Chapter 4: Elisia's Decision

In his office, Jude Lim sat seething, the weight of betrayal heavy on his shoulders. Although it wasn't a literal betrayal, lying still counts as one. His hands trembled with fury as he clutched the letter from Hideous Montenegro's lawyer, each word a damning indictment of his daughter's deceit.

Why did he believe in his own daughter anyway? Was it because of his own greed? He thought that if it was indeed Keisley's child, then he could have a connection with the M Group. How stupid is he not to think about the possibility that this isn't that man's child?

What a stupid woman!

"Get her on the phone," he barked at his secretary, his voice laced with venom. "Now."

The secretary, well accustomed to Jude's mercurial temper, complied without protest, quickly dialing Elisia's number as instructed. Well, he never even thought this man would change in the future. Even though he had his wife, he was still the same as he was when he was in his prime.

Jude's secretary immediately dialed the number of the first miss in the family. The reason why his boss also hated the fact in his family is that he has no son. No one will inherit his L Corporation.

But this isn't the secretary to worry about. As the line connected, Jude's anger simmered beneath the surface, ready to boil over at the first sign of defiance.

"Elisia," he bit out, his voice a low growl. "Explain yourself."

If Elisia could see her father right now, she might be shivering from fear. His father's eyes were full of hatred and embarrassment. On the other end of the line, Elisia's voice trembled with fear and anxiety, sensing the storm brewing in her father's words.

"Dad, I..." she began, her words faltering under the weight of his disapproval.

But Jude would hear none of it. With each passing moment, his rage intensified, fueled by the knowledge of his daughter's treachery. He wouldn't have imagined that this first daughter of his was this stupid! He thought that she was far from his second and third daughters, but this first daughter of his is far worse than them!

He never saw it through!

"You lied to me!" he seethed, his voice echoing off the walls of his office. "You deceived your own family for your own selfish desires."

Elisia's protests fell on deaf ears as Jude delivered his verdict with finality. She wanted to speak, but she couldn't find the right words. Her words seem to be unable to go out of her own mouth.

"I disown you," he declared, the words ringing out like a death knell. "You are no longer a part of this family. Consider yourself cast out, a disgrace to our name," Jude said out of anger, but he really wants to do it. "Now, go and get out of my villa! I will send you abroad, and you are not allowed to come back! I may disown you, but I will still give you money!"

With that damning pronouncement, Jude ended the call, his heart heavy with the weight of betrayal. For Elisia, there would be no redemption, no forgiveness. Only the bitter taste of shame and the cold embrace of solitude.

Crying, Elsia did not expect her father to do this to her. She had been spoiled since she was a child, and even though her mother died as early as she could remember, her father was still there. However, with this, she was disowned by her own father.

What an irony!

However, seeing that crying wouldn't do anything good for her, she took a deep breath and smiled. That's right; this is really the reason why she did this. She wanted to get out of her own father's grasp. She doesn't want to live as a puppet for as long as she lives. Thus, she did this.

However, she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed since her father did not even bother to protect her. Was all the talk he made when her mother was still alive just a talk with no meaning?

Elisia mockingly smirked at her and her mother's fate. They're the same, but she refuses to be held like a puppet in her father's hand. Because, in the first place, she had no intention of being part of the L Corporation. She wanted to be an artist, an illustrator, and a comics maker. She really doesn't like being an heir.

As Elisia frantically stuffed her belongings into a suitcase, her phone buzzed with an incoming call from an unknown number. Heart racing, she hesitated before reluctantly answering.

Who is it?

No one had called her even before, and all the people who had her number only knew her public number, but no one knew about her private or personal number. What is it?

With her hands trembling, she answered the call. "Hello?" she said tentatively, her voice trembling with uncertainty.

She really did not know who it was. After all, the people who knew her private number could only be counted with her two hands. All of those people had their numbers, so it is really quite scary to answer a call from an unknown number to her private and personal number.

The voice on the other end of the line was disguised, neither distinctly male nor female, sending a chill down Elisia's spine.

This person is using a voice changer. Why does this person need to be like this?

"Who is this?" she demanded, her nerves fraying with each passing second.

She wanted to keep the calm in her voice, but her body did not do what she wanted and betrayed her. Her body trembled as her voice sounded calm.

But instead of a direct answer, the mysterious caller spoke in cryptic tones, their words sending a shiver down Elisia's spine.

"If you value your safety and freedom," the voice intoned, "you will confess everything and leave behind nothing but your statement and the evidence. I know that you've been banished to your family, and your father will send you away. Do you think you can leave freely with that? Do you think that man, Harver Rolin, will make you get out of this alive? You have his child; do you think he'll let you still live?"

Elisia's mind raced with questions, her thoughts a whirlwind of fear and confusion. She trembled as she thought about it. This person is right. That man will surely do his best to kill her and will do nothing but silence her. Hearing those words, Elisia shivered. Why did she come up with this kind of situation again? She might want to get out of her father's grasp, but she doesn't want to be in danger!

Who was this person, and how did they know about her situation? Could they truly offer her protection, or was this just another trap?

A trap? No, if it is a trap, how could they know that the father of the child is Harver? If it was an enemy, then they wouldn't make this kind of offer. Especially that man, Harver. He's not someone who takes pity on others. He's cunning and ruthless.

Seeing how heavy the gravity of the situation was, Elisia knew she had no choice but to heed the caller's warning. With a shaky breath, she nodded to herself, steeling her resolve.

If she dies, then what will happen to the child in her womb? She may be a bitch, but she has no intention of abandoning this child. She didn't want to be like her father; she wanted to be responsible.

That's right, she needs to blow it all. After all, since she was asking for that cunning man, she needed evidence. She had a recorder, and this is enough for that man to bring him down. It is enough for her to be safe.

"I understand," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the pounding of her heart. "I'll do as you say."

This is to support and protect herself as well as the baby inside her.

And with that, the call ended, leaving Elisia alone with her thoughts and a daunting decision looming on the horizon.