Chapter 196 One Step at a Time
Inside the Sue family villa, Christian sat on the couch with his head in his hands. For thirty straight minutes, he’d been racking his brain trying to figure out how to explain things to Ronaldo.
If Ronaldo found out the truth… Christian could kiss his life goodbye.
Just then, the roar of a car engine echoed outside.
Christian jumped to his feet instinctively.
Moments later, Ronaldo strode in, his steps deliberate–clearly convinced he looked cool doing it.
But when he stepped into the living room, he spotted only Christian.
His smile vanished instantly.
“…Ronaldo,” Christian muttered.
“Where is she?”
The air grew ten degrees colder with that one question.
Christian stood awkwardly beside the couch, like a student caught cheating. “She… she left.”
“She left? Who told you to let her go?!”
Christian’s face dropped.
Finished
“Ronaldo, I swear I didn’t mean to. She just… didn’t want to stay. What was I supposed to do, have the guards drag her back in?”
He rubbed his neck sheepishly. “Look, at least I met her. That means you basically met her too. Just give her some time–she’ll come around and acknowledge us.”
“Give her time? And who’s going to give us time before Tristan skins us alive for failing?!”
Ronaldo’s expression turned venomous.
Christian immediately shrank back. “I did my best! Look… why don’t you go instead?”
That girl’s temper was just like Emilia’s–unyielding and sharp.
Who could reason with someone like that?
“Fine, I’ll go myself! And you–get lost!”
Ronaldo kicked Christian square in the backside.
Useless as ever.
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Chapter 196 One Step at a Time
Meanwhile, outside the villa…
Finished
Eliza spotted a row of cars parked neatly by the gate. At the center stood Nolan, flanked by the Hayes family’s bodyguards, facing off against a nervous line of Sue family guards.
She paused, startled by the scene.
The Sue bodyguards looked like they were moments from breaking.
“Don’t move,” Nolan commanded calmly. “Mr. Christian told you to stand guard, didn’t he? Then stand.”
“S–Sir… please don’t make this difficult for us. We really can’t-”
“Can’t?” Nolan raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t seem to have a problem blocking me earlier.”
“We were just following protocol…”
“Good. Then follow it now.” Nolan lifted his hand.
Immediately, the Hayes guards stepped forward in unison.
“One more step.”
“Yes, Sir.”
The Hayes men moved again.
The Sue family’s guards were now face–to–face with their rivals–so close, they could feel each other breathe. One nearly cried. “Please! Mercy, Mr. Nolan!“.
“Yeah, I’ve got a wife at home!”
“Sir, please don’t…”
From a short distance away, Eliza watched the ridiculous standoff unfold and couldn’t hold back a laugh.
Nolan finally noticed her and turned, clearing his throat as if to reset the scene. “Ahem.”
Eliza walked up, suppressing a grin. “What exactly is going on here?”
“Nothing,” Nolan replied smoothly, signaling his men to stand down.
Once the Hayes guards withdrew, the Sue family bodyguards let out audible sighs of relief.
Thank God they were spared.
Nolan led Eliza into the car.
As they drove off, Eliza turned to him. “How did you know I was here?”
“Someone from your class said you’d been taken away. I figured this was the most likely place.”
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for years and never noticed this place.”
It only confirmed how powerful the Sue family really was.
“Everything resolved?” Nolan asked.
“More or less,”
With the Rivers family exposed, they wouldn’t last much longer in Westbrook.
Nolan hesitated, “So… are you going to go back with them?”
“Back where?”
“Overseas.”
After all, being the Sue family’s daughter came with expectations. If she officially acknowledged them, she’d be required to return overseas. Even if she finished school in Westbrook, her future would be tied to the family abroad.
Eliza thought for a moment before answering. “Maybe, I might go overseas.”
Nolan’s hand tensed on the steering wheel.
“But,” she added, “I won’t go back as Miss Cassandra of the Sue family. I’ll go back as Eliza.”
Not a title. Not a puppet.
Just herself.
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