Chapter 145: Ringing Into the Night

So there she was, comfortably lying at home after work, when suddenly the doorbell rang. Could it be him? Ringing my doorbell in the middle of the night?

Ellis got up from the couch and walked over to the doorbell screen, where she saw Jackson’s anxious face staring back at her. Had that scumbag sent Jackson to force her to leave Stonebridge?

But that didn’t make sense. Based on Jackson’s call earlier in the day, he seemed unaware of the jerk’s demand for her to move cities.

She didn’t open the door, instead pressing the button to speak through the intercom.

“Can’t you take a hint! I already said it’s not a good time!”

Hearing her impatient tone, Jackson pleaded through the peephole. “Ms. Harper, it’s super urgent! I’ll do anything you want—name your price; I’ll pay your…”

Since he couldn’t get through by phone, he had no choice but to track down Ellis in person. Even though the plan to financially ruin Ellis and Carly had been scrapped, he knew money was tight for Ellis right now.

Money! She couldn’t deny that the offer was tempting.

She opened the door, standing face to face with Jackson, and said, “To be honest, I can’t remember exactly what was in my office at Hudson Group.”

“How much can you recall? Whatever you remember will help,” Jackson begged, clasping his hands together.

“Why do you need these items?” Ellis didn’t understand Jackson’s odd request, recalling how Hudson Group had previously sued her. She eyed him warily. “Has Easton not had enough? Is he trying to find another reason to sue me and demand a ridiculous sum?”

“No!” Jackson shook his head, then hesitated, not sure how to explain. Am I supposed to tell her that the cleaning supervisor had asked for my input and, based on my confirmation, all her office items were discarded, and now Easton was furious because they couldn’t be retrieved?

This whole situation sounded absurd!

Seeing Jackson struggle to continue, Ellis lost her patience. “I told you it’s not convenient, and I don’t remember. I don’t need your money. Now leave me alone and stop harassing me!”

There’s no such thing as a free ride, she thought. Jackson, as Easton’s assistant, was probably setting a trap. She wasn’t about to risk her safety for a little money.

Before she could finish, she closed the door. Unexpectedly, Jackson pushed forward, blocking the door with his body. Ellis had closed the door with a force fueled by anger.

Annoyed, she looked at Jackson, trapped between the door and the wall, trying to keep herself from rolling her eyes. “Do you think my home is an asylum? You think you can just barge in! Trespassing is a crime. Move, or I’m calling the cops for a one-night tour at the station!”

If the police couldn’t handle that deadbeat, surely they could handle Jackson, right? He didn’t have the same influence.

Seeing Ellis searching for her phone with clear intentions to call the police, Jackson hastily stepped back, showing he had no plans to force his way in.

“Ms. Harper, I—”

“Get out!” Ellis snapped icily.

1:59 PM

Chapter 145: Ringing Into the Night and persistently rang the doorbell.

The night was quieter than the day, and the continuous ringing of the doorbell was as disruptive as any loud noise. Ellis was at her breaking point.

She had already dialed “911” on her phone but paused, thinking about the hassle of explaining everything to the police, possibly even having to go down to the station. She found the deadbeat’s number from her blacklist.

She had barely managed to fall asleep when a shrill ringtone broke through the darkness. Easton, frowning deeply, picked up the phone from his nightstand, ready to hang up without thinking. His eyes caught up slower than his hands, and by the time he saw “Wife” on the caller ID, his finger had already hit the decline button. The screen went silent, showing one missed call.

A moment later, the room flooded with light as Easton sat up against the headboard. She didn’t block me? Four days have passed since that text, and now she’s finally calling back? He guessed she was probably going to scold him, but a strange, indescribable feeling urged him to call back.

When Easton didn’t pick up initially, Ellis gave up on a second call and decided to deal with Jackson by calling the police.

Unexpectedly, Easton called back, and she swiftly answered.

“You’re sick; go to the hospital! We’re divorced, we have no ties, you have no right to interfere in my life, let alone make demands!” she blurted out, glancing toward the front door. “And get Jackson away from my doorstep, now!”

Despite Ellis starting off by accusing him of being sick, Easton felt no anger, his focus entirely on her latter words, lips pursing slightly. “Jackson went to see you?”

“Is that what you call it? It’s harassment!” Ellis fumed. “Ringing my doorbell like a madman all night! Get him away from here, or I’m calling the cop—”