Chapter 18 Hurt Marilyn, and I’ll Destroy You
The warnings echoed in her mind.
Lauren’s chest rose and fell sharply, her loose strands of hair trembling with her fury.
She locked eyes with Elliot, her gaze filled with pure hatred, as if she wanted to tear him apart. “Was it you?”
Elliot sat up slightly, folding his hands loosely over his lap, his expression perfectly calm–untouched, composed, almost aristocratic. “What? I have no idea what you’re talking about
“Mia was expelled. Did you order it?” Lauren’s voice was tight, forced through gritted teeth. “Elliot, I’m warning you–stay away from Marilyn and Mia. If you don’t…”
Elliot’s eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flashing through them.
All this over a maid’s daughter she cared so much about outsiders, yet when it came to me, her own brother, all I got was cold indifference.
The thought made his blood boil. He clenched his jaw, bitterness twisting inside him. “Or what?”
Lauren’s voice was unwavering. T’ll take you down with me.”
A strange ache twisted in Elliot’s chest. Tm your brother. And this is how you see me?”
Lauren didn’t respond, but the coldness in her eyes said it all.
Their eyes locked, tension thickening the air between them.
Suddenly, the shrill ring of a phone shattered the silence.
Elliot glanced at the screen–Marilyn.
His lips curled into a smirk as he answered, meeting Lauren’s expectant gaze.
The moment he picked up, Marilyn’s anxious, desperate voice poured through the speaker. “Mr. Elliot, please, I have no one else to turn to. I beg you–use the Bennett family’s connections; do something to stop the school from expelling Mia! She’s my only daughter. I’ve worked so hard to raise her, and she’s so close to graduating. If she gets expelled now, her future will be ruined…
Elliot listened to her frantic pleas, but his focus never wavered from Lauren, watching her every reaction.
Lauren’s hands clenched into tight fists, her nails digging deep into her palms.
Marilyn had no idea she was begging the very man responsible for all of this.
And Lauren–knowing the truth–was powerless to stop it.
Once again, she had no choice but to put her fate in Elliot’s hands.
Her voice was low, strained. “Help her.”
Elliot arched a brow, covering the phone’s mic with his hand. “T’ll help her–but only if you apologize to Elaine. Get Kenneth to forgive you, and Marilyn’s daughter won’t be expelled.”
Lauren’s eyes burned red with anger, but she had no other choice.
“Fine. I’ll do it.”
Satisfied, Elliot turned back to the phone without hesitation. “Don’t worry, Marilyn. Mia won’t be expelled.” After hanging up, he stood and grabbed his keys. “Tll drive you.”
“No need. I’ll take a cab Lauren shot him down without hesitation.
“Til get you there faster. He insisted.
Chapter 18 Hurt Marilyn, and I’ll Destroy You
Without emotion, she said, “Looking at you makes me sick.
And with that, she turned and walked away.
Elliot’s face flushed red, his jaw clenched so tightly it ached.
Finished
He tried to suppress the rage rising in his chest, but it was impossible. Fury took over, and with one swift kick, he sent the coffee table flying.
Glass shattered.
Tea splashed across the floor, soaking into the expensive carpet, but he didn’t care.
His rage drowned out everything else.
“Lauren, don’t push it!” Elliot’s gaze burned into her retreating figure.
He just didn’t get it–he had even lowered himself in front of her, yet she refused to budge. Why couldn’t she just go back to the obedient girl she used to be? Why did she always have to challenge me?
Lauren always knew how to get under his skin, effortlessly striking where it hurt the most
But she didn’t slow down for a second. In no time, she had walked out of the Bennett estate
At the gate, she ran into Jeffrey.
With his usual smug, playboy attitude, Jeffrey scanned her from head to toe, his eyes filled with amusement.
“Damn. Swollen face, busted leg–you look like a total mess”
Not that it mattered. No one pitied her anyway.
Lauren didn’t even spare him a glance, brushing past him with cold indifference.
Jeffrey frowned.
As Elliot’s friend, Jeffrey was used to Lauren treating him like a guest of honor–bringing him tea, tending to his every need, always eager to please whenever he visited the Bennett house.
But now, the complete shift caught him off guard. He couldn’t wrap his head around it.
“Hey, where are you going? I’ll give you a ride.”
She ignored him.
Her indifference only fueled Jeffrey’s irritation. He quickly caught up to her and grabbed her wrist. Tm talking to you! What? Are you deaf?”
Lauren finally stopped, her voice calm but cutting. “Mr. Jeffrey, if it makes you feel better, go ahead–think of me as deaf, mute, or whatever you want. I don’t care. I have one request–stay out of my life and pretend I don’t exist. Can you do that?”
“What the heck? I never did anything to you! Why are you acting crazy?”
“Then just assume I’m crazy” Lauren yanked her hand free and walked away without looking back.
“Jesus, what’s your problem!”
Jeffrey stood frozen, watching her limp away.
His eyes fell to her injured leg, the bruises and cuts barely hidden beneath her clothes.
For some reason, the sight of it made him feel uneasy.
Skulina Medical Center Hossendale
Chapter 18 Hurt Marilyn, and I’ll Destroy Your
Lauren pushed open the door to Elaine’s VIP hospital room and stopped at the foot of the bed,
The woman lying in the bed looked nothing like the one she remembered.
Finished
As the heiress of Gray Corporation, Elaine had always been effortlessly beautiful–sweet–faced, impeccably dressed, the picture of a storybook princess.
But now, she was nothing more than a shadow of her former self. The natural fullness of her body had faded, leaving only pale, delicate skin stretched tightly over fragile bones.
Her cheeks were hollow, her sharp cheekbones protruded, and her limbs had withered, fragile and thin.
Looking at her now, Lauren couldn’t help but feel a pang of sorrow. A dull ache settled in her chest, as if she were staring at a reflection of her own suffering.
The truth was, she and Elaine had never gotten along
But that had always been one–sided. Elaine despised her, targeting her at every turn.
JAnd the reason was simple–Elaine and Willow had grown up together. They were inseparable.
Elaine’s perception of Lauren had been entirely shaped by Willow’s words.
Lauren had no idea what Willow had told her, but it certainly wasn’t anything good. Otherwise, Elaine wouldn’t have been so convinced that she was the villain–that she was the one bullying Willow.
Even now, Lauren still couldn’t wrap her head around it
Why would Willow push Elaine down the stairs if they were such close friends? More than that–why had David stood by, doing nothing to stop Willow! Why had he not only allowed Willow to commit the crime but also helped her pin it on me?
She had just been in the wrong place at the wrong time.
She had seen what happened.
She had witnessed their attempted murder.
And worst of all, Alice had arrived at the scene just in time to catch her standing there–turning her into the perfect scapegoat.
Because Elaine and Willow were best friends, Elliot and Kenneth refused to believe that Willow could have hurt her.
To them, it had to be Lauren.
She was the scapegoat. The villain in their perfect story.
