As the car’s interior warmed, a subtle, woody fragrance emanating from Elijah suffused the space, casting an uncomfortably intimate ambiance around them.
She shifted her gaze to the nocturnal cityscape, catching his concentrated silhouette reflected against the window.
Despite their proximity, a void of unspoken words stretched between them.
The car rolled to a stop outside Bayview Villa.
Elizabeth stole a glance at Elijah, still engrossed in his laptop. Without waiting for Oliver, she opened the door and stepped onto the pavement herself.
She had only taken a few steps toward the villa’s grand entrance when the door swung open abruptly.
Willow emerged, and the moment her eyes landed on Elizabeth, her welcoming smile dissolved. “Why is it you?” she exclaimed, a mix of surprise and displeasure coloring her tone.
//////
A mere ten minutes before, the driver had returned with a group of foreign doctors, and Willow had been under the impression that Elijah was bringing Sandra back with him. Hindered by a significant language barrier, her interactions with the doctors were minimal.
Upon spotting Elizabeth, Willow’s gut reaction was suspicion, her mind racing to the conclusion that Elizabeth was there to stir up trouble.
Elijah, arriving just in time, caught Willow’s words, his features hardening into a mask of disapproval.
Oliver quickly intervened, his tone sharp with reproach, “How dare you address Ms. Sandra in such a manner?”
Jolted back to reality, Willow hurriedly corrected herself. “I’m so sorry, Mr. James. The joy of seeing Ms. Sandra again made me speak out of turn.”
Elijah’s response was cold and resolute. “If you cannot uphold the dignity of your position, perhaps you should consider seeking employment elsewhere.”
Willow felt a lump in her throat, her eyes brimming with tears. Jobs as lucrative and comfortable as this were few and far between. Being dismissed for such an incident would surely tarnish her reputation, closing the doors to employment with any other wealthy families.
Overwhelmed by anxiety, her face drained of color as she stammered, “I… I…”
Struggling to find her words, she suddenly knelt in front of Elizabeth in a desperate gesture, raising her hand to strike her own face repeatedly. The slaps rang out sharply, leaving her cheeks flushed with stark red marks.
She begged earnestly, “Ms. Sandra, it’s so rare to see you here, and I just couldn’t wrap my mind around it at that moment. The words spilled out without thought! Please, don’t judge someone as unrefined as myself too harshly. Could you possibly find it in your heart to give me one more chance?”
Elizabeth’s expression hardened as she took a step back, distancing herself from Willow’s reach, and replied with a detached tone, “The decision to keep you or let you go rests with Mr. James, not me.”
She was no angel with endless patience for forgiveness. Despite her disdain for Willow, she considered the whole affair none of her business post-divorce.
Desperate, Willow advanced on her knees, pleading with Elijah, “Mr. James, Ms. Sandra has already forgiven me. Please…”
Noticing that Elizabeth remained calm, Elijah wrongly interpreted this as a sign of approval and responded coldly, “Let’s ensure this doesn’t repeat itself.”
“Oh, thank you, Mr. James. Thank you, Ms. Sandra.” Willow stood abruptly, smoothing her dress with a forced smile. Yet, as her eyes flicked to Elizabeth, a glint of resentment briefly darkened her otherwise composed expression.
She blamed Elizabeth for her current humiliation.
Had Elizabeth not made an unexpected return, why would Elijah have even thought about dismissing her?
This incident only strengthened Willow’s resolve; she was determined to ensure the couple never reconciled. As long as Elizabeth held her position in the household, Willow’s prospects looked grim.
While fetching slippers for Elijah and Elizabeth, Willow seized the moment to inquire, “The doctors are already here waiting. May I ask what concerns you today, Mr. James?”
