Chapter 117

Chapter 117

"Don't forget—Sloane is the fiancée you picked out for Ellington. If it weren't for Sloane, no one would've clashed with Liliana, and Ellington's old injury never would've flared up."

"As for why those two went at each other so hard, well, you were right there watching, weren't you? If you don't want Ellington permanently disabled, maybe stop playing matchmaker. Your taste isn't exactly stellar—both daughters-in-law you've chosen have quite the talent for throwing hands."

One had fled the country when Ellington was injured. The other had gotten into a brawl with his cousin and triggered the relapse.

Watching Flynn's face darken by the second, Cordelia pressed on. "I also heard that Ms. Neville and Ms. Lawson got into quite the fistfight before. Surely you remember that?"

How could he forget?

Sloane had barely been back in the country when he'd painstakingly arranged a meeting—only for Ondine to blow the whole thing up.

If Sloane hadn't taken a liking to Ellington on her own, the alliance might never have gotten off the ground.

But none of that mattered to Flynn. He'd never cared about Sloane as a person. He cared about the Neville family name, which outranked the Lawsons.

When Flynn didn't respond for a long moment, Cordelia thought he might be wavering.

Then he turned on his heel and addressed his bodyguards. "Don't let them get any closer."

Cordelia lunged forward but was immediately blocked.

Forcing her way through would only make things worse.

Still... she'd gotten what she came for.

Ellington wasn't in mortal danger. She could leave.

She turned and walked away without a word. Griffin cast one cold glance toward the ward before following.

Even after the divorce, Flynn still found ways to tear her down.

Meanwhile, chaos had erupted inside the hospital room. If not for the premium soundproofing of the VIP suite, Cordelia would have heard every word.

"Get out! I don't want to see your face!" Liliana pressed a bandaged hand to her forehead and jabbed a finger at Sloane, who sat calmly beside Ellington's bed. "You're the second most shameless woman I've ever met, right after Ondine! You know damn well Ellington is in love with someone else, and you're still throwing yourself at him. Have you no self-respect?"

Sloane hadn't paid Liliana's outbursts any mind.

Until she mentioned Ondine.

"Don't compare me to that idiot. She's not worth being mentioned in the same breath as me."

If Ellington hadn't been in the room, she would have happily gone another round with Liliana.

Flynn had invited her to the Carnegie Villa for dinner last night and then suggested she stay over. Sharing a roof with Ellington? She was more than willing. But from the moment she walked through the door, Liliana hadn't given her anything but hostility.

As for how they'd actually come to blows this morning... even Sloane couldn't quite remember.

She'd been letting Liliana's snide remarks roll off her back. At the Carnegie Villa, she had an image to maintain.

So how had it escalated to a physical fight?

It must have been something truly vile that Liliana said.

"You two are cut from the same cloth. Neither of you is better than the other—both desperate to worm your way into someone else's relationship."

Sloane's eyes went wide. Her hand flew up instinctively. "You—!"

"Go ahead! Hit me! Let Ellington see exactly who you really are!" Liliana didn't flinch. "You actually think he'll fall for you? You're not worth a tenth of Cordelia!"

"Both of you—shut up!"

Ellington sat propped against the hospital bed, his brow furrowed deep.

He was in no better shape than Liliana. Worse, actually.

The two women had been arguing at the top of the staircase when they lost their footing and tumbled down. He'd shielded Sloane—purely because of their families' business partnership.

But during the scuffle, they'd already knocked decorative porcelain pieces off the staircase railings. When all three of them went down, the shattered fragments left cuts of varying severity.

Liliana had a gash across her forehead. He had a deep laceration on his arm. Sloane walked away without a scratch.

As for his leg...

Ellington's gaze darkened.

She still hadn't come.

His assistant had already messaged him—Griffin knew about the injury. And Sloane had answered his phone earlier. If Cordelia still cared about him at all, she would find a way to get to the hospital.

But half the day had passed. She wasn't here.

The two women bickering in his room were giving him a splitting headache.

"Ellington! Make her leave! You weren't here yesterday—you have no idea how nasty she was!"

Just thinking about it made Liliana furious. And of course Sloane had come out of the fall without a single scratch. Unbelievable luck.

"You insulted me first, Ms. Stewart." Sloane's voice was measured. "Whether or not we ever get along, it's wise to leave some room for civility. Makes future encounters less awkward."

Sloane turned and tucked the blanket around Ellington, then reached for his arm—but he shifted away, so subtly it might have been unconscious.

A shadow passed through her eyes, but she said nothing.

At least he hadn't kicked her out. That meant she still had a chance.

Flynn shoved the door open, his complexion alternating between ashen and flushed. Clearly, he'd been rattled.

"You stay right here and rest! I'll handle the company! And the minute you're discharged, you're getting that wedding done!"

Ellington threw the covers off and swung his legs over the side of the bed. "I already told you—I'm not marrying anyone but Cordelia. You want a wedding so badly, marry her yourself!"

"You're still hung up on that woman? She's nothing but a curse!"

The memory of Cordelia's mockery just moments ago made Flynn's blood boil.

"Let me tell you something right now—she doesn't even care about you! I saw her and Griffin come to the hospital just now. And? Did she come see you?"

"I've said it a hundred times: she only ever wanted your money! Now she's taken it and run straight back to her old flame. How long are you going to keep being a fool?"

Ellington froze mid-motion. The chill radiating from him grew more intense. "My relationship with her is none of your business."

"You—!" Flynn gave several sharp nods. "Wonderful. What a fine son I've raised!"

Sloane watched the exchange in silence, and instinctively edged farther from Ellington.

As Flynn stormed out, she hesitated, debating whether to follow.

"You too. Get out." Ellington's voice was ice. "And what I told you before—take it to heart. I meant every word."

A chill shot up Sloane's spine.

She stood immediately. "I'll go check on Mr. Carnegie. You... take care of yourself."

The doctor had said there was a real possibility he could end up permanently disabled.

She was grateful he'd protected her in the fall. But who would want to marry a man who might never walk right again?

Only after Sloane left did Liliana dare speak.

"How is Flynn still blaming Cordelia? She's not that kind of person!" Liliana searched his face. "Ellington, you believe in Cordelia... right?"

Ellington didn't answer.

Why hadn't she come? Had Griffin not told her?

Yes. That had to be it.

If Cordelia knew he was hurt, there was no way she wouldn't come.

She simply didn't know yet.

"Ellington? You're scaring me." Liliana watched him anxiously. "Maybe... you should just call Cordelia."