Chapter 551

Chapter 551

"First, whether I'm capable or not isn't for you to judge. I built the studio from scratch, and I have what it takes to keep it alive."

"Second, I rely on myself, and it has nothing to do with Larry. Not before, not now, and definitely not in the future."

"Third," she leaned forward slightly, and the pressure made Sandra instinctively shrink back, "instead of wasting your time worrying about me, why don't you focus more on your own business? I heard that your company's mining project in South America hasn't been doing too well lately? I'm not going to leave your son, and love isn't a transaction to me."

Sandra's breath caught.

"You... how did you...?"

"You can dig into my business, so why can't I look into what's going on with the Borgia family?" Aline's lips curved slightly. "I'm just reminding you—instead of telling other people what to do, you should spend more time on your own business, or someday day you might not even get to be a rich man's wife anymore."

"You!" Sandra was so angry her hands were shaking. She pointed at her, unable to get a complete sentence out.

"Mr. Moss." Aline didn't bother looking at her anymore and turned to Luke, who was already stunned. "Looks like we won't be having this tea today. My project doesn't lack investors, so don't trouble yourself. I'm leaving."

She pulled open the heavy wooden door of the private room, shutting out the incense and pretense behind her.

The air outside the club was damp and cold, making her exposed skin break out in goosebumps.

The strength that had been holding her up suddenly drained away. She shoved her hands into her coat pockets and realized her fingertips were trembling uncontrollably.

She was about to hail a cab when the sharp screech of brakes cut through the night.

A sports car stopped aggressively in front of her. The door flew open, and Larry jumped out before the car had even fully stopped.

"Aline! Did my mom give you a hard time? That's just how she is, don't take it to heart!"

He rushed up to her in a few steps, his tone urgent.

"I apologize for her."

Aline didn't stop walking. As she brushed past him, she just turned her head slightly.

"No need!"

"I'll handle the money situation!" Larry's voice chased after her, rushed and quick. "I..."

"I said, no need!"

The sound of high heels stopped abruptly. Aline turned around, forcing him to stop.

"Larry, if I take your money today, will I have to get on my knees to talk to your mom in the future?"

She looked at him, her words completely devoid of warmth.

"I'm not the kind of waste who wags her tail waiting for a man to rescue her."

With that, she turned and walked away.

This time, the sound of her heels hitting the ground was sharp and quick, as if hitting something.

Larry didn't say anything more, just silently quickened his pace, following behind her at a distance.

In the night, one ahead and one behind, only two shadows stretched long by the streetlights.

"Ms. Taylor?"

A somewhat familiar voice suddenly came from the side.

Aline looked over, it was a middle-aged man with glasses who looked familiar.

"Mr. Sullivan?"

"My God, it really is you! I thought I was seeing things!" Benjamin rushed over in a few steps, rubbing his hands excitedly. "I haven't had a chance to properly thank you for last time! That script you gave me—let me tell you, it was fantastic! Our short series went online a week ago and now it's dominating the charts—number one across the entire platform! It's blown up, you know? Blown up!"

He spoke rapidly, his whole face flushed red with excitement.

"I've been dying to find you! We absolutely have to have a drink and talk about future collaborations!"

"Mr. Sullivan, you're too kind. It's because you directed it well."

"But it's still your brilliant planning. If you hadn't deliberately kept the audience in suspense by keeping the singer anonymous, our promotion and marketing wouldn't have gone so smoothly." Benjamin waved his hand broadly, then suddenly remembered something. "Oh right, I heard that Jacob Miller from your studio... ran off?"

Aline made a soft sound of acknowledgment.

When Benjamin heard this, he actually laughed and slapped his thigh.

"Good riddance! Honestly, that kid only had his face going for him. No character—he couldn't handle your material at all!"

He leaned in closer, lowering his voice.

"I've got some good talent on my hands, and I've been looking for a good team to work with them. I've seen your abilities firsthand—are you interested in... working together again?"

Aline's heart began to pound violently.

"Of course I am!"

"That's great! Let's set a time—I'll treat you to dinner tonight and we can talk it over properly!"

Benjamin happily exchanged contact information before leaving.

Enormous joy washed over Aline. She almost wanted to tell Elsie this good news immediately.

She pulled out her phone and dialed that familiar number.

The phone rang for a long time, but no one answered.

She called again—same result.

A bad feeling crept up on her.

Had something happened to Elsie?

Without bothering to say anything to Larry behind her, she immediately hailed a cab and headed to Elsie's villa.

She pushed open the door—the living room lights were off.

From upstairs came a child's intermittent crying and Elsie's lowered, gentle soothing voice.

Aline walked upstairs quietly and saw Elsie in the bedroom, holding Luna whose little face was bright red, gently pacing around the room.

Aline looked at her haggard face, and her heart clenched.

She stepped forward and took the child from Elsie's arms. She was burning hot.

"What happened?"

"Luna was fine at noon, but after dinner she threw up and got a fever." Elsie's voice was hoarse, her fists clenched so tight her nails were nearly digging into her flesh. "It's all my fault. These past few days... I haven't been paying attention to her at all."

She'd been so consumed with the mess from Ronald and the company disaster that she'd neglected Luna, the one she should have been protecting most.

"There's no use talking about that now. We're going to the hospital." Aline made the decision immediately, carrying the child downstairs.

The hospital corridor was brightly lit but bone-chillingly cold.

The emergency room door was closed. Elsie leaned against the cold wall, silent, her whole being radiating an unapproachable body language.

Aline draped her own coat over her shoulders and said quietly, "The doctor's seen her. Acute gastroenteritis, plus she caught a chill. It's common in kids. Once the IV brings down the fever, she'll be fine."

Elsie didn't respond, just stared at the red light above the emergency room door without blinking.

Seeing her like this, the joy that Benjamin had brought Aline completely dissipated.

She knew Elsie was blaming herself.

But she was more worried about something else.

Luna was Ronald's child.

That fact was a sword hanging over their heads.

Now that Ronald had gone crazy, if he found out about Luna's existence, the consequences would be unthinkable.

After what felt like forever, the emergency room door opened.

Luna was wheeled out by a nurse, her little face flushed with fever, hooked up to an IV, already fast asleep.