CHAPTER 76She was certain it was Anderson’s father. He had never liked her, even when she and Anderson were together. Although he rarely spoke, he never missed a chance to subtly express his disapproval whenever he got the chance. He preferred Catherine, claiming she was the true Bentley by blood, unlike her.“I’ll talk to Anderson, Imelda. Can you stop making this worse?” he snapped.“You gave in to his whims! He didn’t even belong in that meeting, but you pushed him in. Now, Mrs. Channing wants us to terminate them,” she continued, clearly forgetting Elizabeth was still on the line.“Why should we bend to her wishes? We only have one project with her.”“Have you lost your mind? She’s a Channing, the wife of the CEO of the Channing Empire. Are you trying to ruin this firm? You’re willing to protect your son at the expense of my family’s company? I won’t allow it!” she shot back.Elizabeth calmly ended the call, hearing the couple’s argument escalating in the background.“From now o
CHAPTER 77 (PART 1)Liz couldn’t sit still, and her eyes darting to her phone every few seconds.They were already at her father’s house, but Wulfric still hadn’t called. She knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep without apologizing to him.“Eli?”She turned to see Arthur peeking from the doorway to the lanai. She quickly approached him to assist him as he walked.“Why are you out here alone, Dad? Where’s Cecil?”“Don’t worry about me, dear. I’m still strong,” he assured her.Arthur had been undergoing continuous therapy over the past year, which helped him regain his strength. However, age had taken its toll; he now used a cane and often needed assistance walking.She sat beside him and affectionately leaned her head against his arm.“Why aren’t you asleep yet?”“I’m waiting for Wulf to call.”“Where is your husband? Still at the office?”She shook her head. He doubts Wulfric is at Channing Tower. “No, he’s with Rufus. He seems upset about something.”“Did you two have an argument? Don’
CHAPTER 77 (PART 2)“Was it an arranged marriage? Didn’t you love each other?”“I truly loved Mathilda. But there were things we couldn’t agree on. My love for her faded, especially when Eleanor came into my life.”“You loved Mama?”“Of course. Why do you think you were born?”Elizabeth couldn’t respond. For all she knew, it could have just been a fleeting passion. She kept her thoughts to herself, not wanting to risk offending her father.“I loved your mother until her last breath.”“Do you have any pictures of her? I barely remember what she looked like.”“You were so young when she passed away,” Arthur said softly. “I still have her photos. I’ll give them to you.”She suddenly remembered the few belongings her mother had left behind that stored in her room for over a year.Oddly, she didn’t feel emotional hearing Arthur confirm that she was his daughter. The truth had already settled into her life. What once felt shocking now seemed almost ordinary. Perhaps it was because she had a
CHAPTER 78Liz hurried down the stairs as soon as she heard Wulfric’s car pull up outside the mansion. Ignoring the cold that seeped through her silk robe, she rushed to greet her husband.She threw her arms around him and buried her face against his chest. The faint smell of menthol cigarettes and alcohol lingered on him.“You’re still awake,” Wulfric murmured.“I was waiting for you. Where have you been?”He wrapped his arms around her small waist, and she exhaled in relief. He’s not mad at me.“Did I worry you?” he asked softly.“Very much.”“I was out with Dox and Rufus.”“You were drinking? At a club?” A lump formed in her throat at the thought of him surrounded by women. Of course, they would notice her husband—he always attracted attention.“No. We were hunting someone’s head.”“Huh?” She tilted her head up to look at him, wondering if he was joking. The last time Wulfric said something like that, Eva had almost died.“W-Who?”“He doesn’t matter.”“You didn’t… kill him, did you
CHAPTER 79The coat slipped to the floor as Wulfric carried her into the bedroom.Their breaths mingled, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck and her legs locked around his waist.“You missed me that much?” His deep voice sent shivers down her spine. She couldn’t help but smile against his lips with a flush creeping across her cheeks.“Why are you smiling, Kitten?” he asked, his tone teasing yet laced with heat. His large hand squeezed her firmly that trailed down to caress her exposed thighs.She relished the roughness of his touch, the way his calloused palms ignited a familiar fire within her. The thought of her thin nightdress beneath the silk robe only heightened her anticipation.Her husband had a habit of tearing her delicate clothes to shreds before devouring her completely—and she loved every second of it.“You’ve calmed down now,” she murmured, her fingers tracing the sharp angles of his jaw. She tilted her head boldly while meeting his fiery kiss with equal fervor.“I’m
CHAPTER 80Elizabeth’s body still ached, a lingering reminder of Wulfric’s relentless passion from the night before. She winced slightly as she prepared for work, leaving her husband fast asleep in their bed, utterly exhausted after keeping her up until the early hours of the morning.The moment she entered the office, her secretary, Shanaya, greeted her with a warm smile and quickly rushed over to help with her things.“Good morning, Shanaya. Any progress on securing the endorser we need?”“None so far, Ma’am. The talent fees for celebrities these days are ridiculously high.”“Are they at least guaranteed to have a big following?”“Yes, Ma’am, but only three have responded to our audition emails. Unfortunately, Benzone’s been overshadowed by other telco companies for years, so we’re not exactly a priority for them.”“What?” Elizabeth sank into her chair.“We’ve been falling behind in the market, Ma’am.”“What’s the marketing team doing about this? They should be on top of the latest
CHAPTER 81 "Allenon?""Are you a fan of his, Ma’am?" Shanaya asked in awe while her gaze darting between her and the man in the studio room."I know him," she replied, pointing at the man she had met before at the island resort she visited with Wulfric.The last time she saw him was at the hospital, the same day she first saw Eva and Wulfric together."Wow! No wonder he was interested in becoming one of our endorsers.""He's a model?""Yes, Ma’am. A renowned supermodel. He’s the one everyone was fussing over in the lobby earlier."Many models and talents had auditioned for them, especially since her husband had tripled the talent fee offer."So far, the marketing team is leaning toward him to endorse our brand. His international fanbase will definitely draw attention to our product.""Make sure to brief him about the contract," she instructed."Yes, Ma’am."Elizabeth stepped out of the audition room, only for Catherine to catch up with her. It had been a few days since Catherine star
CHAPTER 82Why was she always getting dragged into Catherine and Anderson's misery?She had her own share of heartbreak in the past, but she never involved anyone else in her struggles.If she weren’t so kind-hearted, she would’ve told her ex-boyfriend outright that he deserved every punch Wulfric threw at him.Still frowning, she slid the keycard into Dorothea’s condo unit door.“Dory—” Her eyes nearly popped out of their sockets when she saw her best friend kissing Rufus.Dorothea let out a high-pitched scream and shoved the man away. She even slapped him before frantically pushing him out of the unit.“Get out! Shoo! Pervert! R ape! R ape!”Elizabeth stood frozen in place. How could that be considered assault when Dorothea had clearly been enjoying herself? Her eyes were even closed in bliss during the kiss.“My lips!” Dorothea stomped her foot while furiously wiping her mouth.“B-But… h-how…?”“That pervert isn’t my boyfriend!” Dorothea fumed, her hands flailing dramatically. “He’
CHAPTER 99“Eli, are you okay?”Elizabeth placed the tray down as she entered the kitchen. She had stepped away from the cashier earlier because she kept making mistakes, but it wasn’t any better when she was assigned to serve. She’d already given the wrong orders three times, and she could sense the growing frustration from her coworkers.“Are you feeling sick?”She shook her head and cupped her hands under the faucet to splash water on her face.“I’m fine. I’m sorry.” She had been out of it all morning. She hadn’t slept the night before, and her children had barely spoken to her.“Maybe you should clock out early. You don’t want to upset a customer and get scolded by Boss Cale. We can just tell him you’ve got a headache.”Elizabeth glanced at her watch. Seeing it was almost five o’clock, she untied her apron.“I’ll make it up to you all tomorrow,” she said before heading to the locker room to change.The moment she stepped out of the restaurant, she spotted Allenon. He approached he
CHAPTER 98"I can’t, Allenon. The kids are waiting for me."His smile faded as soon as he heard her response. By six o’clock sharp, he was already outside the restaurant, hoping to pick her up.“Then let’s bring them along.”She shook her head. “The kids asked me to come home early.”“They’re your parents now?” he teased.“They just want to spend more time with me. My children are still young—they need me more than anyone else.”He was about to argue when Giovanni approached them, stepping in between her and Allenon.“Angus is looking for you,” he said seriously.He didn’t budge until she replied.“Fine, I’ll take a time-out.”“I’ll take you—”Van cut Allenon off. “I’ll handle it. Angus specifically asked for me.”Giovanni even accompanied her while she clocked out, ensuring her suitor had no chance to offer a ride.As she walked toward the apartment, she noticed Giovanni trailing behind, but he quickly disappeared when she caught sight of a figure standing in a dimly lit spot. Her he
CHAPTER 97She was absolutely furious about Maddoxx Almir’s sudden appearance.The way he claimed to have found her felt like a raging storm sweeping through her life. If not today, then tomorrow or the next, someone else from Southshire would undoubtedly come looking for her. The peace she had carefully nurtured over the past five months was on the verge of being disrupted.“Did you talk to him?” Mrs. Ivanovich greeted her with the question as she came inside.“Yes, Ma’am. Just an acquaintance,” she answered politely.“Oh, he seemed so eager to speak with you. We thought it was something urgent. He even said he’d trespass if we didn’t let him in.”“He just wanted to say something, Ma’am. He won’t be coming back,” she replied and apologized for Maddoxx Almir’s behavior.Mrs. Ivanovich insisted on having them driven home, even though their apartment was just in the center of Northshire. During the ride, she couldn’t help but glance repeatedly at the side mirror. Maddoxx’s car had been
CHAPTER 96“Ms. Shanon?”She blinked several times.“Are you okay?”She nodded at Cale and quickly averted her gaze. She wished she could just crawl under the table out of embarrassment. She’d been completely lost in thought while staring blankly at him.Why did his eyes have to be gray, too?“Sorry, Sir. I suddenly got a headache,” she explained.“You can go home early.”Her boss was considerate to all employees. It wasn’t obvious because he was always serious and rarely smiled, but his kindness showed in moments like this.His son, Giovanni, had clearly inherited his personality rather than his mother’s. Ma’am Jenza, on the other hand, was warm and approachable, always smiling and quick to connect with everyone—even though she practically owned most of the land in Northshire.“I can manage, Sir. It’s only a few hours until my break.”“Alright. Will you pick up these spices then?”“Sorry, Sir,” she declined. “I can’t leave my kids alone at home.”“Ah, yes. I forgot. I’ve been to Sout
CHAPTER 95"Wokey dowkey, Momma."Though she was exhausted and still half-asleep, Elizabeth had no choice but to get up when she heard Charlotte’s voice. It was too early, and yet the little troublemaker was already causing a noise.Charlotte suddenly jumped on top of her, making her gasp for air."Wokey dowkey now, Momma. The baby princess is hungry!”"Where are your brothers?""Earl is playing with Harmony." Charlotte answered, referring to the golden-haired cat from the next apartment. Its chubby frame had completely won over her eldest. "While brother Angus is doing the laundry. He doesn’t want me to help him."That got Elizabeth fully awake. Despite telling Angus that she could do the laundry for him, he insisted on doing it himself. If she hadn't stopped him from cooking in the kitchen, he would probably have been the one preparing meal while she was at work."I'm almost done, Momma," Angus called from the laundry room, standing proudly in front of the washing machine."Thank yo
CHAPTER 94“I’ll have the driver take you home, Elizabeth,” Cairus said while gently gripping her arm to lead her away from the interrogation room.Her entire body felt numb as she let him guide her.“My son didn’t mean what he said.”She gave a soft, bitter laugh and shook her head. “Please tell him I wish he hadn’t messed up my life.”Leaving him looking sympathetic, she walked away.She didn’t need Cairus’s pity. Even if he beat Wulfric to a pulp, it wouldn’t change the fact that his son had something to do with her father’s death. He’d mentioned her father’s name to Wulfric, knowing full well how violent her husband could be, yet he still mentioned it.Did Cairus not consider what that could lead to?“Condolences, Elizabeth. We didn’t expect Arthur to leave us this soon.”The woman who spoke reached for her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze before pulling her into a brief hug. Sensing Elizabeth’s stiffness, the woman let go and walked away, understanding that she needed space to gr
CHAPTER 93A Nightmare.She wished it was just a terrible nightmare. That she would wake up and still see Arthur's cheerful face lighting up whenever he looked at her.Not like the cold, lifeless body now lying before her.“P-Papa, why are you sleeping there?” Her voice was weak and trembling as she stared at her father’s pale body.He didn’t respond. Desperate, she gently shook him, but his eyes remained shut. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over.“Papa…”Elizabeth clung to her father’s lifeless form while sobbing uncontrollably.“Wake up, Papa. Please. Please, wake up,” she pleaded. Her voice breaking like a child begging for a miracle.“You can’t leave me. You promised me. You said you’d make it up to me. I’ve only known you were my father for a year. Why did you leave me?”Her hands slipped from his lifeless body as her knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the floor.Melba quickly rushed to her side, draping a coat over her trembling shoulders. Elizabeth hadn’
CHAPTER 92Elizabeth felt a surge of relief when she got home. The familiar sports car was parked in front of the mansion, and she could hear Lottie’s delighted squeals. The sound of two boys laughing and Wulfric’s deep voice echoed from inside.“Momma’s here! Momma’s here now!”Charlotte quickly slid off the couch when she spotted her mother. The children raced toward her and wrapped their little arms around her legs.“Daddy picked us up from school, Momma! Where were you?”“I went to your Grandpa Art’s house.”“You didn’t wait for us! We wanted to see Grandpa Art, too.”She gently pinched Lottie’s cheek. “Next time, okay?”Obediently, Lottie nodded before running back to Wulfric, proudly announcing her mother’s presence as though he hadn’t noticed.“Daddy’s home now! Momma, say ‘I miss you’ to him!”Elizabeth hesitated, unsure whether to approach Wulfric or stay where she was and wait for him to make the first move.Angus and Earl gave her a playful shove.She stumbled right into Wu
CHAPTER 91Dorothea handed her the invitation for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of her mall's opening.“That’s not until the end of the month. You have to come, Bestfriend. No excuses.”She gave her friend a faint smile and glanced at the names printed on the scented paper.She couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy. Dory could freely go out and meet people. Her best friend was a career woman, while she spent her days staring at the walls of a massive mansion.“Don’t be sad. Talk to Alpha again and tell him you want to work.”“I already did,” she said, shaking her head. She wanted to push her husband further, but how could she when even his shadow was nowhere to be found?She and the kids had been staying at the manor for several days, and during those three days, her husband hadn’t come home even once.“I’m sure you two will make up. Your husband loves you so much.”“He doesn’t trust me. He even accused me of having an affair with the Chairman. I’m not Eva. I would never stoop to her