Chapter 32
Despite Elvira’s insistence that she was feeling better, Zach was still concerned and insisted on carrying her to the intensive care unit where his grandmother was admitted.
Upon entering the intensive care unit, Elvira immediately noticed Zach’s secretary, Sherry. She stood up from her chair and greeted Zach, “Mr. Gilbert. Your grandmother’s condition is stable at the moment.”
Zach spoke in a cool, detached tone as he addressed Sherry. “Alright, you can make the first move,” he said. After speaking with Sherry, Zach gently lowered Elvira onto the plush sofa, ensuring she was comfortably seated before stepping back.
“Yes, Mr. Gilbert.” Sherry nodded in acknowledgment and left.
Elvira looked at Mrs. Gilbert as she lay peacefully in the hospital bed. Though Mrs. Gilbert hadn’t regained consciousness, the intensive care unit nurses assured Elvira that her condition was stable.
“Aren’t you treating your secretary too coldly? Does she work well with you?” Elvira asked, curious about Zach and Sherry’s working relationship.
Besides Zach’s cold attitude, Elvira also noticed Sherry showing excessive respect towards Zach, despite him being only mid-tier staff, which was peculiar.
“Ms. Johnson is a competent secretary, highly efficient, and great at her job,” Zach said primly. Sherry was Zach’s only female secretary in his office. He usually worked with male assistants, but he found Sherry highly capable and had no ulterior motives, so he hired her.
After hearing Zach’s reply, Elvira didn’t think much about it. As she gazed at him, taking in his prim and proper appearance and mannerisms, she couldn’t help but recall their intimate moments alone together. It was then that she noticed how drastically different he could be, and she struggled to reconcile the two versions of him in her mind.
Tracy finally regained consciousness at night. Zach and Elvira, in full protective gear, spoke to her and left shortly after.
After returning to the Willis family home, Karen sat in the living room while a servant carefully applied a cold compress to her swollen face. Meanwhile, Amber sat beside her, looking distraught and tearful as she recounted Elvira’s recent actions.
During the conversation, Amber brought up Elvira’s surprising marriage. She recounted Elvira’s violent tendencies and her conflict with Perry Bacchus. Amber also mentioned how Elvira had publicly exposed herself as the mistress who broke up a family. As for her one-night stand with Perry Bacchus, Amber didn’t dare talk about it, even though she felt set up by Elvira.
“Mom, I didn’t want to talk about all this initially. I thought Elvira would change for the better, but unfortunately, she’s become even worse and is now disrespecting you. It hurts me to see this,” Li Muyun said, looking distressed.
Karen responded with a grim expression, “The audacity she had!”
“Mom, nobody in our circle wants to be associated with me anymore. I’m getting old, so it doesn’t matter to me. But you must do something for Judy and Calvin! You mustn’t let Elvira continue to smear Judy’s reputation,” Amber wiped her tears, continuing, “Judy’s movie is set to be released soon, and it’s a project we’ve invested a lot of money in. If Elvira starts spreading rumors that Judy is the third party in her previous relationship… it could create negative publicity, ultimately resulting in significant financial losses.” Amber highlighted these issues, hoping Karen would take action against Elvira.
Chapter 32
Judy approached Karen, tears streaming down her face. “Grandma, I’m sorry! I fell in love with Calvin, knowing I shouldn’t have. But it was something I couldn’t control. We just naturally got together.”
“It’s not your fault. The blame lies solely on Elvira for being so unlikable. No man would like a girl as stubborn as her. I promise to take care of this problem once and for all, and I won’t let Elvira tarnish your reputation again,” Karen said firmly, holding Judy’s hands.
Karen had never liked Rowena Smart’s two children. As a son of the family, Marsh should have inherited the household. However, he was terrible at his studies, addicted to gaming, and wouldn’t listen, no matter how much people tried to persuade him.
Unlike her siblings, Judy was an exceptional child. She was always respectful and excelled in her studies. After her marriage to Calvin Kennedy, their two families could join forces to expand their businesses. Hence, Karen was convinced that Judy was the perfect heir to the Willis family.
Elvira received a call from a colleague who asked about something at work and requested her return to the office.
“I have resigned from the company, so I will not be returning to the office. All the items you asked about are in the drawer at my desk. I will send the key to the office via courier so you can access them and deal with it yourself.” Elvira had no plans to return to the company. As for the resignation procedures mentioned by human resources, she had decided not to follow them either.
Working at the company was a ploy the Willis family used to control her. But since she no longer cared, nothing they said would sway her.
As soon as Elvira hung up the phone, she walked into a nearby dessert shop. After some deliberation, she picked out a few cakes, paid, and left with a small box of desserts. Just as she was about to call Zach, she noticed a sneaky figure seemingly following her. “The Willis family is everywhere,” she muttered, her brow furrowing in frustration.
Elvira started walking and saw an alleyway to her right. When she reached the entrance, she quickly ran into it, and the person following her did the same.
An ear-piercing scream reverberated through the alleyway. Elvira had subdued the person following her and dislocated the man’s shoulder. She said coldly, “Tell those in the Willis family that I will slowly settle the scores with them! Just wait and see me do it!”
“Oh my god, Elvira! Let me go! I am not from the Willis family!” The man cried out.
Elvira was taken aback and quickly turned the man around. He was tall, handsome, and looked vaguely familiar.
“Elvira, I am Samson Lawson.” Samson cried. “Zach warned me not to look for you for fear of scaring you, so I secretly came to see what you looked like. I swear I am telling the truth,” Samson explained anxiously, tears still on his face.
Elvira remained silent, collecting her thoughts. Finally, she remembered this man was with Zach when they previously met at a hotel.
Elvira gradually released her grasp on the man’s neck and lowered it to his arms. Samson cringed in pain and shouted, “Elvira, please. My hand… it’s broken! Let me go!”
“Save me, Zach. I should have listened to you,” Samson shouted as if his words could reach Zach.
“Try moving your arm. It should be alright now.” Elvira gazed at the weeping man, amused but unsure if she should laugh.
Samson’s sobbing stopped as he tried to move his arms. Despite the excruciating pain he felt earlier, he no longer felt it.
“I’m so sorry. I’ve been in a bit of a special situation lately, so I’m extra sensitive to people who show up unexpectedly. That’s why when I saw you, I thought you were someone sent by the Willis family.” Elvira paused, continuing, “But I realize now that I was mistaken, so I’m sorry for hurting you.”
“It’s alright. It’s not your fault,” said Samson, his face flushed with embarrassment as he nervously scratched his head. “I’m sorry for following you secretly like that. I know it wasn’t right, but I had to resort to this method since Zach refused to introduce us officially.” Through his short encounter with Elvira, he can finally understand why Zach, who had always been aloof around women, had fallen head over heels in love with her.
“The desserts you just bought are ruined. Let’s return to the shop. You can choose and take whatever you like, and I will pay for it.” Samson enthusiastically pulled her toward the dessert shop again.
After Samson paid for the desserts, he insisted on driving Elvira back to the hospital. Elvira couldn’t refuse his offer, so she got into his cool-looking sports car.
As they pulled up to the hospital, Samson opened the car door for Elvira. She stepped out of the car and thanked him for the ride. As Elvira was about to step inside the hospital, a woman rushed toward her with an angry expression on her face.
As the woman drew her hand back to slap Elvira, the latter reacted with lightning-like reflexes and caught the woman’s hand mid-air. Elvira looked straight into the stranger’s eyes, her voice laced with anger and disbelief, “What do you think you’re doing? Are you mad?”