Chapter 6
Elizabeth smiled bitterly. She and Cornelius hadn't even been intimate for so long—how could there possibly be a child? Besides, her body...
She closed her eyes and cut off her cousin's words. "Becky, it's impossible. Absolutely impossible. I'll come back now to get my things."
Back at Becky's apartment, Elizabeth quickly packed her belongings while Karena sat in the living room watching TV, not even bothering to look up.
Becky followed her with tear-filled eyes, wanting to help but not knowing how.
Downstairs, she held Elizabeth's hand, still pleading, "Beth, don't blame my mom, that's just how she is... But really, if you had a child with him, things might not have come to this. Maybe you should try—"
"Becky." Elizabeth stopped walking, her voice weary. "Please stop. Between him and me—it was never about having a child."
She tightened her grip on her suitcase handle, turned, and stepped into the cold night, leaving behind the last remnants of her old life.
---
Elizabeth checked into a hotel temporarily, planning to find an apartment to rent soon.
Meanwhile, a heavy atmosphere hung over the Habsburg Manor on the west side of the city.
When Cornelius pushed open the door to the living room, he found his grandmother, Hazel Habsburg, sitting on the sofa with a distinctly displeased expression.
"Grandma," he called softly, deliberately taking a seat beside her after noticing her mood.
Hazel didn't even raise her eyelids. "So you remember to come home after all. I thought the great CEO was too busy running the world to remember this family!"
"The company's been demanding lately," Cornelius kept his voice low. "What brings you here?"
"Demanding?" Hazel let out a cold snort, fixing him with a piercing stare. "Too demanding to take care of your own wife? Tell me, where is Beth?"
At the mention of Elizabeth, any trace of warmth vanished from Cornelius's face.
"She left on her own. She has legs—was I supposed to tie her down?" The memory of seeing Elizabeth at the hotel earlier that day darkened his mood further.
Hazel slammed her hand on the table. "How dare you speak like that? Do you think I don't know what kind of person Beth is?"
Agitated by his grandmother's barrage of questions, Cornelius pulled out his phone. "Fine, I'll call her right now. You can ask her yourself."
Elizabeth's tired voice answered, "What is it?"
"Grandma wants to see you. Come back to the Habsburg Manor immediately," Cornelius commanded.
Elizabeth remained silent. She was still apartment hunting.
Before she could respond, Hazel snatched the phone. "Beth? It's me, dear! Where are you? Has that scoundrel Cornelius been bullying you? Tell me, and I'll set things right!"
Elizabeth instantly perked up at Hazel's voice. "Grandma, I'm fine, please don't worry. Cornelius... he treats me well. I found a job and just started working, so I've been busy. I'll come right over."
Hazel was the only person in the family who had shown her kindness—Elizabeth couldn't be ungrateful.
"Good, I'll be waiting," Hazel reassured her warmly.
After hanging up, her expression transformed completely as she glared at Cornelius. "Listen to that—what a wonderful girl! Still protecting you even now! You're going to be the death of me!"
Half an hour later, the sound of the front door opening drew their attention.
Elizabeth stood there with a smile that somehow seemed wrong.
"Grandma, you should have told me you were coming," she said as she walked toward them.
But after just a few steps, her body suddenly swayed, and she collapsed toward the floor.
She dimly realized she hadn't eaten all day and had been drinking that evening. Her body had finally reached its limit.
"Beth!" Hazel cried out in alarm, jumping to her feet.
Cornelius's expression changed dramatically. His body reacted before his mind could, lunging forward to catch her before she hit the ground.
"Are you alright?" An inexplicable tightness gripped his chest. "Elizabeth?"
Hazel hurried over, both worried and furious. "Look at her! Look what's happened to this child! I knew you weren't taking care of her properly. What are you standing there for? Call a doctor, quickly!"
Cornelius immediately barked orders at the servants who had come running, "Get Dr. Thomas here now."
The family doctor arrived promptly. After an initial examination, his expression grew grave.
"Mr. Habsburg, Mrs. Hazel Habsburg, Mrs. Elizabeth Habsburg is suffering from anemia, compounded by extreme fatigue and low blood sugar, which caused her collapse."
Tears welled in Hazel's eyes as she turned to Cornelius, livid. "Did you hear that? Is this how you take care of your wife? Can't she even get enough to eat in this house?"
She then rounded on the two maids, "Lina, Dina, how have you been attending to her?"
The servants stepped forward nervously, exchanging glances.
Lina was quick to defend herself, "Mrs. Hazel Habsburg, Mr. Habsburg, it's not that we haven't been attentive! Mrs. Elizabeth Habsburg has a poor appetite. She always says she's not hungry and won't listen to our encouragement..."
"Yes, exactly!" Dina hastily agreed. "We've prepared all sorts of dishes, but she just doesn't want to eat. She'll only have a bowl of plain oatmeal or some lettuce salad... what more could we do?"
Cornelius's face darkened ominously. "Is what they're saying true? Is this all you eat?"
Elizabeth tried to pull away from his embrace, her voice barely audible: "I... I can't eat more..."
She used to have a good appetite, but after falling ill, her interest in food seemed to have vanished completely.
"Can't eat more?" Cornelius couldn't possibly believe that excuse.
He suddenly looked up, his gaze piercing the two maids. "What do you usually prepare?"
Lina spoke first, "Pan-seared prawns, lobster bisque, steak with truffle mashed potatoes..."
"Ridiculous!" Cornelius interrupted sharply. "She doesn't like any of those things! You don't even know her preferences—is this how you've been serving her?"
The maids were so frightened they nearly fell to their knees.
"Mr. Habsburg, please," Lina bowed her head, "we've asked Mrs. Elizabeth Habsburg multiple times what she'd like to eat. She always tells us to use our judgment. No matter what we make, she eats very little, so..."
"So you just make what you prefer?" Hazel laughed coldly. "I hired you as servants, not as masters of this house!"
The maids protested weakly, insisting they knew their mistake and wouldn't repeat it.
Cornelius's expression remained thunderous as Hazel's eyes grew increasingly cold.
The situation was clear: because Cornelius rarely came home and paid little attention to Elizabeth, the servants had noticed and naturally began to mistreat their mistress.
At its core, it was because Elizabeth wasn't cherished.
"Check the kitchen's recent purchase records immediately," Hazel ordered, glancing from the maids' healthy, flushed faces to Elizabeth's pale form resting on the sofa. Her anger continued to rise.
The butler acknowledged the command and left to carry it out.