Chapter 37
On the night that could freeze the soul, snowflakes danced wildly under a sky lit by a million bright lights. The busy streets of Yaville were a blur of durling traffic, and in the midst of it all, Elizabeth felt as cold and lifeless as a forgotten ember. Wrapped up in a man’s overcoat, the curled into the smallest shape she could make, staring out the window.
In all the vibrancy of Yaville, she had never strolled these streets with Franklin.
Maybe to break the oppressive silence, Franklin flipped on the radio. A woman’s voice, crisp and clear, announced the evening’s weather–first mixed with rain. It only added to Elizabeth’s gloom. She blinked back a strange mix of emotions and asked. “If I hadn’t lied to you, would you still treat me like this?
He seemed shocked to hear such a question from her.
Franklin’s voice wavered as he responded, “I don’t want to hear this crap.
But Elizabeth was stubborn, pursuing “If my blood type didn’t match your sister’s, would we have already gone our separate ways!”
“And what makes you think we wouldn’t Franklin said, his tone sharp with irritation.
Here was a woman who had schemed and deceived him. If not for his family, he wouldn’t have kept her around.
After all, he was Franklin, raised in comfort and always sailing smoothly through life. He didn’t tolerate blemishes, yet Elizabeth’s presence had become an indelible stain
Hot and cold merged in the atmosphere. Elizabeth glanced down at the cuffs of her coat, where the interplay of light and shadow was disturbed by something wet seeping into the fabric. “Franklin, I get what you’re saying
“What do you get” Franklin asked, his skepticism clear.
As she rubbed her eyes, ready to speak, Franklin abruptly turned off the radio. The only sounds now were the hum of the engine and the distant honking of horns. His voice cut through the silence, steady and cold, yet somehow searing.
“Get why I keep you around?” he mocked, his voice dripping with disdain. “If not for your usefulness, do you think I’d keep a woman who’s made a fool of me, Elizabeth? Don’t you really think you’re that charming!”
Elizabeth felt as if her heart was being ripped apart. “Tm not”
“Then don’t ever ask such nonsense again. It makes me sick Franklin said, his disgust evident in his tone.
Finally, she bowed her head, pulling the coat tighter around herself. It was so tight that not even tears could fou
The car cruised down the main drag, starting a
and stopping
When they finally pulled up to the Taylor residence, the snow and rain had let up. The night had been swept clean by the cold, and as Elizabeth stepped out, she nearly lost her footing. Her ancenia blurred her vision, and a cold sweat broke out down her back.
Before they could even get to the door, they spotted a group huddled outside the white picket fence of the Taylor residence, lit up by the Parrounding lights. Lawson was there, along with two security guards and a woman sobbing uncontrollably
Elizabeth fought to keep her balance, reaching out to steady herself against the car, but she ended up clunching Franklin’s hand instead
It felt like she’d touched a red–hot iron. She tried to pull back, but Franklin’s grip was firm, his gaze fixed straight ahead. “Look at the messes your family brings. When will they ever end!”
Elizabeth attempted to make a fist with her hand. With a faint voice, she said, “You should go back. No need for you to get involved
But he acted as if he hadn’t heard her. Still holding hands, they walked straight into the crowd of arguing people.
As they approached, the shrill, heart–wrenching cries of the strange woman cut through the air. She looked around at the indifferent faces, then at Lawson with his brows furrowed, and suddenly covered her face.
Between sobs, she said, “You promised to take responsibility for me. You said it yourself!”
Maybe feeling the shame, Lawson gave a subtle signal to the two security guards beside him. They moved in to apprehend the crying woman. Lawson sneered a warning,
“Should you take my words as the absolute truth? If I say I’ll buy you a castle, would you believe that, too!” Lawson asked.
Elizabeth and Franklin stood by, not wanting to move any closer.
while
The word was being. Elizabeth, slight as she was, couldn’t stand against it for long. Her face was pale, nearly transparent, a sight that tugged at the heart: She pursed her lips, tom between staying and leaving, as she watched the drama play nut.
11:59 AM dd
Chapter 37
The security guards pounced when the woman let her guard down, snatching her arms, ready to haul her off. But she let out a howl, thrashing around, her sharp nails aiming for the faces of anyone nearby.
Lawson watched, irritation written all over his face. He was abour to walk away when the woman latched onto him.
Lawson was seething, his face red as he shook off her grip. The ground was a cold, damp reminder of the recent snow and rain, through..
- its
chill biting
The woman hit the ground hard, with her cheek and palm scraped.
Lawson’s expression turned ugly. He was a player, never one to be tied down, and he had never come across a woman who didn’t know when to quit. He’d always managed to keep things clean and simple. But this time, he’d run into trouble.
He made a move to run, but the woman was quicker, clutching at his pant leg with her bleeding hands, her face wet with tears. Her voice was hitching as she sobbed, “You can’t leave. I’m having your baby. You can’t just walk away”
It was a shock, like lightning out of a clear blue sky.
In the cold night, Elizabeth’s eyes clouded as she saw Lawson’s face, contorted with rage, and she had an idea of what he might do.
Without a moment’s hesitation, she dropped Franklin’s hand and dashed over.
Lawson checked his movements, staring at Elizabeth as she stood before him, as sturdy and unyielding as a young tree in the snowy night.
“How did you come back!” Lawson barked, barely acknowledging Elizabeth. “Get inside now.”
But Elizabeth just gave him a long, heavy look, then took off her own coat, and wrapped it around the woman’s huddled form, helping her up gently parting her back to ease her breathing.
Lawson was fuming, as if he might actually hit her. “Elizabeth, go ahead and butt in today if you dare.”
and
can
beat her to a pulp right here if you’ve no shame at all,” Elizabeth retorted.
These rich, spoiled brats never cared about people’s feelings to begin with.
After all her time in Yaville, Elizabeth had them all figured out. She paid no mind to Lawson’s fury. Instead, she tenderly looked after the unfamiliar woman, saying gently. “It’s chilly at night. Take care of yourself first. We can talk things over slowly
It seemed d like she saw hope in Elizabeth and nodded earnestly.
The woman gazed at Elizabeth with a mix of innocence and fear. It se
Just as the situation started to calm down, Lawson grabbed Elizabeth by the collar with one hand, ready to haul her inside. But before he could do much, Franklin had seized his wrist, his eyes clouded, as if reminding him of something
Gradually, Lawson’s outrage was quelled.
Franklin steered Lawson to the side, near the courtyard fence, which was frosty, the touch chilling to the bone. They stood there in silence, both watching Elizabeth at the same time.
Elizabeth thoughtfully wrapped the clothes tighter around the woman and took out a tissue to dab her tears.
Far away, they couldn’t catch what she was saying.
They only saw her lips moving slightly. Elizabeth’s tender skin was radiating a beautiful glow. She was gently tucking the woman’s damp hair behind her ears Elizabeth’s whole being seemed to emit a golden, holy light of nobility.
The woman slowly calmed down, and she actually began to nod along with Elizabeth’s words.
That scene gave Lawson goosebumps, and he found it absurd. He took out a lighter and a cigarette to smoke, but then he stopped as he was about to light it, rubbing his fingers. “Sorry, I forgot you were here.”
Franklin remained silent, gazing at Elizabeth from a distance
She continued to comfort the woman, shifting from words to physical comfort, Soon, Elizabeth was holding the woman.
Leaning against the fence, Lawson said with a hint of scorn, “Look at her. She’s a pro at this act
