Chapter 311: Fleeing the Familiar

Ellis scrolled through her contacts and dialed Morty’s number. The caller ID showed it was Maya calling, so Morty swiftly slid to answer, politely greeting, “Ms. Maya.”

“It’s not Maya, it’s Ellis.”

“How are you feeling? Any better?” Morty’s genuine concern for her well-being made Ellis feel somewhat guilty, as if she were ungratefully biting the hand that fed her. Recalling Monty’s past as a double-faced person who had slandered her for cheating and wronged Easton, she quickly suppressed her embarrassment and asked indifferently, “Have you had a doctor look at your face?”

“I did. The doctor said to alternate between ice and heat for a few days,” Morty replied, picking up a mirror and silently scoffing at his reflection. Easton had punched him, and he hadn’t fought back, not because he was slow to react or couldn’t fight back, but because the punches had earned him Ellis’s concern, which felt worthwhile to him.

“Alright, just take care of it and don’t end up disfigured,” Ellis said before ending the call. Knowing Morty’s face wasn’t seriously injured was enough; there was no need to talk more.

Having endured a failed marriage, her heart wasn’t exactly frozen, but it certainly wasn’t easy for her to fall for someone else. Despite Morty’s frequent help, she felt no flutter of attraction, just a sense of gratitude.

The beep of the call ending alerted Morty that Ellis had hung up. A momentary victory. Didn’t Ellis just stop Easton from getting violent? That was a good start. Taking back her phone from Maya, who asked, “Where did your phone go? Why did you use mine to call Morty?”

“It must be at the hospital,” Ellis said, intending to call Morty again. She forgot to ask him to bring her phone from the hospital! Thinking it over, she vaguely remembered not having her phone on her before she passed out; was it in her office?

“Should I go back and get it?” Knowing the importance of a phone in modern life, Maya offered to make another trip to the hospital, considering Ellis’s condition.

“No!” Ellis adjusted her position. “I think it’s probably in the office.”

“Okay,” Maya sat closer on Ellis’s bed. “So, what did you ask Morty about? His face? Being disfigured? The second Bree?”

Taking a deep breath, Ellis managed to hold back her embarrassment and slowly said, “Easton punched him in the face.”

Maya was stunned, having never seen such drama. After a long silence, she touched her flawless face.

Morty’s face, but given Easton’s fierce force, it was hard to believe there were no bruises. Does Easton have some deep-seated hatred for him? Maya’s lips twitched. People say not to hit the face because it’s humiliating. Doesn’t Easton get that?

“He’s just crazy! Thinks everyone should act according to his whims!” Ellis really wanted to send Easton to a psychiatric hospital to save herself from his periodically disgusting antics.

“That’s sick!”

“Putting personal feelings aside, as much as we dislike Morty, he suffers having Easton as a childhood friend.”

“Aren’t you suffering enough yourself?” Maya nudged Ellis’s shoulder. “Your ex-husband and your admirer… you don’t like either, and now your ex is beating up your admirer. Isn’t that just inviting trouble for you?”

“It’s more than trouble; it’s downright humiliating.” Ellis closed her eyes, containing her shame. “I’ve decided. I need a break. I’m going to leave town for a while, get away from these annoying people and mess.”

She hadn’t even hit 25, and her string of bad luck seemed never-ending. Is it because I haven’t gotten through my quarter-life crisis yet? Or have the vibes of the city where I’ve lived for over twenty years suddenly turned against me?

“Go, by all means!” Maya wholeheartedly agreed with Ellis’s plan.

In less than a year, her friend had been kidnapped, scratched on the face nearly to disfigurement, and had other incidents like being beaten by someone hired by Victoria. If her friend didn’t change her surroundings, the damages might only escalate, possibly even endangering her life.

She looked up flight options on her phone, asking, “Where do you want to go?”

“A place with beautiful scenery, a slow pace, and lots of good food.” Ellis wanted more than just an escape from her bad luck; she needed to clear her mind, shake off the negativity, and recalibrate.

“I’ll get the travel plans ready; you just relax and get ready to leave.”

After getting a detailed list of what Ellis wanted, Maya went to the study to work on the travel itinerary. The dizziness wasn’t severe, but it lingered. Ellis watched Maya close the door, feeling a warm comfort in her heart.

Chapter 312: The Spilled Milk Incident