The wolf in sheep's clothing had finally shown his true colors, utterly untrustworthy.
Eltham set down the plate: "I asked the kitchen to make you some chicken noodle soup, you should have some."
He acted as if he hadn't heard.
Feeling utterly drained, Brittany approached Eltham, hoping to make one last effort. "Eltham, you don't actually like me. We're not a good match. There's no need for us to make this any more awkward, right?" Eltham's face darkened instantly. "How do you know I don't really like you?"
"Bri, I do like you."
"I know you might not be able to accept me right now, but we have all the time in the world," Eltham said, as if caught in some delusion. "Don't worry, once you've accepted me, I'll take good care of you." Brittany suddenly felt like talking to him was just a waste of breath.
In a sudden move, she knocked over the chicken soup. "Get out!"
Eltham wasn't angry. "Rest well. I'll have the servants bring you another. Let them know if you need anything."
Brittany ignored him completely.
As Eltham reached the door, he turned back. "The news about us passing the prenuptial health check has spread. Everyone's looking forward to our engagement party. I hope you can attend in your best form." Brittany remained silent.
Eltham closed the door, instructed the servants to take good care of Brittany, and left with long strides.
He drove off to a bar.
Inside the private room, Piper and her friends had already arrived and stood up when they saw him.
"Congratulations, almost engaged now."
A friend clapped him on the shoulder. "I heard you and Brittany really put on a show of affection. Your lovey-dovey photos are all over the internet!"
"A match made in heaven, truly!"
"With the engagement around the corner, we've got to celebrate properly!"
Piper stood aside, her eyes filled with awkwardness. She had thought the prenuptial health check would embarrass Brittany, but the results had passed, rendering all her efforts futile. Eltham seldom drank, but he could hold his liquor well.
One after another, shots of strong whiskey slid down his throat. His friends got drunk, but he remained sober.
Piper approached him. "Eltham, the health check results... there's really no issue?"
Could it be Brittany had really miscarried? Or had the samples been switched?
Eltham put down his glass. "Do you wish there was a problem?"
For some reason, Piper read displeasure in his eyes and instinctively shook her head. "That's not what I mean-"
Eltham ran out of patience. "Piper, I know what you're thinking, but I don't like you. In other words, even if Brittany and I split up, I wouldn't get engaged to you, so don't do anything foolish."
He was earnest. "We grew up together. I see you as a sister. If you keep crossing the line, I can't do anything about it."
"Eltham, I don't understand what you're talking about." Piper played dumb, but she was panicking.
Eltham left it at that. "It's getting late. You should head back and rest."
After he left, Piper realized she was sweating bullets.
...
The town buzzed with the news of Brittany and Eltham's nuptials. Isaac was among the first to see the news, but when he tried to contact Brittany, he found out he was blocked. Then came the news of Yuri's hospitalization.
Rushing to the hospital, Isaac found Holden by Yuri's side. Surprised, Holden asked, "Caspian, what are you doing here?"
Realizing his own slip, Isaac's Adam's apple bobbed. "I'm a friend of Ms. Lynette."
He paused. "I heard Yuri was hospitalized, so I came to visit."
Yuri had woken up, looking frail. Noticing Isaac, he signaled for Holden to take a rest.
Once Holden left, "Dad, what happened?"
Isaac hadn't expected things to escalate to this point.
"Eltham took Bri away; she's been locked up," Yuri coughed continuously. "He knew about you all along, knew about Bri's pregnancy-"
Eltham had been too good at pretending. They had been deceived all along!
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