Chapter 38 The Size of Her Nerve
"Alright, I'll have them head to your place now," Mabel said, then added, "By the way, Mindy's been trying to meet me to apologize. I haven't agreed. I heard she's practically under house arrest these days."
Elizabeth arched a brow and smiled faintly. "Good. Less trouble if she stays put."
Mabel hung up, smacked her lips, then dialed Timothy to brag. He was busy seeing patients and didn't pick up.
When he finally called her back, Mabel mentioned Elizabeth had borrowed a few bodyguards. She had no idea what Elizabeth needed them for.
Timothy didn't bother finding out. He figured Elizabeth wasn't the type to get herself cornered. They hadn't spoken in days, and she seemed to be living just fine. He had thirty more patients waiting in line.
But after finishing with one patient, his expression cooled. He made a quick call, sending his own bodyguards to find Elizabeth.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth had dressed in a sleek outfit, makeup sharp and cold, waiting at home for Mabel's men. She hadn't expected two separate teams to show up.
Sliding into the car, she messaged Mabel: [Thanks for the ten bodyguards, Mabel.]
Mabel scratched her head, puzzled. She was sure she'd only sent five. Must've been a typo.
Ten bodyguards flanked Elizabeth as she walked into the Howard family estate. The sheer wall of muscle was enough to make her feel untouchable.
She headed straight to Natalia's room. A maid—one she'd paid off—had confirmed Natalia was home.
Elizabeth knocked lightly, her voice deceptively gentle. "Natalia, open up. We need to talk."
Natalia wasn't intimidated. She had no idea Elizabeth had come with backup. She lazily opened the door.
The moment the door swung wide, Natalia screamed.
Elizabeth raised a water gun and sprayed her. No matter where Natalia darted, the stream followed.
"Elizabeth, are you insane?!"
Calista was home too. Hearing the commotion, she rushed toward the room, only to be blocked by the men in the hallway.
"Who the hell are you?!"
The bodyguards didn't answer. Natalia's cries carried through the door. "Elizabeth, stop! You—"
Water shot straight into her mouth. Two burly guards clamped down on her arms like steel vises, keeping her from bolting or dodging.
Natalia sobbed hard. She'd faked tears before; this time they were real.
Calista recognized Elizabeth's name in the shouting and yelled from the hall, "Elizabeth, what the hell are you doing? Are you bullying Natalia?!"
Elizabeth stopped, nodding for the guards to let Calista in.
Calista burst into the room, seeing her daughter drenched and restrained. "Let her go!" she shrieked, lunging at Elizabeth.
A guard caught her wrist mid-swing.
Elizabeth sighed, a sharp laugh escaping. "Mom, what is it? Going to slap me again?"
Since being taken from the orphanage into the Howard family, she'd lost count of the times Calista had hit her. If Natalia cried, Calista's hand found Elizabeth's face.
Calista clutched her chest, furious. "Elizabeth, have you lost your mind? What are you trying to prove today?"
Elizabeth tilted her head, smiling faintly. "I haven't forgotten the rumors that started here and ended up online."
Calista's face tightened. She'd been humiliated then, wishing no one knew Elizabeth was her daughter.
"That had nothing to do with Natalia. She's not the type to spread gossip. You know our relatives—they love to talk. It wasn't her.
"And you're fine now, aren't you? News fades in a few days. No one remembers."
The casual dismissal made Elizabeth laugh outright.
"Mom, please tell her to let me go! I don't even know what's happening!" Natalia's nose was red from crying, hatred burning in her eyes. Elizabeth had crossed a line.
Calista cursed Elizabeth, threatening to call the police. Elizabeth ignored her, scanning the room before picking up Natalia's phone.
Natalia's stomach dropped. She hadn't deleted her messages with Mindy.
Elizabeth unlocked the screen and scrolled. Mindy's number popped up—proof enough. "Only an idiot leaves evidence on their own phone," she murmured.
She wondered, not for the first time, why Mindy clung to her like a parasite. And Mindy wasn't smart enough to rope in Natalia for the smear campaign. Which meant one thing: Sherry.
Sherry, all sugar in public, venom in private. Both she and Mindy had the Johnson family shielding them.
But Natalia? Natalia could be touched.
Elizabeth swung a shoe and slapped it against Natalia's cheek. "Stay out of my way."
At sixteen, Elizabeth had been bullied at school. Natalia had watched. When the bullies left, she'd taken off her own shoe and gleefully smacked Elizabeth in the face.
Calista screamed as the shoe struck again, but the guards held her back.
"I should've left you in that orphanage! I regret ever bringing you here!" she spat.
Elizabeth's smile was bright as she turned to leave. The orphanage had been a nightmare—its director, Elijah, a predator hiding behind a saint's mask. Calista had been her way out, and Elizabeth had endured Natalia, the school bullies, and Calista's favoritism to survive.
Landing the secretary job at the Johnson Group had been her first taste of light.
Leaving the Howard family now felt just as right.
She dialed Quinton. "Quinton, you once said you'd marry me. Do you still have the ring? I'll be at our old spot."
Hanging up, she sent Mabel's bodyguards back.
When Timothy's men called him, he was scrubbing up in the surgical wing. Today's cases ranged from liver and stomach issues to stab wounds.
Drying his hands, he took the call. He couldn't help thinking Elizabeth might need an appointment—not for her health, but to check the size of her nerve.