The cemetery was somber, the air heavy with sorrow and whispered farewells. Elizabeth stood quietly before Danna’s grave, her eyes distant.
After a brief silence, she murmured a simple farewell and left without a word.
Outside the cemetery gates, Camille was absorbed in her phone, scrolling anxiously through her ride-hailing app. “I’ve refreshed this app a hundred times, and there’s no way to get a car to Orkset from here,” she muttered, clearly irritated.
Elizabeth, already anticipating the problem, responded calmly, “If there’s no car, we’ll just take the bus.”
Camille let out a dramatic sigh, the thought of public transport clearly unpleasant to her. “A bus? With all the sweat, body odor, and that unique smell of desperation? I’d rather deal with Albin again. At least then, I wouldn’t have to endure this.”
Her complaints trailed off as she noticed Elizabeth wasn’t answering. Frowning, she looked up—and froze. Not far from them, a sleek Maybach was parked by the curb, Oliver standing next to it in his usual composed, professional manner.
The moment he saw them, Oliver stepped forward. “Ms. Sophia, Ms. Nixon,” he greeted with a respectful nod. “Mr. James sent me to pick you up.”
Oliver hesitated for a moment, as if deciding whether to say more. In the end, he kept quiet. After all, he wished he could’ve recorded Elijah’s behavior yesterday for Elizabeth to see.
Yesterday, Oliver hadn’t left Esterhall at all. As soon as the car was out of Elizabeth’s sight, Elijah had called and arranged for someone to pick him up.
Elizabeth, already immune to Elijah’s inconsistent behavior, simply slid into the backseat without a word.
Camille followed, muttering under her breath as she sat beside her. “Fine, we’ll take the car. But let me make one thing clear—the divorce is still happening.”
Oliver hesitated, the tension in the car suddenly noticeable.
Camille certainly knew how to make things awkward.
“Ms. Sophia,” he started cautiously, “Mr. James can be stubborn, yes, but deep down, he’s soft-hearted. He’s decisive at work, but when it comes to matters of the heart—”
Elizabeth cut him off, her voice sharp. “If you’re sitting by a fire, do you feel warmth or cold?”
The question threw Oliver off, and he stumbled over his words. “W-warmth, I suppose?”
Elizabeth’s gaze was cool as she replied. “Exactly. You don’t have to analyze it. You just feel it. The same goes for love.”
Before Oliver could respond, Camille leaned forward with a grin. “So don’t waste your time playing love guru. Just focus on driving, alright? Unless you want me to take over.”
Flustered, Oliver nodded quickly. “Understood.” He closed the back door and climbed into the driver’s seat.
As the car started moving, Camille leaned toward Elizabeth, lowering her voice. “You’re not going soft again, are you?”
Elizabeth shook her head firmly. “No.” She turned to the window, watching the scenery blur past, her thoughts elsewhere.
Back at Bayview Villa, Elizabeth stepped inside, the cool, familiar air welcoming her. Willow appeared almost immediately, her smile wide and eager.
“Hi, Ms. Sophia!”
Elizabeth gave her a polite nod before turning to Oliver. “Has Elijah returned yet?”
Oliver hesitated, carefully selecting his words. “Mr. James had a business meeting tonight. He’s in Steu Skua.”
Hadn’t he agreed to finalize the divorce? Why the sudden trip to Steu Skua?
This couldn’t be a simple coincidence.
Elizabeth’s frown deepened. “Steu Skua? Isn’t his recent project in the nearby county?”
Oliver smiled faintly, his tone controlled. “The James Group manages projects everywhere, Ms. Sophia.”
Elizabeth couldn’t hide her annoyance. “Since when does every project of the James Group require its CEO to be personally involved?”
Oliver maintained his composure. “Mr. James is very hands-on. That’s why the company’s grown so rapidly.”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes, unimpressed. “How convenient.”
Oliver wisely chose not to continue. Handing Elizabeth’s suitcase to Willow, he added, “If you need anything, Ms. Sophia, Willow will handle it. I need to return to the office.”
With that, he left quickly, leaving Elizabeth and Willow alone in the entryway.
Willow gripped the suitcase tightly, but instead of heading upstairs, she lingered, her curiosity evident.
She turned to Elizabeth, her voice tentative but probing. “Ms. Sophia… did you and Mr. James have a disagreement?”
Elizabeth’s eyes flicked to Willow, noting the unusual glint in her expression. It wasn’t concern—it was something closer to excitement. Her intuition told her to tread carefully. “Do you want us to argue?” Elizabeth asked, her voice sharp and direct.
Her instincts told her to keep the divorce plan hidden from Willow.
Willow faltered, her smile fading for a brief moment before she quickly recovered. “Of course not! I hope you and Mr. James stay in love forever.”
Elizabeth’s lips curled into a faint, almost mocking smile. “Exactly. We will stay in love forever.” Leaning in slightly, she pulled the collar of her shirt back, revealing the faint mark on her neck. “Who knows? Maybe we’ll even have a child this year.”
Willow’s grip on the suitcase tightened, her knuckles turning pale as her eyes flicked to the mark.
Her mind raced. It seemed Elijah and Elizabeth’s relationship was actually improving.
At that moment, Elizabeth’s phone buzzed, breaking the silence. She pulled it out, scanning a message in her group chat. It was from Soren: “Don’t rush off after the shoot. I’m coming by to visit—I have some good news to share.”
