Chapter 37 Timothy's Favor
Timothy stripped the bed and tossed the sheets into the laundry basket.
Elizabeth had been cleaned up too, dressed in fresh clothes. He, however, had been forced to wrap a small floral sheet around his waist — her doing.
The ridiculous little sheet with faded flowers.
They sat together on the couch.
Elizabeth dug through her mind for every curse she knew and hurled them at Timothy, but in the end only one remained. "What exactly is going on in that head of yours?"
"Who comes back from overseas and immediately jumps into bed?" she snapped. "You're not worried about wearing yourself out?"
Timothy caught the flush in her cheeks and smirked. "My mind's on you," he said softly.
"Not on any other woman." His voice dropped lower.
Elizabeth stared at him, speechless.
Timothy lit a cigarette, exhaling lazily, then slid his phone toward her with an air of arrogance. "Pay up."
Her eyes widened in shock. "You've got some nerve! You should be paying me."
"It's not like I dragged you into bed," she shot back.
Timothy narrowed his eyes, voice husky. "Then let me keep you."
Elizabeth froze. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Her gaze locked on his, sensing danger in the turn of the conversation. "And how exactly would you 'keep' me?"
"I could be your benefactor," Timothy murmured, his eyes darkening.
Elizabeth knew Timothy liked her body — liked her enough to play along with her whims. She grabbed a pillow from the couch and swung it at him. "Dream on. I don't need your money."
She shoved him toward the door, pillow still in hand.
The door slammed shut.
Timothy stood outside, wrapped in the ridiculous floral sheet. He looked absurd, yet somehow managed a leisurely smile.
Good. At least she could still get angry.
Quinton returned to find Elizabeth with a pair of scissors in hand, struggling to cut through a butterfly-shaped hair tie.
"Elizabeth, did it make you angry?"
She set the scissors down after a pause. "No."
It was Timothy who had made her angry.
Quinton gave a resigned smile. Even in her mood, he noticed the ashtray on the table with a single extinguished cigarette. He didn't ask who had been there.
"The lawyers are ready to sue the people spreading false stories. Also… take a look at this trending topic."
#Sherry Pregnant, Baby Belongs To Armando
The moment that hashtag hit, Elizabeth's situation flipped entirely.
Elizabeth's eyes narrowed. She had considered this move herself when she couldn't reach Armando… but she hadn't acted. She knew Armando loved Sherry, and if she struck first, he'd retaliate.
In the real world, caution was sometimes necessary.
Who had leaked Sherry's pregnancy?
One name came to mind — Timothy.
Could it have been him?
Joe drove Timothy back to the Qingxiang Villa. He couldn't understand it — Timothy had rushed to see Elizabeth straight off the plane, only to leave just as quickly.
And looking like he'd been kicked out.
Joe kept his curiosity to himself, remembering the sight of Timothy in that floral sheet.
"Miss Penrose has contacted her lawyers to sue for defamation. Do you want to help her with it?"
"No. Just expose Sherry, and let Elizabeth handle the rest herself." Timothy's voice was lazy, but his mind lingered on Elizabeth's expression when she'd thrown him out. She wasn't easy to coax.
"Don't let Armando know Sherry helped his idiot sister with her schemes," Timothy added with a short laugh. "Let him keep thinking she's a saint. Works fine for me."
Joe understood immediately.
Sherry hadn't expected her pregnancy to go public. She knew the Johnson family would protect her. Who would dare?
Her first thought was Elizabeth.
When she'd given Mindy that idea, she had been certain Elizabeth wouldn't drag her down — Armando would shield her. But now the internet was calling her a homewrecker who had used pregnancy to push Elizabeth out.
Sherry's face tightened. Elizabeth had slept with Timothy; how could she be accused of stealing a man?
If Timothy weren't so dangerous, Sherry would have leaked the hotel footage long ago, showing Elizabeth with him before her divorce.
But she knew that night had been her trap, and she feared being exposed.
Sherry went to the Johnson Group to find Armando.
"Armando, it must have been Elizabeth. She's trying to clear her name by exposing my pregnancy."
Armando paused his work. The company's latest projects had been plagued with setbacks, and he knew there was a hand behind it — possibly Timothy's. Now there was trouble at home too.
Elizabeth's online scandal and Sherry's pregnancy had only recently come to his attention, courtesy of a call from Tom.
Usually cool and composed, Armando had grown cold under the strain.
Sherry noticed his lack of comfort and the way he studied her, unease creeping in. "Armando?"
She worried he might suspect her role in giving Mindy advice. No — he couldn't know. At worst, he'd know Mindy and Natalia had slandered Elizabeth. Mindy wouldn't betray her.
Sherry forced herself to stay calm.
Armando's gaze shifted away. For a moment he wondered if Sherry had done something to provoke Timothy… then dismissed the thought.
"It was Mr. Robinson who exposed you," he said.
Sherry's expression changed. "He did it for Elizabeth."
She lowered her eyes, feigning hurt. "Forget it. If that's the case, I have nothing to say. I asked for it."
Armando rubbed his temples. He knew Sherry couldn't survive in the entertainment industry with the stigma of being a pregnant homewrecker. It was a genuine blow to her reputation.
He found himself resenting Elizabeth. She could have come to him to clear her name, but instead she had let Timothy drag Sherry down.
"Sherry, I'll handle it. You just focus on the baby," he said coolly.
Relief washed over her. "Thank you, Armando."
Armando issued a statement: [My ex-wife and I were married for two years and always treated each other with respect. We divorced amicably. Sherry was my first love, and she is also the woman I love.]
Many netizens swooned at the romance of ending up with one's first love.
Elizabeth read the post without emotion. She had known Armando would protect Sherry.
In time, the online heat around Elizabeth faded. The defamers were sued, and the rest was left to her lawyers.
Next came Natalia.
Elizabeth had planned to wait until her left hand healed before dealing with her, but today felt like a good day.
Good days were meant for action.
She called Mabel to borrow a few bodyguards.
"Elizabeth, why not ask Mr. Robinson? His bodyguards are… formidable."
The mention of Timothy made her pause. It had been days since they'd spoken. He hadn't reached out either. It was as if they'd returned to being strangers.
She would live her life as she pleased. If he wanted to be someone's benefactor, so be it.
Elizabeth smiled faintly. "I don't need anyone that intimidating. Yours will do just fine."