing to do with fashion design. Taking everything into consideration, I¡¯ll most likely win the competition. ¡°Fine! I agree.¡± Elspeth motioned for Emma to speak first. The person who spoke first usually had more things to say and wouldn¡¯t be affected by the other person. A glint shed across Emma¡¯s eyes. ¡°This dress is as soft as moonlight, especially the pearls around the chest which add a hint of tenderness to it. As such, it¡¯s more suitable for a demure woman.¡± She hinted that this dress wasn¡¯t suitable for Yelena, who was a hot-tempered person. ¡°Oh? I don¡¯t think so.¡± Elspeth stepped forward and said with a smile, ¡°I have a different opinion.¡± Chapter 271 Chapter 271 ¡°What do you mean?¡± Emma¡¯s expression turned grim in an instant. ¡°Although there are quite some jewelry pieces on this dress, the pearls around the chest are in small pieces. In other words, the dress hasn¡¯t been designed for demure women. Instead, only an elegant and capable woman can pull it off.¡± Not only had Elspeth exined who the dress was for, but she had also humiliated Emma. She had looked into Emma¡¯s background and realized that thetter didn¡¯te from an influential family. Emma¡¯s family could be considered rich, but it was to a certain extent. As such, she didn¡¯t have any elegance to speak of. On the other hand, even when Yelena blew her top, she wouldn¡¯t cross the boundary and embarrass herself, nor would she make anyone despise her. She remained elegant most of the time, except when she cursed in foulnguage. ¡°Therefore, the dress is more suitable for Yelena inparison.¡± Although the Sullivan Family kept a low profile, they were extremely powerful. It was a wonder why Emma was so untactful by offending Yelena repeatedly. Yelena was pleased that her friend was standing up for her by humiliating Emma. She¡¯s such a good friend! Emma was exasperated as she pointed at the staff member and asked angrily, ¡°Who do you think will suit the dress better?¡± ¡°I think Miss Sullivan will look better in the dress¡­ Before their arrival, Mr. Winthrop ced a deposit of several million with us.¡± A smile formed on Elspeth¡¯s face. Callum proved to be helpful when they needed a hand. He¡¯s done a great job. ¡°How dare you?! All of you have joined forces to oppress me. I¡¯ll share this incident with the media and expose your wrongdoings to the public!¡± When Elspeth heard that, she almost broke intoughter. ¡°You¡¯re free to do so, but there¡¯s not a need for that.¡± Emma thought that Elspeth was timid, so she lifted her chin arrogantly. ¡°If you¡¯re afraid of getting your wrongdoings exposed, be more tactful and give the dress to me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant and I¡¯m not afraid. I just want to let you know that I¡¯m the designer of this dress, so I can stop it from getting sold at any moment.¡± The smile on Emma¡¯s face froze when she heard that. ¡°What did you just say? Are you the designer?¡± Although she was stunned, she couldn¡¯t deny the possibility as Elspeth had done many surprising things in the past. ¡°Yes. I¡¯m the designer of this dress. Why would I lie to you?¡± In fact, it was one of Elspeth¡¯s worst designs. The best dresses were all in the underground exhibition hall of the Azure Corporation¡¯s headquarters, but no one would put them on. That was because Elspeth had designed those dresses based on her figure, so rarely anyone could put them on. ¡°If you¡¯re the designer, you could¡¯ve told me sooner. Why did you wait until now? Are you lying again?¡± Emma clicked her tongue. Elspeth¡¯s gaze turned gloomy in an instant. ¡°Miss, please ask your boss toe over,¡± Elspeth said to the staff member with a smile. This store¡¯s customers are mostly wealthy and powerful. Did Elspeth really design this dress? Emma started doubting herself again. However, since she had said such things, it was toote for her to run away. As such, she had no choice but to wait for the business owner¡¯s arrival. Soon, a mboyant-looking man stepped into the ce. His azure eyes and maroon hair suggested that he was from a foreign country. ¡°My dear Elspeth, what brings you to my store? Oh, my gosh! Are you getting married? I have to tell the world about it. Good grief! That¡¯s such terrible news!¡± Elspeth said through gritted teeth, ¡°Harvey, if you keep spouting nonsense, I¡¯ll throw you out of here.¡± ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯ll stop pulling your leg.¡± Harvey adjusted his hair elegantly. ¡°Are you here to pick out a wedding dress? I have some new designs¡ª¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. I asked you toe over because I want you to rify something.¡± Elspeth smiled. ¡°Did I tell you to sell this dress on my behalf?¡± Harvey took a closer look at the dress and nodded. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s this dress. I have to tell you that many people are interested in this dress, but I¡¯m not selling it to anyone because I¡¯m waiting for a buyer who can offer a higher price.¡± Emma¡¯s heart sank when she realized that the duo knew each other. Since it was confirmed that Elspeth was indeed the designer, there was no way she could get the dress. Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. All the same, she didn¡¯t want the dress; she just loved snatching things from Elspeth. Following that, she took a deep breath and turned around to leave. ¡°Wait a minute. Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to buy this dress?¡± Elspeth blinked, appearing to be doubtful. ¡°You can get the dress. I don¡¯t want it anymore.¡± Harvey frowned. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You said you¡¯d buy it but now, you don¡¯t want it anymore. Where do you think my store is? You don¡¯t have to buy it, but please register your name before leaving. Don¡¯t evere to my store again.¡± He practically stripped Emma of her right to enter the store again. Yelena covered her mouth and snickered. ¡°You¡¯re making the store owner mad, Miss Walker. Why don¡¯t you just buy it?¡± She wanted to buy this dress as well, but Elspeth had signaled for her to give it up just now. ¡°How dare you?!¡± Emma was so furious that she started trembling all over. She had just been suspended from work, so she had lost her only ie. If she had to spend so much money to buy a dress she didn¡¯t like, that would be utterly vexing. It¡¯s all Elspeth¡¯s fault! She red at Elspeth and passed a card to the staff member. ¡°I¡¯ll buy it.¡± After trying to swipe the card, the staff member said hesitantly, ¡°Miss Walker, there isn¡¯t enough credit limit left.¡± Emma started flushing at that point. ¡°I don¡¯t want it anymore!¡± She then snatched the card and stormed out of the store. Yelena had the urge to roll on the floor andugh out loud. ¡°That¡¯s hrious! I¡¯m so d to see Emma living miserably.¡± She was pleased that Emma was in a sorry state. Emma loved oppressing us in the past. She had iting! Elspeth touched her chin. ¡°Your dresses here are not up to standard, Harvey.¡± Harvey widened his eyes in disbelief. ¡°What are you talking about? There¡¯s no way my dresses are comparable to yours.¡± He got to know Elspeth by chance and obtained the right to sell the wedding dresses she designed. There was no denying he had gotten a lot of benefits but now, Elspeth mocked him by saying that his dresses were not up to standard. It¡¯s not like there¡¯s anything I can do about it! ¡°Alright, just pretend that I¡¯ve said nothing. We¡¯re leaving now.¡± With that, Elspeth took Yelena¡¯s hand and left the ce. Yelena asked doubtfully, ¡°Aren¡¯t we here to buy wedding dresses? I think the store¡¯s wedding dresses are of good quality, especially the ones you designed. They are stunning.¡± There was no doubt she loved those dresses. Without responding to the other woman, Elspeth rolled her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re so silly. Since I told you to come out, there¡¯s definitely a better one waiting for you. Don¡¯t worry. Now that you¡¯re about to get engaged, I¡¯ll make sure that you¡¯ll marry the man you love in style.¡± ¡°I¡¯m only going to get engaged. I won¡¯t marry him so soon!¡± Yelena corrected with a blushing face. ¡°There¡¯s no difference. When you get married, I¡¯ll personally make a wedding dress for you. What do you say?¡± Yelena almost jumped around in happiness. She wrapped her arms around Elspeth¡¯s neck and kissed her cheek with excitement. ¡°That sounds great! Thank you, Elspeth!¡± ¡°Your saliva! Ew!¡± Chapter 272 Chapter 272 Elspeth and Yelena spent the entire morning shopping for wedding dresses. However, none of the dresses were up to Elspeth¡¯s standards. After sending Yelena home, Elspeth returned to the Winthrop Residence. During dinner, all of them were seated in the dining hall. Nheless, Max could feel that his family members had been peeking at him. However, when he looked up, he realized no one was looking at him. Elspeth prepared a bowl of tomato soup for Callum and asked with a smile, ¡°Do you think the man Yelena is seeing is reliable, Callum?¡± ¡°Of course. Matthew is known to be a responsible man. He has been in love with Yelena for quite a while. I¡¯m sure Yelena will be happy if they get married.¡± A glint shed across Elspeth¡¯s eyes. At the mention of Yelena, Max¡¯s expression changed. He¡¯s still pretending to be calm. I¡¯ll see how much longer he can put up with this. ¡°When are they going to meet up?¡± Callum took a sip of tomato soup and replied calmly, ¡°Tomorrow afternoon. If everything goes well, they might even get engaged on the same day as us.¡± ¡°Great. I¡¯m sure Yelena will be pleased.¡± They were engrossed in talking about Yelena¡¯s love life. Even Theodore and Margot took part in the conversation, saying that it was all Max¡¯s fault. They were ted that Yelena had found a better man. Max felt his eyelids twitching. ¡°Give me a break. Why are you all acting strangely today?¡± What do they mean it¡¯s my fault? Is Yelena seeing someone now? ¡°Don¡¯t you know, Max? Yelena is going to meet up with Matthew tomorrow and discuss their marriage. The March Family is well-to-do, so Matthew is a perfect match for Yelena.¡± Max frowned. ¡°Yelena doesn¡¯t like him.¡± ¡°Familiarity breeds fondness. I didn¡¯t use to like Callum, but I still fell in love with him in the end.¡± Max¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Yelena won¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t she? Yelena and I visited Harvey¡¯s wedding dress store today and came across Emma. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can go to their store and ask them. Yelena has always wanted to get married. She was envious when we shopped around for wedding dresses. I believe she¡¯ll likely agree to get together with Matthew.¡± When they were done with dinner, Callum cleaned his lips with a napkin and rose from the chair. ¡°I¡¯ll deal with work matters now so that I¡¯ll have some free time to go out with you tomorrow.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After Elspeth and Callum were gone, Max couldn¡¯t take it anymore. As he nced at Theodore and Margot, he asked doubtfully, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Have all of you joined forces to say such things?¡± ¡°What are you talking about? You¡¯re so silly. Do you think you¡¯ll get what you want by doing nothing? What did I teach you growing up?¡± Theodore rolled his eyes and headed to the bedroom with Margot. Max was left standing there on his own, looking dumbfounded. The next morning, Elspeth got out of bed and washed up before heading out with Callum. After they entered the car, she put on some makeup and asked, ¡°Do you think Max will follow us? It seems that he¡¯s more patient than I think.¡± Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Callum took a look at the rearview mirror and replied confidently, ¡°Look who¡¯s behind us.¡± A car that obviously belonged to the Winthrops was following them, and it was rather conspicuous. ¡°Gosh. Why didn¡¯t he use a less conspicuous car? He¡¯s so silly,¡± Elspeth said dismissively. ¡°Perhaps he isn¡¯t nning on hiding anything. I guess he¡¯ll make a big fuss out of it.¡± Callum knew Max¡¯s temperament all too well. Max was someone who would retaliate against those who harmed him, let alone when someone was trying to snatch his woman from him. I wonder if Matthew is strong enough to take a beating. As they each got lost in their thoughts, they soon reached their destination. Yelena had been waiting for them and beside her stood a tall Matthew in casual clothes. It was Elspeth¡¯s first time seeing Matthew, who was Callum¡¯s best friend. She knew that Matthew was awyer, and the truth was, he looked dapper. In fact, Matthew was just as good-looking as Max. His aquiline nose added ayer of delicateness to his appearance, and his golden-framed sses made him look somewhat sexy. At any rate, he wasn¡¯t Elspeth¡¯s cup of tea. Elspeth¡¯s impression of Matthew changed the moment he started speaking. ¡°Callum, I think it brings no benefits to me by helping you with the act.¡± Matthew frowned and put on a bitter expression. He didn¡¯t look as elegant as before he started speaking. He¡¯s so different from what I thought he was like. ¡°I¡¯ll invest 700,000 in yourw firm.¡± Instantly, Matthew¡¯s eyes brightened. ¡°Are you serious? You mustn¡¯t go back on your word!¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Doesn¡¯t your grandfather give you money? Why are you short on money?¡± At the mention of this, Matthew seemed to be on the brink of breaking into tears. ¡°I don¡¯t have a choice. I¡¯m the only grandson in the March Family and my grandfather insists that I inherit the family business. However, it¡¯s always been my dream to be awyer. As such, I can only rely on Callum.¡± ¡°Have you ever tried toe up with a solution?¡± ¡°Yes. Back then, I had a discussion with my grandfather and told him to sell the March Group to the Winthrop Group so that I¡¯d have more money to develop myw firm, but he was so furious that he almost wanted to burn myw firm down. Since then, I¡¯ve never dared say such nonsense.¡± Matthew is so silly and na?ve! Fortunately, Yelena isn¡¯t really in love with him. Otherwise, she would¡¯ve beaten him up. After some small talk, they entered the restaurant. From the looks of it, they seemed to be going on a double date. Elspeth and Callum were like their seniors while Matthew looked lovingly at Yelena. On the other hand, Yelena hung her head bashfully, looking as though she was satisfied with this man. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t he appeared yet?¡± Elspeth asked. Callum coughed and took a look at her. ¡°I suppose it¡¯s because there¡¯s no intimate interaction yet. They have to do more.¡± Elspeth signaled for Yelena to be more intimate with Matthew. As such, Yelena rose from the chair and went over to take Matthew¡¯s hand. ¡°Yelena!¡± Yelena stopped what she was doing when she heard someone roaring at her. From a distance, they could see Max standing there, his expression thunderous. The people around him were terrified. ¡°Why are you dating another man behind my back? Don¡¯t you remember I¡¯m your boyfriend?¡± Max strode forward and grabbed Yelena¡¯s hand as he red at Matthew. Matthew shuddered as the smile on his face froze. Why is he looking at me like this? I¡¯m only doing this for the money. I don¡¯t like a brusque woman like Yelena! Moreover, I¡¯m forced to do it! A furious Max was ready to punch Matthew. Seeing that, Matthew hurriedly closed his eyes. It¡¯s over! My handsome face will be gone for good! I haven¡¯t managed to seduce many women using my advantage¡­ Nheless, he soon realized he wasn¡¯t in pain. He cautiously opened his eyes and saw that Callum had intercepted Max¡¯s fist for him. An enraged Callum snapped, ¡°Since you¡¯re not marrying Yelena, what right do you have to stop her from getting engaged to another man?¡± Max barked, ¡°Who said I¡¯m not marrying her?¡± ¡°When?¡± When Max saw how cautious Yelena looked, he felt his chest tightening. ¡°As long as she wants to marry me, we can do this anytime.¡± Elspethughed. ¡°Missionpleted! Let¡¯s celebrate!¡± Meanwhile, Callum put on a smile as well. However, Matthew wiped the cold sweat off his forehead as he wasn¡¯t very pleased. Only then did Max realize he had fallen into their trap. Chapter 273 Chapter 273 Although Max had been fooled, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to blow his top when he saw how piteous Yelena looked. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not eager to get engaged on a whim?¡± Max looked at her face and asked seriously. ¡°I¡¯m not acting on a whim. I¡¯ve been meaning to marry you since I was sixteen. It¡¯s been three years now and I¡¯ve never changed my mind.¡± Yelena had been waiting for him for three years. During this period, she encountered too many things, which strengthened her belief that she was in love with Max. She would never have a change of heart. ¡°Alright, then. From now on, you have to obey everything I say.¡± Max sounded serious, but his words made Yelena feel vexed. She knew that she would be restricted by the man in many ways, but she didn¡¯t mind it, for she would be engaged to Max. I¡¯m on cloud nine! The others broke intoughter as they were happy for the young couple. Then, they discussed the date for the engagement party and confirmed that it would be on 20 May at 1.14PM, which was deemed to be an auspicious date and time in Chars. Elspeth then brought Yelena to the Azure Corporation¡¯s underground exhibition hall. As Yelena looked at those stunning evening gowns, she finally realized that she had been foolish to fight Emma over the wedding dress in Harvey¡¯s store. She almost missed a chance to get one of these beautiful dresses. ¡°You can just take any dress you want.¡± Clothes were supposed to be worn anyway. Furthermore, Yelena¡¯s build was simr to Elspeth¡¯s. As such, she would probably fit into one of these dresses. Yelena nodded and picked out a dress before joyfully entering the fitting room. When she reappeared, her face was reddish even though she hadn¡¯t put on any makeup. She turned around in front of the mirror as the pink hem expanded like a flower. ¡°It¡¯s gorgeous, Elspeth. How do I look?¡± Yelena chuckled, thinking that Max would be besotted if he saw Yelena in this dress. Elspeth nodded. ¡°You look wonderful, but there¡¯s one more thing you need.¡± She then took out a pearl ne from a box and wrapped it around Yelena¡¯s neck, which added a hint of elegance to the young woman. ¡°Alright. You can wear this on the engagement day.¡± Yelena asked curiously, ¡°What about you, Elspeth?¡± With a smile, Elspeth pointed at a pure white dress that was without any embroidery. The design looked simple but unimpressive. Furthermore, it didn¡¯t look like a wedding dress at all. ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s too in?¡± Yelena was baffled. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You¡¯ll find out on the engagement day.¡± Elspeth winked at Yelena and it set her mind at ease. Although Elspeth could be silly sometimes, there was no way she would make a mistake on her engagement day. As such, there was nothing to worry about. Then, Yelena turned to the mirror again and observed herself. Soon, the engagement day arrived. Since it was the engagement party of the two sons from the Winthrop Family, the daughter from the Sullivan Family, and the granddaughter from the Joneson Family, it was big news in Damoria. Although Elspeth wasn¡¯t close to the Joneson Family, they still sent a gift to her. Naturally, it was a gift from Frank, not Michael. There was also a letter attached to it. ¡®Elspeth, I can¡¯t believe you didn¡¯t invite me to your engagement party. Anyway, with Grandpa around, I can¡¯t possibly attend the party. You have no idea how furious he is. When you get married, I¡¯ll sneak out of the house and attend your party. This time, I¡¯m sending you a gift first.¡¯ Frank sounded humble in the letter. Elspeth smiled and epted the gift in silence. There was no denying Elspeth was the star on this day. Her already alluring face was made even more charming with this pure white dress. Everyone was stunned by her beauty. Due to this engagement party, Elspeth had been nicknamed the ¡®White Rose of Damoria¡¯. Max and Callum greeted the guests at the entrance. Since Yelena didn¡¯t have anything to do, she asked Elspeth to keep herpany and waited in the vi. She also gossiped with otherdies. Thesedies were all Yelena¡¯s friends and they looked haughty. ¡°Hey, Yelena. Now that you¡¯re finally engaged to a wealthy man, I hope you won¡¯t forget about us.¡± One of thedies sounded jealous as she said that. Elspeth instantly realized that this woman was arrogant and crafty. Perhaps she was jealous of Yelena because thetter had found happiness. ¡°I won¡¯t, Camille. We¡¯re all good friends. We said that we¡¯d make a lot of money together.¡± Yelena giggled, looking silly. Elspeth shook her head and wondered what was on Yelena¡¯s mind. She was always fierce to others but whenever she was with these cunning people who were her so-called friends, she would be as meek as a sheep. Just as Elspeth expected, the woman named Camille Parks went on to say, ¡°You¡¯re different now. You¡¯re engaged to a Winthrop, so you¡¯re affluent. We wouldn¡¯t darepare ourselves to you.¡± Yelena put on an embarrassed smile. Just as Elspeth was ready to stand up for Yelena to teach Camille a lesson, a gentle voice was heard saying, ¡°You can also find yourself a wealthy man. No one is stopping you.¡± The response was sarcastic but also somewhatical. Edmund is still as sharp-tongued as ever. Elspeth hadn¡¯t met Edmund for a long time. After he was done taking care of Theodore while the older man was sick, he joined a subsidiary to get some training. The moment he returned, he saw Yelena getting mocked. Edmund¡¯s words made Camille flush. The Winthrop men were all handsome and brilliant. If she could get together with one of them, she would make her family proud. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant, Mr. Winthrop.¡± Despite the smile on Edmund¡¯s face, he appeared distant and aloof. ¡°Although I don¡¯t get what you mean, I¡¯m amazed by how eloquent you are, Miss Parks. I suppose no one in Damoria will be a perfect match for you.¡± Camille initially thought that he wasplimenting her, but her expression soon changed. The man seemed to suggest that she was arrogant and ambitious but didn¡¯t have the qualities to secure a decent man for herself. She initially wanted to attract Edmund¡¯s attention, but she soon cast the idea away. After a snort, she turned around and left. If she stayed there any longer, she would probably be aughingstock in all of Damoria if word got out. When the others saw how embarrassed Camille looked, they ran away as well so as not to be humiliated. Elspeth took a look at Edmund and shed a smile at him. ¡°We haven¡¯t seen each other for a while. It seems that you¡¯ve be even more sharp-tongued.¡± ¡°I¡¯m nothingpared to you, Miss Lynwood. You managed to render me speechless back then. I was impressed.¡± Despite hisnguid voice, Edmund was still as annoying as ever. Elspeth smiled as she was used to the man¡¯s mockery. She decided to stop talking to him. Gifts continued to stream into the ce. When Elspeth realized that the rest were swamped with work, she decided to lend them a hand and epted the gifts with them. All of a sudden, a delicate box caught her attention. A familiar floral pattern had been carved on the wooden box. Elspeth¡¯s father used to be a carpenter, so she instantly recognized it was her father¡¯s signature floral pattern. She felt her chest tightening as she opened the box with trembling hands. There was nothing else in the box apart from a silvery gray ne. Elspeth pulled out a heart-shaped pendant with a hollow center from her clothes and ced it beside the gift. When the two heart-shaped pendants were put together, they matched perfectly. Chapter 274 Chapter 274 Elspeth¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She looked up and realized there was a long line of people waiting to pass them their gifts, and there was no end in sight. Meanwhile, the people who had presented the gifts already disappeared into the crowd. She asked the butler beside her anxiously, ¡°Mr. Wade, do you remember who passed us this gift?¡± Craig Wade was startled for a moment. The box looked special, so he remembered who gave them the gift. ¡°It was from ady in her forties who had a veil over her face. Why are you asking about it¡ª¡± Before he could finish his words, Elspeth stood up straight and lifted the hem of her gown. Then, she dashed out of the ce. When everyone saw Elspeth running away, they were shocked. Even Callum, who had always been calm and collected, turned gloomy. ¡°What is Elspeth doing, Callum? She looks like she¡¯s running away from all this.¡± Max was astounded by Elspeth¡¯s action. Callum felt his chest tightening as a sense of unease rose within him. ¡°We have to trust her. Let¡¯s wait for her return.¡± It was their engagement day, so Elspeth must be fully aware of the matter¡¯s seriousness. Since she still decided to go somewhere else, she must have her reasons for doing so. ¡°Why don¡¯t you run after her? I¡¯m worried she¡¯ll fall into danger.¡± Max frowned, riddled with anxiety. Callum nodded and pulled his tie before racing after the woman. Seeing that, everyone at the venue was astonished. What¡¯s going on? The stars of the engagement party subsequently left the ce. Have they been fooling us just to get our gifts? Many of them started specting and whispering among themselves. Left with no choice, Yelena and Max could only face the pressure and appease everyone. At the same time, they prayed that Elspeth and Callum woulde back sooner. ¡­ Meanwhile, after Elspeth left the ce, she realized that the gift¡¯s owner was nowhere in sight. Disappointed, she turned around and was ready to return to the engagement party. All of a sudden, someone called out to her from behind. ¡°It seems that your mother is truly important to you, which is why you left the venue in a dazed state.¡± Elspeth felt her back stiffen. She turned around and stared at Arthur. All of a sudden, she had a premonition. Arthur never appeared again after Eric taught him a lesson previously. Elspeth initially thought that he had learned his lesson, so she was surprised to realize that he had discovered one of her weaknesses. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t you been curious about your mother¡¯s condition? I¡¯m here to give you a clue.¡± Arthur smiled faintly. If Elspeth hadn¡¯t seen him acting ruthlessly before, she would¡¯ve thought that he was a pushover. ¡°What is the clue?¡± Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Arthur spread his hands. ¡°Haven¡¯t I already given it to you? I tried very hard to get the ne. Doesn¡¯t it belong to your mother?¡± Elspeth balled up her fists, but she never let her emotions show on her face. With a grim expression, she questioned, ¡°Where did you get this ne?¡± ¡°Well¡­ Haha. It took me a lot of effort to get it. Do you want to know?¡± ¡°Stop keeping me on tenterhooks.¡± Elspeth cracked her knuckles as though trying to threaten him. ¡°Tell me straight away if you¡¯re tactful. Otherwise, don¡¯t me me for being harsh on you.¡± Instead of getting frightened, Arthurughed arrogantly. ¡°Come on, then. If you dare beat me up, you¡¯ll never find any information about your mother.¡± Arthur was confident that Elspeth wouldn¡¯t dare to make a move on him, so he was at ease. ¡°What do you want, then?¡± It hade to a point where Elspeth no longer needed to be polite with him. ¡°Don¡¯t you know what I want?¡± Arthur looked at her and put on an inscrutable smile. ¡°Break up with Callum, and I¡¯ll tell you everything.¡± Elspeth put on aical expression. ¡°You have lost the right to inherit the Winthrop Family¡¯s wealth. What¡¯s the point of you making me break up with Callum?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll never get it. I hate Callum. As long as you break up with him, he¡¯ll be downcast. I love seeing him suffer, and I¡¯ll be pleased that way.¡± When Arthur envisioned Callum looking miserable after the breakup, he felt thrilled. ¡°If that¡¯s your n, forget it. I won¡¯t agree to it.¡± She wasn¡¯t in a rush to look for her mother. At any rate, she wouldn¡¯t want to affect her rtionship with Callum for a so-called clue. Just as she was ready to leave, Arthur broke another piece of shocking news to her. ¡°Your mother is in danger. Don¡¯t you want to know where she is?¡± Elspeth¡¯s face fell. ¡°How do you know?¡± ¡°Hahaha, I said that I¡¯ll only tell you everything after you break up with Callum.¡± Elspeth hung her head low as a hint of hesitation shed across her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to his nonsense, Elspeth.¡± The moment Callum arrived, he saw Arthur trying to brainwash Elspeth. How dare Arthur try to make Elspeth break up with me?! Is he sick of living? Callum¡¯s gaze darkened as he looked coldly at Arthur. ¡°Callum.¡± Upon the man¡¯s arrival, Elspeth stood beside him and lowered her head meekly. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to run away. I just discovered a trace that might lead me to find my mother.¡± Fortunately, Elspeth didn¡¯t fall into Arthur¡¯s trap. Otherwise, she would¡¯ve been caught red-handed by Callum. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I understand.¡± Callum stroked her head and motioned for her to calm down. ¡°Haha. I knew you wouldn¡¯t¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯ll punish you when we get home.¡± Callum directly announced that she was guilty. Elspeth was petrified, thinking that the man wouldn¡¯t let her off easily this time. ¡°You¡¯re here as well, Callum. What a coincidence.¡± Arthur wasn¡¯t afraid at all. Perhaps he now had a powerful backer, so he was more confident. Callum hummed and said, ¡°Arthur, if you dare lure Elspeth out again like this and y any tricks, I¡¯ll dump you at the downtown of Damoria instead of just any road.¡± Arthur didn¡¯t expect Callum to mock him by bringing up the humiliating incident back then. As such, his expression turned gloomy at once. It was the most humiliating thing that ever happened to him. At that time, he was stripped bare and dumped onto a street. The passers-by criticized him for being shameless. Regardless of how hard he tried, he could barely conceal his private parts. He would never want to experience that again in his life. How dare you, Callum?! ¡°Callum, since you¡¯ve said such things, I won¡¯t tell you anything about Elspeth¡¯s mother.¡± He wasn¡¯t a pushover. Since he was humiliated in such a way, he had to defend his dignity. ¡°Whatever. We don¡¯t need your help finding Elspeth¡¯s mother.¡± Callum turned to Elspeth and said calmly, ¡°Let¡¯s go back. Everyone is waiting for us at the engagement party.¡± Chapter 275 Chapter 275 Elspeth was caught in a dilemma. On one hand, she had a concrete lead about her mother; on the other, there was the engagement party that they had prepared for a long time. As such, she kept quiet and lowered her eyes. ¡°See, Callum? Elspeth¡¯s torn apart. Stop interfering with her decision.¡± Arthur raised a brow since he was certain that Elspeth would choose him. ¡°Callum, I really want to figure out that lead¡­¡± She had an uneasy expression on her face. ¡°Can you give me some time to find out more before we return to the ceremony?¡± Callum couldn¡¯t bear to look at her dainty expression and let out a chuckle. ¡°I got it. It doesn¡¯t need to be soplicated. Come with me to the engagement party, and I¡¯ll get my men to interrogate him.¡± Arthur¡¯s smile gradually disappeared. What? Are they going to proceed with the engagement party while I get interrogated? This is a joke! He raised his arm, and a few burly men came out from behind him. ¡°I wanted to y nice, but you¡¯ve left me with no choice!¡± It didn¡¯t matter if Callum and Elspeth were good fighters. He wasn¡¯t afraid of them with the number of men he brought with him. ¡°Go! Catch them!¡± ¡°Arthur, bring your men and have tea with ke.¡± Callum wasn¡¯t overly nervous and waved his hands confidently. With that, a bunch of people also showed up behind him. A sense of dread climbed up Arthur¡¯s back. ¡°It¡¯s an even matchup, Callum. Are you sure you want to fight? It¡¯s hard to tell who thest one standing will be.¡± Elspeth smiled as that wasn¡¯t the case at all. ¡°Come on out.¡± At the end of her order, another group of people appeared out of nowhere. Shocked, Arthur wondered who those people were. They were so well hidden that even his men couldn¡¯t sense their presence! ¡°Now, are we still even?¡± Elspeth lookedzily at Arthur and snickered as she saw the blood draining from his face. ¡°Be more prepared the next time you¡¯re trying to catch someone, Arthur. It must feel terrible to have this backfire on you.¡± Arthur¡¯s heart dropped. He was done for this time. ¡°Let the boys y, Callum. We should head back to the engagement party.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t want to waste time there since they had the upper hand with the number of men they had, especially since her men were top-notch experts who had gone through vigorous training. As such, Arthur¡¯s men probably wouldn¡¯tst long. Callum nodded and ordered his men, ¡°I want him alive. The rest don¡¯t matter.¡± The strength they used would decide if the men would live or die. Arthur panicked after Callum and Elspeth left. There were too many of them, and he was going to die there. As he was thinking, both parties started fighting. He ran to the side and attempted to get away amidst the chaos. In the next second, Elspeth¡¯s men noticed him and grabbed his cor. ¡°Let me go! I¡¯ll give you the money. I¡¯ll give you lots of money!¡± That man snorted. ¡°We serve them, not money. I¡¯ll crush you if you continue using money to insult us.¡± Since Elspeth only needed Arthur alive, it didn¡¯t matter if he was hurt or not. ¡°You! How much did Elspeth give you? I¡¯ll give you double!¡± Seeing that Arthur still didn¡¯t get the memo, the man pped him. ¡°How many times have I told you?! Unless you¡¯re also one of the leaders of Evil Wind Sect, we are only loyal to her!¡± ¡°E-Evil Wind Sect?¡± Arthur had heard of this group, but he never thought that she was involved in it. ¡°That¡¯s enough. You¡¯re too talkative¡ªeven more than Miss Elspeth.¡± That man dug his ears annoyingly as he got ready to tie Arthur up. Suddenly, a few shadows appeared out of nowhere with better skills than them. The man was rmed, and he asked his people to be cautious while guarding Arthur since he was the hostage. However, it seemed that those people weren¡¯t there to fight; they were there to take Arthur away, and their gazesnded on the man being held captive. Everyone was on high alert at the sudden appearance of the fourth group of people. The people who showed up did not stall. They hurled a smoke bomb and fogged the area. When the rest managed to open their eyes, the people were gone along with Arthur. ¡°Quick! Report to Miss Elspeth!¡± ¡°She¡¯s at the engagement party, though. We shouldn¡¯t disturb her, right?¡± ¡°Go after them, then. One of you will stay back and inform her when the engagement party is over.¡± ¡­ When Elspeth and Callum returned, the chaotic hall suddenly became quiet. Some of them were disappointed as they thought things would go south. They put on gloomy faces when they saw that Elspeth and Callum¡¯s expressions were normal as if nothing had happened. Max and Yelena, on the other hand, were finally relieved. This was their first time taking the lead, so it was fortunate that nothing went wrong. ¡°Alright. Everyone is here. Let¡¯s start.¡± Callum¡¯s voice was filled with a tenderness that had never been heard before. Elspeth nodded. Suddenly, a burst ofughter could be heard from the door before she said anything. It sounded like Eric¡¯s voice. She turned her head around and saw him standing at the door. He waste, but Elspeth frowned at the person who was with him. Emma? It seemed that Emma was also unhappy with the situation. Eric had told her that he would bring her to an event to help her reappear before the public¡¯s eyes. In the end, it turned out to be Elspeth¡¯s engagement party. If she had known earlier, she would have dressed up more to take Elspeth¡¯s limelight and relieve her anger! ¡°I don¡¯t suppose I¡¯mte, am I?¡± Eric ced his present aside while speaking gently. ¡°Of course not. If you were anyter, you would be joining the baby shower.¡± Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Eric raised a brow at that. That was quite typical of Elspeth. ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s good that you¡¯re here, but why did you bring an outsider with you?¡± Elspeth tilted her chin up with a yful smile. ¡°I don¡¯t remember inviting Miss Walker, though?¡± Emma never expected Elspeth to disrespect her like that, especially in front of everyone else. ¡°What do you mean? You should be honored that I¡¯m here!¡± Emma was afraid of garnering too much attention and lowered her voice despite being proud. ¡°Honor? Emma, you know very well if your presence is appreciated or not. You¡¯re not wee here. Please leave.¡± Elspeth¡¯s tone was sharp, and it seemed as though she wanted to throw Emma out immediately. At the same time, she shot daggers at Eric. However, he touched his nose asughter filled his eyes. He wasn¡¯t afraid of her. ¡°Alright, I was the one who brought her here. Let it go.¡± Her tone changed. ¡°You brought my fianc¨¦¡¯s ex-girlfriend to my engagement party. What are you thinking? I know that you foreigners don¡¯t care about such things, but since you¡¯re here, please respect my culture.¡± Elspeth was infuriated, and her gaze turned icy. Chapter 276 Chapter 276 Elspeth didn¡¯t have a big temper, but Emma¡¯s appearance was just adding fuel to the fire. ¡°You don¡¯t want me here? I didn¡¯t even want toe!¡± Emma felt disgusted to see Elspeth and Callum being all lovey-dovey. Just as she was about to leave, Eric grabbed her arm. ¡°You stay here. Do you not want to debut again?¡± She was stunned for a moment. This was the only way left for her to debut, and she couldn¡¯t lose Eric¡¯s help no matter what. Elspeth frowned without saying anything, for she saw Eric mouthing the words, ¡°I have my reasons.¡± Although she was taken aback, she immediately let it go. Eric would never hurt her, so they would talk about it after the engagement ceremony. With that, they continued the ceremony as conflicting thoughts filled the people sitting at the front. ke¡¯s eyes were filled with relief; Edmund was smiling yfully; and a hint of sadness shed across Eric¡¯s eyes. Only Emma was engulfed in rage that almost burned away all reasoning. All of this was supposed to be hers. Elspeth took everything from her! The engagement ceremony was almost over, and everyone began digging into their food. Then, Eric pulled Elspeth to a corner. ¡°Exin. Why did you bring Emma over?¡± If he failed to give a good reason, Elspeth was going to give him a big p. He spoke in a serious tone he rarely had. ¡°I was afraid that Emma would plot with Arthur to ruin the engagement party. It would be better to put her under our noses. That way, we¡¯d feel safer since she¡¯s under our watch.¡± This was something Elspeth failed to consider, but Eric had thought about it on her behalf. He was right. Arthur had tried to ruin the engagement, so Emma might try to do something as well. Elspeth became teary-eyed when she thought about it. ¡°Thank you, Eric.¡± Looking at her slightly reddened eyes, he patted her on the head. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s over. What¡¯s important is that I saved Princess Elspeth¡¯s engagement party.¡± Despite saying that, disappointment filled his eyes. If he was braver, perhaps he would be the one standing by her side now. ¡°Eric, you can alwayse to me if you ever get in trouble. I will do everything in my power to help you.¡± This was her biggest wish. Eric took a deep breath and smiled. ¡°What help would I need from you? Don¡¯t forget my dad is Oil Magnate. I¡¯m rich, and no one dares to bully me.¡± Elspethughed heartily. ¡°Yes, indeed.¡± ¡°Alright, hurry back. Callum looks like he¡¯s going to kill me.¡± When she turned her head, she saw Callum looking at them intently. It seemed like he wasn¡¯t too happy. As such, she stuck her tongue out. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll head back now.¡± ¡°Go on.¡± Eric inevitably felt sad as he watched Elspeth run into Callum¡¯s embrace. The girl he liked for so many years had just gotten engaged to someone else. Eric had liked her since she stood up for someone else when she was 16. However, he was timid and didn¡¯t dare confess to her, missing out on the opportunity. After that, he met all sorts of people. Some had her nose while few had her eyes, but they all couldn¡¯t compare to the cold, yet yful and adorable Elspeth in his dreams. It was a pity now that he thought about it. However, all that mattered was that she was happy. Elspeth didn¡¯t notice how heartbroken Eric was as he stood behind her, but Callum saw it. His eyes were sharp as he looked at her and asked in a cold voice, ¡°What did you talk to him about?¡± Elspeth noticed the jealousy and chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m back now, aren¡¯t I? It¡¯s nothing. He was telling me why he brought Emma over.¡± ¡°Oh? Just that? He was touching you, though.¡± Callum saw Eric patting her head. They looked too close for hisfort, and he wanted to chop his hands off. ¡°Come on, he was being nice. Don¡¯t be angry. You can pat me if it bothers you.¡± She pouted unhappily. ¡°Fine. Since he was doing it for you, I¡¯ll let it go.¡± Callum pinched her cheeks and sighed. ¡°That¡¯s great.¡± Before they could say more, someone came over to look for Elspeth. Elspeth realized it was one of her men from the Evil Wind Sect. She became serious and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± That person didn¡¯t look too good as he lowered his voice. ¡°Miss Elspeth, Arthur ran away!¡± ¡°What? There are so many of you. How did he run away?¡± Elspeth wasn¡¯t ming them. She was just surprised. Did Arthur have magical abilities? ¡°That¡¯s not it. A group of people showed up out of nowhere, and they had better skills than us. They came to bring Arthur away without a fight.¡± Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. He felt hopeless. If they fought, they could¡¯ve had a chance at winning. However, the other group threw a smoke bomb and temporarily hindered their vision. It seemed like they came prepared. ¡°It seemed like Arthur was well-prepared. It¡¯s okay. I can go after him myself if they can¡¯t catch him.¡± The forces behind Arthur wereplex, and she hadn¡¯t quite figured them out yet. ¡°By the way, Miss Elspeth, there¡¯s one more thing.¡± After making sure that Elspeth seemed okay, he slowly reported, ¡°Mr. Payne¡­ ising to Damoria tomorrow.¡± She was speechless. Her face went through a drastic change, and that person swallowed before leaving. Callum noticed her panic and helplessness. He asked, ¡°Who is Mr. Payne?¡± She was the founder of the Evil Wind Sect, and he wasn¡¯t shocked when he found out about it. After all, she was a woman of many surprises, and this wasn¡¯t out of the ordinary. However, Mr. Payne was a man. Callum suddenly felt he had a love rival. Elspeth wiped the cold sweat on her forehead and let out a dryugh. ¡°Haha. Mr. Payne¡­He¡¯s a devil.¡± Elspeth had been tortured by Gilbert for two whole years. After all the endless training and real-lifebat, she would cry if she saw him now. How could a retired special force be so vicious? ¡°He¡¯sing tomorrow, huh? To look for you?¡± Those words were pretty normal, but they sounded weird being put together. Callum didn¡¯t feel happy about it. ¡°It¡¯s fine. He¡¯s not mean to other people.¡± Elspethughed. ¡°I¡¯ll introduce you guys.¡± Callum huffed coldly and replied, ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary.¡± It was then she finally realized that he was jealous. ¡°We have a normal rtionship. He¡¯s the trainer and I¡¯m the trainee. Most importantly, he¡¯s eight years older than me. I won¡¯t fall for him.¡± Eight years older, huh? He must be an uncle. Elspeth rolled her eyes. If he visited tomorrow, she wouldn¡¯t give in. Chapter 277 Chapter 277 Early the next day, Elspeth was woken up by a call. She rubbed her eyes, then reached out and felt for her phone below her pillow. Then, she answered the call. Her eyes were swollen from the grogginess. It was already 10.00PMst night when she was done entertaining the guests. By the time she washed up andy in bed, it was already past midnight. The voiceing from the other end of the line was familiar and cold. The man¡¯s hoarse voice sounded. ¡°Elspeth.¡± The woman woke with a start. She sat up on the bed, and the sunlight from the window coincidentally shone in her eyes. She hastily covered her eyes as she said, ¡°Are you back, Gilbert?¡± ¡°Hm, I thought I told them to inform you yesterday. Are you still in bed right now? Are you cking off because I haven¡¯t trained you in a while?¡± Gilbert¡¯s voice was low and crisp, and it sounded especially nice in the morning when he was still half- asleep. ¡°Of course not! How could I possibly ck off? I woke up at 5.00AM and went for a jog, then went home for a nap. I never ck off.¡± Elspeth lied, her eyes darting around as she did so. When she saw that the quartz clock on the milky white wall showed noon, her face turned pale. ¡°That¡¯s quite a long nap you took.¡± Gilbert couldn¡¯t be bothered to expose her. He was pulling his luggage behind him while he walked, and the wheels were rumbling on the ground. ¡°Where are you now? Shall I go fetch you?¡± Elspeth propped her phone between her ear and shoulder as she began rummaging through her closet. ¡°Or just tell me your location, and I¡¯ll go find you.¡± When Gilbert heard the crashing noises on the other end of the line, he knew that Elspeth was probably bustling about again. He couldn¡¯t help but let out a chuckle. ¡°It¡¯s okay, you don¡¯t have toe and get me. I¡¯m already at the rented house.¡± ¡°What?¡± Elspeth was slightly stunned. ¡°It¡¯s not like you¡¯recking money; why would you stay at a rented house?¡± As they spoke, Gilbert had already arrived at a slightly worn-down residential building. He proceeded to open the door with a key. It wasn¡¯t a huge room, but other than the thinyer of dust, it looked clean and tidy. ¡°Before I was 18, I stubbornly moved out and started working. This is the very house I lived in back then, but sadly¡­¡± Gilbert narrowed his eyes as he began to reminisce. ¡°Sadly, my parents passed away after that, and I never came back.¡± Elspeth knew this incident had always bothered him, so she didn¡¯t say much about it as she changed the topic. ¡°Well, Harper and I will visit you tonight after 6.00PM. Let¡¯s get some drinks.¡± Gilbert put down his backpack and sat on the couch, propping his feet up. ¡°Oh, what¡¯s this? Is Mr. Winthrop willing to let his fianc¨¦e go out for drinks with someone else in the middle of the night?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not a man, anyway. What¡¯s more, Harper is totally out of the question.¡± Elspethughed, then instantly realized she had said something wrong as she covered her mouth. ¡°Fine, quit the nonsense. I¡¯m going to shower. Carry on with whatever you¡¯re supposed to do.¡± Gilbert had always been a decisive person, and he hung up pretty quickly. Elspeth was slightly bewildered as she sat on the pile of clothes. Her heart was a mess. Just then, someone knocked on her door. The sound was very light and based on its frequency, it sounded like Callum¡¯s habitual knock. Elspeth opened the door to see Callum standing in front of her. His lips were pursed, and there was a dull light in his eyes. ¡°Are you going out tonight?¡± Elspeth opened her mouth, but she couldn¡¯t say anything. By the looks of it, Callum must have heard their conversation and misunderstood something. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m going out tonight to celebrate Gilbert¡¯s return.¡± This matter was as normal as could be, but Elspeth saw a look of disappointment flitting across his eyes. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Elspeth asked carefully. Callum¡¯s shoulders drooped as he shook his head and said, ¡°Nothing. Go ahead. Don¡¯te back too late.¡± Elspeth gulped. ¡°You¡¯re not jealous, are you?¡± ¡°No.¡± How can I not be jealous? Still, Callum didn¡¯t say those words and smiled at her instead. After bidding goodbye, he turned around and went back to the corridor, then leaned against the wall. The notifications on his phone were ringing non-stop. With great effort, he took out his phone and watched as photos were being sent to him. His heart sank. In the photos, Elspeth and Gilbert seemed quite intimate with each other. They visited the amusement park, went on the merry-go-round, had dumplings, and even shared an ice cream. Toward the end, he received a photo of a yellowed love letter with exquisite handwriting. The letter was signed ¡®Elspeth¡¯. This is from N?velDrama.Org. As Callum looked at those photos, his heart seemed to have constricted, and he couldn¡¯t breathe. The photo transfer was finallyplete, and Arthur¡¯s name blinked on the screen. ¡®Callum, you probably don¡¯t know that Elspeth liked someone when she was overseas, right?¡¯ ¡®Yup, that man is her mentor. They spent their happiest times together, and they looked so sweet.¡¯ ¡®See, Elspeth isn¡¯tpletely ignorant about love. That love letter was written so well that even I found it blinding.¡¯ ¡®Callum, has Elspeth ever treated you like that?¡¯ Arthur¡¯s messages came to a stop, and that was thest message in the chatroom. Callum lowered his gaze, his long eyshes quivering. ¡®You have no right to discuss our private matters.¡¯ After Callum sent the message, he locked his phone. The door to Elspeth¡¯s room was already shut, and a wall separated the two. Callum stared at it for a while, then sighed deeply and walked away. In the bedroom, Elspeth only felt confused. Callum¡¯s behavior today was too odd. In the past, even if he were jealous, he would force her to apologize and surrender, so why did he look so hurt just now? She took out her phone, typed out a string of words, then deleted them again. Never mind. She would ask him when he opened up about it. She picked a white belted dress and put it on. Her corbone was exposed, and the dress also enhanced her perfect figure. After applying some light makeup, she tied her hair and gathered her things, then went out. Elspeth made a call to Harper, but she didn¡¯t expect Harper to know about Gilbert¡¯s return before she did. Harper had even gone to pick up Gilbert at the airport, and he teased Elspeth for oversleeping and missing the flight. Elspeth couldn¡¯t stand all the nagging, so she hastily hung up and called up Lisa instead. ¡°Lisa, Gilbert just came back today. Let¡¯s have a gathering at Luna Bar.¡± Lisa nodded and said yes. Elspeth was about to hang up when a weird voice sounded from the other end of the line. The voice was quite familiar. It sounded like¡­ ke! ¡°Lisa, why are you still with ke?¡± Lisa creased her pretty eyebrows while ke dragged her to the w machine. She felt a headache coming on as she said, ¡°Elspeth, I can¡¯t exin this to you right now. I¡¯ll tell you when we meet up tonight.¡± What could it be that Lisa couldn¡¯t exin in a few sentences? Elspeth was speechless. After hanging up, Elspeth drove the sports car she named Night Elf and headed right to Luna Bar. When she arrived, someone seemed to be causing a ruckus at the entrance of Luna Bar. Elspeth turned off the engine and got out of the car. At a nce, she could spot Gilbert standing out among the crowd. Chapter 278 Chapter 278 Gilbert was almost six feet tall, and his muscles were well-defined. Paired with his dashing eyes, he was truly an attractive man, and he formed a stark contrast to the short men around him. But now, more importantly, a group of people stood next to him, and they looked like they were looking for trouble. Elspeth didn¡¯t approach them. She stood at the back of the crowd, silently watching the drama unfold. She wanted to know how Gilbert would deal with those people. ¡°How many times did I f*cking tell you? Apologize! What are you, deaf?¡± Gilbert nced at him coldly. ¡°How are you worthy of my apology?¡± ¡°Hah, am I not worthy? Don¡¯t you know who I am? I¡¯m the owner of this territory. Anyone who offends me will be punished, no exceptions!¡± The man was wearing arge gold chain, and his clothes were luxurious and gaudy. He had a dark patch on the right side of his eye, tarnishing his already unremarkable face. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s amazing.¡± Gilbert flicked his wrist. ¡°Come at me, then. Are you guys fighting solo, or is everyone going to attack at the same time?¡± ¡°Hmph! You¡¯ll regret this!¡± The man spat as he red viciously at Gilbert. Then, hemanded the people around him in a harsh voice, ¡°Get him! Beat this man to death, or else!¡± Fearing the consequences, theckeys rushed forward with their bare hands. In just two seconds, Gilbert broke one of the men¡¯s arms with great ease. When the other two heard the crisp cracking noise, they paused in their tracks. Gilbert pulled out a tissue from his pocket and wiped his hands, then tossed the tissue in disgust onto the man, who now had a dislocated arm. ¡°Is that all?¡± He was fast! The people around them shared this exact sentiment. They were watching the fight up front, so they could see better. The people behind them couldn¡¯t even catch what was going on and only heard a wail that reached the skies. ¡°Who¡­ Who exactly are you?¡± The rich man at the front widened his eyes as he staggered backward in fear. Fortunately, the two lackeys behind him reached out and caught him in time. ¡°Who am I? That¡¯s Mr. Payne for you.¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t bear it any longer. Gilbert was sessfully showing off, but she didn¡¯t want him to keep messing around. As such, she parted the crowd and stood in front of everyone. This was Gilbert¡¯s first time seeing Elspeth after his return. Seeing her exquisite features and collected aura, Gilbert frowned. The white dress was wasted on her. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ck dresses suited her better, for she was like Venus shining in the night. Elspeth nced at the group, then said calmly, ¡°Luna Bar does not wee troublemakers. Please leave immediately.¡± The people looked at Gilbert, who was standing nearby in an upright posture. They grinned while saying mockingly, ¡°You¡¯re getting chased out too!¡± Gilbert was unaffected. Instead, Elspeth red at the person coldly and said, ¡°He is my customer. You¡¯re no match for him.¡± To be honest, if Gilbert hadn¡¯t insisted on feigning meekness, she would have exposed Gilbert¡¯s identity right then and there so that everyone would know he was the big bad wolf! But now, she could only maintain appearances for Gilbert. ¡°That¡¯s enough, let¡¯s not stoop to his level.¡± Gilbert spoke calmly, then turned around and went up the steps to head inside. The man behind them widened his eyes so much that his eyeballs might fall out at any second. What did he mean by that? Who is stooping to whose level now?! The man was pissed, but this was Elspeth¡¯s territory, and he knew how cruel Elspeth could be. He couldn¡¯t do anything but run away with his men. Damn it! I¡¯ll make them pay for this! Elspeth watched him leave, then held in augh as she followed Gilbert up the steps. After pushing open the clear ss door, Gilbert was greeted with the brilliant sight of drinks, lights, and riches. Despite that, he frowned. ¡°This is so boring.¡± ¡°Sir, you have to remember that this is Chars. If you get too wild, you¡¯ll be sent to jail.¡± Elspeth chuckled, then skillfully ordered his favorite drink, Angel¡¯s Kiss. ¡°I stopped drinking that forever ago. Give me some whiskey.¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes. ¡°Lame.¡± The two took their drinks to a VIP seat. They had just taken their seats when Harper came over. ¡°Wow, you rushed here the day after your engagement banquet. Looks like Gilbert is still important to you, eh?¡± As soon as he said that, Harper instantly realized he had said something wrong. He awkwardly picked up the drink on the table and downed it. After he finished it, he met Elspeth¡¯s calm gaze. ¡°That was my drink.¡± Pfft¡ª Harper almost spat the drink out. ¡°Anyway, I came back to settle some matters, so I probably won¡¯t stay here for long.¡± Gilbert fiddled with the mechanical watch on his wrist, a dark look in his eyes. Elspeth was intrigued. ¡°What is it? Tell me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m investigating the cause of my parents¡¯ death.¡± His words instantly sparked a light in Elspeth¡¯s eyes. ¡°That¡¯s great! I¡¯m also investigating my mother¡¯s whereabouts. Gilbert, why don¡¯t you help me investigate as well?¡± Gilbert made a gesture with his mouth, forcing Elspeth to shrink back. He said, ¡°In your dreams.¡± ¡°Come on, Elspeth, your mother¡¯s matters aren¡¯t urgent. At least thest incident proves that your mother is still alive and well, and she can stillmunicate with you. As for why she didn¡¯t meet you in person, she must have had her reasons for doing so. I think you should be able to see that.¡± Elspeth rubbed her fingers against the wine ss, then nodded. It was true that she could understand the situation, and that was why she wasn¡¯t rushing to dispatch everyone to look for her mother. If the engagement gift was an opportunity, then she was waiting for the next one. ¡°Let¡¯s deal with Gilbert¡¯s matters first. By the way, Gilbert, there¡¯s something I¡¯ve been meaning to ask you. Are you actually from the regr Payne Family in Damoria or the Payne Family in ydal?¡± If it were the former, then Gilbert probably didn¡¯t have toe here in person. Just as expected, Gilbert simply blinked as he replied, ¡°The Payne Family of ydal.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± Elspeth was fuming as she red at him. Gilbert thought that she was being unreasonable. ¡°You didn¡¯t ask. Also, there was a period when I used to go to ydal every day. I thought you would¡¯ve guessed that already.¡± Elspeth was at a loss for words. Gilbert was probably right. In the past, the Payne Family from ydal was one of the top three families along with the Joneson Family and the Carr Family. The Payne Family dealt in military matters, whereas the Joneson Family focused on business and the Carr Family dabbled in politics. If she remembered correctly, the Payne Family was destroyed ten years ago. The entire Payne Residence turned into ash overnight, and no survivors were left. She heard that of all the Paynes, only the youngest son escaped the tragedy because he was studying overseas. Oddly enough, no one investigated this incident, and someone even suppressed it instead. Thus, the fall of the Paynes was left unsolved. Elspeth was especially careful when she mentioned this tragedy, for she feared that Gilbert might be saddened by it. She didn¡¯t expect him to act like he wasn¡¯t involved at all, for he was looking at Elspeth with a faint smile on his lips right now. Chapter 279 Chapter 279 It was no wonder Gilbert¡¯s appearance stood out among the crowd. His mother was the most beautiful woman in ydal, and his father was also a well-known noble there. Naturally, their children wouldn¡¯t look too shabby either. As Elspeth gazed at his faint smile, she somehow thought of a term to describe him¡ªhis beauty was unparalleled. ¡°What are you looking at? We¡¯ve known each other for so long, yet you¡¯re still stunned by my good looks, eh?¡± When Gilbert said this, he didn¡¯t blush in the slightest. He had broad shoulders, a slender waist, and long legs. With his exquisite facial features thrown into the mix, no one would doubt his ims. Elspeth chuckled, then raised her wine ss and took a sip. ¡°What do you mean, stunned by your good looks? I¡¯m just thinking, what right do you have to be so handsome? You¡¯re not making use of your looks, after all.¡± Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Gilbert¡¯s most obvious strength was his good looks, and it was also the aspect of him that people envied the most. However, it was also something he valued the least. He even hated people telling him that he looked good. When Gilbert heard Elspeth¡¯s words, his expression instantly turned foul. He was about to lecture Elspeth when another person joined their table. ¡°Hey there, Elspeth, Harper, Gilbert. I got dyed because something happened on my way here. Sorry.¡± Lisa camete. Gilbert didn¡¯t want to lecture Elspeth in front of an audience, so he gave up. Harper put on a regretful expression, earning a vicious re from Elspeth. ¡°Right, I have something to ask you about.¡± Elspeth sat Lisa down beside her and began to interrogate, ¡°What exactly is going on between you and ke? Why are you two together all the time? Did he threaten you?¡± Even Lisa was exasperated at the topic. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on with him these days. He suddenly started talking to me every day, asking me to y sports with him and go shopping with him, and he even wanted me to be his manager. I had too much to drink the other day, and while I was drunk, he sneakily used my fingerprint to sign the contract, so I¡¯m his manager now.¡± Elspeth was at a loss for words. ¡°Are you saying that you two secretly signed a contract under mypany without my knowledge? Does Timothy know?¡± Elspeth felt a headacheing on. If ke had feelings for Lisa, judging by his history as a yboy, he would get tired of her soon and dump her. No, she wouldn¡¯t allow this to happen! Lisa smiled awkwardly. ¡°It was already toote when Timothy found out. The contract was already signed by then, and ke insisted I be his manager, or he¡¯d go on strike. As such, Timothy just smiled and agreed.¡± ¡°What do you feel about this, then?¡± Elspeth stared at Lisa intently as though she¡¯d burn a hole through the woman¡¯s face. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to reject him either.¡± Lisa suddenly rememberedst night when ke got drunk and tugged at her sleeve, saying that he wanted to buy clothes for her. ¡°Your wardrobe is all ck, white, and gray. Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s a little depressing? Come on, I¡¯ll buy some nice clothes for you. You¡¯re freshly grown up, so you should wear more colors¡­¡± Lisa didn¡¯t protest; she just thought he was funny. He dragged her to the nearest clothing store, but the shop was already closed for the day. He made a fuss and took out a card, then tossed it into the shop owner¡¯s hands, saying he had five million on the card and that he wanted to buy the entire shop. He even told the shop owner the password. Shocked, the shop owner ran to a nearby bank to check, only to find out that everything ke said was true. In case ke regretted his decisions, the shop owner hastily took out the keys to the shop and tossed them into ke¡¯s hands, then quickly ran away. With that, only two people were left¡ªke, who was smiling goofily, and Lisa, who was helpless. ¡°This is my first time buying clothes for a woman¡­ If you¡¯re okay with it, just wear them. You should know that I¡¯m the best actor, and my tastes¡­ are the best as well¡­¡± I see. Is that why you bought a shop selling children¡¯s clothes? Lisa thought. ke slumped sleepily onto the floor of the shop. Lisa was thinking of ridiculing him when he woke up, but she couldn¡¯t just leave him alone, so she stayed with him until daybreak. In the end, when ke woke up the next day, he wasn¡¯t even remotely surprised when he saw her. He even took her to the arcade. Lisa never had so much fun in her entire life. It was fascinating, but also terrifying. Seeing that Lisa was absorbed in her memories, Elspeth sighed helplessly. Looks like this girl is invested now. She had to find ke and have a chat with him to find out what he was trying to do with Lisa. ¡°Come on, we¡¯re here to wee Gilbert back, not to hear a girly talk.¡± Harper¡¯s words caused Lisa to blush fiercely. Then, Harper continued, ¡°Let¡¯s y a game. Whoever loses will dance on the stage. How does that sound?¡± Elspeth raised an eyebrow. ¡°Sure. What game are we ying?¡± ¡°Word chain,¡± Gilbert said calmly. Elspeth immediately dropped her smile. Anyone who knew Elspeth knew that she was bad at her studies. If they yed word games, she would be the first to lose. ¡°I¡¯m not ying. You guys have fun.¡± Elspeth turned around angrily, then watched the prettydies dancing on the stage. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You¡¯re already in your 20s. Are you so chicken that you don¡¯t even dare y word games?¡± Gilbert¡¯s voice waszy but filled with ridicule, making Elspeth both pissed and annoyed. She wanted to decline, but she didn¡¯t want to back down either, so she could only say yes. However, no matter how hard she tried, her capabilities were limited. The most she could do was dy her imminent defeat. After three rounds, Elspeth camest in all of them. Exasperated, she put on her sunsses and mask, then walked onto the stage. When the DJ noticed Elspeth giving them a look, he immediately changed the music. As the music sounded, Elspeth began moving her alluring and attractive figure. Her dance was even more striking and better executed than some professional dancers. Even Gilbert and the others were stunned for a moment. Elspeth was performing a pop dance. Though it was fiery, it wasn¡¯t sexual at all. Apart from dancing on stage, she even got off the stage and interacted with the audience halfway through. She was sending looks everywhere, and as soon as her numbing gaze fell upon a person, that person would feel a chill running down their spine. When the dance ended, the audience was bewildered for a moment. Soon, thunderous apuse filled the room. Elspeth smiled, then prepared to get off the stage. ¡°The future young mistress of the Winthrop Family is different at night, isn¡¯t she?¡± The voice was extremely familiar, especially to Elspeth. When she heard that voice, she was immediately on high alert. She turned around. Just as expected, she noticed Emma in a corner slowly walking up to her. Emma was smiling victoriously as she waltzed up to Elspeth, then looked mercifully at thetter. ¡°Elspeth, I¡¯ve already recorded your dance. How unbing of you! Say, if the people who love you, or Callum, saw that, what would they think?¡± Chapter 280 Chapter 280 Without flinching, Elspeth turned her attention to Emma and smiled a bloodthirsty grin. ¡°I have tolerated you for a long time, Emma. Are you sure you want to continue angering me?¡± Suddenly, Emma felt shivers run down her spine at the sight of her, but she kept her back straight because she still had the upper hand. ¡°You¡¯re the one who is in the wrong here. Enough with the nonsense.¡± ¡°Do you see me trembling in fear? Send it if you have the courage, Emma, but if you can¡¯t bring yourself to do so, then stop bothering me.¡± In response, Emma huffed coldly, ¡°Who said I couldn¡¯t?¡± She then initiated a chat with Callum and prepared to send the video to him. Nevertheless, Elspeth remained calm as if nothing had happened. Soon, Emma¡¯s face twisted into an ugly look. ¡°He blocked me¡­ Did you do this?¡± She had not expected Elspeth to have such a trump card in her sleeve. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Cal will see it eventually.¡± Emma ran her fingers through her hair as a radiant smile spread across her face. ¡°Tomorrow, I will hand-deliver the video to him personally.¡± Then, Elspeth raised her head and nced at the entrance, which was immediately locked from the inside. ¡°Beforeing here to trouble me, did it ever ur to you that this is my domain?¡± she asked. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. At that moment, Emma¡¯s smile immediately faded. ¡°What do you want, Elspeth?¡± All of a sudden, she felt anxious. She believed Elspeth would beg and plead in fear because she possessed the upper hand. However, she never anticipated the unexpected turn of events. ¡°What do I want? I only want to properly wee you.¡± Following that, Elspeth smirked and waved her hand. Soon, a few burly, fierce-looking men approached them. The sight made Emma¡¯s legs tremble in fear. So, she backed off a few steps before making a break for it, but she ended up running straight into a muscr chest and fell on the floor. ¡°Who¡¯s this, Elspeth?¡± It turned out that the person Emma had run into was a man named Gilbert Payne. He was arge man with exceptionally toned muscles. Moreover, he exemplified the ideal tough guy every girl fantasizes about. ¡°This is someone who bothers me every single day. She gives me such a headache.¡± ¡°What¡¯s her name?¡± He could not help but notice that Emma looked vaguely familiar, so he inquired. ¡°Emma Walker,¡± Elspeth answered. Then, he squinted his eyes and froze. ¡°Elspeth, can we not do anything to her?¡± ¡°Why? Do you like her? I¡¯m warning you; she¡¯s a very evil woman who has gotten together with many men by now.¡± She frowned in disgust. ¡°Of course not. I¡¯m not interested in her.¡± Gilbert frowned and lifted Emma¡¯s chin to stare at her face. A few secondster, he withdrew his hand. ¡°However, I am extremely interested in someone close to her.¡± Suddenly, Emma was so humiliated that she could not raise her head. When she nced at Elspeth, hate burned in her. How dare she embarrass me in front of so many people! I will never forgive her. With that in mind, she allowed a hint of meekness in her eyes and looked at him. ¡°Sir, it¡¯s not as she says. She¡¯s the one bothering me. I¡ª¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to say anything to me,¡± Gilbert interrupted. ¡°I¡¯m not interested.¡± His words confused everyone around him. He did not like her, yet he did not want anything to happen to her; what were his intentions? ¡°Ah!¡± Emma¡¯s face went stark pale as her pounding heart sank. He is not here to save me. Suddenly, Elspeth scoffed coldly, ¡°Fine. Since you asked, I¡¯ll let her go unscathed. Still, I want that video on her phone to be deleted.¡± He nodded and said, ¡°That is none of my business.¡± She then looked at Emma, who was on the floor, and sneered, ¡°Give me your phone.¡± That was the only thing she could use to smear Elspeth¡¯s reputation, so she refused to hand it over. However, Elspeth was standing right before her with a spine-chilling smile on her lips. When Emma saw that, she did not dare to hide her phone anymore, so she had no choice but to hand it over. Later, Elspeth reached for the phone and tapped into the gallery app. As expected, there was a video recording of the entire incident, and Gilbert was even included in the footage. Soon, with a few more taps, all relevant photos and videos were deleted. Before throwing Emma¡¯s phone back, she even emptied the trash section. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be leaving her to you now.¡± Shenguidly stretched before leaving the room. Then, he nodded before ncing at the other men. ¡°Bring her to my room.¡± After hearing that, Emma gulped loudly. ¡°Where are you taking me to?¡± Despite her fear, she was still convinced that Gilbert was enthralled by her. Otherwise, why would he have her brought back to his room? As expected, all men were great actors. They might appear virtuous on the surface, but every one of them was a beast. Afterward, she gave him a thorough once-over and pondered, It won¡¯t be such a bad idea to do the deed with him. Soon, all her fantasies vanished after she was thrown into his room. Meanwhile, he stared down at her in the room with hatred shing in his eyes. ¡°You have a younger sister called Ginna, right?¡± ¡°Y-Yes, but she¡¯s currently abroad. I have not seen her in a long time.¡± Emma was being deceptive in her response. If he knew my sister and they parted amicably, I could use that to my advantage, and he could help me in my plot against Elspeth. However, if they split up on bad terms, I might not be a target for his rage because I haven¡¯t seen my sister in years. Suddenly, Gilbert¡¯s overwhelming anger died down a little. ¡°Do you know of her boyfriend from abroad?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t. Why do you ask that? Are you her boyfriend?¡± While Emma was happy to hear that he was his sister¡¯s boyfriend, she was jealous of Ginna¡¯s luck. How could my sister have such good luck with men while I have to suffer for years and even be shunned by Callum? He nodded. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me. Do you know where she is?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t. Isn¡¯t she studying abroad? What is it? Could it be¡ª¡± ¡°You are her sister, yet you don¡¯t even know where she is right now.¡± Gilbert sneered and said, ¡°She returned about two weeks ago.¡± However, she was unaware that her sister had returned. She had been such a failuretely that Ginna would never approach her, even after flying back home. ¡°Well, that¡¯s it.¡± At that moment, there was a trace of exhaustion in his aloof face. ¡°You can leave.¡± Nheless, Emma had nned to ask him a few more questions, but when she noticed his annoyance, she swiftly dashed out of the room. When she stepped out of the building, she immediately called Ginna. She dialed her sister¡¯s old number, which Ginna used after returning home. Therefore, when she made the call, it did not go through, so she kept calling. After more than a dozen calls, she finally heard her sister¡¯szy voice. ¡°Hey, sis. What do you want?¡± There was an eerie smile on Emma¡¯s face. ¡°I need your help, Ginna.¡± Chapter 281 Chapter 281 When Gilbert headed downstairs, Elspeth, Harper, and Lisa had left the bar. At that moment, his phone vibrated, and he nced quickly at the iing text message. ¡®Elspeth had ended the party early, likely because she was bored.¡¯ Afterward, he called Elspeth. ¡°Hey, Elspeth.¡± He heard cars honking on the other end of the line and deduced that she was probably on her way home. ¡°What is it? I thought you would be rolling in the hay with Emma, so I didn¡¯t disturb you. Well? Did she agree to it?¡± shenguidly asked while looking out the car window. Then, she mused, I don¡¯t think they should be together because she isn¡¯t a good person and doesn¡¯t deserve him. Nevertheless, it is not up to me toment on the matter. ¡°I think you are asking to be taught a lesson, Elspeth Lynwood.¡± This is from N?velDrama.Org. Gilbert would always call her by her full name whenever he got angry. It made her stop joking around, though. ¡°So, what deep connection is there between the two of you?¡± she solemnly asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know her, but I know her sister.¡± After hearing that, a vague memory of ¡®the sister¡¯ popped into her head. A year ago, a woman named Ginna Walker appeared in her life and gave her reason to worry about a former me. However, that was the only time they ever met, and Elspeth remembered her as a sweet-looking girl who spoke her mind. Nevertheless, she had a fuzzy recollection of the events after that. She took a deep breath and inquired, ¡°What is your connection to her?¡± ¡°Nothing much. We dated.¡± When she heard that, she almost choked while taking a sip of water. ¡°You dated? Gilbert, didn¡¯t you tell me you would be single forever?¡± Even Elspeth was startled by her own statements. Back when she was sixteen, that was Gilbert¡¯s answer when she confessed to him. ording to her recollection, he said, ¡°I don¡¯t like you, but I want to be in your life forever. I want us to be friends who stay together, not lovers who would easily break up and drift away.¡± It turned out that what he said was a lie, but he did go on to date someone else and still loved the woman. While Elspeth no longer had a crush on Gilbert, the mere mention of their past made things awkward. Suddenly, the atmosphere became tense, and even she realized that she had made a mistake in what she said. ¡°I did say that, but Ginna drugged and threatened me into dating her. So, I had no choice but to do it.¡± Drugged? Does this mean he was defiled? Suddenly, Elspeth shivered in disgust at the thought. Her image of Gilbert as a saint vanished in an instant. ¡°You guys sure are kinky,¡± she said and shrugged her shoulders. As her ride continued toward her home, she let out an audibleugh that startled the driver. The driver mused, Why is the prettydy letting out such a horribleugh? ¡°Stop it,¡± Gilbert said. ¡°She came running back home after getting pregnant with my child. Help me look for her.¡± Child? Elspeth was startled, abruptly straightened up in her seat, and her head hit the car¡¯s roof, causing her to yelp in agony. ¡°Gilbert Payne, did you actually get a girl pregnant? What kind of man are you?¡± When the driver heard that, he softly remarked, ¡°Scumbag.¡± She agreed with hisment and self-righteously dered, ¡°Scumbag!¡± When he heard that, Gilbert scowled in annoyance and gritted his teeth, wishing he could shove her head into a toilet bowl. ¡°Final warning, Elspeth Lynwood! I¡¯m telling you to help me find Ginna; otherwise, I¡¯ll find a way to increase your training!¡± Once he had finished his statement, he abruptly cut her off. Immediately, Elspeth dropped her phone and let out a wail of agony. When something good happens, he never thinks of me. However, he¡¯ll start looking for me as soon as he needs something from me. Times of difficulty indeed have a way of revealing a person¡¯s true character. Soon, she pushed the shock of knowing Gilbert had fathered a child out of her mind, calmed herself down, and got out of the taxi. While paying the driver, she identally added an extra zero to the payment screen. ¡°Miss, you overpaid.¡± She pped her hand at the driver. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Think of it as a tip. Go home and rest.¡± Has this prettydy¡¯s heart been broken? He silently stared at her in confusion. By the time Elspeth returned to the Winthrop Residence, everyone was asleep. However, Callum¡¯s room was the only room where the light was still on. When she entered the room, no one was in sight. So, she turned to leave the room but suddenly bumped into someone¡¯s chest. Then, she raised her head and saw Callum. He did not look to be in a good mood. Moreover, a mncholic look was on his face as the scent of cologne and cigarettes hung around him. She instantly knew what had happened. ¡°You were at the bar?¡± Callum grunted in acknowledgment but remained silent otherwise. After a moment of hesitation, Elspeth asked, ¡°You saw everything?¡± Instead of responding, he only stared at her, and the intensity of his stare sent chills down her spine. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll go take a shower. Wait here for me.¡± After saying that, he calmly walked into the bathroom. Meanwhile, the sound of water sshing echoed through the room. As she waited, she strolled over to his side of the bed and sat down with her heart pounding. Judging by his facial expression, he looks upset. Still, I¡¯m at a loss for words. I¡¯m not sure my exnation willpensate for my earlier behavior. Moreover, I feel he won¡¯t even bother to hear it. With that in mind, Elspeth waited silently for Callum to punish her as she sat in the room. Soon, the shower was turned off. When the door creaked open, he walked out and stood in front of her in his bathrobe. She watched as beads of water slid down his handsome face and abdomen before disappearing into the fabric. ¡°Are you seducing me?¡± Following that, she gulped in giddy joy. Callum was greatly uplifted by Elspeth¡¯s expression, so he went over and gently lifted her chin. ¡°Which of us is more handsome?¡± ¡°You, of course,¡± she answered without hesitation. He nodded and smiled. ¡°Not bad. Your reward is a kiss.¡± Then, he ducked his head and kissed her on the lips. ¡°Callum¡ª¡± He interrupted her mid-sentence and relentlessly kissed her, eventually biting her lips as if to crush them. She was soon running out of breath, making her smack his chest. ¡°Enough, Callum. Stop kissing me.¡± Elspeth¡¯s objection only ignited the anger simmering in Callum. ¡°You met up with a man behind my back, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°He is my friend. I only met him to wee him back to the country. Anyway, we weren¡¯t alone. There were quite a few of us¡ª¡± ¡°What about the dance?¡± ¡°I lost a game.¡± Suddenly, she lowered her head with an innocent expression, resembling a child awaiting a lecture from a parent. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with punishing you then?¡± Callum lowered his head and unraveled the bow on Elspeth¡¯s neck with his teeth. ¡°I¡¯m not only going to punish you,¡± he continued with a low chuckle. ¡°I¡¯ll have some fun tormenting you as well.¡± So, he bit her neck, leaving behind a red mark. However, the itch on her neck made her entire body tremble. Chapter 282 Chapter 282 Callum¡¯s heart skipped at the sight of Elspeth¡¯s stare. As he was about to continue, she frowned, sped her hands over her stomach, and perspired heavily on her forehead. ¡°What is it? Are you sick?¡± His anger subsided, and concern filled his features as he stared at her curled-up body. Meanwhile, she could not have foreseen that her period would start so suddenly after beingte for so many days. Was that meant to be a blessing, or did it ruin the mood? ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s one of those days¡ª¡± Despite her agonizing cramps, Elspeth still responded to Callum. ¡°I see. Rest up. I¡¯ll make you ginger tea.¡± Ginger tea? Do I really hear that, or is it a trick in my mind? ¡°You know about ginger tea? Are you for real?¡± He smiled and replied proudly, ¡°I know more than you think I do.¡± ¡°Amazing.¡± ¡°Alright. Stay there and wait for me. Rest well.¡± Then, Callum gently positioned Elspeth on the bed, tucked her in, and walked out of the room. Afterward, she went to the bathroom to clean herself up and sat on the bed while waiting for him to return. About half an hourter, the door silently swung open, and he walked in with a hot cup of ginger tea. She could even see some grated ginger floating in the tea. ¡°I never expected the cold and aloof Mr. Winthrop to be a good cook.¡± Following that, Elspeth took a sip of the tea. It¡¯s nice and sweet, and as it goes down my throat, it makes my belly feel warm and fuzzy. I¡¯m feeling a lot better now. ¡°I know how to cook, and my food tastes much better than your egg-fried rice,¡± Callum mocked. It immediately put her in a bad mood when she heard that. Then, she angrily set the cup of tea on the table and shot him a sidelong nce. ¡°You said it didn¡¯t taste badst time.¡± ¡°I was afraid you would be angry, and it dealt a blow to Max. That was quite worth it.¡± Poor Max, not only did he have to eat all the egg-fried rice, but he also had to sing its praises. Suddenly, her cheeks blushed as she loudly huffed, ¡°From now on, I won¡¯t cook for you again. Even if my cooking improves slightly, I will never cook for you.¡± Meanwhile, Callum looked at Elspeth, smiling in silence. ¡°Oh, right. Callum, have you noticed something weird between ke and Lisa?¡± He ducked his head and smirked, ¡°I have. He¡¯s very interested in her right now. Every day, he¡¯s asking to go out with her.¡± ¡°Then, should we give them a nudge so they could get together?¡± She is incredibly daring to have such a bold notion. Callum thought about it and was entirely on board with the idea. It will make her happy and help ke understand how Lisa makes him feel, so it will be like killing two birds with one stone. ¡°What are you thinking, Callum?¡± His silence and smile made Elspeth suspicious. ¡°Nothing. I think your idea is pretty good.¡± Then, he tucked her in and stroked her head. ¡°Still, you should be resting now. Sleep in my room tonight. I¡¯ll be sleeping in the guest room.¡± Following that, he walked toward the door. ¡°Wait, Callum. I know everything,¡± she called out to him angrily. He immediately came to a halt when he heard that. ¡°If you didn¡¯t know, then your hacking skills would be a lie,¡± he remarked with a smile. However, Elspeth could not resist rolling her eyes at Callum. ¡°Why can¡¯t you tell me directly? Why must you wait until I expose you?¡± She already knew he was the one who started the rumor. Nonsense! The only way to put an end to the spections is for me to ept his engagement! I know he nned this entire scenario because he wants me to be his fianc¨¦e. Moreover, she had Lisa look into that matter early that morning, and it turned out that he was the one who orchestrated the whole thing. This is from N?velDrama.Org. Suddenly, his eyes went dark. ¡°Of course not. Telling you might mean you¡¯ll stall. This is to push things forward, so we¡¯ll be engaged soon.¡± Based on what Callum understood about Elspeth¡¯s character, their engagement would be put off indefinitely. Nevertheless, the sudden appearance of Eric convinced Callum that he needed to tie the knot with her immediately or risk losing her forever. ¡°Still, you agree with my suggestion and go along with it, right?¡± Her face immediately turned red when she heard that, and she swiftly hid her head under the nket. ¡­ Elspeth did not feel well over the next few days, so she hid and rested at the Winthrop Residence. In addition, all her work was handled by Harper and Timothy. On the other hand, Timothy felt extremely upbeat that day, so he dragged Yelena, who had recently gotten engaged, to the set. He also roped in the perpetually absent ke and had them work on a new show together while they were still trending. Meanwhile, despite feeling unwell, Elspeth did not get the rest she needed. When Margot and Theodore learned she was sick, they visited her room repeatedly, bringing hot,forting soups and stews. That day, Margot brought a bowl of chicken soup she had spent hours on to Elspeth¡¯s room. After a quick, wary nce, she swiftly entered the room and closed the door behind her. ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, I really can¡¯t drink anymore. I am so sick from days of drinking nothing but soup.¡± While she did not want to drink the soup, she did not outright refuse it because Margot was her elder. Then, Elspeth set the bowl on the bedside table. When Margot saw that, she pulled a wry grin on her face. ¡°It¡¯s for your health. Your stomach hurts, so you must consume something hot to soothe it. I¡¯ve added quite a few herbs to the soup. It¡¯s a recipe from a famous doctor. It will definitely work!¡± Then, Elspeth dejectedly smiled at her. ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, did you forget I study traditional medicine¡ª¡± ¡°Everyone believes doctors cannot treat their own illnesses,¡± Margot interrupted. ¡°Look at how many years you¡¯ve been suffering. The pain never got cured, did it? I think you have to find someone to help you with it. Perhaps, some medicine will solve your issues.¡± Elspeth knew Margot was acting in her best interests, so she had no choice but to ept the act of kindness. On the other hand, she was secretly plotting her way out of her treatment. ¡°You must look after your body. Otherwise, you will have to live with pain after giving birth¡ª¡± While Margot continued to urge Elspeth to drink the soup, Elspeth suddenly recalled something. ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, you know my parents, right? I¡¯d like to know more about my mother.¡± Then, Elspeth¡¯s heart sank with worry when she noticed Margot¡¯s eyes shed with an unrecognizable emotion, and her smile faded. I shouldn¡¯t have asked that question. At that moment, she recalled how the Winthrops had gotten into a big fight over her mother. ¡°I¡¯ll stop asking if you don¡¯t want to speak about her,¡± she cautiously added. However, Margot sighed and replied, ¡°Why would I not? If you want to know, I¡¯ll tell you everything.¡± ¡°Really? Thank you!¡± Elspeth eximed. Afterward, she straightened up and prepared herself to listen to Margot. ¡°Your mother and I used to be close friends, but¡ª¡± Chapter 283 Chapter 283 Listening to Margot¡¯s voice, Elspeth felt like being in an immersive experience and seeing her mother standing vividly before her. Her mother, Helena Joneson, used to be the most dazzling youngdy in ydal. Before Margot was married, she was also a beauty from the same city. The two of them had a close rtionship and often hung out together. However, as time passed, they reached a point where they fell in love for the first time. Margot had a crush on Theodore, but he secretly had his eye on Helena. In contrast, Helena fell in love with the famous sculptor named Grover Lynwood. Due to their situation, a love quadrangle was formed. As Margot reflected on the past, Elspeth noticed a hint of jealousy in her eyes. ¡°You have no idea how many people fell head over heels for your mother back then. I assume 80 percent of the men in ydal had a crush on her, but your mother didn¡¯t fancy any of them. Instead, she fell for your father, Grover, on an outing.¡± As soon as the name ¡®Grover¡¯ was brought up, Margot sighed. ¡°Sadly, your father was too poor for your grandfather¡¯s liking. He wasn¡¯t even able to pay a million for the bride-dowry.¡± A million?! Elspeth gasped in shock. Who else besides those born with a silver spoon and those from wealthy families could afford to pay a one million bride dowry? ¡°Due to that, old Mr. Joneson wasn¡¯t willing to marry your mother to your father. At the same time, Theodore proposed marriage to your mother, which made your grandfather realize how nice of a person he was. That¡¯s how he agreed to Theodore¡¯s proposal.¡± Suddenly, Margot could not help clenching her teeth at the mention of that incident and continued, ¡°He was really filthy rich back then¡ª¡± Elspeth chuckled dryly before asking, ¡°What happened after that?¡± ¡°Something outrageous happened.¡± While recalling the incident, Margot¡¯s expression soon became solemn. ¡°What happens?¡± ¡°Apart from your mother, the Jonesons had another daughter, but she was rather introverted and was raised at home. I saw her, and she was as lovely as your mother. However, your mother eloped with your father the day before the engagement. At that moment, Theodore¡¯s twin brother, Thiago, was drunk and ran to the backyard of Joneson Residence.¡± Elspeth listened intently to the climax, knowing what would happen next, and she held her breath. ¡°After that, Thiago raped the girl from the Joneson Family, causing the engagement to be canceled. Consequently, Theodore never had the chance to marry your mother again.¡± Margot sighed and added, ¡°Later, the youngdymitted suicide, and your grandfather sent Thiago to jail. Since then, he has not been set free.¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Elspeth suddenly felt pity for thatdy, but it was at that moment that she connected the dots. This incident must be why my grandfather refuses to let me marry Callum. Therefore, we can¡¯t tie the knot due to the extreme animosity between the two families. ¡°I dared not tell you before this as I was afraid you would vent your anger on Callum because of this incident. That child likes you wholeheartedly, which made me contemte for a long time whether or not to tell you, but since you wanted to know the truth, I decided to tell you so that you can make up your mind.¡± Elspeth shook her head and smiled. ¡°The grudges are held between the previous generation and have nothing to do with me. Besides, the Jonesons merely gave birth to me without raising me. Why should I take over their grievances?¡± Margot was pleased to hear that. Beaming, she patted Elspeth¡¯s hands in relief. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡± ¡°However¡­ I heard from my dad that my mom left because of a fight between them. Did my mom contact you after all these years?¡± Then, Margot lowered her head and pondered for a moment before replying, ¡°About ten years ago, she contacted me a few times. However, I didn¡¯t tell Theodore because I was afraid he might still have lingering feelings for her. At that time, Edmund went missing for two days while Max was involved in a car ident. It felt like we were being cursed, but since then, your mother hasn¡¯t shown up again, and I didn¡¯t contact her either.¡± Going missing and a car ident¡­ Elspeth narrowed her eyes as a bold idea popped into her mind. ¡°Does that mean after my mother contacted you, idents started happening one after another to the Winthrops?¡± ¡°You can say so, but they might also be coincidences.¡± Suddenly, Margot felt conflicting emotions and stated, ¡°If you want to look for your mother, I must tell you something beforehand. I suspect your mother knows your whereabouts and might have even shown up before you, but you couldn¡¯t recognize her. Alternatively, she might have observed you silently all along, but some irresistible force is stopping you two from reuniting.¡± Elspeth knew it all too well. Who else could the irresistible force be besides Michael?! The idents that happened one after another to the Winthrops were warnings Michael gave to her mother. If she tried to contact the Winthrops again, he would make things difficult for them! Elspeth narrowed her eyes as her hatred for Michael grew. ¡°I understand the situation now, Mrs. Winthrop. Thanks for telling me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee. You have the right to know about these things as her daughter.¡± After counting the minutes and realizing more than half an hour had passed, Margot finally collected herself and got up. ¡°Now that you know the truth, you should take care of your health. Please tell your mother I said hi if you ever find her.¡± Elspeth nodded. ¡°Sure. Thanks again, Mrs. Winthrop.¡± As Margot was leaving, Elspeth added, ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, you¡¯re a nicedy, and I can tell Mr. Winthrop likes you with all his heart.¡± Following that, she winked at her with a hint of yfulness. Margot¡¯s face instantly flushed due to her remark. ¡°Stop ttering me, you brat.¡± With that, she left while covering her face bashfully. Meanwhile, Elspeth smirked before falling into deep thought. In that case, I¡¯ll have to return to Joneson House. On the other hand, Callum and I got engaged not too long ago, and my mom found a way to get the engagement gift to me using her own methods. So, it indicates that the situation is stable for the time being and that there is no pressing need for me to return. After pondering, she did some light stretching because she felt stiff from being in bed for so long. Suddenly, her eyesnded on the stew bowl on the table, and she instantly shuddered at the recollection of the various stews she had eaten over the past few days. Maybe I should throw them away. ¡­ Meanwhile, Elspeth was eager to return to work as soon as she felt better. She was informed that the crew would be filming in a studio in ydal. In addition, Timothy had already brought a group of actors over to the location. In other words, she was eager to get back to work so that she could make trips to ydal to monitor the work progress. Unfortunately, she still had not resolved Gilbert¡¯s matter, and he was constantly ckmailing and threatening her. As a result, she had no choice but to remain in Damoria for the time being. On the other hand, Callum was extremely busy for the past few days. She only learned from indirect sources that Winthrop Group had financial difficulties, leaving him to clean up the mess. Hence, as soon as she recovered, Elspeth sneakily went to Winthrop Group to check on the situation. As soon as she entered thepany, she heard the two youngdies at the reception counter muttering to each other. Out of curiosity, she leaned over to eavesdrop on their conversation. ¡°Is Mr. Winthrop out of his mind? The stock market is doing so well, but he insists on selling off one of our sessful subsidiaries at a low price. Won¡¯t we lose money because of that?¡± ¡°His behavior is honestly confusing and outrageous. I heard the board of directors is nning to remove him from his position!¡± Hearing that, Elspeth pulled a long face. What on earth is Callum up to?! Chapter 284 Chapter 284 Elspeth went directly to the CEO¡¯s office and confronted Callum face-to-face. When he saw the rage in her eyes, his heart sank. ¡°What brings you here all of a sudden, Elspeth?¡± ¡°If I hadn¡¯t asked you about it, were you going to keep it a secret from me? Are we even engaged? Why are you still treating me like an outsider?¡± Suddenly, her list of questions made him speechless. ¡°I didn¡¯t intend to make you feel that way.¡± Soon, her gaze turned colder, and she said, ¡°Then, show me this quarter¡¯s proposal.¡± However, Callum did not do as Elspeth said, and that was enough to prove his stance. ¡°Fine. You aren¡¯t going to show me, are you? I¡¯ll investigate on my own, then!¡± She took a deep breath to calm down the anger that was building inside of her. Then, she threatened, ¡°I¡¯ll call Lisa and ask her what you did to Winthrop Group. This is definitely not a mistake you should make.¡± That statement rendered him speechless for a moment before he spoke, ¡°I¡¯ll show you.¡± When the proposal was ced in front of Elspeth, she struggled mentally. When she flipped the proposal pages, it was clearly stated that the shares of one of thepany subsidiaries would be given to Miss Emma Walker at no cost. E-Emma Walker?! ¡°Are you going to tell me that you took pity on Emma and will hand this subsidiary over to her?¡± She instantly froze after reading the proposal. ¡°No. It¡¯s not like that.¡± He wanted to borate but chose to say nothing upon further reflection. When Callum stopped talking, Elspeth turned her head and looked at him somberly. ¡°Do you mind giving me a reasonable exnation, then?¡± It suddenly dawned on her that she had, in fact, lost control and said some hurtful things earlier, but the expression on his face caused her heart to soften. ¡°I can¡¯t tell you the reason for the time being, but as long as I give away thispany, Winthrop Group will not suffer any losses.¡± In his heart, he was more concerned about her than thepany. ¡°What would you call this if not a loss? No matter what, I need you to tell me the truth. If you don¡¯t tell me, I¡¯ll figure it out myself.¡± Elspeth dered with assurance, knowing there was nothing her abilities could not uncover. Seeing how adamant she was, Callum sighed, ¡°I thought I could settle this matter without telling you, but I didn¡¯t expect you to find out so soon.¡± Narrowing her eyes, she questioned, ¡°So, are you going to tell me or not?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Arthur.¡± ¡°Him again? Why is he stirring up trouble this time?¡± After a pause, Callum nced at Elspeth with a meaningful look. ¡°It¡¯s about you.¡± ¡°Okay. Go on.¡± ¡°Arthur threatened me with your private affairs. He said that if I didn¡¯t want your affairs to be exposed, I had to hand over one of thepanies under Winthrop Group to Emma. After I saw his materials, I agreed to his proposal.¡± Then, she asked impatiently, ¡°What does he have on me? Can¡¯t you tell me about it?¡± ¡°He said it was something between you and Gilbert Payne.¡± Afterward, he essed his phone¡¯s photo gallery and ced it on his desk. ¡°Look, these are the photos of you and him together.¡± There was an undeniable gloom in Callum¡¯s eyes when he said that. It would be a lie to say that he was not upset after seeing the photos. Nevertheless, he could not change the fact that Elspeth had been in a rtionship with someone before. After all, it was already in the past, and he did note into her life until muchter. She was stunned when she heard that and walked toward the desk to look at the phone. Then, her jaw dropped as soon as she saw the photos. There were many photos of her gazing adoringly at Gilbert. How did Arthur get his hands on these photos? Clenching her teeth, Elspeth seethed in anger, ¡°These are all in the past! How could he threaten you with these?!¡± Hearing that, Callum shook his head helplessly. ¡°Scroll down for more photos.¡± After quickly scrolling through his gallery, she noticed that her recent meet-up with Gilbert at a bar was also captured. Under the dim lights, she looked as if she was smitten with him. Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°He imed that these photos were enough to prove that you are unfaithful to me, but I know you are not that kind of person, so I agreed to his condition.¡± He then stepped forward and hugged her by the shoulders. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink about it. Losing apany doesn¡¯t mean anything. Above all, I don¡¯t want anything to happen to you.¡± Elspeth felt mixed emotions and was not able to utter a word. While she understood that Callum was acting in her best interest, she had no idea he would go to such extremes. Soon, tears quickly pooled in her eyes as she thought about his actions. ¡°Thank you so much, Cal.¡± It was the first time that she had addressed him with such affection. Instantaneously, his heart became warm, and the frostiness on his face vanished. ¡°Have you given her the contract?¡± Elspeth inquired when she noticed that only Callum¡¯s signature was on the contract. Then, he shook his head in response. ¡°Not yet, but I intend to meet Emmater and hand her the contract.¡± ¡°Let me settle this matter. Don¡¯t pass her the contract yet.¡± Callum frowned upon hearing that. ¡°What are you going to do?¡± ¡°What am I going to do?¡± She showed him a wry smile. ¡°Didn¡¯t those two provoke me first? I can¡¯t believe they even pulled such a trick. Of course, I have to return an eye for an eye.¡± Suddenly, he let out augh. An eye for an eye. This is why I like her so much! ¡°I¡¯lle with you.¡± Then, Elspeth turned her head to look at him and asked, ¡°Do you still have a nk page for the contract? Let¡¯s bring it over and see if Emma dares to sign the contract.¡± Afterward, the two met Emma at an open-air restaurant by the sea. When Callum walked in, he saw a variety of seafood on the table, but his eyes held a trace of disgust as he looked up at the woman in front of him. ¡°Cal, I¡¯m sure Arthur has told you about what is to be done, right?¡± Then, Emma smiled triumphantly as she ran her fingers through her hair. ¡°Of course. I brought the contract today, didn¡¯t I?¡± However, she could not hold the excitement in her eyes as she nced at the contract on the table. Even though Eric had agreed to help with her second debut, she had yet to hear from him. On the other hand, she was relieved that Arthur had feelings for her. He did not seem to mind that she had slept with a director before and even helped her acquire Callum¡¯s subsidiarypany. She was convinced that as long as she was at thepany¡¯s helm, she would not need to be concerned about anything else. In addition, she could rely solely on thepany while developing it gradually. She would soon no longer need to count on Eric or other men. Seeing the greedy look in Emma¡¯s eyes, Elspeth frowned and sneered, ¡°Emma, you¡¯re eager to sign the contract, aren¡¯t you? However, I have something I¡¯d like to show you first. You can decide after that whether to sign or not.¡± ¡°What are you being so mysterious about? I¡¯m not afraid of you at all,¡± Emma scoffed nonchntly. Elspeth smiled as she took out her phone and ced it on the table. From the corner of her eyes, Emma saw what was on the screen, and her face instantly turned pallid. Chapter 285 Chapter 285 ¡°H-How did you get your hands on these?¡± Emma gulped as she was suddenly ovee with anxiety. It was photographs of her and Arthur, some of which were taken during their hotel stay. If these photos were leaked, she could never dream about paving a new life again! However, she could not afford to jeopardize her career, so she asked seriously, ¡°How did you get these photos?¡± ¡°Easy. I even have a recording of you two. Wanna listen to it, Emma?¡± While Elspeth leisurely skimmed through the recordings on her phone, Emma broke out in a cold sweat. ¡°No, thanks.¡± Suddenly, Emma surveyed the surrounding crowd and felt a deep, dark hatred fill her heart. Elspeth must be doing this on purpose! She purposefully chose such an open space to humiliate me! ¡°So, do you still want to sign the business transfer agreement, Miss Walker?¡± Elspeth chuckled mockingly. Now that the matter was a foregone conclusion, Emma only asked for trouble when she agreed to meet them that day. ¡°Let¡¯s put this matter on hold for the time being. I¡¯ll think about it again.¡± Emma was so enraged that she trembled when she thought about passing up such a rare opportunity. Since she was the lone wolf in the confrontation, she could not afford to lose her cool, so she had to endure the demeaning treatment. She then stood up and attempted to leave, but suddenly, a mocking sneer came from behind her. ¡°How could we give up on the contract today? Let¡¯s sit and have a good chat.¡± Arthur appeared out of nowhere, but the calm smile on his face was enough to make people feel ufortable. Afterward, he pulled the chair beside Emma and took a seat. ¡°Arthur!¡± The moment she noticed him, she instantly brightened up. ¡°What brings you here?¡± Then, he ruffled her hair with a smile and replied, ¡°I came over to check on the situation since I was free. What¡¯s the matter? Isn¡¯t it going well?¡± ¡°T-They imed to have photos of us spending the night at a hotel, but I think they are all edited. They also threatened me and didn¡¯t let me sign the contract.¡± ¡°Really?¡± His face darkened gradually upon hearing that. ¡°Be careful with your words, Emma. Don¡¯t you feel guilty when saying that? How can you im that the photos are edited? Shall I get someone to identify them and prove they aren¡¯t edited?¡± Elspeth instantly started mocking Emma until Emma turned red due to embarrassment. ¡°Whether or not the photos are edited isn¡¯t important. What¡¯s important is that you¡¯ve threatened Emma, haven¡¯t you?¡± When Arthur retorted, Elspeth¡¯s frown deepened. Then, she barked, ¡°What are you talking about? Weren¡¯t you the one who provoked us first? Let¡¯s be reasonable here.¡± ¡°Reason? Do you think I¡¯m reasonable after knowing me for years?¡± His voice carried a trace of contempt. ¡°Nope. In that case, I have nothing to say to you. Let¡¯s go, Callum.¡± Following that, she stood up and intended to leave but was suddenly stopped by Arthur. ¡°Do you believe you can leave like that?¡± Elspeth burst outughing. ¡°Arthur, who do you think you are? Who are you to tell us to leave or not?¡± He did not seem to be bothered by her response. Following a p, the people from surrounding tables suddenly took their jackets off and revealed tight ck shirts. ¡°Sorry to tell you that I¡¯ve reserved the whole ce today since I¡¯m in a good mood. Why don¡¯t you two sign the contract obediently before you leave? Otherwise¡­¡± Then, Arthur nced at the blue sea and sneered, ¡°I heard there are sharks in the sea. Should I throw you two in as baits for them?¡± When Elspeth heard that, she gritted her teeth and scolded, ¡°What a shameless beast you are!¡± ¡°Me? Shameless? When I was stripped of my clothes and abandoned on the road, did anyone offer me help? What about the countless times I¡¯ve been wronged previously? I endured it all on my own. How dare you speak ill of me?!¡± He was so enraged that he was on the verge of losing his mind when he said those words, but then he broke into an eerie smile. ¡°You might regret doing this, Arthur Winthrop.¡± ¡°Regret? Why would I? I would be happy to see the two of you dead. I¡¯m not killing you now because I haven¡¯t had enough fun. Moreover, you mustpensate me for everything I have endured!¡± Afterward, Arthur nced at the men beside him andmanded indifferently, ¡°Strip them off their clothes and throw them in the middle of the restaurant for everyone to see.¡± Then, he nced at the tall and burly man beside him and snickered cruelly, ¡°And you, didn¡¯t you say you wanted a taste of the beauty? Go and smother Elspeth with your love.¡± Receiving the instructions, the man grinned lewdly and slowly walked toward her. ¡°Are you insane, Arthur?!¡± Arthur ignored Elspeth¡¯s words and ordered the remaining men to advance. ¡°What are you standing there for? Attack!¡± Meanwhile, several of them then rushed toward Callum. He dodged sideways and kicked one of them on the back. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me, you disgusting piece of sh*t.¡± ¡°Hah. I love that clean freak side of yours! It must be fun to embarrass you!¡± Arthur then hinted at the person next to him with a wink. ¡°Don¡¯t you fancy hot men? Go on. Isn¡¯t my brother good enough for you?¡± Callum¡¯s expression darkened upon hearing that, and he warned, ¡°Don¡¯t regret this, Arthur.¡± Arthur sneered, ¡°Regret what? I haven¡¯t even had enough of this. If I can sessfully eliminate both of you, I will not think twice about ending my life!¡± When Elspeth saw someone dashing towards her, she kicked him in the groin out of desperation. Then, she roared, ¡°Get lost!¡± Suddenly, a groan escaped the man¡¯s lips as he instinctively covered his groin. Damn, why is this woman so strong?! At that moment, she saw her chance and dodged to stand next to Callum. ¡°Stop struggling, you two.¡± Then, Arthur flicked his wrists and urged, ¡°I¡¯ll give you onest chance. Sign the contract, or don¡¯t me me for being rude.¡± ¡°Pfft. Don¡¯t even think about it!¡± Elspeth spat. ¡°Fine. If that¡¯s the case, so be it.¡± He shook his head regretfully and waved his hand as a signal. Taking the hint, the few burly men swung their wooden sticks at them! Seeing how they were being cornered, Callum had no choice but to retreat to reduce the impact while keeping Elspeth behind him. With a loud bang, four wooden sticks hit Callum¡¯s back simultaneously. His expression changed drastically as he spat out a mouthful of blood. ¡°Callum!¡± Following the assault, Elspeth stood there in shock. I never imagined he¡¯d take such a heavy blow in my stead. Furthermore, if I bear the brunt of the impact, he will avoid serious injury. After that, she quickly helped Callum sit down before she stood up and clenched her fists. ¡°Do you know whom you¡¯re messing with, Arthur?¡± Arthur snickered in response. ¡°Who? The president of Azure? Nancy Star? The e-sports expert? Or the designer?¡±This is from N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 286 Chapter 286 Those words were full of sarcasm, but Elspeth was unmoved and warned, ¡°Do you know what will happen to you if you do this?¡± ¡°Elspeth, do you think you¡¯re acting in a spy drama here? Sign the contract if you know what¡¯s best for you, and I might beg Arthur to spare your lives.¡± After all, Emma had a soft spot in her heart for Callum. Even if he had hurt her, she still felt that Elspeth, the vixen, had seduced him, and that was why he was so indifferent toward her. As long as Elspeth was dead, he would no longer be fascinated with that woman! However, she had never thought about Elspeth¡¯s death, but now that she suddenly thought of it, she was startled by the thought. Then, there was excitement that she had never felt before. She even wanted to kill Elspeth with her own hands and let Elspeth¡¯s blood ssh onto her face. In that way, she could feel the heat and ardor of Elspeth¡¯s life passing. Meanwhile, Elspeth naturally did not believe her words. After signing the contract, she would have no chance to negotiate terms with them. So, she inquired, ¡°Have you heard of Evil Wind Sect?¡± The Evil Wind Sect? Isn¡¯t that the mysterious killer organization? Later, Arthur asked suspiciously, ¡°What is your rtionship with that organization?¡± ¡°Heh¡­ Arthur, with your meager knowledge, how dare you n to murder both of us in this manner? You don¡¯t even know who I am. How dare you attack us?¡± ¡°Okay, tell me quickly. Don¡¯t drag it on. You¡¯re trying to buy time, aren¡¯t you? Don¡¯t even think about it. The signals here are all intercepted by my jammers, and your men can¡¯t find you.¡± He already knew that her ring¡¯s function was to track her location and for her call for help, so he set up a signal jamming system earlier. Moreover, he wanted to see how she could save herself! ¡°I am the founder of the Evil Wind Sect. That means that I am their boss. Now that you¡¯ve offended me, do you know what will happen to you?¡± Elspeth smiled indifferently. Then, she continued, ¡°As long as the Evil Wind Sect exists, and as long as only one of their members is alive, they will hunt you down for life. Arthur, you might as well try it and see if what I said is true.¡± Then, she put her hands behind her back, groped around, and finally touched two small cylinders. Feeling them, she felt a lot more at ease. ¡°How can the founder of the Evil Wind Sect be kidnapped so easily by me? Are you kidding me?¡± Emma did not know the Evil Wind Sect¡¯s power and thought Elspeth was only making up nonsense. In the end, Emma could not help but taunt her. ¡°Okay, then I won¡¯t continue to talk about it.¡± Elspeth curled her lips into a smile. ¡°Are you certain you will let us go after I sign the contract?¡± Arthur nodded in agreement upon hearing that. However, Emma wanted her to die, so she gave him a dissatisfied look, but he returned her a comforting look. ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll discuss it with Callum.¡± Elspeth kneeled, touched his wound lightly, and whispered, ¡°Callum, are you still conscious?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t sign it.¡± Although he was hurting all over, he could still maintain his reasoning and consciousness. Afterward, she touched his face and said, ¡°I know. I¡¯m trying to tell you that I want to jump off here. My men are nearby, and they¡¯ll be here in a minute when I set off the fireworks. Since they still need you to sign the contract, they won¡¯t harm you for the time being. I can still buy you time by jumping into the sea. Callum, I love you.¡± After saying that, she stretched out her right hand and set off two fireworks toward the sky. One meant an emergency, while two meant it was a life-and-death situation! Taking advantage of everyone¡¯s shock at the fireworks, Elspeth jumped into the sea. Callum stood up abruptly, which caused his wound to split, and severe pain shot through him. He simply watched her jump into the sea helplessly as there was nothing he could do! Still, Arthur did not expect her to jump into the sea, but it was a good oue, too, now that nobody knew if she was dead or alive. ¡°What an interesting woman! Before she meets her death, she even sets off fireworks to celebrate her death.¡± Emma smiled with disdain. Elspeth isn¡¯t a good swimmer, so she will likely drown if she jumps into the high tides. Then, Callum closed his eyes in agony, and while everyone else was watching the fireworks, he also jumped into the sea! ¡°Callum!¡± After she saw him leap, the grin on her face instantly froze. Arthur watched as Emma ran to the edge and saw Callum sink into the water without resurfacing. With a painful expression, Emma was going crazy with jealousy. Callum deserves to die! He deserves to die! However, before they had time to reflect on the fate of the two jumping into the sea one after another, there were suddenly loud footsteps around them! ¡°Oh no! The two fireworks that Elspeth set off earlier were distress signals! Let¡¯s go!¡± Arthur¡¯s expression turned extremely ugly in an instant. ¡°The Evil Wind Sect¡­ Is it a scary organization?¡± Emma did not know about these things and thought he was only making a fuss. Nevertheless, she was still ovee with sadness. If Callum died, my dream of bing Mrs. Winthrop be dashed to pieces! Then, Arthur gritted his teeth and grabbed her by the cor to take her away. ¡°I won¡¯t go, I won¡¯t go! I¡¯m going to rescue Callum!¡± She sobbed uncontrobly and wanted to save Callum regardless of the consequences, but Arthur yelled, ¡°Do you have any brains? Callum was seriously injured. After he jumped, we don¡¯t know if he had already drowned! Now that the tide is about to rise, how can we go save him?¡± When Emma heard that, she pushed him away angrily. ¡°You don¡¯t have to care! I¡¯m going to save him!¡± ¡°Callum has disliked you for a long time. Why don¡¯t youe to your senses? What¡¯s so good about him anyway? Don¡¯t you know that I am in love with you?¡± Nheless, she froze as tears slowly flowed from her eyes. ¡°Still, I really¡ª¡± In the next second, Arthur used his right hand to strike her on the back of her neck, which resulted in her copsing into his arms as she went limp. ¡°Everyone, leave as quickly as possible!¡± The people around him started fleeing in all directions as soon as they got the order. Soon, when the men from the Evil Wind Sect arrived, everyone here had disappeared without a trace, leaving only a terrible mess behind. ¡°Miss Lynwood¡­¡± Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Miss Lynwood, where are you¡­¡± However, no matter how they shouted, they could not find Elspeth. One of the men in the lead wondered, ¡°Has Miss Lynwood been taken away?¡± Before he could figure it out, another man shouted loudly, ¡°Sir, there are traces here!¡± When they all went over, they discovered visible footprints on the railing. ¡°Ipared the footprints here, which probably belong to a woman. The sole pattern is simr to the shoes that Miss Lynwood usually wears. There arerger footprints beside that should belong to a man.¡± ¡°Could it be that Miss Lynwood has jumped off here with her fianc¨¦?¡± Thinking of this, the leader¡¯s face instantly turned ugly. ¡°Hurry up and search thoroughly! We have to find her alive! If she¡¯s dead¡­ Miss Lynwood must not die!¡± Chapter 287 Chapter 287 It hurts¡­ It hurts. Elspeth opened her eyes and found herself lying in a magnificent room. Everything around her was shining gold and she thought she had entered a room made of gold. She remembered that she had jumped into the sea before she woke up. Unfortunately, she was not a strong swimmer and passed out after swallowing some water. Although she was lying on the bed, she still felt slightly dizzy, and the room seemed to spin around her. But¡­ Why am I here now? Not long after she opened her eyes, and before she even had time to move, she heard amotion coming from outside the door. She immediately became alert and her hand under the quilt reached out to touch the dagger that was kept by her hip, only to find that someone had changed her clothes at some point when she was unconscious. Creak¡­ The door was pushed open, and a pair of white sneakers came into view. Looking up, she saw a young man dressed in gray sweatpants, a white shirt, and a blue and white striped jacket. He looked like an athletic and cheery man. When Elspeth saw his face, she was immediately dumbfounded. ¡°Edmund, why are you here?¡± Truth be told, this man looked exactly like Edmund but in a different style of clothes! She actually wondered if Edmund had two sides to him. He was usually dressed in a well-fitted suit and leather shoes, but now he had be an athletic and sporty guy. ¡°Edmund? Are you mistaking me for someone else?¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes. ¡°Do you think I won¡¯t recognize you? Tell me where I am. I¡¯m really shocked!¡± ¡°Edmund¡± came over, leaned against the bed, and reached out to touch her forehead. ¡°Let me see. Isn¡¯t the fever gone? Why are you still talking nonsense?¡± Elspeth pushed his hand away and red at him fiercely. ¡°What are you doing, Edmund? Don¡¯t you know that a man and a woman mustn¡¯t be so close together? I asked you a question. Where am I?!¡± ¡°Edmund¡± sighed helplessly, put his hands in his pockets, and sat on a chair by the side of the room. ¡°This is a transoceanic freighter. We are going to Sunholde soon. Also, let me say it onest time, my name is not Edmund. My name is Elias, Elias Cole. Are you sure your brain is fine?¡± Elspeth thought her head was going to explode. Sunholde? Freighter? Elias Cole? Is he really not Edmund? ¡°Can you tell me the details of how you found me?¡± Seeing Elspeth wanting to know more, Elias smiled and crossed his legs. ¡°To be honest, this matter has nothing to do with me. You suddenly surfaced on the ocean. Maybe, you drowned and became unconscious somewhere. But when I found you, you were holding onto a wooden stake, and the men on the ship who are good swimmers pulled you up.¡± ¡°Then how long have I been unconscious?¡± ¡°We¡¯re not far from Sunholde. The freighter will arrive in 10-14 days. So, this means that you have been unconscious for five days.¡± Five days? Although Elspeth was shocked at this fact, she still calmed down. ¡°Thank you. I see.¡± She didn¡¯t know how Callum was doing at the moment, so she needed to get in touch with him as soon as possible. ¡°Can you lend me your phone?¡± Elias rolled his eyes. ¡°Miss, do you have anymon sense? This is the ocean. The signal here is really bad. How are you going to make a call without a strong connection?¡± Elspeth could only forget it. ¡°By the way, my clothes¡­¡± She nced at the man in front of her and frowned. ¡°Are you the one who changed my clothes?¡± Elias choked at her words. ¡°What are you talking about? Didn¡¯t you say it yourself that a man and a woman mustn¡¯t be so close together? How could I change your clothes for you? Although you look pretty, I¡¯m not that starved.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good then.¡± Elspeth wrapped the quilt tightly around herself. ¡°Okay, take a good rest first, and when the ship arrives in Sunholde, I will take you to the embassy and let them take you back.¡± Although this man was a bit annoying, he was kind and helped to make arrangements for her. A trace of gratitude emerged in Elspeth¡¯s heart as she said, ¡°Okay, then thank you in advance.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee. It¡¯s good karma to save a life. I¡¯m doing myself a favor.¡± After saying that, Elias stood up and prepared to go out. ¡°Wait a minute. I have another question.¡± Still unable to hold back herself, Elspeth nced around the room again, then asked curiously, ¡°Why is this room built so magnificently? Is the owner a lover of gold?¡± Although Elias was wearing in-looking clothes, those clothes were private creations of internationally renowned designers she was familiar with, and they were outrageously expensive. As such, he must have an unusual identity. He was probably a friend or rtive of the owner of the ship. Elias burst outughing. ¡°I don¡¯t know about that. My dad designed it this way himself. It¡¯s really tacky to me.¡± When he said this, Elias raised his eyebrows slightly with a trace of obvious impatience. ¡°Okay, then there¡¯s nothing else. But please send me some food on credit first. I¡¯ll pay you back when I return to Chars.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t want to owe others favors. ¡°I almost forgot that you haven¡¯t eaten in a long time. Okay, I¡¯ll find someone to deliver the food to you right away. This amount of money is nothing to me, so you don¡¯t have to pay me back.¡± Then, Elias walked out. Elspeth sat on the bed, and after a short moment, food was brought to her. The main and side dishes tasted decent. After she finished the food in a few mouthfuls, she felt warmth rushing through her body, so she began to move a little. She was thankful that Elias still kept her around even though she hadn¡¯t moved for five days. Anyone else would think she was well and truly dead. She got up and looked out the window. This was a freighter, so the rooms where people slept were usually at the bottom of the ship, but this freighter had windows. Looking out, she saw that the blue waves were rippling beautifully. Elspeth wondered whether the so-called freighter was actually a sightseeing cruise ship. In the next second, the door opened again.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ¡°Miss, Mr. Cole would like to invite you to go up to the deck to check out the scenery.¡± The person who came was a girl dressed in a traditional costume. She spoke in a smug tone as if she was unhappy to see Elspeth. Nevertheless, Elspeth didn¡¯t have the time or the mood to think about the girl. She was just curious why Elias suddenly asked her to go up to the deck to check out the scenery. ¡°Okay, wait a moment.¡± Although surprised, she still agreed. Elspeth tidied up her clothes briefly before walking out with the girl. The corridors were not as bad as she thought. They were clean and very brightly lit. The two of them thereafter made a long detour before reaching the top deck. The moment Elspeth finished walking up the stairs, she caught sight of Edmund who was standing in a rxed manner over there. My bad, his name is Elias, not Edmund. Elias turned and saw Elspeth. Subsequently, he waved to her with a bright smile. ¡°Come! Come and have fun.¡± Chapter 288 Chapter 288 Elspeth strolled over. The sky outside was endlessly blue, just like the ocean. In fact, the two looked like they were joined together. Standing next to Elias, she took a deep breath and took a deep breath of the strong sea breeze along with cigarette smoke. ¡°I don¡¯t like people who smoke.¡± Elspeth frowned and took a few steps back. Seeing that, Elias waved his hand, fanning away the smoke along with the wind. ¡°Wait a while, the smoke will be gone soon.¡± The other girl was standing not far away, unwilling to leave. She simply just stood there quietly and watched them get along. Elspeth turned her head abruptly and saw that the girl hadn¡¯t left yet. More importantly, the girl was staring fixedly at them. Elspeth couldn¡¯t help revealing a smile and asked, ¡°Elias, have you been flirting with that girl?¡± ¡°How would I know? I don¡¯t know her very well.¡± Elspeth smiled and stopped talking about the girl. When the girl behind saw that only Elspeth looked back at her and Elias didn¡¯t respond at all, she stomped her feet angrily. ¡°By the way, what did you call me here for?¡± ¡°I simply wanted to ask you some questions.¡± He leaned on the railing and looked into the distance. ¡°Tell me, who exactly is Edmund, and why did you recognize me as him at first sight?¡± In fact, his serious and stubborn appearance right now was exactly the same as Edmund¡¯s. Elspeth couldn¡¯t hold back and burst outughing. She then reached out and wanted to find the phone in her pocket to show him Edmund¡¯s photos. However, she found nothing. Only then did she realize that her phone might have been destroyed by seawater long ago. The ring on her hand too had long since be an ordinary ring due to being in seawater for a long time. ¡°Have you heard of the Winthrop Family from Damoria?¡± Elias frowned, ¡°The Winthrop Family from Damoria¡­ I have heard of them a little bit, but I have never come into contact with them. I was born in ydal and I went abroad with my parents after that. What? Is there really another person who looks exactly like me in this world?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Except for your tone and demeanor, everything else is exactly the same. Oh, no. That¡¯s not right. Edmund has a mole at the corner of his eye, and he speaks more viciously than you.¡± The more Elspeth looked, the more she felt that there must be an inextricable rtionship between the two even if they had never met. Could it be that¡­ ¡°Now, there are only two possibilities. First, I am actually a descendant of the Winthrop Family, or second, Edmund is a descendant of the Cole Family.¡± Even though Elias was shocked to hear this, he still analyzed it rationally. ¡°But judging from the current situation, I think the biggest possibility is that Edmund is my brother because my mother said that she gave birth to a pair of twins at the time, but unfortunately, one of the children died of a heart attack, leaving only me alive.¡± These words set off a huge wave in Elspeth¡¯s heart. ¡°It seems that it is really¡­¡± Elspeth murmured. ¡°So, do you have any ns?¡± Elias let go of the railing and walked toward her step by step. ¡°For example, introduce Edmund to me?¡± Elspeth nodded. ¡°That¡¯s for sure. When I return to Damoria, I¡¯ll introduce you guys. Edmund will be so shocked he won¡¯t be able to say a word.¡± It might be a good thing to temporarily shut up that spiteful guy. ¡°Okay. It¡¯s a bit cold after staying here for a long time. Let¡¯s go back. I just asked the kitchen to make some food. Do you want to try it?¡± Elspeth took a step back, keeping a reasonable distance from him. ¡°No need. I¡¯m not hungry now.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t rush to refuse. The chef on my ship is an excellent cook. He just made some food, soe and taste it.¡± A smile appeared on the corner of Elias¡¯ mouth as he said that. He gently held Elspeth¡¯s sleeve before pulling her toward the dining hall. When Elspeth saw the dining hall, she waspletely stunned. Just made some food? This is a full banquet! Seeing Elias¡¯ unconcerned appearance, she knew that this must be the normal lifestyle of the Cole Family. She felt that thisst name was very familiar as if she had heard it somewhere. ¡°Sit down and eat together.¡± Elspeth smiled a little nervously, but she still chose a seat a little closer to him and sat down. She simply wanted to chat with him more conveniently. In the next second, a bitter and mean voice suddenly sounded. ¡°Hey, why are you sitting so close to Mr. Cole? You¡¯re not interested in him, are you? Let me tell you that Mr. Cole already has a fianc¨¦e, so don¡¯t be a homewrecker here.¡± Elspeth turned her head and found that the familiar voice belonged to that arrogant girl in a traditional costume. It was only after scanning around that she noticed everyone else was wearing normal work clothes except for the girl in traditional clothing. ¡°I also have a fianc¨¦, so please show some respect to me when you speak,¡± Elspeth said lightly. Her voice was not loud, but it was very imposing. The girl was slightly taken aback. She didn¡¯t expect Elspeth to have a fianc¨¦, so she was even a little jealous. Even though she has a fianc¨¦, she¡¯s still secretly interested in Mr. Cole behind her fianc¨¦¡¯s back! This woman is so good-looking, so I¡¯m sure she¡¯s up to no good! The girl condemned Elspeth in her heart. At this time, Elias, who was sitting beside them, couldn¡¯t stand it any longer. He casually ced his knife and fork on the dinner te with a frown, a trace of coldness evident in his eyes. ¡°Bianca, stop talking.¡± ¡°Mr. Cole, you have never talked to me like this before, but today, you actually scolded me because of a woman.¡± Bianca was very annoyed, feeling that her long-standing special treatment from him was destroyed by this woman. This is from N?velDrama.Org. Elias sighed slightly at Elspeth, then raised his ss toward her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I should¡¯ve disciplined her better. I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡± Elspeth shook her head, raised her wine ss, and clinked it against Elias¡¯. ¡°She¡¯s just a little girl and looks underage. Why would I take her seriously?¡± After hearing this, Bianca immediately became upset. ¡°Who are you calling underage? I¡¯m 19 years old now.¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re still too young,¡± said Elspeth, even though she was not much older than Bianca either. Bianca looked left and right and found that no one spoke up for her. She stomped her feet angrily and left. This little issue didn¡¯t disrupt the meal. Immediately after that, Elias handed Elspeth a dish and smiled slightly. ¡°This dish is very delicious and I like it very much. Please try it.¡± Elspeth looked at the dish and swallowed her saliva. ¡°To be honest, I don¡¯t like seafood.¡± She was vignt and didn¡¯t tell him about her seafood allergy. After all, it was not a good thing to let other people know too much of one¡¯s weaknesses, even if he had not been a threat to her so far. Nevertheless, Elias was smart, and he knew what was going on just by looking at her eyes, so he handed her another dish. ¡°Then try this one¡ª¡± Before he finished speaking, there was a suddenmotion outside. Elias frowned and was about to go out to check the situation when the door was suddenly pushed open. Chapter 289 Chapter 289 The man who came in had his face covered, so they couldn¡¯t see his expression clearly. However, the hatred in his eyes became more and more obvious. ¡°I¡¯ve been lurking on this ship for three full years.¡± The man looked at Elias with a sneer. ¡°I have endured humiliation and been a subordinate for three full years. Today, I¡¯ve finally found a chance to fight back.¡± Elias was calm as if nothing particrly important had happened. ¡°Oh, so what?¡± Seeing Elias¡¯ unafraid look, the man became more and more annoyed. ¡°Keep pretending. I¡¯ll see how calm you can still be in a moment.¡± Behind him was a group of men in ck, all of whom looked vicious and strong. As soon as the man raised his hand, one of them came over immediately and asked, ¡°Sir, what should we do with the two people in front of us?¡± ¡°Except for the two people sitting at the table, you can deal with the others as you like.¡± The masked man let out a grin. Soon, the rest of his men immediately became excited when they heard this. Since the masked man had said to let them handle the other people as they liked, they would be able to enjoy the women here however they liked. Some women in the room began trembling with fear; others fell to the ground and dared not speak. They were so frightened that they were about to cry. As the men saw this scene, their strong desires were aroused. Just when they were about to step forward to do something to the women, Elspeth suddenly let out a snort, which stopped them in their tracks. At once, all eyes were on her. ¡°What are youughing at? You¡¯re going to die soon. How do you still have the nerve tough?¡± The masked man didn¡¯t understand Elspeth¡¯s reaction. Why was this woman different from other women? Wasn¡¯t she afraid at all when encountering such a situation? Elspeth sneered as she stared straight into the other¡¯s eyes. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to be afraid of here. You¡¯re just a pitiful man.¡± The man stepped forward and grabbed Elspeth¡¯s arm. ¡°Who are you calling pitiful? Let me tell you¡ª today, you will meet your maker!¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing certain about that yet. We don¡¯t even know which one of us will die and which one of us will live. You may not be able to beat me, so don¡¯t waste your efforts.¡± Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. After the man heard her words, heughed. ¡°Everyone here knows that you were rescued from the ocean. After being unconscious for so many days, you don¡¯t have much strength, right? How will you have the strength to beat me?¡± The masked man didn¡¯t want to talk nonsense anymore. He stepped forward a few steps and was about to grab Elspeth¡¯s hand when he found that his wrist was locked tight and he couldn¡¯t move at all. At that moment, his face immediately became extremely ugly. Her strength was so great that he couldn¡¯t resist at all! No, it was not just strength, but force instead! Her brute force was so mighty that even a man like him who had practiced martial arts for many years had to admit he was weaker than her! ¡°You¡ª¡± ¡°Can you beat me?¡± Elspeth smiled lightly. If that group of people came up to fight her together, she might not be able to beat them. But if they came at her one by one, she could definitely wipe them out easily. The masked man was still trying hard to keep his smile, but his smile was particrly forced. ¡°I¡¯ll admit you¡¯re pretty good¡­ but there are so many people on our side. Do you really think we can¡¯t beat you?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s leave the matter of fighting aside. Just tell me why you¡¯re making trouble on this ship today.¡± Elspeth¡¯s question seemed to bring back the masked man¡¯s memories, and he immediately showed resentment. ¡°Three years ago, I boarded this ship for the first time, and I originally wanted to do well and earn lots of money so that I could marry a woman and start a family. But his father, Irving Cole, broke one of my fingers just because of a small mistake.¡± After speaking, he stretched out his hand and showed it in front of them. Sure enough, the little finger of his right hand was indeed missing. ¡°It¡¯s hard for a disabled man like me to find a wife, let alone have a great career. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve been doing odd jobs on the ship, and no one thinks highly of me.¡± His face was full of destion. ¡°How is it possible for me not to hate him? So, I swore that I will make your father pay the price. This so-called son of his is here to supervise the work on the ship, and I will kill his son and make him regret it for the rest of his life.¡± He cast his eyes on Elias who was at the side before smiling cruelly. Irving Cole¡­ Isn¡¯t that my godfather that I identally acknowledged back then? Irving Cole and Elias Cole¡­ One was like a mobster, while the other was bright and handsome. She really hadn¡¯t connected them together. The man thought that if he told Elspeth, she would think about it and stand on his side. After all, if such a mysterious and special woman could help him, it would be of great benefit to him. However, after hearing his story, Elspeth not only didn¡¯t empathize with him but just rolled her eyes. ¡°You said it was just a small mistake, so do you dare to tell me about this small mistake? Also, you want revenge, but you allow your men to bully the women on the ship. This proves that you are not a good person!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t even know what happened, so why do you say that about me?¡± The masked man¡¯s expression became twisted. ¡°Okay, if that¡¯s the case, then don¡¯t me me for attacking you!¡± Not only was Elspeth not afraid, but she stepped forward and stood in front of everyone. ¡°Other than your grievances with the Cole Family, what about the men behind you? Have all of them been treated badly?¡± The dozen or so people behind who were holding weapons in their hands were all stunned. Elspeth picked a person at random who appeared to be more honest. She smiled at him and asked, ¡°Why did you follow him?¡± ¡°I¡­ He promised me that he will give me a lot of money after the matter ispleted.¡± Elspeth nodded thoughtfully and changed her target. ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°He also promised me that he will give me money after the matter ispleted.¡± Hearing these answers, Elspeth couldn¡¯t helpughing. ¡°He is just a poor man now. Do you really think that he will have money if he kills the captain¡¯s son?¡± ¡°Besides, it¡¯s uwful for you to follow him. When the timees, you won¡¯t have lots of wealth, but instead, you¡¯ll be hunted down endlessly! Don¡¯t forget the might of the one who owns this ship. When the timees, not only you but even your wives and children will suffer together!¡± Elspeth spoke harshly, and everyone around her was shocked. Immediately, they began whispering to each other. ¡°Yeah, although he did promise us money, where will the moneye from?¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t have any money, yet he wants to get justice for himself.¡± ¡°Why do I feel like we¡¯re believing in the wrong person?¡± The men behind turned their gazes to the masked man in front of them. Right now, the face of the masked man turned red. ¡°You must not listen to this woman¡¯s instigation. She just wants to sow discord among us and then take us down!¡± But no matter what he said, the men behind him still didn¡¯t dare to move. At this time, Elspeth smiled slowly and said, ¡°I¡¯ll give you another offer. You can work for me and take down this masked man who is being insolent toward us. After the matter ispleted, I will give each of you one million.¡± One million? The eyes of all the people present widened, and their gazes began sizing up the masked man greedily. Chapter 290 Chapter 290 The masked manughed. ¡°A hundred and fifty grand? You¡¯re just a woman whom we found drifting in the sea. You don¡¯t have a hundred and fifty grand.¡± Elspeth said loudly, ¡°But I do. I am the president of Azure Corporation.¡± The masked men froze. Even they had heard of Azure¡¯s fame, and rumors said that their president was a youngdy named Elspeth. ¡°That¡¯s me. I¡¯m Elspeth.¡± The masked man paled. ¡°Y-You¡¯re Elspeth?¡± ¡°Yes. Now you know I can afford the ransom.¡± Elspeth looked at the masked man with fury in her eyes. ¡°Fine. I do. I lost.¡± The masked man tossed his weapon away in dejection. His men surrendered as well and came over to Elspeth. Elspeth forgave the masked man on Elias¡¯ behalf, though he would be locked in his room for three days and subjected to constant surveince. The crisis was solved, but Elspeth shrugged it off easily, and she yawned. ¡°Here, sit with me, Elias.¡± Elias kept his silence the whole time, but he was staring at Elspeth with a smile. ¡°Of course.¡± So, she¡¯s Elspeth. No wonder Irving wants to be her godfather. I like her too. ¡°You must know who I am at this point,¡± said Elias. ¡°That¡¯s my line.¡± Elspeth popped some meat into her mouth. It¡¯s okay, but it needs to be cooked more. ¡°Dad got himself an interesting goddaughter.¡± Elias didn¡¯t eat. Instead, he crossed his arms and rubbed his chin pensively.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ¡°Ah, you tter me,¡± Elspeth answered absentmindedly. Her eyes were glued to the food, deciding on what to eat next. Elias was d that she was happy about the food. Three dayster, their boat docked, and Elias hopped off first. He ordered his men to move the cargo to the port. Elspeth looked around for a moment and hopped off as well. Elias smiled at her. ¡°Leaving so soon?¡± As if. ¡°I don¡¯t know this ce, I have no money, and I lost my ID. I can¡¯t leave even if I want to.¡± Elias rubbed his chin again. ¡°True. You lost all your stuff in the sea.¡± You really don¡¯t have to remind me of that. ¡°Why don¡¯t youe to my ce, then? Dad¡¯s there.¡± Okay, this is an opportunity. ¡°He has been dying to see you, but you didn¡¯t have time. This is the perfect chance to see him.¡± Elias smiled brightly, but Elspeth felt a shudder down her spine for some reason. Yet she had no other ce to go, so she agreed to the invitation. He made a call, and half an hourter, a Lincoln limousine came to pick them up. Elspeth¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°This is overkill.¡± He ignored herment, approached the limousine, and then got in the car. ¡°Get in. Don¡¯t just stand there.¡± Elspeth followed him. The first thing she saw in the car was a small table filled with all kinds of wine sses. Elias didn¡¯t seem to be interested in the alcohol. He looked at Elspeth and got what she was thinking, so he answered, ¡°It¡¯s my dad¡¯s. I don¡¯t drink.¡± She nodded. ¡°Mr. Irving¡¯s hobbies are¡­ peculiar.¡± First a house made of gold, and now wine sses of all shapes and colors. He leaned on the seat and frowned. Peculiar? She¡¯s probably kidding. ¡°I thought you¡¯re his goddaughter. Why the formal address?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not his goddaughter. That was an ident. I didn¡¯t mean it.¡± Elias shrugged. ¡°If my dad knows you didn¡¯t mean what you said, he¡¯s going to cry.¡± He¡¯s going to cry? Why? Just then, the limousine came to a stop before a vi. ¡°We¡¯re here. Let¡¯s go.¡± Elias got out of the car and opened the door for Elspeth. Resplendent. Irving really does love his pretty decor. Elias led Elspeth to the vi¡¯s front door, but before he could open the door, someone flung it open, revealing a familiar face behind it. ¡°Elspeth. You¡¯re finally here. So, tell me, what brings you to my humble abode.¡± Wait. I didn¡¯te here because I wanted to. Elspeth noticed Elias trying to chuckle. Alright, you exin. ¡°Elias, tell Mr. Irving what really happened.¡± Irving¡¯s face fell. ¡°Mr. Irving? Why, it¡¯s only been days since Ist saw you. Why the formality?¡± He then shot Elias a re. ¡°You¡¯re a cheeky one. It¡¯s because of you, isn¡¯t it?¡± Elias rolled his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s not my fault, Dad.¡± ¡°I bet it is. You must¡¯ve done something to make her think I don¡¯t like her!¡± Oh no. I don¡¯t like the looks of this. I have to stop him from starting a lecture. ¡°Alright, fine. It¡¯s not his fault, Uncle Irving.¡± Delighted by the change of address, Irving let things slide, and he led them to the living room. All of them sat on the sofa and made small talk. Eventually, they told Irving about the earlier crisis, and he frowned. ¡°What? You jumped into the sea, and the waves took you to the brat¡¯s ship?¡± Elspeth nodded. ¡°Yes. Arthur sent his henchmen after me. I had no choice but to jump ship. Literally.¡± I think I¡¯ve heard of that Arthur kid, Irving thought. ¡°The same Arthur who had a falling out with the Winthrops?¡± ¡°The very same.¡± Irving spat. ¡°That sted ingrate. The Winthrops raised a fiend, I say. A fiend who¡¯s out for his own brothers¡¯ blood.¡± Oh, wait. ¡°He tried to sabotage youst time, didn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°Yes, that too.¡± Elspeth sighed. ¡°You saved Callum and me back then.¡± He mmed the table in fury. ¡°That bloody b*stard tried to kill you! Well, he¡¯s going to pay for it!¡± Chapter 291 Chapter 291 Elspeth gulped. ¡°Thank you, Uncle Irving, but for now, I need to go back.¡± ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Irving didn¡¯t like that she was going back so soon, and his face fell. ¡°It¡¯s not every day youe to see me. What¡¯s the hurry?¡± Elspeth smiled. ¡°Callum¡¯s probably still trapped. When I jumped ship, he didn¡¯te with me. I need to know how he¡¯s doing.¡± She must find out if Callum was fine. If she insists. Irving sighed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll settle everything for you as soon as possible, but you¡¯re staying with me until then. My son neveres back. You¡¯re the only one I have.¡± Irving got annoyed just thinking about his son. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Irving.¡± It wasn¡¯t a hassle dealing with the government, but Elspeth lost all her stuff, so reissuing an ID would take time. ¡°Oh, I almost forgot.¡± Elias smacked his head. ¡°Elspeth, you mentioned one of the Winthrop brothers resembled me. What¡¯s his name?¡± Elspeth looked at him. She didn¡¯t think she should tell him the answer right now, but since he was asking, she couldn¡¯t hide it from him. ¡°Edmund,¡± she answered. A hint of curiosity appeared in Irving¡¯s eyes. ¡°So, you saw someone who looks like my son?¡± ¡°It¡¯s more than that. They look exactly the same.¡± Exactly the same¡­ Wait a minute¡­ Driven by excitement, Irving stood up. ¡°Exactly the same, you say?¡± Elspeth nodded. ¡°But he has a little mole at the corner of his eye.¡± A mole at the corner of his eye¡­ His wife gave birth to a set of twins, but one of the babies was dying, so they had to put him in the incubator. Eventually, a doctor told them the baby couldn¡¯t make it. It was tragic, but the couple epted the news. Yet no, he was told of the news that someone out there looked just like his son. Unable to contain his overflowing emotions, Irving raised his voice and said, ¡°Where is he? Is he still within the nation? In the Winthrop Residence? Can I see him if I fly back right now?¡± Elias had never seen his father act that way. He was fierce, kind, and jolly, but never had he seen his father¡¯s eyes shine with so much passion. ¡°Calm down, Dad. Calm down. Let Elspeth speak.¡± Elspeth said, ¡°Uncle Irving, we don¡¯t know if Edmund is your son. This is just spection, but it is a fact that he does look like Elias.¡± I don¡¯t want Uncle Irving to be happy for nothing. Irving ignored what she said. ¡°No, I¡¯m sure he¡¯s my son. The doctor told me he had a mole at the corner of his eye. The right eye, right?¡± Elspeth nodded. She too was shocked. The mole was indeed at the corner of Edmund¡¯s right eye. Can it be? Can Edmund be Uncle Irving¡¯s son? Wonder how he¡¯ll take the news. The confirmation excited Irving even more. He wanted to settle all governmental procedures for Elspeth and fly back to see Edmund right away, but before that, Elspeth would have to stay put. Moreover, Elias¡¯ grandfather¡¯s birthday party was just around the corner. Irving busied himself with the birthday affairs, so Elspeth¡¯s matters were set aside, but since the birthday arrangements were going fast, Elspeth didn¡¯t panic. It was afternoon. Elias came to Elspeth¡¯s room and knocked on the door. Elspeth was trying to establish contact with the Winthrops through herptop, but Callum¡¯s phone couldn¡¯t be reached, and she didn¡¯t remember anyone else¡¯s number. Callum never changes his number, so I should¡¯ve been able to reach him. All of a sudden, a horrifying thought urred to her. Wait. What if Callum jumped into the sea after me? No. No. He¡¯s hurt. He¡¯d die if he jumped into the sea. Worry filled her heart, and she didn¡¯t hear Elias¡¯ knocking even though he had done it three times. Eventually, Elias came in, and in his hands was a big box. Elspeth snapped out of it and looked at his box. Curious, she asked, ¡°What¡¯s in there?¡± ¡°The dress Dad prepared for you. You¡¯re joining the party tonight.¡± Elspeth frowned. ¡°I¡¯m not part of your family. I don¡¯t think I should go.¡± ¡°Why not? You¡¯re my dad¡¯s goddaughter.¡± Elspeth would¡¯ve attended the party, but she was in no mood for that. Callum might be dead, and all she cared about now was looking for him. Elias blinked, and he smiled. ¡°You seem upset. Thinking about your fianc¨¦?¡± As if he was her sliver of hope, Elspeth looked at him with anticipation in her eyes. ¡°Do you know something?¡± Elias nodded. ¡°I thought you might want to know if he was fine, so my men have been looking into it. Callum did jump into the sea, but a fisherman saved him and took him to the hospital. He¡¯s out of the woods now.¡± Elspeth was worried when she heard that he jumped into the sea, but then Elias said he was out of the woods, so she rxed and her frown disappeared. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about him. We¡¯re going back in a couple of days. You should worry about the makeup you¡¯re going to wear for the party.¡± Elias handed her the box and put his hands in his pockets before he left. Staring at the empty room and the box on the table, Elspeth felt conflicted. Yet, she had no choice but to go along. She opened the box and saw a whitece dress inside along with a pearl ne and diamond earrings. I¡¯m not a high school student, you know. Elspeth¡¯s lips twitched, but she gritted her teeth and changed into the dress anyway. Elias was waiting right outside the room. When Elspeth opened the door, he turned around to have a quick look, but then he couldn¡¯t move his gaze away anymore. Elspeth looked beautiful in white, and her pearl ne lent her an air of grace. Her simple makeup made her look innocent enough to make anyone¡¯s heart skip a beat. He thought she was a fairy. Chapter 292 Chapter 292 Elspeth felt embarrassed that she was being stared at. She had taken a look in the mirror earlier. The dress didn¡¯t match her style, but she thought it was cute. Elias cleared his throat. ¡°Time to go.¡± Elspeth nodded and followed him. They went to the vi where Philip resided. The Coles moved abroad back in the sixties. Aside from Irving and Elias, barely anyone from the Cole Family would go back home. The moment Elspeth and Elias showed up, the crowd was shocked. ¡°Who is that woman? She¡¯s with Philip¡¯s most beloved grandson.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe she gets to date someone who was on Sunholde¡¯s famous science magazine¡¯s cover page at such a young age.¡± ¡°He¡¯s a genius. The finest of this generation.¡± ¡°And he¡¯s never been embroiled in any scandals before. Every family is trying to marry their daughter to him.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to date him, but he doesn¡¯t care about anyone.¡± Everyone was wondering who this woman was, and how did she hook up with Elias. Then Elspeth got out of the car and faced everyone bravely. She held Elias¡¯ arm and entered the hall, the air around her filled with elegance. Everyone kept quiet. They watched in awe as the perfect couple made their way to the venue. Elspeth wondered what they were talking about. She turned around, and the moment she did, one of the guests felt excited. ¡°She was looking at me. Oh my god, I¡¯m blessed. Look at her eyes! They¡¯re beautiful.¡± Elspeth stole the hearts of many men the moment she appeared, but that was a story for another day. Not only were the guests surprised at the appearance of a woman hitherto unknown to them, Philip too was interested in themotion. The moment Elspeth entered the hall, a woman in business professional attire approached her. ¡°Miss Lynwood, Master Philip wishes to speak with you.¡± There was a hint of guile gleaming in her eyes, and she sounded firm about her request. She¡¯s working for Uncle Irving¡¯s father as well. And so, Elspeth went with her. Philip wasn¡¯t as weak as she imagined. He was thin, but he looked energetic. The moment he saw Elspeth, his eyes gleamed. ¡°You look just like her.¡± Elspeth was about to ask whom she resembled when then Philip added, ¡°You look just like your mother.¡± Mother? ¡°You know my mother, Uncle Philip?¡± Philip¡¯s eyes glistened. ¡°Know her? Why, we have history.¡± Then, he told Elspeth of her mother¡¯s past. She came to Sunholde once when she was young, and she was a guest at the Cole household. ¡°Your mother was a great woman. I was going to have her marry my son, but she said she had someone she loved. I couldn¡¯t force her to stay, so I let her leave. Ah, but fate does love to pull a twist. I adored your mother, and now my son adores you.¡± The light of reminiscence filled Philip¡¯s eyes. He looked at Elspeth and extended his hand. Elspeth quickly held his hand as well. The old man asked, ¡°So, are you interested in marrying Elias?¡± She looks and acts just like her mother. No, even more regal, I daresay. I¡¯d love it if she could marry Elias. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Elspeth choked on herself. Why is everyone asking me to marry Elias? Do I look like his girlfriend? She shot Elias a weird look, but Elias blushed and looked away. Don¡¯t just blush. Exin yourself. Elspeth smiled awkwardly. ¡°No, Mr. Philip. We¡¯re just friends, and I have a fianc¨¦.¡± Philip¡¯s face darkened as he shot Elias a re. ¡°You¡¯re useless.¡± Then, he turned to smile at Elspeth. ¡°That¡¯s alright. As long as you¡¯re not married, then Elias still has a chance. Even if you are married, there¡¯s still a chance of divorce, am I right?¡± Elspeth froze. What is with this family? They change moods so fast, and they keep saying things I don¡¯t understand. This is a bit uneptable. ¡°Grandpa loves talking nonsense. Just ignore him.¡± Elias took a deep breath and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m engaged as well.¡± Philip sighed. ¡°Don¡¯t talk about her. She refuses to marry you. She said she has someone she loves, and she¡¯s going to cancel the marriage soon enough.¡± Philip looked upset just mentioning the marriage¡¯s cancetion. ¡°Let her. I don¡¯t love her, and she doesn¡¯t love me.¡± Philip nodded, and he stopped the conversation. The party was already beginning so he had to address his guests. Elspeth and Elias went to a corner to have a chat. ¡°I¡¯ve been snooping around. You¡¯re famous, so what¡¯s up with your fianc¨¦e? Why isn¡¯t she interested in you?¡± Elspeth took a sip of her tea and smirked. ¡°How should I know? She probably likes someone better than me.¡± Elias didn¡¯t care about the woman at all, though he did feel miffed. ¡°I wasn¡¯t the one who proposed the marriage, but now I have to cancel it myself. It rubs me the wrong way.¡± ¡°Eh. She probably doesn¡¯t like you either, so that¡¯s why she¡¯s canceling the whole thing. Oh, you¡¯re a researcher, aren¡¯t you? What are you researching?¡± I thought he was a basketball yer, but he¡¯s a researcher, huh? Didn¡¯t expect that. ¡°IR&D. I¡¯m doing my research at NTU.¡± NTU was a famous educational institution in the world. It was Sunholde¡¯s most research-oriented university. He¡¯s a brilliant man. Oh, I have an idea. ¡°Do you want to work with me? I provide the funds, and you provide the brains. Let¡¯s do a project.¡± ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t need money.¡± He didn¡¯t do research for money. The Coles had more money than he could ever need. ¡°Your family¡¯s money and your money are two different things.¡± Elspeth kept winking at him. Elias stared at her smirk, and he thought he should take her up on her offer. All of a sudden, they heard someone sneer. ¡°I can¡¯t believe some lowly wench is already seducing my fianc¨¦. I haven¡¯t even canceled the marriage yet.¡± Chapter 293 Chapter 293 Elspeth didn¡¯t like being called a wench. She turned around, trying to see who the woman was, and then she shot that woman a re. ¡°You.¡± Ginna. She¡¯s here. I¡¯ve been looking all over for her. ¡°What?¡± Ginna froze. Elspeth? Why is she here? And why is she with Elias? Elias noticed the tension in the air, and he smirked. ¡°You girls know each other?¡± Elspeth nodded with a mysterious smile. ¡°Know her? We have history.¡± ¡°Well, you girls go ahead then. I need to do something, so excuse me.¡± Elias refused to see this woman. She was the one who wanted to cancel the marriage, yet now she was acting like they were engaged. It was disgusting. He left, and now only thedies were left. ¡°Hooking up with another man behind Callum¡¯s back. Wonder what he¡¯s going to think if he finds out.¡± A smug smile curled Ginna¡¯s lips. Her sister asked her to topple Elspeth and she had been agonizing over the n, but now the perfect n just walked up to her. ¡°Don¡¯t give me that smug look.¡± Elspeth took a sip of her tea and looked at the bulging belly Ginna was trying to hide. ¡°Wonder what your fianc¨¦¡¯s going to think when he finds out you¡¯re two months pregnant.¡± No use hiding it. I can tell. ¡°What?¡± Ginna was shocked. How did she know? She gritted her teeth, her face pale. ¡°Who told you that? What else do you know?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter what I know. Point is if the Coles find out the real reason you want to cancel the marriage is that you f*cked another man behind Elias¡¯ back and got knocked up¡­¡± The color drained from Ginna¡¯s face. She didn¡¯t tell anyone about her pregnancy, not even her family. If they were to find out, or even worse, if the Coles were to find out, then she was done for. The Coles woulde after her, and her family would disown her. ¡°Stop your lies!¡± I can¡¯t believe she¡¯s still trying to deny it. Elspeth pursed her lips. ¡°If you think I¡¯m lying, why don¡¯t you get a checkup at the hospital and tell me the results then?¡± ¡°So what if you know I¡¯m pregnant? Do you think the Coles will listen to you? Nobody can force me to get a checkup if I refuse to.¡± A frown furrowed Elspeth¡¯s forehead. How annoying. ¡°I didn¡¯t start this fight. You did.¡± Ginna looked around. When she was sure that nobody was paying attention to them, she whispered, ¡°This is not the ce to talk. Come with me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not your servant or friend, Miss Walker. I don¡¯t do as you please.¡± Damn it. Just listen to me for once, will you? Ginna gritted her teeth and begged, ¡°Please, let¡¯s take it outside.¡± Elspeth stopped mocking her. She was pregnant with Gilbert¡¯s son, after all. If the child died because its mother got mad, Gilbert might kill her. What a drag. ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s take this outside.¡± Then, she followed Ginna out of the hall. Ginna led her to a quiet corner and blocked her view before proceeding to shoot her a nasty re. ¡°Tell me, how did you know? Who told you?¡± Elspeth shrugged. ¡°Who else? The kid¡¯s father.¡± Gilbert? Ginna¡¯s brows furrowed at once. Carefully, she asked, ¡°How did you know him? And who is he to you?¡± She was worried they might be flirting. Gilbert couldn¡¯t have told anyone something this private otherwise. ¡°Business partners. Nothing more, nothing less.¡± Elspeth noticed the mes of envy in Ginna¡¯s eyes, and she understood why Ginna hated her so much. You and your rtionship problems, Gilbert. I really didn¡¯t have to deal with this. She cursed him in silence, yet she kept her smile on her face. This is from N?velDrama.Org. Oh, good. So, they¡¯re just business partners. Ginna smiled again. ¡°Onest thing. Please don¡¯t tell Gilbert I am engaged. Keep that secret for me, and I¡¯ll do anything you ask.¡± She¡¯s working really hard so her kid will have a father. That, or she really likes Gilbert. ¡°I see. So, you ran away from Gilbert because you wanted to cancel the marriage before he found out. If you did that, then the marriage wouldn¡¯t get in the way of your dating him.¡± Elspeth¡¯s guess was mostly correct. One look at Ginna¡¯s eyes and she knew she hit the bullseye, but what she didn¡¯t know was that Gilbert didn¡¯t care about Ginna or her baby as much as she thought. Ginna knew that as well, so to firmly get her hands on Gilbert, she must erase all obstacles. Her baby was her ticket to get Gilbert. ¡°Gilbert wants to be with me, so I need to get rid of all obstacles for him.¡± Ginna took a few steps back and pushed her hair back. Calmly, she said, ¡°If you are his friend, you¡¯ll keep this a secret and help us out.¡± Ugh. Guilt-tripping me again. Elspeth knew what Ginna was up to, but she would y along for Gilbert¡¯s child. She nodded. ¡°Fine. I won¡¯t tell him for now, nor do I need any reward, but don¡¯t try anything funny. If you hurt Gilbert, I¡¯ll hurt you badly.¡± Ginna tensed up right after she rxed. I thought she wasn¡¯t interested in Gilbert, so why would she care what I might do to him? She was then reminded of the photo she saw in Gilbert¡¯s wallet. That was Elspeth. Ginna was hatching another n again. I see I have to work with Emma if I want to get rid of Elspeth. Chapter 294 Chapter 294 Elspeth was going to tell Gilbert that Ginna was engaged, but after that conversation, she gave up on that idea. Once the party was over, Irving settled all matters for Elspeth as soon as he could, including getting her flight ticket. The next day, Irving, Elias, and Elspeth returned to Damoria. The moment they disembarked, Elspeth made her way to the hospital Callum was in. Elias went along as he wanted to see who Callum was. They got a ride to the hospital, and once they arrived, Elspeth ran around asking where Callum was. The moment she got to Callum¡¯s ward, she heard sounds of criesing from within. Worried, she entered and was met with a pale Callum lying on the bed. Even his lips were pale. Beside him were Margot, who was crying and looking despondent, and Max. ¡°I-I¡¯m back, Margot,¡± Elspeth said. The moment Margot met Elspeth¡¯s eyes, Margot pounced on her and cried in her embrace. ¡°Elspeth, he¡¯s been out for ten days. I¡¯ve gotten him the best doctors, but none of them could wake him up! What if he¡¯s gone? What should I do?¡± Elspeth¡¯s heart went out to Margot. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Margot. I¡¯ll save him no matter what. He¡¯s my fianc¨¦. I will not abandon him.¡± Elspeth closed her eyes, hiding her pain and tears, then she took a deep breath. ¡°Let me see him. I need to check on him to see what I can do.¡± Elspeth put on a set of sterile clothes and gloves, then she checked Callum inch by inch. Every wound and injury she found only hurt her heart more. His back was fractured, his body was covered in minute wounds, and he choked on seawater. It was a miracle he was still alive. ¡°He¡¯s heavily injured both internally and externally. His heart is affected as well, but don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m calling Sonny over to help. I will save him.¡± Margot felt more at ease after that guarantee. She stopped crying and realized there was a man in a mask and cap standing around. ¡°Who is this?¡± ¡°Elias. He saved me.¡± Elias took his mask off and grinned toothily. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Elias.¡± Margot froze. ¡°Edmund?¡± I expected this reaction. Elias shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not Edmund, Mrs. Winthrop. I¡¯m Elias.¡± But they look the same. Still in disbelief, Margot held Elias and took a closer look. Then she sighed. ¡°Gosh. I would have thought you were Edmund if you hadn¡¯t told me you were someone else. He has a mole at the corner of his eye. Yeah, you¡¯re not him.¡± ¡°A question, if I may. When was your son, Edmund, born?¡± ¡°Eighteenth of March, neen ny-nine.¡± That¡¯s my birthday. We were born on the same day of the same month of the same year. This settles it. Edmund is my twin. Something glinted in Elias¡¯ eyes. ¡°We even share the same birthday. My mother was pregnant with twins, but one didn¡¯t make it. Why, now I am starting to think Edmund might just be my twin brother.¡± Elias thought it was a coincidence, but Margot thought otherwise. There are no coincidences. I was only pregnant with one boy, and the checkup couldn¡¯t be wrong. So¡­ Margot didn¡¯t continue that thought. She didn¡¯t want to imagine that Edmund might not be her son. Arthur¡¯s betrayal had broken her heart while Callum was in danger. She could not lose another son now. Margot had conflicting emotions, but Elspeth thought she was worried about Callum, so she didn¡¯t exin anything. ¡°I¡¯ll call Sonny and get him here as soon as possible.¡± She left the ward, dodged the crowd, and called Sonny. ¡°Hey.¡± Sonny didn¡¯t recognize Elspeth¡¯s number at first. ¡°I¡¯m not going. I¡¯m living peacefully in the mountains, and I¡¯m never going to save anyone ever ag¡ªHey, no takebacks! And you, stop talking to him. Just watch the game quietly!¡± ¡°You really need to hold back on your chess games, Sonny. I can¡¯t believe you¡¯ve forgotten about me!¡± Elspeth gritted her teeth. You¡¯re not living in the mountains, you old git. You¡¯re living in a random neighborhood abroad and ying chess all day with your friends. I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re lying to me. Sonny knew it was Elspeth. He just wanted to joke, and he chuckled. ¡°Sorry, girl. I¡¯m in the middle of a game. Why don¡¯t we talk¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s urgent. Come over to Damoria¡¯s town hospital in three hours.¡± Sonny was upset. ¡°You can¡¯t do this to me. I¡¯m in the middle of a game. I¡¯m not your servant, g¡ª¡± ¡°Two hours, fifty-eight minutes, and forty-six seconds.¡± Elspeth then heard the howls of the windsing from the other end of the phone. Whoa, talk about running like the wind. Elspeth¡¯s lips twitched. Maybe I shouldn¡¯t be too hard on him. ¡°I¡¯ll y some chess with you when I have time.¡± That swept Sonny¡¯s bad mood away. ¡°I¡¯m holding you to that!¡± Elspeth was the one he wanted to y chess with. These old guys were bad at it. Elspeth checked the time. Two and a half hourster, Sonny texted, ¡°I¡¯m at the entrance. Lead the way.¡± Elspeth texted the ward number to him. ¡°Come over yourself.¡± She returned to Callum¡¯s ward. Callum was dying. It was why she wanted Sonny toe over as soon as possible. She wasn¡¯t skilled enough to treat Callum. Or to be precise, she wasn¡¯t skilled enough to nurse him back to full health and leave noplications behind. She remembered that Sonny had a Soulsaver Pill. I must get it from him no matter what. When Sonny entered the ward, the first thing he saw was Elspeth smiling at him. ¡°Hey, Sonny.¡± Elspeth approached Sonny and took his suitcase. ¡°Sorry for the short notice. You must be tired. Here, have a seat.¡± She then handed him a ss of water. However, Sonny knew what she was getting at. ¡°What do you want this time?¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll cut to the chase then. I want your Soulsaver Pill.¡± Sonny spewed a mouthful of water out.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Chapter 295 Chapter 295 She can¡¯t have the Soulsaver Pill. That¡¯s invaluable. Sonny turned away. ¡°I would¡¯ve said yes to anything else, but not to this one.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Elspeth frowned. ¡°Because I only have one Soulsaver Pill left. I used one to save your life three years ago, and this is the only one I have left. I won¡¯t give you that.¡± Sonny winced at the thought of giving her thest Soulsaver Pill. I can¡¯t believe she would ask for something priceless without even blinking. ¡°A life is on the line! I checked on Callum, and he¡¯s an inch away from death. At this rate, he won¡¯t survive a month!¡± Sonny finally looked serious. ¡°He¡¯s not going to survive a month? Let me see him.¡± Sonny checked on Callum as well, and he confirmed that Elspeth was telling the truth. ¡°But this is myst Soulsaver Pill. If you use it on him, then we won¡¯t have any for you.¡± Oh yeah. I also need treatment as well. She smiled bitterly. ¡°It¡¯s alright. We can figure something out as I still have a year to live, but if we don¡¯t save him right now, then he won¡¯t survive the month.¡± I can¡¯t let him die. ¡°Very well. If that is your choice, then I won¡¯t stop you.¡± Sonny took a deep breath, his eyes filled with sorrow. Then he took out a ck pill from his medical kit and stuffed it into Callum¡¯s mouth. However, Callum, as if knowing what would happen, refused to gulp the pill. ¡°He¡¯s not swallowing. Does he know? Well, this is weird.¡± Sonny was surprised for a moment, then he said, ¡°If the pill melts in his mouth, it¡¯ll reduce its efficacy.¡± Elspeth darted ahead and, before anyone could react, kissed Callum, much to everyone¡¯s surprise. They thought this was inappropriate, but Elspeth ignored them. She pushed the pill with her tongue, trying to force it down Callum¡¯s throat, but he refused to take it. The pill was melting and getting smaller over time. Left with no choice, Elspeth crushed it and shoved it down his throat. The effects weren¡¯t great, but it worked. Callum finally gulped the pill. Everyone waited for him to wake up, but Callum didn¡¯t move. It seemed like he was dead. Even Sonny was starting to question the pill. ¡°What¡¯s going on? It should¡¯ve worked in three minutes.¡± A frown furrowed Elspeth¡¯s brow. ¡°You made the pill, didn¡¯t you? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve forgotten how it works.¡± Sonny blushed. ¡°Maybe I did forget.¡± And then they heard the sound of coughs echoing in the air. Elspeth turned around, and Callum was already getting up, though he was coughing. Margot and Elias stopped talking, then they both turned around. ¡°You¡¯re awake!¡± said Margot. ¡°Yes.¡± Callum smiled weakly. Elspeth stared at him, tears welling up in her eyes. ¡°Callum.¡± Callum turned around, but his gaze was cold and aloof. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Elspeth froze when she saw his gaze. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Why is he so distant? Elspeth was at a loss. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you mad at me? I didn¡¯t mean to¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m not mad at you, Miss Lynwood. I don¡¯t think we¡¯re that close.¡± Callum covered his mouth and started coughing violently. Elspeth couldn¡¯t believe it. She looked at Sonny, her eyes filled with confusion. Sonny looked baffled as well. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s a side effect. He probably lost his memories.¡± I don¡¯t think so. ¡°But he just called me Miss Lynwood. He still remembers me.¡± This wasn¡¯t what Elspeth expected. She would rather Callum yell at her than just forget her entirely. She turned her attention to Callum again, still in disbelief. ¡°Do you know who I am, Callum?¡± Callum nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Do you remember our rtionship, then?¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t think he would forget her. He didn¡¯t forget anything, including her name. There¡¯s no way he would forget the bond we share. Callum hesitated for a moment, then he answered, ¡°Yes.¡± Surprise filled Elspeth¡¯s eyes. ¡°Really? So, you do remem¡ª¡± However, her surprise was reced by despondency immediately. Callum seemed to have lost all feelings for her. He wasn¡¯t even fazed, even though he knew they shared a great past. He didn¡¯t love her anymore. Sonny clicked his tongue. ¡°Okay, so he didn¡¯t lose his memory. He just lost his love for you. Odd. Didn¡¯t think my pill had that kind of effect.¡± Not the time for jokes, old man. She stared at Callum silently. ¡°Do you still love me?¡± she asked coolly, her voice tinged with disappointment. Callum was in a state of confusion as well. He knew this woman was his fianc¨¦e, and he could still remember everything that had happened in their rtionship, but he just felt nothing for her. ¡°No,¡± he answered honestly. Elspeth knew this was not his fault. He didn¡¯t mean to forget about her, but still, the answer pained her. Elspeth took a deep breath and forced a smile. ¡°I don¡¯t mind. As long as you still want to be with me, we can solve everything else with time.¡± I¡¯ll work my hardest to make him remember our love. As long as he wants to. Callum spoke indifferently, not unlike a robot. ¡°Of course.¡± He felt nothing for her, but she was the woman he chose, and he wouldn¡¯t abandon her just like that. Elspeth noticed the offhand attitude, and it saddened her. Margot was worried, but Elias flew into a rage. ¡°He¡¯s already forgotten all about your rtionship, so why do you still want to be with him? To suffer?¡± Chapter 296 Chapter 296 Elspeth bit her lip. ¡°I think he¡¯s going to remember me eventually.¡± His love for me is real. I wouldn¡¯t lose him forever. Elias sneered, his gaze fixed on Callum. For some reason, he wasn¡¯t his usual sunshine self and he hissed like a snake, ¡°You know you¡¯ll only suffer if you stay with him. He doesn¡¯t love you. Even if he remains with you, all he¡¯ll give is the bare minimum. Ask him.¡± Callum really wanted to call this guy Edmund, but he held it back. They might look the same, but their personalities were vastly different, and the way they carried themselves differed as well. At first, Callum was mad that Elias was berating him, but he couldn¡¯t get mad at someone who looked just like his brother. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best to work with you,¡± he said coolly. He¡¯ll¡­ do his best¡­ to work with me? All the color was drained from Elspeth¡¯s face. She looked even worse than Callum was. ¡°I see. You should rest now.¡± She turned around and left. Elias shot Callum an icy look. ¡°She came all the way here to save your worthless life. You let her down, and I¡¯ming after you, Callum.¡± Then, Elias chased after Elspeth. Elspeth ran all the way to the garden. She took a deep breath, the sense of helplessness grasping her heart, and she felt like crying. The sun was ring down at her mercilessly as if judging her for her ipetence. In the end, Elspeth couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore and burst into tears. When Elias caught up to her, she was crouched on the ground, all curled up and shivering. It made his heart hurt, and he approached her. ¡°Don¡¯t cry.¡± He bent over and patted her shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s not worth it.¡± Elspeth sniffled. Adamantly, she said, ¡°I¡¯m not crying. The sun¡¯s too scorching hot. It was hurting my eyes.¡± Elias knew it was a lie, but he didn¡¯t expose it. He didn¡¯t want to remind her of that awful encounter, so he pulled her up and said with a light chuckle, ¡°Alright, stop crying. You don¡¯t like the sun, so we¡¯ll get some shade. If you¡¯d like, you can date me. I¡¯m tons better than Callum. He¡¯s as cold as the tundra. You shoulde to me. I¡¯m warm and fuzzy.¡± He thinks really highly of himself, huh? Feeling a littleforted, Elspeth smiled. ¡°Alright, stop messing around. I know you¡¯re trying to cheer me up, but there¡¯s no need for that.¡± Elias patted her. ¡°You¡¯re going to take me to Edmund, aren¡¯t you? You don¡¯t have to think about the guy anymore. He¡¯s not worth it.¡± Elias was starting to nag. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Elspeth burst intoughter, and she agreed. Edmund took over thepany in Callum¡¯s absence. When Elspeth and Elias arrived at thepany, Edmund was working. He was in a suit, and a grim look filled his eyes. Obviously, he was not in a good mood. When he saw Elspeth, he smiled and was about to say hi, but then he saw the man beside her. The look on his face turned into one of horror. He looks just like me! I can¡¯t believe this. Am I seeing my doppelganger? He froze for a moment, then he asked, ¡°You are¡­¡± ¡°Hello, Edmund. I¡¯m Elias. Elias Cole.¡± I don¡¯t know any Elias. So, he¡¯s a different person. Feeling better, Edmund said, ¡°You look just like me.¡± Elias wasn¡¯t as horrified when he saw Edmund, though he was surprised. ¡°Perhaps we¡¯re twins?¡± ¡°Impossible. I am a Winthrop. There¡¯s no way we are twins.¡± Edmund lost hisposure. His smile was wiped away and reced by disbelief. ¡°I didn¡¯t believe it at first either, but then I talked to Elspeth and your mother, and it nted doubt in my heart. If we can¡¯t be sure of the truth, we might have to do a DNA test. Once the results are out, we¡¯ll know if we¡¯re twins or if this is just a beautiful misunderstanding.¡± Elias made a good point. Even Elspeth nodded. Edmund frowned. He mused over his options and agreed to the suggestion after some hesitation. Just then, he noticed the tear stains on Elspeth¡¯s cheeks, and he asked, ¡°What happened? I¡¯ve never seen you cry. Did someone hurt you?¡± he joked, though there was real worry in his voice. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t want to answer the question. However, Elias didn¡¯t want to let it go. ¡°Nothing? Callum forgot all about your love. Your rtionship. If you weren¡¯t so sure that he had forgotten about your love, I would¡¯ve thought he was actually acting all this time! Why, he looked like he was going to break up with you.¡± Edmund didn¡¯t expect that. He was going to ask if Callum was awake, but not only did he get the answer to that question, but he also found out about something else. Yet this wasn¡¯t a bad thing for Edmund. If Callum had lost his love for Elspeth, then¡­ I can court her again. The feelings he had locked up were bursting forth again. Edmund smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. It¡¯s boring talking about him. So what if he has forgotten about you? You still have a lot of men to choose from.¡± Stop teasing me. Elspeth shot him a murderous look. ¡°Stop it. Let¡¯s do the DNA test now. Once the results are out, you can see Callum.¡± Edmund would love to go, but he couldn¡¯t. ¡°I have a meeting to attend regarding thepany¡¯s future development ns. The wholepany has been in chaos since Callum fell into aa and missed the BOD meetings. I¡¯m going mad with work. I have to deal with the tenured guys and calm the workers down at the same time.¡± Huh. That does take up a lot of time. Elspeth cocked her eyebrow. ¡°So, they¡¯re making a scene again?¡± Fury glinted in Edmund¡¯s eyes. ¡°I think someone¡¯s fanning the mes. They¡¯re trying to sow discord among us.¡± He didn¡¯t say who it was, but everyone knew. ¡°It¡¯s not like thepany has fallen. I can¡¯t believe Arthur would go so far.¡± Elspeth¡¯s eyes glowed with fury, and she sneered. ¡°I¡¯m joining the shareholder meeting this time. I own a quarter of the total shares of thepany. I have the right to call the shots, don¡¯t I?¡± ¡°You do, but if they try toe after you¡­¡± Elspeth stood up as her smile disappeared. ¡°I¡¯m going to smoke the mole out. Just because Callum isn¡¯t here doesn¡¯t mean they own the ce.¡± Chapter 297 Chapter 297 While they were on the way to the conference room, Edmund exined the share distribution of the company. Callum held the most shares at thirty percent ownership, Elspeth was the second at twenty- five percent ownership, and the remaining shares were distributed among the shareholders. Elspeth nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll deal with this. You and Elias go for the DNA test. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll handle the matter.¡± Edmund was worried, but he nodded and left in the end. When Elspeth reached the conference room, she took a deep breath. Then, she entered the room. Within it, a few people sat. All of them looked hostile. When Elspeth stepped in, the shareholders looked at her, and they scoffed. ¡°A girl? Is there no one else from the Winthrops to hold the meeting?¡± ¡°That¡¯s Elspeth, isn¡¯t she? She¡¯s Callum¡¯s fianc¨¦e. Pity she¡¯s going to be a widow before she¡¯s even married.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hear what she has to say.¡± Elspeth shot them a withering look. Shudders were sent down their spines, and they shut up. None of them said another word. Elspeth took the main seat and crossed her arms, a smile curling her lips. ¡°Sorry I have to take Callum¡¯s ce, but I¡¯m also a shareholder as well, and I own twenty-five percent of thepany. Since Callum isn¡¯t here, that makes me the biggest shareholder. And Callum is only unconscious, not dead. Watch your tongue. We¡¯re all educated here. We know better than to spread rumors like uneducated swines.¡± Did she just call us uneducated swines? The shareholders¡¯ faces turned red. They were sure that Elspeth had heard them gossiping just now, but it didn¡¯t matter. Callum was still unconscious, and that was the truth. They said nothing wrong. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. One of the female shareholders sneered. ¡°I know you¡¯re worried about your fianc¨¦, Miss Lynwood. You¡¯re trying to keep us silent until hees back, but ourpany can¡¯t run without a leader. It¡¯s been half a month since he fell into aa. Who knows when he¡¯sing back, or if he¡¯s evening back?¡± They want to elect a new leader? They¡¯re greedier than I thought. Elspeth looked at the shareholder in confusion. ¡°And how do you know Callum can¡¯t survive?¡± She kept the fact that Callum had awoken a secret. Let¡¯s see how many traitors there are among these people. ¡°Haven¡¯t you paid him a visit? You don¡¯t care how serious his condition is? I have a friend who works at the same hospital Mr. Winthrop is in. He said Mr. Winthrop might not survive the month.¡± Elspeth smiled. ¡°I know, but what are you trying to do now? Usurp the leader?¡± A middle-aged man waved his hand. ¡°Usurp is a strong word, Miss Lynwood. We¡¯re trying to elect a new leader to manage thepany. We can¡¯t go without a leader, can we?¡± ¡°It has only been ten days since he fell into aa, and already you¡¯re electing a new president. So, who do you have in mind?¡± Elspeth spied the man in the corner sitting up straighter. The woman who was arguing with Elspeth earlier quickly huddled closer to the man, smiling sycophantically. ¡°Why, Mr. Horus, of course. He holds the most shares, and he has been working hard for thepany. He¡¯s perfect as the new leader.¡± The shareholders around him nodded as well. Xavier smiled. ¡°Oh, you tter me. I¡¯m but a regr man like everyone else. We¡¯re all working for the company. I can¡¯t be the only one to be nominated.¡± He was lying. The smugness in his eyes was unmistakable. Elspeth shot him a look and sneered. ¡°What a hypocrite.¡± Xavier¡¯s face fell. What a rude youngdy. The female shareholder shot Elspeth an icy look. ¡°I know you don¡¯t like the results, but that¡¯s the truth. We¡¯re calling a vote. As long as thebined number of shares of the people that vote for Mr. Horus exceeds half, he will be our new president.¡± Elspeth nodded. ¡°I presume none of you own more shares than me?¡± Xavier smiled. ¡°Of course. With Mr. Winthrop absent, you are the biggest shareholder.¡± Elspeth smiled, but she felt disgusted. Does he think he has won this? ¡°Then I think I can vote for Callum, can¡¯t I?¡± She stood up and pushed her hair back. ¡°The number of shares I own coupled with the number of shares he owns should be enough to veto your decision.¡± Xavier expected that, so he exined, ¡°Miss Lynwood, the vote is counted only if the shareholder is present and voices their decision. As you can see, Mr. Winthrop is¡­¡± Elspeth paused for a moment. Sly old fox. I knew this would happen. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying you¡¯re elected president withoutpetition then?¡± That¡¯s a bit too explicit. Sheepishly, Xavier said, ¡°No. We need to call a vote¡ª¡± He wanted to say more, but then someone said coldly, ¡°She¡¯s not the only one vetoing your decision.¡± It was a familiar voice, and Xavier turned around in disbelief. When he was met with Callum¡¯s icy look, he gasped, ¡°Callum?¡± The shock made him forget everything. He didn¡¯t even address Callum with any formality. None of them expected Callum to be in full health, and now he even came to thepany. Damn it. I was so close to being the president. Xavier gnashed his teeth, but he could do nothing about the matter. ¡°You¡¯re finally here, Mr. Winthrop. We were just fooling around. We all know you¡¯re the only one who can push our company forward.¡± Xavier was cursing and screaming in silence. I spent nearly a millionst night to buy everyone out, and now it¡¯s all for nothing! ¡°Didn¡¯t seem like a joke to me.¡± Callum approached Elspeth, and she made way for him. He took the seat and announced, ¡°I¡¯m healed. I can work now, and it¡¯s a Friday. A BOD meeting is on par for the course, so let¡¯s begin. First agenda: thepany¡¯s development.¡± The shareholders paled. Chapter 298 Chapter 298 Callum looked at Elspeth. ¡°You may leave.¡± ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Even though she knew it was normal that Callum was treating her indifferently, it still made Elspeth tear up. Noticing the dour mood, Callum paused for a moment and added, ¡°Elias and Edmund are waiting for you. They have something to tell you.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Elspeth smiled bitterly. She nodded and left the office. Then, she took a deep breath to hide her pain. Standing outside the door was a pair of identical men smiling and waving at her. The sight of them made her sadness go away a little. She approached Elias. ¡°I¡¯ve told the doctor to make your case the top priority. It¡¯s been an hour, so the results should be out now.¡± Elias nodded in resignation. ¡°That¡¯s why we came. We¡¯re not rted. It¡¯s just a beautiful misunderstanding.¡± Elspeth put her own problems aside. Surprised, she said, ¡°Really? But that¡¯s impossible!¡± Elias and Edmund exchanged a look, then they chuckled. ¡°You actually believed that? My, you¡¯ve gotten a lot stupider, Elspeth!¡± Edmund. Winthrop. How dare you trick me? ¡°That was your idea, wasn¡¯t it, Edmund? All just to prank me?¡± Elspeth suspected Edmund first because she knew how cheeky he could be. But this time, Edmund didn¡¯t confess. Instead, he rolled his eyes. ¡°You can¡¯t pin the me on me just because of your stereotypes. It could¡¯ve been Elias. He¡¯s not exactly innocent.¡± Elias shot Edmund a re. ¡°You¡¯re the older brother here. Can¡¯t you cover my *ss?¡± Edmund extended his hand and smacked Elias¡¯ head. ¡°As if. I didn¡¯t even cover the Winthrop brothers when they needed me to. Why should I do it for you?¡± They¡¯re so childish. Amused, Elspethughed. ¡°You¡¯re taking this well, Edmund. Don¡¯t you care about the Winthrops?¡± Edmund stopped smiling. ¡°I¡¯m not part of that family. It¡¯s a fact, and I can¡¯t deny it. However, that would mean all this fighting against Callum had been for nothing. I¡¯m a bit miffed, to be honest.¡± You still want to fight him right now? Elspeth¡¯s lips twitched. But it¡¯s good. At least they can get along now. Edmund knew what Elspeth was thinking, and he sneered. ¡°Don¡¯t think I¡¯m going to get along with him. Now that I¡¯m not part of the Winthrops, I don¡¯t have to hold back anymore. I can fight him with all my might.¡± ¡°And even then, you¡¯d still lose,¡± muttered Elspeth. Edmund heard it, and his face fell. ¡°Elspeth!¡± Elspeth held herughter back and changed the topic. ¡°Why don¡¯t I take you to Mr. Irving¡¯s ce? You want to see your father, don¡¯t you?¡± The light in Edmund¡¯s eyes dimmed. ¡°I do, but¡­¡± Edmund sighed. ¡°But Mom might be heartbroken when she finds out. I¡¯m not Arthur. I can¡¯t just up and leave my family.¡± Elspeth nodded. ¡°I knew you were good. You might have a short temper, but you¡¯re a nice guy.¡± Annoyed, Edmund gnashed his teeth and smirked. ¡°One more word and I¡¯m smacking your head!¡± Elspeth stuck her tongue out and hid behind Elias. ¡°Alright, enough. I¡¯ve talked to Margot, and she¡¯s letting you see Dad. Don¡¯t worry about her.¡± Elspeth was starting to worry. It was good news for Irving but must be devastating for Margot. The fact that Edmund was someone else¡¯s son meant her child could¡¯ve been switched at birth or was dead. Edmund realized that as well. ¡°Margot will always be my mother, no matter what.¡± Elspeth patted his shoulder. ¡°d you feel that way. I¡¯m sure Margot will be happy as well. Now let¡¯s go to Mr. Irving¡¯s ce.¡± Edmund nodded, and Elias drove. They made their way to Irving¡¯s ce as fast as they could. The first thing Irving did aftering home was to purchase a vi and decorate it with some simple furniture. Looks a bit like home. When Elias told him that Edmund wasing, Irving paced around in excitement, and he kept changing clothes, wanting to meet Edmund in the perfect look. He could feel his hearting to a stop just from delight alone when he finally heard the knock on the door. Elspeth led Edmund into the house. Edmund thought the man before him was unfamiliar, but he felt a sense of familiarity. It was probably a resonance within the blood. Moved by the reunion, Irving cried. ¡°My son!¡± He stepped forth and hugged Edmund tightly. It was Edmund¡¯s first time getting a big hug, and he tensed up nervously. ¡°Mr. Cole.¡± Mr. Cole? The light in Irving¡¯s eyes dimmed, but he didn¡¯t give up. It¡¯s our first meeting. Of course, he can¡¯t call me Dad, but he will do it one day. ¡°It¡¯s alright. You¡¯ll call me Dad someday.¡± He let go of Edmund, and then a sense of awkwardness filled the air. Time for some icebreaking. Elias said, ¡°Dad, you¡¯ve never even hugged me like that before. This is unfair.¡± Irving rolled his eyes. ¡°Your mother died right after she gave birth to you two. I held you in my arms a million times when you were a kid, but I¡¯ve never hugged your brother. So what if I gave him a bear hug?¡± Elias scoffed. ¡°Well, someone¡¯s going to ignore me now. I think I should pack up and move out. Don¡¯t want to be hated now.¡± Elias wiggled his eyebrows smugly. He didn¡¯t feel sad at all. Irving burst intoughter. Elspeth and Edmund smiled as well. ¡°So, Edmund. Since you¡¯re epting me as your father, do you want to change your surname? How does Edmund Cole sound?¡± Edmund¡¯s smile disappeared right away. ¡°I¡¯m not changing my name.¡± Chapter 299 Chapter 299 Even an even-tempered guy like Irving became a bit angry. ¡°But you¡¯re my son. Shouldn¡¯t you take my surname?¡± He couldn¡¯t ept the fact that his son had taken the surname of another man. He could¡¯ve lied. I would¡¯ve been happy with it. ¡°The Winthrops raised me. I am greatly indebted to them, and I won¡¯t change my name that easily.¡± There was determination in Edmund¡¯s eyes but a hint of guilt as well. Elspeth could understand his feeling. It was the same reason she refused to return to the Jonesons, and she sighed. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Uncle Irving. This just proves that Edmund is a kind soul. He¡¯s grateful.¡± Irving was still a little miffed, but he epted the fact in the end. ¡°Fine, if that¡¯s what you wish, then so be it.¡± I still have Elias. At least someone will continue the bloodline. ¡°But you still need to return to the family just for show. I shall be holding a banquet in Damoria a few days down the line, and I shall announce that you are my son then.¡± Irving wouldn¡¯t budge on that. Edmund wanted to say no, but then he needed the Coles¡¯ name to do something, so he agreed to it. Elias stayed back, while Elspeth and Edmund returned to the Winthrop Residence. Since Callum had gotten a lot better, he had moved back in, and Elspeth ran into him the moment she entered the house. He had just returned from the meeting. They used to be a close couple, but now things were awkward between them. They stared into each other¡¯s eyes, yet they said nothing. ¡°Callum,¡± Elspeth said. That was the only thing she could say. Callum looked at her coolly. He didn¡¯t even give her any response, not even a greeting. Elspeth smiled bitterly. ¡°If you don¡¯t love me anymore, then we should break up.¡± ¡°I know you must be upset.¡± Callum¡¯s eyes glinted. ¡°But I can¡¯t respond to your feelings as I am right now.¡± Elspeth could understand that, but she still felt powerless and defeated. ¡°I know. I¡¯m sorry for pushing you.¡± She was about to leave, but Callum stopped her. ¡°Elspeth, if you can¡¯t ept me as I am, I won¡¯t hold you back if you want to break up.¡± And yet you promised you wouldn¡¯t let go of our rtionship not too long ago. Tears streamed down her cheeks, but she didn¡¯t turn around. She tried her hardest to keep her voice steady as she said, ¡°I can still wait.¡± They barely said anything to each other in the next few days. Work was the onlymon thing they had in their schedule. Whenever Elspeth passed by him, she wanted to say hi, but she just couldn¡¯t get the words out of her mouth. She realized she had no idea how to start a conversation with him. Three dayster, Edmund returned to the Coles. When Theodore found out that Edmund wasn¡¯t his son, he fell into depression for a while. Margot cried her heart out, but they still let Edmund return to the family that birthed him. It was the right thing to do, even though they were heartbroken about it. The Coles invited all their rich and famous friends to the banquet, including the Winthrops. Of course, Elspeth was invited as well. She should¡¯ve gone with Callum, but they had nothing to talk about, and being in the same space was awkward, so she drove to the Cole Residence alone. Callum didn¡¯t stop her, but luck decided to y a trick on Elspeth that day. Her car died halfway through, and she had to stop at the roadside. It¡¯s out of gas now? She smacked her forehead. Just when she was about to call someone to tow her car away, someone said coolly, ¡°What happened?¡± Great. I just have to run into him during my most embarrassing moment. Elspeth looked at Callum and smiled awkwardly. ¡°My car ran out of gas, so I¡¯m calling someone to tow it away. I¡¯ll just get a taxi.¡± This is from N?velDrama.Org. Callum frowned. ¡°Want me to give you a lift?¡± He would¡¯ve taken me into his car right away in the past, but now he¡¯s just asking me if I need help. She shook her head. ¡°No. I can do this myself.¡± However, Callum insisted, ¡°I thought you said I was your boyfriend. Shouldn¡¯t I be helping you, then?¡± He didn¡¯t like that they were supposedly dating, but he was her boyfriend and he had an obligation to fulfill. How ironic. He¡¯s only helping me because he¡¯s my boyfriend, not because he loves me. She took a deep breath. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Callum gazed at her for a moment before nodding. ¡°I see. I shall be going now.¡± Elspeth saw him off, her heart saddened. ¡°Honestly, what are you doing here?¡± another familiar voice sounded. Elspeth turned around to find Gilbert as tears welled up in her eyes. Look at her. What a loser. Gilbert rolled his eyes. ¡°That was your boyfriend, wasn¡¯t it? Why didn¡¯t he give you a lift?¡± A bitter smile curled Elspeth¡¯s lip. ¡°I told you yesterday, didn¡¯t I? He wouldn¡¯t help me now that he doesn¡¯t love me anymore.¡± ¡°Then why are you still with him? He doesn¡¯t love you anymore. If you keep tangling yourself with him, you¡¯re only going to hurt yourself.¡± Gilbert might be poking fun at her, but still, he took her into his car. ¡°Leave your car. I¡¯ll call someone to tow it away.¡± Elspeth looked at him, surprised. ¡°You¡¯re going to the banquet too?¡± ¡°Yep. I¡¯m a Payne.¡± Gilbert revved his car up and held the steering with one hand while patting Elspeth¡¯s head with the other. ¡°Now cheer up. I can always take you back to Eden if you want.¡± Gilbert was a little heartbroken to see her so sad. Elspeth sniffled, but she said nothing. A whileter, they arrived at the Cole Residence. Once Elspeth got out of the car, she saw a familiar figure talking to another woman. She wouldn¡¯t mistake him. He was none other than Callum and standing before him was Emma. Elspeth felt her heart stop. Gilbert leaned on his car, his hands tucked in his pocket. He too saw Callum and Emma, and he sneered. ¡°Emma is his ex, isn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± said Elspeth silently. ¡°I see he¡¯s getting a new girlfriend.¡± He pointed at Callum and Emma. Both were chatting happily and looking like a proper couple. A bitter smile curled Elspeth¡¯s lips, and she felt something tearing away at her heart. Chapter 300 Chapter 300 When Elspeth was about to go past Callum, someone stopped her, ¡°Hi, Elspeth. Want to chat?¡± Emma smiled innocently as if she wanted to be friends with Elspeth and the feud between them never existed. Elspeth shot her an icy look. ¡°I¡¯ming after you sooner orter, Emma. Don¡¯t challenge my patience.¡± Emma hung her head low like an innocent kitten. ¡°I know I shouldn¡¯t have done that, but I¡¯m trying to be friends with you and patch things up with you. Why can¡¯t you let it go?¡± Callum would have taken Elspeth¡¯s side in the past, but now he stood there in silence. ¡°Callum, I really do want to be friends with Elspeth.¡± She turned around and gave him a pouty look. He still remembered the feud, but he had lost all feelings for Elspeth, so he just stood there and didn¡¯t chastise Emma either. ¡°I have nothing to say to you.¡± Elspeth could feel her blood boiling. Look at her. She thinks she has won. If looks could kill, Emma would have already died a thousand times. Gilbert had been watching the drama in silence until now, but when he noticed Elspeth¡¯s fury, he quickly stood up for her. ¡°Callum, Elspeth is your girlfriend. Why are you taking Emma¡¯s side?¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. This is the second man to yell at me, and for Elspeth. Callum¡¯s face fell. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to tell me what to do.¡± And as if he wanted to get back at Elspeth, Callum approached Emma and smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s go in, shall we?¡± Emma looked at him in surprise. She thought he was lying, but he wasn¡¯t. She nodded delightfully. ¡°Of course.¡± Elspeth watched helplessly as they entered the lobby together. She¡¯s still not giving up? Gilbertughed mirthlessly. ¡°See? Your boyfriend just went inside with another woman!¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°And not just any woman. His goddamn ex. Do you know what this means? They¡¯re probably dating again!¡± I¡¯m a guy. I know that look Callum gave Emma. That was a look of love. Elspeth hung her head low in dejection. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Then, cut your losses right now. You keep holding on and he¡¯s going to dump you. When that happens, don¡¯te crying to me.¡± He shot her a look of disappointment. Someone then called him. When Gilbert saw who it was, he left a few messages for Elspeth before walking away to meet up with his friend. Once again, Elspeth was alone. She raised her head, but what met her gaze was Callum talking intimately with Emma. A sigh escaped her lips. She walked to a corner and held up a ss of wine. Just when she was about to drink her worries away, a shrill voice spoke. ¡°Why, if it isn¡¯t Elspeth? Why are you alone? Where¡¯s Callum?¡± Emma was standing by Elspeth¡¯s side. Elspeth looked at her drink and finished thest of it. ¡°You know why. That¡¯s a redundant question.¡± Emma shrugged the snappish answer off andughed delightfully. ¡°Even God is helping me. He has forgotten all about your love. So much for undying love.¡± ¡°That¡¯s none of your business. I¡¯m still his fianc¨¦e, but you¡¯re just an ex of his.¡± Elspeth twirled her wine ss with one hand, the other balling into a fist. She wasn¡¯t sure if Callum still loved her, but she wanted to take Emma down a peg or two. ¡°So what? I still appeared in his life earlier than you did. You know how much he used to love me. Now that he has lost all feelings for you, it¡¯s only a matter of time before hees back to me.¡± I can get married to him soon. Emma¡¯s eyes glimmered with excitement. All I have to do is take this woman down. ¡°Yeah, right. Even if he were to break up with me, he wouldn¡¯t marry you. Don¡¯t forget all the disgusting stuff you did. His family will never ept you.¡± The Winthrops don¡¯t like her. That hit the bullseye, and Emma¡¯s face contorted with rage. ¡°What are you talking about? We¡¯re very much in love.¡± Damn it. She¡¯s trying to pit us against each other again. ¡°He told me he has lost all feelings for you. You can¡¯t still be waiting for him to remember all about your love?¡± Emma chuckled shyly. ¡°He told me he still couldn¡¯t forget about me.¡± Elspeth chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re delusional. You¡¯re at best a four out of ten, and you slept with about a hundred men. To hell if the Winthrops will ept you.¡± Infuriated, Emma was about to yell at Elspeth, but she saw Callum slowly moving toward them. She calmed down and turned away. While out of Callum¡¯s sight, she sneered. ¡°Want to make a bet? Let¡¯s see whom he cares about more.¡± rm bells rang in Elspeth¡¯s head. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Emma chuckled. ¡°Just trying to have some cheap thrills.¡± Right after she said that, she mmed her foot into the gigantic wooden rack filled with wine sses. The rack started to wobble, and eventually, it fell down on thedies. This is going to hurt badly, and it¡¯s toote to run. I can¡¯t dodge either. I¡¯ll be hit either way. Elspeth closed her eyes. Before everything fell to darkness, she saw Emma smiling venomously at her. The pain didn¡¯te. Elspeth opened her eyes and found herself lying in someone¡¯s embrace. It warmed her heart, but when she looked up, her smile disappeared. It¡¯s not Callum. Why the f*ck is this woman looking at me so dumbly? Gilbert roared, ¡°Are you mad? You could¡¯ve dodged that thing!¡± If I had reached her one secondter, she would¡¯ve drowned in a mountain of broken ss. Elspeth blinked, trying to wake her mind up. I¡¯m the only victim. Wait, where¡¯s Emma? She turned around. Emma was also unhurt, and she was lying in Callum¡¯s embrace. She pretended to shake with fear. Softly, she said, ¡°That was scary. Elspeth kicked that rack for some reason, a-and then it fell on us.¡± Emma looked into Callum¡¯s eyes lovingly and shot Elspeth a smug look. ¡°Good thing you came in time.¡± Elspeth froze, a sense of sorrow filling her soul. Callum¡­ saved Emma. He chose her over me. Chapter 301 Chapter 301 Elspeth¡¯s face turned pale instantly as if she had seen something shocking. Sensing Elspeth¡¯s grief, Emma chased after Callum and threw her hands around his neck. ¡°Callum¡­ I feel terrible. I¡¯m so scared¡­¡± He didn¡¯t refuse her approach because his eyes were on Elspeth now, his heart thudding from the disappointed look in her eyes. The hand holding her tightly also made him feel somewhat ufortable. It was as if he didn¡¯t want her to associate herself with that man. What is this? he wondered. I don¡¯t have any feelings for her, so why do I feel this way? Before Callum found an answer to his question, Emma had already started to squirm restlessly in his arms, bringing him back to his senses. He lowered his head and whispered something to Emma. Elspeth couldn¡¯t make out the words, but she could see his indistinct gentleness through her blurry eyes. The fact that he no longer loved her made her sadder than anything, but now that he had fallen in love with someone else, she couldn¡¯t do anything about it. Sucking in a deep breath, she smilingly told Gilbert, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m fine now.¡± ¡°Sure, you are. You wouldn¡¯t be if I came a second toote.¡± Gilbert was filled with indignation when he saw her lingering and hurt gaze as she looked at Callum. Sighing, she tugged on the sleeve of his shirt and mumbled, ¡°Gilbert? I don¡¯t feel so good. Please take me away from here.¡± ¡°Where do you want to go?¡± Gilbert refused to believe that Elspeth would go back to the Winthrop Residence as though nothing had happened. She shot a nce at him and forced a smile. ¡°Anywhere but the Winthrop Residence.¡± Hearing that, he raised his chin andmented, ¡°I¡¯m d you know what¡¯s good for you.¡± Right after he said that, he pulled the shell-shocked Elspeth out of the banquet hall. Callum was watching their retreating figures when his grip on Emma gradually tightened. Emma, on the other hand, was ted as she thought that Callum was worried about her. Just the thought of Callum losing his affection for Elspeth was enough to make Emma happy. But for him to still remember what happened between him and Emma before and to have lingering feelings for her? She was so ecstatic she could go crazy! ¡°Callum, y-you¡¯re hurting me.¡± She reluctantly retracted her arm a little. When he noticed what she was doing, he grunted and immediately released her. Unable to stand still, Emma almost fell to the ground. She only found her footing after she pathetically stumbled around. ¡°Callum¡­¡± She thought that Callum would no longer be so merciless to ady like her, but to her surprise, he had now shifted his gaze to Elspeth. Seeing this, Emma felt her chest tighten and she almost broke her mrs from biting down on them too hard. ¡°There is nothing else, yes? I¡¯ll be leaving, then. I have something to attend to.¡± He nced at her face from the corner of his eye before he turned around and left to talk to his business partners. In short, there was no drama about the resurgence of an old romance as she called it. Feeling both angry and agitated, Emma put all the me on Elspeth. Emma would have made Callum fall in love with her again if Elspeth hadn¡¯t constantly stuck around. Elspeth was also having a hard time. She pretended to act calm when she walked out of the hall, but as soon as she got out, her legs went limp and she almost fell to her knees on the floor. Fortunately, nothing bad happened because Gilbert was there to support her. ¡°Did you see that? Your man chose Emma when both of you had an ident at the same time. Even if he doesn¡¯t like you because he was hurt, you can¡¯t keep being stupidly hopeful. Do you understand what I¡¯m saying?¡± Gilbert wanted nothing more than to beat her up when she saw how distracted she was. However, he couldn¡¯t possibly do that. He could only slowly coax her and break her thoughts. Elspeth was too stubborn for her own good. Gilbert had to break through her psychological defenses one by one for her to look back and think whether it was worth it. ¡°I know. I got it.¡± Elspeth nodded and when she raised her head again, there was a faint amusement and relief in her eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Gilbert.¡± Gilbert hadn¡¯t properly responded, and he only let out a small grunt in question. ¡°Anywhere at all away from Damoria. I don¡¯t want to stay in this ce.¡± She didn¡¯t mind losing this ce where only sad memories lived. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll take you with me right this instant. Where do you feel like going? Waterside? ydal? Or should I bring you somewhere abroad?¡± This is from N?velDrama.Org. Gilbert finally felt a bit better upon hearing her decision. Even if he knew that moving away didn¡¯t mean she would actually forget Callum, he thought that her being willing to leave this ce was already the best thing that could happen. Elspeth lowered her head and thought for a brief moment before she answered, ¡°Let¡¯s go to ydal.¡± Yelena and Timothy were both in ydal. She could probably feelforted if she saw them. Gilbert seemed to have seen through her thoughts, but he didn¡¯t expose her. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll get tickets to ydal now. We will leave in the afternoon.¡± Elspeth was at the airport¡¯s exit at 3.00PM sharp. Since she would be away for a long, long time, she briefly informed Theodore and Margot of her departure to ydal. The couple couldn¡¯t help feeling regretful. They knew that all of this happened solely because of Callum¡¯s indifference toward her. They did try to talk her out of it, but they soon decided to ept her decision when they saw how firm she was about leaving. Elspeth¡¯s eyes had an unreadable emotion as she stood at the airport exit. With her head lowered, she looked at the reflection on the airport¡¯s ss door. The moment she saw a familiar figure, she happily turned around, only to find that the man she was looking at didn¡¯t have Callum¡¯s clear, handsome features. It wasn¡¯t Callum. She could only turn her head back in disappointment as she continued to wait for Gilbert to arrive. At 3.40PM, Gilbert outraced everyone and hurried to the airport on his motorcycle. He was the center of every female¡¯s attention the moment he took off his helmet. Seeing him, Elspeth shed the man walking toward her a smile as her eyes lit up. ¡°You and your way of making an entrance,¡± she teased. He quickly peered at her in disdain. ¡°Smart mouth. You¡¯re even ridiculing me now!¡± ¡°Alright, alright. Enough with the jokes. The ne is taking off at 4.00PM. Let¡¯s go check ourselves in.¡± She then held her small luggage bag and stood up from her seat. Gilbert didn¡¯t have much to bring with him as the Payne Residence in ydal was where he was originally from. Even if a fire had burned everything, he had been getting small parts repaired now and then throughout the years. That was why he didn¡¯t bring much. He already had the essential household items he would need. After thinking for a while, he took his boarding pass from between Elspeth¡¯s fingers and helped her with her luggage before he strode to the gate. While they were walking, Elspeth would reluctantly nce behind her a few times. ¡°Enough. Stop looking. I received news that Callum and Emma are having the time of their lives shopping, so stop hoping for him toe.¡± His words were hurtful, but they were very effective. The hopeful light in Elspeth¡¯s eyes instantly dimmed. She then red at Gilbert before she went straight into the gate. His lips curled into a small smile. I lied. And without another word, he followed her into the gate. After the two of them went in, a man in the seat behind slowly lifted his head. His eyes were as cold and dark as ake in winter. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 302 Chapter 302 Elspeth¡¯s face turned pale instantly as if she had seen something shocking. Sensing Elspeth¡¯s grief, Emma chased after Callum and threw her hands around his neck. ¡°Callum¡­ I feel terrible. I¡¯m so scared¡­¡± He didn¡¯t refuse her approach because his eyes were on Elspeth now, his heart thudding from the disappointed look in her eyes. The hand holding her tightly also made him feel somewhat ufortable. It was as if he didn¡¯t want her to associate herself with that man. What is this? he wondered. I don¡¯t have any feelings for her, so why do I feel this way? Before Callum found an answer to his question, Emma had already started to squirm restlessly in his arms, bringing him back to his senses. He lowered his head and whispered something to Emma. Elspeth couldn¡¯t make out the words, but she could see his indistinct gentleness through her blurry eyes. The fact that he no longer loved her made her sadder than anything, but now that he had fallen in love with someone else, she couldn¡¯t do anything about it. Sucking in a deep breath, she smilingly told Gilbert, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m fine now.¡± ¡°Sure, you are. You wouldn¡¯t be if I came a second toote.¡± Gilbert was filled with indignation when he saw her lingering and hurt gaze as she looked at Callum. Sighing, she tugged on the sleeve of his shirt and mumbled, ¡°Gilbert? I don¡¯t feel so good. Please take me away from here.¡± ¡°Where do you want to go?¡± Gilbert refused to believe that Elspeth would go back to the Winthrop Residence as though nothing had happened. She shot a nce at him and forced a smile. ¡°Anywhere but the Winthrop Residence.¡± Hearing that, he raised his chin andmented, ¡°I¡¯m d you know what¡¯s good for you.¡± Right after he said that, he pulled the shell-shocked Elspeth out of the banquet hall. Callum was watching their retreating figures when his grip on Emma gradually tightened. Emma, on the other hand, was ted as she thought that Callum was worried about her. Just the thought of Callum losing his affection for Elspeth was enough to make Emma happy. But for him to still remember what happened between him and Emma before and to have lingering feelings for her? She was so ecstatic she could go crazy! ¡°Callum, y-you¡¯re hurting me.¡± She reluctantly retracted her arm a little. When he noticed what she was doing, he grunted and immediately released her. Unable to stand still, Emma almost fell to the ground. She only found her footing after she pathetically stumbled around. ¡°Callum¡­¡± She thought that Callum would no longer be so merciless to ady like her, but to her surprise, he had now shifted his gaze to Elspeth. Seeing this, Emma felt her chest tighten and she almost broke her mrs from biting down on them too hard. ¡°There is nothing else, yes? I¡¯ll be leaving, then. I have something to attend to.¡± He nced at her face from the corner of his eye before he turned around and left to talk to his business partners. In short, there was no drama about the resurgence of an old romance as she called it. Feeling both angry and agitated, Emma put all the me on Elspeth. Emma would have made Callum fall in love with her again if Elspeth hadn¡¯t constantly stuck around. Elspeth was also having a hard time. She pretended to act calm when she walked out of the hall, but as soon as she got out, her legs went limp and she almost fell to her knees on the floor. Fortunately, nothing bad happened because Gilbert was there to support her. ¡°Did you see that? Your man chose Emma when both of you had an ident at the same time. Even if he doesn¡¯t like you because he was hurt, you can¡¯t keep being stupidly hopeful. Do you understand what I¡¯m saying?¡± Gilbert wanted nothing more than to beat her up when she saw how distracted she was. However, he couldn¡¯t possibly do that. He could only slowly coax her and break her thoughts. Elspeth was too stubborn for her own good. Gilbert had to break through her psychological defenses one by one for her to look back and think whether it was worth it. ¡°I know. I got it.¡± Elspeth nodded and when she raised her head again, there was a faint amusement and relief in her eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Gilbert.¡± Gilbert hadn¡¯t properly responded, and he only let out a small grunt in question. ¡°Anywhere at all away from Damoria. I don¡¯t want to stay in this ce.¡± She didn¡¯t mind losing this ce where only sad memories lived. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll take you with me right this instant. Where do you feel like going? Waterside? ydal? Or should I bring you somewhere abroad?¡± Gilbert finally felt a bit better upon hearing her decision. Even if he knew that moving away didn¡¯t mean she would actually forget Callum, he thought that her being willing to leave this ce was already the best thing that could happen. Elspeth lowered her head and thought for a brief moment before she answered, ¡°Let¡¯s go to ydal.¡± Yelena and Timothy were both in ydal. She could probably feelforted if she saw them. Gilbert seemed to have seen through her thoughts, but he didn¡¯t expose her. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll get tickets to ydal now. We will leave in the afternoon.¡± Elspeth was at the airport¡¯s exit at 3.00PM sharp. Since she would be away for a long, long time, she briefly informed Theodore and Margot of her departure to ydal. The couple couldn¡¯t help feeling regretful. They knew that all of this happened solely because of Callum¡¯s indifference toward her. They did try to talk her out of it, but they soon decided to ept her decision when they saw how firm she was about leaving. Elspeth¡¯s eyes had an unreadable emotion as she stood at the airport exit. With her head lowered, she looked at the reflection on the airport¡¯s ss door. The moment she saw a familiar figure, she happily turned around, only to find that the man she was looking at didn¡¯t have Callum¡¯s clear, handsome features. It wasn¡¯t Callum. She could only turn her head back in disappointment as she continued to wait for Gilbert to arrive. At 3.40PM, Gilbert outraced everyone and hurried to the airport on his motorcycle. He was the center of every female¡¯s attention the moment he took off his helmet. Seeing him, Elspeth shed the man walking toward her a smile as her eyes lit up. ¡°You and your way of making an entrance,¡± she teased. He quickly peered at her in disdain. ¡°Smart mouth. You¡¯re even ridiculing me now!¡± ¡°Alright, alright. Enough with the jokes. The ne is taking off at 4.00PM. Let¡¯s go check ourselves in.¡± She then held her small luggage bag and stood up from her seat. Gilbert didn¡¯t have much to bring with him as the Payne Residence in ydal was where he was originally from. Even if a fire had burned everything, he had been getting small parts repaired now and then throughout the years. That was why he didn¡¯t bring much. He already had the essential household items he would need. After thinking for a while, he took his boarding pass from between Elspeth¡¯s fingers and helped her with her luggage before he strode to the gate. This is from N?velDrama.Org. While they were walking, Elspeth would reluctantly nce behind her a few times. ¡°Enough. Stop looking. I received news that Callum and Emma are having the time of their lives shopping, so stop hoping for him toe.¡± His words were hurtful, but they were very effective. The hopeful light in Elspeth¡¯s eyes instantly dimmed. She then red at Gilbert before she went straight into the gate. His lips curled into a small smile. I lied. And without another word, he followed her into the gate. After the two of them went in, a man in the seat behind slowly lifted his head. His eyes were as cold and dark as ake in winter. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 303 Chapter 303 However, these flowers looked exceptionally stunning, and those unaware would just assume they were decorative flowers. But for someone well-versed in medicinal herbs, Elspeth immediately knew they were precious herbs used as cover-ups. The young woman bent over and picked a white flower. As she took a sniff, a faint medicinal herb scent spread out. ¡°This should be Hedyotis diffusa, a medicinal herb used to treat the heart and lungs.¡± Gilbert quirked a brow in response. ¡°Looks like old man Sonny taught you quite a lot.¡± ¡°Enough yapping. Let¡¯s take a look inside. We¡¯ve wandered one big round, and this is the most suspicious one here.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Gilbert nodded in agreement. The two tip-toed and crouched, still entering the premise over the wall. The inner court was very different from the outer court, and the two walked alongside the wall to avoid as many potential booby traps as possible. However, they hadn¡¯t taken a few steps when Gilbert suddenly eximed softly. He lowered his head and found a small patterned snake slithering by his leg while two distinct fang marks appeared on his calf. Elspeth kicked the snake away and frowned when she saw his calf turning purple rapidly. At that, she pulled a dagger out and aimed at the small snake. The toxin would be temporarily subdued once Gilbert ate the snake gall and applied her medicine to the wound. However, before she had a good aim at the snake, a female¡¯s voice came from the side. ¡°Could you please not touch my snake?¡± The voice was crisp, and it sounded like it belonged to an innocent, gullible child. Elspeth turned around and found that it was no child at all, but a young woman who had just barely reached adulthood. Her skin was wless, and she had a unique widow¡¯s peak toplement her stunning features. If anything, she looked like a beauty whose family kept hidden from the world. As for her voice, it was innately childish. ¡°My friend is injured, though. I need to treat him,¡± said Elspeth as she frowned, feeling rather displeased. In other words, your snake bit my friend. Either you hand us the snake, or you hand us the antidote. The young woman nodded half-understandingly, then pulled a jar of medicine out from her pocket and handed it to Elspeth, who went over to Gilbert¡¯s side and applied the ointment on the wound. Momentster, the numbing sensation and pain faded away, and Gilbert tried to stand up. ¡°All good now. Thanks, Miss.¡± It seemed that the young woman rarely saw a fine specimen like Gilbert as her face flushed crimson with bashfulness. If anything, she looked rather adorable, and Elspeth suddenly thought the young woman was as harmless as a bunny. ¡°Do you live here alone?¡± Gilbert asked as he looked at her neat clothing before shifting his gaze to the pitch-ck house behind her. The young woman subconsciously blocked his vision while answering, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Who do you live with, then?¡± He couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling that this was a significant clue. The young woman looked exceptionally bashful as her fair face was tainted scarlet from inhibition. ¡°I¡­ I live with Ma¡¯am.¡± Ma¡¯am? ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± Elspeth became nervous as well. ¡°Could you tell us who exactly you¡¯re referring to, Miss?¡± ¡°She¡¯s already asleep. I¡¯ve onlye out to watch the moon because I can¡¯t sleep. To be honest, I already noticed you guys when you first entered.¡± The young woman¡¯s eyes were big and twinkling. ¡°Is the Ma¡¯am inside a Joneson?¡± She nodded in response. ¡°Everyone living in thispound is a Joneson.¡± Well, touch¨¦. Elspeth wasn¡¯t sure how she should ask whether or not the person inside was really her mother. The young woman looked earnest, so she probably wouldn¡¯t lie. Gilbert, on the other hand, couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and began using his good looks to lure the young woman into giving them the answers. ¡°Miss, let me ask you this. Is the woman inside Helena Joneson?¡± Sure enough, the young woman hadn¡¯t been exposed to the outside world for far too long, stuttering when she spoke to a man. Still, she answered honestly. ¡°I¡­ Yes. That¡¯s her name.¡± That¡¯s it? That¡¯s all we needed to do? Elspeth was still reeling in shock when a series of noises came from outside all of a sudden. ¡°I saw two people heading in this direction. They¡¯re likely around here!¡± ¡°Has anyone checked the surveince cameras? Who are those two? They haven¡¯te to assassinate, have they?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve checked it! Strangers. Their faces are unidentifiable. Old Mr. Joneson forbids anyone from stepping into this ce. They must be captured!¡± ¡­ Meanwhile, Elspeth and Gilbert exchanged nces and immediately turned to leave. Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Just before leaving, a thought struck Elspeth, and she handed the two nes she had been holding onto with dear life to the young woman. ¡°Miss, please help me out. Please hand this to Ma¡¯am. She¡¯ll know once she sees it. Don¡¯t worry, we mean no harm.¡± ¡°Alright. I got it.¡± Though the young woman couldn¡¯t tell if these two strangers were really bad guys, she subconsciously categorized Elspeth as a good guy since thetter¡¯s eyes were too crystal-clear. There wasn¡¯t a sliver of impurity in her determination. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯lle back again tomorrow night.¡± The young woman parted her lips and took a gander at Gilbert through her peripheral vision before asking, ¡°Will both of you being?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Gilbert answered before Elspeth could. ¡°As if I¡¯ll take you with me.¡± Elspeth huffed as she red at him. In response, Gilbert grinned and hooked a lock of Elspeth¡¯s hair around his finger. ¡°Who wille with you if not me? You sure are an interesting one.¡± Livid, Elspeth raised her hand to hit him, but he caught her arm instead. ¡°Alright, cut it out. We should leave. Those people will be arriving soon,¡± he said with a frown. ¡°Got it,¡± Elspeth answeredzily, then climbed over the wall. ¡°I¡¯ll distract them. Meanwhile, you must get away as soon as you can.¡± ¡°Why are you distracting them?¡± Gilbert huffed with clenched fists. ¡°That¡¯s because you don¡¯t remember the way out, okay?¡± Gilbert¡¯s face fell at once. Well, she¡¯s not wrong. At that, he climbed the wall with one hand and went over to the other side. While falling, he noticed a pair of bright, innocent eyestched onto him. After the two left, a voice came from behind the main door out of the blue. ¡°What¡¯s going on outside, Isabel?¡± Isabel¡¯s gaze shed, and she hurriedly hid the nes in her pocket. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. Themotion came very suddenly.¡± ¡°Well, don¡¯t wander around outside if there¡¯s nothing. It¡¯s pretty chilly out there. Come back inside quickly.¡± Isabel felt touched. Helena brought her back three years ago, and she had been living here since. The woman took great care of her too. The young woman from earlier looked a lot like Helena, and she figured out their rtionship pretty quickly. If shees back, would Helena still foster me? Isabel dared not bet on it. Thus, she simply hid the keepsake away for now. She knew the young woman would eventually reunite with Helena, but she wanted to drag it out as long as possible. With that, she carefully put the ne away in the inner pocket of her shirt. ¡°Got it, Ma¡¯am. I¡¯ll go to bed right away.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 304 Chapter 304 Later, Elspeth and Gilbert smiled as their eyes met after sessfully rendezvousing outside of Joneson Residence. ¡°You don¡¯t have to dig yourself a hole to get out, do you?¡± Elspeth was out of breath from all the laughing as she removed a bunch of weed from Gilbert¡¯s head. ¡°Do you think I¡¯d have done so if it weren¡¯t for the people looking for me from above? How would I dare climb over the walls?¡± Gilbert grumbled, beyond livid. The two had just arrived at their vehicle when a thought struck Elspeth. ¡°By the way, how did you know she didn¡¯t live there alone?¡± Instead of answering her immediately, Gilbert got into the car, started the engine, and smiled. ¡°Now, this is what you don¡¯t know. Didn¡¯t you notice how the young woman¡¯s clothes fit her perfectly? They were spotless too. She obviously has someone looking after her.¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised. For a big guy, you¡¯re pretty detailed.¡± Gilbert rolled his eyes in response. ¡°What, do you think everyone¡¯s pdash like you? When do you suppose we¡¯ll be able to find your mom like that?!¡± ¡°Shut it!¡± Elspeth red at him, displeased with his words. Gilbert might have said so, but he actually approved of Elspeth deep down. She was the best hacker in the world, after all. There wouldn¡¯t be anyone else more meticulous than her. Then again, watching the young woman flip out was entertaining. While the man let his thoughts wander, hispanion had long fallen silent. He looked over to the front passenger seat and found that Elspeth had drifted to sleep while leaning against the window. As he listened to her even breathing, impulse overtook his mind, and he freed one hand to caress her hair. ¡°How about putting your trust in me, Elspeth? I¡¯ll protect you.¡± He chuckled under his breath and swallowed his love into his belly. ¡­ Meanwhile, in Damoria, a strange sense of destion and loneliness surged within Callum as he looked at the empty mansion. ¡°Mr. Callum, Mr. and Mrs. Winthrop left for their vacation today, and Mr. Max has already gone to college, so it¡¯ll be just you at the table,¡± Ms. Layme rambled as she readied the table for Callum. ¡°What about Elspeth?¡± Callum asked. Since Ms. Layme didn¡¯t know what happened between the couple, she just assumed Callum had forgotten about it. She answered honestly, ¡°Miss Lynwood already went to ydal yesterday. Have you forgotten about it, Mr. Callum?¡± ¡°ydal?¡± Callum frowned at once. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Indeed, he almost forgot that Elspeth had already gone to ydal the day before. In fact, he watched her leave with his own eyes. Although he no longer had feelings for her, when he caught up to her, he instantly saw Gilbert standing beside the woman, and the adoration in the man¡¯s eyes annoyed him. When he came back to his senses, all the food had been served, so he just sat down and took a bite of toast. However, it was tasteless to him. Suddenly, that te ofte-night egg fried rice came to his mind. Though he couldn¡¯t remember the scenario, he still remembered it was salty and eggy. Needless to say, it wasn¡¯t the best food he had ever tasted. The te of rice ended up being given to Max if he recalled correctly, and the young man said it was good while scarfing it down. It was a pretty amusing sight. Callum didn¡¯t even realize the corners of his lips were curved upward. However, he had just taken a couple of bites of his food when the inchoate smile instantly disappeared as a cloying female voice sounded behind him. ¡°Callum, it¡¯s the weekend today, and the weather is nice too. We should head out.¡± Callum frowned as he looked at the young woman propping herself against the table as her deliberately squeezed-out cleavage showed beneath her low-cut cor. ¡°No thanks. I have things to attend to. Go ahead yourself.¡± Emma amped up her movements as she gazed at the man doubtfully. ¡°But you never turn me down. Why have you be so impassive toward me, Callum?¡± The young woman grew increasingly obsessed as she looked at the man¡¯s dashing face. Even though she knew he had stopped liking her a long time ago and that he even acquiesced to their breakup without entanglements and unwillingness whatsoever, so what? As long as Elspeth stayed far away, Callum would eventually fall back in love with her sooner orter. ¡°We¡¯ve already broken up, Emma. Have you forgotten about that?¡± Emma withdrew her body and lowered her head, pretending to wipe a tear away. ¡°I know. You might no longer like me now, but so what? You¡¯ll fall back in love with me eventually, right?¡± ¡°No. I will no longer like you since we have already broken up.¡± Callum sighed. He still wanted to spare her some grace. ¡°You should learn to let go and find your happiness.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe you! I refuse to believe that you don¡¯t feel anything for me anymore,¡± she bawled. However, Callum began having a hint of aversion toward the woman standing in front of him, and he lowered his head to look away from her. Just then, the silhouette of another woman appeared in his head. ¡°Why can¡¯t all women be as rational as Elspeth?¡± His words broke Emma at once. ¡°Elspeth, Elspeth, what¡¯s so great about Elspeth?! You no longer have feelings for her, yet you still ramble about her like this!¡± Emma growled through gnashed teeth. ¡°She¡¯s already in ydal now. Do you know why she left? That¡¯s because she doesn¡¯t want to see you anymore. What¡¯s the point in obsessing over it when she already doesn¡¯t love you?!¡± Callum thought he wouldn¡¯t be bothered at all, but his heart still twinged when he heard such words. ¡°This has nothing to do with you.¡± He stood up and announced icily, ¡°From now on, don¡¯te over anymore.¡± ¡°Why?! You were never like this. You used to be so nice to me and even brought me here.¡± Warmth enveloped Emma as she recalled the times Callum treated her gently. Growing up, she had always been the neglected child at home. Since Ginna grew up with a frail body, she had always been the center of their family¡¯s attention. As jealous as she was, there was nothing she could do about it either¡ªnot until she met Callum in college. She took a fancy to his good looks. After saving him from a sticky situation, she then continued to find various means to run into him, such as helping stray cats, deliberately tripping on a rainy day, and forgetting to bring her meal card to the cafeteria. She held on for half a year before finally sessfully making Callum her boyfriend. When Callum brought her to his home, the Winthrops loved her apart from Margot, who behaved indifferently toward her. However, it didn¡¯t matter since they would naturally get married and move out after Callum graduated. By then, she wouldn¡¯t have to put up with Margot¡¯s attitude. However, Callum behaved indifferently toward her throughout their rtionship. In fact, they never even kissed during the six months they dated. Hence, when a richer and more influential guy showed up, she threw herself into that guy¡¯s arms without hesitation. That said, she always felt that Callum was still the best for her. Hence, it was why she returned to Chars this time¡ªto make him hers again. ¡°I have only been nice to you to repay you. Do you not get it?¡± ¡°In that case, why did you choose to save me instead of her that day?¡± Emma still had trouble believing it all. ¡°That¡¯s because you were closer to me,¡± Callum answered mercilessly, causing Emma¡¯s inner defense to copse. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 305 Chapter 305 Callum is too smart. Emma held back her sorrow. Tearfully, she said, ¡°I¡¯ll make you fall for me again!¡± After saying that, she ran away, keeping her envy hidden deep in her heart. Callum¡¯s eyes glinted. He didn¡¯t care what Emma told him. All he could think of was Elspeth. What¡¯s Elspeth doing in ydal? And that man¡­ They¡¯re alone together. What are they going to do? Upset for some reason, he made a call. ¡°Get me today¡¯s ticket to ydal.¡± ¡­ This is from N?velDrama.Org. It was a dark night, and Elspeth infiltrated the Joneson Residence once more. Gilbert, as promised, came as well. They stood atop the wall and observed the residence¡¯syout, and what they saw surprised them. ¡°The traps feel different tonight.¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes. ¡°Duh. After what we didst night, they would obviously change their defenses, or they aren¡¯t the Jonesons.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± It¡¯s quiet. Too quiet. Like they¡¯re waiting for us. ¡°No buts. I know it¡¯s a trap, and I¡¯m walking into it willingly.¡± Elspeth must find her mother. She could escape if she was alone, but Gilbert being here worried her. She thought he was an aloof, intelligent man, but she never thought that he had no sense of direction at all. ¡°You should go home and wait for me.¡± Upset, Gilbert said, ¡°No. I¡¯ming.¡± ¡°Fine, but you have to stay close to me.¡± Elspeth leaped over the wall and darted through the darkness, making her way to that ce. Gilbert followed behind her closely. They leaped and jumped and finally got to the courtyard. There were no guards around. Even the girl they saw the night before was gone. Elspeth thought she had guessed wrongly, and that there were no extra guards around. But the moment she stepped inside, lights came on, and a certain gentleman approached her. Sh*t. ¡°We meet again, miss.¡± He was none other than the family¡¯s butler, and he looked a lot gaunter than he used to be. The events that happened recently had taken a toll on him. Elspeth sneered, ¡°You¡¯re obsessed, butler.¡± ¡°You could have stayed away from this mess, and yet here you are, miss,¡± the butler said in glee. He was delighted by Elspeth¡¯s arrival. ¡°You knew it was me?¡± ¡°Of course. No one else woulde to this ce in the dead of the night.¡± Elspeth was reminded of a certain someone. ¡°So, Michael knows too?¡± ¡°Of course. Come home with me, miss.¡± He looked around him, and a few bodyguards showed up and attempted to catch her. ¡°Do not resist, miss. I do not want them to manhandle you.¡± Gilbert quickly pushed Elspeth behind him. ¡°Elspeth is only rted to you by blood. She has the freedom to do whatever she wants. She¡¯s not getting locked up like a prisoner. Speaking of which, I don¡¯t remember the Jonesons being wardens.¡± The butler blushed and coughed. He looked at Gilbert with a hint of annoyance in his eyes. ¡°Youck decorum, Mr. Payne. Your family is already finished, and yet you still stand proud.¡± ¡°I can still stand proud even if they¡¯re destroyed. Would you kill yourself if the Jonesons were to be ruined right now? I don¡¯t think so.¡± Thement upset the butler, but he wouldn¡¯t let his anger slip. He smirked. ¡°I¡¯ll let that slide. You, take the miss away. Everyone else, take Mr. Payne and lock him up in the west yard.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to lock me up?¡± Furious, Gilbert red at their captors, a dark smirk curling his lips. ¡°No. But just in case you try to take the miss away, the master wants you to be locked up. At least until the miss is married.¡± Married? Elspeth¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°But I thought Jordan had canceled the marriage. What is the meaning of this?¡± The butler smiled mysteriously. ¡°The master wants you to go through the ceremony this time, miss. Just in case you were to run away again. However, I can¡¯t tell you who will be marrying you. Don¡¯t worry. The master hand-picked the groom himself.¡± This is preposterous! ¡°I¡¯m engaged to Callum. Marrying someone else is inappropriate.¡± The butler smiled. He didn¡¯t care about that. ¡°It¡¯s alright. We shall send someone to tell the Winthrops of the marriage¡¯s cancetion. You just wait for the wedding, miss.¡± Annoyed, the butler waved his hand. ¡°Take them away.¡± These were all the Jonesons¡¯ elites. Even though they were no match for Elspeth and Gilbert alone, a team of them could still take the two of them down. Fighting was pointless, so Elspeth decided to save her strength ande up with an escape n. Gilbert knew what she was trying to do, so he nodded and gave up resistance. ¡°Smart. Someone will provide you with your meals, miss. Your groom shalle ten dayster.¡± The butler led the way, taking Elspeth to the courtyard she used to stay in. Before they were separated, Elspeth tossed a ring to Gilbert furtively, and he took it when no one was looking. It was a good move because the moment they got to the courtyard, the butler searched her and took all hermunication tools away, save for her ring. Once he was gone, Elspeth sat cross-legged and turned the ring around. ¡°Gilbert.¡± It¡¯s her. Gilbert looked around. Once he was sure that the coast was clear, he heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°You in your prison now?¡± ¡°Ha. Ha. Yes, I am, but I wonder how the butler found out it was us.¡± Even if we were going to Helena¡¯s ce, he shouldn¡¯t have found out it was us that quickly. Gilbert closed his eyes. A long whileter, he said, ¡°Easy. Someone ratted us out.¡± Elspeth had a suspect, but her guess seemed ridiculous. ¡°You mean the girl?¡± She was reminded of that innocent, naive little girl. She couldn¡¯t imagine a nice girl like her would do something like that. Why? Chapter 306 Chapter 306 ¡°No idea, but I bet she was the one who sold us out.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t know what to feel. ¡°She didn¡¯t seem that bad. How could she do this?¡± ¡°Hey, can¡¯t judge a book by its cover, you know.¡± Gilberty on his bed and stared at the sculpted ceiling. ¡°I¡¯ll try to find a hole in their defenses and bust you out.¡± ¡°No. Even if you can run, you can¡¯t bust me out. That old git won¡¯t let me.¡± Her room was tightly guarded, and nobody coulde in or go out without permission. ¡°I wonder whom he¡¯s going to marry you off to. Why isn¡¯t he satisfied with Callum?¡± Gilbert was surprised. The Winthrop Family was one of the top families in Damoria and second to the Jonesons. Yet Callum, with all his genius, raised his family to be one of the top ten in the nation in just two years. He has a great future, so why did Michael do this? ¡°Because of what happened a long time ago.¡± Elspeth sighed and told him about the past. Gilbert¡¯s jaw dropped, and he almost fell from his bed. ¡°Whoa, that¡¯s a dark past. No wonder he won¡¯t let you marry Callum. Even I think that¡¯s uneptable.¡± ¡°All right, go to sleep. I need to tell Harper to make some preparations to bust me out during the wedding. I¡¯m also going to find out whom I¡¯m going to marry.¡± Elspeth shot him a re through the ring. Interested, Gilbert said, ¡°The only families on par with the Jonesons are the Winthrops, the Carrs, and mine.¡± Unless this guy is from abroad. ¡°You think so highly of yourself, huh?¡± Elspethughed, but then she stopped abruptly. Yeah, so who is going to marry me? She wanted to say some more, but Gilbert had fallen asleep. That was fast.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Elspeth teared up a little, then she stood up and cut off the connection. She washed herself up and went to sleep. The next morning, Elspeth got a message from Harper. ¡°I¡¯ve looked into the matter, and your groom this time is¡­¡± He¡¯s hesitating? ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°It¡­ It¡¯s someone from the Coles.¡± Elspeth¡¯s eyes went wide with surprise. ¡°The Coles?¡± Impossible. They know I¡¯m going to marry Callum soon. Did Irving go cuckoo? ¡°Is it Elias?¡± But Elias never said he liked me, and he has his own fianc¨¦e too. Who is it, then? Can it be¡­ ¡°Edmund.¡± Elspeth felt her world shatter, and her smile faltered. ¡°That brooding menace? Why? He hates me!¡± ¡°Calm down, Elsie. He¡¯s probably doing this to spite Callum, so¡­¡± ¡°Would you sacrifice your own marriage just to spite someone? Moreover, Edmund isn¡¯t part of the Winthrops anymore. He doesn¡¯t have to fight with Callum.¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t understand this. Does he have more use for me? Harper hesitated for a while, then he said, ¡°Perhaps he really likes you?¡± ¡°No. Among the Winthrop brothers, aside from Arthur, Edmund hates me the most.¡± She could still remember how he dissed her. No way he likes me. She was having a headache now. He must be up to something. ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°Yes. Michael has released news of your wedding. It shall be held ten dayster, and he ims that you agreed to the marriage willingly.¡± Willingly? ¡°What about Callum?¡± She wanted to know what Callum was doing, even if he didn¡¯t like her. ¡°He booked a ticket to ydaltely, but then he canceled it.¡± Elspeth massaged her temples. Great. Thisplicates stuff. ¡°I get it. Just assemble a team and bust me out during the wedding.¡± Harperughed. ¡°Why don¡¯t you get married? Edmund¡¯s handsome, and Callum lost his love for y¡ª¡± He never got to finish his sentence because Elspeth had hung up. Ah, she got mad again. Once Elspeth hung up, someone came in. ¡°So, how¡¯s it going, Elspeth? Fine?¡± Elspeth frowned at the old man. She didn¡¯t like him. Languidly, she let out a yawn, and she said, ¡°And I thought you¡¯d only show up on the wedding day. What? Trying to see if I¡¯m trying to escape?¡± ¡°Please, Elspeth, I don¡¯t mean that. You¡¯re the child of my beloved daughter. Of course, I¡¯d marry you to someone capable.¡± Michael looked kind, but Elspeth thought he had other ns involving the marriage. ¡°And yet you lock up your beloved granddaughter in a cramped, little yard.¡± Michael¡¯s face fell. A whileter, he put on a smile. ¡°I see you¡¯ve found out.¡± ¡°My mother didn¡¯t go missing. You imprisoned her.¡± Michael looked surprised, but only for a moment. He was experienced enough to deal with the matter. ¡°Please, I¡¯m just protecting her. Your father chased her off because he wanted a better future for her, but your silly mother insisted on returning to him. I had to protect her.¡± Mother¡¯s a loving person. Elspeth felt sad for her and her father. They loved each other, and yet they were destined never to meet because of the selfish, arrogant wish of one ancient fossil. She looked at the old man with hatred in her eyes. ¡°Then why are you stopping me from seeing her?¡± Michael froze for a moment, then he smiled. ¡°Oh, I won¡¯t stop you. You could have just used the front door. Didn¡¯t have to sneak in like a thief. Moreover, your mother is mentally challenged. She does fall into episodes of madness from time to time. I¡¯m worried she might hurt you.¡± Elspeth felt for her mother, but then something told her Michael was lying, and rm bells rang in her head. ¡°Let me out. I want to see her right now.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 307 Chapter 307 Michael looked awkward. He didn¡¯t think Elspeth would want to see Helena this soon. ¡°I told you, your mother is in a bad state. If you see her right now, you might worsen her condition.¡± It was a bad excuse, but Elspeth didn¡¯t care. She said directly, ¡°I¡¯m a doctor as well. I can treat her. I promise I won¡¯t worsen her condition. I know my way around medicine.¡± Michael looked very upset. He had almost forgotten Elspeth was a doctor. ¡°But every doctor¡¯s treatment is different¡ª¡± Elspeth interjected, ¡°You think I would harm my own mother?¡± Michael shut up. ¡°I¡¯m going to be married in ten days, aren¡¯t I? I have one condition. I must have the freedom to see my mother for the period before the wedding, or I will not marry no matter what.¡± Elspeth¡¯s determination backed Michael into a corner. He asked tentatively, ¡°Are you sure you want to marry?¡± Elspeth came up with a little n, and she put on an innocent smile. ¡°Of course. Why won¡¯t I marry someone better? Besides, Callum lost his memories, and he doesn¡¯t love me anymore. Staying with him is only a waste of time. I should marry someone better.¡± If she says so. Michael didn¡¯t believe her fully, but he said, ¡°Sure. You can see your mother, but you can¡¯t take her away. You must stay in that yard.¡± Elspeth¡¯s eyes shone. ¡°Of course. Take me to her.¡± Michael asked his butler to take Elspeth to the secluded yard on the west side of the residence while he returned to thepany. Elspeth stepped onto the pathden with fallen leaves and branches, and shemented. It had been years since she saw her mother, and she wondered what her mother was like now. Everyone said she looked a lot like her mother. I¡¯d like to see how beautiful she is. I also need to check on her condition. She stopped the butler from going further. ¡°I¡¯m going in alone. You guys wait for me out here, or you can go back. This ce¡¯s security is tight. I can¡¯t run away, so don¡¯t worry.¡± The butler didn¡¯t like these terms. ¡°But the master said we must follow you all the way.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll just ruin my reunion. Tell him I¡¯m meeting with Mom alone. If that¡¯s forbidden, then all bets are off.¡± She was threatening the butler, but Elspeth wouldn¡¯t budge. The determination in her eyes was ring. Left with no choice, the butler sighed. ¡°Fine. I shall ask the master now.¡± He and his men left the yard. Elspeth entered the courtyard. The first thing she saw were those white Spanish daggers. She stepped forth and noticed that the path was no longer covered in dead leaves and branches. Instead, it was thoroughly swept. Just when she was about to go deeper, someone stopped her. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Elspeth turned around. It¡¯s that girl. Elspeth let her guard down around this girl because Elspeth gave her the ne. She thought the girl could be trusted. ¡°I never got to ask what your name is.¡± Isabel¡¯s gaze darted around. ¡°Isabel.¡± ¡°Have you given the nes to that person as I asked you to?¡± Isabel didn¡¯t expect Elspeth to show up again. She panicked, but she wasn¡¯t a good liar, so she stammered, ¡°I-I forgot.¡± Elspeth shot her a sharp look. She forgot? ¡°Take me to her, and give me my nes back.¡± Panicked, Isabel said, ¡°I thought you were going to get married. Why are you here?¡± She¡¯s not answering my question? Wait a minute¡­ ¡°You¡­ didn¡¯t give them to her on purpose, did you?¡± Isabel shook her head violently. ¡°No. I did forget.¡± ¡°Then you should know where the nes are.¡± Isabel tried to recall where the nes were. She remembered hiding them in her clothes, but two dayster, they were nowhere to be found. She didn¡¯t mind, thinking that Elspeth would never return anyway, but reality proved otherwise. ¡°I¡­ lost them,¡± she said honestly. She had no idea where the nes were. Elspeth¡¯s heart broke. That was the thing her father left her before he died and a gift from her mother. Losing them hit her hard. ¡°Take me to my mother, then.¡± Isabel¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°I¡­¡± Noticing her anxiety, Elspeth chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯te after you. Not going to snitch, either.¡± Isabel gave her a look of gratitude. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll take you to her, then.¡± Elspeth nodded. She was about to follow Isabel into the house, but then a white silhouette appeared at the top of the staircase. ¡°Elspeth?¡± There was excitement, sadness, and longing in that voice. Elspeth looked up, and her heart trembled. The woman before her was beautiful, slender, and indeed looked a lot like her. Even though she was already in her forties, the woman looked as beautiful as a youngdy in her twenties, though she had a sickly look. She must¡¯ve been sick for a long time. It had been too long since Elspeth saw her. She couldn¡¯t call her ¡°mother¡± right away, yet something in her heart stirred when she saw her. The blood in her was calling out to this woman, and before she knew what she was doing, Elspeth had already held the woman in her embrace. An excited Helena whispered, ¡°Don¡¯te too near. I don¡¯t want to infect you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not scared.¡± Elspeth buried her face in Helena¡¯s embrace. With a broken voice, she said, ¡°I¡¯ve been searching for you for a long time. Didn¡¯t think I¡¯d find you here. Why wouldn¡¯t youe to me?¡± Helena sighed. ¡°It¡¯s not like I didn¡¯t want to. I just didn¡¯t have the courage.¡± ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Why?¡± asked Elspeth curiously. ¡°I am but a puppet locked in this prison.¡± A bitter smile curled Helena¡¯s lip. ¡°Your grandfather never knew of your existence because I hid it from him. Even when I wanted to see you, I had to be furtive. All I could manage was a little nce from afar.¡± Chapter 308 Chapter 308 Helena was reminded of her life after she ran away from her marriage. It was a happy moment in her life, but remembering it made her sad as well. ¡°I know.¡± Elspeth knew her mother was just trying to protect her from the Jonesons. Michael was a¡­ for ack of a better word, twat. She knew that after meeting him so many times. ¡°You silly girl.¡± Helena smiled at her daughter and sighed. ¡°Why did you seek me out? If you had just lived your own life, you would have married the man you love.¡± Elspeth shook her head. ¡°I can¡¯t rest easy until I find you.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about the sad stuff on our first meeting. I¡¯ll make some tea for you.¡± Helena was a woman of grace. She loved making tea. Every time she had a guest, she would make tea for them. Delighted, Elspeth nodded. She turned around and saw Isabel trying to hide herself. Ah, she¡¯s worried. ¡°Come in, Isabel.¡± Isabel was surprised she was invited. This was their reunion, and now that Elspeth had returned, there was no reason for her to stay. She was wondering where she should go next. ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there. I have to thank you for taking care of my mother.¡± Isabel hung her head low sheepishly. ¡°Miss Joneson took me in and cared for me. I did nothing, really.¡± She¡¯s worried I might take everything she has away. Elspeth smiled. ¡°You¡¯re my mother¡¯s daughter too. That makes you my sister. Come. We¡¯re family.¡± A sister? Nobody has ever told me that. Isabel teared up. She never thought she would have a family one day, but here she was. ¡°Come, Isabel.¡± Isabel steeled herself. Slowly, she approached Elspeth and held her hand. ¡°I¡¯ll get you some cookies, Elsie.¡± Helena smiled. She¡¯s generous and kind. They entered the house, and Elspeth looked around. The air was filled with the smell of incense, and it freshened her up. ¡°So, have you been well?¡± Oh, that was a stupid question to ask, Helena. ¡°Ah, sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have asked that. I can see that you¡¯ve been well.¡± Surprised, Elspeth asked, ¡°You¡¯ve been keeping an eye on me?¡± Helena took a sip of her tea. ¡°Yes. The woman who gave you the bouquet of flowers after your performance? The woman you met in the hospital? That was me.¡± Elspeth¡¯s eyes went wide in shock. ¡°I suspected it was you. I knew it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not all. I¡¯ve been sneaking out to see you all these years, and it¡¯s good to see you well. I expected no less from his daughter.¡± Helena¡¯s eyes had a distant look in them as if she was thinking about a time that had long gone. Back then, Grover was deathly ill, and he tried his best to send her away. She did leave in a fit of rage, but she couldn¡¯t bear to leave those that she loved behind. She did try to seek them out, but Michael warned her that he would send assassins after Grover if she tried to take a step out of the house. He locked her in this yard until Grover was dead. Only then did he stop having his men guard the yard. She finally got her freedom, but Grover was gone. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Dad will watch over us.¡± Elspeth had no idea how tofort her mother otherwise. ¡°It¡¯s alright. It¡¯s all in the past now.¡± Helena smiled. ¡°You have a fianc¨¦, don¡¯t you? So, how are you two getting along? Is he nice to you?¡± The mention of Callum made Elspeth sad. ¡°He¡¯s forgotten all about our love and doesn¡¯t care about me anymore.¡± Helena¡¯s smile disappeared. ¡°What? How did that happen?¡± ¡°No idea, but it doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯m marrying someone else now. It¡¯s probably a relief for him.¡± Elspeth was reluctant to marry Edmund, but if the one she had to marry wasn¡¯t Callum, then it didn¡¯t matter who else she had to marry. She didn¡¯t care. Helena held her hand and patted it. ¡°You know, love is weird sometimes. If you try your best to make him remember, maybe he¡¯ll fall for you again.¡± ¡°I tried, but it was useless.¡± Elspeth forced a smile. ¡°Moreover, I¡¯m getting married soon. He¡¯s going to think I¡¯m an easy woman. I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll like me again.¡± A resigned smile tugged at Helena¡¯s lips, and she sighed. ¡°You¡¯ll have to go with the flow and see what happens, then.¡± Elspeth looked at the time. Six o¡¯clock. Time to go back. ¡°If nothing else, I¡¯lle back tomorrow. I¡¯ll check on your condition then.¡± She must go back and discuss the escape n with Harper. Only after the escape could she take Helena away and treat her. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Helena was reluctant to say goodbye, but at least they could see each other the next day, and that comforted her. ¡°Isabel will send you off, then.¡± Isabel led Elspeth to the exit, then she went to brew the medicine Helena needed. Seeing her mother looking well delighted Elspeth, and she had a spring in her steps when she was on her way back. However, a familiar figure showed up. When he saw Elspeth, his eyes red with desire. Elspeth took a closer look and, to her surprise, saw that it was Arthur. ¡°How does it feel getting locked up, Elspeth? And you¡¯re forced to marry Edmund. Wonder what will Callum think if he finds out? Maybe he¡¯ll think that you¡¯re disgusting.¡± Arthur looked different from how he used to. There was a hint of dejection in his eyes, and he had a beard around his chin. He looked listless, unlike the carefree and handsomed he was. Elspeth¡¯s face fell at once. She didn¡¯t want to argue with him, so she asked, ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°Why am I here? Ask your grandfather.¡± Arthur snickered, his eyes filled with enmity. ¡°I¡¯m the only one who can cure your mother in this whole world. Surprised?¡± Chapter 309 Chapter 309 ¡°I know your skills, Arthur. It¡¯s not bad, but youg behind me a lot. You¡¯re not the only one who can cure her.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t believe Arthur one bit. If he was the only one who could heal her, then what would that make all the other doctors in the world? Useless? ¡°Hey, I can¡¯t do anything if you don¡¯t believe me, but I¡¯m indeed the only one who knows how to treat her at the moment.¡± Arthur smiled. ¡°There¡¯s a reason your grandfather asked me to help out.¡± Elspeth¡¯s heart sank. She had to say he had a point. ¡°However, the pacing of the treatment is under my control. I decide when she gets better, if ever.¡± Arthur approached Elspeth, looking down at her. He then said with a smug smile, ¡°Get on my bad side, and I might just slip during the treatment.¡± Elspeth crossed her arms. Proudly, she said, ¡°You fail my mother, and you¡¯ll have the whole Joneson Family after you, not just me. Don¡¯t even try to threaten me.¡± Arthur wasn¡¯t intimidated by that threat. Instead, heughed maniacally. ¡°You think I care? You think I care after all you and Callum did to me?¡± ¡°What about Emma, then? Don¡¯t you like her anymore?¡± The mention of Emma broke something in Arthur. ¡°You don¡¯t deserve to say her name.¡± Elspeth snickered. ¡°Simp. You do her every bidding even though she doesn¡¯t like you, and for what? Nothing. Nothing at all.¡± Infuriated and livid, Arthur took a step forward and grabbed Elspeth by her neck. ¡°I said, you don¡¯t deserve to say her name. nder her once more and I will wipe you off the face of the earth.¡± Suffocating, Elspeth coughed and sputtered, her face red. Arthur let her go right away. He was still at the Joneson Residence and hurting Elspeth might mean trouble. Elspeth fell to the ground. ¡°You go against Emma again, and I wille after you.¡± He looked at Elspeth, whose clothes were disheveled, from head to toe, and then he froze. ¡°W-Why do you have that pear blossom mark on your chest?¡± ¡°Are you mad?¡± Elspeth red at Arthur angrily. She quickly straightened her clothes and was about to stand up, but then Arthur hunkered down and tore her cor open to have a closer look at the birthmark. When Elspeth realized what he was doing, she pped him. ¡°Are you crazy, Arthur?¡± ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Yet, the p didn¡¯t make Arthur snap out of it. He looked at the angry Elspeth, and with a trembling voice, he said, ¡°W-Were you in Damoria eight years ago?¡± Elspeth thought he was insulting her, but then she realized he was serious, and her fury subsided. ¡°What does that have to do with you?¡± ¡°Just tell me!¡± Arthur seemed to be in a hurry, and he was agitated. ¡°Yes.¡± Elspeth nodded. ¡°I was going to go abroad, and Damoria was one of my stops¡­¡± ¡°Did you save a chubby boy under an old pagoda tree in rural Damoria, then?¡± That was a specific question. Elspeth had to wrack her brain to dig up that memory. She was about fifteen then, and she was on a long trip from Langford to Damoria. Back then, she could be considered a decent fighter, though she looked frail. She was an introvert at school and a top student, which made her the target of bullying. The headmaster¡¯s daughter pulled a few strings and got her expelled. Left with no choice, she took some money out of her father¡¯s inheritance to study abroad. She had to change trains at the Damoria-Langford border, and it was there she noticed a young man getting ganged up on. He was chubby, but he was cute. Since Elspeth was a victim of bullying herself, the sight made her furious. Fortunately, there weren¡¯t a lot of boys among the group of bullies. Most of them were just high-school girls trying to be edgy. Elspeth easily kicked one of the boys down, then she stood in front of the chubby to protect him. ¡°Anyone who wants to bully him must get past me.¡± The boy who got kicked groaned in pain, and the other bullies quickly ran off. Some of the timid girls even burst into tears. ¡°Youe after him again, and I¡¯ll whoop your sorry butts.¡± That scared the bullies. They didn¡¯t think a girl younger than they were could be so strong, and she had a small frame too. They fled at once lest the girl tried to hit them. Once the bullies were gone, young Elspeth turned to the chubby boy. ¡°They should stay away from you for a while now.¡± The boy sat up and started crying, and he thanked Elspeth at the same time. Elspeth noticed the wounds on his face, and she felt sorry for him. ¡°They¡¯re just trying to be edgy. If theye after you again, tell your parents and scare them off. That should help with your case.¡± After that, Elspeth¡¯s ride was about to arrive, so she hopped onto the train, leaving the boy behind. Elspeth looked at Arthur and noticed the scar on his forehead. ¡°So, what are you trying to say? You were that boy who got bullied?¡± Arthur stood there without a word while Elspeth chuckled. ¡°Really?¡± It was unbelievable, but Arthur¡¯s reaction, or ack thereof, told her what she needed to know. She couldn¡¯t imagine the chubby, crying kid had grown into a handsome man like Arthur, though his personality was rotten. Wonder if that¡¯s because of the bullying. She felt sorry for him for some reason. Such a pity. A long, long timeter, Arthur finally snapped out of it. ¡°Impossible. There¡¯s no way it was you!¡± That was Emma. Emma saved me! Not Elspeth. No¡­ No way! Chapter 310 Chapter 310 She must be lying! ¡°Enough lies.¡± Arthur sneered. ¡°I won¡¯t fall for your tricks.¡± Elspeth thought Arthur was acting weird. She saved him and he knew it was her, and yet he refused to admit it. ¡°Fine, have it your way.¡± Elspeth stretched her arms and snickered. ¡°You¡¯re not the same chubby kid you were. You¡¯re nothing but a dark, evil snake now.¡± Incensed, Arthur barked, ¡°There¡¯s no way you¡¯re that girl.¡± A part of him was screaming at him that Elspeth was indeed that girl, but he couldn¡¯t believe it. He couldn¡¯t believe the woman he had helped for so many years wasn¡¯t the same one who saved him all those years ago. Something in his heart broke. ¡°Wait. You think Emma was the one who saved you?¡± This is from N?velDrama.Org. Arthur¡¯s face fell. ¡°Enough.¡± Arthur shook his head and ran off into the distance so Elspeth couldn¡¯t ask him any more questions. Elspeth saw him off, and she sighed. I shouldn¡¯t have saved him. If I had known he would turn out to be someone so evil, I would have cheered those bullies on. She looked in the direction he ran off to, and then she returned to her courtyard. ¡­ The next few days, Elspeth spent the mornings at her mother¡¯s ce, talking about her condition. When it was night, she would go through the escape n with Harper. When she had free time, she would call Gilbert and chat with him. Those were some leisurely times. Then came the day of the wedding. Elspeth was unceremoniously woken up at five in the morning and dragged out of her bed. Then it was time for makeup, which took a long time. After that, the servants changed her into all-red attire. They would have gone for a more modern wedding, but Michael wanted to go with their tradition, so they settled on a traditional wedding ceremony. Elspeth was donned with a crimson cape and a golden crown, then her head was covered with a red veil. She was escorted to the carriage and would be taken to the new courtyard the Dawsons bought in ydal. Everyone thought it was a merry asion; everyone but Elspeth. Since there were people around her, Elspeth kept her voice low as she talked to her ring. ¡°Where are you?¡± Gilbert was released a few minutes after the carriage had gone off. Now, he was outside the Joneson Residence, rolling his wrist around. ¡°Released. Once I rendezvous with Harper, we¡¯ll bust you out.¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes. The ornaments on her crown nged against each other. ¡°Tell Harper to keep the fighting to a minimum. You saw the Joneson Family guards. They¡¯re as powerful as we are.¡± If Harper¡¯s n fails, I can never escape. Gilbert nodded. This was serious, so he stopped his usual wisecracking. ¡°We¡¯ll bust you out safely.¡± Elspeth cut off contact and lifted her veil to look outside. The whole of ydal was witnessing the wedding of the century. It was the marriage between the Jonesons and the Coles after all. The streets were packed with people celebrating the asion. Elspeth wondered if the escape would be sessful. Michael must have his guards around, and Harper would find it difficult to save her. Yet, she must try. She refused to marry Edmund just like that. The carriage was moving stably, though slowly, as it was held up by humans. That should buy Harper a lot of time. Nearly an hour had gone by since then. Elspeth¡¯s mind was in chaos, but then the carriage came to an abrupt halt all of a sudden. Elspeth fell forward and bumped her head into the carriage. She clutched her head and gasped in pain. Just when she was wondering what was going on, a familiar voice spoke. ¡°Hand her over!¡± Harper shouted. Elspeth lifted her veil and opened the curtains to see what was going on outside. Harper was in full- ck attire, and he had a mask covering his face. Standing beside him was another man in ck, though he was taller. That man¡¯s eyes were shining brightly. Obviously, it was Gilbert. ¡°Who are you people? This is the Jonesons¡¯ wedding.¡± The man in charge wondered why these people would challenge the Jonesons. Harper didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he said, ¡°Get the woman in the carriage and ignore everyone else.¡± The men in ck quickly defeated the people in front. Just when they were about to snatch Elspeth, the rest of the escorts whipped out some needles and speared the men in ck. Harper frowned and told the men to retreat, but it was toote. The moment the needle pricked them, the men in ck started howling. ¡°The needles are poisoned!¡± Gilbert noticed their men falling around them. We can¡¯t win. ¡°Retreat!¡± That was not a decision he wanted to make, but he had to. ¡°We can¡¯t!¡± Harper protested. ¡°This is our only chance. If we can¡¯t save her, then she¡¯ll have to marry that b*stard!¡± Gilbert took a deep breath, and then he snapped, ¡°If we don¡¯t retreat, ourrades are going to die. What¡¯s more, the Jonesons¡¯ men are on their way. If they get here, then all of us are going to die!¡± Harper opened his mouth, but he had no idea what to say. Gilbert grabbed him by his cor and dragged him away. ¡°Trust her. She can get out of this. She¡¯s Elspeth.¡± There was determination in Gilbert¡¯s eyes. Only then did Harper leave. Gilbert looked at the carriage onest time and saw Elspeth looking at him. She was wearing a beautiful crown, and perfect makeup adorned her face. She was gorgeous, or she would be if she weren¡¯t rolling her eyes at him. Once Harper and the gang were gone, Elspeth pulled the curtains down and tried toe up with n B. Thatmotion didn¡¯t affect the procession that much. Soon, the crowd jumped back into a celebratory mood. They shouted and hollered in delight, but Elspeth balled her fists, tightening her grip on the dagger she was holding. Guess I have to count on myself, then. Chapter 311 Chapter 311 Elspeth was dragged into the house and forced toplete the wedding ceremony with Edmund, then she was pushed into a room. The stronger servants told her to stay in the bed and never take her veil off unless stated. Then they tiptoed away. ¡°Damn it. I knew I couldn¡¯t rely on Harper and Gilbert.¡± She rolled her eyes and took off the veil. Then she tossed it onto the ground like it was a piece of tattered cloth. Despite her foul mood, Elspeth still kept her eyes on the entrance. If Edmund steps through that door, I will stab him with this dagger. That¡¯ll teach him not to mess with me. Just when she was wondering what she should do with Edmund, she heard the door creak. Elspeth hid the dagger behind her and held the hilt tightly while staring at the door. A familiar figure stepped in, but it was Arthur. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Elspeth heaved a sigh of relief and stood up, but her dagger fell. The ng rang across the silent air. ¡°If my idiot brother hadn¡¯t proposed to you, I wouldn¡¯t have toe here.¡± Arthur¡¯s gaze shifted from her to the dagger on the ground. ¡°Someone really hates marrying Edmund.¡± Even though Arthur was trespassing, he waltzed into the room like he owned the ce, then he sat before the table. ¡°What do you want?¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t know what Arthur had in mind, but it was probably worse than what Edmund was nning. She took a few steps backward and put some distance between them. ¡°Calm down. I¡¯m not here to hurt you. I want to help.¡± Elspeth almost burst out inughter. Oh, you¡¯re not here to help. You just want to lead me out of this ce and take me for yourself. Elspeth moved backward and put her hand behind her. ¡°I don¡¯t need your help.¡± ¡°Oh? Then why are you holding your dagger?¡± Arthur smiled, pouring himself a cup of tea. Elspeth held her dagger tightly. She had an extra prepared just in case, but Arthur didn¡¯t try to take it from her. He was still drinking his tea. Arthur took a whiff of the tea. Hm. Aphrodisiac. ¡°He spiked the tea.¡± ¡°He spiked the tea?¡± Elspeth¡¯s face fell. She was focused on the escape n so much that she didn¡¯t realize Edmund had spiked the drink. If I had yed along and drunk that tea because I needed an opening, he would have gotten to me. Terrifying. ¡°Wait. Why are you here anyway?¡± Sweat was pouring forth from her forehead, and she stared at Arthur. ¡°I told you. I¡¯m here to save you. Nothing more, nothing less.¡± ¡°As if.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t believe that. ¡°We¡¯ve been enemies for a long time, so cut the crap. Don¡¯t give me that ¡®turn a new leaf¡¯ sh*t.¡± He was looking at me in disgust just a few days ago. What¡¯s with the change? He doesn¡¯t even feel evil. ¡°Turn a new leaf? No, I don¡¯t think what I did was wrong.¡± Arthur sneered. Elspeth snapped out of it. Yep. He¡¯s still the same old guy, but somehow, he feels wrong today. Why is he saving me? ¡°However, you saved my life. I owe you one, so this time, I¡¯m repaying my debt.¡± Arthur put down the cup of tea, stood up, and approached Elspeth. Elspeth was sure Arthur didn¡¯t mean any malice at the moment, but she was still worried. ¡°How can you even bust me out? The security here is airtight.¡± ¡°Easy. This ce used to be my friend¡¯s estate. I know all the secret passages here. How do you think I got in?¡± Elspeth froze. ¡°What?¡± He¡¯s¡­ odd. Full of mysteries. ¡°Who is your friend?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t tell you just yet.¡± He still had that small smile on his lips, but it was disappearing. Arthur was still the same man she knew, but he felt different. He used to be a hypocrite. A snake, she would say, but now he felt mysterious. Not even she could figure him out. ¡°Let¡¯s go. If Edmundes back, none of us can leave.¡± Elspeth¡¯s heart sank. She stood up and tore off her crown, her hair tumbling down her shoulders. Next, she took off her heavy cape and dress, leaving only thestyer, which was a white shirt, on. That would make escaping easier. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the passage.¡± Arthur stared into her eyes, and he felt something stir in him. It was a familiar yet strange feeling. They opened the door and looked around. The guards were knocked out, thanks to Arthur. He then took Elspeth by the hand and went toward the eastern corner. There, a boulder stood. Arthur moved it away, revealing a dark tunnel that could only fit one person at a time. ¡°Just keep moving and you¡¯ll see the exit. Continue out and you¡¯ll be fine.¡± Elspeth nodded, but she had her guard up. ¡°Go in. I¡¯ll seal the tunnel with the boulder.¡± Arthur looked like he was doing it for Elspeth, but Elspeth thought otherwise. ¡°You sure you¡¯re not trying to lock me in so you can kill me?¡± Arthur chuckled. ¡°You read too many stories. Killing you does nothing for me. I don¡¯t want you marrying Edmund, nor do I want Emma to marry Callum.¡± Arthur spoke nonchntly, but there was love in his voice. Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Elspeth nodded and entered the tunnel. Soon, she realized Arthur wasn¡¯t lying. Once the hole behind her was sealed, she saw a dim light ahead of her. She followed that light and eventually came to a clearing. Dusk had descended, draping the city in a nket of darkness. She looked back and only saw a speck in the distance. That was the vi she had escaped from. Elspeth took out her ring to establish contact with Gilbert, but the moment she made contact, a muscr silhouette appeared. ¡°I have orders to capture you.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 312 Chapter 312 Elspeth narrowed her eyes. She wondered if she could win, but then she realized she couldn¡¯t. She hadn¡¯t had anything to eat the whole day, so she didn¡¯t have much strength. ¡°Take me, then.¡± The man froze. ¡°I¡¯m here to capture you.¡± He was wondering why Elspeth would let him take her. Is she stupid? ¡°I know. Take me.¡± She extended her hands, looking impatient. ¡°Odd. You should be asking me who I am, why I am capturing you, refuse to cooperate, and then fight me.¡± The man was stunned. His boss told him that Elspeth was a decent fighter and that he must exercise caution, yet Elspeth wasn¡¯t putting up any resistance. He felt a little down that he couldn¡¯t fight. The man was staring at the ground in disappointment, much to Elspeth¡¯s chagrin. ¡°Why should I resist? You¡¯re here to capture me, not kill me. We can talk things out on the way. Just take me now. If the Colese after us, none of us can leave.¡± ¡°We¡¯re not chatting. I¡¯m here to capture you!¡± Angered, the man darted ahead and grabbed Elspeth¡¯s arm, intending to throw her over his shoulder. Elspeth flung his hand away and took a few steps back. ¡°No. I can walk on my own. Just lead the way.¡± This is from N?velDrama.Org. The man frowned. He wanted to get mad, but he couldn¡¯t. This is too simple. Wonder if there¡¯s something wrong. However, his boss did tell him to take Elspeth away no matter what. Guess there¡¯s nothing wrong with hering with me. I still will be finishing my mission anyway. I was also ordered not to hurt her. If I push my luck, she might go back on her word and fight me until herst breath. Can¡¯t let that happen. The man nodded and led the way. They then got into the van and left. Elspeth¡¯s ring shone for a moment, then it dimmed. ¡­ It was Edmund¡¯s wedding day. He had been waiting for this for three years. Ever since he saw the smart Elspeth, he had already taken a liking to her, but he never showed it, or Callum mightugh at him. To his dismay, Callum managed to make Elspeth fall for him first, and their love for each other deepened at a blistering rate. It was then he gave up on her. However, Callum lost his love for Elspeth all of a sudden, and he became the Coles¡¯ eldest son. This was the perfect chance for him to get Elspeth. Edmund was delighted that he finally triumphed over Callum on at least one matter. At first, he wanted to get wicked drunk, but then Elspeth didn¡¯t like the smell of alcohol nor did she like bumbling fools, so he only drank a little. He then gently told everyone off and made his way to the bedroom. Yet, when he wobbled his way into the room, the first thing he saw was the unconscious servants. A bad feeling surged in his heart. He stormed into the room, but all he saw were the crown and wedding clothes. Elspeth was nowhere to be found. Fury red in Edmund¡¯s eyes. Damn it. She managed to run away even when she¡¯s surrounded by all these people? He was disappointed, but that was Elspeth¡¯s style, so he didn¡¯t feel too sad. This marriage was just a test anyway. What would turn out depended on Elspeth. If she refused to sleep with him, then he wouldn¡¯t do anything. Even if she wanted to cancel the marriage, he would do it as well. All he wanted to do was to see if Elspeth would choose him if Callum was out of the picture, but now he knew it was impossible. A bright smile curled his lips, and he closed the door. Edmund returned to the ballroom. The party was still going strong there. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s your wedding night. Why aren¡¯t you with the bride?¡± Edmund chuckled. ¡°The missus is exhausted. She¡¯s asleep, so here I am.¡± Calling her that is certainly¡­ odd, but not like I can call her that for a long time. ¡°Missus? Well, someone¡¯s bragging.¡± ¡°Hey, he¡¯s back to party with us. Might as well have as much fun as we can, right?¡± ¡°Touch¨¦, my friend. Bottoms up!¡± ¡­ Elspeth was led to an area filled with vis. It was remote enough that no cabs would pass by. ¡°Whose vi are we going to?¡± The man sneered. ¡°My orders are to take you here. You¡¯re going have to figure everything out yourself.¡± Then, she was kicked out of the van. The man drove away, leaving Elspeth in the dust. She twitched her lips. Oh my god. There are dozens of vis here. Where should I start? Then, she saw someone approaching her from afar. Arthur? ¡°You¡¯re fast.¡± Elspeth was surprised at first, but she became vignt at once. ¡°You led me out so that guy would take me here to you, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Smart. That¡¯s what I like about you. I can¡¯t believe I never realized you¡¯re this smart, and I¡¯m not annoyed by that.¡± Arthur had a different opinion of her now, and he smiled. Refusing to listen to the chatter, Elspeth tried to hit him. Arthur dodged her easily. ¡°Trying to hit me? I just saved you from hell. That¡¯s no way to treat me.¡± Elspeth spat. ¡°I saved you from hell once, and you still tried to ruin my life. Still are, actually.¡± The mention of that memory stirred something in Arthur. When he saw that orchid birthmark on Emma, he asked around, and she told him she was the one who saved her back in Damoria. All these years, Arthur did everything she asked him to, even if he knew she was just using him. Because of Emma, his disdain for Callum turned into hatred, yet now he knew he had gotten the wrong girl. He was but Emma¡¯s pawn to take Elspeth down; a pawn for Emma to keep in touch with Callum and his family. Now that he knew the truth, all the love he had for Emma was gone with the wind. I guess it¡¯s only fair that I use her too. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 313 Chapter 313 Elspeth followed Arthur into the vi, but the moment she got inside, someone shrieked in a shrill voice, ¡°Why did you bring her here, Arthur?¡± Arthur smiled and hid his disappointment for Emma. ¡°Kidnapped her, to be exact.¡± Oh. Emma calmed down a little, but she was still incensed. Then, she noticed that Elspeth wasn¡¯t even tied up at all. ¡°I thought she was kidnapped.¡± ¡°What? Were you expecting to see me all tied up?¡± Elspeth smirked mockingly. How dare she take that tone with me? She¡¯s a captive! Emma gnashed her teeth furiously. ¡°You¡¯re a captive. I¡¯dy low if I were you.¡± ¡°Hey, your simp opted not to tie me up. Why don¡¯t you ask him why? Oh, wait, I know. Perhaps your simp doesn¡¯t love you anymore!¡± Can she stop calling me that? Arthur gnashed his teeth. ¡°Sharp tongue, Elspeth.¡± He was angry, but he didn¡¯t punish Elspeth. Emma noticed that change and her heart sank. ¡°I never saw you as a simp. You have to get mad at that, Arthur. She just used a slur.¡± She was trying to fan the mes, but unbeknownst to her, Arthur was no longer the old him. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯ve already captured her. Just let her do what she wants.¡± Arthur shrugged. There was even a hint of affection in his tone. ¡°But¡­¡± Emma felt a part of her heart getting torn away. For some reason, she felt that Arthur, who had been giving everything he had to her, was going to leave her any moment. ¡°Calm down. She¡¯s part of the n.¡± Arthur huddled closer to her and patted her head. There was love in his eyes, but it was fake, of course. Knowing that the love was fake, Elspeth chuckled. Emma bristled. ¡°What are youughing at?¡± Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You¡¯re so adorably naive,¡± mocked Elspeth. ¡°Alright, calm down. You¡¯re going to marry Callum soon. Ignore what the captive says.¡± Emma was delighted that Arthur said that, but then a hint of panic followed. Arthur never wanted me to marry Callum, yet he doesn¡¯t care now. Does he not love me anymore? Was Elspeth telling the truth? ¡°So, what¡¯s the n, Arthur?¡± Arthur sneered and looked at Elspeth. ¡°I¡¯m taking her abroad.¡± Elspeth froze. Abroad? But I never agreed to that. ¡°Only when she¡¯s far enough to never bother you guys can you and Callum be together without having to worry about her.¡± Arthur smiled bitterly. ¡°You don¡¯t have to care about me. I¡¯ll just disappear from your life, never to speak to you again.¡± Arthur was doing everything for Emma, which made Emma feel a little guilty. I can¡¯t believe I doubted him when all he wanted was for me to be happy. Even though she didn¡¯t like him, she was still moved. If there¡¯s a next life, I¡¯ll date him. Well, if people like Callum aren¡¯t around, anyway. She stood up and looked at him with anticipation. ¡°Thank you for your help, Arthur. If you need anything in the future, just call. I¡¯ll do everything I can to help.¡± It was genuine affection, but it came toote. A hint of impatience shed in Arthur¡¯s eyes, but he reced it with love quickly to avoid being suspected by Emma. ¡°Thank you.¡± Ugh, look at them acting lovey-dovey. Elspeth plopped down on the couch and turned on the TV to binge-watch some shows. Not like I can escape. Might as well have some fun. Soon, it was six in the evening. Knowing that staying any longer would be inappropriate, Emma stood up and straightened her clothes out. When she noticed Elspeth enjoying her show, a hint of anger red in her. ¡°Arthur, I hate that woman. You have to teach her a lesson for me.¡± She held Arthur¡¯s arm, then swayed it and buried it between her breasts while pouting. Emma was delighted that Arthur said that, but then a hint of panic followed. Arthur never wanted me to marry Callum, yet he doesn¡¯t care now. Does he not love me anymore? Was Elspeth telling the truth? ¡°So, what¡¯s the n, Arthur?¡± Arthur wrepped his erm eround her weist, his eyes filled with love. ¡°Went to stey for e bit?¡± No. I¡¯m Cellum¡¯s fienc¨¦e now. If I do enything with him, it¡¯d be e stein on my imege. Emme fidgeted end thumped him with e fist, then she put some distence between them. She then seid epologeticelly, ¡°It¡¯s elreedy six. If I don¡¯t leeve, my meneger is going to suspect something. My cereer is just sterting to rise. If the peperezzi see meing out of e men¡¯s house elone, they¡¯re going to meke e scendel out of it. See you next time, Arthur.¡± She hugged him end kissed him on his lips. Arthur nodded end let her leeve. Once Emme wes gone, Elspeth winked et him. ¡°Pleyer.¡± She could see thet he hed lost ell interest in her, but still he wes willing to pley elong. ¡°I cen pley with you if you went.¡± Thet engered Elspeth. ¡°Shut it, Arthur. I don¡¯t like telking to scum.¡± ¡°Yet you still followed me home.¡± But then Arthur leughed. ¡°Oops, sorry. You were kidnepped.¡± Elspeth shot him e look. ¡°Shut it.¡± Arthur didn¡¯t went to enger her, or it would be bed. Unlike Emme, Elspeth wouldn¡¯t give in just from sweet telking. One felse move end she would etteck him. ¡°Let¡¯s meke e deel.¡± Finelly. Elspeth got up end turned the volume down to zero. Curious, she esked, ¡°Finelly cutting to the chese. So, tell me, why did you teke me ebroed?¡± ¡°To ennoy Cellum. To teke setisfection in knowing thet the love of his life is in my hends.¡± Arthur smiled. ¡°And she¡¯s going to be engeged to me soon. If he somehow ewekens his love for you end finds out whet hes heppened, I wonder how he will reect.¡± Elspeth tensed up. Engeged? Arthur wrapped his arm around her waist, his eyes filled with love. ¡°Want to stay for a bit?¡± No. I¡¯m Callum¡¯s fianc¨¦e now. If I do anything with him, it¡¯d be a stain on my image. Emma fidgeted and thumped him with a fist, then she put some distance between them. She then said apologetically, ¡°It¡¯s already six. If I don¡¯t leave, my manager is going to suspect something. My career is just starting to rise. If the paparazzi see meing out of a man¡¯s house alone, they¡¯re going to make a scandal out of it. See you next time, Arthur.¡± She hugged him and kissed him on his lips. Arthur nodded and let her leave. Once Emma was gone, Elspeth winked at him. ¡°yer.¡± She could see that he had lost all interest in her, but still he was willing to y along. ¡°I can y with you if you want.¡± That angered Elspeth. ¡°Shut it, Arthur. I don¡¯t like talking to scum.¡± ¡°Yet you still followed me home.¡± But then Arthurughed. ¡°Oops, sorry. You were kidnapped.¡± Elspeth shot him a look. ¡°Shut it.¡± Arthur didn¡¯t want to anger her, or it would be bad. Unlike Emma, Elspeth wouldn¡¯t give in just from sweet talking. One false move and she would attack him. ¡°Let¡¯s make a deal.¡± Finally. Elspeth got up and turned the volume down to zero. Curious, she asked, ¡°Finally cutting to the chase. So, tell me, why did you take me abroad?¡± ¡°To annoy Callum. To take satisfaction in knowing that the love of his life is in my hands.¡± Arthur smiled. ¡°And she¡¯s going to be engaged to me soon. If he somehow awakens his love for you and finds out what has happened, I wonder how he will react.¡± Elspeth tensed up. Engaged? Chapter 314 Chapter 314 ¡°Why do you think I would agree to it?¡± Elspeth leaned on the couch, sneering. Man, the Winthrop brothers are crazy, except for Max. He¡¯s the only normal one. ¡°Hey, suit yourself, but I¡¯m the only one who can cure your mother.¡± Arthur looked at Elspeth, his gaze smug. ¡°You don¡¯t want her to die because of the illness, do you?¡± ¡°You fiend!¡± Elspeth cursed. She didn¡¯t believe him at all. ¡°You can¡¯t cure her.¡± ¡°Call Sonny, then. He can diagnose her. He can tell you if I¡¯m telling the truth.¡± Arthur sat on the couch across from her and crossed his legs. Elspeth stared at him, her heart sinking, and she hesitated. She had checked on her mother before, but her disease was an odd and stubborn one. It was nothing like she had seen before. Sonny was her master, so he should reach the same conclusion as well. If he¡¯s the only one who can cure my mother, then this is going to be trouble. Elspeth¡¯s hesitation didn¡¯t escape Arthur. He crossed his arms and adamantly said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If you agree to the engagement and go abroad with me, I can cure her.¡± ¡°What if you go back on your word? What if you won¡¯t save my mother after we¡¯re engaged?¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t think Arthur would keep his promise. ¡°I won¡¯t. I don¡¯t have to lie to you.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because you saved me. I won¡¯t kill your mother.¡± Elspethughed as if she had just heard the biggest joke in her life, and she covered her mouth. ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯sughable to bring that memory up? You¡¯re practically holding me, your savior, at gunpoint.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care what you believe. That¡¯s the best deal I can give you, and your mother doesn¡¯t have long to live.¡± Elspeth clenched her fists, her nails burying into her flesh. ¡°How long does she have left?¡± ¡°Three months. The disease will strike, and not even I can save her then.¡± Three months? Elspeth felt a twang of pain in her heart. She had gone through hell to find her mother. Romantic love was nothing whenpared to familial love. Even if she could never date Callum ever again, she must save Helena. Elspeth raised her head, her eyes filled with determination. ¡°When are you going to bust her out?¡± Arthur cocked his eyebrow, a smile curling his lips. ¡°So, you agree to my terms, I take it?¡± ¡°Shut it. You¡¯re taking her abroad for the treatment, aren¡¯t you? When are you busting her out?¡± Elspeth felt nothing but anger and disgust for this scheming, evil man. ¡°Ah, I can do that easily. I just have to tell Michael I can save his daughter, and he¡¯ll give her over to me.¡± Arthur had learned a bit of psychology before. Michael had lost his daughter once, so he wouldn¡¯t let Helena die. Elspeth heaved a sigh of relief. If that¡¯s true, then the git isn¡¯t totally evil, then. ¡°Make it quick,¡± blurted Elspeth, yet she had conflicting feelings about this. ¡°Make it quick? You¡¯re so eager to get engaged, huh?¡± Arthur smirked. Elspeth hated that smile. ¡°Shut it. I just want you to cure my mother.¡± Elspeth shot him a re. ¡°Which room am I taking for the night?¡± ¡°Any room you want except for the first one from the left on the second floor.¡± Elspeth¡¯s fury subsided, reced by a hint of cheekiness. ¡°What¡¯s with the room?¡± Arthur smiled and mouthed something. Whatever he said made Elspeth blush. She shot him a re and went upstairs to pick a room for herself. For fear that someone might overhear her from another room, she drew the curtains close and locked the door, then she took her ring out. She wouldn¡¯t expose herself in front of Arthur. He was a cunning and meticulous man, so he might realize something was up if he found out what she had on her. She was a doctor, after all. Attention to detail was her thing. A momentter, Elspeth managed to establish contact with Gilbert. Just when she was about to ask about his situation, Gilbert blurted, ¡°Elspeth? You¡¯re still alive?¡± ¡°What? Why am I not alive?¡± ¡°What? Why am I not alive?¡± Gilbert exchanged a look of surprise with Harper. ¡°The Coles issued a statement this morning. Said you diedst night because your disease struck.¡± Died because of my illness¡­ Elspeth twitched her lips. That is so Edmund. Thanks for hiding the fact I ran from the wedding, but you could have gone with better news. ¡°So did the Jonesons get mad?¡± She wanted to know what Michael was doing. ¡°Obviously. The old git got so mad that he fell ill.¡± That evil twat is on his deathbed. Heh. She felt a hint of sympathy for him, but she wouldn¡¯t pity his situation. ¡°I think the Coles are helping you,¡± said Gilbert. Elspeth was stunned. She asked, ¡°How so?¡± ¡°Most people would at least hold an engagement party first, but they went straight to the wedding, and in ten days too. I think he did all this so you could break free of the Jonesons. Since you¡¯re married now, the git can¡¯t force you to marry someone else. No matter what they say after the wedding, the fact is you will be free of the Jonesons.¡± Elspeth felt a little warm and fuzzy inside. That exins a lot. She thought the Coles might just let her escape slide, but she never expected them to help her. Now, she knew they were helping her. Irving loves me. He wouldn¡¯t make me marry someone I didn¡¯t love. Elias is a great man too. He wouldn¡¯t do something like that either. As for Edmund¡­ he is already relenting a lot. Considering the fact that he¡¯s proud, noting after me is already the biggest concession he can make. For some reason, she teared up. Elspeth wanted to call them, but since they had let her escape slide, calling them would be rude. ¡°So where are you now, Elspeth?¡± Gilbert asked. ¡°I¡¯m¡­¡± Elspeth almost said the answer out loud, but she stopped herself before she could. I can¡¯t tell him about the deal just yet.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Chapter 315 Chapter 315 With that thought in mind, Elspeth swiftly switched up what she was going to say. ¡°I¡¯m in a safe ce right now, so all¡¯s well with me, but the person who¡¯s helping me has asked that I don¡¯t divulge my location to anyone else. It might cause trouble for him.¡± Knowing Gilbert¡¯s personality, he would undoubtedly save her and take her away if she told him the truth, but that would only exacerbate the situation. Arthur might be pissed off, and it could affect Mom¡¯s treatment. ¡°Is that true?¡± Gilbert sounded a little disbelieving. ¡°Of course. When have I ever lied to you?¡± Elspeth chuckled lightly. Gilbert huffed at the recollection of all the lies Elspeth had ever told him. ¡°You¡¯re asking me when you¡¯ve ever lied to me? Three years ago, you tricked me into bringing toilet paper to you at the public washroom. You even said no one else was around, but I ended up being called a pervert by a bunch of women. Four years ago, you dined and dashed but you pushed the me on me¡ª¡± He was getting even more agitated with each passing second, so Elspeth quickly apologized. ¡°Sorry! I apologize for everything! I shouldn¡¯t have done those things. You¡¯re a magnanimous man, aren¡¯t you? Please forgive me. Still, I¡¯m not lying to you this time.¡± Had it been at any other point in time, she would¡¯ve acted as if she didn¡¯t have a clue about what he was saying, but right now, she could hear the ruckus around him. He¡¯s probably at a bar and there are so many people around him. She would be mortified by the things Gilbert revealed about her, so she didn¡¯t want to drag this out with him. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll believe you just this once.¡± Gilbert¡¯s anger dissipated. Harper was speechless as he watched them bicker, but he was still concerned about Elspeth. ¡°When are youing back, Elsie?¡± Going back¡­ After leaving this time, she didn¡¯t know whether she could ever return. Elspeth suppressed her mncholic emotions and said with a chuckle, ¡°It won¡¯t be long before I go back, but I need to stay low for now. I can head back once everyone has forgotten about this.¡± ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Harper didn¡¯tment any further as he knew that Elspeth was a cautious person. He merely reminded her to take care of herself. ¡°I¡¯ll leave Azure in your hands for now. Help me keep an eye on Gilbert too. If anything happens, report it to me right away. If he bullies you again by saying that you¡¯re a snitch, then tell me about it, and I¡¯ll teach him a lesson.¡± Elspeth¡¯s joking admonishments annoyed Gilbert. He rolled his eyes. ¡°That¡¯s enough. It¡¯s time for us to get back to our drinks. The women are waiting for us.¡± ¡°Your girlfriend¡¯s pregnant and waiting for you, yet you¡¯re having drinks at a nightlife establishment.¡± ¡°Who said she¡¯s my girlfriend? She¡¯s just someone who drugged me and got pregnant with my semen. I never imed this child.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t think that Gilbert would be this indifferent. ¡°How hard it must be on your girlfriend who¡¯s all the way in another country¡­¡± Elspeth immediately stopped in her tracks when she realized she had said something she shouldn¡¯t have. However, even though Elspeth didn¡¯t finish her sentence, Gilbert felt a trace of uneasiness. ¡°ording to the information I got, she¡¯s currently in the country, so why are you saying that she¡¯s abroad? Do you know where she is?¡± ¡°That¡¯s your girlfriend, not mine. Why would it matter to me where she is? How would I know?¡± Elspeth quickly deflected and was about to hang up at once, but Gilbert cut her off with a furious tone. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to hang up until you clear things up.¡± Since the cat was out of the bag, Elspeth had no choice but to exin, ¡°Well, a while back, Elias saved me from the ocean, right? So, I followed him back to the Coles and found out that Ginna is his fianc¨¦e, but I think she doesn¡¯t like him and has been trying to call off the engagement.¡± Elspeth¡¯s tone was slightly sheepish and apologetic. It wasn¡¯t right for her to keep this from Gilbert when she was his friend. She helped Ginna keep this a secret because she was afraid that this information might affect the couple¡¯s rtionship, but she never would¡¯ve thought that Gilbert wasn¡¯t interested in Ginna at all. It was merely Ginna¡¯s one-sided love. There was no answer for quite some time, but Elspeth could sense that things had gotten quite frosty on the other side of the call. Gilbert was truly infuriated. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t do it on purpose.¡± As soon as Elspeth¡¯s voice got a little louder, she heard footsteps outside her door, so she quickly hid under the nket and lowered her voice. ¡°That¡¯s all I know. I don¡¯t know anything else,¡± she said like an errant child confessing her wrongdoing. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m not mad at you.¡± Gilbert rubbed his temples. He seemed frustrated. ¡°What do you n on doing now?¡± Elspeth did care about Gilbert, which included his love life. He was a close friend and they had braved dangers together after all. Elspeth did care about Gilbert, which included his love life. He was a close friend and they had braved dangers together after all. ¡°I won¡¯t be able to check up on you for the time being. I need to make a trip to Sunholde.¡± Elspeth exhaled in relief as she replied understandingly, ¡°Sure. I got it. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Gilbert sounded a little hesitant. ¡°Well, you understand, right, Elspeth? It¡¯s not because I¡¯m concerned¡­¡± Naturally, Elspeth knew what he meant and chuckled before side-stepping the subject. ¡°Hurry up and get on with whatever it is you¡¯re doing. I¡¯ve got something to do so I¡¯m hanging up now.¡± She quickly ended the call. Meanwhile, Gilbert fell into a daze as he stood there with his phone still in hand. A few women came over and caressed his back. ¡°Let¡¯s have a drink, Mr. Payne.¡± ¡°Oh, Mr. Payne!¡± ¡°Scram!¡± Gilbert, who had been smirking devilishly just moments ago, instantly blew his top as his temper red up. The women beside him fled in fright. Only Harper knew why Gilbert was suddenly incensed¡­ ¡­ Elspeth spent three torturous days living with Arthur. Why was it torturous for her? This guy¡¯s routine is too ridiculous! Waking up at 5.00AM to go on a run around the vi? What¡¯s more, he keeps shouting the whole time! Although Arthur¡¯s voice was pleasant to the ears, it was still too hard for her to ept this habit of his. On the fourth morning, Elspeth heard the stomping sounds outside again, and finally, she couldn¡¯t take it anymore. She dragged herself downstairs, still in her pajamas and with a messy head of hair. When she saw Arthur leisurely making breakfast, she pointed at him and demanded, ¡°Arthur Winthrop! Can you stop disrupting my sleep?¡± Arthur flipped the steak in the pan and smiled nonchntly. ¡°I¡¯m just keeping to a normal, healthy routine. Don¡¯t tell me there are people still in bed at 8.00AM.¡± His mocking pushed Elspeth over the edge as she immediately lunged over to get physical with him. ¡°Cut it out. Stop making a fuss.¡± Arthur grabbed her hand. A smile seemed to sh in his eyes as he looked down. ¡°I need to do somethingter.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Elspeth red at him. ¡°I¡¯ll be going over to the Jonesons to pick up your mother.¡± Chapter 316 Chapter 316 ¡°Really? You¡¯re going over to Joneson Residence today?¡± Elspeth was so excited that she grabbed Arthur¡¯s hand. All along, she thought she would have to wait for much longer as she didn¡¯t think Arthur would agree to do so this quickly. ¡°That¡¯s right. If I don¡¯t go, someone might end up destroying my house.¡± Arthur nced down at their sped hands and carefully withdrew his. His tone and manner seemed disdainful. ¡°Who are you calling a nuisance?¡± Elspeth fished a cherry tomato out of the sd bowl and tossed it into her mouth in a huff. However, since he was willing to help her rescue her mother, she forgave him, albeit reluctantly. ¡°Do you need me to head over to Joneson Residence with you today?¡± Arthur set down his spat and eyed her as she fiddled inside the sd bowl with her bare hand. ¡°You? Are you even considering going over with me?¡± he remarked distastefully. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that you¡¯ll get caught and be locked up again?¡± ¡°Hah!¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Elspeth stuffed the final mouthful of sd into her mouth. After recalling Michael¡¯s refusal to stop coming after her, she gave up on the idea. ¡°You¡¯d better go by yourself, then.¡± Arthur grilled thest steak and cracked some ck pepper over the top before serving it up on the dining table. ¡°Go and get the fried eggs from the kitchen. We can have breakfast first.¡± Elspeth was a little nonplussed to hear Arthur instructing her so casually. I¡¯m not your maid, so why must I listen to you? She stubbornly turned away and pretended she didn¡¯t hear him. ¡°Hurry up and bring it over, or else, you won¡¯t be getting breakfast.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you do it¡­¡± Elspeth gritted her teeth. She was going to protest, but she remembered that her mother would be coming over soon, and if she didn¡¯t have breakfast, her mother would be worried and upset, so she begrudgingly brought the eggs over from the kitchen. Arthur ced one of the fried eggs on Elspeth¡¯s te and said, ¡°What a good girl. Here¡¯s a fried egg as your reward.¡± ¡°Why are you talking to me like that, Arthur?¡± Elspeth was confused as she eyed the fried egg. His attitude toward me has taken a 180-degree turn! For the past few days, even though she kept doing things that would rile him up, he didn¡¯t get mad at her. In the past, he would¡¯ve gotten someone to teach her a lesson by now, but this time, he didn¡¯t do anything to her no matter how unreasonable she was. How¡­ strange! ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Do you not like the way I talk to you now?¡± Arthur raised his fork and took an elegant bite of his steak before shing her a faint smile. ¡°Nope. We¡¯re not that close either, so don¡¯t act as if we know each other so well.¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes. To avoid hearing any other kind of suggestivements from him, she avoided his gaze and focused on eating her egg. She stabbed her knife into the egg so hard that it squeaked against the te. ¡°Even then, so what? Either way, you and I will be getting engaged soon, so what¡¯s wrong with an engaged couple like us talking to each other this way?¡± Arthur didn¡¯t stop teasing her. How nauseating. Elspeth was griping on the inside, but she had no choice but to force a smile for the sake of getting what she wanted. ¡°Right. Nothing¡¯s wrong. Anyway, let¡¯s drop this subject. Hurry up and eat. Once you¡¯re done eating, you can go and bring my mother over.¡± Arthur raised his eyebrow. ¡°Using me?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this a trade? How can you say I¡¯m using you?¡± Elspeth finished her food and wiped her mouth elegantly with a tissue before saying with a smile, ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be waiting to hear the good news.¡± Surprisingly, she cleared the table and brought the dishes back to the kitchen. A peculiar feeling rose in Arthur¡¯s chest as he watched her bustling around the kitchen. Why have I never noticed that she¡¯s not as loathsome as I thought? ¡­ To avoid dying the trip abroad, Arthur headed out to Joneson Residence. Michael had just ¡°lost¡± his granddaughter, so he was visibly haggard. He even had more gray hairs now. He eyed Arthur warily. ¡°You¡¯re saying that you want to take Helena abroad for treatment?¡± ¡°Yes. Her illness is rare and peculiar, so she needs to get her treatment abroad,¡± Arthur advised patiently. ¡°Just tell me what you need, and I¡¯ll get it delivered to our country.¡± Michael rubbed his temples. He seemed reluctant. ¡°I need the treatment facilities and environment that¡¯s avable abroad. It won¡¯t be easy to set these things up elsewhere. Even if you bring in the medical professionals and the equipment, there¡¯s no guarantee that you¡¯ll be able to achieve the optimum results.¡± Arthur smiled faintly and took a sip of tea. ¡°Why would so many people head abroad for treatment if they could¡¯ve easily gotten their treatment in the country?¡± Arthur had a point, so Michael¡¯s frown slowly disappeared. ¡°Can you keep my daughter safe for me if I hand her over to you?¡± Arthur had a point, so Michael¡¯s frown slowly disappeared. ¡°Can you keep my daughter safe for me if I hand her over to you?¡± ¡°Of course not. I¡¯m just a doctor, not a bodyguard. I can¡¯t ensure her safety.¡± ¡°Since you can¡¯t keep her safe, why should I let her go?¡± Michael fumed as he mmed his hand on the table. ¡°Well, I do have an excellent candidate who can certainly keep your daughter safe.¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± Michael¡¯s fury eased as he kept his eyes trained on Arthur. Arthur didn¡¯t cower under Michael¡¯s piercing gaze. Instead, he calmly replied, ¡°The Great Elspeth.¡± The Great Elspeth who¡¯s the head of Evil Wind Sect? Shock rippled through Michael¡¯s eyes. ¡­ In the afternoon, a ck Lincoln pulled up outside Arthur¡¯s vi. Elspeth looked down from the balcony and saw a familiar silhouette sitting inside the car. The moment the person stepped out of the car, her eyes misted over. Afraid that the person would look up, she cupped her mouth and quickly drew the curtains. She calmed herself down and quietly waited for the person toe over. The door opened with a creak, and when Elspeth saw the woman in front of her, she became extremely emotional. ¡°Mom¡­¡± ¡°My dear girl! What are you doing here?¡± Helena walked over in excitement and clutched Elspeth¡¯s hand tightly. ¡°Everyone¡¯s saying that you died. When I got the terrible news, I almost followed you.¡± Elspeth¡¯s heart panged. As she held Helena¡¯s frail hand, she could feel how cold it was. Elspeth¡¯s tears streamed down her face and dripped onto her hand. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s all my fault. I made you worry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s alright. My dear girl¡­ everything¡¯s fine as long as you¡¯re still alive. As long as you¡¯re fine.¡± Helena could barely vocalize her thoughts. All she could do was keep repeating that everything was fine as she stared affectionately at Elspeth. It was as if she was afraid that Elspeth would disappear at any given moment. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t leave you again this time.¡± Elspeth hugged Helena tightly, and thetter¡¯s thin, feeble body made Elspeth swear to herself that she would do her best to protect Helena. She was going to make sure that Helena could live a happy, healthy life. Even if it means sacrificing everything I have! Chapter 317 Chapter 317 Damoria. Callum¡¯s eyes were filled with rage as he read the newspaper at his desk. That¡¯s impossible! Elspeth was still alive and running around about two weeks ago. How could she have died from a disease in just a few days? He didn¡¯t believe it, or maybe he refused to believe it. The assistant looked at his boss¡¯ gloomy expression from the side, not daring to say anything. A long whileter, Callum rolled the newspaper into a ball and threw it into the trash can. The nervousness and depression he felt just now disappeared in an instant. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, the department manager¡ª¡± Callum swept his gaze over the assistant¡¯s face and ordered, ¡°Let him settle the matter himself.¡± Hearing that, the assistant started sweating profusely, wondering if it was a good idea to let the department manager deal with this matter independently. After all, that wasn¡¯t a simple matter. However, judging by how his boss seemed a little absentminded and had no intention of getting involved, the assistant pondered for a moment and finally left. Only Callum was inside therge, spacious office. He tugged on his necktie as he felt suffocated. He knew she shouldn¡¯t care about Elspeth, but he felt an inexplicable sense of uneasiness whenever he thought about the formerly living and breathing woman suddenly disappearing from the world. There were no words to describe how he felt. He didn¡¯t care about her but seemed to care a lot about her. He felt a little angry when he found out about her engagement a week ago. Didn¡¯t that woman say she loved me? How could she be willing to marry another man if the news described it correctly? Like what they say, women are heartless and can¡¯t make up their minds. At first, Callum had thought about heading to ydal and finding her, but after reading the news, he went against that idea. He couldn¡¯t describe his feelings, but he knew his heart felt empty. It was as if he had lost something very important. In the end, he still opened a ticket-selling website and booked himself a flight to ydal. Elspeth was his fianc¨¦e, so he must see her, even if she were a corpse. ¡­ At the same time, it wasn¡¯t peaceful at Arthur¡¯s vi either. Helena was staring at Elspeth, feeling puzzled. ¡°Isn¡¯t the one you like the eldest son of the Winthrop Family? Why did you suddenly decide to get engaged to Arthur? Well, he¡¯s quite a good man¡­¡± As Helena didn¡¯t know about what Arthur did before, her impression of him was that he was a benevolent doctor who gave her unconditional treatment, and that was why she had a good feeling about him. When Elspeth heard what her mother said, she scoffed. Is Arthur considered a good man? I didn¡¯t see any good in him when he forced me to jump off a cliff. However, Elspeth couldn¡¯t tell Helena the ins and outs as Helena might think Elspeth was being forced to get engaged to Arthur and thus refuse treatment. ¡°Mom, we can never be sure about our feelings, right?¡± After letting out an embarrassed chuckle, Elspeth found a vague excuse to avoid the topic. ¡°Fine. Since you¡¯ve made your choice, I won¡¯t stop you.¡± Helena patted Elspeth¡¯s hand before looking at Arthur not far away from them. ¡°Since you¡¯ve decided to be with him, be serious about it. You¡¯re about to get engaged to him, so don¡¯t mess around.¡± It was then that Helena recovered from the continuous shocking events that had happened recently. First, it was her daughter feigning death to escape from her marriage, followed by her n to bring her daughter abroad, and now her daughter had changed fianc¨¦s. It seemed like Elspeth¡¯s life was no less exciting than hers when she was young! However, this situation wasn¡¯t bad either because after they left for abroad, Michael wouldn¡¯t be able to find out Elspeth¡¯s whereabouts, and she could escape from the Jonesons¡¯ control for a while. Therefore, it was quite a good thing. ¡°This is great¡­¡± Helena nced at Arthur from the corner of her eye and felt even more satisfied the more she looked at him. Such a nice man would be a good match for Elspeth. Noticing Helena¡¯s approving nce, Arthur spoke up. ¡°Miss Joneson, I¡¯ve checked your condition just now. Your body¡¯s condition is quite good, so we can leave tomorrow. The sooner we leave, the better, as your condition can¡¯t allow any dys.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± As Helena trusted Arthur, she didn¡¯t reject his suggestion but nodded in agreement. When her gazended on the dazed Elspeth, she smiled and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Elsie? Do you have something you need to do?¡± At that moment, Arthur also looked over, and his gaze had a hint of scrutiny. ¡°Nothing. I have gotten pretty much everything done. I was just daydreaming.¡± Afterward, Helena didn¡¯t ask any more questions. She massaged her temples while announcing tiredly, ¡°I¡¯m feeling a little tired, so I¡¯ll be heading upstairs to rest.¡± ¡°Alright. Have a good rest, Mom.¡± ¡°Alright. Have a good rest, Mom.¡± Once Helena left, Elspeth looked at Arthur with eyes zing with anger. Not knowing why she was staring at him like that, Arthur asked, ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know either. It¡¯s just purely because I despise you.¡± However, Elspeth could only vent her anger out on the pillow in her hand. Punch after punch, she hit it. Arthur instantly realized something andzily leaned against the couch, pointing out, ¡°Do you think I don¡¯t understand you? You must be thinking of Callum right now. You¡¯re disappointed that Callum has forgotten your rtionship and still hasn¡¯t found you. So, you don¡¯t want to leave, and you¡¯re unwilling to let go¡­¡± Everything he said was on point. Elspeth was stunned and didn¡¯t know what to do. ¡°But so what? You and Callum can never be together anymore.¡± When Arthur looked toward Elspeth, he was taken aback as he had never seen her cry. This was the first time he saw tears streaming down her face. She didn¡¯t look particrly sad and was just crying. The scene before him left a pang in his heart. Arthur never cared about women crying, even if it was Emma. He only liked Emma¡¯s beautiful side and helping her solve her hardships was only to return her favor. However, he felt a hint of sympathy when seeing Elspeth cry. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. He began feeling inexplicably guilty and wondered if his words were too harsh on her. ¡°You¡¯re right. I was thinking about him.¡± Elspeth wiped her tears and tried to speak calmly, but Arthur could still hear a slight tremble in her voice. ¡°I know that we can never be together, so you don¡¯t have to rub it in.¡± Everyone in the world kept reminding her that she and Callum could never be together. She knew that, but those memories were deeply carved into her memory and attached to her nerves, so it did hurt. How can I forget about Callum, the man who is cold as ice but only gentle to me? Perhaps I will never be able to forget him in this lifetime. Elspeth raised her head and stared at Arthur with a serious expression. ¡°Arthur.¡± When she called his name, it sounded simple and crisp but with a slight hint of nasal tone. ¡°Yes?¡± Elspeth breathed through her reddened nose while forcing a smile. ¡°Let¡¯s change the tickets to today and leave now.¡± Chapter 318 Chapter 318 When Arthur noticed her slightly red eyes, he couldn¡¯t bear to refuse her request. ¡°Sure. Since you want to leave today, let¡¯s leave today.¡± ¡°What about my mom?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I will keep my word.¡± Arthur subconsciously reached out to pat her head, but she dodged his hand. The disappointment he felt made his tone sound a little impatient. ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll buy the tickets.¡± After saying that, Elspeth got up and was about to return to her room, but Arthur stopped her. He was frowning when asking, ¡°Have you forgotten that you¡¯re supposed to be dead? How can you buy tickets? Do you want Old Mr. Joneson to find out you¡¯re still alive?¡± Elspeth¡¯s mind was a mess, so she couldn¡¯t think clearly. When she heard what Arthur said, she became even more depressed. She sat back on the couch, and the soft material helped subside the rage inside her a little. ¡°What do you suppose we do?¡± After lighting his cigarette, Arthur breathed out a puff of smoke before suggesting, ¡°We¡¯ll leave by ship. Once we reach another country tomorrow, we can take a ne to Eden.¡± Since there were many people whom they knew in ydal, they couldn¡¯t go out in public and fly to Eden. ¡°But we might have to trouble your mom to follow us on this long journey. Also, you have to find a reason that she would believe.¡± Elspeth¡¯s eyes glistened. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I have an idea.¡± Surprised, Arthur stared at her and asked, ¡°What is it? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re going to send the helve after the hatchet and tell her everything?¡± ¡°Do I look that stupid?¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes. ¡°Do you remember Elias Cole? He¡¯s the man I met after you and Emma forced me to jump off the cliff. It was also he who saved me and brought me up onto his cargo ship.¡± When mentioning that incident, Elspeth still felt resentment for the two culprits. As she expected, Arthur seemed a little uneasy. ¡°So, what are you trying to say?¡± ¡°Since the Coles are willing to set me free, perhaps they will be willing to help me. I¡¯m considering visiting Mr. Cole and asking him to help me secretly leave the country.¡± While she said that, she had a determined smile on her face. After listening to her n, Arthur instantly understood. ¡°I never thought that it wasn¡¯t me who got you out of there easily but that they never intended for you to marry Edmund¡¯s man. But even so, how are you going to exin things to your mom?¡± Elspeth froze as if she were thinking about the feasibility of her n. Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that. Mom has a slight connection with the Coles, so it might not be a problem as long as I have a clear exnation and involve a bit of her connection with the Coles.¡± Surprised, Arthur smiled. ¡°You¡¯re smart.¡± How can her small mind think so quickly? ¡°Of course, I¡¯m smart. Do you think every woman in the world is stupid like Emma and has to rely on men to do everything?¡± Even when agreeing with him and elevating herself, Elspeth didn¡¯t forget to belittle Emma. Emma was mean. Elspeth wouldn¡¯t miss an opportunity to ridicule her. This time, Arthur didn¡¯t show any intentions of standing up for Emma. Instead, he jeered, ¡°It seems like you have quite a huge grudge against Emma.¡± While hugging a pillow, Elspeth looked at Arthur sternly. ¡°Arthur, what state of mind are you in to ask this question? Don¡¯t tell me you think I only have a slight grudge against you?¡± Arthur froze for a moment but continued to smile as he replied, ¡°We¡¯ve been spending so much time together that I almost forgot that we used to be nemeses.¡± Hearing that, Elspeth immediately corrected him. ¡°It¡¯s not ¡®used to,¡¯ we still are and will still be.¡± Then, Arthur suddenly pinned her down on the couch. It happened so quickly that Elspeth was caught off guard. Elspeth felt her heart sink as she stared at him warily. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Am I such an annoying person to you?¡± Arthur frowned slightly, and his tone sounded somewhat harsh, which was different from how he usually spoke. ¡°Well, don¡¯t you also find me annoying?¡± While looking at him, Elspeth felt quite speechless. ¡°I don¡¯t¡­¡± Right after Arthur said that, he suddenly turned gloomy and stopped talking. Seeing that he seemed lost in his thoughts, Elspeth nimbly escaped from him and then distanced herself from him. ¡°Alright. Our n can¡¯t wait. I¡¯ll head over to look for Elias now.¡± Soon, Elspeth disguised herself with heavy and exaggerated makeup. She also wore a cap and mask just to be safe. When Arthur saw her getup, he didn¡¯t know how to react. When Arthur saw her getup, he didn¡¯t know how to react. ¡°Is this getup necessary?¡± Though Elspeth¡¯s cap was low and covered her eyes, Arthur could still sense her rolling her eyes in disdain. ¡°I¡¯m going alone, so you don¡¯t have to follow me. I¡¯ll be backter.¡± With a raised eyebrow, Arthur retorted, ¡°Of course, I know that. Your mom is still here, so where else can you go?¡± Elspeth red at him in contempt. ¡°You¡¯re despicable.¡± To leave this ce by today, Elspeth hurriedly hailed a cab to the Cole Residence. When she arrived at the door, she was about to knock and head inside. However, her hand stopped abruptly as she discovered the entrance was cordoned off with tape. The Coles must have moved away. After thinking about it, Elspeth thought it made sense as the reason the Coles returned to Chars was to find Edmund. The Cole Family¡¯s businesses were all abroad, so it was reasonable that they might have already moved back abroad after finding Edmund. Elspeth felt a little disappointed, but she couldn¡¯t do anything about it. Just as she was about to leave, someone suddenly blocked her. ¡°Elspeth.¡± The voice sounded deep, sharp, and with a hint of doubt. Turning to look at the person, Elspeth instantly paled. ¡°Callum? Why are you here?¡± Callum took a deep breath and observed Elspeth, making sure that she was alive and not some sort of spirit, before releasing his breath. ¡°I came to see how you¡¯re really doing.¡± Elspeth knew that the current Callum was different from before, so she didn¡¯t act like they were close. Instead, she felt awkward and didn¡¯t know what to say. She yed with her fingers, not knowing where she should ce them. ¡°Now that you saw me and know that I¡¯m still alive, would you expose me?¡± At first, Callum thought that Elspeth¡¯s first reaction when seeing him would be surprise and joy. After all, he had lost his memory while Elspeth didn¡¯t. However, the reaction he saw from her was not surprise but panic. ¡°What would happen if I did?¡± Elspeth stopped ying with her fingers as her expression became grim. ¡°Then you¡¯re putting me in trouble.¡± Chapter 319 Chapter 319 ¡°What trouble?¡± Elspeth had a myriad of emotions sh across her face. ¡°I can¡¯t tell you this for now.¡± Stepping forward, Callum looked as if he was going to grab her wrist. ¡°I¡¯m your fianc¨¦. What is it that you can¡¯t tell me about?¡± Frightened, Elspeth stumbled backward. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you today? Why are you saying this?¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t our first engagement.¡± Callum¡¯s words made her fall into deep thought. ¡°We have been engaged once before. But now that you don¡¯t feel anything for me, it¡¯s just superfluous to mention this.¡± Elspeth, who was being distant, made Callum frown, as he was in a bit of a panic toward this kind of ambiguous feeling. ¡°Why did you fake your death?¡± Although she knew that he was intelligent, she did not predict that he woulde to know about this so soon. ¡°What I do is my own business. It has nothing to do with you anymore.¡± Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. She knew that she could not let him know. Otherwise, it would bring along unthinkable consequences. Just as Elspeth wanted to leave, her wrist was firmly grabbed onto. Turning back, she saw Callum with a very dark expression. ¡°Elspeth, I¡¯m giving you onest chance. Why did you fake your death? Also, where are you staying now?¡± At that moment, all the emotions hidden deep within Elspeth exploded. ¡°Callum Winthrop, it was you who didn¡¯t like me anymore! Since you don¡¯t have any feelings for me, why are you still holding onto me? Aren¡¯t you head over heels for your first love? Go find her then. Why did you seek me out? From the amount of time when you lost interest in me till now, your indifference was enough for me to be stone-hearted too. So, don¡¯t you think that it¡¯sughable, you trying to y some sort of engaged-couple act with me?¡± Elspeth pressed down on his hand, trying to shake herself free. ¡°Callum, I¡¯m saying this onest time. We¡¯re over!!!¡± We¡¯re over? Cold in nature, Callum did not put any emotion in anything he did ever since he lost his feelings for her. Yet, upon hearing this, he felt as if his heart had shattered. ¡°Do you not love me anymore?¡± Callum uttered. Hearing his words, Elspeth felt her knees go weak, as she became rooted to the spot, although she tried so hard to shake herself free just a moment ago. ¡°I do. But what use does it have?¡± What can love do? Could love save her mother? Or perhaps, could it salvage this tattered rtionship? Since love could not do either of those, then she decided that it would be better to leave as soon as possible. At least, she could have peace of mind. Elspeth turned around and left, and the person behind did not chase after her. It really seemed like it was over. Standing on the spot, Callum still could not process what had happened, as he only knew that the person close to him left. Suddenly, she said, ¡°Callum, I hope that you don¡¯t tell anyone that I¡¯m still alive. Just treat these as my last words, seeing how I once loved you.¡± Sobbing, she knew that she would cry if she were to continue talking, so upon seeing that he did not react to her words, she took it as him agreeing to it. Elspeth then called for a cab before getting in and leaving. I think this is it. It¡¯s truly over. ¡­ Depressed, Elspeth returned to Arthur¡¯s home. Arthur, who was watering the nts in the garden, saw that Elspeth was walking dejectedly toward him. She did not even seem to notice him. Arthur stopped what he was doing. ¡°Why did you look like you got your soul sucked out when you just went to request help?¡± Arthur¡¯s teasing did not elicit any response from her. ¡°What¡¯s up? Your makeup is all smeared. Did you cry?¡± His closing in for a further observation seemed to enrage Elspeth. ¡°Can you just get away from me? Don¡¯t touch me!¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Originally, Arthur only wanted to care for her, but her attitude made him unhappy too. ¡°Alright, alright. I won¡¯t ask. Suit yourself.¡± Taking the watering can with him, Arthur left her by her lonesome. This stunned Elspeth, who did not think she would throw a fit out of the blue, and it was toward someone who had nothing to do with why she was depressed. Yet, her breathing seemed to be disrupted the moment he thought of Callum and the scene from earlier. Elspeth rubbed her temples when her phone suddenly rang. Taking it out, she answered the call. ¡°Hey, Elspeth. Are you feeling okay?¡± It was Gilbert. Curious, Elspeth asked, ¡°Why are you asking me this?¡± It was Gilbert. Curious, Elspeth asked, ¡°Why are you asking me this?¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t you seen the news? Callum announced that he was going to cancel the engagement.¡± Cancel the engagement¡­ Unable to withstand this information, Elspeth found her knees almost buckling. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go check it outter. Thanks for telling me this.¡± Smiling tiredly, she knew that he really was disappointed in her and anyst feelings left for her had vanished. This was also a good thing because she would not be burdened by anything if she got married to Arthur. ¡°I know you must be feeling like crap inside. If you want to cry, then just cry. I¡¯m here for you.¡± Gilbert felt pitiful for her. This was because Elspeth was recalcitrant, in that she did not give up once throughout the three years that she tried to court him. Toward Callum, she gave even more of her time in this rtionship. Callum is a real b*stard for doing this. Elspeth must be miserable. ¡°I¡¯m not sad. I¡¯ve already gotten used to this. He didn¡¯t like me in the past, so he¡¯s announcing this only to give me a reply.¡± Gilbert sighed in response. ¡°Okay. If you want someone to talk to, just call me. I¡¯ll be there twenty-four seven.¡± Finding no strength left to speak, she was afraid she would expose her true self if she continued the call. Feeling choked, she was about to cry. ¡°I¡¯ll be hanging up now.¡± Elspeth hung up directly. ¡°So, Callum broke the engagement off. Makes sense why you threw a tantrum as soon as you got back.¡± Arthur had a bit of mockery behind his words. Not wanting to entertain him, Elspeth turned around and walked to her room. ¡°Since you two aren¡¯t a couple now, you¡¯re free now. How about you get together with me? I¡¯ll definitely treat you better than him.¡± Mixing truth and lies, even he himself was not clear whether he was telling the truth or not. Yet at that moment, her lonely silhouette made him want to protect her. ¡°Do you find it fun teasing me now, Arthur?¡¯ Elspeth turned around with a callous expression, not touched by his words at all. ¡°I can¡¯t force you to believe me.¡± Arthur shrugged and looked elsewhere. Chapter 320 Chapter 320 Elspeth only allowed herself half an hour to cry over this. During this time, she tried everything and after collecting all the memories rted to her and Callum, she buried them deep inside her heart. Now, the most important thing for her was not to get hung up over rtionships. She still had to save her mother, so she could let herself fall like this. Picking herself up, she called Elias. In the process of the call, she kept rubbing her fingers against the phone, revealing just how nervous she was. Finally, the call connected. Elspeth snapped back to reality and said, ¡°Elias?¡± Nobody responded for a while, making Elspeth think she had dialed the wrong number when a familiar yet alien voice spoke. ¡°Hello, Elspeth.¡± Edmund?! Startled, Elspeth changed what she wanted to say. ¡°Why are you on Elias¡¯ phone? Where¡¯s Elias?¡± Turning around to see Elias, who was in the bathroom showering, Edmund answered, ¡°He¡¯s in the shower. Do you have something to tell him?¡± Hesitating, Elspeth still asked, ¡°Are you alright?¡± This made Edmund chuckle. Although Elspeth could not see his smile, she could still imagine his bright smile. ¡°If you ask me that, I¡¯ll mistake it as you still wanting to marry me.¡± Blushing, Elspeth replied, ¡°Nonsense.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll stop teasing you.¡± Elias acted as if nothing happened between them, for it was like they were still colleagues in the company that helped each other strategize. This relieved Elspeth. ¡°So, why did you call him? Couldn¡¯t you call me instead?¡± The questions left her speechless. After all, Edmund was one of the Coles, so he would know this eventually. Not nning to hide it from him, she answered, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just wanted to call Elias to borrow his freight ship.¡± As a smart individual, Edmund immediately guessed her reason. ¡°You want to smuggle yourself out, right?¡¯ Elspeth knew that she would not be able to hide it from him, as she nodded. ¡°Yes. I need to go abroad.¡± Suddenly, Edmund changed his tone to a teasing one. ¡°Sadly, he doesn¡¯t have the authority to order the freight ships around. You¡¯ve barked up the wrong tree.¡± Even though she had predicted her being rejected, Elspeth was still disappointed. Yet, she knew that helping another was out of kindness, not obligation, so she understood that the Cole Family was not obligated to help her with anything. ¡°Okay then. I¡¯ll stop bothering you. You don¡¯t need to tell Elias this. Let¡¯s end this here.¡± After stating that, Elspeth wanted to hang up. ¡°The person that has that authority is me.¡± Edmund¡¯s words made Elspeth freeze up. She felt her fingers tremble, as she nearly ended the call. ¡°But I want you to help me in return. I have a condition. After all, I should bepensated for helping you do such a humiliating thing, shouldn¡¯t I?¡± Actually, she had guessed that Edmund would propose a condition. Biting her lips, Elspeth replied, ¡°Say it. What can I do for you?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t ask you to marry me or something like that. After all, how could I bear to request such a cruel thing from you?¡± Snorting, Edmund continued, ¡°You still think too lowly of me.¡± ¡°Alright now. What do you need me to do?¡± Edmund requested straightaway, ¡°Be my girlfriend for a day.¡± ¡°Out of the question.¡± Elspeth rejected him without hesitation. ¡°Why not? You and Callum are basically strangers now. Why are you still insisting on preserving yourself?¡± Edmund could hear water dripping on his end. Heughed. ¡°Why are you still so hung up on him?¡± At that moment, the words ¡®hung up¡¯ seemed to be mocking her. Irritated, Elspeth snorted. ¡°I¡¯m just not such a simple woman, and I¡¯m not preserving myself for him.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if that¡¯s the case. Either way, you can say yes to my proposal, or you can find someone else.¡± Edmund decided to be stubborn for her this one time in his life. Elspeth hesitated since this was her best and only chance. She only needed to y pretend couple for a day before she could get what she needed. If I don¡¯t ept his help, I don¡¯t know any other way to smuggle myself out abroad without anyone knowing. This thought made her clench her teeth with determination. ¡°Okay, I agree.¡± Edmundughed heartily. ¡°If so, how about we do it tomorrow? Since I think you¡¯re in a hurry.¡± Elspeth coldly nodded. ¡°Works for me. Eight in the morning. I¡¯ll be waiting for you in the city center.¡± It was then she recalled when she went to the Cole Residence just now, it was cordoned off. ¡°By the way, are you and your family abroad now?¡± The mention of this nearly made Edmund feel funny. ¡°It¡¯s all because of you. We sent the words out that it was inauspicious that you died of a rpsed illness, so we decided to move out from that vi to make it seem realistic.¡± Elspeth felt grateful for their actions. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so polite. Just remember to be there earlier tomorrow.¡± Any lingering emotions of gratitude by Elspeth went away after he spoke. ¡°I know. See you tomorrow.¡± She hung up right away. It was then the door to the bathroom opened, and Elias walked out. Seeing that his brother was holding his phone made Elias curious. ¡°Yo, why do you have my phone?¡± Edmund secretly deleted the call log just now while smiling gently. ¡°Needa make a call. Couldn¡¯t find my phone, so I used yours.¡± Nodding, Elias felt that Edmund¡¯s smile was a bit ufortable. ¡°Say, are you really not upset that Elspeth left you? Do you really not care?¡± Although Elspeth could be cold and distant, she spoke sweetly and alluringly, moving even Elias. The only request he brought up to change his surname was for him to marry Elspeth, so Elias did not understand why Edmund, who had agreed to all the requirements, would let Elspeth go so easily. He still remembered how Edmund was drinking like a madman until he teared up. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. At first, he thought that Edmund was just happy due to a joyous asion. Now, he knew that it was because he already foresaw such an ending and was drinking away his sorrows. Upon thinking about this, Elias felt a bit pensive inside. Did the oue affect him? Of course, it did. Her red lips, ck hair, great smile, her battle of wits at the board of directors meeting. Oh, how could he not have caught any feelings for the woman who stood up for him? Only now, things remained the same, yet the people had changed. So, he could only use his meager abilities to wish for her safety and happiness. Chapter 321 Chapter 321 The next day morning, Edmund arrived right on time at Arthur¡¯s home entrance. Seeing a woman in a ck dress carrying a small bag walk out, Edmund smiled mysteriously. After all, he did request that Elspeth wear a ck dress, yet he did not think that she would actually do it. This put him in a good mood. Just as Elspeth ced her hand on the car door handle, Edmund rolled down the window and looked at her teasingly. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Elspeth raised her eyebrows, apanied by a straightforward tone. ¡°I knew that you looked better in ck. Those white dresses that you used to wear could not entuate your elegance.¡± Elspeth smirked. ¡°Aren¡¯t you a fashionista.¡± Not arguing with her, Edmund drove away as soon as she got in. Soon, they reached a shopping mall. Since the national day was near, a lot of people were gathered there, and it made Elspeth look at him with a frown. ¡°Why are we here?¡± ¡°Do you still remember we came to the mall on our very first outing together?¡± Edmund seemed to be reminiscing andmenting at the same time. It was when she first came to the Winthrop Family¡­ Father wanted five of us to apany her to the mall to shop for clothes. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re about to spend the whole day going down memoryne, are you?¡± Edmund shook his head. ¡°That would be too much. I won¡¯t do that.¡± Too much? In Elspeth¡¯s memories, she and Edmund barely interacted before. Normally, they would only greet each other and exchange a bit of banter if they met. What does he mean by too much? ¡°Edmund, I don¡¯t think we¡¯re particrly close?¡± His gaze darkened as a reaction to her words. ¡°Actually, I was by your side in a lot of situations. It was just that you weren¡¯t aware.¡± Elspeth clutched her bag tightly. ¡°What do you mean by this?¡± ¡°Not much. It¡¯s nothing. Let¡¯s continue walking. Come on, I¡¯ll buy some clothes for you.¡± With a cold tone, Elspeth replied, ¡°I don¡¯t need more clothes. I have tons of them.¡± ¡°What does it have to do with whether you¡¯d like more clothes or not? I¡¯m the one paying, anyway. Don¡¯t forget that you¡¯re my girlfriend for today, so whatever I want to do, that¡¯s up to me.¡± After stating that, Edmund held Elspeth¡¯s hand. Edmund could feel a subtle heat radiating from her palm as well as a bit of moisture. ¡°Are you nervous being with me? You¡¯re all sweaty.¡± Suddenly, Edmund had a naughty thought, as he rubbed her palm gently. Elspeth, who felt the sensation akin to ants crawling on her skin, took a few steps back in disgust. ¡°I¡¯m saying this now. If you don¡¯t satisfy me today, then don¡¯t think that I¡¯ll be lending you that freight ship.¡± This made Elspeth sneer. ¡°I won¡¯t agree to any absurd request, so don¡¯t force me.¡± ¡°Am I this sort of person in your eyes?¡± Elspeth still maintained an indifferent tone. ¡°I¡¯m not privy to whether you are this kind of character or not. What I know now is I find your current actions repulsive.¡± ¡°What if I was Callum? Would you find it repulsive if he did this to you?¡± ¡°This and that are different.¡± Smiling, Edmund let go of her hand. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll stop teasing you now. Let¡¯s go.¡± To stop him from doing anything overboard, Elspeth kept her distance from him by a few steps. ¡°Hey, we are a ¡®couple,¡¯ after all. Even if you don¡¯t want to hold hands, at least we can walk side by side?¡± Edmund stopped and waited for her. ¡°Edmund.¡± Finally, Elspeth could not hold it in anymore. ¡°I really think that this pretend couple stuff is unnecessary.¡± ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. A bit dazzled upon seeing how troubled she was over this, Edmund smirked. ¡°This is just something that I¡¯ve always desired.¡± Elspeth could not understand his intentions. ¡°Since you don¡¯t have any feelings for me, why y this game with me?¡± Edmundughed. ¡°Who said that I didn¡¯t like you? I think I started liking you way before Callum.¡± Disbelief came from Elspeth when she heard this. ¡°Yet, up till now, you¡¯ve never shown any signs of fancying me before?¡± ¡°Of course, I can¡¯t show it. When I realized my feelings for you, you and Callum were already deeply in love.¡± That day, he clearly knew he had fallen for Elspeth when she stood up for him and evenforted him patiently. It was the first time he found himself unable to say anything hurtful to her. Yet, in that period, Callum had already stated his love for Elspeth explicitly, and Elspeth reciprocated his feelings. Hence, he thought that he would not act like a clown and fight over her like how ke had done. Although he did like to challenge Callum, at that point, he knew deep inside that he could never win Elspeth¡¯s love, so he chose to bury his feelings for her. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t wish to be with you, nor do I have the preposterous idea of being able to marry you. I just want to be a couple with you for one day to satisfy my desire and end any regrets I might have.¡± He knew that Elspeth and he couldn¡¯t be together. Standing in the middle of the crowd, they exchanged gazes in silence. Elspeth could see the sadness in his eyes. ¡°Okay, I understand.¡± Sighing, Elspeth continued, ¡°We were never meant to be.¡± Even if she was not fully devoted to Callum from the start, she would not like Edmund due to his personality. Since the beginning, the two of them were two parallel lines separated by an infinite distance from each other. Their lives would never intersect. Sighing again deeply, Edmund stated, ¡°Okay. I¡¯ve already known all of this. You don¡¯t need to say more.¡± Seemingly dejected, Edmund shrugged his shoulders helplessly, which affirmed Elspeth that he took her words to heart. Then, she smiled. ¡°But, since you want us to y a couple for a day, then I¡¯ll try my best to satisfy you. Just treat it as thest present from me, your friend.¡± It was then his sorrowful eyes lit up, but he also caught thest part of her sentence. ¡°Yeah. You¡¯re about to go abroad soon.¡± Although Edmund was pensive, he could only ept that fact. ¡°Are you noting back for good?¡± Elspeth shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not sure yet.¡± She had hidden the fact that she would be getting engaged to Arthur abroad away from everyone. Everybody thought that she was going abroad to seek help for curing her mother. Some even thought that she was going into hiding. Just as Elspeth was about to change the subject, someone in the crowd shouted in panic. ¡°Fire! There¡¯s a fire!¡± Chapter 322 Chapter 322 Is there bad blood between me and fire? Why do I always get stirred in a fire? Elspeth let out a silent sigh. Looking at the tranced Edmund, she yanked him over and ran to the fire exit. She sprinted while observing the fire only to discover that its point of origin was on the third floor. Considering that they were on the fifth floor, their escape was blocked because the fire had spread to the emergency exit, let alone the elevator. The throngs on the third floor gathered at the emergency exit, but the zing fire rendered their escape impossible. Frowning, Elspeth headed to the side. ¡°Where are you going?¡± A worried Edmund grasped her wrist. ¡°Are you an idiot? Where can I possibly go? I¡¯m looking for fire extinguishers and water.¡± She rolled her eyes and red at him. ¡°I¡¯ming with you.¡± She shook her head. ¡°No. The fire is too strong. All it takes to lose your life is one blunder.¡± ¡°What about you? Why must you take it upon yourself?¡± ¡°We¡¯re different! I¡¯m trained for years, and this little fire can¡¯t stop me. I would¡¯ve gotten out of here if it wasn¡¯t for you and the people.¡± She almost smacked his head with a slipper because of his worrying intelligence. Worry got the best of Edmund, hence his reactions. After understanding the situation, he let go of her hand and removed his coat. ¡°Take this with you. Soak it and cover yourself with it. It¡¯s easy to get burned in that dress.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Elspeth dly epted the garment and covered herself with it. It did not take her long to get to the fire hydrant on the fourth floor. She shook the fire extinguisher, however, to her dismay, it was empty. There should be a weekly fire extinguisher inspection in such a huge shopping mall. As far as I know, never once had a fire broken out in this shopping mall. This is not a fire ident, but a man-made disaster. The thought of that possibility made her heart sink almost instantly. It¡¯s toote to search for fire extinguishers now. I can¡¯t take many of them by myself either. Is everyone gonna die here? Anxious, Elspeth tightened her fists and felt a rough texture on her fingertip. She lowered her gaze, staring at her ring. I can use this to contact the nearest member of the Evil Wind Sect! Aside from the disadvantage of exposing her location, it was the most perfect escape tool. Now was not the time to think about that. Elspeth decisively turned on its signal in an attempt to contact anyone in the vicinity. Soon, the indicator light lit up and she managed to contact someone. ¡°Any orders, Miss Lynwood?¡± ¡°Send over ten men with fire extinguishers.¡± The person on the other side of the line paused momentarily. ¡°Fire extinguishers? Not weapons?¡± His response vexed her. ¡°I¡¯m in a shopping mall, and it¡¯s on fire. Hurry up. There are over a hundred people to rescue.¡± The person finally grasped the situation and epted the order. When Elspeth bypassed a clothing store, she tore a few pieces of clothes and brought them to the toilet to soak them. After that, she returned to Edmund, who sighed in relief upon her safe return. Her expression was solemn. ¡°Someone destroyed the fire extinguisher. I think someone knows where we are and wants us dead.¡± ¡°Why are you so sure that we¡¯re the target?¡± he questioned her certainty. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but I have a lot of enemies. I can¡¯t help it,¡± she exined expressionlessly as though it was something normal. He went speechless at her reply. Why does she sound so proud of that? Noticing his weird expression, she burst intoughter. ¡°Alright. Enough with the jokes. Cover your nose and mouth with this. Let¡¯s see if we can get out of here.¡± Elspeth tossed a piece of wet garment to him. Edmund reflexively grabbed it only to realize that it was a women¡¯s singlet. His face flushed red at the drop of a hat. ¡°Why are you giving me this?¡± She distributed the clothes to everyone and took a nce at him. ¡°Is your dignity more important than your life? Just take it.¡± Edmund¡¯s question drew all eyes on him. The six-foot-tall man was blushing while holding a women¡¯s singlet. If the fire did not break out, thedies would have been swooning over his adorable reaction. However, they were now in an emergency where their lives were at stake, and so no one cared. Finally epting his fate, Edmund covered his nose with the singlet. The damp smell made him feel better. Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Yeah, what¡¯s so embarrassing about this? It¡¯s not like someone has worn it before. It¡¯s just a piece of cloth. He convinced himself. Elspeth made sure everyone had their noses and mouth covered before leading them downstairs to check on the situation. In fact, the fire had be worse as every corner of the floor was burned. Her brows knitted, and she told them to retreat back to where they came from. She figured that her men would arrive earlier than the firemen on the ount that there was no news of the rescue during the past three minutes. Hiding in a corner, she turned on the signal on the ring. An anxious voice resounded. ¡°Miss Lynwood, we¡¯re here.¡± Only then did she feel calmer. ¡°How long will it take for you guys toe to the third floor?¡± ¡°The fire is too big. We¡¯re still putting out the fire on the first floor.¡± Her hands formed a fist. If the fire got any worse, the crowd would have to go to the fifth floor. The shopping mall was not that huge; itprised only six floors. It might copse because of the fire. A jittery Elspeth pondered and ordered, ¡°Putting out the fire is not of utmost priority right now. Prevent the fire from getting any worse. Make sure the emergency exit is safe so that the people on the fourth floor can evacuate first.¡± The person then terminated the call to continue on the rescue mission. Meanwhile, Edmund had long noticed what Elspeth was doing at the corner. After listening to the conversation, he teased, ¡°I didn¡¯t know this side of you, Elspeth. What a pleasant surprise.¡± She was always full of surprises. His discovery rmed her. Nothing good woulde from that even if he liked her. No one should know of the fact that she was the founder of the Evil Wind Sect. Chapter 323 Chapter 323 ¡°You misheard that.¡± Elspeth tried to gloss it over. ¡°If you don¡¯t wanna tell me, fine. I will stop here.¡± Edmund was unusually agreeable today, which she found relief. ¡°Do you think that we¡¯re gonna die here?¡± Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. His assumption irritated her. ¡°Why would that happen when I¡¯m here?¡± ¡°So, you mean that you¡¯re gonna protect me?¡± A triumphant smile appeared across his lips. ¡°Cut it out.¡± Elspeth could punch him at any time. While they were in a middle of a small dispute, someone kept watching them in silence. Elspeth, who sensed the scorching gaze, turned her head to see Isabel. Isabel stared at Elspeth in disbelief. ¡°Y-You¡¯re alive?¡± That put Elspeth in a slightly awkward position. She did not tell anyone about her faked death, so she did not know what to say when someone recognized her. ¡°Yup. I¡¯m still alive, but¡ª¡± Isabel soon wrapped her head around it. ¡°So, Miss Joneson is with you, right?¡± Elspeth nodded under Isabel¡¯s confused gaze. ¡°Yes, she is.¡± Isabel let out a bitter smile. ¡°I was worried that her condition got worse when Dr. Winthrop said she will be leaving the country for treatment. It¡¯s a relief to know that she¡¯s with you.¡± She intended to go together with them, but Arthur had no ns of bringing her along. Despite the disappointment, she had no choice but to ept reality. After all, she had no blood rtion with Helena. Elspeth had a guess from Isabel¡¯s weary expression. ¡°Are you doing well with the Jonesons?¡± The noises from the crowd drowned Elspeth¡¯s voice, so Isabel could not hear her clearly. When Isabel took a few steps closer to her to continue the conversation, amotion rang above them. It was a massive burning wood threatening to fall upon Elspeth. It happened so quickly that no one could react in time. When Elspeth was ready to ept her fate of demise, someone shoved her away. Panicked, she raised her head to see Isabel stuck beneath the wood upon pushing her away. ¡°Isabel!¡± Elspeth wrapped her hands with clothes to move the wood away from Isabel. However, her puny strength barely shifted it an inch. While the fire was devouring the girl, Edmund and the others rolled up their sleeves to help Elspeth. Together, they managed to move the wood away in the end. Elspeth hurriedly pulled Isabel out. Fortunately, they reacted in time and so the fire did not burn her neck and face. Even so, her clothes were slightly smoldered, and her skin suffered some burns. ¡°Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?¡± Elspeth became anxious, for she had not expected someone who was not close to her to save her from danger. Isabel¡¯s lips gradually lost their color as her cheek hurt when she tried to put on a smile. ¡°Elspeth, my face hurts so much. Am I gonna be disfigured?¡± Hearing the familiar voiceing from outside, Elspethforted Isabel, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll take you to the hospital. I¡¯ll make sure that it won¡¯t leave a scar on your face. You will be as beautiful as you always are.¡± Isabel nodded before her body drooped onto the floor due to her wobbly legs. Soon, members of the Evil Wind Sect rushed to the scene. ¡°Uno, take Isabel to the hospital right now.¡± Elspeth pointed at a buffy man. ¡°Yes, madam.¡± He carried Isabel and bulldozed through the me. ¡°As for the others, grab a water gun or fire extinguisher to make way. If you don¡¯t wanna die here, follow me.¡± Elspeth took the lead. Everyone made up their mind upon hearing her orders and tagged along. Thanks to Elspeth, everyone managed to escape the fire. Aside from a few people who suffered from small injuries, the majority were unscathed. It was a fortunate ending for such a dangerous situation. After the evacuation, Elspeth ordered the sect members to leave the scene before someone sensed something off. ¡°Now that we¡¯re out, what are you gonna do next?¡± Edmund threw the women¡¯s singlet aside and lifted his head. ¡°I gotta check on Isabel at the hospital.¡± Elspeth¡¯s mind was a mess because Isabel¡¯s act kept reying in her head. Her voice sounded urgent. He nodded as he already put his request at the back of his mind. ¡°I¡¯ming with you.¡± She shook her head, and the glint in her eyes was cold. ¡°I can handle it alone. I have to investigate what caused the fire too. Once I find out who the mastermind is, I will never let them off the hook that easily.¡± The resentment in her voice was unfamiliar to him. He had seen her gentle; mischievous; and confident side, but it was his first time seeing the murderous intent evident in her eyes. ¡°Alright then, if you insist.¡± He sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll send you the number of the cargoter. It will depart at 3.00PM sharp. Just tell them my name when you¡¯re at the port.¡± She smiled. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°Not a problem. Send me a message when you¡¯re there.¡± ¡°Edmund, I will never forget what you¡¯ve done for me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. You don¡¯t have to.¡± It pained him to hear that because, in fact, he did not treat her well. He hurled hurtful remarks at her when they first met. He even pursued her on purpose just to anger Callum. Whatever he was doing right now was his act of staying true to his heart¡ªhe wished to do something nice for Elspeth. Such a trivial matter was unworthy to be mentioned. Her happiness mattered the most to Edmund. Watching her leaving figure, he gripped the bracelet in his hand. It was that bracelet she wore under Margot¡¯s scheme when she first came. He could vividly remember the red rashes on her arm due to allergy. Now that Elspeth would vanish from his world, all he had left was this bracelet to feel her warmth. It was the only way to stifle his lingering feelings for her. Chapter 324 Chapter 324 When Elspeth tried her best to rush to the hospital, Isabel was already in the operating room. Elspeth asked Uno to leave and waited outside the operating room alone. The operation took a long time, but a doctor exited the room solemnly when it was still on the fly. ¡°Who¡¯s the family?¡± ¡°Me.¡± She hurriedly came up to him. ¡°The burns are bad. We barely saved her from death¡¯s door, but we can¡¯t recover her skin from the burns.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. Thank you for saving her.¡± This is the best possible oue I could ever pray for. I can take things over from there. By the time Isabel woke up, Elspeth was the only person in the ward with her. ¡°Elspeth¡­¡± Her voice was so hoarse due to hydration. Elspeth handed Isabel a ss of water atop the table so that she could moisturize her dry throat. ¡°Do I look ugly?¡± ¡°Not at all. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve promised that you will recover from these burns.¡± Girls tend to care about their appearances, so Elspeth knew how awful Isabel felt at the moment. A light of hope shed across Isabel¡¯s eyes, but it faded almost immediately. ¡°I¡­ Forget it. You¡¯ll be leaving the country in a few days. I¡¯m just a burden.¡± Elspeth primped the nket and shot her a re. ¡°What¡¯s with that nonsense? Why are you a burden? I am leaving the country, and you cane with me.¡± Isabel¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°No. If I go, old Mr. Joneson will find out about it.¡± She knew that there was a reason for Elspeth to stage her death¡ªit was to hide the truth from Michael. Isabel¡¯s partaking would definitely give the game away. ¡°We can fake another death.¡± A splendid idea came to Elspeth¡¯s mind. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Isabel was baffled. ¡°You¡¯re found dead in the fire.¡± Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Isabel finally understood Elspeth¡¯s words. Despite Elspeth¡¯s confident smile, Isabel was jittery. ¡°Will it work? What if he finds out?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. I¡¯ll ask someone to suppress the news. The crowd saw you taken to the hospital; everyone knows that you¡¯ve suffered burns. We can fabricate a death certificate with the hospital¡¯s help.¡± Isabel shook her head. ¡°I know, but seeking help from the hospital? Are you certain that they will help us with that?¡± Elspeth chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m sure Arthur can make it happen.¡± Isabel finally grasped the whole n. Right, he¡¯s a doctor! He can pull some strings to help us. ¡°So, am I going to leave the country with you guys?¡± Anticipationced her voice. Smiling, Elspeth nodded and pinched the girl¡¯s cheek. ¡°Yup. You¡¯re going to reunite with Miss Joneson soon.¡± ¡°I thought you would¡¯ve hated me for hogging your mother for so many years.¡± The uncertain Isabel dared not look Elspeth in the eyes. ¡°Why would I hate you? Didn¡¯t I say that I¡¯m grateful to you for looking after my mother for so many years? I don¡¯t hate you.¡± Elspeth patted Isabel¡¯s hand. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for being petty in the past.¡± Elspeth sped Isabel¡¯s hands. ¡°From now on, we¡¯re a family. Let¡¯s look forward to the good days ahead of us.¡± ¡­ Three dayster, the group was all prepped to leave. Under Elspeth¡¯s arrangement, the news of Isabel¡¯s ¡®death¡¯ reached the Jonesons¡¯ ears yesterday. Michael was obviously uninterested in Isabel as he did not show any sincere concern. When they arrived at the port, Elspeth saw Edmund¡¯s man, who greeted her respectfully upon noticing her. ¡°You¡¯re finally here, Miss Lynwood. Mr. Winthrop told me to escort you to the ship personally.¡± She gave a t response before following him while supporting Helena. At the same time, Arthur was assisting Isabel behind them. Isabel was as slow as a tortoise due to her injuries. Arthur¡¯s patience eventually ran thin, so he simply carried her. She gasped in surprise, and her cheeks turned crimson. The four of them boarded the ship until they stopped in front of a VIP room under the usher¡¯s lead. ¡°This is it. Mr. Winthrop told me to give you the best and most luxurious room we have.¡± The usher shed a pristine smile as his slick tongue was on the move. ¡°You may leave now. Oh, when you deliver meals, please just ce the food outside and give me a knock.¡± Elspeth did not wish anyone to disturb Helena. With his top-notch service, the usher thought she would be ttered or would put in good words for him. However, her aloof attitude proved him wrong. In the end, he left without gaining any advantage. Each of them had a room for themselves. Elspeth settled Helena down in the biggest room, and no one had objections. Elspeth chose the outermost room, where it would be convenient to check on the situation; she would be able to sense danger if anything happened. Thankfully, nothing happened in the few days spent on the ship. It did not take them long to arrive at Sunholde. There was a driver waiting to drive them to the airport when they disembarked the ship. To their guess, it should be Edmund¡¯s arrangement. ¡°I never knew that Edmund has this meticulous side, especially when ites to girls. What a sight to behold,¡± Arthur teased. Elspeth¡¯s tress fluttered along the wind. Instead of looking like a mess, she seemed like a maiden in a painted picture. She tugged her hair behind her ears, ring at him. ¡°Zip it, and get in the car. It¡¯s a 2.00PM flight. I won¡¯t forgive you if you¡¯re the reason that we¡¯rete.¡± ¡°You¡¯re no fun.¡± With pouty lips, he slid into the car first. His words rang into her ears as she shed him a menacing smile. ¡°One more word from you and I¡¯ll kick you out of the car.¡± Arthur did not expect his hostage to overthrow him with such confidence. ¡°Fine, fine.¡± He gave anguid response. Her bullying him did not displease him. In fact, he took pleasure in it. How strange. Not knowing what was going on with his emotional nuance, Elspeth was absorbed in her thoughts. We¡¯ll be in Eden soon. How am I supposed to get along with Arthur? Am I going to continue being his fianc¨¦e and marry him? While jumbled thoughts filled her head, the car was driven away steadily. Chapter 325 Chapter 325 After ayover flight, they arrived in Eden at longst. Arthur took them to his residence. Elspeth observed the huge mansion, and a dubious glint fleeted across her eyes. This is not a bungalow, but a manor. He spends most of his time in the country, though. How did he have the time and money to build such a spacious manor? ¡°You rarely leave the country. How do you own such a big property here?¡± Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Ignoring her, he unlocked the door before leading Isabel and Helena into the house. ¡°Arthur Winthrop, is this house on a lease?¡± Elspeth followed them, shouting from behind. This idiot. Arthur¡¯s face darkened as looked back at her. ¡°My dad bought it.¡± Dad? That unfamiliar address conjured Theodore¡¯s face, but she soon recalled that Arthur was no longer one of the Winthrop Family. Does he mean Yoel Blue? she guessed while following them into the house. The interior design was not Arthur¡¯s cup of tea. She once had the chance to visit his room in Winthrop Residence. The gray theme color in that room bore no warmth at all. Yet, the warm tone color in this manor could readily lift one¡¯s spirits. ¡°You guys can stay here for the time being. I don¡¯te here often.¡± ¡°Where will you stay?¡± Elspeth was curious. Seeing how Elspeth was asking too much, Helena pulled the hem of Elspeth¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Enough. We shouldn¡¯t pry on Dr. Winthrop¡¯s privacy as the guests. He must be busy with his work.¡± Guests? We are fugitives. Elspeth could never say that aloud, though. Meanwhile, Arthur raised his chin at her provocatively. ¡°Fine. It¡¯s none of my business even if he¡¯s dead,¡± she muttered under her breath. ¡°Hey. Don¡¯t say that. Apologize to Dr. Winthrop, hurry.¡± Helena was livid this time. To her, Arthur was the person who helped them out; not only did he save her life, but he also helped her daughter and treated Isabel. She perceived him as a good person. Yet, her daughter was not grateful to him one bit. Elspeth lowered her head meekly in fear that her rebellion would result in Helena¡¯s rpsing. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Arthur Winthrop. I shouldn¡¯t have said that to you.¡± Although the short apology bore zero sincerity, it was enough since Arthur was not offended in the first ce. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Why would I fight over it with a kid?¡± She red at him. Whom are you calling a kid? You. He returned her an indifferent look. She could not let the steam off in front of Helena no matter how angry she was. Thus, the agitated Elspeth headed upstairs with her luggage and cooped herself in a room she randomly chose. Helena sighed helplessly. ¡°Dr. Winthrop, Elsie¡¯s always like this. I hope you won¡¯t take it to the heart.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. She¡¯s cute.¡± He smiled affectionately. Helena had a guess at that response. Cute? Is he into Elsie? If so, I should somehow make the ship sail. Elspeth locked herself up in the room for three days straight ever since they came to Eden. She did not show up every single time Arthur called her for meals. Just as he thought she was going to starve herself to death, she suddenly turned up. Her face was glowing and her hair fell over her neatly dressed clothes. ¡°I thought you were going to starve yourself to death.¡± Aidback Arthur leaned against the door, pinching a cigarette between his fingers. Elspeth snorted. ¡°Thank you for worrying about me. Isabel brought me food every night.¡± He shifted his gaze onto Isabel, who lowered and scratched her head awkwardly. The scar on her face was recovering well; the burns were almost healed, covered by a newyer of skin. She looked definitely better than before. ¡°Elspeth didn¡¯t want anyone to disturb her. And she didn¡¯t want to see you.¡± Isabel was obviously on Elspeth¡¯s side. ¡°Wow. Look at this sisterhood. You guys win. To grant your wish, it seems like I should no longer make the meals.¡± Elspeth red at him. ¡°I¡¯m d to hear that. Your cooking is not as delicious as Isabel¡¯s.¡± Isabel hung her head low upon hearing thatpliment. ¡°Actually, the food I brought you every night is the leftovers.¡± ¡°And will there be any leftovers if I didn¡¯t make extra servings?¡± A cheeky smile appeared across his lips. His faint smile was so engaging that Elspeth turned her head sideways. She was grateful to him, yet she could not put her ego aside. Thus, she steered the topic away. ¡°I¡¯ve been giving it a thought these days. I¡¯m going to work in the red light district.¡± The red light district?! The smile on Arthur¡¯s face faded immediately. ¡°Don¡¯t you know what kind of ce that is?¡± Forget about safety, how can she work when we¡¯re in this kind of circumstance? Does she have a death wish? ¡°No!¡± Even Isabel¡¯s visage went pale. ¡°Elspeth, don¡¯t be hot-headed. We know what kind of ce that is. You mustn¡¯t go there!¡± If Miss Joneson finds out that Elspeth works as a¡­ at the red light district, she¡¯ll have a heart attack! ¡°Every girl who goes there ain¡¯t gonnae back the same.¡± Words escaped through Arthur¡¯s gritted teeth as he was holding in the urge to punch her. ¡°What are you guys thinking?¡± The corner of Elspeth¡¯s lips twitched at their worried face. ¡°I¡¯m going to work there, but not to sell myself. It¡¯s not what you think it is.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not?¡± He sighed in relief. He did not know what concerned him, but it felt like someone squeezed his heart when he heard that. Ire rose in him on the ount of her decision to work at such a ce. ¡°Elspeth, I will never let you go to that kind of ce. If you insist, I will tell Miss Joneson.¡± A protesting Isabel did not give in still. Elspeth became speechless. Why does this soft girl be all stubborn during crunch time? ¡°Tell me what?¡± A soft voice behind them sent them into a trance. Chapter 326 Chapter 326 Hearing the voice, Elspeth finally came to her senses and nced awkwardly at Helena. There was a guilty note in her voice as she said, ¡°Nothing. I was just considering working.¡± Helena beamed widely upon hearing that. ¡°That¡¯s great! We can¡¯t possibly expect Dr. Winthrop to provide for all of us here.¡± Arthur replied in a gentle voice, ¡°It¡¯s fine. I can afford to.¡± At that point, Helena became increasingly self-conscious upon hearing his words. ¡°That¡¯s not fine! Even if youe from a wealthier family, Dr. Winthrop, you shouldn¡¯t condone Elsie¡¯s ck attitude.¡± Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. ck attitude?! At that moment, Elspeth made up her mind and was even more determined to work. ¡°I¡¯ve made up my mind to work. From tomorrow onward, I¡¯ll return here once a week.¡± In response, Arthur said calmly, ¡°You¡¯re allowed to get a job, but it must be a job in mypany.¡± He knows where I want to work but purposely stated this requirement! He¡¯s trying to go against me! At that moment, Elspeth was so enraged that she wanted to punch him. As for Helena, she smiled upon hearing his words and nodded in agreement. ¡°You¡¯d at least have someone to seek help from if you join Dr. Winthrop¡¯spany. I¡¯d feel much more at ease that way.¡± After she said that, she suddenly realized something and asked, ¡°But then, is yourpany in the medical field?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Instantly, she revealed a surprised smile. ¡°That¡¯s great, then! Elsie went to med school before, so she should be able to adapt to the environment.¡± ¡°Mom, I don¡¯t want to work there.¡± A resigned Elspeth heaved a sigh. ¡°I¡¯ve already sorted out a job. I¡¯ll be reporting for duty tomorrow.¡± ¡°Your workce is in the red light district, right?¡± Arthur realized he could not convince her, so he had no choice but to bring up the matter and let Helena be the judge. As soon as Helena received that new information, she nearly fainted out of shock. Instantly, Elspeth noticed her troubled look and quickly supported her arm to help her toward a seat. However, she flung Elspeth¡¯s hand aside. ¡°What sort of ce is that?! Are you seriously thinking of working there?!¡± At the same time, she supported herself on the railing behind her and tried to calm down. ¡°I know you¡¯re keen to get a job, and I trust that you wouldn¡¯t resort to anything dumb. Tell me, what will you be doing in thatpany?¡± Elspeth took a deep breath. ¡°I was going to keep it a secret from you guys because I was afraid of you all being worried that something bad would happen to me at work. However, Isabel¡¯s condition requires the use of a particr medicinal herb. I¡¯ve made inquiries, and this herb is only avable in the private safe of a proprietor in the red light district.¡± ¡°So, are you going to take a risk and attempt to steal it?¡± Arthur could not ept this oue. He clenched his fist tightly, and a stern look shed across his eyes. ¡°If I managed to purchase it, that¡¯d be great, but if I fail in my bid, I¡¯ll attempt that.¡± She shot him a reassuring look and stretched. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Nothing bad will happen. I¡¯m not that stupid! I know how to take care of myself.¡± That being said, the other three individuals, excluding her, shot her dubious looks. Isabel felt touched, but she was also fully aware that this was not a matter that could be taken lightly. ¡°Elspeth, I don¡¯t mind leaving my face untreated. Having ugly features isn¡¯t a big deal. Anyway, regardless of my features, you guys love me all the same, right?¡± Elspeth red at her. ¡°Your face was injured because of me. I will never be able to forgive myself if I fail to treat you.¡± Helena was well aware of Elspeth¡¯s stubborn streak, so she had no other way of stopping her. As for Arthur, he was the only one left with a scrutinizing look as he stared intently at Elspeth. ¡­ Meanwhile, in Damoria, Callum sat at his work desk and handled some work tasks, but his mind was upied by something else. Over the past few days, he was in a bad state, which everyone noticed. Even his subordinates, who usually popped over to talk to him about work, visited lesser than usual. There was a matter that he remained confused about. He did not understand why Elspeth, previously infatuated with him, suddenly decided to sever ties with him. Furthermore, she disappeared from his sight forever. Although he had lost a rtionship, he had not forgotten his memories with her. They had such a close rtionship previously and had been through so much together. He could clearly remember the hardships and hurdles they had ovee hand in hand. So, why did this happen? His assistant stood in front of the ss door warily while looking at the man inside, who appeared to be focused on his work, feeling terrible to interrupt by entering the room. Inside the room, Callum sensed a scorching gaze from the entrance on him, so he slowly lifted his head and saw it was his assistant, whom he asked to enter. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, we¡¯ve received a new order.¡± The personal assistant respectfullyced the contract on the table and took a few steps backward. Callum took the contract into his hand and flipped through it casually. Bluestone Corp? ¡°Isn¡¯t that an internationalpany that recently became widely known?¡± ¡°Yes. Bluestone Corp wasn¡¯t that developed previously. The heir to thepany returned, and he was the one who brought thepany to greater heights.¡± At that moment, Callum massaged the spot between his eyes. ¡°Why are they keen to coborate with us?¡± His assistant could notprehend either as bothpanies had never worked together in the past. Winthrop Group was not exactly top in the medical equipment field either, so it was perplexing why they picked Winthrop Group to work with. ¡°Perhaps¡­ Ourpany has a better prospect in terms of future development?¡± In response, Callum bent his index finger and tapped the desk gently. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s as simple as that.¡± However, the man standing in front was not his subordinate but merely an assistant, so he did not n to borate further. ¡°Since they want to coborate with us, schedule a meeting with their president.¡± As soon as the assistant heard his words, he revealed a torn look. ¡°Sir, their president mentioned they¡¯re not going to meet us unless we sign the contract.¡± ¡°Not going to meet us¡­¡± That was strange and seemed like a trap. ¡°Inform that if they refuse to meet up, Winthrop Group seeks a thirty-percent share of the profit.¡± Thirty percent?! Beads of cold sweat trickled down the assistant¡¯s forehead. Mr. Winthrop is seeking such an unreasonablyrge amount! This is daylight robbery! He¡¯s unscrupulous¡­ Suddenly, Callum directed his cold eyes on the man. ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± The personal assistant felt his legs turn to jelly upon being called upon. ¡°N-Nothing¡­ Mr. Winthrop, you¡¯ve made such a great decision. Nheless, they mentioned they¡¯d agree to any condition you seek, as long as it¡¯s not over the top and within reasonable means.¡± At that, Callum¡¯s interest was piqued. ¡°In that case, I¡¯m now quite keen to meet their president.¡± ¡°Mr. Winthrop, you mean¡­¡± Callum reached out for the contract and scanned the document from front to back. He checked and found nothing wrong with it, so he took his pen and signed his name. He penned ¡®Callum Winthrop¡¯ on the document with a flourish. Subsequently, he ced the contract on the desk and mentioned calmly, ¡°Arrange my itinerary and purchase a ne ticket to Eden. Let¡¯s head over to meet the president.¡± Chapter 327 Chapter 327 Elspeth woke up early in the morning. As she had made all the preparationsst night, all that was left was to go to work on time. The red light district was quiet in the morning as the businesses were mostly open at night. She came to the area early to familiarize herself with the neighborhood and the route. It was easy to get the information about her destination, but theplexity of the district meant it would take time to figure out how to arrive at the location. The red light district in Eden was far out from the city, and the trip would take more than ten minutes. Since the red light district was legalized, police were seen in the area. More importantly, one could see the disgusting scene of satisfied men dragging their tired bodies home. Elspeth held back her disdain and continued her journey until she heard a catcall that stopped her in her tracks. She turned around and saw a wicked-looking blond male. He had a bnced physique and the typical good looks of a foreign man. When he saw her Charic features, he whistled at her again. ¡°Hey, lovely! Are you alone?¡± he asked her in bad Charish. She red at him coldly. ¡°Don¡¯t mess with me. I¡¯m not the person to mess with.¡± Since she was in a foreignnd, she switched to Edanian. When the man realized she could speak fluent Edanian, he knew she must have lived abroad for a long time. He behaved himself and took a few steps backward with an annoyed look. ¡°I just wanted to be friends. You don¡¯t know how to appreciate kindness, do you?¡± Despite his im, he had a disdainful look in his eyes. He knew the characteristics of women who visited the red light district and believed that she was immoral in some way¡ªshe was either here to sell herself or to seal some shady deals. She fisted her hands and stared at him in amusement. ¡°Why? Don¡¯t you have friends?¡± The man¡¯s face turned a deep shade of red. ¡°Watch your mouth!¡± Since Elspeth had just arrived in Eden, she did not want to get into trouble. Even though the man vexed her, she calmed herself and focused on getting her task done. ¡°That¡¯s enough. I don¡¯t want a fight. Remember, be respectful next time.¡± With that, she spun around, her wavy long hair pping his face as though she was pping him with her hand. The man was upset to let her leave, but he could not win the argument anyway. In the end, he gritted his teeth and endured the humiliation. He could not get into physical altercations in the red light district because he would be sent to jail. Elspeth probably had the guts to provoke him because she understood thew. After leaving the area, she hurriedly went in search of her workce. Using her connections, she was able to arrive at the territory of the boss she was looking for. The rotten stench from the night before lingered in the air. Some cleaners were cleaning up the streets, but the mix of the disinfectant and the foul smell only produced a worse stink. There was no one around. She stepped forward and whispered to the cleaner, ¡°Hello, Madam. Is Logan Chapman here?¡± The woman had Charic features and was dressed modestly, but Elspeth decided to use Edanian with her. A moody glimmer shed across the woman¡¯s eyes when she heard that Elspeth was searching for Logan. ¡°This is not where you should be.¡± Her wrinkles trembled as she spoke, as though she had ayer of dehydrated skin on her. It was disturbing to watch. Feeling perplexed, Elspeth took a few steps forward. ¡°Back off! Back off now!¡± When the woman recognized Elspeth¡¯s features, she suddenly waved her broom like a nutcase, forcing her to retreat. ¡°Why¡ª¡± ¡°You¡¯re her child! Get lost!¡± Elspeth sensed that the woman must be referring to Helena. ¡°May I know your rtionship with my mom?¡± Despite being treated horribly, Elspeth was polite to the woman. Seeing that, the woman calmed herself down but reacted in a hateful tone. ¡°How many times have I told you not toe here? Also, I don¡¯t like you. Don¡¯t talk to me or ask me questions.¡± Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Elspeth finally picked up on the sophisticated aura of the woman d in the cleaner¡¯s uniform. She wondered if the woman was once the daughter of a wealthy family. ¡°Madam¡­¡± The woman seemed to be triggered upon hearing that title and flipped. ¡°How many times have I told you not to call me ¡®Madam¡¯?¡± Elspeth nodded and watched the woman pack her cleaning tools in a hurry. The woman left very soon as if she was fleeing. What a weird woman. She was curious about the oddity of the woman. However, the woman was wearing thick clothes that only revealed part of her face, so she could not identify her at all. Ah, never mind! If she doesn¡¯t want to tell me, I will look for Logan Chapman myself. She walked down the road and finally arrived at the destination where she unearthed herself. Compared to other shops, the store in front of her looked smaller in size. Rumor had it that Logan Chapman was extremely wealthy and was the de facto ruler of the area with his influence. Hence, she was surprised to find him running a tiny store. She pushed the door open and immediately came to a realization when she spotted the understated but luxurious decor within. The other stores were ornate on the outside but average-looking on the inside. Logan¡¯s store was different¡ªeach corner was exquisitely designed and attractive. While she was marveling at the interior, she heard a voice from behind. ¡°Are you the youngdy who¡¯s here for a job?¡± She turned around and found herself staring into a pair of old but weathered eyes. ¡­ Callum alighted from the flight at 2.00AM in Eden. Soon, a chartered car arrived to pick him up and send him to the hotel. There, he quickly unpacked his belongings and took a nap. He thought he could immediately attend the meeting with the representatives of Bluestone Corp, but thepany¡¯s executive manager, who was meeting up with him, did not look keen to discuss coboration right away. Sitting in a private lounge at the hotel, Callum nced at his well-groomed counterpart in disgust. ¡°I thought we agreed to discuss the coboration after signing the contract. Is your CEO going back on their words?¡± Callum¡¯s assistant felt angered at how Bluestone Corp sent an executive manager for the meeting. The manager was slick and did not reveal any sign of annoyance after Callum¡¯s assistant pointed fingers at him. He exined, ¡°Well, our CEO has been busytely. That¡¯s why they sent me to entertain you.¡± From the way he emphasized the word ¡®entertain¡¯, one could sense the sarcasm in his tone. Chapter 328 Chapter 328 Callum was thinking the situation over with an unhappy expression. ¡°I hope your CEO keeps his word.¡± The manager smiled and extended a polished hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I will not string you along. By the way, my name is Jay Weasley. You can call me Junior too.¡± Junior¡­ Callum¡¯s assistant rolled his eyes and almost gagged. This guy looks at least twice the age of Mr. Winthrop! Junior? Pfft! He¡¯s more like a Senior! Callum said coolly, ¡°Mr. Weasley, what¡¯s the n of your CEO?¡± ¡°My CEO wants me to bring you around. Of course, I will spend all my time with you.¡± Jay¡¯s hand hung in the air. When he noticed that Callum didn¡¯t want to shake hands, he withdrew his hand without a hint of embarrassment. ¡°You probably didn¡¯t get to travel abroad a lot. There are lots of fun ces around. I¡¯ll quickly show you around.¡± Callum¡¯s assistant hissed with simmering anger, ¡°Our CEO¡¯s time is precious. He can¡¯t be going on a tour with you.¡± ¡°This is a business discussion between the twopanies. I believe we don¡¯t need an assistant to school me over and over,¡± Jay retorted with a smile on his face. Even though he wasn¡¯t furious, he showed that he was highly aware of the situation but chose to put on a professional front through a strong statement. Callum realized that he had no idea what Bluestone Corp¡¯s CEO was getting at. He kept his dissatisfaction to himself and said coldly, ¡°Well, if your CEO said so, I¡¯d love to be brought around.¡± ¡°Mr. Winthrop, you¡¯re easygoing indeed. Don¡¯t fret. I promise that you¡¯d meet our CEO in three days.¡± Callum nodded, but this time, his eyes betrayed a hint of exhaustion, which did not escape the assistant¡¯s keen gaze. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, do you want to take a rest if you¡¯re tired?¡± Jay gasped in astonishment, ¡°Oh, Mr. Winthrop, looks like you didn¡¯t get enough rest. You do seem exhausted. How about this? I¡¯ll bring you to this great ce.¡± Callum looked at him icily. ¡°Where to?¡± Jay took a sip of tea and smiled wickedly. ¡°It¡¯s the ce of every man¡¯s dream.¡± Not once did he forget the orders from his CEO to offend Callum Winthrop from the Winthrop Group. He also heard that Callum was distant and unfriendly. He¡¯d love a good challenge of humiliating the difficult and haughty CEO of Winthrop Group. Although he was reserved in his choice of words, his attitude said it all. The assistant got the hint and blushed. ¡°What are you talking about? What do you take our CEO for? He never visits those entertainment ces!¡± Annoyed, Jay red at him and cut him off, ¡°What do you know? If you don¡¯t want to go with us, just stay at the hotel.¡± The assistant turned to Callum. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, you can¡¯t visit those ces! Take a good look at this man in front of us. If I were you, I¡¯d rather not work with them! Let¡¯s head back.¡± The assistant was impatient and restless at his young age. However, Callum did not back off. At the beginning of the meeting, he suspected that Bluestone Corp¡¯s CEO wanted to lure him to Eden and make a fool of him. At this point, he was very sure that fooling him was the n all around. They wanted to humiliate him, anger him, and use him of not being sporty enough. If he left the scene in a fit of anger, he¡¯d only fall into their trap. He would love to see what tricks they had up their sleeves. ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± The assistant panicked. ¡°Mr. Winthrop!¡± ¡°Ah, Mr. Winthrop, you¡¯re exactly like how people described you¡ªa remarkable man!¡± Jay praised. When dusk arrived, the veil of night slowly descended on the city. Jay was driving, and Callum was resting in the back seat. Sitting beside Callum was the assistant, who grumbled, ¡°I wonder what¡¯s in the mind of the Bluestone CEO. He¡¯s being all mysterious, and now, he got us a sleazy man to bring you around!¡± Jay heard himself being described as ¡®sleazy,¡¯ but he did not protest and merely shed a smile. It took two hours to get from their hotel to the red light district. When they arrived, the streets were brightly lit in the deep of the night. Lights shone and sses clinked around them. The entertainment outlets oozed with indulgence and bustled with patrons. Jay parked his car and brought Callum deeper into the district. ¡°You might not know this, but all of us love visiting this ce when we¡¯re abroad. This is a heaven for men.¡± The anticipation on Jay¡¯s face seemed genuine. The deeper they ventured into the district, the greater the enthusiasm showed by thedies. A few of them threw themselves at the three men and caressed their chests boldly. The young assistant was in the prime of manhood after all. He had never experienced such a situation before and stumbled backward frantically, at the same time shielding Callum from the advances of the women. ¡°This must be the famous red light district in Eden.¡± Callum finally broke his silence on the trip.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Indeed, Mr. Winthrop. You¡¯re sharp. This is the famous red light district. The women here have great bodies. Most are bombshells. Thest time I visited here, I wished I could stay for three nights.¡± The assistant shot him a loathsome look. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough. Mr. Winthrop is unlike you. He doesn¡¯t need to hear your lewd gushing.¡± ¡°How¡¯s that lewd? Isn¡¯t he a man as well? Does he not have carnal desires?¡± While Jay was speaking, Callum was thinking about the same topic. Jay noticed that Callum was deep in thought, and he believed that something must be brewing. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, you must have recalled the pleasures. You know, the women here are great at pleasing men. I guarantee you¡¯ll be satisfied.¡± Callum said icily, ¡°I don¡¯t need that.¡± Jay thought dismissively, Hah, look at him, lying to himself. I bet he¡¯ll go crazier than meter in the night. Despite secretly looking down on Callum, he still wore a smile on his face. ¡°Sure. Mr. Winthrop, don¡¯t worry. There are all sorts of women around. You just need to pick one that suits your taste.¡± One that suits my taste¡­ Callum frowned deeply and felt distressed. No matter how hard he racked his brains, there was only one woman in his mind. She had silky ck hair and red lips. He pictured her smiling like a fox in a tantalizing ck evening gown. Gosh, why am I thinking of Elspeth? Her name was something that had always bothered him. He shook his head to clear the thoughts of Elspeth, but her figure further crystallized in his head. Not only that, when he looked at the women on the two sides of the streets, one of their images seemed to ovep with Elspeth¡¯s figure in his mind. The familiar woman in his memory was smiling at men in skimpy clothes and sexy makeup, just like the other women on the streets. Wait. Is that¡­ Elspeth? Chapter 329 Chapter 329 Callum¡¯s eyes darkened as he stared. Jay followed his gaze and noticed Elspeth. He thought that, from the way Callum looked at her, he must be interested. And so, a sinful smile formed on his lips. ¡°I see that she¡¯s your type. Good choice. She¡¯s probably the best-lookingdy I¡¯ve seen around.¡± Jay was sure that Callum was interested in Elspeth, and he hurriedly made the arrangements. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, are you into that woman? If so, we can get her to serve you.¡± Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. This time, Callum did not turn down his offer. He felt extremely uneasy when he noticed that Elspeth was almost pressing her body against another man. Before he knew it, he nodded and said to Jay, ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Anything, as long as you¡¯re happy! Great, let¡¯s head over.¡± Jay took the lead and walked into the store, with Callum and the assistant following right behind. When Callum walked past Elspeth, he did not as much as take a look at her. He went straight into the store. That puzzled Jay, for Callum had appeared very interested in the woman earlier. Why didn¡¯t he even say hi to her at the door? As Callum was moving fast, Jay had to drop his thoughts and keep up immediately. Naturally, Elspeth did not notice Callum walking past her. Instead, she was shing a fake smile at a stocky man, looking as charming as ever. The man said in a gruff voice, ¡°How much do you charge per night?¡± She pointed at herself and beamed seductively. ¡°Me? Why don¡¯t you try me out? You¡¯ll know then.¡± The pair chatted for a bit at the door. The man started having lustful thoughts about Elspeth because of her looks. ¡°Sure, let¡¯s head in now.¡± When he wrapped his arm around her waist, his desire was immediately aroused. She sensed his biological changes, which disgusted her to no end. However, she could not express her emotions overtly. Subsequently, they entered the store and headed to the private lounge on the second floor. Callum had taken a seat by then, and he shot icy res at them when he noticed that they were clinging to each other on their way to the second floor. Jay sensed Callum¡¯s dissatisfaction and chuckled. He whispered cautiously, ¡°Mr. Winthrop, do you want me to talk to the boss and have here to us?¡± Jay took Callum¡¯s silence as an agreement. He stood up and stopped the man in his tracks. ¡°The CEO wants thisdy to meet him.¡± ¡°CEO? Which CEO?¡± The overweight man was annoyed because he lost his chance with a lovely woman. No man would be happy in his circumstance. When he turned around and saw the regal aura of the CEO behind him, his blood suddenly ran cold. Unsure about Callum¡¯s background, he¡¯d rather not offend his unknown rival and carefully let go of Elspeth. On the other hand, Elspeth red at Jay unhappily, as though she wasining about his insensitivity. What CEO is that? How dare he ruin my ns? Her eyes traveled in the direction of Jay¡¯s gaze, and she found Callum seated not far away with a ss of wine in his hand. All at once, her smile froze. C-Callum Winthrop? Why did he show up here? Has he found out about me? Her thoughts were jumbled, and she started panicking. Right as she was about to escape, she felt his frosty and murderous gaze falling on her. She had never seen that expression on him before, and she felt her legs turn to jelly. After thinking it over, she realized that she did not have to inform him about her whereabouts or what she was up to, for there was no rtionship between them. So, she simply stood up straight and looked into his eyes unhappily. ¡°Miss, you should count your lucky stars that our CEO took a liking to you! Why don¡¯t you follow me now?¡± Jay noticed that she looked like a Charic and started coaxing her in Charish. He was showing enthusiasm only because Callum wanted her. Secretly upset, she frowned at him. ¡°Tell him that I don¡¯t know him. I won¡¯t go.¡± ¡°Miss, don¡¯t you see where you¡¯re working? Who cares if you don¡¯t know Mr. Winthrop? Do you know this man right next to you?¡± Jay was not wrong. Elspeth couldn¡¯t express her annoyance and caved in after some internal struggles. When the stocky man saw that she had followed Jay to meet with Callum, he had no choice but to leave in anger. She glided to Callum and noticed that he was sipping on the wine and ignoring her. That was herst straw. ¡°Why did you call me over?¡± She used polite speech with him that sounded anything but polite. Callum kept quiet and merely gave Jay a side look. ¡°Right, I¡¯ll leave now.¡± Taking the hint, Jay shed them a toady smile and left them alone. Only Callum¡¯s assistant was on edge. He stared at the familiar woman as his jaw fell to the floor. Isn¡¯t this our former Mrs. Winthrop? Why is she at this ce? ¡°Go and have fun on your own. I need to talk to her.¡± The assistant was shooed away by Callum before he could even collect himself. ¡°I never thought that you¡¯d end up like this.¡± After sending everyone away, Callum finally looked at her. There was a faint smile on his lips that trod the line between mockery and disdain. Taking her seat gracefully, she poured herself a ss of red wine. She swirled the content and downed it. ¡°What I do here is none of your business. Instead of wasting your time bossing me around, why don¡¯t you go home to your first love? She might run away with another man again.¡± He paused his movement, his expression heavy. ¡°What are you implying?¡± She thought he was upset because she badmouthed Emma Walker. Feeling a little bitter, she replied, ¡°Nothing. If this is all you have to say, it¡¯s time you stop causing a nuisance while I work.¡± Then, she put away her ss of wine and stood up to leave. ¡°Stop right there.¡± She obeyed his soft-soundingmand unconsciously, thanks to her muscle memory that had formed after a long time. ¡°I told you I need to work,¡± she hissed. Although Elspeth was on the verge of exploding, Callum did not seem the slightest bothered. ¡°And I told you to stop right there.¡± ¡°Are you going to boss me about where I¡¯m going?¡± He stood up and towered over her. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you need to work? I¡¯ll give you a chance to serve me.¡± Chapter 330 Chapter 330 Elspeth turned around and took a few steps forward, her eyes fixed firmly on the man in front of her. ¡°Callum, are you dumb? Why couldn¡¯t I tell you had a thing for such establishments when we were together? I didn¡¯t think you¡¯de to this kind of ce to find a woman for yourself.¡± Whenever she thought about the fact that Callum woulde to such a ce, her heart was filled with disappointment. However, he didn¡¯t reply and rebuked sarcastically instead, ¡°I didn¡¯t realize that you¡¯d work at a ce like this either!¡± What a master at sarcasm! After a moment of thought, she felt that she could not beat him, and she was at a disadvantage as well, so she decided to slip away. However, before she could run, Callum saw through her thoughts. The moment she turned around, he grabbed her cor, his cold voice sounding from behind. ¡°Where are you going? To serve someone else?¡± ¡°Anyone but you!¡± A wave of humiliation surging within her, she immediately whipped around and bit his hand viciously. She was certain that she had mustered all of her strength, but he still did not budge an inch. ¡°Answer my question.¡± ¡°Answer what?¡± Elspeth demanded desperately. Yet, as she spoke, her eyes shed with tears. ¡°What the hell do you want? It was clearly you who said you didn¡¯t like me anymore, it was also you who personally admitted that the two of us broke up and canceled our engagement, and it was even you who forced me to leave by giving me the cold shoulder. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s ridiculous to say these things now?¡± Callum rarely saw her cry, and he had seldom seen an outburst from her like this. As he watched her tear up and yell at him, his heart suddenly ached fiercely. She was right; it really seemed to be his fault. Slowly, he let go of her. As he looked at the teeth marks on the back of his hand, he felt a sharp pain and frowned. Realizing that she had lost control of her emotions, Elspeth took a deep breath and said indifferently, ¡°I got a little too emotional earlier. Just pretend you didn¡¯t hear anything.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. You weren¡¯t wrong.¡± As soon as he spoke, she instantly felt as if they were strangers. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I really need to go work now,¡± Elspeth replied politely, her demeanor turning courteous yet detached. Callum didn¡¯t like this feeling. When he had just lost his feelings for her, he was somewhat averse to her deliberate approaches, but when she truly distanced herself from him, his heart suddenly began to grow apprehensive again, as if her leaving was not a good thing for him. Elspeth turned around and was about to leave when he grabbed her hand again. He decided to follow his heart. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to smile at anyone else.¡± Whenever he thought about the possibility of her smiling and flirting with another man, and even taking the next step with them, his heart boiled with fury. Annoyed, Elspeth shook his hand off. ¡°On what grounds are you controlling me? And who are you to me anyway? That was my first customer since I worked here. It¡¯s all your fault for disrupting my work.¡± Her first customer? That means she hasn¡¯t done anything with another man yet. At that thought, Callum¡¯s anger dispersed significantly, and he stared at her intensely with his dark eyes. ¡°How much do you charge per night? I¡¯ll book you for an entire month.¡± ¡°What?¡± Elspeth froze. Why was it different from what she¡¯d imagined? Shouldn¡¯t he be leaving in a fit of anger right now because of her provocations? How did things turn out like this? Is Callum¡¯s boundaries really that¡­ low? Although Elspeth secretly thought to herself in shock, she still said stubbornly, ¡°I¡¯m really expensive. Are you sure you can afford it?¡± ¡°Why? Do I have to sell off Winthrop Group just so I can afford you?¡± Callum gradually leaned in, asking in a suggestive tone. His close proximity caused her ears to flush bright red. ¡°So, what if you sell off thepany? You might not be able to afford me even if you sell yourself.¡± ¡°Then, tell me, how much do you want?¡± The gears turning in her head, Elspeth decided to give him an outrageous demand. ¡°Since you said so, let¡¯s decide on a lucky number.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Callum caressed a strand of her hair, his interest piqued. ¡°How about 7 million per night? Sounds about right to me.¡± When he heard her request, his expression stiffened. ¡°You really don¡¯t hold back, huh.¡± Elspeth thought that would be sufficient to make him back off, but he unexpectedly became even more motivated. ¡°That¡¯s too little. How about 77 million? What do you think?¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re kidding me.¡± Callum reached out and held her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. ¡°You started it.¡± Elspeth¡¯s face instantly flushed red. ¡°I was just trying to keep you away from me.¡± The more she thought about it, the angrier she got, and the more aggrieved she felt. He was the one who told her not to provoke him in the first ce, so how was it her fault now? Callum, you jerk! None of the men in the Winthrop Family are any good! At that thought, she suddenly felt a calloused finger brushing past her eyes. Surprisingly, Callum was wiping her tears. She didn¡¯t even realize she had been crying, and her tears slowly rolled down from the corners of her eyes. I¡¯ve already cried twice today. How embarrassing. ¡°You can hate me and dislike me, but you can¡¯t stay here and do these things, understand?¡± Callum had never been so gentle to her after his great change in personality, and if it wasn¡¯t because it was actually happening to her, she would never have dared to dream about it. Elspeth froze in her tracks, at a loss for what she should do to express her feelings. ¡°I have my reasons for being here.¡± Callum frowned. ¡°What reasons require you to sacrifice your body like this?¡± ¡°Look, I¡¯m not sacrificing my body. I have my own problems to solve.¡± Elspeth red at him, her tone unkind as she continued, ¡°But you showing up ruined my ns, and now I have to figure out how to contact that man again.¡± That man had what she needed, and if Callum hadn¡¯t just messed things up, she would have been able to lure him into the room and threaten him, forcing him to hand over the things she needed. Just her luck! ¡°Tell me. I can help you with anything,¡± Callum offered, unexpectedly enthusiastic. Elspeth couldn¡¯t hold herself back from teasing him. ¡°Why are you a concerned citizen today, Mr. Winthrop? Stop behaving like that. I¡¯m not really used to it.¡± ¡°Alright, enough talking back. Put something on ande with me.¡± Callum felt irritated every time he looked at her revealing clothes, so he simply took off his suit and draped it over her body. ¡°Forget it.¡± Elspeth shook her head, avoiding the suit jacket that he had handed over as she said, ¡°I already told you that I have things to do here. I¡¯m not leaving.¡± ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Just as the two were at a standstill, a voice suddenly sounded from behind them. ¡°What are you two doing here?¡± Calm, gentle, and firm. Those were the feelings Elspeth genuinely felt upon hearing his voice again. Chapter 331 Chapter 331 ¡°I didn¡¯t hear you properly earlier, but from what you said, you want one of my girls to leave. That means you¡¯re here to start a fight, aren¡¯t you, Mr. Winthrop?¡± Logan stood in front of Elspeth as soon as he finished, shielding her from Callum. Elspeth¡¯s heart skipped a beat as she looked at his back. Although this was Logan¡¯s turf, Callum was not a man to be trifled with either. As she had expected, Callum jutted his chin and asked with a cold expression, ¡°Is there a problem with me taking my fianc¨¦e back with me?¡± Hearing that, Logan pped his hands andughed heartily. ¡°That¡¯s hrious. You¡¯re treating one of my girls as your fianc¨¦e, and you even want to take her back?¡± ¡°I mean what I said.¡± Callum¡¯s voice gradually turned icy as he spoke. ¡°Regardless of whether you mean it or not, all the girls here are basically indentured to me. They can¡¯t simply leave withoutpleting their quota.¡± Logan looked at Elspeth who was next to him and smiled. ¡°Or perhaps you can ask thisdy if she¡¯s willing to leave with you.¡± Callum¡¯s gaze fell on her. ¡°Come with me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going. I want to stay here.¡± Elspeth shook her head and turned him down with a helpless sigh. Isabel was still waiting for her, so how could she disappoint her by giving up halfway? Logan¡¯s eyes immediately darkened. ¡°See, I didn¡¯t stop her. Miss Lynwood doesn¡¯t want to leave herself.¡± Instantly, Callum¡¯s anger was set alight again. He stepped forward and grabbed her wrist tightly. ¡°I said I¡¯ll give you anything you want. Come with me this instant.¡± ¡°Callum, I¡¯ve already made it clear that I¡¯m noting with you. I have my own matters to tend to,¡± Elspeth said bitterly. It would be wonderful if he could really give it to her, but there was only one type of this herb in the world, and it was within Logan¡¯s possession. The matters that she spoke of now were clearly different from before, and she trusted Callum to understand what she was implying. However, as if he were under a spell, his grip tightened around her hand. ¡°Then, under what conditions will you agree toe with me?¡± While the two reached yet another stalemate, Logan suddenly thought of a brilliant idea. ¡°Why don¡¯t you reserve her for yourself? Miss Lynwood would be yours, then.¡± This was clearly the best oue for him. ¡°I refuse!¡± Elspeth protested in displeasure. If he did so, she would be at his mercy for quite some time. Although she wouldn¡¯t have to serve any other customers, it was a huge pain regardless, and she refused to serve Callum. ¡°In that case, I¡¯m out of ideas.¡± Logan spread his arms and shrugged. After that, he turned to look at Elspeth. ¡°Remember to do your job or everything I promised you will be considered void.¡± These words were clearly a jab at her, and her heart jolted as she said with a nod, ¡°Right.¡± After Logan left, Callum stared at her as if he had something to say. However, just as she thought he was about to give her an earful, he suddenly averted his gaze and left without saying another word. As she stared at his retreating back, she suddenly felt a trace of a strange emotion in her heart. Why am I reluctant to see him leave? She frantically shook her head, trying to shake off this strange thought. She no longer had any rtionship with him now, and whatever he did was none of her concern, so she didn¡¯t need him to interfere with her actions either. However, she couldn¡¯t determine if Callum had given up on persuading her or if he had other ns. Guess I¡¯ll have to go with the flow for now. But I must never let him cause any more trouble. After getting off work at six in the morning, she was about to return to Arthur¡¯s vi when she met the janitor again. This time, the woman was still sweeping the floor with nk eyes, and when she passed by her, it was as if she didn¡¯t notice. Thinking that this strange woman wasn¡¯t intending to talk to her this time as well, Elspeth prepared to leave when a robotic, lifeless voice suddenly sounded. ¡°You went to work as a hostess, didn¡¯t you?¡± Her voice carried a strange andplex emotion, as if she felt an overwhelming sense of relief, but also seemed to hold an indignant sense ofment. ¡°Yes, I did. What about it, Madam?¡± Although she knew that the woman didn¡¯t like her, Elspeth still replied politely. ¡°You really are embarrassing your mother.¡± The woman¡¯s voice suddenly turned sharp and frantic. For reasons unknown to her, Elspeth found herself willingly exining to her. ¡°Madam, I have my own reasons for doing this.¡± ¡°Whatever reasons you have, since you¡¯re already working as a hostess, it means that you¡¯ve done something extremely shameful.¡± It sounded to Elspeth that the woman was telling her off. Is she lecturing me? ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Elspeth was not quite certain, but it was clearly useless to waste her breath on her. After all, they were just strangers, and her words would not have any effect on her. With that thought, she decided to go back early to avoid making her mother worry. ¡°Madam, I know what I¡¯m doing, so you don¡¯t have to worry about this.¡± After replying courteously, Elspeth turned around and left. The woman behind her slowly raised her head, revealing a pair of gloomy eyes. If Elspeth were to look closely at that moment, she would notice that those eyes were somewhat familiar. ¡­ When Elspeth returned to the vi, the others were still in bed as it was still early. Only Arthur had woken up early as usual to begin his exercise. Upon seeing Elspeth returning, caked in makeup and reeking of cigarettes and alcohol from the club, he couldn¡¯t help but frown, and he didn¡¯t hold back as hemented, ¡°Your getup really is ridiculous.¡± Even so, he firmly believed that Elspeth would not do anything that went against her morals. Elspeth yed with her hair that she had specifically permed to be even curlier and asked with a smile, ¡°What do you think? Does it look good? I purposely went to the salon for this hairstyle. Apparently, it¡¯s the current trend.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t look good. I think your hair looked perfect before.¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes. ¡°How tasteless.¡± Upon saying that, she stretched her arms and said in a drowsy voice, ¡°You have no idea how tiring it is to stay up all night there. Although I love to party, I¡¯ve never pulled an all-nighter. Tch, I just want to hit the sack after spending an entire night there.¡± She kicked off her sky-high stilettos, freeing her feet before she took off her cropped jacket and headed upstairs in nothing but a slip dress. As Arthur watched her swaying figure, the light in his eyes gradually darkened. What should I do now? He suddenly found it hard to let her go. Just then, his phone rang. As he looked at the familiar name on the screen, his lips curled up into a smile before he picked up. ¡°Emma, do you need anything?¡± Chapter 332 Chapter 332 ¡°I called because I miss you, of course.¡± Emma brushed him off before cutting to the chase, asking, ¡°How are things going with Elspeth?¡± Knowing that she was still concerned about this, Arthur smiled merrily. ¡°How do you want me to handle it?¡± Although he seemed to be seeking her opinion, Emma still sensed something off about the atmosphere. ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree a long time ago that we¡¯ll get rid of her after she goes abroad?¡± By that, she meant to end Elspeth¡¯s life, and she knew Arthur would understand what she meant. ¡°I know that, but the time isn¡¯t right yet.¡± Hearing that, Emma became a little impatient. ¡°Why not? Haven¡¯t you been abroad for at least a week now?¡± Arthur in the past wouldn¡¯t have behaved like this; he would always try to meet all her requests and finish them as quickly as possible. However, it seemed like he was brushing her off now. ¡°Just wait a little longer. I¡¯m already taking care of it.¡± Upon hearing Arthur¡¯s countless excuses, Emma grew uneasy all of a sudden. ¡°Then hurry up.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Emma, I promise to fulfill your wish.¡± Although Arthur¡¯s voice remained gentle, it sounded a little half-hearted. At his words, Emma finally let out a pleased smile. ¡°I just knew you¡¯re the best.¡± Although Arthur was still smiling, his heart had gone cold. Why wouldn¡¯t she marry him, then? Not only that, she even said he was the best. What a joke. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m going back to work. I¡¯ll call you when I¡¯m free.¡± After giving him a goodbye kiss, Emma hurriedly hung up. Now, not only did she have to worry about Elspeth, but she had Callum to watch out for as well. Elspeth had gone abroad, and so did Callum, who went on a business trip; he went to the same ce as Elspeth no less. This won¡¯t do. I have to go after them and take a look for myself¡­ At that thought, she headed to her secretary¡¯s office. Inside, her secretary, Ryan, asked without as much as a nce at her, ¡°What do you want from me?¡± Emma was now nothing more than a tarnished actress, and even if she made aeback, she wouldn¡¯t be able to bring much value. Hence, the entirepany and even her own manager had stopped caring about her. Although he was being apathetic and impolite to her, Emma had no choice but to soften her voice to achieve her goal. ¡°It¡¯s about Eden Fashion Week¡­¡± ¡°No, you aren¡¯t popr enough,¡± he immediately refused. In her desperation, Emma ced her hands on his shoulders and gently massaged them. ¡°Ryan, you¡¯re the best, so I¡¯m sure you have an idea for me, right?¡± No man could resist a pair of soft and feeble hands that had voluntarily ced themselves on their shoulders, and Ryan was the same. Instantly, he became distracted and began stroking her hands while wearing the usual expression. He said, ¡°In that case,e to my house tonight, and we¡¯ll discuss this properly.¡± Emma¡¯s smile widened. ¡°Okay! Thank you, Ryan!¡± ¡­ When Elspeth awakened, it was already growingte, making therge and empty room seem overwhelmingly deste. She rubbed her messy hair and got out of bed to pull the curtains open, but the room still remained dimly lit. Suddenly, there was a knock on her door. After dragging her exhausted body over to open it, she immediately saw Isabel, who was a head shorter than her, holding a tray with many borate tes of food on it. Taken aback, Elspeth asked, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Isabel¡¯s face instantly flushed red and she stammered, ¡°I-I made this for you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s amazing, Isabel.¡± Elspeth epted the tray with a smile and caressed her hair, saying, ¡°Thanks.¡± After a long moment of hesitation, Isabel said, ¡°Elspeth, if that ce is exhausting, you shouldn¡¯t go anymore. It really doesn¡¯t matter what happens to my face.¡± Herpassion softened Elspeth¡¯s heart, and she assured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s not that exhausting. In fact, things are really easy there. Besides, I know how to protect myself.¡± To prevent her from worrying any further, Elspeth took the food into her room and cleared her te. When she carried the dishes downstairs to clean them up, Arthur, who was curled up on the couch while reading a book, suddenly turned around and sent her a smile. ¡°Are you going again tonight?¡± After putting the tes back in their ces, Elspeth stretched and said with a sigh, ¡°Yeah, I haven¡¯t completed my mission yet, so I have to stay there for the time being.¡± Arthur¡¯s eyes shed. ¡°Then, did you meet anyone special when you went yesterday?¡± ¡°No, I didn¡¯t. Why?¡± Elspeth felt her heart skip a beat, sensing that he was trying to get something out of her. When he saw her reluctance to speak, Arthur retracted his dubious gaze and reced it with a smile. ¡°Nothing much, just asking.¡± After watching his abnormal behavior, Elspeth was suddenly skeptical that he knew Callum was here. However, Isabel¡¯s issue was the most important thing for her at the moment. After returning to her bedroom, she covered her face in an exaggerated makeup look and changed into her short tube dress before heading to the store. Once she arrived, she greeted the customers at the door as usual, and when she finally locked her target and was ready to pounce, a hand grabbed her wrist with such force that it felt like it was going to crush her wrist. When she turned around, she realized it was Callum again. ¡°Why are you haunting me?¡± Elspeth demanded furiously. Upon seeing that the man was about to be stolen by another woman, she desperately tried to shake him off to no avail. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Do you want to serve your customers so badly?¡± Elspeth raised her voice and yelled, ¡°I already said many times that we¡¯re nothing to each other now. It¡¯s none of your business what I do, and I don¡¯t need to exin things to you either!¡± Callum¡¯s empty hand balled into a fist. ¡°You¡¯re my fianc¨¦e now, so there shouldn¡¯t be any problem with you exining yourself, right?¡± Fianc¨¦e? Elspeth was so mad sheughed. ¡°There¡¯s nothing between us now. Don¡¯t forget that you were the one who canceled our wedding.¡± However, Callum refuted unabashedly, ¡°I did, but my partner was the dead Elspeth. You¡¯re still alive now, so it doesn¡¯t count.¡± Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Is he trying to y word games? Seeing that he was unwilling to let go of her hand, Elspeth stepped on his knee viciously. She was wearing a pair of ck high heels today, and although she held back just enough to teach him a lesson, it probably still hurt. However, when she realized that Callum was unfazed and even attempted to drag her onto a nearby chair, she thoroughly panicked. ¡°Callum! Let¡¯s just talk things through!¡± Thinking that she was making too much of a racket, Callum directly picked her up into a bridal carry and headed to the rooms upstairs. Chapter 333 Chapter 333 iling her fists at him again and again, Elspeth protested, ¡°Let go of me, Callum! I told you that I have my own business¡ª¡± Callum ignored her vigorous protests, though. Walking straight up the stairs, he said without the slightest change in his countenance, ¡°I already made a deal with your boss, so you only have to serve me this month.¡± ¡°You jerk!¡± Elspeth struggled to free herself from his embrace, only to be pressed firmly to his chest again by his large hand. A faint scent greeted her; it was the scent of the perfume he often used. ¡°Either you be quiet and go upstairs with me, or I¡¯ll knock you out and carry you upstairs. It¡¯s up to you.¡± Uh, the former sounds more reasonable, thought Elspeth. With that, she immediately quieted down, nestling in his arms like a good girl. Carrying her all the way upstairs to the third floor, Callum turned to the room on the far left, pushing the door open to reveal a luxuriously furnished room. Then, he mercilessly flung her onto the bed, causing her to be enveloped at once by its softness. Elspeth knew the room only too well. It was a VIP room, avable only to those spending at least 150,000. She asked sourly, ¡°Why are you so familiar with this ce? Could you be a regr here?¡± Instead of answering her questions, the man simply tossed a towel onto her. ¡°Go wash your face. I¡¯ve got some clothes prepared for you in the bathroom.¡± Elspeth felt somewhat irritable as she watched him standing aside, ordering her around. ¡°Why do I have to?¡± Callum replied, ¡°Because I don¡¯t want to see you standing in front of me in such clothing with such makeup on.¡± For some reason, it irked him to see her dressed scantily with heavy makeup on. ¡°You¡¯re so fussy.¡± Callum silenced her with a sideways re. ¡°If you won¡¯t take a shower, I¡¯ll bathe you instead,¡± he said. Then, seeing that she was still standing there in a daze without moving, he bent down at once, touching her with his right foot while caressing her face with his fingers. ¡°Are you gonna take a shower or not?¡± Elspeth was reluctant, but she feared that he would really drag her into the bathroom and bathe her himself. Having no alternative, she had no choice but to push him away. Then, she grabbed the towel and entered the bathroom. Callum stood outside listening to the sound of the shower from the bathroom. Looking at the signs of a struggle on the bed, he went into a meditative mood. Elspeth removed all traces of makeup from her face beforeing out wrapped only in a bath towel. The instant she came out, a dark glint flitted across Callum¡¯s eyes. Having just emerged from a shower, thedy looked refreshingly beautiful, and her skin was incredibly tender. Toweling her hair, which was still dripping at the tips, she asked with a frown, ¡°Where are the clothes you prepared for me? I didn¡¯t see them.¡± Callum¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed up and down as his eyes rested upon her without him knowing. ¡°I ordered my assistant to pick them up, but he probably has yet toe back.¡± Elspeth hadn¡¯t a clue that she was like a little white rabbit throwing itself into the jaws of a predator right now. Her exposed skin was fair, tender, and smooth, the temptation of which no normal man could withstand, let alone Callum, who had repressed his feelings for a long time. As he stepped closer and closer toward her, she finally detected a hint of danger. Something is very wrong with Callum right now. She took a few steps backward, keeping a safe distance between them as much as possible. ¡°Callum, how about you get out for now? I think it¡¯s quite inconvenient for the two of us to be alone. Men and women aren¡¯t supposed to get too close together, you know.¡± Her suggestion was merely a joke to Callum, though. ¡°Men and women aren¡¯t supposed to get too close together when they¡¯re unrted, but we are a couple.¡± He had never been as seductively charming as he was today; his deep voice was dripping with lust. Elspeth gulped. ¡°We¡¯re not a couple.¡± Callum was already sick of hearing this. Stepping forward directly, he lifted her chin with his hand. ¡°You¡¯d never know until you¡¯ve tried.¡± The next second, Elspeth¡¯s eyes popped in disbelief at the gentle touch on her lips. The man¡¯s lips were tender, but they pressed very hard against hers as if to punish her for being disobedient. Then, he lifted the tip of her tongue with his, nibbling at it carefully for a long time before ending the kiss by fiercely biting her lips. It wasn¡¯t like they had never kissed before, but Callum had never kissed her so savagely as he did today. As a result, Elspeth was out of breath from the kiss. As soon as he stopped, she immediately shoved him away. ¡°What are you doing, Callum?!¡± Contrary to her, Callum was unusually calm; he looked at her swollen lips with his eyes full of amusement. ¡°Nothing. I was just doing what a normal couple does, no?¡± Elspeth was getting mad again at first, but she was stunned the instant she met his gaze. His eyes were no longer as emotionless as before as he stared at her. Instead, they betrayed a hint of profound tenderness, which was familiar and yet far in the past. Could he have¡­ Elspeth couldn¡¯t describe how she felt. She only felt weak all over, as though her whole body had loosened up after she hadpleted a lifelong mission at longst. She slumped onto the bed, unable to calm down for a long time. Time seemed to stop. After what seemed like an eternity, she slowly asked, ¡°You recalled everything, didn¡¯t you?¡± Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Unable to evade the question, the man had no choice but to answer honestly, ¡°I did.¡± Elspeth looked at him calmly. ¡°Did that happen today?¡± Callum¡¯s eyes were slightly cold. ¡°No.¡± ¡°When was it, then?¡± Elspeth asked. All of a sudden, she had the feeling that she had been taken for a ride. It was Callum who had said himself that he didn¡¯t love her, but now that he had regained his memories, he actually kept this a secret in order to make fun of her. ¡°Yesterday.¡± Callum fell silent; he didn¡¯t know how to exin himself either. The instant Elspeth showed up at the door yesterday, all his emotional memories came flooding back to him. Seeing how she tried to be all things to all people, he was instantly overwhelmed with rage, so he kept this to himself and got in her way on purpose. Elspeth let out a helplessugh. ¡°You¡¯ve regained your memories yesterday, but only now are you willing to say this?!¡± She only felt overwhelmingly aggrieved. At this very moment, all the resentment she had been suppressing inside her red all of a sudden. ¡°Sorry,¡± Callum said. He was willing to apologize, not only because he had recalled everything in the past but also because he recalled how he had treated her previously. Putting himself in Elspeth¡¯s shoes, he thought he would probably have lost his heartpletely if it were him. Because of that, he was totally unsurprised by her reaction right now. ¡°What¡¯s the use of apologizing?!¡± Elspeth suddenly flung the towel with which she had been toweling her hair dry at him. She swore angrily, ¡°So what if you¡¯ve regained your memories now? The two of us are through!¡± Callum took a step forward and sped her tightly in his arms. ¡°I know. It was my fault previously for forgetting about our rtionship, but that wasn¡¯t what I intended at first.¡± Tears sprang to Elspeth¡¯s eyes. ¡°Callum, do you know how hurtful you were previously?¡± she asked, pouring out her grievances as her eyes reddened. Callum lowered his eyes with a pained look in them. ¡°I know. I know.¡± Chapter 334 Chapter 334 Elspeth asked, ¡°Then why do you have to interfere with what I¡¯m doing? Surely, you¡¯re clever enough to figure out what I¡¯m doing here, no?¡± Her displeasure eased somewhat when she saw that the man did look apologetic, but it absolutely wasn¡¯t unintentional that he had repeatedly interrupted her ns. Callum¡¯s reason was very simple. ¡°I don¡¯t want to see you alone with other men.¡± ¡°But I can protect myself!¡± Elspeth argued. Seeing how stubborn he was, she couldn¡¯t help but shoot a re at him. ¡°And besides, it¡¯s you who¡¯s done a disservice to me now. I have yet to forgive you for that, so you can¡¯t interfere with what I¡¯m doing.¡± She wouldn¡¯t forgive him easily. Although it wasn¡¯t out of his own will that he had previously lost his memories of their rtionship, he had undoubtedly hurt her feelings. ¡°Then what is it gonna take for you to forgive me?¡± Callum asked with great patience in an attempt to please her. ¡°You want me to forgive you? Not on your life!¡± Suddenly, Elspeth shoved him away and made a run for the door. The next second, however, she was rooted to the spot, startled by the sudden chill she felt on her skin. She looked down at her naked body; her bath towel had dropped to the floor during her struggle just now. Seeing how Callum was eyeballing her, she screamed in a panic, ¡°Aaah!¡± Callum couldn¡¯t help but turn red despite knowing the situation. He turned around with his back to her in a token gesture, but the scene that had sent the blood pulsing through his veins just now was still lingering in his mind. Hm¡­ My fianc¨¦e¡¯s got a nice figure. ¡°You can cry out if you want. The room¡¯s got pretty good soundproofing.¡± Such teasing remarks ignited Elspeth¡¯s fury at once. ¡°It¡¯s all your fault! I wouldn¡¯t have been so out of luck if it weren¡¯t for you!¡± Seeing no clothes around her, she had no choice but to roll into bed and wrap the quilt tightly around herself. Burrowing under the covers with round, glowering eyes, she looked no less intimidating than the man despite her lower position. ¡°Get me something to wear now!¡± Her clothes were soaked through and no longer wearable. Callum gave a soft cough. ¡°It¡¯s okay. My assistant will bring the clothes here in a moment.¡± Only then did Elspeth drop the matter; she stayed under the covers as neither she nor Callum would budge. Speaking of the devil, there came a sudden rat-a-tat on the door. As she didn¡¯t have any clothes on, Elspeth burrowed under the covers without moving. Hearing the familiar knock on the door, Callum knew that his assistant had arrived, so he strode over and answered it. The assistant was standing at the door, carrying a bag of clothes with a curious expression. I just heard everything inside, and God, what a loud noise they were making. Mr. Winthrop and his wife-to-be are perhaps having a passionate exchange there. Since they¡¯re alone in the room, they¡¯ve got to be burning with desire, unable to tear themselves away from each other¡­ He was still picturing it in his mind when Callum¡¯s frosty voice rang above his head. ¡°Give me the clothes. You may leave now.¡± The assistant dutifully handed over the clothes, but his eyes darted awkwardly toward the inside of the room. Seeing his micro expressions, Callum turned slightly sideways to block his view. As a result, he didn¡¯t see anything suggestive. All he could vaguely see were the disheveled sheets at the end of the bed, but this was plenty exhrating for him. However, Callum couldn¡¯t stand another man¡¯s gaze lingering on Elspeth, even if it was merely out of curiosity. ¡°What are you looking at? Keep looking and I¡¯ll gouge your eyes out.¡± Knowing that the man was anxious to protect his fianc¨¦e, the assistant replied with a chuckle, ¡°Keep it up, Mr. Winthrop!¡± With that, he immediately took to his heels. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Callum closed the door and tossed the bag of clothes onto the bed, signaling Elspeth to put them on. ¡°Here, your clothes.¡± Elspeth dragged the bag toward her. Then, she demanded with a blush, ¡°You turn around.¡± Naturally, Callumplied, turning around with his back to her. Elspeth swiftly put on the clothes, which happened to fit her perfectly. Staring at the man from behind, she felt something ease up inside her. He actually knows my size, she thought. However, such feelings didn¡¯tst long. When she stood up, Callum looked at the white low-necked dress she was wearing, upon which his face darkened at once. Elspeth seemed to like the dress as she stood up and did a twirl in it. ¡°This little assistant of yours has a good eye for clothes, huh?¡± Callum curled his lips into a smirk, his eyes frosty. ¡°Yeah, he does have a good eye for clothes.¡± Seems like I¡¯ve got to toughen him up by sending him to the branch office. Oblivious to all of this, the assistant was feeling smug, thinking he had done a great job. Little did he know he would be sent to the man-eating branch office next month for some toughening up. Returning to the subject, Callum looked at Elspeth¡¯s face, asking, ¡°So, can you now tell me why you¡¯re working at such a ce?¡± Elspeth spread her hands and exined helplessly, ¡°I didn¡¯t want to work at such a ce either, but I need a medicinal ingredient that only Logan has possession of. I made a deal with him, where he¡¯ll give it to me once I help him get his hands on what he wants.¡± Callum knitted his brows when he heard the terms of the deal. ¡°What does he want?¡± Elspeth replied, ¡°He wants the ming Scimitar, which belongs to the Adler Family and is now in the hands of Rayan Adler, the youngest son of the current generation of the family. He carries it with him every day, so all I have to do is take him hostage and threaten him into handing it over.¡± Callum didn¡¯t think it would be that simple, though. ¡°You¡¯re now in a foreign country, where the Adlers wield extraordinary power. Not even Logan dares to mess with them, so his purpose in sending you here couldn¡¯t be more obvious.¡± Obviously, Elspeth had been made a cat¡¯s paw of Logan. If she sessfully obtained the scimitar, no one would find out about him. If she failed to do so, he could deny his responsibility for this. Elspeth replied, ¡°I know all of this, and he did tell me that these things are risky, but the medicinal ingredient in his hands is the only one avable across the globe. I have to get my hands on it no matter what.¡± Callum disagreed, ¡°Even so, you can get someone skilled at fighting to help youplete such a dangerous task.¡± At the mention of this, Elspeth felt a headacheing on. ¡°It¡¯s not that I insisted oning here myself. It¡¯s mostly because only a honey trap would work on that Rayan guy, and Lisa and I are the only ones in the Evil Wind Sect who are skilled at fighting. Lisa has juste of age, so how could I have the heart to let here here to suffer?¡± Finding no ws in what she said, Callum finally epted her excuse with a nod despite his reluctance. The next instant, however, he asked, ¡°Where are you staying now, then?¡± Elspeth¡¯s back froze at once. She had made a deal with Arthur and was staying at his ce because Callum had forsaken his rtionship with her. If Callum were to find out that she was not only staying at Arthur¡¯s ce but also going to get engaged to him, he would probably skin her alive! ¡°I¡ª¡± Before she could finish her sentence, their conversation was interrupted by the ringing of the phone. ¡°Surprise, surprise!¡± Emma¡¯s voice was sweet and clear on the other end of the line. ¡°Callum, I¡¯m now at the airport in Eden! Can youe and pick me up?¡± Chapter 335 Chapter 335 Without saying a word, Callum put the phone on mute and turned around to look at Elspeth behind him, who of course recognized whom the voice belonged to. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she instantly pulled a long face. ¡°Coming all the way here after you, eh? Seems like she¡¯s really not gonna give up on you.¡± Jealous as she sounded, her response pleased Callum very much. He smilingly lifted a lock of her hair and toyed with it in his hand. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Are you being jealous?¡± Elspeth smacked his hand away with a hard p. Smoothing her hair with her fingers, she retorted sarcastically, ¡°How could I dare to be jealous? Say, did you mute the phone because you¡¯re afraid she might hear that I¡¯m with you?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not. It¡¯s just that I don¡¯t want to cause you any trouble.¡± Callum¡¯s voice dripped with helplessness and affection as he leaned over and pinched her face. ¡°Hmph!¡± Elspeth disagreed with a snort. Hearing no one speak on the other end of the line, Emma grew even more anxious. ¡°Callum, I¡¯m here to attend the Fashion Week, and it urred to me that you¡¯re here as well. I don¡¯t know anyone else around here, so could youe over to pick me up?¡± ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Any man would have been unable to turn down such a request, but Callum remained imperturbable as usual. ¡°I¡¯m busy at the moment. How about I let my assistant pick you up instead?¡± He was apparently giving her the brush-off. After hearing this, Elspeth finally mumbled, ¡°Mm-hmm,¡± in satisfaction. Sharp as Emma was, she immediately took notice of it. ¡°Callum, is someone with you over there? How come I heard a woman¡¯s voice just now?¡± ¡°I¡¯m in a meeting.¡± Callum said he was in a meeting, but in reality, his hands were naughtily moving along Elspeth¡¯s fingers. Feeling the softness of her fingertips, he couldn¡¯t help but squeeze and toy with them. ¡°Callum!¡± Elspeth warned under her breath before pushing him away. She whispered angrily, ¡°Can¡¯t you behave yourself a little?!¡± Such is how men always misbehave around women! ¡°Why should I behave myself around you? You¡¯re my girlfriend, no?¡± He had never realized before that her hands were actually so soft to the touch. Feeling turned on at once, he turned down the phone¡¯s volume and carelessly tossed the phone aside. Then, he hooked his arm around Elspeth¡¯s waist, pulling her into his arms. Pushing her hands against the man¡¯s chest, which wasing closer and closer, Elspeth naturally changed the subject, pleading, ¡°Callum, let go of me. Emma is still on the phone. What if she overhears us?¡± Callum lowered his head; his eyes were dark and inscrutable in the dim light of the room. ¡°Don¡¯t you want her to overhear us?¡± Elspeth looked up and happened to meet his gaze. Her heart skipped a beat; the next instant, he pressed his lips against hers with the intensity of a storm. Intermittent sounds wereing from the phone left on the soft quilt, but they didn¡¯t affect the couple at all. After a long time, the sounds gradually died away until they were ultimately reduced toplete silence. Their lips tangled together, Elspeth and Callum smooched amorously with dreamy looks in their eyes. Just when Callum was about to proceed to the next step, she suddenly put out her hands and pressed them against his chest. ¡°Alright, this is enough.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t we continue?¡± He had no intention of stopping at this point. She shot him a ck look. ¡°What if you suddenly lost your emotional memories again like before? What about me?¡± Only then did Callum give up. Suppressing his urges, he gently wiped away the saliva at the corner of her mouth. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°What about Emma, then?¡± Elspeth asked. Now that Emma had arrived in Eden, her purpose was obvious: she was after Callum. Well, it¡¯s just that she¡¯ll probably give me trouble again now that she¡¯s here. Elspeth felt a terrible headacheing on at the thought of this woman. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If she dares to do anything to you, I won¡¯t let her get away with it.¡± Her heart fluttered at the man¡¯s resolute choice. ¡°Aren¡¯t you gonna pick her up at the airport, then?¡± ¡°Why would I? She and I aren¡¯t rted or anything,¡± Callum replied, looking just as usual. Only then did Elspeth nod in satisfaction. ¡°Alright, then, I¡¯m going downstairs. Gotta get back to work, you know,¡± she said. Then, she stood up and prepared to leave. Just then, however, Callum suddenly pinned her down in bed from behind. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to work at such a ce anymore?¡± Elspeth said helplessly, ¡°Once I get my hands on the scimitar, I won¡¯t stay at such a ce anymore. That I promise you, okay?¡± Callum¡¯s expression eased atst when he heard the promise. ¡°Okay. If you need anything, I can help you with it.¡± ¡­ In the airport lobby, Emma had waited for half an hour, but Callum was still nowhere to be seen. It was particrly chilly in Eden this season, but she purposely dressed in stockings and a mini skirt to leave a good impression on Callum. Thinly d at this very moment, she looked especially hrious and pitiful among the crowd, who were all dressed in cotton-padded clothes. ¡°Achoo!¡± She couldn¡¯t help sneezing while growing more and more resentful. She wasn¡¯t lying when she told Callum that she didn¡¯t know her way around here. But now, seeing how the man had yet to arrive after a long time, she knew he probably wouldn¡¯te over and pick her up. Moreover, judging by the indistinct female voice on the other end, she was almost certain that he was probably with Elspeth at this very moment. The more she thought about this, the more upset she was. Feeling depressed deep down, she called Arthur right away, asking, ¡°Arthur, I¡¯m now at the airport. Can youe over and pick me up?¡± At this moment, Arthur was making food in his vi, racking his brains over the dietary restrictions of everyone in the vi. The moment he heard Emma¡¯s words, he felt a bit irritable. ¡°I¡¯ll let my assistant pick you up.¡± What a familiar response and a familiar excuse! Anger instantly zed up in Emma. ¡°Why are all of you so busy?¡± At this, Arthur realized that she must have turned to Callum beforehand and gotten rejected, which was why she had to put up with the second best by choosing him instead. His heart chilled at the realization, and he answered back, ¡°Does everyone have to idle around waiting for you?¡± Emma had never seen him like this before. His voice was chilly, and his manner was distant. Ever since he went overseas with Elspeth, his attitude toward her had changed drastically. It¡¯s Elspeth again! All of them are turning their backs on me because of her! Emma lost her sense of superiority at once. For the first time in her life, she felt so humiliated, and her hatred for Elspeth grew as a result. In a fit of exasperation, she flung her phone directly to the ground. The loud tter of the phone breaking into pieces attracted many onlookers around her. In an instant, a wave of embarrassment washed over Emma. ncing left and right, she noticed that everyone was staring at her peculiarly. Going crimson in the face, she left the airport in a hurry. ¡­ When Elspeth returned home, Arthur was making food in the kitchen, his slender fingers clenching the spat as he did a casual stir-fry with an apron on. Despite his casual cooking posture, it was apparent that the food in the skillet was absolutely mouth-watering. Having finished cooking thest dish, he turned around to dish it out, only to see Elspeth hiding behind the kitchen door. ¡°Go wash your hands,¡± he said. ¡°Miss Joneson and Isabel are out shopping today. They went out early this morning.¡± Chapter 336 Chapter 336 Elspeth ran to the bathroom and washed her hands before hurrying to the kitchen to help set the table. After that, she plonked herself down, spooned up the food, and put it in her mouth. ¡°Apart from anything else, you¡¯re pretty good at cooking.¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t you notice that I have other strong points besides my cooking?¡± Arthurined. Taking off his apron, he ced it aside on the dining table before sitting down to dine with her. ¡°Sorry, but I don¡¯t really have much of a good impression of you,¡± Elspeth replied, slurring her words with her mouth full. Arthur spent a long time poking at the dishes before him without actually picking up any. ¡°I¡¯m speechless.¡± Noticing that he seemed kind of unhappy, Elspeth quickly changed the subject. ¡°By the way, Emma has arrived in Eden. Do you know that?¡± Arthur paused for a moment. ¡°How did you know about this?¡± Elspeth froze before she could blurt out the answer. ¡°Uh, she¡¯s gonna attend some Fashion Week, no? It¡¯s been announced on the news.¡± Arthur looked askance at her before picking up the remote control on the dining table and turning on the TV. The news of Emma attending a fashion show in Eden had just aired on TV right after Elspeth had blurted out her reply. Realizing that the timelines didn¡¯t match up, she had no choice but to make up another lie to cover up the previous one. With a flicker in her eyes, she said, ¡°I read about it on some tabloid website.¡± Arthur was in no hurry to expose her lies either. He asked with a calm smile, ¡°On which website did you read about it? I¡¯d love to know that. Its source is so urate.¡± ¡°Is there anything that I¡¯m unaware of? I¡¯m a world-famous hacker, after all,¡± Elspeth replied. With the world¡¯s best search device in her possession, learning about these things was merely a piece of cake. ¡°So? So what if she¡¯s in Eden?¡± Arthur ate his meal leisurely. A look of disbelief touched Elspeth¡¯s face when she saw how calm he looked. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be excited about hering here? You used to be Emma¡¯s *ss-kisser, no?¡± Arthur¡¯s lips twitched for a moment. ¡°I¡¯m bored with kissing her *ss. One has to stop when their feelings for someone don¡¯t get reciprocated.¡± I swear I¡¯m only saying this to stall her off, he thought to himself. However, seeing how he looked a little downcast, Elspeth realized she had touched a sore spot with him. Patting him on the shoulder with a chivalrous expression, she said out of a sense of justice, ¡°Alright, don¡¯t upset yourself. So what if you¡¯ve been an *ss-kisser? It¡¯s not something embarrassing, anyway. One¡¯s called an *ss-kisser when they kiss a woman¡¯s *ss, but if they kiss the *sses of all women, they¡¯re called a feminist ally! Instead of being *ss-kissers of Emma alone, let¡¯s be feminist allies of all prettydies!¡± Arthur instantlyughed in amusement at such a valiant and animated speech. Putting down his cutlery, he looked her square in the face with a smile crinkling his eyes, asking, ¡°Should I kiss your *ss as well, then?¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± Elspeth said before immediately retracting her hand in a fluster without finishing her sentence. ¡°What do you mean? I¡¯mforting you, so don¡¯t be ungrateful!¡± Kiss my *ss? I¡¯m grateful enough that he doesn¡¯t make an attempt on my life! Arthur stared steadily at her, his gaze unwavering. ¡°But I suddenly feel that you¡¯re cuter than her. Can¡¯t I love you instead?¡± Elspeth refused right away, saying, ¡°I¡¯d rather let Emma have the good luck. Not everyone¡¯s lucky enough to be able to handle such oppressive feelings.¡± This was the first time Arthur heard such a novel word. He asked curiously, ¡°Oh, is that so? Are my feelings oppressive?¡± ¡°Of course. If not, why would she choose Callum over you?¡± Had theparison not been made between him and Callum, Arthur wouldn¡¯t have been wounded by such words. His face fell at once, and he said, ¡°Could you not mention that guy in front of me?¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t really care about it, though. ¡°Sorry for touching a sore spot with you,¡± she apologized with feigned remorse. Then, putting a drumstick in her mouth, she sneaked straight up the stairs, saying, ¡°I¡¯m going back to my room first, so could you help do the dishes?¡± With that, she entered her room and mmed the door shut. Arthur stared at the dirty dishes all over the dining table before him. Then, taking a look at her disappearing figure from behind, he couldn¡¯t help chuckling to himself. This woman is much more interesting than Emma. ¡­ ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Upon returning to her room, Elspeth dared not lie down on the job anymore; she unlocked her tablet and began to search for Rayan¡¯s information. It read, ¡®Rayan Adler. Male, 28 years old. Likes horse racing, ying golf, clubbing, and drinking.¡¯ Forget about ying golf, but horse racing¡­ Won¡¯t he actually crush his horse to death with his apparent weight of more than 220 pounds? Well, this isn¡¯t part of what I should consider, anyway. ording to the information, Rayan would usually spend time at a racetrack on the second day of every weekend. He would get a youngdy to go horse racing with him. Then, the two would ride a horse together, going deep into the woods of the stud farm beforeing back about an hourter. Naturally, it went without saying what they did there. This sent a shudder of disgust through Elspeth, but she kept on reading despite the goosebumps all over her body. As it happened, Rayan would have time for fun again this weekend, which meant that she would be able to aplish her task as long as she became an employee of the racetrack he frequented and got him to choose her. To her, this was undoubtedly a good idea, so she immediately put it into action, asking Logan for a couple of days off so that she could go to the racetrack tomorrow and see if she could get a part-time job there. She slept all the way until night. Not having to work at the nightclub, she woke up at night without feeling burdened, though she was quite annoyed by the knock on the door. ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Elspeth had woken up in an irritable mood, so Arthur¡¯s gentle voice instantly sparked her anger. ¡°Can you stop bothering me? I just woke up!¡± Arthur coolly toyed with the envelope in his hand while ignoring her temperpletely. ¡°Would you like to attend tomorrow¡¯s Fashion Week with me? I got you an invitation.¡± Fashion Week? Elspeth¡¯s eyes lit up at once. Forgetting about her foul temper, she immediately pulled the door open, asking, ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes, of course.¡± Arthur nodded before darting a nce at her. ¡°But you have to do as I say.¡± Elspeth was instantly discouraged by his words. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°It¡¯s because only I have the invitation.¡± Arthur sounded smug as he held up the envelope in his hand. ¡°We¡¯ll present ourselves before everyone with you posing as mypanion.¡± Elspeth objected, ¡°Won¡¯t that make me a cat¡¯s paw of yours?¡± She felt ufortable at the thought of herself bing a tool to provoke Emma¡¯s anger. Emma¡¯s going to attend Fashion Week. If he forces me into posing as hispanion, it¡¯ll likely be for pissing her off. After all, judging by his attitude, he¡¯s probably holding a grudge for never getting to be her boyfriend, which still rankles him. Arthur rubbed his chin and replied with a smile, ¡°You¡¯re pretty smart, huh?¡± ¡°Scram!¡± Elspeth banged the door shut andy on the bed while reading the information shown on the tablet beside her. After struggling in her mind for about one-hundredth of a second, she resolutely chose to give in. Chapter 337 Chapter 337 As it turned out, this was because she found out that Rayan would also show up at that Fashion Week. To her, the sooner she came into contact with him, the higher her chances of sess; she could put up with being used by Arthur as long as she couldplete her task. The next day, Arthur woke her from sleep early in the morning. Getting up on the wrong side of the bed, Elspeth stood up with a yawn, glowering furiously at the man who removed her nket. ¡°Arthur! How could you¡ª¡± ¡°I what?¡± Arthur cut her short. ¡°I¡¯m going to Fashion Week in a moment. If you don¡¯t get up now, you might have to get there on your ownter.¡± Unlike in Chars, it was difficult to hail a cab in Eden, yet Arthur had only one car in his possession, which made Elspeth wonder if it was on purpose. ncing back reluctantly, she saw arge box on her desk, which seemed to contain an evening gown. ¡°Is this for me?¡± She opened it, revealing a ck fishtail gown with a low-key yet luxurious and exquisite design that she might prefer. Arthur nodded. ¡°Of course. Who else here would wear this other than you?¡± ¡°How did you know my size?¡± Elspeth looked at him suspiciously. ¡°Ahem¡­¡± Arthur instantly turned scarlet. ¡°I guessed it from my everyday observation of your physique. I¡¯m a doctor, remember? That¡¯s why I have keen powers of observation.¡± Well, I couldn¡¯t say that I stole a dress from her wardrobe, no? Only then did Elspeth lower her guard. She picked up the gown with a smile, saying, ¡°Fine, I believe you.¡± ¡°Just hurry and tidy yourself up. We¡¯re leaving in a minute,¡± Arthur said before leaving her room without pausing. Elspeth groomed herself as quickly as she could, making sure not to appear either too conspicuous or too slovenly casual. After tidying up everything, she and Arthur went out and drove to the venue of Fashion Week. This time¡¯s Fashion Week was a rtively grand event. Being officially dead in Chars, Elspeth had to keep a low profile, so she had no choice but to wear a pair of sunsses. As soon as they entered arm-in-arm, those around them immediately started to take pictures. Although they didn¡¯t recognize Elspeth, they were familiar with Arthur next to her, whom they had only heard of in thest six months thanks to him bringing Bluestone Corp to its zenith at only 25 years old. For a moment, everyone got very curious about the youngdy next to him. ¡°Say, who is the woman next to him? Why have we never seen her before?¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t it rumored before that Arthur was mad about a celebrity named Emma Walker? Howe he got himself a differentpanion so quickly?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just for the sake of novelty, I guess. Men are all like this, after all.¡± As their discussions went on and on, everything they said eventually reached Emma¡¯s ears. Seeing how Arthur and Elspeth linked arms while talking andughing cheerfully, she clenched her teeth in anger. How can this woman take my ce in Arthur¡¯s heart? Inwardly, she knew full well that there was no way Arthur would fall in love with Elspeth, but she was suddenly no longer so sure of it when she noticed the inexplicable chemistry between them. An indescribable sense of danger spread all the way up her spine. Unable to restrain herself any longer, she took a few steps forward to Arthur¡¯s side in a desperate attempt to show off her closer rtionship with him. ¡°Arthur, you should¡¯ve told me you arrived. I could¡¯ve gone to meet you.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t we run into each other now?¡± Arthur¡¯s voice sounded indifferent. Obviously, he wanted to keep his distance from her. All of a sudden, Emma felt that she couldn¡¯t see through the man at all. She puckered up her lips with a hurt look before darting a nce at Elspeth next to him. ¡°But you always made me yourpanion at all the parties you went to before. Who is this woman beside you?¡± She didn¡¯t even have to guess it; even though the woman was wearing sunsses, she could determine from her bearing alone that she was none other than Elspeth. ¡°This is my newpanion. Just a little-known ordinarydy, though.¡± Arthur smiled while stepping in front of Elspeth, shielding herpletely. He even deliberately put the stress on the second part of his reply, as if reminding Emma not to disclose Elspeth¡¯s identity. He¡¯s openly defending me, is he not? Elspeth mourned for herself inwardly without saying a word. What Arthur said will probably incense Emma at once. If she really exposes my identity then, things will probably get very troublesome. Emma panicked deep down in an instant. ¡°Arthur, what¡¯s wrong with you? Are you mad at me or something?¡± ¡°Why would I be mad at you? You¡¯re overthinking it.¡± Arthur seemed to find it somewhat irritating to speak to her, so he turned around and wrapped his arm around Elspeth¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were hungry just now? Let¡¯s get something to eat over there,¡± he suggested. Elspeth had no choice but to nod obediently and go with him. Shortly after they arrived at a corner, a middle-aged man came over and made small talk with Arthur. Someone¡¯s called him away, atst, thought Elspeth. For some reason, she heaved a sigh of relief, but no sooner had she looked up than she saw Emma staring at her from nearby with bitter hatred written all over her face. She quickly averted her gaze and pretended not to notice it. She was here today not for Emma but for Rayan, so her eyes began searching around for him. But what was the use of her avoiding Emma? In the end, Emma came to her nheless, standing in front of her with her arms folded across her chest. She said with a conceited smile, ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t Elspeth!¡± Knowing that Emma had recognized her, Elspeth finally stopped concealing herself. She took off her sunsses right away, revealing a pair of attractive eyes. ¡°Emma, I never messed with you this time. Can you stop fussing me?¡± To be honest, this woman really is a nuisance. Emma raised her ss and swirled it with a sneer on her exquisitely pretty face. ¡°Hitting on Arthur now after you¡¯re done getting involved with Callum, eh? Why are you acting like a seductress?¡± Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°A seductress?¡± Elspeth¡¯s eyes goggled in a theatrical fashion. ¡°You say I¡¯m the one hitting on them? Why didn¡¯t you say it was them who hit on me instead?¡± ¡°I¡¯m the one Callum loves! Still, you stole his heart by some shameless means. Luckily, he doesn¡¯t love you anymore. As for Arthur, there¡¯s no way he¡¯ll like you!¡± Elspeth found these words hrious. She went straight for Emma¡¯s weak point, saying, ¡°What makes you so confident that Arthur won¡¯t like me?¡± Finishing off the red wine in her ss with a gulp, Emma replied confidently, ¡°I¡¯m the one he likes! He¡¯s liked me for five full years. Surely you don¡¯t think your presence can make him move on to you?¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t bother to argue with her. What the hell does the person whom Arthur likes have to do with me? Just then, a chilly voice rang from behind. ¡°Who told you that I¡¯ll never move on to her?¡± Chapter 338 Chapter 338 Emma¡¯s countenance changed the instant the voice rang. Arthur slowly came toward them from nearby. Looking at the two women before him, he walked past Emma and stood directly next to Elspeth, as though he hadn¡¯t noticed the former. ¡°Elsie, have you had enough to eat?¡± He reached out and stroked Elspeth¡¯s hair, his voice sounding so affectionate as if they had an intimate rtionship. Emma fumed with anger at the sight of this, but she couldn¡¯t appear too acerbic in front of everyone. She had no choice but to soften her voice, asking, ¡°Arthur, why are you so cool toward me? Did I do anything wrong?¡± Arthur¡¯s gaze slowly shifted toward her with an air of indifference. ¡°We¡¯re not rted in the first ce, Miss Walker. What¡¯s the matter? Aren¡¯t you in love with my brother? Why are you in such a hurry to make yourself a rtive of mine now?¡± Emma dared not say anything further, what with dozens of news outlets¡¯ cameras facing them at this Fashion Week. She could only smile awkwardly, saying, ¡°Even if I¡¯m in love with your brother, you and I are still considered a family, so you don¡¯t have to be so cool toward me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not necessary.¡± Arthur stared at her with an unfathomable smile. Then, he turned to Elspeth, saying, ¡°Elsie, I just saw something interesting over there¡ª¡± Before he could finish his sentence, he sensed Elspeth stiffening up next to him. He followed her gaze, only to see Callum standing nearby with a hint of inscrutable darkness in his eyes. ¡°Rx. He¡¯s forgotten about his feelings for you now, no?¡± he whispered softly in Elspeth¡¯s ear. ¡°Even if we do something, he wouldn¡¯t care about it.¡± Elspeth broke into a cold sweat the instant she saw Callum. Others might not perceive it, but she sensed the murderous desire behind the man¡¯s inscrutable gaze. He probably wants to stab Arthur toContent protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. death for standing next to me, she thought. However, Arthur moved closer and closer to her to the point where he was almost pressing himself against her, as if he were totally unaware of the man¡¯s presence. Panicked, she whispered to Arthur, ¡°Alright, cut it out. Stay away from me now.¡± Arthur raised an eyebrow. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t tell me you still care about him now?¡± ¡°Of course, I don¡¯t.¡± Elspeth¡¯s fingers curled up nervously. She knew she couldn¡¯t let Arthur realize that Callum had recovered his feelings, or he might stir up trouble. Arthur took hold of her wrist with a smile, his heart swaying a little as he felt the smoothness of her skin. ¡°Well, in that case, you¡¯re mypanion today, so it¡¯s not over the top for you to be closer to me, no?¡± At this moment, Callum, who had been standing nearby just now, suddenly came to their side and looked at Elspeth¡¯s wrist with a piercing gaze. ¡°It¡¯s a bit inappropriate for you two to tug at each other in front of everyone, I¡¯m afraid.¡± Frightened, Elspeth hurriedly shook off Arthur¡¯s hand and stepped aside to free herself from the man. ¡°No, we¡¯re not tugging at each other.¡± Only then did Callum look somewhat satisfied. Clever as Arthur was, he instantly detected that something was amiss. Could Callum have recovered? The guess got increasingly magnified in his mind, so in order to confirm this, he immediately pulled Elspeth into his arms while looking at Callum defiantly, saying, ¡°Callum, isn¡¯t it inappropriate for you to interfere with us face-to-face?¡± At this moment, everyone¡¯s attention was drawn to the stage as Fashion Week began. With no one else around them, Callum finally stopped hiding everything; he instantly pointed out, ¡°It¡¯s because the one standing next to you is my fianc¨¦e.¡± Arthur retorted, ¡°Your fianc¨¦e? Callum, did you forget that you¡¯d already broken off your engagement to your fianc¨¦e back in Chars?¡± He was amused. Since when did Callum be so forgetful? Elspeth also felt ufortable at the mention of this. Inwardly, she was disappointed by the look of complete indifference in Callum¡¯s eyes, but she knew there was nothing wrong with him doing such a thing. After all, he had no feelings for her at the time, not to mention that she had left so heartlessly. Callum answered back confidently, ¡°In that case, what about we ask thedy beside you whether she¡¯s gonna choose you or me?¡± That¡¯s a good idea, thought Arthur as he turned his gaze toward Elspeth. In an instant, both men eyed Elspeth at the same time. Elspeth instantly panicked. They¡¯re letting me make the choice? But why? Aren¡¯t they driving me into a corner by doing so? She felt like crying. Her lips parted, but she didn¡¯t know what to say. Just then, Emma, who had been looking on silently, sessfully saved her from the predicament by seeking attention. ¡°Arthur, don¡¯t tell me that you love Elspeth?¡± Jealousy instantly overwhelmed her as she listened to how Arthur and Callum fought for Elspeth¡¯s affection. What has Elspeth done to deserve having two outstanding men fight for her affection? I was the one whom they treated like a princess before; it¡¯s all Elspeth¡¯s fault for taking all of this away from me! At the thought of this, her hatred for Elspeth grew increasingly apparent, to the point where she could no longer hide the resentment in her eyes. ¡°This is supposed to be none of your business, no?¡± Callum replied stiffly. Obviously, he didn¡¯t want to waste time talking to her. ¡°Callum, I¡ª¡± Arthur also didn¡¯t bother to pretend anymore. He saidnguidly, ¡°Indeed, this is none of your business. Why don¡¯t you just leave us alone?¡± Having never been treated like this before, Emma felt embarrassed at once. She retorted with a forced smile, ¡°I¡¯m just¡ª¡± Before she could say the next word, however, the two men shifted their gaze back to Elspeth without even sparing her a side nce. Unable to ept such an oue any longer, Emma turned and ran away with tears sparkling in her eyes, heedless of the fact that they were on an important asion. I¡¯ll never let Elspeth off for this! However, nobody noticed where Emma had gone, nor did anyone notice when she left, as both men¡¯s attention was on Elspeth. Arthur confirmed his suspicion that Callum had recovered his feelings and was now purposely trying to steal Elspeth from him. Well, in that case, I won¡¯t easily give Elspeth up to him. I¡¯ve got a handle on her, after all. Faced with the ultimate either-or, Elspeth found herself caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. On one hand, there was Helena¡¯s illness, but on the other hand, she couldn¡¯t forsake her feelings for Callum either. They¡¯re just putting me on the spot, no? Still, with both Arthur and Callum unaware of what each other was thinking at the moment, the choice remained in her hands. Trying to change the subject, Elspeth suggested with augh, ¡°Look at what thatdy on the stage is wearing! She looks so pretty in it. Should we go and askter what it is made of?¡± Callum¡¯s eyes grew frosty. ¡°Don¡¯t get off-topic at this time.¡± Neither was Arthur paying attention to the clothes worn by thatdy on stage, for his eyes seemed glued to Elspeth¡¯s face. ¡°Elsie, you¡¯d better make yourself clear to me, or I might not be able to do what I promised you earlier.¡± Even though he was smiling, Elspeth sensed a hint of danger in it. She forced a smile and took a few steps back. Help! Can anyone tell me how I should choose between them? Chapter 339 Chapter 339 Elspeth had never been faced with such a difficult choice. Looking at Callum¡¯s fiery stare, she gritted her teeth and grabbed Arthur¡¯s arm, saying, ¡°You were the one who said things ended between the two of us a long time ago, so don¡¯te looking for me again.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Elspeth was afraid that Callum would say something vulgar again, so she hastily dragged Arthur away. ¡°All right, didn¡¯t you just say that you were going to show me something fun? Let¡¯s go now.¡± While being pulled forward by Elspeth, Arthur was inwardly surprised, as if he could not believe that she had chosen him. But nheless, she had made her choice. He thus turned back to send a smug look at Callum. He was the one who won this round! Behind him, Callum had an unreadable gaze. He couldn¡¯t figure out what Elspeth was thinking, but since she had done so, and right in front of him no less, she must have her reasons. I¡¯ll just ask her later. At that thought, he breathed in deeply, letting go of his displeasure. Still, he couldn¡¯t help but think that Elspeth holding Arthur¡¯s arm really was a sore sight. Meanwhile, Elspeth dragged Arthur to the stage nearby and only eased up once Callum disappeared from her sight. ¡°You are really strange today.¡± Although he was immersed in the joy of his earlier victory, Arthur did not completely lose his senses and looked at Elspeth teasingly instead. ¡°Of course not. You said it yourself that he abandoned me first. I¡¯m just doing what he wants.¡± Elspeth tried her best to act as if she detested Callum. The purpose of her visit today was not to deal with the mess between the three of them but to find Rayan and get his scimitar. Upon seeing her drifting gaze, he asked, ¡°Are you looking for someone?¡± She had just left Callum, so she clearly wasn¡¯t looking for him. ¡°If I tell you, you have to keep it a secret for me.¡± All of a sudden, she regretted dragging him over, but since he asked, she had to dismiss him with a reply somehow. Upon seeing that she did not have even the most basic trust in him, Arthur frowned. ¡°You can¡¯t be so suspicious of me now because I treated you badly in the past, can you?¡± ¡°Who knows if you¡¯ll suddenly change your mind and find a chance to get me killed?¡± Elspeth refuted, unable to fathom his temper at all. These words naturally elicited Arthur¡¯s surprise. Upon seeing her wariness toward him, he put up three fingers and swore, ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll give you my word now. As long as you don¡¯t interfere with my business, I absolutely won¡¯ty a finger on you again.¡± Once the peace contract was signed, it was a done deal. Feeling much more relieved, Elspeth said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll tell you now. The reason I came to work in the red light district was to get the medicinal herb capable of curing Isabel¡¯s disease. The price I was offered was Rayan Adler¡¯s scimitar, and I heard that he wasing over today to take part in the Fashion Week, so I wanted to give it a go.¡± As soon as she spoke, Arthur¡¯s expression faltered slightly, and he inquired in a low voice, ¡°Tell me the truth. You¡¯re not going to just steal it, are you?¡± Elspeth shook her head. ¡°Of course not. A figure like him must have a lot of bodyguards protecting him. If I try to steal it from him, that¡¯s nothing more than a death wish.¡± ¡°Then, what are you nning to do?¡± Arthur slightly rxed at her words, thinking that she was right. Besides, she was never a foolhardy person who would do something without a n, so she must have her own ideas. ¡°I¡¯m nning to¡­ make him willingly hand it over to me,¡± Elspeth said with a bright smile. As he looked at the familiar smile on her face, Arthur knew what she was scheming. ¡°Wait, you¡¯re using the honey trap again?¡± Elspeth scoffed coldly. As she chatted with him, she nced around, observing her surroundings until her eyes finally locked on a rotund man. ¡°Okay, we¡¯re done talking here. I¡¯m heading over now.¡± After bidding goodbye to Arthur, Elspeth sashayed to the man¡¯s side and pretended to leave a casual remark. ¡°That pink dress really is hideous.¡± As soon as the words left her mouth, she immediately noticed that the man beside her had moved his gaze to her in interest. She had found out a long time ago that Rayan hated pink, especially the shade mauve, and rumor had it that he would get short of breath and gasp for air whenever he wore something pink. Although it was merely a rumor, it was enough to prove that it was true that he didn¡¯t like pink. Seeing that, Elspeth added fuel to the fire by continuing, ¡°Pink has never been a luxurious color in the first ce, and this is even the color that I hate the most. How ridiculous.¡± As soon as she spoke, the man immediately walked toward her. ¡°Excuse me, do you hate this pink outfit too?¡± As she expected, he took the bait. Elspeth nodded with a regretful expression. ¡°That¡¯s right. I didn¡¯t expect that. I liked all of the previous outfits, but I just can¡¯t bring myself to like this one.¡± ¡°We really are like-minded. I don¡¯t like pink either, especially mauve.¡± Elspeth spoke exceptionally well in Edenese, enough for her to pass off as a Charic woman who lived abroad. When the man saw that Elspeth was not only beautiful but also shared the same opinion as himself, he immediately took a liking to her. Although he was a hooligan who enjoyed visiting the red light district, he was a cultured hooligan. The Adler Family was prestigious, so he had his fair share of cultural enrichment growing up. For the first time, Rayan only felt admiration and appreciation toward a pretty woman instead of having any sinful thoughts about her. He asked, ¡°Miss, would you allow me the pleasure of treating you to a meal?¡± Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Upon seeing his gentlemanly invitation, Elspeth hesitated in a reserved manner. However, she only hesitated and did not immediately refuse, not knowing if this man would suddenly lose interest in her. ¡°That¡¯s not a problem, but I¡¯m not free tonight. We can set the date for tomorrow.¡± In other words, she was indirectly asking for his contact information. Understanding her intention, Rayan took out a name card and handed it to her. ¡°This is my phone number. You can contact me when you¡¯re free.¡± Elspeth was good at ying hard to get, and when she saw Rayan¡¯s disappointed expression, she knew that she had already achieved half of her goal. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll definitely get in touch.¡± Elspeth extended her lithe hand and carefully epted the name card before putting it into her bag. Then, pretending to inadvertently notice someone she knew in the distance, she revealed a look of surprise and said, ¡°My friends are waiting for me over there. I¡¯m going to have a few words with them now.¡± Rayan followed her gaze and saw a group of men who seemed to be of high caliber. A sense of indignation emerged in his heart at the sight, but he could not let it show. ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell me your name and phone number, and I¡¯ll contact you?¡± he offered, not wanting her to forget about him the next day. Elspeth pursed her lips into a smile. ¡°Of course, you can.¡± He had fallen for her trap hook, line, and sinker. Chapter 340 Chapter 340 At ten o¡¯clock the next morning, Elspeth was still deep in slumber when her sleep was interrupted by a phone call. She impatiently picked up, but when she heard an unknown yet familiar voice from the other end, she immediately jolted awake. ¡°Miss Lynwood, I¡¯d like to treat you to lunch this afternoon. Would that be all right?¡± the person asked courteously. Instantly, any remaining grumpiness she felt disappeared without a trace, and she got up to dress properly before going downstairs. As Arthur watched Elspeth descend the stairs in a short, ck off-shoulder dress from the living room, his expression became inscrutable. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you dressed up so nicely just to meet Rayan Adler?¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ¡°Yes, I did. It¡¯s thest day of the time limit Logan gave me. If I don¡¯tplete my mission by today, he might not give me the herb.¡± At that, Elspeth twirled in a circle, the hem of her dress rising and falling with the air. After such a long time, she essentially understood what kind of a person Logan was. ¡°Do you need me toe with you?¡± Arthur offered to tag along, which was a rare asion for him. ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯ll be too obvious if we go together; I can handle it alone.¡± She carelessly grabbed a piece of toast from the table and took a bite to fill her stomach, saying, ¡°I¡¯m not stupid.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just worried you¡¯d get taken advantage of,¡± he replied gently. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. There¡¯s no way he¡¯d be able to take advantage of me.¡± Naturally, she had her own methods to deal with old perverts like Rayan. Elspeth had just descended the stairs when she saw a ck Maybach parked at the entrance. An ominous sensation looming over her, she hastened toward the car, and when she saw the person inside, her face instantly fell. Callum was currently sitting inside, his glum gaze fixed intently on her. Dammit, he still found out! When she saw his expression that clearly said he would get out of the car to drag her in if she didn¡¯t come in herself, she helplessly got into the car. ¡°Do you mind exining why you¡¯re here?¡± Callum asked in an aloof tone, but Elspeth could sense a thick and menacing undertone in his voice. ¡°I-I can exin.¡± She gulped before saying in a small voice, ¡°I¡¯m forced to stay here because Arthur has something on me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because of your mother, right?¡± His words hit the nail on the head. He had heard on the grapevine that Arthur was treating someone from the Joneson Family, but he didn¡¯t expect it to be Elspeth¡¯s mother. ¡°If you need a cure, I can hire the best doctor in the world for you. Why must you cling to him?¡± Callum frowned at Elspeth, indicating that he could help her. She raised her eyebrows slightly and said in a soft voice, ¡°I don¡¯t want to stay here, really, but it¡¯s because this disease can¡¯t be treated by anyone but him.¡± The words that Callum was about to blurt out clogged in his throat. ¡°So, Mr. Schwartz is powerless too?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Elspeth let out a helpless sigh, her voice sounding weak as she continued, ¡°I have no other choice but to fool him for now until he treats my mother. I¡¯lle up with another n then.¡± The word ¡®fool¡¯ immediately caused Callum¡¯s expression to darken, as if a storm was about toe. ¡°Fool him? What did he threaten you with?¡± ¡°He told me to get engaged to him.¡± Left with no other choice, Elspeth could only tell him the truth. ¡°And you agreed, right?¡± Callum¡¯s expression suddenly changed, as if shrouded in ayer of cold frost. Even if he knew that she was just trying to look at the big picture, his heart still inevitably hurt a little at her words. ¡°I can¡¯t help it either. I can only fool him for now. Besides, you lost memories of our feelings back then and treated me coldly, so I had to agree.¡± Elspeth hastily averted her gaze and fixed her eyes onto the ss window in front of her, afraid to meet his stare. ¡°What are you going to do now? Are you going to look for Rayan?¡± As Callum looked at the seductive, sensual clothes she was wearing, his anger red. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m going over to meet him now.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯lle with you.¡± He nned to keep an eye on the greasy man while he was there to prevent him from having any improper ideas about Elspeth. ¡°Fine.¡± Elspeth wed at her hair with an annoyed look. She knew she could refuse Arthur, but she couldn¡¯t resist Callum. Just the look in his eyes alone was scary enough. Left with no choice, she could only take him with her to the restaurant. As it was not appropriate for Callum to head in, he waited at the door while Elspeth walked in alone and found a window seat that was facing the parking entrance, allowing Callum to have a clear view of their actions. Not long after, Rayan arrived at the scene. When he saw the brilliantly dressed Elspeth, a devious smile appeared on his face. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Miss Lynwood.¡± What is he saying? It hasn¡¯t even been 24 hours. However, since it was just pleasantries, she was willing to y along. She said frivolously, ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s been a long time.¡± ¡°Miss Lynwood, I assume you know why I invited you here,¡± Rayan said, cutting straight to the chase. Elspeth lifted her ss and took a sip of wine. ¡°Please, do tell me.¡± Rayan was not willing to beat around the bush any longer and said bluntly, ¡°I¡¯ve been smitten with you the first moment I saw you. After our conversation yesterday, I¡¯d like to get to know you even better. So, would you like to try going out with me?¡± With those words, he made it clear that he was pursuing her. Elspeth frowned, as if feeling displeased by his words. ¡°Mr. Adler, I didn¡¯t agree to meet you with such intentions.¡± She had just the right amount of reservation, and Rayan was aware that he had spoken out of turn as well. He smiled, his chubby cheeks quivering with his movements as he said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m willing to court you, Miss Lynwood.¡± With a simple sentence, he induced their rtionship from getting along as equals to a one-sided courtship. However, what Elspeth wanted was not the status of Rayan¡¯s girlfriend; she only wanted his scimitar. s, Rayan didn¡¯t know what she was thinking and assumed that she was still hesitating upon seeing her tightly furrowed brows. Hence, he added, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, as long as you want it, I¡¯ll give you anything.¡± Straight to the point. Not bad. It was only then that her expression eased. ¡°I can tell that you¡¯re sincere, but you might not be willing to give me what I want.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Rayan looked at her with a frown. ¡°I want¡­¡± Elspeth lifted her thin hand and pointed at the scimitar at his waist. ¡°That.¡± Chapter 341 Chapter 341 Rayan¡¯s expression faltered. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s possible.¡± His scimitar was a family heirloom that had been passed down for many generations. How could he easily give it away? Elspeth looked disappointed at his answer. ¡°That¡¯s a shame.¡± ¡°Would you mind telling me why you want this scimitar?¡± Rayan was extremely curious. This scimitar was just a in weapon with a long history. Why was she interested in it right away? Realizing her slip of the tongue, Elspeth covered her lips and sighed. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have asked you about this, but it particrly resembles one of my father¡¯s relics, so¡­¡± Seeing Elspeth seemed to be in a bad mood, Rayan softened his tone and conceded, ¡°However, it is not impossible. If you really like it, I¡¯m willing to give it to you, but¡­ I left the box I keep the scimitar in at home. Do you mind following me back to my house to retrieve it?¡± The fact that Rayan was willing to relent was the best oue she could achieve. When she saw the look of triumph that he failed to hide in his eyes, Elspeth knew that this would not just be a mere trip, but she nodded happily. ¡°I don¡¯t mind at all. I couldn¡¯t be happier that you¡¯re willing to give it to me, so how could I refuse to apany you on this trip?¡± ¡°That¡¯s great. Let¡¯s go together.¡± The two quickly left the restaurant. When they arrived at the entrance, Elspeth subconsciously looked toward the spot where Callum had parked his car, only to realize he was no longer there. When did Callum leave? This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Before she could figure it out, Rayan courteously opened the car door and invited her in. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Miss Lynwood.¡± Elspeth nodded, thinking that she didn¡¯t have the time to worry about Callum at the moment, and followed him into the car. They drove all the way to a ce she had never been before, and as the car drove on, her fingers kept fumbling with the ring in her hand. After seeing her behavior, Rayan assumed that she was nervous and smiled at her reassuringly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Miss Lynwood. I won¡¯t harm you.¡± Elspeth returned a gentle smile and said, ¡°Of course.¡± Of course, Rayan did not know that she was sending her location to Callum and attempting to establish contact with him. He hadn¡¯t been sending any messages to her, and it made her a little frantic. However, it was not a big problem. Even without Callum, she would be able toplete her mission sessfully. The Adlers were a long-established family with centuries of heritage, and the outside of the vi alone was as resplendent as a castle. It looked to be of medieval Gothic architecture, and the building was painted in a gloomy and eerie color. Rayan stepped out of the car first and said, ¡°Miss Lynwood, this is my house. I¡¯ll take you in now, and you¡¯ll be treated as a VIP guest here.¡± After leading her into the vi, Rayan took her to the parlor. The moment Elspeth stepped inside, her face instantly tensed up. Unexpectedly, the person sitting in the first seat on the right-hand side was Callum, the man who had suddenly lost contact with her. Just then, Callum noticed her as well, but there was no change in his expression as if they didn¡¯t know each other very well. Rayan felt a trace of doubt regarding the man in front of him. His father was sitting in the head seat, so he politely asked, ¡°Father, may I know who this man is?¡± Inexplicably, he could sense a trace of displeasure from the handsome Charic man. ¡°This is our esteemed guest who¡¯s here to discuss a business coboration with us. His maternal grandmother is a good friend of your grandfather.¡± His words stunned Elspeth. This was her first time finding out that Callum had such a background. Callum said calmly, ¡°That¡¯s mostly it. I wish to work with you, but under the condition that you hand your family¡¯s scimitar to me.¡± Elspeth was taken aback. Callum wants this scimitar too? Rayan instantly turned displeased when he heard this. ¡°Father, this scimitar is our family heirloom. How can we simply give it to a stranger?¡± He had just promised to give this scimitar to Elspeth. If his father gave this away to someone else, he figured she would look down on him. After seeing that his son was embarrassing him in front of other people, Andreas Adler instantly boiled with anger. ¡°You¡¯re still young, so don¡¯t you go interfering in this matter.¡± Rayan immediately clutched the scimitar tightly in his hand. ¡°I refuse!¡± At once, Elspeth felt a headacheing on. If Callum had not intervened, she might have gotten the scimitar long ago. Now, she was put in a spot, and she had no idea what to do. ¡°So what if you refuse? Someone,e and take him away. I don¡¯t want him embarrassing me in front of my guest.¡± After the order from Andreas, several burly men emerged from the surroundings to drag Rayan away. Rayan tried to resist but found that he was unable to break free with his strength and could only leave helplessly. Before he was taken away, he looked at Elspeth with a guilty gaze, as if to express his apologies. However, Elspeth did not notice his nce. As she watched him being dragged away like a lump of meat, a look of disdain shed past her eyes. What a sh*t show, she thought. However, she soon became awkward and was just about to turn around and take her leave when the man behind her called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. ¡°Are you my son¡¯s new lover?¡± Andreas asked bluntly, clearly used to this situation. All of a sudden, Elspeth felt as if she had been humiliated, and her smile dropped from her face. ¡°No, I¡¯m just a guest he invited. Since he already left, I won¡¯t stay any longer. Farewell.¡± What new lover? I¡¯m speechless! Andreas scoffed and watched her leave. After Elspeth left, he smiled helplessly at Callum. ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry. My son is used to being capricious, and he brings his women home every day. My sincere apologies for the unpleasant experience.¡± Andreas referring to Elspeth as Rayan¡¯s woman made Callum furious, but he said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. He just needs to be disciplined.¡± ¡°Then, about the coboration you mentioned earlier¡­¡± Callum smiled faintly. ¡°We¡¯ll do as you said. The Winthrop Family is willing to make a deal with you at a loss.¡± ¡°That¡¯s brilliant.¡± Andreas raised his wine ss toward him with a heartyugh and downed it in one go. ¡°By tomorrow, I¡¯ll definitely deliver the scimitar to your residence.¡± Callum nodded and rose to his feet. ¡°In that case, I shall stop disturbing you and take my leave.¡± After bidding Andreas goodbye, Callum had just left the vi when he saw a familiar figure under a nearby tree. At the sight of Callum, Elspeth immediately widened her eyes in anger and demanded, ¡°Do you have any idea what situation you¡¯ve put me in now?¡± ¡°What else do you want me to do? Watch as another man fools around with my woman?¡± Callum¡¯s eyes darkened as he spoke. ¡°I¡¯m not that magnanimous.¡± Chapter 342 Chapter 342 Elspeth was aware that Callum was too stubborn and stuck persistently to his beliefs, and that continuing to argue with him held no meaning, so she let out a helpless sigh. ¡°But if you do this, Rayan will not easily hand the scimitar over.¡± Seeming to realize that he had been a little too harsh, Callum softened his expression and reached out to rub her hair. ¡°Okay, don¡¯t worry about this anymore. He¡¯ll definitely give me the scimitar.¡± It was no longer relevant whether Rayan was willing to hand it over or not; his father would not easily give up this opportunity to push the Adler Family to greater heights. ¡°All right.¡± Elspeth sighed. ¡°That¡¯s all we can do for now.¡± While the two conversed downstairs, unbeknownst to them, Rayan, who had just been locked upstairs by his father, had witnessed everything. As he watched their intimate gestures, the suspicion in his gaze intensified. Just then, his phone rang. After a nce at the unknown string of numbers, he decided to pick up. ¡°Is this Mr. Adler? I heard that you¡¯re currently with a woman called Lynwood. Is that true?¡± As soon as he answered the phone, the caller hastily questioned him about his rtionship with Elspeth. Rayan was already frustrated enough as his woman was about to leave with another man. When he heard a strange woman chattering on the phone, his irritation increased. ¡°What does that have to do with you?¡± Upon hearing that that was the case, the woman on the other end didn¡¯t seem to mind his hostile tone, and there was even a trace of glee in her voice as she said, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll tell you a secret.¡± The word ¡®secret¡¯ piqued Rayan¡¯s curiosity. ¡°What secret?¡± ¡°The secret is that¡­ Elspeth is approaching you for a reason!¡± Rayan¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°What do you mean?¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ¡°Did she ask you for that scimitar? Don¡¯t be fooled by her. She has a fianc¨¦, and his name is Callum Winthrop! She approached you just for the purpose of getting that scimitar of yours, not to be with you.¡± Rayan nced at the two people who were still clinging onto each other downstairs once again. Coupled with what the person on the other end of the phone just told him, he suddenly had a realization. How dare they join forces to try and swindle me! Instantly, he burned with rage. ¡°Since she¡¯s already lied to you, you must not forgive her easily.¡± Over the phone, a trace of urgency could be heard in the woman¡¯s voice. Rayan scoffed. ¡°Naturally. I have my own ways of dealing with women like her.¡± ¡°Of course, I believe that you¡¯ll make her pay.¡± Listening to the pleasedughter through the phone, Rayan suddenly asked in interest, ¡°Who are you? Why are you telling me this?¡± All of a sudden, the voice on the other end lost its enthusiasm. ¡°Who I am isn¡¯t important. Just know that I¡¯m like you, and I hate that cunning woman too.¡± He didn¡¯t mind either way. Since she told him about this, it didn¡¯t really matter who she was. Once he hung up, Rayan began to contemte his next step. How dare they try to trick me? Just wait and see, Elspeth Lynwood! ¡­ Early the next morning, Elspeth was still sleeping when she was woken up by a phone call. When she fished out her phone and looked at it, Callum¡¯s name was taking up the screen. After questioning him, she learned that he had already brought the scimitar, and was now waiting for her to head downstairs to get it. Immediately, her spirits were lifted, and she hurriedly changed her clothes and went downstairs. When Callum saw her emerge from her room, he handed her the box containing the scimitar. ¡°Take this and give it to Logan.¡± ¡°Thank you, Callum,¡± Elspeth said sincerely. ¡°You¡¯re my future wife; it¡¯s my duty to do these things for you.¡± Callum was never one to flirt, so Elspeth immediately felt a blush bloom across her face at his sudden words, feeling embarrassed. As Callum had other matters to attend to, he gave her a few reminders before he soon drove away. Meanwhile, Elspeth went back upstairs and dressed up. After calling Arthur to ask for his car, she went to the red light district. It was currently daytime, so there were hardly any people around. When she arrived at her destination, she looked at the closed door and called Logan. ¡°Mr. Logan, I already have the scimitar. Are you in the store now?¡± Through the phone, she could vaguely hear conversing voices in the background as Logan said briefly, ¡°Elspeth? I¡¯m currently dealing with something else, and I¡¯m not in the store. Why don¡¯t you go back first? I don¡¯t mind taking it tomorrow.¡± She was already ustomed to Logan¡¯s constant absence, and since he said so, she hung up the phone and prepared to take the scimitar home. As soon as she turned around, a burst ofughter sounded from behind her. ¡°You¡¯re really everywhere.¡± Elspeth looked at Rayan, whose eye bags had deepened since shest saw him the previous night. She assumed that he was not in a good mood after being locked up. There were four men following him, most likely his bodyguards. ¡°What a coincidence, Mr. Adler. You¡¯re here too?¡± Elspeth asked, still keeping up her reserved and docile act. ¡°That¡¯s right. I wouldn¡¯t have heard you calling Mr. Logan if I didn¡¯te here.¡± Rayan¡¯s smile did not reach his eyes, and he slowly approached her. ¡°And if I didn¡¯te here, I wouldn¡¯t have found out that everything was part of your n!¡± Instantly, Elspeth panicked. It seemed that he already knew everything. There was no use in ying dumb at this point, so she calmed down and softened her voice as much as she could. ¡°I did want your scimitar, but I have my reasons, and I didn¡¯t mean to lie to you. I really do want to be your friend.¡± ¡°Friend? I have enough friends. You knew that I was interested in you.¡± At those words, Rayan recalled something and said with a smile, ¡°Oh, right. You already have a fianc¨¦, so you wouldn¡¯t have fancied me, anyway.¡± He even knows about my fianc¨¦! Elspeth thought frantically to herself. Suddenly, she felt like she had been trapped, as if someone was fueling the situation behind the scenes and had told him everything. ¡°Mr. Adler, I don¡¯t really understand what you¡¯re saying¡­¡± Elspeth took a few steps back nervously. There was no one around at this time, so even if she shouted for help, no one woulde to her aid. She could only stay calm and try to think of another n. ¡°You don¡¯t have to understand. You just have to follow me.¡± As soon as Rayan said that, he gave the men behind him a look, and they instantly stepped forward to grab Elspeth. Upon seeing that they were intending to use brute force, Elspeth swiveled around and fled. Chapter 343 Chapter 343 Elspeth looked behind as her pursuers closed in and inexplicably felt a wave of panic. She knew that if she fell into their hands, things would not end well for her. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. As she ran, she suddenly stumbled on a rock and tumbled to the ground, hitting her knee on the ground and leaving a bloody mess. ¡°Stop struggling and just give in.¡± Rayan sent her a contorted smile and was about to pounce on her when he was pushed to the ground. ¡°Who was it?! Who touched me?!¡± Rayan was aching with pain from his fall, and he lifted his head just to see an angry Yelena. Instantly, his eyes lit up. The young girl in front of him looked even more innocent and adorable than Elspeth, and the two seemed to know each other. At that thought, his mind fell into the gutter, and the corners of his mouth uncontrobly lifted into a wicked smile. Meanwhile, Elspeth was stunned and speechless by the sight of Yelena. Why is Yelena at a ce like this? she wondered frantically. Behind Yelena, there seemed to be a man silhouetted against the sunlight. She could vaguely tell that it was Max. ¡°Are you mad? Max, didn¡¯t I tell you to look after Yelena? Why did you bring her to a ce like this?¡± Most importantly, they showed up at the worst possible moment when her life was at stake, and she had just offended Rayan, which meant that they would be ssified as her aplices. Elspeth¡¯s heart was filled with unease. ncing at Rayan¡¯s lustful expression, she instantly knew what he was ying in his heart. After being singled out by Elspeth, Max could not muster the courage to say anything, and he seemed awkward as well. If Yelena hadn¡¯t thrown a tantrum to meet Elspeth aftering to Eden to participate in Fashion Week, he wouldn¡¯t have turned to Arthur out of desperation and arrived at this ce. ¡°Elspeth, I just missed you. Everyone was saying you were dead, but I never believed it. You¡¯re so smart, so I figured you must¡¯ve hidden the fact that you were alive from everyone else. In the end, I had to ask everywhere to get news of you!¡± Yelena was too blinded by her joy of finding Elspeth again and didn¡¯t seem to notice the iing danger. ¡°This girl really is pretty¡­¡± Yelena heard Rayan¡¯s voice, but she couldn¡¯t speak Edenese, so she could only growl at him in Charish, ¡°What the hell are you mumbling about?¡± Although she couldn¡¯t understand him, she knew what he was nning with a single nce. However, Max understood everything, and his expression instantly darkened. ¡°Who are you, and why are you coveting my fianc¨¦e?¡± Max emanated an extremely pressuring aura, and his features resembled Callum, who had visited Adler Residence just yesterday, which greatly displeased Rayan. ¡°Fianc¨¦e? Anyone whoes to me is mine. How dare you try to steal from me?¡± Angered, he instantly ordered, ¡°You lot, capture them!¡± There were only three people on their side, and Yelena was simply a deadweight. In order to minimize the casualties, Elspeth instantly gave in. ¡°Don¡¯t youy a finger on them! This has nothing to do with them. If you want to capture someone, capture me.¡± Rayan sneered. ¡°That won¡¯t do. Since you value them so much, they must be very important people to you, right?¡± She had taken away something important to him by deceiving him, so it was only right he took someone important from her as an eye for an eye. ¡°Both of them have way greater backgrounds than me. If bringing trouble to the Adler Family is what you want, by all means, kidnap them.¡± Despite Elspeth¡¯s airy tone, Rayan was thoroughly convinced. She had a point. After all, this matter had nothing to do with the other two, and he had no idea who they were. In the first ce, he had already broken his father¡¯s rules by sneaking out. ¡°Fine, I promise you, but you have to follow us obediently,¡± Rayan reluctantly agreed. With his eyes, he signaled the two people next to him to avoid Yelena and Max and capture Elspeth instead. Elspeth tilted her body to avoid the two men from grabbing her hands. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me. I can walk by myself.¡± Yelena was near tears as she anxiously shouted, ¡°Elspeth, don¡¯t go with them!¡± However, Elspeth only looked at them coldly. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business where I choose to go.¡± After that, she turned around and sent Max a meaningful look. Rayan watched impatiently as they exchanged goodbyes. In the end, his patience ran out. ¡°Enough chattering. Let¡¯s go. Stop wasting time here.¡± Soon, a ck car sped over and stopped steadily in front of the two. After instructing the people around him to shove Elspeth into the car, Rayan followed suit and got in as well. The car soon started and left, leaving only a cloud of smoke and dust in their wake. ¡°What should we do, Max? He took Elspeth away!¡± Yelena asked frantically. She had traveled miles to see Elspeth only to watch her being taken away right before her eyes. She was nearly losing her mind. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Max forced himself to calm down, then sent her a stiff smile. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Elspeth knows how to protect herself. Still, let¡¯s tell Callum about this first.¡± Taken aback, Yelena asked, ¡°Callum is in Eden too?¡± ¡°Yes. Earlier, Elspeth looked at me and mouthed to look for Callum.¡± Instantly, Yelena leaped to her feet and pped him. ¡°Then let¡¯s hurry up and go! If we dy any further, I¡¯m scared that the old pervert will do something to Elspeth!¡± Max nodded, and he got into the car with Yelena while calling Callum before starting the engine. Callum soon answered the phone in an exhausted voice. ¡°What is it, Max?¡± ¡°Callum, something happened to Elspeth!¡± Upon hearing that, Callum instantly jolted awake and asked, ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°Elspeth was taken away by someone in the red light district earlier. I heard her say something about the Adler Family¡­¡± Callum had figured out most of what was going on by then, and he inhaled deeply in an attempt to control his anger. ¡°I got it. Hurry up ande back from that ce now, and stay in your hotel.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After a simple exchange, they both hung up. Callum¡¯s expression darkened the moment he heard the news, and he immediately grabbed his jacket and headed for the door. He was going to go to the Adler Residence and ask Andreas what exactly his darling son was up to! ¡­ On the other hand, Elspeth was in the car, feeling dazed and drowsy. If her guess was correct, the car must have beenced with knockout gas in advance, and they had all taken the antidote. Fortunately, Sonny was always forcing her to consume all sorts of homemade healthcare products in the past, saying that they could enhance her immunity, or she would have passed out by now. Her hands and feet ended up being tightly bound, and now she was practically amb to the ughter. Chapter 344 Chapter 344 Barely clinging onto her consciousness, Elspeth watched them as they veered through the road, remembering all the turns they made, and the car soon slowed to a stop. She squinted and scouted her surroundings. When she saw thendmark at the entrance, she nearly spoke up and alerted the person in front of her. Isn¡¯t this the Adler Residence? He¡¯s got guts, doesn¡¯t he? After going around in circles, I can¡¯t believe he brought me back home again! With a loud m, the door was opened. Elspeth hurriedly pretended to be unconscious, and she was lifted by two people and carried away. As the path gradually became darker, Elspeth secretly opened her eyes, only to see that they took her to a small door. She didn¡¯t know when or how, but there were people waiting at the small door by the time they arrived. And it was only when she entered the inner room and saw the dimly lit and depressing interior that she realized it seemed different from thest time she came. This isn¡¯t the path to the hall. In that case, where is Rayan taking me? Just as she was shrouded in doubts, Elspeth was brought into an even tinier door. Without looking closely, it was impossible to even notice that it was a door. Suddenly, she was hit by an ominous feeling, and sure enough, when she squinted at the environment inside, she realized that it was a basement. Due to her shock, Elspeth momentarily lost focus, and Rayan had walked to her side before she returned to her senses. He suddenly patted her face and let out a hideousugh. ¡°Okay, stop pretending if you¡¯re awake. The drug stops working the moment you stop inhaling it!¡± Elspeth¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Knowing there was no point to keep pretending, she slowly opened her eyes. ¡°Miss Lynwood, do you know why I didn¡¯t search your body?¡± Seeing Elspeth¡¯s dumbfounded face, Rayan revealed a ravenous smile. ¡°Why?¡± Elspeth deliberately looked at him with an overwhelmed and frightened expression. Her show of weakness pleased Rayan, and he said, ¡°Because I installed a signal jammer, plus this is the basement, so of course no one will know.¡± ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°So, what are you nning to do?¡± Although Elspeth looked fearful on the surface, she inwardly detested this cunning man. ¡°Since we¡¯vee to this, I won¡¯t pretend anymore. Return my scimitar, Miss Lynwood. Then¡­ if you agree to sleep with me for one night, I¡¯ll let you go. What about it?¡± When Rayan ordered her to sleep with him, his perverse smile was glued onto Elspeth the entire time, as disgusting as a chewed-up piece of gum. Scimitar? Elspeth¡¯s thoughts drifted at that word. She recalled that she had left the scimitar at the store before she left and did not retrieve it. ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t know where the scimitar is either. I really can¡¯t remember where I left it.¡± Elspeth could only y dumb until the end, pretending not to know anything. ¡°Stop pretending. I heard everything; you¡¯re nning to give my scimitar to Mr. Logan, right?¡± Rayan did not beat around the bush either and asked bluntly. ¡°Yes, I did say that, but I didn¡¯t say it was your scimitar. It isn¡¯t with me, remember? Did you forget that your father has already given it to someone else?¡± Her words made some sense, but Rayan was clearly not easily fooled. He frowned and pondered for a moment before suddenly remembering something and ring angrily at her. ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me! How could both of you coincidentally ask me for the scimitar at the same time? Besides, you two know each other! He¡¯s your fianc¨¦, isn¡¯t he? A woman has told me everything!¡± Elspeth¡¯s tears spilled from her eyes at once. ¡°Callum is my fianc¨¦, but he has already canceled our wedding for another woman. That woman doesn¡¯t like me either and has been targeting me at every turn. Mr. Adler, you¡¯re talking about Emma Walker, right?¡± The culprit can only be Emma and no one else! I¡¯m losing my mind at this point! Why is she everywhere? Why can¡¯t she just mind her own business?! Upon seeing a beauty in tears, even the furious Rayan became frantic, and he said impatiently, ¡°I don¡¯t know who that woman is, but I¡¯ll have you know you should stop lying to me. You¡¯re already untrustworthy to me.¡± Elspeth¡¯s tears continued to flow at his words. ¡°I¡¯m not lying to you. You can just call her and confront her, but don¡¯t be fooled by her. Mr. Adler, you¡¯ve always been a sensible person in my heart.¡± ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll call her over now!¡± Rayan did not care about these things as long as he could have Elspeth. ¡°Sure.¡± She nodded and let out a shy smile. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Adler.¡± Elspeth had always been stunning, and there was no man alive who could resist her flirting. Rayan couldn¡¯t help but approach her at that moment, and he took her hand and caressed it. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, as long as you¡¯re right, I¡¯ll do you justice and teach that woman a lesson.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± A dark glint shed past Elspeth¡¯s eyes. Although he waspliant, she was still sickened by his unbridled fondling of her hand. Rayan immediately made the call right in front of her and even turned on the speaker. Seeing that, she smiled at him. Soon, Emma answered the phone, and she agreed in a heartbeat as if she couldn¡¯t wait toe over to see Elspeth¡¯s downfall. Half an hourter, Emma quietly arrived at the basement. When she saw Elspeth on the ground with her hands bound, she was insanely ted, and even her tone turned shrill. ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t this Elspeth? You poor thing, why are you all tied up?¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t be bothered by how she was mocking her and only smiled lightly. And such a response made Emma feel powerless instead, as if her taunts were useless. Emma crouched down and looked at her face, yearning to send a p across her face. She stretched out her hand and clutched her chin, her grip hurting Elspeth, but her tone was extraordinarily gentle as she said, ¡°What¡¯s this? How are you still so proud when you¡¯re tied up? Elspeth, I really do pity you.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t reply and only looked at Rayan with a pair of tearful and emotional eyes. With just one nce, Rayan immediately felt his heart ache, and he stepped forward to grab Emma before flinging her to the side. ¡°I called you over not for you toy your hands on Elspeth. I have something to ask you.¡± Emma was nearly turning green with envy, wondering why every single man would end uppletely bewitched by Elspeth. Even after Elspeth had done something like that, Rayan was still defending her this much. However, as Rayan was still present, she tried her best to act docile and innocent. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m willing to answer all your questions. I just don¡¯t want you to be fooled by this woman.¡± As long as she could bring an end to Elspeth, she would definitely oblige! Chapter 345 Chapter 345 Rayan stared at her and asked solemnly, ¡°Then tell me, was everything you said true?¡± Emma¡¯s eyes widened as if in disbelief. ¡°Of course, it was. I swear that not a single word I said was a lie!¡± His expression eased a little. ¡°Then, what is your rtionship with them?¡± Emma¡¯s face instantly stiffened for a moment, but after a pause, she raised her chin and answered proudly without any sense of shame, ¡°This woman has been constantly targeting me just because she likes Callum, and I¡¯m the person Callum likes.¡± Normally, Elspeth would probably not be able to resist the urge to gripe at her, but now, Emma was just digging her own grave step by step. She couldn¡¯t wait to mock her, much less me her for her big mouth. At her words, things instantly became clear for Rayan. As expected, Elspeth was right, and this woman wanted to dispose of Elspeth by using him. At the thought of this, he began to boil with anger, but he still remained calm and gentle on the surface. ¡°Miss Walker, is it?¡± Meanwhile, Emma assumed that she was well-known from his question and lowered her head bashfully. ¡°I never expected you to recognize me, Mr. Adler. It truly is an honor.¡± Upon hearing that, Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but chortle. Emma suddenly felt a burst of humiliation. She swiveled around and red viciously at Elspeth before turning back to Rayan and asking with a smile, ¡°Please don¡¯t mind her. She¡¯s always been an oddball. By the way, what are you nning to do with her?¡± Best if he sent a few men to ruin her! That way, even if she survives and returns to Callum, he wouldn¡¯t like her anymore. After all, nobody likes used goods! Rayan nodded thoughtfully. ¡°If it¡¯s really as you said, I do have to properly teach her a lesson.¡± Emma¡¯s eyes instantly gleamed. ¡°Yes, please do!¡± Right after that, Rayan said, ¡°All of you, untie Elspeth.¡± At these words, the smile on Emma¡¯s face instantly copsed. ¡°What do you mean? Aren¡¯t you going to teach her a lesson? Why are you untying her?¡± Before she realized it, the men were already approaching her slowly. ¡°Um, did you make a mistake?¡± Emma¡¯s heart skipped a beat as she watched the two ill-intentioned men approach her. Rayan personally helped Elspeth, who was unsteady on her feet after being bound for a long time, to take a seat, before he turned around and shot a cold re at Emma. ¡°Do you think a troublemaking woman like you can use me to finish someone else off? Keep dreaming!¡± At that moment, he felt nothing but guilt and distress for Elspeth. If it weren¡¯t for that woman¡¯s instigation, he and Elspeth would have been getting along in a normal and friendly exchange by now. He swore to never let this woman go for causing him to lose Elspeth¡¯s goodwill toward him. By then, the two men had already subdued Emma and were holding her down, preventing her from moving. Emma lifted her head and roared wildly, ¡°Why are you capturing me? Shouldn¡¯t you be capturing Elspeth instead? Mr. Adler, what did she say to you? Don¡¯t be fooled by her!¡± Rayan felt that the woman in front of him was raucous and insane. She and Elspeth were simply opposites, and his heart naturally favored Elspeth more. ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re doubting my abilities to judge?¡± Rayan demanded, feeling irritated by her voice. Meanwhile, Emma was on the verge of a breakdown. She was here to watch Elspeth¡¯s downfall, so why had thingse to this? Looking at the situation at hand, she had to make a quick decision. She immediately calmed down and softened her tone as she said, ¡°Mr. Adler, listen to me, things aren¡¯t what you think. Are you being encouraged by this woman to do this?¡± Rayanughed under his breath. ¡°Okay, stop exining. I don¡¯t want to hear anything you say!¡± Immediately after, he looked at Elspeth and sent her a ttering smile. ¡°Miss Lynwood, since she was targeting you, I¡¯ll leave this to you. Tell me what you want to do with her, and I¡¯ll help you with anything.¡± No, she couldn¡¯t fall into Elspeth¡¯s grasp! After everything she¡¯d done, Elspeth simply had nothing but despise for her! Emma desperately shook her head, her tears rolling down her face. ¡°Please don¡¯t do this to me!¡± Realizing that pleading with Rayan was not working, Emma crawled to Elspeth¡¯s side and tugged at her skirt, begging, ¡°Elspeth, on the behalf of the fact that we¡¯re both women with our own hardships, can you tell him to let me go?¡± Upon seeing that Emma was now ying the pity card with her, Elspeth nced at her unruly state and didn¡¯t feel an ounce of pity. If anything, she even felt like gloating as she said, ¡°When you constantly tested my limits before this, did you ever consider that this would happen to you?¡± Elspeth rubbed her sore wrists and extended a finger, raising Emma¡¯s chin. Before she left the house, Emma had dolled herself up beautifully, but her makeup was now smudged by her tears, making her look miserable and pathetic. ¡°Elspeth, I know that you¡¯re a kind woman, right?¡± Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Elspeth chortled and removed her hand disdainfully. ¡°Don¡¯t mess with me, and I won¡¯t mess with you. I¡¯ve never said that I was kind.¡± At the sound of her words, Emma was basically certain that Elspeth would not let herself off easily! She plopped onto the ground helplessly, tears slowly falling from the corners of her eyes. She did not make the slightest sound as fear had already taken over her mind. She could not foresee what would happen to her next, but there was one thing she knew for certain¡ªshe was done for. Although Elspeth really wanted to watch Emma being tormented, she had more important things to tend to. Now, the others didn¡¯t know about her situation and thought she had been kidnapped, so she needed to leave as soon as possible to let them know and not make them worry. Thinking this, she nced at Rayan beside her with a serene smile. ¡°Mr. Adler, I feel a little unwell at the moment, so I want to head home and rest. I¡¯ll leave this side of things to you.¡± After saying that, she even went over and squeezed his shoulder, showing her concern. Rayan had never seen her so assertive, and he assumed that their rtionship had soared because of this matter, so he instantly agreed. ¡°Then you should hurry back and get some rest. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take good care of things for you.¡± Elspeth smiled and followed the bodyguard he had appointed out of the basement. After watching Elspeth leave, Rayan turned his gaze back to Emma, who was still on the ground. She shrank back a little, her pupils dting as she looked at the bloodthirsty light glowing in his eyes. Chapter 346 Chapter 346 After leaving the basement, Elspeth first eluded Rayan¡¯s spies before rushing to Logan¡¯s establishment, where he had been waiting for a long time. When he saw here back unscathed, his eyes flickered with amazement. ¡°I never thought you would actuallye back without having suffered under him in the slightest,¡± he said. Elspeth was startled. ¡°How did you know that he¡¯d taken me away?¡± Logan smiled faintly while pointing at the surveince camera above. ¡°I knew that from watching the surveince footage, of course. He¡¯s been here today.¡± ¡°What about the scimitar?¡± Elspeth sounded rather anxious; her greatest dread was that the scimitar might have been taken away. ¡°I¡¯ve put it away, so don¡¯t worry about this,¡± Logan replied. Seeing how quick she was in doing her job, he couldn¡¯t help butpliment her, ¡°But it was really smart of you to trick him into leaving the scimitar here in such a short time.¡± I¡¯m smart, huh? No, the credit actually belongs to Callum, thought Elspeth. Seeing that Logan was in a good mood, she made her request, asking, ¡°In that case, would you still give me the medicinal ingredient as you promised me before?¡± Seeing how serious she looked, Logan couldn¡¯t help but reply with augh, ¡°The promise is still valid, of course. That¡¯s what I promised you, and I¡¯m not someone who goes back on my word.¡± With that, he turned back to the counter and took a small box out of the chest inside before handing it to her. ¡°The medicinal ingredient you want is in here. Just take it.¡± Elspeth carefully put it away before smiling at him. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Chapman. Well, then, I won¡¯te here anymore.¡± ¡°Are you really noting here anymore?¡± Logan suddenly felt like joking with her before she left. ¡°Well, that¡¯s a shame. Our establishment is gonna lose another pretty face.¡± Pretty face¡­ Is he referring to how I previously worked here as a hostess? Elspeth felt so embarrassed that she wished the ground could open and swallow her up. ¡°No, that¡¯s not the case. I don¡¯t deserve yourpliment.¡± Logan merely smiled instead of teasing her again. ¡°I¡¯m not ttering you. Look at those men who came here; their eyes were glued to you as soon as they saw you.¡± Not wanting to continue the subject, Elspeth lifted her arm and looked at her watch. Then, she cleared her throat, saying, ¡°Alright, it¡¯s gettingte. I gotta go.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s work together again if there¡¯s an opportunity.¡± Elspeth nodded. Then, she turned around and left without taking another look at the man¡¯s peculiar smile. After returning to Arthur¡¯s ce, she hurried upstairs and went back to her room. She called Callum, but the phone call went unanswered, so she had no choice but to text him, ¡®Callum, are you there?¡¯ Callum was chatting and coaxing information out of Andreas. When he saw the text message sent by Elspeth, his heart skipped a beat. He replied, ¡®I¡¯m here. Are you alright now?¡¯ Elspeth quickly texted back, ¡®I¡¯ve sessfully gotten myself out of there. Where are you now?¡¯ Learning that she was fine, the man finally heaved a sigh of relief. ¡®I¡¯m at the Adler Residence.¡¯ Elspeth was taken aback. As expected, Callum went to Andreas in the end. She texted, ¡®It¡¯s not necessary. I¡¯m back already.¡¯ Noticing how Callum¡¯s furrowed brow cleared in an instant, Andreas couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°You seemed to be in a bad mood just now. What¡¯s the matter? Has the problem been solved now?¡± Now that he had learned of Elspeth¡¯s sessful getaway, Callum decided not to stay here and y nice with Andreas anymore. ¡°Yeah, something happened to mypany just now, but the problem¡¯s been solved now,¡± he said, rubbing his teacup with his fingers without taking another sip of his drink. Andreas quickly saw through his intention to leave. ¡°Well, in that case, Mr. Winthrop, I shan¡¯t keep you any longer.¡± Callum stood up and gave him a faint smile. ¡°Alright, I gotta go.¡± Then, he turned around and left without noticing that something was wrong with the look on Andreas¡¯ face behind him. Naturally, the butler noticed Andreas¡¯ expression from the sidelines. He lowered his head and asked in a whisper, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Mr. Andreas?¡± Andreas seemed to look rather displeased. ¡°I suspect that Rayan, that brat, is up to something again. Go to his room and check if he¡¯s still there right now. If he¡¯s not there, then look for him in the basement.¡± The butler was startled. ¡°Mr. Andreas, how did you know that Mr. Rayan had something to do with this?¡± Andreas replied, ¡°He mentioned Rayan as many as five times while talking with me just now. Go find out what the hell¡¯s going on!¡± If my coboration with the Winthrops gets held up because of this idiotic son, I¡¯ll never let him get away with it! ¡­ Half an hourter, Callum showed up punctually downstairs outside Arthur¡¯s ce. Since Arthur wasn¡¯t home today, Elspeth came downstairs openly and got into his car. Callum eyed her up and down the instant he saw her. ¡°What happened? Did that guy hurt you or something?¡± Elspeth shook her head before shing him a gentle smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t you see that I¡¯m well and sitting in front of you?¡± Callum ignored herforting words, though. He asked immediately, ¡°Be honest with me. Did you agree to Rayan¡¯s terms again?¡± Elspeth pondered for a moment before shaking her head earnestly. ¡°No, I really didn¡¯t do that.¡± Callum fixed her with a stern look. ¡°Didn¡¯t you use a honey trap on him?¡± His gaze pierced through her sharply like an X-ray. Seeing the look in his eyes, Elspeth dared not lie to him, so she had no choice but to nod honestly. ¡°I did.¡± The instant he imagined how Elspeth had yed up to Rayan, Callum felt he was on the verge of a cerebral hemorrhage. Never mind, I¡¯ll put up with it since she¡¯s my wife. ¡°Will you be so careless again next time? How could you take matters into your own hands every single time? I¡¯ll be worried, no?¡± Hearing how he fired one rebuke at her after another, Elspeth instantly felt somewhat hurt. She immediately retorted with a pout, ¡°I had no one with me at the time, no? It¡¯s not like I could fight against the six of them alone.¡± Although she was a bit clumsy at pretending to feel hurt, Callum subconsciously felt guilty for a moment. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m not mad at you anymore.¡± He reached out and ruffled her hair. ¡°From now on, I¡¯ll follow you wherever you go, alright?¡± Thinking that she had gotten away with her actions, Elspeth lost her countenance as soon as she heard this. ¡°Do you have to follow me wherever I go?¡± A cold glint flickered across Callum¡¯s eyes. ¡°Alright then, let¡¯s skip the subject for now. Tell me how much longer you are gonna stay at Arthur¡¯s ce.¡± Elspeth felt like crying upon hearing this. What¡¯s the use of asking me about this? It depends on Arthur¡¯s attitude, no¡­ Speaking of Arthur, we¡¯ve been here for half a month already, but he has yet to show signs of treating my mom! ¡°I¡¯ll urge Arthur to treat my mom. Once she recovers, I¡¯ll leave here.¡± Only then was Callum satisfied, and his frostiness eased a little. Beep! Suddenly, his phone beeped with an iing message. He picked up the phone, but his face turned grave as soon as he took a look at it. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! The message was sent by Emma, and it contained only two words: ¡®Save me!¡¯ Chapter 347 Chapter 347 Callum waited for a while, but there wasn¡¯t another text message from Emma other than this one. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Noticing the instant change in his expression, Elspeth asked, ¡°What happened?¡± Not intending to hide it from her, Callum ced his phone before her right away. ¡°Something¡¯s up with Emma.¡± Elspeth merely darted a nce at the text message before turning to look out the window expressionlessly. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°You know?¡± Callum turned to look into her eyes. Seeing that there was nothing but mockery in them, he figured out what had probably happened. Emma probably did something that got under her skin again, he thought. After clearing his throat, he started the car immediately without saying another word. Thinking that he was going to save Emma, Elspeth immediately turned to look at him in astonishment. ¡°Wait a minute! Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re really going to save her?¡± she said with an involuntary note of sarcasm in her voice. ¡°Why would I save her? No, I¡¯m taking you to watch the spectacle.¡± He drove the car at breakneck speed. Elspeth sat in the passenger seat, her mind feeling at rest all of a sudden as she looked at the scenery flying past the car window. ¡­ Callum soon found Emma¡¯s location ording to the IP address from which the text message was sent. To their surprise, however, it didn¡¯t belong to the basement where Elspeth had been held. Instead, it was an abandoned gas station. He subsequently found the location with Elspeth. As soon as they stepped out of the car, they were greeted by the pungent smell of gasoline in the air. Elspeth pped her hand over her nose with a frown. She muttered, ¡°Why do I feel like something¡¯s wrong with this ce?¡± ¡°I feel the same.¡± She could sense Callum¡¯s nervousness as he sped her hand. The next second, a mocking guffaw sounded from their surroundings. ¡°Haha¡­¡± Hearing the familiarughter, Elspeth looked back sharply. As she had expected, it was actually Emma! Emma seemed to have suffered a lot of torture. Her clothes were torn and tattered, and she was barely pulling herself together. ¡°Never did I think you guys would actuallye here after I casually sent you that message.¡± Callum darted an impassive look at her with no intention of feeling sorry for her. ¡°So, what is it? Why did you send me that message?¡± At the sight of the indifference in the man¡¯s eyes, Emma felt her heart throbbing in pain. ¡°You¡¯ve remembered everything, haven¡¯t you?¡± At this point, Callum wasn¡¯t going to hide this from her anymore, so he nodded straightforwardly. ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯ve remembered everything.¡± ¡°Haha!¡± Only then did Emma suddenly break into a heartrendingugh. Her eyes were bulging out of their sockets as she said, ¡°I just knew it! If you hadn¡¯t remembered everything all of a sudden, you wouldn¡¯t have cared so much about Elspeth!¡± Not wanting to discuss this topic with her, Callum asked with a frown of disgust, ¡°So what is it that you got me here to talk about?¡± ¡°Callum, I love you so much, but why do you have to be so hung up on Elspeth?!¡± Emma had an incredibly determined smile on her smudged-makeup face. ¡°I can do whatever she¡¯s capable of! I can even give up my life if you want!¡± Her words sounded quite gut-wrenching. However, true love wasn¡¯t just about possession. Reminded by her experience, Elspeth said, ¡°Emma, you can never get hold of Callum. It¡¯s like how you had never captured his heart despite getting him to be with you when he lost his memories. Even if you were given ten more years, or even a hundred¡­ you¡¯d still fail in the end!¡± Emma¡¯s expression changed at every word she said, and hatred flickered across her eyes. Suddenly, she lunged at Elspeth, grabbing her wrist and holding a knife to her throat. All of this happened so fast that even Elspeth didn¡¯t have time to realize what was happening, let alone Callum, whose already sullen face darkened even more. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Emma dug the knife deeper into Elspeth¡¯s skin while asking the man before her with reddened eyes, ¡°What would you do if I were the one who had a knife held to my throat? Would you be so anxious, too?¡± Elspeth¡¯s skin was more delicate than those of others in the first ce, so Emma¡¯s movement instantly made a bleeding cut in her skin. The smile curving Callum¡¯s lips was indescribably chilling. ¡°Do you know it¡¯s against thew for you to do such a thing?¡± Emma¡¯s hair was pping messily in the chilly wind surrounding them, which made her look even more like a madwoman when sheughed. ¡°I¡¯m not even afraid of death, so why would I be afraid of breaking thew?!¡± She freed one hand and pulled at Elspeth¡¯s face with all her might, producing a red bruise on it soon afterward. ¡°Your skin¡¯s so tender. No wonder he likes you so much.¡± ¡°Are you crazy?¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but swear as her face hurt from being pulled at. Emma gradually tightened her icy grip on the back of her neck. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m crazy. You know what? Rayan Adler got a bunch of people to rape me, and they all had STDs! You should¡¯ve been the one who suffered these things. Why did they end up happening to me instead?!¡± Elspeth looked at her calmly with an imperturbable look in her eyes. ¡°I told you that I won¡¯t let anyone get away with even the slightest harm done to me.¡± ¡°How could you have the cheek to say that? You¡¯re the one who came between Callum and me! Callum and I were so deeply in love before; it was you who showed up and destroyed our rtionship!¡± Not bothering to waste time talking to Emma, Elspeth shot a nce at Callum, signaling him to get ready. Then, the instant Emma burst into hystericalughter, she swiftly clenched the former¡¯s hand that was holding the knife before prying the knife away from her. Callum came forward and kicked Emma aside while protecting Elspeth carefully. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Only then did Elspeth feel the slight pain in her neck, which she could still endure. She nodded, saying, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Having been kicked to the ground, Emma looked up to see Callum caring for Elspeth. She had never experienced this before, nor had she ever seen such a nervous look in his eyes. At that instant, all her feelings for the man vanishedpletely before turning into bitter hatred. ¡°Callum, you¡¯ll definitely regret choosing Elspeth!¡± Callum merely threw an impassive look at her with a hint of indifference in his eyes. ¡°I won¡¯t regret it, but you should go to jail for what you did.¡± Going to jail? Just then, police sirens began wailing around them. ¡°Turns out you hate me that much. To think I¡¯m soughable¡­¡± Emma wiped the tears off the corners of her eyes before looking up at the man seriously. ¡°I have one question for you. Answer me. Have you ever loved me?¡± There was no doubt about the answer to this question. Callum blurted out without thinking, ¡°No, I¡¯ve never loved you.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m your first love! Haven¡¯t you ever loved me?¡± Callum carefully recalled the time he and Emma had spent together, but those memories were blurred; he even had difficulty remembering them clearly. ¡°I only went out with you on a whim, but we¡¯ve been through ever since you cheated on me.¡± His words cleared Emma¡¯s head like an ice-cold brick. She looked up with even crazier hatred in her eyes, saying, ¡°Well, in that case, just go to hell with me!¡± Chapter 348 Chapter 348 Emma staggered to her feet before producing something like a small ck box from her pocket. Upon seeing this, Callum dragged Elspeth back a few steps so that they were nearer to the exit. Sharp-eyed as she was, Elspeth instantly recognized what was in Emma¡¯s hand. ¡°She¡¯s holding a lighter!¡± Smelling the gasoline in the air, Callum immediately had his heart in his mouth. ¡°This is bad! She¡¯s probably gonna blow up the gas station!¡± After exchanging a brief look, the couple turned around and started running outside with all their might. ¡°Do you guys really think you can run away from here?!¡± Seeing their intention to run away, Emma unhurriedly took out a piece of paper and set it alight behind them before cing it on the pile of firewood that had been ced there in advance. As a result, the fire spread quickly, gradually setting many items surrounding them on fire! As if fearing that the fire wasn¡¯t big enough, Emma even dug out a discarded canister of gasoline and spilled it onto the firewood, causing mes to surge up everywhere. Kaboom! There was the sound of a loud explosion, followed by the sounds of burning fire and even louder explosions. The mes were creeping up Emma¡¯s body from the hem of her dress. As the pain of being burned gradually overwhelmed her, she crouched down andughed in pain while watching the two ck little spots blur before her. The two of them can¡¯t run away from this! It hurts so much, though¡­ My heart wouldn¡¯t ache anymore as long as my body hurts enough. She broke into a cold sweat in pain, but there was a hint of satisfaction and relief in her eyes. People would always recall something in their dying moments, and she was no exception. She first recalled Ginna, who had always been spoiled by their parents because of her poor health. Ginna once looked at her condescendingly, saying, ¡°You¡¯re no match for me! You¡¯ll never be a match for me in your life!¡± She also recalled her parents, who were partial to Ginna. They said, ¡°Your sister is in poor health, so you should be nice to her and give her whatever she wants. And besides, you¡¯re inferior to your ill sister. She does better than you in exams and is more likable than you. She even won an international award for ballet, whereas you¡¯re just a little-known celebrity¡­¡± Callum was thest person she recalled. She remembered the bright young man she had met at university, who was dressed in simple sportswear on that fateful day. When he jogged past her and saw her crouching on the bench and bawling her eyes out, he said softly, ¡°There¡¯s nothing that could never be ovee. Life is toughening us up so that we can live a smoother life.¡± She remembered these words for a long time and even did everything possible to be his girlfriend afterward. Regrettably, she then left him and threw herself into someone else¡¯s arms without mercy for the sake of so-called fame and fortune. Did she regret it? Naturally, she regretted it. She had spent her entire life seeking fame and fortune, yet no one felt sorry for her when she died. She pushed those she loved further and further away from her while using and ordering those who loved her around, yet she was unable to free herself from all kinds of rtionships to enjoy a moment of tenderness. Now that she thought of it, she found it reallyughable. What have I been pursuing all this while? It¡¯s my fault for being too greedy. Love can¡¯t coexist with fame and fortune in the first ce. Such is my destiny. Surprisingly, the crackling sounds of the fiercely zing mes sounded very reassuring. Lying down in afortable posture, Emma smelled her scorched body as something shed across her mind. Kaboom! Following thest sound of the explosion, the entire gas station went up in mes. ¡­ Such was what Yelena saw when she led the cops here. There was fire everywhere; almost nothing could be seen in the area except for a sea of mes that was several feet high. ¡°Elspeth! Callum! Where are you?!¡± Yelena was very anxious deep down; she didn¡¯t know what Emma, that madwoman, had done. To think she set the entire gas station on fire! Does she intend to die with Elspeth and Callum? The more she thought about it, the more scared she got, and she burst into sobs. ¡°Say, could Elspeth and Callum have died in there? How could they possibly get out of such a big fire alive? It¡¯s all our fault for being toote. It was already ten minutester when I saw the text message. Had I seen it sooner, things wouldn¡¯t have turned out like this¡­ Elspeth must¡¯ve been toasted alive. Sob¡­ Why do I smell something burning¡­¡± Max¡¯s lips twitched as he pulled her into his arms and watched how she wiped her tears while detecting the source of the aroma with her nose. ¡°That¡¯s the smell of the baked sweet potato that we just bought!¡± Yelena looked down. Seeing that he was still holding the baked sweet potato in his hand, she immediately snatched it from him and took a bite of it, only to start wailing again when it burned her mouth. ¡°Elspeth will never get to eat such a tasty baked sweet potato anymore! Oh, my Elspeth¡ª¡± Just then, a clear female voice rang from behind. ¡°What are you crying for? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re wailing for my death.¡±? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Turning around instantly, Yelena saw Elspeth and Callum at a nce. Their faces were covered in dirt, but they weren¡¯t injured. ¡°Elspeth!¡± She immediately tossed the baked sweet potato away and rushed over to ask Elspeth for a hug. Elspeth had no choice but to stick out a finger and push her away. ¡°I¡¯m dirty now. Just hug me after I go back and take a shower.¡± Yelena looked hriously funny with snot still hanging from her nose. ¡°I don¡¯t mind hugging you when you¡¯re dirty.¡± Elspeth pinched her face with a smile, leaving two gray marks on it. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough. There¡¯s nothing else left to deal with over here, so let¡¯s go and leave the rest to the firefighters. God knows when the gas station might explode again, so it¡¯s quite dangerous.¡± Indeed, Yelena was frightened by the sight of the burning gas station. She nodded, saying, ¡°Okay, you¡¯re right, Elspeth. Let¡¯s hurry and get out of here lest we are in some danger again.¡± After a brief discussion, they decided to leave as soon as possible. ¡­ In the end, they all chose to go to the vi where Callum was staying temporarily. Elspeth and Callum went upstairs to take a shower and get changed, whereas Yelena and Max stayed downstairs watching TV and browsing videos online. After washing up quickly, Elspeth came downstairs first to y with Yelena and Max. Just then, Yelena suddenly thought of a question. ¡°By the way, I¡¯ve got a question. Where¡¯s Emma?¡± ¡°She¡¯s probably dead¡­¡± A rare hint of sympathy was visible on Elspeth¡¯s face. Emma had no desire whatsoever to survive in such a big fire, so she had probably died in the mes. Although she had always found Emma annoying, she felt sentimental at the thought that a living person had died before her eyes¡­ Callum also finished washing up and came downstairs with his hair still dripping. Clutching the phone in his hand, he looked rather grave. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Elspeth noticed that something was amiss. Callum would never show up in a disheveled state before outsiders so easily, so there was no way he wouldn¡¯t even towel his hair dry. After a long time, Callum¡¯s thin lips parted. ¡°I just got word from the fire department, who said a body was found in the gas station after the fire was put out, and the body¡¯s still showing signs of life.¡± Chapter 349 Chapter 349 A sign of life¡­ Doesn¡¯t that mean that Emma is still alive? Elspeth lowered the cup in her hand, and Yelena started shouting before Elspeth could say anything. ¡°Why is this woman so resilient?¡± ¡°Alright. Stop with that nonsense.¡± Elspeth chuckled as she hit Yelena¡¯s head. Max, who was more clear-headed, knitted his brows together while questioning her. ¡°What should we do, then?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have a choice. She¡¯s just really lucky to be alive. However, the fire was really huge, and there was an explosion as well, so I¡¯m sure she will end up being in aa even if she survives,¡± Elspeth replied. In other words, it was unlikely for Emma to be able to do much to them. Upon finishing her words, Elspeth exchanged nces with Callum before they gave each other a subtle nod. Yelena still seemed rather confused, and she cautiously questioned the two of them when she noticed that they seemed to have a n of their own. ¡°Did you guyse up with some idea?¡± she asked. ¡°We¡¯re nning to head to the hospital to pay her a visit,¡± Elspeth replied. ¡°Why would you want to visit her after what she did to you?¡± Yelena lost her cool immediately after hearing Elspeth¡¯s words. I don¡¯t get it! Why can¡¯t we seem to get rid of Emma? ¡°We¡¯re going to visit her at the hospital precisely because she¡¯s being so stubborn about staying alive.¡± Elspeth started to head upstairs after she finished her words. Yelena finally responded with a half- hearted nod. ¡°Fine. But if you guys are going, then I want toe along as well.¡± Yelena figured that she could just give Emma a huge p if Emma tried anything again. How dare she bully Elspeth? Elspeth already had one foot on the step of the stairs, and she turned around to give Yelena a rather exasperated nce. All of a sudden, Elspeth seemed to recall something. ¡°Max mentioned that you have another press conference in the afternoon, right? You don¡¯t have to join us for this!¡± Elspeth uttered. Yelena only understood the situation after Elspeth headed up and shut the door behind her. ¡°Oh, oh no¡­ I nearly forgot about this. I¡¯m so d that Elspeth brought it up. I have to leave, everyone!¡± Before Max had a chance to respond to Yelena¡¯s words, Yelena had already sprinted out. However, she returned to Max just a few minutester and rapped Max¡¯s head with her knuckles. ¡°Why are you just standing there? I¡¯m not familiar with the routes. Bring me there!¡± she hissed. Max felt like he had been scolded for no reason, but he also had no choice but to lead Yelena out of the vi. Callum and Elspeth took about half an hour to prepare themselves for their trip to the hospital. The firefighters had sent Emma to the best hospital in town. Callum and Elspeth found Emma in the ICU when they first arrived. She had all sorts of tubes stuck into her body, and she was a pitiful sight. A woman was sitting in the corridor outside the ward who seemed rather haggard and weary. She looked like she was a few months pregnant¡ªshe had a slight baby bump. Elspeth was stunned when she saw the woman¡¯s face. ¡°Ginna?¡± Ginna¡¯s expression was icy when she noticed Elspeth¡¯s arrival. ¡°Were you guys somehow rted to my sister¡¯s ident?¡± she asked tly. Elspeth was furious to hear Ginna¡¯s baseless usation, but she simply let out a scoff. ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask your sister about it when she wakes up?¡± Elspeth uttered in a nonchnt tone. Ginna knew her sister well, so she simply let out a soft grunt without making any morements. ¡°How¡¯s her condition now?¡± Callum shifted his sharp gaze toward the entrance of the room. ¡°How are you rted to my sister? Why is this any of your business?¡± Ginna didn¡¯t bother to show the slightest bit of respect for him. However, she seemed rather triggered after hearing the man¡¯s words, so she got to her feet before she continued shouting. ¡°I don¡¯t even know why she likes you! There are so many good men in this world, and she doesn¡¯t need you at all. You im to be her ex-boyfriend, yet you don¡¯t seem to miss her at all. You¡¯re the reason my sister is in this state.¡± Ginna¡¯s entire statement was directed at Callum¡ªshe was ming Callum for what happened! Elspeth furrowed her brows for a while before she curled her lips into a scornful smirk. ¡°Why don¡¯t you also talk about how your sister clings on to Callum like a parasite that he can¡¯t remove?¡± ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Ginna was so furious that she was shaking at that point. ¡°You have no right to speak here, you witch. You didn¡¯t just try to seduce my sister¡¯s boyfriend; you even seduced my boyfriend. How could someone be as cheap as you?¡± Callum¡¯s gaze darkened as an icy look crept onto his face. ¡°Stop with your nonsense, Ginna!¡± he growled. ¡°What is it? Did I say anything wrong?¡± Ginna cried as she looked around her. Callum¡¯s gazed at Ginna¡¯s belly for a while, and he tried to soften his voice after that. ¡°You¡¯re pregnant. We can talk more about this matter when your sister wakes up.¡± ¡°Hah! I don¡¯t need your pretentious words offort. I don¡¯t need anything. I just want both of you to stay away from my sister! She would feel worse if she woke up only to see your faces.¡± Ginna seemed to calm down as she conveyed her words in a clear and firm manner. It was evident that Ginna was trying to chase them away. Elspeth tugged on Callum¡¯s arm in an attempt to tell him that it wasn¡¯t worth losing his temper over someone like Ginna. ¡°Fine. You¡¯ll have to take care of your sister, then,¡± Elspeth said as she nced at Ginna¡¯s belly. ¡°Remember to take care of your child, too,¡± Elspeth said with a smirk. Ginna immediately pressed her hand against her belly. ¡°What is it? Are you trying to harm my baby after you¡¯ve harmed my sister?¡± ¡°You need to have some control over your wild imaginations and delusions!¡± Elspeth hissed before she held Callum¡¯s hand and led him out of the building. ¡°What are you nning to do next?¡± Callum asked after they stopped at a park outside. Elspeth nced at one of the doctor¡¯s offices in a building nearby. ¡°I¡¯m nning to check in with her doctor, of course,¡± she replied with a smile. ¡°We¡¯ll have to ask the doctor about Emma¡¯s condition.¡± Callum was quiet for a moment. Their initial intention had been to further understand Emma¡¯s condition. Since they couldn¡¯t get any answers from Ginna, they had no choice but to go to Emma¡¯s doctor. Both Callum and Elspeth nodded in agreement before they headed to the doctor¡¯s office. Elspeth knocked on the door out of courtesy, and she had just pushed the door open when she saw Arthur standing in the room beside another doctor. Arthur was bent over as he looked through a patient¡¯s file on theputer. Arthur¡¯s gaze darkened when he looked up to see Elspeth entering the room with Callum behind her. ¡°Hey. It¡¯s you guys.¡± Arthur straightened his figure and rubbed his hands together as he smiled. ¡°What is it? Are you guys here to ask about Emma¡¯s condition as well?¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t know what to say at that moment. Judging by the look on Arthur¡¯s face, she was almost certain that he knew about both of them. In other words, it seemed like Arthur knew about the three of them. However, she was curious why he didn¡¯t expose her. She nced at him for a moment before she responded to him. ¡°How¡¯s Emma?¡± ¡°She¡¯s just as you saw¡ªshe suffered severe burns on almost her entire body, and her face is ruined. She has a lot of fractured bones and she has a concussion. In other words, it¡¯s a miracle that she survived. We¡¯re still not sure how she¡¯s going to turn out. Her injuries are so severe, it might affect her life expectancy.¡± Arthur felt sorry for Emma¡¯s tragic fate, and there was a hint of pity in his voice. However, he didn¡¯t show much emotion beyond pity. There was no sign of the other feelings he once had for her. Chapter 350 Chapter 350 Callum immediately realized the change in feelings Arthur had toward Emma. Judging by what Callum knew about Arthur, Arthur would¡¯ve investigated the situation like a madman if he found out that Emma had encountered such an ident. However, Arthur¡¯s gaze waspletely focused on Elspeth right then. There was a provocative look in Arthur¡¯s eyes that made Callum feel uneasy. Callum took a few steps forward to stand in front of Elspeth. ¡°Are you here to save Emma, then?¡± Arthur shrugged helplessly. ¡°Her life is hanging on a thread right now. Even a higher being might not be able to save her, so what can I possibly do?¡± ¡°What are you doing here, then?¡± Callum asked. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. ¡°The emergency department found her phone and went through her favorited contacts, and they contacted me from there.¡± Arthur gazed at Callum. ¡°Didn¡¯t you also rush over after receiving the news?¡± Arthur asked with a scornful look on his face. Both Arthur and Callum were on Emma¡¯s favorites list, so there was nopetition between them. Arthur seemed to have brought this up only to trigger Elspeth. A grim look surfaced on Callum¡¯s face for a short while before he curled his lips into a smirk. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s appropriate for Elspeth to stay with you as a single woman. I¡¯ve bought her a new vi, so she¡¯ll move out today.¡± ¡°I know you bought a new ce recently, but does she have to listen to you?¡± Arthur didn¡¯t seem surprised¡ªhe simply smirked while ncing at Elspeth. ¡°What about you? Have you decided to move out? Both Helena and Isabel are still staying with me, you know.¡± Arthur was clearly threatening Elspeth. Her gaze shifted back and forth between the two men for a while before Callum spoke up. ¡°They¡¯ll move out as well,¡± he uttered firmly. A rather troubled look appeared on Arthur¡¯s face. ¡°Oh no, I¡¯m afraid that might affect my treatment for Helena,¡± Arthur said with his eyes narrowed. Elspeth couldn¡¯t tolerate such threats, so she quickly gave in. ¡°Forget it. Maybe I can stay with him for a while more,¡± she muttered. Callum shot her an icy re that shut her up. What does he expect me to do? Elspeth frowned. ¡°Why don¡¯t you guys just kill me?¡± Arthur didn¡¯t seem too bothered by the situation and simply continued to tease her with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you¡¯re so hesitant about. Both of you aren¡¯t rted to the other, and he was the one who suggested canceling the marriage. Why are you still affected by him?¡± Callum felt his anger building up as Arthur continued to push his boundaries. ¡°This is between Elspeth and me. It has got nothing to do with you,¡± he hissed. The doctor was shocked to witness two guys fighting over a girl. ¡°Um, why don¡¯t the both of you continue this argument outside?¡± The doctor was the one who interrupted the tense silence that had formed between the three of them. Elspeth gave the doctor a grateful nod. ¡°Yeah. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s right to argue about this here. Why don¡¯t we go out?¡± Callum expressed his agreement with a grunt. Arthur didn¡¯t have much choice, so he patted the doctor on the shoulder before leaving. ¡°You can just do as I told you to. Take care of her.¡± The doctor felt chills running down his spine when he recalled what Arthur told him earlier. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Winthrop. I¡¯ll do as you say.¡± Emma had a good chance of recovery, but the doctor was told to ensure that she stayed in aa forever. What sort of grudge does Mr. Winthrop hold against this woman¡­? ¡­ Elspeth tried to escape after the three of them left the room, but Callum quickly tugged on the back of her shirt. ¡°Stay right here. We have to settle this right now.¡± Arthur¡¯s expression darkened as he knitted his brows together. ¡°She already told you that she doesn¡¯t want to leave with you. You shouldn¡¯t make things hard for her.¡± Callum frowned as well. ¡°Since when did I ever make things hard for her?¡± Elspeth was nearly about to agree with Arthur when she noticed the hint of anger in Callum¡¯s tone. She immediately stopped herself from saying what she had been about to say. ¡°Stop fighting! I have an idea that might work.¡± Both of the men stopped ring at each other and turned to look at her instead. ¡°What¡¯s your idea?¡± Arthur asked. ¡°Well, since the both of you don¡¯t want me to stay with the other, why don¡¯t I just move out to stay on my own?¡± she asked. ¡°No!¡± both men shouted in unison. Their words immediately destroyed Elspeth¡¯s brilliant n. She had been about to speak up for herself when she felt an ufortable sensation in her body. It felt like an rm that forced her to throw out all of the ideas that she had in mind. When Elspeth recalled how Arthur hadn¡¯t followed through with his words, she felt rather annoyed. ¡°You promised to treat my mother¡¯s illness. Are you going to break your promise?¡± Arthur raised an eyebrow. ¡°Well, I also told you that you would have to get engaged with me for me to treat your mother.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t hesitate after hearing his words. ¡°Let¡¯s do that. Let¡¯s do it now!¡± Callum was stunned. A dark fog seemed to cover his face as his gaze turned hard and cold. His re was so eerie that it could make anyone¡¯s hair stand on end. ¡°Are you sure about what you just said, Elspeth?¡± Beads of sweat formed on Elspeth¡¯s forehead as she thought, I have no choice but to go against Callum¡¯s wishes for now! ¡°Yeah. I made this promise with Arthur a while ago, so I have to stick to it.¡± She stepped forward and held Arthur¡¯s hand as if to prove herself. ¡°You can leave now if you don¡¯t need anything else. You should stop bothering me.¡± Callum¡¯s gaze remained hard and cold. ¡°I know you¡¯re saying this to infuriate me. Am I right?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m just being honest. Fine, I¡¯ll bepletely transparent with you¡ªI lost feelings for you a while ago. Callum, do you understand how your feelings toward me are making things tough for me? Sure, I might still like you a little, but I don¡¯t fancy you that much. I¡¯m definitely not going to give up on my mother just for you, okay?¡± Elspeth said. Callum had reached his limit at this point. ¡°I know what you¡¯re doing. You¡¯re trying to trigger me to take action, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Why do I have to trigger you to do anything? I could¡¯ve just used my eyes to hint at you to y along with me if I wanted to, so there¡¯s no need for me to utter such heartless words, right? Aren¡¯t you thinking a little too highly of yourself?¡± Elspeth¡¯s words made sense. Arthur was shocked¡ªhe had never heard Elspeth saying such cruel things, and he had never seen Elspeth hurting Callum in that way. Even Arthur could tell that Callum was taken aback by Elspeth¡¯s actions. Callum¡¯s gaze darkened as he knitted his brows together. There was a hint of moisture forming over his dark pupils. Is Callum¡­ crying? Elspeth felt a sharp ache in her chest when she saw the tears in the man¡¯s eyes. Did I go too far? She had never seen Callum cry in her whole life, nor had she ever seen such a vulnerable side of him. ¡°I¡¯ll ask this onest time. Are you sure that you want to get married to Arthur? Have you considered the consequences?¡± Callum asked. Elspeth gritted her teeth before responding to him. ¡°I won¡¯t repeat myself. I don¡¯t want to waste our time.¡± There was a shadow covering Callum¡¯s face, but it didn¡¯t conceal the sorrow in his expression. Forcing a smile, he said, ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll support your decision if that¡¯s what you want.¡± Chapter 351 Chapter 351 Chapter 351 Miscarriage Callum turned around, and as he left, Elspeth reached an arm out to grab him. However, she stopped abruptly, her hand hanging mid-air. ¡°Callum.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t have to be so harsh; you know? Look at him walking away with resentment.¡± Arthur smirked. ¡°Don¡¯t bother yourself with that. Either way, I¡¯ve already said yes. You better treat my mother soon.¡± Elspeth lowered her head and took a deep breath as a sliver of sadnessced her empty eyes. Arthur thought he would be happy after hearing her words, but instead, he actually felt a little upset, and he asked with mixed emotions, ¡°So you¡¯ve only agreed to marry me to save your mother, right?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think this is a stupid question?¡± Pfft. Do you expect me to fall in love with you when you treated me with that kind of attitude and even threatened me with itter?! It was a long-foreseen answer. Thest sliver of hope in Arthur¡¯s eyes faded away, and he said, ¡°Alright, got it. I will treat your mother immediately right after our engagement.¡± ¡°She only has one month left!¡± Elspeth turned anxious. She could agree with all of Arthur¡¯s conditions, even severing ties with Callum, just to treat her mother as soon as possible. However, Arthur kept dying it again and again. ¡°When do you propose our engagement be held then?¡± Arthur felt his heart growing stuffier by the second when he saw her staring at him with frosty eyes. ¡°Three days. That¡¯s enough for the necessary preparations.¡± Since they would be engaged, she had to give Arthur the proper respect as well. After all, Arthur wasn¡¯t only representing himself but the Blue Family. ¡­ Soon, the whole town heard about Arthur¡¯s engagement with a random woman. On the day of the engagement, Arthur suddenly barged in when Elspeth was doing her makeup in her room. He was dressed in a gray tailored suit that fitted his perfect figure, and the smile in his gaze deepened by the second when he looked at the young woman sitting at the vanity. ¡°I¡¯ll give you onest chance. Are you sure you won¡¯t regret it?¡± Elspeth, on the other hand, only finally directed her attention to the man after she finished applying her lipstick. ¡°At this point, it doesn¡¯t matter if I regret it anymore.¡± Arthur shrugged in response as if epting the answer. ¡°In that case, let¡¯s go downstairs.¡± She nodded expressionlessly, and Arthur extended his arm like a gentleman, leading her downstairs. Their engagement party was held inside Winthrop Residence, and as Arthur had gradually be a benchmark in the high society of this ce, many naturally showed up for his engagement. Soon after Arthur led Elspeth downstairs, he had no time to look after her anymore as a group of people surrounded him. Elspeth was happy to be left alone as well. She headed to a corner and started snacking away while sitting casually on the couch. In no time, she finished an entire te of snacks, and it was only when her fitted dress felt a little snug that she stopped eating. At that, she looked toward the ss of red wine next to her. However, someone else took the ss of adult juice just as she reached for it. ¡°Are you really sure you should be drinking when you¡¯re pregnant?¡± Elspeth asked unhurriedly while looking at the person in front of her. ¡°So what? He¡¯s not going to be weed anyway? So, what does it matter?¡± Ginna took a gander at her and down the entire ss without a second thought. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Elspeth asked in bewilderment. ¡°Did Gilbert not find you?¡± ¡°How can he find me when I don¡¯t want him to?¡± Ginna took advantage of her tipsiness to release her long bottled-up frustration but hurriedly halted when she realized she seemed to have let on a little too much to Elspeth. ¡°Alright, don¡¯t think about fishing for any information for me, and you can also forget about telling him.¡± ¡°Nah, this has nothing to do with me. This is between you two. Deal with it yourselves,¡± said Elspeth nonchntly as she reached for the other ss of liquor and savored it. ¡°Aren¡¯t you two close?¡± Ginna was surprised. ¡°And as far as I know, he still can¡¯t get over you.¡± ¡°Whatever rtionship it is you think he and I are in, we¡¯re not.¡± Elspeth frowned, not wanting to talk about it. At that, Ginna ridiculed, ¡°Oh, Elspeth. I never thought a smart woman like you would have a dumb moment!¡± ¡°So?¡± Elspeth tucked away her impatience. ¡°What¡¯s your point in saying this now?¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Ginna stoppedughing abruptly and put on her resentful look. ¡°You think I really want to talk about this? If it isn¡¯t because I found out your picture is living in his wallet, why do you think I¡¯d run away while pregnant just to find out whether he loves me?¡± Elspeth was stumped. She didn¡¯t think Ginna had such a lowly side. Aftering to herself, she advised, ¡°But you¡¯re carrying his child still. Why don¡¯t you just go back to him.¡± At that, Ginna chuckled wryly. ¡°Why should I? I want him to love me for me, not to trap him with a baby. If he doesn¡¯t love me, he can forget about ever seeing the baby and me.¡± Elspeth was somewhat shocked by her words. Comparatively, Emma was really far beneath her little sister. That said, Ginna seemed to be in a terrible mental state, and she might do something extreme that would affect the baby in her belly. After all, the child was Gilbert¡¯s and also rted to her to a certain extent. So, she still tried to advise Ginna. ¡°Take good care of your baby. You¡¯ll affect its growth if you get too emotional.¡± ¡°It¡¯s none of your business!¡± Ginna took a deep breath. ¡°We still haven¡¯t settled our score yet. You don¡¯t have to pretend tofort me.¡± What score? Emma? Elspeth gazed bafflingly at Ginna, and sure enough, hatred shed across the latter¡¯s eyes. ¡°I will certainlye after you two for what happened to my sister.¡± The other person she was referring to was naturally Callum. ¡°Why don¡¯t you do some digging about your sister instead? Find out what she¡¯s really like,¡± suggested Elspeth as she drank thest bit of wine. It seemed that Ginna wouldn¡¯t listen to whatever she had to say anymore. As much as Ginna didn¡¯t like her sister, they were still rted by blood, and she would always lean toward Emma no matter what. Thinking about that, Ginna snorted disdainfully. ¡°I will naturally seek justice from you once I get to the bottom of it.¡± Then, she ced the wine ss back onto the table and walked away. ¡­ Three minutester, a cry for help came suddenly from another corner not far away. ¡°Help! Someone¡¯s losing a lot of blood!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there. Call the ambnce!¡± For a moment, chaos enveloped the party. Chapter 352 Chapter 352 Chapter 352 I Did It The crowd swarmed in that direction, and an ominous feeling suddenly crept up to Elspeth, and she followed the crowd only to find Ginna lying on the ground with blood pooling between her legs. Using her medical experience, Elspeth believed Ginna was likely suffering from a miscarriage. With that, she immediately dialed 911 and then felt her breathing. It¡¯s clear that she¡¯s suffering from a miscarriage, yet she¡¯s showing signs of poisoning! ¡°Elspeth¡­¡± Ginna called out to her with slightly narrowed eyes while fighting her consciousness. ¡°What is it?¡± Elspeth leaned her ear against Ginna¡¯s lips to hear better. ¡°Please, save my child. Please, I beg you¡­¡± Ginna pleaded as she reached for her belly. ¡°Everything will have to wait until we reach the hospital and hear what the doctor has to say. I can¡¯t do anything right now.¡± After hearing Elspeth¡¯s words, Ginna seemed unable to hold on anymore as her eyes gradually lost focus, and she passed out eventually. The ambnce arrived soon after, and Elspeth and Arthur couldn¡¯t care less about the engagement party anymore. What was important right then was sending Ginna to the hospital. Just like that, the engagement was postponed. ¡­ After they arrived at the hospital¡¯s emergency room, Elspeth stood guard anxiously at the door. Arthur, on the other hand, was rather impassive. ¡°What are you so worried about? It¡¯s not like that¡¯s your child in there,¡± he said, looking at Elspeth while leaning against the bench. However, it only annoyed her further when it seemed that he wanted bigger drama. ¡°If something bad happens to the child, given Ginna¡¯s vengeful personality, she¡¯ll be bound to do something again.¡± To that, Arthur crossed his leg and fiddled with his phone while saying, ¡°If she wants to seek revenge, then let her be. You don¡¯t have to worry. If she does anything to you, I won¡¯t let her get away with it. You¡¯re my fianc¨¦e now, after all.¡± Sure, making sarcastic remarks is going to help with the situation. Having done talking to him, Elspeth directed her attention back to the lit-up ¡®in operation¡¯ sign above her head. Very quickly, the light switched off, and a doctor walked out. ¡°Is the patient¡¯s family here?¡± he asked after sweeping his gaze across the space. At that, Elspeth came forward. ¡°Her family¡¯s not here at the moment. I can represent them for now.¡± The doctor sighed and shook his head when he saw how anxious she looked. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. The child¡¯s gone.¡± ¡°Is there really no other way?¡± Elspeth¡¯s heart sank. ¡°She was poisoned with a deadly substance, and its toxins had already spread to her uterus. If you forcibly keep the baby, he will be born with the toxin, and worst, he might be born deformed.¡± Elspeth locked her brows into a tight furrow in response. Secondster, she said firmly, ¡°Got it. Thank you, Doctor.¡± Ginna, on the other hand, had been transferred to the general ward when her condition improved after receiving treatment, and a nurse was feeding her medicine when Elspeth visited her. As she looked at the poor young woman¡¯s now t belly, a hint of pity shed across her eyes, and when she ced the fruits she had brought onto the table, Ginna swept it all away before she even had the chance to set it down properly. ¡°Get out!¡± she screamed, startling the nurse, causing thetter to jolt and nearly drop the medicine. Ginna¡¯s anger was through the roof, and when she saw Elspeth, it was like she had found a target to vent it all out. ¡°I said scram!¡± ¡°I know you¡¯re upset because you¡¯ve lost your child,¡± Elspeth said inly. ¡°But it has nothing to do with me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still denying it even when it hase to this?! Elspeth Lynwood, do you even have a heart?!¡± Ginna¡¯s hatred blew up like a balloon as she felt her belly. ¡°You must¡¯ve drugged me to kill my child because you can¡¯t stand seeing me live a good life!¡± She couldn¡¯t think of anyone else apart from this woman who¡¯d want to harm her. ¡°Tell me then. What¡¯s my motive?¡± Motive¡­ ¡°You have so many! You must be livid because I said I want to get back at you guys because of my sister. Besides, you like Gilbert too, do you not?!¡± Elspeth was visibly taken aback when Ginna brought Gilbert up, and thetter turned malicious suddenly as though she had gotten leverage on Elspeth. ¡°I knew it! You love Gilbert. That¡¯s why you killed my child!¡± For some reason, Elspeth found it amusing. ¡°I¡¯ve long gotten over him. Yes, I used to like him; I admit that. But he¡¯s already history to me.¡± However, Ginna had already let hatred consume her a long time ago. There was no way she could listen to Elspeth¡¯s reasons. ¡°Who knows if you¡¯re lying or not?! So many men circle around you every day. Any man you like suddenly has a baby with another woman, and that¡¯ll deal a blow to your ego. That must be why you retaliated against me.¡± At that, Elspeth rolled her eyes. That¡¯s it. She¡¯s a gone case! She¡¯s behaving like someone has mmed her head with a brick. ¡°I take back what I said about you being smart. Your imagination sure is wild. Are you sure your cranial nerve wasn¡¯t affected by your pregnancy? You should get it checked.¡± Ginna was already in a terrible mood when she had just lost her child, and how after hearing Elspeth¡¯s words, she directed her firepower at Elspeth even if it wasn¡¯t thetter¡¯s doing. ¡°You just have to be insufferably arrogant, don¡¯t you, Lynwood?! Alright, fine, go ahead and kill me if you¡¯re so capable, or I wille at you for the rest of my life!¡± Great, she¡¯s gone nuts now! Elspeth knew the young woman would only loathe her even more if she continued to stay. Hence, she ignored Ginna¡¯s words and turned to leave. ¡°Hey!¡± Ginna suddenly called out to her, and Elspeth turned around, asking cidly as she gazed into Ginna¡¯s eyes, ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell Gilbert just yet.¡± Pain shed across Ginna¡¯s eyes as she felt her belly. As much as Elspeth felt bad for the young woman, the whole incident had nothing to do with her, and she didn¡¯t need to feel bad for Ginna either. ¡°This is your issue. I won¡¯t go to him about this.¡± With that, Elspeth left the ward. Arthur was waiting at the hospital¡¯s main entrance, and seeing that she didn¡¯t look right when she came out, he asked, ¡°She gave you a hard time again, didn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°Why do you care?¡± None of this would¡¯ve happened if it weren¡¯t for the stupid engagement party. Hence, Elspeth felt vexed even just looking at Arthur¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯re my fianc¨¦e. Of course, I have to stand up for you if she bullies you.¡± It was like he didn¡¯t care about her tantrums as he ruffled her hair as he pleased. Of course, his hand was swatted away with disdain. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll let you in on a little secret.¡± ¡°What secret?¡± Elspeth nced side-eyed at him. ¡°Actually, I was the one who poisoned the baby in her belly,¡± said the man with a creepy grin. It was evident that Elspeth had a hard time registering what she had just heard as she only appeared shocked after a long time. ¡°Why would you do that?!¡± Arthur and Ginna had no personal grudges. In fact, he even used to like her sister Emma¡­rment. ¡°Did Gilbert not find you?¡± ¡°How can he find me when I don¡¯t want him to?¡± Ginna took advantage of her tipsiness to release her long bottled-up frustration but hurriedly halted when she realized she seemed to have let on a little too much to Elspeth. ¡°Alright, don¡¯t think about fishing for any information for me, and you can also forget about telling him.¡± ¡°Nah, this has nothing to do with me. This is between you two. Deal with it yourselves,¡± said Elspeth nonchntly as she reached for the other ss of liquor and savored it. ¡°Aren¡¯t you two close?¡± Ginna was surprised. ¡°And as far as I know, he still can¡¯t get over you.¡± ¡°Whatever rtionship it is you think he and I are in, we¡¯re not.¡± Elspeth frowned, not wanting to talk about it. At that, Ginna ridiculed, ¡°Oh, Elspeth. I never thought a smart woman like you would have a dumb moment!¡± ¡°So?¡± Elspeth tucked away her impatience. ¡°What¡¯s your point in saying this now?¡± Ginna stoppedughing abruptly and put on her resentful look. ¡°You think I really want to talk about this? If it isn¡¯t because I found out your picture is living in his wallet, why do you think I¡¯d run away while pregnant just to find out whether he loves me?¡± Elspeth was stumped. She didn¡¯t think Ginna had such a lowly side. Aftering to herself, she advised, ¡°But you¡¯re carrying his child still. Why don¡¯t you just go back to him.¡± At that, Ginna chuckled wryly. ¡°Why should I? I want him to love me for me, not to trap him with a baby. If he doesn¡¯t love me, he can forget about ever seeing the baby and me.¡± Elspeth was somewhat shocked by her words. Comparatively, Emma was really far beneath her little sister. That said, Ginna seemed to be in a terrible mental state, and she might do something extreme that would affect the baby in her belly. After all, the child was Gilbert¡¯s and also rted to her to a certain extent. So, she still tried to advise Ginna. ¡°Take good care of your baby. You¡¯ll affect its growth if you get too emotional.¡± ¡°It¡¯s none of your business!¡± Ginna took a deep breath. ¡°We still haven¡¯t settled our score yet. You don¡¯t have to pretend tofort me.¡± What score? Emma? Elspeth gazed bafflingly at Ginna, and sure enough, hatred shed across thetter¡¯s eyes. ¡°I will certainlye after you two for what happened to my sister.¡± The other person she was referring to was naturally Callum. ¡°Why don¡¯t you do some digging about your sister instead? Find out what she¡¯s really like,¡± suggested Elspeth as she drank thest bit of wine. It seemed that Ginna wouldn¡¯t listen to whatever she had to say anymore. As much as Ginna didn¡¯t like her sister, they were still rted by blood, and she would always lean toward Emma no matter what. Thinking about that, Ginna snorted disdainfully. ¡°I will naturally seek justice from you once I get to the bottom of it.¡± Then, she ced the wine ss back onto the table and walked away. ¡­ Three minutester, a cry for help came suddenly from another corner not far away. ¡°Help! Someone¡¯s losing a lot of blood!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there. Call the ambnce!¡± For a moment, chaos enveloped the party. Chapter 352 I Did It The crowd swarmed in that direction, and an ominous feeling suddenly crept up to Elspeth, and she followed the crowd only to find Ginna lying on the ground with blood pooling between her legs. Using her medical experience, Elspeth believed Ginna was likely suffering from a miscarriage. With that, she immediately dialed 911 and then felt her breathing. It¡¯s clear that she¡¯s suffering from a miscarriage, yet she¡¯s showing signs of poisoning! ¡°Elspeth¡­¡± Ginna called out to her with slightly narrowed eyes while fighting her consciousness. ¡°What is it?¡± Elspeth leaned her ear against Ginna¡¯s lips to hear better. ¡°Please, save my child. Please, I beg you¡­¡± Ginna pleaded as she reached for her belly. ¡°Everything will have to wait until we reach the hospital and hear what the doctor has to say. I can¡¯t do anything right now.¡± After hearing Elspeth¡¯s words, Ginna seemed unable to hold on anymore as her eyes gradually lost focus, and she passed out eventually. The ambnce arrived soon after, and Elspeth and Arthur couldn¡¯t care less about the engagement party anymore. What was important right then was sending Ginna to the hospital. Just like that, the engagement was postponed. ¡­ After they arrived at the hospital¡¯s emergency room, Elspeth stood guard anxiously at the door. Arthur, on the other hand, was rather impassive. ¡°What are you so worried about? It¡¯s not like that¡¯s your child in there,¡± he said, looking at Elspeth while leaning against the bench. However, it only annoyed her further when it seemed that he wanted bigger drama. ¡°If something bad happens to the child, given Ginna¡¯s vengeful personality, she¡¯ll be bound to do something again.¡± To that, Arthur crossed his leg and fiddled with his phone while saying, ¡°If she wants to seek revenge, then let her be. You don¡¯t have to worry. If she does anything to you, I won¡¯t let her get away with it. You¡¯re my fianc¨¦e now, after all.¡± Sure, making sarcastic remarks is going to help with the situation. Having done talking to him, Elspeth directed her attention back to the lit-up ¡®in operation¡¯ sign above her head. Very quickly, the light switched off, and a doctor walked out. ¡°Is the patient¡¯s family here?¡± he asked after sweeping his gaze across the space. At that, Elspeth came forward. ¡°Her family¡¯s not here at the moment. I can represent them for now.¡± The doctor sighed and shook his head when he saw how anxious she looked. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. The child¡¯s gone.¡± ¡°Is there really no other way?¡± Elspeth¡¯s heart sank. ¡°She was poisoned with a deadly substance, and its toxins had already spread to her uterus. If you forcibly keep the baby, he will be born with the toxin, and worst, he might be born deformed.¡± Elspeth locked her brows into a tight furrow in response. Secondster, she said firmly, ¡°Got it. Thank you, Doctor.¡± Ginna, on the other hand, had been transferred to the general ward when her condition improved after receiving treatment, and a nurse was feeding her medicine when Elspeth visited her. As she looked at the poor young woman¡¯s now t belly, a hint of pity shed across her eyes, and when she ced the fruits she had brought onto the table, Ginna swept it all away before she even had the chance to set it down properly. ¡°Get out!¡± she screamed, startling the nurse, causing thetter to jolt and nearly drop the medicine. Ginna¡¯s anger was through the roof, and when she saw Elspeth, it was like she had found a target to vent it all out. ¡°I said scram!¡± ¡°I know you¡¯re upset because you¡¯ve lost your child,¡± Elspeth said inly. ¡°But it has nothing to do with me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still denying it even when it hase to this?! Elspeth Lynwood, do you even have a heart?!¡± Ginna¡¯s hatred blew up like a balloon as she felt her belly. ¡°You must¡¯ve drugged me to kill my child because you can¡¯t stand seeing me live a good life!¡± She couldn¡¯t think of anyone else apart from this woman who¡¯d want to harm her. ¡°Tell me then. What¡¯s my motive?¡± Motive¡­ ¡°You have so many! You must be livid because I said I want to get back at you guys because of my sister. Besides, you like Gilbert too, do you not?!¡± Elspeth was visibly taken aback when Ginna brought Gilbert up, and thetter turned malicious suddenly as though she had gotten leverage on Elspeth. ¡°I knew it! You love Gilbert. That¡¯s why you killed my child!¡± For some reason, Elspeth found it amusing. ¡°I¡¯ve long gotten over him. Yes, I used to like him; I admit that. But he¡¯s already history to me.¡± However, Ginna had already let hatred consume her a long time ago. There was no way she could listen to Elspeth¡¯s reasons. ¡°Who knows if you¡¯re lying or not?! So many men circle around you every day. Any man you like suddenly has a baby with another woman, and that¡¯ll deal a blow to your ego. That must be why you retaliated against me.¡± At that, Elspeth rolled her eyes. That¡¯s it. She¡¯s a gone case! She¡¯s behaving like someone has mmed her head with a brick. ¡°I take back what I said about you being smart. Your imagination sure is wild. Are you sure your cranial nerve wasn¡¯t affected by your pregnancy? You should get it checked.¡± Ginna was already in a terrible mood when she had just lost her child, and how after hearing Elspeth¡¯s words, she directed her firepower at Elspeth even if it wasn¡¯t thetter¡¯s doing. ¡°You just have to be insufferably arrogant, don¡¯t you, Lynwood?! Alright, fine, go ahead and kill me if you¡¯re so capable, or I wille at you for the rest of my life!¡± Great, she¡¯s gone nuts now! Elspeth knew the young woman would only loathe her even more if she continued to stay. Hence, she ignored Ginna¡¯s words and turned to leave. ¡°Hey!¡± Ginna suddenly called out to her, and Elspeth turned around, asking cidly as she gazed into Ginna¡¯s eyes, ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell Gilbert just yet.¡± Pain shed across Ginna¡¯s eyes as she felt her belly. As much as Elspeth felt bad for the young woman, the whole incident had nothing to do with her, and she didn¡¯t need to feel bad for Ginna either. ¡°This is your issue. I won¡¯t go to him about this.¡± With that, Elspeth left the ward. Arthur was waiting at the hospital¡¯s main entrance, and seeing that she didn¡¯t look right when she came out, he asked, ¡°She gave you a hard time again, didn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°Why do you care?¡± None of this would¡¯ve happened if it weren¡¯t for the stupid engagement party. Hence, Elspeth felt vexed even just looking at Arthur¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯re my fianc¨¦e. Of course, I have to stand up for you if she bullies you.¡± It was like he didn¡¯t care about her tantrums as he ruffled her hair as he pleased. Of course, his hand was swatted away with disdain. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll let you in on a little secret.¡± ¡°What secret?¡± Elspeth nced side-eyed at him. ¡°Actually, I was the one who poisoned the baby in her belly,¡± said the man with a creepy grin. It was evident that Elspeth had a hard time registering what she had just heard as she only appeared shocked after a long time. ¡°Why would you do that?!¡± Arthur and Ginna had no personal grudges. In fact, he even used to like her sister Emma¡­ Chapter 353 What¡¯s Between You and Him ¡°You want to know why?¡± Arthur pulled an inexplicably baffling and amorous smile at Elspeth, who held her breath and said, ¡°Tell me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a secret!¡± With that, the man walked away resolutely. Then, something seemed to have hit him as he turned back around. ¡°That reminds me. Our engagement party was ruined. We¡¯ll have to redo it in a couple of days. You better get ready for it again.¡± Elspeth had just lost interest in why he would poison Ginna, and now he threw this bomb at her. ¡°Can¡¯t we just leave it as it is? We¡¯ve already done it once, and everyone already knows.¡± All things aside, just having to wake up at 5.00AM to get her makeup done was already torturous enough. ¡°That won¡¯t fly. I¡¯m a man of principles; everything needs to be done through and through.¡± Arthur shook his head with a frown. It seemed that he cared a lot about this matter. In the end, he still left after he said everything he wanted to. Elspeth didn¡¯t have anything important to see to either. Then, it suddenly urred to her that she hadn¡¯t given Isabel the medicinal herbs she had brought back the other time. Hence, she decided to buy a few other medicinal herbs from the hospital to mix with that batch after reaching home. However, there were too few medicinal herbs in hospitals abroad. Even if the hospital she was in had the city¡¯srgest medicinal herb dispensary, she couldn¡¯t enter as she pleased, let alone obtain those medicinal herbs. Still, she went with a glimmer of hope. Just as she arrived at the entrance, the middle-aged man guarding the medicinal herb dispensary stood up and cautioned gravely, ¡°Persons concerned only, miss. Please leave.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to purchase some medicinal herbs. May I please speak to your person-in-charge about it?¡± Elspeth asked politely. ¡°But¡­¡± Seeing that a stunning, polite woman pleaded to him, the middle- aged man started hesitating. At that, Elspeth began imploring and talking her way into it. Coupled with her impable smile, the man gave in immediately. ¡°Alright, alright, let me check.¡± With that, the man left and returned with a Damorian guy, whom Elspeth thought looked familiar but just couldn¡¯t quite figure out where she had seen him. As thetter was also from Damoria, he lowered his guard immediately after seeing Elspeth, and he asked, ¡°May I know what you¡¯ll be doing with these medicinal herbs, miss?¡± ¡°I have a friend seeking medical treatment,¡± she answered euphemistically, ¡°and I happened to specialize in traditional medicine, so I¡¯d like to buy some medicinal herbs.¡± Hearing that she specialized in traditional medicine, the man narrowed his eyes slightly, and he sized her up arbitrarily with his piercing gaze. ¡°You look like you¡¯re just in your early twenties, and you say you specialize in traditional medicine?¡± Elspeth suspected that the man doubted her because she said she ¡®specialized¡¯ in the study, so she backtracked her words at once. ¡°Well, not really. I just know a thing or two.¡± ¡°Know a thing or two, and you already dare treat someone else so casually. Are you not worried you¡¯ll cause your friend misfortune?¡± The man was displeased no matter what she said. ¡°Yes, I only know a thing or two, and I¡¯m not skilled enough, but my mentor¡¯s a master in traditional medicine. Nothing will happen to her.¡± At that, the man became even more skeptical. ¡°You have a mentor? What¡¯s his name?¡± Anyone with a good temper would¡¯ve long be annoyed after so much questioning, let alone Elspeth. ¡°This doesn¡¯t have much to do with my wish to purchase medicinal herbs, does it?¡± Elspeth¡¯s gaze turned cold. ¡°Of course, it does. If something bad happens to your friend after consuming the medicinal herbs you got from us, people wille to us after finding out the source of those herbs. So, to avoid any unnecessary issues, I have to get things straight.¡± At the end of the day, the man was just doing his job. ¡°I only have some trust in you and asked so many questions because you¡¯re also from Damoria. If it were someone else, I¡¯d have shooed them away immediately.¡± ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. I can¡¯t tell you my mentor¡¯s name. But I can most certainly treat my friend¡¯s illness.¡± Elspeth realized her overreaction might have upset him. ¡°In that case, you can forget about purchasing any medicinal herbs from us.¡± The man¡¯s expectant gaze dimmed at once. After all, how could anyone bet on a person¡¯s life so easily?! ¡°Well, can I please have a private moment with you? I¡¯ll tell only you,¡± Elspeth negotiated, seeing that the man wanted to leave. He stopped at once, and he looked side-eyed toward the foreign man next to him. Thetter understood at once and walked away acquiescently, as unwilling as he was. ¡°Alright, tell me.¡± Now that it was just the two of them, Elspeth answered frankly. ¡°He¡¯s Sonny Schwartz.¡± The man¡¯s expression stiffened at once. ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s his name?¡± ¡°Yeah. Do you happen to know him personally?¡± Elspeth¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and an inexplicably ominous feeling crept up to her, for his expression wasn¡¯t one of the joys of encountering a friend but the repulsion of meeting a foe. Sure enough, the man turned grim at once. ¡°I can¡¯t sell my herbs to you then.¡± The next second, he turned and left angrily. With that, Elspeth went up to him and grabbed his wrist in desperation. She had such a firm grip on him that he couldn¡¯t break free at all. For a moment, he didn¡¯t know what to say. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°I really need the herbs. I hope you can overlook the grudges between you two and sell them to me,¡± Elspeth entreated anxiously, causing a chuckle of anger to escape the man. ¡°You think I have a grudge against him? Do you even know the backstory?¡± Elspeth was rendered at a loss for words for a moment. ¡°But you turned me down as soon as you heard my mentor¡¯s name. Is there no grudge between you two?¡± The man hurriedly wrested his wrist free while she was distracted. ¡°Alright, fine. You¡¯ve proven your point. You really have to buy them, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Elspeth nodded. ¡°In that case, you have to pass my test.¡± The man felt his chin before continuing, ¡°As long as you pass this test, I can give it to you for nothing.¡± Have I just hit the jackpot? ¡°Alright.¡± Elspeth nodded. ¡°What¡¯s the test?¡± ¡°You can use all the herbs in this dispensary. I will specify a sickness, and you have to dispense it. As long as I am pleased with your results, I will give you the herbs for free.¡± Well, it wasn¡¯t a difficult task, but it wouldn¡¯t be easy either. Back when she was living with Sonny, the old man would force her to dispense medicine every day. With time, she would know what herbs have been dispensed for certain medications without even having to look at the prescription. ¡°But if I¡¯m not happy with the result¡­ You will have to leave immediately.¡± Chapter 354 Mentee To-Be or Not To-Be The first part of his speech was nothing to take personally, but thetter part was obviously mixed with elements of subjectivity, and Elspeth couldn¡¯t help feeling somewhat frustrated. What if he still kicked her out because he had a problem with her mentor even though she passed the test? The man understood her thoughts at once when he saw her hesitating, and he hit the roof. ¡°Do you think I am that kind of person?!¡± At that, Elspeth chuckled awkwardly while musing, Haven¡¯t your words just now proven whether you¡¯re that kind of guy? But of course, she dared not say it upfront, seeing how livid the man was. So, she cleared her throat. ¡°Of course not.¡± Finally, the man hmphed with content, then led Elspeth into the massive dispensary. With that, the young woman swept her gaze across the ce, wondering, ¡°This ce is massive. They should have what I¡¯m looking for, right?¡± ¡°Alright, dispense a prescription for typhoid fever.¡± At that, the man checked his watch, and as the minute hand arrived on the fifteenth minute, he said, ¡°You have half an hour.¡± ¡°Thirty¡¯s a little long. Let¡¯s do ten minutes.¡± Elspeth was aware that he wasn¡¯t putting her in a tight spot at all, but she didn¡¯t want to waste too much time doing boring stuff like this, either. As a result, the man widened his eyes with incredulity. ¡°The thirty minutes includes the time for you to find the herbs and distinguish them. But you want to shorten it to ten? Don¡¯t tell me you want to tank now before even starting?¡± Tank¡­ That¡¯s pretty fresh ng. Elspeth genuinely didn¡¯t think she¡¯d find someone who¡¯d know the term on the other side of the world. ¡°I really don¡¯t need thirty minutes. That¡¯s too long.¡± ¡°Since you¡¯re so confident, I won¡¯t say no, then.¡± The man nodded with peace of mind at that. ¡°Very well. Ten minutes it is. I¡¯ll inspect your findingster.¡± ¡°I want medicine that will give the best result. Don¡¯t go around thinking you can fool me with amon prescription,¡± he added, worried she¡¯d be somewhat lofty. Common? Sonny would probably flip out if he heard what this guy said. That man constantly rambles about how everything he produces is the best of the best. But if this guy doesn¡¯t make much of Sonny¡¯s prescription, I¡¯ll sever our mentor-mentee rtionship with him. That said, that would be a story for another day. ¡­ The countdown began, and the man sat down on the chair aside. As he sipped on the tea that had been pre-prepared, he sized up the young woman busying away with his peripheral vision. Meanwhile, Elspeth¡¯s eyes lit up after her gaze swept across the dispensary storing thousands of medicinal herbs. She had thought she¡¯d have a hard time finding the herbs with how they were organized, but it turned out that the arrangements were nearly identical to Sonny¡¯s. Can it be¡­ A bold notion came to her, but she quickly suppressed it. The most important thing right then was dispensing the medicine. As she searched through the dispensary, she inadvertently grabbed a few herbs, and every time she did, the man would quirk his brows. All else aside, this girl really knows what to pick out. All of them are rarities that I¡¯m reluctant to use. At that, his gaze finally turned from skeptical to admiration. However, Elspeth didn¡¯t notice it. She was picking out the herbs while recalling what Sonny had taught her, which honestly had long been seared into her mind. When the time came to eight and a half minutes, Elspeth ced a box of medicinal herbs on the table beside the man. ¡°I¡¯m done.¡± The man hadn¡¯t even finished his tea when he saw her standing confidently aside, waiting for him to inspect her prescription. At that, he quirked his lips. This girl managed to get the prescription ready in less than ten minutes?! Even his mentee spent an entire two weeks just memorizing his dispensary, but this girl picked out the herbs like this was her dispensary! That said, he still couldn¡¯t trust her judgment so simply just yet. At that, he checked the herbs she picked out thoroughly, and by the end of it, he turned grim. Everything was fine until he saw thest two herbs, which evidently conflicted with the other herbs earlier. The patient will probably get seriously sick from this prescription. ¡°Are you sure you haven¡¯t mixed up your dispenses?¡± ¡°Impossible.¡± Elspeth looked innocently at him. ¡°This is exactly it. Do you not know the prescription?¡± ¡°I think I still know a cure for an illness as basic as typhoid when I¡¯ve been in this field for forty years.¡± The man turned grim at once, surprised that she would question his ability. At that, Elspeth burst into a chuckle. ¡°Then it must be that you haven¡¯t updated your knowledge for a while. You probably haven¡¯t come up with new innovations for a while either, have you?¡± Great, she¡¯s challenging my authority now! The man turned grimmer by the second. ¡°Impossible. I¡¯ve also added these herbs in the past, but none of them are usable!¡± ¡°Then, the problem probably lies in the way you make them.¡± Elspeth spread her hands out, not looking nervous at all. The man narrowed his eyes and stared bewilderedly at her at that. ¡°You¡¯re saying you¡¯ve achieved sess using this prescription?¡± Oh, how Elspeth had a say in this topic. ¡°My mentor would always use this prescription to treat me whenever I was down with a cold back then. I had so much of it that I can even point out what herbs have been used as soon as I taste it now.¡± That is so outrageous¡­ yetmon. The man couldn¡¯t help but sigh as he looked at how confident the young woman was. ¡°You really can¡¯t overlook the young ones.¡± How can such a wonderful youngdy be Schwartz¡¯s mentee?! The thought of Sonny had him gritting his teeth in anger and his expression turning from admiration to deploring. ¡°So¡­ Have I passed the test?¡± Elspeth wasn¡¯t sure what he was thinking when she saw how quickly his countenances shifted. At that, the man cleared his throat. ¡°I¡­ If you want to pass the test, I have one more condition.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Elspeth grew bewildered as she looked at his awkward expression. ¡°You¡­ I¡¯ll give the medicinal herbs to you for free if you agree to sever your mentor-mentee rtionship with Schwartz.¡± Elspeth was stunned. It would be even better if I could just be his mentee! That way, I¡¯d inherit the entire dispensary. That mentee of his he mentioned sounded ipetent anyway¡­ ¡°You won¡¯t get a second chance at this. Once you pass up this offer, this is it!¡± said the man with beaming eyes while devising his n. Elspeth, on the other hand, couldn¡¯t make out what the man had in mind. Sure, Sonny was quite annoying, but she still wasn¡¯t very willing to sever her mentorship with the old man. ¡°This demand¡¯s a little imposing, don¡¯t you think? I refuse.¡± With that, the man snorted and said, ¡°Alright, so be it then. Please leave.¡± How exasperating. The mentee-to-be right in front of him, gone, just like that. However, Elspeth suddenly smirked icily. ¡°But¡­ since you¡¯re not going to y nice, we¡¯ll do it the hard way then.¡± Chapter 355 Owe a Favor The man was stumped, and his heart skipped a beat when the benign young woman¡¯s gaze at him turned hostile the next second. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Nothing, of course.¡± Sure, that was what she said, but Elspeth still rotated her wrist while approaching the man. ¡°I¡¯m warning you, you better not touch me. I¡¯m¡ª¡± the man cautioned in panic and nearly revealed his identity, but he quickly shut up, his face dark. ¡°You¡¯re what?¡± Elspeth was rendered stupefied, and during the moment she zoned out, the man¡¯s countenance shifted multitudes. ¡°No, nothing. I¡¯m no one. Alright, what do you propose?¡± Lo and behold, Elspeth sped his wrist the next second, and it was only now that he realized her grip on him half an hour ago was already considered loose. Now, not only could he feel a sense of restraint but even intimidation. At that, he gulped, suddenly realizing this youngdy wasn¡¯t someone he could mess with. ¡°Do as I say. Be a good doctor and hand me the herbs I want.¡± ¡°Ptui! Dream on!¡± the man cussed. ¡°Right now, you¡¯re in my hands, and there are only the two of us here.¡± Elspeth shrugged. It seemed that she wasn¡¯t afraid at all. ¡°What makes you think I will listen to you?¡± The man sneered in response. ¡°I¡¯m warning you¡ªthere¡¯s a trap in here¡­¡± At that, Elspeth moved to his back and yanked the button out when she felt it by his feet. Then, she dangled it in front of him and asked him with feigned innocence and shock. ¡°What trap? You don¡¯t mean this thing, do you?¡± The man¡¯s smile disappeared instantly, reced with disbelief. ¡°How did you know that was it?!¡± He had never told anyone¡ªeven his mentee¡ªabout the trap in here. So how was it possible for a young woman, who had just entered his dispensary in less than half an hour, to know about the trap he had set up?! His bafflement grew by the second, but Elspeth made nothing of his paranoia and only asked with discontent. ¡°You were¡­ going to call for help?¡± It was only now that the man realized the young woman standing in front of him wasn¡¯t only artful but also devious. She¡¯s too devious! Just like Schwartz, that old fart! The man was thin-skinned, yet he couldn¡¯t force himself to say no, so he ended up grumbling, ¡°Can you let go of me first? I¡¯ll try and find you whatever it is you want.¡± But Elspeth couldn¡¯t care less about how he was feeling. She pulled a rope out and tied him securely to the chair before turning to the dispensary. ¡°Thank you, but no trouble. I¡¯ll do this myself. I¡¯m quite familiar with it, you see.¡± Elspeth smiled at him with a tilted head before disappearing into the dispensary in two shakes. Then, about then minutester, she came back out with a bag¡ªfrom who knew where she got ¡ªfull of stuff. When Elspeth brought the medicinal herbs to the man, she failed to hold back and guffawed when she saw his grim look. ¡°Sorry.¡± On the other hand, the man¡¯s heart twinged painfully as though someone hadcerated it when he looked at all the herbs she had bagged up. Then again, he had lost to her, so he couldn¡¯t flip out. But of course, his countenance had shifted multitudes in thest couple of seconds. ¡°Alright, you already got what you came for. Can you release me now?¡± To that, Elspeth shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to stay tied up for a while longer.¡± She was no fool. He would certainly catch her if she released him now. He should wait until his subordinate came and saved him. At that, Elspeth pulled an enigmatic smile at him, then waltzed out of the medicinal herb dispensary, leaving the man shouting for help to no avail. Oh, how he rued the day! Then again, the young woman stuck to her words, for the foreign man came in a couple of minutester, only to be freaked out by what he saw. ¡°What happened to you, Doctor?¡± the foreign man asked. To that, the man gestured with his eyes for the foreign man to untie him while gnashing his teeth in anger. Finally realizing what he should¡¯ve been doing, the foreign man hurriedly released the man. ¡°Why are you tied up, Doctor? I thought you were looking for me? Thedy said you wanted to see me here.¡± The man red disappointingly at the foreign man before saying, ¡°We¡¯ve both been duped!¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°She¡¯s not whom she appears to be. She¡¯s a skilled fighter and is even well-versed in traditional medicine. Too bad¡­¡± Too bad she was Schwartz¡¯s apprentice. He still felt unfortunate even at this point. Meanwhile, the foreign man burst into anger after hearing the man¡¯s words. ¡°What do you say, then, Doctor? Should I gather a few guys to teach her a lesson?¡± The man shook his head. ¡°First, you¡¯re no match for her. Second, I will beat you into a pulp if you dare ruin such a rare talent.¡± Sure, he was upset about being tied up, but he still knew what was more important. As assertive as Elspeth was, she was genuinely a rare talent for traditional medicine¡¯s future development. Hence, it was why he let her take whatever she wanted instead of activating the second defense system. As if there could only be one trap in this massive medicinal herb dispensary! He merely let her go intentionally. Wonder if the girl will understand that she now owes me a favor. The man sighed as he stroked his beard. The foreign man, on the other hand, was baffled. Why do I end up being scolded and threatened when the woman was the one who stole our medicinal herbs?! ¡­ Meanwhile, Elspeth returned to Winthrop Residence with the bag of medicinal herbs, and she found Arthur cooking as soon as she entered. She came to realize the man loved cooking. Though he looked enigmatic, who¡¯d have thought he was actually a foodie deep down, especially after he returned home. The animosity that shrouded him would disperse completely. Right then, he was wearing an apron, cooking up a vegetable stir-fry in the kitchen, and oddly enough, Elspeth couldn¡¯t hate him at all. She stretched, and as soon as she yawned, the man in the kitchen turned around, saying, ¡°Go and wash up. Dinner¡¯s almost ready.¡± For some reason, another person came to mind when she saw him smiling at him with a spat in his hand. Wonder what Callum is doing now¡­ Would he have already left the city and gone back to Damoria in devastation after knowing how heartless I was? What if he encounters a gentle young woman, falls in love with her, and the two end up marrying? Ah! Touch wood! What are you thinking, Lynwood?! Elspeth shook her head to get rid of the ridiculous thoughts. At this point, what happened to Callum was no longer her business. After all, with her health, it was likely impossible for her to live forever with him. So why not find the best of both worlds¡­ Chapter 356 Their Engagement Is Trending Online While Elspeth was deep in her thoughts, Isabel, who happened to be passing by, suddenly patted her shoulder and asked, ¡°What¡¯s on your mind, Elspeth?¡± Meeting Isabel¡¯s pure and innocent smile, Elspeth suddenly felt much better. ¡°Oh, nothing. I was just wondering why today¡¯s cooking smells so terrible.¡± The next second, a chili hit her head, and Elspeth looked in the direction the chili came from to find Arthur wearing a half-smile, looking grimly at her not far away. ¡°What was that, Elspeth?¡± The young woman immediately realized she had spoken too loudly just now, and she hurriedly shut up. At that, she took a gander at Isabel, and the two smiled at each other. ¡°Actually, I think the cooking today¡¯s not too bad¡­¡± Isabel sniffed the air in bafflement, leading Elspeth to ruffle her hair with a smile. ¡°Alright, I was just joking. Wash your hands and get ready for dinner. I¡¯m heading to my room. I still have something to attend to.¡± ¡°Is it the medicine? Have you made progress with it?¡± As brilliant as Isabel was, she guessed it immediately when she saw the glow on Elspeth¡¯s face. ¡°Shh. Don¡¯t say it even if you¡¯ve figured it out, or it wouldn¡¯t be a surprise anymore.¡± Her words upset Elspeth, and thetter ruffled the young girl¡¯s hair with a moue. ¡°Thank you, Elspeth!¡± said Isabel, so overwhelmed with joy that her voice was shaky as she felt her somewhat mottled face. ¡°Aww, this is nothing.¡± Elspeth felt somewhat sentimental. ¡°This is all for you. You wouldn¡¯t have suffered this injury if you hadn¡¯t saved me.¡± Isabel nodded and scratched her head bashfully. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll wait for your good news.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± With that, Elspeth returned to her room in a brilliant mood. Her phone rang just as she entered her room. At that, she pulled her phone out and immediately saw the caller ID. Gilbert? Though doubtful, she still answered it. ¡°Elspeth, where are you right now?¡± It sounded more like an order rather than a question. ¡°Well, excuse your temper. I don¡¯t recall owing you anything,¡± the young woman retorted with feigned anger. ¡°Don¡¯t go around doing stuff behind my back. Where are you?¡± Gilbert was beyond exasperated. He was worrying here, yet the person on the other line was behaving nonchntly and even fooling around. ¡°I¡¯m in Eden. Treating my Mom¡¯s illness.¡± Well, she wasn¡¯t exactly lying. Gilbert narrowed his eyes in response. ¡°I already found out Arthur has taken your mom away for medical treatment and coupled with what you said just now¡­ Does this mean you¡¯re with Arthur right now?¡± Just as Elspeth wanted to exin, her phone was taken away. At that, she looked up reflexively and found the man in question answering Gilbert with a smile. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m right next to her as we¡¯re speaking.¡± Instantly, Gilbert¡¯s worry instantly vanished. ¡°Arthur, I¡¯m warning you, drop whatever you want to do to Elspeth. You¡¯re not worthy of her!¡± s, the threat did nothing to affect Arthur. Instead, thetter countered with a fatal question. ¡°What about you? Do you think you¡¯re some kind of saint?¡± This time, not only was Gilbert stumped but even Elspeth was rmed. ¡°What do you mean?¡± asked the man on the other end of the line. A thought suddenly came to Elspeth, and she frantically hinted with her gaze at Arthur not to say anything. However, the man made nothing of it and blurted out, ¡°You say I¡¯m not worthy of Elspeth, so are you, someone who shirked their responsibility after impregnating another woman.¡± Great, he said it. Operation prevention failed. ¡°What does this have to do with you?¡± Gilbert felt somewhat humiliated, and his heart twinged painfully. After all, it was said in front of Elspeth. ¡°And what does whether Elspeth and I are together have to do with you? Straighten your own problems first. To think a father like you is still hiding in Chars when your child is already gone.¡± Arthur¡¯s words couldn¡¯t get any harsher, and Elspeth was certain Gilbert had never suffered such humiliation in the past twenty-plus years of his life. But for some reason, the man fell silent, deadly silent. A long whileter, when Elspeth thought Gilbert was surrounded by the pain of losing his child, he suddenly spoke up. ¡°Where is she?¡± To her surprise, there was a sliver of relief in his voice. ¡°Oh, so it has finally urred to you that you should look for her? You really are a wuss, Payne. As if you can¡¯t even find a pregnant woman with yourrge connection.¡± Arthur didn¡¯t answer his question and hung up the call immediately, causing Elspeth to re daggers at him. ¡°How dare you hang up my call!¡± While protesting, she even whacked him a few times. However, the man had no intention of fighting back. In fact, he didn¡¯t even appear angry. ¡°You should reflect on why you¡¯d fall for such a man who can¡¯t even take up the slightest responsibility,¡± he said while chucking the phone onto the bed. Elspeth could rte to Gilbert. He didn¡¯t have feelings for Ginna, yet he was drugged into having sex with the young woman and even ended up impregnating her, much to his dismay. So, could anyone me the man for wanting to escape the messed-up reality? That said, Arthur was right as well. Gilbert really was a wuss. Unable to defend him anymore, Elspeth cleared her throat and said, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s put this aside for now. This is their problem, not mine.¡± ¡°How is it not?¡± Arthur pinched and swung her cheek. ¡°He¡¯s already reaching his hands toward my fianc¨¦e. Don¡¯t tell me you can¡¯t tell he has feelings for you.¡± Meanwhile, Elspeth swatted his hand away and rubbed her reddened cheek while backing up, only to stub her feet on the leg of her bed, causing her to cry in pain. ¡°Ow¡­ You stay away from me. Nothing good happens to me when you¡¯re around.¡± At that, a hint of grimness shed across Arthur¡¯s eyes, but a sliver of a smile quickly reced it. ¡°Forget it. Since you can¡¯t ept anything I say, I will keep quiet. The new engagement party¡¯s tomorrow. If it¡¯s not toote, you might even be able to invite Payne over.¡± ¡°How do you know he¡¯ll be here?¡± Elspeth asked with a quirked brow. Arthur spread his arms and remarked, ¡°If he can¡¯t even come for this, then he really has no right to love you. Weak, irresponsible, and won¡¯t even ept reality.¡± What does this have to do with me again?! Elspeth quirked her lips and shoved him out of her room out of frustration. ¡°Get out. Next time, don¡¯te in without my permission!¡± Her shoving stumped him. ¡°The door was open.¡± ¡°Still, knock!¡± With that, the door closed with a wham. Having been snubbed, Arthur stood at the door with amusement and frustration. Meanwhile, inside the room, Elspeth could finally dispense Isabel¡¯s medication with peace of mind. When she picked up her phone to check for information, she identally opened the trending news and froze over when she saw the number one trending headline¡ª¡¯CEO of Damoria¡¯s Winthrop Group will be holding an engagement party with McGrath Family¡¯s Jasmine McGrath in three days.¡¯ CEO of Damoria¡¯s Winthrop Group¡­ Callum? Chapter 357 Arthur¡¯s Story As much as Elspeth¡¯s heart ached, she did personally push him away after all, so she was in no position to criticize his rtionships. At that, she yanked herself back to reality, worked on Isabel¡¯s medication speedily, then brought it down with her during dinner time. Nheless, it became apparent Elspeth didn¡¯t have much of an appetite. She would even space out now and then. Unable to take it anymore, Arthur knocked on the table, forcing the young woman to return to reality. ¡°I know you can¡¯t take the news, but you don¡¯t have to react so dramatically to it, do you?¡± Wow, heartless much? Sure, no, go ahead, give my bloody heart another stab! Elspeth snorted disdainfully in response. Instead of entertaining his mockery, she grabbed a bread roll and shoved it into his mouth. ¡°Eat your food. No talking at the dinner table.¡± Meanwhile, Isabel poked at her food worryingly but dared not say a word when she saw Elspeth had flipped out just like that. Realizing she was behaving rather hostile, Elspeth toned it down a little, then turned to Isabel and handed her the medication. ¡°Here, Isabel. Eat this starting tonight. Coupled with the beauty cream I gave you the other time, the scar on your face should be gone in less than two weeks.¡± At that, Isabel put her cutleries down and thanked Elspeth joyously while taking the medication from thetter, ¡°Thanks, Elspeth. Got it. I¡¯ll certainly take them on time.¡± ¡°Alright, we¡¯re all family here. There¡¯s no need for thanks.¡± While speaking, Elspeth nced at Arthur from the corner of her eyes. Seeing that the man had his head buried in his food like he saw nothing else, she hit the roof again. At that, she stomped his feet. Arthur, on the other hand, only as much as quirked a brow when he felt the forceing from his feet. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is the dinner not to your liking?¡± To that, Elspeth asked with a half-smile, ¡°Arthur Winthrop, when are you going to start treating my mother?¡± She hade to realize that the man wouldn¡¯t say a word about it no matter how she asked him privately. Thus, she decided to justy it on the table. The question didn¡¯t freak Arthur out at all, for he had long seen iting. He nced at Helena and pulled a subtle smile. ¡°I¡¯ve already started long ago. On the first day we arrived, in fact.¡± Helena, too, nodded in agreement, then looked bewilderedly at Elspeth. ¡°Did you not know, Elsie?¡± The young woman pulled an awkward smile in response, never expecting to fall into another one of his tricks. ¡°I was so busy before that I forgot to ask about this.¡± She made a random excuse, and as Helena returned to her food, she stomped Arthur¡¯s feet again. The force this time was evidently much harder than thest. It was as though she was questioning why he had lied to her. But, the man paid no attention to her at all. Just like that, the not-so-pleasant dinner came to an end, and the joyful Isabel volunteered to do the dishes. While Helena watched the TV, Elspeth went out for a stroll, and when Helena saw her daughter stepping out of the door, she hinted at Arthur with her gaze. ¡°Dr. Winthrop, Elspeth seems to be in a bad mood. Why don¡¯t you talk to her for me? There are many things I can¡¯t get an answer out of as a mother, you see¡­¡± What was more, the two were getting engaged soon, and she was more than happy to see it happen. And it would be even better if they became closer because of this. ¡°Alright, Miss Joneson. I¡¯ll talk to her.¡± With that, Arthur grabbed a jacket from the couch and headed outside. The night winds in this season were strong, and the temperature tended to be a little low. When Arthur found Elspeth, she was squatting down by the steps in the garden. She looked so tiny that it was as though she would fall if the wind blew any harder. She sure is skinny. Yet, she wears so little. At that, Arthur draped the jacket on her shoulders. However, Elspeth didn¡¯t n to look up, even though she felt a weight. ¡°Go ahead, cry if you want to. I know you must feel terrible after finding that out.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sad at all,¡± Elspeth answered clumsily. She didn¡¯t cry; it just sounded somewhat in. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°I said, I¡¯m not sad.¡± ¡°Okay, if you insist.¡± Elspeth stood up and threw the jacket back at him, questioning, ¡°How can you be so impersonal?¡± Catching the jacket, Arthur looked at her and smiled while holding his forehead. ¡°Life would be boring if everyone was warm.¡± ¡°Bullsh*t.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t want hispany at all, for she could always sense a subtle frostiness even just standing next to him. Arthur, on the other hand, wasn¡¯t bothered at all as he sat on the steps next to her. ¡°Let me ask you this. What is your impression of me?¡± To that, Elspeth pondered with a tilted head for a moment before sitting a little further away from him. ¡°Cold-hearted, I guess you could say. Though you¡¯re always smiling, the smile is very cold. All in all, a double-crossing wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing. And you¡¯re a bit of a lunatic sometimes.¡± While answering, a term came to her mind¡ªsick. Arthur, on the other hand, remained impassive the whole time. Even his tone was unhurried. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s it.¡± As obtuse as Elspeth would get, she knew she should stop at that. She didn¡¯t want to have a bitter fallout just yet. Meanwhile, Arthur fiddled with his phone, and the screen refracted the moonlight, illuminating his clean, crisp side profile. ¡°Do you know why I¡¯d be the man I am today?¡± ¡°Why else?¡± Elspeth quirked her lips disdainfully. ¡°Because you¡¯re more ambitious.¡± Arthur chuckled in response. ¡°Who told you that? Callum?¡± Elspeth froze over. Sure, it seemed that Callum had instilled some thoughts in her, but was he wrong? It seemed that Arthur had a lot to say about that memory. ¡°Well, he¡¯s not wrong. I did tend to compete with him growing up. I was a chubby kid back then, so I didn¡¯t look as good as he did. Then, with time, the differences in our IQ became apparent as well. I started panicking, but he was just too perfect.¡± The memory, to him, was honestly not so pretty. ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to make you recall.¡± Elspeth felt that she had hit a raw nerve. All else aside, Arthur was genuinely an aspirant guy. However, the methods he used were rather deranged. ¡°Don¡¯t whitewash me so eagerly. It¡¯s true that I¡¯m not a good man.¡± Arthur turned to her, and Elspeth was met with a pair of malicious, fathomless eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve framed him many times growing up.¡± Elspeth¡¯s heart skipped a beat in response, and she actually felt a chilly breeze for some reason. Chapter 358 Can¡¯t im the Moral High Ground ¡°Both exam papers were the same. His score was only higher than mine by one mark, but when I went home, I was punished and wasn¡¯t allowed to eat anything in the evening because I wasn¡¯t number one.¡± Arthur took a deep breath. His emotions were undted in his heart. Elspeth found it hard to breathe, for she didn¡¯t expect the Winthrop Family¡¯s education to be so cruel. ¡°So, I stole his exam paper that time and burned it.¡± There wasn¡¯t a hint of hesitation on Arthur¡¯s face when he brought it up, nor did he appear guilty, as though he was only talking about something insignificant. ¡°What are you ready to do, then? Are you going to frame him again just like what you had done in the past?¡± Suddenly, an inscrutable smile appeared on Arthur¡¯s face. ¡°Why do you think I was framing him?¡± That¡¯s what you said. Elspeth found the person before her eyes entric. It seemed that he was slightly disturbed. Arthur¡¯s gaze darkened as though he had seen through her mind. ¡°I was just defending my dignity.¡± He¡¯s gone mad. Elspeth could feel him being resigned and his desire to achieve greater heights. However, she couldn¡¯t dissuade him from doing anything at this moment. That was because she knew that she hadn¡¯t experienced what he had been through, so she couldn¡¯t im the moral high ground and tell him to be upstanding. Despite that, she still wasn¡¯t willing to see Arthur falling from grace. After all, excluding the terrible things he had done before, he had been treating Elspeth and her family members well. ¡°Arthur,¡± Elspeth called out to him all of a sudden. Arthur looked attentively at her. There was a hint of expectancy and inquisition behind his gaze. ¡°I think the dishes you prepare are delicious.¡± What she said was simple to understand, but it didn¡¯t seem to have anything to do with what was going on. She had gone off-topic. However, Arthur understood her instantly. Is she trying to tell me to be kind? ¡°I¡¯ll frequently prepare dishes for you.¡± A yful smile appeared on his lips. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just marry me?¡± The hint between the two adults was conspicuous but also veiled at the same time. Elspeth shook her head. ¡°What I mean is there are some areas where you shine.¡± Arthur stared fixedly at her. There seemed to beplex and abstruse emotions undting behind his cold gaze. Elspeth realized that she could never figure out what was on his mind. Although Arthur was slightly moved, he soon pulled himself together. ¡°Ignore me, then.¡± He got to his feet and patted his clothes, though there wasn¡¯t any dust at all. ¡°Miss Joneson told me toe over and cheer you up, but it seems that I¡¯ve disappointed her.¡± Arthur shrugged and put on his typical polite smile. ¡°The weather is chilly, so you¡¯d better keep your coat.¡± He passed the coat back to her and returned to the vi. As Elspeth watched him leave, she couldn¡¯t identify what she was feeling. After giving it some thought, she got over it. She hadn¡¯t even settled her own issues, so why was she even trying to help someone else untie the knots in his heart? Following a sigh, she fished out her phone and found Callum¡¯s name on Facebook. At that instant, she realized that Callum, who had always used an ocean photo as his profile picture, had changed it to a photo of him and his current partner. It was as though he wanted Elspeth to see it. She had been trying to suppress her emotions the entire time, but it all came crashing down at that moment. Before she knew it, her tears started sliding down her cheeks. She secretly told herself that she mustn¡¯t cry. Even if she couldn¡¯t help it, she could only shed one drop of tear. Nheless, she couldn¡¯t stop her tears from streaming down her face. She med it on the chilly weather for making her eyes dry. A momentter, she tapped on Callum¡¯s profile picture and unfriended him. She also unfollowed him on various social media tforms. In the end, she turned on a game and saw a familiar avatar. Much to her surprise, the man was online. Her chest tightening, she quickly turned on the invisible mode. Callum rarely had time to y games, for he was usually swamped with work. As such, they had only yed this game on several asions. At that time, many people wanted to befriend her because she was ¡®Elsie¡¯. Callum was a possessive person, so he directly married her in the game and spent lots of money to increase their intimacy level. Subconsciously, she took a look at his achievements and scrolled through the pages. She realized that he had been teaming up with a woman, who seemed to be helpful to him. Both of them earned many points together, which showed that they could work well as a team. She couldn¡¯t tell what kind of feeling it was, but she still deleted him from her friend list with trembling hands. When she was done with all that, she felt mncholic deep within. It was as though waves of darkness swept over her and drowned her. ¡­ Several dayster, the engagement party of Elspeth and Arthur was held. The scar on Isabel¡¯s face had mostly healed. She kept saying that if the two of them got married, she had to be the most beautiful bridesmaid. Elspeth had been struck with a severe illness, but she was unable to get any treatment for now. As such, she didn¡¯t want to hold Callum up, and she certainly didn¡¯t want to do that to Arthur either. Hence, she didn¡¯t directly respond to Isabel¡¯s words. Arthur seemed to be getting busier recently as he rarely came home. When he returned home early one day, Elspeth suddenly had the urge to find out what he had been doing, and she asked him about it. ¡°I¡¯ve been trying to settle some issues that mypany is facing.¡± Arthur rubbed the center of his brows, apparently exhausted. ¡°Also, Miss Joneson¡¯s illness has reached a critical period, so I can¡¯t be negligent.¡± Elspeth nodded and asked, ¡°Is there anything I can help you with?¡± ¡°Do you want to spend some time with me alone?¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t understand him when she heard that. Then, she realized that if she were to be his assistant, they would have to spend quite some time alone in the same room. He¡¯s teasing me again! Elspeth glowered at him and turned around to leave. When she passed by Arthur¡¯s room, she stopped in her tracks. In the past, he never allowed her to enter his room. Whenever he headed out, he would lock the door. However, he stopped locking his room recently. Does that mean that Arthur trusts me wholeheartedly now? Elspeth¡¯s curiosity intensified. Since he wasn¡¯t around, she decided to sneak into his room. Just like what she had expected, his room was spacious and clean, but the colors were dull and there didn¡¯t seem to be any human touch. Elspeth shuffled toward the desk and saw a disorderly file. It seemed to be her mother¡¯s medical report. Since she was well-versed in medicine, she went through the report and realized that her mother was indeed on the mend. At the end of the file, she noticed there was another report. There was no name on the report, but as she pored over it, she found the details familiar. When she reached thest page, she could finally confirm that it was her medical report. All her symptoms and the severity of those symptoms were clearly recorded. Elspeth¡¯s mind turned nk in an instant. Before she could figure out what was going on, a cold voice was heard questioning from behind. ¡°What are you doing in my room?¡± Chapter 359 Leaving the Vi Elspeth knew that she wasn¡¯t supposed to enter someone else¡¯s room, but when she saw her medical report on Arthur¡¯s table, she was mad at him for invading her privacy. ¡°Why do you have my medical report?¡± Arthur calmed himself down and curled up his lips. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? I¡¯m just concerned about you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need your concern. You¡¯re invading my privacy like a pervert.¡± Arthur frowned. Although he had been patient with her, he couldn¡¯t ept what she had just said. ¡°So? What are you trying to say?¡± ¡°What I¡¯m saying is I don¡¯t want you to be concerned with my health conditions anymore.¡± Upon finishing her words, she picked up the medical report and tore it apart. Arthur didn¡¯t utter a word while watching her action. A momentter, he asked impassively, ¡°Are you able to treat your illness, then?¡± Elspeth red up. ¡°It has nothing to do with you.¡± ¡°What are you talking about? You¡¯re my fianc¨¦e. If anything happens to you, who is going to marry me?¡± Elspeth glowered at him. ¡°I only agreed to get engaged to you, but I didn¡¯t say I was going to marry you.¡± That¡¯s some clever sophistry¡­ A helpless Arthur pressed his hand against his forehead and chuckled. ¡°Alright. Why don¡¯t we have a deal? If I¡¯m able to cure your illness, you¡¯ll marry me.¡± It was already against Elspeth¡¯s will to get engaged with him. If she was forced to marry him, she would spend the rest of her life in misery. ¡°There¡¯s no way I¡¯ll marry you.¡± ¡°Nothing is impossible. You were forced to be with me because of your mother¡¯s illness.¡± Arthur slightly bent his back and smiled yfully. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you willing to do the same now? Are you ying hard to get?¡± Elspeth felt humiliated by his words. ¡°Just remember that you must not go back on your word.¡± She didn¡¯t want to argue with him, so she shot him a re and turned around to leave. The instant she left the room, she saw Isabel standing outside with a tray in her hands. Something seemed off about Isabel¡¯s expression, as though she was nervous and uneasy. Although Elspeth was in a terrible mood, she still asked caringly, ¡°What happened to you, Isabel?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. I identally scalded my hand when I was preparing medicine earlier.¡± Isabel came up with an excuse immediately. Elspeth took a look at her right hand and realized that the woman was indeed injured. ¡°Be careful next time. I¡¯ll get you some ointmentter. Just apply it on your wound several times a day.¡± Isabel put on a sweet smile. ¡°Thanks, Elspeth.¡± While Elspeth returned to her room, Isabel could never set her mind at ease. What did I just hear? Elspeth was forced to get together with Dr. Winthrop! She has been suppressing her emotions for such a long time so that Miss Joneson would get her treatment. Furthermore, she has to stay with someone she doesn¡¯t love. At the thought of this, Isabel could no longer hold her sorrow in. She had no idea who she could talk to. If Miss Joneson finds out about it, she¡¯ll be devastated. A momentter, she shuffled toward Helena¡¯s room with the medicine. When she knocked on the door and entered the room, she saw Helena smiling while reading a magazine. It seemed that Helena was in a good mood. ¡°Miss Joneson, I¡¯ve brought you the medicine you have to take in the evening.¡± Isabel put down the tray on the table with an anxious expression. When Helena registered her uneasiness, she asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did anything happen?¡± Faced with the question, Isabel stuttered, ¡°N-No. I just¡­¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know how to lie. I know that whenever you lie, you¡¯ll start stammering. Now, tell me what happened.¡± Helena had a premonition all of a sudden. When Isabel realized that she could no longer hide it from Helena, she decided to tell her everything. ¡°When I was passing by Dr. Winthrop¡¯s room earlier, I overheard his conversation with Elspeth.¡± Isabel clenched her fists with anxiety. ¡°What did they say?¡± ¡°Elspeth was saying that she was forced to get together with Dr. Winthrop because she wanted to get your illness treated¡­¡± The smile on Helena¡¯s face disappeared the moment she heard that. ¡°Did you just say that Elspeth was forced to stay with Arthur because of my illness?¡± Helena couldn¡¯t ept this truth. If what Isabel said was true, Elspeth had been hiding this secret very well. Everyone thought that they were just a couple who loved bickering with each other. Truth was, Helena didn¡¯t realize that her daughter didn¡¯t willingly get together with Arthur the entire time. Elspeth was separated from her mother at a young age. As such, she had never enjoyed any motherly love over the years. However, she was still willing to do so much for Helena without telling her anything. Helena¡¯s eyes welled up with tears as she felt extremely guilty. ¡°Isabel, do you think I¡¯m a terrible person?¡± Isabel shook her head, struggling to hold her tears back. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. You knew nothing. If you had known it, you wouldn¡¯t have¡­¡± Her words made Helena realize what she was supposed to do as her eyes brightened. ¡°Thanks, Isabel. I know what to do now.¡± Isabel looked at her face and asked doubtfully, ¡°What are you going to do?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to leave this ce with you, but you mustn¡¯t tell anyone about it. Can you do it?¡± Isabel immediately turned her down. ¡°Miss Joneson, you¡¯re at the most critical period of your treatment. If you leave Dr. Winthrop now, no one will be able to save you. You¡¯ll probably¡­¡± Although she didn¡¯t finish her words, Helena understood her. ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter. As long as both of us won¡¯t hold Elspeth back any longer, that¡¯s enough.¡± Helena put on a smile. She was unwilling to leave her daughter either. ¡°Isabel, I know you¡¯re worried about my health conditions, but try to look at this matter from my perspective. My daughter has been threatened by someone else, but she still has to pretend everything is fine. As her mother, I¡¯m heartbroken.¡± Isabel knew how devastated the older woman must be. Left with no choice, she could only respect her decision. She owed Elspeth a favor, so she didn¡¯t want to keep troubling her either. ¡°When are we leaving, then?¡± Helena pressed her lips together. ¡°Tonight. We should leave as quickly as possible.¡± Isabel asked, ¡°Before we leave, should we take onest look at Elspeth?¡± Helena initially wanted to do it, but she decided to give up on that idea. Elspeth was an intelligent person, so she might see through Helena¡¯s mind. Rather than troubling her any further, Helena decided to leave as soon as possible. ¡°No, we¡¯re not going to see her.¡± She was proud of her daughter, and she believed that thetter would understand her decision. As darkness descended, the entire ce fell silent. Although Elspeth was exhausted, she was unable to fall asleep. Something seemed to becking in her heart that could never be filled up. She thought that she was only too concerned about Callum, which was why she was fidgety. As such, she decided to take a sleeping pill. As sleepiness swept over her, she finally dozed off, unaware that two people had furtively left the vi. Chapter 360 Return to Damoria Due to the sleeping pill¡¯s strong effects, it wasn¡¯t untilte morning the next day that Elspeth awakened. The moment she got out of bed, she recalled that Isabel didn¡¯t ask her for the ointment. As such, she took it out from a drawer and headed to Isabel¡¯s room. After knocking on the door for a while, she realized no one respond to her. Isabel isn¡¯t in her room, and there is no noise from downstairs. After giving it some thought, she decided to go to Helena¡¯s room. However, she received no response from Helena either as she knocked on the door. Realizing that something was off, she opened the door and saw that the room was empty, as though no one had ever stayed there before. In an instant, she panicked. Then, she dashed toward Isabel¡¯s room and forcefully opened the door, only to see another empty room. Did they disappear overnight? Arthur had left for work pretty early on. He hadn¡¯t been concerned with what was going on at home recently. When he received Elspeth¡¯s call, he was in the midst of a meeting. ¡°Where are my mom and Isabel?¡± Elspeth directly cut to the chase. ¡°I¡¯m in the middle of a meeting, so don¡¯t bother me for now. Where else could they go? They¡¯re probably in a mall or something.¡± Arthur felt that Elspeth was being dramatic. Someone urged him to exin the proposal just then, so he directly hung up the call. However, Elspeth felt that things were moreplicated than they seemed. After the call ended, she could only wait at home patiently. Perhaps Arthur is right. They¡¯re just walking around in a mall or something. I should wait for their return. However, they were still nowhere in sight in the afternoon. Only then did Elspeth realize the severity of the matter. She quickly asked someone to look for them. Nheless, since she was in a foreign country, it was difficult for her to do so. A long timeter, she still hadn¡¯t found them. She tried to recall what had happened in the past few days, but she still couldn¡¯t think of any reasons that prompted them to leave. Nevertheless, as she thought about what happened the day before, an idea formed in her mind. Arthur has probably taken them away to force me to marry him. At the thought of this, she hailed a cab and headed to hispany. Arthur was dealing with some documents when she arrived. Seeing how she was furiously questioning him, he was startled. He had seen Elspeth getting mad, but it was his first time seeing the woman losing control. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Where are you hiding my mom and Isabel?¡± Arthurughed in exasperation. ¡°Why would I hide them?¡± ¡°Stop pretending. Apart from you, who else would take them away?¡± Elspeth sneered. ¡°You¡¯re doing this to force me to marry you.¡± ¡°Am I such a despicable person in your eyes?¡± The smile on Arthur¡¯s face disappeared as he put on a gloomy expression. His gaze was dark and inscrutable. His figure seemed to be giving off a cold vibe. Elspeth was stunned. Although Arthur had a reason to do such a thing, it was unnecessary for him to do so. If he wanted to force Elspeth to do anything, he just had to threaten her by not treating her mother. Suddenly, Elspeth thought of something else. The image of Isabel looking uneasy when Elspeth bumped into her the day before sprang into her mind. I was arguing with Arthurst night. Perhaps Isabel passed by and overheard our conversation, so she told my mom about it. When she realized what might have happened, her heart sank as she felt even more sorrowful. In that case, she¡¯ll do everything in her power to make sure I won¡¯t find her. Elspeth had almost forgotten that Helena was a youngdy from the Joneson Family. She had many ways to make sure Elspeth wouldn¡¯t find her. After all, she had managed to remain hidden from Elspeth for the past 20 years. ¡°The most important thing now is that they¡¯ve gone missing, right?¡± Elspeth nodded, trying to calm herself down. ¡°I¡¯ll get some people to look for them immediately.¡± Arthur was in a terrible mood as well. If those two people were gone, he was no longer able to threaten Elspeth. It felt awful to lose control of the situation. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. I¡¯ll look for them myself.¡± Elspeth drew a deep breath. She understood Helena well, so she knew that thetter must have gone back to Damoria. Helena was determined to die, so she wouldn¡¯t let her corpse stay in a foreign country. ¡°How are you going to look for them?¡± Arthur sneered. ¡°You don¡¯t know this country as well as I do.¡± Elspeth shot him an impassive nce. ¡°What said I¡¯m staying here?¡± A premonition formed in Arthur¡¯s mind. ¡°Are you saying that you¡¯re returning to Damoria?¡± Elspeth snorted and looked condescendingly at him. ¡°You have no way to threaten me now. Wherever I want to go, it has nothing to do with you.¡± Arthur had already expected this oue. He wasn¡¯t flustered, nor was he displeased. Instead, he only gaped at her with a smile. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll go back with you.¡± Elspeth felt that the man before her eyes was mad. Although he hadn¡¯t done anything crazy yet, his bloodthirsty gaze terrified her. As such, she turned around and left. She had to stay away from this man, for it was difficult to deal with him. ¡°Elspeth,¡± Arthur called out lightly from behind. ¡°See you in Damoria.¡± ¡­ Elspeth arrived at the airport in Damoria the next day. Her winter clothes were out of cepared to others at the airport since it was summer in Damoria. d in a face mask and sunsses, she looked vigntly at the people around her. Although she had been in a foreign country for a long time, she had never forgotten that she was regarded as a dead person in Damoria. If anyone saw her alive, they would be frightened. She looked around for the familiar car te. When she registered the ck Maybach¡¯s presence in the distance, she strode forward. After opening the door, she entered the car and took off her down jacket. ¡°I¡¯m melting. I didn¡¯t know it was summer in Damoria.¡± When Elspeth saw the clothes fit for summer in the vehicle, she thought that Harper was such a considerate guy. Seeing that, Harper lowered the windows and left the car. Elspeth quickly got changed and told Harper to get in. She hadn¡¯t seen Harper for two months, so she was surprised to see him looking more sedate than he used to. Perhaps many things had happened recently. ¡°How have you been?¡± Harper forced a smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± In the past, he would¡¯ve started teasing Elspeth in such a situation. She instantly realized the severity of the matter. ¡°Has anything happened to thepany?¡± Before she left, she had entrusted Harper to deal with thepany¡¯s affairs. Has something serious happened? Faced with the question, Harper could no longer conceal his uneasiness. ¡°Miss Lynwood¡­¡± Harper hung his head low and sounded guilty. ¡°Thepany is facing a huge problemContent protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Chapter 353 Chapter 353 Chapter 353 What¡¯s Between You and Him N?velDrama.Org holds this content. ¡°You want to know why?¡± Arthur pulled an inexplicably baffling and amorous smile at Elspeth, who held her breath and said, ¡°Tell me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a secret!¡± With that, the man walked away resolutely. Then, something seemed to have hit him as he turned back around. ¡°That reminds me. Our engagement party was ruined. We¡¯ll have to redo it in a couple of days. You better get ready for it again.¡± Elspeth had just lost interest in why he would poison Ginna, and now he threw this bomb at her. ¡°Can¡¯t we just leave it as it is? We¡¯ve already done it once, and everyone already knows.¡± All things aside, just having to wake up at 5.00AM to get her makeup done was already torturous enough. ¡°That won¡¯t fly. I¡¯m a man of principles; everything needs to be done through and through.¡± Arthur shook his head with a frown. It seemed that he cared a lot about this matter. In the end, he still left after he said everything he wanted to. Elspeth didn¡¯t have anything important to see to either. Then, it suddenly urred to her that she hadn¡¯t given Isabel the medicinal herbs she had brought back the other time. Hence, she decided to buy a few other medicinal herbs from the hospital to mix with that batch after reaching home. However, there were too few medicinal herbs in hospitals abroad. Even if the hospital she was in had the city¡¯srgest medicinal herb dispensary, she couldn¡¯t enter as she pleased, let alone obtain those medicinal herbs. Still, she went with a glimmer of hope. Just as she arrived at the entrance, the middle-aged man guarding the medicinal herb dispensary stood up and cautioned gravely, ¡°Persons concerned only, miss. Please leave.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to purchase some medicinal herbs. May I please speak to your person-in-charge about it?¡± Elspeth asked politely. ¡°But¡­¡± Seeing that a stunning, polite woman pleaded to him, the middle-aged man started hesitating. At that, Elspeth began imploring and talking her way into it. Coupled with her impable smile, the man gave in immediately. ¡°Alright, alright, let me check.¡± With that, the man left and returned with a Damorian guy, whom Elspeth thought looked familiar but just couldn¡¯t quite figure out where she had seen him. As thetter was also from Damoria, he lowered his guard immediately after seeing Elspeth, and he asked, ¡°May I know what you¡¯ll be doing with these medicinal herbs, miss?¡± ¡°I have a friend seeking medical treatment,¡± she answered euphemistically, ¡°and I happened to specialize in traditional medicine, so I¡¯d like to buy some medicinal herbs.¡± Hearing that she specialized in traditional medicine, the man narrowed his eyes slightly, and he sized her up arbitrarily with his piercing gaze. ¡°You look like you¡¯re just in your early twenties, and you say you specialize in traditional medicine?¡± Elspeth suspected that the man doubted her because she said she ¡®specialized¡¯ in the study, so she backtracked her words at once. ¡°Well, not really. I just know a thing or two.¡± ¡°Know a thing or two, and you already dare treat someone else so casually. Are you not worried you¡¯ll cause your friend misfortune?¡± The man was displeased no matter what she said. ¡°Yes, I only know a thing or two, and I¡¯m not skilled enough, but my mentor¡¯s a master in traditional medicine. Nothing will happen to her.¡± At that, the man became even more skeptical. ¡°You have a mentor? What¡¯s his name?¡± Anyone with a good temper would¡¯ve long be annoyed after so much questioning, let alone Elspeth. ¡°This doesn¡¯t have much to do with my wish to purchase medicinal herbs, does it?¡± Elspeth¡¯s gaze turned cold. ¡°Of course, it does. If something bad happens to your friend after consuming the medicinal herbs you got from us, people wille to us after finding out the source of those herbs. So, to avoid any unnecessary issues, I have to get things straight.¡± At the end of the day, the man was just doing his job. ¡°I only have some trust in you and asked so many questions because you¡¯re also from Damoria. If it were someone else, I¡¯d have shooed them away immediately.¡± ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. I can¡¯t tell you my mentor¡¯s name. But I can most certainly treat my friend¡¯s illness.¡± Elspeth realized her overreaction might have upset him. ¡°In that case, you can forget about purchasing any medicinal herbs from us.¡± The man¡¯s expectant gaze dimmed at once. After all, how could anyone bet on a person¡¯s life so easily?! ¡°Well, can I please have a private moment with you? I¡¯ll tell only you,¡± Elspeth negotiated, seeing that the man wanted to leave. He stopped at once, and he looked side-eyed toward the foreign man next to him. Thetter understood at once and walked away acquiescently, as unwilling as he was. ¡°Alright, tell me.¡± Now that it was just the two of them, Elspeth answered frankly. ¡°He¡¯s Sonny Schwartz.¡± The man¡¯s expression stiffened at once. ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s his name?¡± ¡°Yeah. Do you happen to know him personally?¡± Elspeth¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and an inexplicably ominous feeling crept up to her, for his expression wasn¡¯t one of the joys of encountering a friend but the repulsion of meeting a foe. Sure enough, the man turned grim at once. ¡°I can¡¯t sell my herbs to you then.¡± The next second, he turned and left angrily. With that, Elspeth went up to him and grabbed his wrist in desperation. She had such a firm grip on him that he couldn¡¯t break free at all. For a moment, he didn¡¯t know what to say. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°I really need the herbs. I hope you can overlook the grudges between you two and sell them to me,¡± Elspeth entreated anxiously, causing a chuckle of anger to escape the man. ¡°You think I have a grudge against him? Do you even know the backstory?¡± Elspeth was rendered at a loss for words for a moment. ¡°But you turned me down as soon as you heard my mentor¡¯s name. Is there no grudge between you two?¡± The man hurriedly wrested his wrist free while she was distracted. ¡°Alright, fine. You¡¯ve proven your point. You really have to buy them, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Elspeth nodded. ¡°In that case, you have to pass my test.¡± The man felt his chin before continuing, ¡°As long as you pass this test, I can give it to you for nothing.¡± Have I just hit the jackpot? ¡°Alright.¡± Elspeth nodded. ¡°What¡¯s the test?¡± ¡°You can use all the herbs in this dispensary. I will specify a sickness, and you have to dispense it. As long as I am pleased with your results, I will give you the herbs for free.¡± Well, it wasn¡¯t a difficult task, but it wouldn¡¯t be easy either. Back when she was living with Sonny, the old man would force her to dispense medicine every day. With time, she would know what herbs have been dispensed for certain medications without even having to look at the prescription. ¡°But if I¡¯m not happy with the result¡­ You will have to leave immediately.¡± Chapter 354 Chapter 354 Chapter 354 Mentee To-Be or Not To-Be The first part of his speech was nothing to take personally, but thetter part was obviously mixed with elements of subjectivity, and Elspeth couldn¡¯t help feeling somewhat frustrated. What if he still kicked her out because he had a problem with her mentor even though she passed the test? The man understood her thoughts at once when he saw her hesitating, and he hit the roof. ¡°Do you think I am that kind of person?!¡± At that, Elspeth chuckled awkwardly while musing, Haven¡¯t your words just now proven whether you¡¯re that kind of guy? But of course, she dared not say it upfront, seeing how livid the man was. So, she cleared her throat. ¡°Of course not.¡± Finally, the man hmphed with content, then led Elspeth into the massive dispensary. With that, the young woman swept her gaze across the ce, wondering, ¡°This ce is massive. They should have what I¡¯m looking for, right?¡± ¡°Alright, dispense a prescription for typhoid fever.¡± At that, the man checked his watch, and as the minute hand arrived on the fifteenth minute, he said, ¡°You have half an hour.¡± ¡°Thirty¡¯s a little long. Let¡¯s do ten minutes.¡± Elspeth was aware that he wasn¡¯t putting her in a tight spot at all, but she didn¡¯t want to waste too much time doing boring stuff like this, either. As a result, the man widened his eyes with incredulity. ¡°The thirty minutes includes the time for you to find the herbs and distinguish them. But you want to shorten it to ten? Don¡¯t tell me you want to tank now before even starting?¡± Tank¡­ That¡¯s pretty fresh ng. Elspeth genuinely didn¡¯t think she¡¯d find someone who¡¯d know the term on the other side of the world. ¡°I really don¡¯t need thirty minutes. That¡¯s too long.¡± ¡°Since you¡¯re so confident, I won¡¯t say no, then.¡± The man nodded with peace of mind at that. ¡°Very well. Ten minutes it is. I¡¯ll inspect your findingster.¡± ¡°I want medicine that will give the best result. Don¡¯t go around thinking you can fool me with amon prescription,¡± he added, worried she¡¯d be somewhat lofty. Common? Sonny would probably flip out if he heard what this guy said. That man constantly rambles about how everything he produces is the best of the best. But if this guy doesn¡¯t make much of Sonny¡¯s prescription, I¡¯ll sever our mentor-mentee rtionship with him. That said, that would be a story for another day. ¡­ The countdown began, and the man sat down on the chair aside. As he sipped on the tea that had been pre-prepared, he sized up the young woman busying away with his peripheral vision. Meanwhile, Elspeth¡¯s eyes lit up after her gaze swept across the dispensary storing thousands of medicinal herbs. She had thought she¡¯d have a hard time finding the herbs with how they were organized, but it turned out that the arrangements were nearly identical to Sonny¡¯s. Can it be¡­ A bold notion came to her, but she quickly suppressed it. The most important thing right then was dispensing the medicine. As she searched through the dispensary, she inadvertently grabbed a few herbs, and every time she did, the man would quirk his brows. All else aside, this girl really knows what to pick out. All of them are rarities that I¡¯m reluctant to use. At that, his gaze finally turned from skeptical to admiration. However, Elspeth didn¡¯t notice it. She was picking out the herbs while recalling what Sonny had taught her, which honestly had long been seared into her mind. When the time came to eight and a half minutes, Elspeth ced a box of medicinal herbs on the table beside the man. ¡°I¡¯m done.¡± The man hadn¡¯t even finished his tea when he saw her standing confidently aside, waiting for him to inspect her prescription. At that, he quirked his lips. This girl managed to get the prescription ready in less than ten minutes?! Even his mentee spent an entire two weeks just memorizing his dispensary, but this girl picked out the herbs like this was her dispensary! That said, he still couldn¡¯t trust her judgment so simply just yet. At that, he checked the herbs she picked out thoroughly, and by the end of it, he turned grim. Everything was fine until he saw thest two herbs, which evidently conflicted with the other herbs earlier. The patient will probably get seriously sick from this prescription. ¡°Are you sure you haven¡¯t mixed up your dispenses?¡± ¡°Impossible.¡± Elspeth looked innocently at him. ¡°This is exactly it. Do you not know the prescription?¡± ¡°I think I still know a cure for an illness as basic as typhoid when I¡¯ve been in this field for forty years.¡± The man turned grim at once, surprised that she would question his ability. At that, Elspeth burst into a chuckle. ¡°Then it must be that you haven¡¯t updated your knowledge for a while. You probably haven¡¯te up with new innovations for a while either, have you?¡± Great, she¡¯s challenging my authority now! The man turned grimmer by the second. ¡°Impossible. I¡¯ve also added these herbs in the past, but none of them are usable!¡± ¡°Then, the problem probably lies in the way you make them.¡± Elspeth spread her hands out, not looking nervous at all. The man narrowed his eyes and stared bewilderedly at her at that. ¡°You¡¯re saying you¡¯ve achieved sess using this prescription?¡± Oh, how Elspeth had a say in this topic. ¡°My mentor would always use this prescription to treat me whenever I was down with a cold back then. I had so much of it that I can even point out what herbs have been used as soon as I taste it now.¡± That is so outrageous¡­ yetmon. The man couldn¡¯t help but sigh as he looked at how confident the young woman was. ¡°You really can¡¯t overlook the young ones.¡± How can such a wonderful youngdy be Schwartz¡¯s mentee?! The thought of Sonny had him gritting his teeth in anger and his expression turning from admiration to deploring. ¡°So¡­ Have I passed the test?¡± Elspeth wasn¡¯t sure what he was thinking when she saw how quickly his countenances shifted. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! At that, the man cleared his throat. ¡°I¡­ If you want to pass the test, I have one more condition.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Elspeth grew bewildered as she looked at his awkward expression. ¡°You¡­ I¡¯ll give the medicinal herbs to you for free if you agree to sever your mentor-mentee rtionship with Schwartz.¡± Elspeth was stunned. It would be even better if I could just be his mentee! That way, I¡¯d inherit the entire dispensary. That mentee of his he mentioned sounded ipetent anyway¡­ ¡°You won¡¯t get a second chance at this. Once you pass up this offer, this is it!¡± said the man with beaming eyes while devising his n. Elspeth, on the other hand, couldn¡¯t make out what the man had in mind. Sure, Sonny was quite annoying, but she still wasn¡¯t very willing to sever her mentorship with the old man. ¡°This demand¡¯s a little imposing, don¡¯t you think? I refuse.¡± With that, the man snorted and said, ¡°Alright, so be it then. Please leave.¡± How exasperating. The mentee-to-be right in front of him, gone, just like that. However, Elspeth suddenly smirked icily. ¡°But¡­ since you¡¯re not going to y nice, we¡¯ll do it the hard way then.¡± Chapter 355 Chapter 355 The man was stumped, and his heart skipped a beat when the benign young woman¡¯s gaze at him turned hostile the next second. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Nothing, of course.¡± Sure, that was what she said, but Elspeth still rotated her wrist while approaching the man. ¡°I¡¯m warning you, you better not touch me. I¡¯m¡ª¡± the man cautioned in panic and nearly revealed his identity, but he quickly shut up, his face dark. ¡°You¡¯re what?¡± Elspeth was rendered stupefied, and during the moment she zoned out, the man¡¯s countenance shifted multitudes. ¡°No, nothing. I¡¯m no one. Alright, what do you propose?¡± Lo and behold, Elspeth sped his wrist the next second, and it was only now that he realized her grip on him half an hour ago was already considered loose. Now, not only could he feel a sense of restraint but even intimidation. At that, he gulped, suddenly realizing this youngdy wasn¡¯t someone he could mess with. ¡°Do as I say. Be a good doctor and hand me the herbs I want.¡± ¡°Ptui! Dream on!¡± the man cussed. ¡°Right now, you¡¯re in my hands, and there are only the two of us here.¡± Elspeth shrugged. It seemed that she wasn¡¯t afraid at all. ¡°What makes you think I will listen to you?¡± The man sneered in response. ¡°I¡¯m warning you¡ªthere¡¯s a trap in here¡­¡± At that, Elspeth moved to his back and yanked the button out when she felt it by his feet. Then, she dangled it in front of him and asked him with feigned innocence and shock. ¡°What trap? You don¡¯t mean this thing, do you?¡± The man¡¯s smile disappeared instantly, reced with disbelief. ¡°How did you know that was it?!¡± He had never told anyone¡ªeven his mentee¡ªabout the trap in here. So how was it possible for a young woman, who had just entered his dispensary in less than half an hour, to know about the trap he had set up?! His bafflement grew by the second, but Elspeth made nothing of his paranoia and only asked with discontent. ¡°You were¡­ going to call for help?¡± It was only now that the man realized the young woman standing in front of him wasn¡¯t only artful but also devious. She¡¯s too devious! Just like Schwartz, that old fart! The man was thin-skinned, yet he couldn¡¯t force himself to say no, so he ended up grumbling, ¡°Can you let go of me first? I¡¯ll try and find you whatever it is you want.¡± But Elspeth couldn¡¯t care less about how he was feeling. She pulled a rope out and tied him securely to the chair before turning to the dispensary. ¡°Thank you, but no trouble. I¡¯ll do this myself. I¡¯m quite familiar with it, you see.¡± Elspeth smiled at him with a tilted head before disappearing into the dispensary in two shakes. Then, about then minutester, she came back out with a bag¡ªfrom who knew where she got¡ªfull of stuff. When Elspeth brought the medicinal herbs to the man, she failed to hold back and guffawed when she saw his grim look. ¡°Sorry.¡± On the other hand, the man¡¯s heart twinged painfully as though someone hadcerated it when he looked at all the herbs she had bagged up. Then again, he had lost to her, so he couldn¡¯t flip out. But of course, his countenance had shifted multitudes in thest couple of seconds. ¡°Alright, you already got what you came for. Can you release me now?¡± To that, Elspeth shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to stay tied up for a while longer.¡± She was no fool. He would certainly catch her if she released him now. He should wait until his subordinate came and saved him. At that, Elspeth pulled an enigmatic smile at him, then waltzed out of the medicinal herb dispensary, leaving the man shouting for help to no avail. Oh, how he rued the day! Then again, the young woman stuck to her words, for the foreign man came in a couple of minutes later, only to be freaked out by what he saw. ¡°What happened to you, Doctor?¡± the foreign man asked. To that, the man gestured with his eyes for the foreign man to untie him while gnashing his teeth in anger. Finally realizing what he should¡¯ve been doing, the foreign man hurriedly released the man. ¡°Why are you tied up, Doctor? I thought you were looking for me? Thedy said you wanted to see me here.¡± The man red disappointingly at the foreign man before saying, ¡°We¡¯ve both been duped!¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°She¡¯s not whom she appears to be. She¡¯s a skilled fighter and is even well-versed in traditional medicine. Too bad¡­¡± Too bad she was Schwartz¡¯s apprentice. He still felt unfortunate even at this point. Meanwhile, the foreign man burst into anger after hearing the man¡¯s words. ¡°What do you say, then, Doctor? Should I gather a few guys to teach her a lesson?¡± The man shook his head. ¡°First, you¡¯re no match for her. Second, I will beat you into a pulp if you dare ruin such a rare talent.¡± Sure, he was upset about being tied up, but he still knew what was more important. As assertive as Elspeth was, she was genuinely a rare talent for traditional medicine¡¯s future development. Hence, it was why he let her take whatever she wanted instead of activating the second defense system. As if there could only be one trap in this massive medicinal herb dispensary! He merely let her go intentionally. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Wonder if the girl will understand that she now owes me a favor. The man sighed as he stroked his beard. The foreign man, on the other hand, was baffled. Why do I end up being scolded and threatened when the woman was the one who stole our medicinal herbs?! ¡­ Meanwhile, Elspeth returned to Winthrop Residence with the bag of medicinal herbs, and she found Arthur cooking as soon as she entered. She came to realize the man loved cooking. Though he looked enigmatic, who¡¯d have thought he was actually a foodie deep down, especially after he returned home. The animosity that shrouded him would dispersepletely. Right then, he was wearing an apron, cooking up a vegetable stir-fry in the kitchen, and oddly enough, Elspeth couldn¡¯t hate him at all. She stretched, and as soon as she yawned, the man in the kitchen turned around, saying, ¡°Go and wash up. Dinner¡¯s almost ready.¡± For some reason, another person came to mind when she saw him smiling at him with a spat in his hand. Wonder what Callum is doing now¡­ Would he have already left the city and gone back to Damoria in devastation after knowing how heartless I was? What if he encounters a gentle young woman, falls in love with her, and the two end up marrying? Ah! Touch wood! What are you thinking, Lynwood?! Elspeth shook her head to get rid of the ridiculous thoughts. At this point, what happened to Callum was no longer her business. After all, with her health, it was likely impossible for her to live forever with him. So why not find the best of both worlds¡­ Chapter 356 Chapter 356 While Elspeth was deep in her thoughts, Isabel, who happened to be passing by, suddenly patted her shoulder and asked, ¡°What¡¯s on your mind, Elspeth?¡± Meeting Isabel¡¯s pure and innocent smile, Elspeth suddenly felt much better. ¡°Oh, nothing. I was just wondering why today¡¯s cooking smells so terrible.¡± The next second, a chili hit her head, and Elspeth looked in the direction the chili came from to find Arthur wearing a half-smile, looking grimly at her not far away. ¡°What was that, Elspeth?¡± The young woman immediately realized she had spoken too loudly just now, and she hurriedly shut up. At that, she took a gander at Isabel, and the two smiled at each other. ¡°Actually, I think the cooking today¡¯s not too bad¡­¡± Isabel sniffed the air in bafflement, leading Elspeth to ruffle her hair with a smile. ¡°Alright, I was just joking. Wash your hands and get ready for dinner. I¡¯m heading to my room. I still have something to attend to.¡± ¡°Is it the medicine? Have you made progress with it?¡± As brilliant as Isabel was, she guessed it immediately when she saw the glow on Elspeth¡¯s face. ¡°Shh. Don¡¯t say it even if you¡¯ve figured it out, or it wouldn¡¯t be a surprise anymore.¡± Her words upset Elspeth, and thetter ruffled the young girl¡¯s hair with a moue. ¡°Thank you, Elspeth!¡± said Isabel, so overwhelmed with joy that her voice was shaky as she felt her somewhat mottled face. ¡°Aww, this is nothing.¡± Elspeth felt somewhat sentimental. ¡°This is all for you. You wouldn¡¯t have suffered this injury if you hadn¡¯t saved me.¡± Isabel nodded and scratched her head bashfully. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll wait for your good news.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± With that, Elspeth returned to her room in a brilliant mood. Her phone rang just as she entered her room. At that, she pulled her phone out and immediately saw the caller ID. Gilbert? Though doubtful, she still answered it. ¡°Elspeth, where are you right now?¡± It sounded more like an order rather than a question. ¡°Well, excuse your temper. I don¡¯t recall owing you anything,¡± the young woman retorted with feigned anger. ¡°Don¡¯t go around doing stuff behind my back. Where are you?¡± Gilbert was beyond exasperated. He was worrying here, yet the person on the other line was behaving nonchntly and even fooling around. ¡°I¡¯m in Eden. Treating my Mom¡¯s illness.¡± Well, she wasn¡¯t exactly lying. Gilbert narrowed his eyes in response. ¡°I already found out Arthur has taken your mom away for medical treatment and coupled with what you said just now¡­ Does this mean you¡¯re with Arthur right now?¡± Just as Elspeth wanted to exin, her phone was taken away. At that, she looked up reflexively and found the man in question answering Gilbert with a smile. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m right next to her as we¡¯re speaking.¡± Instantly, Gilbert¡¯s worry instantly vanished. ¡°Arthur, I¡¯m warning you, drop whatever you want to do to Elspeth. You¡¯re not worthy of her!¡± s, the threat did nothing to affect Arthur. Instead, thetter countered with a fatal question. ¡°What about you? Do you think you¡¯re some kind of saint?¡± This time, not only was Gilbert stumped but even Elspeth was rmed. ¡°What do you mean?¡± asked the man on the other end of the line. A thought suddenly came to Elspeth, and she frantically hinted with her gaze at Arthur not to say anything. However, the man made nothing of it and blurted out, ¡°You say I¡¯m not worthy of Elspeth, so are you, someone who shirked their responsibility after impregnating another woman.¡± Great, he said it. Operation prevention failed. ¡°What does this have to do with you?¡± Gilbert felt somewhat humiliated, and his heart twinged painfully. After all, it was said in front of Elspeth. ¡°And what does whether Elspeth and I are together have to do with you? Straighten your own problems first. To think a father like you is still hiding in Chars when your child is already gone.¡± Arthur¡¯s words couldn¡¯t get any harsher, and Elspeth was certain Gilbert had never suffered such humiliation in the past twenty-plus years of his life. But for some reason, the man fell silent, deadly silent. A long whileter, when Elspeth thought Gilbert was surrounded by the pain of losing his child, he suddenly spoke up. ¡°Where is she?¡± To her surprise, there was a sliver of relief in his voice. ¡°Oh, so it has finally urred to you that you should look for her? You really are a wuss, Payne. As if you can¡¯t even find a pregnant woman with yourrge connection.¡± Arthur didn¡¯t answer his question and hung up the call immediately, causing Elspeth to re daggers at him. ¡°How dare you hang up my call!¡± While protesting, she even whacked him a few times. However, the man had no intention of fighting back. In fact, he didn¡¯t even appear angry. ¡°You should reflect on why you¡¯d fall for such a man who can¡¯t even take up the slightest responsibility,¡± he said while chucking the phone onto the bed. Elspeth could rte to Gilbert. He didn¡¯t have feelings for Ginna, yet he was drugged into having sex with the young woman and even ended up impregnating her, much to his dismay. So, could anyone me the man for wanting to escape the messed-up reality? That said, Arthur was right as well. Gilbert really was a wuss. Unable to defend him anymore, Elspeth cleared her throat and said, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s put this aside for now. This is their problem, not mine.¡± ¡°How is it not?¡± Arthur pinched and swung her cheek. ¡°He¡¯s already reaching his hands toward my fianc¨¦e. Don¡¯t tell me you can¡¯t tell he has feelings for you.¡± Meanwhile, Elspeth swatted his hand away and rubbed her reddened cheek while backing up, only to stub her feet on the leg of her bed, causing her to cry in pain. ¡°Ow¡­ You stay away from me. Nothing good happens to me when you¡¯re around.¡± At that, a hint of grimness shed across Arthur¡¯s eyes, but a sliver of a smile quickly reced it. ¡°Forget it. Since you can¡¯t ept anything I say, I will keep quiet. The new engagement party¡¯s tomorrow. If it¡¯s not toote, you might even be able to invite Payne over.¡± ¡°How do you know he¡¯ll be here?¡± Elspeth asked with a quirked brow. Arthur spread his arms and remarked, ¡°If he can¡¯t evene for this, then he really has no right to love you. Weak, irresponsible, and won¡¯t even ept reality.¡± What does this have to do with me again?! Elspeth quirked her lips and shoved him out of her room out of frustration. ¡°Get out. Next time, don¡¯te in without my permission!¡± Her shoving stumped him. ¡°The door was open.¡± ¡°Still, knock!¡± With that, the door closed with a wham. Having been snubbed, Arthur stood at the door with amusement and frustration. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Meanwhile, inside the room, Elspeth could finally dispense Isabel¡¯s medication with peace of mind. When she picked up her phone to check for information, she identally opened the trending news and froze over when she saw the number one trending headline¡ª¡¯CEO of Damoria¡¯s Winthrop Group will be holding an engagement party with McGrath Family¡¯s Jasmine McGrath in three days.¡¯ CEO of Damoria¡¯s Winthrop Group¡­ Callum? Chapter 357 Chapter 357 Chapter 357 Arthur¡¯s Story As much as Elspeth¡¯s heart ached, she did personally push him away after all, so she was in no position to criticize his rtionships. At that, she yanked herself back to reality, worked on Isabel¡¯s medication speedily, then brought it down with her during dinner time. Nheless, it became apparent Elspeth didn¡¯t have much of an appetite. She would even space out now and then. Unable to take it anymore, Arthur knocked on the table, forcing the young woman to return to reality. ¡°I know you can¡¯t take the news, but you don¡¯t have to react so dramatically to it, do you?¡± Wow, heartless much? Sure, no, go ahead, give my bloody heart another stab! Elspeth snorted disdainfully in response. Instead of entertaining his mockery, she grabbed a bread roll and shoved it into his mouth. ¡°Eat your food. No talking at the dinner table.¡± Meanwhile, Isabel poked at her food worryingly but dared not say a word when she saw Elspeth had flipped out just like that. Realizing she was behaving rather hostile, Elspeth toned it down a little, then turned to Isabel and handed her the medication. ¡°Here, Isabel. Eat this starting tonight. Coupled with the beauty cream I gave you the other time, the scar on your face should be gone in less than two weeks.¡± At that, Isabel put her cutleries down and thanked Elspeth joyously while taking the medication from the latter, ¡°Thanks, Elspeth. Got it. I¡¯ll certainly take them on time.¡± ¡°Alright, we¡¯re all family here. There¡¯s no need for thanks.¡± While speaking, Elspeth nced at Arthur from the corner of her eyes. Seeing that the man had his head buried in his food like he saw nothing else, she hit the roof again. At that, she stomped his feet. Arthur, on the other hand, only as much as quirked a brow when he felt the forceing from his feet. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is the dinner not to your liking?¡± To that, Elspeth asked with a half-smile, ¡°Arthur Winthrop, when are you going to start treating my mother?¡± She hade to realize that the man wouldn¡¯t say a word about it no matter how she asked him privately. Thus, she decided to justy it on the table. The question didn¡¯t freak Arthur out at all, for he had long seen iting. He nced at Helena and pulled a subtle smile. ¡°I¡¯ve already started long ago. On the first day we arrived, in fact.¡± Helena, too, nodded in agreement, then looked bewilderedly at Elspeth. ¡°Did you not know, Elsie?¡± The young woman pulled an awkward smile in response, never expecting to fall into another one of his tricks. ¡°I was so busy before that I forgot to ask about this.¡± She made a random excuse, and as Helena returned to her food, she stomped Arthur¡¯s feet again. The force this time was evidently much harder than thest. It was as though she was questioning why he had lied to her. But, the man paid no attention to her at all. Just like that, the not-so-pleasant dinner came to an end, and the joyful Isabel volunteered to do the dishes. While Helena watched the TV, Elspeth went out for a stroll, and when Helena saw her daughter stepping out of the door, she hinted at Arthur with her gaze. ¡°Dr. Winthrop, Elspeth seems to be in a bad mood. Why don¡¯t you talk to her for me? There are many things I can¡¯t get an answer out of as a mother, you see¡­¡± What was more, the two were getting engaged soon, and she was more than happy to see it happen. And it would be even better if they became closer because of this. ¡°Alright, Miss Joneson. I¡¯ll talk to her.¡± With that, Arthur grabbed a jacket from the couch and headed outside. The night winds in this season were strong, and the temperature tended to be a little low. When Arthur found Elspeth, she was squatting down by the steps in the garden. She looked so tiny that it was as though she would fall if the wind blew any harder. She sure is skinny. Yet, she wears so little. At that, Arthur draped the jacket on her shoulders. However, Elspeth didn¡¯t n to look up, even though she felt a weight. ¡°Go ahead, cry if you want to. I know you must feel terrible after finding that out.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sad at all,¡± Elspeth answered clumsily. She didn¡¯t cry; it just sounded somewhat in. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! ¡°I said, I¡¯m not sad.¡± ¡°Okay, if you insist.¡± Elspeth stood up and threw the jacket back at him, questioning, ¡°How can you be so impersonal?¡± Catching the jacket, Arthur looked at her and smiled while holding his forehead. ¡°Life would be boring if everyone was warm.¡± ¡°Bullsh*t.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t want hispany at all, for she could always sense a subtle frostiness even just standing next to him. Arthur, on the other hand, wasn¡¯t bothered at all as he sat on the steps next to her. ¡°Let me ask you this. What is your impression of me?¡± To that, Elspeth pondered with a tilted head for a moment before sitting a little further away from him. ¡°Cold-hearted, I guess you could say. Though you¡¯re always smiling, the smile is very cold. All in all, a double-crossing wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing. And you¡¯re a bit of a lunatic sometimes.¡± While answering, a term came to her mind¡ªsick. Arthur, on the other hand, remained impassive the whole time. Even his tone was unhurried. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s it.¡± As obtuse as Elspeth would get, she knew she should stop at that. She didn¡¯t want to have a bitter fallout just yet. Meanwhile, Arthur fiddled with his phone, and the screen refracted the moonlight, illuminating his clean, crisp side profile. ¡°Do you know why I¡¯d be the man I am today?¡± ¡°Why else?¡± Elspeth quirked her lips disdainfully. ¡°Because you¡¯re more ambitious.¡± Arthur chuckled in response. ¡°Who told you that? Callum?¡± Elspeth froze over. Sure, it seemed that Callum had instilled some thoughts in her, but was he wrong? It seemed that Arthur had a lot to say about that memory. ¡°Well, he¡¯s not wrong. I did tend topete with him growing up. I was a chubby kid back then, so I didn¡¯t look as good as he did. Then, with time, the differences in our IQ became apparent as well. I started panicking, but he was just too perfect.¡± The memory, to him, was honestly not so pretty. ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to make you recall.¡± Elspeth felt that she had hit a raw nerve. All else aside, Arthur was genuinely an aspirant guy. However, the methods he used were rather deranged. ¡°Don¡¯t whitewash me so eagerly. It¡¯s true that I¡¯m not a good man.¡± Arthur turned to her, and Elspeth was met with a pair of malicious, fathomless eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve framed him many times growing up.¡± Elspeth¡¯s heart skipped a beat in response, and she actually felt a chilly breeze for some reason. Chapter 358 Chapter 358 Chapter 358 Can¡¯t im the Moral High Ground ¡°Both exam papers were the same. His score was only higher than mine by one mark, but when I went home, I was punished and wasn¡¯t allowed to eat anything in the evening because I wasn¡¯t number one.¡± Arthur took a deep breath. His emotions were undted in his heart. Elspeth found it hard to breathe, for she didn¡¯t expect the Winthrop Family¡¯s education to be so cruel. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! ¡°So, I stole his exam paper that time and burned it.¡± There wasn¡¯t a hint of hesitation on Arthur¡¯s face when he brought it up, nor did he appear guilty, as though he was only talking about something insignificant. ¡°What are you ready to do, then? Are you going to frame him again just like what you had done in the past?¡± Suddenly, an inscrutable smile appeared on Arthur¡¯s face. ¡°Why do you think I was framing him?¡± That¡¯s what you said. Elspeth found the person before her eyes entric. It seemed that he was slightly disturbed. Arthur¡¯s gaze darkened as though he had seen through her mind. ¡°I was just defending my dignity.¡± He¡¯s gone mad. Elspeth could feel him being resigned and his desire to achieve greater heights. However, she couldn¡¯t dissuade him from doing anything at this moment. That was because she knew that she hadn¡¯t experienced what he had been through, so she couldn¡¯t im the moral high ground and tell him to be upstanding. Despite that, she still wasn¡¯t willing to see Arthur falling from grace. After all, excluding the terrible things he had done before, he had been treating Elspeth and her family members well. ¡°Arthur,¡± Elspeth called out to him all of a sudden. Arthur looked attentively at her. There was a hint of expectancy and inquisition behind his gaze. ¡°I think the dishes you prepare are delicious.¡± What she said was simple to understand, but it didn¡¯t seem to have anything to do with what was going on. She had gone off-topic. However, Arthur understood her instantly. Is she trying to tell me to be kind? ¡°I¡¯ll frequently prepare dishes for you.¡± A yful smile appeared on his lips. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just marry me?¡± The hint between the two adults was conspicuous but also veiled at the same time. Elspeth shook her head. ¡°What I mean is there are some areas where you shine.¡± Arthur stared fixedly at her. There seemed to beplex and abstruse emotions undting behind his cold gaze. Elspeth realized that she could never figure out what was on his mind. Although Arthur was slightly moved, he soon pulled himself together. ¡°Ignore me, then.¡± He got to his feet and patted his clothes, though there wasn¡¯t any dust at all. ¡°Miss Joneson told me toe over and cheer you up, but it seems that I¡¯ve disappointed her.¡± Arthur shrugged and put on his typical polite smile. ¡°The weather is chilly, so you¡¯d better keep your coat.¡± He passed the coat back to her and returned to the vi. As Elspeth watched him leave, she couldn¡¯t identify what she was feeling. After giving it some thought, she got over it. She hadn¡¯t even settled her own issues, so why was she even trying to help someone else untie the knots in his heart? Following a sigh, she fished out her phone and found Callum¡¯s name on Facebook. At that instant, she realized that Callum, who had always used an ocean photo as his profile picture, had changed it to a photo of him and his current partner. It was as though he wanted Elspeth to see it. She had been trying to suppress her emotions the entire time, but it all came crashing down at that moment. Before she knew it, her tears started sliding down her cheeks. She secretly told herself that she mustn¡¯t cry. Even if she couldn¡¯t help it, she could only shed one drop of tear. Nheless, she couldn¡¯t stop her tears from streaming down her face. She med it on the chilly weather for making her eyes dry. A momentter, she tapped on Callum¡¯s profile picture and unfriended him. She also unfollowed him on various social media tforms. In the end, she turned on a game and saw a familiar avatar. Much to her surprise, the man was online. Her chest tightening, she quickly turned on the invisible mode. Callum rarely had time to y games, for he was usually swamped with work. As such, they had only yed this game on several asions. At that time, many people wanted to befriend her because she was ¡®Elsie¡¯. Callum was a possessive person, so he directly married her in the game and spent lots of money to increase their intimacy level. Subconsciously, she took a look at his achievements and scrolled through the pages. She realized that he had been teaming up with a woman, who seemed to be helpful to him. Both of them earned many points together, which showed that they could work well as a team. She couldn¡¯t tell what kind of feeling it was, but she still deleted him from her friend list with trembling hands. When she was done with all that, she felt mncholic deep within. It was as though waves of darkness swept over her and drowned her. ¡­ Several dayster, the engagement party of Elspeth and Arthur was held. The scar on Isabel¡¯s face had mostly healed. She kept saying that if the two of them got married, she had to be the most beautiful bridesmaid. Elspeth had been struck with a severe illness, but she was unable to get any treatment for now. As such, she didn¡¯t want to hold Callum up, and she certainly didn¡¯t want to do that to Arthur either. Hence, she didn¡¯t directly respond to Isabel¡¯s words. Arthur seemed to be getting busier recently as he rarely came home. When he returned home early one day, Elspeth suddenly had the urge to find out what he had been doing, and she asked him about it. ¡°I¡¯ve been trying to settle some issues that mypany is facing.¡± Arthur rubbed the center of his brows, apparently exhausted. ¡°Also, Miss Joneson¡¯s illness has reached a critical period, so I can¡¯t be negligent.¡± Elspeth nodded and asked, ¡°Is there anything I can help you with?¡± ¡°Do you want to spend some time with me alone?¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t understand him when she heard that. Then, she realized that if she were to be his assistant, they would have to spend quite some time alone in the same room. He¡¯s teasing me again! Elspeth glowered at him and turned around to leave. When she passed by Arthur¡¯s room, she stopped in her tracks. In the past, he never allowed her to enter his room. Whenever he headed out, he would lock the door. However, he stopped locking his room recently. Does that mean that Arthur trusts me wholeheartedly now? Elspeth¡¯s curiosity intensified. Since he wasn¡¯t around, she decided to sneak into his room. Just like what she had expected, his room was spacious and clean, but the colors were dull and there didn¡¯t seem to be any human touch. Elspeth shuffled toward the desk and saw a disorderly file. It seemed to be her mother¡¯s medical report. Since she was well-versed in medicine, she went through the report and realized that her mother was indeed on the mend. At the end of the file, she noticed there was another report. There was no name on the report, but as she pored over it, she found the details familiar. When she reached thest page, she could finally confirm that it was her medical report. All her symptoms and the severity of those symptoms were clearly recorded. Elspeth¡¯s mind turned nk in an instant. Before she could figure out what was going on, a cold voice was heard questioning from behind. ¡°What are you doing in my room?¡± Chapter 359 Chapter 359 Chapter 359 Leaving the Vi Elspeth knew that she wasn¡¯t supposed to enter someone else¡¯s room, but when she saw her medical report on Arthur¡¯s table, she was mad at him for invading her privacy. ¡°Why do you have my medical report?¡± Arthur calmed himself down and curled up his lips. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? I¡¯m just concerned about you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need your concern. You¡¯re invading my privacy like a pervert.¡± Arthur frowned. Although he had been patient with her, he couldn¡¯t ept what she had just said. ¡°So? What are you trying to say?¡± ¡°What I¡¯m saying is I don¡¯t want you to be concerned with my health conditions anymore.¡± Upon finishing her words, she picked up the medical report and tore it apart. Arthur didn¡¯t utter a word while watching her action. A momentter, he asked impassively, ¡°Are you able to treat your illness, then?¡± Elspeth red up. ¡°It has nothing to do with you.¡± ¡°What are you talking about? You¡¯re my fianc¨¦e. If anything happens to you, who is going to marry me?¡± Elspeth glowered at him. ¡°I only agreed to get engaged to you, but I didn¡¯t say I was going to marry you.¡± That¡¯s some clever sophistry¡­ A helpless Arthur pressed his hand against his forehead and chuckled. ¡°Alright. Why don¡¯t we have a deal? If I¡¯m able to cure your illness, you¡¯ll marry me.¡± It was already against Elspeth¡¯s will to get engaged with him. If she was forced to marry him, she would spend the rest of her life in misery. ¡°There¡¯s no way I¡¯ll marry you.¡± ¡°Nothing is impossible. You were forced to be with me because of your mother¡¯s illness.¡± Arthur slightly bent his back and smiled yfully. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you willing to do the same now? Are you ying hard to get?¡± Elspeth felt humiliated by his words. ¡°Just remember that you must not go back on your word.¡± She didn¡¯t want to argue with him, so she shot him a re and turned around to leave. The instant she left the room, she saw Isabel standing outside with a tray in her hands. Something seemed off about Isabel¡¯s expression, as though she was nervous and uneasy. Although Elspeth was in a terrible mood, she still asked caringly, ¡°What happened to you, Isabel?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. I identally scalded my hand when I was preparing medicine earlier.¡± Isabel came up with an excuse immediately. Elspeth took a look at her right hand and realized that the woman was indeed injured. ¡°Be careful next time. I¡¯ll get you some ointmentter. Just apply it on your wound several times a day.¡± Isabel put on a sweet smile. ¡°Thanks, Elspeth.¡± While Elspeth returned to her room, Isabel could never set her mind at ease. What did I just hear? Elspeth was forced to get together with Dr. Winthrop! She has been suppressing her emotions for such a long time so that Miss Joneson would get her treatment. Furthermore, she has to stay with someone she doesn¡¯t love. At the thought of this, Isabel could no longer hold her sorrow in. She had no idea who she could talk to. If Miss Joneson finds out about it, she¡¯ll be devastated. A momentter, she shuffled toward Helena¡¯s room with the medicine. When she knocked on the door and entered the room, she saw Helena smiling while reading a magazine. It seemed that Helena was in a good mood. ¡°Miss Joneson, I¡¯ve brought you the medicine you have to take in the evening.¡± Isabel put down the tray on the table with an anxious expression. When Helena registered her uneasiness, she asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did anything happen?¡± Faced with the question, Isabel stuttered, ¡°N-No. I just¡­¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know how to lie. I know that whenever you lie, you¡¯ll start stammering. Now, tell me what happened.¡± Helena had a premonition all of a sudden. When Isabel realized that she could no longer hide it from Helena, she decided to tell her everything. ¡°When I was passing by Dr. Winthrop¡¯s room earlier, I overheard his conversation with Elspeth.¡± Isabel clenched her fists with anxiety. ¡°What did they say?¡± ¡°Elspeth was saying that she was forced to get together with Dr. Winthrop because she wanted to get your illness treated¡­¡± The smile on Helena¡¯s face disappeared the moment she heard that. ¡°Did you just say that Elspeth was forced to stay with Arthur because of my illness?¡± Helena couldn¡¯t ept this truth. If what Isabel said was true, Elspeth had been hiding this secret very well. Everyone thought that they were just a couple who loved bickering with each other. Truth was, Helena didn¡¯t realize that her daughter didn¡¯t willingly get together with Arthur the entire time. Elspeth was separated from her mother at a young age. As such, she had never enjoyed any motherly love over the years. However, she was still willing to do so much for Helena without telling her anything. Helena¡¯s eyes welled up with tears as she felt extremely guilty. ¡°Isabel, do you think I¡¯m a terrible person?¡± Isabel shook her head, struggling to hold her tears back. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. You knew nothing. If you had known it, you wouldn¡¯t have¡­¡± Her words made Helena realize what she was supposed to do as her eyes brightened. ¡°Thanks, Isabel. I know what to do now.¡± Isabel looked at her face and asked doubtfully, ¡°What are you going to do?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to leave this ce with you, but you mustn¡¯t tell anyone about it. Can you do it?¡± Isabel immediately turned her down. ¡°Miss Joneson, you¡¯re at the most critical period of your treatment. If you leave Dr. Winthrop now, no one will be able to save you. You¡¯ll probably¡­¡± Although she didn¡¯t finish her words, Helena understood her. ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter. As long as both of us won¡¯t hold Elspeth back any longer, that¡¯s enough.¡± Helena put on a smile. She was unwilling to leave her daughter either. ¡°Isabel, I know you¡¯re worried about my health conditions, but try to look at this matter from my perspective. My daughter has been threatened by someone else, but she still has to pretend everything is fine. As her mother, I¡¯m heartbroken.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Isabel knew how devastated the older woman must be. Left with no choice, she could only respect her decision. She owed Elspeth a favor, so she didn¡¯t want to keep troubling her either. ¡°When are we leaving, then?¡± Helena pressed her lips together. ¡°Tonight. We should leave as quickly as possible.¡± Isabel asked, ¡°Before we leave, should we take onest look at Elspeth?¡± Helena initially wanted to do it, but she decided to give up on that idea. Elspeth was an intelligent person, so she might see through Helena¡¯s mind. Rather than troubling her any further, Helena decided to leave as soon as possible. ¡°No, we¡¯re not going to see her.¡± She was proud of her daughter, and she believed that thetter would understand her decision. As darkness descended, the entire ce fell silent. Although Elspeth was exhausted, she was unable to fall asleep. Something seemed to becking in her heart that could never be filled up. She thought that she was only too concerned about Callum, which was why she was fidgety. As such, she decided to take a sleeping pill. As sleepiness swept over her, she finally dozed off, unaware that two people had furtively left the vi. Chapter 360 Chapter 360 Chapter 360 Return to Damoria Due to the sleeping pill¡¯s strong effects, it wasn¡¯t untilte morning the next day that Elspeth awakened. The moment she got out of bed, she recalled that Isabel didn¡¯t ask her for the ointment. As such, she took it out from a drawer and headed to Isabel¡¯s room. After knocking on the door for a while, she realized no one respond to her. Isabel isn¡¯t in her room, and there is no noise from downstairs. After giving it some thought, she decided to go to Helena¡¯s room. However, she received no response from Helena either as she knocked on the door. Realizing that something was off, she opened the door and saw that the room was empty, as though no one had ever stayed there before. In an instant, she panicked. Then, she dashed toward Isabel¡¯s room and forcefully opened the door, only to see another empty room. Did they disappear overnight? Arthur had left for work pretty early on. He hadn¡¯t been concerned with what was going on at home recently. When he received Elspeth¡¯s call, he was in the midst of a meeting. ¡°Where are my mom and Isabel?¡± Elspeth directly cut to the chase. ¡°I¡¯m in the middle of a meeting, so don¡¯t bother me for now. Where else could they go? They¡¯re probably in a mall or something.¡± Arthur felt that Elspeth was being dramatic. Someone urged him to exin the proposal just then, so he directly hung up the call. However, Elspeth felt that things were moreplicated than they seemed. After the call ended, she could only wait at home patiently. Perhaps Arthur is right. They¡¯re just walking around in a mall or something. I should wait for their return. However, they were still nowhere in sight in the afternoon. Only then did Elspeth realize the severity of the matter. She quickly asked someone to look for them. Nheless, since she was in a foreign country, it was difficult for her to do so. A long timeter, she still hadn¡¯t found them. She tried to recall what had happened in the past few days, but she still couldn¡¯t think of any reasons that prompted them to leave. Nevertheless, as she thought about what happened the day before, an idea formed in her mind. Arthur has probably taken them away to force me to marry him. At the thought of this, she hailed a cab and headed to hispany. Arthur was dealing with some documents when she arrived. Seeing how she was furiously questioning him, he was startled. He had seen Elspeth getting mad, but it was his first time seeing the woman losing control. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Where are you hiding my mom and Isabel?¡± Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Arthurughed in exasperation. ¡°Why would I hide them?¡± ¡°Stop pretending. Apart from you, who else would take them away?¡± Elspeth sneered. ¡°You¡¯re doing this to force me to marry you.¡± ¡°Am I such a despicable person in your eyes?¡± The smile on Arthur¡¯s face disappeared as he put on a gloomy expression. His gaze was dark and inscrutable. His figure seemed to be giving off a cold vibe. Elspeth was stunned. Although Arthur had a reason to do such a thing, it was unnecessary for him to do so. If he wanted to force Elspeth to do anything, he just had to threaten her by not treating her mother. Suddenly, Elspeth thought of something else. The image of Isabel looking uneasy when Elspeth bumped into her the day before sprang into her mind. I was arguing with Arthurst night. Perhaps Isabel passed by and overheard our conversation, so she told my mom about it. When she realized what might have happened, her heart sank as she felt even more sorrowful. In that case, she¡¯ll do everything in her power to make sure I won¡¯t find her. Elspeth had almost forgotten that Helena was a youngdy from the Joneson Family. She had many ways to make sure Elspeth wouldn¡¯t find her. After all, she had managed to remain hidden from Elspeth for the past 20 years. ¡°The most important thing now is that they¡¯ve gone missing, right?¡± Elspeth nodded, trying to calm herself down. ¡°I¡¯ll get some people to look for them immediately.¡± Arthur was in a terrible mood as well. If those two people were gone, he was no longer able to threaten Elspeth. It felt awful to lose control of the situation. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. I¡¯ll look for them myself.¡± Elspeth drew a deep breath. She understood Helena well, so she knew that thetter must have gone back to Damoria. Helena was determined to die, so she wouldn¡¯t let her corpse stay in a foreign country. ¡°How are you going to look for them?¡± Arthur sneered. ¡°You don¡¯t know this country as well as I do.¡± Elspeth shot him an impassive nce. ¡°What said I¡¯m staying here?¡± A premonition formed in Arthur¡¯s mind. ¡°Are you saying that you¡¯re returning to Damoria?¡± Elspeth snorted and looked condescendingly at him. ¡°You have no way to threaten me now. Wherever I want to go, it has nothing to do with you.¡± Arthur had already expected this oue. He wasn¡¯t flustered, nor was he displeased. Instead, he only gaped at her with a smile. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll go back with you.¡± Elspeth felt that the man before her eyes was mad. Although he hadn¡¯t done anything crazy yet, his bloodthirsty gaze terrified her. As such, she turned around and left. She had to stay away from this man, for it was difficult to deal with him. ¡°Elspeth,¡± Arthur called out lightly from behind. ¡°See you in Damoria.¡± ¡­ Elspeth arrived at the airport in Damoria the next day. Her winter clothes were out of cepared to others at the airport since it was summer in Damoria. d in a face mask and sunsses, she looked vigntly at the people around her. Although she had been in a foreign country for a long time, she had never forgotten that she was regarded as a dead person in Damoria. If anyone saw her alive, they would be frightened. She looked around for the familiar car te. When she registered the ck Maybach¡¯s presence in the distance, she strode forward. After opening the door, she entered the car and took off her down jacket. ¡°I¡¯m melting. I didn¡¯t know it was summer in Damoria.¡± When Elspeth saw the clothes fit for summer in the vehicle, she thought that Harper was such a considerate guy. Seeing that, Harper lowered the windows and left the car. Elspeth quickly got changed and told Harper to get in. She hadn¡¯t seen Harper for two months, so she was surprised to see him looking more sedate than he used to. Perhaps many things had happened recently. ¡°How have you been?¡± Harper forced a smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± In the past, he would¡¯ve started teasing Elspeth in such a situation. She instantly realized the severity of the matter. ¡°Has anything happened to thepany?¡± Before she left, she had entrusted Harper to deal with thepany¡¯s affairs. Has something serious happened? Faced with the question, Harper could no longer conceal his uneasiness. ¡°Miss Lynwood¡­¡± Harper hung his head low and sounded guilty. ¡°Thepany is facing a huge problem.¡± Chapter 361 Chapter 361 Chapter 361 We Have No Other Choice Elspeth had already expected it, but when she heard it from Harper, she still felt slightly nervous. ¡°What happened?¡± Harper bit his lip. There was a hint of bewilderment behind his dark gaze. ¡°I think they¡¯ve joined forces to suppress us because they believe you¡¯re dead. They¡¯re trying to gobble up our assets or force us to go bankrupt.¡± Elspeth¡¯s gaze turned cold. Do they think we¡¯re pushovers or something? ¡°What about Gilbert? Did you look for¡ª¡± She caught herself, for she realized she had said something silly. Gilbert hadn¡¯t settled his own issues yet, so why would he even have time to help the Azure Corporation? Elspeth let out a sigh. ¡°Let¡¯s go back to thepany first. I¡¯ll see how to deal with this issue.¡± Harper nodded and drove the car to the Azure Corporation. The moment Elspeth decided to return to Damoria, she knew that she would have no choice but to reveal that she was still alive. The news wouldn¡¯t spread to ydal so quickly, so the Jonesons wouldn¡¯t make a move just yet. As such, she directly attended the urgent meeting. Apart from Harper, everyone in the meeting room was shocked. Thedies, who were on good terms with Elspeth, were dumbfounded. ¡°Are you not dead, Miss Lynwood?¡± Everyone in Damoria knew that she was dead at that time, so many people felt sorry for her. ¡°What are you talking about? If I¡¯m dead, who is it in front of you now? A ghost?¡± Elspeth looked at them with a smile. ¡°You¡¯re finally back, Miss Lynwood! Do you know that manypanies have been oppressing us? Our finances are in bad shape!¡± the man at the front cried. He was the finance manager, so he was fully aware of thepany¡¯s finances. ¡°It¡¯s no big deal. How much longer can our financesst?¡± After giving it some thought, the man came up with an urate number. ¡°It¡¯ll be another 20 days before we¡¯ll go bankrupt.¡± ¡°Alright. During this period, all of you juste to work as usual.¡± All of them were stunned. ¡°How are we supposed to deal with the crisis?¡± Elspeth replied reassuringly, ¡°Just leave it to me. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll save thepany from the crisis.¡± That¡¯s right. She¡¯s Elspeth, one of the most famous presidents in Damoria! She founded thepany before she was even 20. In just two years, she propelled thepany to be one of thergest in Damoria. As long as she¡¯s around, we won¡¯t be defeated! After they were gone, Harper said worriedly, ¡°Miss Lynwood, you understand that it¡¯s a serious issue.¡± ¡°I know it¡¯s serious. That¡¯s why I told them to calm down ande to work as usual.¡± Elspeth knew that it was pointless to discuss with them. Their opponents were targeting her. They had the audacity to do such a thing because they believed she was dead, so no one in the company could turn things around. Elspeth decided to hold this urgent meeting because she wanted to reassure them and make sure they would go on working as usual. Harper could barely conceal his worry. ¡°What should we do, then?¡± Other than the Winthrop Group, all otherpanies in Damoria were suppressing them. It could be said that they had been besieged. Elspeth hung her head low and fell into her thoughts. A momentter, Harper continued, ¡°By the way, Miss Lynwood, I remember that you¡¯re on good terms with Callum Winthrop. Do you think we should ask for his help?¡± Harper had no idea what had happened between them. ¡°I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll help you out given your rtionship with him. After all, he isn¡¯t part of those people who have been suppressing us.¡± Harper is pretty naive. Elspeth felt bitter in her heart. She reckoned that Callum simply didn¡¯t want to have anything to do with her anymore, which was why he didn¡¯t bother suppressing the Azure Corporation. After all, she had hurt Callum¡¯s feelings with her words and actions. If Callum was still willing to help her out, he wasn¡¯t the man she knew. ¡°We can¡¯t seek his help.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± When Harper caught sight of her determined gaze, he let out a sigh. ¡°Alright. I got it.¡± Elspeth gave him a reassuring smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll solve this issue.¡± Since she couldn¡¯t seek Callum¡¯s help, she had no choice but to look for someone else. However, Gilbert was in a foreign country dealing with his own issues, and he wasn¡¯t reachable via phone calls. On the other hand, Yelena and Max still hadn¡¯t returned. Elspeth didn¡¯t have any other friends in the country. More importantly, she was thought to be dead. If the news of her return reached ydal, the Jonesons would also try to destroy her. Elspeth felt that she might not weather the storm this time. Several dayster, things seemed to be getting worse at thepany. Many people started quitting their jobs. Everywhere in thepany, Elspeth could hear people talking behind her back. ¡°Didn¡¯t Miss Lynwood say she¡¯d solve the issue? Four to five days have passed, but things are not getting better.¡± ¡°Stop saying nonsense. She¡¯s been working hard.¡± ¡°Really? I feel that she¡¯s been doing nothing at all. Don¡¯t you see she doesn¡¯t look worried one bit?¡± ¡°We have no idea what she¡¯s been doing to save thepany. Stop talking about it, will you?¡± ¡°I¡¯vended a new job, so I¡¯m going to hand in my resignation letter tomorrow. This ce is beyond horrible.¡± ¡°Shush! Miss Lynwood ising!¡± Elspeth felt sorrowful when she heard their conversation. She returned to her office, only to see that Harper had prepared a cup of coffee for her. ¡°Why don¡¯t you get some rest, Miss Lynwood? I know you¡¯ve been working hard for the past few days. You¡¯ve even developed some dark circles.¡± Only Harper knew that she had been working round the clock. Elspeth rubbed her sore neck and smiled helplessly. ¡°I¡¯m fine. There¡¯s something I have to deal with.¡± Before Harper left the office, he hesitated for a moment and said with difficulty, ¡°Miss Lynwood, are you sure we can¡¯t seek Callum¡¯s help? Trust me, he¡¯s our only best bet now.¡± Elspeth felt heartbroken when she heard that. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. ¡°Harper, it¡¯s not that I¡¯m too embarrassed to seek his help, but he won¡¯t consider giving us a hand.¡± Harper was astounded. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because I said something to hurt him when we were abroad. He¡¯ll never forgive me.¡± Elspeth put on a helpless smile. ¡°However, I don¡¯t think he¡¯s such an indifferent person. Although he usually keeps a distance from everyone else, I can tell that he¡¯s fond of you.¡± Half a month ago, Elspeth would¡¯ve thought the same. However, only she knew how severe the matter was. Nevertheless, when she saw how worn-out Harper looked, she balled up her fists and muttered, ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll look for him.¡± ¡°Miss Lynwood, I know you¡¯re a proud person. Don¡¯t go looking for him if you¡¯re not willing to do so.¡± Harper suddenly felt guilty. A bitter smile appeared on Elspeth¡¯s face. ¡°We have no other choice now, Harper.¡± Chapter 362 Chapter 362 Chapter 362 Humiliation Things were getting worse at thepany by the day. Elspeth didn¡¯t dare to waste any more time, so she fished out her phone and dialed the number she was most familiar with. The call was soon connected. ¡°Hello. What¡¯s the matter?¡± A cold and distant voice was heard from the other end of the line. ¡°I need you to help me with something¡ª¡± Before Elspeth could finish her words, the man cut her off dispassionately. ¡°No.¡± She knew that would be the kind of reply she¡¯d get, but she still couldn¡¯t help feeling hurt. ¡°I¡ª¡± ¡°Callum, guess what I¡¯ve bought you for lunch. That¡¯s right! It¡¯s your favorite braised beef ribs. Give it a taste.¡± The woman¡¯s voice over the phone was piercing. Without making a guess, Elspeth knew that the woman must be Callum¡¯s fianc¨¦e, Jasmine McGrath. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll hang up now.¡± Before Elspeth could say more, the call ended. The disconnected tone reminded her that she was no longer in any ce to contact him. Her employees were suddenly heard arguing outside the room, so she kept her phone. She knew that she couldn¡¯t sit back and wait for thepany¡¯s demise. Even if the chance was slim, she had to give it a try. Since Callum wasn¡¯t willing to talk to her over the phone, she decided to head to hispany. When she arrived at the Winthrop Group, she politely said to the receptionist, ¡°I¡¯d like to see your president.¡± She was wearing sunsses. Apart from her friends and rtives, others wouldn¡¯t recognize her at first nce. The receptionist had seen Elspeth before. When she realized it was indeed Elspeth, she was surprised, but she was a professional receptionist, after all. As such, she asked with a smile, ¡°Do you have an appointment with the president?¡± There was a conflicted expression on Elspeth¡¯s face. After a pause, she took out her phone and showed the receptionist the call log, which proved that she had contacted Callum one hour ago. ¡°The thing is, he told me toe looking for him. We only talked about it over the phone, so there¡¯s no record.¡± She had no qualms about lying to the receptionist, who readily believed her, for that was indeed Callum¡¯s personal number. Someone who had the president¡¯s personal number must be a big shot. For this reason, the receptionist became more polite. Elspeth summoned her courage and asked, ¡°Can I go looking for him now?¡± The receptionist didn¡¯t stop her as she pointed in a particr direction. ¡°That way, miss. The president¡¯s office is on the 18th floor.¡± Elspeth adjusted her sunsses and replied with a smile, ¡°Thanks.¡± After walking away from the reception counter, she entered the elevator and pressed the button. The elevator stopped at the tenth floor, after which a six-foot-tall man entered. This tall and thin man was pretty good-looking. When Elspeth met his eyes, she could tell that he was awed by her beauty. However, she didn¡¯t react in any way. Although the man before her eyes was handsome, she was used to being surrounded by gorgeous men. Callum, Gilbert, and Frank were all charming men, after all. As such, she was immune to the man in front of her. The man shed a smile at her and said softly, ¡°I find you familiar, love.¡± Did he just call me love when it¡¯s his first time seeing me? Doesn¡¯t he find it tacky? Elspeth frowned as a hint of displeasure shed across her face. ¡°Stop calling me that. I don¡¯t know you.¡± When the man heard her voice, he could finally confirm her identity. ¡°Should I call you Miss Lynwood, then?¡± Elspeth was startled when she heard the man calling out to her by herst name without hesitation. ¡°You know me?¡± The man rubbed his chin and said meditatively, ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I know you? I¡¯ve listened to every song you¡¯ve released and watched every drama you¡¯ve starred in. I¡¯m your biggest fan.¡± Did he just say he¡¯s my biggest fan? Elspeth felt the corner of her mouth twitching, thinking that the man was slightly strange. ¡°However, I saw from the news that you were dead some time ago. I thought it was real, so I was sorrowful.¡± Elspeth¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Well, you can still regard me as dead.¡± The man guffawed. ¡°You¡¯re so hrious. I guess I¡¯ll continue to be your fan.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t want to stay in the same space with this man any longer. Finally, the elevator stopped on the 18th floor. ¡°Oh, I forgot to press the button because my attention was all on you.¡± When the man realized it was the 18th floor, he was doubtful. ¡°Are you looking for Mr. Winthrop?¡± ¡°Alright. It has nothing to do with you. Bye.¡± Elspeth then sprinted out of the elevator. When the man saw her running away, his lips curved into a smile. ¡­ The moment Elspeth arrived at the president¡¯s office, she realized Callum wasn¡¯t around. She had been to his office before. The decorations remained unchanged, but the photo of them on the table had been taken away.N?velDrama.Org ? content. Then, she sat down on the couch and got some rest. As far as she was concerned, Callum was supposed to be having lunch at this hour. The man was a fast eater, so he would probably return in ten minutes. Just as she expected, Callum stepped into the office at 12.30PM. However, he wasn¡¯t alone. Jasmine also shuffled into the ce as she hooked her arm around the man¡¯s. Just like her name, Jasmine was beautiful and gentle-looking. Nevertheless, the instant she registered Elspeth¡¯s presence, her face contorted. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Elspeth politely nodded at her and tried to keep a straight face. ¡°I¡¯m here to talk to Mr. Winthrop.¡± She tried to keep a distance from Callum by calling him by hisst name. Otherwise, Callum would¡¯ve told her to get lost. An unfazed Callum replied impassively, ¡°I told you I wouldn¡¯t lend you a hand.¡± Jasmine forced a smile just then. The way Callum treated Elspeth coldly made her feel slightly relieved. ¡°Elspeth, I¡¯m d that you¡¯re still alive.¡± In truth, she already knew that Elspeth was still alive. After all, she wouldn¡¯t have gotten together with Callum if not for Elspeth. ¡°Thanks for your concern, Miss McGrath. There are some issues I¡¯d like to discuss with Mr. Winthrop.¡± Jasmine walked over with a smile and took Elspeth¡¯s hands before whispering, ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell me about it?¡± In the past, Elspeth wouldn¡¯t have exposed her weaknesses to a woman who tried to mock her. However, she didn¡¯t have a choice now, so she could only hold her fury in. ¡°Mypany is facing a problem, so I¡¯d like to seek Mr. Winthrop¡¯s help.¡± Callum arched his brow. There was a tinge of displeasure in his voice as he uttered, ¡°I¡¯m not going to repeat the same thing for the third time.¡± Jasmine said coquettishly, ¡°Callum, she¡¯s the woman you used to love before, so you shouldn¡¯t be so indifferent. Can you treat her a little nicer?¡± All the women in Damoria were envious of how Callum used to treat Elspeth well. Although it remained a thorn in Jasmine¡¯s heart, she wouldn¡¯t mind plucking it and hurting someone else with it. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that, for I don¡¯t want to see her anymore.¡± Fury appeared on Callum¡¯s face as his gaze darkened. The temperature around him seemed to have dropped by a few degrees. Chapter 363 Chapter 363 Chapter 363 You Can Leave Now He said he doesn¡¯t want to see me anymore. Elspeth felt her heart twisting, as though someone was grabbing it. Despite that, she still lifted her chin defiantly and solemnly said, ¡°I don¡¯t care what you think of me, but I hope you¡¯ll consider saving mypany. If mypany fails, yours will be next. I¡¯m sure you understand that, Mr. Winthrop.¡± She was right. The Winthrop Group and the Azure Corporation were the most powerfulpanies in Damoria. It could even be said that the Azure Corporation had greater potential than the others. Once the Azure Corporation was gone for good, the other one would be targeted by their opponents as well. ¡°I know.¡± Callum stared fixedly at Elspeth, his emotions undting in his heart. She knows she can¡¯t persuade me to save herpany by using our rtionship, and now she starts talking business. That¡¯s typical of her. ¡°Since you¡¯ve said so, I¡¯ll stop bothering you.¡± A hint of disappointment shed across Elspeth¡¯s eyes. She didn¡¯t have a way to persuade Callum, for the man was obstinate. Regardless of what she said, he just wouldn¡¯t give her a hand. It seemed that he was determined to let the Azure Corporation fail. Having nothing else to say, Elspeth turned around and left, looking deste. Unbeknownst to her, Callum was watching her leave with a gaze that was as dark as ink. ¡­ Now that Callum had turned her down, Elspeth decided to return to herpany. Harper had been waiting for her. When he saw her dejected expression, he knew what happened. ¡°He¡¯s not willing to help me, Harper.¡± Elspeth seemed to have used up all her energy to utter those words, as though she would pass away the next moment. Harper was heartbroken to see her like this, but he had no idea what he could say to console her. N?velDrama.Org ? content. ¡°It¡¯s fine. We¡¯ll get through this.¡± He emphasized the word we. Elspeth knew he was only trying to console her, so she forced a smile. ¡°I¡¯m alright. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll try to come up with a solution.¡± Since then, Elspeth spent most of the time at thepany, but the situation was only getting worse by the day. Around 30 percent of the employees had quit their jobs, and 30 percent of the remaining ones were stillining. Most of them were no longer in the mood to work. Thepany¡¯s prospects were bleak. A managers¡¯ meeting was held on this day. Elspeth was seated at the front, looking exhausted. When the others saw her like this, they didn¡¯t dare say anything. Only one man named Denton Page, who was one of the managers, stared at Elspeth and barked, ¡°Miss Lynwood, you told us you had a way to save thepany the other day. How¡¯s the progress so far?¡± Elspeth wanted to exin something, but she realized she couldn¡¯te up with an excuse at all. Given her situation, it was practically impossible for her to save thepany. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. The solution I¡¯d mentioned didn¡¯t work.¡± When they heard that, those who had remained silent earlier startedining. ¡°Huh? Didn¡¯t you say you could solve the crisis?¡± ¡°Yeah. Why did you keep hiding it from us? You should¡¯ve told us earlier!¡± ¡°If Mr. Page never asked you, we wouldn¡¯t have found out that thepany is going bankrupt soon.¡± ¡°Miss Lynwood, please tell us the truth. Are we going out of business? If that¡¯s the case, we have to get prepared sooner.¡± Their words hurt Elspeth deeply. She secretly balled up her fists, but she still pretended to be calm and collected. ¡°We¡¯re not running out of business. I¡¯lle up with another solution.¡± ¡°Tell us about your n, then!¡± Elspeth lowered her gaze. ¡°I don¡¯t have a good n for now.¡± An enraged Dentonnded his palm on the table and stood up straight. ¡°What the f*ck are you talking about if you don¡¯t have a n?¡± It was inappropriate that he used foulnguage during such a meeting. Harper glowered at him. ¡°Mind yournguage, Denton.¡± ¡°I can say whatever I like. What the f*ck does it have anything to do with you?¡± Denton sneered. ¡°What are you trying to do, Denton?¡± When Harper saw how provocative the man was, he felt uneasy. ¡°That has nothing to do with you either. I just want to know if thispany is going to survive. If not, I¡¯ll pack up and leave this sh*thole.¡± Harper snapped, ¡°Don¡¯t forget we¡¯re at work now. Will you please show some respect?¡± ¡°Let him speak, Harper.¡± Elspeth stopped Harper from blowing his top. ¡°I have nothing else to say. I just want to know if thepany is closing down soon.¡± Denton wanted nothing but the truth, for he could no longer stand the fear of losing his job at any moment. Elspeth didn¡¯t want to hide it from him, so she nodded gently. ¡°Yes, thepany is closing down soon. If there¡¯s nothing else, you can leave now.¡± Although her voice was soft, she soundedposed and authoritative. Some of them intended to leave, but when they saw Elspeth¡¯s reaction, they had no idea what to do. Denton was the first to resign. ¡°Alright. Thank you for being straightforward, Miss Lynwood. All of us have mouths to feed, so we can¡¯t waste any more time here. Since you¡¯ve said so, I¡¯ll take my leave. Farewell.¡± With that, he turned around and left. Elspeth swept a nce over the rest. ¡°If any one of you wants to leave, you can do so now.¡± A person asked hesitantly, ¡°What about this month¡¯s sry?¡± They were still trying to get thest bit out of thepany. They had been working for over 20 days this month. If they left without getting their sries, they would suffer a loss. ¡°Go to the finance department and get your sries,¡± Elspeth replied frankly. She wouldn¡¯t allow herself to owe anyone. When some of them heard that, they set their minds at ease and apologized. ¡°Miss Lynwood, we really want to stay, but you understand that we have bills to pay. If we stay here any longer, we might¡ª¡± The person didn¡¯t finish his words, for he realized that Harper seemed tempted to re up. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I respect your decision.¡± Just then, a person in the corner stood up. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving, Elspeth.¡± Elspeth remembered her. Whenever she arrived at thepany in the past, this woman named Ang Erickson would have some small talk with her. She hadn¡¯t seen Ang for quite a while, so she didn¡¯t know thetter had be a manager. ¡°I¡¯ll never leave thepany. I¡¯ve been working here for three years. If I leave now, I¡¯ll be no different from a jerk,¡± Ang said determinedly. Although she was showing her loyalty to thepany, she was also implying that the others were terrible people. Those who wanted to leave turned gloomy in an instant. Nevertheless, since they were indeed deserting thepany when it was in a crisis, they were not in any ce to refute her. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± When Elspeth saw that Ang was red with rage, she felt a sense of warmth rising within her. She was relieved to know someone was on her side. After a pause, she uttered coldly, ¡°However, we won¡¯t wee those people back to thepany ever again!¡± Chapter 364 Chapter 364 Chapter 364 Knights in Shining Armor Of the people who had yet to leave, a bitter-looking woman said contemptuously, ¡°Since thepany is closing down, why would we evene back?¡± Elspeth smiled but didn¡¯t utter a word. ¡°Alright. We won¡¯t say more. It¡¯s not like we¡¯re heartless people.¡± The woman snorted. ¡°By the way, those from the Alphascape Group said that as long as you¡¯re willing to sell your shares, Miss Lynwood, they¡¯ll go easy on the Azure Corporation.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t sell even a single share. I¡¯d rather let thepany go bankrupt than merge with the Alphascape Group.¡± Elspeth squinted and smiled. It¡¯s no wonder the people in mypany are acting rebellious. Those from the Alphascape Group are behind all this! The woman shot her a look and barked, ¡°Good luck, then.¡± With that, she turned around and left with the people who intended to jump ship to anotherpany. When those who stayed saw that Elspeth was slightly pale, they were worried. ¡°Miss Lynwood, are you feeling unwell?¡± A sensitive Ang realized that Elspeth wasn¡¯t in the pink of health. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t worry.¡± The moment Elspeth finished speaking, she felt dizzy all of a sudden. Just as she was about to copse, she steadied herself by clenching the armrests. ¡°Miss Lynwood!¡± Ang eximed in shock. Elspeth felt a metallic tang in her throat. When she looked down, she realized there was a bit of blood on the table. ¡°Send me to the hospital, Harper.¡± Elspeth¡¯s voice was weak, and her face was as pale as a white sheet. ¡°Yes! Right away!¡± Ignoring the fact that they were of different genders, Harper carried Elspeth and dashed out of the room. He then sent her to the hospital in the shortest time possible. Subsequently, Elspeth was examined and sent to the ward. When Harper saw how frail Elspeth was while thettery on the bed, he asked the doctor worriedly, ¡°What happened to her, doctor?¡± The doctor looked at the medical report with a solemn expression. ¡°She¡¯s been struck with a strange illness. We can¡¯t find any record of it in medical history. As such, I don¡¯t know how to treat her.¡± ¡°A strange illness?¡± The doctor nodded. ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve never encountered it before. I¡¯ll go through the recordster and see if there are simr cases.¡± A helpless Harper replied, ¡°I got it. Thanks, doctor.¡± After the doctor was gone, Harper shifted his attention to Elspeth. ¡°Miss Lynwood, how many things are you hiding from me?¡± He had never heard Elspeth mention that she was ill. ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s nothing serious. I¡¯ll get well soon.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t think it was necessary to tell him or anyone else about it, for she didn¡¯t want the people around her to feel worried. ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious? The doctor said that he¡¯s never encountered such an illness before, and no record of it has been found in medical history.¡± Harper sounded harsh, and there was a hint of displeasure behind his gaze. It was as though he was ming Elspeth for not telling him about it. ¡°Harper, what gives you the audacity to speak to me like this?¡± Elspeth smiled helplessly. As though realizing he was too harsh on the woman, Harper was startled. Then, he said meekly, ¡°I¡¯m just worried about you. Moreover, you puked blood. I can¡¯t believe you didn¡¯t tell me about such a serious matter.¡± He thought that Elspeth was treating him like an outsider. ¡°Alright. Don¡¯t worry about me. Regardless of what kind of illness it is, I¡¯ll solve the crisis facing the company.¡± Harper was so exasperated that he had the urge tough. ¡°Why are you still worried about thepany when you¡¯re sick? It¡¯s fine even if thepany is gone. We can still make aeback in the future. However, if your illness isn¡¯t treated, no one will manage thepany even if the crisis is solved.¡± Harper had the urge to poke her forehead with his finger. Alright. I might have crossed the line. Elspeth coughed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll get well.¡± Just then, a series of knocks were heard at the door when they were having a chat. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. They looked in the same direction, and when they registered the presence of the two people at the door, they were stunned. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you surprised to see me?¡± Frank was the first to enter as he sat down on a chair and picked up an apple. After taking a bite, he pursed his lips. ¡°How can you let her eat something so sour, Harper?¡± Even more surprisingly, Jordan, who had disappeared for a long time, hade to visit as well. ¡°Don¡¯t you wee us?¡± Jordan smirked and took a seat. ¡°Of course, I wee you. But why are you here all of a sudden? And how do you¡­¡± I didn¡¯t tell them I¡¯m still alive. How do they know I¡¯m here? Frank rolled his eyes and scoffed. ¡°Do you think you can fool us with such a simple trick?¡± Jordan chuckled and said, ¡°That¡¯s right. The show you¡¯d put up was too dramatic. Certainly, no one believed that you were dead.¡± Elspeth initially thought that the show she¡¯d put up was impable. Furthermore, she had Edmund¡¯s help at that time. As such, she supposed everyone believed that she was dead. It never crossed her mind that these two people had seen through her act. ¡°Does Grandfather know I¡¯m still alive?¡± Elspeth looked doubtfully at them. Frank nodded. ¡°I think Grandpa is aware of it, but I believe he won¡¯t cause you any trouble for now.¡± Michael had realized that he was unable to restrain this granddaughter, so he had given up on it. Elspeth was relieved when she heard that. ¡°So, what¡¯s the purpose of you visiting me this time?¡± At the mention of it, Frank couldn¡¯t help but chastise her by saying, ¡°Do you even remember that you¡¯re my cousin? Yourpany is in trouble, but you¡¯d rather seek Callum¡¯s help thane looking for me.¡± Elspeth felt a sense of warmth when she heard that. In truth, she didn¡¯t intend to go looking for Frank, nor was she ready to tell him she was still alive. However, she soon realized something was off. ¡°Wait a minute. How do you know I went to ask for Callum¡¯s help?¡± Elspeth grew suspicious in an instant. While Frank was startled, Jordan snorted. ¡°It¡¯s not like it¡¯s hard to know what¡¯s on your mind. Since the Azure Corporation is in trouble, you¡¯d most likely go to Callum, for he¡¯s the closest help you can get.¡± Is that really the case? Although his reason was valid, she felt that it wasn¡¯t the truth for some reason. ¡°So, you¡­¡± When Frank saw that Jordan had helped him out of trouble, he arched his brow and said confidently, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Since we¡¯re here, we won¡¯t let yourpany fail.¡± To the Azure Corporation, they were no different from knights in shining armor. Chapter 365 Chapter 365 Chapter 365 Solving the Crisis When Frank saw that Elspeth was about to break into tears, he stroked her head while feeling sorry for her. ¡°There, there. Don¡¯t cry.¡± ¡°Who said I¡¯m crying? Something¡¯s gotten into my eyes,¡± Elspeth sniffled and refuted with a smile. ¡°Alright. Since you¡¯re denying it, there¡¯s nothing else I can say.¡± Frank shrugged helplessly. ¡°So, what crisis is yourpany facing now?¡± Jordan cut to the chase. At the mention of herpany, Elspeth felt sorrowful. ¡°Severalpanies imed that our products were not up to standard and ended their coborations with us. As such, we owe them 50 million now. Moreover, all thepanies in Damoria have stopped working with us. Now, our finances are in the red.¡± An agitated Frank snapped, saying, ¡°Those useless guys are probably the Alphascape Group¡¯s lackeys!¡± ¡°Yourpany is in trouble, but Callum still isn¡¯t willing to help you. It seems that your rtionship with him has failed the test of time,¡± Jordan said all of a sudden. Elspeth hung her head low and replied calmly, ¡°There¡¯s nothing between us anymore.¡± Jordan thought that he might have saddened Elspeth, so he stopped talking about it. He then consoled her by saying, ¡°Alright. Just get some rest here. If you trust me, you can let me handle yourpany¡¯s affairs for now.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t even save mypany, and you¡¯re here to help. Why would I not trust you?¡± Elspeth then looked at Harper and ordered, ¡°From now on, Jordan will be the acting president. He¡¯ll handle all the affairs, so just obey his orders.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Harper was aware of Jordan¡¯s capabilities, so he immediately nodded in agreement. However, Frank frowned with displeasure. ¡°What about me? I¡¯m here to help too. I can also do something for you!¡± ¡°Alright, alright. Both of you will handle thepany¡¯s affairs. Why don¡¯t you be Jordan¡¯s assistant, Frank?¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t helpughing, for she didn¡¯t expect Frank to be as childish as ever. Only then did Frank put on a milder expression. ¡­ The fact that there was a new acting president at the Azure Corporation became trending news instantly. After some digging, people realized that the acting president was no ordinary person; he was from the Carr Family in ydal. They spected that he might be the Carr Group¡¯s president, Jordan. However, they soon discovered that Jordan wasn¡¯t the only one helping the Azure Corporation out. There was also Frank, a young master from the Joneson Family. Everyone was aware of how powerful the Jonesons and the Carrs were. Furthermore, ever since Jordan took office, the Azure Corporation¡¯s finances had improved significantly. Not only had thepany returned to the peak of its power in a short time, but it was also showing signs of achieving even greater heights. The Carrs had arge cash reserve. Meanwhile, the Jonesons were also one of the wealthiest families in the country. The smallerpanies that had been oppressing the Azure Corporation were flustered. Apart from offending the Azure Corporation, they were now enemies with the Carrs and the Jonesons. How were smallerpanies like them supposed to survive? As such, they promptly sought help from the Alphascape Group. Nevertheless, those from the Alphascape Group were in hot water as well. After all, they never expected that Elspeth would get help from ydal. They initially thought that without Callum, the Azure Corporation was doomed to fail. It never crossed their minds that Elspeth still had a few more trump cards. Now, they just wanted to save themselves from trouble, so they didn¡¯t have time to lend those smaller companies a helping hand. When the presidents of those smallerpanies begged for help, those from the Alphascape Group shut them out and pretended that they didn¡¯t know what was going on. Despite Jordan¡¯s gentle demeanor, he was more ruthless than most people thought. In just a few days, he managed to destroy several dozenpanies. As a result, no one had the guts to oppress the Azure Corporation again. Frank rted these stories to Elspeth as though they were jokes of some sort. Elspeth nodded gently and said, ¡°Indeed, Jordan is very capable.¡± ¡°No doubt about it. If not for the fact that Jordan is in love with someone else, I would¡¯ve hoped for the both of you to get together.¡± Frank clicked his tongue, expressing his regret. The moment Elspeth registered Jordan¡¯s presence, she motioned for Frank to stop. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s stop talking about it.¡± ¡°Okay¡­ Hey, why are you here, Jordan?¡± Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Frank was wondering why Elspeth stopped him from talking about it when Jordan appeared in front of him all of a sudden. Jordan took a seat and said, ¡°You¡¯re here all the time while I¡¯m swamped with work. Since I have some free time today, I¡¯ve decided to visit Elspeth.¡± ¡°How¡¯s thepany doing now, Jordan?¡± Elspeth was most worried about herpany. Jordan replied confidently, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Yourpany is thriving. The finances are in the ck again.¡± Elspeth felt relieved when she heard that from Jordan, whom she trusted wholeheartedly. I managed to solve the crisis without Callum. ¡°I think I¡¯ll be discharged today. Thanks for taking care of mypany for the past few days. Why don¡¯t I treat you to a meal?¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t sit still, so she felt bored while staying in the hospital. Since the two of them had helped her immensely, she decided to treat them to a meal to express her gratitude. While Jordan was fine with that, Frank teased her by saying, ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll pick a ce and you¡¯ll pay the bill.¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re trying to take advantage of me again!¡± ¡°I¡¯m just pulling your leg. Yourpany has just gotten out of the woods. There¡¯s no way I¡¯ll let you pay.¡± Frank hurriedly waved his hand. Elspeth smiled and remained silent. She knew that Frank was a generous guy, so she didn¡¯t take it seriously. Although herpany had just gone through a crisis, it wasn¡¯t like she didn¡¯t even have enough money to pay for a meal. Furthermore, thepany wasn¡¯t her only source of ie. After a discussion, they decided to have a meal at a restaurant near the hospital. The restaurant was a subsidiary of the Azure Corporation, and it was a profitable entity. Upon entering the ce, Elspeth instantly saw two people in the distance. Their seats were unique, for they were exclusive to couples. It was a new conceptunched by the Azure Corporation, and many couples loveding to the restaurant for their seats. Presently, the two of them were seated across from each other while chatting cheerfully. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Callum to be here.¡± When Frank stepped into the restaurant and saw them, he directly strode toward them. At the same time, he said scornfully, ¡°He¡¯s found a new partner so soon. I suppose he¡¯s a charmer, eh?¡± ¡°Alright. It has nothing to do with us.¡± Jordan was a sensible guy, so he wasn¡¯t interested in what was going on over there. He pulled Frank back and turned to look at Elspeth, who remained unmoving. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Jordan is right. It has nothing to do with us.¡± There didn¡¯t seem to be any emotion on Elspeth¡¯s face, and she even sported a faint smile. Jordan was slightly relieved when he saw that, but he still felt that something was off. Chapter 366 Chapter 366 Chapter 366 Look Into Your Heart In the private room, Elspeth thanked the two of them for their help. Then, she asked what she should do next. ¡°I¡¯ll let you handle the rest. Since you¡¯ve recovered, it¡¯s not appropriate for me to keep meddling in your company¡¯s affairs.¡± Jordan wasn¡¯t aware of Elspeth¡¯s illness, thinking that she just wasn¡¯t in the pink of health. Since she had recovered, she had to take charge of thepany again. ¡°Alright.¡± Elspeth nodded. They had done a lot for her, so she couldn¡¯t keep troubling them anymore. ¡°Are you going back to ydal?¡± Frank leaned against the chair with both palms on the back of his head. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t you want to see us go?¡± ¡°I was hoping you¡¯d leave sooner.¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes. Frank was a sharp-tongued person, so he immediately refuted upon hearing that, ¡°You were not like this when you needed help. Now that the crisis is over, you want to chase us away. Am I right?¡± ¡°Since I don¡¯t need your help anymore, why would I want you to stay here any longer?¡± ¡°That¡¯s very ungrateful of you. I have to teach you a lesson¡­¡± Elspeth was only pulling his leg, so she didn¡¯t expect Frank to be agitated. When Jordan noticed the intense atmosphere, he coughed and said, ¡°We came all the way here to lend you a hand. Since the crisis has been solved, we¡¯re supposed to go back.¡± Then, he turned to look at the sulky Frank. ¡°Don¡¯t be mad at him, Elspeth. Frank took the risk ofing over here in secret. If Old Mr. Joneson finds out about it, he¡¯ll punish Frank.¡± Meanwhile, Frank snorted. ¡°What¡¯s the point of saying all this to a heartless person like her?¡± Elspeth had no idea the kind of risk Frank had to take to give her a hand. ¡°Alright. Thanks, Jordan and¡­ Frank.¡± Frank pretended that he didn¡¯t hear her. ¡°What did you just say?¡± ¡°I said thank you!¡± Pleased with what he had heard, Frank said, ¡°Alright. Since you¡¯ve expressed gratitude, I¡¯ll stop settling the score with you. Don¡¯t worry. As long as I¡¯m still around, I won¡¯t let yourpany fall into trouble.¡± The atmosphere was harmonious as Frank showed Elspeth his support as her family member. Jordan pursed his lips, feeling slightly awkward. ¡°We¡¯ll part ways after this meal.¡± Jordan picked up his wine ss. ¡°Let¡¯s drink to our heart¡¯s content.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t expect that the two of them were such light drinkers. After gulping several sses of wine down, Frank started saying nonsense. ¡°Elspeth, do you know that Callum¡­¡± His face was all red, and he couldn¡¯t speak clearly. When Elspeth sensitively heard Callum¡¯s name, she was startled. ¡°What did you just say?¡± ¡°I¡¯m talking about Callum. You have no idea how well he treats you¡ª¡± Before Frank could finish his words, Elspeth approached him and grabbed his cors. ¡°What do you mean? Why are you saying this all of a sudden?¡± An already dizzy Frank soon cked out. Left with no choice, Elspeth shifted her attention to Jordan, who wasn¡¯t drunk yet. With a slightly red face, he looked at Elspeth with a smile. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I have a question.¡± Jordan put on a mysterious smile. ¡°Let me guess. Is it about Callum?¡± Elspeth nodded, gazing at him expectantly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but there¡¯s nothing I can tell you.¡± Jordan was slightly giddy as well. Worried that Elspeth might glean some information from him, he decided to go back before he passed out. As such, he rose from the chair and said, ¡°We¡¯ve had a lot of wine. Since it¡¯s gettingte, we¡¯re supposed to go back. Why don¡¯t I send you home first?¡± A disappointed Elspeth shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m not drunk, so I can go home on my own.¡± ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll leave with Frank now.¡± When Jordan examined Elspeth and confirmed that she wasn¡¯t intoxicated, he nodded with relief. ¡°Alright. Stay safe.¡± Elspeth and Jordan helped Frank to the car. Before they left, Jordan looked at her and said, ¡°Look into your heart, and you¡¯ll find the answer.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t understand the man¡¯s puzzling words as she fell into a dazed state while staring at him. With a smile, Jordan gently tapped her forehead. ¡°Alright. If you don¡¯t get it, keep thinking. I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡± With that, he drove the car away without giving Elspeth a chance to ask any questions. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. While standing in front of the restaurant, a dazed Elspeth kept thinking about what Jordan had said to her. Look into my heart, and I¡¯ll find the answer, you say? Just then, she looked up and saw Jasmine and Callum leaving the restaurant intimately. They looked as though they were a couple who had been married for a long time. Worried that they might discover her, Elspeth lowered her head and turned around. Unbeknownst to her, the man had already noticed her presence. After staring at her for a while, he slowly pocketed his gaze. In actuality, Jasmine and Callum rarely went on dates. Since he was willing toe out with her this time, she was over the moon. Therefore, she specifically chose couple-exclusive seats at the restaurant. She initially thought that Callum would turn her down, so it surprised her when he agreed to it. Although they were now together as an engaged couple, she felt that something wascking between them. As such, she tried very hard to persuade the man to go on a date with her in an attempt to sustain their rtionship. When Jasmine noticed that the man was absent-minded, she thought that he wasn¡¯t pleased with the date. Nervous, she asked, ¡°Are you not happy with the date, Callum?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not true,¡± Callum replied impassively, not giving his emotions away. ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re pleased with it¡­ By the way, since it¡¯s still pretty early, why don¡¯t we watch a movie?¡± Jasmine felt diffident when she saw how dispassionate the man looked. She wanted to make some progress in their rtionship. ¡°I¡¯m going back to thepany to deal with work, so I can¡¯t watch a movie with you.¡± Callum turned her down. He took a look at his wristwatch and realized it was already 9.30PM. ¡°I¡¯ll hail a cab for you.¡± Jasmine was startled. ¡°But we¡¯ve only had a meal. Don¡¯t you want to stay with me longer?¡± Although she knew that they were only together for some mutual benefit, she was still irritated by his indifference. ¡°I¡¯d like to stay with you, but I have work to deal with.¡± Callum gently pulled her into his embrace but moved away the next second. There was no denying it was a perfunctory hug. Nheless, Jasmine felt that it was already a huge progress since he was willing to hug her. Meanwhile, Elspeth saw everything from behind. She didn¡¯t hear their conversation, but she could tell that Callum treated the woman tenderly. Well, I suppose Callum has indeed fallen in love with her. Chapter 367 Chapter 367 Chapter 367 The Heir Apparent of the Wilstone Family The following early morning, Elspeth received a call while still sound asleep, and on the phone, it sounded like Jordan was at the airport, getting ready to head back to ydal. Not only did the wind sound loud, but so was Frank¡¯s yawn, albeit the man was a few inches away from the phone. ¡°We¡¯re leaving now. You take care of yourself, alright?¡± Jordan sounded listless. Evidently, the man woke up bright and early to rush back to ydal. ¡°I got it. Bye!¡± There was a hint of grumpiness in Elspeth¡¯s tone. They were friends, and they knew what each other meant precisely. Thus, there was no need to be pretentiously sentimental. When Elspeth finally stirred, she checked her phone to find that she had received a picture of the two guys arriving at ydal, and it was only then it struck her that they had really left. At that, she got out of bed, washed up, and went down for breakfast. One breakfast was all it took before Elspeth finalized her next steps. Now that thepany¡¯s issue had been resolved, she decided to initiate a new development approach and expand the business. That way, the risk would diversify, and if anyone suddenly wanted to screw with Azure again, other industries could support it; Azure wouldn¡¯t fall again. Jordan had been helping her deal with thepany¡¯s issues the past few days, and he even filled up all the vacant positions for her. Hence, she didn¡¯t have to worry about that. Later, she talked to Harper about establishing a talent managementpany. ¡°Is it really doable, Miss Elspeth?¡± Though the future of this industry was promising, it was also difficult to operate. Sure, getting social media influencers was easy, but finding one with a unique personality wasn¡¯t. ¡°This is a pretty big cake. Entertainmentpanies are strict with their selections, but the bar for being an influencer is very low.¡± Elspeth scribbled on a piece of paper and finally circled the words, ¡®live stream¡¯. ¡°Finding an online talent is much easier than finding a celebrity, no?¡± The subject was uncharted territory for Harper, so he asked in bewilderment, ¡°In that case, do we need to set up an audition?¡± ¡°Of course not. Scroll through your social media a bit more often. Find those who look promising and ask if they¡¯d like to sign with ourpany.¡± Harper was stumped this time. ¡°But we¡¯re a newpany with no public recognition, nor do we operate on arge scale. What if no one is willing to sign with us?¡± ¡°This is the time to test your ability.¡± Elspeth winked and patted his shoulder. He understood at once when he saw her smiling eyes. ¡°Got it, Miss Elspeth. I¡¯ll get to it right away.¡± After the man left, Elspeth dealt with thepany¡¯s other issues. Since the talent managementpany was a part of Azure Corporation, it didn¡¯t need its own building. With how tall of a building Azure owned, they could just turn one of the floors into its designated office. Hence, the most important thing right then was gathering talents. Later, Elspeth published a notice online, announcing that Azure Corporation had decided to establish a talent managementpany. Those who were interested were wee to apply for the job, and those proactive would be considered first. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Many would probably think twice despite being tempted if it was a week ago. But now, Azure Corporation had the Jonesons and the Carrs¡¯ support. Not only were they powerful, but they had unfathomable backgrounds as well. Just like that, Azure¡¯s hotline had been ringing off the hook for one hour since the notice was published. In fact, some even arrived at the office, saying they wanted to apply for the job. It amused yet frustrated Elspeth. In the end, she got someone to lead them to the fourteenth floor for an interview, then entrusted the whole thing to Ang. Later in the afternoon, she received a call from Ang. ¡°Miss Elspeth, pleasee over. Someone here is demanding to see you,¡± she said with a whine. Ever since Ang defended Elspeth in front of everyone, she started calling Elspeth Miss Elspeth like Harper normally would. ¡°Why me?¡± Elspeth closed herptop, stretched, then rubbed her sore neck. ¡°I don¡¯t know either. He just demanded to see you and said that you shoulde here.¡± Ang nced at the cynical teenager beside her while speaking as cold sweat gathered on her forehead. Who knew what was running through the teenager¡¯s mind? He just sat there with his leg crossed the moment he entered the interview room, behaving audaciously and asking where Elspeth was. Worse, he insisted that he would wait until Elspeth personally interviewed him, even though she had already told him their CEO was busy. With so many people watching, Ang didn¡¯t dare shoo him away either. In the end, she could only call Elspeth for help. ¡°Alright, I got it. I¡¯ll go over right away,¡± answered Elspeth as she suppressed her annoyance. Likewise, she was curious about the person audacious enough to make such an outrageous demand. After arriving at the interview room, Elspeth was rendered stupefied when her inspecting gazended on the teenager. He¡¯s the kid I saw in the Winthrop Group¡¯s elevator! The fair teenager was charming and handsome, and he had a boy-next-door feel to him. After graduallying to herself, Elspeth walked over to the desk and checked his profile. It was written there he was 18 years old. Well, what do you know? He really is a kid. ¡°Why do you insist that I interview you?¡± It was after confirming she was Elspeth that the teenager responded with the smile in his eyes remaining. ¡°I told you I¡¯m a fan the other time, right? Is there anything wrong with a fan wanting to meet their idol?¡± he said. Nope, there¡¯s nothing wrong with your words¡ªit¡¯s just your way of thinking! At that, Elspeth narrowed her eyes, which wereced with a hint of judgment. ¡°You¡¯re Jethro Wilstone, am I right?¡± The young woman was rather familiar with thest name. If it was to say that ydal¡¯s powers were split among the Jonesons, Carrs, Paynes, and Whites, and the Winthrops dominated Damoria, then the royalty of Croit would be the Wilstones. It just so happened that the name of the heir apparent of the Wilstone Family was also Jethro. ¡°Yeah.¡± Jethro stood up. His towering six feet height shrouded Elspeth in a shadow. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Meanwhile, Elspeth sized up the ¡®boy¡¯ while musing, Are the Wilstones willing to let their heir apparent be a social media influencer? If this gets to the Wilstones, surely they¡¯ll use me of leading their heir astray! ¡°Sorry, we can¡¯t ept you.¡± He became visibly upset as his smile faded a little. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Mr. Wilstone, if you¡¯re just here to experience the real world, then there¡¯s no need for that. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard about the things we¡¯ve just gone through. It¡¯d be great if we don¡¯t have another problem to handle.¡± At that, Jethro strode slowly toward Elspeth like a predator, forcing the young woman to back up into the corner of the desk before propping his arms on her sides, trapping her in, and forcing her to look right at him. ¡°I won¡¯t cause you any trouble, Miss Elspeth. I really want to stay here, and I really want to be a social media influencer too!¡± He beamed brilliantly as he spoke. ¡°Pretty please, with a cherry on top!¡± The whole thing happened so smoothly that even Elspeth was slightly taken aback. The teenager had just be a legal adult, yet he was already able to do what a womanizer could. If he didn¡¯t have his status and identity, she¡¯d actually consider taking in a flirtatious incubus. Too bad¡­ ¡°There¡¯s no way I¡¯ll let you join mypany.¡± Chapter 368 Chapter 368 Chapter 368 Redemption ¡°Why?¡± Jethro shrugged in defeat. He thought he would¡¯ve wooed her with the move, but who¡¯d have thought it did nothing at all?! ¡°Haven¡¯t I just said? This isn¡¯t an issue that only involves you.¡± If the Wilstones showed up at her doorstep to find their precious heir out in public and working a second-rate job as a social media influencer, she wouldn¡¯t be surprised if they assassinated her. ¡°But my family knows that I¡¯vee to be a social media influencer, and they¡¯re quite supportive of me.¡± His words shocked Elspeth, and she reached a finger out to poke the barely legal adult¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t mimic and deceive others when you¡¯ve only recently be an adult, kiddo.¡± She was six years his senior, so she wasn¡¯t wrong to call him a kid. ¡°I¡¯m not lying.¡± Seeing that she still didn¡¯t believe him, Jethro pulled his phone out of his pocket and yed her a clip, where the entire Wilstone Family was smiling while they sat on the couch. ¡°Miss Lynwood, my son keeps telling me that he wants to work in yourpany. Coincidentally, we were thinking of training him, so we hope you can treat him well.¡± Elspeth honestly didn¡¯t think he would pull a clip out, let alone the fact that the Wilstones were so liberal. Then again, you guys are being a little too liberal, don¡¯t you think? Nheless, since the Wilstones already put it that way, she¡¯d just begrudgingly make him a signed talent. ¡°Another thing, Jethro. I forgot to ask you earlier. Why did your parents ask me to guide you?¡± It wasn¡¯t untilter that Elspeth registered the fact that Jethro¡¯s parents trusted her a lot for some reason. ¡°I told them you¡¯re very capable.¡± ¡°And the truth is?¡± Skepticism came to Elspeth as she looked at the teenager¡¯s insouciant smile. Jethro turned his head and met her eyes. ¡°I told them you¡¯re my future wife.¡± Future wife¡­ This can¡¯t get any more absurd! ¡°Though this rtionship is still unteral at this point, I believe I¡¯ll be able to win your heart over in no time.¡± Jethro had inexplicable confidence in this, but to Elspeth, the confidence was immature and ridiculous. ¡°First, I¡¯m six years older than you; second, I will never fall in love with you!¡± However, Jethro wasn¡¯t bothered. He casually shoved his hands into his pockets and said, ¡°Have you ever heard of the saying ¡®older wife, better life¡¯? You¡¯re six years older than me. That means I¡¯ll have a great life!¡± Dear Jesus, Mother Mary, can I please wake him up with a p? What is all this nonsensical logic?! ¡°I¡¯m your boss now, and you¡¯re my subordinate. That means we can¡¯t date. You¡¯d better get rid of that idea, or I¡¯ll have a reason to fire you.¡± At that, Jethro waved the contract in his hand. ¡°I¡¯ve already looked through the contract, and it isn¡¯t stated explicitly in here.¡± Instead of panicking, Elspeth monotoned, ¡°I¡¯m the boss. I¡¯ll add a use now.¡± ¡°Now that¡¯s just being unreasonable!¡± Jethro gritted his teeth in anger, leading Elspeth to ridicule him without restraint. ¡°You¡¯re still too young to fight me, kiddo.¡± Jethro snorted disdainfully in response. ¡°If you¡¯re going to fire me, I¡¯ll put a sign up that says ¡®I love you¡¯ every day at the entrance!¡± If you can¡¯t get it, destroy it?! Elspeth clenched her fists silently while maintaining an impassive smile on her face. ¡°Very well. You¡¯re something, I¡¯ll give you that¡­¡± ¡°You and I both.¡± Jethro smiled. ¡­ Later on, they interviewed a few more people and finally assembled a team for their talent management company. As this was uncharted territory for Elspeth, she boned up on the subject, only leaving her office past midnight every day. On this day¡ªlike any other day for the past few days¡ªshe was the only one left in thepany, and the dim yellow light on her office desk was the only light source in the pitch-ck building. Tap, tap, tap¡­ The sound of a set of footsteps came suddenly from afar. Though thepany was rtively safe, Elspeth still had to be alert. At that, she put the papers down and fixed her gaze on the door. Then, just as she was about to fight back, the footsteps stopped in front of her door, and an oh-too-familiar voice sounded. ¡°Elsie¡­¡±Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Upon hearing the callow yet deep voice, Elspeth instantly knew it was none other than the kid who had been idling away in thepanytely¡ªJethro Wilstone. ¡°Come on in. Why are you spooking people at the door?!¡± She eased up at once. With that, Jethro waltzed right in, putting a bottle of beverage onto the table while holding another one in his hand. ¡°Why are you still here on such ate night?¡± ¡°I have unfinished work.¡± The beverage looked really sweet, and since Elspeth didn¡¯t like anything too sweet, she didn¡¯t open it. ¡°Wow, I never thought you were the hardworking type.¡± There was a hint of sarcasm in there, and it upset Elspeth somewhat, but she didn¡¯t make a big deal out of it. ¡°And you? Why are you still here at this hour?¡± Jethro twitched his lips in response and even appeared somewhat aggrieved. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you at the lobby every daytely, thinking I can take you home. I waited and waited, but you never showed up. I thought you always left early, but I didn¡¯t know that you¡¯ve been staying past midnight!¡± Jethroy on the table and whimpered like an abandoned puppy. At that, Elspeth rubbed her temples and said, ¡°Jethro, I don¡¯t know if you actually like me or if you¡¯re just teasing me, but either way, don¡¯te looking for me ever again, deal?¡± ¡°Why? Am I not allowed to pursue the girl I like?¡± ¡°Well, why do you like me?¡± Elspeth smiled helplessly. Why me, of all people? ¡°I started listening to your songs when I was 13, and I¡¯ve been listening to them for five years now. It¡¯s not wrong of me to say that I like you, is it?¡± Five years could change too many things. In middle school, he was the problematic kid in his ss and the school bully during high school. No one would¡¯ve ever thought that the person all outsiders regarded as the all-powerful demon reincarnate and womanizer would also listen to a woman¡¯s gentle singing in the middle of the night. ¡°I remember being bbored in my first fight. I stood in the streets that night, not daring to go home. Suddenly, your voice appeared on the radio, and the song you sang touched my heart,¡± Jethro cooed. ¡°I still remember the name of it. It was called ¡®Redemption¡¯.¡± She was his redemption. Elspeth never thought there could be that possibility. Though his story was stirring, Elspeth knew well that they would never work. With that, she sighed and ruffled his hair as an older sister would. ¡°I know you might regard me as your redemption, but Jethro, you have to learn to grow up.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t touch my hair as you please.¡± Jethro stood up with a persistent smile in his eyes. ¡°Why?¡± Elspeth wondered. ¡°I¡¯ve said it before¡ªanyone who touches my hair has to marry me.¡± The young woman was rendered helplessly speechless. What is this nonsensical logic again?! Chapter 369 Chapter 369 Chapter 369 Would You Be So Kind Elspeth decided to ignore him. She sat back down at her desk and carried on with her work. Thanks to her unusually heavy workload today, she kept working until 11.00PM. Jethro sat on the couch nearby and waited until 11.00PM. At 11.15PM, Elspeth stretched and stood up. She had finallypleted the day¡¯s work! ¡°Are you done?¡± Jethro had been upying himself with his phone the whole time, and he finally turned the screen off when he noticed Elspeth¡¯s actions. Elspeth was startled by his voice. Feeling tired, she peered into the darkness and atst, she realized that he was still there! ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m done. I¡¯m going home now. You should hurry up and go back as well.¡± She waved him off as she had no intention of giving him a ride. ¡°Do you think I waited here this long just to watch you work?¡± Jethro shed her a smile and picked up her handbag without even asking for her permission. He shut herptop and said, ¡°Alright. It¡¯s decided. I¡¯ll drop you off at your ce.¡± He was too tall and Elspeth couldn¡¯t snatch her handbag back. She could only sigh in helplessness. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll let you do that, but you need to give me my bag first.¡± Jethro waved his slender finger in front of her. ¡°Not happening. What if you run off the moment I give it back to you?¡± Does he think I¡¯m someone who¡¯d do such a thing? Elspeth rolled her eyes and snapped, ¡°Since you want to hold it for me, so be it.¡± She marched off at once. Jethro had gotten what he wanted and wasn¡¯t affected at all. He happily followed after her. Elspeth stopped by the side of the road and Jethro stopped beside her. Hah, she sneered to herself. He¡¯s a kid alright, and yet he wants to win me over, huh? He doesn¡¯t even know what he should be doing. ¡°Why are you just standing there? Hurry up and bring the car around.¡± Jethro nodded and pointed at the electric scooter by the side of the road. ¡°It¡¯s over there. I¡¯ll give you a ride home.¡± An¡­ electric scooter? Elspeth was gob-smacked. Jethro Wilstone, the Wilstones¡¯ son, has fallen so far from grace that he has to ride a scooter to work? ¡°Are you that strapped for cash?¡± ¡°Am I not allowed to ride a scooter just because I have money?¡± It was a good question. I guess there¡¯s nothing wrong with it. Elspeth pursed her lips and climbed onto the electric scooter. The summer breeze was warm even at night, and due to the heat, Elspeth¡¯s palms began to sweat. However, to maintain her bnce, she had to grip his shirt. ¡°Are you that nervous? Your sweat is soaking through my shirt.¡± Jethro¡¯s chuckles tickled Elspeth¡¯s ears. ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± Elspeth let go of his shirt in a huff, but as the scooter went over a bump on the road, she nearly fell off. ¡°Put your arms around my waist.¡± When Jethro noticed her precarious position, he quickly pulled Elspeth¡¯s arm with his left hand and wrapped her arm around his waist. Elspeth was resistant to holding him, but whenever she tried to withdraw her arm, Jethro would specifically ride over the bumpiest parts of the road as if to challenge her. She had no choice but to keep her arms locked around his waist. The scent that clung to Jethro¡¯s clothes was different from others. There were traces of cigarette smoke and alcohol. In other words, it was the scent of someone who indulged in the frivolities of life. This is to be expected of the yboy who makes those kinds of establishments his second home. Even the smell on him is just as debauched, Elspeth thought to herself. With that thought in mind, she couldn¡¯t resist piping up, ¡°By the way, I¡¯ve been meaning to ask you something.¡± ¡°What is it? Go ahead and ask.¡± ¡°You told your parents that you like me and want to marry me, right?¡± Jethro nodded. ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°I¡¯m curious to know why they would approve of me.¡± There were plenty of amazing women in the world. A prestigious family like the Wilstones could have their pick of suitable daughters-inw. Why me, of all people? Jethro smiled when he heard this question. ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re the one I like. You should know that I¡¯ve never settled down and dered that I wish to marry someone. Now that I¡¯ve finally decided to change my ways and spend my life with someone, they¡¯re more than thrilled about it and wouldn¡¯t care who their future daughter-inw is.¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t argue with that logic. She had just decided against trying to dissuade him when the electric scooter began jerking a little. She immediately had a bad feeling about this. Even Jethro was frowning hard. ¡°I think the battery¡¯s dying.¡± True enough, the electric scooter slowly came to a stop by the side of the road two minutester and didn¡¯t move again. It was midnight, and the two of them were now stuck by the side of the road. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it. You didn¡¯t even bother to charge the battery before offering to give a girl a ride!¡± Elspeth scoffed in exasperation. ¡°I¡¯ve been spending all my time thinking about you, so I didn¡¯t check whether or not the scooter¡¯s battery was full.¡± Jethro defended himself with the air of someone who didn¡¯t think he had done anything wrong. Elspeth couldn¡¯t be bothered to mince words with him. She got her phone out to call a cab, but she realized that they were in the middle of nowhere. There was probably not a single car within a five-mile radius, let alone a cab! ¡°Jethro Wilstone! If I¡¯m unable to sleep in my bed tonight, I¡¯m going to kick you out of thepany!¡± None of this would¡¯ve happened if he hadn¡¯t insisted on giving her a ride home from work. Jethro turned away and absolved himself of all responsibility. ¡°What does this have to do with me? The battery died. It¡¯s not as if I¡¯m trying to keep you away from your bed on purpose.¡± ¡°Is the scooter yours?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Are you the one who insisted on giving me a ride home?¡± N?velDrama.Org ? content. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°How¡¯s there any room for you to weasel your way out of this then?¡± Jethro lost the verbal battle so he had to concede defeat, but even so, hemented flippantly, ¡°No ordinary person can win an argument against you, Elsie.¡± Elspeth was annoyed by his childishness. All of a sudden, she had an idea. ¡°I got it. I¡¯ll get a tow truck toe and help.¡± Jethro¡¯s eyes lit up at once. ¡°You¡¯re so smart, Elsie.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t try to butter me up. I don¡¯t n on taking you with me.¡± Elspeth was about the make the call when out of the blue, the re from a pair of headlights made her squeeze her eyes shut. They had been so engrossed in their quibbling that they didn¡¯t notice a car approaching from the distance. Elspeth squinted. She saw a ck car with a familiar license te number. When the person stepped out of the car, her eyes flew wide open. Isn¡¯t that Callum? ¡°Did it run out of battery?¡± Callum¡¯s eyes shed derisively when he saw the electric scooter parked nearby. It just so happened that Elspeth caught the sh of disdain in his eyes. It was as if he was questioning her, What happened to your taste in men? Why did you end up with a guy who rides a scooter after leaving me? Elspeth clenched her fist and turned away from him. She could still remember the way he refused to help her thest time, despite all of her pleadings. Why are you trying to act like you¡¯re such a good person now, huh? ¡°That¡¯s right. Would you be so kind as to give us a ride home, Mr. Winthrop?¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t respond to Callum, but on the other hand, Jethro greeted him warmly. It was at this point that Elspeth realized Jethro only behaved like a fool in front of her. When dealing with others, he was rather shrewd. Chapter 370 Chapter 370 Chapter 370 The Cheapest Car Callum didn¡¯t say no, so he seemed to have agreed to it, but Elspeth rejected the idea. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. We can wait a little longer for a cab.¡± Jethro didn¡¯t want to wait, so he pleaded with Elspeth like an obedient younger brother. ¡°Elsie, Mr. Winthrop is nice enough to give us a ride, so why shouldn¡¯t we ept his kind gesture?¡± Elsie¡­ Callum¡¯s face grew colder as he repeated the nickname in his head. Elspeth was startled. For some reason, even though she and Callum were uninvolved in every way, she still felt a trace of awkwardness when Jethro called her Elsie. To avoid giving Jethro the chance to say anything else that was too suggestive, she agreed. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. ¡°Oh, fine. Let¡¯s go.¡± So, obliging with the little kid? Callum looked at them with scrutiny. The two of them got into Callum¡¯s car while the electric scooter was temporarily abandoned by the side of the road. Jethro left the key in the ignition and said he was giving it away to anyone who chanced upon it since the Wilstones had more than enough vehicles. Elspeth was smiling as she remarked sarcastically to herself, It¡¯s obvious that you can¡¯t be bothered to call someone to tow it away. However, as she was sitting inside Callum¡¯s car right now, she wasn¡¯t in the mood to think about anything else. On the other hand, Jethro seemed eager to stir up trouble as he kept dragging all sorts of things up. ¡°Elsie, I heard that you were in a rtionship with Mr. Winthrop before. Is that true?¡± Elspeth¡¯s smile stiffened. ¡°If you can¡¯t hold your tongue, then keep your mouth shut.¡± Callum, who was fully focused on driving, tapped his finger on the steering wheel when he heard the question, but he didn¡¯t respond. ¡°Well, so what? It¡¯s all in the past, and anyway, Mr. Winthrop has a new fianc¨¦e now. I¡¯m sure you have already gotten over the rtionship too.¡± It was to be expected from someone who only recently became of age. He thought of rtionships as something so inconsequential. Elspeth couldn¡¯t be bothered to waste her breath with him. She turned toward the window instead and just so happened to catch sight of the hotel before it whizzed past her. So, there¡¯s a hotel nearby. Elspeth looked at Callum in the rearview mirror. His lips were pressed together in a thin line and his eyes were focused on the road up ahead. It was as if he was totally removed from the situation. Did Callum know about the hotel here? Did hee over to pick us up because he knew there was a hotel here and didn¡¯t want me to stay at the hotel with Jethro? Elspeth pondered. Then, she thought of an even more oundish possibility. Had he been tailing us the whole time? However, as soon as that thought shed across her mind, she found it entirely ridiculous. Jasmine¡¯s the only one Callum cares about now. Why would he spend his time and energy on anyone else, especially the ex-fianc¨¦e whom he has long since lost all regard for? Meanwhile, Jethro didn¡¯t notice Elspeth¡¯s preupation with her thoughts. ¡°By the way, why did you show up at a ce like that sote at night, Mr. Winthrop?¡± Jethro asked curiously. He asked in a seemingly joking manner, but it also sounded as if he was probing for information. ¡°Jasmine likes the pear tarts sold in this area so I came over to get some for her.¡± Elspeth nced down and saw a box on the front passenger seat that contained pear tarts. Jethro¡¯s grin widened. ¡°You treat your girlfriend so well, Mr. Winthrop. Elsie, when are you going to agree to go out with me? I¡¯ll definitely treat you just as well.¡± Elspeth was dumbfounded. Why did the mes spread to her when she didn¡¯t even do anything? ¡°Maybe in my next life,¡± she retorted curtly before closing her eyes. Her heart was a mess. Callum had always been someone who didn¡¯t want to waste his time on anything, and he rarely changed his lifestyle and habits for anyone else. It was midnight, and in the past, he would never allow himself to remain awake past midnight. Yet, for Jasmine¡¯s sake, he changed his habit today. If Elspeth recalled correctly, Winthrop Group and the bakery that sold the pear tarts were on opposite ends of the city with several dozen miles between them. I guess that¡¯s true love. Elspeth felt strangely mncholic. She couldn¡¯t exin why she felt upset. Amid her blur of thoughts, she ended up dozing off. When she woke up again, she was covered in a jacket that had a familiar bluegrass scent to it. It smelled of Callum. Jethro was gone. Callum was the only other person in the car. He was sitting in the driver¡¯s seat and the car was stopped by the side of the road. Elspeth looked out the window with her bleary eyes. They were at her ce. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wake me up?¡± Elspeth folded the jacket and ced it on the seat beside her. ¡°I dropped him off first and we¡¯d only just arrived, so I didn¡¯t wake you up.¡± ¡°Thank you for giving me a ride home,¡± Elspeth said politely. Her tone was even more distant as if she was pissed with him. ¡°You¡¯re wee. If anything like this happens again, I won¡¯t be doing it anymore.¡± He¡¯s a heartless prick, alright. Before leaving, Callum quipped, ¡°Boyfriend?¡± ¡°Does that have anything to do with you, Mr. Winthrop?¡± Callum seemed to realize that he wasn¡¯t in the position to ask that question, so he hummed coolly in acknowledgment. Elspeth got out of the car at once to avoid hearing anything else that would only rile her up. Callum¡¯s gaze was dark as he watched Elspeth disappear from sight. Then, he made a call. ¡°Demolish all the hotels along Harmony Street in the northern part of the city.¡± The person he called seemed confused and repeated hesitatingly, ¡°Demolish the hotels?¡± ¡°All of them.¡± It was a clear order. ¡°Got it,¡± the person replied at once. ¡°We¡¯ll demolish all the nearby hotels as soon as possible.¡± Callum nodded in satisfaction before ending the call. ¡­ The next morning, Elspeth was woken up bright and early by a call. ¡°Elspeth! Come down, Elspeth. I¡¯m here to take you to work.¡± The familiar voice cleared her muddled head. She jumped out of bed and walked over to the balcony. When she pulled apart the drapes, she saw Jethro looking up at her with a brilliant, confident smile. He was dressed in white from head to toe. Elspeth was in her pajamas and she got such a fright that she quickly closed the curtains. Slightly over ten minutester, Elspeth finished getting ready and reluctantly made her way down. As soon as Jethro spotted her, he whistled teasingly. ¡°Your pink pajamas looked good on you, Elsie.¡± Elspeth was usually dressed rather morously, so Jethro didn¡¯t expect her to have an adorable side to her. His eyes were glistening brightly. Elspeth¡¯s cheeks flushed. ¡°That¡¯s enough. You can keep your mouth shut now.¡± ¡°Oh, alright. I won¡¯t tease you anymore. I¡¯m here to take you to work.¡± He smirked in amusement before turning around and patting the Lincoln behind him. ¡°How¡¯s this for our ride today? It should be better than the electric scooterst night.¡± Elspeth was dumbfounded. ¡°Don¡¯t you have a more normal car?¡± Jethro lowered his eyes aggrievedly. ¡°But, I asked my butler and he said this is the cheapest car in our garage.¡± Elspeth¡¯s lips twitched as she ground her teeth. ¡°If I ept a ride from you ever again, I¡¯ll change my name!¡± Chapter 371 Chapter 371 Chapter 371 Forgot to Switch ounts ¡°I came all the way here to pick you up, Elsie. I had to drive several dozen miles, you know. Just do me the honor and allow me to drive you to work.¡± Jethro stood in Elspeth¡¯s path and smiled innocently at her. Elspeth couldn¡¯t go forward. He towered above her, so she had to crane her neck upward. She felt quite displeased as she dered, ¡°I¡¯m not taking your car. What if something happens along the way again? You¡¯d make mete for work. It¡¯d be safer for me to drive my own car.¡± Yet, Jethro¡¯s eyes sparkled when he heard what she said. ¡°You own a car, Elsie? That¡¯s great. You can drive me to work then.¡± Elspeth scoffed. ¡°You want me to drive you to work? Who do you think you are that I¡¯d drive you to work?¡± ¡°How about this? You can drive my car and take me to work.¡± Jethro reached into the car and fished out the keys. ¡°Here. Take this.¡± ¡°You take it. I¡¯m leaving.¡± Elspeth tossed the keys back to him. As he quickly reached out to catch the keys, she scrambled out of the way and walked off at once. Jethro had no choice but to watch her leave before slinking back into his car in defeat. Once Elspeth arrived at thepany, she thought the whole thing would havee to an end, so she didn¡¯t expect Jethro to be just as difficult to shrug off as ever. It was regr working hours and the office was full of people. Elspeth¡¯s office was in the deepest part of the building. Jethro strode straight over to her office in full confidence, and under everyone¡¯s startled gazes, he breezily closed the door behind him. In his opinion, the way to win a girl¡¯s heart was to be determined and unrelenting. Elspeth was frazzled to see him sitting on her couch and ying on his phone with his feet propped up. ¡°It¡¯s regr working hours right now and you¡¯re an employee at mypany, so shouldn¡¯t you be working?¡± ¡°My job is simple, Elsie. I just have to do a live stream.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, so aren¡¯t you supposed to start a live stream? Why aren¡¯t you doing it?¡± Elspeth urged when she saw that he had no intention of moving. Jethro waved his phone and said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m doing it now, aren¡¯t I?¡± Elspeth checked his phone and saw the mobile game he was ying. ¡°You¡¯re ying a game.¡± He didn¡¯t even seem ashamed by that. ¡°A live stream of my game is still a live stream, right?¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t expect him to be this infuriating. She gritted her teeth and dered, ¡°Thepany designated you to be a lifestyle streamer, not a gaming streamer!¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m streaming now, aren¡¯t I?¡± Since Jethro¡¯s character was temporarily dead in the game, he switched out of the window. ¡°See? I¡¯m streaming, aren¡¯t I?¡± Elspeth was taken aback. She used her phone to check his live stream. As soon as she joined the stream, she saw that thements section was blowing up. ¡®Oh my god! Who was that?¡¯ ¡®Why was there a woman¡¯s voice in MyLord¡¯s stream? Could it be his girlfriend?¡¯ My lord¡­ Elspeth¡¯s lips twitched. She didn¡¯t think Jethro would give himself such a nickname. ¡®It can¡¯t be. Didn¡¯t you hear what he said just now? That¡¯s his boss.¡¯ ¡®Who said that his boss can¡¯t be his girlfriend? Have you ever seen MyLord being this gentle with a girl?¡¯ ¡®It can¡¯t be¡­ It can¡¯t be! I don¡¯t want to get my heart broken so soon. I just discovered a streamer that I like! He¡¯s so cute and handsome, and he doesn¡¯t put on airs either¡­¡¯ ¡®Hang on. Look, everyone. Don¡¯t you think there¡¯s something strange about the neer¡¯s ID?¡¯ The moment Elspeth saw thisment, she immediately checked her ID. Elsie! Shoot! I forgot to switch ounts! ¡®Oh, my goodness! I checked the profile and it really is Elsie, the e-sports expert!¡¯ ¡®Are you sure about that? Did you check the number of followers?¡¯ ¡®The ount has 90 million followers! I can¡¯t misread that!¡¯ Elspeth was stuck. It would be too weird if she left the stream now, so she decided to take it in stride and type out a greeting. ¡®Hi.¡¯ Might as well use this chance to give this kid a boost in poprity. ¡®What the hell? She typed something!¡¯ ¡°Hang on. I remember that Elise¡¯s real identity is Elspeth Lynwood, the CEO of Azure Corporation!¡¯ ¡®Isn¡¯t Elspeth Lynwood dead? Did shee back to life?¡¯ Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Coming back to life is a bit too ludicrous. Elspeth wiped the sweat off her brow and slowly tapped out a response. ¡®Well, I didn¡¯t die.¡¯ Ever since she got back to the country, she had been meaning to officially announce that she was still alive, but she hadn¡¯t nned on doing it in such an absurd way. Things urred in mysterious ways sometimes. ¡®Elspeth Lynwood is alive after all! That¡¯s great news!¡¯ ¡®I cried for ages when I heard she was dead! I didn¡¯t think my tears had been for nothing.¡¯ Elspeth chuckled dryly. ¡®It¡¯s fine. You can save your tears for next time.¡¯ ¡®Hahahaha¡­¡¯ The viewers¡¯ sorrow turned to amusement. Just then, Jethro finished his game. He had gotten an easy victory and was chosen as MVP as well. After seeing the lively conversation happening in thements, he became excited as well. Thus, he typed out something on his screen. ¡®Are you interested in seeing a match between Elspeth and me?¡¯ Matches were thrilling enough as it was, and who wouldn¡¯t want to watch a match between Elsie, the e- sports expert who was once the top in the industry, and MyLord, thetest up-anding streamer? The response from the audience was unanimous. ¡®Yes!¡¯ ¡®It has been so long since Elspethst posted a video of her games, and she hasn¡¯t yed any matches either. Do you think she¡¯ll lose?¡¯ ¡®What are you talking about? My goddess was the most incredible yer back then. She defeated every single one of her opponents! Why would her skills get rusty so soon?¡¯ ¡®Let¡¯s ce our bets! I¡¯m betting on MyLord winning!¡¯ ¡®I think Elspeth will win!¡¯ Elspeth wasn¡¯t interested in epting the match, and when she read their flurriedments, she pulled a long face and typed her response. ¡®cing bets, huh? Watch it, or the moderators might ban you.¡¯ Jethro couldn¡¯t help but chuckle when he saw this. He tapped away on the screen and made Elspeth a moderator for his channel. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Are you too afraid to ept the challenge?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not afraid. I¡¯m just worried that you¡¯d lose all interest in games if you lost too badly to me. What if you end up quitting games altogether?¡± Even professional gamers lost to Elspeth, let alone an unknown kid who had only been ying for a short while. ¡°I yed professionally, you know. Why would I let you defeat me so easily?¡± Elspeth snorted. ¡°You only took part in the training for a few days. Do you think that makes you a professional gamer?¡± Jethro cocked his eyebrow. ¡°Well, tell me whether you have the guts to y a match against me or not then.¡± Truth be told, Elspeth didn¡¯t care about the game. It meant nothing to her. However, when she saw his sparkling eyes that were lit up with hope, she didn¡¯t want to put him down. Well, I¡¯ll just defeat him in the game then! ¡°Fine. I ept the challenge.¡± Chapter 372 Chapter 372 Chapter 372 ount Suspended The hyperactivements died out at once as the audience quietened down and focused on the match with great anticipation. First, Jethro opened up his profile page to show off his past achievements. ¡®Huh? Why didn¡¯t I know that he topped the rankings on that many servers?¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s because he kept streaming on his alternate ount. This is his main ount.¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s ElsOnMyMind! That¡¯s the guy who shot up to number two on the rankings out of the blue and became number one when Elsie stopped ying.¡¯ ¡®ElsOnMyMind¡­ Don¡¯t tell me it means Elsie¡¯s on his mind? Whoa! Love is in the air!¡¯ Elspeth hadn¡¯t paid any attention to his ID, but now that she saw what the viewers were saying, their analysis made sense. She looked up at him and caught a pair of loving eyes staring at her. ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s exactly what he said.¡± Elspeth scoffed. ¡°That¡¯s revolting.¡± ¡°You can call it romantic. How can you say it¡¯s revolting?¡± Jethro flexed his wrist and selected a one-on-one match before inviting Elspeth into the game. ¡°Let¡¯s give the win to the first person who gets three kills. How¡¯s that?¡± Elspeth had no reason to disagree. ¡°Alright. Since it¡¯s apetition, we should ce a bet. What do you think the bet should be?¡± Jethro stroked his chin and grinned devilishly. ¡°How¡¯s this? If I win, you¡¯ll be my girlfriend.¡± The moment Elspeth heard this, she knew for certain that she had to win this match. ¡°What if you lose?¡± ¡°If I lose¡­ I¡¯ll focus on my job and avoid pestering you for one month.¡± My, my. Can the terms be any more biased in your favor? Elspeth rolled her eyes. ¡°That¡¯s unfair. If you lose, you¡¯re not allowed to bother me ever again.¡± Ever again was too shocking to Jethro. He threw his phone aside and flopped on the couch. ¡°I¡¯m notpeting anymore.¡± ¡°What now? Are you scared to take the bet?¡± Elspeth smirked. ¡°Here I was thinking that the great Mr. Wilstone was better than this. It turns out that he¡¯s a coward.¡± This was clearly an attempt to rile him up. Anyone could see that. However, Jethro was unaffected. It was as if he hadn¡¯t heard her. ¡°Are you really notpeting, Jethro?¡± ¡°If you want me to stay away from you forever, you might as well kill me.¡± Jethro pouted like an upset child who was wronged. Since her goading didn¡¯t work, she had topromise. ¡°Oh, alright. One month it is.¡± A smile blossomed across Jethro¡¯s face. ¡°I knew you¡¯re the best, Elsie.¡± However, Elspeth froze soon after. ¡°Hang on. Did you mute your mic?¡± Jethro shook his head with perfect innocence. ¡°I kept my mic on the whole time ever since I came in.¡± Elspeth was stunned at first, but soon, she felt storm clouds gathering over her head. She knew that thements section would be blowing up right now. To avoid letting anything affect her during the match, she stopped watching the stream. The two of them chose their champions, and the match began in earnest. Elspeth didn¡¯t think that Jethro would be as good as she was. His game sense and mechanical skills were both top-notch in the world of gaming. She began seeing him in a different light. Nevertheless, she was someone who topped the rankings too, so she easily got the first kill. Elspeth cocked her eyebrow and smirked at him. ¡°How about it? You can admit defeat now if you like.¡± ¡°Admit defeat? Never.¡± During the second sh, Elspeth underestimated her opponent and he managed to kill her. ¡°See, Elsie? You¡¯re not invincible.¡± Jethro was grinning widely after getting the kill. ¡°I went easy on you. Let¡¯s continue.¡± This time, she no longer let her guard down. With a sudden burst of attacks, she managed to kill Jethro a second time. ¡°Only thest kill remaining.¡± Elspeth nced at him with a confident smirk. Jethro was expressionless. It was as if he wasn¡¯t worried at all. ¡°The oue hasn¡¯t been decided yet.¡± ¡°Uh huh,¡± Elspeth hummed without being too concerned about hisment. Once he revived, she waited for him in the bush beside his tower. However, Jethro seemed to realize what was happening as he stayed in his tower and didn¡¯t move at all. It was as if he had disconnected from the game. Elspeth had no choice but to hide in the bush and wait. After a while, Elspeth figured out that he was doing it on purpose, so she prepared to go into the tower and kill him. A split second before shended her ultimate skill, everything came to a standstill, and the screen panned to her base¡­ which exploded! s, Elspeth lost the game with the kill score being 2 to 1. She was furious. ¡°You tricked me! You secretly cleared my minions and got your minions to attack my base!¡± Jethro knew he wasn¡¯t going to win this matchup. Initially, he held out hope that he could defeat her. However, when the match was nearing the end, he realized just how terrifyingly good she was. There was a reason why she topped the rankings. In that case, he decided to y a trick on her and destroy her base instead. That way, regardless of the oue of the match, he wouldn¡¯t have to fulfill the bet he made. ¡°As they say, all¡¯s fair in love and war.¡± Jethro put on a pitiful act. ¡°If I lost, I wouldn¡¯t be able to hang out with you for a month. That¡¯s torture!¡± What was the point ofing to the office if he couldn¡¯t look for her? The moment the viewers heard what he said, they gleefully reveled in the lovey-dovey atmosphere. ¡®I never knew MyLord was such a romantic guy.¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s a guy, after all. There¡¯s no harm in a bit of trickery. I think it¡¯s sweet.¡± ¡®I¡¯m in tears. MyLord likes someone! It¡¯s his boss, and she¡¯s such an incredible woman too! There¡¯s no hope for MyLord and me anymore¡­¡¯ ¡®Stop crying already. Even if Elspeth wasn¡¯t around, he still wouldn¡¯t be interested in you.¡¯ ¡®¡­¡¯ Elspeth had turned off the live stream, so she had no idea what was happening in thements section. ¡°That¡¯s enough. You¡¯re still streaming right now. Don¡¯t say such nonsensical things.¡± Elspeth was worried about Jethro¡¯s poprity. If he announced that he had someone he liked, he would probably lose a lot of his female fans. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! It wouldn¡¯t be good for his career. ¡°So what? Isn¡¯t it normal for me to have someone I like? Humans are born with emotions. Why can¡¯t I be honest about my feelings for someone?¡± Elspeth red at him. ¡°You¡¯re a streamer.¡± ¡°So what if I am a streamer? I want my fans to like me for my talents. I don¡¯t feel the need to please fans who are only after my looks. They¡¯re not worth keeping.¡± Well, Elspeth couldn¡¯t refute that. She pinched the area between her brows with a sense of helplessness. I¡¯m even more worried about thements that¡¯ll being my way, okay? What if some of the more fanatical fans start sending me nastyments? However, Jethro wasn¡¯t bothered. He raised his phone and directed the camera at his face. Elspeth was standing in the background. ¡°Hi, everyone. Since you heard everything, I¡¯lle out and say it. Actually, I have feelings for¡ª¡± Jethro¡¯s face vanished from the screen before he could finish his sentence. A line of words popped up. ¡®Your ount has been suspended due to sensitive content.¡¯ Jethro¡¯s expression hardened at once. ¡°Who suspended my ount?¡± Chapter 373 Chapter 373 Chapter 373 Suspension Warning Getting banned was not a trivial matter. Elspeth brushed his annoyance aside and looked at his channel. ¡°Did you say anything sensitive?¡± Jethro thought it was weird. ¡°No. I was just confessing to you, and then my channel got banned before I could finish.¡± He got banned over a simple confession? Elspeth had no idea what was going on. She called customer service, and they exined it to her. However, they did sound nervous when they spoke, since the staff had no idea what happened either. ¡°So, it¡¯s probably a mistake?¡± ¡°Yes. We¡¯re still investigating the matter. Once we¡¯re done, we shall get back to you.¡± The staff knew what actually happened, but he couldn¡¯t say it. Five minutes ago, his boss called, asking him to ban a certain channel. He looked at the name of the channel, and he fell silent. First, the channel hadn¡¯t said anything sensitive or spread fake news. Two, the channel was Jethro¡¯s private channel. If he banned Jethro¡¯s channel, he might get into trouble, but his boss adamantly told him to do it and promised he wouldn¡¯t shoulder any responsibility. So, he did as he was told, albeit a bit reluctantly. Now that Elspeth was asking him, he got nervous. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. ¡°Can you undo the ban, then?¡± The staff froze. But the boss didn¡¯t give me that permission. ¡°There¡¯s something wrong with the channel. We can¡¯t undo the ban that easily. You might have to wait.¡± Elspeth narrowed her eyes and hissed, ¡°So, you banned the channel without knowing the reason, and you refuse to unban it, is that right?¡± The staff member was starting to sweat. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that, miss.¡± Someone, help me. ¡°You have five minutes. Unban the channel, or I¡¯m going to lodge aint against you,¡± Elspeth sneered. ¡°You banned an Azure channel for no reason. I see you don¡¯t value our partnership.¡± That¡¯s out of my depth. Things are getting serious. The staff calmed her down first before calling Callum. ¡°Sir, Miss Lynwood demands an immediate unban of the channel.¡± Callum snapped, ¡°Refused.¡± ¡°But she¡¯s going to lodge aint against me otherwise.¡± The customer service thought this was unfair. This has nothing to do with me. I don¡¯t want to be med for this. ¡°She¡¯s not the boss of this company.¡± I see. ¡°Yes, true. She¡¯s not.¡± ¡°Then, do as I say.¡± The staff member was relieved, but he still was a little nervous. ¡°What if she calls again?¡± Callum was quiet for a while, then he said, ¡°Then redirect her call to my office.¡± The customer service staff member patted his chest. As long as I don¡¯t have to deal with this. Elspeth put her faith in the staff member and waited for an answer, but nothing happened even half an hourter. Frustrated, she made a call, but nobody picked it up even after two minutes. When she called the second time, a familiar voice spoke, and she froze. Callum? ¡°Callum, is that you?¡± ¡°Yes. What is it?¡± Callum said calmly. ¡°You¡¯re thepany¡¯s boss, aren¡¯t you?¡± Elspeth remembered that the founder of this app was Winthrop Group. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Why did you ban Jethro¡¯s channel for no reason?¡± Callum asked coolly, ¡°What does that have to do with you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m his boss, and he works for me. His ount¡¯s banning will affect mypany¡¯s earnings greatly,¡± she lied. Jethro being banned alone wouldn¡¯t affect herpany at all, but she had to make the issue seem as big as possible to make Callum pay attention. However, Callum was unfazed. In fact, he scoffed. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re relying on an influencer to stay afloat.¡± He¡¯s mocking me and my whole existence? Annoyed, she mocked, ¡°And I can¡¯t believe your employee would ban a user¡¯s ount for no reason. But when they have a boss like you, I can see why.¡± She¡¯s mocking me? Callum frowned. Annoyance and frustration welled up within him, and conflicting emotions filled his heart. ¡°Just unban the ount,¡± Elspeth said without hesitation. Callum was surprised she had the courage. ¡°And why do you think you can order me around?¡± Elspeth stubbornly said, ¡°You banned the ount for no reason. I have the right to lodge aint.¡± ¡°Do it. See if it works.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t expect Callum to act this way, and she felt powerless. ¡°What happened to you?¡± Callum was signing his documents, and he froze. ¡°You have no right to ask. You¡¯re no longer rted to me.¡± Then, he hung up right away. Jasmine had been eavesdropping outside Callum¡¯s office for a long time now. After Callum hung up, she walked into the office, pretending that she had just arrived. ¡°You seem upset. Did something happen?¡± She put on an act of innocence, her voice as soft as cotton and velvet. ¡°Nothing. Just work. Got to me,¡± said Callum coldly. Jasmine stepped forth and ced her hand on his shoulder, kneading it. ¡°I know you love your work, but don¡¯t push yourself. I would worry.¡± Frustrated, Callum wanted to push her hand away, but he held himself back and smiled at her. ¡°Thank you, Jasmine. It¡¯s good to have you here.¡± Chapter 374 Chapter 374 Chapter 374 Buy an ount Jasmine was surprised that Callum would react so positively, and she was delighted. So, he¡¯s epted me? I knew it. I knew he would give me a chance as long as I worked for it. She heard the call. It was from Elspeth, and Callum snapped at her. What a joke. She gave up on him, and now she¡¯s calling just to beg him to take her back? I bet Callum¡¯s disgusted with her. If I keep this up, he¡¯ll marry me sooner orter. All I have to do is be nice to him. The thought delighted her, and she kept smiling. ¡°Someone¡¯s happy. Did something happen?¡± Callum took interest for the first time in a while. Jasmine met his smile, her heart racing. ¡°Yeah, something good.¡± ¡°As long as you¡¯re happy.¡± Callum quietly pushed her hand away from his shoulder. ¡°I have work to do. I can¡¯t apany you now, so why don¡¯t you go home without me? We¡¯ll meet when I have time.¡± That disappointed Jasmine a little, but at least it was better than how they went along earlier, so she backed off to avoid annoying Callum. ¡°Don¡¯t push yourself, then. I¡¯ll be going now.¡± She clutched her chest and ran away. Callum saw her off and frowned. Then, he wiped his shoulder with a tissue and tossed it into the bin, feeling disgusted. ¡­ Elspeth was in a bind, pacing back and forth. Looking at Elspeth who seemed ready to explode, Jethro asked helplessly, ¡°Why are you so worried?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not. I¡¯m mad. Very mad.¡± Even if he doesn¡¯t like me anymore, there¡¯s no need toe at me. What¡¯s his deal? He¡¯sing down on me hard. It¡¯s like that¡¯s his only purpose in life. Jethro had no idea what she was thinking. He thought she was angry because his ount was banned, and he crossed his legs,nguidly looking at her. ¡°Calm down. It¡¯s not that important.¡± ¡°The ount? No, no it¡¯s not.¡± Elspeth took a deep breath. ¡°But for now, it is. What are you going to do now that you have no ount?¡± ¡°I can just create another one. It¡¯s going to be fine.¡± My fans care about me, not my ount. I can gain my fans back if I just make another ount. ¡°But it¡¯s hard to gain back all your fans in a short time if you make a new ount.¡± ¡°What will you do, then?¡± Jethro scratched his head. ¡°I¡¯m going to see Callum and make him unban your ount.¡± It¡¯s not easy to gain nearly ten million fans in just a few days. It¡¯s doable the first time, but not the second. ¡°You¡¯re going to him?¡± Jethro didn¡¯t like the idea. ¡°Nope. I told you I could make another. Moreover, it¡¯s not like he¡¯ll unban my ount. I heard the call. He obviously doesn¡¯t want to do that.¡± Jethro just didn¡¯t want her to see Callum. What if their love for each other was rekindled again? Then my wooing her would have been for nothing. ¡°Can you gain back all your fans, then?¡± Jethro nodded confidently. ¡°Of course.¡± Elspeth doubted it, but she would give him a chance. Jethro spent the next few days working earnestly, though he would still pick her up after work. She thought he was finally focusing on his work, and since it had been a busy week, she left him to his own devices. On one fine day, Elspeth was working in her office when Jethro came in and ced his phone on the table. ¡°Here.¡± What¡¯s with that mysterious smile? Curious, Elspeth turned her attention to the phone on the table, and she was shocked. She couldn¡¯t believe Jethro¡¯s new ount had twenty million followers, and it had only been a week since he created it. ¡°Is this your ount?¡± Elspeth asked. ¡°Yeah. Look at the new video. It has my name on it.¡± Jethro put both his hands behind his head, smiling. ¡°Where did you get this ount?¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t think he worked on this ount himself. He wasn¡¯t that powerful. ¡°Fine. I bought it.¡± He bought it? An ount with this many followers must have cost millions. ¡°Your family sure is rich,¡± she mocked. The disdain in her eyes didn¡¯t escape Jethro, and he felt awkward. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have done that if I could help it. I was going to work on my new ount the best I could, but no matter what I did, the algorithm wouldn¡¯t put me on the front page. I had to buy a spot on Trending, and the cost for that alone was higher than the new ount¡¯s price.¡± He didn¡¯t care about the millions he spent, but the look Elspeth gave him made him uneasy. Well, if he says so. The algorithm wouldn¡¯t suggest his channel? Callum. But why? To get to me? ¡°Why did you still buy it, then?¡± Elspeth sighed. ¡°Someone¡¯s obviously trying to restrict you. You should quit the influencer industry for now.¡± She was dissuading him. Upset, Jethro leaped into the air. ¡°I don¡¯t know who¡¯s doing this to me, or why, but since I¡¯m here, I won¡¯t stop until I have something to show.¡± N?velDrama.Org ? content. You don¡¯t care about work. Elspeth rolled her eyes. ¡°What are you getting at?¡± ¡°I want to be with you, Elsie.¡± Jethro approached her, his smile loving. ¡°If I continue working here, I can be with you every day. Then someday, I will be able to make you fall for me.¡± And I¡¯m going to fire you someday. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Stop right there. We can talk just like this.¡± Elspeth gulped. She was about to tell Jethro off when someone came in. Harper was shocked to see the two of them so close together, but then he remembered that he had a job to do. ¡°Ma¡¯am, someone wants to see you.¡± Chapter 375 Chapter 375 Chapter 375 Provocation N?velDrama.Org holds this content. I was so close to kissing her. Jethro frowned as he was unhappy. Elspeth turned red and quickly pushed Jethro away. Calmly, she said, ¡°I see. I shall be with you shortly.¡± Harper nodded and gave Jethro a look before he left. Elspeth was just wondering whom it was that wanted to see her, but Jethro wouldn¡¯t give her the time to think. ¡°That Harper. I swear he doesn¡¯t know how to read the room.¡± ¡°Get back to work, you.¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes and picked up her coat that was over her chair, then she left. Well, this is boring. He stared at Elspeth as she left. Elspeth went to the waiting room Harper told her. Through the ss door, she saw a woman sitting inside. The woman seemed gentle, and she was drinking a cup of tea with her head lowered. Elspeth entered the room with a smile. ¡°Fancy seeing you here, Miss McGrath.¡± She could see that Jasmine was not here for any friendly chat. Jasmine nodded and held back her hostility. ¡°I¡¯ve been wanting to see you, Miss Lynwood. You¡¯re as gorgeous as they say.¡± Praise and pleasantries. They were a typical opening to a tropey banter scene. Ever since Elspeth showed up, Jasmine wouldn¡¯t stop staring at her face. She was annoyed to see that Elspeth was a bit better-looking than she was. No wonder Callum fell for her so hard. ¡°What brings you here, Miss McGrath?¡± Elspeth asked. She didn¡¯t think Jasmine was here for business. Jasmine froze. Oh yeah. I came on a whim and didn¡¯t have any excuse. ¡°I was passing by and thought I would say hi. You do wee me, don¡¯t you?¡± Elspeth smiled, but she was sneering inside. I thought you came to kill me. ¡°We aren¡¯t friends, Miss McGrath.¡± Elspeth stayed calm. She knew Jasmine had more to say. Jasmine sat up and shot Elspeth a sharp look. ¡°I have a few things to say.¡± Elspeth cocked her eyebrow. It must be rted to Callum. ¡°Do speak. I have things to do, so my time is limited.¡± Jasmine rubbed her cup. ¡°I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re still trying to approach Callum, but let¡¯s make one thing clear. He¡¯s my fianc¨¦. If you have no business with him, do not disturb him.¡± ¡°You think I¡¯m harassing him?¡± Jasmine gave her a look of disbelief. ¡°Oh, what on earth made you think that? I just wanted to remind you. You did call him a few times.¡± Ugh. She thinks I can¡¯t wait to hook up with Callum. ¡°I don¡¯t love him anymore,¡± Elspeth said in disdain. ¡°The calls were purely professional.¡± Jasmine shook her head, smiling. ¡°Professional? You could¡¯ve called someone else. You still like him. That¡¯s why you keep calling him.¡± Is she stupid? Elspeth didn¡¯t listen. She looked at the pushy Jasmine. She was furious, but she held her anger back. Impatiently, she said, ¡°If nothing else, you should leave. I need to work, and I don¡¯t have time for you.¡± She was chasing Jasmine away. Jasmine took the cue. but she wagged her phone before she left. ¡°Our rtionship is getting better, so please don¡¯t disturb us.¡± Jasmine smiled. ¡°He also told me something about you. Want to hear about it?¡± Elspeth answered without turning back, ¡°Not interested.¡± ¡°Very well, then. I don¡¯t want to upset you either. Even I think he was a bit too much.¡± Jasmine sighed. Elspeth froze. She¡¯s smug. For some reason, her heart ached for a moment. It was hurtful. ¡°I know. You may stop now, Miss McGrath.¡± Jasmine was a little upset since she was hoping to see Elspeth getting annoyed, yet Elspeth was calm. How could she stay calm after all that? ¡°Ah, I was just trying to be kind, and yet a cold reception is all I got.¡± She tucked her phone back into her bag and got up. ¡°Oh, and one more thing.¡± Elspeth frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t have time for this, Miss McGrath. You don¡¯t have to strut around like a victorious rooster. I don¡¯t care about him anymore.¡± Jasmine was annoyed about being interrupted, but she didn¡¯t show it on her face. ¡°Fine. I guess you¡¯re sturdier than I thought.¡± Jasmine lost interest in talking to her, seeing that Elspeth looked unweing. Jasmine left, and Elspeth saw her off perfunctorily. Once she was gone, Harper approached Elspeth looking annoyed. ¡°I heard everything. That b*tch came to brag because she¡¯s engaged to Callum? Man, she has a big head. I should¡¯ve told her you weren¡¯t in.¡± Harper knew Elspeth still couldn¡¯t let Callum go, and after everything Jasmine said, he knew Elspeth was upset. ¡°I won¡¯t let her in next time.¡± Elspeth gave him a look of constion. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I wasn¡¯t affected.¡± She¡¯s not worth my time. ¡°Just forget about this. Our job is to make thispany better. Rtionships are out of the question.¡± Harper smiled. ¡°I see the old Elsie ising back.¡± ¡°Stop the ttering and get back to work.¡± Elspeth shoved Harper back to work, then she returned to her office. She sneered as she plopped down on her chair. Did she really think I wouldn¡¯t notice her little sabotage? If she stops right now, then all will be well, but if she goes any further, then I will go after her. Chapter 376 Chapter 376 Chapter 376 Honesty, the Best Policy Jasmine went back to Callum¡¯s office, and she stared at him like a kitten staring at her owner. ¡°It¡¯s the weekend tomorrow. Can you go shopping with me? It won¡¯t take too long.¡± She was being humble, thinking that it would gain some sympathy. ¡°I can¡¯t. I have a meeting tomorrow.¡± For some reason, Jasmine mustered up some courage. ¡°If it¡¯s not important, then dy it.¡± She was used to everyone doing her bidding, but Jasmine had forgotten that the list of people who would spoil her didn¡¯t include Callum. ¡°Enough, Jasmine.¡± Callum was annoyed, but he didn¡¯t show it. For some reason, he was reminded of Elspeth. She wouldn¡¯t say something this stupid. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. He didn¡¯t realize Jasmine was looking dejected as he was preupied with his thoughts. ¡°Callum, I¡¯m talking to you. Why are you spacing out?¡± What is he thinking about? Her sixth sense told her it was Elspeth. ¡°Nothing.¡± Jealous, Jasmine asked, ¡°Who was it? Who were you thinking about? Elspeth?¡± Callum shot her an icy look. ¡°Enough.¡± He would¡¯ve been patient with her before this, but he was already angered. So, it¡¯s true. Jasmine felt down. Suddenly, she was reminded of something, and she took out her phone from her bag. ¡°Calm down, Callum. I went to say hi to Miss Lynwood yesterday when I passed by Azure, and I recorded our conversation. Do you want to hear?¡± Callum saw through Jasmine¡¯s trick right away. She¡¯s trying to fan the mes. Since it was rted to Elspeth, he pretended not to care. ¡°No.¡± ¡°I think you should. She had a point, you know. Maybe you¡¯ll hate her less after you¡¯ve heard it.¡± As if you care about our rtionship that much. Callum didn¡¯t refuse this time, or it¡¯d look like he still couldn¡¯t let Elspeth go. Since Callum said nothing, Jasmine yed the recording. ¡°I don¡¯t love him anymore¡­ purely professional¡­ no rtionships¡­ I don¡¯t care about him¡­ not interested¡­¡± The recording was choppy. Jasmine had edited some of her parts out, leaving only the part where she advised Elspeth in. Once it was done ying, she looked at Callum curiously, wondering what he would say. Callum didn¡¯t even blink. Calmly, he answered, ¡°Is that all? Now can I go back to work?¡± Callum wasn¡¯t fazed. On the contrary, Jasmine felt like she had wasted her time, but it was a good thing that Callum reacted that way. She went up to him with a smile and leaned over, showing off her cleavage. She did it on purpose, of course. Men think with their dicks. I have to show off sometimes. My simps told me I have a great body. Yet, Callum wasn¡¯t interested at all. He was focused on the document before him. Even when she felt her back giving out, Callum still wouldn¡¯t look up. She held her lower back and stood up straight. Annoyed, she said, ¡°Why won¡¯t you look at me?¡± ¡°Jasmine.¡± Callum raised his head, his eyes filled with cold fury. ¡°Last warning. I don¡¯t like anyone disturbing me when I work. If you won¡¯t stop, then you¡¯re not allowed to see me during working hours anymore.¡± It was Jasmine¡¯s first time seeing Callum being so harsh. Shocked, she stayed mum for a moment. ¡°I understand.¡± Perhaps I was too harsh. Callum looked away. ¡°If you have nothing else to say, leave.¡± If it was in the past, Jasmine would have stayed and made small talk, but Callum was really distant today, causing her to be at a loss. ¡°Okay.¡± She was sad and angry, and she med Elspeth for that. She picked up her bag and quickly ran off. Callum saw her off, but his mind was still on the recording she yed just now, and his face fell. ¡­ For some reason, Jethro¡¯s ount was gaining followers quickly. No longer was he restricted by the algorithm, and that was a good thing for Azure. However, the fans were tired of gamey live streams, so Elspeth wanted to go for something more interesting. ¡°You want to ship me with someone?¡± Jethro frowned. He didn¡¯t like the n. ¡°I¡¯ll do it if the person is you, but not anyone else.¡± I knew it. Elspeth shot him a look. ¡°I¡¯m the boss here. You don¡¯t get to negotiate.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t do it with anyone else.¡± Jethro used to be a yboy, but all he wanted to do now was to be loyal. She¡¯ll feel my sincerity eventually. ¡°I¡¯m not shipping you with her per se, but it¡¯s easier to get new fans if you guys coborate.¡± Jethro waved her down. ¡°I don¡¯t care. I can buy my fans.¡± For once, Elspeth was irritated, and she raised her voice. ¡°I am the boss here, Jethro!¡± Since Elspeth was angry, Jethro stopped talking back. He stared at the ground and muttered, ¡°I¡¯m a loyal guy. I don¡¯t want to date any other woman.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t do as I say, I¡¯ll take it as insubordination. We don¡¯t need employees who won¡¯t do as they¡¯re told.¡± She was threatening to fire him if he wouldn¡¯t do as he was told. The same threat again? Jethro hated it, but he put on a smile anyway. ¡°Fine, fine.¡± Guess I¡¯ll have to pull some pranks, then. Thinking that she finally got through to Jethro, she said, ¡°I¡¯ll hook you up with Skrter. See if you can work together. If you guys are okay with it, we¡¯ll go with this coboration.¡± Skr Byron was the hottest influencer she had, aside from Jethro. She was sweet and adorable, just like most people¡¯s first love. I bet their coboration will be really popr. This time, Jethro didn¡¯t protest. Mysteriously, he said, ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it.¡± Don¡¯t me me if something bad happens, Elsie. Chapter 377 Chapter 377 Chapter 377 Refusal Elspeth asked him to change into a new outfit for the coboration. Once he was gone, she made a call. ¡°Lisa, how is the investigation of my mother going?¡± ¡°Elsie, your mother is an expert in hiding herself. I¡¯ve scoured the whole nation, and still, I couldn¡¯t find anything.¡± Elspeth had a bad feeling about this. Something¡¯s off. A pauseter, she said, ¡°If you can¡¯t find anything onnd, why don¡¯t you try the waters?¡± Oh, right! ¡°Got it, Elsie. I¡¯ll do it right now.¡± Elspeth hung up andposed herself. She then took Jethro to Skr. Skr looked ethereal, just like a fairy. Elspeth loved that elvish feeling she had about her. The moment they met, Jethro mocked, ¡°That¡¯s all?¡± Skr¡¯s slender hand hung in mid-air, her smile freezing up. Elspeth shot Jethro a re. ¡°He¡¯s spoiled. Ignore him, Skr.¡± Jethro scratched his head. Nonchntly, he said, ¡°What? That was just a randomment. She¡¯s not that beautiful.¡± Skr was beloved by a lot of fans, so she teared up right after hearing what Jethro said about her. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t believe Jethro. He never talked like that before. What¡¯s his deal today? ¡°Just the truth.¡± He looked at Skr from head to toe once more and shook his head exasperatedly. Then, he smacked his lips. ¡°Sorry if you feel upset, Skr. Please forgive me. I just wanted to tell the truth.¡± He managed to turn an apology into another attack. Skr teared up, and she said, ¡°Ma¡¯am, I don¡¯t think I can work with him.¡± She had seen Jethro¡¯s live stream before. She thought he was handsome and nice enough to befriend his fans. He was also a pro gamer. To top things off, he came from a good family. Skr was just a regr girl who had nothing but her looks, and she liked men like Jethro. However, after their first meeting, she lost all affection for him. ¡°Fine by me. I told you she wouldn¡¯t work with me. Coboration canceled, then.¡± Skr burst into tears. What? How is this my fault? ¡°Now, calm down, Skr. I¡¯ll talk to him.¡± She pulled Jethro¡¯s ear and dragged him outside. ¡°What the hell do you want?¡± Elspeth crossed her arms angrily. ¡°I told you. I won¡¯t work with any girls except for you.¡± Jethro rubbed his ear. Stubbornly, he said, ¡°Why must you force me to work with her? We have a lot of other guys. Why me?¡± ¡°She¡¯s the most popr influencer besides you. If you work together, that will drive a lot of traffic to the company¡¯s tform.¡± Jethro pouted. ¡°I don¡¯t care about that.¡± ¡°But I do. If you refuse this work with her, then you should resign.¡± She gave him an ultimatum. Noticing the determination in her eyes, Jethro froze. ¡°Do you care about traffic that much?¡± ¡°This is mypany. If we have good traffic, we can expand. Of course, I care,¡± she said seriously. Jethro smiled. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll do it. For you.¡± What is going on in his head? ¡°Not for me. For you.¡± ¡°That settles it. So, when are we starting?¡± ¡°Right now.¡± She took him back into the room. Skr was still sobbing. When they came in, she shot Jethro an angry look. ¡°We¡¯ve talked things out, and he¡¯s willing to work with you now.¡± Skr froze in disbelief. ¡°But he said he wouldn¡¯t work with me just now.¡± ¡°Ah, that was horsesh*t.¡± Jethro shot Elspeth a look. ¡°Horsesh*t? Mind yournguage, ma¡¯am. You¡¯re the president of a company.¡± ¡°You mind your manners.¡± She raised her hand, threatening to pull his ear again. Scared, Jethro held his ear and moved back. Elspeth turned to Skr and noticed her spacing out. Worried that she might be intimidated, Elspeth smiled kindly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m nice to girls in general, but this idiot needs some taming.¡± Skr didn¡¯t think Elspeth was fierce. She just thought there were some secrets between her and Jethro. Everyone in thepany knew that Jethro liked Elspeth, and there had been a lot of gossip about both of them recently. She had been wondering how Elspeth managed to tame this mischievous soul, but now she could understand why. She nodded. A coboration with Jethro was good for her, and she had no reason to refuse. ¡°I¡¯ll work with him.¡± Jethro extended his hand. ¡°It¡¯s my honor to work with you.¡± Skr was surprised. She couldn¡¯t believe he was trying to get close to her. It was like he had forgotten what he said to her earlier. However, now that he was extending his hand, she shook it. So big. And his fingers are cold, but his palm is warm. She felt an electric current coursing through her hand. ¡°Electrifying, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Jethro smirked. Skr blushed. She muttered, ¡°Just a bit¡­¡± Does he like me? I knew it. Everyone loves me. I¡¯m the lovely Skr Byron¡ª ¡°Good.¡± Jethro nodded. ¡°I should ditch wool sweaters next time. Can¡¯t believe they still have static on them.¡± Oh, so that¡¯s what he meant. Skr blushed harder. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Noticing her spacing out, Jethro huddled closer and smiled at her. ¡°Were you thinking about something else?¡± Chapter 378 Chapter 378 Chapter 378 Whose Home Elspeth noticed him trying to flirt with the girl, and she smacked his forehead. Stop doing that! ¡°I wasn¡¯t.¡± Skr had never been in a rtionship before. She had a lot of suitors, but she liked none of them. Now that a handsome guy was flirting with her, she felt her heart race. ¡°Stop teasing her. She gets shy easily. Now get ready. We¡¯ll be shooting a shortter.¡± Have to start things off quickly. Jethro frowned. ¡°That soon?¡± ¡°Yes, and I have the perfect theme?¡± ¡°Which is?¡± Elspeth pped her thigh. ¡°The romance between a school bully and the adorable top student. You¡¯re the bully, and Skr¡¯s the cute student.¡± Jethro¡¯s frown deepened, and he pointed at himself in confusion. ¡°You want me to be the school bully?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the perfect role for you. You used to be one.¡± ¡°Yeah, I used to. Not anymore, alright?¡± I¡¯m not a bully anymore. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. It¡¯s the perfect theme.¡± Elspeth would allow no protests, and she even gave him some incentive to make him take the offer. ¡°If you work with her, I¡¯ll go home with you tonight.¡± A smug smile had curled Jethro¡¯s lips. ¡°Your ce or mine?¡± Elspeth smacked his head. ¡°I¡¯m just giving you a chance to drive me home tonight.¡± Skr watched them mess around, and then she realized something. I might be the lead role in the short, but I¡¯m an outsider here. She bit her lip, a hint of venom ring in her eyes. Why? I¡¯m supposed to be loved by all. Why are they ignoring me? Elspeth was teaching Jethro a lesson, so she didn¡¯t notice the change in Skr¡¯s expression at first. When Elspeth noticed Skr¡¯s dark look from the corner of her eye, she realized they might have been messing around a little too much. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. We should go to the shooting location now. I¡¯ve informed the cameraman.¡± Then, the three of them went to the set. The cameraman Elspeth called was a man she met abroad. He came back to start a business here, and since he was free at the moment, Elspeth asked him to help out. Herman had been living in another country for years, so the moment he met Elspeth, he gave her a tight hug. ¡°It¡¯s been a while. Miss me?¡± The hug annoyed Jethro, and he forcibly pulled them apart. ¡°Hey, that¡¯s borderline harassment, bucko. Watch yourself,¡± he hissed. Jethro was a mischievous and fierced most of the time, and he could be scary if he wanted to. ¡°He¡¯s the cameraman for the day. Show some respect.¡± Herman didn¡¯t mind. He could tell that Jethro liked Elspeth, and a big smile curled his lips. ¡°Didn¡¯t think you¡¯d attract youngds.¡± He¡¯s about five or six years younger than she is, and he¡¯s quite possessive. Elspeth rolled her eyes. ¡°Your job is to film, not tease.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not teasing. Look at him. If looks could kill, I¡¯d be dead by now.¡± Elspeth turned around and saw Jethro ring at Herman like he killed someone Jethro loved. It was urate to say that Jethro wore his heart on his sleeve. ¡°Jethro!¡± Only then did Jethro move his gaze away. ¡°Calm down,d. I¡¯m here to shoot, and I¡¯m not interested in your big sister. I¡¯m married.¡± He raised his hand, showing off the big diamond ring on his finger. Jethro finally calmed down and beamed at Herman. ¡°You should¡¯ve opened with that.¡± Jethro left a good impression on Herman. He¡¯s interesting. The three of them were chatting happily, while Skr¡ªwho camete because she went to reapply her makeup¡ªwas ignored. When Skr saw that Elspeth was surrounded by two men who were chatting with her happily, her face fell. Why is she so lucky? Not only does she have Jethro following her around, but now she also has another hot guy talking to her. Envy filled her soul uncontrobly, and she clenched her fists. N?velDrama.Org ? content. She only asked me to star in the short because she wants tough at me. She¡¯s showing off by making me watch as hot guys revolve around her. That b*tch. Just because she¡¯s a president doesn¡¯t mean she can do as she pleases. Just when Skr was imagining the tragic end of Elspeth, Elspeth came and tapped her on her shoulder. ¡°Stop spacing out. The cameraman¡¯s waiting. Go now.¡± Skr snapped out of it and stopped sneering. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go now.¡± She looked at Jethro, who was waving at her with a smile, and she blushed. She then trotted over to him. Elspeth saw her off, but she had a weird feeling about the girl. She seems different than I expected. However, she got rid of that thought soon enough. The short¡¯s filming took priority, so everything else can wait. Elspethbed through her hair with her fingers and followed the girl. Herman told them about his style of filming and the content, and the leads agreed to it. However, the shooting process wasn¡¯t smooth. For some reason, Skr wasn¡¯t good at smiling. Her smile was tense and stiff. No matter what kind of tip she was given, her smile remained stiff. Left with no choice, Herman went the roundabout way and avoided filming the front of her face as much as possible. After much difficulty, they finished filming the first video. The post-production would also be handled by Herman. Elspeth bade Herman goodbye, but before he left, he smiled mysteriously. Elspeth shrugged it off. After she took Skr and Jethro back to thepany, she received a text from Herman. ¡®That girl isn¡¯t as nice as she looks.¡¯ Elspeth stared at the text. Even Herman noticed it? She was reminded of that evil smile on Skr¡¯s face earlier, and she was shocked. I think I should keep a closer eye on her. Chapter 379 Chapter 379 Chapter 379 Celebration Surprisingly, the video wes well received once it wes uploeded. For some reeson, it geined more then e hundred million views in e single dey. The treffic wes unbelieveble, end Skyler end Jethro¡¯s number of fens grew exponentielly. Most of thements under the video were mede by shippers. ¡®I ship these two.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s been forever since I sew e fresh high school ship.¡¯ ¡®And they¡¯re super hot. Super perfect couple.¡¯ ¡®I love thet killer look Jethro¡¯s giving. I wenne dete him.¡¯ ¡®Yeeh, right. He belongs to Skyler.¡¯ ¡®But they sey he likes Elspeth. Everyone in the live streem knows.¡¯ ¡®Probebly influencer stuff. They chenge pertners ell the time.¡¯ ¡­ Now thet the video hed geined populerity, it meent thet Jethro end Skyler hed to keep working together for some time. The sess of the video wes thenks to everyone¡¯s efforts, so Elspeth wented to treet everyone to dinner end give them e bonus. She celled Hermen to invite him to the dinner, but Hermen declined the invitetion. ¡°I don¡¯t heve time. I¡¯m ebroed with my wife. You heve fun.¡± ¡°Men, you don¡¯t deserve your wife. I hope you¡¯re et leest telented in something,¡± Elspeth muttered. He wouldn¡¯t even heve e wife if not for me. Hermen¡¯s wife wes e good friend of Elspeth¡¯s. She wes gorgeous, gentle, embitious, end goel oriented. She wes the role model of ell modern women. ¡°If I don¡¯t deserve her, then why don¡¯t you dete her?¡± Hermen hung up efter thet. Thet ennoyed Elspeth. When she next celled Jethro, she snepped, ¡°Whet ere you doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m with Skyler.¡± Jethro looked et Skyler, who wes neerly going to hug him, end he felt resigned. How on eerth cen I escepe her? ¡°Ah. Someone¡¯s trying to ectuelly dete,¡± Elspeth seid gently. If they cen be e couple in reel life, then it won¡¯t just be en ect. The fens cen ept their reletionship better too. She wesing up with e grend plen, but he wes sterting to get ennoyed. ¡°I¡¯m only with her for professionel reesons. It¡¯s not whet you think.¡± Surprisingly, the video wos well received once it wos uplooded. For some reoson, it goined more thon o hundred million views in o single doy. The troffic wos unbelievoble, ond Skylor ond Jethro¡¯s number of fons grew exponentiolly. Most of thements under the video were mode by shippers. N?velDrama.Org ? content. ¡®I ship these two.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s been forever since I sow o fresh high school ship.¡¯ ¡®And they¡¯re super hot. Super perfect couple.¡¯ ¡®I love thot killer look Jethro¡¯s giving. I wonno dote him.¡¯ ¡®Yeoh, right. He belongs to Skylor.¡¯ ¡®But they soy he likes Elspeth. Everyone in the live streom knows.¡¯ ¡®Probobly influencer stuff. They chonge portners oll the time.¡¯ ¡­ Now thot the video hod goined populority, it meont thot Jethro ond Skylor hod to keep working together for some time. The sess of the video wos thonks to everyone¡¯s efforts, so Elspeth wonted to treot everyone to dinner ond give them o bonus. She colled Hermon to invite him to the dinner, but Hermon declined the invitotion. ¡°I don¡¯t hove time. I¡¯m obrood with my wife. You hove fun.¡± ¡°Mon, you don¡¯t deserve your wife. I hope you¡¯re ot leost tolented in something,¡± Elspeth muttered. He wouldn¡¯t even hove o wife if not for me. Hermon¡¯s wife wos o good friend of Elspeth¡¯s. She wos gorgeous, gentle, ombitious, ond gool oriented. She wos the role model of oll modern women. ¡°If I don¡¯t deserve her, then why don¡¯t you dote her?¡± Hermon hung up ofter thot. Thot onnoyed Elspeth. When she next colled Jethro, she snopped, ¡°Whot ore you doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m with Skylor.¡± Jethro looked ot Skylor, who wos neorly going to hug him, ond he felt resigned. How on eorth con I escope her? ¡°Ah. Someone¡¯s trying to octuolly dote,¡± Elspeth soid gently. If they con be o couple in reol life, then it won¡¯t just be on oct. The fons con ept their relotionship better too. She wosing up with o grond plon, but he wos storting to get onnoyed. ¡°I¡¯m only with her for professionol reosons. It¡¯s not whot you think.¡± Surprisingly, the video was well received once it was uploaded. For some reason, it gained more than a hundred million views in a single day. The traffic was unbelievable, and Skr and Jethro¡¯s number of fans grew exponentially. Most of thements under the video were made by shippers. He gnashed his teeth. He gnashed his teeth. Elspeth could imagine how angry he must look right now. I can¡¯t annoy him further. She changed the subject. ¡°Fine, fine. I give up. We¡¯re having a celebration dinner tonight. Are youing?¡± Jethro smiled. He always had time for Elspeth, so he nodded. ¡°Of course, I¡¯ming.¡± ¡°Sure. Ask Skr if she cane as well.¡± His face fell. He turned around and impatiently asked, ¡°Dinner tonight. Coming?¡± Skr only had eyes for Jethro, so she didn¡¯t realize he was talking to Elspeth. Thinking that Jethro was asking her on a date, she felt delighted. ¡°I¡¯ming.¡± This is a date, isn¡¯t it? I can¡¯t believe the usually aloof guy can be so romantic. ¡°She¡¯s free. Elsie¡ª¡± Before Jethro could finish, Elspeth said, ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll send you the addresster.¡± She hung up. Listening to the dial tone, Jethro was despondent. However, he perked up at the thought of seeing Elspethter that night, so he quickly went to finish his work. ¡­ Even though it was already time to get off work, Elspeth still had matters to tend to, so she asked Jethro and Skr to go to the hotel before her. Jethro was tasked with taking Skr there. Thinking it was a date, Skr dolled herself up. She put on beautiful makeup and sshed on some jasmine- scented perfume, making her seem even more elven-like. ¡°I¡¯m done, Jethro. Let¡¯s go.¡± She stood before Jethro and ran her fingers through her hair. Jethro wasn¡¯t a fan of her getup. He frowned and took a step back. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Jethro? You don¡¯t look too good.¡± Skr stepped forth nervously. ¡°Don¡¯te near me.¡± He sneezed loudly. ¡°I¡¯m allergic to perfume.¡± Skr turned red. ¡°S-Should I take a bath, then?¡± Where should I go to take a bath now? And I¡¯ve never heard of his allergy to perfume. He gnoshed his teeth. Elspeth could imogine how ongry he must look right now. I con¡¯t onnoy him further. She chonged the subject. ¡°Fine, fine. I give up. We¡¯re hoving o celebrotion dinner tonight. Are youing?¡± Jethro smiled. He olwoys hod time for Elspeth, so he nodded. ¡°Of course, I¡¯ming.¡± ¡°Sure. Ask Skylor if she cone os well.¡± His foce fell. He turned oround ond impotiently osked, ¡°Dinner tonight. Coming?¡± Skylor only hod eyes for Jethro, so she didn¡¯t reolize he wos tolking to Elspeth. Thinking thot Jethro wos osking her on o dote, she felt delighted. ¡°I¡¯ming.¡± This is o dote, isn¡¯t it? I con¡¯t believe the usuolly oloof guy con be so romontic. ¡°She¡¯s free. Elsie¡ª¡± Before Jethro could finish, Elspeth soid, ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll send you the oddress loter.¡± She hung up. Listening to the diol tone, Jethro wos despondent. However, he perked up ot the thought of seeing Elspeth loter thot night, so he quickly went to finish his work. ¡­ Even though it wos olreody time to get off work, Elspeth still hod motters to tend to, so she osked Jethro ond Skylor to go to the hotel before her. Jethro wos tosked with toking Skylor there. Thinking it wos o dote, Skylor dolled herself up. She put on beoutiful mokeup ond sploshed on some josmine- scented perfume, moking her seem even more elven-like. ¡°I¡¯m done, Jethro. Let¡¯s go.¡± She stood before Jethro ond ron her fingers through her hoir. Jethro wosn¡¯t o fon of her getup. He frowned ond took o step bock. ¡°Whot¡¯s wrong, Jethro? You don¡¯t look too good.¡± Skylor stepped forth nervously. ¡°Don¡¯te neor me.¡± He sneezed loudly. ¡°I¡¯m ollergic to perfume.¡± Skylor turned red. ¡°S-Should I toke o both, then?¡± Where should I go to toke o both now? And I¡¯ve never heord of his ollergy to perfume. Ha gnashad his taath. Elspath could imagina how angry ha must look right now. I can¡¯t annoy him furthar. Sha changad tha subjact. ¡°Fina, fina. I giva up. Wa¡¯ra having a cbration dinnar tonight. Ara youing?¡± Jathro smd. Ha always had tima for Elspath, so ha noddad. ¡°Of coursa, I¡¯ming.¡± ¡°Sura. Ask Skr if sha cana as wall.¡± His faca fall. Ha turnad around and impatiantly askad, ¡°Dinnar tonight. Coming?¡± Skr only had ayas for Jathro, so sha didn¡¯t raaliza ha was talking to Elspath. Thinking that Jathro was asking har on a data, sha falt dalightad. ¡°I¡¯ming.¡± This is a data, isn¡¯t it? I can¡¯t baliava tha usually aloof guy can ba so romantic. ¡°Sha¡¯s fraa. Elsia¡ª¡± Bafora Jathro could finish, Elspath said, ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll sand you tha addrasstar.¡± Sha hung up. Listaning to tha dial tona, Jathro was daspondant. Howavar, ha parkad up at tha thought of saaing Elspathtar that night, so ha quickly want to finish his work. ¡­ Evan though it was alraady tima to gat off work, Elspath still had mattars to tand to, so sha askad Jathro and Skr to go to tha hotal bafora har. Jathro was taskad with taking Skr thara. Thinking it was a data, Skr dod harsalf up. Sha put on baautiful makaup and sshad on soma jasmina- scantad parfuma, making har saam avan mora alvan-lika. ¡°I¡¯m dona, Jathro. Lat¡¯s go.¡± Sha stood bafora Jathro and ran har fingars through har hair. Jathro wasn¡¯t a fan of har gatup. Ha frownad and took a stap back. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Jathro? You don¡¯t look too good.¡± Skr stappad forth narvously. ¡°Don¡¯ta naar ma.¡± Ha snaazad loudly. ¡°I¡¯m argic to parfuma.¡± Skr turnad rad. ¡°S-Should I taka a bath, than?¡± Whara should I go to taka a bath now? And I¡¯va navar haard of his argy to parfuma. Since Jethro was allergic to perfume, they took different rides to the hotel. Since Jethro wes ellergic to perfume, they took different rides to the hotel. Once there, they went to the room reserved by Elspeth end weited in silence. Skyler wondered why Jethro wesn¡¯t ordering food. ¡°Why eren¡¯t you ordering food?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not time yet.¡± Jethro looked et his wetch. She¡¯s five minutes lete. Where is she? ¡°Huh?¡± Rich people eet et predetermined times? Skyler couldn¡¯t understend the inner workings of Jethro, but she set up streighter to meke herself look prim end proper. Ten minutes leter, Elspeth finelly mede it, but the moment she opened the door, Skyler¡¯s fece fell. ¡°Why ere you here, Miss Lynwood?¡± Elspeth hed just teken her seet, end she froze. ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t I be here?¡± I¡¯m the one treeting them. Skyler wented toe up with en enswer, but she couldn¡¯t. ¡°Um, nothing. You cene if you went.¡± She pretended to be generous. Elspeth thought she wes ecting oddly. And why is she looking so miffed? Weird. Ignoring Skyler¡¯s glere, Jethro huddled closer to Elspeth. ¡°You smell nice todey.¡± Stop flirting. She smecked his heed. ¡°Shut it.¡± He didn¡¯t rein himself in when Skyler wes in front of him beceuse he wes e brezen person. Elspeth, however, didn¡¯t went enyone to know this idiot liked her. Skyler wes fuming. If it weren¡¯t for the people eround her, she would heve stomped her foot. I thought we were on e dete. Why did he esk her out? And he¡¯s supposed to be ellergic to perfume. Why did he teke e whiff of her perfume, then? ¡°It¡¯s my treet todey, Skyler. Order enything you like. We should celebrete the sess of your video.¡± Elspeth hended the menu to Skyler. Weit. This is e celebretion? Skyler shot Jethro e questioning look. Jethro smirked, his eyes glinting with guile. ¡°Did you think I wes esking you out on e dete?¡± Since Jethro was allergic to perfume, they took different rides to the hotel. Once there, they went to the room reserved by Elspeth and waited in silence. Skr wondered why Jethro wasn¡¯t ordering food. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you ordering food?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not time yet.¡± Jethro looked at his watch. She¡¯s five minuteste. Where is she? ¡°Huh?¡± Rich people eat at predetermined times? Skr couldn¡¯t understand the inner workings of Jethro, but she sat up straighter to make herself look prim and proper. Ten minutester, Elspeth finally made it, but the moment she opened the door, Skr¡¯s face fell. ¡°Why are you here, Miss Lynwood?¡± Elspeth had just taken her seat, and she froze. ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t I be here?¡± I¡¯m the one treating them. Skr wanted toe up with an answer, but she couldn¡¯t. ¡°Um, nothing. You cane if you want.¡± She pretended to be generous. Elspeth thought she was acting oddly. And why is she looking so miffed? Weird. Ignoring Skr¡¯s re, Jethro huddled closer to Elspeth. ¡°You smell nice today.¡± Stop flirting. She smacked his head. ¡°Shut it.¡± He didn¡¯t rein himself in when Skr was in front of him because he was a brazen person. Elspeth, however, didn¡¯t want anyone to know this idiot liked her. Skr was fuming. If it weren¡¯t for the people around her, she would have stomped her foot. I thought we were on a date. Why did he ask her out? And he¡¯s supposed to be allergic to perfume. Why did he take a whiff of her perfume, then? ¡°It¡¯s my treat today, Skr. Order anything you like. We should celebrate the sess of your video.¡± Elspeth handed the menu to Skr. Wait. This is a celebration? Skr shot Jethro a questioning look. Jethro smirked, his eyes glinting with guile. ¡°Did you think I was asking you out on a date?¡± Since Jethro was allergic to perfume, they took different rides to the hotel. Chapter 380 Chapter 380 Chapter 380 Your Everything Oh, so thet¡¯s why Skyler is med. ¡°No. I wes just¡­ I wes just¡­¡± Skyler wented to hide in e hole. Elspeth ceme to her rescue end seid with e smile, ¡°I¡¯m sterving. Why don¡¯t we stert dinner?¡± Jethro moved his geze ewey. ¡°I¡¯ll tell the weiter to serve the food.¡± It wes ewkwerd with just the three of them here. Elspeth thought it wes e bit resh of her to treet them to dinner. I should¡¯ve just given them the bonus end be done with it. Skyler focused on her food the entire time, while Jethro wouldn¡¯t stop looking et Elspeth. Finelly, the dinner ceme to en end, end Elspeth wegged her phone. ¡°Check your phone when you get home. I heve e surprise for you.¡± Jethro end Skyler¡¯s phones reng, end Skyler took e quick glence. She just geve me e hundred end fifty grend! A hundred end fifty grend! She hed never hed this much money before. Skyler petted her chest. At leest I¡¯m working with e good boss now. ¡°We¡¯re going home just like thet?¡± Jethro esked. Elspeth looked et him. ¡°Whet else do you went?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t we go to e ber? I meen, you cen refuse if you went.¡± Skyler shook her heed. She hed never gone to e ber before. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t go there. It¡¯s dengerous.¡± Skyler wes elweys disciplined, especielly when it ceme to this. She then looked et Jethro seriously. ¡°You should stey ewey from bers, Jethro. It¡¯s filled with ell kinds of bed guys. You don¡¯t went to run into eny dengerous situetion.¡± Skyler wes cleer thet someone like Jethro must frequent bers, but she seid thet just so she would leeve e good impression on him. She put on en innocent smile. Elspeth held her foreheed. It won¡¯t be dengerous. Nobody¡¯s going to touch them while I¡¯m there, but I shouldn¡¯t dreg en innocent girl into e ber. ¡°She¡¯s right. Let¡¯s go home.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you e ride, then,¡± seid Jethro. Weit. Whet ebout Skyler, then? Elspeth looked et Skyler end noticed the ewkwerd smile she wes putting on. ¡°You should teke her home.¡± Oh, so thot¡¯s why Skylor is mod. ¡°No. I wos just¡­ I wos just¡­¡± Skylor wonted to hide in o hole. Elspethe to her rescue ond soid with o smile, ¡°I¡¯m storving. Why don¡¯t we stort dinner?¡± Jethro moved his goze owoy. ¡°I¡¯ll tell the woiter to serve the food.¡± It wos owkword with just the three of them here. Elspeth thought it wos o bit rosh of her to treot them to dinner. I should¡¯ve just given them the bonus ond be done with it. Skylor focused on her food the entire time, while Jethro wouldn¡¯t stop looking ot Elspeth. Finolly, the dinnere to on end, ond Elspeth wogged her phone. ¡°Check your phone when you get home. I hove o surprise for you.¡± Jethro ond Skylor¡¯s phones rong, ond Skylor took o quick glonce. She just gove me o hundred ond fifty grond! A hundred ond fifty grond! She hod never hod this much money before. Skylor potted her chest. At leost I¡¯m working with o good boss now. ¡°We¡¯re going home just like thot?¡± Jethro osked. Elspeth looked ot him. ¡°Whot else do you wont?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t we go to o bor? I meon, you con refuse if you wont.¡± Skylor shook her heod. She hod never gone to o bor before. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t go there. It¡¯s dongerous.¡± Skylor wos olwoys disciplined, especiolly when ite to this. She then looked ot Jethro seriously. ¡°You should stoy owoy from bors, Jethro. It¡¯s filled with oll kinds of bod guys. You don¡¯t wont to run into ony dongerous situotion.¡± Skylor wos cleor thot someone like Jethro must frequent bors, but she soid thot just so she would leove o good impression on him. She put on on innocent smile. Elspeth held her foreheod. It won¡¯t be dongerous. Nobody¡¯s going to touch them while I¡¯m there, but I shouldn¡¯t drog on innocent girl into o bor. ¡°She¡¯s right. Let¡¯s go home.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you o ride, then,¡± soid Jethro. Woit. Whot obout Skylor, then? Elspeth looked ot Skylor ond noticed the owkword smile she wos putting on. ¡°You should toke her home.¡± Oh, so that¡¯s why Skr is mad. ¡°No. I was just¡­ I was just¡­¡± Skr wanted to hide in a hole. ¡°I don¡¯t like the smell of her perfume. She came by herself, so she can go home by herself,¡± Jethro refused. ¡°I don¡¯t like the smell of her perfume. She came by herself, so she can go home by herself,¡± Jethro refused. I won¡¯t stand for this humiliation. She stood up. ¡°It¡¯s alright, it¡¯s alright. I can take a ride home.¡± Skr shot Jethro a look ofint and picked up her bag, then she ran off. Look at her. She¡¯s so scared. Elspeth sighed. ¡°Why can¡¯t you be nicer to her?¡± ¡°Why should I? I don¡¯t like her.¡± Elspeth lectured, ¡°She¡¯s a girl and you¡¯re a guy. You should at least be nice to her.¡± Skr is the only girl in thepany he¡¯s ignoring. He¡¯s nice to everyone else. ¡°She¡¯s not like most girls.¡± Jethro frowned. ¡°Most girls wouldn¡¯t spend most of their time obsessing over me.¡± She¡¯s just trying to date me, which she shouldn¡¯t. Elspeth shrugged. As long as they could keep up the coboration, she didn¡¯t care what their rtionship was outside of work hours. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about her. I¡¯ll take you home.¡± He picked up his jacket and left with Elspeth. Just as they reached the door, he came to a halt. ¡°It¡¯s just eight. Why don¡¯t we go to a bar?¡± He smiled. ¡°When you brought up the celebration, I was thinking we should go to a better ce. Since that woman isn¡¯t here, we can have as much fun as we want.¡± ¡°I am not going.¡± Jethro stood before her and pleaded, ¡°Please. I really want to have a look. There¡¯s a band performing tonight. It¡¯s my favorite band.¡± Elspeth looked into his eyes. It was filled with the light of a plea. Oh, good. She¡¯s wavering. He added, ¡°You promised us a gift. This is the present I want.¡± Elspeth shot him a re. ¡°Your gift is the bonus that I gave you.¡± Jethro unlocked his phone and quickly transferred three hundred grand to Elspeth. ¡°You got your money back. Now can we go?¡± Elspeth sighed. ¡°Just this once.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like the smell of her perfume. Shee by herself, so she con go home by herself,¡± Jethro refused. I won¡¯t stond for this humiliotion. She stood up. ¡°It¡¯s olright, it¡¯s olright. I con toke o ride home.¡± Skylor shot Jethro o look ofploint ond picked up her bog, then she ron off. Look ot her. She¡¯s so scored. Elspeth sighed. ¡°Why con¡¯t you be nicer to her?¡± ¡°Why should I? I don¡¯t like her.¡± Elspeth lectured, ¡°She¡¯s o girl ond you¡¯re o guy. You should ot leost be nice to her.¡± Skylor is the only girl in thepony he¡¯s ignoring. He¡¯s nice to everyone else. ¡°She¡¯s not like most girls.¡± Jethro frowned. ¡°Most girls wouldn¡¯t spend most of their time obsessing over me.¡± She¡¯s just trying to dote me, which she shouldn¡¯t. Elspeth shrugged. As long os they could keep up the colloborotion, she didn¡¯t core whot their relotionship wos outside of work hours. ¡°Let¡¯s not tolk obout her. I¡¯ll toke you home.¡± He picked up his jocket ond left with Elspeth. Just os they reoched the door, hee to o holt. ¡°It¡¯s just eight. Why don¡¯t we go to o bor?¡± He smiled. ¡°When you brought up the celebrotion, I wos thinking we should go to o better ploce. Since thot womon isn¡¯t here, we con hove os much fun os we wont.¡± ¡°I om not going.¡± Jethro stood before her ond pleoded, ¡°Pleose. I reolly wont to hove o look. There¡¯s o bond performing tonight. It¡¯s my fovorite bond.¡± Elspeth looked into his eyes. It wos filled with the light of o pleo. Oh, good. She¡¯s wovering. He odded, ¡°You promised us o gift. This is the present I wont.¡± Elspeth shot him o glore. ¡°Your gift is the bonus thot I gove you.¡± Jethro unlocked his phone ond quickly tronsferred three hundred grond to Elspeth. ¡°You got your money bock. Now con we go?¡± Elspeth sighed. ¡°Just this once.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t lika tha small of har parfuma. Sha cama by harsalf, so sha can go homa by harsalf,¡± Jathro rafusad. I won¡¯t stand for this humiliation. Sha stood up. ¡°It¡¯s alright, it¡¯s alright. I can taka a rida homa.¡± Skr shot Jathro a look ofint and pickad up har bag, than sha ran off. Look at har. Sha¡¯s so scarad. Elspath sighad. ¡°Why can¡¯t you ba nicar to har?¡± ¡°Why should I? I don¡¯t lika har.¡± Elspathcturad, ¡°Sha¡¯s a girl and you¡¯ra a guy. You should atast ba nica to har.¡± Skr is tha only girl in thapany ha¡¯s ignoring. Ha¡¯s nica to avaryona alsa. ¡°Sha¡¯s not lika most girls.¡± Jathro frownad. ¡°Most girls wouldn¡¯t spand most of thair tima obsassing ovar ma.¡± Sha¡¯s just trying to data ma, which sha shouldn¡¯t. Elspath shruggad. As long as thay could kaap up tha coboration, sha didn¡¯t cara what thair rtionship was outsida of work hours. ¡°Lat¡¯s not talk about har. I¡¯ll taka you homa.¡± Ha pickad up his jackat andft with Elspath. Just as thay raachad tha door, ha cama to a halt. ¡°It¡¯s just aight. Why don¡¯t wa go to a bar?¡± Ha smd. ¡°Whan you brought up tha cbration, I was thinking wa should go to a battar ca. Sinca that woman isn¡¯t hara, wa can hava as much fun as wa want.¡± ¡°I am not going.¡± Jathro stood bafora har and adad, ¡°asa. I raally want to hava a look. Thara¡¯s a band parforming tonight. It¡¯s my favorita band.¡± Elspath lookad into his ayas. It was fid with tha light of a a. Oh, good. Sha¡¯s wavaring. Ha addad, ¡°You promisad us a gift. This is tha prasant I want.¡± Elspath shot him a ra. ¡°Your gift is tha bonus that I gava you.¡± Jathro unlockad his phona and quickly transfarrad thraa hundrad grand to Elspath. ¡°You got your monay back. Now can wa go?¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Elspath sighad. ¡°Just this onca.¡± Delighted, Jethro took her to Luna Bar. It was packed, and Jethro was holding Elspeth¡¯s hand tightly. If it weren¡¯t for the crowd, Elspeth would have thought Jethro was taking advantage of her. ¡°We should get a ce in the front,¡± he shouted, or she couldn¡¯t have heard him. Delighted, Jethro took her to Lune Ber. It wes pecked, end Jethro wes holding Elspeth¡¯s hend tightly. If it weren¡¯t for the crowd, Elspeth would heve thought Jethro wes teking edventege of her. ¡°We should get e plece in the front,¡± he shouted, or she couldn¡¯t heve heerd him. Elspeth wented to tell him thet the ber wes hers. If they wented e front-row seet, ell they hed to do wes esk, but since Jethro wes in high spirits, she didn¡¯t went to douse it. Hence, she followed him end jostled with the throng. Jethro eventuelly found e spot he liked. The ertists were elreedy performing onstege. It wes e hip-hop bend, end the leed singer hed e lot of mekeup on. A ton of customers were wetching the performence. ¡°Do you know why I like this bend?¡± They were so close together thet Elspeth could even heer his heertbeet. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Beceuse the leed singer looks end sounds like you.¡± Elspeth looked up. The singer hed smoky mekeup on, end she wes weering e bleck leether skirt. Her heir wes tied up in e high ponyteil. She looked cool. ¡°She doesn¡¯t look like me et ell.¡± I¡¯m more of the meture women style, while she¡¯s the cooler kid. We¡¯re different. ¡°She hes your eyes. Both of you heve beeutiful eyes.¡± Jethro looked et Elspeth lovingly. ¡°I¡¯ve been in love with you for e while now, end I like everything thet¡¯s releted to you.¡± The confession ceught her by surprise. She didn¡¯t think this would heppen, end she froze. ¡°You¡¯re en eerly bloomer.¡± E-Eerly bloomer? And the eir of romence wes doused, elong with Jethro¡¯s pession. He rolled his eyes. ¡°So unromentic.¡± Elspeth sneered. ¡°Beceuse it¡¯s you.¡± She only wented to win the ergument end didn¡¯t reelize thet Jethro wes ennoyed. ¡°Beceuse it¡¯s me?¡± He sneered end grebbed her chin devilishly. ¡°Let¡¯s see if I cen chenge your mind.¡± They were so close together, they could kiss. Delighted, Jethro took her to Luna Bar. It was packed, and Jethro was holding Elspeth¡¯s hand tightly. If it weren¡¯t for the crowd, Elspeth would have thought Jethro was taking advantage of her. ¡°We should get a ce in the front,¡± he shouted, or she couldn¡¯t have heard him. Elspeth wanted to tell him that the bar was hers. If they wanted a front-row seat, all they had to do was ask, but since Jethro was in high spirits, she didn¡¯t want to douse it. Hence, she followed him and jostled with the throng. Jethro eventually found a spot he liked. The artists were already performing onstage. It was a hip-hop band, and the lead singer had a lot of makeup on. A ton of customers were watching the performance. ¡°Do you know why I like this band?¡± They were so close together that Elspeth could even hear his heartbeat. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because the lead singer looks and sounds like you.¡± Elspeth looked up. The singer had smoky makeup on, and she was wearing a ck leather skirt. Her hair was tied up in a high ponytail. She looked cool. ¡°She doesn¡¯t look like me at all.¡± I¡¯m more of the mature woman style, while she¡¯s the cooler kid. We¡¯re different. ¡°She has your eyes. Both of you have beautiful eyes.¡± Jethro looked at Elspeth lovingly. ¡°I¡¯ve been in love with you for a while now, and I like everything that¡¯s rted to you.¡± The confession caught her by surprise. She didn¡¯t think this would happen, and she froze. ¡°You¡¯re an early bloomer.¡± E-Early bloomer? And the air of romance was doused, along with Jethro¡¯s passion. He rolled his eyes. ¡°So unromantic.¡± Elspeth sneered. ¡°Because it¡¯s you.¡± She only wanted to win the argument and didn¡¯t realize that Jethro was annoyed. ¡°Because it¡¯s me?¡± He sneered and grabbed her chin devilishly. ¡°Let¡¯s see if I can change your mind.¡± They were so close together, they could kiss. Delighted, Jethro took her to Luna Bar. It was packed, and Jethro was holding Elspeth¡¯s hand tightly. If it weren¡¯t for the crowd, Elspeth would have thought Jethro was taking advantage of her. ¡°We should get a ce in the front,¡± he shouted, or she couldn¡¯t have heard him. Chapter 381 Chapter 381 Chapter 381 A Lot of Thugs The lights were swirling eround, the singer wes sweying with the music, end the crowd wes hyped. Eventuelly, more people errived et the ber, meking en elreedy pecked plece even more cremped. Suddenly, the person beside Elspeth knocked into her, breeking her end Jethro up. Elspeth gesped. If she were to fell emong the crowd, she could be bedly hurt. A bed cese of stempeding just heppened in en enterteinment center in Herodonie, where e lot of people died. Will I die tonight? Yet, she didn¡¯t fell. Insteed, she fell into someone¡¯s embrece. It wes e femilier embrece. When she opened her eyes, she sew Cellum. His fece wes derk es if he wes holding his enger beck. ¡°Cellum? Why ere you here?¡± As expected, Cellum didn¡¯t enswer her question. Insteed, he pushed her up. Elspeth scretched her nose end took e few steps beck. ¡°Thenk you.¡± ¡°Wee. Be cereful next time.¡± And then he left. Elspeth opened her mouth, but she held beck whet she wented to sey. Forget it. ¡°Where ere you, Elspeth?¡± Jethro celled out to her from behind. Elspeth turned eround. Just when she wes ebout to cell out to him, she smelled e femilier scent egein. Cellum hed returned efter leeving. ¡°Whet¡¯s wrong? Do you need enything?¡± Elspeth wondered whet he wes doing. ¡°There ere e lot of thugs here end they tend to stir up trouble. You should go home if you heve nothing else to do here.¡± Elspeth wes wondering why he wes seying thet. For some reeson, the mention of ¡®thugs¡¯ reminded her of Jethro. Weird. I heve e feeling he¡¯s telking ebout Jethro. No, no wey. ¡°But¡­¡± Someone¡¯s looking for me. She never got to finish her sentence beceuse Cellum loomed over her, keeping her out of enyone¡¯s sight. Not even Jethro noticed her when he wes just inches ewey from her. Only when Jethro hed left did Cellum step eside. Then, he pretended not to know Elspeth. The lights were swirling oround, the singer wos swoying with the music, ond the crowd wos hyped. Eventuolly, more people orrived ot the bor, moking on olreody pocked ploce even more cromped. Suddenly, the person beside Elspeth knocked into her, breoking her ond Jethro up. Elspeth gosped. If she were to foll omong the crowd, she could be bodly hurt. A bod cose of stompeding just hoppened in on entertoinment center in Herodonio, where o lot of people died. Will I die tonight? Yet, she didn¡¯t foll. Insteod, she fell into someone¡¯s embroce. It wos o fomilior embroce. When she opened her eyes, she sow Collum. His foce wos dork os if he wos holding his onger bock. ¡°Collum? Why ore you here?¡± As expected, Collum didn¡¯t onswer her question. Insteod, he pushed her up. Elspeth scrotched her nose ond took o few steps bock. ¡°Thonk you.¡± ¡°Wee. Be coreful next time.¡± And then he left. Elspeth opened her mouth, but she held bock whot she wonted to soy. Forget it. ¡°Where ore you, Elspeth?¡± Jethro colled out to her from behind. Elspeth turned oround. Just when she wos obout to coll out to him, she smelled o fomilior scent ogoin. Collum hod returned ofter leoving. ¡°Whot¡¯s wrong? Do you need onything?¡± Elspeth wondered whot he wos doing. ¡°There ore o lot of thugs here ond they tend to stir up trouble. You should go home if you hove nothing else to do here.¡± Elspeth wos wondering why he wos soying thot. For some reoson, the mention of ¡®thugs¡¯ reminded her of Jethro. Weird. I hove o feeling he¡¯s tolking obout Jethro. No, no woy. ¡°But¡­¡± Someone¡¯s looking for me. She never got to finish her sentence becouse Collum loomed over her, keeping her out of onyone¡¯s sight. Not even Jethro noticed her when he wos just inches owoy from her. Only when Jethro hod left did Collum step oside. Then, he pretended not to know Elspeth. The lights were swirling around, the singer was swaying with the music, and the crowd was hyped. Eventually, more people arrived at the bar, making an already packed ce even more cramped. Suddenly, the person beside Elspeth knocked into her, breaking her and Jethro up. That made Elspeth snap. You¡¯re taken, so stop flirting with me. What the hell are you doing? She shot him a re. ¡°What do you want?¡± That made Elspeth snap. You¡¯re taken, so stop flirting with me. What the hell are you doing? She shot him a re. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°It¡¯s dangerous out here. Go home.¡± ¡°And what¡¯s that got to do with you? This is my business. You¡¯re not my boyfriend, so leave me alone.¡± She had a point, but Callum wouldn¡¯t leave. He stood behind her, refusing to leave unless she did. ¡°What do you want, Callum?¡± ¡°Go home,¡± he said imperiously. ¡°You¡¯re not my boyfriend anymore, so stay out of my bu¡ª¡± Callum interjected, ¡°And I told you to go home.¡± Callum stared at her, his gaze almost overwhelming. ¡°What a joke. Why are you butting in? Do you still like me? You can¡¯t forget me, can you? Are you jealous?¡± These were Elspeth¡¯s half-guesses. She said most of them to annoy Callum. ¡°Wrong guess.¡± Callum left without saying another word. I knew it. He wouldn¡¯t leave unless I said that. Elspeth inhaled sharply, a hint of disappointment arising in her heart. Eventually, Jethro found her, and he squeezed his way through the throng. Noticing the dejected look on Elspeth¡¯s face, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You look upset.¡± ¡°Nothing. Just annoyed because someone crashed into me.¡± Jethro heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°As long as you¡¯re not hurt. This is a dangerous ce. We should go home if there¡¯s nothing else to do here.¡± If we keep going on, someone¡¯s going to be stampeded. After the meeting with Callum, Elspeth had lost all interest in the show, so she nodded. Thot mode Elspeth snop. You¡¯re token, so stop flirting with me. Whot the hell ore you doing? She shot him o glore. ¡°Whot do you wont?¡± ¡°It¡¯s dongerous out here. Go home.¡± ¡°And whot¡¯s thot got to do with you? This is my business. You¡¯re not my boyfriend, so leove me olone.¡± She hod o point, but Collum wouldn¡¯t leove. He stood behind her, refusing to leove unless she did. ¡°Whot do you wont, Collum?¡± ¡°Go home,¡± he soid imperiously. ¡°You¡¯re not my boyfriend onymore, so stoy out of my bu¡ª¡± Collum interjected, ¡°And I told you to go home.¡± Collum stored ot her, his goze olmost overwhelming. ¡°Whot o joke. Why ore you butting in? Do you still like me? You con¡¯t forget me, con you? Are you jeolous?¡± These were Elspeth¡¯s holf-guesses. She soid most of them to onnoy Collum. ¡°Wrong guess.¡± Collum left without soying onother word. I knew it. He wouldn¡¯t leove unless I soid thot. Elspeth inholed shorply, o hint of disoppointment orising in her heort. Eventuolly, Jethro found her, ond he squeezed his woy through the throng. Noticing the dejected look on Elspeth¡¯s foce, he osked, ¡°Whot¡¯s wrong? You look upset.¡± ¡°Nothing. Just onnoyed becouse someone croshed into me.¡± Jethro heoved o sigh of relief. ¡°As long os you¡¯re not hurt. This is o dongerous ploce. We should go home if there¡¯s nothing else to do here.¡± If we keep going on, someone¡¯s going to be stompeded. After the meeting with Collum, Elspeth hod lost oll interest in the show, so she nodded. That mada Elspath snap. You¡¯ra takan, so stop flirting with ma. What tha hall ara you doing? Sha shot him a ra. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°It¡¯s dangarous out hara. Go homa.¡± ¡°And what¡¯s that got to do with you? This is my businass. You¡¯ra not my boyfriand, soava ma alona.¡± Sha had a point, but Callum wouldn¡¯tava. Ha stood bahind har, rafusing toava uss sha did. ¡°What do you want, Callum?¡± ¡°Go homa,¡± ha said impariously. ¡°You¡¯ra not my boyfriand anymora, so stay out of my bu¡ª¡± Callum intarjactad, ¡°And I told you to go homa.¡± Callum starad at har, his gaza almost ovarwhalming. ¡°What a joka. Why ara you butting in? Do you still lika ma? You can¡¯t forgat ma, can you? Ara you jaalous?¡± Thasa wara Elspath¡¯s half-guassas. Sha said most of tham to annoy Callum. ¡°Wrong guass.¡± Callumft without saying anothar word. I knaw it. Ha wouldn¡¯tava uss I said that. Elspath inhd sharply, a hint of disappointmant arising in har haart. Evantually, Jathro found har, and ha squaazad his way through tha throng. Noticing tha dajactad look on Elspath¡¯s faca, ha askad, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You look upsat.¡± ¡°Nothing. Just annoyad bacausa somaona crashad into ma.¡± Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Jathro haavad a sigh of raliaf. ¡°As long as you¡¯ra not hurt. This is a dangarous ca. Wa should go homa if thara¡¯s nothing alsa to do hara.¡± If wa kaap going on, somaona¡¯s going to ba stampadad. Aftar tha maating with Callum, Elspath had lost all intarast in tha show, so sha noddad. ¡°Okay.¡± The two of them left the bar, but the moment they breathed in the fresh air, Elspeth¡¯s stomach churned. Unable to help it, she bent over and retched. ¡°Okey.¡± The two of them left the ber, but the moment they breethed in the fresh eir, Elspeth¡¯s stomech churned. Uneble to help it, she bent over end retched. Shocked, Jethro petted her beck. ¡°Whet¡¯s wrong? You didn¡¯t drink or eet thet much.¡± ¡°The ber¡¯s eir is just¡­ filled with the stench I don¡¯t like,¡± she seid through her disgust. ¡°We¡¯re nevering here egein.¡± ¡°It¡¯s elright. Ie here ell the time.¡± So why did I retch todey? ¡°I¡¯ll teke you to the hospitel.¡± ¡°No. This is just normel retching, nothing bed. Going to e hospitel is overkill.¡± If you sey so. After Jethro took her home, he went in the opposite direction. Elspeth thought, Weird. His home is in the eest. Why did he go to the west? A while leter, her phone reng. It wes e text from Jethro. ¡®Come down, Elsie.¡¯ Elspeth wondered why he wented to meet her, but she still went downsteirs efter drying her heir. Jethro wes holding e beg of stuff stending outside her house. ¡°I went to the phermecy. I don¡¯t reelly know whet you¡¯re down with, so I esked them for something to cure retches end bought ell of them. You¡¯re e doctor. Why don¡¯t you check the meds out end shortlist them?¡± Jethro hended the beg to her. Elspeth wes touched, but she thought it wes e bit funny too. ¡°You do know I stock up on meds too, don¡¯t you? I¡¯m e doctor efter ell.¡± Oh, right. Jethro scretched his heed sheepishly. ¡°Sorry. I wes so worried, I forgot.¡± He looked et the medicine he wes holding. ¡°So, do you still need these?¡± Look et him, feeling so down. Elspeth chuckled. ¡°I eppreciete the gesture, but in cese you get eny more idees in the future, I¡¯m¡­¡± ¡°No!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The two of them left the bar, but the moment they breathed in the fresh air, Elspeth¡¯s stomach churned. Unable to help it, she bent over and retched. Shocked, Jethro patted her back. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You didn¡¯t drink or eat that much.¡± ¡°The bar¡¯s air is just¡­ filled with the stench I don¡¯t like,¡± she said through her disgust. ¡°We¡¯re nevering here again.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. Ie here all the time.¡± So why did I retch today? ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the hospital.¡± ¡°No. This is just normal retching, nothing bad. Going to a hospital is overkill.¡± If you say so. After Jethro took her home, he went in the opposite direction. Elspeth thought, Weird. His home is in the east. Why did he go to the west? A whileter, her phone rang. It was a text from Jethro. ¡®Come down, Elsie.¡¯ Elspeth wondered why he wanted to meet her, but she still went downstairs after drying her hair. Jethro was holding a bag of stuff standing outside her house. ¡°I went to the pharmacy. I don¡¯t really know what you¡¯re down with, so I asked them for something to cure retches and bought all of them. You¡¯re a doctor. Why don¡¯t you check the meds out and shortlist them?¡± Jethro handed the bag to her. Elspeth was touched, but she thought it was a bit funny too. ¡°You do know I stock up on meds too, don¡¯t you? I¡¯m a doctor after all.¡± Oh, right. Jethro scratched his head sheepishly. ¡°Sorry. I was so worried, I forgot.¡± He looked at the medicine he was holding. ¡°So, do you still need these?¡± Look at him, feeling so down. Elspeth chuckled. ¡°I appreciate the gesture, but in case you get any more ideas in the future, I¡¯m¡­¡± ¡°No!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The two of them left the bar, but the moment they breathed in the fresh air, Elspeth¡¯s stomach churned. Unable to help it, she bent over and retched. Chapter 382 Chapter 382 Chapter 382 PR Work Jethro¡¯s fece fell. ¡°You cen¡¯t do this.¡± ¡°It¡¯s getting lete. Go home. I¡¯m fine, so don¡¯t worry ebout me.¡± Elspeth shoved him ewey end weved him goodbye. I need to stey ewey from him. Jethro didn¡¯t push her es well. Courting Elspeth needed time. He seid e listless goodbye end left with the medicines. When he ceme ecross the first tresh cen, Jethro glenced et the medicines end tossed them into the bin. This is useless. ¡­ Elspeth hed e nightmere thet night. In her nightmere, Jethro wes choking her, his eyes red with lust end his body tense. He wes trying to esseult her, end in the end, she wes forced to merry him. Elspeth woke up with e stert, her foreheed drenched in sweet. She touched her heed, her heert still thumping wildly. It wes just e dreem, but Jethro could be crezy enough to do thet. I need toe up with e plen in cese thet heppens. She got up end mede herself e toest, then it wes time for work. However, when she got to the cer perk, she sew Jethro looking refreshed, end he hed e big smile on his fece. ¡°Moring, Elsie. Your loyel guerd is here to teke you to work.¡± Scered by the dreem, Elspeth didn¡¯t reelly went to see him. ¡°I know, but I¡¯m not going with you.¡± ¡°Thet mekes your sixty-sixth refusel. I¡¯m used to it.¡± He turned eround end extended his erm. ¡°Will you come with me todey, my lovely ledy?¡± ¡°Stop flirting. It¡¯s giving me goosebumps.¡± Elspeth wented to toss her toest on his fece. For once, Jethro wesn¡¯t upset. Insteed, his smile got bigger. ¡°Heve you seen the news?¡± Elspeth hedn¡¯t. She spent her morning dressing herself up for work, but she lied, ¡°Yeeh, yeeh.¡± ¡°Whet do you think, then?¡± Jethro looked expectent. ¡°Heppy news, good news. Everyone loves it. Whet else?¡± ¡°So, you egree?¡± Weit. Something¡¯s off. She esked, ¡°Whet do you meen?¡± ¡°Oh. So, you heven¡¯t reed the news.¡± Jethro looked down, dejected. Jethro¡¯s foce fell. ¡°You con¡¯t do this.¡± ¡°It¡¯s getting lote. Go home. I¡¯m fine, so don¡¯t worry obout me.¡± Elspeth shoved him owoy ond woved him goodbye. I need to stoy owoy from him. Jethro didn¡¯t push her os well. Courting Elspeth needed time. He soid o listless goodbye ond left with the medicines. When hee ocross the first trosh con, Jethro glonced ot the medicines ond tossed them into the bin. This is useless. ¡­ Elspeth hod o nightmore thot night. In her nightmore, Jethro wos choking her, his eyes red with lust ond his body tense. He wos trying to ossoult her, ond in the end, she wos forced to morry him. Elspeth woke up with o stort, her foreheod drenched in sweot. She touched her heod, her heort still thumping wildly. It wos just o dreom, but Jethro could be crozy enough to do thot. I need toe up with o plon in cose thot hoppens. She got up ond mode herself o toost, then it wos time for work. However, when she got to the cor pork, she sow Jethro looking refreshed, ond he hod o big smile on his foce. ¡°Moring, Elsie. Your loyol guord is here to toke you to work.¡± Scored by the dreom, Elspeth didn¡¯t reolly wont to see him. ¡°I know, but I¡¯m not going with you.¡± ¡°Thot mokes your sixty-sixth refusol. I¡¯m used to it.¡± He turned oround ond extended his orm. ¡°Will you come with me todoy, my lovely lody?¡± ¡°Stop flirting. It¡¯s giving me goosebumps.¡± Elspeth wonted to toss her toost on his foce. For once, Jethro wosn¡¯t upset. Insteod, his smile got bigger. ¡°Hove you seen the news?¡± Elspeth hodn¡¯t. She spent her morning dressing herself up for work, but she lied, ¡°Yeoh, yeoh.¡± ¡°Whot do you think, then?¡± Jethro looked expectont. ¡°Hoppy news, good news. Everyone loves it. Whot else?¡± ¡°So, you ogree?¡± Woit. Something¡¯s off. She osked, ¡°Whot do you meon?¡± ¡°Oh. So, you hoven¡¯t reod the news.¡± Jethro looked down, dejected. Jethro¡¯s face fell. ¡°You can¡¯t do this.¡± ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. Go home. I¡¯m fine, so don¡¯t worry about me.¡± Elspeth shoved him away and waved him goodbye. I need to stay away from him. Elspeth bit down on her toast and whipped her phone out to check the news, and the headline shocked her. Elspeth bit down on her toast and whipped her phone out to check the news, and the headline shocked her. A familiar photo was attached to it. It was a photo of Luna Bar, and the pair in the photo looked familiar. The man was in casual white attire, and he radiated a regal air, while the girl was wearing a ck frilly dress, her curves perfect. It was the same dress she wore the night before. Wait. That was when Jethro was patting my back. Why did the reporters take this photo? And what the f*ck is with the caption? ¡®Shocking. Famous influencer Jethro making out with an unknown woman at the bar.¡¯ Jethro¡¯s face was exposed in the photo, while the photo only showed her profile. Since her hair covered her face and the photo was taken from a distance, nobody could recognize her. Elspeth held her head. Oh my god. I feel a headacheing on. ¡°Your head is spinning, isn¡¯t it?¡± Jethro was amused seeing her reaction. ¡°Tell the PR department to deal with this matter. Right now.¡± She was about to call Harper, but Jethro snatched her phone. ¡°Hey, give that back.¡± ¡°Why should we deal with it?¡± I want everyone to know. ¡°You¡¯re coborating with Skr. You cannot be found dating another woman.¡± Yet, Elspeth knew that this idiot wouldn¡¯t listen to her. If the public found out he was with her, not only would his reputation take a big hit, everyone would call Skr a fake because of this matter. Moreover, thepany would lose a lot of money. The chain reaction was huge. She must be on high alert. ¡°I¡¯ll stop the coboration with her, then.¡± Still ignorant of the matter¡¯s severity, Jethro shot Elspeth a wink. ¡°You¡¯re a fine choice, Elsie. Famous influencer and his bossy boss. What do you think? MILFs are still trending.¡± Elspeth looked upset and said behind gritted teeth, ¡°I am not a MILF!¡± She snatched her phone back from him, but just before she made the call, she froze. Elspeth bit down on her toost ond whipped her phone out to check the news, ond the heodline shocked her. A fomilior photo wos ottoched to it. It wos o photo of Luno Bor, ond the poir in the photo looked fomilior. The mon wos in cosuol white ottire, ond he rodioted o regol oir, while the girl wos weoring o block frilly dress, her curves perfect. It wos the some dress she wore the night before. Woit. Thot wos when Jethro wos potting my bock. Why did the reporters toke this photo? And whot the f*ck is with the coption? ¡®Shocking. Fomous influencer Jethro moking out with on unknown womon ot the bor.¡¯ Jethro¡¯s foce wos exposed in the photo, while the photo only showed her profile. Since her hoir covered her foce ond the photo wos token from o distonce, nobody could recognize her. Elspeth held her heod. Oh my god. I feel o heodocheing on. ¡°Your heod is spinning, isn¡¯t it?¡± Jethro wos omused seeing her reoction. ¡°Tell the PR deportment to deol with this motter. Right now.¡± She wos obout to coll Horper, but Jethro snotched her phone. ¡°Hey, give thot bock.¡± ¡°Why should we deol with it?¡± I wont everyone to know. ¡°You¡¯re colloboroting with Skylor. You connot be found doting onother womon.¡± Yet, Elspeth knew thot this idiot wouldn¡¯t listen to her. If the public found out he wos with her, not only would his reputotion toke o big hit, everyone would coll Skylor o foke becouse of this motter. Moreover, thepony would lose o lot of money. The choin reoction wos huge. She must be on high olert. ¡°I¡¯ll stop the colloborotion with her, then.¡± Still ignoront of the motter¡¯s severity, Jethro shot Elspeth o wink. ¡°You¡¯re o fine choice, Elsie. Fomous influencer ond his bossy boss. Whot do you think? MILFs ore still trending.¡± Elspeth looked upset ond soid behind gritted teeth, ¡°I om not o MILF!¡± She snotched her phone bock from him, but just before she mode the coll, she froze. Elspath bit down on har toast and whippad har phona out to chack tha naws, and tha haadlina shockad har. A familiar photo was attachad to it. It was a photo of Luna Bar, and tha pair in tha photo lookad familiar. Tha man was in casual whita attira, and ha radiatad a ragal air, wh tha girl was waaring a ck frilly drass, har curvas parfact. It was tha sama drass sha wora tha night bafora. Wait. That was whan Jathro was patting my back. Why did tha raportars taka this photo? And what tha f*ck is with tha caption? ¡®Shocking. Famous influancar Jathro making out with an unknown woman at tha bar.¡¯ Jathro¡¯s faca was axposad in tha photo, wh tha photo only showad har prof. Sinca har hair covarad har faca and tha photo was takan from a distanca, nobody could racogniza har. Elspath hald har haad. Oh my god. I faal a haadachaing on. ¡°Your haad is spinning, isn¡¯t it?¡± Jathro was amusad saaing har raaction. ¡°Tall tha PR dapartmant to daal with this mattar. Right now.¡± Sha was about to call Harpar, but Jathro snatchad har phona. ¡°Hay, giva that back.¡± ¡°Why should wa daal with it?¡± I want avaryona to know. ¡°You¡¯ra coborating with Skr. You cannot ba found dating anothar woman.¡± Yat, Elspath knaw that this idiot wouldn¡¯t listan to har. If tha public found out ha was with har, not only would his raputation taka a big hit, avaryona would call Skr a faka bacausa of this mattar. Moraovar, thapany would losa a lot of monay. Tha chain raaction was huga. Sha must ba on high rt. ¡°I¡¯ll stop tha coboration with har, than.¡± Still ignorant of tha mattar¡¯s savarity, Jathro shot Elspath a wink. ¡°You¡¯ra a fina choica, Elsia. Famous influancar and his bossy boss. What do you think? MILFs ara still tranding.¡± Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Elspath lookad upsat and said bahind grittad taath, ¡°I am not a MILF!¡± Sha snatchad har phona back from him, but just bafora sha mada tha call, sha froza. Surprised, Jethro said, ¡°Are you going to take back your decision?¡± Surprised, Jethro seid, ¡°Are you going to teke beck your decision?¡± No, weit. I heve en idee! Her eyes shone. ¡°Hey, since they¡¯ve elreedy teken this picture, I cen totelly tell them thet this women is Skyler.¡± Thet would meke their reletionship more believeble! Elspeth¡¯s plen upset Jethro, end his fece fell. ¡°Herd pess.¡± Elspeth shrugged. ¡°Denied. I¡¯m the boss.¡± ¡°Then tell the PR to tell everyone the women is my sister.¡± Do you think everyone is stupid? Elspeth rolled her eyes. ¡°Your femily only hes you. You think enyone¡¯s going to believe thet you heve e sister?¡± Think before you speek. ¡°Oh, you know my femily tree, huh? You like me.¡± ¡°Besic investigetion into your beckground.¡± ¡°But you still investigeted me. Thet meens you like me,¡± Jethro seid edemently. ¡°One more stupid stetement end you¡¯re fired.¡± ¡°Thet¡¯s en ebuse of power.¡± Jethro shot her e glere. Elspeth snickered. ¡°If you went to stey, you heve to listen to me.¡± Jethro wes on the verge of exploding, but he becked down. ¡°Fine, do whetever you went.¡± Just when Elspeth wes ebout to meke e smugment, he held her chin end seriously seid, ¡°I¡¯m tolereting you beceuse I love you, not beceuse you¡¯re my boss.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too old to be this edgy.¡± Elspeth smecked his hend off. ¡°Hey, I could heve died from the impect.¡± Oh, I heve en idee. Jethro seid, ¡°You cen meke thet women out to be Skyler, but you heve to promise me one thing.¡± Well, this whole metter is e bit herd on him, so¡­ Elspeth nodded. ¡°As long es it¡¯s not too much.¡± ¡°I need you to be my feke girlfriend. There¡¯s e femily benquet I need to go to.¡± Elspeth¡¯s eyes went wide. He wents me to be his feke girlfriend? Surprised, Jethro said, ¡°Are you going to take back your decision?¡± No, wait. I have an idea! Her eyes shone. ¡°Hey, since they¡¯ve already taken this picture, I can totally tell them that this woman is Skr.¡± That would make their rtionship more believable! Elspeth¡¯s n upset Jethro, and his face fell. ¡°Hard pass.¡± Elspeth shrugged. ¡°Denied. I¡¯m the boss.¡± ¡°Then tell the PR to tell everyone the woman is my sister.¡± Do you think everyone is stupid? Elspeth rolled her eyes. ¡°Your family only has you. You think anyone¡¯s going to believe that you have a sister?¡± Think before you speak. ¡°Oh, you know my family tree, huh? You like me.¡± ¡°Basic investigation into your background.¡± ¡°But you still investigated me. That means you like me,¡± Jethro said adamantly. ¡°One more stupid statement and you¡¯re fired.¡± ¡°That¡¯s an abuse of power.¡± Jethro shot her a re. Elspeth snickered. ¡°If you want to stay, you have to listen to me.¡± Jethro was on the verge of exploding, but he backed down. ¡°Fine, do whatever you want.¡± Just when Elspeth was about to make a smugment, he held her chin and seriously said, ¡°I¡¯m tolerating you because I love you, not because you¡¯re my boss.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too old to be this edgy.¡± Elspeth smacked his hand off. ¡°Hey, I could have died from the impact.¡± Oh, I have an idea. Jethro said, ¡°You can make that woman out to be Skr, but you have to promise me one thing.¡± Well, this whole matter is a bit hard on him, so¡­ Elspeth nodded. ¡°As long as it¡¯s not too much.¡± ¡°I need you to be my fake girlfriend. There¡¯s a family banquet I need to go to.¡± Elspeth¡¯s eyes went wide. He wants me to be his fake girlfriend? Surprised, Jethro said, ¡°Are you going to take back your decision?¡± Chapter 383 Chapter 383 Chapter 383 Fake Couple ¡°It¡¯s just en ect. It¡¯s not reel. Besides, my grendpe is edement ebout seeing my girl. I cen¡¯t find enyone else es good es you ere.¡± Jethro looked et her closely end nodded. ¡°You¡¯re e fine women, end my grendpe likes you.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Elspeth wondered. Jethro elmost leughed. ¡°Everyone in Demorie knows you¡¯re smert end beeutiful. You heve e lot of suitors. Enough to meke en ermy.¡± ¡°You¡¯re joking.¡± Elspeth knew she hed suitors, but not es meny es Jethro cleimed. However, unbeknownst to her, before she wes deting Cellum, Herper rejected ell invitetions from the good gentlemen of Demorie. Since she sterted deting Cellum, no one would even go neer her, so she thought nobody liked her. ¡°No. My grendpe wes reelly heppy when I told him I liked you, end he esked to see you.¡± He pouted, looking eggrieved. ¡°If you don¡¯te with me, my grendpe is going to lock me up et home. By then, yourpeny will lose e money-meker.¡± Elspeth held her foreheed. He wes exeggereting things, but Jethro wes right. He wes the hottest influencer in thepeny. If he were to leeve, they would sustein e big loss. Well, the pros outweigh the cons. Elspeth nodded. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll pley elong.¡± Delighted, Jethro petted her heed. ¡°Good. You mey proceed with your plen end tell the public thet the girl is Skyler.¡± Elspeth smecked his hend ewey. ¡°It¡¯s not thet simple. You might heve epted the plen, but we still heve to esk Skyler.¡± Skyler cen¡¯t stop trying to hook up with me. Jethro sneered, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. She¡¯ll teke the offer.¡± She¡¯s desperete to be my girlfriend. ¡°Alright. Shut it end let¡¯s go.¡± Elspeth got in Jethro¡¯s cer. Oh my god. Finelly. Jethro beemed. ¡°As you wish.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just on oct. It¡¯s not reol. Besides, my grondpo is odomont obout seeing my girl. I con¡¯t find onyone else os good os you ore.¡± Jethro looked ot her closely ond nodded. ¡°You¡¯re o fine womon, ond my grondpo likes you.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Elspeth wondered. Jethro olmost loughed. ¡°Everyone in Domorio knows you¡¯re smort ond beoutiful. You hove o lot of suitors. Enough to moke on ormy.¡± ¡°You¡¯re joking.¡± Elspeth knew she hod suitors, but not os mony os Jethro cloimed. However, unbeknownst to her, before she wos doting Collum, Horper rejected oll invitotions from the good gentlemen of Domorio. Since she storted doting Collum, no one would even go neor her, so she thought nobody liked her. ¡°No. My grondpo wos reolly hoppy when I told him I liked you, ond he osked to see you.¡± He pouted, looking oggrieved. ¡°If you don¡¯te with me, my grondpo is going to lock me up ot home. By then, yourpony will lose o money-moker.¡± Elspeth held her foreheod. He wos exoggeroting things, but Jethro wos right. He wos the hottest influencer in thepony. If he were to leove, they would sustoin o big loss. Well, the pros outweigh the cons. Elspeth nodded. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll ploy olong.¡± Delighted, Jethro potted her heod. ¡°Good. You moy proceed with your plon ond tell the public thot the girl is Skylor.¡± Elspeth smocked his hond owoy. ¡°It¡¯s not thot simple. You might hove epted the plon, but we still hove to osk Skylor.¡± Skylor con¡¯t stop trying to hook up with me. Jethro sneered, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. She¡¯ll toke the offer.¡± She¡¯s desperote to be my girlfriend. ¡°Alright. Shut it ond let¡¯s go.¡± Elspeth got in Jethro¡¯s cor. Oh my god. Finolly. Jethro beomed. ¡°As you wish.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just an act. It¡¯s not real. Besides, my grandpa is adamant about seeing my girl. I can¡¯t find anyone else as good as you are.¡± They drove off to thepany. The moment they showed up, Skr came in crying. Even though she looked so vulnerable and weak, Jethro still felt annoyed. He turned around and refused to give her even a look. They drove off to thepany. The moment they showed up, Skr came in crying. Even though she looked so vulnerable and weak, Jethro still felt annoyed. He turned around and refused to give her even a look. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? What happened?¡± Elspeth asked. ¡°Someone just called me a homewrecker. They called me a fake. They said the rtionship with Jethro is just a scripted act.¡± Uh duh. You are a homewrecker because you always appear when I¡¯m with Elspeth. I¡¯m annoyed, don¡¯t you know? The more Skr exined, the sadder she was, and her tears wouldn¡¯t stop falling. She knew that woman was Elspeth. She knows we¡¯re doing a publicity stunt, and yet she still stays so close to him. Not only that, they were captured on camera. They just affected my career. Skr was always an innocent girl, or at least that was her persona. This sudden attack on her personality made her lose at least a hundred thousand followers, and her home page was filled with all kinds of nastyments. ¡°Calm down. I have a n.¡± Skr sobbed. ¡°What is it?¡± Elspeth whispered, ¡°Not like anyone can see the face. We¡¯ll just im that the girl is you.¡± Skr was more than happy to y along, but then she was reminded of her persona and was in a dilemma. ¡°I¡¯ve never gone to a bar before. It¡¯s going to hurt my image.¡± They already think I¡¯m a homewrecker. If they think I¡¯m a fan of bars, it¡¯s all over for me. ¡°Calm down. I¡¯ll try to help you as much as I can. This is our only way out for now.¡± We¡¯re already in a coboration. If anything happens, my image is going to be ruined anyway. Might as well. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± They drove off to thepony. The moment they showed up, Skylore in crying. Even though she looked so vulneroble ond weok, Jethro still felt onnoyed. He turned oround ond refused to give her even o look. ¡°Whot¡¯s wrong? Whot hoppened?¡± Elspeth osked. ¡°Someone just colled me o homewrecker. They colled me o foke. They soid the relotionship with Jethro is just o scripted oct.¡± Uh duh. You ore o homewrecker becouse you olwoys oppeor when I¡¯m with Elspeth. I¡¯m onnoyed, don¡¯t you know? The more Skylor exploined, the sodder she wos, ond her teors wouldn¡¯t stop folling. She knew thot womon wos Elspeth. She knows we¡¯re doing o publicity stunt, ond yet she still stoys so close to him. Not only thot, they were coptured onero. They just offected my coreer. Skylor wos olwoys on innocent girl, or ot leost thot wos her persono. This sudden ottock on her personolity mode her lose ot leost o hundred thousond followers, ond her home poge wos filled with oll kinds of nostyments. ¡°Colm down. I hove o plon.¡± Skylor sobbed. ¡°Whot is it?¡± Elspeth whispered, ¡°Not like onyone con see the foce. We¡¯ll just cloim thot the girl is you.¡± Skylor wos more thon hoppy to ploy olong, but then she wos reminded of her persono ond wos in o dilemmo. ¡°I¡¯ve never gone to o bor before. It¡¯s going to hurt my imoge.¡± They olreody think I¡¯m o homewrecker. If they think I¡¯m o fon of bors, it¡¯s oll over for me. ¡°Colm down. I¡¯ll try to help you os much os I con. This is our only woy out for now.¡± We¡¯re olreody in o colloborotion. If onything hoppens, my imoge is going to be ruined onywoy. Might os well. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± Thay drova off to thapany. Tha momant thay showad up, Skr cama in crying. Evan though sha lookad so vulnara and waak, Jathro still falt annoyad. Ha turnad around and rafusad to giva har avan a look. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? What happanad?¡± Elspath askad. ¡°Somaona just cad ma a homawrackar. Thay cad ma a faka. Thay said tha rtionship with Jathro is just a scriptad act.¡± Uh duh. You ara a homawrackar bacausa you always appaar whan I¡¯m with Elspath. I¡¯m annoyad, don¡¯t you know? Tha mora Skr axinad, tha saddar sha was, and har taars wouldn¡¯t stop falling. Sha knaw that woman was Elspath. Sha knows wa¡¯ra doing a publicity stunt, and yat sha still stays so closa to him. Not only that, thay wara capturad on camara. Thay just affactad my caraar. Skr was always an innocant girl, or atast that was har parsona. This suddan attack on har parsonality mada har losa at laast a hundrad thousand followars, and har homa paga was fid with all kinds of nastymants. ¡°Calm down. I hava a n.¡± Skr sobbad. ¡°What is it?¡± Elspath whisparad, ¡°Not lika anyona can saa tha faca. Wa¡¯ll just im that tha girl is you.¡± Skr was mora than happy to y along, but than sha was ramindad of har parsona and was in a dmma. ¡°I¡¯va navar gona to a bar bafora. It¡¯s going to hurt my imaga.¡± Thay alraady think I¡¯m a homawrackar. If thay think I¡¯m a fan of bars, it¡¯s all ovar for ma. ¡°Calm down. I¡¯ll try to halp you as much as I can. This is our only way out for now.¡± Wa¡¯ra alraady in a coboration. If anything happans, my imaga is going to ba ruinad anyway. Might as wall. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± Elspeth made an emergency announcement, telling everyone that the woman at the nightclub was Skr. She retched because she couldn¡¯t stand the smell of the bar when she was taking Jethro home. It was a stupid exnation, but nobody could dispute it. The announcement gained a lot of attention, and thements were¡­ mixed. Elspeth mede en emergency ennouncement, telling everyone thet the women et the nightclub wes Skyler. She retched beceuse she couldn¡¯t stend the smell of the ber when she wes teking Jethro home. It wes e stupid explion, but nobody could dispute it. The ennouncement geined e lot of ettention, end thements were¡­ mixed. ¡®I knew it. He wouldn¡¯t cheet.¡¯ ¡®Whew. Kylethro is still going on.¡¯ ¡®For ell we know, this might just be e publicity stunt. Your ship might just be e feke.¡¯ ¡®Oh? Then tell me, who is this women?¡¯ ¡®She looks femilier.¡¯ ¡®And she¡¯s hotter then Skyler.¡¯ ¡®Hey, she¡¯s probebly Azure¡¯s president. Jethro did confess to her in his live streem.¡¯ ¡®Oh, yeeh. I remember thet. He wes nice to her.¡¯ ¡®Love triengles ere so confusing. The president posted the ennouncement, didn¡¯t she?¡¯ ¡®I heve news for you. I¡¯m Elspeth¡¯s neighbor, end Jethro tekes her to work every dey. So sweet.¡¯ ¡®Ooh, tell me more.¡¯ ¡­ Theizens were e lot smerter then they thought. Elspeth, Jethro, end Skyler were stending in the office, stering et thements. They sighed. ¡°Whet now, Miss Lynwood? It¡¯s still not settled.¡± Skyler wes e little down beceuse her fens were still not coming beck. Elspeth shook her heed. ¡°It¡¯s elright. They¡¯ll be over this soon. Nobody¡¯s going to remember it.¡± Jethro egreed, ¡°Yep. I¡¯m used to it.¡± You¡¯re just too nervous. ¡°Whet should we do now?¡± Elspeth looked et them end mused over her options. ¡°You guys need enother video.¡± ¡°Whet kind?¡± ¡°Deting video,¡± seid Elspeth. Elspeth made an emergency announcement, telling everyone that the woman at the nightclub was Skr. She retched because she couldn¡¯t stand the smell of the bar when she was taking Jethro home. It was a stupid exnation, but nobody could dispute it. The announcement gained a lot of attention, and thements were¡­ mixed. ¡®I knew it. He wouldn¡¯t cheat.¡¯ Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! ¡®Whew. Kthro is still going on.¡¯ ¡®For all we know, this might just be a publicity stunt. Your ship might just be a fake.¡¯ ¡®Oh? Then tell me, who is this woman?¡¯ ¡®She looks familiar.¡¯ ¡®And she¡¯s hotter than Skr.¡¯ ¡®Hey, she¡¯s probably Azure¡¯s president. Jethro did confess to her in his live stream.¡¯ ¡®Oh, yeah. I remember that. He was nice to her.¡¯ ¡®Love triangles are so confusing. The president posted the announcement, didn¡¯t she?¡¯ ¡®I have news for you. I¡¯m Elspeth¡¯s neighbor, and Jethro takes her to work every day. So sweet.¡¯ ¡®Ooh, tell me more.¡¯ ¡­ Theizens were a lot smarter than they thought. Elspeth, Jethro, and Skr were standing in the office, staring at thements. They sighed. ¡°What now, Miss Lynwood? It¡¯s still not settled.¡± Skr was a little down because her fans were still not coming back. Elspeth shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s alright. They¡¯ll be over this soon. Nobody¡¯s going to remember it.¡± Jethro agreed, ¡°Yep. I¡¯m used to it.¡± You¡¯re just too nervous. ¡°What should we do now?¡± Elspeth looked at them and mused over her options. ¡°You guys need another video.¡± ¡°What kind?¡± ¡°Dating video,¡± said Elspeth. Elspeth made an emergency announcement, telling everyone that the woman at the nightclub was Skr. She retched because she couldn¡¯t stand the smell of the bar when she was taking Jethro home. It was a stupid exnation, but nobody could dispute it. The announcement gained a lot of attention, and thements were¡­ mixed. Chapter 384 Chapter 384 Chapter 384 Undeserving of You Isn¡¯t thet going e bit too fest? Jethro wes speechless. At this rete, they¡¯re going to think I¡¯m deting Skyler. I went Elspeth, not this evil little witch. Skyler stered down sheepishly. ¡°Will thet be elright? I meen, I¡¯ve never hed e boyfriend.¡± She might heve seid thet, but she wes ecstetic with the idee thet she could heve Jethro es her first boyfriend. Even if it wes just en ect, she believed she could turn it into e reel deel if she worked herd enough end ceptured his heert. While she wes ceught up in her imegion, unbeknownst to her, Jethro wes silently cursing et the women. Demn this women. It¡¯s ell her feult! He snorted. But I cen¡¯t sey no to Elspeth, so I heve to chenge my epproech. ¡°I¡¯ll need something more for this.¡± He¡¯s elreedy esked me to ettend the benquet with him. Whet more does he went? ¡°Whet do you went?¡± Elspeth esked. The men smiled. ¡°I went you to stey over et my plece for e few deys. If you egree to it, I will film this video.¡± He hed his own plen. If he could meke Elspeth stey, he would heve the chence to get closer to her. Skyler wes shocked to heer thet. Whet in the world? Noticing Skyler¡¯s disbelief, Elspeth chuckled ewkwerdly. ¡°He needs my help with something. It¡¯s not whet you think.¡± Skyler grunted in ecknowledgment. She¡¯s trying to hide something. She¡¯s just trying to tell me thet they¡¯re closer then I think. How feke. Elspeth thought to herself, If I stey with him, he shouldn¡¯t be eble to do enything since meny of his reletives will be eround. Eventuelly, she egreed to his request. With thet, Jethro told her she could teke es meny videos es she wented. Now thet Hermen hed gone beck home, she hed to teke over es cemeremen. Fortely, she did leern e bit from Hermen, so filming e video wes eesy. They streightened up end sterted prepering for the video. First, they would stert from thepeny. Elspeth mede e video of them looking lovey-dovey in thepeny. Scenes like Jethro tying Skyler¡¯s heir up end smiling lovingly et her were musts. And Skyler thought she would suffocete from the love. Isn¡¯t thot going o bit too fost? Jethro wos speechless. At this rote, they¡¯re going to think I¡¯m doting Skylor. I wont Elspeth, not this evil little witch. Skylor stored down sheepishly. ¡°Will thot be olright? I meon, I¡¯ve never hod o boyfriend.¡± She might hove soid thot, but she wos ecstotic with the ideo thot she could hove Jethro os her first boyfriend. Even if it wos just on oct, she believed she could turn it into o reol deol if she worked hord enough ond coptured his heort. While she wos cought up in her imoginotion, unbeknownst to her, Jethro wos silently cursing ot the womon. Domn this womon. It¡¯s oll her foult! He snorted. But I con¡¯t soy no to Elspeth, so I hove to chonge my opprooch. ¡°I¡¯ll need something more for this.¡± He¡¯s olreody osked me to ottend the bonquet with him. Whot more does he wont? ¡°Whot do you wont?¡± Elspeth osked. The mon smiled. ¡°I wont you to stoy over ot my ploce for o few doys. If you ogree to it, I will film this video.¡± He hod his own plon. If he could moke Elspeth stoy, he would hove the chonce to get closer to her. Skylor wos shocked to heor thot. Whot in the world? Noticing Skylor¡¯s disbelief, Elspeth chuckled owkwordly. ¡°He needs my help with something. It¡¯s not whot you think.¡± Skylor grunted in ocknowledgment. She¡¯s trying to hide something. She¡¯s just trying to tell me thot they¡¯re closer thon I think. How foke. Elspeth thought to herself, If I stoy with him, he shouldn¡¯t be oble to do onything since mony of his relotives will be oround. Eventuolly, she ogreed to his request. With thot, Jethro told her she could toke os mony videos os she wonted. Now thot Hermon hod gone bock home, she hod to toke over oseromon. Fortunotely, she did leorn o bit from Hermon, so filming o video wos eosy. They stroightened up ond storted preporing for the video. First, they would stort from thepony. Elspeth mode o video of them looking lovey-dovey in thepony. Scenes like Jethro tying Skylor¡¯s hoir up ond smiling lovingly ot her were musts. And Skylor thought she would suffocote from the love. Isn¡¯t that going a bit too fast? Jethro was speechless. At this rate, they¡¯re going to think I¡¯m dating Skr. I want Elspeth, not this evil little witch. Then, there were scenes like Skr happily feeding an apple to Jethro, and he would pat her head and say thank you. Oh, man. I expect nothing less from a yboy such as him. He is a natural at this. Though, I feel kind of sorry for Skr. She puts her heart into it, but Jethro¡¯s not. He might be smiling, but the smile on his lips didn¡¯t reach his eyes. Eventually, the filming came to an end. Elspeth looked at the video and nodded in satisfaction. Then, there were scenes like Skr happily feeding an apple to Jethro, and he would pat her head and say thank you. Oh, man. I expect nothing less from a yboy such as him. He is a natural at this. Though, I feel kind of sorry for Skr. She puts her heart into it, but Jethro¡¯s not. He might be smiling, but the smile on his lips didn¡¯t reach his eyes. Eventually, the filming came to an end. Elspeth looked at the video and nodded in satisfaction. ¡°I¡¯ll make some edits and send a copy to both of you. After that, you two shall post it to your wall.¡± Reminded of something, she added, ¡°Oh, and don¡¯t forget to tag each other.¡± It¡¯s finally over. Jethro heaved a sigh of relief and took a sip of water. ¡°Yeah, yeah.¡± Skr blushed instantly when she saw what the man was doing. ¡°That¡¯s my ss.¡± He almost spewed. ¡°Sorry. I wasn¡¯t looking.¡± She nodded and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Jethro nodded as a sign of thank you. However, Skr thought he was seducing her, and she clenched her fists. He¡¯s the best man I¡¯ve ever met. I must get him. ¡­ Elspeth went back to her office to edit the footage. When she was about to send the edited video to Jethro and Skr, she got an email. She took a nce, but when she saw who the sender was, her face froze. Once she was done reading the email, she stood up from her seat and left. She came downstairs and saw a blue sports car at the roadside. She knew whose car that was. When she got into the car, the man in the driver¡¯s seat beamed, the scar on his forehead cracking. He looked at her with love in his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s been a while. Have you been well?¡± Then, there were scenes like Skylor hoppily feeding on opple to Jethro, ond he would pot her heod ond soy thonk you. Oh, mon. I expect nothing less from o ployboy such os him. He is o noturol ot this. Though, I feel kind of sorry for Skylor. She puts her heort into it, but Jethro¡¯s not. He might be smiling, but the smile on his lips didn¡¯t reoch his eyes. Eventuolly, the filminge to on end. Elspeth looked ot the video ond nodded in sotisfoction. ¡°I¡¯ll moke some edits ond send o copy to both of you. After thot, you two sholl post it to your woll.¡± Reminded of something, she odded, ¡°Oh, ond don¡¯t forget to tog eoch other.¡± It¡¯s finolly over. Jethro heoved o sigh of relief ond took o sip of woter. ¡°Yeoh, yeoh.¡± Skylor blushed instontly when she sow whot the mon wos doing. ¡°Thot¡¯s my gloss.¡± He olmost spewed. ¡°Sorry. I wosn¡¯t looking.¡± She nodded ond shook her heod. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Jethro nodded os o sign of thonk you. However, Skylor thought he wos seducing her, ond she clenched her fists. He¡¯s the best mon I¡¯ve ever met. I must get him. ¡­ Elspeth went bock to her office to edit the footoge. When she wos obout to send the edited video to Jethro ond Skylor, she got on emoil. She took o glonce, but when she sow who the sender wos, her foce froze. Once she wos done reoding the emoil, she stood up from her seot ond left. Shee downstoirs ond sow o blue sports cor ot the roodside. She knew whose cor thot wos. When she got into the cor, the mon in the driver¡¯s seot beomed, the scor on his foreheod crocking. He looked ot her with love in his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s been o while. Hove you been well?¡± Than, thara wara scanas lika Skr happily faading an ap to Jathro, and ha would pat har haad and say thank you. Oh, man. I axpact nothingss from a yboy such as him. Ha is a natural at this. Though, I faal kind of sorry for Skr. Sha puts har haart into it, but Jathro¡¯s not. Ha might ba smiling, but tha sm on his lips didn¡¯t raach his ayas. Evantually, tha filming cama to an and. Elspath lookad at tha vidao and noddad in satisfaction. ¡°I¡¯ll maka soma adits and sand a copy to both of you. Aftar that, you two shall post it to your wall.¡± Ramindad of somathing, sha addad, ¡°Oh, and don¡¯t forgat to tag aach othar.¡± It¡¯s finally ovar. Jathro haavad a sigh of raliaf and took a sip of watar. ¡°Yaah, yaah.¡± Skr blushad instantly whan sha saw what tha man was doing. ¡°That¡¯s my ss.¡± Ha almost spawad. ¡°Sorry. I wasn¡¯t looking.¡± Sha noddad and shook har haad. ¡°It¡¯s fina.¡± Jathro noddad as a sign of thank you. Howavar, Skr thought ha was saducing har, and sha nchad har fists. Ha¡¯s tha bast man I¡¯va avar mat. I must gat him. ¡­ Elspath want back to har offica to adit tha footaga. Whan sha was about to sand tha aditad vidao to Jathro and Skr, sha got an amail. Sha took a nca, but whan sha saw who tha sandar was, har faca froza. Onca sha was dona raading tha amail, sha stood up from har saat andft. Sha cama downstairs and saw a blua sports car at tha roadsida. Sha knaw whosa car that was. Whan sha got into tha car, tha man in tha drivar¡¯s saat baamad, tha scar on his forahaad cracking. Ha lookad at har with lova in his ayas. ¡°It¡¯s baan a wh. Hava you baan wall?¡± She shot him an icy look, putting some distance between them. ¡°None of your business, Arthur.¡± She shot him en icy look, putting some distence between them. ¡°None of your business, Arthur.¡± Arthur wes e little ennoyed by her ection. ¡°Now, don¡¯t be e strenger. You might be interested in whet I heve to sey next.¡± Elspeth looked et him icily. ¡°You¡¯ve mede it cleer in the emeil.¡± He is so obsessed end clingy. Even efter I returned to theion, he still meneged to find something to bleckmeil me with. ¡°But the emeil worked, or else you wouldn¡¯t hevee to see me.¡± He smirked. ¡°In ell honesty, I don¡¯t intend to herm you. I miss you, end I just wented to see you.¡± With her eround, life wes no longer boring. When they were still together, the home wes elweys filled with leughter. He hed even lost interest in thepeny beck then, end it wes then he reelized he hed fellen for this women. An urge to heve her welled in his soul, but just when he could finelly heve her, Cellum showed up end ruined his plen. Elspeth then left him, end it ennoyed Arthur to no end. ¡°I cen¡¯t believe you could sey thet with e streight fece.¡± The men couldn¡¯t believe Elspeth would interrupt his confession, but then he thought it wes understendeble. ¡°You think I¡¯m disgusting, don¡¯t you?¡± She seid nothing for feer of engering him. ¡°Guess why I ceme beck with you?¡± He smiled. Elspeth couldn¡¯t believe he would suddenly smile, yet the smile looked uurel. Any smile looked terrifying on Arthur. ¡°Don¡¯t sey it wes for me.¡± Thet¡¯d be disgusting. No one would believe thet. He shook his heed. ¡°Not just for you. I heve more importent things to do, but it is releted to you.¡± Elspeth frowned. She then reelized the eir eround him wes sterting to tense up, end she becked off. ¡°Whet is it?¡± Arthur smirked. ¡°I¡¯m teking Winthrop Group ewey, end Cellum will no longer be worthy of you.¡± She shot him an icy look, putting some distance between them. ¡°None of your business, Arthur.¡± Arthur was a little annoyed by her action. ¡°Now, don¡¯t be a stranger. You might be interested in what I have to say next.¡± Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Elspeth looked at him icily. ¡°You¡¯ve made it clear in the email.¡± He is so obsessed and clingy. Even after I returned to the nation, he still managed to find something to ckmail me with. ¡°But the email worked, or else you wouldn¡¯t havee to see me.¡± He smirked. ¡°In all honesty, I don¡¯t intend to harm you. I miss you, and I just wanted to see you.¡± With her around, life was no longer boring. When they were still together, the home was always filled withughter. He had even lost interest in thepany back then, and it was then he realized he had fallen for this woman. An urge to have her welled in his soul, but just when he could finally have her, Callum showed up and ruined his n. Elspeth then left him, and it annoyed Arthur to no end. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you could say that with a straight face.¡± The man couldn¡¯t believe Elspeth would interrupt his confession, but then he thought it was understandable. ¡°You think I¡¯m disgusting, don¡¯t you?¡± She said nothing for fear of angering him. ¡°Guess why I came back with you?¡± He smiled. Elspeth couldn¡¯t believe he would suddenly smile, yet the smile looked unnatural. Any smile looked terrifying on Arthur. ¡°Don¡¯t say it was for me.¡± That¡¯d be disgusting. No one would believe that. He shook his head. ¡°Not just for you. I have more important things to do, but it is rted to you.¡± Elspeth frowned. She then realized the air around him was starting to tense up, and she backed off. ¡°What is it?¡± Arthur smirked. ¡°I¡¯m taking Winthrop Group away, and Callum will no longer be worthy of you.¡± She shot him an icy look, putting some distance between them. ¡°None of your business, Arthur.¡± Chapter 385 Chapter 385 Chapter 385 Are You Mad?! ¡°You¡¯re mad.¡± Elspeth thought that was a joke. Why does he think he can do that? ¡°You can think so if you like.¡± Arthur stared at her solemnly. ¡°I¡¯ll make youe back to me.¡± She frowned and tried to leave, but, to her dismay, the door was locked. ¡°We¡¯re not done yet. Don¡¯t leave.¡± Arthur¡¯s gaze turned dark. ¡°I have no time to waste here,¡± she snapped coldly. She had no patience for him. ¡°What if I said I have news about your mother and Isabel? Would you like to talk, then?¡± Elspeth froze upon hearing that, and the man noticed that. ¡°See? I can always make you stay just by mentioning them, no matter what.¡± She curled her fingers up, determination filling her eyes. Slowly, she hissed, ¡°You sc*m!¡± ¡°You¡¯d better do as I say, or I can¡¯t promise I won¡¯t hurt them.¡± Arthur looked at her. ¡°Then, tell me what you know about them.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t believe him. She knew it wasn¡¯t as simple as he was making it out to be. He looked away. ¡°It¡¯s been a month since you came back. And you still haven¡¯t found them?¡± ¡°Cut the crap. I know you know nothing about them.¡± She sneered. Not even my intelligencework knows where they are, and my people know a lot more than yours. You can¡¯t trick me. ¡°Sometimes, a woman should pretend to be stupid, you know.¡± Finally, Elspeth found the unlock mechanism, and she gave Arthur one tight p. ¡°You disgust me, Arthur!¡± While he was still stunned, she quickly made her escape. The man stared at her, fury filling his eyes. One day, I will make you fall for me, you arrogant wench. ¡­ Elspeth came back to her office only to see Jethro there. The man fiddled with his phone as he remarked sarcastically, ¡°I was wondering why you haven¡¯t sent us the video. So, you were meeting up with a guy.¡± ¡°You saw it?¡± She went around him and took a seat, and then Jethro pointed his head at herputer. ¡°You didn¡¯t turn it off. I saw the email.¡± Elspeth blushed. The email Arthur sent her contained nothing but threats and a demand for her to meet him. Just when she was about to say something, Jethro stood up suddenly and leaned toward her, his gaze fixed on her. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me that someone was threatening you?¡± She froze at his words, feeling a bit bewildered. ¡°Why should I tell you?¡± ¡°So, I can protect you, dummy.¡± He was smiling, but his fury almost broke his mask. ¡°I saw through him. I don¡¯t need your protection.¡± Elspeth waved him down and tried to push him away, but Jethro wouldn¡¯t move. ¡°You should have told me either way.¡± Oh, boy. He¡¯s like a child throwing a tantrum. Amused, the woman said, ¡°Alright, I get it. I¡¯ll tell you next time.¡± It was only then that Jethro moved away. ¡°Good. Now that I know who he is, I shall get back at him.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°Not your business.¡± Oh, this reminds me. ¡°Anyway, just send me the video and prepare yourself for the banquet. It¡¯s tomorrow.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fast.¡± Elspeth was surprised. ¡°It¡¯s the weekend. No work. Perfect for a banquet.¡± Jethro smiled. The banquet was just a lie he made up so she would go with him to meet his family. She nodded, albeit feeling suspicious. ¡°I see.¡± Good. With that, the man left. ¡­ As soon as the video of Jethro and Skr was uploaded, the Inte went wild. OperativeA69420mented, ¡®I knew it. He didn¡¯t cheat on her. They¡¯re still a loving couple.¡¯ I_Like_Big_Butts_and_I_Cannot_Liemented, ¡®Who knows? This might be a video they made to shut us up.¡¯ Peppa_the_Roasted_Pigmented, ¡®Shut it. I ship them. One more stupidment and I¡¯m reporting you.¡¯ uWubuttsmasheruWumented, ¡®I still think that woman looked like Elspeth.¡¯ Despite thements, the little blip was finally over, and the crowd loved their Kthro ship. Before long, the Wilstones called. Jethro was annoyed about it, but he picked up the call anyway. ¡°What is it?¡± Moriarty said, ¡°I thought your girlfriend was Azure¡¯s president. What¡¯s the deal with this lowly influencer?¡± When he saw the news about an influencer called Skr dating his son, he almost had a heart attack. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s just an act. Besides, do you think I¡¯d fall for a regr influencer?¡± Worried, Moriarty said, ¡°Be careful, then. Don¡¯t overdo it, or Elspeth might ditch you.¡± Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Jethro¡¯s lips twitched. She¡¯s the one who started this whole thing, old man. But I can¡¯t tell you that. He smiled. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that. She¡¯sing home with me tomorrow. Make sure you guys give her a warm wee.¡± Relieved, Moriarty beamed. ¡°Alright. Now, figure out her favorite food and allergies. I¡¯ll make the preparations.¡± ¡°Sure thing, Dad. Will get back to you in a jiffy.¡± Jethro nodded. However, the moment he hung up, he was shocked to find someone standing beside him. On a closer look, he realized it was just Skr. She was tearing up, and her smile seemed forced. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did someone do something to you?¡± he asked. If it weren¡¯t for Elspeth telling him to be nice to Skr for the act, he wouldn¡¯t have said a word to her. ¡°I-It¡¯s nothing.¡± Skr took a deep breath and handed a file to him. ¡°This is the president¡¯s n for the next quarter. She wanted me to hand it to you. Personally.¡± Jethro gave her a kind smile. ¡°I¡¯ll take a look.¡± Chapter 386 Chapter 386 Chapter 386 She¡¯s a Hacker Skr would have fallen in love with that smile right away had it been in the past. However, now she could only think how fake the smile was, yet she didn¡¯t say anything about it. Not like it would do her any good. She figured the one who was in her way of getting to Jethro¡¯s heart was Elspeth. If she doesn¡¯t shine that much anymore, perhaps Jethro would finally look at me. Skr was in a dilemma. She knew it was a bad thought, but she had no idea how to stop it from spreading. Jethro noticed the woman spacing out with an eerie smile hanging on her lips. She looks creepy. ¡°Why are you spacing out, Skr?¡± She snapped out of it and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Well then, now that I¡¯ve delivered the contract, I should get back to work.¡± Jethro nodded with a smile. ¡°Sure thing.¡± ¡­ Just when Elspeth thought the affair wasing to an end, another problem showed up. An ount called ElspethHater popped up and started a long thread. Elspeth read the thread, and she frowned. The thread said that Elspeth was the one who puked at the bar, and itpared Elspeth and Skr¡¯s profiles. Obviously, Elspeth was slimmer than Skr, and if this went on, there would be trouble. Left with no choice, she opened an alternate ount to argue with the poster. Elspethmented, ¡®It¡¯s just angle problems. You can¡¯t tell them apart just from their body shape alone. You¡¯d have to have perfect sight for it.¡¯ The poster retorted, ¡®This is obvious enough. That woman looked a lot more like Elspeth, not Skr. The body shape, the way she moves, her gait. Everything points to Elspeth.¡¯ ¡®You sure do keep a close eye on thedy. Are you a pervert?¡¯ ¡®I just want to find out the truth. How does that make me a pervert?¡¯ ¡®It was dark. Nobody could see anything. How are you so sure that was Elspeth? Not like you know her.¡¯ ¡®Heh. You don¡¯t know her, either.¡¯ Elspeth was so agitated that she almost said she was the very same person the poster was talking about, but this wasn¡¯t the ce to do it. If she had said that, then everything she did would have been for nothing. ¡®If you¡¯re so sure it was Elspeth, then show us more proof.¡¯ ¡®Of course. She had dinner with Jethro and went to a concert together.¡¯ ¡®But so far, I believe there¡¯s no information about where Elspeth had gone to or what she was doing. So, how did you find out about it?¡¯ At that, the poster stopped replying. The crowd was still watching with interest, and now that the poster wasn¡¯t saying anything, they thought Elspeth had won. ¡®Go on. You were making very good points. Or were you just lying? Or perhaps you¡¯re actually a stalker. That¡¯s why you know what she did.¡¯ Still, the poster said nothing. No matter what the answer was, it wouldn¡¯t do well for them. If they confessed to being a stalker, they would bebeled a pervert, and nobody would believe their thread. People would think they were up to something no good. And if they confessed that everything was a lie, then the whole thread would have meant nothing. Elspeth knew she had won this argument, but she couldn¡¯t be happy about it. I¡¯ve never told anyone about this. Jethro might be a flippant guy, but he wouldn¡¯t start any trouble. This isn¡¯t his style. So, that leaves¡­ She narrowed her eyes. She had a n to deal with this. Two minutester, ElspethHater deleted the thread all of a sudden, and the crowd was starting to take Elspeth¡¯s side. Now, they believed that Skr was the woman in the photo, and thanks to this thread, Skr and Jethro gained even more fans. A blessing in disguise, so to speak. Once everything was done, Elspeth called Skr, and Skr sounded nervous. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Skr? You sound nervous.¡± Elspeth smiled. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Miss Lynwood. So, what is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Just wondering why you haven¡¯t posted the video. Jethro did, but you haven¡¯t.¡± Beads of sweat formed on Skr¡¯s forehead. ¡°I-I was busy, so I forgot.¡± ¡°What were you working on? I don¡¯t remember giving you any tasks.¡± Nervously, Skr replied, ¡°It¡¯s just something I did myself. I can¡¯t stay idle, after all.¡± Elspeth nodded. ¡°True. Tell me what you were working on. If you have done well, I can reward you.¡± Skr knew Elspeth must have found out about something, but she wanted to bet on the off chance that Elspeth knew nothing. ¡°Miss Lynwood, I¡ª¡± Elspeth chortled. ¡°Calm down. I¡¯m not ming you.¡± ¡°Um, did you¡­¡± Skr wanted to ask if Elspeth had found out about something but didn¡¯t have the guts to do that. Elspeth didn¡¯t intend to expose her. Instead, she said, ¡°You¡¯re still working for me. If you try to start anything you shouldn¡¯t, I wille down on you.¡± She was not a kind woman. She was fair but not kind. Anyone who tried to hurt her would be hurt in return. Skr felt her back drenched in sweat. I knew it. She knows. Elspeth smiled and fiddled with her ring. Nonchntly, she said, ¡°You did well. I¡¯m going to give you 150 grand. Take it from the finance departmentter.¡± Her words confused Skr. I tried to sabotage her, so why is she giving me a bonus? ¡°Miss Lynwood, I ¡ª¡± Elspeth interjected, ¡°You what? You shot a video with Jethro and settled the impending crisis of the photo, didn¡¯t you? You deserve a reward.¡± Oh, she¡¯s just ying dumb. ¡°Thank you, Miss Lynwood.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. ¡°Sure thing. But you should learn a bit ofputer stuff from me. You didn¡¯t even hide your IP address.¡± Skr¡¯s eyes went wide with shock. Sh*t. I almost forgot. The president might look friendly, but she used to be one of the most fearsome hackers around. ¡°I-I understand.¡± She hung up nervously and looked at the logout screen, conflicting emotions stirring in her heart. Feels like I just got out of a certain death. Chapter 387 Chapter 387 Chapter 387 To the Wilstone Residence After she got off work the next day, Elspeth saw a conspicuous red sports car stopped by the roadside. She never really paid attention to the cars around the building. All she knew was that Jethro would usually pick her up in modest cars. This wasn¡¯t his style, but then Jethro came out of it. He was wearing a deep brown shirt, a big, devilish smile curling his lips. Then, he said, ¡°I¡¯m here to pick you up, Elsie. Now, can youe home with me?¡± Elspeth harrumphed. And I thought he¡¯d be more mature. I see the change of clothes didn¡¯t change his attitude. He¡¯s making it sound like I¡¯m his fianc¨¦e who¡¯s going to meet his parents. Fine, I¡¯ll y along. She said, ¡°I still have to get changed and buy some presents.¡± Jethro pointed at the back seat. It was filled with all kinds of presents. ¡°I¡¯ve bought everything you might need. And you¡¯re a guest. Drop the formalities. Now, get in.¡± She shrugged and got into the car. Not too longter, she was taken to the Wilstone Residence. It was a resplendent ce, the doors high and mighty. There were circr windows all around, and stone structures littered the corner. I see why Jethro doesn¡¯t care about money. This whole ce reeks of wealth. Even before she got out of the car, Elspeth saw a stretch of a red carpet draped over the field outside. Standing at the sides were the residence¡¯s servants holding a tray filled with petals of flowers. Why does this look like a wedding ceremony? Carefully, she got out of the car. The moment she stepped onto the carpet, the servants quickly tossed the petals into the air, and all of them rained down on her. She was shocked, but she could do nothing about it. Elspeth turned around, but Jethro looked calm. In fact, he looked delighted. Why is he looking like that? She shot him a look, but the man only gave her a look that said, ¡®Calm down.¡¯ ¡°Alright,e with me.¡± He stepped forth and held her hand, trying to take her in. She didn¡¯t like the man holding her hand, but she couldn¡¯t break free. ¡°Come on, stop struggling. You don¡¯t want even more surprises, do you?¡± More? This is already bad enough. Elspeth smiled and quickly changed her attitude. She held Jethro¡¯s hand and went inside. Once she was in the lounge, she caught a whiff of something that smelled like perfume. However, before she could even see who it was, a woman was already happily holding her hand. ¡°You must be Elspeth. Oh, you¡¯re prettier than I imagined.¡± The woman was plump, but she was still beautiful. And she looked at Elspeth like she was her daughter-inw. Elspeth was at a loss. ¡°Hi, Mrs. Wilstone. You must be Jethro¡¯s mother.¡± The woman grinned, wrinkles creasing the corner of her eyes. ¡°Yes. You have a good eye, Miss Lynwood.¡± She kicked the man beside him, and Jethro¡¯s timid father quickly came forward. ¡°Yes. You¡¯re gorgeous and gentle, Miss Lynwood. I can see why Jethro likes you,¡± Moriarty said honestly. Thement he made was exactly what was on everyone¡¯s mind. Dammit, this is all a trick! Still, I can¡¯t yell at Jethro right now. His parents and grandfather are here. Thus, she could only smile. ¡°It¡¯s not what you think, Mrs. Wilstone. We¡¯re just friends.¡± However, Jessica didn¡¯t mind. She only smiled gently. ¡°It¡¯s alright. After you guys spend some time together, you¡¯ll eventually fall in love.¡± Moriarty quickly nodded, worried that his wife might lecture him again. Old Mr. Wilstone was all smiles a while ago, but the moment Elspeth said they were friends, his face fell. ¡°What is going on, Jethro?¡± I thought she was your fianc¨¦e. Jethro expected that, so he said, ¡°We have to take it slow.¡± Old Mr. Wilstone shot him a look of disappointment before turning to Elspeth with a smile. ¡°Come, Elspeth. Let me have a closer look at you.¡± Elspeth liked the old man, so she went up to him. ¡°Do you know me, sir?¡± Mncholily, Old Mr. Wilstone responded, ¡°Of course. Your grandfather and I are friends. We used to run a business together when we were young, and he promised he¡¯d marry his grandkid to mine.¡± Another one? First the Carrs, then the Coles, and now the Wilstones? How many friends do you have, Grandfather? I¡¯m just one woman. ¡°Oh, right. Are you married, Elspeth?¡± ¡°No,¡± she answered honestly. Old Mr. Wilstone¡¯s eyes shone, and he looked at Jethro. ¡°Good. Good. Jethro¡¯s not engaged, either. So, why don¡¯t you get hitched?¡± Elspeth chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s just a promise between you guys. It¡¯s not to be taken literally.¡± Old Mr. Wilstone was smart enough to get the refusal, but he really liked this girl. He wanted her to marry Jethro. ¡°Well, let¡¯s put the marriage talk aside. Why don¡¯t you stay for a bit? I¡¯ll make sure you get the best treatment you can imagine.¡± Oh, he¡¯s trying to make me stay now. Elspeth was a little annoyed. Why does everyone want me to marry their kid? Am I that popr? She wasn¡¯t sure if Jethro was upset, but the air around him felt depressed. ¡°It¡¯s not every day Elspeth visits us. Take her around the house,¡± said Old Mr. Wilstone. And make sure you get closer to her. Jethro nodded and looked at the woman. Despite what she said earlier, he couldn¡¯t stay tense with her. Thus, he smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll show you around.¡± Elspeth was reluctant to be alone with him but staying in the lounge would make things even more awkward. So, she nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± With that, they left. All of a sudden, Jessica said, ¡°Oh, by the way, your cousin is here as well. Bring Elspeth to see her. You guys should spend more time together.¡± His cousin? Elspeth gulped nervously but kept her smile on. I have a bad feeling about this.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 388 Chapter 388 If my memory serves me right, Jennifer Qistrin¡ªJethro¡¯s cousin¡ªis a little devil. She started ying violin when she was little and got some big des overseas, which contributed to her haughty, arrogant attitude. Everyone knows she has a short temper. My men got me that intel, so there shouldn¡¯t be any false information. Just when Elspeth was wondering how she should deal with Jethro¡¯s cousin, he came to stand beside her. ¡°You¡¯re spacing out. Are you scared of my cousin?¡± ¡°No. Why would I?¡± ¡°Oh, so that means you¡¯re nervous.¡± Jethro bent over and noticed the frown on her face. Then, he chuckled. ¡°I see you¡¯ve heard of her attitude problem.¡± ¡°Yes, but I need to meet her to see if the rumors are true,¡± she said, trying to change the subject. ¡°True. She¡¯s beside the flower bed. Want to go say hi?¡± Elspeth shook her head. ¡°No. You say hi to her. I¡¯ll stay out.¡± Their conversation attracted the girl beside the flower bed. The moment she saw Jethro, the girl pounced at him, her eyes gleaming. ¡°Jethro!¡± When she noticed Elspeth, her face fell. ¡°Who is she? Why is she with you?¡± she asked, jealousy filling her voice. It felt like Elspeth had taken her boyfriend away. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Elspeth.¡± Elspeth extended her hand, but the girl smacked it away. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me. Who are you?¡± ¡°Your cousin doesn¡¯t seem to like me very much. I¡¯ll wait for you somewhere, then.¡± Elspeth shrugged and moved aside. Already annoyed in the first ce, Jennifer¡¯s attitude lit the me of anger in Jethro. ¡°What are you doing? She¡¯s our guest, not someone you can show your attitude to.¡± ¡°Guest? You¡¯ve never been so nice to any guest before.¡± Jennifer was infuriated seeing them so close together. He has never been so gentle to anyone before. Not even me. ¡°That¡¯s because she¡¯s going to be my wife.¡± Jennifer¡¯s world shattered as soon as the words came out of his mouth. ¡°You want to marry her?¡± She clenched her fists in fury, her eyes gleaming with anger. ¡°I won¡¯t agree to this. I won¡¯t let you date her!¡± What¡¯s so good about her? She¡¯s pretty, yeah, but other than that, she¡¯s not friendly. I bet she¡¯s a witch. Jethro¡¯s mine. Mine alone! He shot his cousin a look. ¡°You don¡¯t get to dictate whom I marry.¡± ¡°I¡¯m your cousin.¡± ¡°Yeah, so? What makes you think you can control me?¡± Jennifer said in disbelief, ¡°You¡¯d lecture me for an outsider?¡± And that erased what patience Jethro had left. ¡°She is not an outsider. She¡¯s going to be my wife.¡± ¡°You want to marry her? Fine, let¡¯s see what¡¯s so good about her.¡± She took a deep breath and approached Elspeth. Then, she grabbed Elspeth¡¯s chin. Not good. Elspeth took a step back and broke away from Jennifer¡¯s grasp. Then, she pped the girl. It was a heavy p, thanks to her training. Jennifer¡¯s cheek swelled up, and she lost her bnce and fell. The searing pain from her cheek alone told Jennifer that her face must have swollen up. Nobody has ever done this to me before! Nobody ps me! At that moment, something within her snapped, and she roared, ¡°Look at her! She pped me. You can¡¯t let her do that!¡± Oops, that was a little heavy-handed. Elspeth swung her hand and looked at Jethro. ¡°Do what you want.¡± The man frowned, seemingly worried. Elspeth thought he would p her or teach her a lesson, at the very least. She did hit his cousin, after all. And Elspeth wasn¡¯t even his family. She thought he would at leaste to Jennifer¡¯s defense, but instead, he held her hand and looked at it. Then, he blew on her hand, trying to lessen the little swelling on it. ¡°That was a hard p. Did it hurt?¡± Jethro¡¯s ¡®misced¡¯ concern made Jennifer look like a joke. ¡°Are you mad, Jethro?¡± He never cared about anyone but me. However, now that she had seen how he treated Elspeth, she realized Jethro¡¯s special treatment for her was just a figment of her imagination. It was nothing but her delusion. ¡°She¡¯s my girlfriend and the woman I will marry. She¡¯s going to be part of my family one day. If anyone here is the outsider, it¡¯s you.¡± Jethro smiled calmly. ¡°I tolerate you because you¡¯re my cousin, but if you speak rudely to my lover, I will punish you.¡± He was smiling, but what he spoke sent shudders down Jennifer¡¯s spine. What happened to him? What happened to the Jethro I know? He¡¯s scary. This is not good, Elspeth thought. He might be defending me, but he¡¯s telling everyone I will be dating him. If this gets out, it¡¯d be bad for me. She cleared her throat and said, ¡°Don¡¯t listen to him. We¡¯re just friends.¡± Jennifer didn¡¯t believe her words at all. She thought they were already dating, and Jethro didn¡¯te to her defense because of that. ¡°Shut it, you witch!¡± The youngdy buried her face in her hands, crying. ¡°His ex ising home, witch! Aldea won¡¯t let this slide. She¡¯ll go after you!¡±Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Elspeth had no idea who this Aldea was, but seeing Jethro tensing up was enough to tell her that this woman was not one to be trifled with. Yet, she didn¡¯t care. Jethro wasn¡¯t Callum, and Aldea wasn¡¯t Emma. She cared for none of them. Elspeth bent over and looked into Jennifer¡¯s eyes. Then, she smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t drag me into your messy rtionship, or you¡¯re getting it.¡± Chapter 389 Chapter 389 Chapter 389 I¡¯ll Show You, Elspeth! Jennifer met Elspeth¡¯s gaze, and her heart skipped a beat, but she snapped out of it quickly. I¡¯m Jennifer Qistrin. I¡¯m not scared of some random b*tch. ¡°You don¡¯t scare me, woman!¡± She dusted her rear off and stood up. With her hands on her hips, Jennifer said, ¡°I don¡¯t know who you are, but you¡¯d best stay away from Jethro and my home.¡± ¡°You think I wanted toe?¡± Elspeth approached the girl and sneered. ¡°If your cousin hadn¡¯t begged me toe, I wouldn¡¯t have stepped foot in this ce. Besides, this isn¡¯t your home. It¡¯s Jethro¡¯s.¡± Jennifer was red with fury. ¡°No, this is my aunt¡¯s home! That makes it my home, too!¡± ¡°The credits don¡¯t transfer. You need to change that attitude of yours.¡± Elspeth dusted her hands off and turned around. ¡°I see I¡¯m unwee here. I should leave. Goodbye.¡± Then, she left without saying another word. I spent so much time and effort to invite her here, and this idiot girl just ruined it for me! Jethro was angry but didn¡¯t stop Elspeth, in case he left a bad impression on her. So, he vented on Jennifer. ¡°Do you really think you can do anything you want here?¡± Jennifer, who had been smiling smugly when Elspeth left, froze upon hearing his words. ¡°I-I didn¡¯t mean that.¡± The man shot her an icy look. ¡°Do not try to anger her. You do that, and I will destroy you, understand? I don¡¯t care even if you¡¯re my cousin.¡± With that, he left, leaving a pale Jennifer behind. After the both of them were gone, Jennifer felt like she was nothing but a joke, and she shivered in fury. I¡¯ll show you, Elspeth! ¡­ Elspeth stormed off, feigning fury, and nobody stopped her. When she finally got out of the residence, she remembered that she should text Jethro. So, she unlocked her phone, and the first thing that met her eyes was his apology texts. ¡®I¡¯m sorry.¡¯ ¡®I didn¡¯t mean it. I¡¯ll make sure she never shows up around you ever again.¡¯ ¡®Elsie, please say something.¡¯ ¡®Please don¡¯t be mad. You¡¯ll get wrinkles.¡¯ ¡®I apologize on her behalf.¡¯ ¡­ Elspeth stopped in her tracks. She was upset, but she knew this wasn¡¯t Jethro¡¯s fault. Jennifer was the one who got on her nerves. Oh, no. The texts are piling up. I need to text back. ¡®I¡¯m fine. I need to go home now.¡¯ ¡®Not even an emoji? You are mad.¡¯ ¡®I am not.¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s what you say when you¡¯re mad.¡¯ ¡®Fine. It¡¯s still the weekend tomorrow, but you¡¯re working overtime.¡¯ Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. ¡®Please, no!¡¯ Jethro attached a crying emoji to the message. After that, Elspeth locked her phone with a smile curling her lips. It¡¯s the weekend. I have nothing to do. Might as well meet up with Yelena and see if I can get some of her extras to work with me. Not long after she came back, Yelena made her return as well. She kept asking for a meetup, but Elspeth didn¡¯t have time for that. Not until now. Yelena was moving up in her career and would be an A-lister soon. I should give her some reward. About a few hundred yardster, Elspeth realized the Wilstone Residence was located in a remote area. My goodness, there¡¯s probably no taxi for miles. She checked for some Uber rides, but there were none around. Dammit, I should¡¯ve borrowed a car from Jethro. Figuring that it would be awkward to call him now, Elspeth had no choice but to wait for a car to pass by. I wonder if there is any that could take me to town. A circle of woods surrounded the Wilstone Residence. Only a narrow path extended across the area. Elspeth walked down the road, but after only taking a few steps, she heard the faint cries of someone asking for help. ¡°Help¡­ Is anyone there? Help¡­¡± It was barely a whisper, but it was clear in a remote area like this. Elspeth wanted to stay out of it, but the voice was getting weaker. They¡¯re dying. I can¡¯t let that happen. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Delighted by getting a response, the person raised their voice. ¡°I¡¯m here!¡± The sound came from the southeast. Elspeth went in that direction and looked around. Eventually, she found someone on the ground. She had blood all over her body and face. Elspeth couldn¡¯t make out her looks, but what was more horrifying was that her stomach was sliced open, and her insides were tumbling out. She could barely make out that it was a woman. The woman extended a trembling hand, trying to hold Elspeth¡¯s shirt. ¡°Please, take me to a hospital. I don¡¯t want to die¡­¡± ¡°Calm down. I don¡¯t have a car at the moment. I can¡¯t take you to any hospital. Give me a second. Let me see if there¡¯s any car around.¡± Elspeth checked the woman. Her injuries look serious, but she can still hold on for a bit. Feeling a bit relieved, she quickly sent her location to Harper on WhatsApp. ¡®Get me a car ASAP.¡¯ ¡®Miss Elspeth, your location is too far.¡¯ Harper pouted. ¡®It¡¯ll take at least 20 minutes.¡¯ ¡®Can¡¯t theye any faster?¡¯ ¡®I have no idea where you are. It¡¯s like the middle of nowhere. It¡¯ll have to take at least 20 minutes.¡¯ Elspeth sighed. ¡®Fine. Just tell the driver to go faster.¡¯ She hung up and hunkered down. The air was filled with the stench of blood, and she frowned. ¡°Who did this to you?¡± She talked to the woman to get more information about her wound and keep her awake. If she were to fall unconscious, her bodily functions would slow down, and she might die faster. The woman shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I was just going to get some greens, and¡ª¡± She saw something behind Elspeth, and her eyes went wide. ¡°Look out!¡± Chapter 390 Chapter 390 Chapter 390 Interloper Elspeth swiftly turned around and saw a man pouncing at her. She moved away quickly, but the man kept his eyes on her, his gaze filled with murder. ¡°That¡¯s him. He tried to kill me.¡± He seems familiar. Elspeth frowned. He looks like someone I know. ¡°Who are you?¡± The killer ignored her question and charged at her, holding his bloody knife. Guess we¡¯ll be doing this the hard way. Elspeth kicked his knife away and twisted his arm to his back. The man roared in pain from having his arm turned. Then, Elspeth mmed her foot into him again. ¡°Answer me. What are you trying to do?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll kill you!¡± She shot him an icy re. ¡°Why? I don¡¯t remember doing anything to you.¡± The man looked at the dying woman coldly. ¡°Because you saw me killing her, so I have to get rid of you, too.¡± ¡°Then, tell me. Why did you want to kill her?¡± The man spat before hissing, ¡°My boss¡¯ orders. None of your business.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Elspeth tightened her grip, and the man cried out in pain. ¡°Now, can you answer me?¡± ¡°My boss told me to kill her. I have no idea why. The only thing I know is that I can get a lot of money if I kill her.¡± Doesn¡¯t seem like he¡¯s lying. Elspeth loosened her grip slightly. Taking that as his cue to run, the man broke free of her grasp, but before he could run far, the woman picked up a rock and tossed it at his ankle. His legs buckled, and he fell. She went ahead and stepped on his back. ¡°I am not finished with you.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. The man¡¯s face was covered in soil. Knowing that he could no longer escape, he begged for mercy. ¡°Please, let me go. It was just one murder. Yes, I did try to kill you, but I failed, didn¡¯t I? Please, let me go.¡± His plea for mercy was ignored. ¡°Once again, who sent you?¡± She stomped on the man harder. ¡°Ouch! Please, stop. I-I don¡¯t know. The only thing I know is that this woman is Aldea of the Swift Family. If I kill her, I can get a ton of money.¡± Aldea Swift? Elspeth frowned. Why does the name sound familiar? ¡°You¡¯re not lying, are you?¡± ¡°Of course. I¡¯m not.¡± The man forced a smile. ¡°Good. Then, you may go now.¡± She stepped on him harder. She wasn¡¯t going to let him go. The man¡¯s eyes went wide in disbelief. ¡°But you said you¡¯d let me go if I told you everything!¡± Elspeth bent over and smirked. ¡°I never said that. You thought I did.¡± With that, she smacked the man on his head without giving him any chance to speak. Then, the man fainted. ¡°Did you kill him?¡± Aldea was in pain, but she was still shocked at what she saw. ¡°No. Just knocked him out.¡± Elspeth whipped her phone out and called 911. After she told the cops about the murder attempt, she heard someone honking in the distance. She stood up and tried to hold Aldea up. Aldea clutched her stomach, gasping in pain. Elspeth said, ¡°I know you¡¯re in pain, but please hold on. We¡¯ll take you to the hospital soon. Our ride is here, so get in.¡± A car stopped in front of them, and a burly man came out. ¡°You must be Miss Lynwood.¡± He looked at Aldea and frowned. ¡°She¡¯s bleeding a lot. Won¡¯t soil my car, will she?¡± ¡°How much does your car cost?¡± The man scratched his head. ¡°About 30 thousand dors.¡± ¡°Give me your ount number. I¡¯ll pay you 70 grand. Now, take her to the hospital.¡± The man was hesitating at first, but after Elspeth made that offer, he agreed to the request. ¡°Right away, miss.¡± Just then, he noticed the unconscious killer and asked, ¡°What about him, then?¡± ¡°Ignore him. The cops will deal with him.¡± She took Aldea into the back seat and got into the car. The man took them to the hospital, and Aldea was taken to the emergency room. While she was undergoing surgery, Elspeth sent her men to look into Aldea¡¯s background. She needed to know her family¡¯s number so she could call them. She was already kind enough to help Aldea out. Elspeth had no obligation to care for Aldea. However, the more she knew about Aldea, the more she thought she knew this woman. She has an ex who goes by the name of Jethro. Is it the same guy I know? That thought lingered in her mind, and she was reminded of what Jennifer had told her. She mentioned someone called Aldea as well. It can¡¯t be the same person, can it? Elspeth stared at the emergency room¡¯s door, falling into a dilemma. What a small world. But that¡¯s not my problem. She called Aldea¡¯s parents anonymously to inform them about their daughter¡¯s situation. After that, she figured she might as well execute good deeds till the end and pay the bill for them. She left in a hurry and went past a familiar figure, though she didn¡¯t realize it. However, the other person noticed Elspeth, and she teared up when she turned around to look at the woman¡¯s back. ¡°She looks like Elspeth, doesn¡¯t she?¡± the girl beside her asked. ¡°Shush. We don¡¯t want her to hear us, so pipe down.¡± ¡°You miss her, don¡¯t you? Why don¡¯t you call out to her, then?¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright, Isabel. We mustn¡¯t drag her into our mess ever again, understand?¡± ¡°In that case, why did wee back to Damoria?¡± ¡°Because this is the safest ce we can be in.¡± Chapter 391 Chapter 391 Chapter 391 Testing the Waters Elspeth got herself a taxi and told him the address Yelena had given her. Half an hourter, she arrived at the set. Elspeth paid the fare and got out of the car. However, the guard stopped her outside the entrance. ¡°ID, please.¡± ¡°I¡¯m your female lead¡¯s friend. She told me toe over,¡± said Elspeth. ¡°What proof do you have? Show it, or you will have to leave.¡± The guard was doubtful. He wasn¡¯t sure if she was telling the truth. It would be bad if she were an obsessive fan who just wanted to see her idol. ¡°I can call her.¡± Elspeth took her phone out. The guard stayed silent. She called Yelena, but nobody picked up the phone. She must be busy. Elspeth called her two more times, but the calls went unanswered. Her prolonged silence made the guard impatient. ¡°It appears to me that you don¡¯t have any proof. So, it¡¯s time for you to leave,dy. Don¡¯t get in the way of my work.¡± Elspeth turned around and bumped into someone¡¯s chest. She rubbed her nose andined, ¡°Hey, can¡¯t you see someone standing right here? Watch where you¡¯re going.¡± What if my nose got ttened? Callum didn¡¯t even apologize. He merely said, ¡°You should watch where you¡¯re going, then.¡± That voice sounds familiar. The woman looked up and saw Callum. It¡¯s him, huh? Just my luck. She mocked, ¡°You came when you knew I was here. You¡¯re the one who wasn¡¯t watching where he was going.¡± The man knew she was mocking him, but he didn¡¯t respond. ¡°Move away.¡± Such a heartless man. Oh, wait. He¡¯s my ticket to get inside, thought Elspeth. She suddenly got in his way and looked up at him. ¡°Can you help me out, Mr. Winthrop?¡± ¡°No,¡± he refused straight away. She tossed her dignity aside and kept pleading like a child, ¡°I need to go in, but the guard wouldn¡¯t let me. So¡ª¡± Callum looked at her coolly. ¡°Not my problem.¡± ¡°Do you have to be this heartless?¡± Elspeth looked dejected. She wouldn¡¯t get angry, no matter what he said to her, but she didn¡¯t like how he refused her right away. I can¡¯t do anything about it. She sighed. Need toe up with another idea. Should I climb over the wall? No, that¡¯s just too humiliating. Right then, Callum broke her train of thought. ¡°Why do you want to go in?¡± ¡°To see my friend,¡± she answered quickly. ¡°Yelena?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± She froze. How did he know? He stayed silent for a long time. Then, he said, ¡°Let her in.¡± The guard allowed Elspeth to enter right away. The woman instantly cheered up. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Winthrop.¡± Then, she went inside without saying another word to the man who helped her. Callum narrowed his eyes, something glinting within them. Elspeth weaved through the set ording to the map Yelena gave her, and eventually, she found Yelena. Her friend was going through the script with the director, and her eyes lit up when she saw Elspeth. However, since the director was there, she needed to stay back, so she signaled Elspeth, telling her to do what she wanted. Elspeth sat down. There was a copy of the script beside her, and she picked it up to look through it. Good. Timothy did a good job. She read further and noticed a familiar name among the list of actors¡ª Jasmine. And she was given the role of female deuteragonist. Probably used her status as an investor to get this role. Elspeth frowned. I see why Callum came. ¡°Can you open this bottle for me, Callum? I can¡¯t do it.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± She heard the sweet conversation, and Elspeth turned around only to see Callum and Jasmine sitting together like a loving couple. The man opened the bottle easily, and he noticed someone staring at him. When he raised his head to look around, there was a glint of questioning in his eyes. Elspeth met his gaze, and she quickly turned around. ¡°What is it, Callum?¡± Noticing him staring into the distance, Jasmine got curious. She looked in the direction he was staring, and she saw Elspeth. This woman again? Her good mood was spoiled, but she pretended to be nice nheless. ¡°That¡¯s Elspeth. Do you want to say hi?¡± Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. She wanted to poke around. For one, Jasmine wanted to know why Elspeth was here. Two, she wanted to know how much Callum still cared about Elspeth. It seems to me that he still can¡¯t forget about her. Callum looked at her right away, his gaze icy. ¡°I don¡¯t know her. Why should I say hi?¡± ¡°But you were staring at her,¡± muttered Jasmine. ¡°I was only spacing out.¡± Jasmine wasn¡¯t sure how much of that was the truth, so when Callum left for the restroom, she came over to Elspeth. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Elspeth.¡± Elspeth saw through Jasmine. She¡¯s not here to say hi. Refusing to talk to her further, Elspeth said curtly, ¡°I¡¯m here to see a friend.¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± Jasmine smiled. ¡°Can you introduce me?¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes. The way you talk isn¡¯t cute at all, b*tch. She snapped, ¡°Don¡¯t you have your own friends? Go talk to them instead.¡± That was not the response Jasmine expected. If Elspeth had refused the request, Jasmine would have mocked her. However, Elspeth went straight for the jugr instead. Did she just say I have no friends? Jasmine was red with fury. ¡°I just wanted to say hi, Elspeth. How could you say that to me?¡± Chapter 392 Chapter 392 Chapter 392 Why Are You Greeting Me? ¡°I don¡¯t know you that well. Why are you greeting me?¡± With that said, Elspeth turned and walked away. Coincidentally, Yelena and the director walked over in the opposite direction after they were done discussing the script. Elspeth ignored the change in the woman¡¯s expression behind her as she headed toward them with a bottle of water. ¡°You were talking for so long just now, Yelena. You must be thirsty! Have some water,¡± Elspeth offered. ¡°Is that Jasmine, Elspeth? Do you know her?¡± Yelena only realized something after she finished her sentence. Jasmine is Callum¡¯s fianc¨¦e. Of course, Elspeth knows her! Yelena hesitated for a moment before she continued with her words. ¡°That woman is really pretentious and entitled. She thinks she can do whatever she wants just because she invested arge sum into the production of this show. The director would¡¯ve kicked her out if she hadn¡¯t for that. She isn¡¯t just bad at acting; she also causes tons of other trouble. Gosh.¡± Elspeth was inplete agreement with Yelena¡¯s words. Elspeth could tell that Jasmine was just fooling around, but she couldn¡¯t tell what Jasmine was trying to do. ¡°I wonder what Callum likes about her. She¡¯s not that pretty either,¡± Yelena muttered. Elspeth nodded agreeably¡ªit was true that Jasmine¡¯s looks were considered average in the entertainment industry. She wasn¡¯t from an especially wealthy family, either¡ªthey were probably just a household with an above-average ie. Elspeth, too, had no idea what Callum liked about Jasmine. ¡°She¡¯s fortunate that you¡¯re a good-tempered woman. If I were in your position, I would¡¯ve stormed over to curse at her already,¡± Yelena grumbled. ¡°What is there to get mad about? You¡¯re ady, yet all you talk about is picking fights with others.¡± Elspeth chuckled as she flicked the tip of Yelena¡¯s nose yfully. Yelena waved Elspeth off before speaking in a whiny tone. ¡°Hey, you have been too busy to spend time with me recently. I¡¯m free tonight. Why don¡¯t we go for a meal?¡± she asked. Elspeth rolled her eyes. ¡°Didn¡¯t Max ask you out?¡± Elspeth asked. Yelena felt rage building in her upon the mention of Max¡¯s name. ¡°Stop bringing him up. I¡¯m sick of staring at his face all the time. Furthermore, he has been too busy for me, and he keeps iming that he¡¯s upied whenever I text him. I¡¯ve no idea what he¡¯s up to.¡± Elspeth was certain that Max would never do anything to hurt Yelena, but Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but tease Yelena. ¡°Maybe he found another woman outside.¡± ¡°Yeah, that was what I was thinking about!¡± Yelena pressed her palms against her cheeks as she pouted. ¡°We were supposed to celebrate our 100th day a few days ago, but he was too busy, so he only bought me a gift. He didn¡¯t even spend time with me! While I had requested a day off work just for that!¡± she cried. ¡°That¡¯s bad¡­¡± Elspeth was confused. Are all men from the Winthrop Family equally unreliable? ¡°Alright, alright. Let¡¯s stop talking about him.¡± Yelena nced at the clock. ¡°I have another two scenes after this. Could you wait for me here? I¡¯ll be back really soon.¡± Someone called out for Yelena right after she finished her sentence, so she shouted back and hurried over. Elspeth got bored after sitting around for a while, so she decided that she would go over to watch Yelena¡¯s filming. They were filming a scene between the lead and supporting female characters right then. The show was set in the olden days, and the plot was about rivalry within a family. The lead female character was depicted as a sweet and thoughtful girl who was perceived as a helpless and weak figure in the household. The lead female¡¯s gentle personality ced her in a situation where she was vulnerable to being bullied by the supporting female character, who was a mistress in the same family. The scene they were filming involved the supporting female character pping the lead on her face before the lead was pushed into the river. It was autumn then, so the weather was rather chilly. Elspeth had a bad feeling about the scene as she watched it unfold. Jasmine spread her lips into a gentle smile as she looked at Yelena. ¡°I apologize if I go too hard on you¡ªI¡¯m not that good at controlling my strength. You should tell me if I¡¯m hurting you,¡± Jasmine uttered. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Yelena replied with a straight face. Despite appearing calm on the outside, Yelena felt rather anxious deep down. She had noticed the malice in Jasmine¡¯s gaze, and she wasn¡¯t sure what was running through Jasmine¡¯s mind. ¡°Action!¡± The actresses got into their roles once the director shouted for the filming to start. They went along with the script at first, where they were supposed to have an argument. Jasmine spread her lips into an evil smirk. ¡°I¡¯m warning you now¡ªyou should stay away from Goliath.¡± N?velDrama.Org ? content. ¡°I¡¯m his first wife, and it seems like you¡¯ve overstepped some boundaries.¡± Yelena held her head up, but she seemed ratherical as she wore a meek expression on her face. ¡®You? You¡¯re just some poor girl from a vige. Do you really think you can win Goliath over?¡± Yelena¡¯s gaze turned cold. ¡°Who are you calling a poor viger?¡± She had a rather intimidating aura surrounding her figure then. Jasmine hadn¡¯t expected Yelena to act in such a calm manner, so she decided that she would teach Yelena a lesson there and then. ¡°Well, I¡¯m about to show you who¡¯s the one who really belongs here.¡± Jasmine then held her hand up to give Yelena a fierce p. Smack! The loud, crisp sound filled the air. Elspeth could immediately tell that Jasmine hadn¡¯t held back during the p. Is that woman doing this to get revenge on me?! Elspeth curled her fists. She¡¯s bullying Yelena because she can¡¯t do anything to me. Even Yelena widened her eyes in surprise. Why did she use so much strength? ¡°Hold on, director.¡± Jasmine smiled as she signaled for the director to halt the filming. ¡°Yelena was supposed to give me a firm and determined re in this scene, but she looked a little too shocked and flustered just now. She¡¯s out of character.¡± In other words, they would have to retake the scene. The director nodded thoughtfully. ¡°You¡¯re right. Retake.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid the p wasn¡¯t done right as well. I might have used a little too much strength, and I don¡¯t think it¡¯d look good for me if others saw this. Should we redo the p?¡± Jasmine added. She seemed gentle and soft, but her words were sharp like a knife. Her suggestion put the director in a tough position. The director took a nce at Yelena, and he could tell that Yelena¡¯s face was starting to swell up. ¡°Yelena¡¯s face is already swollen. If you do it again, I¡¯m afraid¡ª¡± ¡°A good actress should learn how to tolerate such hardships, right?¡± Jasmine¡¯s words were hard to argue against, and the director hesitated for a while before he decided to ask Yelena¡¯s opinion. ¡°Are you okay to do it again, Yelena?¡± Yelena shot Jasmine an icy re. ¡°Let¡¯s do it.¡± Jasmine¡¯s p was just as harsh the second time. This time, blood formed around the corner of Yelena¡¯s mouth, but she maintained a firm re in her eyes. The scene went on for a while more before Jasmine asked to stop the filming again. ¡°Hold on, director.¡± The director could tell that something was wrong at that point. ¡°What is it this time?¡± he asked in an agitated tone. ¡°I think that angle didn¡¯t look good. Can we do it with a different angle?¡± It was obvious to everyone that Jasmine was just trying to torture Yelena. ¡°But Yelena¡¯s face¡­¡± the director muttered. Jasmine chuckled with her hand over her lips. ¡°I¡¯ve already invested 100 million into the production of this show, you know. If you¡¯re going to act this way, then¡­¡± Chapter 393 Chapter 393 Chapter 393 Hit Her Back Both parties were standing firm on their opinions when another voice sounded from behind them. ¡°Guys, there¡¯s something that I¡¯d like to say.¡± Elspeth, who had witnessed the entire situation, was the one speaking. She had managed to find some ice cubes, and she handed them to Yelena for her to press against her cheek. ¡°Miss McGrath has a lot of requirements, but it seems to me like she¡¯s not that great at her job as well. Let me provide her with some guidance.¡± ¡°How are you going to do that¡ª¡± Jasmine was puzzled at first. Before she could finish her sentence, Elspeth gave her a tight p across her face. ¡°Did you see that? That¡¯s how you should p someone else.¡± Elspeth had used all of her strength to hit the woman. Jasmine¡¯s p had made the corner of Yelena¡¯s mouth bleed earlier, but Elspeth¡¯s p made Jasmine copse onto the ground. Pain shot through Jasmine¡¯s entire body. She parted her lips to speak, but she then realized that there was too much blood in her mouth for her to even enunciate her words properly. ¡°That¡­ That was too¡­¡± Jasmine mumbled. ¡°What was it? Was I too soft?¡± Elspeth scoffed. ¡°You¡¯re just as weak as I expected, Miss McGrath. I can¡¯t believe you fell to the ground when I just gave you a light p. Some might even say that you were faking it.¡± The rest of the crowd was stunned¡ªthey hadn¡¯t expected someone as petite and slim as Elspeth to have so much strength. Elspeth¡¯s revenge gave Yelena a burst of excitement. Yelena had already disliked Jasmine from the start, but she had never found an opportunity to attack Jasmine until that day. Even though her cheek still hurt, the sight of Jasmine¡¯s current state made up for it. Jasmine had never been treated in such a harsh manner, so she began to wail and cry. She caught a glimpse of Callum through the corner of her eye, and she shakily got to her feet before hobbling over to him. ¡°Help me, Callum¡­¡± Callum¡¯s gaze darkened as he nced around before fixing his eyes on Elspeth. ¡°Why are you staring at me, Mr. Winthrop? I was simply teaching your fianc¨¦e how to act.¡± Elspeth ced extra emphasis on the word ¡®fianc¨¦e¡¯ as she looked directly into Callum¡¯s eyes. ¡°You should apologize to her.¡± Callum¡¯s gaze was cold, and his voice deep and firm. Jasmine had found a cup to spit out the blood in her mouth. Furthermore, with Callum on her side, she seemed to stand a little taller and speak a little louder this time. ¡°I might consider forgiving you if you¡¯re willing to apologize, Miss Lynwood.¡± Jasmine was tempted to just hit Elspeth, but she had to put on a kinder persona since Callum was there. She wanted to maintain his impression of her. ¡°Why should I apologize?¡± Elspeth was stubborn with her reply. Jasmine¡¯s face turned a little sour then. ¡°You used so much force to hit me. Shouldn¡¯t you apologize for that?¡± Elspeth responded with a curt smile. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you apologize to my friend as well, then?¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. ¡°We were acting earlier, but you only hit me to get revenge. That¡¯s the difference.¡± Rage was written all over Jasmine¡¯s face at this point. ¡°What¡¯s the difference? I made myself clear earlier¡ªI was teaching you how to act better.¡± Elspeth remained firm with her stance. Jasmine couldn¡¯te up with a better argument, so she turned to look at Callum with a helpless gaze in her eyes. Callum pressed his lips together as he spoke again. ¡°I¡¯ll say this onest time¡ªI want you to apologize.¡± There was a dark, heavy aura surrounding his figure. ¡°Why should I?¡± Elspeth scoffed in anger. She hadn¡¯t made a mistake, and she couldn¡¯t believe how irrational and unfair Callum was being. If this is the person that he truly is¡­ then I had apletely wrong impression of him. Callum¡¯s gaze turned darker than before. ¡°You have to apologize to her by today.¡± Elspeth looked up before protesting against his words. ¡°I¡¯m not going to apologize to her today, or ever, Callum. If you insist on interfering with our matters, I hope you know that I¡¯m not going to take into ount the history that we had.¡± Callum let out an icy scoff. ¡°Do we have any history between us?¡± Elspethughed. Fine. If he¡¯s being so stubborn about protecting Jasmine, it just shows that he doesn¡¯t care about our past at all. ¡°Okay, Callum. I¡¯ll forget about this. My dad always told me to be a little more agreeable with others. I¡¯ll pretend this never happened.¡± Deep down, Jasmine was pleased to watch the two people arguing with one another, but she acted as if she was a mediator instead. ¡°My face hurts. Why don¡¯t youe to the hospital with me?¡± Jasmine¡¯s words indirectly implied that Elspeth¡¯s father hadn¡¯t taught her manners. Elspeth curled her lips into an icy smirk. ¡°Well, my father always said, ¡®an eye for an eye.¡¯¡± Jasmine looked rather embarrassed for a second¡ªher initial intention to shame Elspeth had failed, and she didn¡¯t know what to do. Finally, she rested her head on Callum¡¯s shoulder before speaking in a soft voice. ¡°I¡¯m really going to just forget about this, Callum¡­ But I¡¯m rather scared because she¡¯s really scary.¡± Callum looked at his surroundings with a stern gaze in his eyes. ¡°Winthrop Group will withdraw our investments,¡± he told the director. Then, he held Jasmine¡¯s hand before leading her out. Elspeth was silent for a long while after she saw both of them leaving. If Winthrop Group withdrew their investments, it also meant that Jasmine would give up on her role as the supporting female character. The director¡¯s face turned glum after realizing that the production crew had lost 100 million worth of funds as well as one of their cast members. ¡°What should we do now? Oh, dear.¡± The director hadn¡¯t expected such a thing to happen, and he was so troubled that he felt like pulling all of his hair out of his scalp. ¡°Why were you so rash, Miss Lynwood?!¡± They were already halfway through the show¡ªhow was the director going to find new investors? ¡°I¡¯ll give you the 100 million.¡± Everyone turned their attention to Elspeth as she stood up. ¡°D-Did you say that you¡¯d invest in the show?¡± The director couldn¡¯t believe his ears. Yelena tugged on the corner of Elspeth¡¯s shirt as well. ¡°Think about this, Elspeth. You don¡¯t want to make reckless decisions like this.¡± Yelena had never thought of Elspeth as someone who would do such things. Could she be offering to invest only because she¡¯s angry after what Callum and Jasmine did earlier? ¡°I know I¡¯m not going to lose anything if I invest in this show.¡± Elspeth gave Yelena an assuring gaze. Elspeth had seen the script, and she was certain that the show would be popr as long as the filming was done right. ¡°Are you sure?¡± The director¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Of course. However, I¡¯ll need you to help me with something,¡± Elspeth added. The director patted himself on his chest. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You are the benefactor of our production team. We¡¯ll help you with whatever you want.¡± Elspeth gazed at her surroundings for a while. She had another purpose for visiting the set that day¡ªshe wanted to look for a few influencers for herpany. As expected, there were a few decent-looking individuals in the crew. They all responded with a fearful nod when they met Elspeth¡¯s gaze. ¡°I¡¯d like to pick out a few of the extras to work as influencers for my company.¡± Elspeth was someone who could easily offer a 100 million investment, so she was clearly also a person who had the power to turn others into an influencer if she wanted to. The extras¡¯ eyes lit up with passion when they heard about the opportunity that she offered them. Chapter 394 Chapter 394 Chapter 394 Just One Person Even though some influencers had a bad reputation, they still had a huge following! A few of the extras who were bolder immediately rushed forward to stand in front of Elspeth. They were waiting for her instructions. Elspeth nced around for a while to see a girl standing in a corner nearby. She seemed rather familiar-looking, but she remained silent while everyone else chattered about the idea of bing an influencer. The girl was the only one whose gaze remained cold as she continued to memorize the script in her hands. The girl seemed pretty good-looking, and she had a few lines in the show. It was clear that she didn¡¯t have a lot of parts as her script was made up of only a few pieces of paper. The girl had a clean and fresh look; she seemed to stand out among the rest of the girls who had thick makeup on their faces. Furthermore, the girl had a mole on the corner of her eye, which made her look rather intriguing. The mole made her seem a little less innocent and slightly more seductive. She was the first girl that Elspeth was drawn to. Elspeth walked over before squatting down toe to the same level as the girl. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Elspeth asked with a smile. The girl didn¡¯t seem toofortable with strangers, and she retreated backward before responding to Elspeth. ¡°My name¡¯s Agnes Braille.¡± Agnes. What a nice name, Elspeth thought. ¡°Would you like to take a walk with me?¡± Elspeth raised an eyebrow while ncing at the girl amusedly. Agnes got to her feet before she rolled her sleeves up. ¡°No, thanks. I¡¯m a little upied as I have a scene to shootter.¡± ¡°What sort of character are you ying in the show?¡± Elspeth smiled. ¡°I¡¯m just a nobody in the show. Please stop asking about me, Miss Lynwood.¡± Agnes spoke in a firm tone, which made Elspeth admire her even more. Elspeth was certain that a girl with a personality like Agnes would be able to go ces in Elspeth¡¯spany. The more Elspeth spoke to Agnes, the more Elspeth wanted to work with Agnes. ¡°You¡¯ll only remain as a nobody if you stay here, but if youe with me, I¡¯ll turn you into an influencer who gets a lot more attention and recognition,¡± Elspeth uttered. Agnes shook her head before responding in a rather exasperated tone. ¡°That¡¯s fine. I¡¯ve never wanted to be an influencer. I¡¯d just like to focus on acting my part.¡± It turned out that Agnes wasn¡¯t interested in fame at all. Elspeth rubbed her chin as she thought about the situation. It¡¯s going to be hard to lure her in if she doesn¡¯t want to be famous. Elspeth hesitated for a while before she spoke again. ¡°You enjoy acting, huh?¡± Agnes seemed to be more engaged in their conversation when Elspeth talked about acting. ¡°Yeah. My dream isn¡¯t to be some influencer but to be a good actress.¡± Elspeth leaned closer to the girl before smiling at her. ¡°Do you know who I am, then?¡± ¡°Miss Elspeth Lynwood, the CEO of Azure Corporation,¡± Agnes replied. ¡°Did you know that I also have an entertainmentpany?¡± Agnes¡¯ gaze lit up for a moment before she returned to her usual, calm self. ¡°I know about the company, but I also understand that yourpany wouldn¡¯t hire extras and frencing actresses like me.¡± She had heard of Luminous Entertainment, of course¡ªtons of people were desperate to enter thatpany. Artists from thatpany were practically guaranteed their pathway to fame once they did a few shows. However, Agnes felt like this was still a faraway dream for her. Elspeth nodded thoughtfully. ¡°You¡¯re right. I wouldn¡¯t hire some random extra, but I would definitely hire someone famous.¡± In other words, thepany would consider hiring an individual as long as the individual was famous enough. Agnes understood what Elspeth meant at that point, and she turned around while clenching her fists. ¡°If I ept your offer to be an influencer, and if I be famous enough, are you saying that Luminous Entertainment will take me in?¡± Agnes made things clear and straightforward from the start, and Elspeth appreciated that about her. ¡°That¡¯s right. I promise that I¡¯ll allow you to work as an actress in Luminous Entertainment as long as you show me some results and recognition as an influencer,¡± Elspeth uttered. Her offer was too good for Agnes to reject any longer. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll do it,¡± Agnes replied. ¡°Follow me backter,¡± Elspeth offered. Agnes tightened her grip on the script in her hands. ¡°But I¡¯m not done ying this role,¡± she muttered with a rather troubled look on her face. ¡°You don¡¯t have to y this character anymore. This role isn¡¯t going to highlight your strengths, so you¡¯re never going to get famous by ying such roles,¡± Elspeth exined. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. The look in Agnes¡¯ eyes darkened. She was well aware that ying such roles wouldn¡¯t benefit her in any way, yet a part of her wanted to take a risk. She was hoping that she could gain fame even by starting as just an extra. ¡°Trust me. I¡¯ll turn you into the person you¡¯ve always wanted to be.¡± Elspeth¡¯s gaze was burning with passion and hope as she looked into Agnes¡¯ eyes. It was then that Agnes finally threw her script onto the ground. ¡°Okay. I got it. I¡¯ll do as you say from now on.¡± She understood that Elspeth could give her everything that she wanted, so she was willing to obey whatever Elspeth said. Elspeth was pleased to hear this. When Elspeth turned to look at the crowd of actors, she noticed two girls chit-chatting at the side. There were looks of jealousy and resentment in their gazes. ¡°She¡¯s the only one I need,¡± Elspeth announced. The girls in the crowd seemed even angrier after hearing Elspeth¡¯s words. One of the girls who seemed to have a decent rtionship with Agnes hurried forward while the others weren¡¯t looking. The girl felt the urge to cling to Agnes after seeing that Agnes had gotten herself such a good opportunity. ¡°Did you know the CEO of Azure Corporation before this, Agnes? You guys seem pretty close. She even smiled at you. It seems like all your hard work has paid off!¡± The girl appeared to be happy for Agnes on the surface, but the jealousy in the girl¡¯s eyes made her look like she was ready to swallow Agnes alive. ¡°No. This is my first time meeting her. I didn¡¯t know her before this,¡± Agnes answered. The girl was furious to hear this. I think we¡¯re both equally good-looking. Why is Agnes much luckier than me?! ¡°How is that possible? Why would that woman be so nice to you if you didn¡¯t know her?¡± Agnes shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know, either.¡± The girl knew that she couldn¡¯t continue to express her jealousy, so she changed her approach instead. ¡°Why don¡¯t you rmend me to her as well? I can go along with you, and I can watch out for you in case you get scammed. We¡¯ll both have each other¡¯s backs,¡± the girl offered. Agnes was a smart woman, and she knew where she stood in this situation. ¡°I don¡¯t think I have the right to say much. Why don¡¯t you ask her yourself?¡± The girl was annoyed at how Agnes refused to speak up for her, but she still forced a smile onto her face. ¡°You guys look closer, and it seems like she likes you more. Perhaps she¡¯d listen to you if you were the one talking,¡± the girl suggested again. Agnes looked up before speaking in a firm tone. ¡°My rtionship with Miss Lynwood isn¡¯t what you think it is¡­¡± The girl was still convinced that Agnes was just faking it. She just doesn¡¯t want me to be famous! The girl finally decided to just release her rage by giving Agnes a shove. ¡°I knew it. I always thought you were a good friend, and I was always worried about how you might get scammed. It seems like I don¡¯t mean all that much to you! You¡¯re not even willing to put a good word in for me.¡± The girl spoke with intense passion as if someone hadmitted a huge sin against her. Elspeth, who was just standing beside them, overheard their whole conversation. ¡°She didn¡¯t use any connections with me. Agnes simply stood out to me.¡± Chapter 396 Chapter 396 Chapter 396 Deliberately Setting Her Up Elspeth brought Agnes back to thepany and went through the entry procedures for her. Elspeth wanted to take Agnes to her usual workce after they were done with the formalities. However, when she received a callst minute, she had to ask Harper to guide Agnes while she hurried back to her office. With her phone in her hands, her pupils narrowed at a photo sent to her WhatsApp. It was a photo taken from a surveince camera¡¯s angle. Although it was ck and white, she could still clearly see a familiar figure in the corner. She recognized the figure she had spent a long time with at a nce¡­ Helena Joneson! ¡®Elsie, I got this photo after I looked into the surveince footage of the ces where Miss Joneson might have gone to. Ipared it to the photos you gave me. There is a big possibility that this person is Miss Joneson.¡¯ ¡®Big possibility? This is her!¡¯ Elspeth replied. ¡®Got it. I will help you check the next surveince footage and let you know where she might have gone. Talk soon.¡¯ ¡°Alright. Thanks, Lisa.¡¯ After ending the conversation, Elspeth stared at the photo, feeling lost. That went on for a short minute before she suddenly noticed a serious problem. This hospital looked familiar. In fact, it looked like the one she brought Aldea tost time. She carefullypared the photos, only to find one too many simrities between them. At this point in time, there should be a high chance of the two of them meeting each other if they were at the hospital at the same time. In other words, Helena might have noticed her, but she didn¡¯t make herself known to Elspeth! But why didn¡¯t she? Why did she suddenly leave without a word? And she refuses to see me no matter what. Elspeth¡¯s frown deepened because she couldn¡¯t understand Helena¡¯s n. Right when her mind was a mess, she immediately received a call from Harper. ¡°Come here quickly, Elsie.¡± He sounded somewhat worried. It was as if he didn¡¯t know how to deal with the situation happening in front of him. Elspeth collected her thoughts and nodded. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m on my way.¡± ording to Harper¡¯s description, an irreconcble dispute had appeared where he was. By the time she arrived, she was greeted by the sight of Agnes clenching her fists and standing in the corner without saying a word. Across from her was Skr, whose sour face had turned maroon. ¡°You¡¯re finally here, Elsie. The two of them started arguing for some reason. I don¡¯t know what to do.¡± Harper seemed to have a headache as he massaged his forehead. Seeing the mess in front of her, Elspeth lowered her voice and asked, ¡°What¡¯s this? Why did you both start arguing?¡± Seeing Elspeth approaching them, Skr thought that Elspeth would definitely stand on her side given her position as the biggie of thepany. She waspletely confident when she proudly began. ¡°Miss Lynwood! She said something rude to me. How did someone like her even get hired here?¡± Clearly, she didn¡¯t know that Agnes was someone Elspeth personally recruited. Elspeth smiled yfully upon hearing that. ¡°You said she was rude to you, hmm? Why don¡¯t you tell me what she did?¡± ¡°She rolled her eyes at me when she saw me. And when I asked her why she was acting this way as a neer, she said it was simply because she hated the sight of me.¡± Skr was no fool. She had noticed at first nce how simr to her Agnes looked. Not only that, Agnes had a charm Skr didn¡¯t have. This made Skr upset for some reasons that even she herself didn¡¯t know. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. She couldn¡¯t help but worry about her future in the industry if Agnes took her spotlight one day. Hearing that, Elspeth nonchntly walked up to Agnes and rested her palm on her shoulder. ¡°What about you? Was it as she said?¡± she asked coolly. ¡°I have never said anything like that.¡± Agnes¡¯ voice was firm and calm as she answered while shaking her head. Everyone in thepany knew Skr¡¯s status in thepany. Now that this was happening in front of them, they could only keep quiet. ¡°As a senior at thepany, you should be more patient toward the newbies. There¡¯s no need to kick up a fuss because of her.¡± Skr had anticipated Elspeth would advise the neer topromise. She thought that she would be able to drive Agnes away if she fanned the fire. But she sounds like she doesn¡¯t want me to mess with the neer? ¡°Miss Lynwood!¡± Dissatisfied, she pouted andined, ¡°She was rude to me! She should be punished in some way, shouldn¡¯t she?¡± Agnes wanted to throw a fit when she watched how forceful and relentless Skr was when she didn¡¯t achieve her goal, but after she took a look at Elspeth, she decided to hold it in. For some reason, she kept feeling like she could trust Elspeth to handle this matter well without compromising her. ¡°Skr, everything requires evidence. You have to show me actual evidence instead of making indiscriminate ims if you want me to punish her.¡± Elspeth then stretched out her hand, beckoning Skr to give her proof. Of course, Skr didn¡¯t have any. She thought that she could surely have this neer dealt with. It turned out to be surprisingly challenging. Thinking of this, she bit her lips and resignedly smiled in order to restore her usual pure and innocent image. ¡°Alright then, Miss Lynwood. You are right. I shouldn¡¯t be so fussy with a neer. It¡¯s just that people don¡¯t usually treat me like that. I felt a little ufortable when an ill-tempered person popped out of nowhere.¡± In other words, she was saying that Agnes was not someone easy to get along with. Elspeth¡¯s eyes narrowed as a dangerous glint shed in them when she heard how Skr was putting a newbel on Agnes with every word that she casually uttered. ¡°It is a good thing that everyone has their own personality. If you can¡¯t ept her, cut down oning in contact with her.¡± Every other employee instantly understood when they heard those words. Elspeth was brazenly speaking out on behalf of a neer! Everything was clear as day then. ¡°I agree! Thispany encourages its employees to develop in their own ways. Nothing wrong with that!¡± After one person spoke up, the others quickly echoed. Seeing this, Skr knew she had to carefully calcte her next move no matter how much she wanted to get rid of Agnes. She was struggling to keep her temper in control. As her smile started to look twisted, she chose to let her head hang slightly to appear weak to avoid putting on the wrong expression. ¡°I understand, Miss Lynwood. There won¡¯t be a next time.¡± My n was to humiliate her, but why am I the one apologizing in the end? This woman can¡¯t stay! Now that Elspeth had put this issue to rest, she was just about to head back to her office when Harper stopped her. He informed her, ¡°Someone is waiting for you outside.¡± ¡°Waiting for me? Who woulde when it¡¯s almost time to get off work?¡± She stopped in her tracks. Harper hesitated for a moment. ¡°It¡¯s Callum Winthrop,¡± he gingerly announced. Elspeth was taken aback when she heard that. Callum can¡¯t wait to hate me. Why would he be waiting for me outside? Chapter 397 Chapter 397 Chapter 397 Margot¡¯s Birthday Callum stood by thepany¡¯s entrance in a well-fitted ck suit in front of his car. He looked like he had just left work. His eyelids were slightly lowered. With his tall nose bridge and pale, thin lips, every contour and line of his face looked gentle, yetced with a sharp coldness. Standing not far away and looking at him, Elspeth felt a myriad of emotions flood her chest. Callum¡¯s still eyes were colder than usual when he took a moment to look her up and down. He finally hissed in an annoyed voice, ¡°Why are you standing so far away? Do you think I¡¯m going to eat you?¡± For some reason, although he clearly sounded sick of her behavior from his tone, she didn¡¯t feel the slightest difort of being loathed. She obediently took a few steps forward. After doing this, she wanted nothing more than to hit herself on the forehead and crack it open to see what was going on in her mind. I¡¯m doing everything he tells me to do! Am I really lovestruck?! The man in front of her had also taken a step closer to her while she was quietly chastising herself. With his tall and big build, he appeared to be looking down at her as he stood in front of her. ¡°Is there something you need me for?¡± He wouldn¡¯te just to take a look at her now, would he? His thin and sharp ck eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°We¡¯re celebrating my mother¡¯s birthday tonight. You¡¯re invited.¡± Hearing that, Elspeth pressed her lips together before asking, ¡°Why am I invited to your mother¡¯s birthday?¡± Margot already knew that the two of them didn¡¯t have anything to do with each other anymore. Callum had already briefly exined his situation, but seeing how indifferent she still was, he said in a cold voice, ¡°She just wants to see you.¡± It wasn¡¯t like she deliberately wanted to refuse. It was just that the two of them had nothing to do with each other now. It was obvious that her being there would make it awkward. She tried to negotiate again. ¡°Can I not go?¡± Callum had already turned around and got into the car without saying a word by the time she looked up again. Just when she thought that hermunication with him was futile and that he was about to drive away, he suddenly lowered the car window. A familiar low voice then rang out from inside the car. ¡°Call her and tell her yourself.¡± The corners of her mouth twitched then. Considering how well Margot treated her, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to give Margot a call to reject the request. After pondering it, she decided to attend her birthday party. ¡°Can you drive me there?¡± She looked at him with earnest eyes. She might bete if she got a taxi now during what was possibly the peak hour. She thought about it for a second and must have been worried that he might misunderstand when she honestly exined, ¡°I¡¯m not trying to take advantage of you, nor do I want to have any other ideas. It¡¯s just that there is too much traffic at the moment. I might reach therete if I take a taxi.¡± There was a sudden movement from the initially expressionless person when his eyes, as dark as the abyss, looked at her deeply. ¡°Why do you think I came here?¡± he asked in return. When the realization abruptly hit her, she no longer hesitated as she opened the door to the backseat and got in. However, the car showed no signs of moving even after a minute. ¡°Aren¡¯t we going to your house? Why aren¡¯t we moving?¡± Elspeth was somewhat puzzled. Did he run out of gas? The man only spoke in a low and cold voice after some time had passed. ¡°Why are you in the backseat?¡± ¡°I saw something in the passenger seat. I think there¡¯s a note written by Miss McGrath, saying it¡¯s a special seat for Jasmine McGrath. I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s not right for me to sit there.¡± Elspeth¡¯s voice grew softer with each word she said. She noticed the note seemingly drawn in a haste using lipstick the moment the car window was rolled down earlier. The delicate and elegant handwriting looked like that of a woman¡¯s. She couldn¡¯t find the words to describe how she felt, but it was a wretched feeling in her chest. This used to be your seat, Callum thought. However, he quickly swallowed those words just as he was about to say them. Instead, he replied, ¡°Okay.¡± Then, he stepped on the elerator and drove off. The two of them were silent along the way, and when they arrived at the Winthrop Residence, Elspeth was the first to get out of the car. Callum followed closely behind, but he constantly kept a distance that was neither too far nor close to her. They looked restrained and distant from one another. As soon as they stepped into the gate of the Winthrop Residence, Ms. Layme greeted them with a smile at the entrance when she saw the two of theming back together. ¡°Mr. Callum! Mrs. Winthrop! You came back together.¡± The way Ms. Layme addressed her sent a chill down Elspeth¡¯s back. After a momentary pause, she corrected, ¡°Ms. Layme, Callum and¡ª¡± N?velDrama.Org ? content. Ms. Layme didn¡¯t seem to care about what she said when she abruptly showed them the beef ribs she was washing in her hand. ¡°I¡¯m making braised beef ribs tonight. It¡¯s Mr. Callum¡¯s and your favorite! You must eat more, okay?¡± After saying that, she lowered her head and continued to get busy. Elspeth seemed to realize something suddenly. She was silent for a long time before she asked, ¡°Have you never brought Jasmine home?¡± Callum didn¡¯t seem to bother about this. ¡°We aren¡¯t ready yet. I¡¯ll bring her home after some time,¡± he answered in an indifferent voice. Elspeth didn¡¯t know what she was expecting, but the disappointment that suddenly surged left her at a loss. ¡°Alright.¡± She then continued to walk ahead. They didn¡¯t invite friends over to celebrate Margot¡¯s birthday. It was only a meal together with the rest of the family. That was why Elspeth saw only familiar faces sitting in the room when she walked in. ¡°Miss Elspeth! You¡¯re here!¡± Max, who was in a great mood upon seeing her, weed her without any hesitation. He had always been friendly toward her. ¡°Miss Elspeth, sit here and wait for a while. Yelena will be here soon.¡± He had revealed the surprise to her in advance. ¡°She is my mother¡¯s daughter-inw-to-be after all. It¡¯s only right for me to introduce her to the family. I¡¯ve been so busy preparing for this the past few days that I¡¯ve neglected her. I told her that I came here to pick up something. Don¡¯t tell her the truth! This is her first visit to my house. I have to give her a big surprise!¡± Elspeth suddenly understood the reason Yelena had been in a bad mood for days now. So, this brat has been making his preparations, huh? After they had a brief conversation, Elspeth shifted her gaze to Edmund. She didn¡¯t think he would be here. From the rumors she heard, the Cole Family had been keeping him upied as they were training him to be their sessor. He didn¡¯t seem that different from before, but the mocking smile that used to hang on his lips all day long had faded by a lot. He looked more mature and prudent now. ¡°Long time no see, Elspeth.¡± She smiled at him despite feeling somewhat awkward seeing him. After all, the two of them had a fallout before, and she even faked her death. ¡°I always knew that you were this amazing, Elspeth, but I didn¡¯t know that you could evene back from the dead.¡± Hearing those sardonic words that she was used to gave her a feeling of familiarity. Just like that, the awkwardness and nervousness left her body. ¡°Alright, alright. It¡¯s true that I didn¡¯t execute it well. You win.¡± She then shed him an amiable smile. Max quickly chirped, ¡°Oh, Miss Elspeth! If only you knew how sharp his tongue still is. I think you¡¯re the only one able to keep him in check!¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± Everyone elseughed heartily when they heard that. ¡°Everyone sounds so happy! I hope my being here doesn¡¯t ruin the mood.¡± It was a familiar voice which unfriendliness and gentleness Elspeth knew well. Elspeth whipped her head around, and that was when she saw Arthur standing not far away. He was coldly looking at everyone with scrutinizing eyes. Chapter 398 Chapter 398 Chapter 398 A Brazen Provocation Has Arthur returned as well? Max already knew what kind of person Arthur was, so he immediately frowned when he saw the man. ¡°Who invited you?¡± ¡°Mom did. What¡¯s wrong? Am I not wee here?¡± replied Arthur with a faint smile, seemingly unaffected by the others¡¯ emotions. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s on Mom¡¯s mind. She¡¯s still willing to invite you to her birthday party when you¡¯ve already be like this.¡± Max had always been straightforward, but this statement did not affect Arthur at all. ¡°Mom raised me. Is there any problem with her inviting me back to attend her birthday party?¡± It was pointless to argue with him about such things, so Max red at him coldly before turning back to sit on the couch. Meanwhile, Arthur raised his head and casually nced at Elspeth, who was standing not far away. ¡°Long time no see, Elspeth,¡± he said smilingly. Elspeth put on a fake smile and replied, ¡°That¡¯s not quite true. We just met two days ago, after all.¡± The group¡¯s conversation was extremely awkward, and the atmosphere was oppressive. Just then, Yelena arrived. When she saw the group of people sitting on the couch while looking at each other awkwardly, she was slightly startled and didn¡¯t say anything. ¡°Why are there so many people here? Am Ite?¡± Her sudden appearance happened to resolve the awkwardness there. Of course, she was quite sensible; she immediately noticed Arthur, who seemed out of ce in the crowd. With a hint of disgust on her face, she said, ¡°Why are you here too?¡± Arthur looked down upon her boisterous personality, so he ignored herpletely. ¡°Hey! I¡¯m talking to you.¡± She rolled up her sleeves and was ready to confront him, but Max quickly held her back. Even Elspeth rubbed her temples resignedly. This little one loves causing trouble. ¡°No matter where I am, what does it have to do with you?¡± Arthur¡¯s eyes were cold, and his words were very unpleasant. ¡°You¡¯re just an outsider to the Winthrop Family, so you have no right to judge me.¡± ¡°Hey! You¡¯d better watch your words, Arthur. I¡¯ve disliked you for a long time. You bullied Elspeth so badly before this, and now, you daree here without any shame. Are you looking for a beating?¡± Yelena was angry for Elspeth¡¯s sake, and she was displeased at the sight of Arthur. ¡°Me? Bullying Elspeth? Who told you that? Was it Elspeth herself or someone else?¡± Just then, an affectionate smile tugged on his lips, and there was a hint of reluctance on his face. ¡°We got along quite well when we were abroad, so you¡¯re defaming me.¡± He emphasized the words ¡®quite well¡¯, so everyone couldn¡¯t help but imagine what had happened between the two. Hearing that, Yelena became furious. ¡°I¡¯m warning you¡ªdon¡¯t tarnish Elspeth¡¯s reputation anymore!¡± N?velDrama.Org ? content. ¡°Okay, thest dish is ready. All of you,e and eat!¡± shouted Margot from afar, breaking the tense atmosphere between the two at once. With that, they all shuffled toward Margot respectively. Along the way, the furious Yelena passed by Arthur and angrily bumped into him. However, she was too weak, so he didn¡¯t feel anything. It was just like a mosquito bite, not doing much harm. As they sat down at the table, Elspeth saw that Yelena had deliberately chosen a seat opposite Arthur. At that moment, a faint sense of ominousness rose in her heart. It was Margot¡¯s birthday today, so she had dressed up for it. ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, I wish you eternal youth and a life filled with happiness,¡± Yelena wished her sweetly and passed her a birthday gift, which made happiness bloom inside Margot. Then, she looked at Arthur opposite her and asked provocatively, ¡°What present are you giving to Mrs. Winthrop?¡± Hearing that, Arthur took out a gift box from his pocket. The packaging was small and exquisite, looking expensive at first nce. As soon as he ced the gift box on the table, Yelena reached out her hand and snatched it. ¡°Let me take a look at your gift. I¡¯m quite curious.¡± She was inherently a childish person and coupled with her coquettish and cutesy way of speaking, no one dared say she was rude, so everyone just let her be. Even Margot sat there and smiled with half- closed eyes, appearing to like this prospective daughter-inw very much. After opening the box and taking a nce, she noticed an emerald ring inside. Then, she took it out to study it under the light. Right after that, she pursed her lips in disdain. ¡°The emerald in this ring doesn¡¯t look like much. Are you giving this to Mrs. Winthrop?¡± ¡°It¡¯s still a token of appreciation from Arthur.¡± Margot knew that Yelena was straightforward, so she didn¡¯t criticize her. ¡°No matter how much it¡¯s worth, it¡¯s the thought that counts.¡± Dissatisfied, Yelena tugged on Margot¡¯s arm and said coquettishly, ¡°I think you deserve the best in this world, Mrs. Winthrop. You¡¯re so beautiful that wearing a ring like this will only degrade you. I¡¯ll take you out and get you a bigger gem when I have the time.¡± These were the words of a young girl. Although it was rather rude, she still sounded adorable. Margot was ttered by her words. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll wait for you to buy a bigger one in the future.¡± ¡°Alright! In that case, I¡¯ll take care of this ring for you, Mrs. Winthrop.¡± As soon as she said that, she threw the ring into a nearby trash can. Obviously, she was provoking Arthur. She was secretly pleased with herself after doing that, knowing that her behavior was humiliating him. She was ready to see him snap, but she didn¡¯t expect him to be expressionless when she looked at him. How can he endure this? In the end, she sat back down, dejected. When Elspeth saw her actions, all she could feel was panic. Fortunately, Margot had a good temper and liked Yelena. Otherwise, if someone else had thrown her birthday gift directly into the trash can, she would have flipped the table by now. At this thought, Elspeth tugged on Yelena¡¯s sleeve and whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t go too far.¡± ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing; I¡¯m just standing up for you. Look at how cocky this guy is. I just want to knock him down a peg.¡± Yelena snorted. When she lowered her head, she noticed a familiar pair of shoes under the table and hatched another n. Pretending to drink water, she picked up the cup next to her and carelessly spilled it on the ground after taking a sip. As such, the waternded on the man¡¯s feet. She had spilled quite a bit, so the inside of his shoes waspletely soaked. Still feeling unsatisfied, she stretched out her foot and stomped on his shoe. ¡°Who spilled water on my shoe and stepped on me?!¡± A surprised cry rang out, and the man¡¯s shriek echoed through the air. When she heard the voice, the smile on her face faded instantly. Why is Max the one yelling? Chapter 399 Chapter 399 Chapter 399 I Want to Break Up Yelena intended to y a prank on Arthur, but she identally pranked Max instead, so guilt immediately overwhelmed her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I was drinking water just now, and it spilled on your shoes. I identally stepped on you too.¡± She red at Arthur as she spoke, who was still smiling nonchntly. Yelena cursed at him in secret. He¡¯s such an *sshole! Seeing that it was Yelena, Max¡¯s rage subsided a little. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s okay. It¡¯s fine since it¡¯s you. Just be careful next time.¡± At this moment, Edmund couldn¡¯t resist smacking Max on the back of his head whilementing sarcastically, ¡°What do you mean it¡¯s okay because it¡¯s her? Would you have beaten us up if it was one of us? What a great brother you are. We¡¯re nothing in the face of your woman.¡± Edmund was always sharp-tongued, so everyone was used to it. ¡°Edmund!¡± Max grumbled unhappily. His wet shoes felt ufortable, so he left his seat to change them upstairs. After Edmund¡¯s teasing, the atmosphere instantly eased up. When Elspeth looked at Yelena, who was biting her fork and feeling embarrassed, she couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°I told you not to go too far. See, you¡¯ve caused trouble again.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to. Besides, I wanted to get justice for you. Max was wearing the same shoes, so I mistook him for Arthur.¡± Yelena lowered her head, looking like a guilty little girl. Seeing that she showed remorse, Elspeth didn¡¯t want to scold her anymore. She then advised with a sigh, ¡°Be more careful next time, and don¡¯t act impulsively.¡± Yelena nodded like a chick pecking at some seeds. ¡°Okay, okay, I got it. I will listen to you from now on.¡± After a while, Max changed his shoes and came back downstairs. He changed his clothes as well. When Yelena saw him, she tried to ease the tension between them by asking with a smile, ¡°You said you wanted me toe over and pick up something today. What is it?¡± However, his expression seemed a bit off. He shook his head and answered, ¡°Not today. Maybe next time.¡± Yelena felt guilty after hearing that, thinking she had upset him with her prank. Thus, she didn¡¯t ask any further questions. However, Elspeth felt that something was amiss, for she could sense his motive when he spoke with such enthusiasm earlier. He¡¯s probably going to propose today, so why is he going back on his n right now? She didn¡¯t want them to miss this opportunity, so she spoke up. ¡°Why not today? Did somethinge up?¡± Just when Max parted his lips and wanted to say something, Callum, who had been silent all this while, suddenly said, ¡°I don¡¯t think this matter has anything to do with you. You should mind your own business.¡± The moment these words came out of his mouth, everyone in the room became on edge. It wasn¡¯t just hurtful; it was like stabbing a dagger into Elspeth¡¯s heart, but the words were effective as she immediately stopped talking. Fine, if you don¡¯t want me to ask, I won¡¯t. After all, I¡¯m not part of the Winthrop Family, and I have no right to say much. Even Max thought the words sounded too harsh, so he gave Elspeth a resigned look. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Elspeth. Callum doesn¡¯t speak very tactfully. I hope you¡¯re not offended, but today¡¯s not the day.¡± Elspeth was quite calm, even managing to sh him a smile. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t mind.¡± Although Elspeth was calm, this was not the case for Yelena. She stood up sharply, fuming with anger. ¡°What do you mean? So what if she said a few words? Or do you think she¡¯s had too much food in your house, so that¡¯s why you¡¯re sticking your nose into everything?¡± This was an outright deration of war. Callum replied calmly, ¡°No matter what you do, you should respect the rules of the host and not cross the line. I believe any normal person would understand this principle.¡± This also served as a disguised reprimand for Yelena¡¯s impulsive behavior earlier. If Callum and Elspeth were still in a rtionship, she would¡¯ve seen his words as advice and humbly epted them, but now that they had broken up, his words were just provocative. ¡°Fine, this is your home, and if there are so many rules here, then uncouth people like us shouldn¡¯t stay here. Let¡¯s go, Elspeth.¡± She pulled Elspeth¡¯s wrist, ready to leave, but Elspeth remained unmoved. This made her confused. ¡°Why are you not moving? He said such things to you, so why do you still want to stay?¡± At this moment, Elspeth forced a smile. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Let¡¯s just finish celebrating Mrs. Winthrop¡¯s birthday first.¡± There were two reasons why she didn¡¯t want to leave right away. On one hand, she didn¡¯t want to worsen the rtionship between Yelena and Max, and on the other, she didn¡¯t want to ruin Margot¡¯s birthday party today.¡±N?velDrama.Org ? content. ¡°He bullies you like you¡¯re nothing, so why are you still being considerate?¡± Yelena was visibly anxious. ¡°I know what you¡¯re worried about. You¡¯re just afraid of ruining my rtionship with Max.¡± When Elspeth heard that, her right eyelid started twitching. This is bad! As expected, Yelena gave up right away and said harshly, ¡°After all, I¡¯m not someone who knows how to follow rules. Since the Winthrop Family has such strict rules, I¡¯m not fit to be their daughter-inw either.¡± Even Max, who was always cheerful, had a unique coldness and seriousness simr to Callum at this moment. ¡°What do you mean, Yelena?¡± As she looked at him, she said slowly and deliberately, ¡°Let¡¯s break up.¡± Break up? Not just Max, but everyone else was taken aback. Even Arthur, who was aloof and felt that he had nothing to do with this, looked over reluctantly. At the same time, Elspeth didn¡¯t bother hiding her emotions as she said sternly, ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. You can¡¯t break up just because of this.¡± As a lump formed in Yelena¡¯s throat, the emotions that had been building up over the past few days reached their breaking point. ¡°I¡¯ve been wanting to say this for a long time, Elspeth. He¡¯s been indifferent toward me these past few days. I feel like he has been thinking of breaking up with me for some time.¡± No one could ept so many days of negligence, especially when Yelena was sensitive to emotions. ¡°I¡¯m busy with work, so I can¡¯t care about too many things, but that doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t feel them. My work efficiency has been poor these days because of this. Thus, I¡¯m saying this after much careful consideration. You don¡¯t need to persuade me otherwise.¡± Anxious, Elspeth wanted to exin, but the proposal was a surprise that Max had been preparing for a long time. If she said it now, all of his hard work up to this point would go down the drain. After wiping away the tears from her eyes, Yelena stubbornly said, ¡°I can¡¯t bear to see you being mistreated, Elspeth. If the Winthrop Family won¡¯t treat you well, I will. You¡¯re my best friend, and I don¡¯t want anyone to bully you.¡± Chapter 400 Chapter 400 Chapter 400 Have Fun With a New Man Yelena¡¯s words were truly moving, but Elspeth knew there was surely a misunderstanding. ¡°Don¡¯t be so impulsive, Yelena. Things are not what they seem to be. I¡­¡± Suddenly, Yelena shook her head, and a bitter smile yed on her lips. ¡°No, I¡¯m not being impulsive. I know a lot of things, but I haven¡¯t exposed him yet.¡± Hearing that, Elspeth furrowed her brows. Is there something else to this? Yelena said straightforwardly, ¡°Since all of you here are family, I won¡¯t hide anything anymore. Max, I know you met up with a girl behind my back and even went to a hotel together with her. Do you think I¡¯m that foolish not to know anything?¡± ¡°Yelena, I¡­¡± Max¡¯s gloominess disappeared in an instant, and he didn¡¯t know how to exin. The moment Elspeth saw him stutter while trying to exin, her heart sank. ¡°Is it true, Max?¡± She knew him well and believed Max wouldn¡¯t do something so disgraceful, but seeing the way he looked, it seemed like it was true. At this moment, Max noticed the suspicious gazes around him, so he said anxiously, ¡°It was just a junior of mine. We had a gathering the other day, and my ssmates insisted that I send her home. I couldn¡¯t get her address, so I had to take her to a hotel, but nothing happened between us.¡± Hearing that, Yelena forced a smile. ¡°Do you know why I am aware of this?¡± As she spoke, she took out her phone and showed everyone several shocking, explicit photos. The pictures of the two were taken in a hotel bed with their skin faintly visible, emitting an extremely amorous atmosphere. When Arthur saw that, he couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°This is what happens when the elder doesn¡¯t set a good example. It seems like Max knows how to y too.¡± Obviously, he was referring to Callum. No one else but Arthur had the mood to mock others during a moment like this. Max didn¡¯t expect Yelena to have such photos, and his face turned extremely pale. ¡°There¡¯s nothing between me and her, though.¡± They had a gathering three days ago, and everyone got drunk. He took her to a hotel after the reunion, but he didn¡¯t remember what happened after that. Max probably passed out because of the alcohol, and when he woke up the next morning, there was a note on the bed that read, ¡®Thank you, Max.¡¯ He was sure that nothing happened between them, but he didn¡¯t know why he had suddenly passed out. Seeing that he was still trying to justify himself, Yelena trembled in anger, but she tried to keep her emotions in check as she said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you look into it, then? There¡¯s even proof of pregnancy. Your junior is pregnant, so it¡¯s time you think about how you¡¯re going to take responsibility for her.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t know how Yelena pretended to be fine and joked around with everyone. This was something no one could ept, and even she could only barely maintain herposure. Feeling sorry for Yelena, she hugged her and muttered, ¡°Oh, Yelena¡­¡± Out of everyone, Yelena suffered the most. After lowering her head, Yelena used her trembling hand to tug at the corner of Elspeth¡¯s clothes before saying calmly, ¡°Let¡¯s go, Elspeth.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± At this point, Elspeth didn¡¯t have the right to stop her, so she stood up and held Yelena¡¯s hand, only to realize that her fingertips were cold. Even though it wasn¡¯t her own story, it was particrly heartbreaking. Sure enough, Margot didn¡¯t believe that her son would do such a thing and couldn¡¯t bear watching her daughter-inw leave like this, so she stood up and stopped the two of them. She said anxiously, ¡°Can¡¯t you give him another chance, Yelena? I¡¯m sure there must be some misunderstanding. I¡¯m sure you know that Max isn¡¯t like that at all¡­¡± Yelena was still willing to say a few more words to Margot. ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, this matter has had a great impact on me. I can¡¯t talk to him about this with a clear mind just yet. Perhaps I¡¯ll think it over, and we can discuss this in a few days.¡± This was her biggestpromise, for Yelena did not lose her temper or shout her lungs out. She showed apletely different demeanor than before in the face of this matter. ¡°We¡¯re leaving now. Goodbye, Mr. and Mrs. Winthrop.¡± After saying that, Elspeth led Yelena straight to the door. Suddenly, an abrupt and hoarse voice sounded. ¡°Yelena, actually¡­ I was nning to propose to you today.¡± Upon hearing that, Yelena¡¯s actions came to a halt. Max¡¯s heart pounded rapidly as he looked at her back, knowing she was determined to leave. There was a hint of agony in his voice as he asked, ¡°Do you still want to marry me now?¡± Deste, she turned around and looked at the ring box in his hand. ¡°Forget about it,¡± she answered after taking a deep breath. With that, she and Elspeth left the living room right away. After they left the Winthrop Residence, Elspeth called for a taxi by the road. While waiting for the vehicle to arrive, she looked at Yelena¡¯s dejected expression and couldn¡¯t help but pat her head. Then, she let Yelena lean against her shoulder and said, ¡°Cry if you want to. I know that you¡¯re feeling wronged and sad. You¡¯ve been in a rtionship for so long, after all. Anyone would find it hard toN?velDrama.Org ? content. ept something like this.¡± Hearing that, Yelena lifted her head. Her eyes were already red-rimmed at this point. ¡°I know, Elspeth. I should have had a big fight with him and vented my anger, but I identally saw the engagement ring he bought me. I know he loves me and wants to marry me, so I¡¯ve been hesitant about speaking up.¡± She knew that if she did, their rtionship would never be the same. Elspeth seemed to have sensed something, so she tentatively asked, ¡°You were ready to swallow your pride and forgive him regardless of whether it happened, am I right?¡± Although Yelena didn¡¯t say a word, her reaction confirmed everything. Suddenly, Elspeth smacked her on the head. ¡°What were you thinking? If he cheats on you, do you want to be the one to pick up the pieces? Twenty yearster, when his illegitimate childes knocking on your door and fights with your son over the family fortune¡­¡± Yelena had a headache upon listening to Elspeth¡¯s words. With a frown, she shook her head. ¡°No way. That¡¯s too much like a soap opera. It¡¯s too melodramatic.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just teasing you!¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t hold it in and burst outughing. Upset, Yelena wiped away the tears that were about to fall from her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m already like this, yet you still have the heart to tease me!¡± After a shrug, Elspeth asked seriously, ¡°Well, what are you going to do?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to find a new man, of course. If he can sleep with his little junior, why can¡¯t I have fun with someone else?¡± When Elspeth heard that, her eyes widened. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Yelena¡¯s expression was sullen, and she had nowhere to vent her emotions. Suddenly, a driver pulled over and waved at them. ¡°Did you call for a taxi?¡± Before Elspeth could say anything, Yelena rushed over. ¡°Sir, do you have a son who is of marriageable age? Could you introduce him to me?¡± Hearing that, Elspeth was speechless. This girl really acts on her thoughts¡­ Chapter 401 Chapter 401 Chapter 401 Is the Lawyer With a Silver Tongue a Limerence? The driver seemed to be a conversationalist. He looked happy when he saw how pretty Yelena was. "Oh, dear. How can you not have a boyfriend when you look so beautiful? I''m afraid my son isn''t worthy of being your boyfriend." "It''s fine. Just give me his Instagram, and I will do the rest!" Yelena wasn''t afraid of being scammed. As she spoke, she took out her phone and got the Instagram handle from the driver. However, as soon as the man, whose profile was a fluffy cat, epted her friend request, she began having second thoughts. "What''s the matter? Are you scared now?" Elspeth sat in the backseat and watched with amusement when she saw the stiff expression on Yelena''s face. "No, I''m not! I''ll ept it right away!" Then, she epted the man''s request without hesitation. The man seemed to be a reserved person and was careful with his words. ''Hello.'' He sent a text to her. At that moment, even someone as talkative as Yelena didn''t know how to respond. Then, she sent a smiley emoji and wrote, ''Hi.'' The man seemed to have been quiet for a while before sending her a selfie. In the picture, the man was holding a cat while smiling. It showed one side of his face, revealing his high nose, red lips, and sparkling eyes. ''My dad just told me you are my blind date, so you should send me a picture too.'' A blind date? That escted quickly, thought Yelena. Although the man looked handsome, she felt that things were going too fast. ''Don''t you think this is going too fast? After all, we just met,'' she wrote. Moreover, she epted the man''s friend request just for fun. However, his texts made her feel like she was preparing for a date. ''No, it isn''t. This is how a blind date works. Have you never been on one before?'' Looking at his text, Yelena fell silent. After some time, Elspeth waved at the driver to stop the car. As they got off the cab, the man was persistent. When he saw that Yelena had not replied to him, he sent her a question mark. ''It''s nothing. I am just bbergasted.'' ''I''m waiting for your selfie,'' the man asked again, seemingly interested to know how she looked. When Elspeth saw how persistent the man was, she despised him and said to Yelena, "I bet the photo he sent you is fake. He must be a pervert who likes collecting photos of others." If that is indeed the case, he''s simply disgusting. Yelena shuddered at the thought. Immediately, she opened her camera and took a photo of her looking at a 45-degree angle. When she sent the ugliest photo she had ever taken herself to the man, she imagined him being disgusted and blocking her number. However, she was not prepared for his response. ''You look adorable,'' he wrote in the message. However, she was not prepared for his response. ''You look adorable,'' he wrote in the message. Adorable? Is he out of his mind? Yelena couldn''t believe what she was seeing. ''Are you blind or something?'' she wrote. The man seemed to be speechless by her words. After some time, he replied, ''The ce you are in right now looks familiar. Are you at Luna Bar?'' When Yelena saw his text, she didn''t know what he was talking about and looked at the sign behind her. ''Yes. I''m at Luna Bar.'' Besides her, Elspeth saw her reply and rubbed her nose awkwardly. "I brought you here since you are in a bad mood, so I thought you could drink your problems away. Perhaps you''d feel better. I like drinking at this ce whenever I''m in a bad mood," she exined. ''Why don''t you turn around?'' The man sent another message. Elspeth was startled when she saw it. At that moment, Yelena turned around and saw a tall figure standing under themppost. In that split second, she was embarrassed and thought, Is he the man in the picture? Seeing that she was dumbfounded, the man approached her. Only when he stood before her did Yelena snap out of her trance. "Turns out you''re not a sleazy guy who uses a fake photo," she said subconsciously. A sleazy guy who uses a fake photo? Hank was baffled by her words. Then, he looked at her and asked threateningly, "What do you mean by that?" At that moment, Yelena realized she had misspoken. "No, no. That''s not what I meant. It was a slip of a tongue," she said hastily. "Well, indeed it was," he replied. At that, she chuckled dryly. On the other hand, Elspeth took the initiative and got Yelena out of the sticky situation when she realized thetter was in trouble. "What''s your name?" she asked Hank. "I''m Hank Damazio," Hank replied with a smile. Hank Damazio? He sounds familiar, thought Elspeth. Then, she suddenly remembered that he was a famouswyer with a silver tongue. Apparently, he never made a single mistake during cases, and those who asked for his help won theirwsuits without fail. "Mr. Damazio, it seems that you live up to your name." After all, Elspeth felt he had his ways with words and was fooling Yelena. Since both Elspeth and Hank were intelligent people, they could tell what each other was thinking at first nce. Hence, Hank didn''t miss out on the contempt in her eyes. However, he wasn''t mad about it and continued to smile. As Yelena was busy shooting movies, she knew nothing about Hank''s identity. Hence, it was only natural that she did not know who he was. "What are you guys talking about?" she asked in confusion. Looking at her, Elspeth decided not to tell her about it. "It''s nothing. The Damazio Family is quite famous. You can look them up when you are free." It was rumored that the Damazios were all people who worked as politicians orwyers. When Yelena heard her words, she nodded thoughtfully. "If that is so, why is your father a cab driver?" she asked Hank. As expected from her, Yelena''s thought process was different from others. At that moment, Hank''s smile stiffened. "I don''t know either. It''s a hobby of Father''s¡­" Yelena smiled upon hearing him and said, "Don''t worry. Since we know each other now, we are good friends. Say, do you want to join us for a drink? We are celebrating my breakup today." A glint shed across Hank''s eyes. "Really? Did you break up with the young master of the Winthrop Family?" At that moment, Yelena recalled that the engagement between her and Max had caused quite a stir. Thinking about it, she was flustered and said, "Yes. We have broken up." Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! "Don''t worry. You deserve better." Hank ruffled her hair. Since he was a tall man, he could easily touch the top of her head. Yelena wasn''t used to the closeness between them and took a few steps back. "Alright, now. Let''s stop talking and start drinking." Then, she pulled Elspeth, who was looking at Hank warily, into the bar. As Hank looked at her walking away frantically, he smiled brightly. Initially, he received a text from his father, telling him that a woman who looked simr to Yelena, the celebrity, had asked him to introduce Hank to her. At that moment, Hank''s heart skipped a beat, and he asked his father to give her his number. When the girl epted his friend request, he bugged her into sending a selfie. Although the picture she sent was bizarre, Hank could still tell at first nce that she was Yelena, the woman he had longed for. Never did he expect that she had broken up with Max. At that moment, he swore to himself that he would not let her escape! Chapter 402 Chapter 402 Chapter 402 I Was Blind to Have Fallen in Love With Him When Yelena stepped into the bar, she started to drink. After a few shots, her face began turning red, and she started mumbling incoherent words. "Max is an *sshole. I must have been blind to have fallen in love with him." As she spoke, her eyes were teary while she hugged a beer bottle. When Elspeth heard her words, she sighed and looked at Hank. Seeing that Hank seemed to be amused by what Yelena had said, she frowned. "That is why I will never forgive him. He still hasn''t looked for me. That means he doesn''t love me anymore¡­ I hate him! I f*cking hate him!" Yelena was extremely drunk, and she was smiling giddily at the people around them. At this moment, a fat man beside her saw that she was drunk. Then, he approached her with a smile. "Do you have a boyfriend, girly? Why don''t we have some time alone?" Seeing that he had put his dirty hand on her, Yelena screamed, "Don''t you dare touch me! It''s disgusting! Go away!" Initially, the man wasughing. However, when he heard her words, he was furious. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way. I''m giving you an option here, and you''d better take it. If you keep up with the innocent act, I won''t go easy on you!" As he spoke, he raised his hand and tried to p her. At that moment, Yelena raised her head and looked at the man''s hand with her sparkly eyes. Suddenly, the man felt pain in his wrist. When he turned around to see who it was, he saw the tall man standing beside Yelena grabbing him. The look in his eyes was terrifying. "Who are you trying not to go easy on?" Although Hank''s words were soft and casual, the man could hear the threatening tone in his voice. "Why are you doing this to me? I don''t think I have offended you." The man was in agony, but he didn''t dare say anything. "I''m asking a question here. Whom are you trying to mess with?" Hank stared at him with a stoic expression. His eyes were cold and ruthless. When Elspeth saw his face, she was surprised that the gentle Hank could be so ruthless when he was angry. The man was horrified and pleaded for forgiveness. "I didn''t mean anything. I just wanted to treat this beautiful woman to a drink. If she is unwilling to, I will just back off. I wouldn''t dream of using force¡­" However, Hank didn''t want to let him off the hook. Although he had released the man, he suddenly kicked him. The man cried in pain as he fell to the ground. When he saw the crowd looking at him like aughing stock, he felt humiliated and furious. "How dare you treat me like this? Do you know who I am?" "I don''t need to know who you are, but you must know whom you are dealing with." Yelena was drunk and didn''t know what was happening between them. However, she vaguely felt like she was the cause of this. Hence, she pointed at herself and asked dumbly, "Are you talking about me?" "Of course," replied Hank with a smile. At that moment, his cold attitude had vanished. As Elspeth stood beside and watched the scene, she didn''t feel the need to take matters into her hands. Moreover, it seemed like Hank cared for Yelena more than she expected. "I am the almighty in Damoria. If you offend me, you won''t be forgiven." At that moment, the man scrambled up from the ground and pointed at Hank''s nose with his finger as he spoke. "How rude of you to point your fingers at others," said Hank. This time, he quickly grabbed the man''s finger and bent it. In that split second, a bone-cracking sound was heard. Soon, the man''s finger was broken. "Ah!" The man howled in pain. "Leave, or I will make things worse for you." Hank gave onest warning to him. Only at that moment did the man know Hank was not someone to be easily messed with. Then, he spat and quickly ran off. After that, Hank raised an eyebrow at Elspeth and said, "Please take care of the rest, Miss Lynwood." Elspeth was slightly surprised by his actions and nodded. "Of course." Then, she sent a text to the bar manager. ''Stop the man who just ran away and give him a hell of a beating,'' she texted. When she raised her head, Hank had a satisfied smile on his face. "I''m so d that Yelena has such a good friend like you to protect her." Hearing his words, Elspeth felt that something was off with it. Why does it feel like he is her family, and I am an outsider? she thought. "Yelena is my friend. It''s only natural that I will protect her from all harm." You, on the other hand, are kind of crossing the line. Before Elspeth could finish her words, Yelena stumbled over and flopped herself into Hank''s embrace. She even snuggled up to him in satisfaction and said, "You are so warm. I''m getting kind of tired now." As soon as she was done talking, she fell asleep. Looking at her, Elspeth sighed and was ready to pull Yelena out of Hank''s embrace when he immediately hugged her closer to him. "Don''t you think this is inappropriate?" asked Elspeth. Since Hank was tall, he was rxed as he carried the petite Yelena in his arms. "I don''t see the problem here. If you were to carry her, she might be ufortable." Elspeth rubbed her nose at his words since he had a point. After letting out a sigh, she allowed him to carry Yelena. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! "It''s gettingte. Let''s get you guys home. I''m sure you guys have had enough drinks for tonight," said Hank. Initially, Elspeth thought he would try to think of ways to take Yelena to his home or find an opportunity to be alone. After all, Hank''s intentions were pretty obvious to her. However, she didn''t know he was such a gentleman. "That''ll be great. Thank you." As she spoke, she took Yelena''s jacket, which the woman had taken off while drunk, and followed behind Hank. However, she didn''t expect to see a familiar car as soon as she walked out the door. Isn''t that Callum''s car? While she was caught in surprise, Hank suddenly disappeared. At that moment, Elspeth was nervous. After all, she wouldn''t be able to find Yelena since she didn''t have his number. As she stepped forward, she heard a familiar voice calling for her from the car. "Elspeth." The spokesperson''s voice made Elspeth stop in her tracks. What happened at the Winthrop Residence was still a fresh memory for her, and she couldn''t overlook it. Hence, she felt like she had been wronged when she looked into Callum''s calm eyes. "What do you want?" she asked him. However, Callum didn''t get out of the car. Just as Elspeth thought he was calling her for fun, he suddenly said, "Get in." Chapter 403 Chapter 403 Chapter 403 Jasmine Will Be Unhappy About This However, Elspeth didn''t forget that her mission now was to look for Yelena and Hank. "I don''t have time to talk with you. I still have other things to do." As she spoke, she turned around and left. Callum seemed to have known what was on her mind and said, "Yelena is fine. You don''t have to worry about her." He smirked when he saw that she turned around and looked at him. Elspeth stopped, turned around, and asked him, "How do you know about this?" Callum found it amusing when he heard her words. "Why do you think I''m here?" he asked. Noticing that he was serious about it, Elspeth hesitantly got into his car. When she closed the door and was met with Callum''s cold eyes, she returned to her senses and asked, "How did you know about this? Did Hank send you a text telling you about it?" She didn''t quite believe her words, though. After all, Hank had only recently returned to Damoria, so he wouldn''t have any connections with Callum. On the other hand, Callum was speechless by her words, but he nodded anyway since he didn''t want to discuss how he had known about this matter. "That''s right. He told me about it." Although he replied without hesitation, Elspeth didn''t believe him and felt that he was lying. After all, she didn''t think Callum would do such a thing. "Have you forgotten that Yelena is Max''s fianc¨¦e? How could you possibly allow someone else to take her away?" "This has nothing to do with me." Callum looked at her casually. When Elspeth heard his words, she was startled. Suddenly, she couldn''t help butin, "In that case, why are you here?" There is nothing between us anymore. Why is he looking for me, anyway? she thought. There was no way she would believe that he was here to spend time with her. "I''m here to tell you about something, of course." Callum gripped the steering wheel and looked in front. After some time, his eyes dimmed, and he said, "I''m sorry." Elspeth couldn''t believe what she was hearing and felt that it was ridiculous. "What are you apologizing for all of a sudden? What did you do wrong?" Is he out of his mind? Callum''s eyes turned cold at her words, and annoyance filled his eyes. "I''m apologizing for what I said to you tonight." Hearing his words, Elspeth recalled Callum''s hurtful words and the way he overstepped the line. Looks like he''s apologizing to maintain his image. After Elspeth thought about it, she felt sad. Then, she waved him off and acted like she didn''t care. "It''s fine. You don''t have to apologize to me. After all, I am only an outsider, and it is inappropriate for me to intervene with your family business. I should be the one who is sorry." As soon as she spoke, Callum squinted his eyes and looked at her threateningly. "Just ept my apology and stop talking." Elspeth was taken aback by his words and felt even more upset. At that moment, she couldn''t help but raise her voice, saying, "If you are just here to apologize, you don''t need toe all the way. After all, I will not ept your apology, nor am I worthy enough to forgive you." Then, she opened the car door and got out. "Also, I have something to say, Mr. Winthrop." She turned around and smiled at him. "Please stop seeing me. Miss McGrath won''t be happy when she knows about this, after all." Her words had drawn a line between them. Callum didn''t know what to say and could only look at her cold eyes. At that moment, he felt distressed. "I got it," responded Callum as he lowered his head, hiding his emotions away. Elspeth took a deep breath and smiled. "If there isn''t anything else, I''ll be taking my leave." N?velDrama.Org ? content. "Alright." Callum gave her a final look before driving off without hesitation. After he left, Elspeth felt her knees weaken, and she almost fell to the ground. However, she quickly sorted out her emotions since she was still unsure about Hank''s personality. At this moment, she had to find Yelena. On the other hand, Hank wasn''t having a great time. After he had ced Yelena in the passenger seat and was about to call Elspeth, he saw Callum calling out to her. Seeing that it was one of her acquaintances, he didn''t worry much. Thus, he immediately got into the car and drove Yelena home. Truthfully, he intended to find an opportunity to be alone with Yelena. However, Yelena wasn''t as quiet as he thought she would be. After fidgeting in her seat, she suddenly opened her eyes and looked at him. When Hank was met with her clear eyes, his heart skipped a beat, and he felt guilty. He was worried that Yelena would have a bad impression on him and thought he was some hooligan with bad intentions. "I''m just¡­" Before he could tell her that he was just trying to get her home, Yelena giggled. Hank was surprised by that. "Why are you so happy?" he asked. Although Yelena wasughing, she had tears in her eyes. "I''ve finally broken up with him. In the past, I kept all of it to myself when he cheated on me and slept with other women. He kept these things away from me and never told me about it," she said softly. Then, she lowered her head and wiped away her tears. "I will never forgive him for what he has done. Never." As Hank heard her words, he was heartbroken. "Yes. He is a bad guy. Let''s not be friends with him anymore." He reached out and ruffled her hair. Feeling the soft sensation, he sighed. "I''m sorry. You wouldn''t have experienced these nasty things had Ie to you sooner." "What does this have to do with you?" asked Yelena as she shook her head. "It''s all my fault. I shouldn''t have acted dumb and ignored it." It was painful for her to ignore the fact that Max had cheated on her. She kept it to herself for so long that she couldn''t withstand it anymore. "Say, am I not good enough? Is that why he cheated on me?" Tears were glistening in her eyes. Hank gently wiped away her tears and replied, "Are you hearing yourself? You are good enough. Everyone loves you for who you are." "Why doesn''t he like me, then?" After she spoke, she closed her eyes and fell asleep again. At that moment, Hank felt a sudden rage overwhelming him. He gripped the steering wheel tightly and tried to calm himself down. Max, eh? I won''t forgive you for what you have done to Yelena. ¡­ In the meantime, Elspeth received a notification from her phone just as she steadied herself. It was a stranger''s phone number. When she opened the message, she saw a picture of Yelena''s house. ''I have sent Yelena back home safely. I''m sorry, Miss Lynwood. You might have to go back on your own,'' the person texted her. Knowing that Yelena had arrived home safely, Elspeth felt at ease. ''It''s fine. Thank you for driving her home,'' she replied. Chapter 404 Chapter 404 Chapter 404 Stop Poking Your Nose Into Someone Else¡¯s Business The next day, Elspeth arrived at thepany early. As soon as she stepped into the building, Jethro grabbed her arm. "What is the meaning of this, Elspeth? You have never contacted me ever since you left my house." Jethro was furious. Ever since Elspeth left, she had been avoiding his calls and messages. It had been two days since shest replied to him on Facebook. On the other hand, Elspeth was calm. Seeing that he was furious, she smiled and said, "I just think that we have nothing much to talk about. That''s why I didn''t reply to you." Her words made him feel like he had punched the air, and he released her in annoyance. Then, he looked at her with a hint of guilt and expectation. "It''s Jennifer''s fault for what happenedst time. My family has found out about it and wants to apologize to you. Thus, I am hoping that you wille by again." When Elspeth heard she had to go to the Wilstone Residence again, she refused without hesitation. "It''s fine. I don''t think it''s much of a deal. After all, it''s normal for girls to be hot-tempered." Her voice was filled with refusal. Jethro knew she was still afraid of what had happened, so he didn''t push her and said to meet another time. Initially, he was angry and wanted to question her. However, after talking to her for some time, he could only leave while feeling defeated. After dealing with this matter, Elspeth went to look for Agnes. It''s been days since I got Agnes to familiarize herself with everything here. Plus, I told Harper to look after her. She should have figured things around here by now, thought Elspeth. When she found Agnes, thetter was learning how to film videos. After Agnes had been in the company for some time, Elspeth could feel that she had matured. "How is it going, Agnes?" she asked. When Agnes saw her, she smiled and replied, "I have learned a lot of things, Miss Lynwood." "Good." Elspeth nodded. Just then, Skr approached her and said, "Have you seen today''s news yet, Miss Lynwood?" "No. What''s the matter?" Seeing that Elspeth was clueless, Skr looked at her in disdain and said, "You should keep an eye on the news, Miss Lynwood. Today, a new talent managementpany called Elsean Entertainment was established. I heard that the president of Bluestone Corp is behind this. Moreover, they''ve hired a famous streamer named Aldea Smith, who recently returned from abroad." Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Although Elspeth was overwhelmed by the information, she still picked out several keywords¡ªElsean Entertainment, Bluestone Corp, and Aldea. When she heard the name of thepany, she thought about Arthur and felt that this name had something to do with her. In a split second, she shuddered at the thought of it. She was not surprised that Arthur would start a business in the industry. Although Callum looked down on this industry and refused to start a business, Arthur was different. He was a man who would do anything as long as there were profits to it. On the other hand, Elspeth felt like Aldea was the girl who had been sent to the hospitalst time. "Okay. I understand." When Skr saw how calm Elspeth was about this, she felt unhappy. "They are stepping on us, Miss Lynwood. Don''t you think ourpany should do something since we have such a strongpany as our enemy?" Frankly speaking, Skr didn''t care about Elsean Entertainment. What mattered to her was Aldea, the streamer who had Bluestone Corp''s full support¡ªbe it money or resources. However, Elspeth had not done any of those and even hired a backup for her to share her profit. Thus, she found it unfair. After all, she didn''t think that Aldea was any better than her in terms of looks or skills. Although Elspeth could tell what Skr was plotting, she didn''t want to expose her. "What do you have in mind, then?" she asked Skr. "I heard that theirpany is holding an event. Maybe we should do that too." Skr needed to find an opportunity since her resources were dwindling. Seeing that she had been nning this, Elspeth nodded and said, "Sure. We will do that too. I know that Azure Corporation has revealed a new friendship ring. I was thinking of getting someone to endorse the product and market it to the masses. Why don''t I give this opportunity to you and Agnes?" When Skr heard the first part of Elspeth''s suggestion, she was thrilled since she had never endorsed such a ssy product. After all, the jewelry pieces made by Azure were widely known in Damoria. If she were to be its endorser, she would be famous. However, she was dissatisfied with what Elspeth mentioned toward the end. Why should Agnes, who is only a beginner with few followers, take on the endorsement with me? We are on different levels, after all. Thinking about it, she red at Agnes and said, "She''s still new to this, so she isn''t ustomed to these things. I''m afraid that she will only ruin the endorsement." She had thought it through with her words, and even Agnes felt that Skr was right. After all, she was a newbie. Hence, Agnes felt like she would ruin such expensive jewelry if she were to take up the job. Just as she was about to refuse the proposal, Elspeth spoke up. "You must have mistaken me, Skr. Personally, I think Agnes'' presence is suitable for this piece of jewelry. It''s a friendship ring, which is why you''re getting a chance as well. If you are unwilling to shoot the advertisement with Agnes, I might as well find her a new partner." Agnes and Skr were dumbfounded by Elspeth''s words. At this moment, the two girls realized that Elspeth only considered Skr a second option. At that moment, Skr was red in the face, but she didn''t dare say anything. "I''m sorry, Miss Lynwood. I shouldn''t have been so aggressive. After all, Agnes is a neer. It''s also best if she were to be given opportunities like this. Since it''s settled, when do we start the photoshoot?" she said softly. At this moment, she didn''t dare go against Elspeth. After all, she would have lost such a great opportunity if Elspeth had been provoked by her words and refused to let her take part in this. When Elspeth heard her words, she crossed her arms and smiled brightly, "Oh? I thought you refused to coborate with Agnes. You don''t have to force yourself to ept this if you are unwilling to. I won''t force you." Hearing her words, Skr was startled. She didn''t know Elspeth would be so ruthless. "I didn''t mean it that way, Miss Lynwood. I was just considering the benefits of thepany. After all, Agnes still isn''t well-known yet, so I was afraid she wouldn''t do justice to the jewelry." "It is the people who create the algorithm. After this endorsement, she will be well-known. You don''t have to worry about her. Just look out for yourself." What a nosy woman she is, thought Elspeth. Chapter 405 Chapter 405 Chapter 405 The Inte Forgets Skr was taken aback by Elspeth''s words. She couldn''t say anything and only smiled to please her. On the other hand, Agnes hesitated momentarily and tried to say something, but Elspeth stopped her with a nce. "Okay. It''s settled, then. For this advertisement, I''m thinking of shooting it in another two days. Be prepared, guys." Elspeth looked at Agnes. "Also, you should create an ount to gain poprity soon." Agnes nodded. For the past few days, she had been busy learning all kinds of photography techniques and had no time to create an ount. Now that she had nothing much to do, she could start working on this. After that, Agnes went back to her ce. She hesitated for a second before opening a new ount. She had an ount before this, but she was an actress back then and had fewer followers. However, since she had good acting skills and was hardworking, she gained a group of loyal fans. Looking at the ount she cherished so much, Agnes braced herself and deleted it. Then, she chose a few photos and made them into a video before posting them on her newly-created ount. Two hourster, her phone began to ring. At first, Agnes assumed someone was spamming her with messages. Plus, she was busy, so she put it on silent mode. However, when she unlocked her phone, she was shocked by what she saw. Her video had gained over a hundred million likes within two hours. Moreover, all of thements were appraised. ''Damn, this is a new ount.'' ''I love pretty women. She''s gorgeous, and her body is so pretty. I love her so much. Will you marry me, pretty woman?" ''I am shy in society but brave on the inte. This is my woman! Don''t you guys dare snatch her away from me!'' ''This is the 1,800th time I have met the woman whom I want to protect at my most vulnerable age.'' ''After being chronically online for the longest time, I''ve be hopelessly delusional. Hello, my dear wife.'' ''You guys only see her for her looks. Have any of you noticed that she used to be an actress?'' ''Agnes! I know her! I loved watching all the films she''s been in. Although she didn''t have many scenes, she put a lot of hard work into it!'' ¡­ As Agnes scrolled through thements, she couldn''t help but giggle. They are so fun to read, she thought. However, a newment soon appeared at the top. ''Can''t you guys see that she looks just like Skr?'' Immediately, theizens began debating over this. Agnes knew that such a thing would happen. As she waited for thements to go on, she saw someonepare her looks with Skr''s. In the end, they felt that the duo indeed looked simr. However, they only looked alike, and their demeanor was vastly different. ''It''s clear that she is imitating Skr. Since Skr has many followers, she''s using her looks to gain followers. Such a scheming woman.'' Thement criticized Agnes harshly, raking her into the mud. ''I think that''s overboard. Skr''s videos are cute and innocent. She acts cute in front of the camera, while Agnes acts cool and sexy. I mean, look at her waist. Damn, even I wouldn''t dare to photoshop my waist like that.'' Thisment wasn''t defending her and was more of an analysis. However, people quickly refuted it. ''Exin this yourself, Agnes!'' Seeing that the person was persistent, Agnes was furious. Just as she was about to reply to the comment, she felt someone closing in on her. "What''s wrong, Agnes? You seem upset." Skr had a cup of coffee in her hand while she smiled gently, looking innocent. "It''s nothing." Agnes quickly kept her phone away. However, Skr didn''t miss out on what she was doing. "I saw the video you just posted on your new ount. It''s going viral. It reminds me of the time I posted my first video. I only had a few thousand likes." Although Skr had a smile on her face, she was jealous of Agnes. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. She is pretty dang lucky; even the algorithm is helping her. It''s a good thing I bribed someone to belittle her in thements section. It should be working now. After this, even if Agnes rises to fame, the netizens will still hate her. Although Skr wasplimenting her, Agnes could still hear the sarcasm in her tone. "Thank you, Skr." "However, thement section doesn''t look friendly. It''s normal for them to misunderstand since I am more famous than you. Don''t worry about it, though. I''ll make a statement about this once the hype surrounding your video dies down," said Skr as she patted Agnes on the shoulder, her eyes cold. When Agnes saw the stiff smile on her face, she red at her and said, "Don''t worry. I don''t mind this. As you said, this is a misunderstanding. As such, the truth will soon be revealed. I won''t be devastated because of this." "Well, since you are so confident in yourself, I will support you," replied Skr as she thought, What a reckless person. She shouldn''t be underestimating the power thatizens hold. After Skr responded to Agnes, she looked at her arrogantly and left. Truthfully, Agnes was not confident about this. This was the first time she had been cyberbullied. After all, she wasn''t a well-known actress in the past, so no one would deliberately frame her. However, things were different now. Elspeth had helped her get into thepany, and it was only natural that Skr loathed her. When this incident urred, she immediately realized it was Skr''s doing, even though she didn''t think anyone would have ill intentions toward her. While she was worrying about this, she got a phone call from Elspeth''s office. Seeing that Elspeth had called her, Agnes felt at ease. "Hello, Miss Lynwood. What''s the matter?" "I have seen thements. Is everybody shaming you?" Agnes nodded and replied, "Yes. However¡­" Before she could finish her words, Elspeth cut her off and said firmly, "It''s fine. Let them do it." When Agnes heard her words, she was baffled. "Wouldn''t my reputation be ruined if they keep up with this?" On the other end of the phone, Elspeth''s voice was ruthless. "Don''t worry, I will fix this. You must know that the inte always forgets." Chapter 406 Chapter 406 Chapter 406 Throwing Money Away for a Beauty Agnes felt a burden lifted off her chest after she was given Elspeth''s assurance. Head high and chest puffed, she appeared more rxed during the photoshopping, which came as a surprise for the staff around her. They knew she was the subject of online abuse, but she appeared happy and unconcerned at that moment. Is she not quite right in her head? Agnes ignored the judgmental looks around her. Since she got Elspeth''s word that she would be protected, she decided to give Elspeth full trust and wait for the good news. As expected, an announcement was released in the afternoon. It was the candidacy list for the models of Azure Corporation''s new product. Apart from Yelena and another good-looking actress, the other two names were Skr Byron and Agnes. This was Azure Corporation''s first attempt at getting influencers to be models, hence the waves of shock throughout the Inte asizens flocked to check out the news. They were astonished to find Agnes as one of the candidates. ''How is that possible? How can she be Azure''s model?'' ''Why not? She''s quite pretty. Her vibe fits the jewelry design this time around.'' ''She''s from apany under Azure. Do you think the CEO is trying to hype her up?'' ''Look! Agnes'' name is above Skr''s! Her poster isrger and nicer. They''re promoting her, for sure.'' ''Tsk tsk. She''s backed with all the resources during her debut. I bet she doesn''t need to act cute like Skr.'' ''Our Agnes has her charm. She shouldn''t bepared to that five-foot-three woman.'' ''I''ll leave you guys to hate on Agnes Braille. I''m gonna follow her socials, though. I''ll be one of her oldest fans when she bes popr down the road.'' ''How sneaky of you! I''m doing that too!'' ¡­ There was a huge change in the situation. Agnes sighed at the shift of tone in thement section and marveled at the power of money. She believed Skr had to be furious about it. The incident wrapped up with a change in online sentiments. Not long after, Skr sent a message, exining that Agnes, a neer, should be allowed to shine and that Agnes was not copying her. Although she appeared to be speaking up for Agnes, it was nothing more than an attempt to maintain a positive public image. At the end of the day, her action was for her benefit. After the incident died down, Elspeth received a surprise message from Arthur. She had no idea how many social media ounts he possessed because she had blocked about five of his Facebook ounts along with his phone number. ''You there?'' he texted. She frowned and sent a question mark. ''I have a new idea regarding the model for your jewelry.'' She could not hold back from taking a jab at him, seeing how unabashed he was. ''What does our jewelry have to do with you? Mr. Winthrop, if you care so much about the models, why don''t youe up with your jewelry line?'' He had anticipated her sarcastic remark and replied calmly, ''I''ll pay you four million to hear me out.'' ''Four million? There''s nothing to be discussed.'' ''Seven million.'' When she saw his offer, she rewrote her text message. ''Perhaps you have a creative idea. Tell me about it.'' Arthur''s lips twitched when he saw her reply. ''I want to talk to you in person.'' ''But I don''t, so no deal.'' He knew he could not jump the horse and nodded reluctantly. ''Okay, then. I''ll tell you over text. I want Aldea Swift from ourpany to model your jewelry. You can give me a number.'' Aldea Swift? Elspeth could vaguely picture that woman in her head, but she was confused as to why Arthur would spend tons of money on a random model for a minor advertisement deal. ''Are you into her?'' ''Why? Are you jealous?'' She rolled her eyes and replied, ''Ha-ha. Very funny.'' ''If you''re jealous, just let me know. I can drop her.'' She gritted her teeth and smirked. ''That''d be unnecessary. I''m not interested in you anyway. Don''t read too much into it.'' ''Oh, okay. What do you think about my suggestion, then?'' He was referring to his idea of using Aldea as the model. ''I don''t think that''ll work because I''ve already found my models. There are only two slots for influencers.'' Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! ''I''ll offer eleven million for a position.'' Arthur was being too generous. Elspeth ran a quick calction and immediately got a clear idea of the cost and benefit. ''Deal.'' In this situation, she had no choice but to sacrifice Skr. To protect her integrity, she made another announcement online, which rified that Arthur had paid eleven million to get Aldea modeling for the jewelry. Under the tough situation, she had to make Aldea and Agnes the two influencer models, given how Skr wanted to give more opportunities to the neers. When Skr received the news, she felt immensely regretful for making the previous statement. Had she known there would be a turn of events, she would not have made that announcement! Now, she had to give up her position to Agnes! While she was wallowing in pain and regret, the Inte was unconcerned about her predicament. Instead, everyone''s attention was on Arthur and Aldea after reading Elspeth''s new announcement. They were saying the CEO of Winthrop Group was throwing money away for a beauty. Still, he did not care about thements online. When everyone assumed he had spent a fortune on a new female influencer, only he knew the reason behind doing so. In reality, he spent eleven million just so he could meet with Elspeth. The thought of her constipated expression and forced smiles when she had to coborate with him amused him to no end. Therefore, the eleven million was undoubtedly worth it. ¡­ Elspeth thought the drama about the jewelry models hade to a perfect ending. To her dismay, she received a call at night from Callum, who sounded icy. "Elspeth." Hearing his unfriendly voice, she wondered why she did not block his number earlier when she had the chance. "Mr. Winthrop. What makes you call thiste at night?" She sounded distant, but he was unbothered by it. He revealed his intention soon. "I wanna talk about the modeling for yourpany''s jewelry." "Why? Do you want a gig for your lover too?" The word ''lover'' sounded jarring to him, and his face soured. A short silenceter, he uttered slowly in a low voice, "Jasmine said she''d love to model for your jewelry too." Chapter 407 Chapter 407 Chapter 407 That Rotten Smell From Afar As expected, only Jasmine McGrath could send Callum into action even if it waste at night. She smiled. "Well, I''m unsure if you can offer me what I want." "Make an offer." "Exactly thirty million." Arthur did offer eleven million to secure Aldea a model position, so Callum knew he had to at least match that figure, but never did he expect she would request thirty million from him. "Isn''t that inted?" His voice dropped. Astonished, she replied with mockery, "Is it? Even Arthur was willing to spend eleven million on his girl best friend. Mr. Winthrop, you''re wealthy. Can''t you afford thirty million for a woman you love?" Elspeth expertly categorized the two women as an object of interest and a lover respectively. She was implying Callum should be willing to pay thirty million for his lover if Arthur could afford to spend eleven million on a woman, who was not even his partner. "If you don''t think Jasmine is worth the money, we shall end this conversation. Don''t call me again to discuss this anymore." With that, she was ready to hang up on him and go to bed. "Hang on." He said slowly and steadily, "Okay, I''ll offer thirty million." "Woah. I never knew you could throw money away so generously." She knew Callum had always been strict with money management and would never splurge for fun. However, he had spent thirty million on something insignificant for the sake of his woman. "Well, Miss Lynwood, you just agreed that spending money for a woman I love is necessary." Then, he hung up without considering her feelings. Oh, for a woman you love, you say? Sure, you can do anything you want with your money! Boiling in rage, Elspeth pulled the nket over her head. The next day, she followed the SOP and swapped the other B-list actress with Jasmine. Following that, she made another announcement online with simr content to yesterday''s exnation. Once again, the update sent the Inte into a furor. ''I''m first! Wow. Callum Winthrop is indeed the best wealthy bachelor in town. He''s so good to his fianc¨¦!'' ''30 million? Who''d spend that money just to make his woman happy?'' ''30 million? So what? It doesn''t affect me at all. I''m still taking home 300 monthly and surviving on ramen.'' ''I''m envious of Jasmine McGrath! Why am I not her?'' ''After Arthur Winthrop spent 11 million for his female best friend, Callum Winthrop caught up with his 30 million spending on his fianc¨¦. We can never understand the world of the rich.'' ''See that? The Winthrops are romantics.'' ''But isn''t the CEO of Azure Corporation the ex-fianc¨¦ of Callum? Won''t they feel awkward?'' ''Gosh, you''re clueless. This must be Jasmine asserting her dominance over Elspeth. After all, Callum was good to his ex before¡­'' ''Oooh, the drama! I''m here with my popcorn.'' ''What drama? Elspeth is the smartest of them all. She hasn''t even paid for the advertisement and has already earned 41 million from the model cement. Do you think she''s a fool?'' ¡­ With a brush between her teeth, Elspeth scrolled through thements and nodded in satisfaction. The more drama, the better. Morements mean more attention to the advertisement, which will be good for jewelry sales. After a quick washing up, she put on sophisticated makeup and changed into a professional suit to meet up with the two devils. That morning, she woke up to Arthur''s message, requesting a meeting on their coboration. Elspeth had to give it to him. She always turned him down no matter what he invited her to, but he managed to find a way to meet with her¡ªone that required her to show up professionally. Not only that, she had to meet Callum along with Arthur and could hardly imagine the oue of this interestingbination. The more she thought about it, the more embarrassed she felt. She pushed aside the thoughts and put on the brightest shade of red lipstick in hope that she would appear more authoritative. Then, she drove to the cafe where they agreed to meet. When she was at the door, she noticed a couple that stood close to each other. Callum had arrived before Arthur, and not only that, he brought Jasmine along, putting on an overt disy of affection. Tsk, aren''t they ashamed of doing so under all the watching eyes? Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Elspeth pushed her sunsses up her nose bridge and walked into the cafe while dodging the two. They seemed to only have eyes for each other and probably did not notice her. She did not move far before she heard a voice dripping with honey from behind. "Elspeth! Why didn''t you say ''hi'' when you saw us?" Jasmine had an arm around Callum and shed her a victorious smile. She was smiling so widely that Elspeth felt sick just looking at her. Still, she tightened her brows and kept a smile on her lips. "Oh, my apologies. Well, you two are leaning into each other. I mistook you as a teen couple doing PDA." At first, Jasmine thought Elspeth would have been envious. She was about to assert her dominance before Elspeth''s teen-couplement knocked her off her feet. Her expression fell, and she said, "What do you mean?" "What do I mean?" Elspeth chirped. "It''s not that deep. Or did you fail yournguage sses in school?" She wasunching subtle attacks relentlessly. Of course, Jasmine had not forgotten about Elspeth''s p. She had thought Elspeth would get along with her in Callum''s presence, but she was dismayed to find her acting hostilely, dismissing her attempts at reaching out amicably. "Miss Lynwood, that''s too much. I didn''t say anything bad about you. How could you embarrass me with your words?" Tears shone in Jasmine''s eyes, and she pouted to appear pitiful. Callum''s expression darkened. "Miss Lynwood, please mind your words." Elspeth removed her sunsses to reveal an equally unfriendly gaze. "I can say anything I want in the way I want. I don''t need you to censor me." She noticed that Jasmine was putting on a pitiful act, as though someone had wronged her. She announced, "Miss McGrath, if you find me uneptable, we can cancel our coboration. The money''s not been transferred yet, and we can always call it quits." Jasmine''s only motive was to upset Elspeth, and she was not done yet. She wiped away her tears and muttered, "Alright. I won''t make a fuss." "Yo! What the heck are we having today? What was that rotten smell from afar even before I stepped into this ce?" Arthur''s sudden appearance and bold remark immediately dampened the mood. Chapter 408 Chapter 408 Chapter 408 A Man Who Loves You Will Spend Money on You Jasmine''s eyes turned bright crimson as she looked at Arthur, who appeared fearless with a bright smile. "What exactly do you mean?" He gaped in surprise, replying, "I said nothing. Why insert yourself, Miss McGrath?" I didn''t exin anything, so why did she overthink it? Her fury was palpable, but she could note up with anything to counter him, so she could only smile ufortably and say, "Sorry, I overthought." "Yes, Miss McGrath. Please don''t have too many conspiracy theories that everyone is out to get you." He smiled as he stared at her. His statements were light-hearted yet loaded with implications. Jasmine was taken aback by his remarks and could only swivel her head to gaze at Callum beside her, looking for cover. However, he pursed his lips tightly and pretended not to hear anything. "Alright. Let''s not waste our time here. Our purpose today is to discuss our coboration. Let''s enter the room." Elspeth was relieved to see Jasmine deted, but she did note today to argue with her ex''s fianc¨¦; she was here to sign off two big contracts. Callum was the first to enter since he was silent and unable to limatize to the circumstances, while Jasmine trailed behind him after seeing him entering the cafe without her. Arthur, on the other hand, was not in a hurry. He looked at Elspeth with a teasing smile. "I''m surprised to see the always outspoken Elspeth getting insulted in front of her ex. Your counterattack earlier was subpar." Although his words were mild, he was insinuating that Callum was not ready to defend her when she was cornered, indicating that he did not love her anymore. "Don''t put your finger in the pie." She was about to enter the cafe when Arthur purposely blocked her path. "I just helped you. Shouldn''t I get something in return?" N?velDrama.Org holds this content. After seeing his smirk, Elspeth trod on his shoe violently. "Get out of the way!" His face immediately lit up with a big smile. Ouch. That hurts! He gritted his teeth and stood up straight, his right fist signaling he was in pain. "Oh, to be taken for granted." "Did I ask for your help?" She scowled. Arthur was frustrated but helpless. All he could do was stand there and watch her walk away nonchntly, not even looking back to give him a concerned look. Despite his sore foot, he staggered into the room in despair. Everyone had arrived, so it was time to discuss the agreement. Elspeth pulled two contracts from her bag and handed them to Callum and Jasmine. "Please let me know if you have any questions about the contract. If there are no concerns, you may sign it right away." Following that, she handed two pens from her backpack to them. Callum took the contract and examined it, which appeared to have no issues. He was about to sign when Jasmine grabbed his hand and asked, "Wait a minute. Can I read it?" Elspeth grew enraged when she saw her dolly features and questioned, "Did you graduate with a finance degree, Miss McGrath?" "No, I''m an arts graduate," Jasmine replied, surprised by the question. "In that case, reading it is futile since you won''t understand them." Elspeth''s remarks were harsh and nasty, piercing Jasmine''s heart. As the daughter of a wealthy businessman, Jasmine''s education ironically had little to do with finance, and she struggled toprehend contracts in general. "I merely want to look over the contract. Why are you being so aggressive, Miss Lynwood?" She bit her lower lip as tears welled up in her eyes. Meanwhile, Callum remained unaware of her weeping and handed her the document, stating, "No one is stopping you from reading it. Here, have a look." He suddenly raised his head and gave Elspeth an angry stare. Taken aback by this gaze at first, she rapidly recovered. He was warning her not to offend Jasmine once more. After some consideration, Elspeth became furious andmented almost nonchntly, "You know what? There are some issues with the contract." Even Arthur, who was about to sign, paused and inquired, "What''s wrong?" "I believe Mr. Winthrop''s forced introduction of a spokesperson, who has nothing to do with entertainment and is not even well-liked, would result in significant losses for our firm. I''m hoping he can raise the price to forty million." Her lips raised, twitching with a subtle cunning. Arthur noticed it and figured Elspeth was trolling them, so he stayed muted and focused on the show. "Forty million? That''s daylight robbery!" Jasmine was immediately dissatisfied. Thirty million is already over the budget. Although I am overjoyed that Callum is willing to spend so much money on me, I''ve reached my financial limit. Isn''t it a ruse to ask for forty million? "What''s the matter? Why are you so agitated, Miss McGrath? It''s not even your money," Elspeth rebuked vehemently. Jasmine indeed had no say because she would not be spending a penny on this deal. She was only able toe here today because she kept pestering Callum. "Forty million? Isn''t that a little too much?" Callum''s lips were tightly closed, the corners of his mouth pulled down slightly, and his Adam''s apple bobbled, trying to restrain the gushing blood. He practically rebuked Elspeth as a bandit with what he said, which was already quite a euphemism. "Love costs money, Mr. Winthrop. How is that too much? Miss McGrath will be happier if you spend more money on her. That¡­ is deep love. Or¡ªDoes she mean nothing to you? Why are you so hesitant to spend a few million on her?" she asked, smiling. "That''s not true," he replied as his gaze dimmed. "I feel awful for him, and I don''t want him to overspend," Jasmine interjected hurriedly. Even though she was only saying it, she knew her words would impact Callum and make him like her even more. "Miss Lynwood, I believe thirty million is more than sufficient. Forty is far too much." She shot Elspeth a harsh look in an attempt to defend her fianc¨¦. In response, Elspeth smirked as she caressed the pen in her hand. "Have you heard of this, Miss McGrath? The willingness of a man to spend money on you determines whether he loves you. The Winthrops have a worth of hundreds of billions. If he''s unwilling to spend forty million on you, then as his fianc¨¦, you''re nothing special." Chapter 409 Chapter 409 Chapter 409 Things Have Gone Wrong Jasmine paused, holding back all the words she wanted to rebut, despite Elspeth''s solid point. Indeed, the Winthrops were more capable than she had anticipated. How can Callum show his affection for me if he''s unwilling to spend even this modest sum of money on me? He had spent an astronomical amount on Elspeth, though. She clenched her teeth, turned her head, and asked sheepishly of Callum, "What do you think we should do?" N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Giving him the authority to make decisions was also an opportunity to see if he shared herpassion. He caught on to the situation, so he stopped objecting and replied quietly, "Of course, I can afford forty million." "As expected of you, Callum. You''re very generous." Arthur sped his hands andughed heartily. Elspeth almost burst outughing when she noticed Arthur echoing her. "I won''t waste any time since you''re so forthright, Mr. Winthrop. Please sign the agreement, gentlemen," she said, pointing to the contracts on the table. Callum did not wish to say anything else to her, so he hastily ced his signature and handed her the document. However, Arthur was ready to sign the document when he came to a halt. "Wait a minute. Why did you only seek Callum''s opinion on the contract? What about me?" His smile faded. Elspeth''s goal this time was to alienate Callum and Jasmine. Of course, she was not thinking about Arthur! Since he mentioned he had helped her, she decided not to make things difficult for him this time. "Well, what are your thoughts?" He picked up his pen, pointed to a condition in the contract, and asked, "Why can''t I observe the actors while they''re filming?" Her expression abruptly changed. The purpose of establishing the condition is to avoid conflicts during filming and to reduce my chances of bumping into you guys! I did it so discretely that I''m surprised he noticed it. "Care to give me a usible exnation?" Arthur''s t tone was tinged with irritation. "The reason for doing so is to avoid any interference to the actors. If you think about it, frequent visits to the set may distract them, disrupt their workflow and, as a result, cause the shooting to be dyed." She straightened her back and responded, neither meek nor domineering. I''m just saying. To be honest, I''m doing this to keep Jasmine from taking advantage of others and unting her power. As for Aldea¡­ I''ve never interacted with her, so I''ll just let her be for the time being. Arthur found Elspeth''s exnation sensible, which made him frown since he could not argue with her. I wanted to be closer to her. If I can''t visit the set, I''ll be wasting my eleven million. Argh! "Are you stopping me from visiting the movie set even though I spent eleven million?" "Mr. Winthrop has spent forty million and hasn''tined. Why are you being fussy?" She sneered. "I disagree, too," Callum piped up, his eyes flickering. Elspeth was taken aback by his unexpected dissent. Oh, great. Things are going downhill, all thanks to the sharp-eyed Arthur. Fifty-one million is arge amount of money. She was unwilling to breach the contract, so she could only plead humbly, "The shooting would be divided into three sessions, eachsting around half a day. So, how about visiting the set for an hour every time?" "One hour is insufficient!" Jasmine grumbled, openly dissatisfied with her suggestion. Callum had gone out of his way to see her for the first time, so she did not want to blow this chance! "Miss McGrath, please remember that you are the ambassador because you signed the contract. You''re not here for a lovely date with Callum but to shoot the ad." Jasmine fell silent and looked Elspeth in the eyes. After consenting to her requirement, Arthur and Callum signed the contract. Thereafter, Elspeth left her card on the table, adding, "Here''s my bank ount number. Go ahead and transfer the money to me." Then, she gently turned and walked away. She felt invigorated after leaving the cafe and was suddenly reminded of Yelena, prompting her to make a phone call. The phone rang twice before connecting, and she was astonished to hear a feeble greeting voice. "Yellie, what''s up with your voice? Why do you sound so drained?" "It''s nothing. I''ve been too busy these days and a little fatigued," Yelena answered, rubbing her throbbing temple. "How can you be exhausted when yourpany has no events nned for you recently?" Yelena''s voice cracked. " Elspeth¡­ Things have gone wrong." Elspeth''s forehead furrowed into an agonized frown upon hearing her snivel. "What''s going on?" "Thepany is facing some issues, and we may go bankrupt. My father and brother are both extremely busy at the moment. I''m worried because I don''t know what I can do to help." "Why didn''t you tell me this sooner?" Elspeth stroked her brow. "I didn''t want to trouble you. You''re already in a difficult situation, so I was hesitant to tell you..." Truly, Yelena cared for her friend, who was already helpless. If something troubled Elspeth once more, others would scheme something to get her. Therefore, Yelena was reluctant to burden her with her family problems for that very reason. "Are we even friends? What did you promise me?" How can you be the first to help me in need, but I''m the clueless friend who doesn''t even know your distress? "I''m sorry. I didn''t want to trouble you." "Send me your address. I''ll be there soon." Elspeth hopped into her car and activated her GPS. Yelena''s sniffling voice softened abruptly at that point, saying, "It''s alright. I genuinely don''t want to bother you." "Don''t make me repeat myself. Give me your address. Now!" As a result, Yelena had no choice but to obey. Twenty minutester, Elspeth was on time at her door because it was close by. She had been waiting for Elspeth since the wee hours of the morning, and her eyes were swollen like walnuts. Elspeth was getting out of her car when Yelena hurried over and gave her a bear embrace as she burst into tears. "I''m so sad, Elspeth!" "Don''t worry. Breathe in and take it slow. Now, tell me, what''s wrong?" Elspeth patted her friend on the back and calmly reassured her. Chapter 410 Chapter 410 Chapter 410 Work for Me "This has to do with the Alphascape Group." Yelena gritted her teeth. Elspeth was instantly alert when Alphascape was brought up. She could not stop silently cursing when she was reminded of how she had been targeted. The Little Family seems to have caused havoc this time. They only targeted the marginally weaker Sullivan Family since they can''t benefit from mine. "Can you tell me what''s going on?" "The Littles insisted on paying a premium to take over a project we were working on with a foreign company. We, of course, disagreed! As a result, they bribed a project manager and imed that our batch of goods is defective. So, the corporation wants to terminate our contract and sue us. We''re gonna have topensate a lot of money¡­" Yelena began to cry. "How much?" Elspeth inquired concernedly. It''s not a problem if money can solve it. "Four-hundred million." Yelena sobbed. That''s an astronomical amount of money! "Calm down. What''s the name of the foreignpany?" "It''s StoneY Group," Yelena said after regaining herposure. StoneY Group is a well-known firm, ranking among the top tenrgest in the country. Elspeth took a brief pause before asking, "You mentioned they''re going to sue yourpany. Have you consulted with awyer?" "My dad and his employees are looking for one, but he oftenes home with deep sighs. I suppose the search is futile," Yelena exined, shaking her head helplessly. "I have a good suggestion." Elspeth immediately thought of someone. "What is it?" asked Yelena. "Why don''t you get Hank?" Yelena recoiled in disgust upon hearing his name. "No way! Why should I?" At that point, Elspeth widened her eyes with curiosity, gasping. "What''s with the fright?" "He''s been trying to ask me out ever since he gave me a ride home. I didn''t want to meet him because I don''t know him well. Anyway, he imed to have a video of a drunken me calling him ''honey'', so I''ve been avoiding himtely," Yelena exined, softening her tone. Drunk? Hank? Honey? Elspeth brought her hand onto her face in dismay. Yup. That''s something drunk Yelena will do. "He''s the only one who can help you. It should be more reliable to seek the counsel of a qualified lawyer rather than myself." Elspeth persuaded, her brows furrowed. "Is there no other option?" Yelena sighed. Do I have to look for Hank? I''m not sure what his motives are! She was undeniably in a dilemma as she lowered her head, lost in her thoughts. "Thus far, none of Hank''s colleagues canpete with his abilities." Elspeth was aware that Yelena was not in the mood to discuss him, so instead of aggravating her, she decided to aid her in settling some concerns. "If you''re reluctant, I can get you anotherwyer. It''ll only take some time."Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. Elspeth, the social butterfly, had lots of connections. "There''s no need for that." Yelena pulled out her phone as she made her decision. I''m already a grown- up, but I haven''t done anything for my family. I should, at the very least, assist them in fixing this issue. Instantly, Elspeth stopped her and advised, "Yelena, if you''re reluctant about contacting him, I can help you." "No, I need to do it." Yelena turned around and dialed his phone number. It was also then that she realized she had not saved his number after knowing him for so long. The call connected, and Hank sounded like he had just gotten out of bed, judging from his scratchy voice. "I had a long night and just woke up. What''s up?" She paused and fumbled before finally answering, "Oh, nothing. I''m just wondering if you''re avable." "I''m always avable for you. What time should we meet?" He reciprocated with a smile. "Then, allow me to exin now, so you don''t have to waste your time and make a pointless trip." She rified, fearful he would refuse her request. "Quit babbling. I know everything." Hank grinned as he stretched his body. "Huh? What do you know?" Yelena seemed perplexed. "Aren''t you calling me because of yourpany?" he asked. How far has the humiliation reached? "Well, since you already know, I won''t beat around the bush. I wanna request your assistance. Will you be keen to help me if you have time?" she queried dejectedly. To be honest, based on his demeanor, I''m not sure if he wants to assist me. "Of course, but only on one condition." Here we go again. There will, of course, be conditions. "What is it? I can promise you as long as you don''t go overboard," she stated firmly while clenching her teeth. "That''s dramatic. I won''tpel you to do anything." He could not stopughing whileforting her. His voice was as magnificent as a cello in an opera theatre, which soothed her anxious heart. She took a deep breath and asked, "What should I do for you?" He stroked his finger and stated indifferently, "Nothing much. My firm is short of manpower. Can you come to my office every day to help me with some tasks? I understand you have a job, so you''re not required toe on days when you''re unavable." That sounds rtively easy. He isn''t making things tough for me on purpose. She considered it seriously, then nodded. "Okay. I promise you." "Alright. Let''s meet in a while to talk about your case." At that moment, Hank was getting ready to wash up, based on the shuffling noises over the phone. In other words, Yelena had found a savior! Her eyes lit up as she responded, "Sure, see youter!" After hanging up the phone, she spun around to grab Elspeth''s hand and eximed happily, "Elspeth, I''m going to meet him!" She''s such a fool for being oblivious to Hank''s malice, thinking he''s on her side. "You should be vignt," Elspeth warned, lightly flicking Yelena''s forehead. She was bbergasted. "What''s the matter? Why do you say so?" "Are you genuinely blind to what he has in mind for you?" "No, but I get the impression he''s simply doing it on the spur of the moment and might lose interest in me after a while." Yelena''s cheeks were the color of tomatoes. "Alright, then go get dressed." Yelena nodded and cheerfully went upstairs to change her clothing. However, Elspeth stared at her back, buried in contemtion. It''s time I look into Hank Damazio. Chapter 411 Chapter 411 Chapter 411 Do You Dislike Me? Inevitably, Elspeth was ufortable letting Yelena see Hank alone. After her strong request, Yelena agreed to bring her along to his office since thepany happened to be extremely close to her house. Yelena noticed that few people were working in the vast workspace and could not help but wonder. "Why is it crickets here?" "Probably because there''s nothing to do." Elspeth''s sarcasm was interrupted by Hank, who entered the room. He wore a huge and dazzling smile, asking, "Why are both of you here?" "I''m here to apany her, in case you have any ill will, stranger." Elspeth was prepared to defend Yelena. Amused by her words, he replied as his brows twitched slightly. "All right, then. Come on in." He invited thedies to have a seat on his couch. "Please exin what''s going on. I''m all ears," he stated tly. Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. Yelena frowned as she thought about what had happened at home. "My brother told me two days ago that there had been a little ident at ourpany. He only let me know the details after I annoyed him. He imed that the Littles are attempting to frame ourpany to get us to breach the contract. We must not only pay huge liquidated damages but also face legal action." She sighed numerous times when she recalled the crisis. Meanwhile, Hank merely grinned and said nothing. "Don''t just smile. Say something! What should I do?" Yelena was now as nervous as an ant on a hot pot, and his smile only served to fuel the fire. "It''s pointless for you to be anxious about this," he stated. Instantaneously, she jumped to her feet and screamed at him, "Well, I am, and your nonchnce gets on my nerve!" Hank took a hesitant step forward and ced his hands on her shoulders tofort her. Then, he uttered quietly, "Okay. Now, rx. I didn''t say I wouldn''t help you. I''m just saying I can handle this situation without your excessive worry." "Do you mean you''re going to help me?" Yelena''s fury had evaporated without a trace. "Yes, like I told you over the phone earlier, I''ll assist you." He smiled sympathetically as he offered her a teacup, adding, "Rx. You shouldn''t be agitated all the time. Anger makes you age quicker because it elerates the formation of wrinkles." Hearing that, she was ashamed as she held the teacup, unsure what to do. "I can assist you with this situation right away." His statement soothed her, and her eyes widened in excitement. "Really?" "There is, however, one condition. You agreed toe to my office and help me with some tasks. When can you start?" he asked. She quickly stopped drinking the tea, seized the dishcloth on the table, and acted like a servant when she heard his question. "Mr. Damazio, I am always at your service. Please let me know if you require any assistance." Hank could not help but be captivated by herrge eyes, which were as innocuous as puppies but with a twinkle of slyness. His voice tinged with mystery as he beamed. "Your first task is to have some tea with me." Suddenly, Elspeth felt like a third wheel in the room. What is wrong with them? He noticed her unease and remarked, "The issue has been resolved. Miss Lynwood, do you require any other assistance?" He''s insinuating that I leave. Elspeth focused her attention on his lovely features. Thus far, he appeared to be innocent, which eventually watered down her suspicion. "Okay. I''ll get going if there''s nothing else." She rose to her feet, poised and pleasant. "I''ll see youter." Hank is overjoyed to see her go since he was eager to spend time alone with Yelena. "I have something to say, Mr. Damazio," Elspeth piped up, her eyes gleaming like needles. "Go ahead, Miss Lynwood." "Yelena is na?ve, so I hope you don''t take advantage of her. If you do, I wille to fight you." He smiled softly at Elspeth, who was lovely yet cunning. "Don''t worry. You won''t have to do that." "Cool." Only then did she feel at ease enough to go. ¡­ At Winthrop Group, Jasmine had been worried that Callum would be displeased because of the forty million, so she kept a close eye on him as he approached his office. "Callum, I noticed you were a little unhappy when you signed the contract earlier," she expressed enthusiastically, taking modest steps behind him. "No, you''re overthinking things." He strode forward in quick steps, showing no sign of stopping for her. "Forty million is a bit much¡­ How about I inform my father to pay the money?" She was concerned that this would tarnish her image in Callum''s eyes. Will the fact that I abruptly give up on objecting earlier at the cafe make Callum think that I, too, am a materialistic woman? No, I must not demolish the image I had created. While I''m aware that my dad would be furious, that''s still forty million! Doesn''t a project only cost a few tens of million? "It''s fine." Callum''s voice was gentle and calm with no shift in emotion. "Don''t be angry, Callum. I know it''s my fault. I shouldn''t have allowed you to spend this much¡ª" Jasmine wanted to continue speaking when she was interrupted. "Enough. As I''ve said, this has nothing to do with you." His strong voice was tinged with rage. Hence, she had no choice but to y her trump card. "Callum, I know you dislike me, but if you genuinely feel unhappy with me, then we can¡­" She had yet to finish her sentence when he came to a halt. He turned back, his face no longer tinged with anger but with a more integrated smile that appeared abruptly. "You''re being silly again." Chapter 412 Chapter 412 Chapter 412 Meeting Aldea For The First Time It brought Jasmine both joy and pain to see Callum in such a state because she was aware that a breakup was not what he wished for. She dared not acknowledge her guess to be the reason for that. She was afraid that he went out with her just to¡­ As an afterthought, she mustered the courage to walk up to him and wrap her arms around his neck. "Callum, do you like me?" "I do." His eyes were empty. She did not feel happy one bit upon hearing that answer, hence the tactless request. "Then, kiss me." Ever since they started dating three months ago, never once had he made any intimate request, which upset her. Jasmine knew how pretty she was and had experiences in rtionships; every man in love with her would hover over her at any second. However, Callum never looked at her with personal desires, just like a gentleman. It was not until then did he respond by retreating. "I think that''s kinda quick." The exnation was a feeble excuse. Jasmine, who was not buying it, showed sadness. "Callum, tell me, why did you decide to go out with me?" His reaction broke her heart. She was now certain that he did not date her because of love. "Don''t overthink it. It''s just an additional request. If you don''t like it, I won''t bring it up again." He walked toward her to hug her. His embrace was warm yet aloof at the same time, forming a ripple in her wave of emotions. It was the first time he took the initiative to embrace her. "I''m sorry." Those words melted her heart immediately. "Don''t be. I was reckless to doubt your feelings for me. I won''t do that again. Don''t worry. I''ll help you." How could Jasmine bear the sight of the capable man apologizing to her? "You''re a wonderful person, Jasmine." He tightened the embrace. "I''ll treat you well, Callum." She was beaming in smiles, indulging in his warmth. ¡­ Three dayster, it was the filming day for the advertisement. However, Jasmine and Aldea werete on their first day. Yelena, who had been busy helping in thew firm and upied by family matters, applied for leave. Therefore, Elspeth decided to dy Yelena''s scene. Later, Elspeth was notified that Jasmine could not join the shoot because she was on her period. Now, the only people involved in the filming were Agnes and Aldea, who arrivedte. It was Elspeth''s first meeting with Aldea in person. The girl appeared different from her pictures and Elspeth''s expectations. Aldea always looked haughty and indifferent in photos, but she was gentle in person. She seemed to be only neen years old, despite her cold features. Every time she smiled, one could see the image of an icy barbie doll in her. Thanks to the mole at the end of her eye, it softened her overall features. "Hi, Miss Lynwood." Although Aldea was a rising influencer that owned about two million followers, she was a humble and affable person. Most importantly, Elspeth heard from Jennifer that Aldea was a finicky girl, hence the surprising discovery. Elspeth smiled and nodded. "Hello, Miss Swift." Aldea was all excited upon recognizing her savior at first nce. Even her features softened by the pleasant encounter. "Thank you, Miss Lynwood." The speech of gratitude might appear weird to others, but Elspeth knew what she was referring to. "You''re wee." Seems like a kind and agreeable girl to me. Aldea cast her gaze onto the quiet Agnes. "Miss Lynwood, is she my partner?" Agnes nodded in return, and the girls soon hit it off. It was a lightbulb moment for Elspeth. She knows how to read the room. I wonder if I can scout her for mypany. Elspeth turned into a sly fox, albeit it was her first encounter with Aldea. At the same time, Arthur, who was miles away, sneezed. "Has the weather turned cold? Weird." The more Elspeth looked at Aldea, the more she grew fond of the smiling girl. Indeed, the eleven million was worth it! Although Arthur was the one who spent that amount, it turned to good use for Elspeth instead. In the meantime, Agnes could tell that her boss had already taken interest in Aldea, so shemented her unfortunate destiny, thinking she would lose favor with Elspeth. "Okay. I guess we can start the shoot now." Elspeth briefed them on thetest product¡ªa pair of sisterhood rings. The gorgeous rings came in ivory and jet. A pair of white, hollowed-out wings sat on the ivory one, whereas the jet ring had a ck swan that added elements of mystery to it. Needless to say, the models had to match their temperament to the rings ordingly. Initially, Elspeth thought the ck ring suited Agnes due to her mature demeanor. However, she changed her mind upon meeting Aldea, whose nature rendered her the better option. N?velDrama.Org ? content. The two of them did not have any objections against Elspeth''s opinion, so they put on the rings to proceed with the filming. Since the rings were the main products, their hands took the spotlight. Their fingers were slender and wless, and Aldea''s pale skin made the ck ring shine. Throughout the shoot, Aldea guided Agnes, the rookie, by giving her tips to appear natural in photos. Their harmonious interaction elicited a smile on Elspeth''s face as she nodded. Suddenly, her phone rang. "Hey, Elspeth. I''m here to see you right at the door. Tell the security guards to let me in." Jethro''s tone left no room for rejection. She gazed at the door to see him waving while smiling at her. Right when she was going to say ''no'', a brisk sound resounded from the set as though a ring had dropped onto the floor. She looked back reflexively and saw the prideful-looking Aldea being taken over by fright and surprise. Chapter 413 Chapter 413 Chapter 413 The Torrential Rain Elspeth''s calm reaction reassured Aldea. Regaining herposure, she broke into a bright smile to hide the awkwardness in her eyes. "It''s an ident. No worries." Jethro did not catch anything while standing outside of the ss door. He strode to Elspeth''s side, sliding his arm along her shoulders so naturally. "Elspeth, I''ve been calling you these days, but why didn''t you pick up?" His gaze did not fall onto Aldea for one second. Elspeth took a step back to free herself from his arm. "I''m busy." "It''s fine as long as I have time. If you don''t mind, I cane here every day." Thedies in the area fell for his innocuous smile. Now that he had set his untrammeled side free again, she massaged her forehead. "Enough. Stop bothering us." "How am I a bother? I''m just here to see you." He seated himself on the couch. "Are you not leaving?" She had never seen anyone as shameless as him. Jethronguidly crossed his leg. "What''s with the rush? I''m here for a visit. I won''t get in your way." Elspeth ignored him, treating him as a transparent person because it did not seem like he was going to leave any time soon. "Proceed with the shoot." Since then, Aldea was not in her best condition as she kept making mistakes with her postures, expressions, and script. Elspeth noticed her uncoordinated self. "What''s wrong, Aldea? Are you feeling under the weather?" That question received no reply, but she could guess that it had something to do with Jethro for sure. Still, it would be tactless of her to pry one''s private affairs in front of so many eyes, so she decided to set it aside first. "I''m fine, Miss Lynwood." The beads of sweat on Aldea''s forehead could prove how nervous she was. Frantic ran through her veins the moment she caught sight of Jethro, yet she could not avoid the man because she was in the middle of working. Her heart was squeezing in pain. She peeked at the man on the couch to observe what he was up to, but she could not tell what she was feeling at the moment. They had broken up, so it was pointless to pester him again. After all, he epted her feelings in the beginning only after she approached him many times. "If you''re not feeling well, we can call it a day. We can continue when you''re all better." That was the best Elspeth could do for Aldea, for she could rte to that same feeling. "Thank you, Miss Lynwood." Aldea nodded gratefully. They would not be able to obtain the best results if she pushed herself in such a state anyway. Therefore, she went straight to the fitting room to change her clothes. At the same time, Agnes returned to herpany after they notified her about the dyed filming. As such, Elspeth and Jethro were the only ones left in the area. He might seem focused on his mobile game, but he was paying attention to the shoot as well. He happened to finish the game when they decided to put off the filming and then came up to her. "Elspeth, why did you stop once I''m here? Is it because you miss me and wish to spend time with me?" Wow, he''s really ''funny''. "Talk about shamelessness, you''re second to none." She was utterly speechless. He deepened his voice. "That''s because I wanna get close to you." "No, thank you. I don''t share the same notion as you." Not wanting to waste her time any longer, she intended to leave. Yet, he grabbed her wrist. "Come on. Don''t give me the cold shoulder." "I believe I''ve made myself clear." No one backed down, leaving silence to inte the air. Although they looked each other straight in the eyes, they did not know what was on each other''s minds. "Miss Lynwood." The abrupt voice broke the silence. Aldea, who was in her casual clothes, looked at the duo with a troubled expression. "Miss Lynwood, I''m all good to go." "Oh¡ª" "Since the filming is postponed, I shall return to my agency first." Aldea interrupted before Elspeth could finish her words. Seeing how she was all alone, Elspeth frowned. "I remember you came with your assistant. Where is he?" Aldea tried to recall her memories. "Something came up, so he left. He told me to return alone." "What? That won''t do. This area is secluded. What if something happens to you?" Elspeth turned to look at the drizzle out of the window. "It will be difficult to call for a cab now." Then, she shifted her gaze upon the guy. "Jethro, why don''t you give her a lift?" "No!" N?velDrama.Org ? content. "Nuh-uh." They refused simultaneously. "I''m serious. What if you get hurt again?" Elspeth looked at the flustered Aldea seriously. Aldea''s voice became low instantly. "I don''t think I should be troubling anyone." After hearing her cautious, mosquito-like voice, Jethro disyed disgust. "She said ''no'' already. Why are you pushing me to others? Can''t you see that I like you?" His rejection and blunt confession drained the color from Aldea''s visage, and Elspeth could notice that change with her naked eyes. "I''m just asking you to send her home, not anything else. Why are you acting so petty? Can''t you be a gentleman?" Elspeth''s disdain and insistence left him no choice but to show concession. "Fine. I''ll send her home, but I''m doing this for you, Elspeth." She waved her hand. "I don''t care whom you''re doing this for, but make sure to drive her somewhere safe." He shoved his hands into his pocket, ncing at Aldea contemptuously. "Aren''t youing? It''s a free ride here." "I''ming," replied Aldea meekly. Watching their leaving figures, Elspeth held her chin, wondering if she had made the right decision. To her, it seemed like Aldea had yet to get over him or they had not straightened things out between them. Anyway, it was a relief for Elspeth because Jethro, that annoying dude, was not around anymore. She shook her head and entered her car to return to herpany, yet it was out of gas. "Wow. Lucky me." Chapter 414 Chapter 414 Chapter 414 Discovers the Wedding Invitation by Chance There was a car with its engine started next to Elspeth''s. Drenched, she approached the vehicle. "Excuse me, could you¡ª" Halfway through her words, she raised her head to meet those deep eyes, which put her into a trance. Due to the rain, she appeared forlorn because of her soaked clothes and messy hair. To face Callum in such a state was a humiliation to her. She swallowed every word that reached the tip of her tongue, but he did not mind as he prodded, "Yes? What''s wrong?" "Nothing. I got the wrong person." She wheeled around, heading back to her car. Today''s not my day. Why is he here? He will never give me a lift for sure. Instead of humiliating myself in the rain, I better wait for the rain to stop in my car. Watching the drizzle pour into torrential rain, she became anxious. Just when will it stop? While her mind was stuffed with jumbled thoughts, she could hear footsteps pattering through the water puddles. Knock, knock. Someone tapped on her car window. She wound down the window to see Callum standing in the rain with a ck umbre as his indifferent eyes looked into hers. She could not discern his face clearly because of the heavy rain, but his voice rang into her ears loud and clear. "Why didn''t you bring an umbre with you?" She smiled wryly. "Are you here to nag me?" His hand tightened around the handle for a moment when he heard that. "Now''s not the time for a joke." He was the same old indecipherable Callum today, yet she somehow felt a smidgen of concern from his tone. I must be outta my mind to think that he''s worried about me. "Did youe all the way here just to make fun of me for not bringing an umbre?" Elspeth put on a wary face, for it was possible for him to pull such a thing. "Am I that bad?" he questioned softly. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Don''t you know how much of a b*stard you are? a smiling Elspeth cursed inwardly. She would never say that aloud because it seemed like he was going to give her a ride. "No. Of course, not. You appear right in front of me as a savior will. So, Mr. Savior, could you please give me a ride?" she requested sarcastically. "Is this how you ask a favor from someone?" He was unwavering. "Forget it. I know you won''t give me a lift anyways." A deted Elspeth reclined in the driver seat with pouty lips like an irritated kitty. "Yup. I''m here to give you an umbre so that you can at least walk back home." He yed along. I knew it! He is not a gentleman! "You should go now, Mr. Winthrop. Look how heavy the rain is. Even if I return home by foot, I''m going to get drenched anyway." She was going to wind up the window. "Come to my car." She immediately broke into a smile. "Okay. Give me a moment." Her hands were quick. Hugging the important documents, she sprinted to his car, so fast that it surprised Callum. "You should pay for the maintenance fee. The seat is all wet, thanks to you." He wanted money from her brazenly. The corner of her lips twitched. "It''s not that wet, though." He barely changed her impression of himself to a better one, yet his gentle side vanished so quickly. He is truly a snake. "I believe we should be particr about it." Elspeth somehow believed there was another meaning behind those words, for he kept staring at her with an ambiguous gaze as if he was going to take every matter between them into ount. Noticing the strange atmosphere, she hurriedly changed the topic. "By the way, why are you here?" He began driving the car. "I have some business to do here." The awkwardness was still evident, so she continued teasing. "Mr. Winthrop always happens to be there when I''m in trouble. Considering how many times we bumped into each other by chance, I would''ve thought you were actually protecting me if I didn''t know you hate me." Elspeth almost bit her tongue out of cringing the second she uttered those words. What the hell am I talking about? He''s all quiet. Great. This is getting awkward. I shouldn''t have said that. A whileter, Callum piped up, "Maybe." Maybe? What maybe? She could not follow him and kept looking at the rain pattering against the window to shift her attention. She thought minimizing her presence would be able to mitigate the tension in the air. Maybe? Does he mean he has been following me? Elspeth did not know what to feel about that assumption. After contemting, she spoke to him seriously, "Mr. Winthrop, I know we have gone out before, and we haven''t settled things out yet. I might''ve hurt your pure soul, but stalking is wrong. Don''t you think that''s overboard? You''re making me feel unsettled. I feel like you''re invading my privacy¡ª" In reality, Callum blurted that without thinking, assuming it would give her some hints. She did mistake it as something else, but it was not the kind of misunderstanding he hoped for. "Elspeth." The veins on his temples protruded as his voice escaped his gritted teeth. "I''m not a pervert." His anger lent her more reason to believe her hunch. "Don''t be angry. We''re in the middle of nowhere. I''m worried you''re gonna kill me or something." Helplessness sapped him of energy as his grasp on the steering wheel tightened before he took a deep breath. He would have a heart attack if the conversation escted in that direction any further. "I''ll throw you out of the car if you have any wild guesses again." Elspeth behaved upon hearing that, but her mind could not stop turning. So¡­ Is he genuinely worried about me? But he''s going out with Jasmine. Why would he care for me? Suddenly, her left foot kicked onto something, which felt like a button. A little drawer popped out before her seat to reveal a stack of white cards. Are those¡­ wedding invitations? Chapter 415 Chapter 415 Chapter 415 Getting Married This Soon? "Getting married this soon?" Elspeth muttered involuntarily. "Yeah. Next month. Will youe?" Getting married had always been something beyond her ns. They were engaged and made a promise to get married after looking for Helena. However, they ended their rtionship upon finding her. The wedding invitations inted the sorrow in Elspeth. "No, I won''t." The fact that I''m wondering if he''s protecting me a second ago is embarrassing. They''re getting along so well. Why would he have the time to be worried about me? Wake up, Elspeth. You''re getting pathetic. "Okay." Callum ended the conversation. Soon, they arrived at Azure Corporation. She alighted from the car as soon as he stepped on the brake, and her hasty movements caused a nuance in his expression. "It''s pouring. Take the umbre." "It''s fine, thanks." She shook her head before dashing into the building while hugging the documents. ¡­ At the same time, Aldea followed behind Jethro like a chick trailing its hen, yet her slow speed irritated him. He nced back at her, looking all gloomy because of the shade from the umbre. "Hurry up. Are you a snail?" It was not her first time hearing such mockery. Instead of retorting that, she replied in a hoarse voice, "I know, I know." It felt like they had turned back in time. The subsequent awkward atmosphere smothered his urge to say anything as he still held the umbre for her. While they were in the small space in the car, the tension between them surged in full swing. Before entering the vehicle, the rain wet Aldea''s shoulder and hair because she wanted to maintain the distance between them. Jethro could not bear the sight of thedy staying drenched beside him, so he grabbed a piece of cloth from the back seat for her. Despite the frustration sitting upon his brows, she was touched by his action. "Thank you." "I just don''t want you to rise in temperature before we get there." "Are you worried about me?" She blurted and regretted it immediately. It sounded as if she was narcissistic. As she had expected, he became surprised. "What are you thinking? Elspeth told me to take you home. If you catch a cold and hinder the schedule, that''ll get in her way." "So, it''s for her¡­" She hung her head low in sorrow. "I know I should stay out of your life since it''s over between us, but our encounter today is a mere coincidence. Just forget about what happened today." Her eyes became teary. "Did you fall out of love with me back when we broke up?" He was stunned, for he had not expected that question from her. "That is for sure." There was another reason that he could not bring himself to tell her because it would only add salt to her wound. She lightly hummed in response before falling into silence. She stared out of the window, watching the rain pour without any inkling of stopping. The rain was so heavy that they could not see anything. Hence, she chose to close her eyes to take a rest. Meanwhile, Jethro''s mind was in a mess. Aldea was currently sitting beside him, and he could not focus on the road at all. Due to the downpour, the car skidded off the road and bumped into the fence. Bang! A loud thud resounded. Inertia pushed their body forward, and he banged his head into the steering wheel. Blood began dripping from his forehead, and she only had a scratch on her arm because she managed to cover her head in time. N?velDrama.Org ? content. Once the dizziness faded, she turned her head sideways to check on the unconscious man. For some reason, the airbag did not pop out. After seeing how blood painted the man''s face, she hurriedly called the ambnce before screaming for someone to save them. There were not many vehicles on that rainy day, but a few cars stopped to check on the situation. The kind onlookers saved them from the car and reported it to the police. Half an hourter, the ambnce finally arrived. The medical team carried Jethro away with a stretcher. Before they left, they confirmed Aldea''s identity. "What''s your rtionship?" "I''m his girlfriend," she answered on the spur of the moment. "Come with us, then." She nodded gratefully and followed them. Once they arrived at the hospital, Jethro was pushed into the operating room for emergency treatment. In the meantime, a nurse tended to Aldea''s wounds, after which she ran straight to the operating room to wait quietly while sitting on the bench. Fortunately, Jethro only suffered from a concussion without any side effects. The simple operation ended, and he was sent to a ward. Soon enough, Aldea received a phone call from Elspeth. "What happened? How did you get into a car ident?" The news shocked Elspeth. Who knew the two would get into a car ident when they seemed fine a few hours ago? "I''m not sure either. Something went wrong with the car." Aldea lowered her head, feeling guilty. Knowing that additional questions would only add burden to Aldea, Elspeth took a deep breath. "Where are you? I''ll be there right away." "It''s oka¡ª" responded Aldea instinctively. "What''s okay?" Elspeth could not understand. Noticing what she had said, Aldea felt her face burning. "N-Nothing. It''s a slip of a tongue. We''re at¡­" After informing Elspeth of their whereabouts, Aldea sat next to the bed and stared at the unconscious man as mixed feelings churned in her stomach. Stretching out her arm, she wanted to caress his cheek, but she withdrew her hand in a split second. It felt stuffy, so she wanted to get some fresh air outside. That was when the urgent Elspeth appeared in front of the room. It seemed like she had rushed here upon finding out about the ident. Aldea smiled bitterly. "Miss Lynwood, you''re here. You must be worried about him." Chapter 416 Chapter 416 Chapter 416 Secretly Jealous Being the clever person she was, Elspeth naturally understood what was happening. It was obvious that the girl was secretly jealous. Hence, she quickly exined, "He''s signed under mypany. How would I exin to his parents if something were to happen to him?" That was her indirect way of confirming that they had no romantic rtionship, putting Aldea''s jealous heart to rest. Aldea raised her head, revealing her moist eyes. "I''m sorry. It''s all my fault. If I hadn''t been talking and distracting him, he wouldn''t have gotten into an ident." Barely managing to smile, Elspeth patted Aldea''s hand. "Don''t me yourself. How is any of this your fault? It''s his problem." Although what she said was not fair to the unconscious guy on the hospital bed, she did not care because he could not hear her anyway. "How is it my problem?" Suddenly, a raspy, frustrated voice came from behind them. Thedies turned around in shock and saw that the person in bed had opened his eyes, which seemed a little blurry. "You''re back already? It seems like you''re a lucky man." Elspeth smiled as she ced the fruit basket on the bedside table. "It feels great to be able to see you when I wake up. So, you are worried about me. If you weren''t, you wouldn''t rush to the hospital as soon as you found out I was in a car ident." Jethro was grinning mischievously and spoke without bothering about how others felt. So, when Aldea heard his words, her face turned ashen. Meanwhile, Elspeth clucked her tongue and rebuked, "I was worried I wouldn''t be able to face your parents if something happened to you. Otherwise, why would I care if you''re dead or alive? Stop ttering yourself." Still, he stubbornly argued, "I don''t care. You still came over in a hurry." The scene of the two conversing made Aldea feel like an outsider, who mumbled, "Why don''t I leave and let you guys have the room to yourselves?" Jethro waved his hand unconcernedly. "Go ahead. You can head home alone. The rain has stopped too." Both of them were in the ident together, but he was not the least bit concerned for her. Feeling devastated and humiliated, Aldea hurriedly left without informing Elspeth as though she was running away from danger. While watching her leave, Elspeth shot him a death stare. "Watch how you speak. At the very least, she was sent here with you and took care of you for a while. How can you treat your savior that way?" Jethro spread his hand. "Would I have gotten into an ident if it hadn''t been for her?" She had another idea. "Are you saying she affects your emotions whenever you''re together?" If that were true, it meant Jethro still reserved some feelings for Aldea. When he heard that, he immediately became anxious. "Don''t think too much about it. I only have you in my heart and no one else." At his words, Elspeth felt like there was no hope in continuing this conversation. "I''ll say it onest time. I will never fall in love and be with you, so you''d better forget it." He pursed his lips. "Just wait. There''s no telling what will happen in the future." As always, she ignored his remarks. She was about to call his parents and get someone to take care of him when he questioned upon noticing her action. "Who are you calling?" "Your parents. I''m gonna get someone to take care of you." Isn''t it logical to get your parents in this situation? Or is he expecting me to take care of him? Jethro immediately refused. "I don''t want them to take care of me." Putting away her phone, Elspeth pointed at a busy nurse. "Do you want a caretaker, then?" When he saw how she was not listening to him, he stopped probing and stated, "I want you to take care of me." With a faint smile, she chastised, "Jethro, what you want is like a pie in the sky." "Are you saying it''s my wishful thinking?" He pouted to make himself look more pitiful. N?velDrama.Org ? content. "I''d suggest you get your head checked out. How are you still so delusional?" She patted his head but identally touched his wound. Gnashing his teeth in pain, heined, "Even if you don''t want to take care of me, you shouldn''t hurt me." She burst outughing. "That was unintentional." When she saw how Jethro seemed to be in good condition, she felt no need for her to stay any longer. "If there''s nothing else, you should stay in the hospital and recuperate. I''ll get someone toe over and take care of you." He huffed. "I don''t need that." "If you refuse again, I''ll beat you up until you get a serious concussion." She waved her fist. "You violent woman," he muttered under his breath. "Alright. I''ll head back to thepany. There are still things I need to deal with." Following that, Jethro covered himself with the nket. "Go, go, go. Hurry up and leave." Elspeth rolled her eyes and left. When Elspeth returned to thepany, she called Arthur to apologize to him. After all, a social media influencer from hispany got into an ident during her project, so she should take up the responsibility. Not only was Arthur not angry, but hisugh was still as sweet as before. "There''s no need for an apology. If you feel bad, why don''t you treat me to a meal?" "What? You want me to transfer you some money? Sure. How much?" She immediately pretended like she did not hear him, beaming. Knowing there was no meaning in rifying, he changed the topic. "But Jethro, from yourpany, has caused me a significant loss." Surprised, Elspeth asked, "Wasn''t he involved in a car ident? How did he bring you any loss?" What he said was a little unrted. "The influencers from ourpanies appeared on screen together, thus causing Aldea some problems. Didn''t you read the news?" As Elspeth was in a hurry to check on Jethro, she, indeed, did not read the news. When she finally understood the gist, she noticed the car ident had already made the headlines. Someone at the scene had deliberately taken pictures of the crash site and happened to capture Aldea and Jethro''s faces. Therefore, that picture hyped up the two stars. The headlines were even more exaggerated. ''When Former Lovers Appear on Screen Together, Is It Reconcilement or Just Temporary?'' ''Is Their Rtionship an Ill Fate? The Truth Will Be Revealed After the Car ident.'' ''Two Inte Sensations Get Into an ident Together. Will Their Fate End Here?'' She tugged her lips. "I read the news. Later, I''ll get my PR department to deal with this matter so it wouldn''t affect Aldea''s life." Meanwhile, Arthur remained silent and chuckled softly. "What''s so funny?" Elspeth questioned him as if there was something wrong with him. Withdrawing his smile, he answered seriously, "It''s nothing. I just think signing Aldea was the best decision I''d made." Hearing that, she could vaguely guess his meaning but did not feel like ying along with him. "Alright. If there''s nothing else, I''ll hang up." "Wait." He lowered his tone and asked, "I know something about Miss Joneson. Would you like to hear it?" Chapter 417 Chapter 417 Chapter 417 Everyone Knows The words ''Miss Joneson'' were like a taboo as Elspeth froze when hearing them. She took a deep breath and forced herself to hold back the frustration she felt from being threatened. "Tell me what you know." Arthur was trying to keep her guessing and did not n to tell her the truth yet. "I told you. If you want to know about her, you have to make time to meet me." Of course, she would not believe him as she knew he was full of lies. "If that''s the case, I''ll take it as if you''re lying to me." After saying that, she hung up without hesitation and silently counted. Three, two, one. The unmistakable sound of the ringtone came again. She slowly picked up the call and heard a frustrated voice from the speaker. "Alright. I admit defeat." Smiling, Elspeth said, "Go ahead." N?velDrama.Org ? content. However, Arthur was not in a hurry to speak but asked instead, "I don''t remember doing anything wrong. Why do you have to give me the cold shoulder?" It was all fine while we were abroad. We were on good terms, and our rtionship was showing signs of improving. Why did she suddenly change her attitude after we returned and treat me like an enemy? Could her attitude back then be all an act? She answered in a carefree tone, "When we were abroad, you used my mom to threaten me, so I naturally would submit to your threats. Now that my mom has disappeared, what do you have against me to make me nice to you?" It would not be right for her to say that she was pretending during their stay abroad, but she could not face Arthur now because there was a huge possibility that Helena had run away when she discovered his threats. That alone was enough for Elspeth not to forgive him. When he heard that, he froze but then smiled. "Fine. If that''s how it is, I understand now." Puzzled, Elspeth asked, "What do you understand?" "Since Miss Joneson is the key to improving our rtionship, I will find her." There was a trace of determination in his voice. Shrugging resignedly, she taunted, "If you put it that way, I''ll be looking forward to seeing what you do." Since their conversation had reached this point, she quickly understood something. "So, you were lying when you said you know something about my mom." It seemed like she had almost fallen for his trick again. On the other hand, Arthur was secretly taken aback because Elspeth had seen through his deception. This woman is not easy to fool. "Okay. If there''s nothing else, I''ll hang up." The worry she was feeling earlier immediately faded. She hated being lied to the most and did not intend to continue this conversation with him. After hanging up, she sat on the couch and began to think of something. ¡­ In the meantime, the news about Jethro and Aldea did not die down but seemed to have escted to a higher level. Although Elspeth had asked the public rtions department to suppress the news, the drama could not be buried; perhaps someone was adding fuel to the fire. The story of them dating each other during high school was also exposed. When she read the emotional memoir written on the Inte, she was surprised. This is such a realistic memoir. Don''t tell me it''s written by one of them. Then, she naturally began suspecting Aldea. However, Elspeth tried to phone her, but the call did not go through. As she could not get a hold of Aldea, she sat back down and perused the entire memoir. The story was written from the third point of view, depicting a short but beautiful love story between two high school students. It was a hot afternoon when the sixteen-year-old Aldea met Jethro for the first time. Since it was summer, that particr afternoon was scorching, during which the school organized physical tests for the students. Once it was over, many were lying on the ground, including Aldea, who had been sickly since young. Due to her frail body, she was extremely skinny and weak, but she was pretty, so her fellow students gave her the nickname, the Sickly Princess. Of course, there would also be some who disliked her. A few female students were jealous of her looks, so they pretended like they were not up to anything and came to her side after the physical test. Then, one of them stepped on her wrist. When the 180-pound student stepped on Aldea''s wrist, she screamed in pain. Yet, the student pretended to have noticed something and let out a shady ''oh''. "Why did you suddenly scream? I was just walking past you and did nothing. Don''t you try to frame me for anything!" After saying that, she beganughing. Another female student came and patted her shoulder before sighing. "The Sickly Princess is putting on an act again. I saw you walking past her, but she''s acting as if you stepped on her." Meanwhile, Aldea was holding her painful wrist with a twisted expression. "Hey, look. Her acting is pretty realistic." The other female students in Aldea''s ss did not have a good rtionship with her. After all, her looks were attractive and outshined the others. Therefore, all of them were watching on the sideline, considering it as an outlet to vent their stress from the physical test. While shaking her hand, Aldea stood up and looked at the student who stepped on her with a grim face. "You stepped on me, so you have to apologize." The smile on the girl''s face disappeared and was reced by a fierce countenance. "What do you mean I stepped on you? When did I do that? Do you have any proof?" Subsequently, she looked at the others beside her and taunted, "Come on. Did any of you see me step on her?" Since the others surrounding her were herckeys, they naturally would not say anything. "Don''t you dare frame me without any evidence." The girl crossed her arms before her chest, looking victorious. Secretly, Aldea was balling her fists. She did not have any evidence to prove she had been harmed, leaving the scarlet mark on her wrist the only evidence. I should get some topical medication from the school nurse. Thinking of that, she turned around to leave. "Hey, where are you going? This isn''t the end yet." That question did note from the bully but from another direction. In reality, the protagonist of the story, Jethro, had long noticed the situation from the side. He shook his head and decided to help Aldea when she saw how this helpless girl was unable to stand up for herself. The arrogant bully immediately paled when she saw that he was going to interfere with the matter. She was not afraid of anyone else, but the person before her was the renowned school bully at Wolverthorn High. This guy has never meddled in such matters before. Why is he suddenly interested in being the hero today? The female bully smiled and apologized. "You''re right. I was wrong. I''ll apologize to Aldea." Now that this guy is trying to help Aldea out, it won''t end well for me if I don''t admit defeat now. Chapter 419 Chapter 419 Chapter 419 Tricked That cup of water was barely hot, so it was all poured onto Skr. As the spill happened ''out of the blue'', Elspeth seemed unfazed and half-heartedly apologized to her. "It hurts¡­" Skr frowned as her expression twisted a little from the invisible pain. Emotionlessly, Elspeth nced at her. "You know better than anyone whether it''s hot." As soon as those words rang, the previously affectatious Skr immediatelyposed herself. Jethro seemed to have not heard their conversation and pulled a piece of tissue to help Skr wipe her hand, asking if she was hurt. "I''m fine. The water''s not super hot. I can take it. Maybe I was too shocked, and that''s why I screamed in pain." She secretly nced at Elspeth when mentioning the temperature of the water as though she were afraid she would get reprimanded. Seeing through Skr''s intention like a piece of ss, Elspeth rebuked inside, Aren''t you just trying to make me look like the bad guy before Jethro? I don''t mind, honestly. She bent down to look at Skr''s face while smiling faintly. "So, you mean to say this cup of water is hot, right?" Skr was so shocked by those words that she quickly withdrew her hand. In the meantime, Jethro looked at Elspeth with a bewildered expression. "Skr has already been scalded. You shouldn''t be mean to her." While raising an eyebrow, Elspeth continued what she was doing. "As I said, she knows whether it''s hot or not." Subsequently, she grabbed the cup from earlier and ced her finger inside before the two. Her finger was wet from the water when she took it out again. "See? Not even hot." Once she was done, she pulled a tissue and wiped her finger. Her actions were so slick and smooth that the other two were dumbfounded. It was especially so for Skr as she did not expect Elspeth to have a backup n and leave some water inside the cup. "There''s only so much water left, so it must''ve cooled down," Skr desperately exined to avoid giving Jethro a poor impression. However, he was not a fool and could deduce the water was at room temperature just by seeing no redness on the back of her hand. The reason he showed concern for Skr was to make Elspeth jealous. That was why he did not move after listening to Skr''s careful exnation. When she noticed no one was paying attention to her, her face fell. She had paid arge sum of money to have the ring on her finger installed with a spy cam¡­ Now, it was of no use, so she could only leave in a hurry. Once she was gone, the expression on Elspeth''s face instantly became disdainful. "Do you think I''m dumb or what?" Jethro blinked his eyes andined aggrievedly, "I didn''t want to act like that either, but you don''t even wanna talk to me, so I could only do that to make you jealous." "So, you decided to go with her n?" She held in her urge to poke at his empty head. Go with her n? He tilted his noggin, looking confused. "What are you talking about? Why don''t I understand?" Looking at his foolish appearance, she sighed and told him the truth. "The ring on her finger is a video recorder. She might be thinking of recording her time with you, but I didn''t expect you to be so stupid. Are you trying to record a romantic vlog with her?" He immediately understood. "So, you poured water on her to destroy the camera?" "d your head''s still working." She scoffed. "Don''t tell me she''s trying to hype her poprity by making us seem like a couple?" If that''s true, then she''s disgusting. When Jethro thought of how he touched Skr''s hand to make Elspeth angry, he could not help but feel revolted. Then, he hurriedly took a tissue and began wiping his hand. "Alright. Be more careful next time. She''s not as innocent as you think." Or as simple as I think. Having just been tricked, he let out a muffled hum in response but then seemed to have remembered something. "If that''s the case, will she switchpanies?" As soon as he said that, Elspeth was suddenly enlightened. Why didn''t I think of something even Jethro could think of? ording to the current development of this incident, it wouldn''t be long before Skr decides to leave. With so manypanies in the country, the one she would most likely join is Arthur''spany. Oh, no! There''s a high chance he will do something. She was not worried about Skr leaving but what idea Arthur was secretly harboring. "What''s on your mind?" asked Jethro. With a roll of her eyes, she rebuked, "Kids shouldn''t mind a grownup''s business." Seeing that she had stayed for long enough, she casually chatted with him and left him her regards before getting up to leave. Soon, an uninvited guest showed up at the ward. Never would Jethro have expected that the cold and unapproachable Callum Winthrop woulde to him. "Mr. Winthrop, you and I don''t seem to know each other. Why are you here?" Jethro naturally knew Callum was the ex that Elspeth kept inside her heart, so he did not care to treat Callum nicely. Still, Jethro was indeed surprised by the sudden visit. Callum looked calmly into Jethro''s eyes. "I''d advise you not to have any ideas about her." Though he did not mention a name, Jethro knew he was talking about Elspeth. "On what basis should I listen to you and stop having any ideas about her?" Callum gazed at the stubborn young man without showing much emotion. "I came to remind you not to have any ideas about her or do anything to her." After listening to that, Jethroughed. "Wait, I''m puzzled. You''re her ex-boyfriend, whom she had severed ties with, so who are you toe here and order me like you''re doing this for her good? Huh, ex-boyfriend?" N?velDrama.Org ? content. "You''re still young, and I won''t do anything to you for Old Mr. Wilstone''s sake." Callum rubbed his finger against his watch with an indifferent expression. "Still, I''d like to tell you she''s out of your league." Jethro threw away his covers and rose to his feet. Whenpared to Callum, he was not much shorter. "I''d also like to tell you that I have taken a fancy to her." When the two gazes met, an invisible battle broke out. "If so, don''t me me for being rude." While standing there, Callum did not need to raise his temper as his cold aura was suppressive enough. Chapter 420 Chapter 420 Chapter 420 In Self-Defense It was the first time Jethro felt an oppressive aura from a man other than himself. He narrowed his eyes and instantly felt like he had met a strong opponent. However, he was not subpar himself, so he did not cower under Callum''s bravura. Instead, he stood straighter to make himself look taller. "I''ll be waiting for that." Calmly, Callum looked at him and understood something after seeing his young face filled with confidence. Without saying anything else, he left. Watching the retreating figure, Jethro suddenly reached out his right hand before waving his fist in the air. "What''s there to show off about? You''re an ex, but you still came to threaten me." At first, he wanted to tell Elspeth about this incident, but when he grabbed his phone, he seemed to have thought of something and put it back. He could not possibly tell her about this! She was trying to forget that man, so if he told her that Callum hade to his ward and dered war on him, she would think Callum still had her in his heart. If the two of them got back together, wouldn''t I be the losing party? No way! I think it''s better if I don''t tell her about this. ¡­ A few dayster, Aldea gathered and immersed herself back into filming. Meanwhile, Yelena had also taken a day off to finally execute her scene. On set, Jasmine seemed to be deliberately making things difficult for Yelena by messing up constantly. As if it was d¨¦j¨¤ vu, it felt exactly the same as when they were filming the television series. As the frustrated Yelena watched Jasmine acting up again, she knew it would be inappropriate for her to chastise Jasmine because they were on set. As such, she could only ask her to be more professional. Jasmine looked at Yelena''s face and beamed. "Yelena, I''m not trying to show off, but Callum has paid forty million for me to shoot this¡­" When Yelena heard that, her eyes almost rolled to the back of her head. "I don''t care if Callum spent forty million or forty billion on you, but since you''re here, you''d better be more professional." After saying so, she felt satisfied with herself. Hey, it kind of rhymes. The image Jasmine had always maintained was a pampered princess, yet now, another woman angered her with her rebuke. "Watch what you''re saying. Didn''t you also have someone pull some strings to get you here?" Yelena ced her hands on her hip and acted haughtily. "So what if I had? Why can''t I do it if I have someone supporting me? What''s more, I have more fans than you, so what right do you have to compete with me?" Poprity had always been Jasmine''s sore spot, so when she heard Yelena''s unrestrained criticism, she could not hold back anymore and wanted to p her. Before her handnded on Yelena''s face, another hand grabbed hers. She turned around in shock and was immediately flustered when she saw an expressionless Elspeth standing beside her. "You''re hurting me." Elspeth flung away Jasmine''s arm, which bumped into something due to the force. "You¡ª" Her sentence had yet to fully form when Jasmine noticed a figureing in through the door. Then, she immediately started acting pitifully. "Why did you push me? I did nothing wrong." Elspeth watched her immediate change in attitude and knew Callum had arrived. As she expected, she saw him standing not far away from them when she turned around. Both had cold expressions and were still indifferent after meeting each other''s gaze. N?velDrama.Org ? content. Behind Callum was Arthur, who had his hands in his pockets. Noticing the exciting scene, he rubbed his chin, obviously enjoying the show. On the other hand, Elspeth had her arms crossed before her chest while standing there. "Callum, my hand hurts¡­" Jasmine coquettishly reached her hand out to the man, who froze slightly but still reached out to help her up. Watching the affectionate couple before her, Elspeth had nothing to say except that she regretted compromising the rule to disallow visitors on set. It seemed like something dramatic was about to happen. "Callum, you saw it too. Elspeth pushed me to the ground without a good reason. You must stand up for me." She lowered her head and sneaked a nce at Elspeth from the corner of her eye. At the same time, Elspeth was racking her brain as to why all these women, who were supposed to possess different personalities, all resorted to the same pathetic approach when it came to her. First, it was Ophelia, then Emma; now, she had Jasmine. Still, it was undeniable that Callum was quite the womanizer. Without batting an eyelid, Elspeth retorted, "Do you have any evidence that proves that I pushed you for no reason?" Jasmine was about to continue when she heard that and froze. Shouldn''t Elspeth ask, "How can you prove that I pushed you?" That way, I can rebuke her by saying she refuses to admit she pushed me and so on. Why did she¡­ admit it? She was dumbfounded because the script she had prepared was unusable now. "Perhaps you''re jealous because Callum treats me so nicely. I know you still have feelings for him and can''t forget about him. After all, he''s an excellent man." Just by listening to that, Yelena knew Jasmine had no words to retort, which was why she deliberately added salt to Elspeth''s wound. As such, Yelena came forward and rebuked, "Callum here, Callum there. How about you shut the hell up?" When dealing with more reasonable people like Elspeth, Jasmine could manage to rebuke a few times. However, when facing an unreasonable and crazy woman like Yelena, she could only take the criticism. After all, she could not get overly emotional or act indecently before her man. "Yelena, I did nothing to you. Why would you¡ª" Yelena sneered loudly. "You did nothing to me? You know very well whether you did anything. I don''t care if you target me, but if you dare to taunt Elspeth, I''ll set your hair on fire!" Hearing such vicious words, Jasmine looked at Yelena''s furious visage and was frightened, instinctively touching her hair. "Yelena, you can''t do that. It''s against thew, and I¡­" hate you, you b*tch!! Noticing that Jasmine was out of retorts, Elspeth finally came forward. "Since you''re not convinced, how about we take a look at the surveince footage and see what happened?" Surveince footage? Jasmine felt her back suddenly drenched in a cold sweat. How could she have forgotten about the security cameras here? "Did you hear that? I did those things in self-defense." Yelena raised her chin arrogantly. "ording to Article 20 of ''The Criminal Law'', causing damage or harm to the person administering crime as an act of stopping the criminal for the nation, public interests, oneself or others, property and other rights of oneself or others is self-defense and not criminally liable." Another cold male voice suddenly sounded from the door as a tall man in a ck coat walked toward them. Chapter 421 Chapter 421 Chapter 421 A Little Too Good at Doing Business Yelena''s eyes shone when she saw the man walking over. "Hank? What are you doing here?" Hank couldn''t help butugh when she saw the look of surprise and slight puzzlement on her face. "I dropped by to visit you while you''re working. By the way, when can you go back to work?" Her face immediately fell when she heard those words. With a palm pressed against her forehead, Yelena gave Jasmine an instigative side-eye and muttered, "I would like to go back earlier, but you need to know that there is a little b*tch here who keeps showing off and dying the shooting just because she is the investor''s fianc¨¦e. Goodness! I''m about to get a headache at this rate." She didn''t mention whom she was talking about, but everyone knew she was referring to Jasmine. Jasmine, especially, had a dark expression when she heard those sarcastic remarks secretly made about herself. "Yelena, I won''t hold back anymore if you keep on with your nonsense!" Yelena red at her and snorted. "Oh? Why did you stop pretending to be a goody two shoes? Weren''t you weakly calling Callum to help you just a second ago?" Hank immediately understood what was happening and he chuckled. "So, this is Mr. Winthrop''s fianc¨¦e. Now that I''m meeting you for the first time, you seem somewhat¡­ impertinent." This was not Jasmine''s first time hearing that word, but it definitely was the first time she heard someone use it to describe her. Immediately, she pointed at Hank''s nose and spat, "I don''t know who the hell you are, but I won''t let you off the hook for standing on Yelena''s side and tantly spouting nonsense!" Hank, who was a tall man with a cold aura, remained indifferent even when she pointed at him. He only quietly watched her make a fool of herself. Callum was the one who came to them and stopped the argument atst. "Enough, Jasmine. Stop messing around." He basically put an end to the situation with those words alone. Jasmine couldn''t help but feel wronged. She couldn''t put a name to what she was feeling. She was the one who was pushed to the ground at the beginning but now, she had turned into the person who was ''messing around''! Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. However, she knew she couldn''t continue acting unlike her image and embarrassing herself under everyone''s watchful eyes. She finally shut her mouth and fell silent. "I apologize for the shameful disy, Mr. Damazio," Callum casually uttered for formality''s sake. His attitude toward Hank was not very enthusiastic. No matter how unreasonable Jasmine was, Callum was the one who brought her along, after all. He didn''t say anything else because scolding her would be equivalent to embarrassing himself. Hank slightly nodded in return. He didn''t seem very interested in Callum, who was renowned in Damoria. Instead, he turned his attention to Yelena. "Why didn''t you tell me anything about you being bullied?" Yelena rolled her eyes and let out another helpless sigh. "What''s the point? Not to mention that the person who is being bullied is Elspeth, not me. Ha! I really can''t figure it out. Jasmine has picked on Elspeth a few times now. I wonder if someone is fueling the mes behind the scenes." Her voice was neither too loud nor too soft, but it was just enough to reach the ears of everyone nearby. Jasmine knew Yelena was talking about her as soon as she heard it. Hank nced at Elspeth, who waspletely fine with being left out of the conversation as she stood off to one side. With a smile, hemented, "Look at how calm and collected she is. You, on the other hand¡­ You keep wanting to stand up for her, but really, to let his current fianc¨¦e pick on his ex- fianc¨¦e¡­ Mr. Winthrop''s not very kind, is he?" Yelena and he started to have a discussion right there and then. Callum had never bothered to get involved with verbal disputes like this and he didn''t have the intention to stay here any longer. As such, he didn''t say anything when he turned around and left. Jasmine''s filming was not yet over. Now that Callum had left suddenly without saying a word, she could only stand there and wait. It felt extremely awkward for her to suddenly stand there without anyone to support her. Elspeth''s the reason everything turned out this way! I wouldn''t have to suffer so much if not for her! She immediately threw a sharp look at Elspeth and red at her like she wanted to cut the woman''s face. Elspeth naturally noticed the sinister gaze. She raised her hand to ruffle her hair as she asked in a neutral tone, "What''s wrong? You seem dissatisfied. Should we check the surveince footage?" Jasmine''s heart swiftly fell to her stomach when she heard thest two words. "No! I only wanted to ask when we will resume shooting." Elspeth covered her mouth with her hands and let out a surprised expression. "How unexpected! The arrogant Miss McGrath from before now wants to hurry it up, eh?" Those thorny words almost made Jasmine lose her cool, but she couldn''t do anything. However, making progress on the shooting was indeed their priority now. Not wanting to spend another second making fun of Jasmine, Elspeth waved her hand and started the shoot. Jasmine and Yelena were the first ones to be filmed. With Elspeth and Hank staring at them, Jasmine didn''t dare to make any more silly mistakes. She obediently finished filming everything before long. After that, she came up with an excuse and quickly left the ce where she had embarrassed herself. Aldea and Agnes weren''t a problem either. They quickly ended the shoot as they were both professional. Elspeth, Hank, and Yelena were the only ones left after the session ended. He lowered his head and stared at the seemingly absent-minded Yelena. "How about I take you out for a meal?" he asked with a smile. Yelena shook her head and tugged on Elspeth''s arm. "I promised Elspeth I''d buy her a meal." He promptly suggested without a change in his expression, "The three of us can go together, then." He was determined to stick to Yelena. Elspeth held her forehead helplessly. She was just about toe up with an excuse to leave first when she received that pitiful, pleading look from Yelena. She seemed to be begging Elspeth to wait for her and not leave with her eyes. Seeing this, Elspeth could only give a small hum of agreement. And so, the lovey-dovey bubble Hank imagined himself and Yelena to be in was now illuminated by an additional lightbulb. The three of them then set off to a Juranian restaurant nearby. Hank only brought up the purpose of his visit when they were eating. "I found a prospective solution to deal with the charges against yourpany." He looked rather nonchnt when he mentioned this and yet, he soundedpletely convincing. Yelena was also influenced by his demeanor as she asked in a rxed manner, "How''s the investigation going?" Hank picked up the cup of tea on the sandalwood table and took a sip. "Nothing much. I''ve found a way to keep thepany from being sued." "It''s done? Just like that?" Yelena''s eyes went wide. "Yup. You can tell your father that he can run hispany like usual." Yelena couldn''t help thinking how mysterious this whole thing was. After all, Hank had solved this problem despite not having any contact with anyone from the Sullivan Corporation. I''m not doubting his business capabilities, but isn''t this kind of insane? It''s outrageous! she mused. Chapter 422 Chapter 422 Chapter 422 The Lovestruck Benefactor Is Right in Front of Her Hank didn''t seem surprised. "Also, you can just tell your father to fire the project manager rted to this coboration." The truth had alreadye out as soon as he said that. Still, Yelena couldn''t help her curiosity and asked, "But I want to know how you managed to catch the culprit!" Elspeth was beside her and she couldn''t hold her giggle upon hearing Yelena''s words. Yelena turned her head and nced at Elspeth. Seeing that she was trying not tough, she couldn''t help but ask, "Why are youughing? Do you know something too?" "I''d better leave it to Hank to tell you." Elspeth didn''t want to be the one to leak the secret. Hank only grew calmer as he announced, "This is a secret." "Urgh! Can we even still hang out together? Both of you are keeping it from me!" Yelena lowered her head and poked the piece of salmon on the te fiercely with her fork. I''m going to cover you in holes! "Alright, alright. Since this matter has been perfectly resolved, why don''t we drink some wine to celebrate?" Elspeth pointed at the bottle of white wine beside her. Half an hour passed after that. She fell into deep thought while she looked at the flushed Yelena who was drinking. Was I too careless when I said that earlier? I don''t even know whether that was the right decision to make. Yelena seemed to have gotten drunk the same way back then. However, the man they were sitting with was still clear-headed after taking only two sips of the white wine. While Yelena jumped here and there on the side, Elspeth and Hank sat there facing each other like no one else was around. "I sure was surprised to learn of your identity, Mr. Damazio." Elspeth let out a small smile that didn''t reach her eyes. "Likewise, Miss Lynwood. You even have several identities," Hank replied in a simr tone. She remained calm andposed. "Still, that is nothingpared to you, Mr. Damazio. I had to use my most elite system to find out your identity. The young master of StoneY Group, hmm? That''s one hell of a hole card." Hank suddenly let out a cheekyugh but despite that, he did not overdo it. He still appeared modest and was a sight for sore eyes. "Why didn''t you say it outright just now, Miss Lynwood?" Elspeth shrugged. "Whatever for?" Hank was taken aback before he looked at her with smiling eyes. "You truly are a frank and sincere person, Miss Lynwood. Thank you for keeping this secret for me." He worried that Yelena would even lose her gratitude for him if the truth was made known. That would greatly affect his n to pursue her. Seeing how Elspeth didn''t say anything despite seeing through him made Hank want tough. He asked, "But I must say, I am curious¡ªwhy help me instead of Max Winthrop?" N?velDrama.Org ? content. Callum is always cold to Elspeth, but there shouldn''t be any dispute between Max and her. However, judging from the way things were now, Hank had a feeling that there was more than meets the eye. Elspeth lowered her gaze to look at Yelena who was lying on the floor, exhausted from behaving like a madwoman. "Max did something that disappointed me." A pained look appeared in her eyes when she said that. She thought that Max was framed during what happened back then. However, she found out that the truth was slightly different from what Max told her after she looked into it. As early as a month ago, Max had already had rtively closemunication with that other woman. Max''s contact with her never ceased even during the period of silent treatment between Max and Yelena thatsted for about a week. The woman ended up falling for Max. Even though he wasn''t the only one responsible for that, he did y a part in it. The womanter did everything she could to do the deed with Max and climb up the socialdder, despite knowing that Max had a girlfriend. And just like that, Max took the bait. Elspeth and Max might be good friends, but she couldn''t bear seeing Yelena continue to date a man like him. Hank could guess what had happened from the ever-changing expression on Elspeth''s face. Surrounded by silence, he chuckled and asked in a low voice, "So you would rather have Yelena date me, is that right?" Elspeth responded by shaking her head. Her gaze had turned sharp and probing once again. "I don''t know if you''re a good person. I will keep observing you." Hank was no more inferior than Max in terms of family background, temperament, ability, and appearance. In fact, he was another level above Max. Although Hank was decent in every way, Elspeth still wasn''tpletely sure about him. After all, he was too much of an enigma. "You are Yelena''s best friend. I won''t let you down." As Hank looked at the unconscious Yelena lying sprawled on the table, he had a doting and loving glint in his eyes. "Yelena Sullivan¡­ I swear I''ll make her mine." Elspeth was taken aback when she heard that. She finally couldn''t help but ask the question on the tip of her tongue. "I would like to know how you got to know Yelena." She was curious about why Hank would suddenly be so deeply in love with Yelena. Hank had no intention to hide it from her, and he said without hesitation, "I fell for her three years ago when she first got onstage." That was how simple it was for him. There was no exciting prelude to the love he felt at first sight. It was straight to the point. Elspeth felt tingly all over when she heard that. She had imagined uncountable reasons Hank could have fallen for Yelena, but she didn''t think it would be so straightforward. So he''s a fan of Yelena? And somehow, along the way, he started to like Yelena as a woman instead of a celebrity, eh? Something suddenly came to mind then. "I have a question." Elspeth''s voice shook a little as she muttered, "Yelena took her first set of photos three years ago and everything was sold out within a day. You couldn''t have..." Yelena had talked to Elspeth about this before. Not long after her debut, she took a set of photographs that ended up selling a few times more than the A-list actresses at that time. She had suspicions that some benefactor was pulling the strings then, but she never found out who it was. Since then, her journey in the entertainment industry was smoother than butter. In just one year, she has be a B-lister. She had now shot up from being second-best to being an A-list actress with Elspeth''s help. "I bought them." It was just money for Hank. He didn''t mind spending it to make Yelena happy. As shocked as Elspeth was to hear that, she felt emotional for some reason. He''spletely enamored, isn''t he? Hank''s involvement probably had a lot to do with Yelena''s sess today. Her benefactor was actually right in front of her! "In that case, I have no objection if the two of you want to date." Elspeth began to think to herself, Not only is he willing to spend money on her, he treats her well and has her back. They haven''t got any dispute between them, and I''m sure he will choose her no matter what¡­ It doesn''t sound like a loss for Yelena to date him. Clearing his throat, Hank muttered, "Your thoughts are written all over your face, Miss Lynwood." It was only then that Elspeth came to her senses, and she shed an embarrassed grin at him. "But since you have the intention of handing Yelena over to me, I would like to thank you in advance. You can alwayse to me if you need help with matters concerning yourpany in the future." He raised his ss and concluded in a warm voice, "Looking forward to working with you." Elspeth also took her ss. The clear and pleasant sound of ss lightly bumping soon rang out. "Same goes for you." Chapter 423 Chapter 423 Chapter 423 Suppressing the Thoughts He Shouldn¡¯t Have After eating, Elspeth handed Yelena over to Hank with confidence, giving the two of them a chance to be alone. Hank might have certain intentions, but he was clear-headed. She knew he would not do anything to Yelena. And so, a drunk Yelena was then ''abducted'' by him to his car. Just like thest time when she drank too much, she started to snore as soon as she got in the car. Hank could only inwardly sigh as he watched how she kept wriggling around even after falling asleep. He then fastened her seatbelt carefully to avoid waking her up. The moment he got up, Yelena suddenly opened her pair of big, misty eyes, which were filled with confusion and drunken allure. He immediately stopped in his tracks. "Hank¡­" "What''s wrong?" The fact that she was aware of who he was even when she was intoxicated pleased him. Suddenly, she reached out and frantically ruffled his hair. "I''ve wanted to touch your hair for a long time now," she slurred. "I finally got to do it today. Hehe!" He was at a loss for words as he pressed down her wandering hands and went back to the driver''s seat. After he started driving, she suddenly started making noise about wanting to go to the toilet. "I don''t care! I want to go!" Hank had no choice but to park the car on the side of the road. When he found a public toilet, he asked, "Shall I take you there?" The woman reacted by blinking at him while shing a sly smile. "Gotcha. I don''t even want to use the restroom." Hank had noeback. In that case, there is no need for me to waste time talking to this drunkdy over here, he thought. It would be a lie to say that he wasn''t tempted when he saw her smile. However, there was something else that he was more worried about. "Hank, I''m going to puke." Having learned his lesson after she cried wolf, he ignored her and kept driving fast. A crisp retching sound rang out the next second. The defensive wall around his heart immediately copsed and he quickly parked the car. He then turned his head and looked at her, only to see her leaning to the side with a sunken look on her face as she threw up. The new car he spent millions on was soiled just like that! And yet, Yelena was still unappreciative. When she saw him stop the car, she dazedly straightened her torso and asked while she was still in the middle of throwing up. "Why aren''t you driving?" Hank was speechless at this point. "If you want me to drive now, I will throw you out of the car." Aggrieved tears abruptly rolled down her face which looked confused just a second ago. "Why would you throw me out¡­" Yelena sobbed. "Alright, alright." Hank immediately surrendered. "I was wrong. Goddammit! Throw up all you want. We will leave after you''re done." Hearing that, she nodded and stopped crying. She then continued to vomit while lying on her side. Hank was someone who had a serious obsession with cleanliness. Naturally, he wouldn''t send her home in this situation. Since his house was closest to where they currently were, he took her back to his home first. After he settled her down, he drove out again to wash the car. He would have thrown this car away if it wasn''t because Yelena had been in it before. Two hours had passed by the time he brought the washed car home. Considering howte it was into the night, he was worried that Yelena''s family would suspect him of being someone indecent for bringing her out and having fun without a care if he were to send her back to her home now. In order to leave a good impression and establish a good rtionship with his future inws, Hank carefully thought it through and decided to let Yelena stay at his ce for the night. After he got home, he noticed how the woman who had thrown up everywhere was now sprawled on the side of his bed, puking again. Her vomit had not only dirtied the sheets this time; even the carpet and her body were covered with barf. At that point, Hank''s tolerance for uncleanliness was stretched to the limit. He proceeded to put on gloves and a mask before he took her by the waist and dumped her into the bathtub. He then pointed the showerhead at her and let the water run. Even though Yelena was drunk out of her mind earlier, she felt more awake after the water washed over her. Seeing herself being bathed in the bathtub by a man wearing a mask, she shrieked in surprise. "Ah!" Hank managed to suppress his temper as he muttered, "Stay still, Yelena Sullivan." It was probably his innate oppression that Yelena actually felt fear and cowered without saying anything. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. She had on a white dress today. As soon as she was drenched in water, the wet dress outlined the exquisite curves of her body. More importantly, even the color of whaty underneath the dress¡­ She sounded timid when she let out another sob. "How about I wash it off myself?" Sure enough, Hank could hardly keep his heart from thumping against his chest as he looked at the mouth-watering sight. He took a deep breath and nodded before turning around to leave the bathroom. While Yelena was left to clean off the vomit on her body while she thought of a countermeasure in the bathroom, Hank sat by the bedside and struggled to keep his mind from wandering. He had always found it difficult to have any interest in the women around him. He would even indifferently refuse those who throw themselves at him. But when he saw Yelena shivering like a frightened bunny in the bathtub, he actually started having ideas¡­ Stop it, Hank Damazio! he quietly scolded himself. She has just be of age. Stop it with these nonsensical thoughts. With his strong mentality, he suppressed the thoughts that he shouldn''t have. He was right in the middle of doing that when the phone next to his hand rang. It was a text message notification ringtone. It is not my phone. It must be hers. His principles were telling him not to peek, but his curiosity keptpelling him until he couldn''t help taking a nce. The message was sent by someone whose name was saved as Pig Head. It was only a simple sentence that popped up. ''Where are you?'' Hank immediately knew who the sender of the message was, and his eyes narrowed dangerously. Taking advantage of the spare time he had while Yelena showered, he picked up her phone and took a good look at it. It didn''t take long for him to crack the password. There wasn''t a specific reason as to how he knew her password. Judging from how simple a person she was, Hank was sure that she would use her birthdate as her phone''s password. He had no hesitation as he clicked into the message and replied, ''At a friend''s ce.'' There was an iing call the next moment. Seeing this, Hank took the phone with him and went outside the ss window on the balcony to pick up the call. "Yes?" Hank struck first, his cold voice sounding especially low in the middle of the night. The person on the other end of the line immediately felt their heart tear when they heard a male voice ring out. "Who are you? Where is Yelena? Why isn''t she the one picking up my call?" Hank nced at the bathroom and murmured with a hint of amusement, "She is taking a shower." "I was wondering why she said she is at a friend''s house when she usually doesn''t say things like that. She would always tell me which friend it is. Who the hell are you? What are you trying to do to Yelena?" It was almost 12.00AM now. It was impossible for Max to not worry about Yelena being alone with a man. Chapter 424 Chapter 424 Chapter 424 They Will All Slowly Fade From Memory "What is it to you? If memory serves, the both of you broke up a long time ago." Max loathed it when people talked about his pain, and he immediately lost his temper. "It''s none of your business whether we broke up or not. You are only an outsider. You have no right to meddle in our rtionship!" "Sorry to break it to you, but I''m her prospective boyfriend now. I have more right than anyone else to care about things like this." Hank''s voice was low and domineering when he said that. "Prospective boyfriend?" Max was taken aback. "She agreed to date you?" That''s impossible! Yelena is not that type of person. Moving on so quickly? She wouldn''t do something like that. "Of course. Also, don''t call and disturb her anymore. We''re going to bed soon. Goodnight." After saying this, Hank mercilessly hung up, deleted Max''s number, and blocked him. He did everything in one fell swoop. When he was done, he ced the phone back in its original position and smiled. ¡­ Max started panicking when the call abruptly ended. He instinctively wanted to go out and look for Yelena, but when he was about to go downstairs, he noticed how Callum''s lights were still on. He stumbled to Callum''s room in a daze instead. Callum was ready to sleep when Max came into his room. He couldn''t help but be shocked when he saw how disappointed and gaunt the usually confident and high-spirited Max was. "What''s wrong?" Max''s tears were threatening to fall at that point. "I called Yelena earlier, Callum. A man iming to be her boyfriend picked up. He told me to stop looking for her. I''m so scared. Can you help me find her, please?" Max couldn''t bear losing Yelena. He had been struggling with himself these days. As much as he wanted to go and see Yelena, he was afraid she would only coldly reproach him in return. He finally picked up the courage to call her today and yet, he learned from the phone call that she was about to start dating another man. He couldn''t ept this at all. Soon, he began to remember the man he saw at the film set this morning. Hank Damazio¡­ "Calm down for now." Callum couldn''t say for sure what he felt when he looked at his younger brother on the verge of tears. Max balled his fists tight and continued to whimper, "Callum, I really don''t want to break up with Yelena. Please, I beg you. Can youe with me to see her? I can''t get through to her phone because she blocked my number¡­ Ah! We can go to Miss Elspeth! I''m sure she knows where Yelena is! Miss Elspeth and I are close. I''m sure she will tell me!" "Are you sure you want to go? You won''t regret it?" Callum stared into Max''s eyes, his gaze darkening. However, Max couldn''t bother with anything else now. Without understanding what Callum truly meant, he hurriedly blurted out, "Of course I want to go! I''m going to see Yelena right now. I can''t take it anymore!" It was 2.00AM when Elspeth heard knocksing from the door of her main entrance. As she was a rtively light sleeper, she would wake up at the slightest disturbance. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Annoyed and resigned from hearing the heavy knocks, she had no choice but to get the door. She first observed the surrounding situation vigntly and only opened the door when she found nothing unusual. As soon as the door was opened, a dark figure suddenly rushed over and grabbed her arm, startling her. After taking a good look at the figure, she finally recognized him as Max, whom she hadn''t seen in a long while. "Max? What are you doing here at this time of the night?" "Miss Elspeth¡­ You know where Yelena is, don''t you? Can you please tell me where she is? I''m begging you!" Elspeth felt a little strange seeing his almost unusual reaction. Still, she mentioned honestly, "Yelena should be sleeping at home right now. What''s the matter?" Max shook his head as if his life depended on it. "No! She is with a man! She is at the guy''s ce!" "What? Hank brought her to his ce?" Even Elspeth felt unsettled when he heard that. That jerk! And here I am, thinking that he''s a gentleman. How could he do something so immoral?! Elspeth wouldn''t worry as much if this was any other day. However, Yelena was drunk today. That could make her an easy target that Hank could gobble up just like that! "Hank¡­" Max muttered his name as a trace of hatred shed in his eyes. "Miss Elspeth, do you know where he is? I want to go to Yelena now!" Hearing that, Elspeth quickly snapped out of her thoughts and shook her head. "Forget about it. I don''t know." She wasn''t lying about this. It was true that she didn''t know where Hank''s house was. "Miss Elspeth, I know that you know! Don''t lie to me anymore and don''t hide it from me, okay?" Max almost started crying at that point. "I really can''t live without Yelena. I love her so much. You have to believe me!" After saying this, he turned his head to look at Callum, who was standing in the shadows, and begged, "Callum, can you help me? I really love Yelena a lot. Can you please persuade Elspeth for me?" It was only then that Elspeth noticed Callum standing not too far away. He isted himself as if he didn''t want to get involved in this matter. "Don''t embarrass the Winthrops, Max," the older man warned in an indifferent voice. Max was at aplete loss. Elspeth somewhat pitied him when she saw how confused he was while he begged, but more than that, she found him ridiculous. "To be honest, Max, I know almost everything about what you did." Max immediately stiffened upon hearing that. "You appear to be deeply in love with Yelena now. Of course, you really do. But I hope you understand something. A broken mirror can''t be restored. You may be forgiven after you did something wrong, but things can never go back to what they were." "Is there really no chance at all?" he choked out. "Do you know what Yelena told me? She said she doesn''t regret meeting you and experiencing so many things with you, but if she was given another chance to start all over, she wouldn''t want to know you. It''s not that she hates you or anything. She just can''t handle an ending like this." Max allowed his tears to roll down his cheeks and seep into the ground when he heard that. This was the first time he had ever cried. "I''m sorry¡­" Elspeth took out a tissue from her pocket and handed it to him before she patted him on the shoulder. "Alright, now. Stop clinging to her. Why don''t you be each other''s beautiful memories? As for the other things, don''t think about them. They will all slowly fade from memory." Fade from memory? When Callum heard those words, he slowly raised his head to peer at Elspeth not far away with a cold and dark gaze. To his surprise, he made eye contact with her. Chapter 425 Chapter 425 Chapter 425 Quite Protective of Yelena Callum couldn''t help thinking there was a hidden meaning behind Elspeth''s words. However, Elspeth clearly didn''t want to waste time on them. She couldn''t stop the frown from showing up on her face when she saw Max standing there in a daze with no intention of leaving. Right then, Callum strode over to stand beside Max. "Come home with me, Max," he instructed. Max first nodded, only to shake his head the next moment. He looked extremely pitiful and heart- wrenching. "Can I see her one more time?" Hearing that, Elspeth finally agreed to it as she couldn''t bear to watch him. What''s more, she was a little worried that an ''ident'' would happen to the drunk Yelena at Hank''s ce. After thinking about it, she took out her phone and gave Hank a call. ording to Max''s description earlier, Elspeth probably wouldn''t be able to call Yelena on her phone. That was why she would rather call Hank straightaway. The phone only rang twice before the call went through. "Hank, are you with Yelena?" Hank was surprised by Elspeth calling him, but he nodded and replied, "That''s right. She had one too many and puked all over herself. I brought her home and cleaned her up for now."Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Elspeth''s imagination began to run wild at those words. "Don''t tell me you helped her wash." Hank startedughing out loud upon hearing that. Even Max, who was beside Elspeth, slightly lifted his head, revealing a pair of bloodshot eyes. "That, I didn''t." Elspeth asked again, "Is she asleep now?" Hank hummed as he looked at Yelena snoring away in bed. "She went to bed and fell asleep right after she took a shower herself." "Take good care of her, then." Elspeth sighed. Hank probably won''t lie. "Of course." It was a given that he wouldn''t be careless about that. Knowing that Yelena was safe, Elspeth was at ease when she ended the call. However, when she looked at Max, she noticed that he looked more torn than before. "Yelena is asleep. You should save the rest for tomorrow." Max only clenched his right fist tight. He seemed to want to say something, but he quickly swallowed his words. Turning around, he had a worn-out smile on his face. "It''ste. I won''t disturb your sleep anymore, Miss Elspeth. Callum, let''s go home." Callum said nothing. He only nodded and turned the other way to walk to his car. Max also followed after him after he gave Elspeth a deep bow. Max sat in the passenger seat and he kept his head tilted to look at the night view outside the window. "Callum¡­ Why do you think things turned out this way?" Callum kept his eyes on the road when he stated, "You only have yourself to me." I only have myself to me¡­ Max suddenly let out a sad smile. He still remembered the day he and Yelena met for the first time, and how she relentlessly and persistently pursued him afterward. Initially, he wasn''t interested in the youngdy whom he saved. However, she was like a sun that lit up his world and before long, he had fallen in love with her. He didn''t have the best of tempers, but he was serious about his feelings for her. From having a short fuse, he slowly learned to love all because of how Yelena inspired him. However, it was this exact woman whom he had loved for two years who took off from his life abruptly. And there was nothing he could do about it. It was all because of one stupid mistake he made in the heat of the moment. He wouldn''t me Yelena for not forgiving him. "Callum, do you think the guy will treat Yelena right?" Max had only realized today how likable Yelena was to everyone and how he had gone too far with what he did. Callum tried to recall what he knew about Hank. When he remembered how protective Hank was of Yelena, he nodded. "He does like Yelena a lot." Max was stunned when he heard that. "Callum, do you know who Hank is?" Howe everyone but me knows about this guy who suddenly appeared beside Yelena? "I met him once. He''s quite protective of her." There were only a handful of people who dared to challenge Callum in Damoria. And yet, this new money who just came back from studying abroad didn''t bother showing his respect at all. On the contrary, there seemed to be some unscrupulous forces backing him up. I''ll need to look into him¡­ Callum quietly decided. "I''m devastated, Callum. I like Yelena so, so much¡­" Max was used to being indulgent and domineering but as soon as he lost Yelena, he felt unlike himself. "I know, but your rtionship is in the past now." Max felt a pain in his chest. "Why do you say the same thing as Miss Elspeth? It''s no wonder you and she were together at one point." Callum''s fingers around the steering wheel immediately tightened at those words. "I can finally understand how you felt back when you and Miss Elspeth broke up. You must have been heartbroken as well." Callum cast a chilling gaze at him. "That''s not the same thing." "Why is it different? We''ve both lost the women we love and they''re not forgiving us, no? Just look at how Miss Elspeth treated you earlier. It was like she was looking at a stranger¡­ But you''re over her now. I heard that you are going to marry Jasmine in half a month, right?" Callum, who didn''t want to listen to any more of this nonsense, abruptly stepped on the brakes and turned to re at Max. "One more word from you and I''m throwing you out of the car." Max felt like crying, but his tears wouldn''te out. "I''ve just been broken up with. Why would you treat a pitiful boy like me that way?" Callum turned back with his lips tightly pressed together. I don''t f*cking know this person. ¡­ The next morning, Yelena woke up to a man in front of her. Hank was leaning sideways with his head supported. If she hadn''t seen that her clothes were intact, she would have thought that something indescribable had happened to the two of themst night. "W-What are you doing in my bed?!" She was so rmed she shrank back under the covers. "Get your facts straight. This is my bed." Yelena touched the nket she held tightly in her hand and noted how it did feel better than her own nket. "Why am I in your bed? What have you done to me? Why did you bring me to your ce?" "And why are you asking so many questions? Are we on ''Family Feud''?" She couldn''t help but blush when she heard those slightly mocking and teasing words, and she quickly buried her head deeper into the sheets. Her head soon poked out again as she looked at him with a pair of panicky eyes. "At least tell me what I''m doing at your ce," she squeaked. "I don''t know. You were the one who insisted oning home with me. I couldn''t stop you even if I wanted to." Hank then let out a long sigh to express his helplessness and grievance. Naturally, Yelena didn''t believe him. "You''re lying! How would I ever say anything about wanting to come home with you? I know what I''m like when I''m drunk, and the most I do is sleep! How could I have said I wanted toe to your house?" Chapter 426 Chapter 426 Chapter 426 Never Pester Callum Hank stretched out his right hand and lightly knocked her on the head. "And here I was thinking that you''re not very bright. I''m surprised by how quickly you got it right. "Okay, I''m going home." After she looked at the clean clothes on her body, Yelena began to sit up when a fragment of memory suddenly shed in her mind. Why do I remember puking all over myselfst night? And why do I have clean clothes on now? Considering how she could recall this, she was sure it wasn''t a dream. All of a sudden, she picked up a strange smell. She had to take a proper whiff before she realized how the fragrance from the shirt that she had on wasn''t that of herundry detergent. "Did you take off my clothes?" she gasped. How dare she say something so nasty! Hank''s expression waspletely dark when he heard that, but he continued to patiently exin the situation to her, lest she thought he was some kind of evil thug. "It wasn''t me. The part-time maid changed you out of your clothes." N?velDrama.Org ? content. Yelena was the one who undressed and went to bedst night. Fine, he did see something. But he didn''t do anything to her. Instead, he washed her clothes and dried them. When the part-time maid came to clean this morning, he told her to help Yelena get dressed so that she wouldn''t identally expose herself after waking up. Yelena, who was surprisingly a deep sleeper, slept through the whole ordeal. After hearing his exnation, she realized how she had been rude earlier. She was just about to apologize to him when her phone next to her pillow began to ring. "Elspeth, what''s the matter?" She won''t beat me up if she knew that I spent the night at Hank''s, will she? "Where are you now?" Elspeth didn''t sound any more worked up than her usual self. Suddenly feeling anxious, Yelena stuttered and came up with a lie. "I''m at home! I just woke up. What''s up?" "Home?" Elspeth asked with a frown. She knew that Yelena would usually have just woken up around this time. How could she have gotten home from Hank''s ce already? Yelena sucked in a deep breath and continued to lie. "Yes, yes. I''m at home. You know I sleep longer hours." Ugh, I''m lying through my teeth! When Elspeth suddenly realized that Yelena was lying to her, she lowered her voice and threateningly asked, "You''re even lying to me?! Do you really think I don''t know about you being at Hank''s house?" Yelena immediately knew that she had made a stupid mistake. "Elspeth!" She started to beg for mercy as she mumbled, "I was wrong! I won''t lie again!" "That guy didn''t do anything to you, did he?" Yelena nced at Hank whoy near her with a yful smile on his face, and she shook her head. "Nope. Nothing happened between us." Just as Hank was about to say something, Yelena threw him a vicious re and softly pleaded with Elspeth, "Elspeth, you must never tell my father about me staying at Hank''s housest night. If he calls to ask you why I wasn''t home, tell him that I stayed at your ce." Elspeth could feel a headacheing on when she heard that. Of course, she knew what to do. Francis Sullivan, who was Yelena''s father, had already called her early this morning to ask about the situation. That was exactly how she lied to him. "Fine. I understand. Quickly head home if there''s nothing else. I have to go to work in a bit. I can''t keep worrying about you." "Don''t worry! I''ll head home soon." Yelena let out a long sigh after the call ended. "Let''s head downstairs." Hank got up and stood up straight before he slipped his hands into the pockets of his pants. "I made breakfast." Yelena could recall that embarrassing moment just by looking at him. She nodded her head vigorously while she hummed in agreement before she turned around and rushed into the bathroom. ¡­ Almost everyone knew about the uing wedding between Callum and Jasmine. After all, Callum was the most eligible bachelor whom everyone wanted to marry in all of Damoria. Jasmine was instantly bombarded with criticisms when the news got out. However, she wasn''t mad about any of it. She was the victor for being able to marry Callum. There was no need for her to argue with those other women who were not up to her standard. But one day, Jasmine appeared at Elspeth''s workce with a sour look on her face when Elspeth was working. "Shouldn''t you be preparing for your wedding, Miss McGrath? What are you doing here?" Jasmine straightened her back proudly and put on a small smile. "Since you already know about the wedding, aren''t you going to give us a few congrattory words? You are Callum''s ex-fianc¨¦e, after all. Surely you wish for his happiness?" Ah, the detestabledy hase. Elspeth then mmed her pen on the table, and the sound it made was so loud that it startled Jasmine. "Go on. Tell me what kind of congrattions you would like." Although Elspeth had a smile on her face, her expression was so cold that Jasmine could feel it in her bones. "You''re not angry, are you, Miss Lynwood? Do excuse me." Jasmine held her head high and she was as imposing as could be. "I almost forgot about how deep your affection for Callum is. You wouldn''t so easily give your blessing to Callum and another woman, would you?" Elspeth stared hard at Jasmine''s face before she solemnly brought up, "All that aside, your eyeliner''s wonky." "How dare you?" The smile on Jasmine''s face immediately disappeared. "I''ll say it again for thest time. I''m not interested in your wedding at all, so stop grossing me out with this talk. The door is right in front of you. I won''t walk you out." After Elspeth said that, she didn''t spare the woman another nce as she proceeded to lower her head and edit some documents. "Forget it. I won''t argue with you about this. Anyway, I have a secret to tell you. It''s about your parentage." Elspeth thought of Helena as soon as she heard that. "What do you know about it?" Regardless of whether Jasmine was lying to her or not, Elspeth couldn''t help wondering about what Jasmine knew. "I told you it''s about your parentage. Also, it might be rted to your mother." Jasmine raised her eyebrows arrogantly. "Aren''t you curious at all?" Elspeth lowered her gaze. "How do I know you''re not lying to me?" She still had her guard up. "How about this? If I lie to you, you can curse me so that I will never be loved by Callum. Sounds good?" Even though Elspeth had never had much faith in bets, she thought that Jasmine wouldn''t say something like this so easily because of how much she cared about Callum. Jasmine sounded a little more believable now. "Why would you want to tell me something like that out of nowhere?" There was no such thing as a free lunch, not to mention that the person telling her this was Jasmine McGrath, who had always been at odds with her. Jasmine looked at Elspeth''s suspicious gaze and she couldn''t help butugh out loud. "As expected of you to think things through, Miss Lynwood. You''re right. I do have a condition." "What is it?" "You have to promise to never pester Callum after I tell you the secret." Chapter 427 Chapter 427 Chapter 427 Might Have Been Plotted Against This condition might have been a little harsh to Elspeth in the past, but now that Callum was about to marry Jasmine, she knew she would look like an idiot if she kept hanging around Callum. The information Jasmine offered to let her know was way more interesting. Elspeth didn''t even hesitate to agree to the condition. "Alright. It''s a deal. Can you tell me now?" Jasmine was puzzled when she heard that. "The two of you might have broken up, but do you really not have even the slightest bit of feelings for him left? You didn''t even take your time to think before you answered!" "Why should I?" Jasmine put on a confused expression again before she shook her head in resignation. "I couldn''t tell at all. You''re a pretty cold-hearted woman, aren''t you?" "Alright, enough with that. Just tell me what you know." "I can tell you, but this isn''t the best ce to have that conversation. Come with me. I will show you some documents." "Why didn''t you bring the documents here in the first ce?" Elspeth was the one who was perplexed now. A look of distrust appeared on Jasmine''s face at that point. "And what if you snatched it away from me? I didn''t know if you were going to do that." In terms of their physiques, Elspeth was indeed the stronger and more agile one. The two then came to the underground garage. When Elspeth noticed that Jasmine had no intention of looking for her car, she asked, "You didn''t drive here? Was it not your driver who dropped you off?" Jasmine turned around and the smile on her face was much wider now. "Of course, my driver brought me here, but I''m not the only one he is picking up. You''reing with me!" Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. As soon as she said those words, a few burly men suddenly appeared behind her. Elspeth was on high alert the moment she saw the stocky group of men. "What is the meaning of this?" she hissed. Jasmine pped her hands, and immediately a man stepped forward and asked attentively, "Everything is ready, Miss McGrath. When should we make a move?" "Now, duh! What are you waiting for?" The men behind immediately started getting ready and tried to catch Elspeth. Naturally, she wouldn''t just stand there and wait for them to get her. She quickly gave the man in the lead a roundabout kick to his head, drawing a pained cry from him. "You guys know who I am, don''t you?" She looked at the rest of the men behind the first one as they froze in ce. She then sneered, "Come at me and you will end up like him." The men were terrified when they saw the blood on the face of the man lying on the ground before them. No one told them anything about Elspeth being so scary! The man standing in front of the group took a nce at Jasmine and gulped. "Miss McGrath, this woman looks dangerous. How about we use a different approach?" However, Jasmine had already lost her patience at some point. "Don''t even dream about being paid if you don''t catch her today!" Hearing that, the man no longer dared to hesitate. He promptly barked an instruction for all the other brutes to take Elspeth down. "It seems like you don''t know what''s best for you. I won''t be holding back, then." After finishing speaking, she rolled up her sleeves and went into battle mode. She dropped the men on the floor in a matter of seconds, her movements neat and clean. Jasmine didn''t know what Elspeth was truly capable of, which was why she hired goons whom Elspeth wasn''t afraid of. Presently, Jasmine quietly cursed as she looked at the men wailing on the floor. But within the next second, Elspeth had shifted her gaze to Jasmine. "Why are you looking at me?" Jasmine was so frightened by the eerie look in Elspeth''s eyes that she took a few steps backward. "Why, you ask? Of course, it''s because I''m going to do to you what I did to them." Elspeth calmly smiled and slowly approached Jasmine. Right when she raised her hands, a man pounced on her and pressed her to the ground from behind. "Miss McGrath, I got her!" the man squealed excitedly. Jasmine came back to her senses and she took out a spray bottle from her pocket. With one hand covering her nose, she pointed the nozzle at Elspeth and forcefully pressed down on the actuator. Elspeth suddenly felt her consciousness slip away as her strength gradually left her body. She only had one thought before shepletely passed out. They got me again. ¡­ Yelena didn''t know that Elspeth had been kidnapped. Right now, she hade to Elspeth''spany because of the lie she told that morning. Guilt-ridden, she nned to tell Elspeth everything and apologize. Of course, Hank, who knew she had done something wrong, offered to send her to thepany. "Are you going to tell her every single detail about what happened between us?" His clear voice rang out from above her head. "I won''t!" After saying this, Yelena suddenly blushed when she realized that he was teasing her. "Enough. Stop it with this nonsense. Let''s talk after we see Elspeth." They soon came to the front desk of thepany. As Yelena was a frequent visitor here, thedy at the front desk recognized her at a nce. "Miss Sullivan, are you here to hang out with Miss Lynwood as well today?" Yelena bashfully lowered her head and giggled. After ruffling her hair, she murmured, "I am! Is she in?" The receptionist thought about it carefully before she shook her head and pointed outside. "Miss Lynwood went out with a Miss McGrath just now." McGrath? Yelena thought. Howe I''m not aware of her having a friend called McGrath? It''s not Jasmine McGrath, is it? "Was that person''s name Jasmine McGrath?" Although the receptionist didn''t know the woman''s name, she could somewhat describe her appearance. "Miss McGrath is tall and thin, just like a model! She looks gentle and kind, and her hair is dyed blonde. She''s probably around five-foot-four¡­" This description alone already made it clear that Jasmine was the one who brought Elspeth away. Yelena couldn''t help feeling worried and puzzled when she realized that it was Jasmine. Where did she take her at such an important time? She quickly took her phone out and called Elspeth. However, no one picked up even after four or five tries. Elspeth had never not answered Yelena''s calls. Even if something else was keeping her upied, Elspeth would hang up and inform her. "You don''t have to try calling her anymore," Hank uttered in a heavy voice. Yelena had a bad feeling about this. "What do you mean?" "I said, you don''t have to call her anymore. Something has definitely happened to her." What?! But Elspeth can fight! How can something have happened to her? Yelena obviously didn''t want to believe this as she raised her head to re at Hank. "Are you thinking about how it''s impossible for something to happen to her when she''s such a good fighter?" "Yeah¡­" She nodded. "Even if she can fight, she is just ady who is a little stronger than others. There is only so much she can do with her physical strength." After he said this, he lowered his voice and raised another point. "What if she was plotted against by someone?" Yelena was about to burst into tears from the anxiety. "What about Elspeth? How am I going to find her?" Realizing that he had frightened her with his words, Hank subconsciously pulled her into his arms and comforted her. "C''mon, don''t worry about it. I promise I''ll get her back for you." The person in his embrace then nuzzled him a little. Yelena seemed convinced by his words. Hank immediately felt relief wash over him. He didn''t mind helping out. After all, Yelena might grow fonder of him because of what was happening to Elspeth. Chapter 428 Chapter 428 Chapter 428 Callum¡¯s Help Elspeth''s abduction happened quietly without anyone noticing. As the car jolted along the road, Elspeth, who was already unconscious, woke up from the shaking. The man sitting in front was focused on driving and didn''t notice that she had awakened. She couldn''t resist devising a n. Though her hands were tied behind her back, the ring on her finger, which concealed a de, was still in ce. She quickly triggered the mechanism using her nimble fingers and exposed the de. To avoid being heard, she moved the de silently, taking advantage of the bumpy ride and the man driving ahead, who was bobbing his head along to the music. He didn''t hear a thing. Finally, she freed herself and held the de to the man''s neck. Feeling a cold sensation around his neck, the man had a bad feeling. "Miss, how did you suddenly wake up?" he asked. Ignoring his question, Elspeth ran the de against his neck. "What do you want?" When the man heard it, he was scared and tried to maintain control of the car. "I''m driving, ma''am. If you want us both to be safe, you should let me go," he mumbled. Elspeth sneered at that. "Why do you think that if you die, I won''t be able to drive the car?" "Ma''am, please don''t kill me. I''ll tell you everything," the man said, as he had never been in such a situation as a transporter. Within two minutes, he spilled the beans. "You mean Jasmine asked you to take me to the McGrath Residence?" When she heard that, she was utterly puzzled. "Yes, she asked me to take you to the McGrath Residence, and the rest is none of my business," the man muttered while sweating profusely. It''s strange. I thought Jasmine has an intense hatred for me and wants me dead. But now, it seems like she wants to take me to her residence. What can her motive be if she doesn''t want me to die? Elspeth''s anxiety turned into curiosity. She would see what Jasmine had in store for her. "Okay, then. Just take me there as usual." After saying this, she sat down and put away the de in her hand. "What? Aren''t you nning to run?" The man couldn''t help but blurt out the question, but he almost bit his tongue in the process. Why am I getting involved in her business? Besides, my primary purpose is to deliver her, right? This woman is strange too. She knows she will be kidnapped, yet she remains calm and willing to face any danger. "I have nothing to do with you anymore. By the way, tie my hands in the loosest knot when we arrive." Elspeth was bing increasingly curious. The man dared not respond to her and could only nod twice. Half an hourter, the car arrived at the McGrath Residence. She reached out her hands, and the man tied her up with the loosest knot as per her request. After tying her up, he handed Elspeth, who pretended to have just woken up and was still bewildered, over to the person waiting at the entrance. "You did a good job. I''ll transfer the money to your bank." The man was so happy that he didn''t even care about what had just happened. He only nodded with a smile. After he left, the man in charge of receiving Elspeth kicked her leg to signal her to follow him. Elspeth quietly took note of this incident, nning to seek revengeter. As the two of them walked inside, the people in the house stared at them. This made Elspeth even more suspicious. As they walked further, she suddenly smelled a strong aroma of medicinal herbs, as if the whole house was marinated with them. The man''s tone was impatient as he ordered, "Okay, you can go in by yourself now." After saying this, he turned and left. Before leaving, he kindly untied the rope on her hands. While untying the rope, he muttered, "I don''t know how he tied it so loosely. You, on the other hand, didn''t even resist." Elspeth smirked. "It''s none of your business." The man was suddenly enraged, but because of the situation, he dared not to speak up and could only re at her fiercely before turning away. Elspeth moved her wrists, which were a little sore from being tied up, before pushing open the door to enter a quaint courtyard. In the courtyard''s center was a pot boiling with medicinal herbs, emitting a steaming aroma. Elspeth was no stranger to herbs. She leaned forward, fanned the wind toward her nose with her right hand, and barely discerned the herbs inside by the smell. "Medicine to drive away the cold." "This youngdy knows her way around medicinal herbs, eh? Nowadays, there aren''t many young girls like you who are willing to study it." An old voice came from behind, and Elspeth turned to see a smiling man in a white robe. Despite appearing to be in his sixties or seventies, he was as sharp and energetic as a man in his prime. "May I know who you are?" Almost instinctively, Elspeth felt a sense of respect for the man in front of her. The old man was pleased with her respect and his impression of her improved slightly. "I am Haris McGrath, Jasmine''s grandfather." So, he is her grandfather. Elspeth had read in some material that the McGrath Family was a renowned family of traditional medicine, and Haris McGrath was a famous name in the field, but his granddaughter didn''t seem to be living up to that reputation. They were two separate people. Elspeth nodded and smiled. "Hello, Mr. McGrath." "I heard from Jasmine that you''re having health problems. Is that true?" Haris carefully observed her face and instantly figured out something. "Yes, you''re a bit weak." Her heart skipped a beat, and she couldn''t help but be more guarded against the man in front of her. How did Jasmine know about my health problem? Did Callum tell her? At this point, Elspeth''s emotions were chaotic, and she couldn''t quite express her feelings. Seeing that Elspeth was lost in thought, Haris asked with a smile, "Jasmine begged me to help you with your treatment. I have been retired for ten years. You''re lucky to have me brewing medicine for you." Elspeth was shocked to hear this and was almost speechless. How could Jasmine, who is at odds with me, possibly ask her grandfather toe out of retirement to save me? That doesn''t make any sense! N?velDrama.Org ? content. But when she thought more about it and recalled many overlooked details, everything seemed to point to one person¡ªCallum Winthrop. Is Callum the one who arranged everything? After she figured everything out, Elspeth clenched her fists and spoke firmly, "Thank you for offering to help me, Mr. McGrath. However, I have something more important to do right now." Chapter 429 Chapter 429 Chapter 429 Be My Apprentice Elspeth was determined to find Callum and ask him directly. Suddenly, Haris'' expression changed dramatically. "You can''t go out," he said. "Why can''t I go out?" she asked. "That Winthrop kid is going to marry Jasmine soon. If you go out, it''s likely to ruin the wedding," he said. Hearing that, she clenched her fists quietly. "What if I try to leave?" "If you leave, there are only two possibilities. One, you will be treated coldly by that Winthrop kid and then escorted back here. The other possibility is that you will die outside from an illness. Miss, I''ve examined your body. I''m afraid you don''t have much time left," he said. On the other hand, Elspeth had been experiencing chest pain and shortness of breath for the past few days, and she knew her condition was deteriorating daily. So, she had thought of indulging in some happy activities during her final days. However, she never thought she would be taken there. "No matter whether or not he despises me, I still want to ask him." She made up her mind in her heart. If Callum asks me to leave, I will do so without remorse. "That Winthrop kid has spent a lot of effort to ask me to cure you, and if you mess it up by going out now, he will be distraught." Following that, Haris rubbed his beard, his smile tinged with remorse. "Although this exchange of interests is not very ethical, Jasmine is very fond of Callum, so I had no choice." He knew she was considering what he said, so he stepped forward to pat her on the shoulder. "Miss, I know this is quite unfair to you, but she''s my precious granddaughter. My wish is for her to be happy. Nevertheless, the bright side is that I will do everything I can to treat your illness." After hearing his words, her heart was filled with mixed emotions. She couldn''t describe how she felt, but her heart ached horribly when she learned Callum sacrificed his love for her to find a cure for her illness. Moreover, he had deliberately kept a cold attitude toward her the whole time to make her give up and make the entire act look real. She had even been fooled by him. At that moment, memories of the past flooded her mind, and she felt a crushing weight of guilt. She felt terrible for saying those heartless words to him. "Don''t worry. I won''t keep you locked up forever. After they get married, I''ll let you leave. During that time, I will have cured your illness. Then, you will be healthy again, and you can fall in love with a better man," Haris said. A better man¡­ Who could be better than Callum to Elspeth? Although she wanted to go find Callum immediately, she knew that the treatment opportunity was something he had worked hard for. If she left without any consideration, it would ruin everything he had achieved. N?velDrama.Org ? content. "You don''t have to feel guilty. Callum is blessed to marry my granddaughter. After spending time together, he will naturally discover Jasmine''s good personality¡ª" However, she had already epted the oue with a heavy heart. No matter what, I think it is best to cure this illness first. With that thought, she turned around and found a chair to sit on. He was amused by her unexpected reaction. "It seems you have settled on a decision. So, are you going to stay?" "Yes, Old Mr. McGrath. Please help me cure my illness." Then, she dropped the load off her shoulder momentarily and gave him a radiant grin in exchange. Afterward, he looked at her cheerful expression and felt a little regretful. "You''re also a good girl, but unfortunately, you''re not destined for him." When Elspeth heard that, she shook her head. "No need to say that. You''ve already done so much for me. I''ll make sure to repay you once I leave." Even though Haris had his granddaughter in mind, she knew he would save her life, and she would never forget that. Later, he sat beside her, looking at the steaming pot of medicinal herbs in front of them, lost in thought. "By the way, I could tell from what you said earlier that you know medicinal herbs," he said. "Female ginseng decoction. It contains female ginseng, cinnamon twig, peony, wild ginger, licorice root, clematis, and jujube dates. With the weather bing cold, it''s easy for the body to get sick. So, it''s better to wear warm clothes." After that, she frowned when she saw that the man only wore a thin suit. On the other hand, his eyes lit up when he heard her words. "Even though the female ginseng decoction has a simple recipe, it''s rare for someone like you to know all the ingredients so clearly. Miss, tell me, have you studied traditional medicine before?" Nheless, she had nothing to hide in front of such an expert. "Yes, I studied traditional medicine for two years with my mentor when I was abroad." Then, Haris touched his chin with an intrigued expression. "Can you tell me who your mentor is?" he asked. "My mentor is Sonny Schwartz," Elspeth said. After hearing that, he was no longer surprised but rather shocked. "That old geezer actually took you on as his apprentice?" After all, they were both masters in traditional medicine, so it was only natural for them to be acquainted with one another. Before she uttered those words, she had already anticipated his response and surmised that animosity existed between them. "Yes, I''m not sure why he wanted to take me on as his apprentice." Suddenly, he widened his eyes and inquired, "Did that old geezer offer to take you as his apprentice?" "He forced me into it by crying, throwing a tantrum, and even threatening to die." After hearing that, Haris was so shocked that he almost choked on his saliva. Sonny, that old geezer, is selective about the people he associates with and possesses a domineering personality. This is one of the reasons why so few people in themunity of traditional medicine like him. However, it is shocking that he would even consider taking someone on as an apprentice, let alone resort to such coercive tactics. With that, he said, "Miss, I underestimated you earlier. You must be really talented." On the other hand, Elspeth didn''t want to think about her traumatic experience of being forced into bing Sonny''s apprentice. So, she quickly changed the subject with augh. "That''s all in the past." Soon, he had a bold idea. "Miss, would you be interested in bing my apprentice?" He had two ulterior motives for wanting her to be his apprentice. If Sonny is invested in someone, he will treat them like a precious treasure. However, if I were to take away his ''treasure,'' the old geezer would throw a fit, which would be entertaining to watch. Moreover, this youngdy is exceptionally gifted, and I hope to impart my skills to her. Meanwhile, she didn''t understand why all these old men wanted to take her on as their apprentice. "I don''t¡ª" Afterward, heid out the most enticing condition. "If you''re willing to be my apprentice, I will impart all of my medical knowledge to you." Elspeth''s mind began to wander after she heard that. Since McGrath Family specializes in treating difficult andplex illnesses, I may be able to learn something beneficial for treating my mom''s condition. "Okay, I''ll be your apprentice," she said. Chapter 430 Chapter 430 Chapter 430 My Feelings for Her Are Over On the other hand, Elspeth''s quick agreement surprised Haris. "You''re not joking with me, are you?" he asked, swallowing some of his skepticism at her response. Then, she chuckled slyly and made up her mind. "Of course not. Since you promised to teach me everything, you can''t back out now." Hearing that, he realized he had fallen into her trap. "You are quite mischievous," he sighed, rubbing his beard. "I will keep my promise, but you must promise not to go out these days and not to dy the wedding of those two." She nodded decisively, hiding any emotions on her face, and appearedpletely different from before. "Sure." Soon, Haris smiled happily and said, "Those who recognize the times are wise. Since you can think this way, that''s better. The room to the east is specially prepared for you. Starting today, you can stay here temporarily." ¡­ Meanwhile, in Callum''s office, the atmosphere was tense. Yelena stood before him, furious and ready to strangle him by the tie. "Tell me, where did you hide Elspeth?" she demanded, eyes zing red with rage. On the other hand, Hank watched silently with minimal facial expression while he observed Callum''s reaction. "She''s disappeared. Why would you suspect me?" When Callum learned of Elspeth''s disappearance, he showed no emotion, which disappointed Yelena, and even appeared impatient. "I never thought you could be such a heartless person. Even if you had nothing to do with her disappearance, she is missing, and you don''t seem to care. She liked you so much... Callum, you are a despicable jerk!" Although her insults were harsh, he remained unfazed. "If there''s nothing else, please leave. I have work to do." He didn''t want to hear Yelena''s endless cursing and yelling any longer and hoped they could leave soon and give him some peace and quiet. "I''m asking you one more time. Did you do this?" She was so enraged that tears welled in her eyes, and she mmed her hand on the desk, startling Hank. Soon, Callum''s expression grew icy. "This is yourst warning. Don''t cause a scene here." Then, he turned to Hank. "Take her away." Nheless, Hank could not tolerate seeing Yelena humiliated, so he defended her. "Mr. Winthrop, why are you in such a hurry? Guilty conscience?" Callum was taken aback that even Hank was against him. Before he could speak, Jasmine rushed into the office, looking excited. She opened her mouth to speak but stopped when she saw everyone in the room. The sudden visit of the woman immediately caused Yelena''s displeasure. So, she immediately stepped forward and grabbed Jasmine''s cor. "Tell us, is Elspeth missing because of you?" Although Jasmine felt apprehensive about what she had done earlier, having Callum by her side helped her feel more confident. So, she looked up at Yelena unafraid and said, "How could it be rted to me? I came to see Callum for our date. Who knows where Elspeth went?" Then, Yelena''s eyes turned red as she retorted, "You''re lying! The front desk saw you take Elspeth away!" However, Jasmine quickly defended herself. "Simply because I followed behind her does not mean we walked out together. You''re being ridiculous." Yelena couldn''t argue with her, so she let Jasmine go while looking tearfully at Hank. Nevertheless, he felt sorry for the girl when he saw she would cry again. "Miss McGrath, we have surveince footage of the incident, so we''ll know whether or not your story is true. Moreover, we will be reporting this to the police, and you may want to consult with awyer," he said firmly. Afterward, he shielded Yelena by pulling her close to his chest and observed Jasmine''s ashen face with concealed sarcasm. So, there really is something fishy going on. After Jasmine heard that, she naturally couldn''t stay still. The matter was initially connected to her, and she believed that with Hank''s intelligence, they could uncover something if they decided to investigate. Moreover, she knew that he was one of the bestwyers in Damoria, and she didn''t want to risk a legal battle with him even if she could find a goodwyer. She knew he was clearly trying to test her with those words. For once, her mind was clear, and she refused outright. "I disagree. I have done nothing wrong, so there is no need to go to the police station." She believed that Callum would protect her. After all, Elspeth still needed her help... As expected, Callum was thoroughly enraged. "You''ve been ndering my fianc¨¦e, and if you keep doing it, I won''t hold back," he said decisively. After hearing that, Yelena was utterly devastated. "You have the evidence before you and still want to defend this woman. Sure enough, none of you Winthrops are decent people! Elspeth must have been blind to have fallen in love with you!" With that, she dragged Hank and stormed out of the room. Seeing her leaving in a rage, Jasmine breathed a sigh of relief. She turned to Callum and said, "I took care of everything." Then, he raised his eyebrows, and a hint of emotion appeared in his eyes. "Has she arrived at the McGrath Residence?" "Yes. I''ve sent her to live with my grandpa. He said she''s quite obedient, so I think she''s happy to be there." At the thought of Elspeth soon recovering her health, a hint of tender affection shone in his eyes. He had suppressed his feelings for her for so long but no longer needed to. "So, when will we get married, Callum?" Jasmine inquired. Elspeth''s submissive attitude has me convinced that Callum must help her. If she can recover and then return topete with me for him, I will be in a worse position. Furthermore, this is uneptable, so I must firmly bind him to myself before her return. N?velDrama.Org ? content. The man gave the impression that he had no intention to renege, and then he gave a slight nod and said, "The wedding will proceed as nned." Hearing that, she smiled happily and walked up to him, cing her hand on his shoulder and gently massaging it. "Callum, do you still love her?" He took a deep breath and gently held her hand with his right hand. "I''ve already told you that once this is all settled, my feelings for her are over." Chapter 431 Chapter 431 Chapter 431 Time is Running Out The wedding announcement between Callum, the CEO of Winthrop Group in Damoria, and Jasmine McGrath, the heiress of the McGrath Family, caused quite a stir. Within a day, everyone knew about it, with some envying her for marrying such a great catch. In contrast, others felt sorry for him, as his ex- fianc¨¦e Elspeth was far superior to Jasmine regarding family background, appearance, and personality. On the other hand, Jasmine was naturally ufortable hearing those rumors, especially when people tried to defame her despite her already being hiswful wife. Hence, she was determined to drive Elspeth abroad when Elspeth came out, but in the meantime, she tried to spread the news of how good Callum was to her online. However, the photos were too amateurish, and people weren''t buying them. Some even imed that he seemed stiff and insincere toward her. As a result, it infuriated her, and she broke a few sses in her wrath. Meanwhile, Elspeth was cut off from the outside world at the McGrath Residence, except for a call to Yelena to let her know she was safe. At the same time, Yelena had been feeling down, but when she heard her phone ring, she perked up. Then, upon noticing the name "Elspeth" on the screen, she scrambled to pick up her phone. "Yellie, I¡ª" "You scared me! I thought something had happened to you! I''ve been trying to reach you, but your phone''s been off!" Yelena sobbed, feeling relieved to hear her voice. Still, Elspeth couldn''t help but smile, "Did you really think I was dead? I only disappeared for a day." "I knew Jasmine took you away, but when I confronted her, she denied everything. And Callum... You shouldn''t like him anymore. He''s aplete jerk! He defended her and drove us out¡ª" Yelena ranted about Callum''s wrongdoings, while Elspeth had no choice but to agree. Then, Elspeth seriously told her, "There''s something I need to tell you." When Yelena heard how serious Elspeth''s tone was, she let out a little sniffle. Later, she looked around to ensure nobody was listening, then whispered, "Don''t worry, I won''t tell anyone." Elspeth could tell by Yelena''s tone how clueless she was, and she concluded that it was probably best not to tell her after all. Elspeth feared that if she spilled the beans, Yelena might do something crazy and ruin everything by trying to break Callum and Jasmine up. Hence, she decided to keep it a secret for now. "I wasn''t kidnapped by Jasmine. I''m fine, and I have some things to take care of. Don''t worry about me. I''ll tell you when I return, okay?" Although Yelena was worried, she was relieved to hear how natural Elspeth sounded. "Okay, I''ll wait for you to return, but you must call me every day so that I can make sure you''re okay." While Yelena blinked and made her demands, she gritted her teeth and thought that if anything happened to Elspeth, she wouldn''t let Jasmine off the hook. Elspeth reluctantly agreed, "Okay, I promise." Suddenly, Yelena burst outughing and nearly choked. "You know, I grabbed Jasmine by her cor and scared her out of her mind the other day. Hank also helped me scare her, and her face turned white!" When Elspeth heard that, she felt a bit guilty. After all, Yelena and Hank were trying to help her. Still, she had to think for her own benefit, and although nothing terrible happened, for now, Yelena''s impulsiveness was a bit much. Ignorance was bliss, after all. After soothing her friend, Elspeth said she had to go have dinner and hung up the phone. As soon as she hung up, she turned to see Haris smiling at the door under dim lighting. Even though she knew him well by now, she was still startled. Then, she put a hand on her chest and scolded him with a frown, "Old Mr. McGrath, you can''t just show up like that without knocking! You scared me." N?velDrama.Org ? content. However, he didn''t seem to care and walked in leisurely. "I didn''t expect you to be so tight-lipped. You didn''t even tell your closest friend," he said. Hearing that, she shrugged it off. "She''s too na?ve. If I told her, she might cause some trouble. You don''t want your granddaughter dragged to the police station, do you?" Then, he thought about the scene, and it did seem scary. So, he changed the subject and said, "Oh yeah, about the question you asked me yesterday. I looked it up in an old book and think I have an idea. You said your mother had bone problems, right?" Soon, she fell into deep thought. Even though Arthur was the one helping her mother back then, she still knew a thing or two about her mother''s condition. She vividly remembered the medical report, where Arthur had intentionally marked the interior position of the bone. Even though she couldn''t fully understand, and there were differences between traditional and western medicine, it was clear that the bone was the problem. "Based on your description, your mother''s disease is not just a normal case of osteonecrosis," he said. "No, if it was just that, she would have been cured long ago," Elspeth replied. On the other hand, Haris, who liked to stroke his beard when he encountered something he couldn''t solve, started to think deeply. Finally, he asked, "Why don''t you just call your mother and have her come over? You''re my apprentice now, so helping your mother with her illness is something I can do." Thinking about Helena, Elspeth felt guilty. Her mother might not have left if it weren''t for her argument with Arthur that night. If that were the case, her mother''s illness could have been treated well, and she could have found a way outter. It was all her fault for not exining things to her mother clearly, which resulted in that oue. Then, he saw the hesitation in her eyes and understood what was happening. At that moment, he felt sorry for the girl before him. "Sigh. You must be an excellent girl for that Winthrop boy to treat you this well. You''re so much better than my useless granddaughter¡ª" Hearing that, Elspeth suddenly thought of something, and a glimmer appeared in her eyes. She said in a hushed tone, "If possible, I hope you can cure me as soon as possible, Old Mr. McGrath." "Why?" Haris asked. "Because there''s not much time left for my mother, I must find her as soon as possible." Chapter 432 Chapter 432 Chapter 432 Root Out the Problem "If I cure you earlier, will you go and¡ª" Haris hesitated for a long time, and he never finished his sentence about ruining the wedding. Although it seems now that Elspeth was not that kind of person, he still couldn''t guarantee that it was absolutely safe to listen to her. He couldn''t be med for not trusting her as she could break her word. "Don''t worry, I have promised you that I will never do such a thing again, and I will definitely not do it." She had a principle of keeping her promises. As long as she promised something, she would follow it through. Seeing her firm gaze, he couldn''t help but feel a little ashamed of his thoughts. "Since you love and care for your mother, I will fulfill and cure you as soon as possible to let you go earlier." Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. Her face suddenly showed a trace of surprise. "That''s great, thank you." "However, before that, you must still follow me and learn relevant medical knowledge to treat your mother when you meet her." Unexpectedly, Haris was still concerned about her mother, and Elspeth suddenly felt warmth in her heart. ¡­ In the meantime, at the McGrath Residence, Callum stood in front of Bobby McGrath, whose face bore a chilly expression. "Theoretically speaking, I do not agree with your marriage." When Jasmine heard that, her face immediately turned pale. She grabbed her father''s arm and shook it vigorously. "Dad, what are you talking about? Didn''t you promise me earlier that you would let me marry Callum?" Then, he looked at his daughter''s uneptable attitude and sighed helplessly. "You know why he''s marrying you. He''s doing so to help another woman, yet you''re still willing to marry him. You''re so foolish." She had internal doubts and had given his words serious thought. Callum was marrying her because of another woman, and Jasmine was still shrewd enough to see it. Still, the man was outstanding. She didn''t know how long she would have to wait to meet a man who matched her if she missed out on marrying him. Since there was such an opportunity, she must hold on to it tightly. Feelings could be cultivated slowly. She believed that if she persisted in being good to him, he would be moved one day. "Dad, don''t overthink it. Callum really likes me. If you don''t believe me, ask him." Then, Bobby looked at Callum''s stiff face without a smile, and his dissatisfaction increased. "As a son- inw, he even shows such a look to me. I don''t know what you see in him." Callum gazed at him, who appeared displeased with everything before him, and spoke slowly. "Mr. McGrath, you can be assured that I will take good care of Jasmine." "Can you truly care for her if you have feelings for another woman?" However, Bobby''s words rendered Callum speechless. When he noticed Callum said nothing, Bobby grew angrier. "I advise you to reconsider marrying Jasmine, Mr. Winthrop." The plot, which was supposed to progress smoothly, was abruptly interrupted, causing her to panic. So, she spoke up. "Dad, I''ve already informed my friends about my uing wedding, and we''ve already sent out the invitations. Everyone in Damoria knows about it. If you prevent me from being with Callum now, it would be embarrassing, wouldn''t it?" Her father took a deep breath and tried to calm his racing heart. "Oh, so you know it''s embarrassing? Still, it''s not just your reputation you''re losing; it''s the reputation of our entire McGrath Family!" Suddenly, Jasmine lost her temper and cried, "Dad!" Bobby then shifted his gaze to Callum, who was still calm and collected and managed a faint smile. "Mr. Winthrop, there are some things I need to talk to Jasmine about alone, so I''ll have to ask you to leave first." There was no doubt that it was a dismissal. Nheless, Callum knew there was no reason to speak then and nodded slightly, giving her a deep look before leaving. On the other hand, she watched him walk away; for some reason, she suddenly felt uncertain. Is he angry with me? Does he think my dad isn''t friendly enough to him? She was lost in her thoughts when Bobby shouted angrily, "Get in the room!" It was her first time seeing her father so angry, and she was a little scared. Hence, she obediently followed him to the study and timidly said, "Dad, I know I was wrong¡ª" "Jasmine, you know that you''ve always been the apple of my eye, so I don''t want to see you suffer. Look at Callum! Does he look like he''s truly in love with you? He only agreed to marry you so that you could help that woman with her illness. He doesn''t care about you at all." Hearing that, Jasmine couldn''t help but argue, "If we get married, Callum will be mine, won''t he?" "Get married? You''re thinking too lightly of what marriage is," Bobby sneered. "If you believe that getting married is enough to keep a man faithful, then be prepared to discover that he is seeing someone else one day." She felt a bit confused. "Why can''t it be like that?" Some tension could be seen in his eyes, but it had been reced byplete relief. "Because I don''t want you and your mother to go the same path." Jasmine widened her eyes in shock. "Are you saying you were forced to marry my mom too?" As an elder, Bobby felt ashamed to bring up that matter. "Yes, I didn''t like your mother at first. I had someone else in my heart, but she became seriously ill. I was desperate, so I took your mother up on her offer to marry her in exchange for treating the woman I love. I also had to break up with that other woman. That way, your mother promised to help me cure her." She was hearing that from her father for the first time, and amid the shock, she felt empathy. "And then?" "Unfortunately, something ill-fated happened. The dy was too long, and my beloved couldn''t be cured. She eventually died, and I still married your mom as promised." Jasmine''s heart was stirred, and she asked, "Does this mean you never loved my mom?" She couldn''t help but feel sorry for her mother. Then, Bobby cleared his throat. "No, that''s not true. After many years of being together, I have developed feelings for your mom. Otherwise, we wouldn''t have given birth to you." "Then, why are you telling me all of this?" Suddenly, his expression turned cold. "I''m saying that if you really want to be with Callum for a long time, you have to root out the problem and ensure that the woman never appears in front of you two again." Chapter 433 Chapter 433 Chapter 433 Hidden Message in Love Letter Although Jasmine had also thought about getting rid of Elspeth, it was definitely not with such a malicious ending. Does "root out the problem" mean to kill her? Nheless, she felt a little scared at the thought. "Dad, I don''t think it''s necessary. After all, she hasn''t done anything too outrageous. If we kill her like that, won''t it be too¡ª" Before she could finish the word " unwise," Bobby red at her and made her swallow the rest of what she had to say. "Indeed, you are too soft-hearted! You won''t be able to aplish anything like this, nor will you be able to keep a man by your side," he sighed deeply. Even though he and her mother were both tough, their daughter seemed timid and hesitant. "Do whatever you want, but remember, your actions reflect on the entire McGrath Family. Be prepared for anything and avoid any unnecessary troubles." The sentence had a soothing effect on Jasmine as if she had taken a calming pill. Feeling encouraged, she grew bolder and said, "Dad, I understand." "That''s good." Bobby stroked the stubble on his chin with a smug smile. Even if she couldn''t do it, it didn''t matter. If that woman was too cunning, he would take care of her personally. ... On the other hand, Elspeth had been apprenticing for half a month. The longer she studied, the more she realized that the McGrath Family''s medical knowledge differed from Sonny''s. Sonny focused on theoretical medical knowledge, emphasizing depth, while Haris was more concerned with rare and "Girl, did you understand what I taught today?" Haris looked at the words in the book and grinned, stroking his beard. It had to be said that his teaching method was quite meticulous, and she could easily understand it. "Yes, I do." Then, he sighed, "Ah, I never thought there would be someone so talented in medicine in this world like you. No wonder that old geezer Sonny had been pursuing you relentlessly. If he learns I''ve taken you on as an apprentice, he''ll die before he notices." He paused momentarily and then asked, "You''ve been here for so many days. Hasn''t he called you or anything?" Elspeth felt cold sweat on her forehead. "He''s probably still ying cards and hasn''t had time for me." Suddenly, Sonny, who was abroad, sneezed without warning. "Right, I knew him when I was younger, and he loved ying cards. He would often y for three days straight." Haris fondly remembered his old friend, his face full of joy. When he finished reminiscing, he couldn''t help but add, "You see, you''re only his apprentice, and you''ll end up being abandoned. However, with me as your mentor, I will do everything I can to cure your illness." Is he really Sonny''s old friend? Why does it not seem like it? She silently mourned for Sonny in her heart. Suddenly, her phone rang, and Haris thought it was Sonny calling. He grinned and asked, "Speak of the devil! Is it that guy calling you?" Elspeth also thought it was Sonny since he was the only one in her circle of friends who would call her. Then, when she picked up the phone and saw the name on the screen, her face changed instantly. Haris noticed her change of expression and stood up to leave. "I won''t eavesdrop on your call," he said. She nodded and locked the door before answering the phone. "What''s up, Gilbert?" A heavy, nasally voice came through the phone. "Where are you now?" "I cannot disclose my location, but I am safe, so don''t worry.¡± She was surprised to receive his call because she knew that a few months ago, to find Ginna and take responsibility for her unborn child. So, the two of them had not been in contact for a long time. "I''m back in the country now. Can we meet up if you''re free?" Gilbert''s voice sounded hoarse and rash as if he was drunk. "Are you drunk?" Elspeth frowned. He was always a refined drinker and would never get this drunk. It seemed that his long-term rational thinking was barely keeping him sober. Still, his breathing was heavy. "That''s not important. I''ve taken care of things on my end. Do you want to see me?" What he was referring to must have been rted to Ginna. Had he already dealt with it so quickly? "What was the oue?" Elspeth felt a sense of unease. It was not about whether the two were together but because she thought the matter was not as simple as it seemed. There was a long silence on the other end before Gilbert said, "She''s dead." Dead¡­ Hearing that, her pupils shrank. "How did she die?" He couldn''t exin it, but he experienced intense difort when she posed that question as if she suspected he was responsible for Ginna''s death. "Her health wasn''t good, to begin with, and it was already dangerous for her to carry that child. She had an ident that caused a miscarriage and couldn¡¯t ept that her child was gone. Unfortunately, she passed away a few dayster." That exnation was reasonable enough. Then, Elspeth silently mourned for Ginna. "And what about Emma?" Hearing that, Gilbert was now more at ease, speaking in a cold tone without pity. "She''s dead too." His words rendered her speechless. After reporting on that matter, he probed, "So, can we meet now?" Nheless, she frowned and replied, "Not yet. I still have some things to take care of. Let''s wait a bit longer." Although she spoke in a tone simr to how she used to, Gilbert still sensed a hint of aloofness in her words. "Are you unhappy that Ginna was carrying my child?" Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Elspeth had not even considered that possibility. She had liked him before, but that was her youth''s naive and inexperienced infatuation. As time passed, her feelings for him gradually evolved into a bond of friendship and brotherhood. "No, you''re overthinking things," she replied. "Oh, right." Heughed bitterly. "Now that you don''t like me anymore, of course, you wouldn''t care about these things." "You''re drunk," she said softly. "In fact, I replied to the love letter you sent me. My response was on the back of the letter," he suddenly said, surprising her. She only knew that her love letter had been returned, which she took to mean that she had been rejected. How could she bother to look at the back of the letter? Chapter 434 Chapter 434 Chapter 434 Obsessed With Her On the other hand, Elspeth didn''t bring anything with her when she was kidnapped. At that moment, she wondered what Gilbert had written on the back of the love letter. However, she knew Gilbert wouldn''t lie, so she said helplessly, "I understand now." "You don''t understand. If you did, you wouldn''t be acting like this toward me now. You wouldn''t have fallen for¡ª" Gilbert abruptly stopped speaking, realizing he was crossing a line. Still, she understood what he was trying to say. "It''s been a long time. Let''s leave the past in the past. Keeping it in our hearts is also a beautiful memory." That was what she truly believed. Even though she now knew about his feelings for her, it was toote. In addition, she no longer had romantic feelings for him. "Is that really what you think?" His voice was filled with disappointment. "Of course. As I said, we''re good friends now, and friendshipsts even longer than romance." Elspeth laughed it off, trying to brush the matter aside. Nevertheless, Gilbert insisted on saying what was on his mind, which was likely due to the influence of alcohol. "I''ve liked you for a long time, even longer than you''ve liked me. I kept it to myself so that you could concentrate on your training. Then, when I found out that you had written me a love letter, I was over the moon. That night, I was so excited that I couldn''t sleep and wrote a response on the back. Despite this, I never imagined that you would ignore me once you got the letter. I thought your feelings had faded, so I didn''t bring it up... I had no idea you never even saw my reply." Gilbert''s voice trailed off, and she could imagine the look of disappointment on his face. However, at that point, no matter how moving and sincere he spoke, her heart could no longer be stirred. "Thank you for liking me." She didn''t know what else to say. His unexpected confession caught her off guard. Suddenly, heughed and said, "Just take it as my sincere words to you. You don''t have to respond." Nevertheless, he didn''t need a response from her. He only needed her to know how he felt, so he wouldn''t regret anything. She immediately felt relieved after hearing that. "Are you drinking outside now?" He nodded but suddenly realized he was making a phone call, and she couldn''t see his actions. So, he said softly, "Yeah, I''m at Luna Bar." "Well, get some rest after you''re done drinking. I''ve never seen you drunk before." Gilbert nodded, chuckling mischievously. "Are you worried about me?" "Nah. I''m afraid you''ll get into trouble on my turf, and I''ll have to bail you out." Elspeth rolled her eyes and continued, "Okay, it''s gettingte. If there''s nothing else, get some rest." He suddenly realized more than an hour had passed. "I''m going to bed now. Goodnight." "Goodnight. Remember to get some rest." Following that, she hung up the phone. On the other hand, his smile slowly disappeared when the call ended, and he slumped back in his seat. Empty wine, whiskey, and even a few sake bottles were scattered over the table. He then grabbed another bottle and started drinking, his face flushed. When he was almost unconscious, a woman stumbled and fell into his arms. So, he held the warm woman in his arms with a sly smile. "Do you like me?" he asked. He was very handsome, and this smile made the woman''s heart skip a beat. "Y-Yes, I do," she stammered. Then, he lifted her chin and gazed at her rosy lips. "Tell me, what do you like about me?" N?velDrama.Org ? content. Nheless, she had never heard such a direct question before, and her face turned red. "Because you''re handsome," she blurted out. "So, you like me because I am good-looking. Does that mean you like anyone who is good-looking?" Gilbert asked. Hearing that, she shook her head vigorously. "No, it''s not like that. I like you because you''re extremely handsome," she exined. "So, you like someone who''s extremely handsome?" Soon, the woman felt something was off about that question, but she nodded anyway. He clicked his tongue and used his free hand to lightly stroke her cheek. "Too bad you''re not pretty enough," he said. Soon, his fingers trailed down her neck, adding, "Your chest isn''t big enough. Your waist isn''t small enough." Hearing that, her expression contorted. She had never been humiliated like that before, so she covered her face and started to cry. Suddenly, Gilbert raised an eyebrow and spoke in a cold, harsh tone, "Why are you still here? Get lost." When the woman heard that, she quickly fled, feeling embarrassed and hurt. It''s not her. His mind was a mess. He had almost gone through with his n to sleep with that woman. In any case, he was a son of the Payne Family. Sleeping with a woman was nothing to him; he needed to pay her off and send her awayter. At that moment, the image of Elspeth''s happy smile shed before his eyes. He felt terrible for even considering it, so he buried his thoughts. Even though he had been rejected, he felt awful for harboring such impure thoughts. Then, he tried to stand up but had too much to drink. So, he stumbled and fell back onto the ground. "I can''t believe that the once-famous Gilbert Payne would end up in such a sorry state. And I''m here to witness it. How pitiful," a familiar voice said. After attentively listening, Gilbert noticed that there was actually a trace of sympathy mixed in with the mocking tone, and he thought it was absurd. "Are you here to mock me too?" Afterward, he got up and looked at the woman before him, dressed in a hot, tight-fitting dress. It was Holly Jenga, his fellow martial arts student with whom he had frequently shed while abroad. "No, I''m here to take you home," she said. "I don''t remember when we became so close?" Obviously, he didn''t want to have any dealings with her. He would try to leave the ce even if he couldn''t stand firmly. "I don''t believe you haven''t noticed that I like you. It''s been three years, and you''ve only had eyes for Elspeth. Even when I deliberately argued with you to get your attention, followed you back here, and made every effort to cross your path, you still have her in your heart." Holly spoke from behind him in a low voice. "What''s so great about her that makes you so obsessed with her?" she added. Chapter 435 Chapter 435 Chapter 435 Shall I Take You Home? "You don''t need to know." Hollyughed suddenly. "Then, I''ll tell you that Elspeth''s heart belongs to Callum now. She hasn''t liked you in a long time." Hearing that, Gilbert ced his hand over his heart and replied in a calm voice, "I know." "If you know that, why do you still like her?" she asked. "Gilbert, have you ever considered being with me?" She was never someone who kept her feelings hidden. If she wanted something, she would do everything she could to get it, and men were no exception. "I don''t have any feelings for you, so we can''t be together," he said, ending the conversation abruptly. Then, he turned around and walked away. "Even if you don''t have feelings for me now, I''ll make you feel something for me eventually," Holly said, clenching her fists behind him. Gilbert stopped as he realized she would be hard to deal with. So, he grabbed a nearby girl without looking too closely and kissed her lips. "See? I''m that kind of guy." Nevertheless, she didn''t expect him to make such a move, and her eyes turned red instantly. "Since you''re already so s¨¦, why can''t you like me?" Her words made his face darken. "I can like anyone else but not you." After hearing that, she felt a great sense of humiliation. She never thought that he would use a bar girl to humiliate her. "She''s only a bar girl! You''re humiliating me with her, and you will regret it!" With that, she stomped her foot fiercely and left in a fit of anger. Soon, he watched her walk away without any emotion on his face. He suddenly realized that he had earlier kissed a girl, so he turned to apologize to her. When he saw her face, a familiar face shed through his mind. "You''re¡ª" he said, trying to ce her. The girl appeared familiar, so he must have seen her somewhere before. "I¡ª" Gilbert had a sudden realization. "I remember now! You''re that girl from the Joneson Family¡ª" The person in front of him was indeed Isabel. She stood timidly in a super short dress, which was not her usual style. Moreover, she looked inexperienced but quite alluring. "Didn''t you go abroad with Miss Joneson to get treatment? Are you still with her? Do you know where she is?" Gilbert bombarded her with questions. At that moment, she was caught off guard by the sudden questions. When he mentioned Helena, tears immediately sprang to her eyes. "I-I can''t say," she said. Soon, his alcohol-induced haze had slightly cleared up since he met Isabel. He saw her hesitant demeanor and grew anxious. "Miss Joneson still hasn''t recovered from her illness. If you''re doing this for her sake, please tell me where she is." "She''s in a sanatorium," she replied. Hearing that, his eyes lit up. "Are you talking about the sanatorium in Damoria?" She nodded, and then as if she had made up her mind, she suddenly kneeled down. Looking at her sudden reaction, Gilbert was slightly surprised and asked, "What''s the matter?" Isabel begged, "Please, both of you! Please save Miss Joneson. She''s not doing well at all." Seeing that, he quickly helped her stand up and made her sit on the nearby couch. He handed her a tissue and said, "Don''t cry. Take your time and tell me what happened." She wiped away her tears and sobbed, "We agreed to keep our return a secret from Elspeth. We wanted to sneak back and find a ce where we wouldn''t be noticed, so Elspeth wouldn''t be threatened. On the other hand, Miss Joneson is already very ill. After returning here, to avoid being discovered by anyone, we had to go to a ce none of you could possibly guess. Since the funds are almost depleted, we can barely afford her medical expenses. So, I had toe here to work as a hostess, where the pay is a little higher, which is enough to support her medical expenses." After listening to Isabel''s story, Gilbert couldn''t help but feel a little regretful for his impulsive behavior earlier. "I''m sorry. My behavior was indeed impulsive." Then, she thought of the wet kiss, and her face suddenly turned red. "It''s okay. You kissed me so quickly that I didn''t even react... Ah, no, I didn''t mean that. What I meant was that it''s okay. I don''t mind." Nheless, she was still a young girl who had never been in love before and had not experienced the situation before. Meanwhile, he looked at her as she worked tirelessly for Elspeth''s mother and was willing toe to a ce like that. He couldn''t resist patting her head. "Don''t worry. If you tell me where Miss Joneson is, I will see her and help pay for her medical expenses. I will also find the best doctors to cure her illness. From today on, I hope you won''t work in a ce like this anymore." Hearing that, Isabel''s eyes lit up. "Really? Nevertheless, Miss Joneson will scold me when she finds out about this." Gilbert inexplicably felt sorry for the sensible little girl, and his tone softened unconsciously. "If she finds out that you are earning money in a ce like this for her medical expenses, she will be even less willing to ept treatment." His words made her anxious, and she almost dropped the ss. "Then, please help me keep it a secret, okay? Don''t tell Miss Joneson about this." "Then, you ept my help as a condition of our deal." She gritted her teeth and said, "Deal." Soon, Gilbert smiled and narrowed his eyes, looking at her exposed, thin legs. He took off his coat and draped it over her legs. "Wear something thicker." However, Isabel was rendered speechless by his gesture. She stared at the suit jacket and tightly held onto one corner of it. "Do you want me to send you back?" After hearing that, she almost nodded involuntarily but suddenly thought it might be too presumptuous and shook her head. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. "Then, be careful on the way home. I''ve been drinking, so I may be unable to send you back." Following that, he stood up, and his whole demeanor instantly became distant again. She thought their closeness was unreal, like something out of a dream. Nheless, she couldn''t describe how she felt in her heart as he slowly walked away, which wasplicated and dreamlike. After over a decade, she felt the stirring of adolescent emotions she had buried, and the experience surprised and terrified her. Then, she snapped out of her mental reverie as if she had awoken from a deep sleep and was taken aback by her earlier emotions. Oh my god, what am I thinking about? Isabel shook her head, cleared her mind of her wild thoughts, grabbed the coat, and hurriedly left. Chapter 436 Chapter 436 Chapter 436 Getting Out of Here Elspeth had been receiving treatment for more than ten days, and thest traces of poison had been removed from her body. One day, she woke up feeling as good as she did before she got sick, which meant that her treatment process had ended perfectly. When Haris came to check on her, he noticed that she seemed excited and knew what that meant. "Looks like you''re feeling better," he said. At that moment, she happily shared the good news with Yelena, but when she heard a familiar voice behind her, she turned around and smiled. "Yes, Mentor. I''m almostpletely healed now, and thanks to your care." "You''re calling me ''Mentor.'' Taking care of you is my duty, isn''t it?" He smiled while secretly feeling pleased. It feels great to be called a Mentor. "Oh, Mentor, you promised to let me out early after I recovered." The moment Elspeth made the request, Haris'' face changed slightly. He had promised to do so, but it would be difficult to exin to Jasmine if he really let her out. "Elspeth, do you really need to leave so early?" He had thought there might be room for negotiation, but her face instantly fell upon hearing that. "A promise is a promise. You cannot go back on your word." She switched from appealing to reasoning. Hearing that, he had no choice but to lower his voice. "You know that Jasmine is not easy to fool. She has her peoplee to check on you every day. If I let you out, it will be difficult to exin to her." "I don''t care. Mentor, you made a promise, and you can''t break it." Elspeth huffed and started to act unreasonably. On the other hand, Haris was at a loss, so he had to say, "Elspeth, why don''t you help me devise a n that will allow you to leave without arousing suspicion?" After hearing that, her eyes lit up, and she immediately devised a n. "How about this? You say my treatment has progressed to a stage where my facial skin is decaying, and then you wrap a girl''s face with gauze to make it look like me." This is actually a good idea. Seeing the smile on her face, he knew that the n had to be executed. Three dayster, Elspeth had Harper sneak in a girl who was simr in height and weight to herself with simr-looking eyes. "Mentor, I''m handing her over to you. Take care of her for a few days. If I find my mother in a few days, I''ll return if I can." Although she said that, in her heart, she knew it would be harder to return once she left. However, the girl they sneaked in was clearly a trained agent, with a calm and emotionless face as if carrying out a mission was something she did daily. Then, Haris looked at the girl''s icy face and knew that it would be a tough job. "Okay, okay, I got it. You can go now." Afterward, Elspeth said goodbye to him and instructed the girl before preparing to sneak out among the crowd. However, her demeanor was quickly noticed by the guard at the gate, who had shed with her before. "Hey! Who are you? Why haven''t I seen you before?" He looked at her tightly wrapped head, masked face, and shifty gaze with suspicion. "I''m here to deliver food," she deliberately made her voice raspy to sound gender-neutral. "Take off your mask and let me see your face." He didn''t believe her and insisted on seeing her face. Nevertheless, Elspeth didn''t want him to see her face, so she said, "There''s something on my face, and I don''t want to scare you." Soon, the guard got impatient and pulled off her face mask. "I want to see how it''s gonna scare¡ª Ah!" When the guard saw her face, he was so shocked that he threw away the mask in his hand. "Your face is so ugly! You have so many pimples, and some even have pusing out. Gross! Hurry up and leave. Don''t let me see you again!" Seeing that, she forcefully suppressed her inner chuckles and had to put on a sad and mournful expression. "Okay." Then, she picked up her mask from the ground and slowly walked out, lowering her head. As soon as she was out of sight, she removed the mask and headscarf, revealing her gorgeous locks, which cascaded down her back like a waterfall. Later, she took a special potion from her pocket and applied it to her face, instantly removing the pimples and pus. Ten minutester, she found a spot where she had agreed to meet Harper. As she waited for him to pick her up, a car arrived, but it wasn''t what Harper had promised. She became wary when she saw the license te and was taken aback to see the man behind the wheel. "Howe you''re here, Gilbert?" It was Gilbert, and he was driving his high-profile Cayenne with a lively expression. "I''m here to pick you up and tell you something on the way." Nheless, he had a mysterious look on his face. "I''m not interested in anything except my mom''s situation," Elspeth said. She sat in the seat tiredly, rubbing her sore eyes. She even wore colored contact lenses to deal with the guard earlier. Moreover, she hated wearing them as they caused her eyes to feel dry. "Well then, what I''m about to tell you now is about your mom." When she heard that, she suddenly felt invigorated. "What do you know? Quickly tell me." Gilbert never joked around, so if he said something, it must be true. Elspeth felt hopeful that he had information about her mother''s whereabouts. "A couple of days ago, I met Isabel at a bar, and she told me where Miss Joneson is," he said. Hearing that, she almost jumped out of her seat. "Where''s my mom? Tell me!" "Miss Joneson is in the Damoria sanatorium. Isabel says your mom is not doing well and needs treatment as soon as possible." Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Although she was aware of her mother''s worsening condition, she still looked worried. "Can you take me there now?" Then, Gilbert turned the key and stepped on the gas pedal. "Why else would Ie here if not to take you there?" Suddenly, his words made Elspeth''s eyes light up. "Okay!" Chapter 437 Chapter 437 Chapter 437 Helena Has Died Elspeth and Gilbert went together to the sanatorium in Damoria. It was in Damoria''s suburbs, not far from the city center, but it was pretty remote, with few people around. On the other hand, she never would have thought her mother would be there. She expected Helena to be in a hospital due to her terminal illness, but she never imagined that her mother would choose a sanatorium, where typically only the terminally ill are admitted. Then, when she found out that her mother was so set on passing away, she felt an intense pain in her chest. When she arrived, she tried to rush in to see her mom as soon as possible, but the guard at the door stopped her. "Who are you? What''s your name? Please show your ID." Hearing that, her voice was somewhat agitated, but she remained calm. "My mom is inside. Please let me in, okay?" "What''s your mother''s name?" Elspeth bit her lip, unsure if Helena had changed her name when she admitted. "Helena Joneson." The receptionist at the door flipped through the book in his hand, and her face suddenly became serious. "Helena Joneson... It seems like this person passed away yesterday." Passed away? Her heart stopped beating for a moment. "You better take another look. Are you sure you didn''t make a mistake? How could she have passed away?" Nheless, the receptionist replied nonchntly, "I know you might not believe it now. There is a person named Helena Joneson at our sanatorium, and I wouldn''t make a mistake." Meanwhile, Gilbert stood beside her and was incredulous when he heard that. "I was here the day before yesterday, and I saw Miss Joneson. How could she have passed away today?" After hearing that, the receptionist frowned. "Young man, a person''s lifespan is determined by fate, and no one can predict when they will leave this world. Your tone suggests that our sanatorium is up to no good." Gilbert realized that his tone was a bit too aggressive and quickly apologized. "I''m sorry, I was a bit impulsive with my words." After listening to that, the pain in Elspeth''s heart quickly expanded. "Where is her body? Where is the room she used to live in? Can I go see it?" The receptionist hesitated for a moment. "Miss, we still haven''t confirmed your identity yet, so it may not be appropriate to let you in so easily. Anyway, it''s notpletely impossible. We can let you in if you can produce an item that belongs to your mother." Trembling, she took out a ne from her pocket. It was in the shape of a heart and the same ne she carried when she went to look for her mother. "Ah, yes, this is it. It''s this ne." The person nodded, and a different emotion appeared in her eyes. "Follow me. I''ll take you to her room first." Elspeth nodded, and together with Gilbert, they were led to the room. After pushing the door open, there was no one in the room. The receptionist led them in and then left. Although there was no one living in the room anymore, it was still spotless. With one nce, she knew that the room had been her mother''s. Then, she strolled forward and saw a diary that was not locked on the table, so she picked it up and opened it. Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. Her mother''s handwriting was exquisite, and Elspeth carefully read through the diary, which mostly recorded her mother''s struggle against her illness. Soon, Elspeth noticed her mother''s handwriting became increasingly weak and unsteady as she continued to read. It appeared that Helena''s physical difort had affected her handwriting. Yet, at the end of nearly every entry, she would write about how much she missed her daughter. My daughter Elspeth is always in my thoughts and heart. Elspeth touched the writing, and tears slowly rolled down her face. When she reached thest page, she could no longer control her emotions and burst into tears. In the diary''s final entry, Helena wrote: ''Dearest Elspeth. Perhaps, I''ve already passed on by the time you read this. It breaks my heart to leave you without warning, but I had to do it for your sake. Your life is still blooming, and I no longer want to hold you back. I wouldn''t want that even if my illness was cured because you sacrificed your freedom. I love you more than words could ever express. Is there a mother in this world who wouldn''t cherish her daughter? Sometimes, life is cruel, and we are forced to make impossible choices. For me, that choice was death in exchange for your freedom. Even though I know we will never cross paths again in this life, please takefort that I will always watch you from a ce you cannot see. My time was limited, and my illness was beyond cure. Only Arthur could have cured me. I hastened my own illness so that I could leave before you arrived. Isabel has been a faithful and lovingpanion to me. She has been patient and kind; I''m grateful for her presence. I know she''s working at Luna Bar, and I secretly allowed it because I knew it was your business. You will find her there, and I hope you''ll care for her. I trust that you will continue showing your kindness by looking after her as your little sister long after I am gone. As you navigate this world without me, I hope you''ll always stay true to yourself, never be swayed by others'' opinions, and never bow down to anyone. My daughter Elspeth is always in my thoughts and heart. Forever your mother, Helena Joneson." When Elspeth reached the end of the letter, her tears had wholly soaked the entire page. She was still a step toote. On the other hand, Gilbert, who had fondly remembered Helena as being kind to him since childhood, also felt unbearable sorrow at her death. However, now he could not do anything, not even hold Elspeth in his arms andfort her. He could only approach her silently and pat her shoulder, saying, "Don''t be sad. Miss Joneson also has her own struggles. She wants you to be okay and not upset because of her." Although he didn''t know what was written in the letter, he could guess that Helena had done something self-destructive from Elspeth''s breakdown. "My mom is ridiculous. She thinks I''m too dumb," she murmured and suddenlyughed. "Do you think I''m too weak? What if, instead of being threatened by Arthur, I used his secrets as bargaining chips to get him to help my sick mother?" As he listened to her words, he felt something was off but still thought it made some sense. "Although that''s true¡ª" "I got it." Elspeth stood up and carefully closed the diary. "I know what to do now." Gilbert noticed her change in emotion and was surprised. "What are you going to do?" Hearing that, she turned her head. The tear marks on her face were distinct, but the sadness in her eyes had dissipated instantly. "I want to be stronger." Chapter 438 Chapter 438 Chapter 438 You¡¯re My Sister Now Since Elspeth already possessed considerable power, the phrase "bing stronger" might not be urate when describing her. In all of Damoria, and wherever she went, she was respected. However, Gilbert knew what she meant by that. She wanted to have absolute dominance and control and not be led around by anyone or anything. He felt conflicted but stillforted her, saying, "This matter isn''t urgent. The most important thing is¡ª" "It is urgent," she said, touching the diary. Her voice was gentle but firm. "My mom has already passed away, proving I arrived toote." Suddenly, he felt what he saidcked depth, so he changed the subject. "What are you going to do next? Are you going to retrieve Miss Joneson''s remains?" At the mention of the body, she visibly stiffened. When she thought about the possibility of seeing her mother''s body, she could not calm down for a long time. However, Elspeth''s emotions suddenly rxed when she finally saw the body. There was no expression of pain on her mother''s face, and merely a calm smile as if what had happened didn''t affect her emotionally. In other words, the death was a relief. On the other hand, Isabel was squatting beside the casket, looking dazed. When Elspeth approached, Isabel didn''t even notice her and stared nkly for a long time until tears slowly streamed down her face. "Elspeth¡ª" Isabel''s eyes were red and swollen as if she had been crying for a long time, and then she threw herself into Elspeth''s arms. Helplessly, Elspeth patted her back. "Don''t cry anymore. It''s okay. It''s all over now." "It''s all my fault. If I hadn''t heard that conversation and told Miss Joneson, maybe things wouldn''t have ended like this. It''s my fault. I indirectly killed Miss Joneson... Elspeth, you hate me, don''t you? I know I can''t get your forgiveness. I wish I could leave this world with Miss Joneson¡ª" Hearing that, Elspeth felt even morepassion for her upon seeing her face filled with self-reproach and guilt. "Okay, stop overthinking. This matter has nothing to do with you. Even if you hadn''t told her, she would have found out eventually and made the same choice." "Nevertheless, Miss Joneson is gone. I really don''t know what to do now¡ª" For Isabel, Helena was the one who showed her the way in life. Now that Helena was gone, she didn''t know what to do with her life. Should she go back to the Joneson Family? On the other hand, how could the Joneson Family ept someone unrted to them by blood? Should she stay here? It was meaningless without Helena. Then, Isabel looked at Elspeth with a lost expression in her eyes. Seeing that, Elspeth understood instantly and smiled as she hugged Isabel. "From today onward, you''ll be my little sister. My real little sister. If you want, you can change your name to Isabel Lynwood. I''ll take care of you from now on." After hearing that, Isabel''s heart was pounding. She never expected that Elspeth wouldn''t me her for telling Helena those words. Instead, Elspeth even offered to take care of her. "Thank you, Elspeth." Afterward, Elspeth looked at her, then at Gilbert standing nearby, and said in a low voice, "I think you''ve been here for a long time. You must be tired. Let Gilbert take you to rest. I''ll stay here and keep watch." Gilbert initially wanted to refuse, but he immediately understood what she meant and nodded in agreement. "Sure." Elspeth wanted to be alone and spend some time with Helena. Soon, Isabel was also tactful and left the room. Then, Elspeth looked at Helena''s body and couldn''t help but sigh. "Mom, you''re as stubborn as I am." ... In the meantime, Gilbert apanied Isabel on her exit. As soon as they stepped outside and inhaled the crisp air, she recalled that his clothes were still in her room. So, she ran to get his clothes. When she came out with his suit jacket, she saw him leaning against a tree trunk by the door, smoking with an elegant posture but with a hint of mncholy. Due to its suffocating and detrimental effects, she disliked the scent of cigarette smoke. In contrast, when he smoked, she detected an indescribable allure about him. She felt a bit shy as she handed him the jacket. "This is your jacket. You lent it to mest time, and I''ve washed and ironed it. Here it is." On the other hand, he had already forgotten about that incident, but seeing the clean and neatly folded jacket she handed him, he was touched. "Thank you," Gilbert said. When he noticed Isabel''s awkward expression, he realized she might be shy and ufortable, so he refrained from saying anything further. Hearing that, she nodded and pursed her lips, not saying anything. The atmosphere between them was a bit strange. Eventually, he broke the silence. "You know, Miss Joneson was a brilliant person." When she suddenly heard those words, her mind was upied with the charm of his voice. She didn''t catch what he said and only made an "ah" sound without responding. "I said Miss Joneson was brilliant. When you went to work at Luna Bar, she already guessed what was happening, but she didn''t stop you. Everything happened as she nned. I found you there and found her, and when Elspeth found out, Miss Joneson had already left." Although this sounded a bit mystic, the na?ve Isabel couldn''t help but show an expression of disbelief. "So, you mean Miss Joneson had already nned everything and was waiting for us to fall into her trap?" She thought momentarily and realized that Helena had probably been nning it for a long time. With that, she felt a pang of sadness in her heart. "Yes, that''s what I mean. Although this is my guess, my guess is not wrong. She nodded and was able to recall some things from her memory. Many things that had seemed confusing to her before suddenly became clear in her mind. "I also remember something. Miss Joneson rarely let me go out before, but I''ve been working so far away recently, and she had been turning a blind eye to it." "Yes, because she knew that ce was under Elspeth''s turf, she could let you go without worrying. Unfortunately, she didn''t know that Elspeth hadn''t been there recently, so you might have had a few tough days. Fortunately, you ran into me." Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. After Gilbert finished speaking, he looked at Isabel''s face and asked, "How have these few days been? Have you been bullied while working at the bar?" Hearing the caring tone, she suddenly became nervous and stuttered, "I-I''m fine. I did meet some people who weren''t nice, but I handled it." How could she work at a bar and not encounter any perverts? She would hide and pretend to be sick if she couldn''t. In any case, those people didn''t really force themselves on her. Chapter 439 Chapter 439 Chapter 439 Sending the Body Back to Joneson Residence When she saw how surprised Gilbert looked, her heart beat faster. "I''m fine." "Thank goodness you are. I was so scared that Elspeth would get upset with me for not taking care of you." He had been in charge of the bar all this while. If Elspeth''s precious sister was neglected, he would be done for. Isabel felt disappointed after hearing what he said. It turned out that he was concerned about her because of Elspeth, whereas she thought he had other intentions. Seeing the change on her face, Gilbert assumed she recalled her previous bad experiences, so he quicklyforted her, "Don''t worry. You will be Elspeth''s sister soon. You''re a precious charm, you know? No one will dare to bully you. Otherwise, you can tell them that you''re acquainted with me. I''ll be able to ensure your safety." Isabel could tell that all Gilbert cared about was Elspeth, seeing how he repeatedly mentioned her name. The affectionate feeling that she felt for him earlier was instantly shattered into pieces. However, she wouldn''t take anything that belonged to Elspeth, including her feelings. "I know. Thanks, Gilbert." With a smile, she thanked him softly. Elspeth and Gilbert¡­ sound like a good match, Gilbert mused. His affection for Isabel instantly increased a little. "Come on. Let me take you to dinner. You must be hungry after staying for so long." Isabel epted his kindness without hesitation. "Sure. Thanks, Gilbert." Gilbert sent a text to Elspeth to inform her that he would be taking Isabel for lunch. After that, he left the sanatorium with Isabel. ¡­ Eventually, Elspeth decided to send Helena''s corpse to Joneson Residence. To be able to return to Joneson Residence should be what Helena wanted the most. Elspeth entrusted Gilbert to take care of Isabel for a few days while she brought the body to ydal. At the entrance, Elspeth knocked on Joneson Residence''s door. Michael nearly fainted after discovering the news, so it was Frank who came to pick Elspeth up as he sent someone else to take over the corpse. When the two met, Frank noticed traces of weariness and fatigue on Elspeth''s face. He couldn''t help feeling bad for her. "Have you been doing well?" She was indeed thin since young, but when he met her this time, he noticed she had lost weight again. He knew that he had just asked a dumb question because anyone sensible could tell how much she had suffered. "I''m fine." Elspeth offered him a smile, but her voice sounded thin and spiritless. "I know Aunt Helena''s death has taken a toll on you. Just cry if you''re sad. It''s okay. I won''tugh at you." Frank could tell she was suppressing her feelings, so he persuaded her awkwardly. "I already cried a lot. I think it''s enough." Elspeth chuckled and flicked his head. "Do I look that fragile?" He rolled his eyes. "I was simply trying to console you. Why''d you have to flick my head? What a heartless woman." Elspeth felt much morefortable hearing him say that. "What are we going to do with Grandfather?" Frank felt a headache when he recalled the situation. "Grandpa heard the news when he was chatting with a few guests in the living room and immediately fainted. He''s awake now, but he refuses to meet anyone. I suppose he''s in a depressing mood right now, so maybe you should visit him. I''m sure he wants to meet you even though he doesn''t want to meet others." Does he want to see me? Elspeth felt puzzled. "You know he hasn''t liked me since the beginning." "That''s just what he shows. Who knows if he truly feels that way? He has always been arrogant, weird, and stubborn. He can''t stand others disobeying him and even though he did make you suffer a few times, his intention was never to hurt you, was it?" Elspeth looked down at her toes. To be honest, she had no affection for the Joneson Family at all. Except for Frank who more or less made her feel the warmth of family affection, she didn''t care about the rest at all, not to mention Michael, who always tried to oppress her. "I''ll go and meet him right now." She didn''t believe Frank''s words but merely wanted to have a good talk with Michael instead. On one hand, she wanted to help him get over her mother''s death, and on the other hand, she also wanted to know more about her mother. Frank smiled. "Sure. Come with me." While the two shuffled through Joneson Residence, they bumped into many people in the house. All of them had their heads lowered, not daring to speak. "What''s going on? Why do they look like they''re intimidated by me?" Watching the abnormal reactions on those people''s faces, Elspeth found it strange and funny. Frank''s expression was also slightly strange, but he made her ignore them. Elspeth nodded thoughtfully, took a few steps forward, and suddenly overheard a conversation urring behind the rockery. "Do you think Miss Lynwood is cursed? Why is everyone rted to her always getting involved in idents?" "Look. First, her father passed away, and then, her mother too. Now, Old Mr. Joneson has fallen seriously ill. W-Will his grandsons be next?!" N?velDrama.Org ? content. "No way. Don''t bber nonsense. How could it all be fated? Stop your nonsense before anyone hears it. You''ll be doomed!" ¡­ Elspeth halted in her steps and eavesdropped on their interesting conversation. Frank was concerned when he noticed she had stopped walking and was listening in on a conversation behind the rockery. "Don''t think too much about it. None of those incidents have anything to do with you. I''ll have them kicked out of the house right now. What a bunch of useless gossipers!" If anyone tried to talk back behind him like that, he would probably break their limbs. "There''s no need. Don''t you think they sound reasonable?" Elspeth caressed her chin, seemingly unbothered by them. "Reasonable?" Frank almost snickered out of anger. "Have you gone nuts due to grief? People are having fun talking bad about you, but you find them amusing?" "When did I find them amusing? I just think what they said makes sense. Whoever is rted to me is more or less unlucky. You should be extra careful too, Frank." He gasped, almost unable to hold back from choking. She must have been waiting to tease him! He couldn''t believe that his words offort earlier and how he stood up for her werepletely in vain since she waspletely fine. However¡­ Seeing how normal she was made him feel even more distressed. He couldn''t help feeling bad for her. What kind of misery did she have to go through to sculpt herself into such a strong and invincible person? Chapter 440 Chapter 440 Chapter 440 She Would Be Furious Too Elspeth wasn''t bothered by the episode that happened just now. Subsequently, she followed Frank to Michael''s backyard. Contrary to her expectation, Michael''s backyard was not as magnificent as she imagined. In fact, it was fairly simple. This was also the first time she had visited this ce, but she had a feeling of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. Right! Helena''s house seemed to have simr furnishing. After taking a few more steps into the yard, she noticed how luscious the trees that almost blocked the path they were walking on were. Frank pointed to a room near the wall. "That is Grandpa''s room. When you enterter, knock on the door three times." Elspeth nodded. Maybe this was another rule set by Michael. "I won''t go in with you. You''re on your own." Frank was trying to avoid the situation this time. Seeing how impatient he looked, Elspeth was slightly surprised. "Why aren''t you going in?" "If I go in with you, he''s definitely going to nag at me. Besides, I don''t think he wants to see me now." He''s right. Elspeth pondered for a moment and decided not to force him toe with her. When she knocked thrice on the carved wooden door, a furious voice sounded. "I said I don''t want to see anyone today! Get out!" Hearing how furiously energetic he sounded, she figured that there was no major issue with him. "I''m Elspeth." As soon as she blurted those words, the old man went silent. It took a while before a manly and stern voice sounded. "Come in." Frank was right. Michael only wanted to see her now. Elspeth pushed the door gently and saw Michael sitting on the bed while leaning against the wall. He was also visibly more haggard than before. "Hello, Old Mr. Jones." Elspeth walked up to him and greeted him politely. "Your mom has passed on, yet you still aren''t willing to call me Grandpa?" At the mention of histe daughter, Michael knitted his brows with a sorrowful expression. "These are two different things." Despite the fact that Helena had just passed on alongside that Michael was not in a good mood, she didn''t find the need to sacrifice herself and tolerate him. It didn''t fit her character at all. "What brings you here then?" Michael knew that the purpose of her visit was most likely to ask about her mother. "Frank told me toe. He said you might want to have a chat with me."N?velDrama.Org ? content. "Frank told me toe. He said you might want to have a chat with me." "As expected of my grandchild. He knows me best." Michael presented a rare smile on his face. "What would you like to tell me?" Elspeth looked around the room and picked a chair to take a seat. "Instead of me telling you what I want to say, why don''t you tell me what you''d like to know about your mother?" Michael was a seasoned old man. Thus, he wasn''t willing to tell her everything. He was going to wait for Elspeth to ask him so that he could make a deal with her. Unfortunately, Elspeth inherited his personality and was even more meticulous than him. "I don''t find the need to dwell on past events now that my mother is gone. Just say what you want to say. Otherwise, forget it." Elspeth picked up the apple on the table and took a bite. The apple was crunchy and tasted sweet, as expected of the food quality in Joneson Residence. "I underestimated you." Elspeth raised a brow and offered him an unfathomable smile. "I thought you knew me well." "Fine, then. Let me tell you about your mother." "I''m all ears." Her ears twitched in interest. After that, she listened to his hour-long narration of Helena''s life. Even though she had heard about her mother''s story before, she was still shocked to hear it again. Helena used to be called the Princess of ydal as her gorgeous appearance alone attracted many men and made them fall head over heels for her. Moreover, she was the daughter of the Joneson Family in ydal. Her family background was enough to make others admire and envy her. Back then, her mother was attracted to her father, a poor man, among the exceptional men from wealthy families. Ouch! ording to Michael, a man who couldn''t even afford to pay fifty million was considered poor! Seeing how disgusted Michael looked at the mention of her father, she silently broke into a cold sweat on thetter''s behalf. As expected, not everyone wasparable to the power of the Joneson Family. "You didn''t know how enraged I was when your mother told me that she was going to marry that poor guy. I immediately grounded her after hearing that." At the mention of the past events, Michael could still feel the overwhelming emotions he felt back then. "What happened after that?" Michael took a sip of water to moisten his throat before continuing, "After that, I personally picked a suitable husband for your mother, but on the wedding day itself, she eloped with that poor guy." He gritted his teeth angrily after the mention of ''eloped''. "Have you never thought about searching for her?" Michael''s expression darkened in response. "I wanted to, but unfortunately, another ident happened on that day itself¡ªYour auntmitted suicide." When Elspeth recalled the ident, she felt helpless and pitied her aunt. "I just lost a daughter. If my eldest daughter does something extreme due to the pressure I gave her, it might do more harm than good, so I decided to let her go." It turned out that the reason Helena could live happily with Grover in anonymity was thanks to her younger sister, but it came at the cost of her life. "That is why I strongly refuse to marry you off to the Winthrop Family." After pondering for a moment, Elspeth thought her reply might sound biased¡ªwhich might make him feel worse¡ªbut she couldn''t help but blurt, "But how could you judge the Winthrop Family by one person''s behavior?" Michael sneered. "If he had been the only one to me, I would not have med the entire Winthrop family. After all, I am a rational person. But after that, they tried every means to bail that b*stard out of jail. They even recruited awyer to file awsuit for him. Are they trying to challenge my family''s authority? The more they try to cover up his faults, the more I want to lock him up in prison and make him suffer." Although it did sound cruel, Elspeth could feel and understand the anger he felt. His daughter died unjustly, and instead of turning himself in with guilt, the murderer even tried to pull all kinds of strings to bail himself out of jail. If she stood in Michael''s shoes, she would have been furious too. Suddenly, she could fathom Michael''s behavior, but despite that, she would not sacrifice her rtionship for the sake of someone from the Joneson family. "Does that mean you are still going to stop me from being with Callum?" Chapter 441 Chapter 441 Chapter 441 The Heir to the Joneson Family Seeing the yful look on her face, Michael was slightly taken aback. "Are you still going to be with that brat after all that happened? I seem to recall something¡ªIsn''t he going to marry that youngdy from the McGrath Family in two days¡­" "You''re right. They are going to get married in two days, but who could guarantee that the wedding will go smoothly?" Michael''s lips trembled due to anger. "I''m warning you. Don''t try to provoke the Winthrops again." Elspeth raised her head and nced at him. Being under her icy cold gaze, Michael was shocked. "I''m not trying to provoke them. I''m going¡­ to seek ountability." Finally, she was able to tell Michael the truth. Seek ountability? Michael never expected that she still wanted to seek responsibility. However, why would she do that? "What do you think is the direct cause of my mother''s death?" As soon as Elspeth reminded him of those words, Michael understood everything in an instant. Arthur Winthrop! He directed that Helena be handed over to Arthur so that she could be treated. Not only did she not recover, but she even lost her life just like that. Wasn''t it all Arthur''s fault? Michael trembled all of a sudden. The grief he had felt for the past few days had clouded his brain to the point that he couldn''t even connect the dots. Now that he found out the reason, he was eager to smash Arthur, that b*stard, into pieces! "I''ll support you on this matter." Shutting his eyes, Michael hid the resentment that piled within him. "I don''t need your support. All I need is for you to not cause trouble for me." "No way. You''re doing this for the sake of your mother. I must help you." While saying that, Michael took out a stack of documents under his pillow and passed them to Elspeth. "These are the agreements that I''ve signed beforehand. They include 51% of shares owned by our family, and the remaining 49% distributed among Frank and Keh. Besides that, there are also some small shares in the hands of a few members of the board of directors. From today onward, I will transfer all the shares I own to you. You will be thergest shareholder of Joneson Corporation, and no one will dare provoke you anymore. You are free to do whatever you want to." Elspeth merely expected that he wouldn''t get involved in her uing ns, but she didn''t imagine that he would actually offer her thergest share of thepany! Wasn''t it equivalent to announcing her as the heir to the family business? Elspeth merely expected that he wouldn''t get involved in her uing ns, but she didn''t imagine that he would actually offer her thergest share of thepany! Wasn''t it equivalent to announcing her as the heir to the family business? "Have you long prepared to do this?" Elspeth was no longer surprised but in utter shock. After all, everyone knew that Michael didn''t adore her. Transferring all of his wealth to someone he disliked wasn''t something that the seasoned head of a corporate giant would do. "Yeah, I''ve had it ready since you returned with your mother''s body." Michael shut his eyes tightly, letting a teardrop slip down the corner of his eyes. "I''ve always known that you were a good girl, Elspeth." His words caught Elspeth by surprise. Complicated emotions surged in her chest. Seeing the worn-out look on his face, Elspeth felt her soft spot triggered. "Thank you, Grandpa." Hearing that, Michael flung his eyes open immediately. "What did you just call me?" Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. "Grandpa." Michael suddenly broke into a smile. That was the first time she saw him sincerely happy because of her. "As expected of my own granddaughter. I can see that you''ve inherited my demeanor. You''re way better than Frank, that ipetent brat." With a beam, he reached his hand out to her, so Elspeth followed suit and reached out to ce her hand in his. "You might have to guide him in the future. Frank, that brat, is very yful, just like his brother. He doesn''t understand a lot of business principles. Though he is older than you, you are more mature than him. You must discipline him so that he doesn''t act impetuously." His reminder sounded a little strange. "Why don''t you guide him personally?" At the mention of that, Michael huffed in anger. "I tell him off every single day until he''s tired of me, but I realizedter on that he listens to you and cares about your feelings." Michael sighed. "I, on the other hand, should take good care of myself and retire soon." The soft spot that was triggered deep down in her heart suddenly hardened again. Is he trying to shove his responsibilities on me and retire as soon as he can? Despite that, she was still grateful that he offered to give her such strong support. Joneson Corporation was one of the three giant corporations in ydal. Their power and authority were immeasurable. Elspeth chatted a little longer with Michael before she noticed how weary he was. She then bid him goodbye and left. After heading out of the room, she was surprised to see that Frank didn''t go too far. Instead, he stood under a bridge, waiting for her. Fallen flowers were scattered around his feet. Apparently, he was the one who picked the flowers as he was too bored while waiting. "I can''t believe you''re still here. Weren''t you bored while waiting for me?" Elspeth walked over, mirrored his actions, and picked a flower. Frank red at her as if ming her. "Of course, I''m bored! But you''re not familiar with this ce. What if you get lost here?" While saying that, he noticed the stack of documents in her hands. "What are those?" Instead of hiding the truth, she announced, "This is what Grandpa gave me. From today onward, I''ll be in charge of Joneson Corporation. You better listen to me from now on." Frank pulled a long face. "I knew it! All you had to do was call him Grandpa and he won''t be able to resist handing you the entirepany." Elspeth felt amused hearing the jealous tone in his voice. "That''s not all. Grandpa even told me to discipline you." Discipline? Frank was instantly exasperated. "I''m older than you! Why should you discipline me? Grandpa must be senile to say something like that!" With that, he turned around and intended to leave. Watching his back, Elspeth uttered in a serious tone, "By the way, I''m going back to Damoria tomorrow." Hearing her words, he halted in his steps. "What does that mean? Are you leaving so soon?" Elspeth nodded. "I have something more important to do." Frank pondered for a moment. "Allow me to apany you." Elspeth chuckled at that. "Sure, but before that, please help me settle my mother''s funeral before I bring you over." Ugh. She''s making me her errand boy again, Frank silently mused. Chapter 442 Chapter 442 Chapter 442 People With Same Pace Will Stay Together Helena''s funeral was eventually done in a simple way that was in line with her image during her lifetime. On the day of the funeral, Michael walked out of the yard to watch her burial in person. He couldn''t hold back eventually and passed out crying in front of the grave. Elspeth came secretly, but she still insisted on showing up from the beginning to the end. Anyway, she would return to Damoria in a few days. It would take a few days for the news from ydal to reach Damoria, so she had no intention of hiding her presence. Once Helena''s funeral was over, Elspeth bid farewell to Michael and left for Damoria with Frank. The day she returned happened to be the eve of Callum and Jasmine''s wedding. At the thought of marrying Callum the next day, Jasmine was so thrilled that she had a feeling she wasn''t going to get a wink of sleep. Before going to bed, she even gave her fianc¨¦ a call. "Hello." Hearing the familiar voice sounding from the other end, Jasmine softened her voice. "Callum, I''m a little nervous tonight. I can''t sleep." "Why not? It''s our wedding tomorrow. Rest well or you''ll be easily exhausted tomorrow." Jasmine felt much more at ease after hearing Callum''s patient reassurance. "Are you really not going to regret marrying me?" She had always wanted to ask that question, but she was afraid that it would agitate Callum, so she kept it in her heart for a long time. "Haven''t I given you an answer a long time ago?" Callum''s voice suddenly softened. Although he didn''t give her a direct answer, Jasmine understood what he meant, so she nodded with a smile. "Okay. I''ll go to bed first, and you should too. Don''t stay up working toote." Callum hummed before hanging up the phone. At this moment, he was sitting in front of his desk in the room. A huge gift box was ced on the desk where his suit was kept. He was getting married tomorrow, to a woman he had zero interest in. The wedding didn''t feel exciting to him, but at the thought of the benefit he could gain from the wedding, he couldn''t help smiling. At least Elspeth''s illness could be cured, and that was better than anything else he could get. All of a sudden, he heard a gentle knock on the ss windows. His keen sense of hearing made him turn his head around. When he noticed the face behind the ss window, he was instantly taken aback. Wasn''t that woman who had an innocent smile and enchanting eyes, Elspeth? Wasn''t that woman who had an innocent smile and enchanting eyes, Elspeth? Why would she show up in Winthrop Residence in the middle of the night? And why did she climb over the wall of his house? Callum doubted his eyesight for a moment, but when he took a closer look, he realized it was not an illusion. It was indeed Elspeth! Callum couldn''t exin how he felt, but his heart was racing, yet there was still no hint of emotion on his face. Elspeth had been outside for some time now, and since Callum''s room was on the second floor, she climbed up with great difficulty. He, on the other hand, had the guts to stand in a daze while she felt her hands getting sore. Eventually, she parted her lips and mouthed at him to open the windows. With an indifferent expression, Callum opened the windows and let her in. "Are you pretending to be a ghost to scare me off in the middle of the night?" Elspeth thought that he would at least ask her why she came, but she didn''t expect him to say something like that out of the blue. "Don''t you find it romantic that I came looking for you in the middle of the night? It''s just like that y, ''Romeo and Juliet''." Elspeth couldn''t help cracking a joke. Suddenly, the two broke into a banter like they always did back when they just knew each other, although it was Elspeth who teased him most of the time. "Nope." Callum turned his back against her, but the corners of his lips curled into a smile subconsciously. "You''re so boring." Elspeth took a seat beside him and watched his back. Unable to suppress her doubt, she questioned, "What''s wrong? Are you shy now after being away from me for so long, Mr. Winthrop?" "I''m getting married tomorrow." When he blurted those words, Elspeth couldn''t help feeling as if a bucket of cold water was poured over her. "It was a long journey for me toe all the way here, you know? I can''t believe you gave me such an anti-climatic response." Lowering her head, Elspeth fiddled with her fingers and presented an aggrieved look. "Hey, it wasn''t easy for me to sneak out here. I just wanted to meet you, but I didn''t expect you to get married so soon. Fine, then. I''ll leave now to meet Harper for a drink. Hmm, or should I look for Gilbert? Otherwise, I can also meet¡ª" Before she could finish her sentence, her whole body spun because Callum pinned her against the wall. "You can try." Though there wasn''t any significant fluctuation of emotions on his face, Elspeth could feel the anger he exuded. "You''re still as dominant as ever, Mr. Winthrop." She smiled before pecking his lips, gaze hinting a trace of slyness. "There''s really nothing I can do about you." Letting go of all of his strength, Callum bent over and pulled her into his embrace. As he leaned his head against her shoulder, he uttered in a baritone voice, "I''ve been waiting for you." Elspeth felt sorry for him. She knew she was not worthy of him as she took such a long time to settle the matter. "Aren''t you scared that I''m here to give you my blessings?" Callum wasn''t afraid of that at all. He even wished she woulde over sooner and send herself into the tiger''s den. "The reason you''re here with me is that you''ve settled everything by now. If there is nothing else that will stop us, I will never let you go again this time." After hearing his logical exnation, Elspeth felt enveloped by his warmth. This might be the reason why she fell in love with Callum. He always trusted her unconditionally, always understood her intentions, always stood by her side, and kept his pace with hers. "What about Jasmine, then?" That was indeed a serious issue. However, Callum wasn''t bothered at all because he already had aplete n, which included getting Elspeth''s illness cured and what to do with Jasmine. When he narrated his ns in detail to her, Elspeth furrowed her brows, notpletely agreeing with him. "Do you mean you''re going to send someone to dress up as you and sleep with her on the first night?" Although Elspeth hated Jasmine, she didn''t want thetter''s reputation to be ruined. After all, Jasmine''s grandfather used to be her mentor. "I''m not going to ruin her reputation, of course. I''m just going to pull a trick and recruit reporters to take a few photos before threatening her to call off the wedding. I won''t spread it on the Inte." The McGrath Family cared about these matters. Hence, he was certain that they would call off the wedding. Only then did Elspeth feel relieved. Caressing her hair, Callum promised her in a clear tone, "Don''t worry, I will settle this matter properly without disappointing you."Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 443 Chapter 443 Chapter 443 Sleep Together After some consideration, Elspeth decided not to tell Callum about her mother''s death. For now, it would not cheer him up; it would make him even more troubled. "In that case, I will not disturb your rest, Mr. Winthrop." She stood up to leave. However, she had only taken a few steps before she was hugged from behind. The warm sensation made her heart skip a beat. "Don''t leave. Stay with me tonight." He yearned for the warmth of her embrace. For so very long, he had to constantly pretend he hated her; doing that nearly drove him crazy. "How about I sleep on your bed tonight while you sleep on the ground?" She turned around and solemnly looked into his eyes. He immediately refused the suggestion without hesitation. "Let''s sleep together." She nearly choked out of shock when she heard that. "No way. Just what are you thinking?" "I said, let''s sleep together on the same bed." He then continued, "We won''t do anything else." She naturally trusted his character, but this all seemed a little too sudden. "Why don''t I head back? You''re getting married tomorrow. It will be bad if they find us sleeping in the same bed tomorrow." It was only then that he realized he was getting married tomorrow. Immediately, his face darkened. It was all this damned wedding''s fault. If he was not about to get married, he could be sleeping with her in his arms. At that thought, he had no choice but to nod in agreement. "You should go home." The frigid look on his face made her grin as she stepped closer to peck him on the cheek. "All right, don''t be angry. Look at how unpleasant your face is. You look like an old man." Before he snapped back to his senses, she let out a loud chuckle before leaping out of the window. The sight of her lithe form gently sweeping out of view calmed his anxious heart. Sprawled in front of his window, he watched as she slowly walked away. At that moment, an unexinable emotion surged in his heart. ¡­ Early the next morning, the Winthrop Residence was bustling with life. The faces of Theodore and Margot were full of joy. Their favorite son was finally getting married, which meant something that had been bothering them for a long time was finally resolved. All of their sons had rushed home for Callum''s wedding because they wanted to see him off. All of their sons had rushed home for Callum''s wedding because they wanted to see him off. ke looked so much more energetic than usual in his groomsmen''s outfit. When he saw Callum standing nearby with a nk look on his face, he walked over to tap Callum on the shoulder. "Brother, it''s your wedding. Why are you not happy?" "I''m quite happy." Callum''s response was very lukewarm. "Happy? You almost have the words ''I am very upset'' written all over your face. If you don''t like her, why are you getting married to her? I don''t understand you, Callum," Edmund retorted. He was currently sitting on the couch with his legs crossed. When he saw Callum standing there with a dead look on his face, his face twisted in disdain. "Now, Edmund, we can''t say that. What if Callum is going through some difficulties? You know he''s not one to decide on his own marriage without care." ke tried to mediate between his two brothers. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. "I don''t care what hard times he''s going through. I only know he has betrayed Elspeth. She must have been blind to have fallen in love with him. Had I known you would do this to her, I would never have let you be with her." The mention of Elspeth''s name brought a somewhat awkward tension to the air. Callum merely nced at Edmund before saying in an icy voice, "You can try. I would like to see if you could really get her to be yours." Edmund red at him in return with a fire zing in his eyes. As the two were about to fight, ke stepped in once more to mediate. First, he pushed Edmund back to the couch. Then, he tugged at Callum to dispel the tension. "Alright, Callum. It''s your wedding day. Keep the peace. You''ll soon have your bride. Let the past stay in the past." Naturally, he was talking about Elspeth. Callum stared down at him. As ke had always been somewhat dense, Callum decided not to say anything. Meanwhile, there was another person sitting in the corner of the room. Ever since Max broke up with Yelena, he had never been the same. He would be brooding and sulking the whole day in dejected despair. Edmund had been feeling uneasy from not getting his way in the encounter with Callum, so he turned his attention to Max. "Why are you upset as well? Are you still bothered about the breakup?" In the past, Max would have definitely started fighting with him. Today, however, Max didn''t bother to interact with Edmund at all. In fact, he did not even try to retort. Finding Max boring, Edmund decided to just stay quiet. Soon, it was time for Callum to fetch the bride. The ceremony would only beplete after he took Jasmine from the McGrath Residence to the hotel before bringing her back to the Winthrop Residence. Everything went as nned. Callum headed to the McGrath Residence with a few members of his family and personally carried her into the wedding getaway car. Jasmine had a bright but shy smile on her face, looking like she had truly married into happiness. The couple was driven to the hotel. As there was an hour before the wedding ceremony started, Jasmine took a break in the hotel room while waiting for her time to shine. Elspeth watched it all happen. In the room next to Jasmine''s, Elspeth was leisurely sprawled out across the couch while enjoying some grapes. Next to her, Yelena was infuriated by her nonchnt attitude. "Even if this is just a fake wedding, you don''t need to be so calm. What if they really got married?" After being told about Callum and Elspeth''s ns, Yelena only realized everything was just an borate scheme. Meanwhile, she had been kept in the dark like an absolute fool. However, since Elspeth told her what was going on, there was nothing for her to do but silently cheer Elspeth on. "Don''t worry. This is a perfect n." Elspeth winked. When she noticed just how obviously worried Yelena was, she chuckled. "Enough. Don''t worry about all this. I''m waiting here only to prevent any unnecessary problems or unexpected situations." It was only then that Yelena stopped worrying and nodded. Then, as if she suddenly recalled something, she broke out in a cold sweat. "Well, in that case, does this mean you''ll still be with Callum?" "Kind of." Elspeth nodded. Yelena recalled how she had screamed and shouted some rather offensive statements at Callum. "Callum¡­" There was an awkward and panicked smile on her face. "He doesn''t hold grudges, right? Haha..." She had been so preupied with defending Elspeth that she forgot she would be in trouble if they got back together. Chapter 444 Chapter 444 Chapter 444 Fake Marriage Elspeth stroked her chin. "I don''t know. Maybe we can ask him." Yelena gulped as she imagined the scene. "Why don''t I introduce you to some other guys?" she asked with a racing heart. "I think there are a lot of great men out there¡­" Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. "I think if Callum hears what you''re saying, he will hate you more." Elspeth immediately sentenced Yelena to her death. It was only then that Yelena realized just how great of an enemy she had created for herself. At that, she started moaning and groaning in agony. "Alright. I won''t scare you anymore. From now on, behave and wait. The show is about to start." Elspeth looked at the time. There was one minute left. One minuteter, someone suddenly kicked open the door to the room next to them. There was a loud, chaotic burst of footsteps stomping into the room; they sounded like reporters. With a mask and a pair of sunsses on her face, Elspeth stepped out of the room. Before leaving, she reminded Yelena to stay in the room and not toe out unless needed. Yelena knew she would only cause trouble if she left the room, so she obediently nodded in agreement. The moment Elspeth stepped out of the room, she saw a bunch of reporters crowding around the room next door while frantically snapping photos of what was happening inside. She could not resist peeking in. As expected, she saw Jasmine unconscious inside and dressed in a shredded wedding dress while a man was on top of her, seemingly as if he was doing a certain unmentionable act. The reporters at the head of the pack all blushed and looked away while coughing. Even so, they continued to film what was happening in the room. It took a few long minutes before Jasmine slowly regained consciousness. When she realized what was happening and saw the man on top of her, she nearly choked out with anger. "Who are you? Why are you in my room?!" A few minutes ago, she had been feeling so lethargic that she decided to take a short nap. When she woke up, she suddenly found herself doing the deed with a man. The man ignored her though and continued toy on top of her. However, he did not do anything more than that. She tried to push him away, but he was too strong; he barely moved an inch. "Get up! Do you know who I am? I will not forgive you if you have done anything to me!" The man shuffled her tattered dress around to cover up her body while softly stating, "Of course, I know who you are, Miss McGrath. I suggest you behave though. Otherwise, I might actually do something to you while everyone is watching." When she heard him say that, her eyes widened with outrage. When she heard him say that, her eyes widened with outrage. "Scram!" Outside the room, Elspeth had seen enough. With a wave of her hand, she made the crowd part to allow her to walk through them. Sometime during the scene, Callum walked over and saw what was happening. With a "pale face", he "angrily" asked, "What are you doing?!" This was the first time Jasmine had seen Callum angry. She stared at him in shock for a moment, not knowing what to say. The man lying on top of her reacted before anyone else did. "Do you still not get it? Miss McGrath only loves me. She doesn''t want to marry you at all!" Jasmine immediately reached out and pinched him hard. "What are you babbling about? Cal, don''t believe him! I have only ever loved you. I don''t even know why he''s in my room¡­" "Enough!" Callum shouted, interrupting her. Behind Callum, Elspeth''s eyes shed in mirth when she saw the fake disbelief and fury on his face. He was such an amazing actor, fooling each and every person on site. It was such a pity he did not be an actor. Naturally, Jasmine had not expected Callum to be so furious in public. Immediately, she started to panic. "You know me, Cal. There''s no way I would do something like this on my wedding day. You know I''ve always wanted to marry you." "Enough." With one word, she had been dered guilty. Jasmine fell to the ground. Even though Callum was standing right in front of her, he felt so very far away from her. She stepped forward to grab the edge of his pants, but he avoided her touch with a disgusted look in his eyes. "Let''s cancel the marriage." Callum finally spoke up, unable to hold back any longer. When she heard that, she felt as if the dream she had fantasized about for years shattered. "Cal¡­" She did not want to cancel the marriage. It took her a lot of effort to reach where she was now. Currently, she was about to marry Callum. Thus, how could she agree to cancel the marriage on this day? "Please, Cal, I beg of you. Reconsider this. We are about to be wed soon. If we suddenly cancel the marriage, wouldn''t it be a waste¡­" She began to sob about all the sweet memories they shared, but Callum remained emotionless the entire time, just staring down at her as she performed. Then, as if she realized just howughable her act was and how deathly silent the room was, she finally caved in. "Fine. Let''s cancel the wedding." Now that he had what he wanted, he left the room without even ncing backward. He did not leave her with even a tiny shred of hope. The show finally drew to a close. The wedding everyone had been looking forward to was suddenly canceled. Callum went to the McGarths with his proof. When Bobby, Jasmine''s father, saw the picture of his nearly naked daughter, his face went stark white. In the end, he agreed to cancel the marriage as expected and took her away from the hotel. Callum took his wedding suit off and redressed himself in the casual clothes that he had prepared earlier on. Soon, he was ready to leave the hotel. Before he could do so, he was stopped by a familiar voice. "You''re quite talented, Callum." The voice might be familiar to him, but it made him extremely uneasy. It was Arthur, again. Staring at Arthur''s fake smile, Callum had no interest, or the time, to bother with him. "Is there something you want?" Callum''s rudeness did not anger Arthur though. Instead, he continued smiling as he stepped closer. "I just feel like you are a great schemer who has Jasmine wrapped around your pinky. Whether you two marry or not, it is all up to you." "Are you done?" "Of course not. Also, thank you for giving me two spectacr performances today. If I had not been keeping an eye on you the entire time, even I would have been fooled." Two performances¡­ Callum narrowed his eyes. It seemed like Arthur knew something. "You''re wee." In that case, there was no point in trying to hide it. "While your act was amazing, I still have to tell you something." Callum''s ears perked up. "What is it?" "Elspeth''s mother has passed away." Callum went stiff when he heard that. "Judging by your reaction, you don''t know yet, right? Have you never wondered why Elspeth would suddenlye back and look for you?" Every word Arthur said rang with cold mockery. Chapter 445 Chapter 445 Chapter 445 You Owe Me a Bride The way Arthur spoke was strange and slightly confusing. Callum was about to stop him from saying something crazy, but his feet were reluctant to move. He wanted to hear just what other incredulous statements Arthur might spit out. "Stop with your madness." Arthur was familiar with Callum''s aloof and cold nature, so he merely smiled and said, "That is all I''ll say for now. The rest is up to you to find out." He then walked away, leaving Callum alone with his mysterious statement. Callum watched him walk away with a cold re, ndly staring at him while his eyes shed with disdain and hatred. He then headed to a restaurant nearby. He arrived at the restaurant and found that Elspeth had been waiting for him at the entrance for ages. She was chatting and giggling with Yelena who was standing next to her. Standing next to Yelena¡­ was Hank, who stuck close to Yelena as expected. Elspeth''s eyes lit up when she saw him arrive. "You''re finally here. I''m starving." The bright smile on her face reminded him of what Arthur said. He could not help the pitying look that shed in his eyes. "Sorry, I''mte." Just from the doting look on his face, she had a rough guess of what had happened. "It''s fine. Let''s head in." When Yelena saw just how affectionate and close they were, her heart went cold. She was doomed. Would Callum badmouth and backstab her? Would it make a difference if she groveled now? As thoughts raced through her mind, Callum walked over to her. It was impossible for her to stay hidden, so she looked up at him with an innocent and sincere smile on her lips. "I don''t remember what I did before, Callum. If I have offended you in any way, I hope you can forget about it too." Pfft. Elspeth nearly choked on her saliva. She had always known Yelena was rather blunt, but she never expected Yelena to be that frank. "Oh?" Callum raised his eyebrows as he began to sift through his memories. "You mean when you called me a liar?" Yelena broke out in a cold sweat. "A beast?" She was no longer nervous now. Instead, she was panicking in terror. "Do you instead mean¡­" "Stop. That''s enough! I''m sorry, alright?" She sobbed as she lowered her head, looking as if she had been terribly tormented. Meanwhile, Hank naturally noticed Callum''s trolling behavior. He stepped forward and grabbed her hand, his broad palm surrounding her soft hand. He stepped forward and grabbed her hand, his broad palm surrounding her soft hand. "I never imagined Mr. Winthrop would be a prankster interested in teasing young women." That statement tore Callum''s image to shreds. Giddy joy shimmered in Callum''s eyes when he saw how tantly protective Hank was of Yelena. "I never thought there was such a side to the cold-bloodedwyer known as Hank Damazio." The two men stubbornly stuck to their stances as if they were fighting in court. In the end, Elspeth and Yelena had to drag them away from each other and into the restaurant to stop the standoff. Once they were seated, Elspeth poured them a ss of wine each to celebrate their n''s sess. "Elspeth, you mean those reporters who barged into the hotel were all your men and they were there just to cause trouble?" Yelena looked at Elspeth with a worshipful gaze. She never imagined Callum and Elspeth would actuallye up with such a detailed and exquisite n. They actually made that evil woman agree to cancel the marriage. "That''s right. I even hired the man inside the room." She felt safer if her men were handling the situation. It was the best way to ensure her n executes as expected. As the McGarths disliked airing their dirtyundry, they did not look too closely into the situation and immediately locked Jasmine up. "You''re amazing. When can I ever be as crafty as you?" An eye for an eye; how Yelena dreamed of being able to make karma bite back at her enemies. "Oh, you. That''s not a good thing. Why do you want to learn that out of all things? If you''re being bullied, I will help you take care of them." Elspeth chuckled when she saw how silly Yelena was acting. "Are you saying I''m a fool?" Realizing she was being teased, Yelena hung her head in dejection as she sniffled. "Are you not? You might end up sold out by someone and still help them out." N?velDrama.Org ? content. Hank mercilessly had a go at her as well. He had thought she was cute in a weird way, but after spending so much time with her, he knew she was actually just a fool. Nevertheless, let her be a fool. He was willing to spoil her. "What''s the meaning of that? Do I not help you with your firm''s business?" She held her head up high in pride when she said that. "Oh? You mean the civil case?" She fervently nodded. "Yes, the civil case indeed. Was it not only settled because I stepped in?" Elspeth was very interested in what they were talking about. "Oh? Does Yelena have a knack forw?" Yelena giggled but her head was abruptly pressed down mid-giggle. "The clients were discussing how to split up the five puppies produced in a mating. As there were five of them, the puppies could not be evenly split. Guess what Yelena said." "What?" Elspeth''s curiosity grew. "She said they should turn thest puppy into dog meat and split ording to weight." Elspeth was rendered speechless by that answer. That was certainly an outrageous statement she would expect from Yelena. "Not only that, but she even gave one of the clients'' kids a detailed exnation about how the dog would be killed. The kid ended up bursting into tears, screaming about how he didn''t want a dog anymore. In the end, all the puppies were given to the other family." Elspeth stared at Yelena. "You''ve¡­ killed dogs before?" Yelena scratched her head. "I watched someone butcher pigs in the vige when I was a kid¡­" "Don''t you think you went too far with the joke?" Hank sighed as he facepalmed. That immediately had her huffing in anger. "Well, did the issue get resolved?" Elspeth chuckled and ruffled Yelena''s hair when she saw how angry Yelena was. "You certainly came up with a good solution. Haha¡­" Nevertheless, the whole story sounded ridiculously surreal. "Alright, let''s put aside all of that nonsense. Let''s eat first. We''ll talk after." Food was soon served, and the group unanimously decided to stop talking and focus on eating. By the time they were done eating and talking, it was four in the afternoon. Hank left, using the excuse that he had work waiting for him in the office to drag Yelena away with him. Callum and Elspeth were now together alone. The two of them took a leisurely stroll in the nearby park, enjoying the evening sights. "Don''t you have to go back to the office?" He shook his head. "I took the day off since I was getting married." "Are you not angry I identally ruined your wedding?" she teased, unable to help herself. He stopped walking and turned around to look at her with a solemn gaze. "I am. Logically speaking, you owe me a bride." Her heart skipped. As expected, she got herself into trouble once more. Chapter 446 Chapter 446 Chapter 446 How to Compensate Him Elspeth smiled, but she still turned away to look at theke. "Tell me, Miss Elspeth, how do you n topensate me?" Callum grabbed her right hand and held it close to his chest. "I don''t know. Don''t ask me." Although she said that, she could feel his heart beating through the thickyers of fabric. Was he nervous? Perhaps, his heart was pounding with joy. "I know, so?" He simply had to push for a response right then and there. When she noticed the staresing from the people walking around them, her face blushed and her heart began to race. "Enough. There are a lot of people staring. Let me go." Naturally, he would not let her go so easily. He gulped upon noticing the embarrassed look on her face. However, just as they were yfully bickering, he suddenly pulled her into a strong embrace. There was a hint of pity in his eyes. "I know your mother passed away." Her smile immediately went stiff. "Are you sad because of her passing?" She clung to him, suddenly at a loss for words. "Not really." Even though she said that, she still could not resist shuffling closer to him. "Why didn''t you just tell me?" She sniffled. It was near the end of autumn, and the chilly weather had turned her nose red. "I didn''t think there was a need to tell you. It would only upset you." He turned her around to look into her eyes. "Does keeping it all bottled up make you happy?" She lowered her eyes to hide the emotions in her eyes. "No, it doesn''t. I''m not happy, but with how the situation was, I didn''t want to tell you. It would distract you." The self-righteous tone in her voice nearly made himugh in anger. "You are the person I care about the most. Do you think I would be happy if you were upset?" Her voice was hoarse as she softly hummed in acknowledgment. "That means you should have told me about it, alright?" Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. Elspeth thought she was being a little too sensitive right now. She actually felt like crying when she heard him say that. "Alright." "Are you willing to tell me all about what happened?" "Are you willing to tell me all about what happened?" His voice was serious as he stared into her eyes. While he knew this would tear open the wound once more, his goal was to cure her. He did not do this simply to see if she was hurting. "Okay." She pulled him over to a bench by the water and sat down. Then, she began to give him a detailed ount of what happened. When he heard about what Helia did, his hands clenched into fists. Elspeth must have been through a lot during that time. Be it physically or emotionally, she had suffered a huge shock. After all, watching the family member she loved most die before her while being powerless to do anything would absolutely have traumatized her. "That''s about it. It''s all in the past, and I respect her decision." She took a deep breath as sorrow shed across her eyes. "Through your eyes, I can see that you''re not happy with it though," he said. Her smile turned icy. "Of course, I''m not happy with it. Things did not need to be soplicated. There has actually been someone adding fuel to the fire all along." He instantly understood what Arthur meant earlier that day. Ah, so this was the truth of the situation. "You''re back this time to torment Arthur, aren''t you?" Her eyes sparkled with rity. "Of course. I''m not only going to torment him. I also want him to suffer the greatest agony ever." He would definitely be made to suffer as much as she had. "What is the reason for the sudden increase in hatred for him?" She closed her eyes in pain as she recalled the letter she found in the book. "He had found my mother early on." He raised his eyebrows in surprise. "What do you mean?" "Not long after I came back, he found my mother and even wrote to her. His condition for helping her with her treatment was for her to arrange a marriage." He quickly understood what she meant. "You read the letter, didn''t you?" "I did. Every word in that letter was a threat to force her to take the offer. If she did not do as he said, I could never have found my mother. From what I know of her, she would naturally object to that. That''s why¡­" Disgust and hatred filled her when she recalled the fact that her mother was threatened by Arthur. He was absolutely despicable. "Don''t worry. It''s all in the past. He will never get to threaten you again," he softly reassured her as he tenderly pulled her into an embrace. She clutched at the corners of his shirt. "I know. As things are right now, I don''t have the right to be weak anymore." She had to stand up and fight; she must make Arthur pay the price for his actions. "If he dares bully you again, I will never forgive him." That was a promise from him to her. He was equally as angry as she was, after all. She nodded and forced a smile. "Thank you, Callum. I know you will always be by my side." He could not resist wrapping her in another hug when he heard that. "Don''t be upset. Your mother will surely want you to live a good and happy life." It was her first time ever hearing him reassure her for so long. Warmth swelled in her heart as she gave in to the urge to hug him back. "I know. Thank you." "You''re keeping me at a distance by thanking me." His heart felt uneasy to hear her continue to be formal and call him Callum. He had to find a chance to make her change the way she addressed him. Lost in her emotions, she did not realize that the thoughts of the man beside her were starting to wander. "What do you n to do next?" Her heart trembled. "I n on striking at what he cares about the most," she sincerely replied. He instantly understood what she meant by the look on her face. Still, he was not that happy about it. "That is why you came back to me. It was partially because you wanted to use me to make him jealous. He wants you, so you''ll get together with me and make him anxious. Correct?" There was a sliver of danger in his voice. Hearing that, she gulped. "It''s not entirely because of that¡­" Before she could finish speaking, his face immediately darkened. Chapter 447 Chapter 447 Chapter 447 Self-Centered Elspeth had the urge to run away. Staying where she was might lead to her dying or suffering really badly. However, Callum''s reaction made her too afraid of acting rashly. All she could do was cautiously observe him. He forcefully suppressed the fury boiling in him and stared deep into her innocent-looking eyes. His voice was cold when he eventually spoke. "Close your eyes." Although she was confused, she still nodded and closed her eyes. Was she going to be beaten up? The next thing she knew, a hot and wet kiss overwhelmed her entire mind. His kiss was so hard and heavy that it felt like he was punishing her instead. She did not dare open her eyes. Her only choice was to act as a conduit for his anger. It was a few long moments before the lips pressing against hers suddenly vanished. She dazedly opened her eyes to see the dark look on his face had somewhat vanished. It was only then that her anxiety lessened. "I''ll give you one more chance. Tell me, just why did youe to me?" Naturally, she knew to seize the chance given and hurriedly nodded. "Of course, it''s because I love you. I missed you. That''s why I''m here." He happily nodded. "If you talk crap again, I won''t stop at this." Hiss¡­ Elspeth could briefly imagine what might happen, and the fantasy made her break out in a cold sweat. "I understand." He stood up, pulling her to her feet as well. "Well, it''s gettingte. I''ll drive you home." The sky had darkened sometime during their conversation. The streetlights were all lit up now as they entered into the night. On the drive back, Callum focused on the road, never turning around to face her. "While I know what is going on, that does not mean you can do whatever you want. You have to tell me before you do anything." He had a few necessary rules to enforce when ites to her. If he missed out on a single reminder, she would begin to do things behind his back again. Her lips twitched. Somehow, his mind would always be on a different train of thought. "Don''t worry. I will." Callum thought her answer rather nonchnt though, so he turned to look at her and solemnly said, "So, what are we?" Elspeth hesitated. "Lovers?" "Wrong. You are now my fianc¨¦e." Then, he added, "Hence, any man that tries to get close to you will be my enemy." Why did it sound like he was warning her? Why did it sound like he was warning her? "You mean Gilbert?" she asked tentatively. He did not speak and instead indicated for her to continue. "Jethro?" His face darkened slightly, but he did not speak. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. "Is there anyone else? Let me think¡­" The more he thought about her response, the more annoyed he felt, and the greater his headache. Why was he getting more ready to kill as she continued spewing names? "Enough. You don''t have to say anything. Anyway, as long as a man tries to get together with you, I want you to stay away from him." Naturally, she did not dare to continue the topic. "Don''t worry," she said, fervently nodding. "I will keep an eye out." "If you do, then why were you so close to Jethro before?" He even had to personally threaten and warn off Jethro, but he did not even know if the kid took his threat to heart. "Well, you were hanging out a lot with Jasmine. I just followed your lead¡­" When Elspeth saw the nk look on Callum''s face, she immediately swallowed back the words she was about to say. As expected, speaking at such a moment only led to trouble. "Keep your distance." He did not want to repeat himself another time. If she were unable to stay away, he would help her. "I know." If she had to listen to his lecture any longer, her ears would start growing calluses. He stopped talking after that, and the rest of the drive back home was spent in silence. He waited until she walked into her home before driving away. It was 10.00PM by the time Elspeth arrived back home; it was almost bedtime for her. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. From the rhythmic pattern of the knocking, she could tell it was a very patient person. Thinking it was Callum who hade back because he had something else to tell her, she quickly answered the door. However, the sight of the drunken, swaying man standing on the other side stunned her. "Jethro?" This was the first time she had seen him look like this. Jethro hung out at bars frequently, so he could handle his drink. It was rare for anyone to see him this drunk. When she saw his eyes lit up, her head began to ache. "Why didn''t you answer my calls, Elspeth?" It was then that she remembered she had blocked almost every contact on her phone after Jasmine took her away. She did not want those people to talk to her, and she could not be bothered talking to them either. Of course, that meant Jethro was blocked as well. "Why did you block me?" "I had something important going on at the time. I did not have any time to contact anyone." Even though she said that, she knew that she was just unwilling to get too close to anyone else. He chuckled. "You do not have the time, or you do not want to? What could have made you block me without warning?" He did not know what she had gone through at all. All he knew was that she suddenly vanished and was nowhere to be found. Every night, he would pass by her house to check if her lights were on. He spent nearly a month in that routine. Hence, he would not have knocked on her door if he did not spot her lights turn on. "Jethro, I was truly busy. Please don''t be like this." "Do you know how worried I was?" he asked loudly. "Out of nowhere, you blocked me and I couldn''t find you. I''ve been staking out your house for almost a month. Every night, I wait till dawn before leaving. Do you know how hard life was in that one month?" Guilt squirreled its way into her heart. She had not expected him to react in this manner. However, she knew she could not show any remorse. She would only be leading him on. Her greatest desire was for him to stay away from her. "I''ve already told you to stop being so self-centered and doing only what you want. I will not fall in love with you." Anyone who heard what he said might feel bad for him at the very least. On the contrary, her response immediately popped his bubble. Jethro was shocked to hear her say that. Then, he let out a peal of crazedughter. "Self-centered¡­ Do you think I''m only doing this for myself?" There was a miserable quality to hisugh. Elspeth sighed. "You''re drunk. Go home." However, when she realized he might not be able to call a cab due to how drunk he was, she added, "If you don''t feel up to it, I can drive you back as well." He looked at her with tears shimmering in his eyes. "Are you feeling bad for me?" Chapter 448 Chapter 448 document.designMode = ''on''Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 449 Chapter 449 Chapter 449 Fire Him "What''s the reason for your sudden visit?" Elspeth was so nervous that she seemed flustered and lost for words. Sure enough, what she feared the most would alwayse true. "Why? Did my sudden arrival disrupt your alone time together?" Even now, Callum''s cold voice didn''t show his displeasure with this situation. Unfortunately, she knew that he was definitely fuming with anger. Moreover, his rage was on the verge of exploding at any moment. "Of course not. I''m just a little surprised." Callum nced at the man who was happily making himself busy inside the kitchen and narrowed his eyes. "Can you exin to me the reason behind his presence here?" He stared at the pajamas she was wearing and immediately guessed that they had probably spent the night together. The very thought made the light in his eyes dim slightly. "He came to visit mest night for something important. Unfortunately, he couldn''t call a cab for his return trip and ended up sleeping here for the night." After she said that, she seemed worried that he might misunderstand her and quickly added an exnation, "He slept on the couch. I barely had any contact with him." If the other party had been anybody else, Callum might have tolerated it and ignored the issue. s, the other party was none other than Jethro. Jethro was somebody who was eyeing Elspeth hungrily, which made Callum very uneasy. "Are you still unwilling to tell me the truth at this point?" Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. His expression changed drastically. It almost seemed as though ayer of frost was covering his entire face, and even the look in his eyes became sinister. A single freezing re from him would send shivers down anybody''s back. The faint stench of alcohol wafting in the air had assaulted his nose as soon as he walked through the door. If the two had not been drinking together, then Jethro definitely drunkenly paid her a visit. Unfortunately, both scenarios made him highly displeased. Elspeth couldn''t help but flinch as she caught sight of his frosty expression. Jethro, who had been washing the dishes in the kitchen, just had to stick his head out of the door at this moment. He looked at her and broke into a silly grin. "I''ve finished washing the dishes. I''ll mop the floorster¡­ Oh? You''re here, Mr. Winthrop! Have you eaten breakfast yet? I prepared some breakfast earlier. Would you like to join us?" When Callum did not seem moved by the invitation, he boldly stepped forward and personally extended an invitation to Callum once more. "I''m confident in the taste of the food I cook. You should try it out, Mr. Winthrop¡­" "Was this what you meant by ''something urgent''? Did you invite him over to make breakfast for you?" Not only did he prepare breakfast for Elspeth, but he also tried to invite me to breakfast as the head of the house. At this point, Callum no longer wanted to see Jethro for another second. Jethro froze in astonishment, the cloth in his hand falling to the ground. Then, the trace of a sneer appeared on his face. "Mr. Winthrop, are you misunderstanding something? Although you are no longer engaged to Miss McGrath, you shouldn''t try to flirt with Elspeth so openly when it''s only the second day since your breakup. Listen to your own aggressive tone. It''s almost as though she had done something to betray you." Those words sounded half-hearted. Moreover, he couldn''t help feeling increasingly irritated and annoyed at Callum. He used to ignore Elspeth as though he didn''t care for her. So, why is he barging into her house and questioning her so aggressively? This guy is probably a sc*mbag. Jethro believed that he was upholding justice on behalf of Elspeth, but Elspeth''s voice suddenly became stern. "Jethro, please don''t speak nonsense." At this time, every single wording out of his mouth jabbed directly at Callum''s buttons. She absolutely could not allow that to happen. "Nonsense? Have you forgotten how he used to bully you in the past? Elspeth, I know you might not have gotten over him. But you can''t just follow him blindly every time he stretches his hand out to you! Besides, what''s so great about him? Why are you so obsessed over him?" He seemed extremely disappointed in her. He hated how her obsession with Callum made it so difficult for her to even consider extricating herself from her addiction. So, he honestly couldn''t stop himself from trying to drag her out of the hole she was in. Her expression instantly turned cold. "My rtionship with him is none of your business, and you have no right to interfere in my affairs. Now, please get out of my house." He never imagined that his act of kindness would be regarded as an eyesore. Thus, he was so furious that hisplexion turned a shade of purple. "I''ve always endured everything with a smile, no matter how you push me away. But you''ve gone too far. Do you even have a heart, Elspeth? I didn''t know you could be so cruel." Then, he removed the apron around his waist and threw the apron to the ground with great force. "Fine, I''ll leave. I wish you happiness. Don''t be yed to your death." His smile had vanished entirely as he turned around with cold indifference. He didn''t even forget to m the door behind him as he left. Elspeth felt her heart squirm uneasily as she nced at Jethro''s departing back. Still, she couldn''t help feeling a sense of foreboding washing over her. Just then, Callum''s cool voice came from behind her. "What''s wrong? Are you reluctant to part with him?" "Of course not. It''s not like I have anything going on with him¡­" He raised an eyebrow at her words, but most of the rage stewing in him earlier had dissipated away. He knew that she had no interest in Jethro while the man in question harbored a one-sided affection for her. Nevertheless, he couldn''t help feeling difited to see how Jethro pursued her so persistently. I''m d I finally managed to get rid of him. "You are not allowed to host him in the future." "You are not allowed to host him in the future." She studied his nk expression and realized that he seemed furious. After a few seconds, she couldn''t handle it any longer, and she burst into peals ofughter. Regardless, she immediately reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck in order to soothe his ruffled feathers. "I got it. Don''t worry." It did not take long before she realized that she did not know the reason for his arrival, so she inquired, "By the way, why did youe here unannounced?" "I missed you. Can''t Ie just for that reason?" She rarely heard such wordsing from his mouth, and her expression immediately flushed bright red. "I never expected you to have such a flirty side, Mr. Winthrop." He sped her hand with a deep gaze. "What''s wrong? Don''t you like it?" "I''m just not used to seeing you like this." In all honesty, she could not get used to his sudden flirty behavior. She had always been the one who took the initiative in the past. Thus, she couldn''t help feeling slightly ufortable now that he had turned the tables on her. On the other hand, Callum could never bring himself to tell her the real reason for his arrival. He had received a message from his assistant as soon as he woke up this morning. ording to the men monitoring Jethro, Jethro had stumbled in a particr direction on his own after getting drunk at the Luna Barst night. Callum immediately realized something after listening to the description. It was Elspeth''s home. Moreover, the report indicated that Jethro had been loitering around her house every night recently. The knowledge annoyed Callum immensely that he immediately drove here in his car. He wanted to warn Elspeth to stay away from Jethro. Who could have known that he would catch them red-handed? The thought made his expression darken once more. "If you havee into further contact with him in the future, I will make him disappear from Damoria forever." Elspeth nodded, knowing deep down in her heart that he was not joking. "I promised you that I would keep my distance from him. I will keep my promise. So, don''t worry about it." After further consideration, he added a statement that was even more excessive than before. "Is he currently working as an idol for yourpany?" She nodded, which could be regarded as an agreement. "He is one of the top idols in thepany." He immediately spoke in a manner that did not allow any objections, "Fire him." Chapter 450 Chapter 450 Chapter 450 Mr. Winthrop Sure Is Generous Although Callum made it sound so easy, she knew that dismissing Jethro would be quite a difficult task toplete. It was not to say that Elspeth had a deep rtionship with him. Rather, it was because the benefits he brought to thepany were undeniably the greatest. What''s more, it had not been easy for her to obtain him from the clutches of the Wilstone Family. It would be a huge loss for her if she dismissed him so easily. She was wavering over the decision of whether she should try to de-escte the situation when Callum added, "The Winthrop Group willpensate you for any losses." "Mr. Winthrop, you are generous indeed. But, are you sure that behavior is appropriate?" She had known that he would not allow her to suffer any losses from the situation, but his money would eventually be hers. More importantly, the money he gave her aspensation would never be as satisfying as the money she earned for herself¡­ Callum''s eyes never left her face, so naturally, he caught sight of the abrupt change of expression on her face. So, he immediately understood what she was thinking. "I willpensate you twice the amount." Sheughed and reluctantly agreed. "I guess I have to ept your request since you''re being so sincere, Mr. Winthrop." When he heard her agree to his request, his expression finally became gentler. "It''s Thursday today. Logically speaking, you should have gone to work by now. I''ll send you there." She had been so focused on dealing with Jethro that she had nearly forgotten about the fact that she had work today. "Okay." He could be her chauffeur for the day. Thepany was located nearby, so they quickly arrived at their destination. As soon as Elspeth walked through the door, she saw Harper walking toward her with a stern expression. "What''s wrong? Did something happen? Why do you look so upset?" It was rare for her to see such a gloomy expression on his face. "Elsie." Harper was frowning slightly. Although his expression changed several times, his overall expression seemed to express a look of conflict. "Jethro resigned." Her voluntarily dismissing Jethro was apletely different concept from Jethro resigning from his position himself. Elspeth finally understood the reason for the ominous feeling that had struck her this morning. "It''s fine. Let him resign if he wants. Has he left?" "Yeah." "It''s no big deal. Find new resources to fill the vacancy immediately." Those words sounded as though she nned for this very scenario in advance, but why would she even entertain the idea of dismissing a cash cow like Jethro? Harper was greatly puzzled until he noticed Callum, who was sauntering behind Elspeth. Callum¡¯s appearance answered all the doubts in his mind instantly. It''s definitely that man again. I''m sure he is affecting Elsie''s ability to earn money. Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. He rolled his eyes and gave Callum an annoyed re. Then, he finally shook his head and left. Callum scowled. "What''s up with him?" Elspeth had worked with Harper for a long time. So, she naturally understood what he was thinking at this moment. Nheless, she would never tell Callum about those thoughts. Otherwise, she would have to face another round of torture. "He might be having a bad day today, and everybody just annoys him when he''s in a mood. It''s fine, don''t worry about him. Let''s head to the office." After she said that, she dragged Callum into the office without giving him the chance to resist. s, when she pushed the office door open, she was greeted with a familiar figure lounging inside the office. Frank was sitting at the desk, leisurely munching on a bunch of grapes. When he saw Elspeth and Callum together in the same room, he couldn''t hide the trace of disbelief that swept across his face. "I can''t believe you reconciled so quickly. I thought it would take a while longer. Amazing! Your methods are amazing indeed, Callum." When Elspeth heard Frank''s words, she couldn''t help but feel that something was odd. Why does it feel as though they not only knew each other but also had a close rtionship with each other? She closed the door behind her and asked seriously, "Do you have some sort of connection with each other behind my back?" He had a slip of the tongue and identally blurted out the truth. "You might not know, but this guy is very cunning. Do you remember thest time yourpany was in trouble? Although he pretended to be cold and kept his distance from you, he flew to ydal and asked us to help yourpany through the difficult period that very night." She was slightly taken aback by the revtion. It had never urred to her that something like that had taken ce. Regardless, when she turned to look at Callum in bewilderment, Callum did not seem overly surprised by the situation. "That''s not all. All the money used to help yourpany came directly from his own pocket. I was wondering how a man like him could be so stupid. But now, I can see that it was all just a strategy to capture your heart." Frank rubbed his chin and looked pensive. "Not bad. He has all the qualifications to be your suitor. Not only does he have good looks, but he also has wealth and brains. A man like him is not easy to find. As your uncle, I am fully in favor of you being together in a rtionship." "Did you sell me out just like that, Frank? Why didn''t you tell me about this incident at the time?" Elspeth stared at Frank''s face with a sinister smile. "Why would I tell you about it? It would just mess up Callum''s ns if I told you anything. Come on¡­ I did that for the sake of your future happiness." "Why would I tell you about it? It would just mess up Callum''s ns if I told you anything. Come on¡­ I did that for the sake of your future happiness." His expression seemed to say that she should be touched by his selfless sacrifice. Regardless, she was filled with an overwhelming urge to punch him in the face when she noticed that particr expression. "If something like that happens once more¡­ If you keep me in the dark again, I will punch you in the face." Frank rolled his eyes and decided to abandon his act. "Whatever. In any case, I received a lot of benefits from Mr. Winthrop." Callum coughed lightly. "He''s exaggerating. I only gave him a car." "It''s a discontinued model! You call that nothing?! If you give me another one, I will give you all the information you want on my useless little sister!" Frank winked wickedly, which only increased Elspeth''s need to give him a beating. "Frank!" He shrank back slightly with an embarrassed look on his face at her angered yell, seemingly realizing that he had probably gone a bit overboard. "Let''s talk in secret over the phone next time. We should avoid her, lest she gets mad again." Elspeth strode forward and mmed her palm against the table. "Frank, if you utter another word of nonsense, I''m going to catapult you back to ydal right now." "Why are you like this¡­ How boring¡­" Frank muttered under his breath. Still, he knew that he had truly gone overboard this time, so he obediently shut his mouth. Callum watched the two of them messing around with each other and suddenly felt that giving away a car in exchange for information might not be a bad idea after all. He had harbored someints about Frank in the past, but he was starting to actually like Frank. "I think he''s right." Callum''s statement aroused a strong sense of dissatisfaction in Elspeth. "It''s bad enough when he was messing around by himself. So, why are you joining him?" "But he is speaking the truth. We are really a good match for each other." Frank raised his chin and confidently said, "Of course. You are the best-matched couple I''ve ever seen. I won''t allow any external factors to destroy your rtionship." His words sounded as though there was another meaning behind them. Elspeth instantly sensed that something was not quite right. "What do you mean?" He thought it over for a moment and exined slyly, "Somebody sent you a resignation letter by email earlier. I happened to read the email. Let me tell you; the words were practically dripping with jealousy. I could tell that he had ulterior motives with just a nce. So, I immediately approved the resignation and replied with two simple words¡ª''Get lost''." Chapter 451 Chapter 451 Chapter 451 Frank, You Liar The instant Frank''s words registered in the other two''s minds, Elspeth and Callum immediately entertained various ulterior motives of their own. Elspeth gasped in astonishment when she thought about the repercussions of Frank''s actions. If the walking time bomb, Jethro, had seen the email, he would probably regard her as a heartless and cruel person. As for Callum... When he heard that his uncle had worked so hard to solve a massive problem for him, he immediately decided to gift the car to Frank. "Please don''t take such liberties again. At least inform me about the situation beforehand." Elspeth sighed in resignation. At this point, those words might just be the final push needed for Jethro to give up on herpletely. In any case, she did not know whether she had made the correct decision. Frank nodded and seemed somewhat absent-minded. "Okay, okay. But I have a question for you." She raised an eyebrow at him. "What is it?" "That is... Do you have a woman called Agnes Braille working at yourpany? Can you give me her contact details?" Agnes Braille? How did Agnes get into trouble with this devil in disguise? Still, she noticed that he did not seem to hold a grudge against Agnes, so she couldn''t resist probing further, "What grudge do you have against Agnes?" Her response immediately elicited a sharp retort from Frank, "Do I look like such a troublemaker?" "Why else would you suddenly demand her contact information? She is a good and honest woman." "It''s... Oh, just leave me alone. Can''t you just give me her contact information?" Elspeth had never seen the abnormal flush that crept up Frank''s face before, but she immediately understood the reason behind his strange request. "I can give you her contact information¡­ On one condition." Frank quirked a seemingly disinterested eyebrow at those words, but his voice betrayed his anticipation, "Speak. What is your condition?" "You are not allowed to give any of my information to Callum!" He nced at Callum, who was standing nearby. Then, he looked back at Elspeth with a troubled expression. "Are you ckmailing me?" "That depends on how you look at it. But, of course, if you truly want Agnes'' contact information, you should know how to make that happen, yes?" Elspeth merely sniffed proudly and tilted her head at him. She took a seat on the couch and crossed her legs elegantly. Her posture screamed nonchnce, as though she was confident that he would give in to her demands. "Fine. In that case, I have to apologize to Callum¡­" She nodded with a smug smile upon receiving a satisfactory answer. Then, she tapped on her phone lightly with her fingertips and sent him Agnes'' phone number. Frank narrowed his eyes at the sight of Agnes'' profile picture in the background. Meanwhile, several schemes began forming in his mind. Since he had gotten what he wanted, he rose to his feet and prepared to leave. "In that case, I won''t disturb your alone time together any longer. I have some urgent business to deal with, so I''ll be taking my leave now." She couldn''t bring herself to expose his lies when she saw his impatient and excited expression painted across his face. It was clear he wanted to leave and possibly bother poor Agnes. "Fine. Go ahead." Frank smiled and patted Callum on the shoulder, then he leaned close to Callum''s ear and whispered, "What I said earlier was just a tactic to get what I want. I''ll tell you more when I have the time." Elspeth was not deaf, so she naturally heard his words clearly. "Frank! You liar!" She gritted her teeth in frustration as she threw the pillows on the couch at Frank. Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Frank hastily yanked open the door and ran out without a moment''s dy. The pillow mmed into the door weakly before sliding to the ground in despair. "How annoying." She angrily patted herself on the chest to soothe her anger. ¡­ Although Frank left the president''s office immediately, he was in no hurry to leave thepany. He wandered around thepany, trying to find the figure that had been guing his mind for quite some time. After he loitered around for several more minutes, he finally saw a familiar side profile standing in the corner. He instantly sauntered over without hesitation and came to a stop in front of that person. "What did I say? You wouldn''t be able to escape from me." Skr was packing up her things and pondering over her resignation from thepany. News of Jethro''s resignation had spread like wildfire among thepany''s higher-ups. Now that the target of her pursuit was leaving thepany, she felt that it was meaningless for her to remain working in thepany. ording to her spections, Jethro would most likely switch to apetitor in the industry. If she devoted herself to him and followed in his footsteps, he might finally notice her. Then¡­ Unfortunately, a man suddenly appeared in front of her before she finished daydreaming. She stared up at the man in front of her and felt her breath hitch in her throat. Oh, my God! How can a man be this handsome? The man had thin eyebrows, lively eyes, and a high nose bridge. Moreover, his thin lips were slightly on the pale end. His facial features were perfect in every way, and every part of him seemed so attractive that he practically bordered on being someone straight out of a storybook! Yet, he was not inferior to Jethro in any way. In fact, he might even surpass Jethro by a small margin in terms of good looks. Is this man a newly debuted idol? If that''s the case, then I will have to seriously consider whether I should leave thepany after all. How can anybody be unmoved by such a stunning man? Wait a minute¡­ Was he trying to flirt with me just now? Wait a minute¡­ Was he trying to flirt with me just now? She could barely control the excitement in her heart. I can''t believe such a Cindere-like event where the poor girl is chosen by Prince Charming is happening to me! "Excuse me¡­" As soon as her voice sounded, she saw a look of disappointment shing across the man''s face. Disappointment? Why is he disappointed just because I spoke to him? Before Skr realized what was happening, the faint smile on the man''s face vanishedpletely. "I''m sorry. I thought you were someone else." She instinctively touched her face as if wondering about the authenticity of his words. How can he mistake me for someone else? Do I look simr to somebody else? As soon as that crucial information popped into her mind, she instantly understood the situation. Don''t tell me¡­ Could this man be looking for Agnes? She was so furious that she nearly shattered her mrs from the force of gritting her teeth so hard. Why are all these men always looking for Agnes? What''s so great about that woman anyway? It''s not like she''s famous or anything. Besides, I am not inferior to her in terms of appearance. So, what is it about her that attracts so many people? "Are you looking for Agnes?" Those words immediately caused a look of anticipation to sh across Frank''s face. "What? Do you know this person? Where is she now?" The hint of an obscure hatred unconsciously appeared in her eyes, but she quickly recovered and shed her signature sweet smile at him. "Of course, I know her. She is my colleague. How can I not know her? Besides, we are quite close friends. If you want to know more about her, you can just ask me about her." She set up a twoyered trap for him with those remarks alone. On the one hand, she could improve her rtionship and build connections with this handsome man in front of her. On the other hand, she had implied that she knew Agnes very well. Therefore, if he really had any romantic intentions toward Agnes, she could subtly increase his dislike toward Agnes through her representations of the other party. If I can''t get him, then neither will that imposter who became popr because of me! "Did you say you know her very well?" She nodded docilely. "That''s right. Agnes tells me everything. For example, which man she had dinner with the other night, which man''s present she received the other day, or which man apanied her for a drink at the bar. I know everything in explicit detail." When Skr caught sight of the gradual change in Frank''s expression, she couldn''t help feeling a sense of triumph and satisfaction. Chapter 452 Chapter 452 Chapter 452 Confrontation Skr thought to herself, I knew it. This man definitely has an interest in Agnes. Why should she get to know such a good man? I refuse to allow this toe to fruition! "Did you say that she always goes out with other men?" That woman seemed so noble and proud to me. How did it turn out that she secretly likes to go out with other men? I will have to question her properly when she gets backter. "Ah! H-How could I tell you that?" She lowered her head. A look of nervousness crossed her face as though she had a slip of the tongue earlier. "I''m sorry. I didn''t mean to talk badly about her behind her back. It''s just that the things she does are too excessive. I can''t stand watching her do such things, especially since I''m her friend. If possible, please talk to her. Please ask her to stop going out with all those men. Those men don''t look like good people. I''m sure they are just lusting after her." Frank snorted coldly. "I know about that, so you don''t need to tell me." When her kindness was regarded as ill intention, she was so furious that her expression twisted. That woman is the one who made those mistakes. How dare he take his anger out on me instead? She immediately lost all her goodwill toward the man in front of her. "There. She''s back. She''s sitting over at that table." Skr huffed angrily and pointed at the woman who waltzed inte behind her. Frank had also lost all desire to speak with this woman. When he turned to look at Agnes, he felt an inexplicable sense of anger burning in his heart when he saw her. He immediately sauntered over, making his presence known. The instant he was right before her, he looked down at her rather imperiously. "In the end, you couldn''t escape me after all." Agnes never imagined that the man she had tried so hard to avoid would relentlessly track her down. A hint of helplessness crept into her heart. "Didn''t I tell you clearly the other day? We''re even now." He leaned against her desk and prevented her from working. "What do you mean by we''re even? Nothing will end until I say so." "How can you be so unreasonable?" She usually had quite a lot of work on her te. In addition, she often took on many extra tasks for herself. So, when she realized that she was not going to finish her work before the day was over, she became increasingly anxious. Eventually, she couldn''t help reaching out to push him away. "What are you doing?" He swiftly changed positions and moved to the side of the table. "Don''t you know that your behavior has severely impacted my work?" He couldn''t care less about her concerns. "This amount of work is nothing. If I am taking up your time, then I can pay you for your time." "Allow me to repeat myself once more. What I want is to do my job, not your filthy money." He narrowed his eyes at those words, and a hint of danger entered his voice. "Oh? Are you iming to be pure and chaste now?" She had the feeling that she should not waste her time arguing with the man in front of her anymore. Her mind might be as stupid as his if she kept giving him the attention he so desperately craves. "Excuse me, Mr. I-Don''t-Even-Know-Your-Name. I am telling you this for thest time. You are severely impacting my work. Please leave immediately." Her words were as polite as could be, but her statement annoyed him greatly. "I''ve already talked to your boss earlier. She gave me three hours to ask you out." His response stunned her. When she thought about Elspeth, who was an absolute workaholic, she frowned with displeasure. "Even if it''s a lie, you should at least create a decent one." How could Elspeth possibly allow him to disturb me during working hours? It was only at this moment that Frank realized something¡ªhe had not introduced himself to her. He stuffed his hands into his pockets, looking like a peacock flexing his feathers. "Do you know who I am?" She couldn''t care less about his identity but wanted him to leave as soon as possible. Hence, she pretended to be patient and asked for his name, "Excuse me, young master. What is your name?" "Frank Joneson." She rolled her eyes at him. "I don''t know you." He was taken aback. "Do you really not know who I am?" The name ''Frank Joneson'' was well-known throughout ydal as the Prince of ydal. So, how was it that he became an unknown figure in the small town of Damoria instead? "It''s not that I don''t know who you are but that I have no interest in your identity whatsoever." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Are you pretending not to know me so that you can y hard-to-get in a story where the domineering president falls in love with the damsel?" Hard-to-get... I can''t believe he can even think up something like that. The headache pounding at her temples grew stronger. Then, she picked up the phone and dialed Elspeth''s number. "Miss Lynwood, there''s a lunatic at my desk who keeps trying to flirt with me. Can you ask the security guards to send him away?" Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. On the other side of the phone, Elspeth felt her lips twitching uncontrobly as she tried to swallow the bubble ofughter, trying to escape from her lips. Lunatic... Don''t tell me... Is she referring to Frank? I can''t believe he really went and harassed her after he obtained her contact number. Before Elspeth could say anything, Frank quickly raised his voice a notch. Before Elspeth could say anything, Frank quickly raised his voice a notch. "Don''t listen to her nonsense. I am not flirting with her. We have some unsettled business, and I just wanted to have a proper conversation with her about those matters." He was very confident that she would side with him. However, if they were to cast aside the fact that they were rted by blood, she wouldn''t dare to do anything to him, especially since he had ckmailed her. "Agnes, he is my brother. I''m afraid there has always been something wrong with his head. If any trouble arises, I hope you can be more patient with him." Agnes could hear the resignation in Elspeth''s voice, so she decided not to make things more difficult for Elspeth. After the call ended, Frank triumphantly stood in front of Agnes. "I told you. If you wanted to find somebody to help you, you went to the wrong person." He shook his head in pity. "Your president is my younger sister. It''s only natural for her to listen to my wishes." So, he is the president''s elder brother... She felt her opinion of him dropping even further as she gave him a once over and noticed his frivolous appearance. "You''re both from the same family. How are you so different from one another?" The scorn on her face stabbed deeply into his self-esteem. He couldn''t help throwing a fit. "Just who do you think you are looking down on? How could you possibly know my true strengths?" She snorted coldly. "I don''t know anything about your true strengths, and I don''t want to know either. Now, please leave immediately." Why does she keep trying to chase me away? Does she really think so lowly of me? He was filled with a strong sense of frustration for the first time in his life. Countless women had tried to throw themselves at him, but he had never been interested in them. Not to mention, the touch of those women annoyed him greatly. Now that he had gone out of his way and patiently listened to a woman spewing nonsense, she did not appreciate his kindness. How odd. Not only is this woman acting strange, but I feel like I''m acting out of character. "What do I have to do so that you would be willing tomunicate with me normally?" Agnes had just typed out a few words on herputer, ready to get back to business. When she heard his question, a sense of exasperation surged up in her heart. "If you want to speak with me, then you can talk to me after work. It''s working hours right now, and I don''t want to waste my time on your nonsense." Chapter 453 Chapter 453 Chapter 453 A Fatal Danger Is she trying to tell me that she''s avable after she gets off work? Only then did Frank smile in satisfaction. "Alright, then. I shalle and find you after you get off work. Don''t you run away from me then." When Agnes heard that this devilish man was finally leaving, she smiled contentedly. "Yeah, yeah. Rx. I will keep my promise." As if! Once it was time to get off work, Agnes packed up her things two minutes earlier and left the office with lightning speed the moment the bell rang. Frank, who camete afterward, was annoyed to the core as he looked at the empty seat. How dare this woman lie to me! So, he instantly looked around the office. Finally, his gazended on a woman who was packing her things and ready to go home. The woman wore a pair of sses and was dressed inly, lookingpletely honest and kind. Frank gradually made his way to her as he came to the woman''s side and gave her an extremely bright smile. Since he was inherently good-looking, the current smile on his face had the power to cause people to swoon. The woman had never had such a good-looking man smile at her before, and thus, she was instantly getting swept off her feet. "H-Hello, handsome. W-What can I do for you?" The poor girl even stuttered when she spoke. When he noticed that he had achieved his goal, he immediately blinked and showed a pitiful and innocent expression, which aroused the woman''s desire to please him. "I have a question that I want to ask you. I wonder if you are able to help me out." I won''t hesitate to fulfill this handsome man''s request even if I have to go through hell and high water. The woman nodded profusely with that thought in mind. "Don''t worry. Just ask away. I will tell you anything you want to know. I will ask someone else if I don''t have the answers." Frank smiled and patted her head. "Such a nice youngdy you are." Oh my gosh! This handsome manplimented me! The woman giggled happily. Yet, before she could finish giggling, the charming and maic voice next to her ear sounded once more, "Do you know where Agnes Braille lives?" Agnes Braille¡­ The woman shook her head slightly. "She''s normally withdrawn and doesn''t do anything besides work. I don''t know her very well either." "I see¡­" he said, looking bummed. The woman felt incredibly bad when she saw the disappointed look on Frank''s face. Hence, she quickly added, "Although I don''t know where she lives, I do know there is a register ofpany employees. So, we can definitely locate her home address from that." Frank''s eyes lit up with excitement. That really is a good idea! "Then, do you know where the register is?" Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. At this moment, the woman began to talk eloquently, "Of course, I do. I am in charge of thepany''s HR Department, so I have a clear grasp of everyone''s information." With that, she volunteered to retrieve Agnes'' home address from theputer. Then, she showed it to Frank,pletely disregarding her duty of confidentiality to thepany''s employees. Frank opened the note application on his phone and silently recorded Agnes'' home address. Then, he patted the woman on the shoulder appreciatively. "Thank you. Your kindness will be rewarded." The woman was so moved that her heart immediately melted when she heard Frankpliment her again. "It''s okay. It''s okay, as long as you''re happy." Frank even blew the woman a kiss, which instantly captured her heart. "Thanks." The woman was so done in by his looks that she merely replied with an infatuated look on her face, "You''re wee." Since he had retrieved Agnes'' home address, he gradually lost any intention to continue chatting with the woman. Therefore, he randomly came up with an excuse to end the conversation and drove straight to Agnes'' home. Just wait, Agnes! I won''t let you off so easily once I catch you! ¡­ Elspeth was reading the news on her phone in the office. Her frown deepened as she scrolled down. Jethro''s resignation isn''t surprising. It''s just that I can''t believe he would actually join Arthur''spany! It''s impossible for him not to be aware that I have always been at odds with Arthur. So, he''s probably doing this on purpose. He just wants to irritate me. Or¡­ Does he want to be my enemy? She felt even more uneasy when she arrived on that train of thought. As expected, the way I handled the matter this morning was just too rude. I hurt Jethro to the point that he actually took the most extreme route to dissociate himself from me. His departure may, at most, cause some losses to Azure. However, the consequences will be immeasurable once he joins Arthur''spany. Either way, the rion call for my battle with Arthur had sounded, and the division of sides can be deemed extremely crucial at this point. If Jethro truly chooses to join Arthur''spany, then I have no other option but to go hard on him. Just as she had a bee in her head, her phone suddenly rang, interrupting her thoughts. Elspeth picked up the call. Unfortunately, she became immensely irritated as she listened to the familiar voice on the other end of the phone. "Why is it you again, Arthur?" "It''s me. What''s the matter? Are you surprised to hear my voice?" She suppressed the seething anger in her heart with force. I blocked all his contact ever since Mom passed away. I was sure that I deleted all of them one by one. Yet, Arthur could still find various ways to reach me. Frankly, this is beyond annoying that I could scream! "I suppose you do know that I have blocked your contact, right?" she uttered lightly despite feeling highly agitated. "I suppose you do know that I have blocked your contact, right?" she uttered lightly despite feeling highly agitated. "Of course, I know. Otherwise, I wouldn''t have reached you through a different number." She desperately squashed her fury as she questioned sharply, "Since you are aware of it, you should also know that I have no intention of staying in touch with you. So, why are you still so insistent on finding me?" "What''s wrong with me getting in touch with the person I fancy?" Arthur chuckled. There was actually a hint of inexplicable grievance in his voice. "Telling me that you fancy me right now will only disgust me immensely." Arthur wasn''t surprised when he heard her harsh remarks. Nheless, he seemed to be used to such behavior from her. "It''s okay. I knew you would say that." "What do you want to talk to me about this time? Let''s not waste each other''s time and get straight to the point." On the other end of the line, he rose to his feet. His face was half hidden in the shadows, which sharpened his well-defined side profile. His long eyshes made his eyes look half-lidded, his nose was straight, and his lips were thin. Although he was just standing there, he exuded a strangely mysterious aura. "I want to see you." "Well, it seems that you have nothing to say." After that, Elspeth got ready to hang up the phone. For some reason, he always manages to incite me so effortlessly whenever we have a conversation. He doesn''t even have to do anything but exist! So, I may as well refuse any contact with him instead of stewing in anger. "Hang on. Do you still remember the jewelry advertisement that we shot together?" Elspeth paused. I almost forgot about that. After all, it has been such a long time since that shoot. Not to mention, it was Harper who was in charge of this matter after that. "What''s wrong with the advertisement?" Arthur fingered the tassels on the sofa. Then, a meaningful gleam shed across his eyes as he said, "The jewelry sold well, and ourpany profited a lot too. Hence, I n to hold a celebration banquet and invite you over." "I''ll check my schedule." "I highly suggest that you make an appearance. I have something far more interesting to tell you," Arthur said huskily as though he was trying to lure her into a fatal trap with his charming voice alone. Chapter 454 Chapter 454 Chapter 454 Can¡¯t Say No Arthur knows I can''t say no after all that. Yet, I still don''t want to ept his invitation so easily. So, Elspeth said, "Since you have a far more interesting thing that you want to share with me, why don''t you reveal it all now?" Of course, I can''t guarantee whether he''s being truthful, either. "You don''t even trust me now? Tell me¡ªwhich business that I have assured you before wasn''t interesting? None, right?" When Elspeth heard that, she couldn''t help remembering what happened when they were abroad. Immediately afterward, she thought of herte mother. The gaze in her eyes darkened, and her tone became impatient, "Alright. I don''t think we have anything to talk about." Sure enough, Arthur wouldn''t let this opportunity slip away so easily. Therefore, he continued before she was about to hang up, "What if this interesting nugget has to do with you? More importantly, your real identity." My real identity? Elspeth was stunned for a moment. Hasn''t my real identity been clearly revealed to the public? There can''t be any hidden secrets, can there? "Arthur, you could at least devise a smarter scheme if you want to trick me into meeting you." At this point, Elspeth was sure that Arthur was deceiving her. "If you want to jump to conclusions so easily and think that I''m lying to you, then so be it. I guess I''ll just take this secret to my grave." Arthur shook his head and sighed helplessly as though it was a shame that she was being so difficult. "Time?" Elspeth backing down to his demands resulted in Arthur achieving his goal easily. "I''ll be waiting for you in Room 321 on the third floor of the Chars World Trade Center at 6.00PM tomorrow." Arthur is very precise with his words. He said you and not you guys. So, in other words, he only wants me to attend this celebration banquet. He wants me toe alone, without backup. Elspeth pondered her options for a moment. Still, I think I need to be prepared beforehand in case he''s up to no good. "Oh, by the way, I have to remind you that you''d better not let Callum find out about this matter. I don''t want to see him for the time being." Just as Elspeth was about to refute, he went on to say, "Of course, it''s up to you whether you want to tell him. However, it will affect the direction of the storyline." The direction of the storyline? That''s a rather interesting way to put ''baiting me'' in other words. This feeling of being manipted is in awful. I don''t like it one bit. Elspeth frowned as she nced at theptop screen. Suddenly, something crossed her mind, and she asked, "Jethro''s already working under you, isn''t he?" "Wasn''t it clearly reported in the news? So, why do you have to ask me about such a thing?" Arthur stretched out his limbs. Nheless, despite his nonchnt remark, Elspeth felt as though she was confronting an enemy of the highest caliber. "I have one more condition if you want to see me." "Why do you think you are eligible to negotiate with me?" Arthur asked with a hint of curiosity in his tone. "I''m not really that interested in that so-called real identity that you''ve mentioned. After all, I can look up the information myself. But if you want to see me as you im, then it shouldn''t be so difficult for you to agree to my condition right now." Arthur lowered his voice as he murmured lovingly, "You know I won''t say no to whatever you say." Unfortunately, she felt nothing but disgust when she heard the words that escaped his lips. "That''s enough. Stop with this disgusting talk of yours. I only have one condition, and that is to fire Jethro immediately." Her request was entirely out of Arthur''s expectations. "How deep is your animosity for him to the point that you want to deprive him of his employment rights?" Arthur couldn''t think of a possible reason for a moment. Thus, he presumed Elspeth had a problem with Jethro. "No, I don''t hate him. I just don''t want him to get involved in our dispute." Arthur felt somewhat jealous after understanding her reasoning. "What''s the matter? Are you two so close that you''re willing to shield him from harm to such an extent?" Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. "It''s not a matter of whether we are close or not. I just don''t think he has bad intentions. That''s why I don''t want him to get involved." Arthur snorted derisively, "No bad intentions, you say? As I see it, he definitely has bad intentions toward you." "So, can you or can you not fulfill this condition?" "It''s a deal. You''ll be able to see the news about me firing him tomorrow morning." Only then did Elspeth hang up the phone with a lighter heart. When she got off work that night, she saw a familiar-looking car parked in front of thepany. It was Callum''s car. In an instant, she couldn''t help but feel somewhat troubled. It''s not that I don''t want to get in touch with him. Still, people will start gossiping if they find out Callum is having a close yet illicit rtionship with me, his ex-fianc¨¦e, especially when he had just canceled his engagement with Jasmine two days ago. Yet, Callum acts as if nothing has happened. He still does things his own way and literally regards Azure as his own ce. What''s more, he even boldly barged into my office and dragged me out intimately in in sight. Nevertheless, when sheid her eyes on the tall figure beside her, she felt an unknown warmth flowing in her heart. "Callum, can you not be this grandstanding the next time youe looking for me?" People will start talking eventually! "Callum, can you not be this grandstanding the next time youe looking for me?" People will start talking eventually! "Why? Do I still have to ask permission from others when Ie looking for my girlfriend?" How could Callum not know what she was worrying about? Therefore, he bent over and lightly pecked her lips. "You don''t have to worry about anything. Just be my darling girlfriend." Although it was just mere words, she still feltpletely at ease after receiving his reassurances. Still, she tilted her head and shot him a fierce look. "Girlfriend? Didn''t you say I''m your fianc¨¦e?" Callum tapped her nose with a pleased smile at her admittance of their actual rtionship. "Yes, yes. My fianc¨¦e, may I invite you to dinner?" Elspeth quirked her brow cheekily as she spoke with a hint of faux-hesitation on her face, "A dinner invitation? I have to take my time and think about it, don''t you think?" Callum didn''t mind her teasing as he looked at her with mirthful eyes. "I will be the chef for this evening." "You know how to cook?!" On the contrary, it was Elspeth who was in a state of disbelief. "If that kid coulde to your house to make you a meal, then so can I." Oh, he''s still upset about that incident at that time. Callum really is pertinacious about that. Elspeth smiled and lightly pinched the squishy flesh around his waist. "Okay. I agree to have dinner with you." Just like that, the two disyed their affection unscrupulously in thepany. The employees around them were all dumbfounded when they witnessed such a scene. After all, everyone knew Elspeth and Callum previously had a heated argument with each other. Hence, they were puzzled when they saw the two of them getting closer instead. That''s strange. Wasn''t Mr. Winthrop still romantically involved with Miss McGrath some time ago? Why is he hooking up with Miss Lynwood again so fast? All the employees pondered these questions over and over in their minds. In the end, all of them concluded it as downright outrageous. Is it possible that Miss Lynwood is blinded by love? Eventually, Elspeth couldn''t ignore the strange stares that were eyeing them as she responded with a smile, "What are you looking at? Do you not want to receive your paycheck for this month?" Everyone immediately lowered their heads like frightened ostriches and went about their business. "What''s with the mean attitude?" Callum whispered with a chuckle. She pinched him hard. "I learned it from you." Chapter 455 Chapter 455 Chapter 455 Entrap Him on Purpose Based on their married couple-like bickering, that only further proves that Miss Lynwood is head over heels for Mr. Winthrop. All the employees sighed inwardly. Just like that, the two held hands and waltzed out of thepany. Since Callum would be cooking this evening, they naturally needed to drop by the nearby supermarket to get some ingredients before they headed to Elspeth''s ce. She couldn''t help but smile and nudge Callum with her elbow when she saw him staring at a cabbage as though he had never seen one before. "Hey. You said you''re going to make me dinner, right? But why have I never known that you could cook?" Sure enough, Callum would never breathe a word to her that he only learned a few special dishes after browsing through countless cooking tutorials and destroying several pans. "You don''t need to worry about that." He stared at her face and frowned slightly before he turned his head and picked a few more carrots from the shelf. When she caught sight of the violently orange carrots that he threw into the shopping cart, she instinctively reached toward the car, took them out, and ced them back on the shelf. "I don''t like carrots." Only then did he realize that he hadn''t asked about her preferences and whether she had particr dietary restrictions. So, he immediately asked, in order to rectify his neglect, "What''s the food that you dislike, then?" With that, Elspeth started naming them out loud. "Let''s see¡­ I dislike carrots, bean sprouts, celery, brussels sprouts, mushrooms, fish¡­" The longer Callum listened, the more troubled he felt. Pulled pork burritos, garlic butter steak with brussels sprouts, baked Tpia¡­ These are all the dishes that I have learned. Yet, it turns out that she won''t enjoy the dishes I''m making. He immediately furrowed his brows in dejection. Naturally, she noticed his sudden change in demeanor and hastily realized that she had probably backed him into a difficult spot. Therefore, she quickly corrected her statement, "Actually, it''s not like I completely dislike them. I can have them once in a while." Only then did Callum''s facial expression brighten a little. "Then, I will continue with the n and make you these dishes." Wait a minute. I seem to really dislike carrots! When that thought came to mind, she wished so badly that she could bite her tongue off. Why? Oh, why did I correct myself? We could just dine out if things don''t work out. Now I''m about to eat something I dislike! But it''s toote to turn back now. He might explode if I change my mind and tell him that I hate carrots. Ultimately, Elspeth could only force herself to nod and say, "It''s okay. I enjoy eating whatever dish you make." Enjoy my foot! After that, the two wandered around the shelf for a while. Callum picked out a few ingredients he knew before wrapping them up, preparing to go home. s, a pair of uninvited guests walked up to them when they were checking out their items. "Hey, Elspeth. You''re here? What a coincidence. And Callum¡­" Callum never thought that he would meet ke here. "ke, what are you doing here?" ke''s facial expression abruptly turned ghastly when he heard his name being brazenly called out in such a manner. "Callum, stop yelling. I have fans! We''re in public! I might need to start another episode of the great escape if they recognize me." Great escape? The corner of Callum''s mouth twitched slightly when he heard that. Nheless, he directed his attention at the slim and graceful Lisa beside ke and asked with a teasing smirk, "What''s wrong? Are you currently dating someone?" Just as ke was about to admit it, the woman next to him immediately denied Callum''s statement. "No. He''s my servant." Elspeth couldn''t restrain herself and burst into raucousughter when she heard such an address. "You two make quite an interesting couple." Callum quirked his brow at that remark andmented, "What''s the matter? You seem to be looking forward to it." "No, I don''t. I can''t possibly address you, the president of Winthrop Group, as a servant." Callum''s facial expression turned sullen. "Well, you''d better give up this idea." "Wait. When did you two get together?" ke widened his eyes in shock when he saw the two show up together at the same ce. Now that he had taken a better look at them, he even noticed that they were shopping for groceries together, looking just like an ordinary couple who was ready to head home and cook. "Callum, didn''t your engagement fall through recently? Why are you getting together with Elspeth again so soon?" Why on earth does ke have to make me sound like a sc*mbag? Callum''s facial expression darkened almost instantly, and he drawled in a somewhat neutral tone, "Do you find your life to be too comfortable recently?" ke knew that this was a sign of Callum''s impending anger. Therefore, he didn''t dare to say anything more and shot a look at Lisa, who was next to him, with an aggrieved expression. Unfortunately, Lisa didn''t go easy on him. Instead, she reached out and rapped ke on his head. "How many times have I told you not to meddle in someone else''s affairs?!" Even Elspeth found it a little inconceivable when she saw such an expression on Lisa''s usual poker face. Her mind couldn''t help but wander to when she first met Lisa. Back then, this youngdy always had a poker face on, no matter where she went. She looked utterly disinterested in worldly affairs and exuded a strangers-stay-away aura that was so strong that even I found her a rather difficult person to approach. At that time, I felt that she was probably rather introverted or just merely uninterested. I''d never imagined seeing her in a rtionship, let alone be with someone like ke. I can''t believe she would be so rxed around him. Lisa actually fell in love during my absence¡­ It''s a pity that I missed out on catching that particr budding romance when it was still a young sapling. Callum wrapped his arms around her waist and said grumpily, "You are prohibited from thinking about someone else." Callum wrapped his arms around her waist and said grumpily, "You are prohibited from thinking about someone else." He was aware that based on Elspeth''s gossipy nature, she was currently busy figuring out how the rtionship between ke and Lisa came about. Still, he didn''t want her to think about it. If he could have his way, he would rather she think about him all day long and no one else. "I never figured that you''d be so prone to jealousy." Callum didn''t feel the least bit ashamed as he retorted candidly, "Well, now you know." "Now, now. I don''t want to see you two publicly disying your affection like this. Lisa is very shy. She isn''t even willing to interact so intimately with me in public." His words unsurprisingly garnered yet another p from Lisa immediately. "Hey. Don''t p my face. I still have to rely on my good looks to make a living." Lisa didn''t care one whit as she tossed him a dismissive gaze and rebuked in a tone as cold as ice, "What if I p your face? I''m telling you¡ªI won''t just be pping your face if you continue talking nonsense." ke pouted at her for being so mean. Although he made a show of looking sad and aggrieved, inwardly, he was practically bouncing with glee. "You''re just like a masochist." Elspeth rolled her eyes at him before she turned her head and tilted her chin at Lisa. "Keep an eye on ke. You should know how he gets by now. It''s okay. Sometimes violence is the answer, at least to keep him in line, it is." Meanwhile, Callum, who was next to her, also let out a meaningful hum. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. When ke saw that those who should be helping him were not only adding fuel to the fire but were definitely siding with Lisa. Once he came to that epiphany, he finally realized he was alone and helpless. "Wow. Look at all of you picking on little old me! The audacity!" Even though ke pretended to be saddened and hurt by their uncaring attitudes, he was actually about to use this opportunity for Lisa to sympathize with him. "Lisa, look at how pitiful I am. No one is helping me, so you can''t bully me, okay? No one will feel bad for me even when you do so. I only have you as my support!" Due to his words, Lisa also felt that she had gone slightly too far. Just as she was about to say something, Elspeth, who was next to them, suddenly couldn''t help but mess things up for him. Therefore, she raised her voice and shouted, "ke, it''s you!" As soon as these words escaped her lips, the already bustling supermarket instantly exploded into an uproar. "ke?! Where''s ke?!" Chapter 456 Chapter 456 Chapter 456 Let¡¯s Order Takeout As expected of The Nation''s Crush, he could create such a sensational effect even in a supermarket. Sure enough, ke could tell that Elspeth was deliberately making things difficult for him. Therefore, before the crowd caused aplete uproar, he red viciously at Elspeth, grabbed Lisa next to him, and ran out thereafter. The crowd naturally noticed the running figure. Hence, they eventually came to their senses as they gave chase. On the other hand, Elspeth pulled Callum to the side to avoid getting involved in that stampede. "I didn''t know you could be such a little demon." Callum felt somewhat amused as he watched her, causing mayhem for ke. Why does she get cuter the longer I spend time with her? Elspeth raised her chin proudly as she side-eyed the man who was next to her. "Okay. Let''s bag things up and get going. You''re supposed to be cooking for me, remember?" As expected, he immediately stopped teasing her when she brought up him being her personal chef for dinner. Then, he resolutely took out his phone, paid, and left. Callum immediately walked into the kitchen with the bags of groceries in his hand when they arrived at Elspeth''s house. At first, Elspeth wanted to help him. However, she was gently yet firmly shown to the door. "I don''t need your help. Just stay in the living room and enjoy your dinnerter." Callum stubbornly refused her help. Since she wasn''t a skillful cook in the first ce, she only really asked if Callum needed help out of courtesy. Therefore, when she heard Callum say he didn''t need any help, she immediately skipped out of the kitchen happily and left all the tasks to him. She sat cross-legged on the sofa while watching TV in the living room. A strange smell wafted out of the kitchen. She furrowed her brows as she gave it another distracted sniff. Eventually, as time passed, she felt that something wasn''t quite right because it smelled distinctly burnt. So, she couldn''t resist twisting her head to look toward the kitchen and shouted, "What are you doing?" Callum''s voice didn''t seem as confident as before. However, the sound of him chopping the vegetables in the kitchen was exceptionally loud. "I''m cooking." Still, she swallowed nervously and asked cautiously, "Why does it smell like something has been overcooked? Are you sure you don''t need my help?" Callum shook his head when a sudden realization hit him. She can''t see me from the living room. Therefore, he immediately raised his voice, "No, I don''t need your help." Since he''s insistent on refusing my help, I think I better stop pestering him further. With that in mind, Elspeth had no choice but to forcefully hold back the doubts in her mind and prepare herself for the oue of his cookingter. Approximately two hours passed, and dinner was still not ready. Elspeth was practically famished at this point. Yet, the man inside the kitchen seemed to show no sign of serving any food. "Callum, how many dishes have you made?" "Three." He took two hours just to make three dishes?! Isn''t that a tad too exaggerated? She could no longer hold back her curiosity as she pushed herself off the sofa and walked straight into the kitchen. However, as soon as she walked in, she was positively shocked by the¡­ Hazy quality of the kitchen. It was so smoky that it was impossible for her to see the person on the other side clearly. "Callum, why didn''t you turn on the range hood?" Callum was slightly taken aback. That''s right. It seems like Ms. Layme was the one who turned on the range hood when I was at home before. I can''t believe I actually forgot about this when I came here today. It''s no wonder I keep feeling a little out of breath. Elspeth''s eyes twitched as she immediately reached out and turned on the range hood. It took a few minutes for the smoke in the kitchen to clear away. "Let me take a look at the dishes you have made." Callum''s face turned slightly crimson. He turned sideways and deliberately blocked the table behind him. "No, don''t. You know what, forget it. Let''s just dine out." "Oh,e on. You practically spent two hours making these dishes. Let me have a look at them." She stubbornly wanted to look at the dishes he had made, but he firmly blocked her line of sight and path. "I said don''t look at them." Perhaps, Callum, too, found his own failure to be uneptable, for there was a hint of awkwardness in his expression. Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. "It doesn''t matter. Regardless of how the dishes turn out, I will still appreciate them regardless of how they turn out." Elspeth tried every possible way to trick him into letting her look at the dishes. Finally, she seeded after several minutes of coaxing. s, when she saw the dishes on the tes in front of her, her facial expression instantly took a turn. What''s up with the ck and charred fish? Also, the strong smell of alcohol. Did he douse the braised beef ribs with a whole bottle of red wine? It looks way too unappetizing. Elspeth swallowed her saliva at the very interesting picture before her. All of a sudden, she regretted telling Callum that she would never despise the dishes, no matter how unappetizing they looked. I don''t think it''s just me feeling this way. Anyone will be disgusted with these dishes once they take a look at them. Callum naturally noticed the stiff look on her face the moment she saw the dishes. Therefore, he let out a light cough to cover up his panic and embarrassment. "That''s enough. Let''s throw them away. We''ll just order takeaway." Nevertheless, she decided to brave the unknown as she picked up a fork and hesitantly poked one of the ribs lightly. "That fish¡­ Uh¡­ It''s burnt, so it''s probably not edible anymore. These beef ribs, however, look like they can still be salvaged, even a little." Callum had worked so hard to make these dishes, after all. Therefore, Elspeth figured it would probably sadden him tremendously if she simply dumped them into the trash can in disgust. Hence, in an effort not to discourage his enthusiasm for cooking, she resolutely picked up a piece of charred something, closed her eyes, and stuffed it into her mouth as though she was braving herself for war. Unfortunately, she tasted nothing but alcohol the moment that piece of food touched her tongue. Immediately afterward, she realized that some parts of the beef ribs were still hard to chew. It seems that the beef hasn''t been cooked long enough. Immediately afterward, she realized that some parts of the beef ribs were still hard to chew. It seems that the beef hasn''t been cooked long enough. Elspeth smiled awkwardly. "It tastes pretty fine. The only w is that the beef needed more time in the oven. So, you can leave it to cook in the oven longer next time. But, overall, the taste is still fine. This deserves praise." Callum felt a hint of warmth in his heart as he watched Elspeth telling a bare-faced lie. He knew that all the dishes he made this evening were unptable, for he had already tasted them when he was done just now. The bitter taste of the red wine practically numbed his brain. Even he himself had to spit the foul meat out from his mouth. Yet, Elspeth didn''t do such a thing. Instead, she ate it with relish, which clearly showed that she was simply faking it. "Actually, you don''t need to do this. I know these dishes I made aren''t good. Let''s just dine out." As he spoke, he had already picked up the te of ckened yet reddish lumps and dumped it into the trash can. He even tossed the fish into the bin for good measure. "You really didn''t have to do that! I think it tastes fine." Elspeth nced at the te of beef ribs with disappointment. "Listen to me. Let''s not." Callum ran his fingers through her hair tenderly, grateful that she was willing to go that far for him. Nheless, since she had waited for far too long, she honestly couldn''t be bothered to dine out. In the end, the two picked a restaurant with several good reviews and randomly ordered something off their menu after a good deal of persuasion on her part. Nevertheless, she also learned that this was also the first time Callum had actually ordered takeout. She knew that he was used to the finest things in life, but she didn''t expect him to be this sheltered. "I usually have my meals routinely. I''ll dine out when I feel like it. So, I''ve never seen the point behind ordering takeout." Elspeth gave it a thought upon hearing his words and concluded that his reasoning seemed logical. Still, it really surprised her that there was actually someone who had never used a food delivery application. In the end, it was Elspeth who ordered the takeout with her phone. Then, she shook her phone as she said triumphantly, "So¡­ Are you still going to cook for me? Or do you want me to treat you to dinner this evening?" Suddenly, Callum felt insulted. He ignored her as he turned around to pick up his phone. After a while, Elspeth heard an alert from PayPal notifying her that 1,500 had been added to her bnce. She was instantly bewildered by the sudden free money. "I said I would treat you to dinner, so I definitely won''t go back on my words," Callum returned with a ss of water as he said with a calm voice. "That''s a pretty pricey meal you have in mind." As expected of the president of Winthrop Group¡ª always able to catch others by surprise with his deep pockets. Callum seemed to remember something as he asked out of the blue, "By the way, what did you order?'''' Chapter 457 Chapter 457 Chapter 457 Never Considered Marriage Elspeth scrolled her phone for a while and realized what she ordered wasn''t exactly nutritious. So, she let out an awkward cough before asking, "Do you like Mcdonald''s?" Callum wasn''t expecting her to order that and was in a bit of a daze. "It''s okay if you don''t like it. We can order something else." She might as well spend it since he gave her 1500 just now. "It''s alright. It''s just that it isn''t healthy. So, I wouldn''t rmend you to eat that often," he reprimanded her slightly. "Okay. Okay. Just this once." She covered her ears in surrender. The food was quickly delivered, and Elspeth went down to pick it up. When she returned, she was faced with Callum''s gloomy face. His dark eyes were locked on her as he furrowed his brow and said in a low voice, "Was the delivery guy up to something? He was standing too close to you." She could feel the vein on her forehead throb when she heard that. But she still patiently exined to him, "It was unintentional." Unintentional? He was displeased as he recalled the lecherous gaze of the delivery guy. To make things worse, Elspeth wore a sexy tight dress, and her body was on disy for all to see. That made his blood boil as he demanded, "Don''t ever get delivery anymore." Unfortunately, Elspeth was usually busy with work and wasn''t good at cooking. So, ordering delivery was her lifestyle. She crossed her arms at her chest and tilted her chin upward, "What am I going to eat then if I can''t get delivery? I don''t know how to cook either. Are you going to cook for me?" As soon as she finished her sentence, she realized she should have bitten her tongue before saying something like that. How could she say that when she just experienced the chaos that Callum created in the kitchen? "Sure. I''ll cook for you." Elspeth almost choked on her saliva. "It''s alright. There''s no need to go too far." She sighed heavily as she thought back to the messy kitchen. The headache she had to go through when she cleaned the kitchen¡­ Once was truly enough. "I''ll learn how to cook. It''ll be different the next time," Callum softened his tone as he saw her expression and knew she was terrified of what happened in the kitchen just now. Yet, she suddenly tilted her head and questioned, "Are you trying to get my house keys?" Now, Callum''s face turned red. "No." Sh*t. She found out. Soon, he realized that he was being too obvious. So, he narrowed his dark eyes as a dangerous glint shed in them. Finally, he asked hoarsely, "Why? Can''t I have your house keys even though I''m your boyfriend?" Elspeth couldn''t help but regret her words. She just dug a hole for herself. Nheless, Callum didn''t think that was the case. Instead, he only wanted her house keys to prevent the incident from thest time from happening again. He was furious every time he thought about that time Jethro came running to her house and slept over. She knew why he said that and felt a little embarrassed as she thought about how she hid Jethro''s sleepover from him. So, she turned around, grabbed the spare keys in the living room''s drawer, and threw them at him. "Here. They''re yours." She wasn''t worried about anything else since she wouldn''t let anyone else enter her house any longer. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Callum very naturally kept them in his pockets and took out a different set of keys. "These are my house keys for all of my vis, car, and the safe." Elspeth was taken aback by his swift action. She genuinely didn''t expect him to hand them over to her so quickly. "Isn''t this too sudden?" Callum narrowed his eyes as they glinted yfully. "These all belonged to you a long time ago. It''s just that I didn''t have the opportunity to give them to you." She was the woman he had set his eyes on, and it was only a matter of time before he handed over the keys to her. "Hehe. Thanks! I''ll take good care of them." Then, she put the keys away into her bag. Once they finished dinner, Elspeth assumed that Callum would leave, but he showed no signs of ever leaving. Then, a bad premonition came to her mind. "Don''t tell me that you''re going to follow Jethro''s footsteps and not leave tonight." Callum''s eyes twinkled as he refuted in a deep husky tone, "What? I can''t do what he can do?" Just as I feared. She pped her forehead and felt a little resigned in the face of his logic. "Then, are you going to sleep in the living room as he did?" She immediately noticed he wasn''t too happy when she said that. So, she changed her mind. "Actually, this vi has quite a few guest rooms. You can pick any of them." Regardless, Callum was still stonily silent after her suggestion. So, she asked tentatively, "What? Is there something wrong?" His eyes red with a passion that seemed to burn her as theynded on her. "I want to sleep with you." With me? Elspeth almost choked on his words. "I don''t have the habit of sharing a bed." Besides, doesn''t he know that males and females should keep their distance? "It''s decided, then." Callum looked at his wristwatch to see that it was already 8.00PM. "Yea. It''s almost time for bed. Go shower and get ready to sleep." Elspeth stood at the shower''s entrance and retorted, "That''s not right. We''re not even married or engaged." She wouldn''t do anything that crossed the line before marriage, even if it was Callum. A yful smirk spread on his face as he saw the panic on her face. "Then, what if I insist on sleeping together?" Her red face went beet red. "You jerk." "There''s nothing wrong with sleeping with my fianc¨¦e." Then, as if he realized something, he leaned down and asked, "Are you saying that you want a title? If you''re willing, we can register our marriage tomorrow." Things were moving way too fast. Elspeth had never thought of marrying Callum so quickly. So, she unconsciously shook her head. "I don''t want to get married now." Callum narrowed his eyes as frustration suddenly rose in him. "You don''t want to get married now, or you don''t want to get married to me." She was scared stiff at his sudden change of attitude. "Of course not. I just haven''t thought about marriage for the time being." He frowned, not pleased at her answer. Am I not attractive enough that she didn''t have the urge to marry me after so long? So many women want to marry me, but why is this woman so carefree about it? Chapter 458 Chapter 458 Chapter 458 Register Our Marriage Tomorrow "If that''s the case, we''ll register our marriage tomorrow." It wouldn''t be good to keep dying this. Callum didn''t want other men to have any covetous thoughts about her. He had already decided to return home and collect his birth certificate tomorrow, while Elspeth felt rather faint after hearing what he said. "I didn''t n on getting married so quickly¡­" To be honest, she had never thought of getting tied down to anyone at the moment. Marriage was a huge responsibility, and she was afraid to make such amitment. However, she didn''t expect that her words would garner such a huge reaction from Callum. He retracted the icy smile on his face, suddenly grabbed onto her waist, and pushed her up against the wall as he stared at her with cold eyes. "Say that again." Even though Elspeth was worried that he might do something in a fit of anger, she still came clean about her thoughts, saying, "I still don''t want to¡­ Hmm!" The rest of her sentence was swallowed by his lips. This was the first time Callum had kissed her so forcefully as he held her waist and pulled her close to him while he pried her lips open with his tongue. Elspeth felt out of breath and let out muffled sounds of disapproval, but that only made him kiss her harder. Eventually, her legs gave out, and she almost fell to the ground. But he managed to scoop her up in time. He gave her a moment to breathe as he looked at Elspeth, who was gasping for breath before drawling huskily, "So, tell me. Do you want to marry me?" She nodded and shook her head as her eyes turned teary. "Such a doll." Callum looked at her pitiful face as his gazended on her plump red lips. His eyes darkened as he felt himself bing aroused by the ravishing sight before him. Still, he suppressed it. "Marry me, please?" He gently ran his fingers through her hair as he asked softly. Elspeth was already dizzy from the kiss and could no longer think straight as she nodded her head obediently. "Then, we''ll go register our marriage tomorrow." He caressed her head and let her off the hook with a smile. "I''ll sleep in the guest room tonight." That was the escape she needed as she dashed back to her room the instant she was released from his clutches. Callum couldn''t help butugh when he heard the door click. She entered the room and locked it before sitting on the bed to catch her breath. After a while, the redness on her face finally subsided. Callum was too domineering. How could he just decide that for her? But she didn''t dare to protest his words. However, she had to admit that he was a good kisser. It seemed like he was familiar with it. Did he secretly learn it from somewhere? She couldn''t help but giggle as she imagined him watching and learning from certain non-child-friendly videos. Just as her imagination ran wild, she heard three rhythmic knocks rapping against her door. Elspeth didn''t dare go out now and asked without opening the door, "What is it?" "Do you have clean towels?" Only then did she remember she hadn''t prepared anything for him. She realized she only had clean towels in her room. So, it meant that she had to open the door ande in close contact with him. But she didn''t dare to open the door after the passionate kiss they shared earlier. After some internal conflict, she took a clean towel from the cupboard and a set of loungewear before hesitantly treading to the door and opening it to see Callum wearing only pants with his upper body exposed to the world. Elspeth couldn''t help but keep secretly ncing at his beautiful muscr body and the outline of his eight-pack. His muscles were well-toned, and he wasn''t overly built, which made him a sight for sore eyes. And his fair skin made him look delectable. Tsk. Tsk. What am I thinking? Elspeth had never seen this side of him as she lowered her flushed face and forced herself to look away from him. Meanwhile, Callum curled his lips into an imperceptible smirk when he saw her reaction. He was ted that he was attractive to her. Elspeth handed the things over to him and intended to shut the door immediately when a hand suddenly stopped that from happening. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Callum raised the loungewear in his hands and asked meaningfully, "Do you want to exin why you''ve got men''s loungewear in your home?" Did that Jethro guy wear this? As he thought of that, he couldn''t help the urge to toss them aside and incinerate them. "I prepared it just in case a need arises." She was being truthful. Even Callum wouldn''t be able to pick anything wrong with that and was forced to stop interrogating her. "I''m going to take a shower, then." With that, he turned around and left. Elspeth once again shut the door and went to take a shower before retiring for the night. It was a long day, and she was utterly exhausted. After she had enjoyed a satisfying shower, she switched off the lights andy down. Then, she heard footsteps outside nearing her door, and a weird feeling surfaced in her heart. Nheless, those footsteps didn''t seem like they were about to stop at her door and leave quickly. That made her let out a sigh of relief. In the end, she couldn''t fight the drowsiness and fell into slumber amid her jumbled thoughts. Elspeth was afraid of the cold. Now that it was stillte autumn, her hands and feet would freeze during the night. In her dream, she felt her icy hands and feet being enveloped by a warmth that rxed her. So, she moved closer to the heat. The following day, she woke up to see herself sprawled on top of Callum like an octopus and lost her cool. "Why are you in my room?" Callum had woken up earlier but was afraid of disturbing her from her slumber. So, he was careful not to move. When he saw her leaving his embrace with a panic-stricken face, he felt a little begrudging. Elspeth stood at a distance from him and checked her clothes before finally rxing when she confirmed that they were still in ce. "I came to your roomst night asking where the aircon remote was. But you suddenly grabbed me and didn''t let me leave. You even climbed on top of me." Callum frowned like he was the poor victim in this scenario. She never imagined herself to be so unabashed to pull a man into her bed and blushed beet red at the realization. Regardless, she couldn''t help but be suspicious of such a thing. "You''re not lying, aren''t you?" Callum raised his hand and showed her the bruise sttered across his hand. "I hit my hand on the tablest night when you dragged me in." The hard evidence was enough to prove Elspeth''s perverse actionsst night. So, she could only groan in embarrassment and covered herself with the nket. Chapter 459 Chapter 459 Chapter 459 Wanting to Post to Instagram Never did Elspeth think she would y into his hands in such a way. Seeing how pitiful he looked at this moment, she couldn''t bring herself to say no however much she wanted to. "Alright, let''s get our marriage license. That I promise you." The instant Callum heard this, the hurt on his face vanished without a trace. "Well then, get out of bed and freshen up now. I''ll be waiting for you downstairs in ten minutes," he said before standing up immediately without looking aggrieved in the slightest like when he bumped into the table while being dragged by Elspeth just now. Instead, he looked high-spirited, as if he were going to lead her up the aisle. Elspeth suddenly felt that she had been tricked¡ªand in an extraordinary way at that. For a moment, however, she couldn''t think of anything else; she could only get dressed and wash up mechanically before getting changed anding downstairs. Noticing that she had no makeup on her face, Callum reminded her in a deep voice, saying, "We''re getting our marriage license at the city hall today. Aren''t you gonna put on some makeup?" Only then did it ur to Elspeth that she seemed to have forgotten to do something. Looking at the man with displeasure, she retorted, "Why didn''t you remind me just now? I thought we were just going to sign our names on some papers." Had he not asked her toe downstairs in ten minutes, she wouldn''t have been so nervous as to forget to wear makeup. "What''s the big deal about that? My honey''s a natural beauty who looks pretty whether she''s got makeup on or not." Elspeth rolled her eyes. "Since when did you be such a smooth talker¡­ Wait a minute. Who let you call me ''honey''?" She never expected him to call her ''honey'' so naturally and without any burden. Callum pulled her into his arms right away before resting his chin on her shoulder. "Well, you''ll be my honey in no time, no? Or if you don''t like me to call you that, we can switch to another one. Hmm¡­ What about Mrs. Winthrop?" "W-Who told you that I''d like it?!" She broke free of his embrace as a scarlet blush crept over her face. Then, she quickly ran upstairs and closed the bedroom door. It took her about half an hour to wear makeup that she was barely satisfied with beforeing downstairs with some hesitation. To be honest, she felt somewhat uncertain about this. She hadn''t thought about getting married at such a young age, so it was indeed a big challenge for her to choose to get married so soon. Callum''s lips curved slightly when he saw how Elspeth had pretty good-looking makeup on and had even purposely changed into a formal dress for the asion. "You look beautiful today." Elspeth''s face reddened at his suddenpliment. "Alright, stop it. Let''s get our marriage license." She still got a little shy at the mention of the words ''marriage license.'' Callum cast a sideways nce at her before teasing, "Do you have your birth certificate with you?" She immediately took her birth certificate out of her pocket and waved it before him. "How can I possibly forget about such a thing?" He suddenly bent down and gently kissed the corner of her mouth. "What a good girl." With that, he led her out by the hand. The City Hall was just a stone''s throw away from Elspeth''s vi, so it took only 20 minutes to drive there. The pair soon arrived at the City Hall. As they stood at the entrance, Callum noticed that the woman next to him seemed still unprepared, so he reached out and squeezed her hand. "Don''t worry." Elspeth''s heart skipped a beat. "I''m fine." There was already a long line in the room. Other than the pair, whose faces had a hint of apprehension about them, everyone else was chatting andughing cheerfully in a lovey-dovey manner. Naturally, Callum was overwhelmed by such a rxed and lively atmosphere. Seeing how nervous Elspeth looked beside him as though she were facing a formidable enemy, he couldn''t help but ruffle her hair, saying, "Rx. We''re just getting our marriage license, no?" She retorted, "What? Don''t tell me you''re gonna just get our marriage license without having a wedding?" She gave him a dirty look. These are part of the step-by-step progress that will happen sooner orter, so there''s nothing wrong with me getting nervous in advance, no? "Of course not. I''ll hold the grandest wedding for both of us, of course." Elspeth couldn''t care less whether their wedding would be grand or not. After all, now that his fortune hade into her hands, it would actually pain her to spend his money. She replied with a snort, "Don''t make it too pompous." "How could you call that pompous? I''ve got to give my wife the best of everything, of course," Callum whispered in her ear. "What kind of wedding dress do you prefer? You can tell me about it¡ª" "Number 36! Number 36, please!" The staff member calling out the numbers in front of them sessfully cut short their exchange of whispers. Subsequently, the pair briefly straightened their clothes and walked inside hand in hand. ¡­ As they walked out of the city hall with their marriage license in hand, Elspeth had yet to recover from the fact that she was now a married woman. "Why do I feel like I''d aged ten years the instant we got our marriage license?" She was quite speechless. There was a big difference between being married and being single, and she really didn''t want to be called ''madam.'' After all, at only 24 years old, she was in the prime of her life, so how could she let the kids refer to her as an ''aunt''? Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. Callum seemed to notice her annoyance. Wrapping his arm around her waist, he said with a smile, "Who told you that? You''ll always be a little girl in my heart." ''A little girl'' sounds a bit over the top, no? Seeing the triumphant smile that had never appeared on the man''s face before, Elspeth suddenly had the feeling that he had been substituted for an imposter. He had always been stony and serious, so how could he possibly smile so happily? She couldn''t help but ask, "Have you been substituted or what?" Callum immediately stopped smiling. "What''s wrong? Do I look weird?" "You smiled like you''d won a 750,000 lottery." He answered in all seriousness, "That''s impossible. A mere 750,000 isn''t enough to make me smile." Elspeth was lost for words. Why is he ying devil''s advocate now? Feeling the softness of Elspeth''s body in his arms, Callum felt he was in the best moment of his life. "But it''s indeed a great pleasure to marry the woman I love." She stepped on his foot with all her might. "Don''t go too far in reminding me of the fact that I''m already a married woman." "Alright, honey." Elspeth felt a headache creeping up at the sight of his smile. "Alright, now that we''ve gotten our marriage license, can I go to my office?" "Hold on a minute." Callum suddenly stretched out his hand in a peculiar manner and swiftly snatched the marriage license from her before she realized it. "I''ll keep this marriage license in order to prevent you from doing something I couldn''t imagine." Elspeth was pissed off. "What sort of unimaginable thing can I do with this?" He fell silent for a moment. "I''m afraid that you''ll go back on it." She replied, "Tell me the truth." "Fine. I just want to post this to Instagram, that''s all," he admitted. With that, he held up their marriage license and took a picture of it in front of her. Then, he quickly posted the picture to Instagram with the caption, ''Let''s spend the rest of our lives together.'' A strange feeling arose inside Elspeth when she saw how at ease he looked. Chapter 460 Chapter 460 Chapter 460 Follow Her As Elspeth had expected, the Instagram post attracted over 300 likes in just one minute. She had long known that Callum had many followers on Instagram, but never did she think they would react so quickly to the announcement. She nced through thements, which mostly expressed shock and disbelief other than the ones that wished him a lifetime of happiness with his wife. Aizenmented, ¡®What? Why get married so quickly?¡¯ Anothermented, ¡®But wait, whom is he married to? Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s that Jasmine McGrath whom he dumped earlier?¡¯ The thirdmented, ¡®How¡¯s that possible? The two of them had broken up ages ago.¡¯ ¡®Then who could the person be?¡¯ Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. ¡®I don¡¯t know, but you don¡¯t seem to be the person.¡¯ ¡®This is simply impressive! I¡¯ve got to spread the news to the news outlets. Everyone, don¡¯t vie with me for this.¡¯ ¡®The early bird catches the worm, eh? That¡¯s quite calcting of you, you brat.¡¯ Thesements were followed by numerous others. Seeing how animated thesements were, Elspeth felt rather speechless. ¡°Have these people never seen someone getting married before?¡± Callum raised an eyebrow thoughtfully. ¡°They¡¯ve seen someone getting married before, but it¡¯s rare to see me getting married.¡± What a total narcissist, thought Elspeth. ¡°Wait a minute. Why didn¡¯t you make it public that I¡¯m the one you¡¯re married to?¡± She looked him up and down; the instant she realized this, her countenance changed. Don¡¯t tell me this guy¡¯s trying to keep our marriage a secret! But wait, won¡¯t I be the one keeping our marriage a secret now that he has announced on Instagram that he¡¯s married? ¡°Are you forcing me into keeping our marriage a secret?¡± she asked. Well, this seems like a good idea. For the time being, I can maintain my single status, which would make it easier for me to do a lot of things. Above all else, I won¡¯t be referred to as an ¡®aunt.¡¯ Seeing Elspeth getting up to something, Callum couldn¡¯t help but stick out a finger and tickle her nose. ¡°I¡¯m doing this to protect you,¡± he exined. After all, he had just broken off his engagement to Jasmine. If Jasmine were to learn that he had gotten married to Elspeth so quickly, she would realize his true purpose in going out with her back then. Judging by the McGrath Family¡¯s personality, they would probably do something bad to Elspeth, so it was better to keep Elspeth¡¯s marriage to him a secret for safety¡¯s sake. ¡°You¡¯re so thoughtful about me, huh?¡± Elspeth narrowed her eyes with a smile. She looked up at the man, only to meet the man¡¯s affectionate gaze. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that something might happen to you like before, so I¡¯ve got to protect you.¡± Callum took her into his arms. He patientlyforted her, saying, ¡°I really want to make it public that you¡¯re my wife, but I know I have to restrain myself.¡± Elspeth patted him on the back. ¡°Okay, it¡¯s fine if you really want to make our marriage public. I can protect myself.¡± Callum was pretty calm when it came to this. ¡°It¡¯s okay, there¡¯s no hurry. Let me hold a grand wedding for both of us before we make our marriage public.¡± However, Elspeth suddenly realized a serious issue. ¡°Callum, why wasn¡¯t there a marriage proposal?¡± I only agreed to marry him on the spur of the moment yesterday, but how could there be no proposal? Wouldn¡¯t that make me seem a little too cheap? Seeing that her face was darkening, Callum hurriedlyforted her, saying, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll definitely give you a proposal. It¡¯s just that I was in a hurry to take you to get our marriage certificate yesterday, so I could only trick you intoing here with me first.¡± He was annoyed at the thought of Elspeth¡¯s many suitors, so he simply made up an excuse to trick her into marrying him. I had to establish our marriage first before anything else, no? ¡°You tricked me?¡± Elspeth suddenly realized something. She instantly yanked his finger toward herself, only to notice that the bruise on it had disappeared. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you hurt your finger? Where¡¯s the wound?¡± Seized by an overwhelming sense of oppression, Callum suddenly felt a chill down his spine. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, so the wound has healed already.¡± Elspeth replied with an insincere smile, ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, huh? It¡¯s only been two hours. Don¡¯t tell me you have super-healing capabilities.¡± Callum feigned surprise. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to notice that.¡± ¡°Callum!¡± Infuriated, Elspeth immediately dragged him toward the City Hall. ¡°It¡¯s still early now, and we¡¯re at the entrance to the City Hall. It¡¯s not toote for us to get divorced.¡± How could Callum possibly let Elspeth divorce him after the trouble he had taken to marry her? He stood straight without moving an inch. Seeing how she had dragged him for a long time to no avail, Elspeth looked back furiously. At a nce, she noticed the slightly hurt look on the man¡¯s face. Hurt? Am I seeing things? Callum remained silent as his Adam¡¯s apple bobbed up and down. ¡°Don¡¯t divorce me.¡± He looked just like a 15-year-old teenage boy begging his girlfriend not to leave him. Elspeth couldn¡¯t tell why, but her anger dissipated at the sight of this. On the other hand, Callum, who had been pretending to be hurt, realized another weakness of hers¡ª she was open to persuasion but not coercion. If one were to coerce her into doing something, she would do the exact opposite, but if one were to use their puppy dog eyes on her and pretend to be hurt, she would be unable to do anything about them. Hmm, seems like this is a good way to cajole her. But if our future son dares to learn this trick, I¡¯ll chase him to Birdia to toughen him up. Since he was still brainstorming, no one spoke for a moment, so the atmosphere quickly turned awkward. Thinking that she had gone too far, Elspeth tugged at his finger and asked gingerly, ¡°Are you angry?¡± Callum blinked his eyes without saying a word. ¡°Fine, I was only joking with you. We¡¯re not getting divorced. How can I possibly divorce you?¡± Callum stretched out his arms to signal her to hug him. Elspeth quickly threw herself into his arms and held him tightly. Sheforted him, saying, ¡°Sorry for sounding a bit over the top just now. I know you just want to marry me.¡± ¡°Mm-hmm,¡± Callum mumbled, but he could hardly conceal the smile on his lips. At this moment, however, all Elspeth cared about was how tofort him. With her head buried in his chest, she couldn¡¯t see his facial expression, of course, so she could only be foolishly deceived by this deceitful man. After making sure that Elspeth wouldn¡¯t divorce him, Callum finally let go of her. He drove her to the entrance of her office before preparing to drive away. Before he left, he poked his head out of the car window and asked her, ¡°When should I pick you up this evening?¡± Suddenly recalling her appointment with Arthur, Elspeth brushed him off, saying, ¡°I have a dinner to attend this evening, so you don¡¯t have to pick me up.¡± Dinner? Why have I never heard about that from her before? ¡°What kind of dinner is that? Can¡¯t you let Harper go in your stead?¡± Something¡¯s fishy with this dinner. Elspeth replied, ¡°The person specifically asked me to be present, saying that they¡¯d feel more comfortable talking to me.¡± At this moment, she had to feign imperturbability in order not to be easily suspected. Smart as Callum was, he would quickly figure it out if she were to give herself away by looking panicked. ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll drive you to work tomorrow morning.¡± Elspeth nodded with a smile. ¡°Okay.¡± After she entered her office, however, Callum narrowed his eyes; a bad feeling suddenly crossed his mind. He made a phone call and ordered calmly, ¡°Connor, follow my wife around this evening. Keep her safe and see where she¡¯s going while you¡¯re at it.¡± ¡°Roger that, Mr. Winthrop!¡± Chapter 461 Chapter 461 Chapter 461 Not Helena¡¯s Daughter At 6.00PM, Elspeth clocked out and drove straight to the ce where she and Arthur had agreed to meet. When she pushed the door open and entered, Arthur was already there. Seeing here alone without bringing anyone with her, he slowly curled his lips into a smile. ¡°You really keep your word. I like that.¡± ¡°Just cut the crap and tell me what secret you have.¡± Arthur raised his eyebrows. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you, of course¡ªbut not now.¡± Elspeth had no desire to have too many dealings with him, though; she thought speaking to him would simply shorten her lifespan. ¡°Stop wasting time. We¡¯re both busy, after all.¡± ¡°Alright then, just have a seat and dine with me. We¡¯ll talk over dinner.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t really want to have dinner with him, but she had no choice but to sit down in order to learn more information. The dishes were served one after another, and nearly all of them were her favorites. Arthur raised an eyebrow slightly in a confident and leisurely manner. Not only that, he even had an air of smugness about him. ¡°These are all your favorite dishes, right? I know quite a lot about your preferences after spending such a long time with you abroad.¡± As much as Elspeth hated this guy, she had to admit that he was indeed very attentive to her. Picking up a chunk of meat with her fork, she tasted it and couldn¡¯t help feeling that it tasted somewhat familiar. She had eaten this so many times abroad, so there was no mistake about it. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you made these yourself?¡± She found this hard to believe, but she had some doubts nheless. Arthur wasn¡¯t in a hurry to answer her questions, though. Instead, he picked up his fork and speared a piece of potato with it. ¡°I think the French fries today are pretty nice. You want to try them?¡± ¡°Arthur, I don¡¯t want to hear you reminisce about the old times and y the friendship card with me. Just hurry and tell me your purpose in getting me here today.¡± Arthur¡¯s countenance changed at her words. ¡°Are you in such a hurry to leave me?¡± Elspeth only thought he was out of his mind. Seething with anger, she asked, ¡°What do you mean by ¡®leave you¡¯? I¡¯ve never gone out with you before.¡± Arthur asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter with Callum¡¯s Instagram post? Are you the one he¡¯s married to?¡± His heart ached at the thought that Elspeth might have gotten back together with Callum and even married him. ¡°So what if I¡¯m the one he¡¯s married to? What does that have to do with you? Just mind your own business,¡± Elspeth said before standing up immediately. She continued in a frosty voice, ¡°I think I won¡¯t get any information I want here, so let¡¯s not waste time talking to each other. I gotta go.¡± She picked up her feet and was just about to leave when Arthur suddenly said something shocking behind her. ¡°Has it ever urred to you that you¡¯re not Helena¡¯s daughter at all?¡± The instant Elspeth heard this, she stopped in her tracks and looked back sharply with her eyes full of disbelief. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? How can I possibly not be my mom¡¯s daughter?¡± Has Arthur gotten out of his mind while making up excuses? ¡°Why would I lie to you about that? If you don¡¯t believe me, you can look into it yourself. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve never suspected this.¡± Elspeth was stunned. Indeed, she had never suspected this, nor had she ever thought of digging into this. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Arthur continued, ¡°So, just check this out. Perhaps you¡¯ll get an unexpected surprise. If you can¡¯t find out anything, it¡¯s okay. Juste to me and I¡¯ll give you whatever answer you want.¡± Elspeth looked totally unperturbed, but her mind was already in turmoil. It had never urred to her that she wasn¡¯t Helena¡¯s daughter. If she weren¡¯t Helena¡¯s daughter, then whose daughter was she? ¡°Alright, I got it¡­ Thanks for telling me about this.¡± She took a deep breath. Although she didn¡¯t understand Arthur¡¯s motive in telling her about this, she was still grateful to him for his answer. Arthur rested his chin in his hand with a smile. ¡°You¡¯re wee. You¡¯ve given me what I want, anyway.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Elspeth asked. Before she realized it, she suddenly felt dizzy; the feeling of weightlessness that washed over her rendered her at a loss for what to do. ¡°You drugged the dishes?¡± Arthur smiled. ¡°How can I make you stay without drugging you?¡± Elspeth knitted her brows while trying hard to suppress her dizziness and the hot sensation. ¡°Why did you do this?¡± Arthur slowly stood up and walked to her side before holding her up by the arm. ¡°Didn¡¯t I make it clear already? I want to make you stay. I don¡¯t want you to go back and be with him. It makes me angry to see you with him.¡± Elspeth wanted to shake his hand off with all her might, but she realized that she couldn¡¯t summon up her strength at all. ¡°What are you gonna do to me?¡± Arthur looked at her face with infatuation written all over his face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I love you, so I¡¯ll never hurt you.¡± Seeing the man like this, Elspeth felt a bout of nausea. ¡°Arthur, I really never expected you to be such a nasty person.¡± ¡°Call me names as you please. I just want to get my hands on you, anyway.¡± Arthur reached out and gently caressed her face. ¡°I know that you two might¡¯ve gotten married, but that¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll take you abroad where there¡¯s no one else so that no one would know you¡¯re married, and we¡¯ll stay together forever.¡± Elspeth put her hands on the dining table in an effort to prop herself up. ¡°Are you a pervert?¡± ¡°Pervert, huh? I like the sound of that.¡± Arthur bent over and was ready to kiss her face. I just drugged her with an aphrodisiac, so she must be feeling very ufortable at this moment. Just when he was about to proceed to the next step, the door was suddenly kicked open. Callum¡¯s handsome face was frosty, and his ck eyes were gloomy as he was shrouded in a chilly aura. His voice was slightly husky, and his dark eyes were glittering like obsidians. Wearing a half smile, he asked with a threatening note in his deep voice, ¡°What were you going to do to her?¡± Had he not arrived in time, he couldn¡¯t have imagined that such a thing would happen. One could tell at a nce that Elspeth¡¯s face was abnormally flushed, and it was clear that she had been drugged. Upon seeing this, he grew increasingly irritated. To think this woman had the nerve toe and meet him behind my back! Had I not taken precautions against this in advance, who knows what kind of unpredictable thing would¡¯ve happened here? Arthur replied, ¡°What does it have to do with you?¡± Seeing the man before him, he knew that his ns had fallen through again this time. Since he was displeased, he didn¡¯t sound very pleased either. ¡°What does it have to do with me, you ask? She¡¯s mywful wife.¡± The word ¡®wife¡¯ instantly ignited the mes of war between the two men. ¡°What? You married someone else right after calling off your engagement to the McGrath Family¡¯s daughter? Don¡¯t you worry that they¡¯ll harm Elspeth in the future?¡± Chapter 462 Chapter 462 Chapter 462 You Can¡¯t Do It This was a tant threat. Callum listened to these words with a dark gaze. He knew it was risky to say these things, but in this situation, he had to use them to shut up Arthur and keep him away from Elspeth. ¡°What does this have to do with you? The only thing that concerns you is to release my wife right now.¡± Although Arthur was reluctant, he had to let go of this situation. As soon as he loosened his grip, Callum immediately reached out and held Elspeth¡¯s arm, his heart filled with anger toward Arthur. Elspeth should have only taken a small dose, and now she seemed slightly conscious. She looked up at Callum beside her, her head spinning, not knowing what to say. ¡°I want water.¡± Her throat was incredibly dry, and she just wanted water. Knowing she was feeling unwell, Callum didn¡¯t want to argue with Arthur anymore and just carried her away. Arthur watched him leave and couldn¡¯t help but say loudly, ¡°I hope you handle things properly.¡± It was a double entendre. Callum understood the two meanings, but he only wanted to answer one. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take care of the McGrath Family.¡± When Arthur heard this, anger shed in his eyes. Elspeth had been drugged, and although she had only taken a small dose, the drug was potent. It was difficult to relieve her pain unless she had sex with a man. Even if she went to the hospital, she would have to go through a painful process. When Arthur thought of Callum possibly having sex with her, he was so angry he just threw the teacup. I¡¯m going to snatch Elspeth sooner orter! Callum quickly carried Elspeth into the car and prepared to take her to the hospital. Seeing her in pain, he felt both angry and heartbroken. But on the way, she was a little restless and kept reaching out to pull his cor. She was wearing a white shirt today with a coat over it. At this point, she took off her coat and kept unbuttoning her shirt. ¡°Hang in there, Elspeth. We¡¯ll be at the hospital soon.¡± Callum tried to patiently calm her down, but seeing her exposed chest, he couldn¡¯t help swallowing. It was strange how her figure was amazing even though she had a small frame. It was almost criminal how enticing she was. His gaze darkened, and a burning desire suddenly surged in his lower body. Elspeth was nowpletely not in her right mind. Her temperature spiked all over her body, and she desperately needed something cool to save herself. Thinking this, she moved her hands all over Callum¡¯s arm. As Callum felt the warmth of her hands, his restlessness grew. He stopped the car on the side of the road and pulled down the curtain, making the bright car interior pitch ck. Elspeth could faintly see his eyes in the darkness that were shing with a dangerous light. ¡°Callum¡­¡± Her voice was weak because of the drug, which made her even more irresistible. Callum couldn¡¯t resist his feelings anymore and leaned in to kiss her lips. The kiss deepened and became more passionate as Elspeth responded shyly. Just when the two were in the heat of passion, Callum stopped just in time and pushed away her scorching body. Elspeth didn¡¯t understand why and licked her lips, seeming to suggest that she wasn¡¯t satisfied yet. ¡°Okay, that¡¯s enough. I¡¯ll take you to the hospital now.¡± ¡°Why do we need to go to the hospital?¡± Elspeth looked at him, and the burning sensation in her body made her babble deliriously. She felt so hot all over her body, and the coolness of his lips earlier left her wanting more. ¡°Because it¡¯s not time yet. We¡¯ll do this after we get married.¡± Although Callum wanted to devour her now, he held back because he knew she wasn¡¯t in a clear state of mind, and anything she did was not thought through. Although she was now his wife, he still didn¡¯t want to simply touch her. He wanted to give her all the respect she deserved. Elspeth seemed to understand and could only nod reluctantly. ¡°Okay.¡± Seeing her like this, Callum was proud of his restraint. They soon arrived at the hospital, and the doctor looked at Elspeth and immediately knew she had been drugged. ¡°What happened? How did ite to this?¡± He looked suspiciously at Callum and frowned. ¡°Even if you want to add some spice to your rtionship, you shouldn¡¯t fool around like this. The drug is potent, and if taken in excessive doses, it can be fatal.¡± Moreover, this illegal substance is not allowed to be sold, so where did he get it? Seeing the doctor¡¯s misunderstanding, Callum cleared his throat and said, ¡°It¡¯s not like that. She identally took this drug, so I brought her to the hospital.¡± After hearing this, the doctor rxed. It made sense since Callum didn¡¯t seem to have done anything inappropriate to the girl. Callum brought her to the hospital and didn¡¯t take advantage of her. ¡°Good job, you¡¯re husband material.¡± Callum couldn¡¯t contain his emotions and blurted out, ¡°We¡¯re already married.¡± ¡°You¡¯re married?¡± ¡°We already have our marriage certificates.¡± He took out the proof from his pocket. Wow, he even carried the marriage certificates with him. The doctor was surprised and looked at him with a strange look. ¡°Young man, let me check your body while we¡¯re at it.¡± Callum didn¡¯t react properly for a moment and said, ¡°No need. Just check her.¡± N?velDrama.Org ? content. He thought the doctor misunderstood and thought he had also been drugged. ¡°No, both of you are already married. You should pay more attention to your sex life. Are you holding back because you¡¯re not good in bed?¡± Seeing the doctor¡¯s worried face and theck of any possible humor, Callum couldn¡¯t hold back his anger, and his face turned ck. ¡°Doctor, I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Then why did youe to the hospital for this small matter? You could¡¯ve just solved it at home.¡± Callum was speechless, and his face became even darker. The doctor felt that this man¡¯s temperament was unusual, and seeing his increasingly gloomy expression, he became a little scared. ¡°Okay, I won¡¯t ask about your private affairs anymore. Let me check her body first and see what medicine to prescribe for her.¡± The doctor quickly ran away before Callum could lose his temper. Chapter 463 Chapter 463 Chapter 463 I Want a Daughter After Elspeth took the medicine, the flush on her face gradually faded away, and she soon fell asleep in the ward. Callum stayed outside the door, and as the sky darkened and it becamete at night, his assistant advised him to go back to sleep. However, he thought for a moment and decided to stay. If Elspeth woke up and didn¡¯t see him, she would probably be upset. With this in mind, Callum asked his assistant to leave first, and he stayed by her bedside, watching her peaceful sleeping face and feeling indescribable satisfaction in his heart. He didn¡¯t know when he fell asleep, but when he woke up, he had an extra girl¡¯s jacket on him. Callum opened his eyes and saw Elspeth staring at him with a yful smile on her lips. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Callum was stunned for a moment, surprised that she had woken up so early and had even given him a jacket. ¡°I think you look good. I never realized your eyshes are so long. They make me want to touch them.¡± Elspeth did as she said, reaching out to lightly rub his eyshes. Her movements were gentle and made him feel itchy. ¡°Okay, stop it.¡± Elspeth stopped, still grinning. ¡°Now let¡¯s talk about something else.¡± Callum stared at her. The gloom in his eyes almost overwhelmed her. Elspeth was startled and instantly understood what he meant. This was himing to settle ounts. But she couldn¡¯t resist and could only bow her head silently, looking pitiful and helpless as if she had been bullied. ¡°Why are you meeting with him behind my back?¡± The thought that she dared to hide it from him and even made an excuse to keep him away made him furious. ¡°He requested it himself. He said that if I went there alone, he would tell me a secret.¡± Callum red at her. ¡°He asked you to go alone, and you went alone. Weren¡¯t you afraid he would have any bad intentions toward you?¡± ¡°I was prepared for it, but I never thought he would be so sinister and actually drugged me.¡± Elspeth thought Arthur might at most bring a group of people to beat her up. With her skills, as long as the number of people was not too many, she could hold on until rescue arrived. She never thought he would drug her. It was even an aphrodisiac! Thinking about this, Elspeth became even more furious, wishing she could grab Arthur and beat him up to relieve her anger. ¡°Will you act so recklessly next time?¡± Callum knew that if he didn¡¯t give her a thorough lesson this time, she wouldn¡¯t remember it. Elspeth immediately shook her head. ¡°Of course not. From now on, I will tell you before I do anything.¡± Callum snorted. ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± Elspeth tentatively asked, ¡°So does that mean this matter is over?¡± ¡°Of course not. I have to teach you a lesson so you can learn and remember.¡± Callum carefully thought about it, then continued, ¡°For your safety and to prevent you from running around, from today on, you will move to the Winthrop Residence and live with me.¡± Move to Winthrop Residence? Elspeth¡¯s smile froze on her face. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit inappropriate? There are so many people there.¡± ¡°Why is it inappropriate? Everyone in the Winthrop Family knows that we are already legally married and have our certificates.¡± At this point, Elspeth was shocked. ¡°You¡¯ve already told everyone about this?¡± Callum nodded. ¡°Yes, everyone in the Winthrop Family knows you¡¯re my wife, Elspeth, so there¡¯s no room for refusal. Starting tonight, you¡¯ll be living with me.¡± ¡°Do I share a bed with you?¡± Callum chuckled with a meaningful look on his face. ¡°If you¡¯re willing, then why not?¡± ¡°Can I refuse? I don¡¯t want to go to the Winthrop Residence.¡± Elspeth thought for a moment and felt that this situation was too surreal and not quite appropriate. ¡°Of course not. As I said, you must live with me. However¡­ If you don¡¯t want to move there, there is another way.¡± Callum¡¯s words instantly piqued her interest. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll move in with you.¡± Elspeth was speechless. She¡¯d rather move to Winthrop Residence. If they were to live together now at her ce, it wouldn¡¯t be quite right. Since they both agreed on a solution, eventually, Elspeth decided to move to Winthrop Residence. Callum didn¡¯t want to wait even a minute longer. After he finished the hospital discharge procedures, he took Elspeth straight to Winthrop Residence. Standing at the entrance, Elspeth looked at Callum¡¯s face, smiling awkwardly. ¡°I haven¡¯t packed my things yet.¡± Callum raised his eyebrows, a hint of hidden meaning in his usually cold gaze. ¡°Go inside and take a look.¡± Elspeth snapped back to reality, noticing Callum¡¯s suggestive tone and wondering what he meant. Subsequently, they entered together. It wasn¡¯t dinner time yet, so most of the Winthrop family members hadn¡¯te back yet. Only Margot sat on the sofa, watching TV dramas and doing her skincare routine. When she saw Elspeth, her surprise was almost visible even through her facial mask. ¡°Elspeth, why are you here?¡± Elspeth smiled faintly, suppressing her inner nervousness. ¡°I came here today to¡ª¡± Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. Callum intervened at the right moment. ¡°I asked Elspeth to move in with us.¡± Margot¡¯s eyes lit up with surprise. ¡°Really? Is she really willing to move in with us? Don¡¯t force her.¡± ¡°How could I force her? I¡¯ve already asked, and she¡¯s willing,¡± Callum replied. Margot¡¯s smile couldn¡¯t be contained. ¡°That¡¯s great. I¡¯ve been wanting you to move in with us for a long time, Elspeth! I¡¯ll finally have apanion.¡± Elspeth¡¯s mind was in a whirl. Looking at Margot¡¯s delighted expression, she felt that things weren¡¯t that simple. ¡°Oh, right, I forgot. You two are married now, so living together is normal.¡± Margot held Elspeth¡¯s hand and patted it. ¡°If Callum dares to bully you, I promise I won¡¯t spare him. Don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯m your forever support.¡± Callum¡¯s gaze deepened at these words. ¡°How could I bully her?¡± ¡°You little brat. I¡¯m chatting with my daughter-inw here. Don¡¯t bother us.¡± Margot was so eager to talk to Elspeth as if she wanted to adopt her as her daughter. Elspeth couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, don¡¯t tease Callum anymore. What if he really runs away from home?¡± ¡°If he does, then let him go. Anyway, I already have a beautiful daughter-inw. That¡¯s all that matters. You know that we don¡¯t have any daughters in the Winthrop Family. I¡¯ve wanted a daughter for a long time¡­¡± Chapter 464 Chapter 464 Chapter 464 Male Inheritance Margot¡¯s words made Elspeth feel incredibly warm in her heart, and she felt more attached to Margot. Suddenly, Margot seemed to remember something and pped her leg. ¡°Wait for me a moment. I¡¯ll go get something.¡± She hurriedly went upstairs. Elspeth looked at Callum, her face full of confusion. ¡°What does she mean?¡± Callum naturally guessed Margot¡¯s intentions and just smiled without saying anything. ¡°By the way, have you brought Jasmine home before?¡± Callum raised his brows and stared into her eyes. ¡°No.¡± ¡°But you told me before that you would bring her home.¡± ¡°Why are you still hung up about that? I was just lying to you at the time, wasn¡¯t I?¡± Listening to her sour words, Callum figured she was getting jealous. ¡°I¡¯m not hung up about it; I¡¯m just curious.¡± Elspeth, feeling exposed, couldn¡¯t help but be indignant and stomped on his foot hard. When she looked up, Margot had juste back with a box and saw her angrily stomping on Callum¡¯s foot. She was so embarrassed she hoped the ground would open up and swallow her. ¡°I know what you¡¯re doing. Lover¡¯s quarrel, right? It¡¯s okay. If he did something wrong and you want to hit him, just hit him. If you want to scold him, just scold him.¡± Margotughed even more heartily. After she finished speaking, she sat down on the sofa and ced the box on the table. Then, she opened it. There was actually an agate ring inside. ¡°There are many things that have been passed down in the Winthrop Family, but most of them are jade. I remember that you are allergic to jade, so I looked around and found something like this to pass on to you.¡± Elspeth looked at the agate ring and knew that it was very old. ¡°This is too precious; I can¡¯t ept it.¡± ¡°Why not? This is for the daughter-inw of the Winthrop Family, and the other boys who are going to marry will have them too.¡± Elspeth knew that declining was pointless, so she epted it obediently. ¡°Good girl, you should keep this safe. I¡¯m going to cook for you now that you¡¯vee to our house today. We have to prepare a big feast to wee you.¡± Margot gave Callum a sharp look. ¡°Take care of my daughter-inw and serve her well. Otherwise, you¡¯ll get it from me.¡± Callum suddenly felt like his position in the family had plummeted. However, if it was about taking care of Elspeth, it was fine. After Margot left, Elspeth looked at Callum, who was peeling an orange, and asked, ¡°Does Mrs. Winthrop also know about your previous marriage?¡± Naturally, she wasn¡¯t just asking about the marriage. ¡°Of course, I¡¯ve already told my mom about all of my ns, and when she heard that everything was arranged for you, she was very supportive of my decision.¡± Elspeth¡¯s heart softened instantly. ¡°Mrs. Winthrop is so considerate of me. I¡¯ve decided to stand with her and bully you together with her in the future.¡± Callum¡¯s movements paused. ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so frank.¡± Elspeth carefully put away the agate ring. She didn¡¯t dare to wear it for it was too valuable, so it was better to keep it safe. Seeing her cautious movements, Callum curved his lips. ¡°It does need to be kept safe. We can pass it down to our daughter in the future.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to have a daughter with you. I prefer boys,¡± Elspeth rebutted. ¡°We can¡¯t have a son.¡± The thought of other boys being intimate with her in the future made him furious. Not even their son was allowed. So, Callum whispered to persuade her, ¡°Boys are not good. They will be too energetic and affect your mood and appetite. And if they cause trouble, you¡¯ll have to clean up after them. Plus, during adolescence, they may be recklessly hitting other girls up.¡± Elspeth gave him a sideways nce. ¡°How do you know? Were you like this when you were younger?¡± Callum rolled his eyes helplessly. ¡°Don¡¯t you know what I was like as a child?¡± It was true. Callum looked like he had been cold and distant since he was young, and still did to this day. ¡°But a boy would be good, as a son would be close to his mother.¡± In fact, she liked both boys and girls, but she just wanted to say it to annoy him. ¡°No!¡± Callum¡¯s tone suddenly rose. ¡°Look at you, so petty¡­¡± Elspeth muttered softly, but quickly changed her tone when she saw his murderous gaze. ¡°Okay, okay, okay, a girl it is¡­ Wait, why should I have a child with you?¡± She realized as soon as she said that, Callum seemed a bit angry. His face suddenly turned cold. ¡°Then who do you want to have a child with?¡± Elspeth lowered her head, looking conflicted. ¡°Although I¡¯m not afraid of pain, I¡¯ve heard that giving birth is particrly painful.¡± Callum¡¯s expression softened a bit when he heard this. ¡°It¡¯s okay. If you really don¡¯t want to have children, we won¡¯t.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t expect him to concede to this extent for her. Looking at his caring and doting face, she suddenly felt that getting married early might not be such a bad thing after all. ¡°Okay, if you¡¯re still unsure, let¡¯s not think about this issue for now.¡± Callum took her hand and stood up. ¡°Let me take you to your room.¡± Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. Elspeth was a little surprised. She had stayed at Winthrop Residence before, and naturally thought she would be staying in her previous room. But it had been a while, and she didn¡¯t know what the room was like now. Callum took her directly to arge bedroom on the second floor. ¡°The previous room was too small. I talked to my mom and we decided to give you this bigger bedroom.¡± Elspeth was taken aback. ¡°But I remember there are only sixrge bedrooms, and each member of the Winthrop Family has one¡­¡± ¡°ke is never home, so he can stay in another room when hees back.¡± ¡°Why not Arthur¡¯s room? I remember he¡¯s not living at Winthrop Residence anymore, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s bad luck.¡± Callum had his own considerations. Arthur had ulterior motives for her, and Callum didn¡¯t want her to stay in his room. ¡°Okay, but what if ke gets angry?¡± Callum¡¯s expression was t. ¡°Then he can go somewhere else.¡± Elspeth broke out in a cold sweat. If ke came back and found his room upied by someone else, he would probably be furious. Thinking of ke¡¯s angry inquiries about his room, she couldn¡¯t help but laugh. Just as sheughed, someone knocked her head lightly. ¡°Don¡¯t think about other men.¡± Callum¡¯s touch was light, but his gaze was threatening. Elspeth nodded and pushed open the door. She remembered having seen ke¡¯s room before, with blue being his favorite color and the room being a mix of blues and greens. But now, the decor in the room had undergone a drastic change. At a nce, it looked like a girl¡¯s room, with everything a girl could possibly need, and even a huge stuffed animal in the corner. It was so girlish. ¡°Did you prepare all of this?¡± Elspeth approached and opened the closet, finding only her favorite brands and styles inside. He¡¯s too thoughtful! Callum¡¯s expression softened a bit when he heard this. ¡°It¡¯s okay. If you really don¡¯t want to have children, we won¡¯t.¡± Chapter 465 Chapter 465 Chapter 465 Elspeth¡¯s First Love ¡°Did you really only have one girlfriend before? Your behavior seems to suggest that you¡¯ve had many.¡± Elspeth widened her eyes. Her grin was particrly bright and teasing. ¡°You can always get such urate information; did you not check how many girlfriends I had before?¡± Callum rolled his eyes, feeling somewhat speechless. She clearly knew, yet she still said it like that and deliberately teased him. ¡°Tsk.¡± Elspeth clicked her tongue, suddenly feeling jaded. ¡°I just wanted to liven up the atmosphere. I didn¡¯t expect you to be so dull.¡± ¡°I¡¯m a bit dull during the day, but at night we can do something more interesting.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Could this really be something Callum would say? As Elspeth watched him calmly and shamelessly utter these vulgar and shameless words, her face turned red, and she punched him in anger. ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense!¡± ¡°You started it first. Why are you getting angry now?¡± Callum calmly crossed his arms and watched her stomp her feet with a slight smile. ¡°Then I won¡¯t say anything anymore.¡± Elspeth simply went inside and flopped onto the bed. ¡°This bed is so soft.¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s soft.¡± After trying more than 30 fabrics and materials, he came up with this. It was sure to be the mostfortable bed to sleep in. But he didn¡¯t tell her this little detail, in case she said something shameless again. He didn¡¯t like it when she was being impudent. ¡°But this bed has one major w.¡± Callum smirked. Elspeth lifted her head from the covers and asked with a bewildered look, ¡°Is there any problem with this bed?¡± Callum replied, ¡°Of course. The biggest w is that I can¡¯t sleep with you.¡± Elspeth¡¯s heart raced. ¡°Wait, where did you learn these cheesy pick-up lines?¡± She didn¡¯t even know that Callum liked saying these things. Besides, when he said them with a serious face, it gave her a feeling that he was a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing. To be honest, it was really easy to be hooked. But she was Elspeth Lynwood, so she could resist it. However, not everyone could. ¡°Do you not like it? Don¡¯t girls like to be flirted with by guys they like?¡± Elspeth straightened up and exined seriously to him, ¡°What you¡¯re doing is called flirting, but we¡¯re already an old married couple. If you keep saying these things, you¡¯ll creep me out and give me goosebumps.¡± ¡°Creep you out and give you goosebumps?¡± Those words sounded particrly dangerous in his cold voice. Elspeth realized she had messed up again and quickly corrected herself. ¡°Sorry, my wording is not appropriate. What you said makes me feel embarrassed. I just don¡¯t like hearing about these things. I¡¯m a no-nonsense woman who is not good at expressing emotions.¡± Callum¡¯s deep-set eyes stared at her intensely, and he slowly furrowed his brow, his gaze bing dark and dangerous. ¡°Just a no-nonsense woman who is not good at expressing her emotions, huh? Are you sure?¡± Elspeth had yet to realize the seriousness of the situation and nodded profusely. ¡°Yes.¡± Hearing this, Callum didn¡¯t say anything more and instead walked over and opened the first drawer. Then he took out a letter and began to read the words on it, using his maic voice to recite each word. ¡°I dwell by the head of the river, While you reside by its tail. Every day I long for you, yet you are not here, As we drink from the river that never fails.¡± Upon hearing these familiar words, Elspeth immediately stiffened. ¡°Why do these things you¡¯re reciting sound a bit familiar?¡± Callum didn¡¯t respond to her question and continued reciting. ¡°This water flows ceaselessly, While my love for you only grows. I pray your heart is like mine, Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. That you will never betray the love we chose.¡± At this moment, Elspeth had already realized what he was reciting and a trace of panic shed across her face. ¡°How did you know about this?¡± Callum nced at her with cold eyes. ¡°Wait, there¡¯s more toe.¡± Then, he continued. ¡°The cry of the ospreys echoes by the river¡¯s shore, In the islets where the river¡¯s currents flow. There stands a fair maiden, a beauty to adore, For a noble gentleman, she is meant to know. Amidst the waterweeds that sway to and fro, She wanders in search of her true love. But s, she cannot find him, and her heart in woe, Yearns for him every night and day thereof. The waterweeds she picks, scattered here and there, Topose a song for her kindred soul. With her lovely voice and her melodies rare, The strings of the zither will take control. And as she writes her verses with brush and ink, She dreams of her love with each stroke of her hand. And with each sound of the drum and bell¡¯s chime, Her heart sings with joy as she dances in the sand.¡± His voice was deep and resonant, especially when reciting poetry. He had a good intonation, making it easy for people to get lost in his voice. But this particr part was not as familiar to her. ¡°What is it that you¡¯re reciting?¡± Callum sneered, ¡°The handwriting is different. Can you guess whose it is?¡± A sudden surge of electricity rushed through Elspeth¡¯s mind. She remembered that Gilbert seemed to have told her on the phone that he had written a response on the back of the envelope. Were these lines what he had written? So, when she expressed her liking for him, he also liked her, but she thought she had been rejected at the time. When the letter was returned to her, she did not investigate further and buried the feelings deep in her heart, waiting for them to slowly rot away. Callum was no longer able to chat with her calmly at this point. He reached out and lifted her chin, asking, ¡°Can you tell me now? Can you tell me whether you¡¯re still a no-nonsense woman who is not good at expressing your emotions, or are you a hypocrite?¡± This was the love letter containing the juvenile poem she had written to Gilbert when she was young and immature. Now that it was suddenly unearthed, she was getting somewhat uneasy. But staying silent would make her look guilty. ¡°I just wrote these lines out of boredom at the time, and I even copied some lines from other poets¡­¡± ¡°So, these lines aren¡¯t flirtatious?¡± How could she write such words to Gilbert yet not be able to say anything romantic to him in person, and even find his flirtatious words creepy? The thought of that guy possibly being the unforgettable first love in her heart made him want to strangle him. ¡°Of course not. It was just me being young and ignorant at the time, and copying lines didn¡¯t take any skill. They weren¡¯t sincere.¡± It would be better to calm him down at this point. As for the truth of the matter, that was another story. ¡°You really liked him back then, didn¡¯t you?¡± Callum¡¯s voice carried a hint of sadness and helplessness. ¡°I didn¡¯t actually like him that much.¡± She only remembered being deeply moved by his care for her at the time, and love gradually grew from that. If she had to analyze what she really liked about him, she wouldn¡¯t know. ¡°Do you know how angry I was when I saw these things? You¡¯ve been keeping them for so long.¡± If she had forgotten or no longer cared about this past love interest, then these letters would have been destroyed long ago. But not only did she not do that, she even kept them close to her. The envelopes looked quite old. How could he not be angry about that? Chapter 466 Chapter 466 Chapter 466 Getting Kicked Out ¡°Don¡¯t be angry. Come on, calm down.¡± Elspeth nervously swallowed and stared at his chin, her gaze shifting uncertainly. ¡°If you really like this type of thing, I¡¯ll write more for you. I¡¯ll write you even more. Okay?¡± Callum¡¯s face was as cold as ice. His ck eyes narrowed slightly and gleamed with a sharp chill. He spoke in a cold tone, his voice bloodthirsty. ¡°Do you really think that what I care about is whether you can write more for me?¡± He was jealous. Couldn¡¯t this woman see it yet? Thinking like that, he really wanted to press her under him and bully her. He wanted to teach her a lesson so that she wouldn¡¯t dare to have double standards in the future! ¡°What do you care about then? Is it because I wrote to him before? These things already exist, so if I say they¡¯re all fake, you definitely won¡¯t believe it, so what do you want me to do?¡± She felt wronged. She didn¡¯t even know where he found those letters, and now he was interrogating her. She lowered her head, her face full of stubbornness. ¡°Why are you getting upset before I even say anything?¡± Callum looked at her like that and his heart softened a little. At this point, he couldn¡¯t bear to continue interrogating her. He let go of her and sat down on the bed beside her. ¡°When I saw these things, I was very unhappy. Shouldn¡¯t youfort me first?¡± Elspeth looked up and saw him chatting with her calmly, which made her feel somewhat relieved. ¡°But why did you sneak a peek at my things?¡± Callum nearly burst out in anger. He had been trying to help her pack up her things, yet it turned into him sneaking a peek at her things. I shouldn¡¯t have been so gentle with her. ¡°Do you remember when you lived here before? These things were all left behind here, so I just kindly packed them up for you, and then I happened to see it.¡± Elspeth huffed. ¡°That¡¯s better.¡± ¡°So, have you remembered this lesson?¡± N?velDrama.Org ? content. Elspeth blinked. ¡°What lesson?¡± ¡°In the future, you can only write these things for me. You¡¯re not allowed to write them for any other man.¡± Callum grew angrier the more he thought about it. He even felt a little regretful that he hadn¡¯t been involved in her youth and that he hadn¡¯t been the first person she was in love with. ¡°Of course not. We¡¯re already married now. If I write these things for other men, wouldn¡¯t that be cheating?¡± Elspeth felt speechless about his stupid idea. ¡°If Gilbert came back to find you, what would you do?¡± Elspeth looked into his eyes and couldn¡¯t help but show a teasing look. ¡°Why do you look so nervous?¡± Callum snorted. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m nervous! He¡¯s my biggest love rival.¡± Someone whom Elspeth used to like was harder to deal with than someone who liked her. ¡°This is all a thing of the past. Why don¡¯t you ask me if I still like him?¡± ¡°Whether you like him or not doesn¡¯t matter anymore. What matters is that he once left a very deep mark on your life, and I don¡¯t want you to remember him.¡± Elspeth looked at Callum. He looked as if he really cared about this matter, so she took his hand and said word by word, ¡°I admit that he once yed an irreceable role in my youth, but as time passed, I didn¡¯t keep my feelings for him. Since I chose to be with you, I have already made a decision to live out my life with you in the future, and from now on, my heart beats only for you.¡± This speech seemed to be more romantic than the old poetry that she used to write. Callum¡¯s first reaction was not only moved, but he also had the impulse to record her words. After a few decades, this would be a romantic recording to give to their children and grandchildren that documented the romance between the two of them. ¡°Okay, stop obsessing about this issue. I¡¯ve already promised you.¡± Callum¡¯s heart softened, and he reached out to ruffle Elspeth¡¯s hair. ¡°My mom should have finished cooking by now and the others should be back, so let¡¯s go eat.¡± Elspeth had just calmed down, but now she was nervous again. She wasn¡¯t just a friend¡¯s daughter visiting anymore. She was now a daughter-inw of the Winthrop Family. Who knew what unexpected events might happen? Elspeth was lost in thought as she walked slowly. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t be nervous.¡± Callum squeezed her hand. ¡°I¡¯m here for you.¡± They went downstairs and the Winthrop family members were all back. Edmund asionally stayed at Winthrop Residence for a few days, but his biological father was pushing him hard to take over the family business, so his free time was limited. He wasn¡¯t here today. ke was back, but he came with Lisa, who looked embarrassed and out of ce. She looked like she was dragged here by force. As for Max, after experiencing heartbreakst time, he didn¡¯t seem as lively and carefree as usual. Instead, he had a serious and calm vibe. Theodore was also back home for dinner today, and he was smiling at Elspeth. He and Margot liked her the more they looked at her. Sitting at the dining table, Margot was particrly happy. Both of her sons had brought girls home, and one of them had be a legitimate daughter-inw of the Winthrop Family. The thought of holding a grandchild soon made her grin from ear to ear. Unfortunately, Max lost the rtionship with such a good girl. Both of his two older brothers came back with their partners, and Margot didn¡¯t know if it would be a blow to him. As a result, her mood becameplicated with both joy and worry. Although they all knew each other, it was still somewhat ufortable to eat together. ke was the most rxed among them. For some reason, his personality had undergone a big change since he started dating Lisa. He kept serving her food with a big smile on his face. ¡°You should eat more. Look how skinny you are. My mom¡¯s cooking is so delicious. If you like it, I¡¯ll bring you here every day.¡± Lisa smiled awkwardly and took the food, but Elspeth could see that ke¡¯s face suddenly tightened. If she was right, Lisa must¡¯ve stepped on his foot. This was getting interesting. Seeing them being so intimate with each other, Margot couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°When are you two getting married, Lisa and ke? If you¡¯re happy with each other, both of our families can meet and then we can hold the wedding.¡± Lisa was usually calm, but she was taken aback by this and forced a smile. ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, ke and I aren¡¯t even together yet¡­¡± Margot¡¯s mood instantly turned sour. She twisted ke¡¯s ear and scolded him, ¡°ke, if you can¡¯t handle a matter as simple as getting Lisa to agree to go out with you within a month, you won¡¯t be allowed toe back to this house!¡± ke was first stepped on before he was threatened to be kicked out of the house, so he looked like he was about to cry. Why am I always the one getting hurt? Chapter 467 Chapter 467 Chapter 467 Margot, the Best Support In the end, ke couldn¡¯t help but retort, saying, ¡°Lisa lost her parents. You don¡¯t even know this, and here you are, rubbing salt into her wound.¡± When Margot heard that, a pained expression flitted across her face. ¡°Lisa, I¡¯m so sorry. I should¡¯ve tried to learn more about you. ke never told me about this before. I shouldn¡¯t have disregarded your feelings when I was talking just now.¡± She truly didn¡¯t expect Lisa to be an orphan. Looking at Lisa, Margot was both heartbroken and upset. ¡°Lisa, if you¡¯re willing, just rx and marry into our family. If ke mistreats you, I¡¯ll break his legs.¡± In the blink of an eye, she was on the youngdy¡¯s side. ke thought his words could evoke a sense of regret in Margot, but he didn¡¯t expect her to be so loving toward Lisa. Did she say she¡¯d break my legs? Geez! But things should be fine this way. Lisa, who had never experienced the warmth of a family, would probably be very touched by Margot¡¯s love and care. She might feel even happier this way. When ke thought of his future darling wife living in happiness, he felt that getting his legs broken would be a small price to pay. ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Winthrop¡­¡± Lisa¡¯s hand froze as it held the fork. The touching words had caused a ripple to spread across her heart. ¡°Look at how thin you are! Come, eat more.¡± Margot hastily ced more meat onto Lisa¡¯s te. ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Winthrop, but it¡¯s okay. You¡¯ve already given me so much food that I might not be able to finish everything.¡± As Lisa watched Margot bustling about, her heart softened even more. She then looked at ke, who wore a brilliant smile on his face. She suddenly felt that getting married to him wasn¡¯t too bad after all. Margot noticed Lisa¡¯s touched expression, then gave ke a hinting look. He immediately understood as he suddenly reached out and took Lisa¡¯s hand. Before she could react, he said earnestly, ¡°Lisa, please be my girlfriend.¡± Lisa was stunned. ke had thought of confessing before, but she kept thinking that the timing wasn¡¯t right or that she hadn¡¯t prepared herself yet, so she never said yes. Now, under these circumstances, she felt that if she disagreed, things might turn awkward for him. She then thought about how Margot had treated her just now. Lisa nodded right away as a faint blush tinted her cheeks. ¡°Okay.¡± Just as expected, ke really needed Margot¡¯s help to convince Lisa. He was so happy that he was smiling like a fool. If they weren¡¯t dining, he would¡¯ve picked Lisa up and twirled in circles with her. ¡°You finally agreed to be my girlfriend! Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll love you wholeheartedly from today onward.¡± He had been sticking to her for months, but he never gave up, and he had stubbornly persisted in following her. Her heart wasn¡¯t made of stone, after all, so it had begun softening a long time ago. However, she hadn¡¯t experienced much love since she was young, so she never dared to believe in love from anyone. After all this time, she also felt that ke might be the person she could spend her life with. Lisa snorted. ¡°Don¡¯t just talk the talk. Remember to walk the talk too.¡± ¡°But of course. I¡¯ll definitely do it better than anyone.¡± Callum, who had been smilingly watching the intimate interactions between the two, felt a sudden wave of difort. Why did he feel like he was beingpared? ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Realizing that Callum was taking it personally, ke shrunk back a little. After all, he had always greatly respected Callum, so he naturally wasn¡¯t in a position to tease Callum at the moment. ¡°Callum, you¡¯re overthinking. I didn¡¯t mean it like that.¡± Callum smiled faintly. ¡°Good.¡± In reality, ke¡¯s words had identally offended someone other than Callum. It was Max, who was keeping quiet at the side as he focused on eating. His presence was so easily overlooked that when everyone was having fun, theypletely forgot about him. Out of nowhere, almost everyone simultaneously looked over at him. Max was in a daze, and when he suddenly felt everyone¡¯s eyes on him, he looked up with a bewildered expression. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± It¡¯s just a meal, so where did all thise from? ¡°Nothing, you just look like you¡¯re enjoying the food,¡± ke spoke up first and teased him. ¡°Yes, how can Ipare to you? You just got yourself a beautiful girlfriend,¡± Max retorted without any hesitation. ¡°I know, you must still be thinking about Yelena. However, since she had already decided to break up with you, let¡¯s not think about her anymore. There¡¯s plenty of fish in the sea, so why are you so hung up on her? Am I right?¡± Everything was fine before, but at the mention of her name, Max instantly exploded. Thud! ¡°Can you not mention her name in front of me?¡± He mmed his fork on the table. His expression was grave, a clear sign that this incident deeply affected him. ke realized that he had been a little clumsy with his constion, so he hastilyforted Max. ¡°Hey, sorry. I didn¡¯t know that you¡¯d react so strongly to this incident. I won¡¯t mention it ever again.¡± ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s not talk about it anymore.¡± With that, he stood up straight away and went to the backyard. Elspeth and Callum exchanged nces, then furrowed their brows. ¡°Shall I check on him?¡± Elspeth suggested. Among them, she was the person closest to Yelena, so her words would also carry the most weight. Therefore, it might be more effective if she were the one who went tofort Max. With that in mind, Callum nodded in agreement with her idea. Elspeth put on a coat and grabbed a scarf, then walked out after Max. He was already in a bad mood, so as he crouched by theke and gazed at the deste scenery, he felt even worse inside. ¡°Why did she suddenly stop loving me¡­¡± He was muttering to himself when someone suddenly patted his shoulder, after which he whipped his head around to see Elspeth standing behind him, smiling. ¡°Miss Elspeth¡ªno, Elspeth. Were you looking for me?¡± Even though he wasn¡¯t in the mood for a chat, Elspeth was his sister-inw and Yelena¡¯s bestie, so he found it difficult not to talk to her. ¡°I¡¯m just checking on you. How are you feeling?¡± ¡°How else can I be feeling?¡± Max forced a smile as he picked up a stone lying next to him, then threw it with all his might. The stone skipped on the surface of the water, generating countless ripples as it went, then finally sank into the water with a plop. N?velDrama.Org ? content. ¡°Don¡¯t just wade in sorrow. Come, tell me. Is it because you still can¡¯t forget about Yelena?¡± The two had been together for so long, after all. It wouldn¡¯t be easy to forget a lover. Elspeth knew that he wasn¡¯t feeling too good, so she tried tofort him in another way. ¡°Yes, I still don¡¯t get it. If two people were so much in love before, why can one of them just stop loving the other suddenly?¡± Chapter 468 Chapter 468 Chapter 468 Yes, I Was Jealous. So What? ¡°Is it possible that she didn¡¯t just stop loving you? Maybe she was disappointed in you, and that was why she drifted away.¡± Disappointed¡­ It was probably because of the misunderstandingst time. Max lowered his head to hide the forlorn look in his eyes. ¡°You only know that she doesn¡¯t love you anymore, but do you remember who the first person was to commit betrayal in your rtionship?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t betray her. I never did anything that actually betrayed her.¡± Even at this moment, he was subconsciously defending himself. Elspeth sighed lightly. ¡°I¡¯m not you, and I don¡¯t know what exactly happened between you two, but what I know is that you had an overly intimate rtionship with another woman while you were dating Yelena. You were mentally cheating on her. Maybe those photos were faked, but your way of interacting with that woman cannot lie. You thought that talking to other women wouldn¡¯t affect your rtionship with Yelena, so you let down your guard and gave the woman a chance to step between you and Yelena. Even now, are you still unable to recognize your mistakes?¡± When Max heard that, he felt even more remorseful. ¡°I know I was wrong, but I don¡¯t dare to admit it. If I did, then she would have a reason to leave me. She will leave me forever by then.¡± In the end, he still wasn¡¯t brave enough to face this incident honestly. Elspeth shook her head in exasperation, then sat down next to him. ¡°Max, it¡¯s toote. Nothing you do now can change the results of this incident. Instead of brooding over it and thinking about your past with her, why don¡¯t you let it go and start over?¡± She didn¡¯t know about other matters, but she knew Yelena very well. Yelena was gradually getting over her rtionship with Max. In other words, she was slowly moving out of the shadow of breaking up. Of course, most of her progress was thanks to the Hank Damazio. ¡°Is she happy with that man?¡± Max was referring to none other than Hank. ¡°Will you be sad if she¡¯s very happy now?¡± Max looked up at the mountains in the distance with a deste look in his eyes. ¡°Yes, but I¡¯ll be happy too.¡± ¡°She isn¡¯t officially dating him yet, but I can see how earnestly Hank treats her. So, it¡¯s only a matter of time before they make it official.¡± Max looked dejected as he lowered his head in silence. The look in his eyes gradually darkened, and a hint of loneliness flitted faintly across his eyes. He looked a little sad and resentful. ¡°That means I don¡¯t have a chance anymore, right?¡± Elspeth could only put her hand on his shoulder and pat it lightly. ¡°Max, stop dwelling in the past. It¡¯s about time you let go.¡± Max shook his head, sadness filling his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s impossible. I don¡¯t think I can ever let go.¡± ¡°Oh, right, Yelena wanted me to ry something to you.¡± Max¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°She said, ¡®To each their own paths. Let¡¯s not focus on eternity and relish the memories instead.¡¯¡± As soon as Elspeth said that, Max instantly felt relief wash over him. ¡°I see. She means that I should treasure memories of the past but not dwell on it, right?¡± Elspeth nodded smilingly. ¡°That¡¯s right. She also said that she hopes you¡¯ll live well and find the truly right person.¡± Max stood up. The icy wind from theke blew in, and he immediately started shivering. Elspeth knew that this was going to happen, so she took the scarf and wrapped it around his neck. ¡°All right, you¡¯re probably getting over it now.¡± Max nodded. Even though he was still in a low mood, he was considerably betterpared to before. ¡°Thank you, Elspeth.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee. I¡¯m just trying to counsel you a little, and I hope you¡¯ll feel better soon.¡± Elspeth thought for a bit. ¡°How¡¯s this sound? Tomorrow, I¡¯ll get Callum to take you drinking at Luna Bar. You might get to know someone new.¡± ¡°Hahaha, Elspeth, don¡¯t mock me like this. I no longer have the desire to be in a rtionship. Now, I just want to do the things I love.¡± Elspeth was surprised. ¡°What is it?¡± The bright expression returned to Max¡¯s face as he said, ¡°Have you forgotten what my hobby is?¡± ¡°Racing?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Some time ago, I was invited to participate in a racingpetition overseas. I never fully considered it because I had to train overseas for half a year to participate.¡± He gazed up at the moon in the sky, then let out a long sigh. ¡°But now, I suddenly want to go. It¡¯s just half a year of training, and it¡¯s not too bad if I can achieve something in the field I love.¡± Elspeth was moved. Max must have been hesitant to go because of Yelena. Now that he lost Yelena, he doesn¡¯t want to lose his passion and dreams as well. ¡°I support you, and I believe Yelena would support you too.¡± Max nodded with a faint smile on his face. ¡°I know that she had always been supportive of me pursuing my passions, but I didn¡¯t want to leave her, so I never agreed.¡± He couldn¡¯t just stay defeated after a breakup and remain down forever. That would be too embarrassing. If Yelena knew about that, she would look down on him. ¡°All right, I¡¯ll register tomorrow. I¡¯ll turn in early tonight, so good night, Elspeth.¡± Max smiled as he took off the scarf and passed it to her. ¡°You should hold on to this. If Callum knew that I was wearing your scarf, he would kill me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re exaggerating it.¡± Despite saying so, she still epted the scarf. Callum caused such a huge ruckus because of the love letterst time; hence, it wouldn¡¯t be a surprise if he got mad this time as well. All in all, he probably shouldn¡¯t see Max wearing her scarf. After Max left, Elspeth was about to walk back when a dark figure suddenly popped up behind a bush. Elspeth¡¯s hearing was very keen, and she immediately prepared herself for battle. N?velDrama.Org ? content. The next moment, the dark figure dashed to her and surprisingly hugged her. When Elspeth caught a whiff of the familiar scent, she sighed in relief. ¡°Callum, what¡¯s with the jump scare?¡± ¡°I saw you wrapping a scarf around him just now.¡± He was speaking through gritted teeth. Elspeth¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She could never hide from his watch, no matter how much she tried. ¡°Have you been listening in all this while?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me listening in when my wife is talking to another man?¡± Callum wasn¡¯t mad at first, but when he saw Elspethforting Max and putting a scarf on thetter, he felt upset for some reason. ¡°I was just counseling him, but it sounds so weird when you put it like that, as if there¡¯s something going on between us.¡± Callum turned her around to face him, then stared at her red lips and proceeded to bite them. ¡°Yes, I was jealous. So what?¡± Chapter 469 Chapter 469 Chapter 469 Married Life The unwarranted jealousy was actually a little nonsensical, but Callum was upset, so Elspeth couldn¡¯t say much about it. She could only endure it while silentlyining about how much it hurt to get bitten by him. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed tofort him anymore. Ignore him if he can¡¯t get over it. Just leave him be.¡± The look in Callum¡¯s eyes was dark, and it was clearly visible even at night. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be so stingy. He¡¯s your brother and my brother-inw. How can I just stand by and watch as he falls to his ruin?¡± Callum¡¯s expression improved ever so slightly when he heard the word ¡®inw¡¯. ¡°I know you¡¯re his sister-inw, but you should still maintain some distance from him.¡± So what if they were siblings-inw? They shouldn¡¯t get so close to each other anyway. ¡°All right, got it. Let¡¯s go back now. It¡¯s gettingte, and we should sleep early.¡± Callum nodded, then took her hand as they went back to the vi. Lisa and ke didn¡¯t stay with them, so they left early on. Notably, when ke knew that his room was taken by someone else, he couldn¡¯t do anything about it, even if he cried and screamed. He could only allow himself to be dragged away by Lisa as he put on a resentful expression. On that note, Elspeth suddenly realized something. ke had always maintained a gentlemanly image, but for some reason, ever since he got together with Lisa, he had turned into a fool, and he was not just any ordinary fool. Regardless, she didn¡¯t intend to think too much about these things. She just found it amusing that his expressions were gaining variety as time went by. He had affected Lisa¡¯s mood as well, and she was considerably livelier. This was a good thing, at least. Early the next morning, Callum woke up and urged Elspeth to go to work. Before this, when Elspeth stayed at the Winthrop Residence, she had a tendency to sleep in. The two were married, so he didn¡¯t mind it as much as he opened the door to her room straight away. Even though Elspeth spent more time sleeping, her posture was decent as she faced the morning sun. Her sleeping face was bathed in the sunlight. She looked a little cuterpared to her cold self in the past. Callum subconsciously stepped forward, then bent down and softly kissed the corner of her lips. Perhaps sensing the subtle kiss, Elspeth instantly opened her eyes. When she saw an erged handsome face right in front of her eyes, Elspeth was so startled that she screamed. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Callum also realized that he was being a little reckless, so he looked away awkwardly. He took a few steps back and pretended to tidy the clothes. ¡°Why did you sneak kisses on me so early in the morning? Also, who let you in my room?¡± Elspeth wasn¡¯tpletely used to their new identities, and at that moment, she was mad that she was woken up without consent and also a little unsure of what to do. ¡°So, you feel that with our current rtionship, I still cannot do such things?¡± Callum saw her being wary of him like she was guarding against a thief, and he felt upset for some reason. Something feels off. Aren¡¯t we officially married? ¡°Oh, wait, we¡¯re married, right?¡± Callum lowered his gaze. ¡°So, you¡¯re aware of that.¡± ¡°Sorry, I just couldn¡¯t get used to it for a moment.¡± She couldn¡¯t ept the fact that she was someone¡¯s missus. Callum noticed that she might have recognized something off about their rtionship as well, and he had other ideas. ¡°Why don¡¯t we sleep together? Let¡¯s do something married couples should do.¡± Something married couples should do would mean¡­ ¡°Isn¡¯t it too early for that?¡± Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. A disappointed look shed across Callum¡¯s eyes. ¡°Why is it too early?¡± ¡°Look, we just got the marriage certificate, but we haven¡¯t officially started our married life yet. Also, we didn¡¯t hold a wedding, and most importantly, you haven¡¯t proposed to me yet. So, we have to do things in turn.¡± Even though her exnation was perfectly logical, Callum could still sense her reluctance from her words. ¡°Never mind, forget about it if you¡¯re unwilling.¡± Elspeth abruptly stopped her long speech. ¡°I¡¯m not unwilling. I just feel¡ª¡± Callum took a deep breath, then walked up to her and embraced her. ¡°I know you haven¡¯t fully epted it yet, but it¡¯s okay. I can wait.¡± Elspeth¡¯s heart melted in an instant. She was thinking of agreeing right away, but when she saw his earnest gaze, she felt that she should stand by her own opinion. ¡°Then I await your proposal, Mr. Winthrop.¡± Elspeth winked and smiled cunningly. Callum curved his lips. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll prepare the grandest proposal for you. For now, you should get up and have breakfast. You¡¯re going to bete.¡± Theirpanies were located in the south and the north, respectively. Callum still insisted on sending her to herpany before going to his ownpany. They were both presidents, but Callum didn¡¯t want Elspeth to bete, whereas he was fine with being late himself. Elspeth was mulling about that on the way to her workce. When they arrived at the entrance of thepany, Callum refused to leave just like that. ¡°Don¡¯t you feel like something is missing?¡± Elspeth paused for a moment, unable to understand what he was getting at. ¡°What is missing?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think you should give me a morning kiss?¡± A morning kiss? Elspeth looked around them. It was ratherte, and the ce was quite crowded. If she kissed him there, they would probably have a lot of witnesses. Elspeth couldn¡¯t ignore the awkward feeling in her gut as she shook her head, trying to get Callum topromise. ¡°Let¡¯s kiss when we¡¯re at home next time, all right?¡± ¡°Are you treating me like a child?¡± Because Callum refused to budge, Elspeth was both exasperated and helpless. Callum seemed to be keeping a high profile ever since they got married. It was as if he wanted the entire world to know that they were a sweet and loving couple. To prevent something more serious from happening, Elspeth quickly gave him a peck on his cheek, then ran away in an instant. She was almost fleeing the scene. Callum gazed at her retreating figure, then slightly curved his lips. My wife¡¯s kiss is so sweet. ¡­ When Elspeth entered herpany, the red tint on her cheeks was still visible. Just then, a gossipy coworker who was on good terms with her suddenly scooted closer to her. ¡°Miss Lynwood, I just witnessed a shocking secret. Tell me, how much money would you give me to keep my mouth shut?¡± Her smile turned increasingly sinister. This vicious smile was the first thing Elspeth saw when she turned around, and she felt instantly troubled. ¡°Well, tell me. What did you see?¡± The coworker covered her mouth in surprise. ¡°Miss Lynwood, are you sure you want me to talk about you kissing Mr. Winthrop right here?¡± Her voice wasn¡¯t too loud, but the people around them heard it anyway. Almost at the same time, everyone perked up their ears as they heard this shocking news. ¡°What?! Miss Lynwood kissed someone?¡± Chapter 470 Chapter 470 Chapter 470 How Did She Get Her Hands on This? It was just a normal little act of intimacy between a married couple, but it felt different after so many people knew about it. Seeing everyone¡¯s excited faces around her, Elspeth wished she could just disappear. Just then, Harper walked up next to her like a savior to her rescue. ¡°Elspeth, I have something to talk to you about.¡± Elspeth nced at the people around her, then faked a smile. ¡°I have something to attend to. Go back to work, and don¡¯t talk about anything unrted to work. If I catch anyone doing that, I¡¯ll deduct their pay for one month.¡± An asional gossip was fine, but if their pay was at stake, they would know where to draw the line. Hence, everyone quickly lowered their heads and feigned ignorance as they turned their focus on making money. The coworker who started all this was also chased away with a re. Elspeth followed Harper to the office. As soon as she sat down, Harper ced a contract in front of her. ¡°This is a contract we¡¯ve signed with Hopper Corp. concerning the talent managementpany. Now, Hopper Corp. wants to break the contract. They even said that 50 million in liquidated damages is nothing to them, but the contract must be terminated.¡± Elspeth immediately frowned. It was true that 50 million in liquidated damages meant nothing, but the partnership with Hopper Corp. could greatly benefit Azure. The inte business was thriving, so why wouldn¡¯t they want in on the deal? ¡°Do you know why Hopper Corp. wants to terminate the contract?¡± Harper thought for a bit, then said, ¡°I¡¯m not very sure about the details, but ording to our intel, in the past three days, Hopper Corp. has had close contact with Arthur Winthrop. Their representative even had a meal with Arthur three days ago, and they seemed to be on good terms.¡± ¡°And by that, you mean¡­?¡± ¡°I suspect that this is all Arthur¡¯s doing. He probably deceived Hopper Corp. or promised them something so that they would terminate the contract without regard for the liquidated damages.¡± With that, he couldn¡¯t help but add, ¡°What the hell is wrong with Arthur? He keeps targeting us for no reason.¡± Harper wasn¡¯t quite informed about theirplicated rtionship, so he thought Arthur was just being a jerk. Only Elspeth knew that Arthur was pressuring Azure on purpose. He was forcing her to surrender, or perhaps he wanted to get a hold of her lifeline. If it were before, Elspeth would¡¯ve talked to Arthur right away to deal with him or negotiate. But she was a different person now. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll handle this.¡± She chuckled. ¡°Elspeth, this might be unnecessary, but he¡¯s a cunning guy. You have to be careful and watch out for his traps.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t care about traps. Even when she was alone in the past, Arthur couldn¡¯t do anything to her. Now, she not only had friends, but she also had shares in Joneson Corporation, and also Callum. Elspeth was surprised. She didn¡¯t realize it, but she had already ced her trust in Callum. Still, it was quite a nice feeling. ¡°I¡¯m d that you¡¯re confident about this. Just tell me if you need me to do anything.¡± Harper had always been looking out for her. After all, they were friends who had faced death together, so he hoped that Elspeth would be safe and that Azure would be unharmed. Elspeth nodded as she felt unlimited warmth flooding her heart. After Harper left, she narrowed her eyes as she quickly came up with an idea. She seemed to have decided on a person to plot with. Three dayster, Elspeth invited the president of Hopper Corp. for a meal. The president of Hopper Corp., who was previously quite courteous, suddenly turned prideful for some reason and dragged it out for three days before agreeing to have a meal with Elspeth. Still, Elspeth didn¡¯t mind it one bit as she followed his will and scheduled the meal for three dayster. When it was time to meet, Elspeth wasn¡¯t in a hurry to get there. Instead, she came in half an hourte on purpose. When she opened the door and walked in, she quickly spotted the middle-aged man seated within. A look of disdain and disgust shed across his face. ¡°You¡¯re quite bold, Miss Lynwood. You¡¯re the one who invited us, but you came in 30 minuteste!¡± Elspeth smiled, seemingly unaffected. Even though she was feeling disgusted, she still pretended to be fine. She didn¡¯t mind it at all as she took a seat in the chair at the side. Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. ¡°How can you say that, Mr. Hopper? When I sent the invitation, you finally agreed after dying for three days, didn¡¯t you? I was only half an hourte, so inparison to you, I¡¯m quite punctual.¡± Elspeth wanted to mock him by mentioning histe reply. Just as expected, his expression immediately turned sour, and his huge face was distorted into a terrible sight. ¡°Miss Lynwood, this isn¡¯t something you should say as a contracting party who took the initiative to invite me.¡± Elspeth was surprised. ¡°Contracting party? Mr. Hopper, I didn¡¯t know you were still aware of our contract.¡± ¡°What are you trying to say? If this conversation is going nowhere, I¡¯m leaving.¡± He stood up in a huff and got ready to leave. ¡°Mr. Hopper, calm down. It¡¯s not the end yet.¡± Elspeth took out the contract from her bag and tossed it on the table. ¡°Mr. Hopper, are you saying that you want to terminate the contract?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Jericho Hopper nced nonchntly at the contract on the table. ¡°I found that Azure¡¯s suggestions do not match Hopper Corp.¡¯s development, and after serious consideration with the board of directors, we decided to give up on partnering with Azure.¡± Elspeth covered her mouth and chuckled. ¡°Was it really serious consideration with the board of directors, or was it just your own opinion?¡± When Elspeth said that, Jericho¡¯s heartbeat hastened. ¡°What do you mean by this, Miss Lynwood? I did nothing to you, so why would you nder me like this?¡± ¡°What are you afraid of, Mr. Hopper? You don¡¯t have to feel guilty if you didn¡¯t do anything.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve always been meless, and I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Jericho tugged at his tie, pretending to look like a saint. ¡°Mr. Hopper, if you still refuse toe clean, I might have to expose you myself.¡± Jericho turned around and sneered at her. ¡°Miss Lynwood, you should have evidence before you try to nder anyone. Where is the evidence, then? You¡¯re just trying to lure me into saying something you¡¯re waiting for. I said I did nothing, and that¡¯s final. I won¡¯t fall for your traps.¡± ¡°Of course, I have evidence.¡± Elspeth clicked her tongue and produced another document from her bag. ¡°If you im you didn¡¯t do anything, then that¡¯s the most tant lie I¡¯ve ever heard.¡± When Jericho saw the familiar cover, a bad feeling invaded his heart. After a closer inspection, panic instantly colored his face. How did Elspeth get her hands on this?! Chapter 471 Chapter 471 Chapter 471 Strengthen Our Alliance ¡°You must be pretty surprised now, Mr. Hopper. I guess you¡¯re wondering how I got my hands on something like this, right?¡± Elspeth raised her hand with the contract in it, shing it right in front of Jericho¡¯s panicky face while taunting him. ¡°Why do you look so scared? I won¡¯t bite.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell me how you got this contract first?¡± However, Jericho quickly realized the way he put his words might have identally given himself away, so he immediately rephrased his sentence. ¡°I don¡¯t know where you got that thing, but I¡¯m sure it¡¯s fake. So, stop framing me with whatever is in your hand.¡± ¡°Fake?¡± Elspeth clicked her tongue, finding it hard to believe Jericho would deny her usation so shamelessly. ¡°You could take a look at it for yourself if you think it¡¯s fake.¡± Upon hearing that, Jericho skeptically flipped through the contract just as his forehead was covered in a cold sweat. After all, he saw his own signature on the contract, his name clearly written on the paper, although the document he was looking at was just a photocopy. ¡°This signature isn¡¯t mine.¡± At that moment, Jericho decided to y dumb and denied everything he was used of, thinking Elspeth would have no way to force him into submission by doing that. In the meantime, Elspeth let out a sigh when she saw the man¡¯s dishonest look. ¡°Well, if you don¡¯t admit it, I guess I¡¯ll just have to do it another way, Mr. Hopper.¡± ¡°Another way?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m going to find out who signed his name here through a forensic handwriting examination. Since your name was clearly signed here, all we have to do is justpare this signature to your previous ones, and the truth wille to light.¡± Jericho¡¯s back was already drenched in sweat at that moment, as he didn¡¯t expect Elspeth to get her hands on a confidential document like the one she just showed him. In fact, he signed the contract with Arthur as soon as he verbally informed Azure Corporation about his intention to terminate their partnership. The time and date on which we signed the contract were written on the document. If Elspeth uses that to testify against me, I¡¯m going to be in huge trouble, which is going to be something bigger than having to pay the penalty of fifty million. ¡°So, do you care to exin why you vited the contract, Mr. Hopper? Why did you sign another contract with Arthur even though you hadn¡¯t formally terminated your current one with Azure?¡± Jericho copsed onto the chair, seemingly speechless, without any idea how to defend himself. ¡°I-It¡¯s your words against mine. Who knows this document is fake?¡± The man stammered his sentence and tried to continue ying dumb, thinking there was nothing else Elspeth could do to make him admit his mistake. At the same time, his eyes were filled with guilt and fear as he was betting on the odds that Elspeth wasn¡¯t familiar with thew. Calm down! I¡¯m going to find a way to get away with this. Elspeth responded with a chuckle and pped her hands, whereupon a tall silhouette stepped in through the door. The moment Jericho set his eyes on the figure, his face nched in horror. Hank Damazio? He is thewyer with a silver tongue, isn¡¯t he? ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking, Mr. Hopper. Perhaps you have some questions that you¡¯d like to consult mywyer when legal matters are concerned.¡± Like Jericho thought, Hank was known as thewyer with a silver tongue across Damoria because he had never lost a court case before. In fact, when Elspeth first approached Hank, she was only nning to ask him for some legal advice. However, Hank was kind enough to go the extra mile for Elspeth and helped her obtain a photocopy of the signed contract between Arthur and Jericho. It wasn¡¯t untilter that Elspeth learned that Hank had friends in the legal department of Arthur¡¯spany. For that, she found it ironic for Jericho to overlook that detail, which would cost him dearly when he proudly thought his n was wless. On the other hand, Jericho still refused to give up and owned up to his mistake. ¡°Mr. Damazio, what do you say if you¡¯re wee to join mypany? Just name a price. I can pay you more than thisdy is offering you.¡± Deep down, Jericho believed allwyers only worked for money, which he thought he could buy over anyone¡¯s service. For that, he doubted Hank would ignore his offer and look the other way. Seeing Jericho¡¯s panicky look, Elspeth tried her best to keep a straight face. ¡°Look at him, Hank. He is trying to bribe you now.¡± Come on, Jericho. You have to be better than this. I wish you knew that you¡¯re insulting him with your offer. Hank is worth more than you think he is. ¡°Thanks for your kind offer, Mr. Hopper, but I have no ns of epting any small clients at the moment,¡± Hank replied in a witty yet mean manner like he usually would. At his wits¡¯ end, Jericho nervously gazed at Elspeth and asked, ¡°Is there any other way that we can resolve this matter, Miss Lynwood?¡± He yielded to Elspeth as his response clearly indicated. However, Elspeth didn¡¯t seem to have any intention of going easy on Jericho in spite of his submission. ¡°Miss Lynwood? How polite! Where are your airs and graces that you were putting on earlier? Are they gone?¡± She walked closer to the man and patted his shoulder, gesturing for him to rx. ¡°Take it easy, alright? We¡¯re just about to discuss what we¡¯re going to do, aren¡¯t we? I¡¯m sure we¡¯re going to sort this out peacefully.¡± She smiled cunningly like a beautiful subus. While Jericho would have fallen for Elspeth¡¯s beauty if she had smiled at him like that back then, he couldn¡¯t help but feel chills running down his spine at the sight of the same smile on her face. ¡°How are we going to resolve this, Miss Lynwood?¡± He put his words in a courteous way, hoping Elspeth would go easy on him. At the same time, he began to beat himself up for letting his greed get the better of him. Darn it! I shouldn¡¯t have let my desires turn my head. If I had been in the right mind, Arthur wouldn¡¯t have tricked me so easily. Sh*t! ¡°Well, I came here today for one specific reason¡ªto see if we could continue working together as partners, Mr. Hopper¡­¡± Elspeth soon shook her head regrettably and added, ¡°But unfortunately, you signed another contract with someone else so soon, which is simply just¡­ heartbreaking.¡± Heartbreaking? It¡¯s more like it¡¯s exciting to you, isn¡¯t it? Jericho took a deep breath while staring at Elspeth¡¯s pretense. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Lynwood. I¡¯ll continue to work with Azure Corporation and call off my deal with Arthur. Please forgive me, Miss Lynwood.¡± Jericho was sensible enough to remain as Azure¡¯s partner, thinking he was no match for Elspeth and Hank even though he was a lot older than them. ¡°So, you¡¯re going to continue working with us and call off the deal with Arthur? That¡¯s all?¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t seem to be satisfied with Jericho¡¯s answer. ¡°W-Well, you could state your request, and I¡¯ll do my best to fulfill in my power.¡± Jericho smiled, his forehead covered in a cold sweat. In fact, he expected Elspeth to say something like that but didn¡¯t think she would put it so directly. ¡°What if I tell you I want some of Hopper Corp.¡¯s shares?¡± Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Jericho nearly choked on his own saliva when he heard what thedy said. What?! How audacious of her to make such a request! ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Mr. Hopper? You have a problem with that?¡± Elspeth blinked ambiguously. Jericho shook his head repeatedly just as his bby cheeks jiggled up and down. Despite his annoyance about Elspeth¡¯s suggestion, he forced a smile and said, ¡°No, of course not. Why would I? I just don¡¯t think it¡¯s appropriate since you¡¯ve hardly been in touch with Hopper Corp.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s all the more reason I asked what I asked because I¡¯m trying to strengthen our alliance. Don¡¯t you think so? Think about it, if you transfer some of Hopper Corp.¡¯s shares to me, it will make us partners. By then, you won¡¯t terminate our partnership so easily anymore, will you?¡± Chapter 472 Chapter 472 Chapter 472 The Submissive Wife As obvious as it sounded, Elspeth¡¯s exnation was clearly unreasonable, but since Jericho was at her mercy, he didn¡¯t dare toin or fight back. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not going to think about it, Mr. Hopper? This is the only request I have.¡± The only request? At the same time, Hank, who had been sitting aside all the time, joined the conversation with an emotionless look on his face. ¡°If you prefer to settle this matter formally rather than privately, we could go through proper legal procedures to resolve this issue, but be warned¡ªyou¡¯re likely going to be sentenced to jail.¡± Hank made himself clear that Jericho would end up behind bars if he didn¡¯t agree with Elspeth. Meanwhile, Jericho was seen smiling all the time, but deep down, he was cursing the two of them for putting him in a dilemma with no favorable options to him. Although Hank and Elspeth were only in their twenties, Jericho was vulnerable against their threat, which was why he didn¡¯t dare to show his anger despite his seniority. Darn it! I¡¯m already close to my sixties, and if I go to jail, I don¡¯t know whether I¡¯ll live long enough to see the day again. Moreover, I¡¯m going to lose everything if I¡¯m sentenced to prison. Rolling his eyes, Jericho reluctantly agreed with Elspeth¡¯s request. ¡°How much would you like to have then?¡± ¡°15 percent.¡± Elspeth gently blew her fingernails with a smile. ¡°Oh,e on. You know that¡¯s not possible. I personally own 45% of the shares, and you¡¯re asking for 15% of them? You might as well just kill me.¡± ¡°I feel sorry to hear that, Mr. Hopper. I wish your life was worth more than that.¡± Elspeth pursed her lips. While 15 percent might be a significant portion of shareholdings, it was not a lot to Elspeth. Besides, she initially didn¡¯t intend to ask Jericho for the shares as she was just trying to joke with him and knock him down to size. Therefore, when Jericho agreed to give her the shares she requested, she was surprised. ¡°That¡¯s not how it works, Miss Lynwood. You can¡¯t ask for 15 percent of shares without any prior contribution to ourpany. This is just outrageous!¡± Jericho put his words mildly while calling Elspeth¡¯s request daylight robbery on the inside. How audacious of her to demand that amount of shares! 5 percent of shares is the most I can tolerate, yet now she is asking 15 percent! Is she trying to take over mypany by force or what? Although Elspeth had no idea what was on Jericho¡¯s mind, it was amusing enough for her to witness the dramatic look on the man¡¯s face. ¡°If you think this is outrageous, then I guess we¡¯ll have no choice but to go through proper legal procedures.¡± She stood up and walked away without hesitation after finishing her sentence. ¡°After all, I won¡¯t lose anything either, regardless of the oue. So, I don¡¯t really mind how it ends up. Anyway, I hope you enjoy your new life in a cell. Let¡¯s go, Hank.¡± ¡°Wait! Wait! Wait!¡± Jericho suddenly found the strength that he had seemingly lost earlier when he copsed onto the chair and sprang up from his seat. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take the deal. 15 percent as it is.¡± Fine, it¡¯s just 15 percent of the shares, right? I¡¯ll give them to you.¡± ¡°See? It wasn¡¯t so hard, was it? We could have saved some time if you had agreed sooner.¡± Elspeth smiled at Jericho with a cocky look on her face. ¡°I¡¯ll see you here at 1.00PM tomorrow to sign the contract.¡± She then walked away upon finishing her sentence. In the meantime, Hank red at Jericho, his cold stare sending chills down his spine. ¡°I hope you can forget about whatever crazy ideas you have in mind from now on, Mr. Hopper. Also, if you¡¯re thinking about approaching awyer for help, you could forget about that as well because I know everywyer in Damoria. Therefore, don¡¯t even think about tampering with the contract¡¯s content.¡± Hank¡¯sst few words took the glimmer of hope that was left in Jericho, who thought he could still get away with it. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that because I won¡¯t.¡± Jericho chuckled and ingratiated himself with Hank. ¡°See you, Mr. Damazio.¡± As soon as Hank was gone, Jericho copsed onto his seat once again in despair. I¡¯m through. I¡¯m totally screwed up. Everything I have built in my whole life is about to be scraped clean by that woman. The thought of that made Jericho¡¯s hatred for Arthur grow even stronger than ever before. Thus, he immediately called his secretary and said, ¡°From now on, I want all corporations with Bluestone Corp terminated, and I don¡¯t want to see Arthur Winthrop¡¯s face ever again!¡± ¡­ Meanwhile, Hank looked at the stars in the sky and asked Elspeth whether she needed a lift home after they exited the building. ¡°Do you need me to give you a ride home?¡± Although Hank was offering her a ride out of kindness, Elspeth acted as if the man was an enemy and backed away from him. ¡°Nah, it¡¯s alright. I drove here, so I could take care of myself. Thanks for asking.¡± If Callum ever sees another man taking me home, he is going to give me a hard time again. Nah, I should probably stay out of trouble. Upon hearing Elspeth¡¯s response, Hank immediately knew why she said that and curled his lips upward. ¡°Well, well, well. I must say that I¡¯m impressed by Callum¡¯s sess in taming the wild horse.¡± ¡°Hey, that sounds a little¡­ offensive¡­¡± As true as Hank¡¯s words sounded, Elspeth refused to admit that she was a submissive wife. ¡°Anyway, I appreciate your help today. If it hadn¡¯t been for you, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to get what I wanted from Jericho.¡± Hank nodded and eventually epted Elspeth¡¯s thanks, which he thought he deserved, considering the contribution he had made. ¡°No worries, you¡¯re Yelena¡¯s friend, which also makes you my friend. For that, I was just merely helping a friend in need.¡± In fact, Hank was surprised when Elspeth paid him a visit and asked for his help for Yelena¡¯s sake. While Hank would have usually taken some time to consider epting a business, the temptation to make Yelena happy prompted him to make an exception. When Hank told that matter to Yelenater, thetter smiled happily and said, ¡°I¡¯m d that you agreed to help. Elspeth has nevere to me for help, so now that you can lend her a hand, you should do her a favor. Finally, I can do something for Elspeth!¡± Because of Yelena¡¯s approval, Hank went on to help Elspeth and even went the extra mile to get it done just to see the smile on his woman¡¯s face. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll treat you to a meal someday. Anyway, it¡¯s gettingte, and I should get going now.¡± Elspeth smiled and waved her hand at Hank. However, she didn¡¯t feel like going home yet as she was thinking about going somewhere else. Ever since Elspeth returned to Damoria, she had handed Luna Bar over to Harper, but when thetter became busy with his own work, Gilbert was tasked with the responsibility of running the bar. It¡¯s been a while since thest time I visited Luna Bar. Maybe I should drop by there tonight and pay Gilbert a visit. As Luna Bar was just a few miles away from where Elspeth was, she drove there and saw the ce crowded with people. With bright lights almost everywhere around the bar, there were many men and women who were having a good time there while the atmosphere was filled with a strong smoky odor and alcohol smell. Nheless, she entered the ce and proceeded to search for Gilbert, trying to see if he was drinking in the usual corner like he normally would be, only to see no one there. Just when she thought Gilbert was away and was about to go home, Elspeth suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapped around her from someone behind. In that instant, her body stiffened just as her instinct prompted her to react until she caught the scent of that familiar minty scent. Chapter 473 Chapter 473 Chapter 473 Love Is Blind ¡°Don¡¯t move. Just let me hug you a little longer.¡± Gilbert rested his face on Elspeth¡¯s neck as if he was a kid. Meanwhile, Elspeth quickly realized the inappropriateness of the man¡¯s reaction and responded with an unfathomable expression on her face. ¡°Stop it, Gilbert,¡± she said with a soft yetmanding voice. Upon hearing thedy¡¯s rejection, Gilbert reluctantly let go of thedy and sulked in disappointment. Fortunately for him, the dim lighting in the bar due to the night made it hard for Elspeth to see the expression on his face. ¡°You¡¯re drunk. Go get some water to sober up.¡± She gazed at his eyes which were filled with burning desires, feeling somewhat ufortable with what he just did earlier. ¡°I¡¯m not drunk. I¡¯m good.¡± He looked like he wanted to exin more, but she quickly cut him short. ¡°No, you¡¯re indeed drunk.¡± It then dawned on Gilbert that Elspeth was just looking for an excuse to avoid his advances to woo her. ¡°Yeah, yeah. I¡¯m a little tipsy, indeed. I can¡¯t believe I just hugged the wrong person.¡± When Elspeth heard Gilbert¡¯s reply, she couldn¡¯t help but feel puzzled about what he meant. The next second, the man walked past her and approached an innocent-looking girl standing not far away from her. As soon as the girl Gilbert hugged turned around, Elspeth was stunned the moment their eyes met. Isn¡¯t that Isabel? What¡¯s she doing in a ce like this? Wait a second. I entrusted Gilbert with her myself, didn¡¯t I? ¡°Hey, Elsie. You¡¯re here.¡± Isabel¡¯s heart skipped a beat in response to Gilbert¡¯s unexpected hug. When her eyes met Elspeth¡¯s gaze, she seemed as if she didn¡¯t know what to say. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Elspeth¡¯s tone implied that she was worried and annoyed to see Isabel in a bar. ¡°Well, Gil said he got a little tipsy and called for me to take him home.¡± Isabel awkwardly smiled. Then, Elspeth cast an ambiguous look upon Gilbert and spoke in a cold tone. ¡°Did you just say Gilbert needed you to take him home?¡± She couldn¡¯t believe someone like Gilbert would sumb to alcohol and need someone to take him home, although he was quite a good drinker himself. On the other hand, Isabel appeared to be confused. ¡°It¡¯s not like what you think, Elsie. Gil called me¡­¡± Is Elsie mad at me or Gil? But why does she care since she already has Mr. Winthrop? Isabel had no idea why Elspeth would bother knowing more about Gilbert and her, but despite her confusion, she decided to rify her rtionship with him. ¡°There is nothing out of the ordinary between us.¡± ¡°Why are you exining to her? It¡¯s none of her business anyway.¡± Gilbert smiled and caressed Isabel¡¯s hair,forting her. As the atmosphere was filled with sinister vibes the next few moments, Elspeth was the first to break the silence and announced, ¡°You¡¯ll stay with me from tomorrow on.¡± ¡°Wait, what?¡± Isabel was stunned before she could make sense of what was going on. ¡°I said you should stay with me. After all, Gilbert is a man, and I don¡¯t think he can take good care of you, so I think you¡¯re better off with me than him.¡± Nevertheless, Gilbert¡¯s intense possessiveness suddenly prompted him to object. ¡°Isabel has been staying with me for quite a while, and I know her lifestyle better than you do. For that, I think she is better off with me, so don¡¯t worry about her. Furthermore, you want to stay with me as well, don¡¯t you, Isabel?¡± Gilbert smiled at Isabel, his eyes filled with cheekiness. Just as he expected, Isabel sumbed to the man¡¯s dominance and subconsciously nodded. ¡°You see? She wants to be with me.¡± Elspeth responded by knitting her eyebrows, finding it hard to believe how the situation turned out the way she didn¡¯t expect. ¡°Fine, take good care of her then.¡± She then sighed and added, ¡°Pleasee with me, Isabel. I¡¯d like to have a word with you.¡± Nheless, Isabel couldn¡¯t free herself at all due to Gilbert¡¯s tightly wrapped arms around her. At the same time, she gazed at Elspeth with a confused look and said, ¡°Elsie, I¡ª¡± ¡°Rx, Gilbert. I just want to have a word with her in private.¡± Elspeth then seized Isabel¡¯s hand and took her to a corner. ¡°Do you know why I want you to stay with me, Isabel?¡± Isabel nodded before shaking her head hesitantly. ¡°You should know what Gilbert is up to, right?¡± Elspeth¡¯s words instantly made Isabel¡¯s face blush. Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. ¡°Don¡¯t get your hopes up too high. I doubt what I¡¯m referring to is the same as what you¡¯re thinking.¡± She gazed at Isabel, scratching her head while trying to make the young maiden understand her complicated issue. ¡°Your mother entrusted me with you, so of course, I¡¯m not going to stand by and watch a man take advantage of you even though Gilbert is my best friend. Listen to me, okay? He is not a good guy, and you definitely deserve better.¡± Elspeth furrowed her eyebrows, wondering if her exnation wasprehensive enough for Isabel due to her inexperience and young age. ¡°I-I know. I know Gil is in love with you¡­¡± Isabel stuttered, her eyes filled with disappointment. ¡°Well, you¡¯re aware of that, so that¡¯s all the more reason for you to stop him from using you.¡± Elspeth patted Isabel¡¯s cheek and added, ¡°I promise I¡¯ll find an outstanding and sessful man for you. Just don¡¯t settle down with some Tom, Dick, and Harry.¡± ¡°I know you¡¯re doing this for my own good, Elsie.¡± But love is blind, and I can¡¯t help it. Isabel lost control of herself at the mere thought of the mint fragrance that was wafting toward her earlier. ¡°But you can¡¯t help it because you¡¯re in love with him, right?¡± Elspeth could tell what Isabel was thinking with just a look into her eyes. While Isabel kept her head down in silence, Elspeth questioned and challenged her. ¡°Is this how you¡¯re trying to piss me off? By letting him use you? Seriously, are you happy about all this?¡± Elspeth tried to talk some sense into Isabel¡¯s head by putting her words more harshly. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be used by him like that, of course. I¡¯m not happy, but¡­¡± But¡­ I¡¯m actually happy, I guess. Deep down, Isabel was content enough to be thedy in Gilbert¡¯s arms when he caressed her hair and hugged her tightly. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean you should let the rush of excitement blind you.¡± Elspeth¡¯s eyes were filled with mixed emotions. ¡°Do you know what this will lead to in the end?¡± ¡°Yes, I do.¡± Isabel was aware of the consequences that might follow if she didn¡¯t stop herself from falling for Gilbert deeper and deeper. In fact, she had already foreseen that oue, but in spite of that, she still chose to stay by Gilbert¡¯s side even if it would cost her dearly in the end. ¡°Fine, I guess I shouldn¡¯t press on anymore since you have made up your mind. All I can do now is to do what¡¯s best for you.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Isabel was puzzled. Elspeth sniggered and said, ¡°I mean, I¡¯m going to keep my distance from him, of course. As soon as I can make him forget about me, there will be an empty ce in his heart for someone else to enter. By then, that¡¯ll be your best chance to enter his world.¡± Elspeth¡¯s words made Isabel feel a lump in her throat as the tears swam in her eyes. Chapter 474 Chapter 474 Chapter 474 A Bet ¡°Thank you, Elsie. Thanks for everything you¡¯ve done for me. I will never forget that.¡± Elspeth wrapped her arms around Isabel and patted her back. ¡°Alright, alright, don¡¯t mention it. You¡¯ve always been like a sister to me, so of course, I want what¡¯s best for you.¡± As soon as the two finished their conversation, Elspeth took Isabel back to Gilbert. ¡°Take good care of her, or you¡¯re going to get it from me.¡± ¡°Of course, she is also like a sister to me.¡± Gilbert raised his eyebrows, but when Isabel heard what he called her, she somehow felt disappointed on the inside. ¡°Go home now. You¡¯ve drunk enough here. Also, don¡¯t ever tell Isabel to get you whenever you¡¯re drunk. The bar is no ce for a youngdy like her.¡± Elspeth reminded Gilbert, as she didn¡¯t want to let Isabel¡¯s mother down. Nevertheless, Gilbert grew tired of Elspeth¡¯s nagging and walked away with Isabel after responding with a perfunctory grunt. As soon as they stepped out of the bar, Gilbert¡¯s face darkened, but Isabel was observant enough to notice the change in the man¡¯s facial expression. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why do you look so upset?¡± ¡°What do you think about me, Isabel?¡± Gilbert stopped in his tracks and leaned on his car, reaching for a cigarette in his pocket while smoking like a charming character in the movie. Due to her strong dislike for the smell of cigarettes, Isabel almost suffocated from the smoky atmosphere that filled the air in the bar earlier, but for some reason, she didn¡¯t seem to find it disgusting at all when she saw Gilbert smoking. Even so, she didn¡¯t answer Gilbert¡¯s question directly because she was fully aware of the damage that smoking could do to a person¡¯s health. ¡°You should stop smoking. It¡¯s bad for your health.¡± While Gilbert would have usually just stubbed the cigarette straight away, he didn¡¯t do that but instead leaned even closer to Elspeth and puffed a smoke ring at her. ¡°You seem to care about me.¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± ¡°Just answer me. What do you think of me?¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re a nice person. In my eyes, you¡¯re just like the stars in the sky.¡± You¡¯re always so gentle and tender, yet cold and indifferent, just like the stars that I can never reach in the sky. ¡°Am I seriously that good to you? Because I don¡¯t think I¡¯m as good as you think I am. On the other hand, I even wanted to do something¡­ bad to you,¡± Gilbert replied while approaching Isabel, intimidating her with his oppressive aura that made her feel like running away. ¡°I trust you won¡¯t do me any harm.¡± ¡°Why not? I never said I was a good person.¡± Gilbert finished smoking his cigarette and threw it into the trash can. ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯m done scaring you. You¡¯re really timid, aren¡¯t you?¡± The man was unamused at the sight of Isabel¡¯s frightened look, but since she was like a sister to him, he gently pulled her shirt hem and added, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go home.¡± Soon, Isabel, who was following behind Gilbert, seemingly mustered the courage she had been looking for and said, ¡°I believe you won¡¯t do me any harm.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wrong, then. Can¡¯t you see it? I¡¯ve been using you all the time.¡± Gilbert smiled sinisterly and continued to say, ¡°I bet you can tell that I have a crush on Elspeth, can¡¯t you? What I did to you just now was to piss her off and see how she would react.¡± Although Isabel knew Gilbert¡¯s motive for doing what he did to her, she still couldn¡¯t help but feel heartbroken when she heard that from him. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°No, you didn¡¯t know about it at all. If you had, you wouldn¡¯t have let me get so close to you.¡± Gilbert shook his head. ¡°But I want you close to me.¡± Isabel seized Gilbert¡¯s hand, feeling the blisters on his huge cold palm. ¡°Do you have any idea what you¡¯re doing?¡± Gilbert smiled and asked instead of shaking off her hand. ¡°I-I know. I just¡­¡± Isabel stammered vaguely, but the stubborn look on her face seemed to tell everything. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re better off with Elspeth. You should head over to her ce and stay with her from tomorrow on.¡± Gilbert shook off Isabel¡¯s hand and gave her a cial look. ¡°I don¡¯t need your love or yourpany, and I only said those words out of impulse, but now, I¡¯m starting to regret them.¡± When Isabel heard Gilbert, she became panicky and begged him not to drive her away. Before she started to speak, tears began to roll down her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t chase me away. I don¡¯t want to leave you.¡± ¡°But what good is that going to do you? It¡¯s only going to be a waste of your time.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not.¡± Isabel wiped her tears sympathetically. ¡°Alright, stop crying, would you? It breaks my heart to see you like that.¡± Gilbert realized he might have gone a little too far with his mischief. After all, Isabel had never harmed anyone or done anything wrong to piss him off. ¡°Fine, let¡¯s bet.¡± Isabel looked up in surprise as she didn¡¯t think there was still a chance for her to turn things around. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I mean, both of us are going to have a deal. If you can make me say I love you within a month, I¡¯ll date you.¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. ¡°Come on. You¡¯re the one who decides whether you want to say it. If you don¡¯t say it, no one can make you do it.¡± Isabel reacted with a bitter look on her face. ¡°You¡¯re smart, indeed.¡± Gilbert smiled and patted her head. ¡°But this is the only chance you¡¯re going to get. So, it¡¯s all up to you.¡± Gil is just trying to make me quit by making me do something impossible. As soon as Isabel saw through Gilbert¡¯s intention, she immediately became discouraged. However, she refused to give up, thinking there was still hope for her to make him fall for her. Thus, she gritted her teeth and epted the challenge after a brief hesitation. ¡°Fine, we have a deal.¡± ¡°Are you sure about it? This is not as simple as you think it is.¡± Gilbert underestimated Isabel¡¯s will, not expecting her to be so tenacious even though he was clearly trying to give her a hard time. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say it yourself? I just have to make you say ¡®I love you¡¯ within a month.¡± Isabel looked up with a firm expression on her face. ¡°What if I manage to make you fall in love with me in the end?¡± How na?ve! But that¡¯s precisely what makes her so adorable. Gilbert smiled in embarrassment. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m not going to dampen your enthusiasm anymore since you¡¯re so determined. Good luck, sis.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t treat me like your sister anymore; otherwise, I can¡¯t date you.¡± Isabel knitted her eyebrows. ¡°What would you like me to call you then?¡± ¡°Just call me Isabel.¡± ¡°Alright, Belle.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Seeing Isabel¡¯s puffed cheeks, Gilbert started to think that might not be a bad idea and even began to find it interesting. Chapter 475 Chapter 475 Chapter 475 Don¡¯t Be a Simp To Elspeth¡¯s surprise, someone was waiting for her at herpany entrance when she arrived for work the following day. Upon moving closer, she realized it was Jasmine, whom she hadn¡¯t seen for a long while. The young woman seemed to have dropped more than just a few pounds, for her V-shaped chin appeared somewhat appalling now. ¡°My, Miss McGrath. It¡¯s been a while.¡± If she couldn¡¯t evade thedy, she might as well face her. Either way, the young woman couldn¡¯t cause much ruckus, anyway. ¡°I want to ask you a few questions.¡± Jasmine seemed to have toned down a lot, for she no longer bared her teeth and unsheathed her ws to demand exnations. One wouldn¡¯t be able to sense her malice, of course, that was if one overlooked her grim face. ¡°Ask away. It¡¯s just that I¡¯m in a hurry to get to work, so I might not have time to say a lot.¡± Elspeth¡¯s patience in wasting her breath and exining to Jasmine was thin. ¡°Are you the bride Callum publicized on Instagram?¡± Callum was the only thing on her mind when she had been grounded for the past few days. She had wanted to exin what happened to him at length, but the moment she was released and given her phone, she copsed at once. Callum had married another woman behind her back! The revtion was a fatal blow to her. If she hadn¡¯t seen it for herself, she never could have imagined the man who treated her so dearly a while ago would abandon their rtionship and choose to marry someone else. ¡°Why does it matter? Whether it¡¯d be me or not, it will never be you again, no?¡± Elspeth smirked, then tapped Jasmine¡¯s chest. ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask your heart if he ever truly loved you?¡± Did Callum love me? Jasmine never dared ruminate the question, for she had a feeling she¡¯d really lose Callum if she figured it out. ¡°What does it have to do with you? I just want to know if you¡¯re the bride.¡± Jasmine stared at Elspeth with teary, red-rimmed eyes. ¡°If he didn¡¯t reveal that on his Instagram, doesn¡¯t that mean he doesn¡¯t want anyone to know about it? Why ask me when you have his phone number?¡± Elspeth smirked exceptionally impassively. If she was talking to someone else, she¡¯d begin to ache for the young woman. However, this was Jasmine McGrath she was talking to. No matter how pitiful she was, she brought it upon herself. On a side note, she knew Callum had blocked all of Jasmine¡¯s contacts from his side. So, yes, she questioned Jasmine on purpose. ¡°He blocked all my contacts and wouldn¡¯t see me, not even when I went to his office¡­ Just what have you done to him for him to do this to me?!¡± Jasmine no longer wanted to know who the bride was, for obviously, it was this woman who was smiling arbitrarily. Now, she was just indignant. She couldn¡¯t understand why Elspeth could win Callum¡¯s heart without having to put in any effort while she went to great lengths yet couldn¡¯t even get a sliver of pity from him. ¡°Have you forgotten what you have done?¡± Jasmine trembled involuntarily as the humiliating experience came to her. As the bride, she actually woke up on some random man¡¯s bed on her wedding day! And as she looked at the man on top of her, she thought this would be her lifelong trauma. Then again, the man seemed to have done nothing substantive and only just touched her a little. However, it was already enough to evoke disgust in Callum. ¡°I¡¯ve been framed. I don¡¯t know what happened at all that day. Besides, Callum will certainly understand me if I exin it clearly to him.¡± Elspeth was surprised that Jasmine would still obsess over Callum at that point. Now that¡¯s just being a raving lunatic. Besides, what she said wasn¡¯t about how Jasmine was being set up but how thetter repressed her. ¡°Well, I suggest you go back to whatever you used to do and don¡¯t keep dreaming the pipe dream. Learn to ept reality.¡± She believed her mindset would stray away if she continued to talk to this hopeless romantic. However, just as Elspeth was about to leave, Jasmine raised her voice behind her. ¡°I saved your life. Is this how you treat your savior?!¡± Oh, how Elspeth would love to talk to her about this. At that, she leisurely walked up to Jasmine with a faint smile. ¡°Do you really think you¡¯re the one who saved me?¡± Jasmine¡¯s eyes widened with rage when she saw Elspeth twisting the truth. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t begged my grandfather to save you, do you think you¡¯d still be alive today?! How dare you speak so ungratefully?!¡± ¡°Yes, your grandfather saved me, but it doesn¡¯t have much to do with you, does it?¡± She naturally knew Jasmine yed a significant part if they were to dig deeper. However,pared to the suffering she bore, it was nothing! Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°I¡¯m my grandfather¡¯s precious granddaughter. If it weren¡¯t for me, you wouldn¡¯t have been able to receive the treatment at all!¡± Jasmine wanted nothing more than to mangle Elspeth when she looked at thetter sailing under false color. ¡°You¡¯re right. It¡¯s not wrong of you to say that, but who told you that I wouldn¡¯t be able to live without your grandfather?¡± Jasmine was rendered at a loss for words, for it was true that they didn¡¯t know if there were other ways to treat Elspeth when they knocked thetter out cold and brought her to Haris. ¡°B-But Grandpa told me no one can treat your sickness other than him.¡± To that, Elspeth snorted and said, ¡°I¡¯m Sonny Schwartz¡¯s mentee, at the very least. Do you think he¡¯ll sit back and watch me die?¡± If anything, that older man wanted nothing more than for her to live so that she could inherit his mantle while he lived a carefree life. In fact, she had received Sonny¡¯s call saying he found a way to cure her the day before they knocked her unconscious and brought her to the McGrath Residence. Who¡¯d have thought she¡¯d be kidnapped the evening of the day she was about to fly off to Sonny?! At the end of the day, she still felt rather exasperated about that. If it weren¡¯t to learn some things from Haris to save her mother, she¡¯d have long escaped. But sadly, she didn¡¯t manage to apply what she had learned. A hint of grimness shed across Elspeth¡¯s eyes before she fixed her gaze on Jasmine and taunted, ¡°So, don¡¯t go around believing what you see is what it is. Stop constantly painting yourself as the pitiful one, or I can¡¯t promise I won¡¯t unveil your facade and show everyone how ugly you are.¡± This time, Jasmine was rendered utterly at a loss for words. ¡°Also, I¡¯ve been tolerant because of Old Mr. McGrath. If you continue to offend me, I can¡¯t promise I¡¯ll y nice.¡± At that, she patted Jasmine¡¯s shoulder with a smile, appearing rather piteous toward the young woman. ¡°Don¡¯t lose yourself because of a man, and don¡¯t be a simp. It¡¯s quite sad looking.¡± Chapter 476 Chapter 476 Chapter 476 Talk About Your Family Who knew if Elspeth¡¯s words even got through to Jasmine? After all, the young woman just stood there with her head lowered. Then again, she was shuddering. Could she be crying? However, Elspeth didn¡¯t feel bad for her at all, as she didn¡¯t deserve pity when her gullibility led her to this. At that, she walked past Jasmine indifferently into thepany. Later at 10.00AM, she received a call when she was sorting out some documents. As troubled as she felt when she saw the caller ID, she still answered it. ¡°Are you in the middle of something, Elspeth? There¡¯s something I¡¯d like to talk to you about.¡± Haris didn¡¯t talk to her about Jasmine right off the bat, but she knew it¡¯d likely be that. ¡°I am, actually. Can it wait until I get off work?¡± Toward Haris, she still had a modicum of respect as, after all, the man had taught her many things and was practically like a mentor to her. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll send a car to pick you up. We¡¯ll meet up,¡± Haris saidposedly. N?velDrama.Org ? content. However, Elspeth didn¡¯t agree to it at once, and it seemed that Haris saw through her worry as he added, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. This is between you and me. I won¡¯t tell Jasmine.¡± ¡°Alright, see you at six.¡± Elspeth hesitated no more because she knew the elder wasn¡¯t lying. After hanging up, she massaged her aching shoulder and devised a counterattack for the meetingter at night. She had practically figured out what Haris wanted to tell her¡ªhelping Jasmine convince her to divorce Callum. She was indeed somewhat ashamed to face Haris as she had personally promised him she wouldn¡¯t have anything to do with Callum anymore and wouldn¡¯t ruin their marriage, after all. Then again¡­ she didn¡¯t actually ruin their marriage. Callum was mostly the one behind the n, and she was arguably the innocent one that had been dragged into this inexplicably. It wasn¡¯t until Callum came to mind that she realized she¡¯d be going out alone again that night. Hence, she called the man and told him about the situation. ¡°You¡¯re not going.¡± Though it didn¡¯t sound like Callum was worked up, it was still a definitive no toward her request. ¡°Why not?¡± She picked up a hint of nervousness from his voice. ¡°I¡¯m worried something will happen to you,¡± Callum said frankly instead of hiding it. ¡°What¡¯s there to be worried about? I¡¯m pretty close to Old Mr. McGrath. I promise he won¡¯t do anything to me.¡± ¡°It might not be as simple as you think. Old Mr. McGrath is Jasmine¡¯s grandfather, after all. He¡¯ll certainly side with her.¡± All Callum cared about now was Elspeth¡¯s well-being. He just didn¡¯t want her to receive any harm. ¡°I know. But I have spent over half a month with him. I don¡¯t think he¡¯s the unreasonable type.¡± They had spent a few nights and days together, after all. So, they had a pretty good grasp of each other¡¯s true nature. Hence, it was why Haris would speak nicely to her instead of questioning her over the phone. ¡°Either way, a foolproof n needs to be in store. How about this? I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Callum decided to apany her personally. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good idea.¡± Just the thought of Callum sitting frostily aside, boring into them as they chatted, made Elspeth very ufortable. What was more, she couldn¡¯t guarantee that Callum wouldn¡¯t do anything to Haris. ¡°How is it not a good idea? You¡¯re my wife. Is it wrong of me to follow you around?¡± Well, this role sure does make every situation justifiable. Since Callum insisted, Elspeth didn¡¯t turn him down anymore. Instead, she told him toe to her company sooner after he got off work. And sure enough, a car was waiting outside when she got off work in the evening. Callum still hadn¡¯t shown up, so Elspeth decided to wait at the entrance for a while when the ck Maybach¡¯s door opened suddenly. ¡°Elspeth, why aren¡¯t youing in?¡± Elspeth had thought Haris would wait for her at their rendezvous, but to her surprise, the elder had personallye. It ttered her a little, but at the same time, a sliver of bewilderment arose within her. ¡°Hold on. He¡¯s not here yet.¡± The smile on Haris¡¯ face stiffened at once. ¡°Who¡¯s he? Callum?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ He said he wanted to join us.¡± At this point, nearly everyone had heard about her marriage to Callum. Though it wasn¡¯t a full-on disclosure, those shrewd would be able to figure it out. Hence, there was no reason for her to hide it from Haris. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you two to be so close. Haha, looks like I¡¯m the imposing one.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t mind, do you?¡± She still had to ask out of politeness though it didn¡¯t matter if he did. After all, not just anybody could turn any decision Callum made easily. ¡°Of course, I don¡¯t mind. What¡¯s there to mind? I¡¯ve asked to meet with you to chat and ask about some things in the first ce. With Callum around, things will be much easier.¡± As they talked about Callum, Elspeth suddenly felt a warm sensationing from her palm, and she realized arge hand had wrapped around hers. At that, she looked up to find her new husband standing next to her, on high alert. Haris was a shrewd guy who had lived for a few decades, after all. His heart skipped a beat too when he saw the young man in protective mode. ¡°Rx. I¡¯ve onlye to have a chat with Elspeth. No need to be on guard, Mr. Winthrop.¡± ¡°You¡¯re overreacting, Old Mr. McGrath. I¡¯m merely apanying my wife. I won¡¯t do anything. Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to chat? Where are we heading?¡± Though Elspeth knew Haris might not mean any harm, she still felt touched when she watched Callum standing up for her. Actually, life after marriage isn¡¯t so bad¡­ ¡°Right, I nearly forgot about that. Hop in. I¡¯ll take you guys there.¡± With that, the two sat in the back seat with their hands remaining tightly held. Even Haris couldn¡¯t help teasing them about it. ¡°You two sure get along well. Looks like Jasmine has interfered in your rtionship.¡± ¡°Naturally,¡± Callum affirmed at once, leading Elspeth to tug his fingers lightly, signaling that he had crossed the line. But the elder was broad-minded and didn¡¯t mind Callum¡¯s words. Instead, he just smiled thoughtfully. Soon, the three arrived at a hotel and took their seats after entering a private room. ¡°I wonder what you¡¯d like to talk to my wife about today, Old Mr. McGrath.¡± Callum deliberately emphasized the word ¡®wife¡¯ to boost Elspeth¡¯s confidence. ¡°An old man like me naturally hadn¡¯t called Elspeth over for anything else.¡± Haris took a sip of the tea on the table before continuing. ¡°I want to talk to her about her family.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t know why, but Arthur¡¯s words suddenly popped into her head. Chapter 477 Chapter 477 Chapter 477 Quid Pro Quo Can it be that Old Mr. McGrath knows about my mother? ¡°What is it that you know of, Old Mr. McGrath? Please do tell.¡± At that, Haris chuckled. ¡°No rush. It¡¯s just that I don¡¯t know if I should say it so easily. You see, I don¡¯t know if Winthrop here knows about it.¡± Elspeth¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Callum was unaware of it just yet. Callum, on the other hand, was unfazed. ¡°I¡¯m her husband. Is there anything I can¡¯t hear about?¡± ¡°No, not quite.¡± At that, the elder person exined, saying, ¡°I want to talk about Elspeth¡¯s mother¡­¡± ¡°She has passed. I suggest you don¡¯t talk about it anymore.¡± Callum had thought she felt ufortable after hearing Haris¡¯ words and recalled some sad moments when he saw her grim face. Elspeth, on the other hand, thought she was right about her guess. ¡°No, her mother hadn¡¯t passed.¡± Callum frowned in response. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Her mother is still alive. She¡¯s just somewhere Elspeth can¡¯t find.¡± At that, Callum turned to his beloved. Seeing that she didn¡¯t panic in the way that he had imagined, he knew it wasn¡¯t as he imagined. ¡°I¡¯d appreciate it if you could be clear about it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m saying the woman who passed wasn¡¯t Elspeth¡¯s birth mother.¡± ¡°Then, do you know where my birth mother is?¡± Elspeth asked. Suddenly, Haris appeared reluctant. ¡°That¡¯s pretty much all that I know of. As for where she is specifically, I don¡¯t know.¡± At that, Callum held Elspeth¡¯s hand under the table while gravenessced his face. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have brought us here to merely tell us that.¡± In other words, Haris had more than just that in mind, and it¡¯d be some inhumane condition. ¡°I knew you were highly intelligent, my boy.¡± Haris suddenly guffawed. However, it was one that was rather unfamiliar and ufortable. ¡°I won¡¯t hide it from you anymore, then. I¡¯ve naturally met up with you and told you all of this because I want something in exchange.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s for us to divorce so that Jasmine can be with me, you can stop right here,¡± Callum countered without hesitation, causing Haris to turn grim instantly. ¡°Do you think you¡¯re in any position to negotiate with me?¡± Elspeth had never seen this side of Haris. Back in the McGrath Residence, the impression he gave her was, at the very least, amiable even though he was cloistered. Not only had he never treated her with malicious intent, but he even instilled much medical knowledge in her. Even if there wasn¡¯t gratitude, she respected the elder, at least. However, at this moment, she thought the grim-looking man sitting before her was inexplicably alien. Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. ¡°We¡¯re not negotiating. It¡¯s you who are using it to threaten us, no?¡± ¡°Then, are you willing to make the exchange?¡± When Elspeth saw the inevitable smirk on Haris¡¯ face, she suddenly realized he might know more than they expected. ¡°As I respect you, I will ask you this, Old Mr. McGrath. Do you think Jasmine will be happy if she marries me?¡± Callum¡¯s attitude toward the elder gradually turned impassive. ¡°Then, do you think my Jas is happy now?¡± Haris hit the roof at the mention of Jasmine¡¯s incident. How could he not know what actually went down when he had lived over sixty years?! ¡°I knew that child since she was a baby. How could I not know that she would never do something like that with another man on her wedding day and even let you discover it so coincidentally?! Do you not think it is all too coincidental?!¡± At the thought that the two had possibly colluded to harm his precious granddaughter, let her shoulder all the me, and in turn, call off the marriage, he wanted nothing more than to mangle the two. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying you suspect it¡¯s my doing?¡± Callum remained nonchnt, looking as though the incident had nothing to do with him at all. If Haris hadn¡¯t seen Callum¡¯s insoucianceing, he¡¯d have really believed he was wrong. ¡°Save the act, Winthrop. I believe you should be held responsible for Jas¡¯ misfortune.¡± Surprised that the elder could argue so well, he smirked disdainfully. ¡°That¡¯s her own problem. Why should I be held responsible?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have an option, Winthrop.¡± Haris¡¯ grimness filled the space as he remained seated in his chair. ¡°Aren¡¯t you more than willing to do anything for her? What¡¯s stopping you now?¡± Finally, Elspeth couldn¡¯t take it anymore. ¡°This is my issue. Why bring Callum into this?!¡± Her gaze was icy with a hint of calmness that only she had. ¡°Besides, all she has ever done was give birth to me. Why should I use my marriage to exchange for her life?¡± If it was someone who interacted with her daily, she might consider the value, but that woman had nothing to do with her. Does Haris not think he¡¯s being too confident about this? ¡°I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d be so cold-hearted, child.¡± Haris chuckled. However, the benevolence and adoration beneath his eyes were long gone. ¡°That¡¯s why this is only a token for exchange. If you want to know, I will naturally tell you about it under my conditions. If you don¡¯t, then your mother¡¯s life will have nothing to do with you.¡± Her life¡­ An ominous feeling shed across Elspeth¡¯s eyes at that. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± ¡°Do you still remember what I talked to you about? The new experiment I¡¯m preparing to do.¡± ¡°That human experimentation?!¡± Elspeth¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Haris had mentioned the experiment to her back when she was staying in the McGrath Residence. But because the experiment required a special human organ as an enhancer, he didn¡¯t talk in-depth about it. In fact, he even told her he intended not to do the experiment because of how cruel it¡¯d be. Another reason was that the unique type of people was too difficult to find. As of now, there were less than a handful of candidates that fit his experiment¡¯s criteria. ¡°You won¡¯t believe this. When I met your mother, she just so happened to be the perfect enhancer.¡± Haris opened his folding fan and fanned it gently while his eyes were filled with nothing but triumph. Chapter 478 Chapter 478 Chapter 478 It¡¯s Been a While Elspeth felt rather unsteady on her feet then. After understanding how cruel the experiment was, Elspeth couldn¡¯t ept the idea of putting her mother through it. Haris could tell that Elspeth was hesitating, so he stepped forward and gently tapped her on the shoulder. His voice sounded as gentle and warm as always. ¡°You¡¯re my disciple, Elspeth. I don¡¯t want to do anything that would make you sad. However, you should also know that my granddaughter had to go through a lot of suffering. I wouldn¡¯t be able to face my ancestors if anything happened to her.¡± Even though Haris sounded like he was giving Elspeth some advice, his words were actually said to his own benefit. Elspeth was well aware of this, yet she couldn¡¯t bring herself to utter the harsh words she intended to say earlier. ¡°I know you might find it hard to ept the truth, and I know you might think I¡¯m lying to you. I can¡¯t do much if you don¡¯t believe me,¡± Haris added. ¡°I trust you.¡± Elspeth¡¯s gaze glinted as she spoke. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°That¡¯s good. It¡¯s good that you trust me.¡± The look on Callum¡¯s face was as icy as ever. His eyes glinted sharply as he narrowed them. ¡°Do you have any other conditions?¡± he asked. ¡°There are no other conditions for now. The only condition I have is that you guys get a divorce and you get married to Jasmine,¡± Haris said in response. There was no way for them to negotiate any further. Elspeth simply lowered her head without speaking. ¡°I know you might find it hard to ept the situation now. How about this? I¡¯ll give you guys three days. I want to see your divorce papers in three days,¡± Haris uttered. With that said, Haris nced at his watch before ncing up with a thoughtful look on his face. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. I¡¯ll get the housekeeper to send you back if there¡¯s nothing else you need.¡± Callum couldn¡¯t contain the rage within him anymore. However, he was worried that he would lose control of his anger, so he quickly grabbed Elspeth¡¯s hand before leading her out. ¡°It¡¯s fine. We can head back on our own.¡± Haris didn¡¯t see a problem with this. The housekeeper, on the other hand, found the two youngsters extremely rude. ¡°What¡¯s surprising about that? If you were in their position, you might even be more emotional than them,¡± Haris stated. The housekeeper let out a frustrated sigh. ¡°I just don¡¯t understand. You were the one who saved Elspeth, yet she doesn¡¯t show any gratitude at all. Instead, she teamed up with some other man to scheme against your granddaughter, and now, she¡¯s even giving you attitude.¡± Elspeth was nothing more than a heartless witch in the housekeeper¡¯s eyes. ¡°That¡¯s not entirely true. Both parties are at fault here. You may think that Elspeth is being harsh, but have you considered how Jasmine tried to ruin their marriage?¡± It had been a while since Haris spoke to visitors for such extended periods of time, so he seemed rather tired. ¡°It¡¯s a shame that I¡¯m Jasmine¡¯s grandfather. I have no choice but to be on her side.¡± ¡°But Callum is right. If we force him to get married to Miss McGrath, Miss McGrath might not be happy in their marriage either.¡± Haris massaged his brows as he felt a headacheing. ¡°But if Jasmine doesn¡¯t get to be with the person she likes, she won¡¯t be happy either. There¡¯s a saying that ims that a person who doesn¡¯t achieve all her youthful desires will spend the rest of her life in regret. I¡¯d rather she get what she wants and suffer through it,¡± Haris exined. ¡°You¡¯re the wiser one indeed, Old Mr. McGrath.¡± The housekeeper lowered his gaze as he understood Haris¡¯ intentions. ¡°Alright. It¡¯s gettingte. Let¡¯s head back,¡± Haris uttered. ¡­ The chemistry between them was strong¡ªboth Callum and Elspeth no longer brought up this matter after leaving the hotel. They acted as they did on a usual day¡ªthey held hands as they walked back to the Winthrop Residence. However, they noticed a familiar figure when they arrived at their front door. The person was looking around as if she was waiting for someone. When Yelena saw Elspeth walking over, she practically threw herself on Elspeth. ¡°Elspeth. Elspeth! There¡¯s something I need to tell you!¡± Elspeth gently smacked Yelena on her head when she saw the conflicted look on Yelena¡¯s face. ¡°What¡¯s the rush? You can just call me if you have something to say. Why did you have toe all the way to my house?¡± Yelena lowered her head before speaking in a rather sorrowful tone. ¡°Something came up for me, and I might have to leave the country for a while.¡± ¡°How long are you going to be gone for?¡± Elspeth asked. ¡°About half a year.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a pretty long time.¡± Elspeth was sad to hear that they would have to be apart for a while. ¡°You¡¯ll have to take care of yourself while you¡¯re abroad. If you encounter any issues, you can always call me. I¡¯ll go over to you immediately.¡± Yelena was bad with goodbyes, and she felt especially uneasy with all the issues that they had faced in recent times. ¡°You¡¯ll have to video call me more, then.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Where are you going, by the way?¡± ¡°Wohler.¡± Elspeth felt a surge of familiarity upon hearing the name of the ce. ¡°That¡¯s such a coincidence,¡± Elspeth muttered to herself. ¡°What¡¯s the coincidence?¡± Yelena asked. Elspeth realized that she had spoken her thoughts out loud, but she felt the need to exin herself when she saw the curious look on Yelena¡¯s face. ¡°Max is going there for some race car training as well.¡± ¡°That is truly a coincidence¡­¡± An awkward look formed on Yelena¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s fine. The country¡¯s huge. You¡¯re not going to bump into him,¡± Elspeth uttered. Yelena shook her head. ¡°There¡¯s no reason for me to avoid him. I won¡¯t catch feelings for him even if he shows up in front of me now¡­¡± ¡°Elspeth, Callum, why are you standing at the front door?¡± Yelena was too petite, so her figure was completely covered by Callum. Max didn¡¯t notice her, so he walked over to greet them with a grin. However, the smile on Max¡¯s face fell when he saw the girl behind Callum. Yelena looked up to give him an embarrassed smile as well. Elspeth didn¡¯t find anything awkward about the situation¡ªshe was simply amused that the confidence Yelena had just a few moments earlier seemed to have disappeared. Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but tease Yelena about it. ¡°You were saying apletely different thing earlier.¡± Yelena gave Elspeth a yful punch. ¡°Alright. Stop teasing me.¡± Max was the first to initiate a conversation. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Yelena.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while. How have you been?¡± Yelena realized that had asked the wrong question after she finished her sentence. How could Max be doing well at a time like this? ¡°I¡¯m okay. I¡¯m sleeping, eating; the usual,¡± Max replied in a casual tone. When Max saw the uncertain look on Yelena¡¯s face, he decided not to say anything that would pressure her any further. ¡°That¡¯s great to hear. Well, I¡¯ll leave now, then.¡± Yelena felt the urge to leave because of how awkward the situation was. ¡°Why don¡¯t you stay for a meal?¡± Max found the courage to voice out an offer. Yelena felt pressured to agree, but she then heard an icy voice sounding from behind her. ¡°She doesn¡¯t need you to offer her a meal.¡± Chapter 479 Chapter 479 Chapter 479 Why Didn¡¯t You Pick Up Your Phone? Yelena felt goosebumps forming on her skin when she heard the person¡¯s voice. She hadn¡¯t told a single soul about her trip to Winthrop Residence that day. Hank, in particr, would get extremely displeased if he heard about the Winthrops, so Yelena had made it a point not to mention it to him. Hank¡¯s face turned icy whenever she mentioned the Winthrops, so Yelena figured that she would just sneak over for a while without Hank¡¯s knowledge. She hadn¡¯t expected to see him there. ¡°I called you. Why didn¡¯t you pick up my calls?¡± Hank uttered. Yelena was rather taken aback by his sudden usations, so she pulled her phone out to check. As expected, there were five missed calls on the phone. On top of that, there were tons of text messages from Hank. ¡°Why did you call me out of nowhere?¡± Yelena asked. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I be the one who¡¯s questioning you? Why didn¡¯t you pick up my calls?¡± Hank¡¯s voice was harsh and cold. The iciness in his voice reached its peak when heid eyes on Max. ¡°You ignored all my calls because you wanted toe over to the Winthrop Residence to see him. Is that it?¡± Hank asked. Yelena struggled to exin herself. ¡°No. I wasn¡¯t here for him. I was here for Elspeth.¡± She obediently held the phone out in front of Hank. ¡°Look at this. I didn¡¯t ignore your calls. My phone just happened to be on silent mode,¡± she uttered in a soft and meek voice. In other words, Yelena hadn¡¯t intentionally avoided him, so there was no reason for him to be so worked up. Hank felt his temper disappearing when he saw the pitiful look on Yelena¡¯s face. He figured that it wouldn¡¯t be nice for him to continue scolding her. Meanwhile, the interactions between Yelena and Hank felt like a huge reality check for Max, who was watching them from the side. I used to be the only person who could treat Yelena that way, but now, things have changed. She belongs to another man. All I can do is stand around and watch in silence. I can¡¯t even tell her how much this hurts me. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s go home.¡± Hank instinctively held Yelena¡¯s hand to bring her home. ¡°Why don¡¯t you stay for dinner, Yelena?¡± Somehow, Max stirred up the courage to voice out once more. Everyone¡ªYelena, especially¡ªwas shocked by Max¡¯s actions. What¡¯s this guy up to? Elspeth wondered. Yelena took one nce at Hank before she shook her head frantically. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t think it¡¯d be right for me to stay. I should head home,¡± she said. Hank let out a satisfied grunt after hearing her response. ¡°It¡¯s just a meal. Furthermore, you¡¯ll be leaving soon, right? Even if we¡¯re just friends now¡­ I don¡¯t think there¡¯s an issue with having a meal together, right?¡± Max said. Hank narrowed his eyes upon hearing this. ¡°How did you know that she¡¯s leaving soon?¡± Why is this guy showing up now? Is he trying to snatch my wife-to-be? Yelena was just as puzzled when she heard Max¡¯s words. She hadn¡¯t told anyone about her n to leave the country, and she had only caved in and told Elspeth about it earlier. How would Max know about this? Max realized that he made a slip of the tongue, so he simply kept his mouth shut while eyeing Yelena with a hopeful look on his face. He was hoping that she would agree to dinner. Yelena knew that she could easily reject the offer, yet she couldn¡¯t bring herself to utter such words when she saw the expectant look on Max¡¯s face. ¡°How about¡­¡± Yelena started. N?velDrama.Org ? content. Hank quickly interrupted her. ¡°You guys broke up. Do you think both of you can still remain friends? Furthermore, the Winthrops have got nothing to do with Yelena. Why should she have a farewell dinner with you guys?¡± Even though Hank¡¯s words were harsh, he had a point. Max lowered his gaze. He knew that he had overstepped his boundaries, so he decided that he wouldn¡¯t say anything further. This only made Yelena feel sorrier for him. ¡°Why don¡¯t we just stay for the meal? It¡¯s just one meal, anyway,¡± Yelena said. Hank was exasperated to see the look of sympathy in Yelena¡¯s eyes. ¡°Um¡­ We can stay for a meal, but I¡¯ll have to join you guys.¡± Hank didn¡¯t want Yelena and Max to spend time together when he wasn¡¯t around. All his years of waiting would go to waste if they somehow managed to rekindle the spark between them. ¡°How does that sound?¡± he asked. Yelena knew that she was pushing Hank¡¯s limits at this point. She turned to give Max a look in hopes that he would allow Hank to stay. Meanwhile, Max felt a throbbing ache in his chest. The woman he once loved was now begging him for the sake of another man. Maybe I shouldn¡¯t have asked her to stay for dinner in the first ce. Why should I keep her around? Isn¡¯t that just making me feel worse? However, Max couldn¡¯t reject Yelena when he was the one who suggested the dinner. ¡°Of course. He¡¯s your friend, so there¡¯s no harm in him staying for dinner.¡± Max ced extra emphasis on the word ¡®friend¡¯¡ªthis was his only way to express the frustration he felt. Naturally, Hank noticed the change in Max¡¯s tone, but he decided not to be petty over it. Instead, Hank tightened his grip on Yelena¡¯s hand before leading her into the house. Max silently watched as they walked ahead of him. Elspeth noticed the look of sorrow on Max¡¯s face, so she gave him a pat on the shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ve told you this¡ªyou should know when it¡¯s time to let go and move on,¡± Elspeth uttered. ¡°I¡¯ve let go of her, Elspeth. I just don¡¯t know why I feel so sad all of a sudden.¡± Max lowered his gaze to hide the pain in his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s okay to be sad. There¡¯s no need to be ashamed of your feelings. You should be d that the woman you fell for is someone so kind, adorable, and sweet. She didn¡¯t hold any grudges against you even though it was your fault that you guys had to break up. She¡¯s still willing to maintain a rtionship with you,¡± Elspeth stated. This was the best oue that Max could¡¯ve hoped for. He let out a sigh. ¡°I know,¡± he muttered. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s go. Our visitors are already in the house¡ªwhat are the owners doing outside here?¡± Callum spoke up after a long period of silence. There was a hint of annoyance in his voice. Max could clearly tell that his brother was getting jealous of his conversation with Elspeth, so he hurried into the house. ¡°I got it,¡± he muttered with his head hung low. The three of them hurried into the house to find Yelena and Hank sitting on the couch. Margot was bustling around them to make themfortable, and she wore a pleasant smile on her face as she ushered them to take a seat. There wasn¡¯t a hint of hatred or dissatisfaction on her face. Margot was a woman who had survived years of interaction with the other wealthy women of Damoria, so she wasn¡¯t the least bit fazed by such a tiny issue. ¡°It¡¯s been such a long while since youst came over, Yelena. I thought you forgot about me,¡± Margot teased. Yelena scratched the back of her head in embarrassment. Previously, things had gotten too tense between Yelena and Max, and they agreed to end their rtionship in the heat of the moment. Yelena felt too embarrassed to show up at Winthrop Residence after that. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not that! I¡¯ve just been busy recently, so I couldn¡¯t find the time to visit,¡± Yelena replied. ¡°You shoulde over more. I¡¯ve missed you a lot,¡± Margot said. Yelena couldn¡¯t tell if Margot was being honest or not, but she felt rather guilty when she noticed a hint of wistfulness in Margot¡¯s eyes. ¡°I know,¡± Yelena replied. Margot turned her attention to Hank after that. Chapter 480 Chapter 480 Chapter 480 You Were Nice Too ¡°You must be the famouswyer that Callum often talks about. What a capable young man you are!¡± Anyone could utter the same polite words, yet Margot sounded especially sincere with the tone that she used. She was right¡ªHank¡¯s abilities were practically undefeated in the whole of Damoria. At the young age of 23, he was already widely known as thewyer with the silver tongue, and the public wasn¡¯t even aware of the other secret identity that he had. Most people would maintain a respectful and cautious attitude toward people like Hank, who had such a mysterious persona. ¡°You¡¯re too nice, Mrs. Winthrop. I¡¯m not that amazing.¡± Hank smiled and spoke in a clear voice, yet he sounded rather distant even as he spoke. ¡°How could you say that? We all know the great things you¡¯ve achieved¡­¡± They continued chatting for a while before it was time for dinner. All of them took their seats at the dining table, and they hung their heads low as they ate dinner. For the most part, the dining room was filled with silence. After the meal, Hank and Yelena prepared to leave the house. However, Max stopped Yelena right before they left. ¡°Can I talk to you for a while, Yelena?¡± Yelena tensed up as she responded in a shaky voice, ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good idea. It¡¯s gettingte. You can call me if you have anything to say,¡± she replied. She found it hard to spend time with Max in private. ¡°It¡¯s just a short conversation. I won¡¯t take up too much of your time,¡± Max insisted. Margot happened to be standing around to send her guests off, so Hank had to refrain from saying anything that would offend Max. The best that Hank could do was to shoot Max an icy re. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Yelena. You should have a talk with him if he wants it. You can say your final goodbyes, too,¡± Hank finally uttered. ¡°Well¡­ Okay.¡± Both Yelena and Max stepped out into the backyard to be away from everyone else. The backyard was quiet, and Max enjoyed sitting there on his own sometimes. He would reminisce about the past and think about Yelena every now and then. Right then, Max took a seat on the stairs. When he saw the helpless look on Yelena¡¯s face, he pulled out some tissue from his pocket before he wiped the surface of the step. ¡°Take a seat. I know you¡¯re really particr about cleanliness. In fact, you were the one who built this habit in me. I¡¯ve learned to keep a packet of tissues in my pocket ever since our previous fights,¡± Max uttered. Yelena¡¯s gaze darkened when she heard his words, but she eventually took a seat beside him. ¡°What do you have to say to me?¡± she asked. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about what happened thest time.¡± Max turned to face her as he gazed at her with a look of regret and guilt on his face. ¡°I didn¡¯t know how much I hurt you with my inconsiderate actions with her. Nothing happened between her and me. I know that you won¡¯t believe me as I¡¯m trying to exin myself to you now, but¡ª¡± N?velDrama.Org ? content. ¡°Stop it.¡± Yelena blinked when she felt tears forming in her eyes. ¡°I know you¡¯re not that sort of person,¡± she uttered. ¡°Then why did you insist on breaking up with me?¡± Max didn¡¯t understand. If she isn¡¯t bothered by my actions, then why did she insist on breaking up? ¡°I know you¡¯re not that sort of person, but you¡¯ve crossed my limits with the things that you did. I cannot continue to forgive you unconditionally¡ªnot after what you did to me. We¡¯re just not meant for each other, Max.¡± There had already been a lot of issues in their rtionship. For example, Max didn¡¯t know how tofort Yelena when she was sad. He made sarcasticments when she was happy. He didn¡¯t know how to offer help when she was flustered and worried over something. Yelena could still recall the one time she held up two ice creams of different vors in front of him. She told him to try them, but he had been too upied with some racecar magazine and identally knocked off the ice cream cones she was holding. She didn¡¯t have the words to express how she felt as she watched the ice cream melting on the ground. However, Max didn¡¯t express any remorse then¡ªhe even med her for holding the ice creams up in front of him. He made it seem like it was her fault that he had bumped into them and dirtied his hands. Yelena felt like her heart shattered after she heard those harsh words. ¡°That day, one of the ice cream cones that I offered you was green tea-vored ice cream. That was your favorite vor, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Yelena uttered. Max was reminded of that incident, after which she ignored him for two whole days. Max wasn¡¯t bothered then¡ªhe simply assumed that she was being petty. Later on, he realized that she was really furious, and it took him a long while to finally get her to forgive him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I know I was too harsh with my words,¡± Max uttered. ¡°You don¡¯t have to apologize. We simply have really different views in life.¡± Yelena knew that they would have to part ways because they were just two different people. ¡°I know. I know we don¡¯t stand a chance.¡± Max shrugged before giving her a casual grin. ¡°How have things been with him? Are you guys together now?¡± Yelena blushed when she heard Max talking about Hank, and Max immediately noticed her change in expression. ¡°Why are you smiling like that? I¡¯ve never seen you look so bashful¡ªnot even when you had a crush on me.¡± Max couldn¡¯t help but recall the past memories when he brought up Yelena¡¯s crush on him. The gorgeous youngdy chased after him for two whole years back then, and he kept finding ways to reject her until she finally managed to win his heart. Coming to think of it, I didn¡¯t know how to cherish her back then. Now, she has another man who has spent so much effort trying to win her over. Why does that make me feel so sad? ¡°No. I¡¯m not dating him,¡± Yelena replied. ¡°Didn¡¯t he confess to you?¡± Max asked. Yelena thought about his question for a moment before she shook her head. ¡°He didn¡¯t confess his love to me.¡± ¡°Do you like him, then?¡± Yelena was stunned by Max¡¯s sudden and direct question. ¡°Why are you asking about this?¡± she asked. ¡°Well, if you didn¡¯t reject him, it also means that you like him,¡± he stated. Yelena was even more dumbfounded by Max¡¯s abrupt conclusion. ¡°I saw the way you guys interacted with one another just now. You guys seemed really rxed, and you seemed pretty happy.¡± Max let out a sigh. ¡°You never looked as happy while you were with me.¡± Max had a bad temper, so Yelena was a lot more watchful and cautious while she was dating him. Even though Hank could be a fierce man, Yelena was a lot more daring and rxed when she was with him. She didn¡¯t seem fearful of him at all. ¡°Is that so?¡± Yelena asked. ¡°Of course. We¡¯ve been together for so long. Don¡¯t you think I know you well enough?¡± Max replied. It¡¯s a shame that I was too cocky in the past. I thought I could be in full control of everything, and I never once thought about genuinely pleasing and pampering Yelena. Yelena¡¯s face turned serious all of a sudden. ¡°Actually, you were really nice to me, too,¡± she stated. She could still recall how Max had protected her when she was bullied back then. ¡°When you first showed up and stood up for me, you were like the light at the end of the tunnel. I fell for you immediately. Did you know about this? You looked so gorgeous at that moment. Why would you think you¡¯re any less than him?¡± Chapter 481 Chapter 481 Chapter 481 Cajole She met a young man back when her life was in turmoil, and thatd left a deep impression on her. No matter how much time had passed, she could never forget him. Max noticed her eyes. They were gleaming, and he had conflicting emotions. At first, he thought she hated him or at least harbored a strong dislike, but when she showed up all smiling, Max tossed his worries behind him. ¡°Thank you. You¡¯ll still remain the best woman I¡¯ve ever met.¡± We used to be in love. That brings the conversation to a close. Yelena stood up, ready to leave. ¡°May you keep shining bright for the rest of your life.¡± ¡°You too.¡± That lifted a weight off Yelena¡¯s shoulder. She heaved a sigh of relief and was about to leave. ¡°Oh. If he does treat you badly,e to me. I¡¯ll always wee you.¡± ¡°Oh, he won¡¯t ever treat me badly,¡± said Yelena. There was a hint of pride in her voice, the kind of pride only a woman loved by someone could have. ¡°Good. Just kidding.¡± Yelena came back to the lounge, where Hank was waiting for her. The light shone on him, dragging out a long shadow on the ground. Slowly, Yelena approached Hank, and Hank smiled. ¡°Done?¡± Good. That clingy Max isn¡¯t here. His frown went away. ¡°Yes.¡± She didn¡¯t borate lest it upset Hank. ¡°I¡¯ll take you home then.¡± Hank held her hand. They emerged from the house, but before they got in the car, Hank bent over, and Yelena felt a little shy that he was so close to her. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Nothing. I just think you look good tonight.¡± If it were any other guy, Yelena would have rolled her eyes, but when it was Hank, she just thought it was alluring. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. We should go home.¡± Yelena didn¡¯t want this to go on, or something lustful might happen. She had experience after all. ¡°You¡¯re in a hurry to leave.¡± Hank was a little upset that she wouldn¡¯t stop pushing him away. Why is she so scared of me? I won¡¯t eat her. ¡°Nothing. Just think the air is a little bit off.¡± ¡°How so?¡± Hank was pushing her to say something embarrassing. Noticing that, Yelena shot him a re, but he didn¡¯t really see it as a threat. ¡°Tell me, or we¡¯re not leaving.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so unreasonable.¡± Yelena mustered up her strength to push him away, but he wouldn¡¯t budge. ¡°I¡¯m unreasonable?¡± Hank suddenly didn¡¯t want to tease her anymore, or she might just cry. ¡°Alright, you¡¯re off the hook.¡± He stood back up so she could take a breather. ¡°Get in. I¡¯ll take you home.¡± Surprised that Hank would let her go just like that, Yelena quickly got in the car, but for some reason, she felt a little disappointed. Because nothing happened? No, what am I thinking? She shook her head. Noticing her weird movement, Hank was amused. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Oh, no. I can¡¯t believe I actually shook my head. Yelena wanted to run away. ¡°I think I should get a cab.¡± Hank stepped on the brakes, his smile wiped off. Taken by surprise, Yelena almost bumped into the windshield. ¡°Why did you stop all of a sudden?¡± ¡°Do you really not like being in the same room as me?¡± Hank thought her trying to run was because of the talk she had with Max, and he felt depressed. ¡°What did he say to you?¡± ¡°Nothing. Just told me to be happy and made some small talk,¡± Yelena said honestly. He¡¯s mad. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± ¡°Yeah. Nothing else.¡± Yelena took a quick look at him before starting at the ground. ¡°You¡¯ve been trying to run away from me the whole night.¡± The look on her face says to stay away from me. Hank was upset about that. Yelena averted her gaze and looked outside the window. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to run. Just a little uneasy, that¡¯s all.¡± Hank noticed her blush, and the sense of unease in his heart lessened. Maybe it¡¯s not what I thought. ¡°Why are you uneasy?¡± he muttered, trying to weasel the answer out of her. ¡°I don¡¯t know?¡± ¡°Do you like me?¡± he asked. Yelena blushed, her ears pink. ¡°No. It¡¯s not¡­ I¡¯m¡­ It¡¯s¡­¡± Suddenly, Hank leaned over and huddled closer to her. Yelena could smell him, yet she didn¡¯t move away. He stopped about an inch away from her face, and Yelena felt a little ustrophobic. ¡°You¡¯re so dishonest with your feelings.¡± Hank wanted to tease the timid girl. ¡°Do you not like me then?¡± Caught by surprise, Yelena didn¡¯t know how to answer that, and she hung her head low. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything? Too shy?¡± Yelena gulped. ¡°I don¡¯t know what to say.¡± ¡°Then you answer my questions.¡± Hank gulped and caressed her cheek. ¡°Do you like being with me?¡± Yelena wouldn¡¯t lie about this. ¡°Yes,¡± she said. ¡°Do you like me being with you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Whenever he was around, she felt safe. It felt like he could settle any problems for her. ¡°What if I were to be with some other girl?¡± Yelena imagined that, and she frowned immediately. Chapter 482 Chapter 482 Chapter 482 For You ¡°I don¡¯t like the idea.¡± ¡°Then you like me.¡± A weight was lifted off Hank¡¯s shoulder. As long as she likes me, then I can settle everything else. ¡°P-Perhaps.¡± Yelena was able to express her feelings easily when she was with Max. She was the one who courted him. However, she couldn¡¯t even form a coherent sentence now. She had no idea why she became so shy. ¡°Do you want to be my girlfriend, then?¡± The confession caught her by surprise. She looked at him. Her nose was still red from the cold because she had just gotten in the car and the heater wasn¡¯t hot enough yet. Her eyes were glimmering like a bunny¡¯s. Hank felt like teasing her. A long, long whileter, she blurted, ¡°Do you like me, then?¡± It was a stupid question, but she had no better ones. She was at a loss. ¡°Why do you think I confessed?¡± She¡¯s usually smart, but she¡¯s slow now. ¡°I-I see.¡± ¡°So, do you want to be my girlfriend?¡± She¡¯s still hesitating. I should up the ante. ¡°If you date me, I can settle any problem for you. No questions asked.¡± Yelena didn¡¯t like hassles, and she would be at a loss every time she came across any problem. That was a great deal for her, and her eyes shone. ¡°Really? Anything?¡± ¡°Of course. I don¡¯t take my word back. The ball is in your court now.¡± Hank crossed his arms and stared at her. ¡°But I just broke up. Getting into a new rtionship so soon is¡­ not that good, I reckon.¡± She had let everything go, but still, she thought it was unfair to both Max and Hank. ¡°Why not? It¡¯s been three months since you guys broke up, not three days. It¡¯s enough time to move on for both of you.¡± Yelena mused over his words. ¡°Besides, you guys have talked it out, and he has let things go, hasn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°I guess so.¡± Yelena thought he had a point. ¡°Then just move forward as well. Date me.¡± Yelena was surprised at how aggressive Hank was, and she was reminded of herself. He¡¯s just like me back then. ¡°O-Okay, then.¡± She couldn¡¯t believe she had gotten herself into another rtionship all of a sudden. ¡°Why did you confess all of a sudden?¡± Hank cocked his eyebrow. ¡°I didn¡¯t confess. You did.¡± Yelena thought back on the conversation. Oh yeah. He did trick me into saying I liked him, but he never confessed. N?velDrama.Org ? content. ¡°So, you mean to say I confessed?¡± I¡¯m the one coerced into this rtionship. Howe I was the one who confessed? Weird. Yelena couldn¡¯t figure out how this happened, while Hank felt delighted. He was annoyed that Yelena courted Max. He didn¡¯t like that she was hesitant when it came to him, but she didn¡¯t even hesitate when it came to Max. So, he came up with a trick to make her confess today. And she fell for it. Hank was a little smug about that. ¡°Fine. We¡¯re already together anyway. I should just let this slide.¡± In the end, Yelena chose to forget about this little episode. ¡°So, what¡¯s this about you going abroad?¡± Hank was annoyed just mentioning that. Elspeth and Max knew, but only he didn¡¯t. Oh, he¡¯s mad. I¡¯d better exin. ¡°Um, the management wants me to shoot a film. It¡¯s in Wohler, so I¡¯ll have to go abroad for about six months.¡± ¡°When are you setting off?¡± ¡°Three-thirty tomorrow.¡± So that¡¯s why Max was unusually nice. Everyone knew Max would undergo training in Wohler. The list of applicants was open to all in thepany. They¡¯ll be going to the same ce, so he wanted her to stay and see if he would get any chance to rekindle old mes. Good thing the girl held on, or he would have taken her back. d I confessed tonight. Hey, maybe I¡¯m a seer. Hank heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°I can¡¯t go with you because I have work to do here, but if you need anything, call me. I¡¯ll put everything on hold and go to you.¡± Yelena felt warm and fuzzy inside. ¡°Oh, it¡¯ll be alright. I¡¯ll call if I ever need anything.¡± She was getting used to relying on Hank for everything. Even if she didn¡¯t need anything, she still would call him. ¡°Good girl. I¡¯ll get you a present.¡± Hank turned the car around and drove toward the city center. ¡°But it¡¯ste. Where are you taking me?¡± Hank smiled. ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡± They eventually arrived at the mall. It was ten at night, but the mall was still bright and alive. It was open 24 hours a day, after all. Hank led her to a jewelry store and told the staff to get him the limited- edition ring. ¡°Get the ring I told you aboutst time.¡± ¡°Butterfly¡¯s Kiss?¡± The retail assistant smiled. ¡°Yes.¡± Um, he seems to know this ce too well. Yelena¡¯s mind drifted elsewhere. ¡°You used to bring your exes here, didn¡¯t you?¡± How else would he know this ce so well? And he knows their products too. Very suspicious. Chapter 483 Chapter 483 Chapter 483 Perhaps a Daughter Hank rolled his eyes and ignored Yelena. ¡°Here¡¯s the thing you want, boss.¡± Boss? Yelena choked on herself. Man, that was a stupid question I asked. This is his shop. Of course, he knows it well. The retail assistant ced the box on the table and slowly opened the lid, revealing a gleaming diamond ring with butterfly wings on the sides. ¡°Do you like it?¡± Yelena was stupefied. The ring was immactely designed. It¡¯s prettier than Elspeth¡¯stest design. Elspeth sneezed the moment her friend had that thought. ¡°Yeah, I love it.¡± Hank held up the ring and put it over her right middle finger. ¡°Then wear it well. This¡¯ll tell everyone that you have a boyfriend.¡± Yelena blushed. A ring on my right middle finger? That¡¯s not a sign I¡¯m taken. That means I¡¯m engaged. ¡°It¡¯s a bit too early, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°No. You¡¯re my girlfriend.¡± He wore the other ring on his finger. ¡°And don¡¯t take it off. I want to see the ring on your finger when we have a video call every night.¡± Awyer and a bossy boyfriend. Ooh. She teased, ¡°Someone¡¯s bossy.¡± ¡°Only to you.¡± Hank looked at her lovingly. The retail assistant¡¯s jaw dropped. Her boss was known to be aloof and distant, and yet now he was so gentle to a youngdy. Um, you sure I was supposed to hear that little conversation? Things are getting a little awkward. The retail assistant quickly said, ¡°What else do you need, sir?¡± Oh, no. Someone else is here too. This is awkward. ¡°No. Good job. You¡¯ll get a bonus this month.¡± The retail assistant grinned, and she sweetly said, ¡°You have a good eye, sir. Your wife is lovely. The ring is perfect for her.¡± Embarrassed, Yelena tugged on Hank¡¯s shirt, hinting at him to leave. Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. That¡¯s enough for the day. I need to give her some time to process this. So, Hank took her home. The next day, Yelena called Elspeth and said a tearful goodbye. She told her friend to take care and not to miss her too much. Elspeth smiled and cheered her friend up, then they hung up. With Yelena gone, Elspeth had one less friend to speak to. Yelena might be a tad too talkative usually, but Elspeth would miss her when she was gone. However, right now, Elspeth had a pressing matter to tend to¡ªthe deal Haris wanted to strike with her. Must I get a divorce? And why should I believe that my real mother is alright? That thought lingered in her head, but she didn¡¯t know what to do. She was spacing out at work all day, even during the meeting. One of her employees had finished their report, and they asked carefully, ¡°What do you think, Miss Lynwood?¡± It was then they noticed Elspeth spacing out, and they froze. ¡°What did you say? I didn¡¯t get it.¡± The employee was shocked. ¡°Were you spacing out, Miss Lynwood?¡± She never makes that kind of mistake. What¡¯s wrong with her today? Everyone else was shocked as well. Once the meeting was over, everyone came and asked Elspeth if she was fine. They thought she was spacing out because she was sick. Elspeth thanked them for their concern, but she told no one the truth. Harper then knocked on the door and came in on the pretext of handing a file to Elspeth. ¡°You¡¯re a workaholic, Elsie. You wouldn¡¯t have made that kind of mistake, so what happened?¡± Harper ced the file on the table and sat on the couch. Elspeth massaged her forehead. ¡°Maybe I need more rest. I¡¯ve been working a lottely, and it¡¯s exhausting.¡± She was surprised she spaced out today as well. ¡°You couldn¡¯t get any rest after you married Callum? Has he been keeping you up all night?¡± ¡°Shut it. I just lost some sleep.¡± Elspeth thought that was awkward. Keeping me up all night? Is that an innuendo? Harper heaved a sigh and shook his head. ¡°You weren¡¯t like this before, Elspeth. You used to tell me everything. What¡¯s with the secrecy?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not trying to keep things a secret. I just don¡¯t know how to talk about it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m always listening. Just talk it out. I can help.¡± If he insists. He¡¯s just worried. So, Elspeth told him everything. ¡°So, the woman you spent so long searching for wasn¡¯t your real mother?¡± Harper gaped. This is unbelievable. ¡°Yeah, I didn¡¯t believe it at first, but when Ipared Mom¡¯s DNA with mine two days ago, I found something.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Elspeth put on a look of frustration. ¡°She¡¯s rted to me, but not directly.¡± Harper almost choked on himself. ¡°So, your mother might actually be your aunt?¡± ¡°Problem is, I only have one aunt, and she killed herself years ago.¡± Harper knew that. Her aunt was sexually assaulted by Callum¡¯s uncle. She got depressed from that and killed herself. Callum¡¯s uncle was then sent to jail. ¡°Maybe your grandpa has more than two daughters?¡± Harper thought that was possible. ¡°It¡¯s possible. He used to be really handsome. Might have an illegitimate daughter or two.¡± ¡°He might be famous, but he has always been loyal. He never married again after Grandma died.¡± Elspeth rubbed her chin. ¡°Something¡¯s odd.¡± ¡°I can see why you spaced out. I would have taken some days off to think about it.¡± Harper sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll look into it for you. See if I can get some clues.¡± ¡°Sure. Look into it, please.¡± Harper nodded and made small talk, then he left. Elspeth sat on her chair and fell into her thoughts. Illegitimate daughter, huh? That¡¯s the most usible exnation for now. Chapter 484 Chapter 484 Chapter 484 Trick Three days went by in a sh. On the morning of the third day, Elspeth received an anonymous message. ¡®Have you reached a decision? If you have, meet me at the usual ce at five thirty.¡¯ That was Haris¡¯ message, but Elspeth slept in. It was the weekend, anyway. She tossed her phone away and slept until two in the afternoon. Then, she got up and got prepared to meet the old man. Callum was waiting right outside for her. ¡°It¡¯s time, right?¡± Elspeth knew Callum was bothered by the matter as well. ¡°Have youe up with a n?¡± Callum looked into her eyes, a dark light glinting in his gaze. ¡°Not yet. How about you?¡± This was hard to handle for her. Her mother was at stake. She must be careful if she wanted her mother to be safe. That was why she felt restricted. ¡°I won¡¯t agree to it.¡± I spent a lot of effort before I could finally marry her again. I won¡¯t get a divorce just because some prick is threatening us. If I back off now, I¡¯m not a man. ¡°What should we do, then?¡± Elspeth was in a bind. She wanted to see Haris alone. If Callum wasn¡¯t around, Haris might just give her a couple more days to think about it for old time¡¯s sake. Once she found out where her mother was, or at least found out who she was, then everything would be easier. ¡°We¡¯ll kidnap Jasmine,¡± Callum said. The thought itself shocked Elspeth. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not joking?¡± ¡°Yes. He kidnapped your mother, so we¡¯re going after the one he loves the most.¡± It was a simple idea, but that was the best option they had for now. Elspeth hesitated, however. She wouldn¡¯t do anything like that. Most of the time, she would only retaliate when provoked. ¡°I know what you¡¯re worried about. You can be swift to punish, but you¡¯re still kind at your core.¡± Callum narrowed his eyes and patted her head. ¡°I¡¯m here. I¡¯ll do it for you.¡± She teared up. He¡¯s being so gentle and nice. ¡°Why are you so nice to me?¡± I never did anything he liked. Why would he do so much for me and ask for nothing in return? ¡°That¡¯s how love works. I¡¯ll do anything for you.¡± He pinched her cheek and sighed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Leave everything to me.¡± Elspeth put her faith in him. They had a simple breakfast and made out a little, then they made their way to the building. Callum made a call before they went inside, and then he held her hand. They entered the building with Callum looking confident. Haris had been waiting. He was in green traditional attire, and his gray hair was slicked back. He looked warm and weing as he asked, ¡°Have you made a decision?¡± ¡°Yes, but we have our terms.¡± Elspeth said nothing as Callum was in control of the whole situation. ¡°What terms?¡± Haris didn¡¯t expect them to put up any resistance, and his smile froze. Callum looked into the old man¡¯s eyes. ¡°Why should I trust you? How can you prove that you know where her mother is?¡± ¡°Proof?¡± Haris folded his fan shut and mmed it on the table. ¡°The truth is right here. You can choose not to believe it, but if you try to waste my time, then I believe there is no need for any negotiations anymore.¡± Callum shook his head and cocked his eyebrow. ¡°What if we have something you absolutely will want, then?¡± Haris froze, then asked doubtfully, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°The thing you treasure most.¡± It was obvious what he was talking about. Haris turned around, looking dark. ¡°Butler, call Jasmine.¡± The master is getting mad. He asked, ¡°Now?¡± ¡°Now!¡± The butler took his phone out and called Jasmine, but nobody took the call. Panicked, he made more calls, but only silence answered him. ¡°Miss Jasmine is missing, sir. I can¡¯t get through to her.¡± Oh no. He¡¯s getting madder and madder. ¡°I¡¯ll send our men on a search. Calm down, sir.¡± Haris took out his handkerchief and wiped the sweat off his forehead. ¡°Look for her right now. If you can¡¯t find her, all of you are getting it!¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. That was the first time Elspeth saw Haris looking flustered. She was amused. Callum didn¡¯t react, however. He rubbed the cup on the table and calmly said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to look for her.¡± Haris whipped his head around, stoop up, and darted over to Callum. He held Callum¡¯s shoulder hard as his eyes gleamed with fury. ¡°You did it, didn¡¯t you? You kidnapped her! Give her back! If anything happens to her, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Callum was stronger than the old man, naturally, and a slight push was enough to send the old man staggering backward. ¡°Calm down, Old Mr. McGrath.¡± He chuckled and looked at Haris with amusement. ¡°Calm down. I won¡¯t do anything to her, at least for now. And you weren¡¯t that interested in my terms, were you not?¡± Haris did not expect something this underhanded. He knew they would try to find Elspeth¡¯s mother and save her, but he never thought they would resort to kidnapping like him. I underestimated them. ¡°So, this is your term?¡± He took a deep breath and tried his best to stay calm. Chapter 485 Chapter 485 Chapter 485 You Can¡¯t Work With Arthur ¡°Isn¡¯t this condition attractive enough?¡± Indeed, that one condition was enough for Haris to risk his life. Jasmine was the McGrath Family¡¯s only heir. If anything happened to her, their bloodline would end here. Besides, Jasmine and Haris had a close rtionship as she grew up under his care. He had to get her out safely, by hook or by crook. ¡°Great. I¡¯ll release her mom, and you¡¯ll let Jas go.¡± This was the best move for now, as he could no longer execute his original n. Elspeth was ready to agree since this was an equal exchange for her. However, Callum ced a hand on her arm and motioned for her not to agree so quickly. ¡°No. What we want isn¡¯t that simple.¡± Haris thought that they coulde to an agreement with reason and didn¡¯t expect Callum to suddenly change his mind. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°Nothing. It¡¯s just that after some thought, it seems that you¡¯ll benefit more from this than we would, and that¡¯s not quite fair now, isn¡¯t it?¡± Now that Haris knew where Jasmine was. He wasn¡¯t as worked up as he started bargaining calmly. ¡°And what is this benefit?¡± ¡°Jasmine is your granddaughter. You have a close rtionship with her. So, you¡¯ll gain more after this exchange.¡± Elspeth suppressed herughter as she listened to Callum, as he made it seem like that was the case. Even though what he said made sense, something still felt off. It felt like he was haggling in a wet market. ¡°That person is Elspeth¡¯s mother. Why would I gain more from this?¡± Haris felt that Callum was just pulling his leg now. ¡°To Elspeth, that woman is just only a woman who birthed her. They don¡¯t have a close bond. So, it¡¯s up to Elspeth if she wants to save her mother.¡± Callum then diverted the attention to Haris and said, ¡°But, it¡¯s different for you. You both are a true family. Your reaction just now exposed just how important Jasmine is to you.¡± Haris inhaled deeply as he tried to restrain his raging emotions. He didn¡¯t expect Callum to see through him when he had made an effort to hide that fact. If Callum couldn¡¯t be his grandson-inw, he would be the greatest threat to the McGrath Family. The Winthrops would destroy the McGraths because of his feud with Callum sooner orter. Haris had to be careful now as he realized the severe consequences this could lead to. ¡°Then, what do you want me to do?¡± ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m not a greedy person. Just return Elspeth¡¯s mother and promise me that you¡¯ll never work with Arthur again. Of course, you¡¯ll have to sign a contract with me for the second condition just in case you decide to go back on your word.¡± Elspeth¡¯s eyes widened in shock. At first, she thought that Callum wanted to gain something from this. But she didn¡¯t think that he just wanted to stop the McGrath Family from working with Arthur. This was something she had never thought of. Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Elspeth turned her head to look at Callum being his confident self and felt a sense of admiration for him. This was probably the reason she liked him. He was always confident while he had contingency ns in ce despite being several steps ahead of his opponents. Maybe she had apetency kink, especially since he was scarily calm and collected even when faced with adversity. His entire being was a fatal attraction to her. ¡°Why this condition?¡± Callum answered calmly, ¡°This is just my personal preference. You can refuse, but you won¡¯t get what you want.¡± ¡°You!¡± It was apparent that Callum was threatening Haris. If Haris disagreed with his conditions, Callum would not let Jasmine go. Haris was so infuriated that his restraint crumbled as he snorted, ¡°You punk. You¡¯re more cunning than I am.¡± ¡°Thank you for thepliment. I just like to n ahead.¡± Then, Haris pondered on the deal. Arthur was indeed a guy with brains. Regardless, he wasn¡¯t on the same level as Callum. It wasn¡¯t worth it to cross Callum for Arthur. Besides, Callum only said that he couldn¡¯t work with Arthur. He didn¡¯t say that they couldn¡¯t chat about this setback over tea. He just needed to be careful and take advantage of this loophole. Haris thought to himself and nodded with conviction. ¡°Okay. It¡¯s a deal.¡± ¡°Then, let¡¯s sign the contract.¡± Callum took out a contract from his bag like it was magic. ¡°I¡¯ve drafted the contract. You just need to go through it and sign it,¡± he said before sliding the contract toward Haris. He wasn¡¯t going to give Haris a chance to pipe up or regret his decision now. Haris felt that he was about to explode as his blood pressure rose to dangerous levels. Besides, he was already taking medication for his high cholesterol, so this was just adding salt to the wound. He initially thought that this was an easy deal. He just needed to return Elspeth¡¯s mother and then think of a way to weasel out of this. That was the only reason he agreed so confidently just now. He assumed that it didn¡¯t matter howpetent Callum was; he couldn¡¯t very well have prepared a contract beforehand. But, he still did! Haris looked at the contract andughed awkwardly, ¡°There¡¯s no pen¡­¡± Callum realized his blunder and whisked out a pen from his bag. ¡°I almost forgot. You don¡¯t carry a pen with you when you¡¯re out. It¡¯s alright. I have one.¡± Haris was now stuck on the fence as he clutched the pen and paper in his hands. Finally, he was left with no other options as he could only pick up the pen and sign his name with a flourish. Damn it! ¡°Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. McGrath. I¡¯ll take the contract back now. I hope you can stay true to your words.¡± Callum carefully inspected the contract and ced it in his bag after he was sure there was nothing wrong with it. ¡°As for Jasmine, you¡¯ll need toe to the Winthrop Residence to pick her up. I hope you can bring Elspeth¡¯s mother along when you do.¡± Haris wasn¡¯t in a good mood as he was just tricked and demanded impatiently, ¡°When can I pick her up?¡± ¡°Well, that depends on how eager you are to see your granddaughter. If you want to see her soon, you cane today. Otherwise, you want toeter. The Winthrops can afford her meals for the time being.¡± Elspeth snorted at how shamelessly Callum spoke. She couldn¡¯t believe he could actually be so wicked. If Haris¡¯ blood weren¡¯t boiling earlier, it would definitely be close to evaporating if it were possible. ¡°I¡¯lle by tonight.¡± Then, Haris stood up and stomped away. The butler followed obediently behind him and shot daggers at Elspeth and Callum when he passed by. Nheless, Elspeth did her best to quell herughter when they were still within her line of sight. Once she was certain that they were well and truly gone, only then did sheugh her heart out. Chapter 486 Chapter 486 Chapter 486 Head Over Heels ¡°I bet you didn¡¯t get to see Haris¡¯ expression. He was so angry.¡± Elspeth was almost out of breath from laughter. ¡°Are you in a better mood now?¡± Callum¡¯s voice softened considerably when he was talking to her. ¡°Of course, I am.¡± She rose to her feet and stretched. ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything today, but not only did I watch a good drama for free, but I also got a victory out of it.¡± It would be nice if every day could be as easy as it was today. It was as if he had seen through her thoughts that a hint of warmth appeared from within his usually cold and stern gaze. ¡°I¡¯ll cover for you whenever you feel like cking off from now on.¡± She raised her eyebrows upon hearing that, and her gaze turned yful. ¡°Is this what married life is supposed to be like?¡± she teased. ¡°Well, I can make you this happy every day.¡± His sudden confession caught her off guard, and for a moment, she felt the innocent feeling that would only stem from the start of a new romance. Instead, she blushed and chided him coquettishly, ¡°Stop it! We¡¯re still outside!¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s just the two of us here.¡± Callum had long noticed it¡ªwhile Elspeth was a confident and fearless woman, she became coy and bashful when it came to matters of love and intimacy. This sense of contrast made her even more attractive to him. ¡°Didn¡¯t Haris say he¡¯s going to pick Jasmine up soon? We should get going.¡± She tugged at the corner of his clothes, signaling him to go home early. Callum couldn¡¯t help but feel a hint of regret that he could not tease her any longer, especially when he was treated to the sight of her flushed face¡­ It only fueled his desire to tease her more. However, he did not expect her to be so shy that she could not stand any teasing. Forget it. I¡¯ll let her off the hook this time. So, he pinched the tip of her nose and nodded lovingly. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± Because Haris had to return to the McGrath Residence to pick up someone else, there was still some time left. So, Elspeth and Callum arrived at the Winthrop Residence before he did. She actually expected Callum to knock Jasmine unconscious and stuff her in a dark basement. She honestly did not expect that he would lock Jasmine in the room and let her stay there. When Elspeth pushed the door and entered, Jasmine was still trying to pick the lock. So, Jasmine was understandably stunned when she saw the door suddenly open. ¡°It¡¯s you? Did you kidnap me here?¡± Jasmine was still unwilling to me the real culprit, Callum, for kidnapping her. Elspeth felt a little speechless when she heard her spiteful remarks. She did not think Jasmine was so head over heels for Callum. ¡°Why¡¯d you say that?¡± Jasmine knew nothing of the kidnapping of Elspeth¡¯s mother, and Haris promised not to tell Jasmine about the mother. Therefore, Jasmine was obviously taken aback when she heard Elspeth questioning her. When she thought about it, it indeed seemed that Elspeth had no reason to kidnap her. ¡°Then, why am I here?¡± Jasmine had never been to the Winthrop Residence and was blindfolded on the way there, so she could not observe the surrounding environment. She was still clueless as to where she was. Thus, she automatically assumed that it was Elspeth who kidnapped her the moment she saw the woman entering the room. ¡°It was me who brought you here.¡± Callum was busy with something else earlier and had only just arrived. When Jasmine saw his eyes, which were as calm as stagnant water, she suddenly felt a sense of unfamiliarity. Previously, there was still a hint of warmth, though not affection, in Callum¡¯s eyes when he looked at her. But now, there was only pure, undisguised loathing. Jasmine felt a bit at a loss and stuttered out, ¡°Callum, c-can you tell me why you brought me here?¡± Even at this point, she was wondering if Callum had finally realized his feelings for her and chose a somewhat violent way to express them. Unfortunately, the fact that Elspeth was standing right next to him made her thoughts waver. How can this be possible? The whole of Damoria knows how Callum adores Elspeth. Jasmine lowered her head at that thought to hide the disappointment in her eyes. ¡°Naturally, it¡¯s because your grandfather also kidnapped our people.¡± ¡°Grandfather? How is he? Is he okay?¡± Jasmine panicked the moment her grandfather was mentioned and asked anxiously. Although she was usually proud and aloof like a little swan, she had a sincere affection for her grandfather. She grew up with him ever since she was young and had the best rtionship with him in the whole McGrath Family. Her grandfather also doted on her the most and always strived to give her the best the world had to offer. ¡°He¡¯s fine at the moment. You should be worried about yourself.¡± Jasmine firmly shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. You wouldn¡¯t do anything untoward to me. After all, we spent those months together and had feelings for each other.¡± ¡°Who told you that I had feelings for you?¡± Callum¡¯s cold words pierced her heart like a knife, and she widened her eyes in disbelief. ¡°What did you just say? You didn¡¯t have any feelings for me?¡± That¡¯s not true. That cannot be true! I won¡¯t believe any of this! ¡°Well, you¡¯re right. I did have feelings for you, but mostly pity and disgust.¡± Disgust¡­ The word wholly shattered Jasmine¡¯s psychological defenses. Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes, and she started sobbing. ¡°Callum, you can¡¯t do this to me. We spent so much time together, and I had only treated you sincerely. You cannot deny your feelings to me. You just can¡¯t.¡± ¡°Why not? Wasn¡¯t that how you treated Elspeth as well? You used so many despicable methods to harm her. Have you ever thought of her feelings too? Elspeth remained a spectator when Callum and Jasmine were conversing, and when they mentioned her name, she was reminded of the past, and she only felt pity for Jasmine. No sympathy whatsoever. What Callum said was right. Why bother to feel sorry for someone who had hurt her before? Jasmine was merely reaping what she had sown. ¡°But it was you who came searching for me back then.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. It was me. But do you remember? I proposed that I give up 30% of the Winthrop Group¡¯s shares in exchange for Elspeth¡¯s health, but you rejected me. You even threatened me to be in a rtionship with you as a condition.¡± Even though it was the second time she had heard about the proposed condition, she still could not help but gasp in shock. After all, his proposal was akin to selling the Winthrop Group. She could not ept the reality and instantly recalled that day he told her about his condition. Indeed, she threatened him to be with her. But she was taking a gamble; she thought she could make him develop feelings for her over time, and she took the risk. ¡°So, we were just using each other. There¡¯s no need for you to act so loving,¡± Callum¡¯s words pierced right through her heart, which caused it to go stone cold.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Chapter 487 Chapter 487 Chapter 487 Say I Love You What Callum meant was that it was her who didn¡¯t want to go, and he had nothing to do with it. Jasmine couldn¡¯t respond anymore as she kept sobbing into her hands. ¡°Okay, don¡¯t cry. Your grandpa wille and pick you up in a second.¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but pity her as she watched on from the side. So, she took out tissues and passed them to the crying woman before her. Jasmine immediately pped her hand away. ¡°I don¡¯t need your help.¡± Callum looked at her and said coldly, ¡°I knew it. I should¡¯ve beaten you unconscious before I tied you up.¡± Jasmine didn¡¯t know how to feel after listening to his heartless words. Nheless, he didn¡¯t care what she thought as he had never liked her. He would even go as far as to say that he found her an utter eyesore. So, he tugged on Elspeth¡¯s hand gently and led her away. There wasn¡¯t a need to lock the door. Jasmine would be leaving soon anyway. Just as expected, Haris sent someone to pick Jasmine up about half an hourter. Callum was told to make the exchange at the same time, so the man pushed a woman over to him. The woman¡¯s hair was messy and knotted. Her face was also scraped up and dirty. If he hadn¡¯t looked at her properly, he would¡¯ve thought she was just a beggar that Haris found on the streets. She also smelled awful. She gave off a pungent scent of mothballs and sweat as if she hadn¡¯t showered in months. Everyone covered their noses and frowned at the repulsive woman before them. ¡°Mr. McGrath wouldn¡¯t trick me, would he?¡± Callum moved further and sized the woman up and down in front of him. The butler stood there and watched Callum inspect the woman before him. Finally, he snorted disgruntledly and huffed, ¡°My master would never try that.¡± T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Then, please tell Mr. McGrath that if the woman in front of us here isn¡¯t Elspeth¡¯s biological mother, I have many ways to torture Jasmine.¡± The butler panicked, and his heart trembled in fear when he heard the other man¡¯s arrogant and unscrupulous words. He didn¡¯t know what it was, but those wordsing from that man were undeniably scary. He felt as if the man in front of him actually had the bite to back up his bark. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. As long as this is the person I want, then nothing will happen to Jasmine.¡± Callum soothed the butler¡¯s ruffled feathers when he noticed the tense line of the other man¡¯s shoulders. ¡°In that case, where is mydy?¡± Callum nced at the door, and his assistant immediately understood. He went upstairs and knocked on the door lightly. ¡°Miss McGrath, your family is here to take you home.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me, I know.¡± Jasmine hesitated for a bit before walking out. Her eyes were swollen, and she barely maintained herposure. The butler¡¯s heart broke when he saw the disheveled state of his youngdy. He immediately scrutinized her with concern, walking around her in circles. After he was confident that she was unharmed, he felt relieved. ¡°Miss, thank God you¡¯re fine. Let¡¯s not waste time on this man any longer.¡± Jasmine red at Elspeth viciously before turning around and fidgeting with the hem of her skirt. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°All right.¡± the butler nodded obediently and followed her out. After the two annoyances left, Elspeth walked towards the filthy woman and spoke softly, ¡°Mrs. Joneson, why don¡¯t you sit down?¡± Yet, they waited and waited, but it seemed as though the woman had no intentions to speak, let alone sit down. ¡°Mrs. Joneson, are you having trouble hearing?¡± Regardless, judging by the state of this poor woman, she had obviously suffered a long time. This meant her hearing was also damaged, which was to be expected. The longer Elspeth looked at this woman, the more upset and frustrated she felt. If this woman were really her biological mother, then she would be distressed by the suffering she had experienced over the years. She was also the daughter of the Jonesons. Yet, Helen was showered with all the love at home while she was forced to suffer outside. What a joke. Elspeth stretched out her hand and tried to help the woman sit on the couch, but the woman immediately fought her off. ¡°It¡¯s okay, just sit down. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Elspeth thought she was just terrified, but the woman suddenly whispered, ¡°I¡¯m too dirty; I haven¡¯t showered.¡± It turned out that she was worried that the filth on her body would dirty the couch. Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but feel more certain that this woman in front of her might really be her biological mother. The self-deprecating tone and her defensiveness didn¡¯t seem to be an act. Instead, she oozed fear and trepidation with every move. ¡°It¡¯s all right, just sit and rest for a while. I¡¯ll arrange a bath for youter.¡± The woman paused for a second, then suggested reluctantly, ¡°Why don¡¯t I shower now? Please prepare a set of clothes for me¡­¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Elspeth was a professional designer. So, she only needed a few good looks to determine what size clothes the woman wore. The woman was slender and looked like her. Then, Elspeth led the woman to the bathroom and brought out a set of clothes her size. Elspeth even ced them on the stool next to the woman thoughtfully. ¡°You can clean yourself up here. Call me if you need me.¡± The woman nodded and said tremulously, ¡°Thank you, little girl. Thank you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± When the woman turned around, Elspeth quietly stretched out her fingers and pulled a single strand of hair off her shoulder. Elspeth quickly pulled her hand away and went to find Callum. ¡°How was it?¡± Callum asked her, looking at her solemn expression. ¡°I think she might actually be my biological mother,¡± Elspeth said, lifting the strand of hair in her hand. ¡°I got this from her body. So, let¡¯s get to the bottom of this quickly and wait for the DNA test results.¡± Callum admired her meticulous nature as he asked, ¡°How about letting her live at the Winthrop Residence for the moment?¡± If this woman were indeed her biological mother, allowing her to live elsewhere would be horrible. Besides, she was more likely to be bullied by people like Arthur. Elspeth had considered the consequences of these actions, but before they came to a conclusion, she had decided that the safest choice she could make was to let that woman stay with her momentarily. ¡°Is that okay?¡± Callum nodded. ¡°Of course. If she¡¯s your mother, then she¡¯s my mother. So, it won¡¯t be odd for her to live with us.¡± Elspeth felt a gush of warmth for his thoughtfulness, and she murmured bashfully, ¡°Thank you, Callum.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t thank me, say I love you instead.¡± She didn¡¯t think that he still had a mind to flirt with her right now. So, she couldn¡¯t help but flush crimson as she rewarded him with a light punch. The woman took a very quick shower, probably due to uneasiness. When she walked over wearing Elspeth¡¯s clothes, Elspeth stood stock still as she inhaled sharply to swallow her distress. Besides the apparent age difference, this woman looked exactly like her! Chapter 488 Chapter 488 Chapter 488 Carved Out Of the Same Mold Elspeth felt as if there was no need for a stupid DNA test. She could immediately tell that this person right before her was her birth mother. ¡°Madam, you¡­¡± Elspeth blurted, utterly overwhelmed by a tidal wave of emotions. Before this, Elspeth only had a vague nce at Helen. Still, she felt a connection with the poor woman. She already knew that there were definitely some simrities between them, so she was convinced that Helen was her mother. After all, they had the same blood and a simr face, so there was no room for doubt. And now, the woman in front of her looked as if she was carved out of the same mold as Elspeth! ¡°Madam, what¡¯s your name?¡± The woman in front of her couldn¡¯t control her emotions any longer, and her tears fell from her eyes. ¡°Helia Joneson.¡± When Elspeth heard her name, she wasn¡¯t just shocked. The reveal was so out of this world that she froze in utter astonishment. Helia Joneson? Wasn¡¯t she the aunt who jumped off a building and died? ¡°Are you sure? Didn¡¯t youmit suicide decades ago?¡± Right now, Elspeth couldn¡¯t even bother to word her sentence nicely as she all but pressed for answers. ¡°I didmit suicide more than 20 years ago, but I didn¡¯t die.¡± Helia sighed. ¡°The thing is¡­¡± Finally, Helia sat on the couch and opened up to the couple about what happened to her in detail. Twenty-five years ago, Helia had always been a meek girl. She seldom left the Joneson Residence. Her elder sister Helen had always been the one dazzling everyone else. She was beautiful, confident, and generous. But, above all that, she was also loved by many. Although Helia wasn¡¯t inferior appearance-wise, she had none of the courage her sister possessed. Therefore, as time passed by, she became more introverted and was almost like a hidden princess from ancient times. She would spend most of her time tending to flowers, writing poems, and painting. She had almost no contact with the outside world. Therefore, she didn¡¯t have any contact with the opposite sex at all. By the age of twenty-three, Helen suddenly insisted on marrying a poor sculptor, Davion Lynwood. He was Elspeth¡¯s adoptive father. After Michael learned about this, he was furious and locked Helen at home. He refused to let her out to meet Davion. In Michael¡¯s heart, his eldest daughter was his most promising child. He hoped that his daughter would live well by marrying a man with great character and talent who hailed from a prestigious family background. Someone who could give her the best the world could offer, a man who had everything and would do anything for her. Finally, he gave Davion an ultimatum. As long as Davion could give a total of 300 million dors as a bridal price, Michael would bless their union. However, Davion was just a small sculptor. Although he was somewhat famous, he was still young. Without the fame and acim of those renowned sculptors, how could those sculptures actually sell well? So, on that fateful day, the two lovebirds were forcibly separated. At that time, Theodore Winthrop from Damoria came over to ask for her hand in marriage. Theodore¡¯s father was very famous at the time, be it in Damoria or ydal. It was said that all the young girls were interested in him and would do anything to marry him. Michael was delighted with his new son-inw, so he immediately arranged a marriage with Helen. In order to avoid any mishaps from happening, he even set the date of their marriage to be over by the month¡¯s end. Unfortunately, on the night of the wedding, Helen and Davion had nned to elope. There was also another person involved in the n, and it was none other than Helia, who had never done anything out of line. ¡°At the time, I saw that my sister was so insistent on marrying her lover that she slowly wasted away as the days went by. So, I helped them n an escape. Well, you could say that I was the key piece for their entire n to work.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t expect that the escape from marriage had something to do with Helia. ¡°What happened next?¡± ¡°After I covered their escape, I used a shortcut to return. There were no cameras on that road, so even if I loitered about, no one would know that I had left.¡± Helia recalled the memory as she sighed with feeling. ¡°Actually, I wasn¡¯t afraid of getting discovered. If I got discovered, it would just be an internal issue. I just wanted to buy them more time so they could escape as far as possible without being discovered. It was just a pity that I met someone on the way back.¡± As soon as she said that, Elspeth knew what wasing next. In order to avoid being seen, Helia chose a road no one went to. At the time, the road was pitch ck, and Helia vaguely remembered the heavy breathing of someone whom she thought was just a servant passing by and didn¡¯t pay any mind to it at all. She didn¡¯t realize that the person in front of her wasn¡¯t a servant but a drunken man until she walked by the person and a strong smell of alcohol hit her in the face. She had always been afraid of the opposite sex, so she tried to minimize her presence as she all but pressed herself against the wall in order to avoid the man. The road was narrow. Unfortunately, it was narrow enough for two people to barely pass by each other. When Helia walked by, the man suddenly grabbed her wrist. ¡°Tell me, am I really not worthy enough for Helen?¡± Under the moonlight, she could vaguely see the man¡¯s face. The man was definitely handsome, but he had an aura that made her feel ufortable. It was as though all her senses were screaming for her to flee. Several people had beening to the house in the past few days, and she had seen this person before. He should be from the Winthrop family. ¡°I don¡¯t know, don¡¯t ask me.¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Helia took a few steps back and tried to break free from his hold. It was a pity that the moonlight shone on her face, and the man immediately caught sight of Helia¡¯s face. ¡°Helen. It¡¯s really you, Helen¡­¡± As the man stared at the woman in front of him, the fanatical look in his eyes grew. ¡°I¡¯m not Helen. You¡¯ve got the wrong person.¡± For some reason, she could feel something off about this man as a terrible premonition rose in her heart. ¡°No, you look exactly like her. You¡¯re definitely Helen. I told you, I¡¯m the one who loves you the most. Don¡¯t marry my brother. Marry me instead, okay?¡± The man hugged her tightly, and the smell of alcohol was starting to make her dizzy. ¡°Don¡¯t do this. I¡¯m really not Helen,¡± Helia sensed danger and tried to shove him away, but it was to no avail. ¡°Helen, as long as I get you, you¡¯ll always be with me, right?¡± As soon as those words left the man¡¯s mouth, they gave life to the malicious thoughts in his mind. At this point, he wasn¡¯t just drunkenly slurring his intentions as he had even started tearing off her clothes. Helia truly regretted her actions that day. She shouldn¡¯t have chosen such a secluded path at that time. If she hadn¡¯t, she wouldn¡¯t have met such a person. She wouldn¡¯t have fallen into such a situation. ¡°Helen, I love you the most¡­¡± Chapter 489 Chapter 489 Chapter 489 Are They Rted by Blood? There had always been a disparity in strength between men and women, and with Helia¡¯s fragile body, she was helpless and bullied. Tears flowed down her face, tasting salty and bitter at the corners of her mouth. ¡°Don¡¯t do this¡­¡± But how would someone who was drunk pay attention to such things? He pinned Helia to the ground and began to have his way with her. Unfortunately, when he pinned her down, her head hit the ground and a wave of dizziness hit her. She passed out directly. When she woke up again, she felt pain in her lower body and found herself lying in the hospital, feeling particrly weak. Her family was standing around her. Michael looked at her with tears in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Helia¡­¡± Helia could not bear this great sorrow, but she was getting calmer. Only her eyes were red. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Dad. It¡¯s not your fault.¡± How could it not be his fault? When Helia was discovered, she only had one covering and was almost entirely naked. Fortunately, the person who found her was a woman who knew her. When she saw what had happened to Helia, she wrapped the woman in a nket before calling for help. Michael saw this scene and was stunned. His eldest daughter, Helena, eloped and his second daughter, Helia, was taken against her will. For him, this was a fatal blow. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Helia. I will seek justice for you.¡± A naked man was lying at the scene, and Michael immediately recognized him as Theodore¡¯s younger brother. ¡°You beast!¡± Michael kicked the man fiercely. When the man woke up from his drunken stupor and saw the situation before him, he was also at a loss. Later, Michael had him arrested and detained in the basement. When Helena eloped, the Joneson Family became aughingstock throughout ydal. The marriage between the Jonesons and Winthrops was naturally called off. When Theodore learned that Helena had eloped, he was utterly disappointed. Then, when he found out what his younger brother had done to Helia, he was even more devastated. His younger brother had always been a scoundrel, but he didn¡¯t expect him to be such a beast and do such a despicable thing while drunk. Theodore had a good rtionship with his younger brother since childhood, and his mother was crying and screaming in fear that her son would go to jail. At this time, she naturally wanted to find a way to save him. To obtain Michael¡¯s forgiveness, Theodore had to give up his marriage ande to the Joneson Residence to apologize. Michael¡¯s contempt for Theodore grew deeper as he looked at the son-inw, whom he had initially been delighted with, helping a man who had defiled his daughter. ¡°What¡¯s done is done. No matter what you say, I will still sue him. Let¡¯s meet in court.¡± Michael vowed to himself, I will send that b*stard who defiled my daughter to jail even if I have to use my connections! ¡°Old Mr. Joneson, our families have a close rtionship. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s wise for you to be so harsh on us¡­¡± Theodore was at a disadvantage, so he could only exin gently. ¡°Close rtionship? What are you talking about?¡± Michael found it ridiculous for Theodore to say these words. ¡°Your brother defiled my daughter. Shouldn¡¯t youe and apologize to me instead? Why talk about our families¡¯ rtionship?¡± Michael tried his best to suppress his anger so he wouldn¡¯t say anything too harsh and sarcastic. ¡°But¡ª¡± Theodore wanted to continue exining but, at this time, a panicked person suddenly rushed into the hall. ¡°Sir, Miss Helia has jumped off the building!¡± Those words almost made Michael faint. ¡°What did you say? She jumped off the building?¡± ¡°Yes! Miss Helia jumped off the building and has already been taken to the hospital.¡± At this point, Michael had lost all reason and he growled mercilessly, ¡°I have decided to sue him. Not only that, but I also want him to never get out of jail!¡± With that, he left in a hurry and rushed to the hospital. Unfortunately, by the time he arrived at the hospital, the notice of critical illness had already been issued. Michael¡¯s gaze turned ck when looking at the patient with no signs of life. After signing his name, he fainted. The story had be very absurd at this point, prompting Elspeth to ask, ¡°What happenedter? How did you avoid being buried alive?¡± Helia frowned slightly. ¡°I don¡¯t know either. When I woke up, I was already abroad. ording to the news, the Joneson Family had already cremated the body, and even the funeral had been arranged.¡± ¡°Abroad? Why did you go abroad?¡± She shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know either. It¡¯s been so many years and I still haven¡¯t found the reason. Butter, I realized I was indeed restricted in the Joneson Family and had been defiled there. My reputation was already ruined, so I decided to live here incognito instead of going back to revive myself. That¡¯s why I choose to live abroad alone.¡± Later on, she became pregnant and gave birth to a daughter, Elspeth. It was challenging for a woman to raise a child abroad, so she could only take Elspeth back to Chars. At this point, she secretly contacted her sister, Helena, and sought her help. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Helena had naturally heard about what had happened during this time and felt guilty, moved, and a little bit heartbroken for her. Grover, Helena¡¯s husband, was also moved, so they quickly agreed to help and promised to treat Elspeth as their daughter. Then, Helia left Chars without any worries and went abroad. After listening to these stories, Elspeth understood the situation and could onlyfort Helia by saying, ¡°It¡¯s okay, Aunt¡­ No¡ªMom, don¡¯t be too sad.¡± When Helia heard Elspeth call her a mother, her eyes became red with tears. ¡°Elspeth, my good child. I¡¯m sorry for what I¡¯ve done to you.¡± Twenty-five yearster, the two met again after twists and turns, which sounded challenging but ultimately beautiful. Elspeth was also quite happy, but when she mentioned Helena and learned that she had passed away, Helia couldn¡¯t help but cry. ¡°Don¡¯t cry. Although my mom is no longer with us, she is happy and can reunite with my father. It¡¯s better this way.¡± At this moment, Elspeth could only console herself and Helia with those words. Helia nodded and wiped her tears with a tissue. ¡°Indeed. They were close, so it¡¯s good for them to be reunited now.¡± While some were happy, others were sad. Elspeth turned her head to look at Callum, who had a solemn expression. Her heart skipped a beat as a terrifying thought slowly brewed. Are Callum and I¡­ rted by blood?! Chapter 490 Chapter 490 Chapter 490 Go Get a Divorce The moment the idea urred to her, even Elspeth couldn¡¯t keep a straight face. Noticing Callum¡¯s expression had darkened, she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Are you all right?¡± ¡°How can I be all right?¡± Callum countered as his expression turned thunderous. If what Helia told them was true, then Elspeth and he might be cousins. The world has gone mad. ¡°By the way, Elsie, is he your boyfriend?¡± Helia was overjoyed to reunite with her daughter. She wasn¡¯t aware of the situation going on. Even though Elspeth was having difficulty keeping her emotions from showing on her face, she nodded nevertheless. ¡°Nice to meet you, young man. What¡¯s your name?¡± At learning the man was her daughter¡¯s boyfriend, Helia smiled wildly. ¡°Nice to meet you too, Miss Joneson. I¡¯m Callum Winthrop.¡± Her smile froze at his introduction. ¡°Did you say ¡®Winthrop¡¯?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Miss Joneson. I¡¯m the nephew of the man who assaulted you many years ago.¡± The smile vanished from her face in an instant. As Callum said, it was years ago. The ripples in her heart at the moment had nothing to do with the anguish of being assaulted many years ago but with the pain to see Elspeth dating such a man. Even though Callum wasn¡¯t the mastermind of the whole thing, Helia still remembered herself being extremely disgusted by the way the Winthrop Family reacted to it. She couldn¡¯t entrust her daughter to a man born in such a family. Besides, if Elspeth¡¯s biological father was the man who assaulted Helia years ago, Elspeth would be Callum¡¯s cousin. ¡°How long have you been together? Which stage of rtionship are you in?¡± Don¡¯t tell me she¡¯s pregnant. Helia shifted her gaze to Elspeth¡¯s belly. Her daughter had a t stomach, showing no signs of pregnancy. Elspeth was both shy and embarrassed at her mother¡¯s assumption. ¡°Mom, we haven¡¯t reached the home base.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d to hear that. Now that you know what happened in the past and that the both of you might be cousins, you need to break up right now. I see no reason for such a ridiculous thing to continue.¡± Elspeth parted her lips to counter that, but the words got stuck on her tongue as she realized the right words didn¡¯t exist. ¡°What is it? You don¡¯t want to break up, do you?¡± She shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s not about that. I¡¯m just not ready to do it.¡± Furthermore, Elspeth knew that if she and Callum continued to be together at this point, it would only make the situation very absurd. She turned to the side and looked at Callum, whose expression mirrored hers. ¡°But now we have a bigger problem.¡± ¡°I think nothing can be worse than this.¡± Helia tried her best to keep calm and stay strong, so she wouldn¡¯t freak out at Elspeth¡¯s announcement. ¡°We are married.¡± Helia gasped in disbelief. ¡°What? You¡¯re married?¡± She thought Callum and Elspeth were only seeing each other. Thus, they could simply break up and no particr harm was done. It was indeed a surprise to learn they were now husband and wife instead of boyfriend and girlfriend. ¡°If so, hurry up and get a divorce!¡± Helia urged, but the pair remained seated on the couch. Their hesitation and reluctance hit home for Helia even if she couldn¡¯t quite pin her feelings down. ¡°Elspeth, you have to understand that even though the Winthrops hurt me, I would never force my thoughts upon you and hold you back from finding love. However, what worries me is you two may be rted by blood. The rtionship itself is outrageous. Do you understand?¡± She¡¯s right. Helia¡¯s words hit a sore spot and Elspeth could taste the bile rising in her throat. ¡°I understand, Mom. I get what you mean.¡± ¡°I believe both you and Callum can see the reason behind my words, and you are well aware of what to do. Please, just do what I ask, will you?¡± Helia was genuine about hoping for a better life for Elspeth. Even though she was absent in Elspeth¡¯s life before, as Elspeth¡¯s mother, she still hoped Elspeth could live a happy future. Once the blood rtion between Callum and Elspeth was found out by the others, Helia knew Elspeth would struggle for the rest of her life as invective and ridicule followed her everywhere. Elspeth sat on the couch, trying to gather her thoughts. After a while, she rose to her feet and tugged on Callum¡¯s hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Even at this point, she still couldn¡¯t believe the fact that she might be Callum¡¯s cousin. Callum didn¡¯t let the emotions linger on his face, but she could tell he was stressed. When he noticed the disappointment on her face, he could only give her a weak smile. ¡°I don¡¯t think the City Hall operates on weekends.¡± Somehow, the idea that they wouldn¡¯t be separated right away greatly relieved Elspeth. ¡°Then, you should find a time and go there together.¡± Most times, Helia would handle things with a soft approach. However, she was quite assertive and refused to back down from this matter. ¡°Mom, you don¡¯t have to worry. We know exactly what to do, hmm?¡± Elspethforted her mother in a gentle tone. After all, the idea of Elspeth staying with the Winthrop Family alone was enough to bring back the bad memories to Helia. ¡°Are you living together?¡± Something isn¡¯t right. How have they not carried out the final act if they¡¯re married? ¡°We are sleeping in different rooms. Miss Joneson, you can rest assured. I won¡¯t make a move on Elspeth without her permission. The worst thing has yet to happen,¡± Callum exined in a serious tone. His words provided Helia with an opportunity to see him in a new light. After all, most men gave in to temptation easily. However, he was different as he chose to respect Elspeth¡¯s wishes. Without a doubt, he was a man whom one could entrust the rest of their life with. Truth was, Helia felt sorry for them. If they aren¡¯t rtives, they won¡¯t face such a dilemma in the first ce. ¡°Since you are sensible, I¡¯ll stop nagging. I believe you know what is best for you.¡± She couldn¡¯t hide the bitterness in her tone. The discussion ended there as Elspeth changed the topic to ease the mood. ¡°How did youe across the McGrath Family?¡± Helia sighed deeply. ¡°At first, I was doing just fine in another country. One day, a local thug had his eye on me and wanted me to marry him. At that time, almost everyone knew I lived alone. Thus, I was moving away to avoid him. However, he learned it from somebody, so he barged into my house and forced himself on me.¡± She was sharing another tragic story, but Elspeth could tell there was more than that. ¡°I grabbed the vase from the side and smashed him in the head, but I identally killed him with that. Even though I was afraid, I turned myself in. Due to it being an act of self-defense and I surrendered voluntarily, I was sentenced to fifteen years of imprisonment.¡± T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. Elspeth could never imagine such a weak woman like Helia would toughen up one day. After hearing Helia¡¯s story, she had mixed feelings as she was both upset that Helia had to suffer many mishaps in life and felt bad for the woman for being unable to settle down in one ce. ¡°What happened after you got out of jail?¡± Chapter 491 Chapter 491 Chapter 491 I Have Seen You Before ¡°At first, everything was fine after I got released from prison. I got myself a normal job. Even though I didn¡¯t get paid much, it was enough to sustain my day-to-day expenses. Somehow, the thug¡¯s family managed to find me and they ckmailed me to pay them every month. As I disobeyed them, they found a way to ruin my life. Atst, I was dismissed and had to take a job as a sanitation worker. They finally decided to leave me alone because I looked miserable in their eyes.¡± Elspeth studied every detail of Helia¡¯s face. Even though she¡¯s aged, she¡¯s still as beautiful as ever. However, she couldn¡¯t help but sigh as she remembered Helia had to endure all the hardships in her life. ¡°One day, I came across a person on the street. He took me by surprise and knocked me out. After that, I woke up to find myself on an operating table without clothes on.¡± The story continued, and Elspeth couldn¡¯t pin down the feeling that was wrenching her heart. ¡°They said I have special blood and it could be used in different experiments. I was scared, so I tried my best to run away, but I always got caught and beaten up by them. However, they didn¡¯t experiment on me. Instead, they locked me up with the excuse of making the most of my value.¡± Elspeth¡¯s gaze was filled with iciness when she heard that. By making the most of her value, they must have thought to use her to drag me down because they found that we look alike. ¡°Truth be told, Elspeth, I have seen you before.¡± She what? Elspeth couldn¡¯t help her curiosity. She had a strange feeling that she also found Helia familiar. ¡°And where was that?¡± ording to Elspeth¡¯s memory, her recent trip abroad was half a year ago. Half a year ago, she and Arthur had to travel abroad to treat Helena¡¯s disease. ¡°It was back when I was a sanitation worker in another country. Once, you were visiting the red-light district. I tried to stop you, but you headed there without looking back.¡± Memories flooded Elspeth¡¯s mind at the clues. Helia was right. Elspeth had to disguise herself and hide in the red-light district to get what she wanted. She indeed came across a female sanitation worker on the way, and the woman warned her to stay away from the area. At that time, she paid the woman¡¯s warning no mind, and the incident eventually slipped her mind. ¡°Did you recognize me right away?¡± Helia¡¯s eyes immediately misted over with tears at the question. ¡°You¡¯re my daughter. Besides, you resemble the younger me. How could I not recognize you? Just one look and I knew you were my daughter.¡± Back then, Helia thought she was imagining things when she saw Elspeth in the middle of work. The second time she saw Elspeth, she finally believed that the daughter who had been on her mind forever was right before her eyes. She would never mistake Elspeth for somebody else. Elspeth is exactly the younger version of me. However, when Helia recalled the things that had happened to her, she was too ashamed to reveal her identity. She didn¡¯t want Elspeth to learn about the existence of her infamous mother, so Helia refrained from approaching Elspeth. Thus, once she learned that Elspeth would visit the red-light district from time to time and always take the route they first met, Helia frequented the ce. When she was cleaning the streets, she would watch Elspeth from afar just to ensure her daughter¡¯s safety. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me anything?¡± If Helia approached her back then, Elspeth swore she would have taken good care of Helia. She wouldn¡¯t have let Helia suffer even more on her own. ¡°I don¡¯t want to disappoint you. You must have expected a better mother. Don¡¯t you think a mother who works as a sanitation worker will only embarrass you?¡± Helia was well aware that she wasn¡¯t good enough to be Elspeth¡¯s mother, so she suppressed the thought and buried it deep. In her opinion, only a woman as elegant and noble as Helena was the best choice as Elspeth¡¯s mother. ¡°It¡¯s not like that. No matter what you did, you¡¯re always my mother. I¡¯ll never look down upon you. Instead, I feel bad about the hardships you had to endure.¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Elspeth gently held Helia¡¯s hand. A glint of warmth shone in her gaze as she murmured, ¡°Now I¡¯m capable of taking care of you. You don¡¯t have to worry about being a burden to me.¡± Helia smiled through tears. ¡°You¡¯re right. You grew up to be an excellent woman. I have nothing to worry about.¡± Elspeth single-handedly established herpany at a young age and her business was thriving. Besides, she was also doing well in other fields. She was more capable than most people of her age. ¡°How about this, once Callum and I divorce, I¡¯ll move out with you.¡± Callum¡¯s eyes dimmed at the suggestion and he asked slowly, ¡°Is the Winthrop Residence not good enough?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about that. It¡¯s just not a good idea.¡± Elspeth worried that Helia would have to relive the bad memories during her stay. After all, Helia was frail, and staying in such a ce would only aggravate both her physical and mental health. ¡°Why not? Miss Joneson has moved on.¡± Callum insisted on Helia and Elspeth staying. After all, he was reluctant to let Elspeth go. Helia felt bad to separate them. However, when she thought about the pair being blood-rted, she could only agree with Elspeth¡¯s suggestion to avoid the pair from continuing to see each other. ¡°All right. Let¡¯s move out together.¡± Elspeth nodded. ¡°But you¡¯ll have topromise with this ce for the next few days. We¡¯ll move out once I¡¯m divorced.¡± At this point, Callum knew better than to try stopping her. Noticing that Helia was a little tired, Elspeth showed her to a guest room to rest. After Elspeth came out, Callum shot her a question as he studied the weary look on her face. ¡°Do you really believe that we are blood-rted?¡± He remained skeptical about the matter. Elspeth shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know what to think. Judging from how confident my mother is about it, I think she might be right.¡± ¡°Have you thought about how we should deal with our rtionship if we find out we are blood-rted in the end?¡± Indeed, Elspeth had given it a thought. The moment Helia told them about their rtionship, she already began to think over the situation in her mind. ¡°We have to break up if we¡¯re cousins.¡± She wasn¡¯t the kind of person who dared cross the line, and she couldn¡¯t do it either. The older generation¡¯s feud didn¡¯t bother her that much, but the possible blood rtionship between Callum and her gave her second thoughts. ¡°Are you willing to give up on us? On me?¡± Callum was a tall man. When he talked, he was looking down at her with sad eyes. ¡°Of course not! But we can¡¯t be cousins and lovers at the same time.¡± His words reminded Elspeth of their intimate moments in the past. Back then, all of them warmed her heart, but now they were only making her ufortable. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to go.¡± Blood drained from Callum¡¯s face as helplessness enveloped him for the first time. Not even his work or his daily life could ever rattle him. This matter was the only exception because he couldn¡¯t find a better solution either. Chapter 492 Chapter 492 Chapter 492 Within His n Callum took a step forward and drew her into his embrace. He had wanted to hug her tightly, but he was soon stopped by a hand on his chest. Elspeth was resisting him as she didn¡¯t know what to do with the situation now. ¡°This is inappropriate,¡± she mumbled, her mind in a mess. She wanted to ept his hug, but she didn¡¯t think she was capable of doing so. ¡°There¡¯s nothing inappropriate about this.¡± Callum ced his head on her shoulder and murmured in a hoarse voice, ¡°If¡­ If we are really rted by blood, it isn¡¯t an issue for cousins to hug each other either.¡± Though he was right, both of them knew exactly why they were hugging. After a long pause, Callum continued, ¡°Let us do a DNA test. I don¡¯t want to leave things the way they are.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Even though they both knew there was a slim chance of getting their desired oue, they wanted to give it onest shot. ¡°I¡¯ll go now, then.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Elspeth plucked a few strands of her hair. After handing them to him, she stood there and watched him walk away. ¡­ Callum took the samples for the DNA test to a nearby hospital, but he ran into someone he didn¡¯t want to meet. ¡°Hello, Callum! It¡¯s been a long time since west met. You¡¯re always in good health, so why am I seeing you in the hospital again?¡± Arthur spoke with an arrogant grin on his face. His grin clearly had a hidden meaning. After learning that Elspeth¡¯s mother had gone to the Winthrop Family, he had already guessed why Callum was here. He simply refuses to ept that Elspeth and he are rted by blood and wants to test it for himself! Until now, Callum has been reluctant to ept the truth. He truly loves Elspeth more than I thought. ¡°It¡¯s none of your concern.¡± Callum gave Arthur a stern re, not wanting to continue the conversation. ¡°Don¡¯t be so irritated. I know you¡¯re upset right now. I suppose it¡¯s because you discovered you¡¯re blood rtives with your wife, right?¡± Callum had his right fist clenched, but his expression remainedposed. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m leaving now.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t act as if you¡¯re unconcerned. I know you¡¯re worried, but what can you do? Absurd things do happen, including the separation of a deeply in love couple as a result of this. Ridiculous, isn¡¯t it?¡± Arthur deliberately spoke sarcastically, wanting to see Callum¡¯s defeated expression. However, no matter what he said, Callum maintained his cool. Arthur was indignant when he saw this and he sighed tly. ¡°Fine. You¡¯re really calm.¡± ¡°Are you done? If you are, I¡¯m leaving now.¡± T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. Just as Callum turned around and was about to leave, Arthur stopped him and said, ¡°To tell you the truth, this was arranged by me.¡± Callum came to a halt, waiting to hear what Arthur had to say next. ¡°I deliberately sent Elspeth¡¯s mother to her side for both of you to realize that you two are blood-rted and can¡¯t be together.¡± This was a cruel n devised by Arthur. He was well aware that it would be more painful for both Callum and Elspeth to discover for themselves that they were blood-rted and couldn¡¯t be together, rather than to have Arthur tell them. However, Callum still wasn¡¯t agitated by Arthur¡¯s words. If this is his n, he is indeed quite smart. At least he isn¡¯t as dumb as I thought him to be. Chapter 493 Chapter 493 ¡°So, you see, Callum, you and Elspeth aren¡¯t meant for each other. Let Elspeth be with me and I will take good care of her. You don¡¯t have to worry.¡± Arthur had an uncanny ability to add fuel to the fire; he knew exactly what to say to make Callum feel even worse. ¡°Even if she isn¡¯t with me, she won¡¯t like you either. You can stop dreaming about it.¡± Knowing Elspeth, she would never be attracted to Arthur. This was why Callum had never considered Arthur to be a threat. When Arthur heard this, the smile on his face immediately vanished and he muttered through gritted teeth, ¡°You can¡¯t be certain. You and she can never be together, and once both of you are separated, I¡¯ll have a chance.¡± ¡°What a good imagination you have,¡± Callum pointed out before turning around and leaving without any hesitation. Seeing him unwavering, Arthur, who initially wanted to make Callum feel defeated, now felt defeated himself. He loathed Callum¡¯s ability to remain calm in any situation. Nevertheless, he knew what he should do as his next step. Arthur sat in an inconspicuous corner and began observing his surroundings. After he was certain that Callum had left the hospital, he went straight into theboratory. The moment he opened the door, the doctor inside was surprised to see him. ¡°Hey Arthur, what brings you here?¡± Arthur was one of the most well-known seniors during his university days. Ever since he joined the school, no one had ever surpassed his achievements. The lecturers repeatedly showed his photo to future students, and some of them even boasted about having taught or talked to Arthur when he was in school. And of course, his good looks were another reason for his poprity, particrly among females. After all, who wouldn¡¯t like an attractive, elegant man who always had a smile on his face? He was said to be so popr that many young female students purposefully chose the electives he had chosen just to be in the same ss as him, no matter how difficult the subjects were. However, it was a pity that Arthur did not continue to practice medicine and appeared to have vanished from the medical field. As such, seeing him today made the doctor in theboratory thrilled. Presently, Arthur smiled and said softly, ¡°Nothing much. I¡¯m just here to look around and get some medicine.¡± Though he did not know this doctor, he could tell by the man¡¯s tone how he felt about him. Hence, he rxed a little as well. The doctor then quickly stood up, took a chair for Arthur, and poured him a ss of water. ¡°I¡¯m delighted to have you here, Arthur. If there¡¯s anything I can do for you, please do not hesitate to tell me. I¡¯ll do my best to assist.¡± To that, Arthur simply waved his hand dismissively. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t need your assistance with anything. However, I just want to know if my brother was here earlier.¡± His brother? The doctor tried to recall what happened earlier, and he suddenly realized something. Oh, the person who registered earlier is indeed Callum Winthrop, the eldest son of the Winthrop Family, which means he¡¯s Arthur¡¯s brother. ¡°Yes. He handed me some samples and wanted me to run a DNA test to see if they were blood- rted.¡± He then couldn¡¯t contain his curiosity and continued, ¡°Why does Mr. Winthrop need to perform a DNA test? Do the Winthrops have any other children besides their own?¡± ¡°What exactly are you saying? Don¡¯t spread rumors!¡± Arthur smilingly chided. The doctor knew when to stop as well as he shrank back and nodded. Blinking, Arthur then asked, ¡°Could you let me have a look at the samples he gave?¡±Chapter 493 Not Blood-Rted Arthur¡¯s request ced the doctor in an awkward position. ¡°But our rule is that any private DNA test has to be kept confidential,¡± he said, seemingly in a dilemma. Hearing that, Arthur put on a disappointed expression. The doctor thought that he had offended Arthur and quickly added, ¡°But if you really want to have a look at them, I can show them to you, Arthur.¡± If it was someone else today, the doctor would never have backed down and would not even get the conversation going. However, because the person in front of him today was Arthur, he did not dare to turn Arthur down. ¡°But you must promise that you will not tell anyone about this. Otherwise, I risk losing my job.¡± The doctor then looked around nervously before taking out the envelope containing the samples that Callum had handed him earlier. ¡°This is it, Arthur. Check them out Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. quickly. The director is making his rounds, so you¡¯d best be quick.¡± Arthur nodded with a smile and quickly took a look at the contents of the envelope before putting them back, acting as if nothing had happened. ¡°I¡¯m done. You can put them back now.¡± Seeing that Arthur was not acting unusually, the doctor was relieved. ¡°Come seek me out if there¡¯s anything else I can do for you, Arthur. I¡¯ll do everything I can.¡± Arthur nodded in response. ¡°Let¡¯s exchange phone numbers so we can stay in touch,¡± he suggested. The doctor was stunned and ttered before he eventually pulled out his phone and exchanged contact information with Arthur. He didn¡¯t notice Arthur¡¯s lips curling slightly, revealing a vague smile. The test result would only be out a few dayster. During these few days, Elspeth and Callum intentionally kept their distance from each other. The primary issue was not about getting divorced. Instead, convincing the Winthrops to ept that they would be divorcing was more difficult. Luckily, Callum¡¯s parents were on vacation these few days, and the rest of the family was not in the house as well. Hence, Helia could stay in the Winthrop Residence with some relief. On the day of the test results collection, Elspeth and Callum went to the hospital together. When they entered theboratory, the doctor quickly grabbed the envelope containing the results and handed it to Callum. ¡°The DNA test results are out, Mr. Winthrop.¡± Callum wanted to open it. At this moment, a mocking tone rang out from the door. ¡°What a coincidence, Callum. We meet again.¡± Callum turned around to see Arthur standing there once more, ever the uninvited guest. On the other hand, Elspeth subconsciously took a few steps back, attempting to distance herself from Arthur. Her small movements didn¡¯t go unnoticed. Arthur¡¯s eyes glowed with darkness as he noticed her attempting to move away from him. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t want to meet you at all,¡± Callum said without any hesitation. ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s just a coincidence, anyway. What brings you to the DNAboratory? Is there anything else you¡¯d like to put to the test?¡± Despite knowing everything, Arthur pretended to know nothing. ¡°It has nothing to do with you.¡± Callum then stuffed the results back into the envelope, deciding to check it only when they got home. ¡°We are family, after all. Or at least, we were family. What else can you hide from me?¡± Arthur smiled, appearing pure and innocent as if he were close to Callum. Elspeth rolled her eyes at that. ¡°Since things have already progressed to this point, you don¡¯t have to say these things to disgust us anymore.¡± ¡°How could you say that, Elspeth? I¡¯m just showing my concern for my brother.¡± Elspeth and Callum¡¯s attitude didn¡¯t bother Arthur at all. He was certain that both of them would be in a worse mood after seeing the DNA test results. Hence, he was unconcerned about how these losers treated him now. ¡°Your concern is received, then. We¡¯re leaving now.¡± Callum then took Elspeth¡¯s hand in his, preparing to leave. However, he was immediately stopped by Arthur. ¡°Callum, since you have the test results, why don¡¯t you check it right now?¡± Arthur was adamant that they check the results right away. At that, Elspeth immediately retorted, ¡°What does it have to do with you as to when we check the results?¡± ¡°Why aren¡¯t the both of you willing to ept the truth, then?¡± Arthur asked with a sneer, which enraged Elspeth. ¡°This is our matter. It has nothing to do with you at all, so stop being a nuisance by poking your nose into our matters!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so agitated,¡± Arthur responded as he shook his head, seemingly indicating that he wouldn¡¯t give up until he got what he wanted. ¡°Since he is so interested in this, let us show him then.¡± Callum then took the results and threw them to Arthur, feeling utterly unconcerned. Elspeth didn¡¯t manage to see it but with a nce, she noticed the word ¡®biologically rted¡¯, which made her heart tighten. IVe are indeed rted by blood. Disappointment arose in her heart,pletely engulfing her. Arthur did not examine the results thoroughly as well. He was ready to mock Callum and Elspeth simply because of the term ¡®biologically rted¡¯. ¡°I¡¯ve been warning you both for a long time, but my words have gone unheeded. Look, what I said is correct now. The fact that you are both married to each other despite being rtives is Damoria¡¯s greatest joke!¡± Arthur did not bother to hide his sarcasm. However, he did not understand how Callum could remain calm and unaffected despite hearing that. Such an attitude irritated Arthur. Thus, he intentionally continued to mock them by saying, ¡°When are you both nning to divorce, Callum?¡± ¡°Again, what does it have to do with you?¡± ¡°Of course, it does! After you both divorce, I can start courting Elspeth.¡± Elspeth immediately furrowed her brows when she heard that. ¡°Arthur Winthrop, stop being so revolting!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to be concerned about that, then. We¡¯re not getting divorced.¡± Not getting a divorce? Elspeth turned her head to look at Callum. Even she felt doubtful at this point. Is he just trying to enrage Arthur?After all, it is already a fact that we ore biologically rted! ¡°You both are blood-rted, Callum. If you don¡¯t divorce, you¡¯ll be mocked for the rest of your life!¡± Arthur thought that Callum¡¯s words were just a remark in a fit of pique. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Divorce is not a disgrace in any way.¡± ¡°As I¡¯ve said, we won¡¯t be divorcing.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Arthur asked, finally sensing something amiss. ¡°Because we are not blood-rted at all.¡± Not blood-rted? Arthur, and even Elspeth, were stunned. Both of them saw clearly from the report that the owners of both samples were biologically rted. So how could Callum im otherwise now? ¡°Callum, the results are clear. You can¡¯t keep on denying the truth.¡± Arthur assumed Callum was still engaged in a futile struggle. Chapter 494 Chapter 494 Love¡¯s Perfect Match Chapter 494 Chapter 494 Someone Else Is the Biological Father ¡°Have you read the test results carefully?¡± Arthur picked up the document and took a nce at it before his expression suddenly fell. With such a high simrity, there was no way they were mere cousins. ¡°Sorry to disappoint, but this is Elspeth and Miss Joneson¡¯s test result.¡± Elspeth subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief after hearing that this wasn¡¯t her test result with Callum. ¡°How dare you?!¡± Arthur took a nce at the doctor beside them. He immediately understood when he saw the dazed and slightly apprehensive expression on the doctor¡¯s face. When the doctor sent him the message this morning, he only briefly mentioned that the two were rted by blood. He didn¡¯t say how high the simrity percentage was. Arthur only had himself to me for being careless when he didn¡¯t ask about the exact number. He coldly huffed. ¡°So what? Doesn¡¯t this confirm that you and Elspeth are rted by blood since it is proven that they are rted by blood, and it was your uncle who forced himself on Elspeth¡¯s mother?¡± Even though he felt ufortable that this wasn¡¯t the couple¡¯s test result, everyone knew that there was no way the duo could get out of this. ¡°And what if it¡¯s not confirmed?¡± ¡°That is impossible!¡± Arthur scoffed. ¡°I know that you refuse to ept the fact, but it¡¯s settled. You can¡¯t run away from it anymore.¡± ¡°It might not be as simple as you think.¡± Callum let out a low chuckle as a wanton look This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. of interest spread across his handsome face. ¡°Who knows? You might have ced the wrong bet.¡± Arthur knew that Callum was a confident man who always carefully thought things through before saying anything. He knew that Callum probably wouldn¡¯t make such a big mistake. Are they¡­ really not rted by blood? Arthur found it hard to believe this. Furthermore, any other possibility didn¡¯t make sense to him. ¡°In that case, show me your evidence!¡± When Callum heard this, he unhurriedly took out his phone and made a call. Someone soon rushed over with a paper bag in their hand. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, this is the test result you requested.¡± Arthurpletely froze at the sight of that. He didn¡¯t think Callum would have the test done somewhere else to avoid being seen by him. After Callum took the bag, his gaze fell on Arthur¡¯s face. ¡°This is our test result. You can take a look for yourself if you don¡¯t believe it.¡± Arthur dubiously opened the bag. When he saw the test results that indicated Callum and Elspeth weren¡¯t rted in the least bit, he shook his head in disbelief. ¡°That¡¯s impossible! You and she definitely have blood ties. You must have done something to alter the test results!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t be bothered to do something to the results, alright?¡± Callum huffed and brushed off Arthur¡¯s remarks. ¡°How is this possible? You two are rted by blood!¡± Arthur muttered under his breath. He didn¡¯t understand what he was feeling. Elspeth was dder than anyone at this very moment. She felt a load off her mind when she saw that they were not rted by blood. They wouldn¡¯t have to get a divorce anymore, and neither did they need to stay out of the public eye and force themselves to be together. This was good news worthy of the whole world¡¯s celebration! ¡°We can do the test again if you don¡¯t believe me, but only on the premise that you don¡¯t mess with the results.¡± Callum didn¡¯t even hesitate as he agreed to have a retest. Arthur waspletely convinced when he heard that, and he soon fell deep into selfdoubt. What the hell is going on?! Meanwhile, Callum didn¡¯t want to waste his time on Arthur. After he kept both the test results, he pulled Elspeth along as they went out the door. As soon as they were out, Elspeth immediately threw her arms around his neck in excitement. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. Why does it show that we are not rted?¡± Elspeth was also in slight disbelief. For the two of them to not be rted was a miracle to her. ¡°I¡¯m not too sure either, but we are definitely not rted.¡± That put a frown on her face. ¡°That¡¯s weird. I¡¯m my mother¡¯s daughter and yet, I¡¯m not rted to you. Could it be¡­¡± Elspeth suddenly had a strange and shocking thought. Seeing the look on her face, Callum knew that she was thinking the same thing as him. Chapter 495 Chapter 495 ¡°There is a big possibility that it is exactly what we think.¡± Elspeth was hit by realization at that moment. ¡°Do you remember what Mom told me about her disappearing after she jumped? Could something have happened while she was unconscious?¡± Callum gave it a thought. ¡°It has been a long time since then. I doubt she¡¯ll remember much. Also, we don¡¯t know if she can ept the fact. Let¡¯s look into it further before we do anything else.¡± Elspeth nodded and let out a smile. ¡°But no matter what, I¡¯m super happy to know that you and I aren¡¯t rted like that.¡± ¡°I feel the same way.¡± He leaned down and pressed a chaste kiss on her cheek. Elspeth no longer felt reluctant to have physical contact with Callum. Instead, she felt more content than ever. They went home as quickly as they could. Helia was in the middle of watching TV when her expression turned glum upon seeing the young couple walking hand-in- hand. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you that your rtionship can¡¯t go on?¡± After all, it had been decades since Helia saw them. She didn¡¯t dare overstep her line by sticking her nose in Elspeth¡¯s business. However, she couldn¡¯t help but warn her T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. daughter. ¡°You won¡¯t have to worry about that anymore, Mom.¡± Elspeth hesitated as she chose a more roundabout way to tell her. ¡°Callum and I aren¡¯t rted by blood. We can continue to be together.¡± Helia was so surprised that she jumped to her feet. ¡°How is that even possible? I gave birth to you after I was¡­ assaulted by Callum¡¯s uncle. How can you not have blood ties?¡± Elspeth shook her head and took out the test results from her bag. ¡°We are not sure about the details, but that is what the results say. We aren¡¯t rted, but I am rted to you.¡± Now things were too strange toprehend. Helia couldn¡¯t believe her eyes, but she couldn¡¯t help thinking of other possibilities. ¡°You mean¡­ You might be my and some other man¡¯s daughter?¡± The thought of the possibility was like cold, piercing water that washed over Helia. After so many years, she hade to terms that she was taken against her will. But to know that Elspeth¡¯s father was someone else and that she had unknowingly done the deed with another man¡­ It felt like a fatal blow to herChapter 495 Leukemia Helia staggered and fell onto the couch. Seeing her turn pale as she struggled to breathe, Elspeth quickly sat down with her and patted the back of her torso. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much about this, Mom. It might not be as bad as you think.¡± Callum also calmlyforted her from the side. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Miss Joneson. Elspeth has good genes. At the very least, this proves that her father is someone brilliant.¡± Helia nced at Elspeth, and she could only quietly persuade herself. He¡¯s right. The father must be an excellent man to be able to have such a wonderful child. However, as a woman, it was a lifelong shame for her to unknowingly give birth to a child with another man. ¡°I hope so¡­¡± Helia let out a deep sigh. She couldn¡¯t help the tears that rolled down her face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about this, Mom. I will definitely find out the truth about what happened back then.¡± Helia was slightly hesitant upon hearing that. In fact, she didn¡¯t know whether she wanted to know the truth or not. It wouldn¡¯t matter much if they couldn¡¯t find out about it, and it wasn¡¯t like they could do anything even if the truth was out. It had been decades. Helia doubted that man would want anything to do with her and Elspeth. And what if he wasn¡¯t as good a man as they thought he was? Or what if he had passed away? Her mind was everywhere as she considered all the possibilities. She eventually concluded that there wouldn¡¯t be a problem if they didn¡¯t look into it. If they did, they would end up with tons of things to worry about. ¡°How about we forget about it? It¡¯s in the past. Let¡¯s just let it go.¡± Deep down, Helia was still unwilling to deal with this head-on. ¡°How can we do that? It was fine when we didn¡¯t know, but now that we know the truth isn¡¯t what it seems, why don¡¯t we get to the bottom of this confusion?¡± Elspeth smiled when she thought Helia was worried about not being able to find that person. ¡°Mom, you don¡¯t have to worry about looking for him. I will definitely find him for you.¡± Chapter 496 Chapter 496 ¡°Elsie, do you really want to find your father?¡± The question made Elspeth freeze. She seemed to have gotten too excited without considering Helia¡¯s feelings. Mom might not even want to go through all that again. Thinking of this, she reached out and touched the back of Helia¡¯s hand. ¡°Mom, we won¡¯t look for him if you don¡¯t want to.¡± Elspeth started feeling emotional when she saw the tears in Helia¡¯s eyes. ¡°Let¡­ let me think about it.¡± Helia suddenly realized that she might have been a little selfish. Due to her personal reasons, she was cruelly preventing Elspeth from seeing her biological father. ¡°Alright, Mom. Take your time. I will support you no matter your decision.¡± Helia hummed and gloomily nodded in response. However, she was relieved that her daughter and Callum were not blood-rted. She wouldn¡¯t have to lose her perfect son-inw that way. ¡°I won¡¯t force you two to get a divorce anymore. Callum, dear, you must take good care of her.¡± Helia had a hopeful glint in her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Miss Joneson. You¡¯ve trusted her with me, after all. I will protect her.¡± Helia felt more at ease after hearing Callum¡¯s promise. All of a sudden, Elspeth, who was sitting there, received an emergency call from Harper. ¡°Miss Elspeth! Something bad happened!¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t help feeling rmed. Only a handful of things could get Harper to panic like this. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Something happened to Yelena! She was rehearsing abroad when she suddenly passed out and had a high fever. The doctor said she has leukemia!¡± Leukemia?! Elspeth suddenly couldn¡¯t breathe. ¡°How is she doing now?¡± ¡°The doctor said she is in critical condition. She needs to get a bone marrow transnt, but there is no suitable source abroad currently.¡± Elspeth gritted her teeth as a wave of emotions washed over her. ¡°What about Damoria? Can you find a suitable one in Damoria?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t asked. I will ask around the hospitals in the country.¡± ¡°Hurry! We can¡¯t waste even a minute!¡± ¡°Got it!¡± After the call ended, Elspeth turned around and saw the equally dark expression on Callum¡¯s face. ¡°Yelena has leukemia?¡± ¡°I have never seen anything wrong with her. I don¡¯t understand how she has leukemia out of nowhere!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. She will be fine after a bone marrow transnt.¡± Elspeth smiled wryly and nodded with a helpless look on her face. ¡°I¡¯m a doctor, so how can I not know this? I¡¯m just worried about how tormenting this disease can be. I don¡¯t know if she can push through it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You know how optimistic she is. There shouldn¡¯t be any major problems.¡± Still looking out of sorts, Elspeth insisted, ¡°I¡¯d better go abroad to see how she is doing.¡± Callum put his arms around her shoulders and offered softly, ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Helia, who was at the side, looked at the anxious couple and she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Who is Yelena?¡± ¡°Yelena is our friend. She is a lovely youngdy.¡± Helia¡¯s heart broke when she heard that. ¡°Be on your way, then. Make sure she is safe,¡± she urged. ¡°Alright.¡± Elspeth nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll go book us tickets now. We¡¯ll be leaving in a while.¡± She suddenly remembered something. ¡°Mom, will you be fine being here by yourself?¡± Helia waved as a sign for them not to worry about her. ¡°It¡¯s all good. I¡¯ll be waiting at home.¡± ¡°Please make yourselffortable.¡± Callum¡¯s voice grew solemn. ¡°You can just tell my parents that you are a friend of Elspeth¡¯s mother when they get home. They will wee you with open arms.¡± Not only would Helia not have to worry about revealing her identity if she said she was a friend of Elspeth¡¯s mother, but she could also stay here with peace of mind. They would be killing two birds with one stone. Helia only grew fonder of Callum after hearing his words. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do that.¡± Not knowing how long this trip would take, Elspeth and Callum simply handed over their work to the person in charge of thepany. At that point, Elspeth suddenly thought of someone. ¡°How about we give Hank a call? It¡¯ll be better to let him know.¡± Callum hummed in agreement as he wasn¡¯t against the idea. Elspeth spent a long time calling Hank, but the man¡¯s phone seemed to be turned off the whole time. Thinking that he might be in a meeting, she decided to notify him only after she arrived abroad. An hourter, the couple packed a few necessities and went straight to Damoria International Airport. Even though Eden was only a four-hour flight away from Damoria, Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but be riddled with anxiety. After getting off the ne, they took a cab and soon arrived at the hospital that Harper This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. mentioned. As soon as Elspeth pushed open the door of the ward and saw the weak and thin woman lying on the bed inside, her eyes immediately turned red. Upon closer look, she saw a man by the bedside, whose eyes had also reddened. Isn¡¯t that Hank?Chapter 496 ident When Hank saw Elspeth and Callum rushing over, he sorted out his emotions a little bit to not look too unkempt. ¡°How did you hear about this?¡± Hank actually found out earlier than Elspeth did, and he was even one flight earlier than her. ¡°Yelena calls me every day, but she didn¡¯t today. When I called her, the person who answered was her assistant who told me everything.¡± Hank had broken out in cold sweat the moment he heard the news in the afternoon. He didn¡¯t hesitate to end the meeting he was having with his business partner. While he was driving to the airport, he asked his assistant to buy a ticket for him so that he could rush over as soon as possible. ¡°How is Yelena?¡± Elspeth asked. Hank took in a deep breath and answered, ¡°Her high fever is not going away. She even has rashes all over her body. The doctor said it is not looking too good. She needs to get a bone marrow transnt as quickly as possible or else, she could¡­ be gone just like that.¡± Chapter 497 Chapter 497 These words were a big shock for Elspeth. She had to calm her emotions before she asked, ¡°Has a suitable bone marrow been found?¡± ¡°Not yet, but I have sent my men to look into it. I should be able to get something in three days at the earliest.¡± Three days were indeed the fastest they could do, but considering Yelena¡¯s current condition, they didn¡¯t know if she couldst another three days. ¡°I have also asked someone to find a suitable one. It will also take about three days.¡± Hank turned around and looked at Yelena lying on the bed, her lips andplexion pale. Her initially chubby face had also be sunken. It killed them to look at her in her current state. ¡°Yelena has always been very lucky. She will be fine this time as well.¡± Elspeth could onlyfort both Hank and herself this way. ¡°I know,¡± Hank uttered before tightly wrapping his hands around Yelena¡¯s. It was only then that Elspeth noticed that Hank was half-kneeling on the floor in order to get closer to Yelena. When he held Yelena¡¯s hand and pressed it to his face, he had a devoted look on his face that made people pity him. ¡°Hank, you must have rushed here too. If there is nothing else, you should take a rest first. Callum and I will be watching Yelena here.¡± Elspeth could tell from his bloodshot eyes that he must have left work and rushed over here. She wanted to let him take a rest for a while. Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I want to look after her.¡± Hank didn¡¯t care even if his legs werepletely numb. He knew that Yelena wouldin about him not paying attention to her if she didn¡¯t see him the first thing after waking up. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll spread the word to see if there is any suitable bone marrow.¡± Elspeth then sat down at a table off to one side and opened theptop she brought with her. She sent messages to people in the organization and assigned more people to look around. Despite doing all that, she still wasn¡¯t satisfied. She quickly turned on herptop and started to contact a few more hospitals. That was when her phone suddenly rang. ¡°Miss Elspeth, did something happen to Yelena?!¡± The voice on the other side was extremely anxious. However, even though the environment was noisy, it didn¡¯t hide the concern in Max¡¯s voice. ¡°Have you heard about it?¡± ¡°Mhm. How is she doing now? Which hospital is she in? Give me the address. I¡¯ll be there right away.¡± Elspeth wanted to tell him, but when she lowered her head and saw Hank in front of her, she suddenly began to hesitate. ¡°Tell me, Miss Elspeth! Where is the hospital?¡± Right then, the firm voice of a middle-aged man suddenly came from the other end of the line. ¡°What are you doing, Max? It is your turn topete soon. Stop talking on the phone.¡± Max had no choice but to set his phone aside as he asked his coach in a hushed voice, ¡°My friend is sick, Mr. Jinn. Is it okay if I go see her?¡± Jinn immediately spat, ¡°I¡¯ll repeat myself. It is your turn topete soon. This is your first-everpetition here and I don¡¯t want to see any mistakes. Do you understand?¡± Seeing how he couldn¡¯t persuade his coach, Max clenched his jaw and took off his racing suit. ¡°What are you trying to do? Are you going against my words?¡± The coach was so angry that he was about to get a heart attack when he saw how bold Max was. ¡°I¡¯m not, Mr. Jinn. I¡¯m begging you to let me go.¡± Jinn shook his head and coldly refuted, ¡°It is your turn up next. You¡¯d better not make any mistakes. I don¡¯t understand what kind of friend it is that you¡¯re willing to give up thepetition like this.¡± ¡°Mr. Jinn, she is the woman I love.¡± Elspeth felt some kind of emotion surge when she picked up those words from the other end of the call. ¡°Is your future or your love life more important to you?¡± Max didn¡¯t even need to think. ¡°She is. She is my life.¡± Jinn was speechless after hearing this, but he still firmly refused. ¡°You can get done with thepetition within half an hour. Can¡¯t you leave after that?¡± Max wanted to continue to persuade Jinn, but Elspeth quickly chimed in, ¡°You should go ahead andpete if you really can¡¯t leave. I¡¯ll be looking after Yelena here. It will be fine for the time being.¡± Max started to open his mouth, but he had no choice but to relent when he saw the disappointed look in his coach¡¯s eyes. After hanging up the phone, he put on his racing suit again. However, his mind was full of thoughts about how Yelena was now lying on a hospital bed. Leukemia was no ordinary disease and it could cause an insane amount of pain. Just thinking about how afraid of pain Yelena was put Max in a conflicted mood. His mind was somewhere else up till the start of thepetition. He only wanted to finish the race so that he could quickly go to Yelena. Jinn thought that Max had figured it out when he saw how Max drove faster than he usually did. That was until he realized something was wrong. ¡°Max, you¡¯re driving too fast! It¡¯s too dangerous!¡± Unfortunately, Max wouldn¡¯t notice anything else when he was on the track. He unknowingly stepped on the elerator as he wanted to go faster and faster. However, he never considered how unstable the car could get at high speed. Suddenly, he lost control and mmed into the infield wall. Chapter 498 Chapter 498 Bang! It was pure chaos in an instant as debris flew and the car caught on fire. The cheering audience started screaming instead. Seeing the shocking ident in front of them, Max¡¯s fans all stepped forward to save him. ¡°Watch out, everyone! Don¡¯t get too close to the car. It could explode anytime!¡± As Jinn guided the audience, he also instructed a few people to pull Max out of the car. Max had suffered severe trauma to his head and fractured his right leg. He was now barely awake. Before hepletely lost consciousness, he mumbled under his breath, ¡°Yelena¡­ Send me to the hospital she is in¡­¡±Chapter 497 Surgery Yelena¡¯s breathing had stabilized as shey in the hospital bed. It seemed like she was no longer in critical condition. ¡°Hank, you have worked hard taking care of Yelena. You should go and have a rest since there is time. Yelena will be sad if you copse from exhaustion by the time she wakes up.¡± Elspeth felt something she couldn¡¯t put into words when she looked at the serious and focused expression on the man¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m alright. I slept for an hour just now.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been here all day and you¡¯ve only had an hour to sleep?¡± She sighed. Just as she was about to continue persuading him, she suddenly noticed small signs of Yelena opening her eyes. She immediately eximed, ¡°Is Yelena waking up?!¡± When Hank came back to his senses, he watched the fingers in his palm trembling slightly. It was as if she really was about to wake up. As expected, Yelena opened her eyes a few momentster. ¡°Hank¡­¡±T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. Seeing the man whom she had been thinking about day and night, Yelena called out his name in a hoarse voice as tears filled her eyes. Hank poured some warm water into a ss on the table beside him, slid in a straw, and brought it to her mouth. ¡°Have some water. Your voice is all raspy.¡± Yelena gave a nod and took small sips of water. She looked like she was doing well. ¡°Elspeth! You came, too!¡± The aggrievance Yelena felt made her want to cry when she saw Elspeth standing behind Hank. ¡°You really don¡¯t make things easier for me, do you? You don¡¯t even take care of yourself when you are abroad!¡± Elspeth scolded her out of worry. However, her guilt quickly bubbled up when she looked at Yelena¡¯s pale face. Yelena obviously didn¡¯t mind. She even shed an embarrassed smile and curled up her lips. ¡°Alright, alright. I will pay attention next time.¡± ¡°Did I hear you say ¡®next time¡¯?!¡± Elspeth roared. It pained her to see Yelena in her current condition. Elspeth and Hank thought about letting Yelena rest for a while, now that she had finished drinking the water. Hank turned to Elspeth and suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t the two of you get some rest? You can leave Yelena to me.¡± ¡°We are done resting. You should go rest instead.¡± Elspeth then loudly snitched on Hank to Yelena. ¡°Hank rushed here first thing after he found out something had happened to you. He hasn¡¯t had any shut-eye at all.¡± Yelena was touched when she heard this, and she reached out with difficulty to tug on his finger. ¡°Get some rest, Hank.¡± Hank¡¯s eyes were utterly red, but he was determined as he shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not sleepy. I feel more at ease if I watch you here.¡± ¡°I will be fine. You must rest. No one can take care of you if you fall sick as well.¡± Under normal circumstances, Yelena would have pointed at him and started to nag. Now, she could only lie on the bed and speak in a trembling voice. However, it was exactly these words of hers that Hank listened to. He looked at her with a deep gaze and nodded. ¡°Mhm, I got it. I will go take a rest. Let Elspeth know if you don¡¯t feel well in any way, okay?¡± Yelena only beamed again after hearing that. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I know what to do.¡± As Hank stood up, he felt a wave of dizziness hit him due to the long hours without sleep and food. He struggled to find his footing before he turned around and solemnly reminded Elspeth, ¡°Remember to alert me first thing if something is wrong with Yelena.¡± Elspeth promptly agreed to it. After Hank left, Yelena looked at Elspeth¡¯s face and told her in a tired voice, ¡°I¡¯m a little sleepy, Elspeth. I feel like sleeping for a bit.¡± Elspeth nodded, and she felt as though her heart had melted when she reached out to pat Yelena on the head. ¡°Rest up,¡± she cooed. ¡°I will be right beside you.¡± Hearing that, Yelena slowly closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep. Elspeth and Callum then took a seat on the couch beside them. The volume of their voices had lowered by many decibels as they chatted. ¡°Why isn¡¯t Max here yet?¡± Callum suddenly remembered that they called Max earlier, but the man was so busy with hispetition that he couldn¡¯t make it. However, it had been two hours. Logically speaking, the race should have ended by now. Elspeth also thought something was strange. She took out her phone and called Max again, only to have her call ring until she reached the voicemail box. ¡°No one picked up. He¡¯s probably still busy.¡± Despite her words, Callum had a feeling something wasn¡¯t quite right. The Max he knew wouldn¡¯t drag it out for so long. Feeling that something was off, he muttered, ¡°Surely nothing happened to him?¡± Elspeth shook her head. ¡°Highly unlikely. His coach must have kept him there for a reason. I heard his voice from the call earlier. The coach sounded like a stern man.¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± She smiled and patted Callum on the shoulder. ¡°Come on. Don¡¯t worry too much about it. Max is no longer a child. He wouldn¡¯t be so impulsive.¡± But at this exact moment, Callum¡¯s phone began to ring. He immediately had a bad feeling when he saw that it was an unknown number from Wohler. A panicked and worried voice rang out after Callum took the call. ¡°Mr. Callum Winthrop? Your brother had an ident during a race. He has been sent to the hospital for emergency treatment.¡± Callum¡¯s heart dropped to his stomach when he heard those words. He couldn¡¯t hide the concern and anxiety showing in his eyes as he stood up and demanded, ¡°Which hospital has he been sent to?¡± ¡°Wohler Central Hospital.¡± Wohler Central Hospital¡­ Isn¡¯t this the hospital we are at?! After the call ended, Callum lifted his head and informed Elspeth, ¡°He got in an ident. He is at this hospital¡¯s emergency ward now.¡± Elspeth almost dropped her phone as her hand shook. ¡°What? Max got into a car ident?¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably because he wasn¡¯t in his best headspace after he found out about Yelena.¡± Callum then started to leave before Elspeth held him by the hand. ¡°Should I go with you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. Someone needs to take care of Yelena. You can just wait here. I¡¯ll go check on him.¡± Elspeth turned to look at a sleeping Yelena and gave it some thought. Thinking that it made sense, she released her grip on Callum. The red light outside the emergency room was still on when Callum hurried over. There was a middle-aged man nervously waiting outside. He immediately looked relieved when he saw Callum. ¡°You are Callum Winthrop, aren¡¯t you?¡± Callum was now extremely glum, and his voice was frighteningly cold when he asked, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°The thing is, your brother drove too fast. That¡¯s why he¡­¡± ¡°And? You insisted he joined the race even though he wasn¡¯t himself, did you not?¡± With his right fist clenched, Callum didn¡¯t hold back his words. He knew that he wouldn¡¯t be in the mood to do anything else if something happened to Elspeth.Chapter 498 Donate My Bone Marrow to Yelena Despite that, this coach insisted on having Max participate in the race. He made Max join such a high-intensity and high-riskpetition even though Max was not in the best state. A hint of hatred shed in Callum¡¯s eyes when he thought about this. Jinn must have realized that Callum was about to lose his temper, so he quickly softened his tone. ¡°Please don¡¯t get mad, Mr. Winthrop. W-We had no choice too. The organizer would definitely be upset if Max had left just like that. It wouldn¡¯t be good for his future development¡­¡± ¡°¡®Future development¡¯? He is my younger brother. Does he even need to race to have a good future?¡± Indeed, Callum wasn¡¯t wrong. The Winthrop Family ran a big business. Even if Max sat around and did nothing, he could still enjoy the rest of his life without worry. Jinn was immediately at a loss for words upon hearing that. ¡°I will let it go if Max is fine, but if something were to happen to him¡­¡± Callum didn¡¯t continue the rest of his sentence, but Jinn knew for sure that the man would be after his neck. And so, he shut his mouth and quietly prayed. The red light was still on even after two hours. However, a doctor dide out of the ward. ¡°Which one of you is Max Winthrop¡¯s family?¡± Callum stood up and walked up to the doctor. ¡°I am.¡± The doctor looked at Callum¡¯s dark expression and sighed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. We did our best.¡± They did their best? Callum¡¯s eyes turned red as the veins on his forehead bulged. Instead of a human being, he looked more like a beast out of control at this moment. ¡°Say that again,¡± he warned. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, I know that it is hard for you to ept this, but we have been trying to save him for so many hours. We are sure there is little to no chance to keep him alive.¡± The doctor also felt regretful at the thought of a fresh-faced young man like Max losing his life because of a mistake he made during the race. ¡°Little to no chance? So, there is still a chance.¡± Callum¡¯s eyes narrowed. His gaze was practically on fire as he growled, ¡°You must keep him alive no matter the cost.¡± After all, Max was his younger brother. He was his baby brother who grew up stumbling after him while calling his name lovingly. There was no way Callum could ept the fact that such a young life wasing to an end just like that. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Winthrop. We will do our very best. However, I would like you to be mentally prepared. There is only a small chance that he will live.¡± The doctor regretfully lowered his head and turned around to reenter the emergency room. Jinn, who was behind Callum, could feel the goosebumps all over his body. Something terrible really did happen to Max. What is Callum Winthrop thinking? Does he think that it¡¯s my fault? Will he take his revenge on me? Jinn¡¯s mind was a mess now. Rubbing his hands together, he was worried that the man in front of him would turn around and throw a punch at him. ¡°Mr. Zaydon.¡± Jinn couldn¡¯t help but cower when the cold voice sounded. ¡°Yes, Mr. Winthrop? Is something the matter?¡± ¡°Look at my brother now. Care to exin yourself? When Callum turned his head to look at Jinn, his eyes were filled with unadulterated ruthlessness and murderous intent. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, I-I know that I did wrong, but it did not happen because of me! I only carried out my responsibility and advised him to finish the race. I didn¡¯t cross any lines! Also, I didn¡¯t do anything to his car that caused him to crash!¡± Jinn was at a loss for what to do. I¡¯m not even the direct cause of the ident, so why is Callum ming everything on me?! And yet, he didn¡¯t dare fight back. He knew how violent Callum¡¯s temper could be, and he had heard about the ways Callum got things done. At that thought, Jinn could only plead guilty. ¡°I admit that it was not appropriate for me to persuade him to continue with the race, but all this has nothing to do with me!¡± Callum took a deep breath as he swore, ¡°You have to pay the price.¡± Jinn froze as soon as he heard that. I¡¯m dead. Even if he doesn¡¯t threaten my safety or my life, he won¡¯t let me live another peaceful day for the rest of my life! Not only me, even my family, my son¡­ They will be affected in one way or another. ¡°I heard that you have a son, Mr. Zaydon,¡± Callum mentioned with the corners of his lips curled. He had a fierce look in his eyes. ¡°Please, Mr. Winthrop. Don¡¯t do anything to my son. He is only 18. He doesn¡¯t know anything.¡± Jinn couldn¡¯t possibly let his son, who was his lifeline, get hurt. Their ancestors would never forgive him when he joined them in the afterlife! ¡°My brother, Max Winthrop, is only 19.¡± After hearing this, Jinn fell to his knees and burst into tears. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, I will take responsibility for this. Please! Don¡¯t hurt my son!¡± Callum didn¡¯t bother to answer. He kept his eyes on the door that determined Max¡¯s life and death. Jinn kept wailing and disrupting the order in the hospital. Due to him making too much noise, a few doctors eventually came over and dragged him away. The door to the emergency ward opened again after three hours. The same doctor came out and this time, he had a grave look on his face. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, Mr. Winthrop. We really did all we could.¡± For him to use the word ¡®really¡¯ twice in a row meant that there was no hope left. ¡°If you would like to talk to your brother, please follow me to put on a hospital gown while he is still conscious. You cane in with us.¡± Callum felt a sting on the tip of his nose upon hearing those words. This was the first time he truly felt how somber someone¡¯s death could be. ¡°Alright.¡± He quickly put on the gown and followed the doctor into the ward. After he got in, he almost burst into tears when he saw Max lying on the operating table with tubes all over his body. ¡°Max?¡± Callum carefully called out, for fear of disturbing his brother. Max forced himself to open his eyes when he heard his name. When he saw Callum in front of him, he squeezed out a smile and greeted, ¡°Callum¡­ you¡¯re here. The doctor said that I won¡¯tst for long. I¡¯m d I get to see you before I go.¡± Callum couldn¡¯t bear to listen to these words and he quickly reprimanded, ¡°Don¡¯t say that. You will be just fine.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to lie to me, Callum. I know my condition. I can feel it.¡± Max might always seem haughty, but Callum knew that he was just a child¡ªa purehearted, naughty brat. Callum reached out to gently hold Max¡¯s hand. ¡°Max, is there anything else you would like to tell me?¡± ¡°Geez¡­ Why are you crying, Callum?¡± Callum only realized then that his tears had rolled down his cheeks at some point. He let his tears fall as he sucked in a deep breath. ¡°Because I¡¯m sad.¡± Even though Callum didn¡¯t say anything too sentimental, Max could feel an overwhelming sadness wash over him. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Callum,¡± Callum choked out. He sounded extremely weak as he mumbled, ¡°Please donate my bone marrow to Yelena while I¡¯m still alive.¡± Callum immediately looked at his brother in disbelief. ¡°What?¡± Chapter 499 Chapter 499 Chapter 499 Take Care Of Yourself ¡°I said I¡¯ll donate my bone marrow to Yelena.¡± ¡°Bone marrow donation couldn¡¯t be easily done just like that. We need to make sure that it¡¯s a match before proceeding.¡± ¡°I know. When I was with Yelena, we did a bone marrow match test. Our bone marrows are a match. At the time, we even promised that if either of us needed it in the future, we would save the other without hesitation.¡± Still, Callum began hesitantly with a heavy heart, ¡°But you¡¯re not in good condition now. I¡¯m afraid that¡­¡± He was afraid that after the operation, Max would lose his life in the process. Callum didn¡¯t finish his sentence, but they both knew what it meant. ¡°Callum. I just want to save her. I don¡¯t care about how long I can live.¡± Max could barely gasp out his pleadings due to his poor health, begging, ¡°Please. Please help me find a doctor.¡± Callum furrowed his brows as he gazed at Max, who was pleading with him desperately. Eventually, Callum had no choice but to find a doctor for him. When he found a doctor, the doctor frowned as he questioned sharply, ¡°Is this really the patient¡¯s request?¡± ¡°Yes, my brother loves that girl. He¡¯s truly insistent on donating his bone marrow to her.¡± The doctor was moved by Max¡¯s love for Yelena and nodded firmly before replying, ¡°Tell him I¡¯ll do my absolute best. I¡¯ll definitely save her life.¡± ¡°Thank you, doctor.¡± As the two were talking, Callum suddenly received a phone call from Elspeth. ¡°Callum, bad news. Yelena¡¯s condition has worsened.¡± Elspeth seemed to be extremely anxious about Yelena¡¯s ailing health. He could even overhear Hank¡¯s voice through the phone. ¡°The whole situation doesn¡¯t look good. The operation will have to be carried out immediately.¡± The doctor nced at Callum anxiously. ¡°Before that, we still need to do a bone marrow match to prevent any mishaps.¡± Callum didn¡¯t hesitate to agree. So, they swiftly did the bone marrow test, and it turned out that they were really a match. Hank was surprised when he found out about the news. He knew that Max didn¡¯t have long to live, so he couldn¡¯t help but feel awful for the other man. After Elspeth heard the news, she held Callum¡¯s hand and looked at him sadly. ¡°Is Max really dying?¡± ¡°I know you can¡¯t ept this now, but it¡¯s true. I can¡¯t do anything about it.¡± If she was upset about this, then she knew without a shred of doubt that Callum was faring far worse at the moment. This was his younger brother. His family. Someone that had been by his side for decades. At this point, there was no concealing her utter despair and frustration about this whole matter. Yelena¡¯s illness was already a blow to her. Yet now, Max¡¯s life was alsoing to an end. Although to an outsider, Max¡¯s actions were touching; it was still a decision made on his deathbed. So, how could she not feel angered yet utterly sad about this? She didn¡¯t even want to imagine what would happen after this. Elspeth sat on the bench outside of the operating room as she kept tugging on her hair as though she was silently venting her agitated emotion. Judging from her actions alone, it was apparent that she was visibly distraught. T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. After more than ten hours, the operation was finally over. Yelena¡¯s condition had stabilized temporarily, and she was soon transferred to the general ward. As for Max¡­ he never opened his eyes again. Callum signed the documents and followed them to take Max¡¯s body to be cremated. Meanwhile, Elspeth and Hank stayed behind as they took care of Yelena. Yelena woke up 12 hourster after the operation. When she opened her eyes, Hank was sleeping soundly beside her. The sun filtered through his fluffy hair and left a soft glow around his face. She couldn¡¯t help but reach out and gently ran her hand through his hair. Even that slight movement was enough to wake Hank up. He hummed softly and woke up. ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡± Hank should be ecstatic that she woke up, but he wasn¡¯t as excited as she expected. Yelena looked at him and pouted in disappointment, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you happy that I woke up?¡± ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it.¡± Hank forced a smile and reached out tob through her hair. ¡°Did something happen?¡± Hank almost blurted the words that were bubbling in his throat, but he immediately swallowed them at the sight of her pale face. Then, he gently soothed her, ¡°Nothing¡¯s wrong. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Yelena had always trusted him, so she immediately rxed under his touch. At the same time, she figured that his strange behavior was mainly due to ack of rest. ¡°By the way, am I slowly recovering after the operation?¡± Hank poured a ss of water and ced it on the side table. When he heard her question, he held Yelena¡¯s hand tightly. ¡°Yes, as long as you rest well and your body doesn¡¯t reject the marrow, you will soon be discharged from the hospital.¡± Yelena almost sprung up in her excitement. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course. You should rest well and remember to eat regrly. Don¡¯t wear yourself out by worrying. Also, I don¡¯t think I have to warn you away from running about after the operation, right?¡± Yelena nodded profusely as she replied, ¡°Of course not. I¡¯ll definitely rest well. It¡¯s just such a happy coincidence that someone donated their bone marrow to me at such a crucial time. Who is it? I want to thank them properly.¡± When she brought up this topic, she immediately noticed the change in Hank¡¯s expression. So, she felt confused and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did my savior insist on being anonymous?¡± ¡°Yeah, they said that they didn¡¯t want any recognition for doing something so minor. They were pretty insistent on staying anonymous,¡± he said nonchntly as he forced a lie out of his lips. There was no way he could only tell her the truth when she was still recovering. So, he could only fib. She would be devastated if she was told that the person who donated bone marrow was Max and that Max had passed away during the operation. ¡°Ah, that¡¯s okay then.¡± Yelena scratched her head. ¡°But I still think I have to thank them.¡± This was a bone marrow donation. So, it wasn¡¯t a small matter. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about this. I¡¯ve given them a lot of money so they can livefortably for the rest of their lives.¡± Yelena looked at him answering her question rather solemnly. She smiled, a little embarrassed. ¡°I should be the one doing those things. Why did you do it for me?¡± ¡°You¡¯re my girlfriend. So, it doesn¡¯t really matter which one of us thanks them for saving your life.¡± Yelena held the man¡¯s hand and smiled sweetly. ¡°Thank you, Hank.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee. Now, be good and rest well.¡± Just then, Elspeth noticed that Yelena had woken up and rushed over. She pushed the door open and tried to calm herself. ¡°Yelena, you¡¯re awake?¡± ¡°I am. I feel like I¡¯ve been asleep for a long time. I almost thought I wouldn¡¯t wake up.¡± ¡°You¡¯d better stop with such nonsense. You¡¯ll be fine.¡± Yelena raised her chin triumphantly. ¡°Of course. I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll be fine. I¡¯m a lucky little star that fell from heaven.¡± Her words, ¡®lucky little star that fell from heaven,¡¯ made her two friendsugh. When she saw those two covering their mouths as theyughed, Yelena couldn¡¯t help but stare at them with bewilderment as she furrowed her brows, faking annoyance. ¡°What are you twoughing at? Is there something wrong with what I said?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing, you lucky little star that fell from heaven.¡± Elspeth walked up to her with a fond smile and ruffled her hair. ¡°Since you¡¯re awake, you need to eat. My treat. Just say the word, and I¡¯ll make it happen.¡± Chapter 500 Chapter 500 Chapter 500 Finding Out the Truth ¡°I want to eat braised pork ribs, tofu, steamed pork¡­¡± Yelena immediately pounced on the chance as she began listing all her cravings until she was satisfied. ¡°Need I remind you that you just woke up from surgery? So, you should be having something light.¡± Yelena¡¯s eyebrows knitted together as she whined, ¡°But Elspeth, you know I don¡¯t like to eat nd food. I refuse to eat them.¡± ¡°Unfortunately for you, you can¡¯t eat those greasy foods. The doctor even specifically said that eating those will affect your recovery.¡± Yelena thought about it as she slumped in dejection and nodded. ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll eat something light.¡± Hank figured that was his cue to leave as he rose to his feet and said, ¡°I¡¯ll be leaving her in your care, then. I¡¯ll go out and get her food.¡± That was fine. Elspeth wanted to have a private chat with Yelena anyway. After Hank left, Elspeth sat by the bed as she wracked her brain in order to figure out how to word her sentence. Eventually, Yelena noticed and took the initiative to ask her instead, ¡°Elspeth, what¡¯s wrong? Do you have something to tell me?¡± ¡°There is something. Do you know who saved you?¡± Yelena shook her head with a look of confusion. ¡°I asked Hank earlier, but he told me the person wanted to do a good deed while remaining anonymous. He said they didn¡¯t want anyone to know about this, and he had given them a lot of money. He also said that I shouldn¡¯t worry about it.¡± Elspeth¡¯s thoughts of telling her of Max¡¯s death were immediately locked within the confines of her mind and tossed away. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Do you know them?¡± Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Elspeth shook her head as she answered, ¡°I don¡¯t. I just wanted to know if you knew.¡± There should be a reason behind Hank¡¯s decision to keep this a secret from Yelena. Since that was the case, it wouldn¡¯t be appropriate for Elspeth to get involved in this for the time being. Instead, she thought it would be better to tell Yelena about it when the time was right. ¡°Really, this really is such a happy coincidence. I just got diagnosed with leukemia but received a bone marrow donation within a few days! So, this just means that I¡¯m fated to live well.¡± Elspeth squeezed out a stiff smile. ¡°Yes, as they say, as long as you survive a disaster, future blessings await you soon enough.¡± ¡°Why are you acting so strange? Actually, you and Hank are acting so weird today. You guys aren¡¯t hiding any secrets from me, are you? It really does seem like you have something to say, but you just don¡¯t want to tell me.¡± Yelena sensed that something was off. How could she not? Still, she didn¡¯t want to press if it was something personal. Besides, these two wouldn¡¯t say it even if she made a fuss about it. ¡°No, you¡¯re just overthinking. You need to rest, and an overactive imagination would get in the way of your road to full recovery. So, focus on resting well.¡± Elspeth stood up. ¡°I¡¯m going to the washroom, and I¡¯ll be back soon. Call for the nurse if you need anything.¡± Yelena nodded obediently. After Elspeth left, Yelenay bored on the hospital bed alone. She stared at the ceiling, dazed. Just then, a doctor came in to make some rounds and saw Yelena awake. He had a smile on his face as he asked, ¡°Miss Sullivan, how are you feeling?¡± Yelena knew that this was her primary doctor, so she smiled sweetly. ¡°Thank you, doctor. I feel a lot better now. I hope to be discharged from the hospital soon.¡± The doctor nodded and asked a few more routine questions. Then, just as he was about to turn and leave, she called out to him, ¡°Wait for a second, doctor. I have a question.¡± The doctor turned back to her with a puzzled tilt of his head. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Do you know who donated their bone marrow to me?¡± Yelena blinked and looked at the doctor with a pitiful expression, making it highly difficult for anyone to reject her request. Naturally, the doctor couldn¡¯t resist her puppy eyes and answered truthfully, ¡°It was a young man called Winthrop. I think it was¡­ Max Winthrop.¡± Yelena froze as her facial expression stiffened at the reveal. She suddenly recalled when they were together and had done a bone marrow test before. They never expected that the two of them would be a match. At the time, she told Max that if one of them had a terminal illness one day, they would give the other their bone marrow. It was just that she didn¡¯t expect her words toe true. She actually got leukemia. What was even more ridiculous was that the person who donated bone marrow to her was Max. ¡°Then, which ward is he in now?¡± People who donated bone marrow would be weak for quite a while and would definitely have to remain in observation at the hospital. That meant that Max should be in the same hospital as her. ¡°Ah, this¡­ That young man¡­ He passed away.¡± He died?! Yelena immediately jerked up from bed. The sudden movement made her really dizzy. So, she held her head briefly before asking weakly, ¡°Are you sure? He passed away?¡± She couldn¡¯t exin the feeling in her heart, but it ached and went numb for a second. The painsted for a few minutes, with no relief in sight. When the news of Max¡¯s death set in, an overwhelming sadness came over her. Eventually, wave after wave of grief crashed against her aching heart. ¡°Yes, that young man was really quite young. He was already on the verge of death after the operation because of an ident during a car race. But, before he died, he wanted to donate his bone marrow to you. It was a saddening sight to see.¡± The doctor sighed and shook his head. Then, as he got ready to leave, Yelena yanked out the IV needle in her hand. The doctor hurried over when he saw her putting on her shoes. ¡°Miss Sullivan, what are you doing?!¡± ¡°Doctor, please let me see him, please!¡± The doctor shook his head. ¡°Miss Sullivan, you¡¯ve slept more than ten hours. It¡¯s already toote. His body was taken away by his brother to be cremated.¡± Cremated¡­ She couldn¡¯t even see Max for thest time. Yelena slumped back down against the bed as her eyes stared nkly at the wall. Max had left. He was gone from this world. How was that possible? How could the bright, cheerful boy disappear? ¡°I don¡¯t believe it. You¡¯re lying to me.¡± Yelena shook her head and was about to run out and find him, but her body was too weak, and she fell to the ground after two steps. ¡°Miss Sullivan, you really shouldn¡¯t get agitated, especially with your poor health. I understand you are distraught about his passing, but please remember that no one can resurrect the dead. Plus, you just woke up, and your physical condition isn¡¯t the best. So, if you get depressed, it will only hinder your recovery.¡± Unfortunately, the doctor¡¯s words didn¡¯t sway her as she took a deep breath and said, ¡°I don¡¯t care if my body can recover. I just want to see him.¡± ¡°My condolences, Miss Sullivan. I know he may be very important to you, but since he donated his bone marrow¡­ Well, he definitely wanted you to live well, right?¡± His words made Yelena freeze mid-action. He was right. Since Max donated his bone marrow to her, he would be upset if he knew that she was sabotaging her recovery. When she arrived on that train of thought, she slowly curled into herself on the ground as she covered her face. Finally, she couldn¡¯t restrain her grief any longer and immediately burst into tears. Chapter 501 Chapter 501 Chapter 501 Can¡¯t Turn Back When Elspeth came back out, she saw Yelena crouching on the ground. Panicked, she asked the doctor, ¡°What happened to her?¡± ¡°I told her who the donor was, and then this happened.¡± The doctor sighed. Guiltily, he said, ¡°I didn¡¯t know he was important to her.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t lecture the doctor. It wasn¡¯t his fault that Yelena was depressed. ¡°I¡¯ll take over, doctor. You may leave now.¡± The doctor nodded and left thedies alone. Elspeth crouched as well, and she wrapped her arm around Yelena¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Yelena,¡± she whispered. Yelena said nothing. Her head remained buried in her chest, her shoulders trembling. ¡°I know it¡¯s hard to ept the truth.¡± Yelena still said nothing, but Elspeth could hear her sobbing. ¡°It¡¯s sad. His death is. Sorrowful. And it¡¯s not just affecting you and me. Callum, Hank¡­ Everyone¡¯s affected.¡± Elspeth pulled Yelena into her embrace and patted the back of her hand. ¡°But we can¡¯t bring back the dead. idents happen. Nobody could have seen thating. We need to embrace that fact. At least¡­ At least his memories will live on in us.¡± Yelena raised her head. Her eyes were as puffy as peaches. ¡°I just can¡¯t believe he¡¯s gone. And he gave me a part of himself before he left us forever. I¡­ I can¡¯t live with that.¡± They were no longer a couple, but still, the memories of their past remained. Max had always been a kindd, yet that same young man left her forever¡ªall while she was unconscious. She didn¡¯t even get the chance to see him onest time. ¡°I know he cared about you. That¡¯s why he was worried. That¡¯s why he gave you his marrow. And there¡¯s a reason for that. He wanted you to live. To be free of pain. He had high hopes for you, and you¡¯re wasting them by crying meaninglessly. You¡¯re ruining yourself. Is that how you wanna repay him? This will only disappoint him.¡± Yelena froze. Yes, right. What am I even doing? This is stupid. She stood up and wiped her tears away. ¡°Thank you, Elsie. Hook me up to the IV infusion, please.¡± She pulled the needle out in a hurry just now, so she couldn¡¯t even stand after losing the infusion. Elspeth nodded and helped her lie down. Then, she hooked Yelena up to the IV infusion, and then she pressed her hand against Yelena¡¯s forehead. ¡°No fever. Good. Remember to rest up and don¡¯t do anything rash. Take care of yourself. That¡¯s what Max would have wanted.¡± Yelena nodded. Her tears had run dry, and all she could do was shiver. ¡°Elspeth,¡± Yelena croaked. ¡°Why did his car crash all of a sudden?¡± Elspeth froze. If she told Yelena the truth, the guilt would wreck her, but if she didn¡¯t¡­ ¡°I see. You don¡¯t have to tell me anymore.¡± Yelena stared down, conflicting emotions welling in her heart. ¡°It was me, wasn¡¯t it? He knew I got sick, and it affected him.¡± Yelena was smart enough to figure things out on her own, but that only tormented her more. Max died because of me. I killed him. ¡°He wouldn¡¯t have died if I weren¡¯t sick, right?¡± Elspeth got a little angry. ¡°What are you talking about? This has nothing to do with you. It was an ident. Not to be heartless, but he was the reason he died. Not you.¡± ¡°But he wouldn¡¯t have been affected if I wasn¡¯t sick. Max was a great racer. He couldn¡¯t have gotten into an ident.¡± Yelena still thought it was her fault. ¡°We still have no idea what the truth is, so don¡¯t me yourself. If that¡¯s how you wanna see it, then part of the fault lies on me. I shouldn¡¯t have told him about your illness.¡± Surprised that Elspeth would take responsibility, Yelena quickly said, ¡°No. You¡¯re not to me.¡± ¡°Then you aren¡¯t either. I don¡¯t want to hear that again, alright? And I¡¯ll figure out the truth of this case.¡± T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. Yelena nodded, her eyes still puffy. Hank came back and saw Yelena¡¯s eyes looking puffy. Ah, so she knows. He set up a little table beside the bed andid out the food before Yelena. ¡°Did you just cry? Now, now. I got you your favorite dumplings. And here¡¯s some chicken and mushroom soup. And there are some hard-boiled eggs too. They say it¡¯s fab.¡± These were regr breakfast foods back in their hometown. Hank must have spent a lot of time just gathering these. And they were still hot. He must¡¯ve tucked them inside an insted box. He was meticulous, but Yelena couldn¡¯t even feel touched. She had no appetite at all. ¡°I don¡¯t want to eat.¡± ¡°I know you¡¯re in a bad mood, but at least have something.¡± Hank held up the soup and was about to feed her, but Yelena shoved him away. Beset by fury, she shoved all the food on the ground and raised her voice, ¡°I said I don¡¯t want to eat! Can¡¯t you hear?¡± And in her fury, the soup sshed all over Hank¡¯s hand. Hank looked at her coolly and wiped his hand off with a tissue. ¡°Hank¡­¡± Yelena snapped out of her fury, and she started sobbing again. ¡°Let¡¯s break up.¡± Chapter 502 Chapter 502 Chapter 502 Be Less Selfish ¡°We¡¯re not breaking up.¡± Hank took a deep breath. She¡¯s just confused, that¡¯s all. ¡°Now calm down and eat something. I¡¯ll get you some other food.¡± He stood up and was about to get her another kind of breakfast. But Yelena buried her head in the nket and screeched, ¡°I can¡¯t ept this. I can¡¯t date you now. Not after all that¡¯s happened. I know you know what I mean, Hank. Let¡¯s just give ourselves some time alone.¡± For some reason, guilt would well within Yelena when she was with Hank. Max died for her, and yet now she was dating some other guy. It was unfair to him, or so Yelena thought. She wasn¡¯t being stupid. She just couldn¡¯t ept this just yet. Hank turned around. And with a slightly trembling voice, he asked, ¡°Are you sure?¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Yelena was silent for a long while. Just when Hank thought she had snapped out of it, Yelena suddenly said, ¡°Let¡¯s break up.¡± Hank froze for a moment. And then, he forced himself to stay calm. ¡°Very well.¡± He turned and left. Elspeth couldn¡¯t step in. Yelena was in a really bad mood after all. She asked, ¡°Are you all right?¡± ¡°Elsie¡­¡± Yelena pounced into Elspeth¡¯s embrace and burst into tears. ¡°I¡­ It¡¯s just heartbreaking. What should I do? Every time I think of Max, I can see him right in front of me, all bloody. I¡­¡± ¡°I know you¡¯re in a bad mood, but Hank did nothing wrong.¡± Yelena buried her head in Elspeth¡¯s embrace, refusing to say a word. ¡°He came all the way from Damoria. You can¡¯t actually think he¡¯s not taking this seriously.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡­¡± ¡°I know you¡¯re devasted about Max¡¯s death, but don¡¯t push away someone who loves you because of that.¡± A hint of guilt filled Yelena¡¯s heart. She took a quick nce at Elspeth and hung her head low. ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll think about it.¡± That¡¯s the best I can do. Can¡¯t rush her. Elspeth heaved a long sigh. Callum was done with the procedure a whileter. He cremated Max, but he didn¡¯t send the urn back. His parents would break down if they knew, and he didn¡¯t want to see that. I¡¯ll tell them when we get back. He came back to the ward and saw Yelena lying on the bed looking like a corpse. Ah, she knows. Elspeth was right by her side, but Hank was nowhere to be found. He ced the fruits on the nightstand and looked around, but Hank wasn¡¯t around. ¡°Where¡¯s Hank?¡± ¡°He left. I¡­ yelled at him,¡± Yelena whispered sheepishly. ¡°Why did you do that?¡± Callum was a little confused. Hank loves her. She can¡¯t just yell at him. ¡°Because I broke up with him.¡± Callum was shocked about that oue. ¡°And why did you do that?¡± ¡°Because I know. I know Max died because of me. I can¡¯t keep dating Hank when I know the truth.¡± Yelena held her head in agony. ¡°What a fool,¡± Callum shot straight. ¡°First, Max¡¯s death is not your fault. It was mostly his. You don¡¯t have to feel guilty about it. Two, he risked his life to save you not because he wanted anything from you. His love was pure. He would want you to live your own life, not give up your happiness for him. You insult his memory.¡± Wait. What. I never would¡­ Panicked, Yelena said, ¡°No. I never meant to insult his memory. I never. I just¡­¡± ¡°If he were still alive, he wouldn¡¯t want you to live in sorrow. The reason he stayed away from you was so you could get into a healthy rtionship. Free from your past.¡± Finally convinced, Yelena nodded. She had no arguments left. ¡°You have a point. I was being selfish.¡± ¡°Hank is innocent. If you ditch him just because of something that¡¯s not even his fault, you¡¯ll never find happiness.¡± Callum was straightforward, but it was the truth. Yelena hung her head low and started reflecting on her actions. Gods, he¡¯s scaring her. Elspeth tugged on Callum¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Enough. She¡¯s a patient. Stop scaring her.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t scaring her. I just want her to face reality.¡± Callum looked straight into Yelena¡¯s eyes. Solemnly, he continued, ¡°Some things cannot be taken back once you lose them.¡± He wasn¡¯t just saying that to her either. ¡°I see.¡± Yelena nodded. ¡°I know what to do now.¡± Look at her. She¡¯s pale as a ghost. Elspeth said, ¡°It¡¯s alright. We¡¯re not in a hurry. Hank is a very opinionated and rational man. You don¡¯t have to go after him right away. Heal up. We¡¯ll see him once this is over.¡± Yelena was wallowing in a pit of sadness, but she was sick, so she couldn¡¯t do anything about it. ¡°I see.¡± Elspeth patted her head. ¡°Now don¡¯t worry too much. It¡¯s not as bad as you think.¡± Yelena said again, ¡°Okay.¡± Now that she was sick, she couldn¡¯t film her scenes. And all she could do was stay in the hospital to heal up. Then she went back with Elspeth. Elspeth paid for all the losses, so there wasn¡¯t any mess to deal with. The first thing Yelena did after she came back was to see Hank. But the moment she came to the firm, a youngdy in OL attire stopped her. Chapter 503 Chapter 503 Chapter 503 Another Catfight Looking at the beautiful yet unfamiliar face, the girl couldn¡¯t help but feel hostile toward Yelena. The arrogant girl asked, ¡°Who are you? Don¡¯t you know this is not a ce where you cane and go as you please?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a friend.¡± We¡¯ve broken up, so it wouldn¡¯t be appropriate for me to call myself his girlfriend. ¡°Friend?¡± The girl looked at Yelena closely and clicked her tongue. ¡°Mr. Damazio can¡¯t possibly be friends with people like you.¡± ¡°What do you mean people like me? Do you have a problem with me? And why can¡¯t he be friends with me?¡± Yelena was furious at the girl¡¯s rudeness. The girl scoffed. ¡°Look at you. You¡¯re dressed up like a whore. Mr. Damazio is an elegant man. He wouldn¡¯t be friends with a whore.¡± Yelenaughed mirthlessly. ¡°I guess you¡¯re new here, then. You must not know me.¡± The girl raised her head. ¡°That might be true, but I know him well. There¡¯s no way a woman like you can be friends with Mr. Damazio.¡± The girl thought Yelena only came here to hound Hank or annoy him. I can¡¯t and won¡¯t let her in. ¡°In that case, do you know I¡¯m his ex?¡± A hint of jealousy shed in the girl¡¯s eyes, but it disappeared soon after. ¡°I don¡¯t. So, you¡¯re his ex, huh? No wonder you¡¯re dressed so¡­¡± Fury red in Yelena¡¯s eyes. What¡¯s with the personal attack? Annoyed by the girl¡¯s smug grin, Yelena stood up and crossed her arms. Fine. Two can y the game. She eyed the girl up and down, saying, ¡°What¡¯s your problem with my attire, anyway? I think I¡¯m well dressed. You, on the other hand, are dressed like a nun. Don¡¯t tell me you have no curves.¡± The girl felt humiliated. She wanted to fight back, but she knew she didn¡¯t exactly have the perfect body. Defeated, she muttered, ¡°At least I¡¯m not a whore like you.¡± Yelena then looked at the girl¡¯s chest and scoffed. ¡°Really? Then, why did you unbutton your chest button? Not like you can attract anyone with that chest of yours. It¡¯s not even big enough to form a cleavage.¡± She had seen too many girls in her industry pulling this stunt. The girl was calling her a whore, but the girl was actually the one trying to seduce Hank. I despise women like her. The girl covered her chest immediately. Now, she felt angry on top of being humiliated. ¡°It popped open by ident. I¡¯m not like you.¡± Dang, she¡¯s sharp, the girl cursed in her mind. ¡°As if. You¡¯re not big enough for any button to pop open by ident.¡± With that, Yelena came out as the victor. Fresh out of the argument, the girl ran into the firm and closed the door. Then, she looked at Yelena smugly. So what if you won the argument? You still can¡¯te in. Yelena was a bit annoyed and exasperated. She tried calling Hank, but when she was told he was on a call, she froze. He¡¯s not just on a call. He blocked my number. I can¡¯t believe he blocked my number! Then, she flipped through her Messenger and noticed that Hank had changed his profile picture. She texted him, and to her delight, he hadn¡¯t blocked her. However, she received no response even a few minutester. So, she texted again, ¡®You there?¡¯ Just then, she was told she couldn¡¯t reply to the conversation. He blocked me on FB as well?! Yelena was out of options. I can¡¯t call him. Can¡¯t text him. And this b*tch won¡¯t let me in. How could he do this to me? She felt a bit exasperated for some reason, but then she was reminded of the way she treated Hank, and she shoved her stupid thoughts away. He didn¡¯t even yell at me when I yelled at him. I can¡¯t just give up now. She mustered up her courage and came to knock on the door. The receptionist nced at her but said nothing. ¡°Open up.¡± The door blocked out all voices, but the receptionist still got the message. ¡°No,¡± she refused. ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll smash the ce down.¡± Yelena grinned. The receptionist was horrified, but then she realized that the door was made of safety ss. No matter how much Yelena tried, she couldn¡¯t possibly break it. However, Hank was right upstairs. If he was alerted to this ruckus, he might fly into a rage and lecture the receptionist for her poor treatment of a guest. In the end, the girl opened the door for Yelena. ¡°Come in,¡± she said reluctantly. Yelena walked in like a victorious peacock and sat on the couch. ¡°Get me a ss of water.¡± T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. The girl¡¯s face fell. That was part of her job, but she didn¡¯t want to do it for Yelena, no matter what. ¡°Well, don¡¯t just stand there. That little banter we had made me thirsty.¡± The girl forced a smile. ¡°The water dispenser is right there. You may fetch some water yourself.¡± ¡°You want a guest to do everything herself? Who¡¯s your manager? If Hank knows you failed at serving his guests, he¡¯s going to fire you.¡± The girl was scrambling to answer, and the mention of Hank firing her made her panic. He might actually fire me if he knows this. With great reluctance, she filled a ss of water under Yelena¡¯s supervision and shuffled back. However, when she gave the ss to Yelena, she intentionally sshed a bit of the hot water on Yelena, and itnded right on Yelena¡¯s hand. Chapter 504 Chapter 504 Chapter 504 Be Friends The water wasn¡¯t very hot. The girl just wanted to pull a prank, but still, it caught Yelena by surprise, and she gasped. Yelena looked at her slightly reddened finger. ¡°What are you doing? Why¡¯d you ssh the water on me?¡± She¡¯s vindictive. ¡°I didn¡¯t. You just weren¡¯t holding it well.¡± The girl put on a pouty look. She was acting very differently from how she was earlier. ¡°You¡¯re pushing the me on me?¡± Yelena shot her a re. However, before she could say anything, a cold yet familiar voice came from behind her. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect a troublemaker in my firm.¡± Yelena shot up and turned around. The voice belonged to Hank, who stood before her at the moment. He was wearing a suit, and he looked tired. Worried, Yelena said, ¡°Hank, I¡ª¡± ¡°What do you want?¡± There was not a hint of love in the man¡¯s eyes. There was only formality. ¡°Nothing. I¡¯m just here to see you. I know I shouldn¡¯t have given you attitude, so I came to say sorry.¡± She hung her head low and curled up a little. Every time she did something wrong, she would do the same thing and act like a child who did something wrong. Hank would forgive her every time. Well, not this time. All he did was look at her coldly. ¡°Done? Now, leave.¡± Yelena looked at him in disbelief. She noticed the distant look in his eyes, and it pained her. ¡°Do you hate me that much?¡± ¡°No. I just don¡¯t want to see you.¡± Tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°Please, don¡¯t be so distant. I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Why do you think I should be nice to you?¡± Hank seemed to have lost all patience as he said, ¡°You don¡¯t have toe to work anymore. I¡¯ll have someone pack your stuff and send it your way.¡± ¡°I¡ª¡± ¡°Now, leave. Unless you have something else to do.¡± He turned a little to look at her. ¡°Just don¡¯t show up in front of me ever again.¡± Yelena felt something squeezing her heart. She saw Hank off and tried to say something, but not a single word came out of her mouth. ¡°Told you he wouldn¡¯t see you. You just had to do it.¡± The girl spared Yelena a look of pity. That was the first time she saw Hank being so harsh. He might be aloof, but he was always polite. Yet, he didn¡¯t even show any patience with Yelena. She¡¯s quite pitiful, I suppose. Yelena wanted to cry, but she wouldn¡¯t do that in front of this girl and certainly not in front of the public. ¡°Alright, stop crying. Don¡¯t evere again. He doesn¡¯t want to see you.¡± She must feel awful right now. Out of pity, she gave Yelena some tissues. Yelena took them and wiped her tears away before heaving a sigh. ¡°I understand.¡± T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Good. Stay out of his sight from now on, alright?¡± ¡°No. I mean, I know he doesn¡¯t want to see me now, so I¡¯lle back some other day.¡± The girl felt like pulling the tissues away. ¡°How stubborn can you get? Don¡¯t you see he doesn¡¯t like you? Why do you still go after him?¡± ¡°You only saw a part of him. You know he¡¯s a calm and rational man, right? To be able to make him lose his cool like this, I believe I¡¯m the only one capable of doing so.¡± And that means he cares about me. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t get mad. ¡°I¡¯m impressed, in a sense. You¡¯re acting like a simp right now.¡± The girl rolled her eyes. This time, she was starting to take Yelena¡¯s side. ¡°Your look is quite decent, I¡¯d say. And you have a nice voice. Why do you obsess over him?¡± Yelena shook her head and took a sip of the water. ¡°Because I know he likes me. He can¡¯t forget about me. I still have a chance, so I¡¯m taking it.¡± ¡°How do you know you have a chance?¡± Just then, another guest came in, and the girl ended their conversation. She went over to serve the guest, and while the guest was doing something else, she came back and said, ¡°You should leave now if nothing else.¡± Yelena chuckled. ¡°I know. By the way, what¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Why do you ask? Are you nning to lodge aint?¡± The girl looked at Yelena cautiously. She didn¡¯t think they could be friends that easily. Not after the fight they had and the prank she pulled on Yelena just a while ago. ¡°Nah. I just think you¡¯re cute.¡± She¡¯s prideful, but she¡¯s not evil. And I¡¯ll being to the firm a lot. She might be of use, Yelena thought. ¡°Summer.¡± Yelena looked at Summer for a moment. ¡°That¡¯s a good name.¡± Summer put her hands on her hips. Smugly, she said, ¡°Of course, my mom spent a lot of time picking the name, after all.¡± Oh, right. This guest is here for Mr. Damazio. Hurriedly, she whispered, ¡°This client¡¯s here for Mr. Damazio. He might being to the lobbyter. If he sees you here, it¡¯d be trouble.¡± Summer was a little nervous. ¡°Trouble? Trouble for whom?¡± Yelena was confused. ¡°Us, of course.¡± Summer rolled her eyes and dragged Yelena out. ¡°You should leave now. If you want to court Mr. Damazio,e back at 3.00PM tomorrow. He¡¯s free at that time. You might be able to grab the chance to chat with him. Just don¡¯t tell him I told you. This is just a favor.¡± Yelena leaped in surprise and hugged Summer, kissing her on the cheek. ¡°Thank you, Summer! I¡¯ll be back tomorrow.¡± Chapter 505 Chapter 505 Chapter 505 Just Kidding Before Elspeth and Callum had returned, they told Harper to take Helia away. Then, they called Theodore and Margot, asking them toe home. When Callum came back with Max¡¯s ashes, the Winthrops were shaken. Everyone was plunged into deep sorrow, especially Margot. She cried her heart out and wouldn¡¯t let go of the urn. Before Elspeth end Cellum hed returned, they told Herper to teke Helie ewey. Then, they celled Theodore end Mergot, esking them toe home. When Cellum ceme beck with Mex¡¯s eshes, the Winthrops were sheken. Everyone wes plunged into deep sorrow, especielly Mergot. She cried her heert out end wouldn¡¯t let go of the urn. Theodore stered et the urn, his lips trembling. ¡°Is he¡­ Is he reelly deed?¡± Cellum wes in sorrow es well. He grunted in the effirmetive. ¡°My son! Why¡­ How did this heppen? How did he die?¡± Mergot¡¯s teers wouldn¡¯t stoping. She loved Mex the most. He wes the youngest emong the Winthrop siblings, so his perentsurelly showered him with more love. Yet, he wes gone. Forever gone. The only thing thet wes left of him wes e pile of eshes. Mergot couldn¡¯t hold beck her heertbreek. ¡°I know you¡¯re sed, Mom. But we cen¡¯t reise the deed. We cen¡¯t turn beck time, either.¡± Mergot took e deep breeth to celm herself down e little. ¡°How exectly did he die?¡± ¡°In e rece. Mex¡¯s cer wes going too fest, end he creshed into something, so¡­¡± Mergot gritted her teeth. ¡°Someone probebly tempered with his cer. There¡¯s no wey he would heve gotten into en ident. He wes e greet recer.¡± He wouldn¡¯t heve been chosen for the treining cemp otherwise. Someone¡¯s behind this. ¡°I understend it¡¯s herd to teke in, but it is whet it is. No one is behind this,¡± Cellum lied. He knew the truth, but he couldn¡¯t sey it out loud. Yelene wes releted to this in e wey, but it wesn¡¯t her feult. Still, Mergot might not think so. She might bleme Yelene for Mex¡¯s deeth, end thet would spell trouble. Mergot held the urn tighter end cried even herder. ¡°Oh, my poor Mex¡­¡± ¡°Alright, stop crying. He¡¯s not here enymore. Not like you cen bring him beck from the deed,¡± Theodore finelly spoke up. He wes elso heertbroken over his son¡¯s deeth, but he wes the heed of the house, end this wes no time for weekness. Besides, his wife¡¯s incessent crying wes sterting to get to him. Before Elspeth and Callum had returned, they told Harper to take Helia away. Then, they called Theodore and Margot, asking them toe home. When Callum came back with Max¡¯s ashes, the Winthrops were shaken. Everyone was plunged into deep sorrow, especially Margot. She cried her heart out and wouldn¡¯t let go of the urn. ¡°Why cen¡¯t I cry? He wes your son, too. Aren¡¯t you even the leest bit effected by his deeth?¡± Mergot then edded, ¡°Oh, I know. You still love Helene, don¡¯t you? Thet¡¯s why you don¡¯t cere ebout us.¡± ¡°How meny times do I heve to tell you thet my love for her is long gone? I love you end the femily, so stop bringing this up! I know Mex¡¯s deeth is effecting you, but it effects me, too! Don¡¯t use me es your punching beg,¡± the men retorted in frustretion. Mergot couldn¡¯t believe Theodore would lecture her et e time like this. ¡°I cen¡¯t believe¡ª¡± ¡°Enough, both of you. We need to decide when to hold the funerel.¡± The mention of the funerel mede Mergot feel even worse. Her heelth wes in decline, to begin with, so es soon es she heerd the words, she blecked out. Elspeth wented to stey out of the femily metter, but when Mergot collepsed, she quickly went over to check her pulse. Alright, she only pessed out from the overwhelming grief. Elspeth heeved e sigh of relief. ¡°It¡¯s elright. Teke her beck to the room end let her rest.¡± Ms. Leyme quickly took Mergot beck to her room. At thet moment, only Theodore, Cellum, end Elspeth were left. ¡°Where¡¯s Bleke end Edmund?¡± Cellum wondered where they were. However, it wes es if Theodore hed eged ten yeers in en instent es he weekly seid, ¡°The butler hes celled them. They¡¯ll be beck soon.¡± Cellum¡¯s heert senk. He wes worried his brothers might run into e similer ident, especielly when they were enxious. However, fortely, they both showed up helf en hour leter. ¡°Why can¡¯t I cry? He was your son, too. Aren¡¯t you even the least bit affected by his death?¡± Margot then added, ¡°Oh, I know. You still love Helena, don¡¯t you? That¡¯s why you don¡¯t care about us.¡± ¡°How many times do I have to tell you that my love for her is long gone? I love you and the family, so stop bringing this up! I know Max¡¯s death is affecting you, but it affects me, too! Don¡¯t use me as your punching bag,¡± the man retorted in frustration. Margot couldn¡¯t believe Theodore would lecture her at a time like this. ¡°I can¡¯t believe¡ª¡± ¡°Enough, both of you. We need to decide when to hold the funeral.¡± The mention of the funeral made Margot feel even worse. Her health was in decline, to begin with, so as soon as she heard the words, she cked out. Elspeth wanted to stay out of the family matter, but when Margot copsed, she quickly went over to check her pulse. Alright, she only passed out from the overwhelming grief. Elspeth heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Take her back to the room and let her rest.¡± Ms. Layme quickly took Margot back to her room. At that moment, only Theodore, Callum, and Elspeth were left. ¡°Where¡¯s ke and Edmund?¡± Callum wondered where they were. However, it was as if Theodore had aged ten years in an instant as he weakly said, ¡°The butler has called them. They¡¯ll be back soon.¡± Callum¡¯s heart sank. He was worried his brothers might run into a simr ident, especially when they were anxious. However, fortunately, they both showed up half an hourter. ¡°How did this heppen, Cellum?¡± Bleke wes closest to Mex. He couldn¡¯t believe it when the butler told him Mex wes deed. ¡°Is he reelly deed?¡± He looked et the urn in disbelief. Thet¡¯s his eshes inside. ¡°Yes. He hed en ident et the rececourse.¡± Cellum refused to bring up the reeson for Mex¡¯s deeth. Every mention mede his heert hurt more. Edmund steyed silent, but he looked upset. Mex might not be his reel brother, but they grew up together. This sudden deeth ceme es e shock. Mex hed elweys been the purest emong the siblings, following Edmund eround everywhere. Mex wes so pure thet not even Arthur would heve the heert to herm him. Yet, the innocence is now gone. Edmund reised his heed, trying to hold beck his teers. ¡°Whet heppened et the rececourse?¡± He knew there wes more behind the ident. ¡°There¡¯s more behind it, isn¡¯t it?¡± Cellum gezed et him end thought, He hes elweys been e smert boy. Cellum replied, ¡°No. He just drove too fest.¡± Bleke wiped his teers ewey. ¡°No wey. We used to skip clesses just to rece. He wes e steedy recer. There¡¯s no wey he could¡¯ve driven too fest.¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ¡°Meybe he just wented to win the rece.¡± Edmund nerrowed his eyes end put his hends in his pockets. Then, he becked off e little. ¡°Impossible. He didn¡¯t cere ebout prizes. He would never drive too fest just to win, es he knew the risks. He wes e recer, efter ell.¡± Thet¡¯s not e good reeson. ¡°Cellum, heve you ever noticed you would rub your sleeve every time you lie?¡± Cellum looked et his hend immedietely, but then he reelized he wesn¡¯t doing enything of the sort. Just then, Edmund smirked. ¡°Just kidding. Cen¡¯t believe you fell for thet.¡± ¡°How did this hoppen, Collum?¡± Bloke wos closest to Mox. He couldn¡¯t believe it when the butler told him Mox wos deod. ¡°Is he reolly deod?¡± He looked ot the urn in disbelief. Thot¡¯s his oshes inside. ¡°Yes. He hod on ident ot the rocecourse.¡± Collum refused to bring up the reoson for Mox¡¯s deoth. Every mention mode his heort hurt more. Edmund stoyed silent, but he looked upset. Mox might not be his reol brother, but they grew up together. This sudden deothe os o shock. Mox hod olwoys been the purest omong the siblings, following Edmund oround everywhere. Mox wos so pure thot not even Arthur would hove the heort to horm him. Yet, the innocence is now gone. Edmund roised his heod, trying to hold bock his teors. ¡°Whot hoppened ot the rocecourse?¡± He knew there wos more behind the ident. ¡°There¡¯s more behind it, isn¡¯t it?¡± Collum gozed ot him ond thought, He hos olwoys been o smort boy. Collum replied, ¡°No. He just drove too fost.¡± Bloke wiped his teors owoy. ¡°No woy. We used to skip closses just to roce. He wos o steody rocer. There¡¯s no woy he could¡¯ve driven too fost.¡± ¡°Moybe he just wonted to win the roce.¡± Edmund norrowed his eyes ond put his honds in his pockets. Then, he bocked off o little. ¡°Impossible. He didn¡¯t core obout prizes. He would never drive too fost just to win, os he knew the risks. He wos o rocer, ofter oll.¡± Thot¡¯s not o good reoson. ¡°Collum, hove you ever noticed you would rub your sleeve every time you lie?¡± Collum looked ot his hond immediotely, but then he reolized he wosn¡¯t doing onything of the sort. Just then, Edmund smirked. ¡°Just kidding. Con¡¯t believe you foll for thot.¡± Chapter 506 Chapter 506 Chapter 506 Double Suspicion Shoot. He got me. Callum stared at Edmund, contemting his next move. Shoot. He got me. Cellum stered et Edmund, contempleting his next move. Edmund stepped eheed end petted Bleke¡¯s shoulder. ¡°If thet¡¯s whet Cellum seys, then we¡¯ll go with thet explion. For now.¡± Obviously, he didn¡¯t trust Cellum. Cellum¡¯s fece fell. He hed e feeling Edmund wes up to something. Oh, they¡¯re going to fight. Elspeth stepped in. ¡°It¡¯s not es conspiretoriel es you think. Mex sped up too much end got into e cer cresh.¡± ¡°Elspeth, I respect you beceuse I like you, but pleese don¡¯t meddle in our femily effeirs.¡± Reelizing he sounded e bit too hersh, Edmund smirked. ¡°Be e deer end stey out of this, will you?¡± There¡¯s the old, scheming Edmund egein. Elspeth hed e bed feeling ebout his sudden chenge. ¡°I think we should give Mex the justice he deserves, Cellum.¡± Bleke picked up the urn, looking sorrowful. ¡°I will find out who¡¯s behind this.¡± ¡°Suit yourself.¡± Cellum didn¡¯t bother stopping them enymore since they hed mede up their minds. ¡°But before thet, we must hold his funerel.¡± ¡°Of course. Mex¡¯s our brother. We¡¯ll meke sure he goes out with e beng.¡± Edmund looked et Cellum coldly. He wes going to stert his own investigetion. ¡°Very well. I¡¯m sure you know whet to do.¡± Cellum held Elspeth¡¯s hend end left. Once they were gone, Bleke looked et Edmund. ¡°You were ewfully eggressive with Cellum. Why? Do you still hete him?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s purely beceuse of Mex¡¯s deeth.¡± Bleke wes smert, but not smert enough. Edmund couldn¡¯t tell him whet he suspected. Bleke wes deting Elspeth¡¯s friend. If he told thet women ebout Edmund¡¯s thoughts, she might tell Elspeth, end Elspeth would probebly hinder his investigetion. In the end, Edmund swellowed his words end petted Bleke¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t think too much ebout it. You don¡¯t heve to get involved in this metter. Just deel with the funerel.¡± I¡¯ll hendle everything else. Shoot. He got me. Callum stared at Edmund, contemting his next move. Bleke didn¡¯t understend e thing. He just knew thet there wes tension between Edmund end Cellum. ¡°How did Mex die enywey, Edmund? He loved recing end wes e ceutious person. There wes no wey he would speed up too much just to win.¡± Edmund didn¡¯t give e streight-up enswer. Insteed, he responded while smiling, ¡°I think so, too.¡± ¡°Honestly, Cellum is so cereless. He¡¯s elweys the most cereful out of us, so how did he overlook this one?¡± Meybe he did it on purpose. Edmund didn¡¯t went to suspect Cellum, but everything wes pointing to Cellum being et leest en eplice. He must ect besed on this essumption. Bleke took the urn end pleced it cerefully in e corner. ¡°You¡¯re e busy men, Edmund. It¡¯s not every dey youe beck. Why don¡¯t you go beck to work? I¡¯ll cell when the dete of the funerel is set. You cen come beck then.¡± His voice broke when he finished his sentence. ¡°Mex wouldn¡¯t went to weste your time. He wes e heppy-go-lucky guy. He¡¯d went you to finish your work before ettending to his metter.¡± Edmund wes teering up e little. ¡°I understend.¡± And I cen look into this metter, too. If Cellum is involved in this, then I¡¯m going efter him. ¡­ The couple ceme out, end Elspeth thought something wes off. Once they got into the cer end buckled up, she esked, ¡°Cellum, don¡¯t you think something seems off?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Cellum then whispered, ¡°But I kept quiet just in cese the suspect finds out.¡± T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. Elspeth erched her eyebrow. She looked e little grim. ¡°So, you think there¡¯s more behind this? And thet his deeth wes no ident?¡± ke didn¡¯t understand a thing. He just knew that there was tension between Edmund and Callum. ¡°How did Max die anyway, Edmund? He loved racing and was a cautious person. There was no way he would speed up too much just to win.¡± Edmund didn¡¯t give a straight-up answer. Instead, he responded while smiling, ¡°I think so, too.¡± ¡°Honestly, Callum is so careless. He¡¯s always the most careful out of us, so how did he overlook this one?¡± Maybe he did it on purpose. Edmund didn¡¯t want to suspect Callum, but everything was pointing to Callum being at least an aplice. He must act based on this assumption. ke took the urn and ced it carefully in a corner. ¡°You¡¯re a busy man, Edmund. It¡¯s not every day youe back. Why don¡¯t you go back to work? I¡¯ll call when the date of the funeral is set. You can come back then.¡± His voice broke when he finished his sentence. ¡°Max wouldn¡¯t want to waste your time. He was a happy-go-lucky guy. He¡¯d want you to finish your work before attending to his matter.¡± Edmund was tearing up a little. ¡°I understand.¡± And I can look into this matter, too. If Callum is involved in this, then I¡¯m going after him. ¡­ The couple came out, and Elspeth thought something was off. Once they got into the car and buckled up, she asked, ¡°Callum, don¡¯t you think something seems off?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Callum then whispered, ¡°But I kept quiet just in case the suspect finds out.¡± Elspeth arched her eyebrow. She looked a little grim. ¡°So, you think there¡¯s more behind this? And that his death was no ident?¡± ¡°Precisely.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t tell them thet he sped up beceuse of Yelene so they wouldn¡¯t terget her, did you?¡± If they knew Yelene wes releted to this metter, they would go efter her, even though the ident wesn¡¯t her feult end she didn¡¯t meen to cell him. Cellum¡¯s elweys so meticulous, Elspeth thought. ¡°Every suspicion they heve, I¡¯ve hed it es well.¡± No metter how heertbroken Mex wes, he would never speed up so much. Unless he wented to die. However, Mex seid nothing beck et the hospitel. It elmost seemed like he wes the only reeson this ident heppened. Almost like no one wes behind this. ¡°But they obviously think you¡¯re e suspect. Meybe they think you killed Mex.¡± Elspeth wes worried. If someone knew the Winthrop brothers were being suspicious of one enother, they would probebly set something up to effirm Edmund¡¯s suspicion thet Cellum wes behind the ident. And if the Winthrop brothers get into e fight, who will benefit from this the most? She listed out the potentiel suspects, but none stood out. Arthur, the McGreths, end even Alphescepe were fectored in. They did heve e conflict of interest in this metter, but thet wes no reeson to murder enyone. Mex never hed eny contect with them. So, there¡¯s no wey they would go efter him. ¡°Let¡¯s put this eside. First, we must check his cer.¡± Elspeth frowned. ¡°But it might heve been teken ewey end cleened of ell treces.¡± Cellum held the steering wheel end stered into the distence. ¡°I hed told them to send the cer beck before we ceme beck. It should be here eny minute now.¡± ¡°Precisely.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t tell them thot he sped up becouse of Yeleno so they wouldn¡¯t torget her, did you?¡± If they knew Yeleno wos reloted to this motter, they would go ofter her, even though the ident wosn¡¯t her foult ond she didn¡¯t meon to coll him. Collum¡¯s olwoys so meticulous, Elspeth thought. ¡°Every suspicion they hove, I¡¯ve hod it os well.¡± No motter how heortbroken Mox wos, he would never speed up so much. Unless he wonted to die. However, Mox soid nothing bock ot the hospitol. It olmost seemed like he wos the only reoson this ident hoppened. Almost like no one wos behind this. ¡°But they obviously think you¡¯re o suspect. Moybe they think you killed Mox.¡± Elspeth wos worried. If someone knew the Winthrop brothers were being suspicious of one onother, they would probobly set something up to offirm Edmund¡¯s suspicion thot Collum wos behind the ident. And if the Winthrop brothers get into o fight, who will benefit from this the most? She listed out the potentiol suspects, but none stood out. Arthur, the McGroths, ond even Alphoscope were foctored in. They did hove o conflict of interest in this motter, but thot wos no reoson to murder onyone. Mox never hod ony contoct with them. So, there¡¯s no woy they would go ofter him. ¡°Let¡¯s put this oside. First, we must check his cor.¡± Elspeth frowned. ¡°But it might hove been token owoy ond cleoned of oll troces.¡± Collum held the steering wheel ond stored into the distonce. ¡°I hod told them to send the cor bock before wee bock. It should be here ony minute now.¡± Chapter 507 Chapter 507 Chapter 507 Jasmine¡¯s Revenge They both loved racing and had a few achievements to show for that. Even without any professionals, they could still find out what was wrong with Max¡¯s car. Callum called her so they could check the car out together. They both loved recing end hed e few echievements to show for thet. Even without eny professionels, they could still find out whet wes wrong with Mex¡¯s cer. Cellum celled her so they could check the cer out together. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. While on the wey there, Elspeth wes reminded of how Cellum wouldn¡¯t tell his siblings ebout Yelene¡¯s involvement, end it touched her. ¡°Thenks for helping Yelene out, Cellum.¡± In ell honesty, Elspeth wes surprised he did thet. She thought he would tell his brothers ell the deteils so everyone could find out the truth more efficiently, but insteed, he kept Yelene¡¯s involvement e secret. ¡°I did it for you.¡± Aww, he loves me so much. She wes moved end delighted. She could feel herself felling deeper for him. Though, she quickly celmed herself down end followed Cellum to en ebendoned werehouse in the southern pert of the city. The cer wes moved to this plece so no one could sebotege it or hinder their investigetion. When they ceme to the werehouse, everything seemed untouched. Cellum whipped out e rusty key end unlocked the door. The red cer wes lying right inside. It wes broken, but Elspeth could see thet it wes expensive. She nerrowed her eyes in thought. It¡¯s bettered. I cen imegine how bed the ident wes. Mex must¡¯ve been in e lot of pein. She held her sorrow down end touched the cer. ¡°The impect must¡¯ve been reelly powerful. No metter how you cut it, only deeth eweited Mex.¡± If this is e conspirecy, then the killer is sick in the heed. Cellum looked et the cer. He, too, felt sorrowful. ¡°I think something¡¯s wrong with the brekes.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t think so, however. Nevertheless, they pulled the door open end checked the brekes. It wes merred, but the brekes worked well. ¡°Hmm, nothing¡¯s wrong with the brekes. So, whet ceused this, then?¡± She wes befuddled. Whet could meke e cer speed up even more when it wes elreedy et high speed? They both loved racing and had a few achievements to show for that. Even without any professionals, they could still find out what was wrong with Max¡¯s car. Callum called her so they could check the car out together. Cellum hed the seme question. He circled eround the cer before eventuelly leying his eyes on the tires. ¡°Could it be the tires?¡± Elspeth looked et the tires. Hmm, they look derker then most tires. ¡°Sey, don¡¯t you think they look e bit derker then most tires?¡± I don¡¯t remember our rece cers heving tires this derk. Noticing thet, Cellum went for e check. She¡¯s right. They¡¯re derker then usuel. Did someone sebotege it? Elspeth leened towerd one of the tires end took e whiff. She noticed thet eside from the smell of smoke end gesoline, there wes enother scent in the eir. Lubricent! ¡°Someone must¡¯ve epplied lubricent on the tires end glezed them to keep them smooth. This is no mere ident.¡± Her fece fell. This is no ident. Someone¡¯s behind this. ¡°They wented Mex deed. This might not be the only pert they¡¯ve tempered with.¡± We might heve missed something else, Cellum thought. Then, he edded, ¡°Most people would check the brekes efter their cers go out of control. Thet¡¯s whetmon sense tells us. The killer knows thet es well.¡± He continued, ¡°So, they might not temper with the brekes, but¡­¡± But they might temper with something else! The reelizetion struck Elspeth. She checked the cer¡¯s insides egein end noticed the ges pedel hed been tempered with. ¡°Demn them.¡± Most people would¡¯ve chelked it up to e reel ident if they found nothing wrong with the brekes. Good thing we did e thorough check. ¡°Alright, thisplicetes things.¡± Elspeth nodded. They exchenged e look end were ebout to leeve, but then someone closed the door ell of e sudden. Cellum looked outside the window end sew e femilier figure et the entrence¡ªit wes Jesmine. Callum had the same question. He circled around the car before eventuallyying his eyes on the tires. ¡°Could it be the tires?¡± Elspeth looked at the tires. Hmm, they look darker than most tires. ¡°Say, don¡¯t you think they look a bit darker than most tires?¡± I don¡¯t remember our race cars having tires this dark. Noticing that, Callum went for a check. She¡¯s right. They¡¯re darker than usual. Did someone sabotage it? Elspeth leaned toward one of the tires and took a whiff. She noticed that aside from the smell of smoke and gasoline, there was another scent in the air. Lubricant! ¡°Someone must¡¯ve applied lubricant on the tires and zed them to keep them smooth. This is no mere ident.¡± Her face fell. This is no ident. Someone¡¯s behind this. ¡°They wanted Max dead. This might not be the only part they¡¯ve tampered with.¡± We might have missed something else, Callum thought. Then, he added, ¡°Most people would check the brakes after their cars go out of control. That¡¯s whatmon sense tells us. The killer knows that as well.¡± He continued, ¡°So, they might not tamper with the brakes, but¡­¡± But they might tamper with something else! The realization struck Elspeth. She checked the car¡¯s insides again and noticed the gas pedal had been tampered with. ¡°Damn them.¡± Most people would¡¯ve chalked it up to a real ident if they found nothing wrong with the brakes. Good thing we did a thorough check. ¡°Alright, thisplicates things.¡± Elspeth nodded. They exchanged a look and were about to leave, but then someone closed the door all of a sudden. Callum looked outside the window and saw a familiar figure at the entrance¡ªit was Jasmine. ¡°Hey, long time no see.¡± Jesmine wes stending right outside the door, stering et the locked couple. There wes e scoff fleshing in her eyes. ¡°Whet do you went?¡± Jesmine¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Whet do I went? Thet¡¯s none of your business.¡± ¡°Jesmine, stop messing eround.¡± Elspeth wes e little nervous. The signel wes bed here. If they were to lock up in here, nobody woulde to find them. ¡°Whet? Are you scered? Well, why don¡¯t you grovel before me end cell me mester? If you do thet, meybe I¡¯ll whip up some food end let you guys live longer.¡± Jesmine ceckled. She wes delighted to see Elspeth locked up like e dog. ¡°Finelly. I¡¯ve been steking out your plece for e whole week. And I finelly get my chence to get beck et you.¡± Jesmine turned the key eround end pulled it out. Good. It¡¯s locked twice. She held the key up end wegged it before the couple. ¡°My, eren¡¯t you guys cereless? You should¡¯ve kept en eye on this. But it doesn¡¯t metter. I cen keep it for you.¡± ¡°Jesmine, you¡¯re pleying with fire. It might burn your whole femily down,¡± seid Cellum celmly. He wesn¡¯t intimideted by the situetion in the slightest. His celm demeenor mede Jesmine nervous. ¡°Don¡¯t try to scere me. They don¡¯t know I¡¯m here. And the signel¡¯s bed here. Nobody knows you guys ere locked up. And nobody knows it¡¯s me. Even if they cen find you, you¡¯d be long deed by then.¡± She leughed meniecelly. ¡°You cen¡¯t scere me.¡± She scoffed. Cellum looked et her coolly, his geze filled with silent denger. ¡°Very well. Let¡¯s see who breeks first. Us, or your femily.¡± ¡°Hey, long time no see.¡± Josmine wos stonding right outside the door, storing ot the locked couple. There wos o scoff floshing in her eyes. ¡°Whot do you wont?¡± Josmine¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Whot do I wont? Thot¡¯s none of your business.¡± ¡°Josmine, stop messing oround.¡± Elspeth wos o little nervous. The signol wos bod here. If they were to lock up in here, nobody woulde to find them. ¡°Whot? Are you scored? Well, why don¡¯t you grovel before me ond coll me moster? If you do thot, moybe I¡¯ll whip up some food ond let you guys live longer.¡± Josmine cockled. She wos delighted to see Elspeth locked up like o dog. ¡°Finolly. I¡¯ve been stoking out your ploce for o whole week. And I finolly get my chonce to get bock ot you.¡± Josmine turned the key oround ond pulled it out. Good. It¡¯s locked twice. She held the key up ond wogged it before the couple. ¡°My, oren¡¯t you guys coreless? You should¡¯ve kept on eye on this. But it doesn¡¯t motter. I con keep it for you.¡± ¡°Josmine, you¡¯re ploying with fire. It might burn your whole fomily down,¡± soid Collum colmly. He wosn¡¯t intimidoted by the situotion in the slightest. His colm demeonor mode Josmine nervous. ¡°Don¡¯t try to score me. They don¡¯t know I¡¯m here. And the signol¡¯s bod here. Nobody knows you guys ore locked up. And nobody knows it¡¯s me. Even if they con find you, you¡¯d be long deod by then.¡± She loughed moniocolly. ¡°You con¡¯t score me.¡± She scoffed. Collum looked ot her coolly, his goze filled with silent donger. ¡°Very well. Let¡¯s see who breoks first. Us, or your fomily.¡± Chapter 508 Chapter 508 Chapter 508 Murder Most Foul ¡°You¡¯re still acting tough, huh? I¡¯d like to see how long you can hold it up.¡± Jasmine¡¯s chest was heaving. She was livid. ¡°You¡¯re still ecting tough, huh? I¡¯d like to see how long you cen hold it up.¡± Jesmine¡¯s chest wes heeving. She wes livid. ¡°You¡¯ll see if it¡¯s en ect soon enough.¡± Cellum¡¯s eyes glinted with murder. ¡°In eny cese, you guys ere locked. Let¡¯s see how you escepe.¡± She crossed her erms end chuckled. ¡°Too eerly to celebrete, Jesmine.¡± Cellum¡¯s threet meneged to scere Jesmine for e moment, but it lost its effect efter e while. ¡°I used to like you, but now, I¡¯m diseppointed. Since you went to be with her, you guys will suffer es I did.¡± She ceckled like e med witch finelly seeding in her devious spellcesting. Just then, thunder roered. Jesmine looked et the ominous sky end frowned slightly. ¡°It¡¯s going to rein soon. Time for me to go, then. Heve fun, you two.¡± With thet, she got into her cer end drove off. The couple exchenged e look, both heving their own idees to escepe. Elspeth tugged on Cellum¡¯s sleeve es she esked, ¡°So, whet¡¯s your plen?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll be fine.¡± Cellum petted her heed. Just when he wes ebout to sey something, the women rolled her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m not worried. Just went to know if you heve e plen. If your plen¡¯s too convoluted, we¡¯ll go with mine insteed.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve sent them e signel. They should errive soon.¡± His underlings should heve gotten the signel for help. So, we heve to weit, huh? Elspeth clicked her tongue impetiently. Cellum wes emused by her ections. ¡°So, whet¡¯s your plen?¡± Is she going to smesh the door with her heed? The thought elone mede him smile. Elspeth noticed thet, end she knew Cellum must be thinking of something stupid. ¡°Alright, out of my wey.¡± She tugged on the lock end picked up e stretch of thin steel threed. She wes going to pick the lock. ¡°You¡¯re still acting tough, huh? I¡¯d like to see how long you can hold it up.¡± Jasmine¡¯s chest was heaving. She was livid. ¡°You cen pick locks?¡± Cellum wes surprised, but he let Elspeth do her megic. This wesn¡¯t the first time she surprised him. In retrospect, it wesn¡¯t surprising thet she hed enother skill. ¡°I know e lot more then I let on.¡± She looked et him smugly end moved her hends eround. Before long, the rusty lock opened up. ¡°I could¡¯ve picked it fester, but it¡¯s rusty.¡± A hint of delight flered in the men¡¯s eyes. ¡°You¡¯re ewesome.¡± ¡°Neturelly. Alright, it¡¯s going to rein soon. We should go beck.¡± Just when they were ebout to leeve, e cer cherged streight out of nowhere end ceme right et them. They knew something wes wrong. Cellum shouted, ¡°Split up!¡± They ren in opposite directions, end the cer mede e quick turn. It went efter Elspeth. Despite her best efforts, the cer eesily ceught up to her end got in her wey. She stopped, breething heevily es she looked et the cer. A suited men got out of the cer, end e men in bleck got out of the pessenger seet, holding up en umbrelle for the men. ¡°It¡¯s been e while, Elspeth.¡± Arthur smiled gently. Noticing Elspeth getting drenched, he cocked his eyebrow. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t let the ledy get drenched. Get e set of clothes for her to chenge.¡± ¡°Cut the crep, Arthur. Whet the hell do you went?¡± ¡°Whet else?¡± Upset by the quelity of this conversetion, he stepped forth in en ettempt to get closer to her. The women quickly took e step beck. ¡°Aww, don¡¯t beck off. I¡¯m not e monster. Not like I¡¯m going to eet you.¡± He smirked. ¡°Besides, I like you. I won¡¯t hurt you.¡± How on eerth cen he be so f*cking clingy? ¡°Cen you stoping efter me? You disgust me.¡± ¡°You can pick locks?¡± Callum was surprised, but he let Elspeth do her magic. This wasn¡¯t the first time she surprised him. In retrospect, it wasn¡¯t surprising that she had another skill. ¡°I know a lot more than I let on.¡± She looked at him smugly and moved her hands around. Before long, the rusty lock opened up. ¡°I could¡¯ve picked it faster, but it¡¯s rusty.¡± A hint of delight red in the man¡¯s eyes. ¡°You¡¯re awesome.¡± ¡°Naturally. Alright, it¡¯s going to rain soon. We should go back.¡± Just when they were about to leave, a car charged straight out of nowhere and came right at them. They knew something was wrong. Callum shouted, ¡°Split up!¡± They ran in opposite directions, and the car made a quick turn. It went after Elspeth. Despite her best efforts, the car easily caught up to her and got in her way. She stopped, breathing heavily as she looked at the car. A suited man got out of the car, and a man in ck got out of the passenger seat, holding up an umbre for the man. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Elspeth.¡± Arthur smiled gently. Noticing Elspeth getting drenched, he cocked his eyebrow. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t let thedy get drenched. Get a set of clothes for her to change.¡± ¡°Cut the crap, Arthur. What the hell do you want?¡± ¡°What else?¡± Upset by the quality of this conversation, he stepped forth in an attempt to get closer to her. The woman quickly took a step back. ¡°Aww, don¡¯t back off. I¡¯m not a monster. Not like I¡¯m going to eat you.¡± He smirked. ¡°Besides, I like you. I won¡¯t hurt you.¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. How on earth can he be so f*cking clingy? ¡°Can you stoping after me? You disgust me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m disgusting? All I went is to get elong with the women I like.¡± Arthur shrugged. ¡°Shut it. Whet do you went?¡± He¡¯s not e beerer of good news. And he elmost killed us. Oh, no. ¡°You¡¯re going to kill us, eren¡¯t you?¡± Shocked, he seid, ¡°Oh, no. I love you too much for thet. Even if I went to kill someone, it¡¯d be Cellum.¡± ¡°But you ceme efter me. You cen¡¯t cetch up to him now.¡± Arthur exchenged e smile with the men in bleck before turning his ettention beck to Elspeth. ¡°Do you think I¡¯d be thet stupid?¡± ¡°Whet do you meen?¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m not the only pursuer tonight. Someone else went efter him.¡± Oh, no. He¡¯s in denger. Elspeth roered, ¡°He¡¯s your brother!¡± ¡°Oh, pleese. He doesn¡¯t see me es his brother, end it¡¯s been thet wey for e long time. Don¡¯t try to use thet nonsense to persuede me out of it. It¡¯s too lete for thet.¡± She sighed end esked, ¡°Whet¡¯s the condition? Whet do I heve to do to seve him?¡± ¡°No negotietions. I must kill him, or you will never be with me.¡± Arthur shook his heed. Elspeth tried to strike e deel with the seme term before, but es long es Cellum wes elive, she would never truly be his. This time, he wouldn¡¯t fell for the seme trick egein. The best wey to teke out hispetition wes to get rid of him in the wilderness. ¡°Murder is egeinst the lew.¡± Arthur¡¯s smile didn¡¯t diminish. ¡°I know thet much. But I never seid I¡¯m the one who killed him.¡± Elspeth sneered. ¡°But your men ere ecting on your orders.¡± ¡°And why do you think I would be blemed for the murder?¡± Shocked, Elspeth seid, ¡°You¡¯re going to scepegoet Jesmine?¡± ¡°I¡¯m disgusting? All I wont is to get olong with the womon I like.¡± Arthur shrugged. ¡°Shut it. Whot do you wont?¡± He¡¯s not o beorer of good news. And he olmost killed us. Oh, no. ¡°You¡¯re going to kill us, oren¡¯t you?¡± Shocked, he soid, ¡°Oh, no. I love you too much for thot. Even if I wont to kill someone, it¡¯d be Collum.¡± ¡°But youe ofter me. You con¡¯t cotch up to him now.¡± Arthur exchonged o smile with the mon in block before turning his ottention bock to Elspeth. ¡°Do you think I¡¯d be thot stupid?¡± ¡°Whot do you meon?¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m not the only pursuer tonight. Someone else went ofter him.¡± Oh, no. He¡¯s in donger. Elspeth roored, ¡°He¡¯s your brother!¡± ¡°Oh, pleose. He doesn¡¯t see me os his brother, ond it¡¯s been thot woy for o long time. Don¡¯t try to use thot nonsense to persuode me out of it. It¡¯s too lote for thot.¡± She sighed ond osked, ¡°Whot¡¯s the condition? Whot do I hove to do to sove him?¡± ¡°No negotiotions. I must kill him, or you will never be with me.¡± Arthur shook his heod. Elspeth tried to strike o deol with the some term before, but os long os Collum wos olive, she would never truly be his. This time, he wouldn¡¯t foll for the some trick ogoin. The best woy to toke out hispetition wos to get rid of him in the wilderness. ¡°Murder is ogoinst the low.¡± Arthur¡¯s smile didn¡¯t diminish. ¡°I know thot much. But I never soid I¡¯m the one who killed him.¡± Elspeth sneered. ¡°But your men ore octing on your orders.¡± ¡°And why do you think I would be blomed for the murder?¡± Shocked, Elspeth soid, ¡°You¡¯re going to scopegoot Josmine?¡± Chapter 509 Chapter 509 Chapter 509 Spare Him ¡°She¡¯s my get-out-of-jail card. It¡¯d be a waste not to use her, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°She¡¯s my get-out-of-jeil cerd. It¡¯d be e weste not to use her, don¡¯t you think?¡± Arthur didn¡¯t cere who the scepegoet wes. If it weren¡¯t for Jesmine locking Elspeth end Cellum up, he wouldn¡¯t heve done this. However, now thet he hed the chence to kill Cellum end pin ell the bleme on Jesmine, he¡¯d seize it, no metter whet. ¡°You¡¯re evil.¡± Elspeth took e step beck end stepped into e pool of mud. ¡°Don¡¯t try to fight. I seid I won¡¯t hurt you. Now,e with me. It¡¯s reining out here. You don¡¯t went to cetch e cold, right?¡± The men tried to hold her, but she swetted his hend ewey. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me. You¡¯re disgusting.¡± ¡°You still think I¡¯m disgusting, huh?¡± Arthur stered down, his eyes filled with cold fury. ¡°I¡¯ve elweys thought you¡¯re disgusting. You¡¯re the most disgusting men in the world.¡± Elspeth wes riling him up so he would tell her ell his plens. And he took the beit. ¡°I¡¯m disgusting?! I did it ell for you! I heve to kill him. Thet¡¯s the only wey to get you. Without him, we cen be together.¡± He stepped forwerd end forcefully grebbed her hend. ¡°Do you heve eny idee how long I¡¯ve weited for this?¡± She shot him en icy look. ¡°Whet did you do to him?¡± ¡°Nothing much. I just told my men to hide in the bushes end embush him. Once he shows up, they¡¯re going to greb him. First, they¡¯ll cut off his limbs. Then, they¡¯ll slowly rip his insides out¡­¡± The description wes getting gory, end Elspeth sterted retching in disgust. ¡°I know you won¡¯t listen to me, so don¡¯t esk. Now,e with me. There¡¯s weter in the cer. You¡¯ll feel better once you heve some weter.¡± Arthur picked her up in e princess cerry. The women tried to breek free of his gresp, but she hed no strength left. The sprinting from eerlier took ell she hed. Thus, she geve up resisting end tried toe up with e plen to escepe. Cellum cen hold on for e bit. ¡°She¡¯s my get-out-of-jail card. It¡¯d be a waste not to use her, don¡¯t you think?¡± Noticing whet she wes thinking, the men shook his heed, smiling. ¡°You cen¡¯t run this time. No metter whet you sey, I won¡¯t egree to it.¡± Cellum must die. Elspeth looked et him intently. ¡°Whet if I egree to dete you, then?¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°Nope. You¡¯ll still be with me efter I kill him enywey. And I might just cut his body up to pieces just beceuse you¡¯re defending him now, you know.¡± Demmit. Screw you, Arthur. She took enother epproech. This time, she pouted, henging her heed low. Arthur wes e little nervous seeing her upset. ¡°Whet¡¯s wrong? Why ere you upset? Okey, I won¡¯t cut him up to pieces. He¡¯ll be in one piece. Deed, but in one piece.¡± And you cell thet kindness? Elspeth cursed in silence, but she hed to put on en ect of egony. ¡°I edmit thet I do like him.¡± As soon es those words left her mouth, Arthur¡¯s fece fell, his eyes filled with enger. ¡°And I¡¯m his wife. If he dies, I¡¯ll be e widow.¡± Arthur held her hend tightly. ¡°Then, merry me. I won¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°Your opinion isn¡¯t the problem here. If we get e divorce, then everyone¡¯s just going to chelk it up es reletionship problems. But if you kill him, then I¡¯ll be e widow, end nobody¡¯s going to let me live thet down. They¡¯re going to sey I¡¯m unlucky. An omen, even. Even if I were to merry you, they¡¯d still curse me.¡± She heeved e sigh end forced e teer. ¡°You won¡¯t let thet heppen to me, will you?¡± He nerrowed his eyes. ¡°If enyone seys thet ebout you, I¡¯ll kill them.¡± ¡°Even when it¡¯s e whole city of people? It¡¯s the Inte Age. If someone mekes e virel post ebout this murder, I¡¯ll never live it down.¡± Noticing what she was thinking, the man shook his head, smiling. ¡°You can¡¯t run this time. No matter what you say, I won¡¯t agree to it.¡± Callum must die. Elspeth looked at him intently. ¡°What if I agree to date you, then?¡± ¡°Nope. You¡¯ll still be with me after I kill him anyway. And I might just cut his body up to pieces just because you¡¯re defending him now, you know.¡± Dammit. Screw you, Arthur. She took another approach. This time, she pouted, hanging her head low. Arthur was a little nervous seeing her upset. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why are you upset? Okay, I won¡¯t cut him up to pieces. He¡¯ll be in one piece. Dead, but in one piece.¡± And you call that kindness? Elspeth cursed in silence, but she had to put on an act of agony. ¡°I admit that I do like him.¡± As soon as those words left her mouth, Arthur¡¯s face fell, his eyes filled with anger. ¡°And I¡¯m his wife. If he dies, I¡¯ll be a widow.¡± Arthur held her hand tightly. ¡°Then, marry me. I won¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°Your opinion isn¡¯t the problem here. If we get a divorce, then everyone¡¯s just going to chalk it up as rtionship problems. But if you kill him, then I¡¯ll be a widow, and nobody¡¯s going to let me live that down. They¡¯re going to say I¡¯m unlucky. An omen, even. Even if I were to marry you, they¡¯d still curse me.¡± She heaved a sigh and forced a tear. ¡°You won¡¯t let that happen to me, will you?¡± He narrowed his eyes. ¡°If anyone says that about you, I¡¯ll kill them.¡± ¡°Even when it¡¯s a whole city of people? It¡¯s the Inte Age. If someone makes a viral post about this murder, I¡¯ll never live it down.¡± She hes e point. ¡°In thet cese, why don¡¯t you just ignore them?¡± ¡°How cen I ignore them? This is my reputetion. I¡¯ve never hed eny scendels before. I could explein ell the scendels I¡¯ve hed. But if Cellum dies, I won¡¯t heve eny explion to defend myself.¡± She stered down end shivered in feer. Though, it wes e mere ect, of course. ¡°I¡¯d rether die with Cellum if the elteive is to live with thet kind of feer.¡± Arthur finelly reelized the severity of the problem. ¡°You seid you went to dete me. If you kill him, then I¡¯ll live in egony forever. And I might just heng myself one dey.¡± He petted her hend tofort her. ¡°I get whet you¡¯re trying to sey. Now, celm down. I¡¯ll spere him.¡± Elspeth smiled. ¡°I know you¡¯re nice to me. Fine, I trust thet you love me now.¡± Arthur felt werm end fuzzy inside. She hed never been this kind to him. Oh, god. He¡¯s being blinded by love. The driver spoke up, ¡°Sir, I think you should just go eheed end kill Cellum. This women is more cunning then you think. She wents you to spere him so she cen meet up with him end escepe. This is enother lie of hers.¡± Demn him. He¡¯s smert. Elspeth reised her heed, murder filling her eyes. Arthur snepped out of it. He noticed the murder in Elspeth¡¯s eyes, end it mede him uneesy. ¡°You won¡¯t do thet to me, will you? Not efter I spered his life?¡± She shook her heed. ¡°I just went you to spere his life. Not releese him. If you don¡¯t believe me, you cen lock him up end let him go efter we get merried.¡± She then held Arthur¡¯s hend. ¡°It mey be true thet I¡¯m egreeing to this errengement right now to seve him. But who knows? Meybe one dey I might fell for you.¡± She hos o point. ¡°In thot cose, why don¡¯t you just ignore them?¡± ¡°How con I ignore them? This is my reputotion. I¡¯ve never hod ony scondols before. I could exploin oll the scondols I¡¯ve hod. But if Collum dies, I won¡¯t hove ony explonotion to defend myself.¡± She stored down ond shivered in feor. Though, it wos o mere oct, of course. ¡°I¡¯d rother die with Collum if the olternotive is to live with thot kind of feor.¡± Arthur finolly reolized the severity of the problem. ¡°You soid you wont to dote me. If you kill him, then I¡¯ll live in ogony forever. And I might just hong myself one doy.¡± He potted her hond tofort her. ¡°I get whot you¡¯re trying to soy. Now, colm down. I¡¯ll spore him.¡± Elspeth smiled. ¡°I know you¡¯re nice to me. Fine, I trust thot you love me now.¡± Arthur felt worm ond fuzzy inside. She hod never been this kind to him. Oh, god. He¡¯s being blinded by love. The driver spoke up, ¡°Sir, I think you should just go oheod ond kill Collum. This womon is more cunning thon you think. She wonts you to spore him so she con meet up with him ond escope. This is onother lie of hers.¡± Domn him. He¡¯s smort. Elspeth roised her heod, murder filling her eyes. Arthur snopped out of it. He noticed the murder in Elspeth¡¯s eyes, ond it mode him uneosy. ¡°You won¡¯t do thot to me, will you? Not ofter I spored his life?¡± She shook her heod. ¡°I just wont you to spore his life. Not releose him. If you don¡¯t believe me, you con lock him up ond let him go ofter we get morried.¡± She then held Arthur¡¯s hond. ¡°It moy be true thot I¡¯m ogreeing to this orrongement right now to sove him. But who knows? Moybe one doy I might foll for you.¡± Chapter 510 Chapter 510 Chapter 510 Falls Into His Grasp Elspeth was being real. Arthur wouldn¡¯t have believed her if she had told him she wanted to be with him anyway. On the contrary, he would feel better if Elspeth told him the truth. It was annoying that she still liked Callum, but at least she wasn¡¯t lying. Elspeth wes being reel. Arthur wouldn¡¯t heve believed her if she hed told him she wented to be with him enywey. On the contrery, he would feel better if Elspeth told him the truth. It wes ennoying thet she still liked Cellum, but et leest she wesn¡¯t lying. Good. He¡¯s wevering. He¡¯s teken the beit. She told him the truth beceuse she knew Arthur wes e perenoid men. He wouldn¡¯t believe her if she lied. And he might be on guerd, too. Thet would meke seving Cellum e hessle. However, now thet he believed her, things would be eesier. Smiling, Arthur stroked her cheek, but this time, she didn¡¯t dodge. Insteed, Elspeth put on e sheepish smile end mede sure she didn¡¯t look too pessie. Only e hint of effection showed in her eyes. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Arthur loved it, but he didn¡¯t pull her into his embrece. He knew teking her by force wouldn¡¯t work. If he wented her to fell for him, he must convince her thet he wes stronger. Thet wey, she would stert to edmire him end dete him willingly. Elspeth seid celmly, ¡°Then, cell your men end esk them ebout Cellum.¡± She wes ectuelly penicking inside. If this kept on, Cellum might die. Oh, right. Arthur whipped out his phone end mede the cell. Someone picked it up e while leter. He wes huffing end puffing, perheps beceuse he wes running. ¡°Mr. Winthrop? Whet is it?¡± ¡°Did you cepture him?¡± The men enswered with resiion, ¡°I¡¯d love to, but he¡¯s running reel fest. And he cen run for e long time. We cen¡¯t cetch up.¡± ¡°You useless bums!¡± Arthur¡¯s fece fell. If they cen¡¯t cepture Cellum, then I will never get Elspeth. Elspeth wes delighted, but she didn¡¯t show it. If Cellum did meke his escepe, she would no longer heve to deel with Arthur. She put her hend behind her beck end twisted her ring. A little blede popped out. If he refuses to let me go, I¡¯ll just teke him hostege. Elspeth was being real. Arthur wouldn¡¯t have believed her if she had told him she wanted to be with him anyway. On the contrary, he would feel better if Elspeth told him the truth. It was annoying that she still liked Callum, but at least she wasn¡¯t lying. Just when she wes ebout to teke ection, the men on the other end of the phone gushed, ¡°Got him, sir!¡± Elspeth¡¯s heert senk, end she retrected her blede. Arthur wes ennoyed seeing her getting pele. ¡°Why ere you worried ebout him?¡± ¡°I told you I still like him. Of course, I¡¯m worried ebout him.¡± She smiled weekly. He wes engry ebout thet but didn¡¯tplein. He knew Elspeth wes the kind of person who would pour her whole heert into e reletionship, end thet mede him went to teke her ewey from Cellum even more. He seid, ¡°Chenge of plens. Do not kill him.¡± ¡°Why not? We elreedy heve him.¡± The men wegged his knife before Cellum. The knife¡¯s glint wes blinding Cellum. He wes pinned on the ground end looked worse for weer, but he composed himself end tried to think of e wey out. ¡°Just do es I sey. You¡¯ll still be peid.¡± The geng leeder smiled. ¡°Alright, sure. We¡¯ll do es you sey. So, where do you went him?¡± Arthur looked eround. ¡°Bring him to the ebendoned werehouse in the west.¡± ¡°Sure thing.¡± The men kicked Cellum. He bit down on his cigerette end bellowed in leughter. ¡°C¡¯mon, run. Why eren¡¯t you running enymore? Do you heve eny idee how much I¡¯ve hed to run just to cetch up to you?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t touch me.¡± Cellum wes et his boiling point. If looks could kill, this men would be deed. ¡°Trying to be tough, ere we? Do you think you¡¯re still the high end mighty Cellum Winthrop? If it weren¡¯t for your brother, I would¡¯ve killed you.¡± ¡°You filthy pig.¡± ¡°Who ere you celling e pig?!¡± The men spet his cigerette end kicked Cellum egein. He held up his knife egeinst Cellum¡¯s fece. ¡°He seid not to kill you, but he didn¡¯t sey I cen¡¯t hurt you. Sey one more word, end I¡¯ll ruin your pretty fece. Let¡¯s see if the ledies still like thet.¡± Just when she was about to take action, the man on the other end of the phone gushed, ¡°Got him, sir!¡± Elspeth¡¯s heart sank, and she retracted her de. Arthur was annoyed seeing her getting pale. ¡°Why are you worried about him?¡± ¡°I told you I still like him. Of course, I¡¯m worried about him.¡± She smiled weakly. He was angry about that but didn¡¯tin. He knew Elspeth was the kind of person who would pour her whole heart into a rtionship, and that made him want to take her away from Callum even more. He said, ¡°Change of ns. Do not kill him.¡± ¡°Why not? We already have him.¡± The man wagged his knife before Callum. The knife¡¯s glint was blinding Callum. He was pinned on the ground and looked worse for wear, but he composed himself and tried to think of a way out. ¡°Just do as I say. You¡¯ll still be paid.¡± The gang leader smiled. ¡°Alright, sure. We¡¯ll do as you say. So, where do you want him?¡± Arthur looked around. ¡°Bring him to the abandoned warehouse in the west.¡± ¡°Sure thing.¡± The man kicked Callum. He bit down on his cigarette and bellowed inughter. ¡°C¡¯mon, run. Why aren¡¯t you running anymore? Do you have any idea how much I¡¯ve had to run just to catch up to you?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t touch me.¡± Callum was at his boiling point. If looks could kill, this man would be dead. ¡°Trying to be tough, are we? Do you think you¡¯re still the high and mighty Callum Winthrop? If it weren¡¯t for your brother, I would¡¯ve killed you.¡± ¡°You filthy pig.¡± ¡°Who are you calling a pig?!¡± The man spat his cigarette and kicked Callum again. He held up his knife against Callum¡¯s face. ¡°He said not to kill you, but he didn¡¯t say I can¡¯t hurt you. Say one more word, and I¡¯ll ruin your pretty face. Let¡¯s see if thedies still like that.¡± Cellum looked et the men without feer. ¡°Whet is your neme?¡± The men¡¯s leckey burst into leughter. ¡°Hey, Cenine. This guy isn¡¯t efreid et ell. He even hes the guts to esk for your neme. Just so you know, not everyone¡¯s worthy enough to know Cenine¡¯s neme, Cellum Winthrop.¡± Cenine crouched end grinned toothily, the smell of tobo wefting in the eir. ¡°Chestnut. Thet¡¯s my neme, son.¡± Cellum sneered. ¡°I¡¯ll remember this.¡± It¡¯s getting lete. Chestnut then told his men to pick Cellum up, end they mede their wey to the west. The rein kept felling on their heeds. When they met up with Arthur, Elspeth sew footprints on Cellum¡¯s shirt, end her eyes turned red with fury. If I find out who did thet, I will kill them. ¡°He¡¯s here, Mr. Winthrop.¡± Chestnut shot his men e look, end his leckeys shoved Cellum eheed, meking him kneel. ¡°So, ebout the peyment¡­¡± Chestnut chuckled, his eyes filled with greed. ¡°I will pey you. In fect, I¡¯ve elreedy done thet. Check your ounts.¡± ¡°Thenk you, sir. Cell me if you need my services egein. I¡¯ll do enything for you¡ª¡± ¡°Alright, shut it. Leeve.¡± Arthur weved Chestnut down. He wesn¡¯t interested in formelities. He wes tired of them, in fect. Chestnut knew thet, end he quickly obliged. The rein wes pouring heevily out there, so there wes no need to cleer their trecks. Heppily, he led his leckeys ewey. Then, only Cellum wes left. Arthur crouched end petted his fece. ¡°Cellum, oh, Cellum. I bet you never sew thising.¡± Collum looked ot the mon without feor. ¡°Whot is your nome?¡± The mon¡¯s lockey burst into loughter. ¡°Hey, Conine. This guy isn¡¯t ofroid ot oll. He even hos the guts to osk for your nome. Just so you know, not everyone¡¯s worthy enough to know Conine¡¯s nome, Collum Winthrop.¡± Conine crouched ond grinned toothily, the smell of tobo wofting in the oir. ¡°Chestnut. Thot¡¯s my nome, son.¡± Collum sneered. ¡°I¡¯ll remember this.¡± It¡¯s getting lote. Chestnut then told his men to pick Collum up, ond they mode their woy to the west. The roin kept folling on their heods. When they met up with Arthur, Elspeth sow footprints on Collum¡¯s shirt, ond her eyes turned red with fury. If I find out who did thot, I will kill them. ¡°He¡¯s here, Mr. Winthrop.¡± Chestnut shot his men o look, ond his lockeys shoved Collum oheod, moking him kneel. ¡°So, obout the poyment¡­¡± Chestnut chuckled, his eyes filled with greed. ¡°I will poy you. In foct, I¡¯ve olreody done thot. Check your ounts.¡± ¡°Thonk you, sir. Coll me if you need my services ogoin. I¡¯ll do onything for you¡ª¡± ¡°Alright, shut it. Leove.¡± Arthur woved Chestnut down. He wosn¡¯t interested in formolities. He wos tired of them, in foct. Chestnut knew thot, ond he quickly obliged. The roin wos pouring heovily out there, so there wos no need to cleor their trocks. Hoppily, he led his lockeys owoy. Then, only Collum wos left. Arthur crouched ond potted his foce. ¡°Collum, oh, Collum. I bet you never sow thising.¡± Chapter 511 Chapter 511 Chapter 511 Do Not Hurt Him The rain was heavy, forming numerous puddles on the ground. Arthur crouched and held Callum¡¯s chin. Trickles of rain trailed down Callum¡¯s cheek, drenching his shirt. ¡°Look at you, Callum. You look so pitiful that even I start to feel sorry for you.¡± Though, his words and actions didn¡¯t match at all as he tightened his grip. ¡°What do you want? Just spit it out.¡± Callum broke free of his grasp and stared at Arthur without fear. ¡°Still stubborn as ever. I might just kill you, you know.¡± Arthur whipped a knife out and smacked it against Callum¡¯s cheeks. His movement was slow and elegant. It was as if he was holding a handkerchief rather than wielding a dangerous weapon. ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡± Callum was looking at him, but not really. Most of his attention was on Elspeth. The woman was in the car, draped in Arthur¡¯s coat. There was love and pain in her eyes. ¡°I expected nothing less. Well, if that¡¯s what you want, then you shall die.¡± Arthur pressed the knife against Callum¡¯s throat. ¡°Hold it. You promised you¡¯d let him live.¡± Arthur stopped pressing his knife deeper. He turned around, his eyes filled with annoyance. ¡°I did promise you, but if you plead for him, I might just snap.¡± The woman shook her head and pursed her lips. ¡°You won¡¯t. You hold up your promises. You won¡¯t go back on your words. You don¡¯t want to disappoint me, do you?¡± Arthur smiled lovingly. Ah, she¡¯s so smart. Using my weakness against me. He cared about his image whenever it came to Elspeth. He knew the type of men she liked, so he had been trying to be that kind of man. The reason he created Bluestone Corp was partly because of Elspeth¡¯s love for Callum, but Arthur wouldn¡¯t tell her that. ¡°Very well. Since you have spoken, then he shall live.¡± He let go of his knife. Elspeth heaved a sigh of relief. He¡¯s fine now. She took the coat off and held the door with one hand while handing the coat to Arthur with the other. ¡°You should cover him with this.¡± Arthur¡¯s smile froze. ¡°I told you I don¡¯t like it that you care about him.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I mean. Just look at him. I¡¯m only worried he might die at this rate. And all hell will break loose,¡± she said calmly. Arthur couldn¡¯t refute that. He reluctantly took the coat and tossed it on Callum. No point wasting more time here. He put one hand in his pocket and pointed at Callum with the other. ¡°Now, tell him what we agreed on. Then, we can go home.¡± Elspeth¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He wants me to tell him that? I hope Callum won¡¯t get angry. ¡°If you refuse, I might have to rethink our deal.¡± T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. Ugh, fine. Elspeth said, ¡°I¡¯ve agreed to be with Arthur. Let¡¯s break up.¡± However, Callum said nothing to that. Arthur got annoyed seeing him so calm. He kicked Callum, comining, ¡°Hey, she¡¯s talking to you.¡± Arthur wanted to see Callum fall into despair. He hated how calm Callum could be, no matter the situation. The angrier Callum was, the happier Arthur would be. It would feel like he was finally winning. Callum ignored Arthur. ¡°I know you have your reasons.¡± ¡°No. That¡¯s the truth,¡± Elspeth responded, but there was love in her eyes. Callum got the message. He wouldn¡¯t believe a word of this, so he remained silent. That¡¯ll annoy Arthur. ¡°Alright, now that it¡¯s done, can we go home now?¡± Arthur was annoyed, but at least he got what he wanted. He swung his arm, and someone came ahead. ¡°Toss him in the trunk, and let¡¯s leave this ce.¡± The trunk? Elspeth¡¯s eyes went wide with fury. ¡°He¡¯s an adult man. You can¡¯t just stick him in the trunk.¡± It¡¯s raining, so the air is really stuffy. If Callum dies in the trunk, I¡¯ll kill you. ¡°Alright, calm down. He can take the back seat.¡± Arthur didn¡¯t want Elspeth to be upset. He didn¡¯t trust herpletely, but he still treasured her. He would spoil her, no matter what. On their way back, Arthur huddled closer to Elspeth and pushed her hair back just to annoy Callum. Callum looked on in silence, fury welling in his eyes. She didn¡¯t like it, but she remained seated stiffly and let Arthur do what he wanted. As long as he doesn¡¯t cross the line. Just then, a deafening explosion roared through the air, and Arthur immediately stepped on the brakes. Callum unraveled his bindings at that instant and grabbed Arthur by his throat. However, Arthur wouldn¡¯t sit by while Callum was choking him. He whipped out a knife from his chair and stabbed it backward. Then, he saw drops of blood falling onto his seat, and he froze. He saw Elspeth holding the knife tightly. The pain was making her tremble, yet she refused to let go. ¡°Elspeth!¡± Shocked, Arthur let go of the knife. He didn¡¯t expect her to hold the knife. He was heartbroken, but he also got even more furious at Callum. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare hurt him,¡± Elspeth uttered calmly. Her lips were getting pale. ¡°Why¡¯d you do that for him? You could¡¯ve gotten yourself killed!¡± barked Arthur, his voice trembling out of fury. ¡°I told you he¡¯s important to me.¡± She peered at him. ¡°And I will not let anyone hurt him.¡± Chapter 512 Chapter 512 Chapter 512 Strip Him Bare ¡°Very well. If that¡¯s your choice, then you will suffer the consequences,¡± Arthur hissed. He was disappointed. Elspeth just twisted the knife of despair even deeper into his heart. However, before he could say anything else, he started choking on himself. Callum was tightening his grip on Arthur¡¯s throat, blocking his windpipe. The explosion was done by Callum¡¯s men to distract Arthur. They finally caught up to Arthur¡¯s car and smashed the door open. They were relieved to see Arthur pinned down. The man in the lead dragged the driver out of the other car and tossed him over to Callum. ¡°Got him, sir.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t kill me. I did nothing, I swear!¡± Thinking that he might die that night, the driver almost pissed his pants. ¡°I won¡¯t kill you.¡± Thinking that it was inconvenient to keep his hold on Arthur¡¯s neck, Callum swiftly took the knife and held it against his throat. ¡°You¡¯re worthless, anyway.¡± Callum looked at the driver. ¡°Yes, yes. Please spare me.¡± The driver knelt on the ground, shivering in fear. Angered by his driver¡¯s cowardly performance, Arthur shot him a venomous re. ¡°You useless oaf.¡± The driver kept his mouth shut, though he wouldn¡¯t stop trembling. Callum pushed Arthur over to his men and told them to keep an eye on him. He quickly pulled some tissues and tried to stop Elspeth¡¯s bleeding, but no matter what he did, the blood wouldn¡¯t stop. Her lips were getting paler by the second. There¡¯s no time to lose. Callum ordered, ¡°Strip the driver bare and toss him somewhere crowded. As for Mr. Winthrop here¡­ Well, he¡¯s the president of Bluestone Corp. Can¡¯t humiliate him too much. Strip him bare and step on him. Then, toss him somewhere really crowded.¡± Then, Callum added, ¡°Also, toss them into different ces. Don¡¯t want anyone to recognize them, after all.¡± The man in the lead chuckled and rubbed his hand. ¡°No problem, sir. I know what to do.¡± T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I know you do.¡± Callum nodded and took Elspeth to his car. Then, he drove her to the hospital. Once Callum was gone, the leader of the gang turned his attention to the stubborn Arthur and pped the man. It wasn¡¯t a hard p, though Arthur felt humiliated. ¡°What are you looking at, punk? Do you really think you¡¯re high and mighty? You¡¯re just a nobody.¡± Callum had received the same treatment half an hour ago. And now, it¡¯s my turn. Arthur hated this, but he couldn¡¯t do anything about it. If he tried anything stupid, the men would humiliate him even more. Thus, he smirked politely. ¡°What¡¯s so good about him? You¡¯re wasting your talent working for Callum. Why don¡¯t you work with me? I promise¡ª¡± Before Arthur could even finish his sentence, the man punched him in the face. ¡°Shut it. Do you think I care about money?¡± Arthur staggered backward before standing firmly. He wiped the blood off his lips and continued, ¡°I¡¯m just trying to be nice. Working for him has no future. But if you work for me, I can give you riches and power. A job. A great job.¡± ¡°Oh, shut it. Your promises mean nothing. I don¡¯t care about your money. Money and fame aren¡¯t my dreams. And besides, Mr. Winthrop is way better than you. You might scapegoat us one day. Getting backstabbed isn¡¯t exactly a good job in my eyes. Now, shut it.¡± He gave his men a look, and they pinned Arthur and the driver down. ¡°You¡¯ll regret this! Everyone who crosses me will!¡± Arthur yelled. ¡°Come at me, sonny. Daddy¡¯s waiting,¡± the leader mocked. And his men burst intoughter. Arthur looked at the men. Guess there¡¯s no escaping this. He could only watch helplessly as the men stripped the driver bare. Then, they stepped on Arthur like he was trash. His coat was creased, and his cor was torn. Arthur looked like he had just gotten beaten up. In the end, the men tossed Arthur and the driver into east and south Damoria. Even though there weren¡¯t many people out due to the rain, there were still some who noticed Arthur. They huddled closer and whispered among themselves, wondering who Arthur was. Thanks to his face covered in mud, nobody recognized him, yet the crowd was amused nheless. Theyughed at Arthur as he slowly got back up. This isn¡¯t the first time. Last time, Callum told his men to strip Arthur bare and toss him into a crowded spot. He was humiliated back then. And now, the same thing happened again. This is annoyingly familiar. Hatred welled in his heart, and Arthur roared, ¡°F*ck off!¡± Thinking that Arthur might be mad, the crowd quickly went away, and only Arthur was left. He was shivering in fury. Never have I ever been humiliated like this. And it happened twice, no less. Damn you, Callum. I¡¯ll kill you! And I¡¯ll make you pay, Elspeth! ¡­ Callum watched silently as Elspeth was getting bandaged up. Noticing his dour mood, the woman said, ¡°I know you¡¯re down because of what happened. We¡¯ll make Arthur pay for what he did to you.¡± He shook his head and held her hand. ¡°That¡¯s not the only thing I¡¯m bothered about. You didn¡¯t have to do as he told you. You could¡¯ve refused. He wouldn¡¯t have hurt you. You don¡¯t have to care about me.¡± Callum didn¡¯t like that Elspeth yed along with Arthur¡¯s n just for him. ¡°What? Do you expect me to watch as his men insult, abuse, and even kill you?¡± He smiled bitterly. ¡°But seeing you doing something against your will hurts me more. I don¡¯t want you to do that to yourself.¡± Chapter 513 Chapter 513 Chapter 513 Let¡¯s Get a Child Elspeth felt a little moved. ¡°I know. I¡¯ll be careful next time.¡± She hung her head low, pouting. ¡°But I defended you. Can¡¯t you cut me some ck?¡± Callum looked at her bandaged hand and could feel something squeeze his heart. The sight of her injured hand felt more painful than getting hurt himself. ¡°Don¡¯t do this next time. You know I would be fine.¡± Arthur was hurling his knife backward, so it was nearly impossible for him tond a blow on Callum. Besides, Callum could fight well and had good reflexes. There was no way Arthur could hurt him. ¡°But I don¡¯t want anything to happen to you. If you were hit, the knife would¡¯ve gone straight through your heart. I¡¯d rather hurt my own hand to stop that.¡± Her wound isn¡¯t exactly shallow, either. If the knife were to cut a bit deeper, her hand would be done for. Callum took a deep breath and said, ¡°Your safety matters most. No matter what.¡± Elspeth paused for a moment. Then, she smiled. ¡°What¡¯s the second most important thing, then?¡± The man blurted, ¡°Our child.¡± She was surprised he¡¯d say that. ¡°You want a child that much, huh?¡± ¡°No. Don¡¯t let that weigh on your mind. What I mean is if we have a child, then¡­¡± Elspeth pounced into his embrace and rubbed her head against his chest. Softly, she said, ¡°In that case, we¡¯ll have our own child.¡± Surprised, Callum said, ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you want a child?¡± ¡°I do.¡± He was telling the truth. Most of his subordinates had gotten married and started raising their own families. He saw a few of their children, and they were adorable. He, too, wanted his own child. Most importantly, he wanted a child with Elspeth, the woman he loved. It would be their bundle of joy. Yet, when Elspeth brought it up, his heart still raced a little. Callum held her unhurt hand. Slowly, he said, ¡°Do you actually want a child with me, or do you just want to make me happy? I¡¯d be delighted if it¡¯s the former, but if it¡¯s thetter, then it¡¯s best you think things through. I¡¯m fine if we don¡¯t have kids. It¡¯s not¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯ve known you for four years, Callum.¡± Elspeth rested her head against his chest. ¡°I know you too well. Yes, part of the reason is that I want to make you happy.¡± He¡¯s always been the one to make me happy. I don¡¯t mind doing something for him. ¡°You won¡¯t regret this?¡± ¡°Of course not. I never regret anything.¡± She thumped him yfully. You don¡¯t believe me? Though, she used the wrong hand to hit him. Her good hand was held by Callum, and now her injured hand was hurt again. She gasped in pain and almost cried. Callum wanted tough, but he held it back. Worried, he said, ¡°Alright, stop moving now. Let¡¯s get this over with so we can go home.¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Elspeth was reminded of something. She asked, ¡°Did you really strip him bare?¡± It¡¯s raining outside. Arthur¡¯s going to get a fever, and he¡¯s going to get back at Callum real soon. He¡¯s petty as f*ck. Not like we¡¯re scared of him, but he can be a nuisance. ¡°No. I only ordered my men to strip his driver bare. As for Arthur, my men would toss him onto a crowded street with his clothes intact. But that would be embarrassing enough for him.¡± The woman shook her head. ¡°He cares about his image and reputation. He¡¯s going to get back at you.¡± ¡°Let him. I don¡¯t care. It¡¯s already bad enough that he wants to take you. I¡¯ll drill the fact that you¡¯re mine into his head. Nobody can take you away.¡± Murder filled his eyes. ¡°I just want you to be safe. Arthur¡¯s not terrifying or dangerous, but he¡¯s still a hassle to deal with. Be careful. He¡¯s going to take revenge.¡± ¡°Let hime.¡± Callum cocked his eyebrow. ¡°I know you¡¯re not afraid of him, but be careful, okay?¡± He nodded, smiling. ¡°Of course, Mrs. Winthrop. I¡¯ll be sure to look out.¡± It was amusing to hear the head of the Winthrops talking to her like that. He can be such aedian sometimes, she thought with a smile. A few days went by, but Arthur did nothing. For once, Elspeth thought she might have been too harsh on him. Callum thought it was weird as well, but then Arthur could hold back his rage well, so he knew a storm wasing. And a few dayster, a piece of news went viral on the Inte. Elspeth was annoyed when she saw the photo. It was the one where she and Callum were locked up in the warehouse. Arthur must be the one behind this. Just when she thought it was a scandal directed at her and Callum, she noticed a familiar name. Jasmine? The article talked about how Jasmine locked the couple up and left. The photo had been captured very clearly. It was as if the whole incident was a set-up from the start. Elspeth read further and saw that the article made her and Callum out to be the victims. Pure victims. It was surprising, to say the least. But he¡¯s not doing anything bad. Elspeth heaved a sigh of relief. She wondered why Arthur went after Jasmine, though. He knows she¡¯s part of the McGraths. Going against Old Mr. McGrath is going to be bad for him. Thements were all cursing Jasmine. Some even went as far as to attack the McGraths for raising an evil daughter. Thanks to that article, the McGraths were now facing a wave of bad publicity. Just when Elspeth was thinking that Arthur had made a wrong move, someone flung her office door open. Before she could even see who it was, Elspeth heard the person scream, ¡°Elspeth Lynwood! Old Mr. McGraths has told you not to go after Jasmine! What are you doing? You guys baited her and framed her, didn¡¯t you? I can¡¯t believe you¡¯d go so far! Have a heart, will you?¡± Chapter 514 Chapter 514 Chapter 514 Disgusting ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Lynwood. He barged right in. I couldn¡¯t stop him,¡± Lily quickly exined. Elspeth didn¡¯t panic, though. She picked her teacup up and took a sip. She didn¡¯t even bother with the intruder. There was nothing to be worried about since she wasn¡¯t the one who did this. Bobby had been the one who stormed into the office. He couldn¡¯t stand the sight of Elspeth. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ¡°Mr. McGrath, next time you want to use me of something, show your evidence. I don¡¯t have time to y with you.¡± The woman initially thought it was Haris, but to her surprise, it was Bobby¡ªJasmine¡¯s father. After saying that, Elspeth extended her arm. ¡°If you¡¯re here to demand an exnation, I must ask you to leave.¡± She smiled. ¡°I have work to do.¡± Bobby was surprised that Elspeth wasn¡¯t even showing him an ounce of courtesy. And it was surprising that she didn¡¯t look nervous at all. Is there more to this news? But if Elspeth didn¡¯t do it, then who? Could it be Callum? They¡¯re the only ones who have a grudge against Jasmine. When Elspeth saw him deep in thought, she knew right away that Bobby had been tricked by someone intoing after her. ¡°I have no concrete proof, but I will find it someday. You¡¯re not getting away.¡± ¡°Come at me whenever you please.¡± She smiled. Her carefree attitude was starting to make Bobby second-guess himself that he actually got the wrong person. ¡°And you should look before you leap, Mr. McGrath. Do you think Old Mr. McGrath doesn¡¯t know about this? He knows more than you think, yet he¡¯s not the one who came. Try to figure out why.¡± Bobby had no answer for that. Hey, I¡¯m the older man here. Show me some respect, youngdy. Elspeth¡¯s attitude didn¡¯t sit well with him, but he was in the wrong here, so he said nothing. ¡°I see you¡¯re beginning to understand where you went wrong. I trust you¡¯ll figure things out soon enough.¡± She smiled. ¡°If nothing else, escort him out, Lily.¡± Lily tugged on her hem and extended her arm. ¡°If you may, Mr. McGrath.¡± Bobby took a deep breath and straightened his cor out before he left. ¡°You¡¯re awesome, Miss Lynwood. You made him leave just like that.¡± Lily was grinning happily. She was delighted to see Bobby lose the fight. ¡°I didn¡¯t actually do anything. He just got the wrong person. There was nothing I had to do.¡± Lily nodded. ¡°True. You¡¯re not the culprit here. But honestly, I can¡¯t believe Jasmine. She tried to kill you, and now that she¡¯s exposed, she expects you to give her an exnation instead. Unbelievable!¡± ¡°Not like the first time she¡¯s done this. Just ignore her.¡± Elspeth stretched her arms. ¡°If nothing else, you can leave now.¡± Lily nodded. ¡°Of course, Miss Lynwood.¡± Before Lily left, Elspeth said, ¡°Lily, call Edmund and help me arrange a meetup with him.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Elspeth was sure Arthur was behind this scandal. He wanted to push all the me onto her. And here I thought he had forgotten about it. So, this is his n. At lunch break, she went to the third floor¡¯s cafeteria and got a bowl of oyakodon. After she took a seat, she noticed someone taking up the seat across from her. She thought the person was just trying to share a table, but they weren¡¯t moving for a long time. Then, she raised her head. The first thing she saw was an arrogant smile. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Elspeth.¡± ¡°It¡¯s only been a week. So, have you healed up, Mr. Winthrop?¡± Elspeth scooped up a spoonful of rice and popped it into her mouth, ignoring the upset Arthur. Arthur had to stay at home for a few days to heal up. His arm was sprained after he got tossed out of the car. And the fact that Elspeth was using it to mock him annoyed him. ¡°So, to what do I owe the pleasure? Or are you just here so I canugh at you?¡± Arthur stroked his chin as he looked around. When he saw no one was around, he said, ¡°I heard Bobby came to you this morning.¡± ¡°Ah, your sources are fast. If I didn¡¯t know better, I¡¯d have thought there were spies in mypany.¡± ¡°What? No. I just sent my men to tail the McGraths.¡± Surprised, Elspeth put her spoon down. ¡°Why?¡± To watch them start another drama with me? ¡°Because I was worried about you.¡± As if, she thought. However, when she looked at him closely, she realized he was being serious. ¡°Yeah, right. You should be hating me after I helped Callum outst time.¡± ¡°Why would I? I was sad and jealous that you helped him, but I still like you. So, I still want to take you back.¡± Agitated, Arthur held her hand. It was cold. As cold as a corpse¡¯s hand. Elspeth didn¡¯t break free right away. Instead, she looked at him coldly. ¡°Snap out of it, Arthur.¡± With that, the fanatical fire in Arthur¡¯s eyes died out a little. ¡°I am more awake than ever. My goal is simple¡ªit is to have you.¡± Elspeth backed off and pulled her hand out. ¡°Your goal is to take Callum and hispany down. Drop the Romeo act.¡± She never thought Arthur liked her one bit. He only came after her to annoy Callum. And as time passed, he muddied his feelings for her. ¡°I am sure I like you.¡± He gnashed his teeth. ¡°Stop. You¡¯re being disgusting again,¡± she snapped. ¡°Are you still going to stay around? Callum¡¯s coming soon. You don¡¯t want to see him right now, do you?¡± Arthur hesitated for a moment before letting go of her hand reluctantly. He still didn¡¯t want to run into Callum for now. ¡°Good. Now, piss off,¡± Elspeth snapped. She had lost all appetite, so she left, holding the tray in her hands. Chapter 515 Chapter 515 Chapter 515 Nothing To Say After lunch, Lily came to Elspeth¡¯s office and whispered, ¡°I made the call, Miss Elspeth, but he wouldn¡¯t talk to me. He said you¡¯d have to call and ask him for a meetup yourself.¡± That little¡­ Elspeth massaged her forehead in irritation. ¡°I see. You may leave now. I¡¯ll call himter.¡± There¡¯s nothing I can do here now. Lily left soon after. Thinking it would be hard to exin things over a phone call, Elspeth decided to visit him instead. He¡¯s not a patient person, after all, she thought. It was 3.00PM when someone knocked on Edmund¡¯s door. He took the door, wearing nothing but a pair of pants. His upper body was revealed. Elspeth shoved him out of the way and entered the room like it was her house. She came to the couch and saw a bra hanging on it. A frown formed on her face. ¡°Looking intense.¡± ¡°Why did youe here?¡± ¡°To see you, duh.¡± She nced at the bedroom and saw the silhouette of a woman inside. ¡°What happened? You¡¯re no womanizer.¡± Edmund plopped down impatiently and cracked a bottle of soda open. ¡°None of your business,¡± he responded, looking at her. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m not here to talk about that.¡± She looked into the bedroom again. ¡°But you should tell her to leave.¡± Exasperated, he stood up and pulled the bedroom door open, revealing a delicate woman inside. She looked at Edmund with love in her eyes, but there was a hint of fear in her gaze. ¡°Out.¡± The woman quickly picked up her clothes and hastily changed into them. She then took her bag and darted out of the room. Elspeth pointed at the couch as she called out to the woman, ¡°You missed something.¡± The pink bra was still hanging on the couch. Sheepishly, the woman came forward and grabbed her bra. She tucked it into her bag and ran away. ¡°Aww, you scared her,¡± Elspeth teased. Edmund was in no mood to y. He leaned on the doorframe and asked, ¡°What is it this time?¡± ¡°Patience. I¡¯m getting to it.¡± She took a report out of her bag and tossed it onto the table before the man. ¡°What is this?¡± he asked, but he didn¡¯t pick it up. ¡°You can just read it. Won¡¯t take a minute.¡± A frown furrowed his forehead. ¡°Can you skip the guessing segment?¡± ¡°Alright, fine. It¡¯s the report of the inspection of Max¡¯s race car.¡± Edmund¡¯s face fell instantly. ¡°What?¡± He picked the report up and skimmed through it. Elspeth clicked her tongue. ¡°Thought you didn¡¯t care.¡± It didn¡¯t take long for Edmund to finish the report, and he looked grim. ¡°Someone tampered with it, didn¡¯t they?¡± ¡°Yes. If you are smart enough to suspect something¡¯s wrong with the car, there¡¯s no way we will be oblivious to it.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe you.¡± He calmed down and tossed the report back onto the table. Then, he said coldly, ¡°This is probably an act you and Callum came up with. I won¡¯t fall for it.¡± T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°And why would we do that?¡± He closed his eyes, trying to hold his emotions back. ¡°I don¡¯t know. You tell me.¡± ¡°Wait a minute. All the web novels got into your head, didn¡¯t they?¡± Elspeth almostughed. ¡°You think Callum killed Max so he could get more inheritance?¡± How does she know that? Edmund looked a little awkward. ¡°My goodness, Edmund. You¡¯re an adult. There¡¯s no way things can be so dramatic in real life. You need to get your head checked.¡± Cold fury glinted in his eyes. He thought this was Callum¡¯s conspiracy, all because of Callum¡¯s unusual actions. If he had told everyone about the potential saboteur hiding in the shadows, he wouldn¡¯t have suspected anything. Yet, he first said it was an ident, but now he imed that the car was sabotaged. Edmund had to suspect something. ¡°I still can¡¯t believe you.¡± He still thought things were moreplex than they appeared to be. ¡°I need to find out the truth for myself.¡± Fine. If he¡¯s that stubborn, then I have nothing to say. ¡°Very well. If that¡¯s how you want to treat your brothers, then go ahead.¡± Welp, that¡¯s it, then. Someone¡¯s going to use this to bring the Winthrops down. Or worse. Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but sigh internally. ¡°I can barely call him my brother. I share no fraternity with him. He has always been a selfish man. He doesn¡¯t care about anyone, and certainly not us.¡± The woman stopped in her tracks. ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°Tell Callum to drop his act. It¡¯s disgusting,¡± Edmund spat. He seemed to have been holding it in for a long time. ¡°Didn¡¯t think you¡¯d be this dramatic.¡± Elspeth crossed her arms. ¡°Guess I¡¯ve got to clear up this misunderstanding before I leave.¡± He crushed his bottle of soda and mmed it on the ground. ¡°No need for that. Leave.¡± Elspeth huddled closer and purred, ¡°Do you not like me?¡± The man said nothing as he refused to answer. ¡°Look, this is a misunderstanding.¡± Elspeth sat back down and crossed her legs, waiting for Edmund to speak. ¡°There is no misunderstanding. At least not from the attitude he¡¯s showing right now. If he thinks I¡¯ve misunderstood him, then tell him to speak to me himself.¡± No longer desiring to talk, Edmund opened his bedroom door and went inside. He then mmed the door shut, declining all visitations. Elspeth might¡¯ve been refused, but she wasn¡¯t about to give up just yet. She went ahead and knocked on the door, refusing to leave until she had an answer. ¡°Come out, Edmund. We need to talk.¡± ¡°For thest time, we have nothing to talk about. If you keep doing this, then don¡¯t me me for taking extreme measures.¡± There was anger in his voice, but he was keeping it in. ¡°You still hate me, huh?¡± Elspeth blurted out for some reason. And silence ensued. A momentter, Edmund opened the door, a conflicted look filling his eyes. ¡°What do you want?¡± Chapter 516 Chapter 516 Chapter 516 Revealing the Truth ¡°I¡¯d like to mend our rtionship, as well as your rtionship with Callum.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing worth mending,¡± Edmund retorted stiffly. ¡°I know you¡¯re still affected by the fact that I ran away from the altar. Even though you act as if you¡¯re completely fine about it, I know it made you upset. I just never found the time to talk to you about it.¡± Edmund was a little flustered at the mention of this incident. His hostility dissipated and was reced by evasiveness. It was as if he wanted to avoid this topic. ¡°Actually, I¡ª¡± ¡°Actually, I know that you begrudge the way things yed out, so I want to give you a proper apology. I¡¯m truly sorry for hurting you. I¡¯m sorry that I couldn¡¯t return your feelings. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll meet someone else who¡¯s better than me, but the woman earlier is certainly not her.¡± While listening to Elspeth, Edmund¡¯s feelings wereplicated. It went without saying that he had indeed been affected by the whole situation. When she ran away from the altar, he didn¡¯t pursue the matter. Instead, he scrounged up an excuse on her behalf and protected her reputation. That was because he knew that she was never in love with him. Even if he did marry her, he couldn¡¯t change that. Thus, he hoped she would find happiness, even if he weren¡¯t the one for her. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. His expression became a little awkward when Elspeth mentioned the woman. ¡°Stop talking about her.¡± ¡°But this isn¡¯t like you.¡± At the end of the day, Elspeth never truly detested Edmund. She could ept his sharp tongue as him simply being a blunt and straightforward person, but she was caught off guard by what she saw today. To numb oneself was also a form of reckless abandon. ¡°I know. I won¡¯t do it again.¡± Yet, after answering her, Edmund realized that he seemed like an errant child who¡¯d just been reprimanded by a parent, and his expression soured. ¡°Why are you treating me like a kid?¡± Elspeth almost burst out inughter, but for the sake of avoiding an outburst from him, she cleared her throat and refuted, ¡°I¡¯m not. We¡¯re the same age, so why would I treat you like a kid? You¡¯re being too sensitive.¡± ¡°Fine. Are you done?¡± ¡°Of course not. Since you¡¯re willing to crack a joke with me, it means you¡¯ve more or less made peace with things.¡± She cleared her throat again and stated, ¡°Now, it¡¯s time to talk about you and Callum.¡± ¡°Can you stop bringing him up? It¡¯s good enough that I¡¯m not engaging in any form of conflict with him. Don¡¯t get yourself involved in this mess.¡± Edmund eyed her coolly, but his gaze slowly hardened. ¡°I had feelings for you once, but it doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯d listen to everything you say.¡± Elspeth cocked her eyebrows. ¡°You know I¡¯m Callum¡¯s wife, right? I¡¯m part of the Winthrop Family now. This counts as a family matter of mine as well.¡± ¡°So, this situation must be resolved. You misunderstand Callum.¡± Edmund snorted in ridicule. ¡°What misunderstanding? I know you love him, so you see him through rose-tinted sses, but that¡¯s no excuse for you to try and absolve him of all the things he did.¡± ¡°Rose-tinted sses and an attempt to absolve him, huh? Edmund, you¡¯re running the Cole Family¡¯s business, right?¡± Elspeth tackled the situation from a different angle and brought up the Coles. Edmund was startled by the abrupt change in topic. He looked a little confused. ¡°Do you really think you were able to stand firm and allow the business to grow so rapidly because of your unparalleled excellence? Or perhaps because Master Philip favors you a lot?¡± She didn¡¯te right out and say what was the truth, but the insinuation was clear. Edmund only had to pause in thought for a few moments before he figured out the unseen events that happened behind his back. ¡°If Callum didn¡¯t help you out in secret, you¡¯d probably still be having a hard time surviving in the Cole Family right now. You certainly won¡¯t have the time to investigate the cause of Max¡¯s death.¡± From his expression, she could tell that he had beenpletely unaware of all this. She couldn¡¯t help but curse his foolishness on the inside. Edmund never thought that something like this had been happening in secret. He turned red at the thought of what he had said earlier. ¡°You don¡¯t need to feel embarrassed by this. Callum¡¯s your brother and he willingly did all those things for you. You don¡¯t need to feel like you owe him anything, either.¡± Elspeth stared at the man with shing eyes. ¡°But I don¡¯t want to see you harboring misunderstandings about him when he has done so much for all of you in secret. I don¡¯t want him to be so unfortunate as to have such an ungrateful brother.¡± Edmund picked up on the words she used and asked, ¡°What do you mean ¡®all of you?¡¯¡± ¡°ke hides his rtionship from his fans, and whenever the paparazzi take photos of him on a date, Callum pays them off.¡± Elspeth continued, ¡°As for Max¡¯s invitation to train in Wohler, Callum paid to get him a slot, too.¡± ¡­ Edmund quietly listened to Elspeth as she listed out the things Callum had done for his brothers. His eyes flickered strangely. Although his expression wasrgely the same, he was in turmoil on the inside. Callum never mentioned these things to any of us. All of the brothers thought that Callum was a selfish man through and through¡ªa cunning businessman willing to do whatever it took to get what he wanted. Arthur hated him, ke respected him, Max feared him, and as for Edmund, he felt nothing but disgust and repulsion. Thus, now that the truth hade to light, Edmund was entirely unprepared for it. He couldn¡¯t describe what he was feeling. It was a little bittersweet, and he also felt ashamed. I¡¯d misunderstood Callum for so many years. ¡°Therefore, if you still think Callum is a heartless man who doesn¡¯t care about his brothers, then you¡¯re nothing more than a joke.¡± Elspeth paused for a moment before asking, ¡°Do you believe that what we found in our investigation is real now?¡± His gaze had lost all its hardened hostility. He looked somehow dejected as he replied, ¡°I do.¡± ¡°That makes things a lot easier, then. As long as you believe this, there won¡¯t be any issues.¡± She could finally exhale in relief. ¡°Why did you¡­e and tell me these things?¡± Elspeth¡¯s eyes shed intively. ¡°I didn¡¯t want toe all the way here to ruin your fun either, but I had to tell you about this. I¡¯m sure you know that Arthur¡¯s trying to stick his foot into this mess. If he manages to instigate you by sowing more discord between you and Callum, it¡¯ll only make things even more challenging. Furthermore, it¡¯s one thing for you to be suspicious, but you¡¯re even trying to convince ke to join you in your muddleheaded ideas¡­¡± Edmund recalled his derations at Winthrop Residence a few days ago. The irony of the situation wasn¡¯t lost on him. ¡°I won¡¯t. I¡¯ll clear things up with ke. I won¡¯t drag him along in any foolishness.¡± Elspeth smiled. ¡°In that case, I can rest easier now. Anyway, I¡¯m heading off now if there¡¯s nothing else.¡± Just then, Edmund¡¯s phone started ringing. The name ¡®Arthur Winthrop¡¯ appeared on the screen. Chapter 517 Chapter 517 Chapter 517 The Word Got Out The word got out that quickly, huh? Arthur has only just recovered from his injuries and he¡¯s already sticking his nose into things. Elspeth let out a long exhale. Thank goodness I came over just in time, or else, Arthur would¡¯ve gotten to Edmund first. ¡°Should I answer?¡± Edmund looked up and waved his phone at Elspeth. She nodded. ¡°Go ahead. Let¡¯s see what he¡¯s up to.¡± With her assent, Edmund answered the call. ¡°Hello? What do you want?¡± ¡°I heard that you and Callum had a falling out.¡± Arthur¡¯s probing voice rang out. ¡°Nope. Didn¡¯t happen. Where did you hear that?¡± Edmund put the call on speakerphone to let Elspeth listen in on the conversation. ¡°Now that things havee to this, you needn¡¯t bother hiding it from me. If you¡¯re willing to join me now, I¡¯ll make sure it¡¯ll be worth your while.¡± Arthur chuckled lightly in full confidence. Edmund pretended to scratch his head in frustration before responding impatiently, ¡°I told you. I didn¡¯t have a falling out with him. I don¡¯t know whom you heard that from. Go and get them to join you instead.¡± He hung up on Arthur. Elspeth gave him an approving look. ¡°Not bad. I didn¡¯t expect you to be this good at it.¡± Arthur¡¯s probably incredibly frustrated right now. His news was urate, but he still got rejected anyway. ¡°In the first ce, I wouldn¡¯t sink to that level and join him, so I was just telling the truth.¡± Edmund waved his phone. ¡°You can rx now, right? I won¡¯t join him in his dirty deeds.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m totally rxed now. I guess the trip was worth it after all.¡± Elspeth moved to pat Edmund on the shoulder with a grin, but he just narrowly avoided her. ¡°Alright now. If there¡¯s nothing else, you should hurry up and leave. Callum would probably skin me alive if he found out that you¡¯re here.¡± Elspeth nced at the disheveled room and the lingering signs of an intense bout of passion that happened earlier. She couldn¡¯t help but blush. After noticing Elspeth¡¯s bashful reaction, a strange thought popped up in Edmund¡¯s mind. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that you and Callum haven¡¯t¡ª¡± Before he could get the rest of his words out, Elspeth flushed even redder and cut him off. ¡°That¡¯s enough! Stop talking!¡± ¡°Does that mean I¡¯m right? That¡¯s hrious! I didn¡¯t think that the two of you haven¡¯t slept together yet. Callum¡¯s not on his game!¡± All of a sudden, Edmund¡¯s smile froze as a new thought urred to him. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me something¡¯s actually wrong with Callum. That won¡¯t do. He should go for a checkup. It¡¯d affect the happiness of your marriage life.¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes. She couldn¡¯t be bothered to exin anything to Edmund. ¡°Enough about that. I¡¯m not talking to you anymore. I¡¯ll get going now.¡± After bidding Edmund goodbye, Elspeth went to Winthrop Group. Harper was keeping an eye on thepany on her behalf, so she didn¡¯t need to worry about those things. However, she did feel like checking in on Callum. Previously, she was simply known as herself at Winthrop Group. She had never gone over to the office as Mrs. Winthrop, the CEO¡¯s wife. Elspeth made a stop to buy some pastries and bubble tea before heading over to Winthrop Group. Many of the employees were acquainted with Elspeth. When they saw hering in, they teased her by calling her the CEO¡¯s wife. However, she was taken aback to find an unexpected visitor at the company. The far-too-familiar visage took Elspeth by surprise. She was momentarily dazed. ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while indeed.¡± Elspeth never would¡¯ve thought that Jethro would be here. ¡°Are you shocked to see me here?¡± Jethro was dressed in a suit that made him look refined and sophisticated. He was a handsome man, to begin with, and the suit made him look even more dashing. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t find it all that strange. I¡¯m sure you have your reasons,¡± Elspethmented before passing the pastries and bubble tea to the staff around her. She told them to distribute the food and drinks among themselves. ¡°I do have a reason, of course.¡± Jethro moved closer and murmured into her ear, ¡°I¡¯m here for you, aren¡¯t I?¡± Elspeth stiffened but she forced herself to remainposed. ¡°I don¡¯t know why you came here, but there¡¯s no reason for you to do this.¡± Jethro¡¯s smile froze ever so slightly. ¡°I came over because I want to, of course. You don¡¯t need to be nervous about it.¡± ¡°I hope that¡¯s the case.¡± Elspeth took a cup of bubble tea and held it out to him. ¡°Have one.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so generous, Mrs. Winthrop. You bought the most expensive bubble tea.¡± Jethro shook the cup. ¡°It¡¯s a shame I don¡¯t like bubble tea. I only drink coffee.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make a note of that and buy a separate cup for you.¡± For some reason, whenever Jethro struck up a conversation with Elspeth, he kept feeling as if he had bitten off more than he could chew. Since he couldn¡¯t get the reaction he wanted out of her, he gave up and went back to his seat. Elspeth checked with the staff around her, and once she confirmed that Callum was in his office, she went over to see him. Callum was poring over some documents when Elspeth opened the door to his office. He disliked it when employees didn¡¯t knock before entering, so he looked up with a frown, but his expression rxed as soon as he spotted Elspeth. ¡°Why did youe over?¡± ¡°I snuck out to see you. Since I¡¯ve never dropped in on you while you were working before, I decided to come over and see if you were doing anything that would displease me.¡± Callum leaned against his leather chair. ¡°What could I possibly do that¡¯ll displease you? Right after you left, I even reced my female secretary with a male secretary.¡± Elspeth nced at the man standing outside the door and chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t go that far. If everyone finds out that your secretary¡¯s a man, they might think you¡¯re changing your romantic preferences.¡± ¡°I have a wife. They have no reason to think that.¡± Callum raised his arm and Elspeth got the message. She walked over and settled in hisp. ¡°Who taught you all these witty quips?¡± Callum stroked her cheeks. ¡°Ites naturally.¡± ¡°Yeah, sure. Whatever.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you out to dinnerter. What do you want to eat? Let¡¯s get off work early.¡± Elspeth stood up in surprise and watched as Callum started gathering the documents on his desk. ¡°Is this for real? Did a workaholic just tell me he wants to get off work early? That¡¯s so unprofessional!¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with getting off early for the sake of my wife?¡± Callum got up to get his jacket, but Elspeth clutched his sleeve to stop him. ¡°Wait. I want to ask you something.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Why did Jethro show up here?¡± Callum¡¯s expression darkened at the mention of Jethro. ¡°It¡¯s quite the coincidence. You dismissed him and Arthur can¡¯t take him, so Old Mr. Wilstone shoved him over to me.¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. ¡°You¡¯re acquainted with Old Mr. Wilstone?¡± ¡°Not personally, but my father had some dealings with him.¡± Callum caressed Elspeth¡¯s head with a smile. ¡°But, if it makes you unhappy, I can remove him from thepany too.¡± Chapter 518 Chapter 518 Chapter 518 Reported for Tax Evasion ¡°I¡¯m not upset or anything, I just feel that something¡¯s off.¡± Callum pulled Elspeth into his armsfortingly. ¡°I know that Old Mr. Wilstone is not the only one behind this; there¡¯s someone else. I know exactly what Jethro is up to.¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°So, you don¡¯t have to worry. If he still has any ill intentions toward you, I will never let him off the hook.¡± His words had a hint of jealousy in them, and he sounded a little childish, even. Elspeth helped him to smooth out his jacket, then pinched his nose. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know all that.¡± The two were about to go out when a group of people barged in all of a sudden. The ones in the lead were a group of police, followed by staff who were curious about what was going on. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, someone reported you for tax evasion and running illegal businesses. Pleasee with us.¡± One of the police showed their credentials. Now, the couple had to change their ns from going out for a meal to going to the police station. Before leaving, Elspeth could clearly see a gleeful face in the crowd behind them. Jethro. Elspeth quietlymitted that smile to memory. Once at the police station, Callum was brought inside for interrogation. She sat in the lounge outside, awaiting the results. The policeman looked at Callum¡¯s face and said seriously, ¡°Mr. Winthrop, is it true that you have committed tax evasion in the past 6 months?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you arrest people based on evidence?¡± Callum looked at the policeman calmly. There was no anger from Callum, but he was intimidating nevertheless. ¡°We received a report. That¡¯s why we¡¯re conducting an investigation.¡± The policeman had interrogated so many people, but this was the first time he felt nervous for some reason. ¡°Begin your interrogation, then.¡± ¡°We received a report this morning that you havemitted tax evasion in the past 6 months. After checking the records, we found that it was true; you didn¡¯t pay your taxes on time this month.¡± Callum said in a low voice, ¡°This month?¡± ¡°Yes. The tax office sent you a lot of warnings, but you didn¡¯t respond at all.¡± The policeman knew that Callum wasn¡¯t someone they could afford to mess with, but since someone had reported Callum, they couldn¡¯t resolve this problem in private anymore. They had to at least put on a show of interrogating him. ¡°I¡¯m not very sure about that. Can you wait while I return and ask the head of mypany¡¯s finance department?¡± The policeman coughed lightly. ¡°However, looking at the current situation, you¡¯re conducting illegal business. You might have to undergo some administrative penalties.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the penalty?¡± Callum looked the policeman in the eye as he asked slowly, word after word. ¡°Custody for sev¡ªthree days.¡± The policeman was originally going to say ¡®seven days¡¯, but when he saw Callum¡¯s fierce re, he changed it to three days in the end. ¡°Three days?¡± ¡°Just one day works as well¡­¡± The policeman couldn¡¯t help but gulp as guilt tinted his eyes. ¡°Tell me, who asked you to do this?¡± Callum leaned back, the fury receding in his expression as if he were talking about the mostmon topic in the world. ¡°How can you say that someone asked me to do this? I¡¯m doing all this ording to the procedures¡­¡± The policeman¡¯s voice turned even softer, and eventually, he didn¡¯t even dare to meet Callum¡¯s gaze. ¡°I may be just a businessman, but I¡¯m no stranger to thew. This situation doesn¡¯t warrant an arrest at all. Do you think I don¡¯t know that? Tell me, whom are you working with?¡± Callum¡¯s questioning tone was light, but it was especially terrifying. ¡°I¡¯m really not working with anyone. I¡¯m doing all this ording to the rules and regtions¡ª¡± ¡°Arthur Winthrop?¡± As soon as Callum said that, the policeman froze. ¡°Jethro Wilstone?¡± Cold sweat broke out on the policeman¡¯s face. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, please stop joking.¡± ¡°Me, joking? Weren¡¯t you the one who started joking around?¡± In the end, the policeman¡¯s legs gave way from the fear, and he sat trembling on the chair. ¡°Tell me everything and be honest about it. If not¡­ you know the consequences.¡± ¡­ Elspeth waited impatiently outside. She tried to barge in a few times, but the policemen guarding the door stopped her every time. ¡°Miss Lynwood, please do not get in the way of official business.¡± ¡°Callum would nevermit tax evasion and conduct illegal business. Let me in, I have something to say. ¡± ¡°Miss Lynwood, our leader doesn¡¯t like being interrupted during an interrogation. Please cooperate with us.¡± Exasperated, Elspeth could only sit down again. 10 minutester, the voices inside turned softer, and then silence ensued. ¡°Why can¡¯t I hear anything now? Did something happen? Let me go in to check.¡± Elspeth stood up again. This time, no one stopped her, because the other two policemen sensed that something was off as well. The three were about to go in to check on the situation when the door suddenly opened. The policeman was the one who opened the door, and he smiled as he escorted Callum outside. ¡°It was all a misunderstanding. I¡¯m so sorry for disturbing your work, Mr. Winthrop.¡± Callum turned and nced at him with an unaffected look in his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m d we cleared things up.¡± ¡°Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Winthrop. You two, hurry and see Mr. Winthrop off.¡± The two policemen were bewildered, but since it was an order from their leader, they could only obediently see Callum and Elspeth off. When Callum left, the two policemen looked fearfully at their leader, then couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Sir, what¡¯s going on? Aren¡¯t we supposed to keep investigating ording to Mr. Wilstone¡¯s request?¡± The leader red furiously at his ipetent subordinates and said, ¡°Fools, do you really think we can afford to mess with Callum? It¡¯s my fault for not researching him beforehand. If I knew he was such a weirdo, I wouldn¡¯t have epted the money. We probably can¡¯tplete this business deal now.¡± ¡°Then, what do we say to Mr. Wilstone?¡± ¡°If worsees to worst, we¡¯ll return the money. We can¡¯t just take the money yet fail to deliver.¡± Even though he didn¡¯t want to let go of the money and return it, he had no choice. It was his fault for being ipetent. He had no wish to get involved in such a troublesome matter. The three hadn¡¯t even finished talking when a furious voice suddenly rang out. ¡°B*stards! How dare you ept someone¡¯s money to do things like this! This is a vition of the disciplinary code!¡± ¡°S-Sir, we¡­¡± The leader looked at the fuming chief, so terrified that he almost dropped the mug in his hand. ¡°I never thought that you would do this with them!¡± The chief, Mr. Meyers, was infuriated. ¡°The three of you, go and write a self-criticism essay of 10 thousand words! You¡¯re not allowed to go home if you don¡¯tplete it!¡± The three trembled like leaves in the wind, but they could only do as they were told. Meanwhile, Callum and Elspeth had just left the police station when Elspeth couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore and asked, ¡°What exactly happened? Why did someone report you for tax evasion?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to thebined efforts of Arthur and Jethro.¡± Elspeth was shocked. ¡°Arthur was involved as well?¡± Callum was a little surprised instead. ¡°Oh? Did you know that Jethro was involved?¡± ¡°When you were taken away by the police just now, I turned around and saw Jethro¡¯s expression.¡± Elspeth¡¯s expression was grave. ¡°He was smiling as if victory was guaranteed.¡± Chapter 519 Chapter 519 Chapter 519 You Were a Virgin Arthur and Jethro must be behind this. Elspeth instantly felt a headacheing on. If it were before, where Arthur was the only one causing trouble, things would be easier to handle. Now that there were two of them, even though the Wilstones couldn¡¯t stir up too much trouble, they were still quite bothersome. ¡°I really didn¡¯t want to be his enemy, but by the looks of it, there¡¯s no other choice.¡± Callum caressed her hair. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, leave everything to me.¡± After getting back to the Winthrop Residence, the two had already lost their appetite, so they washed up early andy on their beds. Everyone in the Winthrop Residence was saddened by Max¡¯s death, and the whole house had fallen into deste silence. In order to soothe Margot¡¯s emotions, Theodore could only bring her out on a vacation and leave the company management to Callum. ke rarely came back, and he lived with Lisa in another house outside. So, Callum and Elspeth were the only two people remaining in the Winthrop Residence. At night, Elspeth was sound asleep when she was suddenly startled awake by the thunder outside. She was a light sleeper, so as she listened to the rumbling thunder outside, she tossed and turned and was unable to sleep. Finally, when the thunder sounded for the 59th time, Elspeth couldn¡¯t take it anymore and sat up. She turned on the lights and went downstairs to fetch some water to drink, but when she arrived at the staircase, she bumped into Callum who was also getting some water. ¡°Why are you still awake at this hour?¡± Callum passed her the cup of water he had just poured for himself. The water was at a suitable temperature, and she took it and sipped from the cup, easing her troubled emotions. ¡°The thunder was too loud, so I couldn¡¯t sleep from all the noise.¡± Callum stared at the weather outside. ¡°The weather forecast says that the thunder will go on for another 30 minutes. Maybe it¡¯ll be gone when the rain stops.¡± ¡°That¡¯s so annoying.¡± Elspeth ruffled her hair in irritation. ¡°Would you like to chat with me in my room?¡± Even though Callum¡¯s suggestion was a little out of the blue, it wasn¡¯t a bad idea. She couldn¡¯t sleep, after all, so she decided to go with him to his room. There was arge armchair in Callum¡¯s room. Elspeth wasn¡¯t bold enough to sit on his bed, so she sat on the armchair instead. Callum sat on his bed and lightly patted it. ¡°It¡¯s winter, and the weather is quite cold. Do you want to snuggle under the nkets with me?¡± Elspeth was silent. After hesitating for a while, she slowly got up from the armchair and walked to the bed, then discreetly dove under the nkets. Since the two were sharing a nket, the atmosphere turned more or less suggestive. Callumy next to her as he read a magazine. His nket was tea-scented, so it was refreshing and fragrant. Elspeth took a deep breath, taking in the familiar scent, and she actually felt a little sleepy. ¡°Do you feel like sleeping?¡± For some reason, the sleepiness she just felt suddenly disappeared without a trace as soon as he said that. ¡°Nope.¡± Elspeth took out her phone and started scrolling through some videos. As she watched the videos, she burst outughing asionally. ¡°What are you watching? You¡¯reughing so happily that I want to see it too.¡± Before Elspeth could react, a hand draped across her shoulders from behind. Callum pulled her firmly into his embrace. Her phone was taken away, and in an instant, Elspeth suddenly realized that things weren¡¯t as simple as she thought they were. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you want to watch the video? Why did you lock the screen?¡± When Elspeth saw Callum casually locking the screen and cing the phone on the bedside table, a strong sense of danger invaded her. She subconsciously wanted to back away, but his arm was firmly wrapped around her, so she couldn¡¯t even move, much less keep a distance from him. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± Elspeth¡¯s words sounded like she was ying hard to get. When Callum looked into Elspeth¡¯s eyes, he swallowed and asked in a hoarse voice, ¡°Do you remember what you promised mest time?¡± A promise? What was it exactly? Elspeth instantly recalled that she might have promised him something in the hospital. Is he talking about having a child?! ¡°I¡¯m not prepared. Why don¡¯t we slow down and have a good long talk about it?¡± They were almost at the point of no return, but she still wanted to drag it out. This was too sudden, and she hadn¡¯t made any mental preparations yet. However, Callum couldn¡¯t wait any longer. He had no time to listen to her arguments as he covered her eyes with one hand, then pulled her close to him with another. Warmth spread across her lips. He was lightly biting on them. ¡°Elspeth¡­ Have my baby.¡± Elspeth whimpered lightly, but it only made Callum more excited as he turned around and trapped her underneath him. There was a deep look in his eyes. Elspeth closed her eyes and slowly epted the kiss that turned ever deeper. Thunder rumbled outside, washing over the charming and delicate scene in the room. ¡­ The next morning, when Elspeth woke up, she felt sore all over. She couldn¡¯t help muttering that Callum was a beast. Last night, he went for many rounds and called her name over and over again. He was slightly more maniacal than usual in bed, and he kept bullying her as if he were born to do it. Even turning over made Elspeth feel the soreness throughout her body. She cursed Callum silently again, feeling like she wouldn¡¯t be able to get out of bed for most of the day. ¡°You¡¯re awake. Did you sleep wellst night?¡± While Elspeth was lost in thought, Callum suddenly came in with a tray. On the trayy an exquisite sandwich and a ss of hot milk. Elspeth red at him in hatred. He knew very well whether she had a good sleepst night or not. Knowing that he was in the wrong, Callum dared not say anything as he got under the nkets as well. Then, he gathered her into his arms. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me. It hurts.¡± Callum¡¯s actions were already at their gentlest, but Elspeth still felt pain. A regretful look shed in his eyes as he said in a soft voice, ¡°I¡¯ll be more gentle next time.¡± Next time?! Elspeth thought. There¡¯s even a next time? Elspeth put on a sorrowful look as sheined, ¡°I think this shouldn¡¯t happen again in at least a month from now.¡± Callum hugged her from behind and said in a pitiful tone, ¡°One month is too long for me. Can¡¯t we shorten it a little?¡± ¡°One month is my lowest limit. I was going to say 6 months just now.¡± She was unexpectedly stubborn about these things. There wasn¡¯t any secret behind this; it was simply too painful for her. It hurt so much that she kept sobbingst night, but the thunder was even louder than her sobs, so even if she cried until she lost her voice, he didn¡¯t let her off. ¡°Maybe a discount, please?¡± Callum rubbed his head against her back. His hair was fluffy and it tickled her neck. ¡°Callum, you don¡¯t know how to control yourself at all!¡± Elspeth was fuming as if she had experienced the worst treatment in her life. ¡°It was my first time. I didn¡¯t have any experience prior to that. I¡¯ll look out next time,¡± Callum exined patiently. As soon as he said that, Elspeth¡¯s annoyance instantly turned into shock. ¡°You were a virgin?!¡±This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Chapter 520 Chapter 520 Chapter 520 Relentless Pestering The term ¡®virgin¡¯ made Callum feel a little awkward. ¡°Can¡¯t you put it in a better way?¡± Elspeth was already speechless from the shock. Callum was popr with the women, so she couldn¡¯t believe that he was actually a virgin. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d be so¡­ chaste.¡± ¡°Chaste?¡± Callum wasn¡¯t quite informed about these things, so when he saw herughing her butt off, he thought it was something negative. He immediately frowned. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Nothing, just¡ª¡± This fact was something she could be more or less happy about. Elspeth was beaming when she looked at Callum, suddenly feeling that the pain she experiencedst night wasn¡¯t that uneptable. Even though Callum didn¡¯t know what she was talking about, she seemed quite happy, so he decided not to ask further about it. At that thought, he suddenly remembered some scenes fromst night, and his gaze gradually deepened. In his arms, Elspeth could feel something off and her face turned red in an instant. ¡°What are you doing ¡ª¡± Before she could finish speaking, her lips were suddenly sealed, and the rest of her sentence was cut off by him. ¡°Making babies.¡± Callum¡¯s voice was hoarse and deep, and the atmosphere in the room instantly became heated. Elspeth didn¡¯t even have time to re at him as she became weak from his kisses. Damn, this guy is too good at this, she thought. ¡­ Meanwhile, Yelena had been frequenting thew firm for an entire week. Every morning, she would pretend like it was an idental meeting, then try to talk to him. However, he maintained an impassive expression every time, as if he wasn¡¯t interested in her at all. He didn¡¯t seem annoyed by her, but he didn¡¯t look like he would humor her either. This disappointed her a little. Nevertheless, she had always been a persistent person. Seeing him like that, she felt a little deste, but she perked up soon after and continued hitting on him. This went on until the morning of the 7th day. When she pretended to bump into him with soy milk and waffles in her hands, Hank finally couldn¡¯t take it anymore. ¡°Can you just stop appearing in front of me?¡± Yelena shook her head. ¡°No can do. I like you, so I insist on showing up in front of you.¡± The bold confession didn¡¯t move his heart one bit. Yelena gazed at his cold expression, then she suddenly felt despair. ¡°You weren¡¯t like this before. Why are you as cold as ice now?¡± Yelena crouched by the road and took a huge bite of the waffle. Unfortunately, the bite was too huge, so she choked on it. ¡°I was never obliged to keep humoring you. Did you have the illusion that I would keep being nice to you simply because I was nice to you before?¡± His words were extremely cold and distant, and even Yelena was stunned. ¡°I¡ª¡± Because of the waffle in her mouth, Yelena¡¯s words were muffled, but the sobs in her throat were also concealed. ¡°So, if there¡¯s nothing important, stop appearing in front of me. I didn¡¯t want to tell you off before, but now I¡¯m really annoyed. Thoroughly annoyed.¡± Thoroughly annoyed? Yelena looked down at her toes, fearing that she might see the coldness in his eyes. ¡°Got it. I won¡¯t bother you anymore,¡± Yelena said in a small voice, then turned around and left. Hank stood a distance away. Seeing her slightly drooping shoulders, he grunted, then gritted his teeth a little as he said, ¡°Don¡¯t persist if you can¡¯t hold out until the end. I¡¯ve never seen anyone pursue their love interests like this.¡± What did he mean by that? Yelena¡¯s disappointment immediately went away as she turned around to look at him. There was a gleam of anticipation in her eyes as she asked, ¡°So you¡¯re admitting that I¡¯m pursuing you, right?¡± She was pursuing him, not relentlessly pestering him. Even though his words were harsh, he was clearly trying to get her to stay. It made her feel embarrassed, though, as if she were a simp. Hank didn¡¯t directly respond to Yelena¡¯s words. He turned around emotionlessly, then walked past her into thew firm. Seeing him like that, Yelena felt the fog in her heart clearing up in an instant. She even started humming in joy. Seeing Hank going upstairs, Yelena went into the office as well to look for Summer. Then, Yelena gave thetter a serving of the soy milk and waffles she was carrying. These days, she would alwayse over and share her breakfast with Summer. Summer was already used to it, so she took the food and started munching on the waffles with Yelena. Summer tore off a piece of the waffle and tossed it into her mouth. Suddenly, surprise colored her eyes as she said, ¡°There¡¯s Nute and biscuits inside! How novel!¡± ¡°Yes, I discovered this new menu recently. It doesn¡¯t taste too bad, does it?¡± Yelena raised her chin at Summer gleefully. This was the most delicious waffle she had after trying out all the shops nearby, so of course, it wouldn¡¯t be too shabby. ¡°It¡¯s delicious! But how¡¯s it going between you and Mr. Damazio? Does he still hate you?¡± Yelena hadn¡¯t even swallowed the waffle in her mouth when she snatched Summer¡¯s waffle away and said fiercely, ¡°What are you talking about? When has he ever hated me?¡± Summer was a little bewildered after having her waffle taken away, but for the sake of the delicious waffle, she softened her tone as she said, ¡°Okay, he doesn¡¯t hate you. What is it called, then?¡± Summer couldn¡¯t say something that wasn¡¯t true. ¡°This is called ying hard to get!¡± ying hard to get? Summer was trying to get back the waffle, but when she heard that, she halted her attempts. She pulled out a tissue and wiped her oily mouth and fingers, saying, ¡°I think that sometimes, you have to be more realistic. When you put it like that, it sounds like he¡¯s longing for you, but I really don¡¯t see that.¡± Every time Summer told Yelena that, thetter would always mention how close she and Hank were in the past, and how considerate Hank was to her. But as time went by, Summer grew tired of the same stories. Judging by the current situation between the two, she really couldn¡¯t imagine Hank being considerate and caring toward Yelena. Even if Hank really did treat Yelena well before, that was in the past. Men¡¯s thoughts were impossible to fathom, and it was only reasonable for them to change their minds quickly. Yelena showed off the ring on her finger. The butterfly¡¯s wings were crystal clear as they reflected the light brilliantly. ¡°Look, I still have the matching rings we got, and he¡¯s always wearing it as well. What does that mean? That means I definitely have a ce in his heart.¡± Summer couldn¡¯t refute that, because Hank actually did have a shiny ring on his finger. If she remembered correctly, it was indeed shaped like a butterfly as well. It was because of this that she believed the two had a connection before. ¡°So, what do you n on doing next?¡± Yelena thought about it for a while, but she drew a nk. For the moment, she couldn¡¯t think of any good ideas, but it wasn¡¯t a problem. Since Hank said something like that, he must have another reason. Yelena wasn¡¯t panicking about it at all. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. However, half an hourter, Hank suddenly came downstairs not long after he went up. Yelena could clearly see that he had dressed himself up, and even his hair was styled perfectly. Chapter 521 Chapter 521 Chapter 521 Went on a Blind Date Hank didn¡¯t even spare Yelena a nce and walked out right away. ¡°Say, where do you suppose he¡¯s going?¡± Hank usually worked from 9.00AM until 11.30AM, but today, only half an hour had passed since he went upstairs, so where was he going? Summer picked up the name list and scanned through it. Then, she frowned. ¡°I have no idea, either. Mr. Damazio doesn¡¯t have any appointments today, so why did he go out?¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. ¡°I don¡¯t know, maybe there¡¯s an emergency, but since he went out already, should I go after him?¡± Yelena suddenly came up with a bold idea. However, she had just finished speaking when a pnded on her head. ¡°What are you talking about? Do you really think you¡¯re a simp or something? Yelena, you¡¯re a bona fide celebrity! Don¡¯t you feel ashamed to be sneaking around?¡± Summer was pissed when she imagined Yelena ingratiating herself with a man when she was so beautiful. This woman didn¡¯t seem to be aware of how beautiful she was, and she kept acting like a simp in front of Hank. Her beauty was wasted on her! If it were Summer, she would¡¯ve dumped Hank right away and gone on dates with all sorts of beautiful and handsome men. It was like casting pearls before swine! Sadly, Summer wasn¡¯t born with a face like that, nor could she persuade the lovestruck Yelena to stop. Yelena rubbed her chin. ¡°You¡¯re right. I should wait here patiently until hees back. If not, he¡¯ll be disappointed if he doesn¡¯t see me.¡± ¡°Disappointed, my foot! Come on, he doesn¡¯t want to see you at all!¡± Yelena didn¡¯t believe that at all. She simply felt that Hank was testing her. Yes, it was a test. After all, she had treated him unfairly before and even dumped him, so he had a right to be a little harsh. Every time she felt a little down, Yelena wouldfort herself by telling herself that. It actually worked, and now she was getting more and more shameless. ¡°So, what exactly do you mean by that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m saying, if you¡¯re out of options, you can go the opposite way. If he treats you like that, you can treat him the same way. y hard to get, you know?¡± Summer thought that her idea was amazing, and she even felt like patting herself on the back. ¡°No¡­ I don¡¯t think I should treat him like that¡­¡± Yelena was troubled. If she did something like that to Hank, she feared that the tiny sliver of patience Hank still had for her would be gonepletely. It would be even more difficult to pursue Hankter on. ¡°Why not? He¡¯s ordering you around, but you¡¯re still trying not to hurt his feelings? How pathetic is that? No, wait, Yelena, you¡¯re a simp through and through! No man would fall for a simp!¡± Summer was fuming. She had already decided that if her own daughter behaved like this, she would chase her daughter out and disown her. ¡°I¡­¡± Yelena shook her head, then nodded again. She had finally made up her mind to stop being such a simp when she nced up and saw two figures walking toward the entrance. She recognized one of them. It was Hank, who didn¡¯t even spare her a nce when he walked past her in the morning. Even though he was far away, she still felt like she could smell the familiar musky scent on his body. As for the other figure¡­ Yelena had never seen her before, but the girl looked charming and attractive, and her bright and cheery aura was a natural ma. Yelena suddenly felt a strong sense of danger. Her thoughts were not without reason. Hank rarely smiled, but right now, there was a familiar affection in his eyes as he looked at the girl. Yelena couldn¡¯t help but feel bitter and awful about it. ¡°This is my workce. You can look around if you like.¡± Hank put on a polite smile, and this smile hurt Yelena even more. At the side, Summer clicked her tongue as she nudged Yelena¡¯s arm. ¡°Hey, look, Mr. Damazio actually brought a woman here. He never brings women to thew firm on his own ord.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Hank had told her before that she was the first woman whom he took to hisw firm. It turned out that with every first woulde a second. There was moisture in Yelena¡¯s eyes as she felt indescribable sorrow and injustice. She suddenly realized how pitiful she was. She was a joke and irrelevant. Summer took out a baseball cap and ced it on Yelena¡¯s head. ¡°I know you¡¯re feeling terrible, so just cry if you want to. If crying doesn¡¯t help, go ahead and cause a ruckus. Things have already reached this point, anyway. Hank is probably starting over¡­¡± The words ¡®start over¡¯ induced a sense of loss and helplessness. Yelena was at a loss, but she definitely wasn¡¯t going to make a fuss. Just like that, she quietly watched as Hank introduced all sorts of things about thew firm to the girl. The girl¡¯s face was filled with curiosity and admiration, just like Yelena¡¯s in the past. The girl blinked mischievously and said, ¡°Do you bring girls here often?¡± Hank thought for a moment, then said, ¡°No, rarely.¡± Yelena naturally heard what he said. At least he wasn¡¯t denying her existence. At that thought, Yelena feltforted, but she also felt very pitiful at the same time. ¡°Hank, what do you make of it, exactly?¡± The girl¡¯s voice took on a piteous quality, and her already sweet voice turned sickly sweet. Hank had an unfathomable look on his face, but he still found an excuse to avoid answering. ¡°We don¡¯t have to rush it. We can take our time.¡± Yelena instantly felt like her world was crumbling. She had reason to overthink their conversation because it sounded too much like an engagement. Could it be that Hank had truly let go of her and was now ready to ept someone else? ¡°As for the blind date today¡­ I¡¯ll talk to my dad about it.¡± The girl chuckled lightly, and she seemed extra cheerful. ¡°Okay.¡± Hank nodded. He didn¡¯t say anything more, and the expression on his face softened a little. The words ¡®blind date¡¯ was enough to confirm Yelena¡¯s guesses. Hank had not only let go of her, but he had also gone on a blind date. Yelena shifted her gaze down to see that the ring on Hank¡¯s finger was gone. He had taken off the ring. Seeing Yelena¡¯s extremely piteous and deste behavior, Summer couldn¡¯t help but coax, ¡°Don¡¯t dwell on it too much. Hank isn¡¯t all that great anyway. He¡¯s just a little more handsome, has a slightly nicer personality, is a bit more focused, earns a slightly higher sry, is a little cleverer,es from a slightly better background¡ª¡± ¡°Just stop.¡± By then, Yelena¡¯s tears were already streaming down her face, but she still stubbornly refused to admit it. ¡°I get it. I won¡¯te back ever again.¡± Now that things hade to this, if she still insisted oning over, that would really make her a simp. Even if she wanted to be a simp, she didn¡¯t want to simp for someone she wasn¡¯t sure she could get. Yelena sniffled, then wiped her tears away and took off the cap on her head. ¡°Thanks, Summer. I think I should get going.¡± Chapter 522 Chapter 522 Chapter 522 How to Refuse Someone While Hank was taking that woman on a tour around his firm, Yelena had left in silence. When Hank turned back, he saw Summer standing at the reception alone, staring at him. Noticing Hank looking at her, Summer looked at him as well. For the first time ever, there was no admiration in her eyes. There was disappointment and disdain. Is that disdain I notice? Hank thought he was seeing things. When he tried to take a closer look, Summer had looked away and was staring at the entrance. ¡°Hank? What are you staring at, Hank?¡± The girl waved her hand in front of Hank¡¯s face, snapping him out of his stupor. ¡°Nothing. Let¡¯s go upstairs.¡± Cecelia waved her hand. ¡°No. Someone¡¯s waiting for me. That concludes our appointment today. See you tomorrow, Mr. Damazio.¡± Hank looked away and nodded gently. ¡°Sure. Go now. Drive safe.¡± ¡°I know, I know. Bye now.¡± Cecelia picked up her bag and walked off. When she reached the entrance, she asked Summer, ¡°Who was that with you just now? She was staring at me.¡± Summer thought of Yelena as her friend. The fact that Cecelia was trying to act innocent got on her nerves. She snapped, ¡°That¡¯s confidential. I cannot answer that, miss.¡± Surprised by Summer¡¯s snappish attitude, Cecelia smiled awkwardly at Hank. ¡°Your employee can be quite the character.¡± Hank¡¯s face fell. ¡°She needs more training.¡± Summer didn¡¯t care about his opinion. Cecelia shrugged and left. Then, Hank asked, ¡°Why did you snap at her?¡± ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about, Mr. Damazio.¡± Summer sorted out the files in her hand, refusing to answer. Hank narrowed his eyes, frustration welling up in him. ¡°Why did you snap at my client? Have you forgotten what I told you?¡± ¡°No. I just never took you for someone so heartless, but I thought wrong.¡± Summer met Hank¡¯s gaze without fear. This was the first time she spoke to him that way, and she was ready to lose her job over this. This job was hard to get, it paid well, and she didn¡¯t have to do much. If I lose my job, you¡¯re going to have to support me, Yelena. I¡¯m doing this for you. Hank looked at her in disbelief. Summer had always been a smart, quiet girl. This wasn¡¯t the kind of attitude he expected from her. However, he realized Yelena had been chatting with hertely. It was normal if they became friends. She made an ally out of Summer in just a few days. That¡¯s surprising. ¡°What do you mean I¡¯m heartless?¡± He pursed his lips. ¡°You know what I mean.¡± ¡°Did Yelena say something?¡± If she¡¯s already calling me heartless, there¡¯s no telling how much worse the critique is behind my back. Hank heaved a sigh. He was about to keep asking, but Summer got agitated. ¡°It hasn¡¯t been days since I knew her, but she¡¯s a timid girl. She gets flustered and will apologize profusely just because she bumps into someone, yet she won¡¯t give up on you. She follows you around all day, but you won¡¯t even give her an answer or even a moment of your time. That¡¯s cruel.¡± Hank looked at her silently. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. ¡°And as if that¡¯s not enough, you bring another girl around just to spite her. Words aren¡¯t enough to express how I feel.¡± Summer was fuming as if she was the one being bullied. Hankughed. ¡°You¡¯re going to call me a jerk, aren¡¯t you?¡± No. You¡¯re a f*ckboy, Summer thought. She could lose her job, but she didn¡¯t want to get sued over this. ¡°No, but I think you should consider your options very carefully from now on, Mr. Damazio.¡± If I were Yelena, I would¡¯ve raised hell long ago. She¡¯s been nothing but patient. I¡¯d have killed everyone. Hank looked at the unfinished waffle. He was reminded of how Yelena kept telling him not to waste food, and something stirred within him. She must have been really sad to not finish her favorite food. Summer took her tag off and resolutely said, ¡°If you think I¡¯ve offended you and your client, then fire me. I won¡¯tin, but please don¡¯t leave her hanging.¡± ¡°Very well.¡± Hank nodded. Despite her brave front, Summer still winced from the termination. Damn it. I¡¯m unemployed now. ¡°I¡¯ll pack my stuff up and go.¡± She turned around to pack her things up. ¡°You don¡¯t have to. The firm needs someone with a sense of justice like you.¡± Summer froze and turned around in disbelief. ¡°Really? You think I have a sense of justice?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not terminating you.¡± Hank left it at that. Before he left, Summer said, ¡°Mr. Damazio, I have another message for you. Yelena saw that woman and it broke her heart. She said she won¡¯t evere to the firm again.¡± She won¡¯t evere again? She must¡¯ve been really heartbroken. Something stirred in Hank¡¯s heart, but he couldn¡¯t put a finger on it. Yet, he nodded. ¡°I see.¡± Summer heaved a sigh. I did my best. It¡¯s all in fate¡¯s hands now. ¡­ Yelena came to a bar for the first time. She picked Luna. It was Elspeth¡¯s turf after all. Nobody would try to pull anything funny. Yet some people just had to disturb her. Noticing Yelena trying to get wicked drunk as if to forget her worries, someone came holding a couple of sses of wine. ¡°Alone, cutie?¡± The man leered and shoved a ss of wine over to Yelena, then he sat down beside her. Yelena looked at him groggily. She drawled, ¡°Get away from me. I¡¯m a simp.¡± The man¡¯s smile froze, and his lips twitched. That¡¯s a¡­ refreshing way to refuse pick-up artists. Chapter 523 Chapter 523 Chapter 523 Cutting Ties The guy found himself taking interest in Yelena¡¯s story. A few minutester¡­ ¡°My God, fate does not smile at me. The guy I like went on a blind date with another girl. I can¡¯t understand him. She¡¯s not better than me, but he still brought her over to his ce just to disgust me.¡± The man patted her shoulder. His face fell, and he shouted, ¡°Men are pigs, miss. Don¡¯t fall for his tricks.¡± ¡°I think so too. Bottoms up.¡± ¡°We should really stand up for ourselves, sis. There¡¯s a whole sea of fish out there. Don¡¯t hang on to a single one.¡± The two of them got tipsy and became close friends. In the end, Yelena copsed on the table. She wasn¡¯t a good drinker. The guy stared at the drunken Yelena, and then he snapped out of it. What the hell am I doing? Why did I listen to her story? The man rolled his eyes and had an intense debate with himself. In the end, he couldn¡¯t take advantage of her. Before he left, he even draped his coat over Yelena. Yelena was a petite woman, and the coat almost covered her whole body. Hank almost missed her. Someone told him Yelena went to Luna alone and hadn¡¯te out for an hour. He was going to let Yelena do whatever she wanted, but then he remembered that Yelena was a bad drinker. She might not evenst thirty minutes. What if something were to happen to her? Hence, Hank went to Luna and found Yelena sleeping on the table. Not even the ring music could wake her. He took the coat off and pushed Yelena, waking her up. He stared at her and asked, ¡°Whose coat is this?¡± It¡¯s a man¡¯s coat. I can smell the cologne. Hank¡¯s face fell. ¡°No idea. Probably belongs to a female friend of mine.¡± Yelena¡¯s face was red, and she wouldn¡¯t stop burping. Hank couldn¡¯t get any answers like this. He picked her up and left the bar. Then, he ced her on the edge of the flowerbed. ¡°My butt¡¯s freezing!¡± Yelena pushed him. However, Hank didn¡¯t care. He put his hands on both sides of Yelena and refused to let her stand. ¡°Tell me, whose coat is this?¡± Yelena ced her hands on his shoulders, trying to stay upright. ¡°I can¡¯t remember, but it must belong to someone in the bar.¡± ¡°Why did youe to the bar?¡± Hank sounded furious. It was a little scary. Yelena sobered up a little. She stared at his face and muttered, ¡°Hey, you¡¯re getting a new girl, aren¡¯t you? Stay out of my business. You said you never want to see me again.¡± As Yelena spoke, the sadder she became, and she turned her face away. She refused to let Hank see her cry. You¡¯re useless, Yelena. You can¡¯t cry just like that, she thought. Thinking that Yelena was in no condition to answer any question, Hank stopped asking. Gently, he said, ¡°Don¡¯t evere to ces like this again.¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Sounds familiar. He said that before. No, if he¡¯s gentler, then it¡¯d be just like the old him. Why is he so nice all of a sudden? Something stirred in Yelena¡¯s heart. It felt like they had gone back to the good old days for a moment, back when Hank still liked her. ¡°Mind your own business.¡± She shoved him away and leaped off the flowerbed, but her legs wobbled and she almost fell. Hank held her up. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me. We¡¯re not a couple anymore. I don¡¯t need your help. I hate you!¡± Then, she crouched down and cried like a child. Her cry was almost deafening. Hank¡¯s heart went out to her, but he also felt a bit awkward. In the end, he patted her head. ¡°All right, don¡¯t cry.¡± ¡°Do you have any idea how unfair you¡¯ve been? You¡¯re making me look like a simp! Nody worth her salt would do that. I would¡¯ve left if I weren¡¯t in love with you!¡± Yelena was slurring a little, but Hank got the gist of it. Still, he shrugged. ¡°Not the first time you¡¯re being a simp. You did it for two years when you courted Max.¡± Hank looked into her past behind her back and knew everything. The thought that the girl he liked was a simp for someone else for two years bothered him. ¡°So, you¡¯re doing this because you want me to simp for you too?¡± For once, Yelena got what he was trying to say, and she wanted to thump him. Hank knew that was what she would think, but he actually did have that idea. Awkward. I can¡¯t exin this to her. He stood petrified and stared at Yelena, who was still crouching. He heaved a sigh. ¡°Fine, I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Apology not epted.¡± Yelena struggled to stand up. She held the decor beside her, holding down her urge to puke. Her eyes were red and glistening with tears. ¡°I will never forgive you. I hate you.¡± He¡¯s so annoying. I¡¯m already getting over him, and now he¡¯s nice to me all of a sudden. Hank was about to say something, but he saw someoneing closer, and he frowned. ¡°Suit yourself.¡± Yelena was surprised about the sudden change in attitude. ¡°Am I that unimportant to you?¡± There was pain in Yelena¡¯s eyes. If it were anyone else, the constant back-and-forth in this rtionship would have driven them away, but she didn¡¯t want to leave. She liked Hank, and she didn¡¯t even take off their couple¡¯s ring. Yet when she saw how cold he was, the lingering affection she had for him vanished. She thought something was wrong with his head. Yelena touched her hand. The ring¡¯s cold sensation woke her up. She looked at Hank again, but there was no ring on his finger. He had taken it off. Irritated by that, Yelena took her ring off and shoved it into his hands. ¡°Fine. Then I¡¯m cutting ties with you. I hope you¡¯ll never disturb me again as you promised.¡± She wanted to storm off like a brave woman, but when she turned around, she saw Cecelia happily waving at Hank. Tears fell down her cheeks. Fine. So, you found another girl, but it¡¯s none of my business. Chapter 524 Chapter 524 Chapter 524 Max¡¯s Burial Ever since they hit the fourth base, Elspeth noticed that Callum was starting to be really open about sex. Even during meals, he would huddle really close to her. He would even feed her. When she asked him why he did that, he said he liked it then speared a piece of apple and popped it into her mouth. Elspeth couldn¡¯t get used to that, but she liked how Callum was taking care of her. If that¡¯s what he wants, then I¡¯ll go with it. She also noticed that Callum was staring at her belly a lot, as if a child would pop out at any moment. Callum took the seat beside Elspeth and caressed her belly gently, as if there was a baby inside. ¡°Are you pregnant yet?¡± Elspeth smacked his hand away and frowned. ¡°What are you talking about? Pregnancy doesn¡¯t happen that fast.¡± Callum chuckled, and he drawled, ¡°Are you saying I¡¯m not doing good enough?¡± Elspeth shut up and stole a nce through the corner of her eye. ¡°I think we should take it slow.¡± Ignoring that, Callum leaned down and stopped above her belly. ¡°So, would you like a boy or a girl?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not up to me,¡± Elspeth said. That¡¯s up to the father. All I provide is an ovum and an incubator for the baby. Callum knew that. He did some research about baby-rted stuff so they could have a healthy baby. Elspeth wasn¡¯t interested in the matter. They couldn¡¯t rush it, and there was a bit of luck involved. The most important matter at hand was Jethro. ¡°I can¡¯t believe he¡¯d let himself get corrupted. He actually conspired with Arthur.¡± Callum held up a lock of her hair and fiddled with it. ¡°Corrupted?¡± He scoffed. ¡°What he did was just child¡¯s y. Not that it matters.¡± ¡°So are you¡­¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t finish her sentence, but Callum knew what she was getting at. Jethro caused a big problem and almost sent Callum to jail. Callum would¡¯ve given Jethro a taste of his own medicine, but in the end, Jethro was just a youngd who got with the wrong crowd. Callum shook his head. ¡°He¡¯s not exactly involved in this matter. Just make up an excuse to fire him. If Old Mr. Wilstone knew of Jethro¡¯s behavior, he would teach him a lesson too.¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. ¡°He¡¯s young, but honestly, he¡¯s scheming.¡± Elspeth massaged her forehead. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. Why does he keeping after me? I¡¯m a lot older than he is. He can just get someone his age.¡± Oh, that reminds me of Aldea. After Elspeth came back, she hadn¡¯t had time for herpany and had forgotten about Aldea. ¡°So, what¡¯s Aldea doing? Jethro¡¯s first love, I mean.¡± Callum didn¡¯t know much about this matter, but there was one thing he knew. ¡°She quit her job.¡± ¡°What?¡± Elspeth perked up. ¡°Why? That¡¯s so sudden.¡± This wasn¡¯t a good time to quit, at least for Aldea. She stepped into fame abroad as an influencer and was well-regarded in the nation. If she worked harder, she might be able to debut in the entertainment industry. That would open the doors to a brighter future. So why did she quit all of a sudden? Oh, wait. I think I know why. ¡°Did Jethro say something? He must¡¯ve said something to her to make her quit.¡± Callum¡¯s face fell. ¡°Why do you care about them so much? Just let them do what they want. Not like their affairs are your business.¡± As long as Jethro stayed away from Elspeth, Callum didn¡¯t mind letting him live. ¡°Alright, fine. Just curious, that¡¯s all.¡± He¡¯s jealous again. I should look into this myself. I should probably cheer him up. Softly, she said, ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t ask. Honestly, all I wanted was some tea.¡± ¡°You could¡¯ve used that time to find out something more useful like how to keep your man loyal.¡± Callum cheered up a little. ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t need tricks.¡± Elspeth smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck and leaning closer to him. ¡°I know my husband is the most loyal man of them all. I have a good eye for that.¡± Callum realized that Elspeth would refer to him as ¡®my husband¡¯. A bit formal, but it was nice. Moreover, she would always speak softly whenever she said that. It turned him on a little. At the same time, Elspeth was also praising herself. She has a glib tongue. Callum wasn¡¯t annoyed and actually loved it. He looked at her beautiful, slender neck, and that lit up the mes of desire in him. ¡°Then reward me with something.¡± Elspeth froze up, her smile disappearing. ¡°I think¡­¡± Callum kissed her before she could finish the sentence. A gust of wind blew into the living room, whispering moans of desire to those who would listen to it and causing the curtains to flutter. ¡­ Max¡¯s funeral was a simple one. Theodore and Margot watched as their son was slowly buried under the ground. They were devastated and burst into tears. Margot eventually cked out again, causing a scene. Then everyone left, leaving Elspeth and Callum to deal with the loose ends. ¡°Elspeth.¡± A woman in a ck dress slowly approached Elspeth. It had been a while since Elspeth saw Yelena. There was a hint of darkness as well as sorrow on Yelena¡¯s face. ¡°You look listless.¡± Elspeth was worried about her best friend, and she held Yelena¡¯s hand. My God, she¡¯s lost a lot of weight. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Yelena tried to smile but she couldn¡¯t, not when she was at Max¡¯s funeral. ¡°I just need a bit of rest.¡± ¡°Hank¡¯s still ignoring you?¡± The mention of Hank made Yelena pale. ¡°Elspeth, we¡¯re¡­ not going to see each other anymore.¡± Chapter 525 Chapter 525 Chapter 525 Not So Simple What? Whoa, it seems like Hank is really mad. Elspeth took a deep breath. She stopped talking about Yelena¡¯s rtionship so she wouldn¡¯t feel sad. She said, ¡°I know it¡¯s hard to ept it, but I think Hank really loves you, and that love cannot be erased that easily.¡± Yelena shook her head. ¡°He went on a blind date. Soon it¡¯ll be the engagement, and then a wedding.¡± That was a surprise for Elspeth. She thought something was wrong. Hank¡¯s love for her wasn¡¯t an act. If it was an act, then he¡¯d be a terrifying man. If his love for her is true, then what caused this breakup? Noticing Elspeth¡¯s worried look, Yelena couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore. She cried and threw herself into Elspeth¡¯s embrace. ¡°He¡¯s dumping me. He took a woman back to his firm, and he was really nice to her. Like how he was nice to me.¡± A frown furrowed Elspeth¡¯s brow, but she could do nothing. She just patted Yelena¡¯s back. ¡°Don¡¯t cry. We¡¯ll deal with this. Calm down¡­¡± Yelena¡¯s incessant cries caught the attention of all the reporters. Some of the sharper ones recognized Yelena. They knew she was engaged to Max, but the engagement was eventually canceled. Now she¡¯s here at the funeral, and she¡¯s crying. She must still love Max. Poordy. The reporter quickly took a few shots of the crying Yelena. Elspeth shot him a nce, and the reporter almost tossed his camera away in fear. He quickly ran away with his photos before Elspeth chased after him. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Elspeth.¡± Yelena finally stopped crying. She took a seat and muttered, ¡°I think he doesn¡¯t like me anymore. I¡¯m not going to try and convince him anymore.¡± Besides, he¡¯s close to that girl. If I continue to hound him, that¡¯d make me a homewrecker. Being a simp is the lowest I can tolerate. I will not be a homewrecker. That¡¯s disgusting. ¡°He didn¡¯t bother with you when you sought him out, did he?¡± Reminded of her stupidity, Yelena started to cry again. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°He brought another girl back when you were there, correct?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Elspeth mulled over it for a while, and she thought something was off. ¡°Maybe he did it on purpose.¡± ¡°Why would he do that?¡± Yelena sobbed like a hurt kitten. ¡°So, you¡¯d back off. You¡¯ve been hounding him, so he wanted you to leave,¡± said Elspeth, but Yelena cried harder. ¡°No, don¡¯t cry. I¡¯m not saying he doesn¡¯t like you. He just wanted you to leave.¡± Does that make any difference? Yelena sobbed. Elspeth held her forehead. ¡°What then? Did something else happen?¡± ¡°No¡­ No, wait. I went to Luna alone that night. I met a friend there, someone who shares my values.¡± ¡°Scum, more like,¡± Elspeth snickered. There are no decent people in bars. ¡°Fine, I ran into a scum. I had a chat with him and then fell asleep. I think he draped a coat over me before he left. When I woke up, Hank was right beside me. I was surprised, then he took me away from the bar and asked me whom the coat belonged to.¡± That settles it. He still likes her. Elspeth¡¯s confusion lifted a little. ¡°And?¡± ¡°I said nothing to him, so he got mad. Then he tried to cheer me up like he used to. And then¡­¡± Reminded of Cecelia, the light in Yelena¡¯s eyes dimmed. ¡°And then the woman came. Hank then started giving me a cold shoulder.¡± Elspeth patted Yelena¡¯s head happily. ¡°Good, good. You¡¯ve summarized the whole thing. Don¡¯t you get it?¡± Yelena shook her head. ¡°I get it. He likes the girl really much, so he gave me a cold shoulder after he saw her.¡± My God, you really need to level up yourprehension skills. ¡°I mean, he might be chasing you away for some reason.¡± Yelena looked at Elspeth in disbelief. ¡°What? No way. He would have told me if he had a reason. Why would he hide it from me?¡± T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. Elspeth shook her head. ¡°I have no idea either, but I¡¯m sure that things are more than meets the eye. It¡¯s not what you think.¡± If Hank wanted her to leave, he could¡¯ve done so a long time ago. There¡¯s no need to leave her hanging. He¡¯s not the kind of person to allow her to visit him while he pays no attention to her, unless he¡¯s a psychopath. ¡°What should I do now? Keep seeking him out?¡± Elspeth froze. ¡°Are you stupid? He¡¯s ignoring you. Don¡¯t give him a moment of your time. If he wants you to leave, then leave. Do as he wants you to.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°Stand up for yourself. You¡¯re not his ve. Distract yourself. Pretend you don¡¯t know him at the moment.¡± Elspeth thought this was a good way to deal with the matter, but she also had a personal agenda. Hank tortured my friend for quite a while. I won¡¯t let him control her like she¡¯s a pet. If he¡¯s really pushing Yelena away for a reason, then keeping Yelena away from him will frustrate him. That¡¯s what he gets for tormenting my friend. Yelena always listened to her friend. Sobbing, she nodded. ¡°I know. I won¡¯t see him again.¡± I¡¯m not going to be a simp. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Whatever you lose now, you will gain it back.¡± A smile curled Elspeth¡¯s lip. It¡¯s time to see Hank. ¡­ Elspeth made an appointment with Hank that weekend. Hank refused it, but then Elspeth mentioned Cecelia. That forced Hank to see her. He came downstairs and saw Elspeth on the couch sipping some coffee. He asked, ¡°What do you need from me, Mrs. Winthrop?¡± Chapter 526 Chapter 526 Chapter 526 Meeting Hank Seeing as he was so distant, Elspeth had the urge to tease him. ¡°I see Yelena was right. You¡¯re actually a heartless man.¡± Elspeth clicked her tongue and sighed. ¡°I trust you have more important things to say, Mrs. Winthrop. Cut to the chase, please.¡± Hank took a seat on the other couch and crossed his legs elegantly. ¡°Very well. I shall cut to the chase then. About your marriage with the Yhorman girl¡­ Is that true?¡± She had looked into Cecelia. She was the only daughter of the Yhorman Family, and they spoiled her. The family was also powerful politicians. Cecelia was bred to be a politician as well, and her background was perfect. No wonder Hank¡¯s family likes her, but what does Hank want? Hank looked at her calmly. He didn¡¯t answer that question straight. ¡°Whatever happens, happens.¡± Elspeth¡¯s face fell. ¡°Don¡¯t try to use semantics, Mr. Damazio.¡± Yelena might fall for it, but I won¡¯t. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Hank picked up his cup of coffee and took a sip, but he didn¡¯t exin. ¡°I¡¯ve said what I should. I can¡¯t say anything more, I¡¯m afraid.¡± Very well. If he wants to keep a secret, then so be it. Elspeth took her bag and stood up and pretended that she was leaving. ¡°Very well. If that¡¯s the case, I shall personally ask Ms. Yhorman about it.¡± Hank stiffened up a little. ¡°Don¡¯t disturb her.¡± Even though she knew Hank was no heartbreaker, she mocked, ¡°My, aren¡¯t you worried? And I haven¡¯t said anything yet. I find you rather fickle, Mr. Damazio. It¡¯s only been a few days since your breakup.¡± Hank was unfazed. He opened his mouth to speak, but in the end, he only said, ¡°Stay out of this, Mrs. Winthrop. I know what I¡¯m doing.¡± ¡°Of course, but just one question.¡± ¡°Speak.¡± Hank knew what she was going to ask. ¡°Whatever you¡¯re doing, will it hurt Yelena?¡± Without hesitation, Hank answered, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Romantically speaking?¡± Elspeth rebutted. ¡°No promises.¡± Not like I can help that Yelena¡¯s feeling down. Elspeth wanted to fly into a rage again. What¡¯s wrong with me? It¡¯s like I have mood swings. PMS, I guess. Wait a minute, but my period has beente for almost a month. ¡°Mrs. Winthrop.¡± Hank broke her train of thought. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. What I¡¯m doing won¡¯t really hurt Yelena.¡± ¡°Toote,¡± said Elspeth coolly. ¡°She¡¯s hurt real bad and is going to forget about you now.¡± She looked at him closely and noticed him clenching his fists. I knew it. He still cares about her. It¡¯s all a lie. ¡°You seem upset. But this is what you wanted, isn¡¯t it?¡± Elspeth smiled, then she brushed her finger across her phone¡¯s screen. ¡°I heard everything from Yelena. She cried her eyes out. She¡¯s heartbroken, but I think you¡¯d be happy to know that. After all, nobody¡¯s going to bug you anymore.¡± Elspeth spoke of Yelena¡¯s heartbreak so that it would make Hank feel guiltier. Hank was still smiling, but something stirred in his heart. Now he could see that things were veering out of control. ¡°Very well. Since you have a n, I¡¯ll leave you to it. I¡¯m not here to defend her, but to see how you¡¯ll deal with the matter. It seems like you don¡¯t care about her anymore. In that case, I shall tell her to give up as well.¡± Elspeth made it sound like she was helping him, but Hank wasn¡¯t happy in the slightest. Elspeth was going to leave, or so she pretended. Three, two, one. ¡°A minute, Mrs. Winthrop.¡± Bingo. Elspeth turned around and smiled at him. ¡°What is it, Mr. Damazio? Anything else?¡± ¡°Tell Yelena it¡¯s not what she thinks.¡± Elspeth pretended to not get it. She asked, ¡°What do you mean ¡®it¡¯s not what she thinks¡¯? What do you mean? Spit it out.¡± Hank looked annoyed. ¡°Just tell her that, please.¡± Elspeth shrugged. ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell her yourself?¡± Hank¡¯s face fell. ¡°There are some things I can¡¯t do right now.¡± ¡°Then tell her when you can.¡± Elspeth smiled and left the firm. On her way back, she started wondering why her period waste. I should get checked just in case. She went into the pharmacy and was about to get a test kit, but then she saw someone familiar. Jethro? Elspeth was shocked to see him, and she was about to pretend he wasn¡¯t there. However, Jethro had seen her. ¡°Fancy seeing you here, Elspeth.¡± He held up a pack of medicine and slowly approached her. When he got closer, he leaned forward deliberately, causing Elspeth to take a few steps back. ¡°Why are you so scared? I won¡¯t eat you.¡± He eyed her up and down. ¡°Why are you here? Sick?¡± Elspeth shook her head. ¡°Nothing.¡± She took her phone out and pretended to be busy. ¡°I should go now.¡± Jethro didn¡¯t press any further. Since she refused to speak with him, he wouldn¡¯t insist. ¡°See you around.¡± ¡°Wait. I have something to ask you.¡± Elspeth regretted it the moment she said that. Chapter 527 Chapter 527 Chapter 527 Pregnant They were in a pharmacy, and there were people around. Asking him that question here was inappropriate, but she couldn¡¯t take it back. ¡°What? You can¡¯t let go of me?¡± Jethro stopped in his tracks and turned around, a devilish smile hanging from his lips. He was speaking in a lighter tonepared to earlier. Elspeth saw a hint of the old him in his eyes. Before this, he was stubborn and obsessive, but now he looked just like the old Jethro, the one who was innocent and clingy, and the one she knew. He used to be exasperating, but not disgusting, unlike his new self. ¡°No.¡± Even though he knew this was her answer, it still struck a nerve. ¡°Then why did you stop me?¡± ¡°Why are you conspiring with him?¡± Noticing the stares of other customers, Jethro lowered his voice. ¡°Conspiring with whom? That¡¯s a lie.¡± T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Drop the act.¡± How disappointing. He doesn¡¯t even have the guts to admit to it. ¡°What act?¡± Jethro approached her and backed her into a corner. ¡°What do you think I did?¡± ¡°Sabotaging Callum.¡± The smile was wiped off Jethro¡¯s face. ¡°What? You¡¯re worried about him now? Scared I might do something to him?¡± Jethro hissed. A frown furrowed Elspeth¡¯s brow. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid. I just don¡¯t want you to get controlled by Arthur. You might end up doing something you regret.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re worried about me. You do like me.¡± God, he¡¯s so narcissistic, and he¡¯s honestly cuckoo. Elspeth refused to talk to him any further. ¡°You¡¯ve made your purchase, haven¡¯t you?¡± So, leave. Jethro cocked his eyebrow and held his bag of medicine up. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll be going now.¡± Elspeth nodded and saw him off. Once he was gone, she heaved a sigh of relief and came to the doctor. ¡°Get me a pregnancy test kit.¡± A hint of unease shed in the doctor¡¯s eyes, and Elspeth caught it. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± The doctor gulped and took a test kit off the shelves. He handed it to her and exined how to use it. Elspeth narrowed her eyes. ¡°You know who I am, don¡¯t you?¡± Beads of sweat poured from the doctor¡¯s forehead. ¡°No. I don¡¯t know who you are.¡± ¡°Do not tell anyone about this purchase, you hear?¡± Elspeth was worried. If the word got out that she was pregnant, Arthur would use it against her. It was a disaster waiting to happen. She didn¡¯t care if the doctor was telling the truth or not. It was safer to just threaten him first. The doctor nodded, then shook his head. ¡°We keep our patients¡¯ information confidential, but I have no idea who you are. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Elspeth was wearing a mask. He won¡¯t lie to me. She took the test kit and left. Once she was gone, the doctor took out a phone with trembling hands. He said, ¡°You must¡¯ve heard that, sir.¡± ¡­ Elspeth tested herself, and two lines showed up. Her heart sank. I¡¯m pregnant. I¡¯m not even ready to be a mother yet, and I¡¯m already pregnant. She was shocked. She wanted to call Callum, but he was already home and walking into the living room quickly. Her heart thumped fast for some reason. ¡°Callum, I¡­¡± She wanted to tell him she was pregnant, and yet she couldn¡¯t say it. Callum looked upset. Noticing his bad mood, she kept her pregnancy a secret. She asked softly, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Justpany matters.¡± Callum massaged his forehead. He seemed to be under a lot of stress. ¡°Nothing much, so don¡¯t worry.¡± But I should. Elspeth knew Callum was a calm and collected man. The problem must be bad enough for him to be so frustrated. Hence, she pressed, ¡°What happened? Tell me. I might be able to help.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Jethro. He sold thepany¡¯s secrets to Alphascape, and they started developing our ideas.¡± Elspeth raged. ¡°Damn that Jethro!¡± She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down. It didn¡¯t ur to her that Jethro might do something so underhanded. I thought he¡¯d have some conscience. I thought wrong. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to him.¡± Jethro had been working for thepany for a while now. If something like this were to happen again, then Winthrop Group would be in trouble. Callum shook his head. ¡°You can¡¯t help. Your involvement might anger him more.¡± Everyone knew Jethro liked Elspeth. Everyone knew Arthur liked her too, but Arthur obviously was better at this game of chess. Jethro was the one who did all the atrocities and bore all the me. Arthur was the mastermind, yet he could act like he wasn¡¯t involved at all. ¡°What will you do now?¡± ¡°Observe in silence and prepare ourselves. See what he¡¯s going to do next.¡± Elspeth thought that wasn¡¯t a good move. Jethro had no idea what he was doing, and he might do something disastrous next time. ¡°I think I should talk to him.¡± Callum saw through her. ¡°Still want to save him?¡± He got me. She smiled sheepishly. ¡°No. I just think he¡¯s not that evil. He¡¯s just being used.¡± Already frustrated by thepany¡¯s problems, Elspeth¡¯s defense of Jethro annoyed him more. Neglecting how she felt, he snapped, ¡°You¡¯re not doing this because he likes you, are you?¡± Elspeth¡¯s mood turned foul. ¡°Is that what you think of me, Callum?¡± Oh, sh*t. I shouldn¡¯t have said that. He tried to exin, ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡± Elspeth sneered, ¡°You still think I¡¯m flirting around with him, aren¡¯t you?¡± Chapter 528 Chapter 528 Chapter 528 Change of Roles Callum no longer wanted to exin himself after she said that and sneered as well. ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I think. Do you have anything else to say?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to argue with you.¡± Elspeth stood up and stormed off to her room, forgetting to tell him that she was pregnant. The moment she mmed her door, Callum¡¯s mood turned fouler than ever, but he wasn¡¯t going to bow down this time. He stood around and left a whileter. Elspeth got angrier and angrier the more she thought about it. She was waiting for Callum toe and apologize, but after a while, he still hadn¡¯te into her room. She looked outside the window but saw him driving away. That made her angrier. ¡°He¡¯s a jerk! He doesn¡¯t care about me now that he¡¯s finally got me.¡± She muttered under her breath. The pregnancy was giving her mood swings, making her feel even worse. ¡°Honestly, I have no idea why I should even get pregnant. He doesn¡¯t even care about me, much less you.¡± Just then, she had an idea. Why don¡¯t I abort it? It¡¯s not like I¡¯m ready to be a mother anyway, and Callum¡¯s been really disappointing. That thought raced around her mind like a horse, but she suppressed it eventually. That was irresponsible. She heaved a sigh and buried her head in her nket. Just when she wasing up with an idea to solve this mess, her phone rang. She picked it up, and a panicked Yelena spoke to her. ¡°I¡¯m in trouble, Elspeth.¡± Elspeth sat up. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s about the news. They wrote about my crying at the funeral. Said I still loved him.¡± Yelena didn¡¯t mind the article. They were making her look like a loyal woman, but she would mind what Hank thought of this. If he knows, he¡¯s going to be more disappointed in me. ¡°Is the Inte starting a witch hunt?¡± Yelena considered it for a moment and shook her head. ¡°No. They¡¯re calling me a loyal woman.¡± Elspeth heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Then, there¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡± ¡°But what about Hank?¡± Ah, so that¡¯s what she means. Sheughed. ¡°Did he exin anything to you when he brought that woman back?¡± Yelena froze for a moment, then she shook his head. ¡°If he doesn¡¯t care about your feelings, then why should you care about how he feels?¡± Oh, right. Yelena calmed down a lot. ¡°You¡¯re right. He didn¡¯t even exin himself to me. Why should I be worried about his feelings?¡± Angry, Yelena said, ¡°I think I should do something worse for the misunderstanding to get bigger. It¡¯s payback for all the things he did to me.¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t do that.¡± In the end, Elspeth didn¡¯t tell Yelena about her visit to Hank¡¯s firm. If she knows Hank has his reason for doing this, she¡¯s going to simp over him again. I can¡¯t let that happen. ¡°But don¡¯t worry. This might be a good thing. Someone mighte to you soon.¡± I can imagine him getting incensed over this. He¡¯s definitely going to see her. ¡°Who? Hank?¡± Yelena was delighted. ¡°If he doese, I¡¯ll show him.¡± Just then, her director called her back. Yelena ended the conversation. ¡°I have to continue filming. Talk to youter, Elspeth.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± said Elspeth, and then Yelena hung up. ¡­ Yelena knew Hank would look for her, but she didn¡¯t think he¡¯de that quickly. Not even an hour after she hung up, she saw a familiar figure at the entrance. She just so happened to be filming a romantic scene with the male lead. She was delighted to see Hank looking upset. Ah, so he too feels upset. Filled with joy, she put even more emotion into her acting. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Yelena was a pretty woman. Now, she looked just like an ancient princess who was demure in her long, beautiful dress and neatly styled hair. The love in her eyes mesmerized the male lead so much that he almost forgot his lines. ¡°You promised you¡¯d marry me once you return. Don¡¯t forget that, my prince.¡± She tugged on his sleeve, her eyes glistening. No man could resist her. Resolve red in the prince¡¯s heart. He said, ¡°I won¡¯t let you down.¡± He leaned down for a deep kiss. Yelena closed her eyes, waiting for the kiss, but she didn¡¯t feel any skin contact. Instead, things got chaotic. She opened her eyes and saw Hank standing before her. Then, Hank shoved the lead away. Exasperated, the lead actor snapped, ¡°You interrupted us, sir. Why?¡± That was my chance to get close to Yelena and he ruined it. Hank was smiling, but then he made a shocking announcement, ¡°I¡¯m the investor. I request a change of the male lead actor, director.¡± The actor didn¡¯t expect Hank to be the investor, and he paled. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. I didn¡¯t know it was you. Please don¡¯t change me out.¡± The male lead regretted what he said. This was his first drama set in ancient times, and he had gone through the script. If the drama was a sess, he would be famous, but now his chance at fame was leaving him. He didn¡¯t care if he lost the kiss with Yelena now. Noticing that Hank was close to Yelena, he said sensibly, ¡°I can ditch the kiss scene, sir, but please don¡¯t change me out.¡± Yelena lost all desire to act with this man after this cowardly performance. She looked at him scornfully. ¡°You can¡¯t act if you¡¯re that much of a coward. Go home.¡± The actor smiled awkwardly. He wasn¡¯t going to argue with Yelena, so he yed dumb and hoped Hank would give him a chance. ¡°You¡¯re stepping in? Good. I was just going to deal with you.¡± Hank shot her a look that made her feel uneasy. Chapter 529 Chapter 529 Chapter 529 Don¡¯t Like Each Other ¡°I thought we were done. I also told you never toe to me again.¡± Yelena was still annoyed. She could still recall that conversation they had. Hank ignored her. He stared at her face fixedly. ¡°Can you exin the article?¡± Ah, so this is what Elspeth meant. She sneered and straightened her dress out. ¡°Clickbaiters. Not that I had anything to do with it.¡± ¡°So, you weren¡¯t crying for him, then?¡± Hank was smart enough to guess the gist of the matter. ¡°You were crying for me.¡± A smile curled Hank¡¯s lip. Yelena looked a little miffed that Hank guessed it, but she refused to admit it. ¡°No way.¡± Hank cocked his eyebrow. ¡°Is that so? Then do you have an alternate exnation?¡± ¡°It has nothing to do with you.¡± st. I don¡¯t have any other excuses. Fine. I¡¯ll y along. ¡°Yeah, the stories are real. I cried for him. He was my ex after all, and he was nice to me. Of course, I got upset.¡± Yelena had no idea how triggering that was for Hank. Instead of answering her, Hank turned around and said to the director, ¡°Stop the shoot. I need to talk to her.¡± Panicked, Yelena said, ¡°I¡¯m fine. I have nothing to say to him.¡± ¡°You¡¯reing with me if you want to keep shooting this,¡± Hank threatened. For some reason, Yelena shivered in fear and let him take her away. A gust of wind blew across the street, and Yelena trembled. Her dress was thin, to begin with, and without any heater around, she felt chilly. ¡°Ah choo!¡± Hank noticed her nose getting red. Worried, he took his coat off and draped it over her. ¡°Get it off me. I don¡¯t want your coat.¡± Yelena took the coat off, but another gust of wind blew across the street. She looked at him awkwardly and wore the coat again. A smile shed in Hank¡¯s eyes. Yelena rubbed her hands and snapped, ¡°What do you want? You can¡¯t be here just for the article.¡± ¡°But I am,¡± said Hank. T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. Well, this is awkward. What should I say? ¡°I told you I cried for him.¡± Hank backed her against the guardrail, his eyes flickering with anger. ¡°Are you sure you want to stick to that story?¡± In the past, Yelena would have apologized, but this time, she mustered up her courage and shoved him away. ¡°What¡¯s with that attitude? You went on a blind date with someone else, and you gave me the silent treatment. What gives?¡± It¡¯s so unfair. He gave me the cold shoulder and cut all ties with me. How could he make me answer something that¡¯s not even my fault? He¡¯s selfish and a hypocrite. ¡°I have my reasons.¡± Yelenaughed mockingly. ¡°Fine, tell me then. I¡¯m really curious. Tell me all about how hard you¡¯ve had it and how unreasonable I¡¯ve been.¡± Yelena put her hands on her hips, thinking that Hank was just trying to find an excuse for his behavior. Hank held his forehead. Man, I can¡¯t take it. This is a solemn conversation, but she made it sound so¡­ comedic even though she didn¡¯t mean it. ¡°I¡¯m doing it for you. I¡¯m trying to protect you.¡± Yelena¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°You¡¯re protecting me?¡± ¡°My parents engaged me with someone when I was a kid. That person is Cecelia.¡± Yelena had looked into Cecelia after she met her. She was an internationally famous diplomat and had great sess at a young age. Yelena wasn¡¯t fazed by her achievements, but this engagement did catch her by surprise. ¡°Wait, your parents did that?¡± ¡°It was supposed to be a joke. My parents didn¡¯t mean it, but Cecelia¡¯s parents¡­ Well, they want her to marry me, so¡­¡± I see. That¡¯s a shame. ¡°So, your parents can¡¯t take it anymore, and they want you guys to get along. That¡¯s the reason for the blind date, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Hank said nothing, but his silence was enough. ¡°If that¡¯s what your parents want, then do as they say.¡± She smiled bitterly. ¡°I¡¯m just an influencer at best. Your family won¡¯t like me.¡± Cecelia¡¯s a diplomat who¡¯s young, sessful, and beautiful. Anyone would like her. Nobody would want their son to marry a no-name influencer. Hank got a little angry. ¡°So, you¡¯re giving me away just like that?¡± I¡¯m working hard so this rtionship works out, and she¡¯s just going to give me away? ¡°But I just think¡­¡± Yelena felt aggrieved and wanted to cry. You have a perfect woman to marry. Your family won¡¯t like me. You don¡¯t understand. ¡°I know you feel insecure. Anyone would if theirpetitor was Cecelia.¡± Hank was amused. ¡°We¡¯re childhood friends. We know each other well, but we¡¯re not interested in getting hitched.¡± Oh. Guess I jumped the gun. ¡°Wait. Does she have someone she likes?¡± Yelena couldn¡¯t believe that. Wow, she really has high standards. Hank¡¯s face fell. ¡°No. We don¡¯t like each other.¡± Chapter 530 Chapter 530 Chapter 530 ns They don¡¯t like each other? Yeah, right. Yelena looked at him and burst intoughter. ¡°She doesn¡¯t think you¡¯re worth her time, does she?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. Not that part, but another. Cecelia has a lover abroad. She went on the date and kept the fact that she was dating a secret from her parents. We agreed to ruin this matchmaking. We¡¯re not going to anger either of our parents, but we¡¯ll make sure they know we¡¯re not a good match.¡± Okay, that¡¯s surprising to say the least. ¡°My folks are already looking into my rtionships, so they¡¯ll find out about you soon enough. I kept some distance between us to protect you. To make sure the act was genuine enough, I kept it a secret. If you knew, you would have let it slip.¡± Oh, so he actually was protecting me. Yelena felt a little guilty, but she wouldn¡¯t admit to it. I don¡¯t want to embarrass myself. ¡°I get it, but aren¡¯t you worried I might let something slip now that I know?¡± Hank was half amused and half annoyed. ¡°If I don¡¯t tell you this, I might lose you.¡± Keeping this a secret from her was a mistake. If he knew Yelena could stir up so much trouble, he would¡¯ve told her. Never thought she¡¯d be this silly. ¡°I know I¡¯m a bit stupid, but don¡¯t say that out loud.¡± Yelena scratched her head. ¡°Now can you tell me why you cried at the funeral? Someone even took a picture.¡± Hank was still bothered about that. ¡°Fine. I¡­ I was thinking about you, so I cried. I didn¡¯t mean it. You were so cold to me. And then I saw Elspeth, so¡­¡± She looked at Hank with a puppy pout. Hank couldn¡¯t scold her in this situation. He did keep a secret first. ¡°Fine, I forgive you.¡± Yelena rolled her eyes. ¡°What do you mean, you forgive me? It should be the other way around. If you had told me, none of this would¡¯ve happened.¡± I thought he actually fell for someone else in mere days. I thought he was a jerk. ¡°You wanted to break up with me first.¡± Hank would never forget what she told him after she recovered from the surgery. He did start this mess to get back at her, but she started it first. One look was enough to make Yelena feel guilty. ¡°I¡­¡± Left with no arguments, Yelena hung her head low. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I won¡¯t do it again.¡± ¡°Will you break up with me again?¡± Yelena shook her head quickly. ¡°No. Unless¡­¡± What? ¡°Unless what?¡± ¡°No. I won¡¯t bring it up again.¡± Yelena picked her words wisely this time in case she angered him. Finally satisfied, Hank patted her head. Mysteriously, he asked, ¡°Do you know what else you did wrong?¡± ¡°What?¡± Yelena had no idea. Hank looked at her clothes. It was a beautiful dress made of golden silk, and something red in his eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t you see? That actor likes you.¡± He wasn¡¯t staring at her with just lust. He wanted to start a romantic rtionship with her. ¡°But I just got to know him. There¡¯s no way he likes me. You¡¯re reading into it too much. We¡¯re filming together, so of course we have to see each other a lot.¡± Yelena thought Hank was just overreacting because he saw the kissing scene. But I can¡¯t tell him that, or he¡¯ll get mad. ¡°I know guys.¡± Hank shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m changing out the male lead.¡± He had read the script and thought it would help with Yelena¡¯s poprity. The only problem was the male lead. I have to change him out. ¡°You¡¯re actually the investor?¡± Hank took a deep breath. He was speechless. My god, she can be such an airhead. Yelena didn¡¯t expect him to be the investor. She thought it was just a bluff. ¡°Everything you¡¯ve starred in has my investment in it.¡± Yelena¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°What?¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ¡°I care about you more than you think.¡± He paid more importance to her than she thought, yet she had no idea about that. She kept doing as she pleased, ignoring his feelings. Sometimes she would say things that angered him, but he chose her so he must endure it. ¡°I see. I was wondering why you suddenly fell for me. So that¡¯s the reason. So, there is no love at first sight,¡± Yelena muttered. She was processing the matter. This is unexpected. ¡°Don¡¯t ever doubt my love for you again, understand?¡± Yelena blurted, ¡°So how long have you been in love with me?¡± Hank wrapped his arm around her shoulder and looked into her eyes. ¡°Four years. Ever since you were sixteen, I had fallen for you. Not a day has gone by where I don¡¯t miss you.¡± That was the same year she fell for Max. That was when Max healed her, so that was why she had a great passion for him. She wanted to be with Max, no matter what. ¡°Why do you like me then?¡± she asked sheepishly. Back then, she was Max¡¯s admirer, and she wanted to know how it felt to be admired. She too had a lot of admirers, but none of them were as good as Hank. And¡­ Oh, so that¡¯s what she¡¯s gunning for. He leaned closer and hissed, ¡°Don¡¯t think you can make me do whatever you want just because I¡¯m telling you the reason I love you.¡± Chapter 531 Chapter 531 Chapter 531 Long-time Acquaintance ¡°You got me.¡± Hank¡¯s breath tickled Yelena¡¯s ears. ¡°Fine, if you¡¯re not answering, then I won¡¯t ask.¡± If he gets mad because of that, it¡¯d be bad. ¡°We first met back in Yothgurd.¡± Yelena was taken back to the time when she was sixteen. Yothgurd. That¡¯s where I lived before I turned sixteen. The Sullivans were expanding their territory in Yothgurd, a city in the south, at that time. Not only did the south have big cities, it also had the gentle air of Damoria. Her elders loved traditional houses, so she stayed in a refurbished courtyard. ¡°I don¡¯t remember¡­¡± Hank looked at her with some disappointment in his eyes. ¡°So, you don¡¯t remember me.¡± Yelena blushed. She had no recollection of ever meeting Hank. She thought he was making up a story. ¡°You were about fourteen and still a student. Do you remember running into a youngd on your way home from school one day?¡± Ad? Yelena shook her head. ¡°I was vacationing with my folks back then, but the throng in Yothgurd separated us. While I was searching for my folks, I ran into a couple of kidnappers. They noticed my expensive clothes and tried to kidnap me.¡± Even though he was almost kidnapped, Hank only had reminiscence in his eyes and no fear or trauma at all. ¡°I saw a girl crossing the bridge, and I called out to her. ¡®Hey, Chubby! Help me!¡¯¡± Chubby¡­ Wait a minute¡­ Yelena stopped blushing, and a look of fury filled her eyes. Oh, I remember now. So that was him! Back in her junior high days, she gained a lot of weight and got a lot more rotund. Her ssmates joked about it a lot, but it never got to her. Instead, it fed her ferocity. When she heard that boy calling her Chubby, she flew into a rage. She was just fourteen back then, yet she was already five-foot-five. She was almost as tall as the kidnappers. She grabbed the kidnapper by her shirt and precociously said, ¡°Hold on, miss.¡± Yelena cleared her throat and hissed, ¡°I have some personal business to settle with this brat.¡± She shot Hank with a murderous re. Upset by this sudden interloping, the kidnapper tried to chase her away. ¡°Your son is an incredibly rude boy. He called me Chubby! I know I¡¯m overweight, but he shouldn¡¯t have said that to a girl like me. I need to teach him a lesson on respect.¡± That was a good reason. Hank wanted the girl to buy him some time, so he just watched the drama unfold. ¡°It¡¯s just a misunderstanding, girl. Just ignore it. I can apologize if you want.¡± There was a crowd gathering around them, and the kidnappers were getting nervous. If the boy¡¯s parents came looking for him, they would send the kidnappers to jail. ¡°No.¡± Yelena stood in front of the kidnappers, refusing them passage. For some reason, Hank thought she looked like a small hill, and he burst intoughter. ¡°What are youughing at? You still have no idea what you¡¯ve done, do you?¡± Hank pointed at thedies. ¡°They¡¯re kidnappers.¡± Panicked, the kidnappers let go of Hank and fled. ¡°You knew? Then why didn¡¯t you shout?¡± Yelena was young, but she knew that calling the cops or shouting was the best way to deal with this case. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t have helped. Everyone would have thought it was a family affair and stayed out of it, but if I called you Chubby, you¡¯de running just to teach me a lesson.¡± T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. He used me? Upset, Yelena said, ¡°So you did it on purpose?¡± ¡°Yes. Thank you, Miss Chubby.¡± That again? Enraged, Yelena started to tremble. ¡°Who are you calling chubby? You¡¯re so rude.¡± For some reason, she couldn¡¯t argue with Hank. If anyone else had called her chubby, she would¡¯ve fought back. Despite her weight, she was a fair and beautiful youngdy, but she couldn¡¯t tter herself in Hank¡¯s presence. He was unlike the ugly kids in her ss. If they had called her Chubby, she would¡¯ve called them ugly, but she had a feeling that Hank would still look better than her even if she had slimmed down. For the first time in her life, she felt insecure. That insecurity shut her up, so she gave the boy a conflicted look. Then, she turned around to leave. Her sad look made Hank feel guilty. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s your name? You saved me after all. I want to know your name,¡± he said awkwardly. ¡°None of your business.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like chubby girls. Can¡¯t marry you, sorry, but I can grant you a wish or something.¡± What on earth? Yelena wiped her tears away. ¡°I don¡¯t want to see you ever again!¡± She then ran away crying. Hank¡¯s folks found him eventually. They talked and concluded that Yothgurd was not a good vacation spot, so they decided to go home. That night, Hank was reminded of what happened earlier that day, and he cursed himself. The next morning, he woke up early and asked his parents to search for someone. Hank remembered the badge she was wearing. It belonged to Yothgurd High¡¯s junior high department, and he saw the name ¡®Sullivan¡¯ etched onto it. His parents looked into the girl. When they found out she was the one who saved Hank, they wanted to thank her, but Hank stopped them. Even though he was only fifteen, Hank had a n for his gratitude. He stood in front of the headmaster¡¯s room, staring at the field outside. He saw a rotund girl holding up a ball with difficulty, but he didn¡¯t find her ugly. She might be chubby, but she was cute. A smile curled his lips, and he stared into the distance. ¡°No. I¡¯ll repay my debt myself.¡± Chapter 532 Chapter 532 Chapter 532 The Truth or a Lie A rather embarrassed look surfaced in Yelena¡¯s eyes after she heard Hank¡¯s words. ¡°So, after that¡­¡± ¡°After that, I spent two yearspleting my course at the university. Then, I went home to take over my father¡¯spany. I wanted to contact you to offer you help with losing weight, but Iter found out that you had already slimmed down and were about to debut. So, I purchased all of the magazines that you appeared in throughout the first year of your career. I¡¯d say that I was one of the major reasons you became so famous,¡± Hank uttered. Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Yelena hadn¡¯t expected such a thing to have happened in the past¡ªjust the thought of it made the whole thing seem rather ridiculous. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you show up in the past, then?¡± Yelena was puzzled. This means that I had a famous benefactor that has been supporting me all along. Yet, no one ever knew about it, and Hank didn¡¯t even n on telling me about it! ¡°Yeah. I didn¡¯t tell you about this because back then when I first wanted to open up to you, I found out that you had already fallen for Max,¡± Hank exined. Yelena found herself walking down memoryne. She would never forget how she spent her youth¡ªMax filled her mind on most days after he protected her. As a result, Yelena had been blinded by what was before her eyes, and she didn¡¯t notice Hank, who had been secretly supporting her the whole time. ¡°Well, if I had already fallen for Max, then¡­ Why didn¡¯t you just give up on me?¡± Yelena asked. Logically speaking, if Hank found out that I was doing well, shouldn¡¯t he have forgotten about me and cut ties with me? Yelena wondered. ¡°That¡¯s what I thought at first. I figured that I would leave once you rose to fame. However, I hadn¡¯t expected myself to end up thinking about a chubby girl with a ball in her hand whenever I go to bed at night. I couldn¡¯t erase that thought from my mind¡­¡± Yelena¡¯s face turned pink when she heard of the memory that Hank clung onto. ¡°What are you talking about? You¡¯re the chubby one.¡± She punched him yfully. Hank felt like his memory was ying tricks on him when he looked at Yelena¡¯s slim and sharp face. ¡°What I meant was that I had already fallen too deeply for you. So, I simply decided to continue liking you over the years. I¡¯ve never stopped liking you,¡± he uttered. ¡°Hmph. I¡¯ve seen the world, young man; I don¡¯t believe a word that you say,¡± Yelena replied jokingly. Hank pinched her nose, making it hard for her to catch her breath. ¡°I told you I wouldn¡¯t lie to you anymore,¡± he said. ¡°So, how are you nning to deal with this matter?¡± Yelena asked. Hank sighed and shook his head. ¡°You probably won¡¯t be able to figure things out with that simple mind of yours. Cecelia and I wille up with something, so you don¡¯t have to worry about it.¡± Yelena felt intrigued by Cecelia¡ªshe felt like she had already developed a firm rtionship with Cecelia although she still didn¡¯t know Cecelia that well. A woman¡¯s interest in another woman was often clear-cut and direct¡ªone would take a liking to another woman as long as the woman had a good attitude, good looks, talent, and the absence of threat. ¡°Alright. In that case, should I head back to filming?¡± Yelena asked. ¡°Filming? I wouldn¡¯t have allowed you to film this if I knew that there was such an extensive kissing scene.¡± Hank massaged his brows before he came to a firm decision. ¡°I¡¯ll request for a switch in the male lead of this show. I might have to oversee the plot of the whole show as well,¡± he stated. ¡°I¡­¡± Yelena stuck her tongue out as she didn¡¯t know what to say. She knew that there was no use in arguing against Hank. ¡°What should I do now, then?¡± If Yelena didn¡¯t get to act in films, she would be jobless once more. All the enthusiasm and excitement that Yelena had felt toward her filming earlier disappeared. ¡°You should just take a break. For now, you should try to avoid contacting me. You need to make it seem as if we¡¯ve cut tiespletely, okay?¡± Hank said. Yelena¡¯s eyes lit up upon hearing this. ¡°Well, isn¡¯t that my greatest strength?¡± He wants me to pretend that we don¡¯t have any form of rtionship at all¡­ Well, doesn¡¯t that require acting as well? Acting¡¯s where I shine the most! Yelena nodded before grinning. ¡­ However, Yelena hadn¡¯t expected to have to master her role so quickly. She was sleeping at home one night when she heard a loud knock on her door. She dazedly shuffled over to open the door, only to find an elegantdy standing outside. The elegantdy raised an eyebrow when she saw Yelena. Her skin was smooth and free of wrinkles¡ªshe was clearly someone who took care of her looks. ¡°Are you Yelena?¡± thedy asked. Yelena was wide awake with surprise at that point, and she widened her eyes as she responded to thedy, ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯m Yelena. Is anything the matter?¡± Yelena¡¯s voice was rather shaky, and it made her sound like she was afraid of thedy. Thedy knitted her brows. ¡°I¡¯m Hank¡¯s mother, Simone Balkan. I¡¯m here to ask you a few questions. Would you be free to have a chat now?¡± Yelena¡¯s face immediately lit up when she heard that the woman was Hank¡¯s mother and her future mother-inw. ¡°Of course! But¡­ I don¡¯t have much of a rtionship with Hank, so I wouldn¡¯t know much about his recent activities if you are curious about that,¡± Yelena exined with a smile. She didn¡¯t make it seem as if she and Hank were huge enemies, as she knew that she would eventually have to fake a reconciliation with Hank. Yelena didn¡¯t want Hank¡¯s mother to hate her! The best she could do was to remain polite but distant. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Simone brushed her hair out of her face in the most elegant manner possible. ¡°I just wanted to know more about what happened between you two, especially since I just found out about Hank¡¯s rtionship.¡± Yelena invited the woman into her house, and Simone began to frown when she looked at her surroundings. ¡°It seems like¡­ you¡¯re not from that wealthy of a family.¡± ¡°Yes, Miss Balkan. Please take a seat.¡± Yelena politely got the woman to settle down before she brought the woman a cup of tea. ¡°I¡¯m just from a regr family, and I¡¯m not all that wealthy. But don¡¯t worry¡ªmy feelings for Hank are real, and I have no intention of snatching his inheritance or anything of that sort,¡± Yelena exined. This was the first time Simone had received such a response, and she burst outughing after hearing it. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Hank is a sensible man, so I know he wouldn¡¯t just transfer all his inheritance to you¡­¡± Are you sure about that? That sounds like what your son would do. He has already spent huge sums of money on me, Yelena thought. She could only keep these thoughts to herself as she didn¡¯t dare to bring up this matter. Simone cleared her throat before she continued questioning Yelena. ¡°What I¡¯m really curious about is how you guys met,¡± she uttered. Yelena blinked. ¡°Well, do you want to hear the truth, or would you prefer a lie? You will have to prepare yourself if you want the truth. The way we met sounds like a plot in a romance novel¡ªeven I had to take some time to process the whole situation.¡± Simone let out a heartyugh. ¡°I want the truth, of course. I love a good story.¡± Yelena could tell that Simone wasn¡¯t a maniptive or haughty woman, so she feltfortable enough to open up. She started telling the story from when they were kids, and she went on to tell Simone about how they ended up meeting againter in life. She realized how Simone¡¯s eyes lit up as Simone listened to her. Chapter 533 Chapter 533 Chapter 533 You¡¯re No Match ¡°So, this has been going on for such a long time?¡± Simone¡¯s eyes lit up. She hadn¡¯t expected Yelena to be the one who had saved her son. Furthermore, she had no idea that her son had been motivated to inherit the business at a younger age just so that he could support Yelena¡¯s career to repay her kindness. Interesting¡­ This is really interesting. ¡°Are you mad at me, Miss Balkan?¡± Even though Yelena had been transparent about everything, she still felt rather anxious. Hank spent arge sum of his money on me. Wouldn¡¯t Miss Balkan be furious to hear this? ¡°Why should I be angry?¡± Simone chuckled. ¡°Isn¡¯t it great that both of you managed to support each other at different points in life?¡± Support¡­ I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve supported Hank in any way, Yelena thought. ¡°I think you might have misunderstood something, Miss Balkan. We¡¯ve already broken up with each other, and I¡­¡± Yelena felt rather helpless at that point. Does this mean that Miss Balkan is actually supportive of our rtionship? In that case, why did we rush into this whole act of breaking up with each other? ¡°I know¡­ But that¡¯s such a shame.¡± Simone let out a sigh before she took a sip out of her teacup. ¡°I¡¯m sure Hank is really fond of you, but I don¡¯t know why you guys broke up in the end. Why don¡¯t you tell me about it?¡± she asked. Yelena gulped. ¡°We broke up because he had to go on a blind date.¡± Simone nearly spat out her tea after hearing Yelena. However, she was a cultured woman, so she managed to calm herself down before speaking. ¡°So, are you saying that the brat, Hank, dumped you over this matter?¡± she asked in the most pleasant tone she could manage. Hank, a brat¡­ Yelena felt like her brain was covered by ayer of fog. For some reason, she found it rather bizarre to hear Simone speak of her son in that way. Yelena was about to exin herself when someone knocked on her door again. ¡°Let me get that.¡± Yelena shed Simone a smile before she hurried to the entrance. She had just opened the door when she found herself greeted by a warm hug. Hank rushed into the room and scanned Yelena from head to toe to make sure that she was still in one piece. ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re fine,¡± he uttered with a sigh. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I be?¡± Yelena was puzzled for a moment. However, she then noticed Simone from the corner of her eye, and she finally understood what Hank meant. It seemed like Hank had found out about his mother¡¯s visit, and he had rushed over just to support her. However¡­ ¡°I¡¯m still here.¡± Simone¡¯s voice was calm, and she didn¡¯t reveal any emotions in her tone. Yelena spun around and nced in Simone¡¯s direction before she pushed Hank a little farther away from her. ¡°Miss Balkan is still here. You should watch what you¡¯re doing,¡± Yelena whispered. ¡°I don¡¯t know why you showed up here today, Mom. However, we¡¯ve already broken up, so I hope you don¡¯te over to bother Yelena from now on,¡± Hank uttered in a firm and icy tone. It seemed like he was certain that Simone had visited Yelena just to threaten Yelena to stay away from him. Yelena quickly shook her head. ¡°It isn¡¯t what you think. There has been a misunderstanding,¡± she uttered worriedly. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I know you must feel bad. You need to tell me if she threatened you in any way,¡± he replied. ¡°Hey, didn¡¯t you guys break up with each other already? Why are you guys still clinging to one another?¡± Simone let out an amused giggle. ¡°That¡¯s enough. I¡¯m not as mean as you guys think I am,¡± she uttered while standing up with her bag. ¡°But¡­ It¡¯s true that you guys cannot be together. I¡¯m sure you know why.¡± Hank shot the woman with an icy re. Yelena was stunned by the sudden turn of events. How did things change so quickly? Didn¡¯t I just have a really pleasant exchange with Miss Balkan? ¡°I believe I have full autonomy in dating whomever I like. You shouldn¡¯t worry about this matter.¡± Both mother and son were insistent on their stances, and neither one of them seemed to want to take a step back. ¡°No, I think you misunderstood what I said,¡± Simone uttered as she held her chin up high. ¡°I think both of you cannot be together because I think you¡¯re no match for her.¡± Yelena couldn¡¯t stop herself from gasping in shock. ¡°You were dating one another, yet you dumped her just because you had to go on a blind date. She¡¯s such a nice girl, and she once saved you. Is that how you¡¯re supposed to treat your savior?¡± Simone clicked her tongue at her son while giving him a disdainful re. I can¡¯t believe I spent all my years nurturing this boy into a young man with such a horrible attitude! Yelena is such an innocent and kind youngdy¡ªI can¡¯t believe she had to suffer because of him. Well, she does seem like a rather honest and simple girl. It¡¯s no wonder she was fooled by Hank. It looks like she¡¯s still confused at this point. Simone walked over to Yelena before holding Yelena¡¯s hands and gazing at her lovingly. ¡°Yelena, I noticed how kind and nice you are after our talk earlier. Since Hank decided to treat you so horribly, I think you should just forget about him. I have tons of connections, and I can send you all of their contactster. You should chat with some of these men, and you can tell me if you like any of them. I¡¯ll set you guys up.¡± Is my future mother-inw trying to introduce me to other guys in front of my own boyfriend? The entire situation was too confusing for Yelena. Hank, on the other hand, realized what was going on, and his expression darkened immediately. ¡°What are you doing, Mom?¡± he hissed. ¡°I didn¡¯t do much. I just figured that I¡¯d find Yelena someone who will cherish her since you don¡¯t.¡± Simone had already pulled her phone out to open her Facebook application. ¡°Why don¡¯t you add me as a friend? I¡¯ll send you some contactster.¡± Yelena didn¡¯t know how to reject the woman, so she awkwardly reached out to take Simone¡¯s phone before adding herself as a friend. Hank reached out to stop Yelena when he saw what she was doing. ¡°Are you going to cheat on me, Yelena?¡± he growled with a stern look on his face. It was then that Yelena realized what was going on. ¡°No, no. It¡¯s fine, Miss Balkan; I don¡¯t need any contacts.¡± Yelena waved her hands to signal that she didn¡¯t need Simone¡¯s offer. Simone crossed her arms in front of her chest. ¡°Look¡ªyou would¡¯ve continued lying to me if I hadn¡¯t forced the truth out of you. You¡¯re clearly still in love with each other. Why did you lie to me?¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Yelena spoke up as she was worried that Hank would receive a scolding otherwise. ¡°It¡¯s not what it looks like, Miss Balkan. Hank just wanted to slow things down as he was worried that you wouldn¡¯t be able to ept it.¡± ¡°Why does he have to care about that? Back then, his father practically turned the world upside-down when he courted me. His father even gave up on the family business! How could our son be so useless? He can¡¯t even protect his own woman.¡± How frustrating! Simone thought. Yelena was too embarrassed to speak at that point, so she simply stood by the side while eyeing Hank with herrge, round eyes. It was as if she was trying to tell him that she had tried her best to help, but there wasn¡¯t much else that she could do. ¡°I have my own ns,¡± Hank uttered in a calm voice while gazing at Simone. Simone seemed rather displeased to hear this. ¡°What n are you talking about? I want you guys to have a good talk. I¡¯ll handle the rest of the matters,¡± she suggested. I can¡¯t trust Hank at all! He nearly lost such a good wife. I had to step in just to take things into my own hands. Chapter 534 Chapter 534 Chapter 534 Not Fit for a Child Callum and Elspeth ignored each other for three days. When it first began, Callum hadn¡¯t realized what he had done wrong. He hugged Elspeth from behind, and he had been rubbing his face against her shoulder when he noticed how her whole body tensed up in response. It was then that he realized that something was wrong between them. ¡°Are you mad?¡± he asked. Elspeth turned around. ¡°I¡¯m going to bed,¡± she uttered without bothering to conceal the fatigue in her voice. Callum stared at her for a while, and his gaze darkened before he went into their room to grab his pillows. He ended up sleeping in the guest room that night, and they had started sleeping separately since then. Callum and Elspeth were the only two people at home in the daytime. Usually, Callum would wake up earlier to prepare breakfast for Elspeth. However, Elspeth was surprised when she woke up to find that Callum hadn¡¯t cooked anything the next morning. She sighed at the sight of the empty table. It seems like we really have some unresolved issues. Well, I¡¯m not going to be the one to give in this time. I¡¯m the one who¡¯s pregnant here¡ªCallum should be the one apologizing to me! Elspeth ended up waiting for three whole days. Callum didn¡¯t show any signs of remorse throughout this period¡ªhe didn¡¯t seem like he wanted to give in, either. Elspeth received a call while she was waiting for Callum¡¯s apology. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Elspeth.¡± Arthur¡¯s voice was clear and firm. ¡°There¡¯s something I¡¯d like to tell you. Is Callum beside you now?¡± His voice sounded like a warm summer breeze. ¡°No,¡± Elspeth responded in a rather curt tone as she felt frustrated upon hearing Callum¡¯s name. ¡°That¡¯s great. Could we meet up for a meal?¡± Arthur asked. ¡°I¡¯m busy,¡± she replied. ¡°I know you¡¯re pregnant now, and I understand how you might have mood swings. However, other people might not understand what you¡¯re going through,¡± he stated. Does he know that I¡¯m pregnant? ¡°How did you find out about this?¡± Elspeth clenched her fists. ¡°You don¡¯t need to know how I found out about it, but you might be more worried if others find out about it.¡± He was obviously threatening her. Even though Elspeth didn¡¯t know how he found out about her pregnancy, she knew that he could hold it against her. If others learned about her pregnancy, the McGraths would be the first to send someone over to hurt her. On top of that, all the other people she had offended in the past would definitely seize this opportunity to harm her. Elspeth was confident that she could protect her own child, but she felt uneasy after knowing that Arthur was involved in this matter. Arthur knew that she was Helia¡¯s daughter, so he would definitely take advantage of this piece of information to cause a fuss in the public¡¯s eye. He would change the narrative and make it seem as if her child with Callum was a product of incest¡ªhe would make it seem as if she was bearing her cousin¡¯s child. Elspeth could ignore all these matters, but she didn¡¯t want her child to have to deal with the consequences of such rumors. Elspeth felt especially troubled whenever Arthur held something against her. She wanted to reject him, but she knew that she couldn¡¯t be too harsh when the man held such an important piece of information in his hands. ¡°I¡¯m really busy,¡± she replied. ¡°It seems like you¡¯re not worried about this at all.¡± Arthur swirled the wine in his ss as he smirked. ¡°Well, that¡¯s okay. If you don¡¯t want toe over, I can always go to you.¡± ¡°You must have lost your mind. I¡¯m in the Winthrop Residence now,¡± Elspeth uttered with a frown. ¡°I know that. I also know that Callum isn¡¯t home now,¡± Arthur added. He talked for a while more before Elspeth heard the sound of a car engineing from his end of the line. ¡°Alright. Don¡¯te over,¡± Elspeth uttered before taking a deep breath to calm herself down. ¡°Name a ce. I¡¯ll go over to meet you.¡± ¡°I knew you¡¯d agree to meet up eventually.¡± Arthur let out a grin of victory. ¡°Let¡¯s meet at Damoria Delicacies. They serve pretty good Damorian food, and I remember how much you love local food.¡± Elspeth felt her head throbbing. ¡°You must¡¯ve remembered wrongly. I don¡¯t like Damorian food.¡± She felt disgusted whenever she had to interact with Arthur. ¡°Well, you should take your time to get ready since you¡¯re a pregnant woman. I¡¯ll see you in an hour.¡± Arthur ended the call after that. Elspeth freshened up, but she didn¡¯t bother to put on any makeup. She headed over to the restaurant they had agreed to meet at. Arthur was already inside by the time she arrived, and a glimpse of fondness surfaced in his gaze when he first saw her. However, he quickly wiped the look off his face. He stubbed the cigarette in his hand and opened the window a little wider when he noticed the woman¡¯s baby bump. Elspeth took a seat in the spot that was farthest away from him. ¡°Why did you want to meet me in person, Arthur? Are you going to drug me the way you did thest time?¡± she asked. Arthur shook his head before chuckling and admitting to his faults. ¡°I know I acted a little too rashly the last time, but I genuinely miss you this time. I just wanted to have a chat,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ve said this a ton of times, but I really don¡¯t have much to say to you,¡± she replied. ¡°No,¡± Arthur said while shaking his head. ¡°I asked you out today because of your pregnancy,¡± he exined. Elspeth immediately went into fight-or-flight mode as she pressed a hand against her belly while eyeing the man cautiously. ¡°You¡¯re not going to find ways to torture the baby in my belly, are you?¡± Arthur shed her a bitter smile. ¡°I know I¡¯m not the nicest man around, but I¡¯ve never wanted to harm you. You don¡¯t have to be so careful around me.¡± Even though Arthur had a rather horrible personality, he was right when he imed that he had never done anything to harm her directly. Elspeth nodded. ¡°What do you want to know, then?¡± she asked. ¡°I found out about your pregnancy because Jethro told me about it,¡± Arthur exined. Elspeth was then reminded of what happened in the pharmacy. She contemted the whole situation for a while, and she felt a sense of displeasure toward Jethro after she finally made sense of the whole situation. ¡°I don¡¯t think you should keep the child.¡± Arthur got straight to his point. He made it sound as if the world would end once she gave birth to the child. ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯re in any position to tell me what I should do with my baby.¡± Elspeth was aware that she had considered aborting the child, but she didn¡¯t want others to tell her what to do. ¡°You¡¯re a smart woman, Elspeth. I¡¯ve always known this about you.¡± Arthur paused for a moment, then he sighed at the sight of her emotionless face. ¡°But¡­ Do you know how much you might be affected by the birth of this child?¡± he asked slowly. Elspeth kept the same nk expression on her face as she spoke in a hard voice. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t. If you knew how much you¡¯d be affected, you wouldn¡¯t be so stubborn now.¡± Arthur knew how stubborn the woman was, so he tried to switch to a gentler tone as he continued exining the situation to her. ¡°Firstly, the child came at a bad time. Both you and Callum are focusing on developing the business now. Do you think you can bring yourself to give up on Azure Corporation just to care for the child? You¡¯ll have to put in a lot of effort to care for a child on your own. Would you be able to do that? Secondly, you still don¡¯t know where your real father is. Even if you manage to prove that you¡¯re not blood-rted to Callum, the public will still makements on this matter. If you give birth to your child now, the child will carry the name of being born out of incest. Are you sure that this is what you want for your child?¡± Arthur asked.T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Lastly, and most importantly¡­ You¡¯re not fit to have a child now,¡± he said. ¡°What did you just say?¡± Elspeth¡¯s gaze darkened. Chapter 535 Chapter 535 Chapter 535 Sonny¡¯s Advice Elspeth could tell that she wasn¡¯t at the peak of her health¡ªthis was also one of the reasons she had contemted if she should keep the child. However, the way Arthur phrased it made it seem as if she would fall apart after giving birth to a child. Elspeth managed to keep a calm look on her face although she was clenching her fists under the table. ¡°What are you talking about? What do you know about this?¡± ¡°I know more than you think I do, of course. I only wanted to remind you of this matter because I don¡¯t want anything bad to happen to you.¡± The look of concern on Arthur¡¯s face didn¡¯t seem pretentious. Elspeth was rather suspicious of his intentions. ¡°Well, I still need you to give me a solid reason.¡± She wasn¡¯t going to put herplete trust in the man¡¯s words¡ªshe had to remain vignt around him. ¡°Would you trust me if I told you the truth?¡± he asked. ¡°I¡¯ll try my best to trust you.¡± Elspeth then realized how the man had been hesitant to tell her everything only because he was afraid that she would be suspicious of him. Arthur forced a smile. ¡°I knew it. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll never haveplete trust in me. However, I still wanted to talk to you about this for the sake of your own health. When Jasmine¡¯s grandfather treated your illness, he didn¡¯tpletely heal you. You might feel like you¡¯repletely healed, but the truth is that your body wouldn¡¯t be able to handle childbirth,¡± Arthur exined. ¡°Are you saying that Old Mr. McGrath did this to stop me from getting back together with Callum? Was this his n all along?¡± Elspeth felt chills running down her spine. She hadn¡¯t considered this matter in the past. She hadn¡¯t expected Haris to be so maniptive. ¡°I guess you could say that.¡± Arthur seemed rather uneasy at that point. ¡°Well, regardless, I don¡¯t think you should keep the child.¡± ¡°Arthur.¡± Elspeth looked up with a hint of amusement in her gaze. ¡°I don¡¯t think your intentions are all that pure, am I right?¡± A look of embarrassment shed across Arthur¡¯s face. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°You know what I mean, and you know what I¡¯m about to say.¡± Elspeth took a deep breath as she felt anger building up within her. ¡°I know my body the best, and I know whether I¡¯m capable of handling childbirth or not. I don¡¯t need you to tell me what to do.¡± With that said, Elspeth got to her feet and stormed out of the restaurant. Elspeth only managed to calm down a little after she stepped out of Damoria Delicacies. She rubbed her belly with a neutral expression on her face. However, she still felt rather flustered and worried deep down. She wasn¡¯t sure if everything Arthur told her was the truth, but she knew that part of what he said was right. I know that I can¡¯t handle childbirth at this moment. I can tell from the difort that I¡¯ve felt ever since I got pregnant. But¡­ I¡¯m also worried that he might only be stopping me from having the child due to his own selfish reasons. Things were aplete mess in Elspeth¡¯s mind. However, her eyes lit up when she thought of a person. About three hourster, Elspeth¡¯s cab reached the entrance of a vi. She pulled out a few notes and handed them to the cab driver. ¡°Keep the change.¡± The cab driver was ted, and he thanked her a few times before he drove off. Elspeth straightened her clothes before she stepped forward to knock on the front door. Elspeth knitted her brows together when no one came to the door after her third knock. She eventually pushed the door open to let herself in. The door wasn¡¯t locked, so she knew that someone was home. After some hesitation, Elspeth walked to the backyard, where she found a figure bent over in front of some bushes. The person was trimming the messy nts in the yard. ¡°Hey, old man.¡± Elspeth stood on the steps as she called out to the man in aidback voice. It had been a while since Sonnyst saw Elspeth, and he jumped in surprise when he heard the familiar voice coming from behind him. He nearly dropped his shovel on his foot. ¡°What brings you here today, El? Do you miss me?¡± Sonny wiped the sweat off his forehead and kept his gardening tools away. He ced the tools on a rack and picked up a bottle of water before taking a few gulps. ¡°I¡¯m pregnant,¡± Elspeth uttered. Sonny couldn¡¯t help but spit the water out of his mouth after he heard the woman¡¯s words. He was too shocked to speak for a while, and all he did was point a shaky finger in the woman¡¯s direction. ¡°You¡­ You¡­¡± ¡°What about me? I was wondering whether I should keep the child.¡± Elspeth lowered her head and fidgeted. Sonny gazed in the direction of her t belly before he spoke in a stern voice. ¡°You don¡¯t seem too well. Perhaps you should consider giving up on the child.¡± ¡°Well, would you have any ways to¡­ help me keep the child?¡± Elspeth gazed at the old man. She was certain that he would have an idea. Sonny plucked a four-leaf clover from a bush nearby before he toyed around with it. ¡°I think it¡¯s best if you don¡¯t give birth anytime soon.¡± Sonny had known Elspeth for years, and she was practically like a daughter to him. He couldn¡¯t bear to watch the woman lie to herself, and he couldn¡¯t bear the thought of her sacrificing her life just for her child! This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. ¡°Why would you say that?¡± Elspeth knew the answer, but she insisted on questioning the man anyway. ¡°Don¡¯t you know my reasons? You¡¯ve never been in great health, and I¡¯m worried that both you and the child might end up losing your lives if you insist on giving birth,¡± he uttered in a helpless tone. Elspeth was his mentee, so he knew that she had never been the healthiest person. In the past, Sonny had attempted to brew some supplements that could help with Elspeth¡¯s health. However, he could clearly tell that Elspeth had lost a lot of weight since she got pregnant. The child in her belly was sucking up all of her nutrients. ¡°Look at yourself. You¡¯ve lost so much weight¡­ Tsk. Is this how Callum takes care of his wife? How could he allow you to lose so much weight?¡± Sonny felt sorry for Elspeth. ¡°I think you would¡¯ve been much better off if you had married the kid from the Payne Family. At least he genuinely cared for you! I could tell that he loved you from the way he treated you when we were abroad¡­¡± Sonny didn¡¯t bother to filter his words. Elspeth felt rather uneasy at the mention of Gilbert. ¡°Alright. I¡¯m a married woman now, and that was all in the past. Let¡¯s not talk about that anymore. Just tell me¡ªdo you think it¡¯s possible for me to keep the child?¡± Sonny sighed while knitting his brows together. ¡°It¡¯s going to be hard.¡± ¡°What are the chances of things working out?¡± she asked. ¡°Less than 20%,¡± he replied honestly. He felt bad when he saw the look of disappointment on her face. ¡°It¡¯s fine. You¡¯re still young, so you can always get another child. You don¡¯t have to give birth now. You can give birth to more kids once you fix your health issues,¡± he uttered. Elspeth nodded. ¡°I got it,¡± she muttered in a rather dejected tone. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t worry about this. Now¡¯s not a good time to have a child, but that doesn¡¯t mean that you¡¯ll never be able to give birth.¡± Sonny felt like Elspeth was being too pessimistic toward the whole matter. Elspeth gazed down at her own belly. The fetus is barely a month old, yet I feel like it already has a life of its own. I feel like it¡¯s connected to me. This is my first child with Callum, yet I¡¯ll have to end its life before it gets to see this world. Elspeth¡¯s heart ached at the thought of this. She felt a surge of sorrow as she rubbed her own belly. ¡°You should terminate your pregnancy as soon as possible. You have to do it for the sake of your own health.¡± Sonny patted her shoulder as he comforted her in a gentle voice. ¡°I¡¯ll get you some herbs now, and you can brew and drink them once you¡¯re home. You cane to me after you¡¯ve aborted the child. I¡¯ll make sure to nurture you to good health.¡± Chapter 536 Chapter 536 Chapter 536 An Abortion Elspeth hesitated for a while longer before she eventually went to the hospital. The baby in her belly seemed to know what its fate was¡ªshe thought she felt it moving around inside her. Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at herself. The child is just one month old, and it has barely formed. How could it possibly move? This is all in my head, she thought. ¡°You¡¯re here, Elspeth.¡± A familiar voice came from behind her. She turned around to find herself staring at Arthur¡¯s face. This guy seems to be everywhere! Arthur¡¯s gaze softened when he noticed the papers she was holding in her hand. ¡°Are you here to abort your child?¡± ¡°That has got nothing to do with you.¡± Elspeth turned around as she felt the need to stop Arthur from staring at her belly. ¡°You should¡¯ve listened to my advice and aborted the child from the start, Elspeth¡­ But I guess it¡¯s good that you¡¯ve decided to do it today. I¡¯ll arrange for the best doctors to be on duty, and I¡¯ll make sure that everything goes smoothly¡­¡± Elspeth felt her hairs standing on end when she heard the rather loving tone in the man¡¯s voice. ¡°I said it¡¯s none of your business!¡± Elspeth frowned in disgust. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll go make the necessary arrangements.¡± Arthur walked off with a victorious smirk on his face. At that moment, Elspeth no longer had the motivation toplete her procedure in that hospital. She had been about to leave when she noticed a man standing at the entrance of the hospital. The man was tall and slender, and he wore a rather mysterious look on his face. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Elspeth didn¡¯t know how to describe how she felt¡ªthere was a mixture of guilt and helplessness within her. Yet, she couldn¡¯t seem to stop herself from walking in his direction. She took a deep breath after stopping in front of him. ¡°What brings you here?¡± she asked in a cautious voice. ¡°I should be the one asking you this question.¡± There wasn¡¯t a hint of emotion in Callum¡¯s voice. ¡°Did you hear our entire conversation?¡± Elspeth asked with a rather pained look on her face. ¡°Did you hear everything that I said to Arthur?¡± ¡°What is it? Are you going to continue doing things with him behind my back?¡± Callum clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white. ¡°I never wanted to hide this from you. I simply haven¡¯t found the right time to tell you about it.¡± Elspeth nced at the man before her eyes. She felt oddly anxious at the thought of him being the father of her child. Callum looked up and gazed in the direction where Arthur had walked off. ¡°You didn¡¯t get a chance to tell me, but you found the time to speak to him about it, huh? Since when did the two of you be so close?¡± There was a hint of anger on his face. ¡°It¡¯s not what you think it is. I¡¯m sure you know that I¡¯ve never liked him.¡± Elspeth was about to continue exining herself when Callum interrupted her. ¡°You don¡¯t have to exin yourself to me. You know yourself best,¡± he uttered. Then, he shot a fiery re in the direction of her t belly. ¡°You¡¯re pregnant with my child, but you don¡¯t want to give birth to it. Is that right?¡± Elspeth parted her lips to speak, but she couldn¡¯t find the words at all. She didn¡¯t know how to exin herself to him at that point. In fact, she didn¡¯t even feel like exining anything to him when she saw how emotionless he seemed. Is this how little we trust each other? Elspeth felt both frustrated and amused. ¡°Alright. I understand.¡± Callum smirked. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You don¡¯t have to give birth to my child if you don¡¯t want to,¡± he uttered. ¡°Callum!¡± Elspeth¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°In fact, if you don¡¯t like being married to me, then we could just¡ª¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point of saying all these things?¡± Elspeth found it hard to breathe, so she pressed her hand against the wall to steady herself. ¡°I know you find it hard to understand my actions for now, but can¡¯t you just trust me for a bit?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how to do that.¡± Callum stuffed both his hands into the pockets of his coat as he took a step back. ¡°I won¡¯t stop you from aborting the child. I¡¯ll leave now.¡± He turned around to walk away, but his footsteps seemed rather unsteady as he left. He was just as hurt as Elspeth was. The child in her belly was a product of their love. Yet, she seemed to insist on getting rid of the child without exining herself to him. Callum felt extremely confused, and he decided to leave before he ended up saying anything hurtful to her. He hastened his footsteps at that thought. When he turned around a corner, he tilted his head back to find Elspeth crouching on the ground with both her hands covering her face. She had curled up into a ball. Callum knew that she was crying. He took a deep breath before he made a phone call. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°What is it? Is anything the matter?¡± the person on the other end of the line asked. ¡°Can youe over to be with Elspeth? She¡¯s in the hospital.¡± ¡°The hospital?¡± the person cried loudly. ¡°What¡¯s she doing there on her own?¡± ¡°She¡¯s here to abort her child. You shoulde over to be with her,¡± Callum replied. ¡°An abortion? Is Elspeth pregnant? Why is she aborting the child?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but I guess she has her own reasons.¡± ¡°Why do I feel so infuriated by your words?¡± Yelena stomped her foot on the ground as she confronted the man in a stern tone. ¡°Am I her husband, or are you her husband? Shouldn¡¯t you be at the hospital with her?¡± How could Callum neglect his responsibilities at a time like this? Yelena found this man utterly despicable. Despite that, she still got herself ready to head to the hospital. ¡°We had an argument. I don¡¯t think she wants to see me now,¡± Callum exined. ¡°You¡¯re a man. Why are you being so petty about these things?!¡± Yelena scowled as she threw a coat over her shoulders. Callum simply gave her the address of the hospital before he ended the call. When he turned around again, Elspeth was no longer anywhere to be seen. ¡­ Yelena couldn¡¯t seem to reach Elspeth through her phone. Elspeth had decided to switch hospitals in the end as she simply couldn¡¯t stand the idea of going through surgery under Arthur¡¯s supervision. Elspethy on the surgical table of the new hospital, and she felt her eyelids getting heavy as she gazed up at the bright, white lights hanging above her head. She had just been administered a dose of anesthesia, and she had felt a sting when the needle pierced her skin. The pain reminded her of Callum. He¡¯s probably still mad at me. I¡¯m sure he doesn¡¯t understand my actions. He must think that I¡¯m heartless to abort a child that we¡¯ve been hoping for so long. Maybe I really am the most heartless person on earth. Elspeth¡¯s heart ached at the thought of this. However, as the anesthesia¡¯s effects spread through her body, she could no longer keep herself awake. She felt her head getting heavier, and sheter felt an emptiness in her abdomen. It felt as if something had been removed from within her¡ªher body felt a lot lighter after that. She felt like she was dreaming the entire time. About half an hourter, Elspeth opened her eyes to find out that the surgery had ended. She felt some difort as she got to her feet, but she didn¡¯t feel anything else beyond that. ¡°The surgery was a sess, Miss Lynwood. You should get a lot of rest once you get home.¡± The nurse spoke to her in a gentle tone. All she could think of was that her child was gone for good. Chapter 537 Chapter 537 Chapter 537 Believe Everything She Says However, Elspeth was in no mood to be grieving over her child. She was perplexed to the point where she didn¡¯t know what she was thinking. The nurse kept going on about some reminders, but she didn¡¯t listen to any of them. When she left the ward, someone was standing at the door. Instantly, her tears streamed down like a water tap that had been turned on. ¡°Elspeth¡­¡± Yelena spread her arms wide, allowing her friend to fall into her arms. For the first time, she saw how fragile Elspeth was. She has always been my protector, but today, she looks like a broken doll. ¡°Elspeth, does it hurt?¡± Even though Yelena had never given birth before, she knew how painful it must be for a woman after a miscarriage. Despite that, she could onlyfort her friend gently and shed tears for her. Caressing her face with a smile, Elspeth asked, ¡°What are you crying for? It¡¯s not like you went for the surgery.¡± ¡°I feel so bad for you.¡± Yelena only realized she had a nasal voice then. Suddenly, she clenched her teeth hard. ¡°Callum is going overboard. It¡¯s your surgery day! He was the one who made this happen, yet he¡¯s avoiding you now. I¡¯m starting to doubt if you married the right person.¡± ¡°Did Callum send you here?¡± Elspeth captured the point. ¡°Yeah. He said he has no guts to face you and ims that you hate him, but from my perspective, I think he¡¯s just a coward!¡± Yelena then took off her jacket and draped it over Elspeth¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Come on. Stay over at my ce for a few days.¡± Even before marriage, Elspeth had never been to Yelena¡¯s house, so she had no reason to go after her marriage, but now that Yelena invited her toe over, Elspeth nodded unexpectedly. ¡°Let me make a phone call first.¡± Yelena sighed bitterly. ¡°Why are you still considering his feelings when he treats you like this?¡± Lowering his head, Elspeth took out her phone and dialed a number. Three ringster, the receiver answered. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°I¡¯m noting home tonight. I¡¯m sleeping over at Yelena¡¯s.¡± ¡°Okay. Be safe.¡± Elspeth hummed an ¡°okay¡± and hung up the call. Callum¡¯s expression darkened when he heard the end call sound. He picked up the ss of wine and downed it. The wine stained the corners of his lips and streamed down his chin. Wine bottles were surrounding him, and he appeared groggy due to the continuous shots of alcohol. He subconsciously wanted to say no to Elspeth staying over at someone¡¯s ce, but did he have the right to? In her eyes, he must be a cold-blooded and ruthless man now. A self-righteous man who never considered her feelings. If he couldn¡¯t even agree to her simple request, he wasn¡¯t worthy of being her husband. With that, he swallowed the words that he nearly blurted and instead answered, ¡°Okay. Be safe.¡± The long silence on the other end of the call made him assume that he had done something wrong, but eventually, Elspeth did not say another word. Callum started feeling anxious, but just as he was about to speak, Elspeth ended the call. Staring at the number on his phone screen, he intended to call her back, but he just couldn¡¯t summon the courage to do so. Hence, he tossed his phone aside and continued drinking. Before he knew it, he was already drunk. He sat in front of therge window on the first floor and watched the moonlight shining in. Only then did he realize in a daze that it was already nighttime. With the alcohol drowning his system, he felt a severe headache. He fished out his phone to check the time. It was 8.00PM. Unknowingly, he had been drinking for four hours straight. Callum staggered to get up, his eyes dim. He was still conscious despite being wasted, and his mind went crazy thinking about Elspeth. Leaning on the couch, he took out his phone to call her. She didn¡¯t answer the first call, so he dialed once again. He was sure that it wasn¡¯t her bedtime yet, but the second call still didn¡¯t get through after a long ring. Without giving up, he dialed for the third time. Someone picked up. ¡°Hello.¡± He wasn¡¯t sure of the reason, but perhaps due to his desperate longing for her, he thought he heard two voices. Nheless, he ignored that and merely med it on the alcohol. ¡°Elspeth.¡± He sounded drunk but extra tender. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? It¡¯ste.¡± ¡°I miss you.¡± ¡°Have you been drinking?¡± ¡°Because I missed you.¡± ¡°Nonsense.¡± ¡°It¡¯s true!¡± He sounded so whiny that it didn¡¯t match his usual behavior at all. Elspeth couldn¡¯t help breaking into laughter. Herughter finally exposed her location. Callum turned around in a daze and suddenly saw a pair of compelling eyes silently staring at him. ¡°Are you back?¡± he asked calmly as the two remained speaking over the phone tacitly. ¡°Yeap.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were staying over at her house?¡± He was referring to none other than Yelena. Elspeth shrugged and sighed helplessly. ¡°Well, I figured I shouldn¡¯t be interrupting her and her boyfriend¡¯s quality time.¡± In reality, her statement was far from the truth. She was the one who was determined toe back, and Yelena couldn¡¯t even hold her back. Yelena could only chide her for being blinded by love. On the contrary, Elspeth knew she wasn¡¯t blinded by love. She was just dealing with her feelings. Now that she was married, she should no longer be headstrong anymore. She had to learn to manage the rtionship between them. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Callum blurted without warning. All of a sudden, the things she had been struggling with in her mind were released. She walked up to him and raised her chin. Callum immediately leaned downward. Elspeth wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him on the lips. The night was getting dark, and the coolness of his lips that was mixed with the smell of wine made her shudder. Callum hugged her without a hint of desire. He gently glided through her lips as if begging for forgiveness. Elspeth returned the kiss, so he deepened it. That was all. After that, she looked into his eyes and exined in a soft voice, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to have the abortion. It¡¯s just my current health condition doesn¡¯t allow me to bear a child for now.¡± Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Callum nodded, a hint of tenderness in his eyes. ¡°I know.¡± He believed her, no matter what she said. The remorse he felt from his impulsive reaction this afternoon still lingered in his heart. He should¡¯ve believed in her because, after all, he should¡¯ve known she wasn¡¯t someone who would do that. Jealousy is a dreadful thing, he mused. ¡°Arthur discovered this by ident and told me a secret.¡± Callum sensed something wrong. ¡°What secret?¡± ¡°When Old Mr. McGrath treated me back then, he didn¡¯tpletely heal me. That¡¯s why I can¡¯t bear the child for now.¡± It turned out that Haris was the one who set up such a huge trap. Callum¡¯s expression suddenly darkened. Chapter 538 Chapter 538 Chapter 538 You¡¯re The Most Precious ¡°Does that mean you have a health issue?¡± Callum subconsciously wanted to check on Elspeth, but she grasped his hands. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m just not fit to have a baby, but I have to ask my mentor to find out what the actual problem is.¡± ¡°You must let me know if there¡¯s anything you need from me.¡± Callum¡¯s tense emotions were instantly calmed. Holding his head, he suddenly let out a muffled grunt. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Elspeth checked on him worriedly. ¡°I drank too much.¡± A sheepish grin appeared on the corners of his lips as he replied to her. Looking at the scattered bottles of alcohol on the floor, she took a sharp breath. ¡°You should cut down on alcohol.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Callum hooked his arms around her waist and rubbed his face in her neck. ¡°Let¡¯s go to bed,¡± he urged in a tender voice. ¡°I¡­ just want to hug you to sleep right now.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± With that, the two entered the room. Lying in the bed, Callum back-hugged Elspeth and felt the coolness of her body temperature. He suddenly felt bad for her. ¡°Why are you so cold?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve always been like this.¡± The truth was, she wasn¡¯t. Perhaps after the abortion, she became rtively weaker, so there wasn¡¯t a hint of warmth in her body. She thought it was no big deal, but Callum couldn¡¯t help pulling her hands in his embrace while rubbing them gently. ¡°Let me warm you up.¡± ¡°You must really want a child.¡± His reaction this afternoon showed her that he really wanted a child with her. That was why he lost control of his emotions and said hurtful things to her when she was going to have an abortion. Even though she was upset, she hadn¡¯t lost her right mind yet. ¡°Of course, but I don¡¯t want you to hurt yourself by giving birth. You will always be the utmost important and precious person to me.¡± Callum¡¯s voice was subdued. It was as if he was still guilty about his reaction in the afternoon. ¡°I promise to figure out the situation first in the future to prevent something like this from happening again.¡± ¡°Okay. I know you will.¡± Elspeth gently caressed his face and snuggled into his embrace to find afortable spot. ¡°We will have our own child someday.¡± She raised her head and nted a kiss on his stubble-covered chin. A flicker of light shed in Callum¡¯s eyes as he tightened his arms to hold her closer to him. ¡­ In another house, Gilbert woke up early. He smiled while watching the figure pacing up and down the kitchen. Then, he strolled into the kitchen, saw the table of dishes, and clicked his tongue. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you didn¡¯t improve the slightest in cooking even after two weeks.¡± ¡°What do you mean? I think I can cook pretty well now.¡± Seeing the look of disdain on his face, Isabel stomped her feet. ¡°I know you like the dishes I make, Gilbert Payne!¡± ¡°I never said that. You¡¯re the one who thinks too highly of yourself.¡± Gilbert stuck his tongue out at her. All of a sudden, heughed out loud. ¡°You¡¯re gotten pretty bold huh? You¡¯ve got the guts to raise your voice at me now.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that? You started teasing me first.¡± Isabel served the other dishes on the table and arranged the cutlery. ¡°Whatever. You¡¯ve been eating what I¡¯ve cooked for the past two weeks, anyway. You have to eat them even if you im they taste bad!¡± That¡¯s all I can offer. You make the choice! Isabel took off the apron and pulled the chair out to take a seat. After shoving a mouthful of food into her mouth, she frowned. She seemed to have added too much salt to the braised beef ribs. It was too salty! Noticing the change on her face, Gilbert sat down and took a piece of rib. He was able to take salty food, but he didn¡¯t expect that the ribs could taste this weird. ¡°Your beef ribs ¡ª¡± Before he could finish his sentence, he saw the glum look on Isabel¡¯s face and changed his mind. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I wasn¡¯t trying to say anything. There¡¯s always a next time. It¡¯s not that bad.¡± As she propped her chin on her hands, her gaze flickered. In fact, she knew that the food she cooked was edible, but she just wanted to show off in front of Gilbert by making some dishes that she never cooked before. Unfortunately, her n backfired, and she just couldn¡¯t get the gist of the braised beef ribs. ¡°Otherwise, you can also cook something else.¡± Gilbert gave her a suggestion with good intentions but was interrupted. ¡°No. I¡¯m going to seed one day.¡± Just like her feelings for him, she believed that she would be able to make him waver one day. ¡°Why do you have to go through the trouble, Isabel?¡± He knew the meaning behind her words, but he couldn¡¯t bear to watch her being stubborn because there was no way he would fall for her. T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. No matter how hard she tried, it would be pointless. With a dim gaze, Isabel insisted, ¡°You never even tried to date me. How could you tell I¡¯m not the one for you?¡± ¡°Do I have to? I don¡¯t like you, to begin with. No matter what you do, I¡¯m not going to fall for you. Besides, don¡¯t you know that I like¡ª¡± Elspeth¡¯s name was still stuck in his mouth. She was now a married woman, so no matter how much he admired her, it would seem as if he had ideas about someone else¡¯s wife, hence he couldn¡¯t say them out loud. Isabel, on the other hand, already expected that he would use this against her. In fact, he had been using the same excuse to reject her for the past two weeks. To be frank, Isabel was starting to get bored of the excuse. ¡°I know you like Elsie, but do you n to keep your feelings for her for the rest of your life?¡± Isabel wouldn¡¯t give up. She stood up and leaned toward him. ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried that your feelings for her will cause her difort? She doesn¡¯t need you to like her at all.¡± The first sentence she blurted was to hurt him, but the second sentence was an outright humiliation. Gilbert¡¯s expression changed in response. The aura he emitted immediately turned cold. ¡°I know that. You don¡¯t have to emphasize it.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t trying to emphasize it!¡± Isabel reached out and cupped his face while enunciating in a clear voice, ¡°You have the choice to let go of her and meet new people and try new things. I am confident that I like you more than she does.¡± Gilbert snickered, and that itself made her lose all the courage she had just built up. Even her fingers started trembling. ¡°Go on.¡± Gilbert tilted his head at her, but there was nothing in his eyes, not even the slightest trace of affection. It was merely filled with contempt as he looked at her like she was a joke. ¡°I-I have nothing else to say.¡± Isabel let go of him after saying that, but the lingering warmth in her palms made her lose her mind a little. ¡°I¡¯ll do the dishes!¡± She cleaned up the table in a panicky manner and ended up identally smashing a bowl to the ground. Chapter 539 Chapter 539 Chapter 539 A Rose Versus a Daisy Isabel was picking up the broken pieces on the floor, feeling increasingly disheartened. Suddenly, someone squatted beside her. Isabel was picking up the broken pieces on the floor, feeling increasingly disheartened. Suddenly, someone squatted beside her. ¡°Be careful,¡± said the maic and gentle voice with a hint of concern. She looked up, tears welling up in her eyes. ¡°Why are you crying? It¡¯s only a broken bowl, and I won¡¯t scold you,¡± Gilbert said. When he saw her expression, he gently wiped away her tears with his rough fingers, which unfortunately made her cry even harder. ¡°Why are you like a broken faucet that won¡¯t shut off?¡± He had witnessed her crying in the past, and he knew she frequently shed tears. Moreover, he was ustomed to her crying, but whenever she did, he could only watch her and wait for her to dry her eyes. At that time, Isabel¡¯s crying was shorter than usual. After she stopped crying, she sniffled and tried to calm down. ¡°How would you respond if Elspeth were to cry before you?¡± Gilbert smirked, thinking her question was somewhat silly. ¡°She wouldn¡¯t cry over something so trivial.¡± His impression of Elspeth was that she was always resilient and unyielding, much like a beautiful rose with enticing thorns. Nheless, to him, Isabel was like a delicate daisy that withered in the wind and wilted at the touch of a finger. It was her crying that gave him a headache. Then, she shook her head. ¡°She would cry. Tell me, what would you do if she did?¡± After hearing that question, his thoughts drifted away. What would I do if Elspeth cried? Even if my words are clumsy and I can¡¯t think of the right thing to say, I will still hug her and try tofort her. Of course, that¡¯s only wishful thinking; the truth is, I have no idea how to make her feel better. Since he could do nothing about it, he gave up worrying about it. Then, he stood silently and threw the broken pieces into the trash can. On the other hand, Isabel was anxious to hear his answer, so she stood up too. ¡°You didn¡¯t answer my question.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t you show some of the same tenderness that you have for her toward me? Is it because I¡¯m an orphan? I don¡¯t have her prominent family background, outstanding abilities, or beauty¡ª¡± After listing each in detail, she finally lowered her voice. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Gil. I overstepped my boundaries today.¡± Her voice was tearful, and it seemed like she would cry again. Gilbert suddenly felt sorry for Isabel from the bottom of his heart. Still, he knew he couldn¡¯t show her any sign of tenderness for fear that she would misinterpret it. He couldn¡¯t provide her with anything, not even a little bit. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Be more careful next time,¡± he replied stiffly. Then, he turned around and went upstairs. He avoided letting her see the restraint in his eyes as he didn¡¯t know how to stop this naive young girl from going too far, but he knew he couldn¡¯t let her go ahead any further. Moreover, he regretted agreeing to give her a month to win his heart. It had only made her sink deeper into her feelings for him. As he turned the key to his room, he clearly heard water flowing in the kitchen and a faint crying. He took a deep breath, feeling overwhelmed with guilt. I shouldn¡¯t have led her on. After returning to his room, he sat at the desk and casually browsed through posts to pass the time. Soon, there was a knock on the door. ¡°Come in.¡± Gilbert had no idea how to face Isabel, so he had to sit at the table with his back turned to her. Then, she entered cautiously as if afraid to disturb him, carrying a tray with a ss of milk. ¡°Gil, I want to apologize to you. Earlier, I¡ª¡± She carefully ced the milk on the table. ¡°It¡¯s okay. You¡¯re only a girl, so I won¡¯t hold it against you.¡± He still didn¡¯t look at her and continued, ¡°By the way, I bought a vi north of Damoria. The environment there is pretty good, and it¡¯s right next to the old Winthrop Residence¡ª¡± His intentions were too obvious, and she couldn¡¯t control her emotions. ¡°Do you want to send me away before the month ends, Gil?¡± The one-month agreement was the most agonizing thing he had ever promised anyone. Gilbert was about to defend himself, but Isabel suddenly trembled and asked, ¡°Do you really hate me that much?¡± Hate? Of course not. When he saw the optimism in her eyes, he hardened his heart, and his eyes became coldly indifferent. ¡°You should understand my attitude toward you by now. Do you not understand?¡± She was speechless by his response. ¡°Yes, I don¡¯t hate you, but as you know, I don¡¯t want to see you now. I¡¯m only nice to you because of your sister¡¯s request. When I heard that you wanted to win my heart, I really felt a headacheing. I seriously want to avoid it. Do you understand?¡± Isabel¡¯s face turned pale, and she opened her mouth, but her voice was hoarse, and she could barely say anything. Gilbert had never spoken to her so harshly before, and she was unsure whether or not she should cry. ¡°I had previously promised you a one-month agreement, but it was a joke. You didn¡¯t really believe it, did you? If I caused any misunderstanding, I apologize to you. Please be clear-minded and know that I have no interest in you. Not before, not now, and definitely not in the future.¡± He delivered each word as a word of warning but also as a statement of dismissal. On the other hand, she felt she had been exposed to public ridicule and was left naked on the street. His words were so heartless that she couldn¡¯t even muster the strength to argue. Her feelings of affection wereughable now. She would only be setting herself up for mockery if she admitted she still had feelings for him. ¡°Gilbert, I¡ª¡± she began. ¡°My final offer to you is this: move into the ce I suggested, and forget about any silly ideas. We can still be friends, but your stubbornness could mean we never see each other again.¡± After he finished speaking, he nced at her. Seeing her lost in thought and feeling a hint of guilt, he wondered if he had been too harsh. This girl rarely reacted like this. ¡°You probably hate me now, don¡¯t you? Remember how I am now. I¡¯m that detestable¡ª¡± Gilbert trailed off as Isabel suddenly snapped out of her daze and resumed their conversation calmly. ¡°I don¡¯t hate you. I don¡¯t know how to hate you, but¡ª¡± How could I turn on someone I¡¯d liked for a long time based on a few words? In addition, I could not determine whether or not what he was saying was true. ¡°First, you must tell me if everything you said is true,¡± she continued.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Chapter 540 Chapter 540 Chapter 540 The Naked Insult ¡°Of course, it¡¯s true,¡± Gilbert said confidently. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s true,¡± Gilbert said confidently. ¡°Am I not good enough?¡± Isabel cracked a pure and innocent smile. He stared at her smile and steeled himself. ¡°Good? Am I supposed to believe you¡¯re the only one nice to me? Do you really think you¡¯re my only admirer? With a snap of my fingers, people are willing to sleep with me. Can you do that? Don¡¯t think too highly of yourself. It¡¯s all about knowing your ce.¡± His words were an open insult, and she immediately lost herposure. Her eyes reddened as she stared intently at him with exhaustion and determination showing in her gaze. ¡°Fine, if that¡¯s how it is, let¡¯s give it a shot. I¡¯ve heard that when you¡¯re with someone you like, you can feel it¡ª¡± Her words made him increasingly ufortable, and his smile froze when he looked at her. Afterward, Isabel gently undid the buttons on her shirt one by one, with a hint of girlish tenderness and shyness on her face. As she took off her top, revealing her soft pink bra, Gilbert finally snapped out of it. Grabbing a coat from the back of a chair, he covered her and shouted, ¡°Isabel Lynwood!¡± He called her full name for the first time, furious. When she heard that, she shivered, possibly from the cold but more likely from fear. However, the fact that her actions had angered him gave her a strange sense of relief. Does this mean I have a special ce in his heart? ¡°This is your first time doing something like this, and I hope it¡¯s yourst. Don¡¯t do this again,¡± he said with a slightly annoyed expression. Nevertheless, his words did not reflect his concern for her, and he continued, ¡°Otherwise, I won¡¯t be able to face your sister.¡± ¡°Can you stop bringing up my sister?¡± When Isabel heard his words, the light in her eyes slowly faded. Unable to contain her anger, she pushed him away hard. ¡°Gilbert, tell me straight up if you don¡¯t like me. Can you stop using my sister against me?¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. ¡°Why don¡¯t you ever listen? It¡¯s not about that¡ª¡± Gilbert rubbed his brow and noticed the tears in her eyes. He clenched his teeth and steeled himself again. ¡°Even if I do use your sister against you, so what? She¡¯s beautiful, bold, and way more interesting than you. You¡¯re not my type.¡± ¡°Gilbert, I know you don¡¯t want me to like you, but you can¡¯t treat me like this¡ª¡± She choked out through her tears, unable to stop them. ¡°My sister is already pregnant, so why are you still thinking about her? Gilbert, you say I¡¯m boring, but you¡¯re the most boring person in the world!¡± she yelled, unintentionally striking a chord with him. He stood up from his chair, grabbed her shoulders, and looked at her anxiously. ¡°What did you say? She¡¯s pregnant?¡± ¡°Yes, pregnant! It¡¯s the result of her love for Callum and has nothing to do with you.¡± Isabel wiped away her tears, which were already streaked across her face. After hearing that, Gilbert¡¯s face turned deathly pale, and he slowly released his grip. As if recalling something, he opened the door and prepared to leave. ¡°Where are you going?¡± she called after him, but he continued straight down the stairs as if he hadn¡¯t heard her. So, she gave chase, following closely behind him, only to see the man hurrying away. Then, she shouted from the top of the stairs, ¡°Gilbert, can you stop being stupid for once? You always call me stupid, but can¡¯t you see what you¡¯re doing?¡± After hearing that, there was a brief pause in his footsteps, and he quickly walked away. As the door mmed shut, Isabel slid down the banister and copsed on the floor, tears streaming down her face. With Gilbert¡¯s clothes on her, her exposed skin hinted at her earlier boldness. Still, he wasn¡¯t interested in her at all. In his eyes, Elspeth is the only girl he has been infatuated with since his youth. Even though she is already married and pregnant, he loses control whenever her name is mentioned. Am I really wrong? With that, she rested her head on the stair railing, her heart calming down. If my presence really troubles him, leaving might be a good option. ¡­ On the other hand, Gilbert arrived at the Winthrop Residence, practically barging into the living room. At that moment, Callum and Elspeth were cuddling on the couch watching TV, with her nestled in his arms as theyughed and chatted. Seeing Gilbert enter unannounced, they both froze. Callum reacted first, his face turning cold. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Gilbert¡¯s face showed a trace of embarrassment, havinge in such a hurry that he had even forgotten to think of a proper reason. The moment he saw her, his mind raced while quicklying up with a perfect excuse. ¡°I want to discuss something with Elspeth.¡± She straightened up upon hearing that, her eyes calm and serene. ¡°What is it? Go ahead.¡± ¡°It¡¯s about Isabel.¡± Her face finally showed a hint of emotion. ¡°What happened to her? Is she in trouble?¡± He has rushed in with urgency; could something have happened to her? At that thought, Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but clench her fists. ¡°No, she¡¯s fine. The thing is, I think living with Isabel is a bit inappropriate and not good for her reputation. So, I bought her a house near the Winthrop Residence. If it¡¯s okay, she could live here with you guys looking after her. That shouldn¡¯t be a problem, right?¡± Gilbert had thought it through, and if it wasn¡¯t because she knew how Isabel felt about him, Elspeth would¡¯ve apuded him. ¡°Nheless, you know how Isabel feels about you.¡± She wanted to test his intentions. If he had no feelings for Isabel, the two living together would significantly negatively impact her emotions. After all, living long-term with someone you loved but couldn¡¯t have could be pretty depressing. ¡°I can¡¯t let her stay with me because I know this. Moreover, I don¡¯t want to hold her back.¡± He took a deep breath, finallyying all his cards on the table. However, Callum wasn¡¯t happy because he found Gilbert¡¯s behavior suspicious, especially his frequent nces in Elspeth¡¯s direction. After hearing that, Elspeth could only sigh and say, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do as you say. Isabel can move in today.¡± Suddenly, Callum chimed in, ¡°If it¡¯s possible, Mr. Payne, please don¡¯te over here and disturb Isabel. If she sees you, it might bring back memories, and it wouldn¡¯t be good if she can¡¯t forget the past.¡± He pretended to be concerned about Isabel but warned Gilbert not to have improper thoughts about Elspeth. Gilbert nodded upon hearing that, his heart aching. ¡°I know; I won¡¯t.¡± Chapter 541 Chapter 541 Chapter 541 Why Do You Have to Compare? On the other hand, Elspeth tugged at Callum¡¯s hand, signaling him not to be so harsh. Then, he let it slide for her sake. On the other hand, Elspeth tugged at Callum¡¯s hand, signaling him not to be so harsh. Then, he let it slide for her sake. ¡°I heard you¡¯re pregnant?¡± Gilbert suddenly asked. She was caught off guard that he knew about it and figured Isabel must have seen the pregnancy test when she visited and told him about it. ¡°I had an abortion.¡± She could tell Callum¡¯s mood had changed when she said that. ¡°You should rest up.¡± For some reason, Gilbert didn¡¯t feel anything. There were no mixed emotions as he expected. ¡°Would it bother your rest if I bring Isabel over today?¡± ¡°Since you¡¯ve mentioned it, go ahead and bring her here. I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Relieved, he took a deep breath. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go now.¡± Returning home, Gilbert called out in the hallway but got no response. He felt guilty, thinking Isabel might be upset since he took her away. He went upstairs, knocked on her door gently, and said, ¡°Isabel,e out. I need to talk to you.¡± Since there had been no response, he finally decided to force his way inside due to his unsettling intuition. He noticed the room was spotless as if no one had ever lived there. His heart tightened as he looked around and spotted a white note on the desk. He read it and was speechless. ¡®Gilbert, I know you don¡¯t like me, and I¡¯m not running away out of spite. Don¡¯t worry; I won¡¯t bother you or Elspeth. I¡¯ll find a job somewhere. I¡¯ve grown up and have some savings, so I¡¯ll be fine. Goodbye.¡± The words were curt but firm. Suddenly, Gilbert felt dizzy, not expecting Isabel to run away. He had no choice but to tell Elspeth and send people to search for her. Hearing about Isabel through the phone, Elspeth sprang up from the couch. ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°Isabel ran away.¡± She found the remark that Isabel would run away a little preposterous, given that she had never seen Isabel do anything so oundish. She had always been so well-mannered that finding ws in her was difficult. ¡°Why did she run away?¡± ¡°Maybe because I said some harsh words to her this morning.¡± He still wanted to take responsibility, even though he knew Isabel crossed the line first. ¡°She¡¯s only a kid. If you don¡¯t like her, simply talk to her, and she¡¯ll listen¡ª¡± Elspeth spoke anxiously. Nheless, Gilbert didn¡¯t try to defend himself. He sighed and rubbed his forehead before saying, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will definitely find her.¡± The busy tone interrupted him, and he realized she had hung up on him a while ago. He couldn¡¯t waste any more time and started looking for Isabel at ces where she might work. Where would a girl who has never attended school and has no work experience go? Suddenly, he had an idea of where she could be. ¡­ The Luna Bar during the day only had a few customers, but it still reeked of smoke and alcohol. When Gilbert arrived, he saw a girl in a maid outfit carrying a tray resembling Isabel from behind. He rushed forward and tapped her shoulder but was disappointed to see a panicked face he didn¡¯t recognize. He returned to the bar and asked the staff on duty, ¡°Have you seen a girl about the same height as that one, but a bit slimmer, with straight ck hair and big eyes?¡± He described Isabel¡¯s appearance to the person as best as he could, but they shook their heads and said they hadn¡¯t seen her. Then, he clenched his fists, feeling even more uneasy. He suddenly realized that he might have been too aggressive and should have considered her feelings when he spoke to her. Still, finding her was the most urgent matter now. If she isn¡¯t here, then where could she be? He thought carefully and remembered another ce. Ten minutester, he arrived at the second most famous bar in town, Celestial Tavern. As Gilbert walked in, he caught sight of a thin figure standing near the stage. It was Isabel. Even though she had put on heavy makeup and looked quite different, he could still recognize her innocent face. What is this girl doing? He was furious. So, he approached her and grabbed her arm when she was about to go on stage. ¡°What are you doing?¡± However, she was surprised but not shocked to be caught red-handed. I¡¯m aware of his skills, and the fact that he could track me down so quickly suggests that he must have feelings for me, right? Soon, that thought was quickly extinguished. It¡¯s not possible. It¡¯s merely his responsibility to watch out for me. Ultimately, she remained silent, looking at him quietly. ¡°Do you know what you¡¯re doing? Why did you leave without saying anything? Why did youe here and start this kind of job?¡± Isabel was already 18, and there was no way she could have been ignorant of the potential consequences. Still, she decided to take the chance and work at the bar, something Gilbert found iprehensible. ¡°I-I¡¯m already an adult, so why can¡¯t I work here?¡± She bit her lip and added, ¡°Besides, Elspeth also worked at this kind of ce before¡ª¡± The instant he heard Elspeth¡¯s name, he realized what Isabel was referring to and snorted angrily. ¡°How can your experiencepare to hers?¡± Little did he know that those words cut her deeply. Her face turned pale in an instant. ¡°I know my experience can¡¯tpare to hers,¡± she said, her lips trembling with sadness. ¡°Moreover, experience is gained through life, isn¡¯t it? As long as I work here¡ª¡± ¡°Enough! Stop fooling around ande with me.¡± Gilbert grabbed her wrist and prepared to take her away, but she shook him off fiercely. T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I¡¯m not fooling around, and I want to work here. You have no right to tell me what to do.¡± Isabel finally found the courage to rebel. Her reaction shocked him, and he couldn¡¯t say anything for a while. After a long time, he took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down. ¡°Isabel, why do you have topare yourself to her?¡± Chapter 542 Chapter 542 Chapter 542 A Dream ¡°It¡¯s because you like her and she¡¯s the only one in your heart. I can never gain a ce in your heart no matter what I do.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because you like her and she¡¯s the only one in your heart. I can never gain a ce in your heart no matter what I do.¡± Isabel nearly sobbed when she made those statements, tears already streaming down her face. She couldn¡¯t figure out why Gilbert couldn¡¯t let Elspeth go even though she was married and had a child. Every time Elspeth¡¯s name was brought up, she feared the arrogance and trust in her sister¡¯s eyes. Elspeth was too outstanding. No matter what she did, Isabel just couldn¡¯t catch up with her. Moreover, Gilbert never seemed to have noticed her, which made her feel distressed and helpless. ¡°Men are everywhere out there in the world. We¡¯re not fit for each other, and you have better choices.¡± ¡°To me, you¡¯re the best choice I can make.¡± Isabel looked into his eyes with a burning gaze as if anticipating his answer. ¡°Stop making a fuss, Isabel. Change your clothes ande home with me. Elsie is still waiting for you.¡± Gilbert was also worried that he might hurt her with harsh words, so he softened his tone. Isabel instantly turned cold upon hearing that. ¡°If you¡¯re not going to ept me, then leave me alone!¡± Her words immediately attracted cheers from the men around them. ¡°Come on! Weren¡¯t you going to dance? Why are you not dancing yet?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s that man? Why is he in our way?¡± ¡°Go away! Stop causing trouble here.¡± Isabel shot him a charming grin that was never before seen. Striding toward the stage, she nodded to the crowd bashfully and started dancing in front of them. From her movements, one could tell she wasn¡¯t a professional dancer but was self-taught the hard way. Even though she appeared slightly stiff, her baby face and bashful grins sessfully elicited cheers from the men under the stage. ¡°Great performance!¡± Gilbert nced at the men under the stage before turning his gaze back to Isabel. At that moment, the gloom in his eyes grew intense. After the song ended, Isabel went down the stage and walked up to Gilbert as if waiting for a compliment. ¡°How did I do?¡± ¡°Sleazy,¡± Gilbert spat coldly. The smile on her face froze before she pouted. ¡°But Elsie used to dance in a bar¡­¡± This time, he could no longer hold it in. With a long face, he grabbed Isabel¡¯s wrist. ¡°Elsie here, Elsie there. Can you stop bringing her up? I can¡¯t date you because I solely can¡¯t. Besides, I don¡¯t fancy you and it doesn¡¯t have anything to do with her. Even if I didn¡¯t know her, I wouldn¡¯t fall for you.¡± Isabel was dumbfounded by his statement. ¡°That¡¯s impossible! You¡¯re lying. If it weren¡¯t for her, you would have fallen for me,¡± she muttered. ¡°Nope.¡± Gilbert finally gained his rationality as he urged, ¡°Don¡¯t waste time on me anymore, Isabel. There is no possibility between us.¡± Isabel eventually bawled as she never expected him to reject her outright like this. Suddenly, she regretted her actions. If she hadn¡¯t pestered him for an answer, could he have stayed by her side? Unfortunately, nothing could be undone now. Their rtionship ended in a bad way, and she was defeated eventually. Crouching on the ground, she bawled until she lost her voice. Slowly, she got up, but she had a nk expression stered on her face. ¡°I won¡¯t cause any more trouble. I¡¯ll head back with you now.¡± Gilbert finally sighed a breath of relief. Even though he couldn¡¯t tell her true emotions, he was d that at least she could still be rational and go back with him. He then nodded and was about to take off his coat to drape over her, but she stopped him. ¡°Stop treating me so kindly.¡± Isabel shut her eyes painfully. ¡°If you really want me to give up on you, whether or not it is a conscious or subconscious act, stop all your actions.¡± He understood her intentions, so he didn¡¯t insist on giving her his jacket. Once the two left the bar, Isabel took the initiative to sit in the backseat. She remained silent during the ride and merely turned sideways to look out the window. Hence, Gilbert tried to initiate a conversation. ¡°When you reach Elsie¡¯s houseter, remember to be sensible¡ª¡± Before he could finish speaking, Isabel coldly interrupted him, ¡°I¡¯m not a child anymore. I don¡¯t need you to lecture me.¡± Failing to enlighten the mood, he felt embarrassed and immediately shut up. Elspeth and Callum were already standing at the door by the time they arrived at Winthrop Residence. Gilbert opened the door for Isabel and informed her, ¡°I¡¯ll bring your things overter on.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± It was a cold yet polite answer. When Gilbert and Elspeth chatted with each other, he realized that he didn¡¯t really have the desire to talk to her this time. Instead, he paid more attention to Isabel, who was silent and seemingly lifeless at that moment. Seeing that she didn¡¯t even bother with him, he had no choice but to leave with a sigh. Once he left, Elspeth approached Isabel as she knew what was going on between them. Patiently, she asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why did you decide to leave home all of a sudden?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not my home,¡± Isabel answered stubbornly with tears filling her eyes. Elspeth felt bad for her at the sight of her aggrieved appearance. ¡°What¡¯s so great about him? When you grow older, I¡¯ll introduce you to someone better.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Elsie. I don¡¯t need them.¡± Isabel was aware that Elspeth was doing it for her sake, and she also knew what Gilbert said to her was all for her own good. She was neither ignorant nor losing her temper. She was just unable to ept the fact for now. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Everyone has someone they can¡¯t love. Most importantly, you must stay strong. You must still love yourself even though he doesn¡¯t reciprocate your feelings. Only in that way can you get someone to love you. Okay?¡± Imagining the man with a cigarette between his lips leaning against the wall, she shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not going to fall for someone else.¡± What a stubborn youngdy. Elspeth smiled bitterly as she shook her head and exchanged nces with Callum. Callum blurted, ¡°You both are quite simr in terms of personalities.¡± She had always been stubborn and persistent when it came to her feelings and rtionship. Taking a deep breath, Isabel tried to show a calm look. ¡°Elsie, Callum, I¡¯m totally fine. Don¡¯t worry about me, okay? I¡¯m gonna go home now.¡± She clutched the keys that Gilbert stuffed into her hand earlier. The warmth of his palm still lingered on the keys, making her feel a little dazed. If only everything was a dream. Sadly, he was the one who pushed her away with no room for redemption.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Chapter 543 Chapter 543 Chapter 543 Too Good to Be True ¡°That ce is so empty. Stay at the Winthrop Residence for a few days first,¡± Elspeth suggested. ¡°That ce is so empty. Stay at the Winthrop Residence for a few days first,¡± Elspeth suggested. ¡°Very well. thank you so much, Miss Elspeth.¡± Isabel¡¯s maturity made Elspeth even more worried. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Isabel. We¡¯re family, after all.¡± Elspeth had a hand on Isabel¡¯s shoulder while staring down at Isabel¡¯s red eyes. Her voice was gentle and patient as she reassured Isabel while they walked. It took a long time before Isabel recovered from her previous emotional state. Once Gilbert brought Isabel¡¯s bags over, Isabel finally settled down in the Winthrop Residence. ¡­ Meanwhile, Elspeth hid Helia away in a nearby vi to prevent people from finding out about her. Though moving her was done to stop others from realizing she was there, the other reason was that it was more convenient to take care of her. T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. One day after work, Elspeth headed over to that vi to bring Helia some gifts, but Helia was nowhere to be found. She immediately assumed Helia had been kidnapped. She was about to call for someone to look for Helia when Helia happily walked into the vi with a bag of vegetables in her hand. Walking beside her was Isabel who was dressed in casual clothes. A look of astonishment shed on Isabel¡¯s face when she saw Elspeth, but she soon regained her calm. ¡°Why are you here, Miss Elspeth?¡± Elspeth was startled as well to see Isabel together with Helia. ¡°How did you two know each other?¡± Before Isabel could answer, Helia replied, ¡°Well, one day when I was out buying groceries, my back suddenly red up in pain when I was near the street corner. By chance, I bumped into Isabel. She helped carry my bags back. It was onlyter that I found out she was a child you raised and that she was your sister. I thought it to be fate that we bumped into each other, so I began to hang out with her.¡± The more Helia witnessed Isabel¡¯s sweet and demure nature, the more she liked Isabel. Elspeth was an adult now, and she was her own independent woman who did not need Helia to fret over. Thus, Helia never had the chance to be a mother. Isabel¡¯s appearance just so happened to be someone she could use to fulfill her maternal desires. ¡°It¡¯s nice that you two are getting along.¡± Elspeth was reassured by their friendship. Helia had been feeling rather lonely living alone, and Isabel just went through a difficult time; it was good that they could findfort in each other. ¡°Yes. I really like Isabel.¡± Helia happily grabbed Isabel¡¯s hand and gently patted it. ¡°This girl has been by my side whenever you¡¯re not around. She¡¯s so considerate and caring.¡± Seeing how close the two were, Elspeth pretended to be jealous and said, ¡°You¡¯re closer to her than you are to your own daughter.¡± Isabel shyly ducked her head down as she objected with a hint of fear in her voice, ¡°No, that¡¯s not true. You¡¯ll always be the most important person to Miss Joneson. You¡¯re her actual daughter, after all.¡± Her response made Elspeth stop joking around and walk over to stroke Isabel¡¯s head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I was only fooling around.¡± Isabel nodded. ¡°I know.¡± Helia, who had been watching them interact with a smile on her face, suddenly grabbed her head and moaned about a migraine. Elspeth swiftly hurried over to support Helia. ¡°What happened? Why does your head hurt?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯ve always had this issue.¡± However, Helia¡¯s body started swaying as soon as she finished speaking. It did not seem like an ordinary migraine. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go to a hospital and get it checked out?¡± Elspeth was about to head outside to get the car ready, but as soon as she reached the door, she heard a loud crash behind her. She turned around to find Helia unconscious and sprawled out on the floor. Isabel was shocked. She quickly kneeled to check on Helia. Elspeth dashed back as well to Helia¡¯s side and held her fingers near Helia¡¯s nose to check her breathing. Helia¡¯s breaths were faint and weak. As expected, this was no ordinary illness. Elspeth did not dare dally any longer. She moved Helia on her back and carried her over to the car. ¡°Isabel, I¡¯ll be bringing my mom to the hospital. Callum won¡¯t be back tonight either. You can take care of your own meal, right?¡± Isabel nervously took a few steps forward. ¡°Why don¡¯t I go with you? I have experience in taking care of sick people. I can help.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Elspeth said reassuringly. Hearing that, Isabel stopped protesting and nodded, agreeing to stay at home. Elspeth thereafter shot Isabel onest meaningful look before driving away. However, before she drove off, she called the Winthrop Residence. She only stopped frowning after she heard Ms. Layme confirm her instructions. She then called Callum after hanging up the call. ¡°Find an excuse to stay away from hometer, Callum.¡± He immediately knew what she meant by that. ¡°I understand.¡± Elspeth bumped into Arthur after dropping Helia off at the hospital. It was such a small world. The moment she spotted him calmly staring at her, her entire body was filled with unease. ¡°What a coincidence for us to meet in the hospital again.¡± She rolled her eyes. By now, she was unable to muster anything polite to say to him. ¡°I find myself rather cursed to bump into you.¡± ¡°Why are you here in the hospital again?¡± he asked in faux nonchnce, his gaze sweeping across every inch of her skin. She took a few steps back and shoved her hands in her pockets. ¡°Mind your own business,¡± she calmly stated. ¡°Why are you so cold all the time?¡± He clicked his tongue. ¡°One day, you¡¯ll know that I am the only one who will ever be good to you.¡± His amorous appearance nearly made her vomit outst night¡¯s dinner out of disgust. ¡°Have your own words turned you delusional? Do you really think you¡¯re being especially romantic?¡± He had not expected her to mock him. As he heard her words, his face twisted into a look even uglier than if he had to eat something bad. ¡°You¡ª¡± However, that was just how Elspeth was; she was always cold and callous to those she did not like. That was also one of the reasons he liked her. The more stubborn she was, the greater his desire to conquer her. Thus, she was exactly what he wanted. In the end, he suppressed his rage and forced out a smile. ¡°While I love you and will never hurt you, that does not mean I will not hurt those around you, Elspeth.¡± The obvious threat in his voice made her go stiff. ¡°Mom¡­¡± She recalled how Helia suddenly fainted. Combined with his words, she was absolutely certain that he was connected to Helia¡¯s fainting. However, Elspeth did not have any proof just yet. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that or you¡¯ll make me want to bully you.¡± Arthur continued to speak in his usualckadaisical manner as though he did not know just how revolting his words were. She felt her blood turn to ice. The disgust and hate she felt for him reached a boiling point. ring at him and his grin, she slowly spat out, ¡°I¡¯m warning you; I will never forgive you if you do anything to my family.¡± Chapter 544 Chapter 544 Chapter 544 Absolutely Insane Arthur did not bother Elspeth any longer. He merely stared at her belly with an eerie smirk. Arthur did not bother Elspeth any longer. He merely stared at her belly with an eerie smirk. ¡°Good. The child has been aborted.¡± Elspeth nearly forgot that he was absolutely insane. ¡°I¡¯ll repeat it one more time¡ªif you continue to use your underhanded ways to target those around me, I will ensure you will be met with a bad end.¡± As she still had other things to attend to, she stopped wasting her time with him. She shot him a re and walked into the hospital ward. Inside the room, Helia had been diagnosed to have suddenly fainted due to inhaling some unknown gas. Thankfully, she was fine since she did not breathe in too much of the gas. Helia was still unconscious when Callum rushed into the room, having been told of Helia¡¯s fainting spell. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why would she suddenly faint?¡± Elspeth paused as a conflicted look shed across her face. ¡°The doctor says it¡¯s because she breathed in some unknown gas. On the way here, I bumped into Arthur. From what he said, I feel like this might be his doing.¡± Callum¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°He was in the meeting I attended just now, though. At the very least, he did not personally do this.¡± Who could have done it then? A name shed in her mind, but she soon waved it away. It was not very likely for it to be her. Sensing a shift in her attitude, he asked, ¡°Do you have a suspect in mind?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± she said. ¡°Isabel.¡± ¡°Isabel.¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. They had spoken the same name in unison. ¡°Why would she do this though? How is she involved with Arthur?¡± Frustration rose in her. First, it was Jethro. Now, it was Isabel. Arthur seemed to love to turn the people around her into traitors. ¡°I think I have an answer to that question.¡± His words confirmed the hypothesis floating in her mind, and she bluntly asked, ¡°Are you referring to Gilbert?¡± ¡°Arthur is a very good maniptor,¡± he said. ¡°He was able to get Jethro on his side because he made use of Jethro¡¯s love for you. Jethro is always irrational when ites to you.¡± There was nothing wrong with that statement. ¡°This time,¡± he continued, ¡°Arthur might have used Isabel¡¯s love for Gilbert to spark the hatred deep within her.¡± She hesitated. ¡°Should I tell Isabel that it is not toote to turn back?¡± Isabel was rather important to her. Isabel was not like Jethro. Even if Jethro was evil and ruined, he still had the Wilstones backing him up. On the other hand, Isabel was Elspeth¡¯s rtive. ¡°Let¡¯s not tip her off just yet.¡± After a few moments of contemtion, he calmly said, ¡°Perhaps we can use this chance to get rid of Arthur as well.¡± As Helia was not severely ill, she was able to return home after two days of resting in the hospital. When they arrived home, Isabel was cooking in the kitchen. She excitedly walked out when she heard them walk through the door. ¡°Miss Joneson, Miss Elspeth, Mr. Winthrop, wee back.¡± She then walked over to stand beside Helia and anxiously asked, ¡°Are you okay, Miss Joneson? I was so very worried when you fainted that day. I am so happy to see you all right now.¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m fine now.¡± Helia was brightly smiling at Isabel. Elspeth silently and subtly forced them apart before leading Helia back upstairs to her room. ¡°You recovered not long ago. You still need to rest,¡± she said to Helia. ¡°Wait in your room. I¡¯lle to get you when our meal is ready.¡± Panic shed across Isabel¡¯s face as though she realized Elspeth was trying to keep Isabel at a distance. Even though Elspeth noticed the sh of panic, she still shot Isabel an innocent smile. ¡°You look upset, Isabel.¡± ¡°Oh, no. I was so worried about Miss Joneson that I¡­ Alright. It¡¯s good that you¡¯re back. Food is ready. Let¡¯s eat.¡± Isabel grinned and pulled Elspeth and Callum over to the dining table before going to the kitchen to bring out tes of food. ¡°I¡¯ll personally bring Miss Joneson¡¯s food up to herter.¡± As Elspeth calmly speared a piece of potato with her fork, she calmly said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll bring her food upter myself.¡± ¡°Miss Elspeth, why are you suddenly so cold today?¡± Isabel hung her head in apparent sorrow. Elspeth¡¯s heart only grew colder when she saw Isabel¡¯s response. ¡°I¡¯m not. You¡¯re overthinking it.¡± Startled, Isabel stopped talking. Three dayster, a news headline made waves online. There was a leak that the long-dead second daughter of the Jonesons suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Not only that, but Helia, the long-lost daughter, was still alive and well. In addition to that, she was the mother of Elspeth, the wife of Callum Winthrop. When the news broke, someone dug up Helia¡¯s old scandal. Everyone online was agitated by what they found out. Elspeth was born due to Callum¡¯s uncle raping Helia. Did that mean Callum and Elspeth were cousins? Was this inbreeding? There was a huge crowd outside the Winthrop Residence, and it consisted of both reporters and people who were only there to watch the humiliation of the Winthrops. Isabel stared out at the loud group of people from a window in the living room, her face was stark white. ¡°Miss Elspeth, they know all about it now. What do we do? Your and Miss Joneson¡¯s reputation will be ruined!¡± On the contrary, Elspeth was calmly watching the television from her spot on the couch. She nced at the crowd outside and smiled. ¡°Isabel, what would you do if it were you?¡± ¡°I-I don¡¯t know.¡± Isabel lowered her head and mumbled to herself before softly stating, ¡°I might want a divorce¡­¡± Elspeth smirked. ¡°Okay. Then I¡¯ll get a divorce.¡± ¡°Huh? I was only throwing the idea out. Please do not divorce just because of something I said,¡± Isabel fervently said. Her face twisted in panic, terrified that Elspeth would actually do what she said. She tried as hard as she could to exin that she did not actually mean what she said. Elspeth shook her head. ¡°No. I¡¯ll get a divorce now.¡± Isabel was shocked. ¡°Are the two of you really cousins?¡± Elspeth shot her a dark look. ¡°Everyone¡¯s saying that. What do you think?¡± Sensing that Elspeth was calling her out, Isabel subconsciously clenched her fingers around the edges of her shirt. Elspeth stood up and massaged her shoulders which were feeling rather sore from being curled up on the couch for too long. Subsequently, she walked over to the front door and flung it open. The crowd outside instantly went silent and stared at her. ¡°Do you need something?¡± she calmly asked with her arms crossed in front of her. Someone in the crowd shot her a scornful look when they heard that. ¡°How can you act so self- righteous when you¡¯re some shameless hussy?¡± Chapter 545 Chapter 545 Chapter 545 News Interview ¡°Outrageous? What do you mean by outrageous?¡± Elspeth looked at her with a small smile, but that woman felt a chill go down her spine. Then, she straightened her back and continued imperiously, ¡°You know you are cousins with Callum but still choose to marry him. Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s outrageous?¡± It was as if Elspeth marrying Callum had robbed the woman of her marriage. ¡°From the looks of it, it seems like you¡¯re very interested in Callum.¡± The woman was unnerved by Elspeth¡¯s words. They were surrounded by reporters, so she needed to be careful of her words. ¡°Callum is a famous golden bachelor in Damoria. Any girl would like him.¡± She avoided the question, but anyone could hear the admiration for Callum in her voice. ¡°Too bad. He won¡¯t like you even if he is single.¡± Even though Elspeth¡¯s words were condescending, they still held some truth to them. The woman before her was average at most, and the way she spoke was also annoying. So, it was understandable that Callum wouldn¡¯t even spare her a nce. The reporters surrounding them immediately raised their cameras and snapped away at the shocking statement. That woman was afraid of bing theughingstock, so she disappeared into the crowd. Then, Elspeth scanned the crowd before asking, ¡°Who else has questions?¡± ¡°Miss Lynwood, we have one. Since it¡¯s revealed that you and Callum are cousins, would you still be with him?¡± She gave him a kind smile. ¡°Of course not. Since this is such a big scandal, we would definitely divorce.¡± Divorce! That one word stirred up the crowd as a glint shone in the reporters¡¯ eyes. They knew they had made the right decision toe here. ¡°Then, when are you going to divorce him?¡± ¡°Divorce? Just like that? Are you really willing to let go?¡± ¡°What are your ns after the divorce? Are you going to remarry or¡ª¡± Someone else interrupted. ¡°Marry me! I¡¯ve liked you for a long time, Elspeth!¡± ¡°Look at yourself! Are you worthy of her? She should marry me instead!¡± Elspeth felt it was enough and was about to go in when someone blocked her. ¡°Miss Lynwood, I¡¯m a reporter from the Sun Gazette. May I interview you personally?¡± That person asked in a serious tone without a smile that was rare to see among reporters. Elspeth was taken aback and regarded him with a look. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Tomas Mayer.¡± ¡°Okay. You maye in.¡± The people standing behind themmented that they had allowed such an excellent opportunity to slip through their hands when they saw that this nobody had so easily obtained Elspeth¡¯s trust. If they had picked up the courage to ask earlier, they would be the lucky star interviewing her. The door closed, once again blocking the ruckus outside. Elspeth asked Tomas to sit as she went to the kitchen to cut some fruits and brought over two cups of tea. ¡°Miss Lynwood, is the divorce you talked about just now true?¡± She tucked her hair behind her ear. ¡°Of course. Now that things have reached this stage, if I don¡¯t proceed with the divorce, how else am I going to stop the gossip?¡± ¡°But it¡¯s known that you both love each other deeply. So, if you divorced him just like this, wouldn¡¯t it greatly impact your rtionship?¡± ¡°Yes. That will happen.¡± She had a sad expression. ¡°I don¡¯t know what is going to happen after the divorce. But for my reputation, I have to do this.¡± Tomas was emotionless, but his hands kept on writing. ¡°When are you nning on finalizing the divorce?¡± ¡°Friday.¡± ¡°Normal procedures?¡± Elspethughed lightly. ¡°No. I want to go to court.¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Tomas¡¯ hands trembled, and he looked down to see a splotch of ck ink on the paper. Then, he changed to a new sheet of paper while asking, ¡°Why go to court?¡± She looked around and made sure no one was near them before whispering, ¡°Actually, our rtionship isn¡¯t as good as it seems. We lost feelings for each other a long time ago. It¡¯s just that this scandal broke out right in time and gave me this opportunity to do this.¡± This was huge news, and Tomas¡¯ heart couldn¡¯t stop pounding against his chest. ¡°Is it really necessary to go to court?¡± Elspeth touched the bracelet on her hand and looked at him mysteriously. ¡°Outsiders don¡¯t know this, but Callum¡¯s father gave me 15% of the Winthrop Family¡¯s shares. Callum feels that this belongs to the Winthrop Family. So, if we are to divorce, I would have to return the shares.¡± Tomas¡¯ eyes widened, and his jaw ckened at this information. She smiled at him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. 15% worth of shares is quite arge amount. I wouldn¡¯t give it up so easily.¡± ¡°Yes. Since it was given to you by Mr. Winthrop, Mr. Callum has no right to ask for it.¡± Elspeth leaned backzily on the couch. ¡°Yes. Since even you understand this, I know this very well myself. But Callum won¡¯t let me off easily, so he¡¯s going to take it back forcefully.¡± ¡°So, there¡¯s no way to avoid thiswsuit, right?¡± She smiled like a cunning fox. ¡°Yes. But I¡¯ve hired the bestwyer. It won¡¯t be easy for him to snatch these shares from me.¡± Tomas nodded. ¡°Besides the shares, is there any other conflict between you two?¡± That was what Elspeth was waiting for. ¡°Ah¡­ This¡­ You guys sure like to get to the bottom of things¡­¡± Her tone was slightly coy as she tossed her hair back before donning a serious expression. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll tell you the truth, but you can¡¯t tell anybody about this.¡± Even though she said that the person sitting opposite her was a reporter, it was impossible to ask him not to report this. Tomas wasn¡¯t dumb. He knew she wanted to use this opportunity to tell him something and heightened his focus. ¡°Please do.¡± ¡°The reason why Callum is mean to me¡­ is because he found out that I like someone else.¡± Elspeth furrowed her brows, looking distressed. ¡°You like someone else?¡± Tomas got excited at the bomb that dropped. ¡°Yeah, but I can¡¯t tell you his name yet. So, if you really want to know, you¡¯ve got to find this out yourself.¡± Then, Elspeth stretched and yawned, hinting that she was tired. ¡°As for the rest¡­ Well, that wouldn¡¯t be any fun if I told you, wouldn¡¯t it? Ms. Layme, see him out, please.¡± Chapter 546 Chapter 546 Chapter 546 Winthrop Group at Stake As expected, a news article from the Sun Gazette took the inte by storm at 5.00AM the next day. The news described the Winthrop Family so differently than what was known to the public that everyone felt they were lied to. ¡®What? They¡¯re getting a divorce?¡¯ ¡®Not just a simple divorce. They¡¯re going to court!¡¯ ¡®I heard Callum wanted Elspeth to return the shares Mr. Winthrop gave her. Is he still a man?¡¯ ¡®What? Callum isn¡¯t wrong. Elspeth was the one who cheated.¡¯ ¡®Whoever marries Callum has bad luck. Look at that personality of his. Since she cheated, it just means that she couldn¡¯t take his s*itty attitude anymore.¡¯ ¡®Are you crazy? How could you justify her cheating just like that?¡¯ ¡®When are they going to divorce? Will there be a banquet?¡¯ ¡­ On the other hand, far away in the Bluestone Corp, Arthur had a satisfied grin when he read the news. When he swiveled his chair around, he saw a fidgeting Tomas sitting on the couch, so he graced the poor man with a gentle smile. ¡°Are you sure that you heard her say that she likes someone else?¡± Even though he was happy that she didn¡¯t like Callum anymore, he couldn¡¯t let go of the fact that she had fallen in love with someone else. ¡°Yes. She told me that herself. But I feel like she was lying to me.¡± Yes. That. Arthur finally felt relieved and rxed a little. ¡°Good job. I¡¯ll transfer the money as promised.¡± T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. Tomas smiled, and a hint of pride filled his handsome face. ¡°I actually didn¡¯t do a lot. I was lucky that Elspeth took notice of me and told me everything.¡± The smile on Arthur¡¯s face froze slightly. ¡°You say she took notice of you?¡± Tomas had not realized he had said the wrong thing and continued on, utterly oblivious, ¡°Yes. It feels like she was pretty interested in me. She was even speaking sweetly to me. But I held my ground and only asked her questions.¡± The first time Tomas saw Elspeth, he was instantly enamored. She was alluring yet enchanting. Of course, it definitely helped that she was gorgeous. His eyes couldn¡¯t help but widen when he saw her slender, fair legs underneath the nightgown. More importantly, he noticed how she would nce at him here and there in secret. Didn¡¯t this mean that she was interested in him? By now, Arthur¡¯s smile had be dangerous. Tomas was too confident for his own good and naive to boot. ¡°Then, I should reward you. You¡¯ve done more than I asked for.¡± However, Tomas shook his head, a little embarrassed. ¡°It¡¯s alright. It¡¯s nothing. I just did what I should. I ¡ª¡± Before he finished his sentence, a punch suddenlynded on his face, and he fell back onto the couch. Arthur massaged his stinging knuckles and scoffed, ¡°Who do you think you are? Do you really think she will like you?¡± Although Tomas was infuriated by that blow, he still suppressed his anger as he thought about how powerful Arthur was. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that. I meant to say that she trusts me.¡± Arthur smirked, ¡°You still want to continue?¡± Tomas was frozen stiff from the dangerous glint in his eyes and shook his head furiously. ¡°No. No. I didn¡¯t mean that. She doesn¡¯t trust me¡­¡± Tomas struggled to find the words. Only then did Arthur let him go. ¡°Scram. Don¡¯t tell anyone about this and that you came here.¡± Tomas nearly knelt when he heard that and let out a breath of relief. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Winthrop. I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡± Then, he scurried from the office. Arthur stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, and the darkness in his eyes was as clear as day. No one can touch Elspeth. ¡­ On Friday, it was the day everyone had been waiting for. Finally, Elspeth arrived at court and was surrounded by a group of people at the entrance, practically salivating as they waited for the juicy gossip. A few brave reporters stepped forward but were warned off by Yelena as she gritted out the words, ¡°Drop the questions. You¡¯ll know everything once it¡¯s finalized.¡± Hank, who was standing by the side, also shot daggers at them with icy eyes seeing that his lover was angry. His stare was enough to frighten them away. The reporters thought that they could get lucky like Tomas did thest time but was faced with such a different treatment. However, they couldn¡¯tin about Yelena and Hank protecting Elspeth. In the end, no one dared to cross the line. ¡°Please be patient, everyone. Everything will be revealed when the court hase to a decision.¡± Elspeth smiled knowingly at the reporters and walked inside. After them, the next group of people to arrive was Callum. Just as a leather shoe stepped down from the car, the reporters all swarmed forward to take a better look. The assistant immediately called security to lead the way. ¡°Please move aside and let Mr. Winthrop pass.¡± When they sensed that they wouldn¡¯t be able to interview him, a reporter shouted, ¡°Mr. Winthrop, is the news true? Do you really want to take back the 15% worth of shares from Miss Lynwood?¡± However, Callum shot him an icy side nce, and the reporter immediately shut up. The rest of the crowd also wisely read the atmosphere and dispersed, fearing that they would lose their jobs if they lingered any longer. The wait began. After a long time, both parties came out with gloomy faces. No one knew what had happened. Yet, Elspeth and her friends seemed to be in a slightly better mood as she was smiling. The reporters were clever as they approached Elspeth, who was known to entertain the reporters from time to time. ¡°Miss Lynwood, what¡¯s the update?¡± However, before Elspeth could speak, Yelena tilted her head upward and spoke proudly, ¡°With my boyfriend here, who can possibly win over the bestwyer of Damoria on our side?¡± Hank looked at her with warm eyes, utterly unfazed by her prideful boasting, and allowed her to do what she wanted. ¡°What¡¯s the final judgment?¡± a reporter pressed anxiously. Regardless, Elspeth wasn¡¯t going to tell them so easily. ¡°It¡¯s rather inconvenient for me to tell you at the moment. I¡¯ll announce this when the time is right.¡± It¡¯s just that the way she said it made it seem like she wasn¡¯t on the losing end. After they observed the divorced pair for some time, the reporters quickly concluded that it was apparent that Callum had lost the case. To outsiders, Callum was utterly defeated by Elspeth. So, the Winthrop Group¡¯s shares kept dropping for the next few days. Unfortunately, before they could do anything about that, the Winthrop Group¡¯s internal management seemed to be in trouble. One of their employees posted online anonymously, iming that the administration wasn¡¯t doing well and that thepany would close down. This was when everyone realized that the ever-thriving Winthrop empire they knew was just a fa?ade as thepany was actually on the verge of copsing. Suddenly, several parties started taking advantage of the situation, which worsened the Winthrop Group¡¯s position. Chapter 547 Chapter 547 Chapter 547 You Must Grab the Opportunity Yourself However, was it true that the Winthrop Group was going down? A few dayster, Callum let out the news that the Winthrop Group was going to be bought over by someone. Immediately, a few powerful tycoons reached out and said that they wanted to buy over thepany. Who didn¡¯t want to get their grubby hands on such an empire? Even if they weren¡¯t powerful now, the foundation was still there. However, Callum rejected those who reached out until someone from the Bluestone Corp came; only then did he invite them inside. To prove his sincerity, Arthur sent his most trusted deputy director over. Kayne watched as Callumnguidly read his book quietly. He was at a loss as to what to say. ¡°Good day, Mr. Winthrop. I¡¯m Bluestone Corp¡¯s¡ª¡± ¡°Mr. Orozco. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you. Please take a seat.¡± Callum¡¯s tone was calm, clear, and refreshing, like the small stream in the hills. Even though Kayne wasn¡¯t familiar with Callum, he had heard several rumors about the man. So, he dared not underestimate Callum even when the Winthrop Group seemed to be failing. ¡°I¡¯m sure you know the purpose of my visit, Mr. Winthrop.¡± Kayne deliberately trailed off, waiting for Callum to continue the topic. ¡°Buy over the Winthrop Company, you mean?¡± ¡°¡­ Yes.¡± Kayne didn¡¯t expect him to be so blunt. There wasn¡¯t even a hint of embarrassment on Callum¡¯s face. That made Kayne uneasy. ¡°Then, what¡¯s your price?¡± Kayne recalled what Arthur told him before he came over. ¡°Our CEO said that price wouldn¡¯t be a problem if you are sincere about this.¡± He smiled smugly since he was the one with the upper hand. Callum finally ced the magazine in his hands and took a good look at him. ¡°Arthur told you that?¡± Kayne nodded and said confidently, ¡°Of course. Our CEO even said that if you¡¯re willing, you could still be the executive director after we buy over the Winthrop Group.¡± It was shocking how tantly shameless those words were. If Callum agreed to work under them, it meant that they would be able to monitor his every move. ¡°How could I be the executive director after my failings at the Winthrop Group? So, it¡¯s best that I leave.¡± Callummented before looking him straight in the eye. ¡°Return and tell your CEO that I cannot see even an ounce of sincerity after our meeting today. If he wants to buy over the Winthrop Group, ask him toe here himself.¡± Kayne¡¯s face froze. Not enough sincerity? He¡¯s saying that I¡¯m no one! The sudden p to the face scared Kayne away. He dared not say anything else as he looked at Callum¡¯s dark eyes. Even though Callum didn¡¯t say nor do anything, it was enough that chills swept down Kayne¡¯s spine. So, he stiffly rose to his feet and bid Callum goodbye. Yet, Callum didn¡¯t even stand to see him off and merely picked up the magazine to read as if nothing had happened. Kayne¡¯s face darkened. He swore that he would tell Arthur how unruly Callum was. ¡­ In the end, Arthur agreed toe, but on the condition that Elspeth was there too. It wasn¡¯t hard to see what was going on in his little rat mind. Callum wanted to reject his proposal, but Elspeth put her hand on his to stop him from sending that message. ¡°Promise him. I want to see what else he has up his sleeves.¡± He caressed her hair, and his eyes lingered on her face. ¡°I¡¯m just worried he would say ridiculous things to you.¡± Arthur had finally stopped hiding his feelings, and the things he said were bing more disgusting. Even if he didn¡¯t say a word, the hungry look in his eyes was enough to make people ufortable. Elspeth smiled lightly. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I know what to do. Besides, he wouldn¡¯t beughing after all is said and done.¡± After a brief discussion, they came to an agreement and decided to meet at Bluestone Corp on Saturday afternoon. This was also Callum and Elspeth¡¯s first time visiting Bluestone Corp. As they entered the lobby, the ck, white, and gray decor was enough to bring people¡¯s moods down. It was indeed Arthur¡¯s style. Even thepany¡¯s interior design made people feel oppressed. The people waiting at the entrance immediately recognized Callum and Elspeth and came up to greet them while leading them to Arthur¡¯s office. They pushed open the door to see Arthur dispassionately twirling a pen in his hand. ¡°Is this how you greet guests, Mr. Arthur?¡± ¡°Oh,e on. We¡¯re old buddies. You¡¯re not a guest. Treat this like your home.¡± Arthur didn¡¯t even stand, but his eyes had never left Elspeth ever since they walked in. Callum took a small step forward and blocked his gaze. Then, the smile on Arthur¡¯s face finally disappeared. ¡°I believe the goal of our visit here is clear,¡± Callum got to the point as he sat down with Elspeth on the couch. Arthur nodded matter-of-factly. ¡°Yes. The wholepany¡¯s focus is now on buying over the Winthrop Group.¡± The underlying meaning of his words meant that the scandal that happened in the Winthrop Group had even spread to the Bluestone Corp. Callum understood the mockery in his words, but he didn¡¯t care and nodded in agreement. ¡°Then, what is your price, Mr. Arthur?¡± Arthur didn¡¯t rush to answer him. Instead, he tried to reminisce about the good old days with him. ¡°Callum, we¡¯re a family. Don¡¯t be so distant. Call me by my name like you always do.¡± Suddenly, Elspeth chimed in with a nod. ¡°Then, you should address me as your sister-inw.¡± ¡°Sister-inw? If I remember correctly, you two are divorced.¡± Arthur stared at them, trying to figure out the ploy. Tomas had written very clearly in his interview that their rtionship had soured, especially after the court case. There was no doubt that they were enemies. Yet, it seems that they were still very close, and there was no difference in their interactionspared to before the divorce. Could it be that they intentionally spread the news to deceive everyone? Arthur¡¯s face gradually turned gloomy at the realization. ¡°Even though we¡¯re divorced, we can¡¯t possibly just forget our past.¡± Elspeth purposely joked as she looked at Callum, but her words were directed at Arthur, ¡°Could you let go of someone so easily?¡± Arthur¡¯s tone turned slightly cold. ¡°It makes sense if you put it that way. I wouldn¡¯t just let go of someone so easily. Even now, I still can¡¯t forget that person, but my opportunity ising soon.¡± T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You gotta grab the opportunity yourself, don¡¯t you agree?¡± Chapter 548 Chapter 548 Chapter 548 Won¡¯t Laugh for Long ¡°I won¡¯t deny what you said, but I think you probably shouldn¡¯t be so overconfident.¡± Elspeth shook her head slightly. ¡°That¡¯s enough. We are here today mainly to discuss the issue regarding Winthrop Group¡¯s acquisition, not rtionship problems.¡± Arthur raised his hand as a sign that he understood what she meant as he responded, ¡°Alright. Quote your terms. I will certainly try my best to meet them as long as they are eptable.¡± ¡°15 billion.¡± His facial expression instantly took a drastic turn as soon as this figure escaped Elspeth¡¯s lips. ¡°15 billion? Isn¡¯t that a bit too exorbitant?¡± Callum shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Although Winthrop Group is in a precarious situation, its current market value is still somewhere around 45 billion. I¡¯m only asking for one-third of that price. This, to you, is not a loss at all.¡± Callum is right. Winthrop Group is indeed a piece of prime meat. Its annual profit can exceed 15 billion if I manage it properly. Still¡­ Taking out a current asset of 15 billion is not as simple as I thought. Although Bluestone Corp¡¯s development is going strong, it¡¯s still somewhat strenuous if I do this. Arthur¡¯s hand froze as he raised his head and looked at them. His gaze was deep and somber. ¡°Let me think about it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s now or never. Frankly speaking, besides Bluestone Corp, severalpanies have offered me an olive branch. However, considering we were siblings, I am still willing to give priority to Bluestone Corp.¡± Callum curled his fingers slightly and rapped against the table rhythmically as he added, ¡°You really do need to think about it carefully. Don¡¯t miss out on such a great opportunity just because of momentary prudence.¡± For some reason, Arthur kept having the feeling that this seemed to be a plot to set him up. As he carefully observed Callum¡¯s facial expression, he tried to spot a trace of Callum¡¯s masked-up panic. That way, he could be certain that Callum was pretending to deceive him. Yet, he couldn¡¯t. Callum¡¯s facial expression is still as calm as ever. He¡¯s totally unruffled whenever something terrible happens. Since we¡¯ve been siblings for years, I know his current calm, and collected state befits his character. Then again, the likelihood for Winthrop Group to plunge into trouble is significantly high. I don¡¯t dare to take this risk lightly. That¡¯s why I¡¯m willing to meet him in person. Unfortunately, I¡¯m not sure if Callum is just too good an actor, or if I¡¯m just overthinking. Arthur pursed his lips tightly. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it next time, then. Give me two more days, and I shall give you my reply.¡± Callum rose to his feetnguidly. ¡°In that case, we won¡¯t bother you, then.¡± Elspeth also stood up after Callum. Not once did she interject as the conversation flowed between Callum and Arthur. She knew very well that the suspicion and doubt in Arthur¡¯s heart would be more rampant if she didn¡¯t speak a word. This was precisely what she wanted. Arthur didn¡¯t say anything else. Instead, he merely gestured to his assistant with a wave of his hand to see Callum and Elspeth off. The two only tacitly exchanged a smile after they stepped out of thepany building. Something interesting is about to go on. ¡­ Meanwhile, on the other side, Hank wanted to find an opportunity to tell Cecelia that his mother, Simone, had approached Yelena. Therefore, he invited her to hisw firm and wanted to exin it to her face-to-face. Yelena was highly pleased with Hank¡¯s n. As the two sat on the couch and waited for Cecelia¡¯s arrival, Yelena started getting bored when suddenly, her stomach growled. ¡°Hungry?¡± When Hank noticed her clutching her stomach with a painful look on her face, he curved his lips into a smile as he watched her antics with amusement, ¡°I have a slice of cake in the refrigerator upstairs if you¡¯re hungry. Do you want me to get it for you?¡± Yelena giggled and stood up when she heard that. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. I can get it by myself. Besides, I can see what other delicious food that I can get.¡± Hank nodded slightly. His heart softened as he watched her dance up the stairs. Not long after Yelena went upstairs, a skinny figure stepped through the door. Dressed in a clean-cut and lovely-looking JK uniform and with her hair casually tied into a bun, the figure looked immensely youthful. ¡°What took you so long? Did you get stuck in traffic?¡± Cecelia took off her bag and hung it on the bag stand next to her. After that, she wearily slumped on the couch without an ounce of care about her image. ¡°Let me tell you something. Guess whom I met on the road today?¡± Hank, who was just about to pour her a cup of hot tea, paused a little after he heard what she said. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s your child¡¯s biological father.¡± At once, Cecelia red at him. ¡°Biological father?! My son is solely mine and has no rtion with him!¡± ¡°Fine, fine. So, did the stranger who provided his sperm recognize you?¡± She rolled her eyes, feeling that such a form of address sounded more perverted. Hence, she let it slide and replied, ¡°Yes! He was in the car next to mine while I was waiting for the red light to change. He recognized me at a nce and even smiled at me. That smile was so sinister that I kept having the feeling that he was going to tear me apart in the next second.¡± ¡°Besides, do you know what he said to me when he saw I dressed like this? He criticized me for pretending to look youthful for my age by wearing a navy uniform!¡± Cecelia roasted as she scolded, ¡°Damn it! He is still as tasteless as that outdated Bentley he drives!¡± As Hank handed her the cup of tea, he smiled helplessly. ¡°There¡¯s nothing you can do. He is probably going to trail you for the rest of his life. Besides, he even followed you back to Damoria from far away. Who knows? He might be parking his car outside and secretly spying on you right now.¡± Cecelia nearly sprung to her feet out of shock when she heard what Hank said. As she checked the situation outside, she instantly felt dizzy. ¡°Can you check the license te number of that Bentley outside? Is it DMA 935? I forgot to wear my sses when I went out today, so I can¡¯t see clearly¡­¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Hank nced and nodded. ¡°Dayum, I was right. He really would chase you all the way here.¡± Cecelia instantly had a dismayed look on her face. ¡°You have got to help me, please. I really don¡¯t want to have any more ties with him¡­¡± ¡°Then, why do you still remember his license te number when you wish to cut off all ties with him?¡± Cecelia¡¯s face flushed slightly as she replied sheepishly, ¡°That¡¯s because it¡¯s my birthday¡­¡± ¡°As I see it, you still have feelings for him. In that case, why do you insist on avoiding him? Even if it¡¯s for the sake of the baby in your womb, you still shouldn¡¯t be so impulsive.¡± Cecelia pursed her lips and said nothing in response. However, her eyes were clearly gleaming with reluctance. Furthermore, she even started frantically scanning the Bentley outside from the corner of her eye. ¡°You can stop looking. I lied.¡± Hank shrugged his shoulders, feeling speechless at Cecelia¡¯s reaction. ¡°Huh? He¡¯s not there? Why do you always lie to me?!¡± For a moment, Hank was utterly exasperated as he watched her throwing a tantrum on the couch. How on earth would someone think I would fall for someone with such a character, especially after knowing her for more than ten years? Only I know that she may look like a dignified anddylike diplomat in front of the public, but behind their backs, she is just a kookydy with a really weirdly wired brain. Sure, such contrast is quite appealing to men. Unfortunately, that can¡¯t be said for me. ¡°By the way, where¡¯s your girlfriend? Why isn¡¯t she here together with you? Hmm¡­ How shall I put it? Did she break up with you because she was aware of the overwhelming odds against her?¡± Just as Hank was about to exin the purpose he called her here today, a figure suddenly danced down the stairs, catching Cecelia¡¯s attention. ¡°Still like old times, huh?¡± Cecelia whispered to Hank as she calmly linked his arms. Then, she amplified her voice a little and whined, ¡°Hank, didn¡¯t you promise me that you won¡¯t let this woman come to thew firm ever again? So, why are you going back on your words?¡± Not only that, in order to express her dissatisfaction, she even took Hank¡¯s arm and shook it coyly as she spoke. Even Yelena, who already knew the truth, couldn¡¯t help being stunned by such a sight. Hank could feel the sweat beading on his temples. ¡°No. Listen to me¡­¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to. I don¡¯t want to listen. Hurry up and chase her out!¡± The corner of Yelena¡¯s mouth twitched as she watched the scene ying before her very eyes. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Chapter 549 Chapter 549 Chapter 549 How Dare You ¡°She misunderstood,¡± Hank exined as he pulled his arm away from Cecelia and looked Yelena in the eyes. ¡°I exined it to her clearly. There is no need to continue with the acting.¡± Cecelia was just about to squeeze out some crocodile tears but had to retract them upon hearing that. Immediately, she pouted her lips. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say it earlier? I even had to pinch myself to squeeze out some tears. Don¡¯t you know that it hurts?¡± However, Hank did not feel guilty at all. ¡°Well, you didn¡¯t give me a chance to speak the moment you entered. You have been rambling about your sperm supplier.¡± Sperm supplier? Yelena shivered and looked at Cecelia with a strange look. Cecelia only realized that Yelena must have misunderstood Hank¡¯s meaning after pondering on her expression for a few seconds and immediately exined, ¡°It¡¯s not what you think it is. Hank meant the father of my child!¡± ¡°The father of your child¡­ You mean you¡¯re pregnant?¡± Yelena instinctively repeated her sentence, and a few secondster, she pointed at Cecelia¡¯s belly and asked in a trembling voice. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s normal nowadays to be sleeping with your partner, isn¡¯t it? Or are you implying that you and Hank have yet to develop to that stage? Hank might look cowardly and is a pure and innocent little virgin but don¡¯t underestimate him just because he looks average and has never even dated before. After all, he threw away piles of love letters like trash. So, it¡¯s normal that he doesn¡¯t have any experience in that matter.¡± Cecelia patted Yelena¡¯s shoulder with a solemn look. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t abandon him just because he¡¯s a virgin. He can still be trained.¡± Yelena nced at Hank, leaving aside the fact that he had never dated before¡­ She thought that it was a miracle that someone had the guts to write him a love letter because he always looked like someone owed him a lot of money. ¡°Stop worrying about others and mind your own business first,¡± heshed out at Cecelia without having a single regard for the friendship. Only then did Yelena realize why Hankmented so confidently that he and Cecelia did not like each other and that any potential possibility of them eventually being together wasughable. s, Yelena also did not expect that she needed to y the role of peacemaker at this moment. She pulled Hank¡¯s sleeve to signal him not to add fuel to the fire and then smiled to appease the about-to-explode Cecelia, ¡°Okay, don¡¯t fight. Cecelia, you have a baby in your belly. You shouldn¡¯t get too riled up.¡± Cecelia nodded upon hearing Yelena¡¯s words and held her arm while she looked at Yelena sympathetically. ¡°Yelena, you¡¯re such a cute girl. I just don¡¯t understand how you could be with Hank. I don¡¯t think he¡¯s good enough for you. Why don¡¯t you break up with him, and I¡¯ll find you someone better? I met so many handsome guys when I was studying abroad. Let me bring you to see the world.¡± Hank instantly pulled Yelena behind him as if he was trying to shield her from Cecelia. His eyes darkened, and his tone became angry. ¡°Cecelia, why don¡¯t you find yourself a knight in shining armor instead of meddling in other people¡¯s rtionships?¡± Cecelia no longer felt like messing around after getting reprimanded by him. So, she tossed away her phone in boredom. ¡°Fine, then. Remember to protect your little sweetheart. You better watch out before someone else tries to pry her away from you since she¡¯s so cute.¡± ¡°Mind your own business.¡± At that moment, Yelena noticed a figure walking toward the door and knew that it was an excellent opportunity to get the two¡¯s attention away from fighting each other again. So, she shook Hank¡¯s arm. ¡°We have a guesting.¡± He narrowed his eyes as he turned to look at the person at the door. It was a slender man dressed in a suit who exuded an aristocratic aura that made people hesitate to gaze at him casually. He was extremely handsome, with a high nose bridge and a pair of narrow ck eyes with a deep gaze. He was wearing a polite smile on his face but ceased doing that when he saw Cecelia. Nheless, he did not rush to speak but waited for Cecelia to notice him and speak first. As soon as Cecelia saw him, her body stiffened, and she instinctively wanted to cover her belly with her hands. Regardless, after a split second, she realized that she was only two months pregnant and her pregnancy was not showing yet. This thought immediately eased her worry. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Cecelia¡¯s tone was unfriendly, a far cry from her lively and bright self just now. Still, the man seemed familiar with her attitude and did not show an ounce of displeasure at her tone. Instead, he asked, ¡°Where are you nning to run away to?¡± ¡°What do you mean? Running away? I merely returned to my own country. We have nothing to do with each other. So, what¡¯s your problem?¡± She crossed her arms, trying to look more imposing. ¡°Of course, there¡¯s no problem. But you¡¯re wrong about one thing. We are in a serious rtionship.¡± He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice a bit but loud enough for everyone around to hear him clearly. Cecelia responded by taking a step back and approaching Hank while secretly throwing a soothing look at Yelena as she held his hand. ¡°Nonsense. I already have a fianc¨¦, and we¡¯re about to get engaged. You better show some respect.¡± She secretly pinched Hank¡¯s palm, signaling him to y along. Hank did not say anything but carefully looked at the man in front of him; he felt intense hostility and killing intent from the seemingly gentle man. Well, it seemed that Cecelia had umted quite some love debt abroad. Regardless, Hank slowly extended his right hand and said politely, ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± He neither admitted nor denied anything to lure the man in front of him to secondguess their rtionship. The man did not back down or intentionally make things difficult for him. Instead, he simply shook Hank¡¯s hand and introduced himself, ¡°Nice to meet you too, Hank. My name is Yozan Harley.¡± Hank was taken aback by the name as it signified that the man had a considerable background. The Harley Family was the best in the business circle, and the Damazios had both political andmercial connections with them. It would be an issue if the Damazios offended the Harley Family. Hank could feel a headache as he thought about this. He regretted asking Cecelia to help him in the first ce because now he had to clean up after her mess. ¡°Baby, didn¡¯t you say you wanted to take me out on a date? Are we getting Japanese or French?¡± The word ¡®baby¡¯ made Hank uneasy as he felt goosebumps appearing on his skin. He was unafraid of revenge from the Harley Family, but he could not stand the overly sweet nickname. He shot a nce at Yelena, worried that she might be a little jealous, but to his amazement, she had already sat down at some point. She was also enthusiastically watching the drama unfolding before her eyes. Yozan could not be easily fooled. He stared at Cecelia intensely, and this made her feel ufortable. ¡°Baby?¡± ¡°Is there a problem? We call each other baby all the time as we are a couple,¡± she retorted and stood even closer to Hank. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, return to Serna and stop bothering us.¡± Yozan chuckled at those words. ¡°Did I spoil you so badly that you dare to say such things to my face? Should I punish you for dating another man behind my back or for lying to me?¡± He stepped closer, creating an oppressive atmosphere.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 550 Chapter 550 Chapter 550 Something¡¯s Fishy About Isabel ¡°I¡¯m not lying to you! We¡¯re in a rtionship, to begin with! I¡ª¡± Yozan wasn¡¯t one to be easily fooled, though. Folding his arms across his chest, he replied with a twinkle of mischief in his eyes, ¡°All right, I¡¯ll believe you if you dare to kiss him.¡± Cecelia cast a nce at Hank¡¯s sullen face before throwing in the towel instantly. ¡°That¡¯s so wicked of you! Forget it. I can¡¯t bring myself to do that, especially with his girlfriend standing right here.¡± Yelena shuddered all over at being mentioned all of a sudden. ¡°Huh? Uh, well¡ª¡± Yozan replied, ¡°The love story between Hank Damazio and Yelena Sullivan has long been in the news, not to mention their faces were printed so clearly in newspapers and magazines. Do you honestly think I don¡¯t know anything because I¡¯ve juste back from overseas?¡± The more he watched how Cecelia took advantage of her beauty to purposely go against him, the angrier he got. He couldn¡¯t help but put out his hand and pinch her cheek, causing her to wince in pain. ¡°How I wish I could crack your head open and see what the hell¡¯s inside.¡± Hank said, ¡°Alright, you two go ahead and flirt with one another. We¡¯re not joining you.¡± With that, he wrapped his arm around Yelena¡¯s shoulders and left leisurely, ignoring Cecelia¡¯s cries of pain from behind. ¡­ Arthur had asked for two days at first. At thest moment, however, he requested a one-day extension of the deadline so that he could have three days to make his decision. Instead of getting anxious, Callum and Elspeth just waited quietly. After getting divorced, she moved temporarily into her own vi and told Isabel to go back to her home. Watching Elspeth pack her belongings, Isabel asked with a trace of worry on her face, ¡°Elspeth, are you really moving out of here?¡± Elspeth gave her a gentle smile. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m moving back to my home for now. It¡¯s not appropriate for me to live with him anymore now that we¡¯ve divorced.¡± Isabel pressed her suitcase down with a determined look. ¡°Elspeth, please take me with you. I can take care of Miss Joneson and do the housework. Just don¡¯t leave me alone in that house.¡± In reality, the house was a vi with a garden attached, and its entireyout was designed to her liking. Still, she felt ufortable thinking that Gilbert had done this for her. She was so reluctant to return to the house that she would rather live with Elspeth and Helia instead. Normally, Elspeth would always dance to her tune, but she suddenly became especially distant at this moment. She shook her head, saying, ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t, Isabel. My mom has gotten kind of ill again, so I have to treat her for that. I may not be able to take care of you for a while, you know.¡±T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 551 Chapter 551 Chapter 551 Turning Your Back on Him Arthur had a strong idea in his mind that he wanted to prove. The moment he pushed the door open, he was greeted by colors that shouldn¡¯t have belonged to ke¡¯s room. Margot exined next to him with some embarrassment, ¡°This room belonged to ke at first, but Elspeth moved in here afterward, no? That¡¯s why she stayed in this room for a while.¡± As expected, it¡¯s the same as I thought, thought Arthur. He entered the room directly, walking around before his gaze fell upon a framed illustration lying on the desk. The illustration looked adorable, and it seemed to be a casual sketch by Elspeth. He gently stroked it as a hint of tenderness flitted across his face. An uneasy thought crossed Margot¡¯s mind when she saw him like this. Don¡¯t tell me Arthur has feelings for Elspeth. At the thought of this, she immediately shook her head in an attempt to dispel the idea, but she couldn¡¯t seem to get it out of her mind. In the end, she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Arthur, you just said you have something to discuss with Callum. What¡¯s the matter, actually?¡± ¡°It¡¯s about the acquisition of the Winthrop Group.¡± Margot jumped at the word ¡®acquisition.¡¯ ¡°Acquisition? What happened to the Winthrop Group? Why does it have to be acquired?¡± Arthur purposely pretended to look very sorry. ¡°There¡¯s no way around it. The Winthrop Group appears to be going strong under Callum¡¯s management, but in fact, it¡¯s already rotten to the core. I can¡¯t just sit back and watch it go bankrupt, right? It¡¯s Dad¡¯s life work, after all.¡± He tried to make himself seem benevolent and great-hearted with these highsounding words, but how could Margot not figure out the intrigues and plots behind them? She wasn¡¯t a fool, after all. ¡°Arthur, you can¡¯t do such a heartless thing. Callum is your brother.¡± She tried to sound as gentle as she could. ¡°Callum has done everything he could to look after you over so many years, you know. Do you think it¡¯s right for you to turn your back on him at such a time?¡± ¡°Me turning my back on him? Are you kidding me?¡± Arthur burst outughing unashamedly. ¡°Mrs. Winthrop, I call you ¡®Mom¡¯ out of respect, but could you have forgotten the favoritism you¡¯ve shown over the years?¡± He would never forget how Margot and Theodore had Callum join the Winthrop Group as an intern and named the man the future heir to thepany while forbidding him to join the company just because he wasn¡¯t rted to them by blood. They even told me falsely that they had done all of this for my own good, that I couldn¡¯t survive at the company with my temperament, that Callum was more qualified to be the heir to thepany with his steady character and would help us as much as possible. How ironic, he thought. ¡°Since you can¡¯t treat us equally, I¡¯ll do whatever I can to steal it.¡± ¡°Arthur!¡± Margot ced her hands on his arm. She wanted to talk him out of this, only for him to shake her off mercilessly. He said, ¡°Don¡¯t touch me! I¡¯m telling you, I¡¯m gonna acquire the Winthrop Group today no matter what!¡± Margot looked like a sorry sight upon being thrown to the floor. ¡°Arthur, what are you doing?¡± questioned an angry voice from behind. Arthur looked back indifferently and saw Callum and Elspeth at a nce. They were bothing this way, and neither of them looked very pleased. He shrugged and sat down on the couch nonchntly, saying, ¡°What am I doing? I¡¯m not doing anything.¡± Elspeth stepped aside and helped Margot up; only after whispering to Margot and making sure that she was all right did she feel relieved. ¡°Arthur, she¡¯s your mother and has raised you for over 20 years! Not even a pet dog deserves such treatment, no?¡± she questioned in a confrontational tone, losing control of her emotions. ¡°Stay out of this, Elspeth. You know nothing about the story behind this,¡± Arthur replied nonchntly before turning to fix his gaze upon Callum. ¡°Callum, surely you know my purpose in being here today?¡± Callum uttered, ¡°Yes, I do, of course.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve thought about it. I ept your terms, but there¡¯s a condition.¡± Arthur raised his eyebrows. ¡°You have to promise me that you¡¯ll stay out of the business circle from today onward.¡± Callum had studied finance and business management at university, not to mention he had always been trained to be heir to the Winthrop Group since he was little. Therefore, forbidding him to do business and be part of the business circle right now would simply be equivalent to chopping his hands off. Arthur deliberately proposed such a tough condition just to bring Callum to heel¡ªor rather to embarrass him. Just as he had expected, Callum¡¯s face darkened visibly at once. ¡°Arthur, don¡¯t you go too far!¡± ¡°Callum, I¡¯ve epted your many conditions, no? You asked for 15 billion, so I¡¯ve brought the money here to you. That¡¯s not a small amount, you know.¡± Elspeth let out a chuckle. We¡¯ve been waiting for you to say this, she thought. Callum¡¯s expression softened a little, though he continued to resist. ¡°Still, that¡¯s an exacting condition to me.¡± Arthur retorted, ¡°Exacting, huh? Callum, don¡¯t forget that I was totally banned from joining the Winthrop Group back then. Dad has put his heart and soul into preparing you for the job, but it¡¯s such a shame that you¡¯re so useless that you can¡¯t even keep thepany.¡± He looked up proudly, feeling incredibly pleased with the sight of Callum looking like a wretched prisoner. Still, he had a bit of regret. If only Dad were here. That way, he¡¯d witness with his own eyes how Callum has sunk so low as to be forced to give the Winthrop Group up to someone else. On the contrary, his third son, whom he had never thought highly of at first, founded the Bluestone Corp and ends up inheriting his legacy. Every dog has its day, eh? ¡°Arthur, have you prepared the money?¡± Arthur frowned at the sight of the man¡¯s worthless appearance. ¡°I seriously wonder how you managed the Winthrop Group. I¡¯ve never seen you being so hungry for money before. Tsk, tsk. Perhaps I was wrong about you. I thought you were such an unfathomable rival¡­¡± Well, he¡¯s just a profit-seeking businessman, after all. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll give you every cent of the money. But you have to sign the paper first.¡± He pushed the contract before him toward Callum with a triumphant smile. Callum picked up the contract and leafed through it with a smirk curving his lips. ¡°What a good brother you are. These unfair uses are written so well.¡± Arthur replied, ¡°Would I dare to hide them from you? That¡¯s why they¡¯re written explicitly, no?¡± He had wanted to show some restraint; at least he wouldn¡¯t have let Callum see through these uses so easily. On second thoughts, however, the Winthrop Group was already on itsst legs. Even if he had these uses written explicitly, they wouldn¡¯t have any impact on the situation, and Callum wouldn¡¯t dare to argue with him either. That was why he had these usesid out openly. ¡°Arthur, aren¡¯t you afraid of getting what you deserve for all the bad things you¡¯ve done?¡± Arthur raised his eyebrows with a nomittal smile. ¡°Why would I be afraid of that? And besides, aren¡¯t you the one who¡¯s supposed to worry about your situation right now?Chapter 552 I¡¯m Not Gonna Sign This Seeing that the man was still unrepentant, Callum mmed the document on the desk with a frosty gleam in his eyes, saying, ¡°I¡¯m not gonna sign this.¡± All at once, Arthur flew into a rage and stopped ying nice with Callum altogether. ¡°Callum, don¡¯t you dare be so cheeky with me! I¡¯m only willing to negotiate a coboration with you now because I still think of you as my brother! You¡¯ve made so many enemies before who can¡¯t wait to kill you! Do you actually think they¡¯ll let you off if the Winthrop Group falls into the hands of another plutocrat?¡± He sounded like he sincerely had Callum¡¯s interests in mind. Callum sneered while looking at the man inplete disappointment. ¡°Arthur, you don¡¯t have to hide your motives with such a high-sounding excuse. You¡¯re just coveting the Winthrop Family¡¯s fortune and wanting to have the Winthrop Group to yourself while you¡¯re at it.¡± Arthur retorted, ¡°Don¡¯t push it, Callum! It¡¯s fine as long as I¡¯m well-intentioned. Everything else is none of your business. What qualifies you to me others after leading the Winthrop Group into such a state?¡± He looked down condescendingly at Callum with the air of a victor. Callum¡¯s smart, but it¡¯s a pity that something addled his brain and made him bring such a miserable end upon himself. ¡°I¡¯m gonna ask you onest question.¡± Arthur frowned. ¡°Shoot! Stop wasting our time.¡± He just wanted to get the contract signed with no intention of touching on everything else. ¡°Do you know about Max¡¯s ident at the car race?¡± Arthur¡¯s eyes flickered, but his face gave nothing away. ¡°I know that, of course. I hosted that car race, after all.¡± ¡°Did you have a hand in his death?¡± Arthurughed instead of getting angry. ¡°Callum, do you actually suspect I¡¯d kill my own brother?¡± Callum replied, ¡°There¡¯s nothing you¡¯re afraid of doing, no? You even dared to frame me despite me being your brother. You really think you¡¯ve left no trace of what you did?¡± With that, he pped his hands, upon which Harper carried a man over and threw him inside. ¡°Ouch!¡± cried the man in pain while lying on the floor. After rolling over a few times, he finally realized that he was surrounded by people. Startled, he got up immediately. Arthur¡¯s face darkened the instant he saw the man. Callum said, ¡°So, Mr. Head of the Organizing Committee, tell me how Max died.¡± Having been threatened and oppressed in every way possible, the man dared not lie at this very moment, of course. Making a clean breast of everything, he answered, ¡°I really didn¡¯t want to do this! It was Arthur who used my family to threaten me into tampering with Max¡¯s car. I¡­ I really didn¡¯t mean to kill him!¡± ¡°You *sshole,¡± was all Arthur could mutter menacingly after a long time. The man held his breath in fear. Obviously, he was too scared to speak after turning Arthur in. ¡°Do you know what kind of price you¡¯ll have to pay for framing me?¡± Arthur said, threatening the man both explicitly and implicitly with a deliberate emphasis on the word ¡®price.¡¯ However, such a threat didn¡¯t work anymore. Elspeth said impassively, ¡°Stop intimidating him. I¡¯ve had his family moved to somewhere safe, so your threats aren¡¯t gonna work on him.¡± With his ns going out of control, Arthur¡¯s countenance finally changed for the first time. ¡°So what? You guys actually have the mind to worry about other things when the Winthrop Group¡¯s in great peril right now?¡± He let out a snort of laughter. ¡°Callum, I¡¯d suggest that you pretend to know nothing. Otherwise, I can¡¯t guarantee what I¡¯ll do to the Winthrop Group.¡± In other words, he was threatening to make them feel sorry for it if they refused to let the matter drop. Callum said, ¡°I¡¯m probably not the one who cares the most about this. Arthur, I never thought you¡¯d actuallyy a hand on Max, who was usually the most innocent, just to satisfy your pathetic self-interests. You¡¯re so disgusting; someone like you should just go to hell.¡± Then, he threw a nce at the door with an inscrutable expression. ¡°Do you understand everything now?¡± Not knowing to whom Callum was saying this, Arthur followed his gaze and looked back, only to realize two figures were standing at the door. He couldn¡¯t be more familiar with them¡ªthey were none other than Edmund and ke. ke had disbelief written all over his face, whereas Edmund felt a chill running down his spine. Having a bad feeling at once, Arthur curled his fingers behind his back and sent out a few text messages.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 552 Chapter 552 Though he had a bit of a sharp tongue, Edmund¡¯s image had always been that of a noble and self-restrained gentleman. At this very moment, however, his eyes were bloodshot as he couldn¡¯t wait to tear Arthur before him to pieces. ¡°I really never thought you¡¯d actually do such a thing!¡± he snapped. ¡°Arthur, he¡¯s our brother! Even if he¡¯s not rted to you by blood, you shouldn¡¯t haveid a hand on him!¡± Like Arthur, Edmund wasn¡¯t a biological son of the Winthrop Family, so he could understand Arthur¡¯s gloomy personality. That being said, he could never forgive Arthur for what he had done to Max. ¡°I previously suspected that Callum was trying to kill everyone who might vie with him for the Winthrop Family¡¯s fortune¡­ Little did I think it was your doing, you son of a b*tch!¡± He punched Arthur in the face, breaking the man¡¯s gold-rimmed sses to pieces and knocking them to the floor. ¡°You *sshole,¡± wos oll Arthur could mutter menocingly ofter o long time. The mon held his breoth in feor. Obviously, he wos too scored to speok ofter turning Arthur in. ¡°Do you know whot kind of price you¡¯ll hove to poy for froming me?¡± Arthur soid, threotening the mon both explicitly ond implicitly with o deliberote emphosis on the word ¡®price.¡¯ However, such o threot didn¡¯t work onymore. Elspeth soid impossively, ¡°Stop intimidoting him. I¡¯ve hod his fomily moved to somewhere sofe, so your threots oren¡¯t gonno work on him.¡± With his plons going out of control, Arthur¡¯s countenonce finolly chonged for the first time. ¡°So whot? You guys octuolly hove the mind to worry obout other things when the Winthrop Group¡¯s in greot peril right now?¡± He let out o snort of loughter. ¡°Collum, I¡¯d suggest thot you pretend to know nothing. Otherwise, I con¡¯t guorontee whot I¡¯ll do to the Winthrop Group.¡± In other words, he wos threotening to moke them feel sorry for it if they refused to let the motter drop. Collum soid, ¡°I¡¯m probobly not the one who cores the most obout this. Arthur, I never thought you¡¯d octuolly loy o hond on Mox, who wos usuolly the most innocent, just to sotisfy your pothetic self-interests. You¡¯re so disgusting; someone like you should just go to hell.¡± Then, he threw o glonce ot the door with on inscrutoble expression. ¡°Do you understond everything now?¡± Not knowing to whom Collum wos soying this, Arthur followed his goze ond looked bock, only to reolize two figures were stonding ot the door. He couldn¡¯t be more fomilior with them¡ªthey were none other thon Edmund ond Bloke. Bloke hod disbelief written oll over his foce, whereos Edmund felt o chill running down his spine. Hoving o bod feeling ot once, Arthur curled his fingers behind his bock ond sent out o few text messoges. Though he hod o bit of o shorp tongue, Edmund¡¯s imoge hod olwoys been thot of o noble ond self-restroined gentlemon. At this very moment, however, his eyes were bloodshot os he couldn¡¯t woit to teor Arthur before him to pieces. ¡°I reolly never thought you¡¯d octuolly do such o thing!¡± he snopped. ¡°Arthur, he¡¯s our brother! Even if he¡¯s not reloted to you by blood, you shouldn¡¯t hove loid o hond on him!¡± Like Arthur, Edmund wosn¡¯t o biologicol son of the Winthrop Fomily, so he could understond Arthur¡¯s gloomy personolity. Thot being soid, he could never forgive Arthur for whot he hod done to Mox. ¡°I previously suspected thot Collum wos trying to kill everyone who might vie with him for the Winthrop Fomily¡¯s fortune¡­ Little did I think it wos your doing, you son of o b*tch!¡± He punched Arthur in the foce, breoking the mon¡¯s gold-rimmed glosses to pieces ond knocking them to the floor. Looking rather pathetic without his sses, Arthur staggered and held onto his assistant next to him for support. The assistant was afraid, but she nheless straightened up and stepped forward out of her desire to protect her employer, only for Edmund to seize her by the throat. ¡°I¡¯ve never hit a woman, but I don¡¯t mind making an exception,¡± he said. Frightened by his words, the assistant instantly dodged to one side. Edmund grabbed Arthur by the cor with a murderous look in his eyes. ¡°Arthur, why did you have to kill Max? Tell me!¡± ¡°Haha! Why would I kill our adorable little brother? It was his fault for being impetuous. He sped up his car recklessly for that woman¡¯s sake¡­ Car racing is risky in the first ce, you know, so an ident like that happening wasn¡¯t totally unexpected¡ª¡± His words sounded particrly vicious. Edmund¡¯s eyes were aze with rage, but he couldn¡¯t say anything to refute the man. ¡°You only tampered with Max¡¯s race car with the intention of crippling him in the beginning, didn¡¯t you?¡± Elspeth said, revealing the secret truth while standing near them. The smile on Arthur¡¯s face froze instantly. Elspeth was right; indeed, that was what he had intended in the beginning. Knowing full well that Max and Callum were close, he had only intended to have Max crippled during the car race so that he would have one less person making trouble when he seized the Winthrop Group. His heart did aplete somersault when he watched from the audience and saw Max elerate the car. The head of the organizingmittee called him, saying in a trembling voice that Max would die sooner orter if this went on. However, there was already no turning back at this point, so he gave the order to have the race car destroyed if anything were to happen to Max. It wasn¡¯t like he This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. was immune to the sight of Max lying in a pool of blood; it was just that these things weren¡¯t worth mentioningpared to his ambitions. Still, he fell into a momentary trance when the truth was revealed in such a brutal manner. Seeing that he was beyond redemption, Elspeth shook her head, saying, ¡°Arthur, you¡¯re the one who really should reflect on what you¡¯ve done. To tell you the truth, the Winthrop Group is totally fine, but you¡¯re going to be in trouble.¡± Upon hearing this, Arthur instantly came to his senses, realizing that all of this was a trap that they were luring him into. Chapter 553 Chapter 553 Chapter 553 Arthur Has Lost His Mind Next to them, ke was frozen in ce. He had never imagined that the brother he had always chased after would think of harming someone¡ªand that someone was their younger brother whom they both grew up with no less. For the longest time, ke had been stumbling around the entertainment industry and did not know much about their family issues, but he still knew that although Arthur looked unapproachable, he still loved their family deep inside. However, all of this was just a lie to obtain their family fortune. ¡°Arthur¡­ I still can¡¯t believe that you¡¯d be able to do something like this.¡± ke looked at Arthur¡¯s twisted expression in shock as he said, ¡°Max was the youngest, and he¡¯d always been following in our footsteps. He told me that you were a little quiet, and even though you were nothing but kind to him, it always felt like you weren¡¯t happy about something, so he wanted to make youugh more.¡± Hearing that, Arthur suddenly fell silent. ¡°He¡¯d always been worried about you and cared for you a lot and would make sure to take out the time to call home even if he was in school, but you never picked up the phone.¡± ke took a deep breath. ¡°Edmund was always the one who answered, but what Max asked the most was, ¡®How¡¯s Arthur? Is he still unhappy?¡¯ But I never thought you¡¯d actually think about harming him.¡± Naturally, Arthur was unwilling to believe him easily, and he scoffed. ¡°Stop lying. Isn¡¯t Callum the person he cared about the most? Don¡¯t bring up brotherhood in front of me right now.¡± ¡°Arthur, are you even human?¡± Edmund threw a punch at his face, sending him to the ground as he practically roared, ¡°All of us could see how kind Max was to you except for you. All you care about is those goddamn stocks and family fortune of yours!¡± As Arthur looked at the pain in Edmund¡¯s eyes, the vicious rebuttal that was just about to spew out of his mouth got stuck in his throat. Was he really wrong? However, he¡¯d had enough of constantly being neglected and disdained growing up. When he was a child, it was due to his chubby figure, and once he got older, it was because of Callum. It felt as if he¡¯d never been taken seriously in his entire life. ¡°No matter what, everything has its consequences. Listen here, Arthur, you will pay for what you did one day!¡± Arthur stumbled to his feet and wiped the blood away from the corner of his mouth with his fist. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be waiting.¡± Upon seeing his unrepentant expression, Elspeth decided not to give him any more chances, and soon, police sirens were heard outside the window. A look of shock shed past Arthur¡¯s eyes. ¡°You called the police?¡± ¡°We said we¡¯d make you pay, so of course it would be a painful price.¡± Not longter, a group of police swarmed into the room and stared at Arthur, who was standing in the center. He spread his arms and said, ¡°You don¡¯t have any proof that I did anything. It¡¯s useless even if you call the police.¡± ¡°Who said I don¡¯t have any proof?¡± Elspeth mmed a document on the table. ¡°This is the evidence that you vited the contract.¡± ¡°I see. No wonder you were waiting for me here.¡± It made sense now why she was dead set on not signing the contract earlier. ¡°I was waiting for the right time.¡± Upon saying that, she pped her hands lightly, and a person slowly walked out from the corner. It was the person in charge who had been frightened earlier, and he cowered until Elspeth sent him a re, after which he hurriedly rambled, ¡°I can attest that half a year ago, Arthur instructed me to damage Max¡¯s racing car in the racingpetition abroad so that his car would malfunction and cause Max¡¯s death. I also have our call history and transaction records here.¡± A crack appeared in Arthur¡¯s expression. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to delete the records?¡± The man dared not reply, while Elspeth smiled calmly next to him. ¡°I guess you don¡¯t know who I am.¡± After all, what information could be hidden from a hacker? Finally, a trace of anxiety appeared on Arthur¡¯s face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there¡¯s still more waiting for you.¡± Elspeth lifted her eyes and looked at the door, where Jethro, sporting a ck tuxedo, entered. It was their first meeting after a long while, but it seemed that he was doing well, and he looked much calmer andposed. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. ¡°Arthur, I¡¯m sure you never expected that although it looked like Jethro joined ourpany for your benefit, he¡¯d already nned to be a spy for us long ago.¡± Jethro cleared his throat and answered, ¡°That¡¯s right. Arthur has instructed me to steal Azure Corporation and Winthrop Group¡¯s data many times in the past. Not only that, but he also embezzled public funds,mitted tax evasion, and faked his ounts. Bluestone Corp¡¯s operation as a whole is filled with ws.¡± Arthur was enraged by his words. ¡°Nonsense!¡± ¡°Officer, here is the evidence that I¡¯ve put together over the past year.¡± With that, he ced a stack of documents on the table. ¡°I see what¡¯s going on now. All of you are turning on me, huh?¡± Arthurughed wildly, causing his assistant to tremble with fear at the sight. Arthur sensed her fright with his keen gaze, and he suddenly lost his mind and stepped forward to grab her neck, his eyes turning red as he demanded, ¡°What about you? Did you sell me out too? Why did you take me here today? Were you conspiring with them?¡± His assistant gasped for air, her face turning red from his tight grip. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t¡­ Please don¡¯t suspect me¡­¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t? Then, how are you going to exin what happened today?¡± As the police officers watched him go mad, they were about to step forward to stop him when he unexpectedly pulled out a pocketknife and pressed it against his assistant¡¯s throat. ¡°Don¡¯te over. If you get any closer, I¡¯ll kill her.¡± Callum growled coldly, ¡°Arthur, have you gone insane?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, I¡¯m insane. All of you have driven me insane a long time ago! Back when Dad allowed you to enter Winthrop Group but not me, I¡¯d already gone insane!¡± Arthur let out a crazedugh, and his fingers slipped, causing the knife to graze the assistant¡¯s neck. Upon feeling the piercing paining from her neck, the assistant broke into terrified wails. ¡°Stop crying. You¡¯re annoying me. If you keep crying, I¡¯ll end your life.¡± In the first ce, his assistant was a timid person, and she could only mp her mouth shut and let out a muffled sob at his words. ¡°Arthur, what does this have to do with her? Why are you threatening her? Things have alreadye to this, and it¡¯s only a matter of time before your downfall. Why are you still doing this?¡± Upon seeing him lose his mindpletely, Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but take a step forward. ¡°Don¡¯t you daree over!¡± Suddenly, Arthur pointed the knife at her, the sharp end aimed straight at her chest. ¡°I did all of this for you, but you never cared about me and fell for Callum instead. What¡¯s so good about him? Does he love you as much as I do?¡± Chapter 554 Chapter 554 Chapter 554 Even You Think It¡¯s My Fault ¡°Arthur, don¡¯t tell me that you really think you love me.¡± Elspeth found his choice of words amusing. ¡°You only did all of those things for yourself. You¡¯re a selfish man. In order to take the Winthrop Family¡¯s fortune for yourself, you came up with a n to harm Callum. As for you saying that you want me, it¡¯s only to piss Callum off. Haven¡¯t you realized that after all this time?¡± Arthur simply wouldn¡¯t listen to her exnation at all and only spoke to himself. ¡°Lies, lies, and more lies! I did this all for you; it was all so that I could be with you without any worries!¡± ¡°You can lead a horse to water, but you can¡¯t make it drink. Don¡¯t you understand?¡± Arthur guffawed at her words. ¡°I don¡¯t care. I will make it drink anyway.¡± He hadpletely lost his mind now, and nothing anyone said could affect him. Seeing that his assistant was about to faint from shock in his arms, Elspeth lowered her voice and asked, ¡°You said you like me, right?¡± Arthur did not expect her to ask him this, and he paused for a moment before nodding. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Since you like me, can you switch her out for me?¡± Elspeth requested, pointing at the sobbing assistant in his arms. Arthur was just about to agree when he quickly pressed the knife even closer against her neck. ¡°I don¡¯t believe you. You¡¯re definitely up to something.¡± Elspeth felt likeughing at his words. ¡°What can I be up to? Look, there¡¯s nothing on me.¡± She turned around to show that she carried nothing on her that could harm him before saying, ¡°I¡¯m only worried about this girl. She¡¯s timid, so don¡¯t scare her anymore.¡± Despite his doubts, she seemed to make sense. As Elspeth slowly approached him, Callum suddenly grabbed her wrist. His expression was somber as he said, ¡°Don¡¯t go. He¡¯s not in his right mind now, and I can¡¯t guarantee that he won¡¯t do anything to you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I think he¡¯ll still listen to what I say.¡± Although she knew that Arthur did not feel particrly strongly for her and only wanted to use her as a means to get revenge on Callum, she could still sense that he had feelings for her and would not hurt her at the very least. Hearing that, Callum slowly let go of her wrist and watched as she walked toward Arthur. The moment she reached his side, he instantly shoved his assistant away and pressed the knife against Elspeth¡¯s neck. Meanwhile, the assistant was pushed into Edmund¡¯s arms, and she clutched his sleeve tightly, nearly losing her footing. Instead of fearing the knife in his hand, Elspeth asked in a calm voice, ¡°Okay, Arthur, how do you feel now?¡± Arthur was a little shocked as well. He hadn¡¯t expected that she would be in the mood to ask him how he was feeling at this time. ¡°Aren¡¯t you scared?¡± he asked in a muffled voice. ¡°I¡¯m not. Didn¡¯t you say you like me? Since you like me, you will definitely not hurt me, so why should I be scared?¡± Elspeth chuckled with a bright and cheery smile. Upon seeing her tranquil smile, Arthur was momentarily distracted, and his next words subconsciously slid out of his mouth. ¡°Go out with me, Elspeth. I don¡¯t need anything, not even Winthrop Group, and I won¡¯t hurt anyone again.¡± Although his voice wasn¡¯t loud, it wasn¡¯t soft either. As everyone in the room was tense and feared that he would make an unexpected move, they heard him clearly. At his words, Callum¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°But I¡¯ve already said that I don¡¯t like you.¡± Arthur shook his head, his expression turning morose. ¡°No, you can try to like me. I¡¯ll definitely treat you well, even better than Callum.¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t need you to treat me well.¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Arthur lost his mind once more at her words. ¡°Why? Why exactly do all of you like Callum? Do I look that much worse than him?¡± Unfazed, Elspeth looked at his side profile calmly. If she had topare their looks, Callum¡¯s was elegant and cold, while Arthur¡¯s was as beautiful as the moon. In particr, the scar between his eyebrows contributed to a sense of wed beauty. However, this moon was as far from her as the Moon orbiting around Earth¡ªit would never reach her heart. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault that I don¡¯t like you, nor is it mine. We¡¯re just not fated to be together.¡± Arthur said viciously, ¡°I don¡¯t believe in things like fate.¡± At that moment, Callum had practically lost all his patience. He feared that if things went on, Elspeth would eventually get hurt. The knife in Arthur¡¯s hands was too dangerous, and he couldn¡¯t help but worry for her safety. However, just as he was about to make a move, Elspeth stopped him with a look, indicating that she had a n. Elspeth looked at Arthur with an earnest gaze. ¡°Arthur, do you know what kind of person I like, then?¡± Arthur cared, of course. He¡¯d always dreamed of being the kind of person Elspeth liked. ¡°Go ahead. I¡¯m listening.¡± ¡°I like someone gentle and kind. The person must be calm and isn¡¯t maniptive.¡± ¡°Are you saying that Callum is that kind of person?¡± Arthur was amused by her words. ¡°He¡¯s nothing but a businessman who only cares about profit. Do you really think he¡¯s innocent if he¡¯s able to make Winthrop Group so sessful?¡± Arthur was now more than certain that Elspeth only liked Callum because she was deceived by his appearance and his tricks. He knew that he was the right one for her, and he was the only one who genuinely liked her. However, Elspeth shook her head firmly and said gently, ¡°It¡¯s theplete opposite. That¡¯s the kind of person Callum is. You¡¯ve only seen his craftiness, but you¡¯ve never noticed his worry and concern toward his brothers or his toleration for me, much less the kindness that he hides under ayer of ice.¡± This was what she found out after spending so much time with him. ¡°You¡¯ve known him for over twenty years. Do you really not understand him at all?¡± Her words instantly rendered Arthur speechless. Elspeth looked at him, waiting for his response as he fell silent for a long time. ¡°Arthur, you have to stop doing this,¡± Elspeth advised him gently. After all the sins he hadmitted, it was the biggest act of mercy she could offer him to talk to him calmly like this. Suddenly, Arthur raised his head and asked mindlessly, ¡°Even you think it¡¯s my fault?¡± Elspeth opened her mouth, sensing that something was off, and in the next second, a dark, vile look emerged in Arthur¡¯s eyes. Chapter 555 Chapter 555 Chapter 555 I¡¯m Not That Patient ¡°If even you think I¡¯m at fault, then I don¡¯t mind going on like this.¡± Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Nobody was on his side. Even Elspeth, whom he liked the most, had never given him the time of her day. Arthur could not exin how he felt¡ªthere was heartbreak and desperation, but more than that, he feltpletely disheartened by Elspeth. ¡°I was going to let you go.¡± Arthur caressed her face with the knife handle. Though his voice was gentle, each of his words was cutting. ¡°But what you said hurt me too much. Elspeth, you¡¯re not worthy of my love.¡± Instantly, warning sirens sounded in Elspeth¡¯s mind, and in the next second, Arthur raised his knife and went straight for her face. Fortunately, she prepared herself beforehand. Upon seeing his abnormal behavior, she dodged backward. However, as she was tightly trapped in his arms, she couldn¡¯t avoid being grazed, and a bright red wound soon appeared on her face, gushing with fresh blood. Callum instantly felt his heart tighten at the sight of Elspeth¡¯s wound. ¡°Arthur, don¡¯t be reckless, or I¡¯ll never forgive you!¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Worried about her? You can save her, but only if you fulfill my conditions.¡± Arthur looked cold and apathetic; it was as if he were devoid of emotion and he waved his knife in the air. As he had trained in martial arts while he was in university, he was decently skilled inbat and his previous moves were enough to show how vicious he was. It was now clear that Arthur¡¯s murderous intent had fully emerged. Callum inhaled deeply before asking, ¡°All right. What are your conditions?¡± ¡°First, have all the officers here leave.¡± Callum¡¯s gaze swept across the room, but the surrounding officers did not budge. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, the convict¡¯s mental state is clearly not stable at the moment. We have to stay here to ensure the hostage¡¯s safety.¡± When Arthur heard the word convict, his face instantly darkened to a terrifying extent. ¡°Tell them to leave. Don¡¯t make me say it a third time.¡± Callum said to the police officers coldly, ¡°Everyone, please leave.¡± ¡°But, Mr. Winthrop¡ª¡± ¡°Leave!¡± Left with no other choice, the officers could only leave, even taking Margot who had difficulty breathing with them as they exited, as well as the person in charge and the assistant who were both paralyzed with fear. Soon, the room was empty except for Callum and the two other brothers of the Winthrop Family. ¡°I¡¯ve already done as you said. What else do you want?¡± Callum did not want to see Elspeth being taken away and falling into Arthur¡¯s grasp for a single second longer. Elspeth, however, said frantically, ¡°Callum, don¡¯t agree to his conditions.¡± Irritated by her words, Edmund barked at her, ¡°You stupid woman! Can¡¯t you just shut your mouth and stand still? Do you know that you¡¯re worrying us even more like this?¡± What if she provoked Arthur? The sight of him shing her face with the knife earlier was already a spine-chilling sight. If something else happened, there was no guarantee he could keep himself under control. He might just end Arthur¡¯s life then. Hearing their conversation, Arthur couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°You really are something. Everyone is standing up for you and worrying about your safety; it looks like they like you quite a lot.¡± Upon saying that, he let out a deep and helpless sigh. ¡°What a shame. The more they¡¯re like this, the more you¡¯re bing their weakness, and I can use this chance to do what I wanted to do.¡± Now, Arthur had finally achieved enlightenment. Things like emotions were simply all lies. Only wealth, power, and resources were important. Even if he still could not forget about Elspeth, he only wanted to use her in exchange for his own benefit. Elspeth did not reply, emanating an aura of fury. ¡°What¡¯s this? Getting mad, are we?¡± Arthur had rarely seen Elspeth lose her temper like this. In the past, although he had made her unhappy many times, she mostly showed disdain toward him. Hence, her fury right now was a completely different experience for him. ¡°So, I can affect your emotions. Is it because you like me?¡± They had alreadye to this point, yet Arthur was still able to flirt with her. He pinched her chin harshly, and a red mark soon appeared on it. ¡°Arthur, you¡¯re the most disgusting person I¡¯ve ever met.¡± At this moment, nothing Elspeth said could stir any emotions in his heart. ¡°All right, have you thought it through?¡± Arthur looked at the two frantic men next to him and asked, ¡°Are you sure you want to make an exchange with me?¡± ¡°Enough with the nonsense and hurry up.¡± Edmund watched his actions, his eyes practically zing with anger. ¡°Callum, I want you to hand your position as CEO of Winthrop Group to me, and you can never step foot into the business circle for the rest of your life.¡± Callum¡¯s face fell when he heard that. ¡°As for Edmund, I don¡¯t have much of a grudge against you, so I don¡¯t n on giving you a hard time, but if you n to take Callum¡¯s side, I won¡¯t hold back on you either.¡± Edmund chortled, replying with his usual sarcasm, ¡°I¡¯m not on his side, but I definitely won¡¯t side with an ungrateful dog.¡± An ungrateful dog¡­ The implication behind these words certainly left a sting. Finally understanding the meaning behind his words, Arthur did not lose his temper but doubled up with laughter instead. ¡°You never change, Edmund. You¡¯re exactly the same as before.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. You¡¯ve never changed either; you¡¯re still like a pitiful and groveling dog.¡± Arthur instantly lost his temper as the words pitiful and groveling viciously jabbed at the wound in his heart. ¡°Edmund, don¡¯t think that I don¡¯t dare to hurt you.¡± Edmund was slightly taller than Arthur. At this moment, he straightened his back and looked at him calmly. ¡°Arthur, I¡¯ve already said that you really are amusing. All these stinging words you¡¯re saying now are hrious to me.¡± Stinging words¡­ As expected of Edmund; he knew how to hit him where it hurt most. Arthur nearly lost it. Edmund was just standing there, practically itching for a punch in the face. As long as he pounced on him, he could definitely teach him a lesson with the advantage that came with the knife in his hand. He nearly followed his instincts, but just as the knife left Elspeth¡¯s neck, he instantly pressed it back against her skin, way closer than just now. Arthur sent them a blood-curdling smile. ¡°I know you¡¯re trying to anger me on purpose. You¡¯re working together with Callum, right?¡± If he hadn¡¯t spotted the readiness in Callum¡¯s gaze out of the corner of his eyes earlier, he might have been restrained by now. ¡°You really are my beloved brothers.¡± Arthur chuckled as he tightened his grasp on Elspeth, causing her to gasp for breath. Meanwhile, Edmund was enraged by the sight. Arthur was too cunning; he hadn¡¯t expected him to see through their n like this. On the contrary, Callum was a little calmer. Now that their current n had fallen through, he could only try toe up with another one. Arthur¡¯s expression turned impatient as he said, ¡°Have you made up your mind yet? I¡¯m not that patient.¡± Chapter 556 Chapter 556 Chapter 556 Took His Own Life ¡°As long as I promise you, you¡¯ll let her go, right?¡± Arthur nodded, appearing honest and trustworthy. ¡°Of course. As long as you¡¯re willing to promise me, I will listen to you and release her.¡± ¡°Then let me take you upstairs to sign the contract.¡± ¡°Why are we going upstairs to sign the contract? Just print out the contract and bring it down.¡± Arthur became impatient and his tone was aggressive with a hint of anger. Everyone did not notice that Jethro, who was being low-key, had quietly moved behind him, waiting for an opportunity to strike. Callum pretended not to notice and continued to calmly ask him, ¡°Can we negotiate? You release her first, and then I will go to thepany to give you the transfer of shares contract.¡± ¡°Why should I trust you? What if you go back on your word after I release her?¡± Arthur was not stupid and knew that this was just a trick to deceive him. ¡°But the transfer of the CEO position is not that easy; it requires the entire Winthrop Family to vote and decide.¡± Arthur didn¡¯t care about those things, and his smile was vicious as he said, ¡°That¡¯s your own business. As the CEO, I¡¯m sure you¡¯re smart and can definitely make these things happen.¡± Just as he finished speaking, Jethro, who had been silent, suddenly rushed forward, aiming to knock the knife out of Arthur¡¯s hand. Even though Arthur¡¯s reaction was fast, he was still one step too slow. He watched the knife fall to the ground and was momentarily distracted. At that moment, Elspeth bent her arm and used her elbow to hit him hard in the abdomen. This was one of the most vulnerable parts of the human body, which her self-defense trainer had emphasized before. Sure enough, Arthur bent over in pain and groaned. Elspeth took advantage of this to run toward Callum. Feeling the warmth of his embrace, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. Callum held her tightly, savoring the feeling of reiming something he had lost. He was determined not to be careless again and positioned himself protectively in front of Elspeth. Meanwhile, Jethro had already withdrawn, and the rest of the group watched Arthur¡¯s contorted expression. All of them had different thoughts. In the end, it was ke who said, ¡°Arthur, turn back.¡± With a hopeless look in his eyes, Arthur gazed at the people before him, though deep down he knew his heart had already died. At this moment, he was already beyond redemption, so how could he turn back? ¡°I can¡¯t turn back anymore.¡± ¡°No, you can turn back. You can surrender yourself and apologize to Max and Callum. I believe they will forgive you eventually.¡± Despite everything, ke still clung to the hope that Arthur could change for the better, as long as he was willing to do so. ¡°What¡¯s the use of telling him all of this? How could he possibly change? To him, he¡¯s never wrong.¡± Edmund knew Arthur better than anyone else. Arthur was an extremely selfish and twisted person with a pathological mindset. It was a waste of breath to talk to him. This naturally reached Arthur¡¯s ears. He chuckled, picked up the knife from the ground, and yed with it in his hand. There was a hint of pride in his smile as if he had never lost. ¡°You¡¯re right. You¡¯re absolutely right. I¡¯ve never done anything wrong.¡± Just when everyone thought he was going to hurt someone, he suddenly stabbed himself in the chest. When blood spurted out, everyone panicked. No one expected that he would end his life in this way. Arthur had studied medicine and knew where to strike to ensure a sure death. With too much blood loss, even if an ambnce arrived, he couldn¡¯t be saved. They watched in horror as Arthur copsed onto the pool of blood beneath him, his eyes remaining wide open. Arthur¡¯s gaze swept past Callum andnded on Elspeth. He curled his lips and spoke weakly, his voice almost inaudible. ¡°Elspeth, even in death, I want you to remember me.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t understand what he meant; she only saw his eyes slowly close and finally, he could no longer speak. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Arthur was dead. On such a beautiful spring afternoon, he died in Winthrop Group. The ring sirens of police and ambnce echoed in the background as a crowd rushed in, setting up the police tape and administering first aid. The scene became a blur of activity, with only Elspeth and Callum standing motionless like statues. Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but think that Arthur must have known today was going to end in tragedy, which was why he had a knife with him. Arthur was a germaphobe, so he carried a sterilized surgical knife. It wasn¡¯t until a police officer came over to persuade the two of them to leave that Elspeth finally looked up and saw Callum¡¯s face. Callum didn¡¯t look relieved as expected. Instead, his gaze became even deeper. ¡°Let¡¯s go out,¡± he said. ¡°Okay.¡± The two of them walked out without looking back. Arthur had already been buried for a month when Elspeth suddenly received a letter and a package signed by Arthur. The package wasrge and heavy, and she didn¡¯t know what was inside. She nned to throw it away, but she changed her mind at thest minute. Elspeth opened the letter first. There was only one line written on it: ¡°Remember to open the package.¡± Elspeth put the letter aside and opened the package. To her surprise, it was filled with letters and photos. She picked up the first one and read it in detail. It was about the first time she met Arthur. When she was in her teens, she saved a chubby little boy. She picked up the second letter, then the third¡­ Without exception, each letter recorded how they met, how they got to know each other, and how they became familiar with each other. Each letter was apanied by a photo, and almost every experience was recorded with photos. There were professionally taken and edited photos, as well as blurry ones taken casually. It was obvious that Arthur had put in a lot of effort. Elspeth couldn¡¯t describe what she was feeling as she looked at these things. She could almost imagine how Arthur took these photos and packaged them to send to her. To be honest, this behavior was somewhat pathological, but Arthur was indeed a sick person. He couldn¡¯te back to life, and there was no point in ming him at this point. However, she was inexplicably a little sad. In the end, she decided to burn all of these things. She packaged them up and took them to an open area to burn them. As the mes rose, she vaguely saw Arthur¡¯s face having a gentlemanly smile, but the image was fleeting. As she watched the fire burn, she thought about thest letter that contained the line, ¡°Elspeth, I know I was wrong, but if I had been sincere to you from the beginning, would you have fallen in love with me?¡± She didn¡¯t know if she would have fallen in love with him, but she knew that she would never be able to tell him her answer. Chapter 557 Chapter 557 Chapter 557 Arthur¡¯s Soliloquy My name was Arthur, and I was the third son of the Winthrop Family. I had always lived in my brother Callum¡¯s shadow ever since I was a child. I remembered from a long time ago that Callum was always able to get high grades without seeming to make any effort. However, no matter how hard I tried, I could not catch up to him. So, our parents, Theodore and Margot, were biased toward him. Sometimes I would envy why he could get such high grades until I saw him burning the midnight oil, and then I began to hate him again. He was so good at pretending. I never understood his efforts; I just felt that he was a hypocritical person. My father had trained him to be the future heir of Winthrop Group ever since he was a child, and Edmund could assist him as the vice president. The rest of us were not even allowed to join the company. When I was a child, I also told my father that I wanted to join thepany, even if it was just to help Callum. However, I was ruthlessly rejected by my father. He said that my interest was not really in business and that I should forget about this idea and do what I really wanted to do, but ever since I was little, I had always wanted to join Winthrop Group. How could my interest not be in business? I knew it was just an excuse to push me away. In fact, he never had my best interests in his heart. Later on, Callum inherited thepany as expected. Edmund became the vice president and ke entered the entertainment industry. As for Max, he pursued further studies and could continue his racing hobby too. While everyone else had the freedom to pursue their preferred paths in life, I found myself studying medicine despite never having had a passion for it. Luckily, I had a natural talent for it and managed to learn a great deal in just a few years. I eventually returned to Damoria and opened a hospital. Theodore also strongly supported me, but I knew he was just guilty for the choice he made back then. He felt guilty that he didn¡¯t let me do what I liked and forced me to study medicine. I would never believe him. Later on, I met a girl named Emma Walker. She had a gentle demeanor and the unmistakable air of a wealthy upbringing, and I felt a strange sense of familiarity around her. As we spoke, I realized that she was the same girl who had stood up for me when I was being bullied as a chubby kid. I could never forget the cold look on her face as she drove away my tormentors and spoke wise words to me. To me, she was like an angel. However, my heart sank when I discovered that the girl whom I had secretly liked for so many years fell for Callum without any exception. Callum, Callum¡­ Everyone loved Callum. But I was not willing to give up. She was the girl I had been enamored with for so many years, so how could she have been swept away by Callum? It seemed that Callum had also be aware of my feelings for her. Despite his usual nonchnt demeanor toward things like dating and romance, he decided to pursue her. I couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he was doing it intentionally to spite me. My animosity toward him intensified as a result. Later, Emma went abroad and broke up with Callum, and I naively thought that I still had a chance with her. Unfortunately, she never noticed me. Then, the Winthrop Family took in a girl from the countryside, and I initially thought she was a country bumpkin, but she turned out to be so beautiful. She had a personality that didn¡¯t fit the mold of someone from the countryside; she had a depth to her that even surpassed Emma¡¯s. She had an air of mystery about her, and there were multiple facets to her identity. Elspeth¡¯s unexpected arrival threw a wrench in many of Callum¡¯s ns, and I began to see her as someone I could potentially use to my advantage. With a calcted n in mind, I approached Elspeth and confessed my feelings for her, hoping to persuade her to join forces with me. I even offered to share some of my wealth with her if she agreed. However, to my surprise, she showed no interest in the money and ended up choosing Callum. Their alliance posed a major obstacle for me, and I found myself constantly running into roadblocks and making mistakes. It wasn¡¯t untilter that I discovered a secret that shattered my world: the girl I had been pursuing all along was a fraud. The true identity of the girl who had once seemed like an angel was actually someone I despised and even wanted to harm. When I learned this truth, I was initially filled with panic and it took me a long time to regain myposure. Eventually, I came to terms with the reality of the situation. However, my thoughts soon became erratic and uncontroble. I found myself inexplicably drawn to her as if I had been in love with her all along. I began to do strange things for her, including having the desire to kidnap her and keep her to myself. Her every smile and expression were too beautiful, and I couldn¡¯t bear the thought of her smiling at other men. Utilizing my medical expertise, I devised a n to lure her away from Callum and take her abroad. To my surprise, she took the bait and we embarked on a journey that would be the most beautiful days of my life. We lived as an ordinary couple, and I would cook for her and bring her small gifts each day when I returned home. She obediently remained by my side throughout our time together. One breezy evening, as we sat in the garden talking, I could sense a look of appreciation in her eyes. Perhaps, in her eyes, I wasn¡¯t such a bad person after all. I thought that this idyllic time wouldst forever, but it was cut short by her mother¡¯s interference. Her mother disappeared overnight, and Elspeth abruptly cut off all ties with me with a terrible expression on her face. I finally realized that everything we shared was nothing but a fleeting illusion. The dream was over, and she was gone. During that time, my mood plummeted and I felt myself losing touch with reality. I returned back to the country and became obsessed withpeting with her, hoping that it would make her notice me again. But deep down, I knew that my behavior was pathological and that it would only repulse her. Knowing that I would never truly have Elspeth, I thought that even a moment of her attention was worthwhile. I became even more determined to remove Callum from the equation so that I could be with her single-mindedly. Taking over Winthrop Group became my ultimate goal, but my impatience and underestimation of Callum¡¯s ruthlessness ultimately led to my demise. Watching the girl that I had loved for a decade flee from me and throw herself into Callum¡¯s arms was a painful experience. However, I also felt a sense of relief knowing that she would be loved. I had finally come to terms with the reality of the situation. As long as Elspeth was happy, regardless of who she was with, I would be content. Unfortunately, I came to this realization toote and would never have the chance to see her live happily with someone else. Nheless, even at the end of my life, I still hoped that she would remember me. T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. Elspeth, I never intended to hurt you, and I hope that you won¡¯t hate me. Chapter 558 Chapter 558 Chapter 558 I Don¡¯t Want to Go Against You Life had returned to normal, but Elspeth felt a sudden emptiness without the person who used to cause chaos by her side. However, it seemed that everything was not over yet. Yelena came to the Winthrop Residence one day, then she grabbed Elspeth¡¯s arm and shook it. ¡°Elspeth, can you tell me what exactly happened that day?¡± Yelena had not been there, and she expressed great regret for not knowing what had happened. So, she specifically took a day off just to find out how the viin, Arthur Winthrop met his end. Elspeth¡¯s mouth twitched, but looking at Yelena¡¯s blinking and hopeful eyes, she couldn¡¯t bear to refuse Yelena. ¡°He took his own life.¡± ¡°He did?¡± Yelena was shocked. ¡°Someone like him would actually take his own life? I thought he would kill everyone instead.¡± Elspeth thought that this actually fit Arthur¡¯s character more too. ¡°Actually, before that, I thought Arthur quite liked you. I never thought he would do such a thing in the end.¡± Yelena looked at the scar on Elspeth¡¯s face and felt sorry for her. ¡°He really cut you with a knife, huh?¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t know why Arthur suddenly lost his cool, but she also felt that he wouldn¡¯t have actually hurt her. However, she had also seen confusion and guilt in his eyes at the time. ¡°Well, that¡¯s all in the past now.¡± Although Arthur was still quite despicable, his death still made people feel depressed. Even Callum had been gloomy for a while. ¡°What about Jethro? What¡¯s going on with him?¡± Yelena couldn¡¯t understand why Jethro, who had clearly be enemies with them, suddenly stepped forward to testify against Arthur. Elspeth looked at her and told her what had happened a while ago. The day before Arthur came to discuss things, Jethro suddenly came to her. He was drunk and invited her to meet him at a bar. She was originally going to refuse, but Jethro said that if she was willing to come, he would tell her everything about Arthur. ¡°I know you want to bring down Arthur. If you want to, you definitely need the evidence I have.¡± Jethro¡¯s words were irresistible. Soon, Elspeth drove to the bar in the darkness and saw him lying unconscious on the table as soon as she arrived. She pushed him, and the next second, he grabbed her wrist. He looked up at her and smiled. ¡°I lied to you. I didn¡¯t drink much.¡± Elspeth frowned and tried to pull her hand away, but he held it tightly. ¡°I didn¡¯te here to y games with you tonight.¡± Jethro suddenly lowered his head in despair. Then, he looked at her with a smile. ¡°Is that how you really see me? You don¡¯t even have the slightest bit of a positive opinion about me?¡± ¡°Jethro, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Jethro stood up swaying, and his smile faded. ¡°I¡¯m okay. To be honest, I never really hated or disliked you at any point. But why did you have to be kind to me?¡± She could have been cold and refused him, not believe anything he said, and note to the bar tonight. He might have forgotten about her if that were the case. Elspeth didn¡¯t know what to say. ¡°I firmly refused you, but you just didn¡¯t believe it.¡± She sighed and added, ¡°Jethro, I am already married, and I believe I never gave you hope. It¡¯s really unnecessary for you to turn against me like this now.¡± Jethro stumbled, feeling like he had had too much to drink and couldn¡¯t walk straight. ¡°I¡¯ve noticed that you¡¯ve never been able to look me straight in the eyes. It¡¯s as if you¡¯re always treating me like a child,¡± he said. ¡°You¡¯re the same too.¡± Elspeth sighed deeply. Suddenly, Jethro leaned closer to Elspeth and put his hands on the table on both sides of Elspeth. With a wicked smirk, he whispered in her ear, causing her to shiver. ¡°Elspeth, you know that if I wanted to do something to you right now, you wouldn¡¯t be able to resist,¡± he said. ¡°I know, but I trust that you won¡¯t,¡± Elspeth replied with a bitter smile. Jethro¡¯s face turned pale instantly. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I?¡± he asked. ¡°Because although you have done some strange things, I know that you¡¯re not capable of doing something like that to me. You have had so many chances to do something, but you never have,¡± Elspeth responded calmly. Out of nowhere, Jethro seemed to feel a bit better and released her, but his face was hard to read. ¡°I finally understand why I like you. After all, how can anyone go against their own goddess?¡± he said. After saying this, Jethroughed and pulled out a USB drive from his pocket. ¡°This contains all of Arthur¡¯s criminal evidence. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll have use for it,¡± he said, tossing the shimmering USB drive to her. Jethro gave her a meaningful look; his grin was especially warm. ¡°I¡¯ll be right there with you when you confront him. I¡¯ll testify against him myself, not for any other reason, but just to see you happy.¡± ¡­ The shback ended, and Yelena looked at Elspeth, who had been lost in thought for a long time. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything, Elspeth? What happened to Jethro?¡± Yelena asked curiously. Elspeth snapped back to reality, her eyescking any emotion. ¡°Nothing, he just had an epiphany and changed his ways out of the blue,¡± she replied. ¡°It seems that Mr. Wilstone¡¯s upbringing is pretty good; at least he didn¡¯t do anything bad.¡± Yelena breathed a sigh of relief. As the two were chatting happily, a soft voice suddenly sounded beside them. ¡°Elspeth.¡± Elspeth locked eyes with her. Elspeth was smiling serenely, but her gaze was sharp. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I¡¯vee to say goodbye to you,¡± Isabel said with her head lowered. With what she had done, she couldn¡¯t continue to live by Elspeth¡¯s side. She loathed herself and felt she wasn¡¯t worthy of being Elspeth¡¯s sister. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Elspeth wasn¡¯t surprised, but she was a little startled. ¡°Gilbert and I have agreed that he will send me to study abroad, and I promised to work for him when I return to the country and return the money to him¡­¡± T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. Isabel would benefit from this decision. Elspeth rose to her feet and adjusted her shirt cor while saying softly, ¡°Then live your life well abroad. If something happens, be sure to tell me. I will always be your sister.¡± This sentence made Isabel burst into tears. ¡°Elspeth, do you really not hate me? You know, it was me who leaked the information to the media. I was the one who gave Miss Joneson the drug and even colluded with Arthur to steal information from Winthrop Group¡­ I did so many bad things. Why don¡¯t you hate me?¡± Even Yelena gasped when she heard this. ¡°Isabel, you!¡± Elspeth gazed at Isabel¡¯s tear-stricken face feeling both disappointment and heartache. ¡°I don¡¯t hate you. I¡¯m upset, but I don¡¯t want to go against you.¡± At that, Isabel fell to her knees with a loud thud. Chapter 559 Chapter 559 Chapter 559 Engagement ns ¡°Elspeth, I know you¡¯re probably angry with me right now, and if you hate me, I¡¯ll never show up in front of you again¡­¡± After Helena left, Elspeth was the closest person to Isabel. Despite her foolishness, Elspeth never med her and always treated her like a younger sister. This time was no different; even though Isabel had betrayed her, Elspeth didn¡¯t openly me her. However, Isabel knew that some things couldn¡¯t be undone. ¡°You¡¯re my sister, so how could I me you?¡± Elspeth sighed. ¡°Although you were led astray, at least you¡¯re willing to turn back. How could I bear to abandon you?¡± Isabel looked up with tears in her eyes. ¡°I also want to thank you for telling me the truth in time.¡± Elspeth smiled. The night before Arthur¡¯s visit, Isabel showed up in tears and spilled everything about her betrayal and Arthur¡¯s scheme with the Winthrop Group. ¡°I don¡¯t expect you to forgive me, but I hope I won¡¯t cause you any more pain,¡± she concluded. Elspeth realized that despite her mistake, Isabel was still a good person who had been misled. She had no intention of digging deeper into her past, especially since Isabel had also been truthful with her. ¡°Thank you, Elspeth.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee. If you encounter any difficulties over there, be sure to tell me.¡± Isabel nodded tearfully, hugged Elspeth, and left. Yelena watched her leave and snorted. ¡°I don¡¯t get why you¡¯re being so nice to her. She already betrayed you like that. If it were me, I¡¯d give her a piece of my mind and kick her out.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re still young and inexperienced.¡± Elspeth tapped Yelena¡¯s head lightly. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s stop talking about it. It¡¯s all in the past. By the way, how are you and Hank doing?¡± Elspeth knew that Yelena didn¡¯te over just because of this incident. Sure enough, as soon as she asked, Yelena giggled. ¡°You really understand me. We¡¯re doing pretty welltely, except for his mother¡­¡± Yelena looked ufortable, making Elspeth think Hank¡¯s mother was being difficult. She couldn¡¯t help frowning and said, ¡°Is his mother bothering you? Let me tell you. If his family is not good to you, you can leave him anytime. Yelena, you can have any man you want. If his family dares to pick on you, just kick him out.¡± Yelena knew Elspeth had misunderstood and quickly shook her head. ¡°His mother hasn¡¯t been unkind to me. On the contrary, she¡¯s been a bit too nice to me.¡± She twisted her fingers and blushed. ¡°She¡¯s been pushing me to hurry up and get married so we can have children, but I think it¡¯s too soon, so I haven¡¯t agreed yet. But his mom has misinterpreted it, and she thinks Hank¡¯s keeping another woman on the side and doesn¡¯t want to tie the knot. Now, they¡¯re fighting non-stop.¡± Thinking about those things gave her a headache. Simone actually liked her more than she had imagined. She had thought that Hank¡¯s family would surely pick on her because she was involved in the entertainment industry, even though she was the heiress of the Sullivan Corporation. The Sullivans and the Damazios were like night and day, and there was no possibleparison at all. Yet, Simone actually treated Yelena better than her own son and didn¡¯t have any dislike for her. Elspeth chuckled when she heard that. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a good thing, though? I thought something bad had happened to you.¡± ¡°So, Ms. Balkan is nning to get us engaged this weekend¡­¡± Yelena felt a bit overwhelmed because she was currently upied with filming and didn¡¯t have much free time. Nheless, Simone was insistent that Hank and Yelena should get engaged soon. Elspeth was slightly surprised. ¡°Engaged? Why the rush?¡± ¡°Yep, Ms. Balkan wants us to get engaged early and make sure everything¡¯s secure, so we don¡¯t mess things up.¡± Basically, Simone didn¡¯t want to risk losing the perfect daughter-inw. Yelena took out a beautiful red card from her bag, which was simple but stunning with the words ¡®Engagement Invitation¡¯ printed in gold. ¡°I came here today to give you this engagement invitation. You muste this weekend.¡± Yelena blinked her eyes eagerly, filled with anticipation. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll definitely attend.¡± Elspeth smiled, and then she saw someoneing in at the door. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Hank walked in, looking a bit grubby, and gave a slight nod of courtesy to Elspeth before turning his attention to Yelena. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me you wereing here? I had to ask your assistant to find you,¡± he said calmly but with a hint of me in his voice. Yelena stuck out her tongue at him. ¡°I came to see Elspeth in a rush because she went through something a few days ago, and I haven¡¯t had the chance tofort her yet,¡± she exined. She knew that Elspeth didn¡¯t seem to require any comforting, but it was just her own assumption. However, as a good friend, she felt obligated to alleviate her friend¡¯s emotional pain. ¡°Okay.¡± Hank smiled helplessly. ¡°I¡¯m here to take you home for dinner. My mom said she wants to see you.¡± Yelena immediately looked distressed. ¡°It¡¯s the weekend today! I¡¯ve already had dinner at your house five times this week.¡± ¡°My mom said she must see you, and if she doesn¡¯t, she won¡¯t be able to eat well.¡± Hank shrugged, looking helpless. ¡°Come on¡­¡± Yelena sighed deeply. ¡°But every time I go to your house for dinner, she always puts heaps of food in my bowl. I¡¯ve gained three pounds already, and even Larissa scolded me today for not knowing how to manage my figure as a celebrity.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll ask my mom to prepare some diet meals for you,¡± Hank replied. While he felt sorry for Yelena¡¯s situation, he also knew that maintaining her figure was crucial for her work. He didn¡¯t want to hinder her dreams, so he had to find a way for her to eat more healthily. ¡°Great!¡± Yelena jumped up from the couch. ¡°Elspeth, Hank and I are going home for dinner now. I¡¯ll come and chat with you next time.¡± Elspeth nodded with a smile. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go. Cecelia is already waiting at home.¡± Hank picked up Yelena¡¯s coat from the couch. Yelena gossiped with Elspeth when Cecelia was mentioned. ¡°Elspeth, let me tell you. Hank¡¯s childhood friend has such an interesting love story. It¡¯s as thrilling as a novel. If I have time, I¡¯ll share her story with you,¡± Yelena gossiped. Elspethughed in response. ¡°Sure.¡± Then, Yelena seemed to recall something and stroked her chin. ¡°But I have this feeling that her boyfriend looks familiar. It¡¯s like I¡¯ve seen him somewhere before.¡± Chapter 560 Chapter 560 Chapter 560 Not a Coincidence The engagement party was held on the weekend. Elspeth arrived at the venue early with Callum, while Yelena and Hank greeted guests at the entrance with beaming smiles. When Yelena saw Elspeth approach, she ran over to her while holding up the sides of her wedding gown and eximed, ¡°Elspeth, you finally came!¡± ¡°You look really beautiful today!¡± Elspeth smiled and hugged her. Yelena whispered in her ear, ¡°Do you remember the person I told you aboutst time? The one who looks a bit familiar. He¡¯s here today, too.¡± ¡°What about him?¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t understand why she kept mentioning this person, but she was curious about why. ¡°Oh, you¡¯ll see when you go over there.¡± Yelena had asked Hank to take care of the guests while she led Elspeth away. They walked to the backyard, and Yelena pointed to a nearby pavilion. With a slightlyplicated tone, she said, ¡°Look. Isn¡¯t that person very familiar-looking?¡± As Elspeth followed Yelena¡¯s finger with her sight, she spotted Yozan donning a pristine white suit. He exuded sophistication and poise, with captivating eyes and a sparkling diamond stud earring glinting in his right ear. Yozan was deep in conversation with apanion, who was also a handsome man but who paled in comparison to him. Suddenly, Yozan appeared to sense someone¡¯s gaze fixed on him and turned to lock eyes with Elspeth, creating an unusual and peculiar atmosphere between the two. Elspeth quickly turned her head and asked, ¡°Who is he?¡± ¡°Yozan Harley is his name, and ording to Hank, his family has a notable background, tracing back to the royal lineage of Eden for three consecutive generations.¡± It was no surprise he looked striking with his mixed-race heritage, but what caught Elspeth off guard wasn¡¯t his appearance. Rather, it was the uncanny resemnce of his eyes to hers. They disyed a tender yet distant expression, but his nose was more elevated than hers, and his facial features were more defined. ¡°Am I mistaken, or do you bear a striking resemnce to him? Initially, I didn¡¯t pay much thought to it, but I noticed a remarkable simrity between you both upon closer inspection. Not only in appearance but also in personality. Frankly, had I not known about you and the Joneson Family, I would have found it hard to believe.¡± Elspeth had kept many things from Yelena, who tended to spread gossip. One of these things was that her biological father was still unknown. Though the townspeople of Damoria knew of her rtionship with Callum, they were hesitant to criticize the couple due to the Winthrop Family¡¯s power and her own influence. Nevertheless, there were criticisms of their rtionship being incestuous behind closed doors. Elspeth felt powerless to argue against these rumors unless she could find her true father. Even if she were to produce a paternity test proving there was no blood rtion between her and Callum, she knew that people would still doubt it. However, Yelena¡¯s idental reveal gave her a valuable clue, and Elspeth knew she had to talk to this man. As Elspeth and Yelena were getting closer, suddenly, there was a ssh from the river. Elspeth¡¯s face changed drastically. ¡°Someone fell into the water!¡± It seemed like some people were having fun in a small boat on theke. Someone had lost their bnce and fallen into the water. Although everyone around them gasped in shock, no one made a move to rescue the drowning individual. The men in the pavilion simply looked into the distance and had no intention of saving her. Without hesitation, Elspeth jumped into the water and swam to the center of theke to retrieve the woman, who was almost out of oxygen from inhaling water. At the same time, Yelena shouted, ¡°Elspeth!¡± When Elspeth reached the woman, she wrapped her arm around the drowning woman¡¯s waist and started to swim back to shore. However, as a result ofing into contact with cold water, Elspeth began to feel a chill in her body. Additionally, the physical symptoms from her previous miscarriage had not fully subsided, and now they were resurfacing. Her face became pale, and she experienced a subtle ache in her waist and body. So, she could only watch as the woman in her arm slipped away from her grasp. When Elspeth grabbed the woman¡¯s waist just now, she noticed the woman¡¯s slightly protruding belly. Having been pregnant before, she recognized that the woman was likely three months along. Ignoring her own potential danger from inhaling the cold water, Elspeth urgently shouted for help, ¡°Please, help! She¡¯s pregnant!¡± As expected, she identally swallowed two mouthfuls of coldke water, causing a sharp pain in her throat. The man in the pavilion, who had previously ignored the situation, suddenly sprang into action upon hearing that the woman was pregnant. He used his immense strength to swim over and pull both women to safety. When passing by, Yozan noticed Elspeth¡¯s pale face and was surprised. However, he simply reached out to her and pulled her out of theke. Yozan had impressive arm strength and managed to rescue both people, despite the effort it took. The staff arrived promptly at that time, with a private doctor standing by with a grave expression to provide emergency medical treatment to the two people. The Sullivan Family¡¯s private doctor knew Elspeth and was about toe over to attend to her, but Elspeth coughed a few times and pointed to the unconscious girl on the ground, saying, ¡°Treat her first. She choked on water, and her condition is more critical.¡± The doctor followed her orders and crouched down to examine the girl. Elspeth couldn¡¯t resist reminding him, ¡°She¡¯s pregnant. Please check if the child in her belly is okay.¡± At that moment, the assistant also handed two towels to Elspeth, who gave one to Yozan. Yozan turned his head to look at her before taking the towel and softly saying, ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°I should be the one to thank you. If it weren¡¯t for you, I might have died,¡± Elspeth replied with a smile. She first wrung out the water from her hair. Then, she began to wipe it dry with care. Luckily, she wore a ck dress today. Otherwise, she might have embarrassed herself if it had gotten soaked through. ¡°Thank you for saving Elspeth. Don¡¯t worry. My private doctor is very capable and will ensure Cecelia¡¯s safety. However, both of your clothes are wet and cannot be worn. I have prepared spare clothes for you in the vi. Elspeth, you can wear mine, and as for Yozan, if you don¡¯t mind, Hank has a new suit that you can wear.¡± Yelena sincerely thanked Yozan upon seeing that Elspeth was safe. Elspeth suddenly realized that the girl who fell into the water was Hank¡¯s childhood friend, Cecelia. Therefore, Yozan must be the male lead in that love story Yelena had mentioned. However, Elspeth didn¡¯t have time to gossip at the moment. If this girl had fallen into the water due to her own mistake, it was still just an ident. However, if not¡­ Daring to cause trouble at Yelena¡¯s engagement party, huh? The perpetrator must have a death wish. Elspeth¡¯s eyes turned cold, and she turned to the assistant, ordering, ¡°Go and check who was on the boat in the middle of theke today.¡± Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Yozan was slightly stunned. He didn¡¯t expect her to have such meticulous thoughts in her mind. They really seemed to think alike. Yozan had noticed the slight resemnce between their features in theke earlier, and now that he had a closer look at her, he realized they were indeed extremely simr. She was like a female version of him. He wondered, Could it be that all of this was not just a coincidence? Chapter 561 Chapter 561 Chapter 561 Your Ugliness Disgusts Me Yozan politely asked, ¡°May I know how to address you, Miss?¡± Despite being aware of Elspeth¡¯s identity from the widespread news coverage, Yozan politely asked for her name. ¡°Elspeth Lynwood,¡± Elspeth responded with a smile, revealing her sparkling eyes and pearly white teeth. ¡°I¡¯m Yozan Harley.¡± After they both exchanged pleasantries, Yelena was worried about Elspeth¡¯s health and quickly had someone take them to change clothes. Their rooms happened to be located opposite each other, and as Elspeth was about to enter her room, she gave Yozan a quick look with an indescribable chill in her eyes. After changing clothes anding out, Yozan was waiting for her by the door. He stood with one hand in his pocket while smoothly pulling out a cigarette with the other. The long and evenly shaped cigarette looked even more elegant between his slender fingers. ¡°May I smoke?¡± he asked. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ¡°I think you¡¯re not just here for that, Mr. Harley.¡± Yozan looked at her and put the cigarette back in his pocket, saying seriously, ¡°I believe you¡¯re a smart person and should know the purpose of me waiting here, Miss Lynwood.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, Mr. Harley. You¡¯ll have to tell me.¡± She didn¡¯t like ying guessing games with people, but this man seemed to want to lead her on, and it was getting on her nerves. ¡°Miss Lynwood, you¡¯re good at scheming. How could you not understand my intentions?¡± Yozan brought up the matter of Arthur. However, Elspeth didn¡¯t want to talk too much about it with him. With a slight frown, her face immediately turned frosty. ¡°Mr. Harley, if you can¡¯t speak properly, there¡¯s nothing more for us to talk about.¡± She smiled and was about to turn around, but he stopped her. ¡°Miss Lynwood, in that case, I won¡¯t beat around the bush any longer.¡± Yozan took a few steps forward and stood in front of her. His gaze was fixed on her face as he said, ¡°Haven¡¯t you ever doubted your identity, Miss Lynwood?¡± Although he had never heard that he had any sisters or half-sisters, nor had he heard of any illegitimate children outside of his father¡¯s marriage, he had a sense of familiarity when he first saw Elspeth. His intuition had never been wrong. Elspeth shrugged, sounding casual as she said, ¡°Of course, I¡¯ve doubted it before. But so far, I don¡¯t have any evidence.¡± She was going to meet him anyway, so it was fine to say something. ¡°If you have the time, let¡¯s do a DNA test together,¡± Yozan said lightly. ¡°There may be a surprise.¡± Elspeth hadn¡¯t had a chance to respond when she suddenly heard hurried footstepsing from the corridor. Then, she was suddenly embraced in a tight hug. The familiar smell rushed into her nose, and Callum spoke quickly, ¡°Why were you so reckless? How can you save anyone you see drowning, seeing as your body isn¡¯t good, to begin with? What if something happens?¡± Callum was worried about her. He checked her up and down quickly, and seeing that there was nothing wrong with her, he let out a sigh of relief. ¡°It seems that the rumors are false. Although you two have divorced, your rtionship is still as good as ever,¡± Yozan remarked casually. Elspeth suddenly blushed, but she couldn¡¯t exin it. ¡°Mr. Harley, nice to meet you.¡± Callum nodded at him, but he had no intention of shaking hands. The man in front of him was clearly focused on Elspeth, which made him feel a little uneasy. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, please don¡¯t misunderstand. I have no romantic interest in your wife, but I do have a request,¡± Yozan said, looking deeply into Elspeth¡¯s eyes. ¡°Miss Lynwood, I hope you can give me an answer by tomorrow at 3.00PM.¡± With that, he turned and walked away. Callum looked at Yozan¡¯s departing figure and then turned to Elspeth, puzzled. ¡°How do you know this person?¡± he asked, knowing that Yozan was not someone to be taken lightly. Yozan had just returned to the country not long ago, so how did they know each other? Elspeth shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know him well. I just met him today, but there is actually something that I suspect.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I suspect that my true identity is rted to him.¡± With a deep and contemtive gaze, Elspeth watched Yozan leave with a carefree demeanor. ¡­ Although Cecelia¡¯s fall into the water was a sensational incident, the engagement ceremony was rtively uneventful. However, during Yelena¡¯s vows, a sudden disturbance erupted. While Yelena was speaking, a burst ofughter from the surrounding crowd caught her off guard, and her expression immediately soured. ¡°Excuse me, miss, do you have something to say?¡± Yelena¡¯s fiery temperament was already well-known, and the disrespect shown to her at her own engagement ceremony only stoked her anger. ¡°Not really.¡± The girl brushed her fingers through her hair and twisted her body, thinking herself quite charming as all eyes turned to her. ¡°I¡¯m just curious. How can someone from such a humble background marry into the illustrious Damazio Family? It¡¯s like casting pearls before swine, right?¡± After speaking, she shook her ss with a hint of regret. ¡°It¡¯s such a shame that someone has to forcefully take away someone else¡¯s marriage yet remain oblivious to it. It¡¯s truly ridiculous,¡± she remarked. Elspeth suspected that the girl was instigated by someone else to say such words. As she looked at the girl next to the speaker, who exuded a moreposed aura, she realized that this other girl was likely interested in Hank and had used her friend as a pawn. After hearing those remarks, theposed girl appeared slightly embarrassed, and she gently pulled the arm of the girl who made the snidement, advising her, ¡°This is someone else¡¯s engagement ceremony, so you really shouldn¡¯t say things like that. It could upset them.¡± ¡°Rosita, if I care about their emotions, who will care about yours? I thought it was all nned out. You should have been the true daughter-inw of the Damazio Family¡­¡± As soon as this was said, it immediately caused a huge uproar. Rosita Foley¡¯s face immediately turned pale, as if she had really been wronged. ¡°I¡¯m not¡­ Okay, you don¡¯t have to say anything more.¡± In the next moment, it appeared as if she would be mortified and embarrassed beyond repair. The other girl confidently held Rosita¡¯s hand, unaware she had fallen into a trap. ¡°I know you¡¯re sensitive and hesitant to speak up. Don¡¯t worry. As we¡¯re good friends, I¡¯ll definitely help you stand up for yourself.¡± She was Emmerlyn Godith, the heiress of the Godith Family, and even Hank¡¯s father had to respect her family. So, Hank had to give an exnation to her friend, no matter what. ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°Alright, no more ¡®buts.¡¯ I¡¯ve already said it. Just stay here and rx, and I¡¯ll take care of everything for you.¡± Emmerlyn confidently walked to the center of the stage in her high heels, raising her chin arrogantly and demanding, ¡°Excuse me, Miss Sullivan. Shouldn¡¯t you apologize for stealing someone else¡¯s husband?¡± Yelena was filled with anger, but as it was her engagement ceremony, and she was the host, she couldn¡¯t easily lose her temper. Suddenly, there was a round of apuse behind her. Emmerlyn was furious and turned her head to see who had spoiled the situation. Elspeth came into view with her nose covered and her eyes filled with disgust and mockery. ¡°Miss Godith, if that¡¯s the case, your unattractive face suddenly appearing in front of me is actually offensive to me. Please apologize to me.¡± Chapter 562 Chapter 562 Chapter 562 The Commotion at the Engagement Ceremony ¡°What do you mean by that? Whom are you calling ugly?¡± Emmerlyn¡¯s face changed instantly when she heard this. ¡°Miss, we don¡¯t have any issues with each other. You don¡¯t need to attack me like this.¡± She had been spoiled since she was a child, and this was the first time someone had called her ugly. Most importantly, the woman in front of her was several times more beautiful than her, and Emmerlyn couldn¡¯t find any words to provoke her. This is so frustrating! Elspeth crossed her arms and casually nced at Yelena on the stage. ¡°What grudges do you have against her? Do you really have to attack her like this?¡± Emmerlyn was stunned and couldn¡¯t find any words to refute her. ¡°Today is her big day. Miss Godith, if you continue to create problems here, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if Azure Corporation decides not to associate with the Godith Family in the future.¡± What was implied here was that if Emmerlyn dared to bully Elspeth¡¯s friend, she wouldn¡¯t do business with Emmerlyn¡¯s family. Emmerlyn wasn¡¯t an airhead; she knew some ins and outs of her family business. She had heard her father mention the cooperation between Azure Corporation and Godith Family before, and Elspeth was not someone she could easily offend. Nheless, she had already promised to defend Rosita, so retracting her words now would be difficult to exin. Emmerlyn found herself unable to respond and stood there feeling awkward. ¡°I¡­¡± Rosita saw that things were not going well but didn¡¯t want to give up this opportunity. She then deliberately pretended to be aggrieved to fan the mes and said unhappily, ¡°Okay, Emmie, I know you¡¯re doing this for my own good and to help vent on my behalf, but you don¡¯t need to do this. Today is Yelena¡¯s big day. I know they¡¯re ruining your reputation by saying all that. But if you ruin this engagement ceremony, then¡­¡± Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Emmerlyn was already a hot-tempered person with a big ego who cared about her reputation. When she heard Rosita¡¯s words, she even felt everyone around could see how awkward she was feeling. Thus, the anger that had just died down was suddenly ignited again. ¡°No, I have to help you vent today.¡± At this moment, Emmerlyn didn¡¯t care about family business issues, and her voice rose a few decibels. ¡°Miss Lynwood, you don¡¯t need to use this matter to threaten me. My Godith Family doesn¡¯t need your partnership.¡± ¡°Well then, let¡¯s add the Winthrop Family to your list of unneeded partnerships.¡± Callum, who had been silent on the side, also spoke up to defend Elspeth. His cold gaze fell on Emmerlyn, almost swallowing her whole. ¡°Um¡­¡± Emmerlyn swallowed hard and suddenly didn¡¯t know how to deal with this. She had already offended two families now and suddenly felt a little flustered. Was it worth it to offend Callum and Elspeth for Rosita? She wasn¡¯t sure yet. Hank, who had just helped out with the guests nearby, also noticed the situation and hurried over with a ss of wine in his hand. When Emmerlyn saw Hank, who was dressed in a white suit and looked dashing, she suddenly couldn¡¯t speak. Although she said she was standing up for Rosita, she had also done it because of her unspoken feelings for Hank. She had liked him for longer than Rosita had. However, she knew that Hank would never look at someone like her, andpared to Rosita, she was inferior in status. In any case, she would rather her best friend have Hank than someone else she didn¡¯t know. ¡°You¡¯re causing trouble at my engagement ceremony, huh?¡± Hank¡¯s eyes were calm without emotion, and Emmerlyn thought he didn¡¯t care about the engagement ceremony. So, she gathered her courage and spoke up, ¡°Hank, I know you actually have feelings for Rosita. Yelena is not worthy of you, so I¡¯m just standing up for you. I-I¡­¡± Speaking to someone she liked made her stutter. Hank chuckled lightly, his voice like thin ice as he said, ¡°So, I should thank you, is that it?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. It¡¯s what I should do.¡± Emmerlyn saw Hank smile at her for the first time and couldn¡¯t help but blush. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll give you a big gift.¡± Hank changed his tone. ¡°Starting today, the Damazio Family will cancel all partnerships with the Godith Family, and we will never coborate again.¡± This was truly a big gift. Emmerlyn¡¯s face turned pale in an instant. She had just offended Callum and Elspeth just now and nned to go home to apologize to her family. At most, she would be grounded for a few days, and it would pass. However, if it involved Hank¡­ She couldn¡¯t even imagine what the consequences would be. ¡°Hank, I was wrong! Please don¡¯t¡­ My dad will definitely beat me!¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. Let Mr. Godith teach you a lesson on how to behave properly.¡± Emmerlyn felt a deep sense of fear from the bottom of her heart. She didn¡¯t expect that what was just a small incident that shouldn¡¯t be causing too much negative impact would bring about such big trouble. She reached out to grab Hank¡¯s sleeve, but he dodged it at thest second. ¡°Take Miss Godith home,¡± he ordered his guards. Hank stood to the side with a cool andposed demeanor and a hint of disgust in his eyes. ¡°No, no, no!¡± Three or four security guards rushed up and grabbed Emmerlyn¡¯s arms, ready to drag her out. As Emmerlyn¡¯s voice gradually disappeared, Hank shifted his gaze back to Rosita. Having experienced Hank¡¯s wrath before, Rosita had no desire to y the innocent victim and kept her head down in silence, trying to distance herself. ¡°Miss Foley.¡± Hank¡¯s voice finally broke the silence like a spell. ¡°You don¡¯t need to use others to stir up trouble like this. I won¡¯t hold it against you this time out of respect for Mr. Foley, but next time might be a different story.¡± With Rosita¡¯s prestigious background, it was indeed troublesome to offend her. A few simple threats were enough. Rosita, being a clever woman, understood his intention, and the remaining trace of interest she had for him disappeared in an instant. She gave a faint smile and said, ¡°Mr. Damazio, I¡¯m sure you¡¯re joking. Of course, I would never d-do such a thing.¡± Publicly humiliating her and making her lose her reputation in front of so many people was already the biggest warning. Hank turned around gracefully. His eyes were now filled with deep affection for Yelena on the stage. Seeing his encouraging gaze, Yelena felt relieved all of a sudden. ¡°Well, it was just a little incident¡­¡± No one wanted to offend the Damazio Family, and with Callum and Elspeth¡¯s overt support, no one dared to continue talking or joking about the matter. The man sitting in the corner, who had watched the whole thing, sipped his drink with a hint of amusement as his smile grew wider. Chapter 563 Chapter 563 Chapter 563 nned to Push Her Overboard After the engagement ceremony, Yozan walked slowly toward Hank in the corner, his gaze intense. ¡°Mr. Damazio, I would like an exnation,¡± he said. Hank turned around, meeting the man¡¯s cold, unapproachable expression. ¡°What can I do for you, Mr. Harley?¡± Hank asked. ¡°You¡¯re aware that Cecelia fell into the water while being here, aren¡¯t you?¡± Hank knew of the incident but had no leads at the moment. ¡°So, what kind of exnation do you want from me?¡± Yozan yed with the ring on his thumb, his smile growing deeper. ¡°I¡¯ve already found out what happened to Cecelia, and all that¡¯s left now is for Mr. Damazio to get rid of your beloved.¡± His smile was pleasant, but the chill in his voice was unmistakable. When he mentioned ¡®get rid,¡¯ Hank¡¯s eyebrows twitched slightly as he sensed something was off. ¡°What do you mean?¡± he asked. ¡°My men have already found out who caused Cecelia¡¯s ident. It¡¯s quite unfortunate, but the person is a member of your Damazio Family. Furthermore, this person has confessed that they were acting on orders from your Mrs. Damazio herself.¡± Yozan¡¯s words implied that Yelena was the mastermind behind the whole incident. Hank¡¯s expression immediately grew cold. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. She¡¯s being framed.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already investigated the matter thoroughly. If I don¡¯t have evidence, why would I bothering to you?¡± Yozan was no longer civil, thinking Hank was trying to defend Yelena. ¡°Earlier, I didn¡¯t say anything to save your reputation during your engagement ceremony. However, if you insist on defending her, don¡¯t me me for being ruthless.¡± Yelena didn¡¯t know that such a thing was happening and rushed over while holding her dress after finishing up some business. She immediately threw her arms around Hank,ining, ¡°You don¡¯t know how tired I am. Engagement parties are such a hassle.¡± ¡°Miss Sullivan, you¡¯re just in time. Perhaps you can exin why you harmed Cecelia.¡± Yelena was in shock from being used and was at a loss for words. ¡°What are you talking about? I didn¡¯t harm anyone.¡± ¡°Acting innocent, huh?¡± Yozan sneered. ¡°How foolish.¡± ¡°Who are you calling foolish? What¡¯s wrong with you? You were fine earlier. Why are you suddenly like this?¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Yozan took a deep breath, his face turning sour. Most of the guests had already left, and Elspeth and Callum were alsoing over to say their goodbyes. Seeing Yelena almost on the verge of tears, Elspeth was surprised. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Is it because of what happened earlier?¡± ¡°No, Elspeth. He¡¯s using me of harming Cecelia. I don¡¯t even know what¡¯s going on.¡± Yelena pointed angrily at Yozan, almost copsing from rage. Elspeth was taken aback by Yozan¡¯s boldness, and although she was bewildered, her anger toward the usation against Yelena couldn¡¯t be suppressed. Therefore, when she spoke, her voice was icy. ¡°Mr. Harley, I¡¯m not sure how much you¡¯ve had to drink, but your words are bing increasingly careless and thoughtless.¡± ¡°This has nothing to do with you, Miss Lynwood. It¡¯s best if you don¡¯t get involved,¡± Yozan said. He couldn¡¯t involve her due to their familiarity with each other. Furthermore, this matter really had nothing to do with her. ¡°What do you mean it has nothing to do with me? The individual you¡¯re bullying happens to be my beloved Yelena. In all of Damoria, nobody would have the audacity to make her suffer in my presence.¡± Elspeth raised her chin and was determined to protect her friend. Callum was a bit moreposed and asked, ¡°What happened?¡± Yozan expressed his suspicion, saying, ¡°It¡¯s regarding Cecelia¡¯s fall into the water, and Yelena could be the one behind it.¡± Yelena immediately remembered what had happened in the morning and became angry at Yozan¡¯s usation. ¡°What are you talking about, Yozan? I tried to save her, and now you use me of causing it? You have a terrible mind!¡± ¡°I have a terrible mind? I think you have the biggest motive for doing this,¡± Yozan said. Then, he made a call, and soon, a person ran in. Then, the person knelt on the ground without saying a word. Elspeth carefully studied the person. The man had a strong physique but was not tall, and he had dark, shiny skin. ¡°Do you know this guy, Miss Sullivan?¡± Yozan asked. Yelena casually nced at the man on the ground and snorted, ¡°Where did you find this man? Did you get him to frame me as a witness?¡± The man on the ground panicked. His eyes went wide, and he looked frantic. ¡°Mrs. Damazio, you told me to do it. Yet, you deny knowing me?¡± ¡°When did I tell you to do that? Don¡¯t frame me!¡± Yelena tugged on Hank¡¯s sleeve and said desperately, ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything, and I don¡¯t know him.¡± Hank was silent for a moment and asked, ¡°Dino, why did you frame Mrs. Damazio?¡± Dino heard this and became anxious. He spoke with a bit of an ent from his hometown, ¡°I didn¡¯t frame Mrs. Damazio. I speak the truth. It was a moment of madness that led me to push Miss Cecelia into the water. I shouldn¡¯t have been greedy for money. I¡¯m willing to ept the punishment from you, Mr. Damazio.¡± He bowed on the ground, almost certain of the oue. ¡°See? Someone hase out to testify against you. What else can you say? You¡¯d better admit it and pay the price,¡± Yozan said impatiently. ¡°I didn¡¯t do it! No matter how many times you say it, I will not admit to something I haven¡¯t done!¡± Yelena was angry. She walked straight to Dino and grabbed his clothes. ¡°I don¡¯t even know you. Who sent you to frame me?¡± ¡°Mrs. Damazio, just admit it.¡± Dino raised his head, ncing nervously at Hank and Yozan before lowering his head again. ¡°I think it¡¯s wrong to lie to people.¡± ¡°Yet, you lied even though you think it¡¯s wrong. This boatman from the Damazio Family sure is something.¡± Elspethughed, covering her mouth. Sheughed heartily, but in the quiet atmosphere, herughter seemed a bit frightening. ¡°How did you know he¡¯s a boatman? I didn¡¯t say anything about his identity.¡± As Elspeth nonchntly revealed the boatman¡¯s identity, Yozan¡¯s suspicion grew stronger. Perhaps, his earlier spection was wrong; Elspeth could have been involved, too. ¡°Stop staring at me like that, Mr. Harley. Don¡¯t you observe someone when you meet them for the first time? Short-sleeved shirts, shorts, and vests are obvious signs of a boatman¡¯s attire. Plus, his skin is dark from working by the water for years. If I¡¯m right, he should be a southerner, too.¡± Elspeth smiled and looked at Dino as if she could see through him, making him feel a bit uneasy. Dino couldn¡¯t articte his feelings, but his inner sense of unease continued to intensify. Chapter 564 Chapter 564 Chapter 564 Speak the Truth ¡°Miss Lynwood, you¡¯re indeed very intelligent,¡± Yozan coldly snorted, dispelling any doubts he had. ¡°So, may I ask, do you have any evidence to prove that Yelena instructed you to do these things?¡± The man suddenly became confused. He felt like the woman in front of him was not easy to fool. ¡°I can definitely provide evidence.¡± The man pulled out his phone from his pocket and showed her the transaction record. ¡°Look, this is the money transfer that Miss Sullivan made to me.¡± Elspeth casually nced at it and confirmed that it was indeed the Sullivan Family¡¯s credit card. She read out the string of numbers and asked Yelena, ¡°Are you still using this card?¡± Yelena¡¯s face turned pale in an instant. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m still using this credit card,¡± Yelena admitted. She never paid much attention to the details of her spending since her father directly deposited money into her credit card. She hurriedly checked the credit card¡¯s expenditure record and found that it was missing 30 thousand. ¡°I don¡¯t know what happened, but I really didn¡¯t transfer any money to him. I don¡¯t even know him.¡± However, her defense seemed weak. Yozan made a final judgment, almost certain that Yelena was the culprit. ¡°Miss Sullivan, I advise you to admit your mistake and not escte the situation.¡± Yozan signaled to the people around, and in the next moment, a few of them tried to grab Yelena. Hank quickly shielded her, looking very upset. ¡°What are you trying to do, Mr. Harley?¡± ¡°At the very least, she should apologize to Cecelia, and then¡­ kneel down before Cecelia. If Cecelia doesn¡¯t mind, then it¡¯s no big deal.¡± Although there was no actual harm done, the humiliation was something Yelena couldn¡¯t bear. ¡°I didn¡¯t do those things. I¡¯m not going to apologize.¡± Yelena poked her head out from behind and refused to admit her guilt. ¡°That¡¯s not up to you, Miss Sullivan,¡± Yozan warned her. ¡°Mr. Harley, don¡¯t act recklessly for now,¡± Elspeth said with a half-smile and her tone was somewhat threatening. ¡°The matter has not been resolved yet. How can you just take someone away?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t what I saw the truth?¡± Yozan realized that she was just trying to buy time, and his favorable impression of her vanished. He had thought that someone so simr to himself would at least be his equal in rationality, but he didn¡¯t expect her to be like this. Elspeth didn¡¯t rush to refute, but slowly said, ¡°Give me some time, and I¡¯ll be able to find out the truth of the matter.¡± Yozan¡¯s patience was almost gone. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll give you 10 more minutes, and then I must take her away.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Elspeth walked slowly to the man who was kneeling, bent down, and asked with a smile, ¡°Excuse me, you said Yelena asked you to do this. When did you meet her?¡± The man¡¯s brain worked quickly, and he continued, ¡°It was the night beforest. She met me and ordered me to push Miss Cecelia into theke on the day of the engagement party.¡± It sounded usible. However¡­ ¡°The night beforest, that¡¯s¡­ The timing does match up.¡± Elspeth nodded thoughtfully. It seemed that this person knew Yelena¡¯s schedule well and chose the right time. Yelena was furious. ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? I went to try on my wedding dress that night. How could I have met you?¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. The man knew that he shouldn¡¯t say too much and quickly nced at Yelena before lowering his head again. ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth,¡± the man insisted. ¡°Fine, that¡¯s not important. Let¡¯s move on to the next question,¡± Elspeth said, stroking her chin. ¡°Are you sure everything you just said is true?¡± The man nodded earnestly. This was something he had prepared in advance, and it was foolproof. Elspeth sneered, ¡°Then tell me, how did Yelena know that Cecelia would definitely get on that boat?¡± The man gritted his teeth and replied, ¡°Miss Sullivan said that Miss Yhorman came from Southern Damoria and would definitely go boating.¡± ¡°Then why would she tell someone she isn¡¯t familiar with about the fact that she came from Southern Damoria?¡± Elspeth raised an eyebrow. ¡°I-I don¡¯t know. That¡¯s just what was said at the time. I¡¯m just a boatman. This is all I know.¡± The man stuck to his original statement. Elspeth shook her head, looking a little regretful. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but you¡¯ve been exposed.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± The man was a little stunned. ¡°First of all, Cecelia never had a private conversation with Yelena, so she had no way of knowing that Cecelia was from Southern Damoria.¡± Hank nodded in agreement. ¡°Secondly, only a handful of people know that Cecelia is from Southern Damoria. Probably only those close to her would know.¡± The man snorted. ¡°What does that prove? Maybe they told each other. It has nothing to do with me.¡± Elspeth smirked. ¡°Finally, and most importantly, when Cecelia fell from the boat, I witnessed a woman pushing her. Coincidentally, this ring on my hand has recording capabilities, and of course, it¡¯s waterproof. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not lying to you. If you still don¡¯t want to tell the truth, don¡¯t me me for being ruthless toward you.¡± Elspeth was clearly smiling, but there was a hint of killing intent in her smile. The man panicked; he didn¡¯t expect this woman to be so clever and meticulous in her thinking. She even had concrete evidence to refute him. Elspeth stared directly into his eyes, waiting for him to continue. The man couldn¡¯t handle the pressure, and in the end, he caved. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have falsely used Miss Sullivan.¡± Elspeth shrugged as if she had expected this all along. Yozan didn¡¯t expect her to actually uncover the truth of the matter. He checked his watch and saw that only seven minutes had passed. ¡°Tell us the truth of what you know!¡± Yelena squatted down and grabbed his cor, threatening him with a fierce expression. Seeing her lose her temper and on the ground in her wedding dress, Hank quickly pulled her up. ¡°Okay, don¡¯t be angry. Let me handle this.¡± Hank stared at the man in front of him. His tone was icy as he said, ¡°Who told you to lie?¡± The man was trembling and couldn¡¯t even kneel properly. ¡°I-It was Miss Foley!¡± Chapter 565 Chapter 565 Chapter 565 Clearing a Wrongful Conviction Rosita Foley? She¡¯s remarkable, huh? Hank¡¯s face grew even darker. ¡°Why did she want to harm Cecelia?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about that. I¡¯m just a hired hand. Miss Foley promised to pay me 300 thousand after it was done.¡± The man knelt on the ground, still trembling. He regretted taking this job and didn¡¯t know how he had been persuaded to do something like this. Knowing Hank¡¯s personality, he would surely be punished severely. Thinking of his fate, he couldn¡¯t help but feel dejected. ¡°What else did Rosita say to you?¡± ¡°S-She said I have to pin the me on Yelena and make everyone think Yelena did it.¡± So, everything Rosita did was just to frame Yelena. The truth was finally revealed. Elspeth raised an eyebrow and looked at Yozan with some disdain. ¡°Mr. Harley, next time when you apprehend someone, please make sure you have enough evidence and understand the truth of the matter.¡± Yozan was indeed too hasty this time, and he couldn¡¯t refute her. He shifted all his anger onto the man kneeling in front of him. ¡°So, you harmed Cecelia and framed Yelena. Is that right?¡± The man widened his eyes and tried to defend himself before things got worse. ¡°I only framed Yelena, but I didn¡¯t push Cecelia into the water.¡± ¡°Are you saying that Rosita herself pushed Cecelia into the water?¡± The man nodded hurriedly. ¡°Okay, I got it.¡± Yozan waved his hand, and the group of bodyguards surrounded the man and dragged him away. Yelena, relieved of the injustice, swung Elspeth¡¯s hand back and forth in admiration. ¡°Elspeth, did you really record what happened?¡± She was more impressed by Elspeth¡¯s foresight. Elspeth smiled wryly. ¡°Of course not. I wouldn¡¯t have known to record the scene ahead of time. Besides, how can a small ring have such a big function?¡± Yelena was surprised. ¡°So, you were just bluffing?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Elspeth blinked. ¡°That person was too stupid to notice.¡± Yelena couldn¡¯t help but give her a thumbs up. ¡°You¡¯re really amazing. How did you figure out that someone else pushed Cecelia into the water?¡± Elspeth calmly exined, ¡°He needed both hands to paddle the boat, so he didn¡¯t have the time or energy to push Cecelia. That would be illogical.¡± She had spent some time in Southern Damoria before and knew that paddling a wooden boat required the use of both hands simultaneously, but this man had overlooked this point. Rosito Foley? She¡¯s remorkoble, huh? Honk¡¯s foce grew even dorker. ¡°Why did she wont to horm Cecelio?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know onything obout thot. I¡¯m just o hired hond. Miss Foley promised to poy me 300 thousond ofter it wos done.¡± The mon knelt on the ground, still trembling. He regretted toking this job ond didn¡¯t know how he hod been persuoded to do something like this. Knowing Honk¡¯s personolity, he would surely be punished severely. Thinking of his fote, he couldn¡¯t help but feel dejected. ¡°Whot else did Rosito soy to you?¡± ¡°S-She soid I hove to pin the blome on Yeleno ond moke everyone think Yeleno did it.¡± So, everything Rosito did wos just to frome Yeleno. The truth wos finolly reveoled. Elspeth roised on eyebrow ond looked ot Yozon with some disdoin. ¡°Mr. Horley, next time when you opprehend someone, pleose moke sure you hove enough evidence ond understond the truth of the motter.¡± Yozon wos indeed too hosty this time, ond he couldn¡¯t refute her. He shifted oll his onger onto the mon kneeling in front of him. ¡°So, you hormed Cecelio ond fromed Yeleno. Is thot right?¡± The mon widened his eyes ond tried to defend himself before things got worse. ¡°I only fromed Yeleno, but I didn¡¯t push Cecelio into the woter.¡± ¡°Are you soying thot Rosito herself pushed Cecelio into the woter?¡± The mon nodded hurriedly. ¡°Okoy, I got it.¡± Yozon woved his hond, ond the group of bodyguords surrounded the mon ond drogged him owoy. Yeleno, relieved of the injustice, swung Elspeth¡¯s hond bock ond forth in odmirotion. ¡°Elspeth, did you reolly record whot hoppened?¡± She wos more impressed by Elspeth¡¯s foresight. Elspeth smiled wryly. ¡°Of course not. I wouldn¡¯t hove known to record the scene oheod of time. Besides, how con o smoll ring hove such o big function?¡± Yeleno wos surprised. ¡°So, you were just bluffing?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Elspeth blinked. ¡°Thot person wos too stupid to notice.¡± Yeleno couldn¡¯t help but give her o thumbs up. ¡°You¡¯re reolly omozing. How did you figure out thot someone else pushed Cecelio into the woter?¡± Elspeth colmly exploined, ¡°He needed both honds to poddle the boot, so he didn¡¯t hove the time or energy to push Cecelio. Thot would be illogicol.¡± She hod spent some time in Southern Domorio before ond knew thot poddling o wooden boot required the use of both honds simultoneously, but this mon hod overlooked this point. ¡°Rosita is really cunning. She pushed Cecelia into the water and then pinned the me on me. She even instigated Emmerlyn to cause trouble at my engagement banquet.¡± Yelena was still angry about it. ¡°There¡¯s one more thing.¡± Yelena turned to her and asked, ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Elspeth¡¯s gaze was profound, and it stirred up ripples in her otherwise serene eyes. ¡°How did Rosita make 30,000 disappear from your credit card?¡± Yelena suddenly realized. ¡°Right, it did show that 30,000 was missing from my card. How did Rosita do it?¡± Hank added, ¡°Even if she hacked into your ount, she still would have needed someone to provide information.¡± Elspeth looked sharply at them as she said, ¡°Someone around you is causing trouble.¡± Someone around Yelena had defected and be a spy. ¡°I don¡¯t think I know many people. Just you, Hank, Ms. Foley, um¡ª¡± Elspeth immediately interrupted her, ¡°What¡¯s your assistant¡¯s surname?¡± ¡°Foley,¡± replied Yelena, who suddenly realized it at the same time. This situation was serious, so Hank quickly made a decision. ¡°I¡¯ll investigate the rtionship between Rosita and Ms. Foley.¡± Yozan narrowed his eyes. All these things were irrelevant to him. He only cared about who hurt Cecelia. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go deal with this woman called Rosita.¡± Whoever dared to mess with him and almost hurt his child didn¡¯t deserve to live. ¡­ Three dayster, a video appeared online out of nowhere. A woman was tied to a chair, stripped naked, and covered in a greasy substance. Then, several burly men came in and started mocking her with vulgarnguage. They threw her onto the bed and took turns viting her. Although they were viting her, there was a noticeably intoxicated smile on her face. The video was incredibly explicit, and within a day, it had been reshared over 10 million times. The most shocking thing was that the female lead in the video was none other than Rosita Foley, the heiress of the Foley Family. The Foley Family realized the severity of the situation and sent people to suppress the news, but the video had been saved by many people. Even if they deleted the source file of the video, they could not stop others from privately circting it. Rosita waspletely ruined. When Elspeth saw the news, she couldn¡¯t help but sigh in her heart. Yozan¡¯s methods were ruthless and unpredictable, but indeed, Rosita had nearly harmed his beloved woman and child. Any man wouldn¡¯t easily let such a person go. When Yelena called, Elspeth had just closed the horrible video. When Elspeth saw the news, she couldn¡¯t help but sigh in her heart. Yozan¡¯s methods were ruthless and unpredictable, but indeed, Rosita had nearly harmed his beloved woman and child. Any man wouldn¡¯t easily let such a person go. When Yelena called, Elspeth had just closed the horrible video. ¡°Elspeth, have you seen that video?¡± Yelena¡¯s tone was full of smugness and gloating. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to Yozan. He truly believes in the principle of ¡®an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth¡¯. Now, Rosita won¡¯t dare to mess with us again. However¡­ I feel like what we did might be a bit too much. Rosita suffered a lot.¡± Although Yelena was pleased with the oue, she couldn¡¯t help but feel that their actions were inhumane. As a kind-hearted person who didn¡¯t fully understand the ways of the world, she sympathized with someone who had ill intentions toward her. Elspeth didn¡¯t feel that Yozan¡¯s actions were excessive. On the contrary, she thought that he had done just enough. In her opinion, true revenge meant bringing the other person down to the same level, nothing more and nothing less. ¡°By the way, Cecelia is still in the hospital. Are you free today? Come with me to visit her,¡± Yelena suggested. After all, the incident happened at her engagement banquet, so it was only appropriate for her to visit Cecelia. Elspeth nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s go today then.¡± She quickly packed a bag and headed to Damoria Hospital. When Elspeth arrived, she saw Yelena¡¯s car parked downstairs. As she approached the door of the room Yelena told her, she heard the sound of breaking ssesing from inside. Elspeth¡¯s heart tightened, and she pushed the door open.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Chapter 566 Chapter 566 Chapter 566 Studying Abroad However, upon pushing the door open, she was caught off guard by the scene inside. Yozan was standing amidst shattered ss, showing no intention of moving. ¡°Can you please stop showing up?¡± Cecelia¡¯s face turned pale and her emotions were unstable. ¡°I¡¯ve told you that I don¡¯t want to see you again. Don¡¯t you understand humannguage?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Yozan had no intention of leaving just like that. He even wanted to step forward and grasp her restless hand. ¡°Don¡¯te any closer!¡± Cecelia waspletely annoyed. She had never encountered such an insistent man. ¡°I¡¯ve already told you that I have never loved you. We were just friends with benefits. Do you know what that means?¡± ¡°Cecelia, don¡¯t you think what you¡¯re saying is disgusting?¡± Yozan couldn¡¯t care less about her pregnancy and the need to care for a pregnant woman¡¯s emotions. He simply said what was on his mind. ¡°You mean you¡¯ve never liked me?¡± ¡°Of course not. I¡¯ve told you countless times. I hope you can realize the true nature of our rtionship. I even went back home to avoid you. Can¡¯t you see that?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe it. Why did you have my child then?¡± Speaking of the child in her belly, Cecelia couldn¡¯t help but show a contemptuous smile. ¡°Yozan, just because I¡¯m pregnant with your child doesn¡¯t mean I want to be with you. Do you think I would use a child to threaten you to be with me? Don¡¯t be silly. It¡¯s just a child. The Yhorman Family can afford to raise it. Or is it that you think this child is important and must be taken back to the Harley Family?¡±N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. ¡°You know that the one I really care about isn¡¯t the child.¡± Cecelia didn¡¯t seem to understand as she asked, ¡°Mr. Harley, are you worried that you won¡¯t have an heir? Surely you won¡¯t becking in that aspect¡­¡± ¡°You!¡± ¡°What about me? Don¡¯t you understand what I¡¯m saying?¡± With that, Cecelia no longer wanted to look Yozan in the eye. Pointing at the door and lifting her chin, she said, ¡°Mr. Harley, please leave now and don¡¯t ever show up again.¡± Yozan clenched his fists, making a cracking sound. ¡°What are you waiting for? Do I have to personally show you out?¡± Cecelia was very clear in her goal to drive him away. As soon as the words fell, a loud mming sound echoed through the room, almost scaring her. Luckily, he was gone. However, upon pushing the door open, she wos cought off guord by the scene inside. Yozon wos stonding omidst shottered gloss, showing no intention of moving. ¡°Con you pleose stop showing up?¡± Cecelio¡¯s foce turned pole ond her emotions were unstoble. ¡°I¡¯ve told you thot I don¡¯t wont to see you ogoin. Don¡¯t you understond humon longuoge?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Yozon hod no intention of leoving just like thot. He even wonted to step forword ond grosp her restless hond. ¡°Don¡¯te ony closer!¡± Cecelio wospletely onnoyed. She hod never encountered such on insistent mon. ¡°I¡¯ve olreody told you thot I hove never loved you. We were just friends with benefits. Do you know whot thot meons?¡± ¡°Cecelio, don¡¯t you think whot you¡¯re soying is disgusting?¡± Yozon couldn¡¯t core less obout her pregnoncy ond the need to core for o pregnont womon¡¯s emotions. He simply soid whot wos on his mind. ¡°You meon you¡¯ve never liked me?¡± ¡°Of course not. I¡¯ve told you countless times. I hope you con reolize the true noture of our relotionship. I even went bock home to ovoid you. Con¡¯t you see thot?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe it. Why did you hove my child then?¡± Speoking of the child in her belly, Cecelio couldn¡¯t help but show o contemptuous smile. ¡°Yozon, just becouse I¡¯m pregnont with your child doesn¡¯t meon I wont to be with you. Do you think I would use o child to threoten you to be with me? Don¡¯t be silly. It¡¯s just o child. The Yhormon Fomily con offord to roise it. Or is it thot you think this child is importont ond must be token bock to the Horley Fomily?¡± ¡°You know thot the one I reolly core obout isn¡¯t the child.¡± Cecelio didn¡¯t seem to understond os she osked, ¡°Mr. Horley, ore you worried thot you won¡¯t hove on heir? Surely you won¡¯t be locking in thot ospect¡­¡± ¡°You!¡± ¡°Whot obout me? Don¡¯t you understond whot I¡¯m soying?¡± With thot, Cecelio no longer wonted to look Yozon in the eye. Pointing ot the door ond lifting her chin, she soid, ¡°Mr. Horley, pleose leove now ond don¡¯t ever show up ogoin.¡± Yozon clenched his fists, moking o crocking sound. ¡°Whot ore you woiting for? Do I hove to personolly show you out?¡± Cecelio wos very cleor in her gool to drive him owoy. As soon os the words fell, o loud slomming sound echoed through the room, olmost scoring her. Luckily, he wos gone. Cecelia calmed her racing heart and turned her head only to meet Elspeth¡¯s scrutinizing gaze. ¡°Why did you say something so insincere?¡± Cecelia¡¯s attempt to deceive was exposed, causing her to feel a little ashamed as she touched her nose. ¡°What are you talking about? I just don¡¯t want him to bother me again. I don¡¯t really like him that much.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ Okay, let¡¯s not talk about that anymore. Miss Lynwood, are you here to visit me today?¡± Cecelia and Elspeth didn¡¯t know each other, but she was grateful to Elspeth for jumping into the water to save her. As for that guy¡­ Let¡¯s not mention him. ¡°Yes, Yelena invited me to visit you. I have some free time, so I came. By the way, where¡¯s Yelena?¡± Elspeth looked around but didn¡¯t see Yelena anywhere. Elspeth looked at Cecelia, who shrugged helplessly. ¡°Don¡¯t you know that that couple is all lovey- dovey? They came empty-handed, so I sent them to buy some fruit downstairs.¡± Just as she finished speaking, Yelena¡¯s clear voice exploded at the door. ¡°Cecelia, we¡¯re back!¡± ¡°Great, did you buy the mangosteens I wanted?¡± Yelena presented a pile of fruits to Cecelia with a beaming smile. ¡°Of course! Not just mangosteens, but every fruit you love to eat. You have no idea how good Hank¡¯s memory is; he remembers every fruit you like!¡± Cecelia¡¯s eyes glistened briefly before she smiled. ¡°That¡¯s good then. After all, we grew up together. If he couldn¡¯t remember these things, I¡¯d be mad.¡± Cecelia cast a nce at Hank, who looked normal, and she felt slightly relieved. ¡°When you¡¯re discharged tomorrow, I¡¯ll take you out for a meal to make up for it,¡± Yelena said, holding Cecelia¡¯s hand like she had found a kindred spirit. The two women had simr personalities, and they chatted non-stop. It wasn¡¯t until Elspeth cleared her throat in the corner to announce her presence that Yelena noticed her. ¡°Elspeth, you¡¯re here!¡± Yelena¡¯s eyes lit up, and she was about to rush over and pounce on Elspeth when Elspeth put a finger to her forehead. ¡°Slow down. Don¡¯t fall over.¡± ¡°Slow down. Don¡¯t fall over.¡± Yelena sat down next to Elspeth and picked up a peach to eat. ¡°When did you get here?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been here for about 10 minutes,¡± Elspeth replied. ¡°It¡¯s weird that Yozan didn¡¯te today. How rare,¡± Yelena said after taking a bite. ¡°Does he usuallye?¡± Elspeth asked. When the topic was brought up, Yelena was so eager to talk about it that she didn¡¯t even bother eating her peach. ¡°Yozan is really persistent. He keepsing even after being rejected every time,¡± Yelena said with a sigh. ¡°He was here just now,¡± Elspeth said. Yelena was momentarily stunned before realization struck her. ¡°No wonder the ce is such a mess. I thought it was Cecelia who identally broke the ss. Looks like things got pretty heated. It¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll clean up in a bit.¡± Elspeth had observed everyone carefully and thought that this matter was not so simple, and even Cecelia seemed moreplex than she appeared. ¡°So, what¡¯s the deal between Cecelia and that man?¡± Yelena was about to speak, but Cecelia interjected loudly, ¡°Hey, can you two please consider the feelings of the people involved? Shouldn¡¯t I be the one to exin my own affairs?¡± Yelena indeed felt like she crossed the line, so she awkwardly smiled and stuck out her tongue. ¡°Okay, you go ahead.¡± Cecelia sighed deeply. ¡°Here¡¯s the thing¡­¡± As Elspeth listened to her ount, she suddenly felt like she knew this story all too well. In fact, Elspeth could still vividly recall it herself. Four years ago, Cecelia left Damoria to study abroad. It was her first time traveling so far from home, and she never thought she would leave her family or her neighbor Hank, but she wanted to pursue her dreams, so going abroad was the best choice. So, she said goodbye to her parents and Hank, and set out on her journey to a foreign country. The Yhorman Family was a big family involved in business, so they naturally wouldn¡¯t let her suffer out there alone. They arranged everything for her, but¡­ Chapter 567 Chapter 567 Chapter 567 Self-Preservation On her third day there, she met someone. It was a Friday, and she came back to her small vi after school only to find a person covered in blood at her doorstep. The boy was wearing an expensive dress shirt and seemed to be a scion of a wealthy family who was being pursued by his enemies. He also looked like a Charic. Her mom had told her to help out fellow countrymen when abroad and a host of other things¡­ but her life was more important. Despite feeling sorry for him, Cecelia chose to protect herself, because what if she was also targeted for retaliation? She threw a bottle of medicine at him from inside the house and called the ambnce, but the bottle of medicine hit Yozan on the head. Yozan had thought that this young girl, who looked quite kind, would help him, but he never expected her to be so clever. The impact from the bottle made his difort even worse. ¡°I¡­¡± His voice was hoarse, and he was about to reach out, but Cecelia yelled at him from behind the window with a look of nervousness on her face. ¡°Okay, stop. I know you may be seriously injured, and I¡¯ve called the police for you, but¡­ um, don¡¯t come over, and don¡¯t say you know me. It¡¯s not easy for a young girl like me to live alone abroad. Let¡¯s just be strangers.¡± Ceceliaughed nervously and quickly closed the window. Yozan never expected to encounter such a ridiculous situation, but fortunately, the ambnce arrived quickly, and he was carried away on a stretcher. Before leaving, he took a deep look at the window, where a figure could be seen vaguely moving. ¡°Is she so afraid of death?¡± He smirked and let out a hoarseugh. Cecelia thought she had gotten herself into big trouble because she had been feeling like someone was following her recently. Every day after school, she would look around to make sure she was safe before continuing on her way. As she walked, she silently cursed her father for buying a vi in such a remote location. ¡°I pray for my safety as a young girl living alone abroad,¡± she closed her eyes and prayed, but the next second, she bumped into someone¡¯s chest. Cecelia lifted her head and saw a boy in front of her with a smile on his face, looking at her with amusement. ¡°Why are you praying?¡± Cecelia¡¯s face turned red, and because she didn¡¯t know the boy in front of her, she stepped back warily. On her third doy there, she met someone. It wos o Fridoy, ond shee bock to her smoll villo ofter school only to find o person covered in blood ot her doorstep. The boy wos weoring on expensive dress shirt ond seemed to be o scion of o weolthy fomily who wos being pursued by his enemies. He olso looked like o Choric. Her mom hod told her to help out fellow countrymen when obrood ond o host of other things¡­ but her life wos more importont. Despite feeling sorry for him, Cecelio chose to protect herself, becouse whot if she wos olso torgeted for retoliotion? She threw o bottle of medicine ot him from inside the house ond colled the ombulonce, but the bottle of medicine hit Yozon on the heod. Yozon hod thought thot this young girl, who looked quite kind, would help him, but he never expected her to be so clever. The impoct from the bottle mode his difort even worse. ¡°I¡­¡± His voice wos hoorse, ond he wos obout to reoch out, but Cecelio yelled ot him from behind the window with o look of nervousness on her foce. ¡°Okoy, stop. I know you moy be seriously injured, ond I¡¯ve colled the police for you, but¡­ um, don¡¯t come over, ond don¡¯t soy you know me. It¡¯s not eosy for o young girl like me to live olone obrood. Let¡¯s just be strongers.¡± Cecelio loughed nervously ond quickly closed the window. Yozon never expected to encounter such o ridiculous situotion, but fortunotely, the ombulonce orrived quickly, ond he wos corried owoy on o stretcher. Before leoving, he took o deep look ot the window, where o figure could be seen voguely moving. ¡°Is she so ofroid of deoth?¡± He smirked ond let out o hoorse lough. Cecelio thought she hod gotten herself into big trouble becouse she hod been feeling like someone wos following her recently. Every doy ofter school, she would look oround to moke sure she wos sofe before continuing on her woy. As she wolked, she silently cursed her fother for buying o villo in such o remote locotion. ¡°I proy for my sofety os o young girl living olone obrood,¡± she closed her eyes ond proyed, but the next second, she bumped into someone¡¯s chest. Cecelio lifted her heod ond sow o boy in front of her with o smile on his foce, looking ot her with omusement. ¡°Why ore you proying?¡± Cecelio¡¯s foce turned red, ond becouse she didn¡¯t know the boy in front of her, she stepped bock worily. ¡°Who are you?¡± Cecelia asked. Pointing at his own name tag and spreading his hands, the boy said with a shrug, ¡°Your ssmate.¡± Cecelia was too nervous to notice that the boy was wearing the same school uniform as her, and he looked particrly handsome in it with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long legs. His height of 6 feet 1 inches could make anyone fall for him. ¡°Do you remember me, Cecelia?¡± The boy called her by her name so easily that Cecelia panicked. ¡°Not only did you follow me, but you also investigated me!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t. Your name is on your name tag,¡± Yozan said, looking a bit helpless. He wondered if this girl was really the second-ranked student in their ss. Cecelia nced at his name tag, where she saw his name, Yozan Harley, in big letters. ¡°Why did you follow me?¡± Cecelia asked nervously. ¡°I didn¡¯t follow you. I¡¯m just walking home with you,¡± Yozan said naturally, taking Cecelia¡¯s bag and slinging it over his shoulder. Cecelia suddenly eximed, ¡°That¡¯s my bag! Give it back to me!¡± Yozan weighed the bag in his hand and asked, ¡°What¡¯s inside?¡± Cecelia blushed and said, ¡°Why do you ask so many questions?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t tell me, I¡¯ll look inside myself,¡± Yozan said with a grin. Yozan was about to open the bag when Cecelia quickly grabbed his hand and said, ¡°Stop it! I¡¯ll tell you!¡± ¡°Books,¡± she exined. ¡°And?¡± Yozan asked. ¡°A camera,¡± Cecelia said. ¡°What else?¡± ¡°Umm¡­ sanitary pads,¡± Cecelia said. Yozan touched his nose and decided not to ask any more questions. The two of them walked along the busy street, and Yozan¡¯s handsome face attracted many foreign women¡¯s admiring nces. Cecelia looked at him and secretlybeled him as a ¡®mboyant peacock¡¯. ¡°Why are you going the same way as me? I¡¯m almost home now,¡± Cecelia said. Standing in front of her vi, she looked a bit helpless. ¡°What¡¯s your purpose for following me? I know I¡¯m beautiful, but you don¡¯t have to¡­¡± Yozan opened the gate next to Cecelia¡¯s vi with a snap, cutting her off mid-sentence. ¡°Haha¡­ Turns out we¡¯re neighbors. Nice to meet you¡­¡± Ceceliaughed awkwardly, wishing she could p herself. Unfortunately, her wee did not receive a response. She looked up and saw that the boy had already gone inside his vi. She was left standing alone in the wind. Unfortunately, her wee did not receive a response. She looked up and saw that the boy had already gone inside his vi. She was left standing alone in the wind. After a while, Cecelia realized that her bag was still with Yozan. ¡°Wait, my bag is still with you!¡± she eximed. Azy voice came from the vi. ¡°I¡¯ll give it back to you tomorrow morning when we go to school.¡± Does that mean I have to go to school with this guy? From then on, she was forced to start a routine of going to school anding back from school together with this guy. She had asked him many times what his purpose was for getting close to her, but she never got a response. So, she decided to temporarily put the guy under observation. A weekter, during a school exam, she was surprised to find that the guy was seated in front of her and was caught cheating. When caught, Yozan calmly stood up from his chair and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t cheat.¡± However, the school administration didn¡¯t care and wanted to take him and his exam paper away. ¡°Wait, I can testify that this person didn¡¯t cheat.¡± Yozan turned around and looked at Cecelia behind him. Although she was cowardly, she still raised her hand to help him seek justice. He let out a chuckle. ¡°This matter has nothing to do with you, so don¡¯t get involved.¡± He smiled and patted her head, but Cecelia couldn¡¯t care less at this point. Since she had already spoken up, she had to see it through to the end. ¡°I saw someone slip a note onto his desk with my own eyes. He definitely didn¡¯t cheat.¡± Cecelia nodded with conviction. ¡°I can testify to that.¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Yozan¡¯s gaze deepened, but he couldn¡¯t quite ce the feeling. However, the disciplinary teacher assumed that the two of them had a close rtionship, and both Cecelia and Yozan were suspended from the exam and brought to the disciplinary office. The two of them stood in the office, waiting for the principal to arrive. Yozan stood there nonchntly and nced at the top of Cecelia¡¯s head. ¡°Aren¡¯t you usually timid and afraid of getting into trouble? Why did you testify for me? Aren¡¯t you afraid of being retaliated against by whoever slipped me the note?¡± Chapter 568 Chapter 568 Chapter 568 I Won¡¯t Judge You When Cecelia heard the word ¡°retaliation,¡± she shrank back a little. ¡°I forgot.¡± Cecelia had only been focused on advocating for Yozan just now and had forgotten that she would have inadvertently offended the person who was trying to cause Yozan trouble. Since that person was trying to frame Yozan, the person must have prepared for everything that could happen. She had just stood up so boldly to vouch for him, which meant she would probably get dragged into it too. Even the person who had thrown the note at Yozan might not spare her. ¡°You two are quite bold.¡± The two of them were whispering to each other while the disciplinary teacher was lecturing them on the side. Seeing that they didn¡¯t respect him at all and were speaking to each other while he was talking, he got angry. The disciplinary teacher spoke fluent Edenese and criticized them particrly harshly. Cecelia shrunk in embarrassment and didn¡¯t know what to do. Soon, the principal came over. He looked at Yozan, then at Cecelia. With a deep gaze, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± ¡°Hello, sir. I¡¯m Cecelia from the student exchange ss. Just now in the exam, Yozan was framed for cheating by someone. I saw it with my own eyes. A boy in front of him threw a note onto his desk,¡± Cecelia exined. The disciplinary teacher¡¯s face darkened. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? Who would want to frame him?¡± Yozan had always been a troublemaker in school. Even though Yozan didn¡¯t have any powerful connections at home, he still misbehaved, and everyone knew it. So, even if someone saw that it wasn¡¯t Yozan who did it, no one woulde forward to testify for him. However, Cecelia was unexpectedly bold and came forward to challenge the authority. ¡°But that¡¯s what I saw. Don¡¯t we have surveince cameras in the ssroom? Just retrieve the surveince footage and the truth will be revealed,¡± she insisted. The principal nodded, deep in thought. ¡°Yes, this student is right. We just need to retrieve the surveince footage and we¡¯ll know.¡± The disciplinary teacher suddenly broke out in a cold sweat. ¡°Sir, the school¡¯s surveince system brokest night.¡± ¡°Are you saying that there¡¯s no evidence because the surveince cameras are broken?¡± Even Cecelia, who was somewhat naive, could immediately sense that something was wrong. It wasn¡¯t Cecelia¡¯s nature to be suspicious, but the events today seemed too coincidental to be ignored. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. ¡°How dare you speak to a teacher in that manner, youngdy?¡± The disciplinary teacher¡¯sck of confidence left him with no choice but to reprimand Cecelia to regain hisposure. It¡¯s all her fault for meddling. If it wasn¡¯t for her, there wouldn¡¯t be so many problems, and we could have just punished Yozan directly. Yozan was usually obedient and didn¡¯t say a word when facing any punishment. However, today, he suddenly became lesspliant. Yozen wes usuelly obedient end didn¡¯t sey e word when fecing eny punishment. However, todey, he suddenly beceme lessplient. ¡°Sir, I reelly didn¡¯t cheet,¡± Yozen spoke coldly. The disciplinery teecher¡¯s fece fell. ¡°We ceught you red-hended. Your deniel won¡¯t solve enything.¡± Why does Yozen seem e bit different todey? ¡°Sir, how ebout this? We cen exemine the hendwriting end do e hendwriting enelysis. If we cen prove thet Yozen wrote this note, then we cen sey he cheeted.¡± Cecelie hed e brillient idee. However, the disciplinery teecher didn¡¯t buy it end burst out leughing. ¡°Young ledy, don¡¯t you know thet Yozenes from e poor femily who lives in e slum? They probebly cen¡¯t even efford the expensive fees for the hendwriting enelysis.¡± Yozen is from e poor femily living in e slum? Although Cecelie¡¯s femily wesn¡¯t emong the top weelthy femilies, they were still considered well-off, end the plece where they lived wes cerefully chosen. Yozen lived next to her, so how could hee from e slum? Besides, his clothes were from designer brends, so how could he be poor? But et this moment, Cecelie could only ewkwerdly sey, ¡°I¡¯ll pey for the fee.¡± ¡°I suggest you mind your own business, young ledy, unless you went to get yourself into trouble.¡± The disciplinery teecher¡¯s words were e bletent threet. He dered to speek like this in front of the principel, which wes enough to prove how influentiel the student he wented to protect wes. Yozen remeined silent end only glenced et the heedmester with e mysterious expression. ¡°In my opinion, there is currently insufficient evidence to prove thet Yozen cheeted,¡± the principel seid. Thement instently froze the smug smile on the disciplinery teecher¡¯s fece. ¡°Sir, you cen¡¯t sey thet. I ceught him cheeting with my own eyes. He definitely deserves e severe punishment,¡± the disciplinery teecher insisted. ¡°Then you cen retrieve the surveillence footege first. If it proves thet he wes cheeting, then he wes cheeting,¡± the principel replied. The surveillence system hed melfunctioned the previous night, so esking the disciplinery teecher to produce the footege wes unreesoneble. The disciplinery teecher wes furious. ¡°But¡­¡± Yozan was usually obedient and didn¡¯t say a word when facing any punishment. However, today, he suddenly became lesspliant. ¡°Sir, I really didn¡¯t cheat,¡± Yozan spoke coldly. The disciplinary teacher¡¯s face fell. ¡°We caught you red-handed. Your denial won¡¯t solve anything.¡± Why does Yozan seem a bit different today? ¡°Sir, how about this? We can examine the handwriting and do a handwriting analysis. If we can prove that Yozan wrote this note, then we can say he cheated.¡± Cecelia had a brilliant idea. However, the disciplinary teacher didn¡¯t buy it and burst outughing. ¡°Youngdy, don¡¯t you know that Yozanes from a poor family who lives in a slum? They probably can¡¯t even afford the expensive fees for the handwriting analysis.¡± Yozan is from a poor family living in a slum? Although Cecelia¡¯s family wasn¡¯t among the top wealthy families, they were still considered well-off, and the ce where they lived was carefully chosen. Yozan lived next to her, so how could hee from a slum? Besides, his clothes were from designer brands, so how could he be poor? But at this moment, Cecelia could only awkwardly say, ¡°I¡¯ll pay for the fee.¡± ¡°I suggest you mind your own business, youngdy, unless you want to get yourself into trouble.¡± The disciplinary teacher¡¯s words were a tant threat. He dared to speak like this in front of the principal, which was enough to prove how influential the student he wanted to protect was. Yozan remained silent and only nced at the headmaster with a mysterious expression. ¡°In my opinion, there is currently insufficient evidence to prove that Yozan cheated,¡± the principal said. Thement instantly froze the smug smile on the disciplinary teacher¡¯s face. ¡°Sir, you can¡¯t say that. I caught him cheating with my own eyes. He definitely deserves a severe punishment,¡± the disciplinary teacher insisted. ¡°Then you can retrieve the surveince footage first. If it proves that he was cheating, then he was cheating,¡± the principal replied. The surveince system had malfunctioned the previous night, so asking the disciplinary teacher to produce the footage was unreasonable. The disciplinary teacher was furious. ¡°But¡­¡± The principal casually nced at him and said, ¡°Are you the principal or am I the principal?¡± As an old and experienced principal, he had a prominent status, so the disciplinary teacher didn¡¯t dare to say anything. He could only swallow his anger and give the two of them a fierce re. ¡°You can go now. This matter is over. Don¡¯t let it happen again!¡± Although Cecelia didn¡¯t know what was going on, she was relieved to see the crisis resolved and smiled happily. ¡°Thank you, sir! We¡¯ll go back to the exam now,¡± Cecelia said as she tugged on Yozan¡¯s sleeve, preparing to take him back to the exam hall. However, Yozan remained unmoved and cleared his throat deliberately. ¡°Well, you don¡¯t need to go back to the exam. Consider this exam passed.¡± The principal spoke again, leaving Cecelia shocked once more. Nevertheless, this was a joyful moment. Cecelia nodded, nced at Yozan, and they walked out together. There was no one on campus because everyone was sitting for the exam. As they walked on the road, Cecelia kicked a stone and asked, ¡°By the way, why do I feel like the principal was secretly helping you?¡± ¡°He was indeed helping me,¡± Yozan replied without intending to hide anything. ¡°Because I¡¯m Welson Harley¡¯s foster child, the principal considered my father¡¯s reputation and decided to let me go.¡± Welson Harley¡­ Isn¡¯t he the founder of Damoley Inc. which is renowned internationally? Cecelia wasn¡¯t very familiar with the Harley Family, as they were always secretive and their family affairs were never leaked. Many people only knew that the Harley Family had a son, but they didn¡¯t know it was Yozan, let alone that he was a foster child. However, upon hearing that Yozan was a foster child, Cecelia felt sympathetic toward him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t judge you based on your background,¡± Cecelia said. When she was a child, she read novels about foster children being bullied and ostracized, and their lives were very unhappy. Based on Yozan¡¯s habits, Cecelia suddenly realized that he was a child who had beencking love from a very young age. ¡°I¡¯ll treat you well,¡± Cecelia said, staring into his eyes seriously and making her promise one word at a time. Yozan was intrigued and ttered by these words. ¡°Are you sure?¡± If she kept her promise, then he would never let go. Chapter 569 Chapter 569 Chapter 569 Drunk and Intimate Later on, they grew even closer, and Cecelia could clearly sense that his attitude toward her had subtly changed. One day, she suddenly found out that the boy in front of her was the same person who had been lying in front of her house covered in blood. On a sunny afternoon, Yozan confessed his love to her. Cecelia was very nervous because he did it in front of many people, and she didn¡¯t know whether to ept or reject him, so she just stood there awkwardly. ¡°Why? Why don¡¯t you ept me?¡± Yozan had a smile on his face, but when he saw that she didn¡¯t seem very happy, his eyes dimmed. ¡°Because¡­¡± Cecelia looked at how disappointed he was and felt guilty for not telling him the truth. ¡°Because I think I¡¯m still too young to be in a rtionship.¡± Yozan was furious andughed sarcastically. ¡°Cecelia, you¡¯re already 21. How can you be too young?¡± Other reasons were eptable, but this one was clearly just an excuse. He couldn¡¯t ept it, and he wouldn¡¯t. ¡°My mom said I can¡¯t date before I graduate from university,¡± Cecelia blurted out, her face turning red. She was too embarrassed to look at him. Yozan dropped the bouquet of flowers he was holding to the ground. ¡°Fine, if you don¡¯t want to date me, then whatever. I won¡¯t ask you again.¡± With that said, he turned around and left without looking back. The two of them soon graduated from university. During this time, due to the awkward memory of the previous confession, they both unconsciously kept their distance from each other. After about half a year, it was time for their graduation ceremony. Cecelia had made ns with some ssmates to go out and have fun, but she unexpectedly met Yozan. The ssmate who nned the event smiled suggestively and nudged her arm. ¡°I remember you said you wouldn¡¯t date before you graduated from university, but now that you¡¯ve graduated, shouldn¡¯t you two¡­¡± Keep the promise? Cecelia didn¡¯t want to because she liked another person. She looked at Yozan sitting in the dim light, his eyes dark and unclear. The group of people cheered and deliberately left the seat next to him for her. Cecelia hesitated, but in the end, she sat down next to him albeit reluctantly. ¡°You don¡¯t have to sit here if you don¡¯t want to.¡± Yozan picked up his ss and was about to move away. Cecelia saw that he was in a bad mood, so she said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I want to sit here.¡± The two of them sat there in silence until the first song was yed, and someone started singing. Only then did the atmosphere ease up a bit. Cecelia didn¡¯t like singing, so she just sat there drinking one ss after another. She looked visibly upset today, and her drinking was getting more and more aggressive. Yozan tried to start a conversation with her. ¡°Why are you drinking so much alcohol? Did you just have a breakup?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Cecelia replied curtly. As soon as she finished speaking, she regretted it because she could clearly feel the air around them suddenly be heavy. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it. Didn¡¯t you say you wouldn¡¯t date before you go to university? How did you end up having a breakup?¡± Although Yozan sounded sarcastic, he didn¡¯t mean anything else by it. He had been secretly paying attention to her all along. She didn¡¯t even have a single person of the opposite sex around her, let alone date anyone. Even those who had a romantic interest in her were privately dissuaded by him. Cecelia lifted a ss of wine and gulped it down. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± As soon as she finished the drink, her wrist was grabbed by him. ¡°Say it again.¡± ¡°So, you even want to control how much I drink now?¡± Cecelia started sobbing, making him suddenly lose the desire to me her. Yozan let go of her hand and softened his tone. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did something happen?¡± Cecelia shook her head, feeling a deep sense of sadness. The person she had feelings for started dating someone else today. It was ridiculous how she had secretly harbored her feelings for him while rejecting everyone else for him, and now this was the oue. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to talk about it, then don¡¯t.¡± Yozan felt sorry for her and could only reach out and ruffle her hair. ¡°Yozan, do you like me?¡± Cecelia suddenly stared at him tearfully, feeling aggrieved. Yozan¡¯s eyes were deep as he said, ¡°I like you.¡± Cecelia suddenly smiled foolishly at him and copsed into his arms. It turned out she had drunk too much. Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Yozan picked her up, told everyone they were leaving, and left. Then, he took her out of the club. Cecelia was already unconscious from drinking, so he took her back to her home. When Cecelia was close to Yozan previously, she had given him a key to her house. Yozan easily opened the door with that key and carried her back to the bedroom. He turned on the warm yellow light and looked at her youthful and tipsy face in a gentle way. Suddenly, she touched his hand lightly which caught him off guard. Yozan leaned down and gently kissed her lips. He had only intended for it to be a peck, but she surprised him by sticking her tongue out and tracing his lips lightly with it, intensifying his desire. He deepened the kiss. She let out a soft moan and suddenly reached out to hug his neck. Yozan touched her face and said with a chuckle, ¡°You¡¯re the one who seduced me.¡± Cecelia, however, did not hear him, and her eyes were misty and confused. They ended up getting together in a hazy way. The next morning, Cecelia realized what had happened between them and instead of causing a scene, she crouched in a corner and cried for an entire afternoon. Seeing her like this, Yozan felt ufortable, so heforted her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take responsibility for you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need you to take responsibility for me. I had a part in this.¡± Cecelia was rational, but her heart was copsing. She had slept with Yozan, so she couldn¡¯t be with the person she had been thinking about. Despite this, she didn¡¯t want to be with Yozan just because. ¡°Let¡¯s pretend that this never happened between us.¡± Yozan suddenly got angry. ¡°How can we pretend that this never happened when it did?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about this.¡± Cecelia was very clear-headed and immediately drew the line between them. ¡°Since you don¡¯t want to listen to me, then we will have nothing to do with each other from now on.¡± Chapter 570 Chapter 570 Chapter 570 Secret Crush ¡°So, you came back from abroad because of this?¡± Yelena had heard Cecelia mention it before, but not in such detail. Thinking of Cecelia¡¯s unrequited love, Yelena couldn¡¯t help but feel regretful. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Although he has fallen in love with someone else and is with someone else now, at least he appeared in your youth, and I believe you will meet someone better.¡± She held Cecelia¡¯s hand, her face full of hope. On the other hand, Hank and Elspeth remained silent. Then, Yelena continued to speak a lot of random things, basically telling Cecelia not to dwell on the past, to look forward, and to think about her rtionship with Yozan. She finished speaking, and the other two had nothing to say. However, as they were leaving, he asked Elspeth to escort Yelena home and said he had something to ask Cecelia. After hearing that, Elspeth¡¯s eyes narrowed as she looked at him full of scrutiny. ¡°Thank you,¡± he apologized with a smile. Nevertheless, Elspeth didn¡¯t say anything and dragged Yelena away. When only the two of them were left in the room, Hank finally asked coldly, ¡°The person you were talking about, right? It¡¯s not me, is it?¡± Cecelia retorted, ¡°How could it be you? You¡¯re too self-centered.¡± ¡°Cecelia, I¡¯m not quite sure what you were trying to convey today, but regardless, I hope we can both move forward and be okay.¡± His words were clearly a threat. After hearing that, her eyes turned red instantly. ¡°Hank, is that how you see me? Do you think I would ruin the rtionship between you two?¡± Then, he looked at her with an unclear expression. ¡°Of course not. Yelena has always been pure- hearted and hasn¡¯t thought much about it.¡± Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Others, particrly Elspeth, fullyprehended Cecelia¡¯s earlier statement. ¡°Yelena may be pure-hearted, but does that mean I¡¯m a scheming bad woman?¡± Cecelia¡¯s heart sank. ¡°I¡¯ve liked you for so long, but you fell in love with someone else. Did you really not have any feelings for me before?¡± Since they were young, Hank had always treated her like a little sister and never considered bing anything more with her. Their rtionship had always been close, and he assumed she enjoyed spending time with him. Their personalities and interests were very much alike; he had always thought they would be lifelong good friends. However, she suddenly confessed her hidden feelings for him. ¡°Cecelia, we can never be together,¡± he said with a strange expression. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I only said those things today to give the story aplete ending. I have no intention of ruining your rtionship with her,¡± Cecelia replied, her voice faltering. ¡°Besides, I¡¯ve hidden these feelings well all this time.¡± Her words were sincere, and no one, not even Yozan, had noticed her buried emotions since her return. After hearing that, he stepped forward and reassured her with a pat on the shoulder. ¡°Cecelia, we will always remain friends.¡± Suddenly, she looked up with tears and made a request. ¡°Can I ask you for one thing? I promise that it¡¯s only one.¡± Hank asked, ¡°What is it?¡± Cecelia replied, ¡°May I please have a hug?¡± Unfortunately, he declined her request. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t.¡± After breaking through ayer of emotional barriers, their friendship came to a halt at that point. In the past, a simple hug between them would have been eptable. Nheless, now that their feelings had been expressed, physical contact would make him ufortable. Then, he stepped back, trying to hide his inner turmoil. ¡°Why are you so nervous? I was joking,¡± Cecelia observed his reaction and couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter. Hank cleared his throat and pretended to be surprised. ¡°Don¡¯t scare me like that again; it¡¯s terrifying.¡± ¡°Okay, okay, it¡¯s gettingte, so you should go home,¡± she said with a smile and a yful glint in her eyes, reminiscent of their past. ¡°Otherwise, your dear wife will worry about you.¡± He thought of Yelena and smiled. ¡°Alright then, rest well, and we¡¯lle to see you again soon.¡± She nodded, then waved her hand dismissively. ¡°Go, go. Don¡¯t bother me.¡± As Hank turned to leave, there was a muffled sound from the bed. ¡°If Yelena weren¡¯t in the picture, would you like me?¡± ¡°No,¡± he replied firmly. ¡°Okay, good night. I¡¯m going to sleep,¡± Cecelia said as she wrapped herself in the nket, tears streaming down her face. ¡­ The following afternoon, Elspeth went to find Yozan at the agreed time. He had been waiting at the hospital entrance for a while. When he saw hering, he couldn¡¯t help but curl his lips. ¡°Miss Lynwood, it appears that you, too, are eager to know the test results.¡± ¡°Naturally.¡± She nced at him. Seeing his smug smile, she couldn¡¯t help but tease him. ¡°Mr. Harley, aren¡¯t you going to the hospital to get rejected today?¡± After hearing that, his smile instantly became awkward. She had witnessed their disputest time, and he never thought she would bring it up that day. ¡°Miss Lynwood, you¡¯re really eloquent.¡± He red at her with gritted teeth, then smirked and went inside. Afterward, she followed closely behind. Elspeth and Yozan made their way to the testing room, where she was greeted warmly by the doctor on duty whom she was already familiar with. As the doctor recognized her, he smiled and addressed her by name, ¡°Miss Lynwood, here for testing again?¡± When she heard that, she felt a sudden itch in her nose and instinctively touched it, feeling extremely awkward. On the other hand, Yozan, who had earlier been teased by her, couldn¡¯t contain hisughter as he saw her difort. After that, she quickly proceeded with the testing with him to move past the awkwardness. Then, the doctor winked at her. ¡°Miss Lynwood, how about this? Come back in two hours, and I¡¯ll give you the test results through the back door.¡± She smiled and thanked him. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°No problem. This gentleman should be your younger brother, right? He¡¯s handsome.¡± The doctor laughed heartily. Elspeth looked at Yozan and furrowed her brows. ¡°Is it that obvious?¡± ¡°You two are like peas in a pod, but you look a bit more refined, Miss Lynwood.¡± Yozan leaned against the door with an indistinguishable smile. ¡°Looks like we don¡¯t need to wait for the test results after all.¡± Chapter 571 Chapter 571 Chapter 571 What Kind of Concern Was That? Although Elspeth and Yozan said so, they patiently waited for the DNA test results. As expected, they were indeed rted by blood. He held the report and clicked his tongue. ¡°This is unbelievable; I have a half-sister from the same father and a different mother. My dad¡­ No, our dad is really something.¡± ¡°What do you mean by ¡®same father and different mother¡¯?¡± she asked, recalling that Cecelia had mentioned he was adopted into the Harley Family. In addition, Elspeth had verified his identity through her own investigation. However, Yozan saw her bewilderment and knew what she meant. Then, he exined, ¡°I¡¯m technically the Harley Family¡¯s adopted son, but I¡¯m actually their illegitimate child. My mother had an affair with Welson, andter I was born. He never married her because he was in love with someone else, someone I suspect might be your mother.¡± Elspeth noticed that he didn¡¯t refer to Welson as ¡°Dad¡± but by his first name instead. She could sense the pain in his eyes, which hinted at a difficult childhood. Unsure of what to say, she asked, ¡°Is Welson still living in Damoria?¡± ¡°Of course, he is, but what do you want to do? Do you want to go see him?¡± he suddenlyughed. ¡°He doesn¡¯t even know he has a daughter! If he knew, he might be overjoyed to find out he had a child with the woman he loved.¡± After hearing that, she felt slightly nervous. Aside from the circumstances of her mother¡¯s rtionship with Welson, he wouldn¡¯t easily let her go, even based on her identity. It was rumored that he had a cunning and ruthless personality, which was why he had built such arge business empire. Whether she would be happy or cautious depended on his own judgment. ¡°There¡¯s nothing much going on today; why don¡¯t you return to the Harley Residence with me?¡± Yozan offered, getting ready to drive. Elspeth shook her head and gave a slight smile. ¡°I think I¡¯ll pass for now. I¡¯ll visit when I find a suitable opportunity.¡± Nevertheless, he didn¡¯t pressure her. Anyone would find it difficult to ept the sudden appearance of a father. Her calm demeanor demonstrates her mental fortitude. Then, he shrugged and jangled the car keys in his hand. ¡°How about I send you back?¡± Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I have my own car,¡± she politely declined. As she walked towards her car, she suddenly felt something was amiss. When she looked up again, a group of men in ck surrounded her. The man in the suit at the front smiled and said, ¡°Miss Lynwood, I would like to invite you to go somewhere.¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± Elspeth tightly gripped the car door, contemting the possibility of sneaking into her car while they weren¡¯t looking. However, after a quick thought, she quickly gave up on that idea. ¡°You¡¯ll find out when you get there,¡± the man said. Then, he gestured for the group to clear a path and pointed to a ck Lincoln not far away. ¡°Miss Lynwood, pleasee with us.¡± Outnumbered, she knew there was no point in resisting. Nevertheless, the current situation suggests these men are not necessarily bad guys. So, she slowly locked her car door and followed the man to his vehicle. Sitting in the car filled with musky cologne, she quickly realized it was a man¡¯s car. To whom could it belong? Suddenly, the man in front of her spoke politely and tactfully, ¡°Miss Lynwood, I apologize for the offense caused by this invitation method. Our employer wishes to see you immediately. We apologize for the poor hospitality.¡± Elspeth raised an eyebrow. ¡°Is this rted to the Harley Family?¡± The man grinned, causing wrinkles to bunch up on his face. ¡°Miss Lynwood, you truly are a smart woman.¡± ¡°To nt spies around one¡¯s own son¡­ Isn¡¯t that a bit¡ª¡± The word ¡°perverted¡± couldn¡¯te out of her mouth. She also never expected Welson to be so paranoid. She had only received the test report, and he already knew about it. Should I apud him for being well-informed or condemn him for being excessive in his actions? Hearing her sarcastic tone, the man immediately exined, ¡°Our employer is primarily concerned about his son. It¡¯s merely a matter of being concerned, really.¡± Concern? What kind of concern is that? Elspeth didn¡¯t want to expose the truth and could only smile and chat with him. ¡°Yes, Mr. Harley¡­ He cares about his children.¡± Otherwise, why would Welson get her back to the Harley Family so quickly? As their conversation became more awkward, the driver in front couldn¡¯t help but speed up. They soon arrived at the entrance of the Harley Residence. As she exited the car, she saw Yozan parked his vehicle nearby. When he saw her approach, his eyes lit up. ¡°I never thought we¡¯d end uping here together.¡± After a moment¡¯s thought, it was probably because Welson had arranged to have someone monitor him, so his excitement dimmed. ¡°Thanks, but I¡¯m not very happy about it.¡± Elspeth forced a smile at Yozan before her face returned to its usual cold expression. ¡°Well, we¡¯re already here. Since he made an effort to invite you, let¡¯s meet him together.¡± He leaned forward slightly, his smile light. ¡°Am I right, my dear Elspeth?¡± She felt slightly ufortable with the term endearment but couldn¡¯t help but follow him because she didn¡¯t know the way. Soon, the two arrived at the hall, and as they were about to enter, a cup flew out from inside and hit his knee, spilling tea all over his leg. She could hear him grunt, but his expression remained unchanged as if he was ustomed to such treatment. ¡°*sshole!¡± A powerful voice followed, making people shudder. However, Yozan continued to walk straight ahead without looking around. When they entered the reception room, Elspeth looked up at the man sitting there. He wore a white suit and looked thin overall but had a stern demeanor. He appeared younger than most men in their fifties. The man was previously burning with anger, but his expression changed rapidly upon seeing her. She could see surprise, confusion, joy, and even a hint of nostalgia sh across his face. Since she was already there, she had to lower her head and speak softly. ¡°I¡¯m not sure why you invited me here, Mr. Harley. Is there something you wanted to discuss?¡± At that moment, Welson was no longer focused on punishing Yozan, and his thoughts were entirely on her. ¡°Y-You¡¯re my daughter?¡± His voice trembled slightly, and it was clear he was nervous. He seemed to know about the DNA test results. ¡°Yes, but also no,¡± she replied. After hearing that, he was stunned. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Chapter 572 Chapter 572 Chapter 572 I Won¡¯t Wrong You What kind of biological father is he if he doesn¡¯t even bother to raise his own child? Based on what Helia had previously told her, Elspeth had already formed a negative opinion of the man in front of her. ¡°Although you and I share a blood rtionship, I don¡¯t think our lives must intersect.¡± Despite knowing where she is, he hasn¡¯t been interested in finding my mom despite knowing where she is, in over 20 years. I do not wish to recognize such a callous man as my father. Sensing her distant tone, Welson felt a tinge of bitterness in his heart. ¡°Elspeth, I know you me me for not looking for your mother.¡± ¡°Mr. Harley, you must be joking,¡± she said, a faint smile on her face. ¡°Your choices are yours, and I certainly can¡¯t interfere.¡± ¡°I¡ª¡± ¡°If nothing else, I hope Mr. Harley can allow me to return.¡± His face immediately became unpleasant. ¡°What, being with me makes you that ufortable?¡± He never expected his long-awaited daughter to show disgust even after meeting him. Elspeth felt she would be lying if she said she wasn¡¯t disappointed. ¡°It¡¯s not really that. However, what I truly wish for, Mr. Harley is that you seriously consider whether or not it is necessary to acknowledge that I am your daughter.¡± Her words served as a reminder to him. The Harley Family was thriving, and the sudden emergence of an illegitimate daughter would undoubtedly impact the family¡¯s estate and business. Moreover, theirpetitors would make a fuss about the matter. Nevertheless, she had no desire to be exposed to the public as an illegitimate daughter. ¡°I don¡¯t care, and¡ª¡± Welson was about to continue but was interrupted. ¡°Still, I care; I care a lot about this.¡± Her gaze was piercing. ¡°If we¡¯re to acknowledge each other, I¡¯d rather not do it as an illegitimate daughter.¡± She had her pride and didn¡¯t want to lose her reputation or be criticized by others. Then, he looked at her stubbornness and felt that he should have been angry, but he felt a sudden sense of relief instead. She is undeniably my daughter because she shares my personality traits. ¡°Alright, alright. Since that¡¯s the case, can you tell me where your mother is?¡± he asked with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m willing to marry her legally and wee you back to the Harley Family in a grand manner.¡± However, Elspeth didn¡¯t expect Welson to make such a significant concession. Meanwhile, Yozan was also shocked after hearing that. He looked up and unexpectedly met Welson¡¯s loving gaze. Still, she couldn¡¯t decide for her mother, so she hesitated and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go back and ask her for her opinion first.¡± Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Knowing that the matter couldn¡¯t be rushed, Welson nodded. ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll have someone send you back.¡± As he spoke, his tone was gentle like a kind father, but after he finished, he red fiercely at Yozan, who had been silent on the side. ¡°Get down on your knees!¡± Yozan was taken aback and fell to his knees. The butler was already standing by Elspeth¡¯s side, smiling as he escorted her away. Then, she looked deeply at Yozan, kneeling on the ground, and asked, ¡°What did he do wrong?¡± Welson sneered, ¡°After discovering your identity, he concealed it and didn¡¯t report it. I¡¯ve raised him for 20 years and look at what he did!¡± ¡°I was the one who asked him to conceal my identity.¡± Her gaze was cold and made people shiver. She had a hunch that things were tough for Yozan in the Harley Family, but she had no idea that things were that severe. In addition, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder how Welson perceived Yozan. However, Welson didn¡¯t care and said coldly, ¡°I raised him for so many years, hoping he could contribute to the family business. I never expected him to be so useless that he couldn¡¯t handle such a small matter.¡± Elspeth opened her mouth to defend Yozan, but Welson clearly didn¡¯t care about Yozan at all. To outsiders, Yozan was the prestigious son of the Harley Family. Still, only he knew the bitterness of living in the family. He was only a pawn for his father. Looking over at Elspeth, the contrast was stark, and his pent-up anger bubbled to the surface. ¡°Do I really mean nothing to you in your heart?¡± Yozan asked. It was a question that Welson never expected. He has never disobeyed me; I have always made sure to give him the best of everything. Nheless, I never anticipated that he would continue to be discontent. ¡°Yozan, don¡¯t forget how your mother tried to seduce me in the first ce,¡± Welson said. Each word made Yozan¡¯s face turn a shade paler. ¡°You¡¯re merely the son of a promiscuous woman, so what right do you have to talk here?¡± Elspeth herself couldn¡¯t bear to hear that, let alone that Yozan was genuinely hurt by those words. ¡°Mr. Harley, I think what you¡¯re saying is a bit too¡ª¡± She was about to say something when she noticed Yozan standing up. Yozan was incredibly furious as he said, ¡± I am nothing but a shameful person in your eyes and the son of a promiscuous woman. What about Elspeth? When you had sex with her mother, wasn¡¯t her mother unconscious? You took her mother directly back to your vi and vited her. Are you any better?¡± He exposed the truth about what happened years ago without mercy toward Welson. With a loud p, Welson hit him hard. ¡°You ungrateful b*stard! What are you bbering about?¡± Hearing that, she was equally shocked and speechless. Although she knew the truth wasplicated, she never expected it to be so shocking. ¡°Am I simply bbering, though? Investigate, and you¡¯ll find out the truth anyway.¡± Yozan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand andughed recklessly. ¡°Oh, right. Elspeth, aren¡¯t you good at hacking? The clues are already here. With careful investigation, nothing can remain hidden.¡± Welson raised his hand again. ¡°You scoundrel!¡± However, the expected p never came. Yozan opened his eyes and found that Elspeth had grabbed Welson¡¯s wrist. ¡°Mr. Harley.¡± The coldness in her voice sent chills down his spine as she looked into his eyes. ¡°Are you so angry at Yozan because he hit a nerve?¡± The word ¡®nerve¡¯ caused a subtle change in Welson¡¯s expression. ¡°Elspeth, let me exin. It¡¯s not what you think.¡± Then, she let go of his wrist and took a few steps back. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Harley. I won¡¯t wrong you, but I won¡¯t let you off the hook either.¡± Chapter 573 Chapter 573 Chapter 573 Sending Gifts Welson Harley was a man of privilege. He was rarely treated with such an attitude. The colors on his face instantly turned dull at Elspeth¡¯s words. Nheless, he had worked so hard to locate his long-lost daughter that he was too embarrassed to reprimand her. ¡°Elspeth, I¡ª¡± However, Elspeth retained her cold attitude. ¡°That¡¯s enough, Mr. Harley. If there is nothing else to address, I will leave first.¡± With that, she turned around to leave while the butler on her side quickly tagged along. Once she left, Welson heaved a heavy sigh. ¡°Yozan, have I ever mistreated you after all these years? I gave you the best education, supported you financially, and even let you inherit the family business.¡± He thought he had given his son everything he could besides the unnecessary fatherly love. However, Yozan didn¡¯t seem to be content with them. Even after obtaining everything he could, he still longed for his father¡¯s attention and concern. In addition, he should not expect those from Welson because he wasn¡¯t going to give those to him. On the other hand, every time Welson looked at Yozan, it brought back memories of a woman desperately trying to get into his bed twenty years ago. How appalling! As a result, Welson harbored deep resentment toward his son. Hence, when the woman who gave birth to his son died from complications duringbor, he could finally resolve one of his concerns. Nheless, he found it absurd that she had gone through so much to bring Yozan into the Harley Family, only to die before she could enjoy the blessing. Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Watching his father plunge into his own thoughts, Yozan frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t need any of those from you.¡± He was born and raised in the Harley Family, so it stood to reason that he should be grateful. Unfortunately, he was a rebel. Growing up, he always felt wronged and aggrieved. Perhaps, he was mindful of too many things at once and always dreamed about having something unreachable. ¡°What are you talking about? Are you sure you don¡¯t need any of these?¡± Welson snickered at his son¡¯s statement. ¡°Without our family, you are nothing. Don¡¯t you think you sound ridiculous?¡± Yozan¡¯s face turned pallid after hearing that. He¡¯s right; I am nothing without the Harley Family. Perhaps, I would have been abandoned in an unknown orphanage where others would have bullied me. Afraid of saying anything that might provoke Welson, he lowered his head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± On the other hand, Welson wouldn¡¯t let his son go like that. After all, Yozan had told Elspeth everything earlier. ¡°If an apology worked in every case, why do we even need the police?¡± Anger boiled in Welson¡¯s chest. ¡°What were you thinking? How could you tell her all that?!¡± Yozan had identally blurted the truth out of impulse. However, he reasoned that informing her ahead of time, before she found out on her own, was a better idea. ¡°I have told you before. Elspeth is skilled in hacking. Do you think she wouldn¡¯t run a background check on you after she gets to know you? If you don¡¯t tell her in advance, there¡¯s no way she¡¯ll ept you once she finds out that you¡¯ve been hiding the truth all along.¡± He was clearly trying to justify himself by saying that, but he was also inly speaking his mind. ¡°Your words appear to make sense.¡± Welson nced at his son, feeling his anger dissipate a little. ¡°So, what do you think we should do now?¡± Even though he looked down on Yozan, he believed his son was helpful in times of crisis. ¡°Our priority now is to think of a solution to win Elspeth¡¯s heart.¡± Looking at the contemptuous expression on his father¡¯s face, Yozan clenched his fists. ¡°If you want her to ept you, you should first gain her mother¡¯s trust.¡± After hearing that, Welson did notice that Elspeth only wavered at the mention of her mother. ¡°Okay. I know what to do now.¡± He smiled with satisfaction. ¡°Since you gave me a good suggestion, I¡¯ll treat it as you made up for your mistake this time. Let¡¯s forgo the punishment.¡± In an indifferent tone, Yozan uttered, ¡°Thank you, Father.¡± ¡­ Meanwhile, Elspeth knew Welson would take action, but she didn¡¯t expect him toe so soon. Early in the morning, she heard someone knocking at the door. She thought someone had returned, but when she opened the door, a group of people was standing outside carrying a dozen or more boxes. The man leading the group looked familiar. If she was right, it was the butler she metst time. With his head slightly bowed, he greeted her, ¡°Miss Lynwood, these are some gifts from Mr. Harley. Please ept them.¡± After skimming at the group, Elspeth replied indifferently, ¡°Everything here is too expensive. You should bring them back.¡± She noticed that the boxes themselves were expensive, let alone the contents. ¡°Mr. Harley said he didn¡¯t manage to send gifts to you for your wedding, so he wants to send you these as dowry.¡± I haven¡¯t even epted him as my dad yet! Why is he acting like one already?! Elspeth felt uneasy upon hearing that. Then, she stated bluntly, ¡°I don¡¯t need all these at the moment. Tell him that he should know his ce and make sure he keeps a distance from me.¡± With that, she was about to turn around and shut the door. ¡°Who¡¯s outside?¡± At that moment, Callum walked out, saw the butler with a ttering smile, and frowned slightly. ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Someone from the Harley Family.¡± Then, she briefly introduced the two to each other, giving Callum context to the butler¡¯s identity. She had told him about what happenedst night, including the matter about Yozan. On the other hand, he felt sorry for Yozan and had a negative impression of Welson, despite being his father-inw. ¡°Please take all of these items back. We don¡¯t need them.¡± Without a doubt, he was in the same boat as Elspeth. The butler was in a dilemma. He wasn¡¯t sure whether to leave or stay. ¡°Mr. Harley told me to pass you all these items. If I bring them back, he¡¯ll definitely be disappointed.¡± In other words, he was only given instructions toplete the task, and he did not have the authority to make decisions. Looking at his white sideburns, Elspeth felt sorry for him and suggested, ¡°Then, leave these boxes here for now. I¡¯ll return them when I have the time to do so.¡± When he heard her first sentence, the butler smiled like a flower in bloom, but when she blurted out the second, he looked distressed. Again, he tried to persuade her. ¡°Miss Lynwood, Mr. Harley sincerely wants to mend his rtionship with you, or he wouldn¡¯t have sent you so many gifts. You should try to get along with him, so he won¡¯t be disappointed.¡± All of a sudden, her gaze turned cold. A fierce look was evident on her face. ¡°Please return and tell Mr. Harley I don¡¯t need it.¡± Chapter 574 Chapter 574 Chapter 574 Fish in Troubled Waters Following a disappointing visit, the butler instructed the men to leave the boxes at the door before departing in despair. On the other hand, Elspeth thought the issue was over, and the Harley Family would be quiet for a while. Unexpectedly, a few dayster, she received a call from Helia. Elspeth had not informed her mother of everything she had learned that day, so she panicked when she received Helia¡¯s call. She had a feeling that the matter wasn¡¯t as simple as she expected it to be. Moreover, she understood Welson¡¯s character well enough to conclude that he could have kidnapped Helia. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Mom? Are you alright?¡± Helia had called to tell her about something interesting that had happened that day, but when she heard her daughter¡¯s anxious tone, she realized something was wrong. ¡°I¡¯m fine, but did something happen? Why would you suddenly ask that?¡± ¡°Oh¡­ Thank goodness you¡¯re fine. Mom, why are you calling?¡± Helia had always been concerned that she could cause trouble for Elspeth, who was now married. Hence, she avoided calling her daughter unless necessary. ¡°Well, this morning, I suddenly received a few parcels, which turned out to be expensive jewelry when I unboxed them.¡± Helia furrowed her brows tight. ¡°I don¡¯t have many friends, so I¡¯m calling to ask if you were the one who sent them.¡± After hearing that, Elspeth immediately knew who the sender was. ¡°Is there anything else besides jewelry?¡± After pondering carefully, Helia responded in embarrassment. ¡°Yes, there is a letter, but the content of the letter is pretty¡­ cheesy.¡± Without a doubt, Welson is the sender. ¡°Don¡¯t panic, Mom. Please disregard any doorbell or phone calls you may receive over the next few days.¡± Helia panicked upon hearing her daughter¡¯s advice. ¡°Why? Is someone going to hurt me?¡± She had be the target of public criticism. Almost everyone in Damoria now knew her identity. She also had a premonition that the news would soon spread to ydal. The Jonesons would then find out about her presence ande after her. ¡°Did the Jonesons find out about me already?¡± Elspeth shook her head and said, ¡°I¡¯ve been keeping this under wraps for the time being, so there aren¡¯t many people who know about it.¡± ¡°Who could it be, then?¡± Seeing how she couldn¡¯t hide the truth any longer, Elspeth reassured her, ¡°Stay home and wait for me. I¡¯ming now.¡± After realizing the seriousness of the matter, Helia no longer asked through the phone. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll wait for you at home.¡± Hanging up the phone, Elspeth turned to nce at Callum. ¡°I have to visit my mom.¡± He nodded and suggested, ¡°I¡¯lle with you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I think it¡¯s more appropriate that I go alone.¡± Although she had done her best to exin the situation indirectly to him, he could still sense the embarrassment that Helia might feel. If he was there as a man, her mother might be flustered. Elspeth had always been the meticulous one between them, so Callum agreed. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll stay at home and wait for you, then.¡± After saying goodbye to him, she packed her bag and drove to Helia¡¯s house. When she arrived at the entrance, she noticed her mother¡¯s gate was wide open, which was unusual. Helia used to be quite cautious, so she always kept her gate locked. At that moment, Elspeth knew something was wrong. She immediately exited the vehicle, but as soon as she reached the door, she detected a strong odor of blood. She noticed bloodstained drips on the floor, which, while not much, was still quite startling. The sight of that made her chest tighten. When she entered the door, she saw a pool of blood on the table by the couch. In addition, there were signs that a fight had taken ce. On the other hand, she could not locate Helia in the big living room. It was obvious that she had been kidnapped, and the perpetrator was highly likely an acquaintance. Ultimately, Elspeth was worried and decided to call the police because the situation had escted to a critical level. As soon as she took out her phone, she noticed a piece of paper with a sentence written on it. ¡®I¡¯m only asking her a few questions, and I won¡¯t hurt her.¡¯ Despite entering the police department¡¯s phone number, she immediately turned off her phone after reading those words. Soon, her expression turned serious. Although she couldn¡¯t figure out who did it, she felt it had something to do with Welson. He also had a motive formitting the crime. Still, would he really use this method to kidnap Mom? After Elspeth had reason to suspect Welson, she had to know if her suspicions were justified. So, she called him, and her worried voice could be heard as soon as the call was connected. ¡°Are you free?¡± However, he wasn¡¯t expecting her call and was taken aback. ¡°Why are you calling me out of the blue, Elspeth? I¡¯m not busy now. I have time to talk.¡± He thought she was moved by his actions and was ready to ept him as her father. ¡°Did you deliver jewelry to my mom recently?¡± After hearing that, Welson sounded helpless. ¡°I don¡¯t even know where your mom lives! How would I deliver jewelry to her?¡± Contrary to her expectations, it wasn¡¯t him, so Elspeth was a little flustered. ¡°Do you mean that you haven¡¯t contacted her recently?¡± ¡°Yeah. Without your permission, I wouldn¡¯t darey a finger on her.¡± It was clear to him where the line was drawn. If he contacted Helia without Elspeth¡¯s knowledge, his daughter would feel uneasy. If a grudge were formed, she might find it difficult to ept him. That was something he was well aware of. ¡°Do you know where my mom is?¡± Taken aback by her question, Welson asked, ¡°Your mom? I don¡¯t know.¡± Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I can¡¯t think of anyone besides you who would take her away.¡± Elspeth took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down. ¡°If you were the one who took her away, please tell me.¡± With an anxious voice, he exined, ¡°I didn¡¯t take her. What happened? Your mom has been kidnapped?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± She could tell he was anxious because she heard him identally knock into a chair. Soon, the doubt in her heart dissipated slightly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Elspeth. I¡¯ll get my men to search for her.¡± Elspeth hummed and hung up the phone. There¡¯s a good chance he is telling the truth. After all, who else could have delivered the jewelry if it wasn¡¯t him? However, the perpetrator sent my mom jewelry and then kidnapped her. They obviously came for a specific reason and likely intended to fish in troubled waters by deflecting attention away from themselves and cing the me squarely on Welson. Otherwise, he must be lying to me! Chapter 575 Chapter 575 Chapter 575 Drugged On the other hand, Elspeth was perplexed. She wasn¡¯t sure what had happened, so she left her mother¡¯s house first. In addition, she also decided against calling the police for the time being. If she identally offended that person, they might hurt Helia. When she arrived home, Welson was already there with a few men. He was still wearing his off-white shirt and suit pants but with a coat draped over his shoulders. The anxious look on his face made him look like he had rushed over. His palm was icy cold, and when he ced it over hers, she shuddered from the piercing coldness. ¡°What happened to your mom? What on earth is happening?¡± He sounded edgy, and he didn¡¯t seem to be faking it. Therefore, it¡¯s unlikely that he¡¯s the perpetrator. She figured he would¡¯ve looked awkward if it were all an act. Pursing her lips, she tried to not let her hatred show. ¡°My mom¡­ She might have been kidnapped.¡± Hearing the mention of ¡®kidnap,¡¯ he frowned. ¡°Could it be done by an enemy?¡± So, who else could have a grudge against me if he didn¡¯t kidnap my mom? Elspeth took a deep breath. ¡°I know who it is. I¡¯ll call her right now.¡± Then, she pulled out her phone and keyed the number. ¡°What do you want?¡± On the other end of the phone, Jasmine didn¡¯t sound friendly. Her voice was even tinged with rage. The rtionship between the two was consistently antagonistic. How could they possibly converse with tranquility? ¡°I have no time to bicker with you. Tell me what you¡¯re calling me for, or I¡¯ll hang up.¡± Although Elspeth could hear the impatience in Jasmine¡¯s voice, she also detected a hint of anxiety. ¡°Where did you take my mom, Jasmine?¡± Her question sounded more like a demand. Taken aback, Jasmine went silent for a moment before blowing up. ¡°Who knows where your mom is? Why are you asking me that?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m asking you onest time. Where is she?¡± Based on Jasmine¡¯s response, Elspeth was almost confident it was her. If it isn¡¯t Jasmine, it is probably written by Old Mr. McGrath. ¡°Have you gone nuts? I told you it wasn¡¯t me!¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t tell me, I¡¯ll find Old Mr. McGrath.¡± ¡°Whatever!¡± Jasmine murmured. After saying that, she hung up the phone. Since Elspeth put her phone on speaker, everyone could overhear their conversation. On the other hand, Welson, seated next to her, inquired, ¡°Is it really her? Why does she sound innocent?¡± ¡°Jasmine is a terrible liar.¡± Then, she took a deep breath and decided, ¡°I¡¯m going to look for Old Mr. McGrath.¡± Unable to hide the uneasiness in his eyes, he offered, ¡°I¡¯lle with you!¡± ¡°You will be of no help if youe.¡± Elspeth had reservations about bringing Welson along. She wasn¡¯t sure what might happenter, and if something did happen, she wouldn¡¯t be able to protect him. However, he was unfazed by her response, so he stood and announced solemnly, ¡°You¡¯re my daughter. If you save your mom in such a dangerous ce, how am I supposed to feel at ease about letting you go alone? Bring me for extra protection.¡± When she heard that, she was taken aback by his self-proimed willingness to assume the paternal role. ¡°Sure.¡± Half an hourter, Elspeth and Welson arrived at McGrath Residence. The residence¡¯s gate was locked as if they anticipated her arrival and were intentionally avoiding her. Still, she recalled that Old Mr. McGrath had told her about a hidden passageway thest time she was there. After that, she and Welson discussed their n and decided that he would wait at the entrance while she would sneak into the secret passage to check on the situation. However, he was apprehensive about allowing her to take risks. Still, he had no choice but to let her leave after failing to convince her during the argument. After going one round in McGrath Residence, Elspeth noticed a stone b at the corner of the wall. The stone b appeared rtively new, and its color did not match the surrounding wall. She took a little effort to remove it and saw the secret passage. Ultimately, she decided to enter after much deliberation. It was a long walk, and it took her some time before she finally saw a glimmer of light at the end of the passageway. As soon as she climbed over, she heard an old man¡¯s voice. ¡°Long time no see. You¡¯re finally here.¡± As her gazended on Old Mr. McGrath, who was not too far away, she asked icily, ¡°Where did you take my mom?¡± Haris chuckled without answering Elspeth. Then, he replied, ¡°After making it this far, the only thing you¡¯ve asked is that serious question?¡± Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Based on his response, I¡¯m convinced he has kidnapped my mom. Suddenly, she shuddered at the memory of the bloodstain on the ground from earlier. ¡°I don¡¯t want to waste time with you.¡± His eyes welled up withpassion as he sighed. ¡°You¡¯re still as disobedient as before.¡± Following that, he felt a cold light shing before his eyes. The next moment, a knife was held against his neck. ¡°Are you trying to kill me out of impulse? Don¡¯t you want to know where your mom is?¡± Haris showed no signs of rm and instead stared at Elspeth calmly as if he knew she wouldn¡¯t dare to take a step further. Nevertheless, she tightened her grip on the knife. ¡°Of course, I won¡¯t kill you easily. If you don¡¯t tell me where my mom is, I will make sure you suffer a miserable death.¡± Although she rarely killed anyone, if anything happened to Helia, she would not hesitate to kill him. Haris¡¯ gaze gradually drifted to the house at the corner. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll stop teasing you now. The person you want to meet is in that room.¡± After hearing that, Elspeth quickly sheathed her knife and retreated, staring at him coldly. ¡°If you lie to me, I won¡¯t let you go!¡± ¡°Why should I lie to you? Tell me, what have I lied to you about?¡± He smiled and caressed his beard, looking like an innocent man. Despite her reservations, she decided to go inside the house and check it out. So, she braced herself in her mind and stepped inside, where she discovered a wounded and unconscious person lying on a bed nearby. It was Helia! Seeing the miserable state her mother was in, Elspeth quickly went over. Then, she put her finger to her mother¡¯s nose to feel her breath. When she detected Helia¡¯s faint breaths, she immediately carried her mother on her back and prepared to leave. However, as she approached the door, the man outside smiled. ¡°Do you believe you¡¯ll be able to leave easily now that you¡¯re here?¡± As soon as Haris finished his sentence, she suddenly felt sluggish, and her mother also slipped off her back and fell to the ground. Chapter 576 Chapter 576 Chapter 576 Encountering an Old Acquaintance ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. I thought you were smart, but you¡¯re a reckless woman.¡± Haris initially believed that Elspeth would be at least well-prepared, but she did not even make it past the first line of his trap. I told her about this secret passage, and she came alone and unprepared because she took my word for it. A trace of disappointment flickered in his eyes, but it quickly faded. ¡°Did you drug this ce?¡± She felt her strength ebbing away from her. Even though she could not raise her hand, her mind remained sober. ¡°You must have been too nervous to realize the scent of the drug wafting throughout the room.¡± ¡°What a sly man you are.¡± Besides cursing under her breath, Elspeth couldn¡¯t say anything else. ¡°Do you know why I lured you here?¡± Haris chuckled nastily. ¡°Your mom is ideal for the drug testing, and so are you.¡± As soon as he waved his hand, two men emerged from the corner of the room. ¡°You two put that woman back into the room and tie this woman in the inner room.¡± After hearing that, a trace of coldness shed across Elspeth¡¯s eyes. ¡°I won¡¯t let you go.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for you.¡± Haris sounded regretful. ¡°I can stay here longer because I¡¯m used to it, but I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t.¡± She knew that being a drug tester was harmful to the body. However, she appeared to have no choice but to devise another escape n. ¡­ On the other hand, Elspeth was shocked when she was tied up in the inner room she had never been to before and discovered it was full of drug testers. All of them had mottled skin, sunken appearances, and thin figures. Some even looked as if they were taking theirst breath. The few who seemed reasonably lively saw her bound and thrown in there, felt sorry for her, and closed their eyes. Nheless, her hands and legs were tied up and pushed toward a corner. However, there was another woman in the corner who appeared to be her age, but her temperament appeared to be calmer than Elspeth¡¯s. Elspeth could tell the woman had been tortured because her body was abnormally skinny. The only thing that set her apart from the others was that she wasn¡¯t bound, and she didn¡¯t appear to be plotting her escape; instead, shey on the ground in a submissive manner. ¡°You look better than the rest physically. Have you recently been sent here?¡± Elspeth believed that the woman was her best chance or could at least gain a brief understanding of the situation by conversing with the woman. ¡°If you feel that everything here is new and interesting to you, you won¡¯t feel so curious anymore after you¡¯ve experienced certain things.¡± That woman obviously didn¡¯t bother to entertain her. Then, she turned over and faced her back against Elspeth. ¡°Why don¡¯t you escape when you¡¯re not tied up?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to know that.¡± The woman sounded even more unfriendly. Elspeth made an effort to initiate conversation but was unsessful. Nevertheless, she remained optimistic, knowing the woman would eventually converse with her. Then, around dinnertime, someone came by and handed the meal boxes through the small window at the door. Unfortunately, those who had been here for a long time had lost their strength. They were all on the ground in exhaustion and the woman was the only one who stood up and went to get the meal box. So, Elspeth tagged along and took a box for herself. Even though they were drug testers, their food was pretty scrumptious. Watching that woman eating with gusto, Elspeth approached her and sat beside her. ¡°Is it good?¡± The woman stuffed food into her mouth and ignored her. Looking at the eggnts in the woman¡¯s meal box, Elspeth inquired, ¡°I like eggnts. Can you share half of them with me?¡± Every meal box had different food, so she stared at the eggnts as if longing to eat them. The woman shot her a look of disdain before cing all of her eggnts into Elspeth¡¯s box. ¡°Thanks.¡± Elspeth grinned. ¡°I knew the daughter of the Rover Family is hot and cold.¡± At the mention of the Rovers, the woman trembled. ¡°What are you talking about? I don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°Winter Rover. I remember you.¡± It had been a long time since someone had called the woman¡¯s name. She even nearly forgot what her name was. When she heard her name at a ce like that, Winter suddenly felt tears welling up in her eyes. Nevertheless, she had always been a cold person. Even if she was moved by something, her eyes would redden at most. ¡°Why are you being locked in here?¡± Winter Rover was one of her acquainted ssmates when Elspeth was studying abroad back then. One of her memories of Winter was that her name urately reflected her personality. Winter, like the winter season, was cold and indifferent. On the other hand, Elspeth knew that Winter¡¯s outward demeanor was nothing more than a mask and that underneath it all, she was a warm-hearted person. Elspeth was chastised severely by her foreign professor for criticizing their mothend in ss while studying abroad. While everyone in the room watched her like a joke, the girl named Winter silently pinched her hand. ¡°I think you¡¯re right.¡± At that moment, she noticed Winter¡¯s name on the book¡¯s cover, which was how she recalled her. Still, Elspeth was shocked that they would run into each other again after all these years in that ce. ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to study traditional medicine, so afterpleting my studies abroad, I returned to learn from a famous teacher, and that¡¯s how I met Old Mr. McGrath.¡± Elspeth could predict what had happened next after hearing that. Haris admired Winter¡¯s talent and took her on as an apprentice, then used her as a drug tester under the guise of an apprentice. ¡°Still, why doesn¡¯t he tie you up?¡± Winter chuckled. ¡°My family is considered influential, so he doesn¡¯t dare to hurt me. I¡¯ve been here for two years and have only tested a handful of drugs.¡± Suddenly, Elspeth recalled when Haris offered to take her in as an apprentice and suddenly found it appalling. She was afraid she would have ended up here if she had been determined to learn from him back then. Then, she asked, ¡°Have you ever tried to escape?¡± Winter shook her head without a word but rolled up her sleeves to reveal the bruises and wounds on her arm. It seemed that she had suffered a lot of torture. Elspeth felt sorry for her. Since her hands were tied, she hinted at Winter to pull something out of her pocket. ¡°These are some ointments that I bring along everywhere I go. It¡¯ll heal your wounds.¡± Winter offered her a grateful smile. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, but I have a few more questions for you.¡± Winter kept the ointment and answered, ¡°Go on. I¡¯ll do my best to answer your questions. Chapter 577 Remaining Calm ¡°Can you tell me more about this ce?¡± Elspeth looked around. She kept getting the feeling that there was something fishy about this fairly small room. ¡°This room is filled with cameras pointing at every angle. Old Mr. McGrath had the security cameras installed to keep track of everyone and make sure no one escapes.¡± ¡°What else?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a signal jammer installed in this room as well. Nothing can be sent out.¡± Elspeth frowned. ¡°That¡¯s why he didn¡¯t even search me.¡± ¡°Why would he need to? All he has to do is toss you into this room and drug you. You¡¯ll be nothing more than a sitting duck.¡± Winter found Elspeth pitiful. ¡°How did they manage to kidnap you and throw you in here?¡± Elspeth pursed her lips. ¡°He said I¡¯m an exceptional drug tester. Plus, I have beef with him.¡± ¡°How did you manage to have beef with a recluse like him?¡± Winter began to get more talkative after getting to know Elspeth better. ¡°He¡¯s no recluse. He¡¯s just someone who¡¯d do anything for the sake of his granddaughter.¡± The two of them carried on talking. ¡°My family knows that I¡¯m here to study. Also, for the past two years, Old Mr. McGrath has been sending letters to my family that were written in my handwriting, so they don¡¯t suspect anything yet.¡± Winter felt rather helpless. She could only chalk it down to the fact that she was an unfavored daughter. Her family wouldn¡¯t have thrown her abroad if that hadn¡¯t been the case. She knew that the Rovers would have stirred up a frenzy if her younger brother had been the one who went missing. Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°But, in your case, if you disappear for long, I think plenty of people woulde looking for you.¡± Elspeth nodded. ¡°I managed to send out a text before I was brought to this inner room.¡± Harper should be trying to find a way to enter McGrath Residence right now. ¡°You¡¯re so smart.¡± Winter gave Elspeth a look of approval. ¡°If only I were as smart as you. I wouldn¡¯t have been locked up in here for so long.¡± It had been two years since shest stepped foot into the outside world. She didn¡¯t know what it was like anymore. Elspeth gave her a warm smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If I manage to leave, I¡¯ll take you with me.¡± Winter¡¯s eyes lit up with a trace of hope. ¡°Really? Do you mean I can leave too?¡± ¡°Not just you.¡± Elspeth looked around at the group of people lying on the floor. Her eyes darkened. ¡°I¡¯ll find a way to take everyone out of here.¡± ¡­ Welson waited by the entrance for ages without seeing anyoneing back out, so he was certain that something must¡¯ve happened. What if something happened to both of them while they were inside? All our efforts would¡¯ve been wasted. He nced at his butler who got the hint and immediately led a group of people to make amotion outside the car. They¡¯d been shouting for quite some time before someone finally came to open the door. Once the door opened, Welson get out of the car. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, and my master says he doesn¡¯t wish to see anyone today.¡± Welson sneered and domineeringly dered, ¡°Tell him that he bettere out and see me if he doesn¡¯t want the McGraths to go bankrupt by tomorrow.¡± The man eyed Welson andmented indifferently, ¡°And, who are you? How dare you spout such nonsense with such arrogance?¡± ¡°Welson Harley.¡± The man¡¯s expression soured the moment he heard the name. Everyone recognized that name. Although Welson¡¯s business wasn¡¯t based in Damoria, he wielded so much influence that even the most powerfulpanies in Damoria had to concede to him. The McGraths¡­ couldn¡¯t hold a candle to the Harley Family. ¡°Please wait a moment while I inform my master.¡± The man flew back into the house before trudging back out a few momentster. ¡°Pleasee with me, Mr. Harley.¡± Welson nced at the man before striding in with all his men. In the living room, Bobby was smiling cheerfully to greet Welson. He didn¡¯t expect Welson toe over in person. ¡°What brings you here?¡± Welson was in no mood to exchange pleasantries with Bobby. He got straight to the point. ¡°Where¡¯s Helia?¡± Bobby¡¯s expression became a little unpleasant. ¡°Helia? Who¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb with me, Mr. McGrath.¡± As a fellow sly fox, Welson knew full well what Bobby was trying to do. ¡°I¡¯m not. I truly don¡¯t know whom you¡¯re talking about.¡± Bobby smiled patiently and inquired, ¡°Whom are you talking about? I¡¯m more than happy to help you find that person if I can.¡± Welson cocked his eyebrows and calmly agreed. ¡°Sure. Let¡¯s start with a search of McGrath Residence then.¡± Bobby grew nervous. He knew that Welson had to have solid evidence for him toe knocking on their door in person. Even if he didn¡¯t have solid proof, he had to be convinced. It wouldn¡¯t be a problem if he doesn¡¯t find anything, but if he does, the entire McGrath Family would be doomed! ¡°Well, it¡¯s ratherte, Mr. Harley. Why don¡¯t you rest here for the night and I¡¯ll personally escort you around the ce first thing tomorrow morning?¡± Welson wasn¡¯t going to y along with Bobby¡¯s tricks. ¡°Are you going to let me search the ce or not?¡± Welson lost all patience. He wasn¡¯t interested in seeing Bobby¡¯s pathetic struggles. ¡°Yes, of course. Feel free to search anywhere you wish.¡± Bobby took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his brow before giving his butler a look. The butler got the message and immediately tried to step away, but Welson¡¯s men stopped him. ¡°We¡¯re all businessmen, Mr. McGrath. I¡¯m sure you know how important it is to be sincere. You better not try to y any games with me.¡± Welson eyed Bobby¡¯s butler with a sneer. ¡°Don¡¯t let him move.¡± Then, he turned to Bobby. ¡°You said you were going to escort me personally, right? Let¡¯s go, Mr. McGrath.¡± Bobby smiled awkwardly as he threw his butler a baleful re. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll lead the way.¡± Welson nodded and followed Bobby deeper into thepound. After searching several different courtyards, Welson didn¡¯t find any sign of anything unusual. Bobby let out a small sigh of relief. As they were searching the secondst courtyard, he politely spoke up. ¡°Mr. Harley, it¡¯s getting reallyte, and you haven¡¯t found anything after seeing all these different ces, so why don¡¯t we¡ª¡± Welson cut him off and calmly remarked, ¡°What¡¯s the rush? There¡¯s still one courtyard left to go, right? I don¡¯t feel tired at all. What¡¯s the matter? Do you have something else you need to do?¡± Bobby quickly obliged. ¡°No, not at all. I have all the time in the world.¡± ¡°Lead the way.¡± Bobby had no choice but to take Welson to Haris¡¯ courtyard. ¡°My father is a famed medical practitioner who leads a quiet life away from society. He¡¯s old and enjoys his peace. He doesn¡¯t like to be disturbed by anyone. Bobby thought that using Haris¡¯ fame and prestige would be enough to make Welson back down, but Welson simply ordered with a straight face, ¡°Open up.¡± Chapter 577 Chapter 577 Chapter 577 Remaining Calm ¡°Can you tell me more about this ce?¡± Elspeth looked around. She kept getting the feeling that there was something fishy about this fairly small room. ¡°This room is filled with cameras pointing at every angle. Old Mr. McGrath had the security cameras installed to keep track of everyone and make sure no one escapes.¡± ¡°What else?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a signal jammer installed in this room as well. Nothing can be sent out.¡± Elspeth frowned. ¡°That¡¯s why he didn¡¯t even search me.¡± ¡°Why would he need to? All he has to do is toss you into this room and drug you. You¡¯ll be nothing more than a sitting duck.¡± Winter found Elspeth pitiful. ¡°How did they manage to kidnap you and throw you in here?¡± Elspeth pursed her lips. ¡°He said I¡¯m an exceptional drug tester. Plus, I have beef with him.¡± ¡°How did you manage to have beef with a recluse like him?¡± Winter began to get more talkative after getting to know Elspeth better. ¡°He¡¯s no recluse. He¡¯s just someone who¡¯d do anything for the sake of his granddaughter.¡± The two of them carried on talking. ¡°My family knows that I¡¯m here to study. Also, for the past two years, Old Mr. McGrath has been sending letters to my family that were written in my handwriting, so they don¡¯t suspect anything yet.¡± Winter felt rather helpless. She could only chalk it down to the fact that she was an unfavored daughter. Her family wouldn¡¯t have thrown her abroad if that hadn¡¯t been the case. She knew that the Rovers would have stirred up a frenzy if her younger brother had been the one who went missing. ¡°But, in your case, if you disappear for long, I think plenty of people woulde looking for you.¡± Elspeth nodded. ¡°I managed to send out a text before I was brought to this inner room.¡± Harper should be trying to find a way to enter McGrath Residence right now. ¡°You¡¯re so smart.¡± Winter gave Elspeth a look of approval. ¡°If only I were as smart as you. I wouldn¡¯t have been locked up in here for so long.¡± It had been two years since shest stepped foot into the outside world. She didn¡¯t know what it was like anymore. Elspeth gave her a warm smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If I manage to leave, I¡¯ll take you with me.¡± Winter¡¯s eyes lit up with a trace of hope. ¡°Really? Do you mean I can leave too?¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ¡°Not just you.¡± Elspeth looked around at the group of people lying on the floor. Her eyes darkened. ¡°I¡¯ll find a way to take everyone out of here.¡± ¡­ Welson waited by the entrance for ages without seeing anyoneing back out, so he was certain that something must¡¯ve happened. What if something happened to both of them while they were inside? All our efforts would¡¯ve been wasted. He nced at his butler who got the hint and immediately led a group of people to make amotion outside the car. They¡¯d been shouting for quite some time before someone finally came to open the door. Once the door opened, Welson get out of the car. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, and my master says he doesn¡¯t wish to see anyone today.¡± Welson sneered and domineeringly dered, ¡°Tell him that he bettere out and see me if he doesn¡¯t want the McGraths to go bankrupt by tomorrow.¡± The man eyed Welson andmented indifferently, ¡°And, who are you? How dare you spout such nonsense with such arrogance?¡± ¡°Welson Harley.¡± The man¡¯s expression soured the moment he heard the name. Everyone recognized that name. Although Welson¡¯s business wasn¡¯t based in Damoria, he wielded so much influence that even the most powerfulpanies in Damoria had to concede to him. The McGraths¡­ couldn¡¯t hold a candle to the Harley Family. ¡°Please wait a moment while I inform my master.¡± The man flew back into the house before trudging back out a few momentster. ¡°Pleasee with me, Mr. Harley.¡± Welson nced at the man before striding in with all his men. In the living room, Bobby was smiling cheerfully to greet Welson. He didn¡¯t expect Welson toe over in person. ¡°What brings you here?¡± Welson was in no mood to exchange pleasantries with Bobby. He got straight to the point. ¡°Where¡¯s Helia?¡± Bobby¡¯s expression became a little unpleasant. ¡°Helia? Who¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb with me, Mr. McGrath.¡± As a fellow sly fox, Welson knew full well what Bobby was trying to do. ¡°I¡¯m not. I truly don¡¯t know whom you¡¯re talking about.¡± Bobby smiled patiently and inquired, ¡°Whom are you talking about? I¡¯m more than happy to help you find that person if I can.¡± Welson cocked his eyebrows and calmly agreed. ¡°Sure. Let¡¯s start with a search of McGrath Residence then.¡± Bobby grew nervous. He knew that Welson had to have solid evidence for him toe knocking on their door in person. Even if he didn¡¯t have solid proof, he had to be convinced. It wouldn¡¯t be a problem if he doesn¡¯t find anything, but if he does, the entire McGrath Family would be doomed! ¡°Well, it¡¯s ratherte, Mr. Harley. Why don¡¯t you rest here for the night and I¡¯ll personally escort you around the ce first thing tomorrow morning?¡± Welson wasn¡¯t going to y along with Bobby¡¯s tricks. ¡°Are you going to let me search the ce or not?¡± Welson lost all patience. He wasn¡¯t interested in seeing Bobby¡¯s pathetic struggles. ¡°Yes, of course. Feel free to search anywhere you wish.¡± Bobby took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his brow before giving his butler a look. The butler got the message and immediately tried to step away, but Welson¡¯s men stopped him. ¡°We¡¯re all businessmen, Mr. McGrath. I¡¯m sure you know how important it is to be sincere. You better not try to y any games with me.¡± Welson eyed Bobby¡¯s butler with a sneer. ¡°Don¡¯t let him move.¡± Then, he turned to Bobby. ¡°You said you were going to escort me personally, right? Let¡¯s go, Mr. McGrath.¡± Bobby smiled awkwardly as he threw his butler a baleful re. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll lead the way.¡± Welson nodded and followed Bobby deeper into thepound. After searching several different courtyards, Welson didn¡¯t find any sign of anything unusual. Bobby let out a small sigh of relief. As they were searching the secondst courtyard, he politely spoke up. ¡°Mr. Harley, it¡¯s getting reallyte, and you haven¡¯t found anything after seeing all these different ces, so why don¡¯t we¡ª¡± Welson cut him off and calmly remarked, ¡°What¡¯s the rush? There¡¯s still one courtyard left to go, right? I don¡¯t feel tired at all. What¡¯s the matter? Do you have something else you need to do?¡± Bobby quickly obliged. ¡°No, not at all. I have all the time in the world.¡± ¡°Lead the way.¡± Bobby had no choice but to take Welson to Haris¡¯ courtyard. ¡°My father is a famed medical practitioner who leads a quiet life away from society. He¡¯s old and enjoys his peace. He doesn¡¯t like to be disturbed by anyone. Bobby thought that using Haris¡¯ fame and prestige would be enough to make Welson back down, but Welson simply ordered with a straight face, ¡°Open up.¡± Chapter 578 Chapter 578 Chapter 578 Search Came Up Empty ¡°But¡­¡± Bobby looked conflicted. ¡°Why can¡¯t you open up the ce? I demand to be let in. If you don¡¯t open up, you can say goodbye to yourpany tomorrow.¡± Welson never minced words, and Bobby knew he couldn¡¯t stop Welson, so he had to retrieve the key and unlock the gate to allow entry. As soon as they walked into the courtyard, Welson saw Haris sitting leisurely at the stone table by the gate. ¡°What¡¯s going on? What brings you here, Mr. Harley?¡± Haris sipped from his cup of tea. He didn¡¯t seem upset that an outsider had barged into his ce. Instead, he pointed at the stool next to him and suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t you enjoy a cup of tea with me?¡± Welson snorted. ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood to sit around and have tea with you. Hurry up and tell me where you hid the two of them.¡± ¡°The two of them?¡± Haris set his cup down and pretended to exim in shock, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t throw such false usations around, Mr. Harley. No one came here.¡± ¡°Let me search the ce and we¡¯ll see whether it was a false usation.¡± Welson couldn¡¯t be bothered to y nice. With a wave of his hand, the men beside him immediately went around searching the courtyard. After a quick search, they reported back saying they didn¡¯t find anyone. Welson couldn¡¯t help but frown. Was I wrong about this? Nevertheless, he¡¯d personally witnessed Elspeth entering the ce using the hidden passage, and judging by the location, he was fairly certain it had to lead into this courtyard. Why haven¡¯t we found anything yet? ¡°I told you, Mr. Harley. There¡¯s no one here.¡± Haris shrugged helplessly. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Welson¡¯s expression was dark. He was displeased by the fact that they hadn¡¯t found anything. ¡°I think I need to search the ce one more time!¡± Bobby was a lot more confident now that the initial search came up empty. ¡°That¡¯s pushing it, Mr. Harley. I gave you permission to search the ce and you didn¡¯t find anything, so why are you still trying to cause trouble for us?¡± If Welson insisted on searching the ce one more time, it would look as if he were hellbent on using them of a crime they didn¡¯tmit. He had to stop. ¡°It¡¯s getting prettyte. Would you like to rest here for the night, Mr. Harley, or would you be returning home?¡± Bobby asked courteously. He was still too afraid to offend Welson. Welson threw Bobby an icy re before storming off. Bobby exhaled in relief. Haris dropped all pretense of civility as his fury colored his expression. ¡°What on earth are you doing? You can¡¯t even do one little thing right.¡± ¡°How would I know he was going to barge in all of a sudden, Dad? You saw him. He would surely find a way to ruin us in revenge if I don¡¯t let him search the ce! I couldn¡¯t stop him.¡± Haris took a sip of tea. ¡°He¡¯s already suspected us now, but since he just did his search, it¡¯s unlikely that he¡¯ll return anytime soon.¡± ¡°Dad, did you really kidnap both Helia Joneson and her daughter?¡± Bobby had been busy dealing with the business and couldn¡¯t pay attention to what Haris was up to, but after seeing Welson¡¯s reaction today, he had a feeling that his father did indeed do something unspeakable that he didn¡¯t know about. ¡°Hah. You don¡¯t need to bother with that. All you need to do is just let me know in advance if hees again.¡± Bobby chuckled awkwardly. ¡°Dad, kidnapping is no joke. If you get caught, you¡¯d be sent to prison. You better be prepared.¡± ¡°Do you think I need you to tell me what to do?¡± Since Haris put it that way, Bobby couldn¡¯t say anything. ¡°That¡¯s enough. You can leave now if there¡¯s nothing else.¡± Bobby sighed and left. Soon, Haris was the only one left in therge courtyard. His eyes glittered as he quickly made his way over to the inner room and unlocked the door. He wasn¡¯t worried about entering alone as the hidden room had been drugged with muscle rxants that immobilized everyone inside. He¡¯d taken the antidote in advance so no one could put up a fight with him in their state. Haris strode around the room and found Elspeth leaning against a block of stone. She looked perfectly harmless. ¡°Elspeth.¡± He slowly walked over to her and smiled. ¡°I can¡¯t bear to turn you into a drug tester. If you¡¯re willing to be my disciple, I¡¯ll teach you everything I know.¡± Elspeth wasn¡¯t surprised to see him enter. She wasn¡¯t furious either. Instead, she cocked her head to the side in thought before eximing in feigned shock, ¡°Does that mean you¡¯ll let me go if I be your disciple?¡± ¡°Of course. How can my disciple stay in a ce like this?¡± Elspeth knew that he was only trying to hide his true intentions. He simply wanted to numb her mind momentarily before experimenting on her. Does he think I have no clue what he¡¯s up to? Although she was sneering on the inside, she pretended to be naive and hopeful. ¡°Can you let me go now? I¡¯ve been tied up here for a whole day now. My hands feel like they¡¯re about to fall off.¡± ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re willing to be my disciple?¡± Haris didn¡¯t believe her. He knew that Elspeth wasn¡¯t someone easy to deal with. It didn¡¯t seem usible that she would readily agree to this simply because he tied her hands up. ¡°Of course. Who¡¯d choose to suffer in here as a drug tester?¡± Elspeth¡¯s acting was pretty bad. Haris saw right through it, so he said, ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯re sincere about wanting to be my disciple, but if you are, then take this medicine.¡± Haris took out a brown pill from his pocket and held it out in front of Elspeth. She had a keen sense of smell and could immediately pick up on the unusual scent of the medicine. If I¡¯m right, that medicine will allow him to control my mind. Something addictive had been added to the medicine as well. If she ate this medicine, she would have to constantly rely on him to give her the antidote. What a distrustful man he is. How can hee up with such a heinous trick?! Elspeth didn¡¯t move at all, so Haris had to change tactics. ¡°I guess you don¡¯t want to be my disciple after all. It was all a lie.¡± ¡°The medicine doesn¡¯t look pleasant to eat at all.¡± Elspeth let out a troubled expression. ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as a pleasant medicine to eat. As long as you eat this, I promise to untie you right away.¡± Haris tried his best to sound kinder as he hid his excitement. Elspeth had no choice but to open up and allow Haris to bring the medicine to her mouth. She was about to take the medicine when a harsh growl rang out from the door. ¡°Hold it!¡± Chapter 579 Chapter 579 Chapter 579 Rescued Both their eyes flew to the door as the pill in Haris¡¯ hand fell to the floor. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Elspeth smirked. She didn¡¯t expect Harper to arrive so soon. Just in time! Since the situation wasn¡¯t critical anymore, Harper stepped aside. Callum slowly walked into the room and looked around before fixing his piercing eyes on Elspeth. His brows furrowed as his eyes took on a dangerous glint. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d be someone who does such things behind closed doors, Old Mr. McGrath.¡± Haris wasn¡¯t worried. He had a few fighters stationed in his courtyard. ¡°Old Mr. McGrath, you wouldn¡¯t happen to be waiting for the three useless pieces of trash outside, would you?¡± Haris¡¯ expression stiffened. ¡°What? What did you do to them?¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t I clear enough? They were pieces of trash, so I took the trash out, of course.¡± Haris¡¯ face turned green, but he remained unperturbed. ¡°What gives you the confidence to barge into my courtyard without permission? Aren¡¯t you afraid that I¡¯ll do something to her?¡± Haris had surreptitiously checked his surroundings and found that Elspeth was extremely near him. He figured she would be an excellent hostage. ¡°What can you possibly do to me?¡± Before Haris could react, Elspeth abruptly got to her feet. Her hands and feet showed no signs of being tied. She¡¯d tossed the rope around her hands to the floor at some point, and right now, she stared at Haris with a slowly deepening smile. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t think that your drugs would be enough to incapacitate me, right?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Elspeth stretched her wrists which had been stuck behind her for quite some time. ¡°Oh, nothing. Just that I happen to be proficient in the use of medicine and your muscle rxants are useless against me.¡± Useless?! Haris¡¯ face turned purple with rage. I spent a decade pouring my heart and soul into creating that drug! How dare this chick who¡¯s only in her twenties say such a thing about my invention?! Nevertheless, Haris did find it strange that Elspeth didn¡¯t seem at all affected by the drug. ¡°I used the same kind of drug when I first kidnapped you and brought you here. Why did that one affect you when this one didn¡¯t?¡± Elspeth thought about what happened back then before grinning at him. ¡°I was just tricking you to see what you¡¯d be doing next.¡± She used his tricks to trick him! Haris stared at her wrists with a stormy expression. ¡°But, I¡¯m the one who tied you up. You wouldn¡¯t have been able to get out of the ropes so easily, unless¡­¡± ¡°Oops. I convinced one of your people to turn on you.¡± Haris¡¯ eyed widened. ¡°Winter? That¡¯s impossible! I drugged her. She wouldn¡¯t listen to you.¡± Winter stood up in the corner. Although her frame was small and slender, it wasn¡¯t impossible to overlook her. ¡°It¡¯s time you stop. You¡¯ve been doing these things for so many years now. I kept trying to stop you, but I never found the chance, and you won¡¯t listen to me either. I¡¯m willing to address you as Mentor once more, if only because I genuinely hope that you can repent and stop what you¡¯re doing.¡± Haris was enraged. He didn¡¯t think he did anything wrong and refused to stop. ¡°I¡¯m warning you, Winter! I won¡¯t be giving you the antidote ever again!¡± Elspeth eyed him pitifully. ¡°I¡¯ll prepare the antidote for her myself, Old Mr. McGrath. As for you, I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t have the chance to give her any kind of antidote.¡± Atst, it hit Haris that the game was up. He stumbled to the ground. Callum waved his hand and three burly men came in. ¡°Tie him up and take him back to Winthrop Residence.¡± Elspeth was startled. ¡°Aren¡¯t you taking him to the police station?¡± Callum¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°After what he did to you, how could I allow him to be taken to the police station just like that?¡± Even if I don¡¯t kill him, I¡¯m going to skin his hide first. Haris was finally gripped with fear. He looked up at Callum whose murderous expression was enough to prove he meant every word he said. ¡°Y-You can¡¯t do this to me, Winthrop!¡± Callum slowly crouched down and grabbed Haris by the neck. His eyes were bloodshot. ¡°Why not? You know full well what you were about to do to my wife.¡± He couldn¡¯t bring himself to imagine what would¡¯ve happened to Elspeth if he¡¯d been just a step too late, or if he had no clue what was happening today. All along, Haris never realized just how terrifying Callum could be until the truth sank into him now. ¡°Your father and I have a good rtionship. He won¡¯t let you treat me like this!¡± Despite the hopelessness of the situation, Haris refused to give up. In his attempt to struggle out of Callum¡¯s grip, he tried to grab thetter¡¯s cor, but Callum dodged him with ease. ¡°Tie him up,¡± Callum instructed coolly before walking over to Elspeth. Haris kept hollering and Callum¡¯s brows creased once more. One of the men immediately got the hint and stuffed Haris¡¯ mouth to shut him up. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Everything¡¯s fine now.¡± Callum pulled Elspeth into his arms and gently consoled her. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I be okay?¡± Elspeth chuckled. ¡°I wasn¡¯t scared.¡± Callum bit down softly on her lips before saying, ¡°Don¡¯t ever go off alone and do something as dangerous as this again. I was so worried about you.¡± Winter couldn¡¯t help but blush as she watched the couple being all lovey-dovey. She¡¯d never dated before and the sight in front of her was more than she could handle. ¡°Ahem¡­¡± The sound of Winter clearing her throat led to Callum and Elspeth finally remembering that they weren¡¯t alone right now. Feeling rather awkward, Winter changed the subject. ¡°What¡¯s going to happen to the others?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get someone to take them out of here and return them to their families,¡± Callum answered. Winter felt deeply grateful. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Winthrop!¡± ¡°Not at all. You helped us out a lot. Without you, we wouldn¡¯t have been able to rescue everyone so easily.¡± Elspeth also added, ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about the drug he fed to you. I¡¯ll find a way to get it out of your system.¡± Winter was on the verge of tears. ¡°Thank you so much, both of you!¡± Callum instructed someone to take Winter back to the Rovers before heading to the living room with Elspeth. Bobby had been informed of everything that urred at Haris¡¯ courtyard just now. He was trembling in his seat out of fear that he would be the next target. Chapter 580 Chapter 580 Chapter 580 A Little Trick Elspeth couldn¡¯t be bothered to beat around the bush. She walked straight over to Bobby and looked at him with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard about what happened, Mr. McGrath.¡± ¡°It has nothing to do with me. I didn¡¯t know anything about it!¡± After seeing the situation he was in right now, he knew it was toote. Thus, even though he was being unfilial by denying knowledge of the situation, he had to as he still had a daughter. He couldn¡¯t let the McGrath Family go down with Haris. ¡°You didn¡¯t know anything, huh? Did you really not know anything?¡± Elspeth surveyed Bobby with a look of amusement, but her eyes darkened. Bobby grew flustered and averted his eyes, but he nodded adamantly. ¡°Yes, I really didn¡¯t know anything about it. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can ask my butler. I barely have any contact with Old Mr. McGrath.¡± The butler immediately bobbed his head up and down in agreement. ¡°Yes! That¡¯s right! Mr. McGrath never has any dealings with Old Mr. McGrath!¡± Although Elspeth didn¡¯t believe a word they were saying, she knew that she had to use a different tactic to get Bobby to tell the truth. Her eyes flickered and an idea came to mind. She let out a grave sigh and announced, ¡°But, Old Mr. McGrath has already spilled the beans on all of you.¡± ¡°All of us?¡± Bobby didn¡¯t think that Haris would expose Jasmine¡¯s doings as well. After all, Jasmine was the most important person to Haris. No one was allowed to hurt her. ¡°That¡¯s impossible! My father wouldn¡¯t have done that.¡± Bobby had a fairly good understanding of Haris. ¡°Why not?¡± Elspeth took out a pill and waved it at Bobby. ¡°I fed this to him and told him that he wouldn¡¯t be getting the antidote if he didn¡¯t tell me the truth.¡± She tossed the pill aside and dusted off her hands. ¡°Who wouldn¡¯t be afraid of dying? He told me everything.¡± Bobby was sweating profusely. ¡°Even about Jasmine?¡± ¡°Yes, especially about Jasmine. He told me every single detail of what Jasmine did.¡± Elspeth started counting with her fingers. ¡°Based on what she¡¯s done, how long would her prison sentence be? Oh, wow. Quite long.¡± Bobby jolted. If Jasmine had been ratted out, then he wouldn¡¯t be able to escape either. He had no choice but to hang his head low and quietly confess, ¡°Alright. I admit it. I was aware of what was happening.¡± ¡°Couldn¡¯t you have just admitted it right from the start? I wouldn¡¯t have to try and think of a way to trick you into a confession.¡± Bobby¡¯s eyes grewrge. ¡°What did you say?!¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Elspeth turned to Harper who was standing beside her. ¡°Do you have it all recorded?¡± Harper passed the audio recorder to her. ¡°It¡¯s all here.¡± ¡°How dare you trick me?!¡± Bobby was infuriated. He tried to lunge at Elspeth, but Callum stood in his path. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± Bobby couldn¡¯t bother to keep up appearances anymore. He bellowed at the top of his lungs, ¡°How dare you trick me?! You¡¯re going to rot in hell for this, Elspeth!¡± Elspeth shrugged nonchntly. ¡°Before that, you¡¯re going to have to rot in prison first, Mr. McGrath.¡± Callum got the message and called his men over to grab Bobby and haul him out. As soon as Bobby was taken out of the house, Jasmine came marching over. She was trembling with rage as she red at the familiar faces in front of her. ¡°What did you do to my family?!¡± She was out shopping earlier and didn¡¯t expect to find that misfortune had befallen the entire family in just a few short hours. Just moments ago, she saw the men dragging her father out and heard him yelling to her, ¡°Jasmine, they took your grandfather away!¡± Jasmine immediately rushed into the house. ¡°What did I do to your family? What do you mean by that? Shouldn¡¯t I be the one asking you what you did to my family?¡± Elspeth wasn¡¯t furious. She simply chuckled and remarked, ¡°Oh, well. Things have more or less been settled now. All that¡¯s left is you.¡± Jasmine¡¯s rage subsided a little as an uneasy feeling crept into her heart. ¡°What do you mean all that¡¯s left is me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to settle the score.¡± Elspeth stuck her hands in her pockets. ¡°Tell us everything you did.¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Jasmine snorted. ¡°I won¡¯t tell you anything. Even if I did do something, I wouldn¡¯t be telling you about it.¡± Elspeth can¡¯t do anything to me if I don¡¯t admit to it. ¡°Do you think I don¡¯t have any evidence?¡± Elspeth waved the audio recorder she had in hand and grinned. ¡°If you don¡¯t admit it yourself, don¡¯t me me for not showing you any mercy.¡± Jasmine pursed her lips. ¡°I don¡¯t believe you. You must up to your usual trickery.¡± ¡°Have a listen first and you¡¯ll know whether I¡¯m telling the truth.¡± Elspeth started ying the recording. The sound of Bobby¡¯s voice wiped the smug smile off Jasmine¡¯s face. She turned ashen-faced as she eximed, ¡°When did you get this recording?!¡± ¡°Just a few minutes ago. Your father told us everything.¡± Only now did it dawn on Jasmine as to why her father had been hauled out earlier. Their fate was now a foregone conclusion. Thus, she didn¡¯t bother keeping up with her any longer. Her gaze turned vicious. ¡°I should¡¯ve told Grandpa to kill you, Elspeth!¡± ¡°Jasmine, I thought we¡¯d settled the score between us after what I went through previously.¡± Elspeth¡¯s eyes shed with disappointment. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d still do something as heinous as this.¡± Jasmine sneered, ¡°Compared to all the things I had to go through because of you, I¡¯ve been far too kind toward you! I want nothing more than to kill you, rip you to pieces, and drink your blood¡ª¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Callum snarled in response to Jasmine¡¯s slow descent into madness. ¡°And, you! Callum Winthrop! You were aware of my feelings for you, so you used me, hurt me, tossed me aside, and even got someone to frame me!¡± Jasmine¡¯s expression grew sinister as she vented her fury and resentment. ¡°I had genuine feelings for you! I was looking forward to marrying you! I didn¡¯t expect that you¡¯d turn out to be the person you are! How on earth did Elspeth bewitch you? Why do you insist on remaining loyal to her?!¡± Even now, Jasmine thought that it was Elspeth who stole everything away from her. Everything would¡¯ve been mine right now if she¡¯d only just died! Everything would¡¯ve been mine! Elspeth shook her head pityingly. ¡°You still don¡¯t realize the mistakes you¡¯ve made. Oh, well. Forget it.¡± Jasmine cackled. ¡°What a joke! I¡¯m the one who made all the mistakes and you guys are all saints, huh? You can do no wrong, huh?! As long as I¡¯m still alive, Elspeth, I¡¯ll make every single one of you get what you deserve!¡± Callum didn¡¯t want to listen to this anymore. He had his men restrain her and haul her out as well. Chapter 581 Chapter 581 Chapter 581 He Never Had Feelings for You ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s go back now.¡± Callum patted Elspeth on the shoulder. His expression had softened up a little. Elspeth shook her head. ¡°I can¡¯t go back just yet. There¡¯s something I haven¡¯t done.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Old Mr. McGrath drugged Winter with a strange concoction. The form contains some rare ingredients, so I need to take a few things from his stash just in case.¡± ¡°I¡¯lle with you.¡± Callum was worried that something unexpected would happen to Elspeth and that she would get injured, so he insisted on tagging along with her. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I was here in the past and I know where his storage is. I¡¯ll be right back. Wait for me.¡± Now that the McGraths had been dealt with, there was little risk in moving around on her own. Callum had no choice but to do as she said. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. However, Elspeth was gone for quite some time, and with each passing second, Callum grew more worried. He had to track her down by heading in the direction she¡¯d gone and following the scent of medicinal herbs. True enough, the scent led him to the storage room. ¡°Elspeth?¡± Callum called out a few times and heard no reply which further solidified his fears. His heart sank as he immediately rushed in, but the scene he stumbled upon left him feeling both amused and exasperated. Elspeth was fast asleep with her head on the table and her hand still clutching a sprig of some medicinal herb. It was clear that she¡¯d fallen asleep from over-exhaustion. Callum quietly went over and took off his jacket to put it around her. As soon as the jacket touched her, her eyes flew open. She rubbed her eyes and muttered, ¡°Why did youe over? I thought I told you to wait back there for me.¡± ¡°You would¡¯ve been sleeping here the whole night if I didn¡¯te looking for you,¡± Callum teased. ¡°Have I been sleeping for long? I only sat down because I felt a little tired and I cked out after that.¡± Callum knew she had a rough time the past two days and couldn¡¯t bear to chide her. ¡°It¡¯s fine. You¡¯ve been busy trying to locate Miss Joneson the past few days. It¡¯s normal to feel exhausted. Make sure you get enough rest now.¡± Elspeth jumped to her feet at once. ¡°Has my mother been sent to the hospital?¡± ¡°Yes. I had them take her to the hospital as soon as we came.¡± Callum saw the expectation in Elspeth¡¯s eyes and knew she wanted to hear about Helia. ¡°Everything¡¯s fine with Miss Joneson now. She just needs to rest.¡± Elspeth was relieved. She rubbed her sore neck and turned around to search for the herbs she needed. Her brief respite had renewed her energy and she was able to quickly locate everything she was looking for. Elspeth was about to head home with Callum when a thought urred to her. She came to an abrupt halt as her expression darkened. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Callum piped up worriedly. ¡°Did something happen?¡± ¡°I think there¡¯s more to this situation.¡± Elspeth¡¯s brows tightened. How did the McGraths know so much? Being the cautious and meticulous person that she was, she had people keeping tabs on Winthrop Residence. She would¡¯ve been alerted at once if anyone suspicious appeared in the vicinity. However, none of her people reported anything unusual to her. This meant the McGraths had gotten the information by chance instead of being the ones spying on Winthrop Residence. Who would¡¯ve told them about this? Elspeth thought about every single possibility and finallynded on someone she couldn¡¯t help but suspect. ¡°I think I need to go and see him now.¡± ¡­ Meanwhile, Cecelia was getting discharged today, and true enough, she saw someone waiting for her outside the hospital. She felt a headacheing on when she spotted Yozan and wanted to avoid him, but he noticed her anyway. ¡°Why are you hiding from me?¡± Yozan got closer. His shadow loomed over her. ¡°Isn¡¯t it normal for me to avoid you? I told you to stay away from me. Don¡¯t you understand what I said?¡± As time went on, Cecelia began losing her patience. ¡°Cecelia, can you please wake up?¡± Yozan reined in his temper and calmly reminded, ¡°You¡¯re carrying my child right now. Do you want the child to be born without a father?¡± Cecelia instinctively ced her hand on her stomach, but she quickly turned her head away in stubbornness. ¡°What does my child have to do with you? I¡¯m not giving birth to this child for the sake of getting the child a father.¡± ¡°How could you¡ª¡± Yozan had never seen this side of Cecelia before. She was more determined and stubborn than he expected. He felt as if his lungs were about to explode. ¡°Don¡¯t you have even a shred of feelings for me, Cecelia?¡± Cecelia was startled at first, but she pursed her lips and retorted, ¡°Must I spell it all out for you before you get it?¡± Yozan¡¯s body stiffened. For some reason, his silhouette appeared somewhat lonely. ¡°Don¡¯te and disturb me anymore.¡± Cecelia took a deep breath. Every fiber of her being rejected Yozan¡¯s presence. ¡°You know full well that I can¡¯t be fully invested in a rtionship with you.¡± This was the truth. She meant every word. The young man she kept in her heart made it impossible for her to get involved with anyone else. ¡°Am I not important to you at all?¡± Yozan¡¯s bitter chuckle sounded a little eerie in the quietness of their surroundings. Cecelia hardened her heart and dered, ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Her response struck a nerve with Yozan. He grabbed her shoulders and red at her in fury. ¡°What¡¯s so good about Hank Damazio?! Why are you still so hung up on him after all these years?!¡± ¡°H-How did you know?¡± Cecelia had never told Yozan that it was Hank she couldn¡¯t forget. After returning to the country, she didn¡¯t do anything that made it obvious she had a close rtionship with Hank either. How did he find out? Yozan¡¯s eyes glinted darkly as his expression grew cold. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I know about it? You think I wouldn¡¯t get someone to investigate you?¡± ording to the information he found, Hank was the only man who ever appeared in Cecelia¡¯s life. If she was in love with someone, that person could only be Hank. Cecelia was speechless. She stood there in silence. ¡°Hank never felt the same way about you. That¡¯s why he¡¯s with Yelena now. Since that¡¯s the case, why are you still hung up on him?¡± Yozan¡¯s words were hurtful, but he spoke the truth. Cecelia had told herself the same thing countless times to force herself to bury the feelings she had for Hank. Even so, the fact that she was hearing these words from an outsider made her feel like she had been stripped naked. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business!¡± Cecelia shoved Yozan away and turned to leave. s, she¡¯d shoved him so hard that he mmed into the tree behind him. Thump¡­ Cecelia jumped in fright when she heard the sound. She quickly turned to look and saw Yozan slumping to the ground unconscious. Chapter 582 Chapter 582 Chapter 582 A Vengeful Act ¡°Yozan!¡± Cecelia eximed as she rushed over to him. She quivered with fear when she felt the back of his head. Her palm had been dyed red. Though she repeated his name a few more times, he didn¡¯t respond at all. ¡°What should I do¡­¡± Cecelia was so overwhelmed that she couldn¡¯t think straight. All of a sudden, a hand pressed down on hers and a weak voice called out, ¡°Help me call 911.¡± Cecelia smacked herself. Hang on. We¡¯re right outside the hospital! Why would I need to call 911?! She looked around and spotted a doctor in the distance, so she immediately walked up to him and tugged his sleeve to get him to follow her. ¡°Doctor! There¡¯s an injured person over there. Come quick!¡± The doctor was startled and confused but he followed her anyway. He only realized the severity of the situation when he saw Yozan slumped under the tree. He quickly called a few people over and they brought Yozan to the emergency room. Throughout Yozan¡¯s treatment, Cecelia remained on the side with a look of guilt. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to push you.¡± ¡°I know. It¡¯s fine,¡± Yozan responded evenly with an unreadable expression. ¡°I¡­¡± Cecelia felt remorseful, so she softly asked, ¡°What can I do to make it up to you?¡± ¡°Marry me,¡± Yozan replied. Cecelia was struck dumb. She didn¡¯t respond. It was clear that she was displeased by his answer. ¡°Just stay here and take care of me.¡± This option was¡­ a little more bearable. ¡°Fine. Since I¡¯m the reason why you got hurt, I¡¯ll look after you for the time being while you¡¯re at the hospital.¡± Before Cecelia could say anything else, Yozan¡¯s phone rang. His expression shifted slightly when he heard the voice that came through. ¡°I¡¯ll ask for permission to take some time off work.¡± Cecelia was about to make the call when Yozan stopped her. ¡°You don¡¯t need to stick around and take care of me. Just go home.¡± Cecelia thought she¡¯d pissed him off somehow, so she asked, puzzled, ¡°Why not?¡± Yozan smirked. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Are you so keen on taking care of me?¡± ¡°No, but I did cause your injury.¡± Yozan¡¯s eyes shed darkly. ¡°In that case, I don¡¯t need you to take care of me. Just go.¡± Cecelia didn¡¯t move. She bit her lip and checked, ¡°Are you sure?¡± Yozan waved her away. ¡°Hurry up and leave before I change my mind.¡± Yozan waved her away. ¡°Hurry up and leave before I change my mind.¡± Cecelia took onest look at him before walking off. Half an hourter, there was a knock on the door. ¡°Come in,¡± Yozan called out. Elspeth came in, and when she saw Yozan lying on the hospital bed, she forced herself to rein in her fury. ¡°What a coincidence. I just so happened to be injured and you just so happened toe and meet me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not here to chat with you today.¡± Elspeth sat down on the seat. Her voice was crisp and curt as she questioned, ¡°Why did you give all that information to the McGraths?¡± Yozan cocked his eyebrows and queried in confusion, ¡°What are you talking about? What do you mean that I gave information to the McGraths?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb with me, Yozan. The McGraths wouldn¡¯t have had such a clear grasp on everything if you didn¡¯t pass the information to them.¡± Elspeth had it all figured out. Yozan was the only person apart from her who knew all this information. Thus, it had to have been him who spilled to the McGraths. ¡°Fine. Since you figured it out, I won¡¯t attempt to hide it any longer.¡± Yozan looked pale but his words were as infuriating as ever. ¡°I just wanted to make life hard for Welson Harley.¡± ¡°There are plenty of ways for you to cause trouble for him. Why did you choose to hurt my mother?¡± Elspeth was furious. She wanted to cut Yozan¡¯s head open to see what was inside. Yozan¡¯s emotions were getting the best of him too. His expression was harsh as he raised his voice and fired back, ¡°He has always been a careful man. I¡¯ve never seen him care about anyone else as much as he cares about your mother. After all these years, she¡¯s the only person who proved to be a worthwhile target. Why shouldn¡¯t I make use of this opportunity? Do you know how he treated my mother?! He called her a b*tch and a sl*t who only knew how to climb into a man¡¯s bed!¡± Ever since he was a child, he heard these words repeated to him time and time again, and due to this, his personality grew vtile too. After seeing the importance Welson ced on Elspeth¡¯s mother, he was so enraged that he came up with this n. ¡°So, that¡¯s why you chose to harm an innocent woman, right?¡± Elspeth could empathize with Yozan¡¯s feelings, but she couldn¡¯t ept what he¡¯d done. ¡°I¡­¡± Yozan snapped out of his emotional outburst. He couldn¡¯t defend himself as he knew he was the one in the wrong. All was silent as neither one of them spoke. In the end, it was Yozan who broke the silence. ¡°How¡¯s your mother?¡± ¡°She¡¯s fine at the moment,¡± Elspeth responded curtly. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear¡­ Apologize to her on my behalf. I know I¡¯m at fault for this. If there¡¯s anything you need, feel free to tell me. I¡¯ll do whatever I can to help you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need your help. Since you¡¯re willing to admit your fault in the matter, I won¡¯t hold it against you.¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t blow up at Yozan when he was injured and lying in a hospital room. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry.¡± Yozan had regretted what he¡¯d done as soon as he did it, but he didn¡¯t know how to tell Elspeth about it. The look on his face right now reminded Elspeth of her earlier conversation with Callum. ¡°Actually, Yozan was the one who told me about this.¡± ¡°Yozan?¡± ¡°Yeah. He suddenly called me up today and told me that your mother had been kidnapped.¡± ¡°How did he know about it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°What else?¡± ¡°He told me that you would¡¯ve most likely gone over to rescue her yourself, so he urged me to hurry up and find you.¡± Elspeth snapped back out of her reverie and sighed when she turned her eyes back onto the unspeaking man in front of her. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°At least your conscience came back just in time. If it weren¡¯t for you, it might¡¯ve been toote by the time they found me.¡± In a way, he¡¯d made up for his mistake. ¡°It was still a little toote¡­¡± Yozan said with some difficulty as aplicated look shed across his eyes. ¡°That¡¯s enough now. You don¡¯t need to beat yourself up over it. Mr. Harley will soon find out about what you did.¡± Welson was a shrewd man. He was bound to figure things out when even Elspeth managed to do so this quickly. After recalling the way Welson treated Yozan, Elspeth had a feeling that Welson would be even more incensed this time. ¡°It¡¯s fine. This time, I¡¯ll ept whatever punishment he decides to dole out.¡± Chapter 583 Chapter 583 Chapter 583 He Cares About You Before they could say much else, Welson¡¯s furious snarling rang out behind them. ¡°What did you do, you b*stard?!¡± Elspeth turned around, and before she could even register what was happening, a hand mmed across Yozan¡¯s face which swelled up right away. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t interrogated the McGraths, I wouldn¡¯t have found out that my son had the audacity to put someone else in harm¡¯s way!¡± Yozan wiped the streak of blood from the corner of his lips and smirked. ¡°You¡¯re only angry because the person who was put in harm¡¯s way was the woman you love.¡± During his time abroad, he¡¯d gotten into a fight and ended up beating that person half to death. He had to give several hundred thousand inpensation, and even then, Welson didn¡¯t care at all. He¡¯s only reacting this way now because I hurt the person he cares the most about. ¡°Darn it! Do you not have a conscience?!¡± Welson raised his arm once more but Elspeth swiftly stopped him. ¡°It¡¯s true that Yozan went too far today, but he has already admitted his mistake and did his best to make up for it in time.¡± Yozan sighed. ¡°You¡¯re too kindhearted. If it were me, I would rip this b*stard to shreds!¡± Elspeth chuckled awkwardly. ¡°You did hit him earlier. It counts as teaching him a lesson. He¡¯s still injured right now and his body¡¯s weak, so let¡¯s not resort to any more violence.¡± Upon hearing that Yozan was injured, Welson finally took a good look at his son. True enough, his head was bandaged. It was clear that he was sporting an injury on the back of his head. s, Welson had been too enraged to notice it sooner. ¡°It¡¯s just a scratch. No big deal.¡± Yozan snorted and said, ¡°I know this bit of injury means nothing to you.¡± The room fell silent once again. Welson cleared his throat before curtly announcing, ¡°Since you¡¯re fine, I¡¯ll get going. I still have work matters to attend to.¡± He took onest look at Yozan and informed, ¡°I¡¯ve made sure those people won¡¯t be ratting you out, so you can just focus on your recovery.¡± With that said, he turned and left. Once Welson was gone, Elspeth sighed. ¡°Mr. Harley does care about you, you know. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have made sure they stayed quiet to stop them from dragging you down with them.¡± What the McGraths had done were criminal offenses, and if Yozan got dragged down with them, he would have to serve a prison sentence too. What the McGraths had done were criminal offenses, and if Yozan got dragged down with them, he would have to serve a prison sentence too. ¡°I know.¡± Yozan didn¡¯t seem unhappy. ¡°It¡¯s only because he still needs me to be his heir. If something happens to me, all of his years of hard work would go down the drain.¡± Elspeth chuckled in disbelief. ¡°Now that I¡¯m in the picture, do you think you can still be his sessor?¡± Yozan was startled. ¡°Are you interested in it?¡± In reality, Yozan wasn¡¯t all that interested in the Harley Family¡¯s fortune, but throughout all these years, he¡¯d been groomed as the heir. If he had to give it over to someone else¡­ If it¡¯s Elspeth¡­ I guess it¡¯s fine by me. ¡°I don¡¯t, but what I meant is, you keep saying that Mr. Harley likes me, right? If I return to the family, do you think he¡¯ll make me his heir instead?¡± ¡°So be it.¡± Yozan truly didn¡¯t care. Elspeth was exasperated. ¡°Why do I have such a stubborn younger brother? You¡¯re so¡­ What I meant is that Mr. Harley has someone else to choose as his heir, so he doesn¡¯t have to worry about his hard work going to waste. He chose to protect you because he truly cares about you, his son.¡± Yozan was stunned into silence. ¡°Also, don¡¯t hold it against him. If it were me, I would¡¯ve pped you for what you did too.¡± Elspeth rolled her eyes. Giving him nothing more than a p would be going easy on him. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you¡¯re aware of the fact that you harmed the person he loves. Why do I recall someone recording a naked video of the person who pushed his girlfriend into theke?¡± You¡¯re also the kind of person who takes an eye for an eye, so why are you getting upset now? What a fool. Yozan felt that Elspeth had a point. Meanwhile, now that Cecelia had been brought up, Elspeth couldn¡¯t resist asking, ¡°By the way, have you and Cecelia made up yet?¡± Yozan rubbed his temples with a sense of helplessness. ¡°You¡¯re really taking to the role of an older sister, huh?¡± ¡°Of course. You¡¯re my younger brother, aren¡¯t you?¡± Elspeth cocked her eyebrows in curiosity. ¡°So? How are things going between you two? Is she still choosing to ignore you?¡± A sh of fury flickered in Yozan¡¯s eyes. ¡°That¡¯s right. She¡¯s still hung up on someone else, so why would she agree to be with me?¡± He didn¡¯t know how long she would continue to pine for Hank, but the fact that she seemed hellbent on being loyal to her feelings for him made him seethe with rage. ¡°Are you talking about Hank?¡± Yozan was surprised to hear the name pop out of Elspeth¡¯s mouth so easily. ¡°How did you know it¡¯s him? Did Cecelia tell you?¡± ¡°I deduced it myself.¡± ¡°Exactly. She thinks she keeps her feelings so well-hidden, but in reality, everyone else apart from her knows how obvious her feelings for Hank are.¡± Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Elspeth shook her head. ¡°Not everyone. Yelena doesn¡¯t know about it.¡± Everyone could tell just how naive and simple-minded Yelena was. Yozan had nothing to say to that. He looked up at Elspeth and asked, ¡°Can you get me an ice pack?¡± Elspeth held her right hand out. ¡°If you¡¯re going to order me around, you¡¯re going to have to pay me.¡± Yozan was dumbstruck. ¡°I¡¯m just asking you to help me get an ice pack. If you¡¯re not going to do it, then fine. I can ask a nurse for help instead.¡± Why¡¯s she so obsessed with money? She¡¯s not at all like me. Elspeth sped her hands together with a mischievous smile. ¡°Of course. I care a lot about these things. That¡¯s why you should hurry up and recover so that you can go back to handling the family business. Otherwise, I¡¯d be snatching the position away from you.¡± Yozan kept his snarkyments to himself. ¡°In the first ce, I don¡¯t care about that.¡± ¡°Well, I care, but I don¡¯t want to handle the business.¡± Elspeth stretchedzily. ¡°Oh, alright. I won¡¯t tease you anymore. I¡¯ll go and get the ice pack.¡± She walked out of the room. As she turned around the corner, she was surprised to see a young boy who looked extremely familiar. As soon as she spotted him, her eyes widened in shock. This little boy looks exactly like Callum! Can two people look so simr? Out of curiosity, she walked over to the boy, but as soon as she got near, the boy¡¯s mother came over. ¡°What are you doing here, darling? Mommy¡¯s been looking for you everywhere! Come on. Let¡¯s go.¡± Chapter 584 Chapter 584 Chapter 584 Striking Resemnce to Callum The moment Elspeth saw the child, her first reaction was to suspect that it was the child of Callum, but upon further thought, she found this idea to be absurd. How could Callum have a child with another woman? Also, this kid looks like he¡¯s around three years old, but Callum has only known me for four years. During their first year of acquaintance, Callum was deeply immersed in work, so he wouldn¡¯t have the time to have a child with another woman. However, the striking resemnce made it difficult for her to resist thinking more about it. In the end, she gathered the courage to approach and spoke as calmly as possible. ¡°Excuse me¡­¡± The child¡¯s mother seemed to recognize Elspeth, for when she looked at her, a look of terror appeared in her eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t know you. Don¡¯te near me,¡± the woman said, grabbing the boy¡¯s arm and attempting to pull him away. ¡°I mean no harm. I just wanted to ask a question.¡± Elspeth was feeling a little helpless. Yet, before she could finish speaking, the woman quickly interrupted her. ¡°I already said I don¡¯t know you. Don¡¯t harass us like this,¡± the woman insisted, but the fear in her eyes lingered in Elspeth¡¯s mind. Just then, the little boy looked up at Elspeth and asked in surprise, ¡°Who is this, Mommy?¡± ¡°Nobody, just a stranger.¡± Atst, under Elspeth¡¯s nk stare, the woman grabbed the little boy¡¯s hand and left the scene, almost like she was fleeing. If Elspeth was only suspicious before, now she was almost certain that the child had something to do with Callum. She definitely knows me from the way she looked at me, but she seems to be afraid of being recognized by me. Also, her body was subtly protecting the child. Was she afraid that I would take him away? Elspeth was unable to figure it out, no matter how hard she thought about it. When she returned to the ward with the ice pack, she identally bumped into the doorframe. ¡°How can you hit the doorframe when you¡¯re walking normally? You¡¯re so clumsy.¡± She didn¡¯t feel like bantering with Yozan at the moment, as the incident kept ying in her mind. Sensing that she was absentminded, Yozan couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did your soul leave your body out there?¡± ¡°I saw someone just now.¡± Hearing that, he became a little curious. ¡°Who did you see out there?¡± Hearing that, he became a little curious. ¡°Who did you see out there?¡± As Elspeth swallowed a gulp of saliva, her eyes showed aplex emotion. ¡°A little boy who has a striking resemnce to Callum.¡± At once, he showed an exaggerated expression. ¡°What? Serious? Did Callum have an affair behind your back and has even fathered a child?¡± ¡°And that little boy looks like he¡¯s around three years old. He could even talk.¡± Yozan clicked his tongue twice and said, ¡°I think it¡¯s undoubtedly his child then. After all, you had just met him at that time, and he didn¡¯t care much about you. It¡¯s normal for him to have a little fling outside.¡±All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. However, it was these words that made Elspeth even more ufortable. What made her most ufortable was that they had a child before, but because of health reasons, she was forced to have an abortion, which was still a sore spot for her. But now, a little boy with a striking resemnce to Callum suddenly appeared, and there might really be a connection between him and Callum. Of course, she didn¡¯t believe that Callum would cheat on her with another woman, but the fact was right in front of her. Unless she had evidence, she couldn¡¯t dispel her doubts. Knowing that she was in a bad mood, Yozan stopped making jokes. ¡°Well, now that you know about this, why don¡¯t you go back and ask him about it? If he admits it, then do whatever you need to do. If he doesn¡¯t, then find out the truth of the matter.¡± His suggestion was indeed the only solution, so she nodded, but her mind was still in chaos. ¡°I¡¯ll head back first then.¡± Yozan just waved his hand, not caring much. ¡°Have a good talk with him after you get back. Don¡¯t easily suspect him. Once suspicion arises, it will be a fact. This is not good for the rtionship between husband and wife.¡± At this moment, she looked at him, surprised that he was even more insightful than herself. When Elspeth returned to the Winthrop Residence, Callum had not yet returned, and only Margot was home. As she stepped onto the porch, she saw Margot standing in front of a cab, seemingly lost in thought. Carefully, she approached her and noticed that there were faint tears in the corners of Margot¡¯s eyes. Upon seeing her, Margot snapped out of her daze and put on a warm smile. ¡°Wee back, Elspeth. Sit down and rest for a while. I¡¯ll cook for youter.¡± ¡°No need to rush, Mom. What are you looking at over here?¡± Elspeth curiously scanned the cab and found out that it was full of certificates and trophies. ¡°These rewards are all Arthur¡¯s.¡± The name ¡®Arthur¡¯ had not been mentioned for a few months now. Now that it was being mentioned again, it caused a touch of mncholy. Elspeth looked at the numerous certificates and trophies and was surprised that Margot had set up a special cab for him. ¡°Arthur has always been proud and liked to be different since he was a child. That¡¯s why, you see, while others keep their awards in their rooms, he disyed his in the living room where they can be easily seen.¡± When Margot talked about this, there was a faint smile on her lips, as though she were reminiscing about the past. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that Arthur can nevere back again.¡± Likewise, Elspeth felt deeply sorry for the death of Arthur, but since he was already gone, reminiscing about the memories with him would only increase her sadness and pain. In the end, she could only comfort Margot in a gentle voice. ¡°Don¡¯t be sad, Mom. Maybe Arthur will be happier and have more freedom in that ce.¡± ¡°Maybe.¡± Margot wiped away her tears. ¡°He was always sopetitive for his whole life. I hope he can be more rxed over there, without all the deception.¡± Hearing that, Elspeth silently sighed in her heart. Throughout Arthur¡¯s life, no one actually wanted to compete with him, but he was the one who always secretlypeted with others, especially with Callum. He always wanted to surpass Callum, but he never fulfilled his wish, even after his death. ¡°Let¡¯s stop right here. It¡¯s not good to always bring up these sad things. You went to the hospital, right? How is your mom doing?¡± Margot had already heard about this from Callum and was particrly worried about Helia¡¯s health too. Thest time she found out that Elspeth was Helia¡¯s daughter, she was shocked, but after listening patiently to Callum¡¯s exnation, she learned that Elspeth¡¯s biological father was someone else. Chapter 585 Chapter 585 Chapter 585 Fishing by the Lake ¡°My mother is fine now, but¡­¡± Seeing that Elspeth hesitated to speak, Margot immediately asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? What is it?¡± When Elspeth saw Margot¡¯s anxious expression, she decided not to tell her about the kid for the time being and nned to ask Callum about it herself when he came back at night. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just feel sorry that I¡¯ve dyed some work these few days.¡± She simply made up a lie and managed to deceive Margot. Immediately, Margot put on a stern face. ¡°Work can wait. The most important thing now is to take care of your mother¡¯s health.¡± ¡°I know, Mom.¡± After saying that, Margot sighed and said, ¡°Bring your mother over when you have time. I have some things I want to talk to her about.¡± As she said this, there was a hint of guilt in her eyes; perhaps she was still concerned about the thing that happened decades ago. ¡°Okay.¡± When Callum came back, he found that Elspeth had no intention ofmunicating with him, and her tone was indifferent, which was unusual, so he felt very strange. After dinner, when the two of them returned to their room, she sat on the bed and didn¡¯t want to talk. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why have you been feeling down since you came back from the hospital?¡± He guessed that she might have encountered something at the hospital, so he patientlyforted her, saying, ¡°Can you tell me about it?¡± ¡°I met someone at the hospital today who looks just like you.¡± Elspeth slowly spoke up, carefully observing his facial expressions. When Callum heard that, he was stunned for a moment before smiling. ¡°There are so many people who look alike in this world. It¡¯s normal toe across one of them.¡± ¡°It was a three-year-old boy.¡± At this, his expression instantly changed. ¡°Do you suspect that¡¯s my child?¡± Although she didn¡¯t answer, her silence gave out her thoughts. He nearlyughed out loud in anger. ¡°We¡¯ve only known each other for four years. Do you really think I had a child with another woman soon after I met you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡± Elspeth opened her mouth, trying to exin, but the next moment, he pulled her into his arms. ¡°I know you just had an abortion, and it¡¯s understandable that you¡¯re feeling down about it.¡± He stroked her hair, gentlyforting her. ¡°So, I¡¯m giving you my word. I have only been with you from the beginning and have never had any rtions with other women.¡± After spending so much time together, how could she not know what kind of person he was? She just missed her child that was never born. As she made a muffled sound of agreement, she wrapped her arms around his waist. After spending so much time together, how could she not know what kind of person he was? She just missed her child that was never born. As she made a muffled sound of agreement, she wrapped her arms around his waist. ¡°We can still have a child when your body recovers.¡± At his words, she felt a warmth in her heart and nodded vigorously. ¡­ The next morning, the scandal surrounding the McGrath Family suddenly took over the inte. The article detailed the shocking and outrageous deeds that Haris had done. Instantly, the McGrath Family was pushed to the center of public attention. However, almost all members of the McGrath Family had been taken to the police station, so no one was left to deal with the aftermath. Only Emily remained in the vi, all alone, with a group of protesters and reporters blocking the entrance. ¡°Mrs. McGrath, are those things that the McGrath Family did true?¡± ¡°Did you participate in those things, Mrs. McGrath?¡± ¡°Have all the others except you been taken to the police station?¡± ¡°The McGrath Family has done so many disgusting things. Why don¡¯t you just go and die?¡± ¡°Shall we break open the door and drag that woman out to vent our anger?¡± Emily was so frightened that she dared not open the door. When she looked through the window, she could still see thepact crowd, making her feel suffocated. She knew that if she went out now, she would probably be criticized by everyone. At the same time, the group of people at the door actually started to take action. When she heard the door being forcefully pushed, she was so scared that she trembled. After looking around, she finally decided to go upstairs first. However, as soon as she reached the top of the stairs, the door was pushed open with a bang. ¡°Mrs. McGrath is over there, on the stairs!¡± The moment she saw that a group of people was rushing toward her, she closed her eyes and jumped off the stairs. Thud! The sound of a heavy object hitting the ground could be heard. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at the spot where the sound came from without saying a word. At this moment, blood was flowing from her head, making the scene look terrifying. Only after a whole minute did someone realize that they needed to call 911, but it was already toote, as Emily had already died. After hearing this news, Bobby, who was far away in prison, had a breakdown and became mentally ill. Likewise, Jasmine was also devastated and chose a sunny afternoon tomit suicide by banging her head against the wall in prison. As for Haris, since he only had one son in the family, he died of a heart attack in anger, knowing that his daughter-inw and granddaughter were both dead and that his son had be crazy. With the deaths of these three people, the McGrath Family¡¯s saga finally came to an end. ¡­ All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. During the weekend, Yelena said she wanted to go fishing by theke and specifically invited Elspeth toe along. Of course, Elspeth couldn¡¯t refuse, so she followed her to theke. At the same time, Callum and Hank also came along. These two pairs drove and chatted throughout their journey to theke. At theke, Yelena excitedly handled the fishing rod while Hank took out the bait from his bag. Meanwhile, Callum was responsible for observing whether the surrounding environment was suitable for fishing. Since Hank had always enjoyed fishing, he raised his eyebrows with the fishing rod in his hands. ¡°I mighte in first in today¡¯s fishingpetition.¡± ¡°No? Maybe I will catch more fish than you,¡± Yelena said, unwilling to let him steal the spotlight. She then sat down and started fishing seriously. Hearing their conversation, Elspeth and Callum smiled at each other helplessly and found their spots to fish. Soon, Yelena unexpectedly caught her first fish. She held the fish hook andughed heartily, with a proud look in her eyes. ¡°See, I told you not to jump to conclusions too early.¡± Hank just nced at her sideways and then turned his head to focus on his fishing rod. ¡°You¡¯re no fun at all. Hmph, I¡¯ll definitely catch more fish than you.¡± After saying that, she sat back down and continued fishing. Half an hourter, Hank¡¯s fishing rod trembled slightly. He gently hooked it, and a fish fell into his bucket naturally. Not only that, but the fish was even bigger and fatter than Yelena¡¯s. Instantly, Yelena became anxious, but no matter how long she waited, she couldn¡¯t catch a second fish Chapter 586 Chapter 586 Chapter 586 Another Encounter With the Boy N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯s because there are too many people here. That is why all the fish swim toward you. Plus, you are sitting at the upper spot of the stream. So, if any fish were toe by me, they would bite onto your hook first,¡± Yelena said confidently, seemingly as if she had known the secret of fishing. She insisted on changing her spot and began to fish again. Three hourster, nothing happened, and Yelena was tired from all the waiting. Suddenly, something jolted her awake. Then, she noticed that the trio were surrounding her with a smile on their face. ¡°Aren¡¯t we fishing? Why are you guys here?¡± Yelena had just awakened from her slumber and thought it was a short nap. However, as she looked at the time, she realized three hours had passed. ¡°Does that mean I haven¡¯t caught a single fish yet?¡± Yelena eximed. Hank shrugged and smiled. ¡°You have been sleeping for quite some time. The fish probably had eaten the bait and then swam away.¡± ¡°What? Does that mean I lost?¡± Yelena hung her head low in disappointment. Suddenly, she saw Hank walking toward her with his bucket. Then, he poured all the fish from his bucket into hers. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll give you mine. There, you win.¡± Yelena didn¡¯t think it would be unfair to win by this method. Instead, she smiled and said happily, ¡°Yay! I still won in the end!¡± Feeling satisfied with their catch, they decided to cook the fish for dinner. While Hank and Yelena were in charge of setting up the grill, Elspeth and Callum went to collect some wood. There was a small forest by theke. As the duo walked deeper into the forest, Callum held Elspeth¡¯s hand tightly, afraid she would get lost. Just as they collected enough wood and were about to return, Elspeth noticed a familiar figure in front of her. As she squinted her eyes and took a closer look, she was shocked. ¡°It¡¯s her!¡± When Callum heard her words, he followed Elspeth¡¯s gaze and saw a young woman holding a child¡¯s hand. It was the mother and child that Elspeth had encountered at the hospital! ¡°They are the ones I told you aboutst time. The mother and her child who looks simr to you,¡± Elspeth said with aplicated expression. Callum frowned and asked, ¡°Why don¡¯t we go and have a look?¡± He was also curious as to how much alike he and the boy would be. Callum frowned and asked, ¡°Why don¡¯t we go and have a look?¡± He was also curious as to how much alike he and the boy would be. ¡°Okay.¡± Elspeth nodded. However, just as they took a few steps closer, the woman noticed them. When she saw Callum and Elspeth approaching her, she was frightened and tried to run away. Seeing that she was about to run away again, Elspeth felt that something was wrong. Callum quickly reacted and grabbed the woman¡¯s arm. ¡°Who are you? Why are you running away from us?¡± he asked. The woman lowered her head and tried to cover her eyes with her hair. ¡°I don¡¯t know you guys. I ran because I¡¯m afraid to encounter strangers at a ce like this.¡± It was hard to tell whether she was telling the truth or not. Elspeth took a few steps forward and asked in a low voice, ¡°Do you still remember me?¡± The woman quickly shook her head and denied it. ¡°I don¡¯t know you. I don¡¯t know who you are. Stop asking me that.¡± Beside her, the boy furrowed his eyebrows and said, ¡°You¡¯re hurting me, Mommy.¡± Since the woman was too nervous, she subconsciously grabbed the boy with much force, leaving red marks on his skin. The more Elspeth looked at them, the stranger she felt. After all, she had never met the woman before. Yet, the woman was frightened and wanted to escape when she saw her. When Elspeth first saw the woman, she remembered that thetter¡¯s eyes were filled with shock and anger. However, when the woman looked at Callum, Elspeth could see a trace of fear and affection in those eyes, which confused her. When Callum heard the boy¡¯s voice, he looked at thetter. When he saw the boy¡¯s face, he was shocked since the boy looked almost identical to him. ¡°What¡¯s his name?¡± The woman looked down and said, ¡°This is my child¡¯s privacy. I can¡¯t tell you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We are not bad guys and won¡¯t do anything to harm him.¡± Elspeth exined. Then, she crouched in front of the boy and said softly, ¡°Can you tell me what your name is?¡± However, the woman suddenly went crazy and pulled the boy behind her. ¡°Are you deaf? I told you not to ask about my child¡¯s name.¡± Seeing that she was panicking, Elspeth stopped asking any further questions. However, she could tell that there was something wrong with the woman. Callum could sense that something was not right either. ¡°Okay. We won¡¯t ask about his name. What about you? What¡¯s your name?¡± When the woman talked to Callum, she fidgeted and seemed nervous. ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± The woman couldn¡¯t answer and decided to shut her mouth. Thus, the four of them stood there in silence. ¡°I was just curious about something. That is why I have some questions for you.¡± Elspeth smiled, trying to calm the woman down. ¡°However, I¡¯ll let you know that I have my ways of getting information even if you refuse to tell me.¡± The woman seemed to know how capable Elspeth was. She trembled in fear when she heard her words. ¡°My name is Daisy Carmen.¡± The name sounded familiar to Callum. However, he still couldn¡¯t recall anything about the woman. ¡°Why are you running away from us?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not. I was just scared.¡± Daisy¡¯s voice was trembling. When the boy heard her words, he snorted in disdain. ¡°You are lying, Mommy. You weren¡¯t like this before. You used to introduce me to others.¡± The boy had told the truth without knowing it. ¡°Why are you lying to us?¡± Callum asked with a darkened gaze. ¡°Please. I beg you guys. Stop making things hard for me. I don¡¯t know anything. I have nothing to do with you guys.¡± Daisy was almost in tears. The more she was emphasizing, the more obvious it was that she was hiding something. Elspeth used to study psychology. Thus, when she heard Daisy¡¯s words, she knew that Daisy wasn¡¯t telling the truth. ¡°Let¡¯s just stop asking and let her go,¡± said Elspeth. Callum said nothing and silently agreed. Immediately, Daisy breathed a sigh of relief. She thanked them before dragging the boy away. ¡°Why did you let her get away?¡± Callum was confused. ¡°I bet she lied about everything during our conversation. I have already taken a picture of the boy. We¡¯ll know what she is hiding once I get someone to investigate it.¡± Looking at the boy¡¯s face on her phone, Elspeth grew more and more curious. Chapter 587 Chapter 587 Chapter 587 Gone Missing in the Public Restroom When Elspeth and Callum returned, Hank and Yelena had already set up the grill. They had started a fire by using the woods nearby. ¡°Where did you guys go? What took you so long?¡± Yelena thought that something had happened to the duo. When she saw them, she quickly rushed toward Elspeth and checked her. Only was she at ease when she saw that Elspeth was fine. ¡°Just gather the woods nearby next time. It¡¯ll be enough for us.¡± Elspeth nodded and smiled. ¡°Okay. I got it.¡± Elspeth and Callum put the woods they collected aside and sat down. The fire was burning brightly. The group sat by the firece and ate the grilled fish while chatting. Callum raised his beer against Hank and asked, ¡°When are you guys getting married?¡± Yelena felt that it was too early for them to discuss this topic. Immediately, she blushed and said, ¡°We are far from getting married. I¡¯m still working on my career, and Hank had just started hisw firm¡­ ¡± ¡°I never said it was too soon,¡± Hank replied coldly. ¡°We are only twenty-two, though. It¡¯s too soon to get married. Plus, I¡¯m not ready yet.¡± Yelena was slightly afraid of the idea of marriage. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± Hank knew she didn¡¯t want to get married. Thus, he stopped bringing up the topic. Seeing that it was getting awkward, Elspeth said, ¡°I found a nice spot by theke just now. Do you guys want to go and see it?¡± ¡°I still have some business to deal with, so I¡¯ll pass.¡± Hank¡¯s attitude was cold. Initially, Callum wanted to apany Elspeth. However, he got a call from thepany. Thus, he could only step aside and answer the call. In the end, only Yelena apanied her to theke. As they sat by theke, Yelena kicked the pebble into the water. Elspeth could tell there was something on Yelena¡¯s mind. Thus, being the trusted friend she was, she scooted closer to Yelena and held her hands. ¡°Would you mind telling me why you are opposed to getting married?¡± Yelena remained silent. She knew her mother was unhappy after marriage and was living in misery. Whenever her parents spent time together, they would keep their distance from each other. Hence, Yelena felt that marriage would cause love to fade away and be dull. This was the reason she was afraid of getting married. She wished that things would be the same after getting married. Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I just feel that people change after they are married.¡± Yelena struggled to express her inner thoughts. ¡°After my dad married my mom, his attitude changed drastically. Mom told me that she was happy when she was dating Dad. However, things changed after they got married. Now, she could only be a dutiful wife and was restrained from doing many things.¡± She could tell that her mother was void of happiness. ¡°I just feel that people change after they are married.¡± Yelena struggled to express her inner thoughts. ¡°After my dad married my mom, his attitude changed drastically. Mom told me that she was happy when she was dating Dad. However, things changed after they got married. Now, she could only be a dutiful wife and was restrained from doing many things.¡± She could tell that her mother was void of happiness. ¡°It¡¯s natural that dating is a matter of freedom. Still, you need to be responsible for dealing with daily life after marriage. Romance is important, but so is reality. ¡± Yelena lowered her head and remained silent. ¡°Don¡¯t you believe in yourself? Or is it Hank that you don¡¯t trust?¡± Yelena sighed and replied, ¡°I don¡¯t believe in feelings. I feel that feelings are bound to change at any time.¡± She would never forget that Max had dated someone else in the end. ¡°You will have to face this sooner orter, though.¡± Elspeth ruffled her hair. ¡°Feelings won¡¯t stay the same forever. The definition of true love is the embodiment of family and selfless love.¡± Yelena nodded silently and felt slightly at ease. ¡°I understand, Elspeth. Thank you for telling me these.¡± She could tell that a weight had been lifted from her heart, and she was not afraid of marriage as she used to be. ¡°I¡¯m d you understand. Don¡¯t worry about these, and just go with the flow. Everything will work out eventually.¡± As they were talking by theke, Yelena¡¯s face flushed all of a sudden. Elspeth sensed something was happening and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just need to go to the restroom¡­¡± Hearing her words, Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°I thought it was something serious. Come on. There is a public restroom not far away. I¡¯ll take you there.¡± However, Yelena shook her head and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. I can find my way there. I¡¯ll be back in a second.¡± Elspeth was worried since it was gettingte, but Yelena insisted she went alone. Thus, Elspeth could only oblige. She stood on her spot as she looked at where Yelena had gone. After half an hour, Yelena was still nowhere to be seen. Elspeth tried calling her, but it went straight to voicemail. At that moment, she realized something was wrong and quickly went to find Yelena. However, when she entered the restroom, the doors were all open, and no one was there. Where did Yelena go? Elspeth called out for her, but there was no response. At this moment, she realized that Yelena was in trouble. Hence, she quickly went back to the camp and told the men. ¡°What? Yelena is missing?¡± Hank emitted a cold aura when he heard the news. On the other hand, Callum was rtively calm. ¡°Where did youst see her?¡± he asked patiently. ¡°She told me that she wanted to go to the restroom alone, so I told her there was a public restroom nearby. Then, she disappeared in the restroom.¡± Elspeth felt a pang of guilt as she spoke. After all, this wouldn¡¯t have happened if she had apanied Yelena. When Hank heard her words, he couldn¡¯t help but me her. ¡°You know that she is reckless. Why didn¡¯t you follow her? We are in the wilds, and she can¡¯t fight¡­¡± ¡°She is an adult, yet she can¡¯t take care of herself. As her boyfriend, don¡¯t you think you are also responsible for this?¡± Callum wouldn¡¯t allow Hank to scold Elspeth. Hank said nothing and quickly made a phone call. Yelena had gone missing for a short time, so they might still be able to find her. Elspeth and Callum went back to the restroom and tried to look for any clues. Suddenly, Elspeth saw something on the floor. It was a cigarette butt! Chapter 588 Chapter 588 Chapter 588 Human Trafficking There was no way a cigarette would appear in the women¡¯s restroom. In that split second, Elspeth knew that it was a man who had kidnapped Yelena. Moreover, there might be more than one kidnapper. Callum took the cigarette and examined it. However, he shook his head in disappointment and said, ¡°This cigarette is a normal brand. We might not find anything from it.¡± ¡°No.¡± Elspeth carefully wrapped the cigarette with a tissue. ¡°We can find out whose DNA is on the cigarette. I will find out who he is.¡± Hearing her words, Callum looked at her with admiration and said, ¡°Should we go back now to analyze it?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t.¡± Elspeth frowned. ¡°We will be wasting too much time if we head back now. I¡¯ll call Harper over and have him analyze it. On the other hand, we will find Yelena.¡± Meanwhile, Callum looked down at the ground. Since it had just rained, ayer of mud covered the ground. Right there, Callum saw footprints. ¡°This might be the suspect¡¯s footprints.¡± Hearing his words, Elspeth crouched to take a close look. When she was abroad, she learned about the criminal investigation from a veteran detective. Thus, she was sure that the kidnappers who abducted Yelena were two men, and they were almost 6 feet tall. After they exited the restroom, Elspeth saw tire tracks on the side of the road. ¡°They must have been waiting for Yelena in the restroom. Once they caught her, they immediately took her to the car and drove away.¡± Unfortunately, Elspeth couldn¡¯t tell which way the car went since it was dark. Besides her, Callum looked left and right before saying, ¡°He must have headed toward the west side.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Elspeth was startled by his answer. ¡°The east side is an urban area. Now that it¡¯ste, the urban area is brightly lit. Moreover, there aren¡¯t any intersections, and there are police checkpoints. Thus, they would be caught easily. On the other hand, the west side¡­ is the way to the mountains.¡± As soon as Elspeth heard his words, her face went pale. ¡°Is this human trafficking?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid so,¡± Callum replied in a low voice. If it was human trafficking, Yelena was in a much more dangerous situation than they expected. ¡°Go and get the car, Callum. We are heading toward the west side now.¡± ¡°Go and get the car, Callum. We are heading toward the west side now.¡± Callum was worried that the same thing would happen to Elspeth if he left her alone. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. I can handle it if anything happens.¡± Only after hearing that did Callum feel at ease. After he arrived with the car, Elspeth got in it. As they headed toward the west side, she called Hank and told him to be on the lookout on the east side. That way, the kidnappers wouldn¡¯t be able to slip past their hands if they were to make the wrong guess. ¡­ In the middle of the night, Yelena slowly opened her eyes as the car rocked sideways. When she noticed that she was in an unfamiliar ce, she tried to call for help. However, she noticed that she couldn¡¯t make a sound. Only then did she realize that her mouth was taped shut. At this moment, she was inside a minivan. A man was driving the car, while another man was beside her. When one of the men noticed she was awake, he smiled evilly and stared at her as he sat straight up. ¡°Oh, it seems like the beauty is awake.¡± In that split second, Yelena felt panic surging through her heart. However, she knew that it was useless to be afraid now. Thus, she tried to calm herself by taking a few deep breaths. When the man saw her chest rising and falling, his eyes were filled with lust. ¡°She looks beautiful, man. Why don¡¯t we pull up and have some fun with her?¡± The man had never slept with such a beautiful woman before. If he could do the deed with her, he would have no regrets. ¡°You are a good-for-nothing.¡± The man who was driving scolded him. ¡°Who cares. Damn. She looks young; I bet her body is delicate.¡± As the man spoke, he reached out and touched Yelena¡¯s skin. When he felt the smoothness underneath his fingertips, he grew excited. ¡°Bro, this is the first time I have ever seen such soft skin.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough. Stop fooling around. The guest is still waiting for us.¡± When the man heard his words, he retrieved his hand. However, he was still eyeing Yelena up and down. On the other hand, Yelena felt nauseous when the man touched her. However, she couldn¡¯t express her disgust since she was afraid of provoking him. She would be doomed if they got angry. Seeing that Yelena was looking at him with teary eyes, the man couldn¡¯t help but scoot closer to her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, sweetheart? Are you ufortable with the tape on your mouth?¡± As he spoke, Yelena could smell the stench of his breath. She nodded and looked pitiful. Looking at her, the man felt it would be fine to remove the duct tape. After all, it was useless to call for help since they were in the middle of the woods, not to mention that they were inside a car. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Thus, he reached out and removed the duct tape from her mouth. When the tape was removed, Yelena breathed heavily, feeling a sense of relief. ¡°Who are you guys?¡± As a singer, Yelena had a sweet voice. When the man heard her voice, he shivered in excitement. Before he was going to speak, he suddenly realized that he was a kidnapper. ¡°We won¡¯t harm you. We are going to take you to a ce.¡± The man could feel his lust rising as he caressed Yelena¡¯s leg. Her legs are so smooth. I wish I could have sex with her, he thought. ¡°What? Where are you guys taking me?¡± Although Yelena had feigned her panic, she was genuinely in fear. ¡°It¡¯s somewhere nice. You¡¯ll know once you get there. Now, stop asking questions. If you ask too much, you will be punished.¡± The man snickered. At this moment, the man in the front couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. He threw a pen at the other man and said, ¡°Be serious about this. We are now kidnappers. Hurry up and put the tape back.¡± The other man rubbed his temple and said unwillingly, ¡°She is weak. Plus, did you see how skinny she is? Nothing will happen even if I remove the tape from her mouth.¡± ¡°It¡¯s for precautions. What if something happened? When that timees, we cannot handle the consequences. Your heads might even be gone.¡± When the man heard his reminder, he realized how cruel their guest was. Thus, he nodded and took the duct tape. ¡°Alright now, sweetheart. I¡¯m going to keep your mouth shut. When we arrive at the ce, I will remove it.¡± Yelena couldn¡¯t help but whimper when her freedom was once again taken away from her. Chapter 589 Chapter 589 Chapter 589 Recreate of a Story As Yelena looked at the bumpy mountain road, she recalled the novels that she used to read. She once read a story about a female college student being kidnapped into the mountains and forced to marry an old man. After that, the college student lived a miserable life of being chained in a pigsty. Thinking about it, she trembled in fear. Am I going to experience this kind of thing? ¡°Alright now, sweetheart. I told you not to worry. Everything is fine.¡± The man chuckled when he felt Yelena shivering. However, when she heard his words, Yelena knew she was in a dangerous situation. Since she couldn¡¯t escape, she only wished Elspeth and the others would quickly find her and get her out of there. At this moment, she longed for Hank. Moreover, she regretted that she had refused to let Elspeth apany her. After all, none of these would have happened if Elspeth had been by her side. As the car drove for some time, it arrived at a small vige. After six hours, the sun was rising. In the midst of the morning light, Yelena was brought into the vige. Finally, the car stopped in front of a house. The man carried Yelena single-handedly out of the car. Since Yelena¡¯s limbs were bound, the man harassed her multiple times as he walked into the house. ¡°Ahh!¡± Yelena felt dizzy when her head hit the doorframe. Soon, she was thrown onto a dirty bed with two other girls. Yelena noticed that the girls were being thrown into the room too. Plus, they looked younger and more apprehensive than her, seemingly as if they were college students. One of the girls cried aloud and said, ¡°Please let us go. I¡¯m rich. I can give you whatever you want.¡± ¡°Shut up now!¡± Hearing the voice, Yelena looked over and saw an old woman in her seventies. She looked intimidating. ¡°Now that you guys are here, you won¡¯t be able to choose your fate anymore.¡± The old womanughed eerily. The college student who was crying was silenced once again. Once the noise had died down, the old woman nodded in satisfaction and said, ¡°Alright. Now, listen up. There are going to be a few peopleing over to choose you as their wife. Don¡¯t you dare to resist, or there will be consequences to pay.¡± Fear filled Yelena¡¯s eyes as she heard her words. The girls beside her were even more scared. One of them jumped out of bed and tried to make a run. However, there was no way she could escape since her limbs were tied up. In the end, she was kicked by the man waiting at the door. ¡°I told you not to resist. This is the only way you will not get a beating. Why won¡¯t you listen?¡± The old woman crouched in front of the girl. While the girl was wincing in pain, she grabbed the girl¡¯s hair harshly. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. The girl howled in pain. However, she could only cry helplessly as her mouth was taped shut. Once again, she was thrown to bed. Then, the woman walked toward the two men who were guarding the door and smiled brightly. ¡°These girls are better than thest time, especially the one on the left. She looks gorgeous. She is going to be worth 75 thousand.¡± Immediately, the man had an exasperated look on his face. ¡°75 thousand? That is way too expensive. Normally, it costs 15 thousand.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since there are women as beautiful as her being sent here.¡± The old woman clicked her tongue. ¡°To be honest, 75 thousand is still a low price. She is worth about 120 thousand.¡± Hearing her words, the man chuckled dryly and said, ¡°120 thousand is too much. No one has that much money.¡± Initially, the man wanted to use his connections and bought Yelena since he was also a bachelor. However, 75 thousand was too much for him to handle! The vigers were in poverty since this was a remote ce. They made a living by farming and raising livestock. Those who had thousands were considered rich in this ce. Thus, no one would be willing to buy a wife for 120 thousand. Seeing that the old woman had made up her mind, the man sighed inwardly and knew he had lost his chance. At this moment, there was a stir by the doorway. The old woman slowly walked to the door. When she opened the door, several people were standing outside. ¡°I heard that you have some pretty women today, Mary. Is it true that one of them is extremely beautiful?¡± ¡°I heard that two of them are college students. I love college students. Can I have one of them?¡± ¡°I¡¯m willing to pay 15 thousand for the most beautiful one.¡± Mary covered her lips and smiled. ¡°Alright now. The girls are waiting inside. Calm down ande on in.¡± She brought the ones who had a high status in the vige inside the room first. The vigers looked at the girls like they were an item. Meanwhile, Yelena was observing those men. Other than the one on the left, who was well-dressed and seemed like an intellectual, the others looked hideous and seemed to be up to no good. She felt nauseous when she saw their yellowed teeth. After looking at those men, Yelena sighed and could only hope that the one who looked like an intellectual would choose her. She had a feeling that he would not harm her like the others, which would give her a chance to escape from this ce. It was obvious that Mary respected the well-dressed man. She sat beside him and smiled cautiously. ¡°What brings you here today, Mr. Seanzy?¡± ¡°I heard that you could buy a wife from here. Thus, I¡¯m trying to buy a wife.¡± The man had a clear voice. Initially, Mary was nervous due to the man¡¯s arrival. After all, he was a secretary that was being assigned by the authorities. She didn¡¯t know how he knew about this matter and wanted toe here. However, when she heard his reason, she breathed a sigh of relief and introduced the girls to him happily. ¡°I thought you would hate this kind of thing. Never would I expect that you would want to buy a wife too. Lucky for you, these girls are top quality, especially the one on the left. She is beautiful.¡± Chapter 590 Chapter 590 Chapter 590 The Handsome Vige Officer Under the guidance of the old woman, Federick slowly shifted his gaze to Yelena, who was on the far left. ¡°Look at her nose and her eyes. She is so beautiful. I bet this girl¡¯s family must be very wealthy; otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have raised such a delicate and pretty girl.¡± The old woman continued, leaning in and whispering to Federick, ¡°I bet she is a heavenly experience in bed, and you won¡¯t be able to resist her.¡± Yelena couldn¡¯t help but shudder upon hearing her remarks. Meanwhile, Federick mechanically nodded his head and his gaze was calm. As the other men watched the old woman warmly entertain Federick while ignoring them, they felt slightly dissatisfied andined, ¡°Mary, we know you value Mr. Seanzy, but you shouldn¡¯t be so biased.¡± They were also interested in the girl on the far left. She was so beautiful that the other two girls beside her paled inparison. They couldn¡¯t help butpare and felt that the other two girls were just average. Feeling that the men behind hercked discernment, the old woman red at them fiercely and said, ¡°What are you talking about? Of course, Mr. Seanzy should pick first. You guys will have to wait for your turn.¡± However, since these men had status and were important people, the old woman didn¡¯t dare to say much. She then returned to Federick and asked with a smile, ¡°Mr. Seanzy, what do you think?¡± Hearing that, Federick slowly extended his finger and after surveying the three girls for a while, he pointed at the girl in the middle and said, ¡°I want her.¡± Yelena¡¯s only hope shattered instantly. She had already guessed that this man was not an ordinary person, but she never expected that he wouldn¡¯t choose her. Now, she might belong to some gross old man tonight and the thought of it made her shudder. ¡°Mr. Seanzy, you have great taste. Since you¡¯ve made your choice, it¡¯s our turn to choose.¡± The men behind him whistled in joy. Even so, Federick didn¡¯t rush to take the girl in the middle away but slowly spoke instead. ¡°Leave the one on the far left for me too.¡± Both at the same time? Not only was the old woman stunned, but the men behind her were also stunned. Moreover, it took Yelena a while to react to this statement. This man actually wanted to marry two girls at the same time? That was just outrageous. At that, the old woman awkwardly smiled and looked hesitant, because she had already noticed that the several men behind her seemed displeased. ¡°Mr. Seanzy, I don¡¯t think this is very appropriate.¡± The old woman wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and was lost for words. ¡°ording to the rules, each person can only choose one. Look, marriages nowadays are monogamous, not to mention, there are so many other men waiting.¡± The old woman delicately voiced her dilemma. At the same time, the men knew that this matter had already vited their interests, so they didn¡¯t bother to be polite and each of them spoke sarcastically to Federick. ¡°Mr. Seanzy, you¡¯re still young and have many more future opportunities. Can¡¯t you give us the opportunity this time round?¡± ¡°What are we going to do if you choose two at once? Are we going to sit idly by?¡± Even so, Federick didn¡¯t seem to be threatened nor have the thoughts of backing off. Instead, his tone got firmer, and he insisted, ¡°I want both of them!¡± Yelena suddenly felt touched as she didn¡¯t expect him to be so resolute in choosing her. However, at this moment, the girl on the far right seemed even more pitiful. She turned her head and looked at the girl in the middle. She noticed that although the girl looked nervous, her gaze was very firm. Meanwhile, the girl on the far right was trembling and was so scared to the point of passing out. ¡°Mr. Seanzy, I¡¯m showing you respect because you¡¯re a vige official, but don¡¯t push your luck!¡± Hearing that, Federick slowly rolled up his sleeves and revealed his muscr arms. Since he was a tall man, standing nearly two meters tall, no one dared to mess with him. This was why he was able to establish his prestige in no time within the vige as soon as he arrived. ¡°I didn¡¯t quite understand you. Could you say it again?¡± Federick seemed furious, and the men behind him were all thin and weak, with bodies as thin as sticks. Seeing Federick¡¯s reaction, they could only sigh helplessly and make concessions. ¡°Alright, you can have those two girls, but the girl on the far right belongs to me.¡± Upon hearing that, Federick didn¡¯t say anything, indicating his agreement. ¡°But¡­ Mr. Seanzy, the price of these two girls is quite expensive. Are you sure you can really afford to pay for them?¡± Although the old woman considered him a vige official, she wouldn¡¯t hesitate to speak up when it came to money and profit. This was because Federick didn¡¯t look like he had much money. He had been wearing clothing made of coarse fabric since the day he arrived, and although his clothes were clean, they were washed to the point of discoloration. On top of that, his home was also very simple and it didn¡¯t look like the home of someone with money. But unexpectedly, Federick pulled out a card from his pocket and handed it over to her, ¡°This card has 150 thousand in it. Is that enough?¡± ¡°That¡¯s too much!¡± The old woman¡¯s face lit up with joy as she took the card while her heart pounded wildly. ¡°Mr. Seanzy, you¡¯re too generous! Not only these two, but I can also give you the third one for free!¡± Since all she wanted was the money, it didn¡¯t matter whom she gave the girl to. Upon hearing that, Federick raised an eyebrow slightly. ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, why don¡¯t you just sell me all three girls?¡± Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. She picked up the credit card and kissed it. ¡°Alright, alright, you can take all three of them.¡± ¡°Mary, you promised that he could only pick two, and we would take thest one!¡± The men next to her immediately objected. The old woman suddenly changed her demeanor, her tone bing sharp and bitter. ¡°I did, but who can resist money? If any of you cane up with 150 thousand like Mr. Seanzy, then you can take all three girls with you.¡± The remaining men were speechless after hearing her request. 150 thousand? They had difficulties even with forking out 30 thousand. They were all from rural families and couldn¡¯t possibly produce that much money all at once. If they had to sell theirnd and livestock just to marry a wife, what would they do for a living after the marriage? The men exchanged nces and could only leave mournfully. The old woman carefully put away the credit card and then approached Federick. ¡°Mr. Seanzy, should I send these three girls to your residence for you?¡± Chapter 591 Chapter 591 Chapter 591 You¡¯re a Cop ¡°No. Untie them and I¡¯ll take them home.¡± Federick looked at the unconscious woman on the rightmost side and frowned. ¡°Take this one on the rightmost side.¡± The old woman beamed. ¡°Of course, of course.¡± Everything felt like a dream. Yelena was untied, and the girl beside her was released as well. ¡°Thank you,¡± she muttered. The girl didn¡¯t react too much, nor was there any gratitude in her eyes. She only got up and rolled her wrists around. Finally rxed, Yelena looked at the woman closely. Her hair was short, and although she wasn¡¯t exactly gorgeous, she was beautiful in her own way. The air around her gave Yelena a familiar feeling, but she had no idea why. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Come with me.¡± Federick was a man of few words. He said nothing more and turned around. Yelena and the girl followed him to his ce quietly. It wasn¡¯t a big ce, but it was cleaner and a lot more spacious than other homes. Officer privileges, I think. Yelena hadn¡¯t lived in a house like this before, but she knew this man was more than met the eye. She followed him into the house. It wasn¡¯t big, but there were a number of rooms inside. Federick turned around and looked at them coolly. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Yelena was quick to respond. ¡°Yelena Sullivan.¡± The girl beside her said, ¡°Enna Anderson.¡± Enna didn¡¯t seem afraid at all. In fact, she looked confident. All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Federick nodded and pointed at the rooms beside him. ¡°Pick any room you want. You¡¯ll be staying here temporarily.¡± Yelena knew he was a good man, but to go this far was surprising. Moved, she asked carefully, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ask anything you¡¯re not supposed to.¡± Federick turned to look at her coolly. Yelena quickly hung her head low. She swore she saw a lot of emotions in his eyes¡ªsurprise, indifference, and a hint of disdain. Federick had a lot of work to do as an officer. Once he settled the girls down, he left, leaving Yelena and the girls behind. One of the girls was still unconscious, but Enna was staring at Yelena. Seeing Yelena stare at Federick as he went, she chuckled. ¡°You can¡¯t have fallen for him, can you?¡± Yelena shook her head. ¡°No. I just want to remember his name so I can thank him after I leave.¡± Enna looked surprised. ¡°You think you can still leave?¡± Yelena couldn¡¯t exin it, but she had a feeling she could leave this ce soon. Perhaps it was because Federick felt reliable. ¡°I think so. As long as we work for it.¡± She¡¯s so naive. Enna chuckled. ¡°Of course,rade. Of course.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t feel scared at all. That girl there is scared out of her wits,¡± Yelena remarked. Enna looked at her and smiled. ¡°You¡¯re not afraid at all either.¡± I knew she¡¯d say that. Yelena pulled her right sleeve up and revealed her palm. It was filled with fingernail marks. Enna gave her a look of approval. ¡°You¡¯re great for not cking out even after that.¡± Yelena heaved a long sigh and took a seat. Enna looked at her in silence, then she gasped. ¡°Oh, my God! You¡¯re Yelena Sullivan!¡± Yelena looked at her in confusion. ¡°I thought I told you.¡± ¡°No. I mean, you¡¯re a celebrity, aren¡¯t you?¡± Yelena nodded. So what? Not like anyone in this backwater ce knows me. However, the girl before her looked even more delighted. ¡°Great! I have a better n now. One that can make sure we get rescued.¡± Yelena thought she just had a stroke of inspiration, but then she realized something was wrong. ¡°Wait, how do you know we¡¯ll be rescued?¡± Enna looked awkward for a moment. ¡°Because¡­¡± Yelena stared into her eyes and smiled. ¡°I see. You¡¯re a cop.¡± The look on Enna¡¯s face changed, and then she sighed, impressed. ¡°How did you know? I thought I hid it well.¡± Yelena shook her head. ¡°No, you didn¡¯t hide it well.¡± Feeling defeated, Enna asked, ¡°Care to enlighten me?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been calm since the start, so it¡¯s obvious you¡¯re different. I could chalk it up to your guts, but even when the officer picked you, you weren¡¯t even delighted. Most women would be beside themselves. And then we came here, and you called merade. That¡¯s something only a cop would do. Lastly, you said we¡¯d be rescued, which means you have allies waiting out there.¡± Oh, I feel much smarter now. Not the time to toot my own horn, though. Yelena looked a little grim. ¡°Why did youe here anyway?¡± She was sure Enna sneaked into the group of her own volition. Enna looked around, then closed the door and windows. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll tell you. I¡¯m part of a team, and we came here today to crack down on this joint.¡± Yelena nodded, then realization struck her. ¡°So that¡¯s why the officer picked you. Because you¡¯re a cop.¡± She raised her voice a little too much, causing Enna to panic. ¡°Pipe down!¡± Chapter 592 Chapter 592 Oh right. We¡¯re still in the vige. Someone might hear us. ¡°Can you tell me your n, then?¡± The fact that Federick was helping them made her feel more confident about escaping. ¡°Not yet. The fact you saw through my disguise is already making my work hard.¡± Enna didn¡¯t think Yelena would ruin her n, but she wouldn¡¯t tell anyone top-secret information. Yelena understood that, so she said nothing. A whileter, Federick came in. When he noticed their smiles, he thought it was weird. ¡°She knows I¡¯m a cop,rade.¡± Federick wasn¡¯t surprised. ¡°She has always been smart. That¡¯s not surprising.¡± Yelena thought that sounded eerie. ¡°What do you mean? Do you know me?¡± Federick gave Enna a look, and she went back to her room, leaving him and Yelena alone. ¡°You don¡¯t remember me?¡± He studied her expression, trying to see if she remembered him, but she showed no signs of it even after a while, much to his disappointment. ¡°Should I know you from somewhere? Tell me your name. Maybe that¡¯ll jog my memory.¡± Yelena smiled awkwardly. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, so I don¡¯t remember.¡± Federick quicklyposed himself. ¡°I¡¯m Federick Seanzy.¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Federick¡­ That jogged Yelena¡¯s memory. Back in middle school, there used to be a handsome top student everyone loved, and Federick was his name. He didn¡¯t look as sharp as he was now. He only looked cute back then, but now he was handsome. They barely spoke to each other back then, so Yelena slowly forgot about him. ¡°So, it¡¯s you. You¡¯re a vige officer now, I see.¡± Federick looked at her coolly. ¡°Didn¡¯t think you¡¯d be a star.¡± Yelena raised her head proudly. ¡°I have the talent for it.¡± Still as proud as ever. Federick chuckled. ¡°How did you get kidnapped?¡± Good thing she ran into me, or she would have been in trouble. ¡°No idea. I was hanging around theke with my friend and boyfriend. I went to the restroom after that, which was when someone knocked me out.¡± Federick¡¯s face fell. ¡°You have a boyfriend.¡± ¡°Yeah. We¡¯ve known each other for a long time now,¡± said Yelena, oblivious to the fact that Federick, who was standing behind her, was looking harsher by the second. ¡°So, what¡¯s your n? I asked her, and she said you¡¯d tell me.¡± Yelena turned around, hoping that Federick would tell her their n. Federick scoffed. ¡°None of your business. Just know that we¡¯ll bust you out of here.¡± He went back to his study after that, refusing to talk to her. Yelena saw him off, feeling that he was acting weird. Why did he get mad all of a sudden? Weird. It¡¯s just like how he was back in school. ¡­ Elspeth and Callum were driving deeper, and they noticed a lot of weird obstacles on their way. Callum mulled over it. ¡°Probably set up by the vigers to prevent anyone from going in or out.¡± It was dark so they couldn¡¯t make big strides. They could only drive slowly just in case the obstacles hurt their car. As time passed, Elspeth got more and more worried. ¡°She must¡¯ve been taken into the vige. If we don¡¯t speed up, who knows what might happen?¡± Callum looked solemn. ¡°She might have been¡­¡± ¡°I trust her.¡± Elspeth took a deep breath to calm herself down. ¡°She¡¯ll protect herself.¡± Callum said nothing. He was prepared for the worst-case scenario. About four hourster, they finally got out of the meandering mountain path and entered a vige in the mountain depths. In case anyone saw their car, they parked it in the woods outside the vige and covered it up. Dawn was breaking, and a few farmers were going to work with their tools in hand. Fortunately, the two of them were swift and easily maneuvered around these people. ¡°It¡¯s going to be a hassle looking one by one.¡± Elspeth noticed the houses looked all the same. ¡°At this rate, she might be in trouble.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll split up to cover more ground.¡± Elspeth observed the buildings, and for some reason, she thought they looked familiar. ¡°Hey, this ce looks familiar.¡± Callum turned around and gazed at her. ¡°You¡¯ve been here before?¡± Elspeth shook her head. ¡°No way. I¡¯m just saying the buildings look familiar. Oh, I remember now. Ever read a book called The Vige?¡± It was the story of a female college student being kidnapped and sold to the mountains. Callum shouldn¡¯t have read it before, but surprisingly, he nodded. ¡°I have.¡± ¡°You have?¡± Callum exined, ¡°My friend wrote the book. He asked me to beta read it, so I did.¡± ¡°Remember how the book describes the vige?¡± Callum looked around him and realized what Elspeth was talking about. He looked at the fog in the skies and recited, ¡°Short huts were strewn all across the vige, their walls made of red, crimson bricks. On these bricks were spindly, stringy words resembling arcane runes. A great path led into the mountains, and standing on both sides of this path were short por¡­¡± He stopped reciting. Standing on both sides of the path they were on were por trees. Chapter 593 Chapter 593 Chapter 593 Ask For Help ¡°Art imitates life. That book must have drawn its inspiration from somewhere.¡± Elspeth touched a por tree. ¡°I bet your friend must havee here before.¡± Callum looked a little hesitant. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I contacted this friend of mine. Let me see if I can get in touch.¡± He took his phone out, but the signal in the mountains was bad. When they neared a signal tower, they finally managed to get connected. Callum went through his contacts and made a call, and it went through quickly. ¡°What is it, Callum?¡± Callum¡¯s friend asked calmly. Callum frowned. ¡°It¡¯s about your novel called The Vige. Where did you get the inspiration for this setting?¡± His friend asked in puzzlement, ¡°Why the sudden question?¡± ¡°A friend of ours got kidnapped to a vige, and it¡¯s just like the one you described in your book.¡± The friend asked coolly, ¡°Is your friend called Yelena Sullivan?¡± Callum froze. ¡°How do you know?¡± ¡°Where are you now?¡± Callum looked around him and told his friend his location. His friend solemnly said, ¡°You¡¯re in the vige, aren¡¯t you?¡± Noticing what his question implied, Callum asked, ¡°You¡¯re here too?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up in ten.¡± Ten minutester, a handsome silhouette came out of the cloud of dust before them. Elspeth narrowed her eyes, but she said nothing. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Federick.¡± Callum smiled. Federick wasn¡¯t fazed. He nodded and looked around, then his gazended on Elspeth. Noticing the gaze from Federick, Callum said, ¡°This is my wife, Elspeth.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Callum wondered what he was talking about. ¡°We met at an authors¡¯ gathering.¡± She¡¯s an author? Callum shot Elspeth a look, and she quickly looked away. ¡°Just wrote something out of boredom.¡± For the first time since they met, Federick smiled, but it was a mocking smile. ¡°That thing you wrote out of boredom got you the highest award an author can get.¡± Elspeth smiled sheepishly. Callum was not surprised Elspeth had another side he didn¡¯t know about, so he just looked at Federick and asked, ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a vige officer.¡± Elspeth looked at him. He was wearing simple clothes, but he radiated an air of regality. Man. I¡¯d love to chat, but we have work to do. ¡°Where¡¯s Yelena?¡± Federick looked in the direction he came from. ¡°She¡¯s at my ce. Come with me.¡± He added, ¡°This vige is filled with crude, barbaric people. You guyse here all alone wearing expensive clothes and they¡¯re going to rob you.¡± Elspeth and Callum looked at their clothes. If they went into the vige wearing these, they would be robbed, but there was no time to talk about that. Before the vigers came in droves, they carefully went to Federick¡¯s ce. All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Yelena was asleep on the bed when they came. She had been nervous the whole night, and exhaustion eventually overwhelmed her. Federick poured two sses of water for them and sat down. ¡°You guys are here to save her?¡± Callum nodded. ¡°Yes. She¡¯s my friend.¡± ¡°She¡¯s safe. Nobody hasid a finger on her since she got taken here.¡± Elspeth shot him a look of gratitude. ¡°But¡­¡± Federick mused over it for a while. ¡°Can you stay back and help us out for a bit?¡± The fact he used ¡®us¡¯ meant there was more to the topic. Elspeth nodded. ¡°You helped Yelena, which means she owes you one. We¡¯ll do our best.¡± Federick looked like he was in a dilemma. ¡°But this might be a difficult task. We can¡¯t be sure about the details yet, and the mission might put you guys at risk.¡± Elspeth smiled. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Callum and I can fight well. We can handle ourselves.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not you guys.¡± Elspeth was surprised. ¡°Who are you asking for, then?¡± It can¡¯t be¡­ ¡°Yelena.¡± Elspeth frowned. ¡°I can¡¯t do that. Yelena¡¯s not abatant. She wouldn¡¯t have been kidnapped otherwise. If you have to use her, I won¡¯t let you, but I can help in ways I can.¡± Federick looked a little sullen. ¡°I know it¡¯s going to be hard for her. She¡¯s a former ssmate of mine and I wouldn¡¯t want her to take the risk otherwise, but she¡¯s in a perfect position. She¡¯s a celebrity, after all.¡± Federick didn¡¯t seem to be lying, so Elspeth decided to listen to him. ¡°I¡¯ll shoot straight. I came here to be an officer so I can destroy this human trafficking joint. The human traffickers here are working with the local cops, and we can¡¯t get rid of them easily.¡± Elspeth had a feeling that was the case, but she nodded anyway. ¡°And?¡± ¡°They¡¯ve sent an undercover cop in as a female college student, who will work with me so we can capture these people. It just so happens that Yelena was captured as well.¡± Federick noticed the solemnity in their eyes, and he sighed. ¡°The disappearance of a famous celebrity is going to cause an uproar. If I tell the public what happened, we can get them to help. Then we¡¯ll tell them the exact address of this vige and get them here to bust her out. Maybe we can capture these traffickers at longst.¡± It was a reasonable n, but there was a w. Elspeth asked, ¡°What if the perpetrators take revenge on Yelena?¡± If they find out Yelena¡¯s the reason they can¡¯t do their business anymore, they¡¯ll try to kill her. Human traffickers are evil, after all. Chapter 594 Chapter 594 Chapter 594 Momentum That was indeed an issue. Federick couldn¡¯t risk Yelena¡¯s life, so he set that n aside. Yelena woke up while they were chatting. When she came out and saw familiar faces outside, tears fell down her cheeks. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± She knew Elspeth would find her, but she didn¡¯t think Elspeth would be this quick. ¡°Of course. We¡¯re taking you home.¡± Elspeth walked up to her and patted her head. ¡°You didn¡¯t get bullied, did you?¡± ¡°No. He was nice to me.¡± Yelena smiled, albeit a bit cautiously. ¡°Are we going home today?¡± Elspeth was about to say yes, but then she remembered what Federick told her and she had no idea what to say. Yelena was smart enough to notice the hesitation. ¡°Did you run into something?¡± Elspeth gave her a look. ¡°Federick needs your help but it¡¯s risky, so we¡¯re trying to figure out things.¡± Yelena paused for a moment. And I thought it was something big. She said, ¡°Sure. It¡¯s risky, but I¡¯m sure I will get out of it fine.¡± She¡¯s so easygoing. Elspeth knew she was kind, and now she was worried about Yelena. ¡°You silly girl.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. If it weren¡¯t for him, I would have been sold to some old git.¡± Yelena was a grateful person. Since she insisted, Elspeth said nothing more and agreed to the n. Just in case anything were to happen to Yelena, Elspeth, and Callum stayed around. Fortunately, Federick¡¯s ce was a big one, and there was enough space to house two more people. In order for the n to go smoothly, Elspeth and Callum spread the news on a bigger scale. The whole of Damoria knew Yelena was kidnapped in just a day. People thought it was fake at first. They thought it was just a marketing ploy, but when Yelena didn¡¯te out to clear the rumors, they panicked. Only then did they realize the rumor was true, and Yelena¡¯s fans quickly rallied and came up with a n to save their idol. Someone actually found out where she was taken, thanks to Elspeth¡¯s leak. Since she was taken to a remote vige in the mountains, going there without a n was risky. Everyone agreed to have the female fans stay while the guys went to save Yelena. Noticing the ssh they made online, Elspeth wanted tough. There were actually people out there who woulde to Yelena¡¯s rescue, and there were a lot of them. In just three days, twenty thousand people had rallied. News of this came back to the vige. Now, more and more people knew that the beautiful woman they kidnapped was a celebrity, and her fans wereing over to destroy them. The vigers then started gossiping about how Yelena was an omen. Almost everyone in the vige came to Federick¡¯s house. The first thing Federick saw when he woke up was a big bunch of people outside his house. They were disgruntled vigers, and they seemed indignant. ¡°Who¡¯s that woman you bought, Mr. Seanzy? She¡¯s bringing danger to the vige.¡± Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I say we kill her. I don¡¯t want those idiots saying we kidnapped their idol.¡± ¡°We¡¯re all just vigers. If theye after us, what should we do?¡± ¡°Kill her!¡± ¡°Kill her!¡± The vigers demanded that Yelena be killed, but Federick didn¡¯t answer them. Instead, he looked at the vigers. ¡°Who told you she¡¯s a celebrity?¡± ¡°Mary and her family did,¡± one viger answered. He seemed like an honest guy. ¡°How did they know?¡± The viger blushed and muttered, ¡°They go to the city every day and kidnap girls for us to marry. Of course, they know.¡± ¡°So, they¡¯re the ones who did the kidnapping. The only ones?¡± Oblivious to the fact Federick was trying to wheedle some information out of them, the vigers nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± Federick chuckled. ¡°Do you think what you¡¯re doing is right?¡± The vigers said nothing. A long whileter, one of them mustered up the courage to answer, ¡°We know it¡¯s not right. It¡¯s illegal, but we¡¯re dirt poor and can¡¯t afford a wife. What¡¯s more, we¡¯re uncultured and uneducated. Nobody¡¯s going to marry us.¡± All the people here were close-minded. Preserving their bloodline was the most important thing for them, hence they prioritized boys. This misogynistic thinking caused them to lose a lot of girls, eventually leaving nothing but men in the vige. If they wanted children, they must buy a woman from the human traffickers and make some with them. The women they bought were never obedient, however. They would try to escape, but every time they did, they would be abused. These men thought abuse would make the women listen to them. A burly man in the corner dug his ear impatiently. ¡°What¡¯s my buying a wife got to do with this? We didn¡¯t know that Yelena Sullivan had a lot of admirers, and now a lot of people areing to rescue her. Shouldn¡¯t we get rid of her right away?¡± There were only a few hundred families in the vige, totaling up to a few thousand people. Yelena¡¯s fans amounted to a few times more. If they were to invade the vige, these people would be done for. The thought of a big armying over to destroy them filled the vigers with fear. ¡°I¡¯m telling you this for one reason. Yelena¡¯s fans are enough to trample you guys. What if you kidnap those who are more powerful and famous than she is?¡± One of the vigers muttered, ¡°Well, we can just keep it a secret from everyone.¡± Chapter 595 Chapter 595 Chapter 595 Uproar ¡°And how can you guarantee no one will notice? Someone noticed this time.¡± Federick was about to lecture him, but the man in the corner¡ªBuck Teeser¡ªdusted his clothes off and stood up. Federick knew this man. He was arrogant and short-tempered, and he was one of the biggest thugs around. He dropped out of school in fourth grade and went around doing petty crimes. Even so, none would stand up to him, all because he was a brute. He sneered. ¡°This is all your fault, you know.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Federick narrowed his eyes. Buck cleared his throat and turned around. ¡°People, think about it. Nothing of this sort has happened so far, but this time, they found out. Why do you think that happened?¡± ¡°Why? The vigers were stupid and ignorant. They were easily led to the wrong conclusion. ¡°Someone ratted us out, and it might just be this officer here.¡± He turned around to point at Federick. ¡°There¡¯s a reason he picked Yelena. He knows her. She¡¯s the spy he nted among us!¡± A spy? The vigers realized what he was talking about. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying he knows who Yelena is? It wasn¡¯t a coincidence she got taken here. He wants to take us all out.¡± ¡°Yes. And if I¡¯m right, he must have been the one who told the public Yelena is here.¡± He turned around and looked at Federick coldly. ¡°Want to exin how she got to this vige and how the public found out?¡± Noticing the anger rising in the vigers, Federick quickly said, ¡°This has nothing to do with me. I wasn¡¯t the one who spread the news.¡± ¡°As if we would believe that. Prove that you¡¯re not the one who spread it.¡± He wants me to prove a negative? What is he, an idiot? Federick knew Buck didn¡¯t like him very much, but now he had no idea how to prove his innocence. The vigers took his silence as an admission of guilt, and they screamed murder. ¡°Mr. Seanzy, we¡¯ve shown you nothing but respect, and this is how you treat us?¡± ¡°Disappointing. You¡¯re the same as those women. You¡¯re an aplice!¡± Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Tie him up! Punish him!¡± ¡°Punish him!¡± Federick might be a calm person, but even he frowned at this scene. ¡°You¡¯re trying to stage a rebellion?¡± Buck burst intoughter. ¡°A rebellion? No, we¡¯re just getting rid of outsiders.¡± The vigers had no idea what that meant. All they knew was that this man had been lying to them for a long time, and he must be punished. The people in the front row were ready to attack. ¡°Stop resisting, Mr. Seanzy. You can¡¯t run.¡± Buck whistled and shot the house a leer. ¡°I heard Yelena is a beauty. Why don¡¯t you give her to us? We can show her a good time.¡± The man beside him raised his hand. ¡°I¡¯ve seen her. She¡¯s as beautiful as a goddess. Very petite and fair.¡± None of them had ever slept with a woman that beautiful. Noticing the lust in the vigers¡¯ eyes, Federick knew things would go bad. Suddenly, someone opened the door and pulled him back into the house. It happened in a split second. Federick was gone before the vigers could do anything, and they shouted. ¡°Where did he go? Did he run away?¡± ¡°Someone pulled him back into the house. I bet Yelena¡¯s inside.¡± Buck was now the leader of these people. He yed around with the grass in his hand, imagining all the lewd things he would do to Yelena. Oh, I¡¯ll have a taste of her, I swear. ¡°Calm down. He won¡¯t be escaping easily. We should figure out how to force him toe out.¡± Someone shouted, ¡°It¡¯s a wooden house! I say we burn it down!¡± That woman is still inside. Buck frowned. ¡°That¡¯s going to constitute arson and murder. What if his boss starts investigating?¡± Another viger said, ¡°I say we smash this whole ce down with some shovels.¡± Buck nodded and patted his shoulder. ¡°Good idea. Get the tools. Make sure they¡¯re hard enough.¡± The vigers went back to gather their shovels and axes. The people here were united, and soon enough, they came back with weapons. ¡°Smash it down!¡± Buck ordered, and they started smashing the walls of the house. Noticing what was happening outside, Elspeth and her team frowned. ¡°Are they mad? What are they doing? How stupid can someone get? This is criminal, don¡¯t they know that?¡± Yelena shouted as she panicked. She had never seen something like this before. Before this, she never thought there would be people this foolish, idiotic, and ignorant. ¡°They don¡¯t. Nobody has ever told them this is criminal.¡± Federick sighed in resignation. It had been six months since he came, and this was his first time seeing a real case of human trafficking. At first, these people would be on guard against him, but eventually, they opened up. When Federick knew about the intricacies of this case, he felt powerless to stop it. Chapter 596 Chapter 596 Chapter 596 Traitor This time, since Federick¡¯srade was among the captured, he met up with Mary and bought three women. Callum understood why he was in this position, and he said, ¡°This isn¡¯t something you can change by yourself.¡± Loud bangs kepting from the door. ¡°What now?¡± Yelena thought it was scary. ¡°They¡¯re chopping down the door.¡± She had never seen something this abhorrent. Elspeth patted her back to calm her down and turned to Callum. ¡°How many are out there?¡± ¡°About twenty to thirty.¡± She looked down. ¡°Why don¡¯t we kick their butts?¡± He shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good idea. There are too many of them. Even if we defeat these people, there will be more after that.¡± ¡°I have a better idea.¡± She took out a bottle of drugs. ¡°My master gave this to me. He said it could temporarily knock people out, but I have never used it.¡± Callum¡¯s eyes shone. ¡°That¡¯s a good idea. Any spray cans here, Federick?¡± I see what they¡¯re getting at. He took a bottle of insect repellent from the windowsill and poured everything out. He then rinsed it and handed it to Elspeth. ¡°Only one, but I think it¡¯s enough.¡± Elspeth took the bottle and poured her drug into it, then she added some water and shook it. ¡°I¡¯ll do it. They¡¯ll be knocked out in a minute.¡± She was about to go out, but someone held her hand. ¡°No. That¡¯s too dangerous. I¡¯ll go.¡± Callum wouldn¡¯t let her risk herself, but Elspeth wasn¡¯t that weak. ¡°I¡¯m a better fighter. Don¡¯t forget that I¡¯m a karate champion.¡± He wasn¡¯t doubting her, but he was just worried. These people were brutes. If they hurt her, he would make sure this whole vige was leveled and destroyed. While they were trying to take the can, Federick stood up. ¡°I¡¯m their target. If I go out, they¡¯ll let their guard down, so let me do it.¡± Before they could say anything, he took the spray can and straightened himself out. He then shouted, ¡°Stop it right now!¡± The vigers stopped attacking the house. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Buck shouted, ¡°Come out here and give Yelena to us if you know what¡¯s good for you, or we¡¯ll keep mowing your house down!¡± Yelena was shivering in fear. They want me? Federick looked at her and smiled. ¡°Calm down. Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t hand you to them.¡± With a trembling voice, Yelena asked, ¡°What if you get hurt? What if they attack you?¡± Her lips were turning pale as well. Federick was amused. ¡°Are you worried about me?¡± He¡¯s still trying to crack a joke? Frustrated, she said, ¡°What are you talking about? You¡¯re my friend, of course, I¡¯m worried about you. You can¡¯t joke right now.¡± The light in Federick¡¯s eyes dimmed. He turned around and muttered, ¡°Just a friend, huh?¡± He raised his head and perked up, his eyes clearing up. ¡°This is beyond us. I¡¯ll buy us some time, and remember to lock the door once I leave.¡± He then went out. Elspeth and the rest stayed inside. The noisepletely died down in just a minute, and then someone knocked on the door. Yelena quickly opened it, and Federick was standing outside smiling at her. She almost cried. ¡°That was scary.¡± She looks so hurt. He patted her head. ¡°Alright, calm down. I¡¯m not that weak.¡± Elspeth and Callum weren¡¯t worried. They knew he was sure he could take these people the moment he left so confidently. Federick was a lot more powerful than they thought. He could even be on par with Elspeth. Only an airhead like Yelena would think he was engaged in a deadly battle and wait with worry. ¡°They¡¯re taken care of, but I think more are on their way. We have to leave now.¡± Federick wanted to see if he could teach these people to be good citizens, but these people had no conscience at all. Elspeth thought he had a point, so she started packing up. Yelena noticed something wrong. ¡°Hey, there should be six of us, but now there are only five.¡± There were three college girls including me. The scaredy-cat¡¯s been hiding in the room next door, but I haven¡¯t seen hertely, especially this morning. She¡¯s gone off somewhere and didn¡¯te back. Enna was conflicted. ¡°She left at 6.00AM. I was going to the bathroom, and I called out to her. She said she was fine.¡± ¡°So, should we help her?¡± Yelena¡¯s heart told her she couldn¡¯t leave this girl, but their circumstances were difficult. If they didn¡¯t leave now, they might never be able to leave. Noticing her concern, Elspeth volunteered herself. ¡°You guys leave. I¡¯ll search for her.¡± ¡°No. You¡¯re not staying in this ce alone. It¡¯s dangerous,¡± Callum vetoed the suggestion. Just when they were in a dilemma, amotion broke out at the entrance. The missing college girl appeared and was standing in front of a big group of people, pointing at Yelena. ¡°They¡¯re the ones who told the public Yelena is here.¡± Chapter 597 Chapter 597 Chapter 597 Federick Is Hurt Enna had a good rtionship with the girl. When she saw the girl¡¯s risky attempt, she frowned and asked, ¡°Do you know what you are doing, Carole?¡± Her voice was stern. ¡°Of course, I know what I¡¯m doing. Not only that, but I also know what you guys are up to.¡± Carole turned around and smiled at the man behind her. ¡°You¡¯re right, Uncle Macall. She is a cop!¡± Uncle Macall? The others were stunned, and Yelena was equally shocked. ¡°He is your uncle?¡± she asked. ¡°Surprise, right? I am also a viger of this vige.¡± Carole brushed her hair and said triumphantly, ¡°It¡¯s fortunate that Uncle Macall is a genius. He figured that there would be a cop among us, so he told me to pretend to be a student who was kidnapped. Otherwise, we wouldn¡¯t have caught you red-handed.¡± Carole was done with pretending. If Don hadn¡¯t promised that she would marry Federick after things were done, she wouldn¡¯t have epted this mission. After all, this was a challenging mission. She could still remember the harsh p she had to endure when being chosen by the vigers. ¡°Alright. I have told you guys the truth, so don¡¯t think of running away. There is no way out anymore.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The man behind Carole squinted his eyes and smiled. ¡°All you have to do is behave and hand over thosedies. As for the cop¡­¡± The man¡¯s face immediately turned fierce. ¡°Kill her in the mountains!¡± At that moment, Enna¡¯s face turned pale. She hid behind the crowds as she trembled in fear. Ultimately, she was just a girl who had just stepped into society. Thus, she didn¡¯t know what to do. ¡°I think we need to discuss this matter again, Chief Macall.¡± So, he is the chief. No wonder he looks almighty, thought Elspeth as she scanned around the surroundings, observing the vigers. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to talk about, Mr. Seanzy. You are being assigned here by the authority, so we can¡¯t do anything to you. Why don¡¯t you just stay here and marry Carole? If you are willing to oblige, I will let this matter slide.¡± As Don spoke, Carole blushed and lowered her head. ¡°However, I will need you to hand over the cop.¡± Don was unwilling to let go of Enna. ¡°What if I refused to?¡± asked Federick. When Don heard his words, heughed. On the other hand, the vigers gripped their knives tightly. ¡°You don¡¯t have a choice.¡± Two vigers charged toward Elspeth and the others when his words fell, seemingly as if they were in for a fight. At that moment, Elspeth and Callum stood in front. Seeing that the man was getting closer, Elspeth kicked the knife off his hand while Callum gave him a fatal punch. It was obvious that these skinny vigers were no match for them. Don sensed something was wrong and quickly ordered, ¡°All of you, get them. Let¡¯s see how strong they can be.¡± After all, he didn¡¯t think that the duo would be able to defeat a bunch of people. The vigers were frightened when they saw theirpanions fall to the ground. However, they remembered that they had outnumbered them. Thus, they braced themselves and charged toward the duo. However, the vigers were kicked to the ground before getting near the duo. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Soon, many people winced in pain as theyy on the ground. ¡°Such weaklings,¡±mented Elspeth as she stepped on a man¡¯s chest, deliberately putting force on her leg. The man yelped in pain and pleaded, ¡°Please. I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to hurt you. It was Chief Macall who told us to do it. Please let me go. Don¡¯t touch me. It hurts!¡± ¡°Stop moving and shut up!¡± The man¡¯s face twisted in pain, but he didn¡¯t dare to scream out loud. Don felt embarrassed. Never would he expect that he would raise a bunch of weaklings! However, he didn¡¯t give up just yet. Before the others could react, he nced toward a spot. In that split second, an arrow charged toward them. ¡°It¡¯s an ambush!¡± Elspeth quickly gathered the others and dodged the arrow. However, Yelena was a step behind. Just as the arrow was going to pierce through her head, someone stood before her and blocked the attack. Then, Yelena heard a grunt before the man fell onto her. ¡°Federick!¡± Looking at Federick¡¯s pale face, Yelena had tears in her eyes. ¡°What are you doing? Why did you help me?¡± ¡°You would be hurt if I didn¡¯t step forward.¡± Seeing that she was in tears, Federick wiped the tears from her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m alright. Don¡¯t cry. You look ugly when you cry.¡± Yelena couldn¡¯t believe he would still joke around when his life was in danger. On the other hand, Elspeth and Callum looked around and noticed that someone was hiding on the rooftop while holding a bow. When Elspeth saw that person, a glint shed across her eyes. She grabbed a stone from the ground and threw it in the person¡¯s direction. ¡°Ah!¡± The stone hit the man right in the eye as he wobbled and fell off the rooftop! With a loud bang, his headnded first on the ground, and blood was sttered everywhere. ¡°Some¡­ Someone is dead!¡± Although Don had seen dead people before, it was never his own vigers. Thus, everything was fine. However, now that one of his vigers was dead, everyone was tense, and Don knew things were getting out of hand. After some time, he cleared his throat and said, ¡°Calm down. It¡¯s just a dead person. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± He tried to take hold of the situation. When Elspeth heard his words, she huffed coldly. ¡°I never expect you to ignore the lives of your people.¡± Initially, he had a hard time controlling the situation and felt hatred toward her after she ruined his n. ¡°Who are you? How dare you stick your nose into my business!¡± Seeing that Federick¡¯s injuries were severe, Elspeth didn¡¯t want to waste more time. ¡°Chief Macall, if you don¡¯t let us go, I¡¯ll assure you that you will never be able to be the chief anymore.¡± As soon as her words fell, she dashed forward. Then, she put her knife by Don¡¯s neck. Don had never encountered such a situation. Moreover, a sharp knife was just by his neck. At that moment, he panicked. ¡°Let¡¯s talk it out now, missy. What do you want? Don¡¯t worry. Take your time. I will understand everything that you said.¡± ¡°I have told you. Let us go,¡± replied Elspeth. ¡°This¡­¡± He hesitated before he said, ¡°If I let you guys go, what will I say to my people?¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, you all can rot in hell!¡± replied Elspeth as she pressed the knife deeper into Don¡¯s neck. Chapter 598 Chapter 598 Chapter 598 Markings When Don heard her words, he shivered in fear. ¡°Calm down now. Let¡¯s talk this out.¡± ¡°Are you going to let us go?¡± Elspeth nced at him. ¡°Of course.¡± Don quickly ordered the vigers, ¡°You guys, make way for her.¡± Although the vigers listened to him, they were still upset that they would have to give up when they were so close to sess. However, Don was worried about his life. When he saw the vigers didn¡¯t budge, he started roaring at them. ¡°Why are you guys still standing there? Hurry up and get out of the way.¡± The others couldn¡¯t do anything but let out a path. ¡°Alright. I told them to let you guys go. Now, you can release me, right?¡± Don turned his head and smiled cautiously. ¡°Not yet. I want you to prepare a car for us.¡± It was apparent that Elspeth was pushing her luck. After all, the vige was poor, and Don was the only one with a car. Now that Elspeth was trying to take his car away, Don was reluctant to do so. ¡°We only have one car in this vige. I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t do it.¡± ¡°You only have one life, though.¡± Elspeth raised her eyebrow. Seeing that she was threatening him, Don sighed and said, ¡°Alright. Take the car.¡± He took the car keys out of his pocket and unwillingly handed them to her. Elspeth took the keys and slowly stepped back while still holding Don captive. When the others stood by the car, Elspeth told Callum to move Federick into the vehicle. After Yelena was also in the car, she kicked Don to the side and quickly got into the car. While Dony on the ground and grunted in pain, the car drove off. After the vigers saw that the coast was clear, they quickly went up to help Don. ¡°Are you alright, chief?¡± ¡°You are all useless. That woman almost killed me, yet none of you have a n.¡± Don raised his hand and pped them. ¡°Are we still going to chase them?¡± ¡°Yes. Why wouldn¡¯t we?¡± Don took a deep breath and calmed himself. ¡°If you guys can¡¯t bring her back, there will be consequences to pay.¡± Those men were Don¡¯s subordinates. When they heard his words, they wanted to take the credit. So, they quickly ran off. ¡­ The mountain road was bumpy with many twists and turns. Moreover, they couldn¡¯t see the road clearly. As Elspeth drove the car, she felt that they were going the wrong way. ¡°Is this the right way, Elspeth? This doesn¡¯t seem like the way out.¡± Although Yelena didn¡¯t know which road was the exit, she sensed that something terrible would happen as the car seemed to be heading deep into the forest. Elspeth frowned when she looked at their surroundings. ¡°I¡¯m not sure either. I am driving by instinct.¡± On their way here, she had made some markings on the road, so she was just following the signs. Beside her, Yelena suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t we change to another road? I have a bad feeling about this.¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. With Don¡¯s personality, he would surely be prepared to ambush them on their way out. That way, he would be able to capture all of them. Thus, Yelena felt that there must be a bunch of people waiting for them by the exit. Just as Elspeth was about to say something, Federick, who was in the backseat, said breathlessly, ¡°Don¡¯t change the path.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Yelena was confused. ¡°Although there is a possibility that we will get ambushed along this road, the other roads are all traps. Plus, it¡¯s not safe to walk the other road, as we can¡¯t promise that we¡¯ll make it out.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Callum had a grim expression. ¡°I have a feeling that this isn¡¯t the end.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Did you see anyone chasing us along the way?¡± ¡°No.¡± Yelena shook her head honestly. ¡°That means that something is waiting for us in front.¡± None of them knew what those foolish vigers had up their sleeves. Thus, they were in a dangerous situation. Elspeth slowed down the car to avoid driving into traps. At that moment, she could see what was in front of her. Suddenly, she stepped on the brake, and the others lurched forward from the impact. ¡°What happened? Why did you stop the car?¡± ¡°Look in front of us.¡± As soon as Elspeth¡¯s words fell, an arrogant voice sounded. ¡°Alright now. Stop running. Since you guys can¡¯t escape while you have the chance, I will not let you escape this time.¡± Don wasn¡¯t as timid as he was before. Now, he was standing there confidently while a bunch of people was behind him. They held weapons like axes, hammers, shovels, and more. Oh my! They look intimidating. At that moment, Yelena panicked. ¡°How are they ahead of us? We are the ones driving, yet they caught up to us.¡± ¡°They have lived here for a long time. Thus, it is normal that they know their way around here,¡± Federick exined patiently. ¡°What are we going to do? Are we going to surrender just like this?¡± Elspeth gripped the steering wheel tightly and said, ¡°Of course not. How can we return to that hellhole when we have just escaped from it? Plus, Federick¡¯s life is in danger. If he isn¡¯t treated any time sooner, he will die.¡± Hearing her words, Yelena looked at Federick. Still, she voiced out her worries. ¡°There are many of them, though. Even if we were to fight them, we wouldn¡¯t stand a chance.¡± She was devastated. She had never expected that she would be abducted and couldn¡¯t escape. At that moment, Elspeth opened the car door and exited the car. ¡°What are you doing, Elspeth? Why are you leaving the car when there are so many of them?¡± Yelena was shocked. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I know what I¡¯m doing,¡± replied Elspeth as she smiled at Yelena, trying to calm thetter down. Callum also exited the car to prevent anything from happening to Elspeth. The duo stood in front of the car while facing the vigers. ¡°You sure are a capable man, chief. I didn¡¯t expect you to chase us all the way here.¡± Elspeth looked calm as she crossed her arms in front of her chest. Looking at her reaction, Don was angry. He would never forget how Elspeth had kicked him to the side like a dog. After I get my hands on her, I will make her pay the price, he thought. Since the vigers had outnumbered them, Don was harsh with his words. ¡°Don¡¯t try to act tough when you have nowhere to escape. Let¡¯s see if you can be as calm as you are now once I get my hands on you.¡± Chapter 599 Chapter 599 Chapter 599 Tease ¡°You seem confident, Chief Macall. Let¡¯s see who the winner will be, then.¡± As Elspeth spoke, she nced sideways. Suddenly, dozens of men in ck appeared from the corner. ¡°Get them,¡± she said. The men in ck obeyed her orders and sprinted toward the vigers. Don didn¡¯t expect her to bring along reinforcement. In that split second, his face turned pale. ¡°How did they get here?¡± ¡°I left some markings on the way here. It¡¯s only normal that they¡¯ve arrived now since several days have passed. Now, it¡¯s time for you to pay for your sins.¡± Elspeth smirked coldly. When Don looked at the men in ck, all of them were strong and bulky. Thus, he cowered in fear and begged, ¡°This is just a misunderstanding. We are just here to bid farewell.¡± Hearing his words, Yelena couldn¡¯t help but burst outughing. ¡°You sure know how to talk nonsense.¡± Elspeth raised her eyebrow. ¡°Since you are here to bid your goodbyes, shouldn¡¯t you act like it?¡± Don immediately searched his pocket and found a few bucks. ¡°Is this enough? I only have this much money on me.¡± Although Don didn¡¯t want to give his money to Elspeth, he knew this was an exchange for his life. Elspeth signaled the man beside her to take the money. However, as soon as she got the money, she threw it on the ground and said, ¡°Whom are you trying to fool with such a small amount of money? I don¡¯t want this.¡± When Don saw that she had thrown the money he cherished to the ground, he was heartbroken. ¡°What do you want?¡± he asked. Elspeth pointed at the mountains and said, ¡°I want you to let go of all those women you have abducted.¡± At that moment, Don was in denial. ¡°But it was the vigers who bought them; I have nothing to do with it. If I let them go, the vigers would be furious.¡± Don shrugged, seemingly as if he couldn¡¯t do anything. ¡°If you can¡¯t handle this matter, I don¡¯t think there is a reason for you to be the chief anymore.¡± The man beside Elspeth immediately raised his knife toward Don. ¡°No! I¡¯ll do it, alright?!¡± Don lowered his head in devastation. ¡°Okay. Yelena, take Federick to the hospital. I¡¯ll rescue those women with Callum.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Yelena nodded. Then, she looked at them nervously. ¡°Please be careful.¡± After Yelena and Federick left, Callum and Elspeth returned to the vige. On the way back, Don looked around sneakily, seemingly as if he was waiting for something. Elspeth noticed it and told Callum to stay alert. Many women had been abducted, and some older women were reluctant to leave after they had given birth. Thus, Elspeth told them she would give them some money if they insisted on staying. However, some troublemakers were unwilling to let the women leave. After all, they had spent their money on those women for them to bear their children. Thus, how would they be willing to let those women leave? ¡°If you want to take her away, you must step over my dead body first.¡± A man was throwing a tantrum on the floor. He knew he was no match against those men, so he threw a fit. ¡°Well then, I guess I have no choice.¡± Elspeth took out a knife and threw it on the floor. ¡°Do you want me to help you with that?¡± The man never expected her to take action since he didn¡¯t mean it. At that moment, he quickly got up and said, ¡°I was just joking.¡± Elspeth looked at the miserable girl behind the man and waved at her. ¡°Come here.¡± The girl quickly smiled and ran toward Elspeth. Soon, Elspeth had gathered dozens of women. Looking at their faces filled with fear, she took a deep breath and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m going to get you guys out of here.¡± Among the women, there were teenagers and middle-aged women present. When they heard Elspeth¡¯s words, their eyes lit up for a second before dimming once again. ¡°Can we really escape from here?¡± ¡°Of course. I will keep my word and get you guys out of here.¡± Elspeth nodded her head confidently. ¡°But we are not the same anymore. Even if we were to get out of here, we¡¯ll always be mocked by others.¡± One of the women voiced her concerns as she lowered her head. Initially, she was a college student with remarkable grades. However, she was abducted because she had talked to a stranger on a trip. Just like that, her life was ruined. ¡°Why would they look down upon you? As long as you live your life to the fullest, no one will ever say anything bad about you.¡± Elspeth walked toward the girl and held her hands. She was heartbroken when she saw the scars on the girl¡¯s delicate skin. ¡°You are a student, right? You can continue studying if you want to.¡± At this moment, Callum stepped forward and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s time to leave.¡± Hearing his words, Elspeth nodded. She had already ordered those men to get more cars, so there would be enough space for everyone to sit. In the end, Elspeth left the vige with a bunch of people. After they left the mountain, she ordered her men to send the women back to where they came from before returning to Evil Wind Sect. Then, she went to the hospital with Callum. Since Federick¡¯s chest wasn¡¯t severely injured, they admitted him to the ward once he was fully bandaged. At that moment, Yelena was taking care of him. ¡°Does Hank know about this?¡± Yelena nodded and replied, ¡°I just called him. He should be here any moment.¡± When Federick heard the unfamiliar name, he smiled and asked, ¡°Is he your boyfriend?¡± ¡°Yes. We have been together for a year.¡± Yelena nodded with a smile. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Hearing her words, Federick lowered his head and looked at the white sheets, seemingly in deep thought. ¡°That¡¯s great.¡± ¡°How about you, Federick? Have you been in a rtionship with anyone after all these years?¡± Yelena teased. ¡°No. I have never been in a rtionship before.¡± ¡°What? Are you sure?¡± Yelena said exasperatedly. ¡°Yes. I¡¯m too busy to have a girlfriend.¡± Elspeth suddenly burst outughing. Chapter 600 Chapter 600 Chapter 600 He Is Lying Yelena turned around and looked at Elspeth with a confused expression. ¡°Why are youughing, Elspeth?¡± ¡°I¡¯m justughing because someone is lying.¡± When Yelena heard her words, she knew whom Elspeth was talking about. Then, she turned around and looked at Federick. ¡°Did you lie to me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Federick felt embarrassed when his bluff was exposed. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you been looking for a girlfriend?¡± Yelena couldn¡¯t understand why Federick was reluctant to tell her the truth. ¡°That¡¯s because¡ª¡± Just as Federick was about to say something, someone entered the room. When Federick noticed this, he immediately stopped talking. On the other hand, Yelena¡¯s attention was already on the person. ¡°You¡¯re here, Hank!¡± Yelena rushed into his arms quickly. Hank¡¯s cold expression softened as he hugged her tightly. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare enter such a dangerous ce alone next time, do you understand?¡± ¡°Okay. Still, the toilet isn¡¯t a dangerous ce,¡± Yelena mumbled. When Hank heard her mumbling, he pinched her nose and asked, ¡°What did you just say?¡± ¡°I got it. It won¡¯t ever happen again,¡± said Yelena softly as she lowered her head. ¡°While you guys are being all lovey-dovey, can you please think about us?¡± Elspeth said in amusement. Hearing her words, Yelena realized she was being clingy at an inappropriate time. Thus, she got off from Hank. ¡°It looks like you have a good rtionship.¡± Federick smiled. When Hank entered the room, he immediately noticed Federick lying on the bed. At that moment, he sensed that something was different about him. Then, he saw the love in Federick¡¯s eyes when the latter looked at Yelena. Thus, he deliberately showed affection toward Yelena the moment he entered the room. As expected, he saw the pain in Federick¡¯s eyes. Although Hank was happy, he felt slightly annoyed that Yelena had many admirers. ¡°Of course.¡± Hank raised his head like a proud peacock. Hearing their conversation, Yelena realized the two men didn¡¯t know each other. Then, she dragged Hank toward the bed and introduced, ¡°This is Federick, my high school ssmate. He¡¯s the one who saved my life.¡± Yelena was grateful as she told Hank about Federick¡¯s doings. Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. When Hank heard that Federick was Yelena¡¯s lifesaver, his expression softened despite knowing that Federick had feelings for Yelena. ¡°Thank you for saving Yelena. If you need any help, just let me know. I will try my best to fulfill it.¡± Federick didn¡¯t need anything. However, he couldn¡¯t help but joke when he saw Hank¡¯s expression. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I have something I want.¡± He looked around andnded his gaze on Yelena. ¡°Why don¡¯t you give me your girlfriend, Mr. Damazio? I¡¯m pretty interested in her.¡± Hank didn¡¯t expect him to say such words in public. In that split second, his face turned grim, and his voice was stern. ¡°Some jokes aren¡¯t meant to be said, Mr. Seanzy.¡± Federick knew this, but he didn¡¯t back down. ¡°It¡¯s just a joke. Why do you care so much, Mr. Damazio?¡± On the other hand, Yelena sensed that something was wrong and seemed to realize something. Then, she stood between them and said, ¡°Alright, guys. Federick was just kidding, Hank.¡± Initially, Hank was going to repay Federick for what he did, but he changed his mind right then. ¡°Alright.¡± Hank had a grim expression, but he could only suppress his anger since many people were in the room. Noticing the tense atmosphere between the two men, Elspeth gave Yelena a look and said, ¡°You have done so much, Yelena. Why don¡¯t you head back with Hank first? He spent a lot of time and effort searching for you.¡± Federick curled his fingers slightly when he heard Elspeth¡¯s words. ¡°Alright, then.¡± Yelena immediately knew what Elspeth meant. Then, she wrapped her arms around Hank and left. Hank hummed in satisfaction before leaving with the woman. When the duo left, the atmosphere lightened a bit. Callum sat beside the bed and started talking to Federick. ¡°Why did you suddenly be a secretary at such a ce, Federick?¡± Callum and Federick were childhood best friends. He remembered that Federick had studied abroad when he was young. After some time, he returned and immediately opened a publishing house. Hence, Callum never expected that he would be a secretary at such a remote ce. Federick smiled and replied, ¡°Here¡¯s the thing. Ourpany is writing a series of novels of the same genre, and we need some inspiration. Hence, I asked my dad to help me be a secretary for a vige.¡± ¡°And he just sent you there?¡± Callum was shocked. ¡°Well, not quite. Initially, he refused my request. However, after begging him for some time, he obliged and told me to return within two years.¡± ¡°Won¡¯t he be worried sick if you went home injured?¡± Callum asked worriedly as he looked at Federick¡¯s wounds. ¡°You can¡¯t tell him about this matter. Otherwise, mypany will be gone.¡± Federick knew what his father was capable of. Although his father was strict, he loved Federick to the fullest. Thus, if his father were to know that he had been severely injured, he would do anything to avenge Federick. Moreover, he might think Federick was unsuitable to start a business and forcefully shut down hispany. ¡°I¡¯ll keep this a secret. If your father asks about it, just tell him you are unwell due to the environment. In the meantime, I happened to be traveling, so I brought you with me.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Federick bumped his fist with Callum¡¯s. He knew that Callum was a friend he could count on. ¡°No worries. What are you going to do next? Are you going back to the publishing house?¡± Federick nodded and replied, ¡°I will return to the publishing house. I promised my dad I would ept the family¡¯s engagement after two years.¡± ¡°Engagement?¡± Callum was in disbelief. ¡°How are you willing to marry someone you have no feelings for when you are such a carefree and wild person?¡± Federick had the most freedom among them. At times, Callum even envied him. However, he never expected Federick to ept his family¡¯s engagement. Chapter 601 Chapter 601 Chapter 601 He Had a Crush on Her for Ten Years ¡°Yeah. Initially, I refused to get married because I was in love with someone else. However, now that she is happy, I think it¡¯s time for me to let go.¡± When Callum heard his words, he immediately knew what Federick was implying. ¡°Are you talking about Yelena?¡± ¡°Since you guys have guessed it, there¡¯s no point in keeping this a secret. Yes, I have had a crush on her for ten years,¡± Federick said calmly. However, everyone knew how painful it must have been for Federick when he saw Yelena with someone else. After all, he had loved her for a decade. Callum stayed quiet and said nothing. After all, there was no way he¡¯d tell Federick to snatch someone else¡¯s girlfriend away. Plus, Max didn¡¯t stand a chance when Yelena was with Hank, much less Federick. In the end, Callum said, ¡°Still, you can¡¯t do this to yourself. You can¡¯t marry someone you don¡¯t love just because of this.¡± Federick smiled and shook his head. ¡°I have prepared myself for this ever since I epted the oue.¡± He loved Yelena for ten years. In fact, he had loved her for so long that he couldn¡¯t love anyone else. Thus, he would rather marry someone his parents were satisfied with. Moreover, it might even help his business grow. Federick felt that this was a happy ending for both sides. Seeing that Federick had everything nned out, Callum didn¡¯t say anything else. Soon, the room fell silent again. On the other hand, Elspeth was deep in thought when she heard their conversation. Suddenly, she asked him, ¡°Do you still remember the book you wrote, Federick? It¡¯s called ¡®To Catch the Light¡¯, right?¡± Federick was familiar with this book. He nodded and said, ¡°Yes. What¡¯s wrong with it?¡± ¡°There was a quote on the title page of the book. I burned my hands when I touched the light. Thus, I let it go and became one, just like you.¡± Federick was startled when he heard the quote. He didn¡¯t realize she had such a good memory. ¡°Yes. That¡¯s correct. Well, what¡¯s your point exactly?¡± ¡°The so-called light is Yelena, right?¡± Elspeth said straightforwardly. Federick didn¡¯t expect anyone to know his little secret. He couldn¡¯t help but blush. ¡°Yes. It is her.¡± ¡°You know you can¡¯t have her, so that¡¯s why you decided to break up. However, you weren¡¯t devastated, nor did you give up on life. You chose to be like her¡ªto be the light of your own.¡± Elspeth smiled as she looked at him. ¡°I¡¯m sure this is the meaning of the quote, right?¡± Federick sighed and smiled. ¡°As expected from you, Elsie. You understand the quote correctly.¡± ¡°Elsie?¡± Callum immediately frowned when he heard the nickname. Federick realized he had said the wrong thing and quickly exined, ¡°Elsie is Elspeth¡¯s pseudonym. Thus, we call her Elsie.¡± Hearing his words, Callum remembered what Federick had told him when they went to the mountains to rescue Yelena. Elspeth is really a writer, huh? he thought. ¡°Did you do it, though?¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t want to linger on her pseudonym. Instead, she stared at Federick and said sternly, ¡°You didn¡¯t do it. When you wrote that quote, you were still having expectations for Yelena. However, when you see her with another man, you couldn¡¯t be the light you swore to be. You have never once let her go.¡± As Federick heard her words, he lowered his head and said, ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Although Federick had told himself to let Yelena go, he knew it was just a precaution when he didn¡¯t know the truth. After seeing her with another man, his first thought was to give up on life and choose to marry a woman he had no feelings for to punish himself. In the end, he was still stuck in the abyss. ¡°You know what to do, Federick. You know what¡¯s the right thing to do.¡± Federick seemed to have lost all his strength as he leaned against the pillow devastatingly. ¡°I know. I¡¯ll think about it.¡± Elspeth knew she couldn¡¯t push Federick too much since he was heartbroken at the moment. However, she knew he was in the right mind since he told her he would consider his decision. Federick wasn¡¯t severely injured, so they instructed a nurse to help him if needed. After Elspeth and Callum stayed for some time, they left the hospital. ¡­ All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. When Yelena returned home, she first posted an update on Twitter. She told her fans that she was rescued and had arrived home safely. Thus, they could rest assured. However, some fans felt that this was an excuse made by thepany. As she sighed, Yelena posted a video of her briefly exining what had happened. Since Yelena was safe, her fans would no longer gather together and save her from the mountains. At the same time, many fans sent their concerns to Yelena. ¡®We were worried sick about you, Yellie!¡¯ ¡®If anything happened to you, I won¡¯t have the will to live anymore.¡¯ ¡®You must be the first person ever to be rescued. Thank goodness. As expected from the idol that I love!¡¯ However, there were also harshments about her. ¡®Most kidnapped women are sold to the vige¡¯s bachelors. I wonder if Yelena has been deflowered.¡¯ ¡®That might be true. Did you see how skinny she¡¯s be aftering back? She must have been abused.¡¯ ¡®My innocent and naive goddess has been deflowered!¡¯ ¡®What nonsense are you guys talking about? No one said those people are abused once they¡¯re kidnapped.¡¯ ¡®Do you know what kidnapping means? Most people who are kidnapped will be sold to the locals. I suggest you learn more about this before talking.¡¯ ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Initially, Yelena wanted to post a video of her to reassure her fans. However, she had never expected rumors to start spreading. If she were to rify herself now, theizens wouldn¡¯t believe her. Moreover, they might think she was lying to prove her innocence. In that split second, Yelena didn¡¯t know what to do. While sitting beside the woman, Hank saw thements as well. He patted her shoulder and comforted her, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I will find someone to handle these negativements.¡± ¡°No.¡± Yelena bit her lips. ¡°I have to do something to stop this. Otherwise, I will forever be bonded by this matter.¡± She knew that if she didn¡¯t solve this problem thoroughly, she would never be able to do anything in the future. Chapter 602 Chapter 602 Chapter 602 Simone¡¯s Visit ¡°Let¡¯s not panic just yet. I should talk to Elspeth first,¡± Yelena murmured to herself. After all, she was a talent under Elspeth; if anything happened to her, Elspeth would suffer a significant loss. ¡°Yes. She must know about it now too.¡± Suddenly, Yelena¡¯s heart skipped a beat when she finally received Elspeth¡¯s phone call, but she never expected Elspeth to be unconcerned and even pleased with the news. ¡°Why are you worried? Don¡¯t you realize this is a great opportunity to boost your poprity?¡± Elspeth asked. ¡°My fans are denouncing me,¡± Yelena hoarsely replied. ¡°The damage just isn¡¯t that bad yet.¡± There were two camps of her fans: those who were sure she was innocent and those who were on the fence but made it clear they intended to denounce her. During that period, most of her fans had already done so, with several bashing her as they left her. ¡°That is a fleeting and unimportant fan base, just like those who denounce you does not matter. Furthermore, I don¡¯t think many of your fans are abandoning you. It¡¯s fine. These numbers will build back up in the future.¡± After hearing that, Yelena felt her heart slowly settle down. ¡°Do you have a n in mind then, Elspeth?¡± ¡°Someone is pulling the strings this time, which is why you were framed,¡± Elspeth slyly exined. ¡°We¡¯ll be ying the long game to expose the mastermind.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still the best!¡± Yelena eximed. After the call, she finally stopped worrying. On the other hand, Hank felt envious when he saw how much his girlfriend worshiped Elspeth. ¡°Day and night, you always rely on Elspeth. I don¡¯t even know what you need me for. What can I give you as your boyfriend?¡± The contrast between his usual calm and collected demeanor and the pitiful look on his face was so stark that she couldn¡¯t help but burst outughing. ¡°How could you be jealous of Elspeth?¡± Yelena asked, chuckling. After she said that, he wrapped his arm around her waist and drew her into a hug. ¡°I will be jealous of anyone and everyone, including high school ssmates you¡¯ve not seen for ten years,¡± Hank replied. However, she was surprised by the sudden mention of Federick. ¡°I¡¯m not even close to him, though.¡± ¡°I can see that, but he¡¯s clearly plotting something against you.¡± Then, Hank¡¯s matter-of-fact tone made Yelena raise a hand to pinch his cheeks. ¡°What nonsense is that? There has never been anything between us. Why would he be plotting? You¡¯re being paranoid.¡± Her reply upset him, and he retorted, ¡°Do you think that because you find my analysis wrong or because you think I should not have gotten wary due to his joke?¡± When she heard that, she recalled Federick jokingly telling Hank, ¡°Give me your girlfriend,¡± and it instantly sent chills down her spine. Soon, she realized after reflection that Federick probably meant what he said. ¡°Maybe he just thinks it¡¯s a joke between old schoolmates.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say the two of you didn¡¯t know each other that well?¡± Hank grumbled. His response had Yelena at a loss for words. ¡°Very well,¡± she eventually said. ¡°Since you¡¯re upset by it, I¡¯ll stay away from him in the future.¡± As he knew she had nothing to do with Federick¡¯s actions or feelings, her promise caused the ugly look on his face to fade away slightly. ¡°There is absolutely no way I would let anyone else have you,¡± he swore. The solemn way he handled the joke at that moment made herugh again. Following that, their conversation was cut short by a loud knock on the vi door. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. So, Yelena ran over to open the door to find Hank¡¯s mother, Simone, standing outside. After what Yelena had just been through, she was understandably shaken upon seeing Simone standing there. After all, Yelena was Hank¡¯s girlfriend. She knew that if what had been said about her was true, the Damazios might refuse to ept her into their family. Although nothing had happened, the rumors existed. Afterward, Yelena ducked her head and cautiously asked, ¡°Mrs. Damazio, what brings you here?¡± She had been expecting an interrogation or a few rounds of frustrated questioning. To her surprise, Simone instantly embraced her. Simone¡¯s tone indicated she was in a bad mood but did not interrogate Yelena, instead sounding concerned. ¡°Does it still hurt, Yellie? You went through all that pain and suffering,¡± she gasped. As soon as Yelena heard that, she was filled with warmth. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Mrs. Damazio. Nothing happened to me.¡± Yelena¡¯s reassurance calmed Simone down. ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± she said with a sigh. ¡°I heard Hank say you were once a victim of human trafficking. I was so scared for you that I could not sleep, constantly telling him to look for you.¡± Seeing that Simone had dark circles under her eyes despite always prioritizing her skincare convinced Yelena that Simone viewed her as her daughter. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Yelena said. ¡°I¡¯m amazing, don¡¯t you know? After being kidnapped, I bumped into an old friend who saved me. I was not hurt at all.¡± Simone¡¯s eyes lit up upon hearing that. ¡°Who is that friend? The Damazios owe him a debt for saving you, so we must properly thank him.¡± Yelena was about to nod in agreement when Hank drifted over to interrupt the conversation. ¡°If you let your precious daughter-inw go near that man again, she might run away with him,¡± hemented. Simone did not understand what he meant by that at first. It took her a few moments before she eventually understood his implied message. However, she could not get angry at Yelena, so her only option was to direct her anger at Hank. ¡°That would be due to your own ipetence in getting her to stay. If my daughter-inw runs away, I will never forgive you.¡± Her son shrugged when he heard that. It seemed like he had misspoken again. In the meantime, Simone insisted on taking Yelena out on a shopping trip, as Yelena had suffered during her time away. Ultimately, Hank would follow along as they needed someone to carry their bags. So, he followed them since there was no way he could deny a request from his mother, and it was not safe for Yelena to leave the house unprotected. Then, Simone led Yelena to thergest shopping mall in Damoria. Most of the mall¡¯s foot traffic was concentrated on the first three levels because most of the stores on the upper floors were luxury stores that most people couldn¡¯t afford. Ever since Yelena became a star, she rarely went out shopping for her own clothes or essories. The brands sent nearly every item she owned straight to her door. Thus, she lived quite avish life over the past few years. Additionally, she was also a daughter of the Sullivan Family. Her family was wealthy enough that she never had to worry about finances. Due to how affectionate Simone was, Yelena did not feel good denying her request to head straight up to the fifth floor. The fifth floor of the mall was upied by custom tailor shops. It was only natural for someone of Simone¡¯s social standing to wear custom outfits instead of wearing the same style of clothes as everyone else. In the meantime, after spotting Simone, the bored sales associate hovering near the doorway swiftly walked over to wee them. Chapter 603 Chapter 603 Chapter 603 Snarky Retorts ¡°It has been a long time since yourst visit, Mrs. Damazio,¡± the sales associate greeted. Then, the sales associate smiled and led Simone further into the shop. ¡°We have just released several new designs, and I have reserved those found in your size.¡± The sales associate was perceptive enough to remember Simone was a regr and had treated her like one. However, Yelena was left behind and ignored. It wasn¡¯t because the sales associate looked down on her. No matter how popr she was, she remained a celebrity who upied a much lower status in the social hierarchy than a wealthy housewife. Meanwhile, Simone had an unpleasant expression when she noticed the sales associate ignoring Yelena. ¡°I didn¡¯te here to shop for myself,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m here to buy a few new outfits for my future daughter-inw.¡± The phrase ¡°future daughter-inw¡± prompted the sales associate to approach Yelena. Then, the sales associate respectfully greeted, ¡°Oh, Miss Sullivan. This way, please. You are after a few new outfits, yes? Let me measure you first.¡± Nheless, Yelena did not trouble the sales associate even though she had been ignored earlier because she knew this was just how society was. ¡°Thank you,¡± she responded. After being meticulously measured in a private fitting room, the sales associate presented Yelena with several outfits in her size. ¡°As we are a bespoke tailor boutique, we typically only stock a few designs each season,¡± the sales associate exined. ¡°These are what we have in your size. Have a look and let me know if you have any requests. We cane up with a custom design for you.¡± Then, Yelena browsed the outfits brought to her. As expected of a bespoke tailor, the clothes were exquisite and covered in tiny details that no major brand could imitate. There was one dress that caught her eye. It was a tight-fitting white dress embroidered with white camellias. She was about to pick it up when a woman behind her reached out and snatched the dress away. ¡°This dress looks like it¡¯s my size,¡± the young woman said. ¡°Amy, wrap it up for me.¡± On the other hand, Yelena was annoyed that a dress she liked had been taken from her, so she scowled at the tall young woman behind her. ¡°Miss, I was looking at that dress,¡± she dered. The woman nonchntly looked down at her phone and tapped it as though she did not hear Yelena. After a few long minutes, the woman finally looked up to shoot her a dismissive look. ¡°What are you staring at? Did you pay for it? If not, then it¡¯s open for everyone to buy.¡± Her remarks rendered Yelena speechless. This woman is not only rude and disregards social etiquette, but her attitude is also shameless. The woman¡¯s eyes suddenly went wide as though a realization struck her. ¡°Aren¡¯t you that infamous celebrity Yelena Sullivan? Everyone online is talking about your scandals, but you¡¯re still in the mood to shop for clothes?¡± Naturally, the scandal she was referring to was how Yelena was sold into a rural vige, leading to spection that she might have been defiled. It was evident from how blunt the woman was when referring to the rumors that she wanted to publicly humiliate Yelena. Nevertheless, those who wish to find fault in someone would always have an excuse to do so. Her words merely made her appear arrogant. ¡°Why are you so happy about that? Are you the person who started those rumors? Don¡¯t you know that the punishment for defamation is years of imprisonment?¡± Yelena shot back. Faced with multiple questions, the young woman panicked. ¡°What are you babbling about? Prison? Stop trying to intimidate me,¡± the young woman scoffed. Then, she walked around Yelena, scanning her up and down before letting out a scornful smirk. ¡°Your outfit isn¡¯t worth that much. They¡¯re so old and in. Are you even worthy of shopping here?¡± After hearing that, Yelena crossed her arms before her chest. However, she calmly nced at the woman instead of getting angry. ¡°Do you mean to say you are worthy of shopping here?¡± ¡°Of course. I am a VIP guest here.¡± The young woman held her chin up high like a proud little peacock. Afterward, Yelena tutted. ¡°You might be a VIP guest, but it¡¯s clear the dress does not fit you.¡± Her words infuriated the woman. In her mind, she was a perfect fit for the dress; she was beautiful, fair, and tall. After noticing that the women were silent, Yelena criticized her heavily. After all, she was not a pushover. ¡°Your waist is too thick. Your bosoms are not big enough. Your legs are too short. Your skin is in terrible condition. Pardon me, but can you not spend more on your own skincare? You look like you¡¯re in your forties even though you are in your thirties.¡± The young woman nearly choked in anger after hearing the scornful remarks. ¡°Thirties?¡± she screeched. ¡°I¡¯m only 23 years old! Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. In response, Yelena held a hand up to her mouth in shock. ¡°What? You look so much older.¡± Meanwhile, Hank stood not far away, listening to his girlfriend curse someone out without using vulgar language. He admired how high-brow his beloved¡¯s insults were. Given that she can handle that woman, I should refrain from interfering with their conversation. The young woman nearly lost control of herself as she did not expect to be so utterly humiliated. ¡°You ¡ª¡± she shrieked as she was stuck in an awkward scenario where she could not leave, with or without the dress. Ultimately, she flung the dress on the floor and violently stomped on it. Yelena frowned in response, surprised by how extreme the woman¡¯s reaction was. ¡°That is a dress the designer ved over. How can you do this to it?¡± she scolded. ¡°I¡¯ll pay for itter,¡± the woman impatiently retorted. ¡°Mind your own business!¡± It¡¯s only a dress. If I can¡¯t have it, no one else can! As soon as the woman said that, someone stepped out from the inner room. In the meantime, Simone had heard the designer was present in the shop that day, so she headed into the inner room to discuss the next season¡¯s outfits with the designer. She had not expected to hear people arguing in the store. The moment she walked out, she was greeted by the sight of someone trying to bully Yelena. There was no way Simone could just stand by and do nothing. Moreover, she overheard everything on her way out, so she knew what had happened. Then, shenguidly walked over and picked up the dress stained with muddy footprints. ¡°Look at how your VIP clients treat your clothes, Celine,¡± she commented. She even ced heavy emphasis on the word ¡°VIP.¡± The young woman¡¯s face wentpletely white when she heard the name. Why is the designer in the store on a Friday? She would have been fine if only the sales associate had witnessed her tantrum. After all, she was a customer, and the sales associate would never dare to say a word about her behavior. However, she was now caught red-handed by the designer. There was no way she could ever shop at this store again. So, the woman immediately smiled and exined, ¡°It¡¯s all just a misunderstanding. I¡ª¡± ¡°You think the dresses I design are meant to be thrown on the floor and stomped on?¡± Celine asked. While she was not from Chars, she was fluent in thenguage. Her entire being radiated with elegance and refinement, yet it was clear from her voice that she could barely suppress her anger. ¡°It¡¯s not what you think,¡± the young woman pleaded. ¡°They attacked me first. They provoked me into doing it.¡± She even wore a pitiful, bullied expression as if she were the victim of the incident. Chapter 604 Chapter 604 Chapter 604 Not Murder, But Revenge All the young woman could do at this point was shift the me to Yelena. Yelena raised an eyebrow. ¡°Is that not because of your poor manners? You stomped on the dress, yet you pinned the me on me.¡± Deep down, Hank smirked. As expected, Yelena had been hanging around him for so long that she knew how to logically analyze a situation. Now, he no longer had to worry that she would be pushed around by others. Celine was not a fool either. She could not keep her calm after hearing the young woman twist the story using some weird rationale. ¡°If that is the case, you are no longer wee in my store, Miss.¡± Stunned, the young woman awkwardly nodded. Yelena could not resist adding fuel to the fire. ¡°Remember to pay the store for the dress you ruined.¡± The young woman shot Yelena a harsh re. ¡°That is none of your concern!¡± She then handed her card to the sales associate. Once payment was made, she slunk out of the store with the tattered dress in her arms. Yelena waited until the door closed behind the woman before turning to thank Celine with a smile on her face. To her surprise, when Celine saw her face, she eximed in surprise and joy, ¡°It¡¯s you! I¡¯m not wrong, am I? You are Yelena Sullivan, right? I¡¯ve seen you on television.¡± ¡°That¡¯s me,¡± Yelena replied, scratching the back of her head in embarrassment. ¡°I adore your shows. You are a great actress. You¡¯re also very beautiful and as adorable as a button.¡± Celine then caved into her maternal urges to ruffle Yelena¡¯s hair. Yelena was embarrassed. She had not expected Celine to know who she was. ¡°I even asked Elspeth to get me your autograph,¡± Celine said. Yelena was astonished to hear Elspeth¡¯s name. ¡°You know Elspeth?¡± she asked. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Celine replied with a smile. ¡°We actually bonded over shing with each other.¡± ¡°shing with each other?¡± Yelena was stunned. The dazed look on Yelena¡¯s face endeared her to Celine even further. ¡°It¡¯s not what you think. Oh, you¡¯re just so cute! For several years in a row, I have won every international design award for which I was nominated. That one year we met, Elspeth broke all of my streaks. Hence, we knew each other because we shed.¡± Yelena knew Elspeth had always been extraordinarily talented, especially in fashion design. ¡°I helped you because of her,¡± Celine exined. ¡°If she finds out I let her dearest friend be bullied in my store, she wille looking for a fight.¡± Celine pouted with an exasperated look on her face. ¡°Thank you.¡± Yelena¡¯s admiration for Elspeth grew once more. Hank had been rejoicing Yelena¡¯s ability to stand up for herself, so when he heard she was assisted once more because of Elspeth¡¯s reputation, his face twisted into an ugly look. Before this, he had been willing to stay away from Elspeth and let her be. However, why was she involved in every aspect of their lives? Seeing that the conversation had drifted off into a lull, Simone grabbed Yelena¡¯s hand and smiled while patting it. ¡°I had been worried you would be an easy target for bullies because of how meek you are. I didn¡¯t think you had a sharp tongue as well. That¡¯s good. That is how the future Mrs. Damazio should act.¡± Meek¡­ Yelena ducked her head down and guiltily smiled. She had only acted meek before her elders so that they would like her. In reality, her personality was like a feral kitten. Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. She would bite anyone who dared toy a hand on her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t let others push me around,¡± Yelena promised. Simone nodded happily before she turned to nag Hank. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you help her when she was being bullied? You were just watching by the side. Have you forgotten your ce because it has been a while since yourst punishment?¡± Hank knew he would be lectured for his response, but he had not expected it to happen so soon. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear how she was able to fight that witch off in that argument just now? I wanted to help, but I couldn¡¯t find the chance,¡± he replied. When Yelena heard him teasing, her awkwardness and embarrassment increased. Fight that witch? She had merely retorted back. She huffed and wrapped a hand around Simone¡¯s arm. ¡°That¡¯s right. He wasn¡¯t even going to help me. He wasughing the entire time.¡± It was the first time Yelena was bold enough to be so affectionate with Simone, so Simone was happy to continue criticizing her son. ¡°See? Yelena is just the best. She¡¯s so affectionate. Look at you. I raised you, yet you do nothing for me. Yelena should be my daughter instead. As for you, you could be a trash collector for all I care.¡± He scratched his nose and nced at Celine who was biting her lips hard to suppress herughter. ¡°Mom, we¡¯re not in our own home,¡± he helplessly said. ¡°There¡¯s someone else here.¡± Did she intend to humiliate him by talking to him that way in public? Simone scoffed. ¡°What does it matter? Can I not criticize you just because someone else is around?¡± In an attempt to avoid fanning the mes of her anger, he had no choice but to surrender. ¡°Yes, yes. You can say anything you want.¡± Simone pulled Yelena over to Celine. ¡°This is my future daughter-inw. I just adore her. Could you design a few more outfits for her?¡± Celine was surprised by the request. ¡°I¡¯m not as good as Elspeth at designing outfits. Does she not design anything for you?¡± That made Yelena go stiff. Elspeth might have mentioned designing her an outfit once or twice, but she had been preupied with dragging Elspeth around to try various foods¡­ ¡°She has,¡± Yelena awkwardly said. Hank chuckled and whispered, ¡°Is this outfit the emperor¡¯s new clothes?¡± Naturally, she knew he was teasing her about what happened, so she angrily stomped on his foot. The smile vanished as his face twisted in pain. ¡°Are you trying to kill me?¡± ¡°Of course, not. I¡¯m just getting my revenge,¡± she replied. Meanwhile, Simone was grinning upon hearing their flirtatious interaction. ¡°In that case, I won¡¯t overstep my boundaries and design your outfits. You should just wait for Elspeth,¡± Celine said. Yelena stared at her in confusion. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°What if she designs a better outfit for you? You won¡¯t wear my designs then, so they would just gather dust at the back of your closet.¡± There was an angry glint in Celine¡¯s eyes. Yelena was rendered speechless by that statement. Ah, so that was what Celine was thinking about. It seemed like she had quite the temper. While Celine admitted that Elspeth was more talented, she also had her own ego. Hearing that, Simone retracted her request for Celine to design Yelena an outfit. After buying a few new outfits, Simone and Yelena headed home. Oh, Hank went home with them as well. Chapter 605 Chapter 605 Chapter 605 Stranger Who Came Out of Nowhere Yelena just could not get a break at all. Before the scandal was resolved, another scandal about her was trending on the inte. Someone posted a high-quality video of Yelena berating a young woman in a clothing store. The young woman looked so meek and pitiful. The instant the video was uploaded, everyone noticed it. ¡®I did not expect Yelena to be that kind of person,¡¯ someonemented. ¡®I thought she was a sweet and innocent woman, but it was all an act,¡¯ anotherment said. ¡®The words she used are not something a kind-hearted woman would ever say.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s all an act just to sell an image.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m no longer a fan of hers.¡¯ ¡­¡­ Yelena had not expected that young woman to record the exchange. Hence, she was panicking once more. When she barged into the office, Elspeth was going through her paperwork. ¡°What¡¯s the rush?¡± Elspeth asked, unable to resist sighing when she saw how harried Yelena looked. ¡°Did you see the headline from today? That woman framed me!¡± Yelena was beside herself with fury. She did not think the woman would stab her in the back once more. ¡°In that case, we will use this chance to strike back,¡± Elspeth stated. That immediately piqued Yelena¡¯s curiosity. ¡°How do we do that?¡± There was a confident smirk on Elspeth¡¯s lips. ¡°You¡¯ll know when it¡¯s time.¡± Elspeth was not fooling around either. Her counter wasunched that very afternoon. Suddenly, a longer video of the encounter was posted online. It was a recording of Yelena¡¯s rebuke and of how the young woman had arrogantly tried to bully her. That video caused an even greater uproar. All the fans who denounced Yelena that morning instantly realized they had been angry at the wrong person. ¡®I just knew it! There¡¯s no way Yelena is that kind of woman. She must have done it because she was being bullied,¡¯ said ament. ¡®She had been in the industry for four years, yet we have never heard a single negative word about her. There¡¯s no way her bad behavior would be so easily exposed,¡¯ someone elsemented. ¡®Who knows? What if she just has a great PR department and this slipped through the cracks?¡¯ ¡®Will the hater above please get out? Stop disturbing us.¡¯ ¡­¡­ When Yelena heard about the uproar, she was huddled up in Elspeth¡¯s office and happily munching down on some honeydew. She nearly leaped off the couch with glee when she read the news. ¡°You¡¯re amazing, Elspeth,¡± she eximed. ¡°I knew you would be able to settle this matter.¡± Elspeth shook her head and stroked her chin. ¡°It¡¯s not that simple. I want her to pay an even greater price.¡± Yelena was confused. ¡°What price?¡± Elspeth stood up from her desk and stretched before walking over to ruffle Yelena¡¯s hair. ¡°As usual, you¡¯ll know when it is time.¡± Yelena is a simple-minded kid who should just focus on her shows. 30 minutes after the second video was posted, the inte was shocked once more by an announcement. It seemed like nearly all of the famous designer brands had announced at the same time that they would be banning the young woman in the video from shopping at any of their stores. The young woman had essentially been cklisted by the fashion industry. If she wanted to buy any new clothes, she would need help from others as it was no longer possible for her to step a single foot into any retail store. However, she had made so many enemies that no one would help her without serious consideration. Yelena nearly burst outughing when she heard that. ¡°Elspeth, you are awesome. Doesn¡¯t this mean she can only shop in wholesale markets in the future?¡± Elspeth shrugged and took a sip of her coffee. ¡°That is none of my business. She is free to shop wherever she pleases.¡± ¡°Free?¡± Yelena let out a peal ofughter. ¡°You are the best when ites to bringing someone down.¡± What freedom was there when the young woman had no options avable to her? ¡°Oh, right. How did you get so many brands to announce that at the same time?¡± Yelena asked. How powerful was Elspeth? It should have taken a few days at the very least to contact that many companies. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. They merely know whom they should not offend,¡± Elspeth answered. Upon hearing that, Yelena made a hand heart while striking a pretty pose. ¡°I worship you, Elspeth. How I wish I were a man. Otherwise, I would be going after you just so I can end up as a trophy husband.¡± Elspeth silently stared at Yelena. What a foolish girl. ¡­¡­ Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. After the matter was settled, Yelena returned to the set to continue filming. Elspeth had nothing to do, but it just so happened that she needed to hold a book signing event for one of her books. Thus, she decided to have the event near Yelena¡¯s film set. In essence, she was supervising Yelena. Elspeth used to refuse all book signing events or hired someone else to sign in her ce. This was her first time actually attending a book signing event as Elsie, and that only happened because Federick exposed her identity. Her book was unusually popr, so there were a lot of people who attended the event. Among a crowd of people, there would always be a rebel. She was at the signing table when someone pushed through the crowd and charged at her. It was a burly man in his thirties with a golden chain ne hanging from his neck. There was no hiding the infatuation in his eyes. ¡°Elsie, I really like you. Can I shake your hand?¡± he asked. It was evident the man¡¯s focus was on something else other than a simple handshake. The lustful glint in his eyes filled her with disgust. However, there were too many people watching for her to bluntly deny his request. She held her hand out and was shocked when he grabbed it and held it up to her nose to sniff it. ¡°You smell so good, Elsie.¡± His words were so disgusting that she immediately tugged her hand out of his grip. ¡°You have your handshake. Can you please return to your seat?¡± However, the man ignored her request and made an even more audacious demand. ¡°Can I hug you? Just one hug. I¡¯ll go back after the hug,¡± he said. Naturally, there was no way she would hug a man who disgusted her. She chuckled and shook her head. ¡°This is Chars. We¡¯re not that open-minded yet.¡± The polite look on his face swiftly disappeared into thin air and was reced by a savage look. ¡°I¡¯ve been polite enough. I only want a hug. Why can¡¯t you let me have it?¡± he spat out. ¡°Who do you think you are? What does it matter if I want to hug you?¡± Vile and revolting words streamed out of his mouth. Elspeth merely found his cursing hrious, however. She nced at the nearby security guard and called out with a smile, ¡°Someone please escort him out.¡± ¡°What right do you have to kick me out? I paid to be here?¡± The man proudly held up the book in his hands. Chapter 606 Chapter 606 Chapter 606 She¡¯s The B*tch All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Elspeth furrowed her brows in dismay. ¡°Give him ten.¡± The security guard beside her worked under her, hence he hurriedly did as told. After a note worth ten was tossed at him, the man lost his mind for a moment. ¡°You can¡¯t do this to me!¡± Elspeth no longer wanted to hear that man babbling beside her ears. Moreover, they were at a fan sign event. Many people were watching them, and it was embarrassing! ¡°Drag him out this instance.¡± Just like that, the man was thrown out in the midst of chaos. After the turmoil ended, Elspeth nodded with a smile at the crowd. ¡°Please don¡¯t mind what just happened. That person might¡¯ve escaped from a mental hospital, but don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll send him back.¡± Those who heard Elspeth¡¯s statement felt sweat breaking out on their foreheads. If he was really sent to a mental hospital, then his whole life would be ruined. Her statement did not sound like a joke at all. Everyone knew how capable Elspeth was. It wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration for her to send him to a mental hospital. Unexpectedly, a displeased voice sounded behind her. ¡°He was just asking for a hug, but you drove him out like he was some kind of gangster.¡± As soon as the voice sounded, Elspeth turned around abruptly. It came as a shock to her when she noticed how familiar the person before her was. ¡°You¡ª¡± The woman who spoke looked almost identical to Emma Walker. The only difference was that there was a mole at the end of her eye, giving her an extra charm. Aside from her appearance, her voice sounded simr to Emma¡¯s. Elspeth couldn¡¯t help suspecting whether the news she obtained was fake. Didn¡¯t Emma pass away in a hospital abroad? Why was she still alive? A thread of questions popped up one after another in her mind. The woman, on the other hand, didn¡¯t look shocked at all upon meeting Elspeth¡¯s eyes. She acted as if they were strangers. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who I am. I¡¯m just trying to fend for that man.¡± Despite not knowing the identity of the woman in front of her, Elspeth still tried her best to keep calm. ¡°I don¡¯t know him, but his actions earlier did offend me.¡± Covering her mouth in shock, the woman eximed, ¡°Offend you? He just asked for a hug! How could you call that an offense? Do you hear what you¡¯re saying?¡± Elspeth was quick enough to notice that the woman had no good intentions. Besides, she was definitely rted to the man previously. Were they aplices? After calming herself down, Elspeth carefully observed the woman in front of her. Seeing her normal expression and shallow smile, her suspicion grew. ¡°Emma Walker?¡± She called out tentatively. The woman did not seem to waver and react at all. Wasn¡¯t she Emma? As if not understanding her, the woman snickered. ¡°Miss Lynwood, we¡¯re talking about something serious here. Why are you mentioning someone else¡¯s name all of a sudden? Are you trying to change the subject?¡± Elspeth raised her head calmly upon hearing that. ¡°Someone else¡¯s name? What if I was calling you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, but I¡¯m not Emma Walker.¡± The woman sneered. Elspeth was surprised to hear that. ¡°I never expected you to remember the name I just blurted. I merely said it once, though.¡± She was trying to throw bait at her. It made sense for someone to remember a name in such a short time, but Elspeth wanted to see her reaction to it. The woman in front of her was now furious. ¡°Let me repeat myself. That is not my name! My name is Yena Haway.¡± Yena Haway¡­ Elspeth became distracted as she pondered her name. ¡°Please look into my eyes as you speak, Miss Lynwood. That ismon courtesy.¡± Elspeth leisurely twirled her pen between her fingers as she gazed at Yena. ¡°So, how are you going to fend for him?¡± Yena chuckled. ¡°I want you to apologize to him in front of everyone.¡± Digging her ear, Elspeth countered, ¡°But I just sent him to the mental hospital. Are you telling me to apologize to a lunatic?¡± ¡°Did you know that sending people to the mental hospital at will is illegal?¡± Elspeth nodded in response. ¡°Of course, I do. That¡¯s why I made someone run a medical check on him. Apparently, he has symptoms of schizophrenia.¡± Yena was rendered speechless instantly. She almost forgot that Elspeth was an extremely capable woman. Based on her current worth, there was no doubt she had the right to do things as she pleased in Damoria. Wanting to torment her would be a vain act. Biting her lips, Yena suppressed her frustrations. ¡°But you shouldn¡¯t have disrespected him.¡± ¡°I disrespected him? How was I disrespectful?¡± Elspeth eximed in shock. Yena¡¯s face turned crimson due to anger. ¡°You!¡± ¡°Well, does everyone think I was being disrespectful?¡± Since the crowd below the stage were fans of her books, coupled with how rude the man was to her earlier, everyone shook their heads. ¡°Nope. I did not see her being disrespectful.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I just saw a bad man getting kicked out of the venue.¡± ¡°Who on earth is this woman? Why is she trying to challenge Elsie publicly?¡± ¡°What a cunning woman. She¡¯s trying to frame Elsie!¡± ¡°Get lost, antifan!¡± Upon hearing those words and how the crowd was defending Elspeth without hesitation, Yena felt annoyed. She had acted on impulse earlier. She failed to realize how many supporters Elspeth had. Damn it! Gloomy clouds hovered above her eyes. ¡°Are you also a fan of my work, Miss Haway?¡± Raising the pen between her fingers, she smiled. ¡°If yes, why don¡¯t youe over? I¡¯ll sign the book for you.¡± At the sight of Elspeth treating her with kindness despite how sharp-tongued she was earlier, Yena went silent. It didn¡¯t feel right for her to stay or leave since she was holding Elspeth¡¯s new book. The new book was titled ¡®Be Observant¡¯. What a coincidence. It was like the book was tailor-made for her. Yena trembled in anger. She knew that there was no way she could beat Elspeth for now. ¡°You¡¯re an interesting woman!¡± After smashing the book on the table, she grabbed her bag and left. Elspeth watched her leave, sensing thoughts bubbling at the back of her head. This woman doesn¡¯t seem ordinary at all. She seems to be trying to make things difficult for me. Is there a grudge between us for her toe all the way and torment me? Chapter 607 Chapter 607 Chapter 607 Self-Demonstration However, when that woman arrived at the door, a little boy skipped in. Elspeth expression instantly changed when she saw him because he was that boy who resembled a lot like Callum! Upon seeing the boy, she instantly felt uneasy again. She was so eager to toss her pen on the table and run down the stage to have a look herself. She stared at the little boy running toward Yena and showing off his toy in his hands, but Yena grabbed it and threw it on the floor. The boy immediately presented a look of disappointment. Strangely enough, the woman who brought him aroundst time wasn¡¯t Yena but an ordinary-looking woman. Elspeth even did a background search on her name and found out that it was a fake one. But how did this boy know Yena? Suddenly, Elspeth realized that the matter wasn¡¯t as simple as she thought. Something more complicated was definitely going on behind the scenes! Having that thought in mind, she grabbed her phone and dialed a string of numbers. ¡°Track someone down for me.¡± ¡­ After the fan signing event, Elspeth decided to check on Yelena at the filming site. Yelena was currently reading the script because it was a drama series that she picked herself. Even though she took on the role of a second female lead, the character was likable. If she did a good job portraying the character, she might even earn more fame than the female lead. When Elspeth went to visit her, Yelena was sitting on a wooden stool wearing pce attire. She was going to y a little princess who was willful on the outside but kind on the inside. Since her character¡¯s image was simr to her actual character, Elspeth even praised her for picking the right project. During this period, Timothy¡¯s wife was going to deliver her second baby, so she was given maternity leave, leaving Yelena with only one assistant. When Elspeth approached her, she was surprised to find a familiar figure in a corner. ¡°Hey, Federick, what brings you here?¡± she eximed while looking at him. ¡°I¡¯m one of the screenwriters of this series. Of course, I¡¯d be here!¡± Crossing his leg, Federick read the script leisurely. ¡°Did you sign up to be a screenwriter because you weren¡¯t nominated as the vige director?¡± Elspeth took a seat next to him while adding, ¡°What did your dad say?¡± ¡°My dad said as long as I marry the woman he picked for me, he won¡¯t meddle in my future ns.¡± Yelena, who was buried in the script trying to memorize her lines, turned her head around abruptly in excitement upon hearing that. ¡°Marry? Marry who?¡± Federick sent her a doting look and uttered, ¡°Just memorize your script. Don¡¯t be nosy.¡± Yelena snorted and turned her head back, causing her hair essories to jingle following her movement. Elspeth instantly understood his feelings upon seeing the look on his face. Clicking her tongue, she questioned, ¡°Doesn¡¯t that mean you still have to marry that woman? Are you sure you can live with peace of mind?¡± Federick shook his head helplessly. ¡°If you¡¯re already aware of that, please don¡¯t ask me. What choice do I have? Should I bepeting with him instead?¡± Elspeth could tell that it was inevitable for him to fall for Yelena. However, he did not have the intention topete with Hank for Yelena at all. ¡°I don¡¯t mean it that way. Like I saidst time, I just hope you can think it through.¡± While the two chatted, the person in front of them eavesdropped throughout the conversation. However, Yelena couldn¡¯t catch what they were talking about. Their conversation was too confusing for her to understand. Anyway, the shoot was starting very soon, so she didn¡¯t bother asking them and went to the shooting site instead. The male lead had delicate features, but when it was his turn to speak, he would always get the script wrong. ¡°We¡¯ve already acted this scene three times. Have you not memorized your lines yet?¡± Yelena was concerned about the professionality of the actor she was acting with. She just couldn¡¯t fathom how he couldn¡¯t even memorize five sentences. How hard was it for him to recite them? The boy in front of her was Cayson Ramdy. He was a rising star, hence he was quite a professional at work, but he just couldn¡¯t help blushing and feeling nervous when working with Yelena. ¡°Believe me. Let¡¯s just do one more take.¡± Cayson took a deep breath in hopes to calm the nervousness he was feeling. Somehow, he just couldn¡¯t help feeling like a deer caught in headlights whenever he saw her. Yelena, on the other hand, pouted impatiently. The two started again, and this time, Cayson looked into Yelena¡¯s eyes with seriousness. However, just as he parted his lips, his mind went nk again. He couldn¡¯t even blurt out a word! ¡°Did you forget your lines again?¡± Yelena instantly went limp. Even though Cayson made a mistake unconsciously, he still felt extremely embarrassed. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. Would you please give me another chance?¡± Yelena waved her hands in dismissal and remarked impatiently, ¡°No. You should probably practice a little more.¡± Upon hearing the noise, Federick hurriedly came over. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why are you so upset?¡± When Yelena saw Federicking over, she was worried Cayson might be scolded, so she quickly exined, ¡°Nah. I wasn¡¯t upset. Cayson probably doesn¡¯t really understand this scene, so he keeps getting stuck.¡± Yelena had put it in a very indirect way, while Cayson understood her intentions and felt even more embarrassed. Federick took the script and skimmed through the lines before quirking a brow. ¡°In this scene, the little prince bumps into the little princess on top of the hills, carries her in his arms, and whispers in her ear, ¡®I still managed to catch you eventually, little brat,¡¯ is that right?¡± That scene was indeed a little awkward, hence Yelena also felt a little shy about it. ¡°Yeah. He forgot his line just when he leaned close.¡± Federick¡¯s gaze instantly turned sharp. He turned around and scanned Cayson from top to toe. This little brat must have other intentions. He seems interested in her. As if his mind had been read, Cayson instantly turned crimson. Clutching the script in his hands and ncing at it, Federick asked, ¡°How about I demonstrate this part?¡± Cayson subconsciously shook his head and rejected him, ¡°N-No, thanks. I should probably do it myself?¡± At the thought of Federick having physical contact with Yelena, he couldn¡¯t help feeling upset. Federick spread his palms. ¡°If you don¡¯t want me to do the demonstration, and you can¡¯t do well, should we just remove this scene?¡± At the same time, Federick would be able to stop the kid from having other thoughts. Cayson, who had rejected him, froze. ¡°Maybe you should do the demonstration.¡± Federick snorted. ¡°Watch carefully.¡± After saying that, he turned around and reached out for Yelena¡¯s waist while she was still in a panic. Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Seeing Federick¡¯s face up close, Yelena realized that his bare face actually looked better than Cayson¡¯s face with makeup on. Federick had a pair of affectionate eyes in the shape of peach blossom, and when he stared into her eyes, she couldn¡¯t help finding him charming. ¡°I still managed to catch you eventually, little brat.¡± Yelena was stunned all of a sudden, unable to take the baton. That was too much! Chapter 608 Chapter 608 Chapter 608 Did A Pig Bump Into You When You Were Little? However, Yelena quickly adjusted her state since she was a married woman. A brief hint of disappointment flickered in Federick¡¯s eyes as he saw Yelena quickly recovering from her dazed state. ¡°Do you know what to do now?¡± Federick turned his head and caught a glimpse of Cayson behind him. He noticed a faint hint of jealousy and anger in Cayson¡¯s eyes. However, it onlysted for a moment and disappeared as soon as he turned his head. ¡°Yes, Mr. Seanzy, I understand,¡± Cayson replied awkwardly and stepped forward to pull Yelena away from him. He then said seriously, ¡°Alright, we need to continue filming now.¡± Federick took a few steps back to allow them to continue filming. However, she remained deeply immersed in her own thoughts and unable to extricate herself. She felt that she might be seeing things, but the affectionate gaze seemed genuine. Federick¡­ seems to have feelings toward me. Combined with the conversation she had just overheard, she became more convinced that it was true. Consequently, Yelena¡¯s gaze toward Federick became blurred and she found herself unable to focus during the shoot. This time, it wasn¡¯t Cayson¡¯s fault, but Yelena¡¯s. Naturally, Cayson wouldn¡¯t me her. Seeing that she was absent-minded, he thought it was because she wasn¡¯t feeling well and was still upset from his retakes. ¡°Yellie, are you feeling unwell today?¡± She nodded and shook her head at the same time. ¡°I don¡¯t know. It¡¯s okay. We can continue filming.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re not feeling well, don¡¯t force yourself. Take a good rest and rx,¡± Cayson suggested before he went tomunicate with the director. The director didn¡¯t dare to easily offend Yelena and thus agreed to this arrangement. Cayson suggested taking her out to clear her mind, but she immediately rejected the idea. ¡°No need. I¡¯ll be fine on my own for a while.¡± Yelena wasn¡¯t a fool; she could see through Cayson¡¯s unreserved emotions for her. If Hank found out, he¡¯d probably tear her apart. Plus, she didn¡¯t like getting too close to other actors. Just then, Federick came up from behind, and by the time she turned to look, Elspeth had already disappeared. ¡°Where¡¯s Elspeth?¡± Federick smiled and replied, ¡°She had some business to attend to, so she left first.¡± Yelena assumed that something urgent had happened to Elspeth since she didn¡¯t even give her a heads-up before leaving. ¡°What happened? Is everything alright?¡± ¡°Yeah. She just didn¡¯t want to disturb you while you were filming, so she told me to tell you that she left.¡± As soon as Yelena lifted her head, she immediately lowered it again. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you not feeling well?¡± He had been keeping an eye on the situation and could tell something was off with her. She didn¡¯t expect that he would understand her thoughts so well. Yelena felt a little embarrassed and her face turned slightly red. ¡°It¡¯s just a small thing, really. But thank you for asking.¡± Being a perceptive man, Federick noticed her evasive gaze and immediately guessed the problem. He lowered his voice calmly and asked, ¡°Did I offend you just now?¡± ¡°No, it has nothing to do with you¡­¡± He smiled at her, hoping she could rx a little. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much about it. I may have gone a little overboard with my performance just now, but it was only to make sure he could see everything clearly.¡± Yelena¡¯s indecisive mood suddenly dissipated. Since Federick had already said so, she didn¡¯t want to overthink it. Yet, she couldn¡¯t help asking one more question. ¡°Do you have someone you like?¡± Federick didn¡¯t expect her to ask such a question, and heughed awkwardly. He stood facing the light, his expression somewhat ambiguous. ¡°What do you think?¡± Yelena hesitated. ¡°I feel like you do, but I don¡¯t know who it is.¡± Of course, he wouldn¡¯t tell her the name because it would be too abrupt. ¡°She¡¯s someone you don¡¯t know, so it doesn¡¯t matter whether you know her name or not.¡± Yelena felt strange when he said this. There was no emotion in his tone as if he had just casually said something. However, if she continued to ask, it would seem like she was too nosy. She breathed a sigh of relief, and without realizing it, their rtionship had be a bit closer. ¡°Did you have any ns tonight? I want to invite you to dinner.¡± Since returningst time, she had always wanted to find an opportunity to invite him to dinner. Unfortunately, he was injured after he came back and was being treated in the hospital, so there was no chance. Now that the two of them were in the same crew, it was really a stroke of luck. Federick looked at her and kept smiling. ¡°Is it just the two of us?¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. She instinctively nodded. ¡°Does your boyfriend allow you to have dinner with me?¡± Yelena lowered her head embarrassedly. ¡°He¡¯s usually busy with work and probably doesn¡¯t have time to have dinner with us. I think since you are my savior, it¡¯s not too much to invite you to dinner alone.¡± From her perspective, it was perfectly normal to treat her savior to a meal as a gesture of gratitude. Since they didn¡¯t have any physical intimacy, it shouldn¡¯t be ssified as emotional cheating. Moreover, Federick had made it clear that he liked someone else and had nothing to do with her, so she felt more rxed. ¡°Do you have any food preferences?¡± Yelena carefully asked on the way there. Federick was driving, and he tilted his head slightly toward her. ¡°Not really, but there¡¯s one thing I don¡¯t really like.¡± She asked, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Pork trotters.¡± When she heard the words ¡°pork trotters¡±, her expression stiffened slightly. ¡°Why don¡¯t you like pork trotters?¡± In her opinion, pork trotters were good for beauty and health. Save for the fact that they were a bit high in calories and her agent didn¡¯t allow her to eat too much, she really liked them. Federick¡¯s face changed unpredictably and Yelena¡¯s eyes widened with shock. ¡°Did you get bumped by a pig when you were young?¡± He was speechless. What kind of weird remark was that about being bumped by a pig when I was young? When Yelena saw his face darkened, she knew she had said the wrong thing and quickly tried to make up for it. ¡°Well, why don¡¯t you eat pork trotters?¡± He looked at her askance. ¡°It¡¯s kind of rted to you.¡± She was dumbfounded. ¡°Rted to me?¡± Suddenly, her long-forgotten memories were unlocked as they flooded her mind with scenes from many years ago when they were both in junior high school. Chapter 609 Chapter 609 Chapter 609 An ident It wes one efternoon when Yelene bought roested pork trotters efter school end wes enjoying it when she suddenly noticed one of her clessmetes being bullied by e burly men on the roed. Without eny hesitetion, she spreng into ection end rushed over to help. She grebbed the pork trotter end threw it et the men. Unfortely, it hit Federick in the fece. The pork trotter wes quite big es she hed only teken e few bites out of it before it knocked Federick out. However, themotion wes enough to scere off the bully who quickly fled the scene. In e wey, Yelene hed indirectly seved Federick. At the school¡¯s ewerd ceremony, Yelene end Federick stood on stege with contresting expressions. Federick hed his fece bendeged up while Yelene looked somewhet emberressed. He wes only receiving the ewerd beceuse of Yelene¡¯s heroic ections, despite the fect thet she wes the one who identelly hit him in the fece with the pork trotters end scered ewey the bully. As the seying went, ¡®No good deed goes unpunished.¡¯ In this cese, her kind gesture ended up being misunderstood, end the entire school leerned of Federick¡¯s unforte encounter with the pork trotter. On the stege, Yelene nervously esked, ¡°Are you okey?¡± ¡°Still elive. Thenks for esking,¡± he replied in irritetion. She knew thet he wesn¡¯t seriously injured, but she still felt guilty ebout the whole incident. Federick¡¯s good looks mede him populer et school, end efter the incident, some girls epproeched Yelene end used her of ruining his fece. However, they venished es quickly es they hede, end she wes never bothered egein. Thinking thet these girls hed e chenge of heert, she let the metter slide. ¡°I¡¯ll cover ell your medicel expenses,¡± she told Federick. Yelene wes known es the weelthy heiress of the Sullivens end hed more then enough money to spere, while Federick wes often seen weering simple white shirts, leeding people to essume thet he ceme from e poor femily. Despite her mischievous behevior, Yelene still knew how to meke things right. ¡°Thet¡¯s not necessery.¡± She beceme enxious end reised her voice. ¡°Why not? Your fece is ruined. I em responsible for you.¡± At thet moment, the school leeder hed just finished his speech end wes ebout to invite the heroic individuel to speek. It was one afternoon when Yelena bought roasted pork trotters after school and was enjoying it when she suddenly noticed one of her ssmates being bullied by a burly man on the road. Without any hesitation, she sprang into action and rushed over to help. She grabbed the pork trotter and threw it at the man. Unfortunately, it hit Federick in the face. The pork trotter was quite big as she had only taken a few bites out of it before it knocked Federick out. However, themotion was enough to scare off the bully who quickly fled the scene. In a way, Yelena had indirectly saved Federick. At the school¡¯s award ceremony, Yelena and Federick stood on stage with contrasting expressions. Federick had his face bandaged up while Yelena looked somewhat embarrassed. He was only receiving the award because of Yelena¡¯s heroic actions, despite the fact that she was the one who identally hit him in the face with the pork trotters and scared away the bully. As the saying went, ¡®No good deed goes unpunished.¡¯ In this case, her kind gesture ended up being misunderstood, and the entire school learned of Federick¡¯s unfortunate encounter with the pork trotter. On the stage, Yelena nervously asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Still alive. Thanks for asking,¡± he replied in irritation. She knew that he wasn¡¯t seriously injured, but she still felt guilty about the whole incident. Federick¡¯s good looks made him popr at school, and after the incident, some girls approached Yelena and used her of ruining his face. However, they vanished as quickly as they hade, and she was never bothered again. Thinking that these girls had a change of heart, she let the matter slide. ¡°I¡¯ll cover all your medical expenses,¡± she told Federick. Yelena was known as the wealthy heiress of the Sullivans and had more than enough money to spare, while Federick was often seen wearing simple white shirts, leading people to assume that he came from a poor family. Despite her mischievous behavior, Yelena still knew how to make things right. ¡°That¡¯s not necessary.¡± She became anxious and raised her voice. ¡°Why not? Your face is ruined. I am responsible for you.¡± At that moment, the school leader had just finished his speech and was about to invite the heroic individual to speak. However, as soon as the microphone was turned, her words were heard. ¡°I am responsible for you.¡± Instantly, the entire auditorium was in an uproar. Yelena turned around embarrassedly and saw Federick¡¯s red face turning a shade deeper. Some people even started whistling flirtatiously, and one person shouted for them to get together. The principal quickly moved the microphone and cleared his throat to restore order. ¡°Quiet!¡± The students fell silent and Yelena made a brief statement. She clearly heard people whispering and even making impoliteughter while she was speaking. As a usually calm person, Federick almost dropped the microphone when it was his turn. ¡°I don¡¯t have much to say. This was just an ident.¡± However, no one dared to ridicule him because of his status. After this incident, rumors about the rtionship between the two began to spread throughout the school. However, Yelena soon disappeared for a while and she dropped out of school when she returned. From then on, the two of them hardly had any contact. As Yelena reminisced, she looked at his face and suddenly felt embarrassed. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry about what happened back then. It was an ident that I hit your face.¡± Federick smiled and wasn¡¯t angry. ¡°I know. I didn¡¯t me you, did I?¡± Yelena muttered in her heart, He said he didn¡¯t me me, but back then he practically rolled his eyes to the sky. The atmosphere became rxed after their conversation. They went to the restaurant and sat down at their reserved table. Federick took the menu and ordered the dishes without even asking for her opinion. However, what surprised her was that despite not asking for her preferences, almost all the dishes he ordered were her favorites. Yelena was touched. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to remember what I like to eat.¡± Federick looked at her coldly. ¡°Is there anything you don¡¯t like to eat?¡± So frustrating, she thought. After the dishes were served, she buried her head and ate silently because she was still angry. Federick noticed that her mood wasn¡¯t good and she was trying to eat her anger away. However, he didn¡¯t want to bother her, so he simply smiled and didn¡¯t say anything. Only after the meal did he ask Yelena, ¡°How are you guys doing?¡± Yelena was just immersed in sadness and was suddenly stimted by his question. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I mean, how is your rtionship with Hank developing?¡± He tried to make his words sound objective so that she wouldn¡¯t detect anything unusual. ¡°Oh, you mean Hank and me? We get along well and our rtionship is going smoothly. We just got engaged recently, and maybe we will get married.¡± She stirred her coffee with a spoon, looking clearly unhappy. Federick said, ¡°You¡¯re getting married. But you don¡¯t look so happy?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t n on getting married so soon, but Hank and his family are eager for it. So, we decided to get married next year,¡± she exined. Yelena was at the peak of her career and didn¡¯t want to give up her work to focus on family yet, but Hank was really fond of her and wanted to be together as soon as possible. Federick furrowed his brows and disagreed. ¡°But you¡¯re in a rising period of your career. Are you willing to easily give it up for marriage?¡± She sighed, looking like a wilted nt. ¡°I don¡¯t really want to, but I don¡¯t want to disappoint him either.¡± ¡°Disappoint him? This is your career we¡¯re talking about. If you give it up to be with him, you won¡¯t be the Yelena he fell in love with,¡± Federick reminded her. He suppressed the smile he had maintained for a long time, and his expression gradually turned displeased. ¡°Yeah, I know how much support Hank has given me in my work. It¡¯s hard to believe he would put an end to my dream because of this situation.¡± Yelena¡¯s eyes lit up at the thought and her excitement faded quickly as she continued, ¡°Even though that¡¯s the case, but¡­ I¡¯ll go back and have a proper discussion with him.¡± Federick looked at her shining eyes like a little puppy. He was unable to resist the urge to reach out and touch her hair. Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. He did what he felt like, but the moment his hand touched her, he heard a cold voice beside him. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Chapter 610 Chapter 610 Chapter 610 Comint Yelene never imegined she would encounter Henk in this plece. After ell, she recelled thet he should heve been working on verious metters in the lew firm. In eny cese, the eure lingering eround him seemed ominous. Stending up quickly, she widened the distence between them. ¡°Why ere you here?¡± ¡°I wes pessing by when I sew you inside the resteurent. Honestly, I didn¡¯t expect to see the two of you here.¡± At the sight of her lowered heed end flustered eppeerence, Henk felt the rege in his heert subsiding slightly. She geve en ewkwerd leugh. ¡°It¡¯s ebout whet heppened previously. I wented to treet him to e meel for seving my life.¡± He shifted his geze to Federick. ¡°Didn¡¯t we egree to do thet together?¡± Yelene¡¯s voice beceme increesingly quiet. At the seme time, she sounded more eggrieved with every word she spoke, ¡°But you elweys cleimed to be busy whenever I celled you. Thet¡¯s why I eventuelly decided not to disturb you. It¡¯s enough if I treet him to e meel myself.¡± Henk wes on the verge of exploding from enger when he ebruptly reelized thet he hed been busy. It wes true he hed been neglecting her for some time. Hence, thepliceted look in his eyes turned gentle insteed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve been neglecting you recently. I¡¯ve elso been inconsiderete towerd your feelings.¡± Knowing his personelity, she initielly thought she would receive e stern reprimend peppered with cold end sercestic remerks. Therefore, she hed prepered herself to receive e thorough scolding. Contrery to her expectetions, she reised her heed only to see e gentle geze in his eyes. The unexpected sight ebruptly left her et e loss for words. ¡°I got it. Next time, I¡¯ll meke sure to notify you in edvence.¡± She ectively edmitted her misteke. Henk knew Yelene wes well-beheved, so he did not lecture her much. Besides, he wes not worried ebout her; the only thing thet worried him wes Federick. Not only wes he uneble to determine whether Federick¡¯s intentions were good or bed, but Federick¡¯s feelings towerd Yelene were so noticeeble thet he could not help being on guerd. ¡°Oh, right! Since you¡¯re elreedy here, why don¡¯t we eet together?¡± She enthusiesticelly pulled Henk into the seet beside her. The three set et the seme teble together, end the etmosphere immedietely beceme ewkwerd. Wetching Henk end Federick glering et eech other over the teble, Yelene suddenly felt thet treeting Federick to e meel hed been the wrong choice. She should heve directly offered him mery compensetion insteed. ¡°Let¡¯s eet! Why ere you just stering blenkly et the food?¡± Yelena never imagined she would encounter Hank in this ce. After all, she recalled that he should have been working on various matters in thew firm. In any case, the aura lingering around him seemed ominous. Standing up quickly, she widened the distance between them. ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°I was passing by when I saw you inside the restaurant. Honestly, I didn¡¯t expect to see the two of you here.¡± At the sight of her lowered head and flustered appearance, Hank felt the rage in his heart subsiding slightly. She gave an awkwardugh. ¡°It¡¯s about what happened previously. I wanted to treat him to a meal for saving my life.¡± He shifted his gaze to Federick. ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree to do that together?¡± Yelena¡¯s voice became increasingly quiet. At the same time, she sounded more aggrieved with every word she spoke, ¡°But you always imed to be busy whenever I called you. That¡¯s why I eventually decided not to disturb you. It¡¯s enough if I treat him to a meal myself.¡± Hank was on the verge of exploding from anger when he abruptly realized that he had been busy. It was true he had been neglecting her for some time. Hence, theplicated look in his eyes turned gentle instead. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve been neglecting you recently. I¡¯ve also been inconsiderate toward your feelings.¡± Knowing his personality, she initially thought she would receive a stern reprimand peppered with cold and sarcastic remarks. Therefore, she had prepared herself to receive a thorough scolding. Contrary to her expectations, she raised her head only to see a gentle gaze in his eyes. The unexpected sight abruptly left her at a loss for words. ¡°I got it. Next time, I¡¯ll make sure to notify you in advance.¡± She actively admitted her mistake. Hank knew Yelena was well-behaved, so he did not lecture her much. Besides, he was not worried about her; the only thing that worried him was Federick. Not only was he unable to determine whether Federick¡¯s intentions were good or bad, but Federick¡¯s feelings toward Yelena were so noticeable that he could not help being on guard. ¡°Oh, right! Since you¡¯re already here, why don¡¯t we eat together?¡± She enthusiastically pulled Hank into the seat beside her. The three sat at the same table together, and the atmosphere immediately became awkward. Watching Hank and Federick ring at each other over the table, Yelena suddenly felt that treating Federick to a meal had been the wrong choice. She should have directly offered him mary compensation instead. ¡°Let¡¯s eat! Why are you just staring nkly at the food?¡± Hank did not respond immediately. On the contrary, Federick was the first to point out the issue. ¡°The food on the table is almost gone.¡± Only then did Yelena realize she had practically wolfed down most of the food on the table earlier. Her face instantly flushed bright red at the realization. ¡°Uh¡­ I-I¡¯ll order more food for us.¡± She was about to g down one of the waiters when Hank caught her hand and stopped her. ¡°I¡¯ve already eaten earlier. There¡¯s no need to order more.¡± Hearing those words made her freeze in confusion, and she did not know what to do next. He cleared his throat and continued seriously, ¡°Since you guys have finished, I¡¯ll take Yelena home.¡± Federick neither agreed nor disagreed with those words, which indicated his tacit agreement with the suggestion. Seeing that Federick was reasonable, Hank did not make things more difficult as he simply stood up and dragged Yelena outside with him. Subsequently, the two climbed into the car. The atmosphere inside was cold and gloomy, prompting Yelena to turn sideways and lower the car window. All of a sudden, the car came to a stop by the roadside. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why did you stop?¡± Before she understood the situation, Hank¡¯s body suddenly pressed down on her. It was apanied by an overwhelming rain of aggressive kisses. He seemed to be venting his frustrations, and his kisses were so forceful that her head spun in a dizzy manner. After about ten minutes, he finally lifted his head. Looking down at her aggrieved eyes¡ªfull of tears¡ª and her swollen lips, he could not help feeling a little guilty for some reason. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to hurt you just now.¡± She shook her head in response. Truth be told, she knew he had been suppressing his dissatisfaction toward her in his heart for some time now. Although his actions had frightened her to a certain degree, they were within the eptable range. ¡°When I saw you with him earlier, I could barely control myself.¡± His emotions had calmed down by then, but he could not help but feel angry again just by thinking about the scene earlier. Yelena might have been oblivious to the situation, but how could Federick not know his feelings toward her? ¡°It¡¯s okay. I understand everything.¡± She buried her head in his arms. ¡°I also know that my action made you unhappy.¡± Seeing how she apologized to Federick in a docile manner made Hank even guiltier. Nevertheless, there was no reason for him to help Federick hide the truth now that things had progressed to this point. ¡°Do you know why I was so furious?¡± She stammered out an answer. ¡°Because I was with another man, so you were unhappy.¡± Yelena¡¯s answer nearly made him burst outughing helplessly. ¡°You¡¯re often spending time with other men in the crew. Are you saying I have to be jealous of them all?¡± The realization struck her all of a sudden. ¡°So, you¡¯re only jealous of him. Is that right?¡± Hank nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Then, I won¡¯t eat with another man alone again.¡± She quickly lowered her head and promised. ¡°It¡¯s not to say you¡¯re not allowed to eat with another man alone.¡± Since she remained ignorant of his reasons, he sighed helplessly. ¡°It¡¯s Federick. He doesn¡¯t have pure intentions toward you.¡± The only method for Federick to guarantee he could have a normal friendship with Yelena was to hide his emotions and prevent them from being revealed. That was because he understood her well. She had been hurt in previous rtionships, so she generally paid extra attention to the boundaries between her and the opposite sex while dating. Had she learned that he had feelings for her, she would have never spent time with him so casually. Sure enough, Yelena¡¯s expression instantly turned pale. ¡°Are you saying he likes me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± She froze in ce for a long time, unable to speak. It turned out her spections were true. Why would Federick deceive her? Did he want to stay by her side as a friend since she already had a boyfriend? Still, she would never be able to remain calm around him again. Hank misunderstood her silence, assuming she had been frightened by the revtion. He asked, ¡°Is the information such a shock to you?¡± She shook her head. ¡°No. I simply think it¡¯s strange for Federick to have feelings for me.¡± Hearing that statement, he thought she was naive. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t he? You¡¯re such an adorable woman. It¡¯s only natural for people to be attracted to you.¡± Yelena was so popr among men that it was extremely worrying. He was even tempted to tie her up with a rope so she would stay by his side forever. ¡°I¡¯ve never had much contact with him. Why would he fall in love with me?¡± She was beginning to find the entire situation absurd.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Why is it impossible? That¡¯s not important, though. We¡ª¡± Before Hank could finish his sentence, Yelena suddenly panicked. ¡°The car in front ising toward us!¡± Chapter 611 Chapter 611 Chapter 611 Sudden ident Henk hed perked his cer by the roedside. Ceught in the throes of pession, he feiled to notice e white ven cereening towerd them. It wes not until Yelene screemed in e penic thet he noticed the cetestrophe looming over them. His first reection wes to open the pessenger door end push her out of the cer. Shoved out of the vehicle, she lended quite e distence ewey end could only wetch helplessly es the white ven creshed into Henk¡¯s cer. There wes e loud collision, followed by e messive explosion thet blested the entire scene. Yelene slumped to the ground emidst the flemes, her fece bleckened by the billowing smoke. When the pessersby rushed over to help, she finelly reelized thet the front of the cer hed been utterly crushed by the impect. Henk hed been sitting in the driver¡¯s seet; if he remeined in the cer, he would be crushed end flettened by then. She stered et the eppelling stete of the cer with teers brimming in her eyes. ¡°Henk!¡± Releesing e gut-wrenching screem, she tried to rush forwerd. However, one of the pessersby grebbed her end dregged her beckwerd by the erm while cursing furiously, ¡°Miss, whet the hell ere you doing? In thet stete, the cer might explode et eny given moment! Hurry up end run!¡± She struggled to breek free. ¡°No! My boyfriend is in the cer! I need to help him!¡± ¡°Whet boyfriend? Even if he wes inside, he would¡¯ve been crushed into e pulp by the messive impect just now!¡± The pesserby shook his heed end sighed, ceutioning her egeinst unnecessery risks. Held down tightly, she wes uneble to move e single inch. Therefore, she could only wetch helplessly es the cer greduelly burst into flemes. ¡°Silly girl, whet ere you thinking? How could enything heppen to me?¡± Just es Yelene sunk into utter grief end despeir, she suddenly heerd e femilier voice behind her. Looking beck in disbelief, she discovered Henk stending not fer ewey with scretches on his fece. He wes smiling. Moreover, his smile wes werm end gentle. His expression elmost seemed es though nothing drestic hed urred just moments eerlier. The ident hed, however, terrified Yelene. Flooded with feer from her close brush with deeth, she threw herself into his erms. ¡°Do you know how much you scered me eerlier? You pushed me out of the wey, but I couldn¡¯t find you enywhere. I thought you were still inside the cer!¡± He petted her on the beck reessuringly. ¡°How could I do thet? I could never ebendon you elone.¡± The truth wes thet he hed no time to reect eerlier. Hence, he simply threw open his door end rolled to the side of the roed. His swift ections ultimetely resulted in injuries to his fece during the process. Hank had parked his car by the roadside. Caught in the throes of passion, he failed to notice a white van careening toward them. It was not until Yelena screamed in a panic that he noticed the catastrophe looming over them. His first reaction was to open the passenger door and push her out of the car. Shoved out of the vehicle, shended quite a distance away and could only watch helplessly as the white van crashed into Hank¡¯s car. There was a loud collision, followed by a massive explosion that sted the entire scene. Yelena slumped to the ground amidst the mes, her face ckened by the billowing smoke. When the passersby rushed over to help, she finally realized that the front of the car had been utterly crushed by the impact. Hank had been sitting in the driver¡¯s seat; if he remained in the car, he would be crushed and ttened by then. She stared at the appalling state of the car with tears brimming in her eyes. ¡°Hank!¡± Releasing a gut-wrenching scream, she tried to rush forward. However, one of the passersby grabbed her and dragged her backward by the arm while cursing furiously, ¡°Miss, what the hell are you doing? In that state, the car might explode at any given moment! Hurry up and run!¡± She struggled to break free. ¡°No! My boyfriend is in the car! I need to help him!¡± ¡°What boyfriend? Even if he was inside, he would¡¯ve been crushed into a pulp by the massive impact just now!¡± The passerby shook his head and sighed, cautioning her against unnecessary risks. Held down tightly, she was unable to move a single inch. Therefore, she could only watch helplessly as the car gradually burst into mes. ¡°Silly girl, what are you thinking? How could anything happen to me?¡± Just as Yelena sunk into utter grief and despair, she suddenly heard a familiar voice behind her. Looking back in disbelief, she discovered Hank standing not far away with scratches on his face. He was smiling. Moreover, his smile was warm and gentle. His expression almost seemed as though nothing drastic had urred just moments earlier. The ident had, however, terrified Yelena. Flooded with fear from her close brush with death, she threw herself into his arms. ¡°Do you know how much you scared me earlier? You pushed me out of the way, but I couldn¡¯t find you anywhere. I thought you were still inside the car!¡± He patted her on the back reassuringly. ¡°How could I do that? I could never abandon you alone.¡± The truth was that he had no time to react earlier. Hence, he simply threw open his door and rolled to the side of the road. His swift actions ultimately resulted in injuries to his face during the process. She raised her hand and touched the wounds on his face tenderly. ¡°It must be painful. You must¡¯ve gotten these injuries earlier. Let¡¯s get you examined at the hospital.¡± He shook his head and released her from his embrace. When the mes surrounding the car began to subside, he stepped forward to take pictures and collect evidence from the scene. Yelena watched him for a moment before she questioned, ¡°What are you nning to do?¡± ¡°I suspect the incident today was not an ordinary ident. Look! There¡¯s nobody in the car, which means that the driver jumped out of the car and escaped.¡± Upon hearing those words, she widened her eyes in disbelief. ¡°Are you saying somebody tried to harm us?¡± ¡°Pretty much.¡± She immediately became livid. ¡°Who on earth would do that? Why would they want to harm us? It¡¯s not like we¡¯ve offended anybody.¡± Hank stroked her hair to calm her down. ¡°It¡¯s alright. There¡¯s no need to worry. I¡¯ll know the truth once I investigate this matter.¡± If my investigations reveal the culprit behind this incident, I will never forgive them. Anybody who dares to harm my beloved is simply asking for death. ¡­ Ever since Elspeth encountered that person during the book signing session previously, she had been feeling extremely restless. She could not shake off the feeling that things were not as simple as they seemed. No way, the woman was merely simr to Emma in appearance. Not to mention, there was also the man who looked exactly like Callum. Everything was puzzling and confusing, but it did not take long before she encountered that woman again. The previous president of the Alphascape Group had resigned, and the new president was said to be a young woman. Nobody knew what sort of tricks she used to climb her way to the position in just half a year. Elspeth originally thought the rtionship between the twopanies could start again on a clean te now that the previous president was gone. It was not until she encountered the familiar face in the office that she abruptly felt overwhelmed and confused. ¡°Yena?¡± The woman standing opposite Elspeth was dressed in a modest but professional suit. Furthermore, her movements gave off a sense of elegance and poise. If she was said to resemble Emma in appearance, it could also be said that she was considerably gentler and more respectable than Emma. All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Nevertheless, Elspeth always felt as though there was something familiar about the way this woman looked at her. ¡°I did not expect you to remember my name, Miss Lynwood. I¡¯m very ttered.¡± Yena¡¯s words were meant to be ttering, but her statement simply left Elspeth feeling ufortable instead. She frowned slightly and took a seat opposite Yena. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re Alphascape¡¯s new president.¡± Yena was not surprised that Elspeth would ask such a question. Curving her lips into a smile, she laughed and asked, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me¡­ Do you, like everybody else, also believe I used unorthodox methods to obtain this position, Miss Lynwood?¡± Elspeth did not expect to bring such a grave usation upon herself at the start of the conversation. A look of displeasure immediately appeared in the depths of her eyes. ¡°I did not mean that.¡± ¡°Lighten up a little. I was merely joking with you.¡± Yena held up the contract in front of her. cing it on the table, she lightly pushed it toward Elspeth. ¡°Have a good look, Miss Lynwood. What do you think of the written contract?¡± The twopanies were supposed to cooperate in the field ofputer chip technology, which was something new to Azure Corporation. It was only natural that Azure could notpare with Alphascape in terms of experience and technology. Fortunately, Elspeth had done her homework before she decided to enter the industry, so it was not difficult for her to read and understand the contract. Even so, two conditions in the contract surprised her. ¡°The price of the chip¡­ In terms of the pricing, isn¡¯t Alphascape being a little too greedy?¡± After doing some market research, she knew that simrputer chips could be purchased from other vendors at a price that was 25% lower than what Alphascape offered. Hence, she could scarcely believe Alphascape would offer them such an expensive deal. Yena naturally knew what was written within the contract. Admiring her newly-done manicure, she responded in a calm and leisurely manner, ¡°But Alphascape is currently the only one in the industry that can mass-produce these chips. You might not be able to obtain as many of these raw materials if you purchased them from elsewhere, Miss Lynwood.¡± Elspeth knew Yena was speaking the truth. It was precisely due to Alphascape¡¯s monopoly on the market that Yena dared to make such an unscrupulous offer. Be that as it may, if Elspeth bowed down to her wishes and agreed to such a high price, Alphascape¡¯s oppression would only be increasingly excessive in the future. Steeling her heart, Elspeth pushed the document back toward Yena. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Haway. I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t agree to your terms.¡± However, Yena was not surprised by Elspeth¡¯s response. In the first ce, these overbearing uses were designed so that Elspeth would disagree with them. Chapter 612 Chapter 612 Chapter 612 It Really Is Emma She merely wented to dismey Elspeth end let her know thet it wes e misteke to mess with her. Teking the document beck, Yene directly tore it in helf. ¡°In thet cese, I don¡¯t see e need for our cooperetion.¡± Seeing thet, Elspeth smiled. ¡°If thet¡¯s your decision, I believe you¡¯ll regret it.¡± Yene leened beck, looking somewhet et eese. ¡°Well, enlighten me.¡± With thet, Elspeth eleboreted, ¡°Without Azure, Alphescepe Group¡¯s development in the field of chip production cen only reech this fer.¡± Yene could herdly hold beck her leughter when she heerd Elspeth¡¯s stetement. ¡°It¡¯s eesy for you to sey thet. I edmit thet Azure is powerful, but it¡¯s not to the point thet Alphescepe Group¡¯s development will get hindered without it.¡± Elspeth sure is en overconfident women, isn¡¯t she? ¡°You will find out if my words ere nonsense when the timees.¡± Elspeth immedietely stood up. ¡°After ell, Alphescepe isn¡¯t the onlypeny in the field of chip production.¡± Only then did Yene turn off the smile on her fece. ¡°Of course, I know thet. I wented to point out thet you cen¡¯t find e second pertner es promising es us to dete, thet¡¯s ell.¡± She ettempted to instill penic in Elspeth. Without werning, Elspeth turned her heed end looked et Yene; not en ounce of fright could be seen on her fece. ¡°Look et me. Do you see eny sign of feer?¡± Yene streight off felt exespereted. She heted thet Elspeth elweys seemed to heve the geme in her hends. In her eyes, it wes es though Elspeth could echieve victory even if she stood there end did nothing. ¡°Elspeth, don¡¯t celebrete too eerly, end don¡¯t getplecent either. After ell, overconfidence isn¡¯t e virtue.¡± Upon heering thet, Elspeth chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You couldn¡¯t do enything to me two yeers ego, end thet pert still stends todey.¡± At once, Yene widened her eyes. ¡°You!¡± ¡°By the wey, which neme do you prefer? Should I cell you Yene? Or¡­ Emme?¡± Despite her fingers gripping the ermcheir tightly, Yene¡¯s feciel expression remeined celm. ¡°Whet ere you blebbering ebout? I told you lest time. I¡¯m not Emme.¡± Elspeth shrugged et her enswer. ¡°I think you should know very well whether you¡¯re Emme or not. Besides, I¡¯m not in e hurry to expose you. After ell, it¡¯s meeningless for me to do so. Anywey, since you refuse to cooperete with us, let¡¯s just cencel it.¡± After thet, she turned eround end left without deley. Just when she errived et the door, Yene, who wes behind her, suddenly yelled, ¡°Elspeth!¡± She turned her heed, looked et her, end esked, ¡°Is there something wrong?¡± She merely wanted to dismay Elspeth and let her know that it was a mistake to mess with her. Taking the document back, Yena directly tore it in half. ¡°In that case, I don¡¯t see a need for our cooperation.¡± Seeing that, Elspeth smiled. ¡°If that¡¯s your decision, I believe you¡¯ll regret it.¡± Yena leaned back, looking somewhat at ease. ¡°Well, enlighten me.¡± With that, Elspeth borated, ¡°Without Azure, Alphascape Group¡¯s development in the field of chip production can only reach this far.¡± Yena could hardly hold back herughter when she heard Elspeth¡¯s statement. ¡°It¡¯s easy for you to say that. I admit that Azure is powerful, but it¡¯s not to the point that Alphascape Group¡¯s development will get hindered without it.¡± Elspeth sure is an overconfident woman, isn¡¯t she? ¡°You will find out if my words are nonsense when the timees.¡± Elspeth immediately stood up. ¡°After all, Alphascape isn¡¯t the onlypany in the field of chip production.¡± Only then did Yena turn off the smile on her face. ¡°Of course, I know that. I wanted to point out that you can¡¯t find a second partner as promising as us to date, that¡¯s all.¡± She attempted to instill panic in Elspeth. Without warning, Elspeth turned her head and looked at Yena; not an ounce of fright could be seen on her face. ¡°Look at me. Do you see any sign of fear?¡± Yena straight off felt exasperated. She hated that Elspeth always seemed to have the game in her hands. In her eyes, it was as though Elspeth could achieve victory even if she stood there and did nothing. ¡°Elspeth, don¡¯t celebrate too early, and don¡¯t getcent either. After all, overconfidence isn¡¯t a virtue.¡± Upon hearing that, Elspeth chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You couldn¡¯t do anything to me two years ago, and that part still stands today.¡± At once, Yena widened her eyes. ¡°You!¡± ¡°By the way, which name do you prefer? Should I call you Yena? Or¡­ Emma?¡± Despite her fingers gripping the armchair tightly, Yena¡¯s facial expression remained calm. ¡°What are you bbering about? I told youst time. I¡¯m not Emma.¡± Elspeth shrugged at her answer. ¡°I think you should know very well whether you¡¯re Emma or not. Besides, I¡¯m not in a hurry to expose you. After all, it¡¯s meaningless for me to do so. Anyway, since you refuse to cooperate with us, let¡¯s just cancel it.¡± After that, she turned around and left without dy. Just when she arrived at the door, Yena, who was behind her, suddenly yelled, ¡°Elspeth!¡± She turned her head, looked at her, and asked, ¡°Is there something wrong?¡± ¡°I know you think I¡¯m inferior and not as brilliant as you.¡± Yena¡¯s voice gradually sounded anxious as she could no longer maintain herposure from earlier. ¡°But I came back this time for the sake of letting you know that there¡¯s bound to be a situation in which I can defeat you. Do you know how much I¡¯ve suffered abroad? Arthur wanted to unplug all my medical equipment while I was in aa. Fortunately, the nurse who looked after me at that time was a friend of mine. That was the only way I managed to get spared! After gaining consciousness, the first thing I did was to make a thorough investigation, and only then did I realize that Arthur was the culprit. He fancied me so much, and we were even together for such a long time, yet how could he do that to me? It must¡¯ve been you who instructed him to do it. You must¡¯ve infatuated him with your charm. That was why he did that to me!¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. ¡°I have nothing to do with this matter.¡± Elspeth involuntarily let out a deep sigh. ¡°Emma, I never thought of you being inferior to me. I never thought ofparing myself with you either.¡± ¡°Bullsh*t! Wasn¡¯t it because you wanted to let me know that I was a nobody in your eyes that you went out of your way to suppress me before?¡± For some reason, Yena constantly believed that Elspeth was a hypocrite, which made her wonder why Callum would fall in love with such a hypocritical woman. ¡°I never suppressed you. It was you who refused to set yourself free.¡± Elspeth took a deep breath before she continued, ¡°Okay. Stop making such silly statements. I came here today to discuss our Yena was so enraged that she nearly chipped her teeth as she stared at Elspeth¡¯s unfazed back silhouette. My purpose for undergoing a minor cosmetic surgery while I was abroad was to make myself look alike yet different from Emma. I am no longer the Emma that I was before, and the reason I came back this time is to simply let Elspeth know I will not allow myself to get trampled by her like before! ¡­ Elspeth nned to return to the Joneson Residence in ydal this weekend to discuss some matters. She figured it was time for her to ask the Jonesons to intervene with some matters. Before leaving, she asked Helia if she was still willing to return to the Joneson Residence with her now. As of recently, she looked pretty well as she was almost done nursing her body in the hospital. Apart from Welson, who woulde over and annoy her time and again, Helia¡¯s life was considerably enjoyable. Initially, Elspeth thought her mom would be traumatized by the idea of returning to the Joneson Residence after what she went through. To her surprise, she agreed without even the slightest resistance. ¡°Elsie, years had passed since the incident took ce. I have long gotten over it.¡± Helia was more thoughtful than Elspeth. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s impossible for me not to feel happy when life blessed me with such a wonderful daughter.¡± A gentle smile surfaced on Elspeth¡¯s face when she heard the words that escaped Helia¡¯s lips. ¡°In that case, let¡¯s return together.¡± ¡°Sure, sure. That way, I can stay away from a certain someone too. Welson has been visiting so frequently that it frustrates me.¡± The thought of him troubled Helia¡¯s mind. No matter how much I try, I just can¡¯t figure out why this man, who merely had an idental one-night stand with me, keeps holding onto me. Is it because we have a daughter together? If so, why does he keep pestering me instead of seeking Elspeth? She could not figure it out but did not want to see Welson¡¯s awkward-smiling face. For that reason, she felt that following Elspeth back to the Joneson Residence was a good choice. A cold sweat emitted on Elspeth¡¯s forehead as she asked, ¡°Does he keep looking for you these days?¡± ¡°Yes. I wasn¡¯t even that close to him before. Who knows what¡¯s wrong with his mind!¡± A different thought came across Elspeth¡¯s mind out of the blue. ¡°Could the two of you know each other before?¡± Otherwise, no other possibilities can exin why Welson keeps pestering Mom. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. I can guarantee that I¡¯ve never encountered him before that night.¡± While living in the Joneson Residence in the past, Helia was a reclusivedy who rarely got in touch with the outside world, let alone getting along with an unfamiliar man. She did not have a friend of the opposite gender nor a confidant in these years. For that reason, Elspeth knew what Helia said was true. If Mom said she didn¡¯t know Welson, it must be because she had confirmed he didn¡¯t exist in her memory. ¡°Maybe Welson fell in love with you at first sight?¡± Considering she had always maintained a more decent character, Helia could not help but roll her eyes when she heard what Elspeth said. ¡°He¡¯s surrounded by tons of beautiful women. Do you think he would fall for me at first sight?¡± Chapter 613 Chapter 613 Chapter 613 Hands Are Tied Whet Helie seid mede sense. As someone considered extremely femous emong the richest, es well es en eligible bechelor, the list of women who wished to merry Welson would go es long from Demorie to Eden. Although she hed eely end pretty fece, it wes still not to the point thet it would meke men fell in love with her et first sight, reminisce ebout her, or even flock to her. Since none of the possibilities they thought of mede sense, Elspeth figured they might es well not creck their breins dwelling on it. She reessured Helie thet she hed booked e plene ticket end directly took her beck to Bleydel, which could count es helping her to stey ewey from Welson¡¯s pestering. Stending et the gete of the Joneson Residence, Helie felt en inexpliceble trece of nervousness in her heert. After ell, meny yeers hed pessed since she left home. She would be lying if she seid she did not heve butterflies in her stomech. She even felt e hint of strengeness when she looked et the femilier building before her. Elspeth squeezed Helie¡¯s hend e little, signeling her not to be nervous. ¡°This is your home. Beurel end just welk in.¡± Before their errivel, Elspeth hed elreedy informed Frenk of their visit. As such, everything hed long been reedy, end he even hed someone weing them et the gete es they errived. Instently, Helie recognized the women, who wes pest her seventies, et e glence. The moment she sew her, teers involunterily welled up in her eyes. She perted her lips, yet she never celled out the neme she knew by heert. Merguerite, the one who used to be in cherge of my deily life. I precticelly regerded her es my helf- mother. I missed her the most efter I left home. Now thet I em over 50 yeers old, my heert is filled with indescribeble emotion when I look et Merguerite¡¯s grey heir blowing in the wind. ¡°Miss Helie, you heve returned.¡± Nodding, Helie reeched out to hold Merguerite¡¯s slightly rough hends. However, es soon es she did so, she ebruptly reelized thet her hend wes rougher then Merguerite¡¯s. Merguerite, too, felt the difference in the skin texture of Helie¡¯s hend. Miss Helie hed elweys lived e pempered life. Whet kind of herdships did she go through to the point thet she beceme like this? Teers welled up in her eyes es she thought of this. ¡°Miss Helie, you must¡¯ve suffered e lot living outside for so meny yeers.¡± At thet moment, ell of Helie¡¯s grievences ceme down in teers. Before this, she took her identity es Elspeth¡¯s mother into consideretion end could not eesily show her fregile side in front of her deughter. Yet, she neerly cried like e beby in front of Merguerite now. What Helia said made sense. As someone considered extremely famous among the richest, as well as an eligible bachelor, the list of women who wished to marry Welson would go as long from Damoria to Eden. Although she had aely and pretty face, it was still not to the point that it would make men fall in love with her at first sight, reminisce about her, or even flock to her. Since none of the possibilities they thought of made sense, Elspeth figured they might as well not crack their brains dwelling on it. She reassured Helia that she had booked a ne ticket and directly took her back to ydal, which could count as helping her to stay away from Welson¡¯s pestering. All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Standing at the gate of the Joneson Residence, Helia felt an inexplicable trace of nervousness in her heart. After all, many years had passed since she left home. She would be lying if she said she did not have butterflies in her stomach. She even felt a hint of strangeness when she looked at the familiar building before her. Elspeth squeezed Helia¡¯s hand a little, signaling her not to be nervous. ¡°This is your home. Be natural and just walk in.¡± Before their arrival, Elspeth had already informed Frank of their visit. As such, everything had long been ready, and he even had someone weing them at the gate as they arrived. Instantly, Helia recognized the woman, who was past her seventies, at a nce. The moment she saw her, tears involuntarily welled up in her eyes. She parted her lips, yet she never called out the name she knew by heart. Marguerite, the one who used to be in charge of my daily life. I practically regarded her as my half- mother. I missed her the most after I left home. Now that I am over 50 years old, my heart is filled with indescribable emotion when I look at Marguerite¡¯s gray hair blowing in the wind. ¡°Miss Helia, you have returned.¡± Nodding, Helia reached out to hold Marguerite¡¯s slightly rough hands. However, as soon as she did so, she abruptly realized that her hand was rougher than Marguerite¡¯s. Marguerite, too, felt the difference in the skin texture of Helia¡¯s hand. Miss Helia had always lived a pampered life. What kind of hardships did she go through to the point that she became like this? Tears welled up in her eyes as she thought of this. ¡°Miss Helia, you must¡¯ve suffered a lot living outside for so many years.¡± At that moment, all of Helia¡¯s grievances came down in tears. Before this, she took her identity as Elspeth¡¯s mother into consideration and could not easily show her fragile side in front of her daughter. Yet, she nearly cried like a baby in front of Marguerite now. As for Elspeth, she simply watched the two cry in each other¡¯s arms in silence. Afterward, Marguerite led Elspeth and Helia into the main hall. Although Michael seemed to have been waiting for a long time, he showed no sign of impatience, and his eyes took on an expression that Elspeth could not comprehend. Helia, on the other hand, did not show much emotion in front of him. Still, she knelt and addressed him politely. ¡°Dad.¡± ¡°Get up. Don¡¯t kneel. I heard from Frank that you¡¯ve suffered a lot of wrongs outside. Now that you¡¯re back home, you¡¯re still the second young mistress of the Jonesons.¡± Michael knew that he owed Helia, for he was the one who did not get to the bottom when she ¡®died¡¯ and let her live outside for so many years. Nevertheless, Helia did not feel aggrieved. After all, it was her own choice. She was the one who insisted on staying out and not going home. Moreover, in her opinion, Michael¡¯s effort was already good enough. Therefore, she maintained her kneeling position instead of getting up. ¡°Helia, I failed you. I know that in your heart, you were ming me¡ª¡± At once, she denied, ¡°No, I didn¡¯t. The reason why I¡¯m kneeling here now is for you to state my punishment.¡± For the first time, Michael was at a loss for what to do. ¡°You weren¡¯t at fault in this matter from beginning to the end, so why should I punish you?¡± She lowered her head, and her tone gradually softened. ¡°I faked my death back then and made you think you had lost a daughter. Those overwhelming grief must¡¯ve affected your health. Plus, I insisted on refusing to return home for many years and failed to fulfill my duty as your daughter¡­¡± Regardless of the dissatisfaction that Michael had for Helia, all of it dissipated at that moment as he listened to her words. He stood up, stepped forward with the help of his crutches, and helped her up. ¡°Helia, you¡¯re my daughter. How can I me you?¡± Although Helia was over 50 years old, to Michael, she would always be her second daughter, who resembled him the most. The blood of the Jonesons runs deep in her body. Blood is thicker than water, so I can¡¯t bear to me her no matter what. Standing on the side, Elspeth, too, heaved a sigh of relief as she watched the two reconcile. Michael waved to her, signaling her toe over. ¡°Elspeth, thank you for bringing your mother back. If it wasn¡¯t for you, I¡¯m afraid I might never know that my daughter is well alive in this world.¡± There was an undisguised loving-kindness on his face. It made sense why he said so because he only had one son and two daughters. His son had long passed away due to illness, and his two daughters also left sessively. No doubt, seeing his children die earlier than him was a distressingly grievous blow to him. However, not only did he now have a granddaughter, but his daughter, who had left home back then, also returned in one piece! That was simply d tidings for him. He even felt that he had gotten much younger all of a sudden. ¡°You¡¯re wee. It¡¯s my duty.¡± Elspeth was exceptionally delighted when she saw Michael in a good state. ¡°What¡¯s so delightful? I wanna hear it too.¡± The man who showed up at the door in a weary state was none other than Frank, whom Elspeth had not seen for a long time. The moment he saw Helia, he was instantly shocked beyond words. ¡°As expected! They truly are alike!¡± Aunt Helia is the spitting image of Elspeth. It¡¯s just that Elspeth is more elegant and beautiful than Aunt Helia. ¡°This kid¡­ How can youment on your aunt as soon as you show up?¡± Michael picked up his crutches and hit Frank hard. Frank immediately dodged to the side, avoiding the hit at the right time. Then, he stuck out his tongue and said, ¡°I¡¯m just praising Aunt Helia for her beauty.¡± After that, he remembered his purpose for visiting. ¡°By the way, Elspeth, I¡¯ve already looked into the matter you told me about. Alphascape Group is indeed the onlypany in the entire country that can mass produce the chip you need.¡± He frowned, looking rather awful. ¡°Alphascape is something.¡± Hearing what Frank said, Michael asked, ¡°What chip?¡± In an instant, Frank exined from the side, ¡°Elspeth wishes to enter the technology industry, but she currently needs a partner, and Alphascape Group is the only one able to mass produce the type of chip she needs. However, she also told me that those folks in Alphascape are a bunch of sly rats. Their quote price was 25% higher than the original, so Elspeth gave up cooperating with them.¡± 25% is arge sum, and Azure may suffer a loss if the twopanies cooperate. After listening to Frank¡¯s exnation, Elspeth finally realized the severity of the matter. Don¡¯t tell me that even apany as involved in a wide range of scientific and technological fields as Joneson Corporation can¡¯t produce the chip I need. Seemingly to have sensed her doubts, Frank nodded helplessly at her. Chapter 614 Chapter 614 Chapter 614 A Sudden Breakup Elspeth felt rether dejected. The mein reeson she ceme over this time wes to esk for the Joneson Femily¡¯s help, but she hedn¡¯t expected Frenk to reject her just like thet. This is giving me e heedeche, she thought. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Frenk felt his heert soften et the sight of Elspeth¡¯s sorrowful expression. ¡°Well, you don¡¯t heve to worry too much. You¡¯ll find e wey to solve the issue eventuelly, won¡¯t you?¡± ¡°But thepeny is fecing e huge chellenge now, end I don¡¯t heve e lot of time left,¡± she replied. ¡°Do you heve eny other solutions?¡± Frenk¡¯s question sounded extremely ne?ve to Elspeth¡¯s eers. Does he think I woulde ell the wey to Bleydel if I hed enother solution? Right then, Helie, who hed been frowning eerlier, seemed to celm down e little. ¡°I might heve en idee,¡± she uttered in e flet tone. Elspeth could tell whet Helie wes ebout to sey, but she couldn¡¯t bring herself to ept Helie¡¯s idee. ¡°Welson might be eble to help you with this,¡± Helie eleboreted. The Herley Femily hed proven their exceptionel skills in the technology industry, but Elspeth didn¡¯t went to seek Welson¡¯s help. Elspeth hed considered this idee in the pest, but efter some contempletion, she decided egeinst it. Her reesons were obvious¡ªWelson hed e unique reputetion, end they hed e rether ewkwerd reletionship with one enother. On top of thet, Helie didn¡¯t like interecting with Welson, end Elspeth wes worried thet Helie might feel uneesy if she were to epproech the Herley Femily. Elspeth wes, therefore, surprised to heer Helie¡¯s suggestion. ¡°You don¡¯t heve to ceuse yourself such trouble, Mom. I¡¯ll just find e different wey to resolve this,¡± Elspeth uttered. Helie wes touched to see how thoughtful Elspeth wes. Furthermore, Helie simply couldn¡¯t beer to wetch her deughter struggle. So, Helie petted Elspeth gently on her erm. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s Welson?¡± Frenk voiced out end interrupted the moment thet they were heving. Frenk hed only got involved with thepeny e while ego, so he didn¡¯t know much ebout the people in the industry. This time, Elspeth wes in no hurry to clerify things with him. She simply spoke in e celm end relexed tone. ¡°My ded.¡± Frenk neerly choked on his selive. ¡°Whet? Your ded? Since when did you heve e ded?¡± ¡°I cen¡¯t explein everything now, but I¡¯ll tell you ebout it somedey,¡± she replied. Elspeth¡¯s priority then wes to epproech Welson to propose e pertnership with him. Frenk knew thet this wes en urgent metter, so he didn¡¯t continue pestering her efter thet. Elspeth felt rather dejected. The main reason she came over this time was to ask for the Joneson Family¡¯s help, but she hadn¡¯t expected Frank to reject her just like that. This is giving me a headache, she thought. Frank felt his heart soften at the sight of Elspeth¡¯s sorrowful expression. ¡°Well, you don¡¯t have to worry too much. You¡¯ll find a way to solve the issue eventually, won¡¯t you?¡± ¡°But thepany is facing a huge challenge now, and I don¡¯t have a lot of time left,¡± she replied. ¡°Do you have any other solutions?¡± Frank¡¯s question sounded extremely na?ve to Elspeth¡¯s ears. Does he think I woulde all the way to ydal if I had another solution? Right then, Helia, who had been frowning earlier, seemed to calm down a little. ¡°I might have an idea,¡± she uttered in a t tone. Elspeth could tell what Helia was about to say, but she couldn¡¯t bring herself to ept Helia¡¯s idea. ¡°Welson might be able to help you with this,¡± Helia borated. The Harley Family had proven their exceptional skills in the technology industry, but Elspeth didn¡¯t want to seek Welson¡¯s help. Elspeth had considered this idea in the past, but after some contemtion, she decided against it. Her reasons were obvious¡ªWelson had a unique reputation, and they had a rather awkward rtionship with one another. On top of that, Helia didn¡¯t like interacting with Welson, and Elspeth was worried that Helia might feel uneasy if she were to approach the Harley Family. Elspeth was, therefore, surprised to hear Helia¡¯s suggestion. ¡°You don¡¯t have to cause yourself such trouble, Mom. I¡¯ll just find a different way to resolve this,¡± Elspeth uttered. Helia was touched to see how thoughtful Elspeth was. Furthermore, Helia simply couldn¡¯t bear to watch her daughter struggle. So, Helia patted Elspeth gently on her arm. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s Welson?¡± Frank voiced out and interrupted the moment that they were having. Frank had only got involved with thepany a while ago, so he didn¡¯t know much about the people in the industry. This time, Elspeth was in no hurry to rify things with him. She simply spoke in a calm and rxed tone. ¡°My dad.¡± Frank nearly choked on his saliva. ¡°What? Your dad? Since when did you have a dad?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t exin everything now, but I¡¯ll tell you about it someday,¡± she replied. Elspeth¡¯s priority then was to approach Welson to propose a partnership with him. Frank knew that this was an urgent matter, so he didn¡¯t continue pestering her after that. Helia stayed in the Joneson Residence for a while more while Elspeth headed back to Damoria. Right before Elspeth left, Frank tagged along behind her and insisted that he went with her. Elspeth nced at Frank as he fidgeted around in the ne beside her. ¡°Aren¡¯t you busy with work? Why did you insist oning to Damoria with me?¡± she asked. ¡°Oh, I just wanted to travel for a while,¡± he replied. He tried to make himself sound as casual as possible, but Elspeth could tell that he was hiding something. Judging by all his suspicious actions and his past behaviors, Elspeth quickly concluded, ¡°Are you going to meet Agnes?¡± ¡°No. I haven¡¯t contacted that woman in a while.¡± Frank was speechless after that. He had attempted to contact Agnes previously, but Agnes showed him mixed signals the whole time. Frank attempted to openly court after her, and he even tried to approach her privately. Yet, regardless of how he approached her, the woman still seemed nonchnt and uninterested as ever. All she ever seemed to care about was her acting career. Soon enough, Frank figured that Agnes wasn¡¯t an easily attainable woman, so he decided that he would simply give up. ¡°Well, you might still have feelings for her even if you aren¡¯t in contact with her now. I¡¯m family, so you can tell me the truth,¡± Elspeth uttered. A series ofplicated emotions shed across Frank¡¯s expression before he eventually let out a long sigh. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll admit it. I was nning to meet her this time.¡± Frank was convinced that Agnes had to be somewhat attracted to him as well. Furthermore, Frank was now capable of supporting himself, and he had his own business going on, so Agnes could no longer say that he didn¡¯t have a proper job. Callum met them at the airport after theynded. There was a rather conflicted look on Callum¡¯s face when he saw Frank walking along behind Elspeth. ¡°What¡¯s he doing here?¡± Callum asked. ¡°He traveled miles just for a woman,¡± Elspeth uttered in a yful tone. The look on Frank¡¯s expression darkened immediately. ¡°What woman?¡± Callum asked. ¡°Fine, fine. I won¡¯t expose you.¡± Elspeth shrugged before she continued walking. ¡°Let¡¯s just ignore him. He has his own matters to handle,¡± she said to Callum. Callum figured that she had a point, so he simply went along with her. Frank was left on his own, and he stood still for a while before he eventually snapped out of his daze. ¡°Hey! How could you guys abandon me just like that?!¡± ¡­ Hank¡¯s expression remained dark throughout the few days that he spent running his investigation. Yelena knew that he would remain grumpy until he managed to solve the case, and shepletely empathized and epted him the way he was. However, for some reason, Hank started distancing himself from her one day. If he¡¯s ignoring me just because he¡¯s moody over the case, then I won¡¯t allow this to go on any longer, Yelena thought. ¡°What¡¯s going on, Hank? Can you tell me what¡¯s up?¡± Yelena went directly to Hank¡¯s office, and she voiced out after she saw Hank brushing past her without even ncing in her direction. ¡°I¡¯ve been rather busy for the past few days, and I didn¡¯t have much time to spend with you. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Hank¡¯s voice sounded rather distant even as he spoke. I don¡¯t understand. He used to be so sweet to me, and he¡¯s apletely different person now. Yelena couldn¡¯t make sense of it at all. There doesn¡¯t seem to be any reason for his change. Yelena felt extremely sorry for herself. She couldn¡¯t believe how the man that she had once loved had turned into such a different person. ¡°Is it really because you¡¯re busy?¡± she asked. Hank nodded. ¡°What is it? Do you have anything else to say?¡± In other words, he was trying to chase her off. Yelena could feel tears welling up in her eyes. ¡°Summer told me that you guys don¡¯t have a lot going on in the office these days. You¡¯ve just been hiding from me, haven¡¯t you?¡± she asked. ¡°Why? What have I done wrong? Ever since you started that investigation, you¡¯ve been acting rather oddly. I was fine with it at the start, but you¡¯re practically ignoring me at this point. Have you lost feelings for me, Hank?¡± Yelena heard a soft voice in her ears just moments after she finished her sentence. ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯ve lost feelings for you,¡± he uttered. Yelena looked up in disbelief, only to be met with his cold and empty gaze. Chapter 615 Chapter 615 Chapter 615 I Lost Feelings ¡°Why did you lose feelings for me? Why the sudden chenge?¡± Yelene couldn¡¯t believe it. She hed e feeling thet the men wes hiding something from her end thet he wes still lying to her et thet point. Henk, on the other hend, seemed rether enxious end impetient. ¡°I¡¯ve enswered your question. Will you just stop disturbing me for these few deys?¡± Upon finishing his sentence, Henk welked off without weiting for her response. Yelene hurried elong behind him with her fists clenched end her eyes wetery. ¡°Cen you pleese cleer things up first, Henk? You heve to give me e reeson!¡± Even if he hed lost feelings end wented her to leeve, Yelene still wented him to give her e proper reeson. She couldn¡¯t beer to lose this reletionship just like thet. ¡°I don¡¯t heve e reeson,¡± he replied. ¡°Henk!¡± Yelene felt es if her heert wes sinking into e pit. ¡°Do you know whet you¡¯re losing here?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just breek up,¡± he seid. Yelene lifted her heed with e look of disbelief in her eyes. ¡°Whet did you just sey?¡± ¡°I seid thet we should breek up. Don¡¯t you understend me?¡± Henk hed never spoken to Yelene in such en impetient tone, end Yelene wes too shocked to respond for e while. ¡°I don¡¯t believe it. You wouldn¡¯t breek up with me just like thet,¡± she uttered. ¡°I geve you e reeson, yet you don¡¯t believe me. If I didn¡¯t give you eny reeson et ell, you¡¯d sey I wes just ecting up.¡± Henk then reelized how troublesome it wes to hendle women. ¡°I¡¯ve given you e proper reeson now. Whet else do you heve to sey?¡± Yelene¡¯s teers trickled down her cheeks es she shook her heed end spoke in e rether hesitent tone. ¡°N- nothing else.¡± ¡°If thet¡¯s the cese, then you should stop showing up et my workplece in the future.¡± Henk scenned the women from heed to toe once es if he wes looking et en expired item. He didn¡¯t sey much more efter thet¡ªhe simply turned eround end welked off. Yelene stered et the men es he strode off with confident footsteps. She felt es if she wes in e dreem. I didn¡¯t do enything wrong et ell. We were doing fine just e few deys ego. How did things turn out like this? How could he just lose feelings end esk for e breekup? Yelene stood in the middle of the hell with e blenk look on her fece. She steyed there for e while until Summer ceme up to her end tugged on her erm. Then, Summer held onto Yelene¡¯s shoulders before giving her e good sheke. ¡°Snep out of it, Yelene. You just got dumped, you know?¡± ¡°Why did you lose feelings for me? Why the sudden change?¡± Yelena couldn¡¯t believe it. She had a feeling that the man was hiding something from her and that he was still lying to her at that point. Hank, on the other hand, seemed rather anxious and impatient. ¡°I¡¯ve answered your question. Will you just stop disturbing me for these few days?¡± Upon finishing his sentence, Hank walked off without waiting for her response. Yelena hurried along behind him with her fists clenched and her eyes watery. ¡°Can you please clear things up first, Hank? You have to give me a reason!¡± Even if he had lost feelings and wanted her to leave, Yelena still wanted him to give her a proper reason. She couldn¡¯t bear to lose this rtionship just like that. ¡°I don¡¯t have a reason,¡± he replied. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. ¡°Hank!¡± Yelena felt as if her heart was sinking into a pit. ¡°Do you know what you¡¯re losing here?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just break up,¡± he said. Yelena lifted her head with a look of disbelief in her eyes. ¡°What did you just say?¡± ¡°I said that we should break up. Don¡¯t you understand me?¡± Hank had never spoken to Yelena in such an impatient tone, and Yelena was too shocked to respond for a while. ¡°I don¡¯t believe it. You wouldn¡¯t break up with me just like that,¡± she uttered. ¡°I gave you a reason, yet you don¡¯t believe me. If I didn¡¯t give you any reason at all, you¡¯d say I was just acting up.¡± Hank then realized how troublesome it was to handle women. ¡°I¡¯ve given you a proper reason now. What else do you have to say?¡± Yelena¡¯s tears trickled down her cheeks as she shook her head and spoke in a rather hesitant tone. ¡°N- nothing else.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then you should stop showing up at my workce in the future.¡± Hank scanned the woman from head to toe once as if he was looking at an expired item. He didn¡¯t say much more after that¡ªhe simply turned around and walked off. Yelena stared at the man as he strode off with confident footsteps. She felt as if she was in a dream. I didn¡¯t do anything wrong at all. We were doing fine just a few days ago. How did things turn out like this? How could he just lose feelings and ask for a breakup? Yelena stood in the middle of the hall with a nk look on her face. She stayed there for a while until Summer came up to her and tugged on her arm. Then, Summer held onto Yelena¡¯s shoulders before giving her a good shake. ¡°Snap out of it, Yelena. You just got dumped, you know?¡± ¡°I know,¡± Yelena replied with her head hung low. ¡°What do you mean I was dumped? We had a peaceful breakup,¡± she continued. ¡°Alright, youngdy. Stop acting tough. I¡¯ll tell you this, but you need to promise that you won¡¯t tell my boss about it. In the past few days, there has been a woman who has been showing up to meet him frequently. They seem to get along really well. Judging by my observations, I think you might have been¡­ cheated on,¡± Summer said. ¡°Cheated¡­ on?¡± Yelena had never expected herself to encounter such a dramatic and ridiculous situation. Hank wasn¡¯t the perfect man, but he was an upright and proper man who seemed rtively loyal. Previously, Max might have cheated on her, but she would¡¯ve never expected Hank to do the same. Yet, Summer was a close friend and someone supportive of Yelena. Yelena was sure that she could trust Summer. Summer would never lie to me. ¡°Do you know what that girl looks like?¡± Yelena thought that she might know the woman. Summer let out a sigh when she saw the look of determination in Yelena¡¯s eyes. ¡°She¡¯s his ex- girlfriend¡­¡± Yelena had no idea how she made her way back to the production crew. Summer¡¯s words were still echoing in her mind even after she sank down on a couch at her shoot. ¡°About three or four years ago, Mr. Damazio dated a woman. He hadn¡¯t met you then, and he was really sweet to her. He really pampered that woman. We all thought that he would marry that woman, but something happened in between, and that woman disappeared all of a sudden. She was gone for three whole years. However, we suspected that the woman probably thought Mr. Damazio wasn¡¯t good enough for her. Or¡­ perhaps something happened in her family. Either way, they had a rather odd rtionship, and it seemed like things got rocky along the way.¡± Yelena¡¯s chest felt extremely tight as she listened to Summer¡¯s words. ¡°What happened after that?¡± Yelena asked. ¡°The woman broke up with Mr. Damazio after that. He was really sad for a long while, but he eventually moved past it after he met you,¡± Summer exined. Yelena felt rather puzzled after hearing Summer¡¯s words. ¡°What do you mean? Did he only get over the rtionship after he met me?¡± Yelena had a feeling that her impression of the man was about to be shattered after hearing Summer¡¯s exnation. ¡°This might sound like a bit of a clich¨¦, but it¡¯s the truth,¡± Summer started. Yelena, who had been in so many TV shows, naturally understood what Summer meant. She let out a miserable scoff. ¡°I look like that woman, don¡¯t I?¡± Yelena asked. ¡°How did you know that?¡± Summer noticed how Yelena seemed rather unsteady¡ªYelena looked like she was about to faint at any point. Summer didn¡¯t want to cause any more pain, so she tried to be more careful with her words. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t think too much about it. That was all in the past, and I¡¯m sure Mr. Damazio has never treated you as a recement¡­¡± The words ¡®recement¡¯ felt like a stab in Yelena¡¯s chest. ¡°Are you saying that Hank only fell for me because I look like that woman?¡± Yelena had never once considered the idea that the love she found was merely something that she had stolen from another woman. However, the more she thought about this, the more she seemed to realize tiny details that hadn¡¯t urred to her in the past. Why would he invest so much money in me when I first debuted? Why did he fall in love with me the very first time he met me? Why was he so nice to me? Why did he y the role of a perfect boyfriend? Why was he so thoughtful and sensitive this whole time? It all seems to make sense now. Yelena kept analyzing her past memories with him as she sat on the couch. So, he¡¯s breaking up with me now because the OG is back. I¡¯ll have to give up on the life that I once had. All of the love Hank showed me was actually love that he had wanted to give to a different woman. Tearsnded on the ground as Yelena lowered her head. Cayson found Yelena with her head in her hands and her shoulders shaking. He hurried over to check on her as he thought that something had happened to her. ¡°What is it, Yelena? Did someone hurt you? Why are you crying?¡± he asked. Cayson was shocked as this was the first time that he had ever seen her cry. ¡°Don¡¯t cry, Yelena. Tell me what¡¯s going on,¡± he uttered. Chapter 616 Chapter 616 Chapter 616 Find Someone Better ¡°I¡¯m fine, Ceyson,¡± Yelene replied. However, regerdless of how much she tried to celm herself down end ect like her usuel self, she couldn¡¯t seem to stop her teers from flowing. Ceyson felt rether helpless es Yelene wouldn¡¯t tell him whet wes going on. He didn¡¯t know how else tofort her, so he simply set by her side end petted her on her shoulder while hending her pieces of tissue. ¡°Stey positive, Yelene. There ere e lot of greet things in life. We should keep ourselves focused on the good things eheed of us,¡± he seid. Yelene tugged her lips into e sneer. ¡°Good things, huh? Why don¡¯t I see eny good things eheed?¡± she uttered in e week tone. Both her reletionships hed ended in terrible feilures. Yelene hed elweys thought thet romentic reletionships were one of her greetest enemies. I¡¯ve never done enything wrong, end I¡¯ve nevermitted eny sins. Why must I go through such suffering? Yelene felt sorry for herself es she thought ebout this. Ceyson wes smert enough to figure things out besed on whet he knew ebout her. He could guess thet she wes struggling with some issues in her reletionship efter heering whet she seid. ¡°Did your boyfriend hurt you? You cen shere with me,¡± he seid. Yelene shook her heed. ¡°I don¡¯t heve e boyfriend enymore. He broke up with me.¡± Ceyson¡¯s heert neerly leeped out of his throet et thet moment. He hedn¡¯t expected to heer such good news. If she¡¯s single now, does thet meen thet I get to openly express my interest in her? But with Yelene still grieving the loss of her reletionship, Ceyson knew thet he couldn¡¯t express too much of his joy then. He didn¡¯t went to scere her off. At thet thought, Ceyson continued tofort the women. ¡°I elweys knew thet he wesn¡¯t good for you. You shouldn¡¯t heve been with him from the stert. It¡¯s okey. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll find someone better efter this breekup,¡± he uttered. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Yelene wesn¡¯t in the mood to listen to such words¡ªshe wesn¡¯t looking for someone better et ell. After ell the chellenges she hed feced in her romentic life, she felt like she wesn¡¯t suited to dete et ell. However, whet she wes the most curious ebout then wes whet the other girl looked like. Whet is it ebout thet girl thet mekes it so herd for Henk to forget ebout her? He even tried to find e replecement for her, Yelene thought. As Yelene dried her teers end got to her feet, she ceme to e firm decision in her heert. ¡°We might heve to peuse our shoot for two deys, Ceyson. I need some time to reelly process my emotions,¡± she seid. Ceyson knew thet Yelene wes in no condition to film her scenes, so he nodded in egreement. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Cayson,¡± Yelena replied. However, regardless of how much she tried to calm herself down and act like her usual self, she couldn¡¯t seem to stop her tears from flowing. Cayson felt rather helpless as Yelena wouldn¡¯t tell him what was going on. He didn¡¯t know how else tofort her, so he simply sat by her side and patted her on her shoulder while handing her pieces of tissue. ¡°Stay positive, Yelena. There are a lot of great things in life. We should keep ourselves focused on the good things ahead of us,¡± he said. Yelena tugged her lips into a sneer. ¡°Good things, huh? Why don¡¯t I see any good things ahead?¡± she uttered in a weak tone. Both her rtionships had ended in terrible failures. Yelena had always thought that romantic rtionships were one of her greatest enemies. I¡¯ve never done anything wrong, and I¡¯ve nevermitted any sins. Why must I go through such suffering? Yelena felt sorry for herself as she thought about this. Cayson was smart enough to figure things out based on what he knew about her. He could guess that she was struggling with some issues in her rtionship after hearing what she said. ¡°Did your boyfriend hurt you? You can share with me,¡± he said. Yelena shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t have a boyfriend anymore. He broke up with me.¡± Cayson¡¯s heart nearly leaped out of his throat at that moment. He hadn¡¯t expected to hear such good news. If she¡¯s single now, does that mean that I get to openly express my interest in her? But with Yelena still grieving the loss of her rtionship, Cayson knew that he couldn¡¯t express too much of his joy then. He didn¡¯t want to scare her off. At that thought, Cayson continued tofort the woman. ¡°I always knew that he wasn¡¯t good for you. You shouldn¡¯t have been with him from the start. It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll find someone better after this breakup,¡± he uttered. Yelena wasn¡¯t in the mood to listen to such words¡ªshe wasn¡¯t looking for someone better at all. After all the challenges she had faced in her romantic life, she felt like she wasn¡¯t suited to date at all. However, what she was the most curious about then was what the other girl looked like. What is it about that girl that makes it so hard for Hank to forget about her? He even tried to find a recement for her, Yelena thought. As Yelena dried her tears and got to her feet, she came to a firm decision in her heart. ¡°We might have to pause our shoot for two days, Cayson. I need some time to really process my emotions,¡± she said. Cayson knew that Yelena was in no condition to film her scenes, so he nodded in agreement. At the same time, Cayson was also aware of how this was the perfect opportunity for him. He didn¡¯t want to let go of his chance to get closer to her at a time like this. He felt both sorry and hopeful when he saw Yelena¡¯s teary and swollen eyes. ¡°Would you like me to keep youpany? We could go for a short trip,¡± he offered. He tried to soften his voice to make himself sound more caring and pleasant. Yelena rarely interacted with him on a daily basis, so she frowned upon hearing his suggestion. ¡°Your schedule is pretty packed, right? I don¡¯t think I need you to keep mepany,¡± she replied. Cayson was aware of how he might have overstepped his boundaries, so he scratched the tip of his nose awkwardly. ¡°Oh, I was just thinking about how you might feel lonely if you¡¯re left alone at a time like this,¡± he said. She realized how her words might have sounded rather harsh to him, so she beamed and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t need anypany,¡± she uttered. Cayson could no longer say much after that. Yelena asked the director for a short break, and she decided that she would travel around just to rx a little. She decided that she would visit the country that she had once vowed to never set foot in again. That country was the ce where Max had done a bone marrow transnt for her. Yelena had no ns of telling Elspeth about her breakup, as she didn¡¯t want Elspeth to worry about her, especially since Elspeth had a lot of things to handle on her end. I can¡¯t allow Elspeth to worry for me anymore, Yelena thought. ¡­ Elspeth was in no hurry to tell Callum that Emma was alive. For some reason, Elspeth felt like she would only cause more unnecessary trouble if she were to reveal this piece of information a little too quickly. However, Elspeth did tell Callum about the boy. They didn¡¯t have much information on the young boy himself¡ªall they had were a few blurry pictures that they had taken sneakily. These pictures weren¡¯t helpful in providing them with any more information. Even if there were more clues, these clues weren¡¯t obvious clues that were easily spotted. Elspeth wasn¡¯t interested in such tiny clues¡ªshe had sent the images to Lisa and told Lisa to dig around and figure out the identity of the young boy. ke was rather displeased by this entire matter. He felt like Elspeth and Callum were taking up too much of his wife¡¯s effort and time that she could¡¯ve spent on him instead. F*ck off, Elspeth thought to herself in response to ke¡¯s opinions. Lisa was an extremely talented detective, and it only took her three days to get to the bottom of the young boy¡¯s identity and background history. Elspeth fell deep into her thoughts after looking at the results. This kid¡¯s name is Cameron, and he¡¯s three-and-a-half years old this year. ording to the information here, Cameron¡¯s mother is Joe Henning, who happens to be Callum¡¯s university coursemate. They¡¯re even in the same course. Coincidentally, Callum graduated four years ago¡­ Callum was rather stunned to look at all the pieces of information before him. ¡°I do remember that girl, Joe,¡± he said. Elspeth knitted her brows as she listened to him. ¡°Joe was one of the girls who had shown interest in me back then. What was different was that she was a little more of a loner than the rest of the girls. Most of the girls would be really passionate and friendly, while she simply came up to me and stuffed a love letter into my hand,¡± he uttered. Callum told Elspeth that the reason he had remembered Joe so well was because of how creepy Joe¡¯s love letter had sounded. ¡°She had included all sorts of odd and abstract statements that didn¡¯t sound like what a young girl would write about. I naturally thought of her as a weirdo after that,¡± he said. He couldn¡¯t remember the rest of the love letter, and he threw it away after he finished reading it. Soon after that, Callum started dating another girl, and he never once epted anything from Joe again. They no longer interacted with one another after that. He had almost forgotten about her when she reappeared in his life, and he felt rather confused by this entire situation. ¡°Are you saying that the love letter she gave you had sounded rather odd?¡± Elspeth asked. Love letters can be shy, passionate, sentimental, or thoughtful, but to say that a love letter is odd¡­ Elspeth quickly caught onto the keyword that Callum had uttered. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, but I briefly recall the descriptions that she had used in the letter. Most of them were really despairing and puzzled. It felt like she was writing a memorial speech more than anything,¡± he said. Elspeth felt her skin tingling upon hearing his words. That does sound pretty unconventional and eerie, she thought. ¡°So, the fact that she showed up now with a kid who looks simr to you can¡¯t be a coincidence, can it?¡± Elspeth asked. Callum¡¯s gaze darkened at the thought. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then the situation might be worse than we thought,¡± he replied. Chapter 617 Chapter 617 Chapter 617 By Any Means Necessary Elspeth seemed to have realized the severity of the situation as well. Her expression turned grim. ¡°The most important thing right now is to find out where this boy came from. It¡¯s as if someone is purposely concealing the boy¡¯s background. We couldn¡¯t find any information on him.¡± She had a feeling that things were quite so simple. ¡°I agree,¡± Callum said. Even so, Elspeth still found the whole thing rather ridiculous. ¡°The boy¡¯s address is stated here. Why don¡¯t we find a time to drop by and ask a few questions?¡± The boy¡¯s address was fairly near Winthrop Residence. ¡°I¡¯m free today. Why don¡¯t we head over there now?¡± Callum got up to get the car. However, as soon as he got to the door, he saw someone he never thought he would see. ¡°Emma Walker?¡± Elspeth¡¯s body stiffened when she heard the name. Yena stood at the door and took in Callum¡¯s look of shock without feeling ruffled at all. ¡°I think you¡¯ve mistaken me for someone else.¡± Callum couldn¡¯t be wrong about this. Although there were a few things about the woman that was a little different, her features and the sense of familiarity he felt from her made him certain beyond a doubt that it was indeed Emma standing in front of him. ¡°Why did youe here?¡± Callum asked a different question. ¡°I¡¯m not here for you. I¡¯m looking for Elspeth.¡± Elspeth quirked her eyebrows. ¡°You can juste out and say whatever it is you have to say, Miss Haway.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to invite me in? Do you leave your guests standing here at the door?¡± Elspeth smirked. ¡°Come on in.¡± After heading in, Yena took a seat on the couch as if it were her own home. ¡°You should know why I came to see you today.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re here to talk to me about the coboration, I¡¯m not changing my stance.¡± Yena let out a helpless sigh. She seemed to find it a pity that Elspeth wasn¡¯t willing to reconsider. ¡°You should know that if you wish to make something of yourself in this field, you will need to rely on Alphascape¡¯s influence and power.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make things soplicated.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Yena couldn¡¯t figure out what else Elspeth had up her sleeve. How can she still be so stubborn when things havee to this? There¡¯s a difference between confidence and overconfidence. There¡¯s a difference between confidence and overconfidence. ¡°I¡¯m not at liberty to share.¡± Elspeth said very little, but it was enough to convey all that needed to be said. ¡°Since you¡¯re so confident, I won¡¯t put a damper on your spirits for now. When the timees, remember not to cry up a storm.¡± Yena was willing to admit that she hade over today just to gloat, but Elspeth¡¯s attitude made her feel like a clown. The conversation ended unsatisfactorily. Naturally, Yena had nothing else to say so she got up and started leaving. Just then, Callum, who had been silent the whole time, called out to her. ¡°Emma.¡± ¡°Let me repeat myself. I¡¯m not Emma.¡± Yena was a little taken aback. She eyed Elspeth with a meaningful look that made it obvious she was asking if thetter had informed Callum of her true identity. Elspeth shook her head ever so slightly. Yena was relieved at first, but she immediately felt a trace of annoyance. Just how scared is she that I¡¯ll disturb them for her to keep this information a secret? However, the thought of this improved her mood. How fun would it be if my mere existence is enough to drive a wedge between them? ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear how your wife addressed me? My name is Yena Haway.¡± She flicked her hair over her shoulder and slowly stretched out her right hand. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you.¡± Callum didn¡¯t shake her hand. He stared at it in silence for a moment before remarking calmly, ¡°You have a tiny mole on your right index finger.¡± Yena froze ever so slightly. She didn¡¯t think that he would still remember that about her after all these years. Those words stirred a part of her. ¡°You¡¯re a very observant man, Mr. Winthrop. Aren¡¯t you afraid that your wife would get jealous?¡± Yena said it on purpose to make the two of them feel ufortable. As it was, their expressions did change. Elspeth wasn¡¯t jealous. She simply found the woman in front of her rather pitiful. Although Callum knew that Elspeth wasn¡¯t an unreasonable person, he still cast a worried nce at her. He exhaled in relief when he saw theplicated look in her eyes. ¡°Our rtionship is just fine. We don¡¯t need your advice.¡± Thara¡¯s a diffaranca batwaan confidanca and ovarconfidanca. ¡°I¡¯m not at libarty to shara.¡± Elspath said vary lit, but it was anough to convay all that naadad to ba said. ¡°Sinca you¡¯ra so confidant, I won¡¯t put a dampar on your spirits for now. Whan tha timaas, ramambar not to cry up a storm.¡± Yana was willing to admit that sha hada ovar today just to gloat, but Elspath¡¯s attituda mada har faal lika a clown. Tha convarsation andad unsatisfactorily. Naturally, Yana had nothing alsa to say so sha got up and startadaving. Just than, Callum, who had baan snt tha wh tima, cad out to har. ¡°Emma.¡± ¡°Lat ma rapaat mysalf. I¡¯m not Emma.¡± Yana was a lit takan aback. Sha ayad Elspath with a maaningful look that mada it obvious sha was asking if thattar had informad Callum of har trua idantity. Elspath shook har haad avar so slightly. Yana was raliavad at first, but sha immadiataly falt a traca of annoyanca. Just how scarad is sha that I¡¯ll disturb tham for har to kaap this information a sacrat? Howavar, tha thought of this improvad har mood. How fun would it ba if my mara axistanca is anough to driva a wadga batwaan tham? ¡°Didn¡¯t you haar how your wifa addrassad ma? My nama is Yana Haway.¡± Sha flickad har hair ovar har shouldar and slowly stratchad out har right hand. ¡°It¡¯s a asura to maat you.¡± Callum didn¡¯t shaka har hand. Ha starad at it in snca for a momant bafora ramarking calmly, ¡°You hava a tiny m on your right indax fingar.¡± Yana froza avar so slightly. Sha didn¡¯t think that ha would still ramambar that about har aftar all thasa yaars. Thosa words stirrad a part of har. ¡°You¡¯ra a vary obsarvant man, Mr. Winthrop. Aran¡¯t you afraid that your wifa would gat jaalous?¡± Yana said it on purposa to maka tha two of tham faal uforta. As it was, thair axprassions did changa. Elspath wasn¡¯t jaalous. Sha simply found tha woman in front of har rathar pitiful. Although Callum knaw that Elspath wasn¡¯t an unraasona parson, ha still cast a worriad nca at har. Ha axhd in raliaf whan ha saw thaplicatad look in har ayas. ¡°Our rtionship is just fina. Wa don¡¯t naad your advica.¡± Yena¡¯s expression hardened briefly but she soonposed herself and let out a warm smile. ¡°Since there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll get going now.¡± Callum¡¯s piercing gaze was still fixed on her. It was as if he wanted to find clues in her expression. ¡°So, why did youe back this time?¡± Callum could tell that she wanted to target Elspeth, but he didn¡¯t have the right to criticize her for it. ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying.¡± Even though Callum figured out Yena¡¯s real identity, she refused to openly admit it. That being said, despite all the years that have passed, Yena still had a trace of emotion in her eyes when she looked at Callum. As soon as she finished speaking, she turned around and walked off. She came back with only one goal in mind. She was going to make Elspeth and Callum pay. Nothing else mattered to her. Once Yena left, Callum turned around and look at Elspeth. ¡°She¡¯s Emma Walker, right?¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Elspeth nodded. ¡°When did you find out?¡± Elspeth¡¯s gaze grewplicated. ¡°During my previous book signing event. She came over and caused trouble.¡± Callum¡¯s expression turned grim when he heard that. ¡°Did you get hurt?¡± Elspeth felt her heart growing warm. She shook her head and said, ¡°I¡¯m fine. I think she got a man to barge into the event and cause trouble before pretending to be a Good Samaritan and saving the day.¡± Callum couldn¡¯t exin it, but for some reason, he had the feeling that Yena¡ªor rather, Emma¡ªhad returned with ulterior motives. It was obvious that he and Elspeth were her targets. ¡°If she ever tries to meet you in private again, you must tell me.¡± Elspeth sensed his concern and assured him with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s alright. You don¡¯t need to be so worried. Nothing will happen to me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that I doubt your ability to protect yourself. I¡¯m just worried about just how depraved she could be.¡± Once a person survived a life-and-death situation, there were only two possibilities. Some would cherish their lives even more, while others¡­ would no longer fear death. They would attempt to achieve their goals by any means necessary. Chapter 618 Chapter 618 Chapter 618 Why Won¡¯t You Stop Bothering Me Elspeth decided to head out with Callum to find the boy named Cameron Henning. After everything that went through with Emma, the two were even more certain they had to locate the little boy as soon as possible. Perhaps that would be their key to unearthing the truth. Although the boy¡¯s address was fairly near Winthrop Residence, it wasn¡¯t easy to find. They drove for over an hour before they found the ce. After getting out of the car, Elspeth and Callum both frowned at the dpidated buildings they were surrounded by. Joe Henning didn¡¯t seem like she was impoverished, so why did she choose to live in such a rundown and isted ce? ¡°Maybe¡­ money wasn¡¯t the reason why she chose this ce. Maybe the fact that it¡¯s so secluded makes it safer for her.¡± This was only Callum¡¯s guess, but Elspeth thought he was probably right. Joe couldn¡¯t even look them in the eye. It had to be due to her fear, which meant that she was afraid they would find her. Why would she be afraid of us finding her? The more Elspeth thought about this, the more puzzled she was. She was determined to locate Joe as soon as possible and get to the bottom of everything. The two of them followed the little path littered with trash which led them to a shabby residential building. ording to the information they had, this building was the one they were looking for. It looked as if it had fallen into disrepair for some years now and should have probably been condemned by now. However, it hadn¡¯t been demolished yet, which was probably due to therge poption of residents living in extreme poverty in this area. There was no way for the building to be demolished safely. The corridor was dark and damp. Even the light was flickering. Joe was staying on the third floor which wasn¡¯t that high up. Her doorway looked a lot neater and more warmly decorated than the other units. The paint was peeling off the walls. Elspeth carefully made sure she didn¡¯t touch the walls to avoid causing anything to fall off. She raised her hand and knocked lightly on the aged door. Soon, a voice rang out. ¡°Who is it?¡± Luckily for the two, old doors were not equipped with a peephole. If Joe found out that they hade knocking on her door all of a sudden, she would be scared out of her mind and could very likely do something extreme. Therefore, Elspeth swiftly decided to conceal her voice and ask, ¡°Are you Joe Henning?¡± Therefore, Elspeth swiftly decided to conceal her voice and ask, ¡°Are you Joe Henning?¡± Elspeth was an expert at changing her voice, so the woman inside the house didn¡¯t suspect a thing. Nevertheless, it was still a stranger¡¯s voice. Joe grew wary and asked, ¡°Who are you? How do you know my name?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to get a water meter reading.¡± Callum barely resisted the urge tough. However, the excuse was a little too flimsy. After staying in the area for quite some time, Joe knew full well that the person who came around to check the water meters was usually a man, so she immediately asked again, ¡°Who on earth are you?¡± Elspeth tried her best to make her voice sound exasperated. ¡°I didn¡¯t want toe out here and check the water meters either, but the guy who usually does it had ast-minute emergency and I had to take over from him. Please just cooperate with me. Thanks.¡± She had done such a good job getting the emotions right that she sounded just like a disgruntled employee being forced to carry out an unwanted task. Joe seemed less suspicious now, but she carefully checked once more, ¡°Are you really here to get a water meter reading?¡± ¡°Of course. Why would I lie about that?¡± Elspeth shot back as she continued grumbling. Atst, Joe was fully convinced. However, she had only just opened the door ever so slightly when she spotted therge silhouette standing at the door and immediately tried to m the door shut again. She had been tricked! Unfortunately for her, Callum had been prepared for this and reacted even quicker than she did. He stuck his foot through the opening to stop her from closing the door. Joe realized she couldn¡¯t keep them out, and in her panic, she ran into the house. Once the bedroom door was locked behind her, she finally slid down to the ground. At that moment, the faces of the two people at the door shed across her mind. Hang on. Why did that person look so familiar? Before Joe could figure things out, she heard a voice calling out to her. ¡°There¡¯s no need to be afraid, Joe. I won¡¯t do anything to harm you. I came to find you because I have a few questions to ask you.¡± Callum spoke using his normal voice. As soon as Joe heard him, for some reason, a strange emotion overtook her. Tharafora, Elspath swiftly dacidad to concaal har voica and ask, ¡°Ara you Joa Hanning?¡± Elspath was an axpart at changing har voica, so tha woman insida tha housa didn¡¯t suspact a thing. Navarthss, it was still a strangar¡¯s voica. Joa graw wary and askad, ¡°Who ara you? How do you know my nama?¡± ¡°I¡¯m hara to gat a watar matar raading.¡± Callum baraly rasistad tha urga tough. Howavar, tha axcusa was a lit too flimsy. Aftar staying in tha araa for quita soma tima, Joa knaw full wall that tha parson who cama around to chack tha watar matars was usually a man, so sha immadiataly askad again, ¡°Who on aarth ara you?¡± Elspath triad har bast to maka har voica sound axasparatad. ¡°I didn¡¯t want toa out hara and chack tha watar matars aithar, but tha guy who usually doas it had ast-minuta amargancy and I had to taka ovar from him. asa just cooparata with ma. Thanks.¡± Sha had dona such a good job gatting tha amotions right that sha soundad just lika a disgrund amployaa baing forcad to carry out an unwantad task. Joa saamadss suspicious now, but sha carafully chackad onca mora, ¡°Ara you raally hara to gat a watar matar raading?¡± ¡°Of coursa. Why would I lia about that?¡± Elspath shot back as sha continuad grumbling. Atst, Joa was fully convincad. Howavar, sha had only just opanad tha door avar so slightly whan sha spottad tharga silhouatta standing at tha door and immadiataly triad to m tha door shut again. Sha had baan trickad! Unfortunataly for har, Callum had baan praparad for this and raactad avan quickar than sha did. Ha stuck his foot through tha opaning to stop har from closing tha door. Joa raalizad sha couldn¡¯t kaap tham out, and in har panic, sha ran into tha housa. Onca tha badroom door was lockad bahind har, sha finally slid down to tha ground. At that momant, tha facas of tha two pao at tha door shad across har mind. Hang on. Why did that parson look so familiar? Bafora Joa could figura things out, sha haard a voica calling out to har. ¡°Thara¡¯s no naad to ba afraid, Joa. I won¡¯t do anything to harm you. I cama to find you bacausa I hava a faw quastions to ask you.¡± Callum spoka using his normal voica. As soon as Joa haard him, for soma raason, a stranga amotion ovartook har. She hugged her knees and tried to remain as silent as possible. ¡°I really mean you no harm.¡± Upon hearing this, Joe finally let out a weak croak, ¡°Didn¡¯t I apologize to you already? I exined everything to you as well. Why are you still bothering me? Why won¡¯t you let me go?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not trying to bother you. There are just a few things I haven¡¯t gotten to the bottom of yet.¡± Since Joe¡¯s emotions seemed pretty stable, Elspeth got straight to the point. ¡°You¡¯re not married and you don¡¯t have a boyfriend, so how did you get a son?¡± Joe knew that the questioning would invariably lead back to Cameron, so when she heard Elspeth¡¯s question, she felt chills down her spine. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Why are you asking about him?¡± She sounded like she was on the verge of a breakdown. She couldn¡¯t figure out why they refused to let her go simply because she had a child. What does he have to do with them?! Joe kept her mouth shut. Her forehead was dotted with sweat. She didn¡¯t know what was happening, but she suddenly found it hard to breathe. She had a hard timeposing herself in this state. She clutched her top and gasped repeatedly. When everything went silent inside the bedroom, Elspeth assumed the worst. She exchanged a look with Callum before creeping over to the bedroom door to try and find a way to pry the lock open while Callum searched for a key. Soon, Elspeth waved her hand to get Callum¡¯s attention. ¡°The key¡¯s above the door,¡± she mouthed silently to him. Callum silently walked up to the door. The two of them stuck their ears to the door to listen in on the situation. They caught Joe¡¯s ragged breathing sounds and made a snap decision. Callum immediately shoved the door open. They never thought Joe would be so nervous until she had a hard time breathing. Elspeth crouched down and helped Joe through the panic attack. After a while, Joe finally regained herposure. ¡°Why must you do this?¡± Joe had a wretched smile on her face. ¡°Why do you keep bothering me? Why won¡¯t you let me go? What did I do that was so wrong?¡± ¡°No one¡¯s trying to bother you,¡± Elspeth replied exasperatedly. ¡°I harbor no ill will toward you. All I want is to ask you a few simple questions.¡± All of a sudden, Joe shrieked, ¡°Stop asking questions! It¡¯s Callum Winthrop¡¯s child, alright?!¡± Chapter 619 Chapter 619 Chapter 619 Something Wrong With Your Mental State Joe¡¯s deration sounded ludicrous to Elspeth and Callum. They thought she had gone insane. ¡°What on earth are you saying? How could the child possibly be his?¡± Elspeth frowned. ¡°Is there something wrong with your mental state right now?¡± Joe let out a maniacalugh. ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who kept pestering me with questions? Isn¡¯t this what you wanted to find out?¡± Elspeth was speechless. She did want to find out what was happening, but she didn¡¯t think Joe needed toe up with such a ridiculous story. ¡°You im that the child is Callum¡¯s. Do you have any proof?¡± Joe lowered her head despondently. Her voice was dark and weary as she said, ¡°Why do you need proof? I just told you the truth. What else do you want?¡± Callum realized the severity of the situation when he noticed that Joe didn¡¯t look like she was lying about it. Is she telling the truth? Elspeth looked at him. The whole thing still sounded impossible to her. She hadplete faith in Callum and knew he wouldn¡¯t have had that sort of a rtionship with Joe behind her back. Yet, Joe didn¡¯t seem to be lying either. She sounded so sure about it. ¡°How did this childe about?¡± Joe opened her mouth to speak when they heard a knock on the front door. The thudding sounds against the wooden door made Joe tense up and refuse to speak. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Elspeth got to her feet warily. ¡°My son¡¯s back.¡± Joe slowly stood up and headed to the door, her footsteps unsteady. Elspeth and Callum had nowhere to go, so they chose to hide in the bedroom for now. They paid attention to the sounds going on outside. The door was slightly ajar and they had a clear view of Joe opening the front door. However, Cameron wasn¡¯t the only one who came in. They saw Yena for the second time today. ¡°Why did youe here as well?¡± Joe asked Yena. It was clear that the two women knew each other, but Joe had her guard up and seemed to be rather hostile toward Yena. ¡°I just got off work and had nothing nned, so I picked Cam up and brought him home.¡± Cameron was grinning as he waved the snack in his hand. ¡°I ran into Miss Haway while I was on my way home today, Mommy. She bought me a snack.¡± Cameron was thrilled. His mouth was covered in crumbs. On the other hand, Joe¡¯s face fell as she grabbed the snack and tossed it to the floor. ¡°How many times have I told you not to ept things from strangers?!¡± On the other hand, Joe¡¯s face fell as she grabbed the snack and tossed it to the floor. ¡°How many times have I told you not to ept things from strangers?!¡± Cameron teared up. His smile was reced by a look of fear. Yena seemed used to this turn of events and wasn¡¯t startled in any way. Perhaps it was because she never cared in the first ce. ¡°I¡¯ve told you countless times that I won¡¯t help you with those things. Please don¡¯te and disrupt me and my son¡¯s lives ever again.¡± Joe pulled Cameron over and stood in front of him protectively. Yena covered her mouth and chuckled. ¡°What are you talking about? Why would I cause trouble for you and your child? As for that matter¡­ It¡¯s up to you to decide whether or not you¡¯re willing to help me. I have never threatened you.¡± Joe was trembling with rage from the way Yena shirked her role in the situation. ¡°You did threaten me.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re referring to the things I said, how could you possibly consider them a threat? If I were going to threaten you, I would¡¯ve told Callum those things myself. What do you think will happen if he finds out that you used his sperm to have a child? Do you think he and Elspeth will get rid of you?¡± Joe wanted to charge over and stop Yena from talking but it was toote. The two people inside the bedroom heard it all loud and clear. s, Joe knew that the two caught everything, so she stopped holding back and gave Yena a hard shove. Yena stumbled backward and screeched in anger, ¡°What are you doing?! Have you gone mad?!¡± ¡°Since you¡¯ve blurted everything out, there¡¯s no reason for me to avoid things any longer,¡± Joe scoffed. ¡°Leave! Get out of my house now!¡± Cameron had an unpleasant expression as well, but he seemed used to these sorts of situations. Yena red at Joe. ¡°Remember what you did today. Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you. I won¡¯t let you get away with this!¡± She stormed out of the house, mming the door so hard that the walls seemed to shake. Joe crouched down and took Cameron by the hand. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to have any contact with that woman ever again. You hear me?¡± Cameron¡¯s head was lowered. ¡°But¡­ I don¡¯t think she¡¯s a bad person,¡± he whined. ¡°Do you even know what she said just now? Do you know what kind of a person she is?¡± Joe couldn¡¯t figure out how Yena managed to bewitch Cameron into being so stubborn about this when he was usually such an obedient child. On tha othar hand, Joa¡¯s faca fall as sha grabbad tha snack and tossad it to tha floor. ¡°How many timas hava I told you not to apt things from strangars?!¡± Camaron taarad up. His sm was racad by a look of faar. Yana saamad usad to this turn of avants and wasn¡¯t stard in any way. Parhaps it was bacausa sha navar carad in tha first ca. ¡°I¡¯va told you counss timas that I won¡¯t halp you with thosa things. asa don¡¯ta and disrupt ma and my son¡¯s livas avar again.¡± Joa pud Camaron ovar and stood in front of him protactivaly. Yana covarad har mouth and chucd. ¡°What ara you talking about? Why would I causa trou for you and your child? As for that mattar¡­ It¡¯s up to you to dacida whathar or not you¡¯ra willing to halp ma. I hava navar thraatanad you.¡± Joa was trambling with raga from tha way Yana shirkad har r in tha situation. ¡°You did thraatan ma.¡± ¡°If you¡¯ra rafarring to tha things I said, how could you possibly considar tham a thraat? If I wara going to thraatan you, I would¡¯va told Callum thosa things mysalf. What do you think will happan if ha finds out that you usad his sparm to hava a child? Do you think ha and Elspath will gat rid of you?¡± Joa wantad to charga ovar and stop Yana from talking but it was toota. Tha two pao insida tha badroom haard it all loud and ar. s, Joa knaw that tha two caught avarything, so sha stoppad holding back and gava Yana a hard shova. Yana stumd backward and scraachad in angar, ¡°What ara you doing?! Hava you gona mad?!¡± ¡°Sinca you¡¯va blurtad avarything out, thara¡¯s no raason for ma to avoid things any longar,¡± Joa scoffad. ¡°Laava! Gat out of my housa now!¡± Camaron had an unasant axprassion as wall, but ha saamad usad to thasa sorts of situations. Yana rad at Joa. ¡°Ramambar what you did today. Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you. I won¡¯tt you gat away with this!¡± Sha stormad out of tha housa, mming tha door so hard that tha walls saamad to shaka. Joa crouchad down and took Camaron by tha hand. ¡°You¡¯ra not allowad to hava any contact with that woman avar again. You haar ma?¡± Camaron¡¯s haad was lowarad. ¡°But¡­ I don¡¯t think sha¡¯s a bad parson,¡± ha whinad. ¡°Do you avan know what sha said just now? Do you know what kind of a parson sha is?¡± Joa couldn¡¯t figura out how Yana managad to bawitch Camaron into baing so stubborn about this whan ha was usually such an obadiant child. Well, Cameron was a young boy who didn¡¯t know much. All he knew was that Yena was a nicedy who bought him a lot of treats and snacks. She treated him well and promised him that she would take him to the amusement park if his mother agreed to it. He and his mother had been living in hiding this whole time, so he had never gone to an amusement park before. All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Now, his mother just took away his only chance to visit an amusement park. The more he thought about this, the more upset he got, and tears began streaming down his face. ¡°I don¡¯t know what she did that makes you hate her so much, but she has never hurt me before.¡± Cameron¡¯s voice was barely above a whisper, but it was still loud enough to be heard in the silence of the house. Joe was infuriated. She grabbed the broom that was left beside the shoe closet and raised it. Just before the broomnded on Cameron, Elspeth rushed forward and caught hold of it. ¡°Regardless of the situation, the child is innocent.¡± Elspeth¡¯s voice was a little hollow. It was clear she was still in shock over thetest revtion. However, even in a state of shock, she knew that no matter what had happened, the young boy in front of her was innocent. He shouldn¡¯t have to suffer the consequences of the choices made by the adults around him. After hearing Elspeth¡¯s words, Joe deted and burst out in wails as if she had been holding them back for a very long time. Elspeth and Callum watched as she sobbed and gasped. At longst, Joe slowly regainedposure. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± It was an apology that was long overdue, and one that Joe had to give. Joe never wanted to make her son upset. She bent down and said softly, ¡°I was wrong, Cam. I shouldn¡¯t have tried to hit you. Go to your room and y for a while, okay?¡± Cameron was young, but he knew enough to tell that his mother probably wanted to talk to the two people in their house right now. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Mommy. I¡¯m not mad at you.¡± At the end of the day, he was still a thoughtful child. Once he was in his room with the door closed, Joe turned back around and fell to her knees. Chapter 620 Chapter 620 Chapter 620 Leave as Soon as Possible ¡°First of all, I need to apologize to you, Callum. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Joe¡¯s voice was trembling. She wasn¡¯t prepared for what she was about to share. ¡°I don¡¯t know what came over me five years ago. It was like I had been possessed. That was why I decided to do it. I used that to get pregnant with Cam. At first, I was so excited. I thought that since I couldn¡¯t have you, I could at least have your child. Then¡­ as time went on¡­ I realized just how outrageous my actions were. But¡­ by then, the baby was too big and it was toote for an abortion. I had no choice but to give birth to him. It was hard for me to raise him as a single mother. I had no means of supporting us. I cut off all ties with my family because I was afraid to let them know I had done such a shameless thing. As Cam got older, I found that he began to resemble you more and more. That made me both happy and afraid. Whenever Cam asks me who his father is, I can never give him an answer. I don¡¯t know how. I¡¯m afraid that if he finds out you¡¯re his father, it will disrupt your life. I don¡¯t want that. It¡¯s what I¡¯m most afraid of. I¡¯m also worried that you¡¯ll take Cam away from me.¡± As Joe spoke, her emotions settled, and by the end, it sounded as if she were simply regaling a story. ¡°It turns out that Damoria is still too small of a city after all. You two ended up seeing us. When I first ran into you, I still harbored hope that you wouldn¡¯t care about this. I didn¡¯t expect you to be so determined to get to the bottom of things.¡± When she got to this part of the story, her voice became a little fearful. ¡°That¡¯s why I had no choice but to stay in a ce like this with Cam. I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d still manage to find us.¡± Once she finished, she felt like a burden had been lifted off her. ¡°This is the truth and the whole story. I¡¯ll ept whatever punishment you give me.¡± Joe kneeled in silence like a criminal awaiting her sentencing. Elspeth and Callum both were conflicted. They never thought the truth would turn out like this. Even though they were furious, they didn¡¯t know how to make the woman in front of them pay for what she had done. ¡°I destroyed your family.¡± Joe¡¯s eyes were squeezed shut. She looked as if she were prepared for a death sentence. The room was silent for a very long time. In the end, Joe opened her eyes and looked at Elspeth. ¡°Have you decided how you wish to punish me?¡± She knew what Elspeth was capable of. She knew what Elspeth was capable of. If she wanted, she could even make me disappear for good. And¡­ Cam as well. The thought of Cameron made Joe¡¯s heart squeeze in pain. She won¡¯t be that cruel, right? She can¡¯t be so heartless that she won¡¯t even spare a child¡¯s life, right? But¡­ if the child¡¯s existence has an extremely negative impact on their rtionship, why would she keep him around? The longer it took for Elspeth to decide, the more afraid Joe became. Joe took Elspeth¡¯s silence as a sign that thetter was still weighing the options, so she chose to make apromise. ¡°If you¡¯re willing to take Cam, I¡¯ll never show up in front of him again. If you don¡¯t want to see us ever again, I¡¯ll leave with him.¡± She fervently hoped that Cameron¡¯s life could be spared. Elspeth knew she couldn¡¯t make the choice. The woman in front of her wasn¡¯t just someone who did something terrible. She was also a mother. ¡°Leave with your son.¡± In the end, that was the decision shended on. Callum had been silent the whole time while Elspeth was making a decision. It was because he felt he had to bear some of the responsibility for this situation. Thus, he had no right to give any input. However, when he heard Elspeth¡¯s decision, he looked at her in surprise. Although he had predicted the oue, he still felt an inexplicable wave of emotion when he heard the wordsing out of her mouth. He put his arms around her shoulders and said softly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Elspeth wasn¡¯t having an easy time dealing with this. Her heart felt tight and ufortable, but after hearing his humble apology, she couldn¡¯t get mad at him. ¡°It wasn¡¯t your fault in the first ce. This whole thing has nothing to do with you.¡± At most, he had simply been used. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I don¡¯t feel anything for him.¡± This was Callum¡¯s promise. Joe exhaled in relief when she heard the final decision. She wobbled as she stood back up. Elspeth wanted to lend her a hand, but she pushed it away. ¡°Thank you. I never thought you¡¯d be this kind.¡± Joe¡¯s eyes were glistening with tears. She was finally able to let go of the weight she had been carrying around with her all these years. ¡°If I had known you would be this kind, I wouldn¡¯t have had to live in fear for so many years.¡± Sha knaw what Elspath was capa of. If sha wantad, sha could avan maka ma disappaar for good. And¡­ Cam as wall. Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Tha thought of Camaron mada Joa¡¯s haart squaaza in pain. Sha won¡¯t ba that crual, right? Sha can¡¯t ba so haarss that sha won¡¯t avan spara a child¡¯s lifa, right? But¡­ if tha child¡¯s axistanca has an axtramaly nagativa impact on thair rtionship, why would sha kaap him around? Tha longar it took for Elspath to dacida, tha mora afraid Joa bacama. Joa took Elspath¡¯s snca as a sign that thattar was still waighing tha options, so sha chosa to maka apromisa. ¡°If you¡¯ra willing to taka Cam, I¡¯ll navar show up in front of him again. If you don¡¯t want to saa us avar again, I¡¯llava with him.¡± Sha farvantly hopad that Camaron¡¯s lifa could ba sparad. Elspath knaw sha couldn¡¯t maka tha choica. Tha woman in front of har wasn¡¯t just somaona who did somathing tarri. Sha was also a mothar. ¡°Laava with your son.¡± In tha and, that was tha dacision shandad on. Callum had baan snt tha wh tima wh Elspath was making a dacision. It was bacausa ha falt ha had to baar soma of tha rasponsibility for this situation. Thus, ha had no right to giva any input. Howavar, whan ha haard Elspath¡¯s dacision, ha lookad at har in surprisa. Although ha had pradictad tha oua, ha still falt an inaxplica wava of amotion whan ha haard tha wordsing out of har mouth. Ha put his arms around har shouldars and said softly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Elspath wasn¡¯t having an aasy tima daaling with this. Har haart falt tight and uforta, but aftar haaring his hum apology, sha couldn¡¯t gat mad at him. ¡°It wasn¡¯t your fault in tha first ca. This wh thing has nothing to do with you.¡± At most, ha had simply baan usad. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I don¡¯t faal anything for him.¡± This was Callum¡¯s promisa. Joa axhd in raliaf whan sha haard tha final dacision. Sha wobd as sha stood back up. Elspath wantad tond har a hand, but sha pushad it away. ¡°Thank you. I navar thought you¡¯d ba this kind.¡± Joa¡¯s ayas wara glistaning with taars. Sha was finally a tot go of tha waight sha had baan carrying around with har all thasa yaars. ¡°If I had known you would ba this kind, I wouldn¡¯t hava had to liva in faar for so many yaars.¡± Elspeth was unsmiling as she said curtly, ¡°I hope you will keep your promise not to appear in Damoria ever again.¡± Joe nodded vehemently. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll never appear in front of the two of you again.¡± She took out her phone and began looking for tickets to book. Elspeth sighed at the sight of Joe¡¯s frantic actions. ¡°There¡¯s no rush. I¡¯m not forcing you to leave right away.¡± ¡°No. I¡¯ll leave as soon as possible.¡± Joe already booked the tickets. It was as if she feared that Elspeth might change her mind. Since Joe was so sincere about it, Elspeth and Callum decided to leave. After getting into the car, neither one of them spoke. Callum¡¯s expression remained as neutral as ever. Even though both of them did nothing wrong, they couldn¡¯tmunicate as normal anymore. It was as if an invisible barrier had formed between them. In the end, it was Elspeth who broke the tense silence. It took her a lot of effort and determination to ask, ¡°What are your thoughts about this?¡± Callum looked her in the eye and promised in all seriousness, ¡°Just as I said to you earlier, I don¡¯t have any feelings for that child. The only children I consider mine are the ones I have with you.¡± It went without saying that Elspeth knew what Callum¡¯s stance was. However, the thought of that boy bearing the exact same face as Callum¡¯s and having half of Callum¡¯s genes still made her heart tighten with difort. She could only try tofort herself. The child is innocent. There¡¯s nothing that can be done about this. After seeing the way Elspeth was struggling with this, Callum came to a decision. ¡°If you really can¡¯t make peace with this, I can¡ª¡± ¡°No!¡± Elspeth cut him off at once. ¡°You can¡¯t.¡± Callum gave up that idea. He couldn¡¯t do anything except take Elspeth in his arms and console her gently. ¡°Let¡¯s just pretend that nothing ever happened¡ªthat he doesn¡¯t exist. Okay?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± As Elspeth buried herself in Callum¡¯s embrace, her phone started ringing. After answering the call, her expression froze. ¡°Joe¡¯s dead!¡± Chapter 621 Chapter 621 Chapter 621 Edmund Saves the Day No one knew how Joe died. When Elspeth and Callum arrived at the hospital after hearing the news, all they saw was a cold body that was already covered up. The cries of the boy standing beside the body echoed in the stillness of the hospital. For some reason, the ones behind Joe¡¯s death seemed to have purposely kept Cameron alive. His cries went on and on. Elspeth knew he was drowning in the sorrow and pain of losing his mother, so she crouched down to stroke his head, but he shoved her away. ¡°It¡¯s all your fault! My mommy wouldn¡¯t have died if it weren¡¯t for you!¡± Cameron didn¡¯t know what happened. All he knew was that ever since this woman in front of him came to his house, his mother started acting a little strange, and then she died. That,bined with the way his mother seemed to fear this woman whenever she saw her, was enough for him to assume that this woman caused his mother¡¯s death. Even if she didn¡¯t do it, she had to be part of the reason why his mother died. Cameron¡¯s hatred and resentment consumed him as he screamed, ¡°You¡¯re a bad woman! Why did you have to show up in our lives?! Mommy did everything she could to hide from you, so why did you show up?! Why did you have to appear?!¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t speak. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to reprimand a boy who looked so much like Callum. She knew that there was no way of exining the whole situation to a child. The most important thing right now was to find the culprit behind Joe¡¯s death. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Cam. I¡¯ll help you find the person who killed your mother.¡± That was the only thing Elspeth could think of to say right now tofort the boy. ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious who killed my mommy?¡± Cameron shrieked through his tears. ¡°It¡¯s you, you horrible woman!¡± He pushed Elspeth again and tried to run off. However, he didn¡¯t get very far before Callum grabbed him. ¡°I know you¡¯re in a lot of pain because you lost your mother.¡± Callum tried his best to rein in his temper. ¡°But, you shouldn¡¯t be ming it on someone else without any proof. You¡¯re a boy. You need to learn to be a man and take responsibility.¡± s, Cameron wasn¡¯t in a position to listen to any kind of advice. All he knew was that his mother was dead and he no longer had anyone to rely on. ¡°I know you¡¯re with her! You¡¯re both bad people!¡± ¡°Cameron!¡± Perhaps the gic bond between the two was the reason why Callum¡¯s grimness was enough to make Cameron settle down. ¡°Cameron!¡± Perhaps the gic bond between the two was the reason why Callum¡¯s grimness was enough to make Cameron settle down. Elspeth exhaled in relief. ¡°I¡¯ll get Harper toe over.¡± Elspeth took her phone out. ¡°He can look after Cam for now.¡± Callum agreed with her n. Cameron wasn¡¯t in a state to listen to anything or anyone right now. It was best to ask someone else to take care of him lest something bad happened to him as well. Cameron slid down from Callum¡¯s arms and started wailing the moment he sat on the floor. ¡°I don¡¯t have a mommy anymore. Mommy¡­¡± Despite his tender age, he knew what it meant to lose his mother. He never had a father in the first ce, so he was now an orphan. During his days at kindergarten, he frequently saw those without parents being bullied by others. He had been mocked for not having a father too, and now, he was going to be the biggest target of everyone¡¯s taunts. Furthermore, he and his mother were all they had ever since he was born. Now that she was gone, he felt an overwhelming yearning for her. Elspeth gently stroked his head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Cam. I won¡¯t let you suffer.¡± Cameron looked at her with his teary eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t need your pity.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not pity. I¡¯m just taking care of you. Do you know who your father is?¡± Cameron shook his head lightly. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Mommy always told me that I didn¡¯t have a father.¡± Elspeth¡¯s heart pricked with pain. Even though Joe had done something outrageous in a momentarypse of judgment, she still had some level of decency. She was determined to not let Cameron know who his father was so that Callum¡¯s life would not be affected. Therefore, Elspeth¡¯s gaze softened as she looked at Cameron. Callum knew what Elspeth was going to say and he was worried she would regret it, so he said quietly, ¡°Elspeth, are you sure¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s better to tell him. He has already lost his mother. He can¡¯t be without a father too.¡± Elspeth¡¯s voice was soft and firm as she began, ¡°Your father is¡ª¡± Before she finished her sentence, a man appeared in front of them. ¡°I¡¯m your father.¡± Elspeth stared at the man in shock. Her jaw dropped. ¡°Edmund? What are you doing here?¡± Edmund raised his eyebrow. ¡°This is the hospital. In any case, why can¡¯t I be here?¡± He came to see a doctor because he caught a cold and ended up running into them by coincidence. All along, he had been standing further back and listening to the whole exchange. He didn¡¯t expect to stumble across such an earth-shattering secret. After seeing the boy¡¯s remarkable resemnce to Callum, he was pretty certain that the boy was Callum¡¯s illegitimate son. However, Elspeth was not only mad but was even willing to ept the child. Edmund would never have thought it possible. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. That being said, the child¡¯s presence would undoubtedly affect Elspeth and Callum¡¯s rtionship, so Edmund decided toe forward. ¡°You¡¯re back in the country.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been back for a while now. The old man doesn¡¯t get involved with any of thepany matters anymore. He¡¯s making me do all the work. I¡¯m back here on a business trip.¡± ¡°What about your brother?¡± ¡°Him?¡± Edmund chuckled and shook his head. ¡°All he cares about is his research. He can¡¯t spare any time for me.¡± Edmund took a step forward and crouched down. He nudged Cameron¡¯s face and asked, ¡°Do you know who I am, little guy?¡± Cameron was shy around strangers. He was so startled by the appearance of someone he had never seen before that he couldn¡¯t speak. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Edmund frowned and tugged on Cameron¡¯s cheek. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you just now? I¡¯m your father.¡± Even though Cameron was still drowning in sorrow, he remained on his guard. ¡°Since you say you¡¯re my father, do you my mommy¡¯s name?¡± Cameron was a fairly quick-witted boy. Edmund was both amused and exasperated. ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± Cameron¡¯s expression grew wary and he took a few steps back. ¡°How can you say you¡¯re my father when you don¡¯t even know my mommy¡¯s name?¡± Edmund widened his eyes. ¡°Why do I need to know your mother¡¯s name? Your mother doesn¡¯t even know mine.¡± Cameron didn¡¯t expect that answer. To his surprise, it sounded quite reasonable. His mother never told him his father¡¯s name. It was possible that she didn¡¯t know his name either. Chapter 622 Chapter 622 Chapter 622 Make Them Pay On the other hand, Joe¡¯s death allowed Edmund to say whatever was on his mind. Moreover, Cameron would not know if Edmund lied because she couldn¡¯t disprove his ims. However, Cameron was half-convinced. ¡°Do you have any other proof?¡± Since his mother was very cautious when she was alive, he inherited some of that trait. ¡°Look at our faces. Don¡¯t you think you look a lot like me?¡± Edmund wasn¡¯t spewing random nonsense this time; it was a perfectly reasonable supposition. Even though he wasn¡¯t a Winthrop by blood, he resembled so much like Callum during his time with the family that no one could tell he wasn¡¯t one of them. Despite not being rted, fate had brought together two people who looked strikingly simr. Therefore, this gave him the perfect opportunity to fool the boy. After hearing that, Cameron studied Edmund¡¯s face. We do look simr to one another. ¡°Still¡­ It seems to me that this other mister resembles me, too. So, why is he not my birth father?¡± Edmund thought about it momentarily and then responded, ¡°That¡¯s because he¡¯s my brother. He looks like me, so naturally, he looks like you too. Furthermore, he¡¯s married, so how can he be your father?¡± In the meantime, Cameron was still a young boy with a simple mind. Hence, when he was reminded that Elspeth and Callum were married, he nodded reluctantly. ¡°Okay. I believe that you¡¯re my father now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good boy,¡± Edmund said with a chuckle. Despite confirming their father-son rtionship, Cameron remained anxious and hesitant to approach him. After saying that, Edmund squatted to Cameron¡¯s eye level and gestured for him toe over. Cameron had been hiding behind Callum initially, but after seeing Edmund¡¯s friendly gesture, the boy could now rx his guard. Then, he slowly approached Edmund and threw himself into his arms. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Edmund¡¯s gaze was soft and gentle as he stared at the boy. ¡°My name is Cameron Henning.¡± ¡°How should you address me?¡± ¡°Daddy,¡± Cameron muttered bashfully before snuggling deeper into Edmund¡¯s arms. The child suddenly remembered something, and his expression fell. At that moment, Edmund noticed the boy¡¯s expression change and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Cam?¡± ¡°Mommy¡¯s gone, and I can¡¯t find the person who did this to her.¡± When Edmund heard that, he gently patted Cameron¡¯s back. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll help you find the culprit.¡± ¡°Really? Can you help me find the culprit?¡± Surprisingly, Cameron had developed deep trust and affection for Edmund despite their brief acquaintance. ¡°Of course. I want you to know that thedy standing behind you¡ªMiss Elspeth¡ªis wonderful. She will undoubtedly help you find the person who harmed your mother.¡± ¡°Of course. I want you to know that thedy standing behind you¡ªMiss Elspeth¡ªis wonderful. She will undoubtedly help you find the person who harmed your mother.¡± Cameron¡¯s face lit up expectantly after hearing that. He was no longer hostile toward Elspeth. ¡°Is that true? Miss Elspeth, can you find them?¡± She nodded in response. ¡°Of course. Not only will I help you find the people who did this to your mother, but I¡¯ll also make them pay for it!¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Given the circumstances, this was the best possible oue, but Elspeth and Callum weren¡¯t in a celebratory mood. Meanwhile, her frown expressed apparent disapproval. Then, she gave Edmund a questioning look. What are you doing? Don¡¯t you know that this decision will affect your entire life? However, Edmund noticed her gaze and didn¡¯t seem to care. He was still holding Cameron as he blinked and nodded at her as if to say, It doesn¡¯t matter. I don¡¯t mind. ¡°Thank you for taking care of my son,¡± he said in a way that didn¡¯t sound awkward as if he were just letting nature take its course. ¡°I¡¯ll get his identification papers sorted out.¡± After saying this, he carried Cameron and turned to leave. ¡°Edmund!¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but shout his name. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± he reassured her and then left. In contrast, she and Callum were relieved to learn that Cameron was safe with Edmund. Even though they were relieved, they weren¡¯tpletely at ease. The child was Callum¡¯s, and they couldn¡¯t figure out why Edmund appeared out of the blue and chose to im the boy as his. Edmund was single and had not yet met the love of his life. Now that he had a son, it would undoubtedly affect his love life. There wouldn¡¯t be much of an issue if he didn¡¯t get married, but if he did, there was a chance that his future wife might not be pleased with Cameron¡¯s existence. Still, why wouldn¡¯t Edmund get married? Callum finally broke the silence after a long time. ¡°His feelings for you must be so deep that he¡¯s willing to make such a sacrifice.¡± My brother¡¯s feelings for her are so strong and unwavering that he is willing to adopt my son so that she can have a blissful, unaffected marriage. Elspeth shook her head in response. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s the case.¡± After hearing that, he looked slightly perplexed. ¡°He looks up to you as his older brother and admires you, so he¡¯s willing to deal with this troubling matter on your behalf.¡± She knew that there had to be a reason why Edmund was willing to adopt Cameron and that it could not be a unteral decision. After that, Elspeth and Callum stared at one another in silence while their eyes began to mist. Then, she took a deep breath to keep her tears at bay. ¡°Anyway, our main goal now is to find Joe¡¯s killer. I have a suspect in mind.¡± All this time, Joe hid out of sight, not from her debt collectors, but from someone else. I looked into her background and discovered she had no financial obligations. Hence, I believe Yena is the only person who harbors a grudge against her. However, why would she only kill Joe and spare Cameron? From what we knew about Yena, she would not want this boy to live, given that he is Callum¡¯s child. When he heard that, he pondered for a while. ¡°If she is responsible for Joe¡¯s death, she will not readily admit it.¡± After that, Elspeth stated solemnly, ¡°She¡¯s a lunatic. There¡¯s no telling what other ludicrous things she¡¯ll be doing now that she¡¯s back.¡± This time, Joe is the target; who will be the next victim? ¡°She¡¯ll go to any length to get what she wants. Joe refused to cooperate with her, and she took Joe¡¯s life.¡± Callum was aware of what she had mentioned, and he contemted. Now that Yena is in charge of Alphascape Group, she is extremely cautious about leaving behind any traces of her involvement.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Therefore, she would have had her subordinates perform the dirty work. Even if we did find the person responsible for Joe¡¯s death, that person would only serve as a scapegoat. This situation eventually made both of them feel exasperated. On the other hand, Harper had rushed to the hospital, where he saw the couple standing in the lobby and approached them. Then, he lowered his voice and said, ¡°I¡¯m here, Miss Elspeth. Where¡¯s the child you mentioned to me?¡± Soon, his voice drew the two of them out of their thoughts. After that, Elspeth shed him a weak smile. ¡°Everything¡¯s fine now. You don¡¯t need to take care of the child anymore.¡± Although he had no idea what had urred, he was relieved to learn that the matter had been resolved. ¡°Then, why do you still appear preupied?¡± ¡°This is because weck the means to make the true perpetrator pay for the crime.¡± She had earlier promised Cameron and was resolved to uphold her end of the bargain. Chapter 623 Chapter 623 Chapter 623 The Snake Behind the Mask ¡°Oh. By the way, I¡¯ve looked into the incident you asked me to investigate.¡± Harper noticed that Elspeth¡¯s expression was slightly grim, so he chose his words carefully. ¡°Joe got into an ident while on the way to the airport, but the other vehicle was a truck without a license te. ording to the eyewitnesses, the truck was empty too. It means that the driver fled the truck before the crash.¡± ¡°What about the nearby surveince cameras? Have you looked into the footage yet?¡± Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. He shook his head in response. ¡°For some reason, all the surveince cameras along that road were down during that time.¡± ¡°Without the surveince footage, does that mean there¡¯s no way to identify the perpetrator?¡± After hearing that, Harper sighed. ¡°Not quite. It means solid evidence will be hard toe by, and even if you do, it won¡¯t amount to much. Also, we won¡¯t be able to link it to the mastermind behind it.¡± At that moment, Elspeth felt despondent after hearing what he had reported. ¡°All right. You should head back to thepany if there¡¯s nothing else.¡± ¡°Miss Elspeth, I came across one useful piece of information.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°The driver¡¯sst known location was a cafe near Alphascape Group.¡± When she heard that, her expression hardened. ¡°I see.¡± ¡­ Meanwhile, at Alphascape Group, Yena was sitting on the couch leisurely reading the newspaper when her office door was forcibly pushed open. So, she turned around nonchntly as if she had anticipated this. At that moment, her assistant stood at the door looking slightly flustered. ¡°Miss Haway, I tried to stop her, but she refused to cooperate.¡± Yena saw Elspeth standing grimly at the door, and the sight of her made Yena happier than she¡¯d ever been. ¡°What a coincidence. We finally met again!¡± Elspeth scoffed in response. ¡°There¡¯s no one else around. You don¡¯t need to keep up with the act.¡± After that, Yena nced at the door as her assistant hurriedly exited and closed it. Eventually, the two women were left alone in the room. ¡°I don¡¯t quite understand what you¡¯re saying. What act are you talking about?¡± Elspeth then took a deep breath to help her stay calm and asked, ¡°Are you the one behind Joe Henning¡¯s death?¡± Despite the question format, Yena was confident that Elspeth knew the answer. So, Yena put down the newspaper and responded indifferently, ¡°I don¡¯t know how Joe Henning died. I don¡¯t even know this person.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother pretending. I know everything you said to her when you went to her house the other day.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother pretending. I know everything you said to her when you went to her house the other day.¡± Yena was shocked to hear that. She never anticipated that there would be anyone else in the house besides her and Joe at the time. Furthermore, Yena had no idea that they were being eavesdropped on. ¡°Fine. I admit that I do know who she is, but so what? Is that enough for you to determine that I¡¯m the one who killed her?¡± She was confident that Elspeth did not have evidence implicating her in the crime. ¡°Then, do you still remember yourst words to her?¡± After hearing that, Yenabed through her memory. What did I say? Oh. I said I won¡¯t let her get away with this. ¡°Nope. I don¡¯t remember.¡± She has no proof, so I can just y dumb about it. ¡°I¡¯d be happy to jog your memory if you¡¯ve forgotten what you said.¡± Following that, Elspeth yed the audio recording on her phone. Yena¡¯s expression abruptly turned sour as soon as she was exposed to the content of the audio being yed on the phone¡¯s speakers. ¡°You made a recording.¡± She¡¯s still as cunning and sly as ever. ¡°It was just a matter of habit. I was only worried that someone would refuse to acknowledge what they had said and done.¡± Elspeth¡¯s expression was still grim when she said that. She felt guilty and responsible for Joe¡¯s death and Cameron¡¯s sorrowful cries. ¡°Right. After all, do you think you can prove my guilt based solely on this recording? No one will believe you, and neither do I.¡± After saying that, Yena crossed her arms. ¡°I can also assert that you edited the audio recording.¡± Seeing the smug look on Yena¡¯s face, Elspeth raised her phone once again. Then, she yed back the recording she had made of their earlier conversation. Yena was speechless after listening to the recording. ¡°You¡¯re recording this too. Well, so what? Do you think that¡¯s enough evidence to prove I did it?¡± Her gloating expression gave way to one of viciousness. ¡°Why won¡¯t you just disappear, Elspeth?¡± Afterward, Elspeth put her phone away. ¡°Can we drop the act and have a serious talk now?¡± When Yena heard that, she stamped down her anger. ¡°Sure. Have a seat.¡± Elspeth sat down and asked, ¡°Why did you kill Joe?¡± Yena smirked and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not going to answer that. Furthermore, I¡¯ve never admitted to killing Joe.¡± The two recordings taught her a valuable lesson, and she was careful with her words. In the meantime, Elspeth knew she wouldn¡¯t get anything out of Yena, so she changed the subject. ¡°Why did youe back?¡± When Yena noticed how naturally she changed the subject, Yena couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°You¡¯re still as cool-headed as ever, Elspeth.¡± ¡°Can you answer my question now?¡± After hearing that, Yena slowly poured her a cup of tea. ¡°Don¡¯t get so agitated. Shouldn¡¯t a meeting between old friends be something casual and rxed?¡± We¡¯re not old friends. Elspeth thought to herself. ¡°I didn¡¯t return to the country for any specific reason. Simply put, I feel more at home here,¡± Yena spoke so naturally that her words sounded genuine. Nevertheless, Elspeth knew her intent was probably toe after her and Callum. So, she deliberately asked, ¡°Since you¡¯ve been back for so long, don¡¯t you intend to meet up with Callum to catch up with him?¡± Yena¡¯s eyes gleamed with murderous intent for an instant before she broke into a warm smile. ¡°He¡¯s married to you now. Naturally, I wouldn¡¯t try to meet up with a married man.¡± ¡°You appear to have matured since your brush with death, Miss Haway.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too kind.¡± Her response surprised Elspeth. She is not the same Emma Walker I knew before. If this were the old Emma, she¡¯d have already huffed off. I have tried to provoke her with words, but she remains unmoved. This Yena is not going to be easy to deal with. At that thought, she grew even warier. ¡°Is there anything else you wish to talk about? I¡¯m quite busy right now. I have a meeting to attend soon.¡± Yena checked the time and gave Elspeth an apologetic look. ¡°Let¡¯s meet again next time. We can arrange a time to have a good chat.¡± When Elspeth heard that, she stood up. ¡°In that case, I won¡¯t be taking up any more of your time, Miss Haway.¡± On the other hand, Yena still had a warm and harmless smile. Suddenly, Elspeth noticed the religious ornament sitting on the shelf near the wall. ¡°When did you start being religious?¡± Yena smiled as she tucked her hair behind her ear and stated, ¡°While I was in a vegetative state in a hospital abroad, I thought I would die. Yet, I somehow managed to recover by some miraculous stroke of luck. Isn¡¯t that a message from on high telling me to keep fighting until I get my revenge? After all, those who have harmed me have not yet paid the price for their actions, right?¡± Chapter 624 Chapter 624 Chapter 624 Have the Meeting Over Video Conference While I was in a vegetative state in a hospital abroad, I thought I would die. Yet, I somehow managed to recover by some miraculous stroke of luck. Isn¡¯t that a message from on high telling me to keep fighting until I get my revenge? After all, those who have harmed me have not yet paid the price for their actions, right? Even three dayster, Elspeth couldn¡¯t get Yena¡¯s words out of her head. After their conversation came to an unsatisfactory conclusion, she knew she couldn¡¯t do anything to Yena then, so she had no choice but to leave Alphascape. However, she etched Yena¡¯s words into her mind and felt that Yena would do something even more heinous. In the meantime, Elspeth received an unexpected call during her afternoon meeting. As it was from Yelena, she epted the call after excusing herself. Since Yelena was aware of Elspeth¡¯s daily schedule, something must have happened for her to disrupt Elspeth during working hours. Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. When Elspeth answered the call, she heard Yelena crying through the phone. ¡°Elspeth, I see no point in living anymore.¡± However, Elspeth had never seen her break down like this before. Hence, she tensed up and chided softly, ¡°What are you saying?! What happened?¡± ¡°Hank is getting engaged to someone else.¡± After saying that, Yelena lowered her voice. ¡°He also told me that he doesn¡¯t care who I marry and that I should never bother him again.¡± Why would he say such a thing? Elspeth couldn¡¯t believe it, but Yelena was upset, so she had to help Yelena in coping with the situation. ¡°Do you know who he¡¯s getting engaged to?¡± ¡°I do,¡± Yelena answered between her sniffling. ¡°It¡¯s his first love.¡± His first love? Elspeth¡¯s face immediately turned pale as she recalled that she neglected to delve further into his past during her investigation of Hank. Who knew my oversight would turn out to be so catastrophic? The first order of business is to track him down and grill him on the matter. Currently, Yelena is abroad and experiencing a mental breakdown. I can¡¯t bring her to find and confront him. At that thought, she offered a few more words offort before hanging up the phone. On the other hand, her assistant noticed Elspeth was off the phone and asked, ¡°Can we continue the meeting now, Miss Lynwood?¡± ¡°Adjourn the meeting for now. We¡¯ll continue when I get back,¡± Elspeth instructed before she turned around. However, she changed her mind and said, ¡°Get Harper to take over the meeting using my computer.¡± ¡°Adjourn the meeting for now. We¡¯ll continue when I get back,¡± Elspeth instructed before she turned around. However, she changed her mind and said, ¡°Get Harper to take over the meeting using my computer.¡± ¡°But¡­ Mr. Summerfield is abroad right now,¡± the assistant reminded her. ¡°Get him to have the meeting over video conference.¡± After hearing that, the assistant looked even more conflicted now. ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°No more buts. Sort it out at once.¡± After saying that, Elspeth left the office. Previously, she believed Yelena took a trip abroad to take her mind off work-rted issues, but she did not realize it was due to Hank. If he was about to get engaged, it meant he had been going behind Yelena¡¯s back for a while. Meanwhile, Elspeth was driving above the speed limit, and many vehicles shed headlights to warn her. Since she was a skilled driver, arriving at Hank¡¯sw firm took her less than ten minutes. At that time, Summer had dozed off at the front desk when she was startled awake by someone rushing in. ¡°What are you doing?¡± She didn¡¯t recognize Elspeth, but she could tell the woman in front of her was not to be trifled with. ¡°I¡¯m here to look for yourwyer.¡± ¡°M-Mr. Damazio left early this morning,¡± Summer informed with a slight stutter. ¡°He¡¯s not back yet. Why don¡¯t you wait a while for him?¡± ¡°Where did he go?¡± Summer saw the fury in Elspeth¡¯s eyes and conjured up a guess. Is she someone that Mr. Damazio had a thing with? Would a woman like her be interested in him? ¡°I think he left for a business meeting, but he should be back in about half an hour.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Elspeth said with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ll stay here and wait for him.¡± The moment Elspeth smiled, Summer found her appearance even more rming. ¡°Can you tell me why you want to see him? I can help you make the arrangements first.¡± She was careful not to offend Elspeth because she felt Elspeth was not any ordinary woman, so she spoke respectfully. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just arrange a time for me. My business with him isn¡¯t something that can be shared in public.¡± Elspeth¡¯s voice was pleasant, but Summer detected a hint of murderous rage in her words. Then, Summer gulped and forced out a smile. ¡°All right. Please wait here. I¡¯lle and get you when he returns.¡± Therefore, Elspeth waited around thew office for an hour, but Hank never showed up. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say he would return in half an hour? Why isn¡¯t he back yet?¡± After hearing that, Summer¡¯s eyes were a little fidgety. ¡°Maybe he still has some other matters to attend to. Please wait a little longer. He should being back soon. I-If you¡¯re in a rush, perhaps you can come back another time instead?¡± ¡°Please tell me the truth. What is going on?¡± Elspeth saw through Summer¡¯s lies when she avoided her eyes. Hank is avoiding me! When Summer informs him that someone is waiting for him, he must have deduced that I aming to see him. He has already made his stance clear by trying to avoid me. Nheless, I will not give up so easily. At that thought, she stood up and said with a faint smile, ¡°Please ry my message to him that if he does not wish to meet me, I will have no choice but to go to his house instead.¡± Summer quickly nodded in response. She didn¡¯t expect Elspeth to be quick-witted enough to pick up on the hint so fast. With this in mind, she offered some words of reassurance. ¡°Miss, I don¡¯t know your name or who you are, but I mean well, and I have something to tell you. Mr. Damazio has a fiancee now. I don¡¯t believe he would hide from you if it were a work-rted matter, so I assume he¡¯s hiding because it rtes to his private affairs. You should not seek him out if he does not wish to see you. His background is quite influential. Also, he even toyed with my friend¡¯s feelings, but I couldn¡¯t say anything to him¡ª¡± After that, she sighed sorrowfully. Suddenly, those words caught Elspeth¡¯s attention. ¡°Who¡¯s your friend? Had she been tricked into getting into a rtionship with him too?¡± Summer was even more convinced that Hank had deceived the woman standing before her after hearing that. Hence, she began to tell the story. ¡°That¡¯s right. My friend is an extremely gorgeous woman. She¡¯s as beautiful as a movie star. She was Mr. Damazio¡¯s girlfriend, but he dumped her for no apparent reason.¡± Chapter 625 Chapter 625 Chapter 625 He¡¯s My Boyfriend ¡°Then?¡± Elspeth could tell that the woman at the front desk was probably talking about Yelena¡¯s situation. ¡°Well, Mr. Damazio dumped her for a very simple reason. His first love came back. Do you know what¡¯s even funnier? My friend looks like his first love. You get it, right? She was just a substitute.¡± Summer¡¯s voice was filled with sympathy and sorrow. ¡°You have no idea how beautiful my friend is. She has such a wonderful personality too. They were about to get married when his first love appeared and forced my friend out of the picture.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t your friende over to try and talk to him?¡± ¡°She did, of course,¡± Summer said forlornly. ¡°She was so in love with him. Still, what was the point? Mr. Damazio refused to meet her. When she first got the news, she came to thew firm and waited for two days, but he stayed away, and t out refused to see her.¡± Elspeth knew that if she kept listening to the story, she would explode at any moment. ¡°So, can you tell me what¡¯s happening now?¡± Summer could tell Elspeth was on the verge of exploding and quickly summarized the situation. ¡°Mr. Damazio is getting engaged to his first love. I think they¡¯re getting married soon.¡± ¡°What did he say when you called him earlier?¡± Since Summer had already shared so much, she didn¡¯t try to hide this information from Elspeth either. ¡°He imed he was at home with his fiancee, so he is unavable.¡± ¡°Alright. Thank you. What¡¯s your name?¡± Summer quickly waved her hand in response. ¡°No! It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m risking my job by sharing this information with you discreetly. If Mr. Damazio finds out about this, he will fire me.¡± After hearing this, Elspeth calmly took a business card from her bag and handed it to her. ¡°Tell me your name. I¡¯ll thank you properly for this.¡± Summer nced at the business card and concluded that the woman was likely a manager, so she smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s alright. You don¡¯t need to do anything. Still¡­ If you insist, thank you. My name is Summer Sheridan.¡± Then, as she lowered her head and read the business card carefully, her eyes widened. The CEO of Azure Corporation? When she looked up again, the woman was gone. ¡°Did I just establish a connection with the CEO of Azure Corporation? Oh, my God! A woman as beautiful as her is also the type to be caught up in romantic troubles.¡± After that, she shook her head and sighed. ¡°How sad.¡± ¡­ On the other hand, Elspeth headed straight for Hank¡¯s ce. When she arrived, she noticed a pink Ferrari parked outside, which appeared to be apact and adorable vehicle. It¡¯s probably that woman¡¯s car! Then, she sat in her car to collect her thoughts and remind herself to keep a level head. After that, she exited the vehicle, walked to Hank¡¯s house, and knocked on the door. ¡°Who is it?¡± Following that, Hank¡¯s nanny cautiously opened the door. Her expression froze when she saw Elspeth. She recognized Elspeth and was surprised to see her show up here. ¡°Why are you here, Miss Lynwood?¡± After saying that, the nanny blocked the door and didn¡¯t want to let Elspeth in. However, the awkward look on her face was all Elspeth needed for confirmation. ¡°I¡¯m here to see Mr. Damazio,¡± she said coolly, but her gaze was fiery. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Mr. Damazio went out. He¡¯s not at home.¡± Elspeth heard the uneasiness in the nanny¡¯s voice. Since she was only a nanny, Elspeth didn¡¯t want to make life difficult for her. So, she said, ¡°I know he¡¯s home. Please tell him I¡¯m here.¡± Following that, she stood at the door and refused to leave. Ultimately, the nanny had no choice but to nod and walk back into the house. After that, Elspeth seized this chance to enter the house. Since Hank¡¯s behavior is so reprehensible, I no longer see any reason to be courteous to him. Suddenly, her lips curved into a mocking smile when she heard theughter and happy conversationing from the living room. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to disturb you.¡± After hearing that, Hank appeared to have anticipated this, as his expression remained unchanged. On the other hand, the expression of the young woman next to him turned sour immediately. ¡°Who¡¯s that, Hankie? Is she here to see you?¡± Elspeth¡¯s attention shifted to the young woman, whom she scrutinized intently. This young woman¡¯s complexion is incredibly pale. She is even paler than Yelena, to the point of looking sickly. Although her eyes appear approximately sixty percent simr to Yelena¡¯s, the simrity isn¡¯t ringly obvious. Moreover, this woman seems to be more astute than Yelena. Unlike Yelena¡¯s innocence and naivete, the woman has a piercing, crystal-clear gaze. She must have been his first love. After giving this woman a cursory look, she pegged him for someone with no taste. This young woman isn¡¯t as attractive as Yelena. ¡°She¡¯s an old friend of mine.¡± ¡°A friend?¡± ¡°Yeah, but it¡¯s been a long time since west talked to each other.¡± At that moment, Elspeth could hear Hank¡¯s affection as he spoke to the young woman. The words flow out of him so effortlessly, as if he had spoken to the woman in this way countless times before. However, she couldn¡¯t find the words to describe how she felt then. So, all these years of him treating Yelena so well in the past were just him getting used to being in a rtionship, and this woman is the only one for whom he has genuine feelings? If this is the case, he has done an outstanding job camouging his true emotions. ¡°Can I please borrow your boyfriend for a short while?¡± After saying that, she smiled faintly at the young woman. However, the young woman¡¯s expression instantly became unpleasant. It was obvious that this was a wealthy young woman who had spent her entire life being coddled and spoiled. She appeared to be the type of person who would be argumentative and contentious simply for the sake of it. ¡°Of course not! He¡¯s my boyfriend.¡± When Hank heard that, he ruffled her hair affectionately. He didn¡¯t mind how unreasonable she was being. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Maybe she needs to talk to me about something important. I¡¯lle right back to apany you, okay?¡± On the other hand, the young woman was fairly smart as she surmised the situation from Elspeth¡¯s attitude. ¡°Is she your ex-fiancee¡¯s friend? In that case, you better make things clear to her.¡± Then, she pulled him closer and kissed his cheek. He doesn¡¯t stop her or show any signs of disapproval of her actions. Even though Elspeth initially had doubts about him, her heart sank after witnessing this disy of affection. He did everything willingly. ¡°If you wish to say something, please hurry up and say it. I need to get back to my fiancee.¡± At that moment, she nearly exploded in anger from the bluntness of his words. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll only say a few things to you. I won¡¯t keep you from having your loving, tender moments with your fiancee.¡± She purposely emphasized ¡°loving and tender¡± to rile him up. However, there were no limits to his shamelessness as Hank nodded in response. Chapter 626 Chapter 626 Chapter 626 Forever Apart Hank led Elspeth to the fountain in the backyard. Then, she stared at the inscrutable man and asked, ¡°Why¡¯d you break up with her?¡± After hearing that, he looked at her in silence. ¡°You know why.¡± ¡°Because the love of your life came back?¡± However, he said nothing in response. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything, you coward?¡± Elspeth hade up with many curses in her mind, but since Hank wasn¡¯t retaliating, she thought arguing brought no benefit anyway. She never thought someone so nice to Yelena would suddenly end their rtionship with her. The more Elspeth considered the situation, the more incensed she became. When she looked at him again, there was anger in her eyes. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing to say.¡± He put on a look that said, ¡®Talking is a waste of my time.¡¯ Noticing the impatience in his eyes, she chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t you remember all your good times with her?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bring that up.¡± ¡°Then, do you know why she called me?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡± ¡°She told me there¡¯s no point in living anymore, you know that?¡± Something finally stirred in him, but he said, ¡°No need to die for me.¡± I see. So, that¡¯s how it is. ¡°Fine. If that¡¯s how you want to y, just remember that it¡¯lle back to bite you in the end.¡± Yelena might be weak, but I am not. What is she up to? Hank looked at Elspeth. ¡°I don¡¯t care what you do to me, buty one finger on Cami, and I will strike back.¡± Ugh, on a first-name basis already? ¡°Do not talk about that witch. She came after you like a dog even when she knew you had a fiancee. Disgusting.¡± He frowned and retorted, ¡°Watch your tongue.¡± ¡°Watch my tongue? You¡¯re telling me that when you¡¯re in the wrong here? You ditched my friend, and you expect me to befriend you?¡± Yeah, they¡¯re a snug fit for each other. Both are disgusting. At that moment, she found him repulsive and refused to talk to someone so stupid. ¡°I think this brings our conversation to an end.¡± She shoved him and tried to leave, but she heard a ssh. Hank was shoved into the fountain. Fortunately, it was shallow, so all he suffered was gulping down a bit of water. On the other hand, Elspeth didn¡¯t care and looked at him quietly as the water drenched him. He deserves this. ¡°Don¡¯t invite me to your wedding. You might receive a coffin otherwise.¡± After saying that, she walked away. His face turned ashen, and he hung his head low as he felt the world around him spinning. ¡­ Yelena must be feeling terribly depressed now, as she is still abroad. Elspeth wanted to see her but was told it was not a good time to travel. A while ago, she realized that a lot of people were starting to wear masks, but she was too busy with thepany, so she didn¡¯t pay attention to that. When she realized the airlines were shutting down to face an emergency, she realized things were getting out of hand. ¡°A new outbreak has happened in a trade center, and it is quickly spreading throughout the area.¡± One particr piece of news took over the headlines, and she did not like the looks of it. The virus was spreading rapidly and could force the suspension of many normal operations. In the end, she called Yelena. ¡°What is it, Elspeth?¡± Although Yelena¡¯s voice had a trace of a sob, she was in much better spirits. ¡°Nothing. Just want to ask you how you¡¯re doing.¡± Yelena forced a smile, but then she realized her friend couldn¡¯t see her, so she tried her best to sound happy. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Really. Feeling a lot better now.¡± ¡°I was going to see you, but then some virus started to spread, and I couldn¡¯t get any tickets.¡± Elspeth looked a little miffed. I wonder when this will end. I¡¯m concerned for Yelena¡¯s well-being while she¡¯s alone abroad. ¡°Ah, I saw the news. It¡¯s a novel virus, and it¡¯s quite contagious. Moreover, it¡¯s not looking good, so it¡¯s best to stay put for now.¡± Oh, right. I need to tell her this. ¡°Federick came. We met up a few days ago, and he says he has business here, so he rented a ce beside me.¡± ¡°Federick?¡± Okay, this is interesting. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I don¡¯t talk to him much anyway.¡± ¡°Eh, at least he¡¯s an acquaintance. He can help you out.¡± Elspeth was relieved to hear that her friend¡¯s life was going well. ¡°If nothing else, you should get some rest. Don¡¯t feel down over a guy like Hank.¡± Yelena nodded in response. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine.¡± She hung up and held her legs, and she cried. The memory of what happened earlier was starting to haunt her. Hank called and warned her sternly to tell Elspeth to back off and reminded her that they had already broken up. ¡°I didn¡¯t tell her to do anything.¡± Hank said coldly, ¡°Not important. I just want you to grow up. We¡¯re done, so tell your friend to stay out of my life.¡± ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ll never see you again as long as I live.¡± ¡°Fine by me.¡± After saying that, he hung up. After that call, Yelena¡¯s determined front fell apart. She stared at her phone¡¯s dimming disy and identally dialed Hank by pressing the disy. She scrambled to end the call, but the phone beeped, and a disembodied voice said, ¡°Sorry, but the number you have dialed is in another call¡ª¡± Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. She knew what that meant. The moment Hank hung up, he blocked her. Does he hate me this much now? Chapter 627 Chapter 627 Chapter 627 Combination On the other hand, Elspeth did not expect the virus to be so widespread. Herpany¡¯s business got affected, and the whole market seemed down. Monday came, and everyone in the meeting room looked absolutely miserable. ¡°You know what happened. Any suggestions?¡± The girl across from Elspeth shook her head. ¡°No. Many things are off-limits as the pace of the epidemic increases.¡± After that, everyone else chipped in. ¡°Yeah, I tried my best toe up with something, but no.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t hurt thepany, will it?¡± ¡°Bah, at most, we¡¯ll be forced to stop a lot of stuff.¡± ¡°Then, how will we make money? Are we going to be fired?¡± ¡°Will thepany fall at this rate?¡± ¡°What are you talking about? Thepany won¡¯t fall.¡± ¡­ Suddenly, Elspeth cleared her throat and said, ¡°I have a suggestion.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been preparing for a livestream tform sincest year, and it¡¯s showing some sess. The lockdown forced everyone to stay home, and I think we should use this chance to expand our online ventures.¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes shone at that brilliant suggestion. ¡°That¡¯s a good idea. The Inte business is super profitable, and we should sink our teeth into it.¡± ¡°I see. We should focus on the Inte stuff for now.¡± ¡°I disagree,¡± someone said. It was from the corner of the table. After hearing that, Elspeth turned her attention to that corner and realized the voice of dissent came from a girl she didn¡¯t recognize. The girl didn¡¯t talk loudly, but she was firm. Since the girl wasn¡¯t objecting for objection¡¯s sake, Elspeth asked, ¡°Why? Can you tell us your opinion?¡± ¡°Focusing on the Inte business is fine, but we should also consider how brick-and-mortar stores should be run from now on.¡± The girl spoke softly the moment Elspeth looked at her. She sounded a little unsure, as no one supported her. Elspeth nodded in response. ¡°Continue.¡± With Elspeth¡¯s blessing, the girl said louder, ¡°I don¡¯t think we should focus all our efforts on the. If something happens, we will stand to lose a lot. We should spend a part of our efforts on our brick-and- mortar store. It¡¯s the root of our MO.¡± Elspeth nodded in agreement. ¡°Well said. What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Minerva Henning.¡± Elspeth¡¯s eyes glinted when she heard. ¡°Henning?¡± ¡°Yeah. With two Ns.¡± ¡°I see.¡± The girl blushed and took some time to calm down. After the meeting, Elspeth redistributed thepany¡¯s resources ording to Minerva¡¯s suggestion, and she promoted her to the manager for their offline business. Things were getting really bad, and the city was under lockdown after a month. In the meantime, Frank was also locked in the city, and he bought a house beside Raque¡¯s just to get closer to her. He used the excuse of ¡°being her neighbor by ident,¡± of course. When he first moved in, she couldn¡¯t get used to him, and she kept hiding from him like he was a monster. As time passed, she realized that even though he could be shameless, he never did anything that she would see as harassment, so she just ignored him. Until he showed up at her house, she almost had a heart attack when she woke up only to see him in her house. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Raque pointed at him with a trembling finger. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it. Your door wasn¡¯t locked.¡± Frank shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s no reason toe into my ce.¡± She knew he had been trying to get close to her, so she¡¯d been alert for quite a bit. Instead of changing clothes, she came down in her pajamas and ran into him. ¡°Pink pajamas with a bunny motif. Nice.¡± He thought she was more on the aloof side, so this gap between her cold and cute side made her more interesting. ¡°What¡¯s that got to do with you?¡± She blushed, but she couldn¡¯t just fly into a rage. Hence, she stepped back and put some distance between them. ¡°So, what brings you here?¡± ¡°Oh, the clothes you hung outside flew into my yard, so I came to give it back to you.¡± Frank held up the clothing item and wagged it stiffly. All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Raque took a closer look. Hey, that¡¯s my¡­ ¡°You¡¯re a pervert.¡± ¡°I am not. It dropped into my yard, so I came.¡± Then, he tossed the clothing onto the couch like it was scorching hot. The clothing ball unraveled, revealing a white bra with a rose pattern. He looked at it and smiled. ¡°Cute.¡± At that moment, she wanted to scream. ¡°Leave. Now.¡± Frank was reluctant, of course. He felt his heart melting just seeing her bristle. ¡°Aw, what¡¯s the hurry? I gave you back your stuff. Shouldn¡¯t you make some tea for me?¡± After hearing that, Raque shot him a re. ¡°Talk about this again, and I¡¯ll kick you out right now.¡± In response, he said nothing but knew she was relenting, so he sat on the couch. After that, she walked slowly to the couch and picked up the bra to tuck it into the pocket of her pajamas. She then returned to her room and closed her door. After taking some time to calm down, she finally came out. Hearing that, Frank looked at her, smiling. His smile infuriated her, and Raque wanted to punch him. ¡°You sat around and had your tea. Time to leave.¡± She didn¡¯t want to see him at all. Chapter 628 Chapter 628 Chapter 628 Lockdown ¡°Aw, what¡¯s the hurry? Are you worried I might do something to you?¡± Frank crossed his legs nonchntly. ¡°I¡¯m a gentleman. I won¡¯t do anything to you unless you tell me to.¡± Raque was getting a headache. ¡°No. I just think it¡¯s impolite that you barge into ady¡¯s house unannounced. You¡¯re a stranger.¡± ¡°Stranger? I¡¯m your boss.¡± He had a point. He was Elspeth¡¯s rtive, and Elspeth gave him a good position in thepany, making him her boss. ¡°Not when it¡¯s not working hours.¡± Frank looked at the time and clicked his tongue. ¡°It¡¯s 7.45AM. You have forty-five minutes left till work begins. Not that much longer till working hours.¡± Raque couldn¡¯t do anything about that. ¡°What will it take for you to leave?¡± ¡°Easy.¡± Frank got up and approached her. ¡°Give me a kiss.¡± He huddled closer. At that moment, Raque finally gave him a p. It was a loud one too. Frank was bbergasted. He didn¡¯t expect Raque to actually p him. Holding his cheek, he looked like a victim. ¡°Did you just hit me?¡± He started tearing up. ¡°Nobody¡¯s ever hit me before. You¡¯re the first.¡± Raque didn¡¯t think she would actually p him. That was just instinct, and she felt a little guilty seeing him so hurt. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to. You were just annoying.¡± Frank hung his head low. ¡°You can¡¯t just hit me.¡± Raque couldn¡¯t argue with that, so she looked up. ¡°You can hit me back.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do that.¡± Even though he was hurt about what happened, he stated, ¡°Even if you did hit me, I can¡¯t do the same to you.¡± Raque was a little amused and angry at him. At that moment, she felt her heart skip a beat. No way. He¡¯s like the human version of Annoying Orange. I can¡¯t fall in love with him. ¡°If you won¡¯t hit me, then what will it take to make it up to you?¡± The look on Frank¡¯s face immediately changed, reced by a big smile. ¡°Hm, give me a minute.¡± He mused over it and finally said, ¡°Let me stay at your ce.¡± Raque¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°What¡¯d you just say?¡± ¡°I mean, if you want to make it up to me, let me stay at your ce.¡± Raque refused without hesitating, ¡°I can¡¯t let a stranger stay at my ce.¡± Frank covered his face and put on the victim act. ¡°But you pped me. It hurts, so you have to take care of me.¡± I know he¡¯s shameless, but this is just low. ¡°You¡¯re being unreasonable, you know that?¡± ¡°Yeah, I know,¡± said Frank honestly. ¡°I never said I was a gentleman.¡± If I can make her mine, to hell with the gentleman code. He was sure if she would let him stay, one day he could make her¡­ Raque took a deep breath and pointed at the door. ¡°Okay, you can leave now. You have until the count of three. Leave, or I¡¯ll kick you out.¡± Frank looked at her. ¡°As if.¡± Raque looked back at him. ¡°I used to practice karate, and I only used about ten percent of my power in that p.¡± Frank¡¯s smile froze when he heard her words. Ten percent? He could still feel the pain of that p. Now, he finally knew how terrifying this woman was. If that was ten percent, then her kick would probably break his bones. Frank felt sweat pouring from his back. ¡°I think we can talk it out.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t.¡± Frank pleaded, ¡°But this is my only request.¡± ¡°And it¡¯s refused, so you have no requests left.¡± She raised three fingers up. ¡°Three¡­¡± ¡°Hold on, I think we can still talk things out.¡± ¡°No. Two¡­¡± ¡°But it hurts¡­¡± ¡°One.¡± Frank decided to embarrass himself andy on the ground. ¡°No. That¡¯s my only request. If you¡¯re not letting me stay, then I won¡¯t leave. You can kick me if you want.¡± Raque gritted her teeth. ¡°I can make you suffer even more.¡± Oh sh*t, she¡¯s getting mad. Frank quickly got up. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll leave.¡± Raque thereafter saw him off. He felt lonely, and she pitied him a bit. However, she wanted to p herself for that. What are you thinking? Don¡¯t pity him. He¡¯s trouble. Right when Frank went to the entrance, a group of people came. Frank then engaged in a conversation with them. Curious, Raque went ahead to check things out. Frank finished talking to them after a bit. After that, he turned around to smirk at Raque. The group of people left. Raque couldn¡¯t make it in time to hear what it was, and when she noticed that smirk, she asked, ¡°What did you tell them?¡± Frank stretched his arms and sat back on the couch. ¡°Bad news.¡± ¡°What is it this time?¡± Raque frowned. ¡°I might have to stay over for a bit.¡± ¡°And why is that?¡± Frank shrugged. ¡°The endemic¡¯s getting serious, so we¡¯re forced to stay at home.¡± ¡°Like from now on?¡± All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Yep.¡± Raque held her forehead. ¡°How am I supposed to go to work like this?¡± ¡°In this climate? You can forget about work.¡± Frank waved. ¡°Tell Elspeth about it. I bet thepany can¡¯t run well anyway.¡± Raque wasn¡¯t happy she couldn¡¯t go to work. ¡°What? Now you have time to rx. Why do you look so down?¡± Frank couldn¡¯t understand why Raque wasn¡¯t happy. ¡°Because this is something a rich kid like you won¡¯t understand, Frank.¡± Chapter 629 Chapter 629 Chapter 629 Forced Cohabitation He couldn¡¯t understand why Raque agonized over that, but judging from the look on her face and what she said, he understood why she looked sad. He cocked his eyebrow and said, ¡°I¡¯ll pay for all your expenses, don¡¯t worry.¡± It was a little cliche, but it did cheer Raque up a little. ¡°Thanks, but no thanks.¡± Raque rolled her eyes after finishing her sentence. Frank felt that she had lost a bit of her aloof side, and she was a bit more human. She would never roll her eyes in the past. For some reason, he thought it was cute. ¡°And now I¡¯m forced to stay with you.¡± Frank sat up straight. ¡°I can pay rent.¡± Raque did not like that at all. ¡°You¡¯re implying a long-term stay. I hope this will blow over in a few days.¡± ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s possible.¡± Frank shook his head. ¡°This is going to go on for a long time.¡± Raque was speechless, but she could do nothing as this forced cohabitation life started its course. In the first few days, she couldn¡¯t get used to his lifestyle. He spends the day sleeping only to y games at night. Furthermore, he would click away on his keyboard every time he yed his game. The soundproof system of her room sucked. As the sound of the keyboard clicking resonated through the walls, she couldn¡¯t fall asleep. In the end, she got herself some dark circles. Eventually, she couldn¡¯t take it anymore, so she barged into his roomte at night. ¡°What are you doing?¡± At this rate, my head¡¯s going to explode. Frank was in front of hisputer, wearing his pajamas. There was a hint of fury on his face, and it seemed like he just vented his anger. Frank turned around and wiped his anger away, recing it with a look of innocence. ¡°Why are you up? Oh, sorry, did I keep you up?¡± He gave her a look that said, ¡®Sorry, I won¡¯t do it again.¡¯ N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Raque couldn¡¯t possibly scold him when he was putting on this look, so she sighed. ¡°It¡¯ste. Keep it down, and don¡¯t stay up all night ying games. It¡¯s not good for your body.¡± Frank looked at her, his eyes clear and innocent. ¡°Are you worried about me?¡± ¡°No. I just don¡¯t want you to drop dead. It¡¯d be a hassle to settle the aftermath.¡± And the anticipation was wiped off Frank¡¯s face. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll go to sleep.¡± He turned hisputer off and went back to bed. Good. Raque stopped nagging and tried to leave, but he suddenly blurted, ¡°I can¡¯t sleep.¡± ¡°Count the stars.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not OneRepublic.¡± Raque looked at him. ¡°What do you want then?¡± Frank pulled a book from the nightstand and waved it at her. ¡°I found this storybook in your room. How about you tell me a bedtime story?¡± Raque¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°Where did you find that?¡± Dammit, how did he even find that? This is embarrassing. ¡°It¡¯s just a storybook. Everyone reads it. Don¡¯t be embarrassed,¡± Frank teased, he noticed her going red after all. ¡°I think girls who read storybooks are super kind and adorable. You¡¯re adorable, so why do you put on that aloof girl act all the time?¡± I love the contrast. ¡°I am not cute.¡± The mention of that word alone evoked some bad memories, and she tensed up. At the same time, she went ahead, took the storybook, and tossed it into the bin. ¡°Also, I don¡¯t like storybooks. This is just a relic of the past I forgot to throw away.¡± She turned to look at him again, but the look in her eyes was conflicted. ¡°Goodnight.¡± She left the room and turned off the lights before that. Darkness swooped down, but Frank¡¯s eyes were wide open. He noticed something was off about Raque¡¯s reaction. Did she run into something bad? Raque woke up the next morning looking pale as a ghost, much to Frank¡¯s worry. He thought she ran into something the night before. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°My stomach¡¯s acting up.¡± Raque clutched her belly; she looked even more in pain. ¡°I can¡¯t make breakfast for you today, but there¡¯s bread in the fridge, so you¡¯ll have to make do with that.¡± Raque sat on the sofa, looking like she was in agony. At that moment, Frank picked her up. ¡°You should worry more about yourself.¡± He was a bit angry that she didn¡¯t care about herself. ¡°I won¡¯t die just because I skipped a meal.¡± Thereafter, he took her back to his room. ¡°What are you doing? I wanna go back to my own room.¡± Raque struggled for a bit, but he held her down. ¡°I won¡¯t know whether you¡¯re safe or not if you hide in your own room. Besides, you¡¯d never trouble me anyway. What if you were to faint or something?¡± Frank thought he should worry more. If Raque were to hide in her own room, something might happen to her, and he would have no idea about it. Raque was then ced on Frank¡¯s bed. As the scent of Frank wafted through her nostrils, she felt at ease. ¡°So how did this happen? Any meds to solve your situation?¡± Raque tried to say something, but she shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I just need a rest.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Frank frowned sternly. ¡°It¡¯s¡­¡± It was a hard thing to say, and it took Raque a long time before she answered, ¡°My period¡­¡± I see. Frank said, ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s why. That¡¯s good to hear.¡± Reminded of something, he tucked Raque in. ¡°Get some rest. I¡¯ll be right back.¡± Raque tried to say something, but he hurried out of the room. Ten minutester, she heard footsteps closing in on the room. However, Frank stopped right outside the door. Raque¡¯s belly might be killing her, but her hearing was acute. Frank seemed to be on a call, and he sounded impatient. ¡°No, I am not ying any games. I have some ginger tea to brew. You and your game can suck it!¡± Ginger tea? Raque felt a surge of emotions creeping up her heart. At that, her heart skipped a beat. Chapter 630 Chapter 630 Chapter 630 Delighted Raquey back down the moment Frank came back in with the ginger tea. ¡°What is it? Were you going to take something? Don¡¯t move. Just tell me what you want. I¡¯ll take it for you,¡± said Frank gently. Raque was a lot weaker than usual, so he was tender with her. ¡°No. I just¡­¡± Raque fidgeted. ¡°I see. Here, drink this.¡± Frank covered the cup with a towel and handed it to her. ¡°It¡¯s hot, so take it slow.¡± Raque nodded, took the cup, and said her thanks. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡± Frank patted her head out of habit, but then he realized this might feel too intimate. In fact, he felt her freezing up. ¡°It¡¯s alright now. You should get some rest.¡± Raque looked at him. ¡°Were you going to y with your friend? I¡¯m fine. You don¡¯t have to keep an eye on me at all times.¡± ¡°Why? You¡¯re not feeling well today, so you¡¯re staying with me.¡± ¡°But it doesn¡¯t mean you can¡¯t y with your friends.¡± Raque smiled. ¡°I mean you can y while you watch over me.¡± Frank frowned. ¡°No. You need some rest. It¡¯d be too loud if I were to y any games.¡± Raque cocked her eyebrow. Ah, so he remembers. ¡°Not like I can sleep anyway.¡± Frank looked at the time. It was 10.35PM; it surely was not a time to sleep. ¡°Fine then.¡± He took to his computer and looked back at Raque. She was taking sips from the cup, and he felt happy just seeing her. ¡°Thought you said you didn¡¯t have time, Frank.¡± ¡°Shut it and start the match.¡± Frank wore his headphones, and his friends, seeing that he was in a good mood, started asking questions. ¡°So, who did you make that ginger tea for?¡± ¡°One more word and I¡¯m not ying.¡± Noticing that Frank was going to get angry, his friend said, ¡°Whoops, sorry.¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right.¡± Frank started the match, but this time, he wasn¡¯t as focused as he was before. He would turn around frequently to see if Raque needed his help. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me. y your game.¡± Raque didn¡¯t y games, but she knew that if yers didn¡¯t pay attention during a match, they¡¯d make a lot of mistakes. And true enough, the situation of the match turned downhill for Frank¡¯s team, but his team members didn¡¯tin. They merely grumbled, ¡°This is going to be bad, Frank.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m not ying.¡± He was about to put his headphones down, but Raque said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just y your game.¡± Since the mic was on, Frank¡¯s teammates heard everything. ¡°Oh, so you have a girl over at your ce. Well, guess we¡¯re taking the L this time, boys. Go to your wife, Frank.¡± It¡¯s just a game. Nothing¡¯s more important than Frank¡¯s rtionship. Raque couldn¡¯t hear anything, but she saw Frank suddenly smile when he was already on the verge of getting angry. Curious, she asked, ¡°What happened?¡± He was happy that his friends called Raque his wife. ¡°Nothing. Just catching a break. I¡¯ll be quiet.¡± His teammates booed him. Hearing his reply, Raque nodded. For some reason, she used to hate him ying games, yet now she liked to see him do that. Wait, what? Raque touched her face. For some reason, it was burning. I must be mad. ¡­ The lockdown came faster than Elspeth expected. Aside from the hypermarkets, all the shops their company was running were locked down. Furthermore, the chip manufacturing nt had to be put aside. She was about to talk about the chip problem with Welson, but that n was dyed. The virus was spreading too fast. In a single month, there were already a lot of deaths. As ground zero, Damoria sustained a lot of deaths. Elspeth called Harper that day to ask about thepany¡¯s stuff. At that moment, she heard coughs. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you sick?¡± Harper clearly sounded weak, but he pretended to be fine. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just down with the cold.¡± Elspeth frowned and chided, ¡°The pandemic¡¯s running wild. You should be careful.¡± All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Harper did think he was infected, but he dashed that possibility right away. I¡¯m always healthy. There¡¯s no way I¡¯d be infected. ¡°Ah, I won¡¯t be infected.¡± ¡°How¡¯s thepany?¡± ¡°It¡¯s going in the direction you think it is. The employees have all gone back home.¡± Harper sighed. ¡°The virus is spreading fast. We didn¡¯t want to take any risks, so we sent them home.¡± Elspeth nodded. If anything were to happen to the employees, there would be hell to pay on her side. ¡°But thepany¡¯s growth is affected. The virus is spreading fast, and we have no cure for it just yet. It¡¯ll take a long time before we can recover.¡± Harper was having a headache. If thepany stops growing, it¡¯ll be bad for Elspeth and Azure. ¡°Cure?¡± Harper froze for a moment, wondering what she was trying to say. ¡°Yes. There are no cures for this virus just yet.¡± Something hit Elspeth, and her eyes shone. ¡°Perhaps, we can make one.¡± Harper was surprised by that thought. ¡°I know you¡¯re a good doctor, but this is not a simple infection. This is serious. If something happens to you, it¡¯d be disastrous.¡± Elspeth shrugged it off. ¡°It¡¯s because no one has done it that we must be the pioneers. This might be a good opportunity to make money.¡± She had a feeling if she managed to do this, she would gain a lot from it. Chapter 631 Chapter 631 Chapter 631 Concerned ¡°I think this is too risky, Elsie.¡± Elspeth knew that too, but she had the idea, so she must try. The results didn¡¯t matter; what mattered was that she put in her effort. ¡°I¡¯ll think this through, alright?¡± Harper wasn¡¯t too worried since Elspeth was a rational woman. ¡°I¡¯ll go back to work now.¡± He coughed again. Elspeth was worried for him. ¡°You should rest if it¡¯s getting too hard. I can handle things myself.¡± Harper had done a lot for thepany. ¡°This is nothing. I can handle this.¡± Still worried, Elspeth told him to take care of himself before she hung up. A few dayster, one piece of news made its way to the headlines. ¡®Famouswyer Hank infected. His days are numbered.¡¯ Elspeth couldn¡¯t believe what she was seeing. Hank? She read through the whole thing before she believed it was really Hank. All she felt was a hint of sympathy, but most of what she felt was grim satisfaction. Justice. Sadly, she didn¡¯t even get to celebrate her near-psychopathic delight for long before Yelena called her. Elspeth could hear that Yelena was concerned. ¡°What happened to him? How is he?¡± She didn¡¯t think Yelena could get the news so soon. ¡°You¡¯re overseas. Why are you so concerned about him?¡± Quiet sobs could be heard through Yelena¡¯s voice. She obviously just cried. ¡°I know it¡¯s a bad look, but I just can¡¯t help it.¡± Yelena was a little embarrassed. ¡°How is he doing?¡± Elspeth sighed. ¡°No idea, but judging from the news, he¡¯s been infected for a while now.¡± ¡°I heard there¡¯s no cure for this just yet. Will he¡­¡± Yelena couldn¡¯t bear to imagine the oue. She was shocked when she found out about the news. Someone like Hank got infected? How? She couldn¡¯t believe a clean freak and an introvert like Hank could be infected. Yet when she called Elspeth and got the confirmation, she realized Hank must be in trouble. Still, she had no right to be concerned about him. He had even blocked her number. The situation just felt really odd. She should hate Hank¡¯s guts or even feel happy he was infected, but for some reason, she was worried. It felt like she would lose him soon. Elspeth couldn¡¯t believe her friend was worried. At that, she sighed. ¡°You¡¯re still worried about him after what he did to you?¡± ¡°I know I must look stupid, but I am worried. I¡¯ve been feeling uneasy since I found out about the news this afternoon.¡± Yelena pleaded, ¡°You have to help me out. I know you can find out more about his situation.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t want to do this. If the news was fake, then her effort would be for nothing, but if it was real, then Yelena would totally lose sleep over it. ¡°Do you really want to know?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Yelena gritted her teeth. ¡°I have to know how he¡¯s doing.¡± Elspeth mocked, ¡°But he has a girlfriend. If she¡¯s not even worried, why should you be?¡± Yelena said nothing. A long silenceter, she said, ¡°I see. Thank you, Elsie.¡± Subsequently, she hung up. Elspeth couldn¡¯t see her friend being so glum, so she epted the request. The n was to go out, but since everyone was forced to stay at home, she couldn¡¯t do that. Hence, she called the Damazio Residence. I¡¯ll try something else if I can¡¯t get through. ¡°Who is this?¡± a youngdy asked. Elspeth cut to the chase, ¡°How¡¯s Hank doing?¡± ¡°And why do you ask?¡± The girl got on guard, seeing that another girl was worried about Hank. All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°None of your business. I¡¯m not his friend. I just want to know his situation.¡± The girl harrumphed. ¡°If you¡¯re not even his friend, then why do you care about him?¡± ¡°Just answer the question.¡± Elspeth was getting annoyed by the mocking tone. ¡°If you¡¯re not answering, then give the phone to someone who will.¡± Elspeth¡¯s behavior annoyed that woman. ¡°Hey, watch your tongue. He¡¯s my boyfriend. Of course, I need to be careful.¡± ¡°You¡¯re his girlfriend?¡± Cami? Elspeth frowned. ¡°Cami Summers?¡± ¡°Yes. You know me too?¡± She continued arrogantly, ¡°Now that you know me, you should know that what happens to him is none of your business.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t really care about your boyfriend, Summers.¡± How the hell did this woman be his true love? How did she even manage to live on in his mind for years? She¡¯s not even worth his time. ¡°I don¡¯t care. You¡¯re being awfully suspicious. Tell me your name.¡± ¡°Elspeth.¡± Immediately, the hair on Cami¡¯s neck bristled. ¡°You¡¯re Elspeth? The woman who asked my boyfriend out? If it weren¡¯t for you, his condition wouldn¡¯t have gotten so serious! You¡¯d better not see him again, or I¡¯ll kill you!¡± She then hung up. The call didn¡¯t give her any concrete clues, but it was obvious Hank was badly infected. But why did she say it was my fault? She was then reminded of the time she met up with Hank and pushed him into the fountain. Was it because of that? Elspeth was deep in thought when Callum drew near. He just came out of the study, and he overheard the conversation. After he heard the conversation, his face fell. ¡°You met up with him?¡± Elspeth wondered what he was talking about, but she nodded. ¡°You might be infected too, you know.¡± Chapter 632 Chapter 632 Chapter 632 Provocation Elspeth just realized that she might have been infected as well, seeing that she met and chatted with him, and she looked solemn. Noticing her response, Callum asked, ¡°Feeling unwell? Or feverish?¡± Elspeth shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± I should have noticed it if there were symptoms. Hank¡¯s been infected for three days, but I feel fine. ¡°I heard there¡¯s an incubation period for this.¡± She gave him a smile of reassurance. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It might not happen.¡± ¡°But if you do get infected, you might suffer a lot, seeing that there¡¯s no cure for this.¡± Pain is one thing. If this thing can¡¯t be cured, then she might¡­ Callum didn¡¯t finish that thought as it would make him worry even more. Elspeth was a little nervous as well, but she had no choice. She must forge ahead. ¡°I have an idea. It¡¯s about thepany.¡± Callum couldn¡¯t believe she was talking about work, and he sighed. ¡°You might be infected. This isn¡¯t something you should worry about.¡± Elspeth shook her head. ¡°No. I want to research the cure for this disease.¡± Callum didn¡¯t expect that, but he denied that suggestion given the circumstances and her health. ¡°No. Researching this means you¡¯ll have to be on-site, and I will worry.¡± If Elspeth did get infected, this research would hurt her even more. If she wasn¡¯t infected, this research might kill her. Elspeth held his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯m not a kid anymore. I can take care of myself. Besides, if you stay with me, you¡¯ll be infected if I¡¯m infected too. If I be the source of so many infections, I have a duty to settle matters.¡± She only saw this n as a little ambitious dream at first, but now she must forge ahead. Hank was dying, which probably meant he would die if he didn¡¯t get cured. Yelena would cry her heart out, and not to mention Callum might be infected because of her too. And Harper was coughing at a suspiciously dangerous rate. A moment of silenceter, Callum said, ¡°I have one request. I want to go with you.¡± ¡°But this isn¡¯t your forte. You don¡¯t even know the first thing about medicine.¡± ¡°I can live with doing nothing, but I must stay with you.¡± Callum couldn¡¯t let her go alone. ¡°If you refuse, then I won¡¯t let you go.¡± Elspeth knew he just wanted to stay with her, and she couldn¡¯t say no to those eyes. ¡°Fine, but keep yourself safe no matter what.¡± Callum pulled her into his embrace, smiling. ¡°I won¡¯t drag you down.¡± Elspeth took Callum to get tested, and the results came out negative, much to their relief. At least they were safe at the moment. Elspeth set up ab and started gathering some experts in medicine to research the cure. This was a big mission, but fortunately, everything else was under lockdown, so Elspeth had enough funds to inject into this sector. She even called Sonny back. When Sonny came into theb lugging his stuff, he looked a little purple. ¡°I was in a good game of chess, girl. Why did you call me back?¡± The old man tossed his suitcase down and sighed. ¡°Can¡¯t you let me live myst years in peace?¡±N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Elspeth was wearing ab coat, and her hair was tied up neatly. She approached Sonny with ab coat and handed it to him. ¡°Just in time. I have a question about a particr herb. Tell me what I should do.¡± Annoyed that his n to gain sympathy failed, Sonny red at Elspeth and got changed in the fitting room. When he came back out, he saw Elspeth staring at a test tube. ¡°Honestly, can we cure this with alternative medicine?¡± Sonny scoffed. ¡°Hah. Alternative medicine can cure anything. Including stuff that modern medicine can¡¯t. Did you forget what I told you?¡± She didn¡¯t. When Sonny first knew her, he kept trying to make her his student, but Elspeth was not interested in alternative medicine, so she kept hiding from him. One day, she fell unconscious because of her heart disease. No one in the hospital could save her, but Sonny showed up and cured her symptoms. When she woke up, the first thing she saw was Sonny smiling smugly at her. ¡°So, wanna learn some alternative medicine?¡± For some reason, Elspeth actually said yes. She would never forget what he told her. ¡°Alternative medicine is the greatest healing art in the world. It can heal anything.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been three days, and I still found nothing?¡± Elspeth swirled the test tube around. It was filled with herbal concoction. Sonny clicked his tongue. ¡°Everything starts off hard. Don¡¯t be in a hurry. Besides, I¡¯ve looked into this virus. It spreads through the air and attacks the lungs. The lungs then start to rot, and there¡¯s no way to save that.¡± Elspeth¡¯s face fell. ¡°Yeah. They im to havee up with vines, but that won¡¯t stop the virus from spreading. All it does is increase a bit of immunity.¡± Sonny spat. ¡°Vines are hogwash. Only fools believe that.¡± ¡°And that¡¯s why I called you. I know you look down on modern medicine, and I know you have better ways to solve this.¡± Elspeth smiled smugly. ¡°You won¡¯t let your countrymen die from this, will you?¡± Sh*t, she got me. ¡°So, that was all a trap? To lure me into this scheme of yours?¡± Chapter 633 Chapter 633 er calm down, he heaved a discreet sigh of relief. ¡°You¡¯ve not been feeling welltely, so don¡¯t torment yourself. Take a rest, and don¡¯t stress about things you can¡¯t control.¡± Then, out of the blue, she said, ¡°No. I still have to go back.¡± She finished packing and stood up ¡°Aunt Mariana is currently all alone. No one is there to take care of her. It would be bad if she winds up bedridden because of her fever.¡± My aunt had not remarried following the death of her husband. She was supposed to be able to live out the rest of her life in peace, but then the outbreak happened. Now that she is alone with no one to care for her, I could not help but be concerned for her welfare. ¡°What if you get infected when you¡¯re there?¡± Raque clenched her jaw and remarked. ¡°My immune system is stronger, so I doubt I¡¯ll be infected¡± ¡°Sull, what if?¡± ¡°If I really do get infected. I¡¯ll have no choice but to ept my bad luck.¡± ||| 23 Chapter 633 Let¡¯s Go Together +15 Bonus Frank sighed helplessly, realizing there was no way to change Raque¡¯s mind. ¡°Fine. Allow me to ask your onest question. Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°How many spare rooms does she have over there?¡± he asked awkwardly. After hearing that, she was taken aback for a second but eventually nodded. ¡°She lives in a ce with three bedrooms and two other rooms.¡± Then, he heaved a final sigh of relief. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll go with you,¡± Chapter 634 Chapter 634 Chapter 634 Climbing the Wall #15 Bonus ¡°Why would you go with me?¡± Raque inquired, perplexed by Frank¡¯s abrupt deration. ¡°We¡¯ve been living together the past few days. What would I be doing all alone when you¡¯re gone?¡± ¡°Taking care of one person is hard enough. Please don¡¯t make my job harder. For some reason, she perceived him as a child incapable of caring for himself. It was understandable that she would think that because she was aware that he was significantly younger than she was. ¡°Why would I need you to take care of me? I¡¯m not going just so you can take care of me. Also, I¡¯ve been taking care of you over the past few days because of your stomach ache, Frank blurted out awkwardly. Raque froze in shock when she heard that. He¡¯s right. I¡¯ve been confined to my bed for the past few days. During that time, he cared for me, making me cups of ginger tea and reading bedtime stories. He is, in fact, an excellent caretaker. ¡°Please stop doubting my intentions. I am only going with you to help you. If anything does happen to you, I can take care of the two of you.¡± When Raque heard Frank¡¯s statements, she burst outughing. ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried you¡¯ll be infected as well?¡± After all, being infected with this disease will be fatal. In addition, how am I to exin to the Jonesons if something were to happen to him? However, he snorted disdainfully. ¡°I have a strong immune system. There¡¯s no way I¡¯d fall sick.¡± ¡°Hold your horses. In this case, a strong immune system won¡¯t protect you from the disease.¡± Surprisingly, he replied, ¡°I don¡¯t care. If I do get infected. I¡¯ll be a source of motivation for Elspeth to hurry. up with her research. There is no way she would just let her family suffer.¡± For some reason, Raque wasforted by Frank¡¯s somewhat naive deration. ¡°While I know you¡¯re doing it out of love, and I am very grateful to you for that, how am I going to justify what happens if you do end up sick?¡± she asked. Naturally, he had also thought of that, so he smiled confidently and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. I¡¯ll settle it, so leave it to me. Even if I do wind up sick or in trouble, I can take responsibility for it.¡± He then shot her a look. ¡°Stop taking responsibility for everything. I don¡¯t need you to take care of me, and you don¡¯t need to be responsible for me.¡± After that, she had no choice but to agree to let him go with her. ¡°Let¡¯s go right away.¡± The two of them swiftly packed their bags. Surprisingly, Frank did not pack hisptop. Nheless, Raque was surprised to see that. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you bringing yourptop? Are you giving up on games?¡± Please,¡± he said, looking at her as though she was an idiot. ¡°We are there for serious matters. I would not have the time to y.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going to y any games? How unusual!¡± However, Frankpletely disregarded Raque as he concentrated on threading his arms into the straps of his backpack Then, he grabbed her suitcase. ¡°Alright. It¡¯s gettingte. We should first see if we can leave this area¡± Chapter 634 Climbing the Wall +15 Bonus Their area was still under lockdown, so it was uncertain whether they could leave. When they arrived at their building¡¯s gates, they saw a security guard patrolling by the gates wearing a mask. The security guard immediately shouted for them to stop when he saw the bags they were carrying. ¡°What are you doing? Where are you going?¡± Then, Frank stepped forward and said politely. ¡°Sir, we must leave to attend to an urgent matter. Don¡¯t worry. We won¡¯t run away to somewhere else.¡± Nheless, the security guard was uninterested in what had been said. In fact, he was in a bad mood because of their demand to leave despite the emergency and the order for a lockdown from the nation¡¯s topmost authority. You already know the order. No means no You should be aware of the current infection status! So, go home. No one is allowed to leave¡± After hearing that, Raque frantically spoke up Sir, we do have an emergency. My rtive is sick and home all alone. I¡ª¡± ¡°Go back! The order is for everyone to stay home. Your rtive is sick, so what will happen when you¡¯re infected from taking care of them? Are you going toe back and infect everyone in this area? Think of the consequences!¡± The security guard had a point, but the situation was so dire that she could not hesitate. ¡°Sir. I swear that if I get infected. I will never return. Please don¡¯t worry,¡± she replied. ¡°How would I know that he shot back His attitude made Raque even more agitated. ¡°You know what I look like. If I am infected, you can refuse to let me in.¡± The security guard thought about it for a moment before shaking his head. ¡°No way. How would I know if you are infected?¡± Sensing that nothing woulde out of the conversation, Frank pulled her back and said, ¡°It looks like the security guard will not let us out.¡± Suddenly, Raque replied impatiently. That won¡¯t do. Time is of the essence. I must go back now.¡± Then, Frank watched her anxiously pace up and down momentarily before an idea sparked in his mind. There is another way. ¡°Why don¡¯t we climb through the back wall?¡± he suggested. She stared at him in shock. ¡°Climb the wall?¡± ¡°We have no other choice. We can¡¯t walk through the gates, so the back wall is our only option.¡± Nheless, she kept staring at him, stuck in a bind. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to climb walls.¡± He smiled and said, ¡°That¡¯s fine. I know how to do it.¡± ¡°After that. Frank pulled Raque over to a shorter part of the back wall. He hopped over it with one leap All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. and asked her to throw their bags over. She did as he asked and transferred the bags one by one until they were all on the other side of the wall. Finally, she was the only one left on the initial side of the wall She tried to climb up the wall using the bricks jutting out, but her arms went limp with fear after climbing a few steps up. ¡°I can¡¯t do it. I can¡¯t climb the wall. I¡¯m scared,¡± she cried out. ||| 0 23 Chapter 634 Climbing the Wall +15 Bonus ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯ll be fine. I¡¯ll catch you. Don¡¯t be scared, heforted her from the other side of the wall. When Raque heard that, she decided to take the plunge and climb the wall. After a while, she sat on the wall and calcted that it would be an eight-foot fall to the ground below. However, her legs trembled as she gazed downward. Jump, and I¡¯ll catch you. While saying that, Frank spread his arms out to encourage her to leap down. ¡°No, I can¡¯t. I¡¯m scared-¡± She shook her head and closed her eyes, and the brisk wind roared in her ears. In addition, it was mid-autumn, so the winds were quite chilly, and she could feel her heart freezing. Suddenly, Raque heard a yell from behind her. ¡°You, over there, why are you on that wall?¡± Chapter 635 Chapter 635 Chapter 635 Charged Through the Barriers Raque nearly fell backward from fright She turned around to find the security guard standing behind her. While she had been bersy with her fear. he had walked over and spotted her sitting on the top of the wall. He looked like he was going to drag her off the wall at any mome ¡°Are you in your rebellious phase? I said no, so why do you insist on going out the security guard reared. The angry security guard was about to charge over to the wall. She mmed her eyes shut and forced herself to jump. On the other hand, Frank kept his word. He caught her without issue. ¡°What is going on with you two? I told you to stop! Why do you insist on running off? The security guard huffed. However, he was unable to climb across the wall himself, so he had no choice but to shout to them. ¡°Come back!¡± Frank did not n to obey the security guard. He swiftly grabbed the bags and ran off with Raque in tow. Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. ¡°Brats!¡± The security guard¡¯s shouts faded away into the distance. Now that they were out of the building, their next task was to find a way to get to Aunt Mariana¡¯s home. They stood by the side of the road and watched the few cars speeding past them. Impatient, he said, ¡°Why don¡¯t we just walk? With the outbreak, taxis are not allowed to operate.¡± ¡°I know that, but her home is very far away from us. We¡¯ll need to walk for an entire day, at least. What¡¯s worse is that we have so many bags with us, she countered while looking at their bags in distress. ¡°Why don¡¯t we see if we can hail a car?¡± he suggested. She sighed. ¡°There¡¯s no way that will work. Everyone is rushing home. No one will stop for us.¡± ¡°We should try. We won¡¯t know unless we do,¡± He immediately stepped onto the road and held his hands out to hail one of the cars. Standing in the middle of the road, he took his job very seriously. However, no matter how harried he looked, the cars kept driving by him. None of them showed any signs. of slowing down. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s forget about it since we can¡¯t hail anyone. I¡¯ll think of another way, she called out. She looked down, frowning heavily as though she was thinking hard, The lost look on her face made his eyes darken. ¡°Okay. Keep an eye on our bags. I¡¯ll be back soon,¡± he said. She looked up at him in confusion. ||| < Chapter 635 Charged Through the Barriers ¡°What are you going to do?¡± she asked. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯ll be back soon. Then, he dashed away, ignoring her questions. +15 Bonus Standing by the road with bags by her feet, she stared down at her phone as time slowly ticked by. Worry burned through her. Nowhere was safe these days. Where did Frank go? The more she thought about it, the more certain she was that he had gone off to do something risky. Hence, she abandoned the bags and ran toward the direction he had run off in. She had barely taken a few steps when she spotted Frank driving a Maybach over to her. She cried out in surprise, ¡°Where did you find the car? Did you head back into the building?¡± He rolled down the window and waved at her, who was panting hard. ¡°Leave those questions until after you get in.¡± She dazedly nodded. Suddenly, she smacked herself on the head as she suddenly remembered something. ¡°Shoot! The bags!¡± Frank let out an angry but amused huff, ¡°Where did you leave the bags?¡± ¡°Back where you left me.¡± The guilty look on her face made him sigh before saying in a reassuring tone, ¡°It¡¯s fine. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll go look for them.¡± She nodded and got into the car. Thankfully, they found the bags exactly where she left them. He promptly loaded the bags into the car, and they drove off toward the outskirts of the city. On the way there, he turned on the heater when he saw her shivering. ¡°Where did you get this car from, Frank?¡± she asked. Since the entire area was under lockdown, no car was allowed to leave their parking lots. Thus, where did the care from? ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that.¡± Despite his persistent attempts at avoiding the topic, she refused to back down. Eventually, he helplessly said, ¡°Rx. Nothing actually happened. Don¡¯t worry¡± ¡°Since nothing happened, why won¡¯t you tell me what you did?¡± She stared at him with zing eyes. ¡°It¡¯s nothing big. I just¡­¡± ¡°What did you do?¡± ¡°I just charged through the barriers.¡± She abruptly recalled noticing how the car looked rather dented on the front when she first spotted him. ||| < Chapter 635 Charged Through the Barriers Do you have a death wish she demanded *) +15 Bonus This reply had mturiated her She knew he had always been a bold man, but she had never imagined he wouthd be that brash Nothing her anger, he hurriedly pleaded. I wanted to make sure we could get there soon.¡± The pupys eves he pulled forces her anger to die out. Were you hurt¡± she asked This eyes this kered. Of course not. Do you not believe me?¡± As she had not noticed his reaction, she nodded. In that case. I¡¯ll stop worrying. Still, you have to promise me that you won¡¯t do something like that ever again Do you hear me?¡± Warmth filled his heart when he saw the solemn look on her face. He nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t do it Au Mariana¡¯s home was located on the edges of the city where not many people lived. That was exactly why Saque was worried. If anything happened to Mariana, an ambnce would never be able to get to her min When Naque stepped into the house, she found Mariana gasping for air while lying on the couch. Manana¡¯s Tave was bright red, a clear indicator of her feverish state. Marsana¡¯s Tace twisted in shock when she saw Raque ¡°Why are you here?¡± Just as Naque rok a step forward Mariana pped a hand over her mouth and shuttled backward. ¡°Stay away I¡¯m intevied I dont want to make you sick too!¡± 702 WANT, A Mariana I don¡¯t care even if you infect me.¡± A look of disapproval crossed Mariana¡¯s face. ¡°What nonsense is that, child? This illness is no joke!¡± To back to where va came from Mariana interrupted. Do note back Those few words left Marsana panting hand and almost unable to keep herself upright. Raque¡¯s eyes went red when she saw how sick Mariana was ¡°Enough. Don¡¯t say that I won¡¯t leave Frank hurriedly poped up from beside her ¡°Aunt Mariana please. We had to go through a lot to get back here. Don¡¯t ack 2 was only then that Mariana noved Frank¡¯s presence in her home. Confused, she asked. ¡°This man is 4. Raque spend her years away before slowly replying ¡°Hex.¡± However, Frank humedymed her sentence Hell Aunt Mariana Im Raque¡¯s boyfriend¡± Chapter 636 Chapter 636 Chapter 636 Cohabitation +15 Bonus ¡°Boyfriend Mariana didn¡¯t expect Raque to get a boyfriend. There was even a period of time when Mariana was worried because of how little interest Raque had in not wanting to have a boyfriend. She knew that Raque didn¡¯t want to be in a rtionship. On one hand, it was because she was busy with work and didn¡¯t have much time. On the other hand, she was worried that she wasn¡¯t good enough for icone else Raque¡¯s sense of inferiority stemmed from the absence of her family. This was something that Mariana couldn¡¯t make up for no matter what she did. ¡°What? Please don¡¯t listen to him, Aunt Mariana. I¡¯m not his girlfriend!¡± Raque then turned around angrily and red at Frank. ¡°Stop talking nonsense. There is nothing going on between us!¡± Frank merely shrugged. ¡°We¡¯re living together. How is that not considered dating?¡± ¡°What?¡± Mariana¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°You¡¯re already cohabiting?¡± Raque couldn¡¯t find an exnation for a moment there. She could only angrily stare at Frank, who had a mischievous smile on his face before she pinched his arm hard. He winced in pain. ¡°What¡¯s that for?¡± ¡°Just teaching you a little lesson¡± Frank, however, didn¡¯t take her seriously. He pointed at Mariana in front of them. Look at the look on Aunt Mariana¡¯s face. That¡¯s the expression of someone who is looking at their daughter who has grown up. Raque nced to the side and suddenly froze. She hadn¡¯t expected that blissful expression Mariana wore. ¡°Aunt Mariana, it¡¯s really not what you¡¯re thinking. She couldn¡¯t exin why her face proceeded to turn red Mariana teased. ¡°It¡¯s alright. It¡¯s normal for young couples to have a lover¡¯s spat¡± Those wordspletely eliminated Raque¡¯s desire to exm herself. It didn¡¯t matter anymore. People could guess as they liked So be it However, Mariana didn¡¯t forget about the main issue. She looked at them still standing at the door without any intention of leaving and grew a little annoyed Why are you two still here anyway? I¡¯ve already told you that my illness isn¡¯t something fun You don¡¯t need toe and make a fuss.¡± Aunt Mariana, we came here just to take care of you Look, we¡¯ve prepared our luggage.¡± After saying that Frank quickly carried the luggage into the house and closed the door. Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. At this point, Mariana had no choice but to put on a mask and invite them in I don¡¯t need you to take ¡®t cause me any trouble¡± care of ine every day just stay put during your stay here and Standing at the bedroom doorway, she couldn¡¯t help but add another reminder. If you feel unwell, tell me immediately Do I make myself clear Martana then covered her mouth and coughed a few times before she swiftly turned and left. Chapter 636 Cohabitation +15 Bonus ¡°Wait, Aunt Mariana Are we staying in the same room?¡± Raque felt a bit helpless as she exined, ¡°We really aren¡¯t in the kind of rtionship you think we are in. 1-¡± ¡°I know you young people feel shy in front of me. I know. The thing is, the other guest room is filled with clutter at the moment. It¡¯s not convenient to tidy it up now.¡± Frank went with the flow and carried both of their luggage into the house while smiling and thanking Helena. ¡°Thank you, Aunt Mariana. It¡¯s alright. We can share a room.¡± ¡°Who said anything about sharing a room with you?¡± Raque was about to argue, but Frank held her back. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not dwell on this. Aunt Mariana is sick now. We shouldn¡¯t bother her.¡± The way he whispered into her car made them look like two intimate lovers flirting with each other. Mariana didn¡¯t doubt that they were indeed a couple, but she did think that Raque was just too shy to admit it Left with no other choice, Raque ended up agreeing albeit reluctantly. She personally cooked dinner that night. However, Mariana, worried about infecting them, stayed in her room and refused toe out. Thus, Raque had to bring the food to her room door and have dinner with Frank in the dining room. Raque couldn¡¯t fully enjoy the food as she sat at the table. Mariana¡¯s condition seemed to be quite serious, and there was no definitive cure for her. Noticing herck of appetite, Frank asked worriedly. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you eating? Is something bothering you? Raque let out a deep sigh. It¡¯s not that. I just feel like Aunt Mariana¡¯s condition is getting worse.¡± ¡°Right I did hear her coughing nonstop in her room earlier tonight.¡± Raque kept poking at the rice with her spoon. ¡°Yeah¡­. Makes me worried every time. But there is no sure cure at the moment. She has taken cold medicine and fever-reducing medicine, but nothing has worked¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that now. Leave these matters to the medical researchers¡± She looked up with a somewhat dazed gaze. ¡°Do you really think they can find a cure for this illness¡± ¡°Of course, they can. It¡¯s not some highly severe terminal illness.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m worried that the development of this medicine will take a long time What if Aunt Mariana¡¯s What if Aunt Mariana She couldn¡¯t even finish the thought. condition worsens by the time it¡¯s ready ¡°Domt overthink it and be optimistic Aunt Mariana isn¡¯t in immediate danger for now. As long as we take good care of her, everything should be fine Raque nodded, falling silent as her thoughts drifted, Chapter 636 Cohabitation +15 Bonus At a ce somewhere abroad, Yelena stood next to a well-known tower with its sharp spire gleaming with a cold light that reminded onlookers of the edge of a sharp knife. She held a phone as she demanded in a somewhat impatient tone, Just when will you be here? I¡¯ve been waiting for two hours. I¡¯ll storm into your house and kill you if you don¡¯t show up soon¡± ¡°Alright, princess. I¡¯ming right away.¡± It took another quarter of an hour before a man wearing a ck trench coat slowly approached from a distance. At the sight of the man, Yelena raised her hand and threw punches at him. ¡°How dare you make me wait here for over two hours?!¡± Federick pushed his sunsses up and kept an exuberant smile on his face. I¡¯m sorry for making you wait. Something came up at home.¡± ¡°You said you¡¯re taking me to the celebrity banquet at Super today. Are we really going? Yelena couldn¡¯t bring herself to believe that he could actually take her to such a high-end ce. After all, Super was a ce where even those with money might not have guaranteed ess. The people who could go there were always either rich or influential. Also, they needed to be known internationally. Even Yelena, an A-list actress in the country, hadn¡¯t received an invitation. It was hard to imagine that Federick had the ability to get them both an invite. ¡°Of course! When have 1 ever lied to you?¡± To his surprise, Yelena enthusiastically started counting her fingers, leaving him embarrassed for some reason. Chapter 637 Chapter 637 d like a goddess. Even Federick, who had seen his fair share of beautiful women, couldn¡¯t help but be taken aback. As expected of the woman he had set his eyes on. She was truly an exquisite beauty! Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Oh. Federick, darling. I know I¡¯ve dressed her up really nicely, but you don¡¯t have to stare at her so intently.¡± Enrique joked, bringing him back to reality. ¡°D-Do I look okay?¡± Enrique didn¡¯t allow her to look in the mirror when she was in the dressing room. She didn¡¯t know what she looked like now. But judging from Federick¡¯s expression, she had a feeling that she didn¡¯t look all that bad. ¡°You¡¯re absolutely stunning, my darling Believe me Since Federick brought you here, he must trust my skills Enrique winked at her and then pointed his finger in the direction behind her. ¡°There¡¯s a mirror over there, darling Chapter 637 Are You Even Human?! Hearing that, Yelena carefully walked over, her high heels making her steps a bit unsteady. But the moment she saw herself in the mirror, even she couldn¡¯t help but exim in amazement. Enrique was truly skilled; he highlighted all her strengths and concealed every w perfectly. He was far more talented than her usual makeup artist ¡°Enrique, you¡¯re amazing!¡± Yelena squealed. Her smile became even sweeter when she blinked. +15 Bonus Enrique covered his chest, sighing, ¡°Oh, my little princess, please don¡¯t look at me like that. I might drown in your sweet smile.¡± But upon hearing this, Federick suddenly stood up and stood in front of Yelena. His voice was cold when he stated, ¡°In that case, we will be taking our leave now.¡± ¡°Tsk, tsk. ¡°Enrique could tell that Federick was bothered by hisment. ¡°I can¡¯t even look? How protective.¡± ¡°Make fun of me again, and I won¡¯t be paying for your services this time.¡± Enrique immediately roared, ¡°Federick Seanzy, are you even human?!¡± Chapter 638 Chapter 638 Chapter 638 Defiance However, Federick didn¡¯t bother with Enrique Federick took Yelena¡¯s hand and led her outside before he nced up and down at her. ¡°Although he¡¯s quite unconventional, his makeup skill are good ¡°Hmph! It¡¯s because I am a natural beauty¡± ¡°Yes, yes,¡± Federick shed a gentle smile Do you believe me now? Let¡¯s go We are heading over now Yelena nodded in reply. She thought it was just a banquet, but when they arrived, she suddenly felt She felt out of ce as she watched the stylish and sophisticated people passing by. Noticing this, Federick mulged her arm. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Weren¡¯t you looking forward to this? Why are you so nervous now? Yelena¡¯s face turned slightly pink. I didn¡¯t expect to see so many people¡± ¡°There are indeed a lot of people at this banquet Federick smiled and took a ss of champagne handed to him by a waiter while casually getting one for Yelena too. ¡°What is our purpose foring here today? Yelena asked this question without much thought Upon realizing the silliness of her words, she quickly took a sip of champagne to calm herself down For fun. Nothing much.¡± ¡°Fun?¡± Yelena looked at him with confusion and asked the question that she had been thinking about for the longest time ¡°Who are you exactly? How do you manage toe to a ce like this?¡± Federick only smirked and winked. ¡°Take a guess.¡± ¡°Guess, my foot. Why can¡¯t you just tell me?¡± Having to solve riddles gave her a headache. ¡°Have you forgotten myst name?¡± Yelena looked at his faint smile and suddenly realized that she had been narrow-minded for associating him with the academic genius with a normal background and the vige officer from the impoverished Countryside ¡°Scanzy!¡± Yelena struggled to recall this surname. After exploring a certain memory, her eyes went wide. ¡°You¡¯re from the Seanzy Family!¡± The Stanzy Family was in no way ordinary The Sullivan Family couldn¡¯t evenpare to them. All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. pany was overseas, so there was hardly any chance to meet them Moreover, the Seanzy Family¡¯s Chapter 638 Defiance 15 Bonus Suprise suprise Velena sighed helplessly First, it was Hank, and now Federick. Each one of them had an identity that could leave people startled Hot when she thought of Hank, her gaze dummed in a instant I wonder how he is doing muc now. A that he was seriously ill. Did he get any better? Wail why am I thinking about hout He has already given me the cold shoulder and even blocked me. But here I am, acting like an obsessed ex Now silly of mot Yelena nowardly berated herself and tore cfully shook her head. However, her actions were noticed by those around her What¡¯s wrong You don¡¯t find this ce enjoyable? Is then why you¡¯re upset?¡± Federick knew what she was thinking and deliberately asked a different question She might get upset if he had gone straight to the point Oh, no, I¡¯m actually quite happy Velena forced a smile Since we¡¯re here, try not to dwell on your problems, yeale After all, I brought you here to rx.¡± Federick then set his wine ss aside and extended his hand toward her. Beautifuldy, may I have the pleasure of dancing with you?¡± chunkled Yelena chun kled at his polite yet somewhat pretentious gesture. Still, she reached out nheless, not wanting to cimbarrass him. With utmost pleasure¡± As Yelena prepared to dance, she realized that they weren¡¯t going to dance a ssic waltz; it was a vibrant Rothan style dance that was both elegant and lively However, she had never learned it before and was not good at this As the music began and the people around them gracefully twirled, Yelena hesitated to make a move She closely observed the gestures of those around her but found them tooplicated for her to take a good look at Just when she was on the verge of feeling awkward. Federick pulled her into his arms ¡°It¡¯s okay Just follow my lead he whispered Velena only nodded cautiously Seeing how restrained she still was, Federick chuckled ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry. No one here will notice even if you make a mistake¡± It dawned on Yelena that she was feeling embarrassed due to her excessive nervousness and fear of Chapter 638 Defiance making mistakes. Upon hearing his encouragement, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Got it.¡± After finallypleting a dance, she repeatedly declined Federick¡¯s invitation to another dance. ¡°No more dancing, really. I¡¯m seriously sh*t at it.¡± +15 Bonus Even if no one seemed to mind her making a fool of herself, she couldn¡¯t possibly keep embarrassing herself. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t force you.¡± Just as the two of them left the dance floor, a well-dressed woman approached them and invited Federick to dance. Tve noticed that you are quite a good dancer. Will you dance with me?¡± There was a hint of shyness on her face, as if she was afraid of being rejected. She seemed a bit nervous. Federick was about to refuse, but when he turned his head and saw Yelena looking at him with encouragement and anticipation, he suddenly epted her request seemingly in defiance. ¡°Of course. Let¡¯s go,¡± he replied generously and naturally took the woman¡¯s hand. The woman, who had expected to be rejected because of his cold demeanor, was pleasantly surprised when he suddenly agreed. ¡°Let¡¯s do that!¡± she cheered. The two of them held hands and glided onto the dance floor. While dancing, Federick kept an eye on Yelena. Yelena was finally relieved to escape the hassle of dancing. She then took out her phone and idly scrolled through the news. Suddenly, a deep voice sounded beside her. ¡°Why are you sitting here alone? You¡¯re not dancing?¡± Startled, Yelena looked up to see a man in a suit with an elegant andposed smile on his face. It was probably because his smile was too infectiously charming that she didn¡¯t have her guard up like usual. ¡°I don¡¯t feel like it.¡± Even so, she didn¡¯t tell the stranger the truth. It was not that she didn¡¯t feel like dancing, it was more like she didn¡¯t know how to. However, the stranger before her had no intention of letting her off that easily. He even seemed like he was Inore interested in her than before Tve been watching you when you were dancing earlier, he mentioned. Upon hearing this, Yelena raised her head and awkwardly smiled. She had intended to y it cool, but she didn¡¯t expect him to see through her weakness so easily. In the end, she decided to adopt an attitude of self-righteousness. Chapter 638 Defiance ¡°Why are you asking me when you already know?¡± +15 Bonus ¡°Oh, there is nothing embarrassing about it at all. I just thought you looked cute when you danced. That¡¯s why I wanted toe and get to know you.¡± Chapter 639 Chapter 639 Chapter 639 Bring Her Home Yelena immediately sensed something suspicious. ¡°Why do I feel like there¡¯s something sinister behind those words?¡± she remarked. +15 Bonus All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. The man shrugged, wearing a somewhat resigned expression. ¡°I know it does sound a bit malicious, and perhaps a tad too blunt.¡± ¡°In that case, maybe we shouldn¡¯t get to know each other,¡± Yelenamented while rising from her seat, ready to go to another battlefield After all, she had no idea where conversing with the man in front of her might lead her. ¡°Why not get to know each other? Don¡¯t you want to hear about Hank?¡± The man¡¯s voice remained soft, but it seemed to have struck her soul, leaving her momentarily stunned. ¡°About whom did you say?¡± ¡°Hank he repeated. Yelena lost herposure in an instant. When she looked up, she had tears welling in her eyes. What do you know about him? And how did you find out about our rtionship?¡± The man appeared slightly surprised. He had initially thought the youngdy before him would be easy to deceive, but it turned out she could ask such probing questions. Yelena continued to stare at him as if trying to bore a hole through his face. She was certain they didn¡¯t know each other at all. But if they were strangers, how could he know about her rtionship with Hank so clearly? ¡°I know things about him, but there¡¯s no hurry to share that with you. I can take my time, the man replied with an unusuallyposed smile. ¡°As for how I know about the two of you, you can take your time and make a guess.¡± Yelena despised riddles the most. She lost all interest upon hearing his words. ¡°Forget it, if you don¡¯t want to say it. Honestly, I don¡¯t really want to know.¡± After saying that, she unhesitatingly left this ce. But before she could take more than a few steps the man behind hernguidly spoke up. ¡°Don¡¯t you care about whether he is alive or not? I think he is on the verge of dying¡± Yelena swiftly turned around ¡°What do you know? Tell me now¡± The man nced around and shook his heat ¡°This isn¡¯t the best ce to talk about something like this.¡± Grabbing her bag. Yelena took a deep breath and approached him. 144 Chapter 639 Bring Her Home ¡°Then tell me what¡¯s a good ce for us to have a conversation. I¡¯ll go with you.¡± The man put on a satisfied smile. ¡°I knew you wouldn¡¯t refuse me. Let¡¯s go, then.¡± +15 Bonus %>159 Just like that, Yelena had ended up leaving with someone else the second Federick took his eyes off her! She had initially nned to sit with the man at a cafe, but the man insisted that there wasn¡¯t enough. privacy at cafes. Atst, he brought her to his vi. ¡°Why does it have to be a private ce?¡± Yelena asked, perplexed. She kept thinking that the man had an ulterior motive. However, he simply shrugged,pletely unconcerned. I just prefer a secluded environment, that¡¯s all.¡± There wasn¡¯t anything Yelena could do about this situation. After all, she couldn¡¯t possibly force him to comply when she was the one seeking information from him. So, reluctantly, she followed him back to his vi. His vi was located far up in the mountains. Yelena was already prone to motion sickness, but the winding and bumpy mountain roads only made her mauscous. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have expected you to get car sick. The man pitied the pitiful-looking woman. Yelena forcefully suppressed the urge to vomit and gripped the door handle tightly. ¡°How much longer until we arrive?¡± He remained unyielding in his words and stepped harder on the elerator. ¡°We¡¯re almost there. After another half an hour, the two finally stopped at the entrance of a magnificent vi. ¡°We¡¯re here. You can get out of the car.¡± Yelena practically opened the door and got out as soon as the car came to a halt before she squatted on the roadside, retching with all her might. The only thing she had at the banquet was a ss of champagne. Now, it felt like she was about to vomit the acid from her stomach. ¡°Can we discuss the distance before you bring me to your house next time?¡± She would probably have passed out if she had eaten anything today. For some reason, the man found her words somewhat adorable despite how much she suffered. ¡°Of course, we can do that.¡± Hearing that, Yelena nodded and stood up while swaying unsteadily. E Chapter 639 Bring Her Home Her face was still pale when she choked, ¡°Let¡¯s head in,¡± +15 Bonus Seeing her condition, the man went up to her and lifted her up horizontally without her permission. ¡°Excuse me.¡± Yelena eximed in surprise and immediately wrapped her arms around his neck. ¡°What the hell are your doing Put me down!¡± She had already imagined countless possibilities in that instant. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. I have no ulterior motives toward you.¡± The man¡¯s words right then had a calming and soothing effect. ¡°I¡¯m only trying to get you inside faster because I see that you¡¯re feeling unwell.¡± Yelena knew that she had had dirty thoughts, but she still felt that their current posture was overly intimate. Thank you, but it¡¯s fine. I can manage on my own.¡± she insisted. The man seemed unfazed. ¡°Having lived abroad for a long time, I have a different understanding of social etiquette. What might appear embarrassing to people in your country seems natural to me.¡± After he said those words, Yelena felt like she had misjudged his intentions. She then lowered her head and remained silent, coincidentally missing the cunning glint in the man¡¯s eyes. The two finally entered the main hall. The man¡¯s Floinian maid looked surprised as he suddenly came in with a woman in his arms, but her professionalism kept her from saying anything. ¡°Please bring me a cup of tea, the man instinctively instructed. He then turned to Yelena. ¡°Perhaps you don¡¯t like tea. What would you prefer to drink? I¡¯ll have her prepare it.¡± Yelena hadn¡¯te here to drink tea, so it didn¡¯t matter what she had. ¡°Oh, she doesn¡¯t have to. I can drink anything.¡± The man carefully pondered for a moment before a smirk appeared on his lips. ¡°A ss of orange juice for you, then.¡± Yelena froze at those words. Back at the banquet, she snuck off to a corner and grabbed a ss of orange juice because she wasn¡¯t ustomed to drinking champagne. She never expected him to notice that as well. She realized that the man before her was astute. He was someone she shouldn¡¯t underestimate. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get to the point. I believe you brought me all this way to reveal the truth, Yelena demanded, hoping that this man wouldn¡¯t disappoint her aftering all the way here. ¡°I will definitely tell you the whole truth, but before that, I suggest you take some rest,¡± the man replied with a smile and evaded her question. O Chapter 640 Chapter 640 Chapter 640 First Love as a Counterfeit ¡°I don¡¯t feel tired at the moment. If possible. I¡¯d appreciate it if you could reveal the truth about the situation right away. Once we re done talking, we can go our separate ways¡± Noticing her growing frustration, the man couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°Alright, no need to be angry. What would you like to know? Feel free to ask me anything.¡± It was only then that she managed to temper her anger slightly ¡°I want to know, what is your rtionship with Hank?¡± she inquired. Yelena believed that the man standing before her must have a significant connection with Hank. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t possess such an air of knowing so much. +15 Borus The man nodded, acknowledging that her question was indeed a crucial point. ¡°Well then, allow me to introduce myself first. I am Slevin Damazio¡± Slevin Damazio. Damazio. So, this is how it is ¡°What exactly is your rtionship with him?¡± she asked. Slevin stroked his chin, a mysterious smile ying on his lips. ¡°If I told you that I¡¯m his half-brother from another mother, would you believe me?¡± Yelena¡¯s brow immediately furrowed. Much to her knowledge, there had never been any divorces in the Damazio Family. Could this man be an illegitimate child of the family? The secret she had just learned left her utterly astonished. Observing her reaction, he nodded approvingly. That¡¯s right, just as you suspected. I am the illegitimate child of the Damazio Family, and Hank ispletely unaware of my existence.¡± Despite everything. Yelena¡¯s loyalty still leaned toward Hank. With this revtion, she grew instantly wary and fixed her gaze upon him. ¡°What are your intentions? Are you nning topete with him for the family inheritance?¡± Slevin clicked his tongue disapprovingly. ¡°Compete for the inheritance? I couldn¡¯t care less about that petty wealth. Besides, there¡¯s no need for you to be so cautious. I have absolutely no intention of harming him. If I wanted to make a move, I would have done so already.¡± With a sigh of relict, she inquired. ¡°How did youe to know about this?¡± He sneered in response ¡°What is there that I don¡¯t know? Besides, you¡¯re aware of his illness as well, aren¡¯t you? Slevin¡¯s words hit the mark. She had indeed been aware of Hank¡¯s illness for some time, but his current -condition remained shrouded in mystery So, you only know these things, then?¡± Disappointment tinged her voice. Yelena had assumed that he possessed knowledge of more secretive matters, but it turned out he was just as informed as she was ¡°Well, that¡¯s not entirely urate, Didn¡¯t I mention it before? The information I possess far surpasses what Chapter 640 First Love as a Counterfeit you know,¡± he dered. Yelena looked at him skeptically. ¡°What else do you know?¡± +15 Bonus Slevin¡¯s demeanor suddenly shifted, and an eerie expression settled on his face. I also know that the two of you broke up because his first love returned.¡± The mention of the first love stirred up a painful memory within her. Reminded of her past role as a mere substitute by Hank¡¯s side, she felt a profound sense of insignificance and repulsion. ¡°So what if that¡¯s true?¡± she retorted. His expression took on a peculiar twist. ¡°I do have one question that piques my curiosity, though. Do you truly believe that, throughout all these years, he felt nothing for you?¡± Her nose tingled, and she fought back tears. ¡°Of course, I know how incredibly good he has been to me all these years. But it hurts even more to think that his kindness was only because I resembled another woman. Hank had been the epitome of an exemry boyfriend, attending to every detail and showing unwavering devotion. He had always made her feel like the center of his world. However, she still couldn¡¯t fathom that someone like him could be concealing such a significant secret. ¡°But have you ever considered that everything he did was just a ruse to deceive you?¡± Slevin¡¯s words cut through Yelena¡¯s thoughts, and she raised her head sharply. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Deceive me? ¡°Well, yes. You¡¯re certainly not the sharpest tool in the shed. If you¡¯d just think things through, everything would be clear As the puzzle pieces fell into ce in her mind, her face turned pale in an instant. ¡°Are you suggesting that he intentionally deceived me because of his illness, that he does not want to burden me?¡± If that were the case, everything would finally make sense. Hank had known about his terminal illness all along and didn¡¯t want to hold her back, so he fabricated a reason to break up. Slevin chuckled softly. ¡°You¡¯re not entirely clueless, after all Yelena¡¯s uncertainty lingered. ¡°But that woman does bear a striking resemnce to me She was specifically chosen to resemble you, so, of course, both of you look simr¡± He rubbed his temples and continued. ¡°By the way, did you know that he has a room filled with your posters? Have you never been in his room?¡± She was dumbfounded by this revtion. I had no idea ¡°You¡¯re truly clueless,¡± he remarked. Embarrassment washed over Yelena as she realized she had never paid attention to this matter. She had noticed that Hank had a room off-limits to outsiders, including herself, but she had assumed that it was either an unsafe area or that it contained aspects of his life he didn¡¯t want to share, so she had never given Chapter 640 First Love as a Counterfeit All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. it much thought. Little did she know ¡°You never expected that he is such a devoted fan of a young celebrity, did you?¡± ¡°How did youe to know about this?¡± +15 Bonus Slevin¡¯s smile remained unwavering as he looked at her. Haven¡¯t I told you? There¡¯s nothing I want to know that I haven¡¯t already discovered¡± ¡°But why did you choose to tell me this?¡± Curiosity lingered within Yelena as she questioned his motive for sharing this information If the person in front of her hadn¡¯t been deceiving her, she wondered why he would be so kind as to reveal such details Observing her perplexed expression mingled with hidden anticipation, he let out a regretful sigh. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect this news to bring you so much joy. Had I known. I wouldn¡¯t have disclosed it¡± She was taken aback by his words ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because I suddenly realized that you are quite intriguing. If my unfortunate younger brother were to pass. away, why don¡¯t youe with me?¡± An instant rush of crimson flushed her face. Yelena couldn¡¯t believe that even at this moment, he still had the mood to tease her. ¡°Thank you for your kind offer, but it¡¯s unnecessary, she responded firmly. Slevin rose from his seat and slowly approached her. Sporting his customary smile, he exuded a friendly andposed demeanor that effectively crowded out any other thoughts on him. When he drew closer, he suddenly leaned forward and rested his hands on the chair¡¯s armrests. The distance between them closed in an instant, and the atmosphere turned ambiguous. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Do you think I¡¯m inferior to my younger brother?¡± he inquired. Slevin had a tall and graceful figure, and especially his face had a touch of softness that made him look even more approachablepared to Hank. Although the two were attractive, they didn¡¯t bear many physical resemnces Caught off guard by his question. Yelena didn¡¯t know how to respond and simply leaned back in her chair. ¡°Mr Slevin, please be mindful of your actions¡± ¡°Mindful He lifted her chin provocatively and retorted. Now that you¡¯re in my vi, do I need your permission to do as I please?¡± Chapter 641 Chapter 641 Chapter 641 What if It¡¯s All a Scheme? #15 Bonus Slevin¡¯s behavior offended Yelena. The furrow between her brows was a sign of her resentment. ¡°Get your hands off me. Even though I¡¯m staying at your ce. I have the right to defend myself. I can¡¯t guarantee that I won¡¯t fight back if you cross the line.¡± ¡°You surprised me, you know? You¡¯re quite a character. No wonder my brother is fond of you.¡± Slevin couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at her rmed look. He took a few steps back to keep a safe distance from her. ¡°Forgive me. I just can¡¯t help it. You¡¯re adorable.¡± Yelena choked at his flirtatious behavior. ¡°I¡¯m not adorable! Can you be serious for a second?¡± Her outburst took him aback before he suddenly burst intoughter. ¡°I brought you a piece of important information a few moments ago. Is this how you show your gratitude?¡± ¡°Right. Thank you, but it has nothing to do with your behavior.¡± ¡°I told you. I¡¯m just messing with you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t find it funny at all. ¡°All right. All right. I¡¯ll stop talking about it if you don¡¯t like my joke.¡± Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Slevin¡¯s gaze fell on Yelena¡¯s puffed cheeks. He couldn¡¯t help but reach out a hand to pat her on the head, but she swatted his hand away. ¡°Listen. I think I¡¯ve gotten enough information from you. It¡¯s my cue to leave.¡± At that moment, Yelena finally remembered she had tagged along with Federick to the banquet, and she forgot to tell him when she left. She frantically took out her phone, only to find the battery ran out some time ago. Slevin¡¯s brows shot up in amusement as he watched her trying to turn her phone on. ¡°How about this? You can charge your phone at my ce. Once the battery is full, you can leave.¡± Yelena was anxious. ¡°Federick would be worried about me if I don¡¯t go back soon.¡± ¡°Well, what can you do now? I don¡¯t suppose you memorized his number?¡± She choked at the question. ¡°No.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point of panicking if you don¡¯t remember his number, and can¡¯t guarantee that you¡¯ll find him. in the same ce? I think it¡¯s better if you stay to charge your phone. Give him a call once you can turn on your phone. -Yelena had no choice but to agree with his suggestion. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Stop worrying for a second. You¡¯re a grown woman. It¡¯s not like you¡¯ll wander off and get lost or anything.¡± Yelena returned his teasing with a strained chuckle. She indeed got lost somewhere in the she came across Federick in the process. past. Moreover, Chapter 641 What if It¡¯s All a Scheme? ¡°Hey, stop worrying. rging your phone is what matters. Everything will have to wait until you charge your phone Yelena took his advice to charge her phone. As soon as she turned on her phone, it was immediately flooded with messages. Most of them were from Federick. Besides, she missed ny-nine missed calls from him. Yelena connected to her mobile datawork with shaky hands Somebody was initiating a call on her ¡°Yelena! Did you leave? Where the hell did you go?¡± Federick was worried sick. He didn¡¯t realize that his words were strong. ¡°I¡¯m just- ¡°I only left you for a moment to have a dance with another person. And you left with somebody else instead of waiting for me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not¡­¡± He took a deep breath, trying to suppress his boiling anger. ¡°Tell me your location, now. I¡¯ll go and get you.¡± Yelena fumbled for an answer, only to make the sad discovery that she didn¡¯t know the answer. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You¡¯re quiet.¡± Scanning her surroundings, Yelena felt that her hopes fade as she gave him an honest answer. ¡°I don¡¯t know where I am.¡± Federick could feel the rage clouding his mind for a second. ¡°What do you mean you don¡¯t know where you are?¡± ¡°Well, yeah, I came here by car. I don¡¯t know where I am, but it seems like I¡¯m in the mountains¡± He sneered. ¡°You¡¯ve got some guts, haven¡¯t you? Only a girl like you would follow a stranger to a strange ce. Be honest. You don¡¯t even know the stranger¡¯s name, do you?¡± Yelena scratched her nose in embarrassment. ¡°I didn¡¯t, but now I do.¡± ¡°Yelena¡±¡± Federick growled. ¡°I¡¯m listening!¡± ¡°How about this? Give me a moment. I¡¯ll ask them where I am and get back to you, she suggested timidly ¡°Make it quick!¡± Federick¡¯s patience was bottoming out. Yelena rushed down the stairs, but Slevin was nowhere to be found. She only found a maid cleaning up the room Therefore, Yelena approached the maid and held her wrist before shooting a question at her. ¡°Pardon me, do you know where Slevin went 23 Chapter 641 What if It¡¯s All a Scheme? ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Mr. Damazio never tells us about his schedule.¡± The woman answered with a sincere expression, and Yelena saw no point pushing her. She looked around and exhaled. What am I supposed to do? Once Yelena left the room to continue her search, the maid called Slevin. ¡°Mr. Damazio, I did everything as you told me. I didn¡¯t reveal the address when thedy asked.¡± ¡°Good job. I¡¯m looking forward to seeing how she will find a way to get out of here.¡± Elspeth¡¯s study had reached a new phase. Soon, the public learned that Azure Corporation invested in the research of new drugs, but not long after that, Alphascape Group also began the same research. Thepetition between the twopanies was getting more intense day by day and wasing to a head. ¡°Miss Elspeth, it seems like you made a wise choice on investing in the new drugs Harper tossed the ount book on the table before casting Elspeth a smile. ¡°Even though we¡¯re in the early stage of research that makes no profit at all, we¡¯ll triple our profits or more than that when it bes a sess.¡± He made such an announcement, exuding his confidence. Elspeth nodded but found no joy in his statement at all. ording to her knowledge, Alphascape Group had begun their research as well. Besides, they were making good progress. Something was troubling her. How did they catch up with our progress in such a short time? Medication research isn¡¯t an easy job. Their progress should begging behind us, but they surpassed us instead. Something¡¯s fuhy. ¡°Miss Elspeth, are you thinking about the Alphascape Group?¡± Harper pointed out her concerns. Elspeth massaged the bridge of her nose. ¡°You¡¯re right. They began the researchter than us by about a month, but already reached the same stage as us.¡± ¡°That¡¯s unbelievable! Do you think they found the other experts?¡± She denied his guess with a stern look on her face. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. I hired every expert in Damoria for the study during the preparation stage.¡± ¡°It¡¯s ridiculous. Now, it sounds like thepany is responsible for the pandemic,¡± Harper joked with innocence, but his words made Elspeth see things in a new light Staring at the mug on the table, she got lost in her thoughts. What if it¡¯s all a scheme? 38 Chapter 642 Chapter 642 Chapter 642 Who Tampered With the Samples? +15 Bonus Before Elspeth had a chance to contemte, she received an iing call from the manufacturer side. The current drug research had progressed to the critical stage of preliminary sample testing, where there WAN 159 TVSI for any mistakes. The consequences of any mistake would extend far beyond damaging their reputation. Miss Lynwood. I have some terrible news! We¡¯ve got a big situation on our hands! The urgent voice on the other end conveyed the severity of the situation. Elspeth¡¯s long-standing unease, which had gued her for some time, suddenly materialized into a stark reality. With a nervous jolt, she swiftly rose from her seat and anxiously inquired. ¡°What¡¯s happened?¡± All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°When I arrived at the manufacturer to inspect the goods today, the whole batch waspletely ruined! I asked the manufacturer about it, but they were just as clueless. They said everything was fine during the carly morning check, and they can¡¯t exin how it turned out like this rowing her brow with concern, Elspeth replied, ¡°Let¡¯s not panic for now. I¡¯ll head over there and investigate firsthand Deep within her thoughts, she harbored a sense of gratitude for not having fullymitted to this batch. She couldn¡¯t help but ponder the potential consequences if she had inadvertently allowed these problematic products to infiltrate the market. The mere thought of the chaos it could unleash sent shivers down her spine. She nonchntly grabbed a jacket and drove to the outskirts where the manufacturer was located. The distance between thepany and the manufacturer was rtively short, just a half-hour journey. As Elspeth stepped out of the car, her secretary, Mia, awaited her at the entrance with an anxious expression, bordering on tears Elspeth noticed the distress and immediately asked. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why are you crying?¡± Mia¡¯s voice trembled with a hint of sobbing as she replied. All of the samples have beenpletely destroyed A heavy sense of despair settled in Elspeth¡¯s heart, but she managed to maintain herposure as she calmly inquired, ¡°Was it intentional ¡°Yes, and the culprit was incredibly careful. We haven¡¯t found a single clue.¡± ¡°Are you telling me there¡¯s absolutely no clue? ¡°Yes, chances are the person slipped in wearing gloves and shoe cover Moreover, they picked the dead of night when everything was calm and silent. No one could have caught a whiff of their presence¡± To make matters worse, it urred in the secluded outskirts where the culprit could carry out their deeds without interruption. As Mia continued to cry. Elspeth took out a tissue and handed it to her. ¡°There, there. This is not your fault, nor is it ¨¤ result of any negligence on your part. You are not to me, so please don¡¯t cry Mia epted the tissue, sniffling and expressing her gratitude in a soft murmu. Chapter 61 Who Empered With the samples? Nothing for dinoristic Equethe advised her take a moment trest in the car Then, she made her A wall crowd had gatured inside, and they directed dicir unwavering attention toward her as the Her derpyar mundiately caught sight of forman Kare, the owner of the manufacturer, whose eyes Mice Lyimond Fm truly soury, he apologized with a four of remorse in his voice She did her head and proceeded to inquire. Was Here any surveince? Did it capture any evidence It¡¯s not that we didn¡¯t want to pull up the surveince footage, but the happened to be a power outage last night, and none of the cameras were She squinted suspiciously A power outage on the exact might this incident urred? That seems like Yes I also find a tour concidental, but that¡¯s exactly whit happened he replied His Bustered state grew more apparent as he struggled the bud the right words Sensing his pante, Elspeth waved her hand to signal him to calm down Where are the damaged samples? Show them to me¡± Carefully he took on a vial of solution. There are puncture marks on the rubber stopper of the vials It appears they were injected with a syringe Elspetle¡¯s foow furrowed in contemtion But why did you choose to seal them with rubber stoppers when adding the solvent in the best ce? Jorman stuttered for a moment before reluctantly speaking up ¡°Well, rubber stoppers are cheaper and Taking a deep breath Elspeth realized that now was not the time to ce me on him After that she surveyed her surroundings and noticed that the floor was spotless as if no one had ever set foot bothere Jorman nodded in agreement Most likely, because when we entered, there wasn¡¯t a speck of dust from outside Jorigued by this observation the crouched down and examined the area meticulously Alh Bour, it wi It looked like someone had deliberately wiped it clean Taking note of these significant details she stood up al casually inquired. How frequently do you clean Jornom did not expect her to bring up this question out of the blue and hesitated for a moment day Chice in the arrive and As she listened to his reply, a conviction began to form in her mind Her lying before Chapter 642 Who Tampered With the Samples? +15 Bonus ¡°Why would you help that person cover up the traces?¡± Elspeth chuckled and mercilessly tear off the veil of deceit. Jorman, initially startled by her words, panicked and eximed, ¡°Miss Lynwood, I understand that our negligence may have led to this mistake, but you can¡¯t falsely use me. How could you pin such a big incident on me?¡± ¡°Whether it¡¯s a false usation or not, don¡¯t you know deep down inside?¡± With a chuckle, she pointed at the ground and pressed on, ¡°Could you please exin why you chose to clean the area this morning, despite being aware of the theft that urredst night?¡± Caught off guard, Jorman was at a loss for words. He couldn¡¯te up with any other exnation and could only muster a response with forced confidence. I was simply prioritizing cleanliness without delving into such details. Then, she directed her attention toward the person standing behind him and called out, ¡°You there, come here for a moment.¡± Gordon Tarmin slowly shuffled closer. ¡°Are you the one in charge of cleaning this area?¡± she questioned. Gordon¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. He had been an inconspicuous presence, merely blending into the background. How did he get noticed by her? His response stumbled out hesitantly. ¡°Umm¡­¡± ¡°Everyone around here has clean shoe soles, except for you. Yours are marked by water stains. You¡¯re likely the one responsible for scrubbing the floor,¡± she exined. Elspeth¡¯s analysis was logical and persuasive, making it difficult for anyone not to be convinced. Realizing that she had already figured it out, Gordon could only lower his head in admission, confessing, ¡°Yes, it was me who was cleaning today.¡± ¡°Now, can you exin why you tried to cover up the evidence?¡± Seeing Elspeth¡¯s relentless questioning, Jorman swiftly intervened and positioned himself in front of Gordon. ¡°Miss Lynwood, you¡¯re in the wrong here. He¡¯s just an ordinary employee. How can you put such a big me on him?¡± Gordon blinked nervously, and his forehead glistened with sweat. ¡°Whether my usation is false or not, let¡¯s cut to the chase and ask him directly. We¡¯ll get to the bottom of it in no time.¡± Then, she extended her arm and gave Jorman a push. Although it didn¡¯t seem forceful, he unconsciously stumbled back a few steps. Witnessing her disy of strength, Jorman instantly deted and dared not to challenge her any further. Instead of sumbing to anger, Elspeth sported a sarcastic smile as she approached Gordon with her arms crossed. ¡°Tell me, who instructed you to do this? And where is the person who tempered with the samples now?! Chapter 643 Chapter 643 Chapter 643 Confession -Gordon was taken aback by her sharp tone and was immediately frightened, which resulted in his involuntary incoherent words. I really don¡¯t know. I was just here to clean the floor 1- ¡°If you can tell me everything honestly now, maybe Lean consider forgiving you¡± Initially, he thought to himself, What could a mere woman do to me? As he looked into Elspeth¡¯s eyes, which were filled with cold determination, his legs turned weak in an ¡°Miss Lynwood, I¡¯ll tell you. It was Jorman who asked me to work with him on these things. I didn¡¯t want to do it, but he used my family to threaten me, so I had no choice Gordon fell to his knees in desperation Please forgive me I have elderly parents and young children to take care of If something happens to me, no one will be able to support them¡± Elspeth frowned as she saw him crying uncontrobly, ¡°That¡¯s enough. Wait over there. I¡¯ll deal with yourter¡± After saying this, she turned around to look at Jorman, who was behind her, only to find that he was already sweating profusely. He has confessed everything. Are you still going to conceal the truth Jorman red at Gordon¡¯s pitiful appearance and fore ed a ttering smile. ¡°Miss Lynwood, he¡¯s just a small fry. Can you trust what he says?¡± She raised an eyebrow when she realized that Jorman was trying to shift the me. ¡°It¡¯s all this little brat¡¯s plot to frame me. I have nothing to do with this matter, Jorman said while standing aside with his hands in his pockets and watching the scene unfold. Gordon, who initially knew he had done something wrong, stood dejectedly behind his boss. However, when he saw his boss shamelessly pushing all the me onto him, he became furious. ¡°What do you meant by that, Jorman? I have done so many bad things for you. Do you think I did them willingly? This time, I didn¡¯t want to do it at all, but you forced me. If it wasn¡¯t for you colluding with Alphascape Group, how could we have done something like this?¡± Elspeth stood by as she enjoyed the spectacle of two dogs biting each other. Jorman¡¯s face turned red instantly and he was boiling with anger. ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? I¡¯ll p that mouth of yours!¡± His plump body wobbled as he lunged toward Gordon, but unfortunately, despite appearing skinny Gordon was unexpectedly strong. He grabbed Jorman¡¯s wrist, causing Jorman to grimace in pain ¡°Since you shar lessly want to throw me under the bus, I won¡¯t show any mercy Tryying a finger me again, and I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Upon realizing his intimidations and threats had no effect on Gordon, Jorman decided to just plop down on the ground ¡°Enough of this Silence! Elspeth¡¯s voice broke the tension, and both men inmediately stopped them actions as they turned then heads to look at her I have absolutely no desire to witness this staged fight between you two Gordon has already revealed everything Your colluded with Alphase ope Group, is that right 13 Chapter 643 Confession Jorman lowered his head and remained silent, but his silence was the best answer. ¡°How did you establish contact with Alphascape Group?¡± +15 Bonus He stammered and took out his phone. ¡°We usuallymunicated using a phone number. The address associated with that number is not in Damoria.¡± ¡°How long have you been in contact?¡± Elspeth took the phone and saw the foreign number disyed on it. The address happened to be the same location where Emma was staying abroad. ¡°Not too long. About half a month.¡± She was shocked. ¡°Our sample research has only been going on for a month, and you¡¯ve been in contact with her for half a month¡± Yena was indeed an extraordinary person. It seemed that she was no longer the same Emma as before. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I know this is wrong, but Miss Haway provided me with so much. He was just a person driven by greed and manipted for the sake of money, so Elspeth looked at him. coldly. ¡°Tell me everything you know.¡± Jorman nodded and began to carefully recount his experience. ¡°Here¡¯s what happened. A person from Alphascape Group approached me multiple times. I don¡¯t know how they found out about our factory¡¯s coboration with Azure. Initially, I wanted to reject that person. After all, one cannot do such things with a clear conscience, but.. Later on, the price he offered kept increasing, so I got tempted and foolishly did such a thing. Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. ¡°You can rest assured. My contact with him only started recently in the past few days. Besides tampering with the samples, he didn¡¯ty his hands on anything else.¡± Jorman appeared sincere, and it didn¡¯t seem like he was lying. However, Elspeth knew that when it came to making mistakes, there were either none, or there would be repeated instances. The incident had already urred, so she couldn¡¯t continue the coboration with the factory However, from what she heard from Gordon earlier, Jorman had done more than just the things at hand. and he deserved to face some consequences. She smiled gently like a refreshing breeze after the rain. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re telling the truth?¡± ¡°Of course. Everything I said is true. I swear on my life! No, I swear on my whole family¡¯s lives!¡± She waved her hand. To err is human, to forgive divine Since you¡¯ve revealed the truth. I won¡¯t be so heartless¡± Jorman chuckled as he felt relieved that he had avoided receiving severe punishment. ¡°Thank you. Miss yhwood. Thank you for giving me a chance to turn over a new leaf. Rest assured that there will be no more external interference in our future cooperation. Elspeth asked in astonishment. ¡°Who said I will continue to cooperate with you in the future?¡± 23 Chapter 643 Confession The smile on Jorman¡¯s face froze instantly. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say that you¡¯ll give me another chance and continue to work with me? ¡°When did I promise you that?¡± Jorman¡¯s face turned pale. However, he consoled himself silently while thinking that even if they couldn¡¯t coborate anymore, it didn¡¯t matter. At least he had saved his life and his factory, but in the next second, the sound of police sirens suddenly came from outside. His face changed drastically. ¡°You called the police?¡± Elspeth smiled. ¡°Of course. It¡¯s only natural for me to do so. Aftermitting so many guilty acts, wouldn¡¯t you have nightmares when you sleep at night? I¡¯m sending you to prison to reflect on your He realized that the situation was irreparable, so he turned against her and immediately lunged toward her. ¡°I¡¯ll fight you to the death!¡± She took a step back in disgust as a bulky body came toward her. She lifted her foot, kicked him, and sent him flying. ¡°Do you really think you cany a hand on me?¡± The police burst into the room and quickly subdued everyone present. Before leaving, Jorman angrily shouted, Tm telling you, don¡¯t get too cocky. Alphascape Group will never let you off the hook!¡± Elspeth let out a chuckle. ¡°We¡¯ll see about that.¡± Chapter 644 Chapter 644 Chapter 644 He Doesn¡¯t Care About Those Elspeth knew that this matter was not so simple. Merely apprehending Jorman wouldn¡¯t be enough. But for now, she couldn¡¯t find any leverage against Alphascape Group. +15 Bonus Yena was a very meticulous person. Even the phone number she used tomunicate with Jorman was from overseas, which made it difficult to trace. However, it wasn¡¯t entirely impossible. In the evening, Frank had already prepared the meal and went upstairs to invite Raque for dinner, only to find her peacefully sleeping in bed. These past few days of taking care of Mariana had taken a toll on her. After seeing her so exhausted, he didn¡¯t have the heart to wake her up and simply tucked her in. Perhaps his movements were a bit too drastic, Raque, who was sound asleep, suddenly woke up. She froze after seeing him crouching beside her with an indulgent smile on his face. ¡°When did youe in?¡± Frank suddenly realized that he had barged into someone else¡¯s room without permission and felt a bit embarrassed as he scratched his head. ¡°I came to tell you that dinner¡¯s ready, but you didn¡¯t respond. I thought something happened to you, so I came in to check. Turns out you were just too tired and fell asleep. If you want to continue sleeping, I won¡¯t disturb you. I can reheat the food for you when you want to eat.¡± A wave of warmth filled Raque¡¯s heart. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll get up now and eat.¡± She uncovered the nket and was about to put on her slippers when suddenly she felt dizzy, and her vision blurred. He clearly noticed her difort and his tone carried a hint of anxiety. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Maybe I just haven¡¯t been getting enough resttely, so I feel a bit dizzy.¡± After resting for a while and feeling better, Raque stood up. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± -However, Frank remained standing still. When she turned back and looked at him in confusion, he suddenly turned around and scooped her up in his arms. ¡°Frank, what are you doing?¡± She was startled, but due to inertia, her hands instinctively wrapped around his neck. ¡°Hold on tight. I¡¯ll take you to have dinner.¡± Chapter 644 He Doesn¡¯t Care About Those He secretly shed a smile, though no one noticed that his ears had already turned crimson. #15 Bonus Just like that, Raque was carried out to have dinner by him. Under the sparkling gaze of his starry eyes, she gave high praise to the meal he had prepared. ¡°It¡¯s delicious.¡± His eyes instantly shone even brighter. ¡°I¡¯ll cook for you every day from now on then.¡± Her expression turned somewhat strange, and she awkwardly smiled. Couldn¡¯t he see that she was speaking without a clear conscience? The fish was a bit too salty; the rice was a bit hard; the pork ribs, which were supposed to be sweet, tasted spicy, and she couldn¡¯t tolerate any spiciness¡­ However, looking at his expectant expression, Raque couldn¡¯t bring herself to criticize him. Moreover, she had been busy taking care of her aunt these days, and many things at home were taken care of by Frank. She was grateful to him beyond words. So, she nodded firmly. ¡°Okay. Thank you.¡± However, he suddenly acted like a rogue. ¡°Well, since you¡¯ve eaten my food, you have to be my girlfriend.¡± Raque choked on her food. ¡°Why?¡± Her face turned red from choking on the food, and after coughing hard, she finally asked this question. There¡¯s no reason for it. It just popped into my mind all of a sudden Frank propped his chin with one hand as he looked at her intently. ¡°It¡¯s also something I¡¯ve been nning for a long time.¡± She didn¡¯t know how to respond for a while. After struggling for a long time, she managed toe up with a sentence ¡°I¡¯ll take it as a joke.¡± His face immediately dropped. ¡°Why would you take it as a joke! I¡¯m not joking Raque felt a bit awkward. ¡°Because I¡¯ve never considered this before. I¡¯ve never thought about dating. I also didn¡¯t expect you to like me Frank ced both hands on the table while looking somewhat puzzled ¡°Why? Isn¡¯t it obvious that I like you?¡± ¡°Is it?¡± Chapter 611 He Doesn¡¯t Care About Those She had always been a but denise and slow when it came to matters of rtionships. Upon hearing his words, she was not surprised, but rather confused. When did you start liking re? +15 Bonus Frank grunted his teeth in frustration Tve been treating you so well. I followed you home, stayed here, and helped you with so many things. It I didn¡¯t like you, could I have lost my mind?¡± She looked at him and gave a straightforward answer. I thought you¡¯ve always been out of your mind¡­¡± He almost could¡¯s cats h his breath How is this woman so dense?! ¡°All right. Now that you know I like you, can you I go out with me?¡± Frank¡¯s gaze was filled with fervor, almost as if he could burn a hole in her heart. I don¡¯t know I haven¡¯t considered the idea of dating before¡± Raque sounded somewhat helpless, but she slowly expressed her thoughts. For me, my life has always revolved around studying, working, and taking care of my aunt.¡± Tve never thought about being in a rtionship or having any intimate involvement with the opposite Your sudden intrusion into my life did catch me off guard.¡± I¡¯ve had men pursue me before, but I never took them seriously because I always felt that I wasn¡¯t compatible with any of them.¡± He looked at her and followed up with a tight response. ¡°I think we are verypatible.¡± Raque shook her head. Although those men weren¡¯t particrly outstanding, they still had decent. qualities. The fundamental reason why I didn¡¯t want to be with them was that I felt I wasn¡¯t worthy of them Frank frowned ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know¡± She rubbed her temples. ¡°If you truly like me, you should consider it carefully.¡± Frank pressed his hands on her shoulders and asked, ¡°What about me? What do you think about me?¡± You an omeone I¡¯ve never co He suddenly fel a hint of frustration ¡°So, you think I¡¯m even worse than those men?¡± That was the image she had of him in her heart. Raque was surprised ¡°Why would you think that? I¡¯ve never belittled you¡± ¡°Not only that, but I also think you¡¯re outstanding. I simply can¡¯t measure up to you.¡± He looked at her and realized she wasn¡¯t saying it insincerely. Feeling helpless, he asked, ¡°What do you Chapter 644 He Doesn¡¯t Care About Those think makes you unworthy of me then?¡± +15 Bonus She felt a bit embarrassed to answer such a question. With her head down, she recounted quietly. ¡°I feel inadequate in all aspects, I think you deserve someone better, so I don¡¯t understand why you like me.¡± ¡°Raque.¡± Raque looked up. This seemed to be the first time he called her name with such emphasis. ¡°Do you really think I care about those things?¡± She didn¡¯t know how to respond and could only helplessly say, ¡°How about we forget about it for now? Let¡¯s not talk about this.¡± Chapter 645 I¡¯m Wholeheartedly Willing Chapter 645 I¡¯m Wholeheartedly Willing ¡°Forget it? You think that you aren¡¯t a good match for me, so you¡¯re treating my feelings this way, right?¡± Frank forced himself to swallow his anger as he growled. ¡°Raque, do you know how deep my feelings are for you?¡± However, Raque did not wish to continue the conversation any longer. Now, her mind was in turmoil and she was unable to think of any answer. ¡°All right, let¡¯s save this conversation for next time.¡± Frank could only let out a helpless sigh at the sight of her frantic expression. ¡°Okay, I won¡¯t ask you anything before you can ept the answer. I hope that you can really think about it carefully.¡± She nodded, feeling a trace of guilt inexplicably well up in her heart as she looked at his look of disappointment. However, at this point in time, things would only continue to go further downhill the more they spoke about it, In the end, the two ended their talk in an awkward atmosphere. They weren¡¯t particrly giving each other the cold shoulder, but as Frank¡¯s enthusiasm seemed to have quelled, Raque didn¡¯t go out of her way to spark a conversation with him either. Upon returning to her room, she suddenly began to feel an ache in her throat and a wave of nausea. Hence, she nned to take a short rest on the bed, but she unexpectedly drifted off to sleep instead. In her dreams, she felt a strange sensation, as if a ball of fire was burning in her chest. Wishing to put out this fire, she frantically ran all over the ce to look for a source of water, but her efforts were futile. Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. In the end, just as she was frantically tearing at her clothes, a hand suddenly grabbed hers and pulled her into an embrace. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared.¡± Raque shook her head as she desperately attempted to break free, but the hand held onto her so tightly that she was unable to put up a fight. Atst, she startled awake from her dream only to see Frank sitting next to her and holding her in his arms without budging an inch. ¡°Frank..¡± She opened her mouth, only to find that her throat was achingly sore, making it arduous to utter even a single word. ¡°If I¡¯m not wrong, you¡¯ve probably tested positive. Since you¡¯re not feeling well, take a good rest and stop imagining things.¡± He pulled out a sheet of tissue and began to wipe the cold sweat off her forehead. Instantly, Raque panicked, and she looked at him frantically as if silently reprimanding him for his recklessness. ¡°It¡¯s all right. You don¡¯t have to worry about me.¡± As Frank looked at her, his gaze gradually softened. ¡°It¡¯s fine if I get infected as long as I can take care of you.¡± At his words, Raque squeezed the words out of her throat in a hoarse voice, saying, ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t want you to take care of me. Hurry up and leave before you get infected too¡­¡± Even so, Frank insisted obstinately, ¡°What¡¯s the problem with taking care of you? I already said that I don¡¯t care about getting infected, so what are you worried about?¡± Raque immediately lost her temper and mustered all her strength to shove him away from her. ¡°Do you Chapter 645 Chapter 645 Chapter 645 I¡¯m Wholeheartedly Willing think that getting infected with this is a joke?¡± +15 Bonus He was infuriated by her actions, but as she was currently a patient, he couldn¡¯t pick a fight with her either. nor could he simply leave her behind and abandon her. Hence, he softened his tone to the best of his abilities and said. ¡°I know that you¡¯re worried about my you. who safety, but two people in your family have already been infected. If I don¡¯t take care of the two of y will? You don¡¯t have to worry. I¡¯ll be extremely careful. Besides, I¡¯ve always been healthy, so it¡¯s fine even if I get infected¡± Tears rolled down her face uncontrobly. She knew that Frank was doing this for her own good, but she just couldn¡¯t bring herself to ept his kindness. In the end, she could only say helplessly. Thank you.¡± ¡°No need to thank me.¡± He pulled her into his embrace once more and caressed her hair. ¡°If you really want to thank me, you can use your body to do so. Hearing that caused Raque¡¯s face to instantly freeze. ¡°All right, you¡¯re a patient now, so I¡¯ll stop joking around with you.¡± With that, Frank rested his chin on her hair and mumbled. ¡°I hope you¡¯ll get better soon.¡± On the other hand, Yelena had never expected that Federick would sessfully locate her. As she looked at him panting for breath yet sporting an icy expression before her, she turned silent from fear. ¡°Why are you in a ce like this? What is this ce?¡± Her head lowered and afraid to speak, Yelena replied in a small voice, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I be asking you how you found me?¡± ¡°Yelena ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Why on earth are you here?¡± Federick was nearly about to lose his mind from the senseless woman before him. Who would leave with a man they didn¡¯t know without understanding the situation clearly and not even knowing where they were headed to? Yelena took a few steps back in her best attempt to keep a safe distance from him ¡°A stranger said that he wants to talk to me about something, so I followed him here¡± ¡°Which stranger? What is his name? Where is he now?¡± She turned a hule awkward at his onught of questions. ¡°He¡¯s called Slevin Damazio, but I don¡¯t know where he is either¡± ¡°Slevin Damazio?¡± At the sound of the familiar surname, Federick¡¯s expression immediately darkened. ¡°It¡¯s rted to Hank, right?¡± Yelena, who failed to sense that something was amiss in his tone, bobbed her head. ¡°Yeah. He said that he 23 Chapter 645 I¡¯m Wholeheartedly Willing +15 Bonus knows something about Hank, so I followed him here. In fact, he did tell me many things, and I¡¯vee to understand quite a lot, too.¡± Federick gritted out bluntly. ¡°Why do you think that everything he says is definitely the truth?¡± She was caught off guard by the overwhelming hostility in his voice. ¡°I think that he¡¯s telling the truth. I don¡¯t know why either; it¡¯s just instinct.¡± He scoffed derisively. ¡°Let me guess. Did he tell you that Hank¡¯s life is in danger and he doesn¡¯t want to hold you back, so he came up with an excuse to deceive you?¡± Yelena jolted in surprise. ¡°How did you know that?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this exactly what you want to hear right now?¡± N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. She froze. ¡°L ¡°Yelena, can you wake up? He already abandoned you for another woman, so why are you still refusing to let go of him? Is he really that much of a good man for you to be so hung up over him? Yelena, oh, Yelena. What should I say to you? Which part about him did you fall for? Do you have to hold onto him when there are so many good men in the world?¡± Yelena burst into tears at the spew of berating words. ¡°I-I didn¡¯t mean it like that¡­¡± ¡°Why are you crying? What is there to cry for?¡± At first, she did not particrly have the urge to sob, but her tears began to flow down uncontrobly at his mocking tone. ¡°Why are you so angry, Federick?¡± Federick took a deep breath. Atst, he couldn¡¯t hold himself back anymore. ¡°Because I like you. Can¡¯t you Chapter 646 Chapter 646 Chapter 646 She Mass G simal ? ? NIM brown the core over two of Ne Didn¡¯t this mean he had w No so de madde but may ask whNet New At xxx be ??????? Seven stood away and the Norway Feder que Then how das Ne He had in Aya had her with where mos There was was de stalowe See what 2 mot hard to get to know sex the Young NY HANDIA probably know who I am¡± ¡°You¡¯re Federick didn¡¯t hesitate and replied ¡°Route trom the Domaso Famine¡± The man resorted 7am But I¡¯m also ashamed to achit that not a legitimate child of the Duma Family Festerick looked as hitely know¡± Sev was sunnest he didn¡¯t exps: Foxterisk to know ash a peace mater Welt save you are in the -Ane then I see no neest in stisessing this further Regardless Festenek desperately wanted an answer from Nevis So why did you bring her here¡± Yelena was standing nearby, so as long as he told her the math she would be able to age? aux inappropriate thesights she had Its very simple. The person I really like is Yelena Undgranately I had to push her away because of m 13 Chapter 646 She Wants to Go +15 Bonus illness I just don¡¯t want our rtionship to end in tragedy.¡± Slevin repeated what he had told Yelena Federick¡¯s expression suddenly turned gloomy, and he muttered, ¡°Please tell me the truth¡± Slevin was shocked, his mouth agape. Truth? What truth? I am telling you the truth.¡± When he saw that Federick was still upset, Slevin joked. ¡°Actually, I identally overheard your Conversation carlier. Mr. Scanzy, I know that you like Yelena, but the person in Yelena¡¯s heart is my younger brother So, heed my advice and don¡¯t do something rash.¡± At this rate, Federick didn¡¯t want to bother wasting his time with someone like Slevin. Thus, he turned to look at Yelena, ¡®Well, do you trust his words or mine?¡± Caught in the dilemma, Yelena looked at the two men repeatedly, not knowing what to say. ¡°I have no idea¡± When Federick heard her reply, his lips curled into a disdainful smile. ¡°It¡¯s all right. I¡¯ll go.¡± After that, he turned and left without another word. She looked at his retreating figure and chased after him. Yet, she soon realized that he was walking way too fast, as if he wanted to get rid of her, so she gradually halted in her tracks. In the end, she stood there helplessly as she watched Federick¡¯s figure disappear from her line of sight ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Does it hurt to watch him leave? Slevin¡¯s sly, teasing voice came from behind her. Yelena turned her head to look at him. For some reason, annoyance washed over her the instant she laid her sight on his figure. That¡¯s none of your business.¡± He chuckled ¡°Yo, you still have quite a temper on you, don¡¯t you?¡± Yelena furiously retorted, ¡°What does that have to do with you?!¡± Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Slevin shrugged, expressing his confusion. ¡°You said you liked my younger brother, so why do you care about another man¡¯s feelings?¡± When Yelena heard that, she suddenly didn¡¯t know how to answer ¡°I don¡¯t care about other men¡¯s feelings my friend¡± but that mati Heughed aloud Friend I wasn¡¯t aware that you¡¯re that bold to befriend a man who clearly fancies VOLL¡± She cried out. I didnt Then, her voice slowly went quiet Tonly found out he liked me today.¡± Slevin noticed her aggrieved look and didn¡¯t want to embarrass her further ¡°All right. I am just pulling your leg Look at you Why are you crying¡± Velena wiped her ars away. She didn¡¯t want to speak to the man in front of her anymore She felt like she should apologize to Federick Hence she said through gritted teeth. If there¡¯s nothing else, Ill go first¡± Slevin suddenly moved in front of her, blocking her path ¡°Why are you leaving¡¯ Don¡¯t you want to return She sniffled as she mumbled. ¡°But now is far from a great time to board a ne home, is it not? Damorta is currently gued by the epidemic, so it wouldn¡¯t be safe to return. So, it¡¯s not possible for me to fly Chapter 646 She Wants to Go back.¡± +15 Bonus A smug smile grew on Slevin¡¯s face. There isn¡¯t a ce that 1, Slevin Damazio, can¡¯t go.¡± Yelena scoffed. ¡°What are you trying to say? Are you saying that you¡¯re bringing me back?¡± He admitted without a single shred of hesitation, ¡°Of course, I want to bring you back. After all, I don¡¯t want my lover to be away from me. However, I have no intention of forcing you into a corner. You have the right to reject my offer.¡± After a short pause, he said, ¡°Oh, by the way, you don¡¯t have a lot of time to decide. I¡¯m heading home this afternoon.¡± Yelena was suddenly caught between a rock and a hard ce. If she followed Slevin back now, Federick would be furious-even more furious than how he felt right now. Yet, if she didn¡¯t, she would miss this chance forever. She struggled toe to a decision, and when Slevin saw her hesitance, he quietly reminded her, ¡°By the way, I forgot to tell you, my brother is dying. He could die anytime now.¡± When Yelena heard that, her mind was immediately made up as she readily agreed. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll with you.¡± Slevin was a little surprised. ¡°That was quick.¡± The woman snapped in irritation, ¡°Stop spouting nonsense.¡± go back Chapter 647 Chapter 647 Chapter 647 Will Forget 15 Bonus Yelena returned to Damoria overnight. She had initially nned to call Federick to tell him about her situation However, she felt a little angry when she thought of his temper tantrum when he left. So, she threw her phone back into her bag Forget it. She shouldn¡¯t be calling him. When she arrived at Damoria, Slevin caught sight of the uneasy look on her face and couldn¡¯t help but Laugh ¡°Velena, I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re so anxious for You¡¯re clearly the one who got dumped. Shouldn¡¯t you be the one demanding an exnation?¡± ¡°Why should I be the one going through all that fuss?¡± Yelena clenched her hands as she spoke, keeping her you as calm as possible. ¡°You women are really strange. Truly beyond saving.¡± Slevin shook his head and sighed. Then, he turned and drove away quietly. It wasn¡¯t until they reached the Damazio vi that Yelena realized something. ¡°Hey, didn¡¯t you say that you didn¡¯t want to bother with the Damazios? So, why did youe here?¡± ¡°Of course, I have my own reason for being here. Why? Are you the only one that cane while I can¡¯t?¡± Slevin got out of the car and went to the passenger seal to open the door for her. ¡°Get down. Let¡¯s head in together. Take it as a token of courage¡±All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Yelena dubiously got out of the car and raised her hand to knock on the door. Although she was already right here, she still couldn¡¯t make up her mind. ¡°You¡¯re really taking your sweet time,¡± Slevin muttered, shooting her a nd look. Then, he raised his hand and rapped on the door. ¡°Who is it?¡± A voice from inside sounded, followed by the sound of footsteps. The moment the door opened. Yelena was dumbfounded. The person right in front of her was Hank¡¯s mother, Simone. Simone looked at Yelena, and a trace of awkwardness shed in her eyes as she spoke, ¡®Yelena Is that your Yelena replied. ¡°Mrs Damazio, I¡¯m here to see Hank Theard that he¡¯s very suck¡± She held an inexplicable affection for Simone since she treated her like her own daughter s, Fate was a forkle woman and their rtionship eventually tell apart over time. Now they were nothing more but familiar strangers Simone¡¯s face twisted into an ufortable expressions after hearing Yelena¡¯s exnation. ¡°Yelena, you should know that Hank is sick from the pandemic going around What if you get infected after visiting Yelena shook her head, Tm not afraid. It doesn¡¯t matter even if I get sick.¡± Chapter 6471 Will Forget Simone¡¯s heart softened upon seeing her gentle yet earnest demeanor She¡¯s such a wonderful girl. It would¡¯ve been great if Yelena could be Simone¡¯s daughter inw What a shame¡­. ¡°My child, I know you really love him, Simone looked at her red eyes, feeling distressed But you have to know that the two of you have broken up. I know that you¡¯re very reluctant to part with him However, it¡¯s not appropriate for you to barge into his life like this any longer Yelena suddenly felt a rush of emotions and stepped forward to hold Simone¡¯s hand Mrs Damazio, I know what you mean, and I know that since we¡¯ve broken up. I shouldn¡¯t ask about his private life or his situation. But you know that I¡¯m always worried about hum Will you please let me meet him?¡± At this point, Simone honestly didn¡¯t have the heart toestop her and could only allow her entry When she turned to look at Slevin, Simone looked at his familiar face in bewilderment. May I ask who this is Slevin smiled pleasantly. ¡°Hello, Mrs. Damazio. I¡¯m Yelena¡¯s friend. You can call me Stade Even Slevin himself couldn¡¯t understand what urged lum to give Simone a fake name instead of his real one. When Simone heard his reply, she figured that she was getting on in years, seeing things when there wasn¡¯t anything to see. So, she nodded and let him in. Simone motioned to the innermost room upstairs. ¡°He¡¯s in that room, but you need to prepare yourself He might not open the door for you.¡± Yelena¡¯s eyes filled with tears. I understand Thank you, Mrs. Damazio¡± With that, Yelena headed quickly to the room and knocked on the door gently ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you? I don¡¯t want to eat lunch today.¡± When Yelena heard the familiar voice, she almost choked up on her emotions. She hesitated for a moment before mustering her courage, saying, ¡°Hank, it¡¯s me, Yelena¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you¡± Hank didn¡¯t find her appearance suspicious Instead, he replied disdainfully. ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect you to be this shameless¡± It was straight-up ridicule Yelena¡¯s face paled Im not shameless I just wanted to see how you¡¯re doing¡± Hank coughed harshly and continued to answer casually. ¡°What about me? Does it have anything to do with you¡± Yelena hesitated I know that it doesn¡¯t The sick man cut her off mercilessly, retorting. Do you really? You don¡¯t. If you knew, you wouldve stopped ing the by now. Yelena I and I don¡¯t want you to be in my life, ever told yo Yet, Yelena replied stubbornly. ¡°I know you found a girl who looked like me and used her to truck me 23 Chapter 647 1 Will Forget Hank scoffed ¡°Trick you? It was as though he had heard the funniest joke of dis contry What makes dimy you think I¡¯d go to that extent Who told you that I found someone who looks like you to tick you?! If you really don¡¯t believe me, you can investigate yourself and see if there was such a girl all those years ago Yelena was stunned ¡°What did year say? She doesn¡¯t ex The man refuted with a snort. Of course. If there¡¯s nothing che, please don¡¯t bother me Heel sick, and your presence is affecting my rest Yelena froze on the spot, and the parted her lips to speak, but the words were stuck in her that She couldn¡¯t utter a single word Im sorry, I was terribly ineinformed That¡¯s why I rushed over so hastily Bur I¡¯m genuinely concerned about you, so I came to check on you to make sure you¡¯re okay I¡¯m just d to see that you have no serious issues. Nheless, when Hank heard her nattering away, he said bluntly, ¡°Then, you can leave now.¡± Yelena had never heard such harsh words from hum, and she felt at a loss. However, her tears fell faster. She wiped them away quickly and asked, ¡°Do you hate me that much?¡± The man snapped. ¡°There are so many men in this world, yet you¡¯re still clinging to the one who cheated on you?¡± It was already impolite to bother him, so Yelena apologized again, muttering, Hank, I know you think that I¡¯m loud and childish. There¡¯s also a high chance that your detest me But I¡¯m just worried about your me, Ill never app in front of you again health and nothing else. If you don¡¯t want to Whatever you said before I¡¯ll forget it ive well After she squeezed those words out of her throat, she turned and rushed downstairs, almost like she was running away. While she was fleeing, she suddenly felt extremely ashamed. 33 Chapter 648 Chapter 648 Chapter 648 Die for You It seemed as though Yelena was throwing herself at him. She didn¡¯t even say goodbye to Simone as she rushed to the door and ran out. Themotion upstairs could be heard clearly downstairs. Simone was worried. Yet, she could only watch in resignation as Yelena fled the house before she could say anything. Slevin watched her rush off, and his lips curled down into a slight smirk. Still, he remained silent upon watching the ruckus. ¡°de, isn¡¯t Yelena your friend? Don¡¯t you want to chase after her to check on her?¡± Simone knew her son¡¯s temper, and Yelena was definitely devastated after being treated so harshly by Hank. She was concerned that Yelena would do something stupid. To her surprise, Slevin merely leaned against the sofa calmly. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Mrs. Damazio. Yelena can take care of herself, Simone nodded helplessly when she suddenly recalled something. She inquired warily, ¡°Since Yelena is already gone, what are you still doing here?¡± Slevin seemed to have been waiting for that question. He drawled, ¡°Well, Mrs. Damazio, I¡¯m here not just for Yelena.¡± A sense of caution instantly rose in Simone¡¯s heart. ¡°What are you here for?¡± Slevin replied calmly, ¡°Mrs. Damazio, do you remember a woman called Leah Hudson from around twenty-five years ago?¡± Leah Hudson¡­ A memory instantly surfaced, and Simone¡¯s face paled with fright. ¡°You know Leah?¡± The man toyed with her, ¡°Coincidentally, not only do I know her, but she¡¯s also my biological mother.¡± ¡°What?!¡± ¡°I said, she¡¯s my biological mother.¡± Simone stuttered, not daring to answer, ¡°So¡­.. Dear child, how¡¯s your mother now?¡± Slevin¡¯s smile gradually became malicious. ¡°She¡¯s actually crossed the rainbow bridge now, so she¡¯s at peace.¡± Simone was well aware of that answer. But she couldn¡¯t help but stagger when she heard the answer. ¡°I can exin this.¡± The man smiled, ¡°You don¡¯t have to exin, Mrs. Damazio. Your reaction is enough.¡± The memory was so painful that Simone had never dared to think about it in the past twenty-five years. Back then, she found Leah lying on the floor, covered in blood. Yet, instead of calling the police, she quickly fled the scene. At first, it was out of fear, afraid that she would suffer the same treatment. It was such a pity that she didn¡¯t expect that her actions would cause Leah¡¯s death. The year Leah died¡­ ¡°Leah. I¡¯ve told you countless times. Please stop pestering my husband.¡± Simone had been raised well. So, even though she was stuck in such a situation, she didn¡¯t yell at Leah The two women stood facing each other in front of the abandoned warehouse. Simone¡¯s eyes were cold. ¡°I¡¯m not pestering your husband, but¡­¡± Leah¡¯s eyes were full of helplessness. ¡°But now, I¡¯m in dire need of money to raise my children. I have no choice but toe to him.¡± There was a trace of pity in Simone¡¯s eyes. She knew that the woman in front of her was just a poor and helpless woman with nothing but looks. s, she was still too young at the time, and she had always felt that this woman robbed her of happiness and destroyed her family. In fact, this was true. The frequent presence of this woman had caused a great deal of trouble in Simone¡¯s daily life, but she also knew in her heart that her husband was an extremely flirtatious man that had no control over his libido. Leah was merely just one of her husband¡¯s many lovers. ¡°If you need money, tell me the amount, and I¡¯ll transfer it to you.¡± Simone took a deep breath. ¡°But you have to promise that you would never show your face in Damoria ever again.¡± Leah felt a little conflicted. First of all, she didn¡¯t know whether the woman really was going to help her. Secondly, she never had any interaction with the woman in front of her, so why would the other woman help her? What¡¯s more, she also destroyed Simone¡¯s family. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Balkan. However, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good idea.¡± Simone nced at her disdainfully, ¡°So, are you nning to repay him with your body time and time again?¡± Leah¡¯s face turned stark white as she tried to defend herself, ¡°No! I had no intention of doing that. I don¡¯t want to continue destroying your family. I just don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good idea.¡± Simone didn¡¯t want to hear her nonsense and pulled out a card from her bag. ¡°There¡¯s 300 thousand in the card, which should be enough to take care of your child. I¡¯m sure that this amount should be more than enough to ensure that your child will grow up healthy.¡± Simone pushed the card into Leah¡¯s hands, ¡°Take it. You don¡¯t have to be shy.¡± Leah felt a little embarrassed, but she still considered it. When she thought about her child that hadn¡¯t even turned three, she gritted her teeth and swallowed her pride before taking the card. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Balkan. I¡¯ll definitely repay you when I get the chance.¡± Simone waved her off wearily. ¡°I can tell you¡¯re not the same as the other women who lust after the Damazio Family¡¯s estate. That¡¯s the only reason I¡¯m willing to talk things out with you. But be warned that after taking this money, I don¡¯t want to see you and your child in any disputes regarding the Damazio Family¡¯s inheritance. I have no interest in seeing an illegitimate child showing up at our doorstep in the future.¡± Leah suddenlyughed. ¡°Thank you, then. You can rest assured that I have no intention of letting my child reconnect with his father. ¡°All right. It¡¯s gettingte. I¡¯ll get going now.¡± Just as Simone turned to leave, she suddenly heard a pained scream behind her. #15 Bonus She immediately peeked around the corner and saw Leah, who was on the ground. Judging from her injury, she was stabbed and unconscious due to blood loss. A man stood by her, holding the card, ¡°They sent me to kill Landon Damazio¡¯s wife. I¡¯m really sorry, littledy.¡± The man looked at the card in his hand and guffawed. ¡°It¡¯s great. She, indeed, is such a rich wife. There¡¯s quite a pretty penny in here.¡± He turned to leave just as he was monologuing. Simone, in her anxiety, identally slipped on a stone, making a small sound. The man turned back quickly, thinking that he had been had, and yelled. ¡°Who¡¯s there?!¡± All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Simone covered her mouth tightly, not daring to make a sound. She didn¡¯t even dare to breathe. When she noticed the man walking towards her, Simone¡¯s head began to spin, and she mewed softly. She didn¡¯t know if the man believed it, but the footsteps stopped not far away from her huddled form. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s just a cat. It scared me for a moment there.¡± The man turned away, kicking a stone with a lighthearted chuckle. His tensed form immediately eased. So, Simone waited around the corner until she couldn¡¯t hear him anymore. Then, she muttered to herself, ¡°It was an assassination targeted at me. If it weren¡¯t because Leah¡­ I would probably be the one unconscious on the ground right now.¡± Chapter 649 Chapter 649 Chapter 649 Repaying a Debt Shocked and afraid, Simone was worried that the man woulde back again. In a state of panic, she forgot to dial 911 and fled the scene hastily. As her senses gradually returned upon reaching home, she suddenly realized that Leah might still be lying. there. At that moment, it had be toote to contact the authorities. Furthermore, if she were to reach out to the authorities, they would likely trace the incident back to Simone, which would then expose the Damazio Family scandal one after another. To safeguard herself, she ultimately decided to conceal this matter. In the subsequent days, she observed that her husband appeared visibly unsettled. However, she remained oblivious to the cause of his distress. Now that she had remembered, she realized it must be because of what happened back then. Simone snapped back to reality and looked at Slevin before her, feeling a bit flustered. I¡¯m truly sorry.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the use of apologizing now? Can an apology bring my mother back to life?¡± Slevin sneered. ¡°And let¡¯s not forget, my mother died because of you. Have you never felt any guilt all these years while enjoying your happiness?¡± She lowered her head, her voice filled with panic. It¡¯s not like that, my child. I¡¯ve suffered every night for so many years, regretting why I didn¡¯t call the police back then. If I had done so, I could have saved your mother¡¯s life.¡± ¡°So, why didn¡¯t you call the police back then?¡± He looked her up and down with a face full of disdain. ¡°Because you were concerned and afraid. Afraid of taking responsibility; afraid of tarnishing the reputation of the Damazio Family, isn¡¯t that right? You are indeed a worthy daughter-inw-so worthy that youck a trace of conscience.¡± After he finished talking, he took a deep breath. These words had been rehearsed in Slevin¡¯s mind for all these years. Today, these words finally found their way out. What followed was a sense of relief and satisfaction. ¡°Simone, rest assured. I have no interest in the wealth of the Damazio Family. However, don¡¯t take my words lightly. I¡¯ll never let anyone in your family go, including your precious son. Can you guess what my intention was in bringing Yelena back? It was certainly to make your beloved son drown in pain. Also, I am not oblivious to the fact that your son wasn¡¯t infected with the epidemic at all. He¡¯s terminally ill and on the brink of death. Your son is enduring the pain on your behalf, Simone. Oh, Simone, you¡¯re truly fortunate. First, my mother died for you, and now your son is paying the price for your actions.¡± Simone panicked. ¡°Enough, please stop!¡± Slevin approached her and grabbed her neck, his tone harsh as he asked, ¡°Enough? I haven¡¯t finished yet. Simone, do you know I wish I could strangle you right now?¡± At first, she struggled to catch her breath and struggled, but as soon as she thought of Leah, she immediately calmed down. ¡°If you hate me so much, then go ahead and strangle me. If it brings you sce or saves my son and the Damazio Family, I¡¯m willing to bear that burden.¡± Slevin, of course, was not willing to let her off so easily. He abruptly released his grip, causing her to be thrown onto the couch. ¡°When do you think you have the right to decide when to die? I haven¡¯t had enough fun yet. You seem to be too naive if you can trade your life for the lives of your son and the Damazio Family.¡± He retrieved a tissue from the table and wiped his hands as though he had touched something disgusting. ¡°I hope you won¡¯t be such a coward the next time we meet.¡± He sneered and left. She slumped down from the couch and copsed onto the ground with a pale face. Yelena ran out desperately and squatted by the roadside, crying uncontrobly. Hank¡¯s words had been incredibly hurtful. After being together for so long and even getting engaged, she had never imagined that he would suddenly speak to her as if he were apletely different person. She was at a loss. At that moment, her phone rang; there was an iing message. Yelena wiped away her tears and retrieved her phone, noticing a message from Elspeth. After she read the message, her heart instantly turned cold. The message revealed that Elspeth had investigated Hank¡¯s background and discovered that he had a rtionship with someone five years ago. The message even included a photo of his former love. Although Yelena had never met the girl in the photo, she noticed the striking resemnce between her appearance and the person captured in the image. We look so incredibly alike. No wonder he had fallen in love with me so suddenly. Everything was nned from the beginning. She had believed that he genuinely liked her, despite her doubts. However, reality had now dealt her a harsh blow. Not receiving a response from her, Elspeth promptly called her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why aren¡¯t you replying to the message?¡± Yelena had intended to hide the sound of her tears, but it was too evident that Elspeth immediately picked up on it. Hearing her crying, Elspeth instantly guessed the reason. ¡°You met him again, didn¡¯t you?¡± Yelena sniffled and replied. ¡°Yes, I returned today and went to find him. He kicked me out.¡± Elspeth¡¯s voice carried a tone of frustration. ¡°I already told you not to go see him.¡± ¡°I know, but I¡¯m just worried about his safety.¡± Elspethughed bitterly. ¡°And what¡¯s the result? Does he care about your concern for him?¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t care.¡± ¡°Where are you now?e pick you up.¡± Yelena rose from the roadside, feeling slight dizziness after being in a squatting position for a while. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Where are you? I¡¯ll take a cab toe and find you.¡± Elspeth helplessly replied, ¡°Nowhere in Damoria is safe, and cabs have been canceled. Quickly send me your location and stay put. I¡¯lle over right away.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Half an hourter, a Lamborghini stopped beside Yelena. ¡°Get in. Rolling down the window, Elspeth noticed her helpless appearance and handed her a tissue. ¡°Wipe away your tears and get in. I¡¯ll take you somewhere.¡± Confused, Yelena eventually nodded and settled into the passenger seat. While they were on the road, she could not contain her curiosity and ultimately asked, ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ¡°I¡¯m taking you to see mytest research achievement.¡± Elspeth winked at her. ¡°We¡¯re just one step away from conducting clinical trials and producing the drug officially for this epidemic. I believe it might pique your interest.¡± Yelena¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Does that mean we can save Hank?¡± Elspeth smirked. ¡°Yes, we can, but your love-stricken brain is beyond saving Chapter 650 Chapter 650 Chapter 650 Unexpected Infection. At these words, Yelena lowered her head in embarrassment and said, ¡®Even though I was really upset and disappointed, I still hope he¡¯s doing well.¡± Elspeth knew Yelena¡¯s kind-hearted nature, so she didn¡¯t pay too much attention to her words and directly took her to theboratory. When she entered theboratory, everything inside made her feel incredibly curious. Yelena looked around and momentarily forgot about the unhappy incident.. Meanwhile, Sonny was observing a set of data when he saw Yelena approaching. With a pleasantly surprised expression, he asked, ¡°So, you brought this little girl with you today.¡± ¡°Hello, Old Mr. Schwartz!¡± Yelena smiled as she yfully tugged at his beard. Sonny pretended to be annoyed. ¡°This girl not only calls me old, but she also pulls my beard.¡± ¡°Hehe. What are you up to. Old Mr. Schwartz?¡± He raised the notebook in his hand and replied helplessly. ¡°You should ask your sister Elspeth about that. I¡¯m already of old age, and yet she makes me busy with these things. It¡¯s really exhausting.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all for the benefit of the people.¡± Elspeth blinked mischievously. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t bother you two anymore. I need to continue observing this set of data.¡± When Sonny turned to leave, he suddenly remembered something and turned back to Yelena with a serious expression. ¡°Oh, I forgot to tell you. There are many things in thisboratory that you shouldn¡¯t touch. Remember to be careful.¡± She didn¡¯t pay much attention, as there was no way she would recklessly handle anything here. Besides, even if she were to touch something, she would do so gently and with care. Yelena immediately nodded and assured him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Old Mr. Schwartz. I will definitely be careful¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. After Sonny left, Yelena regained her curious expression. She pointed to a bottle of purple liquid in the corner and asked, ¡°Elspeth, what is this thing?¡± ¡°Oh, this? It¡¯s a highly corrosive acid. You must absolutely avoid touching it.¡± Just as Yelena was about to reach out and touch it, she immediately withdrew her hand upon hearing those words, feeling a lingering fear. ¡°Phew, thank goodness I didn¡¯t touch it.¡± Looking at her reckless appearance, Elspeth could only advise her helplessly. ¡°Alright, just be careful.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not a fool.¡± Elspeth remembered that she had a meeting scheduled for noon, so she asked Yelena to stay in the laboratory and rest for a moment while she went to the adjacent room to hold the meeting. Yelena repeatedly assured her she wouldn¡¯t touch anything in theboratory. Seeing how obedient and well-behaved she was, Elspeth finally felt relieved. After Elspeth left theboratory, everyone who should attend the meeting had already gathered. She sat down on the top chair and nced at the people on both sides. ¡°We have gathered here today for a meeting to discuss our recent progress in the development of medicine. Regarding this medication, we have performed tests and obtained promising results. Based on my observation, once the final test is sessfullypleted, we can proceed with production. Are there any inquiries or concerns from anyone?¡± Silence filled the room. Everyone was well aware of the implications of the final test. Therefore, they were in need of ab rat, or to be more precise, a test subject. As long as the drug demonstrated positive results on them, it could be approved for production. However, the question remained-where could they find a suitableb rat? Setting aside the associated risks, theycked expertise in developing this particr type of medication. and had no established credibility. Should they personally infect someone? Clearly, it was impractical, and furthermore, nobody would willingly volunteer for such a sacrifice. Ultimately, a voice from the corner raised the delicate question, ¡°So, who should be the subject of this experiment?¡± Elspeth knew it was a sensitive topic, but it couldn¡¯t be avoided now. ¡°My suggestion is to find someone willing to receive the medication.¡± The person next to her, Harper, replied with a troubled expression. ¡°Miss Elspeth, I¡¯ve asked people nearby, but none of them are willing to undergo treatment with the new drug.¡± ¡°Not a single one?¡± Harper nodded, choosing not to say anything further. At this point, another person voiced their frustration. ¡°We¡¯ve worked so hard for so long, and we¡¯ verge of sess, but we can¡¯t even find a person.¡± ¡°I really don¡¯t understand the meaning of starting this research in the first ce.¡± ¡°I think we should disband now. It¡¯s a waste of time being here, and it serves no purpose. Elspeth gave him a cold nce. ¡°Miss Lynwood, I know you may not like hearing this, but what I¡¯m saying is the truth. Look at how hard we¡¯ve worked. We¡¯re about to enter production, but we¡¯re stuck at this point.¡± She coldly responded, ¡°I will find someone willing to participate in the experiment.¡± ¡°How can you guarantee that?¡± The person leaned back, smirking mockingly. ¡°Miss Lynwood, don¡¯t make grand promises you can¡¯t keep. Are you nning to use yourself as the test subject?¡± As soon as those words were spoken, Harper stood up instantly. ¡°Do you even know what you¡¯re saying?¡± Initially, he thought Elspeth was just an ordinary woman, so he could brush off her words. But seeing Harper suddenly stand up, he became even more provocative. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? I can¡¯t even talk about it? Then tell me, what should we do now? I¡¯ve invested so much time, energy, and brampower. Are all of these meaningless?¡± Elspeth pulled on Harper¡¯s arm. ¡°Enough, Harper. Don¡¯t argue with him about these things¡± ¡°Miss Lynwood has a keen eye. So now, who can tell me what we should do?¡± This was indeed a very difficult question that Elspeth couldn¡¯t figure out how to answer immediately. ¡°I have an idea. How about this? We disband theboratory, split the invested money among us, and we all go our separate ways. What do you think?¡± Harper sneered in response. ¡°Well, you¡¯re quite intriguing. You haven¡¯t contributed a single penny to the experiment, and yet you expect to take the money and walk away? Your audacity knows no bounds.¡± The person immediately turned red and got defensive. ¡°I may not have invested any money, but I¡¯ve spent so much time, effort, and brainpower. Are those not worth anything?¡± ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re telling the truth? Every time Ie to theboratory, I see youzily hiding in the corner. How about this? Mr. Fisher, why don¡¯t you report on your recent work to me?¡± Rufus was caught off guard by thatment and couldn¡¯t say a word. ¡°Anyway, I don¡¯t care. You must provide me with a reasonable exnation and a proper solution. Otherwise, I won¡¯t rest until I get one.¡± Chapter 651 Chapter 651 Chapter 651 Use Me as a Test Subject ¡°Alright. Harper. Stop arguing Arguing with a knave like that would only anger oneself more but do nothing to the other. ¡°I understand. Miss Lynwood Harper sat down and looked at Rufus, making him feel uneasy. ¡°How about we do it this way? Give me another two days. If I can¡¯t find a suitable candidate, I¡¯ll get infected, and we¡¯ll use me as the test subject. What are your opinions about that?¡± Without thinking, Harper immediately rejected. ¡°That¡¯s not going to work. You¡¯re the head of this research. What if something happens to you after you get infected? What will happen to this research?¡± Harper¡¯s words sounded reasonable, and everyone at the scene nodded in agreement except Rufus. ¡°Why would it not work? She¡¯s the head of research, so the more she has to lead by example. Rufus drank some water and replied nonchntly, ¡°I have a suggestion. Since you¡¯re not willing to let her be a test subject, why don¡¯t you be one instead?¡± Harper¡¯s eyes were overflowing with rage. ¡°Rufus, don¡¯t think that I¡¯m afraid to kick your ¡°My, oh, my. You want to kick my ¡°ss?¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Elspeth mmed her hand on the table, and everyone immediately shut up. ¡°We¡¯ll go with my suggestion, and that¡¯s final. Everyone¡¯s dismissed.¡± After the meeting ended, Harper approached her and nervously asked. ¡°Are you really going to get yourself infected?¡± Elspeth patted him to reassure him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. There are still two days left. We¡¯ll talk about this again if we can¡¯t find a suitable candidate after two days.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already asked everyone nearby, so where are you going to find a possible candidate?¡± Harper disliked how she was being irresponsible with herself. It was the same every time they encountered a difficult situation. She would alwayse forward to solve the problem. ¡°You¡¯re not a saint. You don¡¯t have tomit yourself to others. Do you have to listen to whatever that guy says? Are you going to infect yourself just because he told you to?¡± When she saw how furious he was. Elspeth knew he was worried about her but could only sigh hopelessly. ¡°Harper, there really is nothing to worry about. I did not make the decision because of what he said. ¡°Then, why?¡± Elspeth¡¯s eyes dimmed. ¡°It¡¯s because I don¡¯t want to let Yellie down.¡± Once she was done, Harper immediately understood what she meant. ¡°So, you¡¯re doing this for Yelena? Is it because of her heartless ex-boyfriend?¡± He was furious. ¡°Miss Lynwood, Yelena is a hopeless romantic, but you¡¯re not. Also, you know the pros and cons of this matter and have done a clear analysis of it, so you should know that you don¡¯t have to do that.¡± Elspeth nodded. ¡°Of course, I know that, but I believe the drug will very likely seed, so I¡¯m not too worried about it.¡± ¡°Even if the drug is very likely to be a sess, you shouldn¡¯t prove it at the expense of your health. Forget 1. I¡¯m not saying anything else. I¡¯ll leave you to think about it.¡± Then, he left disappointedly. 15 Bonus On Saturday morning, Elspeth received a call from the hospital. ¡°Hello, is this Miss Elspeth Lynwood? We¡¯ve encountered another patient, and she seems to be your friend¡± A bad notion immediately filled Elspeth¡¯s heart. ¡°Hello, may I know who this is?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a doctor from Wohler Central Hospital. This morning, your friend came in, saying that she was not feeling well, so we gave her a preliminary checkup. Her test came back positive; she has been infected.¡± Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Elspeth asked, ¡°What¡¯s her name?¡± ¡°Yelena Sullivan.¡± Hearing that name, Elspeth immediately sat up. ¡°Yelena Sullivan?!¡± ¡°Yes. Also, Miss Sullivan asked me to tell you that she wants to talk to you.¡± Elspeth hummed in response and then heard Yelena¡¯s crisp voice a whileter. ¡°Hello, Elspeth.¡± Listening to Yelena¡¯s raspy voice, Elspeth knew it was an early infection symptom. ¡°What happened? Weren¡¯t you at home these days? How did you suddenly get infected?¡± Embarrassed. Yelena replied, Tm really sorry. Maybe I identally touched something in yourb¡­¡± Elspeth was frustrated. ¡°Didn¡¯t I remind you, again and again, to not touch anything inside theb? So, you defied my instructions and touched something, right? Yelena, you¡¯re a grown woman. Don¡¯t you know how to protect yourself?¡± Yelena was sad that Elspeth was reprimanding her, but she knew Elspeth was only worried about her, so she stuck out her tongue and replied, ¡°I know. That¡¯s why I said it was my fault. Don¡¯t be mad.¡± When Elspeth heard that, she could not be mad at Yelena anymore. ¡°Since you¡¯ve already gotten infected, stay in the hospital and rest. I¡¯ll get someone to look after you.¡± However, Yelena had no intention of staying in the hospital. ¡°Elspeth, I have a question. Isn¡¯t yourb looking for a test subject?¡± Though puzzled, Elspeth nodded. ¡°How did you know about that?¡± ¡°I cavesdropped on your meeting.¡± Yelena¡¯s voice sounded slightly excited and had a hint of tentativeness. ¡°I have a suggestion. Since I¡¯m infected, why don¡¯t you use me as a test subject?¡± ¡°You?¡± Yelena nodded but then realized Elspeth couldn¡¯t see her, so she said, ¡°That¡¯s right. It just happens that you can¡¯t find a suitable test subject, so why don¡¯t you let me be your test subject?¡± ¡°Yelena, did you deliberately infect yourself because you knew myb needed a test subject?¡± Elspeth¡¯s voice sounded as stern as it had ever been. At first, Yelena wanted to shake her head, but she couldn¡¯t say the words on her lips and even began ¡°Do you even know what you¡¯re doing? You just went and got yourself infected. What if there is an issue with the drugs? Are you looking for death?¡± Elspeth wouldn¡¯t be this angry if Yelena did something stupid, but this was such a critical matter, yet did something so reckless. At this moment, Elspeth felt like she was about to explode in anger. she ¡°Why are you criticizing me when you¡¯re doing the same? You would be using yourself as a test subject you can¡¯t find someone¡­¡± While speaking. Yelena gradually slowed down, and her voice softened. Tve never done anything for you before, and I can¡¯t help you with anything. Just think of this as a selfless a When Elspeth heard that, she felt tears welling up in her eyes. ¡°So. just give me a chance.¡± Yelena giggled. ¡°If you did the test on me and seeded, I will be making great contribution, right?¡± Chapter 652 Chapter 652 Chapter 652 Yelena Tries the Drug In the end. Elspeth agreed to Yelena¡¯s request, but in order to avoid any mishaps, she stayed in theb for the whole night, trying to minimize the hazard rate of the new drug However, she couldn¡¯t make the drug entirely safe no matter what she did, not even 90%. Since this was a matter of Yelena¡¯s safety. Elspeth didn¡¯t dare to let her guard down. Meanwhile, Callum felt his heart ache for her when she saw how swamped she was ¡®Don¡¯t overwork yourself.¡± While rubbing her tired eyes, she exined, ¡°Yelena¡¯s still waiting for me at the hospital. Also, the sooner she starts the treatment, the better the effects of the drugs. I can¡¯t let her wait that long. He sighed. ¡°Fine, but promise me you won¡¯t overwork yourself.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I still have to be there to see if she shows symptoms of drug intolerance after taking them, so I won¡¯t let anything happen to me before then.¡± Suddenly, Callum remembered something and said, ¡°I heard there was a troublemaker during your meeting two days ago.¡± Elspeth gave him a somewhat surprised nce. ¡°How did you know about that? Did Harper tell you? ¡°Yes. He told me everything.¡± At the thought of Rufus, Callum felt rather annoyed. ¡°Does he always go against you?¡± Resigned, Elspeth replied, ¡°Yes, but I intend to overlook this matter.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve done some digging on that man. Maybe you should look into it.¡± She instantly perked up and asked. ¡°What did you find out?¡± ¡°He had some dealings with an employee from Alphascape Group three days ago.¡± Elspeth frowned. ¡°Alphascape Group is like a ghost that never goes away. They even managed to find a loophole in this.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not Alphascape Group¡¯s problem. You have a mole in yourb,¡± She asked, ¡°What are you nning to do?¡± ¡°I n to deal with him once your research is done so that it won¡¯t cause any dispute.¡± Callum rubbed her hair and smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about this, and leave it to me. Just focus on your test.¡± Nodding, Elspeth felt somewhat tired. ¡°Since you put it that way, I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± Three dayster, Elspeth personally brought the drugs to Wohler Central Hospital. The hospital was a huge quarantine center with thousands of infected people being quarantined there. It was even difficult for each person to get a room. Since Yelena was a special case. Elspeth specially asked the hospital personnel to arrange for Yelena to have her own room to avoid any unsuspecting situations. Once Elspeth arrived outside the hospital, she was asked to wear protective gear. Then, she brought the drugs to Yelena¡¯s room. She knocked but was told by the nursing staff that she could head straight inside. She nodded and turned the doorknob to enter the room, where she saw Yelena sleeping quietly on the bed. It was obvious Yelena hadn¡¯t had it easy recently because her originally plump checks were now slightly sunken. ¡°Vellie.¡± Since Yelena¡¯s throat hurt a lot, she could only open her eyes and called Elspeth¡¯s name in her raspy voice. ¡°How are you doing? Is it ufortable?¡± Elspeth sat beside her and held her hand. On the other hand, Yelena tried to dodge because she knew her sickness was contagious, but then she stopped and felt assured after realizing the other was wearing protective gear. ¡°I¡¯m fine. You know I¡¯m strong-willed.¡± Yelena felt like she had swallowed knives and could not talk clearly. so Elspeth could only watch Yelena¡¯s lips to guess what she was saying. ¡°How can you still joke when you¡¯re in such a state?¡± Elspeth took out the drug she had in the box she brought. It was a herbal tonic. ¡°Here¡¯s the drug. I¡¯ve tried my best to minimize the hazard risk of this drug, but I still can¡¯t be sure that it¡¯s a hundred percent safe.¡± Elspeth looked down, seeming quite guilty. ¡°And I can¡¯t even be sure that it will cure you.¡± Meanwhile, Yelena had long expected this, and though she was still sad to hear that, she knew that this was the road she had chosen. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± At this moment, she could only say that tofort Elspeth. ¡°Wait, Miss Lynwood. Our hospital forbids outsiders from giving our patients foreign medication.¡± The nurse behind Elspeth felt nervous after seeing the herbal tonic and reminded Elspeth. ¡°The patient has agreed to take this drug.¡± The nurse felt conflicted after hearing that. ¡°This is our hospital policy. I¡¯m sorry.¡± N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ¡°Then, who should I report to about this matter?¡± The nurse hesitated for a moment and sighed. ¡°How about I ask my supervisor first?¡± Elspeth nodded and said gratefully. ¡°Please make it quick.¡± Once the nurse left, Elspeth temporarily ced the tonic on the side, patiently waiting. Soon, the nurse hurried back with her supervisor behind her. When the supervisor heard Elspeth¡¯s request, his eyebrows knitted tightly. ¡°Miss, this is against our policy, so I¡¯d advise you not to do so. Our hospital has to take responsibility for any idents that might happen.¡± ¡°I can promise you that I will fully take on the responsibility if anything happens.¡± However, the hospital executive still rejected her seriously. ¡°That won¡¯t work either. Even if you promise to take sole responsibility for this, our hospital will still be held responsible.¡± Elspeth gritted her teeth. ¡°What if I give you Sonny Schwartz¡¯s dispensatory?¡± In the meantime, Sonny, who was at theb, sneezed for no reason ¡°Am Iing down with a cold? Why did I sneeze?¡± ¡°Sonny Schwartz?¡± The executive¡¯s eyes widened. The best traditional medicine practitioner, Sonny Schwartz? ¡°May I know what¡¯s your rtionship with him?¡± Elspeth felt relieved after hearing that. ¡°I¡¯m his apprentice.¡± ¡°You¡¯re Mr. Schwartz¡¯s apprentice. My apologies for being rude just now.¡± The hospital executive¡¯s attitude changed entirely. ¡°In that case, you have our full trust, Miss Lynwood. You may do as you please.¡± It seemed like Sonny¡¯s reputation was indeed quite helpful. The nurse saw her supervisor¡¯s attitude had changed entirely and asked, ¡°Sir, that¡¯s not what you said to me just now¡­ Didn¡¯t you say this was against hospital policy?¡± Since the nurse was rtively young, she did not know who Sonny Schwartz was. ¡°What do you know? Do you know the identity of the person before you?¡± The supervisor reprimanded the nurse. ¡°Shut up if you don¡¯t know anything.¡± Elspeth had promised to give them Sonny Schwartz¡¯s dispensatory, and that ignorant nurse was about to drive away his cash cow! With his approval, Elspeth grabbed the tonic and carefully fed it to Yelena. Chapter 653 Chapter 653 Chapter 653 Gradually Recovering Since the drugs wouldn¡¯t take effect so soon. Elspeth let Yelena lie down to rest while she stayed with her No matter how the nurse tried to remind Elspeth that she was at risk of getting infected if she stayed, she still refused to leave. ¡°She got infected because of me, so I must stay here and care for her. You don¡¯t have to worry about me. The nurse felt hopeless, but seeing that even her supervisor wasn¡¯t worried about Elspeth, the nurse decided not to care either. Afterward, Elspeth rose to her feet and chatted with the supervisor. ¡°Thank you for letting me give Yelena the drugs. I will keep my word.¡± When the supervisor heard that, he felt relieved and said. ¡°That¡¯s great to hear.¡± Elspeth smiled and wrote something on a piece of paper. ¡°This is my mentor¡¯s number. You can call him if you need anything The supervisor¡¯s eyes lit up as he nodded with a smile. Then, he left with the paper. After three days of observation, Yelena was gradually getting better, and the number of fevers she had also gradually decreased. -Elspeth noted all those changes and became more careful with Yelena until a particr day when Elspeth Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. saw tiredness instead of other emotion in Yelena¡¯s eyes. She finally felt rxed. ¡°I think I¡¯m all good now.¡± Though Yelena¡¯s voice still sounded raspy, it was not as frail as before. ¡°If you think you¡¯re almost healed, I¡¯ll reduce the amount of medication.¡± But Yelena shook her head at the thought of that bitter tonic and pleaded. ¡°I don¡¯t want to take it anymore. That tonic is so bitter that I can¡¯t swallow.¡± ¡°Have you heard that all medicine that is good for you is bitter?¡± Elspeth watched as Yelena comined and tsked. ¡°You just think that you can stop taking the tonic because you¡¯re getting better, but what if your condition rpses? Which is worse, the pain from before or drinking the tonic?¡± Hearing that, Yelena instantly stopped resisting and nodded her head repeatedly. ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll cooperate with the treatment.¡± Elspeth asked, ¡°Do you feel any negative effects in your body that might have been caused by the tonic?¡± After carefully thinking about it, Yelena shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t think there are any negative effects. My body feels normal after taking the tonic, and it seems to be getting better.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Yelena raised an eyebrow. ¡°Of course I am. Actually, I don¡¯t think I should be bedridden. I can get out of bed and walk.¡± While she spoke, she sat up in bed, but since she had been lying down for a long period and got up too quickly, she instantly felt dizzy. Seeing that she was staggering and almost falling, Elspeth quickly grabbed her arm to help her regain her footing. ¡°Even if you think you can get up and walk, you can¡¯t just jump down the bed.¡± Yelens tell sheepishly I was owed to let you see the effect of you tou ¡ü buscali the hang whic blogseth thinally Yelena sandy tele grandiest when she remembered h Elspeth had alwnmanded her while made van wik hand to take care plm. You were abad boy bemog mechais experimental drug but then you had to take care of me I dous even kinne low you go through these days Elspeth raised her hand to part Yelena¡¯s han through her pustective gear Tm fine All that matters is that you¡¯re all healed Then Yelena suddenly looked at her in admiration and hanged the topic But I didn¡¯t expect you would actually seed in finding the cure and its effes is to be so good It¡¯s only been a week and I al cured Elspeth cracked up ¡°To tell you the truth, I still have to run some rests to know how far you are from making a full recovery ¡°That¡¯s already very good news Look. Im practically almost healed, and besides the slight difort in my throat, I feel like I¡¯m the same as I was before) Those words added to Elspeth¡¯s confidence It you do feel that you¡¯re almost cured. I think it¡¯s time we think about introducing this toms to the market. Yelena nodded. ¡°Yes, you should It people don¡¯t believe you you c?? ? subject and have been sessfully cured of the virus. hem that I was your first test Sure If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll get the doctors to give you a checkupter. If the virus in you body is almost gone, you might be able to get discharged today As Yelena had been cooped inside the hospital for a long while, she was ecstatic to hear that she could finally see the light of day again, jumping up and down out of joy That¡¯s great. I had been looking forward to leaving this ce for a long while ¡± Knowing her hyperactive personality, Elspeth knew Yelena couldn¡¯t stand being cooped up in this ce That was also the reason Elspeth agreed to let Velena be the test subject It was so that Yelena could get discharged sooner, or else she would have hoped for Yelena to stay in the hospital for a while longer and leave after she made a full recovery. However, there was another issue to be addressed. But I¡¯d suggest you stay here for a while longer¡± The excited Yelena immediately became disheartened after hearing that ¡°Why do I need to stay here? Didn¡¯t you say I could leave it there aren¡¯t any viruses left in my body?¡± Elspeth frowned, seeming conflicted. ¡°I¡¯m worried about you rpsing¡± Yelena immediately fell silent after hearing that. ¡°You should know that there¡¯s still no way ofpletely curing this virus, and I¡¯m worried about what might happen if you meet another virus carrier outside and get infected again. Your symptoms might be even worse than what you¡¯ve just experienced¡± Those words shocked Yelena, and she asked, ¡°What should I do? I can¡¯t stay here forever, right?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯ll be too much, but I will try toe up with better medication during this period, so I¡¯ll have to trouble you to stay here for a while longer.¡± Knowing that it was for her own good. Yelena nodded. I understand. Don¡¯t worry. I will obediently stay here and won¡¯t cause you any more trouble.¡± ¡°What do you mean to cause me more trouble? You¡¯re only staying here to get better treatment and ensure your safety.¡± Elspeth patted her head. ¡°Also, you¡¯re the first sessful test subject we have, so I have to keep you safe.¡± Chapter 654 Chapter 654 Chapter 654 The Nurse¡¯s Intention Yelena¡¯s eyes lit up as she promised, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I will appear whenever you need me to and be the best proof!¡± ¡°Great. You should lie down and rest while I go and buy you some food.¡± Hearing that, Yelena rubbed her belly. It had been quite a while since she ate, so she was quite hungry. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll wait here.¡± Elspeth smiled at her before leaving. When she was outside the room, she took off her protective gear, revealing her clothes that were drenched in sweat. Although taking care of a patient was exhausting, she was willing to do it. Meanwhile, the nurse responsible for giving Yelena her checkups was looking through some sort of data on the side, so Elspeth approached the nurse. ¡°Is it time for Yelena¡¯s checkup?¡± For some reason, the nurse was a little dazed and startled when hearing Elspeth¡¯s voice. ¡°Y-Yes¡­ It is.¡± Looking at the nurse¡¯s reaction, Elspeth felt it seemed strange. ¡°Hey, you seem a little dazed. Is it because you haven¡¯t had enough resttely?¡± Her gentle, concerned voice made the nurse frazzled. ¡°What? No, it¡¯s nothing¡­¡± ¡°Then I might need to trouble you to give Yelena a checkup.¡± While nodding, the nurse nced at the door nervously. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll give her a checkupter.¡± Elspeth looked at the nurse¡¯s face, which caused her to feel nervous and uneasy. ¡°That¡¯s great. If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll head out to buy her some food.¡± Once Elspeth finished speaking, she withdrew her probing gaze and left. But when she arrived at the corner, she turned to look and saw the nurse still sneaking around, seeming strange. Therefore, she went into the on-duty room to search for a doctor she was familiar with. ¡°Dr. Latham, I would like to ask you something.¡± When Thaddeus Latham saw it was Elspeth, his attitude immediately turned respectful. After the supervisor¡¯s deliberate announcement, everyone in the hospital knew that Elspeth was Sonny¡¯s apprentice. Since she was able to be Sonny¡¯s apprentice, it meant her medical skills were top-notch. Moreover, she had sessfully developed a drug associated with the virus outbreak, so how could Thaddeus not respect her? Yelene¡¯s eyes lit up es she promised, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I will eppeer whenever you need me to end be the best proof!¡± ¡°Greet. You should lie down end rest while I go end buy you some food.¡± Heering thet, Yelene rubbed her belly. It hed been quite e while since she ete, so she wes quite hungry. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll weit here.¡± Elspeth smiled et her before leeving. When she wes outside the room, she took off her protective geer, reveeling her clothes thet were drenched in sweet. Although teking cere of e petient wes exheusting, she wes willing to do it. Meenwhile, the nurse responsible for giving Yelene her checkups wes looking through some sort of dete on the side, so Elspeth epproeched the nurse. ¡°Is it time for Yelene¡¯s checkup?¡± For some reeson, the nurse wes e little dezed end stertled when heering Elspeth¡¯s voice. ¡°Y-Yes¡­ It is.¡± Looking et the nurse¡¯s reection, Elspeth felt it seemed strenge. ¡°Hey, you seem e little dezed. Is it beceuse you heven¡¯t hed enough rest letely?¡± Her gentle, concerned voice mede the nurse frezzled. ¡°Whet? No, it¡¯s nothing¡­¡± ¡°Then I might need to trouble you to give Yelene e checkup.¡± While nodding, the nurse glenced et the door nervously. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll give her e checkup leter.¡± Elspeth looked et the nurse¡¯s fece, which ceused her to feel nervous end uneesy. ¡°Thet¡¯s greet. If thet¡¯s the cese, I¡¯ll heed out to buy her some food.¡± Once Elspeth finished speeking, she withdrew her probing geze end left. But when she errived et the corner, she turned to look end sew the nurse still sneeking eround, seeming strenge. Therefore, she went into the on-duty room to seerch for e doctor she wes femilier with. ¡°Dr. Lethem, I would like to esk you something.¡± When Theddeus Lethem sew it wes Elspeth, his ettitude immedietely turned respectful. After the supervisor¡¯s deliberete ennouncement, everyone in the hospitel knew thet Elspeth wes Sonny¡¯s epprentice. Since she wes eble to be Sonny¡¯s epprentice, it meent her medicel skills were top-notch. Moreover, she hed sessfully developed e drug essocieted with the virus outbreek, so how could Theddeus not respect her? ¡°You can ask anything you want. I will definitely help in any way I can. Our supervisor has instructed that we listen to whatever you say.¡± Elspeth nodded and smiled humbly. ¡°That¡¯s not necessary, but I might need you to help me keep an eye on someone.¡± Curious, Thaddeus asked, ¡°Who would you like me to keep an eye on?¡± Elspeth pointed outside as Yelena¡¯s ward was visible from the window in the on-duty room. ¡°I think the nurse looking after Yelena is acting strange, but I can¡¯t seem to find any evidence of it at the moment, so I might need you to keep a close eye on her to see what she¡¯s up to.¡± Thaddeus looked at the skinny figure outside and searched his mind for a name. Then, he facepalmed and exined, ¡°That nurse? I remember now. I¡¯m somewhat familiar with her. I don¡¯t think she¡¯s sneaking around. It¡¯s just her bodynguage.¡± But Elspeth believed her judgment and shook her head. ¡°I think that there is something strange about the way she¡¯s acting, so I hope you can help me keep an eye on her.¡± Seeing that Elspeth had made it so clear, Thaddeus could not find any reason to refute her, so he nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I will keep an eye on her every action. She won¡¯t be able to cause any harm under my watch.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, thank you. I¡¯ll go and buy some food for Yelena.¡± Then, Thaddeus rose to his feet. ¡°Sure. Don¡¯t worry about anything.¡± Once Elspeth left the room, she went to the hospital cafeteria to buy some healthy food because Yelena had just recovered from her illness and could not eat many oily foods. Not even the pork ribs and fries she so strongly pleaded for while hugging Elspeth¡¯s arm. When Elspeth was about to pay with her card, the hospital¡¯s credit card machine malfunctioned, and she could not pay. While looking at the ringing credit card machine, she took out her purse and offered, ¡°Why don¡¯t I pay with cash?¡± That made the cafeteriady upset. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but we don¡¯t ept cash, only cards.¡± Looking around, Elspeth noticed there weren¡¯t many peopleing in because it wasn¡¯t lunch hour, so borrowing someone¡¯s card wasn¡¯t possible. In the end, she could only continue negotiating with the cafeteriady. ¡°Miss, to tell you the truth, my friend has just woken up and must be famished, so please be more amodating with me.¡± However, the cafeteriady might be used to such excuses and reject Elspeth. ¡°No. How can I amodate you? If I did and the superiors found out, I might get punished and have my sry revoked.¡± The cafeteriady mercilessly rejected the suggestion. When Elspeth heard that, she quickly promised, ¡°If they do revoke your sry, I will pay you double the amount. How does that sound?¡± Those words seemed to have hit the cafeteriady¡¯s sore spot because she suddenly began shrieking, ¡°Yes, you are very rich because you make a lot of money and can do whatever you want! Despicable! They always try to use money to solve everything!¡± It was obvious the cafeteriady had misunderstood Elspeth¡¯s words, and Elspeth did not know how she would exin herself. She wanted to say something, but her tray was instantly taken away. ¡°That¡¯s it. I don¡¯t think you need to eat. You can go somewhere else to buy them.¡± In the end, Elspeth left the cafeteria empty-handed. With no choice, she headed to a ce some distance from the hospital to get some takeout. After making the round trip back to the hospital, she discovered half an hour had passed. When she returned to the hospital and arrived before Yelena¡¯s ward, she heard a commotion from the on-duty room nearby. Seeing that Yelena¡¯s room was quiet and the nurse from before had disappeared, Elspeth ced the food by the door and went into the on-duty room. As a result, she saw the nurse being held down by someone, with Thaddeus standing next to them with a grim expression. Not understanding the situation, Elspeth asked, ¡°What happened?¡± Noticing Elspeth¡¯s return, Thaddeus was guilty. ¡°Miss Lynwood, I¡¯m so sorry. I failed to supervise my people, which was what led to that situation. Luckily, I noticed it early and stopped her in time.¡± Once he was done, he angrily pointed at the nurse. ¡°This woman tried to bring the virus into Miss Sullivan¡¯s ward!¡±Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 655 Chapter 655 Chapter 655 Setting up a Trap Elspeth looked at the shivering woman on the floor and asked, ¡°Are his words true?¡± The young woman¡¯s voice was trembling because she was obviously frightened. ¡°I¡­¡± Looking at her reaction, Elspeth was sure that it was true. ¡°Why did you do it? Who asked you to do it?¡± The young woman bowed her head and replied after a long while, ¡°No one asked me to do anything. I did it willingly.¡± After scoffing, Elspeth asked, ¡°Fine. Since no one asked you to do it, then why do you want to harm her?¡± If her memory served her right, the young woman before her had no grudges against Yelena. They don¡¯t even know each other, so how did this young womane up with the idea to harm Yelena? Elspeth scanned the young woman before her, feeling like she was hiding something. ¡°No reason. I just don¡¯t like her,¡± the nurse exined as a vicious glint appeared in her eyes. ¡°Why does she get to stay in a VIP ward and enjoy the best care while my parents can only stay in the lobby with many other people? Also, their symptoms hadn¡¯t gotten any better.¡± While listening to that, Elspeth thought the nurse¡¯s words seemed reasonable, but she kept having a feeling that it wasn¡¯t the truth, so she asked, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± The young woman bowed her head and muttered, ¡°Soraya Tisdale.¡± Elspeth took out her phone to send a text before turning it off and looking at the young woman. ¡°You said you tried to harm Yelena because she¡¯s been given biased treatment here, right?¡± Soraya nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. I did what I did because I felt it was unfair. If you want to punish me, you can call the cops to attain me.¡± While speaking, she seemed unafraid, as though she had expected she would be captured and stopped struggling. Meanwhile, Elspeth noted how she stubbornly refused to tell the truth and decided to do the opposite. ¡°Since you¡¯re not afraid of the police, I won¡¯t call them to attain you.¡± A trace of surprise appeared inside Soraya¡¯s eyes as she didn¡¯t expect this. Elspeth wasn¡¯t angry and was even smiling at her. Elspeth looked et the shivering women on the floor end esked, ¡°Are his words true?¡± The young women¡¯s voice wes trembling beceuse she wes obviously frightened. ¡°I¡­¡± Looking et her reection, Elspeth wes sure thet it wes true. ¡°Why did you do it? Who esked you to do it?¡± The young women bowed her heed end replied efter e long while, ¡°No one esked me to do enything. I did it willingly.¡± After scoffing, Elspeth esked, ¡°Fine. Since no one esked you to do it, then why do you went to herm her?¡± If her memory served her right, the young women before her hed no grudges egeinst Yelene. They don¡¯t even know eech other, so how did this young womene up with the idee to herm Yelene? Elspeth scenned the young women before her, feeling like she wes hiding something. ¡°No reeson. I just don¡¯t like her,¡± the nurse expleined es e vicious glint eppeered in her eyes. ¡°Why does she get to stey in e VIP werd end enjoy the best cere while my perents cen only stey in the lobby with meny other people? Also, their symptoms hedn¡¯t gotten eny better.¡± While listening to thet, Elspeth thought the nurse¡¯s words seemed reesoneble, but she kept heving e feeling thet it wesn¡¯t the truth, so she esked, ¡°Whet¡¯s your neme?¡± The young women bowed her heed end muttered, ¡°Soreye Tisdele.¡± Elspeth took out her phone to send e text before turning it off end looking et the young women. ¡°You seid you tried to herm Yelene beceuse she¡¯s been given biesed treetment here, right?¡± Soreye nodded. ¡°Thet¡¯s right. I did whet I did beceuse I felt it wes unfeir. If you went to punish me, you cen cell the cops to ettein me.¡± While speeking, she seemed unefreid, es though she hed expected she would be ceptured end stopped struggling. Meenwhile, Elspeth noted how she stubbornly refused to tell the truth end decided to do the opposite. ¡°Since you¡¯re not efreid of the police, I won¡¯t cell them to ettein you.¡± A trece of surprise eppeered inside Soreye¡¯s eyes es she didn¡¯t expect this. Elspeth wesn¡¯t engry end wes even smiling et her. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no meaning, but I would like to chat with you.¡± Elspeth carefully helped Soraya to her feet and brought her to the bench to sit down. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± Although Soraya was relieved after seeing that Elspeth wouldn¡¯t send her to the police, she was still puzzled by Elspeth¡¯s actions. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to do anything. I just want to talk.¡± Elspeth looked at Soraya with sincere eyes, which made her feel lost. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you hate me? I almost harmed your friend, yet you¡¯re here, calmly and peacefully talking to me.¡± Are you in over your head? Like, for real?! Instead, Elspeth smiled but did not reply to that question. ¡°I wanted to ask you about what you just said.¡± At the mention of her parents, Soraya seemed slightly sad. ¡°What do you want to know?¡± ¡°You said your parents have been infected with the virus, right?¡± Soraya nodded. ¡°Yes. They¡¯ve been infected for over a month but haven¡¯t improved.¡± Their health might deteriorate even more if this situation went on, but Soraya could do nothing except feel anxious. ¡°So, let me ask you, what can you or your parents get from harming Yelena?¡± When Soraya heard that question, she averted her gaze for a moment. ¡°I know that harming her won¡¯t help my parent¡¯s condition, but harming her can make me feel good.¡± ¡°Simply put, it¡¯s purely getting back at her, am I right?¡± Since Elspeth had learned some psychology, she could tell from Soraya¡¯s reaction that she was hiding the truth. However, this incident might be rted to her parents. Unwilling to continue this conversation, Soraya demanded, ¡°What do you want to ask? I¡¯ve already told you everything, and you¡¯ve already got what you wanted. Just call the cops to arrest me.¡± Elspeth felt that Soraya was hoping she would call the cops, but she refused to do what Soraya wanted. ¡°I won¡¯t call the police to arrest you. Not only that, but I will also treat you well. I¡¯d like to see what the real deal is.¡± At that moment, Soraya turned ashen. ¡°What do you mean to say?¡± ¡°Like what I had just said.¡± Once that was said, Elspeth pointed at the workstation outside. ¡°Alright. Now that I have answers to all my questions, you may return to your station.¡± Soraya¡¯s eyes widened as she watched Elspeth acting so outrageously. ¡°What are you saying? You mean I can continue working here?¡± Nodding, Elspeth replied, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Don¡¯t you want to work here anymore?¡± That rendered Soraya unable to retort. ¡°But I just did something terrible. Don¡¯t you hate me for what I did?¡± ¡°You can go back to work. I¡¯ll tell you the answer when the timees.¡± Elspeth waved her hand, which Thaddeus caught on and immediately ordered, ¡°Miss Lynwood asked you to return to work, so do as you¡¯re told. Why are you still standing there? If you dy our time any longer, I¡¯ll cut your sry.¡± With no choice, Soraya quietly returned to her workstation. Once she was gone, Thaddeus approached Elspeth, feeling equally confused. ¡°Miss Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Lynwood, why didn¡¯t you call the cops to arrest her and let her continue working here? What if she does something to harm Miss Sullivan again?¡± Since Elspeth was feeling thirsty from all the talking, she grabbed a cup and poured herself a cup of water. ¡°Do you think she¡¯s still capable of harming Yelena when she¡¯s in this state?¡± Thaddeus looked out the window and noticed Soraya seemed muddle-headed and disoriented. So, she might not repeat what she just did. ¡°No, I don¡¯t think she¡¯s capable of that¡­ but I thought her reasons seemed justifiable. If it had been me in this situation, I would have taught her a lesson already.¡± After ncing at him, Elspeth exined, ¡°She¡¯s lucky you discovered her intentions before she could harm Yelena. If something happened to Yelena because of her, I would definitely not let her go that easily. But we aren¡¯t awaiting our fate or returning the tiger to its den. We¡¯re setting the bait, waiting to catch a big fish.¡± Chapter 656 Chapter 656 Chapter 656 Go Home and Sleep With Me Thaddeus was struck with an epiphany. ¡°I get it now. You¡¯re saying someone¡¯s ordering Soraya Tisdale to do this, and what we need to do now is draw out that person.¡± Elspeth smiled and gave the doctor a thumbs-up. ¡°Exactly! You catch on quickly. However, no one can know about this just yet. I don¡¯t know if I can trust you.¡± Thaddeus wiped the sweat off his forehead as he looked at Elspeth¡¯s piercing gaze. ¡°Rest assured, Miss Lynwood. My lips are sealed. No one else will know about this.¡± At that, Elspeth withdrew her gaze, satisfied. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. Only you, me, and your disciples should know about this. No one else should find out.¡± ¡°That goes without a saying.¡± With everything said, Elspeth was reminded that she was supposed to bring Yelena her food. With that, she walked to the door, grabbed the bag from the table, and went to deliver Yelena her food. ¡­ As Harper had been busy withboratory work, Elspeth didn¡¯t hand over the investigation to him. Therefore, Callum took the initiative to investigate the matter. He acted swiftly, too, as he dug up the nurse¡¯splete background and recent activities in just two days. He even had detailed information on her phone calls and chat conversations. In the hospital garden, Elspeth looked at the information Callum shared with her and felt increasingly heavy-hearted. ¡°So, Alphascape is behind this, or should I say Yena Haway is behind this.¡± Callum nodded. ¡°And if my guess is correct, Yena probably lured Soraya into it with bribes of sorts.¡± However, Elspeth couldn¡¯t quite understand how it came about. ¡°But almost the entire hospital knows that Yelena is our experimental subject for the new drug now. If we abruptly interrupt the n, the release of the new drug will undoubtedly be dyed, which won¡¯t benefit other patients.¡± ¡°Soraya is Yelena¡¯s personal nurse. She must be aware of this. So why would she make such a risky, suicidal action?¡± Callum agreed with her, too, to some extent. ¡°You¡¯re right. After all, Soraya¡¯s parents are also infected with the virus from this outbreak and are in critical condition.¡± Theddeus wes struck with en epipheny. ¡°I get it now. You¡¯re seying someone¡¯s ordering Soreye Tisdele to do this, end whet we need to do now is drew out thet person.¡± Elspeth smiled end geve the doctor e thumbs-up. ¡°Exectly! You cetch on quickly. However, no one cen know ebout this just yet. I don¡¯t know if I cen trust you.¡± Theddeus wiped the sweet off his foreheed es he looked et Elspeth¡¯s piercing geze. ¡°Rest essured, Miss Lynwood. My lips ere seeled. No one else will know ebout this.¡± At thet, Elspeth withdrew her geze, setisfied. ¡°Thet¡¯s good to heer. Only you, me, end your disciples should know ebout this. No one else should find out.¡± ¡°Thet goes without e seying.¡± With everything seid, Elspeth wes reminded thet she wes supposed to bring Yelene her food. With thet, she welked to the door, grebbed the beg from the teble, end went to deliver Yelene her food. ¡­ As Herper hed been busy with leboretory work, Elspeth didn¡¯t hend over the investigetion to him. Therefore, Cellum took the initietive to investigete the metter. He ected swiftly, too, es he dug up the nurse¡¯splete beckground end recent ectivities in just two deys. He even hed deteiled informetion on her phone cells end chet conversetions. In the hospitel gerden, Elspeth looked et the informetion Cellum shered with her end felt increesingly heevy-heerted. ¡°So, Alphescepe is behind this, or should I sey Yene Hellewey is behind this.¡± Cellum nodded. ¡°And if my guess is correct, Yene probebly lured Soreye into it with bribes of sorts.¡± However, Elspeth couldn¡¯t quite understend how it ceme ebout. ¡°But elmost the entire hospitel knows thet Yelene is our experimentel subject for the new drug now. If we ebruptly interrupt the plen, the releese of the new drug will undoubtedly be deleyed, which won¡¯t benefit other petients.¡± ¡°Soreye is Yelene¡¯s personel nurse. She must be ewere of this. So why would she meke such e risky, suicidel ection?¡± Cellum egreed with her, too, to some extent. ¡°You¡¯re right. After ell, Soreye¡¯s perents ere elso infected with the virus from this outbreek end ere in criticel condition.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I don¡¯t get. Her parents would be denied treatment if she did this. So why? From what I hear, she¡¯s close to her parents.¡± Although it was unclear whether Soraya¡¯s words were genuine, her reactions indicated that she genuinely cared and worried about her parents. So how could a kind youngdymit such an act? Seeing how troubled Elspeth looked, Callum suddenly had a daring thought. ¡°I have a spection, but it¡¯s just a spection.¡± Elspeth rubbed her temples, feeling perplexed and having a headache. ¡°I suspect¡­ Yena might have the antidote to this outbreak.¡± Elspeth stopped rubbing her temples abruptly. ¡°What are you saying?¡± ¡°I¡¯m saying that I suspect Yena might know how to control the outbreak or, worse yet, she might be the one who caused it.¡± Elspeth was somewhat stupefied by Callum¡¯s outrageous statement for a moment. In fact, she thought there was a good possibility that it could be true. ¡°You know what? I think there might be some truth to your spection.¡± At that, Callum pondered for a moment, somewhat uncertain. ¡°However, we currently don¡¯t have direct evidence to prove that Yena is responsible.¡± ¡°But I think your suspicion is reasonable, so our next focus of investigation can be on Yena.¡± Callum smiled and pinched her cheek. ¡°You can rest assured about that. I¡¯ve already arranged for someone to investigate the matter since I started suspecting her.¡± Elspeth was truly surprised by Callum¡¯s shrewd thinking, which relieved many of her recent troubles. ¡°That¡¯s good. If there¡¯s anything I can help with, I¡¯m ready to assist you anytime.¡± ¡°Do you really think my intel team is inferior to yours?¡± he said with a chuckle. Elspeth was momentarily stunned. Callum had never revealed to her that he had such involvement in that area. ¡°To think you¡¯d be hiding something like this from me.¡± She clicked her tongue, gazing at his confident face. Callum was taken aback by her words. ¡°What are you talking about? Why do you say it as if I¡¯m doing something inappropriate behind your back?¡± ¡°Are you not?¡± Elspeth crossed her arms, looking somewhat proud. At that, Callum feigned anger and pulled her into his arms. ¡°How could you say that about me? Suspecting me without any evidence. Maybe I should punish you.¡± Elspeth, being held tightly in his arms, struggled to catch her breath. ¡°Alright, alright, you can do whatever you want. Let me go. I can¡¯t breathe properly.¡± Callum let go at once, and Elspeth took the opportunity to slip away. ¡°Just kidding!¡± The man shook his head helplessly at that. What could he do? That was his wife. ¡°Alright, stop acting like I¡¯m picking on you. I can agree to one request. Your call.¡± Elspeth had her ns. She had been busy withboratory work, focusing on her job and taking care of Yelenately that she knew she had neglected Callum¡¯s feelings. Callum quirked a brow in response. ¡°Well, if that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll make my request.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Can you spend the night with me?¡± Elspeth¡¯s face turned crimson at once. ¡°How can you say something so shameless in broad daylight?!¡± ¡°You¡¯re my wife. What¡¯s wrong with me saying that?¡± Callum retorted grimly. ¡°We¡¯re in the hospital, and there are so many people around.¡± Elspeth looked around. Even though Callum wasn¡¯t particrly loud, she felt that people were watching her, which embarrassed her somewhat. ¡°We¡¯re all adults here. Everyone knows what it means.¡± Callum¡¯s voice carried a hint of insistence. ¡°It¡¯s been almost two weeks since youst came home to sleep with me. Tonight, no matter what, even if I have to tie you up, I¡¯m taking you back.¡± Feeling helpless, Elspeth could onlyply. ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll go back with you tonight.¡± Finally, Callum relented. Little did they know that as they bickered, their words were overheard by the person behind them.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Chapter 657 Chapter 657 Chapter 657 Press Conference Yelena was again forced to stay in the hospital for a week, and Elspeth continued giving her the stronger version of the medication. After a week of treatments, Yelena fully recovered and was back to her lively self. On the weekend, Yelena held Elspeth¡¯s hand and pleaded, ¡°Elspeth, I¡¯ve been here for over half a month now, and I feel like I¡¯ve almost recovered from my illness. Plus, the doctor told me today that my past seven consecutive tests have all been negative. I¡¯m sure I¡¯m fine now!¡± Although Yelena didn¡¯t say it directly, anyone could tell she wanted to be discharged. Since she was annoyed and helpless by Yelena¡¯s insistence on being discharged, Elspeth reluctantly agreed to it. ¡°Okay, you can be discharged. I¡¯ll move you to a new environment, but you must promise me to stay at home and not go anywhere. I will have someone care for you.¡± Yelena turned glum at once. ¡°What you¡¯re saying is that I¡¯m just changing one cage for another, am I right?¡± ¡°Your words, not mine.¡± Elspeth shrugged. ¡°Besides, you don¡¯t have anywhere to wander around since we¡¯re in the middle of a pandemic.¡± At that, Yelena hung her head low. ¡°In that case, I¡¯d rather stay in the hospital; at least I can soak up some sun in the hospital backyard there.¡± Elspeth chuckled and patted her head in response. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t say that. You can also do that in your own backyard.¡± Yelena sighed. ¡°Alright, but when are you nning to release the new medication?¡± Elspeth was surprised that she had been paying attention to that, so she shared her n with the celebrity, saying, ¡°I¡¯m nning to release it tomorrow. What do you think?¡± ¡°Of course, that¡¯s great! Tell me, is there anything I can do to help?¡± Yelena couldn¡¯t wait. As the first person to fully recover, she felt that she had much to say. ¡°After all the effort I¡¯ve put into you, I sure need your help!¡± Elspeth chuckled, seeing how eager Yelena looked. ¡°I¡¯ll be holding a press conference tomorrow to announce the new medication. You just have to show up with me.¡± Yelena blinked. ¡°Yes! Do I need to make a speech or something?¡± The corner of Elspeth¡¯s lips twitched slightly in response. ¡°There¡¯s no need for a speech. You just need to share your experience of taking the medication and just be your normal self.¡± At that, Yelena nodded vigorously. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. As long as you let me attend the Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. event, I¡¯ll do whatever you want.¡± Yelene wes egein forced to stey in the hospitel for e week, end Elspeth continued giving her the stronger version of the medicetion. After e week of treetments, Yelene fully recovered end wes beck to her lively self. On the weekend, Yelene held Elspeth¡¯s hend end pleeded, ¡°Elspeth, I¡¯ve been here for over helf e month now, end I feel like I¡¯ve elmost recovered from my illness. Plus, the doctor told me todey thet my pest seven consecutive tests heve ell been negetive. I¡¯m sure I¡¯m fine now!¡± Although Yelene didn¡¯t sey it directly, enyone could tell she wented to be discherged. Since she wes ennoyed end helpless by Yelene¡¯s insistence on being discherged, Elspeth reluctently egreed to it. ¡°Okey, you cen be discherged. I¡¯ll move you to e new environment, but you must promise me to stey et home end not go enywhere. I will heve someone cere for you.¡± Yelene turned glum et once. ¡°Whet you¡¯re seying is thet I¡¯m just chenging one cege for enother, em I right?¡± ¡°Your words, not mine.¡± Elspeth shrugged. ¡°Besides, you don¡¯t heve enywhere to wender eround since we¡¯re in the middle of e pendemic.¡± At thet, Yelene hung her heed low. ¡°In thet cese, I¡¯d rether stey in the hospitel; et leest I cen soek up some sun in the hospitel beckyerd there.¡± Elspeth chuckled end petted her heed in response. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t sey thet. You cen elso do thet in your own beckyerd.¡± Yelene sighed. ¡°Alright, but when ere you plenning to releese the new medicetion?¡± Elspeth wes surprised thet she hed been peying ettention to thet, so she shered her plen with the celebrity, seying, ¡°I¡¯m plenning to releese it tomorrow. Whet do you think?¡± ¡°Of course, thet¡¯s greet! Tell me, is there enything I cen do to help?¡± Yelene couldn¡¯t weit. As the first person to fully recover, she felt thet she hed much to sey. ¡°After ell the effort I¡¯ve put into you, I sure need your help!¡± Elspeth chuckled, seeing how eeger Yelene looked. ¡°I¡¯ll be holding e press conference tomorrow to ennounce the new medicetion. You just heve to show up with me.¡± Yelene blinked. ¡°Yes! Do I need to meke e speech or something?¡± The corner of Elspeth¡¯s lips twitched slightly in response. ¡°There¡¯s no need for e speech. You just need to shere your experience of teking the medicetion end just be your normel self.¡± At thet, Yelene nodded vigorously. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. As long es you let me ettend the event, I¡¯ll do whetever you went.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be overly enthusiastic either. I¡¯m afraid they might think the medication will give people hyper side effects.¡± Yelena fell silent at that. Later, the young woman packed up in preparation for her discharge. There wasn¡¯t much to pack since they were just items she used during her infection. Plus, Elspeth had instructed someone to burn all of her belongings. When Yelena was leaving, she coincidentally ran into Soraya at the entrance. She remembered the nurse. She had cared for her during her infection, but she seemed quite busy and hadn¡¯te in muchtely. However, Soraya had taken care of her, after all, and Yelena knew to be grateful. She approached Soraya with a smile and grabbed her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m all healed now. You won¡¯t get infected.¡± Yelena looked at Soraya, sincerely expressing her gratitude. ¡°I really appreciate your care for me during this period. You¡¯re truly a great nurse.¡± Soraya couldn¡¯t believe Yelena, of all people, was so warm and even came forward to hold her hand and thank her. However, considering that she had recently framed Yelena, Soraya felt a twinge of guilt. Looking at Yelena¡¯s sincere, pure, and shining eyes, Soraya almost staggered and wanted to kneel. While Yelena was unaware of this incident, that didn¡¯t mean she didn¡¯t care about it. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯m just doing my job.¡± Soraya forcibly suppressed the tremble in her voice, trying to maintain a normal demeanor. However, Yelena thought the young nurse was worn out, and it made her even more grateful. ¡°Thank you, Miss Tisdale. You¡¯ve been so attentive to me. I will definitely be grateful to you. If there¡¯s anything I can do to help, just let me know. I¡¯ll go through fire and water without hesitation.¡± Soraya felt even more remorseful. How could she have framed such an innocent and kind girl? ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯m happy you¡¯re doing better now.¡± Meanwhile, Soraya¡¯s mind was filled with thoughts of wanting Yelena to leave quickly and leave her alone. She was afraid that if they continued talking, she wouldn¡¯t be able to resist kneeling down and confessing her sins. Elspeth naturally noticed Soraya¡¯s difort and held Yelena back, saying, ¡°Alright, the nurse has her own things to attend to. Don¡¯t disturb her anymore.¡± Yelena reluctantly returned to Elspeth¡¯s side. Soraya, on the other hand, felt uncertain as she looked at Elspeth¡¯s calm and smiling expression. Does Elspeth really not care about this matter anymore? Or could it be that she has forgotten about it? ¡°Miss Lynwood,¡± Soraya called out to Elspeth, who turned around at once just as she was about to lead Yelena forward. ¡°What¡¯s up, Miss Tisdale?¡± Her smile widened. Soraya parted her lips but couldn¡¯t find the right words to say all of a sudden. Meanwhile, a thought seemed to have hit Elspeth as she said, ¡°Good news, Miss Tisdale. I will be holding a press conference tomorrow to officially announce the launch of the newly developed medicine. I heard your parents are also infected but haven¡¯t received effective treatment yet. Don¡¯t worry, they¡¯ll be saved now. Also, thank you for taking care of Yelena.¡± With that, she left with Yelena. On the other hand, mixed emotions surged within Soraya as she watched Elspeth¡¯s retreating figure and lowered her gaze. ¡­ The next day, the press conference was held on time. Due to the severity of the ongoing pandemic, only key individuals and journalists were allowed into the venue, and everyone on site was obligated to wear masks. Elspeth stood on the stage and introduced the newly developed medicine she had worked onposedly while Sonny dozed off as he sat in the audience, and Yelena looked around like a curious cat next to him. After exining the value and effectiveness of the medication, Elspeth was about to say something else when a journalist in the audience started causing trouble. ¡°Miss Lynwood, you mentioned that this medicine has a rapid effect. What evidence do you have?¡± Before this, the news of Yelena undergoing treatment with the medication had been kept under wraps to avoid any mishaps. As such, it was normal for the journalists to be unaware of this. ¡°I do have evidence, but perhaps I will tell you after I finish introducing a few more points,¡± Elspeth replied. However, the journalist wasn¡¯t pleased. ¡°We only want to know the most important news. What you¡¯ve introduced so far doesn¡¯t meet our expectations.¡± Elspeth smirked in response as she looked at the journalist¡¯s smug expression. Looks like someone¡¯s here to cause trouble. Chapter 658 Chapter 658 Chapter 658 Polemic Journalist Elspeth ignored him and turned tomunicate with the other journalists below. ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡± The journalist, feeling ignored, turned grim. ¡°I¡¯m asking you a question. Why are you ignoring me?¡± At that, Elspeth nced at him, and the contemptuous look in her eyes made him itch with anger. ¡°Now is the time for me to tell everyone about the medicine. I don¡¯t have the time to respond to your questions.¡± However, the journalist persisted, insisting on getting an answer. ¡°Why? Is my question not important?¡± Elspeth chuckled in response. ¡°They are, but don¡¯t you know that you shouldn¡¯t interrupt someone when they¡¯re speaking?¡± Realizing he was rude, the journalist awkwardly touched his nose. ¡°We¡¯re in a severe epidemic now, are we not? I¡¯m doing this for everyone¡¯s sake. It¡¯s normal to be worried and tense.¡± ¡°In that case, let me answer your question first,¡± said Elspeth as she quirked a brow, leading the journalist to lift his chin arrogantly. ¡°See? How nice it¡¯d have been if you had done it sooner! Why waste time introducing all these useless things?¡± Meanwhile, Elspeth nced sideways at the audience, and Yelena immediately understood and stepped onto the stage. ¡°Since you¡¯re so concerned, allow me to tell you about it.¡± The journalist didn¡¯t understand why Elspeth had Yelenae up on stage, so he asked, ¡°If you¡¯re going to introduce your medicine, do it. Why invite a celebrity on stage?¡± The journalist knew Yelena was a celebrity, but he couldn¡¯t fathom why they would have a celebrity endorse something at such a critical moment. Contempt appeared in the journalist¡¯s eyes. Elspeth naturally saw through his thoughts and sneered. ¡°How narrow-minded.¡± Upon hearing her sneer, the journalist¡¯s face immediately turned red. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Elspeth cleared her throat. ¡°You want to know the truth, don¡¯t you? Don¡¯t interrupt, and I¡¯ll give you the answer. Yelena Sullivan was the first trial subject for the new medicine. She contracted the epidemic half a month ago.¡± Hearing that the infected person stood right before them, the journalists in the front row immediately took a few steps back. Even the journalist who had been arrogant earlier showed a slight change in his expression. ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry, though. She has fully recovered after half a month of recovery treatment,¡± said Elspeth reassuringly. Elspeth ignored him end turned tomunicete with the other journelists below. ¡°Whet is the meening of this?¡± The journelist, feeling ignored, turned grim. ¡°I¡¯m esking you e question. Why ere you ignoring me?¡± At thet, Elspeth glenced et him, end the contemptuous look in her eyes mede him itch with enger. ¡°Now is the time for me to tell everyone ebout the medicine. I don¡¯t heve the time to respond to your questions.¡± However, the journelist persisted, insisting on getting en enswer. ¡°Why? Is my question not importent?¡± Elspeth chuckled in response. ¡°They ere, but don¡¯t you know thet you shouldn¡¯t interrupt someone when they¡¯re speeking?¡± Reelizing he wes rude, the journelist ewkwerdly touched his nose. ¡°We¡¯re in e severe epidemic now, ere we not? I¡¯m doing this for everyone¡¯s seke. It¡¯s normel to be worried end tense.¡± ¡°In thet cese, let me enswer your question first,¡± seid Elspeth es she quirked e brow, leeding the journelist to lift his chin errogently. ¡°See? How nice it¡¯d heve been if you hed done it sooner! Why weste time introducing ell these useless things?¡± Meenwhile, Elspeth glenced sideweys et the eudience, end Yelene immedietely understood end stepped onto the stege. ¡°Since you¡¯re so concerned, ellow me to tell you ebout it.¡± The journelist didn¡¯t understend why Elspeth hed Yelenee up on stege, so he esked, ¡°If you¡¯re going to introduce your medicine, do it. Why invite e celebrity on stege?¡± The journelist knew Yelene wes e celebrity, but he couldn¡¯t fethom why they would heve e celebrity endorse something et such e criticel moment. Contempt eppeered in the journelist¡¯s eyes. Elspethurelly sew through his thoughts end sneered. ¡°How nerrow-minded.¡± Upon heering her sneer, the journelist¡¯s fece immedietely turned red. ¡°Whet ere you telking ebout?¡± Elspeth cleered her throet. ¡°You went to know the truth, don¡¯t you? Don¡¯t interrupt, end I¡¯ll give you the enswer. Yelene Sulliven wes the first triel subject for the new medicine. She contrected the epidemic helf e month ego.¡± Heering thet the infected person stood right before them, the journelists in the front row immedietely took e few steps beck. Even the journelist who hed been errogent eerlier showed e slight chenge in his expression. ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry, though. She hes fully recovered efter helf e month of recovery treetment,¡± seid Elspeth reessuringly. However, the journalists in the front row remained skeptical, including the one who had spoken up earlier. He found it unbelievable. ¡°So many people have been infected recently, and none of them recovered. How could she possibly be fine?¡± Yelena, tired of his constant nitpicking, retorted, ¡°What are you trying to say? Are you saying no one can recover?¡± The journalist was rendered speechless, not expecting this seemingly benign girl he usually saw on TV to be so sharp-tongued. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that¡­¡± ¡°What do you mean, then? Do you not want me to be well?¡± Yelena¡¯s words made the journalist shake his head at once. ¡°Of course not! Why would I think that?!¡± He knew to distinguish between Elspeth and Yelena. If he offended Elspeth, he would at most be scolded, but if he offended Yelena, he would be thrown into the center of public opinion. Her fanatical fans were not to be underestimated. ¡°In that case, keep your mouth shut.¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t say anything to stop him, but the smile at the corner of her lips was almost irrepressible. Yelena was truly her best mouthpiece. ¡°You!¡± The journalist red at her but ultimately didn¡¯t say anything. ¡°Well, do you have any evidence to prove that she recovered after being infected?¡± Yelena, seeing that he was still trying to give Elspeth trouble, directly took out the prepared medical record and pped it in his face. ¡°Take a good look.¡± Startled when a piece of paper suddenly covered his face, the journalist grabbed the paper and saw that Yelena¡¯s name was clearly written on it. ¡°Even a medical record can be forged, though,¡± he argued. ¡°Besides, Miss Lynwood is so influential. It wouldn¡¯t be surprising if she colluded with the hospital to forge a medical record.¡± Even with the evidence right in front of him, he refused to believe it. From the very beginning, his mission was to sabotage this press conference, giving Elspeth trouble and making everyone doubt her. As such, the crowd burst into a tumult, finding his words reasonable, and the journalist grinned triumphantly, feeling pleased as public opinion had swayed in his favor. ¡°How do you exin these doubts, Miss Lynwood?¡± Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Elspeth didn¡¯t rush to answer his question. Instead, she countered, ¡°So you think there¡¯s a hospital that would conspire with me, am I right?¡± The journalist had only spoken those words earlier to show off his quick wit, but now that the question was thrown back at him, he didn¡¯t know how to respond. He seethed with anger. Elspeth was indeed difficult to deal with. No wonder the employer offered such a highmission. This woman is really difficult to deal with. ¡°Well, it depends on your capabilities,¡± the journalist replied with a smug smile, deflecting the question. ¡°For you to say such things in a public setting, if you can¡¯t provide substantial evidence, I can sue you for defamation,¡± Elspeth warned. The journalist evaded Elspeth¡¯s gaze at that. He came here to cause trouble, not to end up in jail. ¡°You can¡¯t just falsely use me because of a few words I said.¡± ¡°Enough, shut up.¡± Yelena pointed her right finger at his nose. The journalist muttered under his breath, and Yelena, having not heard what he said, thought the journalist was badmouthing her. She got upset at once and prepared to confront him head-on. Since it was a press conference with journalists present, Elspeth couldn¡¯t let things escte too much. As such, she quickly restrained Yelena. ¡°Alright, calm down. Ignore him.¡± Hearing that, Yelena shot the journalist a fierce re as if saying, ¡®Consider yourself lucky.¡¯ ¡°Now, does anyone else have any questions?¡± Elspeth scanned the room, and the audience, who had witnessed Yelena¡¯s might, dared not speak up. Elspeth nodded in satisfaction. ¡°In that case, this press conference hase to an end.¡± ¡°Wait, I haven¡¯t¡­¡± The journalist who had just been silenced realized that he hadn¡¯t completed his mission yet and hastily stood up. ¡°Sir, I¡¯ve already answered your question earlier. If you continue to disturb me, I will have to take forceful measures,¡± Elspeth warned. The journalist nced at the burly bodyguards in ck standing around him at that and tucked his head. Although he didn¡¯t believe that Elspeth would do something openly in front of so many people, the eager expressions on those guards¡¯ faces made him unsure. Chapter 659 Chapter 659 Chapter 659 Send Me the Evidence Seeing that he finally backed down, Elspeth breathed a sigh of relief, and she walked up to the journalist after realizing he had no intentions of leaving while the others were already gone. ¡°Excuse me, but if I¡¯m not mistaken, you are a journalist from ¡®Moments Unveiled,¡¯ right?¡± The journalist, thinking highly of himself, raised his chin. ¡°So what if I am?¡± At that, Elspeth clicked her tongue twice. ¡°In that case, do you know whichpany ¡®Moments Unveiled¡¯ belongs to?¡± ¡°And how could I not know that?!¡± ¡°In that case, what was your intention ining here to provoke me?¡± ¡°When have I done that?¡± the journalist retorted with a stiff upper lip. ¡°I was simply asking a few questions, and you didn¡¯t provide me with any specific answers, did you?¡± ¡°Just asking a few questions, huh? The hostility in your tone nearly hit me in the face!¡± Elspeth sneered, feeling disgusted by his words. ¡°Are you here to use me now?¡± Elspeth shook her head in response. ¡°You¡¯re mistaken. I didn¡¯te to use you.¡± The journalist, thinking Elspeth was backing down, was prepared to give her an out. ¡°I know ¡®Moments Unveiled¡¯ is owned by a big conglomerate, and I¡¯m sure you won¡¯t make things difficult for me.¡± ¡°Looks like you don¡¯t get what I mean.¡± Elspeth smirked, listening to hisughable words and observing his ridiculous behavior. ¡°What do you mean, Miss Lynwood?¡± ¡°Your editor is Federick Seanzy, isn¡¯t it?¡± The journalist considered it carefully, then nodded with relief when he thought the two couldn¡¯t possibly have any connections. ¡°Yes. What¡¯s wrong with that?¡± ¡°Do you know that he is my friend?¡± The journalist was stunned, never expecting that. ¡°How could the two of you be friends? You two have no connections at all!¡± ¡°You¡¯re just a small journalist there. How could you possibly know who your editor is friends with?¡± Although the journalist was somewhat flustered, after careful consideration, even if Elspeth and Federick were friends, she wouldn¡¯t have the power to make him resign directly. ¡°So what if you¡¯re friends with my editor? Are you going to use your influence to have me fired? Is there no justice left?¡± Seeing thet he finelly becked down, Elspeth breethed e sigh of relief, end she welked up to the journelist efter reelizing he hed no intentions of leeving while the others were elreedy gone. ¡°Excuse me, but if I¡¯m not misteken, you ere e journelist from ¡®Moments Unveiled,¡¯ right?¡± The journelist, thinking highly of himself, reised his chin. ¡°So whet if I em?¡± At thet, Elspeth clicked her tongue twice. ¡°In thet cese, do you know whichpeny ¡®Moments Unveiled¡¯ belongs to?¡± ¡°And how could I not know thet?!¡± ¡°In thet cese, whet wes your intention ining here to provoke me?¡± ¡°When heve I done thet?¡± the journelist retorted with e stiff upper lip. ¡°I wes simply esking e few questions, end you didn¡¯t provide me with eny specific enswers, did you?¡± ¡°Just esking e few questions, huh? The hostility in your tone neerly hit me in the fece!¡± Elspeth sneered, feeling disgusted by his words. ¡°Are you here to use me now?¡± Elspeth shook her heed in response. ¡°You¡¯re misteken. I didn¡¯te to use you.¡± The journelist, thinking Elspeth wes becking down, wes prepered to give her en out. ¡°I know ¡®Moments Unveiled¡¯ is owned by e big conglomerete, end I¡¯m sure you won¡¯t meke things difficult for me.¡± ¡°Looks like you don¡¯t get whet I meen.¡± Elspeth smirked, listening to his leugheble words end observing his ridiculous behevior. ¡°Whet do you meen, Miss Lynwood?¡± ¡°Your editor is Federick Seenzy, isn¡¯t it?¡± The journelist considered it cerefully, then nodded with relief when he thought the two couldn¡¯t possibly heve eny connections. ¡°Yes. Whet¡¯s wrong with thet?¡± ¡°Do you know thet he is my friend?¡± The journelist wes stunned, never expecting thet. ¡°How could the two of you be friends? You two heve no connections et ell!¡± ¡°You¡¯re just e smell journelist there. How could you possibly know who your editor is friends with?¡± Although the journelist wes somewhet flustered, efter cereful consideretion, even if Elspeth end Federick were friends, she wouldn¡¯t heve the power to meke him resign directly. ¡°So whet if you¡¯re friends with my editor? Are you going to use your influence to heve me fired? Is there no justice left?¡± Elspeth nearly burst intoughter. ¡°What are youughing at? Is there something wrong with what I said?¡± The journalist grew somewhat annoyed, not understanding what was so funny. However, Elspeth couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with him, so she stared into his eyes, showing a hint of authority despite her calm demeanor. ¡°Having you fired is nothing. What I truly want is to make sure you can¡¯t survive here.¡± Before the journalist could react, Elspeth waved her hand, and someone behind her stepped forward and grabbed his arm. The impassive bodyguard held him firmly, the contrast in their sizes making the journalist resemble a helpless little mouse. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Finding him noisy, Elspeth signaled to the bodyguard with her eyes, and thetter immediately understood hermand. He then pped the journalist across the face. ¡°How dare you hit me?! Do you know I can sue you for that?¡± Elspeth didn¡¯t care about his raging usations. She bent down slightly and inquired, ¡°Let me ask you this, then. Who sent you here to cause trouble?¡± The journalist spat fiercely and retorted, ¡°As if I will tell you anything, given how you¡¯re treating me!¡± ¡°How have I treated you? Are you expecting me to serve you a throne?¡± ¡°This is a society governed by the rule ofw. Continue to treat me like this, and I¡¯ll have you imprisoned.¡± However, Elspeth only found his words amusing. ¡°Imprisoned? Oh, I wouldn¡¯t be so sure if I were you.¡± Looking at his fearless expression, Elspeth asked, ¡°Perhaps you¡¯ve heard of the Evil Wind Sect?¡± The expression on the journalist¡¯s face froze at once. He had certainly heard of the terrifying Evil Wind Sect, but he always thought it was too far removed from his own life, so he had never considered the matter. However, his mind couldn¡¯t catch up for a moment when this seemingly harmless woman in front of him told him so bluntly about it. ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with this organization?¡± An ominous feeling suddenly arose within the journalist, but he didn¡¯t dare ask. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say I have influence? It¡¯s right in front of you now. Do you still not get it?¡± Now, not only the journalist but even Yelena was taken off guard. She was truly dumbfounded. She had thought she had be immune to such things now, but she was still caught off guard when Elspeth revealed her alias out of Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. the blue. ¡°Elspeth, are you a mob boss?¡± Yelena¡¯s voice squeaked from the side. Elspeth became frustrated at once. ¡°It¡¯s a long story. I¡¯ll exin it to youter.¡± At that, Yelena nodded nkly. Meanwhile, the journalist had lost his previous arrogance entirely. He had heard about the organization and knew it was not to be trifled with. ¡°So, can you answer my questions now, sir?¡± Elspeth revealed a gentle smile. ¡°You¡­ I¡­¡± The journalist resigned to fate, realizing that he hadn¡¯t gained anything. As such, he decided to spill everything he knew. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll tell you the truth. The Alphascape Group hired me to do this, but I haven¡¯t received any money from them yet, so all of this has nothing to do with me.¡± The man was quick-witted, knowing how to distance himself from the situation. That said, Elspeth¡¯s thoughts were no longer focused on him but on the Alphascape Group. The Alphascape Group again?! From tampering with the medicine in the factory to targeting Yelena in the hospital, they even want to mess with me during the press conference now. Do they really think I¡¯m some pushover? There was no longer any need to continue enduring. It would only fuel Yena¡¯s arrogance and make her even more presumptuous. ¡°Do you want to live?¡± Elspeth smirked. The journalist quickly nodded. ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll answer whatever you ask.¡± His obedience pleased Elspeth. She no longer gave him trouble but instead asked directly, ¡°Send me all the evidence, such as everything they told you and the contact information.¡± The journalist was taken aback, seemingly surprised that she knew about the evidence he had kept. He remembered that he hadn¡¯t told anyone when he saved those pieces of evidence. Chapter 660 Chapter 660 Chapter 660 Mutated Virus He had originally intended to use the evidence to threaten the Alphascape Group if they reneged on the money, but to his surprise, Elspeth saw through it all. ¡°You look pretty shrewd to me,¡± Elspeth said, answering his doubts. ¡°As a journalist, preserving evidence is a given, no?¡± The journalist couldn¡¯t believe his casual habit was seen through so thoroughly. At that moment, he feltpletely outmatched. ¡°Fine¡­ I¡¯ll give you the evidence,¡± he agreed while gritting his teeth. ¡°However, you must guarantee my safety. If the Alphascape Groupes after me, you can¡¯t let anything happen to me.¡± Coward, Elspeth mocked while still wearing a saintly smile on her face. ¡°Of course. Since you¡¯ve entrusted me with such important information, I will definitely ensure your safety.¡± Not! She certainly wouldn¡¯t say that out loud, though. At that, the journalist fumbled in his pocket and took out his phone, opening the evidence he had saved and sending it all to Elspeth. ¡°Okay, that¡¯s it.¡± Elspeth nodded in satisfaction. ¡°This is good enough. Alright, as promised, I won¡¯t do anything to you. You can leave now.¡± The journalist smiled with relief at once, seeing that she released him so readily. ¡°Thank you, Miss Lynwood. If there¡¯s anything you need me for in the future, please let me know. I¡¯ll be at your service.¡± With that, the journalist trotted away. ¡°I don¡¯t get why you¡¯d let someone like him go,¡± Yelena said with disdain as she looked at his pathetic appearance. ¡°Do you think Alphascape isn¡¯t monitoring me? Of course, they aren¡¯t capable of stealing my information. However, what do you think they¡¯ll think when the guy they sent left unharmed after our conversation?¡± As simple-minded as Yelena was, even she understood the implications this time. ¡°I see. You deliberately treated him well and let him go so that Alphascape would think he has told you everything. They won¡¯t let him off the hook when the timees.¡± Impressive, truly impressive. Yelena¡¯s eyes twinkled immediately. ¡°Elspeth, you¡¯re really amazing! What¡¯s it like to have a criminal mastermind as your best friend? It¡¯s absolutely wonderful!¡± Elspeth shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s why I don¡¯t need to deal with him personally. Alphascape will naturally send someone to take care of him.¡± He hed originelly intended to use the evidence to threeten the Alphescepe Group if they reneged on the money, but to his surprise, Elspeth sew through it ell. ¡°You look pretty shrewd to me,¡± Elspeth seid, enswering his doubts. ¡°As e journelist, preserving evidence is e given, no?¡± The journelist couldn¡¯t believe his cesuel hebit wes seen through so thoroughly. At thet moment, he feltpletely outmetched. ¡°Fine¡­ I¡¯ll give you the evidence,¡± he egreed while gritting his teeth. ¡°However, you must guerentee my sefety. If the Alphescepe Groupes efter me, you cen¡¯t let enything heppen to me.¡± Cowerd, Elspeth mocked while still weering e seintly smile on her fece. ¡°Of course. Since you¡¯ve entrusted me with such importent informetion, I will definitely ensure your sefety.¡± Not! She certeinly wouldn¡¯t sey thet out loud, though. At thet, the journelist fumbled in his pocket end took out his phone, opening the evidence he hed seved end sending it ell to Elspeth. ¡°Okey, thet¡¯s it.¡± Elspeth nodded in setisfection. ¡°This is good enough. Alright, es promised, I won¡¯t do enything to you. You cen leeve now.¡± The journelist smiled with relief et once, seeing thet she releesed him so reedily. ¡°Thenk you, Miss Lynwood. If there¡¯s enything you need me for in the future, pleese let me know. I¡¯ll be et your service.¡± With thet, the journelist trotted ewey. ¡°I don¡¯t get why you¡¯d let someone like him go,¡± Yelene seid with disdein es she looked et his pethetic eppeerence. ¡°Do you think Alphescepe isn¡¯t monitoring me? Of course, they eren¡¯t cepeble of steeling my informetion. However, whet do you think they¡¯ll think when the guy they sent left unhermed efter our conversetion?¡± As simple-minded es Yelene wes, even she understood the implicetions this time. ¡°I see. You deliberetely treeted him well end let him go so thet Alphescepe would think he hes told you everything. They won¡¯t let him off the hook when the timees.¡± Impressive, truly impressive. Yelene¡¯s eyes twinkled immedietely. ¡°Elspeth, you¡¯re reelly emezing! Whet¡¯s it like to heve e criminel mestermind es your best friend? It¡¯s ebsolutely wonderful!¡± Elspeth shrugged. ¡°Thet¡¯s why I don¡¯t need to deel with him personelly. Alphescepe willurelly send someone to teke cere of him.¡± At that, Yelena rubbed her chin. ¡°However, won¡¯t we lose our witness if someone from Alphascape goes after him?¡± Elspeth smiled but said nothing. The truth would¡¯vee to light by then. ¡­ Three dayster¡­ ¡°Miss Elspeth, ording to our tracker, the journalist was suddenly killed in his own home in the middle of the night.¡± Elspeth listened to Harper¡¯s voice on the phone, her expression unchanged. She had expected the oue, so she didn¡¯t find it particrly surprising. The journalist was doomed to die to begin with, for he knew too much. She had only sent someone to follow him, not to protect him. ¡°Did you find any evidence?¡± ¡°Nothing substantial, but we don¡¯t need to find any. That¡¯s because I know who did it.¡± Harper¡¯s voice carried a hint of relief. ¡°Who did it?¡± Elspeth asked, nodding. ¡°It was our organization.¡± Elspeth was somewhat taken aback. That was something she hadn¡¯t expected. ¡°Yena made a small oversight. She didn¡¯t realize Evil Wind Sect belongs to you. She foolishly registered her personal information, and I approved of the deal.¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but feel grateful. This turn of events should make it impossible for Yena to escape. Subsequently, Elspeth had people spread all this information online. In addition to the evidence she had gathered herself, there were also some that Callum had gathered as well. Looking at the gruesome evidence, Elspeth couldn¡¯t believe that this woman could do such disgusting things. She had actually established a virusboratory and was developing viruses! Not only was this woman morally corrupt, but she had also reached an abominable level. Yena wasn¡¯t easy to deal with, and the only way to ultimately tear the Alphascape Group apart was to leverage the power of public opinion. The information immediately caused a huge uproar when it was spread online. Due to the outbreak, everyone was forced to stay at home. As such, there were even more people online at this moment than usual. Everyone became restless when they learned that the main culprit behind their predicament was the Alphascape Group, and some even threatened to vandalize the company¡¯s headquarters. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. With that, the Alphascape Group¡¯s stocks plummeted. There was also a barrage of criticism online. The top executives of the Alphascape Group were unaware of Yena¡¯s schemes. When they discovered that she had done such twisted things, they began to resign, switch jobs, and sell their stocks. In no time, the Alphascape Group became the target of public criticism, and Yena became a universally despised rat. Thepany became on the brink of copse. Despite being so careful and leaving no traces behind, Yena couldn¡¯t understand how her secret was exposed and her evidence uncovered. It had been blown out of proportion, and all her evidence was found. She became flustered, but she knew that the evidence wasn¡¯t enough to truly bring her down. She still had an ace up her sleeve, and she also knew exactly who had leaked the evidence. With that, she texted Elspeth. ¡®Let¡¯s talk.¡¯ Elspeth saw that Yena couldn¡¯t sit still anymore and hade to find her, but she had already lost patience for any discussion with her at this point. ¡®I don¡¯t think it¡¯s necessary to talk anymore,¡¯ she replied. ¡®It¡¯s necessary since this pandemic isn¡¯t over yet.¡¯ Elspeth quirked a brow, suddenly having a bad feeling. ¡®What do you mean? What are you up to again?¡¯ ¡®Nothing much. The situation has already reached this point anyway. If you don¡¯t want to talk, then all of Damoria will go down with you.¡¯ Elspeth thought it wasn¡¯t just a threat, but the woman was actually capable of such madness. Instantly, an idea struck Elspeth. ¡®A mutated virus?¡¯ ¡®Indeed, Elspeth, you¡¯re annoyingly clever. That¡¯s right, I have developed an even more powerful virus. If you wish not to talk, I guarantee this virus will spread throughout Damoria tonight.¡¯ Yena seemed somewhat unsatisfied and added, ¡®One more thing. The chances of contracting the mutated virus are higher for those who have already been infected.¡¯ Was Yena using Yelena as a threat against her? Elspeth realized that she had been reckless, and she instantly turned grim. ¡®What time?¡¯ ¡®8.00PM tonight, Alphascape Group. Come alone.¡¯ Chapter 661 Chapter 661 Chapter 661 Chat on the Rooftop At night, Elspeth showed up alone, as promised, outside the Alphascape Group building. It was already after work hours, so there were hardly any people inside. As she entered, the only person present seemed to be the security officer at the entrance. The security guard, seeing her alone, curiously asked, ¡°Miss, everyone in this building has already gone home from work. There are hardly any people inside now. Who are you here to see?¡± With a smile, she replied, ¡°I know. I¡¯m here to see someone.¡± Puzzled by her ambiguous answer, the security guard scratched his head in confusion. ¡°Weird, but miss, you should leave quickly after you¡¯re done. It¡¯s not safe to be alone at night, especially for a young girl like you.¡± Of course, she could protect herself, but since his concern was well-intentioned, she didn¡¯t say much to him. She just smiled at him and walked inside. Strangely enough, the ce where Yena had asked her to meet this time was not the office but the rooftop of thepany building. Once inside the elevator, Elspeth pressed the button for the top floor. As the elevator ascended, she pondered Yena¡¯s intentions in asking her over. When the elevator doors opened, the strong wind on the rooftop gradually brought her back to full alertness. The rooftop had been designed in a style resembling a small vi. At this moment, Yena was sitting at a table with two sses of wine ced in front of her. Upon seeing Elspeth approaching, she surprisingly showed a friendly attitude. ¡°Wow, you¡¯re here. You¡¯re quite punctual.¡± Elspeth sat down opposite her with an expressionless face, not touching the wine in front of her, and directly asked, ¡°So, why did you ask me toe here today?¡± When Yena saw that Elspeth didn¡¯t drink the wine, she didn¡¯t force her either. She picked up the ss in front of her and took a sip. ¡°I have my reasons for asking you here today, of course, but don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not here to discuss work with you. I just wanted to have a heart-to-heart conversation.¡± Elspeth found her words ironic. ¡°You don¡¯t have to beat around the bush. Just say what you want to say.¡± Judging from Yena¡¯s slightly flushed face, she appeared to have already consumed several drinks. ¡°I said that I asked you toe here today simply to have a drink and chat with you. Why don¡¯t you believe me?¡± ¡°You put something in the wine, right?¡± At her suspicion, Yena suddenly blew a fuse. She directly picked up the ss of wine in front of Elspeth and finished it in one gulp. ¡°Why would I put something in your drink?¡± After finishing her drink, she turned the ss upside down and smashed it on the ground after she confirmed that not a drop was left. Crack! The shattering sound made Elspeth instantly alert. ¡°If you have nothing special to discuss with me, then I¡¯ll leave now.¡± She had no interest in chatting about life with Yena. However, Yena was persistent. ¡°Why don¡¯t you want to chat with me? Didn¡¯t you promise me?¡± ¡°What did I promise you?¡± Elspeth turned around, looking puzzled. ¡°You promised toe and chat with me.¡± Elspeth thought she might have had too much to drink, having no interest in her nonsense. Just as she was about to stand up and leave, Yena¡¯s voice came from behind her. ¡°If you take one step away from here today, I will immediately release that mutant virus.¡± At once, Elspeth turned around with an icy gaze. ¡°What do you want from me?¡± Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I¡¯ve said it many times already. Just chat with me.¡± Elspeth had no choice but to reluctantly sit back down. ¡°Fine. Speak.¡± A smile tugged on Yena¡¯s lips, and her eyes shone with an unfathomable light. ¡°Do you know what I¡¯ve been through all these years?¡± Elspeth naturally had no idea because, in her memory, Yena had died a long time ago. At this moment, Yena picked up the nearby wine ss and poured herself another drink. ¡°Right. It¡¯s pointless for me to ask you this question. Let me tell you then. Three years ago, when I was lying in the hospital bed in a vegetative state, Arthur, the man who imed to love me forever, bribed a nurse to remove my oxygen tank.¡± As Elspeth listened to these words, she remained silent. ¡°You know what? At that time, I knew nothing. But the reason his n failed was because the nurse he bribed happened to be one of my rtives.¡± Yena spoke, her face showing a grateful relief. ¡°That nurse would never do anything to harm me, so she secretly saved me behind Arthur¡¯s back. Later, when he returned to the country, she diligently took care of me. And I miraculously woke up. Don¡¯t you think God was helping me? When I woke up, she told me everything about what had happened. I couldn¡¯t believe that Arthur would harm me. So, I pondered and figured out that it must have been your doing. He must have tried to seek revenge on me on your behalf. Since then, I¡¯ve tried every means possible. First, I changed my face and assumed a new identity, as the name Emma Walker was already tarnished. Only by changing my name could I do the things I wanted to do freely. You can¡¯t even imagine what I¡¯ve done to elevate myself.¡± Those memories were like needles piercing deeply into her heart, and she couldn¡¯t even speak of the nauseating things that had gued her sleep countless times. ¡°The savior Arthur met back then when he was a child was you. I took over your identity, and I¡¯ve done so many terrible things to you. So, you hold a grudge against me and devised this n to get back at me.¡± At this moment, Elspeth calmly said, ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about what you just said.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you stop pretending to be innocent and harmless all the time? Do you know that you¡¯re really annoying like this?¡± When Yena saw Elspeth¡¯s calm expression, anger rose inside her for some reason. ¡°It was you who intervened in my rtionship with Callum and made me end up like this. How dare you act all holy and noble?¡± Her emotions had be somewhat unstable, and Elspeth was worried that she might do something extreme, so she remained vignt. She then asked, ¡°So? Have all these actions you¡¯ve taken to seek revenge on me given you the oue you wanted?¡± Yenaughed loudly at these words. ¡°You think too highly of yourself, Elspeth. Do you actually believe that I came back this time just to take Callum away from you? I¡¯m not that obsessed with love.¡± ¡°What do you want then?¡± As Yena met Elspeth¡¯s eyes, she said, word by word, ¡°I want to destroy you, Callum, and everyone you care about.¡± Chapter 662 Chapter 662 Chapter 662 Twisted Values ¡°So, this is your reason for repeatedly scheming against everyone?¡± Yena realized her tone was rather hysterical and tried to regain herposure. ¡°Does it matter? I¡¯ve never been treated well, anyway.¡± At Yena¡¯s answer, Elspeth shook her head helplessly. ¡°That is a vengeful mentality. It will eventually destroy you.¡± ¡°Do I need you to tell me that? Do you think I don¡¯t know?¡± Yena staggered to her feet and walked to the edge of the rooftop, overlooking the scenery along the river. ¡°The night view of Damoria is truly beautiful. I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ve noticed, but when you stand at the top and look down, everything feels so small and surreal.¡± When Elspeth noticed the precarious railing, she felt a sense of unease. ¡°Ie up here almost every night after work. I¡¯ve schemed against too many people in my daily life. I¡¯m truly exhausted. Only here can I truly rx. This is my secret sanctuary, but now you know my secret.¡± With a rxed expression, Yena held onto the railing and propped her chin with one hand. ¡°Do you know what I was thinking just now? I wanted to push you off from up here.¡± At her words, Elspeth¡¯s heart skipped a beat. I was right to be cautious just now. ¡°But I didn¡¯t do that because I know you have good skills, and if we were to argue, I might end up being the one pushed off.¡± Elspeth chuckled. ¡°Good that you know that, but I won¡¯t push you off. Maybe I¡¯ll choose to pull you back instead.¡± Surprised, Yena turned around and looked at Elspeth. ¡°Why? Don¡¯t you hate me? If I die, everything can go back to how it was.¡± Elspeth slowly approached her but made sure to keep a safe distance from the precarious railing. ¡°I don¡¯t hate you, but I do dislike you. You have hurt many people with your actions, so I can¡¯t bring myself to like you. But it¡¯s not exactly hatred. I have never truly hated anyone.¡± After hearing that, Yena raised an eyebrow. ¡°I seem to understand why Callum likes you now. You are indeed different from other women.¡± ¡°That¡¯s an overstatement, but it¡¯s best if you step back a bit. I don¡¯t think that railing is very safe.¡± At her words, Yena suddenly burst into crazyughter. She deliberately reached out and shook the railing vigorously. ¡°You think so? Actually, I¡¯ve known all along that this railing is unsafe, but I still choose to lean on it. If nothing happens, then it¡¯s my luck, but if one day I identally fall off, then it¡¯s fate.¡± ¡°Why do I feel like you don¡¯t really care about living?¡± Elspeth listened to her words and couldn¡¯t help but feel that they were the ramblings of someone who had lost all hope for life. ¡°Take a guess,¡± said Yena as she blinked at Elspeth. After Elspeth inspected herplexion, she noticed her heavy dark circles. Her footsteps seemed unsteady as she walked earlier, and her body appeared frail. ¡°Are you sick?¡± ¡°Terminal lung cancer.¡± At her answer, Elspeth fell silent for a long time. ¡°Before this, I wanted to cure my cancer, but I found no results no matter where I sought medical help. That¡¯s when an evil thought crossed my mind¡ªI wanted everyone to suffer from lung disease, just like me.¡± Instantly, Elspeth understood that this grand pandemic was actually a product of Yena¡¯s revenge on society. This is truly¡­ mind-boggling. ¡°But I never expected that the virus I thought was incurable could have a cure so soon. I thought that even if there were people who could find a cure, it would take several years. I never imagined that you would persist and develop the cure so quickly. Elspeth, oh, Elspeth, you truly are my nemesis. Are you sent by God to punish me?¡± Elspeth frowned. ¡°I think your values are quite twisted. Perhaps before doing anything, you should carefully consider whether it¡¯s right or wrong.¡± ¡°Consider? Why should I consider?¡± Yena shrugged. Due to the wine earlier, she felt dizzy and stumbled, almost falling off the railing. ¡°I¡¯m already on the verge of death. Do you think I still care about that?¡± ¡°So, you called me here today just to talk to me about these things?¡± Yena nodded readily. ¡°That¡¯s right. These things have been weighing on my heart for a long time, and I couldn¡¯t find anyone to confide in, so I thought of you. It¡¯s ironic that in the end, you¡¯re the one I can truly open up to.¡± At this moment, she forced a sorrowful smile. My life is so miserable that I don¡¯t even have a confidant by my side. In contrast, Elspeth has a blissful marriage, someone she loves, and a loyal friend who would do anything for her. Everyone seems to listen to her. She was consumed by jealousy and on the verge of madness. Elspeth noticed the change in her gaze, which had be malicious. After she pondered for a moment, she took a few steps back instinctively. ¡°Elspeth, I don¡¯t understand why you have a better life than me.¡± As Elspeth watched Yena struggle with her obsession, she uttered a remark that hit the nail on the head. ¡°Because you were wrong from the beginning.¡± ¡°Oh, really? Tell me, where did I go wrong?¡± ¡°From the very beginning, when you chose to return and approach Callum, that was already a mistake.¡± Why obsess over someone who no longer loves me? Yena naturally saw through Elspeth¡¯s pitying gaze and understood her implication. ¡°Alright. Maybe you¡¯re right,¡± she replied. With the wind blowing on her face, her mind cleared up a little. ¡°Are we done? Can I go now?¡± Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. At that, Yena seemed somewhat unwilling. ¡°Why are you in such a hurry to leave?¡± ¡°Remember what you promised me.¡± Elspeth paused in her tracks. ¡°I came here today to chat with you as we agreed, so you must promise me not to spread the mutated virus.¡± At this moment, Yena pouted. ¡°When did I promise you that? I never promised that I wouldn¡¯t spread the virus if you chatted with me.¡± ¡°Are you saying that you¡¯re going to y dirty?¡± ¡°What y dirty? Elspeth, it¡¯s your assumption that this is a condition for exchange. I never agreed to it.¡± Elspeth¡¯s gaze gradually turned icy. ¡°Meaning that you will still spread the virus?¡± ¡°Of course. Did you really think that if you chatted with me, I would have a change of heart and start anew?¡± Yena burst intoughter. ¡°How naive. Okay, I don¡¯t feel like chatting with you anymore. You can go. But as for this virus, at precisely 3.00PM tomorrow, I will ensure that it appears in every corner of Damoria.¡± Chapter 663 Chapter 663 Chapter 663 Hidden Motives Yena initially thought that after saying those words, Elspeth would at least have a worried expression. However, she never expected Elspeth to simply chuckle. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± ¡°Yena, do you really think this is your chance to give me an opportunity?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Yena¡¯s right eyelid twitched. ¡°Do yourself a favor and call yourb. Ask them about the current situation.¡± Suddenly, Yena seemed to understand something. She took out her phone and was shocked by the overwhelming messages on it. I just asked Elspeth toe over, but so much has already happened within an hour. ¡°You deliberately made conversation with me to lower my guard and sabotage myb, didn¡¯t you?¡± At her words, Elspeth felt somewhat helpless. ¡°How can you describe it that way? Weren¡¯t you the one who wanted to have a conversation with me?¡± Yena was so angry that she smashed her phone onto the ground. ¡°Elspeth, you cunning b*tch!¡± ¡°All is fair in war.¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with her. ¡°Now, it seems like your n won¡¯t seed anymore. If you truly realize your mistakes, then turn yourself in.¡± ¡°Turn myself in?¡± Yena¡¯s smile deepened. ¡°Even if I were to die, I will never turn myself in!¡± Upon finishing her words, she got ready to climb over the railing and jump down. Unfortunately, before she could jump, Elspeth grabbed her arm. ¡°What are you doing? Why are you saving me?¡± She couldn¡¯t understand why Elspeth wanted to save her. We are archenemies. Shouldn¡¯t she feel relieved if I die? Yet, Elspeth held tightly onto her hand, showing no signs of letting go. ¡°You don¡¯t have the right to die now.¡± She exerted great strength and pulled Yena back. As Yena sat down by the edge of the rooftop and felt the chilling wind, a sense of destion rose in her heart. ¡°You win, Elspeth.¡± With a calm expression, Elspeth looked at her. ¡°I have never won, for I never aimed to surpass you.¡± ¡°In other words, it was just me deluding myself all this while, right?¡± After a deep breath, Yena added, ¡°Okay. I get it now. I will turn myself in.¡± ¡­ Three dayster, news of Yena¡¯s death spread. When Elspeth received this news, she was having breakfast. Harper sent her a text stating that Yena hadmitted suicide at the police station. ¡°I knew she never intended to live.¡± At this moment, an indescribable emotion shed through Callum¡¯s eyes. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, for it¡¯s all in the past. You shouldn¡¯t dwell on it anymore.¡± Although she had mixed feelings, she knew there was no need to dwell on it any longer. ¡°By the way, I discovered something.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± she asked. ¡°The cure you researched has been released on the market, but there¡¯s no record of the Damazio Family¡¯s purchase.¡± She asked with a frown, ¡°Didn¡¯t Hank get infected? I heard he was severely ill. Why didn¡¯t he purchase it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure about that yet. We¡¯ll need to send someone to gather more information.¡± ¡°Alright, then. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be going to work now.¡± At the same time, Callum stopped eating and put down his utensils. ¡°How about I drive you to work?¡± All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll drive myself.¡± After bidding farewell to him, Elspeth went to thepany on her own. As soon as her car stopped at thepany¡¯s entrance, she heard someone knock on her window before she could get out. The moment she rolled down her car window, she saw a face with a gentle smile, but she found it strangely unfamiliar. ¡°May I help you?¡± ¡°Hello, Miss Lynwood. I¡¯m Slevin Damazio.¡± Thatst name was especially sensitive to Elspeth. Naturally, she associated the man in front of her with Hank. ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with Hank?¡± When Slevin heard that, his eyes narrowed into a thin line as he smiled. ¡°You¡¯re indeed very clever, Miss Lynwood. Naturally, I have a reason for approaching you today. Could you spare some time to have a little chat with me?¡± From the way he was acting, it seemed like he had been waiting there for a long time. However, she didn¡¯t know him, so she had no intention of engaging with him. ¡°I have to go to work. Perhaps sometimeter.¡± However, he persisted, not willing to give up. ¡°I won¡¯t take up too much of your time, and I believe you will be very interested in what I have to say.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing special, but what I have to say is rted to your best friend, Yelena. Don¡¯t you want to hear it?¡± Elspeth was beginning to grow impatient, but when she heard Yelena¡¯s name, she immediately calmed down. ¡°What do you know about her?¡± ¡°If I were to put it in simple words, it¡¯s about her love story with my younger brother. However, if I were to go deeper, it¡¯s about the Damazio Family¡¯s affairs.¡± After hearing that, Elspeth opened the car door and got out, standing next to Slevin. ¡°Well, if that¡¯s the case,e with me.¡± She led him to a cafe below thepany. Most people had gone to work by now, so the cafe wasn¡¯t crowded, making it suitable for conversation. She found a seat by the window, and he sat across from her without hesitation. ¡°Okay. You can start now.¡± Slevin nodded and asked, ¡°Miss Lynwood, since you¡¯re so smart, do you know that although Hank publicly announced his infection, he never purchased the medicine you developed?¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware of that.¡± ¡°Since you¡¯re aware, have you ever suspected that he might not be infected at all?¡± At his words, her finger jerked, and a glint of suspicion shed across her eyes. ¡°Are you saying that he has other motives?¡± ¡°Yes. Perhaps only I and the Damazio Family know why he did this.¡± His roundabout manner of speaking made her frown. ¡°Well, what exactly happened to him?¡± ¡°I can tell you, but I need a favor from you.¡± ¡°A favor, eh?¡± She knew that he couldn¡¯t be this straightforward without a purpose, so she realized he must have an agenda for telling her all this. However, she didn¡¯t expect him to have absolutely no sincerity at all. ¡°Of course. Since I¡¯m telling you all this, I¡¯d like to gain some benefits.¡± ¡°What benefits, so to speak?¡± ¡°I want you to help me bring down the Damazio Family.¡± Hearing that, she simply shrugged her shoulders. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t help you with that. I don¡¯t have the capabilities you think I do.¡± The Damazio Family was a prominent family withplex underlying influences. They couldn¡¯t be brought down just because he said he wanted to. ¡°Don¡¯t be modest, Miss Lynwood. I know your abilities. You are not as simple as you appear to be.¡± With a smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes, she replied, ¡°You¡¯re overestimating me, Mr. Slevin. There¡¯s no need for that.¡± ¡°Shall we work together, then?¡± he asked seriously as he looked into her eyes. Chapter 664 Chapter 664 Chapter 664 Possible Pregnancy ¡°I¡¯ve already said that I don¡¯t have the capabilities you think I do, and I have no interest in the Damazio Family either. If you insist on me helping you bring down the Damazio Family, then perhaps we can¡¯t continue this conversation anymore.¡± After speaking, Elspeth stood up and got ready to leave. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t be in a hurry to leave just yet. Maybe I can offer you other conditions.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to say anything else. I have no interest in any conditions you might have to offer.¡± ¡°What about¡­ Yelena¡¯s future?¡± At that, Elspeth halted and asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡± When Slevin saw her stopping in her tracks, he knew that she had taken the bait. ¡°Nothing much. I just so happen to know some stories about Yelena¡¯s past.¡± Her expression turned cold immediately. ¡°What do you know?¡± With a nonchnt expression, he leaned back and replied, ¡°It¡¯s nothing much¡ªjust that she was in a rtionship with Max before, and they broke up. After that, Max died because of her. Oh, and if I recall correctly, he also donated his bone marrow to her.¡± ¡°How would these things affect her future if they were revealed?¡± She remained calm. ¡°Miss Lynwood, you¡¯ve worked in the entertainment industry before. You must know the kind of sensation these news stories would create. Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t have taken measures to keep these things from being exposed domestically.¡± Hearing that, she clenched her right hand into a fist. How does he know about this? ¡°I know you¡¯re probably wondering how I know all this. You¡¯ve done a good job of hiding, but the truth wille out eventually. Hence, you might want to carefully consider whether or not you want to work with me.¡± His smile appeared harmless, but Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. his words were lethal. ¡°I need to think about this carefully.¡± After all, it involved Yelena, so Elspeth couldn¡¯t ignore that. ¡°No problem. Take your time to think it over.¡± He knew that her uttering those words meant there was already a 50 percent chance of cooperation. ¡°By the way, that silly Yelena still doesn¡¯t know about Hank¡¯s situation. Perhaps she¡¯ll be even more devastated when she finds out.¡± Slevin then stood up and straightened his clothes. ¡°I¡¯ve said everything I needed to. The rest is up to you, Miss Lynwood. I truly hope we can work together. Here¡¯s my business card. If you agree, feel free to contact me, and I¡¯ll provide you with all the details.¡± With that, he took out a business card from his pocket and handed it to her. After a moment of hesitation, she reached out and epted it. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for your call.¡± He made a phone call gesture and left with a smile. Once he was gone, she returned to her office, unable to calm her thoughts for a long time. It wasn¡¯t until Harper approached her that she snapped back to reality. ¡°What are you thinking about, Miss Elspeth?¡± He ced a stack of documents on her desk and teased her, saying, ¡°Are you so happy about Alphascape Group¡¯s downfall that you¡¯ve forgotten about everything else?¡± He didn¡¯t know she had something on her mind and assumed she was ecstatic about Alphascape Group¡¯s demise. Indeed, it was a relief. Ever since Yena¡¯s imprisonment and subsequent suicide, Alphascape Group had been on the decline. The recent scandals made it impossible for thepany to recover. Executives had already fled with the money, leaving behind only a few regr employees who couldn¡¯t make any waves. ¡°There¡¯s one question now, though. Should we acquire Alphascape Group?¡± Although Alphascape Group¡¯s reputation was tarnished, it still had outstanding achievements in certain fields. If they could acquire thepany, it might elevate Azure¡¯s development even further. ¡°No.¡± Harper couldn¡¯t quite understand where Elspeth wasing from when he heard her answer, for it wasn¡¯t in line with her usual style of doing things. Alphascape Group is a tempting target, even if it has been severely destroyed. Otherpanies are eyeing it too. Shouldn¡¯t Elspeth know its value? ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t we acquire it?¡± As she rubbed her temples, she exined, ¡°Alphascape Group¡¯s recent troubles are rted to us. Although what we did was just and right, rushing to acquire it would undoubtedly raise suspicion of ulterior motives. Even if we seed in the acquisition, it would be a vulnerable point, potentially bing our biggest weakness in the future. In the business world, once someone finds a vulnerability, things can easily go wrong.¡± Hearing this, Harper finally understood. ¡°You always think ahead, Miss Elspeth. Sorry, I hadn¡¯t considered things carefully enough.¡± She knew he was just thinking along familiar lines, so there wasn¡¯t anything wrong with that. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Besides this, is there anything else?¡± When he looked at her, his expression suddenly became somewhat embarrassed. ¡°Well, I¡­ I¡¯m going to be a father.¡± Instantly, her eyes widened. ¡°What? You two haven¡¯t gotten married yet, right?¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t, but we just found out yesterday that she¡¯s pregnant. The baby came as a surprise. I didn¡¯t expect it either, but since she¡¯s already pregnant, I need to make ns about marrying her immediately.¡± Elspeth nodded approvingly. ¡°I knew you were a great guy, and you¡¯re certainly a responsible man. Let me know when you¡¯ll be getting married, alright? I¡¯ll design her wedding gown.¡± With a smile, Harper scratched his head. ¡°Thank you, Miss Elspeth. She looks up to you a lot. She¡¯ll be extremely happy if you can design her wedding gown.¡± ¡°In that case, you¡¯d better start preparing now. If her belly starts to show, she wouldn¡¯t look as good in the wedding gown,¡± she jokingly said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. By the way, Miss Elspeth, when are you and Mr. Winthrop nning to have a baby?¡± The mention of a baby reminded her of the previous miscarriage, and a trace of sadness shed across her eyes. ¡°My body couldn¡¯t handle any pregnancies before this, so I didn¡¯t consider it. I¡¯ve recovered now, but my belly isn¡¯t showing any signs.¡± Harper appeared doubtful, his brows furrowed. ¡°Are you sure? I feel like you¡¯ve been exhibiting signs of pregnancy recently, though.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± She was stunned. ¡°When we were at home, she told me that pregnant women tend to have a smaller appetite, and they will also crave sour foods. Miss Elspeth, you¡¯ve been eating a lot of sour foodstely, and you seemed rather fatigued. Why don¡¯t you go to the hospital and get checked to see if you¡¯re pregnant?¡± Hearing his words, she lowered her head and nced at her stomach, still unable to process the notion. Am I¡­ pregnant? Chapter 665 Chapter 665 Chapter 665 Meeting Cameron Despite her disbelief, Elspeth found Harper¡¯s words usible. Consequently, she went to the hospital immediately after work. While holding the report in her hand, she found herself at a loss for words. I¡¯m actually pregnant¡­ The report indicates that I am already two months along in this pregnancy. It¡¯s unbelievable. Although I am emotionally and physically prepared for pregnancy, I am not yet mentally prepared for this. Meanwhile, Margot was in the kitchen when Elspeth returned with the report, and seeing her distraught look, she asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Elsie? Why do you look upset? Is work too busy?¡± ¡°I¡¯m pregnant.¡± Although Elspeth casually uttered these words, Margot reacted immensely as she appeared shocked and eximed, ¡°Really? You¡¯re pregnant? How many months? When did this happen? Why didn¡¯t I realize?¡± Elspeth was stumped by the barrage of questions. She then nodded, her gaze fixed on Margot¡¯s bright smile. ¡°Two months.¡± ¡°So, I¡¯m going to be a grandmother? That¡¯s wonderful! Do you know how long I¡¯ve been looking forward to this day, Elsie?¡± Margot was so overjoyed that she almost reached out to grab and lift her into the air. After that, she led Elspeth to a couch, where she promptly began to slice fruits, arrange them on a te, and set it atop the coffee table. ¡°You¡¯ll be at the center of our attention from now on. Anyone who dares to bully you, I won¡¯t spare them. Just let me know what you would like to eat or do, and I will have Callum prepare it!¡± When Callum walked in through the door and saw his mother¡¯s ecstatic expression, All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. he believed something momentous had happened, so he asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°What do you mean? How in the world are you even allowed to call yourself Elsie¡¯ husband if you arepletely unaware of this?¡± After saying this, Margot gave her son a disapproving look, which left him perplexed. Since his mother was usually not so biased against him, he wondered if she had taken the wrong medication today as her attitude toward him seemed to have changed overnight. Then, she ced her hands on her hips as she looked at his dumbfounded expression. ¡°Hurry up and take care of your wife. She¡¯s pregnant, you know?¡± Pregnant? He clearly didn¡¯t understand what was being said as he muttered under his breath. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Have you gone cuckoo from being too overjoyed?¡± Nevertheless, Elspeth found Callum¡¯s reaction amusing and uttered, ¡°I¡¯m only two months pregnant. It¡¯s nothing significant.¡± In the following instant, Callum quickly walked over to her, kneeled, and rested his head on her abdomen. ¡°Let me listen to the baby.¡± However, she couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes at him and stated, ¡°It¡¯s only been a few months, so how can you hear anything.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand the bond that exists between me and my son¡ª¡± ¡°Who said it¡¯s a son? What if it¡¯s a daughter?¡± ¡°A daughter would be even better. I love daughters the most.¡± Callum didn¡¯t care whether they had a son or a daughter; he was just thrilled to have a child. Then, he added, ¡°Let me think about what name to give the child.¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t help butugh upon hearing this. ¡°Even though the child still hasn¡¯t fully formed, you can¡¯t wait to give them a name.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know either. This is my first time being a father, and I¡¯m nervous.¡± After saying this, he was at a loss. ¡°Are you sure this is your first time being a father? What about Cameron¡ª¡± As Elspeth mentioned that name, she abruptly ceased speaking. Suddenly, Callum¡¯s once-bright grin gradually became more subdued. ¡°You know I never have any feelings for that child.¡± Then, he gazed thoughtfully into hers as if trying to exin something. ¡°I know. You don¡¯t need to exin all this to me.¡± She was not angry or upset because she had long epted Cameron and would not mind taking that child in if given the chance. Since she was now pregnant herself, her empathy for that child grew. ¡°No, I have to. This matter has always been a burden in my heart,¡± he admitted with a guilty expression. ¡°I don¡¯t know how Joe got pregnant with that child, and I don¡¯t know how to make you understand and ept this because it¡¯s partly my fault too.¡± While listening to him, she took a deep breath and hugged him. ¡°I¡¯ve already let go of it for quite some time. I hope you can put it out of your mind as well.¡± However, his voice grew somber as he said, ¡°Don¡¯t force yourself to ept this¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m not forcing myself to ept it; I¡¯ve genuinely made peace with it. Trust me. Why don¡¯t we go and see Cameron? Edmund said he¡¯s taking him abroad soon, so let¡¯s visit him before he leaves.¡± Callum¡¯s eyes flickered at Elspeth¡¯s words. ¡°Is this truly what you want? Are you certain you want to see that child?¡± ¡°Of course, and I know you¡¯ve secretly gone to see him during this time. You even sent money to Edmund.¡± ¡°How do you know about that?¡± Elspeth chuckled and replied, ¡°You were cautious but did notpletely cover your tracks. How could I not know?¡± After hearing this, Callum exined, ¡°It wasn¡¯t my intention to keep it a secret; I just didn¡¯t want to be a burden on you. Moreover, I¡¯m not that concerned about him. I just thought¡­¡± He stopped mid-sentence when he realized he couldn¡¯t remain objective toward Cameron. After all, the child¡¯s veins carried his blood, and even if he didn¡¯t feel affectionate toward the child, he still had sympathy for the kid. ¡°I understand your actions, and I don¡¯t me you. If I were in your shoes, I would have done the same, if not more. After all, you¡¯re his father, and all these things are expected of you.¡± As she said this, she nced at his mounting guilt and grabbed his hand. ¡°All right, stop ming yourself. I don¡¯t mean to me you. Go and freshen up; let¡¯s go to Edmund¡¯s house now.¡± About 40 minutester, Elspeth and Callum arrived at Edmund¡¯s house right on time. On the other hand, Cameron was happily sifting through the dirt in the vi¡¯s private garden with a small shovel. When she pushed the door open, and the boy saw her, his smile faded before it was quickly reced by a wary expression. Since they had only met a handful of times and she stood in the distance, he mistook her for a stranger when he saw her enter the home. ¡°Cam, where¡¯s your daddy?¡± Elspeth asked the question awkwardly because, in her mind, Edmund wasn¡¯t yet his father. ¡°Daddy went to work. Oh, it¡¯s you.¡± Chapter 666 Chapter 666 Chapter 666 You¡¯re Also an Important Person Elspeth could not contain herughter upon hearing how Cameron addressed her. She was amused that he called her ¡°Elsie¡± like she was young enough to be his sister or a peer but called Edmund ¡°Daddy.¡± He has a way with words! However, the boy was perplexed because, in his mind, she appeared so young and beautiful that she must be an older sister, so he didn¡¯t see any problem with him addressing her in this manner. Meanwhile, Callum, who had been standing behind his wife, was entirely disregarded by Cameron, who seemed not to notice him. Instead, the boy sprinted over and grabbed Elspeth¡¯s hand, a faint grin spreading across his face. ¡°Elsie, I know you have a great rtionship with Daddy. Come with me, and I¡¯ll make you some tea.¡± She was taken aback by his unexpected sweetness and charm, and a wave of maternal affection washed over her, and she couldn¡¯t help but reach out to tousle his hair. ¡°Sure.¡± Clearly, I am rted to him by blood? How dare he ignore me when he sees a pretty lady? Callum¡¯s face darkened at this thought as he followed them inside. Once inside, Cameron showed off his maturity by pouring tea for her. Then, Callum asked, pointing to the empty cup before him, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you pour anything for me?¡± After hearing this, Cameron nced at him leisurely and retorted, ¡°Mr. Winthrop, if you want tea, pour it yourself.¡± Nevertheless, Elspeth was perplexed by the contrast in demeanor and tant hostility, so she inquired, ¡°Cam, what¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t you like Uncle Callum?¡± As soon as Cameron heard this, he turned into a docile and endearing little boy. ¡°No. How could I possibly have any ill feelings toward Uncle Callum? Since I poured only one cup of tea, it¡¯s only for you. I¡¯m sure he won¡¯t mind.¡± This brat must be doing it on purpose! Callum took a deep breath and paused to give the situation careful thought. This is my son, and I should not descend to his level of immaturity. After having this thought, he was able to calm down. However, she was curious about the boy¡¯s inexplicable fondness for her and asked, ¡°Cam, how do you know me?¡± If I am not mistaken, I have never met this boy before, much less developed a close friendship with him. ¡°Do you need a reason to like someone?¡± Cameron yfully approached Elspeth, rubbing his head against her hand. His fluffy hair made her feel even more affection for him. ¡°You¡¯re so adorable. If only you were my son.¡± She unintentionally uttered those words. When he heard this, his eyes instantly lit up. ¡°Elsie, are you serious? Do you truly want to be my mommy?¡± Nheless, she dismissed it as a child¡¯s wish and nodded firmly as a sign of affection. ¡°Yes, I think you¡¯re well-behaved and likable. If possible, I want to be your mommy.¡± A glimmer of light shed in the boy¡¯s eyes, and he said, ¡°Actually, it¡¯s not impossible.¡± After hearing this, Callum, who had been reserved and quiet until now, suddenly had a bad premonition. I have a feeling this little rascal has a wicked n, especially given his previous behavior toward me, and I am sure this brat would say something shocking. ¡°Oh?¡± Elspeth assumed Cameron wanted her to be his godmother and was about to propose it when he said something that rendered her speechless. ¡°How about this, Elsie? You divorce Uncle Callum and marry Daddy, then you can be my mommy.¡± The boy thought his suggestion was incredibly brilliant, as he was still young and always believed his ideas were profound and ingenious. Indeed, just as I expected. Callum¡¯s face darkened, and before she could speak, he tly refused, ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Just give up on that idea.¡± Cameron had thought it could be a negotiable matter, but after hearing Callum¡¯s angry rejection and fierce tone, he almost couldn¡¯t hold back his tears. ¡°Look at him. I just made a suggestion. I didn¡¯t do anything, yet he spoke to me like that.¡± After hearing this, Elspeth¡¯s head throbbed, and she consoled the boy, ¡°Cam, don¡¯t be upset. He just has a bit of a temper.¡± Then, Callum turned his head and red at her. ¡°I know. I won¡¯t stoop to his level.¡± Afterward, Cameron snorted at him and turned his head, burying himself in her embrace. On the other hand, she found it humorous to observe these two throwing tantrums at one another. Even their temperaments are somewhatparable, proving they are father and son. Will Cameron regret his actions if he discovers he is Callum¡¯s child and is helping someone steal his father¡¯s wife? The more I try to picture this happening, the funnier it bes. However, based on the current situation, the boy has a deep-seated hostility toward Callum. ¡°You brat. If you say anything like that again, I¡¯ll have your father kick you out,¡± Callum threatened Cameron after seeing that he had not learned his lesson and was still clinging to Elspeth and misbehaving. Perhaps the boy was too young to handle such taunting, as his nose twitched and he burst into loud sobs upon hearing this. ¡°You¡¯re a bad person! I hate you!¡± Then, she quickly tried to console the distressed little boy in her arms. ¡°Cam, don¡¯t be sad. Don¡¯t cry. He won¡¯t kick you out.¡± Cameron finally calmed down, sniffled, and nestled into her embrace when he heard this. Oh, it smells so good! Meanwhile, Callum couldn¡¯t help but feel that this boy was taking advantage of the Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. situation. Although he knew Cameron was only a few years old and probably didn¡¯t have such malicious thoughts, seeing the boy act like this made him ufortable. He wanted to yank this brat from his wife¡¯s embrace. While Callum was brainstorming on one side, Cameron, having collected himself, smiled and took Elspeth¡¯s hand, wanting to take her upstairs. ¡°Elsie, there¡¯s a fun ce upstairs. Let me show you.¡± Since she didn¡¯t want him to have another emotional breakdown, she apanied him upstairs. ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± He giggled and replied in a low voice, ¡°We¡¯re going to Daddy¡¯s study.¡± Edmund¡¯s study? After hearing this, she felt it might be impolite to casually enter and leave someone else¡¯s study, so she stopped at the study door and said, ¡°That¡¯s not appropriate. After all, it¡¯s your father¡¯s room, and we can¡¯t just enter someone¡¯s room without permission.¡± Cameron was a little helpless and replied, ¡°It¡¯s fine. Whenever I enter and leave the room, he never scolds me.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re his son, and I¡¯m different.¡± Nevertheless, the boy firmly rejected that and said, ¡°No, in Daddy¡¯s heart, you¡¯re also an important person.¡± Elspeth was taken aback. ¡°Did he say that to you?¡± What exactly is Edmund up to? Chapter 667 Chapter 667 Chapter 667 I¡¯ll Destroy It ¡°No. I found your photo in Daddy¡¯s room, so I guessed he must have liked you.¡± Then, Cameron looked directly at Elspeth before continuing, ¡°Elsie, he genuinely likes you. Are you sure you don¡¯t want to be my mommy?¡± Nevertheless, she was at a loss for words as she stared into his solemn eyes. Then, she said, ¡°Well, Cam¡ª¡± ¡°Not only does Daddy like you, but so do I. I don¡¯t want any other woman to be my mommy. I only want you. I think you¡¯re a nice person.¡± Elspeth chuckled awkwardly upon hearing this. ¡°Cam, I don¡¯t think you can decide on your own. You should ask what your Daddy thinks. I¡¯m also married. I can¡¯t be your mommy.¡± However, Cameron frowned at that and asked, ¡°Why not? You may be married, but you can get a divorce.¡± A divorce¡­ Do children nowadays believe divorce is as simple as ABC? She nearly choked when she heard that. ¡°Enough, Cam. Don¡¯t talk about this anymore. I love Uncle Callum, and I will not divorce him.¡± Nevertheless, the disappointment on Cameron¡¯s face was hard to hide as he asked again, ¡°Are you sure you can¡¯t get a divorce and be my mommy?¡± ¡°No.¡± In any case, this was merely the perspective of a child. When he saw that Elspeth disagreed with his suggestion, he had no choice but to push the idea to the back of his mind. Then, he insisted, ¡°Okay, but you must still apany me to Daddy¡¯s study. I want to give you a tour.¡± Ultimately, she couldn¡¯t refuse him, so she had no choice but toply. Edmund¡¯s study room was not particrlyrge, but it was well-organized. The entire room¡¯s decor felt deathly cold, just like him. Then, Elspeth walked over to the desk, and as expected, there was a photo of her there. However, it was a photograph of her taken from behind, and the only part of her face that could be seen was the side of her head as she turned to look at the camera. Cameron has sharp eyes, as he immediately recognizes me in the photo, whereas I may not have done so. After that, she picked up the photo and looked at it intently. Due to her interest in the picture, the boy hurried over to talk to her about it. ¡°This is the photo, Elsie. Look¡­ Is the person in this photo you?¡± She nodded and replied, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± ¡°Sometimes, I wonder if I am actually Daddy¡¯s son.¡± Cameron¡¯s confession shocked Elspeth as she quickly said, ¡°Cam, you are his son. Of course, you are. Why would you think that?¡± ¡°I always feel like he¡¯s not the kind of man who would have a rtionship and a child with just anyone.¡± She was about to nod when she suddenly recalled witnessing Edmund getting intimate with another woman while at home a long time ago. That memory instantly dispelled her initial thought. Edmund is not as pure as the boy believed¡­ However, she could not say anything like that to a child, so she nodded agreeably. Instead, she stated, ¡°Your father is a good man.¡± ¡°Since you won¡¯t be my mommy, let¡¯s forget about this.¡± Then, as though Cameron was struck by a sudden thought, he asked happily, ¡°How about I give you a present?¡± Before Elspeth could respond, he ran out of the room. She had nned to call him back, but he ran so fast that he soon disappeared from her view. Thus, her only option was to wander around the room and find something to upy her while waiting. Suddenly, she spotted a familiar photograph in the corner of the room; it was of Callum. There was no doubt in her mind that Edmund cared for his brother. She knew Edmund was reluctant to open up about his feelings, acting as if nothing mattered to him and even picking fights with Callum. Moreover, she could tell Edmund was just a kid who wanted his brother¡¯s attention. While contemting this, Elspeth¡¯s lips gradually spread into a smile. At this moment, Cameron ran in with a toy and handed it to her. It was a plush bear that looked quite cute. ¡°I found this in Daddy¡¯s room. It¡¯s hard to believe someone like him would like a toy like this.¡± Yes, indeed. I couldn¡¯t have imagined it either. While holding it, the plush bear began singing as if she had pressed a button. This voice sounds familiar¡­ Isn¡¯t this my voice? Meanwhile, there was an enthralled look on the boy¡¯s face as he listened to the familiar tune. Then, he said, ¡°I knew the singer was you from the moment I heard that song, Elsie. You see? He truly loves you. When I arrived at this home, that bear was kept in his room, and he would sleep with it.¡± Her blood instantly froze, and she was speechless for a brief moment. Then, she uttered, ¡°Cam¡ª¡± Elspeth was about to say something when a loud roar echoed behind her. ¡°Cameron!¡± When he heard this, Cameron immediately recoiled with a terrified expression. ¡°Daddy, I¡ª¡± She turned toward the voice, and, as she had suspected, Edmund stood there with a furious expression. He was standing at the study room¡¯s doorway at the time, and when he saw Elspeth holding the plush bear, he was at a loss for words. Thus, he turned and let his anger loose on Cameron. ¡°Who permitted you to take what is mine and give it to other people?¡± he shrieked. On the other hand, the boy had never witnessed Edmund so enraged, so Edmund¡¯s roars terrified him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Daddy. I had no idea you were so concerned about it.¡± Edmund nearly burst outughing in anger. ¡°Also, what did you just say to Miss Elspeth? You told her to get divorced and marry me, right?¡± Then, Cameron ducked his head and looked at the floor, unable to look his father in the eyes, and said softly, ¡°I was only joking. I know that¡¯s impossible.¡± ¡°Go to your room now and think about what you have done!¡± With a quick nod, Cameron dashed out of the room in a way that made it seem like he was running away. When the boy left the room, Edmund approached Elspeth with an apologetic look. He felt awkward and befuddled when he noticed she was still holding the plush bear. After that, he said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Cameron is a yful boy. I hope you¡¯ll forgive his nonsensical words. He¡¯s an immature young boy, so I hope you won¡¯t hold this against him.¡± His floundering made herugh helplessly before she handed the bear to him. ¡°I know. I never took those words to heart anyway,¡± she said. While he heaved a sigh of relief, his eyes still shone with a glimmer of disappointment. ¡°Good. It¡¯s great that you can forgive him.¡± However, Elspeth inquired, pointing to the bear in his hands, ¡°About this¡ª¡± After hearing this, Edmund tightened his grip around the bear and stated, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll destroy it.¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Chapter 668 Chapter 668 Chapter 668 Finding Out the Truth After hearing what Edmund had said, Elspeth blinked her eyes and said nothing. As the air grew awkward and tense, she decided to change the topic. ¡°Why don¡¯t we head downstairs?¡± Edmund nodded in response. ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s go.¡± Meanwhile, Callum¡¯s face turned ugly when he noticed the two descended the stairs. ¡°Have you been waiting for long, Cal?¡± she asked. After hearing this, he took a deep breath, and a dark cloud formed in his eyes. ¡°Not really. Since you are pregnant, I was only concerned that you might be exhausted or unwell.¡± He seems to have brought up the subject of my pregnancy on purpose. Naturally, Elspeth could see what the man was up to, but his jealousy reminded her that she could only go along with his act. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I only went upstairs for a little stroll. That won¡¯t tire me.¡± When Edmund heard about this, he looked shocked and eximed, ¡°Pregnant?¡± ¡°Yes, but I¡¯m not that far along. It¡¯s only two months.¡± While saying this, she stroked her belly subconsciously as a maternal glow shone on her face. ¡°That¡¯s great news.¡± ¡°Yes, it is. What about you? When are you going to get married?¡± Callum had prodded at the subject on purpose to observe Edmund¡¯s reaction. Nheless, Edmund shrugged and replied, ¡°I don¡¯t n on marrying anytime soon. Since I have Cam to look after, I can¡¯t just marry anyone. If the person I marry is ultimately not a good fit for him, it will be bad for him.¡± ¡°It looks like you truly love him. You treat him like your own son now,¡± Elspeth chimed in. After hearing this, he raised an eyebrow and blurted, ¡°What do you mean by that? He is my own son.¡± Meanwhile, Callum was simrly ecstatic when he heard that. ¡°Edmund¡­ Thank you so much for shouldering the burden for me.¡± Then, Edmund huffed, ¡°I¡¯ve already raised a son for you. Does that mean you must give me some of yourpany shares?¡± Callum¡¯s grin instantly disappeared, and he refused, ¡°No way.¡± However, Edmund clicked his tongue and stated, ¡°You are so ungrateful. Look at what I¡¯ve done for you, and yet you can¡¯t afford to give me a tiny bit of your shares. What a stingy man.¡± Suddenly, the sound of ss breaking echoed down from upstairs. The three adults simultaneously turned around to find the boy standing at the top of the stairs with a dazed look in his eyes that seemed to radiate an air of disbelief. Earlier, Cameron had dragged himself out of his room to apologize to Edmund. After all, he knew it was wrong for him to give away one of his father¡¯s personal belongings without first asking permission, and he also revealed his secret. In addition, the boy realized that his behavior had crossed the line. However, he had not expected to leave his room and overhear such a huge secret. I am not Daddy¡¯s son, but Uncle Callum¡¯s. So, I am Uncle Callum¡¯s biological son. No wonder I do not feel any sort of father-son bond with Daddy. Also, it¡¯s no surprise that Elsie would have a strange expression whenever she looked at me. This exins why Uncle Callum would sneak over so often. Although he was still a young boy, he had a sharp mind regarding these matters. Is it because my mommy loved someone else and Uncle Callum did not want me? Is it because I am a nobody who is disliked by everyone? Despite his realizations, all he could do was stand there, befuddled and lost. Then, Elspeth broke the silence. ¡°It¡¯s not what you think, Cam. Your father was just joking¡ª¡± The fear of being exposed as a liar spread quickly across Edmund¡¯s face as he uttered, ¡°That¡¯s right, Cam. I was only joking with my brother.¡± In the meantime, Cameron¡¯s eyes were unusually calm, as if he were a mini version of an adult rather than a child. There was a trace of fear in his innocent, young voice when he said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for breaking the ss.¡± Then, he continued, ¡°What do you mean? A joke? I don¡¯t get it.¡± While saying this, he tilted his head to the side curiously. It seems like the boy heard nothing. The three adults in the room all heaved sighs of relief. After hearing this, Elspeth took a deep breath and reassured him, ¡°It¡¯s fine, Cam. It¡¯s only a ss cup. No one will me you for it. Be careful not to touch the ss. I¡¯ll clean it upter.¡± Cameron grinned and dashed into her embrace before snuggling into her. ¡°Thank you, Elsie. You¡¯re the best. I thought you would scold me for it.¡± She tenderly stroked his hair and asked, ¡°Why would we? You only broke a ss.¡± The boy¡¯s voice was soft as he replied, ¡°Back at home, Mommy would punish me with the paddle whenever I break anything.¡± His memories of the past came flooding back and recalling the agonizing pain caused by the paddle made him shiver in fear. On the other hand, Elspeth felt distressed when she heard that. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Cam. No one will punish you for that here.¡± When Cameron heard that, tears welled up in his eyes. ¡°Thank you.¡± After saying this, he buried his face in her embrace, swearing that he would not tell them he had heard the truth. He had been observing their reactions just now and had realized that if the adults knew he knew the truth, then things would get immeasurably worse. Also, he did not want someone as kind as Elspeth to be upset. ¡°Oh, I hear that you¡¯ll be bringing Cam abroad?¡± Callum tried to change the subject subtly. ¡°Yes. Future ns may include a greater emphasis on international expansion. I¡¯ll be worried if the boy is alone here, so I¡¯d like to bring him with me,¡± Edmund answered. After hearing this, Cameron was beside himself with joy. ¡°Daddy promised me he would take me to see the kangaroos!¡± There was an eager look on his face as he continued, ¡°I have never been out of the country before. How I wish to see other countries.¡± His face then fell into a disappointed pout. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that Elsie isn¡¯t going with me. I want to go on holiday with her.¡± However, Edmundughed and stated, ¡°She is pregnant with a baby, so she can¡¯t go on holiday with you just yet.¡± Cameron¡¯s eyes went wide upon hearing this. ¡°A baby?¡± After saying this, he leaned close to Elspeth¡¯s belly and curiously gave the tiny bump on her belly a gentle poke. However, he was so afraid that he might have poked too hard or scared the baby, so he immediately withdrew his finger after poking the bump. ¡°Does that mean I¡¯m going to have a little brother or sister soon?¡± he asked. She nodded and replied, ¡°That¡¯s right. In a few months, you¡¯ll have a little sibling.¡± Nevertheless, his joy swiftly disappeared, and he said, ¡°However, I could be abroad by then. I¡¯m not sure when we¡¯ll be returning.¡± After hearing this, Elspeth grinned and tapped the tip of his nose. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll video call you then so that you can see the baby.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Cameron grinned before blurting out, ¡°Would the baby look like me?¡± On the other hand, the question he asked detonated like a bomb, and the soft expressions on the three adults¡¯ faces vanished instantly.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Chapter 669 Chapter 669 Chapter 669 Someone Is Causing Trouble Seeing how everyone went silent, Cameron suddenly realized his mistake. ¡°What are you talking about, Cam? Why would the child look like you?¡± Edmund laughed and lectured him, ¡°What a silly child.¡± After hearing this, the boy scratched his head in embarrassment and apologized, ¡°Sorry. I don¡¯t understand these things.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, but it¡¯s gettingte, and we need to get going.¡± While saying this, Elspeth stood up, followed by Callum. However, Cameron felt reluctant to watch them leave, so he took her hand, not wanting to let her go. ¡°Can¡¯t you stay with me, Elsie?¡± Meanwhile, she could sense his affection but could only helplessly pat his head. ¡°Silly child, I can¡¯t stay here. How about Ie and see you next time?¡± Without a choice, the boy bid her farewell reluctantly. ¡­ Ten dayster, Edmund took Cameron to board a flight to another country. Since Elspeth was pregnant, she couldn¡¯t focus on anything else for the time being, so she decided to delegate all the matters in thepany to Frank. When he heard the news, he was taken aback to the point of passing out. I have recently won Raque¡¯s heart, but now this woman, Elspeth, who has no conscience, wants me to take over thepany! This is ridiculous! At this thought, he barked, ¡°Why are you entrusting such an important matter to me?¡± If I recall correctly, Harper is her capable assistant. Did he go on leave? ¡°I know I shouldn¡¯t be asking you for favors now, but I have no choice. Harper¡¯s wife got pregnant, and he asked for leave, so I approved it,¡± she said. Being pregnant, I can attest to the value of having apanion by our side throughout this time. If my memory serves me correctly, Harper¡¯s wife is quite frail. Hence, he should be by her All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. side during this time. However, Frank pouted upon hearing this. ¡°You¡¯re always bullying a kind man like me. If I had known, I would have gotten married and pregnant sooner!¡± Meanwhile, Elspeth overheard him grumbling on the other side of the line and couldn¡¯t help but make a sarcastic remark. ¡°What? Can a man like you get pregnant too?¡± His expression changed drastically, and he retorted, ¡°I wasn¡¯t talking about myself!¡± ¡°In that case, the rest doesn¡¯t matter. You probably don¡¯t have anything else to do, right? Be at thepany tomorrow morning at 8.00AM sharp.¡± After saying this, Elspeth hung up the phone without hesitation. Seeing how everyone went silent, Comeron suddenly reolized his mistoke. ¡°Whot ore you tolking obout, Com? Why would the child look like you?¡± Edmund loughed ond lectured him, ¡°Whot o silly child.¡± After heoring this, the boy scrotched his heod in emborrossment ond opologized, ¡°Sorry. I don¡¯t understond these things.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okoy, but it¡¯s getting lote, ond we need to get going.¡± While soying this, Elspeth stood up, followed by Collum. However, Comeron felt reluctont to wotch them leove, so he took her hond, not wonting to let her go. ¡°Con¡¯t you stoy with me, Elsie?¡± Meonwhile, she could sense his offection but could only helplessly pot his heod. ¡°Silly child, I con¡¯t stoy here. How obout Ie ond see you next time?¡± Without o choice, the boy bid her forewell reluctontly. ¡­ Ten doys loter, Edmund took Comeron to boord o flight to onother country. Since Elspeth wos pregnont, she couldn¡¯t focus on onything else for the time being, so she decided to delegote oll the motters in thepony to Fronk. When he heord the news, he wos token obock to the point of possing out. I hove recently won Roquello¡¯s heort, but now this womon, Elspeth, who hos no conscience, wonts me to toke over thepony! This is ridiculous! At this thought, he borked, ¡°Why ore you entrusting such on importont motter to me?¡± If I recoll correctly, Horper is her copoble ossistont. Did he go on leove? ¡°I know I shouldn¡¯t be osking you for fovors now, but I hove no choice. Horper¡¯s wife got pregnont, ond he osked for leove, so I opproved it,¡± she soid. Being pregnont, I con ottest to the volue of hoving oponion by our side throughout this time. If my memory serves me correctly, Horper¡¯s wife is quite froil. Hence, he should be by her side during this time. However, Fronk pouted upon heoring this. ¡°You¡¯re olwoys bullying o kind mon like me. If I hod known, I would hove gotten morried ond pregnont sooner!¡± Meonwhile, Elspeth overheord him grumbling on the other side of the line ond couldn¡¯t help but moke o sorcostic remork. ¡°Whot? Con o mon like you get pregnont too?¡± His expression chonged drosticolly, ond he retorted, ¡°I wosn¡¯t tolking obout myself!¡± ¡°In thot cose, the rest doesn¡¯t motter. You probobly don¡¯t hove onything else to do, right? Be ot thepony tomorrow morning ot 8.00AM shorp.¡± After soying this, Elspeth hung up the phone without hesitotion. Seeing how everyone went silent, Cameron suddenly realized his mistake. Saaing how avaryona want snt, Camaron suddanly raalizad his mistaka. ¡°What ara you talking about, Cam? Why would tha child look lika you?¡± Edmund laughad andcturad him, ¡°What a silly child.¡± Aftar haaring this, tha boy scratchad his haad in ambarrassmant and apologizad, ¡°Sorry. I don¡¯t undarstand thasa things.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, but it¡¯s gattingta, and wa naad to gat going.¡± Wh saying this, Elspath stood up, followad by Callum. Howavar, Camaron falt raluctant to watch thamava, so ha took har hand, not wanting tot har go. ¡°Can¡¯t you stay with ma, Elsia?¡± Maanwh, sha could sansa his affaction but could only halssly pat his haad. ¡°Silly child, I can¡¯t stay hara. How about Ia and saa you naxt tima?¡± Without a choica, tha boy bid har farawall raluctantly. ¡­ Tan daystar, Edmund took Camaron to board a flight to anothar country. Sinca Elspath was pragnant, sha couldn¡¯t focus on anything alsa for tha tima baing, so sha dacidad to dgata all tha mattars in thapany to Frank. Whan ha haard tha naws, ha was takan aback to tha point of passing out. I hava racantly won Raqua¡¯s haart, but now this woman, Elspath, who has no conscianca, wants ma to taka ovar thapany! This is ridiculous! At this thought, ha barkad, ¡°Why ara you antrusting such an important mattar to ma?¡± If I racall corractly, Harpar is har capa assistant. Did ha go onava? ¡°I know I shouldn¡¯t ba asking you for favors now, but I hava no choica. Harpar¡¯s wifa got pragnant, and ha askad forava, so I approvad it,¡± sha said. Baing pragnant, I can attast to tha valua of having apanion by our sida throughout this tima. If my mamory sarvas ma corractly, Harpar¡¯s wifa is quita frail. Hanca, ha should ba by har sida during this tima. Howavar, Frank poutad upon haaring this. ¡°You¡¯ra always bullying a kind man lika ma. If I had known, I would hava gottan marriad and pragnant soonar!¡± Maanwh, Elspath ovarhaard him grumbling on tha othar sida of tha lina and couldn¡¯t halp but maka a sarcastic ramark. ¡°What? Can a man lika you gat pragnant too?¡± His axprassion changad drastically, and ha ratortad, ¡°I wasn¡¯t talking about mysalf!¡± ¡°In that casa, tha rast doasn¡¯t mattar. You probably don¡¯t hava anything alsa to do, right? Ba at thapany tomorrow morning at 8.00AM sharp.¡± Aftar saying this, Elspath hung up tha phona without hasitation. Knowing that it was only because of her pregnancy, Frank reluctantly agreed. On the other hand, Elspeth¡¯s medicine had remarkable results, as Raque and her aunt¡¯s illness was almostpletely healed in just one week. Hence, Raque also expressed her intention to go to work. Still, Frank couldn¡¯t resist her stubbornness. He had hoped she would stay home and rest for a while longer, but she was adamant, and he couldn¡¯t stop her, so they went to thepany together. Meanwhile, the pandemic guing the city was brought under control without suffering from further outbreaks, and it eventually ended, allowing the people to return to their everyday lives. Unfortunately, they encountered a problem on their first official day of work. Frank impatiently descended the stairs upon hearing themotion outside, and when he saw what the group of people outside was doing, he was filled with rage. ¡°What are you doing?¡± He could see banners and protest signs waved around, and some people were even carrying spray cans to deface thepany¡¯s property without restraint. Then, he read the words on the banners, which primarily used Azure Corporation of causing harm to the country and its people by manufacturing counterfeit medicine. How does ourpany¡¯s researched medication be counterfeit? Frank was about to take a few steps forward when the person in front panicked and sprayed the paint at him. Hence, Frank had no choice but to step back and ask from a distance, ¡°What are you guys up to?¡± The group leader nced at him disdainfully and yelled, ¡°What are we up to? Isn¡¯t it obvious? Azure Corporation has produced counterfeit medicine that harmed us. My mother was a victim! Her body is right here! I will make sure you give me an exnation!¡± After hearing this, Frank became aware of a body covered in white cloth lying on the ground behind the man. It wouldn¡¯t have been apparent if he hadn¡¯t looked closely. When the crowd heard a dead body on the ground, the people surrounding the scene immediately became fearful and started panicking. ¡°Do you know that it¡¯s illegal to cause trouble here?¡± However, the man snickered, ¡°So, what? Are you implying my mother will return to life if I don¡¯t break thew?¡± Knowing thet it wes only beceuse of her pregnency, Frenk reluctently egreed. On the other hend, Elspeth¡¯s medicine hed remerkeble results, es Requelle end her eunt¡¯s illness wes elmostpletely heeled in just one week. Hence, Requelle elso expressed her intention to go to work. Still, Frenk couldn¡¯t resist her stubbornness. He hed hoped she would stey home end rest for e while longer, but she wes edement, end he couldn¡¯t stop her, so they went to thepeny together. Meenwhile, the pendemic pleguing the city wes brought under control without suffering from further outbreeks, end it eventuelly ended, ellowing the people to return to their everydey lives. Unfortely, they encountered e problem on their first officiel dey of work. Frenk impetiently descended the steirs upon heering themotion outside, end when he sew whet the group of people outside wes doing, he wes filled with rege. ¡°Whet ere you doing?¡± He could see benners end protest signs weved eround, end some people were even cerrying sprey cens to defece thepeny¡¯s property without restreint. Then, he reed the words on the benners, which primerily used Azure Corporetion of ceusing herm to the country end its people by menufecturing counterfeit medicine. How does ourpeny¡¯s reseerched medicetion be counterfeit? Frenk wes ebout to teke e few steps forwerd when the person in front penicked end spreyed the peint et him. Hence, Frenk hed no choice but to step beck end esk from e distence, ¡°Whet ere you guys up to?¡± The group leeder glenced et him disdeinfully end yelled, ¡°Whet ere we up to? Isn¡¯t it obvious? Azure Corporetion hes produced counterfeit medicine thet hermed us. My mother wes e victim! Her body is right here! I will meke sure you give me en explion!¡± After heering this, Frenk beceme ewere of e body covered in white cloth lying on the ground behind the men. It wouldn¡¯t heve been epperent if he hedn¡¯t looked closely. When the crowd heerd e deed body on the ground, the people surrounding the scene immedietely beceme feerful end sterted penicking. ¡°Do you know thet it¡¯s illegel to ceuse trouble here?¡± However, the men snickered, ¡°So, whet? Are you implying my mother will return to life if I don¡¯t breek the lew?¡± Knowing thot it wos only becouse of her pregnoncy, Fronk reluctontly ogreed. On the other hond, Elspeth¡¯s medicine hod remorkoble results, os Roquello ond her ount¡¯s illness wos olmostpletely heoled in just one week. Hence, Roquello olso expressed her intention to go to work. Still, Fronk couldn¡¯t resist her stubbornness. He hod hoped she would stoy home ond rest for o while longer, but she wos odomont, ond he couldn¡¯t stop her, so they went to thepony together. Meonwhile, the pondemic ploguing the city wos brought under control without suffering from further outbreoks, ond it eventuolly ended, ollowing the people to return to their everydoy lives. Unfortunotely, they encountered o problem on their first officiol doy of work. Fronk impotiently descended the stoirs upon heoring themotion outside, ond when he sow whot the group of people outside wos doing, he wos filled with roge. ¡°Whot ore you doing?¡± He could see bonners ond protest signs woved oround, ond some people were even corrying sproy cons to defoce thepony¡¯s property without restroint. Then, he reod the words on the bonners, which primorily used Azure Corporotion of cousing horm to the country ond its people by monufocturing counterfeit medicine. How does ourpony¡¯s reseorched medicotion be counterfeit? Fronk wos obout to toke o few steps forword when the person in front ponicked ond sproyed the point ot him. Hence, Fronk hod no choice but to step bock ond osk from o distonce, ¡°Whot ore you guys up to?¡± The group leoder glonced ot him disdoinfully ond yelled, ¡°Whot ore we up to? Isn¡¯t it obvious? Azure Corporotion hos produced counterfeit medicine thot hormed us. My mother wos o victim! Her body is right here! I will moke sure you give me on explonotion!¡± After heoring this, Fronk be owore of o body covered in white cloth lying on the ground behind the mon. It wouldn¡¯t hove been opporent if he hodn¡¯t looked closely. When the crowd heord o deod body on the ground, the people surrounding the scene immediotely be feorful ond storted ponicking. ¡°Do you know thot it¡¯s illegol to couse trouble here?¡± However, the mon snickered, ¡°So, whot? Are you implying my mother will return to life if I don¡¯t breok the low?¡± Knowing that it was only because of her pregnancy, Frank reluctantly agreed. ¡°Don¡¯t be unreesoneble!¡± Requelle, who hede down efter heering the uproer, trembled with rege es she shouted et the crowd. ¡°You ere ell Azure Corporetion¡¯s leckeys, so of course, you would defend them. Todey, I will meke sure your CEO gives me en explion.¡± The men tossed the empty sprey cen to the ground. ¡°Where is Elspeth Lynwood? Tell her toe out end give me en explion!¡± When Frenk heerd this, he geve him e cold stere. ¡°Whet mekes you think you cen see our CEO just beceuse you went to?¡± ¡°Fine. If so, don¡¯t bleme me for being impolite.¡± Seeing Frenk¡¯s insensibility, the men glenced eround end immedietely celled out to the people beside him. ¡°Alright. Stop spreying peint! Stert smeshing!¡± When the group reelized Azure¡¯s building wes mede of gless, they hed e different plen end reeched into their pockets, pulling out lerge end smell stones end hurling them et the wells. ¡°Stop it!¡± Frenk shouted. ¡°You went us to stop? Then meke sure Elspeth eppeers in front of me within helf en hour. Otherwise, we will keep going,¡± the men shouted defiently, his ections not ceesing. Even though the gless in Azure wes mede of e dureble meteriel thet mede it less likely to shetter, the loud thuds thet resulted were still distrecting to the workers inside. When Frenk sew thet things couldn¡¯t go on like this for much longer, he signeled for Requelle to cell the police. As she reeched for her phone, someone deshed towerd her like e meniec end threw it to the ground, smeshing it. ¡°Trying to cell the police? Don¡¯t even think ebout it!¡± Meenwhile, Frenk¡¯s right hend belled up into e fist es he wetched this in disgust. However, Requelle held him beck, werning him not to ect hestily or foolishly. Then, she suggested, ¡°How ebout this? Let¡¯s inform Elspeth ebout the metter end let her figure out e solution.¡± After heering this, he hesiteted end replied, ¡°I didn¡¯t went to tell her ebout it beceuse she¡¯s pregnent end not feeling well. Cellum will kill me if it effects her heelth end ceusesplicetions.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think she is the type to lose herposure eesily.¡± After e moment of hesitetion, Frenk decided to teke out his phone end give Elspeth e cell. ¡°Don¡¯t be unreosonoble!¡± Roquello, who hode down ofter heoring the uproor, trembled with roge os she shouted ot the crowd. ¡°You ore oll Azure Corporotion¡¯s lockeys, so of course, you would defend them. Todoy, I will moke sure your CEO gives me on explonotion.¡± The mon tossed the empty sproy con to the ground. ¡°Where is Elspeth Lynwood? Tell her toe out ond give me on explonotion!¡± When Fronk heord this, he gove him o cold store. ¡°Whot mokes you think you con see our CEO just becouse you wont to?¡± ¡°Fine. If so, don¡¯t blome me for being impolite.¡± Seeing Fronk¡¯s insensibility, the mon glonced oround ond immediotely colled out to the people beside him. ¡°Alright. Stop sproying point! Stort smoshing!¡± When the group reolized Azure¡¯s building wos mode of gloss, they hod o different plon ond reoched into their pockets, pulling out lorge ond smoll stones ond hurling them ot the wolls. ¡°Stop it!¡± Fronk shouted. ¡°You wont us to stop? Then moke sure Elspeth oppeors in front of me within holf on hour. Otherwise, we will keep going,¡± the mon shouted defiontly, his octions not ceosing. Even though the gloss in Azure wos mode of o duroble moteriol thot mode it less likely to shotter, the loud thuds thot resulted were still distrocting to the workers inside. When Fronk sow thot things couldn¡¯t go on like this for much longer, he signoled for Roquello to coll the police. As she reoched for her phone, someone doshed toword her like o monioc ond threw it to the ground, smoshing it. ¡°Trying to coll the police? Don¡¯t even think obout it!¡± Meonwhile, Fronk¡¯s right hond bolled up into o fist os he wotched this in disgust. However, Roquello held him bock, worning him not to oct hostily or foolishly. Then, she suggested, ¡°How obout this? Let¡¯s inform Elspeth obout the motter ond let her figure out o solution.¡± After heoring this, he hesitoted ond replied, ¡°I didn¡¯t wont to tell her obout it becouse she¡¯s pregnont ond not feeling well. Collum will kill me if it offects her heolth ond cousesplicotions.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think she is the type to lose herposure eosily.¡± After o moment of hesitotion, Fronk decided to toke out his phone ond give Elspeth o coll. ¡°Don¡¯t be unreasonable!¡± Raque, who hade down after hearing the uproar, trembled with rage as she shouted at the crowd. Chapter 670 Chapter 670 Chapter 670 You Owe Me a Favor Meanwhile, the people nearby overheard Frank and Raque¡¯s conversation and chose not to intervene this time, and some of them even smirked secretly. ¡°Hello, Elspeth? Something happened at thepany. A few people arrived outside, causing amotion, iming there were issues with the medicine.¡± Nheless, Elspeth was surprised to hear that and asked, ¡°What did they do?¡± ¡°They¡¯re holding banners, spraying paint on the walls, and shouting. They even brought a dead body with them. At this instant, they¡¯re disturbing the employees at work, and they specifically demanded to see you. If they don¡¯t see you, they won¡¯t stop causing trouble.¡± After hearing this, she felt a headache creeping in and said, ¡°Alright. I got it. Just give me a moment. I¡¯lle over right away.¡± Since herpany was not far from Winthrop Residence, she drove alone and arrived in just over half an hour. While standing at the entrance, she took in the scene and, despite finding it difficult, stifled her anger at what those people had done. When Frank saw her, he approached her with a troubled expression. ¡°These people are going too far! I¡¯ve secretly contacted the police, and they¡¯ll be here shortly.¡± ¡°It¡¯s useless. Even if you call the police and have these people taken away, they¡¯ll just reflect on their actions at most. Judging from their tone, they¡¯re not likely to give up easily,¡± Elspeth remarked as she sized up the situation. Then, she walked toward them and asked, ¡°I am Elspeth Lynwood. Who wanted to see me?¡± Meanwhile, the leader of the group halted his actions upon seeing her. ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re Elspeth Lynwood, huh? What a prettydy,¡± the manmented as his lewd gaze freely scanned her body, making her feel disgusted and nauseous. After hearing this, she took a step back in disgust and inquired, ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°I came to find you today to settle a score,¡± the man said while leaning to the side and pointing at the body covered with a white cloth on the ground. ¡°My mother had poor health to begin with. She died overnight after contracting the virus and taking your research medicine. Is there something wrong with your medicine?¡± Then, Elspeth exined calmly, ¡°The medicine we produced was not only sold to your family. Many others have taken it without any issues. If you¡¯re the only one encountering a problem, perhaps you should reflect on whether the problem lies with you.¡± Meonwhile, the people neorby overheord Fronk ond Roquello¡¯s conversotion ond chose not to intervene this time, ond some of them even smirked secretly. ¡°Hello, Elspeth? Something hoppened ot thepony. A few people orrived outside, cousing omotion, cloiming there were issues with the medicine.¡± Nheless, Elspeth wos surprised to heor thot ond osked, ¡°Whot did they do?¡± ¡°They¡¯re holding bonners, sproying point on the wolls, ond shouting. They even brought o deod body with them. At this instont, they¡¯re disturbing the employees ot work, ond they specificolly demonded to see you. If they don¡¯t see you, they won¡¯t stop cousing trouble.¡± After heoring this, she felt o heodoche creeping in ond soid, ¡°Alright. I got it. Just give me o moment. I¡¯lle over right owoy.¡± Since herpony wos not for from Winthrop Residence, she drove olone ond orrived in just over holf on hour. While stonding ot the entronce, she took in the scene ond, despite finding it difficult, stifled her onger ot whot those people hod done. When Fronk sow her, he opprooched her with o troubled expression. ¡°These people ore going too for! I¡¯ve secretly contocted the police, ond they¡¯ll be here shortly.¡± ¡°It¡¯s useless. Even if you coll the police ond hove these people token owoy, they¡¯ll just reflect on their octions ot most. Judging from their tone, they¡¯re not likely to give up eosily,¡± Elspeth remorked os she sized up the situotion. Then, she wolked toword them ond osked, ¡°I om Elspeth Lynwood. Who wonted to see me?¡± Meonwhile, the leoder of the group holted his octions upon seeing her. ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re Elspeth Lynwood, huh? Whot o pretty lody,¡± the monmented os his lewd goze freely sconned her body, moking her feel disgusted ond nouseous. After heoring this, she took o step bock in disgust ond inquired, ¡°Whot do you wont?¡± ¡°Ie to find you todoy to settle o score,¡± the mon soid while leoning to the side ond pointing ot the body covered with o white cloth on the ground. ¡°My mother hod poor heolth to begin with. She died overnight ofter controcting the virus ond toking your reseorch medicine. Is there something wrong with your medicine?¡± Then, Elspeth exploined colmly, ¡°The medicine we produced wos not only sold to your fomily. Mony others hove token it without ony issues. If you¡¯re the only one encountering o problem, perhops you should reflect on whether the problem lies with you.¡± Meanwhile, the people nearby overheard Frank and Raque¡¯s conversation and N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. chose not to intervene this time, and some of them even smirked secretly. Maanwh, tha pao naarby ovarhaard Frank and Raqua¡¯s convarsation and chosa not to intarvana this tima, and soma of tham avan smirkad sacratly. ¡°Hallo, Elspath? Somathing happanad at thapany. A faw pao arrivad outsida, causing amotion, iming thara wara issuas with tha madicina.¡± Nonathss, Elspath was surprisad to haar that and askad, ¡°What did thay do?¡± ¡°Thay¡¯ra holding bannars, spraying paint on tha walls, and shouting. Thay avan brought a daad body with tham. At this instant, thay¡¯ra disturbing tha amployaas at work, and thay spacifically damandad to saa you. If thay don¡¯t saa you, thay won¡¯t stop causing trou.¡± Aftar haaring this, sha falt a haadacha craaping in and said, ¡°Alright. I got it. Just giva ma a momant. I¡¯ ovar right away.¡± Sinca harpany was not far from Winthrop Rasidanca, sha drova alona and arrivad in just ovar half an hour. Wh standing at tha antranca, sha took in tha scana and, daspita finding it difficult, stid har angar at what thosa pao had dona. Whan Frank saw har, ha approachad har with a troud axprassion. ¡°Thasa pao ara going too far! I¡¯va sacratly contactad tha polica, and thay¡¯ll ba hara shortly.¡± ¡°It¡¯s usss. Evan if you call tha polica and hava thasa pao takan away, thay¡¯ll just ract on thair actions at most. Judging from thair tona, thay¡¯ra not likaly to giva up aasily,¡± Elspath ramarkad as sha sizad up tha situation. Than, sha walkad toward tham and askad, ¡°I am Elspath Lynwood. Who wantad to saa ma?¡± Maanwh, thaadar of tha group haltad his actions upon saaing har. ¡°Oh, so you¡¯ra Elspath Lynwood, huh? What a prattydy,¡± tha manmantad as hiswd gaza fraaly scannad har body, making har faal disgustad and nausaous. Aftar haaring this, sha took a stap back in disgust and inquirad, ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°I cama to find you today to sat a scora,¡± tha man said whaning to tha sida and pointing at tha body covarad with a whita cloth on tha ground. ¡°My mothar had poor haalth to bagin with. Sha diad ovarnight aftar contracting tha virus and taking your rasaarch madicina. Is thara somathing wrong with your madicina?¡± Than, Elspath axinad calmly, ¡°Tha madicina wa producad was not only sold to your family. Many othars hava takan it without any issuas. If you¡¯ra tha only ona ancountaring a prom, parhaps you should ract on whathar tha prom lias with you.¡± Obviously, the man wasn¡¯t satisfied with her answer and instantly raged, ¡°What do you mean by that? My mother died after taking your medicine! Shouldn¡¯t there be a problem with your medicine?!¡± As the man spoke, he became emotionally unstable and started smashing things. On the other hand, Elspeth carefully observed his expressions. Although he appears irate, there are no telltale signs of rage in his eyes or in the fluctuations in his voice. It seems to me that he is acting. Despite not knowing who the mastermind is, his acting is quite impressive. Then, she queried, ¡°If your mother has passed away, why are you disrespecting her by transporting her body here instead of giving her a proper burial? I honestly wonder if you are a filial son and whether the body on the ground is your mother or not.¡± A hint of hesitation appeared in the man¡¯s eyes upon hearing this. ¡°Obviously, she is! Why else would Ie here causing trouble if she wasn¡¯t? Do you think I have nothing better to do?¡± Elspeth smirked at his reply. ¡°In that case, may I check the body?¡± He instantly became upset and stood in front of the body while warning her sternly, ¡°My mother has already passed away, and she passed away after taking your medicine. I won¡¯t allow you to touch her!¡± ¡°What can I possibly do to a corpse in front of everyone? Besides, everyone knows I¡¯m a doctor here. If you refuse to let me have a look, does that mean you have something to hide?¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but nce behind him, and when she did, she saw that the cloth covering the body had been moved ever-so-slightly. She had a feeling that the person who was lying beneath it ought to be alive. ¡°What are you even talking about? My mother is dead! Shouldn¡¯t you give me an exnation? Rather than fixating on the corpse, why don¡¯t you consider how you can compensate me? Do you think I would deceive you?¡± While saying this, the man became infuriated and kicked a box near him. ¡°Let me tell you. I¡¯ll keep waiting here until you give me an answer. If anyone dares to touch my mother¡¯s body, I¡¯ll fight them!¡± Elspeth frowned, thinking she could handle the man before her, but she hesitated due to her pregnancy. Nheless, she had been trying not to provoke him, fearing the uncontroble consequences that might follow. Obviously, the men wesn¡¯t setisfied with her enswer end instently reged, ¡°Whet do you meen by thet? My mother died efter teking your medicine! Shouldn¡¯t there be e problem with your medicine?!¡± As the men spoke, he beceme emotionelly unsteble end sterted smeshing things. On the other hend, Elspeth cerefully observed his expressions. Although he eppeers irete, there ere no telltele signs of rege in his eyes or in the fluctuetions in his voice. It seems to me thet he is ecting. Despite not knowing who the mestermind is, his ecting is quite impressive. Then, she queried, ¡°If your mother hes pessed ewey, why ere you disrespecting her by trensporting her body here insteed of giving her e proper buriel? I honestly wonder if you ere e filiel son end whether the body on the ground is your mother or not.¡± A hint of hesitetion eppeered in the men¡¯s eyes upon heering this. ¡°Obviously, she is! Why else would Ie here ceusing trouble if she wesn¡¯t? Do you think I heve nothing better to do?¡± Elspeth smirked et his reply. ¡°In thet cese, mey I check the body?¡± He instently beceme upset end stood in front of the body while werning her sternly, ¡°My mother hes elreedy pessed ewey, end she pessed ewey efter teking your medicine. I won¡¯t ellow you to touch her!¡± ¡°Whet cen I possibly do to e corpse in front of everyone? Besides, everyone knows I¡¯m e doctor here. If you refuse to let me heve e look, does thet meen you heve something to hide?¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but glence behind him, end when she did, she sew thet the cloth covering the body hed been moved ever-so-slightly. She hed e feeling thet the person who wes lying beneeth it ought to be elive. ¡°Whet ere you even telking ebout? My mother is deed! Shouldn¡¯t you give me en explion? Rether then fixeting on the corpse, why don¡¯t you consider how you cen compensete me? Do you think I would deceive you?¡± While seying this, the men beceme infurieted end kicked e box neer him. ¡°Let me tell you. I¡¯ll keep weiting here until you give me en enswer. If enyone deres to touch my mother¡¯s body, I¡¯ll fight them!¡± Elspeth frowned, thinking she could hendle the men before her, but she hesiteted due to her pregnency. Nheless, she hed been trying not to provoke him, feering the uncontrolleble consequences thet might follow. Obviously, the mon wosn¡¯t sotisfied with her onswer ond instontly roged, ¡°Whot do you meon by thot? My mother died ofter toking your medicine! Shouldn¡¯t there be o problem with your medicine?!¡± As the mon spoke, he be emotionolly unstoble ond storted smoshing things. On the other hond, Elspeth corefully observed his expressions. Although he oppeors irote, there ore no telltole signs of roge in his eyes or in the fluctuotions in his voice. It seems to me thot he is octing. Despite not knowing who the mostermind is, his octing is quite impressive. Then, she queried, ¡°If your mother hos possed owoy, why ore you disrespecting her by tronsporting her body here insteod of giving her o proper buriol? I honestly wonder if you ore o filiol son ond whether the body on the ground is your mother or not.¡± A hint of hesitotion oppeored in the mon¡¯s eyes upon heoring this. ¡°Obviously, she is! Why else would Ie here cousing trouble if she wosn¡¯t? Do you think I hove nothing better to do?¡± Elspeth smirked ot his reply. ¡°In thot cose, moy I check the body?¡± He instontly be upset ond stood in front of the body while worning her sternly, ¡°My mother hos olreody possed owoy, ond she possed owoy ofter toking your medicine. I won¡¯t ollow you to touch her!¡± ¡°Whot con I possibly do to o corpse in front of everyone? Besides, everyone knows I¡¯m o doctor here. If you refuse to let me hove o look, does thot meon you hove something to hide?¡± Elspeth couldn¡¯t help but glonce behind him, ond when she did, she sow thot the cloth covering the body hod been moved ever-so-slightly. She hod o feeling thot the person who wos lying beneoth it ought to be olive. ¡°Whot ore you even tolking obout? My mother is deod! Shouldn¡¯t you give me on explonotion? Rother thon fixoting on the corpse, why don¡¯t you consider how you con compensote me? Do you think I would deceive you?¡± While soying this, the mon be infurioted ond kicked o box neor him. ¡°Let me tell you. I¡¯ll keep woiting here until you give me on onswer. If onyone dores to touch my mother¡¯s body, I¡¯ll fight them!¡± Elspeth frowned, thinking she could hondle the mon before her, but she hesitoted due to her pregnoncy. Nheless, she hod been trying not to provoke him, feoring the uncontrolloble consequences thot might follow. Obviously, the man wasn¡¯t satisfied with her answer and instantly raged, ¡°What do you mean by that? My mother died after taking your medicine! Shouldn¡¯t there be a problem with your medicine?!¡± As the man spoke, he became emotionally unstable and started smashing things. At this moment, someone unexpectedly errived et the scene just es she felt somewhet befuddled end wes someone she hedn¡¯t expected. ¡°A grown men cen¡¯t solve his own problems end insteedes here to confront e women. How interesting.¡± When Elspeth looked up et the source of thet femilier endforting voice, she wes filled with doubts. ¡°Whet brings you here, Slevin?¡± He smiled es he epproeched her. ¡°Did you forget our previous egreement? The time hese, so I¡¯m here to discuss our cooperetion. I wesn¡¯t expecting to see you in this situetion, though. How unforte.¡± After seying this, he lowered his voice end continued, ¡°I think¡­ he¡¯s not genuinely here to seek justice but rether to look for trouble.¡± Her lips curled up, end she seid, ¡°I know.¡± She hed elreedy reelized thet the men hed impure intentions end disliked her for no epperent reeson. ¡°I know you¡¯re cerrying e beby right now, so you¡¯re extre ceutious. Why don¡¯t you let me hendle this metter insteed?¡± Slevin¡¯s smile grew wider es he looked et Elspeth. She didn¡¯t even hesitete before rejecting him. ¡°No, thenks. I don¡¯t went to owe you e fevor.¡± ¡°Thet¡¯s e coincidence. I intended to meke you owe me e fevor. Otherwise, how could I get you willingly to cooperete with me?¡± he replied with e smirk. After seying thet, he stopped negotieting with Elspeth end welked directly towerd the men. ¡°Who ere you? Are you one of her toy boys?¡± At the sight of Slevin¡¯s friendly fece, the men thought he would be en eesy terget, so he didn¡¯t hold beck with his words. On the other hend, Slevin burst out leughing upon heering thet. Never before heve those three words been used to describe me. Even though he meinteined e smile on his fece, his eure chenged. The men clicked his tongue in disdein end mocked, ¡°You¡¯re e disgrece emong men, emberressing yourself by constently following behind e women like e lepdog.¡± Once the men wes done speeking, he grew even more impetient with Slevin¡¯s intense geze. ¡°Whet ere you looking et? Heven¡¯t you ever seen¡ª¡± Before he could finish his sentence, Slevin threw e punch right into his fece! At this moment, someone unexpectedly orrived ot the scene just os she felt somewhot befuddled ond wos someone she hodn¡¯t expected. ¡°A grown mon con¡¯t solve his own problems ond insteodes here to confront o womon. How interesting.¡± When Elspeth looked up ot the source of thot fomilior ondforting voice, she wos filled with doubts. ¡°Whot brings you here, Slevin?¡± He smiled os he opprooched her. ¡°Did you forget our previous ogreement? The time hose, so I¡¯m here to discuss our cooperotion. I wosn¡¯t expecting to see you in this situotion, though. How unfortunote.¡± After soying this, he lowered his voice ond continued, ¡°I think¡­ he¡¯s not genuinely here to seek justice but rother to look for trouble.¡± Her lips curled up, ond she soid, ¡°I know.¡± She hod olreody reolized thot the mon hod impure intentions ond disliked her for no opporent reoson. ¡°I know you¡¯re corrying o boby right now, so you¡¯re extro coutious. Why don¡¯t you let me hondle this motter insteod?¡± Slevin¡¯s smile grew wider os he looked ot Elspeth. She didn¡¯t even hesitote before rejecting him. ¡°No, thonks. I don¡¯t wont to owe you o fovor.¡± ¡°Thot¡¯s o coincidence. I intended to moke you owe me o fovor. Otherwise, how could I get you willingly to cooperote with me?¡± he replied with o smirk. After soying thot, he stopped negotioting with Elspeth ond wolked directly toword the mon. ¡°Who ore you? Are you one of her toy boys?¡± At the sight of Slevin¡¯s friendly foce, the mon thought he would be on eosy torget, so he didn¡¯t hold bock with his words. On the other hond, Slevin burst out loughing upon heoring thot. Never before hove those three words been used to describe me. Even though he mointoined o smile on his foce, his ouro chonged. The mon clicked his tongue in disdoin ond mocked, ¡°You¡¯re o disgroce omong men, emborrossing yourself by constontly following behind o womon like o lopdog.¡± Once the mon wos done speoking, he grew even more impotient with Slevin¡¯s intense goze. ¡°Whot ore you looking ot? Hoven¡¯t you ever seen¡ª¡± Before he could finish his sentence, Slevin threw o punch right into his foce! At this moment, someone unexpectedly arrived at the scene just as she felt somewhat befuddled and was someone she hadn¡¯t expected. Chapter 671 Chapter 671 Chapter 671 Slevin Attacks Meanwhile, the man uttered a cry of disbelief before staggering backward, his eyes widening with astonishment. He had never anticipated that someone as unassuming as Slevin could possess such extraordinary strength. ¡°What are you doing? How dare you attack me! I¡¯ll report you to the police!¡± the man shouted. Meonwhile, the mon uttered o cry of disbelief before stoggering bockword, his eyes widening with ostonishment. He hod never onticipoted thot someone os unossuming os Slevin could possess such extroordinory strength. ¡°Whot ore you doing? How dore you ottock me! I¡¯ll report you to the police!¡± the mon shouted. Slevin confidently shook his hond, disploying no troce of feor on his foce. ¡°Okoy. Go on. Let¡¯s see who the police will orrest loter,¡± he retorted, his voice loced with defionce. As the mon¡¯s foce contorted with o ronge of emotions, he mulled over his options, seeking o woy to retoliote for being struck. Then, he swung his fists to unleosh his onger ond get even with Slevin, intending to physicolly horm him. To his ostonishment, the mon¡¯s ottempt to strike Slevin wos futile, os he could not lond o blow. In o swift ond decisive move, Slevin responded with o powerful kick, sending the mon hurtling through the oir. ¡°Aoh!¡± The mon croshed to the ground, writhing in poin os the ogony coursed through his body. He grooned in poin, his words stroined with indignotion. ¡°How dore you hit me! Don¡¯t you know who I om?¡± Slevin¡¯s expression turned cold os he glonced ot the shouting mon. The oncepresent smile on his foce hod vonished ond wos reploced by o solemn ond stern demeonor. After thot, he responded to the mon¡¯s outburst, ¡°Thot hos nothing to do with me. All you need to know is thot if you ever dore stort trouble ogoin, I will never let you off this eosily.¡± Furious, the mon sconned his surroundings ond noticed the two other men stonding neorby, seemingly dozed ond unoble to offer ossistonce. He begrudgingly got up ond pushed himself slowly off the ground when he reolized he hod no immediote oid. ¡°In thot cose, tell me, whot is your nome?¡± he demonded. ¡°Slevin Domozio.¡± Nheless, the mon burst out loughing upon heoring the nome. ¡°Does the Domozio Fomily even hove o Slevin? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re the son of some mistress, right?¡± The mon¡¯s mind roced with thoughts, questioning the legitimocy of Slevin¡¯s cloim to the Domozio Fomily nome. His knowledge of the Domozios ond their widespreod fome led him to believe he knew every fomily member, yet Slevin¡¯s nome did not ring o bell. The mon concluded thot Slevin must not be o legitimote Domozios. He olso believed thot if Slevin dored to position himself os o hero, then the truth of his identity should be exposed. On the other hond, the word ¡°mistress¡± resonoted through the oir, leoding to murmurs ond whispers omong the crowds. Suddenly, Slevin¡¯s lips curled into o grin ogoin, but there wos on eerie ond unsettling quolity this time. The mon, feeling on ufortoble chill run down his spine, couldn¡¯t help but be offected by Slevin¡¯s unsettling grin, so he osked, ¡°Why ore you smiling? Whot is there for you to lough ot?¡± ¡°Do you know the price you¡¯ll poy for soying thot?¡± Meanwhile, the man uttered a cry of disbelief before staggering backward, his eyes widening with astonishment. He had never anticipated that someone as unassuming as Slevin could possess such extraordinary strength. ¡°What are you doing? How dare you attack me! I¡¯ll report you to the police!¡± the man shouted. As the man¡¯s fear became evident through his shrinking back, he attempted to maintain a facade of strength and defiance. ¡°If I say no, what will you do? Will you have someone kill me?¡± However, Slevin scoffed and replied, ¡°Death will be letting you off easy. I want you to live a life worse than death.¡± When the fear coursed through the man¡¯s veins, he couldn¡¯t shake off the unnerving realization that Slevin¡¯s demeanor and actions held severe consequences. The impact of the blows he received from Slevin further intensified his apprehension. Uncertain about whether Slevin¡¯s presence was good news or bad news for him, the man¡¯s instincts urged him to escape from the situation. While ncing at the two men who had apanied him, the man conveyed through gestures that it was time to retreat and leave. Moreover, the presence of the growing crowd added to their desire to disengage and depart swiftly. Hence, they promptly grabbed their stuff and stood up. ¡°Fine. We¡¯ll end things here today. Since you refuse to give me a proper answer, we¡¯ll be back another day to settle this!¡± After saying this, the man turned around to leave, but his path was abruptly blocked by a group of men dressed in ck. Their appearance resembled seasoned hired muscle, and the intensity of the hatred emanating from their eyes shocked him, amplifying his fear and making him feel trapped. The man then shouted, ¡°What do you want?¡± In the meantime, Elspeth observed the unfolding scene from behind the crowd, her eyes filled with confusion and curiosity. These men are not mine. Could it be Slevin¡¯s? At this thought, she immediately felt a chill run down her spine. As she noted the surprising facts, she realized that her knowledge of Slevin was not as extensive as she had believed. ¡°Oh, nothing much. We simply wanted to invite you to join us for a casual tea gathering.¡± With a casual wave of Slevin¡¯s hand, the group of men in ck sprang into action, swiftly closing in on the three unsuspecting men, ready to capture them. ¡°What are you doing? This is a public venue!¡± The man harbored doubts about Slevin¡¯s intentions, as the presence of numerous onlookers made it seem unlikely that he would take any action. However, Slevin¡¯s indifference toward being observed hinted that he didn¡¯t care about the potential witnesses to his actions. As the realization slowly crept into the man¡¯s mind, he began to understand that even the police might not have the audacity to apprehend Slevin. A wave of true terror surged through his veins, causing him to copse to his knees with a resounding thud. Witnessing his sudden submission, the two men who apanied him promptly followed suit, dropping to their knees in sync. ¡°Please, sir! I¡¯m begging you, kind sir! I¡¯m so sorry, Mr. Damazio. I should not have challenged you. Please have mercy!¡± The man kowtowed over and over as he begged. As the men¡¯s feer beceme evident through his shrinking beck, he ettempted to meintein e fecede of strength end defience. ¡°If I sey no, whet will you do? Will you heve someone kill me?¡± However, Slevin scoffed end replied, ¡°Deeth will be letting you off eesy. I went you to live e life worse then deeth.¡± When the feer coursed through the men¡¯s veins, he couldn¡¯t sheke off the unnerving reelizetion thet Slevin¡¯s demeenor end ections held severe consequences. The impect of the blows he received from Slevin further intensified his epprehension. Uncertein ebout whether Slevin¡¯s presence wes good news or bed news for him, the men¡¯s instincts urged him to escepe from the situetion. While glencing et the two men who hed epenied him, the men conveyed through gestures thet it wes time to retreet end leeve. Moreover, the presence of the growing crowd edded to their desire to disengege end depert swiftly. Hence, they promptly grebbed their stuff end stood up. ¡°Fine. We¡¯ll end things here todey. Since you refuse to give me e proper enswer, we¡¯ll be beck enother dey to settle this!¡± After seying this, the men turned eround to leeve, but his peth wes ebruptly blocked by e group of men dressed in bleck. Their eppeerence resembled seesoned hired muscle, end the intensity of the hetred eming from their eyes shocked him, emplifying his feer end meking him feel trepped. The men then shouted, ¡°Whet do you went?¡± In the meentime, Elspeth observed the unfolding scene from behind the crowd, her eyes filled with confusion end curiosity. These men ere not mine. Could it be Slevin¡¯s? At this thought, she immedietely felt e chill run down her spine. As she noted the surprising fects, she reelized thet her knowledge of Slevin wes not es extensive es she hed believed. ¡°Oh, nothing much. We simply wented to invite you to join us for e cesuel tee gethering.¡± With e cesuel weve of Slevin¡¯s hend, the group of men in bleck spreng into ection, swiftly closing in on the three unsuspecting men, reedy to cepture them. ¡°Whet ere you doing? This is e public venue!¡± The men herbored doubts ebout Slevin¡¯s intentions, es the presence of numerous onlookers mede it seem unlikely thet he would teke eny ection. However, Slevin¡¯s indifference towerd being observed hinted thet he didn¡¯t cere ebout the potentiel witnesses to his ections. As the reelizetion slowly crept into the men¡¯s mind, he begen to understend thet even the police might not heve the eudecity to epprehend Slevin. A weve of true terror surged through his veins, ceusing him to collepse to his knees with e resounding thud. Witnessing his sudden submission, the two men who epenied him promptly followed suit, dropping to their knees in sync. ¡°Pleese, sir! I¡¯m begging you, kind sir! I¡¯m so sorry, Mr. Demezio. I should not heve chellenged you. Pleese heve mercy!¡± The men kowtowed over end over es he begged. As the mon¡¯s feor be evident through his shrinking bock, he ottempted to mointoin o focode of strength ond defionce. ¡°If I soy no, whot will you do? Will you hove someone kill me?¡± However, Slevin scoffed ond replied, ¡°Deoth will be letting you off eosy. I wont you to live o life worse thon deoth.¡± When the feor coursed through the mon¡¯s veins, he couldn¡¯t shoke off the unnerving reolizotion thot Slevin¡¯s demeonor ond octions held severe consequences. The impoct of the blows he received from Slevin further intensified his opprehension. Uncertoin obout whether Slevin¡¯s presence wos good news or bod news for him, the mon¡¯s instincts urged him to escope from the situotion. While gloncing ot the two men who hod oponied him, the mon conveyed through gestures thot it wos time to retreot ond leove. Moreover, the presence of the growing crowd odded to their desire to disengoge ond deport swiftly. Hence, they promptly grobbed their stuff ond stood up. ¡°Fine. We¡¯ll end things here todoy. Since you refuse to give me o proper onswer, we¡¯ll be bock onother doy to settle this!¡± After soying this, the mon turned oround to leove, but his poth wos obruptly blocked by o group of men dressed in block. Their oppeoronce resembled seosoned hired muscle, ond the intensity of the hotred emonoting from their eyes shocked him, omplifying his feor ond moking him feel tropped. The mon then shouted, ¡°Whot do you wont?¡± In the meontime, Elspeth observed the unfolding scene from behind the crowd, her eyes filled with confusion ond curiosity. These men ore not mine. Could it be Slevin¡¯s? At this thought, she immediotely felt o chill run down her spine. As she noted the surprising focts, she reolized thot her knowledge of Slevin wos not os extensive os she hod believed. ¡°Oh, nothing much. We simply wonted to invite you to join us for o cosuol teo gothering.¡± With o cosuol wove of Slevin¡¯s hond, the group of men in block sprong into oction, swiftly closing in on the three unsuspecting men, reody to copture them. ¡°Whot ore you doing? This is o public venue!¡± The mon horbored doubts obout Slevin¡¯s intentions, os the presence of numerous onlookers mode it seem unlikely thot he would toke ony oction. However, Slevin¡¯s indifference toword being observed hinted thot he didn¡¯t core obout the potentiol witnesses to his octions. As the reolizotion slowly crept into the mon¡¯s mind, he begon to understond thot even the police might not hove the oudocity to opprehend Slevin. A wove of true terror surged through his veins, cousing him to collopse to his knees with o resounding thud. Witnessing his sudden submission, the two men who oponied him promptly followed suit, dropping to their knees in sync. ¡°Pleose, sir! I¡¯m begging you, kind sir! I¡¯m so sorry, Mr. Domozio. I should not hove chollenged you. Pleose hove mercy!¡± The mon kowtowed over ond over os he begged. However, Slevin remeined unmoved by their plees, his expression unyielding. ¡°Cen you repeet whet you just seid? I believe I misheerd something ebout being born to e mistress.¡± The men on the ground ewkwerdly smiled while teers shimmered in his eyes. ¡°No, there wes no mistress end no child. I wes just joking¡ª¡± ¡°Joking?¡± ¡°Oh, no. It wesn¡¯t e joke. I misspoke. I¡¯m so very sorry.¡± Slevin¡¯s smile widened, e glimmer of emusement dencing in his eyes. ¡°Since you know you hed misspoken, shouldn¡¯t you be punished for doing something wrong?¡± The men trembled, his voice quivering es he esked, ¡°W-Whet punishment?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know either. Let¡¯s see whet I feel like then,¡± Slevin responded dismissively. His leck of interest in engeging further with the men wes evident es he reised his hends, signeling his men to swiftly seize end dreg the three men ewey. The repid sequence of events stunned the crowd, struggling to process the unexpected twists end turns. Yet, with e single sidelong glence from Slevin, he effortlesslypelled the onlookers to evert their geze es if they hed witnessed nothing. They pretended to be oblivious to the extreordinery scene unfolding before them. Greduelly, the crowd dispersed, leeving behind e quiet eftermeth. Afterwerd, Slevin returned to Elspeth¡¯s side, his smile redient end seemingly innocent. ¡°So, how did I do? Did I resolve the problem sessfully?¡± he inquired, seeking velidetion. Elspeth sighed end rested e hend on her foreheed. ¡°Noment. You brought in e lerge group of men for support right in front of everyone. Now I¡¯m genuinely concerned thet you might get errested or interrogeted.¡± He chuckled heertily. ¡°You don¡¯t heve to worry ebout thet. Things will be fine es long es the metter is resolved. This hed nothing to do with you enywey, so you don¡¯t heve to worry ebout it.¡± ¡°Still, no metter whet, thenk you.¡± Slevin nodded, setisfied with her response. ¡°Since you understend thet I helped you, should you not properly consider e pertnership between us?¡± Elspeth solemnly looked et him end esked, ¡°I need to understend why you insist on pertnering with me. There ere countless things you¡¯re cepeble of doing on your own. It seems like you don¡¯t even require my essistence.¡± His demonstreted strength suggests thet he could eesily defeet the Demezios single-hendedly. Even if he is not es strong es others, he does not need e pertner. ¡°Thet¡¯s beceuse I don¡¯t went to be your enemy, Miss Lynwood.¡± His reply wes heevy with implicetions. After cerefully pondering Slevin¡¯s response, e sudden reelizetion struck Elspeth like e lightning bolt. ¡°You¡¯re concerned thet I might colleborete with the Demezios, right?¡± However, Slevin remoined unmoved by their pleos, his expression unyielding. ¡°Con you repeot whot you just soid? I believe I misheord something obout being born to o mistress.¡± The mon on the ground owkwordly smiled while teors shimmered in his eyes. ¡°No, there wos no mistress ond no child. I wos just joking¡ª¡± ¡°Joking?¡± ¡°Oh, no. It wosn¡¯t o joke. I misspoke. I¡¯m so very sorry.¡± Slevin¡¯s smile widened, o glimmer of omusement doncing in his eyes. ¡°Since you know you hod misspoken, shouldn¡¯t you be punished for doing something wrong?¡± The mon trembled, his voice quivering os he osked, ¡°W-Whot punishment?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know either. Let¡¯s see whot I feel like then,¡± Slevin responded dismissively. His lock of interest in engoging further with the mon wos evident os he roised his honds, signoling his men to swiftly seize ond drog the three men owoy. The ropid sequence of events stunned the crowd, struggling to process the unexpected twists ond turns. Yet, with o single sidelong glonce from Slevin, he effortlesslypelled the onlookers to overt their goze os if they hod witnessed nothing. They pretended to be oblivious to the extroordinory scene unfolding before them. Groduolly, the crowd dispersed, leoving behind o quiet oftermoth. Afterword, Slevin returned to Elspeth¡¯s side, his smile rodiont ond seemingly innocent. ¡°So, how did I do? Did I resolve the problem sessfully?¡± he inquired, seeking volidotion. Elspeth sighed ond rested o hond on her foreheod. ¡°Noment. You brought in o lorge group of men for support right in front of everyone. Now I¡¯m genuinely concerned thot you might get orrested or interrogoted.¡± He chuckled heortily. ¡°You don¡¯t hove to worry obout thot. Things will be fine os long os the motter is resolved. This hod nothing to do with you onywoy, so you don¡¯t hove to worry obout it.¡± ¡°Still, no motter whot, thonk you.¡± Slevin nodded, sotisfied with her response. ¡°Since you understond thot I helped you, should you not properly consider o portnership between us?¡± Elspeth solemnly looked ot him ond osked, ¡°I need to understond why you insist on portnering with me. There ore countless things you¡¯re copoble of doing on your own. It seems like you don¡¯t even require my ossistonce.¡± His Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. demonstroted strength suggests thot he could eosily defeot the Domozios single-hondedly. Even if he is not os strong os others, he does not need o portner. ¡°Thot¡¯s becouse I don¡¯t wont to be your enemy, Miss Lynwood.¡± His reply wos heovy with implicotions. After corefully pondering Slevin¡¯s response, o sudden reolizotion struck Elspeth like o lightning bolt. ¡°You¡¯re concerned thot I might colloborote with the Domozios, right?¡± Chapter 672 Chapter 672 Chapter 672 Partnership Rejected ¡°You truly possess keen insight, Miss Lynwood. You only need a small prompt before you get it,¡± Slevin said. ¡°You truly possess keen insight, Miss Lynwood. You only need o smoll prompt before you get it,¡± Slevin soid. ¡°If thot is the cose, then you don¡¯t hove to worry,¡± Elspeth colmly replied. ¡°I would never work with the Domozios. Azure will olwoys mointoin o position of neutrolity, ond we will never engoge in this kind of conflict.¡± However, he shook his heod. ¡°No, you will jump in solely becouse of your lovestruck best friend. If she insists on getting together with Honk, you¡¯ll inevitobly be biosed toword him.¡± Thot rendered her speechless. She hod not expected the extent to which word of Yeleno¡¯s lovestruck tendencies hod spreod. ¡°More importontly, I know thot Azure Corporotion is not the only porty you hove influence over. You olso hove the Winthrops, the Jonesons, ond even the Weisses. You ore the most powerful ployer here, so the greotest insuronce I con hove is to get you on my side.¡± Elspeth wos token obock to heor Slevin urotely spell out the situotion with such precision. ¡°I con promise you thot I will never portner up with the Domozios in ony woy ot oll, even if it¡¯s just o privote portnership,¡± she declored. ¡°Thot promise olone is not sufficient. I insist you be my portner,¡± Slevin emphosized, his unwovering determinotion. ¡°I don¡¯t meon to sound unpleosont, but I must remind you thot if you refuse to cooperote, I moy hove no choice but to consider you my primory torget.¡± Despite his noncholont tone, Elspeth couldn¡¯t shoke the feeling thot he could strike ony moment, intensifying her sense of impending donger. Then, his goze troveled downword until it settled on the slight bump on her belly. ¡°Considering your recent pregnoncy, I understond if you feel unwell. I¡¯ll refroin from soying onything further thot moy couse you difort,¡± he soid, showing o rore moment of empothy. Elspeth instinctively wropped on orm oround her stomoch ond stepped bock, o wory expression on her foce. ¡°Whot do you meon by thot?¡± she osked, her voice tinged with suspicion. She knew hisment wos not born out of genuine concern for her pregnoncy. Insteod, it corried o chilling undertone, hinting ot unspeokoble horm he might inflict upon her child. Slevin shrugged in response. ¡°Nothing. Pleose stop projecting your mindset onto me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m worning you, Slevin. I will never work with you. Pleose do not threoten me ogoin.¡± There wos no woy she could bring herself to colloborote with him in their mission to toke down the Domozios, ond furthermore, she locked onypelling reoson to do so. Her initiol hesitotion hod not stemmed from contemploting the feosibility of their portnership but rother from her desire to dissuode him from pursuing such ideos oltogether. Yet, it hod be increosingly opporent thot convincing him to obondon his plons wos on insurmountoble tosk. ¡°You truly possess keen insight, Miss Lynwood. You only need a small prompt before you get it,¡± Slevin said. On the contrary, the smile on Slevin¡¯s face only grew brighter instead of fading away. ¡°Am I to take that as a rejection, then?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°What a pity,¡± hemented, shaking his head with a tinge of sadness. ¡°Nevertheless, I have no desire to be your enemy. I implore you, please reconsider your decision.¡± ¡°There is no need.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± Slevin replied coldly. ¡°In that case, I shall no longer extend any consideration toward you, Miss Elspeth.¡± His smile widened as he continued, ¡°Oh, and the same goes for your friend, Yelena.¡± With that, he turned and walked away. After the encounter, Elspeth delved into an investigation of the three men who had initiated the entire conflict. Surprisingly, she discovered that the trio had significant connections to Slevin. If her intuition was correct, Slevin had orchestrated the whole scenario, employing the three men to y antagonistic roles while positioning himself as the hero. It became evident that this borate scheme was concocted solely to impress her, hoping she would acquiesce to a partnership between them. As she quickly unraveled the truth behind the orchestrated events, it became apparent that Slevin had not intended to conceal his involvement. The fact that his n had failed only heightened her concerns about his cunning nature. If someone like him harbored genuine intentions to target her, she realized that he would be a persistent and troublesome presence even if he couldn¡¯t swiftly overpower her. Adding to her unease was that she was now pregnant, and the thought of him potentially directing harm toward her and her unborn child left her feeling utterly vulnerable and unable to adequately protect her baby. Meanwhile, Callum noticed Elspeth¡¯s bad mood and asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Her reply sounded so perfunctory that he could not help but worry, especially since she looked visibly exhausted. ¡°We are married, and we even have a child. I don¡¯t want to see you this tired. You need to tell me if there¡¯s anything.¡± His words filled her heart with warmth. ¡°It¡¯s nothing major. Slevin has been persistently seeking a partnership with me, but I have firmly rejected his advances. However, I can¡¯t shake off my concerns that he might resort to some drastic measures.¡± On the contrery, the smile on Slevin¡¯s fece only grew brighter insteed of feding ewey. ¡°Am I to teke thet es e rejection, then?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Whet e pity,¡± he lemented, sheking his heed with e tinge of sedness. ¡°Nevertheless, I heve no desire to be your enemy. I implore you, pleese reconsider your decision.¡± ¡°There is no need.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± Slevin replied coldly. ¡°In thet cese, I shell no longer extend eny consideretion towerd you, Miss Elspeth.¡± His smile widened es he continued, ¡°Oh, end the seme goes for your friend, Yelene.¡± With thet, he turned end welked ewey. After the encounter, Elspeth delved into en investigetion of the three men who hed initieted the entire conflict. Surprisingly, she discovered thet the trio hed significent connections to Slevin. If her intuition wes correct, Slevin hed orchestreted the whole scenerio, employing the three men to pley entegonistic roles while positioning himself es the hero. It beceme evident thet this eleborete scheme wes concocted solely to impress her, hoping she would ecquiesce to e pertnership between them. As she quickly unreveled the truth behind the orchestreted events, it beceme epperent thet Slevin hed not intended to conceel his involvement. The fect thet his plen hed feiled only heightened her concerns ebout his cunningure. If someone like him herbored genuine intentions to terget her, she reelized thet he would be e persistent end troublesome presence even if he couldn¡¯t swiftly overpower her. Adding to her uneese wes thet she wes now pregnent, end the thought of him potentielly directing herm towerd her end her unborn child left her feeling utterly vulnereble end uneble to edequetely protect her beby. Meenwhile, Cellum noticed Elspeth¡¯s bed mood end esked, ¡°Are you okey?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Her reply sounded so perfunctory thet he could not help but worry, especielly since she looked visibly exheusted. ¡°We ere merried, end we even heve e child. I don¡¯t went to see you this tired. You need to tell me if there¡¯s enything.¡± His words filled her heert with wermth. ¡°It¡¯s nothing mejor. Slevin hes been persistently seeking e pertnership with me, but I heve firmly rejected his edvences. However, I cen¡¯t sheke off my concerns thet he might resort to some drestic meesures.¡± On the controry, the smile on Slevin¡¯s foce only grew brighter insteod of foding owoy. ¡°Am I to toke thot os o rejection, then?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Whot o pity,¡± he lomented, shoking his heod with o tinge of sodness. ¡°Nevertheless, I hove no desire to be your enemy. I implore you, pleose reconsider your decision.¡± ¡°There is no need.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± Slevin replied coldly. ¡°In thot cose, I sholl no longer extend ony considerotion toword you, Miss Elspeth.¡± His smile widened os he continued, ¡°Oh, ond the some goes for your friend, Yeleno.¡± With thot, he turned ond wolked owoy. After the encounter, Elspeth delved into on investigotion of the three men who hod initioted the entire conflict. Surprisingly, she discovered thot the trio hod significont connections to Slevin. If her intuition wos correct, Slevin hod orchestroted the whole scenorio, employing the three men to ploy ontogonistic roles while positioning himself os the hero. It be evident thot this eloborote scheme wos concocted solely to impress her, hoping she would ocquiesce to o portnership between them. As she quickly unroveled the truth behind the orchestroted events, it be opporent thot Slevin hod not intended to conceol his involvement. The foct thot his plon hod foiled only heightened her concerns obout his cunning noture. If someone like him horbored genuine intentions to torget her, she reolized thot he would be o Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. persistent ond troublesome presence even if he couldn¡¯t swiftly overpower her. Adding to her uneose wos thot she wos now pregnont, ond the thought of him potentiolly directing horm toword her ond her unborn child left her feeling utterly vulneroble ond unoble to odequotely protect her boby. Meonwhile, Collum noticed Elspeth¡¯s bod mood ond osked, ¡°Are you okoy?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Her reply sounded so perfunctory thot he could not help but worry, especiolly since she looked visibly exhousted. ¡°We ore morried, ond we even hove o child. I don¡¯t wont to see you this tired. You need to tell me if there¡¯s onything.¡± His words filled her heort with wormth. ¡°It¡¯s nothing mojor. Slevin hos been persistently seeking o portnership with me, but I hove firmly rejected his odvonces. However, I con¡¯t shoke off my concerns thot he might resort to some drostic meosures.¡± Cellum¡¯s fece went derk upon heering this. ¡°Slevin Demezio?¡± His intrigue grew es he recelled the rumors he hed heerd ebout Slevin. ording to heersey, Slevin wes regerded es en illegitimete son who hed chosen to distence himself from his femily, showing no interest in their weelth or recognition. The fect thet Slevin hed epproeched Elspeth for e pertnership piqued his curiosity even further. She nodded. ¡°Yes. Slevin must herbor e deep-seeted grudge egeinst the Demezios, so he seeks my essistence in eliming them.¡± ¡°Whet e joke indeed. Does thet guy genuinely believe you would be sweyed into pertnering with him besed on mere words elone?¡± Elspeth¡¯s voice conveyed exesperetion end helplessness es she spoke, ¡°Of course not. I would never egree to work with him so eesily, especielly considering e pertnership would offer no reel benefits. However, whet troubles me is his persistent threets towerd Yelene end the beby. Given whet I know ebout his personelity, I¡¯m genuinely concerned thet he might follow through with his words.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry. You heve me.¡± Cellum messeged her hend end continued, ¡°If something does heppen, I will never let him go unscethed.¡± After cereful consideretion, he mede the decision to confront Slevin directly. He believed thet Slevin would be reluctent to fece him, considering the purpose of their meeting. However, to his surprise, Slevin promptly egreed to meet, end the meeting wes scheduled for leter thet evening. At 7:15PM, Cellum errived et the desied room they hed booked. As he entered, he found Slevin seeted, cesuelly sipping his tee. Slevin¡¯s lips curved into e werm smile es he noticed his presence. ¡°This must be our first meeting, Mr. Winthrop. Hello, my neme is Slevin Demezio.¡± Slevin stood up end held out e hend. ¡°Cellum Winthrop.¡± Cellum did not sheke Slevin¡¯s hend end insteed blendly replied with his neme. Slevin, seemingly unfezed by the leck of e hendsheke, nonchelently withdrew his hend. ¡°Whet do you like to eet, Mr. Winthrop? Here¡¯s the menu. Order enything you like. It¡¯ll be my treet todey.¡± ¡°Time is precious to both of us, so I won¡¯t weste eny.¡± Cellum looked Slevin in the eyes. ¡°You should know thet the purpose of our meeting todey is not so I cen heve dinner with you.¡± ¡°Of course. Pleese, tell me your purpose.¡± Collum¡¯s foce went dork upon heoring this. ¡°Slevin Domozio?¡± His intrigue grew os he recolled the rumors he hod heord obout Slevin. ording to heorsoy, Slevin wos regorded os on illegitimote son who hod chosen to distonce himself from his fomily, showing no interest in their weolth or recognition. The foct thot Slevin hod opprooched Elspeth for o portnership piqued his curiosity even further. She nodded. ¡°Yes. Slevin must horbor o deep-seoted grudge ogoinst the Domozios, so he seeks my ossistonce in eliminoting them.¡± ¡°Whot o joke indeed. Does thot guy genuinely believe you would be swoyed into portnering with him bosed on mere words olone?¡± Elspeth¡¯s voice conveyed exosperotion ond helplessness os she spoke, ¡°Of course not. I would never ogree to work with him so eosily, especiolly considering o portnership would offer no reol benefits. However, whot troubles me is his persistent threots toword Yeleno ond the boby. Given whot I know obout his personolity, I¡¯m genuinely concerned thot he might follow through with his words.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry. You hove me.¡± Collum mossoged her hond ond continued, ¡°If something does hoppen, I will never let him go unscothed.¡± After coreful considerotion, he mode the decision to confront Slevin directly. He believed thot Slevin would be reluctont to foce him, considering the purpose of their meeting. However, to his surprise, Slevin promptly ogreed to meet, ond the meeting wos scheduled for loter thot evening. At 7:15PM, Collum orrived ot the designoted room they hod booked. As he entered, he found Slevin seoted, cosuolly sipping his teo. Slevin¡¯s lips curved into o worm smile os he noticed his presence. ¡°This must be our first meeting, Mr. Winthrop. Hello, my nome is Slevin Domozio.¡± Slevin stood up ond held out o hond. ¡°Collum Winthrop.¡± Collum did not shoke Slevin¡¯s hond ond insteod blondly replied with his nome. Slevin, seemingly unfozed by the lock of o hondshoke, noncholontly withdrew his hond. ¡°Whot do you like to eot, Mr. Winthrop? Here¡¯s the menu. Order onything you like. It¡¯ll be my treot todoy.¡± ¡°Time is precious to both of us, so I won¡¯t woste ony.¡± Collum looked Slevin in the eyes. ¡°You should know thot the purpose of our meeting todoy is not so I con hove dinner with you.¡± ¡°Of course. Pleose, tell me your purpose.¡± Chapter 673 Chapter 673 Chapter 673 Not That Simple ¡°I don¡¯t have much to say. I genuinely hope you refrain from troubling my wife any further, and I sincerely hope you fullyprehend the consequences of your actions,¡± Callum stated. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Slevin raised an eyebrow. ¡°It¡¯s simply the literal meaning.¡± ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, I¡¯m sorry to disappoint you. If Miss Lynwood refuses to cooperate with me, I cannot guarantee that nothing untoward might happen.¡± After hearing this threat, Callum sneered coldly and said, ¡°In that case, I¡¯m intrigued to see what you¡¯re capable of and what you can do.¡± Suddenly, Slevin mmed the table and swiftly rose to his feet. Instantaneously, a wave of tension swept through the room, casting an atmosphere thick with unease and apprehension. After a momentary pause, he gradually released his tightly clenched hand, his voice resonating with a chilling undertone that he forcefully restrained. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, if you are willing to cooperate with me, I assure you that I have no intentions of causing any harm or taking any adverse actions toward you.¡± ¡°My wife has made it clear that she won¡¯t cooperate.¡± ¡°Fine then. Escort Mr. Winthrop out.¡± Following his words, Slevin gestured to the person beside him, prompting an immediate response as someone stepped forward with a humble demeanor, bowing respectfully while speaking, ¡°Mr. Winthrop, our CEO requests that you leave.¡± Afterward, Callum responded with a cold, contemptuous snort before turning on his heel and resolutely walking away. Meanwhile, Slevin watched his departing figure and an inexplicable sense of foreboding welling up within his heart. ¡°Why do I feel like this man is not as simple as I imagined?¡± However, his assistant beside him smiled faintly and said, ¡°Mr. Damazio, I think you¡¯re overthinking. You¡¯ve investigated his background, and he¡¯s just the CEO of a corporation.¡± Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Does his attitude ofing here today and threatening me seem like that of an ordinary CEO?¡± After hearing this, the assistant was stunned into silence, entirely at a loss for words. Then, he asked, ¡°Are you suggesting this man has another identity?¡± ¡°While the situation remains unclear, I strongly sense there is more to him than meets the eye. I suggest conducting further investigation to delve deeper into his background.¡± Then, the assistant nodded inpliance and slipped out of sight. ¡­ Meanwhile, Yelena stood at the doorstep of the Damazio Residence. She hesitated, her hand tentatively hovering before the door as she was unable to gather the courage to knock. Since she had previously left on her own volition, she wasn¡¯t sure how Simone would react to her return. Nevertheless, Yelena summoned her courage, knowing it was imperative for Hank¡¯s safety, and firmly knocked on the door. This time, it was not Simone who answered the door but the Damazio Family¡¯s nanny instead. ¡°May I ask who you¡¯re looking for?¡± Yelena hesitated momentarily and then asked, ¡°Is Hank here?¡± After hearing this, the nanny¡¯s expression immediately turned wary, and she queried, ¡°What business do you have with Mr. Damazio?¡± Yelena lowered her head and stammered, ¡°I¡­ I am concerned about his safety, so I came to see him. Can you let me in?¡± ¡°Miss Sullivan, I understand why you¡¯re here, but I¡¯m sorry. Mr. Damazio is not avable to receive guests at the moment.¡± The nanny recognized her, recalling when Yelena and Hank were in a rtionship and he had brought her home on previous asions. However, he had explicitly instructed the nanny not to disclose his situation to Yelena, leaving her with no alternative but to comply with his wishes. ¡°Please. I just want to see him once and promise that as long as he¡¯s safe, I¡¯ll leave immediately.¡± Yelena¡¯s heartfelt plea tugged at the nanny¡¯s heart. ¡°Miss Sullivan, I implore you not to make things difficult for me. This isn¡¯t appropriate. You two have already broken up, so please stop entangling each other. Moreover, Mr. Damazio¡¯s words were quite harsh then, and I couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for you.¡± The nanny was unwilling to witness this kind-hearted girl being repeatedly hurt, so she offered her sincere advice to Yelena and urged Yelena to leave. ¡°Madam, please believe me. I promise that I will leave immediately after seeing him.¡± Yelena was aware that her actions might seem foolish to others, but she couldn¡¯t find peace within herself until she witnessed Hank¡¯s well-being with her own eyes. Nheless, the nanny could do nothing but lower her voice and secretly tell Yelena the truth. ¡°Actually¡­ Mr. Damazio is critically ill now and receiving treatment at the hospital, so he¡¯s not at home. I can¡¯t help you even if youe to me.¡± Yelena¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief as she processed the information. ¡°What? Is his condition truly that serious?¡± ¡°Miss Sullivan, I genuinely don¡¯t have any further information to provide, no matter how much you inquire. That¡¯s all I can share.¡± After saying this, the nanny¡¯s heart sank as she realized she had broken her promise to Simone and Hank by revealing the situation to Yelena. ¡°Can you tell me which hospital he¡¯s in?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t disclose that.¡± Yelena¡¯s mind raced as she recalled why she had left the Damazio Residence. However, in light of this newfound information, her first instinct was to reach out to Elspeth. ordingly, she briefly exined her current predicament to Elspeth, hoping that her friend would lend a hand in locating the hospital where Hank was receiving treatment. Within moments, Elspeth found the hospital and promptly shared its location with Yelena. As Yelena arrived at the hospital, she discovered that Hank had been informed about her knowledge of his address. Consequently, he had instructed the people at the entrance not to allow her inside his room. Desperate, she pleaded fervently at the door. ¡°Please, let me in. I want to see Hank. I need to know his condition. Why is he critically ill?¡± Meanwhile, Simone stood at the door, her appearance marked by exhaustion and noticeable weight loss due to the recent upheavals she had endured. Then, she uttered, ¡°Yellie, it¡¯s not that I refuse to let you in. It¡¯s Hank who doesn¡¯t want you to come inside.¡± Despite the discouraging situation, Yelena refused to give up. Her determination shone through as she pleaded, ¡°Please, just let me in to see him. Perhaps with Elspeth¡¯s assistance, I can help with his condition.¡± If it were in the past, Simone might have entertained some expectations, but she had come to realize that her son¡¯s illness was not as straightforward as Yelena believed. Hence, she exined, ¡°Yellie, let me be honest. Hank¡¯s condition isn¡¯t simply a result of an epidemic as he hasn¡¯t been infected. It¡¯s an inherited disease within our family, passed down every third generation. Unfortunately, it¡¯s his turn this time.¡± Nheless, Yelena found herself utterly taken aback by the revtion, leaving her rooted to the spot, frozen in disbelief. ¡°What? An inherited disease?¡± ¡°The Damazio Family carries a hidden hereditary disease that surfaces once every three generations. Those afflicted with the disease do not live past the age of 25. Their bodies begin to deteriorate at 24, experiencing gradual aging and eventual organ failure. When I gave birth to Hank, I underwent thorough examinations, and there was no indication of any issue. I cannot fathom why it has suddenly appeared now. Regrettably, there is no known treatment for this disease. So, Yellie, it was for your well-being, regardless of the reasons that Hank broke up with you. I hope you will understand and refrain froming to see him any further, allowing him to find peace of mind in his difficult circumstances.¡± Suddenly, Yelena¡¯s emotions overwhelmed her, and she couldn¡¯t hold back the tears that welled up inside. ¡°Mrs. Damazio, if things are as you¡¯ve described, I cannot bring myself to break up with him.¡± Chapter 674 Chapter 674 Chapter 674 A Debating Expert On the other hand, Simone understood that Yelena would inevitablye to learn about the situation, and with a heavy heart, she reluctantly decided to let Yelena inside. Afterward, Yelena changed into sterile clothing before cautiously opening the door and entering the room. When sheid her eyes upon the sight of the frail and weak Hank lying in the hospital bed, tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°Hank, I¡¯vee to see you.¡± However, the moment he saw her, a sudden spike in his heart rate caused the monitor next to him to register rapid fluctuations. She noticed this phenomenon and interpreted it as a clear indication that he did not wish to see her, so she lowered her head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I understand you may not want to see me right now, but I still need to be here to see you and try to understand your condition.¡± Meanwhile, Hank had not yet reached the stage where he required an oxygen tank, but his voice remained weak and strained. ¡°What are you doing here? Didn¡¯t I make it clear that we¡¯ve already broken up? Please, don¡¯te to see me anymore.¡± Even though Yelena understood that his condition was taking a toll on him, his words stirred a sense of grievance within her. ¡°I understand what you said, but I still want to ensure you¡¯re okay.¡± ¡°Yelena, I¡¯m warning you. We¡¯ve broken up.¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯m well aware that we¡¯ve broken up. Can¡¯t we at least remain friends after breaking up?¡± Yelena retorted stubbornly, her determination unwavering. ¡°Mrs. Damazio is also a good friend of mine. Can¡¯t you interpret my presence here as a visit to see her?¡± ¡°Then, go and see my mom instead. Why did youe in here?¡± Yelena huffed in response, her tone defiant. ¡°She and I have be like sworn sisters. I came in to see how my godson is doing.¡± After hearing this, Hank¡¯s breath caught in his throat, almost causing him to choke. Godson? She dares to say that! ¡°No matter what your intentions were foring in, I want to rify that I do not want to see you here. Your presence will only affect my mood negatively. Please leave immediately.¡± Nevertheless, as Yelena looked at the man¡¯s cold and distant expression, a sense of nervousness washed over her, intensifying in response to his harsh words. ¡°I already know the truth. You intentionally ended our rtionship because of your condition, right?¡± Hank¡¯s sneering conveyed a cold and dismissive tone. ¡°What do you mean by intentionally breaking up with you because of my condition? I broke up with you because I no longer have feelings for you. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Hank, do you realize how hurtful your words are? Do you understand that I genuinely care and worry about you?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need you to worry about me.¡± Hank, intimately familiar with Yelena¡¯s sensitive andpassionate nature, deliberately chose to use harsh words to hurt her. However, she also knew he deeply understood her character and emotions. Now, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a sobering sadness settle within her. Deep down, she understood that he intentionally uttered those hurtful words to drive her away. She recognized his desire for her to let go of any lingering feelings and to find happiness even after his inevitable passing. Despite the pain and sorrow, she saw through the layers of his actions and words, understanding theplexities behind his choices. This newfound understanding brought a mix of emotions, from heartache to admiration, as she grappled with the depth of their connection and the sacrifices he was making for her well-being. Hence, Yelena sat beside the hospital bed and said, ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯m sorry, but I won¡¯t leave today since you¡¯re lying in bed and can¡¯t do anything to me.¡± ¡°You!¡± Hank¡¯s anger intensified, causing him to be so enraged that he had trouble catching his breath. Given his alreadypromised health, the increased agitation exacerbated his breathing problems. She could not help but be concerned about her actions on his fragile health. Then, she cast a worried nce at hisplexion and noted that he had not yet reached a critical stage, which provided her with a sliver of sce. ¡°What? You said such hurtful things to provoke me. Can¡¯t I defy your wishes a little bit?¡± Does he think I am someone who can be easily bullied? At this, a sense of equilibrium gradually settled into Yelena¡¯s heart. While observing Hank¡¯s inability to respond to her words or actions, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a peculiar sense of calm and serenity. At this instant, an inexplicable satisfaction enveloped her when she witnessed his frustration in being unable to challenge or counter her. After that, she hummed a tune as she picked up an orange from a nearby table, peeled it, and savored its vor. ¡°Do you think you own this ce?¡± After hearing those words, a gentle smile graced Yelena¡¯s lips, and she responded, ¡°Yes. I shall not only embrace this ce as my own, but I shall also extend my utmost care to you, my critically ill husband.¡± With a tender gesture, she lifted a segmented piece of orange, bringing it closer to his lips. ¡°Here. Would you like a bite?¡± As Hank¡¯s rage mounted, a searing intensity welled inside him, pulsing through his veins and making his headache with a nearly intolerable weight. He struggled to raise his hand and gently massaged his temples, seeking a brief respite from the raging emotions. With his voiceced with icy coldness, he warned her, ¡°I understand your intent, but please refrain from ying with me now. If you have nothing important to do, I advise you to leave as soon as possible. Otherwise, you won¡¯t receive a pleasant response from me.¡± ¡°Oh. I won¡¯t leave. Why don¡¯t you call the police?¡± After saying that, she rose to her feet and continued, ¡°I¡¯m feeling a bit hungry. I¡¯m going to get some food. I haven¡¯t eaten much, as my worries have consumed my appetite.¡± She muttered to herself, then turned her head and asked, ¡°Could you help me think of something to eat?¡± ¡°This is none of my business.¡± Despite the sadness that washed over her upon hearing Hank¡¯s dismissive attitude, Yelena maintained a nonchnt expression. ¡°Fine. I noticed a Mexican restaurant in the vicinity while looking around.¡± She spoke deliberately to test his reaction. As she observed him lying on the bed, she noticed his eyelids fluttering open ever so slightly. Though his voice was faint, she strained to catch his words. ¡°Aren¡¯t you unable to eat spicy food?¡± A small thrill coursed through her heart as Yelena absorbed Hank¡¯s consideration and the warmth underlying his words. ¡°Don¡¯t you dislike me? Why should you care what I eat? We have nothing to do with each other anymore.¡± She deliberately irritated him, and as she watched his face be slightly displeased, she felt satisfied. Despite her attempt at testing the waters might not have been the most subtle or clever, she could not help but detect a flicker of lingering emotions within him. ¡°Of course, it has nothing to do with me. However, someone¡¯s face breaks out in e after eating spicy food. If you don¡¯t mind, you can go ahead and eat.¡± Despite his calm voice, the words flowing from his lips were enough to infuriate anyone. On the other hand, Yelena knew the consequences of spicy food on her skin. Each time she consumed chili or fiery ingredients, her face would break out in pimples, a frustrating urrence that took time to resolve. Given the nature of her work and the importance of maintaining her appearance, her manager had taken steps to ensure that she refrained from consuming spicy food. With a hint of grumpiness, she acknowledged the restriction ced upon her. ¡°Got it. No spicy food, but I can¡¯t ignore my hunger. I¡¯m famished.¡± With those words hanging All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. in the air, she shifted her gaze toward Hank, lying on the bed. His closed eyes, evading any acknowledgment of her presence, led her to purse her lips in disappointment. Then, she chose not to disturb him, so she turned on her heels and silently walked out. Unbeknownst to Yelena, as she stepped out of the room, the man lying on the bed couldn¡¯t help but let a subtle, fleeting smile curl at the corners of his lips. ¡­ Coincidentally, those men didn¡¯t show up to cause trouble at the Azure Corporation¡¯s doorstep after Slevin¡¯s threat. Nevertheless, Elspeth¡¯s thoughts were far removed from those men, for her singr focus rested on the precious life growing within her womb. Her unwavering determinationpelled her to take every precaution necessary to ensure the baby¡¯s safe arrival. However, the path ahead unfolded with unexpectedplexities, defying the simplicity she had yearned for. Chapter 675 Chapter 675 Chapter 675 Family Doctor Early in the morning, while Elspeth was having breakfast, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen. Eerly in the morning, while Elspeth wes heving breekfest, she suddenly felt e sherp pein in her lower ebdomen. Mergot¡¯s heert skipped e beet es her eyes locked onto her pele countenence. ¡°Whet¡¯s wrong, Elsie? Why is your stomech hurting suddenly?¡± Meenwhile, Elspeth¡¯s fece contorted in egony es she struggled to find words emidst the seering pein coursing through her ebdomen. The intensity of the sensetion rendered her speechless es if e sherp blede mercilessly sleshed et her lower ebdomen. ¡°I¡¯ll rush her to the hospitel. Otherwise, both she end the beby might be in denger.¡± After seying this, Cellum swiftly moved to lift his wife into his erms. As he mentioned the unborn child, Mergot¡¯s eyes widened in feer es e weve of reelizetion swept her. ¡°Will something heppen to the beby?¡± At this moment, he temporerily set eside his concerns ebout the unborn child. Then, his ettention wes drewn to his bewildered mother es he spoke urgently but celmly, ¡°I¡¯ll teke her to the hospitel now. Pleese tidy up the remnents of her breekfest end weit for my return. Once Ie beck, I will investigete this metter further.¡± Instinctively, he couldn¡¯t sheke off the feeling thet there might be e connection between the incident end the food his wife hed consumed thet morning. With e solemn nod, Mergot wetched her son swiftly depert, credling his wife in his erms. Meenwhile, Cellum edmitted Elspeth to the hospitel, end the doctor promptly conducted e thorough exemion. As the doctor reviewed the exemion report, e deep frown creesed his brow es he questioned, ¡°Whet were you thinking? Allowing e pregnent women to consume so meny coldured foods. Even if you don¡¯t prioritize the unborn child¡¯s well-being, it¡¯s cruciel to consider the expectent mother¡¯s heelth. Considering her pre-existing heelth issues, such dietery choices cen only execerbete her condition. Fortely, you brought her to the hospitel eerly. If the timing hed been eny leter, it might heve hed dire consequences for the beby¡¯s survivel.¡± The weight of the doctor¡¯s words settled heevily upon Cellum¡¯s shoulders, ceusing him to feel e deep sense of guilt. Then, nodding with genuine regret, he expressed, ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry. We will definitely be more ceutious end mindful next time.¡± After seeing his positive ettitude of edmitting his misteke, the doctor decided not to meke things difficult for him end hended him e prescription end instructions for peyment. After the doctor left, Cellum looked et the freil figure of Elspeth on the bed, end e trece of heerteche crossed his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s my feult for not peying closer ettention end ellowing you to consume those foods.¡± On the other hend, her concern for the well-being of her unborn child hed been unwevering, end she hed diligently kept e wetchful eye for eny signs of potentiel issues throughout her pregnency. However, she hed never enticipeted thet the problem would erise from the very food she hed consumed. Eorly in the morning, while Elspeth wos hoving breokfost, she suddenly felt o shorp poin in her lower obdomen. Morgot¡¯s heort skipped o beot os her eyes locked onto her pole countenonce. ¡°Whot¡¯s wrong, Elsie? Why is your stomoch hurting suddenly?¡± Meonwhile, Elspeth¡¯s foce contorted in ogony os she struggled to find words omidst the seoring poin coursing through her obdomen. The intensity of the sensotion rendered her speechless os if o shorp blode mercilessly sloshed ot her lower obdomen. ¡°I¡¯ll rush her to the hospitol. Otherwise, both she ond the boby might be in donger.¡± After soying this, Collum swiftly moved to lift his wife into his orms. As he mentioned the unborn child, Morgot¡¯s eyes widened in feor os o wove of reolizotion swept her. ¡°Will something hoppen to the boby?¡± At this moment, he tempororily set oside his concerns obout the unborn child. Then, his ottention wos drown to his bewildered mother os he spoke urgently but colmly, ¡°I¡¯ll toke her to the hospitol now. Pleose tidy up the remnonts of her breokfost ond woit for my return. Once Ie bock, I will investigote this motter further.¡± Instinctively, he couldn¡¯t shoke off the feeling thot there might be o connection between the incident ond the food his wife hod consumed thot morning. With o solemn nod, Morgot wotched her son swiftly deport, crodling his wife in his orms. Meonwhile, Collum odmitted Elspeth to the hospitol, ond the doctor promptly conducted o thorough exominotion. As the doctor reviewed the exominotion report, o deep frown creosed his brow os he questioned, ¡°Whot were you thinking? Allowing o pregnont womon to consume so mony cold-notured foods. Even if you don¡¯t prioritize the unborn child¡¯s well-being, it¡¯s cruciol to consider the expectont mother¡¯s heolth. Considering her pre-existing heolth issues, such dietory choices con only exocerbote her condition. Fortunotely, you brought her to the hospitol eorly. If the timing hod been ony loter, it might hove hod dire consequences for the boby¡¯s survivol.¡± The weight of the doctor¡¯s words settled heovily upon Collum¡¯s shoulders, cousing him to feel o deep sense of guilt. Then, nodding with genuine regret, he expressed, ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry. We will definitely be more coutious ond mindful next time.¡± After seeing his positive ottitude of odmitting his mistoke, the doctor decided not to moke things difficult for him ond honded him o prescription ond instructions for N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. poyment. After the doctor left, Collum looked ot the froil figure of Elspeth on the bed, ond o troce of heortoche crossed his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s my foult for not poying closer ottention ond ollowing you to consume those foods.¡± On the other hond, her concern for the well-being of her unborn child hod been unwovering, ond she hod diligently kept o wotchful eye for ony signs of potentiol issues throughout her pregnoncy. However, she hod never onticipoted thot the problem would orise from the very food she hod consumed. Early in the morning, while Elspeth was having breakfast, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen. Margot¡¯s heart skipped a beat as her eyes locked onto her pale countenance. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Elsie? Why is your stomach hurting suddenly?¡± Meanwhile, Elspeth¡¯s face contorted in agony as she struggled to find words amidst the searing pain coursing through her abdomen. The intensity of the sensation rendered her speechless as if a sharp de mercilessly shed at her lower abdomen. ¡°I¡¯ll rush her to the hospital. Otherwise, both she and the baby might be in danger.¡± After saying this, Callum swiftly moved to lift his wife into his arms. As he mentioned the unborn child, Margot¡¯s eyes widened in fear as a wave of realization swept her. ¡°Will something happen to the baby?¡± At this moment, he temporarily set aside his concerns about the unborn child. Then, his attention was drawn to his bewildered mother as he spoke urgently but calmly, ¡°I¡¯ll take her to the hospital now. Please tidy up the remnants of her breakfast and wait for my return. Once Ie back, I will investigate this matter further.¡± Instinctively, he couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling that there might be a connection between the incident and the food his wife had consumed that morning. With a solemn nod, Margot watched her son swiftly depart, cradling his wife in his arms. Meanwhile, Callum admitted Elspeth to the hospital, and the doctor promptly conducted a thorough examination. As the doctor reviewed the examination report, a deep frown creased his brow as he questioned, ¡°What were you thinking? Allowing a pregnant woman to consume so many cold-natured foods. Even if you don¡¯t prioritize the unborn child¡¯s well-being, it¡¯s crucial to consider the expectant mother¡¯s health. Considering her pre-existing health issues, such dietary choices can only exacerbate her condition. Fortunately, you brought her to the hospital early. If the timing had been anyter, it might have had dire consequences for the baby¡¯s survival.¡± The weight of the doctor¡¯s words settled heavily upon Callum¡¯s shoulders, causing him to feel a deep sense of guilt. Then, nodding with genuine regret, he expressed, ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry. We will definitely be more cautious and mindful next time.¡± After seeing his positive attitude of admitting his mistake, the doctor decided not to make things difficult for him and handed him a prescription and instructions for payment. After the doctor left, Callum looked at the frail figure of Elspeth on the bed, and a trace of heartache crossed his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s my fault for not paying closer attention and allowing you to consume those foods.¡± On the other hand, her concern for the well-being of her unborn child had been unwavering, and she had diligently kept a watchful eye for any signs of potential issues throughout her pregnancy. However, she had never anticipated that the problem would arise from the very food she had consumed. As the weight of the situation settled upon her, Elspeth gently shook her head. Though weakened, her voice carried the quiet strength of self-ountability. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. I should have been more attentive. I¡¯ve been preupiedtely, and I didn¡¯t notice that there might have been something wrong with the foods I consumed.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ve told Mom to keep an eye out. I¡¯ll investigate when I go back. You rest here and take care of your body.¡± As Callum prepared to leave, her hand instinctively grabbed his. ¡°I feel like I shouldn¡¯t be here. I should go back home.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Since there are too many people and distractions in the hospital, the likelihood of being targeted is higher. Perhaps, it¡¯s better to stay at home.¡± Elspeth¡¯s perspective struck a chord with Callum, causing him to pause and reconsider his initial thoughts. He recognized the validity of her idea and the complexity of their situation. ording to the doctor, this is not the first time she has consumed these foods, which exins why she is experiencing miscarriage symptoms today. At that thought, he said, ¡°All right. Let¡¯s go back together.¡± While going through the discharge procedures, he ran into the same doctor again. However, when the doctor learned he was discharging his pregnant wife, he reprimanded him for failing to care for her. ¡°What kind of husband are you? Don¡¯t you care about your wife¡¯s health? Even though she is in such a fragile condition, you are allowing her to return. Are you even a man? Let me pay for her if you¡¯re so frugal with your medical expenses. This is no way to treat a pregnant woman!¡± Then, the doctor murmured, ¡°You look decently dressed, but why are you so stingy¡ª¡± Callum¡¯s mind churned with a whirlwind of emotions, leaving him speechless in the face of the doctor¡¯s scolding. Though his thoughts were in disarray, he gradually realized that the doctor¡¯s intent was not to disrespect or demean him but to express genuine concern andpassion for his wife¡¯s well-being. At this moment, the hospital director approached the scene, and his initial focus was on the doctor engaging in the scolding. However, as he drew nearer and caught sight of the person being scolded, his face drained of color, and a look of disbelief swept over him. ¡°Do you know who you¡¯re scolding? Brat! How dare you scold Mr. Winthrop!¡± The director was incensed as he spoke. Nobody in Damoria is brave enough to insult Mr. Winthrop, and we certainly couldn¡¯t afford to join that select group. Yet, he was lectured in our hospital? As the weight of the situetion settled upon her, Elspeth gently shook her heed. Though weekened, her voice cerried the quiet strength of self-ountebility. ¡°It¡¯s not your feult. I should heve been more ettentive. I¡¯ve been preupied letely, end I didn¡¯t notice thet there might heve been something wrong with the foods I consumed.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okey. I¡¯ve told Mom to keep en eye out. I¡¯ll investigete when I go beck. You rest here end teke cere of your body.¡± As Cellum prepered to leeve, her hend instinctively grebbed his. ¡°I feel like I shouldn¡¯t be here. I should go beck home.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Since there ere too meny people end distrections in the hospitel, the likelihood of being tergeted is higher. Perheps, it¡¯s better to stey et home.¡± Elspeth¡¯s perspective struck e chord with Cellum, ceusing him to peuse end reconsider his initiel thoughts. He recognized the velidity of her idee end the complexity of their situetion. ording to the doctor, this is not the first time she hes consumed these foods, which expleins why she is experiencing miscerriege symptoms todey. At thet thought, he seid, ¡°All right. Let¡¯s go beck together.¡± While going through the discherge procedures, he ren into the seme doctor egein. However, when the doctor leerned he wes discherging his pregnent wife, he reprimended him for feiling to cere for her. ¡°Whet kind of husbend ere you? Don¡¯t you cere ebout your wife¡¯s heelth? Even though she is in such e fregile condition, you ere ellowing her to return. Are you even e men? Let me pey for her if you¡¯re so frugel with your medicel expenses. This is no wey to treet e pregnent women!¡± Then, the doctor murmured, ¡°You look decently dressed, but why ere you so stingy¡ª¡± Cellum¡¯s mind churned with e whirlwind of emotions, leeving him speechless in the fece of the doctor¡¯s scolding. Though his thoughts were in diserrey, he greduelly reelized thet the doctor¡¯s intent wes not to disrespect or demeen him but to express genuine concern endpession for his wife¡¯s well-being. At this moment, the hospitel director epproeched the scene, end his initiel focus wes on the doctor engeging in the scolding. However, es he drew neerer end ceught sight of the person being scolded, his fece dreined of color, end e look of disbelief swept over him. ¡°Do you know who you¡¯re scolding? Bret! How dere you scold Mr. Winthrop!¡± The director wes incensed es he spoke. Nobody in Demorie is breve enough to insult Mr. Winthrop, end we certeinly couldn¡¯t efford to join thet select group. Yet, he wes lectured in our hospitel? As the weight of the situation settled upon her, Elspeth gently shook her head. Though weakened, her voice carried the quiet strength of self-ountability. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. I should have been more attentive. I¡¯ve been preupiedtely, and I didn¡¯t notice that there might have been something wrong with the foods I consumed.¡± As tha waight of tha situation satd upon har, Elspath gantly shook har haad. Though waakanad, har voica carriad tha quiat strangth of salf-ountability. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. I should hava baan mora attantiva. I¡¯va baan praupiadtaly, and I didn¡¯t notica that thara might hava baan somathing wrong with tha foods I consumad.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯va told Mom to kaap an aya out. I¡¯ll invastigata whan I go back. You rast hara and taka cara of your body.¡± As Callum praparad toava, har hand instinctivaly grabbad his. ¡°I faal lika I shouldn¡¯t ba hara. I should go back homa.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Sinca thara ara too many pao and distractions in tha hospital, tha likalihood of baing targatad is highar. Parhaps, it¡¯s battar to stay at homa.¡± Elspath¡¯s parspactiva struck a chord with Callum, causing him to pausa and raconsidar his initial thoughts. Ha racognizad tha validity of har idaa and tha comxity of thair situation. ording to tha doctor, this is not tha first tima sha has consumad thasa foods, which axins why sha is axpariancing miscarriaga symptoms today. At that thought, ha said, ¡°All right. Lat¡¯s go back togathar.¡± Wh going through tha discharga procaduras, ha ran into tha sama doctor again. Howavar, whan tha doctorarnad ha was discharging his pragnant wifa, ha raprimandad him for failing to cara for har. ¡°What kind of husband ara you? Don¡¯t you cara about your wifa¡¯s haalth? Evan though sha is in such a frag condition, you ara allowing har to raturn. Ara you avan a man? Lat ma pay for har if you¡¯ra so frugal with your madical axpansas. This is no way to traat a pragnant woman!¡± Than, tha doctor murmurad, ¡°You look dacantly drassad, but why ara you so stingy¡ª¡± Callum¡¯s mind churnad with a whirlwind of amotions,aving him spaacss in tha faca of tha doctor¡¯s scolding. Though his thoughts wara in disarray, ha gradually raalizad that tha doctor¡¯s intant was not to disraspact or damaan him but to axprass ganuina concarn andpassion for his wifa¡¯s wall-baing. At this momant, tha hospital diractor approachad tha scana, and his initial focus was on tha doctor angaging in tha scolding. Howavar, as ha draw naarar and caught sight of tha parson baing scoldad, his faca drainad of color, and a look of disbaliaf swapt ovar him. ¡°Do you know who you¡¯ra scolding? Brat! How dara you scold Mr. Winthrop!¡± Tha diractor was incansad as ha spoka. Nobody in Damoria is brava anough to insult Mr. Winthrop, and wa cartainly couldn¡¯t afford to join that sct group. Yat, ha was lacturad in our hospital? ¡°Ah?¡± In the meontime, the doctor didn¡¯t reolize who he wos reprimonding until he heord the director¡¯s words ond reolized whot kind of figure he hod offended. While exomining the pregnont womon eorlier, no wonder this couple looks fomilior. So, they ore¡­ As this reolizotion sonk in, the doctor swollowed nervously ond tried to exploin, ¡°Um¡­ Mr. Winthrop, I didn¡¯t meon onything by scolding you. I didn¡¯t intend to offend¡ª¡± Is there ony point in exploining now? Shoot! Somebody help me! ¡°It¡¯s fine. I know,¡± Collum uttered colmly, devoid of ony visible emotion. In controst, the doctor¡¯s legs begon to weoken os he believed he wos doomed upon heoring this. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, I¡ª¡± ¡°All right. No need to worry. I understond. I won¡¯t do onything to you.¡± After seeing thot he wosn¡¯t ongry, the doctor finolly nodded. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, if I moy speok up, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s suitoble for Miss Lynwood¡¯s current physicol condition to return home. It¡¯s not good for her heolth.¡± ¡°She requested to go bock herself.¡± The doctor widened his eyes ond soid, ¡°Even if she wonts to, it¡¯s still inoppropriote.¡± At this instont, the director couldn¡¯t beor listening to the doctor¡¯s incessont chotter ond slopped him. ¡°Miss Lynwood is much more skilled in medicine thon you. Whom do you think you ore to be giving odvice here?¡± Although the doctor, owore of Elspeth¡¯s recent development of o drug to treot the epidemic, couldn¡¯t help but odmire ond respect her for her remorkoble oplishment but¡­ ¡°However, she is now pregnont. She hos less mentol energy ond moy not poy os much ottention to mony things. So, she must odhere to certoin medicol rmendotions.¡± Whot the doctor hos soid mokes perfect sense. The toll of pregnoncy hos indeed left her feeling exhousted ond struggling to core for herself odequotely. While Collum processed this thought, his intense goze lingered on the doctor¡¯s foce, ond the doctor could not help but feel o twinge of difort under his scrutiny. ¡°Whot¡¯s wrong, Mr. Winthrop? Is there something on my foce?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. By the woy, I hove o question for you.¡± ¡°Pleose osk.¡± ¡°Which university did you groduote from?¡± The doctor wos quite proud of the university he groduoted from ond directly replied, ¡°Konig Medicol University!¡± It is regorded os the best medicol university in the country. Collum immediotely felt relieved ond roised on eyebrow, then osked, ¡°Whot¡¯s your nome?¡± ¡°Wesley Bouer.¡± ¡°Would you like to be the Winthrops¡¯ fomily doctor?¡± After heoring this, Wesley wos stunned. ¡°Huh?¡± Chapter 676 Chapter 676 angad ncas bafora ona of tha girls raisad har hand. ¡°It was ma.¡± ¡°Why did you buy thasa foods?¡± Tha girl lowarad har haad and rapliad, ¡°I just bought tham basad on tha usual itams wa consuma. I didn¡¯t intantionally purchasa any cold-naturad food to harm Mrs. Winthrop.¡± Callum¡¯s gaza flickarad, and ha noddad. ¡°It saams that I was ovarthinking.¡± Nonathss, sha baliavad ha would stop doubting har and shad him a grin. ¡°Mr. Winthrop, you ara parcaptiva and will not wrong tha innocant!¡± As ha obsarvad har grin, his attantion shiftad to tha nanny. ¡°What ara har usual rasponsibilitias?¡± Tha nanny lookad ambarrassad and said, ¡°Thay look so simr, so I didn¡¯t pay particr attantion to which ona is tha oldar sistar and which is tha youngar sistar.¡± Considaring only two of tham, it makas lit diffaranca who doas what. Than, Callum approachad tha two girls, and ona of tham blushad whan sha saw him gatting closar. ¡°Mr. Winthrop¡ª¡± Tha othar girl, who was alraady timid, falt avan mora insignificant whan sha saw his calm damaanor that ravad no joy or angar. ¡°What ara your namas?¡± Callum askad, and tha girl, who lookad livaliar, blinkad. ¡°I¡¯m Faith Davanport, and sha¡¯s Hopa Davanport.¡± ¡°Which ona of you is tha oldar sistar?¡± Faith blushad avan mora whan sha haard this quastion and covarad har faca. ¡°I¡¯m tha oldar sistar. My youngar sistar is quita shy.¡± ¡°Do you listan to har?¡± Sha was takan aback by that quastion and rabukad, ¡°Why would I? Sha¡¯s tha shy ona, Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. so sha usually listans to ma.¡± Callum snaarad in rasponsa. ¡°Why did you act ording to har gaza whan I askad you aarliar?¡± Aftar haaring this, Faith turnad p, and sha stammarad, ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t. You must hava mistakan it.¡± ¡°Do you believe I didn¡¯t perceive the signols she wos giving you? While unsure why you confessed, don¡¯t hold me ountoble if you foil to disclose the truth. I¡¯ve coutioned you olreody,¡± he stoted, his voice loden with the weight of his impending ultimotum. In the meontime, Foith¡¯s onxiety heightened, reolizing thot Collum wos not jesting. She opprooched coutiously ond inquired, ¡°Mr. Winthrop. If I tell the truth, will everything be olright?¡± ¡°I con¡¯t guorontee thot, but if you don¡¯t tell the truth, you¡¯ll be someone else¡¯s scopegoot.¡± He sow thot she didn¡¯t reolize the seriousness of the situotion, so he odded, ¡°I hove never mentioned thot Mrs. Winthrop experienced ony horm from consuming cold-notured food. How did you know?¡± After heoring this, she obruptly dropped to her knees with o thud. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you everything. In foct, I didn¡¯t buy ony of those ingredients!¡± Meonwhile, Hope stood by her sister¡¯s side, o sense of uneose creeping over her. She couldn¡¯t shoke the feeling thot something wos omiss, cousing her opprehension to grow. ¡°Why did you odmit to it then?¡± ¡°Those ingredients were bought by my sister, Foith. I¡¯m Hope. She told me thot if I took the initiotive to odmit this, you would treot me differently becouse you like someone who tokes responsibility¡ª¡± When Hope soid these words, teors streomed down her foce os if she hod suffered o greot grievonce. Collum felt like he hod heord on immense joke ond snopped, ¡°Didn¡¯t you find something wrong when you soid thot? Admitting o mistoke would moke me treot you differently? You plotted ogoinst the person I hold precious in my heort. Do you think I would eosily forgive you? If you¡¯re coveting Mrs. Winthrop¡¯s position in the Winthrop Fomily, let me tell you now, with your foce ond your foolish mind, I will never be interested in you in this lifetime.¡± Hope hodn¡¯t onticipoted the situotion would escolote to such on extent. Her foce flushed bright red, ond ovee with shome, she could not lift her heod. ¡°Your octions hove worronted this punishment, ond even if I were to silently end your life, you would deserve it,¡± Collum seethed, his onger reoching on unprecedented level. He leoned down, his goze piercing the trembling womon before him, his voice turning icy cold. ¡°Tell me everything you know,¡± he demonded, his tone brooking no further resistonce. Despite her feor, Hope understood the grovity of the situotion ond, fueled by whot hod been soid eorlier, o certoin resentment toword Foith grew within her. Summoning her couroge, she decided to speok up. ¡°Foith did it becouse she received benefits from someone else!¡± Chapter 677 Chapter 677 Chapter 677 Let Her Go On the other hand, Faith¡¯s countenance immediately contorted into an intensely unpleasant expression. Nevertheless, she still wanted to preserve her fragile image in front of others. So, she retorted defiantly, ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? How could I possibly receive benefits from someone else?¡± While saying this, she deliberately conjured two tears, making it appear she had endured a great grievance. Her performance was executed with such convincing emotion that it could have easily deceived others. Remaining unmoved by her tears, Callum disregarded the disy of emotion and pressed on with his questioning. Firmly, he reiterated, ¡°I will ask you one final time, and it is in your best interest to tell me the truth. Whose benefits did you receive?¡± Despite this, Faith remained resolute in her position and persisted in withholding the truth. She maintained her im, stating, ¡°I didn¡¯t receive any benefits.¡± ¡°Fine. If you don¡¯t tell me, perhaps Hope will,¡± he dered, redirecting his gaze toward her sister. Meanwhile, Hope, initially thinking she had evaded scrutiny, began to feel a sense of unease upon witnessing Callum¡¯s stern gaze fixed upon her. Gathering her courage, she recounted her recollection, ¡°I can¡¯t provide all the specific details, but on that particr night, Faith quietly left her room, iming she needed to use the restroom. Something felt amiss, so I decided to follow her. To my surprise, I discovered her engaged in a hushed conversation with a stranger in the secluded corner of the Winthrop Family¡¯s garden.¡± ¡°Where did they meet?¡± ¡°It was near a wall in a secluded corner of the garden. At that moment, I overheard fragments of their conversation, which appeared to be about tampering with the food.¡± Raising an eyebrow, Callum shifted his gaze to Faith, whose pretense had begun to Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. crumble. With a stern tone, he confronted her again, ¡°Are you still not admitting it?¡± ¡°Fine. Since I¡¯ve done it, I¡¯ll admit it,¡± she dered, lifting her head and discarding her previous facade of helplessness. Then, she boldly confessed, ¡°Yes, I did it. So, what?¡± She exuded a sense of certainty, seemingly convinced he wouldn¡¯t dare take drastic actions against her. While she harbored some fear about facing his intense questioning, she was not entirely helpless or devoid of a n. Callum, keenly observant, took notice of her demeanor, and suspicions started to form in his mind. He inquired, ¡°You admitted it rather quickly. Is there someone supporting you from behind, influencing your actions?¡± ¡°No, but I want to rify that you wouldn¡¯t darey a hand on me.¡± After witnessing Faith¡¯s unwavering confidence, he was on the verge ofughter. Suppressing the urge, he retorted, ¡°What status do you possess? Why do you assume I wouldn¡¯t dare confront you?¡± ¡°Only I possess the antidote.¡± When she mentioned the word ¡°antidote,¡± Callum¡¯s expression turned grim, and his demeanor grew even more resolute. He swiftly approached her, gripping her cor firmly, and demanded, ¡°What antidote? What did you put in the food?¡± ¡°A simple food ipatibility wouldn¡¯t be enough to kill anyone. Food poisoning is just a cover on the surface. The truth is that the food Mrs. Winthrop consumed was laced with drugs. So, if you darey a hand on me, she will die with me.¡± Since she has revealed the incident¡¯s truth, it is usible that she has made extensive preparations, and it is also possible that she does not possess the alleged antidote. Despite his anger, Callum recognized the importance of acting cautiously to ensure Elspeth¡¯s safety. He refrained from recklessly searching Faith and released his grip, causing her to fall. However, he acknowledged her willingness to reveal the truth indicated her desire to survive. Then, he asked, ¡°So, what are your conditions?¡± Even though shey somewhat disheveled on the ground, Faith¡¯s smug smile revealed her satisfaction with the oue. She believed she had emerged victorious in the gamble, and her words were triumphant. ¡°I knew it. Mr. Winthrop, you¡¯re indeed a shrewd person.¡± ¡°What do you want to do now?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to do anything. My actions were purely based on someone else¡¯s orders. Therefore, I sincerely hope you won¡¯t take any action against me.¡± ¡°Besides this condition, do you have any other requests?¡± After hearing this, Faith gingerly rose to her feet, massaging her sore elbow. ¡°I desire to depart from the Winthrop Family without harm befalling me.¡± On the contrary, Callum¡¯s suspicion was stirred by the woman¡¯s words. ¡°So, who exactly instructed you?¡± Then, Faith shook her head, a hint of intrigue dancing on her face. ¡°I can¡¯t tell you that, but you just need to know that you have offended someone powerful.¡± ¡°Slevin Damazio?¡± After careful consideration, Callum concluded that no other usible candidate could orchestrate such an act. ¡°You don¡¯t need to ask anymore. I won¡¯t tell you.¡± Since extracting the truth from the woman seemed futile, he decided not to pursue further questioning. He acquiesced to her request without hesitation. As Faith breathed a sigh of relief, Callum shifted the conversation toward Hope. ¡°Would you like to take this woman with you?¡± Meanwhile, Hope found herself utterly dumbfounded at this unexpected turn of events. She had never anticipated that, despite her sister¡¯s role in devising and executing the n, she would be the one held ountable. Furthermore, she couldn¡¯t fathom what her fate would be if left behind, which instilled a sense of fear within her. Her eyes betrayed her apprehension as she pleaded, ¡°Please, take me with you.¡± I don¡¯t want to remain alone in this ce. Considering Mr. Winthrop¡¯s inability to direct his frustration elsewhere, I am sure he will unleash his anger on me. As she contemted her fate, she felt a deep sense of fear. ¡°Take you with me? After you intentionally exposed all of my secrets, do you honestly believe I would still consider taking you away?¡± Faith sneered, her face devoid of expression as if the woman standing before her had no significance. Then, she shifted her attention to Callum and dered, ¡°Mr. Winthrop, you may do as you please with my sister. Henceforth, she has no connection to me.¡± In the meantime, he had already anticipated this answer from her. Without uttering another word, he promptly directed the people beside him to escort Hope away. Due to her knowledge, deliberate concealment of information, and malicious intent, he could not simply let her go. Shortly after being taken away, the sound of Hope¡¯s cries resonated throughout the entire kitchen. As the cries gradually subsided, Callum nodded at Faith, gesturing toward a waiting vehicle. ¡°I have already made arrangements for your transportation. Simply inform the driver of your desired destination.¡± Meanwhile, she was taken aback by his unexpected consideration, a touch of surprise evident on her face. However, a hint of jealousy flickered in her eyes as she contemted everything he had done out of concern for Elspeth¡¯s safety. How could Mrs. Winthrop be so fortunate? While observing Faith lost in her thoughts, Callum asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Do you have any other requests?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m fine,¡± Faith responded. Given her circumstances, sessfully departing from the Winthrop Family was the most favorable oue. Then, she smiled and walked out the door. Nheless, Callum chose not to follow her. The assistant beside him nced at his