Chapter 188

Chapter 188

After Cornelius left, Elizabeth was alone in the room. She was long accustomed to this kind of darkness. The Habsburg family was like that—they wouldn't actually use corporal punishment, but confinement was routine.

She fished her phone out of her pocket. It was already 8 p.m.

Becky's message had come half an hour ago.

[Elizabeth, where are you?]

Her phone had been on silent. Elizabeth hadn't seen the message at all. Seeing it now, she quickly replied. [I'm... out taking care of something.]

Becky: [Elizabeth, Nash came to see me today. The police accompanied him.]

Elizabeth sat bolt upright and immediately called. "Did he bully you? Threaten you? Whatever he said, don't believe him. Don't be afraid. Whatever you want to do, I'll help you. We're going to get justice."

Hearing those urgent, caring words, Becky felt comforted. She clutched her phone and burrowed deeper into her warm blankets. "I know. Don't worry. He wouldn't dare bully me. The police were right there."

"Then why did he come see you?"

"I don't know. He said a lot of nonsense—something about feeling sorry, begging me to forgive him, saying it was just a momentary impulse..."

Becky didn't believe a single word.

She'd seen Nash's ugly face with her own eyes. When he took her away, he'd said he was going to sell her to pay off debts.

In that dark, terrifying, damp warehouse, she'd thought her life was over.

Who could have imagined she'd actually make it out alive?

"Elizabeth, don't worry. I won't be fooled by him. I'm still determined to put him in prison. He did something wrong—he has to pay the price."

Elizabeth felt relieved but also heartbroken. "Good. I have something I need to handle here. Once I'm done, I'll come see you."

Just before hanging up, Becky was unusually quiet. Elizabeth thought she had more to say and didn't disconnect.

But even after hanging up, Becky said nothing.

She just sat on the bed, staring at the name on her phone screen—Elizabeth.

She murmured, "Elizabeth, you have to come back..."

Her mother was still around, but she was no longer Becky's pillar of support.

Elizabeth had changed her mind. Originally, she'd thought sleeping here one night wouldn't be a big deal—it would at least shut Isaac up.

Otherwise, he'd go on endlessly. Incredibly annoying.

But now she was worried about Becky. She decided to find a way to go back.

She'd just reached the door when she heard someone fumbling with the lock outside. Then the door opened. Elizabeth saw a young servant with delicate features. The woman looked left and right, her expression anxious.

She seemed afraid of being seen.

Elizabeth was puzzled. "You are...?"

"I brought you food." The servant held a tray of dishes, carefully bringing them into the room. She pulled a mini lamp from her pocket—small, but when turned on, its warm yellow light dispelled some of the darkness.

Elizabeth glanced at the open door. "Thank you, but I remember Uncle Isaac never allows food to be sent to the confinement room."

The servant's movements paused. She looked at Elizabeth cautiously. "Mrs. Habsburg, what do you think of Ms. Sullivan?"

Such a random question.

Elizabeth was silent for a moment. She sat down on the sofa near the lamp. "What I think doesn't matter. What you think is what matters. What kind of person do you think she is?"

The servant lowered her head and said nothing.

She was strange—suddenly running over to say these things. Elizabeth thought for a moment, her tone unchanged and gentle. "Are you having some kind of problem? If you can't solve it yourself, you can tell me. I'll try to help."

The servant looked at her, then around the room, and shook her head. "Never mind. I'm fine. Mrs. Habsburg, you should rest early. I'll go now."

She hurried toward the door.

Clearly, she thought Elizabeth was in such a bad position herself that there was no way she could help.

Elizabeth quickly stopped her. "Even if you don't trust me, don't you trust Cornelius?"

"This meal—did you want to bring it to me?"

She suddenly asked a question completely unrelated to the current topic.

The servant answered instinctively, "No, it was Mr. Habsburg who told me to bring it..."

Then she quickly covered her mouth.

Mr. Habsburg had told her not to tell the truth!

Elizabeth was inwardly dismissive. Cornelius was just putting on a show, trying to make her feel grateful.

Never!

But that didn't stop her from using Cornelius. She looked at the servant gently. "In this house, besides Isaac, Cornelius has the final say. If you're being wronged, you can tell me. If I can't solve it, there's still Cornelius. Even though we don't seem to get along, at the very least, I'm still his legal wife."

Those words successfully convinced the servant.

She hesitated, then said quietly, "I just heard at the door..."

The next second, her voice stopped abruptly.

Elizabeth noticed her looking behind her and immediately turned around. Angelina stood in the doorway, gently stroking her belly.

"I was a little worried about you, so I came to check." Angelina looked around the confinement room, smelling the dusty air. She covered her nose with her hand. "This place hasn't been cleaned in ages. How can you stay here? Let me talk to Mr. Isaac Habsburg for you. Honestly, Cornelius is something else, just leaving you here alone like this."

Elizabeth's expression was cold. "Are you here to let me out?"

Angelina smiled sweetly. "That's what I'd like to do, but if Mr. Isaac Habsburg and Cornelius won't budge, there's nothing I can do..."

"Then stop wasting my time." Elizabeth gave Angelina zero face. She walked to the door, about to close it.

But Angelina looked at the servant. "Aren't you leaving?"

The servant shrank back and hurried toward the door. Elizabeth remembered the servant's words hadn't been finished yet and quickly grabbed her wrist.

But the servant anxiously pushed her away. "Mrs. Habsburg, please don't put me in a difficult position. I still have work to do. I'll go now."

The servant rushed off.

Elizabeth watched her retreating figure, frowning slightly. She turned to find Angelina also watching the woman leave. Elizabeth's guard went up instantly. "Do you need something else?"

Angelina looked back at her. "Nothing. I just wanted to see if anyone would come help you when you're in trouble. Turns out your connections aren't bad."

Elizabeth gave her a cold glance and closed the door.

Soon after, the sounds outside disappeared.

Angelina had probably left.

When Elizabeth had closed the door earlier, she'd been careful not to lock it. Now she reached out and pushed—the door opened.

She set one foot outside when she saw Cornelius standing in the middle of the hallway, staring right at her.

Elizabeth's fingers tightened on the doorknob. "Planning to lock me back up?"

Cornelius didn't answer. Instead, he walked toward her. Silent, approaching, his presence increasingly oppressive.

Elizabeth stepped back. Her back hit the door. The next second, Cornelius grabbed her wrist.

"Come with me," he said.