Chapter 9
A bitter taste spread across Elijah’s tongue.
Her mother had worked herself to exhaustion as a housekeeper in the Morgan household.
When her failing health revealed early signs of kidney disease, she hadn’t told anyone, silently
bearing the pain on her own.
Elijah had only found out by accident, discovering the hospital report tucked away in a drawer.
It was then, with no other choice, that she’d gone to Ethan for money.
For years, she had been scraping and saving.
Even while eating simply and spending as little as possible, she had only managed to save a little
over a hundred thousand, barely a fraction of the treatment costs.
Her plan had been simple: she would repay Ethan in full, all at once, once she had the entire sum.
But now, watching his cold expression, she silently turned and went to her room. When she
returned, she pressed a bank card into his palm.
“There’s still a long way to go before I can repay it all,” she said steadily.
“But I’ll work hard. I’ll pay back every cent–with interest.”
Her grip on the card tightened.
“And Ethan… I’m taking my painting back. One way or another.”
She didn’t wait for his reply. Turning on her heel, Elijah closed the door behind her.
That entire afternoon, she sat curled up in her room.
Her laptop glowed faintly as she scoured every reporting channel, compiling links, collecting
evidence, and organizing everything she had on the stolen painting.
She was even preparing to consult an attorney, until her mother blocked the doorway.
Elijah looked up, her chest tightening with a sinking sense of dread.
“Mom,” she murmured cautiously, “I can compromise on everything else… but not this painting.
It’s ”
Chapter 9
39.13%
Her mother smiled faintly, her voice soft. “This painting… it’s my birthday gift, isn’t it?”
Before Elijah could answer, Mrs. Watchmaker gently squeezed her shoulders, her voice low and
pleading.
“Sweetheart, the best gift you could give me… is to step back. Let this
go.”
She hesitated, glancing away briefly before continuing.
“Miss Lopez… she’s from an extraordinary family. And she’s Ethan’s fiancée–the future Mrs. Morgan. If she values your work enough to use it, that means she’s acknowledging your talent.”
Her voice softened further, coaxing like warm water.
“You’ve always been such a good, sensible girl. Why start making trouble now?”
“Elijah… sometimes, we have to accept our fate.”
Elijah sat in silence, her throat tight, until her mother finally left, satisfied by her reluctant nod.
As the door closed, her lashes trembled faintly.
She knew.
Her mother hadn’t said it, but Elijah understood Ethan must have spoken to her.
She could resist Ethan. But she couldn’t bring herself to refuse her mother.
With trembling hands, Elijah dragged the folder of collected evidence into the trash. The files disappeared instantly.
Her shoulders slumped forward.
Four days. Four days until she left the Morgan estate for good.
But without that painting, without Eternal Light’s internship… how was she supposed to secure a future for herself and her mother?
She sat on the edge of her bed, lost and hollow, her thoughts swirling with helpless frustration.
The next morning, Elijah returned to school, her face as composed as ever.
After class, she headed toward the resource center, planning to research alternative routes into Eternal Light Corporation.
Chapter 9
39.13%
She didn’t get far before Hannah Lopez intercepted her, surrounded by her usual circle of giggling
friends.
“Elijah!” Hannah’s sweet voice rang out, dripping with fake warmth. “I was just looking for you.”
She approached gracefully, holding her phone like a little prop, smiling as if they were the closest
of sisters.
“Remember when I promised to introduce you to someone? I’ve been thinking about it so
carefully.”
Hannah tapped her lip thoughtfully, lowering her lashes just enough to seem modest.
“Today, I finally found the perfect match for you- someone with a great family, great looks…
really suitable for you.”
Elijah’s eyes narrowed slightly, but she stayed quiet, waiting.
Hannah’s lips curved into a playful smile.
“You must know him already. It’s Ivan Collins, the second young master of the Collins family.”
Then, leaning in conspiratorially, she added.
“I even set up a little date for you two tomorrow afternoon. Don’t be shy, Elijah. Be brave. Go after love.”
She blinked, tilting her head, feigning innocence.
Elijah stared at her, her lips curling into a soundless laugh.
Ivan. The infamous hopeless simp. He’d chased Hannah for four years, rejected time and again, yet
still hovered loyally at her side.
And now, Hannah was “introducing” him to her? It wasn’t matchmaking. It was humiliation.
Elijah’s voice was flat, icy.
“No need. You can keep him for yourself.”
In just two days, she would be meeting that Howards per Mrs. Morgan’s arrangement. She didn’t need Hannah’s little games.
But Hannah gasped softly, placing a hand over her lips, her cheeks turning a delicate shade of pink.
Chapter 9
3
Ex–Husband Step Aside,
Lady Boss Returns
39.13%
“Elijah, what are you saying?” she whispered, her voice a picture of wounded modesty.
“Don’t make wild assumptions. Ivan and I are just friends. How could you tarnish my reputation like that? I have a boyfriend, remember?”
Before Elijah could reply, Hannah’s friends exploded, stepping forward like trained guards.
“God, listen to her! So ungrateful.”
“Do you even realize how lucky you are? Hannah went out of her way to help you!”
“She offers to set you up with Ivan Collins and you dare turn your nose up at him?”
“Do you think you’re better than everyone else? What, acting all pure and special now?”
“Pathetic. A used–up little tramp like you turning your nose up at Ivan? You’re delusional.”
Elijah’s expression remained cool, her gaze sharp and detached as she watched their sneering
faces. People attract their own kind.
元
She had never seen Hannah look more in her element.
Unexpectedly, Hannah raised her hand gently to quiet her friends, sighing softly.
“It’s fine. I meant well, but if Elijah isn’t comfortable, I won’t force her.”
24
Her voice was smooth, forgiving, and perfectly staged, the performance of the benevolent heiress,
the saint everyone loved.
Elijah didn’t buy it for a second. And she was right not to.
Because that afternoon, just as class ended, she found Ethan waiting for her at the stairwell. His face dark, his posture rigid, his intent unmistakable.
