Chapter 395: Late-Night Delivery

Right after finishing her nighttime routine, the doorbell rang. Seriously? Easton again? Could that man ever just act normal for once?

Annoyed, Ellis stomped to the door, ready to go off. Before she could even get a full look at his face, she snapped, “It’s the middle of the night! You don’t sleep? Other people need—”

Before she could finish, a gift bag was shoved right in her face, cutting off her vision entirely. With Easton’s height advantage, he was already hard to look at eye-to-eye. Now, with that bag between them, she felt like a blindfolded idiot. She took a step back and glared at him.

“What do you want?”

Even as she asked, it dawned on her—he was giving her a gift.

“A peace offering,” Easton said seriously. “I’ve misunderstood you for years. Just saying sorry doesn’t feel sincere enough.”

“You can apologize all you want. I’ll accept that. But take your stuff and leave,” Ellis said coldly. She couldn’t care less what he thought anymore. And gifts from Easton? Hard pass. The man had zero credibility with her.

“It’s just a small gesture,” he said, holding the bag out again. “I hope you’ll accept it.”

“A gesture? You even have a heart to begin with?” she shot back with a sharp glare. “Doubt it.”

Her sarcasm was heavy, her tone biting—but Easton took it all without complaint. He knew he deserved it. If he’d just investigated the truth back then, if he hadn’t blindly believed what he wanted to, maybe they wouldn’t have ended up divorced. Maybe.

He didn’t say another word. He just pressed the bag into her hand and turned to leave.

“Goodnight.”

Ellis stared at his retreating back, tempted to hurl the bag right at him. Too bad the bastard walked away too fast. By the time she realized what had just happened, the elevator doors had already closed behind him. She had no choice but to carry the bag back inside.

Maya was still awake. She’d heard the doorbell, of course, and she didn’t need to guess who it was. Easton never did anything actually dangerous, but he definitely knew how to be a nuisance.

Seeing Ellis walk in with a scowl and a bag, Maya asked, “So, what did your ex drop off this time?”

“He said it was some kind of heartfelt gesture,” Ellis muttered, disgusted. “Like I want that.”

It wasn’t the first time Easton had given her something. He’d even had his assistant help her find a new apartment once and offered to put it under her name, saying the old one wasn’t safe enough. As if I need his charity to survive, she thought bitterly.

Maya raised an eyebrow. “You actually took it?”

“I didn’t take it—he shoved it at me and ran off. I didn’t have time to throw it back.”

“There’s the Ellis I know!” Maya grinned.

Ellis dropped the bag onto the table like it was contaminated. “Next time he shows up, I’ll hand it back.”

“What’d he give you?”

“Probably something stupid and flashy to show off how rich he is.” Ellis didn’t even want to open it. She gestured lazily at Maya. “If you’re curious, go ahead and look. Just put it back after.”

Maya didn’t need to be told twice. She went to check. There were two boxes—one big, one small. Ellis didn’t even glance up from the couch.

Suddenly, Maya gasped. “Holy sh-!”

Ellis turned her head. “What?”

Maya held up a few sleek black cards from the smaller box. There were sticky notes attached with handwritten PINs.

“Your ex just gave you a bunch of loaded bank cards!” she exclaimed.

Ellis stared blankly for a moment. Then her face twisted in exasperation. Is he seriously trying to send me money now? Was she really that pathetic in his eyes? Like if he didn’t play savior, she’d crumble?

She didn’t speak for a while. She just stared up at the ceiling, her expression full of disdain.

Maya got the hint. “You want me to take it back to him?” She’d played delivery driver enough times between these two. Receive Easton’s gift, attempt to return it on Ellis’s behalf, rinse and repeat.

Ellis shook her head. “No need. I’ll deal with it.” Maya meant well, but Ellis didn’t want to keep using her like that, not even if Maya offered. This was her mess. And Easton was her headache.