Episode 57
Oliver stood behind him, holding a grand bouquet of Ecuadorian roses. The atmosphere grew thick with unease as Elijah made his appearance. Yara’s complexion drained, shifting swiftly from ashen to a heated flush, yet she refrained from voicing her discontent. Instead, she mustered a strained smile and inquired, “Elijah, I thought you had left?” “I merely stepped away to pick up flowers for my wife. Furthermore, my wife is an only child, Miss Elizabeth, so please refrain from fabricating familial connections,”
Elijah responded, his tone detached, his eyes avoiding Yara’s gaze. Yara was left momentarily speechless, her fingernails pressing sharply into her palms. Rumors had flooded the internet about Elijah’s adoration for Sandra, and whispers of his imminent separation from Elizabeth were rampant. Yet here he was, boldly proclaiming Elizabeth as his wife and standing by her with unshakable devotion. Elizabeth, equally baffled by Elijah’s actions, watched him as he approached.
With a discreet sidestep, he signaled Oliver to present the roses to Elizabeth. “Do you like them?” he asked, his eyes softening considerably as they met Elizabeth’s surprised yet glowing face—his expression a stark contrast to the iciness he had exhibited earlier during their disagreement. Though puzzled by Elijah’s motives, Elizabeth quickly adapted to the situation, playing her part in his apparent charade. Admiring the roses, she responded warmly, “Yes, these are my favorite.” Reflecting on the past two years, she acknowledged that, despite everything, Elijah had provided her with a measure of material comfort, far surpassing what the Elizabeth family had offered. With this stark contrast in mind, Elizabeth couldn’t bear the thought of Yara viewing her as something to ridicule.
Acting wasn’t just a talent for her. It was a necessity for her survival and success in their cutthroat circle. With her most dazzling smile, Elizabeth approached Elijah, gently looped her arm through his, and cooed in a syrupy tone that made her own flesh crawl, “Thank you, sweetheart.” It was the first time Elijah had ever heard her use such a sugary-sweet voice, and it visibly threw him off. His body tensed, and a look of complexity washed over his face as he turned his gaze towards her. At that instant, Elijah developed a deep appreciation for Elizabeth’s theatrical prowess. Yet, he remained silent, only shooting an impatient look towards Yara. Yara, attempting to maintain composure, forced a smile and said, “Mr. James, please don’t get the wrong idea. I merely caught a snippet of your conversation about a divorce… I assumed there were some troubles in your relationship…” With a fond look at Elizabeth, Elijah let out a laugh and responded, “Oh, it’s nothing, more than a lovers’ quarrel.
