Chapter 273: Drunken Delights
Ellis wasn’t really listening; her mind was still preoccupied with the thought of the Brooks family’s imminent downfall in high society. The more she thought about it, the better her mood became, and unwittingly, she ended up drinking quite a bit.
As the conversation wound down and it was time to leave, Tom patted the back of Ellis’s hand and asked, “Are you taking a cab home?”
Remembering the past few times they had gone out, Tom had always seen Ellis leave in a taxi. Smelling the alcohol on Ellis, she instinctively thought Ellis was tipsy and shouldn’t go home alone.
“I drove here.” Ellis shook her head. “I’ll call a rideshare.”
“Rideshare?” Tom scrutinized the beautiful face before her. “You’ve had a bit too much to drink, and most rideshare drivers are men: I’m worried about you. Maybe I should…”
“Where do you live, Ms. Harper? Can I take you home?” Edric interjected.
Ellis was about to reassure Tom that she was fine but changed her response upon hearing Edric’s offer. “No trouble at all; I’ll have a close friend pick me up.”
“Then stay safe!” Tom waved goodbye to Ellis, then pulled Edric away with her.
Driving someone home was a good way to bridge distances, and Edric, thwarted in his attempt, was dragged away by Tom, who said, “Ms. Tom, you don’t have to guard against me like I’m a thief.”
“I’m guarding against you specifically!” Tom didn’t spare Edric any face. “Please, don’t get any ideas just because Ms. Harper is beautiful. Even if she weren’t Easton’s ex-wife, she’s still Emma’s foster daughter. Do you think Emma would let you off the hook if you played with her feelings?”
Tom knew Edric’s character well. When she accused Edric of toying with Ellis’s emotions, she was actually being polite. Emma might not hold the reins in the Hudson family, but she was still a member, and with Scott around, Emma wouldn’t sit by if Edric messed with Ellis. It would make everyone look bad.
“It was Emma who approached my parents to introduce me to Ellis,” Edric said, half laughing, half dismayed. “I never said I’d toy with Ellis’s feelings. I just thought we should get to know each other first; it doesn’t mean we’ll end up together.”
“Whatever!” Tom wasn’t fooled by Edric’s smoke screen. “She’s already had one failed marriage; don’t make things worse for her!”
Though she said this, Tom was already planning future gatherings; if Edric was there, Ellis wouldn’t be, and vice versa. She wouldn’t play matchmaker or give Edric any opportunities.
This wasn’t just about standing up for women; it was about avoiding potential problems.
Maya, called by Ellis to drive her home, headed to the address she was given. As soon as she saw Ellis, the smell of alcohol hit her, and she frowned. “Hey, how much did you drink?”
“I don’t remember.” Ellis truly didn’t recall how much she had drunk, only the joy she felt hearing about the Brooks family’s insolvency. “I’m telling you, I’m really happy tonight!”
“What’s making you so happy?”
Maya couldn’t tell from her appearance if Ellis was drunk, but since she was coherent and didn’t slur her words, she helped her into the car, supporting her to prevent a fall, while listening to why she was so elated.
Ellis quickly explained, then made a triumphant gesture with her palms up.
Driving, Maya glanced at Ellis, who radiated intense happiness from within, and couldn’t help but laugh along. “The Brooks family’s misfortune means Victoria won’t have the time to bother you anymore.”
“Yes,” Ellis sighed lightly. “But Victoria’s misfortune isn’t enough; when will it be Easton’s turn? When he’s down on his luck, that’s when my good days will really start?”
Chapter 273: Drunken Delights
Ellis. They say justice might be delayed, but it will come eventually, and when it does, they’ll both be done for.
“Honestly, it’s going to be hard to see Easton suffer,” Ellis massaged her temples.
“Hard doesn’t mean impossible; everyone needs something to hope for.”
“Hope…”
Ellis’s words trailed off as a ringtone sounded. Both women reflexively checked their purses to see if it was their phone.
It was Maya’s colleague calling about a case going to trial the next day that required urgent discussion.
Maya pulled over to the side of the road to talk in detail. As Ellis listened to Maya speak, her thoughts began to wander, swirling with numerous considerations.
However, the main focus was clear: she felt she should look into the Brooks family’s affairs more thoroughly. At least, she needed to determine what stage the Brooks family was in and the likelihood of them making a comeback.
She had become enemies with Victoria, and if the Brooks family managed to turn things around, she would be the one to suffer. Thus, she had to investigate, to give herself some peace of mind. Although the Brooks family was currently in decline, they had once been among the top families in Stonebridge’s elite circles. With a little effort, Ellis could find out the detailed current status of the Brooks family.