Butler Willow was even more of an actor. "Miss, please just agree. If you refuse, and sothing happens to the Master... oh, what would we do?"
Master Willow’s breathing grew even more ragged, as if he might drop dead at any second.
’I have to say, their acting is way better than those pop idols.’
Eliza Sutton was speechless.
Ivan Willow’s wails grew even more heart-wrenching. "Isla, don’t agree! There’s such an easy way for you to join the Willow family! Just hurry up and get a divorce! Once you leave Shane Lockwood, I’ll... I’ll marry you!"
Ivan Willow added bashfully, "As long as you promise not to hit so hard from now on, the Willow family is all yours."
The corner of Eliza’s mouth twitched.
’She had a strong suspicion this young master of the Willows had Stockholm syndro—a severe case, at that.’
"Miss Sutton!"
"Isla!"
’They say three won can put on a whole opera, but in Eliza’s opinion, these n had them beat. Just look at this trio from the Willow family—truly in a class of their own.’
"Stop!"
Eliza took a deep breath. "Fine, I agree!"
The wailing stopped instantly. Ivan Willow was overjoyed. "I knew you liked my face, Isla! Don’t worry, I’ll take extra good care of it from now on."
Master Willow sighed. "Well... it wouldn’t be out of the question for you to still beco my granddaughter-in-law soday."
"..." The corner of Eliza’s mouth twitched. She cut to the chase. "Godfather." Then she looked at Ivan Willow. "Call ’Auntie’."
With that, Master Willow dropped the act, looking absolutely delighted. Butler Willow was happy for his master as well. Only Ivan Willow was left sobbing like a two-hundred-pound baby.
"Eliza, where do you think we should hold the adoption banquet? How about The Imperial Feast?"
"Sounds good. I’ll leave all the arrangents to you, Godfather."
"Excellent, excellent! My Eliza is so sweet and sensible, not like this little brat..." Master Willow shot a disdainful look at the still-howling Ivan Willow before smiling at her again. "I’ll have a big gift for you at the banquet."
Eliza agreed, though she didn’t give it much thought.
When she returned to Seacliff Manor, Emtt Lockwood was sitting by the door, waiting for her.
He looked incredibly bored and had clearly been waiting for a long ti.
"Emtt."
Emtt Lockwood perked up at the sound of Eliza’s voice. The mont he saw her walk in, he launched himself at her without a second thought.
"Mommy, you’re back! Was work hard? Did anyone bully you? If soone did, you have to tell ! I’ll beat them up for you."
Eliza smiled, ruffling Emtt’s hair. "Thank you, Emtt. But nobody bullied , and work wasn’t hard at all."
"Oh..." Emtt’s small face filled with disappointnt. "Then I don’t get to stand up for you. And no one will know that you have to back you up."
Eliza’s heart truly lted. She ruffled the little guy’s fluffy hair. "Who said that? Just knowing that my Emtt is waiting for at ho makes so happy I could burst. It makes work even harder. You’re amazing, Emtt."
Emtt gazed up at Eliza, his eyes sparkling. He was so adorable it was unreal.
「The next day.」
Eliza had just arrived at her office when she got a call from the President’s office, summoning her.
The mont Eliza left the office, her colleagues couldn’t help but start whispering.
"Can soone please tell what this Eliza Sutton’s deal is? She’s constantly in and out of the President’s office. Her connections must be insane."
"I heard a little rumor... that our President got married. It was a bride Master Lockwood picked out for him, supposedly for good luck. Right after that, Eliza Sutton, an ex-con, gets parachuted into our design departnt. And get this—I heard Mrs. Lockwood personally arranged it. You guys think there’s a connection? Could Eliza Sutton be..."
"Could she be what?"
A cold voice cut in.
It was Brenda Preston.
Brenda Preston’s icy gaze swept across everyone in the design departnt. She berated them without holding back, "All any of you know how to do is gossip. Is gossiping going to help you co up with good designs?"
The staff of the design departnt fell silent, lowering their heads and pretending to be busy.
Still fuming, Brenda Preston called Dulcie Vaughn into her office.
"Sit."
Brenda Preston poured Dulcie a glass of water. "Water’s okay, I assu."
"Thank you, Manager," Dulcie said, her voice full of apprehension.
"We’ve been colleagues for years. No need for such formalities."
Dulcie offered a flattering smile.
Brenda, who usually reveled in such flattery, had no patience for it today. "That’s enough. Spare the complints. Dulcie, you’re a veteran designer in this departnt, the lead designer, no less. Are you really content to let a newcor like Eliza Sutton walk all over you? The woman’s a criminal. If things go on like this, it won’t just be you; I and the entire Lockwood Design Departnt will be a complete laughingstock!"
Dulcie said guiltily, "It’s my fault for being incompetent. I’m just no match for Eliza. Whatever punishnt you see fit, Manager, I’ll accept it without complaint."
Brenda snapped impatiently, "Dulcie, I called you in here today because I thought you were smart. If this is how you’re going to act, then I have to say, I’m deeply disappointed."
"Manager, I’m just not as talented as Eliza. There’s nothing I can do about it," Dulcie admitted with a sense of resignation.
’At first, when Eliza’s work outshone Reina Miles’s, she’d been able to tell herself it was a fluke. But as ti went on, Eliza kept producing one design after another, and every single piece was nothing short of breathtaking.’
’What was more terrifying was her gut feeling that Eliza wasn’t even giving it her all. She was still holding back.’
"So you’re not as talented. That doesn’t an you can’t beat her in other areas. In our line of work, we’ve seen plenty of brilliant talents over the years, haven’t we? And what becos of them? In the end, the ones who beco true masters like Innis are few and far between."
Brenda’s voice beca alluring. "Dulcie, as long as you do exactly as I say, you will be the one everyone looks up to in the Lockwood Design Departnt. In a few years, when I move up, this position will be yours."
’Dulcie had to admit she was incredibly tempted.’
Dulcie heard herself ask, "Manager... what do you want to do?"
...
When Eliza reached the President’s office, Shane Lockwood was nowhere to be seen. Instead, Erik Irvine was waiting for her.
Erik Irvine led her into a waiting room.
"Mistress, please have a seat." Erik invited Eliza to sit down, then brought over so fruit and pastries.
"Assistant Irvine, you can just speak freely. All this formality is making uneasy."
"You’re a straightforward person, Mistress, so I’ll get right to the point. President Lockwood left this for you." Erik pushed a file across the table toward Eliza.
Eliza was stunned by the large words on the docunt.
Divorce Agreent.
It had been several days since she had asked Shane Lockwood for an early divorce. There had been no word from him since, and Eliza was starting to get anxious.
Just as she was wondering how to press Shane Lockwood for the divorce papers, they were delivered right into her hands.
Seeing Eliza’s silence, Erik Irvine assud she was upset and tried to console her. "Mistress, I know this is cruel, but you need to remain calm. President Lockwood said that as long as you sign, he will agree to any conditions you ask for."
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