Elijah and I are free now, so we might as well help you,” he insisted, nudging Elijah with his elbow.

Elijah narrowed his eyes and responded icily, “Why must you always be such a nuisance? People are paid to work, not to cater to your every whim. Imagine if everyone acted like you—how would our frontline workers manage?”

Albin, caught off guard, simply shook his head, his frustration evident as he pondered the difficulty of changing Elijah’s rigid views.

Exhausted and unwilling to argue further, Elizabeth stated bluntly, “Mr. James, after all this time, you still fail to grasp my point? Let me be clear: I simply do not want you in my home.”

This ignited Elijah’s temper. He retorted scornfully, “What are you afraid of? That I’ll see the state of your living conditions?”

Elizabeth remained silent, her gaze fixed on him—his features striking and presence commanding, capable of drawing everyone’s attention. Yet, his charm vanished the moment he spoke.

Letting out a weary sigh, Elizabeth resigned herself to Elijah’s insistence on going upstairs. She approached the elevator, pressed the button, and nodded politely to Albin.

“Thank you,” she murmured softly, her voice detached. She conspicuously ignored Elijah.

“Alright, Elizabeth,” Albin responded promptly, nudging Elijah forward with the boxes.

Initially, Albin had considered Elizabeth a modest housewife. However, several encounters revealed a spirited and determined woman, mirroring Elijah’s fiery temperament. He found her ability to manage since her separation from Elijah quite remarkable.

The trio entered the elevator, the atmosphere thick with unspoken tension. The short ride felt interminable. Albin, usually a peacemaker, found himself unable to bridge the chasm between them.

As the elevator doors opened, Albin stepped out first, efficiently placing down the items. He checked his phone, a smile appearing as he read a message.

“Elijah, Elizabeth, something urgent has come up, so I must leave. You two carry on.”

He pressed the elevator button and slipped inside as the doors closed.

Left alone, Elizabeth and Elijah stood meters apart, pointedly avoiding each other’s gaze.