Chapter 103: Unspoken Tensions

Scott’s words didn’t affect Ellis much; she was just relieved he hadn’t said them while she still loved Easton. Otherwise, she would have been upset for a long time, wracking her brains trying to get Scott to accept her as his granddaughter-in-law. Her life wasn’t revolving around Easton anymore; she was an independent individual, not a vine clinging to Easton for survival.

“It’s up to me to decide what’s appropriate; what others say can’t dictate my decisions,” Easton declared, his piercing gaze sweeping over Carly and Scott before settling on Ellis, whom he held close. “Ellis, drop this notion of divorcing whenever you wish!”

As long as he didn’t divorce Ellis, she remained his wife. “I’d like to see which fool dares to be her next husband.”

Hearing this, Ellis was speechless. What had she done to deserve this treatment, his random humiliation and torment? It wasn’t suitable to cause a scene in front of the elders; it would be embarrassing and undignified. She elbowed Easton in the stomach. “I don’t want to argue; let me go!”

“I don’t want to argue either. Let’s go to our room to talk,” Easton said, changing his grip to hold her hand as he pulled her into the elevator.

Where did this “our room” come from? What a shameless scumbag! Practically dragged into the elevator, Ellis glared fiercely at Easton once the doors closed.

“What’s there left to say?” She couldn’t fathom why Easton insisted on going to the eighth floor. Everything that needed saying had been done at the Civil Affairs Department. Could he just leave her alone? Could he be planning to find a secluded spot to slap her?

Thinking this, she instinctively covered her face. Yet, after a moment, Easton didn’t respond; instead, he released her hand, hands in pockets, his brows furrowed and eyes dark, staring ahead, lost in thought. The fear of being slapped crept up on her, and she frowned in distress. He is strong enough to swell her face with just one slap. What sins had she committed this year—her face scratched by Bree, and now facing possible disfigurement?

“Ellis.”

Caught off guard in the silent space, her name made her heart skip, and she looked up. “What do you really want? What do you want to talk about? If you’re planning to defend Victoria by hitting me, at least warn me first.”

Before she could finish, his hand was suddenly on her left cheek. The warmth of his touch startled her, her nerves tensing up. There was no expected surge of pain; Ellis blinked in surprise. Then, his other hand enveloped her right cheek. Suddenly, both sides of her face were in his hands, as if he was deliberately holding her face.

Unable to understand his intentions, she watched him warily, ready to prevent him from hitting her face.

“Thinking of man…har…man…wiiken… successfully divorcing me? You really dare to dream!”

Another man to marry? It’s nonsense!

After the fear and tension came confusion; Ellis grabbed his wrist, intending to force his hands away from her face. But before she could act, he dropped his hands. Then, he raised his hand, pinching her cheek as if testing its firmness, and warned, “Don’t glare at me!”

Ellis was utterly battled. Someone help! Who can manage this scumbag? Unable to bear it, she impulsively clenched her fist and punched his chest, cursing. “Are you crazy?”

The disparity in their physical strength was apparent; Easton barely felt the punch to his chest, easily catching her swinging fist, his gaze meticulously scanning her flawless face.

“You’re the crazy one. Tomorrow, I’m taking you to the hospital to get your brain checked—maybe that kidnapping messed it up. You’re always doing stupid things!”

Unable to pull her hand back, controlled by Easton’s grip, and forced to endure his taunts, Ellis rolled her eyes. “You never stop mocking my intelligence! Do you think you’re so smart? Idiot! You psycho! You…”

Before she could finish, she saw the familiar darkening of Easton’s expression, then he said tersely, “Say that again?”

“If you let me curse, wouldn’t that make me look foolish?”

Her left hand was free, and seizing a moment he wasn’t looking, she also clenched it into a fist, ready to punch him. However, Easton was quicker, grabbing her left hand as well. With both hands immobilized, she glared fiercely at him, “Let go!”

“Throwing a tantrum, cursing, hitting; you’re more childish than a little kid.” Just as the elevator reached the eighth floor, Easton released one of her hands, but she was still not free to move as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder.