Chapter 51: A Battle of Priorities

Over the years, her son had achieved major victories, and her own business had recovered alongside his success. And yet, now he wanted her to help Victoria? If it had been for someone else, she might have agreed and generously offered her resources. But for Victoria? The mere thought made Sophia see red.

“At a time when Ellis is asking for a divorce, you should be focused on her, not wasting your energy on some other woman,” she snapped.

“I don’t need to put any effort into Ellis. She won’t have the heart to actually go through with the divorce,” Easton replied, pausing before adding, “If you won’t help Victoria, I’ll just have to do it myself.”

“Help, help, help! All you know is how to help a woman who abandoned you!” Sophia shot up from her seat. “And listen to yourself! You call Victoria by her name so tenderly, but when it comes to Ellis, you always use her full name like she’s just some stranger.”

“Victoria didn’t abandon me. Her family forcibly sent her abroad and annulled the engagement,” Easton stood up as well. “The Brooks family can’t offer her much in terms of resources right now. If I help her within my means, there’s nothing wrong with that.”

Ignoring her words entirely, as she expected, Sophia was livid.

“How many times have I told you—I do not like that ex-fiancée your grandfather arranged for you!”

“You don’t like her because she never tried to please you. You like Ellis because she constantly sucks up to you. You’re blind to what she’s actually after,” Easton said, his tone resolute.

Sophia was so furious she could barely form words. “I don’t want to argue about this. Just bring Ellis here for dinner tomorrow. If I don’t see the two of you, you’ll be the one to suffer the consequences.”

Easton’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Mom, does Ellis’s attempt to please you work that well on you?”

“At least she doesn’t make me angry like you do! She’s a warm, considerate girl!” Sophia had long since lost count of the times her son had frustrated her. His stubborn streak was identical to his late father’s.

“Considerate? Or just greedy? Mom, you need to see the difference.” Easton had seen firsthand how Ellis benefited from cozying up to his mother. Her hunger for wealth and status was obvious. She had started calling his mother “Mom” even before they were married, while she had never once called her own adoptive mother anything other than “Ma’am.” The flattery was blatant.

Sophia pointed at him, then again, then turned away, too angry to speak. The butler returned, and she wasted no time ordering him to escort her son out.

Walking out of his mother’s home, Easton checked his phone. Victoria had sent him messages.

“Easton, Madam Sophia won’t help me, but don’t trouble yourself. I’ll figure something out on my own.”

Easton, I understand why she won’t help. After all, my family was the one to call off the engagement back then. It’s only natural that she holds a grudge. Just don’t let this cause a rift between you and Madam Sophia. I’d feel terrible.

He skimmed the messages and was about to exit the chat when his gaze landed on another pinned conversation: Ellis.

She had a bad temper and was great at throwing tantrums when things didn’t go her way. If someone didn’t comply with her wishes, she would make a scene. At one point, she had even gone through his contacts to check if he had added any women he “shouldn’t have.”

She had been so guarded, so possessive, afraid that someone else would take what she had worked so hard to obtain. She had even insisted that their chat stay pinned at the top of his messages so that he could see and respond to her first.

Lately, she hadn’t bombarded him with texts. Their last conversation had been nearly a month ago, on the 12th of last month. Her final message had been… “Baby, talk to me!” Today was the 3rd. So she hadn’t texted him in over half a month.

He had thought the peace and quiet would make time pass faster. But instead, it felt slower.

Replying to Victoria with a simple “Got it,” Easton idly scrolled through his call logs. Morty lived at Petal Estates. If he had seen Ellis there, did that mean she had moved in too? She wasn’t staying with Maya anymore?

It made sense. Maya was just an ordinary woman living in an ordinary home. Ellis wouldn’t last long in a place like that. It was only natural that she would move into a bigger, fancier residence as soon as possible.

Just how much money had his aunt given her to maintain the same standard of living outside the Hudson home? With that thought, he dialed one of his subordinates.

“Retrieve every cent given to Emma last year and this year. I want it back.”

For the first time in years, Ellis’s world no longer revolved around Easton. She wasn’t playing the role of his obedient assistant or catering to his every need like a servant. Now, her job actually challenged her and kept her occupied. She had no time to think about anything outside of work.

Tonight, Lois was bringing her along to a business dinner—different from the ones she had attended before. When she had worked at Hudson Group as Easton’s assistant, these occasions weren’t about her role. People only saw her as Madam Easton, nothing more. Now, with her new identity, she had to adapt. She needed to focus entirely on her professional responsibilities, like securing the dinner reservations.

Just as she was about to leave with Lois for the restaurant, her phone rang. Sophia was calling.