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Chapter 138 Different Paths, Same Room
“Don’t worry. We’ll make sure everything is perfect.”
The waitstaff and head chef responded in unison.
s
Inside the room.
Eliza was eating.
Nolan always ate with a calm, methodical rhythm–clearly someone raised under elite education.
Eliza, on the other hand, ate as fast as she could, like each bite was a race.
Nolan had always wanted to ask why she ate like she was starving.
But before he could ever get the words out, Eliza would already be finished.
Noticing Nolan watching her closely, Eliza said, “You’re wondering why I eat so fast, right?”
“..Yeah.”
“It’s because back when I lived with the Rivers family, I barely had anything to eat.”
She took a sip of water and said, “Naomi always got picked up early from school and left in the family car. I had to take the bus and walk home. By the time I got there, the food was cold—if there was even anything left for me. A lot of times, they didn’t save me anything. Looking back, it was pretty miserable.”
But that was all in the past now. She had her own business. She didn’t need to worry about the Rivers family anymore.
She noticed Nolan was still staring at her.
“I’ve answered your question. Now you know why I eat so fast, right?”
“You won’t have to worry about food ever again.”
Nolan picked up some food and placed it in her bowl.
“Of course,” Eliza replied. “I can support myself now. I’ll never go hungry again.”
She wouldn’t go hungry.
But she’d make sure the Rivers family and the Holt family did.
The next morning.
Test day.
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Chapter 138 Different Paths, Same Room
Eliza and Nolan arrived early to line up at the exam venue.
Familiar faces filled the crowd.
Class 6 students had already gathered. Henry waved at them from behind.
Colton and Lewis were there too.
+8 Pearls
Just as Henry was about to run over and wave, Colton grabbed him by the collar and said, “We’re over here. Don’t get the seats mixed up.”
“You and I are over here.”
Nolan reached out and took hold of Eliza’s sleeve.
Eliza looked down at his hand. “You know, it’s okay if you just hold my hand.”
At her words, Nolan smoothly slid his fingers down and wrapped them around her wrist.
Not far away, Zayden saw this.
His expression darkened.
They had all been assigned to the same test center.
Naomi, however, wasn’t as lucky.
She had been placed in another testing room filled with unfamiliar faces from other schools.
She hadn’t studied much the night before, and her mind was a blur when the test started.
Eliza, on the other hand, performed steadily.
After the test ended, students filed out of the exam rooms.
Eliza had just stood up when she spotted Zayden waiting outside.
He must’ve been waiting there the whole time. The moment he saw her, he rushed forward. “Elizze, I need to talk to you.”
“Eliza has nothing to say to you.”
From behind, Nolan pulled Eliza into his arms.
Eliza blinked.
Zayden’s eyes darkened with danger. “Eliza?”
Nolan’s voice when saying her name was far too familiar.
Eliza cleared her throat. “Did… you need something?”
“I wanted to tell you that my family-”
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to repeat it.”
Nolan cut him off.
Eliza was starting to wonder-
Since when did Nolan talk this much?
And didn’t he usually avoid other people’s business?
Zayden’s gaze sharpened. “This is between me and’Elizze. It has nothing to do with you. Back off.”
Nolan pulled Eliza even closer.
His eyes held nothing but provocation.
The look said What if I don’t? What can you do about it?
“You-!”
“Enough!”
Eliza stepped between them. “We still have more exams. Say whatever you came to say.”
She knew Zayden’s personality. If he didn’t speak his mind, he wouldn’t leave.
Zayden hesitated. He glanced sideways at Nolan, his eyes full of resistance.
But Nolan didn’t budge.
“There are no secrets between me and Eliza. Just say it.”
Eliza gave Nolan a sidelong look.
Saying something like that was definitely going to cause misunderstandings.
Zayden winced slightly at those words.
The person who should’ve been standing next to Eliza… was supposed to be him.
But he didn’t have time to dwell on romance.
The Holt family’s crisis was more urgent.
“Elizze,” he said, “we grew up together. I hope, for the sake of our past, you’ll help the Holt family.”
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88
B
