《Taming The CEO The Escaping Wife》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Letitia Sanders was eyeballing a meaty bone before a stay mutt in the filthy and messy backyard at the AquaCity Psychiatric Institute. She had gone three days without so much as a crumb to eat. If this continued she¡¯d be at risk of starving It was getting to the point where she¡¯d have to grapple with the dog just for a bite to eat Since Elgin Ramirez chucked her into this madhouse two years ago, Letitia¡¯s daily gund had been about staying alive. Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. The Ramirez farmily, the big shots of AquaCity with Elgin as the heir His word was the final soy pretty much controlling the pulse of the city Letitia could still remember how Elgin had gripped her throat like he was trying to choke the life out of her, his eyes filled with venom. ¡°You¡¯re going to suffer every single day You¡¯ll be begging for the relief of death, but it¡¯s not going toe You¡¯re going to pay off your family¡¯s debt to me! The more miserable her life was, the more Elgin seemed to get his kicks. Two years back. Elgin¡¯s father, Marcel Ramirez, had a car wreck and was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. The doctor on call was Preston Sanders, Letitia¡¯s dad Something went wrong during the emergency operation, and Preston messed up with the medications, leading to Marcel bleeding out. The cops got involved and pinned the me on Preston for cuttingers. He got pped with a life sentence When Malinda, Letitia¡¯s mom, got wind of the news, she had a stroke that turned her into a vegetable. From that day on, Letitia¡¯s world had turned upside down She didn¡¯t buy that her dad could¡¯ve done such a thing, but her pleas fell on deaf With just a flick of Elgin¡¯s wrist, Letitia was tossed into the mental hospital like yesterday¡¯s trash, and he made sure nobody gave a damn whether she lived or died. Since then, her life had been worse than a stray dog¡¯s. But she swore she¡¯d cling to life Her folks were still out there waiting for her. Only by staying alive did she stand a chance! Suddenly, the sound of a lock turning snapped her out of her thoughts ¡°Letitia Sanders, someone¡¯s here to pick you up the head of the mental hospital announced Letitia froze. ¡°Who?¡± After her dad got locked up, her friends and rtives scattered like roaches. Who woulde for her? ¡°You¡¯ll see when you meet them.¡± Letitia never thought she could get out of this hellhole. Without Elgin¡¯s say so, who would dare spring her? With jitters and hope, Letitia stepped out of the mental hospital, only to be greeted by a van pulling up in front of her. Before she could get a good look at who was inside, a couple of burly guys leaped out, threw a ck sack over her head, and snatched her up! ¡°Help¡­¡± Before she could scream, a heavy blow to her neck sent her into darkness When Letitia woke up, she found herself tied to a bed in a hotel room, unable to move a muscle. What the heck was going on? Where was she? Thest thing she remembered before cking out gave her a bad feeling A bold and chunky old guy in front of her was rubbing his hands with glee. ¡°Such an innocent young thing. I can¡¯t wait anymore!¡± Crap! Letitia realized she had been fooled! No one hade to get her. The director had given her to this old creep! ¡°Stay away¡­¡± Letitia clenched her teeth. ¡°Back off!¡± ¡°Pamper me, and I¡¯ll make it worth your while¡­¡± As the old man lunged at her with a lecherous grin, Letitia thought fast and retreated, shouting, ¡°Wait!¡± ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Letitia forced a giggle. ¡°Easy there, my lord. How about you untie me first, then we can have some real fun¡­¡± ¡°Alright then. It¡¯s not like you can make a break for it.¡± The moment the ropes were loose, Letitia kicked him in the balls and bolted as he howled in pain. ¡°Grab her!¡± She could hear footsteps chasing after her. If they caught her, she¡¯d be toast! Panicking. Letitia spotted a door ajar, dashed in, and mmed it shut. As she was gasping for air, a man¡¯s arm with distinct knuckles suddenly wrapped around her waist. ¡°A woman? A husky male voice pierced the dark Letitia felt his burning hot body and frantically asked, ¡°Who are you? What do you want?¡± To get rid of this drug in me with you. Without another word, he hoisted her up and dumped her on the bed Letitia couldn¡¯t see the man¡¯s face, but his familiar scent made her think of Elgin. No, it couldn¡¯t be Elgin! ¡°Don¡¯t! Please let go!¡± Letitia struggled, her voice tearful. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ I¡¯m not that kind of girl¡­¡± The man whispered in her ear, ¡°I¡¯ll marry you.¡± He silenced her protests with his fervent kisses. By dawn, the man was sound asleep. Letitia, aching all over, had thought she could escape unscathed. Instead, she lost her virginity. Her life was tragic enough. When would fate ever cut her a break? Though this guy was leagues better than the old man and had even promised to marry her, she knew saying ¡®I do¡¯ would drag him down into Elgin¡¯s pit of fire with her She couldn¡¯t do that to him. With that thought, Letitia quietly left the hotel, dressed and bewildered. She could have slipped away, but she knew AquaCity was Elgin¡¯s turf, every exit locked tight. Even if she ran, where could she possibly hide? Besides, her parents were there, and she couldn¡¯t bail on them. In the end, Letitia returned to AquaCity Psychiatric Institute. At least she had to get the scoop on the director¡¯s schemes to watch her back. Just as she reached his office, she overheard a heated argument ¡°The old goat¡¯s got his eye on my daughter. How could I bear to give her away? The only choice was to hand over Letitial¡± ¡°Are you nuts? Mr. Ramirez put Letitia here himself, and you¡¯re messing with his property?¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez? He¡¯s forgotten about her. As long as she¡¯s ounted for, we¡¯re golden. We need to find her, stat!¡± it was all the director¡¯s doing, just as she suspected! Fuming, Letitia clenched her fists, ready to burst in, but the director came out looking all worned He looked up and saw Letitia, but before he could fake a smile, he spotted the love bite on her neck ¡°You slut, who did you shack up withst night? he cursed, red-faced with rage. You nearly got me killed Letitia had no clue who that guy was and might as well chalk it up to some ridiculous dream. She drilled the director with a frosty question. ¡°What gives you the right to pawn me off?¡± ¡°Pawn you off? You¡¯re spouting more and more nonsense, and your madness is getting worse! Quick, lock her up in the ward! Lettha shot him a chilly look ¡°Let go. I can walk on my own. Meanwhile, Elgin woke up at the hotel, rubbing his temples as he sat up and swept over the messy bed, shes of memory racing by He couldn¡¯t stop thinking of the girl¡¯s silky smooth skin, her whispers, and her first time in bed. But next to the bed, there was nothing but air. Gosh! Did she sleep with him and bolt? She was nothing like those gold digging chicks who throw themselves at him. It was a setup the night before. A woman happened to burst into his room and helped relieve the drug coursing through Elgin dialed a number,manding. Find out the woman who crashed my roomst night.¡± ¡°Right away, Mr Ramirez He had promised to marry her, and he intended to keep it. He would track her down even if she ran to the ends of the earth Elgin swung out of bed, eyeing the empty ss on the nightstand. His stepmom couldn¡¯t give it a rest, always seizing every chance to shove a woman his way, even stooping to drugging him He thought it was time to secure a Mrs. Ramirez to end his stepmom¡¯s schemes. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, today is your father¡¯s death anniversary, the assistant reminded him as they got into the car. ¡°Got it, same as every year Once a year, Elgin made his pilgrimage to his father¡¯s grave, and it was time to see Letitia, the woman he¡¯d dumped all his hatred on A luxury car pulled up at the entrance of AquaCity Psychiatric Institute, with Elgin casually sauntering in. Seeing Elgin arrive, the mental hospital director nearly pissed his pants ¡°Mr., Mr¡­¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Letitia? Elgin¡¯s eyes were icy 1. I¡¯ll go fetch her this instant! The director scurried off to the ward, warning Letitia, ¡°Keep your trap shut tight. If Mr. Ramirez finds out you¡¯re no longer a virgin, we¡¯re both dead meat!¡± As Letitia was about to respond, a tall figure appeared. it was Elgin. He was as handsome and aloof as in her memories, oozing with an air of superiority, someone born with a silver spoon An overwhelming presence hit her, and Letitia¡¯s nerves instantly were on edge ¡°Mr. Ramirez¡± ¡°Are you so scared of me? He teased with a smirk. Yeah she was so scared that she barely dared to breathe, let alone meet his eyes. She kept her head down silently with be strands of hair ticklinger cheeks, resisting the urge to brush them away Let s been two years, but you haven¡¯t changed. How duft. Elgiris tone was even, but Letitia felt bone- chilling cold ETH Che wasn¡¯t the mess he expected, which had disappointed him. Little did he know that she had fought tooth and n only to survive and keep a shred of humar, dignity Those first few months were worse than an animal¡¯s life. ¡°So, game over.¡± Elgin¡¯s gaze nanowed, somewhat enigmatic ¡°You¡¯re free now¡± Free? She even couldn¡¯t believe it Letitia knew too well that he had some new method up in his sleeve to torment her. She couldn¡¯t help but tremble, retreating step by step as Elgin advanced ¡°Keeping you under my thumb for my amusement will quench my thirst for revenge his words were chillingly cold. ¡°From now on, Letitia, you¡¯re nothing but a dog at my side Elgin tumed, his figure resolute Follow met Confused, she asked. ¡®Where to go? ¡°The city hall Chapter 2 Chapter 2 What the hell? Elgin scooped her up with his big hands and tossed her into the car like it was nothing. Cowering in the corner, Letitia panicked. ¡°Who, who are you marrying me off to No, let me out of the car¡­¡± She was a living and breathing person, not some parcel they could pass around. ¡°I could marry you off to anyone I want.¡± Elgin pinched her chin. saying icily, ¡°You don¡¯t get a say¡± Letitia felt like crying but feared annoying him, so she held back her tears, not daring to let them fall. Catching a glimpse of Letitia¡¯s tear-filled and bright eyes, Elgin felt a momentary softness in his heart. No, how could he feel pity for his enemy¡¯s daughter? Ridiculous! Elgin¡¯s face looked cold and impassive again as he irritably adjusted his tie. Suddenly, a pair of soft and pale hands appeared in his cuffs. ¡°Please, please don¡¯t¡­¡± Letitia¡¯s tears sshed onto the back of his hand. ¡°Anything but this. Don¡¯t ruin me like this¡­¡± It was the first time she had begged Elgin, and she didn¡¯t know if it would make any difference. Her voice eerily reminded Elgin of the woman from the night before.N?velDrama.Org ? content. There was a resemnce! But it couldn¡¯t be Letitia. She had been locked up in the mental hospital and had no way out. Elgin gently cleaned the tears from his hand. ¡°After two years, I finally hear you back down.¡± Then, he said with a cruel smile, ¡°Too bad. It¡¯s pointless.¡± Her hands slipped from his sleeve. His phone started ringing. Phedra, his stepmother, was calling. ¡°Dear Elgin,¡± Phedra pretended to care and asked, ¡°I heard you were with a woman at the hotelst night.. Before she could finish, Elgin cut her off, ¡°That¡¯s right. We¡¯re on our way to the city hall now.¡± ¡°What. huh? You¡¯re marrying her?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Elgin was a master at striking the first blow. Phedra was trying to nt a spy by his side by sending him women, and he was not about to let her have her way. Elgin would keep searching for the woman fromst night, but he couldn¡¯t let Phedra catch on. The room was pitch ck, and he hadn¡¯t seen her face. So Phedra could easily find someone to impersonate her, and he couldn¡¯t tell. The best n for the time was to have Letitia fill in temporarily! After all, she was bound to him for life, paying for her sins. After hanging up, Elgin raised an eyebrow slightly. ¡°Listen up, Letitia. The man you¡¯re marrying¡­ is me.¡± Marry him? Letitia couldn¡¯t believe her ears. Yet, judging by his expression, he didn¡¯t appear to be joking at all! Letitia held the pen but didn¡¯t sign at the city hall. She had never imagined bing Mrs. Ramirez. She didn¡¯t belong in that ce. She would stay in the psychiatric hospital rather than stay by Elgin¡¯s side day and night. The clerk asked suspiciously, ¡°Ms. Sanders, are you doing this of your own free will?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Elgin embraced her from behind, guiding her hand to sign. ¡°My wife is too excited.¡± His broad chest against her back felt seemingly gentle but was forceful! ¡°Letitia, if this marriage doesn¡¯t go through, I¡¯ll definitely make you suffer!¡± Elgin warned in a chilling whisper. Letitia felt like a puppet, manipted at his will When the marriage certificate was issued, Elgin took it away. ¡°Don¡¯t get any ideas, Letitia. You¡¯re still nothing.¡± She bit her lip. ¡°Is marrying me just another way to torment me?¡± ¡°You could say that.¡± Elgin walked out. ¡°Back to Ivory Towers.¡± Ivory Towers was Elgin¡¯s private residence, located in an upscale neighborhood and surrounded by mountains and water, which was the epitome of luxury. It was like a gilded cage. Standing in the middle of the living room, Letitia looked out of ce in her faded clothes and canvas shoes like an ugly duckling that had stumbled into a castle. The servants whispered among themselves, ¡°Who is that? Jesus. She¡¯s dressed poorer than us.¡± ¡°Shush, Mr. Ramirez brought her here himself.¡± The butler scolded, ¡°Have you no desire to keep your tongues? That¡¯s Mrs. Ramirez, thedy of Ivory Towers!¡± Goodness, Mrs. Ramirez looked so in! Elgin walked over and instructed indifferently, ¡°Clean her up and bring her to my room.¡± Letitia was horrified, wondering what he was going to do. No, he would see the love bites on her body! Even without having sex, just being in the same room with Elgin was enough to suffocate Letitia! She shrank back. ¡°I can sleep anywhere, like the basement, the utility room, or even on the floor!¡± ¡°I decide what you do!¡± Elgin waved his hand, signaling the servants to take her away as he headed upstairs. Letitia¡¯s palms sweated with nervousness, dreading what awaited her. She couldn¡¯t keep being so submissive. She must escape! Of all stratagems, retreat is the best! The bathtub was full of water, and the servants were about to undress her. ¡°I can do it myself,¡± she said, ¡°Just wait at the door.¡± ¡°But Mr. Ramirez instructed¡­¡± ¡°I won¡¯t tell him.¡± After sending everyone away, Letitia looked up at the small window. Elgin sat before theputer in the study, looking at Dr. William on the screen. ¡°Did the resultse out?¡± William coughed, ¡°They did, but¡­¡± ¡°Spit it out.¡± ¡°Asthenozoospermia,¡± William said, ¡°I¡¯ve checked three times. No mistake.¡± Elgin¡¯s fingers, tapping on the desk, halted all at once. When he received the medical report two days ago, he couldn¡¯t believe he had such a disease and immediately contacted top-notch urologists abroad. Surprisingly, he got the same result. William continued, ¡°But Mr. Ramirez, I found something unusual in the tests.¡± ¡°Oh ¡°I¡¯m sure some food or medication you¡¯ve been taking for a long time has caused this ¡± Hearing this, Elgin rxed a bit. He smirked coldly. ¡°Is it curable?¡± ¡°Absolutely. Mr. Ramirez, I¡¯ll prescribe you medication, a three-month course. But the best way is to find the cause for a permanent cure.¡± ¡°Hmm¡± Elgin looked out the window, his mind crystal clear Since his father¡¯s death, Phedra had been sending all sorts of soups to Ivory Towers daily under the quise of caring for him If he didn¡¯t make a move, Phedra would nag non stop, going on and on about stuff like Marcel¡¯s favorite drinks when he was alive Elgin was so annoyed that he couldn¡¯t stand it and took several sips each time to humor her. Who would¡¯ve thought that Phedra had such a wicked scheme up her sleeve? She wanted to use this trick to make sure none could carry his child even if he got a bunch of women, and thus cut off the Ramirez family line! ¡°Thump thump thump!¡± He heard footsteps rushing outside, and the butler banged on the door hard. ¡°Mr. Ramirez! Trouble! Elgin had an icy look. ¡°What¡¯s the panic? Spill it!¡± ¡°Mrs. Ramirez¡­ is gone!¡± The bathroom was in perfect order, and the bath water was untouched. Only the venttion window was open, just wide enough for a person to wriggle through. Letitia had the nerve to escape through the window! She sure had some nerve! Elgin¡¯s face was as dark as thunder. ¡°A bunch of good-for-nothings! You can¡¯t even keep an eye on one woman!¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez, Mrs. Ramirez¡¯s phone is still here¡­ There¡¯s a voice message.¡± Elgin yed it, and a clear female voice came through. ¡°Elgin, I¡¯ve had two years of atonement, and we¡¯re even. Don¡¯t count on seeing me again!¡± Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Boom! Elgin smashed the phone to smithereens, rage shing in his eyes. ¡°Go after her, now! She won¡¯t get far!¡± Ivory Towers was aze with lights that night, buzzing with cars and peopleing and going- Letitia was holed up in a grimy and stinky sewer, barely dodging Elgin¡¯s henchmen hot on her tail. In the chaos, she bolted down the hill and made a beeline for the prison to see Preston ¡°Dad¡­¡± ¡°Sweetheart! Thank God¡¯ You¡¯re alive!¡± Preston was beside himself with joy, tears streaking his face. ¡°I thought you were¡­ ¡°Dad, I came to ask you what happened with Marcel¡¯s death?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know The medicine I used was correct! Sweetheart, do you believe me?¡± ¡°I do.¡± Letitia bit her lip hard, nodding her head. So, someone had framed her dad. She never owed Elgin a thing, let alone any redemption! ¡°We¡¯ve been set up, but what¡¯s done is done. We can¡¯t do anything to change it now,¡± Preston sighed deeply. ¡°Sweetheart, you must look out for yourself.¡± Letitia, gripping the phone, looked steadfastly through the ss at Preston. ¡°Dad, I¡¯ll find the evidence to clear your name.¡± After visiting the prison, Letitia headed to the hospital to see her mom. But before getting to the hospital entrance, she spotted several guards in ck suits! Letitia quickly ducked out of sight. Elgin had her pegged. He knew she would appear at the hospital and had his guys there waiting early. If she got nabbed and hauled back, she would be in for a hellish nightmare of torture! While Letitia was brainstorming how to slip past the bodyguards, the giant electronic screen across the street flickered and switched to AquaCity¡¯s financial news. Elgin¡¯s handsome mug was front and center. Standing in front of the office building of Ramirez Group, d in a ck shirt, he was a force to be reckoned with yet looked effortlessly cool, his lips curled in a half-smile and half-smirk. Beside him, a swarm of reporters bombarding him with questions. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, is it true that you¡¯re dipping your toes into showbiz?¡± ¡°Will the Ramirez Group¡¯s acquisition ns bepleted on schedule?¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez, paparazzi snapped pics of you at the city hall yesterday. Were you there to¡­¡± Elgin tilted his chin up, eyeing the camera. ¡°To get married.¡± His reply set the scene aze. Mr. Ramirez had admitted he was married! Who was Mrs. Ramirez, snagging the most eligible bachelor in AquaCity and CEO of the Ramirez Group? The camera zoomed in on Elgin¡¯s eyes, deep as the cosmos, not blinking an inch. The next second, Elgin¡¯s voice, low and husk ¡°Mrs. Ramirez, if you¡¯re done ying around, it¡¯s time to come home.¡± His voice sounded indulgently tender, but Letitia knew it was a warning! The bloodthirsty smirk on his lips sent chills down her spine as if he were standing right there. Elgin turned and walked away, his bodyguards blocking the reporters. He wouldn¡¯t have epted the interview if he hadn¡¯t used the media to send Letitia a message! Chapters Meanwhile, Lotitia saw a few nurses pushing a qurney to an ambnce, preparing to transfer a patient. It was her mother! Where were they taking her mom? ¡°Mom! Throwing caution to the wind, Letitia bolted over She clutched Malinda¡¯s hand nightly ¡°Mom, I¡¯m so sorry I couldn¡¯te to see you sooner But the bodyguards already swarmed around her ¡°Mrs Ramirez, this is Mr Ramirez¡¯s order. Please don¡¯t interfere¡± ¡°I won¡¯t run I go back now! Letitia pleaded desperately. Just give me back my mom. Yet Letitia could only watch her mother taken away Elgin knew what her weaknessy He had stung her heart only by a small move. Half an hourter, Elgin slood by the floor to ceiling window in the CEO¡¯s office with a cigarette unlit between his fingers ¡°Mr. Ramirez, Mrs. Ramirez is here, Elgin¡¯s assistant Ranen Mitchell knocked at the door. ¡°Come in.¡± Letitia walked in, her face ashen. Elgin asked with his back to her, You¡¯ve decided toe back, haven¡¯t you? ¡°Free my mother She spoke humbly, ¡°Whatever you want, just take it out on me. Thad no intention of hurting her Letitia, you¡¯ve been too restless.¡± ¡°Im sorry. It was my fault¡± Elgin squinted So you think you can settle it by just saying sorry?¡± Letitia¡¯s hands clenched, nails digging into her palms 1 promise I¡¯ll never run away again.¡± How in the world could she possibly escape from Elgin¡¯s grip? Her parents¡¯ lives were directly in his control. Besides, Letitia could only uncover the truth about Marcel¡¯s death and clear her father¡¯s name by staying close to him! Elgin beckoned with a finger, and she obediently approached He bent down, whispering in her ear, ¡°Tell me Should I break your left leg or your right?¡± His tone was as soft as a breeze, yet the words were brutal Letitia¡¯s legs buckled with fear, barely able to stand 1 I won¡¯t dare again.¡± Elgin gripped her slender waist firmly ¡®If it happened again, I would break them myself¡± He huffed and released her, lounging back on the sofa, casually bringing the cigarette to his lips Letitia crouched at his side, took the lighter, and flicked it on for him ¡°Mr Ramirez¡± He didn¡¯t move. The lighter grew hotter and hotter, scorching, yet Letitia dared not let go, fearing to piss him off. Her hand blistered with a burning smell in the air Only then did Elgin lean down to ignite his cigarette. ¡°Do you want to save your mom? Do something to please me, Elgin blew smoke in her face, ¡°Do you know how to make a man happy?¡± Letitia coughed violently, her face flushed with more than heat. for reaction armused Elgin, a low chuckle escaping him. She was like a pet he raised But before hisughter was gone, Letitia suddenly stood on tiptoes and gently pressed her lips to his. She figured this should please him. But when it came to what usually happened next between a man and a woman, she waspletely ignorant. Elgin looked at the woman in front of him. Her nervousshes fluttered, her lips soft and enticing, and she was utterly unaware of her allure. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. He quickly felt a stirring inside. That wasn¡¯t good news because Letitia was the daughter of the man he had vowed to avengel ¡°Get lost Elgin shoved her away without mercy, his face full of disqust Letitia silently picked herself off the floor and left, only to find a worse fate awaiting her No sooner had she stepped out of the office than Ranen said, ¡°Mrs Ramirez, Mr. Ramirez mentioned that the cleaning department is short-staffed¡­¡± ¡°Ranen, I get the picture. I¡¯m on my way. For her, scrubbing floors was a step up from sticking around Elgin Ranen watched Letitia¡¯s retreating figure and shook his head with a sigh. He thought Mr. Ramirez had fallen head over heels for a girl and rushed into marriage. Turns out Mrs. Ramirez¡¯s social standing was downright low ¡°Mr. Ramirez, Ranen finished reporting on the day¡¯s work and added, ¡°about transferring Mrs. Ramirez¡¯s mother to another hospital¡­¡± ¡°Get her the top-notch doctors for treatment. Ranen paused, taken aback. ¡°Are you deaf? ¡°No, no, Mr. Ramirez. Elgin kept a poker face. ¡°Don¡¯t let her find out All this was only another move to keep Letitia on a tight leash. With Malinda in his grip, Letitia could only toe the line Elgin leaned back in his leather chair and casually flicked on the surveince. On the screen, Letitia was seen in her janitorial uniform, intent on her work, with a mop and bucket in hand During her two years in the mental hospital, Elgin asionally checked in on her through the cameras hoping to soothe his grief over his father¡¯s loss with the sight of her misery. But he miscalcted. At first. Letitia was a mess, but she quickly found her way to survive and gradually adapted Amidst the other patients madness and disarray, Letitia was neat andposed, a lotus rising unsoiled from the mud If not for their deep-seated hatred, Elgin admired her to some point He was about to turn off the feed when another woman appeared on the screen. The woman was Raize! Morris, Elgin¡¯s fiancee in name, at least. Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Raizel stormed into the Ramirez Group, fuming. Phedra had forwarded her the news, and only then did she learn that Elgin had announced his marriage officially- She had to see for herself who this bitch was. She was hell-bent on scratching that face, yanking out her hair, stripping her naked, and tossing her into the street! Raizel was moving so fast in her high heels that she didn¡¯t realize the floor had just been mopped and was still wet. She nearly took a spill. ¡°Ah!!¡± Raizel shrieked ¡°Who¡¯s the blind idiot trying to take me down? The staff at Ramirez Group all knew Raizel and her bad temper and kept their distance. Only Letitia, oblivious, kept on with her tasks. Raizel scanned the room and quickly spotted her. ¡°You, the dirty cleaner! You mopped this floor, didn¡¯t you? Get over here! Letitia lifted her head. ¡°Are you talking to me?¡± ¡°Yes! Get on your knees and dry the floor!¡± Letitia frowned. Seeing no response from her, Raizel got more pissed. ¡°Are you deaf or what? If I had fallen just now, I would have made you pay through the nose!¡± Letitia replied, ¡°First off, you would need to speak human for me to understand. ¡°What the fuck?¡± ¡°And there¡¯s a ¡®Wet Floor sign right there, Letitia pointed out. ¡°Can¡¯t you read?¡± Raizel couldn¡¯t believe that even a lowly cleaner was giving her lip! ¡°You¡¯re ming me? How dare you! I¡¯m firing you right now! Letitia shot back, ¡°You¡¯re firing me? Who the heck are you? Raizel answered with pride, ¡°I¡¯m Elgin¡¯s fiancee, Raizel!¡± ¡°I¡¯m Elgin¡¯s wife, though. So what?¡± But Letitia kept that thought to herself. Raizel was here for a catfight! If Letitia revealed her identity, Raizel would tear her to shreds. She couldn¡¯t afford to cross this spoiled rich girl. ¡°Hey!¡± Raizel barked, ¡°You lowly cleaner, you know who I am now, right? Cat got your tongue?¡± ¡°Oh, if my memory serves me right, Mr. Ramirez announced his marriage this morning, and the bride didn¡¯t seem to be any Ms. Morris, Letitia said with a slight smile ¡°So, you¡¯re nothing That hit Raizel where it hurt. ¡°The news is fake. Elgin will never marry someone else! Our engagement was set by Mr. Marcel himself when he was alive!¡± That exined everything. No wonder Raizel was so confident. ¡°Keep it up.¡± Letitia suddenly patted her shoulder. ¡°Hope you can reim what¡¯s yours soon. I¡¯m rooting for you! The seat of Mrs. Ramirez was too overwhelming for her to bear. If Raizel could take it, she would be more than happy? ¡°Hub? Raizel was bewildered by her reaction, staring at her strangely. ¡°You¡¯re supporting me?¡± im super duper ultra. Before Letitia could finish Raizel joyfully waved behind her. ¡°Oh, dear Eigen Elgin had appeared out of nowhere. Letitia stiffened and slowly turned around. She felt slightly guilty and mostly scared. Elgin must have heard what she said, and crossing him would be dire Elgin¡¯s presence alonemanded respect, his face a picture of displeasure. ¡°Dear Elgin, this cleaner has nearly made me fall and was sassing me. You¡¯ve gotta teach her a lesson! Letitia looked down, biting her lip nervously. ¡°What do you want her to do? Elgin asked. ¡°Make her kneel and clean my shoes and the floor.¡± Elgin turned to Letitia. ¡°Did you hear that?¡± ¡°Did you hear it? Hurry up! Raizel was on a power trip. In front of Elgin, she had no right to say no. ¡°Okay, Letitiaplied. She grabbed a clean cloth, knelt on the floor, and carefully cleaned Raizel¡¯s shoes, her reflection in the floor tiles showing her humiliated state. Raizelughed with satisfaction. Watching Letitia¡¯s bowed back, Elgin snorted coldly, fury building within him. So many women wanted to be Mrs. Ramirez, and how did she have the nerve to act like it was a burden? Even if the felt that way, she had no choice but to suck it up! Elgin walked past her, deliberately stepping on her cleaning cloth, and pressing down on her fingertips: Letitia didn¡¯t withdraw her hand, hoping this would appease his anger. ¡°Dear Elgin, is it true that you¡¯re married? Raizel followed him like a puppy. ¡°But, you promised Mr. Marcel you would marry me¡­ Phedra had pushed Elgin¡¯s father to make this deal because she was tight with Raizel. And just the previous night, Phedra had had attempted to pull strings to get Raizel into his bed and failed! Elgin felt nothing for her. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve promised my dad. Elgin didn¡¯t bother to exin, ¡°You can go argue with him.¡± N?velDrama.Org ? content. Raizel was speechless. That was as good as telling her to drop dead! ¡°And you have no right to boss my employees around.¡± Raizel was livid. In Elgin¡¯s heart, she was worth less than the cleaner she had just scored The executive elevator doors closed, leaving Raizel on the outside It was quitting time. A downpour had started outside, making Letitia¡¯s job even harder. She finished cleaning and was too tired to stand straight. Elgin, ever the scene-maker, had Ranen holding an umbre for him and the driver holding his car door open He and she were never from the same world. He nced at Letitia and muttered something to Raner. ¡°Mrs Ramirez, Mr Ramirez. Ranen approached and cleared his throat. Mr. Ramirez says you should walk home ith a half hour drive The rain was heavy, and Letitia had no umbre She would catch a cold or women walked back like the ¡°Okay, she nodded. Seeing Letitia¡¯s indifferent response, Ranen couldn¡¯t help but add, ¡°I think you could show a little weakness, and you can try to plead with Mr. Ramirez.¡± She said nothing and smiled. Constantly bowing and scraping wouldn¡¯t earn her any of Elgin¡¯s pity. He just wanted to see her suffer more. Letitia popped her canvas bag over her head and dashed into the pouring rain. Elgin stood on the balcony of Ivory Towers, watching Letitia in the heavy downpour. Her wet clothes clung to her skin, outlining her killer curves and delicate figure, with hints of her underwear peeking through. His eyes darkened. Was this woman doing this on purpose? The more he watched, the angrier he got. Elgin grabbed his coat and headed downstairs. At the entrance, just as Letitia made it under the shelter, Phedra walked out. They bumped into each other head-on. ¡°Whoa there, I nearly fell apart like a bag of bones!¡± Phedra red at her. ¡°You must be new! So clumsy!¡± ¡°Sorry¡± After apologizing, Letitia was about to leave, but Phedra stopped her, looking her up and down. ¡°Butler, what are you up to by hiring such a young and pretty temptress to stay at Ivory Towers? Or did Elgin put you up to this?¡± ¡°Lady Phedra, this is Mrs. Ramirez, the butler reminded her, ¡°thedy of Ivory Towers.¡± Phedra¡¯s expression instantly changed. ¡°It¡¯s you? So you were the one who scooped up the jackpot that night!¡± She had gone to great lengths to find an opportunity, slipping something into Elgin¡¯s drink to get Raizel into his bed, but it all ended up paving the way for this woman right here! Letitia didn¡¯t understand. ¡°What? Scooped up the jackpot?¡± Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Realizing she¡¯d put her foot in it, Phedra quickly pped a hand over her mouth ¡°Never mind. Now that you¡¯ve married into the Ramirez family, you must y by the rules. Look at yourself. What a mess!¡± Letitia raised her hand to cover up. ¡°I¡¯ll go change right now¡± ¡°What an embarrassment. I can¡¯t figure out what Elgin sees in you. Any darling daughter from AquaCity would be a step. up from you¡­¡± Phedra said with disdain when suddenly a grey suit jacket was draped over Letitia¡¯s shoulders. A wave of warmth enveloped her, carrying a familiar scent. ¡°No matter what, she¡¯s not embarrassing you,¡± Elgin pulled her into his arms. ¡°Phedra, you¡¯re sticking your nose too far into this Letitia instinctively tried to pull away, worried about getting him wet or dirty. But Elgin held on firmly, making her more anxious. What was wrong with him? She was the one who got drenched, not him. Was he out of his mind? Seeing him, Phedra quickly put on a smile. ¡°Elgin, I was just setting some boundaries for my daughter- inw.¡± ¡°My rules are the only rules. Letitia doesn¡¯t need to follow yours!¡± Phedra¡¯s smile froze on her face, and Letitia was even more stiff. Did she hear that right? Was Elgin sticking up for her? And Elgin, holding her tenderly, headed towards the vi. Butler, show the guest out.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Ramirez Letitia was ufortable, not daring to move. ¡°Was that your mother?¡± ¡°Just a stepmother¡± ¡°Oh¡­ Letitia replied, ¡°You spoke up for me just now, and she must feel offended.¡± Elgin answered indifferently. So what?¡± He could not care less ¡°She¡¯s got no right to bully you.¡± Elgin¡¯s lips barely moved. ¡°In all the world, I¡¯m the only one who gets to bully you.¡± Letitia¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Even the right to insult her was his alone but no one else¡¯s. ¡°Did you apologize to Phedra just now? is that so? Letitia looked down. Yep ¡°p yourself.¡± She met his gaze, puzzled about what she had said wrong. Was it because she had apologized to Phedra? Elgin didn¡¯t bother to exin but just arched an eyebrow indifferently. His word wasw. With a ¡°smack,¡± Letitia bit her lip and pped herself hard. It had to be loud and forceful, and her cheek needed to show a red mark to satisfy Elgin.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Otherwise, there would be a second p, a third¡­ until he was pleased. ¡®Not bad. You¡¯re getting the hang of it, Elgin pointed to the thermos on the coffee table. ¡°Go on. Open it¡± Letitia did as told. The aroma wafted out when she lifted the lid, tantalizing her appetite. ¡®This is. Soup from Phedra.¡± 1 st jemembered her mother also made her soup, but she could never taste her mother¡¯s cooking again. The chances of waking from a vegetative state were slim to none Suddenly, 12tiba wanted to cry but dared not, blinking rapidly to push back the tears Elgin, lounging with legs crossed chin up ¡°Letitia, eat the soup¡± Huh? He wanted her to eat it? ¡°It doesn¡¯t seemy night Letitia said. Phedra brought this for you ¡°Just eat it Figuns tone grew impatient Trom now on you¡¯ll eat all the soups she brings me¡± He even picked up the spoon, scooped up some soup and brought it to her lips. I can do it myself Open your mouth¡± Letitia had no choice but to open her mouth A gint of something unreadable flickered in Elgin¡¯s eyes. If a man ate this soup, his fertility would get weakened making it hard to get a woman pregnant. He might just let Letitia have it. She was a woman and the soup wouldn¡¯t affect her And even if it did so what? He couldn¡¯t care less about her life or death Unaware. Letitia was d because she was hungry ¡°Sign This Elgin tossed her an agreement while she was having the soup She looked closely It was a divorce agreement They had just got mamed but he already wanted a divorce What was Elgin plotting? ¡°We¡¯ll get a divorce in three months, and you¡¯ll leave with nothing. Elgin rested his forehead on his hand. During these three months, behave as Mrs Ramirez should¡± m believed he could find the woman he had slept with that night in three months. By then, Lebilia¡¯s presence would be meaningless, because he would marry that woman. That night, all her beauty had him unconsciously yearning ¡°Fine, as you wish, Letitia agreed. ¡°But I have a condition¡± Elgin scoffed, ¡°What makes you think you have the right to bargain with me? You want me to let your mother go ¡°No¡± She wanted to reinvestigate Marcel¡¯s death. It was Elgins untouchable sore spot and anyone who dared to uncover it was asking for trouble! Of course, Letitia knew his temper, but she had no choice She cautiously began ¡°Have you ever considered, maybe your father¡¯s death wasn¡¯t what it seemed?¡± As expected, Elgin¡¯s face darkened quickly like storm clouds gathering He kicked over the coffee table, soup spilling everywhere Letitia, how dare you bring this up To my face? Do you want to die? Was Letitia scared? Absolutely. Still, Letitia pressed on, ¡°My dad was an experienced ER doctor, and he couldn¡¯t have been so careless as to use the wrong medication. Ah Before she could finish, Elgin¡¯s hand was at her throat. ¡°Say it one more time I dare you!¡± Aur from her lungs grew thin. Letitia was gasping and looking up at his handsome face. Veins en Elgiris ferhead bulged, his grip tightening ¡°Your father is unforgivable, Letitia, and you dare try to clear your father¡¯s name? Nice try! I¡¯ll make sure the Sanders family lives a life worse than death!¡± ¡®I just believe in my dad¡­¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Elgin snapped viciously, ¡°The evidence is solid. Your father has confessed and gone to prison. What more is there to say?¡± ¡°He was made to confess cough cough cough¡­¡± Letitia¡¯s vision started to blur, suffocation imminent. She thought it might be good to die like this. Instead, it would be a release. Life was too exhausting But Elgin let her go. ¡°You¡¯re not getting off that easy,¡± he was like a demon. ¡°I¡¯m keeping you around to torment day after day.¡± Letitia plopped down on the ground, tears slipping down her face without realizing it. It seemed digging into the truth behind Marcel¡¯s death was a solo mission. Letitia didn¡¯t have time to grieve. She wiped away her tears, picked herself up, and followed Elgin to the master bedroom with her head down. ¡°I¡¯m cool with crashing on the floor,¡± she said, knowing her ce. Elgin ignored her, puffing on a cigarette by the window. Letitia made her bed on the floor and curled up, closing her eyes. She didn¡¯t see it as roughing it. Sleeping there was a hundred times better than any ward in the mental hospital. Elgin finished with his smoke and turned around to find Letitia sleeping like a baby. The moonlight kissed her cheeks, making her fair skin glow, her longshes casting shadows, and her lips looking red and juicy It was almost too tempting to kiss her. Elgin quickly looked away and headed to the bathroom for a long and cold shower to cool off. He couldn¡¯t believe he was catching feelings for Letitia! Damn it! Elgin dropped the shower head with a bang and strode back into the bedroom to scoop Letitia up from the floor in one swift move! Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Letitia jolted awake from her dream. Blinking sleepily, she gazed at Elgin and mumbled, ¡°What¡¯s¡­ what¡¯s going on?¡± She couldn¡¯t remembe: she had done anything. Did she identally wake him by talking in her sleep, or did she go sleepwalking? Elgin¡¯s face was getting darker by the second, and Letitia shrank back. ¡°I told you I shouldn¡¯t be crashing here. Sorry, I¡¯m leaving right away¡± She quickly bent down, scooped up her pillow and nket, and made a beeline for the door Little did she know that her tousled hair and just-woke-up vibe were irresistible allure to him Before she could get far, Elgin yanked her into his embrace. ¡°Are you ying the seductress all day to reel me in? Fine, I¡¯ll y along!¡± ¡°I mph¡­¡± Elgin¡¯s lips came crashing down Letitia was scared silly with her mouth unwittingly agape.. He sneered, ¡°Oh are you that much eager, huh?¡± It snapped Letitia back to reality, and she tried to mp her lips shut. But Elgin pinched her chin so hard it made her wince, which seemed like an invitation to his kiss. How could she be kissing Elgin? They were enemies! ¡°I wouldn¡¯t touch you even if you stripped naked in front of me,¡± Elgin said icily, biting her lip so hard that it bled. ¡°Letitia, you¡¯re nothing but a toy to me. You disgust me!¡± The blood trickled down,nding on the back of her hand. Letitia didn¡¯t understand his rage. All she could do was stand there with her head down, devoid of the right to resist Elgin looked at her and felt even more irritated. ¡°Get the hell out.¡± After a few steps, she heard Elginmand, ¡°Don¡¯t wander far!¡± Property ? N?velDrama.Org. As a result, Letitia slept right outside his bedroom door that night. She didn¡¯t dare sleep deeply, fearing she might tick Elgin off again, so she spent the night in a half- awake daze until dawn. At around eight, Letitia heard footsteps inside. She immediately got up and stood at attention. The door opened, and Elgin nced at her. ¡°Morning, uh¡­ Mr. Ramirez,¡± she quickly greeted Seeing her looking as fresh as a daisy pissed him off even more because he didn¡¯t catch a winkst night! His voice was ice-cold. ¡°A lowlife has a lowlife¡¯s fate, suited only for sleeping by the door¡± Letitia ventured. ¡°So I¡¯ll just bunk here from now on?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± She breathed a sigh of relief. In her mind, sleeping outside was way better than under Elgin¡¯s bed! Seeing her rxed expression made Elgin¡¯s blood boil even more fiercely Come to the office with me, he ordered, ¡°Don¡¯t even think about cking off at home!¡± ¡°Understood After breakfast, Elgin got into his Rolls-Royce and zoomed off. Letitia, on the other hand, walked to the Ramirez Group. By the time she arrived, it was past ten in the morning. The CEO¡¯s office was bustling but eerily quiet, strangely quiet. ¡°Ranen,¡± Letitia whispered, ¡°Is there anything I can help with?¡± Elgin would blow his top if he found out she was loafing around. She thought it was better to find some work to do. In the wholepany, only Ranen knew she was Mrs. Ramirez ¡°Uh¡­ Mr. Ramirez hasn¡¯t given any orders yet, Ranen said, ncing toward the office, ¡°He¡¯s like a bear with a sore head today and has already sent three directors packing. I think he didn¡¯t sleep well. Or, maybe you could get him a ck coffee¡± ¡°Alright.¡± After a while, Letitia grabbed the coffee, sparking an idea. She decided to purchase some herbal medicines and make some scented candles to aid his sleep. Then Letitia returned to the CEO¡¯s office. She knocked, and Elgin¡¯s irritable voice barked, ¡°Come in!¡± Inside, twopany execs were getting an earful, looking like they¡¯d been chewed up and spat out. On the floory the wreckage of a shattered mug. ¡°It¡¯s been two weeks, and this is the marketing n you¡¯vee up with?¡± Elgin tossed the report, the papers fluttering down. ¡°I¡¯ll give you another five days. If you can¡¯t cut it, quit!¡± ¡°Yes.. uh, Mr. Ramirez.¡± Elgin leaned back in his chair, massaging his temples with a heavy sigh. Getting more worked up by the minute, he swept everything off his desk in one go. Letitia had just gathered the broken pieces when a hefty folder came crashing down,nding on her hand and leaving her palm sliced open immediately. ¡°Ouch¡­¡± Hearing her, Elgin paused, remembering Letitia had juste in. He stood up, only then noticing her crouching on the floor. Letitia hid her injured hand behind her. ¡°I brought you coffee,¡± she said. Elgin frowned. Letitia pulled out a scented candle from her pocket ¡°And¡­ this.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± He examined it with disdain. ¡°Smelly as sin.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a scented candle I got for you to sleep better, Letitia exined, ¡°Keep it on your night table, and it might give your sweet dreams.¡± Elgin chucked it straight into the trash. ¡°Superfluous.¡± In his view, Letitia was mocking him for his insomnia. She was messing with his head, which was not a good sign. Letitia sighed inwardly, ¡°Too bad.¡± Her dad had told her how to improve her sleep with scented candles, which would work wonders She hoped Elgin would get some decent sleep so his mood might improve and stop everyone from walking on eggshells. ¡°You could give it a shot, she mustered the courage to continue, ¡°for your sleep. ¡°Get out! He didn¡¯t appreciate her good intentions at all After Letitia left, Elgin¡¯s gaze lingered on the few blood drops on the floor She was hurt His eyes then drifted to the discarded scented candle in the trash can A few secondster, Elgin picked up the phone. ¡°Have you found out who that woman was that night?¡± ¡°We¡¯re on it. ¡°Idiots! Speed it up!¡± he barked. ¡°Find her at any cost!¡± ¡°Yes, yes, Mr. Ramirez We¡¯ve narrowed down the suspects We¡¯re venfying and investigating!¡± Elgin mmed down the phone He had to find that woman fast or keeping Letitia around was asking for trouble! She was a siren, a natural at luring men in! Letitia clenched her injured palm and didn¡¯t reveal the wound unless she was alone The cut had stopped bleeding but needed cleaning and medicine, or it would get infected. But she was out of cash to buy any medicine She had spent all her cash on a scented candle, and Elgin just tossed it aside without a care. She must figure out a way to rake in some dough Letitia decided to hunt for some temp work nearby, which beat being a spare wheel at the Ramirez Group and getting in Elgin¡¯s hair And if Elgin came looking for her, she could book it back in a sh. Mind made up, Letitia hit the ground running Bingo! The restaurant across the street was hiring dishwashers paid by the hour She went to the front desk. ¡°Excuse me, I was wondering if you still need dishwashers¡­ Before she could finish, two voices piped up at the same time. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the cleaningdy?¡± ¡°Oh, look! Isn¡¯t that the high and mighty Mrs. Ramirez!¡± Chapter 7 Chapter 7 It was indeed a small world when enemies crossed paths. Letitia nced sideways and found Phedra and Raizel sitting by the window and staring her down in unison. She instantly made for the door, knowing it wasn¡¯t the ce to stick around. But Raizel wasn¡¯t about to let her off the hook that easily! ¡°Hey! You dirty cleaner, hold up! Raizel marched over and yanked Letitia to Phedra ¡°Phedra, what did you just call her? ¡°Mrs. Ramirez, duh!¡± ¡°What? She she¡¯s Elgin¡¯s newlywed wife?¡± Phedra nodded in confirmation Yep I saw her myself when I dropped off soup for Elgin at Ivory Towers No mistake about it!¡± Elgin had her back then, leaving Phedra with a taste of her own medicine Phedra, being small-minded, still held a grudge, plotting to get even someday! ¡°Aah!¡± Raizel shrieked, nearly blowing the roof off. It means she¡¯s that bitch? ¡°But Raizel, why did you call her a cleaner?¡± ¡°Because I saw her mopping floors at the Ramirez Group. Phedra was skeptical. ¡°For real?¡± Raizel recounted the whole thing, adding, ¡°And Elgin didn¡¯t lift a finger to help her! Things were looking grim for Letitia then. Keeping her cool, she shrugged off Raizel¡¯s hand. ¡°You¡¯ve got the wrong person. ¡°Impossible¡¯ It was you! Raizel insisted, ¡°I saw you down on your knees and shining shoes clear as day!¡± ¡°Ms Morris, maybe you should check your eyes at the hospital.¡± With that, Letitia attempted to leave Phedra blocked her way this time. ¡°Fine, let¡¯s say Raizel made a mistake. But I¡¯m your mother-inw, right? You can¡¯t even say hello when you see me?¡± ¡°Phedra, I didn¡¯t recognize.. Phedra shot her a knowing look. As a seasoned schemer, Phedra had quickly sized up the situation. It couldn¡¯t be more evident that this Mrs. Ramirez was not the favored one. Or why would she be shining Raizel¡¯s shoes without Elgin backing her up? Since Phedra married into the Ramirez family, Elgin had never liked her and always been at odds with her. So what she saw was probably a show staged for her by Elgin! ¡°Now that you¡¯re here, Phedra dragged Letitia to sit beside her, ¡°spend some time with us.¡± ¡°I have other matters to attend to, Phedra.¡± ¡°What did you call me?¡± Letitia replied, ¡°Mr Ra.. my husband calls you that way, too.¡± She hadn¡¯t forgotten Elgin had made her p herself for apologizing to Phedra. It was evident that Elgin couldn¡¯t stand his stepmother ¡°Getting all high and mighty now, aren¡¯t you?¡± Phedra spat venomously, ¡°Who the hell do you think you are? actly you¡¯re not allowed to call Elgin husband¡¯ Caleface turned stone cold. I say it one more time I¡¯m leaving. Or I will call the cops.¡± Back in the mental hospital she had to make herself lock tough to avoid getting bullied. The same tactic worked wonders on Phedra and Ralzell Letitia didn¡¯t look back as she walked out. But to her surprise, as she reached the curb, Phedra had chased after her With Raizel¡¯s help, she grabbed Letitia¡¯s arms and dragged her toward a car ¡°Let go!¡± she yelled to passersby, ¡°Help! Help me!¡± Phedra smirked. ¡°She¡¯s my daughter-inw and had fought with my son. I¡¯m taking her home¡­¡± Hearing it, onlookers turned away, not wanting to get involved. Letitia was no match for the strength of two and was hauled into the car ¡°Now, see how tough and arrogant you can bel Phedra pinched her hard. ¡°I¡¯m gonna teach you a lesson today!¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± Letitia retorted, ¡°Elgin won¡¯t let you get away with this! With a smug expression, Raizel retorted, ¡°Would Elgin offend the Morris family for a lowly cleaner like you?¡± ¡°In your dreams! Phedra cut in, reinforcing Raizel¡¯s words. The car sped off. After the meeting, Elgin nced at his watch in the conference room of the Ramirez Group. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, your lunch is ready, Ranen informed him. He nodded, then something else popped into his head. ¡°Where¡¯s she?¡± ¡°Mrs. Ramirez¡­ um¡­ I¡¯ll get in touch now.¡± Ranen was known for being kind-hearted at thepany, and since Letitia was his boss¡¯ wife in name, he wouldn¡¯t target her as long as Mr. Ramirez didn¡¯t instruct otherwise. He let her be. Elgin waved him off, ¡°Don¡¯t bother.¡± Why should he look for her? It would only show that he missed her. Even if he did miss her, he was to torment her! ¡°Yes, Mr. Ramirez, Ranenplied outwardly but quickly went to find Letitia. After all, the wholepany would tremble if Mr. Ramirez got angry. Ranen searched everywhere but found no trace of Letitia. After checking the surveince, he realized Letitia had left thepany three hours ago. He braced himself to report back, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, your wife she.¡± ¡°Hmm? ¡°She¡¯s gone. Was she gone again? Elgin continued his lunch calmly. ¡°She wouldn¡¯t dare run.¡± She would only consider running away if she was ready to lose her legs or put her parents in danger ¡°But she¡¯s been out of contact for three hours now.¡± Ranen said. Elgin¡¯s fork paused mid-air as he thought, ¡°What game was she ying?¡± Finding Letitia was a piece of cake for Elgin Soon enough, he received an email with a photo of Phedra and Raizel dragging Letitia away. Aer of his mouth curled slightly. Good, someone was asking for it! Sigle took a lelourely sip of water ¡°Get the car ¡°Yes, Mr. Ramirez.¡± In the suburbs, the Morris family owned a vacation vi, As the car door opened, Letitia tumbled out with her hands bound behind. ¡°Ha. She¡¯s like a dog. Raizel gloated, watching her, ¡°Tell me, should I start by shing your left cheek or right?¡± Letitia gazed at the slim and sharp knife. ¡°Raizel, I get it. You¡¯ve got the Morris family backing you up, and you know Elgin can¡¯t care less about me. But did you ever stop to think of one thing? I¡¯m Elgin¡¯s woman, and he hates it when his things get messed up!¡± Elgin¡¯s possessive and controlling nature was legendary in AquaCity. For the things he hated, he would trash them with his hands! And he would punish the people harshly if they dared to nce at the things he liked! Raizel hesitated for a moment. ¡°Come on. Don¡¯t let this cunning woman spook you,¡± Phedra egged on relentlessly, ¡°Once her face got disfigured, Elgin would be grossed out when seeing her and kick her to the curb. Then, it¡¯s your time to shine!¡± Raizel nodded Right Only I can marry Elgin. I won¡¯t let any other chick get in the way!¡± Suddenly, Letitia burst into roaringughter. N?velDrama.Org ? content. ¡°What what¡¯s so funny?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a fool, and that¡¯s what! Letitia shot back, ¡°Phedra¡¯s using you as a pawn! You¡¯re doing all the dirty work while she keeps her hands clean, totally out of the line of fire!¡± Phedra snapped, ¡°Shut your damn mouth!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve hit a nerve, haven¡¯t I? Letitia¡¯s only way out was to drive a wedge between them to buy time. Elgin¡¯s grip on her was iron-tight. After all this time, he must have noticed she was gone! She just had to hold out until the moment he came for her! Chapter 8 Chapter 8 ¡°Yeah, Phedra, we both did it,¡± Raizel said, ¡°You can¡¯t just stand there and watch the show.¡± ¡°Come on, Raizel. I¡¯m no spring chicken anymore¡­¡± Letitia immediately cut her off, ¡°Look at that. Phedra doesn¡¯t even want to lift a finger!¡± While saying this, she secretly tried to wriggle out of the ropes. Raizel thought Letitia had a point and handed a knife to Phedra. ¡°Alright. You sh the left side, and I¡¯ll handle the right.¡± ¡°Deal.¡± Phedra agreed, ¡°You start cutting, I¡¯ll hold her down so she doesn¡¯t squirm!¡± ¡°Got it.¡± The two were in perfect cahoots. Letitia¡¯s wrists were turning red, and the ropes showed no sign of loosening. Phedra came over to pin her head down. ¡°Don¡¯t y tricks, and it¡¯ll hurt less. This knife isn¡¯t picky! Come on, Raizel, do it!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got so smooth skin. No wonder you could charm Elgin. I¡¯ll sh it up good today!¡± Raizel approached with a wicked grin. The knife drew closer and closer until it pressed against Letitia¡¯s cheek, its icy chill sending shivers. ¡°Just a little pressure, and there goes your beauty¡­¡± Letitia swallowed hard with anxiety. ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re not afraid of Elgin?¡± ¡°With the Morris family backing me, he won¡¯t hurt me.¡± As Raizel was about to cut Letitia¡¯s face, a deep and authoritative voice echoed from afar at that critical moment, ¡°Stop right there!¡± That voice sounded familiar! Letitia¡¯s spirits lifted, and she shouted with all her might, ¡°Elgin, save me!¡± The screech of tires on pavement sounded, and before the car had stopped, Elgin was already out and on the move He came striding over, his suit tails pping, his face filled with fury. ¡°The Morris family? What are they?¡± Elgin¡¯s thin lips curled. ¡°Tomorrow, I can make the whole Morris family vanish from AquaCity!¡± ¡°Dear Elgin¡­ Ah!¡± Elgin kicked Raizel aside without a nce. He went straight to Letitia and scooped her up. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± She shook her head. ¡°No, that was close, though.¡± ¡°Why did you run off?¡± Elgin asked, ¡°Can¡¯t you just stay at the Ramirez Group?¡± ¡°¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t say she was looking for a job when she ran into Phedra and Raizel. Letitia chose to remain silent. ¡°Elgin, why, why are you here?¡± Phedra tried to smile. ¡°I was just having a bit of fun with my daughter- inw.¡± Eigin¡¯s eyebrow lifted. ¡°Having a bit of fun?¡± ¡°Yeah He picked up the knife from the ground and threw it at Phedra¡¯s feet. ¡°Now, carve up your face for fun. ¡®What¡¯ ¡°Dear Elgin!¡± Raizel stamped her foot. ¡°Why do you always take her side?¡± ¡°Because she¡¯s my wife!¡± Elgin¡¯s gaze was colder than any de. ¡°Should I defend you instead?¡± Raizel looked at Letitia with envy all over her face. But Letitia had a bitter truth she couldn¡¯t voice. Elgin was so livid because he was the only person who could bully and humiliate her. Even if he hated and tormented her, he would never let anyone elsey a finger on her. It had to be him personally. Elgin¡¯s sweet nothings were just that. It was all empty words she neither took to heart nor dared to believe. When she was lost in thought, Elgin had swept her off her feet, and Letitia gasped, instinctively wrapping her arms. around his neck Realizing the intimacy of the gesture, she quickly let go. ¡°You should be thankful that she¡¯s not hurt, Elgin said expressionlessly and indifferently, ¡°Raizel, I¡¯ll discipline you on behalf of the Morris family! Go home to repent your sins. You¡¯ll be grounded for a month! No stepping outside!¡± ¡°Phedral¡± He barked her name, ¡°You can forget about your allowance for the year!¡± To Phedra, this was a punishment worse than hell. Having married Marcel and lived a life of luxury, she still received a hefty monthly allowance from the family fund even after his death. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Elgin cutting her off from one year¡¯s money was cruel. She was used to livingrge, and how was she supposed to survive without the money? ¡°No way! That¡¯s my money from your dad.¡± ¡°Two years! ¡°Elgin, you¡­ you¡­¡± Three years! You¡¯re cut off for three years!¡± When Elgin said something, he meant it. Phedra and Raizel were really in for it at this time. At Ivory Towers, the butler saw Letitia¡¯s disheveled appearance, ¡°Mrs. Ramirez, are you¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m alright, really. It looks worse than it actually is, but I promise I¡¯m not hurt.¡± Elgin sat on the sofa, loosening his tie. ¡°Not hurt? What¡¯s that on your palm then?¡± Letitia was stunned. It turned out that he had noticed all along. H ¡°What else are you good for besides causing me trouble? Elgin¡¯s gaze bore down on her ¡°I had to punish Phedra and Raizel because of you. Feeling proud, aren¡¯t you?¡± She quickly waved her hands. ¡°I didn¡¯t think that. He scoffed, ¡°Letitia, no one gets to touch your face. If it¡¯s to get cut, it¡¯ll be by me!¡± Elgin¡¯s eyes drifted to the fruit knife on the coffee table. Letitia shrank back a little. ¡°What are you spacing out for? Can¡¯t you take a hint?¡± She had no choice but to hand him the knife with both hands, her voice low, ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything wrong today.¡± Running off was your mistake. Letitbit her lip, eyes cast down. In her world, his word wasw Letda had the cold de pressed against her cheek once again ¡°Lett, see, once you leave my side there are so many people out to get you, Elgin tapped fier face gently with the ti of the knife. But with me, I¡¯m the only one who gets to torment you.¡± She kept her eyes tightly closed, not knowing when Elgin might strike. Perhaps because she¡¯d held back for too long or she would get disfigurement either way, Letitia talked back, ¡°If anyone else bullies me, I can resist and fight back. But I can¡¯t fight back against you!¡± ¡°Because you owe me!¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t owe you, nor does the Sanders family! Letitia screamed silently in her heart. The knife pressed down bit by bit. With a little more force, it would cut through the skin. ¡°Ding Thendline next to me started blowing up all of a sudden. Elgin picked up the receiver ¡°Grandpa.¡± ¡°Get your butt over to the Ramirez Mansion as fast as you can!¡± Hawley Ramirez bellowed over the line, ¡°I mean right. now, this instant!¡± ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°And bring your blushing bride with you!¡± Hawley hung up. Elgin shot Letitia a knowing look. She was all deer-in-the-headlights but trying her best to y it cool. It was pretty amusing. ¡°Consider yourself lucky Elgin teased her chin up with the tip of his knife. ¡°Your pretty face? Let¡¯s keep it intact for now. I don¡¯t want to scare Grandpa with the blood. Grandpa? ¡°Clean yourself up and go to the Ramirez Mansion with me.¡± Elgin sat back, legs crossed. ¡°You¡¯ve got five minutes.¡± Letitia scrambled to her feet, dressed up, and did her hair as fast as lightning. They arrived at the Ramirez Mansion. Compared to the luxury and grandness of Ivory Towers, the Ramirez Mansion was all about the stately courtyard style with rolling hills, water features, and an old-world charm. No sooner had they stepped into the living room than Phedra pointed at Letitia and screeched, ¡°That¡¯s right, Hawley. She¡¯s here! She¡¯s Dr. Sanders¡¯ daughter! Can you believe it? Elgin has tied the knot with her!¡± Chapter 9 Chapter 9 In a sh, everyone¡¯s faces in the room changed. ¡°Elgin, you¡¯re the ultimate disappointment!¡± Hawley was shaking with anger, ¡°Her father killed your dad, and you, you still¡­¡± Phedra quickly tried to calm things down. ¡°Hawley, cool your jets. Take care. Gosh. I spilled the beans to you right after | heard about it to brainstorm what to do about this mess.¡± ¡°Divorce! It¡¯s gotta happen ASAP! ¡°Elgin, don¡¯t get me wrong. Phedra said with mock sincerity, ¡°you getting hitched is a big deal, but you didn¡¯t even tell us. How could you bring the enemy¡¯s daughter into the family?¡± Elgin had cut off Phedra¡¯s three years¡¯ worth of living expenses. How could she swallow that pill? Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Since she couldn¡¯t get to Elgin, she took it out on Letitia by hiring a gumshoe to dig up dirt. Unexpectedly, they had dug up a bombshell about Letitia¡¯s secret identity! Without hesitation, Phedra ratted out to Hawley, piling on the pressure on Elgin. She wanted toy it on thicker, but Elgin¡¯s fierce re shut her up, though her face screamed ¡®not fair¡¯. ¡°Yep. She¡¯s Dr. Sanders¡¯ daughter,¡± Elgin replied, ¡°But how can we punish the next generation for the sins of their forebears?¡± Letitia gave him a surprised look. This guy was such a smooth talker, but he had got a bone to pick with her! Hawley banged his cane hard. ¡°You must be out of your mind! Elgin, don¡¯t forget you¡¯re engaged, and it was your dad¡¯s arrangement!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll only marry the one I like.¡± ¡°You¡­ Hawley clutched his heart, nearly gasping for air. Letitia stood by Elgin from start to finish. She was nothing but a prop who could not speak unless Elgin signaled her to. She was also clueless about why Elgin wanted to marry her. That was what Letitia thought, and before she knew it, she had blurted out, ¡°Why don¡¯t you marry Raizel?¡± As soon as the words came out of her mouth, she regretted it. Wasn¡¯t this asking for trouble? ¡°Did you suddenly go deaf? I said, I¡¯ll marry who I like.¡± ¡°Oh, you¡­ you like me?¡± Could she take it that way? After tormenting her for two years, did he have feelings for her? Elgin¡¯s lips curled coldly. ¡°Letitia, you think too highly of yourself!¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll fall for me.¡± Letitia looked down, fiddling with her fingers. ¡°Two people might fall for each other after spending much time together¡­¡± ¡°Huh, Elgin lifted his chin. ¡°You think I¡¯d want you? Dream on!¡± Even if she were thest woman on Earth and stripped down before him, he wouldn¡¯t give her a second nce! Letitia¡¯s head dropped even lower. She seemed to be dying of shame, but a sly twinkle shed in her eyes. Letitia had deliberately provoked Elgin to ensure he wouldn¡¯t want to touch her in the future! She would be safe that way. Going head-to-head with Elgin meant certain doom, and she had to y it smart. ¡°Grandpa Elgin¡¯s voice was low and forceful Tcan handle my business, and you just enjoy your golden years. Be it the. Ramirez family or the Ramirez Group, they¡¯ll thave in my hands¡± ¡°So you¡¯re paying you won¡¯t divorce?¡± ¡°Whether I divorce or not, I call the shots!¡± ¡°You are the Siren!¡± Seeing Elgin¡¯s resolve, Hawley took out his frustration on Letitia. ¡°You killed my son, and now you¡¯ve cast a spell on my grandson. What debt did the Ramirez family owe you in a past life!¡± Phedra fanned the mes. ¡°Hawley, take it easy. Let¡¯s talk it out. No need to get physical¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll kill this seductress¡¯ Hawley raised his cane, swinging at Letitial If that hit, she¡¯d be bruised for days. Quick as a sh, Letitia screamed and ducked behind Elgin. ¡°Ah! Honey, save mel Elgin was at a loss for words, thinking she was a good actress. ¡°Honey, I¡¯m so scared. Her cheek pressed against his back. ¡°If I get hurt, you¡¯d be upset.¡± Hawley kept swinging his cane. ¡°Look, this is how she always bewitches Elgin!¡± Letitia kept using Elgin as a shield, and Hawley couldn¡¯tnd a hit after several tries. Finally, he just whacked Elgin on the back with the cane. You¡¯re so blinded by beauty! Utterly useless!¡± Elgin got hit, which was something Letitia didn¡¯t expect. She paled, feeling like she¡¯d gone too far. What now? She was screwed! Elgin gave her a cool look. ¡°You really went there, Letitia!¡± His cell phone suddenly rang and cut through the tension. Elgin nced at the caller ID and answered, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez, we found the woman who broke into your room that night!¡± ¡°Where?¡± AquaCity Psychiatric Institute!¡± Why there? It was the ce where Letitia had spent two years. Elgin gripped the phone, turning his gaze towards Letitia. His look was too sharp and fierce. Letitia turned her head, avoiding his scorching gaze Without further thought, Elgin strode outside, not forgetting to grab Letitia¡¯s wrist. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Behind them, a cacophony of crashes and Hawley¡¯s curses echoed. Elgin jumped in the car, and as Letitia was about to get in, he floored the elerator and zoomed off. Alright then. Letitia knew she wasn¡¯t worthy of a ride. She would have to walk again. The Ramirez Mansion was near the outskirts. There were not many cars around, especially when it waste at night. Letitia felt jittery. But soon, she spotted a ¡°business opportunity¡±, which was scavenging for scrap. It was a fancy neighborhood with garbage bins full of empty water bottles and cardboard boxes. Letitia thought she could collect the bottles and boxes to sell them at a recycling center for a decent sum! Letitia rolled up her sleeves and got to work. She kept picking up trash as she walked. When she approached Ivory Towers, she found a small recycling shop and made thirty-five bucks. She went home happy as a m, firiding Elgin still out. It was strange. Where could Elgin be? The roar of a sports car cut through the night, finally halting at the AquaCity Psychiatric Institute. ¡°Mr. Ramirez!¡± Elgin took long strides, hurrying along. ¡°Where¡¯s the guy?¡± ¡°In the director¡¯s office.¡± He kicked the door open and peered inside, eyes zing. A chubby guy in his fifties knelt on the floor, beaten ck and blue. The director, Mark Ward, stood by, scared out of his wits, with a young woman beside him, dolled up to the nines and reeking of tacky vibes ¡°Her?¡± Elgin asked coolly, ¡°You sure?¡± The woman from that night was soft and delicate, looking pretty and demure, and it was her first time. But the woman before him didn¡¯t quite match the one in his memory. Could there be a mix-up? It almost seemed Letitia¡¯s vibe was a better fit than this woman¡¯s. His subordinate replied, ¡°Yeah, Mr. Ramirez. She¡¯s the director¡¯s daughter, Sh Ward.¡± Chapter 10 Chapter 10 ¡°Where did you find her?¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez, here¡¯s the whole thing. This old goat got a crush on Ms. Ward at a dinner party and insisted she spend the night with him, or he¡¯d make the director¡¯s life a living hell. His underling replied, ¡°The director, left no choice, sent Ms. Ward over with a heavy heart. But Ms. Ward, defiant unto death, ran away and identally busted into your room in the chase Elgin narrowed his eyes slightly and stepped inside. At that moment the old guy on the floor blustered, Who the fuck are you? How dare you tie me up! Don¡¯t you know who I am? ¡°Oh?¡± Elgin raised an eyebrow. ¡°And who might you be?¡± ¡°Ever heard of the Ramirez family? The top dogs in AquaCity!¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± The old guy puffed up with pride. I¡¯m a cousin of the Ramirez family. Scared now, huh? Let me go!¡± ¡°Is that so? Elgin kicked him casually with his dress shoe. ¡°I¡¯m the CEO of the Ramirez Group. How come you¡¯re news to me? The old guys eyes bulged, disbelief etched on his face. ¡°How dare you swagger around with the Ramirez name like you own the ce? You¡¯re digging your grave!¡± With that, Elgin kicked hard, sending the old guy flying into the wall before he crumpled down, coughing up blood. He elegantly retracted his foot and asked slowly, ¡°Your name¡¯s Sh Ward?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± Sh was overwhelmed by his powerful presence, asking with awe and adoration, Mr. Ramirez, were you looking for me?¡± A guy like this was like finding a needle in a haystack! She had to figure out a way totch onto him! Elgin nodded slightly. ¡°Yeah I¡¯ve been looking for you since that night.¡± Sh looked confused for a moment. Howe a man of his wealth and power was looking for her? She had only seen Mr. Ramirez in the news and newspapers, never in person! Noting Sh¡¯s puzzled expression, Elgin asked, ¡°Don¡¯t remember?¡± ¡°Of course she does! Sh hadn¡¯t even spoken when Mark beside her cut in, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, my daughter¡¯s just overwhelmed. She never imagined you¡¯de looking for her!¡± Sh tugged at his sleeve. ¡°Dad, what¡­¡± ¡°Cut the act, Mark shouted, ¡°I know you ran that night, ended up with some stranger, and lost your virginity. You were too scared to speak up. But now, Mr. Ramirez is here to take responsibility for you!¡± Mark was no fool. He had pieced together the gist of the situation! Moreover, he hadn¡¯t sent his daughter Sh that night. It was Letitia! Letitia had run, not letting the old guy get his way, but when she returned the next day, she bore the marks of a man. After putting two and two together, Mark realized Letitia had been with Mr. Ramirez! Sh was quick on the uptake, catching her father¡¯s eye signals, and yed along. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s so shameful¡­ so I left without a word.¡± I said I¡¯d marry you.¡± Sh¡¯s eyes lit up. Staying by Elgin¡¯s side was a dreame true. Was be going to marry her? That was like winning the lottery! If she could marry into the Ramirez family, she wouldn¡¯t have to be an influencer making videos again. She¡¯d be a top-tier trophy wife. living the high life every day thought you were just talking off the top of your head, Sh started to spin her tale, ¡°After all, even my dad could send me to that old man¡¯s bed. Who can I trust¡­¡± As she spoke she squeezed out a couple of tears, sobbing. Mark joined in the pity party Sh. I had no choice. Knowing you had escaped was the best news. I thought I had to protect you no matter what i cant let you get bullied!¡± The father-daughter act was pitch-perfect. always keep my word.¡± Elgin said, lips pursed, ¡°that¡¯s why I¡¯m here to get you. Sh, are you willing to come with me?¡± That was what Sh had been waiting for. She nodded eagerly. ¡°Yes, yes! I¡¯ve been thinking of you, too!¡± Elgin frowned subconsciously. Her reaction was too different from that night. She was resistant, scared, and left without a word at that night, but she was all over him now! ¡°Mr. Ramirez you¡¯re my knight in shining armor!¡± Sh clung to his arm. ¡°With you around, Dad and I won¡¯t have to fear that old man anymore!¡± Elgin put his thoughts aside and grunted in agreement Now that he had found her, he¡¯d keep his promise. He would marry Sh, and it would just take some time. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Lets go Elgin turned to leave ¡°Uh, Mr. Ramirez. I¡¯d like a word with Sh, if you don¡¯t mind, Mark rubbed his arms. ¡°If you see fit¡­¡± ¡°Sure¡± As soon as Elgin left, Mark sped Sh¡¯s hand excitedly. ¡°Our big break is here! ¡°Dad, you better tell me everything, or I¡¯ll blow it in front of Mr. Ramirez!¡± Mark whispered all he knew into Sh¡¯s ear, taking care to instruct her thoroughly. ¡°Got it!¡± Sh grinned With this information, I¡¯m set! Dad, I¡¯m off to chase Mr. Ramirez!¡± She ran after Elgin and was over the moon. Sitting in a car worth millions, Sh couldn¡¯t help pulling out her phone for selfies, making sure to have the car¡¯s emblem in each shot. Elgin took her to a riverfront property. It was a t of three hundred square meters, right in the bustling heart of AquaCity. You¡¯ll stay here for now. A maid wille by tomorrow,¡± Elgin handed her the keys. ¡°Ask for anything you need.¡± Sh took the keys, too giddy to think straight. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, we are fated to be together! I¡¯ll take real good care of you!¡± She lunged for a hug, but Elgin pushed her away. He had a thing about cleanliness and wasn¡¯t into physical contact. ¡°Mr. Ramirez¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. You should rest¡± But i want to sleep with you.¡± Sh¡¯s eyes were sultry, her clothes sliding off her shoulders in an attempt to seduce him. ¡°Let¡¯s relive that night properly¡­¡± Meri usually fell for the bed thing. Since she wasn¡¯t the woman from that night, she must sleep with Elgin as soon as possible to settle her nerves. Elgin turrowed his brows. If the time and ce hadn¡¯t matched up, he would¡¯ve doubted Sh was the girl he had been looking for Maybe she was just over the moon to see him after so long, too thrilled to y it cool ¡°Now¡¯s not the time.¡± Elgin said, ¡°I¡¯m taking off.¡± He left without a second nce. When he returned to the Ivory Towers, Letitia was already asleep She still slept at the bedroom door From a distance, all Elgin could see was her soft, flowing hair. Elgin walked over looking down at her from his lofty perch Letitia was out like a light,zily rolling over. Her pajama top gaped open a bit, revealing the creamy skin of her chest. And then there was that tantalizing glimpse of something more. He felt a lump in his throat Why on earth did he have the hots for Letitia so easily? And Sh, the one he was supposed to be after, didn¡¯t stir a thing in him? Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Letitia had the fox charm straight from birthl ¡°Up you go!¡± Elgin yanked at his tie and barked out loud. Letitia¡¯s eyes snapped open when she heard his voice. She sat up instantly. ¡°You, you¡¯re back¡­¡± He stared at her with a heavy gaze, silent as a grave. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± She looked around and exined, ¡°I purposely slept in the corner and didn¡¯t block the door!¡± ¡°Did you eat the soup?¡± Letitia paused. ¡°What?¡± ¡°The soup!¡± ¡°Nope. She shook her head ¡°Do I have to?¡± Elgin squinted ¡°What do you think?¡± Letitia picked herself up off the floor as she had no choice. ¡°I¡¯ll go now.¡± She had no idea what had gotten into him, insisting she eat Phedra¡¯s soup. It was in the middle of the night. How could she fall asleep after chugging that down? In the dining room, Letitia held the spoon, staring down the m chowder on the te. Elgin stood by, keeping an eagle eye on her. She forced spoonfuls into her mouth only to taste a m that was hard to swallow. After struggling through the half, Letitia couldn¡¯t eat it anymore. ¡°Can I stop now?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°I.¡± She barely got a word out when her stomach churned. mping her hand over her mouth, Letitia bolted for the bathroom. She hurled her guts out, not just the soup but even the bile Listening to the sounds from the bathroom, Elgin frowned in disgust. She had to eat that soup to keep Phedra in the dark. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, the butler approached. ¡°You¡¯ve got a package shipped from overseas.¡± ¡°Hand it over¡± Elgin tore it open to find the medicine William sent. It was just the right amount for a course. He nced at the soup again, lips curling sarcastically, and downed the pills with a poker face. He had found Sh. He would get his disease cured and wait for three months to divorce Letitia. Everything was in Elgin¡¯s control. Letitia emerged from the bathroom, clutching her stomach, waves of nausea still crashing over her. What was wrong with her? The m was fishy but not enough to make her spew like that. The butler suggested, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, should we get the family doctor to check on Mrs. Ramirez?¡± She¡¯s not gonna diel Letima looked gratefully at the butler and gently shook her head, not wanting to rile up Elgin for her sake. Letitia curled up against the wall that night, hugging her knees, and finally dozed off as dawn approached. The kitchen bustied, and servants tidied up downstairs. And Sh, too pumped to sleep, had dolled herself up and arrived at ivory Towers early to see Elgin ¡°Where¡¯s Mc Ramirez? Sh barged into the living room, hollering, ¡°Why¡¯s no one greeting me? You all still want your jobs?¡± The butler eyed her ¡°And you are ¡°You don¡¯t even know me? You must be blind! I¡¯m your would be Mrs. Ramirez ¡°We already have a Mrs Ramirez at Ivory Towers The butler replied, ¡°Who might you be?¡± ¡°What? That¡¯s impossible! Sh¡¯s eyes widened, Mr. Ramirez promised to marry met Go ask him if you don¡¯t believe mel¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez is still sleeping¡± Sh charged upstairs on the spot. She had to seize this chance that had fallen into herp and eliminate anyone in her way! The butler hurried after her ¡°No unauthorized personnel on the second floor!¡± But Sh didn¡¯t care and stormed into the master bedroom Hearing footsteps. Letitia woke up to see Sh¡¯s face looming over her ¡°You?¡± Sh sized her up ¡°No wonder you looked familiar Sh? Letitia was just as puzzled. She had seen Sh a few times at the AquaCity Psychiatric Institute Sh was the director¡¯s daughter, not much of an academic, but a fan of dressiness She was the kind of girl of low birth but dreamed of having a luxurious life like Raizel. At least Raizel was a darling daughter from a wealthy family. ¡°Why are you sleeping on the floor?¡± Sh asked, ¡®I get it. Mr. Ramirez made you a doorkeeper, right? You weren¡¯t having a st in the AquaCity Psychiatric Institute The butler caught up and rified, ¡°This is our Mrs. Ramirez.¡± ¡°What! You, you, you Sh gasped. Letitia got hitched to Mr. Ramirez? Sh¡¯s dad told her Mr. Ramirez had slept with Letitia, but since Mr. Ramirez came knocking on her door, it meant he didn¡¯t know it was Letitia that night! That was why she could swoop in and posel And Letitia turned into Mrs Ramirez for real! What the heck happened? ¡°Got something to do? Letitia¡¯s voice softened, ¡°Elgin¡¯s asleep He¡¯s cranky when he wakes up If we disturb him, we¡¯re both toast¡± Sh clenched her teeth, calming down. No matter what, she¡¯d stick to her guns, iming she was the woman from that night, no giving in. Even Letitia couldn¡¯t shake her resolve! I came for Elgin and never thought Id bump into a watchdog like you Sh retorted, ¡°Step aside I¡¯m going in.¡± Letitia raised an eyebrow. I¡¯m guarding my door. But someone is barging into a home and making a racket in the early thoring like a mad dog Are you insulting me? I didn¡¯t may any names, but knock yourself out if you insist that was you¡± Shots was foot for words, fuming mode Dont think you¡¯re all that because you¡¯re Mex Rarnires! The woman Mi Daying it, Chels vanked nt aside fungi way and red hand to p tet However, Letitia was quick to duck. Missing her mark, Sh didn¡¯t let up, aiming another p with a vengeance! Letitia, quick and fierce, grabbed her wrist, and the other hand swiftly returned the favor. She wasn¡¯t one pushover that anyone could walk all over! But just then, a light voice drifted over ¡°Letitia, you¡¯ll be sorry if you dare hit her.¡± Letitia froze as if she¡¯d been cursed with a paralysis spell. Her palm was only an inch away from Sh¡¯s cheek! Elgin didn¡¯t even have to lift a finger to stop her. Only a casual remark could instantly put her in hot water. ¡°Mr. Ramirez!¡± Sh spotted him and startedying it on thick, all puppy dog eyes. ¡°Thank goodness you¡¯re here, otherwise otherwise she¡¯d have pped me! Elgin frowned slightly. ¡°What are you doing here? ¡°I missed you and couldn¡¯t sleep a wink. This woman wouldn¡¯t let me in and even called me a dog.. Well, look who was ying the victim card first. Letitia kept quiet, thinking such a shallow and superficial im wouldn¡¯t fool Elgin. But little did she know¡­ ¡°Make her apologize to you, Elgin said. ¡°Or, you can deal with her however you like.¡± Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. She looked up at him sharply. You believe what she says?¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I? Elgin shot back at her. ¡°Do you think you can hold a candle to her?¡± Sh snuggled up to his shoulder, all smug and showing off. Elgin¡¯s taste couldn¡¯t be worse. He turned out to fancy this kind of woman. Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Even Raizel was better than Sh, for crying out loud! Was he blind or did someone put a hex on him? ¡°Letitia, you owe me an apology!¡± Sh demanded, ¡°And bark like a dog three times! Her response was adamant. ¡°No way. She might have been able to humble herself and issue an apology, but acting like a dog was a humiliation she could not bearl Sh immediately slung to Elgin¡¯s arm, whining. Look, she won¡¯t do it. ¡°Letitia, I¡¯m giving you one more chance to answer She looked up, meeting Elgin¡¯s oppressive gaze, Not Gonna, Happen!¡± His eyes darken instantly. Defying him? She¡¯s really grown bold! ¡°Don¡¯t ask for trouble. Elgin leaned in, pinching her chin, ¡°What¡¯s easier, barking like a dog or taking threeshes?¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather take theshes.¡± He snorted coldly, ¡°Fine! Bring the whip!¡± The butler presented it with both hands, sighing internally Letitia, though, managed a bitter smile, After all, I¡¯m still your wife in name. Elgin, are you actually going to humiliate me for her? ¡°She¡¯s the woman I¡¯ve gone to great lengths to find, the future Mrs. Ramirez for life. Get it? His tone was icy, ¡°You¡¯re not even fit to be mentioned in the same breath as her.¡± So, it turns out he was in love with Sh It was a rude awakening, but what choice did she have other than to ept the harsh truth? Letitia closed her eyes. stayed silent, and just waited for the whip toe down. No matter how painful, she would grit her teeth and take it. Watching her pale but defiant face, Elgin gripped the whip tightly, his hand¡¯s veins bulging as he raises it high. But the anticipated pain nevernded Letitia opened her eyes to see Elgin walking away. ¡°Whipping you would only dirty my hands, he dropped the whip. ¡°Butler, do it for me!¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Ramirez. Sh was seething but seeing Elgin¡¯s foul mood, she didn¡¯t push it. She did have some sense, after all. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d marry me?¡± she asked with feigned hurt, ¡°Why is Letitia your wife then?¡± ¡°She¡¯s just a puppet.¡± ¡°Huh? What do you mean?¡± Elgin was initated, but when he remembered that Sh was the woman from that night, he calmed down, ¡°Marrying Letitia was just temporary. I hadn¡¯t found you yet, and I needed someone to fill the position of Mrs. Ramirez, so I chose her. Sh nodded, thinking, so that¡¯s the deal. She had thought Eigin found out the truth. Then she asked, ¡°You¡¯ll still keep your promise to marry me, right?¡± ¡°Yeah i sort everything out, then bring you into the family¡± ¡°Can¡¯t wait for the day!¡± Sh could rest easy now Meanwhile, Letitia eyed the thick whip, Sit just do it ¡°Ma¡¯am¡­ ¡°I know it¡¯s hard for you too The butler nced toward the stairwell, making sure Elgin was far enough away, then with a heavy heart, he raised the whip and brought it down hard The sound echoed through Ivory Towers. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Elgin dined on breakfast, not a flicker in his gaze. Sh reveled in the sound, feeling utterly content She thought to herself, ¡°Letitia, with me around, you¡¯ll never turn the tables!¡± ¡°Crack! Another sound The other servants shuddered, didn¡¯t dare to look. But Letitia looked at the butler in astonishment, ¡°You. Bothshes struck the ground, not her! Shh, ma¡¯am, keep it down, don¡¯t draw attention, the butler whispered, ¡°You¡¯re a good person, kind to us servants, I just couldn¡¯t do it If Elgin finds out, we¡¯re done for!¡± ¡°I know So I¡¯m afraid thestsh will be a real one, ma¡¯am.¡± Letitia nodded, understanding. If she didn¡¯t show any marks, it would be all too suspicious. She took thestsh solidly, her back searing with pain, skin splitting open. Letitia looked gratefully at the butler, the world might be cruel to her, but there was still these little touches of kindness warming her heart. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, theshing is done, the butler reported from downstairs. He responded with an indifferent ¡°Hmm. Letitia stood to one side, slightly hunched because of the pain, thinking it¡¯s a good thing it was just one lash ¨C shouldn¡¯t stop her from scavenging for recybles. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, there¡¯s something¡­ I¡¯d like to ask for your help with,¡± Sh piped up suddenly, ¡°May I?¡± ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°I heard the Ramirez Group is setting up a renowned talent agency, right?¡± Elgin nodded, ¡°The Ramirez Group is venturing into show business.¡± ¡°Could you maybe pull some strings for me?¡± Sh asked, ¡°I¡¯ve been to auditions, and they¡¯re all so picky. With your help, it¡¯d be a breeze!¡± ¡°You want to break into acting?¡± Shelo nodded vigorously. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s my dream! Plus, with you backing me, no one would dare mess with me or give me a hard time!¡± Elgin agreed, ¡°Alright. Consider itpensation. Maybe a hard working Sh could show him a different side, reigniting what he felt that night. Eigen nced at Letina, ¡°You, keep ving away at thepany.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± The gulf between people was just so vast. Here was Letitia, toiling away, picking up scraps for a few bucks. And there was Sh, easily snagging showbiz opportunities bing a star would be easy for her. Plus, Elgin¡¯s support meant she¡¯s set for life! Once Elgin left, Sh dropped the sweet act, revealing her true colors. ¡°Don¡¯t want to bark, huh? No problem,¡± she said, ¡°Sooner orter I¡¯ll make you kneel and bark for me. Letitia couldn¡¯t even be bothered to nce her way, she had to walk to the Ramirez Group. If she was late, Elgin would have a fit. ¡°You¡¯re ignoring me? Heh, Letitia, stop right there!¡± Sh blocked her path, ¡°I suggest you wise up and ask Mr. Ramirez for a divorce sooner rather thanter!¡± ¡°As if I have a say in that.¡± ¡°Pfft, you just want to snag Mrs. Ramirez¡¯s spot so bad you can¡¯t stand to leave.¡± Letitia chuckled, ¡°If you¡¯ve got the guts, get Elgin to divorce me right now. What¡¯s the point ofing here to strong-arm me? ¡°You.. fine, fine, Sh gritted her teeth, ¡°you¡¯ll be begging me before you know it!¡± The malice was spilling out of her eyes. Letitia didn¡¯t have time to worry about what Sh might pull off. Crossing Sh was not the biggest problem, but getting on Elgin¡¯s bad side was a kiss of death. Besides, Letitia figured Sh couldn¡¯t really stir up much trouble. On her way to the Ramirez Group, Letitia was still scavenging for recybles. Today¡¯s haul was meager, but she still made a cool twenty bucks. Just as she pocketed the cash, she spun around and caught sight of a familiar figure by the roadside. Seeing him was even more mortifying than bumping into Elgin. Letitia took off running. ¡°Letitia, I¡¯ve been following you for a while now.¡± The man behind her said. Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Her steps slowed to a halt, but she still couldn¡¯t bring herself to face that person. Walden Sullivan came up behind her, ¡°When I first saw you, I thought my eyes were ying tricks on me, I couldn¡¯t believe it was really you Lelitia He saw Letitia picking up trash And she was good at it, like it wasn¡¯t her first time doing it. ¡°Letitia. how did you end up like this? Walden asked, ¡°What on earth have you been through these past years?¡± That girl who once shined so bright, exuding charm and grace, the girl of his dreams. Now, she was cloaked in exhaustion and the weight of the world. ¡°You¡¯ve got the wrong person, Letitia said, her head down. ¡°No, it¡¯s definitely you. I¡¯d recognize you anywhere!¡± She let out a mockingugh and suddenly spun around, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m Letitia, your once fianc¨¦e, Mr. Sullivan! But now, we¡¯re nothing to each other You go your way, and I¡¯ll go mine!¡± Back then, Walden and Letitia had been engaged. But after the Sanders family¡¯s catastrophe, the Sullivan family immediately broke off the engagement unterally and, to distance themselves, quickly whisked Walden off abroad. During that time. Letitia went through hell. She was running between jail, the hospital, and the police station, desperately needing someone¡¯s help. That someone should have been Walden. But she couldn¡¯t get through to him, couldn¡¯t find him; the Sullivan family¡¯s doors were shut tight, the security guards pushed her away, shooed her off¡­ All of her former friends turned their backs on her. ¡°It¡¯s not like that, Letitia, hear me out, Walden reached for her shoulder, ¡°Going abroad was my dad¡¯s call. He said it was so I could cut my teeth, build a career, and thene back to marry you. I agreed to go abroad to give you a better life!¡± ¡°So going abroad means you can¡¯t pick up the phone? Vanish without a trace? Can¡¯t even bother to say goodbye ¡°The situation at the time. ¡°Enough, Letitia cut him off, ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear it, it¡¯s all in the past.¡± Letitia hadpletely lost faith in Walden. She shook off his hand and turned to leave. ¡°Letitia!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t follow me!¡± she yelled, ¡°Thest person I want to see right now is you!¡± Walden stood there, stunned, watching her disappear from his sight. ¡°Mr. Sullivan, your appointment with Mr. Ramirez ising up, his assistant reminded him. ¡°Okay. Do me a favor, find out what Letitia has been through thesest two years.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Sullivan.¡± Letitia arrived at the Ramirez Group, only to hear Ranen say, ¡°Madam, you¡¯re here, Mr. Ramirez has been looking for you!¡± Til go in right away.¡± in the CEO¡¯s office. Elgin lounged in his chair, eyeing her up and down. Letitia felt ufortable under his gaze, ¡°Is there something you wanted¡­ Take aft your clothes.¡± She was started, ¡°Wha what? ¡°Do I need to repeat myself? Or should I take them off for you?¡± Uncertain of his intentions, Letitia bit her lip, unbuttoned her shirt, and slowly took it off. ¡°Turn around.¡± She did as told. On her fair back, a long gruesome scar snaked from her shoulder to her waist. Letitia shivered involuntarily, her skin breaking out in goosebumps ¡°Why endure such physical pain? Elgin approached, his calloused fingertips touching the wound, ¡°Can¡¯t you tell right from wrong, woman?¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather be killed than be insulted.¡± ¡°Such spirit, he scoffed. ¡°I wonder if you¡¯ll make it through this time. And what about the next?¡± Letitia replied. ¡°Elgin, you¡¯d rather trample on my dignity and pride than just torture my body, right?¡± ¡°Exactly! Mental torment is the real torture!¡± His fingertips pressed slightly into the healing wound, causing Letitia to jolt in pain. ¡°Don¡¯t provoke Sh, and do whatever she asks, Elgin warned, ¡°Got it?¡± ¡°I got it.¡± There was a knock at the door, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, your client has arrived¡± ¡°Let them in. He tossed a shirt at Letitia¡¯s face, ¡°Get in there and get dressed.¡± She hurried into the rest area. A private space connected to the office, it was secluded and fully equipped. Letitia rifled through the supplies, her face lighting up as she found a first-aid kit. She could treat her wound without spending a penny. Meanwhile, Elgin sat cross-legged on the couch, watching Walden walk in. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, a pleasure to meet you, Walden said politely, ¡°Ie with full sincerity for our coboration.¡± ¡°Have a seat. The Ramirez Group owned many industries, with jewelry as one of its pirs, bringing in billions in profit every year. The country¡¯s top gemstone materials all came from the Ramirez Group. N?velDrama.Org ? content. Now, Elgin wanted to go beyond supplying raw materials for jewelry, he wanted to establish a brand and engage directly with consumers. And the Sullivan Group had a renowned jewelry brand-Sunbeam Gems. Waldenid out a stack of designs, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, since you want to leverage your resources to establish a jewelry brand, and that will surely require top-notch designers Here are ¡®Sunbeam Gems¡¯ best-selling designs of the year for your consideration¡± He wanted to partner with Elgin. He would provide the designs and brand influence, while Elgin would supply the resources, audience, and gemstone materials. Everyone wanted to partner with the Ramirez Group, it would definitely double their profits! Having just returned to take over the Sullivan Group, Walden hoped to make a ssh with this deal gaining his father¡¯s and the board¡¯s recognition. Elgin took the designs. The office was quiet, save for the sound of flicking through the pages. In the break room, after patching herself up, Letitia grabbed the first aid kit, ready to put it back in its ce. But her grip clipped, and down went the box. Stuffocattered everywhere with a loud noise, that racket was loud enough for Waiden to hear But Elgin? He acted as if nothing happened, still eyeballing those jewelry designs ¡°Mr. Ramirez, Walden couldn¡¯t help but point out, ¡°that noise was¡­ what¡¯s up with that?¡± He answered, cool as a cucumber, ¡°Nothing much, just a pesky rat.¡± Letitia froze for a hot second, then quickly crouched down to clean up, with more rustling sounds following. ¡°Those rats are getting pretty bold, huh? Walden coughed, ¡°Maybe you should consider getting a mousetrap, Mr. Ramirez.¡± Elgin raised an eyebrow, ¡°Good thinking.¡± A still-shaken Letitia put the first aid kit back in its faraway spot, clutching her thumping chest. After hanging tight for about fifteen minutes, she didn¡¯t hear any noise outside. ¡°Should be safe to check out now¡­ she muttered to herself, ¡°Let¡¯s see what¡¯s going on.¡± Letitia tiptoed to the door, slowly inching it open to sneak a peek. This angle didn¡¯t give her a view of the reception area. She nudged the door open a tad more, poking half her head out, looking right no one there. Then she nced left, and caught sight of a ck suit tailcoat. Letitia slowly looked up, only to see Elgin with a smirk. ying on his lips, ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Chapter 14 Chapter 14 She gasped, quickly straightening up, ¡°Nothing, I¡¯m leaving right now!¡± Just two steps out, she locked eyes with Walden, who lookedpletely bbergasted. Letitia was frozen too. What on earth was Walden doing here? Turns out, the client Elgin was meeting was him! ¡°This is the ¡®rat¡¯ I was talking about, Elgin said coolly, ¡°My apologies for the absurdity.¡± Letitia shed a polite smile, ¡°Sorry for the intrusion, carry on.¡± She walked past Walden without giving him a second nce, as if he was a total stranger. Walden had that look like he had a lot to say but couldn¡¯t spit it out. Just then, Elgin called out to her, ¡°Wait.¡± She turned around, ¡°Mr. Ramirez?¡± ¡°Letitia, Elgin asked, if I remember correctly, you majored in jewelry design in college.¡± Jewelry design¡­ Back then, Letitia was the Sanders family¡¯s shining jewel, carefree, only chasing love and dreams, so she chose the major she loved. Her designs in college won awards frequently and earned unanimous praise in the industry. And now? She was just a speck of dust, using up all her strength just to stay alive. ¡°Yes,¡± Letitia nodded, ¡°But I didn¡¯t finish my degree.¡± She had one year left when Elgin showed up and took her away to the psychiatric ward. From then on, her life took a drastic turn. No sooner had she finished speaking when the office door was pushed open from the outside. In came a man with an extremely suave demeanor, smiley eyes, and a rogue smile on his lips. It was Samson Stewart. He was the VP of the Ramirez Group, Elgin¡¯s best buddy, with killer work skills. Samson raised an eyebrow, ¡°Gin, you hauled me back from the European division just to set up a jewelry brand under my wing?¡± ¡°Yep. And, you¡¯re also taking over the entertainment division.¡± Samson nearly jumped, ¡°You¡¯re diving into showbiz too?¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Elgin responded nonchntly, ¡°Or do you think you can¡¯t handle both departments?¡± ¡°You¡¯re trying to work me to death. Even the workhorses don¡¯t bust their humps like this!¡± I¡¯ll give you a raise.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not short on cash,¡± Samson spread his hands, ¡°I get the jewelry brand. But showbiz? That¡¯s a different beast¡­ What made you want to take the plunge??¡± Elgin sipped his coffee, ¡°For a woman.¡±, ¡°Oh! For that new bride of yours, huh!¡± -Letitia on the side felt even more embarrassed. Samson kept gossiping, ¡°Gin, you sure your kidneys can handle it? Control your sex life!* Elgin kicked him without any courtesy, ¡°What about the stuff I asked for?¡± ¡°Right Here.¡± Samson took out a stack of design drafts, and Elgin handed them to Letitia, ¡°These are Sunbeam Gems¡¯ designs. Check them out see if you can spot any ws ¡°What¡­ ¡°Out with it, Elgin lifted his chin slightly, ¡°I want the truth.¡± Walden was also watching her ¡°Alright¡± Letitia pointed at the drafts. The overall design level of ¡®Sunbeam Gems has seriously declined over the past three years. The only reason they¡¯re still popr is because of the brand¡¯s legacy First off, the targeting is unclear Is Sunbeam Gems aiming for the high end market or the average consumer? Next, the styles are outdated,pletelycking innovation They should bring in some fresh gn talent Letitia rattled on confidently her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm Elgin crossed his arms and watched her at an angle Right now, she was exceptionally charming, no longer meek or lowly, there was light in her eyes. ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯ve got for now, Letitia said. ¡°Sorry if it¡¯sughable But Elgin nodded in satisfaction, ¡°Good you hit the nail on the head about ¡®Sunbeam Gems¡¯ current situation¡± Just as he had thought Letitia seemed to surprise him again Walden¡¯s face looked a bit ugly, but he still said ¡°Criticism leads to improvement. Mr. Ramirez, about our coboration¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give it some thought¡± ¡°Alright¡± Before leaving, Walden gave Letitia a special look that look was packed with emotions But Letitia looked down, avoiding his gaze Samson, however was buzzing with excitement. ¡°Where did Gin dig up such a high-caliber talent like you? Elgin replied. ¡°She¡¯s the new bride you mentioned¡± ¡°Ah, Mrs Ramirez Pleasure to meet you, I¡¯m Samson Stewart. Samson beamed a sunny smile, ¡°No wonder, only an outstanding woman like you could snag Gin!¡± ¡°Pleased to meet you Mr. Stewart ¡°Perfect timing, Giris jewelry brand is about tounch, and I¡¯m taking the reins. I¡¯m in need of designers you interested? Letitia¡¯s eyes sparkled, ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course¡± Samson said. ¡°You¡¯re definitely up to the task!¡± Despite hisid back appearance, he was anything but casual about business and had the whole n figured out. Samson was confident he could build up the brand, surpassing the Sullivan Group¡¯s ¡°Sunbeam Gems¡¯ was just a matter of time! Letitia looked at Elgin, she had to listen to him. *Talend her to you, Elgin nced at Samson, Temporarily, she has to be returned Samson burst intoughter, ¡®Don¡¯t be so mushy! She¡¯s still with the Ramirez Group, just moving floors. You wanna see her, just hop on the elevator anked him again, and he hopped away, Let¡¯s go, Mrs Ramirez I can¡¯t wait for your designs Ad Stewart, please call me Letitia Samson tapped shoulder From now on you¡¯re my right hand wornan Phawed his eyes lightly. Mind your reakers. tely be off Now that Letitia was a talented jewelry designer, Elgin would let her shine her light, not just keep her for his own torment and humiliation There¡¯s this saying, ¡®make the most of what you¡¯ve got To him, no matter how high or far she flies, she can¡¯t escape his clutchest After Samson left, Elgin leaned back on the sofa, fished out a cigarette, and started fiddling with it in his hands. ¡°Spill it, what¡¯s the deal between you and Walden? he cut to the chase. Letitia was taken aback Had Elgin sensed something? But she hadn¡¯t had any interaction with Walden at all! I¡¯m not a fan of beating around the bush or lies, Elgin stressed, ¡°Answer met Under his suffocating presence, Letitia caved, ¡°He was my ex fianc¨¦ His eyes narrowed, ¡°Ex-fiance?¡± ¡°Yeah, but we called off our engagement two years ago. He went abroad for studies, and I was committed to a mental institution. It was only today that we met again. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for me, you two would¡¯ve tied the knot already, huh?¡± Letitia forced a bitter smile, ¡°Probably. But life isn¡¯t full of what-ifs, is it?¡± Suddenly, Elgin leaned in closer, teasingly calling out, ¡°Letitia.¡± Her nerves tensed up You must really hate me, his breath warm on her face, ¡°hate me for ruining your life, perhaps even wishing to strangle me with your bare hands. Even if I were dead, you¡¯d want to spit on my grave¡­Property ? N?velDrama.Org. right?¡± She looked down, ¡°Elgin, we¡¯re both pitiful souls.¡± His smile slowly froze, Me, pitiful?¡± You lost a father you looked up to, and I lost a happy family. We¡¯re both just pawns in the game of fate.¡± ¡°This is all your just desserts! Your father destroyed everything!¡± Letitia couldn¡¯t argue, for she had no proof. Elgin¡¯s presence quickly faded as he lit his cigarette and coldly said, ¡°Get lost.¡± Letitia turned and left. Amidst the pale smoke, Elgin¡¯s expression was solemn. He nced at the stack of sketches and called out, ¡°Ranen!¡± ¡°Right here, Mr. Ramirez.¡± ¡°Dig up some dirt on Walden, I want results tonight.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Letitia was waiting for the elevator when her phone rang. ¡°Hello, who is it?¡± ¡°Is this Letitia? ¡°Yes Tm calling from the prison, the voice on the other end said, ¡°There¡¯s been an incident with your father, pleasee over immediately¡± elia¡¯s mind exploded She immediately stumbled towards the stairs, not even waiting for the elevator Her mom had already fallen into Elgin¡¯s hands. her dad couldn¡¯t afford to be in trouble too! Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Letitia bolted out of thepany and hailed a cab She pulled out all the cash she had and shoved it into the driver¡¯s hands, ¡°This is all I¡¯ve got, please, I beg you, take me to AquaCity Detention Center The driver saw how pitiful she looked and agreed to help her out When Letitia arrived. Preston was sprawled out on a stretcher. His arms and thighs were covered in burn marks. His eyes were half-open, and he kept repeating how much it hurt. ¡°Dad!¡± Letitia rushed over ¡°Dad, look at me, it¡¯s Letitia What happened, how did my dad get burned so badly!¡± The guard replied. ¡°He did it to himself. We¡¯ve got nothing to do with it.¡± ¡°Where is the surveince footage? I want to see the whole incident!¡± Sorry, sweetheart, the footage here isn¡¯t for just anyone¡¯s eyes.¡± Letitia gritted her teeth, You. You¡¯re pushing me too far!¡± ¡°Letitia, it hurts, it hurts so bad Preston moaned unconsciously. ¡°Help me out¡­¡± He tried to reach for the blisters from his burns, but Letitia grabbed his hand, ¡°Dad, hang in there, I¡¯m taking you to the hospital right now!¡± ¡°No can do, he¡¯s a prisoner in custody, you need proper authorization to take him out.¡± So what, you¡¯re just gonna watch my dad die?!¡± The guard responded, ¡°Honestly, you can only me yourselves for pissing off the wrong people. Your dad hasn¡¯t had it easy since he got here. A name shed through Letitia¡¯s mind- Elgin! It was him! Hadn¡¯t he tormented her enough?! Even her father, who was serving time, wasn¡¯t spared! ¡°I¡¯m gonna see Elgin, I¡¯m going to him right now. Letitia cleaned her tears, trying to get up But just as she stood up. Sh strolled in, a smug smirk ying on her lips. With a gloating tone, she said, ¡°Letitia, save your breath. Elgin despises you so much, he just wants to see you suffer! ¡°Was it you?¡± Letitia shot back. ¡°I was bored and thought I¡¯de to see how your old man was doing Sh replied ¡°Who knew he¡¯d identally knock over a kettle and scald himself like that¡± That¡¯s impossible! You did this!¡± Sh shrugged with a smug look, ¡°Got any proof?¡± Letitia¡¯s fists clenched tight as she red at Sh, fire nearly shooting from her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re dying to hit me, right?¡± Sh taunted, ¡°Come on, if it weren¡¯t for Mr. Ramirez stopping youst time, you would¡¯ve pped me already. He¡¯s not here today, have at it.¡± She knew Letitia wouldn¡¯t dare touch her, so she was just egging her on! Go on, spill some boiling water on me, Letitia,e on, don¡¯t just stand there!¡± Sh¡¯s gloating face kept dancing in front of Letitia¡¯s eyes. ¡°You cane at me, Letitia took a deep breath, ¡°the one you hate is me, not my dad.¡± Shele stepped up to her. Do you honestly think I could puff off a stunt like this in prison by myself and get everyone to cover for me? You are saying. That¡¯s right Sh said, ¡°Mr. Ramirez allowed me to do it. After all, you¡¯re nothing but lowly trash, your dad should¡¯ve been dead long ago! Mr. Ramirez kept him around just to blow off some steam now and then!¡± Letitia tasted blood in her mouth, her throat tinged with a bitter sweetness It was all done with Elgin¡¯s silent consent. His was so cruel! ¡°Why, why?¡± her eyes reddened as she bit her lip hard, ¡°What do I have to do to get my dad to the hospital?¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who¡¯d rather take a whipping than bark like a dog?¡± Letitia got the message. In this moment, with her loved one¡¯s safety on the line, her dignity was worthless. Sh held her chin high. ¡°Start now, or I might just change my mind.¡± Preston, despite his injuries, was still somewhat lucid and tried to stop her, ¡°No, Letitia, no¡­ it doesn¡¯t hurt¡­¡± Letitia forced her tears back and hung her head low,plying. The sound echoed through the cramped room Each bark felt like a knife cutting into her flesh! ¡°Not bad.¡± Sh nodded, ¡°Remember this, Letitia, be a bit more respectful to me from now on. I¡¯m the future Mrs. Ramirez! Letitia just asked numbly, ¡°Can I take my dad to the hospital now?¡± ¡°Call a doctor to have a look, put some ointment on him, that¡¯s enough. Is he so precious he needs a hospital? Besides, do you have the money? Watching Letitia¡¯s anguished face filled Sh with sheer satisfaction! Just thinking of how Letitia had slept with Mr Ramirez filled her with envy. Thank goodness her dad Mark was clever enough to push her into the spot and secure today¡¯s luxury. So now was the time to crush Letitia, make sure she never gets her chance! With Mr Ramirez doting on her so much, even if he found out about today¡¯s doings, he wouldn¡¯t me her! Sh bumped into Letitia¡¯s shoulder on purpose and strutted away in her heels Letitia slowly crouched down, ¡°Dad¡± ¡°Letitia, my poor girl. ¡°I¡¯m fine, dad She held Preston¡¯s hand tightly holding back the tears that threatened to spill, As long as you and mom are still here, I have a reason to keep going! When she left the prison, it was already dark. It was a long way from Ivory Towers, and Letitia walked for a good two hours before she got home As soon as she entered the living room, Elgin¡¯s sharp gaze fell on her. She flinched but felt mostly numb. He was the devil incamate, dragging her into hell, making her life a living nightmare! ¡°Where have you been?¡± Elgin spoke gravely Letitia knew she should be more submissive and obedient, that would be the smart thing to do. But her heart ached too much, and she replied with a bitterugh, ¡°Where have I been? Aren¡¯t you the one who knows best?¡± Elgin frowned, ¡°You think you¡¯re worth having someone on your tail 24/7?¡± ¡°It won¡¯t happen again, Letitia said expressionlessly. ¡°I¡¯m exhausted, can I go rest now?¡± ¡°Do you realize the tone you¡¯re using to talk to me?¡±- In a sh. her tears and gnevances nearly burst forth, and she wanted to curse Elgin out loud! Why should she be so miserably treated by him and still have to be all polite and respectful?! But she couldn¡¯t. Blowing off steam now was only gonna bring her a world of hurt from Elgin. All of a sudden, Letitia found herself green with envy over Sh. Howe she¡¯s the apple of Elgin¡¯s eye, getting all the love and favoritism? And there she was, struggling just to keep her head above water! N?velDrama.Org ? content. ¡°Letitia, I told you not to lie to me, Elgin said as he tossed the photos at her. ¡°You broke the rules again!¡± The photos scattered all over the floor. It was her, standing at the entrance of the junkyard, bumping into Walden. The one that stuck out like a sore thumb was the photo where Walden had his hand on her shoulder. The photo was crumpled, clearly it had been gripped tightly for a long time. ¡°I¡¯ve told you everything about him today. Letitia said, fighting to keep her emotions in check. ¡°I didn¡¯t hide a thing.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve seen each other before today!¡± ¡°It was just a chance encounter.¡± Elgin shot back with an icy tone, ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you mention it?¡± ¡°I forgot. Plus, it wasn¡¯t worth mentioning.¡± What scared her more was if Elgin found out she was scrounging around for scrap. If he did, there goes her only source. of ie. All of a sudden, he stood up, dragged her into the bathroom, and mmed her into the corner. Then, Elgin grabbed the showerhead, turned on the cold water, and let it rain down on Letitia! Chapter 16 Chapter 16 The icy water sent a shiver down Letitia¡¯s spine. What the heck was he doing? Meanwhile, Elgin, with his other hand, yanked off her clothes, scrubbing her skin clean. Before long, several red marks appeared on Letitia¡¯s body! ¡°Elgin! Letitia could no longer contain her rage, and she yelled at him, her face dripping with water, ¡°What the hell are you doing?!¡± ¡°Why the hell did you let Walden touch you?¡± Elgin¡¯s possessiveness was terrifyingly intense. She belonged to him, and even if he treated her like trash and despised her, no one else couldy a finger on her! Letitia red at him with reddened eyes, ¡°I pushed him away, it was just for a second!¡± ¡°No matter how brief, it¡¯s not okay!¡± Elgin was fiercely rinsing Letitia¡¯s shoulder, as if he wished he could peel off her skin. At first, Letitia struggled fiercely, but then she just stood there numbly, like a puppet. She was soaked through, with water dripping from the tips of her hair. Elgin wasn¡¯t in much better shape himself. Seeing her pale as death, a crazy thought momentarily shed through his mind-he wanted her! ¡°Damn it! Elgin threw down the showerhead and grabbed her chin, leaning down to nt a deep kiss on her! It was more of a devouring than a kiss. Both of them were drenched, and Letitia was forced to tilt her head back. Anyway, she couldn¡¯t resist. Her rarepliance only fueled the fire burning inside Elgin. He was about to lose control over himself! Her body had a familiar feeling that he hadn¡¯t felt in a long time! Suddenly, Letitia, trembling, wrapped her arms around his neck and looked down as she asked, ¡°Elgin¡­ could you give me some money?¡± She was really at her wit¡¯s end-she needed to treat her dad¡¯s burns and wanted to bribe some prison guards in the prison to ensure they didn¡¯t give her dad a hard time. All of this required money. ¡°Heh, so you¡¯re not feigning resistance this time because you need something from me,¡± Elgin scoffed, ¡°Letitia, you know I¡¯m not short on cash.¡± ¡°Yes, so can you give it to me? Letitia clenched her fists, forcing herself to meet his gaze. He eyed her lips, ¡°How much?¡± ¡°Twenty thousand.¡± Letitia didn¡¯t dare to be greedy and ask for too much-ten thousand for treatment, and ten thousand for bribes should be enough. She needed to deal with this pressing issue first and would figure out the restter. This amount was a drop in the bucket for Elgin. But.. ¡°Why should I give you twenty thousand?¡± Letitia bit her lip hard, replying, ¡°Because I¡¯m your wife.¡± He flung her off with disgust, ¡°Letitia, get a grip on who you are!¡± Any desire Elgin previously had was instantly quashed, and he abruptly turned to leave. Letitia¡¯s back was against the tiles as she watched him go, ¡°Elgin, if you don¡¯t give it to me¡­ I¡¯ll go to Walden!¡± She deliberately threatened him like this! Actually, she knew Elgin pretty well. Letitia knew what ticked him off and how to butter him up¡­ only by getting a handle on his temper could she survive under his thumb! Sure enough, Elgin bellowed, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± ¡®People backed into aer will do anything! Letitia said desperately. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. His eyes narrowed in interrogation, ¡°What do you need twenty thousand for?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Letitia bit her lip. ¡°Thave my reasons.¡± She was afraid if Elgin knew she was going to treat her father¡¯s wounds, he would be even less likely to give her the money. After all, he was the one who had sent Sh to do the dirty work! ¡°Just consider it an advance on my sry, Letitia added, ¡°Later on, I can draw jewelry designs every day to pay off the debt!¡± She had been the star student in the design department at AquaCity University. Countless brands had wanted to hire her, and her drafts were still used as temtes by her juniors! Elgin¡¯s lips curved into a smirk, ¡°Fine.¡± He was a businessman, always looking for a good deal. Seeing him relent, Letitia breathed a sigh of relief. Elgin transferred twenty thousand to her on the spot, Remember what you said!¡± She cried tears of joy; her dad could finally get treatment! Unconcerned with Elgin¡¯s perception of her, Letitia briskly dried her face and took her leave. Elgin, however, stood by the window, chain smoking one cigarette after another. He had married Letitia only because he couldn¡¯t find Sh and temporarily needed someone to fill the spot, to keep Phedra and Raizel from causing trouble The position of Mrs. Ramirez was reserved for the woman he loved. That night, Sh had indeed sparked something in him. Moreover, she had used her own body to save him, to cure the drug in his system. Elgin had always been clear about his debts and grudges. Putting out his cigarette, he prepared to sleep; it was already the wee hours of the morning Just as Elginy down, coughing sounds came from outside. Every three to five minutes, like clockwork, apanied by sniffles, coughs, and the sound of tossing and turning. He was a light sleeper, requiring utter silence, and with Letitia coughing like this, how could he rest properly? Elgin rolled out of bed, fury on his face as he yanked the door open, ¡°Letitia¡± No response. ¡°Letitia!¡± He raised his voice ¡°Hmm¡­¡± She replied weakly, trying hard to open her eyes but finding she couldn¡¯t. Elgin then realized her cheeks were burning hot, yet her lips were pale. He touched her forehead, and his palm felt the heat ¨C Letitia had a fever. This woman was so frail! ¡°Get up. Elgin said coldly, ¡®don¡¯t die on my doorstep.¡± She turned over, clinging to his pant leg, rubbing it gently like a kitten, ¡°I¡¯m dizzy, it hurts¡­¡± As she spoke, she coughed violently again. ¡°Hold me,¡± she murmured, ¡°I don¡¯t want medicine¡­ it¡¯s bitter¡­ so bitter.¡± Letitia was delirious with fever, her mind filled with images from her childhood when every time she had a cold, Malinda would hold her and coax her to take her medicine sip by sip. Elgin watched her intently. After a few seconds, he bent down, picked her up, and carried her into the bedroom. He roughly applied a fever patch to her and dumped her on the sofa. Letitia kept mumbling in her sleep, and Elgin, annoyed and unable to make out what she was saying, shouted, ¡°Shut up!¡± She flinched, gradually falling silent. Elgin turned to leave. Then he heard a thud¡± behind him; Letitia had fallen straight off the sofa. ¡°Clumsy woman!¡± The next day. Letitia turned over, instinctively reaching to snuggle the pillow, but then she realized¡­ This pillow seemed a bit hard. She reached out and gave it a poke, and it was surprisingly bouncy. Hold up, this doesn¡¯t seem like her pillow. What on earth is it? Letitia, still half-asleep, was about to open her eyes to check when she heard Elgin¡¯s voice from above her head, ¡°Are you done touching me?¡± Heck, is this a dream? She looked up and met that handsome face. ¡°Ah-¡± Letitia screamed, nearly tumbling out of the bed in fright. Elgin¡¯s face was ashen as he quickly reached out and yanked her back into his arms, You silly woman, trying to fall off again?¡± Letitia, with a face full of confusion, ¡°I¡­ how did I end up in your bed?¡± ¡°You were sleepwalking.¡± Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Seeing his dead serious answer, Letitia was a bit skeptical. ¡°For real?¡± Elgin shot back, ¡°Would I lie?¡± Fair point. Why would he lie to her of all people? Letitia got up, freaking out a little. She¡¯d sleepwalked all the way to Elgin¡¯s bed it was a miracle he hadn¡¯t tossed her This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. out! But he hadn¡¯t noticed a thing, had he? ¡°What are you dawdling for? Get out Elgin barked, snapping her out of her thoughts. She gave a hasty nod and managed to stagger a few steps, but her head was swirling and dizziness washed over her. Her throat was parched and raw as well. She must have caught a cold, probably from getting drenchedst night. But Letitia couldn¡¯t dwell on that she had to swing by the jail first. She needed to ask Elgin for a day off, or else if he couldn¡¯t find her, she¡¯d be in for a storm of temper The problem was what excuse could she use? As Letitia was squeezing her brain for ideas, Elgin said, ¡°Go see a doctor, don¡¯t you dare get me sick!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± she replied cheerfully For the first time, Letitia felt this cold couldn¡¯t havee at a better time After leaving Ivory Towers, she made a beeline for the jail Preston was a lot more lucid now, but with serious injuries, he was bedridden and needed daily dressing changes. ¡°Letitia, it¡¯s me that¡¯s dragging you down¡­ Preston said. ¡°If we cut ties, would Elgin let you off the hook?¡± ¡°Dad, you¡¯ll always be my dad.¡± ¡°I thought about suicide, figuring maybe Elgin would chill out. But then I thought of you and your mom. If I go, he¡¯d just take it out on you two even more.¡± Letitia just smiled, ¡®I¡¯m okay, don¡¯t worry She couldn¡¯t stay long, dropped ten grand for medical expenses, and stuffed another ten grand into a envelope. ¡°Sorry for the trouble, she said ¡®Please take good care of my dad from now on.¡± It¡¯s crazy these people just stood by and let Sh do her thing, heartless. Yet, she had to suck up to them. One day, she¡¯d rise above all this One day! After the jail visit, Letitia finally headed to the hospital. ¡°Letitia Sanders?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The doctor asked mechanically. ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± Tve caught a cold. Coughing, my throat feels like a desert and it¡¯s also sore, and my nose won¡¯t stop running¡± ¡°Did you have any fever?¡± Letitia touched her forehead, ¡°Nope.¡± As the doctor prepared the prescription, he casually asked, ¡°Any other symptoms recently?¡± She thought for a moment, ¡°Well.. got sick once after eating soup. I puked¡± ¡°Got a boyfriend?¡± Lotta whispered, Tm married.¡± Elgin neverid a finger on her, except for that one night¡­ The doctor handed her a bunch of forms and said, ¡°Go on.¡± Letitia flipped through them and saw blood tests and gynecological exams. ¡°Doc,¡± she asked. ¡°I just have a cold, why do I have to do all the bloodwork and¡­¡± ¡°Am I the doctor, or are you?¡± Letitia blurted out, ¡°I don¡¯t have the money.¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez has already paid.¡± Well, alright then, might as well get it done since he¡¯s paying! After the tests, she had to wait half an hour for the results. But Elgin¡¯s call came through. ¡°What¡¯s taking so long, you died over there?¡± Letitia knew she¡¯d spent too much time at the jail and hurriedly replied, ¡°I¡¯m on my way back.¡± ¡°Make it quick! She couldn¡¯t wait for the results, so she rushed back to the Ramirez Group. Just as she arrived at the Jewelry Department, swamped with work, she stayedte into the night before finishing up. Stepping out of thepany, she saw an abandoned stic water bottle by the roadside. Letitia hustled over and bent down to pick it up. A pair of shiny leather shoes appeared next to her hand. ¡± ¡°Letitia, I can¡¯t even begin to imagine what you¡¯ve been through these years¡­¡± Walden was brimming with sympathy, ¡°I could have been your hero, but I turned out to be a faithless jerk.¡± ¡°Excuse me, she said expressionlessly, ¡°Mr. Sullivan, you¡¯re in my way.¡± Had this been some time ago, Letitia might have been touched by such sweet words. But now, when twenty grand could crush her, what right did she have to indulge in romantic fantasies? Tears glittered in Walden¡¯s eyes, ¡°I¡¯ve looked into your past, those two pages of information¡­ It took me ages to muster the courage to read them¡­ Every word was like a knife, torturing me!¡± Letitia remained icy. ¡°That¡¯s all in the past. I don¡¯t need your fake concern now.¡± ¡°No, I can still make amends!¡± ¡°Hah, who do you think you are?¡± Letitia challenged. ¡°Can you stand up to Elgin? You can¡¯t even defy your own dad!¡± At that, Walden stepped forward impulsively, and Letitia immediately retreated, ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± She sure didn¡¯t want to end up pinned in the bathroom by Elgin again, nearly scrubbed raw. It hurt! ¡°I know it¡¯s hard, but I¡¯ll try, Walden insisted. ¡°Letitia, do you believe me?¡± ¡°I do. But I don¡¯t need it anymore.¡± In that moment, Letitia let go. She believed Walden ¨C he was sent abroad by his father, not running away. He¡¯d been kept in the dark. Ignorance isn¡¯t a sin. Back at Ivory Towers, there was a bowl of soup on the table. ¡°Madam, Mr. Ramirez asked you to drink it, the butler reminded her. Letitia¡¯s whole face scrunched up at the thought ¨C Phedra must have been so bored, sending soup every day without fail! Today¡¯s dish was a pot of chicken noodle soup, and frankly, it looked less than tempting. Holding her nose, she gulped it down like it was nasty medicine. Unfortunately, Letitia overestimated her tolerance, the fishy taste lingered in her mouth, leaving a greasy aftertaste. Off to the washroom she went, throwing up again. Afterwards, Letitia stared at her pale reflection in the mirror. What was going on? Was it her stomach? Was she sick? Or¡­ Was she pregnant? Suddenly, another face appeared in the mirror. Elgin, in his ck silk pajamas, leanedzily against the doorframe, ¡°Throwing up again?¡± She cleaned her mouth, replying, ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Is it that bad?¡± ¡°Sort of.¡± Letitia replied, ¡°I don¡¯t like those soups, they¡¯re greasy and not nutritious.¡± Elgin snickered, ¡°Phedra only used top-notch ingredients.¡± ¡°Pass it on to someone else That kind of luck isn¡¯t in the cards for me.¡± She turned on the faucet and washed her face, perking up a bit. Elgin eyed her, ¡°Who allowed you to get home thiste?¡± ¡°I worked overtime Letitia nced back at him, ¡°I was in meetings with Mr. Stewart all afternoon.¡± ¡°Letitia, you think you can use Samson as a free card for everything?¡± ¡°I was legit workingte at the office, then walked home. That¡¯s why I¡¯m back at this godforsaken hour.¡± Elgin squinted, Couldn¡¯t you have walked it a bit faster?¡± Letitia couldn¡¯t help but retort, I¡¯m dead on my feet after a full day¡¯s work and then trekking over ten kilometers. It¡¯s a miracle I didn¡¯t drop dead halfway. You really think I can walk fast?¡± Elgin replied, ¡°Letitia, you¡¯re not gonna drop dead on the road, you¡¯ll drop dead by my hands.¡± Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Letitia couldn¡¯t be bothered tomunicate with him, so she just turned her head away. He had a face sculpted like a Greek god but a mouth that wouldn¡¯t let anyone off the hook! ¡°Come here, Elgin dropped the line. She dragged her feet reluctantly to the master bedroom door. Just as Letitia was about to dive under the covers, she felt a tight grip around her waist, and he pinned her against the wall ¡°I¡¯ve given you twenty grand,¡± he said hoarsely, ¡°in exchange for fulfilling your wifely duties.¡± ¡°You¡­ you can¡¯t be serious?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Took the money and now you¡¯re chickening out, huh?¡± Scratching her palm nervously, Letitia shot back, ¡°Elgin, you¡¯re not going toy a finger on me.¡± ¡°Is that so? Let¡¯s see about that. His hand began to wander. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Elgin.. I am the daughter of your enemy, can you really go through with this?¡± As soon as those words were out, the air turned heavy. This was Letitia¡¯s way to rile him up, just to secure her own safety! ¡°Yes, thanks for the reminder, Elgin said lowly as he grabbed the back of her head, ¡°but don¡¯t think you can get off that easily! ¡°I¡¯ll pay you back the twenty grand¡­ someday!¡± ¡°Pleasing me, and you won¡¯t owe me a dime.¡± Letitia¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You don¡¯t have a choice, Elgin stated. ¡°The moment you fell into my hands, you lost your right to choose, got it?¡± Of course, Letitia knew what he meant by ¡°pleasing¡± him. ¡°Well? Elgin raised an eyebrow impatiently. ¡°You gonna start or what?¡± Biting her lip, Letitia suggested, ¡°You could always go to Sh.¡± ¡°How could I bear to touch her now, Elgin leaned in, nose to nose with her, ¡°when I¡¯m saving her for the wedding night As for you, I can have my fill whenever I please!¡± See, the favored Sh was always confident, while she had no self respect to speak of! When Elgin said something, he meant it. Tonight, it seemed inevitable for Letitia. With a heavy heart, she closed her eyes, ready to give in. Suddenly, she was flung away- Elgin¡¯s voice boiled with rage, ¡°You actually would, Letitia? How low can you go!¡± She hit her back hard against the corner of the bed, which hurt, but she felt a sense of relief. Good! Elgin was finally fed up with her! Watching her tremble and blush, Elgin felt his body heat up even more. He couldn¡¯t keep this up, if he kept ying with her, he¡¯d end up ying himself into a corner! After all, he was a normal man! He got into his sports car and called William. ¡°The meds you sent me, do they have side effects?¡± ¡°Bolly William answered, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, those drugs might have a¡­ stimting effect.¡± Elgin scowled, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you warn me earlier?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a normal reaction, Mr. Ramirez, and you¡¯re young, at your prime,¡± William sald. ¡°I suggest you take some time for a check-up at the hospital. Your issue with low sperm count should have improved quite a bit by now.¡± Elgin hung up and mmed the gas pedal down, the roar of the sports car as it left Ivory Towers. At the bar, Elgin was downing one drink after another in the VIP section. Samson yawned, ¡°You¡¯re a married man, yet you still out drinking thiste? Aren¡¯t you worried about your delicate wife getting mad?¡± ¡°Shut it¡± ¡°Marital spats are short-lived, right?¡± Elgin coldly replied. There¡¯s no love between us.¡± ¡°Blowing off steam, huh? Samson spread his hands, ¡°I can tell, you can¡¯t hide that look in your eyes. Gin, in this world, love is a thing you can¡¯t hide. Love? He loved Letitia? Ridiculous! ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense, Elgin mmed his ss down, ¡°the divorce papers are signed, once the time comes, we¡¯ll finalize it. Samson offered a friendly reminder, ¡°You can always tear them up, you know.¡± ¡°You think I¡¯ll tear them up?¡± Samson shrugged, Keep drowning your sorrows then, I¡¯m off to hit the dance floor.¡± He disappeared into the crowd, dancing up close with some hot girls. Elgin, frustrated, adjusted his tie. He¡¯d rather stay here than go find Sh. He had a feeling¡­ she wasn¡¯t like the woman from that night. The next day, Letitia got a call from the hospital. ¡°This is from AquaCity Hospital, the voice said, ¡°your test results are in, pleasee and collect them.¡± ¡°Alright¡± After giving her name at the nurse¡¯s station, Letitia received her report. She tore it open, and upon seeing the line of text, she waspletely dumbfounded! She read it over and over, still not believing her eyes- ¡°Four weeks pregnant¡± She was pregnant! She had only been with that stranger for one night, so the baby had to be his! She didn¡¯t even know who that man was! What could she do now? If Elgin found out¡­ she couldn¡¯t even imagine how furious he would be! Should she get an abortion? It was harmful to her health, costly, and required bed rest. Letitia didn¡¯t have those luxuries right now. Besides, she couldn¡¯t bear to do it; this was a living being, soon there would be another person in the world with her blood Keep it? She could hardly take care of herself, how could she raise a child! ¡°On batry, you¡¯vee at such a wrong time¡­¡± Letitia¡¯s eyes were fuil of worry as she gently covered her stomach, That should I do?¡± She wandered aimlessly, bumping into several people. ¡°Sorry, sorry¡­¡± she mumbled apologies, head down Nearby. Sh spotted her silhouette, ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that Letitia?¡± Something felt off. She approached the nurse¡¯s station, ¡°That woman, Letitia, is she sick?¡± I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t disclose patient information,¡± the nurse replied. Sh smiled. ¡°I¡¯m just concerned about her health, please help me out¡± She slipped some cash discreetly. The nurse whispered, She¡¯s pregnant, four weeks.¡± Sh¡¯s face turned pale- Letitia was carrying Elgin¡¯s child! Just after Letitia left the hospital, her phone rang. It was Elgin, ¡°Where are you? Get back here now!¡± Okay¡± Elgin had been drinking until then and came home in a foul mood. Just thinking that he got sloshed because of Letitia made him feel even more pissed. So what if he had sex with her? So what if he didn¡¯t? He always did things based on how he felt! When Letitia walked into the living room, she caught a whiff of strong alcohol, ¡°So, you went drinking last night? Elgin motioned with his finger, ¡°Come here.¡± She obediently walked over, but as soon as she got close, he yanked her into his arms, ¡°Yep, I got stered, and I¡¯m still not sobered up!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go make you some hangover tea.¡± But Elgin pinned her down right then and there, ¡°Why should I drown my sorrows over you? Suppress my manly instincts for you? Do you even deserve it? Letitia, I¡¯m taking you now!¡± He was surprisingly strong, and Letitia struggled with all her might. She was pregnant, carrying a delicate life, she couldn¡¯t let Elgin touch her! ¡°Elgin, stop it you are drunk!¡± ¡°y nice, and you¡¯ll suffer less!¡± In the midst of the struggle, the pregnancy test report fell out of Letitia¡¯s bag! Letitia¡¯s pupils dted- Crap! She forgot to tear it up! Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Letitia was scared out of her wits, her heart practically ready to leap out of her throat. She stretched out her hand in a desperate attempt to grab the pregnancy test result, crumpling it into a ball and clenching it tight in her palm! Elgin¡¯s lips were pressed against her shoulder, and seeing her sudden movement, suspicion instantly clouded his mind. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. He lifted his head, eyeing the wad of paper in her palm ¡°What¡¯s that in your hand. Elgin demanded icily, ¡°Hand it over!¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.. ¡°Give it to me!¡± When she didn¡¯tply, Elgin forcefully pried her fingers open one by one. ¡°You looking to break a bone? he warned her, ¡°Let go!¡± As if Letitia could let go! If Elgin found out she was pregnant, it would be curtains for both her and the baby! That piece of paper was the decider of her and her baby¡¯s fate! Just as Elgin was about to pry her fingerspletely open, Letitia suddenly propped herself up and hooked her arm around his neck, pressing her body tightly against his! ¡°Letitia, let go! She didn¡¯t have time to respond; her hand moved behind his back, shoving the pregnancy test into her mouth! She was going to swallow it, wipe the te clean! By the time Elgin tried to intervene, it was already toote. Letitia chewed it a few times and swallowed! He immediately grabbed her throat, ¡°You sure have a lot of tricks up your sleeve! Spit it out!¡± ¡°Can¡¯t spit it out,¡± Letitia shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s in my stomach now!¡± Elgin¡¯s eyes were bloodshot with rage, ¡®What was so shady about that paper that you had to hide it like that? Letitia stayed silent. ¡°Letitia, I swear I could strangle you!¡± She closed her eyes, tilting her head up, ¡°Well, I¡¯m going to end up dead by your hands sooner orter, so go ahead!¡± Letitia waited in silence, her body trembling slightly with fear, but the anticipated heavy hand never came down on her slender neck Footsteps sounded, moving quickly away! Letitia opened her eyes just in time to see Elgin¡¯s figure disappearing at the top of the stairs. She breathed a sigh of relief, feeling an ufortable lump in her throat and her stomach churning. The nausea from the pregnancy and the revulsion of eating the paper surged up together. Letitia bent over the couch, almost hurling up bile, her mouth bitter. By the skin of her teeth, she had avoided Elgin discovering her pregnancy! Just then, Sh walked into the living room entrance. Seeing Letitia in such a sorry state, jealousy nearly drove her Insane. Why should Letitia get to sleep with Elgin? If only she was the one carrying that baby, wealth and status would be at her fingertips! Hey, Letitia, Sh sneered as she approached, ¡°What¡¯s up with you¡­?¡± Letitia didrit even bother to look at her, just rinsed her mouth with some water. But Sh, ever the meddler, squatted down beside her. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t be pregnant, would you?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense!¡¯ Letitia¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly retorted. ¡°I was just saying, why so scared?¡± Sh chuckled under her breath, ncing around, ¡°Where¡¯s Mr. Ramirez?¡± ¡°He¡¯s in the master bedroom.¡± Letitia couldn¡¯t wait for Sh to vanish, to stop being such an eyesore. Sh headed towards the stairs. At the same time, Letitia got up and headed to the bathroom. ? ? ? ? At that moment, a glint of malice shed through Sh¡¯s eyes. She couldn¡¯t let Letitia keep the baby. If it were born and looked anything like Mr. Ramirez, her lie would be exposed, and Letitia would be on the fast track to sess! She deliberately sidled closer to Letitia, and as they brushed past each other, she suddenly stuck out her foot, aiming to trip her up! For a pregnant woman, one wrong step could end in tragedy for the unborn child! But what she hadn¡¯t counted on was that Letitia was already on guard! Being pregnant made Letitia even more cautious than usual. The moment Sh¡¯s foot came out, Letitia not only sidestepped it gracefully but also went behind Sh and gave a light flick of her foot- ¡°Ah!¡± Sh lost her bnce and crashed to the ground with a thud. Letitia feigned concern, You gotta watch your step,e on, at your age, still tripping over your own feet?¡± ¡°Bitch¡± Sh was livid, pointing a finger straight at her, ¡°You did that on purpose!¡± ¡°That¡¯s called shooting yourself in the foot, Letitia shrugged nonchntly, turning away with a flourish. And then, lifting her gaze, she saw Elgin standing on the second floor, staring down at her with a look that could kill. ¡°Mr. Ramirez! Seeing him. Sh immediately started ying the victim, ¡°Letitia¡­ she bullied me, I was just walking, and she deliberately tripped me, making me fall!¡± For the first time, Letitia saw someone so tantly lie through their teeth. It was Sh who had tried to trip her first! Letitia wanted to exin, but then she thought better of it-Elgin would never believe her. She wasn¡¯t the woman he cherished above all others. With a heavy heart, Letitia hung her head and remained silent Elgin descended the stairs, bent down to help Sh up, and she clung to him desperately, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, it hurts so much¡­¡± She snuggled into Elgin¡¯s arms, the picture of frailty Elgin spoke up indifferently, ¡°Letitia,e here.¡± Letitia had no choice but toply. ¡°Quite the nerve you¡¯ve got, tripping Sh? Don¡¯t you know your ce?¡± didn¡¯t start it, Letitia responded, ¡°It was Sh who¡­¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Elgin cut her off coldly. ¡°Apologize! Beg her to forgive you!¡± Before she could reply, Sh suddenly put on an act of generosity, ¡°It¡¯s okay, I really was just being clumsy.¡± Letitia instantly became wary. Why would Sh ever cover for her? There must be a catch! Sh carne over warmly taking her hand, Actually, I want us to get along. I don¡¯t have many friends in AquaCity Letitia quickly withdrew her hand, taking a couple of steps back. As she retreated, Sh¡¯s steps followed, pretending to reach for her hand again but actually shoving Letitia hard! Suddenly, Letitia couldn¡¯t control her fall to the ground, and right beside her was the coffee table! She cried out, but it was no use-she couldn¡¯t steady herself, watching in horror as her stomach struck the sharp corner of the table! A wave of excruciating pain swept through Letitia¡¯s entire body! ¡°Whoops, why were you so careless, Sh eximed, ¡°Letitia, you alright?¡± She pretended to rush to Letitia¡¯s aid, but inside she was doing a happy dance! Looks like the bun¡¯s gonnae out of the oven a bit too early, huh! ¡°Oh my god,¡± Sh pointed at the bright red on the floor, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, check it out, Letitia seems to be bleeding!¡± Elgin squinted his sharp eyes with a brooding look, ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Letitia was in so much pain she was rolling on the ground, fiercely biting the corner of her lip to keep her wits about her. She can¡¯t pass out! Clutching her belly and curling up into a tiny ball, Letitia¡¯s face was ghostly pale, ¡°It hurts, it hurts so bad¡­¡± Blood, slowly staining her pants red. Her baby, her poor baby! Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Sh was grinning; she had got the thorn removed from the heart! ¡°Letitia,¡± Elgin sensed something was off, ¡°why are you bleeding?¡± Even in excruciating pain, Letitia didn¡¯t spill the beans about her pregnancy. She nearly bit through her lower lip, ¡°I-I¡¯m just on my period¡­¡± Elgin scrunched up his face in disgust ¡°Mr. Ramirez, should we take her to the hospital?¡± Sh asked, ¡°She looks like she¡¯s in a lot of pain.¡± The kid¡¯s gone anyway Once we get to the hospital and Mr. Ramirez finds out she was knocked up, I can smear her name, saying she had slept with some other guy! Two birds, one stone! ¡°It¡¯s just her period, Elgin said with icy indifference. She won¡¯t die. Leave her be.¡± He walked past her without a shred of pity, not even a nce.. Sh followed him, smug and satisfied. Letitia, propping herself up on the ground, dragged her body toward the exit, ¡°Help¡­ help me¡­¡± ¡°Madam! The butler was horrified at the sight. ¡°What in the world is¡­¡± Letitia grabbed the butler¡¯s hand like it was a lifeline, ¡°Take me to the hospital, now!¡± There might still be a chance to save the baby if there¡¯s time! ¡°Right away!¡± The butler sprang into action! At the hospital, the doctors wasted no time and rushed Letitia into the OR! The second she hit the operating table, Letitia couldn¡¯t hold on anymore and cked out. Two hourster. ¡°Thank goodness, the doctor emerged, taking a deep breath, ¡°Mother and child are safe!¡± The butler was gobsmacked. Mother¡­ and child? Mrs. Ramirez was pregnant? Nurses wheeled Letitia out of the OR Just then, Sh¡¯s father, Mark Ward, happened to pass by wearing a mask. He nced over casually, then realized the woman on the bed was Letitial So, the ¡®mother and child safe¡¯ the doctor mentioned was her! She¡­ was carrying Mr. Ramirez¡¯s babyl Mark immediately ducked into a corner and called Sh, ¡°Sh, we¡¯ve got trouble!¡± ¡°What could possibly be wrong, Dad?¡± Sh thought she was home free, ¡°You¡¯re getting all worked up over nothing.¡± ¡°just passed by the OR and heard the doctor say¡­ Letitia and the baby are safe!¡± Sh¡¯s phone slipped from her grasp. What?! Despite the danger, Letitia¡¯s baby was saved! Unbelievable! When Letitia came to, It was already dark. She stared at the ceiling as tears slowly streamed down her face. Leba, me to pay and pick up your meds, do you have any family with you?¡± the nurse came in, ¡°We¡¯ll do an ultrasound ¡°Meds? Ultrasound?¡± ¡°Yeah, you¡¯ve been prescribed medication to stabilize the pregnancy¡± Letitia bolted upright in bed, ¡°My baby¡­¡± ¡°Your baby is fine,¡± the nurse replied, ¡°you should really thank our head doctor.¡± Her tears fell even faster, yet she managed a smile. She was crying tears of joy, she felt blessed by the heavens! ¡°Thank you, thank you all.. Letitia kept repeating, ¡°I thought¡­ I¡¯d just learned of this child¡¯s existence, only to lose it¡­¡± After getting her meds and finishing the check-up, Letitia didn¡¯t dare linger and left in a hurry. She couldn¡¯t afford to stay in the hospital, with no excuse to offer! She couldn¡¯t let anyone find out she was pregnant! Back at Ivory Towers, the living room was back to its pristine condition, not a trace of blood in sight Letitiay down on the makeshift bed, her face pale as a ghost. ¡°Baby mommy¡¯s putting you through so much¡­¡± But Letitia didn¡¯t have the luxury to wallow, because she had to go to work the next day. She had to act like nothing was wrong. No matter the pain or difort, she had to stick to her story about it being her period! The next day. Just as Letitia reached her desk, she heard the sound of hurried footsteps at the door. She looked up and saw Sh! Letitia naturally thought, ¡°What¡¯s she after this time, itching to kick up more drama?¡± ¡°Letitia,e out! Sh bellowed arrogantly, e out right now!¡± Letitia stood up, ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Heh, you¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡± Sh called over her shoulder, ¡°That¡¯s her, take her!¡± Two brutes burst forward and grabbed Letitia by the arms, dragging her out. Letitia struggled, ¡°What are you doing. Let go! Hands off! You can¡¯t just take people in broad daylight!¡± Her colleagues were stunned. ¡°Call the cops,¡± Letitia pleaded, or get security, please!¡± Sh dered, ¡°Nobody help her! Or I¡¯ll make sure you lose your job and get kicked out of the Ramirez Group! And just like that, Letitia was hauled away. She couldn¡¯t believe it. Sh had the gall toe to her workce and snatch her away in front of everyone! How much power did Elgin give Sh?! ¡°Letitia, stop wasting your energy. No one¡¯sing to save you, Sh said venomously, ¡°You¡¯re nothing but trash.¡± ¡°What are you up to?¡± Tm in a bad mood and feel like blowing off some steam on you.¡± Sh took Letitia to an alley and had goons guard both ends Now, Letitia had no way out, and no passersby would interfere. ¡°Blowing off steam? Letitia scoffed, ¡°Sh, you¡¯re not even worth my breath!¡± ¡°The way you talk, it seems thoseshes from the other day weren¡¯t painful enough, and you didn¡¯t hit your belly hard enough either Mentioning this stuff got Sh riled up. She thought for sure the baby was gone, but somehow it survived! After much thought, Sh still couldn¡¯t let it go. If one scheme fails, there¡¯s always a second try, and this time it¡¯s bound to work! She refused to believe Letitia could always turn misfortune into a stroke of luck! Letitia spat right at her. ¡°Ah!¡± Sh screamed, ¡°You spit at me! Gross!¡± Letitia spat again, ¡°I don¡¯t know what you did to make Elgin let you get away with murder. But don¡¯t think just because he can humiliate and torment me, you can too!¡± ¡°Of course, I can! I¡¯m going to be his wife!¡± ¡°I¡¯m his wife right now!¡± Sh was livid, ¡°Not for long! ¡°Heh, you don¡¯t have a clue about Elgin, Letitia said. ¡°You better let me go now. Otherwise, once Elgin gets wind of this, you¡¯re done for! You think he actually bought that crap about me tripping you yesterday?!¡± ¡°Believe it or not, he¡¯s got my back, not yours!¡± Sh snapped back. ¡°So, it¡¯s the same deal today. Plus, I won¡¯t leave any marks. Elgin won¡¯t find a thing¡­¡± She started moving closer, and Letitia quickly stepped back. She might have to suck it up and take a bit of pain, but she was pregnant now! She had to protect her baby; she couldn¡¯t let Sh win this round! Letitia clutched her belly, looking around for an escape route. Sh grabbed her hair, yanking her back, ¡°Stand still, don¡¯t move! This will be over before you know it.¡± With that, she was about tond a ferocious kick to Letitia¡¯s midriff. Catching sight of this, Letitia used all her strength to shove Sh away and then took off running. ¡°Stop her, quick!¡± Sh yelled at the people standing at the end of the alley. ¡°Stop her!¡± Letitia didn¡¯t look back, she ran like she was running for her life. If Sh¡¯s kicknded, the baby couldn¡¯t take another hit like that! ¡°Move it! What are you doing just standing there?¡± Sh shouted as she chased, ¡°Are you just gonna take the money. and do squat?!¡± ¨C Letitia found it odd, too why were those two men frozen in ce? She mustered all her strength and dashed out of the alley, but upon seeing the scene outside, Letitia¡¯s steps halted abruptly. Sh, cursing under her breath, caught up, ¡°Letitia, you bi-¡­ Mr Ramirez?¡± Seeing Elgin, Sh was dumbstruck. Outside the alley, Elgin stood with his hands in his trouser pockets, straight as an arrow, not saying a word, but his presence alone was chilling. The two tough guys were being held down by professional bodyguards, knives pressed against their waists The two men didn¡¯t dare to make a move. N?velDrama.Org ? content. Elgin¡­ Letitia didn¡¯t hesitate and ran towards him, never before had she felt such a sense of security upon seeing Elgin Even though he loathed her, he wouldn¡¯t take her life, not just yet. And he certainly wouldn¡¯t harm her baby! Elgin pursed his lips, looking at her. Jyst as she nearly reached him, Letitia¡¯s legs gave way, and she fell straight towards the ground. ¡°Clumsy woman.¡± Elgin, expressionless, reached out, scooped her up, and held her close. Letitia clung to his sleeve. ¡°You came¡­ thank goodness you came¡­ She cracked a smile while cleaning the tears at the corner of her eyes Just moments ago, Letitia was hell-bent on getting the hell out of there and protecting her baby. It wasn¡¯t until now that she realized her body was sore all over, her back was soaked, and she was drenched in sweat. Now that she saw Elgin, her heart finally settled down She was safe. ¡°Why is it that every time you¡¯re out of my sight, you find trouble? Elgin frowned, looking down at her. ¡°Can¡¯t you just stick by me and behave? He had returned to his office after a meeting when Ranen asked him what he wanted for lunch so he could ce an order. But his mind went straight to Letitia. Turned out, after Ranen did some digging at the Jewelry Department, he found out Sh had barged into thepany and took Letitia away Elgin had rushed over immediately. ¡°This isn¡¯t my fault, really.¡± Letitia responded. ¡°I was just doing my job at thepany, minding my own business.¡± Elgin¡¯s eyes were icy as he looked up at Sh. ¡°Mr. Ramirez Sh quickly put on a pitiful and innocent face, ¡°Letitia called me a mistress, trashy, a whore¡­ I just lost it and wanted to teach her a lesson.¡± Letitia couldn¡¯t believe how this woman could twist the truth like that! Those words were exactly what Sh had hurled at her! And now she was ying the victim card! ¡°I didn¡¯t!¡± Letitia protested, ¡°Elgin, I¡­ ¡°Zip it.¡± Hearing it, Letitia bit her lip. To be unloved meant being disregarded. Seeing this, Sh puffed up with confidence. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, she started it. If you heard what she said, you¡¯d be pissed too!¡± ¡°You zip it too!¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°Marching into thepany and snatching someone? You¡¯re the first.¡± Elgin scolded. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t gotten here in time, the ones standing here would be the cops! Sh shot back, I know you wouldn¡¯t let anything happen to me.¡± Letitia looked down at her toes, feeling a bitter knot in her stomach. She didn¡¯t even know why she felt heartbreaking¡­. she should have been used to it by now. Elgin¡¯s favor was never hers to have; all he offered was hate and pain. ¡°Take these two away, Elgin ordered coldly, ¡®and keep them out of AquaCity from now on!¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Ramirez.¡± Sh was reluctant, ¡°Wait, they¡¯re with me. Getting rid of them would be a p in my face.¡± Even now, she was concerned about preserving her dignity. Letitia thought, this woman must either be too dumb or too wicked! Sure enough, Elgin¡¯s expression turned even uglier, ¡°You too, get out of my sight!¡± He stopped just short of telling her to scram. Who Mr. Ramirez, Sh rushed over, clutching at his sleeve, ¡°are you mad at me¡­¡± Elginc temples throbbed visibly. One more second and he was about to blow his top Chapter 21 Chapter 21 ¡°Go home and think about what you¡¯ve done Elgin shrugged her off. ¡°No, I won¡¯t! You¡¯re ming me,¡± Sh burst into tears, ¡°you¡¯re biased. Ever since you arrived, you never asked what Letitia did! Would I just barge into thepany and drag her away for no reason?¡± Upon hearing it, Elgin¡¯s brow furrowed deeply. Inside, rms red for Letitia! Earlier, Sh had aimed straight for her belly¡­ Had her pregnancy been discovered? No, that seemed unlikely. How could Sh know? A kick to the stomach maybe it was just a coincidence. But Letitia was still panicked. If the pregnancy came to light, she and her child were as good as dead. Elgin wouldn¡¯t let her offi ¡°Alright, Elgin nodded. ¡°tell me, what did Letitia do?¡± ¡°She, she.. Sh didn¡¯t expect Elgin to actually ask, and she stumbled over her words. N?velDrama.Org ? content. ¡°Hmm?¡± Sh¡¯s eyes darted around and she decided not to spill the beans about Letitia¡¯s pregnancy. It wouldn¡¯t do her any favors, and might even expose her own dirtyundry! Failing this time was okay, there would be other chances! Letitia chimed in, ¡°Sh, you¡¯re the one who did wrong, bringing goons with you. What could I possibly do to you alone?¡± Letitia wasn¡¯t sure what Sh woulde up with, so she decided to change the subject! Sh shot her a hateful nce. ¡°That¡¯s enough, Elgin¡¯s face was steely, ¡°Sh, keep out of my sight for a while!¡± ¡°Please, Mr. Ramirez¡­ Sh tried to say something more, but at a nce from Elgin, a bodyguard stepped forward, shoved her into a car, and took her away Letitia breathed a sigh of relief; she had dodged a bullet. Rxing a bit, she realized she was still nestled in Elgin¡¯s arms. Letitia quickly straightened up. ¡°What done using me and ready to toss me aside?¡± Elgin stretched out an arm and pulled her back in, ¡°Letitia, try to stay out of trouble, will you?¡± ¡°You think this is my fault?¡± ¡°It takes two to tango!¡± Letitia bit her lip and replied, ¡°Whether it¡¯s Raizel or Sh, theye at me because of you. Without you, none of this would happen.* Not only did she have to endure Elgin¡¯s torment, but also fend off attacks from his other women. Life was exhausting. ¡°You think the Mrs. Ramirez title is easy to hold?¡± Letitia retorted, ¡°I never dreamed of marrying you!¡± ¡°You do as what I say!¡± Elgin was adamant, ¡°You don¡¯t have a choice!¡± ¡°So I, Letitia, deserve to be a punching bag for these women, to be bullied over and over?¡± She didn¡¯t owe them anything! Why should she put up with their crap? What are you afraid of? Elgin lifted her chin, ¡°I¡¯ll save you.¡± Letha was forced to look up. ¡°Can you guarantee that every time, you¡¯ll show up in time to ensure I¡¯m unharmed?¡± He looked deep into her eyes. con quarantee Elgiris lips parted slightly, in AquaCity, there¡¯s nothing I can¡¯t do.¡± He was supremely confident. Sitting at the pinnacle of AquaCity¡¯s power structure, he was indeed the big shot; nothing was out of his grasp, nothing was insurmountable for him. Letitia cracked a smile, ¡°Have you ever not nailed it?¡± ¡°Never.¡± ¡°Hope it stays that way, she replied, ¡°because it only takes one flop to bring the whole house down.¡± Elgin looked down, inching closer, ¡°In my world, that day doesn¡¯t exist.¡± Letitia turned her head dodging his increasingly hot breath. At that moment, neither of them had a clue that someday, it would alle true. And by then, his regret would be too little, toote. Elgin slid into the Rolls-Royce, while Letitia stood outside. ¡°Get in,¡± he said Letitia was taken aback¡­ Was he actually offering her a ride? Still unsure, she double-checked, ¡°Are you talking to me?¡± ¡°What, you think I¡¯m chatting up a ghost?¡± Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Letitia finally yanked the car door open and plopped herself down inside. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± asked Elgin. She shook her head. ¡°Not bad. Elgin snorted with a hint of derision, ¡°You know how to watch out for yourself.¡± ¡°It was a close one. As Letitia spoke, she instinctively reached to touch her lower abdomen. But then, remembering Elgin was right beside her, her hand froze mid-air. ¡°Let¡¯s put an end to this, he warned, ¡°Don¡¯t even think about starting trouble with Sh.¡± ¡°You think too highly of me. Do I look like I have the guts for that?¡± Sh was the apple of his eye, the woman he had promised to marry. How could she everpete? She was always on the losing end ¡°But, Letitia said, you always hate it when others mess with your stuff. And I, am one of your belongings.¡± ¡°Sh is different ¡°Because you love her, right? Elgin didn¡¯t answer. Love? Didn¡¯t seem like it. It was more a matter of responsibility. After all, Sh had saved him with her body, giving him feelings he never had before. ¡°I¡¯ve already punished her, Elgin pressed his brow, ¡°What more do you want?¡± Letitia¡¯s lips curled into a self-mocking smile, ¡°What can I do? Do I even have the right to ask?¡± She knew her ce, how could she dare to wish for more? Suddenly, her chin throbbed as Elgin¡¯s fingers pinched her hard, ¡°Stop being such a sucker in front of me. Even if Sh did something to you today, you¡¯re gonna take it!¡± He had already taken her side, sending Sh home to reflect. And she still wasn¡¯t grateful? Throwing tantrums at him? Elgin felt even more irritable! ¡°Got it, Letitia responded softly. Only then did he let go and closed his eyes to rest. But Elgin couldn¡¯t sleep a wink, his mind in turmoil, temples throbbing. Back in the office, he pulled open the bottom drawer and fetched a scented candle the one that Letitia had given him that he¡¯d chucked into the trash. The faint scent of the scented candle gradually soothed Elgin, and he drifted off. Who knows how longter, when Elgin opened his eyes, he saw Samson standing across the desk, tossing the scented candle up and down. ¡°This thing¡¯s pretty cool, where¡¯d you get it? Samson asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you have insomnia? First time I¡¯ve seen you sleep soundly like this, nearly broke my heart to wake you.¡± Elgin coughed lowly, ¡°Hand it over.¡± ¡°Let me admire it a bit, share the good stuff!¡± wont say it again.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, here, Samson tossed it back, ¡°Such a treasure over a scented candle, what gives, some sweetheart give it to you? Eiginis face darkened ¡°No way, Samson pped his hands, ¡°you¡¯re a married man now, can¡¯t be epting gifts from other women! So, it¡¯s Letitia¡¯s Elgin¡¯s face took on an even deeper shade of annoyance. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. He shoved the scented candle back into the drawer, ¡°If you have business, speak. Otherwise, get out!¡± ¡°Looks like I guessed right!¡± Samson burst outughing, ¡°Didn¡¯t see iting, Letitia¡¯s got quite the crafty hand¡­ Do you mind if she gives me one too?¡± ¡°What do you need it for? ¡°Whatever you use it for It smells damn soothing, calming the nerves¡± Elgin¡¯s lips suddenly twitched, ¡°Do you want it that bad?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± he nodded, ¡°Let¡¯s have Letitia prepare one for each member of thepany.¡± Samson was shocked ¡°Are you serious?¡± ¡°Good things should be shared with everyone.¡± Samson shrugged, ¡°Let¡¯s talk business then. What are you gonna call the Jewelry Department?¡± ¡°I¡¯m still thinking.¡± ¡°Take your time, just funnel some budget my way.¡± Elgin agreed, ¡°Sure. But I¡¯ve got a reminder for you.¡± ¡°Shoot Samson was all ears, expecting something critical, but¡­ ¡°Don¡¯t help Letitia too much, Elgin warned, ¡°She¡¯s merely an employee I¡¯m lending to you, get it?¡± Letitia, now under Samson¡¯s wing, had it much easier. Samson, having worked abroad, preferred a laid-back, results-oriented management style, not fussy about attendance. As long as the work was done, it didn¡¯t matter if you were in the office or not. ¡°I¡¯m just looking out for her, seeing as she¡¯s your wife¡­¡± Samson replied, ¡°But honestly, she¡¯s got real skills.¡± Back at the Jewelry Department, Samson sidled up to Letitia¡¯s desk ¡°Mr. Stewart.¡± ¡°Make me one of those things you made for Gin.¡± Letitia didn¡¯t catch on, ¡°What thing?¡± ¡°The pouch, Samson gestured, ¡°His is a little ugly, just whip up a prettier one for me.¡± Only then did she get it. But¡­ hadn¡¯t Elgin thrown it away? He picked it up again?! ¡°O-Okay,¡± Letitia nodded, ¡°Mr. Stewart, I¡¯ll make it after work.¡± Samson nodded, ¡°Right, Gin said it¡¯s good stuff, make one for everyone at thepany. Letitia, ¡°What?¡± ¡°Well, everyone¡¯s stressed, having a hard time sleeping.¡± Samson said. ¡°Thepany will cover it, I¡¯ll get some people to help you out.¡± And so That afternoon, Letitia and a dozen colleagues sat amidst a pile of herbs, sorting, tying, and crafting pouches. ishing thest one at 8 PM, Letitia stretched her sore neck and clocked out. On her way back to Ivory Towers, she picked up a water bottle off the ground. Payday was still days away, and she figured Samson wouldn¡¯t stiff her, but that was a month away. For now, she needed to make some cash. Letitia remembered the nurse mentioning the baby was unstable and needed further checks and treatment. She needed to stock up on prenatal nutrients too. Money was needed everywhere. The long journey became less monotonous thanks to Letitia¡¯s focus on gathering discarded items along the way, so focused that she didn¡¯t even notice the vehicle tailing her from behind. With the car window half-down, Elgin watched the petite figure with a heavy gaze She was¡­ picking up trash! And she was doing it with such practiced ease, it was clear she had done this many times before! ¡°Mr. Ramirez, Ranen whispered, ¡°Should I go call Mrs. Ramirez?¡± ¡°No need!¡± She really was full of surprises. Working by day, scavenging by night! If it wasn¡¯t for his meeting dragging on till now, he wouldn¡¯t have even noticed! As Letitia neared Ivory Towers, she checked out tonight¡¯s haul ¨C pretty slim pickings. She was wondering whether to hit the streets again to scrounge up some more when suddenly a hand reached out and snatched them away, ¡°Letitia! She jumped, then saw it was Elgin and got another shock. ¡°Are you really that lowly and pathetic? Elgin bellowed. ¡°I¡¯m earning my keep with honest work! Letitia shot back. ¡°Give them back!¡± She tried to grab them back, but Elgin just chucked them away. A symphony of ttering sounds followed as the water bottles and other items scattered all over the ground, just like Letitia¡¯s dignity ¡°Elgin, what the hell are you doing! Do you have any idea how long it took me to collect these? What gives you the right to throw them away!¡± Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Letitia¡¯s eyes were rimmed with red. ¡°Are you really that strapped for cash? Elgin stared at her, ¡°So desperate that you¡¯re picking up trash and tossing your pride to the wind?¡± ¡°Yes! I need money! What¡¯s pride? What¡¯s dignity? The moment you chucked me into the loony bin, I lost all that! Just being alive costs me way more effort than the average Joe! You¡¯re Mr. Ramirez, high and mighty, worth billions. Of course, you¡¯d never stoop to this level. But me? I¡¯m nothing. You snap your fingers, and I¡¯m supposed tomute on foot to work. Is it such a crime to scrape together enough for bus fare? I knew you¡¯d find out sooner orter, but I¡¯m more scared of being broke than I am of your temper!¡± Letitia quickly cleaned her tears and squatted down to pick up the scattered items again. ¡°Stop picking those up!¡± Continuing, she didn¡¯t listen to his words. ¡°Letitia, I said stop picking those up!¡± Elgin scooped her up in one motion. ¡°Let go of me!¡± Elgin kicked the bottles out of the way and dumped Letitia into the car. Ranen¡¯s face was a picture of panic, ¡°Mr. Ramirez¡­ ¡°Get lost!¡± ¡°Yes, sir. ¡°Pick up those damn bottles!¡± H Ranen, ¡°¡­ Yes, Mr. Ramirez. When the boss fights, the assistant suffers. Not only got kicked out of the car in the dead of night but also sent to collect trash. Elgin sat in the driver¡¯s seat and floored the elerator. Letitia¡¯s head nearly smashed into the windshield. She hurried to buckle up; at this speed, she wouldn¡¯t put it past her life being on the line. She can¡¯t die. Not before because of her parents. And certainly not now; she¡¯s got a baby to think of! ¡°Slow down¡­ Ah! Letitia didn¡¯t even dare open her eyes, ¡°Elgin, we¡¯re going to crash!¡± Elgin, wordless, gripped the steering wheel, zipping past cars, turning the sedan into a race car. Letitia was thrown around by inertia until they reached Ivory Towers, where Elgin finally hit the brakes. The car skidded toward the steps, tires screeching against the pavement, stopping less than five centimeters away. Letitia was drenched in a cold sweat. Her legs trembling, she jumped out of the car and started retching by the side. Eigin looked on coldly, ¡°Drama queen.¡± 1.1 get car sick!¡± ¡°You seem to have thrown up more than once. He squinted, ¡°What¡¯s up with that?¡± Letitia panicked inside, fearing he¡¯d connect the dots to morning sickness. So she blurted out quickly. It¡¯s the greasy soup, I¡¯m not used to it. Hospital food was trash, so my stomach¡¯s weak now i cant handle anything too rich!¡± Elgin remembered Phedra¡¯s soup and was equally annoyed, ¡°Then don¡¯t eat them anymore!¡± ¡°You said it!¡± Letitia looked at him. ¡°No take-backs.¡± He was worried¡­ there was already something wrong with the soup, and her frequent vomiting had him concerned for her health. But soon he found an excuse for himself, Letitia was for him to punish, how could she be taken down by a bowl of soup! ¡°Also, no more trash picking!¡± Elgin warned. ¡°If I catch you again¡­¡± ¡°You think I enjoy it? ¡°Isn¡¯t it just for bus fare? Starting tomorrow, you ride with me to and from work.¡± Elgin dered, ¡°Happy now?¡± Letitia was taken aback, that was even worse than walking At least walking was liberating without having to y by his rules. But Elgin took her silence as consent. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. If you get spotted, I would be the embarrassing one!¡±N?velDrama.Org ? content. Not many at thepany know we¡¯re married.¡± They were secretly hitched, and there was no way Elgin would go public with her. In AquaCity, everyone was specting about the unseen Mrs. Ramirez, the knockout bound to be living the high life, hitched to the Ramirez family, set for life. What luck! Back in the living room, the butler presented a cup of tea. Elgin took a sip, his expression still sour Letitia ignored him digging through her bag and finding a scented candle, which she handed to the butler, ¡°It helps with sleep Just a little something.¡± Thank you, Mrs. Ramirez. Elgin¡¯s face turned even darker. A little something? She¡¯s got nerve! ¡°By the way, didn¡¯t you throw away that scented candle I gave you?¡± Letitia inquired. ¡°Why did Samson say¡­¡± Elgin tugged at his tie. ¡°How would I know? Must¡¯ve been the cleaners, thought it was thrown away by mistake and put it back on my desk!¡± ¡°Oh¡­ if you want a new one. ¡°I don¡¯t want it!¡± Elgin mmed the teacup down and stormed upstairs to his study. The butler ventured cautiously. ¡°Madam, Mr. Ramirez seems in a bad mood.¡± ¡°When is he ever not? Grumpy every day, like he¡¯s going through menopause. Just ignore him.¡± ¡®You¡¯ve upset Mr. Ramirez again.¡± Letitia was speechless, ¡°He started it. But it was odd that he was so mad today and yet didn¡¯ty a finger on her. Her phone pinged; it was a message from Ranen Mrs Ramirez, this is the money from those items I¡¯ve transferred It to you.] Then he transferred her seventeen bucks Letitia felt a bit ernbarrassed, Ranen was the CEO¡¯s assistant, well-paid, and here he was picking through trashte at night. She¡¯d buy him a coffee tomorrow as an apology. was about to go to bed, she heard Sh¡¯s voice outside, ¡°I want to see Mr. Ramirez, let me in. Mr Ramirez! It¡¯s me, Sheta? You can¡¯t be so heartless!I¡¯m here to apologize, please give me a chance¡­¡± Sheis? What was she doing back here? Elgin had just sent her home to reflect today, and now she couldn¡¯t wait to show up again? Outside the gate, Sh kept yelling and banging on the door, insisting on seeing Elgin before leaving. What a i What a joke, as if she¡¯d really sit tight and reflect, giving Letitia the chance and timel She¡¯s not that dumb! She though that bit of groveling, a little charm, and Mr. Ramirez would forgive her! ¡°Mr. Ramirez, if I can¡¯t see you today, I¡¯ll kneel here until I do!¡± ¡°Ms. Ward, please, you¡¯ll disturb Mr. Ramirez¡¯s peace and we really can¡¯t afford that mess! ¡°Go and get him, please ¡°But¡­¡± Sh actually just plopped down on her knees. The security guard nearly jumped out of his skin and was at a loss when Elgin¡¯s figure emerged slowly from the darkness. ¡°What¡¯s all this ruckus about, in the dead of night?¡± he scolded. ¡°Mr. Ramirez!¡± Sh eximed joyfully, looking at him. ¡°You finally agreed to see me!¡± Elgin frowned and said. ¡°Get up¡± ¡°No, I won¡¯t get up unless you forgive me.¡± She shuffled her knees, moving closer to Elgin. ¡°I¡¯ve been reflecting all afternoon. I know I messed up, and I¡¯m here to apologize to Letitia, to beg for her forgiveness!¡± Chapter 24 Chapter 24 On the vi steps, Letitia couldn¡¯t help but snort withughter when she heard that. Sh giving a heartfelt apology? There was no way she was sincerel Besides, Elgin wouldn¡¯t let Sh do such a thing. Sh was the woman he loved, so he would never make her do such thing! Sure enough, Elgin asked coolly ¡°You really see what you did wrong?¡± ¡°Uh, I shouldn¡¯t have stormed into the office and grabbed someone, that was wrong. Sh responded, ¡°I¡­ I just got blinded by jealousy for a moment, I love you too much We¡¯re the match made in heaven, fate brought us together that night to be each other¡¯s one and only. But, Letitia is your legit wife Mr Ramirez, it just breaks my heart Just thinking about her being able to snuggle up in bed with you, share meals with you, I get so jealous I could go crazy. Clearly, she stole everything that was meant for me. So I just wanted to take it out on her¡­ thankfully, you showed up in time!¡± Sh grabbed Elgins arm and gave it a gentle shake. Otherwise, I would¡¯ve made a huge mistake. Mr. Ramirez, these are the reflections I¡¯ve had today!¡± Her words rang with sincerity. She was like a woman madly in love, unraveling due to her powerful emotions, her every word etching the depth of her ardor for Elgin. ¡°I¡¯ll apologize to Letitia, I promise I won¡¯t bully her again, I¡¯ll be good. Mr. Ramirez, can you please stop being mad at ¦°¦¥ Sh pouted turning on the charm now. Admitting her mistake, showing love, being cutesy¡­ she had got it all down pat Elgin, already feeling guilty towards her, saw her sincere attitude and decided to let it slide. ¡°Get up.¡± He reached out to help her up. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Ramirez!¡± Sh jumped up with joy,tching onto his arm. ¡°I won¡¯t ever do anything to put you in a tough spot again. Sh said earnestly, ¡°I¡¯ll just wait patiently until you take me home!TM ¡°Okay¡± ¡°So, you forgive me, right?¡± Elgin nodded. ¡°Yay!¡± Sh beamed, ¡°I knew you were the best! Mr. Ramirez, I¡¯ll go apologize to Letitia!¡± Before Elgin could respond, she was already off and running. Seeing her approach, Letitia instinctively stepped back to keep her distance, ¡°What trick are you pulling this time?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to apologize.¡± Sh batted her eyshes innocently, ¡°Mr. Ramirez is watching¡± ¡°You¡¯re really here to apologize to me?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m standing right in front of you, aren¡¯t I?¡± Letitia eyed her warily. Sh smiled, looking as harmless as theye, nothing like the fierce kick she delivered to Letitia¡¯s stomach earlier. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Letitia Sh said, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have been so aggressive today, my dad already gave me an earful, and Mr. Ramirez punished me. Next time. I won¡¯t be so direct¡± You really are¡­¡± Shush, let me finish. I was too hasty, after all, you¡¯re the Mrs. Ramirez in name only. Just you wait!¡± Letitia stared at her, ¡°Why are you targeting me? Elgin promised to marry you, to divorce me, what more do you want?¡± h mayed closer and as Letitia tried to back away she grabbed her, ¡°Rx, with all these eyes on us, I won¡¯t do any to you just want to share a litle secret 7skont want to hear it Are you sure? Sh feigned te with a sigh. Even the bastard in your belly¡­¡± Letitas even widened as she covered her hand over Sh¡¯s mouth! Surely enough. Sh knew about her pregnancy! ¡°Seared Sh asked ¡°You don¡¯t want this secret getting out, do you?¡± to her was meant to cause a miscarriage! Letitia realized, her suspicions were uratel ¡°Get nd of the kid Sh said Letitia you¡¯re in hot water as it is, the kid¡¯s just dead weight.¡± Letitia shook her head, ¡°No, you have no right to decide my child¡¯s fate! ¡°Then don¡¯t me me for not being nice! With those harsh words, Sh turned to leave. Wait! Letitia called out to her. You do you know who he is?¡± That night, it was the director who got her out of the psych ward and sent her to the hotel, he must know everything! And Sh being the director¡¯s daughter, must be in on the secret! Of course I know Letitia, you¡¯re the only one in the dark¡± Who is i demanded. That night who was it! ¡°Ha ha ha ha, give it up, you¡¯ll never know in this lifetime! I¡¯d advise you to get rid of that bastard early, don¡¯t bring trouble upon yourself! Sh brushed off her hand, but titta wasn¡¯t about to let her go that easily The truth was within arm¡¯s reach! ¡°Ouch Sh suddenly cried out pitifully. ¡°You scratched me, Lalready apologized, why are you retaliating¡­¡± Elgin, approaching at that moment, heard her and shot a sharp nce at Letitia. But Letitia¡¯s mind waspletely consumed by the bombshell about the child¡¯s father. She needed to know, who was the man that night! ¡°Tell me!¡± she slung to Sh, ¡°That man who is he?¡± ¡°You¡¯re hurting me. ¡°Talk! Answer mel Sh struggled to leave, but Letitia gripped her tightly In the tussle ¡°Ah! Sh screamed as she tumbled down the stairs, rolling down one step at a time. Letitia stood there, frozen. ¡°Shl Elgin quickened his pace, rushing forward to pick her up ¡°It hurts, it hurts so much Sh whimpered in his arms, I came to apologize, and if she won¡¯t ept it that¡¯s fine, but why did she have to push me.¡± 7 take you to the hospital.¡± Letitia came back to her senses, trying to exin, ¡°No, I didn¡¯t push her. Elgin, I didn¡¯t!¡± His gaze was try. ¡°I saw it with my own eyes, and you¡¯re still making excuses?¡± really didn¡¯t do that was pulling her, how could I be pushing her?¡± She¡¯s cred ¡°You don¡¯t want to forgive me, and I¡¯m not forcing you, but how can you treat me this way. Letitia, I still Par tomterte entertainment industry to act, if i break a bone or my face gets ruined, my future is over ¡°Get your ass over here!¡± Elgin barked. Letitia struggled to take steps, descending the stairs. Just as she was about to speak, Elgin got her by the throat. ¡°You are out of line, Letitia, his fingers tightened, ¡°You really think I wouldn¡¯ty a finger on you now? Where¡¯s this confidenceing from?¡± ¡°I never thought that.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been too nice to youtely! You¡¯re getting way too cocky!¡± His grip on her neck tightened, forcing Letitia to tilt her head back, gasping for air. ¡°Hah¡­ she chuckled, ¡°You being nice? Elgin, you¡¯re the one who dragged me from heaven to hell!¡± Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Elgin¡¯s face was fierce, full of loathing. ¡°You got what you deserved!¡± ¡°Even if my dad killed yours, that was their issue. Why the hell are you taking it out on me?!¡± Chapter 25 Chapter 25 ¡°You¡¯re paying for the sins of the Sanders family! Elgin¡¯s velns were popping at his temples as he bellowed with rage. And Sh in his arms, smug and taunting, shed a victorious grin at her. Letitia conceded, ¡°Fine, if you think I pushed her, then yeah, I did it.¡± She didn¡¯t feel like exining anymore Elgin scooped up Sh and strode away. You better pray she¡¯s okay! For every bone she breaks, I¡¯ll break two of yours!¡± Letitia stood frozen, watching as Elgin gently ced Sh in the car and headed for the hospital. In her heart, Elgin was the devil incamate But even devils have a soft spot, it¡¯s just that she¡¯d never get to see il Letitia looked down at the scratches on the back of her hand, her skin broken, blood seeping through. The real culprit was Sh. Hiding behind an apology, she forced her to get an abortion! That night, Letitia didn¡¯t sleep, squatting by the door waiting for Elgin toe back Hearing footsteps, she looked up. But Elgin passed by her with icy indifference, ¡°Lucky you, Sh just got a scratch ¡°Oh. Elgin was about to enter his room but then stopped and turned to her, ¡°Letitia, being married to me and living in Ivory Towers is no different from being in a mental hospital. Get it?¡± He said, ¡°You are paying for your sin, just in a different ce, with different methods.¡± Letitia looked up at him, ¡°Can I go back to the mental hospital then?¡± Living with him proved to be more terrifying. She¡¯d rather return to that eerie, empty cottage. ¡°After the divorce, if you want to go back, I¡¯ll let you,¡± Elgin said, ¡°But not now.¡± Letitia felt a wave of despair. ¡°After being imprisoned two years, I married to you. Isn¡¯t that enough atonement? When will you let me go?¡± ¡°Heh, you really think you¡¯ll be free after we divorce?¡± Letitia closed her eyes, ¡°At least let me live a normal life!¡± ¡°In your dreams!¡± Elgin shattered all her fantasies. ¡°I haven¡¯t decided yet how I¡¯m going to torment you after the divorce, he sneered, ¡°But remember, you¡¯ll never escape my grasp!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± The door mmed shut, echoing loudly Letitia slowly clenched the nket, hugging her shoulders against the wall. The onlypany she had now was the tiny life inside her. ¡°Baby, mommy won¡¯t give up on you.¡± The Ramirez Group. Letitia arrived at her workstation on time. ¡°Yo, up bright and early today, Samson greeted her cheerfully, ¡°That scented candle you gave me worked well, absolutely brilliant!¡± She smiled politely. She didn¡¯t have to walk anymore, sharing a car with Elgin¡­ it was suffocating, and she feared being seen by colleagues, so she got off early. in ignored her, as if were thin air. ¡°By the way, Letitia,¡± Samson added, ¡°we¡¯re getting a new boss today. She¡¯s going to be the head of the Jewelry Department.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a She?¡± ¡°Yes, and a looker. She¡¯s superpetent; it took some doing to bring her onboard¡± At ten in the morning, the new head of the Jewelry Department showed up right on time. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Vidonia Bailey, I¡¯ll be working with Mr. Stewart to manage the Jewelry Department. I hope to have your cooperation to grow and strengthen our new brand.¡± The colleagues apuded warmly, weing her Letitia¡¯s eyshes fluttered and she looked away. So it was Vidonia, her college roommate and friend. They were once inseparable, no secrets, closer than sisters Now, Vidonia¡¯s reputation in the jewelry industry was on the rise, shining brightly, while Letitia remained in obscurity. Those two years in the mental hospital were her best youth years, trampled by Elgin. ¡°Ms. Bailey, you¡¯re a big deal in the jewelry world, Samson boasted, ¡°I¡¯m just like your assistant!¡± ¡°Exactly, Mr. Stewart, you have the money and the eye, just sit back and reap the rewards!¡± You could tell they were on good terms, joking around easily. ¡°Come on, Ms. Bailey, let me introduce you to someone, Samson said. ¡°Our chief designer, Letitia Sanders.¡± Hearing her name, Vidonia¡¯s expression changed, but she quickly put on her usual face, ¡°Nice to meet you, Ms. Sanders. ¡°Nice to meet you, Ms. Bailey.¡± Vidonia stared at Letitia for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled, ¡°I have some ideas I¡¯d like to discuss privately with Ms Sanders, if that¡¯s alright?¡± Before Letitia could speak, Samson nodded eagerly, ¡°Of course! You two are my left and right hands; you need to develop a good rapport!¡± Vidonia approached Letitia, ¡°Come to my office. Alright, Ms. Bailey.¡± Samson stroked his chin, musing to himself, Two beauties, am I too lucky? Will Elgin be jealous?¡± In the director¡¯s office. As soon as the door closed, Vidonia¡¯s face changed, ¡°Letitia¡¯ I never expected to see you here!¡± ¡®Donia..¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call me like that!¡± Vidonia paced back and forth in front of her, fuming. ¡°Did you ever consider me a friend? You vanished right after graduation, and I couldn¡¯t find you anywhere Do you know how many times I cried, how worried I was for you?¡± Letitia¡¯s eyes were downcast, I¡¯m sorry,¡± ¡°What happened that you couldn¡¯t even spare a moment to tell me? I went to your house, it was sold. I asked your neighbors, and they didn¡¯t tell me anything, like you¡¯d disappeared off the face of the earth!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorr¡­¡± you dare say those three words to me!: Lefits fell silent na was on the verge of exploding, ¡°Fine, you don¡¯t want to talk, then leave, let¡¯s pretend we never knew each other! Hearing her words, Letitia nodded, turned around silently ¡°Hey! You. ¡°Vidonia was seriously about to lose her marbles, ¡°Do you really not want to be my friend anymore?¡± That hit Letitia right in the feels. ¡°Vidonia, I¡¯m in a real mess, just a walking disaster, Letitia replied, ¡°You need to keep your distance if you want to work easily. I don¡¯t want you getting dragged down with me.¡± € 58 P ¡°Bute on, you¡¯re the chief designer for a jewelry brand under the Ramirez Group, that¡¯s far from terrible! Back in school, you totally outshone me in everything! With your talent, you could start your own brand and make it rain, easy peasy. Being just a designer is practically a crime against your genius!¡± Letitia could only respond with a wry smile, ¡°Vidonia, there¡¯s a lot you¡¯re better off not knowing.¡± ¡°Fine, fine, keep your secrets forever, if you¡¯re so good at it!¡± Vidonia turned her head away, steamed up and ignoring her Letitia felt awful too, but thinking about the hot mess that was her life, she didn¡¯t want to drag Vidonia into it Seeing her actually leave, Vidonia couldn¡¯t swallow her pride enough to go after her, so she sought out Samson instead. ¡°What do you want? Samson replied, ¡°You wanna know Letitia¡¯s background?¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± ¡°She¡¯s¡­ um, don¡¯t tell anyone, this is just between us.¡± Vidonia, clearly impatient, said, ¡°Yeah, yeah, spill the beans already!¡± ¡°She¡¯s the boss¡¯ wife, Samson said. Vidonia¡¯s jaw nearly hit the floor. What!? Letitia married Elgin? Talk about striking it rich and marrying into money! Then why on earth did Letitia say her life was such a hot mess and so unhappy? This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Samson cautioned, ¡°Vidonia, I¡¯m only telling you because I trust you, so keep your lips sealed, got it?¡± ¡°Are they happy together?¡± ¡°Well¡­ I don¡¯t know. But there¡¯s something fishy about their rtionship, it¡¯s full of secrets.¡± Vidonia pressed, ¡°How so?¡± ¡°Hang around the office a few more days, and you¡¯ll smell something¡¯s off.¡± ¡°Hey, Mr. Stewart, Vidonia looked at him with disdain, ¡°You¡¯re Mr. Ramirez¡¯s best friend and you can¡¯t sniff out the gossip? Some insider of the Ramirez Group you are, pfft!¡± Samson shrugged, ¡°I know all the dirt on Gin, but his marriage is the one thing he won¡¯t talk about.¡± Back at her desk, Letitia felt like she was choking on her emotions. Vidonia was her best friend, they shared everything, and she desperately wanted to tell her about the crap she¡¯d been through these years. But what¡¯s the point? It¡¯d only drag Vidonia down with her. ¡°Ding-dong-¡°A text message pinged on her phone. It was from Elgin (Get your butt to my office.] Resigned, Letitia stood up. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, you wanted to see me?¡± she said, standing properly in front of his desk. Elgin tossed an invitation at her, saying, ¡°Take a look.¡± Letitia picked it up, ¡°A charity auction?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± What did that have to do with her? At such a swanky event, she didn¡¯t have the creds to get in. Could it be¡­ ¡°You¡¯re taking me with you?¡± Letitia ventured. Elgin¡¯s lips curled in derision, sneering. ¡°You think you deserve to attend it?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°Good¡± Elgin lounged back, legs crossed, ¡°I¡¯m taking Sh.¡± 05 ¡°You¡¯re going by yourself,¡± he said. ¡°Find a corner where I can see you and stay there.¡± Ledon¡¯t know the reason, but she knew she had no say in the matter. Chapter 26 Chapter 26 ¡°Got it. It¡¯s just¡­¡± Letitia said, ¡°I don¡¯t have a dress for it.¡± Elgin leaned back, eyes half-closed, eyeing her. ¡°Letitia, do you remember the first time we met?¡± She hesitated, then nodded, ¡°Yeah.¡± More like seared into her soul, an unforgettable nightmare, because that marked the start of her living hell. Their first encounter was at AquaCity University, in the dean¡¯s office. Naive as she was, she walked in only to find Elgin in ck. His presence was daunting ¨C devilishly handsome with an air of menace. ¡°You¡¯re Dr. Sanders daughter?¡± ¡°Yes.. yes ¡°Letitia Sanders? ¡°Yes ¡°Good¡± Elgin stood and approached, ¡°Come with me.¡± And that¡¯s how he took control of her. So much so¡­ she never got to say goodbye to Vidonia. Elgin suddenly snorted, Tonight. I¡¯ll take you shopping. Now, get out!¡± He realized Letitia was still the same as when they first met, no big changes. She wasn¡¯t crazy, not numb with despair, like a flower blooming among thorns, even more beautiful. She shed her schoolgirl innocence for a woman¡¯s allure, curves in all the right ces. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Elgin closed his eyes, shaking the mess from his mind. After work, Letitia sprinted to Elgin¡¯s car, her face flushed with panic, terrified of being seen. The car stopped at a high-end boutique. This ce catered to VIPS only, with personal designers for measurements, unique styles you wouldn¡¯t find on anyone else But¡­ everything here was pricey. So, Letitia hesitated, ¡°Are you sure you want to shop here for me?¡± ¡®Yeah.¡± ¡°But¡­ ¡°You don¡¯t like it here? Letitia replied, ¡°No. Can you just give me the cash instead?¡± Elgin stepped out of the car, stone-faced, ¡°Dream on!¡± Once inside, Elgin ditched her with the staff and settled down with a coffee in the lounge The manager personally took charge, spending an hour to dress Letitia up from head to toe! As the curtain slowly drew back, Letitia stepped forward, lifting her dress. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, take a look, the manager said, ¡°She¡¯s stunning¡­ Elgin looked up, his gaze filled with awe. Diamonds adorned the her, sparkling brilliantly, refracting dazzling light with every step Letitia took. The off-the-shoulder design showcased her corbone and slender neck perfectly. Not to mention her waspish waist and those curves ¡°The dress suits her perfectly, she looks even better than the mannequins, the manager praised, ¡°With such a Captivating face and stunning figure, che¡¯ll be the star of any event!¡± Letitia felt uneasy. Her reflection was too ethereal, too gorgeous. She hadn¡¯t seen herself like this in ages, thest time being at her 20th birthday party. Back when she was her parents¡¯ little princess. Elgin watched her, momentarily forgetting to look away. The first time he saw Letitia, he knew she was a beauty in the making. Now, she had fully blossomed. ¡°Will this do?¡± Letitia asked softly, ¡°What do you think?¡± Elgin snapped back to reality, looking back at his magazine, ¡°Ugly.¡± ¡°What?!¡± The manager was baffled. ¡°Get another outfit! Elgin demanded, Something more subdued¡± How could she dress so remarkably, glowing like a goddess? Elgin thought. Just thinking about how those men at the party would have their eyes glued to her, ogling non-stop, Elgin wished he could hide her away! No one should get a peek! In the end, Letitia slipped into a pale pink gown. It was simple and understated, yet it couldn¡¯t hide her good looks. Elgin handed her off to the driver. Take her to the venue.¡± Then, he went to pick up Sh. Letitia felt like Cindere, all dolled up in a gorgeous dress, riding in her pumpkin carriage, knowing that at the stroke of midnight, the magic would wear off and she¡¯d be back to her miserable life. The charity auction was a high-profile event, attended by big shots from all walks of life, the who¡¯s who of society. Letitia, being alone, stuck out like a sore thumb, and nobody knew her. So, when she tried to enter the venue, the doorman stopped her, saying, ¡°This ain¡¯t no ce where anyone in a dress can just waltz in. Go hang around somewhere else!¡± Letitia answered with her head held high, ¡°I¡¯m here for the charity auction.¡± ¡°Entry is by invitation only! Got yours?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Letitia choked. Elgin didn¡¯t give her one! But then, a bunch of people strolled in like they owned the ce, and the doorman didn¡¯t even check their invites. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you checking their invitation? Letitia asked. ¡°Their faces are their passes, everybody in AquaCity knows them. And you? Who the heck are you? Scram!¡± With that, the doorman tried to shoo her away Letitia, in her high heels which she hadn¡¯t worn in ages and not quite used to them, with her long dress hem, stumbled back a couple of steps, nearly fell. ¡°Watch out. Suddenly, a pair of hands steadied her. Only then did Letitia regain her bnce, turning with gratitude to see who it was, ¡°Thank you¡± But her smile froze when she saw it was Walden. ¡°Why are you all by yourself? Walden asked. ¡°Where¡¯s Mr. Ramirez?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me, Mr. Sullivan, it¡¯s none of your business.¡± Walden sighed, How could he leave you here¡­ to be bullied.¡± Letitia pulled her hand back, ¡°I just left my invite in the car, I¡¯ll go get it now.¡± ¡°No need¡± Walden grabbed her again, ¡°Come in with me.¡± When the doorman saw Walden, he quickly stered on a smile, ¡°Mr. Sullivan, this girl just popped up from nowhere. I¡¯ve seen plenty of these girls trying to snag a man!¡± Walden¡¯s face darkened, ¡°She¡¯s my friend, what nonsense are you spouting?¡± ¡°Ah¡­ sorry, sorry, right this way, please!¡± Walden turned to Letitia, ¡®Let¡¯s go.¡± She had to, she couldn¡¯t just stand awkwardly at the entrance forever. Just as Letitia was about to agree, amotion started behind them. ¡°Mr. Ramirez is here!¡± ¡°Whoa, talk about a VIPI ¡°Mr. Ramirez rarely shows up, and he¡¯s got a date today!¡± ¡°Is that woman¡­ could it be the newlywed Mrs. Ramirez?¡± The crowd surged towards where Elgin was. Letitia looked back to see Sh clinging to Elgin¡¯s arm, the pair nked by bodyguards making their way to the entrance. Elgin also caught sight of her, then his gaze turned even colder towards Walden by her side! In such a short time, she was already cozying up to an old me! Such a fickle woman! Sh, on the other hand, was visibly basking in the attention, chin up and proud. ¡°Oh, Mr. Ramirez,¡¯ she said deliberately, Howe Letitia¡¯s so close to another man?¡± Elgin¡¯s face was stone She¡¯s got no sense of propriety Sh huffed, ¡°I bet she got herself a man just to make you jealous because you brought me Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Never one to miss a chance to belittle Letitia, Sh tossed out a derogatoryment and then slyly checked Elgin¡¯s reaction. The look on his face suggested that Letitia and the gentleman she was with were more than just passing acquaintances. Elgin looked away and walked past Letitia into the venue without giving her another nce. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Letitia,¡± Walden began, ¡°How can he show up with another woman and leave you out here?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my business, not yours.¡± ¡°No! I¡¯m going to confront him! ¡°Walden!¡± Letitia grabbed him, ¡°Don¡¯t make a scene! I¡¯m fine, let¡¯s just go inside.¡± Walden couldn¡¯t believe her, ¡°Letitia, how can you stand Elgin doing this to you?¡± She smiled, ¡°I¡¯ve got no right to be angry, so there¡¯s nothing to tolerate¡± Walden looked at her with pity ¡°Alright,¡± she said, ¡°Don¡¯t offend Elgin on my ount; it won¡¯t do you any favors.¡± To make Walden give up, she added, ¡°And it won¡¯t move me either.¡± Elgin was already sensitive about her past with Walden, and now, with her as the head designer at the Ramirez Group Jewelry Department and Walden as the general manager of the Sullivan Group Sunbeam Gems, they werepetitors! Inside the venue, everyone was sipping champagne,ughter filled the room. Letitia found a corner and focused on the desserts on the table. Elgin was the center of attention, surrounded by people eager to suck up to him. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, is this Mrs. Ramirez?¡± someone inquired. Elgin didn¡¯t bother to rify. Sh wasn¡¯t yet, but she might be in the future ¡°The title isn¡¯t that important, Sh responded, ¡°what matters is that I¡¯m the one by Elgin¡¯s side right now.¡± The savvy crowd got the hint. So, this woman wasn¡¯t Mrs. Ramirez, but her status was even higher, able to be his plus-one at the event! So they began to tter Sh- ¡°Ms. Ward, you look so amazing today!¡± ¡°You¡¯re a perfect match with Mr. Ramirez.¡± ¡°Ms. Ward, you should join ourdies¡¯ gatherings more often.¡± Sh was over the moon, loving the limelight. Those directors and producers who¡¯d snubbed her before were now falling over themselves to kiss up to her! Elgin frowned slightly, he never liked these kinds of events.. His gaze briskly swept the room, before instinctively finding Letitia. From a distance, he quietly observed her. Even a simple dress couldn¡¯t hide her shapely figure, she seemed to glow even in the corner. Letitia was savoring a cupcake, eating it slowly with a spoon. Feeling the intense gaze, she turned around, Elgin quickly looked away Letitia didn¡¯t notice that, but Sh did ¡°Mr. Ramirez, I¡¯m going to the restroom, she suddenly said, ¡°I¡¯ll be right back.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Leaving Elgin¡¯s side, Sh made a beeline for Letitia. She deliberately stood right behind Letitia without making a peep. Totally oblivious to Sh lurking behind her, Letitia spun around with a cake in hand, and-bam!-she bumped right into The cake took a dive, and frosting got all over Sh¡¯s dress. ¡°Gosh!¡± Sh shrieked, ¡°My dress, it cost a pretty penny!¡± Letitia was still in the dark about what just happened when Sh went off again, ¡°You did that on purpose, didn¡¯t you? You¡¯re just green with envy! What now? The party¡¯s just started, and can you even afford to pay for my dress?¡± She made such a ruckus that people nearby started crowding around. Of course, they took her side-after all, she was Mr. Ramirez¡¯s date. As for Letitia, who the heck knew her! ¡°It was you who stood behind me silent as a shadow-I didn¡¯t even see you there. Stop ming everything on me!¡± Letitia fired back. ¡°You ruin my dress and now you¡¯re flipping the script on me?¡± Letitia wasn¡¯t in the mood for a tangle, so she whipped out a tissue, ¡°Here, I¡¯ll clean it.¡± That¡¯s not gonna cut it!¡± Sh snapped, ¡°Now, take off your dress and give it to me!¡± Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Letitia finally Letitia understood Sh¡¯s ulterior motive By having her dress, Sh could leave her with nothing to wear. No way Letitia could show her face at the event now; she could either hide in the bathroom or just leave. She was already tucked away in a corner, minding her own business. Why couldn¡¯t Sh just back off? ¡°Sorry, Ms. Ward¡± Letitia cracked a smile, sneering, ¡°You¡¯re kinda on the short side, and my size¡­ it ain¡¯t gonna fit you. That dress would be dragging on the floor on you,¡± Letitia shrugged, ¡°Wish I could help you out, but you can¡¯t pull it off.¡± ¡°You bitch ¡°Wipe it off, and if that doesn¡¯t work, I¡¯ll go to the restroom. I¡¯ll wash it for you and blow it dry.¡± Like Sh would go for that She was done talking. She just reached for Letitia¡¯s dress, ¡°You¡¯re giving your dress to me, whether you like it or not!¡± That pink dress was obviously a gift from Mr. Ramirez. In Sh¡¯s mindset, Letitia, having been in a madhouse, was a low-life and thus, undeserving of unting such an extravagant garment!! ¡°What the hell, Sh!¡± ¡°If you won¡¯t take it off, guess I¡¯ll have to lend a hand!¡± In a public ce like this, if Letitia got disheveled, it¡¯d be a major face-nt. Where¡¯s her pride supposed to go? Sh was ying dirty! Right then, Vidonia stormed in and blocked Sh, ¡°Whoa, whoa, what¡¯s going on? You think you can just swipe her dress in broad daylight?¡± With Vidonia pitching in, Sh was no match all by herself. And Vidonia gave Sh a shove that nearly sent her stumbling. ¡°Who the hell are you!¡± Sh barked, ¡°You dare to push me?¡± ¡°My name¡¯s Vidonia!¡± ¡°I¡¯m warning you, stay outta my way!¡± Vidonia chuckled, ¡°Well, I¡¯m all up in it now, so what!¡± She put Letitia behind her, just like back in their school days when she¡¯d step up if anyone bullied her. ¡°Letitia, you okay? Fix your dress, quick.¡± Letitia quickly fixed her dress, clutching her chest, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°I was nearly toote, you¡¯d have been humiliated!¡± Vidonia asked, ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± Letitia had to spill it, ¡°She¡¯s Elgin¡¯s date.¡± ¡°No freakin¡¯ way!¡± Sh huffed, ¡°Now you know who I am, right? Make yourself scarce if you know what¡¯s good for you. I¡¯m only after Letitia!¡± ¡°Pssh, feeling all high and mighty, mistress?¡± Vidonia rolled her eyes, ¡°You¡¯re not more than a whore!¡± Sh was livid, ¡°What did you say?!¡± ¡°Where did that attitudee from? It¡¯s you who should be apologizing to Letitia.¡± ¡°Me, apologize to her? No chance!¡± Sh snapped, ¡°Alright, Vidonia? Better hope our paths don¡¯t cross again!¡± Letto quickly interjected, ¡°It¡¯s not Vidonia¡¯s problem Sh. This is between us ¡°Hey, it¡¯s buzzing in here¡± That¡¯s when Samson rocked up. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Vidonia, not in the best mood, replied. ¡°Ran into a mad dog!¡± Samson looked at Sh ¡°Isn¡¯t this Gin¡¯s plus one? What¡¯s got you so fired up? If there¡¯s an issue with Vidonia, she¡¯s under me Come to me ¡°And you are ** ¡°Samson¡± he said, ¡°Vice President of the Ramirez Group¡± With Samson stepping in, Sh couldn¡¯t throw her weight around anymore ¡°Mr. Stewart she switched to a polite face instantly. ¡°Letitia stained my dress.¡± ¡°Where? Let me see ¡°Right here. huh?¡± Sh looked down to find nothing Whatever was there got rubbed off in the scuffle. It was just a smudge of cream, Sh was making a big deal out of it ¡°Are my eyes deceiving me? Samson spread his hands. ¡°I don¡¯t see it¡± Vidonia chimed in, ¡°Mr. Stewart, your eyes are just fine. It¡¯s her heart that¡¯s got problems!¡± Sh was red with embarrassment Why was Letitia always so lucky to have people helping her? Grinding her teeth, Sh could only skulk away. ¡°Don¡¯t go¡± said Samson, ¡°Look, herees Gin. Let¡¯s get his fair say.¡± Elgin had appeared out of nowhere. Hands in his trouser pockets, tall and cool, his gaze icy as it swept over everyone ¡°Mr. Ramirez!¡± Seeing him, Sh rushed over, ¡°You gotta help me.¡± He simply said. ¡°The auction¡¯s about to start.¡± ¡°My dress¡± N?velDrama.Org ? content. ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll have the manager send over all theirtest collections to you¡± Sh felt like she¡¯d regained some face, grinning. ¡°Thanks, Mr. Ramirez!¡± She red triumphantly at Letitia and strutted off on Elgin¡¯s arm. ¡°You damn¡­¡± Vidonia looked ready to charge ¡°Vidonia,¡± Letitia shook her head, ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Letitia, stop letting people walk all over you! You seem to have forgotten that you¡¯re Mrs. Ramirez!!¡± How could she allow a mistress to treat her like that? If this were Vidonia, she¡¯d have made sure Sh got a good beaten! ¡°Earlier¡­ thanks, Letitia said, ¡°But next time, don¡¯t be so rash. Sh holds grudges, she¡¯lle after you.¡± Vidonia stomped, ¡°Fine, my bad for helping you!¡± She stormed off, and Samson called after her, ¡°Hey, don¡¯t get so worked up.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not Vidonia crossed her arms. ¡°Mr. Stewart, do me a favor, will ya?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a fee.¡± n trest you to a month of meals. Santon nodded. ¡°You got it? Vidoria sad, wanna figure out what¡¯s the big secret with stitia ¡®Leave it it to me. ¡°You sure you can handle it? Vidonia sounded skeptical ¡°If youe up empty handed, you¡¯re buying me dinner for a year!¡± Samson was brimming with confidence, ¡°I¡¯m actually pretty curious myself about the whole Gin and Letitia thing. This gives me the perfect excuse to dig around and satisfy my curiosity¡± Vidonia and he high-fived, ¡°Deal!¡± Just then, the lights at the venue started to dim, and all the spotlights were trained on the stage. The auction was about to begin. Thank you all for attending this charity auction, the host said. ¡°The proceeds from tonight¡¯s event will all go to help those in need. And now, let¡¯s reveal our first item up for bidding. As the cloth was whisked away, an emerald bracelet came into everyone¡¯s view It was absolutely stunning, shimmering and crystal clear. Letitia murmured, ¡°That¡¯s my mother¡¯s bracelet¡­¡± Chapter 29 Chapter 29 She knew that emerald bracelet like the back of her hand. It had been on her mother Malinda¡¯s wrist since she could remember, an heirloom from her grandma. Malinda had said that when Letitia tied the knot, the bracelet would be hers But then the Sanders family hit rock bottom, and every valuable thing in the house got hawked. She never expected to see that emerald bracelet again today. ¡°Starting bid, two hundred thousand. May the highest bidder take it!¡± Two hundred thousand! As if Letitia had that kind of money! And the crowd, all wealthy, barely gave a damn about the emerald bracelet Then, out of the blue, a soft female voice piped up. ¡°I bid two hundred thousand.¡± Heads swiveled to the owner of the voice. There was Letitia, holding up her bid number, resolute as ever. ¡°You? Do you even have the cash?¡± Sh sneered, spotting her, ¡°You couldn¡¯t cough up two thousand, let alone two million!¡± The room erupted inughter, and Letitia bit her lip. She was broke, but she couldn¡¯t just stand by and watch the emerald bracelet go to someone else. Sh blurted out loud, ¡°Mr. Auctioneer, ignore her, she¡¯s just stirring the pot!¡± Letitia slowly lowered her bidding sign. Sorry, Mom, I¡¯ve failed you, couldn¡¯t keep safe your beloved bracelet. Elgin watched Letitia thoughtfully Just then, Walden chimed in, ¡°Three hundred thousand.¡± At that voice, Letitia¡¯s head snapped up. He recognized it, too! Walden gave her a slight smile, a reassuring look. He¡¯d buy it and then give it to her. The auctioneer nodded, ¡°Alright, Mr. Sullivan bids three hundred thousand. Any advance on that?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the deal, Sh muttered, ¡°is there something special about that emerald bracelet that everyone¡¯s after it¡­.¡± Elgin quipped, ¡°You want it?¡± Actually, Sh wasn¡¯t into this bracelet, but then she thought, if Letitia was dying to have it, she couldn¡¯t let her have it. ¡°I do!¡± Sh said, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, can you buy it for me?¡± Elgin¡¯s lips curled up as he raised his bidding sign- ¡°One million.¡± The bid skyrocketed, sparking a buzz throughout the crowd. ¡°Mr. Ramirez is in the game?¡± ¡°What¡¯s so special about this bracelet?¡± ¡°Who¡¯d dare to outbid Mr. Ramirez? Got a death wish?¡± ¡°That bracelet¡¯s worth, at most, five hundred thousand Eigins expression was unreadable, but his intentions were clear-he had to have that bracelet! ¡°Gre milon the auctioneer was taken aback, ¡°Now, Mr. Ramirez has bid one million Letitia felt a wave of despair way Letitia, hitching up her skirt, walked up to Elgin, ¡°Why do you want it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s none of your business why I buy anything¡± is it for Sh? Elgin¡¯s eyebrows quirked. ¡°So what if it is, or isn¡¯t?¡± ¡°There¡¯ll be plenty more good stuff, the emerald bracelet¡¯s just the first Letitia said, softening her tone, ¡°no need to waste your money¡± Elgin nced at her replying icily, ¡°I¡¯m loaded¡± Letitia was speechless ¡°You here to make a scene again?¡± Sh pushed Letitia aside, ¡°Mr. Ramirez giving me a gift is none of your business!¡± ¡°Sh, you don¡¯t deserve that emerald bracelet!¡± Sh was about to retort when Elgin asked coolly. ¡°Letitia, is this bracelet important to you?¡± She rarely lost herposure, always seemed to let things slide, but now she was visibly worked up ¡°Yes¡± Letitia admitted. ¡°It belonged to my mother Her voice choked up see Elgin said. ¡°Then I have even more reason to buy it.¡± Letitia clenched her dress palms sweating. Once he had it, there was no chance he¡¯d give it to her. Because he despised the Sanders family so much¡­. ¡°Ainight, Letitia nodded, ¡°It¡¯s your call to buy, but please, don¡¯t give it to Sh, okay?¡± He scoffed. ¡°I do with it as I please!¡± Letitia was crushed ¡°One million for the first time, one million for the second,¡± the auctioneer announced, ¡°Any higher bids?¡± Walden raised his sign, ¡°One and a half million.¡± Elgin continued, ¡°Two million Walden was about to bid again, but Letitia shook her head at him It¡¯s lost cause, he could never beat Elgin Walden was frustrated he knew too well how much that emerald bracelet meant to Letitia. But then, his phone buzzed with a message. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare cross Mr Ramirez! I¡¯ve just frozen your bank ount!¡± It was from the Sullivan family ¡°Soid, for two million!¡± the auctioneer hammered down, ¡°Congrattions, Mr. Ramirez!¡± Sh was grinning from ear to ear. She figured tomorrow¡¯s headlines would be all about Mr. Ramirez spending a cool Two mil on the emerald bracelet to make her smile! A hostess carefully brought over the emerald bracelet. Letitia closed her eyes and walked away. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. What was the point of staying? To watch Elgin slip the bracelet onto Sh¡¯s wrist? could only retreat somewhere private and have a good cry Aftax crying her eyes out, she¡¯d have to pretend nothing happened, can¡¯t let them see her tears 1. the fosters cald, holding a tray. Your emerald bracelet Elgin casually grabbed it and nced at it. Sh joyfully lifted her hand, waiting for Elgin to put it on her himself.. With a nk, Elgin chucked the emerald bracelet back onto the tray like he was tossing a rock, clearly not giving a damn. Sh was stunned, ¡°Mr Pamirez Take it to Ivory Towers, lock it up in the safe ¡°Yes, Mr. Pamirez ¡°Hey, that¡¯s mine! Sh didn¡¯t get what was happening. Mr. Ramirez, you bought it for me, why take it back home?¡± ¡°Did I ever say it was for you? Sh was dumbfounded It seemed Elgin never actually promised it was for her. He only said he would buy it, never said he¡¯d buy it for her. Seeing Elgin¡¯s mood was off, Sh wisely didn¡¯t press the issue. No wares, she¡¯d find a way to get it from himter! In the restroom. Letitia leaned against the wall, head tilted back, trying not to let the tears ruin her makeup. Afterposing herself, Letitia stepped out only to find Walden waiting for her.. ¡°Here He handed her a tissue. Thanks ¡°I can¡¯t take it Walden said quiltily. Elgin still ended up buying the emerald bracelet Letitia hung her head, ¡°Wasn¡¯t that expected?¡± ¡°Letitia, no matter what, he¡¯s your husband, he should. ¡°You know how much Elgin hates the Sanders family.¡± Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Walden fell silent for a few seconds before finally letting out a sigh, ¡°I only me myself for not being strong enough to protect you. I was shipped off abroad by my old man back in the day, and now he¡¯s frozen my bank ount¡± He mmed his fist into the wall with a thud. Letitia cracked a bitter smile. ¡°With the Sanders family drama, everyone wants to steer clear, scared stiff of getting bumed by Elgar¡¯s wrath Letitia, Dr. Preston is top notch How could such a huge mistake happen under his watch, leading to a life lost?¡± ¡°There was no mistake on my dad¡¯s part ¡°What did you say Letitia looked at him, ¡°Walden. I¡¯m saying my dad ims he was framed. Do you believe it?¡± This secret, held closely to her chest, was one she dared share only with Walden. She knew no one else would trust her, and they¡¯d likely even spill the beans to Elgin ¡°I believe in your father, Walden said with conviction, locking eyes with her ¡°There¡¯s definitely something fishy going on here!¡± Letitia, equally determined. Till get to the bottom of it One day, I¡¯ll clear my dad¡¯s name and put an end to all this hate.¡± ¡°Letitia, how are you going to do it alone? If Elgin catches wind, he¡¯ll make it harder for you! Let me help you!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t even know where to start, you can¡¯t help me right now. But thanks for the offer.¡± Letitia managed a weak smile and turned to head back to the event In the distance. Sh was keeping a keen eye on her She saw Letitia exiting from the direction of the restroom, and that Mr. Sullivan was right on her heels Something¡¯s definitely cooking between those two. A calcting glint shone in Sh¡¯s eyes. The auction was in in high gear with bids flying fast and furiously, yet Elgin hadn¡¯t ced another bid. ¡°So it¡¯s a two-hundred thousand dor emerald and you drop two million on it,¡± said Samson, stroking his beard in contemtion. He turned to Elgin, What¡¯s your game n, Gin?¡± ¡°Got money to burn.¡± Elgin swirled the champagne in his hand, ¡°It¡¯s all for charity anyway Bid more, donate more, and the Ramirez Group gets a shiny rep¡± ¡°Smart cookie, Samson pped away, ¡°You¡¯re the man!¡± Elgin shoved the champagne into his hand, Tm rolling out, you stick around¡± ¡°What do you mean, stick around? I wanna bail too! ¡°Cause you¡¯re my underling. There¡¯s an after party after the auction, you¡¯re going on behalf of the Ramirez Group.¡± Samson gnashed his teeth, ¡°Gin, you cold-blooded guy!¡± In the car, Elgin rubbed his temples, ¡°Back to Ivory Towers¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Ramirez¡± As the car glided away, Elgin picked up his phone and texted Letitia-[Get your butt back here.] Letitia, relieved upon receiving the message, was ready to leave But then her phone buzzed again. it was a message from an unknown number, [Wanna know who the man sleeping with you is? Meet at the the Hilton Hotel room 68RK) Le stantly knew who was behind this message-Sh¡¯ It had to be her What was Shele up to? Would the really reveal the more identity? But if she didn¡¯t go, she¡¯d be out of leads Meanwhile, Elgin was pestering her to get home¡­. After a moment¡¯s thought, Letitia headed straight for the hotel to scope things out! Standing at the door of room 6888, Letitia rang the doorbell several times with no answer She tried the handle and found the door unlocked! ¡°Sh?¡± Letitia stepped in cautiously. ¡°I know it¡¯s you, cut the crap ande out! You sent the message, I figured it out Only you and your dad would know about that incident!¡± The room was eerily quiet. Was it possible there was no one there at all? Was Sh just messing with her? Just as Letitia was puzzled, a sound came from the bedroom. Someone was there! She peeked inside and instantly broke into a cold sweat. Walden! Why was it him? There he was, lying on the bed, shirt agape, eyes shut, seemingly asleep. This is bad! She¡¯d been set up! Realizing the trap, Letitia spun on her heel and bolted for the door. But-the door wouldn¡¯t budge! It was locked from the outside! ¡°Sh¡¯ Open up!¡± Letitia pounded on the door, ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± No matter how much she shouted, there was no response. It looked like she was stuck here for the night! No, no, hold on, keep it together¡­ She still had her phone! Letitia quickly took out her phone, but before she could unlock it, her head began to spin. Her vision blurred, and she couldn¡¯t stand. What on earth was happening¡­ Her body swayed, and she ultimately sumbed to unconsciousness At Ivory Towers, Elgin stepped out of the car, walking towards the vi as his phone chirped incessantly He nced at it-it was from Sh [Mr. Ramirez, why¡¯d you rush off? It¡¯s so boring here all alone. But, I happened to bump into an old friend, had a chat in her room, take a look] Sh had also sent a selfie. Elgin couldn¡¯t care less, he barely looked before shutting off his phone He stopped in his tracks, something nagged at him. Wait, that photo¡¯s background¡­ Elgin pulled out his phone again, zoomed in on the picture, scrutinizing it closely. There, in the top righter of the photo, someone was about to enter a hotel room. That someone was unmistakably.. Letitia! He¡¯d personally chosen that dress for her, there¡¯s no way he¡¯d be mistaken! was Letitia doing at the hotel sote? Hadn¡¯t he told her toe home? Koyer He spun on his heel, feaped back into the car. cet you better not have done anything to betray my trust! High managed toplete what was normally a half hour drive in just slightly over ten minutes. He merived emang aura about him, his face cold as ice, no one dared approach! Reaching room 6888, Elgin kicked the door in and made a beeline for the bedroom. The thunderous kick startled the two on the bed awake. Letitia stared at the ceiling her head still groggy, her body drained of strength. Next to her, Walden, holding his head, ¡°Where am I.¡± They looked at each other confusion in their eyes. The next second, Letitia went ashen faced, ¡°We¡¯re done for Before she could even get out of bed, Elgin¡¯s figure had appeared. His sharp gaze cut like a knife as he snapped, ¡°How dare you!¡± Letitia actually had the nerve to cheat on him! She must have a death wish! There they were on the king size bed, Walden and Letitia lying side by side, with clothes scattered all over the floor¡­ Anyone with eyes could tell what was going on! ¡°No, it¡¯s not Letitia shook her head frantically, ¡°Elgin, it¡¯s not what you think!¡± Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I saw it with my own two eyes, caught you red handed. You think I¡¯m blind?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like what you saw! But her words sounded so feeble, so powerless. There she was, disheveled with Walden on the hotel bed, a lone man and a woman ¨C there was no talking their way out of this one Elgin strode over, grabbed her wrist, and yanked hard-He pulled her right off the bed¡¯ Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Letitia fell on the ground, and even heard her wrist snap like a twig It was dislocated. The pain had her breaking out in cold sweats, ¡°Elgin, I swear I didn¡¯t betray you¡­¡± Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Shut it!¡± Elgin peeled off his suit jacket and roughly threw it over Letitia. Her half-bare shoulders were a sight for his eyes only! And now, now Walden got his grubby hands on her! Damn it! They all can go to hell! ¡°This is just great, looks like you¡¯ve cozied up to your ex in bed,¡± Elgin¡¯s forehead veins were throbbing, ¡°Letitia, I really underestimated you!¡± Walden was also slowlying to his senses, blurting out in a panic, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, nothing happened between Letitia and me, you¡¯ve misunderstood!¡± ¡°You call this a misunderstanding?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what happened,¡± Walden recalled, ¡°I was clearly at the auction, how did I end up in this hotel room?¡± His memory was a nk te Struggling to remember, Walden only caught glimpses, ¡°A waiter handed me a drink, I drank it, and then¡­ everything went ck. Next thing I know, I¡¯m waking up here.¡± Elgin snorted, ¡°So he gets wasted and you just came in to take care of him?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not it, I didn¡¯t even know Walden was in the room!¡± ¡°Then what are you doing here, huh? ¡°¡­¡± Letitia¡¯s words stuck in her throat, stunned. She wanted to find out who the father of her child was, that¡¯s why she was lured here. But she couldn¡¯t let Elgin know that! ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Can¡¯t answer that?¡± Elgin snapped, gripping her chin hard, ¡°Answer me!¡± Letitia looked up at him, her eyes welling up with tears, ¡°Elgin, nothing happened between Walden and me. This is all. someone else¡¯s plot to frame me! Elgin, if you don¡¯t believe me, we can go to the hospital for a check-up right now! See if I¡¯ve been touched by a man tonight!¡± Walden quickly added, ¡°I¡¯ll cooperate with any tests.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Letitia said with resolve in her eyes, ¡°the innocent have nothing to hide!¡± Elgin¡¯s gaze swept back and forth between the two. Even if Letitia had the guts of a burr, she wouldn¡¯t dare betray him, but this scene had indeed unfolded. ¡°Fine, we¡¯ll check, Elgin scoffed, ¡°Letitia, don¡¯t forget your mother is still in my hands!¡± He grabbed Letitia by the shoulder and hauled her up. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Letitia!¡± Walden called out anxiously, trying to follow. ¡°Come after us and you¡¯re a dead man!¡± Elgin moved swiftly, practically dragging Letitia along. At the hospital, the results came back quickly ¨C Letitia didn¡¯t have any sex activity. ¡°I told you, there¡¯s nothing between Walden and me.¡± Elgin tossed the medical report in her face, the paper fluttering down to the ground Letitia, he hissed through clenched teeth, ¡°nothing happened because there wasn¡¯t enough time, right? What if I had been five minutester¡­ what then, huh?¡± Letitiaughed out of sheer rage, ring at him, ¡°How could I possibly have anything to do with Walden behind your back? He was my ex-fianc¨¦ who dumped me and went abroad. Now, we¡¯re business rivals!¡± Because that¡¯s just the kind of woman you are, Letitia! A real piece of work!¡± His words felt like needles piercing her heart, shattering her self-esteem. Elgin¡¯s face was a mask of fury, ¡°You and Walden have been flirting right under my nose, you think I¡¯m blind? I step away for one second, and you couldn¡¯t wait to jump into bed with him ¡°Why insult me with these words¡­ why,¡± Letitia closed her eyes, holding back tears, ¡°I won¡¯t get involved with another man before our divorce!¡± ¡°Letitia, even after the divorce, you¡¯re not allowed!¡± She bowed her head in bitterness, ¡°Yes, my life is in your hands.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! You owe me! You¡¯re here to pay off the Sanders family¡¯s debts!¡± Letitia clenched her fists, suppressing her roiling emotions, her resolve to uncover the truth growing even stronger! One day¡­ she¡¯ll throw the evidence in Elgin¡¯s face, proving she never owed him anything! That day wille! Back at Ivory Towers, Elgin chucked Letitia into the bathtub. Water sshed everywhere. Letitia choked several times, struggling to emerge from the water only to be pushed back down by Elgin. ¡°Get yourself cleaned up, Elgin said. After a few repeats, Elgin was soaked too, but he didn¡¯t care. Letitia was out of strength, slumped over the edge of the tub. ¡°Listen up,¡± Elgin leaned down, gripping her chin, ¡°the Ramirez Group is holding a press conference tomorrow to announce theunch of our new jewelry brand ¡®Ramirez Romantica¡¯. We¡¯re going to compete directly with ¡®Sunbeam Gems¡¯ from the Sullivan Group. So Letitia, if you and Walden dare to meet in secret again, you¡¯ll be branded as corporate spies! Ramirez Romantica will overtake Sunbeam Gems, and when that happens¡­ Walden¡¯s going to have a bad time! I won¡¯t let him off the hook!¡± Hearing this, Letitia chuckled. Her amusement seemed to irritate Elgin, who tightened his hold on her. ¡°What exactly are youughing at?¡± he demanded. She suddenly looked up at him, slightly mocking, ¡°Elgin, are you jealous?¡± He paused, replying disdainfully, ¡°Jealous? Why would I!¡± ¡°But you sure look like a man crazed with love, Letitiaughed at herself, ¡°You don¡¯t love me, so why are you so mad? ¡°Because you¡¯re mine, even if you die, you¡¯ll be mine!¡± Letitia reached up, gripping his wrist, provoking him on purpose, ¡°Elgin¡­ with your possessiveness over me, I¡¯m scared you¡¯ll fall for me one day.¡± ¡°The entire world¡¯s women could die off, and I still wouldn¡¯t touch you!¡± Elgin shook off her hand and stormed out. Letitia breathed a sigh of relief. She had to be more careful from now on, not to let Sh¡¯s trap seed again. At the Ramirez Group. Theunch of ¡°Ramirez Romantica went off without a hitch, with Elgin himself in attendance, and Samson there too. This is basically a shout-out that the Ramirez Group is focused on their jewelry brand ¡°Ramirez Romantica¡±! The moment the news hit the streets, the Sullivan Group¡¯s stock took a nosedive straight to rock bottom. In the staff canteen, Letitia was having lunch while watching the live stream of the press conference. ¡°Eating just that, huh?¡± Vidonia plopped down with her tray, eyeing Letitia¡¯s te, ¡°Not a single piece of meat in sight?¡± like veggies ¡°Cut the crap, I know you¡¯re broke. Stop fronting.¡± With that, Vidonia forked over her chicken wings and beef onto Letitia¡¯s te. Letitia was a bit flustered. ¡°Go ahead, you¡¯re too skinny.¡± ¡°Vidonia¡­¡± ¡°Call me a sucker.¡± Vidonia poked at her food, ¡°I¡¯m basically throwing myself at you, making sure you¡¯re taken care of.¡± Letitia¡¯s eyes welled up, and she hugged her tight, ¡°Vidonia, I¡¯m so lucky to have you.¡± ¡°Let me ask again, Letitia, Vidonia said solemnly, ¡°Do you still want me to be your friend?¡± She nodded furiously, ¡°Yes! Absolutely! ¡°Alright then, Vidonia said, ¡°from now on, no more ghosting me, got it?¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Swiftly holding back her tears, Vidonia spoke with a hint of disdain, ¡°Pull yourself together, Letitia, don¡¯t cry¡± Letitia shed a sweet smile at her. ¡°Look at you, still can smile, huh?¡± Sh sauntered over, ¡°Letitia, if I were you, I¡¯d be too mortified to show my face. around here.¡± Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Vidonia mmed her fork down and quipped, ¡°What, you again? Is being a home wrecker these days something to be proud of?¡± ¡°Please, I¡¯m the future Mrs. Ramirez. Just show me some respect!¡± While saying this, Sh lifted her chin towards Letitia, ¡°Did you like my gift for youst night?¡± ¡°You are shameless.¡± Shughed triumphantly, ¡°Just a little warning. Be nicer to me from now on, got it, Letitia?¡± Letitia didn¡¯t want to engage with her, ¡°Vidonia, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Sure. There¡¯s a yapping dog here killing my appetite.¡± Vidonia chimed in. Sh casually flipped her hair to sh her emerald bracelet at Letitia and quickly covered it again with her sleeve, ¡°Don¡¯t even dream of outshining me in this lifetime, Letitia.¡± Sure enough, Letitia faltered at the sight, The bracelet¡­¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez gave it to me, Sh boasted. ¡°He bought it and gave it straight to me. You think you¡¯d ever get your hands on it?¡± Letitia felt a pang but swallowed it, ¡°Now that you¡¯re its owner, treat it well.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my emerald bracelet; I¡¯ll do whatever I please with it, and even if I broke it¡­ Mr. Ramirez wouldn¡¯t me me!¡± Vidonia gave her a dismissive look, Are you leaving or not? I¡¯m calling security. We have rules about outsiders lingering!¡± ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°Three, two, one, security¡­ ¡°I¡¯m going!¡± Sh stomped her foot and huffed off. As she passed Letitia, she made sure to give her bracelet another showy shake before strutting away. Truth was the emerald bracelet wasn¡¯t even in Sh¡¯s possession. It was locked up tight in the Ivory Towers¡¯ safe by Elgin. But Sh couldn¡¯t stand it, so she bought a fake one just to get a rise out of Letitia! Seeing Letitia upset made her day. ¡°Vidonia, I¡¯m sorry,¡± Letitia apologized in the hallway. ¡°You had to put up with this because of me.¡± Vidonia, rich and fiery, wasn¡¯t one to take any nonsense. ¡®Aren¡¯t you pissed? Vidonia shot back. ¡°You, Letitia, were once the Sanders family¡¯s princess, the most popr girl at school. And now?¡± ¡°Now¡­ just being alive isn¡¯t too bad, Letitia said, eyes downcast Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°What exactly happened to you? Will you tell me?¡± After a few seconds of silence, Letitia nodded and recounted her ordeal, leaving Vidonia red-eyed. ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s all in the past, Letitia said, cleaning her tears. ¡°Look, I¡¯m still here in one piece.¡± Just then, Samson emerged from the elevator and was baffled by the scene. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Who made the tough cookie cry?¡± ¡°It was me,¡± Letitia said helplessly. ¡°Mr. Stewart, she¡¯s all yours. I¡¯ve got designs to work on.¡± ¡°Hey, hey, hey¡­ I¡¯m no good atforting women!¡± Samson was at a loss, looking at Vidonia. Witnessing this woman, usually far stronger than him, suddenly reduced to tears was quite unsettling. don¡¯t cry, Samson said awkwardly, rubbing his hands together. ¡°You¡¯re acting like a crybaby on hapter 32 ¡°Get lost, Samson¡¯ ¡°Okay, okay, got it. How about I tell you a secret?¡± Vidonja sniffled, ¡°What?¡± ¡°About Gin and Letitia,¡± Samson said, eager to share, ¡°I¡¯ve got the full scoop, took me a ton of effort!¡± ¡°No need.¡± That feeling of holding a secret with no chance to spill it¡­ it was too suffocating! ¡°Why not?¡± Samson was bursting to tell. ¡°Letitia just told me,¡± Vidonia sneered, ¡°All men are no good!¡± Samson immediately waved his hands. ¡°Not all men are jerks like Gin.¡± ¡°True, there are good men out there. But you, Samson, are definitely not one of them.¡± Samson put on a hurt face Vidonia huffed, ¡°You and Mr. Ramirez are so tight, you are probably same kinds: jerks!¡± After one more stomp on his foot for good measure, Vidonia stormed off. Samson protested, ¡°I¡¯m innocent! He wasn¡¯t a jerk! Gin had screwed him over! In the CEO¡¯s office, Elgin looked towards the door, ¡°Grandfather.¡± Hawley, leaning on a cane with Phedra supporting him, said, ¡°Just passing by to see you. This morning¡­ I watched ¡®Ramirez Romantica¡¯sunch. Elgin, you have a head for business. I believe it will be another pir for the Ramirez Group.¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll manage it well and lead the Ramirez Group to even greater glory.¡± ¡°Sure, but it¡¯s quite the load on just you alone. You must be tired.¡± Elgin smiled slyly, ¡°Grandfather, there¡¯s more to what you¡¯re saying.¡± ¡°Since you caught on, I¡¯ll be blunt,¡± Hawley said, looking at him, ¡°your brother will soon graduate and return. You can hand ¡®Ramirez Romantica¡¯ over to him.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not happening.¡± Elgin rejected the idea without a second thought. A half-brother from a different mother? Not even a chance! He was just Phedra¡¯s cash cow, her precious boy! As expected, Phedra panicked at his firm refusal, ¡°Elgin, you must give your brother a chance to show his abilities.¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t have the skills to manage Ramirez Romantica.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t give him a chance, how will you know whether he¡¯s capable or not?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know what your own kid is like?¡± Elgin¡¯s face darkened with a chill. ¡°He¡¯s nothing more than ayabout, only knowing how to enjoy himself.!¡± Phedra couldn¡¯t win the argument and had to turn to Hawley for help, ¡°What am I supposed to do now?¡± ¡®Let¡¯s talk this through, Elgin, don¡¯t just shoot it down,¡± Hawley chimed in, ¡°We¡¯re all family after all, you shouldn¡¯t hurt your family¡¯s feelings.¡± The old man wasn¡¯t getting any younger and he longed for family harmony, with kids and grandkids crowding around him. His son had passed, but thankfully he had two grandsons left. Especially Elgin, with his exceptional abilities and natural leadership, he was a source of great pride. ¡°No Elgin was adamant, ¡°Whether he¡¯s looking to ride on coattails for some glory or stick his fingers in thepany se it¡¯s not happening!¡± Chapter $2 Phedra retorted, ¡°So, everything about the Ramirez family has got to be clutched in your fist?¡± ¡°Yes. Unless you¡¯ve got the chops to snatch it away.¡± Elgin gave her a frosty nce. it was both his warning and his deration of battle. He was crystal clear about Phedra¡¯s sneaky little games behind the scenes! She was trying to get Raizel hitched to him, slipping poison into the soup she sent over every day¡­ ¡°Alright, Hawley intervened, ¡°Elgin, there¡¯s another thing I came to talk about today. Your marriage with Letitia, it¡¯s done whether you like it or not, and it¡¯s time to so something.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Carrying on the family line, of course! You¡¯re twenty-six, it¡¯s time to have a kid!¡± Elgin frowned. Having Letitia to bear his child? Not in a million years! Chapter 33 Chapter 33 ¡°Grandpa, she¡¯s Dr. Sanders¡¯ daughter, the sworn enemy of our Ramirez family!¡± Hawley shot back, ¡°You knew that, so why did you marry her? Now that you have, she gotta step up to the te and fulfill her duties as a Ramirez family bride!¡± ¡°I n to have kids, but there¡¯s no way I¡¯m letting Letitia be the one to carry them.¡± ¡°So what are you waiting for? I¡¯m not getting any younger, and I just want to have a great-grandkid! Otherwise, by the time I kick the bucket, I won¡¯t get to see any of ¡¯em!¡± Elgin replied indifferently, ¡°Well, I could always bring them to your grave, give you a good look.¡± ¡°You damn brat! You¡¯re gonna be the death of me!¡± Hawley banged his cane hard on the floor, fuming and ring before turning to leave. ¡°Ranen, see my grandpa out.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Ramirez.¡± But Phedra just stood there, wringing her hands ¡°Haven¡¯t you got legs?¡± Elgin raised an eyebrow, ¡°Stop trying to snag a spot for your blockhead son at the Ramirez Group It¡¯s not happening on my watch.¡± ¡°Hawley said we¡¯d talk it out. Who knows, you might just say ¡®yes¡¯ down the road.¡± Phedra knew all too well that Elgin was the big cheese in the Ramirez family these days, his word was law. She had to y the long game to get what she wanted; getting antsy wouldn¡¯t help. After all, she was Elgin¡¯s stepmom, had married into the family and given them a son. Her position was rock solid. She knew she could bide her time for all other matters, patiently plotting. The one who triumphsst, enjoys the greatest victory. ¡°Elgin,¡± Phedra put on her best smile, ¡°I saw in the news that you bought an emerald bracelet at a charity auction for a hefty sum¡­¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Why did you buy it?¡± Elgin replied with a hint of irritation, ¡°Felt like it, so I bought it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s ady¡¯s piece, you can¡¯t wear it.¡± Phedra noted, ¡°Might as well give it to me!¡± ¡°You want it?¡± An emerald bracelet, sure, he could understand Letitia being hung up about it since it was her mother¡¯s. But why were Sh and Phedra so eager to get their hands on it? Phedra nodded vigorously, ¡°Yes! That emerald is top-notch. Maybe it could bring me luck, even ward off disasters!¡± ¡°You like it that much? Go buy one at the mall.¡± ¡°But the quality just isn¡¯t the same, I really like that one.¡± Elgin nced at her, ¡°Not gonna happen.¡± The emerald bracelet in his possession¡­ honestly, wasn¡¯t much use to him, but he wanted to keep it. Because with it, Letitia would sooner ortere to him, begging him to give it back. Elgin relished the thought of Letitia groveling, desperate and pitiful¡­ But she was incredibly stubborn, she had only pleaded with him once during their entire wedding. Phedra stormed out of the CEO¡¯s office, fuming. She muttered to herself, ¡°What¡¯s you so smug about? What¡¯s so great about you? You won¡¯t be able to have kids anyway Ha, just wait until my sones back, he¡¯ll definitely take your ce. Then it¡¯ll be you, Elgin, begging me and my son!¡± From a distance, Letitia saw Phedraing and quickly turned away. But Phedra spotted her anyway, ¡°Eh¡­ Letitia, why are you avoiding me? Are you looking down on me?¡± Concerned about attracting attention from colleagues, Letitia called out, ¡°Phedra.¡± ¡°You sure have changed.¡± Phedra sniped, ¡°Acting all high and mighty as Mrs. Ramirez.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t need anything. I¡¯ve got work to do.¡± ¡°Hold on,¡± Phedra eyed her and then suddenly checked her wrist, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me Elgin gave the emerald bracelet to you¡­¡± Letitia was confused. ¡°The emerald bracelet? To me?¡± ¡°That one Elgin bought at the charity auction, is it with you?¡± As she spoke, Phedra yanked up her sleeve, but Letitia¡¯s wrist was bare. ¡°What? You don¡¯t have it?¡± ¡°Phedra, what do you want with that emerald bracelet?¡± Letitia snapped out of it and asked. It was her mother¡¯s, no business of Phedra¡¯s ¡°I just love it! It caught my eye!¡± Phedra retorted gruffly, ¡°The emerald is so sparky, its previous owners took great care of it. Never mind, no point exining to you.¡± Letitia suddenly smiled, ¡°I know where the emerald bracelet is.¡± ¡°Where?¡± ¡°Elgin gave it to an inte celebrity¡± Letitia said, ¡°She¡¯s been unting it all over.¡± Phedra jumped, ¡°What? He gave it to some floozy?¡± ¡°Yeah, well, Elgin¡¯s always been generous with his side chicks.¡± Letitia feigned a sigh, ¡°You know how it is, Phedra, men having their fun is normal, especially for a rich and handsome guy like Elgin.¡± This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°He wouldn¡¯t give it to his family but to some mistress!¡± Letitia added, ¡°Phedra, you¡¯re the elder, if you want the bracelet¡­ just go take it back. What can that kind of woman do against you? That bracelet is a fine piece, you should have it.¡± Phedra thought it made perfect sense, ¡°Who is she? What¡¯s her name, and where does she live?¡± ¡°Sh Ward.¡± Phedra¡¯s eyes lit up as she got the details, grinning as she left. She pondered, ¡°It was just an emerald bracelet. If I were to snatch it, what could that woman possibly do to me Would Elgin really pick a fight with me over some side chick?¡± Watching Phedra¡¯s retreating figure, Letitia smiled slightly. Better the emerald bracelet in Phedra¡¯s hands than with Sh. Phedra genuinely liked it and would cherish it. When the opportunityes, she¡¯d find a way to get it back! Letitia mentally pumped herself up and turned around- ¡°Ouch.¡± She bumped smack into a wall of muscle. ¡°Watch where you¡¯re going.¡± Elgin¡¯s voice rang out. She frowned andined, ¡°It¡¯s your fault for creeping up behind me, silent as a ghost!¡± ¡°You are ming me?¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯m m-uh, I mean, of course, I¡¯m ming myself.¡± Letitia managed to twist her words mid-sentence. Because the saw that behind Elgin, there was a whole crew of at least a dozen people ¨C Ranen, some secretaries. Samson, along with thepany bigwigs¡­ Ramirez, after you.¡± Letitia stepped aside, ¡°My bad for being in the way just now.¡± chapter Elgin looked at her Moments ago, her eyes were twinkling with mischief, alight with vibrancy, as though she was a yful sprite. It was the kind of lively spark he had only witnessed in her when they first met. Later¡­ it was Elgin who personally snuffed out that spark of hers. ¡°Time for the meeting, Designer Sanders, Samson tilted his chin up a bit, ¡°Ramirez Romantica¡¯ meeting is one you can¡¯t miss. ¡°Sure thing, Mr. Stewart.¡± ¡°Got your designs all ready?¡± Letitia nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve even put together a PowerPoint presentation.¡± ¡°Great, knock everyone¡¯s socks off!¡± Samson said, ¡°I¡¯ve been hyping you up to these folks!¡± ¡°I won¡¯t let you down, Mr. Stewart.¡± Letitia obediently replied and quietly made her way to the back. Inside the meeting room, Elgin took the head seat while Letitia stood by, ready to unveil her designs. Chapter 34 Chapter 34 ¡°This is the first time ¡®Ramirez Romantica¡¯ isunching a new line, and it¡¯s aimed at urban young professional women, so my design leans towards the younger crowd, specifically targeting females in their 20s to 30s¡­¡± When someone¡¯s In their confident field, they shine. Throughout the meeting, Letitia was killing it with her mad skills. ¡°Bravo!¡± Samson was the first to start pping. The rest joined in with the apuse. Only Elgin was looking at her, his gaze deep and unfathomable. ¡°Tomorrow, we can start turning these sketches into actual work,¡± Samson said, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, any other thoughts?¡± Out of the blue, the general manager chimed in, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, you¡¯ve just tied the knot, and Designer Sanders is talented. How about letting her design a wedding ring for Mrs. Ramirez?¡± Elgin¡¯s face did a little dance, and Letitia was gobsmacked. Design my own wedding ring? You¡¯ve got to be kidding me¡­ The general manager kept pitching. This way, we can hype up Mrs. Ramirez¡¯s ring as a marketing stunt, ster it everywhere, and give ¡®Ramirez Romantica¡¯ a fame boost! Two birds, one stone, what do you think?¡± Samson¡¯s mouth twitched, replying, ¡°Only you could¡¯ve cooked up something like this.¡± ¡°Right, Mr. Stewan? I knew you¡¯d be on my side!¡± Samson was speechless. Elgin was tapping his finger on the table, pondering. Finally, he said, ¡°Sure¡­¡± ¡°No way!¡± Before his words had a chance to fully echo, Letitia¡¯s voice of dissent cut through. All eyes immediately turned towards her. Elgin¡¯s the big boss ¨C his word isw. Who dares cross him? Designer Sanders surely was bold. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s appropriate.¡± Letitia bit her lip, ¡°Mr. Ramirez has always kept a low profile, not keen on airing his private life. Now that he¡¯s married, he¡¯d probably want to shield his family¡¯s privacy even more.¡± What a joke¡­ Not to mention it¡¯s awkward to design her own wedding ring, but she feared that in the end, the ring she poured her heart and soul into wouldn¡¯t end up on her finger, but on Sh¡¯s Elgin would give it to Sh, after all, he dotes on her that much. So, Letitia would not do it. Elgin looked at her, his voice low, ¡°Letitia, are you opposing me?¡± There was a warning in his tone. She had no right to oppose him, especially not in the middle of a meeting, in front of all the execs. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, I¡­ I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to nail it, and Mrs. Ramirez might not like it.¡± ¡°She¡¯ll like what you design.¡± ¡°But.. ¡°No buts. Elgin cut in firmly. ¡°It¡¯s settled.¡± Letitia wanted to protest, but Samson hurriedly shot her a look. Elgin stood up, iming, ¡°Meeting adjourned.¡± The general manager was smug, ¡°I made Mr. Ramirez happy and pleased Mrs. Ramirez.¡± ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re quite the smarty-pants, Samson patted his shoulder, ¡°Too bad Mrs. Ramirez doesn¡¯t seem too thrilled. ¡°What? Mrs Ramirez already knows about this?¡± Without replying, Samson shrugged and left the conference room. Elgin headed to the president¡¯s office, with footsteps hurrying behind him. Mr. Ramirez, wait up.¡± Letitia caught up with him, ¡°About designing the ring¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± Letitia looked at him, words stuck in her throat. Defying him was asking for trouble, but she really didn¡¯t want to make the ring for Sh. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, a wedding ring is sacred, symbolizes marriage and fidelity, represents a beautiful love,¡± Letitia still spoke her mind, ¡°It can¡¯t be decided lightly, and certainly shouldn¡¯t be a marketing gimmick for Ramirez Romantica.¡± Elgin raised an eyebrow, ¡°Are you lecturing me?¡± Just then, Elgin¡¯s phone rang. He took out his cell, ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez, help,e save me!¡± Sh¡¯s shrill voice came through, ¡°There¡¯s a crazy woman here¡­ she¡¯s trying to take my stuff¡­ Ah! Get away!¡± Elgin frowned, ¡°Who?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know her, she¡­ she says she¡¯s your mother! Ah! That¡¯s mine!¡± Elgin strode out quickly. Ranen looked puzzled, ¡°What¡¯s up with Mrs. Phedra and Sh?¡± Letitia kept her head down, silent. Phedra was moving fast and had already found Sh. This is going to be a show! She couldn¡¯t wait for Sh to have a taste of her own medicine. ¡®Letitia, Elgin¡¯s voice drifted from afar, ¡°Come on!¡± Great, now she could witness the drama unfold. In the living room of Breezy Bay Condos. Sh red at Phedra, ¡°I¡¯ve called Mr. Ramirez! He¡¯ll be here any minute¡­ and then you¡¯re toast, pretending to be Mrs. Ramirez and trying to snatch my bracelet!¡± ¡°I am Elgin¡¯s mother, and he¡¯ll have to acknowledge that when he arrives! As for you, hand over that bracelet before I ask again!¡± Phedra wanted to wrap this up quick, before Elgin showed up and made it harder to snatch the emerald bracelet. Once it was in her hands, she¡¯d bolt, and even if Elgin asked for it back, she wouldn¡¯t give in! ¡°This is mine!¡± Sh argued, ¡°You¡¯re robbing me!¡± ¡°Did you pay for it? Daring to call it yours? You¡¯re spending my family¡¯s money!¡± Phedra charged again. But Sh guarded her wrist, where the emerald bracelety. ¡°Hand it over!¡± Phedra certainly didn¡¯tck a fighting spirit; her attacks were relentless. Sh¡¯s wrist was turning red, close to breaking skin. ¡°You crazy woman¡­ Help!¡± Sh eximed, ¡°I bought the emerald bracelet myself, and it has nothing to do with you or the Ramirez family!¡± ¡°Ha, don¡¯t try to fool me!¡± Phedra grabbed Sh¡¯s wrist with one hand and yanked the bracelet off with the other. She gleefully stuffed it into her pocket and took off without a second thought. ¡°Stop right there, Furning, Sh chased after her, ¡°Give it back!¡± As the two souffled, Elgin showed up. Sh immediately burst into tears andined, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, it was her, she pretended to be your mother and stole my bracelet.¡± Letitia, with her arms crossed, chimed in from the sidelines, ¡°She¡¯s not pretending. She¡¯s just¡­ my stepmom.¡± ¡°What?¡± Phedra clutched the emerald bracelet tightly, ¡°Elgin, you gave such a precious emerald to such a woman, it¡¯s a waste!! won¡¯t stand for it!¡± ¡°What emerald?¡± Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°This bracelet!¡± Phedra quickly shed it for him to see. Elgin got it in a heartbeat. ¡°You two are fighting over this emerald bracelet?¡± ¡°Yes! Even if you gave it to Letitia, I wouldn¡¯t say a thing, but to this slut, I won¡¯t have it!¡± Sh screamed, ¡°You¡¯re the slut! You as the stepmom must¡¯ve used your wily ways to climb to the top back in the day!¡± It¡¯s like a dog-eat-dog situation. Elgin spoke up indifferently. ¡°It¡¯s a fake, and the real one is with me.¡± Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Phedra was totally bbergasted, ¡°What?¡± ¡®Fake?¡± Letitia was shocked too. But¡­Sh even wore it to show off in front of her. What¡¯s going on? Gritting her teeth, Sh said. ¡°Yes, it was fake. I¡­I just bought it to mess around, as a piece of essary!¡± She just wanted to unt it in front of Letitia, but who knew she¡¯d end up drawing Phedra¡¯s attention! Then where¡¯s the real one?¡± Phedra immediately asked, ¡°Elgin, you didn¡¯t pass it off to some side chick, did you?¡± Letitia was curious too. ¡°It¡¯s always been with me.¡± Elgin¡¯s face darkened, ¡°How did you find Sh¡¯s?¡± Phedra pointed at Letitia. ¡°She told me! Said you gave it to another woman and even gave me the address.¡± Hearing this, Sh screamed, ¡°Well, well, so it was you! You did this on purpose!¡± This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Letitia coolly exined, ¡°You were the one who said Elgin gave you the emerald bracelet, I just spilled the beans, that¡¯s all. Who knew you were wearing a fake? She even breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness, it didn¡¯t end up in Sh¡¯s hands. ¡°I never said the emerald bracelet was the one Mr. Ramirez bought at the auction!¡± Sh squirmed, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, you¡¯ve got to back me up here! Sharp as Elgin was, he had already figured out the whole story. And Letitia, that cunning woman, must have used this situation against both Sh and Phedra. ¡°Enough,¡± he said sternly, ¡°I¡¯m not giving this emerald bracelet to anyone!¡± Phedra left reluctantly. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, Sh stomped her foot, ¡°You can¡¯t just let this slide.¡± She red at Letitia, unwilling to let it go. She had been yed and she was going to get even! Clutching Elgin¡¯s arm, Sh said, ¡°Letitia did it on purpose, she¡¯s always been out to get me. If you hadn¡¯te in time today, who knows what that wicked stepmother would¡¯ve done to me! Look, I even got scratched!¡± Elgin remained silent, directing only a nce at Letitia, which was enough to make her heart flutter. Elgin usually gave in to every one of Sh¡¯s requests. This time¡­maybe he would punish her. ¡°Make herpensate you, Elgin said with a sly smile, ¡°Perfect timing, she¡¯s designing a wedding ring¡­ for you.¡± Sh¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°A wedding ring?¡± ¡°Yes, one that I¡¯ll personally ce on your ring finger, symbolizing marriage and fidelity. Whatever style you want, talk to Letitia directly.¡± ¡°I want diamonds! Big and sparkly ones!¡± Sh said excitedly. ¡°The more expensive the better, so eye- catching that nobody can ignore it, stunning the entire room, a priceless ring that AquaCity can¡¯t find a second of!¡± Letitia clenched her teeth, ¡°I can¡¯t design that.¡± ¡°You have to design it,¡± Elgin replied, ¡°It¡¯s your job.¡± Letitia fell silent. This man was truly ruthless, trampling over her pride time and again. ¡°Exactly, Sh lifted her chin, acting all high and mighty, ¡°I¡¯ll be checking in on your progress, I need to approve your designs, and you¡¯ll keep revising until I¡¯m happy with it!¡± Eigin emphasized, ¡°You got that?¡± Yeah.¡¯ She had no choice. And Sh¡¯s taste, well, it was questionable at best. Just the description alone reeked of nouveau riche, lacking the understated luxury of old money. She feared the final design might be aughing stock online. On the way back to the Ramirez Group, Letitia couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Why are you keeping the emerald bracelet all to yourself? Are you not giving it to anyone?¡± ¡°What, you want it?¡± ¡°Of course, I do,¡± she admitted frankly, ¡°It belonged to my mother.¡± ¡®Well, let¡¯s see if you¡¯ve got what it takes. Win me over and who knows, maybe one day I¡¯ll be in a good mood and toss it your way.¡± Letitia was intrigued, ¡°Really?¡± Elgin replied solemnly, ¡®My word is my bond To get her mother¡¯s emerald bracelet back, Letitia decided to give it a shot. But¡­how could she possibly win over Elgin? The guy had a temper, was unpredictable, and didn¡¯t seem to have any weaknesses or soft spots. After a long thought, Letitia sought advice from Samson. They were ssmates and friends, and he had known Elgin for many years, so he definitely knew him better than she did. ¡°What does Gin like? Samson stroked his chin, ¡°He likes to lose his temper and cuss people out.¡± ¡°Mr. Stewart, I¡¯m seriously asking for your advice.¡± ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t know either. Gin¡¯s a tough nut to crack, I can¡¯t figure out what he¡¯s thinking most of the time.¡± Letitia sighed Was this the end of it? Samson added, ¡°But I do know what Gin wants the most.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°A good night¡¯s sleep, Samson said, ¡°He suffers from insomnia, it¡¯s been a problem for years, and never found a solution. But your scented candle worked for him, that¡¯s why he kept it. You could start there.¡± Letitia finally saw a glimmer of hope, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Stewart!¡± If she could solve Elgin¡¯s insomnia, then getting her emerald bracelet back just might be within reach! Letitia immediately started researching remedies for insomnia. She remembered her dad once taught her some knowledge in this area. At the Ivory Towers, in the evening. Elgin was dining in elegance, with the butler and servants by his side. Suddenly he said, ¡°Letitia.¡± ¡°Here!¡± ¡°Are you done watching?¡± Uh¡­she was just figuring out how to bring up the topic of helping him with massage to aid sleep. Since getting back from thepany, you¡¯ve been sneaking peeks at me,¡± Elgin put down his fork and nced at her, ¡°What, you want me?¡± Letitia nearly choked, and before she could respond, Elgin wrapped his arm around her waist, ¡°Since you¡¯re so eager, I might as well satisfy you.¡± He led her upstairs, his arm still around her. Letitia panicked, what was he up to now, ¡°Elgin, you¡­¡± ¡°Dont move.¡± He spoke icily, tightening his grip on her even more Once they reached the second floor, Elgin kicked open the master bedroom door and flung her inside. ¡°My bed.. is outside, Letitia struggled, trying to walk out, ¡°I¡¯m gonna head out first.¡± Elgin yanked her back, ¡°Starting today, you¡¯re sleeping here.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Sleep on the floor, or on the couch; Elgin red at her. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to stay outside anymore.¡± ¡°The outside is perfectly fine!¡± Letitia broke free from his grasp and dashed through the door. After a few seconds, she voluntarily came back. ¡°I just saw someone lurking at the stairway Letitia was astonished, ¡°Who was that?¡± ¡°My grandpa¡¯s spy.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Elgin tilted his chin up slightly, ¡°Grandpa wants us to give him a great-grandkid, expects you to get pregnant soon.¡± Letitia subconsciously touched her belly. ¡°That¡­ that¡¯s impossible, she replied, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have the enemy¡¯s daughter bear your child.¡± ¡°True. But Grandpa doesn¡¯t care, as long as the kid is mine, it¡¯s all good. Anyway, you won¡¯t be able to snatch the child away, nor mess with the Ramirez family.¡± Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Elgin knew Hawley¡¯s little game too well. He knew that Letitia had no backings, and she could be a tool for passing on the family name, nothing more. Letitia was taken aback and asked, ¡°Did you agree?¡± ¡°What a joke,¡± Elgin snorted. ¡°You¡¯re not worthy of bearing my children.¡± She breathed a sigh of relief. She was already pregnant, how could she possibly get pregnant again? ¡°I get it,¡± Letitia nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll y along, and not give your grandpa any reason to be suspicious.¡± Seeing her look so chill about it, Elgin was irked on the inside. ¡°Are you dumb or something, Letitia?¡± he closed in on her, pinning her against the wall, ¡°You should be dying to have my This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. baby.¡± She immediately shook her head, ¡°No, I don¡¯t. ¡°Ever thought that maybe, just maybe, I¡¯d treat you a bit better for the kid¡¯s sake? Maybe your dad in jail and your sick mom could bask in their grandchild¡¯s glow?¡± Letitia met Elgin¡¯s gaze. It sounded pretty tempting. A few secondster, she shook her head with a bitter smile, ¡°No chance. Elgin, with your tactics, if I had your baby, you¡¯d just take the kid for yourself, sever all ties with the Sanders family, and he¡¯d never even know who his mom is!¡± Letitia was smart, and she knew Elgin well. Elgin was even more annoyed, having his thoughts read like an open book. He grabbed her chin, looking down at her rosy lips, his irritation grew as he leaned in and just went for it. His kiss was almost like a bite, the pain making Letitia gasp for air. She tried to pull back, but Elgin had a firm grip on the back of her head. ¡°Even if I did fuck you,¡± Elgin said, ¡°I¡¯d be watching you pop birth control pills. Got it?¡± He turned and strode into the bathroom, turning on the cold shower. Every time he kissed Letitia, he got aroused. Damn it! Now with grandpa¡¯s spy around and Letitia having to share a room with him, he was scared he¡¯d lose control one day! After his shower, Letitia had already set up her bed on the floor. The air was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood. ¡°I lit some scented candles, Letitia said. ¡°It¡¯s calming and helps with sleep. Hope it¡¯s okay with you.¡± He didn¡¯t say a word, just dropped his towel around his waist onto a chair. ¡°Ah!¡± Letitia quickly covered her eyes. Good thing she was quick; a secondter and she would¡¯ve seen his naked body¡­ Elginy down in bed, eyes closed. The scent of the candles was soothing, making him drowsy but somehow he just couldn¡¯t fall asleep. Hearing Elgin toss and turn in bed, Letitia whispered, ¡°The scented candle works better with a massage, you know.¡± Two secondster, Elgin¡¯s voice came, ¡°Get up here.¡± Letitia sat up, crawled onto the bed, and gentlyid Elgin¡¯s head on herp. Her fingertipsnded on his temples, slowly massaging them. Huh, Elgin let out a coldugh, ¡°You had all this nned out, didn¡¯t you?¡± admitted ¡°Trying to butter me up? You want that emerald bracelet?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Elgin¡¯s eyes were closed, his nose looking softer in the light, but his words were still ice cold, ¡°Depends on your performance.¡± Five minutester, Elgin was asleep, and Letitia stopped massaging. At this moment, she was the closest person to him, just the two of them in the room. Letitia hated him; he hadpletely destroyed her life. If she killed him now¡­ she totally could! Letitia stared at the spot over Elgin¡¯s heart, thinking one stab and it¡¯d all be over. An eye for an eye. Her hand moved as if possessed, resting on his heart, feeling the strong beats. A sh of light passed the window, the sound of patrolling security guards fading away. Letitia¡¯s sanity snapped back She murmured, ¡°No, I can¡¯t be impulsive¡­ I still have my child, my parents¡­¡± If Elgin died, the Ramirez family would never let her parents off the hook! Suppressing the impulse to kill him, Letitia finally pulled the nket over Elgin and got off the bed. She reminded herself to keep her impulsiveness in check ¨C it was nothing short of a devil¡¯s temptation. The best way out was to uncover the truth and clear her dad¡¯s name! That night was the best sleep Elgin had in years. So when he woke up feeling refreshed, his mood was significantly better, even his expression seemed gentler. Letitia thought, this trick really works, and she gotta thank Samson for the ideater! The moment Letitia got to the office, her phone started blowing up with dings, she received over twenty messages. Elgin nced at her, ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± Letitia showed him her screen, ¡°It¡¯s from Sh.¡± She saw Sh had sent a bunch of ring pics and a string of voice messages- [Hey, you see this? I like this style. The diamond¡¯s gotta be big and pure, even better if it¡¯s pink or some other color!] [If there¡¯s no pink diamond, then there should be other colored gems around it.] [And the shape, I want a heart. No copycats, I want it one-of-a-kind, the only one in the world!] Letitia scrolled through the pics, muttering. Just as I thought, tacky and shy taste.¡± She replied to Sh while asking Elgin, ¡°You sure¡­ I should do everything Sh wants?¡± ¡°Do what she wants.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so nice to her,¡± Letitia smirked, ¡°Did she save your life or something? You owe her one?¡± Elgin¡¯s gaze swept over her coldly. She shrugged, ¡°Just kidding¡± All you need to know is, you¡¯ll never be in her league.¡± ¡°OK¡± Letitia replied to Sh with that same ¡°OK¡± Seeing all the messages she sent and getting just an ¡°OK¡± in return, Sh was fuming at home, ¡°She¡¯s brushing me cff! If that ring isn¡¯t perfect, I swear I¡¯ll tear her to pieces!¡± calm her down. ¡°Alright alright let it out Even if it¡¯s good youngn find cahina to nitnick shi ¡°Of course, Sh said, ¡®She¡¯s Mrs. Ramirez now, but she¡¯s gotta design my wedding ring. She won¡¯t have an easy time either! ¡°That¡¯s all small fry. Sh, her being pregnant, now that¡¯s a real pickle.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even get me started, Dad. I was this close to making her have a miscarriagest time, but then¡­ then Mr. Ramirez showed up way too soon!¡± Sh was fuming about this, tossing all the throw pillows from the couch onto the floor in a huff. Letitia got away that time, and to top it off, Mr. Ramirez got mad at her. Thank goodness she groveled and begged to smooth things over ¡°Sh, when dealing with Letitia, you can¡¯t be too obvious,¡± Mark advised. ¡°Especially with her pregnancy, since no one¡¯s supposed to know. We need to quietly make the baby disappear!¡± Chapter 37 Chapter 37 ¡°Dad, so what do you suggest we do?¡± Mark¡¯s eyes were spinning like tops, ¡°Let me think.¡± Sh sat on the couch, fuming. ¡°Her belly sure did her proud, got knocked up on the first try. If only I had that kind of luck¡­¡° Too bad, Elgin wouldn¡¯t touch herso no chance of getting pregnant for her. ¡°I¡¯ve got it!¡± Mark pped his hands, ¡°Sh, I¡¯ve got a n.¡± He leaned in and whispered the whole scheme into Sh¡¯s ear. ¡°Great!¡± Sh beamed, ¡°We can for sure make this work!¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯m on it!¡± Meanwhile, at the Ramirez Group, Letitia suddenly sneezed a bunch of times and felt a chill run through her. ¡°Are youing down with a cold? Vidonia walked over, offering her a tissue, ¡°Layer up, healthes first.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just an itchy nose. Letitia chuckled and stood up, heading to the break room. ¡°Designer Sanders, a colleague called out to her, ¡°someone¡¯s waiting for you at the front door.¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Yeah, go check it out.¡± Who woulde looking for her at the Ramirez Group? Letitia agreed and went to the front door, only to see the director of AquaCity Psychiatric Institute, Mark Ward, with both hands full of gifts, wearing a grin from ear to ear. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Mark had been a pain in her neck at AquaCity Psychiatric Institute, and had even set her up with that old man. His daughter, Sh, had been a thorn in her side time and again¡­ ¡°Brought you something, Mark said, ¡°don¡¯t look down on it, eh?¡± Letitia didn¡¯t take it, just scoffed, ¡°You bringing me gifts? What do you want!¡± ¡°I really wanted to give you a little something, to build up your strength. After all, you¡¯re pregnant now!¡± Property ? N?velDrama.Org. She quickly looked around, worried that someone might have overheard! Mark justughed, ¡°Look at you, scared stiff. Letitia, you know the drill. You¡¯re Mrs. Ramirez now but carrying another man¡¯s child. If this gets out, you¡¯re gonna have a rough time.¡± ¡°Who was the man that night?¡± Letitia clenched her teeth, ¡°You must know!¡± ¡°Wanna know? Take the gifts.¡± Mark looked at her with a smirk. I¡¯m not taking it! Who knows what¡¯s in there!¡± Letitia was on high alert, not falling for his tricks. Just take it, Mark insisted, shoving it into her hands. Letitia kept backing off, ¡°I said no!¡± ¡°You will take it, don¡¯t be too proud to ept a little help.¡± Mark kept pushing, Letitia kept refusing, and finally, she lost her patience and swung her arm, ¡°Can¡¯t you understand English? Stop grossing me out!* The gifts fell to the ground, and a whole box of high-end supplements for women. What a waste of good stuff ¡°Whale he was talking, suddenly, Mark clutched his heart, started shaking, and his lips turned pale. Letitia was startled, ¡°You, what¡¯s happening to you¡­¡± Before she could finish, Mark had copsed backward with a thud. ¡°Ah! Dad!¡± Sh burst out from nowhere, ¡°Dad, what¡¯s wrong with you! Wake up! Don¡¯t scare me! Call an ambnce, quick!¡± Security guards ran over, and the ce turned into a frenzy. Letitia stood outside, watching as a crowd surrounded Mark, trying to resuscitate him,pletely dumbfounded. Soon, an ambnce arrived with sirens ring, rushing Mark to the hospital. ¡°Letitia, you¡¯re to me for this!¡± Sh pointed at her, ¡°If anything happens to my dad, I won¡¯t let you off the hook!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re still denying it! We have surveince, everything¡¯s been recorded, you can¡¯t escape!¡± Letitia responded, ¡°Fine, check the cameras. I¡¯m innocent.¡± Hearing this, Sh suddenly cracked a sly smile, then quickly hid it. But Letitia saw it clear as day, feeling uneasy, her gut telling her this was all a setup. But right now, she couldn¡¯t guess what Mark and Sh were really after! Elgin came striding out, his gaze sweeping over Letitia. ¡°Mr. Ramirez!¡± Sh ran up to him, tears streaming, ¡°You have to stand up for me. My dad can¡¯t be in trouble, he¡¯s worked hard all his life and now it¡¯s time for him to enjoy it¡­¡± Elgin cut her off, ¡°What happened?¡± Sh, sobbing, answered, ¡°Dad said, Letitia is now Mrs. Ramirez, a different status than before. And since I¡¯m by your side, he felt really sorry for me. So, he just wanted to butter Letitia up. But just after meeting her for a few minutes, my dad suddenly passed out!¡± ¡°The Dean came out of nowhere with gifts, saying he wanted to give it to me, I had no idea what was going on.¡± Letitia said, ¡°I didn¡¯t ept it.¡± ¡°He had good intentions, you could¡¯ve just taken it! Or thrown it awayter, why reject him to his face!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Sh¡¯s shrill voice drowned her out, ¡°I have no time to argue with you. I¡¯m going to the hospital to be with my dad! Mr. Ramirez,e with me! Letitia, you too! You¡¯re the culprit!¡± Outside the emergency room, Sh was curled up in Elgin¡¯s arms, wailing and ying the victim. Letitia stood alone to the side. 3 9 E Finally, the operating room door opened and the doctor came out. Sh rushed up, ¡°How¡¯s my dad?¡± ¡°He had a sudden cerebral hemorrhage, still in critical condition.¡± ¡°How could this happen?¡± ¡°Probably due to excessive emotional agitation, the patient is elderly and has high blood pressure, the doctor exined, shouldn¡¯t have been in any arguments.¡± Sh immediately turned to Letitia, ¡°It¡¯s your fault! You¡¯re the reason my dad had a stroke! The doctor added. The surgery went rtively smoothly, but¡­ we¡¯re low on blood supply at the hospital, we need a transfusion. Which one of you has a matching blood type?¡± I stared at Letitia. That¡¯s when Letitia finally got it! What they wanted.. was her blood! Blood draw! She¡¯s pregnant, if they took too much blood, her baby would be in danger! Letitia began to back away, but just then, Elgin grabbed her hand, and she felt a tingle all over. ¡°Where are you off to, huh?¡± he asked, ¡°Letitia, you made this mess, now you¡¯ve got to fix it.¡± Elgin¡¯s eyes were just brimming with apathy. ¡°It¡¯s none of my business, none of this¡­ I didn¡¯t do any of it!¡± Sh fired back right away. ¡°My dad¡¯s been healthy for years, so why does he suddenly have a stroke after seeing you?¡± ¡°How should I know? He got all worked up on his own!¡± ¡°He¡¯s still fighting for his life. Without blood, he¡¯ll die!¡± Sh pressed on, ¡°Are you just gonna stand there and watch my dad die without giving him some blood?¡± Letitia was about to say something when, suddenly, Sh dropped to her knees with a thud. ¡°I¡¯m begging you, please save my dad, Letitia, he¡¯s my nearest and dearest¡­ I can¡¯t lose him, can¡¯t you just donate a little blood, pretty please?¡± Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Elgin bent down and helped Sh to her feet. Years ago, because of Dr. Sanders¡¯ screw-up, he had already lost a father he respected Now, history seemed to be chillingly repeating itself. How could Elgin let Sh go through the same ordeal as him? After all, Mark was going to be his father-inw. ¡°Letitia, you have to donate blood,¡± Elgin said, his eyes and brows icy cold, ¡°You don¡¯t have a say in this.¡± ?? ?? ? ? ? There it was again. She was always at his beck and call, living like a puppet! ¡°So, whether it¡¯s my fault or not, I have to donate blood to save him?¡± Letitia¡¯s voice trembled as she asked, ¡°Is that right?¡± ¡°Yes¡± ¡°Even if donating blood could seriously harm my health, you¡¯d still insist on it?¡± Elgin narrowed his eyes slightly. It¡¯s just drawing blood, and you¡¯ll recover after a couple of days.¡± ¡°Yeah, right, Sh chimed in quickly, ¡°It¡¯s not going to kill you or damage your health, Letitia, please save my father!¡± Letitia didn¡¯t buy that for a second. From the moment she met Mark, she had fallen into their trap! Elgin didn¡¯t know she was pregnant, but they were crystal clear about it! How could a pregnant woman donate blood? Besides, Sh would surely bribe the nurse to take a lot of her blood! ¡°Go now¡± Elgin ordered sternly, ¡°Nurse, take her.¡± Letitia turned and ran. N?velDrama.Org ? content. Elgin stood still, uttering just one sentence, ¡°You know what the consequences of running away are.¡± Her legs felt as if they were cemented to the ground, unable to lift. Her mother was in his hands, her father was in jail, and his injury from boiling water had just healed¡­ That was something Elgin had allowed Sh to do. He had Sh¡¯s back. ¡®It¡¯s just a few vials of blood, it won¡¯t cost you your life,¡± Elgin said. ¡°Cooperate and it¡¯ll be easier on you.¡± Letitia closed her eyes in despair, ¡°You¡¯ll never understand.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to understand?¡± he asked, ¡°Tell me.¡± Sh echoed, ¡°Yeah, tell us.¡± She knew Letitia wouldn¡¯t dare reveal her pregnancy! Sure enough, Letitia fell silent. ¡°The blood donation room is this way,¡± the nurse approached, ¡°Come with me.¡± The nurse seemed to be holding Letitia¡¯s hand, but in reality, she was dragging her along forcefully. Letitia looked back. Sh was bowing her head, Elgin wasforting her, his hand on her shoulder. From Letitia¡¯s angle, she could see the smirk on Sh¡¯s face. Inside the blood donation room. Letitia shuddered unconsciously at the sight of the long needle in the nurse¡¯s hand. She was terrified, had always been scared of injections, let alone blood drawing. She wanted to run, to scream, but Elgin¡¯s threat forced her to sit in the chair, enduring both physical and emotional torture ¡°How much are you going to take? Letitia swallowed hard. ¡°Oh, as much as is needed.¡± As the nurse spoke, the needle pierced into her vein. Red blood flowed continuously from her body into the blood bag. ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Letitia said, ¡°You can only take that much at a time!¡± But the nurse didn¡¯t stop, even holding her arm down, ¡°Don¡¯t move, it¡¯s not my fault if you get hurt.¡± ¡°Stop, it¡¯s too much now¡­¡± Letitia¡¯s words sounded especially feeble. The nurse took a full six hundred milliliters, ¡°That should do it.¡± Letitia bit her lower lip, feeling cold and weak all over. A normal person could only donate four hundred at most, but she, a pregnant woman, had six hundred milliliters taken in one go. Sh¡­ what a cunning n! It probably wouldn¡¯t stop at this one time; there would be a next time, and the time after that! Until her body was too weak to keep the child! Footsteps came from the doorway Elgin walked in, ¡°Done?¡± ¡°Yes, the nurse replied respectfully, ¡°I¡¯ll take it to the emergency room right away.¡± Elgin waved his hand dismissively. He stood in front of Letitia, Mark had a stroke because of you, so you donating the blood is only fair.¡± ¡°Do you even know how much blood they took from me?¡± Elgin spoke indifferently, ¡°As much as was needed.¡± He didn¡¯t care, what mattered was saving a life. Letitia gave a pale smile, ¡°Heh¡­ after all, Mark is your future father-inw, his life means more to you than mine ¡°I have no father anymore, I can¡¯t let Sh lose hers too.¡± She couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What the hell does Sh have that she¡¯s so favored by you?¡± ¡°Because she¡¯s my woman.¡± Because they had slept together, because Sh had solved his problem with her body. Letitia trembled, asking, ¡°And what about me? What am I?¡± ¡°Letitia, you¡¯re here to atone, not to enjoy yourself.¡± She looked at Elgin¡¯s handsome face, feeling cold and hopeless. He lowered his head, saying, ¡°¡­ Your father killed mine, do you also want to kill Sh¡¯s father? I won¡¯t let that happen ¡°I didn¡¯t hurt him!¡± Letitia enunciated each word, ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen the security footage, he just wanted to give you a gift, with a smile. But you?¡± Elgin asked, ¡°You pushed him away, you were upset, and you even broke the gift.¡± ¡°Why would I ept his gift for no reason?¡± ¡°Mark had good intentions. You rejected them, pushed him away, broke the gift, leading to his emotional distress and stroke. So, it¡¯s your fault.¡± Elgin looked at her, ¡°Your blood donation to save him is justified.¡± What a way to be justified. It felt like a knife cutting into her. Mark and Sh had set up this whole scenario, targeting her. No matter how much she was alerted, she had still failen into their trap. The current situation was totally against ¡°I was framed,¡± Letitia¡¯s voice choked up. ¡°The one who framed me knows how wronged I am. But no one believed her. She wanted to touch her belly, hoping the child was still safe, but Elgin was right there, and she didn¡¯t dare to make the gesture: Letitia slowly stood up. ¡°I¡¯ll go first.¡± Elgin looked on impassively. She didn¡¯t press on the spot where she had donated blood, and drops of fresh blood were visible against her pale skin. Letitia felt so dizzy it was severe, barely managing to walk to the door, unable to hold on any longer, her vision going dark. Just before she fell, a pair of hands caught her, ¡°Letitia!¡± She tried hard to open her eyes but ultimately passed out. Her baby¡­ Elgin looked at the woman in his arms, his brows deeply furrowed. She¡¯s super skinny, and her cheeks are totally pale. But¡­ is he actually feeling sorry for her? He shouldn¡¯t be getting all emotional over her! ¡°Mr. Ramirez, the blood¡¯s been taken to the ER, Sh hurried over, ¡°Whoa, what¡¯s happened to Letitia? I¡¯ll help her to the break room. ¡°Well.¡± Elgin handed Letitia over to her and took off from the hospital. When Letitia came to, it was already night time. Chapter 39 Chapter 39 She opened her eyes and heard Sh say, ¡°Finally awake, huh? Tough cookie, aren¡¯t you? Looks like we can take a bit more blood from you.¡± ¡°You still want my blood!¡± ¡°Oh,e on, don¡¯t y innocent. Your little stuntnded my dad in the hospital with a stroke, so you¡¯ve got to own up to it. Donating blood is the least you can do, and Mr. Ramirez agrees Letitia struggled to sit up, ¡°What a sick y you and your father have put on!¡± ¡°Yep, serves you right for being so gullible and for insisting on keeping that baby!¡± Sh walked over to the bedside, ¡°Letitia, if you just y ball and get rid of it, I could let you off the hook.¡± She clenched her teeth, ¡°Not happening.¡± This child was her own flesh and blood, she wanted to keep it. Then we¡¯ll just keep taking your blood and see how long you can protect yourself, let alone the baby!¡± ¡°Sh, you¡¯re so hell-bent on me getting rid of the child because of the father, right?¡± Letitia guessed. Sh¡¯s face changed for a moment but quickly denied it, ¡°No!¡± ¡°I guessed right.¡± ¡°Ha, keep dreaming. Sh said mockingly, ¡°The father of this little mistake is just some ugly, fat old man.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not that easy to fool. That night¡­. Letitia had a vivid memory. Even in the dark, although she couldn¡¯t see his face, but judging by his voice, physique, and the faint scent on him, the man was a high-caliber, ssy guy. Plus, he had promised he would marry her. Such a man could never be an ugly, fat old-timer. ¡°You have the nerve to mention that night!¡± Sh seethed with jealousy, ¡°Shameless woman! Threw away all your decency!¡± Letitia smirked sarcastically, The ones with no shame are you and your father. I was just fine in the psych ward; it was. you who shipped me off to that hotel!¡± ¡°That didn¡¯t mean you could just sleep with any guy!¡± ¡°Sh, if I spill the beans to Elgin¡­¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± Sh shrieked, ¡°Then I¡¯ll reveal your pregnancy and have Mr. Ramirez get rid of the child himself!¡± Letitia looked away coldly and got out of bed. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± Sh blocked her, ¡°Until my dad is up and well, you¡¯re staying in the hospital, ready to be tapped for blood at any time! Letitia shook off her hand and walked out with determination. After grabbing a bite at a restaurant outside the hospital, she finally felt some strength return. ¡°Mrs. Ramirez, a shadow fell in front of her, and Ranen stood there, ¡°Mr. Ramirez sent me to take you back to Ivory Towers.¡± She nodded, ¡°Just let me finish.¡± She felt like crying, but she had no right to tears; her tears didn¡¯t worth anything. Back at Ivory Towers, Letitia was hungry again. But it was sote, where could she find food? She searched the kitchen and finally found a thermos on the table, with nourishing soup that Phedra brought daily. Perfect! She had just been drained of blood and needed to replenish her nutrients! Letitia couldn¡¯t wait to dig in when Elgin¡¯s voice came from the doorway, ¡°Wait.¡± She turned and nced at him. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Letitia asked emotionlessly, ¡°Am I not even allowed to eat now?¡± Elgin walked over with a stern face and took the thermos, ¡°Eat anything you want, just not this.¡± ¡°Why? You used to force this on me! Now¡­¡± Now that she needed to recuperate, he forbade it! The frustrations of the whole day couldn¡¯t be held back anymore. Letitia challenged him, ¡°Elgin, do I have any rights as a person? What do you want from me? You meddle even when I find something to eat in the middle of the night? Have you got nothing better to do? How much longer do you want to torment me?¡± Elgin¡¯s expression turned dark as the deep sea, ¡°You dare talk to me like that? Ungrateful woman!¡± He didn¡¯t let her eat it for her own good! The soup was drugged! And yet, Letitia took his concern for granted! He was truly unappreciated! ¡°Have you ever been good to me? Letitia countered, ¡°You just find new ways to humiliate me!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t appreciate kindness when you see it!¡± With a wave of his hand, Elgin snatched the thermos and sent it crashing to the floor. Soup sshed everywhere. Themotion alerted the butler, who hurried to the kitchen, unsure what to say at the scene, ¡°Um, Mr. Ramirez¡­¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Yes, yes. ¡°Tell Phedra, no more soup from today! Nobody wants it!¡± The butlerplied, ¡°Right away.¡± It was strange, the butler thought. He had asked Mr. Ramirez before if they should stop epting the soup, and Mr. Ramirez had said to keep it. Why the sudden change of heart today! Letitia bit her lower lip, it was hard for her to keep the tears from falling Elgin tormented her, bullied her, demanded her penance, supported Sh, forced her to be bled to save Sh¡¯s father¡­. She truly hated him. ¡°Elgin, if one day, you realize¡­ you should have never treated me this way,¡± Letitia looked up defiantly at him, ¡°how much will you regret it?¡± ¡°Regret? That word doesn¡¯t exist in my dictionary!¡± Letitia took a deep breath and closed her eyes, ¡°How much longer till you marry Sh? Let¡¯s get a divorce soon, I¡¯m willing to go back to the psych ward, locked up for life.¡± ¡°You think you can just go back? You¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have a choice.¡± Letitia cut him off, ¡°That¡¯s what you¡¯re going to say, right?¡± Elgin squinted at her, grabbing her chin forcefully, ¡°Letitia, your sharp tongue, it¡¯s because you can¡¯t stand it, right? What. a little bloodletting and you¡¯re upset?¡± ¡°Because I didn¡¯t cause Mark¡¯s condition, I have no obligation to save him with my blood.¡± ¡°The surveince footage is crystal clear! Letina asked, ¡°Is what you see always the truth? Forget it, Elgin, you don¡¯t trust me, there¡¯s no point in talking more Elgin snorted and let her go. ¡°Even if it wasn¡¯t you, you still have to give him your blood. Your life is worth nothing!¡± He tumed and left. Letitia looked down at the broken pieces on the floor, stepped over them, and continued to look for food in the fridge. After filling her stomach, she returned to the master bedroom andy down on the floor by the bed. Curled up, she held her belly tightly with both hands. No idea how long she¡¯d been out, Letitia was in a half-asleep daze when she heard footsteps outside, getting closer and closer. Letitia wanted to open her eyes, but she felt like she had no strength at all. ¡°Letitia, get up here!¡± It was Elgin¡¯s voice She mumbled a response but didn¡¯t move a muscle. Seeing Letitia still knocked out and hearing the footsteps almost at the door, Elgin couldn¡¯t fuss about it anymore. He grabbed her by the shoulders and hauled her up onto the bed. Just as he tucked Letitia into the nkets, the door swung open. There stood Hawley, leaning on his cane, with a grin on his face, ¡°You guys are still not up, huh?¡± Chapter 40 Chapter 40 ¡°Grandpa, Elgin responded, ¡°What brings you here?¡± He tucked Letitia close into his embrace, pulling up the nket a bit, ¡°She¡¯s still asleep¡­¡± ¡°I know,¡± Hawley nodded in understanding, ¡°You must¡¯ve worn her out. Let her rest, it¡¯s all good.¡± When Letitia woke up, she saw Elgin¡¯s chest up close, and spaced out for a good few seconds, ¡°What¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± his voice was soft, ¡°It¡¯s okay. Keep sleeping.¡± *Alright, I was just passing by, thought I¡¯d check in. I won¡¯t disturb you two.¡± Letitia blinked, nced toward the door, and it finally hit her, ¡°Oh, Mr. Hawley, you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother get up. Hawley said while turning to leave, throwing in onestment, ¡°Elgin, keep up the good work, eh.¡± Letitia waspletely befuddled, it took her ages to snap back to reality. Looks like Hawley came for a surprise check-in, and she slept through it. ¡°Dummy, be sharper next time, Elgin pushed her away, ¡°If grandpa smells something fishy, you know what¡¯sing for you¡± He rolled out of bed, broad shoulders and narrow waist, leisurely buttoning up his shirt. His body quite the tease, but Letitia wasn¡¯t in the mood to appreciate it. She watched his back, saying, ¡°Since the old man is so keen on having a kid, you could just have one with Sh. Start trying now, and by the time you remarry, she¡¯ll likely be pregnant.¡± Elgin paused buttoning his shirt, his expression not looking too hot, ¡°Shut up.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just spitting facts. After all, you like her, and she¡¯s definitely on board. ¡°I¡¯m not gonna sleep with her.¡± Elgin said, ¡°I¡¯ll wait till she has a legit title, then we¡¯ll talk.¡± Yet Letitia chuckled lightly, ¡°Is it because¡­ you¡¯ve got some problem?¡± Elgin turned around slowly, his gaze icy, ¡°What did you say?¡± No man can stand to have that questioned! ¡°Yeah,¡± Letitia boldly continued, ¡°You never touch me, you don¡¯t wanna touch Sh. No man wants to live like a monk. I can¡¯t think of any other reason.¡± Elgin¡¯s hand found her throat. ¡°Stop trying, I¡¯m notying a finger on you.¡± His thin lips grazed her cheek, ¡°Don¡¯t tick me off, it¡¯s not in your best interest!¡± Letitia couldn¡¯t be happier if he kept his hands to himself. ¡°So, you¡¯re nning to keep tricking your grandpa?¡± ¡°For now.¡± Elgin narrowed his eyes, ¡°Get up, we¡¯re going to the hospital.¡± Letitia got nervous, ¡°The hospital?¡± ¡°To draw your blood.¡± Elgin said, ¡°Mark needs more blood, and you need to keep donating until he¡¯s well.¡± Letitia refused without hesitation, ¡°I won¡¯t go!¡± The nurse drew so much blood yesterday; it¡¯s already taxing on her body, and if they continue today¡­ What about her baby! Elgin was even more adamant, ¡°You¡¯re going, like it or not.¡± ¡°They can get blood from the blood bank at the hospital, Sh can donate!¡± ¡°Your life is cheap, it¡¯s fair game for drawing blood.¡± Letitia gritted her teeth, ¡°I won¡¯t go.¡± ¡°Go willingly, or I¡¯ll drag you there. Your choice.¡± Elgin stood tall, looming over her, straightening his tie. For her child¡¯s sake, Letitia had to resist this time, no matter what. ¡°I won¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez!¡± The butler suddenly knocked hard on the door, ¡°Just got a call from the hospital!¡± ¡°Come in! What happened there? Something wrong?¡± The butler replied, ¡°It¡¯s from the hospital where Mrs Ramirez¡¯s mother is!¡± Letitia gasped, fixing her gaze on the butler, ¡°What happened to my mom? She dashed off the bed, clutching the butler¡¯s hand tightly, eyes filled with panic. Ever since Elgin took Malinda from the hospital, she hadn¡¯t heard from her mother. ¡°Mrs. Ramirez, it¡¯s good news. The butler smiled. The hospital called to say Mrs. Sanders is awake! Letitia could hardly believe her ears. Her mother woke up? A vegetative patient¡­ woke up! What a rare medical miracle! Letitia finally heard some good news. Through all the hardship and pain, she never cried, but now she was so happy she was both crying and laughing. That¡¯s great, that¡¯s great, my mother, finally¡­ Tears streamed down, but they were tears of joy. Letitia turned around, ¡°Elgin, may I visit my mother?¡± Afraid he wouldn¡¯t agree, she quickly promised, ¡°I just want to see her, that¡¯s all! She must miss me terribly.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Her eyes lit up, ¡°Really?¡± But something felt off, Elgin couldn¡¯t possibly agree so easily. He must have a catch. ¡°Of course, for real.¡± Elgin replied, ¡°Get your blood drawn, then you can go see your mom.¡± As expected! Letitia guessed right! At the end of the day, they still wanted her blood! Elgin, hand casually in his trouser pocket, looked rxed, ¡°Since you¡¯re getting blood drawn anyway, y along and you get to see your mom.¡± Letitia¡¯s nails dug deep into her palm.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. On one hand, it¡¯s her child, on the other, it¡¯s her mother. Both are important to her. This decision¡­ was excruciating. ¡°You¡¯ve got five minutes to decide¡± Elgin walked past her, ¡°This is your only shot.¡± His shirt brushed against the hem of her clothes. Elgin always meant what he said. Hesitate further, and she¡¯d lose the chance to choose Letitia turned and swiftly grabbed his sleeve, ¡°Elgin¡­¡± He stopped, raising an eyebrow, ¡°Hmm?¡± I¡¯ve made up my mind. Letitia spoke with difficulty. ¡°I want to see my mother.¡± Then go and get your blood drawn¡± ¡°Okay¡± The butler interjected, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, she can¡¯t draw blood two days in a row¡­¡± ¡°Shut it!¡± Even the butler knew thismon sense, yet Elgin didn¡¯t care about her wellbeing. Letitia stood alone at the doorway of the master bedroom, looking down at her t belly. ¡°Baby, I¡¯m sorry.¡± She murmured to herself, ¡°I have no choice, I have a mom too, I miss her so much, I need to see her¡­. Baby, mommy¡¯s taking you to meet your grandma. Please hold on, don¡¯t leave mommy. Sorry, I¡¯m so sorry, I¡¯ll take good care of you from now on, keep you safe Stay put in me, okay?¡± Letitia had no other choice, she just hoped her child would be strong enough to survive. Heading downstairs to the dining room, Letitia discovered the butler had gone out of his way to have the kitchen whip up some blood-boosting diet just for her. She shot the butler a grateful nce. During this time, he¡¯d been lending her a hand both openly and on the down low, turning out to be the only one in Ivory Towers who genuinely had her back. As for rest of the staff? They were more or less looking down their noses at her, with a hint of scorn in their eyes. Letitia chowed down with determination. She couldn¡¯t afford to fall ill; otherwise, the little baby she was carrying would be in real jeopardy. Chapter 41 Chapter 41 At the hospital, after getting her blood drawn, Letitia used the excuse of heading to the restroom to sneak off to the OB-GYN department. She got the doc to prescribe her a bunch of meds to prevent a miscarriage and crammed them into her bag. She was busting her butt, trying to stay alive, for herself and for her baby. Just as Letitia left the OB-GYN, she bumped into Sh in the elevator, ¡°Done with the bloodwork?¡± Sh asked with a smirk, ¡°You¡¯re still standing tall, I see¡­ Guess it means more of the same tomorrow, huh?¡± ¡°In your dreams.¡± After seeing her mom, it was time to fight back. She couldn¡¯t let Sh and her dad keep bleeding her dry, or the baby wouldn¡¯t stand a chance! Sh was brimming with confidence, ¡°We¡¯ll just see about that tomorrow.¡± Letitia chuckled, ¡°Sure, we¡¯ll see.¡± Stepping out of the elevator, her driver and bodyguard followed suit. They looked intimidating. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re off to? Sh asked, ¡°And who are these guys tailing you?¡± I¡¯m Mrs. Ramirez I¡¯m not some random chick like you.¡± ¡°Letitia!!¡± Sh shouted, fuming. Letitia had already left. Actually, these two were sent by Elgin to keep tabs on her, to monitor her bloodwork and her meeting with Malinda. Sh watched Letitia¡¯s retreating figure, ¡°Heh, let¡¯s see who will win in the end!¡± She stealthily followed behind, sneaking around. Letitia didn¡¯t even know where her mother was. She watched the increasingly unfamiliar scenery pass by the car window, until they arrived at a posh private hospital in the suburbs. That¡¯s when the driver finally said, ¡°Ma¡¯am, we¡¯re here.¡± This was the ritzy hospital in AquaCity. Elgin had actually transferred her mother to such a swanky ce and was footing the bill for her treatment? Letitia found it hard to believe. Was he really being kind-hearted? But the evidence was right in front of her. Guided by a staff member, Letitia arrived at the door of the hospital room. ¡°The patient has just regained consciousness, and her vital functions are still recovering. You can only see her for half an hour.¡± ¡°Okay¡± Letitia had barely pushed the door open when Sh emerged from the shadows. The bodyguard blocked her way. ¡°No entry for unrted individuals.¡± ¡°Are you blind or something that you don¡¯t recognize me?¡± Sh waved her hand dismissively, ¡°Move aside, I want to see what kind of shady business Letitia is up to.¡± The bodyguard inquired, ¡°You are¡­?¡± ¡°Sh! The future Mrs. Ramirez!¡± That name was too well-known in Ivory Towers for the bodyguard to mess with, so he silently stepped aside. Sh tiptoed over and pressed her ear against the door, eavesdropping on the sounds inside. in the ward, Letitia hurried over and grasped Malinda¡¯s hand tightly, ¡°Mom¡­¡± pened her eyes and stared at her for a few seconds. ¡°Is that you, Letitia?¡± it¡¯s me, mom, you¡¯re finally awake.¡± Malinda burst into tears, ¡°Letitia, my poor girl¡­ After such a disaster, what are you going to do? Has anyone been bullying you, they must have mistreated you¡­¡± After the incident, Malinda had be a vegetable, only waking up today. She didn¡¯t know exactly what had happened, but she could surmise it must have been a trying ordeal.. ¡°No, Mom, I¡¯m fine, I¡¯m doing pretty well.¡± Letitia smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me, you¡¯ve lost weight, you look haggard..¡± Letitia replied, ¡°Really, if things weren¡¯t good, where would I get the money for such a nice hospital for you? How could you have woken up, right?¡± Malinda stroked her hair, The Ramirez family hasn¡¯t been troubling you? How did you manage to finish your studies?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got¡­ I¡¯ve also got Walden.¡± Letitia said, ¡°He¡¯s my boyfriend, he¡¯s been great to me. The cost of your hospital stay, he¡¯s been covering it. He¡¯s been taking care of me all these years.¡± Malinda let out a sigh of relief, ¡°Good, that¡¯s good. I knew it, Walden¡¯s a decent boy, he¡¯s bound to treat you well.¡± ¡°Mhmm. ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought, two years have gone by, I sure slept for a long time. Letitia, where¡¯s your dad? Is he okay?¡± ¡°Dad¡¯s in prison serving time. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll visit him often.¡± Malinda nodded, ¡°Once I¡¯m able to get out of bed and move around, even if it¡¯s in a wheelchair, I want to see him.¡± Letitia didn¡¯t respond. Chances were¡­ Elgin wouldn¡¯t let her mother leave this hospital. She smiled and changed the subject, ¡°Mom, Dad will be so happy to know you¡¯re awake. Just focus on getting better, leave the rest to me.¡± Malinda looked at her lovingly. You¡¯ve been our little princess since you were a child. To face such a sudden cmity, it¡¯s hard on you. Even if you don¡¯t say it, even with Walden¡¯s help, I know it¡¯s not been easy.¡± Only a mother¡¯s heart truly aches for her child. Feeling a lump in her throat, Letitia sniffed and held back the tears, ¡°It¡¯s all in the past, Mom. Don¡¯t think about it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my fault, dragging you down. If I hadn¡¯t ended up in a vegetative state, I could¡¯ve been there for you these past two years¡­ Malinda cleaned her tears, continuing, ¡°Your father has done so much good in his life, patients he¡¯s cured ¡°Mom,¡± Letitia asked, ¡°do you really think Marcel¡¯s death was caused by Dad?¡± At the mention of this, Malinda¡¯s emotions surged, ¡°No! It couldn¡¯t be! He¡¯s so experienced, he¡¯s never made a mistake! Letitia, your father is innocent, he¡¯s been wronged¡­¡± Letitia gripped her mother¡¯s hand tightly, iming, ¡°I feel the same way. Dad¡¯s innocent.¡± Outside, Sh smirked slyly after hearing this, then she turned and left Having seen her mother, Letitia felt downcast, yet there was a hint of sce in her heart. She still had her mom, could see her, talk to her Back at the Ramirez Group, Letitia made her way to the CEO¡¯s office of her own ord. ¡°No matter what, thank you for hiring specialists to treat my mother, getting her to wake up.¡± Letitia stood in front of the desk, ¡°I¡­ I misunderstood you before.¡± he hadn¡¯t expected him to send her mother to such a fancy private hospital. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Eigins gaze shifted from theputer to her face. ¡°Thank you?¡± ¡°Yeah, otherwise¡­ I wouldn¡¯t be able to get her such good treatments by myself.¡± ¡°No need.¡± Elgin shed a slight grin. ¡°Torturinig a vegetable ain¡¯t my idea of fun. Getting her back on her feet, letting her wake up to the agony of losing everything, now that¡¯s more like it.¡± Letitia felt a chill run down her spine, spreading an icy dread to every corner of her body. ¡°Elgin, if you¡¯ve got problem with me, bring it on, but leave my mom out of it!¡± He raised an eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯re scared?¡± ¡°Do whatever you want to me.¡± Letitia clenched her fists tight. ¡°Just don¡¯ty a finger on her, please¡­¡± She had overestimated Elgin. Deep down, he was a bona fide devil through and through! Then be a good girl.¡± Elgin leaned back in his chair. ¡°If you tick me off, your mom¡¯s gonna have a hell of a time.¡± Chapter 42 Chapter 42 Letitia was on the verge of biting her lip till it bled, ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°Get lost.¡± She turned and walked out Elgin always had a way of sparking a glimmer of hope in her before plunging her deeper into the pits of despair. She lied to her mom, saying she was doing great, working at Walden¡¯spany and a high-paying job, spinning a beautiful web of lies Her mom had just woken up from a longa and hadn¡¯t recovered. Knowing the truth about her situation would probably break her heart. Elgin had too much dirt on her, too many weak spots. Back at her desk, Letitia stared at the design drafts, her mind a nk te. She whipped up all sorts of jewelry designs for ¡°Ramirez Romantica,¡± from nes to rings to bracelets, all smooth sailing, with inspiration through the roof. Except for Sh¡¯s wedding ring¡­ ¡°What¡¯s with the daydreaming? Vidonia pped her shoulder, cking ideas?¡± She nced at the sketches on Letitia¡¯s desk, her brows furrowing, ¡°What the heck is this? Tacky and common, not al hint of elegance. It looks like something a person of no ss would show off. This isn¡¯t your style, Letitia!¡± ¡°It¡¯s for Sh. Letitia replied, ¡°She¡¯s into this style.¡± ¡°No wonder¡­¡± Vidonia rolled her eyes so hard they almost reached heaven, ¡°Do you think Elgin¡¯s got something wrong with his eyesight? All these rich, pretty, and famous girls throw themselves at him, and he goes for Sh? She probably had her whole face done.¡± ¡°Guess it¡¯s fate.¡± Just as Samson returned from meeting a client, Vidonia quickly called out to him, ¡°Mr. Stewart, do you know which eye clinic in AquaCity is the most renowned?¡± ¡°What¡¯s up? You got an eye problem?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not me, it¡¯s for Elgin!¡± Samson spread his hands, ¡°What¡¯s his blindness got to do with me? By the way, Letitia, I showed your designs to an overseas client, and they were over the moon. Keep up the good work.¡± Letitia nodded, ¡°Sure thing, Mr. Stewart.¡± ¡°With this trend, our Ramirez Romantica¡¯ is gonna blow ¡®Sunbeam Gems¡¯ from the Sullivan Group out of the water this year!¡± Samson boasted, ¡°Just some juicy gossip for you, Walden¡¯s been having a rough timetely!¡± Letitia¡¯s heart skipped a beat, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°His performance is down, shareholders are on his case, and the board has asked him to resign, saying he¡¯s not up to scratch. Plus¡­ Elgin has publicly stated he¡¯s not fond about Walden and will compete with him to the end. Think about it no one would dare cross Elgin, and they all ditch Walden like a hot potato.¡± These business types, always chasing gains and avoiding losses. To suck up to Elgin, naturally, they¡¯d kick Walden to the curb. Elgin was clearly out to screw Walden over, and he didn¡¯t even need to lift a finger ¨C just a light-hearted comment was enough to send Walden into trouble Lesbia didn¡¯t even want to think about what would happen if Elgin took matters into his own hands¡­ The whole Sullivan Samson added ¡°Anyway the worse off Walden is, the better for us. Ouch! Vidonia, why are you pinching me?¡± ¡°Oops, my bad. Mr. Stewart you better get going!¡± Vidonia quickly ushered him out. She knew about Walden and Letitia¡¯s past rtionship from college, and now¡­ Life is just full of unexpected twists Letitia forced a smile. ¡°I¡¯m getting back to work. No worries, I¡¯ve been through a lot, I¡¯m strong now¡± She had to be strong, because she didn¡¯t have anyone to show her weakness to ¡°Okay.¡± Vidonia chimed in, ¡°If you need anything, let me know, don¡¯t face it yourself.¡± She cast several womed nces at Letitial Letitia had already picked up her pencil and started sketching furiously on paper. Within half an hour, she had the finished design and texted it to Sh, [Is this big and shy enough for you?] Sh replied. [You¡¯re sending me a sketch in ck and white? Who do you think you¡¯re fooling?] Letitia sent her the colored version. Shined. [The main diamond is too small, and there are too many tiny diamonds around it ] Letitia said. [Ever heard of the moon among the stars¡¯ design concept?] Sh retorted. [Who¡¯s wearing it, you or me?] Letitia replied. (Pearls before swine.] And with that, she stopped engaging with Sh She had anticipated Sh would be picky, so she just fobbed her off, considering it part of the job After taking another dose of her pregnancy-preserving medicine, Letitia felt a bit more at ease. Thinking about another hospital visit tomorrow to give blood to Mark¡­ Letitia started plotting her strategy. Nighttime. At the Ivory Towers, in the evening. Letitia dragged her feet until almost midnight before entering the bedroom. Every minute less spent with Elgin was a blessing. As she closed the door and turned around, there was Elgin, fresh out of the shower from the bathroom. They bumped. into each other. Letitia quickly backed away two steps, taking a quick nce at him. Elgin was shirtless, muscles well-defined, with just a towel wrapped around his lower half. Sorry.¡± Letitia couldn¡¯t bear to look at him any longer, her cheeks burning. Why does this guy always have to be half-naked¡­ She hurried past him, but there was water on the floor, and she slipped- Pregnant women can¡¯t afford to fall! Letitia¡¯s hands scrambled around, grasping at something she didn¡¯t know what it was ¨C but she clung on for her life to steady herself. And the thing she was holding onto fell to the floor. She patted her chest and breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°Thank goodness I didn¡¯t fall¡­¡± As she was talking, she looked down and froze. She had actually pulled off Elgin¡¯s towell What now? Should she look up? Or keep looking down? gn was stark naked now¡­ ¡°Are you trying to seduce me with such a low move?¡± Elgin¡¯s voice was cold, ¡°Pick it up.¡± ¡°Are you talking to me?¡± Is there a third person in the room?¡± Letitia bent down, grabbed the towel tightly, and held it in her hands, ¡°And then?¡± ¡°Wrap it around.¡± What?! She had to wrap it around him? That she couldn¡¯t possibly do! ¡°What are you waiting for?¡± Elgin¡¯s impatient voice came from above her head, ¡°You pulled it off, so naturally, you¡¯re the one who has to put it back on.¡± Letitia swallowed hard. Man, she¡¯s really hit a streak of bad luck¡­. Ah well, it¡¯s not as if she had the option to refuse, so she might as well get it over with! With her eyes clenched shut, she unfurled the towel and fumbled to wrap Elgin up. Her fingers brushed against his skin, still wet and scorchingly hot¡­. Letitia didn¡¯t dare to open her eyes, her hands were shaking like crazy Property ? N?velDrama.Org. The more nervous she got, the worse she did, and sweat beads even started forming on the tip of her nose. ¡°Can¡¯t you just open your eyes?¡± ¡°No need, I¡¯ve got this¡­¡± If she opened her eyes, she¡¯d see all of him, for crying out loud! Finally, Letitia managed to get it done.. She breathed a sigh of relief and was about to get up when suddenly she felt light as a feather ¨C Elgin had scooped her up sideways and pressed her down on the couch. His heated body was pressing tightly against hers. ¡°Elgin ¡­¡± Letitia pushed against his chest with both hands, totally panicked. ¡°Next time, cut out these cheap tricks.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­ Chapter 43 Chapter 43 It was an ident! She didn¡¯t want this to happen either! Elgin snorted with a hint of frost, ¡°You think I can¡¯t see what¡¯s going on?¡± Letitia rolled her eyes in frustration, ¡°Think whatever you want, I¡¯m going to bed.¡± No sooner had her words faded than Elgin dipped down and sealed her lips with his. The wispy strands of hair from his forehead fell, tickling her eyes and causing a distracting itch. This time, Elgin¡¯s kiss was gentle as a feather touch. Not like before, when he was all rough and forceful. Just as Letitia¡¯s hand lifted in a feeble attempt to push him away, he caught it and hoisted it over her head. ¡°Should I grant your wish?¡± Elgin¡¯s voice was a low growl, ¡°So you don¡¯t have to scheme to seduce me¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­ mmph.¡± Suddenly, Elgin turned rough again, his kiss fierce enough to draw blood from her lips. Letitia¡¯s brows knitted in pain. The more she resisted, the harder he pressed down on her. Out of options, Letitia bit him hard, and the taste of blood filled both of their mouths. As Elgin pulled back, his hands braced beside her ears, he stared into her eyes with an unfathomable depth, not even blinking. A drop of blood adorned the corner of his mouth, giving him a dangerously enticing look.Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Letitia couldn¡¯t fathom his thoughts and kept silent. Elgin was a ticking bomb one wrong word and she¡¯d be in for a world of hurt. After what felt like an eternity, Elgin finally spoke, ¡°¡­Sometimes I really wish you¡¯d seed in seducing me. But I can¡¯t give you what you want!¡± He raised his hand and cleaned the blood on her lips. Letitia maintained her silence. This version of Elgin was the most dangerous, looking like he could blow a fuse at any given moment. He got up to leave, his voice icy, ¡°Get dressed!¡± Looking down, Letitia realized that in the scuffle, her neckline had be loose, exposing the soft curves underneath. She quickly covered up and dashed into the bathroom for cover. Best not to cross paths with Elgin right now! Facing her reflection in the mirror, with blood on her lips, her hair a mess, and her cheeks flushed like blooming peach blossoms¡­ anyone could tell what had just happened. About to turn on the tap, she heard the ringtone of a cellphone outside. Elgin answered, ¡°Hello?¡± Then, he rapped on the door, ¡°Letitia, get to the hospital.¡± Something felt off to her, and she asked, ¡°What happened?¡± Mark¡¯s condition has suddenly worsened. They need you, be prepared for a blood draw!¡± Letitia clenched her teeth. Worsened? She guessed it was Sh and her father¡¯s n to bleed her dry! Three days of blood draws, no one could save the baby in her belly! Come out! Did you hear me? Elgin¡¯s voice grew louder as there was no response, ¡°Letitia!¡± Unexpectedly, Letitia opened the door swiftly, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡± Her willingness to cooperate took Elgin by surprise. After a brief pause, he turned, ¡°Follow me!¡± Outside the ICU. Sh was still sobbing, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, if anything happens to my day, what should we do¡­ I¡¯ve been worried sick these past few days, can¡¯t eat, can¡¯t sleep, I¡¯m terrified of losing him.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t happen, Elgin consoled her. She clung to Elgin¡¯s arm, refusing to let go. Elgin frowned but didn¡¯t push her away. The doctor appeared, ¡°The patient¡¯s condition is still critical, and there¡¯s a shortage in the city¡¯s blood supply, so¡­¡± The implication was clear, they still needed Letitia¡¯s blood to save the day. Sh feigned concern, ¡°Letitia, I¡¯m counting on you. Even though it¡¯s your fault my dad is like this, he¡¯ll definitely thank you once he¡¯s better.¡± Letitia stood firm, unmoved. ¡°Mr. Ramirez.. Sh quickly sought backup, ¡°Please, say something, help me out here.¡± Elgin nced at Letitia. He knew what drawing blood for three consecutive days meant. Yet, he still said, ¡°Letitia, go and have your blood drawn.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Letitia agreed. Her prompt response was a stark contrast to her earlier reluctance. Sh was taken aback, You¡­ you agreed?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m willing to help, Letitia replied. ¡°But, before we do that, I have a small request.¡± Elgin nodded, ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°I want to see the director first. I need to see how he¡¯s doing to feel at ease.¡± Sh objected, ¡°No way.¡± She didn¡¯t understand why Letitia had suddenly made this request, but she knew she couldn¡¯t let anyone see her dad. What if¡­ they found out the truth? Her dad never had a stroke! This was all a lie! ¡°Why not?¡± Letitia pressed. ¡°I just want to take a quick look, and you won¡¯t agree? Is there something you don¡¯t want people to see?¡± ¡°Of course not! It¡¯s just that I, I¡­¡± Caught off guard by Letitia¡¯s question, Sh was at a loss for words. ¡°Then let me in. I feel so guilty for causing your father¡¯s stroke with my emotional outburst.¡± ¡°Once he¡¯s better, you can¡­¡± ¡°Fine, Elgin cut in, ¡°go ahead, two minutes.¡± With Elgin¡¯s permission, Sh had no choice. Any more resistance would seem too deliberate and arouse suspicion. So, Sh said, ¡°Then¡­ I¡¯ll go in too!¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Letitia nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s all go in together. After all these days, we should know exactly how your father is doing.¡± Before Sh could react, Letitia, pulling Elgin along, stepped into the ICU. Sh, frustrated, hurriedly followed. in the ICU, Marky on the bed, his forehead wrapped in bandages, surrounded by medical equipment. He seemed to be a grave condition. Letitia approached the bed squatted down, and took Mark¡¯s hand, I¡¯m really sorry, sit. If only I¡¯d known you were sick, I would¡¯ve epted your gift. Ah, it¡¯s all my fault¡± While feigning regret, she surreptitiously squeezed his hand. Mark¡¯s hand was warm an unconscious patient shouldn¡¯t have such warmth! Letitia pinched Mark¡¯s hand hard, and his eyes fluttered. Bingo! If Mark woke up, there¡¯d be no need for a blood draw. And who knows, maybe she could even expose their scheme! Just as Letitia was about to squeeze harder, Sh suddenly rushed over, ¡°Stay away from my dad!¡± She was about to shove Letitia away Letitia was still gripping Mark¡¯s hand, not letting go for anything ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? I¡¯m just having a chat with the director, Letitia said. ¡°Don¡¯t freak out on me. The guy¡¯s got tubes all over him; don¡¯t mess things up!¡± ¡°Talk is talk, but keep your hands off my dad!¡± Sh was pushing hard against Letitia, who was clinging onto Mark¡¯s hand for dear life. The two were having a silent tug-of-war Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Amidst all the pushing and shoving, someone must have tripped over a cord or something, because suddenly, there was this loud thud and down came a piece of equipment. And it just had tond right on Mark¡¯s chest. Mark was coughing his lungs out. He was faking it to begin with, but after that hit, how could he keep up the act? Mark¡¯s eyes flew open and he started fiddling with the medical device on top of him, ¡°Hey, give me a hand here, get it off¡­¡± The thing didn¡¯t look that big, but man, it was heavy, and Mark couldn¡¯t budge it on his own! Sh hurried over to help. ¡°Dad!¡± ¡°I¡¯m being squashed, Markined, ¡°If that thing had hit my face, I¡¯d be a goner!¡± Mark sounded full of hot air did he really seem like someone on death¡¯s door from a stroke? Sh was frantic, shooting him looks that could have pulled a muscle in her eye. Finally, Mark caught on and quicklyid back down, feigning weakness, ¡°Ouch, that hurts, doctor¡­ quick, get a doctor in here¡­¡± Sh yed along, hamming it up. ¡°Dad, you just woke up, take a moment to breathe!¡± ¡°Mr. Ward, you¡¯re awake, Letitia chimed in, feigning concern, ¡°That¡¯s a relief, I was scared to death something bad might happen to you!¡± ¡°1,1¡± ¡°Sh said your condition was getting worse, but I didn¡¯t buy it. You¡¯re usually fit as a fiddle, so I came to check on you. Look at you, awake all on your own, no need for surgery, and no need for my blood.¡± Letitia had said her piece. Mark and Sh exchanged looks, speechless. Letitia grinned. Take care and rest up, Mr. Ward. Those health supplements you bought, save ¡¯em for yourself.¡±¡® ¡°Did these two really think they could get rid of my kid by ying sick? Dream on!¡± Letitia thought, ¡°I¡¯m no pushover!¡± ¡°Right, I¡¯ll go get the doctor, Letitia announced, ¡°Hang tight.¡± She turned and left the ICU. Mark was grinding his teeth, fuming! Who would¡¯ve thought Letitia would be so crafty, barging in and waking him up! Sh was fuming too, but with Elgin still around, she couldn¡¯t make a scene, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, I think¡­ I think my dad¡¯s going to be fine.¡± Elgin¡¯s gaze was icy as he looked at her, sharp as a de. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, don¡¯t look at me like that, I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m scared¡­¡± Sh tried to y the coquette, reaching for his arm, but Elgin brushed her off. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m that easy to fool?¡± Sh turned pale, ¡°No, Mr. Ramirez, my dad really is sick!¡± ¡°So you¡¯re still going to keep acting even after Letitia blew your cover?¡± Elgin was sharp as a tack! The moment Mark woke up, he had figured it all out. His eyes narrowed dangerously. ¡°You made the whole thing up just to keep taking Letitia¡¯s blood.¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have yed me.¡± Elgin¡¯s presence was overwhelming, his face a mask of ice. ¡°Enough nonsense!¡± Sh quickly tried to make amends, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to hide it from you, my mistake, I won¡¯t dare do tagain Elgin couldn¡¯t stand to look at her, snorted coldly, and walked out. Mr Ramirez! Sh chased after him, nearly getting her face smacked by the closing door. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, don¡¯t be mad at me!¡± she yelled. But Elgin didn¡¯t look back. ¡°This is it, Dad,¡± Sh said, ¡°we¡¯ve shot ourselves in the foot!¡± At the hospital entrance, Letitia was already waiting by the car. Elgin strade over, ncing at her, ¡°You finally got something right.¡± ¡°If i hadn¡¯t smartened up, I might¡¯ve been dead.¡± ¡°How could a few vials of blood kill you?¡± It would kill my baby. Letitia silently replied to herself. ¡°I can¡¯t just be some free, mobile blood bank, getting my blood drawn every day,¡± she said aloud. Elgin got into the car, his face grim. He rushed over in the middle of the night, only to find a farce. ¡°Must be a real bummer, being yed like that, Letitia said. ¡°Too bad you can¡¯t do much about Sh, she¡¯s the apple of your eye. If it were me, you¡¯ve killed me 10 times already.¡± ¡®Shut up But Letitia boldly pressed her forehead against his, ¡°How about you find a psychic for yourself?¡± ¡°What for?¡± ¡°To get them to check if Sh put some kind of spell on you and break it.¡± He brushed her hand off forcefully. With his status and position, he really shouldn¡¯t have fallen for Sh. But her timing was too perfect, not to mention he had made his promise to her. So, even though he was repulsed, he had no choice but to ept. That wonderful night felt like a dream. Letitia¡¯s mood finally lifted a bit, her baby was safe. Silently she vowed, baby, Mommy will protect you with everything I¡¯ve got, I won¡¯t give up as long as there¡¯s a sliver of hopel Before bed, Letitia took another dose of her pregnancy-preserving medication. For the next few days, the butler had the kitchen whip up blood-nourishing foods for Letitia to build her strength. Elgin said nothing, simply avoiding those dishes. Letitia seized the opportunity to eat, worried that Elgin might suddenly decide to scrap the menu on a whim. With the food supplements and medication, Letitia¡¯s vitality gradually returned, herplexion rosier One morning, Elgin entered the dining room and took his seat at the head of the table. He picked up his coffee, nced over the food on the table, and his face turned sour, ¡°Butler!¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Ramirez¡± He pushed the te away, ¡°What¡¯s all this? Are they even edible?¡± The butler was in a tight spot. ¡°These aren¡¯t from our kitchen.¡± ¡°Phedra¡¯s doing?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s Hawley, the butler replied. ¡°He wanted to make sure you were well-nourished.¡± Elgin pursed his lips. ¡°These are all ingredients that are good for a man¡¯s energy..¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°Enough!¡± Elgin¡¯s face was as dark as burnt toast. Letitia kept her head down, struggling to hold backughter, nearly burying her face in her bowl¡­ He finally had a taste of his own medicine! Looks like in the Ramirez family, only Hawley could keep him in check! ¡°Dump it,¡± Elgin spoke up. ¡°Right now!¡± The butler nced at the servant not too far off, who was the old man¡¯s guys, keeping a watchful eye. Elgin remembered that too, which only added to his irritation Catching Letitia smirking at the chaos, he put on a stone-cold face and thrust the Rocky Mountain Oysters towards her, ¡°Letitia.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± she looked up, her face still wearing the remnants of her smirk. ¡°Eat it.¡± Letitia was speechless. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Weren¡¯t you looking to get a boost for health?¡± Elgin raised an eyebrow. ¡°Here¡¯s your chance to load 1. ¡°Oh, how embarrassing. That¡¯s a token of grandpa¡¯s affection for you.¡± ¡°Just eat it when I say so!¡± Chapter 45 Chapter 45 However, Letitia shook her head in firm refusal. ¡°I¡¯m a woman, and honestly, I have no business eating that.¡± Elgin was so frustrated he felt like smashing the te; there was no way he was going to eat it. He decided to take matters into his own hands, picked up the piece with his fork, and held it to Letitia¡¯s mouth, ¡°Open up.¡± Her lips mped shut even tighter. But then, she caught a whiff of that dish. It was indescribable, a really foul smell, thick with a fishy odor. That smell churned her stomach, and a wave of intense nausea surged through her. Just as Elgin was about to force it into her mouth, Letitia suddenly stood up. Clutching her mouth, she didn¡¯t even make it to the restroom and bent over a trash can, starting to heave. The sound echoed throughout the entire dining room. Elgin frowned at her, asking. Why do you always throw up?¡± Letitia was retching so violently that tears streamed down her face; leaving her no chance to answer him. Once the wave of nausea subsided a bit and she stood up, just one nce at the food sent her back into dry heave mode. Elgin, sitting back with his legs crossed, watched her coolly, kindly passing her a ss of water. After rinsing her mouth, Letitia felt a little better and looked for an excuse, ¡°I¡­ I just don¡¯t really like this kind of food.¡± Afraid Elgin might suspect something, she quickly added, ¡°Really, I¡¯ve always had a light pte since I was a kid.¡± Elgin turned to the butler, ¡°Did you hear that? She can¡¯t stand the smell, get rid of it, and tell my grandpa to stop sending. it.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Elgin had also lost his appetite. He set down his fork and left. Letitia cleaned her mouth and followed. If she waste, she¡¯d miss her ride and would have to walk to work. As soon as they left, the spy that Hawley had nted among the servants immediately went to report back. At the Ramirez Mansion, Hawley held the phone. ¡°What? You¡¯re telling me Letitia was retching this morning?¡± ¡°Yes, sir, saw it with my own eyes.¡± ¡°Is it the first time, or has it happened often?¡± The servant replied, ¡°From the conversation, it seems that Mrs. Ramirez has retched several times recently.¡± ¡°That¡¯s odd¡­ Hawley mused, ¡°Only pregnant women have morning sickness like that.¡± ¡°Sir, do you think Mrs. Ramirez could be¡­ pregnant?¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°It¡¯s possible!¡± Hawley pped his thigh, his eyes lighting up with joy, ¡°My chance to have a great- grandchild might being soon! Alright, alright, I need to rush Elgin to take her for a check-up at the hospital!¡± Phedra, listening nearby, couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°They¡¯ve only been married for a short time, it can¡¯t be that quick, Hawley¡± ¡°Elgin is young and full of vigor, why can¡¯t it happen quickly?¡± Phedra was shut down and couldn¡¯t say anything more, but she thought it was impossible. Although the soup had been stopped now, she had been sending it every day before, and Elgin did have some. Her medicine was not without effect, it was meant to ensure Elgin¡­ would be infertile. So Phedra didn¡¯t believe for a second that Letitia could be pregnant. But Hawley, in high spirits, v Elgin In the CEO¡¯s office. ¡°Pregnant?¡± Elgin frowned deeply, ¡°Grandpa, I think you¡¯re just too eager for a grandchild.¡± He hadn¡¯t even touched Letitia, so how could she get pregnant? already calling ¡°Elgin, you have to trust my judgment. Hawley replied, ¡°It was the same with your mother when she was pregnant with you, and your grandmother too, exactly the same.¡± ¡°It was the food you sent that caused it¡± ¡°Just take her to get checked out at the hospital, and everything will be clear, right?¡± Elgin refused, ¡°I¡¯m busy. His time was precious, with people lining up just to see him. Hawley was adamant. ¡°You can have Ranen take her, either way, this check needs to be done so I can rest easy!¡± ¡°Well then.¡± Elgin agreed absentmindedly and hung up. He looked at hisputer, preparing for work, but his mind went nk for a moment. Letitia pregnant? That would be a tall tale. If she really was pregnant, there could be only one exnation ¨C she had cheated on him. Elgin picked up his phone, ¡°Ranen. ¡°Here, Mr. Ramirez¡± ¡°Make a trip to the hospital, the blood Letitia had drawn before hasn¡¯t been used up, take it to the OB GYN¡­¡± Elgin gave Instructions, ¡°Get me the blood test results by tonight¡± ¡°Understood, Mr. Ramirez.¡± Letitia waspletely unaware. She went about her day, sketching design drafts, and even at lunch in thepany. cafeteria, Vidonia joked about her recent increase in appetite. Well, she had a baby to feed now. After work, Elgin stepped out of his office, and Ranen approached, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, the test results from the hospital are in, for your review.¡± He nced at the sealed envelope and took it, ¡°Keep your mouth shut, no leaks.¡± Ranen bowed his head, ¡°You can count on me, Mr. Ramirez.¡± He had been Elgin¡¯s trusted confidant for many years. Elgin opened the envelope once he was in the car. A thin sheet of paper with the results clearly written in one column- ¡°Pregnant, 5 weeks.¡± At that moment, Elgin couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. Letitia was actually pregnant! She had betrayed him! Just then, the car door opened, and Letitia got in. She had run over, afraid that Elgin would get angry if she waste, so she was a bit out of breath. As soon as she got in the car, she felt his intense gaze. Letitia¡¯s heart skipped a beat, ¡°What¡¯s what¡¯s wrong?¡± Seeing the paper in his hand, che couldn¡¯t make out the words from a distance. Elgin threw the paper at her face, ¡°Letitia, you¡¯ve got some nerve!¡± She was stunned for a moment, then picked it up and saw- ¡°Pregnancy Test Result.¡± Letitia felt like she¡¯d been struck by lightning: her whole body went stiff, her limbs turned icy cold, and her blood ran backward The secret she had tightly guarded, kept concealed so carefully¡­ Elgin had unearthed it! Elgin was always an imposing figure with a powerful aura, and now he was filled with rage. His eyes were stormy with turmoil! Letitia wanted to say something, but she just couldn¡¯t find the words¡­ ¡°Do you have a death wish?¡± Elgin¡¯s hand gripped her throat and yanked her forward, ¡°I¡¯ll grant it to you!¡± She bit her lower lip, ¡°¡­ ¡­¡± Now that he found out the truth, any more talk is just pointless With his other hand, Elgin grabbed her purse Letitia gasped, ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± But, she was a step toote. Elgin yanked her purse open, turned it upside down, and all its contents spilled out onto the seat. Her pregnancy-preserving meds, allid bare under Elgin¡¯s eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve known you were pregnant all along, popping pills, keeping it secret from everyone.¡± Elgin¡¯s temples throbbed with veins popping, ¡°No wonder you¡¯re so keen on getting a divorce, eager to go back to the loony bin, just so you can give birth in secret!¡± Chapter 46 Chapter 46 Letitia could only admit, ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right.¡± ¡°You were hell-bent on not donating blood because you wanted to protect the kid!¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Each of her admissions was like pouring fuel on Elgin¡¯s zing anger. ¡°You think I don¡¯t have the guts to kill you? Letitia, don¡¯t tter yourself too much!¡± Letitia looked up defiantly, ¡°I¡¯ve never thought that. Come on, Elgin, do it, kill me now.¡± She closed her eyes. Letitia knew that once the child was discovered, her days were numbered. Elgin simply could not stand any trace of betrayal that¡¯s just who he is! ¡°Bravo, you¡¯re really something.¡± Elgin¡¯s grip tightened, ¡°Do you really think I want to keep you around to torment you day and night and that¡¯s why I can¡¯t bear to finish you off?¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. The air was slowly being squeezed from Letitia¡¯s lungs, and her breathing was getting rough. Her brain was gradually starving for oxygen, and at this rate, she wouldn¡¯tst another twenty seconds. She was going to die at Elgin¡¯s hands. Just when Letitia thought this was the end of the line for her, Elgin suddenly let go. A rush of air flooded in, and she coughed violently, her whole chest numb with pain. ¡°No, Letitia, you shouldn¡¯t die like this, Elgin¡¯s voice seemed toe from the depths of hell, ¡°You should see with your own eyes how the child you¡¯re so desperate to protect will leave your body.¡± Her eyes widened in shock. ¡°Five weeks, probably not fully formed yet, just a tiny embryo.¡± ¡°Elgin¡­¡± Letitia¡¯s voice trembled. This was too cruel! ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Elgin smirked, ¡°Even if it¡¯s just a tiny embryo, I¡¯ll make sure the doctor takes it out intact, so you can get a good look at what this bastard¡­ looks like!¡± Turns out he wasn¡¯t going soft at all but was nning the most horrifying way to punish her. ¡°Just kill me, Elgin, do it now!¡± ¡°First, I¡¯ll snuff out the child, then it¡¯s your turn!¡± His aura of malice was about topletely devour her. Letitia couldn¡¯t stomach the imagery¡­ the small life being ripped from her womb, with her having to witness the ordeal. It was worse than death. The car had stopped in Ivory Towers at some point. The driver had left the car, not daring to make a sound. Inside the car, the atmosphere was heavy. Outside, the lights zed bright, but no one dared to approach the vehicle. ¡°Letitia, who¡¯s the father, Elgin straightened up, his expression chilling. Letitia just shook her head. ¡°Not talking? Don¡¯t want to spill? He sneered, ¡°It¡¯s Walden¡¯s, Isn¡¯t it?¡± Letita denied it. ¡°It¡¯s not! It¡¯s not his!¡± The more you deny it, the more it proves the child is his.¡± ¡°It¡¯s really not!¡± Elgin asked, ¡°Then tell me, who is the child¡¯s father?¡± ¡°It¡¯s ¡°Letitia didn¡¯t even know herself! It¡¯s ridicule to think about. She fought so hard to protect this child, yet the child¡¯s father was always absent. It was just her fighting alone. Maybe that¡¯s just her fate, always battling solo. ¡°I don¡¯t know who he is.¡± Letitia answered, ¡°I didn¡¯t even¡­ see his face clearly.¡± Elgin scoffed, ¡°You¡¯re quite the liar. Keep making stuff up, I want to see how outrageous your lies can get!¡± ¡°It¡¯s true! I¡¯m not lying!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know who he is, but you let him sleep with you?¡± Letitia clenched her teeth, overwhelmed with shame, I was set up¡­¡± ¡°You were set up, Elgin¡¯s voice overpowered hers, ¡°You¡¯re innocent, pure, clean, right?¡± As the words fell, he yanked her hair to bring her face close to his, ¡°Five weeks pregnant¡­ Letitia, back then, you were still in the mental institution. Tell me, which scumbag did you mess around with?¡± She was powerless to exin, ¡°I really didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Or maybe in the mental institution, you were the woman everyone could have, did you trade your body for a safe life?¡± He used to think she was untainted, carrying an aura of purity and cleanliness. Thinking about it now, this woman really knew how to deceive! He was almost fooled by her! Letitia bit her tongue, using the pain to keep herself awake, ¡°I¡¯ve already told you everything. It was just that one time, that one night, I don¡¯t know who that man was¡­ He probably doesn¡¯t even remember me now. You don¡¯t believe me, I can¡¯t help it. ¡°Like hell I believe you!¡± Elgin jumped out of the car and yanked Letitia out too. She was practically dragged on the ground. He was relentless, hauling Letitia over the ground. She attempted to scramble to her feet, but repeatedly copsed as she failed to match his furious pace. Even so, Letitia¡¯s other hand still firmly protected her stomach. Blood bonds are often considered unbreakable. But the more she resisted, the angrier Elgin became She was prioritizing an illegitimate child over her own life! ¡°Where are you taking me? Seeing the gates of Ivory Towers, Letitia asked, ¡°Could it be¡­ to the hospital?!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Letitia, you¡¯re going to abort the child right now!¡± Elgin couldn¡¯t wait another moment! Letitia, this woman, deserved to die a million times over! ¡®No, I won¡¯t go!¡± Letitia started to struggle fiercely, resisting. Even as Elgin dragged her along, she tried everything to dig into the ground, to stop him from moving forward. But her strength was no match for Elgin¡¯s. Due to exerting too much force, her nails broke off, but she still couldn¡¯t stop Elgin¡¯s advance. ¡°Don¡¯t, please¡­ Elgin¡­ no¡­ Letitia cried out in desperation. Security guards, servants, and the butler could only stand far away, not daring to step forward. Who in their right mind would want to prod this raging lion at a time like this? Just as they were about to step out of Ivory Towers, suddenly, car headlights flickered, and a vehicle from the Ramirez Mansion slowly drove towards them Elgin stopped in his tracks, and seizing the moment, Letitia quickly got up from the ground. pulled over and Hawley leaning on his cane, got out Seeing the two of them h¨¢ chuoided and an Elgin¡¯s lips were pressed tight, offering no response. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, cat got your tongue? If she isn¡¯t pregnant-keep on trying. But if you¡¯ve got good news, spill the beans already. Come on, Letitia, how did it turn out?¡± Letitia kept her head down. Just then, a gentle evening breeze started to blow, sending the pregnancy test report that had fallen beside the car dancing into the air. Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Hawley took a couple of steps forward and reached out to grab it, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± The moment he saw it, he was over the moon, ¡°Whoa! That¡¯s the way to go, Letitia, you are pregnant!¡± Elgin¡¯s face darkened considerably. Lost In his joy, Hawley was oblivious to the weird vibes and just kept yapping, ¡°I just knew it, a woman doesn¡¯t just throw up for no reason. I¡¯m going to have great-grandson!¡± He pressed his hands together, his face alight with excitement and gratitude. ¡°Letitia, even though you¡¯re the enemy of our Ramirez n, a sinner, this is your golden ticket to redemption. You better take good care of that kid, bring it into the world without a hitch!¡± She didn¡¯t know what to say just kept mum ¡°Did you hear me? Hawley¡¯s face was stern as he said, ¡°As long as you can keep the Ramirez legacy going, I might just consider.. setting Dr. Sanders free.¡± Elgin snapped, ¡°Grandpa, what are you talking about!¡± ¡°The Sanders family took a life from the Ramirez n, it¡¯s only right they pay one back! You can¡¯t bring back the dead, so she¡¯s gotta give birth! One, two, three, however many, as long as she can pop ¡¯em out, the Ramirez n can foot the bill! Hawley was all about keeping the bloodline going. Now that Elgin¡¯s career is sky-high, he needs an heir to carry on the Ramirez empire. Letitia asked, ¡°So, if I have Elgin¡¯s child, my father will be released?¡± ¡°Yes, Hawley nodded, ¡°My word is bond. In this house, I still call the shots!¡± N?velDrama.Org ? content. At that moment, Letitia wished so bad that the baby was Elgin¡¯s. That way, her father could walk free, and the baby would be born with a silver spoon in its mouth, set for life. But sadly¡­ it wasn¡¯t to be. ¡°I get it,¡± Letitia¡¯s eyshes fluttered, ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ll do my best not to let you down.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this ¡®do my best¡¯ nonsense, it¡¯s a must, a must! Butler!¡± ¡°At your service, Mr. Hawley.¡± ¡°Make sure Letitia gets all the right nutrition during her pregnancy. If there¡¯s any screw up, I¡¯ll be holding you ountable!¡± ¡°Yes sir, the butler replied. After more nagging, Hawley finally left, content. As soon as he was gone, Ivory Towers fell into a silence as deep as the grave. Elgin¡¯s eyes were even darker than the night. He stood face to face with Letitia, with no one else around. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell grandpa that the baby isn¡¯t yours?¡± Letitia asked, ¡°You had the chance just now.¡± ¡°In front of all those people, I¡¯m supposed to announce that you¡¯ve cheated on me?¡± Proud and noble Elgin, how could he allow himself to be humiliated, to lose face! ¡°But now¡­¡± ¡°The baby, it¡¯s gotta go!¡± Letitia suddenly dropped to her knees before him. This was the first time she ever knelt down willingly, her voice low, begging him- Elgin, please, spare this child. I just want him toe into this world safely. I¡¯ll take him far away from you, it won¡¯t be a bother. Besides, we¡¯re getting divorced in two months. If¡­ you can¡¯t exin to your grandpa, after this child is born, I dan bare another child for you! Please, this child means everything to me.¡± Elgin looked down at her. She knelt straight, but he was unmoved, his face the epitome of indifference. ¡°Letitia, you¡¯re ying your cards a bit too well, aren¡¯t you?¡± he scoffed, ¡°Another child for me? That way you get to save your troublemaker in your belly, leave a kid in the Ramirez family, and save your dad. Three birds with one stone! You sure are cunning!¡± She reached out, grabbing onto his trouser leg. ¡°But this child is a life too, how can you be so heartless?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a bastard, doomed to be a ve!¡± Elgin gripped her wrist, yanking her up forcefully. Letitia struggled desperately, ¡°I won¡¯t go to the hospital!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have a say!¡± Suddenly, a ringtone cut through the tension. Hawley¡¯s voice came through, ¡°Elgin! What are you doing? Letitia¡¯s pregnant, go easy on her, and don¡¯t hurt her. Think of the baby!¡± ¡°Grandpa, your eyes and ears sure are dedicated. It¡¯s like you¡¯re everywhere!¡± ¡°It¡¯s all for the kid, you need to cool that temper. Hawley said, ¡°Alright, take Letitia back to her room to rest, enough drama.¡± He wanted her to abort the baby, but Hawley wanted to keep the baby. ¡°As your grandpa, I¡¯m asking you, Hawley softened his tone, ¡°Losing my son at an old age, I¡¯ve suffered enough, and I really want to have a great-grandkid.¡± Elgin hung up without a trace of emotion. He married Letitia, the enemy¡¯s daughter, because Phedra backed him into al corner, leaving him no other choice. Now, to tell grandpa that the baby isn¡¯t even his? What would that make him? This secret should be between him and Letitia only, no one else! ¡°You got lucky.¡± Elgin gritted his teeth, ¡°You can keep the baby, for now!¡± Letitia heaved a sigh of relief, copsing to the floor. It was only temporary, who knew what the future held, but for now¡­ she was safe. She had time to figure out a way to protect her child. She remembered that the baby¡¯s father had promised to marry her, but where was him? She was close to breaking point on her own. The Ramirez Group. Today was payday, so the office was buzzing. Everyone was in high spirits, and Letitia also received her first paycheck. She had been on the job for less than a month and didn¡¯t expect much, but when she saw the number, she was gobsmacked. ¡°Mr. Stewart, Letitia headed for Samson¡¯s office, ¡°Is there a mistake with my paycheck?¡± ¡°There shouldn¡¯t be any mistake, finance checked it¡± ¡°But it¡¯s ten thousand bucks¡± Samson nodded. ¡°Yup. It¡¯s gonna be higher this month, and it¡¯s only gonna keep on climbing. The Ramirez Group is the crean; of the crop in AquaCity-they never let their employees down when it comes to paycheck.¡± Letitia blinked. Oh god, this is one sweet deal. ¡°Ha ha ha, Elgin might be taking you for granted, but not me. I truly value you, Samson chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re my head designer, and ¡®Ramirez Romantica¡¯ wouldn¡¯t be the same without you. Plus, you¡¯ll be getting a cut of the profits, you¡¯re on your way to being loaded!¡± Loaded? Letitia didn¡¯t dare to think that far; her life was filled with too many question marks and curveballs. ¡°Thanks, Mr. Stewart.¡± Letitia was genuinely grateful. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡± ¡°Why the formality? You¡¯re practically thedy of the house here. Besides, you and Vidonia are besties, so it¡¯s cool if I y favorites, right?¡± Samson¡¯s smart and kind, and he was funny and charming to boot. Letitia blinked, ¡°Me and Vidonia are besties, but what¡¯s that got to do with you, Mr. Stewart? Don¡¯t tell me¡­ you¡¯ve got a thing for Vidonia?¡± Chapter 48 Chapter 48 ¡°Me, like her? As if!¡± Samson waved dismissively. ¡°You gotta be joking me!¡± Just as he spoke, Vidonia pushed the door open, ¡°What joke?¡± Hearing it, Samson¡¯s voice vanished into thin air. ¡°Who are you gossiping about? Vidonia asked with a curious look on her face. ¡°You¡¯re not keeping secrets and juicy gossip from me, are you?¡± Letitia struggled to hold back a giggle. ¡°No, no, no,¡± Samson gestured with his hands. ¡°Our Designer Sanders here thought she got overpaid and came to check with me about it.¡± ¡°Oh, right, Letitia, you¡¯ve got to treat us now that you¡¯ve got your paycheck!¡± Letitia nodded her head, ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll treat. What do you guys want for lunch? It¡¯s on me.¡± Samson was her career¡¯s lucky star, and Vidonia was her best friend. Without their help and support, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to do the job she was good at and loved. ¡°I guess it¡¯s only fair to have you spoiling me with avish meal then,¡± Vidonia said, her eyes sparkling with mischief, ¡°I want steak! The kind that costs top dor per person at those swanky ces!¡± Letitia agreed to it. However, Vidonia was just teasing. After enjoying their high-end steak meal, when Letitia went to settle the bill, she found out it had already been paid. That¡¯s what true friends are like. Letitia felt a warm glow in her heart. After lunch, she went back to thepany and headed for the CEO¡¯s office. ¡°Ranen,¡± she asked, ¡°is Mr. Ramirez in?¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez should be napping around this time, ma¡¯am. Would you like to go in?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t want to disturb him. ¡°I¡¯m just guessing though, Ranen added, ¡°Mr. Ramirez¡¯s sleep hasn¡¯t been great. If it¡¯s urgent, you can go in.¡± After a moment¡¯s thought, Letitia gently pushed the door open and walked in. Elgin was sitting on the couch, head back, eyes closed, resting. Beside himy a scented candle. Letitia tiptoed over, picked up a nket, and draped it over him. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. When she looked up, she caught his deep gaze. ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re awake, Letitia said, startled, quickly withdrawing her hand. Elgin gave her a cold look and tossed the nket aside, ¡°Letitia, you¡¯ve hated me for so long, no need for this fake. concern!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not here out of concern, Letitia retorted. ¡°I just don¡¯t want you to catch a cold. Sick people are even moodier, and I¡¯d suffer too.¡± ¡°What are you doing here? Who let you in?¡± He frowned in displeasure. ¡°Ranen!¡± came in by myself!¡± Letitia hurriedly exined. She didn¡¯t want to get Ranen into trouble. Elgin¡¯s gaze remained fixed on her. ¡°I¡¯m here to pay you back, Letitia said ¡°I borrowed twenty thousand from you before, and I said I¡¯d pay it back He squinted at her, ¡°Where did you get twenty thousand from?¡± Just ten for now. I got my paycheck today. I¡¯ll pay you the rest next month.¡± Chaple 48 Either pay it all at once or don¡¯t bother paying at all.¡± Letitia bit her lip, then replied. ¡°Then I can only pay you next month. ¡°Get out.¡± Elgin said pressing his temple. ¡°Next time you disturb my nap, I¡¯ll throw you out myself!¡± Letitia immediately headed for the door. Before she left, she nced at the couch. The scented candle was nearly burned out Clearly, Elgin used it often. Letitia decided to make him a new one. She went to buy the necessary materials and, with a brand- new scented candle in hand, retumed to the CEO¡¯s office. The door was ajar, and voices could be heard from inside. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, came Ranen¡¯s voice, ¡°we just got a call from the nursing home. Mrs. Sanders¡¯ condition is stable, but it¡¯s a bit tricky ¡°She¡¯s awake, isn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°She is, but she needs to be on an expensive medication for a while.¡± Elgin raised an eyebrow, ¡°Expensive?¡± In his world, there was no such thing as ¡°expensive. He could afford almost anything he wanted. ¡°Yes, a special medication fora patients, fifty thousand a pill,¡± Ranen reported. ¡°One pill a month, for five years, for the best therapeutic effect.¡± Elgin frowned Suddenly, a determined voice cut through the chaos, ¡°My mother needs this medicine!¡± It was Letitia, bursting into the scene She was still clutching the scented candle, looking at him with hopeful yet cautious eyes¡­ Such an expensive medication was beyond her means, but Elgin could afford it. As he nced at the scented candle in her hand, something flickered in his eyes. Yet, his words were still merciless, ¡°I¡¯m giving you a chance to be a good daughter, Letitia. You can go and pay at the hospital now and get the medication for your mother.¡± Fifty thousand a pill, once a month. That was way too much for Letitia. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Elgin said coolly. ¡°If you can¡¯t afford it, then don¡¯t use it.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°Get out!¡± Letitia mustered her courage to ask, ¡°What would it take for you to pay for the medication?¡± She had no other options but to negotiate with Elgin. Even though she knew the hope was slim, but she had to try. She gently ced the scented candle on his desk, ¡°I made this for you just now.¡± Elgin, with his legs crossed, looked down at her abdomen. Knowing what he meant, Letitia gasped. His voice was cold, ¡°If you want me to pay for the medication, that¡¯s fine. Letitia, go to the hospital and get an abortion. and I¡¯ll get them to dispense the medication immediately.¡± Letitia¡¯s pupils constricted. gin¡¯s heart was cruel, presenting her with such a dilemma! On one side was her mother, on the other was her child. oth were the dearest to her! to forsake one to save the other would leave her with a lifetime of guilt. ¡°Can¡¯t do it? You want to keep the child?¡± Elgin sneered. ¡°Then don¡¯t save your mother.¡± ¡°No.. ¡°You can think about it.¡± Elgin tilted his chin up. ¡°I¡¯ll give you time.¡± Her hands clenched and then released as she slowly walked out¡­ like a zombie. Elgin¡¯s voice followed her, ¡°After you get the abortion, tell my grandfather you identally fell and miscarried.¡± Letitia tasted blood in her mouth. Her body felt numb, her heart torn and struggling. She just kept on walking, tuning out the world as she left the Ramirez Group behind, weaving through the crowd with a vacant, defeated look in her eyes.. Until someone stepped in front of her, blocking her path, ¡°Letitia Letitia looked up nkly ¡°What¡¯s going on? Walden asked with concern, ¡®I¡¯ve been calling your name for quite a while, didn¡¯t you hear me?¡± ¡°Walden¡­ it¡¯s you¡± Suddenly, a glimmer of hope sparked in Letitia¡¯s eyes, ¡°Can you lend me some cash?¡± Afraid that Walden might refuse, she quickly added, ¡°Not a lot, just forty grand. I¡¯ll pay you back, I swear I¡¯ll find a way!¡± ¡°Of course, Walden replied, ¡°I¡¯ll transfer it to you right now, and you don¡¯t have to worry about paying me back.¡± Chapter 49 Chapter 49 Unable to contain her emotions, tears streamed down Letitia¡¯s face. When she was at the end of her rope, a miracle happened. ¡°Thank you, thank you. Letitia kept saying, ¡°This money means so much to me. With these forty grand, plus her ten grand sry, her mom could get her pill this month! Walden asked, ¡°What do you need the money for?¡± ¡°My mom woke up,¡± Letitia said. ¡°She needs her special medicine.¡± Walden was just as thrilled, ¡°Really? That¡¯s fantastic! Letitia, can I go visit her?¡± She needed Elgin¡¯s approval just to see her own mom. Let alone Walden. But she¡¯d lied to her mom, saying she and Walden were together, so she had to drag him along to show face. ¡°Not just yet, Letitia replied. ¡°When there¡¯s a chance, I¡¯ll let you know.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Walden nodded. ¡°Letitia, you¡¯ve got your mom back.¡± Thatment had Letitia bawling. Her life¡¯s been so damn tough, but the stars aligned just a little, bringing her mom back to her Yeah, I¡¯ve got my mom now, Letitia whispered. ¡°I¡¯m not alone.¡± Money in hand, Letitia dashed to the hospital, to pay up and get the meds. She implored the doc, Please, give it to her ASAP. I¡¯ll find a way to cover next month¡¯s meds, I promise.¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°Sure thing. ¦§ Letitia¡¯s heart could finally rest. By the time she finished up and got back to Ivory Towers, it was already night. She walked into the living room, the servants silently bustling, not daring to make a peep. ¡°Mrs. Ramirez, you¡¯re back, the butler said. ¡°Mr. Ramirez is waiting upstairs for you.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Letitia headed to the master bedroom. The lengthy hallway was eerily silent, to the point where she could hear her own heartbeat. She pushed open the master bedroom door and caught Elgin¡¯s gaze, sharp as a knife, fixed on her. ¡°You¡¯re back? ¡°Yeah.¡± She swallowed hard, inching closer, and when she saw the neat stack of fifty grand by Elgin, she covered her mouth in shock. But Elgin just smirked, ¡°That¡¯s your money, so what are you scared of?¡± That smile sent shivers down her spine. The cash she¡¯d just dropped at the hospital was now in Elgin¡¯s hands. ¡°What did you do instead of getting the abortion?¡± Elgin¡¯s smile deepened ¡°Tell me, where¡¯d you get all that cash?¡± The broader his smile appeared to be, the deeper his inner fury simmered! Letitia almost wished for Elgin¡¯s rage instead of this eerie calm. ¡°..I borrowed it.¡± Who¡¯d lend to you, huh?¡± Elgin pressed. ¡°Who¡¯d dare?¡± icfitia¡¯s mind faced, blurting out, ¡°Samson.¡± Sorry, Mr. Stewart, she thought, but she had to throw him under the bus Because he was Elgin¡¯s friend, nothing would Come of it. ¡°Are you sure? Elgin leaned in, his eyes dangerous. Looking into Elgin¡¯s eyes, Letitia realized, he already knew the score. Just as she opened her mouth, Elgin grabbed a wad of cash and flung it in her face. ¡°I¡¯ve checked your bank ount, Letitia, It was Walden who gave you the money!¡± The cash fluttered, smacking her face, then drifting to the floor. ¡°Great, just great, Elgin threw the rest of the cash, ¡°I let you off my sight for a few minutes and you¡¯re hitting up an old me for help, you really do surprise me!¡± Letitia tried to exin, ¡°I didn¡¯t go to Walden, I just bumped into him.¡± ¡°Really? Quite the coincidence! Letitia, you always have excuses!¡± Elgin kicked the coffee table over, stood up with veins bulging on his forehead. ¡°This is the money I gave to the hospital, Elgin, what right do you have to take it?!¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s useless without my say-so. The doctors won¡¯t dispense the meds!¡± Letitia was shaking all over. She¡¯d barely scraped together the money, thinking it¡¯d ease her mom¡¯s suffering, only to be stopped by Elgin. He was too powerful, his influence too vast. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t lend me the money, fine, but why do this¡­¡± Letitia looked at him, ¡°Can¡¯t you have a shred of mercy, just a little bit of pity for me?¡± Even if it was nothing more than a passing notion of mercy. Just once, to give her a break, to spare her from such. relentless hardship in this harsh world. But Elgin didn¡¯t. He was only ever more ruthless, never less. ¡°Who do you think you are? Letitia, did marrying me make you forget your ce?¡± ¡°I know, I¡¯m the enemy of the Ramirez family, and I¡¯m here to atone¡­¡± That confession was incredibly hard for Letitia. ¡°But Elgin, whatever cruel treatment you¡¯ve subjected me to, I¡¯ve endured it, never comining. My mother is innocent, though, she¡¯s finally woken up, and I just want her to receive her treatment, recover slowly, and live a few more years with me. I just want to be someone who has a mom too.¡± Tears streamed down her face as she spoke. Letitia always kept herposure in front of him, never wanted to cry, but now, it was just too much. She squatted down, fighting to keep her eyes wide open, not letting tears blur her vision, picking up the bills one by one Elgin could toss them, could trample her dignity, not caring about the money. But she didn¡¯t have that luxury. The money mattered to her. His dress shoes lifted and fell, stepping on the money in Letitia¡¯s hand. The kid you¡¯re carrying, it¡¯s Walden¡¯s, right?¡± ¡°No.¡± She shook her head. ¡°You think I¡¯d believe that?¡± ¡°Believe it or not,¡± Letitia said. ¡°Let go, that¡¯s my money.¡± Elgin grabbed her off the floor, staring her down, ¡°Yours? Letitia, what Elgin grabbed her off the floor, staring her down, ¡°Yours? Letitia, what do you have? I fed you, dressed you, gave you a job, let you live in my house, even your life is thine! Her eyes glistened with tears, ¡°What do you want?¡± Don¡¯t borrow money again, it¡¯s pointless. Whoever lends it, it won¡¯t reach the hospital, only I can make it happen. ¡°I want my child, and i want rny mother too.¡± People who get too greedy often end up with nothing¡± ir¡¯s breath hit her face ¡°etitio you want it all bust imuthur anal you might end up with nothing!¡± Her tears dropped onto Elgin¡¯s hand, he frowned in disgust and wiped it away. ¡°You¡¯re really not gonna get anything out of this. I have to terminate this pregnancy. And your mom, you can¡¯t afford her medical bills¡± Elgin just walked right past her, making his exit. Letitia stood there, staring at the money at her feet. The roar of the sports car echoed through the whole Ivory Towers, then gradually faded away. Elgin had left the building. Letitia slowly squatted down, hugged her knees, buried her face in the crook of her arm, and silently shed tears. Completely alone, she didn¡¯t even allow herself the luxury of letting out a good cry. Chapter 50 Chapter 50 The sports car zipped down the street before finally pulling up at a swanky bar. Elgin stepped out, and the girls passing by couldn¡¯t help but eye him with infatuation. Tall, handsome, and loaded no wonder he turns heads every time! ¡°Mr. Ramirez, you¡¯re here,¡± greeted the bar manager,ing out to meet him. ¡°The usual spot?¡± ¡°Mhm, bring the drinks.¡± ¡°Right away, sir. Just one moment.¡± Elgin strutted over to the booth just to notice Samson was there too. He nudged him aside and plopped down. ¡°Look who¡¯s here, Samson remarked. ¡°You look pissed, man. Who owes you money?¡± Elgin gave him a once-over, ¡°Shut up, I¡¯m not in the mood for jokes.¡± ¡°Ha-ha-ha! Let me guess, you¡¯ve had another spat with Letitia?¡± Elgin was silent. ¡°Couples¡¯ tiffs, man. It will ease away soon, Samson pped him on the shoulder. ¡°Gotta be the bigger man, you know.¡± Elgin lowered his head. He was this close to being driven up the wall by Letitia. That woman is a nightmare! Be a bigger man? She¡¯s carrying another guy¡¯s baby, and he¡¯s supposed to just suck it up? No way! Elgin grabbed his beer and started chugging. ¡°Whoa, straight from the bottle, huh?¡± Samson apuded, pping. ¡°In all of AquaCity, only Letitia can get under your skin like that, right?¡± ¡°She¡¯s got nothing to do with it!¡± ¡°She sure does. I¡¯ve never seen you bat an eyelid, no matter how big a crisis Ramirez Group faces. But here you are, drowning your sorrows!¡± The more Samson talked, the more Elgin seethed. If looks could kill, Samson would be dead a thousand times over. ¡°Gin, you know what it means when a man¡¯s moods are swayed by a woman?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°It means you¡¯ve fallen for her.¡± Elgin¡¯s long fingers paused on the bottle. What? He fell for Letitia? Elgin scoffed, ¡°You must be drunk.¡± ¡°Too shy to admit it, huh? Samson patted his shoulder. ¡°Gin, it happens when you don¡¯t notice. And when you realize it, it means you¡¯re already head over heels.¡± ¡°What a load of bull.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the truth. Think about it. Would any other woman get you this riled up? What about Sh Ward, could she?¡± Elgin¡¯s face darkened. ¡®See? Samson said smugly. ¡°Hit the nail on the head.¡± Thank goodness beer bottles are made of ss, because if it were a can, Elgin would¡¯ve crushed it by now! Yes, he knew all about Sh¡¯s doing, unting by his name and strutting around town, but he simply didn¡¯t care Even when Sh and Mark yed sick to con him, he was just mad at the moment and didn¡¯t take it to heart afterward. He didn¡¯t want to pick a fight; he just started feeling disgusted and distant towards Sh. But Letitia? She could get under his skin with just one word! And she¡¯d stick in his mind, lingering there nonstop! ¡°Come on, man. It¡¯s normal to love a woman at your age,¡± Samson said. ¡°If you love her, treat her right. Get a hold of her and don¡¯t wait until she¡¯s gone to regret it.¡± ¡°Love? Do you even know who Letitia is?¡± ¡°I do. The beef between you two is old news, from the previous generation. She¡¯s innocent, and you¡¯re a victim too.¡± Elgin replied, ¡°I can¡¯t possibly love her, even if she were thest woman on earth.¡± Then he stopped talking and just kept on drinking silently, until he was totally wasted. ¡°Hey, bro, maybe you should stop drinking¡­ If you get drunk, I¡¯ll have to drag you home!¡± But it was no use ¡°Mr. Ramirez!¡± Sh suddenly appeared. ¡°It really is you, I thought I was seeing things!¡± Samson didn¡¯t care much for her and ignored her. Elgin nced at her and continued drinking. ¡°Stop drinking, you¡¯re drunk, Sh said pretentiously. ¡°If you¡¯re upset, you can talk to me.¡± While saying he should stop, she didn¡¯t lift a finger to help, even passing the bottle when Elgin reached for it. Sh secretly hoped Elgin would get drunk. They say men are easiest to seduce when they¡¯re drunk, and she had to seize the moment! But Elgin found her annoying, ¡°Get lost!¡± He pushed her away. Shnded on the sofa with a pout, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, it¡¯s me. Don¡¯t you recognize me¡­ Let¡¯s go to a hotel, you need to rest. That should be enough; he must be wasted by now. Once they got to the hotel, she was going to employ her charms and fully seduce him into making her his woman. Sh tried to help Elgin, who seemed genuinely drunk at this point. The women in front of him were just a blur. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, I¡¯ll always be with you.¡± He squinted, ¡°¡­With me?¡± ¡°Yes, I won¡¯t leave you, never ever.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t leave me anyway¡­¡± His words slurred with possession, ¡°Letitia, you¡¯re my woman for life.¡± Elgin was truly drunk. He mistook Sh for Letitia, his mind filled with her. And as she leaned in closer, her red lips almost touching his, a fire ignited within him, burning fiercer and fiercer. ¡°Mr. Ramirez,¡± the sweet voice cooed, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the hotel.¡± He lifted Sh¡¯s chin, ¡°Trying to seduce me again?¡± Sh was shocked; had he seen through her so quickly? He was supposed to be drunk! Before she could respond, Elgin leaned in, ¡°Alright, Letitia, if that¡¯s what you want, then tonight¡­ tonight I¡¯ll grant your wish!¡± Shels heard it clear as day; he called her ¡°Letitia.¡± He thought she was Letitia! Shi was livid. What¡¯s so good about that woman?! ¡°Mr Ramirez, I¡¯m Sh, she protested, ¡°Take a good look at me.¡± This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡®Sh, not Letitia.¡± Elgin paused, then shoved her away, ¡°If you¡¯re not her, then get the hell out!¡± He used so much force that Sh fell to the ground. She bit her lip in fury She couldn¡¯t believe it ¨C Letitia¡¯s got some serious game, totally bewitched Mr. Ramirez! He¡¯s even got her on his mind when he¡¯s drunk! ¡°Mr. Ramirez, what¡¯s so great about Letitia?¡± Shined, ¡°You¡¯re supposed to marry me, not her, she¡¯s just a puppet¡± No sooner had the words left her mouth than Elgin grabbed her by the cor, ¡°You dare insult her?¡± Sh was taken aback, ¡°Mr Ramirez, L¡­ ¡°Don¡¯t you dare speak ill of her! Not even half a word! Elgin barked a warning, ¡°Only I get to mess with her, no one else can- got it?!¡± His fierce look sent shivers down Sh¡¯s spine: ¡°Alright, alright, I got it¡­¡± Elgin finally let go of her. Seeing that he was in a foul mood and somewhat unconscious. Sh saw her chance and asked, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, are you here drowning your sorrows in booze because of Letitia? Chapter 51 Chapter 51 ¡°Does she deserve it? Sh barely had time to feel relieved before she heard Elgin say, ¡®She¡¯s strapped for cash, and instead of hitting me up, she runs to Walden Sullivan¡­she loves him so much!¡± ¡°Letitia borrowed money from Walden?¡± ¡°Yeah to buy her mom some meds! Elgin clenched his fist and mmed it down on the coffee table before staggering to his feet. Seeing his state, Sh thought she¡¯d better assist him in getting to a hotel. Even if she has to y pretend and pass herself off as Letitia she¡¯s got to fool Elgin! She can¡¯t wait any longer, opportunity¡¯s knocking! Sh got up, about to lend a hand to Elgin. Out of nowhere, Samson, who had been off the radar for a bit, reappeared and blocked her path, ¡°Whoa, whoa, what¡¯s the rush?¡± Sh knew who he was and didn¡¯t want to stir the pot, so she stered on a smile and replied, ¡°Mr. Stewart, I was just about to take Mr. Ramirez to get some rest¡± ¡°No need to trouble yourself, I¡¯ll take him home ¡°Mr. Stewart, it¡¯s really no trouble at all! How can I make you go through all that? I can handle the heavy lifting!¡± But Samson still barred her way. ¡°Gin¡¯s a married man now, can¡¯t just be crashing at random ces. A man¡¯s got to watch his own back when he¡¯s out and about, can¡¯t let someone take advantage¡± Sh¡¯s smile faded Samson was clearly at odds with her! ¡°Mr Stewart. I¡¯m not just some random girl, I¡¯m Mr. Ramirez¡¯s Samson cut her off, clearly out of patience, Alright, alright, step aside.¡± He couldn¡¯t stand the sight of Sh Managing the affairs of ¡°Ramirez Romantica¡± was enough of a headache, and now Elgin had him handling the film division too. That division was all about Sh, dedicated to catering to her. It was just more work piling on his te And then there was the charity auction where Sh, iming Letitia had stained her dress, tried to strip Letitia down then and there, which only added to Samson¡¯s dislike. He couldn¡¯t stand women who bullied their way around using their status ¡°Man, Gin, you¡¯re lucky I¡¯m here, or you¡¯d have ended up in a whole lot of trouble tonight. Samson helped him into the car, ¡°Almost fell prey to some cheap tan!¡± Elgin propped his head with his hand, ¡°Drink¡­ get me a drink¡­ Samson buckled him in before driving back to Ivory Towers Seeing them arrive, the butler rushed to help, ¡°Mr. Ramirez!¡± But Elgin shoved him away, ¡°Back off, don¡¯t touch me!¡± ¡°He just wants Letitia,¡± said Samson, Just hand him over to her and I¡¯m outta here! The door of the master bedroom swung open, Letitia woke up with a start and sat up immediately She could smell the strong scent of alcohol ¡°Elgin?¡± Letitia turned on the light, ¡°Why are you drinking again?¡± ¡°Mrs. Ramirez, please take care of him I¡¯ll have the kitchen make a hangover cure ¡®Okay Letitia helped Elgin to the bed, took off his shoes, his jacket Just as she was about to undo his tie, her wrist was suddenly gnpped tight. She looked up to meet Elgin¡¯s bleary eyes. ¡°You you¡¯re drank, Letitia said, ¡°Take off your clothes and get some good sleep.¡± Elgin just stared at her silently sasy, he seemed too lucid for a drunk. are you really drunk or what? ¡°You¡¯re Letitia.¡± ¡°Of course i¡¯m Letilia. She answered, ¡°Were you hoping to see Sh? Then you¡¯ve came to the wrong ce. You should¡¯ve gone to Breezy Bay Condos.¡± As Letitia tried to pull her hand back to stand up, Elgin yanked her, and she stumbled Into his chest with a yelp. Elgin¡¯s arms locked firmly around her waist. Letitia, what¡¯s it gonna take to get you to y nice,¡± his voice a deep rumble, ¡°stop ticking me off, follow my lead.¡± She chuckled bitterly, ¡°Everything I have is in your hands, at your mercy, what more do you want?¡± ¡°I want you toe to me willingly, to stay because you want to¡­ not because I use hate, or your parents to chain you down.¡± Letitia froze. What Elgin said it almost didn¡¯t make sense to her. Then again, he was drunk, he was probably just bbering nonsense. Why should she take a drunkard¡¯s words to heart? Letitia felt a bit foolish,ughing at herself. ¡°What are youughing at?¡± Elgin was clearly displeased, ¡°I¡¯m talking to you, are you deaf?¡± She muttered. ¡°Even when drunk, you¡¯re still grumpy¡± ¡°I¡¯m not drunk!¡± ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re not drunk. The more sloshed someone is, the more they insist they¡¯re sober.¡± Letitia humored him, like pacifying a child. ¡°Elgin, let go of me, she said, ¡°I¡¯ll get a warm towel to clean your face.¡± He immediately frowned. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going? No way!¡± With that, he tightened his arms even more. Letitia felt her waist being squeezed painfully. ¡°Don¡¯t ever dream of leaving me, not ever,¡± Elgin repeated. ¡°If you dare, I¡¯ll make you pay a price you can¡¯t afford¡­¡± Letitia found it amusing, ¡°My family¡¯s all in AquaCity, where could I possibly go?¡± Elgin paused for a few seconds, probably finding her point valid. After a while, he sighed, ¡°Letitia, what do you want.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°What do you want, what will make you to stay for me? You name it, I¡¯ll give it.¡± Elgin looked deep into her eyes, ¡°Whatever you want, as long as I have it.¡± He was so sincere. It was like a vow, like the most sincere promise between lovers. But to her, even though they were husband and wife on the surface, they were actually enemies. Letitia lost herself in Elgin¡¯s sincere gaze as well. The two of them silently gazed at each other, as if they were the only two left in the world. That¡¯s when the knock on the door came. Snapped back to reality, Letitia rose to open the door. ¡®Mrs. Ramirez, the hangover cure,¡± the butler handed over the tray She took it, walked over to the bedside, and by then, Elgin had already closed his eyes andy down. Letitia stood motionless Elgin¡¯s words earlier felt like some kind of dream, all wispy and out of grasp. But they definitely came straight from his mouth. Letitia gave a wry smile and shook her head. What was she doing, getting her hopes up like that? Elgin was drunk, but the stuff he was bbing she actually took it to heart She gently ced the hangover soup on the nightstand andid herself back down on the floor. When Elgin woke up, it was already noon the next day. His head was throbbing with pain and his memory was nk. He couldn¡¯t recall anything from the previous night, hisst memory was being at the bar, chatting and downing drinks with Samson. Elgin shuffled downstairs, took a quick look around, but no sign of Letitia Ramirez thedy went off to work at the office, the butter chimed in right away. ¡°But before she left, she made sure to whip up hangover tea for you¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. He sat down at the dining table with a poker face. The butler walted on him hand and foot during breakfast, and added, ¡°Mrs. Ramirez had a rough night. You were dead drunk and she was left to fend for herself taking care of you. She hardly got any sleep, and looked all worn out this morning.¡± Chapter 52 Chapter 52 ¡°Mrs. Remirez¡¯ is actually very nice, always treating us with a smile, never barking orders at us. I¡¯ve been by your side and seen so many people, and I can sincerely say that Mrs. Ramirez has a genuinely good heart¡± Elgin shot the butler a nce, ¡°Zip it The butler then silently took out fifty thousand dors. It was the money that Letitia had painstakingly picked up one by one yesterday. Elgin mmed the bowl and spoon down hard The surrounding servants were so scared they didn¡¯t even dare to breathe loudly. ¡°What¡¯s she trying to say?¡± Elgin asked, ¡°Huh?¡± The butler was keeping his mouth zipped. ¡°I¡¯m telling you to talk now!¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez, I honestly have no clue, Mrs. Ramirez asked me to give this to you, the butler replied, ¡°The hospital called, Mrs. Sanders¡¯s condition can¡¯t be put on hold, if she needs her meds she¡¯s got to have them ASAP. The longer the dy, the worse she gets¡± Elgin¡¯s face tumed stone cold ¡°Mrs Sanders was in a vegetative state, and now she¡¯s woken up, thanks to the doctor¡¯s work and her own fierce will to live. Mr. Ramirez, you¡¯ve practically cured her, what¡¯s the big deal with thisst step of giving her the meds?¡± Elgin spoke solemnly, ¡°You always seem to be backing Letitia, intentionally or not.¡± ¡°L¡­ I¡¯m just telling it like it is.¡± The butler was an old hand, used to be with the Ramirez Mansion, sticking with Marcel After Marcel passed away, he moved to Ivory Towers, managing all sorts of things. It could be said that he watched Elgin grow up, just like a father would. ¡°What¡¯s Letitia given you. huh?¡± ¡°Nothing. Mrs. Ramirez couldn¡¯t possibly give me anything.¡± Letitia was in too deep herself, barely keeping her own head above water. Elgin scoffed, his eyesnding on the bowl of hangover soup the butler had conspicuously ced in in view. After a long pause, he finally said, ¡°Tell the hospital, give this month¡¯s meds¡­ ¡°Mr. Ramirez!¡± Sh¡¯s voice suddenly rang out, interrupting him. She rushed in, all concerned, ¡°Did you sober up? I was so worried about youst night, I barely slept.¡± ¡°Last night?¡± ¡°Yeah, I took care of you in the bar for a long time¡­ Mr. Ramirez, don¡¯t you remember?¡± He grunted, ¡°I don¡¯t remember anything.¡± Sh pouted, ¡°You drank so much, I couldn¡¯t stop you. You must be feeling rough, got a headache?¡± As she spoke, she reached out to touch his face, but Elgin dodged her. ¡°Ms. Ward, the person who brought Mr. Ramirez homest night was Mr. Stewart, the butler reminded from the side. Sh shot him a re. That butler is annoying, always against her! ¡°I know, Mr. Stewart said it was toote, told me not to follow,¡± Sh replied. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, what were you saying about meds? For whom?¡± ¡°None of your business.¡± *For Letitia¡¯s mother? You mentioned it to mest night.¡± Eigin¡¯s brows furrowed deeply. What exactly had he bbered and done after getting drunk? Sh swiftly said, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, you shouldn¡¯t save Letitia¡¯s mother. She¡¯s ungrateful, saving her is pointless!¡± ¡°Do you even know what you¡¯re talking about?¡± She didn¡¯t even know Malinda, yet dared to judge her. Elgin¡¯s disgust grew. Sh seemed like a totally different girlpared to that night¡­ or was it the drug that distorted his memory? I¡¯m serious,¡± Sh answered. ¡°If you save her, you¡¯re only harming yourself! Mr. Ramirez don¡¯t go soft it¡¯s like nourishing a beast that will eventually turn against you!¡± Elgin, head aching from her shrill tone, said coldly, ¡°Get out.¡± ¡°You have to trust me, I have proof! Proof that Letitia and her mother are not worth saving!¡± ¡°Evidence?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Sh took out her phone. ¡°I have a recording!¡± She yed the recording, and the voice filled the dining room- Ive got Walden. He¡¯s my boyfriend, he¡¯s been great to me. The cost of your hospital stay, he¡¯s been covering it That was Leitia speaking! Elgin¡¯s previously calm face instantly tumed stormy! Walden! It was always Walden! In front of Malinda, she dared to openly admit her feelings for Walden! After a few seconds of pause, Malinda¡¯s voice came on, ¡°Letitia, I want to see your dad. Your father has done so much good in his life.¡± ¡°Mom, Letitia asked, ¡°do you really think Marcel¡¯s death was caused by Dad?¡± At this point, Elgin¡¯s pupils shrank suddenly! Everyone held their breath, waiting for the conversation to continue. Everyone at Ivory Towers knew Marcel¡¯s death was a taboo in the Ramirez family, not to be mentioned in private! ¡°Letitia, your father is innocent, he¡¯s been wronged. ¡°I feel the same way. Dad is innocent¡± The recording stopped there Sh said, ¡°That day, I left the hospital, saw Letitia getting in a car, and curiosity got the better of me so I followed. Turned out she was visiting her mom, I was about to leave from outside the ward when I heard this conversation and recorded it.¡± Elgin suddenly stood up, sweeping everything off the table! The crashing sounds of breaking objects echoed in everyone¡¯s ears Sh was scared too, but inside she was more thrilled. This time, Letitia wouldn¡¯t get off easy. Thinking of saving her mother? Dream on! Letitia had thwarted her ns with her father, protecting the unborn child. How could Sh swallow that? ¡°Mr. Ramirez, I just happened to¡­¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°Get out!¡± Elgin¡¯s eyes were bloodshot as he pointed to the door, ¡°Everyone get out!¡± He was like a raging lion, no one dared to approach. In the dining room, only Elgin remained. He had been a bit soft-hearted just a moment ago, thinking of letting Malinda get her regr meds. And now? They really thought Dr. Sanders was innocent? So his father had died for nothing? Elgin has always looked up to his father like some kind of hero, and would never allow anyone to trash- talk or look down on his father, especially not the Sanders n! The Sanders n was responsible for his father¡¯s demise, and now they had a debt to repay. They had to go through the torment and agony they deserved! They had iting, they deserved it! And as for the meds? Dream on! Those Sanders people, even now, they wouldn¡¯t admit to Dr. Sanders¡¯ sin They¡¯ve got some nerve! Outside. Every now and then, the sound of something getting smashed up in the dining room would drift out, and the butler lets out a sigh ¡°Why the long face? It¡¯s not your stuff getting wrecked, Sh snarked, ¡°Listen here, you better get your head straight. Letitia might be Mrs. Ramirez now, but she ain¡¯t calling any shots. You¡¯d do well to figure out who¡¯s who. I¡¯m the one who¡¯s gonna be the realdy of the Ramirez house!* ¡°You¡¯re still Ms. Ward for now.¡± ¡°How dare you! The butter went on, ¡°As long as Phedras still around, you won¡¯t be the leadingdy of the Ramirez family. She¡¯s the elder.¡± ¡°Fine, have it your way, Sh huffed, ¡°but once I tie the knot and move in here, the first thing I¡¯ll do is firing you!¡± Chapter 53 Chapter 53 The butler responded calmly, ¡°Ms Ward, you gotta make it happen before you talk like this.¡± Sh was about to lose her cool when the door swung open, and Elgin stepped out. ¡°Tell the hospital to keep a close eye on Malinda, and don¡¯t let Letitia anywhere near!¡± he ordered. ¡°If anyone screws up, you¡¯re in for it!¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez, about the medicine¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t give it to her!¡± The butler shook his head with a tinge of regret. It was so close! Damn Sh, if she had shown up just a few minutester, Malinda would have gotten her meds for the month! Sh was smirking with satisfaction, ¡®See, you want to help Letitia? Not gonna happen!¡± Sh¡¯s mood was sky-high. Elgin, with a stormy expression on his face, headed to the office. The moment Ranen saw him, he thought, ¡°Oh crap. Mr. Ramirez looked enraged, so he¡¯d better not provoke him today. Sure enough, Ranen¡¯s hunch was spot on. In the CEO¡¯s office, the execs wereing and going, each one getting chewed out royally. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Elgin held his fifth teacup, the former ones had been smashed to smithereens. ¡°Ranen,¡± a secretary asked, ¡°What¡¯s got Mr. Ramirez so fired up today?¡± ¡°I¡¯m clueless, he¡¯s been like this since he got in.¡± ¡°We all better tread lightly today¡± Ranen nodded, ¡°Just do your job, and get someone to clean up the broken teacups ¡°Got it, Ranen¡± At the Ramirez Group, everyone was nervous. Mr. Ramirezshed out at the execs, the execs at the managers, the managers at the staff¡­ Letitia listened to her colleagues gossip about Elgin, eyes cast down. He had the power, his mood swings had everyone walking on eggshells. And her? Even with cash in hand, she couldn¡¯t buy her mom¡¯s meds. Letitia texted Walden, [I¡¯ll pay you back in a couple of days.] Right after she sent it, Walden¡¯s call came through. Seeing his number, Letitia didn¡¯t pick up. She couldn¡¯t keep seeing Walden, it would only bring him trouble. Their past romance was over, square and fair, that¡¯s where it should end. Seeing she didn¡¯t answer, Walden sent her some texts- [Letitia, has your mom taken her meds? How is she?] [When can you take me to see her?] [Letitia? Just reply to me ] Her heart ached reading Waldens messages. No matter how hard she and Walden tried to save her mother, they were no match for a single word from Elgin, who reigned supreme. ¡°Madam,¡± Ranen suddenly appeared with a low voice, ¡°Mr. Ramirez wants to see you.¡± *Oh, did he say what for?¡± Renen shook his head. Letitia stood up and walked to the CEO¡¯s office. Behind her, colleagues whispered. Going to Mr. Ramirez¡¯s office now? Oof, she¡¯s gonna suffer Mr Ramirez summoning her? Isn¡¯t Remirez Romantica all good?¡± knows? I noticed Letitia¡¯s often in the CEO¡¯s office.¡± hapter 63 ¡°Could it be she and Mr. Ramirez have some shady business going on?¡± ¡°Shh, don¡¯t spread rurnors.¡± Letitia had heard the whispers before but didn¡¯t care What others thought wasn¡¯t important; she had bigger problems to worry about. Just staying alive took all her strength. Elgin stood by the floor-to-ceiling window ¡°Mr. Ramirez, thedy has arrived¡± ¡°Uh-huh.¡± He respondedzily, his tone revealing nothing Letitia approached, looking at his silhouette, ¡°I won¡¯t abort the baby, and I want my mother to take her meds¡± You want it all? On what grounds?* She remembered Elgin¡¯s drunken words fromst night¡­ wondering if he even remembered. After a moment, Letitia mustered her courage, ¡°Last night you asked me what I really wanted. You said if I just ask, you¡¯ll make it happen. Elgin, I have my answer now.¡± He turned slightly, listening intently. Truth is, I want nothing I stay by your side, let you vent, hurt, humiliate me. But please, spare my loved ones, my friends. Let them be And the baby, I want to have him. He¡¯s in my womb; I don¡¯t want to deny him a chance to see the world. I can give him away right after birth, find a good family to care for him. If.. She paused, biting her lip. ¡°If you want me to have your child, I¡¯ll agree.¡± She was trading her freedom, her rights, for the safety and happiness of those around her. Sacrifice her, then, her life was hopeless anyway. Elgin ruled her world. After she finished, Letitia nervously clenched her hands, waiting for his answer. But unexpectedly. ¡°Last night?¡± Elgin turned around, meeting her gaze, ¡°I¡¯ve forgotten all about it.¡± Letitia was stunned. ¡°Drunk talk can¡¯t be taken senously. Letitia, you¡¯re so naive.¡± It was like a punch to the heart. Yes, she was naive, always had wishful thinking. Elgin sneered, ¡°You really think you¡¯re in any position to demand? You want, I give? That¡¯sughable.¡± ¡°But you said. ¡°Do you have any proof? Have you recorded it? Hmm?¡± She had been pinned down by him, there was no chance to think that far ahead. Letitia looked down, ¡°Pretend I never said anything just now.¡± ¡°But,¡± Elgin raised an eyebrow, ¡°someone recorded what you said yourself.¡± She was shocked. What did he mean? ¡°Remember what you told your mother in the hospital? No clue?¡± Elgin probed Letitia¡¯s face changed. She had lied to her mother, iming she was with Walden, that her father was innocent. But how could those lies have been recorded? Who did it? Seeing the change in her expression, Elgin sneered, ¡°Seems like you do remember Letitia clenched her (eeth, ¡°Who recorded it?¡± ¡°Why? Looking for revenge?¡± ¡°Did you put cameras in the hospital room?¡± ¡°I can tell you,¡± Eigin quirked an eyebrow, ¡°Sh¡¯s the one who recorded it. And you, you can¡¯ty a finger on her.¡± Letitia was totally blindsided it was Sh of all people! Why the heck was this woman always popping up to be a thorn in her side? it¡¯s not like she made an enemy of Sh back in the loony bin! started walking, taking his sweet time to plop down on the couch. pulling out a box from the drawer and cracking it open. ¡°My mom¡¯s bracelet! Letitia¡¯s eagle eyes caught sight of it and she gasped. ¡°Exactly. The emerald bracelet that both Phedra and Sh have been drooling over, it¡¯s right here.¡± Elgin took it out and started fiddling with it nonchntly in his palm. Letitia watched like a hawk, not blinking an eye. ¡°It¡¯s really a piece of work, crystal clear,¡± Elgin lifted it up high to admire, ¡°Such a shame it¡¯s been cooped up in a box all this time.¡± Sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bright and beautiful. Chapter 54 Chapter 54 The emerald bracelet shimmered with a juicy luster in the bright light. I¡¯m giving you onest shot, Elgin said coolly, ¡°Letitia, just agree to the abortion, and both the emerald bracelet and the meds will go to your mom.¡± He was already being pretty damn generous, by his standards. Nobody gets to push him around like this, not a chance. But for Letitia, he hadpromised this far. Elgin added, ¡°Letitia, don¡¯t bite the hand that feeds you. Is Walden¡¯s bastard more important to you than your mother¡¯s illness?¡± He was dead sure the kid was Walden¡¯s. No matter how much Letitia denied it, he just wouldn¡¯t buy it. ¡°Why do you have to push me like this¡­¡± ¡°You should be grateful you even have the opportunity to be pushed by me.¡± Others don¡¯t get that from Elgin. He¡¯d just cut them off, no second chances, not even a chance to see him! Letitia was already way luckier than most, just inches away from sharing his bed! The room fell into a heavy silence, so profound that one could have heard a pin drop. ¡°Last minute, Elgin dered, like he was setting a timer. Letitia shook uncontrobly. Her legs turned to jelly, she almost couldn¡¯t stand, ¡°Elgin¡­ ¡°Which is it gonna be?¡± Letitia was at a loss for words. He was cornering her, pushing her to the brink. Finally, Elgin¡¯s patience ran out ¡°Time¡¯s up, he stood up. ¡°you don¡¯t need to answer me anymore.¡± Letitia could only watch in silence as Elgin slowly approached, lifting the emerald bracelet in his hand. Right in front of Letitia, he let go. The moment the emerald bracelet fell, Letitia¡¯s pupils dted in shock, ¡°Elgin! No!¡± She scrambled to catch it, but it was toote. The emerald bracelet plunged straight past her, crashing onto the cold marble floor. It fell, and the sound was crisp and pleasant to the ear The moment the emerald bracelet hit the ground, it shattered into several pieces. The bracelet that had been passed down from her grandmother to her mother, through the decades, was now broken in her hands. Letitia¡¯s heart shattered along with it. She knelt down, gingerly picking up the broken emerald bracelet ¡°Elgin, you¡¯re so cold-hearted she murmured, ¡°never leaving a thread of hope, insisting on cutting off my dreamspletely.¡± Letitia tried to piece together the emerald bracelet. But even if glued, it could be seen it was broken. It could never be the same. Her hand trembled lightly, fingers clenched around the emerald in her palm. ¡°This was your own choice, Elgin stood over her, looking down, ¡°you could have had the whole emerald bracelet He was so high and mighty. In front of him, Letitia was like an ant She held the emerald bracelet to her chest, the pain was intense. Her heart felt like it had been ripped open. Elgin walked past her, saying icily, ¡°You¡¯re having an abortion, it¡¯s just a matter of time. Letitia, you¡¯re terrible at making choices. The sooner you get it over with, the sooner you can have so much more.¡± His voice faded into the distance. In the vast CEO¡¯s office, only Letitia was left She was clutching so hard, the jagged edges of the emerald were sharp, piercing her palm. Blood oozed out, staining the emerald red, dripping drop by drop onto the floor. ¡°Ah-¡± Letitia screamed in despair, her helplessness and humiliation encapsted in that cry. Outside, Elgin heard the scream and paused. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, this.. Ranen tentatively asked, ¡®should we check on her?¡± Let her be. Almost half an hour passed before Letitia emerged. She carefully packed the broken emerald bracelet into her pocket, broken or not, it was her mother¡¯s legacy Blood still flowed from her hand, staining her sleeve, her pants. ¡°Ma¡¯am, you¡¯re hurt,¡± Ranen was startled, ¡°that looks deep, we need to bandage it right away!¡± But Letitia seemed numb to the pain, expressionless. The cut did hurt, butpared to the agony in her heart, it was nothing. Ranen rushed her to the secretary¡¯s office, rummaging through the first aid kit to stop the bleeding. Vidonia, hearing the news, came rushing. ¡°What happened, such a deep wound? It wasn¡¯t Elgin, was it? Did he abuse you?¡± Ranen was scared witless, ¡°Ms. Bailey, you can¡¯t just say that¡­¡± It¡¯s true though, isn¡¯t it? Letitia had only been to his office, only seen him! Where is he? Come out!¡± ¡°Ms. Bailey, even if Mr. Ramirez was here, you can¡¯t do anything to him.¡± There was a deeper meaning in that-who could stand up to Elgin Vidonia stomped her foot, ¡°Damn it!¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t him, I did it to myself,¡± Letitia spoke softly, ¡°but the wounds he caused, no one else can see.¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Her heart was already bleeding a river. ¡°Letitia, talk to me, what happened?¡± Vidonia asked, ¡°Maybe it¡¯ll ease your mind to talk about it.¡± Struggling to summon aforting smile, Letitia found it just beyond her grasp. All she managed was a slight shake of her head, assuring softly, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°We¡¯re best friends; I could help you out¡± Letitia sighed deeply, ¡°I don¡¯t want to drag you into this.¡± Vidonia asked, ¡°Is it Sh stirring up trouble again, Elgin taking it out on you?¡± Sh. She definitely had something to do with it! ¡°She followed me, recorded my conversation with my mom, yed it for Elgin,¡± Letitia answered, ¡°got him furious, and he smashed the emerald bracelet.¡± ¡°I knew it! The very first time Iid eyes on her, I could tell she is bad news!¡± Vidonia was fuming, and with a firm grip, she pulled Letitia along, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Letitia numbly followed her out. ¡°This smells fishy.¡± Ranen had a bad feeling about this, ¡°I better give Mr. Stewart a heads-up.¡± Vidonia was under Mr. Stewart¡¯s wing; even Mr. Ramirez had to think twice before messing with her because of Mr. Stewart¡¯s clout. Not to mention thedy was Mr. Ramirez¡¯s wife, after all¡­. Once Letitia was in the car, she snapped back to reality, ¡°Vidonia, where are you taking me?¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to settle the score!¡± ¡°Settle the score?¡± She didn¡¯t quite get it ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re hunting down Sh,¡± Vidonia gripped the steering wheel, expertly weaving through traffic, ¡°We can¡¯t just swallow this insult and move on!¡± Vidonia was always upright and had a bit of a hot head. And that hadn¡¯t changed one bit. Plus, she¡¯d had it out for Sh for a while now! Thest time Sh tried to strip Letitia of her dress, Vidonia was ready to throw down. If it weren¡¯t for all the people holding her back. she would¡¯ve gone for it! ¡°What¡¯s the point of finding her.¡± Letitia looked downhearted, ¡°Are we gonna beat her up? Trash talk her? It¡¯s all pointless. I have no proof of the things she¡¯s done.¡± Proof? Pfft! Dealing with a lowlife like her, you can¡¯t y nice.¡± Chapter 55 Chapter 55 ¡°Huh? Vidonia, what¡¯s your game n?¡± ¡°Just wait and see!¡± The car pulled up at the entrance to Breezy Bay Condos. Before long, Sh emerged. Dressed to the nines, dog leash in hand, she was the picture of a rich, spoileddy ¨C practically looking down her nose at everyone ¡°Elgin¡¯s certainly pulled out all the stops, these houses are a fortune,¡± Vidonia chuckled, ¡°All this expense, just for Sh¡¯s residence. Talk about a waste.¡± Letitia replied. ¡°Elgin spoils her rotten and gives her whatever she wants.¡± ¡°A match made in heaven ¨C a douchebag and a gold digger, saving the rest of us the trouble.¡± Vidonia smirked, got out of the car, and popped the trunk open, reaching for a bup sack. Letitia, surprised, asked, ¡°What are you¡­?¡± ¡°The best pranks are often the simplest the old sack trick,¡± Vidonia exined. ¡°Ain¡¯t got time for mind games with her, let¡¯s get straight to the point!¡± So, her n was to put Sh in here and drag her to some deserted spot for a beatdown! ¡°Let¡¯s roll!¡± Vidonia, dragging Letitia along, sprang into action. Sh, carefree as ever, was walking her poodle and humming a tune. Ever since knowing Elgin, her life had leveled up. She had been livingrge, driving fancy cars, surrounded by servants, shopping till she dropped for clothes and luxury goods. When it came to money, Elgin was always generous. Because to him, that kind of money was chump change. Sh was living the high life, she just need to sleep with Elgin once to secure her status. While she was plotting how to lure Elgin into bed, her world suddenly went dark. Someone had ambushed her from behind! ¡°Ah.. mmmph!¡± But Sh¡¯s mouth was covered, her screams muffled. There were two people, dragging her to aer for a barrage of punches and kicks. Trapped in the sack, Sh tumbled around helplessly on the ground. Watching this scene, Letitia felt a bit of her anger dissipate. Vidonia gave her a conspiratonal wink. Then, in perfect sync, they gave Sh a good thrashing before tossing her onto a garbage truck and walking away without looking back. Soon after, the garbage truck driver came by, mistook the sack for trash, and drove off It was only because Sh kept wriggling and struggling that a sanitation worker noticed her At Ivory Towers. At dinner time, Elgin walked into the dining room but didn¡¯t see Letitia ¡°Where is she?¡± ¡°Mrs. Ramirez said she needed to work overtime on some drawings, I¡¯ll take her meal to her room later,¡± the butler replied. Elgin¡¯s face turned cold, ¡°Tell her toe down or go hungry!¡± The butler passed the message to Letitia. Maintaining herposure, Letitia uttered, ¡°Well then, I won¡¯t eat. I¡¯m not hungry anyway.¡± ¡°But madam, that will only anger Mr. Ramirez.¡± ¡°Let him be mad, whatever.¡± Letitia didn¡¯t care anymore, her mind upied with how to fix the broken emerald bracelet. was a deficate task that needed patience The butler advised, ¡°Madam, it¡¯s best not to provoke Mr. Ramirez, you¡¯re the one who will suffer¡± vo had my fair share of suffering, what¡¯s one more?¡± Letha managed a smile. ¡°Thanks, butler. I appreciate your help, I¡¯ll repay you when I can.¡± ¡°No need, it¡¯s okay, ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t even know why you¡¯re so nice to me,¡± Letitia said, ¡°You¡¯re Elgin¡¯s man, you should be on his side, following his orders.¡± She was just a penniless, unloved Mrs. Ramirez that anyone could trample on. The butler might as well have cozied up to Sh. ¡°I just want Mr. Ramirez and you to get along, that¡¯s what makes a home,¡± the butler replied. ¡°Home?¡± Letitia pondered. She lost hers the moment Elgin showed up in her life, just like the broken emerald bracelet before her. ¡°Yes madam, you and Mr. Ramirez are married, you have a home. I¡¯ve watched him grow up and I want to see him happy.¡± ¡°Him and me, happiness was never an option. He hates me, and I¡­ feel the same.¡± Two souls, bound by an enmity that ran deep down to the marrow, found no sce in love, no sanctuary to call home. The butler¡¯s expression changed, ¡°Actually, some things aren¡¯t as they seem on the surface.¡± Letitia chuckled, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you think Elgin actually likes me?¡± ¡°To Mr. Ramirez, you are special. I¡¯ve never seen any woman get as much of his attention as you. Even Sh doesn¡¯t get that much concern from him¡± It was always Sh throwing herself at him. The butler continued, ¡°As for your issue with Mr. Ramirez, things aren¡¯t always what they seem on the surface.¡± Letitia looked up sharply, something was off. ¡°What do you mean?¡± she asked, ¡°Do you know something about Marcel Ramirez¡¯s death?¡± The butler looked down. Letitia¡¯s heart raced, ¡°Answer me, you¡¯ve been with the Ramirez family for decades, you must know! If you have the truth, or evidence¡± ¡°No,¡± the butler denied, ¡°Madam, you¡¯re overthinking.¡± ¡°But your words just now..!¡± ¡°You got me wrong.¡± Hope faded from Letitia¡¯s eyes. She thought the butler had evidence to clear her father¡¯s name. ¡°Sorry, I got too excited¡± Letitia sat back down, fiddling with the emerald bracelet again. ¡°Madam.¡± The butler still wanted to persuaded her. ¡°No need, I¡¯m not hungry.¡± After beating up Sh, she had dined with Vidonia before returning Seeing persuasion was futile, the butler was about to leave when Sh¡¯s screeching echoed from downstairs, ¡°Letitia,e out here NOW!!¡± In the living room, Sh reeked, hair a mess with leaves stuck in it, looking every bit like a beggar The servants were keeping their distance from her because the stench was just unbearable. Elgin¡¯s frowned, ¡°What the heck are you wearing?¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°Mr. Ramirez,¡± Sh saw him and started crying out, ¡°I thought it was such a nice day out, and I was walking the dog. And then, outta nowhere, some jerk puts a bag over my head, beats me up, and dumps me in a garbage truck!!¡± As she spoke, she reached out in an attempt to grasp Elgin¡¯s hand. He, however, recoiled in apparent disdain. ¡°I know I¡¯m a hot mess right now, but¡­ this is definitely a nned attack!¡± Sh¡¯s face was all about that righteous anger. ¡°Just get cleaned up with the help, Elgin said, and then he turned to leave. He¡¯s a stickler for cleanliness, can¡¯t stand any trace of dirt. He¡¯s already nning to have the servants toss out the carpet Sh strutted on promptly. ¡°I didn¡¯te here to take a bath!¡± Sheta says, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, you¡¯ve gotta stand up for me! I¡¯m being bullied over here, doesn¡¯t it make your heart ache?¡± Chapter 56 Chapter 56 Man, she¡¯s putting on this act,plete with the whining voice and pouty face¡­ To be honest, it¡¯s kinda nauseating. Elgin was getting more and more fed up with her. If it weren¡¯t for that one night, and his promise to marry her, he wouldn¡¯t give a second nce to a woman like Sh. ¡°Who did this to you?¡± he asked. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Sh blurted out, ¡°Letitia!¡± ¡°Her?¡± ¡°Are you looking for me? What¡¯s up?¡± Just then, Letitia strolled down the stairs, caught sight of Sh, and eximed in surprise, ¡°Oh my god? Is your new movie role a beggar, Sh?¡± Pointing at her, Sh snapped, ¡°Cut the crap, Letitia! You know damn well why I ended up like this!¡± ¡°That so? I haven¡¯t seen you all day. How would I know?¡± ¡°It was you! You¡¯re the one who did this!¡± Letitia wasn¡¯t born yesterday ying the innocent card? She could do that in her sleep! ¡°I have no clue what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Letitia pinched her nose. ¡°That stench is so strong, it¡¯s like air pollution.¡± Sh was so angry her face twisted, ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb with me. I know it was you who bagged me, beat me up, and dumped me in a garbage truck. No one else would pull this kind of stunt on me!¡± ¡°You¡¯re spitting venom without proof. Do you have any evidence?¡± ¡°None! But it was definitely you, it had to be!¡± Letitia just shrugged, ¡°Seems like you¡¯re slinging mud at me. Even you said you had a bag over your head, you couldn¡¯t see a thing. Sh, you can¡¯t just throw dirt on people like that¡± Vidonia hit the nail on the head. Battling Sh was a contest of wills and shamelessness. Trying to reason with her proved to be an exercise in futility ¡°We can find out! Sh turned to Elgin, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, you¡¯re definitely capable of doing it, get someone to dig up the evidence, leave her speechless.¡± Elgin just pursed his lips, silent. Letitia responded, ¡°I was at thepany all day, spent the afternoon with Ms. Bailey, I have both alibis and evidence.¡± ¡°You and that Vidonia are thick as thieves, of course she¡¯d take your side!¡± ¡°Come on, she¡¯s not only my friend but also my boss. She wouldn¡¯t join me in something this ludicrous.¡± Sh was stumped, but she wasn¡¯t about to swallow this bitter pill without a fight, stomping her foot, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, you have to help me¡­ ¡°Got it¡± Elgin replied nonchntly, ¡°you¡¯re a mess, go clean up first.¡± Sh nodded reluctantly Letitia struggled to keep a straight face, not to give herself away. But inside, she felt damn good. ¡°Childish, Elgin said with a side nce. ¡°Who are you calling childish?¡± ¡°You,¡± he raised an eyebrow, ¡°Is messing with people fun for you? Just because she recorded something and tattled to me, you retaliate like this?¡± Letitia clenched her teeth. He saw right through her, knowing she was behind it. But so what? She wouldn¡¯t admit it, and no one could touch her for it! ¡°It wasn¡¯t me.¡± Letitia blinked innocently, ¡°I was with Vidonia the whole time, busy working, brainstorming about the design elements of Ramirez Romantica¡¯. I had no time for such pranks.¡± Vidonia was under Samson¡¯s protection. For the sake of his friend, Elgin wouldn¡¯t mess with her lightly. So Sh was definitely taking the fall! But Sh, banking on Elgin¡¯s indulgence, kept making a fuss. Elgin, annoyed to no end, finally said, ¡°Go to the Ramirez Group tomorrow and ask Vidonia yourself. And sure enough Sh did go. She had once abducted Letitia in front ofpany colleagues, making quite the scene at the Ramirez Group So.. the moment she showed up at the ¡°Ramirez Romantica Jewelry Department, everyone scattered like startled birds Sh charged in. She had Elgin¡¯s support anyways! Vidonia wasn¡¯t the least bit intimidated, ¡°Hey, hey, where did this womane from? You¡¯re not wee here.¡± ¡°I¡¯m here for you. Vidonia, it was you and Letitia who set me up yesterday, right?¡± Vidonias acting chops were even better than Letitia¡¯s, and her mouth was sharper, ¡°Ha! Who do you think you are? I¡¯m a top executive, she¡¯s a lead designer. Do you really think we¡¯d waste our time on a side chick like. you? You¡¯re not even a small fry.¡± Sh was fuming, ¡°Fine, fine, you¡¯ve teamed up!¡± She red at Letitia, ¡°Don¡¯t get too smug. You¡¯ve won this round, but next time, I¡¯ll get my revenge, double!¡± Vidonia stood in front of Letitia, chin up, ¡°Put your hand down, this isn¡¯t a ce for you to throw a tantrum.¡± ¡°This is the Ramirez Group! Mr. Ramirez¡¯s ce! I¡¯m the futuredy of the house!¡± ¡°That¡¯s hrious, first time I¡¯ve heard someone call themselves ¡®the futuredy of the house.¡± Laughter echoed from the crowd around them. Sh blushed, looking awful. She couldn¡¯t even outtalk Letitia, let alone Vidonia. And now, she was theughing stock. The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. Sh raised her hand to p Vidonia, ¡°You bitch, I¡¯ll make sure you can¡¯t survive in the Ramirez Group. Ah! Ouch!¡± Vidonia grabbed her wrist in a sh, twisted it, nearly breaking it. ¡°You trying to hit me? You¡¯re too naive, woman!¡± With that, Vidonia pped back. She wasn¡¯t about to coddle this mistress! But just then, a hand reached out, stopping her, ¡°Enough.¡± The office fell silent at the arrival of this man ¨C Elgin. ¡°Mr. Ramirez!¡± Sh saw her savior, ¡°You told me toe here for the truth, but this woman won¡¯t let me in, she¡¯s even trying to hit me!¡± Vidonia was regretting herself. Why couldn¡¯t she have been just a bit quicker? Just a second faster, and she would¡¯vended that p on Sh¡¯s face! ¡°Ah, Mr. Ramirez.¡± Vidonia withdrew her hand, ¡°We don¡¯t allow outsiders to make a scene here, I was just following the rules. Plus, she started it.¡± Sh immediately piped up, ¡°She started it! Mr. Ramirez, I want an apology!¡± ¡°Pfft! In your dreams!¡± Elgin looked cool as a cucumber, giving Letitia a once-over. Letitia didn¡¯t even bother looking at him or uttering a word, her eyes darting all over the ce. What¡¯s it to her anyway? She wasn¡¯t even involved. When things were at a stalemate, Samson waltzed in from the doorway. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s themotion here? Quite the scene, huh?¡± Getting closer and sizing up the crowd, then catching Vidonia¡¯s vibe, Samson got the picture. Great, now he¡¯s gotta y peacemaker and clean up this mess! ¡°Come on, Gin, it¡¯s not that big of a deal. Let me apologize on behalf of Vidonia, okay? Samson tugged at him, ¡°Please, for my sake?¡± Elgin shot a nce at him, ¡°Keep your woman in check.¡± ¡°Excuse me??¡± Hey, he and Vidonta were just friends! Yet, inexplicably, a small surge of satisfaction stirred within Samson at Elgin¡¯s words. Elgin walked away, with Sh hot on his heels, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, why are you just walking away like that.. Samson asked, ¡°Ladies, what did you do to piss off Sh this time?¡± Chapter 57 Chapter 57 ¡°Stay out of women¡¯s business.¡± Vidonia suggested, making a face as she ushered Letitia into the office. Samson was speechless. Looks like he¡¯s just a tool for them to get out of trouble, gets ditched as soon as the job¡¯s done. ¡°Man, women are such a hassle.¡± Inside the office. ¡®Thanks, Vidonia, said Letitia. ¡°After all these years, whenever there¡¯s trouble, you¡¯re still my frontline.¡± ¡°We¡¯re best friends, aren¡¯t we? But I need you to be straight with me, no secrets, okay? Letitia, friendship needs tending to as well.¡± *Sure.¡± Vidonia looked at her, ¡°Even if Sh can¡¯t stand you, it¡¯s strange that she hates you to this extend Is there something else going on between you two?¡± After a few seconds of silence, Letitia spilled the beans about that night ¡°I don¡¯t know who the man is, but I¡¯m carrying his child. Sh and the dean both know, but they won¡¯t tell me¡­ She told me to get rid of the baby¡± ¡°No wonder..¡± Vidonia¡¯s jaw dropped, ¡°So you¡¯re, you¡¯re pregnant now?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°No wonder she. I mean, get rid of it? You don¡¯t even know who the baby daddy is!¡± Letitia looked down, murmuring. ¡°I believe he¡¯lle for me.¡± ¡°Letitia, don¡¯t be silly. Some guy you don¡¯t recognize and know nothing about ain¡¯t worth it¡± ¡°That night, though I saved him, you could also say he saved me. After I ran into that room, Mark¡¯s goons never showed up again, they didn¡¯t dare to bust in That tells me he¡¯s somebody important.¡± Letitia¡¯s voice was soft, ¡°I think he just hasn¡¯t found me yet. He said he wanted to marry me.¡± Even though he was drugged that night, he was a perfect gentleman. Vidonia asked, ¡°Have you fallen for him?¡± Letitia sighed, ¡°Love is too much of a luxury in my life, I can¡¯t even entertain the idea¡± ¡°What now?¡± Vidonia was pacing, all worked up. ¡°Are you going to keep the baby?¡± ¡°Yeah. I want this baby, not for anyone else, just for me.¡± Babies are little angels Letitia thought, the baby chose her to be his mom, and she couldn¡¯t let him down. After a long, hard think, Vidonia finally said, ¡°Alright, if that¡¯s your choice, I respect it and I¡¯m with you all the way!¡± Letitia gave a warm smile. With Vidonia by her side, she was truly grateful. She felt her strength renewed ¡°If it¡¯s meant to be¡­¡± Letitia said, ¡°I might meet the baby¡¯s father again, or maybe, he¡¯ll never even know.¡± ¡°No worries, your baby has not only you, but me as his family!¡± ¡°You betcha, Vidonia, you¡¯ve gotta be the godmother.¡± Vidonia gnnned, ¡°You know it Okay, for my godson¡¯s sake, I¡¯ll snoop around about that night¡¯s events, maybe we¡¯ll track down the guy¡± ¡°Right!¡± Letitia nodded and walked out. ¡°Take it easy, slow down¡± Vidonia carefully helped her, muttering. ¡°You¡¯re pregnant now¡­ Oh boy, just yesterday I was egging you on to throw punches, what if you¡¯d gotten worked up?¡± Letitiaughed, ¡°I¡¯m not that fragile. But being cared for felt really good. Back at her desk, Letitia found a huge parcel. inside were all sorts of fancy health supplements for women, with a note- Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°Letitia, take good care of my great-grandchild. Splurge on the best for food, clothes, and everything. Finish these this month, I¡¯ll send moreted¡± It was from Hawley Les epted the gifts. Hawley always thought the baby was Elgin¡¯s, and Elgin was too proud to deny it. Chapter S She could hardly imagine Hawley¡¯s face when he found out. That day, without Hawley¡¯s protection, would be the day she¡¯d lose the baby. She needed to hurry up with the divorce, hurry up and uncover the truth. Only then could she escape these dire straits, and only then could she protect her child and save her parents! Letitia knew she had a lot on her te. At night, back at Ivory Towers, Letitia sat under themp again, dedicating herself to mending the emerald bracelet. Elgin hadn¡¯te back yet that evening, and she enjoyed the peace. He¡¯s probably showering Sh with his usual sweet words, no doubt. Letitia thought, she wished Elgin would spend every waking moment with Sh! ¡°Madam, rest your eyes for a bit, staring non-stop is bad.¡± The butler came with some soup, ¡°Mr. Hawley ordered it to be prepared.¡± ¡°Thanks¡± Letitia nibbled, and seeing no one around, lowered her voice, ¡°Sir, don¡¯t take this the wrong way, I just want to ask you a few questions¡­ If it¡¯s not okay, you don¡¯t have to answer and can leave right away.¡± The butler remained silent ¡°I¡¯ve always believed that my dad didn¡¯t kill Mr. Marcel. I¡¯ve said this in front of Elgin and have always been firm in this belief. So, I¡¯m looking for the truth.¡± This was the first time she¡¯d shared her purpose with an outsider. She trusted the butler, he¡¯d always helped her silently, never harmed her. ¡°Madam, keep that to yourself, never mention it to anyone else,¡± the butler said gravely, ¡°otherwise, it will bring disaster upon you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve only told you this I trust you, butler.¡± The butler¡¯s voice was barely a whisper, ¡°Take my advice, don¡¯t waste your effort.¡± But Letitia¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°So, you¡¯re telling me the truth hasn¡¯t been uncovered yet, right?¡± ¡°Shh! That¡¯s not what I mean.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Letitia insisted, ¡°Staying at Ivory Towers, I have only one goal! Sir, you understand, only when the truthes to light can my family, my child, and I truly live!¡± ¡°But..¡± The butler¡¯s eyes showed pity. It was so hard, and certainly not something Letitia could tackle single-handedly. ¡°Sir, can you give me a clue?¡± Letitia asked, ¡°If it¡¯s difficult for you, maybe just a hint?¡± Hope gleamed in her eyes, the truth was her only salvation from a painful life! ¡°I don¡¯t have any proof, nor can I help you,¡± the butler sighed softly, ¡°The higher the circles, the deeper the secrets. A lot of stuff cant be proven with evidence, it¡¯s all about watching and guessing.¡± *So, can I find anything by staying close to Elgin?¡± The butler thought for a moment, then shook his head. ¡®Ma¡¯am, Ivory Towers is Mr. Ramirez¡¯s private residence, which he moved into after taking over the Ramirez Group. Before that, Mr. Ramirez lived at the Ramirez Mansion.¡± Letitia was a sharp cookie, she¡¯d catch on quick, ¡°I get it, so you¡¯re saying¡­¡± Chapter 58 Chapter 58 The butter put his index finger to his lips, signaling her to zip it. If their conversation got overheard by a third person, both the butler and Letitia would be toast After the butler left, Letitia couldn¡¯t calm her nerves for the longest time. From the butler¡¯s spiel, the Ramirez family was the cream of the crop in AquaCity, all glitz and m on the outside, but with lots of skeletons in the closet. Like, for instance, Phedra being Elgin¡¯s stepmom. But¡­ Letitia had never heard a peep from Elgin about his birth mom. And Phedra seemed to have been in the picture for ages, with Elgin not warning up to her one bit, not changing his indifferent attitude or showing her kindness. Could it be, Marcel¡¯s death was tangled up in some family power y? Letitia¡¯s thoughts were getting clearer, she felt like she was on the verge of something big. Just then, her phone buzzed, which caused her train of thought derailed. ¡°Hello?¡± Letitia answered, ¡°Hey there, who¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Letitia, it¡¯s me.¡± Walden? Letitia nced at the phone screen, it was an unknown number. ¡°I¡¯m calling from a new line because you wouldn¡¯t pick up mine,¡± said Walden, ¡°and I didn¡¯t want Elgin to see and get the wrong idea, maybe take it out on you.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not keep this up. I¡¯ll pay you back the cash tomorrow.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about the money, Letitia, Walden insisted, ¡°You said before that Preston was innocent, and I took it to heart. I¡¯ve been pulling strings left and right to re-examine the case¡± Letitia¡¯s grip on her phone tightened, ¡°You¡¯re investigating?¡± ¡°Yes. And I¡¯ve got a lead.¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°What is it?¡± she perked up. ¡°What did you find?¡± ¡°Can we meet in person? It¡¯s too much to unpack over the phone,¡± Walden suggested, ¡°after all¡­ it¡¯s big stuff.¡± Letitia agreed without hesitation, ¡°Sure, where are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll text you the address.¡± Letitia bolted out the door. She couldn¡¯t wait a second longer! Hailing a cab, she zoomed towards the address. As the taxi whipped around a corner, another car passed by on the opposite side. Letitia didn¡¯t notice that other car, her eyes glued to the road ahead, ¡°sir, can you speed up?¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez, the driver hesitated as they headed towards Ivory Towers, ¡°that taxi we just passed¡­ I think Mrs. Ramirez was in it.¡± Elgin looked up from his papers, ¡°Letitia?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Elgin peered out the window into the dark, no trace of the taxi to be seen. He frowned. Where could Letitia be going thiste, taking a cab? No way she could slip under his radar! In a quaint coffee shop, Letitia met Walden. She was sweating bullets, ¡°Spill it, what have you found?¡± ¡°If I said I made it all up just to see you¡­¡± Walden began. ¡°Are you ying me, Walden?¡± ¡°Alright,¡± he sighed, ¡°I was just pulling your leg. I wanted to see if you¡¯de just for me.¡± I wouldn¡¯t. We¡¯re rivals.¡± Letitia cut him off cold, she didn¡¯t want to give him any hope. If she didn¡¯t do this, Elgin would surely make a move on him! ¡°You¡¯re ruthless,¡± Walden chuckled, ¡°Let¡¯s get down to business. I¡¯ve reviewed the whole thing, and if Preston is innocent, then the medicines must have been tampered with¡± ¡®Medicines?¡± Yeah, someone pulled a switcheroo which led to Marcel¡¯s demise. feit a chill. She clenched her fists, swallowing hard, ¡°So, who could it be?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know it¡¯s all conjecture without hard evidence,¡± Walden confessed, ¡°The cops were all over it and pinned it on Preston, which goes to show the real puppet master¡­ covered their tracks well, fooling everyone.¡± ¡°So we can¡¯t find any evidence, can we?¡± She had just found a glimmer of hope only to be plunged back into despair. Letitia felt her heart sinking. Walden¡¯s gaze was firm, ¡°No. There¡¯s no such thing as a perfect crime. If it happened, there¡¯s got to be a trace!¡± ¡°But if even Elgin was fooled and couldn¡¯t find other leads, can we?¡± Letitia pondered, ¡°If he knew the truth, he wouldn¡¯t have gone after our family ¡°The victim was his dad; he couldn¡¯t stay calm, which let someone slip through the cracks¡± Letitia slowly regained herposure. She acknowledged she was too antsy. This thing was a big deal, the truth wasn¡¯t going to be easy to uncover Walden looked at her, ¡°Letitia, you¡¯ve been around the Ramirez¡¯s longer than I have. Take a wild guess, who do you think it could be?¡± Her mind raced. ¡°Who benefits the most from Marcel¡¯s death? Who would want him gone the most? Who had the chance to swap the drugs during the surgery¡± Guided by Walden¡¯s probing, one name stood out clear as day. ¡°Say it,¡± Walden locked eyes with her ¡°¡­Phedra ¡± *Elgin¡¯s stepmom? Letitia nodded, ¡°She¡¯s my prime suspect.¡± She¡¯d been to the Ramirez Mansion. Hawley was hell-bent on carrying on the family line, securing a future for the Ramirez dynasty. Besides, Marcel was his son, and he would never hurt his own son. Except for him, it was just Phedra, always stirring the pot, never taking a breather. ¡°But¡­¡± Letitia pondered, ¡°how could she pull this off alone, and why off her own husband?¡± Walden replied, ¡°Phedra has a son. Have you ever met him?¡± Letitia shook her head, ¡°Never even heard of him. No one¡¯s mentioned him.¡± ¡°That¡¯s Elgin¡¯s half-brother, studying abroad, he¡­¡± Walden didn¡¯t finish his sentence, suddenly his gaze shifted behind Letitia, his face turned pale. Letitia looked back, puzzled. There was Elgin, bursting through the ss door and striding over. A smile yed at the corner of his mouth, but it was the kind that screamed bloodthirsty cruelty. ¡°Elgin¡­ Letitia slowly got to her feet, ¡°What, what are you doing here?¡± He grabbed her hand and yanked her towards him with force. ¡°Letitia, oh, isn¡¯t this just great, sneaking around behind my back to meet up with your lover! You dare to do this again under my nose!¡± ¡°I had some really important business with him.¡± Elgin¡¯s grip was so tight, it felt like her bones might shatter, ¡°Did my warnings mean nothing to you?¡± Letitia felt too drained to even try exining Because there was no way she could spill the beans about the real reason she was meeting Walden. Choosing to stay silent, she unintentionally fanned the mes of Elgin¡¯s growing anger. ¡°Speak up!¡± he demanded. Chapter 59 Chapter 59 Letitia replied, ¡°Nothing happened between him and me, we didn¡¯t even talk shop. It was just two friends catching up.¡± ¡°Frends?¡± ¡°Yeah¡± Elgin was grinding his teeth with anger, ¡°Fine, Letitia. I¡¯ll make sure you can¡¯t even be friends!¡± She was startled, ¡°Elgin, what are you¡­¡± Storming over, Elgin grabbed Walden by the cor and promptly let his fist crash down on him, brutally hard, causing blood to erupt from Walden¡¯s nose. He stumbled back several steps before he managed to steady himself. ¡°What right do you have to hit me?¡± Walden, cleaning the blood, said, ¡°Elgin, since you married her, you should cherish her!¡± ¡°If you know she¡¯s my woman, you better get that out of your head!¡± ¡°But you don¡¯t love her! Look at how you¡¯re tormenting her!¡± Elgin sneered, ¡°That¡¯s between her and me. When¡¯s it your turn to butt in?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t give her the love she deserves, then give her back to me,¡± Walden¡¯s eyes were resolute, ¡°You don¡¯t care about her, but I¡¯ll treasure like gold.¡± ¡°In your dreams. As soon as Elgin finished, he lunged forward with another punch. Walden swayed and started to fight back with a counter-hook. The two quickly got into a scuffle. ¡°Stop it!¡± Letitia yelled, ¡°Elgin! Stop it!¡± Elgin had trained in Taekwondo and was a ck belt. An ordinary person was no match for him. Especially since Walden had already taken a couple of punches and was injured, he was already at a significant disadvantage. If this went on, Walden could get killed! ¡°Elgin! Are you listening? Stop, stop hitting him!¡± But the more Letitia screamed in panic, the harder Elgin fought, showing no mercy. Seeing Walden on one knee, unable to stand,pletely at a disadvantage, Letitia didn¡¯t care anymore and rushed forward. She stood in front of Walden, and Elgin¡¯s fist was only a centimeter from her face.. Letitia could clearly see the veins on the back of his hand. ¡°Letitia¡¯ Get out of the way!¡± ¡°I won¡¯t!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t hit women,¡± Elgin¡¯s eyes were icy cold, ¡°Don¡¯t push me!¡± But Letitia stubbornly tilted her head up, ¡°You can¡¯t hit him anymore, he¡¯ll die!¡± ¡°Feeling some pity for him?¡± In Elgin¡¯s chest, a storm of resentment erupted. The emotion was a blend of jealousy and a tinge of sorrow. Although swiftly, he brushed these feelings aside. Sorrow? Ha, what¡¯s there for him to be sad about! Letitia protected Walden because he was the father of the bastard in her belly! ¡°It¡¯s all my fault,¡± Letitia said, ¡°I wanted to see him, I sought him out Walden was so hassled by me he agreed to meet. If you want to kill or sh someone, go for me!¡± She took all the me upon herself. Hearing her say this, Walden quickly interjected, ¡°Letitia, you¡­¡± Elgins fist was trembling from the force. He really wanted to smash it down, but looking at Letitia¡¯s face, he couldn¡¯t do it! Not hitting women was his bottom line! ¡°Move,¡± Elgin said, word by word, ¡°Did you hear me?¡± I worl hove If you¡¯re mad, take it out on me!¡± ¡°Letitia protecting Walden like this will only get him killed faster!¡± She exined, ¡°I told you, I¡¯m the one who sought him out. My mother needs his help¡­¡± Dgin grabbed her shoulders and lifted her up in front of him, ¡°You¡¯d rather sneak around behind my back and beg him than ask me nicely? ¡°Elgin.¡± Letitia looked at him, ¡°How many times have I begged you?¡± How much lower could she stoop? Kneeling, ttering, obedient,pliant, enduring humition. Letitia had done it all. But what he gave her was nothingpared to what hevished on Sh Sh could casually buy a bag worth hundreds of thousands, using his card. And her? He wouldn¡¯t even give her the money for lifesaving medicine for her mom. She still owed him twenty thousand dors. Elgin squinted, ¡°You never tried. How do you know I wouldn¡¯t agree? If you bow low enough, maybe I would!¡± ¡°If you would have agreed, I wouldn¡¯t havee to see Walden today.¡± Rage boiled in his eyes. ¡°Fine, Letitia. You¡¯re really something! Youe to Walden for what you can¡¯t get from me. He knows you¡¯re married and is still willing to pay for you¡­ You sure are cunning!¡± ¡°You forced me¡­¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Then I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯ll never see Walden again!¡± Letitia replied, ¡°Let him go, and I¡¯ll never meet him in private again!¡± Elgin scoffed, ¡°Toote!¡± He gripped her wrist tightly and stepped on Walden¡¯s chest. ¡°Listen up,¡± Elgin exuded a powerful aura, ¡°you¡¯ll never beat me, never. ¡®Ramirez Romantica¡¯ is up and running, and your Sunbeam Gems have no reason to exist.¡± Letitia¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°Elgin, are you¡­¡± Was he going to take over Sunbeam Gems? When Walden returned to the country, he took over the Sullivan Group, and Sunbeam Gems was under his full management. If it were taken over, the shareholders and the board would oust him! This would be a catastrophic blow to his career! *Since you care so much about him, I¡¯ll make you care to the end,¡± Elgin said, ¡°Let¡¯s see how a man with nothing can save you, and¡­¡± His gaze drifted down to her belly. Before Letitia could say a word, Elgin dragged her away. Walden struggled to his feet, clutching his chest and watching their retreating backs¡­ A mouthful of blood spurted out, ¡°Letitia¡­¡± Sitting in the car, Letitia¡¯s eyes were dry and sore. Elgin drove in silence. The atmosphere was extremely heavy. The car stopped in the very center of the Ivory Towers garden, and neither of them got out. The air was thick with tension ¡°Don¡¯t take over Sunbeam Gems, please,¡± Letitia broke the silence, ¡°It¡¯s not Walden¡¯s fault, you shouldn¡¯t punish him.¡± ¡°The acquisition was bound to happen sooner orter, but Letitia, you just fast-tracked it.¡± ¡°There¡¯s really nothing going on between me and Walden¡­ and the kid isn¡¯t his, can¡¯t you just trust me?¡± ¡°Why should I believe you?¡± Elgin shot back. ¡°We can do a paternity test on the fetus!¡± Letitia eximed, ¡°I swear it¡¯s not his!¡± He spoke nonchntly, ¡°Why bother with all that hassle when it¡¯s gonna be terminated anyway.¡± He said it without a hint of emotion. Letitia turned to look at him. The flickering streetlights cast a shadowy glow on his face, making him seem even colder. She spoke softly, ¡°Elgin, let¡¯s have a proper chat, shall we?¡± ¡°What do you have to negotiate with?¡± he scoffed with disdain, ¡°Letitia, you¡¯ve got no cards to y!¡± 1 do.¡± Chapter 60 Chapter 60 Her voice was rock-solid, but her gaze was even more so. Elgin was momentarily stunned. Such bright and persistent eyes¡­ they inexplicably set his heart racing Letitia spoke up. ¡°I still have my life. It¡¯s my only, my final bargaining chip.¡± Figan felt even more panicked, but he desperately suppressed it, not wanting to show it, ¡°Do you even realize what you¡¯re talking about?¡± ¡°I do¡± Letitia looked deep into his eyes, ¡°Elgin, we¡¯ve got a lot of hate, a lot of resentment between us. As long as I¡¯m by your side, it will always be there, unable to be erased. You hate me, hate that my father killed your dad. hate that I¡¯m carrying someone else¡¯s child. But the child was conceived before I married you From start to finish, I¡¯ve been a victim. I don¡¯t know what I¡¯ve done wrong to deserve such a living hell. Before I met you, I had a happy life, bright and hopeful as a young girl¡­ with a bright future ahead¡± Letitia looked down slightly. ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s not dwell on it. Elgin, can I use my life to end all of this?¡± Her tone was as casual as if she were discussing the weather, but she was ready to die. Life was just too painful, too exhausting. She couldn¡¯t save herself, couldn¡¯t save her parents, and was even dragging down her friends¡­. Letitia thought of herself as a burden. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare! Elgin reached out and grabbed her chin, ¡°Your life is mine, not yours to take!¡± ¡°I can decide whether to live or die.¡± He waspletely panicked now, ¡°Letitia, I won¡¯t allow you to die. You have to live, live by my side!¡± She chuckled lightly, ¡°Are you scared?¡± Elgin¡¯s lips were pressed tightly together. Yes, he was scared. But¡­ why was he scared? Was Letitia really that important to him? ¡°You¡¯re just scared that once I¡¯m gone, you¡¯ll lose your ything, your punching bag,¡± Letitia said, her lips curling into a smile, ¡°Elgin, that¡¯s all I am to you.¡± Elgin roared. ¡°Shut up! Don¡¯t you dare say ¡®die¡¯ again!¡± ¡°I have to finish. Otherwise, I might not get another chance. Elgin, I¡¯m using my life to end all of this. After I die, please let my parents go back to living normally. You insist it was the Sanders family that killed your dad, so I¡¯ll use my life to pay for your father¡¯s life. Can we drop all the hatred then, let it all fade away?¡± The hand Elgin had on her chin was trembling uncontrobly. Turns out, he could shake too. ¡°No way! Letitia, I forbid you to die!¡± But Letitia had be the calm one. Before, it was always her in utter humility, with Elgin towering above. Now the tables had turned. ¡°But Elgin, this is the only way to rid your heart of hate, to end everything.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t end! Not unless my fatheres back to life!¡± ¡°People can¡¯te back from the dead,¡± Letitia replied, ¡°Well, that¡¯s that.¡± Then she unbuckled her seat belt. The ¡°click¡± of the release sounded especially clear in the night sky. Elgin grabbed her in a hurry, ¡°Letitia, if you die¡­ have you thought about your child? Weren¡¯t you going to give birth? Don¡¯t you want your baby anymore?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have the ability to protect him.¡± After speaking, Letitia pried Elgin¡¯s fingers off one by one, opened the car door, and ran off swiftly. ¡°Letitia!¡± She got out of the car and ran forward without looking back. Her hair flying, her skirt fluttering, Letitia at this moment was like a sprite in the night sky. Elg quickly got out of the car and chased after her, rounding the front of the vehicle! Letitia had a clear target ¨C a man-madeke less than a hundred meters from the garden. She was going to jump into theke! Theke was deep, and Letitia couldn¡¯t swim¡­ She was determined to die! Lebaran ahead, Elgin chased behind. was tall with long legs, quickly closing the distance, gradually catching up. ¡°Stop, Letibial Elgin shouted, his voice echoing into the sky, carrying far and wide, ¡°Damn it, stop her, stop het!¡± Overwhelmed with panic, his voice was shaking. N?velDrama.Org ? content. Letitia ran as fast as she could. She gritted her teeth, shouldering past the security guard, heading straight for theke! ¡°Letitia!¡± Elgin¡¯s voice was right behind her, just a bit more and he would catch her! Letitia took thergest steps she could, gracefully leaping onto the railing, stepping on it, and then jumping down without hesitation. Elgin rushed over, reaching out to grab her. The sound of fabric tearing filled the air He had only caught Letitia¡¯s skirt, tearing a piece of cloth from her. With a ssh, water scattered everywhere. Letitia, like a mermaid, plunged into the water. Beautiful, yet so tragic. Moonlight shone on the water, casting a silvery glow The waves stirred for a moment, then returned to silence, as if nothing had happened. Elgin stood there, staring at theke surface¡­ Letitia really did jump, right before his eyes, without looking back, without a moment¡¯s pause. How desperate she must have been? Elgin thought, had he really pushed her too far? To the point where she¡¯d rather die than live by his side! No, no! ¡°Letitia, if you want to die, you¡¯ll need my permission!¡± A determined look shed in Elgin¡¯s eyes, and without a second thought, he too jumped in! ¡°Mr. Ramirez!¡± The butler shouted. ¡°Quick! Save them!¡± ¡°Call an ambnce!¡± In all his years as a butler, he¡¯d never seen such madness. Mr. Ramirez, disregarding his own safety, jumped into theke to save thedy! In Mr. Ramirez¡¯s heart, thedy was the enemy¡¯s daughter¡­ Besides, with so many bodyguards and servants, anyone could have gone to rescue her, there was absolutely no need for Mr. Ramirez to go himself. Ah, what a twisted fate¡­ Chaos erupted at the gates of Ivory Towers! At the bottom of theke, Elgin swam desperately, watching the figure slowly sinking. Letitia¡¯s eyes were closed, not struggling, not moving, just letting the water envelop her. But her hand was still on her lower abdomen. Elgin swam up next to her, and slung an arm around her waist to pull her into his embrace. She went all limp and draped herself over his shoulder. Elgin swam closer, tipping his head downwards to press his lips to hers, giving her some much-needed air. All the while, he was paddling like mad to break the surface. The moment they came up for air, Elgin let out a sigh of relief. With the bodyguards helping him, Elgin managed to haul Letitia ashore. She was drenched to the bone, her hair stered to her face, her lips a ghostly shade of pale, leaning into Elgin¡¯s chest Elgin didn¡¯t say anything. But his eyes¡­ they were softer than she¡¯d ever seen them before. Chapter 61 Chapter 61 He meticulously tucked her damp hair behind her ear, his fingers gently caressing her cheek. ¡°Mr. Ramirez Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. It was as if he didn¡¯t hear her, his eyes locked on Letitia. It wasn¡¯t until the ambnce came to the scene that he stood, scooping her up and rushing to the hospital. Elgin seemed to have forgotten that he too was drenched to the bone. As the doctors wheeled Letitia into the ER, they asked, ¡°Did she fall into water?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Elgin replied. ¡°Does she have any acute medical conditions we need to know about? Family needs to inform us He paused. When it came to Letitia¡¯s health, he was clueless. The doctor pressed, ¡°Spit it out, we need to move fast¡± Elgin finally said, ¡°She¡¯s¡­ pregnant.¡± The doctor paused, then nodded Then the door nged shut. Standing at the ER door, Elgin was dripping wet, water steadily falling from his sleeves ¡°Mr. Ramirez, I¡¯ve brought you some dry clothes, you should change¡­¡± ¡°No need,¡± he waved off the offer, ¡°I¡¯m waiting for her toe out.¡± ¡°But you¡­¡± Elgin frowned coldly, ¡°Zip it.¡± Suddenly, the ER doors opened and the doctor stepped out, ¡°What¡¯s your rtion to Letitia?¡± ¡°I¡¯m her husband¡± ¡°She¡¯s currently unconscious. We¡¯ve drained the water from her lungs, but¡­ the baby is in danger,¡± the doctor exined, ¡°So, we need a family member to sign off on the procedures.¡± Elgin didn¡¯t move an inch The child wasn¡¯t his. Even if it wasn¡¯t Walden¡¯s, there was no reason for him to keep it. Elgin could take this chance to get rid of the baby. But at that moment, what shed through Elgin¡¯s mind was Letitia¡¯s look of despair. Even at the bottom of theke, her hand was on her lower abdomen. If he got rid of this baby, how heartbroken would she be when she woke up? Elgin didn¡¯t realize it, but he was already caring about Letitia¡¯s feelings. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, Mr. Ramirez?¡± the doctor urged, ¡°We¡¯re in a time crunch here.¡± The butler beside him tensed as well. The life or death of this child hinged on a single thought from Mr. Ramirez. After a long moment, Elgin spoke, ¡°Do everything to save the child.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± the doctor confirmed Elgin bowed his head and quickly signed his name. ¡°Letitia, you¡¯ve won,¡± Elgin thought, ¡°In your own way, you¡¯ve made me surrender¡± It wasn¡¯t until the dead of night that the lights in the ER went off, and the nurses wheeled out Letitia¡¯s bed to transfer her to the VIP ward. Half-awake, Letitia kept murmuring, ¡°My baby, my baby¡­¡± She wasn¡¯t afraid to die, but her child was innocent, stirring feelings of guilt and regret within her Her constant murmuring left her restless, her brows deeply furrowed. ¡°Your baby is fine Elgin stood by the bed, speaking softly Perhaps hearing his words. Letitia gradually calmed down Elgin stood silently for a long while, only leaving as dawn approached. remained in a deep slumber. Returning to Ivory Towers, he hadn¡¯t even reached the door when he heard Sh¡¯s voice, ¡°Where¡¯s Mr. Ramirez? Have you all gone mute? Why isn¡¯t he home early in the moming! And not answering his phone! Do you know who I am!¡± Her arrogant attitude made Elgin frown. He walked into the living room, and Sh spotted him instantly, joyfully running over, ¡°Mr. Ramirez¡­ Eh? Why are you all wer After a night, Elgin¡¯s clothes were half-dry. Sh reached out to touch him, but Elgin brushed her off and strode upstairs. ¡°Mr. Ramirez..¡± ¡°Talk business or get out!¡± ¡°), I just missed you.¡± Elgin disappeared at the staircase. Sh bit her lip, sensing something was off. How could someone like him not return all night, his clothes wet, his expression so haggard? After Elgin came down from his bath and changed, Sh was still there. His irritation grew, ¡°Why are you still here?¡± Sh was scolded, still not catching on. Was Mr. Ramirez¡­ disgusted with her? Elgin was about to say more but suddenly started coughing violently. ¡°Yikes, Mr. Ramirez, you¡¯ve caught a cold.¡± Sh grew anxious, ¡°You need to take medicine, see a doctor¡­¡± He ignored her, looking to the butler, ¡°Get the car ready, I¡¯m going to the office.¡± ¡°Right away, Mr. Ramirez.¡± Wearing soaked clothes all night and not catching a cold would be strange, even for someone as fit as Elgin. Illness strikes like andslide. All moming, the CEO¡¯s office was filled with Elgin¡¯s coughing. Ranen brought in a cup of tea and medicine, but until the tea went cold, Elgin was too busy to take a sip. ¡°Mr. Ramirez,¡± he reminded, ¡°You should really take some medicine.¡± ¡°Yeah, in a bit,¡± Elgin didn¡¯t look up. ¡°Any news from the hospital?¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± Replying, Ranen thought, Mr. Ramirez has asked no less than ten times already. He would inform Mr. Ramirez the moment Mrs. Ramirez wakes up, but Mr. Ramirez kept asking every few minutes. His mind wasn¡¯t on work or his health; it was all on his wife. Elgin¡¯s face darkened He closed the file in his hand, ¡°Cancel the meetingter¡­ I¡¯m stepping out.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Ramirez.¡± Letitia slowly opened her eyes in the hospital room. Gazing at the ceiling, she felt a bit dazed, blinking her eyes as consciousness slowly returned. ¡°Where am I¡­ She clearly remembered taking the plunge, the water was incredibly deep and freezing cold. She was never a swimmer, had a fear of water since she was a kid andcked the typical ir for it. She was prepared to die, but where was she how? Why was she still alive? The nurse walked in, ¡°You¡¯re awake? Are you feeling alright?¡± Letitia nodded. The nurse jotted down notes on the chart and adjusted the IV dnp rate. Yesh entia¡¯s voice was hoarse, ¡®In the hospital?:- Who brought me here?¡± band. The nurse replied, then couldn¡¯t help but smile, ¡°He¡¯s really good to you, you know. He was waiting outside the ER a 1 hot Letsa gave a half-hearted smile. ¡°If I had a husband like that, I¡¯d be waking upughing in my dreams. Handsome, loaded, and treats you right-girl, you are so lucky.¡± ¡°Lucky.¡± Letitia just sighed and closed her eyes. She was still feeling groggy. After the nurse left, the room fell silent, with the asional sound of footsteps passing by clearly audible. Suddenly, Letitia¡¯s eyes popped open, and she struggled to sit up in bed, ¡°My baby¡­ my baby¡­¡± Chapter 62 Chapter 62 She made it through, but how about her baby? The nurse just left and won¡¯t be back. Letitia¡¯s voice was so soft and faint it couldn¡¯t make it beyond the room. She threw back the covers and struggled to get out of bed. As soon as her feet touched the ground, they went all wobbly, and she nearly hit her knees. Gritting her teeth, Letitia pushed on, ¡°Nurse, my baby¡­ how¡¯s my baby¡­?¡± Is he dead or alive? She barely made it to the door when it swung open from the outside. Looking up, Letitia locked eyes with Elgin¡¯s deep gaze. After a two-second stare down, she clenched his sleeve, shouting with every bit of her strength, ¡°Elgin! Did you get rid of my baby¡­ You must have done it!¡± Her eyes were bloodshot and fiery red, staring straight at him. Elgin could clearly see the hatred in her eyes. So intense. She hated him. Yeah, she was supposed to hate him, like¡­ he¡¯d always hated her. Out of hatred, Elgin had tossed Letitia into the loony bin. Out of hatred, all she wanted was to get the hell away from him. Seeing Elgin remain silent, Letitia shook his arm desperately. ¡°Answer me! My baby¡­ you had no right! Why would you do that without my consent..¡± ¡°Elgin, that was a live, breathing soul. How could you bring yourself to do it?¡± ¡°While I was out cold, you just went ahead. You might as well have let me drown in theke, let me and my baby go together!¡± Her voice was hoarse with usation, her fists pounding against Elgin¡¯s chest. But her feeble strength was nothing more than a tickle to him. She even bit her lower lip until it bled. Elgin finally spoke indifferently, ¡°Letitia, maybe it was a mistake from the start.¡± ¡°Mistake? What mistake? I¡¯m asking about my child, don¡¯t change the subject!¡± ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have married you,¡± Elgin replied. ¡°You should¡¯ve stayed in that madhouse, out of the sunlight forever. We should¡¯ve just had that one-off encounter and never crossed paths again.¡± Looking back, Elgin thought it was probably the worst move he¡¯d ever yed. He figured Letitia was easy to control, with what he had, she could be the perfect Mrs. Ramirez. But he calcted everything, except for his own heart At this moment, facing Letitia, Elgin had to admit- He¡¯d gone soft. And was it love that softened him? He didn¡¯t know, and he sure as hell didn¡¯t dare to dig deeper! Biting her teeth, Letitia said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to be with you either! Elgin, the divorce papers are signed. Just let me go, and I¡¯m willing to go back to the asylum!¡± ¡°You can¡¯t go back.¡± Letitia looked at him, her fists falling powerlessly from his chest as if all her strength had been drained, copsing to the floor like a rag doll. Elgin caught her in a swift embrace. ¡°Let go of me,¡± Letitia struggled. But Elgin simply swept her off her feet and carried her back to the hospital bed. I¡¯ve already jumped, why save me?¡± Letitia asked. ¡°Can¡¯t I end it all with death?¡± You cant die Not unless I say you can.¡± Her voice choked up, ¡°So my baby should die? Elgin, you saved me this time, but you can¡¯t save me next time! No one can save a person hell-bent on dying!¡± in the wate, Letitia feltpletely rxed ¨C it was an unprecedented sense of release. e only one she felt sorry for was her baby. Her death might have bought peace and smooth sailing for her parents. Elgin¡¯s lips parted coldly. ¡°Letitia, dare to die, and I¡¯ll make sure your parents join you in the gravel¡± Her eyes widened in horror, ¡°You, you¡­¡± What a devil! ¡°Don¡¯t delude yourself into thinking your death solves everything,¡± Elgin warned again, ¡°keep thinking that way, and I promise, the real tragedy has only just begun!¡± Letitia red at him, powerless to do anything. All she could do was repeat, ¡°I hate you, Elgin, I hate you!¡± He just listened quietly. After several minutes, he twisted open a bottle of water and offered it, ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired of yelling? Have some water and take a break.¡± Letitia didn¡¯t take it. ¡°Drink¡± It was his usualmanding tone. Letitia paused, then took it, only to throw it straight at Elgin! In all of AquaCity, she was the first to dare ssh water on Elgin! But the water hit nothing, Elgin dodged it with a side-step. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Letitia, fuming, threw the empty bottle at him, ¡°I don¡¯t want to see you, get out!¡± ¡°Too bad, you¡¯re stuck with me for life. With that, Elgin leaned in close, saying, ¡°I¡¯m not letting you go, so you¡¯re stuck with me forever. Even in death, Letitia, I¡¯ll keep your ashes. ¡°You¡¯re not afraid I¡¯ll haunt you?¡± ¡°You couldn¡¯t handle me alive, what storm could you possibly stir as a ghost?¡± All of Letitia¡¯s weaknesses were in his iron grip. She couldn¡¯t argue, couldn¡¯t fight back, couldn¡¯t win. Furious, Letitia suddenly bit down hard on Elgin¡¯s shoulder! Elgin was wearing just a thin shirt. Soon, Letitia¡¯s teeth broke through the fabric. She bit down hard and wouldn¡¯t let go, wishing she could tear his flesh apart. Elgin¡¯s hands remained unflinchingly by her side, enduring her biting without uttering a single groan. That made Letitia think she wasn¡¯t biting hard enough, so she bit even harder. Elgin still didn¡¯t make a sound, but she tasted blood. Blood seeped through his shoulder, staining his shirt red. ¡°Had enough? Done venting?¡± he asked calmly. Letitia couldn¡¯t speak because she was biting him, so she mumbled, ¡°Not enough!¡± ¡°Then keep going It wasn¡¯t until Letitia¡¯s teeth ached that Elgin still seemed fine. Finally, Letitia let go, her teeth and mouth bloody. Elgin even gently wiped the blood away for her, ¡°Feeling better?¡± She pped his hand away. Elgin¡¯s lips curled slightly. ¡°Rest up, get better, thene back to work at thepany.¡± She turned her face away, not wanting toy her eyes on him. Elgin stood for a while, then left the hospital room. The bodyguard outside spotted the wound on his shoulder and got all worked up, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, who did this to you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± he replied, cool as a cucumber.¡¯ ¡°You¡¯re bleeding! I¡¯m gonna get a doc to patch you up!¡± Elgin clenched his fist and put it to his mouth, coughing again. Just a moment ago, in front of Letitia, he had been holding back the itch in his throat, not wanting to cough in her presence. He was worned that he might pass his cold on to her. Now, he couldn¡¯t stop coughing. Elgin had tough at himself. Why the heck was he so hung up on her? Chapter 63 Chapter 63 He was even holding back a cough with all his might! In the emergency room, the doctor asked, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Got bitten by a stray cat.¡± ¡°Take off your shirt so I can treat the wound properly.¡± Eigin did as told, and the young nurse holding the tray blushed at the sight of his upper body. He, however, didn¡¯t bat an eyelid. After a quick nce, the doctor began dressing Elgin¡¯s wound, ¡°Whoa there, what kind of stray cat is this? These bite marks are obviously human.¡± ¡°You can tell?¡± ¡°Neat rows of teeth marks? It¡¯s pretty obvious,¡± the doctor replied. Elgin cleared his throat, ¡°Yeah, it was a person.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s got such a beef with you to bite that hard?¡± ¡°My wife.¡± The doctor paused, ¡°Sounds like you¡¯re dealing with a tigress!¡± Everyone in the vicinity chuckled, and even Elgin couldn¡¯t help but crack a smile, ¡°A tigress with neat teeth, that is.¡± ¡°Treat your wife better, after all, she¡¯s the one you¡¯re walking through life with, the doctor said. ¡°You got a cold? I¡¯ll prescribe some medicine for you.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Back at the Ramirez Group, Elgin headed for the elevator and bumped into Samson and Vidonia. Vidonia kept mum. Given her position, she should have greeted Elgin, the big boss. ¡°Gin, what a coincidence, Samson greeted him. ¡°I was just looking for you.¡± ¡°Same here ¡°Talk about being in sync. You go first.¡± But Elgin looked at Vidonia, ¡°Letitia¡¯s alone at the hospital, you should head over¡­¡± Before he could finish, Vidonia went ballistic, ¡°What? Hospital?! She¡¯s been gone from the office for half a day and now she¡¯s at the hospital? Elgin, what did you do to her!¡± ¡°Are you going or not?¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯m going! With a huff, Vidonia stormed off. ¡°What¡¯s the deal? Letitia¡¯s in the hospital and you look like you¡¯ve been through the wringer, Samson questioned. ¡°You two argue as frequently as clockwork. Elgin replied, ¡°Women are like that.¡± ¡°If you tell me that someone married Vidonia and they have daily disputes, I¡¯d totally buy it. But Letitia¡¯s temperament¡­ she¡¯s not the arguing type.¡± ¡°Heh, easy for you to say, you¡¯re not the one in pain!¡± Letitia doesn¡¯t argue? Her tongue is sharper than anyone¡¯s! ¡®Man, she¡¯s known for her sweet temper at work, Samson continued, ¡°but somehow, she doesn¡¯t click with you. Maybe you should reflect on your own issues.¡± Elgin raised an eyebrow, ¡°Me? I have issues?¡± Totally. She gets along with everyone but you. If it¡¯s not on you, then who?¡± Elgin¡¯s face tumed stone cold. He always felt that everyone around was siding with Letitia, whether it was the butler or Samson. What kind of charm did Letitia have to make them all want to back her up? This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. After coughing twice, Elgin said, ¡®I¡¯m nning to take over Sullivan Group¡¯s Sunbeam Gems. It¡¯s gonna be a busy time, so be ready! Samson¡¯s jaw nearly hit the floor, ¡°What?! Now? start today Don¡¯t drop the ball.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t we slow down a bit?¡± Samson asked. ¡°Jewelry Department is just getting off the ground, there are tons to do, plus managing the Lim division. Speaking of which, you should know¡­¡± Samson started to ramble on about Sh¡¯s shorings, clearly frustrated. 2 ¡°She¡¯s just an inte celeb, you can¡¯t even ssify her as an actress. She¡¯s never been formally trained in a reputable acting school, hasn¡¯t got a clue about hitting her mark. But her diva demands are off the charts!¡± Elgin pursed his lips, ¡°Sh breaking into showbiz can wait. But the acquisition, It¡¯s a must.¡± With that, he stepped into the elevator. Samson held his forehead. What a mess. Elgin, the boss, was so demanding! Even he felt overwhelmed, and thinking about Letitia¡¯s daily life¡­ that was truly tough. ?? ? ? ? ? ? ?? ? ? ?? And regarding Sh, the drama queen, Samson was on the verge of depression. She knew nothing, couldn¡¯t remember lines Her acting was a disaster, yet she insisted on big productions with top directors and leading roles. Not to mention, Sh wanted a RV, five assistants, two agents, ten bodyguards. Samson felt like flipping a table! Why did Gin fall for such a woman? He really should get his eyes checked by a doctor! Vidonia left thepany and drove straight to the hospital. In the hospital room, Letitia sat alone, lost in thought She stayed like this until a servant from Ivory Towers came with food, ¡°Mydy, this is a special prepared nutritional meal for you.¡± It wasvish, nearly too much for the table. Letitia nced at it with zero appetite. She used to eat heartily for the sake of the baby inside her. And now, it seemed pointless. ¡°Just leave it there,¡± she said, listlessly. ¡°How can you not eat, mydy?¡± the servant said. ¡°The butler even asked me to bring extra, worried you wouldn¡¯t have enough.¡± ¡°Thank the butler for me, but right now¡­ I don¡¯t need it.¡± After the blood draw, she hadn¡¯t had moming sickness and had eaten voraciously, gaining three to four pounds. At the time, Letitia thought the baby was absorbing nutrients as eagerly as she was. The servant was puzzled, ¡°Why don¡¯t you need it? As you progress in your pregnancy, you need more nutrients.¡± ¡°The child is gone.¡± ¡°How could that be, mydy? Of course, you are still carrying the baby, the servant replied. ¡°If something was wrong, the old master at the estate would have a fit.¡± Letitia was taken aback. ¡°Plus, I just heard the nurse saying they¡¯re going to prescribe you some medication to stabilize the pregnancy.¡± Hope reignited in her eyes, no longer dim. She couldn¡¯t have heard wrong, could she? It wasn¡¯t a hallucination, not a dream? The baby was still there?! Leutia felt a surge of strength coursing through her, ¡°Where¡¯s the doctor? I need to see the doctor!¡± She had to hear the good news directly from the doctor¡¯s mouth! The servant quickly agreed, ¡°Yes, yes, I¡¯ll go get the doctor right away.¡± Rapid footsteps echoed, and Vidonia rushed in, nearly colliding with the servant. ¡°What¡¯s going on, Letitia? Are you okay?¡± she asked. Vidonia, you¡¯re here¡± Letitia was gripping her hand tight, finally feeling a trickle of reassurance seeping in ¡°Yeah, Elgin said you were alone at the hospital, so I hightailed it over here,¡± Vidonia asked, ¡°What happened?¡± Let¨¦ opened her mouth but didn¡¯t have a clue where to start. She didn¡¯t want to freak Vidonia out either so she just sighed and yed it down, it¡¯s nothing¡± the doctor came busting in, thinking Letitia was in hot water. Tums out Letitia asked, ¡°Am I still carrying the baby?¡± ¡°Yep,¡± the doctor nodded, ¡°When your husband rushed you in for the savest night, he told us to make sure both you and the baby were safe Chapter 64 Chapter 64 Letitia was utterly stunned as she watched the doctor¡¯s lips moving. Elgin actually hadn¡¯t gone through with it he didn¡¯t taken her baby away! Instead, he had instructed the doctor to save the baby. Why, though? This was so not his style! Had Elgin suddenly grown a heart? ¡°Rx, both you and the fetus are stable,¡± the doc said. ¡°Rest up for a couple of days and you¡¯ll be good to leave.¡± She nodded dumbly, her hand caressing her belly. Her baby was still there. Letitia broke into a grin, her eyes curving into crescents. She hadn¡¯t lost her baby! But why, when she had tearfully used Elgin of killing her child, why hadn¡¯t he spilled the beans? And, she had even bitten him. Yet, he kept mum. Elgin¡¯s thought process was truly bizarre and puzzling. Letitia couldn¡¯t for the life of her figure out what he was thinking. He had the chance to get rid of the baby but chose not to, and he didn¡¯t even want to tell her himself. Could it be her death wish had really freaked him out? ¡°Letitia? Letitia?¡± Vidonia waved her hand in front of Letitia¡¯s face repeatedly, ¡°What¡¯s got you so spaced out?¡± She blinked, ¡°Oh¡­ it¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°As a mom-to-be, you gotta be careful. You nearly scared me to death,¡± Vidonia said as she pulled up a chair to sit. ¡°I¡¯ve got a new role now, godmother to your kid, so I better step up.¡± Letitia couldn¡¯t stop grinning at her. Vidonia was confused by herughter, ¡°Hey, you look so weird, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Letitia hugged her tightly, ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ I¡¯m over the moon. Getting back what you lost feels so amazing.¡± ¡°What did you lose?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s eat first!¡± Letitia said, ¡°I¡¯m starving, and so is the baby!¡± ¡°I¡¯m hungry too! Vidonia replied, ¡°As soon as I heard you were hospitalized, I rushed over.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s dig in together! There¡¯s way too much for me to finish anyway.¡± Vidonia grabbed a fork, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s see what your personal chef¡¯s made for you.¡± Laughter and lively chatter filled the hospital room. The previous gloom and doom vanished into thin air! Two dayster, the doctor said Letitia could be discharged. Packing her things, her back to the door, she heard the familiar, steady footsteps approaching. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. It was Elgin. She knew the sound of his footsteps all too well. After she bit him that day, she hadn¡¯t seen him since. She thought he wouldn¡¯t show up¡­ but there he was, as she was about to be discharged. Letitia continued packing without looking up Elgin stood in the doorway, his gaze quietly fixed on her silhouette, until Letitia turned around. Their eyes met, and Letitia nced at his shoulder, noting nothing unusual. She figured it wasn¡¯t too serious¡­ it was just a bite. After all, his muscles were so tough she even comined her teeth hurt. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± Elgin said coolly, ever the ice king. Okay. She picked up her bag and walked up to him. He turned and led the way. It seemed like they were giving each other the silent treatment, neither willing to utter an extra word. Put Letitia would have to cave in eventually. She was no match for Elgin. How¡¯s your shoulder?¡± she asked Tm not dead. Letha posted. You could¡¯ve told me, you know..That you didn¡¯t get rid of my baby.¡± would have bitten him. Elgin didn¡¯t even tum around, ¡°The docs said you were in critical condition, that an abortion could¡¯ve killed you. I had to keep the kid to ensure you¡¯d stay alive. to keep tormenting you.¡± So that was the real deal, Letitia finally understood. *I thought you suddenly grew a conscience, but turns out, you just wanted to keep me around as your punching bag¡± ¡°Good that you get it.¡± Letitia followed him out of the hospital. After a moment¡¯s thought, she said. ¡°I¡¯d like to visit my mother. She¡¯ll be upset if she doesn¡¯t see me for so long¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t let her take her meds, and now you want to deny me the right to see her?¡± Elgin finally stopped, turned, and looked at her, ¡°In my world, you have no rights, only obedience!* Letitia chuckled lightly, ¡°What, you want me to jump in theke again?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you dare!¡± ¡°Let me see my mother.¡± She insisted. ¡°That¡¯s my only request.¡± Elgin¡¯s face darkened further before he finally said, ¡°Half an hour, no more.¡± ¡°Deal!¡± No matter how short, she had managed to fight for a chance to see her mother. In her mind, Letitia nned to visit her dad in prison next, to share the good news that her mom had woken up. She still had ten grand on her. She could give half to her dad and save the rest for emergency. Once she got her paycheck next month, she could pay back Elgin¡¯s twenty grand She didn¡¯t want to owe him a thing. As for her mom¡¯s meds¡­ Letitia thought, she¡¯d find a way, she¡¯d do whatever it takes to get her mom the lifesaving drugs. While she was deep in thought, she heard Sh¡¯s syrupy voice, ¡°Mr. Ramirez!¡± Great, here she is Letitia didn¡¯t want to see her. She kept her head down to avoid attention. Sh threw a nce her way, ostentatiously clinging to Elgin¡¯s arm, ¡°I heard you hurt your shoulder, how is it? Does it hurt? And you caught a cold too, oh dear, why don¡¯t you take better care of yourself?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Letitia was surprised. She had caused the bite on his shoulder, but Elgin had a cold too? What was that about? ¡°I made some soup for you,¡± Sh said with feigned concern, ¡°You¡¯ve been ignoring me these days, I¡¯ve missed you so much.¡± Elgin frowned and pulled his arm back. ¡°Samson has lined up plenty of opportunities for you. If you want to act, then act,¡± he said with a cold look, ¡°Otherwise, all the resources in the world won¡¯t save you. Letitia couldn¡¯t help but chime in. Seems like Sh doesn¡¯t have the luck to be top.¡± ¡°Hmph, Letitia, whatever you say, I¡¯m still better off than you!¡± ¡°That¡¯s debatable. If I had your resources, I¡¯d have be an A-list actress by now.¡± Letitia, after all, was a beauty in any crowd. Fair-skinned, curvy in all the right ces, with long hair and delicate features, she was a true goddess. Even with minimal makeup, she was dazzling. Sh, on the other hand, was all thick makeup, her face looked stiff from all the Botox. ¡°Letitia, get real, will ya? You can¡¯t even spit your lines out smoothly.¡± Sh snorted. ¡°As if Mr. Ramirez would help you!¡± Letitia just shrugged it off, not in the mood to pick a fight. A pregnantdy¡¯s gotta keep her emotions in check, after all. And for someone like Sh? Not worth it. ¡°Enough Elgin cut in oily Tve been swampedtely, give me a break from the hassle.¡± Ramirez, are you annoyed by me?* Chapter 65 Chapter 65 Elgin was heading to the car when he said, ¡°Also, Samson will support your acting career, so don¡¯t be too picky. If you tick him off, there is be no one to hold your hand through Hollywood!¡± Sh let out a reluctant ¡°Oh with a hint of discontent. Just as she was feeling sorry for herself, Letitia breezed past her. ¡°Hey, what are you up to?¡± Sh grabbed Letitia. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± ¡°Headed home in the car, of course.¡± ¡°You, you..¡± Letitia chuckled, ¡°What¡¯s with the ¡®you, you? I¡¯m Mrs. Ramirez, hitching a ride home with my hubby. That¡¯s just how things roll, right?¡± Sh was fuming mad again. ¡°Mrs. Ramirez, huh? When Mr. Ramirez was out there, soaked to the bone and freezing his butt off with a cold, where were you with all your tender loving care?¡± Letitia was caught off-guard for half a second. Elgin was soaking wet? What¡¯s up with that? Seeing her expression, Sh ramped up her lecturing. ¡°Look at you, you don¡¯t even know. What¡¯s the point of keeping a woman like you around?¡± She was about to continue her rant when the car window rolled down, and Elgin¡¯s cool voice interrupted, ¡°Get in the car.¡± Letitia did as told As the car drove away, Sh stared after it, her anger not subsiding one bit. If Letitia stays by Elgin¡¯s side for much longer¡­ who knows, they might grow affection. Time to think of a new n! Inside the car. Elgin was flipping through some documents, not even looking up. Apart from the sound of pages turning, there was also his asional coughing. Letitia nced at him a few times, then took the initiative to ask, ¡°You got a cold?¡± Elgin acted as if he didn¡¯t hear her. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°Only been two days since I saw you,¡± she said, ¡°and the weather¡¯s been pretty good¡­¡± ¡°Shut it, you¡¯re driving me nuts.¡± She sat quietly. Just managing to keep the baby from Elgin¡¯s clutches was a stroke of luck. Letitia didn¡¯t dare to provoke him further. He must have been shook by her determination to rather die than give in. As the car was nearing Ivory Towers, Elgin asked, ¡°What were you and Sh talking about just now?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± His tone was impatient, ¡°What, are you deaf or dumb?¡± ¡°What could Sh and I possibly talk about? We were arguing, of course. Letitia replied, ¡°We¡¯d hardly be friends, right?¡± The more she thought about it, the more she felt something was off. ¡°Elgin, you wouldn¡¯t be¡­¡± She eyed his profile, her expression hesitant. Elgin turned to meet her gaze, ¡°Spit it out.¡± ¡°Forget it. Wouldn¡¯t want to make you mad His mouth turned down a notch, ¡°Not saying it will piss me off more.¡± Letitia sighed, ¡°Alright, I just thought¡­ maybe you want me and Sh to get along? Wanting to keep us both by your side?¡± Elgin cough got worse. After coughing, his voice was a bit hoarse, ¡°You think you¡¯re on the same level as Sh?¡± Letitia bit her lip. Guess she was overthinking it. She had this tiny feeling that Elgin might like her, but it seemed like it was just her wishful thinking. likinge from? There¡¯s nothing but hatred between them. The moment Elgina tormenting seemed a tad gentler, she got this illusion¡­ That¡¯s bad. ¡°So why did you ask what she and I were talking about?¡± Letitia countered, ¡°We didn¡¯te to blows, that¡¯s being polite enough.¡± Eigin was expressionless, ¡°I heard ¡®hubby¡±,¡± ¡°Uh..¡± Letitia remembered that she indeed called out ¡°hubby¡¯ just to tick Sh off. ¡°It was your voice, I wasn¡¯t mistaken. Elgin continued, ¡°Call me that again.¡± That was the first time Letitia called him ¡®hubby¡¯, and the first time Elgin heard it. Even though he was in the car, the sound still tickled his heart, like something had scratched it lightly. Elgin wanted to hear it again. Up close, a good, clear ¡®hubby¡¯. Letitia¡¯s cheeks felt warm, ¡°Why though?¡± This was so weird, Elgin must be the one with a screw loose. With no emotional foundation between them, hating each other, and out of the blue, he wanted her to call him hubby? ¡°No reason.¡± Elgin¡¯s face was still cold. ¡°Then why should I say it¡± Letitia replied, ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± Why should she dance to his tune? She had even shed her fear of death. Besides, it wasn¡¯t the first time Letitia had said no to him. ¡°Fine.¡± Elgin pinched the bridge of his nose. ¡°Forget about seeing your mother then.¡± *Elgin!¡± The car had just stopped at Ivory Towers, and he reached to open the door. Seeing him about to leave, Letitia hurriedly said, ¡°Alright. Hubby, hubby, hubby! You¡¯re my hubby, is that okay?¡± As if afraid Elgin wouldn¡¯t be satisfied, she repeated it several times, but Elgin didn¡¯t look back. Letitia could only see his back, not his face, but she was sure Elgin had heard her. Unless he¡¯s gone deaf. Just to be safe, Letitia rolled down the window and shouted, ¡°Dear hubby, I¡¯m going to see my mother, you promised just now, you can¡¯t go back on your word!¡± Just when she thought Elgin wouldn¡¯t respond, she heard a faint ¡°Hmm.¡± Letitia breathed a sigh of relief. She went back to the master bedroom to change into fresh clothes, wanting to look neat and fresh for her mother. That way, her mother would truly believe she was doing well. When she came downstairs, Elgin was gone, and the butler was there directing the cleaning staff. ¡°Ma¡¯am,¡± the butler greeted her as he saw her, ¡°the car is ready, and you can leave whenever you like.¡± ¡°Thanks Where¡¯s Elgin?¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez went to the office.¡± Letitia nodded, ¡°Why has he been coughing so much? How did he catch a cold?¡± The butler looked surprised, ¡°Ma¡¯am, you don¡¯t know?¡± ¡°L¡­ should I know something?¡± ¡°The night you jumped into theke, it was Mr. Ramirez who rescued you from the water. What? He was the one who saved her? Letitia was stunned. She thought it was one of the Ivory Towers¡¯ bodyguards who Elgin had ordered to save her She never imagined he would jump into theke himself to rescue her. Elgin¡¯s mind must be a little off-kilter¡­right? He¡¯s living high and mighty, with the world at his beck and call. Any mishap could be a massive blow to the Ramirez Group! We were scared out of our wits,¡± the butler said, ¡°Thankfully, you and Mr. Ramirez are okay. Otherwise, how on earth would we exin it to Mr. Hawley? After Mr. Ramirez pulled you up, he didn¡¯t say a word, just silently held you in his arms.¡± All this was news to Letitia, nobody had told her this. Even when she got it wrong, thinking he was responsible for losing the baby, he didn¡¯t bother to set the record straight easterof keroina tile cont The butter rambled on, ¡°Mr. Ramirez wouldn¡¯t let anyone else touch you until the ambnce arrived. He carried you to the hospital himself, and then he waited outside the ER all night.¡± Chapter 66 Chapter 66 ¡°He was in his wet clothes all night, until they dried with his body heat. Seriously, after a wrenching ordeal like that, how can his body take it? Mr. Ramirez started coughing as soon as he got back that moming.¡± ¡°He¡¯s been on meds these past couple of days, and he¡¯s a bit better, but still coughing. Plus, the company¡¯s got a ton of stuff waiting for him to handle¡­¡± After hearing this, Letitia blinked slowly for quite some time. What on earth is Elgin thinking? She realized that she was finding him more and more unfathomable. He¡¯s the one who wanted her dead, and yet he¡¯s also the one who saved her. Maybe, just maybe, Elgin is just controlling. Her life, or whatever else, he made sure it¡¯s all in his hands. ¡°Got it. Letitia said, eyes downcast. Im heading out, butler¡± ¡°Very well, madam¡± Letitia¡¯s mind was a mess, staring out the car window at the scenery shing by, trying hard to recall the night she jumped into theke. She couldn¡¯t swim and was determined to die, the water was bitterly cold, and she quickly sank. Water flooded over her, filling her lungs, her consciousness was slipping away¡­ And then, a pair of hands were holding her up, then her lips were kissed by someone. Back then, she really wanted to open her eyes to see who it was, but she just didn¡¯t have the strength Now, thinking back, it turns out it was Elgin. He was ruthless, pushing her to the edge, then pulling her back from the brink Men, they re a bundle of contradictions. Letitia pushed the door open and walked into the hospital room, putting her wandering thoughts aside. ¡°Mom,¡± she called out with a bright smile, ¡°I¡¯m here to see you.¡± Malinda was sitting in a wheelchair, trying to do some rehab exercises. Being bedridden for so long as aatose patient, her physical functions had declined, and it would take time to recover Malinda looked at her lovingly, ¡°Letitia, you¡¯re here. Have a seat.¡± ¡°Ive been super busy with work these days, so I haven¡¯t been able to visit much,¡± Letitia said sweetly, squatting next to Malinda, ¡°But you¡¯re always on my mind.¡± She rested her head on her mother¡¯sp, just like when she was a child. Having her mom around was wonderful. N?velDrama.Org ? content. Baby, this is your grandma, can you see her? Letitia whispered silently in her heart. ¡°I think about you every day too, it¡¯s just my body¡­ Malinda sighed, ¡°It¡¯s not much use anymore, I¡¯m a burden to you, costing so much money ¡°Money¡¯s not an issue, mom.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me. With a room of this standard in such a hospital, it must be costing a fortune each day.¡± Letitia shook her head, ¡°The hospital director is a friend of Walden¡¯s, so we got a discount. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± ¡°I take meds and get IVs every day, but I don¡¯t seem to get much better.¡± Elgin refused to let her take the special medicine that cost fifty grand each. However, Malinda continued to take her regr medications. Of course, their effectiveness was just so so ¡°Mom, the fact that you woke up is already a blessing,¡± Letitia looked up. ¡°Leave these worries to me. You raised me, now it¡¯s my turn to take care of you.¡± Malinda¡¯s fingers gentlybed through her soft, long hair. Even doing nothing, just being with her mother felt perfect for Letitia. It¡¯s just a shame that happy times always fly by so quickly. Before leaving, Letitia almost cried, holding back her tears, ¡°Mom, take good -care of yourself. I make sure you get to see dad again.¡± ¡®Ainght my biggest wish in this life is to have our family reunited¡± happen, it surely will.¡± Then they reluctantly said goodbye The door closed, and Letitia wiped away her tears. Inside, Malinda also dabbed at the corners of her eyes. The sound of footsteps faded, and the corridor returned to silence. Malinda was about to continue her exercises when the door suddenly cracked open, and a figure slipped inside. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Malinda looked up at the young woman standing before her, ¡°Who are you?¡± Sh cracked a slight smile, ¡°I¡¯m a good friend of your daughter¡¯s¡± ¡°Letitia¡¯s friend?¡± ¡°Yeah, my name¡¯s Sh Ward.¡± Malinda¡¯s expression rxed, ¡°Nice to meet you, Ms. Ward. Are you looking for Letitia? She just left.¡± ¡°No, I came to see you, Sh replied, ¡°There are things Letitia won¡¯t tell you, but I want you to know the truth. A vicious glint flickered in her eyes. Letitia really cares about her mom, huh? Yeams for familial love? Then she would personally shatter it for her! The more miserable Letitia is, the happier Sh is! ¡°The truth?¡± Malinda felt a pang of anxiety. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Sh sighed, ¡°Well, the thing is, everything Letitia told you was a pack of lies, designed to deceive you¡± All of it?¡± ¡°Yep,¡± Sh nodded affirmatively, ¡°All that stuff about her and Walden being together, her sessful career with a good sry, and the hospital bills not being too steep¡­ it¡¯s all lies!¡± Malinda¡¯s pupils shrunk, ¡°No, that can¡¯t be ¡°If you don¡¯t want to believe it, I can¡¯t help you I guess I¡¯ll leave then. I won¡¯t say more about what kind of life Letitia is really living Seems like you don¡¯t want to know With that. Sh purposefully turned to leave. ¡°Wait! Malinda called out hastily, ¡°What what¡¯s real happening with Letitia?¡± What parent doesn¡¯t ache for their own child? Moreover, Malinda knew the situation with the Sanders family. She had her doubts about Letitia¡¯s story but had no way to verify the truth. ¡°She did get married, and not too shabbily at that, ended up a well-off trophy wife,¡± Sh started with a flourish, ¡°Plenty of folks are green with envy.¡± Malinda pressed, ¡°Who is she married to?¡± ¡­Elgin The air seemed to freeze. Malinda asked in disbelief, ¡°Elgin? She married Elgin? Marcel¡¯s son?¡± ¡°Yep. Sh confirmed with a nod, ¡°She¡¯s so lucky, changing her enemies into family. She¡¯s quite the catch, got some serious chops.¡± ¡°No, no¡­ this isn¡¯t right¡­ Malinda kept muttering to herself, her face turning ghostly pale. The Ramirez family despised the Sanders family so much, how could they possibly have taken Letitia as one of their own out of the blue? Malinda caught hold of Sh¡¯s sleeve, ¡°Ms. Ward, please tell me, how¡¯s Letitia doing now? Is she in hot water?¡± ¡°What do you think? If she were living the high life, why would she keep the truth from you?¡± Malinda¡¯s lips quivered non-stop. ¡°She¡¯s having a rough time, no dignity left whatsoever,¡± Sh chuckled ¡°Oh, you probably don¡¯t know, during the couple of years you were in aa, she was cooped up in the loony bin. That ce¡­it really takes a toll on you.¡± ¡°The loony bin?¡± ¡°Yep, Elgin tossed her in there, just to torment her. Eventually, I guess he got bored with that game and pulled her out to keep her under his thumb, at his beck and call. Chapter 67 Chapter 67 Malinda¡¯s head spun, everything went dark. Her precious daughter ha been living such a hard life¡­ But every time Letitia came by, she only brought good news, never the bad. Malinda murmured. ¡°My poor girl, it¡¯s our fault, we¡¯ve let you down¡­ ¡°Auntie, just take it easy and rest up. There will always be money, although your daughter has to work for it. She¡¯s young now, and she can handle it. But what about a few years from now?¡± Malinda slumped in her wheelchair, her gaze empty and numb. ¡°Forget it, forget it, lil stop right here. There¡¯s a bunch more to deal with, I don¡¯t want to overwhelm you,¡± Sh waved her hand dismissively. ¡°Mrs. Sanders, I gotta head out. It¡¯s best if you just keep this to yourself; it¡¯s not really something to talk about.¡± Satisfied, she left. Did Letitia think she could just paper over the cracks, pretend like nothing ever happened? Ha, dream on! Sh was determined to let Malinda face the truth! These things would stick in Malinda¡¯s heart like a thom, taking rool and growing, turning into a constant source of heartache. Given time¡­ who knows, Malinda might just get depressed and pass away The door to the hospital room was ajar, and a duty nurse walked by, ncing inside casually, then suddenly eximed, ¡®Doctor! Doctor!¡± Malinda had fallen from her wheelchair, lying on the floor, her body trembling slightly, then she became motionless. Letitia knew nothing of this. After leaving, she went straight to the office. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Having been in the hospital for two days, she had fallen behind on work and needed to catch up. She didn¡¯t stop until 8 PM, finally shutting down herputer and stretching. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go, Samson emerged from his office, Time for a meeting.¡± ¡°Mr. Stewart? You¡¯re still here?? Letitia had been so focused that she hadn¡¯t paid any attention to her surroundings. ¡°Yep, lots of us are working hard. Chop chop.¡± Letitia stood up to follow, ¡°Where are we off to?¡± Samson replied, Conference room, to discuss the acquisition of the ¡®Sunbeam Gems¡¯ jewelry brand from the Sullivan Group. Because of that, everyone¡¯s been running nonstop.¡± ¡°Elgin¡¯s actually going for it¡­¡± ¡°He always walks the talk.¡± Letitia felt a chill, How¡¯s it going so far?¡± ¡°Smooth sailing. Samson answered. ¡°When Gin sets his mind on something, he goes for the kill.¡± Inside the conference room, Elgin was already seated at the head of the table Usually, he made a grand entrancest. The room was packed, and outside it was pitch ck, with only neon lights adorning the city. As Letitia walked in, she heard Vidonia say, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, buying Sunbeam Gems isn¡¯t a must. Once our Ramirez Romantica breaks into the market, it¡¯s only a matter of time before we overtake Sunbeam Gems. ¡°I can¡¯t wait.¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez, are you in such a rush? Vidonia analyzed, ¡°Buying now will cost us millions more. If we wait until Ramirez Romantica is established and then buy the declining Sunbeam Gems, we could save a fortune.¡± ¡°What I¡¯m short on is time, not money, Elgin retorted. Vidonia was left speechless. Why was Elgin in such a hurry? It wasnt her money, so she wasn¡¯t hurting, but she was worried about Walden¡¯s career prospects at the Sullivan Group. Back in college, when Walden and Letitia were engaged, he¡¯d done her a lot of favors. You gotta remember the good people do for you. Vidonie wanted to say more, but Letitia came over and tugged at her to stop her. Elgin nced at Letitia, his expression cool and detached. ¡°Let¡¯s get this meeting started, Samson said, ¡°the acquisition talks are underway, and the Sullivan Group has no defense. Today¡¯s agenda is to discuss how to manage Sunbeam Gems, integrate its style into Ramirez Romantica, leam from its strengths..¡± The meeting dragged on until nearly midnight, everyone was drained. ¨C But that¡¯s how it was with Elgin pushing for urgency, the wholepany had to hustle. ¡°Letitia, you holding up okay?¡± Vidonia whispered as the meeting broke up. ¡°You¡¯re pregnant, staying up is not good for you.¡± ¡°No worries, I got plenty of rest in the hospital, I¡¯m full of energy.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t push yourself,ing inter tomorrow won¡¯t hurt.¡± Vidonia whispered conspiratonally. ¡°Ill clock in for you.¡± Letitia whispered back, ¡°Did you forget I have to ride with Elgin to the office?¡± Vidonia sighed, then pursed her lips and walked away Letitia also got ready to leave, but Elgin¡¯s gaze swept over her. He didn¡¯t say a word, but she got the message. Silently, Letitia sat back down, pretending to organize her papers, stalling for time Once everyone had left, Elgin spoke up coolly. ¡°You¡¯re pretty sharp, aren¡¯t you?¡± She kept quiet. ¡°You¡¯ve got nothing to say?¡± Elgin asked ¡°What¡¯s the point it wouldn¡¯t change anything. She didn¡¯t want him to buy Sunbeam Gems, wanted to leave Walden a way out, but would Elgin agree? No chance. ¡°Good that you know,¡± Elgin tilted his chin up. ¡°Remember, nobody who crosses me ever ends up well.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just you being possessive. Walden and I have nothing between us Elgin suddenly stood up, pushing his chair back, ¡°Nothing? You were engaged to him, together under your parents¡¯ blessing, and you tell me nothing?¡± That was the real thorn in Elgin¡¯s side! Before he came into Letitia¡¯s life, she and Walden were the picture-perfect couple, their rtionship out in the open and blessed! Just thinking about it drove Elgin mad with jealousy! ¡°I had an engagement to him, with our parents overseeing it,¡± Letitia said, ¡°But when you entered my life, he went abroad, leaving me behind. So, I have no feelings for him!¡± Elgin looked at her with deep, serious eyes, ¡°So, you guys got all your business done before I showed up, huh?¡± ¡°Nope, Letitia shook her head, ¡°Walden¡­ he¡¯s always been super respectful towards me.¡± Before they were officially hitched, Walden was nothing but a gentleman, never stepping out of line. ¡°He didn¡¯ty a finger on you after you got engaged?¡± ¡°Never,¡± Letitia replied, ¡°He¡¯s a real stand-up guy.¡± ¡°Or maybe he just can¡¯t cut it,¡± Elgin snickered For some unknown reason, Letitia¡¯s brain misfired, ¡°Well, you haven¡¯tid a finger on me either. Does that mean you can¡¯t cut it too?¡± That¡¯s like the ultimate no-go zone for a guy. A direct hit to the pride! ¡°Letitia, if you really wanna test if I¡¯m a man or not¡­¡± She gulped and bolted outta there, ¡°Nope, never mind!¡± She totally took back what she said! Elgin watched her retreating figure, a cold smile ying on his lips. Letitia didn¡¯t look back as she walked out. The Ramirez Group was all quiet at midnight, not a soul in sight outside. Chapter 68 Chapter 68 She had just stepped out of thepany when she spotted Walden standing by the roadside. Letitia was taken aback. What was he doing here? She nced back and locked eyes with Elgin, who strode over to her and said, ¡°Are you that scared of me hurting him?¡± *L.. just wanted to check if you were following.¡± Elgin snorted coidly, reached out, and wrapped his arm around her waist, heading straight for Walden. Letitia tried to wriggle free, but the tighter he gripped, the harder it became for her to breathe. Walden stood there, silent as a statue. His face still bore the marks of a beating, patches of ck and blue courtesy of Elgin¡¯s fists. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Elgin asked indifferently, ¡°Come to throw in the towel?¡± Walden first looked at Letitia and then at Elgin¡¯s hand on her waist. After a long pause, he said, ¡°I know you¡¯ll definitely take over Sunbeam Gems, making me lose face in front of the board of the Sullivan Group. ¡°Good that you understand.¡± Walden¡¯s face showed signs of weariness. But he just smiled calmly, not a hint of panic, which really irked Elgin, Walden should be begging him, not the other way around. ¡°Elgin, by getting rid of me, you haven¡¯t solved the real problem, Walden said. ¡°You think you¡¯ve won, but you¡¯ve actually lost big time.¡± Elgin¡¯s expression turned icy ¡°What you should be doing is taking good care of Letitia. Not driving away everyone around her until she¡¯s left with no one but you.¡± Walden¡¯s smile grew wider, and Elgin¡¯s aura of menace began to surface. Still, Walden continued, clearly not afraid to die, ¡°Do you think this will make her depend on you? No, it¡¯ll only make her hate you more You¡¯ve closed off her world and forced yourself to be her everything. That¡¯s not love; that¡¯s sickness.¡± ¡°Sickness?¡± ¡°Yeah, a mental disorder, Walden replied. ¡®Elgin, you¡¯ve never really understood love, have you?¡± Elgin scoffed coldly. There are plenty of women who¡¯d kill to be with me!¡± ¡°Do they love you? Do they love you, or love your money? And you, do you love them?¡± ¡°Walden, shut up! Letitia felt anxious for him. Walden was really pushing his luck, standing up to Elgin like this. He was asking for trouble! ¡°Elgin, I just want to tell you. If you love Letitia, you should cherish her, Walden said, ¡°Otherwise, by the time you look back for her, she won¡¯t be there anymore¡­ just like I once lost her ¡°She will always be mine.¡± ¡°You can hold onto a person, but not their heart.¡± Elgin turned to Letitia, ¡°Really? Where is your heart?¡± Letitia looked down at her toes. ¡°My heart is with me, and no one has taken it.¡± ¡°Letitia¡­¡± Walden tried to say more, but Letitia cut him off, ¡°You better go She was powerless in the takeover matter, Elgin wouldn¡¯t listen to her. She just hoped it wouldn¡¯t be a devastating blow to Walden Although Sunbeam Gems was gone, the Sullivan Group was still there, and surely Walden¡¯s parents would have ns for their son. Letitia thought, Walden should find a girl who¡¯s a good match, settle down, and start over He still had endless possibilities. And her¡­ Letitia nced at Elgin by her side. In this lifetime, she had no idea when she would be able to escape this sea of suffering. ¡°Alright, Walden nodded. Take care, Letitia She nodded vigorously back at him, ¡°After you leave the Sullivan Group¡­ where will you go?* Maybe abroad, to clear my head and get some air¡± Walden slowly turned to leave, but suddenly, he spin back around and pulled Letitia into his arms. She was stunned, but then she heard Walden whisper in her ear, rapid-fire. ¡°I¡¯m going abroad to uncover the truth for you, wait for me?¡± As soon as he finished speaking. Elgin had shoved Walden away. Letitia stood there, dazed, not quiteing back to reality. ¡°Are you asking for death?¡± Elgin¡¯s eyes were like icy des ¡°How dare you hug my woman right in front of me?¡± Walden stumbled back a few steps, shrugged, and said, ¡®Just a farewell hug, why so uplight?¡± ¡°No man is allowed to touch her!¡± ¡°If you were as you said, what does it matter how long she hugs me? Bottom line, Elgin, you¡¯re just insecure.¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Seeing this, Letitia stepped forward and held onto Elgin¡¯s arm, giving Walden pleading looks She heard him ¨C Walden had deliberately risked danger to pass her the message. Going abroad for the truth was he going to look for Phedra¡¯s son? Letitia had never met or even heard of the second young master of the Ramirez family. ¡°Still looking? I¡¯ll gouge out your eyes, Elgin wamed. ¡°Wanna go with him?¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°I do.¡± Elgin¡¯s voice rang out loud enough to echo down the entire street, ¡°Letitia Sanders!¡± ¡°I just want to leave you, not because I want to go with Walden. Even if it¡¯s a stranger who can take me away, I¡¯m willing.¡± He grabbed her chin, ¡°The more you want something, the less I¡¯ll let you have it.¡± She looked up, her fingertips lightly tracing his cheek, ¡°I want to sleep with you.¡± Elgins lips pressed into a thin line. ¡°Well then, Elgin, you better not let me have my way. Letitia said. ¡°It¡¯s the one thing I want the most.¡± The night was quiet and the evening breeze picked up. In that moment, Letitia was like a siren, her eyes weaving spells that captured the soul. ¡°Do you want to have my child to save your parents? Elgin¡¯s voice was low ¡°You sure remember the promise my grandfather made you He clenched her hand, yanked open the car door, and threw her onto the seat. Letitia climbed up without a word and settled in The car door mmed with a ng, then the car sped off, leaving a trail of exhaust fumes. Outside the Ramirez Group headquarters, Samson and Vidonia were standing shoulder to shoulder, arms folded, in a strikingly synchronized pose. ¡°Have those two always been like this?¡± Samson stroked his chin. ¡°Must be, since Letitia isn¡¯t showing any sign of surprise.¡± ¡°That¡¯s cold, man. Not exactly a knight in shining armor, is he?¡± Vidonia rolled her eyes. ¡°That¡¯s your best friend, a douche.¡± ¡°That¡¯s him, not me, Samson quickly waved his hands in denial, ¡°I¡¯m not part of that ¡®Birds of a feather flock together, you know what they say, right?¡± Vidonia, I¡¯m sensing some heavy bias against me here¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re exactly that kind of guy¡± Vidonia counted off on her fingers, ¡°You¡¯re always hitting the clubs, got a bunch of chicks in your phone, ying the eternal bachelor card, and also¡­ Samson couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and cut her off, ¡°Stop, stop, stop! I am single, what¡¯s this about ying a card? And when I go to the bar. Ouch!¡± Vidonia didn¡¯t hesitate to jab him hard in the stomach with her elbow Chapter 69 Chapter 69 For Vidonia, that still wasn¡¯t enough, she had to step on him once more. Only afterpleting that series of actions did Vidonia feel a huge sigh of relief. ¡°You heartless woman¡­ Samson eximed, clutching his stomach and rubbing his foot, ¡°You never pull any punches!¡± ¡°Am I ruthless? Samson, I think you¡¯ve been coddled by too much tenderness. Many other women fawn over you and treat you like royalty¡± Samson retorted, ¡°Pfft, any random girl off the street would be more tender-hearted than you!¡± ¡°That¡¯s just the way I am!¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you change your bad temper? Save me from your tortureter on¡­¡± Vidonia, hands on hips, shot back, ¡°Whoever loves me will ept all of me! You think every guy in the world is a scumbag like you and Elgin?¡± After that, Vidonia hopped into her car and mmed the gas pedal, leaving Samson in a cloud of exhaust. ¡°Ptui!¡± Samson spat repeatedly, muttering to himself, ¡°Vidonia, how can you be loved by others?¡± After a few seconds, he added, ¡°What kind of idiot would dare to marry you!¡± At Ivory Towers Even though it was the wee hours, the light in the study was still on. Elgin, with his shirt cor all loose, was sitting in front of theputer. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, yourtest test results are in, Dr. William¡¯s face took up most of the screen, ¡°Your oligospermia is almost cured¡± ¡°Do I need to continue with the medication?¡± ¡°No need,¡± William answered, ¡°From now on, your body itself will take over the metabolism and flush out the toxins. If you want to speed up the process, you¡¯d need to take medication for another half month.¡± Elgin just nodded in response His condition improved after he stopped have the soup given by Phedra. And with William¡¯s excellent medical skills, the remedy was effective. William couldn¡¯t help but gloat, ¡°I seem to level up my medical expertise again.¡± Elgin, massaging his temples, was about to close the video when something came to mind, ¡°William. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Given my current condition, if I bang with a woman¡­¡± William read between the lines instantly and pat his chest for reassurance, ¡°Yes, you can definitely get someone pregnant! Mr. Ramirez, go forth and revel in pleasure¡­¡± Before he could finish, the video was abruptly cut off. Elgin leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes He had missed the best chance to abort Letitia¡¯s baby If he ever thought about it again¡­ he wondered how Letitia might react. He didn¡¯t want to hurt her. Otherwise, it would be against his intention. It was better to keep her around for amusement. Everything was in a mess. Elgin returned to the master bedroom to find Letitia lying on the floor on a makeshift bed, already asleep. She sure could sleep anywhere. ¡°Rat-tat-tat¡± The sound of knocking was heard. Startled awake, Letitia sat up and rubbed her eyes. ¡°Who is it?¡± Seeing Elgin at the foot of the bed, she instinctivelymanded. ¡°You answer it¡¯ ¡°You¡¯re giving me orders?¡± His deep voice tinged with displeasure jolted Letitia fully awake. She was so tazy from sleep that she¡¯d been bossing Figin around Ghapter 69 Letitia sprang up and hurried to the door. ¡°Madam,¡± the servant said, ¡°here¡¯s a cup of warm milk. Remember to drink it before bed to help you sleep¡± Letitia was speechless. She had already been asleep for ages. Such a cup of milk was totally unnecessary. How bizarre! ¡°Thanks,¡± she took it anyway and ced it on the nightstand, ¡°Elgin, It¡¯s probably meant for you. You¡¯ve been busy in the study until now. ¡°Have you ever seen me drink milk since we¡¯ve been married?¡± Letitia realized that was true after thinking twice Elgin only drank coffee. ¡°What¡¯s the servant up to then¡­¡± she didn¡¯t get it, I¡¯ve been asleep for so long, and you don¡¯t drink it¡± Elgin tugged at his tie and said, ¡°She¡¯s Grandpas spy¡± ¡°Ah?¡± ¡°Shh Elgin nced at her, ¡°She¡¯s still outside.¡± Letitia immediately lowered her voice, ¡°Why is she still around? Grandpa has already mistakenly believed I¡¯m pregnant with your baby¡­¡± He didn¡¯t reply and just chuckled softly. Standing stiffly. Letitia didn¡¯t know what to do next. After a while, Elgin said, ¡°Time to put on a show.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Since Grandpa wants to eavesdrop, let¡¯s satisfy him,¡± Elgin said. ¡°That way he won¡¯te snooping again.¡± Letitia stood there, mouth slightly agape, cheeks flushed. That old man¡­ was too sneaky! She bit her lip and was confused, ¡°How¡­ How do we do this? Surely we can¡¯t have sex!¡± Letitia went more ablush in her cheeks. There was no way she would agree! As she asked, Letitia instinctively stepped back. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in pregnant women, Elgin said coldly, ¡°Don¡¯t tter yourself.¡± Letitia was relieved. ¡°I¡¯m talking about acting, he raised an eyebrow, ¡°You brag to Sh all the time, right? You once said your acting skills could defeat hers¡± ¡°Yeah! I am better than her in every way.¡± ¡°Showtime then. Here¡¯s your chance to prove your acting sex enthusiasm.¡± Letitia didn¡¯t know how to reply. Who the heck rehearses sleeping together as a couple? That¡¯s crazy! Elgin dropped that line and headed into the bathroom. When he came out after freshening up, Letitia was still standing there stunned. ¡°What are you dawdling for?¡± Letitia swallowed nervously and questioned, ¡°Why¡¯d you leave? How can I pull it off alone? We need to act together!¡± Elgin tossed his towel aside and propped one foot up on the bed. Then, he looked up at Letitia. She got the message. It was all about unspoken coordination. Outside, the servant left contentedly after hearing the fake sexualmotion inside. Now she could report back to the old master with satisfaction! Several minutes passed without Elgin saying ¡°cut, and Letitia didn¡¯t dare stop either. Finally, he said. ¡°Thats enough. Let be quickly fell silent, and her throat dried as if or fire after thesting sex sounds. She went to get a drink, only to hear Elginment, ¡°Your voice is too unpleasant.¡± ¡°Pfft¡± Letitia spat out all the water in her mouth This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. I managed to fool the ear outside, which has been already enough.¡± How dare he still nitpick?! She hadnt evenined about him! ¡°Barely eptable, Elgin remarked, ¡°Keep polishing your skills on bed.¡± ¡°You have no chance to hear it again. None of your business, right?¡± Letitia was always good at retorting Elgin gave her a frosty look and plopped down on the bed. Letitia was ready for sleep too. Recalling her first trial of such a thing, she was extremely embarrassed But then she realized¡­ the water she¡¯d just sprayed out was all over the duvet How was she supposed to sleep now? It was as cold as ice and would probably give her the sniffles. What to do? Lie on the floor without any cushion? As Elgin was about to hit the lights, he noticed her standing there, zoning out. Then he asked with a hint of annoyance, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Aren¡¯t you hitting the hay?¡± Could it be that Letitia was nning to turn their act into reality? Ha, he knew it she never stopped trying to seduce him! What was truly dangerous was that he was finding it more difficult to resist her allure! Chapter 70 Chapter 70 ¡®Not a big deal,¡± she shook her head, tucking the damp nket neatly over, ¡°Hit the hay¡± Elgin got up and nced over, ¡°Come to the bed.¡± ¡°What? I said get your butt up here, Elgin yelled with a dark face. ¡°Nah¡¯ Letitia desined, ¡°It¡¯s OK to sleep on the floor* I¡¯m not fond of repeating myself thrice. With no other choice under his stem pressure, Letitia silently mbered onto the bed. She leaned as far to the edge as possible, keeping a country mile between them, not even letting her dress hem touch him. ¡°Why are you sleeping on the edge like that?¡± His expression soured even more, ¡°You want to fall out of bed?¡± ¡°No way, I¡¯m. I¡¯m slim and don¡¯t take up much space. As Letitia spoke, she inched even further to the side. Elgin snapped the light off with anger. In the darkness, oney on the far left, the other on the far right, with a gulf as wide as the Milky Way between them. But at least Letitia didn¡¯t sleep underneath. That night, Letitia slept with bated breath. So, at the crack of dawn, she bolted out of bed, not willing to endure another second of torment! Seeing her up so early, the butler raised an eyebrow, ¡°Madam, it¡¯s it¡¯s just past six.¡± ¡°Yep, I know, early to bed and early to nse tend to make me healthy, haha!¡± ¡°You got backtest night and up this early¡­¡± Letitia touched her nose and exined, ¡°Up for a bit of a workout¡± Strolling around the garden, she stumbled upon the fact that the fence around the artificialke in front of Ivory Towers¡­ had grown taller. It must be Elgin who did this. And whenever Letitia tried to head towards theke, the bodyguards would get jittery, fearing she might hurt herself Well¡­ she had to roam the garden. Waking up early was a real drag, she wandered for ages and it wasn¡¯t even eight yet. Just as she thought about maybe going to sketch some design drafts, the gate slowly swung open. A car rolled in The butler promptly greeted, ¡°Master Hawley, you¡¯ve arrived.¡± Hawley stepped out beaming with high spirits. The good condition of a ¡°great-grandpa¡± is not exaggerated. Joy put heart into this old man. Phedra went off after him. Instead of being as vigorous as Hawley, she was tight-lipped. ¡°Grandpa, Letitia called out proactively. ¡°Ah, up so early?¡± Hawley inquired, ¡°Gotta keep yourself well for the baby to thrive, you know.¡± ¡°I slept like a log.¡± ¡°Hawley, remember she¡¯s Dr. Sanders¡¯ daughter, Phedra cautioned under her breath Hawley clicked his tongue in annoyance, ¡°Why you gotta harp on about that all the time?¡± ¡°Stop your excuse! You¡¯re about to be a grandma, that¡¯s good news, ain¡¯t it!¡± The Ramirez family will continue with a first-born grandson, of course I¡¯m thrilled, Phedra managed a smile. ¡°But Letitia¡¯s status..¡± ¡°What¡¯s all thes fuss about it? As long as what¡¯s in her belly is Elgin¡¯s baby, that¡¯s all that matters!¡± Phedra didn¡¯t dare oppose Hawley and could only sourly quip. ¡°Today, I¡¯ve seen what really means mothers are only valuable for having This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. I married into the Ramirez family fair and square with a high-ss wedding!¡± Phedra retorted with pride, ¡°Not like you!¡± Letitia nodded, ¡°Oh, so your value also relied on your son? After all, only by marrying into the Ramirez family could you birth a son who cames on the family legacy, right?¡± Phedra was about to fight back when Hawley waved It off, ¡°Forget it, that ck sheep¡¯s not worth mentioning.¡± At that, Phedra seemed anxious, ¡°Hawley, our- ¡°Enough, it¡¯s a happy day, no need for mood spoilers.¡± Phedra reluctantly mmed up. Letitia watched the whole scene. It seemed that¡­ Phedra¡¯s son wasn¡¯t favored by Hawley. The entire Ramirez Group was firmly in Elgin¡¯s grip. In this way, Phedra and her son were just figureheads. In the most luxurious family in AquaCity, getting an allowance but no ess to the real perks must be a tough pill to swallow So, Letitia thought, maybe Phedra and her son had the strongest motive to abort her baby! ¡°By the way, Letitia, did you finish those health supplements I sentst time? Hawley inquired with concern, ¡°I¡¯ll send you more.¡± Thanks, Grandpa.¡± Phedra turned even more jealous, ¡°Master Hawley I get you¡¯re eager for a great-grandchild. But to be blunt, whether the kid is Elgin¡¯s¡­! Letitia felt offended and nervous. ¡°Bullshit!¡± Hawley was even more irate. ¡°From the get-go, Letitia¡¯s been under Elgin¡¯s watch. If there are any slip-ups, he¡¯d have known by now!¡± Phedra panicked, ¡°I won¡¯t query any other woman. But she is Letitia!¡± ¡°Letitia=¡± 1- When both Hawley and Letitia started to speak, Elgin¡¯s voice thundered over theirs from a distance. ¡°What about Letitia? She¡¯s mywfully wedded wife with the marriage certificate and legal recognition. Plus, she¡¯s my first wife.¡± It was a jab at Phedra from all aspects. Elgin approached, his gaze icy and aloof. He didn¡¯t even nce at Phedra. ¡°Come on, Elgin, you¡¯re just in time,¡± said Hawley, ¡°Phedra¡¯s always fretting that the kid in Letitia¡¯s belly ain¡¯t yours. Time for you to clear the air¡± ¡°Her? Worth my time to rify?¡± Of course, Elgin knew what Phedra was up to. She¡¯d been on time every day with soup that would¡¯ve sterilized him, and now Letitia¡¯s suddenly expecting Phedra was in confusion, but she couldn¡¯t just frankly admit like, ¡°Hey, I¡¯ve already sabotaged Elgin¡¯s chances of having kids,¡± so she was freaking out Eigin shed a sly grin, ¡°If Phedra¡¯s so skeptical, let¡¯s hear her ideas.¡± ¡°Uh, I, I¡­¡± Phedra fumbled over her words. ¡°It seems like you know more about our marriage than we do, huh?¡± ¡°No,¡± Phedra hurried to exin, ¡°I was just¡­ showing some concern for you.¡± Even though her mind was buzzing with questions, she didn¡¯t dare to say a word. Right on cue, Hawley chimed in, ¡°Come on, no need to go at each other¡¯s throats the second you meet. We¡¯re still family, after all.¡± Elgin asked nonchntly, ¡°So, Grandpa, what brings you to Ivory Towers so early in the day?¡± ¡°Just dropped by to check on you guys. Also, I picked up a few things for my future great-grandchild.¡± After that, Hawley pped his hands Then the driver started hauling stuff out of the trunk. Chapter 71 Chapter 71 There were toy cars, cradles, cribs, toys, rag dolls, Lego blocks, diapers¡­If it wasn¡¯t for the car being too small, Hawley would¡¯ve hauled the whole baby store over here! ¡°Only got these for now,¡± Hawley said, ¡°We can start decking out the kid¡¯s room. I¡¯ve bought things for both genders as we don¡¯t yet know whether it¡¯s a boy or a girl.¡± Letitia was guilty as she looked at the cute little dresses and pricey toys. If only the baby in her belly was Elgin¡¯s¡­ That would¡¯ve been just perfect. But that thought flickered through her mind for only a brief moment. Because she could feel Elgin next to her was downright scary! Letitia sneaked a peek at his face. Elgin had his brows knitted together. ¡°No need, Grandpa¡± The servants froze in their carry. ¡°How can we not need them? We¡¯ll have to buy them sooner orter, Hawley insisted. ¡°I¡¯m free as a bird anyways, might as well keep busy. He grabbed his cane and went off to supervise the setting up of the kid¡¯s room. Phedra didn¡¯t follow, her eyes brimming with envy and confusion. ¡°It¡¯s just having a kid, what¡¯s the big deal?¡± Phedra scoffed with disdain, even giving the crib a spiteful kick, ¡°Whether it¡¯s a great-grandson of the Ramirez family or not is still up in the air!¡± She couldn¡¯t believe that Elgin who took the drugged soup she sent every day would be a father-to-be! There had to be something fishy! ¡°Are you jealous? Elgin stepped up to her, oozing intimidation, ¡°Phedra, in this lifetime, you and your blockhead son won¡¯t stir up a ripple in the Ramirez family.¡± ¡°You why bring this up out of the blue?¡± ¡°Just a friendly reminder. Take good care of Grandpa and be the dutiful Mrs. Ramirez before I decide to revenge against you.¡± Phedra felt a shiver down her spine at his dark gaze. Could he have found out about the contraceptive she¡¯d been slipping into the soup? The thought had barely crossed her mind when she heard Elgin say, ¡°You¡¯re right to think so.¡± Phedras heart skipped a beat. Elgin was so sharp and had already figured it out! ¡°Yes. Since the cat was out of the bag, Phedra dropped all pretenses; she and Elgin had always been at loggerheads anyway. ¡°I¡¯ve been scheming to drug you for so long, how could Letitia possibly get pregnant?¡± ¡°You think I can¡¯t counteract your poisons? Elgin retorted. Phedra had a lightbulb moment, ¡°You were cured a long time ago!¡± ¡°Even if I weren¡¯t cured, I¡¯m not absolutely sterile, Elgin responded, ¡°I have a low sperm count, not zero.¡± Phedra clenched her teeth in frustration. Her seamless n hade undone! All because of Letitia! This woman must have a knack for getting pregnant, managing to do so even with Elgin¡¯s illness! ¡°By the way. Elgin said with a cold smirk, ¡°Ill repay what you did to me a thousandfold to your son!¡± Phedra¡¯s son was her soft spot. She immediately got furious and exined, ¡°This is all me and has nothing to do with my son! Hes been overseas all this time and never meddles in Ramirez Group affairs!¡± *Neither of you will escape.¡± Elgin was confident and arrogant in tone Anyone else would ve bitten the dust by now under his wrath, but he¡¯d held back for Grandpa¡¯s sake. Elgin turned away, and Letitia followed suit. She was far enough not to catch the whole conversation, only picking up something about a ¡°son¡±. And she was intrigued by Phedra¡¯s son too! Perhaps, the truth about Marcel¡¯s death could be uncovered through him! Elgin, Letitia ventured, ¡®so, you have a half-brother?¡± in just asking¡± It¡¯s none of your business, he snapped, not in the mood to discuss it. Letitia wanted to press on, but one look from Elgin ceased her words. Patience is key to the truth. A watched pot never boils. If Elgin found out she was digging for the truth, that would spell disaster After breakfast, Letitia headed to the office Stepping into the Jewelry Department, she saw someone sitting at her desk, with her colleagues staying well away. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. It was Sh, who was sitting there, legs crossed, casually rifling through Letitia¡¯s workspace. Letitia¡¯s design sketches were scattered and stepped on ¡°What are you doing!¡± Letitia snatched a folder from her hands, ¡°Don¡¯t you know how to be polite and not to mess with other people¡¯s stuff?¡± Sh shot back, ¡®Which of these things are yours? Theputer, the chair they all belong to Ramirez Group Letitia couldn¡¯t be bothered with her, ¡°Leave now, or I¡¯m calling security¡± ¡°I¡¯m not here to make trouble but to chat Who dares to kick me out?¡± I have nothing to chat with you about.¡± Sh chuckled, ¡°About the wedding ring. That¡¯s something I own. It¡¯s been a while, so I came to check up on how you¡¯re doing with the design. ¡°So it¡¯s about the ring Letitiaughed. ¡°It¡¯s all done.¡± She pulled out the design from the bottom drawer and tossed it nonchntly onto Sh, Take a look. But can you even understand it?¡± Sh who never went to college wasn¡¯t the brightest bulb. She was a bit of a wild child at school, getting mixed up in all sorts of mischief, with aundry list of scandalous tales to her name Still, Elgin was so head over heels for her that he chose to overlook these shorings ¡°I can¡¯t understand a single drawing?¡± Sh nced over it, ¡°It¡¯s okay, but there are details I¡¯m not happy with.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all been revised ording to your feedback Letitia didn¡¯t even bother to tap into her own creative juices. After all, it just needed to be shy, extravagant, and pricey. For the whole morning, Letitia was stuck revising the ring design for Sh. Letitia had no choice but to follow Elgin¡¯s decree. Vidonia was on standby, eyeing the office door now and then, ready to protect Letitia If Sh stepped out of line, she¡¯d rush in for a brawl! Sh¡¯s been to the Ramirez Group a couple of times and got the short end of the stick, so she¡¯s wised up. Plus, Elgin¡¯s been giving her the cold shouldertely, so she wasn¡¯t bold enough to make trouble ¡°Alright,¡± she finallypromised when lunch break was almost over, ¡°we¡¯ll settle on that. The actual piece should be 100% reproduced for the design, or you¡¯ll hear from me!¡± The wedding ring, once it¡¯s done, will go straight to Elgin Ramirez, Letitia replied. ¡°Not to you, Ms Ward ¡°You¡­¡± But Letitia was already out the door. ¡°I want you to be a supervisor in person!¡± Sh called after her. ¡°Keep an eagle eye on the ring-making process, watch it take shape bit by bit! And now, show Mr. Ramirez the design, will ya?¡± Chapter 72 Chapter 72 Letitia couldn¡¯t even bear to nce at the design In the CEO¡¯s office, handing over the sketch to Elgin, she said, ¡°I have a¡­ tiny favor to ask.¡± Elgin didn¡¯t even look up, ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Can we maybe not go around bragging that I¡¯m the brain behind this ring¡¯s design?¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. She was senously worried it would trash her reputation in the jewelry design world! Elgin eyed the sketch in his hands. For real. It was a prettyckluster design, all sh and no elegance, not a whiff of that high-end luxury vibe Letitia quickly rified. These are all Sh¡¯s ideas and she oversees the whole thing. It¡¯s all her taste, not a reflection of my skills.¡± ¡°But, this sketch came from your hand.¡± ¡°Anyone could¡¯ve drawn it.¡± Elgin raised an eyebrow, ¡°You¡¯re this reluctant to admit you designed the wedding ring?¡± ¡°It¡¯s simply not my taste.¡± Letitia said politely, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, you could give this promo opportunity to some other designers, I really don¡¯t need it.¡± This ring was going to be publicized for ¡°Ramirez Romantica¡±. Because it was pricey and could ride the wave of Elgin¡¯s fame. He was a golden boy in the AquaCity, with more influence than a superstar. ¡°This chance is yours. Elgin said in a in tone, ¡®no turning it down.¡± Letitia replied in exasperation, ¡°Why bother¡­ just to spite me?¡± As Mrs Ramirez, she had to design an engagement ring for a mistress and even take charge of the promotion. It was rubbing salt in her wounds. ¡°Get started, Elginmanded, ¡°use the finest gems and the purest diamonds to craft this ring.¡± Letitia replied, ¡°Sure.¡± She bit back the urge to roll her eyes and grabbed the sketch, heading out. Just then, Samson barged in with a smile and eximed, ¡°Gin, big news! Oh hey, Letitia, you¡¯re here too. You¡¯re a person of great merit, you know! ¡°What¡¯s the good news?¡± Letitia asked. ¡°Since Ramirez Romantica¡¯unched, our new jewelry series will be released at noon today, and guess what? Samson pped his hands, ¡°Sold out in a sh! Not a single piece left in stock!¡± Elgin lifted his eyebrows slightly, showing a glint of approval in his eyes. ¡°The factory¡¯s working overtime now, trying to get those orders shipped out as soon as possible. What a smashing debut!¡± Letitia smiled, ¡°All thanks to Mr. Stewart¡¯s marketing skills. You¡¯ve been working hard, Mr. Stewart¡± Samson was indeed a business whiz. His approach waspletely different from Elgin¡¯s, always full of wild strategies that somehow always paid off. Samson had split ¡°Ramirez Romantica¡± into two. One part was by-invitation-only, offering customized services to ultra-VIPs. The lower limit for the membership is ten million. The other part was for the general public, with counters in major cities and an official online store. Its prices ranged from a few hundred to a few thousand. In this way, high-end members got their exclusive custom pieces The average could also buy jewelry from the same brand as the rich folks to boost their status. The credit isn¡¯t all mine, Samson replied, ¡°Your designs are a hit, which makes customers happy to open their wallets.¡± It¡¯s a team effort, all designers work hard on their sketches.¡± You¡¯re just too modest. The bestseller is that Radiant Beam Ne you designed¡± Letitia modded, ¡°If it¡¯s selling like hotcakes, I¡¯ll work on new Radiant Beam senes.¡± ¡°Fantastic. If this trend continues, your bonus next month is gonna be hefty.¡± She felt a surge of confidence and determinallon. Money was super important to her right now Her dad needed cash for some smooth sailing in prison, to dodge the bullying and targeting. And her mom needed pricey medicines for treatment She had to spare no effort to turn around her dire situation. Elgin¡¯s gaze swept over her briefly He hadn¡¯t expected Letitia to be talented in design and skyrocket ¡°Ramirez Romantica¡± to fame. if her life had stayed on track, she¡¯d be a shining star in the jewelry field as a top-notch designer But in Letitia¡¯s normal life, there was no room for Elgin The one who would grow old with her and stand by her side could only be Walden At the thought of it, Elgin grew thoughtful in his eyes ¡°Oh yeah!¡± Something suddenly came to Samson, ¡°Gin, find someone else to handle errands about that film department, I can¡¯t do it.¡± ¡°No one¡¯s got your chops for it ¡°I won¡¯t take it anyway. It¡¯s a department exclusively created for Sh.¡± Elgin nodded. That¡¯s the idea. She wants to act ¡°She might as well wish to fly!¡± Samson could rant about Sh for days, ¡°She wants big productions, top directors, star-studded casts, and the lead role. So, I bust my chops to meet all these demands. Guess what?¡± Letitia was all ears, her eyes sparkling with curiosity, waiting for him to drop the bomb. She wanted to know how far could Sh push her luck. ¡°She demands three stand-ins! One for kissing scenes, one for back shots, another for crying scenes! Because she can¡¯t cry! Now the directors bailed. No matter how much money will bring him back, he doesn¡¯t want to ruin his reputation.¡± Letitia couldn¡¯t help it and snorted withughter. Elgin massaged his temples. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s time to rethink this film division, Letitia suggested, ¡°Isn¡¯t Sh an inte celebrity? She¡¯s cut out for short clips and live streams Samson agreed, ¡°Exactly. But I¡¯m done with it, your call.¡± He and Letitia left the CEO¡¯s office together. Elgin sat there quietly until Ranen entered, ¡°Mr. Ramirez.¡± ¡°Leave the files. ¡°Sure, Mr. Ramirez¡± Ranen neatly ced the paperwork on the desk Suddenly, he heard Elgin ask ¡°Are you sure the woman from that night was Sh?¡± Ranen was stunned for a while, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, we¡¯ve been digging into this for ages¡­ there¡¯s no way it¡¯s wrong, right? Each and every Elgin¡¯s crew waspetent. Hunting down the woman who escaped that night was an order from Elgin and no one dared ck off, let alone pick someone at random to impersonate. Elgin was feeling antsy, trapped in a muddled mood. Sh, the vibe she gave off now was totally different from that night. She seemed to be another person. The woman from that night was green, frantic, and pure without a trace of greed or vanity. She just thought it was shameful and left while he was still asleep. But Sh now? Totally the opposite!. She¡¯s all about the money with no skills but a truckload of bad temper, lusting the high life and throwing her weight around.. Chapter 73 Chapter 73 ¡°Check again, Elgin demanded, ¡°Be stealthy about it and don¡¯t blow your cover.¡± With his orders given, Ranen was quick to respond, ¡°Got it, I¡¯m on it right away.¡± Elgin waved his hand dismissively and leaned back in his chair, eyes closed, refueling himself. Suddenly, the phone on the desk started ringing. He picked up the receiver ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez, Walden from the Sullivan Group is here to see you, he¡¯s at the front desk right now.¡± Walden? ¡°Send him in.¡± ¡®OK, Mr. Ramirez¡± Five minutester, Walden came in. Dressed in casual sportswear, hands pocketed, Walden looked as chill as a cucumber. He looked like someone who had nothing to do with a loser whosepany had been taken over Elgin sneered, ¡°You¡¯re aplete loser but still manage to look so nonchnt.¡± ¡°From a business standpoint, I lost to you, got the boot from the board, and was kicked out of the company. Now, I¡¯ve got no choice but to head abroad for evasion, and take this opportunity to do something I¡¯m interested in Elgin shot back, ¡°And from what angle did you beat me?¡±Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°Rtionships Elgin twitched his mouth with more coldness ¡°You¡¯ll never have Letitia, Walden said, ¡°She won¡¯t be yours because you¡¯ve never truly respected her from the beginning¡± Elgin mmed his palm down on the table, ¡®She¡¯s my wife! ¡°The man who has her doesn¡¯t have her heart. Besides. Elgin, it¡¯s firste, first served. I knew Letitia way before she had anything to do with you ¡°Walden, she¡¯s my wife now, and you have nothing to do with her!¡± Walden chuckled, I can win her heart back ¡°You wish, Elgin nced at the clock, ¡°In two hours, you¡¯ll be on a ne out of here.¡± A guy leaving AquaCity still has the nerve to say he¡¯ll win Letitia back? What a joke! ¡°Hmm, the day Ie back to the country¡­ Walden said, ¡°will be the day I win her back.¡± He was off to uncover the truth about Marcel¡¯s death and meet the Ramirez family¡¯s younger son. The day the truth came out would be the day Letitia¡¯s free. As for Walden, this is far more important than sticking around at the Sullivan Group and taking over the family business Thest time his father sent him abroad, he let Letitia down and wasn¡¯t there for her. This time¡­ he was going to make it right! Elgin was radiating a fierce vibe, ¡°Letitia¡¯s mine, alive or dead¡± ¡°I bet you have the means to make her stay with you for life, Walden said, ¡°But Elgin, if you really want to keep someone, you can¡¯t just rely on tricks but your heart.¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Walden smiled faintly, stood up, and left As Walden closed the door, he heard the sound of things being thrown inside. Elgin was furious, sweeping everything off the desk onto the floor. Heart? Well, Walden had a sincere heart! But Latitis wasn¡¯t worthy of Elgin¡¯s heart! Che was the enemy¡¯s daughter, carrying another man¡¯s child! He¡¯d abort that child when the time was right! Even if Letitia wanted to die then, he¡¯d snatch her back from the death himself. He wouldn¡¯t let her die, so she couldn¡¯t pass away! Meanwhile, by the window of the Jewelry Department, Letitia silently stood, her gaze following Walden as he moved away. She didn¡¯t dare to see him off and was afraid to be found out by Elgin. All she could do was watch him, from a distance The Ramimz Group had taken over Sunbeam Gems. Walden had been ousted by shareholders and directors, so his father sent him abroad to wait for the storm to pass Officially, Walden said he was going on a trip to clear his head. Only Letitia knew he was out to uncover the truth for her ¡°Ill wait for your return, wait for you.¡± Letitia whispered to herself, ¡®I believe, the day the truthes out isn¡¯t far off¡± Finding the truth was what kept Letitia going. Vidonia walked over and asked, ¡°What are you looking at, Letitia?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± she shook her head, ¡°Just spacing out.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a celebration tonight, wanna go have some fun? You¡¯re the hero of Ramirez Romantica¡± Letitia hesitated, but Vidonia was already urging her, ¡°Come on, it¡¯ll be just us department folks. Don¡¯t sweat about Elgin. Samson will handle it¡¯ ¡°Okay,¡± she nodded and smiled, ¡°Everyone¡¯s been busting their butts to get Ramirez Romantica launched and selling.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s been busy as the lead designer while carrying a little baby. Eat up tonight, don¡¯t shortchange my godson.¡± ¡°How do you know it¡¯s a boy?¡± Vidonia scoffed, ¡°It¡¯s all the same. My word just slipped out.¡± Letitia crinkled with a smile, ¡°You¡¯ve always been fond of kids¡­ Why not have one yourself?¡± Vidonia almost choked on her own spit. ¡°I reckon.¡± Letitia leaned in and whispered, ¡°Mr. Stewart¡¯s a good choice.¡± ¡°Are you kidding me! Vidonia nearly jumped, all riled up Her outburst caught the attention of the colleagues around, and Letitia quickly calmed her down, Take it easy.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go ying matchmaker. Samson is just my bro!¡± Letitia blinked innocently, ¡°I wasn¡¯t ying matchmaker, but just praise Mr. Stewart Maybe you¡¯re the one reading too much into it?¡± ¡°Fine, now you¡¯re teasing me. ¡°Nope, I¡¯m serious. Letitia replied, ¡°Think about it, Mr. Stewart¡¯s young, sessful, handsome, funny, and rich. Don¡¯t miss out on a diamond bachelor like that.¡± ¡°Pfft, he¡¯s a heartbreaker and has probably left a trail of broken hearts.¡± Vidonia always thought Samson was such a smooth talker, all slick and sleazy. Since he loved hitting up hotels, she pegged him as a total yer. She kept those kinds of guys at arm¡¯s length! ¡°You might have got it twisted, Letitia said, ¡°Mr. Stewart, he¡­¡± ¡°Cut it out, don¡¯t make excuses for him. There¡¯s no way I¡¯m getting involved with that guy! Dress you up tonight, and we¡¯ll snap some gorgeous photos together!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± To make sure everyone could make it to the celebration dinner, Samson pulled some strings to knock off work early. Such a move triggered the envy of other departments. Vidonia dragged Leuta to the mall to get her some new threads. ¡°Don¡¯t sweat the cost, Vidonia said, ¡®consider it a loan from me. Pay me back when your bonuses through¡­ With Ramirez Romantica selling like hotcakes, you¡¯ll be rolling in it next month!¡± in the afternoon. A Rolls Royce was parked by the curb, the window halfway down, with Elgin holding a cigarette between his fingertips. His profile was almost wless. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, please don¡¯t wait, Ranen said from outside, ¡°Mrs. Ramirez is heading to a celebration dinner tonight, so¡­¡± He pursed his lips and flicked the cigarette butt away. In his private time, suddenly missing Letitia¡¯spany, he found himself oddly out of sorts. Chapter 74 Chapter 74 The driver asked, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, are you heading back to Ivory Towers?¡± Nah, Elgin answered, ¡°Take me to Breazy Bay Condos.¡± The driver took a few seconds to respond, ¡°Alright¡± Mr. Ramirez hardly ever popped over to Breezy Bay Condos, so what¡¯s got into him today to drop by all of a sudden? But the driver was in no position to pry. Sitting in the backseat, Elgin was resting with his eyes closed Times without Letitia¡­. were honestly boring. It was as if her presence had be a habit for him. And habits are the scariest and toughest things to shake off. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. That¡¯s why Elgin was off to Breezy Bay Condos. After all, Sh was the woman he was supposed to marry, so what was Letitia to him? Nothing at all! In front of the condo. Sh flung open the door. Seeing Elgin standing there, she squealed with delight, ¡°Mr. Ramirez! You finallye here!¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± She clung to him affectionately in an instant. ¡°You haven¡¯t dropped by for ages. It¡¯s always me chasing after you, and then you act all frosty¡­¡± Elgin was expressionless. Sh went on to pour water and massage his shoulders, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, why don¡¯t you stay tonight?¡± He shot back, ¡°You want me to stay?¡± ¡°Of course, I do!¡± Sh was filled with excitement, ¡°You bought me this big house and I¡¯ve been here alone, scared out of my wits.¡± After that, she snuggled into Elgin¡¯s chest ying the sweet damsel does charm the men. For Elgin¡¯s rare visit, Sh was determined to try all the means to make him stay! She couldn¡¯t let Letitia upy Mr. Ramirez and get cockier by the day! Tonight she had to seize the opportunity! ¡°Stay with me, Mr. Ramirez, Sh urged with vigor, ¡°You¡¯re always with Letitia, which makes me so sad. And you¡¯ve never spent the night here before. ¡°Hmm, Elgin finally nodded. She was over the moon, leaning in to nt a kiss on Elgin. But he dodged it. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, Sh pouted, ¡°Are you that averse to getting close to me?¡± He wouldn¡¯t even kiss her, let alone hop into bed. She had been longing to have a baby with Mr. Ramirez to stabilize her status After all, she wasn¡¯t the woman from that night! Elgin stood up, walking over to the floor-to-ceiling windows. He gazed out at the river view ¡°Sh,¡± he said coolly, ¡°What do you remember about that night?¡± For some reason, Elgin couldn¡¯t get Letitia out of his head. She was just off to a celebration for the Jewelry Department and would return this evening Besides, he thought Sh was a far cry from the woman that night. The weight on his chest was making him increasingly irritable. ¡°Ah, ), I¡­¡± Sh tensed up the moment Elgin brought up that night, ¡°I remember a bit¡­ a little bit¡­¡± ¡°What do you remember?¡± Elgin asked. Just, just um, uh¡­¡± Sh was stammering. She didn¡¯t know anything. Could she make it up now? What if Eigin caught on that something was off? It would all be over! But if she didn¡¯t answer now, Elgin would get suspicious either way! Without a doubt, when getting no response, he tumed around, with his gaze piercing as if it could see right through her. Sh was no match for Elgin¡¯s scrutiny. She couldn¡¯t even bear to look him in the eye. ¡°Forgot?¡± Elgin inquired. ¡°Or don¡¯t know how to say it? Or maybe¡­ The woman that night wasn¡¯t her. His men could have gotten it Wrong But Elgin thought that was highly unlikely. Because all the details were consistent! ¡°Mr. Ramirez, actually I¡­ I¡­¡± Sh hung her head low on the brink of tears, ¡°I¡¯ve always tried not to think about that night.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°When it first happened, I was petrified. My purity was gone just like that, and I had no idea who the man was¡­ Seeing her all teary, Elgin frowned slightly. Sh continued, ¡°So I couldn¡¯t bring myself to tell anyone, I was trembling with fear every day. It wasn¡¯t until you found me that I knew it was you. If it had been anyone else, II would have rather died¡­¡± ¡°All I remember is the darkness, the pain.. A girl¡¯s virginity is so precious, and I never imagined losing it like that. I seemed to be overwhelmed by the impurity. Mr. Ramirez, thank goodness it was you. You said you would marry me, and that¡¯s what kept me going until the day you came for me¡± You¡¯ve got to hand it to Sh, she was pulling out all the acting chops she had on Elgin¡­ However, she couldn¡¯t squeeze out a single tear on normal shooting! Her tearful spiel did soften Elgin a bit, ¡°I was just asking¡± ¡°That night, if it hadn¡¯t been you, my life would¡¯ve been ruined, Sh dabbed her tears, ¡°My father was going to give me away to some old geezer. With my purity gone¡­ you can imagine how devastating that is for a girl.¡± ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t ask anymore.¡± Seeing Elgin drop the subject of that night, Sh breathed a silent sigh of relief in her heart. Surely she hadn¡¯t given herself away? She only knew the sequence of events from that night. The one who truly had been with Elgin was only Letitia. So only Letitia would know what was said in the dark room between them. Sh was terrified Elgin would ask about the conversation in the room, her heart was in her throat. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, why did you suddenly start asking about this?¡± she probed, ¡°Did something happen?¡± Elgin tly denied, ¡°No.¡± Sh couldn¡¯t figure out what he was thinking and simply nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll have the maid start on dinner Spend the evening with me, will you?¡± Elgin nced down at his watch and muttered a ¡°Hmm.¡± Might as well stay Letitia was out partying. Was he supposed to return to Ivory Towers and sulk alone, eagerly waiting for her to return? Sh headed to the kitchen, and Elgin whipped out his phone to shoot a text to Samson. [Next time, any department shindigs or dinners gotta get the green light from me first.] Samson replied, [Seriously? You gotta stick your nose in this too?] [Any problems?] Samson shot back, [Is this for every department, or just us at the Jewelry Department?] Elgin replied, (Just you guys.] Samson was speechless Gin just didn¡¯t want his precious wife to hit the town and have some fun! Samson could see right through him! Pfft if he¡¯s got the guts, why not just straight-up ban Letitia froming? What¡¯s with these awkward rules? Noticing something was off with Samson, Letitia asked, ¡°Mr. Stewart, what¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Wah Samson put away his phone and called out, ¡°Everyone, just enjoy yourselves. No need to hold back.¡± Chapter 75 Chapter 75 Elgin stowed his phone away, but his brows remained furrowed, never smoothing out. Sh went all out to create a romantic vibe, setting up a candlelit dinner. With the riverscape outside and a romantic candlelit dinner inside, he also had red wine and a hot girl at his service. Sh slipped into a silk spaghetti strap dress, the neckline plunging to her chest, revealing more than little skin. She had spritzed on some perfume and curled her hair. She was dead set on luring Elgin into her bed tonight! No more dilly-dallying! ¡°Mr. Ramirez, let¡¯s toast, Sh said, thoughtfully pouring him some red wine. ¡°This is our first dinner together, you know¡± Elgin clinked sses with her, sipping the wine thoughtfully. He kept quiet. Whatever Sh said, he just hummed in response and took another drink. Sh moved closer, sitting beside him. ¡°Mr Ramirez, let¡¯s enjoy tonight together¡± Her shoulder strap slid down, and she thought no man could resist this temptation. But Elgin didn¡¯t even spare her an extra nce. Sh, not easily discouraged, pressed herself against Elgin again. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, we¡¯re almost through this bottle of wine.¡± ¡°Pop open another,¡± said Elgin ¡°You want more? You¡¯ll get drunk, replied Sh ¡°I¡¯ll crash here if I get drunk.¡± Elgin yed with his wine ss. ¡°Not going back.¡± Sh¡¯s face lit up. ¡°Okay!¡± She eagerly refilled his ss, and two bottles of wine were empty before they knew it. The wine had quite a kick. They didn¡¯t feel it at first, but in less than half an hour, the drunkenness started to kick in. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, let me help you to your room, Sh stood up. ¡°You need a good rest.¡± With her help, Elginy on the bed, and his deep-set eyes were half-closed. He was indeed a dreamboat! He was so handsome that Sh was almost entranced. ¡°What a hot and loaded guy,¡± she thought, swearing to seize this now-or-never chance! ¡°Mr. Ramirez, let me get you into your pajamas,¡± Sh said, ¡®Come on Let me unbutton you¡­¡± Her hand touched Elgin¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple. As she reached the second button, Elgin suddenly brushed her off. ¡°Fuck off.¡± Sh was shocked ¡®Mr. Ramirez¡± ¡°Get out.¡± He pressed his brow, muttering, ¡°Leave me¡­. alone¡­¡± Sh was persistent. Ill stay and keep youpany¡± Elgin just waved her off and closed his eyes to rest ¡°No worries. As long as Mr. Ramirez is here, I still have a shot. No rush for now!¡± Sh thought in her heart. After a moment, Sh left the room. She still had onest ace that she hadn¡¯t yed! Her father had given it to her, which would make a man thirsty and hot all over, perfect for spicing things up with Mr. Ramirez. Sh rummaged through her stuff and found it a candle with a seductive, desire-stirring scent. She caressed it gently, smiling. ¡°Tonight¡¯s the night.¡± In the bedroom, Elgin groped for his phone, pausing on the screen for quite a while. Finally, he found Letitia¡¯s name and sent a voice message to her. [After the celebration,e to Breezy Bay Condos.) After sending it, he tossed the phone aside, the drunkenness taking over even more. Letitia wouldn¡¯t dare ignore him, and she woulde. Once she did, she could take him home. That was Elgin¡¯sst thought before falling into a drunken slumber The door lock clicked softly, and Sh entered with the lit scented candle. The spent was indeed intoxicating. She ced the candle on the nightstand, and the bedroom was full of a seductive fragrance soon afterward. Even Sh felt a tingling desire ¡°Mr. Ramirez, let¡¯s have a beautiful night together.¡± Elgin was fast asleep, motionless, as Sh undid his shirt buttons and belt. Sh stripped off her clothes,y beside him, and pulled his hand to rest on her waist, snuggling into his embrace. It was eleven at night. The celebration was over. ¡°Til take you home, Vidonia offered. ¡°It¡¯s not safe for you to go alone thiste Letitia chuckled. ¡°No womes. ll take a cab. You¡¯ve had a long day, too. Go home and get some rest¡± ¡°You look too stunning tonight I can¡¯t leave you alone Vidonia teased Letitiaughed. During a shopping trip. Vidonia picked a white spaghetti strap dress for Letitia, which ttered her perfect figure Letitia¡¯s sexy curves and natural elegance made her look incredibly soft and gorgeous. Several guys from the Jewelry Department were quite forward in chatting her up tonight ¡°If you weren¡¯t mamed, you could consider dating some of the guys in our department,¡± Vidonia winked. ¡°Quite a few are into you¡± Letitia shook her head ¡°With my current situation, I¡¯m not in the right ce for a rtionship. Besides, there have been rumors about me and Elgin at work. The good guys steer clear of me Her mamage with Elgin was a secret, not public knowledge. But since she was frequently seen entering and leaving the CEO¡¯s office, and Ranen went to see her now and then, gossip naturally started Letitia acted oblivious to it all because she couldn¡¯t exin her situation. Stepping out of the hotel, Letitia checked her phone and saw Elgin¡¯s voice message. ¡°Head to Breezy Bay Condos? Why would I go to Sh¡¯s ce thiste? Why would I want to be the third wheel if Elgin and Sh were getting cozy?¡± she wondered. But Elgin¡¯s words were likemands. She had to go. Otherwise, he¡¯d throw a fit. Letitia hailed a taxi Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Arriving at Breezy Bay Condos, she was about to ring the bell but found the door ajar, not closed. Without overthinking it, she walked in. The entire apartment was bathed in light. Letitia spotted Elgin¡¯s suit jacket casually strewn across the living room couch and unfinished food on the dinner table. ¡°Elgin?¡± Letitia called out tentatively. ¡°Where are you?¡± He¡¯d called her over but was nowhere to be seen. What was this all about? Noise came from the bedroom, and Letitia frowned slightly Could it be that Elgin and Sh had already gone to bed? The thought crossed her mind, and she felt a sting in her heart. The image of them cuddling and sleeping together popped into her head Letitia held her breath and crept slowly towards the bedroom The bedroom door was wide open, and she could see everything inside crystal clear from the doorway Elgin was out like a light on the king-sized bed, his brows and eyescking the sharpness they had during the day, looking chilled out then Sh curled up in his arms, her brown hair spreading across his shoulder and chest They looked so close and erotic. The scene was intimate and suggestive. And the kicker was neither of them was wearing a stitch. Their clothes were all scattered on the floor The scene was exactly like what Letitia had pictured in her mind! Letitia, unable to help herself, stumbled back two steps, her shaky frame crashing into the door with a loud ¡°bang. That noise woke Sh up ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± she mumbled and sat up in a daze. When she saw it was Letitia, she paused for a second before asking. ¡°What are you doing here? Chapter 76 Chapter 76 Soon after, Sh snapped back to reality giggling behind her hand like she was in quite the act. ¡°Oops, you caught me in the act. I¡¯m feeling embarrassed.¡± Letitia stood there like a statue, at a loss for words about the situation. Elgin had a thing for Sh, which was no news to her. What else could one expect to happen when a man and a woman were together? Nothing but a roll in the hay. But Letitia remembered Elgin saying he wouldn¡¯t have sex with Sh until he was divorced. He had made it crystal clear. Why the sudden change of heart? Letitia felt a sharp pain in her chest, struggling to breathe. She had no right and was in no ce to care about this. After all, Elgin never loved her. Her title as Mrs. Ramirez was nothing but a sham! Why should she be so upset? It didn¡¯t make any sense! Despite her best efforts to keep a poker face, her paleplexion gave away her inner turmoil. Sh couldn¡¯t be more smug. ¡°Could you step out for a moment? I need to slip into something more decent. I¡¯m not presentable like this. Mr. Ramirez is pooped, and let¡¯s not wake him. We can talk outside if you¡¯ve got something to say.¡± ¡°You guys¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s what it looks like, Sh said, her cheeks flushed, ¡°Mr. Ramirez is so wild in bed. Letitia took a deep breath. Elgin had called her here to witness this scene. Was this his twisted way of humiliating her, getting under her skin? Well, she wasn¡¯t about to let people walk all over her! Just as Sh was about to get out of bed, Letitia charged forward and yanked the covers off. Elgin was only in his boxers, and Sh was stark naked. ¡°Ah!¡± Sh screamed, ¡°Letitia, what the hell are you doing?¡± Letitia couldn¡¯t care less about Sh. Her goal was to wake Elgin up! With such amotion, of course, Elgin stirred awake. His eyes snapped open, bloodshot from sleep. ¡°Letitia?¡± He seemed disoriented for a moment as he saw the woman before him ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± She gave a wry smile. ¡°You texted me toe over, so here I am. And as you wished, I saw you and Sh making out. Mr. Ramirez, is there anything else you¡¯re not satisfied with?¡± Did she say she had seen him and Sh making out? Elgin sat up, realizing something was off. Where were his clothes? Next to him, Sh was covering herself up, her neck marked with bruises. Even a fool could guess what had happened. Seeing Elgin¡¯s confused look, Sh quickly took the offensive. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, we were soundly asleep until Letitia barged in and pulled the covers off us. What¡¯s this all about?¡± ¡°What¡¯s this about?¡± Elgin¡¯s face turned to ice. ¡°I¡¯m asking you what the hell is all this!¡± He remembered asking her to leave him alone, wanting a rest in bed, and waiting for Letitia to show up. And what now? Where were his clothes? Sh pouted, ying the victim. You were drunk, Mr. Ramirez. While I was looking after you, you suddenly grabbed my hand and wouldn¡¯t let go, and then¡­well¡­¡± Eigin massaged his temples. He was drunk, with no recollection, but everything in the room screamed about what had happened before! ¡°Huh, Letitia scoffed sarcastically. ¡°Elgin, is that the ¡®I¡¯m innocent¡¯ face? Wasn¡¯t this exactly what you had in mind by calling me here?¡± She had always despised Sh for being the other woman and even unted her Mrs. Ramirez status to throw her weight around Elgin must feel sorry for Sh, wanting to back Sh up with actions. Was that so? Son¡¯s frown deepened. What was done was done. Even if he couldn¡¯t remember, it wouldn¡¯t change the facts. Sewing Let¡¯s mocking face, Elgin spoke coldly, ¡°I called you here, not into the bedroom!¡± Well, sorry about that, it be on my way.¡± i spun on her heel, not wanting to spend another second there! Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. grew even angret, shouting ¡°Stop right there!¡± the didn¡¯t listen but kept walking Try to walk out that door. I dare you!¡± Honestly. Elgin was at a loss, too. Things had spun way out of control. He didn¡¯t intend to get physical with Sh so soon, and not in front of Letitia! But Elgin was always cool and calm, a mastermind who wouldn¡¯t let anyone read him easily So, he wouldn¡¯t let Letitia see what he was thinking ¡°I don¡¯t want to disturb you two,¡± Letitia said with her back to him. ¡°It¡¯s my fault for interrupting your sweet dream. After all, you and Sh must be exhausted¡± Elgin got out of bed, picking up his shirt nonchntly and putting it on. His emotions and rationality were slowlying back If you¡¯ve seen it all might as well watch a bit longer,¡± he said indifferently, ¡°Don¡¯t leave.¡± Letitia clenched her palms fiercely Her husband had shared a bed and had sex with another woman, and he made her see it, which was humiliation and a disgrace! It was trampling on her dignity, a p in the face! ¡°Elgin Letitia had had enough, turning to face him. ¡°I know you don¡¯t love me, and I know you married me for other reasons. But at least right now, at this very moment, I am your wife! What you¡¯re doing is infidelity and betrayal! Have you spared a single thought for my feelings?¡± Elgin remained eerily calm, his voice light as a feather. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean for you to see it. You barged in on your own.¡± ¡°So you are saying this is my fault? asked Letitia. ¡°Otherwise is it mine?¡± said Elgin. Elgin buttoned up, his demeanor unfazed, and even bent down to pick up Sh¡¯s clothes and handed them to her. ¡°Put these on.¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez, Sh said in a pitiful tone, This isn¡¯t right. Letitia¡¯s still your wife, and what am I?¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be yours eventually replied Elgin. That statement was like twisting the knife in Letitia¡¯s heart. She stood there numbly, lowering her gaze. Sh got dressed and clung to Elgin¡¯s arm. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, it¡¯s sote. Are you leaving?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you just stay and let Letitia¡­¡± Tm the one who asked her toe over,¡± Elgin cut Sh off, yanking his hand back. Sh looked bummed and hurt Seeing her like that, Elgin dropped the tough guy act and exined gently, ¡°Ivory Towers is under Grandpa¡¯s watchful eye. Can¡¯t stick around and keep youpany for now.¡± ¡°Alright then¡± Sh nodded. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, we¡¯ll get our chance someday, we¡¯ve got a lifetime ahead of us!¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Elgin grunted in response and strode toward the exit. As he passed by Letitia, he grabbed her wrist tightly. ¡°Go¡± Letitia stumbled forward, almost tripping over herself. He was never one for treatingdies with tenderness! grip was so fierce and forceful that Letitia felt like her bones were aching. Chapter 77 Chapter 77 Elgin tossed her into the passenger seat and buckled her up, ¡°Looking all dolled up today. Who were you trying to snag at the celebration party?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t! How can you say that to shame me!* ¡°Isn¡¯t that the case?¡± He snorted. ¡°Walden¡¯s out of the country, and there¡¯s no more boy toys around you, so you¡¯re itching for the next catch!* Words can cut deeper than knives. Letitia¡¯s eyes reddened as she retorted, ¡°Elgin, you slept with Sh. I didn¡¯t do anything wrong. And now you¡¯re making stuff up, using me of getting all gussied up to seduce men at the party? Do you even have a conscience?¡± They locked eyes. Seeing her trying to hold back tears, Elgin wanted to reach out and stroke her head. But he must resist. Elgin felt a twinge of helplessness. Even someone as strong as him could feel this way Words are powerless when used to express love, yet so sharp when theye to causing pain! Elgin couldn¡¯t help himself. He always ended up hurting her with his words. He regretted it deep down. He shouldn¡¯t have drowned his sorrows or gone to see Sh. But he would never let anyone know his regret. He had his pride! After a while, Elgin finally spoke up. ¡°You do look stunning tonight.¡± That was Elgin¡¯s way ofpromising. That was the onlypliment he could give and was his one last tenderness. With that, Elgin lifted his hand, trying to ruffle her hair to make what he had thought a reality. But Letitia turned her head sharply away. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± His face darkened. He got up, closed the car door, and slid into the driver¡¯s seat. On the way back, neither of them spoke. The car was so quiet that they could hear the sound of their breathing Back to Ivory Towers, the butler instantly sensed something off between the two and silently chose not to disturb them. Letitia went straight to the master bedroom and headed for the bathroom. She had just pulled down her dress¡¯s zipper when Elgin kicked the door open with a bang. Startled, her hand shook, and the dress fell to the floor. ¡°Elgin, what are you¡­? He strode over, tilted her chin up, and kissed her fiercely. Letitia resisted, pounding on his chest, trying to push him away, but that only led to Elgin kissing her more intensely. He¡¯s lost it again! ¡°Mm¡­ mm¡­ Pinned against the wall by Elgin, Letitia couldn¡¯t budge. Her hands iled about, and she identally turned on the shower above. Suddenly, water poured over them both. The water was ice-cold, chilling Letitia to the bone. Seeing this, Elgin reached out to adjust the temperature. The water slowly warmed, and they were soaked all over. In a fit of anger, Letitia bit him hard. ¡°Biting me again?¡± Elgin held her waist and let go ¡°Letitia, the wound on my shoulder is still there!¡± ¡°I only bit you once and left you one scar, Letitia said through clenched teeth, ¡°Do you know how many scars have you left on my heart? You can¡¯t see them, and you don¡¯t care!¡± Letitia also lost control of her emotions, and in a fit of rage, she grabbed Elgin¡¯s shirt and ripped it off, revealing the bite mark on his shoulder. The mark scabbed over, a dark purple hue. ¡°Elgin, what¡¯s this little pain to you? It¡¯s nothing! Letitia rubbed the scar hard with her fingers. ¡°You won¡¯t suffer a little. You don¡¯t derstand the feeling of being driven to death! You should have let me drown in theke! He looked at her silently. The water continued pouring down. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Letitia¡¯s makeup had washed away. Her face was a mess, but she seemed even more beautiful to him. ¡°She looked great tonight, yet someone else got to see her first.¡± Elgin thought, ¡°Maybe I shouldn¡¯t have been so proud and should have gone to the celebration party, too.¡± ¡°Why are you so upset? Elgin asked. ¡°Letitia, are you jealous?¡± Jealous? The word made her heart jump, and she looked up at Elgin in a daze. I slept with Sh, and you got upset.¡± Elgin¡¯s voice was husky. ¡°You¡¯re heartbroken. You¡¯re jealous. Right¡­¡± Thinking this way, Elgin suddenly felt much better. She got upset because she cared Without thinking. Letitia denied it, ¡°No!¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t you admit it?¡± pressed Elgin ¡°How dare 1? You and Sh are the perfect match!¡± Elgin sighed ¡°Stop arguing, Letitia¡± She closed her eyes, exhausted. But he patiently exined, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to sleep with her. It was an ident. I was drunk, and I didn¡¯t remember anything¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to exin to me.¡± Letitia pushed him away ¡°You¡¯re a free soul. Who am I to tell you what to do.¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth.¡± ¡°You slept with Sh, and that¡¯s also the truth.¡± Elgin pursed his lips. ¡°I can apologize.¡± He stepped back again ¨C It was something the former Elgin would never have done. But to calm Letitia down, he was making concessions. Little did she know that he had never apologized to anyone before. Yet, Letitia scoffed. ¡°Elgin, don¡¯t you see how absurd you sound? Your apology turns my stomach.¡± She turned off the shower and walked out. ¡°Save it. I wish you happiness so I can escape from this misery sooner.¡± Watching her walk away, Elgin punched the wall hard. Letitia changed into her pajamas, ready to sleep on the floor again. ¡°Get in bed,¡± Elginmanded. She didn¡¯t respond, continuing toy out her nket. Elgin picked her up and put her in bed. ¡°Let go of me!¡± she struggled. ¡°I¡¯m fine sleeping on the floor.¡± He narrowed his eyes dangerously. ¡®Letitia, don¡¯t get cocky. Stop pushing your luck!¡± She defiantly lifted her chin. ¡°I¡¯m not your pet. You sweet-talk me when you¡¯re happy and give me the cold shoulder when you¡¯re not!¡± Letitia got out of bed and headed for the door. She wouldn¡¯t sleep, not with Elgin! ¡°Letitia¡±¡± ¡°I can¡¯t stand the smell of Sh on you!¡± Elgin, face stern, caught up with her, hoisted her back, and called the butler, ¡°Bring some air freshener up here!¡± Elgin was so strong that he had outpeted Letitia in strength. And Letitia still ended up sleeping by Elgin¡¯s side. When she closed her eyes, she couldn¡¯t stop thinking of the scene that Elgin and Sh entwined together. She barely caught a wink the whole night. So, when Letitia strolled into the office, her eyes were shielded by pronounced dark prcles Sunen came again, whispering sweet nothings, ¡°Ma¡¯am, Mr. Ramirez wants to see you.¡± But. ¡®I¡¯m not in the mood, and I¡¯m busy.¡± Letitia didn¡¯t even look up from her sketches. ¡°If he wants to see me, he cane here. Why the heck should I go to him?¡± Ranen looked like he was in a real pickle. Chapter 78 Chapter 78 *Mrs. Ramirez was getting more difficult by the day,¡± Ranen pondered. Letitia was sure as hell Elgin wouldn¡¯te to her. How could such a big shot as the CEO of the Ramirez Groupe to see a little-known designer like her in person? Unless he was seeking to create niore scandalous headlines about himself! Ranen had no choice but to bail, wondering how he could break the news to Mr. Ramirez in the gentlest way possible. Right after Ranen left, Letitia got up, heading to thepany¡¯s entrance to pick up her delivery. She¡¯d just grabbed her package when she turned around to see Phedra getting out of an SUV, dressed to the nines like some fancydy. Letitia shielded her face with the parcel, not wanting to bump into Phedra. ¡°Stop hiding. I¡¯m here specifically for you,¡± Phedra called out to her. ¡°Letitia, you must be some big deal. You have meing to see you in person.¡± Letitia stopped dead in her tracks, wondering what Phedra was up to. ¡°Something the matter?¡± she asked, her tone ice cold. Phedra approached her saying. I¡¯m your mother-inw, after all. I only want to check on you. Wouldn¡¯t want people saying I ignored your pregnancy.¡± Letitia¡¯s guard went up instantly. She couldn¡¯t take anything about the child lightly. She shielded her belly. ¡°I can take care of myself. Thanks. No need for your concern.¡± ¡°Come on. I¡¯m the baby¡¯s grandma, Phedra said with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ve booked you aprehensive prenatal examination at the hospital. Let¡¯s go right now. Saying so, she reached out to grab Letitia. Letitia dodged. Thanks, but no. I¡¯m busy¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. She had no idea what Phedra was nning. In no way would she fall for Phedra¡¯s trap. Once at the hospital, with everything set up by Phedra, she¡¯d be helpless, shouting for help to no avail. That¡¯d be a real danger! ¡°Hey, Letitia, don¡¯t bite the hand that feeds you,¡± Phedra¡¯s smile vanished instantly. ¡°I¡¯m trying to help, not harm you!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve just had a prenatal examination. All good.¡± With that, Letitia turned to leave. Phedra blocked her path, continuing. Do think you can get away that easily. I¡¯m sincerely spending money on your prenatal examination, and you¡¯re not even grateful? You¡¯re going!¡± Letitia dropped the pretense, sneering. ¡°I bet it¡¯s not a simple prenatal examination.¡± ¡°Just a prenatal examination! No tricks!¡± Phedra insisted. ¡°You¡¯re too precious right now. You are the apple of Hawley¡¯s eye. I wouldn¡¯t darey a finger on you.¡± Phedra only wanted to confirm whether the baby Letitia was carrying was Elgin¡¯s. She didn¡¯t believe her contraceptive ploy had been entirely ineffective. There must be something fishy about Letitia¡¯s pregnancy With modern medical tech, even a fetus can be DNA tested! So, the prenatal examination was only a pretext for the real motive, which was to get Letitia to the hospital for a paternity test! Letitia frowned. As far as she knew Phedra, Letitia understood it was never that simple. ¡°Come with me now, Phedra clutched her hand. ¡°I¡¯ve booked one of the top obstetricians in the country¡­¡± Before Letitia could respond, Phedra had dragged her into the car. rm bells rang in her head. ¡°Phedra, let me out!¡± ¡°Fil take you back safe and sound after the examination, you and the baby both. What are you afraid of?¡± don¡¯t trust you!¡± Phedra held her down. ¡°Sit light. As long as you and the baby are fine, the Ramirez family can¡¯t fault me one bit, even if I had to tie you up and take you to the hospital!¡± Her goal was the paternity test, after all Phedra couldn¡¯t believe Elgin could get Letitia pregnant so easily Letta struggled ¡°What the hell is wrong with you? Ever heard the phrase ¡®no good deed goes unpunished?¡± Stop arrugging in the car Otherwise, you¡¯ll end up hurting the baby yourself without me lifting a finger! At the hospital, Phedra shadowed Letitia¡¯s every move. Letitia had no way to top off Eloin! Seeing Letitiaply. Phedra felt smug ¡°Just do the examination and save yourself the trouble. Besides, Isn¡¯t this good for you and the baby? Hurry on to the next one¡± There were over a dozen items on the prenatal checklist, among which Letitia had never even heard of She was initially on edge, but seeing the doctors were doing regr checks and the blood draws were standard, she slowly let her guard down. Whatever Phedra was nning at least the baby was safe. ¡°Last one, the ultrasound Phedra announced ¡°Go lie down over there. I¡¯ll call the doctor¡± Letitia eyed her. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Just want to see my precious grandchild.¡± Phedra grinned ¡°Letitia, tell me. What if the child isn¡¯t Elgin¡¯s? Would Hawley still favor you? It clicked instantly You¡¯re after the child¡¯s DNA! ¡°Right, all checks are done. You can leave now if you want. Whether you do the ultrasound or not is up to you¡± Phedra had achieved her goal, her tone and expression more triumphant. After all, she got what she wanted waiting for the results from the DNAb! If the child turned out to be Elgin¡¯s, she¡¯d ept her bad luck, ming it on fate turning its back on her. But if the child wasn¡¯t of the Ramirez blood, that¡¯d be quite the show! Letitia went pale. What should she do? She didn¡¯t even know who the father was! She knew it couldn¡¯t be Elgin¡¯s! Once the results came out and Phedra had them, all would be doomed! The child wouldn¡¯t stand a chance! ¡°Phedra you lowlife scum!¡± Letitia clenched her teeth. ¡°Shameless!¡± ¡°Why so worked up? Or the child isn¡¯t Elgin¡¯s? Phedra probed ¡°Letitia, maybe you shoulde clean now. Do you have a lover on the side?¡± Letitia turned and walked away She¡¯d fallen right into Phedra¡¯s trap! If only she knew, she would¡¯ve found a way to escape at all costs! ¡°Off you go¡± Phedras triumphant attitude was on full disy. ¡°I¡¯ll let you know the results. Brace yourself.¡± Letitia picked up the pace and yanked open the door to the ultrasound room. But bam! She walked straight into a broad and familiar embrace. ¡°Elgin?¡± Letitia looked up and eximed in surprise. His face was stony, his eyes quickly scanning her to ensure she wasn¡¯t hurt. Then he turned his gaze to Phedra. ¡°If anything had happened to her, I¡¯d have you packing your bags and out of the Ramirez family tonight!¡± Phedra shot back with confidence. ¡°I was giving her a prenatal examination. I¡¯m her family and should care about her. Ask her if you don¡¯t believe me!¡± Letitia was at a loss for words, managing to reply. I¡¯m fine. What brings you here?¡± She hadn¡¯t texted Elgin. How did he figure out she was missing and track her to the hospital? Elgins eyes were icy and indifferent. ¡°You think it¡¯s cool to skip out on work and wander around? Am I not supposed toe looking for you?¡± Chapter 79 Chapter 79 Letitia blinked and thought of something ¡°Did you go see me in the Jewelry Department in person?¡± He averted his eyes and didn¡¯t answer. ¡°Alright, alright! I¡¯m getting out of here and will leave the lovebirds here.¡± Phedra, having achieved her goal, had no interest in sticking around. ¡°It¡¯s your call to do the check-up or not.¡± Right on cue, the doctor walked in. ¡°Letitia Sanders, get ready. Lie down on that bed¡± She stood rooted to the spot. Elgin¡¯s gaze flitted over the words ¡°Ultrasound Room,¡± and his lips twitched. You¡¯re her husband, right? The doctor put on some sterile gloves. ¡°Perfect timing. You can see how the baby¡¯s developing.¡± An awkward silence filled the air. The doctor urged, ¡°What are you spacing out for? This is a color ultrasound. We can get a clear picture of the baby.¡± Letitia reached out to pull Elgin away, but before she could touch him, he said, ¡°Okay.¡± Letitia was taken back. What? Okay? What did he mean by that? Elgin was already by the machine, and the doctor was all set up, waiting on her. With no choice left, Letitia bit the bullet andy down. The cold instrument began gliding over her lower abdomen. Doing his duty, the doctor exined, ¡°Look, this is the fetus. It¡¯s still early, so it¡¯s not super clear¡­¡± Letitia didn¡¯t even dare to look at Elgin¡¯s face. It wasn¡¯t his child, yet here he was, patient enough to check on the fetus. Those few short minutes felt longer than an entire day to her. Finally, when she heard the doctor say he had finished checking, Letitia bolted up and made for the door. With his long legs and quick strides, Elgin caught up to her instantly. You came here just because Phedra told you to?¡± ¡°She dragged me here.¡± ¡°You couldn¡¯t call for help? Huh?¡± LL Elgin cut her off. ¡°Did Phedra do anything to you?¡± Letitia shook her head. ¡°You sure?¡± ¡°Yeah, it was just a straightforward examination,¡± she replied. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± She didn¡¯t have the guts to tell Elgin about the paternity test. What should she do next? Once the results were out, Phedra would broadcast it far and wide! That would be bad news! Frantically brainstorming a n, Elgin suddenly extended his hand. ¡°Phone¡± She handed it over. Eigin¡¯s fingers, defined and elegant, tapped away on the screen before returning it to Letitia. ¡°There.¡± ¡°What did you set up?¡± ¡°A one-touch SOS App, Elgin answered. ¡°Next time something like this pops up, just press the button, and my phone gets an rm, pinpointing your location¡± Letitia blurted out. That¡¯s like surveince! You¡¯ll know everywhere I go!¡± His expression darkened slightly. ¡°Tm protecting you¡± ¡°Even without this App, it¡¯s a piece of cake to me if I want to know where you are,¡± Elgin snorted. ¡°Besides, it only locks on your location after you hit the rm.¡± Letitia was silent for a few seconds before asking, ¡°Can I change the emergency contact?¡± ¡°Nope¡± Elgin said icily. Letitia sighed in resignation. Fine, she could only deal with it Elgin was looking out for her safety, after all. Still, what mattered more to Letitia was stopping Phedra from getting that paternity test done! She couldn¡¯t do it alone, so she sought out Vidonia and spilled the beans. ¡°That old woman¡¯s crafty as hell, Vidonia pondered. ¡°We can¡¯t let her get her way and mess with my godson!¡± ¡°Vidonia, got any tricks up your sleeve?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll handle it. I got your back.¡± Letitia asked, ¡°What¡¯s the n?¡± Vidonia leaned in and whispered. ¡°I¡¯ll sneak into the hospital tonight and cause a little havoc to ensure the test can¡¯t go smoothly.¡± ¡°Will that work?¡± Tve got a n B!¡± Vidonia replied. ¡°If Phedra can bribe a doctor, so can I! The big boss is yet toe.¡± Letitia was about to say more, but Vidonia patted her shoulder. ¡°Chill, girl I¡¯m on it. Get back to work.¡± Vidonia was always full of mischief and sharp as a tack, so it should be no problem. It was fortunate to have a best friend who would step in for the rescue. Sh lounged on the balcony of Breezy Bay Candos, munching on pricey fruit and soaking up the sun. She had failed to have sex with Elgin, but the fake drama she¡¯d stirred was enough. She would take it low and steady. After all, she was the only one in on the secret. Even Elgin was under the impression that he had been intimate with her. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Mark sat across from her. ¡°Sh, how¡¯s it going with Mr. Ramirez?¡± ¡°Smooth sailing. Dad, I¡¯m on it.¡± ¡°Ah, there¡¯s a hitch, though. As long as Letitia¡¯s around, I can¡¯t rest easy.¡± Sh inquired, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°She¡¯s carrying Mr. Ramirez¡¯s child, and with every passing month, it¡¯s more obvious. She¡¯s with Mr. Ramirez every day. And if he finds out the child¡¯s his by ident, we¡¯re toast!¡± Sh brushed it off. ¡®Nonsense. You¡¯re overthinking it.¡± ¡°No, don¡¯t take it lightly,¡± Mark said. ¡°Lately, I¡¯ve got this feeling. Someone¡¯s been digging into my affairs and tailing me¡± ¡°Who? You got enemies?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Ramirez¡¯s people.¡± Mark was fraught with worry. ¡°He¡¯s so smart and sharp. God knows how long we can keep him in the dark before he exposes our little schemes¡­¡± Sh tensed up at that. Why would Mr. Ramirez suddenly be on her dad¡¯s tail? ¡°So, Sh, I suspect Mr. Ramirez smells a rat and doubts the woman that night is you, so he¡¯s started investigating again.¡± ¡°What?¡± Sh shot up. ¡°What do we do now? I don¡¯t want to lose Mr. Ramirez!¡± Mark rubbed his hands anxiously, thoughts racing. There has to be a way out. It can¡¯t go on like this. Time waits for no one.¡± ¡°Ive got it! Mark pped his hands. ¡°If Letitia can get pregnant, Sh, why can¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Me? Get pregnant?¡± ¡°Yeah. Letitia got knocked up that night, and since you took her ce, you can im you¡¯ve conceived the child that night!¡± Shele instinctively touched her stomach, thinking that she didn¡¯t have sex with Mr. Ramirez and could not just get pregnant out of Mark saw her concerns and reassured her, ¡°No sweet, Sh. Just fake a pregnancy for now. During this time, rack your brain for ways to cling to Mr. Ramirez more, turn on the charm, and get cracking on making a baby for real! We can¡¯t let Letitia keep having the upper hand!¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Sh agreed in a heartbeat. That¡¯s the only option I¡¯ve got.¡± She could only y it by ear, faking a pregnancy first and snatching back Mr. Ramirez¡¯s affection. Tve got things covered at the hospital,¡± Mark dered. ¡°All you need to do is pull the wool over Mr. Ramirez¡¯s eyes, convince him beyond a doubt that it was you he was with that night.¡± Like father, like daughter. They struck a chord and got moving on their n immediately. AquaCity Hospital was buzzing with an unusual energy that day. Chapter 80 Chapter 80 Mark arranged for Sh to be in the hospital and then went off to tap his connections to cook up a fake pregnancy test report. Meanwhile, Vidonia sneaked into the hospital¡¯s paternity testb. Seizing the moment during a shift change, Vidonia hunched, sifted through the test tubes, and found the onebeled with Letitia¡¯s name. She pocketed it in a blink, recing it with a new test tube. Mission aplished! ¡°Easy-peasy. Can¡¯t believe Letitia would have been so worried, Vidonia muttered under her breath, ¡°She¡¯s too single-minded and honest. To deal with these weasels, you gotta y dirty!¡± She headed out, nced to ensure the coast was clear, and ran out quickly, slipping into the corridor. Everything went off without a hitch! ¡°How did it go? Did you get it?¡± Letitia asked eagerly from inside the car parked by the curb Vidonia pulled out the test tube and gave it a shake ¡°Of course!¡± ¡°You¡¯re amazing!¡± ¡°It¡¯s no biggie. Without this thing, let¡¯s see how Phedra can carry out the test.¡± Vidonia snapped the tube in half with her bare hands and tossed it into a trash can with ir. ¡°Let¡¯s roll! It¡¯s time for some late-night grub. I don¡¯t wanna starve my godson!¡± Letitia hugged her with joy Once their car was out of sight, Phedra emerged from the cover of a streetlight. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Huh, I knew you¡¯d pull a stunt like this¡± She was smug. Too bad, Letitia. I was way ahead of you! The more you dread the test, the more it proves this child is of unknown origin! It¡¯s not Elgin¡¯s!¡± Phedra opened her palm to reveal the real test tube needed for the test. She still had it! ¡°Humph, I can¡¯t wait for the results toe out. It¡¯s going to be quite the show!¡± On the open-air balcony of Ivory Towers, the lights shone brightly. Elgin was still engrossed in business talk with Samson, who had stopped counting how many yawns he¡¯d managed to hold back But as good buddies for years, Samson knew Elgin too well. It wasn¡¯t that the workaholic Elgin didn¡¯t want to rest but was just too stubborn to make the first move to admit he had missed his wife! So, Samson didn¡¯t dare provoke him at this time. A man frustrated in love can have a fearsome temper! ¡°Alright, alright! We¡¯ll do it that way, Samson agreed repeatedly, ¡°Yep, we¡¯ll do it all ording to your n. Done deal!¡± Elgin frowned. ¡°You have no objections?¡± ¡°None at all. Mr. Ramirez, you¡¯re brilliant, wise, and full of strategies¡± Bang! Elgin mmed the documents onto the table ¡°What time is it?¡± he asked. ¡°Past ten.¡± Elgin nced at the door. It was dark, with no one in sight. ¡°Just call your wife if you miss her. You¡¯re legally married,¡± Samson teased. ¡°No need to hide it.¡± For once, Elgin didn¡¯t argue back but silently rubbed his forehead. After a while, he spoke softly, ¡°Tell me. Why Letitia?¡± ¡°Because she¡¯s your wife¡± Hearing this answer, Elgin¡¯s gaze turned icy. was your choice to marry her, Samson shrugged: ¡°I warned you not to mess with feelings. It¡¯s something you can¡¯t control But you didn¡¯t listen! Now you realize you¡¯ve fallen for Letitia?¡± Samson had said this kind of thing before, but Elgin still stubbornly denied it. ¡°Impossible,¡± he clenched his lips tightly. ¡°If we¡¯re talking about love here, it¡¯s only her loving me.¡± 1 guess she doesn¡¯t love you, either, Samson continued to provoke. ¡°Letitia hasn¡¯t been getting drunk over youte at night, has she? Struck where it hurt, Elgin had the urge to flip the table! Samson, enjoying the drama, pulled out his phone. ¡°Wanna test whether she loves you or not?¡± Elgin didn¡¯t respond. ¡°Alright then,¡± Samson pretended to put his phone away. ¡°Forget I said anything.¡± Elgin kicked him under the table. ¡°How do you test it?¡± ¡°Call her, and you¡¯ll find out Samson raised his eyebrows Shh, listen.¡± Swiftly, Samson dialed Letitia¡¯s number. She picked up quickly, her voice soft and tender ¡°Hello, Mr. Stewart.¡± Elgin¡¯s expression instantly soured. Was she always this gentle and soft-spoken with others? ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s me Where are you now? replied Samson. ¡°I¡¯m having ate-night snack with Vidonia. I¡¯ll head home soon.¡± Trying to hide his amusement, Samson said in earnest. ¡°Okay. Here¡¯s the thing. Your husband got drunk at my ce. Can youe pick him up? ¡°Drunk again?¡± Letitia thought for a moment. ¡°Mr. Stewart, I think you can let him sleep over at your ce.¡± What had gotten into Elgin these days? He had constantly got hammered. Was he that troubled? He was always the one troubling others. Samson nearly choked. ¡°Ah, two grown men sleeping in the same room? Isn¡¯t that a bit off?¡± ¡°You have more than one bedroom.¡± Samson coughed awkwardly before saying, ¡°Well, Gin got hurt throwing a drunk tantrum. We need to take him to the hospital now. It¡¯s serious! He nearly disfigured!¡± ¡°Mr. Stewart, you don¡¯t sound too concerned. Instead of calling an ambnce, you called me first. It seems like it¡¯s not that bad.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°And he has Ranen, bodyguards, and a housekeeper, all on call 24/7 Before Samson could say more, Elgin snatched the phone and hung up! ¡°Women can be damn ruthless when they want to be, Samson patted his shoulder. ¡°Keep cool. Anyway, you don¡¯t love her.¡± ¡°Who says I¡­ ¡®Hmm? You what?¡± Elgin snapped back to reality, the half-spoken words he almost uttered, what were they? Did he.. love her? Impossible! ¡°You should leave, Elgin stood up. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte.¡± Samson sighed deeply. ¡°What a jerk¡­¡± He bolted before Elgin could throw his documents at him. After hanging up, Letitia wondered if she should inquire about Elgin¡¯s injury. But she was afraid of meddling Elgin didn¡¯t need her by the side. When Letitia returned home, it was past midnight. She carefully pushed open the bedroom door, tiptoeing in, afraid to wake Elgin. She didn¡¯t dare turn on the light, fumbling her way in the dark hapter 80 She had barely taken a couple of steps when she burriped into a chest, which scared the hell out of her, and she let out a shriek, ¡°Ah! Look who¡¯s back?¡± came Elgin¡¯s low voice. 1. I didn¡¯t want toe back. Will you let me go? I swear I¡¯ll never show my face around you again in my lifetime.¡± Right after Letitia¡¯s words ended, there was a loud ¡°snap as Elgin switched on the light. The sudden brightness was so blinding that Letitia had to shield her eyes with her hand. After having barbecued mutton with Vidonia, she was reeking of the stuff. Elgin scoffed. ¡°Did you have fun?¡± ¡°I just had dinner with Vidonia. That¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Cut the crap fooling around with her.¡± Letitia pouted, retorting, ¡°She¡¯s my friend. What do you mean fooling around¡±..¡± Chapter 81 Chapter 81 *Celebratory banquets and dinner party, Letitia, your life sure got better since Vidonia joined the company.¡± She was always leaving all alone to endure the endless nights. Oddly enough, solitude now seemed to echo with loneliness for him. Letitia was about to reply when something struck her, ¡°I remember Mr. Stewart said you got hurt. Where¡¯s the wound?¡± You actually bought that?¡± ¡°Are you guys messing with me? Letitia frowned, ¡°And here I was, actually worried about you for a second.¡± Eigin stepped closer, cornering her, ¡°Hearing I was hurt, and you just worried ¡®for a second¡±? Don¡¯t you have other reactions?¡± Letitia began to retreat step by step. I you¡­. you¡­ Eventually, she was backed against the wall. Elgin raised his hand, resting it near her ear, ¡°What if I really was hurt? Would you still be so indifferent?¡± His breath fanned her face. Letitia turned her head away, ¡°Elgin, there¡¯s a line of people caring about you stretching all the way to the suburbs. One more or one less doesn¡¯t make a difference.¡±Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°But you¡¯re my wife!¡± ¡°The one you want to marry is Sh, it¡¯s never been me.¡± He pinched her chin, ¡°For now, at least, it¡¯s you. You should care!¡± Letitia just found him inexplicably absurd. ¡°If you want care, go find Sh. She¡¯s delicate, coquettish, pampering you, always pleasing you isn¡¯t she way better than me?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Elgin answered, ¡°Letitia, any woman is better than you! Any woman is more considerate!¡± They all just want to cozy up to him, get close to him, win his favor. Only Letitia, never obeyed him! Letitia looked into his eyes, saying in a calm tone, ¡°I came homete. Are you sure you want to pick a fight over something so trivial? Living every day under Elgin¡¯s scrutiny was exhausting enough for her. And there were always those who wanted to harm her, give her a hard time, add to her troubles¡­ Whether it¡¯s Phedra or Sh, they were all scheming to do her in! ¡°¡­I don¡¯t want to argue. Elgin¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he swallowed attempting to hold back his turmoil of emotions. Samson¡¯s test had struck his heart ¨C Letitia truly didn¡¯t give a damn¡­ much less have any love for him. The moment he saw she wasn¡¯t at thepany, he checked the surveince, searched everywhere, and when he learned Phedra had taken her to the hospital, he rushed there without a second thought, fearing something might happen to her. And her? She hated him, wished him dead! ¡°Then get some rest, it¡¯s gettingte, Letitia said. I¡¯m going to take a shower. She made to leave but Elgin forcefully pulled her back. His eyes darker than the night sky, ¡°Letitia, let¡¯s make a deal.¡± ¡°¡­A deal?¡± Unease crept in, and she refused, ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll make it whether you want to or not!¡± Elgin¡¯sst bit of patience had run outpletely He enunciated each word, his expression resolute and fierce, ¡°Whatever you want, I can give it to you. You want your father freed, it¡¯s doable. You want your mother to have the special medicine, also doable. In short, I can satisfy any of your demands.¡± Eigin was acting different tonight. Letitia noticed, but couldn¡¯t fathom his thoughts. He had always loathed the Sanders family, and now he was loosening his grip, offering to release someone! Letitia wasn¡¯t a fool, she immediately asked, ¡°What do you want from me in exchange?¡± Since it¡¯s a deal, she¡¯d obviously have to trade something! What precious thing could she possibly have that would make Elgin offer her father or her mother in return! Letitia had an inkling, but she dared not continue the thought. All she heard was Elgin¡¯s lips parting, ¡®Abort the baby, and I¡¯ll free your father or save your mother. Letitia, a life for a life Just as she suspected! The only thing she had that Eigin would make such a tempting offer for was her baby! ¡°No, don¡¯t..¡± Letitia shook her head, ¡°Such a deal is too cruel!¡± Elgin asked harshly, ¡°For you and Walden¡¯s child, would you abandon your parents?¡± ¡°The child isn¡¯t Walden¡¯s!¡± Then whose is it? Who¡¯s the father!¡± Letitia murmured, ¡°I don¡¯t know who he is¡­ If I did, I¡¯d have gone to him a long time ago.¡± ¡°Fine, I believe your Elgin gripped her shoulders, ¡°So tell me, if you don¡¯t even know who the father is, why cling so desperately to the child! Just get rid of it!¡± ¡°Elgin, it¡¯s a life.¡± ¡°You just want a child, right?¡± he looked at her. Then abort it, we can have another!¡± Letitia froze, wide-eyed. What was he saying? A child with her? ¡°You¡­ you want to have a child with me?¡± she asked softly, ¡°Elgin, do you even know what you¡¯re saying?¡± ¡°I know, Letitia, will you agree or not! Veins throbbed on Elgin¡¯s forehead. He was teetering on the edge of losing control. Because he was bing increasingly aware that Letitia in his world was not just the enemy¡¯s daughter, nor just a mere pawn. He wanted her to stay, by his side, for life, no matter what! ¡°I¡¯m only asking once, and this offer only stands tonight, Elgin looked straight into her eyes, as if peering into her soul, ¡°Letitia, think carefully and make your choice!¡± ¡°So if I abort this child, I can have anything I want from you, right?¡± ¡°Yes! This chance is only now, don¡¯t wait too long!¡± Her hesitation, her doubt, would bring him to his senses. Elgin was indulging his feelings, unwilling to be too rational. Perhaps, love itself defied all reason. He strode to the window, lit up a cigarette, and smoked fiercely, puffing out clouds of smoke. Letitia stood still, her mind inplete disarray. Elgin had suddenlyid out these terms¡­ what was he really after? She hadn¡¯t expected him to be so bothered by the existence of the child. ¡°When this cigarette it¡¯s done, I want your answer,¡± Elgin said, ¡°I don¡¯t have the patience to wait.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Letitia attempted to say something more, but Elgin cut her off, ¡°Just tell me, yes or no. Letitia, this choice will affect the rest of your life¡± Letitia lowered her gaze, ¡°Are you pushing me again¡­ do you want me to jump into theke once more?¡± ¡°Look, it¡¯s a deal. What you lose, I can make it up to you, maybe even more!¡± Smoke swirled around. Elgin¡¯s fingertips held a cigarette, its ember flickering, burning down slowly Finally, Letitia took a deep breath. ¡°I get it. Me, barely keeping my own head above water, trying to protect a kid too-it¡¯s tough. I was biting off more than I could chew, but that¡¯s my responsibility as a mother. Elgin¡­ I want this kid, I want to bring him into this world.¡± Chapter 82 Chapter 82 He snuffed out the cigarette with a heavy press. The master bedroom was as silent as the grave. After a long pause, Elgin spoke up. ¡°You sure? No regrets?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure, no regrets.¡± ¡°Good.¡± He cracked a slight smile, ¡°Letitia, you¡¯re gonna pay for this.¡± rity returned to Elgin¡¯s eyes, so did his sanity. He had wanted to indulge himself just once, to let go of all the hatred and be with Letitia properly. But¡­ she wouldn¡¯t have it. She was still as ungrateful as ever! He strode out, and as he passed Letitia, he stirred a breeze that lifted her loose hair. The moment the door shut. Letitia felt as if all her strength had been drained, and she slowly slid down the wall to sit on the floor. Once again, she had chosen her child She reasoned in her mind, ¡°Mom, Dad, it¡¯s not that I¡¯m not choosing you, but I¡¯m banking on the day when the truth is revealed. Then, we can all be together again. Even if Elgin releases you now, you¡¯d still have to live under a cloud of scandal. Uncovering the truth and clearing your names is what I¡¯m striving for. And I firmly believe that a day of justice wille. And the child¡­ all I can do is try my hardest to keep him safe for now. He¡¯s too fragile, and he only has me.¡± Letitia hugged her knees, looking out the window at the endless moonlight. The child still had her, and her parents were waiting for her to save them, but who did she have? She only had herself, like a lone soldier in battle. The road was tough and long, but she was determined to grit her teeth and keep going. That night, Elgin didn¡¯t show up again. Letitia slept on the floor, which felt more solid to her than the luxurious bed beside her. The next day when she went downstairs, the servants were unusually quiet, treading on eggshells as they worked. Elgin sat leisurely at the head of the dining table, sipping his coffee as if nothing had changed, his face calm and unruffled. He seemed no different than usual, but Letitia felt a chilling coldness emanating from him. It reminded her of the Elgin she first met. Back then, he was aloof and aristocratic, his gaze empty and condescending. Today, he had reverted to that state. And the distance between her and him had been stretched once again. ¡°Ma¡¯am,¡± the butler inquired, ¡°would you like oatmeal or sandwich?¡± ¡°Mrs. Ramirez Thank you.¡± Letitia pulled out a chair and sat down, silent. Elgin acted as if she was invisible Last night, his heart had softened for her briefly, but now¡­ it was even harder than iron! Letitia didn¡¯t deserve it! This heavy and quiet atmosphere was only broken when Mark showed up. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, Mark rushed into the dining room, ¡°I finally found you!¡± Elgin turned his head, ¡°What is it?¡± Mark nced at Letitia, his expression hesitant. ¡°Speak, Elginmanded, ¡°out with it.¡± Alright, Mr. Ramirez, actually¡­ I have some good news for you.¡± Elgin looked uninterested as he asked, ¡°What good news?¡± ¡°Sh¡¯s pregnant!¡± Mark announced jubntly, ¡°She felt unwellst night,ining of stomach pains, and didn¡¯t want to disturb you, so she asked me to take her to the hospital. And after a check-up, the doctor confirmed she¡¯s pregnant!¡± Sh¡­ pregnant? Letitia¡¯s mind went nk at the news. But it made sense. The one time she saw was probably just another day in the life of Elgin and Sh. In private, they were even more intimate and affectionate. The difference between people is immense. Letitia thought. Her own child had to struggle just to survive, while Sh¡¯s child would be born with a silver spoon. She¡¯s pregnant? Elgin¡¯s expression shifted at the news It was unexpected for him. But indeed, Sh was his woman. And that night, he had taken no precautions. Mark nodded vigorously. Yes, Sh is still in the ward now. The doctor says she¡¯s frail and needs to stay in the hospital for recuperation. Once the fetus is stable, she can be discharged¡± As Mark spoke, he kept an eye on Elgin¡¯s reaction. It was a risky move, but it had to be made. Anything was better than sitting ducks. Mark sneaked a nce at Letitia¡¯s belly, his emotions a mix of jealousy and envy. If only it had been Sh that night, securing the bloodline of the Ramirez family would have meant a life of splendor and wealth! This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, Sh didn¡¯t want me to tell you, because she¡¯s afraid you¡¯d worry,¡± Mark wrung his hands, ¡°but I thought you should know¡­, Sh is just too considerate¡± Letitia nearly rolled her eyes at that. Considerate? That word was hardly in Sh¡¯s vocabry! Elgin stood up to leave, ¡°I¡¯m going to see her.¡± ¡°Great, great, she¡¯ll be thrilled to see you! Mark followed him out, all smiles. Letitia stared at her breakfast, finding it tasteless and unable to eat a bite. But thinking of her child, she picked up her spoon. Just then, Elgin¡¯s footsteps suddenly halted. Mark, puzzled, asked, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, what¡¯s¡­ what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Letitia,¡± his gaze fixed on her, e with me.¡± Letitia pointed to herself, Me? I¡­ But Elgin had no patience for her words; he was already out of Ivory Towers. She had no choice there, he always meant what he said, and she had toply. At the hospital, in the ward. Mark and Sh had nned this scene well, so when Elgin walked in, Sh acted surprised and delighted, ¡°Mr. Ramirez? What brings you here?¡± Then she turned to Mark with a reproachful look, ¡°Dad, I told you, Mr. Ramirez is busy with a lot of work. You shouldn¡¯t bother him with such trivial matters ¡°Sh, how can your pregnancy be a trivial matter? Sh said with a lot of self-me, ¡°I wasn¡¯t even paying attention to my own body, didn¡¯t even realize I was pregnant. Lucky for me, I didn¡¯t pop any random pills or get injured during this time, or the little one wouldn¡¯t be safe and sound in my belly. ¡°And we just¡­¡± Sh¡¯s cheeks turned red, ¡°Thank goodness we didn¡¯t hurt the baby. That would have been a stroke of terrible luck I¡¯d be kicking myself.¡± She gently touched her t stomach, looking at Elgin feeling helpless and wronged Any guy would go soft in the heart seeing her like this. Elgin walked over to the bedside, his eyes filled with aplex gaze. It blindsided him.. the idea of Sh having his baby, it was aplete shock. But then again, he hadn¡¯t exactly been cautious that particr night. Chapter 83 Chapter 83 That same night he spent with Sh, he had just been diagnosed with a low sperm count Logically speaking, the odds of her getting knocked up were pretty slim But slim doesn¡¯t mean impossible. That¡¯s what he had thrown back at Phedra when she spoke up. And he didn¡¯t expect that it actually happened ¡°Well, if that¡¯s the case, then let¡¯s take good care of it, Elgin said. ¡°It¡¯s my kid, and I¡¯ll step up.¡± ¡°You sticking around?¡± This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. *Of course, I¡¯m sticking around.¡± Sh beamed, got up, and threw her arms around his neck. That¡¯s awesome, Mr. Ramirez, I was worried¡­ that you wouldn¡¯t want the baby¡± Elgin paused, then patted her shoulder gently, ¡°How could I not?¡± Thad no clue I was pregnant. I was scared you¡¯d think I kept it under wraps on purpose, just to force you to marry me.¡± As she said this, Sh nced at Letitia, then looked away, shrinking back a bit. Biting her lip, she said. ¡°But you¡¯re married to Letitia now, and this kid¡¯s got no name, no status. What should we do¡­ it¡¯s all because I¡¯m just a lowly nobody¡± Elgin didn¡¯t hesitate, ¡°Her? She¡¯s nothing¡± Letitia kept her head down, quiet, acting like she wasn¡¯t even there. She was the odd one out. Elgin had called her over just to humiliate her and show off how well he treated Sh. Sh coord, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, our child is definitely going to be a cut above the rest, right? Even though I¡¯m not exactly your wife right now, things will get better!¡± ¡°Yeah You just focus on taking care of yourself, and leave the rest to me. Sh nestled into his embrace, Mr Ramirez, you¡¯re the best¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take care of everything,¡± Elgin said ¡°No one¡¯s gonna stand in the way of you and the kid¡± That was his promise to Sh. Both Mark and Letitia heard it loud and clear Letitia thought to herself that Sh sure had it good, envy-worthy Mark was all smiles, his eyes crinkling into slits. Sure enough having a kid does the trick. A child brings honor to the mother, an age old truth that never changes. Elgin fetched a doctor,id down some instructions, and emphasized the need for top-notch care, ¡°Not a single mistake¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Ramirez, Ms. Ward is in the care of our most renowned OB-GYNs. Elgin just grunted No matter what, Sh was pregnant, and the kid was his. He had to take on the role of a father. Even though he didn¡¯t have much feeling for Sh in his heart, but that one night had sealed their fate. It must be destiny. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, I¡¯d like to have a word with Letitia,¡± Sh said, swinging his arm, ¡°about the pregnancy. I couldn¡¯t control it, and I hope she doesn¡¯t mind ¡°She has no right to mind¡± ¡°But she¡¯s still Mrs Ramirez Elgin said coolly, ¡°That spot will be yours sooner orter, I¡¯ve told you before.¡± Sh was over the moon, though she kept up her innocent facade ¡°Sorry, Letitia, Mr. Ramirez and I just got carried away, and that¡¯s how the pregnancy happened. Over the next few months, I just want to focus on nurturing the baby, having a smooth delivery. Please don¡¯t make trouble for me, okay?¡± It sounded like. Letitia was some kind of viin. ¡°Me, make trouble for you? Letitiaughed, ¡°I¡¯d rather you sit tight and stop unting yourself in front of me!¡± Sheta bit her lip. I know my pregnancy upsets you¡­ chapter *Upset? Oh, I¡¯m thrilled!¡± Letitia said, ¡°Here¡¯s hoping you have a healthy baby and marry into the Ramirez family soon!¡± Sh responded, ¡°Thank you for your well wishes.¡± Letitia was speechless. How can someone be so shameless! ¡°By the way, when will the wedding ring be ready?¡± Sh asked, ¡°I want to wear it. Looking at it while I¡¯m pregnant will lift my spirits, and the baby will be healthier.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± She was a designer, not some personal service clerk for Shl Elgin spoke up, ¡°Isn¡¯t this your job? Aren¡¯t you following up?¡± Okay.¡± Letitia agreed, ¡°I¡¯ll have an answer for Ms. Ward by this afternoon. Anything else? If not, I¡¯m heading to the office.¡± Elgin said, ¡°What¡¯s the rush? I¡¯ll go with you.¡± ¡°Oh? Mr. Ramirez, aren¡¯t you staying with Ms. Ward?¡± she said with her biggest grin, ¡°I almost forgot, Mr. Ramirez, I haven¡¯t congratted you yet. You¡¯re going to be a dad!¡± He shot her a cold look, ¡°Quit your sarcasm.¡± Sh chimed in. ¡°Letitia, I don¡¯t care however you badmouth me, just don¡¯t hurt my baby¡± ¡°She¡¯s not capable of that.¡± Elgin stood up. ¡°Just take care of yourself. I¡¯lle see you when I have time.¡± Sh clung to his hand, reluctant to let go, ¡°Mr. Ramirez¡­ you¡¯lle often, right?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Letitia just felt sick to her stomach and turned her head away. Sitting in the car, Elgin¡¯s expression was nk, showing no joy. He nced at Letitia¡¯s belly, a smirk crossing his lips, ¡°You thought you were safe, because grandpa got tricked by you, right? Now that Sh is really carrying my child, what do you think¡­ what do you have left to hold on to?¡± Her heart skipped a beat. ¡°Letitia, whatever you¡¯re doing is pointless. You won¡¯t be able to give birth to it,¡± Elgin said, ¡°You could¡¯ve taken the easy way out, but you chose the hard road.¡± ¡°As long as I¡¯m breathing, I¡¯ll protect him.¡± Letitia said firmly. ¡°What¡¯s so precious about a bastard that you¡¯d go this far?¡± Letitia replied firmly, ¡°Because he¡¯s my child.¡± Elgin¡¯s eyes darkened, ¡°Daring to say such things in front of me, you¡¯re really asking for it!¡± But she just smiled. Since she¡¯d already offended Elgin, what¡¯s the harm in going a little further? So, Letitia said, ¡°At least I can be hundred percent sure that the kid in my belly is mine. But can you men ever be sure the baby is yours? Is Sh¡¯s baby really yours? She even snickered with a sneer. Elgin grabbed her by the throat, snapping, ¡°Say that one more time!¡± ¡°What, you didn¡¯t catch that? Men¡­¡± He tightened his grip, and Letitia suddenly couldn¡¯t make a peep. Elgin leaned in, right up close to her, Afterst night, Letitia, you¡¯re less than dirt to me. You better be careful not to piss me off, or what¡¯sing for you¡­ is gonna be a world of hurt.¡± He let go and said loudly, ¡°Pull over!¡± The driver hits the brakes pronto. ¡°Get out.¡± Eigin didn¡¯t even nce her way, ¡°I¡¯ve been too nice to youtely, spoiled you rotten!¡± Chapter 84 Chapter 84 Letitia swung the car door open. ¡°Elgin, I know who¡¯s good to me, and I¡¯m sure you ain¡¯t on that list!¡± After stepping out, she deliberately mmed the door with a bang. Like Elgin¡¯s the only one with a temper? What about her? And at least, she didn¡¯t have to pick up trash or walk to work anymore. She¡¯s Letitia, top of her ss, skilled as all get-out. If it hadn¡¯t been for Elgin meddling, she¡¯d have been killing it in her own field by now! So, Letitia stopped a cab and said, ¡°Could you catch up to that Rolls Royce up ahead?¡± ¡°You got it. Hold on tight!¡± Cabbies are the ultimate city slickers, masters of the roads. A few slick moves and sharp turns, and in less than ten minutes, the taxi was cruising alongside the Rolls Royce. ¡°How¡¯s that for a ride, kiddo?¡± The driver was puffing his chest with pride. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter how pricey the car is, it¡¯s all about driving it like a pro!¡± Letitia rolled down the window, looked at the Rolls Royce next to her, and gave the finger. Inside, Elgin¡¯s eyes narrowed. Just as he rolled down his window, the cab moved, zipping through traffic and vanishing from sight. Elgin¡¯s face turned dark. Well, well, Letitia¡¯s really stepping up her game, daring to provoke him! Back at the office, walking into the Jewelry Department, Letitia saw her co-workers buzzing around Vidonia, gossiping ¨C ¡°Dang, that¡¯s blingy.¡± ¡°It looked tacky on paper, but the real deal screams money, honey.¡± ¡®I could cry a river, won¡¯t make enough in a lifetime for that ring. ¡°Mrs. Ramirez is one luckydy.¡± Vidonia, unimpressed, chimed in, ¡°How¡¯s that pretty? Looks like something a nouveau riche would unt.¡± ¡°Is the wedding ring done?¡± Letitia chimed in, ¡°Let me have a look.¡± ¡°Not yet, it¡¯s still in France. I just got some photos. But if all goes well, we¡¯ll have the actual piece by early next month.¡± Letitia flipped through the pics, chuckled, and kept her thoughts to herself. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I gotta write the blurb for this wedding ring,¡± Vidonia grumbled, raking her fingers through her hair. ¡°It¡¯s nearly taking the life out of me!¡± Knowing full well the ring was meant for Sh, Vidonia gave Samson a hard time! ¡°Just approach it like any other job and keep your cool,¡± Letitiaforted her, ¡°Can¡¯t wait to get out of this chaos and let those lovebirds say their vows.¡± ¡°Lovebirds? More like a bitch couple! Vidonia retorted. Vidonia¡¯s mouth had no filter, she spoke her mind with zero sugar-coating. Letitia covered her mouth, ¡°Shh, watch your words. ¡°I ain¡¯t wrong, though. Elgin¡¯s really got a knack for being a pain, making you design the ring, me promote it, and Sh reap the rewards¡­ Why should she?¡± ¡°Forget it, I don¡¯t care about that stuff,¡± Letitia shrugged. ¡°But there¡¯s something I wanted to ask you about.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°My mom¡¯s emerald bracelet broke, and I¡¯ve tried everything, but I can¡¯t fix it¡­ Carefully, Letitia took out the silk-wrapped emerald bracelet from her bag. ¡°How¡¯d it get this bad? It¡¯ll be hard to restore it,¡± Vidonia inspected it. ¡°I¡¯ll ask a friend for you.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Letitia saw a glimmer of hope again. But she missed the middle-aged woman at a nearby workstation, fuming at her. Letitia, that woman, why¡¯s she on a roll in the Jewelry Department? Mr. Stewart admires her work, Ms. Bailey¡¯s like a sister to her, and word is Mr. Ramirez is on good terms with her too But in terms of rank, she¡¯s higher up than Letitia! Letitia¡¯s just a designer, while her own title¡¯s department manager, just under Vidonia. After pondering, she walked over, ¡°Designer Sanders.¡± ¡°Ms. Odetta, hello, Letitia nodded politely. ¡°What can I do for you?¡± Odetta, the manager in the Jewelry Department, a business school hotshot, usually handled market and client rtions, quite the capable one, but didn¡¯t cross paths with Letitia much. Odetta, with amanding tone, said. This afternoon I¡¯ve got a meeting with a big client. Design¡¯s not my forte, I won¡¯t exin it well. So, you¡¯reing with me¡± ¡°Alright, Letitia agreed ¡°Two o¡¯clock, don¡¯t bete. And bring plenty of materials, this client¡¯s a big deal!¡± Without waiting for a reply, Odetta turned and left A colleague who witnessed this sympathized with Letitia, Ms. Odetta shouldn¡¯t talk to you like that even Mr. Stewart doesn¡¯t act so high and mighty¡± ¡°No worries, she¡¯s probably just swamped with work, and she is my boss, after all¡± Letitia didn¡¯t dwell on it and got ready for the meeting Two o clock on the dot, Letitia was at the Ramirez Group¡¯s entrance. Turns out, Odetta was already there, looking quite peeved, ¡°You dare make me wait for you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m notte, Ms Odetta. Odetta couldn¡¯t argue, nced at the papers in Letitia¡¯s hand. That all you brought? If the client¡¯s unhappy and we lose this deal, can you handle that? This is just the blueprints. The rest is on my sh drive, and all I need is aputer.¡± With nothing to nitpick, Odetta huffed and left first, and Letitia followed suit. En route, Odetta mentioned, ¡°We¡¯re meeting the president of the Thompson Group today. I brought just you to give you a chance to shine, Letitia, you better appreciate it.¡± ¡°Understood, Ms Odetta.¡± Also, don¡¯t get any fancy ideas, Odetta took a few looks at her, ¡°Mr. Thompson is quite the catch- handsome, sessful, and loaded. He¡¯s out of your league, girl.¡± ¡°Oh. Letitia casually responded while looking up information on the Thompson Group. The Thompson Group and the Ramirez Group had been partners for years, with a personal friendship that went back to the Hawley generation. The Thompson Group owned several processing nts along the coast, including one production line dedicated to high-end processing for Ramirez Group¡¯s jewelry. Under the leadership of the new president, the Thompson Group was on the rise, quickly bing the secondrgestpany in AquaCity. Letitia gazed at the man on her phone screen-Neil Thompson. Just from the photo, he was definitely a looker-gentlemanly, with an air of sophistication that suggested he was a well-read charmer. He had the kind of vibe that felt like a breath of fresh spring air. Upon arriving at the Thompson Group, Letitia was led by the secretary to meet Neil. Chapter 85 Chapter 85 He¡¯s even more charismatic in person than in his photos, basking in the sunlight with a signing pen in hand, the button on his cuff catching the light. He¡¯s got that kind of handsome that¡¯s gentle yet untouchable. ¡°Mr. Thompson, people from the Ramirez Group Jewelry Department are here,¡± his secretary reminded him. He looked up. ¡°Please, have a seat Odetta shed a coy smile, greeting, ¡°Mr. Thompson, I¡¯ve heard so much about you, it¡¯s been quite a challenge to get a moment with you¡± Odetta tried to make her voice sound sweet, which was enough to give Letitia the creeps. She quickly coughed twice, trying to send Odetta a signal. But Odetta tantly ignored her, striding forward to shake hands with Neil. Nell slightly frowned but still shook her hand out of politeness. Odetta clung to his hand, unwilling to let go. ¡°Mr. Thompson, we almost sealed the dealst time. Today, I¡¯ve brought the contract signed by Mr. Ramirez, it just needs your signature to finalize everything.¡± Letitia watched, barely able to suppress her cringe. Clearly, Odetta was the one trying to climb the socialdder, yet she had the cheek to warn Letitia earlier. ¡°Hmm,¡± Neil subtly withdrew his hand. Letitia couldn¡¯t bear to watch anymore and promptly presented the documents, Mr. Thompson, here¡¯s the contract for your review¡± Neil gave Letitia an appreciative nce, nodded, and returned to his seat.. Odetta, ring at Letitia, muttered under her breath, ¡°Why do you have to meddle?¡± ¡°Ms. Odetta, you represent the image of the Ramirez Group,¡± Letitia replied, ¡°Please, restrain yourself, so as not to make a bad impression on Mr. Thompson. ¡°I¡¯m the boss here, not you!! Letitia just shrugged. Neil signed the contract and looked up at Letitia, Are you new here? It¡¯s my first time seeing you ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve been with the Ramirez Group for a month¡± This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Tond a job at the Ramirez Group, you¡¯ve got to have the chops, Neil said. ¡°Did you handle the design for this season¡¯s Ramirez Romantica collection? Letitia nodded, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m the head designer for Ramirez Romantica, Letitia Sanders¡± ¡°Letitia,¡± Neil mulled over her name with a slight smile, ¡°Nice name, I like it Everyone likes apliment, and Letitia smiled back. Thanks, Mr. Thompson. I¡¯ve brought the designs, you can take a look now, and I can answer any questions you might have¡± ¡°Sounds good.¡± Odetta watched the scene, jealousy barely contained on her face. She had met Mr. Thompson several times, always initiating contact, but he never seemed to notice her And here was Letitia, hitting it off with Mr. Thompson on her very first visit¡­ What a vixen! No wonder even Mr. Ramirez was rumored to be involved with Letitia! As Letitia approached Neil, Odetta hatched a n, seemingly unbothered, yet discreetly stuck out her foot¡­. Letitia didn¡¯t notice and barely took a step before stumbling over something, her body uncontrobly falling towards the ground. Everything in her hands went flying She let out a startled cry as the ground loomed closer serious, she was on the brink of a fatt, and with her being pregnant, she could not afford such a risk! It could end up in a She had worked so hard to protect this child, enduring more than one could imagine. She couldn¡¯t lose the baby over a fall. Despair filled her heart. Was this fate¡¯s cruel joke? Just when she was about to fall on the floor, a pair of hands reached out in time, encircling her waist, strong and steady, lifting her up ¡°Be careful. The embrace was unfamiliar, the voice unknown. Letitia looked up to see Neil. He had saved her¡­. ¡°Are you alright? Neil asked. Letitia shook her head. Thank you¡­ Thank you, Mr. Thompson! Had it not been for Neil, that fall would have surely ended in disaster for her unborn child. ¡°My god, Designer Sanders, are you okay? Odetta feigned concern, You need to be careful Don¡¯t get so excited about Mr. Thompson that you throw yourself at him!¡± Neil spoke up. ¡°Ms Odetta, mind yournguage He might look genteel, but as thepany CEO, he still carried an authoritative presence Odetta zipped it shut Letitia bent down to gather the documents, Mr. Thompson, let¡¯s get back to business, shall we?¡± She had a hunch about why she fell. The office floor was t, with nothing to trip on. It was Odetta who had tripped her! But without proof, and in the Thompson Group¡¯s office, Letitia chose not to make a scene for now. After a busy afternoon, as she was about to leave, Neil called out to her, ¡°Wait a moment.¡± ¡°Mr Thompson, what are your thoughts on our designs¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m quite satisfied,¡± Neil said, taking out a business card and handing it to her personally, ¡°There¡¯s something familiar about you that I can¡¯t quite ce, so I¡¯d like to get to know you Letitia epted the card, I greatly admire your capabilities, Mr. Thompson. It¡¯s an honor to work with you.¡± ¡°Same here. If you ever need help with anything, feel free to reach out to me.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Thompson.¡± Letitia wasn¡¯t sure what Neil meant. Was he genuinely interested in getting to know her, or was there an ulterior motive? What did she have that would interest someone like Neil? Perhaps she was overthinking it. Maybe, he was just an easygoing person who appreciate talents Neil watched Letitia walk away, slightly lost in thought. ¡°Mr. Thompson, the assistant asked, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen you so into a girl before¡± ¡°I just feel like I know her from somewhere, replied Neil. ¡°Have you met her before, Mr. Thompson? Neil shook his head, saying. Nope, never have But this sense of familiarity is just so strong The assistant was utterly baffled If Letitia swings by thepany, bring her straight to me and take good care of her. Whatever she needs, make it happen.¡± ¡°Got it, Mr. Thompson.¡± Back at the Ramirez Group, Odetta wasying it on thick with sarcasm, Well, you left a good impression on Mr. Thompson on your first meeting and got his business card. You must be proud She pondered, ¡°If I had known, I would have never brought Letitia along!¡± Odetta had nned to boss Letitia around, to show off a bit, but, boy, did that backfire. Letitia ended up getting cozy with Mr. Thompsont it was enough to make her blood boill I¡¯m a big deal, what¡¯s it to you?¡± Letitia stood at the entrance of the Ramirez Group, staring her down. Don¡¯t y dumb with now exactly how I took that tumble ¡°I¡¯m not looking to pick a fight, Odetta. But if you really want to go there, I could ask Mr. Thompson to check the security footage and clear things up real quick!¡± Odetta¡¯s face turned ghostly pale: ¡°Also, I call you ¡®manager¡¯ because I¡¯m polite and well-mannered, Letitia said, ¡°But if you¡¯re gonna throw that back in my face, then don¡¯t expect me to y nice anymore.¡± With that, she left Odetta there and strutted into thepany She e wasn¡¯t the kind of girl to be pushed around. As for small fries like Odetta? Letitia didn¡¯t even consider her worth the attention! Chapter 86 Chapter 86 Besides, it was a close call with Neil catching her. If anything had happened to the kid, she would¡¯ve never let Odetta off the hook! Odetta was clenching her teeth in frustration She hated Letitia even more now. Alright. Letitia thinks she¡¯s so great? She¡¯s just made an enemy for life! Since so many guys are into her, fine, she¡¯ll just go cry to Mr. Ramirez and see how Letitia deals with that! With her mind made up, Odetta beelined it for the CEO¡¯s office. Standing in front of Elgin, she spiced up the story as she retold it- ¡°Boss, Letitia Sanders nearly messed everything up. I took her to meet Mr Thompson to give her a leg up, to mentor her, but she actually flirted with him! How can we keep an employee like that? And to top it off. Mr. Thompson gave her his business card when we were leaving If you ask me, it won¡¯t be long before Letitia¡¯s got Mr. Thompson on the hook. Today she wasn¡¯t just batting her eyshes, she was all over him, pretending to fall into his arms!¡± Elgin, lounging on the sofa with his legs crossed, listened with a nonchnt air. Seeing Mr. Ramirez¡¯sck of reaction, Odetta started to doubt herself. Had she not painted Letitia slutty enough? Just as Odetta was about to add more to her tale, Elgin waved his hand dismissively, ¡°Get out.¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez, I swear I¡¯m telling the truth.¡± Elgin suddenly stood up. I said get out! Scram!¡± His anger was too much for Odetta to handle, and she left the CEO¡¯s office in a hot mess Elgin¡¯s chest heaved, and a vein pulsed at his temple. Letitia¡¯s allure was seriously impressing him! Sure enough, with Walden out of the country, she couldn¡¯t stand being alone. Upon seeing Neil, she latched on to him right away! Elgin kicked over a chair and stormed out of the office. Dusk fell Letitia had to workte until 8 p.m. because her meeting with Neil had set her back. Everything went smoothly, with no interruptions Back at Ivory Towers, as soon as she stepped into the living room, Elgin¡¯s voice cut through, Come here. She set down her bag and walked over to him. He tilted his chin up. The thing in your pocket, take it out.¡± 1. ¡°Take it out!¡± No choice but toply. Letitia took out Neil¡¯s business card. Elgin snatched it and flung it in her face, ¡°Are you that desperate for men? Letitia had a hunch about what was going on, Odetta must¡¯ve ratted her out to Elgin. ¡°I was just doing my job,¡± she said. ¡°Mr. Thompson appreciated my work, that¡¯s all. I haven¡¯t even saved his number in my phone, and I don¡¯t n to She knew exactly what status Neil was in She was pregnant and held tight in Elgin¡¯s dark grip, with no chance of getting close to a guy like Neil Letitio knew her ce. ¡°Why did Neil only give you his card?¡± Elgin shot back. ¡°Because you¡¯ve got charm, because you¡¯re good at hooking men?¡± rip, ¡°Can¡¯t you be reasonable?¡± reston ¡°whatever look on her face Chapter & After all, che was clean, nothing to hide, while Elgin was just¡­ being dramatic Yeah, the guy was being a drama queen! And she couldn¡¯t even defend herself! Seeing Letitia acting like this. Elgin got even angrier. He said darkly. ¡°Letitia, you¡¯ve got to pay the price for your actions!¡± ¡°Just spit it out, how do you want to torment me?¡± Letitia knew that afterst night, Elgin would only be more ruthless with her than ever before. ¡°Kneel¡± Elgin squinted, ¡®until you admit your mistake¡± She didn¡¯t move ¡°Do I need to help you bend your knees? Huh?¡± Letitia looked at him. ¡°I thought not hitting women is your bottom line?¡± Elgin snorted and forcefully nudged her knees! In pain, she fell to her knees with a thud. ¡°Know your cepared to Neil,¡± Elgin said. ¡°Plus, Neil¡¯s got a girlfriend, he¡¯s not gonna give you a second look.¡± Letitia, stubborn to the core, retorted. ¡°I¡¯m not Sh. I don¡¯t go around homewrecking¡± ¡°She¡¯s my woman.¡± ¡°So she¡¯s the homewrecker Elgin bent down, lifting her chin, ¡°Go ahead, use your Mrs. Ramirez title to pressure her. But Letitia, once we¡¯re divorced, if I keep you, you¡¯ll be the other woman too. bing the very thing you despise!¡± Letitia gritted her teeth. ¡°You¡¯re shameless!¡± Elgin¡¯s grip tightened ¡°Shameless¡± she still spat out, her jaw nearly dislocated, but she had to say it to feel better. ¡°Kneel for an extra hour Elgin dropped this line and walked away. ¡°Are you jealous?! Letitia called after his retreating figure. ¡°Elgin, are you jealous because Neil and I hit it off right away?¡± He¡¯d said before that she was the one who got jealous. Turns out, he could get green-eyed tool Elgin didn¡¯t look back, ¡°Neil is out of your league; I¡¯m just punishing you.¡± Jealous? As if! That was one emotion he¡¯d never feel! The living room fell silent, save for the ticking of the clock After serving her time, Letitia¡¯s legs were numb when she stood up, and she had to rub them for ages on the couch. She¡¯d never go to Neil; a man of such refinement and stature was worlds apart from her. But since Neil had personally promised to help, she¡¯d try reaching out if needed. At least she had one more option, one more path. Letitia hoped she¡¯d never be so down on her luck to need it. In the master bedroom Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. As Letitia pushed the door open, Elgin stepped out of the bathroom Casually wrapped in a towel, his muscr upper body glistening with water droplets. ¡°Ah. Letitia let out a yelp, turning her face away. Why on earth can¡¯t this guy just throw on some pajamas after his shower like a normal person! ¡°Who you trying to fool? It¡¯s not like you haven¡¯t seen it all before, Elgin said, cool as a cucumber. And it¡¯s not like you haven¡¯t touched it.¡± ¡°You, you¡­¡± she stammered, her cheeks ming beyond her control Letitia was shy, innocent, with nothing but that one night experience ow could he just blurt out that kind of stuff without batting an eye? shy? Elgin snorted. ¡°If you knew anything about shame, you wouldn¡¯t have gotten knocked up with a bastard ther? Why isn¡¯t he manning up and taking responsibility?¡± Leuta fell silent. She would never forget that night for as long as she lived, nor the promise ¡°I¡¯ll marry you.¡± Chapter 87 Chapter 87 Maybe it¡¯s just wishful thinking on her part ¡°Yeah, the child I¡¯m carrying doesn¡¯t hold a candle to Sh¡¯s precious one,¡± Letitia responded, ¡°She¡¯s lucky, caught your eye in a heartbeat, living the life of luxury. How could I everpare?* Elgin replied nonchntly. ¡°If you were carrying my child, you¡¯d be living even better than her.¡± But how could that ever happen? He hasn¡¯tid a finger on her, and doesn¡¯t n to anytime soon As Elgin walked towards the walk-in closet, he heard Letitia¡¯s whisper-soft voice, murmuring like a mosquito, ¡°What if there was no bad blood between us, would you fall for me? He abruptly stopped in his tracks, ¡°Say that again. Letitia was startled, he actually heard her? Has his hearing always been this sharp? ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± she denied, ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything¡± Theard you Letitia bit her lip. Then why ask? After a few seconds of silence, Elgin said, Without the deep-seated hatred, we wouldn¡¯t even know each other. Like two parallel lines, destined never to intersect, each living out their own lives just fine. Letitia replied. That¡¯s not what I was asking.¡± It was about love. Whether he could love her. Elgin let out a sarcasticugh, Letitia, can¡¯t you feel it? Why even ask? But he would never admit it, not even a sliver! He¡¯s too proud, and she¡¯s too stubborn. Elgin entered the walk-in closet and mmed the door shut with a bang. Letitia ruffled her hair, wondering if she had knelt for too long causing poor cirction and making her brain slow, to even ask such a question. Love? There¡¯s no love between them. It¡¯s all hatred. He hates her, and she hates him even more. They had been torturing each other without mercy. Letitia sat on the floor, nursing the redness on her knees, applied some heat, and gradually fell asleep. When she woke up, it was already light outside She found herself in the big bed, alone, with no sign of Elgin What¡¯s going on¡­ Did she sleepwalk onto the bed again? When did she start doing this? Maybe she should check it out at the hospital someday Otherwise, who knows when Elgin might just toss her off the bed. Arriving at the office, Letitia was heading to her workstation when Odetta came up to her ¡°Yo, what happened to your leg?¡± Odetta asked in a mocking tone, ¡°Someone beat you up?¡± ¡°Nope, sorry to disappoint you I don¡¯t go around seducing men like you. Sooner orter, someone will grab you by the hair and teach you a lesson! Letitia shed a smile, ¡°If we¡¯re talking about seducing men, then as you saw yesterday, I didn¡¯t do a thing, and the guy just came at me What can I do?¡± ¡°You¡­ You¡¯re proud of this?¡± Of course, it means I¡¯m irresistible. Letitia aimed to rile her up. ¡°Unlike you, hanging all over Mr Thompson and still getting pushed away with disgust furning ¡°Fine. Letitia, you better not fall into my hands!¡± capable of hurting me in the slightest retorted Letitia. Ramirez would openly back you up here in thepany! You¡¯re just his mistress!¡± So Odra thought she was Elgin¡¯s mistress How amusing Letitia raised an eyebrow, ¡°To deal with you, I don¡¯t need someone like Mr. Ramirez. Just Vidonia alone could make you regret it. And if all else fails, there¡¯s Mr. Stewart.¡± Unable to outtalk her, Odetta stormed off with anger distorting her face, and she deliberately bumped into Letitia¡¯s shoulder on her way Letitia snorted. Aside from being totally dominated by Elgin, Letitia never lost a battle of wits with anyone else! ¡°Letitia!¡± Vidonia greeted her with a bag in hand and a cheery smile, ¡°Morning¡± ¡°Morning.¡± ¡°Why the long face.. Hey? Why are you limping?¡± Letitia sighed. ¡°Long story.¡± ¡°What is it, did you trip?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Elgin, Letitia answered That scoundrel When ites to punishing her, Elgin¡¯s methods are never the same twice. He could be called a master of variety! ¡°Did he hit you?¡± Vidonia eximed. No way, that¡¯s domestic violence! Call the cops, get him!¡± ¡°He didn¡¯ty hands on me himself, it¡¯s just¡­ never mind, it¡¯ll be okay in a couple of days. Letitia knew this wasn¡¯t a big deal, just a bit numb from kneeling too long, a little blood cirction and bruise treatment would help her recovering. Vidonia was always one for getting even. After such a blow, she¡¯d definitely want payback! Holding back was not an option! ¡°No way, we can¡¯t just let this slide, Vidonia pulled Letitia along. We¡¯ve got to get even.¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Vidonia, stop kidding, that¡¯s Elgin.. Elgin!¡± Is revenge that easy? Is it that simple? ¡°I know.¡± Vidonia snapped her fingers, ¡®But there are plenty of ways to tick him off.¡± She¡¯s always been full of mischief. Letitia looked at her curiously ¡°Come on, Vidonia motioned with her finger, Listen to me She whispered a n into Letitia¡¯s ear Letitia hesitated, ¡°Will this really work?¡± ¡°Of course! It all depends on your acting skills, how you pull it off! ¡°L.. I¡¯ll give it a try¡± ¡°If you¡¯re going to do it, do it right! Otherwise, don¡¯t bother. If you don¡¯t achieve the desired effect, it¡¯s all for naught Letitia gripped her phone, her face resolute, ¡°Okay¡± Vidonia patted her on the shoulder. Don¡¯t be scared, nobody knows you¡¯re Mrs Ramirez! But everyone knows Elgin! Go for it¡± Letitia went to execute the n. Meanwhile, in the conference room¡­.. Elgin sat at the head of the table, eyes downcast, exuding a chilly aura, always decisive in business matters. His subordinates were seriously reporting on their work. Everything was proceeding smoothly, until the ringtone of a phone pierced the silence Everyone turned their gaze to Elgin Everyone at the Ramirez Group knows that if Mr. Ramirez is in a meeting, you¡¯d better put your phone on silent or you¡¯re dead chout But this call, ising from Mr. Ramirez¡¯s own cell and thought, Elgin reached to hang up, but then he saw the caller ID. ally calling him? How add With a flick of his finger, Elgin hit the answer button, ¡°Hello?¡± The others were caught off guard, Mr. Ramirez actually took a call! In the hushed conference room. a gentle, goddess-like voice came through the earpiece, ¡°Hello, honey- The voice was so cutesy, so tender and sweet, it could make your heart melt. Turns out it was Mrs. Ramirez on the line. No wonder Mr. Ramirez picked up! No one in thepany had ever seen Mrs. Ramirez, and today was the first time they even heard her voice! Chapter 88 Chapter 88 Elgin¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Was that the Letitia he knew? Has she lost her marbles? ¡°I miss you- What are you up to- I sent you messages and you didn¡¯t reply, I¡¯m upset!¡± Elgin was speechless. ¡°Did you eat yet, huh? Want me to order something for you? Take care of yourself, don¡¯t overwork, I won¡¯t burn a hole in your wallet Letitia continued. He remained silent. ¡°Babe, why aren¡¯t you talking?¡± Elgin cleared his throat softly¡­ Can you act normal for once?¡± What the hell was she doing? The employees in the conference room were struggling to hold back theirughter, heads down, shoulders shaking, trying not to make a peep. ¡°I am being normal,¡± Letitia squeaked in a voice that didn¡¯t sound anything like her usual tone, ¡°You said you love me so muchst night, babe- Now you think I¡¯m being too clingy? To be honest, Letitia was getting goosebumps herself. Fortunately, she couldn¡¯t even recognize her own voice with that pitch, so¡­ She decided to go all in. ¡°You have to let me rest well tonight, honey- We have a lifetime ahead of us, let¡¯s take it slow.¡± Elgin was beyond speechless, Letitia had definitely lost it. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t bother you, wait for you toe home, muah, love you, honey!¡± In the dead silence of the conference room, someone finally couldn¡¯t hold back a loud cough to mask theirughter. Elgin was still holding the phone to his ear. He had a hunch that Letitia was just messing with him. This little act was both childish and boring. Elgin nced around at the employees sitting below and said expressionlessly, ¡°Let¡¯s continue the meeting. ¡°Yes, Mr. Ramirez. Letitia sat on the toilet, tapped her cheek. Heavens, she had to pull out all the stops in her coquetry arsenal to say what she just did. Good thing no one knows it¡¯s her, otherwise she¡¯d die of embarrassment. She had no idea how Sh managed to talk like that without cringing! Back at her desk, she heard a co-worker bubbling with excitement, ¡°Hurry, check the group chat!¡± ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Letitia asked, Breaking news?¡± ¡°Big gossip!¡± Curious, Letitia clicked into the staff chat- [Holy smokes, that¡¯s hrious! During the meeting today, Mr. Ramirez took a call from Mrs. Ramirez, and her voice was sooo buttery!) (Not just that, it was super sweet and soft! I couldn¡¯t even handle it as a woman, let alone Mr. Ramirez!] (So our stern-faced Mr. Ramirez actually likes that type behind closed doors. ] His wife sure knows her stuff!] Letitia shook her head. Everyone¡¯s imagining the story of a domineering CEO and his sweet wife. Too bad the truth will disappoint them. She and Elgin were always at odds, like fire and water reading the gossip in the chal, suddenly the admin chimed in, Oh no, Mr. Ramirez is asking to join the group chat, delete everything!] A secondter, the group was disbanded. Letitia hadn¡¯t even processed what happened when Elgin¡¯s message came through, [Having fun, Letitia?] She replied with a smile, [Feels pretty good] Elgin didn¡¯t respond further, and she happily dove back into work She had to admit, Vidonia¡¯s idea, though kinda pointless, did lighten her mood. She couldn¡¯t actually do anything to Elgin, but it was nice to make him disgusting for once. Back in his office, Elgin tossed his phone aside Ranen tensed up. ¡°Um, Mr Ramirez. ¡°Are all women this childish?¡± ¡°Uh,¡± Ranen scratched his head, Tm still single, so Ranen was clueless about love, always busy with work alongside Elgin. He¡¯d seen thepany chatter, no clue what the wife was up to Elgin rubbed his temple, shifting the topic, Get the car. To the hospital.¡± He didn¡¯t have time to guess at these petty games. Since he was free, he might as well check on Sh. After all, she was carrying his child. Sh lit up when Elgin arrived, Mr. Ramirez, you came to see me.¡± Nothing beats having a kid, motherhood¡¯s golden ticket! She must really try to get pregnant with Mr. Ramirez¡¯s child for real! ¡°How are you feeling? Elgin asked nonchntly. Tm fine, don¡¯t worry, she replied. ¡°I¡¯ll take good care of myself and the baby, focus on your work, don¡¯t get sidetracked because of 1. Sh was now ying the gentle and considerate¡± card. She figured, men fall for this every time. ¡°It¡¯s tough being pregnant.¡± Elgin patted her shoulder, ¡°Put the acting aside for now, focus on taking good care of yourself.¡± Sh leaned into him, It¡¯s not tough at all. It¡¯s my blessing to bear your children. Actually when I found out I was pregnant, I was scared at first. ¡°Scared?¡± ¡°Scared you wouldn¡¯t want the baby¡­ Elgin frowned. That¡¯s impossible.¡± Though his feelings for Sh had cooled since their first night, he¡¯d take responsibility. Sh beamed. That¡¯s why I¡¯m reassured now, I won¡¯t bother you at all, I¡¯ll behave and rest, don¡¯t worry. As she spoke, she subtly signaled her nanny, Zina. Zina jumped in, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, Ms Ward here only brings good news, never bothers you. She was throwing up this morning, couldn¡¯t eat a thing, and had low blood sugar at noon, had to get a glucose shot¡­ poor thing.¡± Sh pretended to hurry and stop her, Zina, didn¡¯t I tell you not to mention these things in front of Mr. Ramirez!¡± ¡°Ms. Ward, I¡¯m just worried about you.¡± ¡°Okay, now leave.¡± Sh said. That move definitely worked, softening Elgin¡¯s gaze. He sat down, looking into Sh¡¯s eyes, I¡¯ve been nning our future. It won¡¯t be long before we can proceed. Sh¡¯s heart raced, ¡°Can I know what your ns are, Mr. Ramirez? For the sake of their child, Elgin wasn¡¯t as repelled by Sh anymore He said. Look, Letitia and I signed the divorce papers ages ago, and we¡¯re just about a month away from the finish line. Once I¡¯m free man, I¡¯m putting a ring on your finger will the Ramirez n be cool with that?¡± Loo well that Hawley didn¡¯t like her, and her own background didn¡¯t meet the high-society standard Sure, Letitia might be the daughter of the Ramirez¡¯s archenemy, but let¡¯s face it, she¡¯s got the whole package: brains, breeding. and a diploma from some fancy pants university ¡°You¡¯re carrying the Ramirez bloodline, and Grandpa will have to give his blessing,¡± Elgin reassured her. I¡¯ve got eyes only for you, so don¡¯t worry. You¡¯ve got nothing to worry about.¡± if Letitia, knocked up and all, could get the old man to y nice and even make peace with the Sanders crew, then it would be even easier for Sh. Chapter 89 Chapter 89 ¡°So¡­, Sh asked, ¡°Can¡¯t we juste clean to the Ramirez family now and tell them I¡¯m pregnant? You and Letitia can get a divorce ahead of schedule! ¡°Not now.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Elgin answered, ¡°There are still some things that need to be sorted out.¡± Like, for instance, the baby Letitia¡¯s carrying. That one was definitely not a keeper. If she actually gave birth, what would that make him? A man who got cheated! Sh wanted to ask more, but was afraid of upsetting Elgin, so she just nodded, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll wait for you with the baby.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°Actually, waiting isn¡¯t what scares me. Sh tentatively said. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you might fall for Letitia.¡± As saying so, she eyed Elgin¡¯s expression closely That was Sh¡¯s biggest worry. Because that night, the person who had really been with Elgin was Letitia. The one truly carrying the Ramirez family bloodline was also Letitia. She feared that Elgin and Letitia might develop some uncontroble feelings as they spent time together. ¡°I could never fall for her. Elgin said curtly. ¡°It¡¯s absolutely impossible.¡± But was that statement for Sh¡¯s benefit, or a reassurance for his own heart? After spending half an hour with Sh, Elgin finally left. He knew exactly what he had to do next. His marriage with Letitia had just over a month left¡­ Once the divorce agreement took effect, they wouldn¡¯t live under the same roof or share a bed anymore. Nor would there be anyone who could so easily ignite his raging temper. Elgin stepped out of the hospital just as Phedra was getting out of her car She was there to pick up some test results, but she hadn¡¯t expected to run into Elgin! That¡¯s perfect! ¡°Elgin?¡± Phedra put on a surprised face. What a coincidence, I¡¯ve got something to talk to you about.¡± Elgin kept walking, Talk.¡± *Remember | brought Letitia in for a prenatal checkupst time? The results are all in now, Phedra said, all smiles. ¡°As the father, you should take an interest¡± He tly refused, ¡°I¡¯m busy¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do, you know Your grandpa would be heartbroken if he knew about your attitude.¡± Phedra deliberately brought up Hawley to pressure him. She was sure that the results would be a spectacle-she was 100% certain of it Otherwise, Letitia wouldn¡¯t have sent someone to steal the test tubes in the middle of the night to tamper with the authenticity of the results! So, she wanted to invite Elgin to witness the reveal with her, to see the look on his face when he finds out the kid isn¡¯t his! Before Elgin could respond, Phedra was already dragging him into the hospital, ¡°Come on, when the doctor gives some advice, you should hear it-you¡¯re going to be a dad after all Once they reached the doctor¡¯s office, Phedra¡¯s smile stretched from ear to ear The show was about to start! ¡®I¡¯m here for the results,¡± Phedra said. ¡°Doctor, you¡¯ve been working so hard these past few days, stayingte and all.¡± She had been so eager to know the results, constantly urging the doctor to speed things up, and today it was finally happening ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, Phedra. Just a moment, I¡¯ll get the folder¡± ¡°Supe Elgin temained indifferent, hands in his trouser pockets. He was curious to see what Phedra was up to She had previously made a big fuss about getting Letitia to the hospital for a checkup, and now she was dragging him here to get the results. Phedra couldn¡¯t sit still, her eyes following the doctor Just then, Elgin¡¯s phone rang. Tll take this call outside, Elgin said, turning to leave. Phedra nodded, ¡°Okay, okay, just don¡¯t go far.¡± Once Elgin was gone, she immediately sidled up to the doctor, whispering, ¡®Skip the rest, just tell me the paternity test results. Is the kid Elgin¡¯s or not?¡± ¡°Just the test results?¡± ¡°Yes¡¯ Spit it out!¡± The doctor pushed his sses up his nose. ¡°ording to a meticulous medicalparison, the child in Letitia¡¯s belly is indeed Mr. Ramirez¡¯s. ¡°What?!¡± Phedra was stunned. ¡°Is there some mistake? Could something have gone wrong? That¡¯s impossible! She couldn¡¯t ept this oue! ¡°It¡¯s absolutely certain, the doctor replied. ¡°You made it clear before, so I personally took care of it, there¡¯s no mistake.¡± This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Phedra was bbergasted The child actually was Elgin¡¯s! Then why would someone try to steal the test tubes and sabotage the paternity test? But the doctor was reliable, and she had hidden the real test tubes early on, there was no way for a mistake. ¡°How could this be Phedra murmured, ¡®Why The doctor started to say something else, but Elgin came back from his call. Phedra quickly shook her head, signaling the doctor to keep quiet. ¡°So, what¡¯s the result? Elgin looked at Phedra. ¡°Well?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ the doctor says everything is, is fine. Elgin raised an eyebrow. That¡¯s it?¡± She made hime all this way just to hear everything is fine¡±? ¡°Ha ha, Elgin, the kid¡¯s all good, isn¡¯t that great news? Safe and sound. Phedra forced augh. ¡°Did you want something to be wrong? The old man would be devastated¡± ¡°You went through all this trouble just for that?¡± Phedra was at a loss for words. If Elgin found out she had actually done a paternity test, he would surely be furious. She was only the stepmother and couldn¡¯t afford to offend him Phedra waved her hands. ¡°No, no, no, it¡¯s just that the Ramirez family is finally weing a new life, and I want to fulfill my responsibilities, hoping for a healthy grandson.¡± Elgin turned and left, thinking. ¡°What a waste of time!¡± Of course, the child was healthy. Letitia took great care in nurturing it, fearing any mishap, protecting it with her life. How could it not be fine? As soon as Elgin left, Phedra¡¯s face changed She snatched the paternity report and read it meticulously, ending up with a resigned sigh What in the world was going on. Something was off! But the test results were right there in front of her, she had nothing to do but ept it. Amph. Letitia, you¡¯re one lucky woman! You actually bear his child!¡± uming, so pissed that she tore the appraisal to shreds, and stormed out of the hospital with a gloomy face spended over Ivory Towers, Elgin was in the study his gaze fixed on the divorce papers before him. They were all set, signatures in ce. All he had to do now was wait for the right time to alert thewyer and make the split official He thought three months would be the perfect stretch, but he sure didn¡¯t see iting-Sh getting pregnant There was a soft tread of footsteps outside, and Elgin called out, ¡°Letitia,e in.¡± The door swung open. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Letitia was still in her work get-up. Tve been working overtime till now, you can check if you don¡¯t believe me.¡± She was just passing by when Elgin suddenly summoned her in. Today, the tests Phedra ran for you came back, Elgin began, ¡°Did she mention it to you?¡± Chapter 90 Chapter 90 Letitia felt her heart sink Even though she knew Vidonia was stirring up trouble, she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of unease. ¡°She didn¡¯t mention it,¡± Letitia said, her hands nervously sped together, ¡°did she tell you?¡± Yes.¡± She got even more anxious, ¡°What did she say?¡± Elgin looked into her eyes, ¡°All good.¡± ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°What else?¡± Letitia breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°Nothing. I¡¯m just worried about the baby¡¯s health¡± If Phedra found out the kid wasn¡¯t Elgin¡¯s, all hell would break loose, and the current situation would be totally screwed up! And she definitely wouldn¡¯t be able to keep the kid! Elgin leaned back on his chair, saying, ¡°Well, you sure are getting checkups for the little bastard like clockwork. Speaking of which, I should arrange a full prenatal checkup for Sh.¡± ¡°Oh, hope you have a bouncing baby soon.¡± Letitia couldn¡¯t care less, Anything else?¡± She had worked all day, dead tired, just wanting to take a bath and hit the hay. ¡°Yeah Elgin raised an eyebrow, Tomorrow morning, Neil will be at my office. You need to be there ¡°Why? Didn¡¯t you say I seduced him?¡± ¡°Just be there! Ok. As Letitia was about to leave, she caught a glimpse of the divorce papers on his desk. She tried asking, ¡°How about. we get the divorce over with ASAP?¡± Who knew Elgin¡¯s face would instantly darken, You don¡¯t call the shots!¡± She smirked, ¡°Then let¡¯s stick to the timeline in the agreement, it¡¯s almost time anyway¡± Before she closed the study door, she added, ¡°You should chill out. Getting worked up like that will age you quick, might even kick-start menopause Elgin¡¯s gaze turned icy in a sh, but Letitia was already long gone. The next day, as soon as she arrived at thepany, Ranen summoned her to the president¡¯s office. Before long, Neil arrived. When he saw Letitia, he was a bit surprised, then smiled warmly, ¡°Ms Sanders, nice to see you again. Neil greeted her first instead of Elgin This made Letitia feel a little ttered and she quickly responded, ¡°Hello, Mr Thompson Tve been looking over your designs these past few days, I understand you¡¯ve been quite outstanding since your college days.¡± Thank you for the recognition, Mr. Thompson Neil looked at Elgin, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, you¡¯re lucky to have such an employee. Makes me jealous¡± Elgin raised an eyebrow, ¡°You seem quite interested in her. ¡°For some reason, she feels so familiar, Neil said, ¡°like an old friend I¡¯ve known for ages, I wish we¡¯ve met sooner course, it¡¯s just a feeling Neil replied, I¡¯ve never met Ms Sanders before. Letitia nodded along. ¡°Right, right snorted softly, ordering ¡°What are you doing? Go make Mr. Thompson some tea.¡± Tight away This was usually the kind of task for a secretary, but today Elgin specifically wanted her to do it. Just to belittle her in front of Neil, huh? She had to be extra careful now, toe the line and avoid any slip-ups! But things never goes her way ¨C as Letitia handed the tea to Elgin, her hand shook uncontrobly, spilling tea on his trousers. I¡¯m so sorry, Mr. Ramirez! She immediately apologized This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Elgin looked at her with a cool gaze, ¡°What kind of work is this?¡± ¡°TII take care of it right away. Letitia pulled out a tissue, ready to wipe it off. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, it¡¯s just a small mistake, Neil said, ¡°Besides, Ms. Sanders is a designer, this isn¡¯t really her job¡± Elgin scoffed, ¡°This is exactly the kind of job she¡¯s suited for!¡± Letitia bit her lip, crouching in front of him, focused on cleaning the tea stain, cursing herself for not being steady. Elgin¡¯s gaze stayed high, she looked up to meet his eyes, and noticed he nced at her knee. She got it. Crouching wasn¡¯t enough. She had to kneel. No choice, when you¡¯re under someone¡¯s roof, you¡¯ve got to bow your head. Letitia did as she had to. Neil was taken aback. ¡°She¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay¡± Letitia said. Tve disturbed you both, I¡¯ll go make another cup of tea¡± Elgin¡¯s voice was cold, ¡°You can¡¯t even handle this small task, get out, don¡¯te back! ¡°Understood Anyway, he had achieved his goal of humiliating her in front of Neil, so naturally, he didn¡¯t want to see her anymore. Neil looked at Letitia, hesitating. ¡°Mr. Thompson need not pity her,¡± Elgin said with a light smile, this woman is far from as simple as she appears Neil didn¡¯t say anything more, and they started discussing work. But after leaving the Ramirez Group, he told his assistant, From now on, if Letties looking for me, wee her with respect, no need to report ¡°Yes, Mr. Thompson Why are you so kind to Ms Sanders? Neil just smiled, ¡°Seems like she¡¯s got it rough. Consider it a good deed¡± But the real reason, only he knew. Letitia stood by the window, watching Neil get into his car, her mind full of questions. What exactly did Nell find so appealing about her? She touched her face, was it because she looked a lot like an old friend of his? ¡°Ding¡± went her phone, it was an email from abroad Letitia clicked on the email which read (I¡¯m now close to the Ramirez family¡¯s second son, we¡¯ve be friends. In time, I¡¯ll probe for the truth. There¡¯s no rush, no need to worry Take care and wait patiently for me to return. Delete this email after reading.] It was Walden. Even though he wasn¡¯t in AquaCity, his heart was always there. He hadn¡¯t forgotten her, he was doing everything he could to help her. Reading the email, Letitia felt a surge of warmth. Though the road was long and tough, the light and the exit were nowhere in sight yet, but someday, she would reach the end With tears in her eyes, Letitia deleted the email, leaving no trace alone in this fight Suddenly, she wasn¡¯t afraid anymore. up working fate again and didn¡¯t get home until the evening. As soon as the stepped into the living room, she spotted Sh! The table was chock-full of health supplements, desserts, tea, you name it, and there was Sh, lounging like she owned the ce, all snooty, cuddling up to Elgin¡¯s arm. Look who¡¯s back, Sh said. ¡°Just in time. I can¡¯t possibly finish all these on my own. Help yourself¡± If I¡¯m not mistaken, these are mine.¡± Yours?¡± Sh giggled behind her hand. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, she ims they¡¯re hers, Oops, looks like I¡¯ve been munching on her goodies.¡± Elgin shot back with a cool question, ¡°Letitia, what exactly do you call yours¡¯ in the whole Ivory Towers?¡± She had nothing. She arrived alone, and she would depart alone too They were a gift from Mr. Hawley, Letitia replied. ¡°A gift for someone carrying the Ramirez family blood, Elgin retorted. ¡°And what are you, exactly?¡± Chapter 91 Chapter 91 Shughed even louder, ¡°Ohe on, Mr. Ramirez, don¡¯t be like that¡­¡± She was deliberately squandering all those supplements to keep Letitia from getting any nourishment. She hated that child she¡¯s carrying, doing everything in her power to make Letitia lose the baby! ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be in the hospital resting up for the baby?¡± Letitia took a deep breath to keep her cool, ¡°What brings you to Ivory Towers?¡± ¡°The doc said I¡¯m stable enough to be discharged, just need to be careful from now on.¡± ¡°Your home is at Breezy Bay Condos Sh lifted her chin smugly. ¡°Mr. Ramirez said, starting today. I¡¯m living at Ivory Towers. Because I¡¯m pregnant, he wants to spend more time with me, to be there for the baby!¡± What? Sh moving in? Then what about her? How¡¯s she supposed to live from now on? Does she even want to? Sh¡¯s always stirring up trouble, scheming and targeting her and her baby! Plus, Sh¡¯s pregnant too, and if something were to happen¡­ if Sh yed the pregnancy card, she¡¯d be framed and wouldn¡¯t have a leg to stand on! Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°Impossible,¡± Letitia blurted out without thinking. ¡°In Ivory Towers, it¡¯s her or me, not both!¡± Sh might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but she¡¯s definitely not a pushover. If it were just Letitia, she¡¯d take her on, make sure Sh couldn¡¯t stay a day longer in Ivory Towers. But with a baby on board, she couldn¡¯t take any risks And if anything happened to Sh, she¡¯d be sure to get the me! This was a lose-lose situation! ¡°Mr. Ramirez, listen to her, she can¡¯t stand me,¡± Sh pouted, ¡°Fine, I guess I should just leave¡­¡± Elgin raised his hand to stop her, ¡°Sit down.¡± ¡°But she doesnt wee me ¡°Letitia, Elgin asked, ¡°You really think you¡¯re thedy of the house?¡± ¡°I know my ce,¡± Letitia answered, ¡°I¡¯m just stating my position-I can¡¯t and won¡¯t live under the same roof as Sh.¡± ¡°Then get lost.¡± ¡°Fine by me.¡± She agreed instantly, ¡°I¡¯ll move out right now!¡± This was a stroke of luck! Letitia couldn¡¯t wait to get out of there, the farther from Elgin the better! And now the chance had dropped right into herp! Elgin¡¯s face darkened. Stop right there!¡± ¡°You told me to get lost,¡± Letitia retorted confidently, ¡°I¡¯m just following orders.¡± Elgin was speechless. She nearly had him there! ¡°Still want me to go?¡± Letitia asked, ¡°I¡¯d love to move out, not to intrude on your cozy little world with Sh.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even think about using this as an excuse to leave.¡± Letitia pointed at Sh, retorting, ¡°Fine, then she can leave!¡± ¡°Cut the crap, Elgin red at her coldly. ¡°Both of you, stay in Ivory Towers!¡± Her tone was mocking, ¡°Two women at each other¡¯s throats every day, aren¡¯t you afraid the mess?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t harm her, and you wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± Sh had his backing. And Letitia? She had no one behind her, just herself, and she couldn¡¯t fall. Sh said on purpose, ¡°Letitia, as long as you don¡¯t mess with me, I won¡¯t do anything to you¡­ Besides, I¡¯m not one to cause trouble. I¡¯m moving in to nurture my pregnancy, to give the baby more interaction with Mr. Ramirez, to build that father-son bond, you know¡± ¡°When have I ever bullied you?¡± ¡°So many times, I just don¡¯t hold it against you.¡± Letitia rolled her eyes big time. ¡°By the way,¡± Sh added. ¡°The date on your divorce agreement with Mr. Ramirez ising up, you won¡¯t be Mrs. Ramirez for much inger¡± The smug look on her face was nauseating. Vine,¡± Letitia chose to back down a step. ¡°You guys take the master bedroom, I¡¯ll stay on the first floor, and we won¡¯t cross paths.¡± After all, the further away from these two, the better! Sh giggled, ¡°The guest room on the first floor? Oh my, you¡¯ve be a guest now, haven¡¯t you? Should I y the gracious host?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t bear it.¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez, let¡¯s do what she wishes then.¡± ¡°No,¡± Elgin looked up at her. ¡°Letitia, you¡¯ll stay in the back, in the maid¡¯s quarters.¡± With that, the living room fell silent. The butler¡¯s eyes widened in shock, ¡°Mr. Ramirez¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s your status? Not the host, not a guest, the maid¡¯s quarters suit you best, gives you a ce to land.¡± Sh¡¯s face was about to burst with joy. Oh, how satisfying it was to see Letitia brought low like this, it was music to her ears! ¡°¡­Okay.¡± Letitia epted. The maid¡¯s quarters it is, still better than sleeping on the floor of the master bedroom. At least, she¡¯d have her own space now! She didn¡¯t have to worry about sleepwalking into Elgin¡¯s bed, or seeing Elgin¡¯s face every night. A bit of freedom atst! But the butler was frantic, ¡°Mrs. Ramirez, how can you¡­¡± ¡°Elgin is the master here, whatever he says goes.¡± With that, Letitia smiled, ¡°Butler, please show me the way, thank you for your trouble¡± ¡°But.. Elgin¡¯s piercing gaze swiftly swept over. Left with no choice, the butlerplied, ¡°Mrs. Ramirez, please follow me.¡± Letitia walked away without looking back. Withints and pleas, she just left calmly! It really irked Elgin! He got up and strode upstairs. Seeing this, Sh hurriedly followed. She had dreamed of living in Ivory Towers, and now it was all coming true. ¡°Dad was right, having a kid is better than any other means!¡± Sh pondered. Even if Mr. Ramirez¡¯s affections shift or his interest in her wanes, with her child, her status is secure! Entering the master bedroom, Sh admired everything around her, quite pleased, ¡°So spacious, and such a big bed, I love this walk-in closet, it can pretty much fit all my clothes¡­¡± She waspletely oblivious to Elgin¡¯s brooding expression. He stood by the window, the evening breeze gently blowing in. ¡°Do you like this room?¡± he asked. ¡°Yeah, Mr. Ramirez, Sh replied cheerfully, ¡°just thinking about getting to live with you every single day, opening and closing my eyes to you, I feel so incredibly lucky!¡± ¡°Well, you can stay here, and I¡¯ll move next door.¡± Sh was taken aback, ¡°What?¡± ¡°Or, you know, there are plenty of guest rooms upstairs. Pick whichever one you like.¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez, aren¡¯t we¡­ aren¡¯t we going to live together?¡± ¡°Until we make things official, it¡¯s better to keep a bit of space, Elgin replied. ¡°It¡¯s not great for your reputation.¡± Sh shook her head frantically. ¡°I don¡¯t care about that, Mr. Ramirez, as long as¡­¡± I do care, and I have to think about you.¡± ¡®But. Elgin cut her off. Its settled then.¡± take a guest room,¡± Sh said, obviously not thrilled. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, I¡¯ll stay in the one next to you, I don¡¯t want to be too far Alight¡± Chapter 92 Chapter 92 He responded nonchntly, his gaze drifting irritably out the window, where not a soul could be seen under the streetlight, but all the lights were on in the servant quarters. Those quarters were tucked away in a house behind the Ivory Towers, overshadowed by grand European-style vis and easily overlooked. ¡°Mrs. Ramirez, this is one of the better rooms,¡± the butler said ¡°Are you satisfied with it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s pretty good, thanks for that, Butler.¡± How could this be good¡­ It¡¯s just a tiny space¡­ Ugh.¡± Letitia couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, ¡°I really think it¡¯s quite nice.¡± She had been dreaming of getting away from Elgin and having the bed to herself. Sharing a room with him meant even breathing had to be on tiptoes. Now, how liberating it was. She could peacefully work on her drawings until midnight, sleep till dawn, and toss and turn without any restraint ¡°You¡¯re too easy to please. the butler remarked. ¡°Ms. Ward is just¡­ ¡°She¡¯s Elgin¡¯s woman. Better not cross swords with her on my ount, or she¡¯lle after you.¡± After the butler left, Letitia was so ted she felt like doing a happy dance. Having Sh move into Ivory Towers was annoying as heck, but if it meant trading that for the freedom to sleep on her own, it was worth it After all the title of Mrs. Ramirez was never really hers, and the divorce was around the corner. Once it was done, she¡¯d be free from any emotional entanglement with Elgin. Suddenly her heart twinged with a slow, dull pain. Letitia clutched at her chest and turned to freshen up. That night was the most restful sleep Letitia had had since arriving at Ivory Towers! She had a dreamless night, waking up at dawn! She stretched mightily. Time to rise and shine!¡± But as soon as she stepped out the door, she bumped into Sh, who stood there, arms folded, with a coy smile. ¡°Looks like you had a good night¡¯s sleep.¡± ¡°Indeed, a very good one. Typical lowlife luck, Sh spat. ¡°Can¡¯t handle the deluxe master bedroom, so you settle for pigsty living Letitia fired back, You finally wed your way into the master bedroom of Ivory Towers, must¡¯ve been exhausting pulling all those tricks ¡°At least it¡¯s better than your pigsty!¡± ¡°You look all bright and perky. Elgin didn¡¯t touch youst night?¡± Letitia inquired, ¡°Or maybe¡­ you didn¡¯t sleep together at all?¡± Hit the nail on the head, Sh was hopping mad, ¡®We¡­ we slept in separate rooms, for safety!¡± ¡°Safety? What, for the baby?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°If Elgin¡¯s not into you, he¡¯s not into you No excuses, no self-deception, Letitia shrugged. ¡°When I was with him, he was always¡­¡± Letitia trailed off, leaving the implication hanging Predictably, Sh looked like she was about to explode. ¡°You vixen, what sorcery do you use to bewitch men sopletely!¡± ¡°Want to know?¡± Letitia teased with a sly crook of her finger, ¡°Come here, I¡¯ll teach you a trick that¡¯s guaranteed to work!¡± Sh¡¯s heart raced at the prospect. Could there really be a way? She¡¯d better learn it! ¡°You you¡¯ll really teach me?¡± ¡°Of course,e here¡± Sh dagerly leaned in, ready to learn a trick to wrap Elgin around her finger. And then, all she got was a ¡°PH!!¡± Letitia had yed her! ¡°You.¡± Sh nearly jumped with rage ¡°You dare trick mel ¡°When a man truly likes you, you don¡¯t have to do anything. He¡¯ll want you badly enough to do whatever it takes,¡± Letitia said with a shrug. ¡°Looks like Elgin¡¯s not as into you as you thought¡± At least, Elgin had nearly lost control with her several times. And to think he could keep it together in front of the woman he supposedly loved, Sh? This guy was something else, a fortress of self-control. Those who are harsh on themselves are even harsher on others. Letitia was about to walk away when Sh wouldn¡¯t let it go, ¡°Don¡¯t you spout nonsense here, Mr. Ramirez is very good to mel ¡°Oh, then congrats to you¡± ¡°Letitia, what¡¯s with that attitude¡± When Sh reached out to grab her, Letitia dodged. Tve got work, not all of us can live off a man. Don¡¯t waste my time¡± While they were entangled, Letitia looked up to see Elgin standing nearby, watching the scene with a detached expression Upon seeing him, Sh immediately tattled, ¡°Mr Ramirez, Letitia just she just insulted mel Talk about making stuff up. But Letitia couldn¡¯t be bothered to exin. So what if she had insulted her? If Elgin wanted to take Sh¡¯s side, bring it on ¡°Don¡¯t bother with her, Elgin, who had experienced Letitia¡¯s sharp tongue himself, advised, ¡°I¡¯ve booked you the most prestigious and authoritative prenatal check-up at AquaCity. I¡¯ll take you there.¡± Upon hearing this, Sh¡¯s face turned as white as a sheet. She quickly masked her panic, stammering, ¡°Ah. I¡¯ve just had a check-up, just got out of the hospital, everything¡¯s fine. no need for another one so soon, right?¡± ¡°This time it¡¯s with the top doctor, it¡¯ll be more authoritative.¡± Then, then I can go by myself, Sh hurriedly said, ¡°You¡¯re busy with work, no need to apany me.¡± Elgin responded, ¡°I¡¯ll make time. ¡°But a full check-up will take at least a whole morning¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware Sh was even more frantic but tried not to show it, merely nodding, ¡°Okay okay.¡± She¡¯d agree for now, she couldn¡¯t keep refusing, or Mr. Ramirez would get suspicious! She needed to consult her father about what to do! After Elgin and Letitia left for thepany, Sh immediately headed to the psychiatric hospital to find Mark ¡°Dad,¡± she said anxiously, ¡°Mr. Ramirez mentioned he¡¯s arranged a prenatal check-up and will be taking me¡­ How on earth do we handle this? Mark was equally startled, ¡°What? When is he taking you?¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez didn¡¯t specify a time, but it¡¯s bound to happen! What do we do? What do we do! Sh clutched at Mark¡¯s sleeve, shaking it non-stop, scared out of her wits If Elgin found out she wasn¡¯t actually pregnant, everything she had would be lost! ¡°Calm down, take a breath¡­¡± Mark paced back and forth, trying to think of a n of action. Sh was pacing like an ant on a hot pan, desperate. Back then, faking a pregnancy was all about fast-tracking the rtionship and putting a bit of pressure on Letitia. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. But who would¡¯ve thought Mr. Ramirez would suddenly suggest a check-up¡­ His own doctor, too: It¡¯d be super obvious the moment they checked that she wasn¡¯t actually pregnant! ¡°I just can¡¯t fet Mr Ramirez find out Sh sobbed. ¡°Where on earth am I gonna find a real baby bump, dad? Help me out here!¡± ¡°Calm down, I¡¯m thinking: You didn¡¯t let Mr. Ramirez get a whiff that something¡¯s up, did you?¡± ¡°No way! Mark was racking his brains, eyeing Sh¡¯s belly, and he thought of a n ¡°Spill it!¡± Sh¡¯s eyes sparkled with hope, ¡°Dad, if anyone can trick him, it¡¯s you!¡± Chapter 93 Chapter 93 ¡°Ch, this kid. Since he¡¯s a total no-show, let¡¯s just keep it that way!¡± Sh was confused, ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Miscarriage, find a way to have a miscarriage.¡± Mark said, ¡°Make the kid disappear¡± ¡°Dad, if there¡¯s no baby, Mr. Ramirez won¡¯t treat me this well! Mark gave a sinister smile before replying. ¡°This baby, as valuable as he came, should leave with a bang Sh, I¡¯m definitely not suggesting you just casually get rid of it; we need a fall guy!¡± A tall guy Sh¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°You mean Letitia?¡± ¡°Exactly! Mark nodded. ¡°Think about it If your baby ¡®dies¡¯ on her watch, what situation would that create?¡± It¡¯s like hitting two birds with one stone! Not only does it solve the fake pregnancy issue, but it also makes sure Letitia can never bounce back! The crime of killing off the Ramirez family bloodline that¡¯ll have Letitia suffering for a lifetime! ¡°Dad, you¡¯re so smart! Sh nodded excitedly. This is pure genius! ¡°Shush, this isn¡¯t going to be easy to pull off. We can¡¯t afford any slip-ups, otherwise, we¡¯ll be the ones in hot water¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s still time! Plus, I¡¯m now living in Ivory Towers, I see Letitia every day!¡± The father-daughter duo huddled together, plotting the whole affair. it had to be watertight, without any mishaps, to make Mr. Ramirez¡¯s heart bleed and to pin it all on Letitia! From start to finish, Letitia was the thorn in their side, a real pain in the neck! ¡°I got it Sh said with a gleam in her eyes after hearing the whole n. ¡°Dad, to avoid any complications, III seize the opportunity and act fast Mark pulled out a bag of sma, Sh, whether you live the good life in yourter years depends on this one move¡± ¡°Failure is not an option!¡± ¡°After this, Mr. Ramirez will feel guilty, will pity you. You can also grab any chance to actually get pregnant.¡± Sh looked at the bag of sma in her hands and nodded firmly. At the Ramirez Group, Letitia was diligently at work on her design drafts, nestled in front of her computer¡­ Her Radiant Beam design was incredibly popr, it sold out as soon as it hit the shelves, and every restock was snapped up in a Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. sh So, she started working on a series of products like smiley rings, smiley earrings, and so on. ¡°Letitia, go deliver this document Odetta suddenly walked over, ¡°Don¡¯t dawdle, hurry up.¡± ¡°Me?¡± Odetta nodded impatiently. ¡°Yeah, you. Are you deaf or something?¡± Letitia finally looked up from herputer, ¡°You need to speak human for me to understand, you know.¡± ¡°Oh, look at you, acting all high and mighty when I ask you to deliver a document! Odetta, unting her slightly higher position, was bossing her around Alright, Letitia wasn¡¯t going to take it anymore. ¡°First off, I¡¯m a designer, not your errand girl. Second, you have a secretary. Andstly, if you asked nicely, maybe I would¡¯ve considered Odetta said arrogantly. ¡°I¡¯m your boss, so you have to do what I tell you to!¡± She thrust the document at Letitia and tumed to leave ¡°Wait. Letitia called her back, stood up, and tossed the document right back at her. Odetta didn¡¯t catch it, and the document fell to the floor, papers scattering everywhere. ¡°You¡± She stomped her foot in a fit, ¡°You dare toy hands on me!¡± 79 your own fault for not catching it, why me me for it?¡± ¡°Alright then, Letitia, today I will¡­ what? Vidontas voice suddenly cut in. ¡°Making a racket during work hours, whats all this about! Udena¡¯s face changed. Vidonia was a supervisor, mnked above Odetta, and was close with Letitia! ¡®Ms. Bailey, I. I was just asking Letitia to do something, and she snapped on me, talking back and getting physical¡± Odetta exined. Vidoma walked over. Really? in thepany, we should speak ording to the rules. Letitia, seems like there¡¯s a problem with your attitude¡± Odetta, seeing this turn of events, got a bit confused. What? Vidonia wasn¡¯t immediately taking Letitia¡¯s side? What was going on? Suddenly, Odetta felt emboldened again ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± she quickly chimed in. ¡°Now she¡¯s the darling of the Jewelry Department, looking down her nose at everyone. Ms. Bailey, one of these days, she won¡¯t even take you seriously!¡± Letitia coughed Being friends with her for years, she knew Vidonia too well. Whenever Vidonia wanted to really get someone, she¡¯d start by ying dumb. So. Letitia was going to y along! ¡°Absolutely not Ms. Bailey Letitia replied, ¡°Mr. Stewart tasked me with finishing the Radiant Beam design drafts before the end of the month for production. I¡¯ve been working overtime every day, not cking off¡± ¡°Oh, then how did you end up shing with Ms. Odetta?¡± ¡°She asked me to deliver documents. I mean,e on, that¡¯s not my job.¡± Odetta immediately interjected, ¡°I thought you were zoning out in front of theputer, so I figured you could help out! I had no idea youd blow a fuse! ¡°Ms. Odetta, you focus on handling projects, so you don¡¯t understand design. I wasn¡¯t zoning out, I was searching for inspiration¡± Odetta was about to retort when Vidonia cut in, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve heard enough After a few seconds of thought, Vidonia said, ¡°It¡¯s just a document delivery, folks. Let¡¯s stay cordial. But¡­ Ms. Odetta, looks like your secretary¡¯s cking, huh.¡± ¡°Uh? ¡°Thepany gave you a secretary to do the running around, yet you¡¯re out here looking for others to deliver documents, that¡¯s a penalty Vidonia dered. ¡°Dock your secretary¡¯s bonus for the month. You apologize to Letitia, and then Letitia, you apologize to her.¡± Odetta was stunned Docking her secretary¡¯s bonus was like a p in her face! And why should she apologize first?! ¡°Ms Bailey, but¡­¡± Odetta began, still eager to say more Vidonia put on a serious face and quipped, ¡°What¡¯s up, got a problem with that? Everyone¡¯s watching, so chop chop.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Odetta had no choice but to suck it up, ¡°No, I don¡¯t have a problem.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what i thought. You called the shots with Letitia, so you were in the wrong first. She dropped the files afterward, so she apologizes second¡± Under Vidonia¡¯s so-called ¡°fair¡± resolution, Odetta grudgingly muttered, ¡°Sorry, Letitia, I shouldn¡¯t have made you run errands for me¡± Letitia grinned, ¡°No worries, just don¡¯t do it again. My bad for not holding onto the files tight enough.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t just not hold onto the. .. ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± Vidonia patted Odetta on the shoulder, go get those files delivered, don¡¯t hold up the work.¡± Odetta stormed off, furning. Letitia and Vidonia exchanged nces and both sneaked a chuckle If those two teamed up to prank someone, that person wouldn¡¯t stand a chance! Chapter 94 Chapter 94 Tm no match for Elgin, but I can take care of others for you,¡± Vidonia whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t get worked up over someone like Odetta, it¡¯s not worth it, especially since you¡¯re pregnant ¡°Alright. Little did they know, this whole scene was caught on the surveince camera overhead. Elgin watched the entire thing. When he wasn¡¯t around, Letitia¡¯s smile was wider than usual. Her eyes were bright and lively; they curved like crescent moons when she genuinelyughed, just like when he first met her. When she was up to something, her eyes darted around, and her face was an open book of little expressions But what about the Letitia in front of him? Lifeless, eyes downcast, she looked like a tame little kitten But the moment she was rubbed the wrong way, out came those sharp ws, ready to scratch a mark Elgin thought, he had turned her into this Maybe, with time, Letitia would lose her spark and her dreamspletely. ¡°Mr. Ramirez? Mr. Ramirez?¡± Ranen called out a few times, ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Hezily lifted his eyes, ¡°How do you preserve a woman¡¯s childlike innocence?¡± Huh? That question was out of his league again. Ranen thought, why has Mr Ramirez been asking questions about womentely? He¡¯s as clueless as theye when ites to romance. If it was about work, Ranen could answer fast, professional and correct. Does he now need to hit the books on love psychology? ¡°Cat got your tongue? Elgin leaned back into his chair. ¡°Well, Mr. Ramirez. I think Ranen scratched his head, racking his brain, ¡°with love, right? Love should do the trick.¡± ¡°Love?¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, yeah. I¡¯ve heard the ultimate way to love a woman is to pamper her like you would a daughter. With that kind of pampering and indulgence, she¡¯s bound to keep her innocence¡± ¡°Daughter?¡± Elgin slowly said. He couldn¡¯t help but imagine, if he had a daughter, he would indeed treat her like a princess, give her everything, make her the happiest little girl in the world. The Ramirez family, three generations of boys. If a girl came along, she would definitely be spoiled rotten. He wondered whether Sh was carrying a boy or a girl. And Letitia¡¯s¡­ Elgin¡¯s expression turned cold, that wasn¡¯t his child, none of his concern! ¡°How¡¯s the prenatal checkup going at the hospital?¡± he asked, ¡°When is the expert arriving at AquaCity?¡± ¡°They¡¯ll be here this week, I¡¯ve been keeping tabs.¡± Elgin waved his hand dismissingly and picked up his phone. Sh constantly sent a stream of messages, updating Elgin incessantly about her activities, which he found rather bothersome. If it weren¡¯t for that one night, if it weren¡¯t for the baby, Elgin would never have chosen Sh. Never. As evening fell and night descended, the servants at Ivory Towers kept their grievances to themselves, because Ms. Ward was just too high-maintenance. Always nitpicking, and if things weren¡¯t done her way, she would scream and shout Compared to her, Mrs. Ramirez was truly gentle and quiet, cultured and sensible! The butler had no choice but to patiently serve her. ¡°I know everyone¡¯s fed up, just bear with it, she¡¯s just trying to unt her newfound status and power,¡± the butler consoled the servants, ¡°Don¡¯t take it to heart, just keep working. In the living room, Sh sat on the couch, scolding a servant, ¡°Can¡¯t you do anything right? Look at this mess!¡± Tre sorry Ms. Ward¡± ¡°Forget it,¡± Sh sald impatiently. ¡°What time is it now, why isn¡¯t Mr. Ramirez back yet?¡± The butler replied. ¡°Mr. Ramirez has dinner n tonight, he¡¯ll bete.¡± have to dine alone? ¡°Yes¡± What about Letitia!¡± Sh asked again, ¡°Howe I don¡¯t see her, a mere employee?¡± ¡®She¡¯s busy working on her design drafts¡± Sh grew more imitable. Ever since she hatched her abortion n, she had been eager to get it over with. Everything was ready, only Letitia was missing! If Letitia didn¡¯t show up, the whole plot couldn¡¯t unfold! Finally, around nine o¡¯clock, Letitia came home. Sh perked up, sitting up straight on the couch, waiting for Letitia toe in so she could give her a piece of her mind! But she didn¡¯t catch a glimpse of Letitia at all ¡°Where is she! Didn¡¯t she juste home?¡± Sh demanded, ¡°What is she hiding for!¡± ¡°She went to the servants¡¯ quarters, ma¡¯am.¡± Turns out, Letitia hadn¡¯t set foot in the main vi at all and headed straight to her own ce. She didn¡¯t want to see Shs face. ¡°Heh, she thinks she can avoid me? No way!¡± Sh stormed off towards the servants¡¯ quarters, all guns zing. Letitia had just put down her bag when she heard Sh¡¯s voice outside, ¡°Letitia,e out!¡± She frowned, what kind of scene was this woman making now? She decided to just ignore her. But Sh kept on ranting, ¡°Why, are you too scared to face me? You spineless thing, Letitia! If this ce wasn¡¯t beneath my status, I¡¯de in and drag you out myself! Her voice was so loud it hurt the ears That¡¯s when Letitia stepped out. Are you causing trouble because you¡¯re bored?¡± ¡°How dare you say that to me?¡± ¡°What about it?¡± Letitia retorted, ¡°Aren¡¯t you also pregnant? All that yelling and screaming, have you thought about the baby?¡± ¡°Heh, finally showing your true color?¡± ¡°What, you can¡¯t survive a day without pestering me?¡± Letitia leaned on the door frame, ¡°I¡¯m not as free as you, I¡¯ve got tons of stuff to take care of Sh snorted, ¡°Yeah, lucky me, something you¡¯re jealous of.¡± ¡°Oh, got anything else to say? Get it all out, I¡¯m off to wash up and go to bed.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not here to argue with you,¡± Sh replied, ¡°Letitia, remember your dad got scalded with boiling water in jail?¡± Letitia¡¯s expression slowly grew grim. Oh, she definitely remembers. That grudge, it hasn¡¯t slipped her mind. Her dad, after enduring the hellhole of prison, already up there in years, had to suffer through the agony of being scalded with boiling water, a fate worse than death¡­ This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. And the boiling water? It was none other than Sh who chucked it on him! *Remember now, do you?¡± Sh cracked a smug smile. ¡®Don¡¯t worry, your old man¡¯s doing alright. After all, the cash you coughed up did some good. But as for your mom, well, that¡¯s a whole other story.¡± ¡°Sh! What the hell are you nning?¡± ¡°Me? I haven¡¯t done a thing! Just.. paid a little visit to your mom. Letitia clenched her teeth and stormed up to Sh, ¡°Who the heck gave you permission? You stay the hell away from her!¡± Chapter 95 Chapter 95 1 went already, what are you gonna do about it? You think you can touch me now? Sh started to taunt her on purpose, trying to get Letitia¡¯s blood boiling. Looking at Sh¡¯s utterly nauseating smirk, Letitia really wanted to p her face twice over, but she held herself back. All she could do was grab Sh by the cor and war her, ¡°Listen up, you mess with my parents, you cross the line. If you darey a finger on them again. I swear on my life, I will make you pay, whatever the cost!¡± The look in Letitia¡¯s eyes was fierce. She rarely showed such a vicious expression, but Sh really got under her skin The time Letitia¡¯s dad got scalded, she¡¯s been kicking herself for not protecting him better. She couldn¡¯t let that kind of tragedy happen a second time! ¡®Let go of me. Sh stammered, taken aback by Letitia¡¯s intense reaction, ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything to your mom¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way you went to see her for no reason!¡± Sh fumbled with Letitia¡¯s grip. ¡°Let go, I can barely breathe¡± Letitia red at her with a ferocity and finally yanked her hand back hard ¡°With yourck of femininity and your hardened extenor, sneered Susan, ¡°there¡¯s no chance in hell that Mr. Ramirez would be fond of you. You¡¯re just too prickly ¡°To hell with his fondness, came the quick retort ¡°Hmph, but deep down you¡¯re better at seducing men than anyone.¡± Sh straightened her cor seeing that things were unfolding just as she had hoped, and began to rx. ¡°Really, I only chatted with your mom, Sh grinned, ¡®She¡¯s all concerned about you, asking about your life, your love life. So, I just spilled the beans.¡± Letitia¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°What?¡± ¡°You heard me. I just told it like it is. Didn¡¯t sugar-coat or rile her up one bit. Whatever your life¡¯s like, I laid it out straight, not a word of a lie. Letitia clenched her teeth hard. She¡¯d been working so hard to keep her mom in the dark, so she could rest easy and heal without worry¡­ And now? Sh had wrecked it all! No wonder her mom hadn¡¯t calledtely, or tried to reach out. Her mom knew the truth. The people in the world who cared about her most were her parents Knowing she¡¯s been living such a tough life, depending on others, her mom must be so heartbroken, having countless nightmares, shedding so many tears for her. ¡°So what¡¯s there to me me for?¡± Sh chuckled, ¡°Is honesty a crime now?¡± ¡°Sh, you¡¯re downright evil!¡± Letitia¡¯s fists clenched so tight her nails dug into her flesh. ¡°What on earth did I do to you? Letitia stared at her, ¡°Sh, from the get-go you¡¯ve hated me, setting me up. When I was in the asylum, we had no beef! I barely even saw you!¡± ¡°Want to know why?¡± ¡°Yes¡± ??? ??? ? Sh replied, ¡°Abort the baby, and I¡¯ll tell you.¡± Perplexed, Letitia asked, ¡°Could it be the baby¡¯s father has a score to settle with you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not telling unless you give up that kid!¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Lentia¡¯s hand instinctively covered her belly. Everyone wanted this child dead, except for her Because she was the mother Shale slowly approached her with a sinister and venomous grin, ¡®Letitia, haven¡¯t you noticed? All your misfortunes started when you go! pregnant. That child is a curse, a burden. Get rid of him, and I promise you¡¯ll live a much happier life!¡± Impossible! 742 ¡°Now I¡¯m carrying Mr. Ramirez¡¯s child. I¡¯m precious What are you?¡± Letitia gritted her teeth, saying firmly. ¡°I might be down and out, at the lowest point in my life, but I won¡¯t be like this forever!¡± She would get better, slowly but surely, with her own efforts. And Sh? Once she¡¯s away from Elgin, she¡¯s nothing. Standing on your own two feet, that¡¯s where true strength lies! ¡°Ha, look at you now, just like an ant, anyone could step on you,¡± Sh pressed closer, her voice softening. ¡°Letitia, give up the baby.. A car engine sounded in the distance, growing closer. Shera knew Elgin¡¯s car was retuming. Time was up, the show she¡¯d been preparing for was about to begin. ¡°I will never give up! Never!¡± Letitia retorted, ¡®Just drop the idea, you¡¯re not fit to lecture me!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you want to know who the father is?¡± ¡°One day, Ill find out!¡± Sh scoffed, ¡°You¡¯ll never find out Come on. Letitia, let¡¯s go to the hospital. These days, medical procedures are quick She reached out to take Letitia¡¯s hand Naturally, Letitia wouldn¡¯t let there be any physical contact with her and quickly dodged. But Sh was persistent, her hand remained extended. Realizing something was off, Letitia backed away even faster, ¡°Don¡¯te near me, don¡¯t touch me!¡± Yet Sh just smiled, a chilling smile that sent shivers down the spine. Just then, Sh suddenly lunged forward, nearly stepping on Letitia¡¯s shoes. Letitia also stepped back instinctively. but then, she missed her footing! Behind her were stairs! Letitia¡¯s bnce shifted backwards, her body uncontrobly tilting back, her arms iling in the air. ¡°Whoa, Letitia, watch out,¡± Sh¡¯s voice sounded as she grabbed her hand. ¡°I¡¯ve got you.¡± Letitia sensed danger, but it was toote. The force of falling backwards was too great, it was beyond her control, and Sh, of all things, insisted on grabbing her hand, which meant¡­ Letitia pulled Sh with her as they both tumbled down the steps. ¡°Ahh- A scream pierced the night. Elgin stepped out of the car just in time to witness the scene unfold. His pupils dted involuntarily. He saw Letitia dragging Sh down with her, both of them rolling down the steps for some time before finallying to a halt. ¡°Sh!¡± Elgin rushed over immediately On the cold, hard concrete ground, Sh writhed in agony, curling up in pain Clutching her belly, she screamed, ¡°My baby¡­ my baby.. Blood was pouring out from underneath her, quickly staining the ground red Her pants, sleeves, they¡¯re all soaked in bright red blood. Elgin was sprinting over as he shouted, ¡°Sh!¡± He raced to her side, dropped to one knee, and scooped her up. ¡°Mr. Ramirez. Mr. Ramirez. Sh cried out in agony, ¡°My baby, please save the baby, he can¡¯t be hurt¡­¡± Elginis voice was frantic too, Ambnce! Call an ambnce, now!¡± This was his unborn child. With so much blood loss, who could tell if the baby would even survive! Chapter 96 Chapter 96 ¦° Today, he¡¯s been daydreaming about if he had a daughter, how he would ace the role of a doling dad. Raising a girl is a whole different thing from raising a boy. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, you gotta save the baby.¡± Sh pleads, still bleeding like a stuck pig. ¡°No matter what, the babyes first!¡± ¡°Stop talking, save your strength. I¡¯m taking you to the hospitall Elgin, a new dad, fell of hopes for his kid, felt like his heart was being ripped out seeing this He hoisted Sh in a fireman¡¯s carry, giving Letitia a re that could kill Letitia, sprawled on the ground, aching all over and too weak to even crawl, watched helplessly. ¡°Letitia, if anything happens to Sh¡¯s baby your whole family is gonna pay with their lives!¡± Elgin dropped this bombshell and left with Sh, moving like his life depends on it Letitia struggled to lift her head, only to see Elgin¡¯s towering figure getting smaller in the distance¡­ Sh slung to his shirt, as he whispered something looking anxious and tense. Yeah, it was dicey for Sh, pregnant and tumbling down the stairs But what about her? She was pregnant too, for crying out loud! Yet no one gave a hoot about whether she was okay, nobody gave a damn! And if anything happens to Sh¡¯s baby, it¡¯s all on her, her fault! But damn it, it was Sh who came at her, who grabbed her hand, who wanted them both to take the fall. The ground was soaked in blood, looking extra gruesome under the harsh moonlight. Letitia thought it was all Sh¡¯s. But when she looked down, she saw blood seeping out¡­ Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. She panicked! Her baby! Fear engulfed her, and as she tried to scream, she found her voice was gone. The more worked up she got, the tighter her throat felt Letitia could feel it¡­ her lifeblood draining away. It was her child, a life slipping away ¡°No-¡± Her scream was heart-wrenching as she pressed down on her belly. ¡°Mrs Ramirez! The butler rushed in. ¡°What¡¯s happened to you?¡± ¡°The baby, the baby. Letitia¡¯s voice trembled, ¡°Please, you gotta save my baby¡­¡± The butler¡¯s face went white, ¡°Okay!¡± The other servants just stood there at first, watching. But as the butler started to help Letitia up, one maid stepped forward, ¡°Let me help.¡± With her taking the lead, the others slowly joined in. After all, Mrs. Ramirez may not be the boss, but she had always been decent to them. Letitia was in so much pain, she was nearly out cold. Gazing into the pitch-ck night, she felt an eerie calm¡­ If she lost this baby, how¡¯s she supposed to live? That night, Ivory Towers was all lit up, a hive of frantic activity. At the hospital. Outside the OR Elgin stood tall and still, bloodstains from Sh on his clothes, face like ice. ¡°My Sh¡­ my poor girl! Mark sobbed, rushing over, ¡°What in the world happened? She¡¯d only been at Ivory Towers a few days!¡± Elgin stayed silent. Mark was wailing, ¡°If anything happens to my grandchild, I¡¯m done for¡­ Sh won¡¯t survive this blow, Mr. Ramirez, what are we gonna do? What the hell happened?¡± Then, downed on his knees at the OR doors, ¡°I¡¯m begging you, God, have mercy, let Sh and the baby be safe, even if I have to knock ten years off my life¡­ Ugin gave him a sidelong nce, ¡°Sh she rolled down the stairs? or something? Mark asked ¡°No, no way, she¡¯s been super careful since finding out she¡¯s pregnant, avoiding cold fond, no exercise, scared of any risks!¡± Elgin went silent again: He¡¯d seen Letitia and Sh face-to-face from afar after his dinner party. They were arguing, Sh trying to grab Letitia¡¯s hand, Letitia resisting. By the time Elgin parked and looked back, Letitia was on the edge of the stairs, falling backwards, grabbing Sh¡¯s hand at thest second¡­ Both of them were pregnant, tumbling down together. Oh, right, Elgin remembered, Letitia was pregnant too. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, spill it, how did Sh fall?¡± Mark pressed, ¡°Did someone hurt her?¡± Elgin barely parted his lips, ¡°It was Letitia.¡± She dragged Sh down with her as she fell, taking someone to the grave with her All the me, squarely on Letitia¡¯s shoulders. Mark¡¯s eyes bulged, ¡°Her? I knew it, I always knew it! Letitia¡¯s been green with envy over Sh, but but how could she go after a child? That¡¯s stone-cold!¡± Just then, the OR doors swung open The doctor stepped out, exchanged a quick look with Mark, then looked away. Elgin stepped up, voice heavy, ¡°How is she?¡± ¡°Not good,¡± the doctor said. The baby¡­ we probably can¡¯t save it.¡± Mark staggered back, looking like he¡¯s about to pass out. ¡°What?¡± Elgin¡¯s face darkened ¡°Say that again?¡± ¡°Uh, Mr. Ramirez, this the mother¡¯s bleeding out, the baby¡¯s critical, we can only save the mother,¡± the doctor exined ¡°I did everything I could.¡± Elgin grabbed the doctor by the cor, ¡°You better keep trying, I want them both, the baby and the mother!¡± He had just started to taste the joy of fatherhood, and now he was supposed to lose his child? No way, he couldn¡¯t handle this! ¡°Yes, yes,¡± the doctor stammered, scared stiff, ¡°we¡¯ll do our best, but Mr. Ramirez, please¡­ prepare yourself.¡± Elgin¡¯s forehead throbbed with tension. Despite not wanting to face the harsh truth, he knew the baby¡¯s gone. ¡°It¡¯s all over, game over, Mark muttered to himself, ¡°The kid¡¯s gone, Sh¡¯s gonna be heartbroken¡­ No, no way, I¡¯ve gotta avenge the little one! Mr. Ramirez, where the heck is Letitia?! Where is she?!¡± Mark was losing it, hollering like a madman to find Letitia Elgin pursed his lips tightly. Yeah, where the hell was Letitia? She was the main culprit, the one to me! He was about to say something when he saw at the end of the corridor, doctors and nurses rushing a gurney past him, dashing into the operating room next door. Mixed in with the flurry were the figures of the butler and a few servants Chapter 97 Chapter 97 Chapter 98 Chapter 98 Elgin gave the order himself ¨C no one¡¯s allowed to save her kid. Who¡¯d dare cross him? ¡°Doctor, doctor,¡± she sobbed quietly, ¡°what should I do, I really can¡¯t lose my baby¡­¡± She thought, what if one day in the future, the kid¡¯s dad shows up, how¡¯s she gonna exin this mess? Is she really such a loser? ¡°Sorry, I¡­I can¡¯t go against Mr. Ramirez¡¯s wishes either,¡± the doctor answered, ¡°otherwise, he would kill me. And he¡¯s your husband¡­ Husband¡­ pfft. Who would¡¯ve thunk it, the title of husband gives Elgin the power to y God with her child¡¯s life. ¡°I¡¯m getting the surgery, I¡¯m saving my baby, my husband¡¯s words don¡¯t mean anything!¡± Letitia clenched her teeth, ¡°I¡¯ve got a say in this toor ¡°About the surgery costs¡­¡± He didn¡¯t even have to finish that sentence to throw a bucket of cold water on Letitia. Chilled to the bone. Money, she¡¯s got no money right now. But why does money have to be so darn important at a time like this? Does she really have to stand by, watch her child¡¯s life signs fade away bit by bit, leaving her body? No, no, there¡¯s got to be another way, there¡¯s always a way. Letitia turned her head, looking toward the OR door Elgin had long gone, he wouldn¡¯te back, because he couldn¡¯t care less to give her a nce. He must be with Sh, guarding her, patiently soothing her. The difference between people, man, it¡¯s so ringly obvious at a moment like this. Letitia took a deep breath, staring at the bright OR lights above, her vision blurring¡­ But just then, a name popped into her mind. Neil! Neil had given her his card once, told her straight up, if she ever needed anything, she could call him anytime! And he didn¡¯t just say it once! Hope red in Letitia once more. Right here, right now, Neil could be her lifesaver! Letitia, like grasping at straws, suddenly found the strength, even managing to get up on the operating table. ¡°My phone¡­¡± she begged the nurse, ¡°Please, can you get my phone for me?¡± This small request, the nurse could fulfill. Even though they had no clue what she was up to. After some searching, they found Letitia¡¯s phone in a bag in the corner. She grabbed it with delight, tears streaming down, hands trembling, trying hard to focus on the screen. Finally, ¡®Neil¡± appeared, and Letitia didn¡¯t hesitate to press the button. The ringing sounded, each second torturously long. Letitia¡¯s heart was in her throat, praying Neil wasn¡¯t too busy to pick up. Thankfully, after what felt like ages, a warm male voice came through, ¡°Hello, who¡¯s this?¡± Letitia¡¯s tears flowed even harder. She tried to control the lump in her throat, to speak clearly- Mr. Thompson, it¡¯s me, Letitia Sanders.¡± ¡°Ms. Sanders?¡± Neil sounded surprised, ¡°Hello, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Save me, please, I need your help right now,¡± Letitia said. There was silence for two seconds, then the sound of hurried footsteps, ¡°Okay, where are you?¡± This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Letitia held on to thest of her consciousness and rity, exining the situation and location. Neil listened intently, asionally acknowledging with a ¡°Hmm¡± Almost the moment the call ended, Letitia passed outpletely. The phone slipped from her hand, ttering to the floor Nel rushed to the hospital as fast as he could and quickly took Letitia away Meanwhile, Shefas surgery had just finished. doctor regretfully said. ¡°Sorry, we tried our best, but we couldn¡¯t save the baby. The mother¡¯s body has also suffered a lot of damage she¡¯ll need to stay in the hospital for recovery.¡± ¡°My poor Sh!¡± Mark wailed, ¡°This is killing her!¡± Elgin spoke indifferently, ¡°Understood.¡± The nurse pushed the gurney out, moving Sh to a VIP room. Shey there sleeping, herplexion pale. Although¡­ Elgin felt no real affection for her, seeing her like that did stir some guilt within him. He hadn¡¯t protected her well enough. ¡°Mi Ramirez, we can¡¯t let Letitia get away with this!¡± Mark said, ¡°If she could harm Sh¡¯s child this time, next time she might kill Sh!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll handle her.¡± ¡°It should be Sh who deals with her, Mr. Ramirez, it¡¯s a woman¡¯s¡­¡± Elgin raised his hand, cutting off Mark, ¡°You stay here and take good care of her¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez, aren¡¯t you going to wait for Sh to wake up?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°But¡­ how sad she¡¯ll be if she wakes up and you¡¯re not here.¡± Elgin¡¯s lips curled slightly, but he turned and left nheless. He could imagine what it would be like when Sh woke up, making a scene, fussing and threatening. It would be messy. His heart ached too. That was his child, his blood. Elgin was never one to wear his emotions on his sleeve, so he¡¯d have to digest this grief alone, quietly, in his heart. Dawn was breaking, and a new day was starting. After Elgin had left. Mark lingered for a minute, then peeked out the door watching. Once he was sure Elgin was really gone, he breathed a sigh of relief. What a night of close calls. But this was just the beginning! The road ahead was long and tough! ¡°I need to reach out to some old gyno buddies, see if there¡¯s a way to make Sh more fertile, Mark muttered to himself, ¡°That way, it¡¯d be a lot easier for her to get pregnant!¡± At the hospital entrance. Elgin stepped out, looking at the slowly rising sun on the horizon. It was blinding, and he couldn¡¯t help but shield his eyes ¡°Mr. Ramirez Ranen approached, ¡°You haven¡¯t rested all night, do you want to skip the office this morning?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going Ranen could only nod. Before getting into the car, Elgin thought of something else. He looked at Ranen, ¡°Check on Letitia for me, and report back ¡°Will do, Mr. Ramirez¡± The car drove away from the hospital. Elgin dropped the partition inside the car and slipped into the fresh suit Ranen had on deck. Letitia¡­ how dare she?! Her father killed his, and now she¡¯s gone and killed his kid That grudge is gonna stick around forever, ain¡¯t no way to wipe the te clean! As he was nearing the Ramirez Group, his phone buzzed. Elgin picked up, ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez, your wife is not at the hospital!¡± His eyes darkened, ¡°What did you just say?¡± ¡°The doctor said,st night, someone rushed in and took your wife away!¡± Chapter 99 Chapter 99 In a Each Elgin radiated an icy aura that could chill you to the bone. Someone dared to whisk Letitia away right under his nose? Who the heck was it? Where did this knight in shining armore from?! Find out what happened, and I want to know within five minutes Elgin bellowed. ¡°Move it!¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Right away, nght away¡­ He mmed his phone onto the seat, his face dark as a storm cloud. Well, Letitia, you¡¯re quite the trickster, aren¡¯t you? Elgin nced at his watch, counting the seconds tick by, his patience hanging by a thread! Just seconds shy of five minutes, his phone buzzed again. ¡°Talk¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez, the person who took Mrs Sanders is Neil!¡± ¡°Him, really?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± his subordinate answered, and he took Mrs Sanders to a private hospital under the Thompson Group!¡± Elgin immediately ordered. Turn around! This twist was totally unexpected for Elgin. Letitia was one smart cookie, pulling off a Houdini and saving her bun in the oven! Thompson Elite Medical Center In the high-end ward. Letitiay on the bed, pale-faced with her eyes tightly shut ¡°Mr. Thompson, she is stable for now, and we ve managed to save the baby,¡± the doctor said. ¡°But she needs to be taken good care of¡­ otherwise, a miscarriage could happen at any time.¡± ¡°Got it ¡°Il prepare her daily medication, and the head nurse will take care of Ms. Sanders personally.¡± Neil nodded, bending down to take a seat beside the bed. He hadn¡¯t expected Letitia to be pregnant. So who¡¯s the baby daddy? And why was she in the hospital in such a critical condition? This woman seemed to be a walking enigma. Looking at her face Neil felt a sudden pang of pity, Girls should be living carefree, happy lives, and yet you, you must have been through so much Otherwise, why would she be all alone in the hospital, waiting for his rescue? If he hadn¡¯t shown up would her child have been lost? As he pondered, the sound of humed footsteps approached from outside Neil furrowed his brow and stepped out of the room. From a distance, he saw Elgin storming down the hallway. ¡°Mr. Ramirez?¡± Neil said. ¡°What brings you here?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I was about to ask you¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking after Letitia, Neil replied straightforwardly. ¡°But you and her you¡¯re just her boss, right?¡± Elgin had no reason rushing to the hospital for a mere employee. Elgin¡¯s face was a mask of thunder, ¡°Who told you to look after her?¡± got a call from Letitiast night, begging me to save her, so I came.¡± ¡°She sure knows how to y her cards right, finding you,¡± Elgin sneered. ¡°Neil, I¡¯d advise you to stay out of Letitia¡¯s business!* promised her that I¡¯d be there if she ever needed help. A promise is a promise.¡± feels openness didn¡¯t have a bit of deception, but that tone was grating on Elgin. Compared to the ¡°good guy Neil, he simply looked like the devil incarnate! ught save her once, but you can¡¯t save her forever, Elgin retorted. ¡°I don¡¯t care what your feelings for Lettha ore, but from now on stay away from her!¡± With that, Elgin headed towards the room. Neil blocked his path, ¡°Letitia is still unconscious¡¯ ¡°I¡¯m taking her with mel ¡°Why?¡± Neil questioned. ¡®She¡¯s very weak right now and needs hospital care.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to know why!¡± Elgin shook off his hand forcefully, intent on entering the room. But Neil stood his ground, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, she needs rest.¡± Elgin narrowed his eyes, ¡°Do you¡­ do you like Letitia?¡± This woman, she had a knack for seducing men! Despite their deep-seated enmity, Elgin had been swayed by her charms time and again, his heart softening, his emotions stirred¡­ And what about other men? ¡°Mr. Ramirez, you must be joking. I have a girlfriend,¡± Neil replied. ¡°I¡¯m helping out a friend.¡± A catch like Neil would¡¯ve been snatched up ages ago. His girlfriend was a match made in socialite heaven. Rich, handsome, gentle, and responsible Neil any girl would cling to him for dear life. Especially a perfect match, beauty and the brain. ¡°A friend? How many times have you even met? Elgin probed. ¡°Neil, we¡¯ve been partners for years, and I don¡¯t want to fall out over some lowly woman.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t talk about her like that.¡± Neil was staunchly defending Letitia, which only fueled Elgin¡¯s irritation. He made Walden leave and then Neil showed up. At least Walden had wronged her and hightailed it abroad, so Elgin didn¡¯t see him as a threat. But now, if Neil really took a shine to her, Elgin wasn¡¯t sure he could beat him. His needed to win. He was afraid Letitia would be charmed by another man and leave him. This thought darkened Elgin¡¯s eyes even more. His desire to possess Letitia¡­ was the possessiveness a man feels for a woman! ¡°Neil, Letitia isn¡¯t as noble as you think,¡± Elgin said coldly. ¡°Do you even know who she is?¡± ¡°Who is she?¡± ¡°My mistress.¡± Neil was taken aback, ¡°Mistress? Then the baby she¡¯s carrying¡­¡± Elgin replied, ¡°I told her to get rid of it, she wouldn¡¯t, and instead secretly sought your help to keep it. She¡¯s angling for a leg up through her child Doesn¡¯t that make her a schemer?¡± He didn¡¯t rify whether the child was his or not, leaving Neil to guess. But Letitia¡¯s image was surely ruined in Neil¡¯s eyes. Neil was still reeling from the shock, lost for words, while Elgin took the opportunity to kick open the hospital room door and strode in The loud noise awakened the sleeping Letitia She popped her eyes open and the first thing she saw was Elgin¡¯s face, dark with anger That old familiar wave of fear washed over her, and she shrank back a bit involuntarily. ¡°Elgin.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve!¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez!¡± Neil burst in right after, ¡°You¡¯re scaring her.¡± ncing from Elgin to Neil, Lelitia¡¯s mind slowly started to clear¡­. She suddenly looked down at her belly in panic, ¡°My baby!¡± ¡°¡®s safe. Ne said ¡®Lucky I got here in time to get the doctors to operate on you Lente stared at him, her eyes glistening with tears, barely holding back the flood. ¡°Thank you, thank you so much. weren¡¯t for Not she would havepletely lost the child by now 49 ¡°However, he continued, ¡°the doc says you¡¯re pretty weak, and the baby is in a risky spot too. You¡¯re gonna need to be very careful and nurture your pregnancy carefully, or else¡­.there¡¯s still a chance of a miscarriage.¡± Chapter 100 Chapter 100 Letitia nodded and sald with gratitude, ¡°Okay, okay, I got It.¡± Thank God The baby¡¯s still there. She joyfully lifted her hand to wipe away her tears. But Elgin suddenly grabbed her chin fiercely. ¡°Letitia, why the hell does your kid get to live?!¡± The same fall, the same tumbling down the stairs, his and Sh¡¯s kid was gone. And Letitiaes out unscathed? That¡¯s just not fair! Forced to look up. Letitia met his gaze. ¡°The baby Sh was carrying¡­ didn¡¯t make it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± ¡°I get where you¡¯reing from; being a dad for the first time, you must¡¯ve been dreaming about what it¡¯s like to have a kid,¡± she said. *But seriously, it wasn¡¯t my doing. I didn¡¯t do anything.¡± Elgin gritted his teeth, veins popping on his forehead, and enunciated every word- ¡°It was you who fell and dragged Sh down the steps with you. I saw it clear as day! You¡¯ve been out to get her, it¡¯s been on your mind for ages!¡± Letitia shook her head, her voice soft but resolute, ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°No means no. If I messed up, I¡¯d own it, I¡¯d apologize. But if it¡¯s not my fault, I¡¯m not taking the rap for it!¡± Letitia thought But Elgin wouldn¡¯t believe her He only trusted his own eyes, believed Sh¡¯s wailing and sobbing ¡°Letitia, your Sanders family now owes me two lives, Elgin looked straight into her eyes, ¡°and that¡¯s a debt you can never repay!¡± There was a sadness in Letitia¡¯s eyes as she met his gaze. Truth is, the Sanders family didn¡¯t owe him a single life. ¡°I swear, I¡¯d curse myself, Letitia said, ¡°if I, Letitia, had even the slightest intention of harming Sh¡¯s baby, then may I be struck by lightning, die a horrible death, and never be reincarnated!¡± She spat out each word with conviction, her gaze unwavering. Elgin thought, if he hadn¡¯t seen with his own eyes the moment they both fell, maybe he would ve believed Letitia. ¡°Your act doesn¡¯t work on me, Elgin released her, ¡°Get up and go back with me!¡± Letitia¡¯s chin was marked with a deep red imprint from his grip. She felt weak all over, speaking was an effort, let alone walking. ¡°I¡¯lle back, but not right now,¡± Letitia replied. ¡°I need to wait until I¡­ Ah!¡± Before she could finish, Elgin yanked her right off the hospital bed and scooped her into his arms. Letitia had no choice but to cling to his neck, ¡°Elgin!¡± He was silent, lips pressed tight. Neil looked like he wanted to say something, but a cold nce from Elgin shut him down, ¡°Stay out of this, it¡¯s family business. Neil was in a tough spot.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. On one hand, he wanted to help Letitia, but Letitia was Mr. Ramirez¡¯s mistress¡­ Such a good girl, why¡¯d she have to go down that road? Seeing Neil¡¯s expression, Letitia thought Elgin might have spilled the beans about their secret marriage. Spousal issues, indeed, others shouldn¡¯t interfere So she felt a twinge of guilt, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Thompson¡­ I¡¯ll never forget this favor¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. As long as you¡¯re doing well, that¡¯s all that matters to me.¡± In the vast sea of people, having someone who¡¯s neither kith nor kin yet willing to lend a hand is already a stroke of luck. Letitia thought, when the opportunity arises, she¡¯d definitely repay this kindness. Elgin carried her out with long strides. The hospital was bustling, and with Elgin¡¯s striking looks and strong presence, they turned more than a few heads. is, nestled in his arms, was too embarrassed to meet the gazes of onlookers. me down, she said, ¡°I can walk on my own.¡± Are you sure about that?¡± the hospital of I had to Els reply was coll. Save that energy to go beg for Sh¡¯s forgiveness? ¡°Beg her?¡± Letitia rolled her eyes, ¡°You want me to apologize?¡± ¡°What did ! do wrong?¡±¡± ¡°The kid¡¯s death is on you; you dragged her down those steps, causing her miscarriage!¡± Elgin¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, his voice was hoarse. ¡°Letitia, you¡¯re a murderer!¡± A murderer? What a joke¡­. Letitia remembered the situation all too well. It was Sh who was closing in, Sh who provoked her, even went to the hospital to torment Malinda¡­ Letitia had her back to the stairs, she hadn¡¯t noticed what was behind or beneath her, but Sh must have seen it. The crucial point was, when she was about to fall, given Sh¡¯s character, not giving her a push would have been merciful enough, so why on earth did she reach out to her? Sh would never want to save her. So why did she do it? Letitia racked her brain but couldn¡¯t figure out Sh¡¯s motive Once, Sh had kidnapped her from thepany: Mark faked an illness, then had her donate blood to save someone¡­ They¡¯d always been out to get rid of the baby in her belly. Letitia¡¯s face turned pale. She followed Elgin to the VIP ward She walked slowly, protecting her belly, not begging for mercy, not uttering a word. ¡°Here theye.¡± Mark stood by the window, spotting Elgin and Letitia¡¯s figures, and immediately said, ¡°Sh, it¡¯s all on your performance now!¡± Sh half-reclined on the bed, ¡°Got it. Dad. Just chill¡± ¡°Sh, I really gotta hand it to you, you were amazingst night!¡± ¡°Hmph, as if Letitia couldpete with me. I just provoked her a little, and she got emotional. Her guard was down, and I seized the moment Mark gave her thumbs up repeatedly. ¡°The look on Mr. Ramirez¡¯s face when you were wheeled out of the OR, pure pity.¡± Sh looked at her t belly, ¡°I just hope it does me proud and I really get pregnant soon. Then I can truly rx.¡± ¡°Absolutely, now that Letitia¡¯s kid is out of the picture, we can all breathe easy. Otherwise, it¡¯s always a worry¡± Only they knew that Letitia was carrying Elgin¡¯s child. It was a ticking time bomb. Who knows when it would go off, and they¡¯d be done for. Now that it¡¯s gone, no more walking on eggshells. Before Letitia even reached the hospital room door, she could hear Sh¡¯s heart-wrenching sobs. ¡°Dad, how am I going to live now¡­ the baby, that was mine and Mr. Ramirez¡¯s child. I was looking forward to weing him into the world! And now? It¡¯s all gone, vanished into thin air¡­ Mr. Ramirez must be devastated, I¡¯m such a failure!¡± ¡°I might as well be dead, I couldn¡¯t even protect my own child!¡± Letitia¡¯s face remained impassive Sh¡¯s antics of crying, making a scene, and threatening to end it all were really her go-to moves, weren¡¯t they? Meanwhile, Elgin picked up the pace and burst through the hospital room door ¡°Mr. Ramirez, thank goodness you¡¯re here, Mark said anxiously, ¡°Please,e and talk some sense into Sh She¡¯s threatening to jump off the building!¡± Chapter 101 Chapter 101 Peta kajl Struggling towards the window, her face streaked with tears, ¡°Let me go, Dad, let me die, I wanna join my baby in death Dee¡¯t, held up, Shels, don¡¯t do anything stupid Figin stepped forward, taking Sh from Mark¡¯s grasp. ¡°Wh, don¡¯t cry ¡°Mr. Ramirez, Sheia leaned into him, I¡¯m useless, just yell at me, it¡¯s all my fault.¡± Elgin silently petied her back He was hurting too, just keeping it under wraps, pain tucked away in his heart Sh lifted her hand and wiped away the tears, turning her gaze to Letitia Sanders. Seeing that calcting look in her eyes, Letitia sensed trouble brewing. Sure as the sun, Sh was about to y the victim card. ¡°Moving into Ivory Towers was Mr. Ramirez¡¯s idea, he wanted me to take care of the pregnancy, I get that you¡¯re upset, but¡­ Sh¡¯s eyes welled up, ¡°why did you have to hurt me?¡± Me? Hurt you?¡± 1 saw you miss a step, about to fall down the stairs, and I was trying to be nice, so I helped you. And what did I get? You grabbed my hand and yanked me down with you! Letitia, I was pregnant! That fall caused me my baby!¡± She knew it. Sh was going to pin it all on her! Letita quickly defended herself, ¡°I tripped by myself, but, youered me at the edge! I was falling, and I didn¡¯t grab you, you reached out for my hand! You¡¯re pregnant, why the heck didn¡¯t you steer clear of me? Instead, youe at me with this pretense of helping! Sh, all pitiful, ¡°So now helping you is my fault?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t help me! You fell on me!¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez Sh looked up at Elgin, ording to Letitia here, I deliberately fell and caused myself miscarriage. That¡¯s one hell of an usation, I can¡¯t carry that cross!¡± Letitia was taken aback. She¡¯d spoken too hastily, inadvertently turning the tables on Sh. Even if that was the case, she shouldn¡¯t have been so blunt in front of Elgin. Now, Elgin was sure to loathe her even more! As expected, Elgin¡¯s icy gazended on her, ¡°Got anything else up your sleeve besides shifting the me? Sh¡¯s child is gone, and you¡¯re pointing fingers at her? ¡­ Letitia clenched her teeth, ¡°If I really wanted to screw over Sh, why would I fall down the stairs with her, in such a boneheaded way that I¡¯d risk my own skin? I¡¯m pregnant too!¡± Such a no-brainer, couldn¡¯t Elgin see that? She valued her child¡¯s safety above all, she wouldn¡¯t take such a wild risk! But then, Elgin spoke gravely, ¡°Your child is still okay. Sh¡¯s child is gone. With that, both Sh and Mark¡¯s eyes widened in shock. What?! Letitia didn¡¯t miscarry! What in the world was going on! Could Letitia be that lucky? To go through all that and still keep the baby! That¡¯s just not fair! ¡°It¡¯s fate, out of anyone¡¯s hands,¡± Letitia replied, ¡°I almost lost my child too¡± Shefs was shaking with rage, pointing at her words failing her. ¡°You, you you.¡± After all that effort, Letitia¡¯s kid was still hanging in there! Mar was beside himself with anger but had to swallow his words. in the end, Shele stamped her foot and wailed, ¡°This is so damn unfair, Letitia, you kill my baby and yours gets off scot-free¡­ where¡¯s the jarmor? Why is my life so cursed said, ¡°The child she¡¯s carrying isn¡¯t mine, don¡¯t overthink it know you said you never slept with her, and I believe you. Sh sobbed. ¡°But, but her child is still alive! What am I supposed to dest riserable, I migh With that, she suddenly shoved Elgin and flung herself towards the wall. Mark shouted, ¡°Sh! Don¡¯t be foolish!¡± As if Sh would really hurt herself to bits, she slowed down on purpose, giving enough time for Elgin to grab her and pull her husk Struggling, she cried out, ¡°Let go of me, Mr. Ramirez, I¡¯m such a failure, couldn¡¯t even protect my child, can¡¯t even get revenge. It¡¯s clearly Letitia¡¯s fault, and she¡¯s turning it around on me¡­¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Elgin held her down, his gaze cold as he looked at Letitia, ¡°Who said you can¡¯t get revenge?¡± ¡°Mr Ramirez..¡± ¡°Whatever you want done to Letitia, that¡¯s what she¡¯ll have to face. She owes you that.¡± A flicker of triumph crossed Sh¡¯s eyes. That¡¯s what she wanted! If she couldn¡¯t off Letitia¡¯s baby, she¡¯d torture her, bide her time for the next strike! ¡®She has to repent, atone, and apologize for my child¡¯s death,¡± Sh dered. ¡°She caused all this, she¡¯s gotta pay the price!¡± Seeing this, Mark quickly agreed, ¡°Right¡¯ Letitia, get on your knees and beg for forgiveness!¡± ¡°On my knees? To you?¡± Letitia let out a scornfulugh, ¡°In your dreams!¡± Yet Mark was already on her, pushing down on her shoulders, ¡°Do it! Kneel until Sh forgives you!¡± ¡°Get off me!¡± ¡°You¡¯re challenging me? Mark retorted, ¡°Haven¡¯t you brought enough disaster upon us? It¡¯s the least you can do!¡± He forced Letitia to kneel, but she stood ramrod straight, not bending an inch, resisting him with all her might. She didn¡¯t need anyone¡¯s approval, had done no wrong, harbored no malice, and she sure as hell wouldn¡¯t kneel! Kneeling would mean admitting she was responsible for Sh¡¯s baby! ¡°Well, well, you¡¯ve got some strength, Mark kicked at her knee, ¡°I don¡¯t believe you can keep standing forever!¡± Letitia was stubborn as theye. No matter what Mark tried, she stayed on her feet. And all the while, she kept her eyes on Elgin. ¡°Trying to break me? Letitia said with a lightugh, ¡°Right in front of you all, I¡¯ll make it crystal clear today, I never intend to hurt anyone, and I didn¡¯t cause Sh¡¯s baby¡¯s death!¡± Mark was fuming, ¡°Shut your trap and get on your knees!¡± As he tried to kick her again, Elgin stepped in, ¡°Back off.¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez, but¡­ Elgin walked over to Letitia and looked down at her defiant stance. Ever since he¡¯d known her, she¡¯d been this stubborn. Even now, after going through so much, no matter what happened, she hadn¡¯t changed a bit. Sometimes he¡¯d think, if only Letitia could be a bit morepliant, a little more docile, she could¡¯ve saved herself a lot of grief. But no, she just wouldn¡¯t have it ¡°Did you forget my warning? Any harm to the kid, and the Sanders family would pay with their lives?¡± Elgin raised an eyebrow, ¡°So, is the entire Sanders n stepping up, or are you going to shoulder the consequences alone?¡± Chapter 102 Chapter 102 The resolve in Letitia¡¯s eyes crumbled in an instant with his words. Her family had always been her weakness Get it now? Elgin asked, ¡®So, what should you do, need me to spell it out for you?¡± Letitia was nearly biting her lower lip to bleeding. Elgin didn¡¯ty a finger on her, didn¡¯t touch her, but those few words made her want to kneel on her own. ¡°Elgin¡­ you¡¯re ruthless.¡± He just lifted his chin a bit, quietly waiting for her to bow down. Letitia shook off Mark¡¯s hand, licked the blood at theer of her lips, a taste of iron and sweetness. All her dignity, Elgin could easily stomp it under his feet Just now, Mark couldn¡¯t make her bend her knees no matter what, but now, she was slowly getting ready to kneel. Right then¡­ ¡°Letitia!¡± A crisp voice rang out, and everyone¡¯s heads tumed towards the door in unison. Vidonia Bailey burst in, quick as a sh to support Letitia, ¡°What the heck are you doing!¡± Vidonia¡­¡± ¡°Damn it,¡± Vidonia steadied her, ¡°I knew something was up when you didn¡¯t show up for work!¡± ¡°How did you get here?¡± ¡®I came looking for you,¡± Vidonia said, ¡°I had to pull some strings with Samson Stewart to find out you were here, and I rushed over.¡± Letitia nudged her, ¡°You go back to the office first.¡± ¡°No, if we¡¯re leaving, we¡¯re leaving together.¡± Vidonia looked at Sh and Mark, ¡°What are you trying to pull? You want to mess with Letitia, you¡¯ll have to get through me first!¡± Sh gritted her teeth, ¡°Why is it always you!¡± This Vidonia, always ruining her ns, always got Letitia¡¯s back with Mr. Stewart in her corner, always butting heads with her! ¡°Why? Got a problem?¡± Vidonia shot back, ¡°Is the hospital your family property? You¡¯re the only one who cane?¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez! Sh, unable to win the argument, could only seek help from Elgin again. Vidonia chuckled, ¡°What, you don¡¯t have a voice of your own? Is Mr. Ramirez your official spokesperson?¡± While giving Sh a piece of her mind, she checked Letitia over. Seeing that Letitia had no obvious injuries, she breathed a sigh of relief. But. ¡°Why do you look so pale? Your hands are ice cold.¡± Vidonia warmed her hands, ¡°What happened?¡± Letitia truly didn¡¯t know where to begin. She opened her mouth, then swallowed the words back.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Mark burst out angrily, ¡°Letitia dragged Sh down the stairs, causing Sh to miscarry. This murderer, this culprit, we obviously have to settle the score with her!¡± ¡°What!¡± Vidonia eximed, ¡°You fell down the stairs? How¡¯s my godson? Is he still there?¡± Letitia patted her hand, ¡°I¡¯m fine, the baby¡­ luckily, is fine too¡± Vidonia heaved a sigh of relief, ¡°Thank goodness, you scared me to death.¡± ¡°Hey, did you miss the point?¡± Mark intervened dissatisfied, ¡°Sh miscarried!¡± Who is this woman? So rude and loud! Sh¡¯s miscarriage, what¡¯s that got to do with me?¡± Vidonia said, ¡°If it¡¯s gone, it¡¯s gone. As long as Letitia is alright.¡± ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡± The truth! Shows that karma¡¯s real!* Mark pointed at her, ¡°Who are you to talk like that?!¡± Who I am is none of your business. Let me tell you, Sh¡¯s miscarriage is karma Vidoniaughed, ¡°She¡¯s the other woman, carrying an Megitimate child, unrecognized and unnamed. It¡¯s gone, so be it. Even the heavens couldn¡¯t stand it.¡± The thought of Elgin being married and having a child with Sh sent chills down her spine. What a piece of work. Let¡¯s go, Letitia, Vidonia pulled Letitia, ¡®We¡¯re going home.¡± in ciitical moments, there¡¯s always a true friend who would steps up, not asking about the situation, not minding right or wrong, unconditionally on your side¡­. ¡°You want to leave? No way!¡± Mark blocked their path, You can leave, but Letitia stays!¡± ¡°Who are you to keep her? What right do you have to restrict our freedom?¡± ¡°She killed Sh¡¯s baby!¡± Vidonia retorted, ¡°Do you have proof? They both fell together. I haven¡¯t even started with you on upsetting Letitia¡¯s pregnancy! ¡°Mr. Ramirez, who is this woman¡­¡± Mark was exasperated, ¡°She is so rude!¡± Elgin nced at Vidonia, ¡°Get out, this isn¡¯t the ce for you.¡± I was about to leave, but there¡¯s a dog in the way!¡± Mark puffed up. ¡°Who are you calling a dog!¡± ¡°Whoever¡¯s blocking the way!¡± ¡°Letitia stays Elgin spoke, You can go.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not happening, i¡¯m taking her with me.¡± ¡°No chance.¡± Vidonia huffed, ¡®Elgin, either you divorce now and marry Sh, letting Letitia go. It¡¯s not like she can¡¯t live without you.¡± ¡°She thinks she can take the kid and get away scot-free? Dream on!¡± ¡°The kid¡¯s not yours, why do you care so much!¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s not mine, and she killed mine, Letitia has to pay!¡± Vidonia¡¯s temper red, not caring that she was facing the powerful Elgin, and started arguing. ¡°Letitia fell too, she didn¡¯t push Sh, how can you shift the me onto her? Maybe, it was Sh who trapped her, pulling her down on purpose!¡± Sh screamed, ¡°You¡¯re framing me!¡± ¡°Whether it¡¯s framing, you know best!¡± ¡°Do you really think I¡¯d harm my own child to frame Letitia?¡± Sh said, ¡°Am I that cruel?¡± ¡°Yes Sh¡¯s face nearly twisted out of shape. Vidonia¡¯s gaze darted between her and Mark, ¡°To me, this looks like your scheme. Trying to kill Letitia¡¯s baby and then pin it on her¡­ And what happened? It backfired, karma found you, and you harmed yourself!¡± Vidonia was undefeated when it came to arguments. She never lost a fight Elgin¡¯s eyes went icy as he reached out to grab Letitia¡¯s hand, but she dodged it in a sh. ¡°Letitia,¡± Elgin¡¯s hand froze in mid-air, ¡°Come here!¡± ¡°No.¡± She sternly said. If Vidonia could stand up for her, facing off against these folks for her, how could she show any weakness! Elgin squinted his eyes, ¡°Defying me? You know the consequences¡± Letitia met his gaze with serene defiance. The tension¡­ was about to explode. Just then, Samson walked in, ¡°Hey, what¡¯s the buzz? The car¡¯s waiting downstairs, Vidonia, let¡¯s hit the road.¡± With that, he ushered Vidonia and Letitia out first, covering their exit ¡°Samson Stewart, Elgin called out in a tone that resonated with an underlying threat Samson said with a chuckle, ¡°Chill out, getting angry only adds wrinkles and fast-forwards you to menopause.¡± Elgin made a move to grab Letitia, but Samson quickly stepped in, ¡°Cool It, man. Take a breather before you do something you can¡¯t take back.¡± He was stalling, slowly making his way outside. Just as Elgin was about to blow his top, Samson quickly ran away. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, I can¡¯t just let my baby die for nothing,¡± Sh wailed, tugging on his sleeve, ¡°I didn¡¯t even start to put up a fight, all Dad wanted was for Letitia to apologize, and she acted all high and mighty like she¡¯d rather die than give in¡­ Do I look like a pushover?¡± ¡°Exactly, we¡¯re talking about a precious life here, Letitia has to answer for what happened no matter what!¡± Mark said, giving Sh a secret nod on the down low. Sh got the hint right away. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, you¡¯ve got to stand up for me. Our baby, we waited so long, it was so precious¡­ I still feel like he¡¯s here, in my belly, keeping mepany.. Before she could finish, Sh crumpled to the ground like a rag doll. ¡°Sh!¡± Mark shouted, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, Sh¡¯s fainted!¡± Elgin caught her, ¡°Get a doctor, now¡± His mind was a mess, a raging inferno. He wanted to confront Letitia, but with Sh out cold, he was stuck. In the car, Letitia sat in the back seat, gently caressing her belly. It was only now that a wave of relief hit her. Her baby had really dodged a bullet. After tumbling down the stairs and missing the surgery window, the little one was still holding on inside her. Her brave little trooper. ¡°What the hell happened?¡± Vidonia demanded, ¡°Letitia, spill the beans.¡± Letitiaid out the whole story, sparing no details. ¡°Holy smokes! Did Elgin even think before he acted?! He¡¯s like a freaking executioner! And Sh, what a sneaky fox! She came to grab your hand? Yeah, right. As if she was gonna save you ¨C she¡¯d be doing good not to kick you while you¡¯re down. It was a setup! It had to be!¡± Vidonia was fuming, barely able to believe Letitia had made it through. ¡°Quit your yapping,¡± Samson said as he drove, ¡°The biggest issue now is that Sh¡¯s baby is really gone.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what she gets! Maybe she thought she¡¯d be fine if shended on Letitia, using her as a cushion, but ended up screwing herself over instead, and Letitia walked away without a scratch!¡± ¡°Elgin doesn¡¯t care about the process, only the oue,¡± said Samson. Vidonia rolled her eyes, ¡°Whose side are you on, anyway?¡± ¡°Yours, of course. Why else would I have bolted to the hospital to save you two?¡± Samson replied, ¡°This is a hot mess, Letitia. It¡¯s something you and Elgin have to hash out between yourselves.¡± They can¡¯t save her everytime, it¡¯s like trying to settle a family feud as an outsider. Samson added a word of caution, ¡°And whatever you do, don¡¯t bring up Neil Thompson in front of Gin again.¡± ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for Neil, Letitia¡¯s baby would be gone,¡± Vidonia said, ¡°Man, I used to think Walden Sullivan was a jerk, didn¡¯t deserve you, bailed on you when the going got tough. But now,pared to Elgin, any guy seems like a saint.¡± ¡°Right? Now you see how great I am,¡± Samson bragged. ¡°Get lost.¡± Letitia kept her head down, silent. Elgin had been a real piece of work to her, detestable and hateful. Throughout their marriage, he had never invested his heart, only using her. And the blood feud between their families was making things worse. But to Sh¡­ he had been nothing short of perfect. Meticulously caring, matenally generous, always there to lend a hand ¨C when Sh wanted to act, he set up an entire film division just for her So, you see, there¡¯s no such thing as a total jerk; it¡¯s just that his warmth isn¡¯t for you. don¡¯t know what Sh¡¯s endgame is. Maybe she¡¯s using the loss of the baby as a ploy to break me, to make Elgin despise me. Letitra roused. ¡°She seeded.¡± Dock of vory Towers. Letitia stond silently at the entrance to the servants¡¯ quarters, eyeing the steps. Chapter 103 Chapter 103 This was where she had fallen. Now, the blood had been washed away by the servants, the steps gleaming clean, as if all traces of the incident had been erased. Reflecting on the events, Letitia felt more convinced that Sh had nned it all Causing a scene at the entrance, forcing her to show up, deliberately bringing up the visit to Malinda to stir up her emotions, edging closer and closer, pushing her to the brink of the stairs. ¡°Mrs. Ramirez, the butler¡¯s voice broke the silence, ¡°You¡¯re back.¡± She nodded faintly, ¡°Yeah. But I feel like I don¡¯t belong here anymore.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still Mrs. Ramirez. ¡°Do you believe me?¡± Letitia looked at the butler, ¡°Do you think I caused Sh¡¯s miscarriage?¡± The butler replied, ¡°I believe in you, Mrs. Ramirez.¡± Letitia smiled. No matter how bleak or tragic life gets, there¡¯s always someone with a heart of gold. ¡°But everyone believes me except for Elgin.¡± She sighed, ¡°He said, I personally killed his child, and now the Sanders family owes him another life.¡± There¡¯s always a way to find evidence, to clear your name, Mrs. Ramirez¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that easy Sh has covered her tracks well, there¡¯s no w to pick at¡­¡± Unless Sh herself admits it, but that¡¯s hardly likely. Returning to the servants quarters, Letitia, worn out in body and soul, quickly fell asleep. After an unknown stretch of time, feeling as though someone was watching her, her intuition tingling, Letitia opened her eyes to find Elgin standing by the bed. Startled, she scrambled to the corner of the bed, ¡°When¡­ when did youe in?¡± This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Elgin just looked at her with a nk expression. As soon as he got home, he came looking for Letitia, wanting to confront her, to punish her severely, to see her helpless and powerless. But seeing her sleeping so peacefully, it was weird, but all his anger just melted away in that moment. He didn¡¯t wake her up, just silently watched her as she slumbered. It wasn¡¯t until she woke up that Elgin went back to his cool demeanor, the tenderness in his eyes as if it had never been there. ¡°You sure are sleeping like a baby,¡± he started, ¡°Aren¡¯t you troubled by a guilty conscience or gued by nightmares?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got nothing to hide, I¡¯m sleeping just fine.¡± Elgin raised an eyebrow, ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°For thest time, I didn¡¯t cause Sh¡¯s miscarriage, I¡¯m innocent,¡± Letitia locked eyes with him, ¡°I can¡¯t prove it now¡­ but, I will find the evidence to clear my name.¡± The room fell into silence. Thinking he didn¡¯t believe her, Letitia quickly added, ¡°Just give me a little time!¡± Chapter 104 Chapter 104 She would do anything to dig up the truth. After a long pause, Elgin said, ¡°I can trust you¡± Letitia blinked, totally gobsmacked. Did she hear that right? Did Elgin say he had trust in her? ¡°Are you for real?¡± Letitia asked cautiously, ¡°You believe I didn¡¯t harm her?¡± ¡®I don¡¯t want to dig into this anymore.¡± Whether it was a deliberate tumble or an ident, it was lethal for both pregnant women. Letitia was even more bbergasted, ¡°You won¡¯t me it on me anymore? Just like that?¡± ¡°As long as you y ball, we can turn the page,¡± Elgin said, ¡°Bottom line, Sh¡¯s baby is gone, and yours is still here. She¡¯s the victim; you owe her an apology to get her forgiveness.¡± ¡°Me apologize to Sh?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Just because she had a miscarriage? And I didn¡¯t?¡± ¡°Yes. Letitiaughed, ¡°Elgin¡­ so that¡¯s your angle¡± It wasn¡¯t just about apologizing but keeping it up until Sh forgave her. Why should she need Sh¡¯s forgiveness? ¡°Yes. Letitia, I¡¯ve already cut you a lot of ck.¡± ¡°No way,¡± she refused, ¡°I don¡¯t owe Sh anything!¡± Elgin¡¯s expression turned icy in an instant, ¡°Letitia, learn to read the room!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve always been stubborn, and you know it.¡± If she wanted to y it smooth, she wouldn¡¯t be in this mess right now. Some things, it¡¯s not that she won¡¯t do them; she just doesn¡¯t want to. Elgin lifted his knee onto the bed, and with a flick, he tilted her chin up, ¡°Letitia, you killed my child, and I¡¯m just asking for an apology, nothing more and you still won¡¯t give it?¡± What on earth does she want! He¡¯s been lowering his standards over and over for her! Letitia replied, ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything wrong, so I won¡¯t apologize.¡± Elgin was nursing a burgeoning headache. This woman could always get on his nerves so easily! ¡°Letitia!¡± His roar almost echoed through the whole of Ivory Towers. Still, Letitia insisted, ¡°I¡¯m not wrong.¡± The one at fault was Sh! And now she¡¯s supposed to apologize? Not happening! ¡°Elgin, what I hate most is being framed, Letitia stared into his intense eyes, ¡°especially being forced to carry the me!¡± Her dad was framed and jailed. Back then, she was too young to understand,pletely clueless and powerless. Maybe if Dad had just held on, not bowed down, fought back, things could¡¯ve turned out a bit better. Now, the road to uncovering the truth behind Marcel Ramirez¡¯s death¡­ it¡¯s so long! And she was so exhausting. ¡°I told you, Sh miscarried, it¡¯s only right and proper for you to apologize, what¡¯s the big deal?¡± Elgin pressed, his voice rising, ¡°Will it kill you?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t see the wounds inside! Elgin¡¯s gaze drifted down,nding awkwardly in front of her. Letitia raised her hand to block it. ¡°An apology could save you some hardship,¡± Elgin said, ¡°Don¡¯t make me back you into a corner every time before youe around.¡± Elgin, you know how manyers you¡¯ve backed me into¡­¡± Latida brushed off his hand and smiled. There wille a day.¡± Mer words were cryptic, and Elgin didn¡¯t understand it, he frowned. ¡®Don¡¯t get it, huh? Letitia¡¯s smile brightened, ¡°No worries, you¡¯ll find out when the timees¡¯ What are you talking about?¡± Bon, there wille a day when you realize you¡¯ve had me pegged wrong from the start.¡± Letitia¡¯s voice faded, her words trailing off into silence. The two of them face to face, less than ten centimeters apart, could hear each other¡¯s breath, But their hearts were miles apart. Evely time they seemed to get closer, something woulde up to drive a wedge between them, making the distance even greater in an instant. ¡°I¡¯ve wronged you? How¡¯so?¡± Elgin closed in, nose to nose, ¡°Letitia, that was my child! Do you have any idea how much that hurts!?¡± He didn¡¯t have much feeling for Sh, but the child was his! After Shs miscarriage, what was Letitia doing? She was by Neil¡¯s side, thinking she did no wrong, even standing up to him! ¡°Do you think it doesn¡¯t hurt me?¡± Letitia shot back, her voice rising involuntarily, ¡°When you kicked the doctor out of the OR, leaving me alone on the operating table waiting for death, did you not think how desperate I was!¡± Tears welled up involuntarily, but Letitia blinked them back fiercely. She didn¡¯t want to cry in front of Elgin! ¡°Letitia, how dare you me me after what happened!¡± Elgin stepped back, straightened up, his chest heaving, his eyes fierce as des! Suddenly, Elgin¡¯s hand shot up high. Letitia instinctively flinched, blurting out, ¡°You gonna hit me?¡± Elgin¡¯s hand trembled uncontrobly. He really wanted to p her! This woman, Letitia, she was infuriating! This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°Go ahead, Letitia lifted her chin, ¡°If you want to hit me, just do it. Anyway, I¡¯m at your mercy to be sliced and diced!¡± ¡°You think I won¡¯t hit you?¡± ¡°Sure, mighty President Ramirez, what can¡¯t you do!¡± Letitia thought, might as well take the p. What Elgin had done to her, wasn¡¯t each thing more painful than a p? Elgin¡¯s eyes flickered, and his hand came down swiftly. She closed her eyes, waiting for the p. But the pain never came. Letitia was puzzled, about to open her eyes when she heard a ¡°thud¡± near her ear. Elgin had punched the wall beside her, and blood dripped down. Letitia looked at him in shock, ¡°Elgin, you¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t hit women, that¡¯s a line I won¡¯t cross,¡± his eyes were dark, ¡°Letitia, I¡¯ll make you regret standing up to me today!¡± He turned and strode away. His hand hung by his side, dripping blood. Letitia stared at the bloodstains on the floor, suddenly feeling like her legs turned to jelly, and she plopped down on the bed. Why¡­ Elgin¡¯s p never came. She thought for sure he was gonnay one on her. Only after she rxed did Letitia realize her back was drenched in sweat. She took a shower, crawled into bed with her heart pounding, and tossed and turned, unable to catch a wink of sleep. This wasn¡¯t going to be the end of it For sure, there was some unknown dread lurking, waiting to pounce on her! Elgin walked back to the living room, and the butler caught sight of the blood on the back of his hand, nearly jumped out of his skin, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, what on earth¡­ Quick, call the family doctor!¡± Chapter 105 Chapter 105 ¡°No need. Just bring me the first aid kit.¡± He sat on the couch with a poker face, cool as a cucumber while tending to his own wound. It was dead silent around; nobody dared to disturb him. White gauze wrapped around his hand, Elgin casually tied a knot and suddenly asked, ¡°How¡¯s the situation with the prison?¡± The butler didn¡¯t catch on at first, ¡°Prison? Oh¡­ Mr. Ramirez, are you talking about Dr. Sanders?¡± ¡°Who else would I be referring to?¡± Dr Sanders has been locked up, haven¡¯t heard any fuss about him.¡± Elgin¡¯s lips curled into a chilly smirk, ¡°Tomorrow moming, bring him here.¡± The butler¡¯s heart skipped a beat, but he could only reply, ¡°Yes, Mr. Ramirez.¡± Getting up, Elgin kicked the first aid kit away and headed upstairs, agitated. Letitia¡­ this is all your doing! This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. The butler froze for two seconds, then snapped out of it and hurried off to take care of business. The next day. Letitia freshened up, had a quick breakfast, and was ready to head to work. Just a few steps out, she spotted a figure standing at the vi¡¯s entrance from afar. He looked familiar. On a closer look, her expression changedpletely, and her bag dropped to the ground. Letitia rushed forward in a panic, ¡°Dad!¡± Hearing her voice, Preston also turned around, ¡°Letitial¡± They embraced each other. Whenever Letitia visited her father in jail, they were separated by thick ss she could see him but couldn¡¯t touch him. She never thought there woulde a day when they could meet like this, breathing the air of freedom! ¡°Dad, howe you¡¯re here?¡± Letitia was both shocked and overjoyed. ¡°Were you released as innocent?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, someone picked me up early this morning and then brought me here.¡± Years of prison life had stripped Preston of his former dignity. His hair turned gray, his back somewhat stooped, his hands were rough and covered with tiny cuts, some still bleeding. Letitia¡¯s heart ached, ¡°Dad, your hands¡­ they used to be so well-cared for, they¡¯re meant for surgery¡­¡± ¡°Ah. it doesn¡¯t matter, I¡¯m¡­ not going to be operating anymore.¡± ¡°Dad, there will be a chance, there will be.¡± Preston gave a sad smile and changed the subject, ¡°Letitia, where is this ce?¡± ¡°This is¡­ Ivory Towers, Elgin¡¯s residence.¡± ¡°Why did he bring me here?¡± Letitia¡¯s heart skipped a beat too. Yeah¡­ what¡¯s Elgin¡¯s next move? ¡°For a family reunion,¡± Elgin approached leisurely with his hands behind his back, a good chance for a heart-to-heart chat.¡± Letitia immediately shielded her father behind her. What are you afraid of?¡± he raised an eyebrow, ¡°So you do get scared after all?¡± Letitia was on guard, ¡°You can¡¯t possibly be this kind-hearted.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t paint me as the bad guy. After all¡­ he¡¯s my father-inw, I¡¯ve got to treat him well.¡± A sly grin yed on Elgin¡¯s lips, but his eyes were ice cold. He was intimidating. Father-inw? Preston¡¯s face went pale, ¡°Letitia, you¡­ you married him? How could you marry him!¡± Many woren dream of being Mrs. Ramirez, and she got it without breaking a sweat, replied Elgin Preston shook his head. ¡®No, it¡¯s not like that¡­ Letitia, what exactly happened?¡± Dad. Be a long story, I¡¯m fine? Letitia forced a smile, trying to look like she was doing well, But she forgot that the people who loved her the most in the world were her parents. Her strength, her facade, seen right through in an instant. Preston sighed deeply, ¡°Marrying into the Ramirez family isn¡¯t a blessing. it¡¯s atonement, repentance.¡± He hit the nail on the head. ¡®Dad, it¡¯s really not as bad as you think Letitia continued to put on a brave face, ¡°I¡¯m now a jewelry designer at the Ramirez Group, my sry can cover mom¡¯s medical expenses.. when there¡¯s a chance, I¡¯ll arrange for you to see mom.¡± Preston shakily raised his hand, gently stroking her hair, ¡°I¡¯m the one who dragged you down.¡± She shook her head vehemently, ¡°Dad, you brought me to the world.¡± Finishing her words, she walked swiftly to Elgin, her voice soft, ¡°You can ask me to do anything, just let my dad go now.¡± ¡°You¡¯vee around?¡± ¡°Yes¡± ¡°And you won¡¯t go against me anymore?¡± ¡°No, I won¡¯t.¡± Letitia looked submissive, her eyes downcast Elgin¡¯s fingertips caressed her cheek, ¡°If only you were this obedient from the start.¡± ¡°I was wrong. All her vulnerabilities and leverage were in Elgin¡¯s hands; she had no room to be capricious. With just a pinch, she¡¯d fall in line, powerless to resist Letitia knew there was more to her dad¡¯s visit to Ivory Towers than just a reunion. Elgin¡¯s next move. she could guess some of it. She could bear it, but she didn¡¯t want her father to worry about her anymore. ¡°So, Elgin leaned in, his breath warm on her forehead, ¡°will you go apologize to Sh?¡± ¡°Yes, I will.¡± A pleased smile formed on Elgin¡¯s lips, ¡°Good girl.¡± Letitia clenched her palm, took a deep breath, then turned to Preston with a smile, ¡°Dad, you should go back, I¡¯ll visit you when I get the chance.¡± ¡°Letitia..¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez was just being thoughtful, he knew I missed you, so he pulled some strings to get you out for a bit.¡± Preston looked at her in silence. Just now, he had seen Elgin whispering something to Letitia. Although he couldn¡¯t hear it, from the satisfaction in Elgin¡¯s eyes, he could guess that they had struck some sort of deal. The Ramirez family hated him for causing Marcel¡¯s death, how could they possibly treat his daughter well? ¡°Letitia,e here. Suddenly, Preston showed a kind smile and beckoned her over She approached, ¡°Dad.¡± Preston wrapped her in his arms, ¡°It¡¯s on me, girl. I let you down, I made you bear all this¡­ It¡¯s all too late now, no turning back, no do-overs. Letitia, all I want, deep down, is for you to live a happy life, even if it¡¯s just a normal life, even if it¡¯s in Jane.¡± Letitia felt a wave of panic. Why was her dad suddenly saying stuff like this? It felt like a goodbye. These messes, they started with me, and I¡¯ll be the one to put an end to them. Always remember, Letitia, you¡¯re my pride and joy, my little girl, and I¡¯m proud of you.¡± Preston ruffled her hair. ¡°Dad you.¡± Letitia reached out to hold onto him, but she only managed to grab the tail end of his shirt. The next second, Preston tumed and bolfed, sprinting straight toward a pir. He¡¯s trying to off himself! ¡®Ceditio¡¯s voice, sharp and hoarse, pierced the sky. Her eyes went wade involuntanly, her heart seemed to stop in that instant. She wanted to grab her dad, but she couldn¡¯t catch up; he was too far gone. Just as Preston was about to hit the pir, the butler burst from the side, threw himself in front of Preston, and took the hit, bing a human cushion for Preston. Chapter 106 Chapter 106 Preston mmed right into the butler. The massive impact twisted the butler¡¯s face with pain, bending him over at the waist, and he knelt there on the ground for ages before he could get up. Preston didn¡¯t hit the pir, but he staggered back quite a few steps, dizzy and disoriented for a while, before finally crashing to the ground and passing out. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Years of prison life had taken a toll on Preston¡¯s physical condition. ¡°Dad- Letitia sprinted over, ¡°Dad, wake up, don¡¯t scare me, I can¡¯t lose you!¡± Preston slowly opened his eyes, his lips trembling as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, no sound came out Letitia was freaked out Mrs. Ramirez, don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t worry,¡± the butler struggled to his feet, ¡°Mr. Sanders is fine, probably just a slight concussion, he¡¯ll be alright after a couple of days of rest¡± Letitia finally breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°Butler, thank you, really, thank you so much¡­¡± She wasn¡¯t sure how to express her gratitude, after all, the butler had saved her father¡¯s life. ¡°No worries, Mrs. Ramirez, as long as Mr. Sanders is okay.¡± Letitia cleaned her tears and looked up at Elgin who had been standing by the whole time, watching the whole drama unfold like a spectator. He was tall and dignified. Next to him, Letitia felt like a clown. Take my dad back, she said, ¡°I promise you, I¡¯ll apologize to Sh¡­ until she forgives me!¡± Elgin looked at the butler, ¡°You heard her, get on it.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Ramirez.¡± A few bodyguards lifted Preston into the car and took him back to prison. Watching the car disappear from sight, Letitia¡¯s heart clenched tightly, unable to calm down. ¡°Always have to learn the hard way, don¡¯t you? Gotta hit rock bottom before you start looking up,¡± Elgin remarked coolly, ¡°Letitia, why bother?¡± She turned her head to look at him. ¡°Why bother?¡± Letitia replied, ¡°Should a person never resist under oppression, just take it lying down like a puppet? Resistance might be futile, but without it, there¡¯s definitely no chance. You have to fight for yourself!¡± Elgin¡¯s lips curled into a mocking smile, ¡°How many times have you fought, and what have you actually gained, huh?¡± She bit her lip hard. ¡°More torment,¡± Elgin said, ¡°Letitia, you¡¯re really something.¡± He turned and walked towards the Ferrari parked in the garden, ¡°Get in.¡± The hospital. As soon as she heard familiar footsteps outside the door, Sh immediately changed from her rxed posture, messed up her hair, and pretended to be weak and despondent. Soon after, Elgin entered the room. ¡°Mr. Ramirez. Sh slowly sat up from the bed, and upon seeing Letitia behind him, her emotions surged, ¡°Why is she here!¡± Letitia didn¡¯t utter a word. Sh pointed at her, ¡°Get out, I don¡¯t want to see you! Letitia, you¡¯re the murderer of my child, you¡¯ll get what¡¯sing to you! Leave!¡± Elgin frowned slightly. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, I¡¯ve been having nightmares every night, dreaming of our child, he was crying and asking me why I didn¡¯t protect him. Every time I wake up, my pillow is soaked with tears. Especially when I think about how Letitia¡¯s child is safe in her womb, I can¡¯t stand it, it¡¯s so unfair¡­¡± Sh¡¯s cries filled the room. (etitio spoke emotionlessly, ¡°Yes, you¡¯re innocent, and you¡¯re heartbroken. I¡¯m here to apologize. Sheta was taken aback. Oh, she¡¯s willing to apologize now? She wouldn¡¯t bend a knee at the beginning! What¡¯s changed? Sevels quickly realized, heh, just because Letitia apologizes, does that mean shell ept it? No way! ¡®I don¡¯t ept your apology,¡± Sh said, ¡°Leave, Letitia, I don¡¯t want to see you, get out!¡± She started throwing whatever was nearby at Letitia. First, it was pillows, clothes, and the like. Seeing they did little damage, Sh looked around and grabbed a ss from the bedside table. *Letitia, you should just die, never show your face to me again!¡± She huried it with force, but Letitia quickly dodged. The ss flew past her with a whoosh, shattered against the wall, and exploded into fragments. As it broke, the shards flew, one slicing across Letitia¡¯s cheek. A thin cut appeared, and blood, slowly seeping out. Letitia touched her face, that stung a bit But Sh didn¡¯t stop there, still tossing things at her, ¡°Letitia, give me back my child, I hate you, I despise you!¡± What a shrew. Letitia couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with her, she just ducked behind Elgin. ¡°Throw away, smash away, do whatever you want. Elgin, with his towering height, could shield me perfectly¡± Letitia thought. ¡°Ah! Seeing this, Sh screamed in frustration. ¡°That¡¯s enough, you¡¯ve just had a miscarriage, you need to rest,¡± Elgin finally said, ¡°Letitia knows she¡¯s wrong, and she¡¯s here to apologize.¡± ¡°Heh, apologize? Her knees wouldn¡¯t bend even with my dad pressuring her! Why the sudden change of heart today?¡± Letitia peeked out from behind Elgin, ¡°Because your child is gone, and mine is still here. On that ount, I don¡¯t mind admitting my fault.¡± ¡°You, you are evil!¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± Letitia said, ¡°When I fell, you kindly tried to help me, and ended up tumbling down the stairs with me. It¡¯s all my fault, you¡¯re so kind, pure, innocent, and helpful, you don¡¯t deserve this pain.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not an apology! There¡¯s no sincerity!¡± ¡®I¡¯ve detailed the whole incident, admitted where I was wrong, aren¡¯t you satisfied? Letitia asked, ¡°When I fell, I couldn¡¯t control my strength, how was I to know you¡¯d try to help me, it was just a split-second thing.¡± Sh bit her teeth, ¡°You¡¯re not even a bit sincere in your apology!¡± ¡°I¡¯m standing right here, isn¡¯t that enough?¡± ¡°Hmph, I didn¡¯t hear it!¡± Letitia cleared her throat and apologized again, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sh, it was totally on me, and you¡¯re innocent. You and Elgin are young and healthy, once you¡¯re back in tip-top shape, you guys will have kids again, as many as you want. Go for it, the more the merrier, right? But seriously, now¡¯s not the best time to have a bun in the oven, especially since you haven¡¯t officially joined the Ramirez n yet. No ring, no strings it¡¯s not gonna sound too hot if word gets out. Anyway, we¡¯ve got all the time in the world, and you will be Mrs. ¨C Ramirez sooner orter So please spare yourself some trouble and don¡¯t hate me so much, okay?¡± Sh¡¯s face turned sourer by the second. Even Elgin couldn¡¯t help but purse his lips after hearing that. You could say it was an apology ¨C Letitia seemed to havee with all sincerity. But then again, it didn¡¯t really hit the right note, something was off¡­ yet you couldn¡¯t quite put your finger on what was wrong with it. Chapter 107 Chapter 107 I¡¯m not buying it! Not for a second!¡± Sh red at her. ¡°Your talk is cheap!¡± Letitia was all in anyway. With Elgin using her father to threaten her, she had no choice but to y ball. ¡°What do you want from me?¡± she spread her hands. ¡°Get down on my knees?¡± She would do it. As for pnde? That ship had sailed ¡°Heh, Sh¡¯s eyes gleamed with malice. ¡°Begging was your option fromst time. Now¡­ it¡¯s not that simple!¡± 5 F 9 5 Letitia¡¯s brow furrowed. She heard Sh spit out, ¡°An eye for an eye. Letitia, only if your kid¡¯s gone too will I think about forgiving you. Otherwise, forget it!¡± Letitia¡¯s hand instinctively covered her belly. No way on earth! But then, Elgin¡¯s voice floated lightly, ¡°She has a point.¡± Letitia truly panicked this time. With Elgin on her side, Sh found her backbone, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, you agree, right? Our baby didn¡¯t deserve to die for nothing. And Letitia¡¯s carrying a bastard child. Get rid of it!¡± Sh couldn¡¯t help but think.. if Mr. Ramirez personally took care of Letitia¡¯s pregnancy, that would be sweet justice. She was almost giddy with anticipation! Mr. Ramirez would never know he was offing his own flesh and blood! Letitia shook her head firmly. ¡°You can¡¯t do this. Sh, your miscarriage was a tragic ident, and you want me to terminate mine on purpose? That¡¯s no different from murder!¡± ¡°My baby died because of you!¡± ¡°It was an ident! I fell down the stairs too!TM Sh snorted, ¡°You pulled me down on purpose before you fell!¡± Letitia was shaking with anger. That woman was always twisting the truth, setting her up! She began to back towards the door, step by step, ¡°Sh, I¡¯ll never agree to this!¡± ¡°Letitia, that mongrel should¡¯ve never existed,¡± Elgin¡¯s gazended on her belly, ¡°now¡¯s a good time to take care of it.¡± He¡¯d been irked for a while. The baby was a constant reminder that Letitia had another man in her heart! For him, she was willing to start a family, to give her all! Elgin was green with jealousy! Sh quickly echoed, ¡°Exactly!¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°No, way!¡± Letitia¡¯s stance was unwavering. Tension thickened, ready to explode. A melodious ringtone broke the silence. Elgin answered, ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez, the Jewelry Department is having a meeting, but we can¡¯t reach Mrs Ramirez Ranen¡¯s voice came through. ¡°Are you with her?¡± ¡°Yeah¡± ¡°We¡¯reunching a new season¡¯s designs, and she is the head designer. She can¡¯t miss it.¡± Letitia clung to this lifeline, ¡°I have to go to the office! Ramirez Romantica is just picking up steam, and there¡¯s lots of work!¡± She turned on her heel and bolted. ¡°Hey. Letitia. Sh threw off the covers, ready to chase her down. But remembering she was supposed to be ¡®recuperating from a miscarriage¡¯, she begrudginglyy back down. ¡°Mr. Ramirez her voice oozed faux sweetness, ¡°she didn¡¯te to apologize, did she? She came to upset me * sort this out Elgin walked out without ncing back. Ps you faded as he vanished from sight. Never had Letitia been so eager to get back to the office. The Jewelry Department needed her, ¡°Ramirez Romantica¡± needed her. She was a valuable, modern woman, not some maniptive witch like Sh! Meetings, brainstorming¡­ the hustle kept Letitia¡¯s mind off the mess. By the time she took a break, it was evening. Her stomach growled with hunger. Vidonia approached with a meal box, ¡®There you go, knew you¡¯d be starving my godson.¡± Vidonia, you¡¯re the best Letitia beamed, digging in. ¡®Elgin hasn¡¯t been hassling you, has he? Spill it if he has ¡°Nope, it¡¯s all good¡± Vidonia eyed her. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare hold back with me.¡± ¡°Got it, got it.¡± Vidonia was protective, but Letitia wouldn¡¯t dream of dragging Vidonia into her mess. Besties look out for each other. Vidonia wanted to help, but Letitia wanted her to stay clear of the drama. ¡°Yo, there you are.¡± Samson returned to the Jewelry Department, saw them, and smirked mysteriously. ¡°Come to my office, got something cool to show you, hot off the press¡± ¡°What is it? Vidonia asked. ¡°You¡¯ll see ¡± In the office, Samson whipped out a red velvet case from his briefcase. As he unwrapped it, he teased, ¡°Keep your eyes peeled, don¡¯t blink, you¡¯re about to be blinded by the bling¡­¡± When he finally revealed the contents, Samson gloated, ¡°Well? Bright enough for you? Sparkly enough?¡± Both Vidonia and Letitia were speechless. That was Sh¡¯s wedding ring. ¡°I did the design,¡± Letitia coughed, ¡°thought it was something else.¡± Vidonia smirked. The ring¡¯s done, huh? Honestly, it¡¯s a bit tacky-like bling overload, but it¡¯s definitely lavish and shiny, screaming ¡®new money, screams nich A ring piled up with cash, a diamond centerpiece surrounded by rare red gems, even the setting was tinum. It was not refined, but definitely a showstopper ¨C It was exactly Sh¡¯s style. ¡°Just received it from abroad, Samson replied. ¡°I was near the airport, so I picked it up. Still gotta show it to Gin, it¡¯s for his bride-to-be¡­ He knew Vidonia couldn¡¯t stand Sh, so he steered clear of naming names. Vidonia scoffed, ¡°If I ever get hitched, there¡¯s no way I¡¯d want a ring like that. Tacky!¡± Letitia chuckled, picked up the ring, and gave it a good once-over. The ring was a real showstopper, huge, with the rock in the middle glittering like crazy, a whopper at ten carats. And it was crafted with great attention to detail, well, it had to be, given its hefty price tag. Seeing Letitia ogling the ring, Vidonia nudged Samson with her elbow, ¡°This is your fault. What¡¯s the big deal showing off this thing anyway!¡± I just thought I¡¯d share the good news with you guys right away.¡± Samson, typical guy, just didn¡¯t have the fine-tuned sensitivity of a woman. Letitia all of a sudden asked, ¡°When are you giving the ring to Elgin?* ¡°Tomorrow, I guess Samson replied, ¡°It¡¯s toote today, he¡¯s already headed home.¡± ¡°And when¡¯s he nning to give it to Sh?¡± How should I know.¡± Letitia tumed to him, ¡°Mr. Stewart, can I borrow the ring for a couple of days?¡± Chapter 108 Chapter 108 Samson was totally flummoxed, ¡°You want it?¡± ¡®Yep, after all, I designed that ring. I wanna dig into it a bit more, plus it¡¯s my first time dealing with high- end custom bling, Letitia said with a chuckle ¡®Is that cool with you?¡± Samson thought for a moment and agreed, ¡°Sure thing¡± Letitia added, ¡°Oh, and Mr. Stewart, to dodge any unnecessary drama, please don¡¯t spill the beans to Elgin. I don¡¯t want him thinking I¡¯m up to some shenanigans with the ring ¡°Gotcha. I¡¯ll just say I haven¡¯tid hands on it yet.¡± ¡°Thanks, Mr. Stewart.¡± ¡°No sweat, Samson replied, Take it. Just hand it back when you¡¯re done.¡± Letitia carefully tucked the ring into its box, Jokingly saying, ¡°I¡¯d better keep it safe as treasure- if I lose it. I can¡¯t afford that kind of mistakes. Stepping out of the office, Vidonia couldn¡¯t hold back any longer, ¡°Letitia, are you alright?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°What¡¯s with swiping the ring?¡± Vidonia gestured, ¡°Aren¡¯t you getting disgust, holding onto Sh¡¯s stuff?¡± ¡°I need it. Letitia replied. ¡°You¡¯re actually gonna study it¡­¡± ¡°Shh¡± Letitia pulled her aside, made sure the coast was clear, and whispered, ¡°Vidonia, I really need your help on this one.¡± ¡°Spill it.¡± Clutching the brocade box, Letitia said, ¡°Sh lost her kid, and Elgin¡¯s got me apologizing till she forgives me. But now, Sh won¡¯t ept my apology and wants my baby die with hers.¡± ¡°Damn, what a bitch!¡± To get out of this mess, there¡¯s only one way. Prove that Sh¡¯s miscarriage had nothing to do with me.¡± ¡°How can you prove that?¡± Vidonia asked. ¡°Does this have anything to do with the ring?¡± ¡± Letitia looked down and said, ¡°I don¡¯t have any proof, and the only lead is Sh herself. So¡­¡± She leaned in and whispered in Vidonia¡¯s ear, ¡°I just checked out this ring- it¡¯s big enough to stash something teeny.¡± ¡°Like what?¡± ¡°A micro bug.¡± Vidonia¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Letitia, you sneaky genius! That¡¯s your game n!¡± ¡°So I need the ring, gotta rig it up pronto,¡± Letitia said. ¡°Once Sh gets her hands on it, she¡¯ll either unt it or keep it close. Everything she says will get picked up by the bug!¡± Desperation brings out the best in people, and Letitia was cornered. With Sh breathing down her neck, she had to look out for herself and hit back hard. No peace for Letitia till Sh¡¯s out of the picture! Letitia opened the brocade box, her gaze fixed on the glittering ring, ¡°If Sh staged her miscarriage to frame me, she¡¯s bound to spill the beans to someone close at some point.¡± ¡°I¡¯m all in! Vidonia said, pumped up about the n. ¡°I¡¯m on it right away!¡± ¡°Thanks!¡± Letitia hoped this move would knock Sh down for good. She couldn¡¯t let Sh get back on her feet- if she did, Letitia would be toast! So she had to win, not lose, and keep Sh down for good! Vidonia had connections and found someone for the job the next day. Letitia brought the ring herself, and watched a techie secure a bug the size of a fingernail into the ring, making sure it was snug as a bug in a rug to only good for a month. After that, the bug goes dead.¡± Roger that I¡¯ll make it count Leto¡¯s eyes were full of fesolve as she gazed at the ring. Til keep an extra eye on Sh for you, Vidoniz said. ¡°Gonna catch her by the tail sooner rather than later!¡±. You¡¯ve already done so much.¡± Come on, we¡¯re thick as thieves! No need for thanks,¡± Vidonia said, barely containing her excitement. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to see Sh¡¯s downfall!¡± Letitia put the ring back in the box, ¡°That day wille. Let¡¯s roll.¡± Back at thepany, Letitia was ready to return the ring to Samson. But stepping out of the elevator, she bumped into Odetta. Letitia stepped aside to let her pass. ¡°What time is it? You¡¯rete, Letitia!¡± Odetta halted, ¡°Doesn¡¯t thispany have rules?¡± *Oh, then dock my pay by the rules.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Letitia stepped forward, not up for a tiff. ¡°Hold on!¡± Odetta called. ¡°What¡¯s that precious thing in your bag you¡¯re guarding, are you scared it¡¯ll get found out?¡± ¡°¡­My bag¡¯s my business. What¡¯s it to you?¡± ¡°Your bag, sure, but is everything in it yours?¡± Letitia didn¡¯t expect Odetta to be so clingy and frowned, ¡°What¡¯s your deal, really?¡± *Just a quick look-see.¡± Odetta fixed her gaze on her, ¡°What if¡­ you¡¯ve nicked gems from the Jewelry Department and caused a loss?¡± ¡°Watch your mouth!¡± ¡°Getting all worked up, did I hit a nerve?¡± Odetta was good at reading people, and she sensed something off with Letitia. Letitia was indeed edgy. She had no intentions of thievery, but at that moment, the wedding ring was in her bag. If Odetta got a peek¡­ it would be a hubaloo that the wholepany would hear about! ¡°I¡¯ve got a meeting with Mr. Stewart, Ms. Odetta, if you¡¯ll excuse me.¡± Letitia didn¡¯t want to dawdle and turned to leave. Odetta grabbed her arm, ¡°I want to check your bag!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got no right!¡± ¡°I must check it today!¡± Odetta was strong and persistent, yanking at Letitia¡¯s bag. Letitia clung to it for dear life. They tussled over the bag, and with a ¡°snap,¡± the strap broke. The contents spilled out, including the conspicuous velvet box. Letitia made a beeline for it. But Odetta was quicker on the draw, bending down swiftly to snatch up the box before Letitia could even get close. Letitia, looks like I hit the nail on the head ¨C you really did swipe some bling from thepany!¡± Odetta crowed with a smug look stered all over her face. ¡°Let¡¯s see what you stole!¡± Letitia was in deep water now! All pumped up, Odetta flipped open the fancy box and when she caught sight of the wedding ring inside, she was gobsmacked. ! Scared out of her wits, she couldn¡¯t even talk straight, ¡°You¡­ Letitia, you¡­ you had the guts to lift the custom wedding ring Mr. Ramirez had made for Mrs. Ramirez?¡± This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. That ring was the talk of the town at the Ramirez Group ¨C everyone knew about it. Especially in the Jewelry Department, they¡¯d all seen the design sketches Heck, the marketing pitch and copy were all ready. This ring cost a pretty penny, an eight figure sum that didn¡¯te cheap! Chapter 109 Chapter 109 Wow, you¡¯ve got some nerve!¡± Odetta eximed, ¡°Have you lost your mind, with that huge amount of money? Are you trying to get yourself behind bars?¡± After the initial panic, Letitia actually calmed down. She replied, ¡°Just because the wedding ring is in my bag, you think it¡¯s stolen? You can¡¯t just go around throwing usations like that.¡± ¡°And what gives you the right to be holding onto the wedding ring all by your lonesome? Who do you think you are?¡± ¡°I was going to give the ring to Samson¡­ *Don¡¯t use Mr. Stewart as a shield, Odetta cut her off without listening to her exnation, ¡°Come on, we¡¯re going to see Mr. Ramirez! This is a big deal and it needs his judgment!¡± Go see Elgin? No way that could happen! Letitia turned to run, but Odetta grabbed her clothes and yanked her towards the elevator, ¡°Move!¡± She didn¡¯t dare to struggle too much, worried about harming the baby inside her, and so she was no match for Odetta¡¯s strength. CEO¡¯s office. Elgin looked up to see the somewhat disheveled and embarrassed Letitia. ¡°What¡¯s with all the fuss?¡± he said coolly. Odetta immediately tattled, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, Letitia¡¯s been stealing! And she stole your wedding ring of all things!¡± The wedding ring?¡± ¡°Yes I saw her sneaking out of the elevator, clutching her bag all suspicious-like. I confronted her, and as it turned out, the ring was indeed in her bag! Saying so, Odetta handed over the ring box, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, please see for yourself!¡± Elgin nced at it briefly, it was indeed the ring he intended to give to Sh. Why was it in Letitia¡¯s bag? She didn¡¯t even want to admit that she had designed the ring. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, this is serious business. Stealing something this valuable couldnd her behind bars! Odetta put on her righteous act, ¡°We should call the cops, let them handle it!¡± Elgin drummed his fingertips on the desk. ¡°Letitia,¡± he said, ¡°anything you want to exin?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t steal the wedding ring, and I had no reason to ¡°Then why was it in your bag?¡± Letitia couldn¡¯t very well say she took it to bug it! ¡°I was going to give it to Mr. Stewart Letitia answered, ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, Mr. Ramirez, you can call Mr. Stewart over right now and confront him.¡± Samson arrived quickly. Even though he didn¡¯t understand what Letitia was up to, he still took her side after hearing what happened. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± Samson nodded, ¡°The ring was given to Letitia by me.¡± Elgin asked, ¡°What for?¡± ¡°Uh, she¡­ she thought the craftsmanship of this ring was exquisite, a rare find.¡± Samson could lie with a straight face, ¡°She wanted to see if there was any way to apply this top-notch craftsmanship to the production process of Ramirez Romantica¡±.¡± He turned his head to Letitia, ¡°Right?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Letitia quickly chimed in, ¡°That¡¯s exactly what Mr. Stewart said¡± Now, if she wasn¡¯t quick on her feet, she¡¯d be toast! Odetta was bbergasted, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, Mr. Stewart, she¡­¡± You need to focus on your job, Samson scolded, ¡°Stop stirring up unnecessary trouble, disrupting the company!¡± ¡°I¡­ I had no idea the ring was given to Letitia by you¡­¡± ¡°Out you go.¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Odetta thought she had caught Letitia red-handed, but instead, she ended up getting a scolding herself She left with a sour face. She couldn¡¯t say much, being a smali fry, but. Elgin wasn¡¯t so easily fooled. He tayed with the ring, ¡°What¡¯s this little y you two are putting on? ¡®Gin, were both just doing our jobs, for real.¡± ¡°Who gave you permission to give the ring to Letitia without my consent?¡± Samson coughed. ¡°You¡¯re all family, so what¡¯s yours is hers, right? Elgin chuckled. ¡°Samson, have you been a bit idletely?¡± ¡°Eh, it¡¯s manageable.¡± There¡¯s a project in Africa I think youd be quite suited for.¡± ¡°I just remembered, I have a meetingter. Samson started backing away, ¡°Man, my memory these days * He was out the door in a sh, leaving Letitia standing there all alone ¡°Mr. Pamirez¡¯ she said politely, ¡®now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up, I should get back to work¡± ¡°What did you call me?¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez¡± Elgin leaned back in his chair, I¡¯ve never seen you so respectful toward me before, you usually call me by my name. Not many in all of AquaCity dared to call him by his name. ¡°I was wrong before, Letitia said, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, I¡¯ll just¡­¡± ¡°Stay¡± Elgin looked at her. The wedding ring was your design, so you should witness its rightful owner coming to im it.¡± So, she was going to be part of the audience. Normally, Letitia would have walked out right then and there. But thinking about the bug hidden in the wedding ring looking forward to seeing Sh put it on. ¡°Sure.¡± Letitia agreed readily, ¡®It would be an honor. Elgin raised his eyebrows slightly, surprised Letitia even offered thoughtfully, ¡°Do you need me to call Sh for you?¡± He hummed lowly. ¡°No need.¡± ¡°Okay, Mr. Ramirez. Then I¡¯ll just work over here, and I won¡¯t bother you.¡± Letitia sat on the couch in the visitor¡¯s area, clutching her phone, without giving Elgin another nce. She heard Elgin on the phone with Sh, ¡°Come to the office, the wedding ring has arrived.¡± Sh¡¯s voice was brimming with excitement, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be right there!¡± Letitia was excited too. The first step of her n was about to seed Elgin set the ring aside casually, ready to dive back into work, but his gaze kept involuntarily drifting towards Letitia. She sat there, posture straight and dignified, bathed in sunlight, serene and gentle. He watched her quietly, unable to look away. Letitia felt she was being watched, but there were only the two of them in the office. Could it be¡­ She looked up to see Elgin,ser-focused on hisputer, his long fingers gripping the mouse. Was she overthinking it? ¡°Mr. Ramirez!¡± Sh¡¯s voice arrived before she did, ¡°Where¡¯s the ring? I¡¯m so excited!¡± Her face was all smiles, her voice so sweet it could give anyone a sugar rush Letitia shivered off the goosebumps. she was actually Catching sight of the open jewelry box on the table, Sh¡¯s eyes sparkled, ¡°Wow, it¡¯s huge, it¡¯s shy, it¡¯s brilliant! If I wear this out, I¡¯ll be the center of attention for sure! Mr. Ramirez, you¡¯re the best!¡¯ With that, she leaned in to nt a kiss on Elgin. Elgin turned his head, dodging the kiss, and looked towards Letitia. Following his gaze, Shefa turned. Lentib? she blurted out clearly peeved, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Leticia shrugged. ¡°You think I want to be? * asked her to stay. She designed the ring she¡¯s got to see you wear it with her own eyes Chapter 110 Chapter 110 Sh finally got it and giggled, ¡°That makes sense¡­ This ring is truly meant for the real Mrs. Ramirez to have.¡± Che was bursting with joy inside, picking up the ring and deliberately showing it off to Letitia. It¡¯s so gorgeous, ordinary folks would have to hustle for generations to afford it,¡± Sh said. ¡°It¡¯s just too beautiful. With this on my finger, all thedies in AquaCity will be green with envy¡­¡± She slowly slipped the ring onto her ring finger, basking in the sunlight, admiring it non-stop. It was so pretty. Sh totally digs this kind ofvish style. She strutted over to Letitia, ¡°What do you think? All thanks to your design, huh?¡± ¡°Oh, I forgot to tell you, Letitia said with a smile, ¡°I hope when you wear it out, you don¡¯t go around saying I designed it¡± ¡°Why? Jealous much?¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s a stain on my design career, Letitia responded. ¡°I don¡¯t want to admit something so tacky and tasteless came from me.¡± ¡°Hmph, you¡¯re just jealous of me!¡± Letitia stood up, ¡°Yep, the whole world¡¯s jealous of you. I won¡¯t intrude on your little love nest any longer, I¡¯m outta here.¡± ¡°Wait, you killed my baby, I haven¡¯t forgiven you for that!¡± Sh called her back, ¡°You¡¯re not getting off the hook that easy!¡± Sh wanted her to get an abortion again, and she was pushing her so hard. Letitia clenched her teeth, trying to stay cool, ¡°It¡¯s peak season for the Jewelry Department right now, with new releases and marketing to handle, I¡¯m swamped. Unless you want to destroy the sales of ¡®Ramirez Romantica¡¯ that we¡¯ve just built up!¡± ¡°Ramirez Romantica¡¯s best-seller was Letitia¡¯s Radiant Beam, the star product. If she had a miscarriage, she definitely wouldn¡¯t be able to work, and both her mental and physical health would take a massive hit. Sh didn¡¯t expect Letitia toe at her with such an indisputable argument. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, she¡­¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez has to think about thepany too,¡± Letitia cut in, ¡°why the rush right now?¡± Just wait a little longer, just give it a little more time. Sh had already put the ring on, the day she¡¯d have the proof wasn¡¯t far off! Elgin looked at her with deep eyes, ¡°Letitia, you just keep making excuses.¡± He was wondering how long she could drag this out. Her belly¡¯s getting bigger by the day, and it¡¯s just getting more and more in his way! Letitia didn¡¯t respond and left in a hurry. Back at the Jewelry Department, she was a bit restless, uncertain if the bug would prove to be crucial. As she worried, Vidonia called her into the office. ¡°Come on, listen to this,¡± Vidonia passed her the specialized earpiece for the bug, ¡°we¡¯ve got audio. Letitia quickly put it on. The sound was crystal clear, not glitchy at all. ¡°Sh¡¯s wearing the ring, that¡¯s why we can hear her so well, Letitia noted. ¡°I wonder if it¡¯ll be just as effective if she puts it in her purse or pocket¡± ¡°It¡¯s gotta work, otherwise, it¡¯s money down the drain. You know how much that tiny thing cost¡­ uh¡­¡± Vidonia pped a hand over her mouth, realizing her slip. ¡°Was it expensive? Letitia felt guilty, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for the expense, I¡¯ll pay you back when I get my paycheck¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about the money, what matters is collecting the evidence!¡± Right! The two of them huddled together, intently listening to the conversationsing through the earpiece. Sh was still in Eigin¡¯s office Mr. Ramirez, are you free tonight?¡± Tm bury Bestly couch recovered By next week we can¡­ we can resume cur intimate rtionship Elgin remained silent. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, I really want to have your child¡­ this miscarriage has given me a huge psychological blow, but for you, I¡¯m willing toBelongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ovee it. Lets talk about itter.¡± Sh started to act coquettish, ¡°But we should seize the moment, who has that manyters? Let¡¯s start tonight, I¡¯ll move into the master bedroom with you.¡± At this, Letitia was taken aback. Sh hadn¡¯t moved into the master bedroom? Letitia had assumed that after she moved to the servant¡¯s quarters, Sh had been sharing a bed with Elgin. ¡°No need, Elgin bluntly refused her, ¡°from tonight on, you¡¯re moving back to Breezy Bay Condos.¡± ¡°What?! But,¡± ¡°You and Letitia should stay separate, to avoid further incidents.¡± Sh stammered, unable to form aplete sentence. She had just settled in, still buzzing with the thrill of living with Elgin, and now, she was being uprooted yet again! Sheia felt off bnce. She had been pregnant and then had a miscarriage, yet Elgin was still treating her this way. Upon reflection, Sh¡¯s temper red, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, do you have¡­ feelings for Letitia?¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°You see her every day, feelings develop, you like her,¡± Shined, she¡¯s good at seducing men, you¡¯re charmed by her, aren¡¯t you?¡± Letitia was speechless. Sh thought everyone was like her, always trying to please men! But what surprised her more was Elgin¡¯s answer- ¡°Maybe.¡± Letitia¡¯s mind went nk Even Vidonia gave her several looks, pressing the earpiece hard, thinking she¡¯d misheard. What does ¡°maybe¡± mean? Elgin was perhaps charmed by her? What was he getting at? Sh didn¡¯t expect her question to get such an answer either, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, you really¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s none of your business,¡± Elgin said, ¡°you¡¯d do well to leave her alone.¡± ¡°But..¡± ¡°No buts Sh, I always felt that night¡­ Elgin dragged his voice out, but didn¡¯t continue. Letitia waited anxiously, but in the end, Elgin¡¯s words stopped right there. Sh left, the sound of her high heels clicking echoed through the earpiece. ¡°What¡¯s Elgin on about? Vidonia asked, taking off her headphones with a curious look. ¡°What does he think about that night? Why did he m up all of a sudden?¡± Letitia just shook her head. That night? Did he share some sort of memorable night with Sh? Uke¡­ the way she did with the father of the baby she¡¯s carrying? ¡°Sh¡¯s a true vixen.¡± Vidonia scoffed, Too bad for her, her tricks are some that most guys don¡¯t fall for them.¡± ¡°Elgin¡¯s not most guys, though.¡± ¡°He must¡¯ve been bewitched by Sh!¡± Letitia chuckled. Feelings in this world, they¡¯re just so hard to pin down. When you¡¯re in love, you¡¯re in love. vidoria advised, ¡°You should spend some time getting to grips with the eavesdropping device when you can. It can y back, and it¡¯s not like you¡¯re glued to those headphones 24/7 ¡®Sure thing Chapter 111 Chapter 111 Just as Letitia was putting the finishing touches on a design draft, right before clocking out, a commotion at the door grabbed her attention. She looked up to see Elgin strolling in, surrounded by a crowd of people Why on earth was he dropping by the Jewelry Department? Remembering his exchanges with Sh all that talk about maybe he had feelings for her¡­ It gave Letitia¡¯s heart an unexpected jolt of speed She¡¯d never tried to seduce, she¡¯d rather keep her distance if anything. So why did he seem to give a damn, even just a little? Was it just a guy thing, a primal instinct? Letitia shifted her gaze away and got back to her grind, but¡­ Letitia Elgin called out her name directly When your boss singles you out, can you really y deaf? Under the curious and knowing gazes of her colleagues, Letitia stood up. Mr. Ramirez.¡± ¡°Come here¡± What the heck? What¡¯s Elgin up to, looking to stir the pot with more gossip? Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, I¡¯ve still got work to finish.¡± ¡°Workday¡¯s over, do it tomorrow ¡°But Elgin had already turned, and the crowd parted for him as if by magic With everyone watching. Letitia couldn¡¯t say no and followed him out of the office. Once in the car, she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Elgin, what¡¯s this all about?¡± ¡°Taking you home.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got legs, I can walk on my own.¡± He flicked the dust off his cuff, ¡°Tonight, you¡¯re needed at the Ramirez Mansion.¡± ¡°Oh. Letitia responded, ¡°You could¡¯ve just texted me, or had Ranen give me a heads up ¡°What, you got a problem with meing to find you at the Jewelry Department?¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t you heard the gossip flying around the office about us?¡± Elgin raised an eyebrow, No Because no one dares gossip in front of me¡± Letitia was at a loss for words, ¡°Well, let me fill you in then, there¡¯s talk that you¡¯re keeping me as your sugar baby¡± Elgin pondered for a few seconds. ¡°It¡¯s not entirely wrong. Letitia looked at him with a shocked expression ¡°You eat my food, wear what I provide, live under my roof, Elgin replied. ¡°I am indeed keeping you.¡± ¡®I¡¯m your wife! The one you mamed! We¡¯re legally hitched! It¡¯s your secret marriage that¡¯s sparking rumors!¡± Letitia was livid. She was perfectly capable of being self-sufficient, a modern independent woman! It was Elgin who clipped her wings. not letting her soar, and now he had the nerve to say he was supporting her? That¡¯s augh! Elgin watched her get all ruffled with a calm face. After a moment, he simply uttered, ¡°Oh.¡± Letitia was on the verge of blowing her top, turning her head to stare out the car window, ignoring him. The car pulled into the Ramirez Mansion. Howley greeted her with a beaming smile, ¡°How are you feeling these days? You need to take good care of yourself. It hasn¡¯t been long. but I already can¡¯t wait.¡± All is well, Grandpa¡± ¡®Good, if you need anything, let me know. Can¡¯t neglect my great-grandchild, now can we?¡± Elgin sat there with a nk face, legs crossed. Elgin Howley looked at him. ¡°The people i had arranged at Ivory Towers, you sent them packing. We haven¡¯t settled that ount yer. ¡°Ivory Towers isn¡¯t short-staffed, Grandpa, you didn¡¯t need to do that.¡± Only then did Letitia catch on. No wonder Elgin was able to move Sh in, and even with the big fall, Hawley hadn¡¯t shown up. He was totally out of the loop, his informants had been pulled out Hawley continued, ¡°I¡¯m just looking out for you.¡± Thanks for the concem, Grandpa.¡± ¡°You¡­ Alright, singht, for the sake of my great-grandchild, I¡¯ll let it slide.¡± Hawley turned back to Letitia with a warm smile, inquiring about her well-being. Phedra sat beside, her face a mix of reluctance and obligation, ncing at Letitia¡¯s stomach now and then. As Hawley kept fussing over Letitia, Phedra couldn¡¯t hold back, ¡°Alnght, father, the butler at Ivory Towers can surely take good care of Letitia You don¡¯t need to worry, let¡¯s focus on the important matters.¡± ¡°What are you on about? My great-grandchild isn¡¯t important? This is the Ramirez family¡¯s most important thing this year!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it like that.¡± Today¡¯s family dinner was crucial for Phedra¡¯s son¡¯s future! ¡°I know, I¡¯m not senile yet. Hawley said leisurely as he stood up. ¡°Elgin,e to my study.¡± Elgin didn¡¯t budge He probably guessed what wasing. Grandpa wants to talk about my half-brother returning to the country and his next steps, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Your brother¡¯sing back soon, we need to n his future carefully.¡± ¡°Theres only room for one tiger on a mountain, you know that better than I do, Grandpa.¡± ¡°He¡¯s still your brother Hawley headed to the study, ¡°Follow me¡± Phedra, all smiles, urged, ¡°Come on, Elgin, go ahead, I¡¯ll keep Letitiapany, don¡¯t worry.¡± Elgin nced at Letitia, ¡°Stay put.¡± ¡°Where would I go? As soon as Elgin and Hawley left, Phedra¡¯s smile dropped. ¡°How times change,¡± she huffed. ¡°Now you¡¯re the star in the Ramirez family, I have to suck up to you. Letitia sipped her tea quietly, not taking the bait. She hadn¡¯t forgotten Phedra¡¯sst stunt, dragging her to the hospital for a paternity test. Thankfully, Vidonia had swiped the test tube, foiling the n. Phedra surely hadn¡¯t seeded with the test. ¨C What puzzled Letitia was Phedra¡¯s reaction she didn¡¯te after her. There was no angry confrontation, no gloating announcements about the baby not being Elgin¡¯s What was going on? Had Phedra suddenly lost her tongue? Seeing Letitia acting all high and mighty, Phedra couldn¡¯t help but get ticked off, ¡°Ha! You think you can strul around in front of me? Just you wait until my sones home, the Ramirez family¡¯s scene is gonna flip on its head!¡± The mention of the Ramirez family¡¯s second young master sparked something in Letitia. Walden was trying to get close to him! Letitia cracked a smile and deliberately brought him up in the conversation. ¡°Speaking of which, I haven¡¯t had the chance of meeting the Ramirez family¡¯s second young master yet.¡± ¡°My son is the cream of the crop, even more handsome than Elgin!¡± Phedra beamed with pride. ¡°He¡¯s got the Ramirez blood running through his veins, shares in the Ramirez Group, holds a piece of the Ramirez family fortune!¡± ¡°Of course, he¡¯s your rock in the Ramirez family. When¡¯s the young master nning toe back home? I¡¯d love to get a good look at Phedra answered, ¡°Any day now. He¡¯s definitely gonna join the Ramirez Group when he¡¯s back, and give Elgin a run for his money¡­. Anyway, he¡¯s part of the Ramirez family, and Elgin can¡¯t keep shoving him to the side forever!¡± Lebba nodded, ¡°Mmm, I¡¯m really looking forward to the second young master returning home.¡± Chapter 112 Chapter 112 ¡°Don¡¯t think you¡¯re the only one that can get pregnant and have kids,¡± Phedra snapped ¡°Once my son gets back, I set him up with a perfect match from a wealthy family. He¡¯ll marry and have kids, too, spreading the Ramirez family tree and making Hawley over the moon!¡± In these pach circles, heirs are everything Phedra, watching Letitia beat her to the punch, was obviously green with envy. She was itching for Letitia to have a daughter ¨C that would cut the threat to her and her son by more than half After all, it¡¯s just a daughter. The coveted spot of the ¡°firstborn son was still up for grabs! ¡°Speaking of which, Letitia Phedra asked, ¡°did you get checked to see if it¡¯s a boy or a girl?¡± Letitia replied, ¡°Cant tell yet. Plus I¡¯m not going for a check-up. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Boy or girl, it¡¯s my child either way Phedra scoffed, ¡°Ohe on, deep down, you¡¯re probably hoping for a son, huh?¡± She didn¡¯t want to engage with Letitia any longer and decided to check on the kitchen instead Seeing her about to leave, Letitia casually asked, ¡°What about the check-up you did for mest time? You should at least fill me in, shouldn¡¯t you? That topic really got Phedra¡¯s goat! There was Letitia, obviously carrying Elgin¡¯s baby, but she was acting all scared and flustered, which made Phedra misjudge¡­ But in the end, it was all lost cause! ¡°Nothing worth mentioning Phedra stormed off. Don¡¯t get too cocky, Letitia!¡± Cocky? Far from it Everyone thought Letitia was living the high life, marrying into wealth and never having to worry about a thing But the reality? Her life was a hot mess, pure toil ¡°Baby¡± Letitia could only talk to the little one in her belly. ¡°Mommy¡¯s so tired, there have been so many times I wanted to give up, just end it all. But thinking of you gives me all the strength I need. Your daddy will find us, right? And even if just in case he never does, we¡¯ll have each other Half an hourter, Hawley and Elgin returned to the living room. Hawley looked a bit off, but Elgin was his usual self Phedras heart skipped a beat Father, about that matter.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s eat and forget about it ¡°Til pass on dinner Elgin slowly said. Grandpa, I¡¯m taking off.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Elgin gently pulled Letitia up from the sofa, a smirk on his lips. ¡°Letty says she¡¯s craving some dim sum. I¡¯m taking her there now Letitia was confused. When did she say that? Elgin was using her as a human shield! And calling her¡­ Letty? She was getting goosebumps all over! That nickname gave her the creeps! ¡°Don¡¯t try to fool me Hawley wasn¡¯t born yesterday. ¡°I didn¡¯t hear her say anything to you.¡± Elgin waved his phone, ¡°She texted ¡°You¡­ fine, fine! Pregnant women do get cravings. Whatever Letitia wants, she must have. For her sake, I¡¯ll let it slide!¡± Hawley waved his hand in agreement Thanks for understanding. Grandpa.¡± Elgin wrapped his arm around Letitia¡¯s warst and strode out the door. This lovey-dovey act touched Hawley He was happy to see it. And Letoa? She had no choice but to y along, not daring to make a move. It wasn¡¯t until they were out of the mansion that she tried to wriggle free, ¡°Let me go.¡± But Elgin held on even tighter, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Grandpa can¡¯t see us, you can let go now¡± You seem to have lost weight Letitia.¡± She paused and instinctively replied. ¡°If I were living a easier life, why would I be getting thinner? I¡¯m pregnant..¡± She tried hard to eat and nourish herself, but it wouldn¡¯t make up to the torment she got Elgin guided her to the car, opened the door for her, and buckled her seatbelt. Letitia was too shocked to move What was up with him¡­. ¡°Off to get dim sum, Elgin said Tm taking you now. Letty¡± Letitia swallowed hard. ¡°Can you act normal?¡± This version of Elgin made her more scared, more uneasy. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. He raised an eyebrow. ¡°Not used to it? ¡°No¡± ¡°Letitia Sanders, you really don¡¯t know when you have it good.¡± Elgin¡¯s face tumed cold, and he got into the driver¡¯s seat. Letitia breathed a sigh of relief, this was more like the Elgin she knew. Just before it was as if he was possessed And Elgin did take her for dim sum, to a nondescript little joint on the side of the road. The table was small, the chairs basic, and the owners were busy as bees Elgin, all ss and looks, seemed totally out of ce in this small shop. ¡°Do youe here often?¡± Letitia asked. ¡°It¡¯s been years She found it odd. This kind of ce seemed like somewhere he wouldn¡¯t even nce at ¡°There you go¡± The owner quickly served food to them, steaming hot. Letitia couldn¡¯t wait to take a bite of the meatballs, only to burn her tongue. She quickly stuck out her tongue ¡°Dummy, Elgin handed over a tissue. ¡°I didn¡¯t think it would be that hot ¡°Eat slower, no one¡¯s fighting you for it¡± Letitia blew on it before carefully taking a bite. ¡°Wow¡­. these really are delicious¡± The unassuming meatballs were juicy, and the other dishes were yummy. Soon, she ate everything in front of her Elgin, on the other hand¡­ had only been taking a few bites The Ramirez family was strict, he ate slowly and elegantly, a clear sign of formal dining etiquette training. ¡°Why are you watching me eat?¡± Elgin looked up, meeting her gaze. ¡°Hmm?¡± I want some more.¡± Letitia¡¯s cheeks were a bit red, a tad embarrassed. They were delicious, and she was hungry. Elgin paused then told the owner. Two more orders of meatballs, please.¡± ¡°Coming right up On the way back to Ivory Towers, Letitia touched her bloated belly she might¡¯ve overeaten¡­. Elgin nced at her, ¡°Piglet¡± She said nothing, let it slide since he paid Just as she was sitting back, dazed, his lips pressed down on hers. Letitia didn¡¯t even see iting. That smooth kiss lingered on her lips for a good ten seconds before she remembered to push Elgin away. ¡°Mmmph you¡­ muh¡­ mmm¡­ The more she tried to talk, the more she opened her mouth for Elgin to dive in. His taste was all over her mouth. Letitia kept pping Elgin¡¯s shoulders, ¡°No¡­ mmm, don¡¯t¡­¡± She tried to turn her head away, but Eigin forcefully straightened it, not letting her back down. And then, he just went for it andid the passenger seat t With a gasp. Letitia found herself tumbling backward¡­ Chapter 113 Chapter 113 Elgin came crashing down on top of her. He trapped her between the seat and his chest, deepening the already impromptu kiss relentlessly. Letitia was about to pass out fromck of air¡­ and she sensed danger. Things were going to escte if they kept making out like this! Elgin was a man, driven by instincts and desires! With that thought. Letitia bit him hard, which led to him biting her back. Both of their lips were bleeding. Elgin¡¯s hand reached for the buttons on her blouse, ready to pop them open. ¡°No¡± Letitia mmed her hands against his chest, pushing him off her with all her might The light inside the car was dim, and the silence around them was only broken by Elgin¡¯s heavy breathing in her ear. ¡°Elgin.. What the heck are you doing? Letitia swallowed hard. ¡°Can¡¯t you feel it?¡¯ His fingers brushed her chin. ¡°Letitia, I¡¯m your husband. I have every right to¡­¡± She panicked, ¡°But you didn¡¯t marry me for real!¡± ¡°So what if I want to touch you, what are you going to do about it?!¡± ¡°You could go to Sh! Letitia blurted out. She¡¯s into you, always at your beck and call!¡± Elgin snorted coldly ¡°But you¡¯re my wife, Letitia. ¡°Now you remember I¡¯m your wife? Have you ever truly treated me as your equal?¡± Elgin propped himself up beside her, his gaze piercing through the darkness. Their eyes locked, both able to see the flood of emotions in the other¡¯s. His eyes were filled with intense passion, while hers were a mix of fear, anxiety, and difort. ¡°So you really want me to back off¡­¡± Elgin¡¯s eyes suddenly turned icy. ¡°Letitia, are you trying to stay pure for that other guy?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not some easy girl, nor am I a ything for you to satisfy your needs!¡± ¡°Heh, who do you think you are? Letitia, you came to me to atone!¡± She bit her lip. ¡°Not with my body.¡± ¡°Grandpa said,¡± Elgin reminded her, ¡°if you give birth to the Ramirez family child, he might consider forgiving your dad¡­ Don¡¯t you feel even a little bit tempted? Of course, Letitia wanted her father to be free and to return to a normal life. L ¡°Your hesitation proves you¡¯re willing to use your body to atone Elgin¡¯s tone was mocking ¡°What¡¯s with the act of a chaste martyr?¡± His words were a direct hit on herst shred of dignity ¡°Yes, I want to save my father. I even said before, if you want, after having this child, I could bear yours¡­¡± Elgin cut her off, his tone firm and chilling. ¡°I don¡¯t want the future, I want now!¡± He was a man used to getting what he wanted, never failing. Yet Letitia was the nail that bent his hammer. She was his enemy, he despised and tormented her, but why did he feel so different about her? Letitia gazed at him, stunned. ¡°Now? You want me now?¡± Was he confessing his feeling? It sounded so heartfelt. But the next second, Elgin bolted from the car without even closing the door and strode away. Letitia straightened up, quickly fixing her disheveled clothes, watching his figure grow distant. Phew that was a close call. igin really incisted on having his way with her in the car, she¡¯d be helpless! Back in the servant¡¯s quarters, Letitia¡¯s lips still tingled. She faced the mirror, looking at her bitten lips, and silently cursed Elgin. Was this guy a dog or something? Why did he have to bite! Before bed, Letitia put on her earphones, eavesdropping on Sh¡¯s movements. Sh¡¯s life was full of color, either shopping or having afternoon tea, nothing useful at all. Bored, Letitia dozed off listening to the sound. Unexpectedly, the next day, Sh rocked up to Ivory Towers bright and early Letitia was jolted awake by the noise in her earbuds. Shis voice was cutesy, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, you¡¯re up? I was about to wake you¡± Letitia froze for a few seconds before she reacted, removing her earphones. She had to dawdle before going out, she didn¡¯t want to see that woman, better to steer clear for now In the master bedroom. Elgin, while putting on his shirt, frowned at Sh¡¯s intrusion ¡°Who let you in?¡± The butler told me you were here, so here I am,¡± she cooed ¡°Or¡­ don¡¯t you want to see me, Mr. Ramirez?¡± ¡°Just wait for me in the living room.¡± ¡°I thought you were still asleep.¡± Elgin grabbed his jacket. ¡°Out¡± Sh didn¡¯t budge, fussing with the bed. ¡°Go freshen up, Mr. Ramirez, I¡¯ll make the bed¡­ Ah!¡± Her wrist was gripped tightly. ¡°Out Elgin¡¯s face was grim. ¡°Don¡¯t make me say it a third time!¡± ¡°You¡¯re hurting me¡­ Then Elgin let her go. Sh yed the victim. I just wanted to help, why are you being so harsh?¡± ¡°The servants will handle it, no need for you to lift a finger¡± ¡°I want to be a good wife and mother. Sh tried to continue, but shut up at Elgin¡¯s re. Elgin, now dressed, nced at the messy bed. He had a reason for not letting Sh tidy up. With a flick, he revealed the sheets. stained with unspeakable things. He yanked them down, throwing them to the floor, stepping on them with his shoe. Last night¡­ he had dreamt of Letitia, and woke up to this. This was a secret Elgin kept to himself. And even he couldn¡¯t face it! This left Elgin in a foul mood all morning, not uttering more than three words to Sh This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. She, clueless, felt snubbed. After Elgin left for the office, Sh, fuming, headed to the servants¡¯ quarters to pick a fight with Letitia and vent her frustration, only to find Letitia had already made her escape through the back door ¡°Nice move, Letitia Sh stomped her foot. ¡°You might dodge me today, but let¡¯s see about tomorrow and the day after! Just you wait!¡± The butler came over, ¡°Ms. Ward, if there¡¯s nothing else, you¡¯re free to go ¡°What? You dare to kick me out?¡± ¡°Ivory Towers is having a major cleanup, the garden needs weeding and spraying, you sure you want to stick around?¡± Sh gave him a fierce re, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll leave!¡± She had thought that after her miscarriage, Mr. Ramirez would be morepassionate towards her, that his attitude would change¡­ But he didn¡¯t change at all. Sh went to the mental hospital and found Mark. ¡°Dad!¡± Sh what¡¯s up? Mark had a big smile, ¡°I saw your ring from a mile away Whoa, it¡¯s really sparkling! Let me take a closer look!¡± Chapter 114 Chapter 114 Mark was gushing over Sh¡¯s hand, non-stop admiration, ¡°How much is this worth¡­ Not just valuable, but a token of Mr. Ramirez¡¯s affection, a treasure that even Letitia doesn¡¯t have!¡± Those words gave her a bit offort, but she couldn¡¯t help but think about Elgin¡¯s attitude. ¡°Maybe Mr. Ramirez is dealing with some stuff, and in a bad mood,¡± Mark consoled her, ¡°Don¡¯t go getting mad over every little thing. Look, the situation is still swinging our way!¡± ¡°Pift, Dad, it¡¯s been ages and we still haven¡¯t managed to take care of Letitia¡¯s kid, talk about a cat with nine lives!¡± It¡¯s like, time and time again, Letitia just waltzes through danger unscathed! Just thinking about it gets her blood boiling! ¡°These things can¡¯t be rushed. Mark replied, ¡°I mean, I didn¡¯t see iting either. You went as far as dragging Letitia down with you, and yet her kid¡¯s still kicking. She really does have dumb luck.¡± Sh folded her arms, ¡°Whatever, I won¡¯t forgive her, not unless her kid is gone too. As long as I keep my lips zipped and y pity in front of Mr. Ramirez, I don¡¯t believe Letitia can keep up her tough act forever!¡± ¡°Right, take it step by step. Anyway, she doesn¡¯t know who the father of that child really is.¡± Mark, while saying this, took off the ring, clearly besotted with it. He¡¯s never seen such a big diamond in his life, and now it belonged to his daughter! ¡°Sh, do you wear it every day?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s a real head-turner, Sh said with pride stered on her face, ¡°Every time I lift my hand to flip my hair, it¡¯s like a blinding light show for everyone else!¡± *Maybe keep it on the down-low, it¡¯s worth a fortune. You never know, robbers or thieves might¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m not scared, anyone who dares to steal from me is on a one-way street to their grave. Mr. Ramirez won¡¯t let them off easy!¡± Sh¡¯s show-off nature, not wearing that ring? That would be worse than death for her. Sh took the ring from Mark and slipped it back on, admiring it non-stop. ¡°How¡¯s your injury? Mark asked, ¡°Must¡¯ve hurt, tumbling down the stairs like that¡± ¡°Hurts like I fell apart, my knee¡¯s still bruised up.¡± ¡°Poor baby, my girl went through a lot. Sh replied, ¡°Just bummed I didn¡¯t get what I wanted. Dad, tell me, if I, a normal person, can barely handle it, hurting for days, then how on earth could a pregnant woman just be okay?¡± ¡°Alright, alright, don¡¯t get down in the dumps, go shopping, spend some money, just use Mr. Ramirez¡¯s card. I¡¯ll figure something out for the rest, don¡¯t you fret, Sh¡± Mark had to really sweet-talk and coax before Sh¡¯s smile returned Little did the father-daughter duo know their whole conversation was recorded Every single word, clear as day At the Jewelry Department of the Ramirez Group, Samson was discussing work matters with Letitia. Letitia listened attentively, ¡°Mr. Stewart, got it, I¡¯m on board.¡± ¡°Yeah yeah, no rush, take it easy, you¡¯re pregnant after all.¡± Thanks for the concern, Mr. Stewart.¡± Samson cracked a smile. ¡°You being all formal with me, I¡¯m not thrilled about that¡± Letitia smiled back. Just then, she looked up and saw Vidonia walking in with a bouquet of sunflowers. ¡°Whoa. Vidonia got flowers?¡± Letitia teased, ¡°I wonder who sent her those?¡± While che spoke, she sneakily nced at Samson¡¯s expression. Sure enough, Samson who was just cheerful a moment ago, had now cooled off a bit. Letitia deliberately added, ¡°Vidonia¡¯s young, attractive, and sessful, having admirers is only natural, right Mr. Stewart?¡± Samson pursed his lips, and it took him a while to squeeze out, ¡°With that lemper of hers, how many guys can put up with that?¡± There who like her will put up with her.¡± ¡°How gentle and kind do you need to amodate her.¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Letitia blinked, ¡°Mr Stewart, you¡¯re such a gentleman, why not give it a shot?¡± ¡°Psh Samson said. ¡°I¡¯m a dashing young man. I like ying around, and I¡¯m not looking for anything serious.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t miss your shot¡­ When Vidonia is swept off her feet by another man, you¡¯ll be regretting!¡± ¡°Me, regret? What¡¯s there to regret?¡± Samson was all talk, but clearly miffed, he strode over to Vidonia. ¡°Hey,¡± he asked, ¡°where did you get those flowers?¡± Vidonia looked at him, ¡°None of your business. ¡°Duning work, why aren¡¯t you focusing on your job, instead of gallivanting around?¡± Vidonia looked puzzled. ¡°I was just at the front desk. I wasn¡¯t gallivanting around¡± Samson with a stem face, ¡°Who sent them?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± She was about to answer when she snorted, ¡°Does it matter who? What¡¯s important is how gorgeous this bouquet of sunflowers is, bursting with life* He scoffed, ¡°The guy who sends sunflowers really has no taste.¡± ¡°Sure sure, as if Mr. Stewart¡¯s taste is any better.¡± ¡°Vidonia, you really need to up your game,¡± Samson crossed his arms, a casual yet concerned look on his face, ¡°As a friend, I can vet them for you, after all, men know men best¡± Vidonia rolled her eyes and walked past him, ¡°No thanks.¡± She approached Letitia and handed over the sunflowers. ¡°Here.¡± ¡°For me?¡± Letitia pointed at herself ¡°Yeah, they¡¯re for you,¡± Vidonia said. ¡°The card¡¯s still on it, I didn¡¯t peek.¡± What? These sunflowers were for her? ¨C Letitia took them in surprise, opened the card, and read ¡°Get well soon, from Neil.¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± Vidonia leaned in, ¡°Which of your admirers?¡± Letitia quickly closed the card, ¡°It¡¯s from Neil.¡± ¡°He¡¯s quite thoughtful.¡± Letitia, looking at the vibrant sunflowers, felt increasingly grateful for Neil. They¡¯ve only met a few times, but he had helped her big time. And now, he had sent flowers to wish her well. Meanwhile, Samson¡¯s expression gradually rxed, as he breathed a sigh of relief. False rm. He really thought someone had eyes for Vidonia, the tigress. But then again, why the heck was he all wound up? Samson chuckled to himself and turned to head back to the office. ¡°Does he have some kind of issue or what?¡± Vidonia watched his retreating figure. ¡°Did this bouquet rub him the wrong way or something?¡± Letitia burst outughing, ¡°Is being jealous considered an illness?¡± *Jealous? Neil gave you flowers, what¡¯s he got to be jealous about? Wait, does he like¡­ uh¡­ no, that doesn¡¯t add up.¡± Vidonia was confused. Bent overughing, Letitia said, ¡°Vidonia, is there a chance Samson got jealous over the wrong thing and is now mad at himself?¡± Vidonia was even more confused, ¡°Huh? What does that mean? I don¡¯t get it!¡± ¡°They really are beautiful, bursting with life and hope, Letitia said as she ced the sunflowers in the office break room ¡°Let everyone see them, it¡¯ll brighten their mood a bit.¡± Chapter 115 Chapter 115 Neil¡¯s entrance into her life was like this bouquet of flowers. He was her ray of light, a savior in her darkest times. In the evening, Letitia dragged her exhausted body back to Ivory Towers and after freshening up, as per usual, she popped on her headphones. Sh¡¯s voice came through. She listened while doodling design drafts with a pencil on paper. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Until Mark¡¯s voice emerged from the headphones, Letitia¡¯s hand with the pencil froze in an instant. She focused, afraid of missing a single word ¨C The conversation wasn¡¯t long, just half an hour. And itid bare the whole thing it was a setup, a scheme orchestrated by her and her father Letitia was innocent from start to finish; they had conspired against her! But more importantly, Letitiatched onto the two key sentences ¡°Take it step by step. Anyway, she doesn¡¯t know who the father of that child really is.¡± ¡°Dad, tell me, if I, a normal person, can barely handle it, hurting for days, then how on earth could a pregnant woman just be okay?¡± Yes, Letitia truly didn¡¯t know who the father of the child was, only Mark and Sh knew for sure. But that second sentence, it threw Letitia for a loop Why did Sh say she was a normal person? And why mention that after tumbling down the stairs, she was just in pain for a few days, while Letitia, a pregnant woman, seemed unscathed? Something was off. Letitia held her breath, her brain whirring at top speed. Sh wasn¡¯t a normal person, she was pregnant Letitia was a pregnant woman, no doubt, and so was Sh Mark¡¯s main concern was entirely about Sh herself, not a word about the lost child¡­ Normal person, pregnant woman¡­ Suddenly, it clicked for Letitia, she got it! Sh was never pregnant! No pregnancy meant no miscarriage! That¡¯s why Shined to Mark about the pain and bruises from the fall since those were her biggest injures The miscarriage was a non-issue! She never even thought about the child or future fertility concerns! A miscarriage can do a number on a woman¡¯s body. Usually, women need to recover, even having a small confinement. Without proper care, it might be tough to get pregnant again. But Sh didn¡¯t give a damn! ¡°I got it, I got it¡­¡± Letitia stood up, pumped, ¡°No pregnancy, no miscarriage, it¡¯s all Sh¡¯s ploy, her way to snag Elgin¡¯s heart and hit me where it hurts!¡± She yanked off her headphones and bolted out. The chance to bring Sh down had finallye! Sh had fabricated a pregnancy and a subsequent miscarriage; this was no trivial matter. It was beyond belief that Elgin would still keep her around! This was deception! Elgin runs a financial empire, and he hates nothing more than deceit and betrayal! Sh hit him right where it hurts! Leuitas grip tightened, and she rushed towards the vi. Turned out, Elgin hadn¡¯t returned. She spun on her heel, heading out, when she bumped straight into someone¡¯s arms. A maic male voice floated down, ¡°In such a hurry to fall into someone¡¯s arms?¡± ¡°Elgin¡± Letitia looked up at him, her eyes sparkling, ¡°You¡¯re back! I was just looking for you!¡± Talk about timing was even about to drive to his office! She couldn¡¯t wait another second to spill the beans! As he looked into her bright eyes, Elgin¡¯s heart skipped a heat. Letitia seldom had that look in front of him Expectant, hopeful, vibrant, and beautiful. Was she this eager to see him? Elgin couldn¡¯t help but cheer up, not even realizing the corners of his mouth were lifting. Even his voice softened, ¡°You¡¯ve been looking for me?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Letitia nodded, ¡°Why sote? Were you burning the midnight oil at the office?¡± ¡°Yeah, meetings.¡± Letitia tugged at the hem of his clothes, ¡°I¡¯ve got something to tell you, got a minute?¡± Hei like this, Elgin was defenseless. It¡¯s true deep down, men just can¡¯t resist the whole sweet and cuddly act. But too much of a good thing can be intoxicating. Eigin was usually the voice of reason, but even after a momentary daze, he slowly came back to his senses Looking down, he saw her hand on his clothing ¡°Oops¡­ Sorry.¡± Letitia withdrew her hand, even smoothing out his clothes on impulse, ¡°I got a bit excited.¡± Just thinking about revealing Sh¡¯s deeds in front of Elgin filled her with an unmistakable thrill! ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Elgin walked towards the living room, ¡°You seem thrilled.¡± Letitia was genuinely ted, no hiding it. Following behind him, only when he sat down on the couch did she start, ¡°I stumbled upon a secret. Or rather, I found a way to prove my Innocence¡± Elgin was no fool and quickly surmised, ¡°It¡¯s about Sh?¡± ¡°Yes, I didn¡¯t drag her down the stairs, had no intention of hurting her. It was all her own doing! She was framing me!¡± ¡°And the evidence?¡± ¡°The evidence is on Sh herself.¡± Elgin narrowed his eyes slightly, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I need Sh here, face to face. Letitia enunciated clearly, ¡°She didn¡¯t just set me up, she¡¯s told a whopper of a lie!¡± Letitia¡¯s voice echoed in the living room. Her expression and tone were so resolute Elgin met her gaze for a few moments. After a brief silence, he turned to the butler, ¡°Go, call Sh.¡± ¡°Right away. Mr. Ramirez¡± Letitia¡¯s palms were sweaty as she clenched her fists. Elgin said nothing more, lounging with crossed legs, toying with a cigarette, unlit. So her excitement was about revealing Sh¡¯s secret. He thought that Letitia was looking forward to his return home. Never mind, wishful thinking on his part Sh, on the phone, clueless about what was up. ¡°Mr. Ramirez wants me at Ivory Towers?¡± ¡®Yes, Ms. Ward, pleasee over as soon as possible¡± ¡°Did. Mr. Ramirez mention what it¡¯s about?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± Sh knew that the butler had never been a fan of hers, so there was no point in trying to get any info out of him; she just hung up the call. She couldn¡¯t shake off a feeling of unease. Mr Ramirez had never called her over out of the blue before, without giving any reason. With her heart pounding Sh arrived at Ivory Towers. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, you wanted to see me? Missed me, didn¡¯t you?¡± Despite her nervousness, she managed a smile. ¡°I got your call and carne as fast as I could. What¡¯s up?¡± Elgin said coolly, ¡°Take a sest¡± Chapter 116 Chapter 116 He was about to light a cigarette, head bowed, when Sh stopped him, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, maybe ease up on the smokes? It¡¯s bad for your health. Plus¡­ we¡¯re thinking of having another child, so it¡¯s better if you quit smoking for the baby¡¯s sake.¡± He frowned slightly. Seeing he was miffed, Sh quickly added, ¡°But I get it, you¡¯re swamped with work and the stress is through the roof. Sneaking one once in a while isn¡¯t the end of the world.¡± Then, she even reached for the lighter herself, ready to spark it up for him But Elgin just wasn¡¯t in the mood for a smoke anymore. Sh¡¯sment had rubbed him the wrong way. Had he actually promised her they¡¯d start trying for a baby now? ¡°Mr. Ramirez Sh hesitated, ¡°Did I say something wrong?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing¡± His expression turned icy. ¡°I asked you here because Letitia wanted to talk.¡± ¡°Letitia?¡± ¡°Yeah, me.¡± Letitia nodded. ¡°Sh, you just had a miscarriage and you¡¯re already itching to try again? Isn¡¯t that too soon?¡± ¡°This is between Mr. Ramirez and me What¡¯s to you? ¡°I¡¯m just saying, watch out for your health. Sh snorted, ¡°Mind your own business. What do you want from me? Think a few feeble apologies will earn my forgiveness? Dream on! I¡¯veid out my terms. If you can¡¯t meet them, forget about my forgiveness!¡± Letitia couldn¡¯t help but find Sh¡¯s confident air amusing. She said softly, yet loud enough for everyone to hear, ¡°I¡¯m not apologizing, Sh, because I did nothing wrong. You never miscarred because you were never pregnant to begin with!¡± The room was hit with a wave of shock. Elgin¡¯s piercing gaze quicklynded on Letitia¡¯s face as he asked, ¡°What did you say? She didn¡¯t miscarry?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right ¡°Then what about the baby? is the baby okay?¡± Letitia shook her head, ¡°There never was a baby to start with. No pregnancy, no miscarriage, simple as that Elgin shot up, his face a mask of fury. ¡°Letitia, you can¡¯t just spout nonsense! ¡°You¡¯re not ready to face the truth? Letitia looked at him, ¡°Elgin, you might rule the roost, and sure, no one dares to cross or deceive you because they can¡¯t stand sticking around if they do. But Sh, she fooled you with such ease ¡°Evidence! You can¡¯t just talk the talk!¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°I¡¯veid it all out, Elgin. If you want to know the truth, just look into it, why don¡¯t you?¡± Letitia said Sh was bbergasted No you¡¯re spouting nonsense!¡± She denied shrilly, ¡°Letitia, to dodge your own me, you concoct such lies to nder me!¡± ¡°I¡¯m ndering you?¡± ¡°Yes! You¡¯re just making things up! Mr. Ramirez is asking for proof, and you don¡¯t have any!¡± Sh was in a total panic. Her fake pregnancy and miscamage had always been top secret, with very few in the know. The hospital staff had been bribed by her dad to keep tight-lipped¡­ How did Letitia find out? Was there a traitor in their midst? No, that couldn¡¯t be. Letitia didn¡¯t have the resources to buy anyone off! So, Sh was dead set on denying everything ¡°Mr Ramirez, don¡¯t listen to her!¡± Sh turned to Elgin, ¡°She¡¯s crazy, been in the loony bin for two years, totally out of her mind. You just can¡¯t take her word for G Elgis eyes were deep and inscrutable, impossible to read. mineering gaze was too much for Sh to handle, especially with her guilty conscience. She was utterly lost Mr Ramirer you you¡¯ve got to believe me! You can check, ask the hospital, consult the doctors, don¡¯t just swallow Letitia¡¯s side of the story!¡± When Elgin stayed silent, Sh bolted over, but in her fear, her legs gave out, and she tumbled to the floor She scrambled up, crawling on her knees to Elgin¡¯s feet, ¡°I didn¡¯t, I couldn¡¯t possibly deceive you, Mr. Ramirez, I¡¯m so into you, wanting to bear your children, how could I stoop so lowr Elgin remained silent Letitia quietly observed the drama unfolding. She knew Elgin had already made up his mind about right and wrong. He wasn¡¯t one to be fooled easily. ¡°Letitia¡± Sh pointed at her, ¡°Cut the crap stirring up trouble, trying to wreck what Mr. Ramirez and I have! Now that I¡¯ve miscarried and not pregnant anymore, you think you can just sling mud at me like that! ¡°Whether I¡¯m slinging mud or not you know the truth. Letitia replied coolly Sh blustered. ¡°It¡¯s all talk! Where¡¯s the evidence? Have you been snooping around the hospital?¡± She was banking on her fathers influence to have secured their silence. Little did she know, Letitia had aeback that left her speechless. ¡°Sh oh Sh, always harping on about checking with the hospital, thinking you¡¯ve got those people in your pocket to keep your secret Too bad you forgot one thing ¡°What what thing?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need others to prove it. Letitia said, ¡°Whether a woman has been pregnant or had a miscarriage can be medically verified. And let¡¯s face it, if you really had just miscarried, it would be tantly obvious Right?¡± Sh¡¯s face went ashen. A medical check She couldn¡¯t withstand that! Forget about a baby, she was still a virgin! Even though Sh was once a minor inte celeb, loved to party and hit the clubs, she knew full well that purity mattered for her Especially since she was hell-bent onnding a wealthy dude and marrying into high society, she had always been cautious about rtionships She didn¡¯t see thising, but today turned out to be the day Letitia blew the lid off her secrets! Just the fact that she¡¯s still a virgin speaks volumes! It¡¯s not only about her faking a miscarriage! It¡¯s that Elgin will find out she¡¯s not the woman from that night! Once this gets out, she¡¯s toast! Letitia went on, ¡°The most straightforward and fastest way is to just get a gyno check-up Sh, you got the guts to do it?¡± Sh was scared out of her wits. She wouldn¡¯t dare go for a check-up! But does that mean she would just admit it? Sh was in a total panic, her eyes darting around like crazy, racking her brain for a way out Chapter 117 Chapter 117 She totally nked-forgot that the guy in front of her was Elgin. From her behavior, he could sense that something was off. Someone with nothing to hide, someone who¡¯s sure of themselves, wouldn¡¯t look like such a deer in the headlights ¡°Sh,¡± Elgin¡¯s voice cut through the air like ice, ¡°got anything to say about what Letitia just dropped?¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez, L., L. L ¡°Nothing, then?¡± Sh stammered, all jittery. ¡°Mr. Mr Ramirez, she that I L Elgin leaned in, eyes piercing like daggers, ¡°Spill it His voice boomed, echoing through the entire Ivory Towers Letitia seizing the moment chimed in, ¡°Sh, you could also zip it and head straight to the hospital for a check-up. If I¡¯m slinging mud here, the results will clear everything up, easy peasy!¡± ¡°Shut your trap¡¯ Sh screeched. ¡°Letitia, you bitch!¡± ¡°Looks like you don¡¯t have the guts, do you?¡± Letitia was ying her cards right Hearing the recording, she was sweating bullets-what if she got it wrong, what if Sh¡¯s ¡°a normal person¡± didn¡¯t have a deeper meaning into it? But backed into aer with no way out, she had to roll the dice Screw it, all int Turns out, Letitia hit the jackpot. She couldn¡¯t believe Sh had the nerve to y Elgin and faked her pregnancy and miscarriage! It was like digging her own grave! Even if she had no kid, there would be no problem-Elgin was still treating Sh like a queen, giving her the sun, the moon, and the stars! Under Letitia¡¯s relentless truth-hunt, Sh was toast She gave up the fight, copsing onto the carpet, muttering, ¡°Yes, Mr. Ramirez, I wasn¡¯t pregnant, and I never had a miscarriage. Sh had to less up Otherwise, a hospital check would reveal her little secret and pull out way bigger skeletons from the closet! No way could Elgin find out it wasn¡¯t her that night, but Letitial Even if Elgin blew his top and never wanted to see her face again, she wouldn¡¯t let Letitia climb the ladder and live the high life! Letitia cracked a smile. It was a lightugh, a sigh of relief. ¡°Elgin, did you catch that?¡± She asked Finally, Sh¡¯s admitted it She did it, she proved herself innocent No way Sh¡¯s bouncing back from a screw-up this big! Letitia was ready to keep the pressure on, not letting up an inch, giving no room for aeback Letitia prodded Elgin, ¡°she¡¯s been soaking up your care, spending your money, sweet-talking about how much she¡¯s into you, dreaming of having your kids. And what do you get? A big fat lie. She yed you, toyed with your feelings, your hopes for a kid, had you tricked by her¡± Letitia knew just where to hit-a man¡¯s pnde-so sheid it on thick, fueling his fury, setting him up to throw the book at Sh. ¡°Zip it, Letitia Sh bellowed, ¡°Just shut it!¡± Im just spitting facts here, no sugar-coating.¡± Letitia said in a calm tone. ¡°You just you wait!¡± Letitia nodded, ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll wait¡­ to see you crash and burn.¡± She¡¯s no saint Never one for bleeding hearts. Cutting Sh some ck was like being cruel to herself. If she didn¡¯t step on Sh now, tomorrow she¡¯de back twice as vicious and leave Letitia in the dust! ¡°Ah! I¡¯ll rip your tongue out!¡± Sh, shaky on her feet, lunged at Letitia, ¡°You bitch, ruining my life, I¡¯m gonna take you down today!¡± Her blood-red nails aimed straight for Letitia¡¯s face. Letitia stepped back, ready to dodge, but Sh didn¡¯t even get close before she tripped and fell. Elgin was quicker, stepping in. He yanked Sh back and tossed her aside like trash This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°Sh!¡± he roared, ¡°You dare make a scene here?¡± Sh scrambled up, kneeling at his feet, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, I¡¯m sorry, I just got carried away¡­ I did all this ¡¯cause I¡¯m crazy about you, please forgive me¡­ This time, Sh was bawling for real, a total mess ¡°.. I just wanted your attention¡­ You¡¯re always so busy, it killed me. I wanted more of your love, more of your time, so¡­ so I cooked up this pregnancy scam!¡± She even tried grabbing Elgin¡¯s hand, ¡°I did all this out of love¡­ I wanted to have your babies, to be with you forever¡­¡± Elgin shook her off, his face a frozen mask, ¡°So that¡¯s your excuse? Faking a pregnancy just for me?¡± ¡°Yes, I had no other motive, I never hurt anyone, Mr. Ramirez, please, just this once¡­ I swear, I¡¯ll never dare again!¡± He asked coldly, ¡°That night when Letitia showed up at the Breezy Bay Condos, caught us in bed¡­ did anything actually happen?¡± Sh stumbled over her words, ¡°You.. you were hammered and then¡­ then¡­¡± ¡°Did anything happen?¡± ¡°No¡± Sh didn¡¯t dare lie any further,ing clean, ¡°You were drunk, and I helped you to bed, stripped down, and just slept next to you Who knew Letitia would show up outta nowhere. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you exin then?¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez¡± Sh looked up, tears streaming. You promised to marry me, that marrying Letitia was just for show, part of your master n. You care about me! So, us in bed together, whether anything happened or not, did it really need exining?!¡± ¡°Even if nothing did, so what? Should I have spilled to Letitia? And if something did happen, that would¡¯ve been normal anyway!¡± Elgin squeezed her shoulders, snapping, ¡°Sh, you¡¯ve been ying games! Lying about sleeping with me, pretending to be pregnant¡­ You are way too sly!¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez, we. we really did sleep together, remember? That first night, have you forgotten?¡± ¡°Cut the crap!¡± Elgin cut her off. ¡°You keep saying you faked the pregnancy for me So what about the fake miscarriage, was that for me too?¡± Sh was at a loss for words. ¡°Or are you telling me, his eyes narrowed dangerously, ¡®you knew you couldn¡¯t have kids and pulled this stunt to bail out, while also throwing Letitia under the bus? Killing two birds with one stone, huh?¡± Sh¡¯s little schemes werepletely seen through. The whole n was exposed! Chapter 118 Chapter 118 Sh zoned out for a while, then finally resorted to crying a river to Elgin, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, I-I messed up¡­ Please forgive me, I swear! won¡¯t make the same mistake again, pleasel¡± Too bad, her tears didn¡¯t do squat with Elgin. He wasn¡¯t buying that act. Sh had cried too many times and he was sick of it Elgin stood there, stone-cold, not a shred of emotion on his face. ¡°Sh, I¡¯ve turned a blind eye to your shenanigans before, let you run wild. But you crossed the line, big time¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez, no, please don¡¯t kick me out.¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t I been good enough to you?¡± he asked, ¡°You dare fake your miscarriage today, who knows what crazy thing you¡¯ll do next time!¡± Sh shook her head frantically, saying, ¡°I won¡¯t dare, I really won¡¯t ever again. Mr. Ramirez, do you remember when you found me, you said you¡¯d been looking for me for so long.¡± Elgin¡¯s face was unreadable, ¡°If I didn¡¯t have a heart, you wouldn¡¯t be standing here crying your eyes out!¡± Those who deceived him never ended well! Letitia stood by the perfect spectator. Sh had dug her own grave It was up to Elgin to decide her fateplete disappointment or a sliver of mercy. Of course, Letitia wished Sh would just vanish for good. But there seemed to be a secret between Elgin and Sh that she wasn¡¯t privy to Either way, Sh was down and out for the count this time, wouldn¡¯t dare cause trouble anytime soon. ¡°Butler Elgin bellowed, ¡°Get Sh out of here!¡± ¡°Right away, Mr. Ramirez.¡± The butler summoned two security guys, they grabbed Sh by the arms, left and right, and dragged her out as she screamed her lungs out Sh kept wailing, heartbreakingly so, ¡°I won¡¯t go, I want to stay. Mr. Ramirez, I truly realize my mistake, just give me a chance¡­ Mr. Ramirez! Elgin turned his back, sped his hands behind him, looked up slightly, eyes closed. Until Sh¡¯s voice faded into nothingness, he remained still, a statue in the quiet room. What just happened seemed like it never did. ¡°You¡¯ll forgive her, won¡¯t you,¡± Letitia said, ¡°after all, you have a thing for her.¡± Elgin¡¯s adam¡¯s apple bobbed. ¡°Where did you get the idea I like her? Did I ever say that?¡± ¡°If you didn¡¯t like her, why marry her? Why put up with her?¡± Letitia couldn¡¯t help but wonder, ¡°Did Sh save your life or something? Are you repaying a debt?¡± He nced at her sideways, brows furrowed, ¡°You¡¯re the enemy¡¯s daughter, and I married you, didn¡¯t I?¡± ¡°You said it was a form of atonement, not a joyride.¡± ¡°Hmm, d you remember.¡± Letitia shrugged, ¡°After marrying you, I¡¯ve paid too high a price. I can¡¯t forget, and can¡¯t afford to forget, gotta keep myself on my toes.¡± Elgin slowly faced her, eyes meeting hers, ¡°Letitia, with Sh, it¡¯s just obligation, it has nothing to do with feelings¡± Even if he kept reminiscing about that one night, it was just his own memory. Shete could never bring back the feel of that night. ¡°Obligation? She really did save your life, huh?¡± ¡°Something like that¡± Letizia was more confused What¡¯s that even mean? What really happened between them? Forget it doesn¡¯t matter, she didn¡¯t ask She spoke early, Elgin, now i can tell you straight up didn¡¯t push Sh down the stairs, didn¡¯t try to harm your child. Letitia, don¡¯t a lite Whitever you decide about Sh, to forgive or to cut ties, that¡¯s on you, not my business The one thing the grateful for is my child¡¯s well¡± With that, Letitia turned and left. Just as she reached the door, something crossed her mind, ¡°Just a heads up, faking a pregnancy and then a miscarriage, Sh couldn¡¯t have pulled that off alone. As to who¡¯s helping her, I reckon you¡¯ll figure it out¡± She left without looking back, leaving Elgin alone in the living room, powerful yet so isted. He held sway, everyone tiptoed around him, deference in spades. But in reality, he felt lonely, all the time. Sh yed him like a fiddle, treating the news of carrying his child as a joke, a bargaining chip, it was utterly infuriating! ¡°Go,¡± Eiginmanded, his voice icy. ¡°bring Mark to my study¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Mark had no clue what was going on, he hadn¡¯t met with Sh When he heard Mr. Ramirez was summoning him, even sent a luxury car, he was over the moon, thinking it was about wedding dowry or something. Mr. Ramirez¡¯s dowry, it¡¯d be the talk of AquaCity! In the study ¡°Mr. Ramirez, you wanted to see me,¡± Mark beamed, ¡°What¡¯s so important thiste?¡± Elgin stood by the window, hands behind his back, ¡°Very important.¡± ¡°Is it about your mamage to Sh? She often talks to me about it, says she won¡¯t marry anyone but you. And you and Letitia have signed the divorce papers, just waiting for the time to ¡± Elgin turned around, his gaze sharp as a de! It scared Mark speechless. ¡°Mr. Mr ¡°How I am with Letitia is none of your business!¡± ¡°Yes, yes, I just.¡± Mark, temfied of offending Elgin, pped himself in panic, ¡°I should keep my mouth shut, please don¡¯t mind me!¡± ¡°What else has Sh told you?¡± Mark shook his head vigorously, ¡°Nothing else, no_¡± ¡°She told you about the pregnancy first, didn¡¯t she.¡± ¡°Yes, she wasn¡¯t feeling well, she was throwing up I took her to the hospital and found out.¡± Mark exined, ¡°I may run a mental hospital, but I know a bit more medical stuff than the average Joe¡± Elgin stepped closer, pressing. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes, yes¡± Elgin¡¯s presence was overwhelming, his gaze alone made Mark¡¯s palms sweat. ¡°After Sh had her miscarriage, you were the one taking care of her, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, well,¡± Mark began toy it on thick, ¡°her mom passed away early on, and I¡¯ve been ying both mom and dad to her I owe her big time. Luckily, Sh is one sensible kid¡­¡± Mark rambled on and on until he sensed something was off in the air When he looked up and caught the icy look in Elgin¡¯s eyes, his legs turned to jelly, and he abruptly stopped talking, not knowing how to proceed. ¡°Go on Elgin raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why the sudden silence?¡± Ramirez. 1. What is this about?¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 119 Chapter 119 Eigin shorted with a sheer, ¡°You sure you want me to spill the beans? Or would you rather less up yourself?¡± Mark panicked,pletely lost his footing, and dropped to his knees with a thud. Talk about a guilty conscience! Elgin lifted his foot and aimed a kick at his chest, ¡°Sh¡¯s already confessed, and here you are, still putting up a front!¡± That kick was hefty, and Mark was sent flying, crashing to the ground, coughing over and over, struggling to get up. What? She confessed? What did Sh spill? Or did she spill everything? Clutching his chest, Mark was both shocked and scared, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, Sh, she-she.¡± Elgin¡¯s face was frosty as he pressed on, ¡°I¡¯m giving you onest chance.¡± Mark was dumbfounded, he had no clue what Sh had revealed. Was it a fake pregnancy, a miscarriage? Or was it about that night? Surely Sh wasn¡¯t that foolish! After thinking it over, Mark began knocking his head to the ground, ¡°It was all my idea, Mr. Ramirez Be it the pregnancy or the miscarriage, I was the one doing it, I bribed the doctor! She she didn¡¯t want to do any of it, it was me who kept on persuading and pressuring her!¡± ¡°Every time she saw you, she was down in the dumps, feeling like you didn¡¯t kke her,cking a sense of security I couldn¡¯t bear to see her so upset, so so I came up with this n to make you pay more attention to her!¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez, please don¡¯t me her, it¡¯s all on mee at me with whatever you¡¯ve got! Punish me! Sh¡¯s innocent Mark was shouldering all the me Now, he was ready to sacrifice himself to save Sh! Elgin looked down on him from above. That¡¯s it?¡± ¡°No¡­ no more¡± Mark shook his head nervously, Her intentions were all because she likes you, Mr. Ramirez!¡± Hearing this Elgins frown deepened. Is this what they call liking someone? Turning deception into affection? Elgin didn¡¯t want to bring up the miscarriage again-he had been so anxious back then. He even neglected Letitia, who had also fallen down the stairs. And it turned out it was the father-daughter duo had been plotting against him! Tm asking you,¡± Elgin nudged Mark with his shoe, since you¡¯re so good at giving Sh ideas, clever enough to y me¡­ was that night we spent together also thanks to your bright ideas?¡± Because Sh was so different from the girl that night, he had his doubts He¡¯d even sent people to double-check privately, but the results¡­ were the same as before. Now, with this fake pregnancy and miscarriage stunt, Elgin¡¯s suspicions were reignited. He was always distrustful, never putting faith in others, only in himself! ¡°Mr. Ramirez, that night, I really don¡¯t know what happened!¡± Mark pleaded, ¡°I don¡¯t have the means to get Sh into your hotel room!¡± Actually, when Elgin asked that question, Mark knew the score. 2 5 5 Sh hadn¡¯t confessed about that night. Good! That was the bottom line! As long as Mr. Ramirez believed he slept with Sh, there was still a chance for them to turn things around! So, Mark immediately started making excuses. Elgin¡¯s gaze darkened as he stared at him, ¡®Really You keep deceiving me, you know what the consequences will be.. you understand, right? ¡®Of course, of course!¡± ¡°But feel like there¡¯s something you¡¯re still not telling me As his words fell, Elgin¡¯s shoe came down hard on Mark¡¯s fingers. ffcole crushed the bones of Mark¡¯s fingers. ressure, and the crunching of bores could be clearly heart pet it! Elgin demanded. ¡®What really happened that night!¡± Mr Ramirez. I truly don¡¯t know. Ah!¡± ¡°Fine, when you figure it out, that¡¯s when you¡¯ll save your hand!¡± Ar this rate, Mark¡¯s hand was going to be ruined. He kept screaming. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, I swear I¡¯m telling the truth.. I don¡¯t have the power to deliver Sh to your bed! I was even pushed to the point of handing her over to some old geezer!¡± ¡°Do you remember? You¡¯ve seen that old guy! He took a fancy to Sh, specifically asked for her, and 1, being useless and spineless, had no choice but toply.¡± ¡°Because of this, Sh and I nearly cut ties! Luckily, that night she was sharp and ran away, ended up in your roorn in her frantic escape¡­ otherwise, her life would¡¯ve been ruined! Ouch! It hurts! ¡°Mr. Ramirez, spare mel With your immense power, how could I have plotted against you from the start! Elgin slowly withdrew his foot. Marky on the ground, looking at his motionless fingers. His bones were nearly shattered. ¡°So that night, Elgin began, it was Sh.¡± ¡°Of course it was her! You checked yourself!¡± Elgin fell silent. After a while, he said coldly, ¡°Even if it was her that night, what she¡¯s done now means she doesn¡¯t deserve to stay by my side!¡± ¡°No, Mr. Ramirez, it was all my idea, Mark took the me again, ¡°Sh initially didn¡¯t want to, didn¡¯t want to tie you down like this. It was me forcing her, and she agreed. ¡°Get lost Elgin kicked him again. Mark, in pain, scuttled away. ¡°Whatever the case, Sh loves you. At least at least she¡¯s better than Letitia, right?¡± ¡°Better than Letitia?¡± ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re putting up with Letitia carrying someone else¡¯s kid! Why can¡¯t you give Sh a chance when she¡¯s only messed up a little?¡± Elgin¡¯s face turned as dark as night. ¡°Who said I am putting up with that bastard child!¡± He would get rid of it! It was just a matter of timing! How could he possibly keep a child that wasn¡¯t his! ¡°So you¡­¡± ¡°Get out!! Elgin swept everything off the desk onto the floor, his eyes bloodshot with fury. Mark, terrified by his demeanor, nearly passed out and scrambled out of the study as fast as he could, not daring to look back, fearing he¡¯d be too slow. Sounds of destruction echoed throughout the vi from the study. The butler and the servants all listened from the first floor, none daring to check what was happening When Mr. Ramirez was in a rage, whoever got close was asking for trouble! This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Elgin propped himself up on the desk, his surroundings a hot mess-papers strewn all over the floor, broken ss, you name it. His bangs hung down, covering his eyes, while his chest heaved up and down, breathing heavily ¡°Damn it, damn it!¡± He mmed his fist onto the desk, the veins on the back of his hand bulging. Just moments ago, when Sh¡¯s fake pregnancy was exposed, he wasn¡¯t even this pissed. He just felt like a total fool The great President Ramirez, yed like a dummy by Sh¡¯s little ruse. That¡¯s why Elgin was more than just mad-he was livid. Because no one gets to con him like that! Chapter 120 Chapter 120 But just now, when Mark said, ¡°you¡¯re putting up with Letitia carrying someone else¡¯s kid, it sent his rage through the roof! Only Letitia, after all these years, could effortlessly unleash Elgin¡¯s most ferocious temper! Yeah, the kid in Letitia¡¯s belly, still there after all this time. He¡¯s usually quick on making decisions, but when ites to Letitia, he¡¯s been dragging his feet, hesitating, and going soft on her over and over again! Elgin kicked over a chair nearby and stormed out of the study. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, the butler hurried over as he came downstairs, are you going lo ¡°Beat it Elgin, with his face the color of thunder, kept on walking The butler signaled to the servants to clean up the study and followed him And¡­ Elgin headed to the servants quarters Inside, Letitia was already asleep ¦§ Tonight, she finally got a taste of falling from heaven to hell, so she was extra rxed and slept like a log Not even Elgin kicking the door in woke her up. Elgin stood at the doorway, his towering framepletely out of ce in this cramped house. Looking at the woman sleeping on the bed, his anger began to fade away. Letitiay on her side, hands under her head, her hair spilling over her face, serene in slumber. Just a moment ago he felt like strangling her, but now. He couldn¡¯t bear to disturb her sleep! Elgin thought he must be going crazy! He stepped into the servants¡¯ room, a musty smell hitting him and the ceiling so low, he could touch it with a stretched hand. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. How could she sleep so soundly in such a ce? Even the hallway outside the master bedroom or a mat inside it would be better! But then, Elgin remembered she had spent two years in a mental hospital¡­ The conditions there must have been unimaginably bad. Elgin also recalled how he¡¯d told Mark to ¡°look after her properly, and Mark definitely did just that. Damn it! ¡°Letitia, if you¡¯re willing to get rid of the kid¡­ we could start over, Elgin reached out, gently brushing her hair aside, ¡°Why do you have to be so stubborn? Do you really like the baby¡¯s father that much?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve given you chances, to give up the child, to stay by my side, you could have had a good life. But no, you have to be at odds with me. suffering all the time ¡°Was it a wrong decision to bring you back, to keep you close?¡± Letitia mumbled in her sleep, feeling something ticklish on her face, she swiped at it, ¡°Mmm, stop After that, she went back to sleep Elgin withdrew his hand. Was this child really that important to her? At this moment, Elgin faced his own heart He had to admit, his feelings for Letitia had changed. from initial scorn and hatred to care, to missing her Yes, he missed her. Even Elgin had thought about letting go of the vendetta, the mistakes of the past generation, and just being together with her. But standing in the way of him and her, was this child! Letitia fet go of my father¡¯s death, can you let go of the child?¡± voice was so soft only he could hear it. He hoped she could hear it too. But if Letitia were awake right now he wouldn¡¯t be able things. In love, even a strong man like Elgin can be hesitant and timid. long wills, so long that Elgin didn¡¯t know how much time had passed, and Lettin dya inave. Before leaving, he made sure to tuck her in, One second he couldn¡¯t wait to strangle her, the next he was worried she might catch a cold. ¡°Mmm stop it¡± Letitia, still with closed eyes, started sleep talking, ¡°Let me sleep a bit more. ¡°Keep sleeping, no one¡¯s going to bother you¡¯ ¡°Okay, I¡¯m a bit sleepy.. Walden, I¡¯lle to youter.¡± Upon hearing it all of Elgin¡¯s motions froze in an instant. In her sleep talk, Letitia murmured, ¡°Walden, I want ice cream. You said, once we¡¯re married, you¡¯d buy me ice cream every day¡­¡± She even smiled in her sleep. It seems like¡­ she¡¯s really having a sweet dream! In the cramped room, every word from Letitia was especially clear Elgin¡¯s expression slowly solidified Walden, that must be the guy. Letitia is really lovesick, dreaming about Walden! Yes, she and Walden were childhood sweethearts, grew up together, and were engaged to be married, just waiting for the right time to tie the knot and have kids! And what about him, Elgin? He was just someone who barged into her life,pletely messed up her nned trajectory! Indeed, Letitia was dreaming In her dream, she went back to her childhood Those days were truly happy, she had loving parents, a harmonious family, she was the pampered only child, going to and from school with the little master from the Sullivan family next door, doing homework together, flying kites in spring. The adults would always tell her, she was meant to marry Walden when she grew up Letitia didn¡¯t know what marnage meant, so she went to ask Walden. Walden, two years her senior with the air of a little adult, said, ¡°Marrying me is a good thing, you can have ice cream every day!¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course! I¡¯ll buy it for you every day!¡± ¡°Yay, Walden, I want to marry you!¡± Such a beautiful memory, she couldn¡¯t help butugh out loud. Only in unfortunate times do people realize how hard-won those happy days were In the midst of deep sleep, suddenly, a strong force lifted Letitia right off the bed. Startled awake, she opened her eyes wide to the man in front of her ¡°Elgin¡­ Letitia was utterly disoriented, blinking and sitting stiffly on the bed, her mind still not catching up. Why was Elgin here? She had just been dreaming. Right, only in dreams could she be that free and happy. As she was thinking, Elgin¡¯s deep voice came through. ¡°What did you dream about? Huh?¡± ¡°L.. nothing¡± ¡°Laughing so happily in your dream, must¡¯ve been a good one, Elgin said mockingly. ¡°Was it annoying to be woken up like that?¡± Letitia eyed her, ¡°When did you show up?¡± Why on earth is he here instead of sleeping at this ungodly hour? Good thing she stashed those eavesdropping earbuds away Otherwise, if Elgin had caught a glimpse, she¡¯d be in a lot of trouble! Can¡¯te over? Elgin lifted her chin with his hand, yanking her closer, ¡°Letitia, what gives you the right to sleep like a log and even sweet dreams?¡± we the right to dream?? He leaned in, he breath heavy on her face. Yet you were calling out Walden¡¯s name in your sleep! Chapter 121 Chapter 121 Jealousypletely hijacked Elgin¡¯s reason. He was green with envy over her young romance with Walden, envious of their engagement and bing an item, but what ate him up the most was that even though Walden had left her life, she was still all about Walden in her heart! Letitia was gobsmacked for a hot second, ¡°Really, I. I did dream about him.¡± ¡°Do you miss him?¡± ¡°No..¡± Before she could finish, Elgin¡¯s hand was already choking her neck. He really did it, as if the gentle Elgin who watched her sleep never existed! ¡°Letitia, do you have any clue how low you¡¯ve stopped? Do you think Walden would ever pick things back up with you? He¡¯s a young master of the Sullivan family, and you? What are you?¡± Elgin spelled it out. ¡°You¡¯re damaged goods!¡± Her face turned ghostly pale, ¡°Elgin, what gives you the right to sling mud at me like that?¡± ¡°Am I wrong? You say the kid isn¡¯t Walden¡¯s, fine, I¡¯ll buy that. But you can¡¯t even say who the father is! A woman who hops into bed with anyone and gets knocked up, what kind of tramp do you think you are?¡± Damaged goods Tramp That¡¯s how hebeled her. After hearing this, Letitia let out a deste chuckle, ¡°Right, I¡¯m such a dirty woman, totally unworthy of being by your side. Elgin, let¡¯s call it quits right now!¡± As soon as the words ¡°call it quits¡± came out, they struck a raw nerve in Elgin. ¡°You think you¡¯re even in a position to say that?¡± Elgin¡¯s grip tightened, forcing her to look up at him, ¡°Letitia, I¡¯m the one who says we¡¯re done. You just wait for my say-so!¡± ¡°Can¡¯t handle getting dumped by me, can you? ¡°Letitial Elgin¡¯s roar almost blew the roof off. ¡°I hit the nail on the head, and that¡¯s why you¡¯re pissed¡± Letitia looked at him. ¡°It¡¯s always women throwing themselves at you¡­ but I¡¯m the exception. You don¡¯t get that sense of achievement with me, just a constant feeling of frustration, right?¡± She had him pegged Women who were into Elgin were a dime a dozen. Heiresses, socialites, celebs which one of them wouldn¡¯t want to marry into the Ramirez family and score a social leap? Only Letitia couldn¡¯t care less! He married her, but she felt the Mrs. Ramirez title was anything but afy seal. Clearly, she was the underdog, an ant in Elgin¡¯s hand, easily crushed, yet she refused to bend the knee. This seriously fired up Elgin¡¯s conquering instinct! He wanted to see Letitia smitten with him, unable to live without him! But she was just numb to him, her heart set only on the baby in her belly! Even though she hit the bullseye, Elgin would never admit it! ¡°Heh, Letitia, don¡¯t tter yourself too much Elgin scoffed, ¡°Don¡¯t forget, you¡¯re the daughter of the man who killed my father. I feel nothing for you but hatred, and the urge to torment!¡± Letitia was gasping for air, her hands grasping Elgin¡¯s wrist, ¡°So are we calling it quits or not?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you dare say those words again!¡± ¡°Elgin¡­ can¡¯t you bear to let me go?¡± As the words fell, Elgin¡¯s grip on her throat tightened even more. Letitia couldn¡¯t make a sound Elgin¡¯s eyes were bloodshot. He hated her, and also loved her. But how could he love her like this?! A tear involuntarily rolled down Letitia¡¯s cheek. She didn¡¯t beg for mercy or struggle, she just quietly looked at Elgin with a calm, unwavering gaze. As if dying at his hand would be just fine. Eigin¡¯s hand started to tremble, Letitia, I gave you chance after chance, and you didn¡¯t cherish them. Fine, very well, then don¡¯t me me for being ruthless with you from now on!¡± He violently pulled back his hand. Letitia coughed twice, catching her breath, ¡°How much more ruthless can you get? Elgin, it¡¯s you who destroyed my life, ruined everything I had¡±¡± ¡°it was your father who killed mine first! ¡°My dad he. Letitia wanted to arque, but fearing she might hit a sore spot with Elgin, she swallowed her words, ¡°Even if that¡¯s true, what did i do wrong? I didn¡¯t kill your father!¡± You have to atone for him!¡± Lenga bit her lip hard. One day, she¡¯d find the proof, vindicate her father¡¯s innocence, and show that everything Elgin was doing now was wrong. He was the one who owed her, the one who should seek her forgiveness She was waiting for that day toe! ¡°Still defiant, huh?¡± Elgin asked. ¡°You still think your father was innocent?¡± Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. Letitia turned her face away and changed the topic. ¡°It¡¯ste.¡± She was urging him to leave Elgin looked at her coldly. ¡°Whether it¡¯s Walden or Neil, don¡¯t even dream about it! Your life is in my hands!¡± ¡°Have you fallen for me, Elgin?¡± she asked, her lips curling into a light smirk. You¡¯re dragging your feet on the divorce, insisting i stick by your side. Have you fallen for your enemy¡¯s daughter?¡± Letitia¡¯s slender fingers poked at his chest in¡¯s brows were furrowed tightly ¡°What.¡± Letitia¡¯s smile grew brighter, you don¡¯t dare admit it?¡± Elgin suddenly smiled too, his lips curving up. He leaned in slowly, their lips nearly touching ¡°Yes, Letitia Elgin said, ¡°I love you, why wouldn¡¯t I admit it?¡± Now it was Letitia¡¯s turn to be stunned. Just a moment ago, she thought she had the upper hand, that she had Elgin¡¯s feelings all figured out But he he just admitted it? Letitia didn¡¯t know what to say She forgot that the man in front of her was Elgin. He was extremely intelligent, not so familiar with the emotional stuff, true, but that didn¡¯t mean he could be yed. He was too clever, always ready to strike back! ¡°Letitia, you¡¯ll see soon enough just how I¡¯m going to properly love you!¡± He emphasized the words heavily Letitia caught the hint of danger. ¡°Elgin she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What are you nning to do?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough¡± She immediately reached out to grab him, but he dodged her. ¡°No, Elgin, a sense of crisis had Letitia in its grip, her gut telling her Elgin was about to do something absolutely bonkers, ¡°I just¡­ I didn¡¯t say anything, pretend I was talking in my sleep!¡± She shouldn¡¯t have pushed his buttons like that. She knew too well that Elgin was a selfish, heartless brute! Elgin just gave her a look and, without a moment¡¯s hesitation, spun on his heel and headed for the door. ¡°Elgin!¡± Letitia called out to him, hopping out of bed trying to stop him, ¡°You¡¯ve never had a clue about love, you¡¯ve never truly loved anyone. How can you ever love me! Not hurting me would be the greatest love of all!¡± Chapter 122 Chapter 122 Elgin just barged right past her with quite the shove. Letitia stumbled back a couple of steps and ended up falling down. The door mmed shut with a bang, and Elgin was gone. His way of loving her, was straight-up diabolical! Letitia¡¯s heart kept sinking, her palm clutching tight It waste Elgin walked in the night, an air of brooding menace about him. Yep. Letitia had hit the nail on the head again He didn¡¯t know how to love, and he had never truly loved anyone He thought he loved Sh, but now he realized that he had no feelings for Sh whatsoever His feelings for Letitia, though, they snuck up on him, growing bit by bit over time Elgin had tried to ease up, to smooth things over with her, but no dice. He was trying to learn, trying to back off, but Letitia wasn¡¯t having any of it So¡­ hed kick things off his way A devil¡¯s romance! Elgin adjusted his tie and a cruel, bloodthirsty smirk yed on his lips. When he was ready to really start things with Letitia, he¡¯d stop at nothing to make her depend on him and him alone! The next day, the sun crept up slowly. Elgin walked into the dining room and ordered, Go, bring Letitia here.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Pamirez Letitia was still reeling fromst night¡¯s terror, couldn¡¯t catch a wink of sleep after Elgin left She wasn¡¯t scared of Elgin¡¯s hatred. His sudden love that scared the bejeezus out of her! His love, that¡¯s scarier than hate! With her heart in her throat, Letitia entered the dining room, ¡°You wanted to see me?¡± Elgin was sipping his coffee all suave, ¡°Take a seat. ¡°I, I was gonna grab breakfast at the cafe next to the office¡­ ¡°I won¡¯t say it twice¡± The Elgin today, was like when they first met. Back to his icy, aloof, business mogul vibe! She knew this distance all too well! Letitia had no choice but to sit her butt down. Breakfast was a feast, with vaned food, but her appetite was in her boots, eating like she was walking on eggshells ¡°.. I¡¯m full, she put down her fork Elgin nced over. Thats all you¡¯re eating?¡± ¡°Um. I¡¯m not big on breakfast ¡°Eat up, Elgin started piling food on her te. ¡°You can go when you¡¯re done¡± Letitia wanted to say no, but one look at his eyes and she silently picked up her fork again It¡¯s better not to challenge him, she¡¯s not going toe out on top of that battle ¡°Don¡¯t workte these days. Elgin added, ¡°Focus on your health Despite the concerncing his words, they sent a chill running down Letitia¡¯s spine. ¡°I, I¡¯m recovenng okay,¡¯ she replied, ¡°I can work normally¡± Elgin just gave a slight smirk, his expression an enigma. The food in Letitia¡¯s mouth got harder to swallow. Something felt off. like something was about to go down. Just then, the butler hurried over. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, I don¡¯t know what happened, Ms. Ward is here, kneeling and crying at the gate, insisting on seeing you.¡± ¡°Useless, can¡¯t even keep a wornan in check, and she ends up at Ivory Towers? Elgin¡¯s face darkened. The butler hung his head, replying, ¡°TII deal with the bodyguard who screwed up.¡± Tell her to get lost, Elgin hissed. ¡®I don¡¯t want to see her now!¡± Letitia¡¯s grip on her fork tightened Elgin, who used to be so smitten with Sh, now could be this heartless! Finally, after finishing the food he piled on her te, Letitia thought she had a chance to scoot when Elgin spoke again ¡°Ride with me. 1. ¡°Try saying no Letitia had no choice but to get in his car. As the car left Ivory Towers, Letitia caught a glimpse of Sh She was pinned to the ground by two bodyguards, her mouth sealed with duct tape, her eyes desperate, watching the direction of the car Looks like she never left, trying every trick in the book to see Elgin. And Elgin? He¡¯s buried in paperwork, oblivious to the drama outside. He sat there, detached and majestic. Suddenly, the driver floored it, and Letitia lurched forward uncontrobly. A hand reached out, cushioning her forehead to prevent a collision with the seatback ¡°What¡¯s going on? Elgin sounded peeved ¡°Mr. Ramirez, someone¡¯s blocking the way, we¡¯d hit them if we didn¡¯t stop.¡± There was Mark, arms spread wide, practically hugging the car¡¯s hood. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Talk about a death wish! But then again, he and Sh were dreaming of riding Elgin¡¯s coattails to the top. Now that their n¡¯s blown, they¡¯d do anything to salvage the situation what¡¯s a little car bump to them? And the driver wouldn¡¯t dare hit them ¡°Mr. Ramirez, give Sh a chance to exin¡­ Mark was on his knees in front of the car, ¡°It¡¯s all my fault, I put her up to it, don¡¯t me hert ¡°Mr. Ramirez!¡± Sh struggled free and ran over, kneeling down next to Mark. Elgin massaged his brow, then stepped out of the car with a long stride. ¡°Mr. Ramirez!¡± Mark called out, ¡°I told Sh, it was my vanity that put her in this, I¡¯ve dragged her down. From now on, I¡¯ll cut ties with her, and let her stay good by your side!¡± Elgin snorted. A whole night¡¯s brainstorming, and this was their n. Pin it all on Mark, sacrifice him to save Sh Elgin was stone-faced, ¡°Keep her by my side¡­ to keep scheming against me?¡± ¡°No, I wouldn¡¯t, Sh blurted out, ¡°I promise I won¡¯t do a thing! Mr. Ramirez. I¡¯m all yours, my innocence is yours, without you, I¡¯m truly on a dead-end street..¡± Here she goes, ying the sympathy card again She knew the weight in Elgin¡¯s heart about that night was significant But Letitia got out of the car. ¡°Making yourself out to be so pitiful, huh Letitia walked up to Sh, ¡°You had everything, just had to wait it out, and Elgin would¡¯ve banded it all to you on a silver tter. Too bad your greed got the better of you and you blew it all.¡± ¡®Letitia, shut up! This is all your fault!¡± Sh still couldn¡¯t figure out how on earth Letitia found out about her fake pregnancy. Where did she get her intel? ¡°My fault? Honey, I haven¡¯t even started on how you¡¯ve screwed me over,¡± Letitia shot back. ¡°You¡¯ve made your bed, now lie in it!¡± Sh red at her with venom. ¡°You just wait!¡± Il be waiting.¡± Letitia cracked a smile. ¡°We¡¯re just getting warmed up.¡± the cast a casual nce at Sh¡¯s ring finger Hmm, the ring was still there. Chapter 123 Chapter 123 She needed to keep that bug in sight, it was her ticket to some important info! Like, who¡¯s the baby¡¯s daddy¡¯ Letitia believe that Sh would discuss about it with Mark! She¡¯s gotta be patient and wait for that day toe! Mr. Ramirez, even Letitia can walk all over me now. Sh sobbed. ¡°Did you ever think that she might be bad news too? I faked a pregnancy, but she¡¯s carrying another man¡¯s baby! That¡¯s a p in your face!¡± Mark immediately chimed in. ¡°Exactly! When Sh dragged her down the stairs with her, she was just trying to lend you a hand, to make Letitia really lose the baby! Otherwise, if word gets out, where would that leave your reputation?¡± The father-daughter duo had Letitia in their crosshairs Just as Letitia was about to say something. Elgin cut in. ¡°I will handle her myself! ¡°Mr. Ramirez.. ¡°Get lost¡± Eigin¡¯s eyes were fierce, ¡°Reflect on yourself!¡± Sh¡¯s bluster was shattered by his roar, meekly she said, ¡°I¡¯ve been reflecting all along. Mr. Ramirez. No matter what, my love for you is real, and so was that night She even dabbed at theer of her eye, trying to milk some sympathy. ¡°I fake a pregnancy and you get mad, yelling at me. But Letitia carries another man¡¯s child, and you put up with it. Why, aren¡¯t you going to make her get rid of it, what are you waiting for?¡± Every other word from her mouth was about the baby in Letitia¡¯s belly. This father and daughter, their hearts set on making her abort the baby, hadn¡¯t changed a bit! Suddenly, Letitia stepped forward and pped Sh twice across the face. ¡°Ah! Sh screamed, Letitia, how dare you hit me!¡± ¡°Yeah, I hit you, and I meant to, Letitia said, pulling back her hand, ¡°And I wanted to do it right in front of Elgin!¡± ¡°Letilia, now you¡¯re stepping all over me! Mr. Ramirez, you¡¯re just going to stand there and watch me get humiliated¡­¡± Sh cried and wailed, her voice carrying far Lucky that Ivory Towers was big, or they¡¯d be the neighborhood spectacle by now. Letitia crouched in front of Sh and whispered so only they could hear- ¡°You better not mess with my kid again, or I¡¯ve got ways to make your life even more miserable! Sh, you¡¯re probably clueless about how I found out about yourke pregnancy and miscarriage, right? Let me tell you, I¡¯ve got dirt on you, lots more secrets! My kid is where I draw the line I couldn¡¯t touch you before because Elgin had your back, so you kept bullying and framing me. It¡¯s different now you¡¯re in hot water, still daring to target my child, I¡¯ll make you pay in blood! If my child gets even a scratch, your life won¡¯t be worth living Letitia¡¯s gaze was as sharp as a knife, and Sh, stunned, felt it was somewhat like Elgin Staying by Elgin¡¯s side, Letitia had learned to be just as decisive and ruthless! It took a while for Sh toe to her senses Gritting her teeth, she said, ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± ¡°Yep!¡± ¡°Ha. Letitia, I¡¯ve got dirt on you too. If I can¡¯t turn things around, I swear you¡¯ll never know who the father of your child is!¡± With that, Sh tried to stand up. But Letitia was quicker, her hand pressing down on Sh¡¯s shoulder, pinning her back down to kneel straight. ¡°I don¡¯t need to know, I can raise the child on my own, Letitia said ¡°Now Sh, get out, immediately!¡± ¡°Hmph, like I¡¯d ever listen to you!¡± Sh, used to looking down on Letitia and always having the upper hand, quickly regained herposure, not the least bit afraid. ¡°Mr. Ramirez!¡¯ she looked up, ¡°Til admit that I deceived you, but I still feel it¡¯s unfair!¡± Elgin spoke coolly, ¡°Fair?¡± ¡°Yes. Compared to a fake pregnancy and carrying another man¡¯s child, which is harder to swallow? Obviously, it¡¯s thetter! At least I¡¯m pure and only yours!¡± Secing Elgin¡¯s expression darken, Sh pressed her advantage, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, I repent, I¡¯ve been contemting my actions, but, I want you to get rid of Letitia¡¯s child¡¯ Otherwise, it¡¯s just not fair to me!* Naturally, Mark was on his daughter¡¯s side, ¡°Right, Mr. Ramirez, that¡¯s a man¡¯s line in the sand, who could tolerate that?¡± eta clenched her fits tightly. Even in the midst of trouble themselves, Mark and Sh were determined to pull her down with them What should she do Then Elgin¡¯s steady voice rose, ¡°I will deal with it in my own way, it¡¯s none of your concern.¡± Mr Ramirez, can you really stand it?¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± he replied, ¡°but it¡¯s not your ce to tell me what to do! Bodyguard!¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Ramirez.¡± Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. ¡°Take them¡­¡± Elgin had barely started speaking when suddenly a ¡°ding dong¡± chimed. The distinct sound of an email alert on a phone. And the source of the sound was¡­ Letitia¡¯s phone. ¡°Who¡¯s emailing you so early in the morning?¡± Elgin¡¯s piercing gaze swept over, ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°I, I haven¡¯t checked, probably someone from the office¡± Letitia¡¯s heart raced, but she tried to appear calm. She had a hunch.. that email was from Walden! After Walden went abroad, their only contact was through emails, and it was Walden sending them one-way, she never replied. For fear of Elgin finding out She didn¡¯t expect her inbox to ping night now! No matter how much Letitia tried to hide it, she couldn¡¯t escape Elgin¡¯s sharp eyes. The slightest bit off, and she couldn¡¯t slip past him. ¡°Hand it over¡± Elgin reached out, palm open. Letitia swallowed hard, ¡°Hand¡­ hand what?¡± ¡°Your phone. I want to see your emails.¡± ¡°I already told you, it¡¯s from thepany¡­¡± Elgin¡¯s voice grew stern, ¡°Hand it over!¡± Letitia hesitated. If Elgin saw it, it would be over. But not handing over the phone would arouse his suspicion After a few seconds of thought, Letitia slowly reached into her pocket¡­ All she could do was silently pray to the heavens that the email wasn¡¯t from Walden, and if it was, it shouldn¡¯t mention anything about investigating Marcels death! Otherwise, she was toast! Elgin was staring at her withser focus, not even blinking. Letitia had just whipped out her phone when, outta nowhere, Sh pounced like a cat and snagged the phone right out of her hands! ¡°Sh!¡± she cried out totally shocked. Sh was no dummy. Letitia hemming and hawing like that made it obvious that email was shady business! Of course she¡¯d jump at any chance to knock Letitia down a peg! ¡°Give it back!¡± Letitia lunged to grab it. But she was a second too slow. Mark zipped over, stepping in front of her, and yelled, ¡°Sh, check it!¡± Sh¡¯s face lit up like she¡¯d just hit the jackpot, like she¡¯d saw some earth-shattering secret. Letitia¡¯s heart skipped a beat! Chapter 124 Chapter 124 ¡°It¡¯s an email from Walden!¡±Sh blurted oud ¡°Mr. Ramirez, Letitia¡¯s still in touch with Walden!¡± Letitia¡¯s world went dark for a moment. She nearly passed out, with cold sweat breaking out on her back. It really was from Walden! A murderous look shed in Elgin¡¯s eyes, ¡°Letitia Sanders!¡± He snatched the phone opened the email- ¡°Everything¡¯s okay over here. Letitia, you holding up okay? I miss you. Wait for me to get back.¡± Elgin clenched the phone so hard his knuckles turned white. The next second, he chucked the phone hard. With a loud smack, the phone shattered into pieces, its screenpletely busted Letitia gasped in shock. She hadn¡¯t even seen what the email said! Sh couldn¡¯t suppress her smug smile as she saw the scene unfold. Letitia really shot herself in the foot, huh? Keeping tabs with her ex-fianc¨¦¡¯ ¡°Mr. Ramirez, look Sh said with a purposeful tone, ¡°what wouldn¡¯t she dare do? Carrying an illegitimate child, staying in contact with her ex, she¡¯s still deceiving you!¡± Letitia tried to argue, but her mouth opened and no words came out. She could only stand there silently Elgin didn¡¯t say a word either, took long strides, gripping her wrist, and led her to the car. ¡°Mr. Ramirez!¡± Sh called out, ¡°Give me another shot, at least I love you, I¡¯ve never betrayed you, I¡¯m only yours!¡± This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Elgin acted as if he didn¡¯t hear a thing. Rage had taken over his entire rationale! He practically threw Letitia into the car, his actions rough and violent. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, the driver asked tentatively, ¡°where to now¡­ now?¡± ¡°The hospital¡± ¡°Y-yes. Letitia copsed onto the cushy seat, still trying to get up when she heard the word ¡°hospital,¡± her pupils dting uncontrobly. ¡°Elgin! What are you nning to do!¡± A bloodthirsty smile curled on his lips, ¡°What do you think?¡± Letitia froze, blood seemingly running in reverse, temporarily blinded, unable to see Elgin¡¯s face clearly. Secondster, her vision started to clear. So this is what it feels like to be utterly terrified¡­ That was a feeling Letitia never wanted to experience a second time. ¡°No, don¡¯t¡­ She covered her stomach, inching back. Until her back hit the car door. ¡°You can¡¯t escape Elgin¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, his voice devoid of emotion, ¡°Letitia, only without this child can we truly start over.¡± ¡°I never thought about starting over with you!¡± ¡°But I did.¡± Elgin replied, ¡°I told youst night, I¡¯m going to love you in my way.¡± Letitia shook her head in fear, ¡°This isn¡¯t love!¡± ¡°If I say it is, then it is¡± His word wasw! Letitia felt a buzzing in her ears, her face drained of color. This kid¡¯s got lucky so many times, but too bad, he shouldn¡¯t havee into this world Elgin pressed his lips together, ¡°Letitia, without this kid, we can have a future.¡± ¡°Without him, I can¡¯t have a future!¡± He smirked confidently, ¡°Tll make sure you do.¡± ¡°Elgin, how can you love me, you can¡¯t love me, please stop joking, it¡¯s not funny at all¡­ we can¡¯t start over I¡¯m the daughter of your enerny, we¡¯re sworn enemies, where¡¯s the love in that?¡± Elgin card ¡°Yes, I hate you but love is a separate matter altogether¡± They don¡¯t sh; they can even coexist. He loathed her father, yet he harbored love for her. Despair and fear surrounded Letitia. She knew¡­ Elgin was dead set on getting rid of her child! No! ¡°I won¡¯t go to the hospital, I won¡¯t!¡± Letitia kept pping the driver¡¯s seat, ¡°Stop the car, let me out! Stop the car!¡± The driver sneaked a nce at Elgin. ¡®Don¡¯t you dare stop¡± Elgin snapped. ¡°Yes, yes The car kept moving forward. Letitia gritted her teeth and suddenly tumed to open the car door! Just as she grabbed the handle and was about to open it, Elgin¡¯s hand reached over, encircling her waist, and the other hand re-locked the door! ¡°Letitia, you got a death wish?!¡± ¡°I won¡¯t go to the hospital!¡± she reiterated, ¡°If you don¡¯t stop the car, I¡¯ll have to jump!¡± Elgin shouted angrily, ¡°You think your child will be safe if you jump like that? You will die!¡± ¡°I know, then let me jump with the child to our deaths, it¡¯s better than being sent to the hospital¡¯s operating table to watch an abortion!¡± He touched her face gently, I can¡¯t bear to let you die. Sit tight.¡± Elgin picked up Letitia and sat her on hisp. This position left Letitia unable to move, forced to lean on him. He had a faint scent of cologne, his tie was impably knotted, his shirt cor pristine. So dapper, yet so cruel¡­ Letitia gave up ¡°Elgin she called his name. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Can you spare this child, please? ¡®No way¡± He refused t out Letitia said, ¡°Just let me have this child, and I¡¯ll agree to any other condition. If you want me to stay with you for a lifetime, I will do it, I¡¯m willing to stick around. Can we?¡± ¡°Only if the child is gone can we possibly have a lifetime¡± ¡°Why¡­ why so cruel? What¡¯s the point of a life together if you force it on me like this! Tears uncontrobly slid down Letitia¡¯s cheeks. Several times her child had a narrow escape, clinging to life. And today¡­ was it going to end at Elgin¡¯s hands? She couldn¡¯t ept that! ¡°Stop crying¡± Elgin raised his hand to gently wipe away her tears, ¡°I won¡¯t hurt you.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°Pretend this child never existed, like¡­ that man never was in your life!¡± Letitia shook her head, ¡°I can¡¯t¡­ That night was her first time. That night, that man promised to marry her. Elgin¡¯s hand, wiping away her tears, suddenly stopped and slid down to grip her chin. ¡®Letitia, I don¡¯t give a damn that you had a fianc¨¦ before or that you¡¯re carrying another man¡¯s baby. I¡¯m willing to stick with you through thick and thin, and here you are telling me you can¡¯t do it?¡± Why wouldn¡¯t she agree? She¡¯s always saying no to his sweet deal! This was the first time he¡¯s bent over backwards for a woman, and what does he get? Lepta didn¡¯t appreciate it one bit! But doma, it¡¯s precisely this kind of Letitia that gets under his skin! I couldn¡¯t care less about the past or the future. All I want is for this child to be bom safe and sound,¡± Letitia sald, ¡°Even if I can¡¯t raise han even if he never knows I¡¯m his mother, that¡¯s my one little wish.¡± Chapter 125 Chapter 125 If Elgin could just do it, she¡¯d stick by his side like a good girl, ¡¯cause she didn¡¯t really have any other option. But no, he wouldn¡¯t agree. He just had to wreck a living, breathing life! ¡°No man can stand it, knowing his wife is carrying someone else¡¯s bastard!¡± Elgin roared, ¡°And that goes double for me!¡± He¡¯s the unrivalled head of the business empire in AquaCity, always holding the reins of power and never sumbing to anyone. ¡°You keep calling my baby a bastard¡­ Letitia closed her eyes as tears streamed down her cheeks, ¡°but did you ever stop to think, Elgin, that I knew that man before I even met you?¡± That guy came first, before Elgin. ¡°Cut the crap, it¡¯s just gonna tick me off,¡± Elgin leaned back, ¡°and pissing me off isn¡¯t gonna do you any favors.¡± Letitia cleaned her tears. The car still made it to the hospital without a hitch. Elgin scooped her out of the car, never letting go the whole way, cradling her right to the OR The doctors and nurses were already on standby at the doors of the operating room, just waiting for her arrival. This was a moment Letitia would never forget in her life. The pain was unbearable, the desperation profound, like being trapped in darkness with not a glimmer of light. Elginid her down on the hospital bed, but she clung to his neck, refusing to let go. ¡°It¡¯ll be over before you know it.¡± Elgin said, ¡°When youe out, you¡¯ll have a fresh start.¡± He thought he was being pretty damn generous, still sweet-talking her. Letitia pulled his head down, whispering in his ear, ¡°Elgin¡­ doing this, you¡¯re just making me hate you even more.¡± ¡°Hate me, then, Elgin shot back, ¡°talk of love between us is just a big joke anyway.¡± He tried to pry her hands off, but Letitia wouldn¡¯t let go, gripping his shoulders for dear life. ¡°No, I can¡¯t go in¡­ Letitia vehemently shook her head, ¡°Elgin, can we just¡­ talk it out?¡± Desperately, she tried to clutch at herst straw. ¡°There¡¯s nothing more to say. This is it¡± Elgin had indulged this girl for far longer than he should have. He had hit his limit. Swiftly, he moved to disentangle her wrist from his arm. But Letitia only clung onto his shoulders tighter, resolutely unwilling to sever their connection. ¡°Let go,¡± he said, his eyes softening for a moment. But that ¡°let go¡± sent shivers down her spine. Elgin pried her fingers off one by one, with such force it felt like he¡¯d snap them. How could a woman¡¯s strength match up to a man¡¯s? The standoff didn¡¯tst a minute before Letitia¡¯s hands fell from Elgin¡¯s shoulders. He stood up straight and stepped back. Out of her reach! ¡°Elgin-¡± Letitia cried out in panic. He just stood there, his face a mask of indifference. ¡°Get going, you¡¯ll have a whole new scene when you¡¯re out,¡± Elgin said, ¡°From now on, we can y a different game.¡± The doctors and nurses wheeled her toward the operating room. Tears filled Letitia¡¯s eyes, her hands clutching the bedsheet so hard her nails snapped. He said he would love her in his own way. And indeed¡­ it was a devil¡¯s love! Destroying her, robbing her of her most precious child, all to have the life he wanted! This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°Elgin, 1 hate you, I will always hate you!¡± As Letitia¡¯s voice faded, the operating room doors mmed shut. All she could see was the mul curve of Elgin¡¯s lips. It was a look of cruelty, bloodlust. Back in the operating room, the bright lights blinding, tears streaming down her face, wetting the hair by her ears. 125 ¡°Can you spare me please¡­ She repeated it over and over, hoping for a miracle Who could save her this time? Letitia knew she¡¯d been lucky to save her child in the nick of time before Could that luck continue? The anesthetic slowly flowed into her body. Gradually, she lost consciousness¡­ cloning her eyes. Outside the operating room. Elgin stood ramrod straight, eyes fixed on the wall clock. He was standing guard here, not going anywhere! Last time, he ordered everyone not to save Letitia, to let her and the baby fend for themselves and then he left. But what happened? Neil showed up and whisked her away So this time Elgin was extra cautious. No one was allowed to interfere, no disruptions! After half an hour, humed footsteps and the tap of a cane echoed from the end of the hallway Hawley rushed in, Phedra in tow with a smirk on her face. *Elgin!¡± Hawley was frantic, ¡°What the hell¡¯s going on here? What¡¯s happened to my great grandchild?¡± Elgin frowned, ¡°Grandpa?¡± What was grandpa doing here? Who tipped him off, who leaked the news? Elgin¡¯s sharp gaze swept over to the bodyguard at his side ¡°Answer me Hawley demanded. ¡°If anything happens to Letitia¡¯s baby, I won¡¯t let you off the hook!¡± Elgin squinted, ¡°I thought all of grandpa¡¯s insiders were pulled out, yet you got the news so quickly seems like Ive got a mole in Ivory Towers That¡¯s not the point! When Hawley got the news, he rushed over from the family estate without a second to lose And the informant. was the butler at Ivory Towers After Elgin whisked Letitia away in the car, the butler sensed trouble, sent the butler and Sh away, and immediately phoned Hawley In the Ramirez family, even though Hawley had stepped down and had no real power, his age and senionty meant that Elgin still treated him with respect and fear ¡°Answer me!¡± Hawley banged his cane, ¡°What¡¯s happening to Letitial Can the baby be saved or not?¡± Elgin didn¡¯t beat around the bush, ¡°No, the baby will be gone soon. Hawley sucked in a breath of cold air and stumbled back several steps. What what did you say? For real?¡± He had such high hopes for his great-grandson, he just couldn¡¯t wrap his head around it in the heat of the moment! ¡°It¡¯s true.¡± Elgin pursed his lips, ¡°It can¡¯t be saved¡± Hawley grilled him, ¡°Why the heck not? If AquaCity¡¯s healthcare doesn¡¯t cut it, then fly in some experts from abroad Charter a ne for crying out loud! I refuse to believe it can¡¯t be done!¡± Hawley had no clue that Elgin was the one not allowing the child to live Chapter 126 Chapter 126 Elgiri wouldn¡¯t utter a word about it Otherwise. Hawley would probably faint, or at the very least, his blood pressure would shoot through the roof and he¡¯d be out cold for days. ¡®Grandpa, why do you care so much about this kid?¡± Elgin slowly started. ¡°I¡¯ll have more kids in the future.¡± The moment Hawley heard this, he blew his top. ¡°Future? Will I even see the future? I¡¯ll be six feet under by then, and even if you popped out ten, I wouldn¡¯t see a single one!¡± Then I just take their pictures to your grave. ¡°You¡± Hawley clutched his chest. ¡°You¡¯re trying to give me a heart attack! Elgin, I¡¯m asking for one tiny favor, can¡¯t you just grant me that?¡± Phedra kept smoothing things over, trying to calm him down, Your health is what matters, the surgery is still going on, and we don¡¯t have the results yet. Don¡¯t scare yourself.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what Elgin said! ¡°That¡¯s not what the doctor said though.¡± Phedra replied, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s wait for the surgery to finish. Then again, with her usual fake concern, she asked, ¡°What happened to Letitia, anyway? She¡¯s been fine, right? After all those health checks and all the supplements we¡¯ve been sending her as nourishment, why¡¯s she in the OR?¡± Elgin answered nonchntly, ¡°She¡¯s just not meant to have this child.¡± Hearing this, Hawley was ready to hit the roof, ¡°What do you mean not meant to?!¡± ¡°Grandpa, I know you want to have a great-grandchild. Once Letitia¡¯s health is back on track, we¡¯ll try for another baby.¡± After a pause, Elgin added, ¡°If all goes well, it could be this year.¡± After all, the Ramirez family is loaded. They can afford the best doctors, nannies, and maternity nurses to take turns pampering and caring for Letitia. It¡¯s not like he had any fertility problem. He was in the prime of his life. So having a child should be a piece of cake, right? His kid with her¡­ that¡¯s gonna be AquaCity¡¯s most pampered child. ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re not even panicking or sad? Hawley sensed something was off, ¡°That¡¯s your child, don¡¯t you feel a thing?¡± Elgin didn¡¯t respond, just kept looking at the clock. The doctor said it would be about an hour. It¡¯s almost time. Phedra was also feeling antsy, more and more confused by the situation. Even if Elgin detested Letitia, considering her the enemy¡¯s daughter, the child was still his flesh and blood. Why was Elgin showing no emotion at all? Seems like he¡¯s really got a heart of stone, to be this indifferent even to his own child. No wonder he¡¯s in charge of the Ramirez family. You¡¯ve got to be cold-hearted to stay on top of the power game. Phedra thought to herself, my son¡¯s got to pick up some of this ruthlessness! Hawley was sighing left and right, looking a decade older as he sat on the bench. Elgin wanted to say that the kid wasn¡¯t his, nor did it belong to the Ramirez family. But then he thought better of it¡­ Forget it Saying that would only lower Letitia¡¯s standing in grandpa¡¯s eyes even more He still had ns for her, given her unique status. Phedra felt likeughing, but had to hold it in, she didn¡¯t want to give herself away, so she had this weird look on her face. ¡°Forget it, forget it, it¡¯s just my old bones that aren¡¯t up to it,¡± Hawley got up, ¡°Let¡¯s go, I should head back. I can¡¯t sit here waiting for the doctor to deliver bad news¡­ my heart can¡¯t take it ¡°Father, maybe you should wait, just in case.¡± What in case is there left.¡± Phedra held him back, ¡°It¡¯s almost time.¡±. She wasn¡¯t about to leave just like that, not until she heard the doctor say ¡°they couldn¡¯t save the baby¡¯ with her own cars. That would put Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. her mind at ease! Just then, the lights in the OR went out The hallway dimmed, but Elgin¡¯s eyes sparkled. With a chick, the OR doors swung open and the doctor emerged, mask removed, ¡°The surgery was¡­¡± Elgin cut him off, asking straight up, ¡°What about the baby?¡± He couldn¡¯t let Hawley hear the doctor say, ¡°The surgery went well, but the baby was lost¡±! The doctor caught Elgin¡¯s drift and reacted quickly I¡¯m sorry, we did everything we could, but we couldn¡¯t save the baby, the doctor corrected himself, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, don¡¯t be too heartbroken. You and Mrs. Ramirez are young and healthy, there¡¯s always a chance to have another child.¡± Elgin just grunted in response ¡°Mrs. Ramirez is quite weak now, still under anesthesia, she needs to be moved to a ward for proper care, the doctor said, ¡°She should stay in the hospital for at least a week to fully recover After that, the doctor left Elgin stood still, not moving an inch For some reason, now that he had aplished this task, there was no joy in his heart. Instead, there was this heavy sense of loss, panic, helplessness¡­ As if he had lost something very important Elgin instinctively felt it was because Letitia would hate him for the loss of the child, and that was causing these emotions. His heart was racing. He pressed his hand over it This panic would fade, he thought. It was just some inexplicable emotion. Little did Elgin know that what he had lost was the most important thing in his life. The doors to the OR were wide open. The nurses wheeled out the stretcher, with Letitia lying on top, her hair a mess, with an IV needle in her hand She looked pale as a ghost. Elgin touched her hand, her fingertips were icy. Hawley¡¯s sighs echoed down theidor Elgin followed the stretcher into the ward and shut the door with a bang. He was going to stay with Letitia. His phone rang, and Elgin picked it up, ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez, Ranen asked cautiously, it¡¯s almost noon, when will you being to the office?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t make it today.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ okay.¡± What else could his assistant say when the boss called off work? Nothing but to follow orders! With a troubled frown, Ranen entered the conference room. ¡°Ranen, Samson spoke up. ¡°What¡¯s the deal? When¡¯s Mr. Ramirezing?¡± Ranen replied, ¡°Mr. Stewart, Mr. Ramirez said¡­ he¡¯s noting to the office today¡± ¡°What? Did something happen to Mr. Ramirez? Why is he suddenly taking off?¡± Elgin has always been the role model around here, neverte, always on point for meetings, and never misses a beat with clients. And today, out of the blue, he decides to just bail on work? ¡°Good god, Samson coughed into his fist, looking a bit taken aback, ¡°Well, in that case, I guess I¡¯ll take the reins of this meeting.¡± Now that Gin¡¯s dropped the ball outta nowhere, and now he¡¯s gotta pick it up. He wondered what went down Samson¡¯s the deputy head honcho of thepany, sharp as a tack and with people skills to match, so he¡¯s definitely got the chops to win the crowd over The meeting kicked off without a hitch. Chapter 127 Chapter 127 Right after the meeting ended, Vidonia, who had been waiting outside for ages, charged in. Samson nearly jumped out of his skin. ¡°What¡¯s up? Why the panic face?¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez didn¡¯t show up at the office?¡± ¡°Yeah, so? Why are you tracking his every move?¡± Vidonia started stamping her feet in frustration, ¡°Letitia didn¡¯te to the office either! These two going MIA at the same time spells trouble! ¡°What?¡± ¡°What am I gonna do, what am I gonna do, Vidonia was on the verge of tears, ¡°this is bad, I¡¯m worried about Letitia. Samson, can you please snoop around and find out what¡¯s up?¡± Normally, these two are like cats and dogs, always at each other¡¯s throats. But when pushes to shove, they can team up and fight the good fight. Especially¡­ a woman¡¯s tears always work on a man. Vidonia¡¯s usually all rough and tumble, doesn¡¯t sweat the small stuff, but now she¡¯s about to burst into tears, eyes all red and puffy, it just melted Samson¡¯s heart. ¡°Sure, sure, sure,¡± he quickly reassured her, ¡°don¡¯t cry, it¡¯s not the end of the world.¡± ¡°It is a big deal I have this gut feeling! Something is happening!¡± While Samson wasforting her, he dialed up Ivory Towers. When the butlerid out the whole story, Samson was gobsmacked, ¡°Hospital? Abortion?¡± Vidonia nearly lost her footing from the shock. Samson¡¯s quick reflexes caught her, ¡°Careful.¡± ¡°My godson. oh, heavens, Vidonia turned tail and bolted for the door, ¡°I¡¯m gonna kill Elgin!!¡± ¡°Vidonial Vidonia!¡± Samson hurried after her. Outside the hospital room. Vidonia was like a bat out of hell trying to get in, but a bodyguard blocked her way. ¡°Sorry, without Mr. Ramirez¡¯s say-so, no one is allowed in there.¡± ¡°Move it! Elgin!¡± Vidonia shouted at the top of her lungs, ¡°You son of a gun,e out here!¡± Samson rushed to cover her mouth, ¡°Calm down¡­ that¡¯s Elgin.¡± Vidonia dodged him, mumbling, ¡°Mmm¡­ Of course I know¡­ mmm that¡¯s Elgin!¡± This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°Shh, shh, shh, don¡¯t rush things.¡± ¡°People¡¯s lives are at stake! How can I not rush?¡± ¡°Making a scene won¡¯t solve anything Samson tried to calm her down, ¡°Let me think of something, just chill¡­¡± Vidonia pushed him aside, ¡°By the time youe up with something, it¡¯ll be toote. I need to see Letitia now!¡± Themotion finally drew Elgin out. He shut the hospital room door and strode over with a frosty expression, ¡°What¡¯s all the noise about?¡± ¡°Oh, look who¡¯se out of his shell!¡± Vidonia said, ¡°Where¡¯s Letitia? How¡¯s the baby?¡± Elgin¡¯s face was a calm mask, ¡°That¡¯s none of your business.¡± ¡°How is it not my business!¡± ¡°Watch your status, Vidonia!¡± Vidonia was livid, ¡°I know my ce! I¡¯m Letitia¡¯s friend, her kid¡¯s godmother, and an employee of the Ramirez Group! If you¡¯re ticked off, fire me now, what¡¯s the big deal!* ¡°You think I won¡¯t fire you?¡± Then do it! I¡¯m not scared of you!¡± Samson, seeing the situation spiral, quickly stepped between them, ¡°Come on, both of you, let¡¯s keep the peace for my sake, alright?¡± ¡°What standing do you have?¡± ¡°What standing do you have?¡± They both said in unison. Samson was speechless. ying peacemaker sure is tough! Samson changed the subject. ¡°Gin, you didn¡¯te to the office today because Letitia, she¡­¡± ¡°She just had an abortion, she¡¯s weak, I¡¯m staying with her.¡± Vidonia roared, ¡°You forced her, didn¡¯t you! Letitia loves that baby, how could she agree to an abortion!¡± 1 forced her¡± Elgin admitted candidly. ¡°So what?¡± ¡°Ah, you scumbag mmm¡­Samson mped his hand over her mouth again. ¡°Take her away, Elgin ordered with a dark look. ¡°Samson, if this happens again, you won¡¯t be able to protect her either!* With that, he turned and walked away, his figure receding into the distance. Vidonia kept mumbling something, muffled and indistinct, but definitely not sweet nothings. Sheshed out at Elgin¡¯s retreating back with fists and kicks, and Samson had to use all his strength to pull her away ¡°Samson! Whose side are you on?¡± At the hospital entrance, Vidonia shrugged him off, ¡°Look what Elgin did, that¡¯s not human! Worse than a beast!¡± ¡°It¡¯s done, yelling at him won¡¯t change anything.¡± ¡°How can it not? He¡¯s done the unthinkable, he deserves a good scolding!¡± Samson replied, ¡°It¡¯ll just drag you down too.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t worry about that right now! Vidonia¡¯s eyes welled up again, ¡°Imagine how heartbroken Letitia will be when she wakes up and finds out about the baby and she¡¯s all alone.¡± As she spoke, the tears started falling for real. No one knew better than Vidonia how tough Letitia¡¯s life was Even now, Vidonia couldn¡¯t ept the fact that the baby was really gone. ¡°Samson, tell me, is this just a nightmare? Letitia¡¯s just a bit under the weather, she didn¡¯t have an abortion.¡± She blinked back tears, her eyes misty. ¡°Elgin can¡¯t be that cruel, night?¡± Samson looked at her tearful face, unable to bring himself to tell her the truth. Looks like Elgin did everything, night or wrong, all in one fell swoop. Vidonia covered her face, wanting to cry but not in front of Samson. ¡°Let¡¯s look on the bright side. Samson offered her a tissue, ¡°Don¡¯t be so pessimistic.¡± Vidonia didn¡¯t take it Samson had to wipe her tears himself, ¡°Stop crying. Even if it¡¯s the worst-case scenario, what you need to do is calm down and think about how you can really help Letitia. Ranting at Elgin is just blowing off steam, it¡¯s pointless ¡°It feels good to blow off steam!¡± ¡®But if you leave the Ramirez Group, won¡¯t Letitia be even more isted there?¡± Vidonia had a moment of rity, ¡°Right.¡± ¡°And besides,¡± Samson went on, ¡°if you end up at loggerheads with Elgin, Letitia will have to step in and cover for you. Isn¡¯t that just asking her to bite off more than she can chew?¡± Makes sense. Vidonia was swayed, gradually calming down, and she stopped crying. ¡°So now.. what do we do?¡± she asked. ¡°Samson, I don¡¯t know who else to turn to but you.¡± That line was music to Samson¡¯s ears, stroking his male ego big time. it gave him a warm fuzzy feeling of being needed. ¡°Wait, Samson said, ¡®just hang tight for a bit.¡± Vidonia nodded. ¡°Okay¡± ¡°Any updates or problems, I¡¯ll fill you in and figure something out,¡± Samson assured her, looking into her eyes. ¡°Do you trust me?¡± ¡°Yeah! fruct you¡± Lets fit the road, back to the office.¡± Chapter 128 Chapter 128 Vidonia had barely walked when her stomach suddenly started growling. It was already 2 p.m. ¨C definitely time to grab some lunch. Samson chuckled, reached out, and yfully ruffled her hair, ¡°Guess we should get some food in you first.¡± Vidonia pouted and hung her head low, ¡°Right.¡± She was feeling down and didn¡¯t even realize how intimate the gesture was The hospital was still bustling, a constant stream of peopleing and going Dusk was slowly creeping in. The horizon was aze with the glow of the setting sun.. But inside the VIP hospital room, the tension was thick Elgin had a grim expression, ¡°Why hasn¡¯t she woken up yet? Wasn¡¯t the anesthesia supposed to wear off by the afternoon?¡± It was already 6 o¡¯clock, and there was no sign of Letitia snapping out of it! ¡°Mr. Ramirez, please calm down. Let me check¡­ The doctor held his breath and meticulously examined Letitia¡¯s condition. The results showed that everything was totally normal. Elgin, looking none too pleased, stood by, scrutinizing every move the doctor made. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, it might be that Mrs. Ramirez doesn¡¯t want to wake up,¡± the doctor finally said. ¡°She might be avoiding something in the real world she can¡¯t ept or face, so her subconscious chooses to bail, to just keep sleeping.¡± Elgin, hands sped behind his back, asked, ¡°So what¡¯s the fix?¡± ¡°Um¡­ we wait a bit more, or maybe try to shake her up with something she deeply cares about, to signal to her that it¡¯s time to wake up from this dream.¡± Elgin, clearly impatient, just nodded and waved everyone out The room fell silent again. Thest rays of the sun streamed through the window, casting golden light on the floor. It almost seemed peacefully timeless. Letitiay there with her eyes closed, deeply unconscious, not even a flutter of her eyelids, devoid of life. Just lying there in silence. ¡°Are you punishing me in your own way?¡± Elgin asked. ¡°Is that it? I said I¡¯d love you in my way, are you doing the same? Letitia, you¡¯re so petty and vengeful.¡± Elgin slowly approached the bedside and gently swept her hair from her forehead. Not willing to wake up? Can¡¯t deal with the fact that the child is gone? But she has to wake up eventually. ¡°You can run but you can¡¯t hide, Elgin whispered close to her ear, ¡°Letitia, if you don¡¯t wake up now, I¡¯ll start with the people closest to you¡­ one by one.¡± Her eyes twitched slightly. It worked. She always did seem to prefer learning things the hard way. To get her to wake up faster, Elgin continued, ¡°Open your eyes, Letitia, don¡¯t sleep any longer.¡± ¡°Sooner orter, you have to face reality.¡± ¡°I told you, this is the beginning, not the end.¡± ¡°The future¡­ it¡¯s only going to get better, you know?¡± Elgin repeated over and over, ¡°You can¡¯t escape me, and you definitely can¡¯t hide from me.¡± Letitia just felt annoyed. His deep, maic voice kept speaking right into her ear, every word crystal clear. She didn¡¯t want to wake up. So cold, so dark, she felt like she was sinking in an endless ck hole. There was light ahead, but she didn¡¯t want to go towards it. For Letita, being alive was just too exhausting. What had she done wrong to deserve this¡­. ¡°Letitia wake up. Imand you to wake up now.¡± will staying asleep solve anything? sin prison, and your mother is in the hospital, are you giving up on them? ather mother. It had been so long since she had felt the warmth of family Letita opened her mouth, her throat parched. Elgin watched as the woman in Tront of him slowly parted her pale, chapped lips He turned to grab a cup of water, dipped a cotton swab in it, and gently dampened theers of her lips. But to Elgin, this was too slow He took a sip himself, leaned down, and kissed her, passing the water into her mouth. The temperature was just right, the water was sweet¡­ Letitia slowly opened her eyes and saw the man¡¯s face close to hers. Elgin. His eyshes were long, and with his eyes closed, he looked quite affectionate The sensation on her lips reminded Letitia what was happening. Whether he was giving her water or kissing her, Letitia didn¡¯t care, she felt a chill in her heart. She opened her mouth and bit down hard! ¡°Hisss¨C Elgin frowned. He slowly pulled away, meeting her cold, unfamiliar gaze A stranger¡¯s gaze like he had never seen before Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. ¡°You¡¯re awake,¡± Elgin said, standing up straight, nonchntly wiping his lips with his finger. Letitia remained silent, her eyes filled with resentment. She was still weak, and even more heartbroken. The child was gone ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that: Elgin said, ¡°you¡¯ll have kids again.¡± He paused for a few seconds, then added, ¡°Our kids¡± His words were like a death sentence for the child that was. Letitia closed her eyes, feeling a stinging pain. She couldn¡¯t cry anymore; it turns out that when sorrow reaches its peak, there are no tears left to shed ¡°Elgin you¡¯re so cruel,¡± she said, squeezing the words from her throat, ¡°you killed my child with your own hands!¡± The child she had so carefully and desperately tried to protect, was gone. Not from an ident, not by Sh¡¯s hand, not from health issues, but at the hands of Elgin! Elgin stood by the bed, looking at her, ¡°That child was a mistake from the start. Letitia, I just helped you end that mistake.¡± ¡°What gives you the right to end it for me? By what right do you decide the life and death of my child?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m your husband¡± Letitia looked at him coldly. Just like¡­ the cold way he used to look at her. Now the tables had turned. Elgin couldn¡¯t stand her gaze, he turned his head away, unwilling to meet her eyes. ¡°Husband?¡± Letitiaughed, augh filled with destion and helplessness, ¡°Have you ever fulfilled a husband¡¯s duties and responsibilities from the start? Have you ever treated me as your wife, with respect, understanding, and love?¡± ¡°I will in the future.¡± There is no future! Letitia¡¯s sharp voice cut him off, ¡°Elgin, there can never be a future between us again!¡± Her kid is her everything. He took away her everything and dares to talk about a future? What a joke! She could never forgive him in this lifetime! Elgin¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Then who do you want a future with?¡± ¡°Anyone but you.¡± Letitia bit her lower lip, ring at him, ¡°Elgin, I hate you, I¡¯ll hate you till the day I die!¡± His expression turned utterly sinister. Chapter 129 Chapter 129 ¡°Letitia, you¡¯ve gotta have a thing for the kid¡¯s dad, right?¡± he said, ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re making such a big deal out of this! You wanna have babies for him, stay in touch, and you¡¯re itching for the day you two can shack up together, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Say it again!¡± ¡°Yes, yes!¡± Letitia went all in. Screw it, she thought. If he¡¯s not gonna believe the truth, might as well y his game and tick him off! ¡°The kid¡¯s dad said he¡¯d marry me, and I¡¯m waiting for him!¡± Letitia blurted out. ¡°He¡¯s sweet to me, cares about me, he promised me a future! Compared to you, he¡¯s a thousand, no, a million times better!¡± Elgin¡¯s temples bulged with veins, ¡°You¡¯re just trying to tick me off, Letitia!¡± She scoffed and curled her lip. ¡°Can¡¯t handle a bit of talk, huh And what about her? She lost her child. Letitia¡¯s hands trembled non-stop as she slowly covered her now t belly. it was fiat as before, but she knew the child was there, alive and well with her. But now¡­the baby was gone, nothing left The child was her reason to keep on living, and Elgin snuffed it out with his own hands Now, the only thing Letitia had left to care about was her aging parents But her parents will get old and one day they¡¯ll leave her too. Then she¡¯ll be all alone, no strings attached, no one to hold anything over her. Elgin stood by the bedside, looking down at her. ¡°Letitia, you sure you wanna go head-to-head with me?¡± She ignored him, her palms gently stroking her belly, pretending the child was still there. ¡°You have two choices, Elgin said. ¡°You better y smart and pick the easy path.¡± ¡°What choices?¡± ¡°One, live a good life with me, as a real husband and wife. Or two, hate me, defy me, and your life will only get tougher.¡± Even a blind man would know which road to take when the choices are so stark. *Real husband and wife, those words meant wealth and honor, all the perks that came with being Mrs Ramirez. But Letitia couldn¡¯t do it She couldn¡¯t let go of the hate, forget everything, and live meekly and without dignity at Elgin¡¯s side like a pet canary, like his pet. She wasn¡¯t the kind of woman to live off someone else, that wasn¡¯t the life she wanted¡¯ ¡°And if I choose the second option?¡± Letitia looked him in the eye. ¡°I won¡¯t walk the easy path you¡¯ve laid out for me, I¡¯ll take that second choice. ¡°Letitia, you¡¯re biting the hand that feeds you!¡± The one who¡¯s biting the hand is you!¡± she retorted, her head held high. ¡°I¡¯ve given ground over and over, only asking to give birth to the child, just wanting him to live, even if I never see him¡­ but you just had to crush all my hope! ¡°Only this way, we can¡­¡± ¡°No we! There¡¯s no ¡®we¡¯!¡¯ Letitia cut him off. ¡°Elgin, I am me, and you are you, not us!¡± It was a strong rejection. Elgin had never been rejected like this! His hands by his side clenched and unclenched. Letitia struggled to sit up from the hospital bed, the nket sliding off to reveal her patient gown, making her look even paler. ¡°You never asked if I wanted this, Letitia said. ¡°Elgin, it¡¯s always about you, your feelings, making everyone do as you please¡­¡± ¡°Now let me make it clear, I won¡¯t listen to you. We are enemies, sworn enemies for life!* The grief of losing her child, the heartache of her parents suffering, her own helplessness and guilt¡­ All these emotions entangled Letitia pushing her to aplete breakdown, to lose control. the tossed a pillow at Elgin, throwing anything she could get her hands on. ss on the bedside table was swept to the floor. shattered into pieces. The noise rmed the bodyguards outside who thought something was up, and they kicked the door open and rushed in, ¡°Mr. Ramirez!¡± Letta, feeth clenched and eyes red, braced herself on the bed. She was on an IV drip, but her movements had been so violent that the needle had dislodged. She just pulled it out and knocked over the IV stand, The bodyguards were stunned. ¡°Mrs. Ramirez¡­¡± Elgin¡¯s face was ashen as he silently watched her temper tantrum. ¡°I really hate you, hate you!¡± Letitia said ¡°Elgin, you¡¯re so cruel to me yet you expect me to forget everything and stay by your side¡­ Impossible, you think I¡¯m like Sh?¡± He watched her quietly. ¡°Are you done?¡± ¡°Not even close¡± ¡°Fine, then keep going Letitia red at him, ¡°Why are you so calm? Because you¡¯ve got no heart, you don¡¯t feel pain!¡± ¡°Yes, I have no heart, Elgin agreed, then sharply ordered the bodyguards, ¡°Get out!¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez ¡°Out!¡± Hemanded. ¡°No matter what you hear, don¡¯te in, and don¡¯t let anyone else in!¡± The bodyguards had to obey and left. Elgin grabbed Letitia¡¯s hand, looking at the beads of blood welling up on her hand. She tried to pull away, but he held on even tighter. He pressed the call button for the nurse, ¡°Get her a new IV.¡± ¡°Right away, Mr. Ramirez Letitia resisted, covering her hand, ¡°No need, you can leave.¡± ¡°Just do it, don¡¯t mind her. The nurse was caught in an awkward position. Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. Elgin held Letitia¡¯s other hand tightly, not allowing her to move. Letitia snorted, ¡°What¡¯s the point? I¡¯ll just pull it out again.¡± ¡°You want to die? ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve wanted to die for a long time.¡± Elgin said tly. ¡°If you die¡­ your parents won¡¯t live either.¡± She suddenly looked up, snapping. ¡°What the heck are you going to do to them?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not nning anything, Letitia. Just think about it once your folks hear you¡¯ve kicked the bucket, do you really think they can go on living without a care in the world?¡± Letitia stunned. Her parents only had her as a daughter. Without her, they¡¯d be absolutely heartbroken Letitia gradually calmed down. The nurse slipped out quietly, and the hospital room fell intoplete silence, leaving just the two of them. Chapter 130 Chapter 130 Lelitia could even hear the sound of the liquid dripping down the IV tube. Feeling dead inside, totally listless-that pretty much summed up her current vibe. Elgin was parked on the couch,ptop perched on his knees, getting down to business. This was his first time didn¡¯t go to work at the Ramirez Group office since he took it over All because of Letitia What a shame¡­ she didn¡¯t give a damn though Elgin was glued to his screen but antsy as hell, couldn¡¯t focus on work. After shooting off a reply to Ranen and dishing out a few orders, his fingers just froze on the keyboard. Until a message from Samson popped up ¡°Gin, what¡¯s the deal?¡± ¡°Mind your business¡± ¡°Letitia awake yet?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Samson started bombarding him with texts, probing for the scoop, what went down, the current situation. But Elgin wasn¡¯t biting, didn¡¯t answer a single one He mmed theptop shut, tossed it aside, and rubbed his temple ncing over, there was Letitia, out like a light She closed her eyes, peaceful and quiet The drip had something to help her sleep, plus she¡¯d been so wired earlier, burned through a ton of energy. Elgin went over, tucked her in. Only when she was snoozing did they have this kind of chill, harmonious vibe between them. The second she woke up, it was another round of yelling. ¡°When the heck will you chill out, even just a smidge?¡± Elgin muttered, checking out her sleeping face, ¡°Just a little would do.¡± He turned tail, stepped out of the hospital room. The moment the door clicked shut, Letitia¡¯s eyes snapped open. She stared at the ceiling, unblinking, for a long time. Finally, her eyes were screaming for mercy, and she closed them. Her heart ached, breathless. Elgin¡¯s voice seeped in from outside, hushed and fuzzy, footsteps fading. Letitia got up, cracked the door open. ¡°Mrs. Ramirez, the bodyguard startled, ¡°You¡­ She strode past him, poker-faced. *Mr. Ramirez said you can¡¯t leave,¡± the bodyguard blocked her path, ¡°Mrs. Ramirez, you¡¯re weak, please rest up back in your room Letitia asked, ¡°What if I really want to leave?¡± ¡°Mrs. Ramirez. don¡¯t make this tough on us.¡± Letitia went quiet. She could be headstrong, go toe-to-toe with Elgin, but not at these guys¡¯ expense. They were just following orders ¡°Oh, Letitia nodded, ¡°I wanted some fruit, nothing major.¡± The bodyguard perked up, ¡°Ill get some pronto, what do you fancy?¡± ¡°Apples.¡± ¡°Got it. Hang tight, Mrs Ramirez. Letitia returned to her room, and soon enough, a hefty basket of fresh fruit was heaped on the cab. ¡°I want a peeled apple, Letitia said, ¡°Where¡¯s the fruit knife?¡± ¡°Right here.¡± Perched on the sofa, Letitia slowly peeled the apple, ¡°Where¡¯s Elgin?¡± The bodyguard shook his hetid, ¡°We don¡¯t pry into Mr. Ramirez¡¯s whereabouts.¡± Uliapter 130 ¡°Lend me your phone, §±l call him.¡± ¡°Sure, Mrs. Ramirez.¡± When connected, Elgin¡¯s icy voice came through, ¡°What is it?¡± It¡¯s me,¡± Letitia said. A few seconds of silence, then, ¡®What is it?¡± Same question, but his tone had softened up a bit. ¡°You leave me cooped up in here, can¡¯t step out-how¡¯s that different from the jail?¡± Letitia asked, ¡°Don¡¯t I get any freedom?¡± ¡°You need to rest night now¡± ¡°The one who messed me up is you.¡± Elgin said tly. ¡°Just stay put for now¡± ¡°I¡¯m bored out of my mind.¡± Letitia said, ¡°Send Vidonia to apany me.¡± This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°No way Then you cane, she arched an eyebrow, ¡°If you can¡¯t, let Vidoniae.¡± Silence for a few ticks, and Elgin just hung up. Letitia kept on with the apple peeling Her skills were top-notch, not a single break in the peel. The bodyguard didn¡¯t dare interrupt, tiptoed out, stood guard at the door. Letitia eyed the apple but didn¡¯t take a bite, instead fixated on the fruit knife in her hand. Slim, sharp, and shiny new. She admired it non-stop, then stood up, slipped the knife under her pillow, and stashed it away quick Half an hourter, rapid footsteps outside. ¡°Letitial¡± In stormed Vidonia, all hustle and bustle. She clung to Letitia in a sh, ¡°You scared the life outta me¡­ how are you? Are you okay?¡± Vidonia gave her the once-over, making sure she wasn¡¯t hurt. Seeing her best friend, Letitia¡¯s expression softened. ¡°Vidonia¡­ the baby¡¯s gone, she murmured. ¡°I didn¡¯t protect him, sorry, you won¡¯t be a godmother, Vidonia. I¡¯m so useless, so powerless Tears welled up in Vidonia instantly. She wrapped Letitia up, ¡°I know, I get your pain¡­ it¡¯s not your fault, no need to feel sorry. Letitia, the bad guy ain¡¯t you, it¡¯s Elgin!¡± ¡°Right, he took my child, wheeled me into the OR. I clung to him so hard, I begged him, yet he pried my fingers off, one by one¡­ Those wounds, just a graze, and the pain was heart-wrenching. ¡°Why¡¯s Elgin doing this, you¡¯re pregnant, what¡¯s it to him? He doesn¡¯t love you anyway, wants a divorce, to be with Sh¡­¡± Letitia replied. ¡°Because Elgin said, he loves me.¡± Vidonia was gobsmacked, ¡°What?¡± ¡°Ridiculous, right. He says he loves me, how absurd andughable. Letitia still didn¡¯t buy it, that Elgin could fall for her. He loved tormenting her, that¡¯s what felt real ¡°Let¡¯s drop it, drop it. Letitia shook her head, ¡°Vidonia, things have gone this far, no telling what¡¯s next. I hope you can stay out of it look after yourself.¡± Vidonia was adamant, ¡°We¡¯re friends, I¡¯m not leaving you high and dry!¡± ¡°That¡¯s why, because we¡¯re friends, that you gotta stay safe. When I¡¯m trapped by Elgin, unable to do certain things, you could help me out.¡± ¡°You. what do you need me to do?¡± Leaning on her shoulder, Letitia whispered softly, almost inaudible. ¡°We don¡¯t know yet. But..¡± She spilled the beans about Walden¡¯s n to go abroad. Videoia¡¯s face was a picture of shock. ¡°So, Walden¡¯s trip abroad is actually a covert op to get close to the Ramirez family¡¯s younger son, to dig up the truth and evidence for you?¡± ¡°Yep, Letitia nodded, ¡°You have to keep this to yourself, okay? Can¡¯t tell a sou!¡± Got ¡°So. Vidonia, don¡¯t stick your neck out for me, don¡¯t go burning bridges with Elgin on my ount. It¡¯s pointless and it could drag you down too.¡± Chapter 131 Chapter 131 w you, Letitia.¡± *Sity Vidonia sniffled, ¡°We¡¯ve been through thick and thin, I knewy Letitia nodded At this point, the only person she could bare her soul to was Vido. The bug in the nng is still up and running, and time¡¯s ticking away, Letitia said. ¡°Who knows if we can fish out some secrets from her before the battery dies¡± ¡°Even if the battery runs out, I¡¯ve got tricks up my sleeve.¡± ¡°Like what?¡± Vidonia gave a mystenous gnn. ¡°We can cook up some excuse. Say something like the diamond needs, a little maintenance, and Sh will hand over the ring on a silver tter¡± Letitia finally cracked a rare smile, she hoped that it will all go smoothly She didn¡¯t want to wait any longer, didn¡¯t want to drag things out because she was truly exhausted. Vidonia didn¡¯t leave untilte. Letitia forced down a few bites of food andy on the hospital bed, zoning out. Every now and then, her hand would sneak under the pillow to feel the fruit knife. Yep, still there ¡°Letitia ¡°Suddenly, a shrill and grating voice echoed from outside, ¡°How¡¯s your health, huh? The kid you worked so hard to keep is gone, must be heartbroken, huh? Hahahaha!¡± That was Sh¡¯s voice. ¡°Hey, hey, hey, why are you pushing me? Can¡¯t I even talk?¡± ¡°Letitia, that coward, doesn¡¯t dare to face me. Heh!¡± ¡°I came to visit, don¡¯t be ungrateful.¡± Sh stood at the elevator entrance, blocked by two bodyguards, unable to get in. She could only scream and shout to catch Letitia¡¯s attention. Sure enough, the door to the ward opened, and Letitia walked out Dressed in a hospital gown, her hair soft and loose behind her, her face pale, her eyes lifeless. Sh was thrilled inside-this was exactly the defeated look she wanted to see on Letitia! ¡°Let her in,¡± Letitia said. ¡°No need to block her.¡± ¡°Mrs. Ramirez. The bodyguards hesitated. ¡°You¡¯re all here, she won¡¯t be able to make any waves.¡± Sh snorted, pushed past the bodyguards, and marched straight up to Letitia. ¡°I faked my miscarriage, but you actually lost a baby Tell me, who¡¯s the more pitiful, you or me?¡± She grew more smug with each word ¡°As for me, I still have a chance to win back Mr. Ramirez¡¯s heart. Just need to invest some time and effort. But you? You¡¯ve lost the kid, lost everything!¡± As she wasughing her head off, Letitia pped her across the face. Before Sh could react, Letitianded several more ps Sh was left dizzy and stumbling backward, ¡°Letitia! You hit me again!¡± Sh gritted her teeth, her hand poised to p back! ¡®Guards, Letitia said coolly, ¡°hold her down!¡± ¡°Yes, Mrs. Ramirez¡± Shs hand was caught in Letitia¡¯s firm grip, immobilized. She never expected Letitia, who had just suffered a miscarriage, to have such strength! What surprised her even more was that Letitia had backup! don¡¯t you dare!¡± Sheia screamed ¡®Are you all blind? Take a good look at who I am, don¡¯te any closer! Don¡¯t touch me!¡± You crazy woman!¡± ¡°if I¡¯m crazy, it¡¯s because you drove me to it!¡± Now that she¡¯d lost her child, she had nothing left to lose, nothing to fear. It was time to give Sh a plece of her mind, to vent her pent-up anger! The bodyguards were in a bind. One was Mr. Ramirez¡¯s favorite, the other his wife¡­ ¡°What my word doesn¡¯t count?¡± Letitia asked, ¡°Can¡¯t you do this simple thing?¡± She gave Sh a shove towards the bodyguards. The bodyguards grabbed her, ¡°Ms Ward, apologies.¡± ¡°Ahhh!¡± Sh shrieked in fury. ¡°Letitia, what are you trying to do!¡± Letitia ignored her and tumed to a servant ¡°Fetch a bucket of water¡± ¡°Right away, Mrs Ramirez.¡± This floor was full of Elgin¡¯s people Letitia wasn¡¯t scared. She hoped this whole scene would reach Elgin¡¯s ears immediately! A bucket brimming with water was brought over, and Letitia nced at it, ¡°It¡¯s too clean.¡± ¡®Huh? The servant was taken aback. Letitia grabbed a broom, swished it in the water, then tossed it aside, and grabbed Sh by the hair. ¡°Ah! Letitia ¡°Quit your yapping, save your voice, you¡¯ll need itter.¡± ¡°Let go of my hair! Letitia sneered, not loosening her grip but instead pulling harder on Sh¡¯s hair, lowering her head, and dunking it fiercely into the water. Sh saw the dirty water, freshly stirred by the broom, and struggled violently, ¡°No, L¡­¡± Letitia showed no mercy, pushing her head under.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. And Sh was mid-sentence, so she swallowed a mouthful of water. One second, two seconds, three¡­ Letitia loosened her grip just a bit and pulled Sh¡¯s head out of the water. Sh gasped for air, her face and hair soaked, her makeup smeared, looking like a drowned panda. After coughing, Sh retched, ¡°You, you bitch¡­¡± Before she could finish, Letitia dunked her again! A few secondster, she was lifted again. ¡°Letitia¡­ doing this to me, I will definitely. The scene reyed, just as before. As long as Sh didn¡¯t beg for mercy, Letitia kept dunking her head in the water, again and again. After five or six rounds, Sh waspletely drained, slumped on the floor Only a third of the water was left in the bucket. ¡°Still got more to say? Wanna keep testing the waters? Letitia asked. ¡°Sh, wasn¡¯t your mouth pretty good at cursing people?* Sh clenched her teeth. ¡°This is revenge!¡± ¡°Heh, you call this revenge? Let me tell you, the real revenge hasn¡¯t even started yet!¡± Letitia squatted down, grabbing Sh by the cor, ¡°I¡¯m giving you one shot here Spill the beans-who was the guy that night, and Til let you off the hook!¡± ¡°Ha! Are you kidding me?¡± Sh burst intoughter upon hearing this, ¡°Oh, Letitia, so that¡¯s what this is all about. The kid¡¯s gone, and you¡¯re still hung up on that dude!¡± ¡°Are you gonna talk or not?!¡± ¡°No way I¡¯m telling you!¡± Sh shot back, ¡°You can forget about finding out in this lifetime!* Wright then, kiss goodbye to the life you¡¯re dreaming about!¡± Sh¡¯s eyes widened, ¡®What gives you the right to say that? Mr. Ramirez still has feelings for me!¡± ¡°Oh please. ¡°Letitia looked at her, ¡°Do you know why Elgin wanted my baby gone? He said he wanted a fresh start with me.¡± Chapter 132 Chapter 132 ¡°Elgin loves me, but he can¡¯t ept the kid. Now that I¡¯ve miscared, he wants us to go back to being a normal, loving couple¡± Sh just shook her head like a bobblehead toy, ¡°No way, it¡¯s not happening!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t believe me? Go ask him yourself.¡± ¡°How could Mr. Ramirez possibly fall for you!¡± Sh was on the verge of losing her voice, unable to wrap her head around it, ¡°You¡¯re the daughter of his enemy** ¡°Love is love, he admitted it himself,¡± Letitia edged closer, lowering her voice, ¡°But I don¡¯t love him. So tell about who the guy was that night, and I¡¯ll leave and you¡¯ll have the chance¡± Sh wiped the grime off her face, falling into silence Even knowing Letitia was the enemy¡¯s daughter, and not even realizing she was the woman from that night. Elgin still fell for Letitia. He must have deep feelings for Letitial ¡°So, you confess or not? Letitia pressed. ¡°You think you can keep this secret for a lifetime?¡± Sh red at her, ¡°I won¡¯t tell you, not now not ever!¡± The man in question was Elgin himself! How could Sh spill those beans! Some secrets are meant to die with you, never to see the light of day! ¡°Alright, alright. Letitia nodded. ¡°Looks like you haven¡¯t had enough to drink. Come on, I¡¯ll take you somewhere else.¡± She grabbed Sh by the shoulders, hauling her to her feet ¡°Letitia! Let go, where the heck are you taking me!¡± To the loo, the toilet Shs face went white as a ghost, ¡°I won¡¯t go! Help, somebody help me. What are you all standing around for, you¡¯re just gonna stand there and watch me dnnk toilet water. Help!¡± No one stepped forward. Sh had always been too high and mighty, ruining her rtionships with others Plus, during her time in Ivory Towers, she¡¯d been a real pain to the staff, always nitpicking and ready to fly off the handle, which only made things worse. So watching her now in this state, they were secretly enjoying the show! They were just itching for Letitia to step in and give this clueless mistress a taste of her own medicine! The missus was usually too nice, but she really should¡¯ve put her foot down like this more often! At the edge of the toilet bowl. ¡°I¡¯ll give you onest chance, Sh. If you keep mum¡­ Letitia wamed ¡°Just wait, Letitia, just you wait! You¡¯ll pay for this, and I¡¯ll make sure it¡¯s double the trouble! Sh shot back ¡°Elgin doesn¡¯t even want to see you, you think you¡¯ve still got a chance to turn things around? Letitia sneered ¡°Of course, I do!¡± Letitia shrugged, ¡°You¡¯ve got guts, I¡¯ll give you that. Ten seconds on the clock, starting now¡± Dead silence. Sh clenched her teeth, staring at the toilet water, and began dry heaving ¡°Five, four, three, two, one¡­¡± Time¡¯s up, and without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Letitia shoved Sh¡¯s head into the toilet ¡®No, stop! Help¡­ Letitia was quick, precise, and ruthless. This time, she didn¡¯t pull Sh¡¯s head back up but kept it submerged. ¡°If you¡¯re ready to talk, nod,¡± Letitiamanded, ¡°If not, enjoy your time in the toilet Sh¡¯s hands iled in the air, kneeling before the toilet, unable to lift her head or open her mouth for fear of swallowing the toilet Until Letitie, Elgin¡¯s voice cut through. ¡°You done causing a scene?¡± turned to see the handsome man who had appeared at the bathroom door At the sound of his voice, Sh struggled even harder. Letitia could barely hold her down. With the floor wet and slippery. Letitia staggered back a few steps, nearly losing her bnce. Elgin quickly stepped forward, stretching out his arm to wrap around her waist and pull her into his embrace, ¡°Be careful.¡± Letitia fell into his arms, safe and sound. Sh also managed to get up, soaked through, looking like a wild woman on the run. ¡°Mr. Ramirez¡¯ Finally, you¡¯re here!¡± she cried, ¡°This woman has been bullying me, dunking me in water, refusing to let go. She¡¯s trying to kill me if you were anyter, I would have drowned!¡± Letitia replied, poker-faced, ¡°Well, you¡¯re not dead yet, are you?¡± ¡°You¡­ but you are after my life!¡± Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. ¡°Right Not just yours, I want Elgin¡¯s too Sh quickly looked at Elgin, crying out, ¡°Did you hear that? How malicious she is!¡± Elgin pursed his lips, looking Letitia up and down to make sure she was alright. Well, of course, she was; his people were here, and he had given orders-she was meant to be in good shape. Still¡­ the moment he heard the news, he rushed over. What if Sh had hurt her? ¡°Why did you leave the house? I told you to reflect on your actions, Elgin said coldly, ¡°Can¡¯t you go one day without stirring up trouble?¡± Sh froze, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, you¡­ you¡¯re ming me?¡± Letitia didn¡¯t expect Elgin to react like this. He had seen with his own eyes that she was the one bullying Sh. A strange feeling spread through her heart. So this is what it feels like to be favored, to be unconditionally indulged and protected¡­ It was the first time Letitia had experienced this But it seemed¡­ it was toote. Why did youe to the hospital? Elgin frowned, ¡°Do you take my words for nothing but wind?¡± The disgust and contempt in his voice were unmistakable. Sh yed her victim card again, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, I know you¡¯re upset about the fake pregnancy thing. I realize my mistake now. It¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t forgive me, but to side with Letitia. I¡¯m heartbroken.¡± ¡°She made me drink dirty water, toilet water, I¡¯ve never been so humiliated in my life. I was hoping you¡¯de, and yet you¡­ you¡¯re siding with her.¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez, regardless, we had feelings for each other. With that, she reached for Elgin¡¯s sleeve, but Elgin dodged swiftly. Now, when he looked at Sh, there was not a trace of affection left As for that one night, he would take responsibility andpensate her. ¡°Go home,¡± Elgin said. This isn¡¯t the ce for you.¡± ¡°I just wanted to..¡± ¡°You guys talk,¡± Letitia suddenly interjected, ¡®I¡¯m tired, I need to rest a bit.¡± She just snapped Elgin¡¯s hand away and took off without a backward nce. Elgin watched her retreating figure, his eyes darkening ¡°Look at her, acting all high and mighty, snubbing you like that, Sh immediately griped ¡°A woman like that ain¡¯t worth your time¡­ Mr. Ramirez, you should dump her and marry me!¡± ¡°Don¡¯te and bother her again!¡± With those words, Elgin strode off to catch up with Letitia. Sh watched their receding figures, her eyes brimming with jealousy and spite. Back in the mental institution, she was the director¡¯s little princess, everyone kissed up to her. So, in her mind¡­ she was the only one who ever got to bully Letitial Chapter 133 Chapter 133 Sh couldn¡¯t stand Letitia with her delicate, dainty demeanor and her air of elegance, and she¡¯d taken more than a few opportunities to mess with her. After getting to know Elgin, she got even bolder with him backing her up, giving Letitia a hard time again and again. But look at her now! Sh never in a million years thought Letitia would end up on top! There was no way she could swallow that kind of humiliation! ¡°Letitia, I¡¯ll remember what you did today,¡± Sh muttered to herself with venom, ¡°Just wait till I catch my break, I¡¯ll make sure you pay for !!! You¡¯ll be begging on your knees!¡± She wiped her face with force, looking at the toilet and then hurling again. Damn it, toilet water¡­ she drank it all! That low-down Letitia! She had to go to her father and brainstorm some revenge! In the hospital room. Letitia was about to close the door when Elgin held it open. She pushed hard, trying to shut it, but he easily pushed back and strode in ¡°Why you always shadowing me? Letitia shot him a look. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be sweet-talking your Sh?¡± ¡°Why would I do that?¡± ¡°She¡¯s your woman, your darling, your sweetheart, isn¡¯t she?¡± Elgin replied coolly, ¡°No, she¡¯s not. You are.¡± Letitia was taken aback by his straightforward response, and didn¡¯t quite know what to say. Are all men so shameless? Sweet as honey when they¡¯re in love, cold as ice when they¡¯re not. Letitia couldn¡¯t help but sneer, ¡°I remember how you used to be all over Sh, so attentive and caring. And look at how quickly things change. ¡°I never had feelings for Sh¡± ¡°Do you even believe that yourself?¡± ¡°It¡¯s true.¡± Elgin stepped closer, locking eyes with her, ¡°With her, it¡¯s always been about obligation, even now.¡± ¡°Obligation? Letitia was puzzled. ¡°It¡¯s a long story, but I¡¯ll sort it out with her soon. It has nothing to do with love, just duty.¡± ¡°Is it because she saved you once, or helped you out, so¡­ you¡¯re repaying the favor?¡± Letitia was guessing wildly, but to her surprise, Elgin nodded, ¡°You could say that.¡± She blinked, shocked she¡¯d hit the nail on the head. ¡°So, marrying her, indulging her, it¡¯s all because of this duty?¡± Elgin simply hummed in confirmation. Letitia looked into his eyes for a few seconds, then shifted her gaze, ¡°Oh, what¡¯s that got to do with me?¡± ¡°I need to make it clear, tell you the truth.¡± At first, Elgin thought he liked Sh. But as time went by, and he got to know her true colors and personality, he realized she wasn¡¯t his cup of tea. Instead, the stubborn Letitia had, unknowingly, taken over his heart. ¡°Mer¡­ Letitia sighed. ¡°Changing hearts is just a moment¡¯s work Suddenly, she saw Sh as nothing more than a fool. Sh had thought that attaching herself to Elgin would guarantee her the status of his wife, but what had she aplished? The minute Elgin dered he didn¡¯t love her, she was left without a leg to stand on Now Sh¡¯s got nothing, and she can¡¯t ept the fact, still hoping Elgin would change his mind But in reality. Elgin had long pulled back, while Sh was sinking deeper, lost in a dream she didn¡¯t want to wake from Letitiay back on the bed, picking up a book from the side, and began to read. Acting as of Figin wasn¡¯t even there, teave him just stand there on his own. When had Elgin ever been left hanging like this? He was obviously peeved. Don¡¯t believe me?¡± he raised an eyebrow, ¡°You¡¯re one tough cookie to please.¡± ¡°Are you trying to sweet-talk me?¡± ¡°Yes, can¡¯t you tell?¡± Letitia was speechless. ¡°My patience has its limits. Elgin pulled up a chair and sat down by the bed, ¡°Letitia, a woman¡¯s gotta havee savvy ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m the clueless type. Go sweet-talk someone else, I don¡¯t need it¡± His brows knit together, clearly displeased Letitia flipped a page, trying to read on, but with Elgin staring at her, she just couldn¡¯t calm down ¡°It¡¯s funny,¡± she closed the book. ¡°You im you owe Sh, yet you¡¯re ready to kick her to the curb and come sweet talk me Elgin, you and I, we¡¯re nothing but enemies. Once your little crush fades, I¡¯ll probably end up even worse off than Sh.¡± Letitia wasn¡¯t love struck, she was wide awake. Elgin¡¯s so-called love, how much it¡¯s worth how fragile it might be, she understood it all. If she naively fell for it and ran into his arms, that would be the start of her tragedy. Moreover, Elgin took her child from her, she hated him, and could never forgive him! He also believed her father was responsible for his father¡¯s death! That was an insurmountable misunderstanding between them! Elgin watched her in silence, his gaze deep and vast as the cosmos. Their eyes met. She didn¡¯t flinch, ¡°Elgin, the one you¡¯ve always loved isn¡¯t someone else, not Sh, not even me, but¡­ yourself¡± He loved himself the most; he was selfish ¡°Is that so?¡± His lips curled up suddenly, ¡°Letitia, how should I prove to you that I love you?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were going to love me in your own way? Your first step was to take my child. The mention of this still unsettled Letitia, her heart still ached Looking at Elgin, she still felt hatred. ¡°Yes, now I¡¯m going to take the second step. Elgin said, ¡°The second step is to prove my love for you.¡± A bad feeling rose in Letitia¡¯s heart. Elgin was the devil How was he going to prove it?! Definitely not in a way she couldprehend! A flicker of panic and fear shot through Letitia¡¯s eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t need your proof. she shook her head, ¡°Because I hate you, I won¡¯t love you, and I don¡¯t need your lovel ¡°If I say you need it, then you need it Elgin stood up and slowly moved towards her. With growing fear, Letitia braced her hands on the bed, backing away, ¡°You Elgin, what are you doing! Stay away!¡± In her panic, Letitia remembered the fruit knife she had hidden under her pillow It was for self-defence, and¡­ for dealing with Elgin Was it time to pull out that knife? Just as Letitia was hesitating. Elgin stopped moving forward, his nose gently bumping against hersProperty of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Their breaths intertwined ¡°To prove whether you love someone¡­ that¡¯s about handing over your heart, Elgin said ¡°Letitia, do you want my heart?¡± Instinctively, she shook her head. Elgin¡¯s lips curled into a smile, ¡°No, you want it. The next second, he suddenly reached for her pillow, startling Letitia so much her heart skipped a best wediately pressed down, ¡°What.. what are you doing with the pillow!¡± Chapter 134 Chapter 134 She¡¯s got her knife stashed in there! Could it be¡­ Elgin figured it out? Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. Letitia didn¡¯t dare to think further, holding her breath, not daring to even let out a peep. Elgin gently removed her hand, ¡°What¡¯s up, scared I¡¯ll touch your pillow?¡± ¡°I, I didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°You afraid I¡¯d find it?¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Elgin, quick as lightning, yanked the fruit knife hidden in the pillowcase Letitia was totally gobsmacked. He¡­ he actually knew she had hidden a knifel How did he know?! ¡°Surprised, aren¡¯t you?¡± Elgin¡¯s well-defined hands gripped the knife handle, ¡°You hid it so well, yet I found it¡­¡± ¡°You, you.¡± Letitia stuttered, unable to get the words out. Once again, she felt the terrifying depth of this man! Elgin¡¯s voice was nonchnt. You had your bodyguard buy so much fruit, but the fruit knife went missing It wasn¡¯t hard to guess.¡± Letitia bit her lower lip. ¡°There¡¯s only so much space in a hospital room, where could you hide it? Naturally, inside the pillow,¡± Elgin said, ¡°Letitia, tell me, what were you nning to do with this knife?¡± His eyebrows raised, his demeanor cool, not showing any anger Since¡­ it was all out in the open now. Letitia didn¡¯t n on hiding it any longer. She might as well tell him loud and clear! ¡°I wanted to kill you!¡± she met his gaze head-on, ¡°Elgin, from the moment you entered my life, all you¡¯ve brought me is endless pain! And now you¡¯ve caused the death of my child, you and I¡­ we¡¯re mortal enemies!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got that much hate for me?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Is it just because of the child that you hate me this much?¡± Letitia answered, ¡°No, everything you¡¯ve done to me makes me wish you¡¯d just drop dead!¡± The more she spoke, the wider the smile on Elgin¡¯s face became. He nodded, ¡°Alright. Letitia, I¡¯m giving you this chance, take my life, take my heart.¡± With that, Elgin handed her the knife. Letitia didn¡¯t take it. He pushed it into her hand, making her grip the handle, ¡®Be careful, it¡¯s sharp. Don¡¯t hurt yourself¡± Letitia held on tight, ovee with a surreal feeling. ¡°You¡­ you know I want to kill you, and you¡¯re giving me the knife?¡± She thought Elgin would take the knife away, toss it, never to let her touch it again. ¡°Yes,¡± Elgin said, ¡°Letitia, go ahead¡± He was so calm. But her hand was shaking. The second step in proving my love for you begins now, Elgin¡¯s voice was deep, ¡°I¡¯m ready to entrust you with my life and fate, to let you¡­ do as you please.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not afraid of dying?¡± If I were to die by your hand, it would be worth it.¡± Letitia bit her lower lip harder, then she said in determination, ¡°Elgin, I will do it, don¡¯t think I won¡¯t dare!¡± ¡°I know, of course, I know you will. Go ahead, Letitia.¡± Elgin¡¯s confidence andposure were unparalleled; he even steadied Letitia¡¯s trembling hand, then positioned the knife tip over his own heart He was only wearing a sapphire blue shirt, and the thin fabric would tear with just a prick. inmore force from Letitia, the knife could move forward a fraction, piercing the shirt, piercing the skin. tster Eigin reminded her, hope you¡¯ll make it quick and urate. Don¡¯t drag it out because it hurt more that way Letitia didn¡¯t look into his eyes but at the knife tip. Elgin stood unflinching, offering up his life on a silver tter. What was he thinking? Was he truly not afraid of dying? Or did he calcte that she wouldn¡¯t have the guts, wouldn¡¯t do it? ¡°Don¡¯t be too cocky, Elgin, Letitia ground her teeth, ¡°You and I, our feud is as deep as the sea, with two lives between us. I wish you would just drop dead right now!¡± know. So, make your move.¡± Letitia clenched her teeth and slowly pushed the knife tip in ¡°Blood slowly seeped through Elgin¡¯s shirt, but his expression didn¡¯t change one bit. As if the blood wasn¡¯t his at all! ¡°I hate you. I loathe you!¡± Letitia kept repeating, unsure whether she was convincing herself or telling him, ¡°I hate you so much I just want you to vanish from my sight¡­ Elgin, you¡¯ve ruined my life!¡± ¡°I know, I¡¯ve been too cruel to you in the past. So now, I¡¯m giving it all back to you¡± ¡°Are you giving me your life in return?¡± Elgin nodded, ¡°Yes. My heart and my life, if you want them, take them.¡± Letitia ground her teeth, The Ramirez Group and the Ramirez family, the power and the status, you¡¯re giving all that up?¡± ¡°I am,¡± he replied. ¡°Right now, all I want to prove is my love for you.¡± Elgin, such a proud man, also so obstinate and arrogant. Letitia couldn¡¯t figure him out. How could he be willing to die? This must be one of his tricks; he had an ulterior motive¡­ ¡°Letitia, why have you stopped? Elgin prompted. ¡°The knife has only gone in a centimeter, it¡¯s just a flesh wound, not fatal.¡± Blood dripped down,nding on the back of his hand. Letitias hand stopped shaking, firmly holding the knife handle.. Her lips curved into a smirk, ¡°Elgin, I hate you, I wish you were dead¡­ but instead of ripping out your heart, I¡¯ve thought of another way to punish you.¡± ¡°What way?¡± Lifting her head, Letitia met his gaze directly. A smile spread across her face. It was dazzling, a breathtaking beauty that left him breathless. But in the next second, Letitia suddenly yanked the knife out Elgin¡¯s pupils constricted. What was she up to? Before he could guess, Letitia twisted her wrist and turned the knife point towards herself! ¡°Letitia!¡± Just moments ago, with the knife¡¯s point pressing against him, his life hanging by a thread, Elgin was so calm. Now¡­ he was perfectly safe, yet he panicked! Letitia, her head tilted back, ced the knife against her own throat. ¡°Letitia, put it down!¡± Elgin roared, ¡°What are you doing?!¡± ¡°Elgin, you keep saying you love me, so, my death would hurt you more, right?¡± she said with a faint smile. ¡°To feel love but can¡¯t possess it, to lose me forever, that¡¯s the best punishment for you!¡± Elgin waspletely flustered, his previous calmness andposure gone *Put the knife down,¡± Elgin watched her intently, ¡°Don¡¯t hurt yourself! As he said this, he made a grab for the knife. But the moment he lifted his hand, he hadn¡¯t even touched Letitia when she swiftly stepped back. ¡°Back off, don¡¯t try to snatch it. Letitia warned, ¡°You doing that is just gonna push me to hurt myself even quicker¡± ¡°Are you out of your mind?¡± 1. I am, because of you. Elgin, from the moment you were dead set on getting nd of our baby, I¡¯ve been nothing but a walking corpse soullest, neartless, just an empty shell! senously worked up. Chapter 135 Chapter 135 When Letitia spoke loudly, her hands would nutter uncontrobly, leaving a slender scratch on her neck from the sharp knife de. it wasn¡¯t deep, but it broke the skin, and blood began to ooze out slowly. This kind of wound hurt far more than any injury to Elgin himself. In that moment, he knew she had seeded in punishing him. ¡°Okay, okay, my bad.¡± Elgin couldn¡¯t care less about anything else at that point; he just wanted her to drop the knife, ¡°It¡¯s all my fault, you¡¯re innocent. Letitia, don¡¯t do anything stupid!¡± Looking at him, she could tell his fear and helplessness were genuine So.. he had actually fallen for her, but when did that happen? She hadn¡¯t noticed at all. ¡°We can talk this out, I¡¯ll agree to whatever you want, Elgin said, staring at her unblinkingly. ¡°Whatever you want, it¡¯s yours!¡± ¡°I want my baby back, can you do that?¡± Elgin fell silent. Bring back from the dead¡­ How could that be possible? Letitia gave a deste smile, ¡°I never imagined that one day I could threaten you, punish you with my own death. I never believed you when you said you loved me.¡± ¡°I kept backing down, all I wanted was for my child to live, such a humble wish, and yet you insisted on crushing it. Elgin, I will never forgive you, never!¡± ¡°You have your way of loving me, and I have my way of trampling on your love! If I killed you, I¡¯d just get thrown in the mmer by the Ramirez family, saddled with a life on my conscience. But if I die¡­ As she spoke, tears slowly trailed down from the corners of her eyes ¡°You¡¯ll never have me, your love will always be unfulfilled, there will never be another Letitia. You¡¯ll spend your whole life haunted by me, unable to forget or let go¡­¡± Slowly, she pressed the knife¡¯s de against her carotid artery. The blood flowed faster and faster, more and more. That bright red blood seared Elgin¡¯s eyes. Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. ¡°I won¡¯t kill you, I won¡¯t¡­ Letitia murmured, ¡°Not that I can¡¯t bear it, but your death means nothing to me. Elgin, you¡¯re a demon, destined to die alone, unworthy of love, even less deserving of loving someone!¡± As her words ended, she closed her eyes and pushed hard. As long as she killed herself, it would all be over. But Letitia didn¡¯t feel any pain, and she couldn¡¯t move the knife forward even a bit. Opening her eyes, she saw Elgin had grabbed the knife with his bare hands! He was holding it tightly, preventing her from making the next move. Blood dripped ceaselessly, but Elgin¡¯s grip didn¡¯t cken one bit. ¡°Elgin, you¡­¡± If this continued, his hand would be ruined! ¡°Let go, Elgin said through gritted teeth, ¡°Letitia, don¡¯t you dare think about dying!¡± ¡°It¡¯s you who should let go!¡± That¡¯s a knife, and he¡¯s just grabbing it like that! But Elgin, seemingly impervious to pain, held onto the de, while his other hand forcefully pried Letitia¡¯s grip off and snatched the knife away. The whole knife was thoroughly drenched in blood, and he breathed a sigh of relief Letitia¡¯s back slumped, sitting powerlessly on the bed, her eyes red as she stared at Elgin. ¡°Why.¡± she asked, ¡°I can¡¯t kill you, I can¡¯t make the move, I don¡¯t even have the right to die!¡± Elgin replied, ¡°The reason you can¡¯t do it is because you have feelings for me too.¡± ¡°No! I could never fall for a devil!¡± Letitia vehemently denied it, shaking her head repeatedly, adamant in her refusal. Her parents, because of him, one went to prison, one to the hospital Her bright future, because of him, spent two years in a mental institution. And now, he had taken her child away¡­ How could she possibly love such a demon! Engin just gave her a cam look and pressed the call button, ¡°Get the doctor in here.¡± Soon, several doctors and nurses entered the room, but they were all stunned, faces shocked, at the scene before them. The bed, the floor, were all covered in drops of fresh blood. Especially on the sheets and covers, a bright red mess. Letitia¡¯s hospital gown was soaked in blood, and her neck bore a thin wound that was still bleeding! And more horrifyingly, Elgin had a knife in his hand! He wasn¡¯t holding the handle, but the de! ¡°What, what¡­¡± the doctors stammered ¡°Take care of her first,¡± Elginmanded, ¡°What are you waiting for!¡± ¡°Alright, alright¡­ Finally snapping to action, the doctor hurried to bandage Letitias wound. It seemed Letitia had the most blood on her, the most frightening appearance, pale with a nk expression¡­. In reality, her injuries were the lightest. The wound on her neck was just a scratch, it didn¡¯t even need a bandage, just some antiseptic would do, and she had no other injuries. After the doctor had quickly treated Letitia and turned to look at Elgin ¡°Good heavens the doctor eximed, ¡°Such a deep wound¡±¡± Elgin¡¯s palm was a mess, with two spots¡­ where you could even see the white of his bones! After all, he had stopped Letitia¡¯s suicide attempt by grabbing the de with his hand! It took immense strength to prevent it! The stronger the grip, the deeper the cut! ¡°Stop making a fuss, Elgin said, expressionless, ¡°Come and treat it. While he spoke, his eyes darted carefully to Letitia, worrying that the sight of his bloodied hand might unsettle her. He¡¯d been so scared at the time that he¡¯dpletely forgotten about the pain. Now that he was rxed, he didn¡¯t want to show his pain, to avoid making Letitia worry unnecessarily. The doctor, looking serious, knelt by Elgin¡¯s feet and began to treat the wound. One blood-soaked cotton ball after another was tossed into the trash can, quickly filling it up. Throughout, Elgin didn¡¯t utter a single cry of pain, he just asionally nced at Letitia. Letitia was just zoning out on the hospital bed, looking totally spaced out. No telling what was going through her mind. Half an hourter, the doctor let out a big sigh of relief, ¡°Alrighty, Mr. Ramirez, you gotta try not to get your hand wet for a month. And try not to lift anything heavy.¡± ¡°Uh-huh, he acknowledged, ¡°How is she doing?¡± *Mrs. Ramirez just got some superficial injuries¡­ nothing major, she¡¯ll be fine.¡± Chapter 136 Chapter 136 Elgin nodded and picked up the fruit knife lying nearby. ¡°Throw it out. From now on, nothing sharp is allowed in this room. Nothing¡± He had known all along that Letitia had stashed a de under her pillow, but he kept mum and didn¡¯t confiscate it. Because Elgin thought.. if she was nning to off him with it, he¡¯d give her the shot. Who¡¯d have guessed that, Letitia would flip the script and try killing herself instead of him. Elgin¡¯s palm was swathed inyers of bandages. Yet, even so, blood had soaked through, painting the bandages red. ¡°I¡¯m not taking you down, and you¡¯re not letting me die,¡± Letitia¡¯s voice floated in the air, light as a feather, ¡°Elgin, do you n to stick with me forever?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point?¡± His voice was heavy as lead, ¡°Because you gotta stick by me.¡± Letitia bit her lower lip. ¡°But I don¡¯t love you, I hate you. And I can¡¯t even deal with your love!¡± ¡°Hate me all you want my love for you is plenty.¡± Letitia challenged him, ¡°Aren¡¯t you scared that one day, I¡¯ll take a stab at your heart again?¡± Hearing this. Elgin actually cracked a smile, ¡°I gotta remind you of something, unless I let it happen, nobody can touch me. You got to hurt me this time because I allowed it, get it?¡± ¡°Elgin, how does it feel to have everything under your thumb, huh?¡± Letitia red at him hard. Everything under his control, his eagle eye never missing a beat. No surprises, no slip-ups, does that feel good for him? ¡°I can¡¯t control you Elgin answered, ¡°Letitia, you¡¯re the wild card in my life.¡± He stood up, eye to eye with her, ¡°And you know what? I gave you the chance to do me in, to snatch my heart. But you didn¡¯t seize it, so¡­ no more second chances. ¡°Letitia, now it¡¯s my turn to steal your heart.¡± Elgin¡¯s tone was oozing confidence and ease. Letitia grabbed a pillow and hurled it at him, ¡°I can¡¯t stand the sight of you, Elgin¡­ You¡¯re the devil, pure evil through and through!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got a lifetime to get a taste of the devil¡¯s love.¡± Elgin left, his footsteps growing fainter. But the number of bodyguards at the door had doubled Two servants arrived at the ward, tending to Letitia around the clock, but really, they were keeping tabs on her. Letitia had be a caged canary. She had no freedom, no dreams, just living in Elgin¡¯s keep. Letitia stood in front of the mirror, eyeing the wound on her neck. It was shallow, barely worth noting Truth is¡­ she couldn¡¯t bear to die. She just wanted to see Elgin¡¯s reaction, to test the love he professed. Surprisingly, he caught the knife barehanded, thwarting her death ¡°Elgin¡­ do you really love me that much?¡± Letitia muttered to herself, ¡°Then, your love will be my weapon. The weapon I¡¯ll use to hurt you¡­ Her fingertips gently traced the wound. With her child gone, all she wanted was revenge, to unearth the truth, to reim the simple life that was rightfully hers! She couldn¡¯t possibly love Elgin. How could she love a devil! At the Ramirez Group. When Elgin showed up at thepany entrance, the receptionists were gobsmacked. ¡°Mr. Mr He was still in that sapphire blue shirt, stained with blood, hands wrapped in bandages, his gaze dark and brooding, looking like he just carpe back from a killing spree. Mr Ramirez! Ranen rushed over in a tizzy. You an, the blood, the blood. thin a frosty nce Back in his office, Elgin changed into fresh clothes in the lounge and dove straight into work. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, your hand¡­ Ranen reminded him, ¡®Maybe take a break? You dictate, I¡¯ll do the typing.¡± Elgin said tly, ¡°It¡¯s not chopped off, and i won¡¯t get crippled.¡± Uh.. Mr. Ramirez, you sure are taking it well.¡± Normal folks would be wailing if they were hurt like that. ¡°Because it bought her safety.¡± Elgin spread his palm, ¡°Worth it.¡± Ranen didn¡¯t grasp it but didn¡¯t dare to pry further. But Ranen knew that ¡°she was the missus. ¡®Call Samson over.¡± ¡°Right. Samson couldn¡¯t wait any longer, so as soon as Ranen called, he ran in the elevator to the top floor ¡°Gin, you wanted to see me?¡± Samson asked, ¡°Were you nning to camp out at the hospital these days?¡± ¡°No, Ill being into the office as usual, popping over to the hospital when I can.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not sticking with Letitia?¡± Elgin paused before answering. ¡°She just gets sick of me.¡± So, the n was to visit less, linger less, get out of her hair, Talk about groveling, Samson crossed his arms, ¡°Gin, if you knew this was how it¡¯d be, why bother starting anything?¡± Elgin, imitated, chucked his pen across the desk. Samson went on, ¡°Look at your hand, it looks pretty bad¡± Zip it¡± ¡°I¡¯ll say what I want. We can see the wounds on your hand. But what about the ones in your heart? Who knows? Who cares? You¡¯ve got to deal with it alone.¡± Samson had known Elgin for years and knew his temperament. The more taboo the topic, the more he¡¯d press, hitting Elgin where it hurt to make it stick. ¡°I told you before, Samson sighed, ¡°liking someone is liking someone, loving a woman is the most normal thing for a man, it¡¯s nothing to be ashamed of. But you just had to¡­¡± ¡°I ended her pregnancy to start over with her.¡± ¡°That was her child, her whole world. You took it from her and you think you can just turn back the clock?¡± Elgin shot back, ¡°So I¡¯m supposed to ept that bastard child?¡± ¡°See, that¡¯s where you¡¯re clueless, Samson spread his hands, ¡°You could¡¯ve investigated, used all your connections to find out who the father was, even smeared the guy to make Letitia give up on him, make her want the abortion. But you chose the most drastic route. ¡°I don¡¯t have the patience.¡± ¡°Now look at the mess you¡¯re in, what are you gonna do now?¡± Elgin pressed his temples, ¡°y it by ear¡± After a few seconds of silence, he asked, ¡°You got any ideas?¡± ¡°Yo, Samson¡¯s tail perked right up. ¡°So now you remember I exist, your go-to strategist?¡± Elgin chuckled, ¡°With your smooth talk anddy-killing charm, howe you haven¡¯t sealed the deal with Vidonia yet?¡± ¡°What do I need to seal the deal with her for!?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you want to?¡± Elgin shot back, ¡°She¡¯s been going against me over and over again. If it weren¡¯t for your sake, I would¡¯ve made her disappear from AquaCity a long time ago!¡± Samson cleared his throat, ¡°Anyway, we¡¯re getting sidetracked. Let¡¯s talk about you and Letitia Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. Elgin leaned back in his chair, looking totally wiped out. Chapter 137 Chapter 137 ¡°Here¡¯s what I think you should do, man-cut ties with Sh for good, Samson started dishing out advice. ¡°What women need is security, a rock-solid choice, favoritism. If you wanna have a future with Letitia, you gotta break it off clean with Sh.¡± Elgin stayed silent. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me¡­ your like them both? Do you wanna keep both irons in the fire? No way, Gin. Given Sh¡¯s looks, character, and personality.. you¡¯d have to be blind to fall for her.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Elgin finally spoke up. ¡°You can go now.¡± Samson gritted his teeth Elgin just used him and then showed him the door! What a ruthless man! ¡°Aren¡¯t you leaving? Elgin asked. ¡°Wanna stick around for a meeting, or do you have clients to see or a trip to take?¡± Samson vanished in the blink of an eye. Elgin stood up, walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows, and lit a cigarette, taking his time with it. It wasn¡¯t until ten at night that Elgin left the office ¡°Mr. Ramirez, your hand needs a new dressing. ¡°Get the car ready, head to Breezy Bay Condos, he instructed. ¡°Have the doce to the car for the dressing change¡± Elgin rested with his eyes closed the whole ride. The doc quietly did his thing, changing the bandage. The car ride was enveloped in a heavy silence. Back at the apartment Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. Sh sat at her vanity, eyes glued to the pricey wedding ring, greed written all over her face. How could she bear to leave Elgin¡­ Power, status, money, the envious stares from the women of AquaCity, it¡¯s all she ever wanted She was determined to make aeback. No way Letitia could take her down! ¡°Ding-dong The doorbell rang. Thinking it was Mark, Sh put down the ring and scurried to the door. But when she saw it was Elgin, her surprise turned to delight, ¡°Mr. Ramirez! Oh¡­ what happened to your hand?¡± Elgin silently walked into the living room, tugged at his tie, and lit another cigarette. Sh noticed his pallor and sour mood, so she kept her mouth shut. ¡°Are you getting used to living here?¡± Elgin asked. ¡®You like the ce?¡± ¡°Uh-huh, I like everything you give me!¡± ¡°This ce is yours now, I¡¯ll transfer it to your name.¡± Sh nodded vigorously, ¡°How generous! Thank you, Mr. Ramirez!¡± She was over the moon. The apartment was worth millions, a symbol of wealth and status! Mr. Ramirez sure was generous! Sh thought Elgin was starting to make it up to her. After all, she¡¯d been given the cold shoulder for days and Letitia had given her a rough time. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, I messed up before, I shouldn¡¯t have gotten greedy.¡¯ Sh said, clinging to his arm. I apologize. From now on, I¡¯ll be totally devoted to you.¡± She even leaned in, rubbing her body against his arm on purpose Elgin pushed her away. ¡°Don¡¯t bother.¡± Sh was stunned, ¡°Huh?¡± what else you want, Elgin flicked ash from his cigarette, ¡°Il fulfill all your material needs.¡± Material neerts? What about emotional ones? Status? Identity? Sh finally sensed something was off, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, what are you getting at?¡± ht, you suffered. You should bepensated. Let¡¯s settle this once and for all today Elgin was here for the breakup. Samson was right-if he had no feelings for Sh, only gratitude, then he needed to cut ties as quickly all possible. Love is love Gratitude is gratitude. For things tost with Letitia, Sh had to go. Sh couldn¡¯t believe her ears, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, you¡¯re kicking me out?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get what you want, just name it. I agree to all your demands.¡± Money, assets, they were all trivial to Elgin. Sh wanted them, he¡¯d give them. She deserved it Without her that night, Phedra would have seeded. ¡°No, no, I don¡¯t want anything. I just want you,¡± Sh shook her head frantically, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, I don¡¯t want the house or the money, just let me stay by your side¡­ I can¡¯t lose you!¡± Sh couldn¡¯t grasp why things had turned this way. After the fake miscarriage came to light, she knew Elgin was mad, so she¡¯d been apologizing ever since. Now, with Lelitia¡¯s baby gone too, she thought she was in the clear, but¡­. Elgin was actually dumping her! ¡°Why, Mr. Ramirez, Sh asked in desperation, ¡°I¡¯ve admitted my mistake, reflected on it, and I won¡¯t trouble Letitia anymore, why can¡¯t you forgive me¡­ I¡¯ve always loved you!¡± Elgin¡¯s expression remained cold, ¡°I don¡¯t like wasting too much time on one thing. He nced at his watch The quicker, the better. Because he still had to visit Letitia at the hospital. To Sh, these actions screamed urgency and crisis. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, just because of my fake miscarriage, you¡¯re punishing me like this¡­ Sh¡¯s tears came on cue, ¡°What about Letitia? She was carrying a bastard, don¡¯t you mind?!¡± The child¡¯s been aborted¡± ¡°But the fact remains, she was neither pure nor clean!¡± Elgin replied, ¡°Her child was conceived before she married me.¡± He paused, then seemed to remember something, ¡°Letitia¡¯s been in a mental institution all this time, she had never left there. How could she have gotten involved with a man, let alone get pregnant? Was there someone in the institution who forced her?¡± ¡°She¡¯s a slut! She went around seducing men, that¡¯s how she got knocked up with a bastard!¡± Elgins gaze darkened, ¡°Letitia¡¯s not that kind of woman. Even though he¡¯d used those words to hurt Letitia before, it was all in anger. If Letitia were that kind of woman, she¡¯d have been throwing herself at him long ago, not resisting and scared every time he kissed her or wanted her. Sh clenched her palms. ¡°Mr. Ramirez,¡± she asked, ¡°have you¡­ have you fallen for Letitia?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Elgin didn¡¯t hesitate with his answer. ¡°You¡¯re in love with her?¡± Sh was gobsmacked. ¡°You¡¯ve actually fallen for Letitia?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± Sh couldn¡¯t believe her ears. She had finally managed to get rid of Letitia¡¯s kid, only to wind up making Elgin feel sorry for and fall in love with Letitia! Talk about shooting yourself in the foot! ¡°Mr. Ramirez, che¡¯s carrying a bastard! Sh reminded him, ¡°She¡¯s dirty, she¡¯s Dr. Sanders¡¯s daughter, you and her are like sworn enemies, how¡­ how can you possibly love her!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need angle? you to meddle in my business with her, Elgin stubbed out his cigarette with his fingertips. ¡°Now spit it out. What¡¯s your He was visibly impatient Hanging around Sh was eating into his time, and that just meant it would take him that much longer to see Chapter 138 Chapter 138 He¡¯s already starting to miss Letitia. Even though he nearly crippled his hand because of her! Sh wouldn¡¯t spill the beans for love nor money. ¡°My only condition is to stay by your side, Mr. Ramirez I don¡¯t want anything else!¡± She¡¯s no fool. Houses and cars are just items; once you take them, there¡¯s no more. But staying by Elgin¡¯s side means she can keep asking for stuff forever and ever! ¡°Fine.¡± Elgin suddenly said. Sh paused for a second, then happily eximed, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, I knew you still had feelings for me!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want anything, then there¡¯s nothing to have,¡± Elgin spoke up. ¡°Move out first thing tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯m respecting your wishes, you said you wanted nothing.¡± Elgin stood up and strode out. He didn¡¯t have the time or luxury to dawdle here. ¡°Mr. Ramirez. Mr. Ramirez!¡± Sh panicked, grabbing him, ¡°I. I really do love you¡­¡± Elgin cut to the chase, ¡°Do you want it or not?¡± ¡°I do¡± Sh gritted her teeth. ¡°Apart from Breezy Bay Condos, I want a vi in the suburbs, a townhouse in the city center school district. And a car, plus¡­ ten million dors!¡± Now that things hade to this, Sh had to look out for herself. A house, a car, and ten million dors would set her up for life! Elgin knew she would make demands, she was just ying of the heartbroken lover before. As soon as he said he¡¯d take everything back and give nothing, Sh¡¯s true colors showed. To Elgin, giving her these things was no big deal. ¡°No problem. Elgin responded. Til have Ranen handle the property transfer and the ten million dors will be transferred to your bank ount Sh finally breathed a sigh of relief. At least with this much dough secured, she felt at ease. However, she still put on an act, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, I don¡¯t know what kind of love potion Letitia has brewed for you, but what I want to say is, I¡¯ve been here waiting for you. Whenever you miss me, you can alwayse back to me¡­¡± Elgin, expressionless, had already walked away. As Sh saw him off to the elevator, her demeanor screamed reluctance, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, I¡¯ll be waiting for you to look back. Elgin didn¡¯t utter a word. As the elevator doors closed, Sh¡¯s face twisted in anger. ¡°Nice move, Letitia But you think that¡¯s enough to beat me What a joke! Letitia, you lost your child, and Elgin, you lost yours too! You¡¯re the real losers! Heh, with such great news, I should spread the joy even more.¡± Sh seethed, ¡°Just you wait!¡± She still had the ultimate weapon to bring Letitia down! She wasn¡¯t the pitiful one. She got the house, the car, and the cash The pitiful ones were Letitia and Elgin! They had lost their own flesh and blood without even knowing it! Downstairs, a car was already waiting. Elgin got into the back seat. To the hospital.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Ramirez.¡± He asked again, ¡°What has she been up to today?¡± Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. The missus has been quiet, stayed in her room all day, and even had a good appetite.¡± This unusuallypliant Letitia¡­ was somewhat abnormal. in the hospital room. Lendia, looking at the fancy meal in front of her, picked up the fork and ate leisurely. Cigin walked in and sat down beside her, but she treated him as if he were invisible. haven¡¯t eaten yet Elgin said. He frowned. ¡°Can¡¯t you be a little considerate, wornan?¡± He had been busy with work, dealing with Sh, and now rushing to see her¡­ And she didn¡¯t appreciate it one bit. There are plenty of women who would dote on you, who¡¯d be over the moon to cook and clean for you,¡± Letitia sald. ¡°Why bother getting the cold shoulder here?¡± She was the only one who dared to give Elgin the cold shoulder. The servants, overhearing their conversation, were too scared to even breathe, silently bringing new tableware. Elgin ate elegantly. Eating by her side seemed to make even the food taste better ¡°Oh, by the way.¡± Letitia suddenly remembered, ¡°let¡¯s get a divorce.¡± He paused mid-bite, his face tuming stormy in a blink of an eye. ¡°My child is gone, the Ramirez family won¡¯t back me up anymore. You¡¯re free to marry Sh, Letitia said. ¡°We can put a full stop to our marriage.¡± ¡°I¡¯d advise you to take back what you just said But Letitia went on. The agreement is signed, we agreed on 3 months. I want to get it done.¡± With a m, Elgin threw down his fork. ¡°Why are you getting angry?¡± Letitia looked at him sideways. ¡°You¡¯re the one who drafted that divorce agreement and had me sign it.¡± Do you really want to infuriate me?¡± ¡°Im just reminding you of the things you¡¯ve done. After saying that, Letitia continued to eat. Just as she reached for the food with her chopsticks, Elgin flipped the table over in one swift move. Well, there goes dinner. ¡°Letitia, are you determined not to live well?¡± he thundered. ¡°Ever since you came into my life, I¡¯ve never had a good day.¡± ¡°The past is the past, and we have the future!¡± Letitia clenched her teeth and suddenly threw down her fork as well. ¡°The past? Tell me how to get past it?¡± she looked at Elgin. ¡°You make it sound so easy! You weren¡¯t locked up in a mental institution for two years, you didn¡¯t endure torture, live like a dog, eating leftovers, sleeping on the floor!¡± ¡°Because back then, I had no idea I¡¯d fall in love with you!¡± ¡°Ha, so love is the all-purpose excuse, huh? Because you love me, I should just forget all the suffering and be with you? What gives you the night?¡± What gives him the night indeed! Elgin could love, hate, torment at will! Was she supposed to just go along with it? Elgin stared at her, his eyes nearly shooting fire, veins throbbing in his forehead. Every single time¡­ every single time he was driven mad by Letitia! One of these days, she was going to be the death of him! Furious Elgin was still very dangerous. Letitia was worried too, thinking that if she ticked him off, she¡¯d be the one ending up getting hurt and tormented. But Elgin¡¯s tone was super chill. ¡°Alright, I can give you some time to get over it,¡± Elgin said. ¡°Lay it on me, what are your terms?¡± want a divorce.¡± ¡°No way. Letitia went on. ¡°I want you to let my dad go¡± Not happening.¡± snorted, ¡°You won¡¯t allow anything. Looks like we¡¯ve got nothing to talk about.¡± sh your luck!¡± Elgin snapped. You¡¯re crossing the line, asking for stuff that¡¯s non-negotiable!¡± you¡¯d cay no to all of it, so i was asking them on purpose.¡± Chapter 139 Chapter 139 ¡°Letitia Sanders!¡± the offered a soft chuckle. ¡°I just wanted you to know, what you¡¯ve given to me was never what I wanted. And, what I truly desire, you could never provide.¡± Even if Elgin, out of love for her, agreed to let Preston go, Letitia wouldn¡¯t ept it. What she wanted was to give her dad a legit freedom, an irond exoneration Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. Not to trade her dad¡¯s ¡°get out of jail free card¡± for Elgin¡¯s love for her Elgin tugged at his tie, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing. He couldn¡¯t give it to her? What a jokel He stood at the pinnacle of power, calling the shots, getting whatever he wanted, how could he possibly not have what Letitia wanted! It¡¯s just that he couldn¡¯t give it! ¡°y nice, Letitia,¡± Elgin said, ¡°make some demands I can agree to, it¡¯s only gonna do you good. Don¡¯t try to make unreasonable demands. Letitia cast her eyes down. ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten, I want some food.¡± ¡°Have someone go get another portion¡± ¡°I want to be discharged, Letitia added, ¡°I want to go back to work at thepany ¡°Sure. Once you¡¯re back on your feet.¡± She nodded silently, not saying another word. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the bandage on Elgin¡¯s hand, and her lips curled into a sneer ¡°Your hand¡­ it¡¯d be great if it was broken.¡± Letitia¡¯s fingertipsnded on his palm, ¡°Just too bad the knife was too small, not long enough¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got one wicked mind, woman¡± ¡°Who asked you to stop me from stabbing myself?¡± Elgin caught her hand and pulled her into his embrace, wrapping his arms around her waist. Letitia ended up sitting on hisp. Their breaths intertwined, faces close ¡°Your life is mine, I didn¡¯t let you die, so you can¡¯t die,¡± Elgin said. ¡°If I want you to live, even if it means sacrificing myself, I¡¯ll make sure you survive. What a domineering line Letitia looked at the man before her, with his sharp brows and handsome looks. He was outstanding, powerful, the dream guy for countless women. If she liked him, she¡¯d probably be moved by that line. But how could she like him? A man who tore her family apart, who threw her into a mental institution, who caused her to lose her child¡­ Where¡¯s the love in that? Even if it existed, Letitia wouldn¡¯t admit it, and would keep that flutter of the heart under tight wraps! He was the devil, and the devil had fallen for her. Was she supposed to fall for a devil too? Letitia turned her head away, refusing to look at Elgin. If she looked any longer, she feared she¡¯d fall! ¡°Why won¡¯t you look at me?¡± Elgin edged closer, his nose brushing her cheek. ¡°Letitia, deep down you¡¯ve got feelings for me too, right?¡± She immediately denied it, ¡°No!¡± ¡°Then look me in the eyes.¡± ¡°Look at you?¡± Letitia defiantly said. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I might just¡­ kill you!¡± Elgin¡¯s lips curved into a smirk, ¡°No, when you had the knife at my heart, you couldn¡¯t push it further, not even a bit.¡± His lips slowly approached, ¡°So, Letitia, you do have me in your heart.¡± ¡°No-Before she could finish her sentence, her lips were fiercely captured by his. Eigen did it on purpose, he waited for Letitia to speak just to kiss hec That way, he could easily pry open her lips and deepen the exploration. And now with Letta sitting on hisp, her whole body was firmly in his control. Gradually, Elgin¡¯s breathing grew heavier, and his hands started to wander. ¡°Elgin you.. let go¡­ mm. Letitia realized something was off and started to struggle. His body temperature was rising, and sitting on hisp, she could feel the scorching heat! She was only wearing a hospital gown, which he could easily undo with a flick of his fingers! ¡°You make me lose control.¡± Elgin murmured against her lips. ¡°Just how enchanting are you?¡± Every time after kissing her, Elgin needed to take a cold shower to cool off the heat in his body This time was no exception. ¡°Don¡¯t mess around, Letitia¡¯s hand pressed against his chest. This is no ce for you to get frisky!¡± This was a hospital room! And she had just had an abortion! There¡¯s plenty of time, I¡¯m not in a rush Elgin looked at her ¡°There will be plenty of opportunities in the future.¡± Letitia firmly replied, ¡°There won¡¯t be a future, we¡¯re getting a divorce.¡± ¡°As long as I don¡¯t agree, you¡¯ll never be able to leave me.¡± ¡°Elgin! You¡­ you¡¯re shameless!¡± He tightened his grip around her waist, pulling her even closer into his embrace He whispered in her ear. ¡°Not only that, Letitia, but you¡¯ll also be willing under me.¡± ¡°Impossible ¡°There will be a day Elgin¡¯s fingertips suddenlynded on the wound on her neck, gently stroking back and forth. It made Letitia itch, her skin breaking out in goosebumps. The next second, Elgin¡¯s actions made her freeze.. His lips kissed the wound on her neck. This forced Letitia to tilt her head back, acutely aware of his movements. He even deliberately licked it. Letitia shuddered all over, crying out for mercy, Elgin, stop it. Her slender neck arched gracefully, like a painting ¡°One day, Letitia, you¡¯ll belong to me, both your body and soul¡± Elgin lifted her onto the bed and headed to the bathroom. He needed a cold shower, to cool down Letitia sat on the bed, unconsciously touching the wound on her neck. As if his warmth, his breath were still there¡­ After a while, Letitia snapped out of it, stunned What was she doing? Was she actually savoring that kiss? She must be crazy! Letitia quicklyy down, pulling the cover over herself, not daring to face anyone Five minutester, Elgin came out of the bathroom. She didn¡¯t move, waiting for Elgin to leave. But the footsteps were heading her way! Letitia¡¯s heart raced, what¡¯s going on¡­ wasn¡¯t Elgin leaving? Don¡¯te over! The rnore you fear something, the more it¡¯s likely to happen. ¡°You¡¯re smothering yourself under the covers, isn¡¯t that ufortable?¡± Elgin¡¯s voice came through, ¡°Huh?¡± Letitia didn¡¯t respond. He waited a few seconds, then reached out to pull at her nket What are you doing?¡± Letitia quickly grabbed it, ¡°It¡¯ste, aren¡¯t you going back to Ivory Towers?¡± Tm staying here tonight¡± Chapte: 139 What¡± Letitia was caught off guard for a sec, totally spaced out and didn¡¯t keep a grip on the nket. And just like that, Elgin had already tossed it aside with a flick of his hand, And then, shamelessly¡­ he just plopped down into her bed. ¡°No, Elgin!¡± Letitia blurted out, ¡°What the heck are you doing?¡± That sickbed was tiny, barely enough for one person.. The moment Elgin hopped in, Letitia was practically shoved to the edge. He reached out, scooped her into his arms, and said. ¡°Just like that, time to sleep.¡± Letitia was totally at a loss for words Chapter 140 Chapter 140 Hes actually nning to squeeze into this tiny hospital bed with her! With his towering height of six feet, he can¡¯t even stretch his legs out! ¡°Eigin, get up!¡± Letitia nudged his shoulder, ¡°Who said I wanted to share a bed with you?¡± He kept his eyes closed, all rxed, ¡°You want me to sleep on the floor?¡± ¡°Just go back to your mansion!¡± ¡°Without you there, I won¡¯t go back.¡± Letitia was at a loss for words again. Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. On this one-meter bed, two grown-ups lying down made it hard to even turn over. She had no choice but to lean against Elgin That was bad enough, but to add to the embarrassment, every slight move made the bed squeak and creak. It simply couldn¡¯t handle the weight of two people. ¡°You¡­ go sleep on the couch!¡± Letitia pointed, ¡°Otherwise, I¡¯ll go sleep there¡± Otherwise, there¡¯s no way she would get a good night¡¯s sleep. As she tried to get up, Elgin¡¯s hand pressed on her belly, Sleep, stop fussing.¡± Til hit the couch! I sleep there! You, oh so precious Mr. Ramirez, can have the bed!¡± Yet Elgin still held her down, making it impossible for Letitia to get up. He, however, found this quite amusing, like pinning down a squeaky mouse, a smile curling at the corners of his mouth. Annoyed, Letitia punched him in the chest and turned her back to him. Elgin wrapped his arms around her from behind, ¡°Goodnight.¡± On the tiny hospital bed, the two of them squeezed together. Elgin quickly fell asleep, his breathing steady, his hand always resting on her waist, never leaving. Letitia, however,y awake, not a hint of sleepiness In the past¡­ she knew Elgin despised her, tormented her, and she knew how to counteract it, how to endure. But now, Elgin was an entirely different person, a man who was suddenly showering her with affection¡­ This sea change left Letitiapletely disoriented, unsure of her next move. Feeling hatred is straightforward, but dealing with love is harder than it looks. It was well into the night before Letitia finally couldn¡¯t resist sleep, and in a daze, it seemed like Elgin got up. He seemed toy a kiss on her forehead, but she was too tired to open her eyes When Letitia woke up, it was already ten in the morning. The doctor came for his rounds, and Letitia asked, ¡°When can I be discharged?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ I¡¯ll have to check with Mr. Ramirez ¡± ¡°Are you the doctor or is he the doctor? Why ask him? The doctor replied. ¡°Mr. Ramirez has instructed us to make sure you¡¯re in good health, ready to start trying for a baby as soon as possible. Mrs. Ramirez, you¡¯ve recovered physically, but conditioning will take some time, you can¡¯t rush it.¡± Letitia fell silent. Trying for a baby? Having a child with Elgin? That¡¯s justughable and absurd¡­ This means, the longer she stays in the hospital, the better, otherwise, once she¡¯s back at Ivory Towers, Elgin will¡­ have his way with hert Letitia clenched her fists. Looking out at the clear weather outside, Letitia said, ¡°Prepare the car, I want to see my mother.¡± The servantplied, first checking with Elgin before daring to make the arrangements. Wanting to present a good image to her mother, Letitia did her makeup with care. The sanatorium was much quieterpared to a regr hospital. Arriving at the room. Malinda was still deep in sleep, looking much thinner. Perhaps it was a mother-daughter connection, but Malinda¡¯s eyes fluttered and she suddenly woke up, ¡°Lelitia¡­¡± Mam, fm here.¡± Malinda looked at her ¡°Am I dreaming, or are you really here¡­¡± Tm really here, mom.¡± Letiba held her hand. ¡°I came to see you. I¡¯ve missed you¡± With her mother, she could act like a spoiled daughter, be herself, and not have to be so strong. Letitia. Tears started falling from Malinda¡¯s eyes. ¡°Mom, why are you crying? I¡¯m all right¡± Malinda struggled to sit up on the bed. ¡°You silly child, always only telling me the good news, how much have you suffered on your own?¡± Letitia bit her lip. ¡°Mom, everything will get better¡± Sh had been there once, spilling all the beans about Letitia¡¯s situation, they both knew it without saying, but neither took the initiative to bring it up. What would that change? Cry their eyes out together? ¡°I know you¡¯re trying to cheer me up, but. How could Elgin ever be nice to her! Her most important virtue and marriage, were both ruined by Elgin! ¡°Mom, let¡¯s not talk about that, I can handle it, you don¡¯t need to worry.¡± Letitia said. ¡°You just need to focus on getting better, until you can see dad again¡± ¡°Your dad and I have both be your burdens ¡°No as long as you¡¯re here, I will always be a child, able to be spoiled with you.¡± Malinda hesitated for a few seconds, then asked. ¡°What Sh said.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mind her, don¡¯t believe her words. Letitia said, ¡°Mom, you have to trust me.¡± Even if she was lying, it was a lie out of kindness. Sh would only upset Malinda! Malinda was tired, after a short chat she became drowsy, her gaze vacant. After coaxing her to sleep. Letitia gripped her phone and stepped out of the room. Standing at the end of the corridor, she called Elgin. ¡°Hello. He quickly picked up, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± I¡¯m at my mom¡¯s ¡°I know Elgin was always on top of her whereabouts ¡°When will you give my mom the special medicine, Letitia asked, ¡°Her condition is only getting worse, we can¡¯t dy any longer.¡± The medication was expensive, and only with Elgin¡¯s nod would the hospital prescribe it She had once borrowed money from Walden to pay the fees, but the hospital returned it Elgin¡¯s voice was indifferent ¡°You know what you need to do for me to agree to save her.¡± ¡°Elgin, the deep-seated hatred is between your dad and mine. The death of the child is between you and me. From start to finish, my mom is just an innocent, pitiful woman! Can¡¯t you just let her go ¡°Her fate is in your hands, not mine¡± Letitia clenched her teeth. ¡°You¡¯re just threatening mel ¡°I¡¯m giving you a chance. Elgin replied. ¡°Others are not worthy of my threats.¡± He wanted her to bow down, to back off, to be docile, toply Elgin chimed in again, ¡°Think it over and give me a ring whenever. I¡¯m all ears, anytime.¡± And with that, he hung up. Lentia clutched her phone, gazing out the window and taking deep breaths A few minutes ticked by, and she hit redial. your mind?¡± Elgin¡¯s voice Roated through light as a feather Say it?¡± Letitia replied, ¡°I¡¯m not going through with the divorce. I¡¯m sticking with you.¡± ¡°Theres my good girl,¡± Elgin¡¯s tone softened, ¡°See? It¡¯s all a piece of cake.¡± ¡°As for the medicine, my mom needs it today¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Elgin¡¯s words were pure gold At his beck and call, someone got cracking right away Chapter 141 Chapter 141 The nurse led Letitia to the doctor¡¯s office to get the lowdown on Malinda¡¯s condition and the treatment n. They prescribed the special medicine, she got an entire box of them! But what Letitia didn¡¯t know was that while she was at the doc¡¯s, Sh sneaked into the ward! Malinda was weak and asleep, and Sh didn¡¯t hold back one bit, shaking her awake, ¡°Hey, time to wake up! No more beauty sleep for you!¡± With Malinda not stirring. Sh pinched her hard, ¡°Still in the mood for Zs, huh? Your grandson¡¯s dead, that kid who was supposed to be the apple of everyone¡¯s eye!¡± Malinda gasped for air and woke up from the pinch. ¡°It¡¯s you?¡± Seeing Sh, Malinda freaked out. ¡°What do you want now? Nurse, nurse!¡± Malinda tried to call someone over to kick her out. That woman was bad news! ¡°Hehe, I¡¯m not gonna do anything to you, Sh said, ¡°Just came to shoot the breeze. Last time¡­ we had quite the chit-chat, didn¡¯t we?¡± Malinda red at her, ¡°You¡¯re full of it. I won¡¯t fall for your lies! I only trust my daughter!¡± ¡°I swear may my whole family drop dead if I lie to you. I¡¯m telling you the truth because it¡¯s just too pathetic to see you kept in the dark.¡± ¡°What are you here to spill this time?¡± Sh¡¯s smile was full of malice as she said, ¡°Letitia¡¯s pregnant, did you know?¡± ¡°Last time you said, she she married Elgin, so the baby is¡­ Malinda¡¯s eyes bulged! ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Sh said. ¡°The kid Letitia¡¯s carrying is Elgin¡¯s!¡± ¡°This ¡± ¡°I told you, she¡¯s just Elgin¡¯s ything Getting knocked up is par for the course, Sh said with a grin. ¡°But you don¡¯t need to worry too much ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t I worry? Getting pregnant is a big deal for a woman!¡± ¡°Because she got pregnant and then had a miscarriage.¡± Malinda¡¯s heart was on a rollercoaster ride. Every piece of news was like a bombshell! Sh¡¯s smile grew wider, ¡°And guess what, Elgin personally took her to the operating room to get rid of the baby. Tells you how much he despises Letitia, to the point where he could get rid of his own flesh and blood¡­¡± ¡°No, that can¡¯t be true,¡± Malinda¡¯s face turned ashen, ¡°I don¡¯t believe it, you¡¯re talking nonsense. Get out, I don¡¯t want to hear this, get out!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve still got to finish. With Letitia¡¯s body going through pregnancy and miscarriage, and warming Elgin¡¯s bed, it¡¯s just filthy. To think she didn¡¯t even have the right to keep the baby, tsk tsk tsk, she¡¯s living worse than a streetwalker¡± Malinda, fuming, flopped back onto the bed, clutching her heart Sh kept on yapping. ¡°Every penny you use is earned by Letitia selling herself, selling out to the very enemy that tore the Sanders family apart.¡± ¡°Letitia¡¯s life is ruined, what man would want her now?¡± ¡°Did you really thought by marrying Elgin, shed be the high and mighty Mrs Ramirez?¡± ¡°Every time Letitia wants to visit you, she has to beg Elgin, make sure he¡¯s well taken care of before she gets a chance. Think about it, doesn¡¯t she rarelye, and isn¡¯t each visit super short?¡± Malinda, with eyes shut, her chest heaved violently, ¡°Shut up, shut up¡­¡± She pointed a shaky finger at Sh, ¡°You¡¯re just here to rile me up, I¡¯m not listening. Nurse, someone come, get her out¡­ Letitia, Letitia where are you!¡± Sh grabbed Malinda¡¯s hand and shoved it back under the covers, ¡°Just lie down, don¡¯t you go and kick the bucket¡± ¡°You. you¡­ ¡°Oh yeah, Sh showed off a ring on her finger, ¡°Like it? Sparkly, huh? It¡¯s worth millions, Elgin gave it to me.¡± The diamond was dazzling Malinda felt another surge of anger, ¡°He gave that to you?¡± ¡®Yes, you really think Elgin only has eyes for Letitia? Melinda¡¯s eyes rolled back, her body twitched a few times, then she mmed back onto the bed, fainted. you didn¡¯t just die on me, did you? Hello?¡± Sh smited. ¡°I just said a few things, you Sh pinched her several times but Malinda didn¡¯t respond. Starting to panic, Sh checked for Malinda¡¯s breath¡­ Seems like, seems like there¡¯s no breath! Sh¡¯s heart skipped a beat, scared out of her wits, she turned tail and bolted. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. She hadn¡¯t expected Malinda to be so fragile¡­ If Malinda really kicked the bucket, Letitia would go ballistic! Sh ran out of the ward, in a tizzy, and just as she was about to hit the elevator, she bumped into Letitiaing out of the doctor¡¯s office. ¡°Sh!¡± Seeing her, Letitia¡¯s heart sank. Sh panicked even more, never thinking she¡¯d run into Letitia at the eleventh hour! ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Letitia stepped up quickly, grabbing her, ¡°What rubbish have you been spewing to my mother!¡± ¡°I, I didn¡¯t talk nonsense! It¡¯s all true!¡± Letitia¡¯s grip on Sh¡¯s wrist tightened. ¡°It¡¯s not your ce to gossip about my business!¡± ¡°You¡¯re hurting me Sh struggled. ¡°I¡¯m leaving now, I¡¯m not in your way, let go!¡± ¡°Think you can just leave? Not so fast! Nurse, check on my mom!¡± Letitia had her guard up. Hearing the nurse was heading to the ward, Sh squirmed even harder, ¡°Let go, I need to leave, what right do you have to hold me¡­¡± Letitia simply dragged her towards the ward. ¡°Ah!¡± Suddenly, the nurse screamed, ¡°Doctor, get a doctor! The patient¡­ her eyes, they¡¯re not moving!¡± What? Letitia rushed to the bedside, ¡°Mom, Mom!¡± She screamed her lungs out, but Malinda never responded A bunch of doctors with serious looks on their faces marched in, pushing the hospital bed towards the OR, ¡°Get ready for a lifesaving operation, schedule the surgery¡­ family member, sign here! Issue the critical condition notice!¡± The scene got super chaotic for a moment. With a decisive click, the doors to the surgery room mmed shut. Inside and outside, it was like two different worlds. The critical condition notice was quickly handed to Letitia, ¡°Please sign here.¡± Letitia¡¯s hands were shaking like crazy, she couldn¡¯t even hold the pen. She gotted her teeth so hard, she could taste blood in her mouth. ¡°Sh!¡± she suddenly spun around, stormed over, and grabbed Sh, who was cowering in the corner, ¡°If anything happens to my mom, I swear I¡¯ll make you pay with your life!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t. I didn¡¯t touch her! She got critically ill on her own!¡± ¡°It was something you said!¡± Letitia yelled, ¡°You agitated her!¡± Chapter 142 Chapter 142 ¡°I was only spitting straight facts here!¡± ¡°What facts? The fact that I married Elgin, or the fact that I miscared?¡± Either way, it¡¯s more than Malinda can bear! Which mom doesn¡¯t ache for her own child! Sh swallowed hard ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s all true! I didn¡¯t make any of it up!¡± Letitia was seeing red, ¡°You just wait right here, don¡¯t you dare move a muscle, and you better pray that my mom is okay!¡± ¡°It ain¡¯t my fault if she isn¡¯t!¡± ¡°Sh!¡± Letitia shoved her hard, and the catfight began. You don¡¯t mess with a someone¡¯s parents Today, Sh was going to pay the price! Sh wasn¡¯t going down without a fight, grabbing Letitia¡¯s hair and giving it a good yank When chicks scrap, it¡¯s all about hair pulling and clothes-ripping The onlookers didn¡¯t know how to jump in and help, so they just stood there, freaking out. Meanwhile, at the Ramirez Group. In the president¡¯s office, Elgin was in a meeting with a handful ofpany execs. ¡°Mr. Ramirez!¡± Ranen burst in, looking all kinds of anxious Elgin shot him a nce. ¡°What¡¯s got you so spooked? Spill it¡± ¡°It¡¯s Mrs. Ramirez she¡¯s throwing down at the sanatorium!¡± ¡°Throwing down?!¡± Elgin snatched his car keys and made a beeline for the door, blowing off the meeting that was halfway done! The execs exchanged nces. Mrs Ramirez she¡¯s got some serious fire in her. Just the other day. Mrs. Ramirez was all sweet and cutesy on the phone, cooing at Mr. Ramirez with a voice so tender it could melt hearts. And now? She¡¯s rolling up her sleeves and fighting! What kind of wild card did Mr. Ramirez marry! Elgin raced to the sanatorium, ¡°Who¡¯s she scrapping with?¡± ¡°Sh Ward ¡°What¡¯s it about?¡± ¡°Mrs. Sanders had to be rushed into surgery, looks like Sh said something that ticked her off.¡± Elgin¡¯s face turned stormy Sh, always stirring up trouble! Such a pain in the neck! Outside the OR, it took the bodyguards a heck of an effort to pry Letitia and Sh apart Judging by the injuries. Letitia had the upper hand, with just some messy hair But Sh, her clothes were ripped to shreds, barely covering her up, her face scratched up, and clumps of her hair strewn all over the floor, courtesy of Letitia¡¯s pulling power. ¡°Letitia, you¡¯re going too far!¡± Sh clutched her front, I¡¯m going all in!¡± She lunged again, but Letitia just sneered, ¡°Think you didn¡¯t get enough? Bring it on, I¡¯m not scared!¡± Thinking of her mom on the brink, Letitia wished she could wipe Sh off the! Just as they were about to go at it again, amanding voice rang out, ¡°Everyone, back off!¡± Elgin had arrived. The sound of his dress shoes hitting the floor grew louder and closer ¡°Mr. Ramirez!¡± Sh sobbed, ¡°You finally show up, If this goes on, Letitia¡¯s gonna beat me to death Elgin furrowed his brow, his face stone-cold as he took in Sh¡¯s disheveled state His gaze quickly shifted to Letitia. She was okay, she hadn¡¯t lost. A weight lifted off Elgin¡¯s heart am going to beat you to death,¡¯ Letitia said, ¡°You will see!¡± Just then, the OR doors swang open. The doctor emerged, serious-faced, ¡°The patient¡¯s critical, we need a family member to sign and make the payment now!¡± spoke up. Do whatever it takes, spare no expensel Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. He knew if anything happened to Malinda, Letitia would shatter. I do anything, just save my mom!¡± Letitia pleaded with her hands sped in front of the doctor, ¡°Please!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll do our best!¡± The OR doors closed again. Two hours had passed, and the surgery showed no signs of wrapping up! Letitia¡¯s legs gave out, nearly copsing ¡°Careful.¡± Elgin stepped forward, wrapping his arms around her. Letitia wasn¡¯t having it, shoving his hands away, ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± He pursed his lips. ¡°Why you snapping at me?¡± ¡°Sh¡¯s getting away with murder because you¡¯ve got her back!¡± Letitia yelled. This isn¡¯t her first rodeo!¡± Sh cried foul, I didn¡¯t do a thing Mr. Ramirez, I swear, I was just chatting with Malinda! I didn¡¯ty a finger on her! She¡¯s sick, maybe it was just bad timing that she took a turn for the worse!¡± She was twisting facts again. Letitia pointed at her, ¡°So what did you two chat about, huh?¡± ¡°I. I can¡¯t remember!¡± Sh said. ¡°Just some small talks!¡± ¡°You¡¯re scared to say!¡± ¡°I seriously can¡¯t remember, Sh shrugged, ¡°You pressuring me won¡¯t jog my memory.¡± Letitia¡¯s eyesnded on her ring Fine. Sh won¡¯t talk. No worries, she¡¯ll find out! Sh wore her ring today, the bug was still there, recording everything! Letitia said, ¡°Just you wait, Sh!¡± ¡°What, you beat me up like this and you want more?!¡± ¡°I do, I want to hit you again! Seeing Sh in that state, Letitia was fuming, ready to jump her again. But Elgin held her back, ¡°Enough already.¡± ¡°You¡¯re stopping me? Letitia turned to him, ¡°What, feeling sorry for Sh?¡± Elgin ordered the bodyguards, Take Sh away.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Ramirez ¡°Don¡¯t you dare leave! Letitia shouted, ¡°She¡¯s responsible for my mom¡¯s crisis, and she thinks she can just walk away? No way!¡± ¡°Her sticking around is pointless. Letitia countered, Elgin, are you covering for her?¡± He didn¡¯t respond. Hisck of response prompted a chillingughter from Letitia, ¡°What if I decide to take her on right now?¡± ¡°Not in front of me, no way¡± Although he was not into Sh, and even less into her antics, he couldn¡¯t deny their fleeting one-night fling. He still felt like he should acknowledge the history of that night. Sh¡¯s eyes darted around, and seeing the situation, she immediately burst into tears, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, you have no idea how heavy Letitia¡¯s p is, my face is gonna be wrecked, and I¡¯ve lost so much hair¡­ how am I supposed to live like this?¡± ¡°Go home and treat your wounds!¡± Elgin¡¯s voice was deep and stern. ¡°Useless, what are you waiting for?¡± That was when the bodyguard quickly stepped in, grabbed Sh by the arm, and escorted her out. Lettia wanted to go after her, but Elgin wrapped his arms tightly around her walst, ¡°Looking for another round?¡± ¡°Fight Id smack her down again in a heartbeat!¡± ¡°You¡¯re really feisty Yep in not the delicate, crybaby Sh. Letitia looked up at him, ¡°Seeing her all beat up, does that make your heart ache?¡± Chapter 143 Chapter 143 He said, ¡°Well, at least you didn¡¯t lose.¡± Elgin rolled up her sleeve and gave it a thorough once-over, making sure there weren¡¯t any wounds on her. If Letitia had lost and got her face scratched up, and Elgin couldn¡¯ty a finger on Sh, he¡¯d really be¡­ at a loss for what to do. The whole way there, he was worried she wouldn¡¯t be able to hold her own. Thankfully, she didn¡¯t end up shortchanged. Letitia paused, not quite catching his drift. She pulled her hand back, dodging his touch, ¡°Next time I see Sh, I won¡¯t let her off the hook!¡± ¡°Leave Sh to me. You stay out of it.¡± Letitia snorted, ¡°Elgin, don¡¯t you always im you love me? Why do you still take her side when it¡¯s between me and Sh?¡± It looked like he was shooing Sh away, but in reality, he was protecting her! ¡°Are you jealous?¡± Elgin raised an eyebrow and asked. Letitia was taken aback. Was she jealous? Elgin said he liked her, but when it came down to her or Sh, he still treated Sh better. To be honest. Letitia was genuinely miffed. Why can men talk the talk but not walk the walk? Love, isn¡¯t it supposed to be exclusive, not just a preference? ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± Letitia denied. ¡°You can totally side with Sh all you want, what¡¯s it to me!¡± With that, she turned to leave. Elgin reached out, pulling her into his embrace, ¡°I need to take responsibility for Sh, I owe her that. I hope you can understand me Letitia nearlyughed in exasperation, ¡°Why should I understand you? If my mom hadn¡¯t made it through this surgery, Sh and I would ve been sworn enemies for life! I¡¯ll make her pay!¡± She didn¡¯t know what was between Elgin and Sh, and she didn¡¯t care to know. After hours of agonizing waiting, finally, the lights in the operating room went out. Letitia rushed forward, ¡°Doctor, how¡¯s my mother?¡± ¡°She¡¯s out of immediate danger for now,¡± the doctor said wearily, ¡°but she needs to be moved to the ICU and monitored closely.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re saying¡­ her life could be at risk at any moment?¡± ¡°We¡¯re treating her, there shouldn¡¯t be anyplications¡± Letitia¡¯s heart was still clenched tight. The nurse wheeled out Malinda¡¯s bed, and seeing her with an oxygen mask and tubes all over, barely hanging on, Letitia felt a lump in her throat What exactly.. did Sh say to drive her mother to this state! She had to find out what was said! ¡°Let¡¯s go back, Elgin said from behind her, ¡°You haven¡¯t fully recovered yet.¡± Letitia stood at the door to the ICU, silent and unmoving. Elgin just scooped her up and carried her away. She was quiet the whole way, her usual spiky defenses down, not snapping at anyone, just still and silent. This actually made Elgin feel uneasy, not sensing her presence, gripping her hand the whole time. ¡°This is far enough.¡± The car stopped at the hospital entrance, Letitia got out, ¡°I¡¯ll head back to the room myself.¡± Elgin didn¡¯t speak, just silently followed her. He knew she was angry, hurting, but he wouldn¡¯t touch Sh. The hallway was unusually quiet, Letitia found it odd where were all the bodyguards, the nurses? Why was it so deserted? Until she pushed the door to the room open, and then she understood why Hawley was sitting on the sofa, his previous air of triumph gone, looking old and worn out. Phedra was pouring tea. ¡°You¡¯re back,¡± said Hawley, ¡®Come in, shut the door, take a seat.¡± i didn¡¯t sprak, ncing back at Elgin. ¡°Why¡¯s grandpa here?¡¯ Elgin stepped in, ¡°And you cleared out the hallway too?¡± ¡°Because this is family business. Dirtyundry should not be alred in public; I don¡¯t want Irrelevant people overhearing.¡± ¡°What do you have to say, Grandpa?¡± Hawley put down his teacup, pointing at Letitia, ¡°I want you to divorce her, get the paperwork done immediately!¡± Elgin¡¯s brow furrowed deeply But Letitia justughed. ¡°Elgin, this time it¡¯s not me who wants the divorce¡± Hawley still has some clout in the Ramirez family. For Elgin to withstand the pressure of the Ramirez family and firmly refuse to divorce is going to be tough. Let¡¯s see how long he can hold out. And would he really offend the Ramirez family for her sake? Letitia felt she wasn¡¯t that important to Elgin yet Men, especially sessful ones, always care most about their work and their interests. How could it be a woman? Phedra mocked, ¡°Oh, you can stillugh Letitia, you couldn¡¯t keep the baby, now you¡¯re nothing!¡± She wasn¡¯t afraid of Letitia now Without a child to her name, what¡¯s there for a mother to be proud of? That position of the eldest grandson, her own son will have to hustle when he gets back to the country, get ahead of Elgin! Letitia¡¯s expression remained indifferent. ¡°Are you in the Ramirez family so sure it was me who couldn¡¯t keep the baby?¡± The truth of the matter was something only she and Elgin knew in their hearts. ¡°What do you mean by that? Hawley asked, ¡°Is there more to the miscarriage?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no hidden story. Elgin answered before anyone else, ¡°Grandpa, you don¡¯t need to meddle with my personal affairs,.¡± Anyway, from the start, Hawley wasn¡¯t aware the child wasn¡¯t Elgin¡¯s, so there was no need for him to know now. Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. ¡°Elgin, Letitia had a miscamage, and I¡¯ve lost a great-grandson, and these past days I haven¡¯t been able to eat or sleep well. And look at you, acting as if nothing¡¯s happened!¡± Actually, Phedra was also puzzled. How could Elgin be so heartless? After all, that was his own flesh and blood. Even if Letitia was the daughter of the Ramirez family¡¯s enemy, the child was still his own. Elgin said, ¡°I have my own ns. Within this year, Letitia and I will give it our all, hoping to fulfill Grandpa¡¯s wishes.¡± ¡°No need!¡¯ Hawley dismissed with a wave of his hand, ¡°This woman can¡¯t stay in the Ramirez family any longer!¡± From the get-go, Hawley was dead set against this marriage. It was only when Letitia got pregnant that he had a change of heart. Now that the baby¡¯s gone, there¡¯s no way they¡¯d let Letitia live the high life as the young mistress of the Ramirez family! ¡°Elgin, get a divorce, and do it now! Hawley wasying down thew, There¡¯s a ton of women who¡¯d kill to get hitched to the Ramirez family, and the cream of the crop from AquaCity are at your fingertips! The kid¡¯s gone, she¡¯s worthless now!¡± That¡¯s just how cold the world is. Letitia still remembered the way Hawley was all sweetness and light when she first got pregnant, constantly showering her with all kinds of nourishing goodies. And look at them now. If.. if the baby really was Elgin¡¯s, seeing this sudden change of the Ramirez n would be a real kick in the teeth. ¡°Sure thing.¡± Letitia nodded, ¡°I¡¯m down for a divorce, I¡¯ll walk away with nothing if that¡¯s what it takes. Chapter 144 Chapter 144 Hawley was totally gobsmacked, didn¡¯t see thating her saying ¡®yes¡¯ so breezily The threshold of the Ramirez family is sky-high, they¡¯re loaded, and she¡¯s not taking a dime? Letitia chimed in again, ¡°When do we do the paperwork? I¡¯ll cooperate, no strings attached.¡± ¡°¡­What¡¯s your game here?¡± ¡°Not everyone is head over heels for money and status,¡± Letitia said. ¡°Mr. Hawley, you better talk some sense into Elgin, get him to agree to the divorce.¡± Phedra butted in, ¡°What are you saying? Is Elgin the one who doesn¡¯t want to split?¡± Letitia cracked a smile. ¡°You hit the nail on the head.¡± Both Hawley and Phedra¡¯s faces changed in a sh ¡°Elgin, you¡­ Hawley started tentatively, you don¡¯t want a divorce? Elgin nodded, ¡°That¡¯s right¡± ¡°I swear you¡¯ve lost your marbles! Hawley shot up, fuming. ¡°Aren¡¯t there plenty of fish in the sea for you? And you refuse to divorce!¡± ¡°I only want Letitia Elginid his cards on the table, calm and upromising. Hawley had watched him grow up and knew him inside out. He knew that Elgin meant business this time Even Phedra¡¯s jaw dropped, and she gave Letitia several double-takes, ¡°Did you feed Elgin some kind of love potion¡­ to make him so crazy about you?¡± Hawley cursed, ¡°Trouble! This woman is trouble!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear divorce from anyone¡¯s mouth again. Elgin wrapped his arm around Letitia and spoke softly, ¡°Grandpa, please go back.¡± Letitia stood by his side. In that moment, she truly felt like thedy of the house. The man beside her was her husband, the man she¡¯d walk through life with, and the lover whod take on the world for her, no questions asked. Elgin¡¯s choice to stand by her was unwavering, and that love was deep and solid. Letitia never expected him to stand up for her in front of the Ramirez n. Such a pity, though, Elgin¡¯s love was something she couldn¡¯t afford to ept, nor did she dare to Seeing Hawley hadn¡¯t moved, Elgin repeated, ¡°Grandpa, please go.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you remember who Letitia¡¯s father is! How Dr. Sanders killed your father! Her father took your father¡¯s life, it¡¯s a blood feud, and yet you love her so much. One of these days¡­ you¡¯ll end up dead at her hands too!¡± Hawley stormed off, seething, and Phedra quickly followed. For her, the more estranged Hawley and Elgin were, the better! The hospital room fell into a brief silence. After a while, Letitia finally spoke, ¡°Do you really like me that much¡­ It was surprising to her, almost overwhelming. Elgin loosened his tie, standing in front of the window, ¡°Yes. Letitia, you¡¯ve won.¡± She let out a chuckle. ¡®Feeling smug, huh?¡± Elgin raised an eyebrow. The me who once looked down on you now can¡¯t stand to lose you.¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t love you.¡± Letitia stated, her tone t and uncaring. Elgin¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line, his aura tuming sharp in an instant, ¡°Say that again?¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t love you¡± Letitia enunciated slowly, ¡°Elgin, I only feel hate for you. Hate you for destroying my happy family, hate you for taking away my child¡­ Then keep hating Elgin mmed the door on his way out. stood still for a while, then suddenly copsed onto the bed, as if all her strength had been drained. had a feeling the manage was now inescapable, Elgin wouldn¡¯t let her go. 144 bound to live this life with him. A site with a devil, for etemity what a terrifying thought! A weekter the doctor announced that Letitia could be discharged Elgin came to pick her up personally. And after taking advice from Samson and Ranen, he even bought a bouquet of flowers. Samson, ¡°No woman can resist flowers¡± Ranen, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, all women love gifts.¡± Eigin bought the most expensive imported roses from the flower shop. He stood at the hospital entrance, leaning against the car, suited and booted a dashing figure of wealth and beauty. Passersby sneakily sized him up, and some girls whipped out their phones to snap a pic, all wondering who he was waiting for. Letitia appeared, wearing a mask. With her hair softly draped over her shoulders, she was petite and slender. She nced at Elgin before getting straight into the car. Elgin was totally snubbed, along with the flowers in his hand. His face darkened, and without a word, he tossed the bouquet into the trash No point in keeping them if the intended recipient wasn¡¯t into it! Im going back to work. Letitia said ¡°I¡¯ve been sketching designs while in the hospital.¡± ¡°Is this your way of asking me?¡± ¡°Im working to create value and profit for you. My role isn¡¯t just your wife, your toy; I¡¯m also the chief designer of Ramirez Romantica.¡± Elgin, sitting back with his legs crossed, replied coolly, ¡°You think ¡®Ramirez Romantica¡¯ can¡¯t run without you?¡± Letitia was startled, ¡°What are you nning?¡± ¡°I can support your career, and I can also destroy it. You should get that¡± ¡°Elgin, what I hate most is this side of you, always so ready to wreck what I care about the most!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been very amodating, Elgin replied coolly. ¡°If I wanted to, I could keep you in Ivory Towers forever.¡± ¡°I am not your canary! Nor am I a woman to be caged!¡± Letitia red at him, her protest loud and clear. She was genuinely afraid that Elgin would keep her in Ivory Towers indefinitely,pletely at his whim. To coddle her when he was in a good mood, to amuse him. And when he was in a bad mood, she would have to bear the brunt of his temper, his rage. That wasn¡¯t the life Letitia wanted ¡®Til let you go to work, Elgin lifted her chin with his hand, ¡°but on one condition.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Trying for a baby with me.¡± Letitia¡¯s face turned pale She had just had a miscarriage, lost her own child, and Elgin was already on her case to get cracking on trying for another_ What did he take her for? A baby-making machine? ¡°Do you really want kids that bad?¡± Letitia asked. ¡°There are plenty of women who¡¯d be willing to have your baby, why does it have to be me?¡± I only want a child with you¡± Letitia felt a tug at her heartstrings. Sometimes, a man¡¯s sweet nothings can really hit you right in the feels. Elgin only wanted a kid with ¡°But I don¡¯t want to have your child.¡± Letitia red at him. ¡°Every time I see you, I¡¯m reminded of the child I lost!¡± Elgin said. ¡°1took one child from you, so I¡¯ll give you another¡± Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. ¡°That was afo, Elgin, not some toy, not an item you can just swap out.¡± Chapter 145 Chapter 145 He leaned in close to her, saying, ¡°This isn¡¯t a discussion. Get on board with the baby-making n, and you can head back to thepany. Otherwise, you can y the littledy of leisure at home-I can afford to keep you.¡± ssic Elgin. Always forcing her to do things she hates, using every trick in the book! Letitia, grinding her teeth retorted, ¡°Elgin, I despise you. Aren¡¯t you afraid that if I do get pregnant with your child, I might intentionally miscarry just to get back at you, just to hurt you?* After hearing her, he cracked a smirk, ¡°No, you wouldn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Yes, I would! Because I hate you!¡± ¡°What do you mean, ¡®get pregnant with my child?¡± Elgin shot back, his voice deepening, ¡°That child would also be yours-carrying half of your blood. Letitia, you couldn¡¯t be that cruel.¡± See, he had her figured out to a T Right, even if Letitia hated Elgin to the core, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to hate the child. So¡­ her only choice was not to get pregnant! ¡°Let¡¯s get ready to have a baby,¡± Elgin whispered into her ear his breath warm against her skin, ¡°to have a child that¡¯s ours.¡± Truth be told, he had his own agenda Elgin figured that once she was pregnant, once there was a child, Letitia would have no choice but topletely resign herself to staying by his side. He was using the child to tie her down. They say a woman¡¯s heart softens when she bes a mother. By then, for the sake of the child, Letitia¡¯s hatred toward him would start to fade, bit by bit. Letitia turned her head to dodge his affection. Back at Ivory Towers, Letitia headed straight to the servants¡¯ quarters without looking back. Elgin watched her go in silence. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, didn¡¯t you already move the madam¡¯s belongings back to the master bedroom?¡± the butler asked. ¡°Shall I call her back?¡± ¡°No need.¡± Letitia had no clue about this. She pushed open the door to her room and found itpletely empty. Her stuff was gone, leaving only the bare bones of a bed frame. Crap! The wireless headsets she used to eavesdrop on Sh¡¯s secrets was hidden in a pillowcase! Would it be lost? What if it was? Or¡­ did the servants find it while tidying up and give it to Elgin? Either possibility sent a shiver down Letitia¡¯s spine! She still needed to listen in on what Sh and her mother had discussed at the sanatorium! She needed to know the content of that conversation! But without the wireless headsets¡­ what was she to do? Letitia turned back, only to find Elgin still standing there. She confronted him directly. ¡°Did you instruct the servants to move my stuff?* ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Where to?¡± The master bedroom,¡± Elgin replied. ¡°You¡¯ll be sleeping with me from now on.¡± Letitia couldn¡¯t care less about where to sleep, her mind was fixated on her wireless headsets! She hurried to the master bedroom. It had been a while since she¡¯d been to the second floor, and she noticed it had been redecorated. New carpets, new curtains¡­Stepping into the master bedroom, she spotted even more changes. Gone were the masculine ck, white, and graynes, reced by touches of femininity. The walk-in closet was filled with brand-new women¡¯s clothing in her size. Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. Even the bathroom was stocked with her personal toiletries¡­ Leia cealized that when Elgin wanted to treat someone well, that person truly became the luckiest woman in the world. Too bad.. what he offered her was a p first, then a candy That ¡®sp hurt her badly, so badly that the candy he offered wasn¡¯t sweet enough to erase the pain and sorrow in her heart Fantically, Letitia scoured for the missing wireless headsets She sucked under the bed, rifled through the pillows, scoured the closet,bed through the walk-in closet¡­ She turned everyer she could think of, yet there was no trace of the wireless headsets. What was she going to do? ¡°What are you looking for? Elgin suddenly spoke from the doorway. Startled, she quickly got up, ¡°Nothing, just some personal stuff¡± 1 had all the things from your room in the servants¡¯ quarters thrown away.¡± Letitia¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Thrown away? Just some old stuff. I had the butler get new ones, Elgin said, ¡°You¡¯ll like them.¡± Like hell! He actually threw them away! No wonder she couldn¡¯t find her wireless headsets! Letitia was boiling inside but could only re at him ¡°Please, in the future, don¡¯t mess with my stuff without asking!¡± ¡°Those trinkets of yours, what¡¯s there to fuss about? In Elgin¡¯s eyes, everything Letitia wore and used was too cheap andcked quality. He wanted to give her expensive, high quality things But once again, she was ungrateful! ¡°Even if it¡¯s just trinkets you should¡¯ve at least told me before tossing my stuff!¡± Elgin¡¯s face darkened It was a thankless task for him! She was the only one who didn¡¯t appreciate it. ¡°Enough,¡± Letitia fumed. ¡°I¡¯m heading to thepany!¡± She couldn¡¯t stand another second in Ivory Towers She needed to see Vidonia and find out if there was any way to fix this! Once at thepany, Letitia made a beeline for Vidonia¡¯s office. ¡°What do I do, Vidonia, I came back from the hospital to find my wireless headsets gone¡­¡± Letitia asked anxiously. ¡°Is there anything we can do?¡± *It¡¯s gone? ¡°Yes! Elgin threw away all my stuff and bought new things! Even speaking of it got Letitia heated. Vidonia was speechless ¡°Sh went to see my mom wearing the ring. Letitia continued, ¡°I don¡¯t know what she said to my mom in the hospital room, but it pissed her off so much she went into emergency care and she¡¯s still not out of danger. So, I need to know what was said in that conversation, and fast¡± ¡°What? Your mom almost died because of her!?¡± Vidonia shot up, grinding her teeth, ¡°Hold on, I¡¯ll ask if the tech department can do something, maybe make new wireless headsets¡± ¡°Okay. Vidonia went to make some calls,municating back and forth. Half an hourter, she finally exhaled in relief, Sorted. But it¡¯ll take some time to make new wireless headsets. Once it¡¯s ready, they¡¯ll ship it directly to me. ¡°How long will it take? Letitia asked. ¡°Three days at the soonest, a week at thetest just hope my mom¡­ Letitia¡¯s voice choked up as she spoke. ¡°Your morn will be fine, don¡¯t worry, Vidonia soothed her, ¡°when she wakes up, you bring me to see her I guarantee Ill cheer her up.¡± Letitia sighed, ¡®That¡¯s all we can do for now¡± Letitia, pull yourself together Losing the child¡­ Im as devastated as you. But life has to go on. You still have your dad and mom, and have me. Don¡¯t lose faith talked her, Vidonia, as long as I¡¯m stuck with Elgin, I¡¯m never gonna catch a break¡± bosomes, his dominance his need to control¡­ They¡¯re all suffocating her. I¡¯ve got no choice but to stay Lea murmured. I need to unravel the truth behind Marcel¡¯s death, and my folks clutches Once all of this is over, only then can I truly bail.¡± Vidonia took her hand, ¡°I know it¡¯s harsh to say, but I gottay it out. Letitia, even when the truthes out, do you really think Elgin¡¯s gonna let you walk away?¡± Chapter 146 Chapter 146 ¡°Back then, he had nothing on me, so there was no way he could make me stay. If he wouldn¡¯t let me walk out with my head held high. then I¡¯d have no choice but to bolt¡± Taking off with a n and a strategy ups the odds of pulling it off sessfully Otherwise, Elgin would have nabbed her back in a heartbeat. Letnia left the office sadly. The wireless headsets were way too important to her¡­ not only could she eavesdrop on Sh and her mom¡¯s chats, but give it time, and she¡¯d pry even juicier secrets out of Sh. Fingers crossed that in these next few days, before she gets her hands on those wireless headsets, everything goes off without a hitch. No more slip-ups, please Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. Lost in her thought, Letitia wasn¡¯t watching where she was going and, bam, she collided with someone. Ouch! That¡¯s freaking hot! Letitia, are you blind? Odetta¡¯s coffee went flying everywhere ¨C half on her, half on Letitia¡¯s arm. Letitia¡¯s hand was scorched red, but Odetta just got her clothes soaked ¡°What a jinx Odetta cursed, ¡°Everything¡¯s fine when you¡¯re not around, but the moment you show up, you stir up trouble! And where the heck have you been all week, treating this ce like it¡¯s your own house,ing and going as you please!¡± Odetta had a history of making life difficult for Letitia, and now that Letitia had bumped into her, she felt even more entitled to get up in her grill ¡°Sorry about that.¡± Letitia apologized. I wasn¡¯t looking where I was going¡­ I¡¯ll get your clothes dry- cleaned.¡± ¡°Ha, if you take my clothes dry-cleaning, and what do I wear?¡± ¡°You can wear my clothes, or I can pop over to the mall and buy you something new.¡± Odetta sneered, ¡°Your clothes. huh? You mean your knock offs? Letitia, can you even afford such pricey stuff on your sry? This piece alone costs like several thousand dors!¡± Letitia nced down at her own clothes. She had grabbed them on a whim from the walk-in closet in the master bedroom, and they were prepared by Elgin. They are that expensive, huh? Several thousand dors for just a jacket? ¡°Take it off. You shouldpensate me with your clothes, Odetta demanded, ¡°and we¡¯ll call it even She had her eyes on Letitia¡¯s jacket. This was a luxury brand¡¯s limited edition, avable only to VIP customers might not snag one! even with money, you Normally, Letitia wouldn¡¯t care about such things, but seeing Odetta¡¯s smug face, she suddenly didn¡¯t feel like stripping down. Til buy you a new one at the mall, or I¡¯ll cover the cost of a new piece of clothing,¡± she said, ¡°Let¡¯s just settle it at that ¡°What? You¡¯re backing out now?¡± Im notfortable with other people wearing my clothes.¡± Odetta was having none of it. ¡°I don¡¯t care, I want your clothes aspensation!¡± With that, she went straight for Letitias jacket! After all, it was Letitia who was at fault first! Letitia didn¡¯t expect Odetta to be such a pain in the neck! ¡®Let go, you¡¯re viting my personal rights. I can call the cops on you, Odetta!¡± Bystanders at the office saw what was happening and kept their distance Nobody wanted to get involved. Letitia, j .just out of the hospital and emotionally spent, wasn¡¯t as strong as Odetta. One sleeve of her jacket was already off. Suddenly, there was a shriek from Odetta, ¡°Aaah!¡± She was yanked up by one hand and swiftly pulled back, getting mmed against the wall. Startled. Letitia looked up and caught Elgin¡¯s deep gaze Immediately after, she felt warmth as Elgin draped his suit jacket over her. She was enveloped tightly He didn¡¯t want anyone else to see her pale, delicate skin. *Mr. Ramirez Odetta, seeing him, was v visibly shaken, ¡°it was Lelitra¡¯s fault first!¡± Elgin had quite the reputation in thepany as a no nonsense guy. Plus, with all the whispers among colleagues about him and Letitia having an inappropriate rtionship, Odetta thought she was done for and tried to shift the me. After all, it really was Letitia who bumped into her first! ¡°She bumped into me, spilling my coffee, staining my clothes, Odetta said, ¡°Mr Ramirez, I was just defending my nightful interest Letitia was about to exin, but then she heard Elgin¡¯s deep voice. Even if she was at fault first, so what?¡± Odetta¡¯s eyes widened No one expected Elgin to stand up for Letitia like this! Even if it was her fault, he took her side! Letitia was just as surprised. When Elgin yed favorites, there was no such thing as Taimess He backed whoever he wanted to back ¡°Let¡¯s get things straight, I¡¯m not carrying the me, Letitia straightened up out of Elgin¡¯s embrace, ¡°Odetta, yes, I bumped into you and I apologized for it, and I was willing topensate But you were being aggressive, and you even tried to snatch my clothes off ¡°You said yourself you¡¯d give me your clothes! ¡°What about my hand, huh? Letitia showed her the back of her hand, ¡°I didn¡¯t mention it, but your coffee scalded mel The bum was stinging She knew she was at fault, so she hadn¡¯t mentioned it. But since Odetta was being so obnoxious, alright then, let¡¯s have it out! ¡°Scorched you? Elgin¡¯s brows knitted, quickly grabbing her hand, ¡°Ranen!¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Ramirez¡± ¡°Get the burn ointment.¡± ¡°Right away¡± Ranen was quick on his feet and soon brought over the ointment. Elgin, head bowed, personally started to apply the medicine to Letitia. With so many colleagues watching, Letitia tried to pull her hand away, but he gripped it tightly, ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± ¡°I¡­ I can apply it myself.¡± Odetta, witnessing this scene, was even more flustered and stuttered, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who burned her, she she bumped into me and that¡¯s when the coffee spilled¡­ Elgin turned his head and gave her a chilling nce. With his presence and status, that look was more than Odetta could handle. Her knees buckled, and she dropped to the ground. ¡°Since you keep insisting that Letitia was at fault first, then let¡¯s let this ¡®mistake¡¯ run its course, Elgin said, ¡°Ranen, go buy a cup of coffee, make it hot¡± ¡°Yeah, Mr. Ramirez¡± ¡°What¡¯s with buying coffee?¡± Letitia whispered, ¡°To make it up to her?¡± Elgin didn¡¯t respond, just asked, ¡°Does it hurt?¡± She shook her head. The coffee wasn¡¯t that hot, so it was no big deal, and this ointment was working well, it felt super soothing the moment it was applied. Elgin stared at the reddened area, ¡°The person who hurt you¡­ deserves to die.¡± Those words made Letitia shiver involuntarily ¡°But the one who¡¯s hurt me the deepest, the hardest, is you,¡± she said. ¡°Elgin, shouldn¡¯t you be the most deserving of death?¡±?¡± ¡°You couldn¡¯t bear to kill me. Even when you had the knife in your hand, you couldn¡¯t bring yourself to plunge it into my heart.¡± Chapter 147 Chapter 147 Lutted her teeth and said, ¡°If I kill you I¡¯m signing my own death warrant. Who in their night mind would make such a losing deal?¡± He curled his lip with a smirk. ¡°Teisty little wildcat, aren¡¯t you?¡± Kneeling on the ground, Odetta cautiously asked, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, I¡¯m off to work. This is all small fry stuff, I don¡¯t hold a grudge against Letitia Don¡¯t waste your precious time on this.¡± ¡°Work?¡± Elgin raised an eyebrow, ¡°As of now you¡¯re fired¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Pack your stuff and hit the road¡± Odetta felt like she¡¯d been struck by lightning, totally blindsided by the sudden job loss! The Ramirez Group is the toppany of AquaCity, a dream workce for many offering a fat paycheck! And just like that she¡¯s been kicked out! Right at that moment, Ranen came back with the coffee, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, here you go This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. The steaming hot coffee was billowing with heat Elgin took it and handed it to Letitia, ¡°Hold this¡± ¡°What for?¡± Elgin said, ¡°Pour it on her¡± Letitia was stunned, and Odetta scrambled back even more, ¡°No, no ¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit much?¡± Letitia said, ¡°That¡¯s like kicking someone when they¡¯re down.¡± Sure, Odetta had always been a thorn in her side, making trouble for her, but Elgin had already given her the sack. That punishment was enough. ¡°She messed with you Elgin said, ¡°She had iting.¡± ¡°But ¡°I¡¯m teaching you how to really put the screws on someone¡± Elgin forcefully put the coffee in her hand, ¡°Letitia, every ounce of mercy you show others is a pound of cruelty to yourself. If she ever gets a chance to mess with you again, she won¡¯t be half as nice or hold back¡± Plus, Elgin was sending a message to the Ramirez Group employees about Letitia¡¯s status. Anyone daring to mess with her from now on would be crossing him and end up just like Odetta Letitia held the coffee, feeling the heat even through the cup ¡°Pour it Elginmanded. But Letitia didn¡¯t move. Odetta had backed into a corner, eyes wide with terror, ¡°Don¡¯te any closer¡± Elgin pressed, ¡°Letitia, make it quick¡± She gripped the coffee, still hesitating, when suddenly Elgin¡¯s body pressed against her back. He wrapped his arms around her from behind, his hands over hers, and flung the coffee onto Odetta. ¡°Ahhh-¡± Odetta let out a blood-curdling scream. Letitia frowned but remained silent. ¡°She¡¯s not a first-timer,¡± Elgin said, ¡°Last time she framed you for stealing a ring, this time she stripped you in public. What about next time? Letitia, you gotta be swift, urate, and ruthless to nip things in the bud ¡± Letitia looked down, ¡°You¡¯re right. But do you remember, at the charity auction, when Sh imed I dirtied her dress and tried to strip me? What about that?¡± His lips thinned. Letitia turned to him, ¡°Why don¡¯t you eliminate Sh as a future problem?¡± ¡°She¡¯s different¡± ¡°Right¡± Letitia nodded, ¡°After all, she¡¯s someone you once had feelings for¡± Elgin frowned, ¡°I never had feelings for Sh.¡± ¡°But, she was your woman, Letitia stated. Eyn went stent. That night, he had indeed been intimate with Sh A sharp pang hit Letitia¡¯s heart, like a needle prick. She pulled away from Elgin¡¯s embrace and turned to leave. Elgin watched her retreating figure, his expression gradually turning dark as he swept a cold nce over the surrounding people. The employees quickly dispersed to their desks, not daring to look up. ¡°Have security drag her out.¡± Elgin ordered, ¡°and cklist her.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Ramirez.¡± Now, in the eyes of thepany staff, Elgin and Letitia¡¯s rtionship was as good as confirmed. They were definitely an item! In the break room, whispers spread ¡°That Letitia¡¯s got some moves.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, does Mrs. Ramirez know?¡± ¡°I heard Mrs. Ramirez is all sweet and delicate. Last time Mr. Ramirez had a call during a meeting, lots of people heard it.¡± ¡°With a guy like Mr. Ramirez, who wouldn¡¯t want to throw themselves at him!¡± ¡°Shh, shh, shh, here theye.¡± Vidonia and Letitia walked into the break room together. Seeing them, the others quickly left as if nothing had happened. ¡°They must be gossiping about you,¡± Vidonia fumed, ¡°What¡¯s Elgin thinking, farnishing your reputation like that?¡± ¡°Let it be ¡± ¡°Pfft, he should juste out and say you¡¯re Mrs. Ramirez What¡¯s with all this secrecy?¡± Letitia shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t want it out in the open.¡± Her and Elgin, it was doomed from the start, no need for the world to know. Today Letitia wasn¡¯t stayingte. As soon as the clock struck the hour, she packed up and left Stepping out of the office, she heard someone calling her, ¡°Ms. Sanders, Ms. Sanders!¡± A man dressed like a chauffeur approached quickly, ¡°Mr. Thompson wants to meet you.¡± ¡°Neil?¡± ¡°Yes, he¡¯s at the coffee shop across the street¡± Letitia looked up and spotted Neil sitting by the window of the coffee shop, clearly visible. Neil was always a stand-up guy, and he¡¯d helped her before. She had no reason to snub him. Plus, it was such an open and aboveboard spot. ¡°Okay¡± Letitia walked over to the coffee shop and took a seat across from Neil. ¡°It¡¯s been a while,¡± Neil said, looking at her, ¡°You seem to have lost weight¡± Letitia smiled, ¡°I have slimmed down a bit.¡± ¡°Busy with work, or.. morning sickness from the pregnancy making you lose your appetite?¡± Letitia¡¯s smile froze on her face. The child she lost was an eternal ache in her heart ¡°I had a miscarnage, Letitia said, ¡°Couldn¡¯t keep the baby¡± Neil was taken aback, ¡°What?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my fault, I couldn¡¯t protect him. Mr. Thompson, But I want to thank you for your past help, you saved that child once. I¡¯ll never forget that kindness.¡± Neil let out a sigh, ¡°That¡¯s a real shame. Hang in there, alright?¡± New had a soft spot for the kid since he¡¯d saved him once before. Letitia was stirring her coffee, head down, thinking, ¡°Girl, you really shouldn¡¯t get knocked up when you¡¯re down and out. It¡¯s bad enough screwing over yourself, but dragging a kid into it? The little one could¡¯ve had a shot at experiencing this crazy, colorful world¡± ¡°Would it be too forward if I asked who the father is?¡± Lenba gave a bitter twist of her lips. Neil ventured, ¡®Is it¡­ Mr. Ramirez?¡± Letitia shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s not him¡± Neil was taken aback. Elgin and Letitia were together, yet the kid wasn¡¯t Elgin¡¯s? ¡°The truth is, I don¡¯t even know who the dad is, Letitia looked up into Neil¡¯s eyes, ¡°Mr. Thompson, my past is a hot mess, full of ugliness. No need to dirty your ears with it.¡± Chapter 148 Chapter 148 In her heart. Neil was a super well-mannered and polished rich kid. Words like gloomy and poverty just shouldn¡¯t rear their ugly heads around him Letitia let out a sigh, ¡°Maybe in this lifetime, my kid¡¯s dad will never find me, and I¡¯ll feel embarrassed to see him, to give him an exnation ¡°Mr. Thompson, what I also wanted to say is that my thing with Elgin isn¡¯t as shady as you might think. I¡¯m not his mistress¡± ¡°Then you¡¯re his what 7¡± ¡°His puppet, his ything,¡± Letitia said. ¡°I¡¯m just under his thumb. After hearing this, Neil was silent for quite a while. ¡°Sorry about that, Letitia said softly, ¡°for dumping all this on you¡± ¡°No. Im d you opened up to me about your past. Letitia, you¡¯re shrouded in mystery, with all these complex¡­ human connections that I can¡¯t quite figure out¡± Neil¡¯s gaze was always so pure, so gentle. He had a real soft spot for the girl in front of him. Initially, it was a strange sense of familianty, like he was with an old friend he¡¯d known for ages, then came curiosity, surprise, and now, a heart full of sympathy for Letitia She must have endured a lot. But she brushed it off lightly, neither wanting to bring it up in front of him nor y the sympathy card. ¡°You don¡¯t need to get me, Letitia replied, ¡°We¡¯re worlds apart, you and I.¡± Neil was just too bright, too much of a nobleman. Neil chuckled, ¡°You don¡¯t have to keep drawing a line between us. I¡¯m not after anything else; I just genuinely treat you as a friend and want to help you out I was worried when I didn¡¯t see you around, so I thought we could catch up over a cup of coffee after work.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°And if you run into any trouble down the road, my offer still stands, I¡¯ll do whatever I can to help you out.¡± Letitia didn¡¯t know what to say. Neil was a total stranger to her, they had no past connections, a fresh face, yet he kept reaching out a helping hand Could it be was this some kind of cosmic pity, sending her someone to give her some help? ¡°Okay, Letitia smiled, ¡°Mr. Thompson, I¡¯d rather not trouble you, hoping for smooth sailing from here on out.¡± Neil smiled too, ¡°Yes, I hope for that as well.¡± Their lightughter brought them closer, chatting away like casual friends. ¡°Mr. Thompson, can I ask you something?¡± ¡°Shoot¡± Letitia was genuinely curious, ¡°I know you have a girlfriend. How did you guys meet? You must love her a lot.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Neil nodded, ¡°We were childhood sweethearts, grew up together, went to school together. And when we became adults, we made it official.¡± ¡°That¡¯s nice.¡± Someone like Nell deserved a well-matched partner, ady of equal standing and looks, who knew him inside out Letitia¡¯s thoughts suddenly drifted to Walden. He and she had also been childhood sweethearts, innocent and carefree. But then¡­ Elgin came along and shattered it all. As the sun set. Neil and Letitia sat by the window, chatting andughing, the atmosphere was super chill and harmonious. The orange glow of the setting sun bathed them both. Across the street, at the entrance of the Ramirez Group. Elgin emerged, head down, one hand casually in his trouser pocket ¡°Mr. Ramirez, that Ranen started to say something but suddenly stopped, his gaze fixed across the street. Elgin¡¯s brows furrowed, ncing over. ¡°Neil Thompson?¡± Rapen was sweating bullets in an instant, ¡°Yes. yeah, Mr. Ramirez¡± He scoffed and strode off Letitia, caught up in the pleasant conversation, suddenly found herself in a shadow. Turning her head, she met Elgin¡¯s eyes. Clearly, he was licked off. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, Neil stood up. ¡°Ms Sanders and I were just talking, no misunderstandings ¡°What¡¯s there to misunderstand?¡± Elgin arched a brow his lips curling slightly. ¡°She wouldn¡¯t dare cross me, not in a million years.¡± ¡°Actually.. Ms Sanders is a really great girl¡± Eigin leaned over, pulling Letitia to his side and circling her waist responding nonchntly. ¡°Of course she¡¯s great, why else would I be with her?¡± His actions and tone were dripping with possessiveness! He was seething with jealousy, about to lose his mind, yet still trying to y it cool! As they crossed the street, Elgin¡¯s eyes never left Letitia She wasughing, a genuine, sweet, tenderugh She¡¯d never smiled at him like that! Now, in front of Neil, she could smile so sweetly! How could Elgin¡¯s heart be at ease! Then treasure her well,¡± Neil nodded. ¡°Best wishes to you both Although it was a sincere blessing to Elgin¡¯s ears, it sounded like a taunt. As if Neil could whisk Letitia away from him if he so pleased! Right then, Letitia added. ¡°Mr. Thompson, no need for blessings, Mr. Ramirez and I aren¡¯t a match ¡°We¡¯ll take the blessings. Elgin cut her off, ¡°We¡¯re leaving Clinging to his anger, he nearly dragged Letitia out of the caf¨¦. By the curb, the driver had already parked and was waiting As soon as they appeared, he promptly opened the car door. Letitia was almost hoisted into the car by Elgin, ¡°Can¡¯t you be a little gentler, Elgin? This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°Yes, of course, I¡¯m not as gentle as Neil, he mmed the car door! ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean, Elgin? You¡¯re being totally unreasonable!¡± Eligin¡¯s gaze was dark as he looked at her, ¡°Letitia, who gave you permission to smile so sweetly at other men? Who allowed it! Her imitated response came, ¡®Because hes gentle, you said it yourself just now!¡± The car¡¯s atmosphere took a sharp turn. Saying another man is gentle in front of a man¡­ That¡¯s taboo! An absolute no-go! Yet Letitia had said it, and Eligin¡¯s face twisted in displeasure He lifted his hand, pressing the button to lower the partition. The partition slowly dropped, turning the back seat into a secluded space. Then, the doors locked ¡°What¡­ what are you trying to do? Letitia realized something was off, ¡°Elgin, we¡¯re in a car!¡± ¡°I¡¯m well aware of where we are She fumbled to hit the switch, trying to raise the partition, but no matter how much she pressed, it just wouldn¡¯t budge The car cruised smoothly. She couldn¡¯t even hear anything from the driver¡¯spartment It was soundproofed. Letitia¡¯s back was pressed against the car door, a sense of foreboding flooded over her. At this moment, Elgin exuded a dangerous vibe! He loosened his tie and shrugged off his zer, taking his sweet time as he spoke up. ¡°Come here.¡± Letitia swallowed hard, didn¡¯t budge. He lost his patience, reached out and scooped her up, plopping her down on hisp, ¡°Letitia, you¡¯re not ying nice.¡± Sitting on hisp, Letitia was more on edge than if she were sitting on a bed of nails Chapter 149 Chapter 149 His rock-hard muscles were slightly ufortable to the touch. Elgin looked down, his thin lips approaching her ear whispering. ¡°Gentle isn¡¯t a word in my dictionary. I¡¯ve got my own way of doing things.¡± ¡°And what way is that?¡± ¡°The devil¡¯s way, of course. It¡¯s all about brute force. Elgin said it casually, but Letitia was covered in goosebumps. She was scared. if I ever catch you smiling at another man again Letitia, I¡¯ll punish you, and it won¡¯t be gentle, his lips grazing her earlobe. ¡°Got it?¡± ¡°Elgin, you. Ah!¡± She let out a startled yelp, instinctively covering herself, but Elgin easily pinned her hands behind her back. She was trapped ¡°You know what? Seeing you sitting in the sunset, smiling like that¡­ my first thought, Elgin drawled, ¡°was to make youpletely and utterly mine She belonged to him! ¡®No, no way, Elgin you can¡¯t do this! Letitia was shaking with fear, but there was no escape. ¡°You¡¯ve had enough rest during your hospital stay, he said in a husky voice, ¡°time to start trying for a baby.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t agree!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have a choice!! Tonight, he wasn¡¯t going to let her go! He hadn¡¯t touched her since they got married. Now, it was time for her to be his, body and soul! ¡°Elgin, you you promised I had to be willingly agree, Letitia¡¯s voice was tinged with sobs, ¡®you¡¯re going back on your word!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t wait any longer! Your body¡¯s been with another man, you¡¯ve carried someone else¡¯s child. If I don¡¯t step up, who will you go to next?¡± Just thinking about the man who had her first made Elgin want to hunt him down and kill him himself! Elgin was so strong, Letitia had no chance to resist With just one hand, he had her under control. Letitia bit her lower lip hard, pushing against his chest, ¡°Get off¡­ No, Elgin, get away! You can¡¯t do this!¡± ¡°This is my right as your husband!¡± Letitia felt a wave of despair. She never expected that her first time would be in a hazy night at a hotel, not even seeing the man¡¯s face clearly. And now ¡°Letitia you¡¯re going to conceive my child. Don¡¯t even think about running away. Once you have the baby, you¡¯ll have to stay by my side. Well have children together Forget about that man, that child. Did you hear me?¡± When she didn¡¯t answer, he pushed her for a response! Letitia kept biting her lip, refusing to say ¡°Yes. She felt helpless, dirty. Elgin¡¯s breathing was ragged in her ear, ¡°Letitia, if you dare smile at another man again, I won¡¯t spare you! You can only have eyes for me, got it? Answer me!¡± Letitia¡¯s lip was bleeding from the bite. But she kept silent, refusing to give in to Elgin¡¯s wishes She was always stubborn, and Elgin knew it all too well *Letitia. Elgin said, ¡°I¡¯ll find a way to make you say yes.¡± ¡°Elgin!¡± Letitia red at him. If looks could kill, Elgin would have been sliced and diced by now! Unfortunately, Elgin couldn¡¯t care less about her stare, he waspletely rxed, He carefully dressed her and covered her with his suit jacket, then carried her out of the car. Letiba hid in his embrace. She was too ashamed to face anyone Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. As Elgin strode into Ivory Towers, everyone turned away, lowering their heads, not daring to stare. Letitia wished she could just disappear. Everyone knew what had happened in the car.. she could only imagine the gossip behind her back! Once on the second floor, Letitia blurted out, ¡°Elgin, you. you¡¯re shameless!¡± What¡¯s shame to me?¡± She gritted her teeth, ¡°You¡¯re despicable!¡± ¡°No one dares gossip about us.¡± Elgin¡¯s lips curved slightly. ¡°Besides, we¡¯re husband and wife. Isn¡¯t it natural?¡± ¡°Despicable, despicable, despicable!* She couldn¡¯t think of anything else to call him! After all, she didn¡¯t have his thick skin. ¡°You don¡¯t like it? Maybe next time.. ¡°There won¡¯t be a next time!¡± Letitia cut him off, at a loss for words. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Letitia, you¡¯ll get used to it Elgin kicked open the master bedroom door, carrying her in and headed straight for the bathroom. The bathtub was already filled with water and floating petals. He got in with her, both lying down. The water was just night. Letitia was sleepy and exhausted, her body limp, she simply closed her eyes. She couldn¡¯t resist anyway. Just as she was about to drift off, Elgin started getting restless again. Her sleepiness vanished, ¡®Elgin!¡± He swallowed, ¡°Hmm? What do you want me to do?¡± ¡°I¡¯m tired¡¯ she said ¡°Oh, go ahead and sleep then.¡± ¡°Elgin, I hate you, I despise you.. Letitia looked into his eyes, ¡°Your actions will only make me hate you more!¡± ¡°You clearly like it.¡± ¡°I do not!¡± ¡°When a woman says no, it means yes!¡± He was beyond reason! Letitia never knew Elgin could be so insanely jealous. She had just had a coffee with Neil, no physical contact at all! Yet, he was so fiercely jealous! Chapter 150 Chapter 150 ly out of it. In the end, Letitia had totally thrown in the towel, feeling utterly As shey in bed and finally closed her eyes, she noticed the first light of dawn creeping in through the window. Watching the woman sleeping in his arms, Elgin nted a kiss on her forehead. ¡°Letitia, in this lifetime¡­ you can only be mine.¡± It was weird, he¡¯s always been Mr. Self-control! Why does he throw all caution to the wind with Letitia?! The uncanny familiarity of tonight, with Letitia, mirrored hisst ndestine encounter with Sh in a dimly lit hotel room. It was remarkably like that night! ¡°If only it had been you that night, not Sh, Elgin said, ¡°things wouldn¡¯t be like this between us now. But sadly, there are no ifs in life. Morning broke gradually When Letitia woke up, it was already noon. She felt groggy and weak all over. Damn Elgin! After taking a hot bath, Letitia felt a bit better. ¡°Mm,¡± the butler greeted her as she came downstairs, ¡°your meal is ready in the kitchen. Would you like to eat now?¡± She nodded, ¡°Yeah, thanks¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, Mr. Ramirez made it clear to let you sleep in since you were tiredst night.¡± Letitia¡¯s cheeks flushed and she quickly made her way to the dining room. While eating, she called the hospital. The doctor informed her that Malinda was still in the ICU under observation, still critical but stable. Worried but powerless, Letitia could only pray silently in her heart. After finishing her meal, Letitia grabbed her purse, ready to leave. ¡°Ma¡¯am, where are you headed?¡± ¡°To the office,¡± she replied ¡°Did Elgin forbid me from going out?¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez said you could take the day off and stay home¡± ¡°No, I can go to work. Letitia insisted, thinking, ¡°Just because he¡¯s worn me out all night, I can¡¯t get out of bed or leave the house, so I¡¯m skipping work too? That would be the joke of the year if word got out.¡± The butler offered, ¡°I¡¯ll have the driver get the car ready ¡°No need, Ill take the bus Any car from Elgin¡¯s fleet is worth a cool million, at least. She can¡¯t afford to roll in those kinds of wheels. Plus¡­ Letitia had a major issue to deal with Last night, Elgin didn¡¯t take any precautions. Neither in the car nor back in the master bedroom did he bother with birth control! He wants a baby with her, urging her to get ready for pregnancy, naturally he wouldn¡¯t take any steps to prevent it, the sooner she gets pregnant, the better for him. But! Letitia didn¡¯t want a kid with him! So, she needs to get some pills. It¡¯s still within 24 hours, the pill should still work! This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. After getting off the bus, Letitia didn¡¯t head to the Ramirez Group but made a beeline for a nearby phamacy instead. To avoid bumping into colleagues, she wore a mask and kept her head down, grabbing the medicine and heading straight to pay. The cashier nced at her but said nothing. Everything went smoothly with purchasing the medicine. Letra shoved the pills in her pocket and scurried off. She nned to find a secludeder to take the pills quickly. Just when she was about to take it, she remembered she forgot to buy water, Too serious she forgot you need water to swallow pills. I¡¯m so stupid Letitia smacked her head and hurned off to buy water. But just two stepster, she saw Sh stepping out of a car by the roadside Talk about a small world! Letitia immediately tumed to leave, but it was toote. ¡°Letitia!¡± Sh, with her eagle eyes, spotted her, ¡°What are you hiding for? You¡¯re riding high now!¡± Letitia pretended not to hear her and kept walking. Sh wasn¡¯t about to let her off the hook, ¡°Hey! Stop right there!¡± Sh was furing ¨C Elgin was cutting ties with her, and Letitia was the new favorite, leaving her in the dust! ¡°This is fishy, Sh blocked her path, ¡°Letitia, why run when you see me?¡± Letitia gave her a once-over. ¡°Because you¡¯re an eyesore.¡± ¡°Heh, are you doing something shady? Is that why you¡¯re avoiding me?¡± Letitia was startled but kept her cool. ¡°Spit it out if you¡¯ve got something to say, I¡¯ve got stuff to do, not as free as you.¡± Sh flicked her hair, unting the ring on her ring finger, Yeah, I¡¯m free, because I¡¯m loaded. Did you know Mr. Ramirez gave me ten million dors, plus a big house I could do nothing for the rest of my life and still have money to burn.¡± ¡°Oh ¡°What¡¯s with the attitude!¡± ¡°That¡¯s my attitude,¡± Letitia shrugged, ¡°Enjoy your shiny ring, never take it off, after all, it¡¯s so shy, so prestigious, you should take it to the grave!¡± Once getting the new wireless headsets, she¡¯ll be able to hear the secrets she¡¯s been dying to know! Sh held her chin high, And you, what do you have? Besides being Mrs. Ramirez, you¡¯ve got nothing!¡± ¡°That¡¯s one title you can¡¯t get your hands on!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get too cocky! Sh snapped, ¡°I came to see Mr. Ramirez today, just an apology and he¡¯ll forgive me!¡± Letitia, Oh She just wanted to leave quickly and take the pill. The longer the pill stayed on her, the more chance there was of being discovered! If Elgin found out she was secretly taking birth control, he would blow his top! Annoyed, Letitia waved her hand dismissively. ¡°Don¡¯t stand in my way.¡± Sh sneered, ¡°Your time being smug won¡¯tst long!¡± She believed that Mr. Ramirez giving her money, property, and cars meant he still had feelings for her, he was just temporarily bewitched by Letitia, the vixen Otherwise, Mr. Ramirez would have taken back the wedding ring long ago. Letitia pushed past Sh, and just as she was about to leave, a little boy on a bike came her way. The boy must have just learned to ride; he was wobbly and unsteady Seeing Letitia approach, he panicked and mmed on the brakes. The bike screeched and toppled to one side As it fell, the handlebar snagged Letitia¡¯s bag, yanking it away. The bike went down, and the contents of the bag scattered everywhere The little boy hit the ground and burst into tears. Everything went down so fast. Letitia didn¡¯t even have a second to catch her breath She wanted to help the little boy up and maybe throw in a few soothing words, but the pills were in her bag! Crap! Screw everything else, she dropped to the ground in a hot mess, scrambling to pick up her stuff, and quickly reached for the medicine borto shove it back into her bag. Chapter 151 Chapter 151 But Sh stomped on the pillbox, ¡°Wait up, Letitia, what¡¯s this pill for?¡± ¡°Get your foot off!* Sh was pressing down hard, ¡°You seem pretty freaked out¡­ Let me see.¡± Letitia sprang into action, lifting her foot with one hand, and digging for the pillbox with the other. But it was toote. ¡°This pill¡­ isn¡¯t it for emergency contraception? Sh said, ¡°Letitia, why are you taking this?¡± The moment she spoke, Sh got it, ¡°You, you were with Mr. Ramirezst night¡­¡± While Sh was still stunned, Letitia snatched the pillbox and stuffed it into her bag, not looking back as she made her exit. She hadn¡¯t gone far when Sh caught up, grabbing her hand, ¡°Hold up, Letitia, you can¡¯t just walk away,¡± ¡°What do you want?¡± We¡¯re going to see Mr. Ramirez! Sh announced, ¡°You sneaking around, popping pills behind his back!¡± Letitia denied it, ¡°I have no clue what you¡¯re babbling about.¡± ¡°Cut the crap, Shughed, ¡°If Mr. Ramirez didn¡¯t want you to have kids, he¡¯d take precautions or give you the pill himself right after and watch you swallow it. No way he¡¯d let you buy and take the pill yourself!¡± Now Sh¡¯s brain was firing on all cylinders! Her chance to turn the tables hade! She clung to Letitia, ¡°Come on, we¡¯re off to see Mr. Ramirez!¡± In the president¡¯s office at the Ramirez Group. Ranen Mitchell said, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, Ms. Ward insisted on barging in, I¡­ I couldn¡¯t stop her.¡±. ¡°Leave us¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Ranen bolted, making sure to shut the door tight behind him. Letitia was slightly pale, staying silent. She was caught by Sh, and she had nowhere to hide. Elgin Ramirez leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the desk. Thest thing he wanted was Letitia and Sh showing up together. Yet here they were, both of them, where they shouldn¡¯t be today. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, I¡¯ve found out Letitia¡¯s little secret!¡± Sh said smugly, ¡°Just outside thepany, I saw her hiding a box of pills in her bag!¡± ¡°Pills?* ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s still in her bag. She¡¯s clutching it tight, won¡¯t let me touch it!¡± Letitia retorted, ¡°Why should I hand over my stuff to you?¡± ¡°Heh, ¡¯cause you¡¯re acting all guilty!¡± Sh boasted, Mr. Ramirez, you should take a look at what¡¯s in that pillbox!¡± Letitia instinctively covered her bag. What you fear most has a way of happening. Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. If only she knew, she would¡¯ve dry swallowed that pill without a second thought! Letitia, Elgin asked, ¡°what¡¯s the pill, show me.¡± She didn¡¯t budge. After an awkward ten seconds, Elgin stood up, striding over to her. Letitia stepped back. His slender fingers reached into her bag, fishing around until he found it. Letsia¡¯s heart sank. Elgin¡¯s expression darkened as he read thebel on the pillbox. Ch kept stirring the pot. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, she must¡¯ve been taking this behind your back, right? She was panicked when I caught her red handed¡± *So i figured, you had to be in the dark. Letitia just had a miscarriage, and she¡¯s your wife, so she could only be with you¡­ She¡¯s clearly not keen on having your kids!¡± Tim dying to bear your children, to have that chance, but begging won¡¯t even get me there. And there¡¯s Letitia, actually going out of her way to take pills.* ¡°She¡¯d rather have someone else¡¯s kid than carry yours¡­ Mr. Ramirez, it¡¯s in to see who loves you and who doesn¡¯t!* Sh was on a roll, ¡°You keep telling me you love her. But look, she¡¯s trampling all over your love, she doesn¡¯t deserve it, Mr. Ramirez. Letitia is selfish and.¡± Before she could finish, Elgin roared, ¡°Shut up!¡± His voice echoed in the office, deafening Sh mmed up instantly, not even daring to breathe. Elgin, veins throbbing on his forehead, red at Letitia with a look that could kill. ¡°Letitia,¡± he held up the pillbox, ¡°Why do you want to take this? You dared to sneak around and pop pills behind my back? You¡¯ve got some nerve!¡± He¡¯d told her countless times he wanted a child. He wanted her to get pregnant, so he purposely didn¡¯t use protection, emphasizing it to her over and over again, and what does she do? Letitia goes behind his back and buys the pill! ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for Sh¡¯s timely discovery¡­ you would¡¯ve taken this pill already!¡± Just the thought made Elgin¡¯s heart wrench with pain. It was the first time he felt the full force of his love being stomped on. All his efforts in exchange for Letitia¡¯s cold indifference! ¡°Speak up! Elgin shouted. ¡°Letitia, why?¡± He was hoping, against hope, for a reasonable exnation from Letitia. Even if it was fake, a lie¡­ as long as it made some sense, he was ready to believe it. Because he could handle the lies, but the truth was too brutal. The truth was she didn¡¯t want to carry his child! That¡¯s not what Elgin wanted to hear! ¡°L¡± Letitia opened her mouth, ¡°I have nothing to say. It¡¯s exactly as you see.¡± The evidence was irrefutable, she couldn¡¯t exin it away. ¡°So you really don¡¯t want my child?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve made it clear before, more than once, I don¡¯t want to have your children,¡± Letitia replied, ¡°Last night, you forced me.* Those words crushed Elgin¡¯s love once again. His rage was burning through his sanity! ¡°Letitia!¡± Elgin raised his hand high, his broad palm shaking uncontrobly. Seeing this, Sh was over the moon. Go ahead, knock Letitia dead! Mr. Ramirez and Letitia slept together without protection, wanting a child, only for Letitia to secretly go buy the pill. Some people just don¡¯t know how to appreciate what they have. Sh thought to herself, looks like my ship¡¯s about toe in. She had figured that this time, she¡¯d let Letitia take the win, but who knew she would be so clueless and tick off Mr. Ramirez. Now¡¯s her chance to really seize the day! ¡°Mr. Ramirez, from the get-go, the one who¡¯s truly been head over heels for you¡­ that¡¯s me,¡± Sh said with a touch of self-pity, That night, it was me. The one who¡¯s been crazy about you, the one dying to have your babies, still me.¡± ¡®Get out!¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez.. I said scram!¡± Sh shrank back, her neck retracting like a scared turtle, and she reluctantly shuffled out of the office. But Letitia, she was no stranger to Elgin¡¯s hot-tempered antics, so she kept her cool. Ched seen Elgin even more steamed up than this. Tim going to take those pills, I don¡¯t want to have your kid,¡± Letitiaid it all out there, blunt as a hammer, ¡°Elgin, we¡¯ve got hatred, and you personally marched me into that OR to get rid of my baby¡­ how in the world could I ever want to make bables with you!¡± Chapter 152 Chapter 152 Letitia, you¡¯re just taking advantage of the fact that I love you, that I can¡¯t bear toy a finger on you!¡± She locked eyes with him. ¡°Elgin, you can Tay a finger on me. Go ahead and hit me! Come on, do it!¡± Elgin clenched his teeth and forcefully lowered his hand. He grabbed her chin and suddenly, he cracked a smile, a smile out of sheer frustration. ¡°Alright, Letitia. the less you want to have a kid, the more I¡¯m gonna make sure you do.¡± Elgin¡¯s voice was harsh as he pressed close to her lips, ¡°You can take your pills today, but what about tomorrow? And the day after? You think you can pop those pills every single day? ¡°You¡¯re gonna carry my child¡­ it¡¯s bound to happen one day!¡± ¡®Don¡¯t even think about escaping, what I want you to do, you¡¯ll do. No going against my wishes!¡± ¡°Starting tonight, like it¡¯s a daily chore, we¡¯ll be trying for at least once every night!¡± Letitia¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°You¡¯re humiliating me.¡± ¡°You could¡¯ve had afortable time trying for a baby, but you just had to tick me off with this stunt,¡± Elgin sneered, ¡°Well, you asked for it!¡± ¡°Elgin, are you trying to make me hate you even more?¡± He gritted his teeth, ¡°If you already hate me, might as well hate me more!¡± Letitia was on the verge of a breakdown. She really didn¡¯t want to get pregnant again, especially not with Elgin¡¯s child. ¡°Why are you so hell-bent on me having your baby¡­¡± she asked, ¡°Sh just said she¡¯s willing, go to her! You treat her so well, she¡¯s so dependent on you and listens to you, why keep forcing me?!¡± ¡°I want to force you!¡± Elgin withdrew his hand and stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, his silhouette exuding an icy arrogance. He tossed the pills into the trash, growing more irritable by the second, and then kicked the bin over with one swift move. ¡°Get out,¡± he said, ¡°Get out!¡± If Letitia stayed any longer, he really wouldn¡¯t be able to control his temper and might just strangle her! Elgin didn¡¯t want to hurt her, but she was just so infuriating! Letitia looked at the crushed box of pills. There was no more need to take them, because they were useless now. Those pills could only be taken twice a year at most, they were extremely harmful to the body¡­ Elgin was dead set on not taking precautions; it was futile whatever she did to prevent pregnancy. The moment Letitia stepped out of the CEO¡¯s office, she heard a crashing noise inside. Elgin was smashing things. ¡°Mr. Ramirez is¡­¡± Ranen sighed, ¡°That¡¯s it, today¡¯s gonna be another rough one.¡± Letitia apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s a personal issue between Elgin and me, I didn¡¯t mean to drag you all into this.¡± ¡°Ah, Mrs. Ramirez, actually, men are pretty easy to appease, especially Mr. Ramirez.¡± ¡°Appease? Me, go appease him?¡± ¡°Yeah, otherwise, the wholepany¡¯s gonna be walking on eggshells, trying not to get chewed out by Mr. Ramirez.¡± Letitia forced a smile, ¡°He¡¯s the one who did wrong, why should I be the one to grovel and make nice?¡± Ranen coughed softly and whispered, ¡®Mrs. Ramirez, how about I buy a little gift for Mr. Ramirez in your name? You don¡¯t have to do anything, just let it slide.¡± Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. Letitia was about to refuse, but seeing Ranen¡¯s pleading look, she softened. She could handle Elgin¡¯s fury, but these people were innocently caught in the crossfire. Alright, she nodded, agreeing, then took the elevator back to the Jewelry Department. Seeing Letitia¡¯s agreement, Ranen immediately set out to get it done. It was almost lunchdime, perfect timing, Ranen ordered a lunch and even wrote a card by hand. Pretending. It was ordered by Letitia. ¡°Mr. Ramirez Ranen said, holding the lunch box and knocking on the door, your lunch is here.¡± A cold voice came through, I don¡¯t need it.¡±- ¡°Uh¡­ it¡¯s from Mrs. Ramirez for you¡± Come in.¡± Ranen breathed a sigh of relief; mentioning Mrs Ramirez always did the trick. Elgin sat at his desk, his gaze fixed on the lunchbox, ¡°She bought it, for me?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Ranen was slick with his words, ¡°Mrs. Ramirez still cares about you. Maybe, you know, women tend to say one thing but mean another. She might not mean what she said, Mr. Ramirez, and don¡¯t take it to heart.¡± Elgin huffed. He seemed reluctant on the surface, but his body honestly reached for the lunchbox. ¡°Not bad,¡± hemented, then saw the card and casually nced at it. Though Elgin¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change much, his features visibly rxed. Ranen secretly exhaled in relief This meal was just like the ones ordered before, never receiving a singlepliment from Mr. Ramirez. But today, being told it was from Madam, suddenly the taste seemed to improve in Mr. Ramirez¡¯s eyes. Love is indeed blind Back at the Jewelry Department, Letitia sat at her desk, lost in thought. She didn¡¯t dare to contemte what her life would be like carrying Elgin¡¯s child. That would tie her to Elgin forever. She just wanted to uncover the truth, clear her father¡¯s name, and then cut ties with the Ramirez family, never to cross paths again. Looking at it now, it seemed like a pipe dream. Her phone pinged with a message, ¡°Letitia, I get the wireless headsets! Hurry up!¡± Seeing the message from Vidonia, Letitia sprang up and quickly walked into the director¡¯s office. ¡°Brand new, just opened,¡± Vidonia called out, ¡°Quick,e try them on.¡± Looking at the wireless headsets, Letitia was thrilled, ¡°So soon?¡± Ive been on their case, had them expedited for me. Put them on and try it¡­ What day did Sh go to see Malinda Sanders again?¡± Letitia put on the wireless headsets, clearly remembering the date. She was entangled with emotions she couldn¡¯t quite put her finger on. She was about to find out what Sh had really said to her mother, but Letitia was somewhat afraid to face it. ¡°Hey? You two are in here, huh, Samson suddenly knocked and walked in, ¡°What¡¯s with the secret meeting? What are you up to?¡± Letitia was startled, ¡°Mr. Stewart.¡± She couldn¡¯t let Samson find it out! ¡°Whoa, what brings you here?¡± Vidonia beamed as she saw him, quicklying over to greet him. ¡°Mr. Stewart, you could¡¯ve just given me a shout, no need to make the trip yourself.¡± Samson looked like he¡¯d seen a ghost, ¡°Vidonia, did you take the wrong pills or something?¡± Usually, Vidonia wasn¡¯t this eager to please him, with no clear boss-employee boundaries, and certainly wouldn¡¯t be calling him ¡°Mr. Stewart.¡± ¡°No way, I¡¯m totally normal. Mr. Stewart, let¡¯s head to your office, yeah? You outrank me, so it doesn¡¯t seem right for you to alwayse to my office¡¯ Saying that, Vidoma nudged Samson, trying to get him to leave and stop bothening Letitia. Samson was a bit baffled, ¡°What¡¯s going on with you two¡­. ¡®Come on, let¡¯s beat it.¡± Vidonia dragged Samson away, even remembered to close the door behind them, and before leaving, she threw Letitia a couple of winks etits breathed a sigh of relief. Now she could listen to that recording in peace and quiet But, as she was picking the time end date, live audio started streaming through her wireless headsets. Letitia¡¯s heart skipped a beat Chapter 153 Chapter 153 There was a cacophony of noise mixed with car horns honking before Mark¡¯s voice came through, ¡°Sh, you seem to be in high spirits. What¡¯s the asion?¡± ¡°Big news. Letitia¡¯s dug her own grave!¡± Letitia froze her hands and decided to eavesdrop on what Sh and Mark were chatting about before digging into the recording from that day. She listened intently. Mark asked, ¡°Oh, yeah? Spill the beans!¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez has fallen head over heels for her. After he knocked her up and she got an abortion, he wanted to try for another baby. But guess what? Letitia went out and got herself some contraceptives, refusing to get pregnant again! I caught her red-handed!¡± ¡°No way! For real?¡± Sh was brimming with smugness and reassured, ¡°No kidding! I was nning to go grovel to Mr. Ramirez today to sweet-talk him. But instead, I stumbled upon this jackpot!¡± Mark chuckled, ¡°She¡¯s as thick as a brick, slipping all that glitz and mour through her fingers!¡± ¡°You said it,¡± Sh replied, ¡°I¡¯ve been trying every trick in the book to get knocked up, but Mr. Ramirez won¡¯ty a finger on me. And her? She gets pregnant one after the other. ¡°Did you see Mr. Ramirez then?¡± ¡°I did, but his attentions are all set on Letitia. He was pretty steamed, so I bailed. But,¡± Sh huffed, ¡°Letitia¡¯s not gonna have thestugh!¡± Letitia listened with a poker face. Mark took a sip of water and said, ¡°Sh, no matter what, it¡¯s a win-win for you. Staying close to Mr. Ramirez is still the goal. Now that Letitia has screwed up, it¡¯s your chance to show loyalty and your willingness to have his baby. ¡°Yep! I¡¯ll keep chasing after Mr. Ramirez!¡± ¡°Even if it doesn¡¯t pan out, Mr. Ramirez promised you a house, a car, and ten million. We¡¯ll be set for life.¡± Sh retorted, ¡°Dad, the money goes faster than you think¡­¡± ¡°Silly girl, if you run out, just ask Mr. Ramirez for more! Given what happened that night, you think he¡¯d say no?¡± Sh giggled, ¡°Dad, you¡¯re the smart one. Yeah, I really left an impression on Mr. Ramirez that night. The clinking of teacups followed as more tea was brewed. After a quiet moment, Mark spoke up, ¡°Speaking of that night, it was quite a luck for Letitia.¡± Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. Thatment made Letitia freeze. How did she luck out that night? Letitia had a hunch that Mark was about to spill the beans about that night! The truth she¡¯d been dying to know might soon be revealed! Her heart raced, and she pressed the earpiece closer, afraid to miss a single word. Sh responded, ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought she¡¯d stumble upon such dumb luck?¡± True, it¡¯s all about luck and fate.¡± ¡°She should¡¯ve just let that geezer bed her and gross her out for life, Sh cursed viciously, ¡°That way, she¡¯d be carrying his spawn, and we¡¯d see if she still wants the baby¡± Mark replied, ¡°The baby¡¯s gone now. Whose it was doesn¡¯t matter anymore.¡± ¡°Right, Letitia will never guess that the baby in her belly was Elgin¡¯s!¡± As they said this, they burst intoughter. Theirughter echoed in Letitia¡¯s ears. Her mind buzzed and everything went nk. What were they saying? The baby she aborted was Elgin¡¯s? How could that be? What in the world happened? Mark¡¯s voice rang out again, ¡°Not just Letitia, Mr. Ramirez himself wouldn¡¯t have guessed. He thought he got rid of a bastard, but it was his flesh and blood.¡± + 28 7 9 ¡°Yeah, Mr. Ramirez had mistaken me for Letitia on that passionate night.¡± ¡°Good thing you reced Letitia that night. Our lives have been so cushy since.¡± Sh cooed, ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to your cunning ns. Without your strategies, we wouldn¡¯t be here today.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not dwell on it. This must stay between us and not reach a third ear,¡± Mark advised, ¡°Sh, hurry Mr. Ramirez along. When¡¯s that billion hitting your ount? I won¡¯t rest easy until the money¡¯s in.¡± ¡°Sure, Dad, I¡¯ll ask him soon. And there are those properties¡­¡± But Letitia no longer cared to listen. Her mind was fixated on the revtion that ¡°the baby was Elgin¡¯s,¡± which kept reverberating in her ears. At this moment, Letitia was at a loss for thoughts, with her gaze nkly staring ahead, eyes unfocused. The baby¡­ Why would it be Elgin¡¯s? She couldn¡¯t believe it. But Mark and Sh had confessed it themselves, so it couldn¡¯t be wrong. Even if she was reluctant to think about it, the truth was now staring her in the face. Letitia closed her eyes, feeling utterly defeated. So¡­ That night, she escaped from the geezer¡¯s clutches and inadvertently stumbled into Elgin¡¯s suite. The man who had a fling with her was Elgin. Naturally, the baby was Elgin¡¯s because she had not been with any other man. Letitia would never forget those four words Elgin whispered in her ear, ¡°I will marry you.¡± Elgin kept his word and searched for her after that night. But Letitia was in the dark, while Mark knew. He lured her from the mental hospital to the hotel, offering her to the geezer¡­ Afterward, when Elgin¡¯s people were searching for her, Mark set Sh up to take her ce. All the truths became crystal clear in her mind. Letitia knew this must have been how the events transpired. This also exined why Elgin was so adamant about marrying Sh and why he said Sh had done him a favor. ¡°What a farce¡­¡± Letitia murmured, with her nails scratching the desk unconsciously, ¡°It was all just a big dream.¡± The dream was over, and it all came to nothing. Her heart was gripped so tightly that she could barely breathe, only managing to press her hand against her chest to ease the pain. Letitia took a deep breath, nearly biting her lip to bleeding. She was doing her best to keep her cool, pulling up the conversation that Sh had with her mom in the hospital room that day. After a lot of noise, she heard ¡®her mother¡¯s voice. ¡°You¡¯re talking out of your hat, I won¡¯t buy it! I only trust my daughter!¡± Sh replied, ¡°I swear, if I¡¯m lying, I¡¯ll drop dead. Every single word I¡¯m saying is the real deal. I just feel sorry for you being kept in the dark, so I thought I¡¯d spill the beans.¡± ¡°What are you here to tell me this time?¡± ¡°Letitia¡¯s knocked up, did you know?¡± ¡°Last time you said, she, she married Elgin, so the baby is¡­¡± ¡°Letitia¡¯s bun in the oven is Elgin¡¯s, that¡¯s right!¡± These words, each one was like a knife, stabbing right into Letitia¡¯s heart. Chapter 154 Chapter 154 The stuff she said next¡­ Letitia could¡¯ve called it. Sh was definitely gonna spill the beans to Mom about the miscarriage, how it happened, and how miserable Letitia¡¯s been. She would then go all out to embellish the story and kept poking the bear. It turned out that Sh went and told Mom the hard truth. Mom couldn¡¯t handle such a brutal reality, that¡¯s why she passed out and ended up in emergency care. This kind of truth? Forget Mom, even Letitia couldn¡¯t handle it. She took off her headphones and packed them away carefully. Outside the window, it was all sunshine and rainbows, but Letitia¡¯s heart was freezing cold. She stepped out of the Ramirez Group, the warm sun on her skin, but it couldn¡¯t thaw her heart. Letitia felt like a walking corpse. Who would¡¯ve thought that guy from that night would be Elgin? The baby she was carrying was a part of the Ramirez family bloodline. It was so outrageous and absurd, yet an undeniable fact! Letitia stopped dead in her tracks on the bustling street and was at totally lost. She seemed to have no clue what her life was even about anymore. She hailed a cab. ¡°Where to, miss?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Right, where was she supposed to go? No home left, Dad¡¯s in jail, Mom¡¯s in ICU. She was just a lost soul. ¡°To the sanatorium,¡± she finally decided to visit her mother onest time. By her mother¡¯s side, that¡¯s where she felt a tiny bit of safety. Meanwhile, Vidonia headed back to the office. Muttering to herself as she walked in, ¡®That Samson is such a piece of work, always popping up at the worst times. Be nice to him, and he thinks I¡¯m weird. Get tough, and he says that¡¯s the real me¡­¡± She looked up and noticed Letitia wasn¡¯t there. ¡°Where is she?¡± She looked all around, ¡°Why did she leave? Where could she have gone?¡± ¡°Letitia?¡± Vidonia dashed to the employee area, only to find Letitia¡¯s desk empty. Weird. She just vanished after listening to the recording? Did she uncover some secret? At the Sanatorium. At Letitia¡¯s pleading, the doctor agreed to let her into the ICU, but only for ten minutes. For her, ten minutes were enough. She knelt beside the bed, her cheek against her mother¡¯s hand, ¡°Mom¡­¡± Tears started falling the moment she spoke. By her mother¡¯s side, she could pour her heart out and release all her pent-up emotions. Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. ¡®Why did it have to be Elgin¡¯s baby¡­ Why?¡± ¡°He wants me to get pregnant again, but what he doesn¡¯t know is that he already killed our baby with his own hands.¡± ¡°Mom, what do I do now? How can I face Elgin? How shattered will he be when he knows the truth?¡± ¡°If I had known earlier that the baby was Elgin¡¯s¡­ Maybe you and Dad wouldn¡¯t have suffered so much. For the baby¡¯s sake, the feud between the Ramirez and Sanders families could¡¯ve been put on hold.¡± ¡°I¡¯m such a failure, a disgraceful daughter. I still haven¡¯t uncovered the truth about Marcel Ramirez¡¯s death and even dragged Walden into this mess.¡± Ten minutes flew by. Letitia¡¯s tears had yet to dry, hanging on her cheeks as she reluctantly left her mother¡¯s bedside. ¡°Your mother¡¯s condition is currently stable,¡± the attending physician said. ¡°If all goes well, she can be moved to a regr ward next week.¡± ¡°And if things go south?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m being pessimistic,¡± Letitia replied. ¡°If everything goes smoothly, to what extent can my mother recover?¡± After a moment of thought, the doctor said, ¡°She¡¯s of advanced age, and¡­ the dy in getting the right medication has lessened the potential effect. But with proper care, there¡¯s still hope.¡± Letitia nodded. Her phone was buzzing nonstop in her pocket, but she didn¡¯t bother to check it. Right now, she didn¡¯t want to face anyone. Letitia walked out of the sanatorium, about to hail a cab, when a familiar Mercedes pulled up. She kept a sharp eye out, watching from the sidelines. The car stopped, the door opened, and out stepped were¡­ Hawley and Phedra! Letitia was taken aback. What were they doing here? ¡°Hawley, this is the ce,¡± Phedra said. ¡°Elgin moved Letitia¡¯s mother here, and the treatment costs a fortune. He really spared no expense.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go in and have a look.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Phedra agreed, helping Hawley inside. ¡°Wait!¡± Letitia panicked, stepping out from behind the tree, ¡°If you¡¯ve got business, talk to me!¡± At the sight of her, Hawley frowned in displeasure, ¡°You¡¯re here too, good, saves me the trouble.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m here. Don¡¯t bother my mother, she¡¯s still unconscious and can¡¯t take any more stress!¡± Her face was tense, anxious. Her mother couldn¡¯t afford another setback. Hawley looked at her with a mix of disgust and impatience, ¡°Seeing you reminds me of that poor child¡­ Letitia you¡¯re so useless! Such a precious child, and you couldn¡¯t even keep it!¡± When Hawley had scolded her like this before, Letitia hadn¡¯t cared. $51 But now, knowing the baby was of the Ramirez bloodline, it hurt to hear those words. A mix of emotions overwhelmed Letitia. And Hawley had been right all along¡­ that child was indeed of the Ramirez family. At the thought of this. Letitia turned to Phedra. ¡°Why are you staring at me?¡± Phedra squirmed under her gaze, ¡°I didn¡¯ty a finger on your kid! I even took you to the hospital for a thorough and costly check-up!¡± Letitia said, ¡°You also did a paternity test, right?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Phedra admitted, ¡°You tried to steal the test tube, didn¡¯t you? But the one you took was a decoy. I¡¯ve been keeping real stuff needed for the test with me all along!¡± ¡°So¡­ you knew the baby was Elgin¡¯s.¡± ¡°Of course I know,¡± Phedra said with a puzzled look, ¡°Didn¡¯t you realize the kid is Elgin¡¯s? After all, you¡¯re not bold enough to have an affair with others!¡± Letitia cracked a smile. As she smiled, tears began to well up in her eyes. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me sooner? Why?¡± Phedra was even more baffled. ¡°Isn¡¯t itmon knowledge? You married Elgin and got pregnant with his kid with the aligned timing¡­ What¡¯s there to tell you?¡± Hawley asked, ¡°What? Phedra, have you been keeping secrets from us and running a paternity test or something?¡± ¡°Yeah, Hawley,¡± Phedra replied with an awkward chuckle, ¡°I¡­ I just wanted to y it safe, you know. If the kid turned out not to be of the Ramirez family, Letitia pulled the wool over all our eyes!¡± Hawley¡¯s face turned stern and med, ¡°Nonsense.¡± Chapter 155 Chapter 155 ¡°Hawley, it¡¯s because Letitia¡¯s got a special status, you know. But the DNA tests showed the kid was Elgin¡¯s. Too bad¡­ Ah, it¡¯s all gone now, no use crying over spilt milk.¡± Only then did Letitia realize why Phedra had cooled her jets and stopped bouncing off the walls after getting the results. She had always thought that it was Vidonia who swiped the test tubes, screwing up the paternity test. It turned out the test confirmed the kid was Elgin¡¯s, which shut Phedra up for good! ¡°Alright, go check up on Malinda,¡± Hawley instructed, ¡°I need a word with Letitia.¡± Phedra nodded reluctantly and took off. Clearly, Mr. Ramirez wanted to sideline her to dish some tea she wasn¡¯t meant to hear. Once Phedra was out of earshot, Hawley spoke up, ¡°Letitia, I didn¡¯te here today to mess with your mom. On the contrary, I¡¯m here to help you and her.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not following you, Mr. Ramirez.¡± ¡°Let me cut to the chase,¡± Hawley said, eyeing her. ¡°Elgin has his head over heels for you and insists on being with you regardless of anything. So¡­ I need you to leave him.¡± ¡°I told you, I¡¯m down for the divorce with nothing, but Elgin won¡¯t let me go,¡± ¡°I know, and that¡¯s why I¡¯m offering to help, but you¡¯ve got to y ball with me.¡± Letitia stared unblinkingly at Hawley, ¡°How can you help?¡± ¡°Dr. Sanders killed my son, and he¡¯s an enemy of the Ramirez family, I won¡¯t let that slide. But you and your mom are just caught in the crossfire,¡± Hawley began. ¡°I¡¯ll figure out a way to get you and your mom out of AquaCity for good, never to return, especially not popping up in front of Elgin!¡± It was crunch time that Hawley was ready to make his move. The rise and fall of the Ramirez family along with the interests of the Ramirez Group were now all in Elgin¡¯s hands. Elgin couldn¡¯t be shackled down by love, nor could he afford to show weakness over a woman! And this woman, she¡¯s the daughter of an enemy! ¡°For real?¡± Letitia was skeptical. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, you¡¯re going to let me and my mom walk?¡± ¡°Of course. I came here today to get the scoop on your mom and to n out the details. You know how Elgin is¡­ shrewd, not easy to fool!¡± Even Hawley had to walk on eggshells around Elgin, careful not to make a move. Letitia figured if she tried to bolt on her own, it would be a tall order. *Letitia, are you in? Or are you too attached to the glitz and m Elgin¡¯s given you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m in,¡± Letitia replied. ¡°But I hope you won¡¯t be too hard on my dad in prison.¡± *Deal¡± Hawley agreed and headed off toward the sanatorium with his cane. Letitia stood there, watching his retreating figure. ¡°Remember, we can¡¯t rush this but need a solid n,¡± Hawley¡¯s voice floated back. Justy low for now, wait for my signal, and don¡¯t do anything rash!¡± Letitia had thought about fleeing, but she knew it wouldn¡¯t be easy. Now, with Hawley¡¯s help, her chances of sess had just shot through the roof! She was looking forward to¡­ the day she could leave Elgin behind. It was always a cursed rtionship between Elgin and herself! At the Ivory Towers in the evening. With a sharp snap, Elgin flung a ss across the room and shouted, ¡°Useless, can¡¯t even find one person! Where could Letitia possibly run off on her own!¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez, we¡­ we¡¯re searching the whole city.¡± ¡°Keep looking, check the cameras, and don¡¯t miss a single intersection!¡± Elgin bellowed. ¡°If you can¡¯t find her, you can take your punishment!¡± ¡°Yes, yes¡­ Letitia had vanished. Thepany said she walked out of Vidonia¡¯s office and left withouting back. She didn¡¯t return to Ivory Towers either. Her phone was still reachable, but it just kept ringing unanswered. This made Elgin anxious. With Preston Sanders and Malinda in y, he knew Letitia wouldn¡¯t dare run. He feared the worst¡­ that something dangerous had happened to her. But then again, who in all of AquaCity would dare touch his woman! Elgin paced back and forth, hands behind his back, with a storm brewing on his face. Time ticked away. He grabbed his phone again, dialing Letitia¡¯s number. Suddenly, the ringtone echoed from the doorway. He looked up to see Letitia walking in. ¡°Where have you been!¡± Elgin red at her. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you answer your phone!¡± Letitia just quietly looked into his eyes. Something about her¡­ was off. ¡°Letitia, talk to me,¡± Elgin moved closer. ¡°What happened to you?¡± Her face was expressionless, her eyes, a void of despair. Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. Elgin raced his heart with his lips tight, ¡°If you won¡¯t talk, I¡¯ll find out myself!¡± He reached for her phone, and she didn¡¯t resist. Missed calls and unread messages¡­ Letitia hadn¡¯t checked her phone at all! ¡°Madam,¡± the butler interjected, ¡°Mr. Ramirez thought something had happened to you, he¡¯s had people looking everywhere and has been worried sick.¡± ¡°Get out!¡± Elgin, in a foul mood, chased everyone out of the living room. Only the two of them were left. Letitia blinked slowly, finally speaking. ¡°Elgin, you can investigate, you have the connections and the means¡­ So, why are you kept in the dark for the most important thing, unable to find even a trace?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Elgin asked in confusion. Letitia tried to continue, but her throat closed up, unable to make a sound. She just quietly gazed at Elgin. That night, in the darkness, it was him and her. The face that had been a blur then was now crystal clear before her eyes. Letitia remembered the man¡¯s scent seemed familiar with Elgin¡¯s. But it had been so long since she¡¯d seen him that she wasn¡¯t sure and thought she was overthinking it. But now¡­ the man that night really was him! The guy she¡¯s been waiting for sweeping her off her feet was Elgin, the father of her child! ¡°Letitia, what¡¯s got you crying?¡± Elgin asked, ¡°Who¡¯s been messing with you?¡± She was startled for a second, then lifted her hand to her face, only then realizing that she was already crying a river. ¡°No one¡­ No one¡¯s been messing with me,¡± Letitia answered, ¡°I just can¡¯t keep my emotions in check.¡± She despised Elgin. She loathed him to the bone. It was Elgin who put her through the wringer more than anyone else. Who would¡¯ve thought? The guy from that night was Elgin, the guy supposed to marry her and the father of her child. How could such a contradictory dude waltz into her life? Elgin furrowed his brows deeply. He had no clue what was up with Letitia and why she was acting all weird, butforting people wasn¡¯t exactly his forte. So, Elgin just grabbed a bunch of tissues in a huff and started cleaning her tears. His fingertips grazed her cheeks, while Letitia turned her head to dodge them. Chapter 156 Chapter 156 ¡°What¡¯s up with you?¡± Elgin asked, ¡°Spit it out, will you? Sniffling and whining¡­ is not a good look!¡± Letitia sniffled, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you, just¡­ not sure where to start.¡± This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°Spill whateveres to mind!¡± Mopping up her tears haphazardly, Letitia blurted out, ¡°Elgin, what exactly happened between you and Sh?¡± ¡°Why are you bringing this up all of a sudden?¡± ¡°Just answer me.¡± Letitia locked eyes with him, ¡°It¡¯s important.¡± Elgin, however, looked away, ¡°I¡¯ll handle problems between me and Sh. It¡¯s none of your business.¡± With that, he was about to turn to leave. But Letitia grabbed the hem of his shirt, holding on tight, ¡°Il already know everything. The night before you picked me up from the AquaCity Psychiatric Institute, you and Sh hooked up at the hotel, didn¡¯t you?¡± Elgin sharpened his gaze instantly, ¡°How did you find out?¡± Letitia continued, ¡°That night, you were drugged, alone in your room. Then, out of the blue, Sh barges in seeking refuge and you two slept together by ident. It was pitch ck in the room and you couldn¡¯t see her face and didn¡¯t know who the other was. Plus, when you woke up the next day, she was gone. You started searching high and low for Sh. Until one of your guys reports back that they found Sh. That night, Mark had pawned her off to a geezer. She¡¯d rather die than submit, so she bolted and by some fluke ended up in your room. Then you found Sh and promised to marry her. Because she saved you with her body¡­¡± At this point, Letitia bit her lower lip, ¡°Elgin, am I right?¡± He countered, ¡°How do you know all this? Did Sh tell you?¡± ¡°Pffft¡­ how would she ever share that with me?¡± ¡°Then how do you know?¡± Elgin narrowed his eyes slightly, ¡°Letitia, where are you getting your information? This is top secret.¡± Only he and Sh were privy to this! With tears welling up in her eyes, Letitia said, ¡°Elgin, that night, you even swore you¡¯d take responsibility and marry her¡­¡± A wave of unease swept over Elgin. These details, only Sh herself could know so intimately! He gripped Letitia¡¯s shoulders fiercely, ¡°You, you¡­¡± A dreadful thought shed across his mind. But¡­ Elgin didn¡¯t dare to contemte further! Tears streaming unchecked down her face, Letitia covered her face as she confessed, ¡°Elgin, the woman that night wasn¡¯t Sh¡­ it was me¡­¡± Elgin was petrified. The living room was filled only with Letitia¡¯s faint sobs. ¡°Elgin, from start to finish, Sh never showed up at the hotel. Because the woman given to that geezer and stumbled into your room in a panic was me, the woman you promised to marry, was also me¡­¡± lured me out of the psych ward and knocked me out to deliver me to the hotel. The geezer had his eye on Mark couldn¡¯t bear to shame his daughter, so he picked me as a sacrifice to butter up the geezer.¡± Sh, Ege was in shock, staggering back, with his towering frame trembling. He couldn¡¯t digest this truth! ¡°It was you? No¡­ this can¡¯t be!¡± Elgin said, ¡°I said I¡¯d marry you, then why did you run away!?¡± ¡°Because it was nothing to be proud of! I didn¡¯t know it was you! I was the woman you left in the psych ward as punishment, if you¡¯d found out I lost my innocence, you would have hit the roof!¡± Elgin heaved his chest violently, tightly clenching his fists. The truth was too cruel! ¡°So, so¡­¡± Elgin¡¯s voice was hoarse with difficulty, ¡°The child in your belly¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s yours!¡± Letitia replied in despair, ¡°Elgin, that¡¯s your child, our child!¡± He felt like he¡¯d been punched hard, his back slowly bending, then he lost his bnce and fell to his knees with a thud, hands bracing hard on the ground. His child¡­Then, what had he done? ¡°I was only touched by you that night. The rest of the time, I was clean and pure!¡± Letitia said, ¡°I wanted that child so much and did everything to protect him, hoping to bring him into this world¡­ but Elgin, what did you do! How could you hurt me and him like that! I survived a plunge into theke, the child was fine. Sh framed me, and I tumbled down the stairs, but the child was also fine. We survived disaster after disaster, but who would have thought¡­ the child died by your hand in the end!¡± Letitia¡¯s scream was heart-wrenching, ¡°Elgin, you killed our child with your own hands!¡± All the emotions she had suppressed all day burst forth now! Letitia was heartbroken in agony, on the verge of mental copse, unable to bear such a brutal truth. Now, she had to get it out, she wanted Elgin to share in the pain! Letitia copsed to the floor, her tears already blurring her vision. She couldn¡¯t see Elgin clearly, only to see a hazy outline. Biting her teeth, she said, ¡°You¡¯re in pain now, aren¡¯t you? Full of regret, wishing you could kill yourself, right? Well, let me tell you, Elgin, my pain is no less than yours! You¡¯re the root of all this! You¡¯re the executioner! All that favoritism and indulgence you showered on Sh should have been mine! And the result? She enjoyed everything that should¡¯ve been mine! Elgin, how much longer and deeper will you hurt me?¡± Each of Letitia¡¯s usations was an invisible knife, stabbing deep into Elgin. What a torturing pain! Elgin couldn¡¯t ept this truth! The bastard he kept harping about, the child he was so set on getting rid of, the obstacle he thought stood between him and Letitia turned out to be¡­his flesh and blood! ¡°No, it can¡¯t be, I don¡¯t believe it¡­¡± Elgin clenched his teeth, veins throbbing on his temple, ¡°It¡¯s all lies, you¡¯re lying!¡± Letitia answered, ¡°Yes! I wish it were all lies! All of this, just my spection!¡± The two looked at each other, eyes filled with despair. Elgin punched the ground hard and slowly rose to his feet. He looked up, bobbing his Adam¡¯s apple, with a tear slowly trailing down his cheek, mingling with his sideburns. Men don¡¯t easily shed tears, just¡­ not until their hearts are truly broken! Elgin, in his life, had never shed a single tear, but now, for once, he did. He snapped his eyes open and barked, ¡°Butler!¡± ¡°Right here. Mr. Ramirez. The butler appeared at the door in a sh. ¡®Fetch Sh for mel And Mark, plus that old geezer)¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Elgin gritted his teeth and growled, ¡°And make it snappy!¡± ¡°Hah¡­¡± Letitia sneered with irony, ¡°You need a face-to-face showdown to swallow this bitter pill, huh?¡± Chapter 157 Chapter 157 Elgin didn¡¯t respond. ¡°Fine, I want to see Sh croaking loud and clear to bite the dust with my raw eyes! She snatched what was mine, and now she¡¯s gotta pay back double! And you,¡± Letitia looked at Elgin, ¡°you should feel a thousand, no, ten thousand times worse than me! If the kid was still around, there was still a chance¡­ a freaking chance¡­¡± But now, only hate and pain were left. Love and hate along with right and wrong all intertwined¡­ To be honest, the most innocent was the unborn kid. ¡°Why did it have to be like this¡­ to y me like that?¡± Elgin muttered to himself, ¡°From start to finish, I was just barking up the wrong tree.¡± Elgin turned his back, unable to face Letitia. The pain, rage, guilt in his heart¡­ he had to shoulder them alone. It was his doing and mess to clean up! Letitia¡¯s tears had dried up. When you were that heartbroken, you can¡¯t could not even cry. She stared numbly out the window. Before long, there was a mor of footsteps outside. ¡°What the hell¡­ Easy, let go!¡± Sh¡¯s cursing voice came in, ¡°Are you blind, treating me like this?!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get Mr. Ramirez to fire all of you!¡± The butler was the first to enter and said, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, we¡¯ve brought her.¡± Elgin silently gestured with his hand. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, your people are so rough,¡± Shined, ¡°they don¡¯t know their strength.¡± She always had no clue, but Mark as an old fox got a word in quick, ¡°Enough, now¡¯s not the time to squabble about this! Look at Mr. Ramirez¡­ something¡¯s off.¡± Sh looked up and nced at Elgin. At the sight of Letitia with her red-rimmed eyes, Sh thought they were still at it over the medication, feeling a bit smug. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, don¡¯t bother arguing with her.¡± Sh sidled up to Elgin, taking his arm, ¡°If she won¡¯t have your baby, I will. I promise I¡¯ll be more obedient and more understanding than her, I¡¯ll do anything you say¡­ Ah!¡± Before she could finish, Elgin shot up his hands and mped down on her throat! Sh looked at him in terror, ¡°Mr. Ramirez¡­¡± That night, in the hotel room, I said something to you,¡± Elgin red at her, ¡°do you remember?¡± ¡°1,1¡± Elgin roared, ¡°Do you remember?!¡± Sh¡¯s eyes darted about, ¡°I can¡¯t really recall, Mr. Ramirez. It was such a mess, I was scared.¡± ¡®That important, and you forgot?¡± ¡°Heh, Mr. Ramirez, you said a lot of things, not just one¡­ I remember some, forgot others.¡± Elgin flung her aside and grabbed the geezer in a swoop. m asking you, that night, who was the woman Mark sent to my room?* Elgin¡¯s voice was fierce as he pointed at Letitia, ¡°Her?¡± His hand shifted, pointing at Sh, ¡°Or her!?¡± The geezer hadn¡¯t expected this toe back up. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, you¡¯ve already punished me, I¡¯ve been minding my business and haven¡¯t done anything wrong¡­¡± he stammered, ¡°This has nothing to do with me, I really don¡¯t know anything¡­¡± ¡°Answer me, who was the woman that night?!¡± The stunned geezer tried to step up. XF < I At the sight of this, Mark felt something was wrong. He quickly nudged Sh and shouted, ¡°It¡¯s her! The woman you want is her! My daughter, Sh. I reluctantly gave her to you. Have you forgotten?¡± Sh also realized and nodded repeatedly, ¡°Yes! Could it be that you¡¯re getting too old to be good at faces?¡± Mark and Sh felt a strong sense of crisis. For no apparent reason, why would Mr. Ramirez suddenly start seeking the truth? They absolutely couldn¡¯t let Mr. Ramirez know that the woman from that night was Letitia¡­ Otherwise, everything they had done and possessed during this time would all vanish into thin air! The geezer hesitated. Elgin tightened his grip on his cor, ¡°Whose words are you going to heed? Do you understand?¡± His gaze was incredibly sharp, and the geezer, wary of his identity, nodded, ¡°Of course¡­ Mr. Ramirez, I listen to you and follow your orders.¡± ¡°Then answer me, is that woman Sh or Letitia?¡± Sh tried to speak up, but a look from Elgin was all it took for the bodyguard toe over and silence her. Letitia watched all this with a detached gaze. For her, it was all expected. She had met the geezer before and he definitely knew her. The fake could not be real. ¡°That night¡­ the woman Mark brought was, was her,¡± the geezer pointed at Letitia, ¡°I remember it clearly and can¡¯t be wrong. She even kicked me hard and nearly crippled me¡­¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Elgin let go. The geezer fell to the floor, then quickly knelt properly. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, I¡¯m telling the truth, not a single lie,¡± he said, ¡°As for Mark and his daughter, I don¡¯t know anything and I wasn¡¯t involved!¡± He was quick to distance himself, but Elgin wasn¡¯t about to let him off the hook! ¡°Kicked you? That was being lenient/ Elgin¡¯s eyes shed with a chilling intent, ¡°Did you touch her?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t get the chance to¡­ Elgin snorted coldly, ¡°But you looked at her with intentions. Those eyes of yours will be destroyed.¡± The geezer turned deathly pale, begging for mercy, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, please, Mr. Ramirez¡­¡± ¡°Take him away!¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Ramirez. The geezer¡¯s screams echoed through the halls of Ivory Towers. Mark and Sh went pale with fear. It was over, the very thing they dreaded most had happened! ¡°Mr. Ramirez, I, I¡­¡± Sh stammered, ¡°Don¡¯t listen to that geezer¡¯s nonsense¡­ It was me that night, it couldn¡¯t be wrong!¡± Elgin stared her down coldly, making her skin crawl. ¡°Dad,¡± Sh was terrified, ¡°what do we do¡­¡± Elgin kicked the coffee table over, and the crash of things breaking was deafening. His eyes seemed to devour someone, ¡°You¡¯re on death¡¯s door but still trying to squirm your way out?¡± Sh was suddenly at a loss for words, and Mark was gobsmacked. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. It was all over, totally toast. At that moment, Letitia slowly stood up and walked over to them. ¡°What¡¯s stolen must eventually be returned¡­¡± she said, ¡°Sh, you took my ce, basked in luxury and glory for months. I guess you could say it was worth it for you in this lifetime.¡± Sh no longer had her usual swagger. She looked like a mess, like a rooster that had lost a fight. Letitiaughed mockingly, ¡°I took on the dangers and lost my innocence for you. And you? Elgin treated you like the apple of his eye and would give everything you want¡­. all thanks to your dear dad, Mark.¡± Chapter 158 Chapter 158 Hearing this, Mark suddenly had a brainwave and blurted out, ¡°Yes, yes, you¡¯re absolutely right, it was all my idea! Mr. Ramirez, it was me who had Sh take over, don¡¯t me her, it¡¯s all on me!¡± Even now, Mark was deluding himself, thinking he could still save Sh. But it was no use. Elgin was as cold as ice, ¡°So keen to admit your mistakes? I¡¯ll grant you that.¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez¡­¡± ¡°Go back to the psych ward, but forget about your title as director.¡± Elgin curled his lips up cruelly, ¡°You¡¯ll be staying as a patient.¡± Mark bulged his eyes! After lording over the psych ward for so many years, he had crossed countless patients. If he were to be thrown in there, he¡¯d be skinned alive, drained of blood, and stripped of flesh to the bone, and not even the scraps would be left! Take him away.¡± Elginmanded, ¡°And break his arms and legs!¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Ramirez.¡± Mark screamed, trembling all over, his pants dripping wet. He¡­ he was so scared that he wet himself! The bodyguard dragged him out, and Mark rolled his eyes back, passing out cold. You reap what you sow. Watching her father¡¯s fate, Sh was already terrified, her mouth agape, unable to utter a word. She stared nkly at Letitia, ¡°How¡­ how did you find out about all this¡­¡± They had never told anyone! How could Mr. Ramirez and Letitia suddenly know? It was supposed to be a secret! Letitia replied, ¡°That¡¯s none of your business, Sh¡­ Evil will eventually destroy itself.¡± Her gaze lightly brushed over Sh¡¯s ring. Greed was Sh¡¯s biggest weakness. This wedding ring, designed to step on her dignity and wounds, was crafted for Sh by Elgin at great expense. In the end, the ring came in handy. Sh crawled to Elgin¡¯s feet, clutching at his trouser leg: ¡°Mr. Ramirez, no matter what, my feelings for you are real, I truly love you, Mr. Ramirez¡­¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Elgin kicked her away forcefully. Sh was sent flying and tried to crawl back, but the bodyguard held her down. Take her out,¡± Elgin ordered coldly, ¡°and bring the whip.¡± The bodyguard asked, ¡°How manyshes?¡± ¡°Stop when she stops screaming. Leave her some breath!¡± He wanted to punish them bit by bit! 158 6 No, Mr. Ramirez, no Sh cried out in panic, ¡°You can¡¯t do this to me!¡± *Can¡¯t I? Did you forget when you threw Letitia down the stairs?¡± Sh looked into Elgin¡¯s emotionless eyes and knew there was no turning back. She thought she had the upper hand, never expecting¡­ Letitia to turn the tables on her! Where did it all go wrong? Sh couldn¡¯t figure it out! F The bodyguards were already dragging her away as she struggled violently, ¡°No, let me go, Mr. Ramirez, you¡¯re so heartless¡­¡± In the struggle, the ring on her finger fell off. Letitia walked over, bent down, and picked it up. ¡°The diamond is so beautiful¡­¡± she mused, ¡°It glitters brilliantly, such a pretty thing, worth millions, the dream. of many women.¡± Sh would never guess she lost because of this ring. And she would never have the chance to know. Letitia turned and handed the ring to Elgin, ¡°This is yours.¡± He stood still, hands by his side. ¡°Give it to your future Mrs. Ramirez.¡± Letitia said, ¡°I still remember how much my mother¡¯s emerald bracelet was worth at the charity auction¡­¡± Suddenly, Elgin pulled her into his arms. His grip was strong, as if trying to fuse her into his body. ¡°Mrs. Ramirez¡­ it¡¯s you.¡± Elgin whispered in her ear, ¡°It¡¯s always been you, never anyone else!¡± The one he had been searching for was Letitia, not Sh! His deep affection, his love, had all been misced! ¡°Letitia, it¡¯s you I¡¯ve been looking for and want to marry¡­ I told you that night I would marry you, and I keep my word¡­ It¡¯s just that I found the wrong person, Sh took your ce.¡± Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. Elgin was frantic, his voice shaking as he spoke. He felt an urgency, as if he couldn¡¯t hold on to Letitia. He couldn¡¯t be without her! ¡°After you ran away, I searched the whole city for you¡­ Everything I gave to Sh was meant for you!¡± Resting her chin on his shoulder, Letitia gazed into the distance. ¡°Elgin,¡± she said, ¡°You were wrong from the start. ¡°Wrong can be corrected, can¡¯t it?¡± Elgin said, There¡¯s still a chance to make things right, isn¡¯t there?¡± He asked tentatively, holding his breath for her response. Letitia shook her head gently, ¡°It¡¯s beyond repair.¡± Letitia¡­ Elgin embraced her more tightly, ¡°Don¡¯t give up on me.¡± How he feared a future without her! He didn¡¯t want to have just found her, only to lose herpletely! How can I overlook the pain you caused me, so deep and so sharp?¡± Letitia asked, ¡°Can a broken mirror be mended? Even glued back together, it will still have cracks. ¡°Elgin, I can forgive what you¡¯ve done to me. But what about our child? That was a living being.¡± ¡°If only you had been kinder to me, we wouldn¡¯t havee to this point.¡± Letitia slowly looked up into his eyes, ¡°I want you to feel guilty and grieve. I want you to remember forever that you personally sent me into the operating room and took our child away!¡± ¡°Letitia¡­¡± If only the child were still here, how wonderful that would be. Sadly, there are no ifs in life. Letitia pressed her finger against his heart, ¡°You deserve to feel the pain too.¡± Her strength was minimal, yet Elgin swayed his body, nearly losing bnce. Letitia handed the ring back to him, ¡°Take it.¡± ¡°It was meant for you, Letitia. Not for Sh¡­¡± She shed a small smile, ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter anymore.¡± Elgin looked at her, ¡°I know you don¡¯t want anything Sh¡¯s worn, it¡¯s cool. I can make another one for you¡­¡± ¡°No need.¡± Letitia cut him off, ¡°It¡¯s pointless.¡± He raised his voice in response, ¡°It does matter!¡± Elgin was trying so hard, bending over backwards to fix their shattered rtionship. But Letitia never gave him even the slightest chance. The ring ttered to the floor, rolling to a stop under the couch. ¡°Letitia, have you ever¡­¡± Elgin bobbed his Adam¡¯s apple, ¡°Even the tiniest bit, loved me?¡± Hearing his question, her longshes quivered. Chapter 159 Chapter 159 ¡°Got a thing for me?¡± Elgin pressed, ¡°After that one night, in all these days we¡¯ve been together, did your heart ever boat for me?¡± She stayed silent. ¡°If you don¡¯t answer, I¡¯ll take it as a yes. Take it as¡­ you love me.¡± Letitia tugged at the corner of her mouth, squeezing out a smile uglier than tears, ¡°What¡¯s the point of love? You love me and I love you, but does that mean we can be together?¡± This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°I just wanna know your answer.¡± If she just said she loved him, then¡­ he¡¯d go through hell or high water for her! Elgin locked his eyes onto her fiercely, ¡°You¡¯ve fallen for me, Letitia. I don¡¯t buy that your heart¡¯s made of tough stone. You¡¯re trying so hard to protect the kid because you caught feelings for me that night, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°No!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Elgin insisted, ¡°You might¡¯ve never said it, but I can tell, you¡¯ve been waiting for the guy from that night to show up, to whisk you away, to give you hope! Well, I¡¯m that guy!¡± Letitia answered word for word, ¡°I love the man who was ultra tender to me that night. The man who whispered marriage vows in my ear. A man of his word and a gentleman! Not the Elgin standing before me now, frightening and selfish!¡± Those words were like a knife twisting in Elgin with an already battered heart. ¡°I hate you, Elgin, I¡¯ve said it more than once, how could you think I love you?¡± Letitia scoffed, ¡°What a joke! Who would fall for their nemesis who ruined their entire life?¡± These words hurt Letitia too. But she wanted to hurt him more, ten times more! Even though she hurt herself a little, she could make him suffer a lot! Letitia turned and walked away, her figure disappearing at the stairwell. She bit her lower lip until it bled to keep from bursting into tears. Why¡­ why did it have to be Elgin that night¡­ Fate was such a cruel trickster. The man she yearned for was Elgin; the man she loathed was also Elgin. How could there be such a contradictory person in her life? In the living room, Elgin stood alone under the chandelier, looking utterly isted. The one he should love was Letitia. He¡¯s been misced all along. But even if he didn¡¯t know she was the woman from that night, he had already fallen deeply in love with her. Guess that was fate. Now this love was deeper and stronger than ever! Elgin knew he¡¯d done a lot wrong, he owed Letitia¡­ but the one thing he got right was marrying her. Thank heavens he married her back then! if only it wasn¡¯t for that child¡­ in slowly raised his hands, storing at his palms. He had killed his child with his hands. Could there be a greater regret? Suddenly, Elgin bent over and spewed out a mouthful of blood, sttering red dots on the carpet. Fury overwhelmed his heart. He was in real pain¡­. The butler walked in at that moment and was shocked, ¡°Mr. Ramirez!¡± Elgin waved him off, wiping the blood from his mouth, acting like it was nothing. ¡°Should I call the family doctor? Or go to the hospital?¡± ¡°No need. Have someone clean this up,¡± Elgin said with a stern face. ¡°How¡¯s Sh?¡± ¡°Lying there, silent.¡± He turned to leave Ivory Towers. At the bottom of the stairs, Shy bloodied and motionless, but upon closer inspection, she was still breathing. Elgin walked up to her. The more he hated himself, the more he hated Sh! This woman ruined everything! ¡°Mr¡­. Mr. Ramirez¡­¡± Sh slowly lifted her head, ¡°Spare me¡­ I, I really know¡­ I was wrong¡­¡± ¡°Can¡¯t take it anymore?¡± ¡°I was wrong, I shouldn¡¯t have¡­ shouldn¡¯t have reced Letitia, lied to you, and kept you in the dark¡­¡± Elgin¡¯s eyes were cold as ice, ¡°Sh, this is just the beginning!¡± There was a whole lot of torture waiting for her! He wanted Sh to beg for death and not be granted it! ¡°I¡­ I was blinded,¡± Sh said weakly, ¡°I was temporarily blinded, so I reced Letitia, I was wrong¡­ Mr. Ramirez, please show mercy, I¡¯ll leave AquaCity and never bother you again!¡± ¡°Wishful thinking.¡± Elgin coldly replied, ¡°Since you¡¯re so desperate for a man, I can grant you that!¡± Sh was dumbfounded. This¡­ this was utter humiliation! ¡°You and your father, enjoy the game,¡± Elgin curled his lips into a bloodthirsty smile. ¡°Take her away! She¡¯s all yours!¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Ramirez.¡± The bodyguardplied. ¡°No, help me.¡± Sh¡¯s screams echoed through the night. Elgin stood still, a pool of blood at his feet. His silhouette was as proud and lonely as ever, cruel, and bloodthirsty. He¡¯d snapped Mark¡¯s tendons and thrown him into the psych ward to let patients take their revenge. He¡¯d beaten Sh bloody and handed her over to men for their pleasure. How ruthless his heart was! Up on the second-floor balcony, Letitia watched the scene unfold in quiet contemtion. She knew all too well the taste of Elgin¡¯s tricks, which was no walk in the park. The only reason she¡¯d made it this far unscathed was because, at first, Elgin wanted to y cat-and mouse to break her down bit by bit. Then she manied the guy. Elgin needed a puppet Mrs. Ramirez, which is probably the only reason he didn¡¯t totally wreck her. And now¡­ he said he loved her. Hah, love from the devil. How deep and true can that really be? Letitia figured, if Elgin could go all out on Sh today, wouldn¡¯t he give her the same cold shoulder tomorrow? Chapter 160 Chapter 160 Who Elgin always loved was himself. What a selfish man! If Letitia hadn¡¯t exposed the truth and kept Sh throwing her weight around, she might have been the one lying in a pool of blood, whipped within an inch of her life. She won, and Sh lost without a chance of turning the tables now. Victor¡¯s crown, loser¡¯s frown. But, looking at it from another angle¡­ Sh won, too. She managed to wreck Elgin and Letitia¡¯s rtionship, hid the truth about that night, lied through her teeth to everyone, and kept jabbing that Letitia was carrying a bastard child, pushing Elgin to get rid of the baby! Under the moonlight, Elgin suddenly turned around, looked up, and locked eyes with the balcony. Her eyes met with Elgin¡¯s. Letitia can¡¯t hear the words that barely escape his lips, but she read them. ¡°Letty.¡± Letty. He said it with such endearment. Who was his Letty¡­ He was her nemesis and her unforgivable foe for life!¡¯ Letitia didn¡¯t even look back as she walked into her room and shut the curtains. She didn¡¯t know how to face Elgin. Hated him? Yes, she hated him. Loved him?¡­Her heart skipped a beat once. But Letitia would never admit it, much less let Elgin in on it! Right now, she couldn¡¯t reconcile the tender man from that night with the Elgin she knew. How can he have two such extreme sides? To keep Elgin froming back to the room, Letitia locked the bedroom door from the inside. She couldn¡¯t stand to see him, and there¡¯s no way she could share a bed with him! Tossing and turning, Letitia found it hard to sleep but eventually drifted off with exhaustion. Her breathing steadied. Outside the door. ¡°Open it,¡± Elginmanded. The butler said in hesitation,, ¡°¡­It¡¯s locked from the inside, Mr. Ramirez.¡± ¡°Figure it out.¡± The butler has no choice but to fumble with a bunch of keys, trying one after another until¡­ Click. The door opened. Elgin slipped in, treading lightly. The moonlight streamed in through the window, casting a gentle glow on her face. He watched her quietly, yearning to touch her but fearing to wake her up, so he pulled back his hand. If Leble woke up, she¡¯d definitely kick him out, giving him the cold shoulder. But for now, she¡¯s sound asleep, and he could just sit by her side, watching her a little longer. ¡°That night, it really was you¡­I¡¯m d it was you.¡± Fate had them intertwined from the start, yet so twisted. The next day. When Letitia woke up, it was already broad daylight. She looked at herself in the mirror. Worn out, puffy, especially around the eyes. Her double eyelids have turned into single ones. She seemed to have no ounce of vitality left. After shedding so many tears and riding wave after wave of truth, how could she possibly look good? So, she put on a bit of makeup. After getting ready, Letitia stepped out of her room and walked straight into Elgin¡¯s arms. ¡°¡­ What are you doing standing outside my door so early?¡± Letitia looked up annoyed, rubbing her nose. ¡°I was about to wake you up,¡± Elgin said. ¡°Good timing, you just came out.¡± ¡°Thanks, but no need.¡± Letitia red at him and headed downstairs. Elgin didn¡¯t say much, just following behind her leisurely. He knew the rift between them was wide, which would take a lot of time and patience to mend. He couldn¡¯t rush these things. For now, he¡¯s content just being able to see her every day. Letitia ignored him. She failed to figure out how to deal with Elgin¡­ although, she just wanted to leave. But he won¡¯t let her go. In the dining room, the table wasid with avish breakfast, with servants waiting quietly by the side. ¡°From now on¡­ I¡¯ll drive you to and from work,¡± Elgin said. ¡°We¡¯ve got plenty of cars at home.¡± Letitia rejected him outright, ¡°No need, I¡¯ll take the bus.¡± The butler coughed lightly on the side, feeling sorry for Mr. Ramirez getting dissed by his wife. But Elgin seemed unfazed as if he¡¯d epted her answer. After all, he couldn¡¯t exactly tie Letitia to the car against her will. Letitia thought the same, so after breakfast, she grabbed her bag and headed to the bus stop. As she walked, something felt off. Passersby kept giving her the once-over, then ncing behind her. Letitia turned around and saw Elgin in a shy and attention-grabbing red Ferrari, cruising casually about fifty meters back. She was gobsmacked. Elgin sat in the driver¡¯s seat, cruising along with one hand on the wheel, sunsses on, as cool as a cucumber. ¡°Nutcase.¡± Letitia muttered under her breath, quickening her pace to shake him off. But no matter how fast she went, he matched her pace and he was determined to follow her all the way! At the bus stop, Letitia buried her head in her phone, A group of schoolgirls nearby whispered excitedly. ¡°Wow, he¡¯s so cool and handsomel¡± ¡°Why does he keep looking this way?¡± ¡°Quick, quick, I need to snap this!¡± ¡°He¡¯s smiling! Is he waiting for someone? That car is so cool!¡± Letitia was speechless. She fought the urge to look over at Elgin, focusing on her phone until her bus arrived. She boarded and scanned her card, The schoolgirls were even more thrilled, ¡°That Ferrari¡¯s still following us!¡± ¡°Yeah, right behind us.¡± This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°Is he chasing his girlfriend? Did they have a fight?¡± Letitia was speechless again. Once she got off, she couldn¡¯t help it anymore, stormed up to the Ferrari, and tapped on the window. Elgin greeted her with a slight smile, ¡°I knew you¡¯de to me.¡± Letitia was lost at words. ¡°Get in,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s still a way to thepany.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you bored?¡± Letitia asked. ¡°Elgin, do you have nothing better to do?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just going to work like normal.¡± Letitia red at him, ¡°Don¡¯t you think I don¡¯t know you¡¯ve been following the bus the whole way.¡± ¡°Oh, you noticed.¡± ¡°Is this fun for you?¡± Elgin removed his sunsses and replied casually, ¡°It¡¯s alright. It¡¯d be a lot more fun if you¡¯d sit in my passenger seat though.¡± Letitia, fuming, turned and walked away. His voice followed her, ¡°I¡¯ll keep following until the day you¡¯re willing to ride shotgun.¡± Letitia didn¡¯t look back. Every day to and from work, a Ferrari stalked her¡­. It seemed like a kind of creeper! Elgin was gearing up for the long haul! When Letitia showed up at the office, Vidonia beelined to her desk, ¡°Where were you yesterday? I looked everywhere but you were missing¡± I took a trip to the sanatorium.¡± ¡°Did your mom wake up?¡± ¡°Not yet¡± Letitia replied, ¡°But the doctor says she¡¯s holding steady.¡± Vidonia nodded, ¡°That¡¯s a relief. I was blowing up your phone and you never picked up, which had me worried Chapter 161 Chapter 161 Letitia nced around, making sure the coast was clear, and then tugged at Vidonia¡¯s sleeve. ¡°There¡¯s something I¡¯ve gotta spill the beans on.¡± ¡°Shoot.¡± ¡°I found the guy from that night.¡± Vidonia widened her eyes in shock. ¡°Who is it? How¡¯d you get in touch? You sure it¡¯s him?¡± ¡°Positive.¡± Letitia nodded, ¡°Everything checks out.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Elgin.¡± Vidonia stared at Letitia, her eyes glued open in disbelief. ¡°Say what now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s him, no doubt about it,¡± Letitia confirmed. ¡°After I got my new earbuds, I overheard the conversation between Sh and my mom. That¡¯s how I found out.¡± Vidonia sat next to Letitia, totally gobsmacked. This was just too much to handle. So much information to take in. ¡°Give me a second to wrap my head around this¡­ If it¡¯s Elgin, then that means¡­ He¡¯s the father of your child, and he¡­ he got rid of your baby himself!?!¡± Letitia nodded again. Every time they talked about it, it was like ripping off a band-aid for her. ¡°Good heavens, my poor Letitia¡­¡± Vidonia wrapped her in a hug, ¡°Don¡¯t be too down about it.¡± The one person who always got her was her best friend forever. ¡°Acting like it doesn¡¯t sting would be a straight-up lie. I need time to heal,¡± Letitia patted her shoulder, ¡°It¡¯s cool.¡± ¡°How can it be cool, huh? Letitia, I¡¯m with you through thick and thin.¡± Out of nowhere, Samson popped up beside them. ¡°What¡¯s with you two, always huddled up, whispering secrets? Everything¡¯s been quiet as a church mousetely. What¡¯s up?¡± Vidonia rolled her eyes at him, ¡°None of your business.¡± ¡°Well, you weren¡¯t saying that yesterday¡­¡± ¡°Yesterday was yesterday, today is today!¡± Hearing that, Samson heaved a sigh of relief, ¡°Thank goodness, Vidonia¡¯s back to her old self. You freaked me out yesterday!¡± As they were talking, Ranen suddenly showed up at the Jewelry Department entrance. ¡°Mr. Stewart, Mr. Ramirez wants to see you. Also, all of executives of the Jewelry Department need to call an impromptu meeting ¡°Alright, Samson replied. Vidonia looked puzzled, ¡°Why the sudden meeting?¡± ¡°When the big cheese speaks, who dares not to listen? Better brace yourself¡± Letitia silently nodded. In the CEO¡¯s office, Samson walked in, ¡°What¡¯s the big emergency that had Ranen fetching me?¡± Elgin tossed a wedding ring onto the desk, ¡°Get rid of It.¡± ¡°That¡¯s for Sh¡­¡± ¡°From now on, I don¡¯t want to hear that name.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Samson asked. Elgin, pressing the bridge of his nose, didn¡¯t know where to begin but still spilled the beans to Samson. With years of brotherhood, he trusted him. After hearing it all, Samson was dumbfounded. ¡°Pull down all the promotions for the ring and act like it never happened!¡± Elgin ordered, ¡°Not a word from anyone!¡± ¡°But we were about to go public, get the buzz going, and now you¡¯re¡­¡± ¡°You deaf or what?¡± Samson coughed and leaned in conspiratorially, ¡°I¡¯ve got an idea. Elgin gave him a look. ¡°We can continue our promotions. After all, nobody knows who Mrs. Ramirez is and you can prepare this surprise for Letitia.¡± Samson replied smugly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Isn¡¯t it a good one?¡± Samson asked, ¡°Letitia likes romance too.¡± ¡°Did you get your head stuck in a door?¡± Elgin shot back, ¡°The ring was Letitia¡¯s design. She¡¯d seen all those ns and knew they were tailor-made for Sh. Now you wanna p them on her¡­ What do you take her for?¡± Elgin would never do such a thing. His deep loyalty and affection for Letitia couldn¡¯t be summed up with just a ring. She was precious, deserving of the best, the most heartfelt. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°How dare you always brag about your charms as a yboy?¡± Elgin gave him a sideways nce, ¡°In important situations, all you¡¯ve got are lousy ideas!¡± Samson tried to justify, ¡°My n¡¯s ast resort, but it beats doing nothing. Sure, the ring and the promotion were all for Sh at first. But Sh was a fake, an imposter. The one you¡¯ve always wanted to give it to was Letitia!¡± Elgin pursed his lips, silent. ¡°You weren¡¯t giving it to Sh, but to the woman from that night. And now you realize Letitia is that woman,¡± Samson exined, ¡°Doesn¡¯t that make perfect sense?¡± Elgin stood up, ¡°Let¡¯s head to the meeting.¡± As they headed to the conference room, they ran into Letitia, about to go in. She wouldn¡¯t even look at Elgin,pletely ignoring him. The doorway was not so wide, so Elgin and Samson had to step aside. As the big bosses of thepany, they had their exclusive elevator. It was always the staff making way for them, not the other way around. Elgin stopped and moved aside. In addition, he also yanked Samson a bit, ¡°Back off, will you?¡± Samson stumbled, ¡°Damn, I can strut around in thispany, and I have to make way?¡± ¡°You can strut all you want in front of me, just except Letitia.¡± ¡°Jeez.¡± Samson muttered, ¡°Gin, I¡¯m positive you¡¯re gonna end up whipped.¡± ¡°Whipped?¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Elgin pondered the term for a moment, with a slight smile crept up, ¡°Doesn¡¯t sound too bad.¡± Samson was speechless. A man head over heels in love was beyond reason. After Letitia entered the conference room, Elgin and Samson followed one after the other. The workce was full of sharp cookies, and everyone was secretly astonished by the scene. What was the deal with this Letitia, huh? Even Mr. Ramirez and Mr. Stewart had to step aside to give her some room. When you bump into those two big bosses, didn¡¯t everyone just nod, say hello, and scoot over to let them pass first? Letitia took a seat. Elgin strode up to the front of the conference table, nced at her and said, ¡°Let¡¯s get this meeting started.¡± ¡°Before we dive in, I¡¯ve got an announcement,¡± Samson chimed in, ¡°The whole shebang about Mr. Ramirez crafting a wedding ring for the missus is on ice. We¡¯re putting a pin in it and not pushing it as the marketing gig of ¡®Ramirez Romantica¡¯ to rake in the fans and clicks.¡± Everyone was all ears, listening in silence. Vidonia¡¯s always been a thorn in the side, and she¡¯s had it in for Sh for ages. She snorted, ¡°We¡¯re calling it quits without reason? Talk about wasted effort¡­¡± Samson gave her a fierce tug under the table, trying to rein her in, but no dice. Why did she just love to butt heads with Elgin? Chapter 162 Chapter 162 Letitia¡¯s got it made because she¡¯s Elgin¡¯s apple of his eye, you know! Was Vidonia on the same page as Letitia? With Vidonia¡¯s temper, she could stir up some serious trouble any day now, and Samson wouldn¡¯t be able to save her skin! ¡°Employees involved in the making and marketing of the wedding rings will get double overtime pay,¡± Elgin piped up, ¡°aspensation.¡± Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. ¡°Mr. Ramirez is one tough nut to crack, isn¡¯t he? One second he¡¯s nning a romance for Mrs. Ramirez that¡¯ll make the whole town green with envy, the next he¡¯s pumping the brakes on the divorce. Mr. Ramirez got new me?¡± Samson seriously wanted to gag Vidonia right then and there. The room was dead silent. Elgin coolly replied, ¡°No new me. It¡¯s always been the old one.¡± It started with Letitia ¨C it was still her, and it would be her down the line. That was not changing. ¡°Ha ha ha¡­¡± Samson couldn¡¯t help but brown-nose, ¡°Mr. Ramirez is like a one-in-a-million guy, a real Husband of the Year. Good luck finding someone as devoted and attentive as him!¡± Vidonia¡¯s sleeve was about to be torn off by Samson¡¯s grip. To save her shirt, she mped up. But then, a loud and clear ¡°Tch¡±nded in everyone¡¯s ears in the conference room. All eyes swiveled to the source. Letitia. ¡°Tch,¡± she scoffed again, ¡°The devoted and attentive man you find might just turn out to be a ghost.¡± Vidonia seriously wanted to stand up and give Letitia a standing ovation! That was a climax! Letitia just smirked, ¡°Good guys are like ghosts. No one¡¯s ever seen one, but plenty of people believe they¡¯re out there.¡± Elgin tapped his fingertips lightly on the table surface again and again with a thudding sound. It felt oppressive. Just when everyone thought Elgin would blow his top, they heard him say, ¡°Fair point.¡± Even Samson couldn¡¯t help but cough, ¡°Ahem, ahem!¡± ¡°Rough around the edges, but it makes sense. Designer Sanders sure has a way with words,¡± Elgin commented, ¡°Let¡¯s get back to the meeting.¡± Letitia kept her head down, lookingpletely unfazed. A male colleague couldn¡¯t help but whisper to her, ¡°You¡¯ve got guts.¡± She just shrugged, ¡°Not a big deal. In the worst case, I quit.¡± ¡°You know how hard it is to get into the Ramirez Group, with the highest pay around, and you don¡¯t care?¡± Letitia just chuckled. Let¡¯s focus on the meeting.¡± What she was unaware of was that Elgin had seen their entire whispered exchange. His eyes narrowed slightly The meeting dragged on for over an hour. When it ended, Letitia was packing up and identally knocked over a water cup next to her. Water sshed out, drenching the male colleague¡¯s clothes. He yelped and jumped up. ¡°So sorry,¡± Letitia rushed to apologize, ¡°My bad, let me wipe it off for you.¡± She quickly grabbed some tissues to dab at the spill, but the guy backed away, ¡°No need, I got it.¡± ¡°Really sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine¡­¡± He snatched the tissues and bolted. If he didn¡¯t make a run for it¡­ Mr. Ramirez¡¯s re could kill! Too suffocating! He did nothing wrong, but better to make a quick exit! Letitia watched his retreating back, totally puzzled. Why the panic? She was puzzled. She looked down and noticed her papers were soaked too. Letitia silently cleaned up and left for the restroom. Standing in front of the mirror, she looked up and shrieked, ¡°Ah!¡± Reflected in the mirror was Elgin¡¯s figure. This is thedies¡¯ room! How did he get in here? Elgin stood behind her, nonchnt, ¡°Need a hand?¡± ¡°Elgin!¡± Letitia hit her limit, ¡°You¡¯ve been tailing me all morning, and now you follow me into the restroom, are you a creep or what!¡± ¡°I¡¯m your husband.¡± She gritted her teeth, ¡°Don¡¯t forget we signed a divorce agreement! It bes effective as soon as the time is up!¡± Elgin moved closer, ¡°And don¡¯t forget until the divorce is official, we¡¯re still married.¡± ¡°You-¡± As Elgin closed in, Letitia was forced to back up until she hit the sink. Elgin easily scooped her waist into his embrace, ¡°Letty,¡± Last night, he had called her that quietly from the balcony. Now¡­ she heard it loud and clear. A feeling surged in her heart. Letty¡­ ¡°No need to be so chummy, Letitia said, ¡°I have a first andst name.¡± Has no one ever called you that?¡± As much as she hated to admit it, she replied, ¡°Mhm.¡± Her parents called her Letitia, and so did Vidonia. Letty was too intimate¡­ like whispers between lovers entwined. ¡°Then from now on, that nickname Is mine alone, and I¡¯m the only one who can call you that,¡± Elgin said, ¡°Got Letitia pushed against his chest, ¡°Elgin, I¡¯ve never seen anyone as domineering and unreasonable as you!¡± And there he was, assigning her a pet name that only he could use. Why the heck? ¡°Now you have,¡± Elgin said, ¡°Letty, Letty.¡± He repeated it over and over. Her resistance was wearing thin with every husky and maic utterance. She bit back, ¡°Get out before someone sees¡­ Aren¡¯t you embarrassed?¡± ¡°Who would daree in?¡± Letitia widened her eyes, You mean people saw you when you came in? You just waltzed right in?¡± Yes.¡± Letitia didn¡¯t know how to react. Did Elgin even have a shred of shame? ¡°What¡¯s so important that you had toe to the women¡¯s restroom to tell me?¡± Letitia asked, ¡°Couldn¡¯t it wait until I was out?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t wait.¡± She pushed him again, ¡°What is it then!¡± The more she pushed, the closer he got, until his chest was pressed firmly against hers. ¡°Letty,¡± he asked, ¡°why are you smiling at other men?¡± Letitia was utterly confused, ¡°Smile? Who did I smile at?¡± The guy sitting next to you during the meeting.¡± That¡¯s my colleague from the design department!¡± Letitia eximed, ¡°We see each other all the time, what¡¯s wrong with a smile?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you dare sh a smile at other guys, I¡¯ve warned you.¡± Letitia was totally speechless, ¡°I wasn¡¯t evenughing much! It¡¯s just normal chit-chat, okay?¡± Elgin was so freaking jealous! Crazy much? She¡¯s never seen a guy so obsessed with controlling her! That¡¯s still a no-go,¡± Elgin said. ¡°You¡¯ve never chatted me up so nicely.¡± Letitia gritted her teeth, ¡°I can be all smiles and sunshine with any guy because they¡¯ve never hurt me and never forced me. But you? Elgin, you know exactly what you¡¯ve done to me!¡± His eyes darkened. He was the one who would never earn her sweet smiles. Chapter 163 Chapter 163 ¡°Don¡¯t give me that look. I¡¯m spitting straight facts here,¡± Letitia replied. ¡°Elgin, I¡¯m a human being, a free person, you can¡¯t keep trying to rule my life!¡± Even a casual chat with a male colleague was under his radar. Did he think he was the national police? Mind his beeswax, please! ¡°I just care¡­¡± Elgin softened his tone, ¡°I get jealous when you are so friendly with others.¡± He wanted to be moreid-back about it, but he just couldn¡¯t. Elgin was used to having his cake and eating it, too. He had to possess anything he set his eyes on. In the same way, if anyone so much as nced at the woman he loved, it was like signing their death warrant! ¡°I¡¯m just being friendly, it¡¯s not like I¡¯m into him!¡± Letitia shot back. ¡°Stop being jelly for no good reason!¡± ¡®Then who do you like?¡± Elgin probed. The room went silent as the grave. ¡°Letty, do you like me? Elgin pressed on. ¡°Have you ever felt even the slightest flutter for me?¡± Letitia turned her head away, refusing to look at him. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°If you don¡¯t answer, I¡¯ll take it as a yes.¡± The moment Letitia heard that, she blurted out, ¡°I don¡¯t like you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t buy it.¡± ¡°Believe it or not, Letitia said. ¡°How much longer are you nning to camp out here?¡± Elgin hugged her tightly, his chin resting on her shoulder, ¡°I know you hate me right now, it¡¯s tough to forgive me¡­ Letitia, I can hardly forgive myself.¡± He had spent the whole night awake yesterday, standing by the study window, chain-smoking one cigarette after another. He thought a lot, about every little detail of that night, about the child. If the child was still here, Elgin was sure he and Letitia would still have a future. But s¡­ sigh. Unless they had another, but how could one be sure about such things? Before, Elgin could force her to satisfy himself, but now he just couldn¡¯t bear to. ¡°Let me go, Letitia said. ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± He stepped back, giving her space. Letitia made a beeline for the door, not looking back. As she opened it, she saw the sign ¡°Under Maintenance¡±. So that was why no one hade in¡­ Elgin had used the sign to block the door. She put the sign aside and walked out just as some colleagues wereing towards her. They looked at her in shock, noticing something behind her. Letitia didn¡¯t need to turn around to know what was up¡­ Elgin had just walked out of thedies¡¯ room. To hell with it, if he had no shame, why should she be embarrassed? It¡¯s not like she was the one who went into he men¡¯s room! She quickened her pace and left. Elgin, cool as a cucumber, adjusted his sult sleeves and asked, ¡°What did you see?¡± The employees all shook their heads in unison, ¡°Nothing at all.¡± Satisfied, he left. Back at the Jewelry Department, Letitia sat at her station, feeling her cheeks burning up. Damn it, it was not she who was ashamed. There was no need to feel shy. She could feel her colleagues looking at her with their weird gazes¡­. Letitia couldn¡¯t take it and ducked into the break room to catch her breath. Suddenly her phone rang, an unknown number, and it was international, too. The first person that came to mind was Walden. ¡°Hello?¡± Leti stepped into a corner to answer the call. ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± came Walden¡¯s voice. ¡°Letitia, did you get all the emails I sent you?¡± That was a sore spot for Letitia. Those emails came at the worst possible time¡­ but she couldn¡¯t me Walden. ¡°Yeah, I got them, read them and deleted them,¡± Letitia replied. ¡°Everything good with you abroad?¡± ¡°Pretty smooth, and if nothing goes wrong, I¡¯ll be back home next month.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes, because Mr. Mird is returning, I¡¯ll being back with him.¡± So that was the deal. Letitia gripped the phone tighter and asked, ¡°He doesn¡¯t suspect you, does he?¡± ¡°No, we get along well, he¡¯s not on guard,¡± Walden said. ¡°And¡­ he¡¯s just a yboy who doesn¡¯t have Elgin¡¯s moves or brains.¡± ¡°Stay safe, I¡¯ll wait for your return.¡± ¡°Letitia, I know now¡¯s not the time to ask, but I want to know what you think,¡± Walden said. ¡°When the truthes out, will you leave Elgin for good?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Letitia didn¡¯t hesitate. Walden fell silent. After a pause, Walden added, ¡°Let¡¯s focus on finding the truth first, wait for me.¡± Letitia ended the call. Marcel¡¯s death was always the crux of the conflict between the Ramirez and Sanders families. As long as that mystery remained unsolved, she couldn¡¯t live her life in peace. Soon, very soon¡­ next month. Letitia thought where there was a life, there was hope. When it was time to ck out/Letitia dilly-dallied for half an hour before leaving the office. And there¡­ Elgin was waiting in his Ferrari. What a snooze fast! She rolled her eyes at hirm and headed for the bus stop. Chapter 40s Elgin followed in his car. Same old morning routine. The bus swayed and jolted, stopping and starting, passengers getting on and off¡­ Watching this, Letitia hatched a n to ditch Elgin, Did she really have to go back to Ivory Towers? She could meet up with Vidonia for some shopping! She didn¡¯t need to live under Elgin¡¯s watchful eye! As the bus pulled into the stop, Letitia squeezed into the crowd of people getting off, bowed her head, slipped through the chaos, and dashed into the throng. With the rush hour crowd bustling about, Elgin was stuck in his car, his view blocked. Undoubtedly, he didn¡¯t notice her slip away. Letitia hid behind a row of bushes, watching the loud red Ferrari continue to tail the bus as it slowly drove away¡­ She breathed a sigh of relief. Mission aplished! ¡°Elgin thinks I¡¯ve got no trick up my sleeve against his stalking game?¡± Letitia muttered to herself. ¡°Let him follow.¡± He¡¯d realize she was long gone once the bus reached Ivory Towers and she wasn¡¯t there to get off. Letitia could nearly visualize Elgin¡¯s expression, no doubt, one of frustration! But right now, she was in high spirits. Letitia whipped out her phone, ready to shoot Vidonia a text to meet up at the mall. She was halfway through crafting her message when suddenly, everything went ck. Her phone ttered to the ground. A sack got yanked over her head. Just as Letitia was catching on, about to scream her lungs out, she got clocked hard at the back of her neck. Out like a light. The perp was quick on his feet, dragging her into an alley lickety-split and chucking her into a van before peeling outta there! The bus pulled up near the Ivory Towers stop. Elgin hit the brakes, eyes glued to the bus¡¯s rear exit, waiting for that familiar figure. But¡­ as the bus rolled away, there was no sign of Letitia getting off. What the heck? Where was she? Chapter 164 Chapter 164 Elgin furrowed his brow, double and triple-checking the passengers who had just gotten off, but no sign of Letitia! He floored the gas pedal, chasing after the bus. The roar of the Ferrari echoed through the streets, fast as lightning! Elgin whipped the steering wheel around, pulling off a slick drift, and parked the car right in front of the bus. The driver mmed on the brakes immediately. That car was way too pricey, worth millions. No way they could afford a fender bender! Elgin, with his long legs, stepped out of the car. ¡°What¡­ what the heck are you doing¡­¡± The driver was dumbfounded as Elgin vaulted through the window and into the bus. Elgin scanned the entire bus, but Letitia was nowhere to be seen! He had clearly seen her board this bus, when did she vanish into thin air? ¡°Surveince,¡± Elgin said coolly, looking at the driver, ¡°Pull up the footage now!¡± The driver replied, ¡°I don¡¯t have an ess to that, man. If you want to see the footage, you gotta go to ourpany¡­ ¡°Damn it!¡± Elgin cursed under his breath and leapt back through the window, slipping into his Ferrari in a sh. Letitia had learned to pull a fast one on him, huh? The old vanishing trick? He was determined to see how she slipped through his fingers! While speeding to the buspany, Elgin was on the phone, trying to reach Letitia. No answer. He sent her a voice message, ¡°Letitia, pick up the phone! Text me back!¡± But still, nothing. And a few minutester, when he tried calling again, her phone was off! ¡°Letitia!¡± Elgin gritted his teeth, She really had¡­ no regard for him! Refusing to answer his calls was one thing, butpletely turning off her phone and ignoring him was an entirely different matter! Elgin stormed into the buspany, demanding the manager to pull up the surveince footage for him. When he saw Letitia slipping off the bus at one of the stops, his face turned sour. She did it on purpose! Just then, his phone rang. It was Letitia calling. Elgin answered immediately, ¡°Where on earth are you?¡± ¡°Hello, this is the police station,¡± a middle-aged man¡¯s voice came through, ¡°Someone turned in a found phone. What¡¯s your rtion to the owner?¡± ¡°Im her husband.¡± ¡°Oh, thene on over and pick up the phone.¡± Elgin asked, ¡®What about her? Who found it? Where was it found?¡± A wave of panic swept over Elgin. How did her phone end up lost, and where was she? After getting off the bus¡­ what happened to her? Countless questions flooded his mind. The sky gradually darkened as night fell. Letitia fluttered her eyelids and slowly opened her eyes. Her head was spinning, and her neck ached as if it was about to snap, which took her a while to recover. Letitia sat up from the ground, surveying her surroundings. Where was this? Where was she? As her consciousness slowly returned, Letitia remembered everything. She was about to message Vidonia, and then suddenly everything went ck, and she knew no more! Letitia looked around and realized she was in a dimly lit basement with no windows, the air thick with mustiness. The floor was covered with straw. Suddenly something furry scurried over her foot. Letitia focused and saw it was a rat! This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. A big one! Luckily, having been in a mental hospital, she wasn¡¯t easily spooked anymore. What worried her more was who had brought her here! ¡°Hello? Is anyone there?¡± Letitia started banging on the walls, ¡°Come out and say something!¡± Who had she offended? Who would kidnap her? It only made sense¡­ Sh would be the one to hate her this much. But Sh, after being drained of blood and thrown into a psych ward to apany her father, didn¡¯t have the means. As she pondered, suddenly, a panel in the ceiling opened. ¡°Shut up and stay put!¡± A rough male voice barked, ¡°Keep yelling and I¡¯ll cut your tongue out!¡± ¡°Who are you?¡° ¡°That¡¯s none of your business. Just stay quiet, and you¡¯ll suffer less.¡± Letitia looked up, straining to see the man¡¯s face. With a ¡°bang,¡± the ceiling panel closed again. In the basement, it was pitch ck. The rats squeaked, cockroaches crawled everywhere, and the atmosphere was eerie and cold. Letitia couldn¡¯t help but rub her arms. She was cold and hungry, and she hadn¡¯t eaten anything yet. Now, she had to conserve her strength and wait for someone to rescue her. Would that person be Elgin? It had to be. He was so capable. Letitia racked her brains but couldn¡¯t understand who would kidnap her. She was already so pitiful, barely hanging on, hardly worth the risk for a kidnapper. She huddled in the corner, hugging her knees. ¡°If only I hadn¡¯t gotten off the bus¡­¡± she murmured to herself, then sighed, ¡°But then again, if someone¡¯s got their eye on me, if they didn¡¯t make their move today, they¡¯d find a chance eventually.¡± She didn¡¯t know how much time had passed, Letitia kept pinching her thigh, using the pain to stay awake, but she was at her limit¡­ Just as Letitia was about to pass out, she heard footsteps above her head again. This time, there were also women¡¯s voices. A woman?! Letitia perked up her ears, listening carefully. ¡°Where is she? Alright¡­ keep a close eye on her, don¡¯t let her escape. She¡¯s crafty, you guys better watch out. You took my money, now do the job right!¡± One of the men asked on purpose, ¡®This chick¡¯s pretty hot, can we have some fun with her first?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the rush? You¡¯ll get your chance to have all the fun you want.¡± Letitia felt a chill down her spine. But that voice sounded vaguely familiar¡­ ¡°Sh!¡± Suddenly, Letitia shouted, ¡°Sh, it¡¯s you! I know it¡¯s you!¡± Her voice echoed through the basement. Letitia didn¡¯t know if Sh had heard her, so she picked up a stone from the floor and began to pound on the wall, ¡°Sh, stop hiding,e out! You¡¯ve kidnapped me, and now you¡¯re scared to face me?¡± Finally, after her persistent shouting, the ceiling panel opened once more. Sh appeared above, looking incredibly creepy and scaring Letitia. ¡°You¡¯re smarter than I thought,¡± Sh sneered, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me. Letitia, bet you didn¡¯t see thising. You¡¯re falling into my hands!¡± Letitia stepped back in fright. Because on Sh¡¯s face were dense and crisscrossing scars! Scar after scar crisscrossed her face, with the longest one snaking its way from her forehead right down to her chin! ¡°Scared yet?¡± Sh said, ¡°Letitia, I owe this hot mess you see all to you!¡± ¡°You just took a whipping, why is your face¡­¡± Elgin didn¡¯ty a finger on Sh¡¯s face, did he? How did it end up looking so freakishly terrifying? Chapter 165 Chapter 165 Sh gently stroked her arm and vented, ¡°Elgin threw me into the lion¡¯s den of men, what chance did I stand! To make them disgusted by me and keep their hands off me, I had to sh up my face so bad it would turn their stomachs!¡± Her face twisted with fury. Her look could kill Letitia where she stood! ¡°How did you manage to escape?¡± Letitia asked. ¡°Heh, that¡¯s none of your beeswax,¡± Sh shot back, ¡°Letitia, you¡¯ve wrecked everything for me, and I¡¯m not gonna let you off the hook!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve made your bed, now lie in it! Why the hell me me?!¡± ¡°It¡¯s all on you! All your fault!¡± Sh was losing it, ¡°I know I¡¯m a goner. Elgin won¡¯t let me die, but he¡¯ll make me wish I could! So, I¡¯m gonna drag you down with me!¡± ¡°Ha ha ha ha, since Elgin¡¯s so smitten with you, I¡¯m gonna kill you! Make him pine for you for the rest of his miserable life, forever out of his reach! We both die, and he won¡¯t get off easy either!¡± ¡°Just you wait, Letitia, I¡¯m about to give Elgin a ring. He¡¯lle running to save you, and then, in front of his very eyes, I¡¯ll carve up your face, make you uglier than me¡­After that, I¡¯ll invite a few guys over to¡­ ¡®take good care¡¯ of you, let him watch. Finally, I¡¯ll join you in death¡­ ha ha ha, isn¡¯t my n just perfect?¡± Letitia red at her, ¡°You¡¯ve lost it.¡± ¡°Yes! I¡¯ve gone mad, ever since you blew my cover, I¡¯ve been mad! I¡¯ve got nothing left!¡± Letitia didn¡¯t argue further. What¡¯s the point in reasoning with someone who¡¯s on a kamikaze mission? She had to look out for herself. She couldn¡¯t die, at least¡­ not by Sh¡¯s hand! She¡¯d survived two grueling years in the psych ward. She¡¯d survived the early days of marriage to Elgin. Now, when she¡¯s on the brink of uncovering the truth and rescuing her dad, she can¡¯t just die! The ceiling hatch stayed open, light streaming in. Sh paced back and forth, asionally flirting with the men. Letitia kept her eyes closed, conserving energy. But those dirty conversations and voices¡­ were too much to bear. Downstairs, Sh sat on a bald guy¡¯sp, deliberately showing off her shoulder, ¡°Thanks for helping me out, I won¡¯t forget this favor¡­¡± The bald guy leered, ¡°Too bad about your face, otherwise it would¡¯ve been even better.¡± ¡°Stop it.¡± It turned out that Sh had seduced the bald guy to help her escape and capture Letitia. Half an hourter, the bald man got dressed as he said, ¡°You sure know how to cling. But I gotta split. The stuff¡¯s with you, you deal with it.¡± He knew Sh had a death wish and he wasn¡¯t about to get his hands dirty. A moment of pleasure could cost him his life. Time to hit the road, no one wanted to be mixed up with a crazy broad. Footsteps faded. Shele sat up and dialed Elgin¡¯s number. Ring ring, ring- Hearing the sound, Letitia perked up too. ¡°Hello, Elgin¡¯s voice was deep, ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± It¡¯s me. Mr. Ramirez, Sh cooed. Sh! ¡°Yep, haven¡¯t seen you in a few days, thought you might¡¯ve forgotten about me. Big shots tend to be forgetful, you know.¡± You took Letitia!¡± Elgin guessed immediately, ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve!¡± Ivory Towers was in an uproar, and Elgin had his people scouring for Letitia. Unfortunately, the ce where Letitia went missing had no cameras! He was frantic and brainstorming strategies when Sh¡¯s call came in. Sh should be suffering, unable to live or die, and here she was calling him! She was behind this! ¡°No wonder you¡¯re Mr. Ramirez, so smart, right on the money,¡± Sh replied, ¡°Yep, Letitia¡¯s with me. Mr. Ramirez, what do you think I should do with her?¡± Elgin was icy, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare!¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez, get this straight, you¡¯re the one begging me now, why the tone?¡± ¡°Sh, Elgin threatened, ¡°don¡¯t you care about your father? Your family?¡± ¡°Ha ha ha ha ha, I¡¯m ready to cash in my chips, why should I care about anyone else? My dad¡¯s pretty much a vegetable now, just let him die! Death is the real relief!¡± Elgin¡¯s face was grim. Sh was ready to burn bridges, with nothing left to lose. If ying hardball wasn¡¯t working, time to switch tactics and negotiate gently. Buy some time first! ¡°What do you want?¡± Elgin asked, ¡°Name your price! Anything!¡± ¡°I want cash, I want to live.¡± He didn¡¯t hesitate, ¡°Okay.¡± His top priority was to stabilize Sh¡¯s mood, otherwise, Letitia would bear the brunt.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. He cared too much! The hurt on her was pain in his heart! Heh, forget it, Sh sneered, ¡°Cut the crap. Elgin, I¡¯ll tell you I want nothing. I just want Letitia dead! I want her to join me! At least I¡¯ll havepany on the way to hell!¡± With that, she hung up and tossed the phone into the water! Elgin stared at the screen, fire in his eyes! Letitia fell into anyone else¡¯s hands, he¡¯d have some leverage to save her, because no matter what the * drapper wanted, he was willing to meet their demands to ensure her safety. A person? He¡¯d trade himself! But the kidnapper was Sh, a desperado who wanted nothing! Elgin¡¯s worst fear hade true. No, he couldn¡¯t panic, Letitia was counting on him to rescue her! ¡°Trace the call we just got,¡± Elgin ordered, ¡°Also, gather all the bodyguards, be ready to move out!¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Ramirez!¡± With his face stern, he strode out. Letitia¡­ hold on, you have to wait for me! Even if it meant sacrificing himself, he needed her to live! ¡°Mr. Ramirez, we¡¯ve got a location,¡± the head bodyguard reported, ¡°It¡¯s in a small vige in the suburbs!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, get they of thend, set up an ambush, and be ready for a rescue!¡± Elgin hopped into the car and pped on his Bluetooth headset, hitting the gas to peel out of Ivory Towers. He¡¯d move heaven and earth to save Letitia! She just couldn¡¯t be in trouble! Cars were streaming out of Ivory Towers, one after another. It was the witching hour at 1 AM. Letitia¡¯s stomach was growling louder than a bear. Her feet shackled with chains made her move around a real pain. She was so cold that her face seemed to be in concrete. She could pass out any second now. But she kept telling herself don¡¯t sleep, just don¡¯t¡­ ¡°Whoosh!¡± A bucket of ice-cold water was dumped on her, soaking her from head to toe. Chapter 166 Chapter 166 It had gotten even colder, and Letitia couldn¡¯t stop shivering. ¡°Such a delicate flower, aren¡¯t you? Just a few hours without heating, you seem to be on death¡¯s door,¡± Sh dragged her out of the basement and dumped her on the ground floor, ¡°Did you overhear my chat with Elgin? He¡¯s on his way.¡± At the mention of that name, Letitia slowly opened her eyes. Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. ¡°Yes, Elgin ising.¡± She clenched her teeth, ¡°He will save me.¡± ¡°He can¡¯t save you!¡± Sh bellowed, ¡°You¡¯re in my grasp now, and I won¡¯t let you slip away. I¡¯m taking you down with me! Understand? Don¡¯t get your hopes up.¡± But Letitia insisted, ¡°He will save me.¡± The more Sh thought about it, the angrier she got, and she let loose a p across Letitia¡¯s face, ¡°That¡¯s for being so stubborn! That¡¯ll teach you!¡± After the p, Sh was still seething and gave Letitia a kick for good measure. Muttering under her breath, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for humiliating you bit by bit in front of Elgin, I would¡¯ve dealt with you. already! Do you think I¡¯m keeping you alive because I¡¯m scared to hurt you?¡± Letitia looked at her and said, ¡°Elgin¡¯s so sharp and capable, are you sure to outy him?¡± ¡°I can! Because you¡¯re myst resort in the hole!¡± ¡°But I believe in him more,¡± Letitia asserted, ¡°Because he loves me and he¡¯ll do anything to save me.¡± Thatment hit a nerve with Sh. She grabbed Letitia by the hair, ¡°Love? Elgin loves you!?¡± ¡°Yes, he loves me,¡± Letitia responded, ¡°He told me himself, more than once,¡± Sh burst intoughter, ¡°Yeah, right. That night, it was you who saved him, not me. He¡¯s searching for you, the baby you¡¯re carrying is his¡­ too bad, huh? What did you end up with? Absolutely nothing!¡± The child was always a sore spot for Letitia. Sh got more worked up as she went on, ¡°When I found out you were pregnant, I panicked. What if your baby grew up looking like Elgin? That would totally wreck my ns. So, I did everything I could to get rid of that child. Who knew you¡¯d be so lucky and tough, that kid just wouldn¡¯t budge from your belly! But, what thrilled me more than the child dying at my hands, was Elgin being the one who ended it! I was over the moon when I heard the news¡­ Now Elgin knows it was his kid, imagine his regret! Toote though, all too late.¡± Letitia just coldly watched the manic Sh. ¡°I¡¯d advise you to let me go, you might have a fighting chance,¡± Letitia said, ¡°I¡¯ll plead with Elgin to make sure both your father and you stay alive.¡±/ She was starting to plot her escape. Before Elgin arrived, she had to find a way to stabilize Sh. An inside-out strategy would increase her chances of getting out! She couldn¡¯t rely solely on Elgin! ¡°Live? I don¡¯t n on living, my dad¡¯s life was a joke anyway,¡± Sh retorted, ¡°Don¡¯t bother trying to convince me!¡± ¡°You¡¯ll have nothing if you die¡­ Think about it.¡± ¡°What do i have now!? Sh demanded, ¡°Just a measly life, I¡¯d rather drag you down to hell with me!¡± Letitia patiently replied, ¡°Actually, what you did before doesn¡¯t warrant a death sentence. I can assure you to let Elgin go easy on you, so you still have hope and a way out.¡± ¡°Shut up, enough!¡± Sh interrupted harshly, ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear it!¡± ¡°You want to live too, right? Nobody wants to die. Sh, as long as you¡¯re alive, there¡¯s always a chance. Once you¡¯re dead, that¡¯s the end of everything.¡± ¡°Shut up, shut up! I¡¯m not listening! I¡¯d rather die than live a second-rate life!¡± Sh had tasted the high life Elgin gave her, the riverside mansion, chauffeured luxury cars¡­ now suddenly stripped of everything, she couldn¡¯t handle the fall. It dawned on Letitia that Sh was terrified of being broke! There was a weakness! Now she¡¯s getting somewhere! ¡°You want money? Easy, Letitia said, ¡°Just let me go and Elgin will wire you the cash, as much as you want! Then with the money¡­ you can skip the country!¡± Sh paused for a moment. At the sight of her hesitance, Letitia kept pressing, ¡°Dying is the absolute worst way out, don¡¯t be rash¡­. Everything I¡¯ve just said can happen!¡± Just then, a bright beam of light suddenly shone in from outside. Blindingly bright, it made both Sh and Letitia squint. Letitia raised her hands to shield her eyes. But Sh, quick as a sh, grabbed Letitia¡¯s shoulder and ducked behind a wall, pulling out a knife and pressing it to Letitia¡¯s throat. ¡°Who¡¯s there? Stay back!¡± Sh yelled, ¡°Stop! Don¡¯t move! Don¡¯te any closer!¡± The beam of light kept shining straight on. Sh immediately pressed the knife harder against Letitia¡¯s throat, ¡°Turn off the lights! Or I¡¯ll kill her!¡± Then, the piercing light suddenly went out. Letitia¡¯s vision went dark for a moment before slowly adjusting to the normal lighting. Elgin stood there in a ck coat, shlight in hand, with an air of deadly calmness. His face was a mask of dark intensity, with his gaze fixed on the scene before him. Elgin had arrived. He was here. At that moment, seeing him standing there, Letitia felt a surge of security. She knew he woulde! ¡°Ah, Mr. Ramirez, you sure are prompt, Sh started tough, ¡°I have been waiting for you and you finally showed up.¡± Elgin stood there in silence, with no one behind him. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m here,¡± Elgin replied, his voice deep, ¡°Sh, whatever you want, just say it.¡± Seeing the knife at Letitia¡¯s throat, he lurched his heart. Sh was not known for her restraint, and spot she pressed was right over a major artery. A single slice¡­. Blood would spurt, and not even a miracle could save her then! I have no demands, Sh answered, ¡°I just want you to watch how Letitia dies!!¡± With that, she drew the knife lightly across Letitia¡¯s neck, leaving a bloody line. The wound was somewhat deep, blood dripping steadily, quickly staining Letitia¡¯s clothes red. Elgin instinctively wanted to step forward, but just as he was about to move, he heard Sh bark, ¡°Freeze! Don¡¯te any closer!¡± He stopped in his tracks, snapping back his footsteps as if on a leash. Sh was backed up against the wall, using it as a shield, with Letitia tucked safely in front of her. ¡°Elgin, you¡¯ve definitely set a trap around here, haven¡¯t you?¡± Sh said, ¡°You might look like you¡¯re flying solo, but you¡¯ve got your ducks in a row. I¡¯m not falling for it!¡± Elgin responded, ¡°As you can see, it¡¯s just me right now.¡± Chapter 167 Chapter 167 ¡°Do you think i buy that? I know you way too well. You¡¯re thoughtful as a perfectionist¡­ and Letitia is your ger. You¡¯d freak out if even a hair on her head was harmed, so you have nned everything down to the smallest detail Elgin looked at her ¡®Letitia is in your hands now, I¡¯m not about to make a rash move. I came alone to show you In here to negotiate in good faith.¡± There¡¯s nothing to negotiate about!¡± It give you anything you want, everything.¡± Elgin insisted, his gaze fixed on her, ¡°as long as it¡¯s within my power ¡°Really? Anything at all?¡± Yest Shele retorted. You know, Letitia said the same thing earlier. You two are a match made in heaven!¡± Letitia cast her gaze upon Elgin. He bore a cooler demeanor than usual, yet a closer inspection revealed a flicker of panic in his eyes. He was filled with fear. Fear that Letitia might sustain harm or even depart from his life permanently. That was something he couldn¡¯t bear. So, he was ready to go all out to save her¡­ even if it meant sacrificing his life ¡°Spill it¡± Elgin finally spoke, ¡°Sh, let Letitia go, and we can talk about anything.¡± ¡°If I let her go. I lose myst resort!¡± Sh¡¯s spirits were running high, with her hands trembling. Thus, the knife was dangerously close to Letitia¡¯s neck, deepening the cut. Blood kept flowing. The stark red was a stab in Elgin¡¯s eyes. ¡°You cane at me.¡± Elgin said, ¡°even hold the knife to my throat¡­ but please, I beg you, let Letitia go.¡± Sh burst intoughter, ¡°What was that you said just now?¡± ¡°Please, I¡¯m begging you, let her go.¡± ¡°Am I hearing things or is the high and mighty President Ramirez begging me? Hahaha!¡± Sh gloated, ¡°Letitia, did you hear that? Aren¡¯t you just overwhelmed? The proud Elgin is begging me for your sake!¡± At that moment, Letitia felt a whirlwind of emotions. The pain in her neck seemed to fade, but what hurt more was her heart. Maybe, she¡¯d never see Elgin again in this life. Sh shrieked, ¡°It¡¯s no use. Stop unting your love in front of me! Elgin, do you see my face? I did this to myself with a knife, and now¡­ I want her face to look the same!¡± When saying so, she raised the knife high, shing towards Letitia¡¯s face. ¡°No, don¡¯t!¡± ¡°Ahh- Elgin seemed to hear the sound of flesh being torn apart. He clenched his heart painfully, almost stopping his breath Letitia turned her head to the side. A long, crimson gash marked her cheek, stretching four or five centimeters. Sh¡¯s manic voice rang out, ¡°How about that? You see? Does it hurt you, Elgin? This is just the beginning, just the first cut¡­ there¡¯s a second, a third, countless more toe!¡± ?? ? ? Elgin clenched his fists, shaking his whole body. He wished that cut had been on his own face! ¡°Hiss-¡± Letitia gasped. Blood spattered on her eyshes, turning her vision red for a moment before it slowly cleared. She heard Elgin plead, ¡°Sh, stop, please¡­ let¡¯s talk this over!¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Sh responded, ¡°First show me some real sincerity, then I¡¯ll think about it.¡± ¡°What kind of sincerity do you want?¡± Sh enunciated every word, ¡°Get down on your knees and beg me!¡± Just saying ¡®please¡¯ meant nothing, even though such a word was almost impossible for Elgin to utter under normal circumstances. But these were desperate times! He couldn¡¯t care less now! ¡°Alright.¡± Elgin agreed without hesitation, ¡°I¡¯ll kneel and beg you, just please don¡¯t hurt her anymore¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t bear the thought of another cut on Letitia¡¯s face. At that moment, Elgin revealed his vulnerability and humility that had never been seen before! For Letitia¡¯s sake, he didn¡¯t care about pride or dignity as a man. None of that mattered as much as Letitia did. In the face of her safety, all those things were insignificant! ¡°No, no,¡± Letitia murmured, ¡°Elgin¡­ how can you kneel to her?¡± This was Elgin, the supreme figurehead of AquaCity. But now, he was down on his knees, all because of her¡­ ¡°He doesn¡¯t have to kneel,¡± Sh said, ¡°Or I could just make another cut across your face!¡± Letitia looked at Elgin, shaking her head vigorously, ¡°Don¡¯t kneel, even if you do, she won¡¯t let me go¡­ you¡¯re so smart, how can you not see that!¡± Elgin replied, ¡°I know. But I can¡¯t just stand here, powerless, watching you get hurt.¡± His knees began to bend slowly. Seeing it, a twisted smile spread across Sh¡¯s face. She was relishing this moment¡­ the man she had once tried so hard to please was now about to kneel before her! ¡°Elgin¡­¡± Letitia shut her eyes, unable to watch. She heard a soft thud, knowing it was the sound of Elgin¡¯s knees hitting the ground. ¡°You do love Letitia,¡± Sh said, ing here alone to save her without any bodyguards. And now, kneeling for her¡­ Elgin, what wouldn¡¯t you do for her!¡± id do anything, just let her go.¡± This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. She¡¯s going to die with me! Together!¡± Elgin.stared at her fiercely. ¡°Calm down, Sh, stop waving that knife around!¡± Each movement could deepen Letitia¡¯s wounds. The blood on her neck and cheek was a bright red, and it was buming his heart. Sh yelled, ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t you ever give me a second nce? Yes, Letitia was the woman you slept with that night, but my feelings for you are no less than hers! Why can¡¯t you like me? Even when you didn¡¯t know it was me instead of Let¨ªtia, you married her and fell in love with her. And now you love her even more¡­¡± ¡°Why does Letitia get your love over and over again!¡± ¡°Elgin, you fell for her twice! Twice!¡± These words hit Letitia hard, stirring a storm inside her. Yes, even when Elgin didn¡¯t know Letitia was the woman from that night, he had fallen in love with her. After finding out¡­ Elgin fell for her even harder. The thing is, between him and her, there was love, but there was also hate. The love and hate intertwined. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m head over heels for her,¡± Elgin said. ¡°Sh, if you¡¯ve got beef with me, let her go.¡± ¡°How can Ie at you? You¡¯re always rolling deep with bodyguards. I can¡¯t even get close to you, so I had to take a swipe at Letitia!¡± Sh sneered. ¡°Besides, hurting Letitia cuts you deeper!¡± All you could hear was Elgin saying, ¡°I¡¯m willing¡­ to trade myself for her.¡± Chapter 168 Chapter 168 As soon as those words were uttered, the room fell silent. Letitia snapped open her eyes, staring straight at Elgin on his knees before her. Even kneeling, his back was straight as an arrow, his knees caked with dust. The ground was littered with gravel and dirt¡­ that must¡¯ve hurt like hell. Trade yourself for her?¡± Sh echoed, ¡°Elgin, you¡¯d die with me to save Letitia?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You¡¯re cool with dying?¡± Elgin replied, ¡°All I want is for Letitia to live well.¡± So his death didn¡¯t matter. Letitia living for him was all that mattered. Sh, mad with jealousy, screamed, ¡°You love her that much regardless of dying for her?!¡± Tears blurred Letitia¡¯s vision. She shook her head fiercely, ¡°Elgin, you don¡¯t have to go to these lengths for me¡­¡± ¡°Letty,¡± he said, ¡°I wish you a long and prosperous life.¡± The most heartfelt deration of love wasn¡¯t ¡°I love you¡± or ¡°I¡¯ll marry you,¡± but ¡°I wish you a good life in this world.¡± He wished Letitia a long and prosperous life, even if it meant his death. Tears mixed with blood from a cut on her cheek, intensifying Letitia¡¯s pain. But that was nothingpared to the agony in her heart. Why did Elgin have to be such a paradox¡­ winning her love and hate at the same time? ¡°Is that a deal, Sh?¡± Elgin asked, ¡°You let Letitia go, and I¡¯ll be your hostage.¡± With that, he started to rise and walk towards her. ¡°Hold up!¡± Sh snapped, ¡°You¡¯re a big dude, how am I supposed to keep you under control? You¡¯d knock me out cold as soon as you got close!¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re saying you¡¯ll trade?¡± ¡°Willingly. Hahaha, Sh burst intoughter, ¡°Having you with me on the journey to the underworld beats Letitia¡¯spany any day. Plus, when we¡¯re reborn, I hope you fall for me in the next life!¡± A pure disgust shed in Elgin¡¯s eyes, but he masked it quickly. Sh went on, ¡°Anyway, whether you die or Letitia dies, either will do. Whichever one of you survives will spend a lifetime in agony and self-me. My goal, you see, is utterly achieved.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Elgin nodded, ¡°Let¡¯s get this swap started.¡± His tense nerves rxed a fraction. As long as Sh was willing to trade, Letitia¡¯s danger would diminish. If he ended up in Sh¡¯s clutches¡­ he didn¡¯t care. He might die or escape. Either way, Letitia would be safe. Letitia said in a hoarse voice, ¡°Elgin, aren¡¯t you afraid of dying?¡± Crupter 160 To be honest, she was terrified. The chilling specter of death was not something she was ready to embrace; she yearned for life. Her parents were waiting for her, and the Sanders family was counting on her to clear their name¡­ Bus Elgin, with his noble status and greater responsibilities, was the current head of the Ramirez family, the CEO of the Ramirez Group. If anything happened to him, the stocks, market value, and board of Ramirez Group¡­ would all be thrown into chaos! Elgin looked at Letitia and gave a small smile. ¡°Of course I¡¯m scared, he answered, ¡°But losing you scares me more.¡± Letitia, crying, asked, ¡°And you think I¡¯m not scared of losing you?!¡± Elgin felt a warmth in his heart. ¡°Letty, your words are enough. His smile deepened, ¡°I know you care about me.¡± She was afraid of losing him too. Well, that was just great. So his rescue was all the more worth it. Elgin knew he owed her so much. If he could clear his debts with his life, it wouldn¡¯t be too bad¡­ And Letitia would remember him for the rest of her life, keeping a ce for him in her heart. ¡°Enough!¡± Sh barked, ¡°Quit the sweet talk! Elgin, I¡¯ll trade you for Letitia, but first¡­ you¡¯ve got to maim yourself!¡± Maim himself?! Letitia widened her eyes in shock. ¡°Ruin one of your hands, or a leg,¡± Sh instructed, ¡°That way, I can control you. Otherwise, once you get close, you¡¯d take me down in a move, right?¡± Without blinking, Elgin nodded, ¡°Fine.¡± ¡°No, don¡¯t, please don¡¯t¡­¡± Letitia screamed, ¡°Elgin, you can¡¯t do this! Absolutely not!¡± Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. She had to watch him kneeling before her and now she¡¯d have to watch him maim himself. After that, she¡¯d have to watch him fall into Sh¡¯s hands, while she got off scot-free. ¡°Sh, just kill me, do it now!¡± Letitia shouted, ¡°Stop torturing him and me¡­ Just end me first, then yourself, and let¡¯s get it over with!¡± She couldn¡¯t take it anymore. Every second was overwhelmed by the torture! ¡°Heh, what tragic lovebirds,¡± Sh mocked, ¡°One ready to die, the other ready to die for the other¡­ Your love is touching!¡± Letitia kept crying and begging, pleading with Elgin not to maim himself. She didn¡¯t know if she loved Elgin. But at that moment, she¡¯d rather die than see him harm himself and fall prey to Sh. ¡°Please, Elgin, I¡¯m begging you, stop trying to save me¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯re enemies, I hate you, I could never love you, what you¡¯re doing for me isn¡¯t worth it!¡± ¡°Your hand is made for signing documents, it can¡¯t be wasted¡­¡± But no matter what Letitia said, nothing could sway Elgin¡¯s resolve. He turned and walked away. Quickly, he returned with a fancy Swiss army knife in hand. What a good de, sharp enough to slice through steel. Blood wouldn¡¯t even stick to it. Just a simple wipe could make it gone. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get this show on the road,¡± Sh said, ¡°Hand or foot, your call.¡± ¡°Hand. Elgin didn¡¯t even flinch as he raised the knife high. ¡°No, Elgin, please no.¡± Amidst Letitia¡¯s desperate cries, Elgin remained calm. Knife in his right hand, he plunged it towards his left arm without hesitation. The de pierced through his flesh. Ruthless. Elgin was ruthless to himself! From start to finish, he didn¡¯t utter a single scream! ¡°Is that good enough? Elgin looked up at Sh, ¡°Are you satisfied?¡± Even Sh was taken aback by his decisiveness and ferocity. This man could be so unforgiving to himself! So, for a moment there, Sh waspletely tongue-tied, just staring nkly at the blood dripping down Elgin¡¯s arm. His face was turning ghostly pale. But Elgin, cool as a cucumber, didn¡¯t show a hint of panic. ¡°You, you¡­¡± Sh stammered. She hadn¡¯t expected Elgin to be so decisive, not hesitating for a second. Elgin didn¡¯t want to waste any time. The faster this was over, the better. He had only one thing on his mind. That was to save Letitia. He couldn¡¯t care about anything else right now! Letitia herself was in a daze, watching the blood as if it were flowing right out of her body. Chapter 170 Chapter 170 ¡°Hang in there, Elgin, the ambnce is on its way, any minute now¡­¡± Letitia muttered, ¡°Do it for me, will you? Don¡¯t doze off, hang tough¡­¡± She was scared to death. Elgin wanted to clean her tears, but he just didn¡¯t have the strength. If he could even save his hand, that¡¯d be a miracle¡­ Letitia held him, her head against his cheek, just wanting to hold on to him tightly. Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. ¡°Why¡¯d you have to go and y the fool¡­ why? Sh tells you to hurt yourself and you just do it! And then your went and pulled out the knife. Weren¡¯t you scared of bleeding out? Do you even care about your hand? Listen up, Elgin, if you end up disabled, don¡¯t think I won¡¯t hold it against you! You hear me?! You¡¯ve gotta pull through, you just have to¡­¡± Elgin mustered a weak smile, slowly closing his eyes again. ¡°Letty¡­¡± he spoke with great effort slowly, ¡°Just keep on, keep living¡­¡± With that, Elgin closed his eyes, his hand falling to his side. ¡°Elgin!¡± Letitia¡¯s voice pierced the night. The ambnce arrived with a wail. The medics loaded Elgin onto the ambnce, and Letitia followed, ¡°I¡¯m his wife, I¡¯m family! Let me come with him! Just as the doors closed, she saw Sh lying on the ground. Samson had rushed over. Letitia breathed a sigh of relief. Let Samson handle the scene and he¡¯d sort it all out. She thought about it and tears fell once again. All this must have been arranged by Elgin before he came to her rescue. He met with Sh alone, ying down her guard while secretly arranging for bodyguards, which was why so many of them stormed in at thest minute. Inside, Elgin faced danger while Samson coordinated from outside. They worked like a well-oiled machine. Elgin was so thorough, covering every base. ¡°You could¡¯ve totally protected yourself, but for me¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t finish her sentence. His devil-like love was torture, but he also selflessly gave himself away. The doctors quickly disinfected Elgin¡¯s wounds and stopped the bleeding, with blood-soaked cotton balls thrown into the trash. What a gruesome sight! Upon reaching the hospital, the doctors and nurses rushed Elgin straight to the operating room. The door mmed shut with a ng. Letitia gave out her legs and copsed outside the surgery room. The break of dawn was gradually unfolding, signaling the arrival of daylight. *Elgin, you¡¯ve got to be okay, your hand has got to be saved¡­¡± She kept praying. ¡°Hey, why are you on the floor?¡± a nurse passing by helped Letitia up, then noticed the blood on her and gasped, ¡°Are you hurt? Where¡¯s all this blood from?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not mine, it¡¯s¡­ Letitia paused, ¡°It¡¯s my husband¡¯s.¡± The dried blood on her clothes was from Elgin. How could one person bleed so much¡­ ¡°But you¡¯re hurt too,¡± the nurse observed. Your face, your neck¡­¡± That¡¯s when Letitia remembered the knife¡¯s shes She touched her face, it¡¯s a scratch, no big deal.¡± Yeesh, I¡¯ve never met a girl who does not care about her face. The nurse took her by the arm. ¡°Girls freak out over a pimple, and here you are with a gash and you¡¯re not rushing to get stitches? You¡¯ll scar!¡± ¡°But I¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get you patched up first!¡± With the nurse insisting, Letitia sat in the ER while the doctor carefully dressed her wounds. ¡°The neck¡¯s fine, but your face¡­ The doctor looked concerned. ¡°It might scar.¡± ¡®Just do it, doctor, I¡¯ve got stuff to handle.¡± ¡°What¡¯s more important than your face¡­ wait, you need stitches.¡± Letitia was anxious, wanting to be by the surgery door to wait for news about Elgin. But the medical staff wouldn¡¯t let her leave. Until Vidonia showed up and shouted, ¡°Letitia! Are you okay? What¡¯s with all the blood?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, how¡¯s Elgin?¡± ¡°Samson said the surgery¡¯s still going, don¡¯t freak out.¡± Vidonia was visibly worried. ¡°I came as soon as I heard. How could this dangerous situation have happened?¡± Letitia looked down, ¡°It¡¯s a long story.¡± ¡°Your face¡­¡± ¡°Vidonia, I¡¯m just disfigured. That¡¯s the least of my worries.¡± Letitia replied, ¡°Elgin¡­ his hand¡­¡± She choked up, breaking her voice. Vidonia squeezed her hand tightly, ¡°Everything¡¯s gonna be okay and you won¡¯t be disfigured.¡± Letitia couldn¡¯t care less about her face at this point. The doctor had just ced the gauze on her face when she pushed his hand away, ¡°That¡¯s good enough, I need to go.¡± ¡°Whoa, whoa, remember toe back daily to change the dressing!¡± Letitia was already out the door. ¡°Got it, doctor,¡± Vidonia called after her, ¡°I¡¯ll make sure she does!¡± Then, Vidonia hurried after her. Letitia returned to the surgery room door where Samson was already waiting. ¡°How¡¯s it going?¡± she asked. ¡°Has the doctore out?¡± ¡°Not yet, surgery¡¯s still underway.¡± Letitia bit her lower lip, pale as a ghost. ¡°You took a nasty hit to the face, Samson noted. ¡°He gonna be heartbroken when he sees it.¡± ¡°He will see it, he will. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ve got the best surgeons from AquaCity on it.¡± Letitia sped her hands, ¡°His hand must be saved.¡± Samson asked, puzzled, ¡°How¡¯d he get hurt so bad? Sh¡¯s just a woman. How could she do that much damage?¡± Only Letitia knew what had happened. Thinking back to those moments¡­ it was still horrific. ¡°He did it to himself, Letitia murmured. ¡°Yeah, who could hurt him if he didn¡¯t want it? Who¡¯d have the guts?¡± Only Elgin would willingly do so. Samson asked shockingly, ¡°He did it himself?¡± Vidonia repeated again, ¡°He hurt himself?¡± Both were dumbfounded. ¡°Sh had me in a tight spot, first nicking my neck and then shredding my face¡­ Elgin was scared she¡¯d do me more harm, so he offered to swap ces with me. But Sh worried she couldn¡¯t handle him and made him self-harm before agreeing to the trade. So, Elgin just went for it, stabbing himself with the knife, which went right through his arm. And he did a lot of blood gush out.¡± ¡°During the swap, Sh pushed me out and was about to take him hostage when he just yanked the knife out of his wound like it was nothing!¡± Listening to Letitia spill the beans about the whole ordeal, Samson and Vidonia were gobsmacked. Chapter 171 Chapter 171 It was unbelievable that Elgin went to such lengths to save Letitia! Didn¡¯t he have a death wish or something? Or maybe, what he was afraid of was losing Letitia! Vidonia was always on Elgin¡¯s case and never had a single nice thing to say about him. But now, she was bowled over by his guts and devotion. Who could resist a guy who¡¯dy down his life for his girl? Elgin valued Letitia more than his life! ¡°That Sh!¡± Samson gritted his teeth, ¡°I knew that knife stuck in her heart looked familiar¡­ it turns out to be Elgin¡¯s!TM That very knife wounded Elgin before it got a chance to off Sh! Letitia asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Sh? Is she still alive?¡± ¡°She ain¡¯t kicked the bucket yet, and they¡¯re trying to save her.¡± ¡°What?¡± Vidonia blurted out, ¡°Why bother saving that piece of trash? She deserves to die a hundred times over!¡± Samson replied, ¡°You just don¡¯t get it. Dying would be too easy for her. Keeping her alive is the real torture. With Elgin¡¯s tricks, he¡¯ll make her life worse than death!¡± So, they gotta save Sh, but only just enough to keep her breathing. Letitia nodded, ¡°She definitely shouldn¡¯t get off that easy¡­¡± 21 ¡°Letitia, go change, grab some grub, and get some rest,¡± Vidonia said, ¡°You¡¯ve been through hell and back, you need a break.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ll wait here for Elgin.¡± ¡°But can your body take the strain?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Letitia forced a smile, ¡°I can hang in there.¡± Vidonia looked at her with concern, ¡°Just don¡¯t scar.¡± Letitia gently touched her face. She never cared much about looks. If someone loved her, they¡¯d love all of her, not just her beauty. But¡­ every time Elgin would see the scar on her face, he¡¯d probably be racked with guilt. Lost in thought, Letitia suddenly heard an erupted roar, ¡°Letitia! You jinx!¡± Startled, she looked up. There was Hawley, fuming and unsteady on his feet, his face flushed with anger, ¡°Are you hell-bent on destroying the whole Ramirez family?!¡± *Exactly! The Ramirez family is cursed because of you!¡± Phedra chimed in, ¡°Your dad killed my husband, you got my grandson killed, and now Elgin?!¡± Honestly, when Phedra heard Elgin was in danger, her first reaction was relief! She wished for Elgin¡¯s demise so that her son would be the only heir to the Ramirez family, taking over the inheritance as the new head! Even if Elgin was saved, it would be best if he ended up disabled! What a piece of work by Letitia! Hawley walked over and pped Letitia across the face, ¡°Elgin is the pir of the Ramirez family with so much responsibility! If anything happens to him because of you, I¡¯ll never forgive you!¡± ¡°Letitia!¡± Vidonia cried out, quickly stepping in front of her. Letitia hung her head, with her hair disheveled. Hawley was panting with rage, ¡°Disaster! You¡¯re a walking disaster! I should¡¯ve gotten rid of you long ago and sent you far, far away!¡± Why wait? Why hide it from Elgin? Now look at the mess, how¡¯s Hawley gonna cope with this? God forbid it turns into a case of the old sending off the young! Letitia didn¡¯t say a word. It was her fault Elgin was hurt¡­ her bad. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Letitia said. ¡®Sorry doesn¡¯t cut it! If anything happens to Elgin, I, I¡­¡± Hawley nearly passed out from holding his breath. Phedra quickly patted his back, ¡°This Sanders family is the bane of our family and always brings bad karma to us!¡± N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Letitia just listened in silence. But Vidonia didn¡¯t see it that way, so she retorted, ¡°Letitia is already beating herself up, what¡¯s the point of you yelling at her? You should be ming Sh, she¡¯s the real culprit!¡± ¡°Who¡¯s this wild cat?¡± Phedra scolded, ¡°How dare you talk back to us!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll say what I want, and right now, I want to speak up! It¡¯s because Sh couldn¡¯t get what she wanted that Letitia got kidnapped and even disfigured now! And why did Sh do it? Because she used to be Elgin¡¯s woman!¡± Letitia tugged at her, ¡°Vidonia, stop.¡± ¡°You are hurt and humiliated, and even pped around now. I must say for you!¡± Phedra reached out to shove Vidonia, ¡°Who do you think you are? Get out of here¡­ Make yourself scarce, or I¡¯ll have security drag you out!¡± That¡¯s when Samson grabbed Phedra¡¯s wrist and flung her aside. ¡°She¡¯s with me,¡± Samson said, ¡°Phedra, you better show some respect.¡± Phedra darkened his face. One after another, they were all untouchable people! Even the wild cat had Samson¡¯s backing! Hawley coldly said, ¡°Letitia, you should go too!¡± ¡°No,¡± she refused, ¡°I¡¯ll wait here for¡­¡± ¡°You don¡¯t deserve to!¡± Hawley cut her off, ¡°I can¡¯t stand the sight of you right now. We¡¯ll settle the score in a few days, and you better never show your face to Elgin again!¡± Hawley had already suffered the loss of a son, he couldn¡¯t bear the grief of losing a grandson! *Come on! Hawley ordered, ¡°Take Letitia back to Ivory Towers and keep a close eye on her!¡± The bodyguards were ready to move in. But Letitia said clearly, ¡°You can¡¯t touch me, I¡¯m Elgin¡¯swfully wedded wife!¡± There was a spark in her eyes with overwhelming determination. She had a bit of Elgin in her. They¡¯ve been through thick and thin as a couple, and she¡¯s definitely picked up a thing or two from Elgin! ¡°You¡¯re his wife, but I¡¯m his grandpa! The former head of the Ramirez family!¡± Hawley roared. ¡°Come on, does nobody listen to me anymore?¡± Letitia cranked up the volume: ¡°Who would dare?¡± She stood her ground, facing off against Hawley. After a while, Letitia softened her tone. ¡°I¡¯ll head back to Ivory Towers, but not just yet. At the very least, I need to see Elgin safe and sound, out of the OR, before I can breathe easy.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a jinx! Your Sanders family is the bane of the Ramirez family!¡± Hawley banged his cane on the ground forcefully. ¡°Letitia, if you care about Elgin, you¡¯d stay as far away as possible!¡± The Ramirez family kept harping on this, almost making Letitia second-guess herself¡­ She wondered if she and Elgin were star-crossed and doomed to be apart. When she was lost in thought, suddenly the door to the OR swung open. Letitia¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She dashed to the front filled with anticipation as the doctor came out. ¡°How is he?¡± she asked anxiously. ¡°Is he awake? Did his hand make it?¡± Chapter 172 Chapter 172 The doctor pulled down his mask and continued, ¡°Mr. Ramirez is still in danger. The wound on his arm is too deep, and the constant tugging has caused nerve damage. Besides, he¡¯s lost too much blood, so¡­ it¡¯s a real pickle right now.¡± Letitia knew that if he hadn¡¯t pulled the knife out of his arm then, the injury wouldn¡¯t have been this bad. ¡°So what do we do? How can we fix him up?¡± ¡°We doctors are gonna huddle up and hash out a treatment n,¡± the doctor said. ¡°For now, Mr. Ramirez needs to keep his arm still, no monkeying around.¡± Hawley piped up, ¡°Whatever it takes, keep Elgin¡¯s arm in one piece!¡± Elgin was the big cheese of the Ramirez family and the honcho of the Ramirez Group. If he ended up with a bum arm, he¡¯d be theughingstock! Elgin was proud as a swagger, how could he stomach being physically impaired¡­. The doctor nodded, ¡°We¡¯ll pull out all the stops.¡± The OR doors swung wide open, and the nurse wheeled out the gurney. At just one nce, Letitia couldn¡¯t bear to look anymore. She¡¯d never seen Elgin look so beat and downcast, his face ashen, his sharp featurescking their usual edge. ¡°Elgin¡­¡± Letitia wanted to step forward but was cut off by Hawley, who stepped in front of her. ¡°Stay away from him!¡± He shouted. With an oxygen mask on and hooked up to IVs, Elgin was escorted by the nurse, getting further and further away, slowly fading from her sight¡­ All Letitia could do was watch helplessly. Even touching him had be a luxury. Hawley was about to dash off to the ward when something struck him, and he turned back to her, ¡°Letitia, you¡¯ve seen Elgin. Time for you to hit the road, right?¡± U IS F N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. ¡°Okay.¡± She nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll get going.¡± This ce didn¡¯t need her, and the Ramirez family sure didn¡¯t want to see her. Her sticking around was a burden, a dead weight. ¡°Letitia¡­¡± Vidonia looked at her. ¡°You¡¯re too easygoing, always saying yes.¡± ¡°Maybe Elgin and I are just not meant to be together.¡± As for two people meant to cross paths, howe they started off on the wrong foot as enemies? Howe they became each other¡¯s everything for one night, only for Sh to step in and mix things up, missing another shot by a hair? Howe after carrying a child and going through hell, it still ended in loss? And howe¡­ they both nearly lost their lives because of each other? Letitia watched them disappear at the end of the corridor, slowly turning around, ¡°Let¡¯s go, back home.¡± TIl arrange for a driver to take you,¡± Samson said. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink things and get some rest. I¡¯ll keep you posted on any updates.¡± Thanks, Mr. Stewart. Chapter 173 Chapter 173 ¡°it¡¯s the least I can do, because you¡¯re Elgin¡¯s lover. He¡¯lle around, and then we can handle everything¡± Hawley was hot-headed now, but if he thought about doing something to Letitia, he¡¯d have to consider how Elgin would feel. Samson was running around, taking care of everything. At the hospital entrance. Vidonia watched the car drive away, ¡°You always seem like a goof-off, but when pushes to shove, you¡¯ve got some chops,¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Samson said. ¡°You think I¡¯m all fun and games?¡± ¡°Before today, yeah, that¡¯s exactly what I thought.¡± Samson, thinking he¡¯s slick, straightened his suit, ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve got me all wrong, Vidonia.¡± Vidonia rolled her eyes and retorted, ¡°Don¡¯t push your luck.¡± ¡°Hey, you nearsighted or something?¡± Samson¡¯s sudden question caught Vidonia off guard, ¡°Huh? What do you mean? You¡¯ve known me this long, ever seen me with sses?!¡± ¡°If you¡¯re not nearsighted, why can¡¯t you see clearly?¡± Samson said. ¡°I¡¯m a total catch, a rich and young bachelor, and you¡¯re always looking down on me?¡± *¡­Please.¡± Letitia got back to Ivory Towers, bone-tired. The butler had everything spick and span, calm as a millpond like nothing had happened. ¡°Mrs. Ramirez, you¡¯re back,¡± the butler said. ¡°Rest up.¡± She nodded. The bathtub was already filled with water, with a brand-new clean nightgown ced alongside. In the master bedroom, Elgin¡¯s presence lingered everywhere¡­ Letitiay in bed, her nose tingling. Suddenly, her tears just started flowing. Why had things between her and Elgin turned out this way? Hatred, a lost child, risking life for each other¡­ Loving someone shouldn¡¯t feel like a chore, and hating someone shouldn¡¯t be scary. But the real heartache is when you both love and hate someone. You couldn¡¯t even tell which is stronger. Letitia drifted off into a restless sleep, gued by nightmares. When she was in a psych ward and was bullied, her meal was spilled on the floor, and she was told to pick it up and eat. At that night in the hotel room, Elgin whispered ¡°I¡¯ll marry you¡± in her ear. Then it was her lying in the OR, waiting for the baby to be taken out¡­ When she woke up, it was already dark. Letitia got up and found her pillow soaked. ¡°Sir,¡¯ she asked as she came downstairs, ¡°any word from the hospital?¡± ¡°Mydy, nothing yet¡± Chapter 1/2 ¡°Can I go over?¡± The butler looked troubled, ¡°Senior Mr. Ramirez has ordered that you stay put in Ivory Towers and can¡¯t step out until Mr. Ramirez wakes up.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Letitia choked up her voice, ¡°he¡¯d probably want to see me when he wakes up.¡± He loved her. Before, Letitia had her doubts about this love, but after this ordeal, she had no more doubts. Only deep love would drive someone to risk their life and wish her a long life while calmly facing death himself. The only pity was that for him and her, love couldn¡¯t fill all voids. ¡°Ah¡­¡± The butler sighed. ¡°Mrs. Ramirez, you¡¯ve got it tough.¡± Letitia looked down, ¡°As long as I¡¯m alive, it¡¯s not that bad.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll call the family doctor to change your dressing. Those cuts on your face and neck need timely care.¡± She nodded. The family doctor came quickly, tending to her carefully, and mentioned the scarring, ¡°You need to take good care of it. Once it scabs over, we can start on some scar treatments, or maybe even cosmetic surgery¡­¡± Letitia was half listening, with her mind wrapped up in praying for Elgin¡¯s safety. She¡¯s stuck here now, unable to do squat. After the doctor rebandaged the wound and packed up his medical kit to leave, looking at the chock-full box of medicines and tools, Letitia suddenly stood up. She was pale as a ghost. ¡°Madam?¡± the butler asked, puzzled. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°The hospital¡­ over at the hospital¡­¡± Letitia was quivering her lips, with a fine sheen of sweat breaking out on her forehead in an instant. Everything went dark before her eyes, and she plopped down hard on the couch. She was hit with the memory of Marcel¡¯s death. Back when Marcel was rushed in after a car ident in a critical emergency, a swarm of medical staff buzzed around, and yet someone still found a loophole to slip through, leading to his death. Elgin was now lying in the hospital too¡­ ¡°Everybody, out!¡± Letitia closed her eyes briefly to regain herposure, ¡°Out, now! But you, the butler, stay!¡± Everyone did as they were told. Once sure they were alone, Letitia grabbed the butler¡¯s hand tightly, ¡°You¡¯re the only one I can trust right now.¡± ¡°Madam, whatever you need, just say the word. I¡¯ve been with Mr. Ramirez since he was a kid, my loyalty¡¯s always been with him!¡± Letitia lowered her voice, ¡°Remember Marcel¡¯s death?¡± That was all she said, but the butler instantly got the message, with his face turning grave in a sh! ¡°We need someone from Ivory Towers at the hospital to stick to Elgin like glue,¡± Letitia instructed, ¡°especially check everything given to Elgin such as medicines, IVs, the lot. Can¡¯t let anyone slip through the cracks! Butler, you know as well as I do, Marcel¡¯s death wasn¡¯t my father¡¯s doing! It was chaos then, someone must¡¯ve yed dirty¡­ and we can¡¯t let that happen again!¡± The butler¡¯s expression was somber, ¡°I understand, madam. I¡¯ll make arrangements right away.¡± ¡°Just to be safe, you go yourself.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Watching the butler hurry off, Letitia slumped back onto the sofa. Folks who trusted in the Sanders family were few and far between, but thank goodness the butler was one of them. She figured the butler must know something, but¡­ he wouldn¡¯t spill the beans to her. The road to the truth was long, but she was determined to see it through to the light! At the hospital. In the room, Phedra said, ¡°Hawley, you¡¯re no use just sitting around here. Better head back.¡± This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°If you¡¯re worried, I can stay.¡± Hawley got up with his cane, ¡°Alright, I¡¯m no spring chicken and can¡¯t sit still for long. Any news, you let me know, don¡¯t leave me hanging.¡± ¡°Sure, you think I¡¯d mess up?¡± Then Phedra saw Hawley out. Five minutester, she was back in the room, eyeing the IV bag. Only about half left, time to call the nurse for a change soon. It was just her and the unconscious Elgin in the room, guards and servants were stationed outside. Phedra edged closer to the bed, malice flickering in her eyes. A stepmom, how could she have Elgin¡¯s best interests at heart? Plus, in Elgin¡¯s eyes, she was never a figure of respect! Phedra had a son, maybe not as sharp or smart as Elgin, but flesh and blood nheless. She was dead set on getting his son to take over the Ramirez family! But Elgin was too dominant and never gave her boy a chance! Elgin, Elgin, I always thought you were invincible without a single weakness. I tried everything to knock you down and set you up, but always ended up failing.¡± ¡°I kept wondering when you¡¯d show a weak spot. Never dreamed it¡¯d be¡­ Leti. Ha, even heroes have their Achilles¡¯ heel.¡± ¡°It¡¯d be quite a story if you bit the dust because of Letitia, right?¡± Saying so, Phedra¡¯s hand crept toward the IV tube. The air turned heavy, still, silent. Just then¡­ bang! The door burst open from the outside. Phedra jumped, quickly retracting her hand and spinning toward the door. ¡°What the hell?¡± At the sight of him, she rxed, scowling, ¡°What do you want? No manners, barging in without knocking!¡± She was thedy of the Ramirez family and had to put on airs. ¡°Sorry,¡± the butler said, ¡°I was so focused on Mr. Ramirez that I got ahead of myself. My apologies, ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°Fine, just get out.¡± ¡°Ma¡¯am, I¡¯m here to look after Mr. Ramirez.¡± Phedra snapped back, ¡°I¡¯m here, that¡¯s enough.¡± But the butler walked over, replying politely, ¡°You¡¯re the mistress and shouldn¡¯t be doing the work, my lady.¡± Phedra didn¡¯t want to leave, her face showing her reluctance. Couldn¡¯t she do anything against the Ramirez family, let alone a butler? ¡°I don¡¯t need your backseat driving,¡± Phedra said firmly, ¡°I¡¯m staying, you get out.¡± The butler was no fool, ¡°You¡¯re a woman, ma¡¯am, some things might be inconvenient for you.¡± Caught off guard by this reasoning, Phedra couldn¡¯t argue. Still smiling, the butler ushered her out, and she didn¡¯t insist, lest it raise suspicion. ¡°Alright, I¡¯lle backter,¡± she agreed. ¡°You¡¯re wee to visit Mr. Ramirez anytime,¡± the butler said, closing the door behind her. Back in the room, he checked Elgin¡¯s breathing, relieved to find him stable. Good thing Letitia had considered the danger to Mr. Ramirez, or Phedra might have had her chance! If something happened with just Phedra in the room, everyone would suspect the doctors or nurses, or worsening injuries. Who would suspect her? Elgin remained deeply unconscious, his arm wrapped in thick bandages. Three dayster. The butler had been sticking to the room like glue these past days, monitoring medication and IVs. Hawley came by daily, yet Elgin hadn¡¯t woken. Heshed out at the doctor, ¡°It¡¯s been three days, not a peep!¡± ¡°Sir, our exams show Mr. Ramirez¡¯s functions are recovering, and the blood loss has been managed¡­ ¡°Cut the crap, Hawley interrupted, ¡°I just want Elgin awake!¡± Elgin had been away from the Ramirez Group for three days, something unheard of before. If he didn¡¯t show up soon, the board and shareholders would start getting twitchy. After all, Elgin was the linchpin of the Ramirez Group! The doctor wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, ¡°Having family around to chat and give Mr. Ramirez a bit of mental stimtion might just do the trick.¡± ¡°I¡¯m on it!¡± Phedra chimed in, volunteering on the spot. Hawley was about to agree when the butler cut in, ¡°Sir, I believe that Mrs. Ramirez is the best person for this.¡± ¡°How can Letitia get close to Elgin again? No way!¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Phedra piped up, ¡°I watched Elgin grow up and can reminisce with him about the good old days.¡± The butler countered, ¡°No one can take Mrs. Ramirez¡¯s ce.¡± Right then, they heard a faint whisper from Elgin¡¯s bed, with his lips barely moving. A weak voice could be heard, ¡°Letty¡­ Letty¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s he saying?¡± Hawley couldn¡¯t make it out. Chapter 174 Chapter 174 He leaned in close, listened intently, and confirmed that Elgin was murmuring ¡°Letty.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s Letty?¡± Hawley asked, ¡°Could it be¡­ Letitia?!¡± The butler nodded, ¡°Yes. The only word Mr. Ramirez has uttered during his unconscious state has been ¡®Letty.¡±¡± So no one was better suited than Letitia. After a moment of contemtion, Hawley let out a sigh, ¡°Alright, get Letitia over here!¡± Upon hearing it, the butler was over the moon. ¡°But the second Elgin wakes up, she¡¯s outta here,¡± Hawley added, ¡°That¡¯s the deal!¡± Phedra wasn¡¯t thrilled and shot the butler a nasty re. At the Ivory Towers, Letitia stood by the window, looking out at the sky. Three days had passed already. Why hadn¡¯t Elgin woken up¡­. His arm was injured and he had blood transfusions in time. He should have been up by now. Too bad she couldn¡¯t be by his side, all she could do was fret. Suddenly, a car pulled in, and the bodyguard hurried over, ¡°Ma¡¯am.¡± Letitia turned to him, ¡°What¡¯s up? Is Elgin awake?¡± ¡°You are agreed to be with Mr. Ramirez at the hospital.¡± ¡°Really?!¡± Letitia¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Great, I¡¯ll head over right now!¡± She was so thrilled that she didn¡¯t know what to say. Then, she made a beeline for the door, not wanting to waste a second! Rushing to the hospital room, Letitia found only the butler there. ¡°Ma¡¯am, you¡¯ve arrived.¡± ¡°Yep!¡± She nodded, ¡°How¡¯s Elgin?¡± ¡°His vitals are improving, but he¡¯s still out cold.¡± Letitia sat by the bed, her palm gently resting on the back of his hand. She dared not move too much for fear of touching his wounds. ¡°Letty¡­¡± Elgin murmured again in his sleep. ¡°I¡¯m here, I¡¯m right here,¡± Letitia responded immediately, ¡°Can you wake up already?¡± This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Watching this, the butler discreetly left, giving the two some space. Truth be told, Letitia was Mr. Ramirez¡¯s best medicine. Elgin fluttered his eyelids, ¡°Letty, Letty.¡± He kept calling her name, and she kept answering. Letitia, with gentle care, used a warm towel to gently wipe Elgin down, moistening his lips with a cotton swab dipped in warm water now and then. When she had a moment, she¡¯d chat with him. ¡°Look, it¡¯s so sunny today. If you woke up, I could take you out for some sunshine. I ¡°your hand will be fine, I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll heal. And if¡­ if it doesn¡¯t work anymore, it¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll be your left hand ¡°Elgin, you¡¯re too proud, aren¡¯t you? Can¡¯t ept an imperfect version of yourself?¡± ¡°I just remembered, when I jumped into theke, you stayed by my bedside, babbling away, hoping I¡¯d open my eyes.¡± Sometimes Letitia had no idea what she was babbling about. As night descended, she snatched a hasty meal. Just as she was preparing to wash herself, Elgin¡¯s voice echoed out, calling for her. ¡°Letty, Letty¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± This time, after she answered, Elgin¡¯s fingers twitched slightly. Letitia saw it clear as day. She hurried over, ¡°Elgin, Elgin, I¡¯m here, look at me, I¡¯m safe and sound, don¡¯t you want to see for yourself? Wake up, please, everyone¡¯s waiting for you, me especially.¡± Under Letitia¡¯s eager gaze, Elgin slowly opened his eyes. He was awake! Letitia was so moved that she was lost for words. All she could do was to reach out and m the call bell, signaling the doctors toe quickly. Elgin¡¯s gaze was unfocused, staring at the pristine ceiling. Soon, the room was filled with the hustle and bustle of footsteps as doctors, nurses, and the Ramirez family swarmed in. ¡°Quick, Mr. Ramirez is awake.¡± ¡°Check the monitors, his heartbeat.¡± ¡°Elgin, you¡¯re finally awake, you had us worried sick!¡± A cacophony of voices filled the room, it was noisy and chaotic. But the voice Elgin had been longing to hear¡­ was conspicuously absent. Where was the person who kept saying ¡°I¡¯m here¡±? ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± Where had the person who should have been there gone? Elgin turned his head slightly, scanning the crowd around his bed. Her grandpa, Phedra, the butler, doctors, nurses¡­ but no sign of Letitia. Where was she? Elgin¡¯s eyes swept over them, a profound disappointment setting in. Was it all a dream? A hallucination? Had Letitia never been there at all? Elgin slowly closed his eyes again, furrowing his brow deeply, ¡°Letty¡­¡± At that moment, Letitia was pushed to the outside. Surrounded by the crowd, she couldn¡¯t see Elgin¡¯s condition or hear his faint voice. He was awake So, she wasn¡¯t needed here anymore. Hawley would lock her back up in Ivory Towers¡­ Letitia watched their backs with a serise of loss. How she wished to be the first person Elgin saw when he opened his eyes. Because she was the one he had fought so hard to save, and seeing her would have given him peace of mind. But with so many people, she couldn¡¯t squeeze in. Letitia stood silently, unobtrusively on the sidelines. Finally, the head doctor breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°Mr. Ramirez is out of danger for good. However, the injury to his arm is severe. It¡¯ll need at least six months of care.¡± Hawley asked, ¡°Will it affect his future life?¡± ¡°If he recovers well, it shouldn¡¯t. For the next two years, he mustn¡¯t lift heavy things or engage in any strenuous activities.¡± That¡¯s good to hear.¡± Then, Elgin¡¯s voice broke the silence, ¡°Where¡¯s Letitia?¡± His voice was hoarse and raw as if his vocal cords had been torn, but he managed to articte those words. Where was Letitia? He needed to see her. Hawley paused for a while before answering, ¡°Elgin, you¡¯ve just woken up, lie still for now, your hand¡­¡± Elgin cut him off, repeating, ¡°Where¡¯s Letitia?¡± His gaze sharpened, sweeping towards the butler standing by. Letitia couldn¡¯t possibly not be at the hospital. Unless¡­ she had no heart. Elgin¡¯s memory is stuck right at the kidnapping scene. He has no clue how long he knocked out, or what¡¯s up with Letitia right now. She was safe back then, but the gash on her cheek was like a thorn in his side, eating him up step by step! ¡°The missus is out there, Mr. Ramirez,¡± the butler turned back and pointed outside, ¡°The crowd was so thick just now, they pushed her right outside.¡± Elgin nced up. Bam! His eyes locked with Letitia¡¯s. The time seemed to be frozen then. They just eyeballed each other without a single word. But in each other¡¯s peepers, they saw the reflection of their souls. Some loves needn¡¯t be shouted from the rooftops. A look could say it all. ¡­Come here.¡± Elgin finally broke the silence, cutting to the chase. Chapter 175 Chapter 175 Letitia first sneaked a peek at Hawley unconsciously before she took her first step. Sharp as a tack, Elgin sure caught that nce. He too looked at Hawley, ¡°Grandpa, how long was I out cold?¡± ¡°Three to four days.¡± ¡°So, what have you been up to with Letitia in the meantime?¡± Hawley was taken aback, ¡°Elgin, what are you getting at? Are you grilling me?¡± ¡°Just spill the beans, Grandpa.¡± ¡°Ha!¡± Hawley chuckled, ¡°I made sure Letitia stayed put in Ivory Towers and kept her from breathing down your neck! Did I mess up?¡± Elgin pursed his lips, ¡°I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s not just that.¡± Just now, when he had called Letitia over, she had been checking out Hawley¡¯s mood. Clearly, Grandpa had put the screws to her. A flicker of irritation crossed Elgin¡¯s mind. He should¡¯ve given Samson the heads-up not to let Letitia rub shoulders with the Ramirez family, so as to keep her from getting the short end of the stick. Toote now, she had already been given a hard time. Hawley huffed, ¡°You¡¯re head over heels for Letitia! That temptress!¡± At the sight of the tension, the butler quickly stepped in to smooth things over, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, your wife¡¯s been at your bedside all day. She¡¯s been taking care of you, with your grandpa¡¯s blessing!¡± ¡°Ha, spare me your exnations!¡± Hawley flung out his hand, ¡°Elgin, I¡¯mying it on the line for you. Letitia can¡¯t stick around you anymore!¡± With that, he stormed out, mming the door behind him. The butler scurried after him, trying to calm Hawley down. Back in the hospital room, it was just the two of them again. He looked at her, ¡°Now that it¡¯s just us, aren¡¯t you going a bit closer?¡± Hearing this, Letitia was tingled with emotion. After a few seconds of silence, she heard Elgin say, ¡°Or is it that, Letty, you don¡¯t want to be near me¡­¡± A burst of coughing sound was heard by Letitia. He started coughing as soon as he finished his sentence. ¡°Don¡¯t rush, take it slow!¡± Letitia immediately got anxious, grabbing the cup of water to help him drink, ¡°Wet your whistle, it¡¯s still warm.¡± But Elgin just gazed at her. ¡°Drink up!¡± Letitia urged, ¡°Staring at me won¡¯t ease your cough!¡± Elgin finally took a sip. Letitia rxed, about to get up, but Elgin gripped her wrist tightly, ¡°Don¡¯t go.¡± *1. Fm just putting the cup down.¡± ¡°Why did you duck out earlier?¡± Elgin asked, ¡°I didn¡¯t see you and thought¡­ you weren¡¯t in the room.¡± When he opened his eyes and couldn¡¯t see her, he thought to himself, how cold Letitia¡¯s heart must be to not visit him. After all, he had just saved her life. Elgin knew that the child they had lost was a lifelong pain in their hearts. But now, right here, in this moment, could she not feel a shred of concern for him? Letitia answered honestly, ¡°I¡­ was squeezed out by them.¡± ¡°Then you knew to squeeze back in?¡± FE His palm wasn¡¯t as warm as usual, a bit chilly, but still clung to her wrist as if he was afraid she¡¯d slip away the moment he let go. Letitia looked down, ¡°I didn¡¯t leave. Once they dispersed, you¡¯d see me.¡± ¡°But I wish you could always be where I can see you just by looking up.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Letitia fell silent. Then, she changed the subject, ¡°You need to lie still, don¡¯t move around. Your arm¡¯s banged up and you need to take care of it so it doesn¡¯t cause anysting problems.¡± Elgin¡¯s gaze never left her face. ¡°What exactly did Grandpa say to you? Tell me the truth,¡± Elgin pressed, ¡°Don¡¯t hold back.¡± ¡°You heard what he has just said.¡± ¡°His words must¡¯ve been harsher, you felt pretty lousy, huh?¡± Letitia was tingled again. This man, Elgin, could be so ruthless that she could hate him to the bone. But then, when he was being sweet, he was so tender, caring, and considerate. The sweetness of a man¡­ was lethal every time, drowning her with no way out. Yeah, she felt lousy when Hawley pped her and wagged his finger in her face. But back then, she didn¡¯t think much of it. Now, with Elgin¡¯s probing, her distress peaked. ¡°Talk to me,¡± Elgin softened his tone, ¡°Let me deal with it.¡± Letitia remained silent. ¡°You¡¯re not talking because you think I can¡¯t handle it?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Letitia nodded, ¡°The beef between me and the Ramirez family is a Gordian knot, impossible to untie.¡± Elgin¡¯s expression grew dark. He knew what she was referring to. The feud between the Sanders and the Ramirez families was an old wound. Letitia, looking down, confessed, ¡°Hawley called me a jinx and said I¡¯m the bane of the Ramirez family. My dad killed yours, I couldn¡¯t save the Ramirez bloodline, and now I¡¯m about to risk your safety¡­ The best I can do is to keep my distance and keep you safe.¡± Elgin had guessed as much, but hearing it from her still hurt like hell. Letty, if it weren¡¯t for the past beef, we could¡¯ve been just another normal couple, right?¡± Letitia replied. ¡°If there were no feud, we¡¯d never have met.¡± He was the golden boy in the AquaCity, calling the shots. And her? Just a girl from a middle-ss family in AquaCity, engaged, academically sessful, with a bright future ahead. They were two parallel lines that would never cross. It was Marcel¡¯s death that caused their paths to intertwine. Elgin cracked a wry smile, ¡°Guess you¡¯re right.¡± He wanted to stroke her hair, but right now, he only had one good arm. If he held her hand, he couldn¡¯t hug or touch her. ¡°But¡­ Letty,¡± Elgin said, ¡°you can¡¯t leave. You can¡¯t leave my side.¡± Letitia asked, ¡°Would you go against your grandpa for me?¡± ¡°For you, I¡¯d take on the whole world.¡± Sweet talk that could flutter one¡¯s heart. And it sure made hers skip a beat. ¡°That¡¯s your grandpa, though. He¡¯s just looking out for you,¡± Letitia remarked, ¡°Family ties are hard to unshackle. How could you turn him into an enemy?¡± ¡°But you¡¯re my boo, my better half, my one and only.¡± Letitia didn¡¯t want to hear any more of it. If she kept listening, her heart wouldn¡¯t just flutter but go all soft. And that was not the ending she wanted to see. ¡°Elgin, pressuring me like this is pointless,¡± Letitia said. ¡°We have no future. There¡¯s just too much stuff between us, a chasm too wide to cross.¡± Elgin just looked into her eyes, ¡°Love is beyond the distance and the time.¡± Letitia looked away. ¡°But I hate you,¡± Letitia said, ¡°I can¡¯t forgive you. Every time I get a bit closer to you, I remember that lifeless child, that unborn fetus¡­¡± When she talked about it, the mood turned heavy as lead. Letitia couldn¡¯t forget the despair and coldness she felt lying on that operating table. Chapter 176 Chapter 176 At the same time, she couldn¡¯t forget Elgin¡¯s brave figure when he saved her. Elgin was adamant, saying, ¡°I¡¯m not gonna let you slip away.¡± No one could stand in his way. Anything hindering their love would be tackled. He wanted her and only her. ¡°Letty, you¡¯ve got feelings for me too,¡± Elgin stressed, ¡°When Sh was holding you hostage, you didn¡¯t want -me to kneel or to hurt myself¡­ At that moment, you were all about me. Those feelings are real, and I¡¯ll never forget it.¡± It was also her objection and her consideration for him that encouraged Elgin to rescue her at all costs. Letitia shook her head, ¡°No¡­ I just didn¡¯t want to owe you!¡± How on earth did you repay a life-saving debt?! ¡°Sh kidnapped you because of me,¡± Elgin sighed, ¡°Truth be told, I owe you and I didn¡¯t keep you safe.¡± Letitia was about to say something else when he suddenly dipped his head and pecked her lips swiftly. She was stunned. Why did he just steal a kiss? ¡°I can¡¯t gag you, so I had to kiss you,¡± Elgin said, ¡°Letty, let¡¯s drop it.¡± ¡°You..¡± Elgin bent down again and kissed her once more. Letitia red at him, annoyed. What kind of sorcery was this? But Elgin was smug as could be. Hmm, at least he had found a way to keep her quiet. Just kiss her every time she talked. ¡°Did they stitch up the wound on your face? Will it scar?¡± Elgin¡¯s eyes fell on her injury as he gently caressed it. ¡°¡­Yeah.¡± Elgin tensed up instantly, ¡°What? Did the doctor say so himself?¡± ¡°Yes, the cut on my cheek is too deep, scarring is inevitable. The ones on my neck aren¡¯t as bad.¡± Elgin¡¯s gaze shifted downwards. On Letitia¡¯s neck, there wasn¡¯t just the cut from Sh, but also an older one she had inflicted on herself. Deep, shallow, old and new scars stood out starkly on her neck. ¡°From now on, I can¡¯t let you get hurt, not even a scratch,¡± Elgin said earnestly, ¡°Not a single one.¡± Then, he reproached himself, ¡°If only I had been quicker to stab my arm, then Sh wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to hurt you, and you wouldn¡¯t have this scar¡­¡± Letitia asked, ¡°Does it bother you that I¡¯ll have scars on my face?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Hearing his answer, her eyshes fluttered. So he did mind¡­ well, which guy wouldn¡¯t care about a woman¡¯s looks? ¡°A girl¡¯s face is so precious, not supposed to have a blemish,¡± Elgin said, ¡°I don¡¯t want you to feel insecure. about your scars.¡± Letitia paused, so that was what he cared about¡­ She blurted out, ¡°You don¡¯t mind if I be ugly?¡± ¡°How could you ever be ugly,¡± Elgin replied. ¡°In my eyes, you¡¯ve always been the most beautiful.¡± Letitia looked at him intently. At that moment, she wanted to throw herself into his arms and cling to him tightly, to tell him how scared she was Letitia was scared he wouldn¡¯t wake up, his hand would be useless, and she¡¯d never see him again¡­ But reason told Letitia she couldn¡¯t. She couldn¡¯t let go of the past hatred, pretend nothing ever happened, and live with Elgin. She couldn¡¯t ept Elgin¡¯s love, because apanying that love was hate that pierced her heart. Letitia stood up, ¡°You should rest. I¡¯m leaving.¡± Upon hearing this, Elgin immediately tried to reach out for her, but Letitia was faster, turning on her heel and walking away. He couldn¡¯t reach her. ¡°Letty,¡± Elgin called out, e back.¡± Letitia didn¡¯t turn around. ¡°Letitia!¡± Instead, she quickened her pace, leaving the hospital room. Elginy on the hospital bed, swearing under his breath, ¡°Damn it!¡± He was too weak right now and couldn¡¯t even get out of bed. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have let her leave! Staring at his immobile left hand, Elgin¡¯s face was riddled with irritation. As soon as Letitia left, the butler came in, ¡°Mr. Ramirez.¡± ¡°Tell Samson,¡± Elgin instructed, ¡°to hunt down the most effective scar removal cream in the world for now.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°And have Ranen drop by. It¡¯s time to deal with the pile ofpany issues that have umted.¡± The butler was surprised, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, you¡¯ve juste to¡­¡± ¡°Do as I say!¡± In front of others, Elgin was always so cold and emotionless, not a trace of tenderness. Only Letitia saw his private side. ¡°Oh,¡± Elgin suddenly remembered, ¡°What about Sh?¡± ¡°She¡¯s been returned to the psychiatric hospital, barely alive.¡± He narrowed his eyes and asked, ¡°She survived?¡± That thrust of his knife had been straight into her heart, quick, precise, ruthless. Elgin had been afraid of not using enough force, afraid that Sh would still have a chance to react and hurt Letitia, so he went for the kill. He had some moves and his physical fitness was way above average. ¡°Mr. Stewart said it¡¯s too easy on her if she dies, so he had the doctors save her,¡± the butler replied. Elgin nodded, ¡°Right.¡± Samson knew him well. ¡°Why are you here at the hospital? Isn¡¯t there stuff to handle at Ivory Towers?¡± Elgin inquired, ¡°Ranen could take care of things here.¡± The butler exined, ¡°Ranen has been keeping thepany stable and couldn¡¯t get away, so they sent me.¡± The Ramirez Group was nearly in chaos, but thanks to Samson and Ranen working together, they managed to steady the ship. 3 F F G ZWE Now that Elgin was awake, the situation hadpletely turned around. Elgin grunted, pressing his forehead. After a moment of thought, the butler cautiously reminded him, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, some of the folks around you might have ulterior motives. While you were out, it¡¯s better to have someone you trust looking after you.¡± Elgin understood his meaning and said, ¡°You¡¯ve been a big help these past days.¡± ¡°No trouble at all, just doing my job,¡± the butler replied, ¡°It was Mrs. Ramirez who reminded me toe and watch over you at the hospital.¡± This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Her?¡± ¡°Yes, she¡¯s got a long view.¡± Elgin asked nonchntly, ¡°I¡¯m injured and lots of people have been stirring in the shadows, right? Who¡¯se by the hospital room these past days?¡± ¡°Hawley and Phedra.¡± ¡°All gone?¡± The butler replied, ¡°Yes, Mr. Ramirez.¡± He didn¡¯t dare say more. Hopefully¡­ Mr. Ramirez would keep a closer eye on Phedra to avoid another tragedy like Marcel¡¯s! Elgin gave another instruction, ¡°There¡¯s something else you need to take care of.¡± ¡°What would you have me do, Mr. Ramirez?¡± ¡°Behind the scenes, arrange for a few people to look after Letitia.¡± Elgin emphasized, ¡°Be slick about it and don¡¯t let her catch wind of it. Otherwise, she¡¯d definitely blow a fuse with her temper, mistaking he¡¯s breathing down her neck. But truth be told¡­ he genuinely wanted to keep her safe. Chapter 177 Chapter 177 Stuff like Sh¡¯s kidnapping couldn¡¯t happen again. No ifs, ands, or buts! Outside the hospital. Letitia had just stepped out when a ck Mercedes van rolled up. ¡°Ma¡¯am, please get in,¡± the bodyguard said respectfully. ¡°We¡¯ll take you back to Ivory Towers.¡± Hawley kept tabs on her, not giving her an inch of freedom to move. Letitia nodded and was about to get in when she heard Vidonia, ¡°Letitia!¡± The bodyguard blocked her right away. ¡°What¡¯s the big idea?¡± Vidonia pushed past him, ¡°Who the heck are you guys?¡± Letitia reached out and pulled Vidonia into the car, ¡°Let¡¯s go, forget about her.¡± ¡°No way, Elgin¡¯s got this many people watching you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not his people. It¡¯s Hawley.¡± Vidonia clicked her tongue twice, ¡°These rich folks y mind games!¡± ¡°Why are you at the hospital?¡± Letitia asked, ¡°Looking for me?¡± ¡°Yeah, do you think I¡¯m here to visit Elgin? Even though he saved you, the stuff he did before was still not forgivable.¡± Letitia fell silent. ¡°Letitia, you¡¯re not going soft on him, are you?¡± Vidonia pressed, ¡°After this brush with death, you¡¯ve got feelings for Elgin?¡± ¡°Actually¡­ my feelings for him have been there for a long time.¡± Letitia had feelings for Elgin when they made love at that night, and when she decided to have the baby. When she found out that the stranger that night was Elgin, she realized she had fallen for Elgin. But reality was too cruel and she was fated not to end up with him. Letitia forced a bitter smile, ¡°But how can I love him? As what? His wife? The enemy¡¯s daughter? Or as the mother of that child who¡¯s gone?¡± ¡°Letitia,¡± Vidonia held her hand, ¡°The moment Elgin hurt you, he became unforgivable for life.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not nning to forgive him.¡± A bygone vibrant life left an eternal ache in her heart. Letitia could forgive Elgin, but she couldn¡¯t forgive him on the child¡¯s behalf. Vidonia sighed, ¡°I know you¡¯re torn. Who wouldn¡¯t be moved by a man willing toy down his life for you? But Elgin is not the one for you, he hurt you too deeply.¡± Vidonia was a rational and clear-headed powerhouse. She wouldn¡¯t let emotions cloud her judgment and wanted the best for Letitia. ¡®There are plenty of fish in the sea, someone better than Elgin will show up for you,¡± Vidonia said, ¡°I¡¯m sure of it.¡± Letitia nodded. She didn¡¯t know how to face Elgin. Her heart was soft, yet as hard as iron sometimes. What a contradiction! As the saying goes, the moment someone decides to hurt you, all their attempts at making amends afterwards aren¡¯t worth forgiving. ¡°Oh right, almost forgot the main event,¡± Vidonia suddenly said, ¡°I¡¯ve brought you something nice.¡± ¡°What?¡± Vidonia pulled out a mysterious box from her bag. As she opened the box and unwrapped the cloth, Letitia saw the sheen of the object inside. Emerald! Her mother¡¯s emerald! This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. She¡¯d recognize it anywhere with just a nce! Letitia excitedly asked, ¡°The emerald bracelet¡¯s been fixed? Vidonia, you know how to get things done!¡± ¡°Hold your horses,¡± Vidonia said, ¡°I went to a lot of craftsmen, but none could guarantee it¡¯d be crack- free. It¡¯s a fine piece of emerald, after all, any imperfection would stand out, so¡­ I took a middle-of-the- road approach.¡± As she spoke, Vidonia unfolded the clothyer byyer, ¡°Look.¡± An emerald pendanty quietly in her palm. The surface of the pendant was carved into a flower with a clear texture, sparkling like a genius craft. ¡°I found the best gem craftsman to turn the shattered emerald bracelet into this pendant,¡± Vidonia exined. ¡°Got it just today and rushed over to give it to you.¡± Letitia took it. The emerald bracelet turned into an emerald pendant¡­ Broken things couldn¡¯t be restored to their original state. This was also the case for her heart. ¡°Thanks,¡± Letitia said, ¡°Keeping this emerald piece is already the best oue for me.¡± ¡°A pendant is nice too. Put it on, may it bring you peace and smooth sailing.¡± ¡°No, I want to put it on my mom.¡± Vidonia nodded, ¡°That works too!¡± Letitia smiled, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the sanatorium.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Letitia instructed the driver to change course, but the driver hesitated, ¡°Ma¡¯am¡­ I, uh¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to see Elgin, is that not okay too?¡± ¡°Let me check first.¡± The driver checked with Hawley, who agreed. Vidonia watched silently, not saying a word. She knew the current Letitia was just a puppet without freedom, surrounded by splendor but not a shred of happiness. What¡¯s the point of living if you¡¯re not happy? At the sanatorium. Malinda had been moved to a regr room but was still unconscious. Letitia worried her mother would be a vegetable again, or¡­ leave her forever. The hospital was using the best medicine and the best equipment to keep her alive. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m here to see you,¡± Letitia bent down, putting the pendant around Malinda¡¯s neck, ¡°Let it protect you.¡± Malinda, eyes closed, didn¡¯t move an inch. Vidonia turned away, secretly wiping away her tears. The Sanders family faced one misfortune after another. Malinda had barely woken from her vegetative state when Sh enraged her twice, causing her to fall ill again. ¡°Letitia, who¡¯s going to protect you¡­ Vidonia choked up. Letitia didn¡¯t answer, earnestly cing the pendant around Malinda¡¯s neck, and arranging it carefully. Malinda was the rightful owner. The pendant remained, and so did her mother. She wasn¡¯t in pain and didn¡¯t need protection. She just hoped for more blessings for her mother to pull through this. Night fell. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, take a breather, will ya?¡± Ranen stood by the hospital bed. ¡°These doctors can wait till tomorrow to get your OK, no biggie¡­¡± Elgin rolled his eyes, ¡°Zip it.¡± He was holding a pen, constantly writing away. Though slow, his handwriting was still neat and shy. He had been smart about it, deliberately injuring his left hand because the right one was too precious for signing off on things. Elgin wasn¡¯t resting, so Ranen didn¡¯t dare clock out and just hung around. It was almost midnight when Elgin finally put down the pen, ¡°Come in early tomorrow.¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez, shouldn¡¯t you be resting up?¡± ¡°Ain¡¯t this resting?¡± If it weren¡¯t for the doctor saying he had a bone injury that needed to be kept still, not to wander about, he would¡¯ve been back at the Ramirez Group in a heartbeat. Ranen muttered, ¡°This seems more tiring than work¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll survive.¡± Elgin was a fitness junkie all year round in good physical shape, and he had already regained half his strength. It was just the deep gash on his arm that he couldn¡¯t mess with, but the rest of his body was all good. Chapter 178 Chapter 178 He nced at the clock and casually asked, ¡°What about her?¡± ¡°Mrs. Ramirez¡­¡± Ranen replied, ¡°She¡¯s at Ivory Towers,¡± ¡°Bring her over.¡± ¡°Uhh¡­¡± Everyone and their dog knew that Hawley hadid down thew. No one was letting Letitia take one step out of Ivory Towers without his say-so! Elgin raised an eyebrow, ¡°What¡¯s up? Got cotton in your ears?¡± Ranen had a lightbulb moment and answered, ¡°It¡¯s prettyte, the missus must be¡­ must be sleeping by now¡­¡± Bingo! What a killer excuse! Ranen felt like giving himself a standing ovation! Sure enough, Elgin fell silent for a beat. Yeah, it was almost the crack of dawn. She must¡¯ve been scared out of her wits these past few days, not exactly in tip-top shape. After a moment of thought, Elgin said, ¡°Get a doctor.¡± ¡°Right away, Mr. Ramirez.¡± When the doctor showed up, he was all bows and scrapes, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, are you feeling unwell?¡± ¡°I need to step out of the hospital for a bit, about two hours or so,¡± Elgin said. ¡°Figure something out to secure the wound so I can get out of bed and move around.¡± The doctor was speechless. Ranen Was stunned. Where the heck did Mr. Ramirez think he¡¯s off to? Something so critical he¡¯d ditch his recovery? ¡°What are you spacing out for?¡± Elgin looked peeved. ¡°Get on with it.¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez, your arm¡¯s in bad shape and needs a long time to heal. Since you¡¯ve just woken up, how can you possibly¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m asking you to work your magic.¡± Otherwise, he¡¯d have already tossed aside the covers and hopped out of bed. Elgin wanted to see Letitia. If she was asleep, then he¡¯d just go and quietly take a peek to keep herpany. Even that thought felt pretty darn wonderful to him. ¡°Make it snappy.¡± Elgin¡¯s patience was wearing thin. The doctor and Ranen exchanged nces, neither daring to give the green light, Elgin darkened his expression, ¡°What, do I not call the shots anymore?¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez, do you have some sort of emergency?¡± the doctor ventured. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then why. ¡°I want to see my wife,¡± Elgin cut in. ¡°Is that a problem?¡± The doctor fell into silence. Ranen didn¡¯t know how to reply, either. That reason just left them speechless! They looked at each other, lost for words. After all, they couldn¡¯t tick off Hawley but got stuck between them! Just then, the door to the room swung open, ¡°Of course, there¡¯s a problem! Do you even want to keep your hand? You¡¯re wrecking yourself over a woman? Elgin, I¡¯m so disappointed in you!¡± Hawley stormed in, face ashen. He¡¯d just reached the hospital when he heard that Elgin wanted to go back to Ivory Towers to see Letitia, which made his blood boil on the spot! Seeing their savior arrive, Ranen and the doctor made themselves scarce. Elgin, however, was the picture of a calm, ¡°Grandpa.¡± ¡°You remember I¡¯m your grandpa!¡± ¡°We are family lifelong and can¡¯t be wiped away,¡± Elgin said. ¡°What brings you here sote, Grandpa?¡± ¡°Lucky I came, otherwise you¡¯d be off to see that vixen, Letitia!¡± Hawley had been restless back at the mansion, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. So he figured he¡¯d feel better after checking in at the hospital.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. But then he walked in on this conversation and it was almost enough to give him a stroke! Elgin retorted, ¡°Isn¡¯t it because you restricted her personal freedom and wouldn¡¯t let her see me, so I have to go. to her?¡± ¡°She needs to stay as far away from you as possible!¡± ¡°Then why was she in the room when I woke up?¡± Hawley was at a loss for words, ¡°That¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s¡­¡± Elgin spoke lightly, ¡°Because you know that only she can wake me up and take care of me. When you need her, you let here, and when you don¡¯t, you discard her like she¡¯s nothing.¡± The thought of Letitia¡¯s suffering from his grandpa irritated Elgin. Anyone else would¡¯ve been toast long ago! ¡°One way or another, you¡¯re getting a divorce from Letitia!¡± Hawley dered. ¡°She can¡¯t stay by your side. I won¡¯t let your father¡¯s tragedy happen to you and lose my loved one.¡± ¡°Letitia won¡¯t hurt me.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re willing to die for her! Elgin, I¡¯ve painstakingly groomed you to be my sessor, how can you throw your life away over a woman!¡± Elgin curled his lips into a smile, surprisingly. Hawley was livid, ¡°What are youughing at!?¡± ¡°Grandpa, did you know? There were several chances for Letitia to kill me, but she didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°What? Hawley was shocked. ¡°How can you be so careless? What are your bodyguards for if they let such dangerous things happen? ¡°Don¡¯t you think that her not killing me means she loves me?¡± She did love him. Just the thought made Elgin feel blissful. Hawley clutched his chest, I¡­ I never imagined, Elgin, that you¡¯d be so lovesick!¡± Samson called him whipped. Grandpa called him lovesick. Personally, Elgin didn¡¯t think these titles were bad. Compared to ¡°CEO,¡± ¡°young master,¡± and ¡°tycoon,¡± he preferred to be ¡°whipped¡± by Letitia. ¡°Grandpa, it¡¯s best if you don¡¯t meddle in my rtionship with Letitia,¡± Elgin started, warning and reminding. ¡°Otherwise, it¡¯s bound to affect our grandparent-grandchild bond.¡± ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a heads up, Grandpa, Elgin said. ¡°You¡¯d better lift Letitia¡¯s house arrest.¡± Without a second thought, Hawley refused, ¡°No way!¡± Seeing Elgin so deeply in love only made Hawley more determined¡­ to send Letitia far away, the farther the better! This woman was nothing but trouble! He couldn¡¯t keep her around! Elgin sat up, ready to get out of bed. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Hawley rushed to hold him down. ¡°Your arm¡¯s immobilized, you can¡¯t just move around.¡± ¡°I want to see Letitia.¡± He missed her. Nothing and no one was going to stop him from seeing her. Absolutely nothing. Hawley gritted his teeth, knowing full well the stubborn streak in Elgin, a family head of the Ramirez family that he had groomed himself! That tenacity in his bones and never-look-back attitude were impossible to hold back! ¡°Let¡¯s talk tomorrow!¡± Hawley took a step back. ¡°No way.¡± ¡°Letitia hit the hay at ten o¡¯clock,¡± Hawley replied irritably, ¡°You gonna drag her out of bed?¡± After hearing that, Elgin finally settled back down on his sickbed. ¡°Tomorrow morning at eight, I want to see her,¡± Elgin stated, ¡°Lift her grounding. Otherwise, I¡¯ll go and see her myself.¡± Hawley turned on his heel and stormed out, mming the door behind him with a bang. Elgin took the win in this round. With his arm injury, he sessfully cornered Hawley into backing down and waving the white g. Chapter 179 Chapter 179 He knew that if he backed down in front of his grandpa again, his marriage to Letitia would only face fiercer opposition from the Ramirez farnily! So he couldn¡¯t give an inch bute out on top! Staring out into the night from his window, Elgin thought that a happy marriage shoulde with the family¡¯s blessing perhaps. Hmm¡­ He was determined to fight for Letitia. That day woulde. The next day, at eight o¡¯clock. Elgin anticipated it correctly ¨C the faint rhythm of familiar footsteps outside the ward announced Letitia¡¯s arrival. Recognizing her distinct gait, he had no doubt it was her. But Letitia stood at the door of the ward, hesitating for a long time before she pushed it open. She had been woken up early in the morning and driven here, with no one bothering to tell her what was going 1. She had no clue what had happened. But Letitia could guess that there must have been some sort of showdown between Hawley and Elgin. While one was attempting to keep her distanced from Elgin, the other was longing for her presence. ¡°Come in, what are you dawdling for?¡± Elgin asked. ¡°Do you need me toe get you?¡± Startled, Letitia hurried inside. He shouldn¡¯t be moving around! Elgin watched her every move, with his gaze following her wherever she went. ¡°What¡¯s the big rush getting me here first thing in the morning?¡± Letitia asked with a cool expression, ¡°There are doctors and nurses here, they don¡¯t need me.¡± She had to be a bit colder, a bit more ruthless, so she wouldn¡¯t be swayed by Elgin¡¯s tender approach. ¡°¡­I wanted to see you: ¡°Oh.¡± Letitia stood far from the bed, her eyes darting around everywhere but at him. At the sight of her nonchnce, Elgin squinted his eyes, ¡°What did grandpa say to you?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing to tell,¡± Letitia responded, ¡°I¡¯ve been at Ivory Towers the whole time.¡± Elgin said, ¡°I¡¯ll get you back to thepany and return your freedom. But right now¡­¡± Right now, he just wanted her by his side. But he didn¡¯t say that. Letitia was on high alert around him, and he could feel it. Elgin wondered just how cold was Letitia. Could his near-death experience not move her at all? The silence filled the room when Elgin stopped speaking. It was so quiet you could hear the wind outside. #t was Ranen¡¯s arrival that broke the silence, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, here¡¯s your breakfast for today¡­ and Madam, you¡¯re here too ? apter 129 ¡°Yeah, Ranen.¡± *Great, then let¡¯s have breakfast together,¡± Ranen said. ¡°Madam, I¡¯ll leave Mr. Ramirez in your care!¡± Ranen sure knew when to make himself scarce, dropping everything and skedaddling. Letitia set up the breakfast and handed him the chopsticks. Elgin didn¡¯t take them. She reached out again. ¡°¡­You still hate me,¡± Elgin said. ¡°Don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What would it take for you to stop hating me?¡± Letitia answered, ¡°Unless that child¡­es back to life.¡± That was impossible. The dead couldn¡¯te back to life. Letitia was cutting off any chance for them to mend their rtionship. ¡°We could have another¡­¡± Elgin didn¡¯t finish his sentence before Letitia interrupted him, ¡°Sure, we could try again and have another child, but that child will nevere back!¡± Her emotions ran high, with her voice rising unintentionally. ¡°Also, Elgin, why on earth should I have a child for you?¡± ¡°Have you ever cherished me? Do you even know what love is? I still remember all the hurt and insults you threw at me!¡± ¡°My mother hasn¡¯t woken up yet, the doctor said the special medicine was given a month toote. If it had been sooner, she wouldn¡¯t be like this now, possibly never waking up!¡± ¡°Do you remember that emerald bracelet? I couldn¡¯t fix it, so I made it into a jade pendant and put it back around my mom¡¯s neck. But you could have given the bracelet back to me! Instead, you had to smash it with your own hands!¡± There were just too many hurts to list. Letitia spoke her mind, with her eyes reddening unconsciously. Elgin raised his hand to wipe the tears but she dodged away. ¡°I think Hawley was right, we¡¯re like oil and water. It¡¯s either you or me who won¡¯t survive. We¡¯re just not meant to be.¡± With that, Letitia turned and left. ¡°Letitia! Come back!¡± But she was resolute, not looking back. Outside, Ranen was taken aback, ¡°Madam, you¡­¡± I¡¯m leaving. Letitia kept her head down, walking briskly away. Madam, the truth is Mr. Ramirez has always cared for you. Hawley camest night, they had a huge fight. For your sake, Mr. Ramirez didn¡¯t back down one bit and got the upper hand.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear it.¡¯ Letitia walked straight out. Once she left the elevator, she was suddenly nked by two bodyguards. ¡°Mydy.¡± I¡¯m going back to Ivory Towers now.¡± Hawley¡¯s people were like a bad penny, always tuming up. Letitia got in the car and sat there in a daze. When she finally snapped out of it, she realized they were not heading to Ivory Towers at all! ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± Letitia asked immediately. ¡°Madam, Senior Mr. Ramirez will let you meet Sh,¡± the bodyguard replied. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we won¡¯t hurt you.¡± Meet Sh? She never asked for this! Why was Hawley suddenly arranging for her to see Sh? But¡­ whatever, she had a bone to pick with Sh anyway. Letitia rxed. The car took a series of turns and left the city center, with fewer cars and pedestrians. Finally, it stopped in front of a holiday vi. Letitia was puzzled. How could Sh be living in such a nice ce? ¡°Madam, pleasee in,¡± the bodyguard said politely. Letitia walked in with some doubts. The living room was empty but clean and luxurious. Suddenly, footsteps sounded behind her. As she turned around, she saw Hawley. ¡°Letitia, do you remember our private agreement?¡± ¡°I remember,¡± she nodded, ¡°I will leave Elgin and never stay by his side forever.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡± Letitia chimed in again, ¡°But we¡¯ve gotta think long-term here to hatch a foolproof n. You know Elgin¡¯s no pushover. If I don¡¯t make a clean break now, it¡¯s gonna be even tougher to get away from himter.¡± Hawley replied with dead seriousness, ¡°I can¡¯t wait that long!¡± N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. It was crystal clear that Elgin was head over heels for Letitia. The more they dragged this out, the more hooked Elgin would get on Letitia! So, Hawley had to make a move now! ¡°What?¡± Letitia caught on instantly, ¡°You mean, you want me to take off right now?¡± Yeah.¡± ¡°And what about my mom?¡± They had a deal that she was supposed to bring her mom along! But now with Malinda out cold, needing doctors and nurses around the clock, there was no way she could just up and leave AquaCity on the fly! ¡°I¡¯ll sort it out. You go first,¡± Hawley said, ¡°Get out of AquaCity and head overseas. The farther, the better!¡± Chapter 180 Chapter 180 Letitia mulled it over for a bit before shaking her head, ¡°Nah, I can¡¯t take off right now.¡± ¡°Getting cold feet, huh? Developed a taste for the glitz and m of the Ramirez family?¡± Hawley eyed her. ¡°Don¡¯t kid yourself, Letitia. As long as I draw breath, I won¡¯t let you get your way!¡± She stood her ground, ¡°I will leave, but not this instant!¡± Her mom hadn¡¯te to yet, and Elgin¡¯s hand was still on the mend. She couldn¡¯t just ditch everything and bail. What was the point of leaving if you still dwell on things here? If Letitia¡¯s gonna hit the road, she¡¯s gonna do it for good, no looking back. ¡°Ha! I can tell you¡¯re just not ready to let go with second thoughts now, eh?¡± Hawley remarked. ¡°You don¡¯t get a say in this anymore, Letitia. There is no room in the Ramirez family for a troublemaker like you!¡± ¡°So, you used Sh as a decoy to lure me here.¡± ¡°That Sh, I¡¯ll make her pay. She¡¯s not getting off easy¡­pared to her, I¡¯ve been merciful to you!¡± Letitia slowly backed away, ¡°I¡¯ve made myself clear. I¡¯m waiting till everything¡¯s settled, especially for my mom. I can¡¯t leave her on her own!¡± She was not just fighting for her mom, but also for her incarcerated dad, and most importantly, for the truth that was tantalizingly within grasp. With just a little more time given to her, Letitia would be ready soon to leave here. Why the rush to push her out now? Letitia turned and made a beeline for the door, but a bodyguard appeared out of nowhere to block her path. ¡°Move,¡± she demanded. ¡°I¡¯m heading back to Ivory Towers.¡± The bodyguard shot a puzzled nce at Hawley. Surprisingly, he waved his hand dismissively, ¡°Let her go.¡± ted, Letitia quickened her pace. But the moment she stepped out the door, a strange and faint scent hit her nostrils. Then darkness swallowed her whole Watching Letitia crumple to the ground, Hawley let out a cold and mockingugh, ¡°Ha, you¡¯re in over your head, girl.¡± He was over seventy and weathered countless storms. She was no match for him! ¡°Ship her off to the airport,¡± Hawleymanded. ¡°Arrange a flight and get her out of the country. Make sure she never sets foot in AquaCity again!¡± ¡°Yes, boss.¡± The bodyguard sprang into action. Hawley finally broke into a satisfied grin. There¡¯s plenty of fish in the sea. With the Ramirez family¡¯s clout, what kind of beauty couldn¡¯t Elgin have? He¡¯d line up beauties of all shapes for Elgin to pick. Hawley was sure Elgin would forget all about Letitia once lost in a sea of new lovers. Time healed all wounds! The bodyguards lifted Letitia into the car and sped away from the holiday vi. The car vanished into the distance. When Letitia woke up, the roar of engines filled her ears, a deafening chaos. As her senses returned, she sat up sharply, scanning her surroundings. This was¡­A private jet! She was on a ne! Letitia rushed to the window, blue skies and endless clouds stretched out before her. She was up in the sky! Hawley sure was a man of action. When he decided to send her packing, he wasted no time! Now she was trapped in thousands of feet in the air with nowhere to run. What a real dead end! ¡°So I¡¯m just leaving like this?¡± Letitia mumbled to herself. ¡°Did I ever imagine escaping in this way? What about my parents? What about the truth?¡± But none of this was under her control anymore. And¡­ what would Elgin look like when he realized she was gone? Would hee looking for her? Could he find her? In the hospital room, Elgin found himself half-sitting on the sterile bed, a pile of untouched documents in his hand. Ranen stood by, not daring to make a sound. With years of experience by Mr. Ramirez¡¯s side, Ranen knew his mood was¡­ seriously off. Terribly so! Elgin appeared to be reading, but his mind wasn¡¯t there at all. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, maybe¡­¡± Ranen ventured, ¡°We call it a day and continue tomorrow?¡± With a p, Elgin threw the documents onto the table. ¡°Mr. Ram¡­ Mr. Ramirez¡­¡± ¡°Out.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. ¡°Yes!¡± Elgin pinched the bridge of his nose, paused, thenmanded, ¡°Come back!¡± Ranen had no choice but to return. ¡°What can I do for you, Mr. Ramirez?¡± But Elgin fell silent again. ¡°Actually¡­ if you¡¯re missing the missus, you could give her a call,¡± Ranen suggested. ¡°Even if you can¡¯t see her, just hearing her voice or having a video call could ease the longing.¡± Elgin shot him a cool nce. ¡°Did I ask for your opinion?¡± Ranen hung his head. Once Ranen had left, Elgin picked up his phone and dialed Letitia¡¯s number. No answer.. She was avoiding his calls? Fine. immediately, he called the butler, ¡°Where is she?¡± Mr. Ramirez, you mean Mrs. Ramirez?¡± Who else?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t she go to the hospital to be with you? the butler responded. ¡°She hasn¡¯t been back at all Elgin darkened his expression instantly. ¡°What did you say? She didn¡¯t return?¡± ¡°Yeah, I thought maybe the madam was staying over at the hospital tonight.¡± This wasn¡¯t right! Elgin realized something was seriously amiss. He flung off the covers, ¡°Search! I want a city wide search for Letitia now!¡± She had left early but never returned to Ivory Towers. Where could she be? Two possibilities shed through Elgin¡¯s mind. Either she was in danger again or she¡¯d managed to escape. Each possibility was unbearable for Elgin! At the sight of Elgin going out of the ward, everyone was stunned. They gathered around him, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, your hand¡­¡± ¡°What are you waiting for? Find her!¡± Elgin grabbed a bodyguard. ¡°Turn AquaCity upside down if you have to, but find Letitia!¡± ¡°The madam? Didn¡¯t she leave the hospital early this morning?¡± Elgin had a stormy look on his face, ¡°Yeah, she went out of the hospital, and then where did she go? Check the cameras! I want to review all the hospital surveince footage!¡± The bodyguard replied, ¡°The missus¡¯ travels these past few days have all been masterminded by Senior Mr. Ramirez¡­¡± Elgin was taken aback. That was right. Ever since he got injured, his grandpa has been pulling Letitia¡¯s strings! He suddenly let go of the bodyguard, pressing his lips together tightly, with a downright terrifying expression. ¡°Mr. Ramirez, you need to keep your hand immobilized, you shouldn¡¯t be¡­¡± ¡°Beat it!¡± He shoved the concern away, ¡°Find her. That¡¯s what matters most right now!¡± Elgin strode toward the elevator. He couldn¡¯t care less about anything now. Not his hand, not his injuries¡­ none of it mattered! Letitia was what mattered most! He had to find her! Even at this moment, Elgin managed to hold onto thest shred of his cool, ¡°Samson.¡± ¡°Here, here, came Samson¡¯szy voice, ¡°I finally get a day off to sleep in. What¡¯s got you all riled up now?¡± Chapter 181 Chapter 181 Rally the troops to find Letitia!¡± Upon hearing his words, any hint of drowsiness instantly evaporated from Samson, ¡°What? Letitia¡¯s gone missing?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± ¡°How did she¡­ vanish again?¡± Elgin didn¡¯t respond and hung up the phone, making a beeline for the three bodyguards he had assigned to shadow Letitia. Hismanding presence made them quiver in their boots. ¡°I hired you guys to protect her,¡± Elgin said with a venomous tone, ¡°So where is she?! What the heck kind of protection is this?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ Mr. Ramirez, we were just following orders to keep tabs on Mrs. Ramirez all the time. Today, after she left the hospital, she got into the car heading back to Ivory Towers¡­¡± ¡°And then what? You didn¡¯t follow?¡± ¡°We got made by Hawley¡¯s understrappers,¡± the bodyguard exined. ¡°They told us they¡¯d take care of getting Mrs. Ramirez back to Ivory Towers and not to worry. Given that we were all on the same team¡­ Ouch!¡± Before he could finish, Elgin¡¯s foot had already connected with a solid kick! Useless, utterly useless! After Letitia got in the car, the bodyguards cked off, thinking she¡¯d be taken straight to Ivory Towers, so they didn¡¯t keep on her tail. And now.. no one knew where she was! The only lead they had was that car arranged by Hawley! Elgin stormed out of the hospital, his left hand hanging limply by his side, throbbing with acute pain, but he couldn¡¯t care less. As he was about to get into his car, he heard Neil¡¯s voice. ¡°Mr. Ramirez?¡± Elgin turned around. There was Neil, all suited up, looking like he just sprinted from the office. He said, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, I heard you were under the weather and came to check on you.¡± ¡°No need.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got my reasons actually.¡± Neil said, ¡°I haven¡¯t seen Letitia in a hot minute and wanted to catch up on how she¡¯s doing. Elgin darkened his face, ¡°¡­She¡¯s missing.¡± ¡°What?!¡± N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. ¡°But I¡¯ll find her.¡± There was a rock solid confidence in Elgin¡¯s voice, ¡°She can never slip through my fingers!¡± Nei! studied him and then said, ¡°Or is it that she chose to walk away from you, not that she¡¯s missing?¡± ¡°Impossible!¡± That was Elgin¡¯s darkest fear deep down. Since the moment he heard Letitia was gone, he¡¯d been dodging the worst scenario in his mind¡­ Perhaps Letitia left on her own ord and she wanted to leave him. But Elgin couldn¡¯t face that. He¡¯d rather believe she was taken away by his grandfather and forced away! Neil continued, ¡°I¡¯ve always noticed something delicate about your rtionship with Letitia. It¡¯s almost like lovers, but even more like strangers. If¡­ she wants to leave, just let her go, that¡¯s her choice.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t let her go, she can¡¯t leave me!¡± Neil looked at him, ¡°Mr. Ramirez, clinging to someone who only wants to flee from you is a sad thing to do.¡± Elgin scoffed, ¡°Are you lecturing me?¡± ¡°I want what¡¯s best for Letitia. And I think she wants to leave you. Only by leaving you can she break free and have a better life.¡± ¡°You have no clue about theplications between her and me!¡± Elgin headed towards the car, saying coldly, ¡°Neil, if you care for her, you¡¯d use your clout to help find her! Her being is not a good sign!¡± Elgin¡¯s people might have Hawley¡¯s spies who were likely not to search for Letitia with full effort, maybe even muddying the waters and making trouble. So, if Neil could get involved, the odds of finding her would be much better. ¡°Fine.¡± Neil agreed, ¡°I¡¯ll make sure she¡¯s safe and sound, but not for your sake.¡± Elgin had already stepped into the back seat of his Rolls-Royce. Neil turned to his assistant, ¡°Pull every string and tap into every contact to find Letitia¡¯s whereabouts. Keep it on the down-low and report back as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Got it, Mr. Thompson.¡± The Rolls-Royce sped down the highway with Elgin urging, ¡°Faster.¡± ¡°Mr. Ramirez, this is fast enough¡­¡± ¡°Faster!¡± The trip to the Ramirez Mansion, which should have taken half an hour, was done in a mere fifteen minutes. Hawley was startled when he saw him, ¡°Elgin, why are you running around like a headless chicken? You don¡¯t care about your left hand anymore?¡± He cut straight to the chase, ¡°Where¡¯s Letitia.¡± ¡°What are you¡­¡± ¡°Where is she!¡± Elgin exploded his voice, ¡°Spill it!¡± At that moment, he was like a lion on the verge of madness ¨C seething with anger, restless with anxiety, and teetering on the brink of instability. His voice echoed in the living room, deafening. Hawley was taken aback, ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re talking to me like that over a woman?¡± ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯ve made it clear time and again, Letitia is my red line! If you take my words for mere wind, then don¡¯t me me for casting aside kinship!¡± Those were fighting words. Elgin never would have spoken to his grandfather like this in the past. But now, he not only yelled, but alsoid down the gauntlet! Hawley was shocked, ¡°You.. you¡¯re rebelling!¡± ¡°Rebelling? You drove me to it!¡± Right, you got it!¡± Since Elgin hade to him, Hawley simply admitted, ¡°Yes, I sent Letitia away, and you¡¯ll never see her again for as long as you live!¡± Elgin arrived faster than Hawley had anticipated. Hawley had nned to soften Elgin up first, persuade him, and reason with him. But at the sight of Elgin¡¯s attitude, Hawley had to have a showdown! Hawley couldn¡¯t believe that Elgin would sever their kinship over Letitia! Elgin bulged his forehead with veins, ¡°Grandpa, you know I can¡¯t live without her, why would you do this?¡± ¡°Because she¡¯s the daughter of Dr. Sanders who killed your father! Because she was carrying your child but couldn¡¯t keep it! And because you almost died at Sh¡¯s hands trying to save her!¡± Hawley lobbed reason after reason at him. ¡°So, Elgin, how do you expect me to swallow this pill? For the sake of the Ramirez family and the Ramirez Group, Letitia has got to hit the road and get out of your life! When I was grooming you to be my sessor, I drilled into you that you must be invincible without any Achilles¡¯ heel to reach the top above the rest! Everything is receable, and there¡¯s not a single soul you can¡¯t live without! And what now? Elgin, where did all my words go? Did they just go in one ear and out the other?¡± Elgin looked steadily at Hawley, ¡°Grandpa, what if I told you¡­ that it was me who caused the death of our child?¡± Hawley staggered, ¡°What are you saying?¡± ¡°It was me who caused the death of the child Letitia and I were expecting,¡± Elgin said, ¡°The fault is all mine and has nothing to do with Letitia. On the contrary, she did everything she could to protect our baby.¡± Hawley couldn¡¯te to terms with this truth. He had always thought that it was Letitia¡¯s fault for not taking care of the pregnancy properly, which led to the miscarriage¡­ Chapter 182 Chapter 182 Why would it be Elgin¡¯s fault? ¡°And grandpa, I¡¯ve told you time and again, I can¡¯t live without Letitia. But you keep trying to split us up! Have you ever considered how I feel?¡± It took Hawley quite a while to snap back to reality. ¡°Even if¡­ even if the miscarriage isn¡¯t Letitia¡¯s fault. Her father killed your father, that¡¯s a vendetta too deep to ever wash away! How can you two be together!¡± ¡°This is between me and her, no need for grandpa to worry. As for my hand, I chose to wreck it for her of my free will, she even tried her hardest to stop me.¡± Hawley looked at his left hand. The doctor said Elgin¡¯s hand needed to be immobilized for at least a month, but there he was, standing in front of him. Was Letitia that important? ¡°Alright, alright, Elgin, Hawley asked, ¡°I¡¯m asking you now, between me and Letitia, you can only choose one. What¡¯s your pick!¡± Such a dire question! Phedra, hiding in a corner, watched the drama unfold. Her face was full of glee, hoping the argument would get even more intense! The best oue would be for Elgin and Hawley to cut ties for good, that would work out great for her and her son! Phedra was thinking, ¡°Pick Letitia, hurry up and choose her, Elgin, aren¡¯t you madly in love with her? Choose beauty over the money and power. You need to piss off Hawley thoroughly, so he considers passing his shares onto my son!¡± Hawley still held 20% of the Ramirez Group¡¯s shares. Whoever got those shares became the main shareholder of the Ramirez Group! Even the board had to y nice! The living room was dead silent and you could only hear the howling wind outside. Elgin met Hawley¡¯s gaze, ¡°Grandpa, since you pushed it this far, I can give you an answer.¡± ¡°Speak!¡± ¡°I choose Letitia.¡± Hawley¡¯s face turned red, with his finger trembling as he pointed at him, ¡°You, you¡¯re just¡­¡± ¡°I love her and I¡¯m crystal clear that I can¡¯t imagine a future without her,¡± Elgin said. ¡°Grandpa, you¡¯re one of the most important people in my life, and I wish it hadn¡¯te to this.¡± With that, Elgin suddenly knelt down. He bowed his head to Hawley with solemn respect, ¡°Sorry, I fail you.¡± ¡°You, you, you¡­¡± Elgin¡¯s stance was now clear. His persistence exceeded Hawley¡¯s expectations! Tell me where Letitia is, Elgin asked. ¡°I¡¯m going to pick her up.¡± Not to search, but to pick her up. He was determined to bring her back! Hawley took a deep breath, ¡°What if Letitia doesn¡¯t love you at all, would you still sacrifice so much for her?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Hawley closed his eyes, turned away, and wouldn¡¯t look at him anymore. How did the Ramirez family end up with such a hopeless romantic? And why on earth did Elgin have to fall for the enemy¡¯s daughter? ¡°Elgin, remember what you said today,¡± Hawley slowly said. ¡°I sent her abroad, you won¡¯t find her. And she was willing to leave, you get that?¡± A dull pain struck Elgin¡¯s heart. The words ¡°she was willing to leave¡± could wound him! ¡°You can¡¯t keep her, even if you find her, her heart won¡¯t be with you.¡± Elgin slowly stood up, ¡°Right, grandpa, I¡¯ll be off now.¡± He didn¡¯t want to say more. Abroad? Fine, then he¡¯d search abroad! And he¡¯d go himself! Elgin walked away with firm and brisk steps, with the sound of his shoes tapping on the floor fading into the distance Hawley sat on the sofa, an image of solitude and age. Phedra quietly returned to her room, locking the door behind her, and dialed an international number. ¡°Hello, mom.¡± On the other end was the deafening sound of a bar¡¯s DJ, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Boy, are you out ying again?¡± ¡°Just having some drinks with a few buddies.¡± Phedra excitedly shared the news, ¡°I¡¯ve got great news for you. Your big brother Elgin and Hawley had a huge falling out, a big fight! Come back right after your graduation ceremony and make a good impression on your grandpa, you hear!¡± ¡°Got it, mom.¡± ¡°Dear son, this is a golden opportunity, you¡¯ve got to seize it! Whether we can turn our fortunes around hinges on this!¡± Mr. Mird, Phedra¡¯s beloved son, was her entire hope! Phedra had always tried to suppress Elgin, but who would¡¯ve thought Letitia alone could stir such waves in the Ramirez family¡­ Phedra couldn¡¯t help but chuckle to herself ¨C it seemed like fortune was smiling upon her! At the AquaCity International Airport. Elgin sat in the VIP lounge, his expression inscrutable. Beside him, a doctor knelt, quickly fixing up his left hand to avoid aggravating the wound. *Elgin, you¡¯re going the distance to chase your wife, huh?¡± Samson, arms crossed, drawledzily. ¡°Why not just send someone?¡± I have to go myself.¡± You really giving up on your left hand?¡± Elgin shot him a nce, ¡°You hoping i be disabled?¡± Samson shrugged, ¡°Just think you¡¯re not taking care of yourself. Whatever the case, heal up first.¡± I¡¯ve got to pick her up.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. ¡®Sounds so sweet, Samson sighed. ¡°Men in love¡­ totally irrational.¡± ¡°Better than not having love at all.¡± ¡°I just don¡¯t want to dig my grave. It¡¯s great being free and single¡­ hey, hey, hey, where are you going?¡± Elgin got up and headed for the boarding gate, casually finishing up the bandage on his right hand, with his steps steady and swift. The doctor looked at his empty hands, stunned. Samson shook his head, Tsk tsk tsk, I never imagined Elgin would have a day like this.¡± Going abroad just to chase his wife¡­. What a romance! Samson walked out of the airport when a stunning figure hurriedly ran towards him, crashing into his embrace. He quickly caught her, ¡°Vidonia, I know I¡¯m handsome and the secret crush of countless young girls, but you didn¡¯t have to throw yourself at me in such a hurry, right?¡± ¡°Get over yourself! Where¡¯s Letitia?¡± ¡°How should I know, I¡¯m not her bodyguard.¡± Vidonia looked at him, ¡°So, Elgin¡¯s gone after her, huh?¡± ¡°Yeah, Samson replied, ¡°Hawley got so ticked off and shipped Letitia off. Now Elgin¡¯s taking off abroad to drag her back himself.¡± ¡°Ugh, what a pain in the neck!¡± Vidonia stomped her foot with anxious reluctance. If Letitia¡¯s gone, then she¡¯s free, right? She could break free and shake off Elgin! ¡°Why the freakout?¡± Samson asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to see Letitia again?¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather she be free than see her again!¡± Vidonia shot back, ¡°Has Elgin got a bead on where she is and just gonna swoop in to nab her? Or does he still have to sniff around a bit?¡± Chapter 183 Chapter 183 If he had to keep looking, then Letitia might still be able to slip through the. ¡°She was shipped off by Hawley. It¡¯s a piece of cake for Elgin to know the exact location,¡± Vidonia let out a sigh, ¡°Ugh.¡± A ne streaked across the sky, fading into the distance. Within a grand manor in Crestendom. Letitia stood by the window. It was daytime, with clear blue skies, but she knew that it was night time in AquaCity. She had no clue where she was and couldn¡¯t leave anyway. The only ce she could roam was this manor. The servants were all foreigners, cautious in their work, and she had nothing to say to them. ¡°Is this what freedom looks like? No¡­¡± Letitia mumbled to herself, ¡°I¡¯ve just jumped from one cage into another.¡± Spending a lifetime here was not the life she wanted. Maybe, it was time to have a chat with Hawley. Letitia turned around and had just reached thendline when suddenly a shadow shed outside the window. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± She peered out cautiously but saw no one. A chill ran down Letitia¡¯s spine as she kept her eyes glued to the window.. She slowly approached, about to lock the window, when suddenly a hand mped over her mouth. Her eyes widened. ¡°Shh, Ms. Sanders, no offense,¡± whispered the nimble figure in ck, ¡°I was sent by Mr. Thompson.¡± Neil? ¡°Don¡¯t scream or bring the bodyguards running. If you can, just blink for me.¡± Letitia did as instructed immediately. The figure released her and stepped back, ¡°My apologies.¡± ¡°How did Neil find me here?¡± Letitia asked, ¡°What else did he say?¡± ¡°Mr. Thompson¡¯s message is for me to assist you. Whatever trouble you¡¯re in, just tell me, and I¡¯ll move heaven and earth to help you.¡± Neil always had a knack for showing up at the nick of time, helping her out again and again. ¡°Mr. Thompson said it¡¯s all about what you want. If you¡¯re itching to get out of here, I¡¯ll find a way to bust you out. If you want to stay, he respects your choice,¡± said the figure in ck. Without a second thought, Letitia replied, ¡°I want out.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a lot of people on watch outside, let me brainstorm. The figure in ck frowned, with his face all serious as he racked his brain. ¡°Can I give Neil a call?¡± Letitia asked. ¡°Of course.¡± Taking the phone from him, L¨¦titia felt a sense of security. Soon, Nell¡¯s voice came through, ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± Letitia said, ¡°I never guessed you¡¯d be the first to find me.¡± ¡°Elgin asked me to help find you.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t spill the beans about your whereabouts to him,¡± Neil replied. ¡°Do you want to stay put or head back to AquaCity?¡± Letitia gripped the phone tighter, ¡°What I can¡¯t let go of is my mom. She¡¯s still out cold in the sanatorium.¡± After a pause, Neil said, ¡°I can try to bring your mom to you.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°No promises, Elgin is no pushover. But I¡¯ll do my best.¡± Letitia dered, ¡°As long as my mom is with me, I have no desire to go back to AquaCity.¡± She was going to look for Walden, to meet the younger master of the Ramirez family, and to gather evidence about what happened back then! Neil asked, ¡°You¡­ don¡¯t have any lingering feelings for Elgin?¡± Letitia paused. Lingering feelings? Maybe a little, but with time, she¡¯d slowly forget him. Elgin had only brought her pain. Just as Letitia was about to reply, suddenly, the roar of a sports car erupted downstairs. Someone had arrived at the manor! The figure in ck and Letitia exchanged nces, looking down together. Then they saw a Lamborghini. The door swung open, and the person who stepped out¡­ It was Elgin! How could it be him? ¡°Elgin found out so soon¡­¡± Letitia¡¯s face turned ashen. Although this escape wasn¡¯t of her will, Hawley¡¯s tactics were more clever. But Elgin had found her so quickly. Letitia couldn¡¯t help thinking if in the future she wanted to escape from Elgin on her own, would it be totally impossible? Could she ever escape his web? Elgin had arrived too quickly. ¡°Ms. Sanders, I gotta split,¡± said the figure in ck. ¡°I can¡¯t blow my cover.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Letitia covered for his leave, drew the curtains, and acted as nothing had happened. Downstairs, the sound of footsteps thudded. With each step, it felt like they were stomping on her heart. Elgin raced up the stairs, taking two at a time, desperate to see Letitia quicker! He had flown for over ten hours and driven for two more to get here. Elgin bit his lip, looking at the bedroom door getting closer and closer. Just as he reached the door, it suddenly opened from the inside. Letitia appeared before him, and their eyes met Letty.¡± Elgin said, pulling her forcefully into his embrace, ¡°I¡¯ve finally found you.¡± A long-missed sense of reassurance filled his entire being. At that moment, all weariness vanished. The feeling of her in his arms was the ultimate satisfaction. Thank goodness, she was still there, he had found her. Letitia smelled Elgin¡¯s scent and noticed the stubble on his chin. It was rare to see him look so haggard. Elgin hade all this way just for her. ¡°Elgin¡­¡± Letitia asked, ¡°Did youe just for me?¡± ¡°Yeah. I¡¯vee to take you back.¡± She leaned into his embrace, at a loss for words. If Elgin had arrived just a few minutester, she could have left with the man in ck, escaping the gaze and control of the Ramirez family. But fate had other ns. Elgin had timed his arrival just right, and she could not escape his grasp. ¡°I¡¯m taking you home.¡± Elgin tightened his arms, with his chin resting on her shoulder, ¡°From now on, I won¡¯t let you out of my sight again.¡± After a few seconds of silence, Letitia asked, ¡°What if I want to be out of your sight?¡± ¡°Letty, don¡¯t say things like that, it¡¯ll only tick me off.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t just talking hot air. If I didn¡¯t want to leave, why would I be here?¡± ¡°Grandpa already spilled the beans. You were forced to go abroad,¡± Elgin replied. ¡°Don¡¯t try to pull the wool over my eyes.¡± What? Hawley fessed up? After all the trouble to send her packing, how could he spill the guts to Elgin that fast? What on earth was Hawley thinking?N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. ¡°You always know how to say something that cuts deep,¡± Elgin said. ¡°Letty, this time, it wasn¡¯t your call to leave. I get that.¡± ¡°No,¡± Letitia said, ¡°I was on board with it too.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll just take it as you feeding me a line. I won¡¯t buy it.¡± Elgin couldn¡¯t and wouldn¡¯t believe it. Letitia chuckied lightly, ¡°It¡¯s not like I haven¡¯t slipped away before. It¡¯s just that you always managed to haul me back.* Chapter 184 Chapter 184 ¡°You can¡¯t escape from me, Letty.¡± She closed her eyes and lifted her hands to embrace him back, with her hands resting on his back. Elgin shuddered all over, then hugged her even tighter. She was responding to him, and he was over the moon about it. But¡­ ¡°Elgin, do you know,¡± Letitia whispered in his ear, ¡°the one thing I want to do is to bolt from you, the farther the better.¡± His heart instantly ached dully, and even breathing seemed to tear him apart. ¡°Why did you have to find me? I finally got away with Hawley¡¯s help, and here you are, showing up so soon¡­ You don¡¯t need your hand anymore? Do you want to be disabled? Elgin, how could a disabled man ever be good enough for me? I¡¯d look down on you. Don¡¯t think that just because you risked your life to save me and wrecked an arm for me, I¡¯ll be eternally grateful and fall madly in love with you¡­ Wrong, you¡¯ve hurt me way more than you¡¯ve ever done good for me!¡± Every word from Letitia was like a sharp de, stabbing Elgin mercilessly. His breathing became rapid as he suppressed a surge of anger. ¡°Letty, stop it¡­¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m going to speak my mind.¡± Letitia continued, ¡°When Sh took me hostage, you knelt for me and traded yourself for me, even wrecked your arm. Honestly, I was touched, but that¡¯s all it was. Elgin, I don¡¯t love you. Why can¡¯t you face that reality? That night at the hotel, if I had known it was you, I would have been disgusted, I would have chosen to get rid of the baby myself. I don¡¯t want¡­ I don¡¯t want to have your children.¡± The taste of blood surged in Elgin¡¯s throat, a bitter reminder of Letitia¡¯s effortless cruelty. Each of her words, a vicious torture, echoed loud and clear in his mind. Elgin had a major fallout with Hawley to find Letitia, busted out of the hospital, hopped on a private jet overnight, and hadn¡¯t slept for nearly 24 hours just to see her. He came and wanted to take her back, but her words were the ones that cut him the deepest! ¡°Elgin, let me go,¡± Letitia looked at him, ¡°okay?¡± He tly refused, ¡°No way.¡± Letitia smirked, ¡°I knew it¡­¡± Elgin grabbed her hand, pressing it tightly against his chest. His heart was pounding heavily. ¡°If I let you go, Letty, then who¡¯s going to let me off the hook?¡± Elgin asked, ¡°You expect me to suffer the loneliness and live without you?¡± ¡°Even if you drag me back to AquaCity, you¡¯ll only have my body. Elgin, I¡¯ll still run.¡± Letitia said firmly. ¡°I won¡¯t give you the chance.¡± Letitia looked up at him, ¡°I might not run and even stay in AquaCity. As long as we never see each other again, divorce, and have nothing to do with each other, why should ! flee?¡± The word ¡°divorce scorched Elgin painfully, ¡°You hate me that much? Not even a shred of love?¡± he gripped her shoulders, demanding, ¡°After all I¡¯ve done for you, and I¡¯ve tried everything to make it up to you and given you promises, you still won¡¯t ept it?¡± Letitia nodded, ¡°Yeah, I can¡¯t ept it. I still hate you.¡± Elgin stared at her intently. His gaze was too oppressive, and Letitia couldn¡¯t bear to lock eyes with him for long. Suddenly, Elgin asked, ¡°Did grandpa tell you something else?¡± Letitia was taken aback, ¡°No, not at all.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t hide it from me,¡± Elgin said, ¡°He told you to be heartless to me and not to give me a sliver of a chance, that¡¯s why you said all that, right?¡± ¡°Elgin, you are deluding yourself.¡± He stepped closer, shutting the door behind him, pinning Letitia against the wall, ¡°I don¡¯t believe it, I don¡¯t believe your heart is made of stone. I¡¯vee all this way to get you and you don¡¯t feel a thing¡­¡± His voice trailed off, getting softer. Letitia tugged at the corner of her mouth, ¡°So, even if I ran to the ends of the earth, you¡¯d still find me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not love.¡± Letitia said, ¡°Elgin, you¡¯re just being selfish, possessive!¡± ¡°Call it whatever you want, Letty.¡± Elgin never bought into that whole love is letting go and blessing. He loved her, so he had to have her! Letitia bit her lip, pushing against him, ¡°Well, since you¡¯ve found me, and I can¡¯t escape, do what you will.¡± She put some muscle into it, making sure she could push him away, then walked off without looking back. After a couple of steps, Letitia didn¡¯t hear any movement from behind. Weird, what was Elgin up to? He didn¡¯t chase after her, nor did he speak. Why was it so eerily quiet? Thinking it over, Letitia couldn¡¯t help but nce back. There was Elgin, leaning against the wall. With his good right hand covering the wound on his left, he furrowed his brow, his face a grimace of pain. Blood was seeping through the white bandage. ¡°Elgin!¡± Letitia eximed, rushing back to his side. She must have identally hit his wound when she pushed him away! Letitia felt more and more guilty. Elgin¡¯s hand needed proper care; otherwise, it could be ruined! He hade all the way here, which was already tough on his injury, and there she was, clumsily pushing him¡­ ¡°How are you?¡± Letitia asked anxiously, ¡°Should I call a doctor?¡± Elgin¡¯s lips were slightly pale, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡®How can it be nothing? It¡¯s bleeding again! Letitia protested, ¡°It was me, I pushed you, I¡¯m so¡­¡± She was to remorseful that she started to stutter. Dummy, Elgin said, ¡°Don¡¯t me yourself. I wasn¡¯t careful¡± Letiho helped him sit, ¡°You should sit for a while, I¡¯ll go call a doctor¡­ Ah! Before she could finish, Elgin pulled her into his arms, sitting her on hisp. ¡°Elgin, you¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go,¡± he said, ¡°I won¡¯t let you out of my sight.¡± ¡°But your wound needs medical attention.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Letitia was worried, ¡°How can it be fine? Don¡¯t you care about your arm at all? Do you want to be disabled?!¡± Seeing her so anxious, Elgin smiled. ¡°Look, Letty, you say you hate my guts, but here you are, fretting over me.¡± Letitia was taken aback and quickly blurted out, ¡°I-I just don¡¯t want you to totally wreck your hand! Otherwise, I¡¯d be the viin here!¡± Elgin just smiled, looking at her with a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. Sure, the wound hurt, but he could endure it while maintaining his coolposure. But no, he chose to show his pain to make Letitia feel sorry for him. Elgin thought to himself, no matter how cold-hearted her words were just now, at this moment, she was worried about him. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!