Blood stread down Albert’s forehead He touched the blood on his face, then glanced at Damon in astonishnt. His emotions quickly shifted from shock to agitation, a fire in his eyes, itching to retaliate.
But in his drunken and injured state, Albert had no strength to fight back. He soon slumped onto the chair, unsure whether he collapsed due to the alcohol or the blow
I was taken aback by it all. Just like Albert, I never expected Damon to step up for .
"Eliana, this..." Joshua was dumbfounded, looking at the motionless Albert on the chair, lost for words.
"I punched him. You don’t have to worry about it." Damon said calmly, grabbing so napkins to clean the alcohol off his hands. His voice had regained its composure, devoid of anger or panic.
Cooper went out imdiately to call the staff to manage the situation in the room.
Before long, Albert was helped out, seemingly on his way to the hospital.
"Thank you, and if Albert needs dical expenses, I’ll take care of it," I told Damon before leaving
"Are you with him?" Damon asked coldly, his gaze fixed on and Joshua.
Joshua turned to look at , his expression sowhat complicated.
I didn’t answer. I didn’t want to delve into matters of relationships with Damon.
"Joshua, let’s go", I told Joshua
He nodded and followed out of the hotel.
Once in the car, guilt was all over him. "Eliana, I’m sorry. If it weren’t for , you wouldn’t have faced this today"
I chuckled "You don’t have to bla yourself. It was my impatience. I thought that since I’ve co back and t you again, I should find a way to help you. I didn’t expect it to backfire."
Joshua looked at , his eyes sincere. "Eliana, thanks for looking out for like this. I’ll be fine. I can continue working well in the current company, and if I work hard enough, maybe I can settle down in this city in the future."
"Well, as long as you put in the effort, success is inevitable. Keep it up!" I encouraged him.
After dropping Joshua off at his place, I headed ho.
My dad was ho that day, and my mom was cooking in the kitchen. He suddenly said, "Eliana, there’s an art exhibition in a couple of days. Can you go for ? An old friend of mine is hosting it. He’s a fantastic oil painter, and it would broaden your horizons."
"Dad, why don’t you go yourself?" I didn’t quite understand.
"I have a business trip," my dad sounded regretful. "Otherwise, I’d love to have a coffee with him."
He reminded . "I’ve prepared a gift for him, an inkwell. He really likes it. Can you take it with you?"
I nodded. I had plenty of free ti, so visiting the art exhibition seed like a good idea.
The exhibition was scheduled for 9 a.m. the day after tomorrow, at the Mystic Luna Gallery in the city, not far from our house..
On the day of the exhibition, I dressed in a simple white top and a black skirt, carrying my dad’s gift, and headed to the Mystical Luna Gallery
The artworks at the exhibition were filled with artistic flair. Although I didn’t understand oil paintings, I could sense the excellence of these pieces. I was imrsed in what I saw
"Salvador’s paintings are becoming more and more valuable. So rare pieces are nearly impossible to acquire. If I can find a piece that suits my mom today, she’ll love it!"
Turning a corner, I was admiring a painting nad "Nature in love" when I heard Karen’s voice from the other side.
I turned and saw Karen and another woman, holding hands, chatting intimately.
As soon as they noticed , they stopped abruptly.
Karen’s face darkened instantly. She looked at as if I were her enemy.
The young woman beside her, whom I barely recognized, was Ariel.
Ariel looked at , arching her delicate eyebrows slightly, not as hostile as Karen, more disdainful and condescending
Two years had changed her. Although it was clear that she was the sa person, she seed different.
Her face, frad by large curls, was heavily made up, exuding a more impactful allure. Coupled with her eye–catching designer clothes and accessories, she looked so charming
I glanced at the bracelet on her wrist, and in my mind’s eye, I saw Zoe, whom I’d t at the party when I first returned to the country. She wore an identical bracelet and had the sa curly hair.
"Eliana, it’s been so long." Surprisingly, Ariel spoke first, clearly feeling good about herself.
"Ariel, why bother greeting soone like her? She’s not worth it!" Karen disregarded
I smiled, ignoring them both, and continued to enjoy the paintings
Ariel was probably the sa person as Zoe. I just didn’t know how she was related to Andrew or how she recognized him as her foster father
Looking at her extravagant appearance, it was clear she had beco a wealthy young woman.
However, a person’s true nature is hard to change from the outside.
Although Ariel had transford into a wealthy heiress, her stingy character and inferiority complex remained intact.
"Eliana, I thought Damon would be with you after he kicked out. I never expected him to remain single these past two years. Now you and I are on equal footing. You can’t bully anymore, can you?" Ariel stood between and the painting.
I looked at her sympathetically "Ariel, as an educated person, how is it that your brain seems so limited?"
Ariel’s face changed, and anger ignited in her eyes.
I continued, "If you think Damon abandoned you because of my better background and not because of the disgusting things you’ve done, then I genuinely admire your intelligence."
"If you hadn’t interfered, how could I have done those things that I had no choice but to do?" Ariel’s logic was shocking.
People were passing by from ti to ti. Arguing here with Ariel wasn’t appropriate.
Besides, given her twisted logic, continuing to argue with her was a waste of ti.
It had been so long, and every ti she saw , she had to show off, as if she never gave up on one thing: proving she was better than , that she had won.
"Ariel, I’m not as indifferent as you. If you have money, why not consider visiting the neurology or psychiatry departnt at a hospital? Maybe that would help," I turned and left, not in the mood to say more to her.
"Eliana Brooks, you’re too arrogant. You’ve never taken seriously, have you?" Ariel was angry and stood in my way.
I paid her no attention, pushed her aside, and continued walking.
Ariel grabbed my hand, and the gift box in my hand fell to the ground with a muffled thud.
It was the gift I bought for my dad. After being dropped like this, I wasn’t sure if it was damaged. Initially, I didn’t want to get angry, but Ariel was like a rabid dog, always trying to bite whenever she saw !
I pushed Ariel away with a dark expression, a strong push that made her sit on the ground awkwardly.
Karen rushed to help Ariel and then scolded , "Eliana, are you looking for trouble? Why did you push her?"
I squatted down to pick up the gift box, and as I stood up, I saw Jones standing not far away, looking at .
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