"President Lockwood, would you like to order?" the owner asked, walking in with a nu and a respectful smile.
Shane Lockwood lifted his chin. "Eliza Sutton, you order."
A server imdiately placed the nu in front of Eliza Sutton. "Miss Sutton, please order."
Eliza didn’t hesitate. She took the nu and began ordering, then passed it to Crystal Harrison for her to choose so dishes.
Crystal Harrison ordered nervously.
Eliza glanced at the nu, added a few more dishes, and handed it back to the server, completely ignoring Brenda Preston.
Brenda Preston was so furious she nearly ground her teeth to dust.
’That Eliza Sutton... just you wait!’
Crystal Harrison leaned close to Eliza, whispering, "Eliza, what’s the deal between you and President Lockwood? This is the first ti I’ve ever seen him be so protective of soone."
"We do have a relationship."
Crystal Harrison’s eyes instantly lit up, full of gossip. She just knew their relationship was anything but simple.
Then, she heard Eliza say, "An employer and his employee. He’s so protective because he’s counting on to make him a lot of money."
"You really think I’d believe that?" Crystal Harrison made it clear she didn’t believe a word of it.
"Why not? With my talent for design, you don’t think I can make money in the future?"
"Of course not!" Eliza’s designs were stunning, on par with those of master-level designers.
Eliza smiled. "See? This is the confidence my abilities give ."
Halfway through the al, Eliza excused herself to go to the restroom.
The mont she stepped out of the private room, the owner, who had been waiting nearby, rushed over. "Isla," he said, speaking nervously. "It’s all my fault for not managing my staff properly. You’ve been terribly wronged today."
" being wronged is a small matter. If Elysian’s reputation is damaged, that will be much harder to fix."
The owner nodded repeatedly, promising, "It won’t happen again." He then added a bit of flattery, "Besides, I need to keep making money for you, Isla."
On the surface, Elysian Palace was his, but in reality, it was Eliza Sutton’s property.
But Eliza preferred to keep a low profile, and being in prison before had made things inconvenient, so she had never made her ownership public. For her to co here for a al today only to be stopped and insulted by one of her own managers was the biggest joke of all!
Thinking about what just happened, the owner was about to explode with anger.
’That idiot!’
’He’s going to be the death of !’
"Eliza Sutton!"
Hearing the voice from behind, the owner’s expression instantly changed. He put on a polite and respectful deanor. "Miss Sutton, please, you must accept Elysian’s VIP card. It’s just a small token of my apology."
"You’re too kind." Eliza reached out and took the card.
The owner exchanged a few more pleasantries before turning to leave. When he saw Brenda Preston striding toward them, her hips swaying, he gave her a dismissive glance and walked away.
Being so blatantly ignored by the owner, Brenda Preston’s face turned ugly. Feeling she had lost face, she lashed out at Eliza in a fit of anger and embarrassnt. "Eliza Sutton, don’t you dare think the owner of Elysian was being polite to you because of who you are! You’re wrong! He was only doing it for Shane’s sake! Don’t get so smug!"
Eliza looked at Brenda Preston with a puzzled expression and said coolly, "Was I being smug?"
She added, "And even if I were, what’s wrong with that? Shane Lockwood is my husband. A husband and wife are one. His honor is my honor. Is there a problem?"
"A husband and wife are one? You think you’re worthy?" Brenda Preston flew into a rage. "You’re an ex-convict who only got lucky enough to marry Shane to ward off his bad luck! What kind of a wife do you think you are to him?"
Hearing Brenda Preston’s unoriginal insults, Eliza’s lips curled into a slight smirk. "Would you like to show you our marriage certificate?" she said faintly.
"How dare you use a marriage certificate to lord it over ." Enraged, Brenda Preston swung her hand, aiming to slap Eliza’s face.
Eliza raised a hand and caught Brenda’s wrist. Seeing her on the verge of hysteria, Eliza lifted her chin and said, "Look behind you. Shane is here. Are you sure you want him to see you acting like a shrew?"
Brenda Preston froze and instinctively looked back, only to find the corridor behind her completely empty.
Realizing she’d been tricked, she beca even angrier and tried to hit Eliza again, but Eliza had already slipped away.
’Of course, I had to slip away,’ Eliza thought. ’Was I supposed to stick around and watch Brenda have a ltdown?’
Just as Eliza reached the door to their private room, she saw Erik Irvine pushing Shane Lockwood out.
Shane’s handso face was grim, his eyes filled with urgency.
Seeing this, Eliza instinctively asked, "What happened?"
Shane looked up at Eliza and said abruptly, "Eliza Sutton, you must be very pleased with yourself, aren’t you?"
Eliza was completely bewildered.
’What does he an, I’m pleased with myself?’
’Was I being smug?’
Just as she was about to ask another question, Shane had already ordered Erik Irvine to leave.
"What a fine ’husband and wife are one.’ Eliza Sutton, you really know how to abuse a little bit of authority!" Brenda Preston said as she caught up. Seeing Eliza being ignored by Shane, her mood instantly beca ecstatic.
’A woman unloved by her husband will sooner or later be kicked out of the house!’
Eliza ignored her. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her, and her face turned deathly pale in an instant.
Seeing Eliza swaying on her feet, Brenda assud she was just upset by Shane’s reaction and walked away in high spirits.
Eliza curled up, a sudden, intense pain gripping her chest, right where her heart was.
’What’s happening?’
’Why does my heart hurt so much?’
’It feels just like when my two children were taken from .’
...
「Valdoran.」
Shane Lockwood entered the children’s room with a dark expression on his face.
Inside, Doctor Shepherd and the maid, Sue, were both keeping watch by the bed.
Shane asked, "How is he?"
Doctor Shepherd replied, "The young master is not in any serious danger. He just fainted from hunger."
As he spoke, Emtt Lockwood woke up in the bed. When he saw Shane, he huffed heavily, his little face full of rejection.
’It’s this bad daddy. He won’t let see Mommy.’
Looking at Emtt’s behavior, Shane gave a laugh of exasperation. "You’ve really got so nerve!"
Emtt turned his back on Shane, showing him only the back of his head. The way his hair stuck up spoke of the little boy’s stubbornness.
The veins on Shane’s forehead throbbed.
Seeing this, Sue quickly stepped in front of Shane. "Sir," she pleaded, "please, talk to him calmly. The little master is already starving. If this goes on, I’m afraid sothing serious will happen from the hunger."
"Get up and eat."
"No. I’m not eating until I see Mommy," Emtt said, his tone surprisingly firm.
He started crying again. "If I’m dood to be separated from Mommy for the rest of my life, then I’d rather starve to death! When I beco a ghost, you won’t be able to keep us apart anymore."
Shane sneered, "By the ti you beco a ghost, she’ll have forgotten all about you. And she’ll have other children."
Emtt’s face was a mask of shock, as if he were about to break down completely.
Looking at his son’s expression, Shane finally softened. "Get up. I’ll take you to her."
His last words carried a rare tone of compromise.
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