Chapter 406 It’s Also Fine to Attend as Mrs. Brown
"I'm not running away. I just thought I was blocking the road and wanted to move my car." Raymond smiled sheepishly with a fawning expression.
He couldn't afford to offend Eleanor. Eleanor would hit him, anytime, anywhere.
"In that case, get out and let's talk properly. The person looking for you is standing here, and you're sitting in the car. Is that polite?"
If Elowen weren't here right now, Raymond would have driven off already. But with Eleanor watching, he didn't dare.
"What are you doing here?"
As soon as Raymond got out of the car, Elowen started questioning him.
Eleanor walked away a bit, not wanting to hear any lovesick nonsense from Elowen.
"Do I need to report to you what I'm doing here?" Raymond said while looking down at his phone. If he kept stalling, Thalia's half hour would be up.
"Alright, it's getting late. Go home, wash up, and get some sleep!"
"Stop right there." Elowen wouldn't let him leave just like that.
She reached out to grab him, but Raymond shook her off.
She stumbled and almost fell.
Eleanor leaned against the riverside railing with her arms crossed, watching the scene unfold. Seeing Raymond's rough behavior, she coughed.
That cough made everyone's hair stand on end.
"Talk," said Raymond, who had been about to walk away but now stood obediently back in place.
"Are you really that afraid of Eleanor?" Seeing Raymond like this made Elowen even angrier. Why was this man always so domineering in front of her, but the moment he faced Eleanor, he became timid and completely suppressed by her?
Was she really inferior to Eleanor in every way?
"Yeah, I'm afraid she'll hit me. Whatever you want to ask, I'll answer. Just ask so we can wrap this up early."
"You..." Raymond's sudden honesty caught Elowen off guard for a moment.
Raymond looked at her obediently, waiting for her to speak. Seeing that Elowen remained silent for a long time, he said, "If you won't say it, then I will. Elowen, what's between us isn't just something you don't want—my intention is simple: get engaged peacefully, get married, go through the motions. I won't have any objection to however you want to play around outside. If our marriage can balance the interests of our two families, that's our value, and that's our only value. You're asking me to do things beyond that value—I can't do it. It's beyond my capabilities."
"Fate has already pushed us to the edge. No matter how hard we try, we can't change the reality of being controlled by others."
"Ms. Mitchell."
Eleanor's secretary saw her leaning by the riverside, the hem of her trench coat swaying in the river wind, her low bun loosened by the breeze. He walked over with a coat from the car, ready to drape it over her shoulders.
Eleanor waved him off. "No need."
"Do you think what he said makes sense?"
"Maybe it does," Yosef responded, draping the coat over his own arm and standing at the windward side to block the wind.
"Sometimes I wonder if I'm not brave at all. At least Elowen still dares to struggle. Look at me..."
Hearing this, Yosef glanced sideways at Eleanor and said quietly, "It's not the same."
"How is it not the same?"
"Girls who grow up pampered don't know the dangers outside."
Hearing this, Eleanor sighed. "Give me a cigarette. You can get in the car."
"No need to keep me company in the wind. I'll just be alone for a bit, sober up."
Yosef was silent for a moment, pressed his thin lips together, and took out a cigarette pack to hand to her. "A person only has one heart. If you put others first, you give up yourself. If you put yourself first, you give up others. Either way, I hope you put yourself first."
"So you want me to give up others?" Eleanor took the cigarette pack he handed her and pulled out a cigarette.
"Yes."
Eleanor put the cigarette between her lips, cupped her hands behind her back to light it, took a drag, and while tapping off the ash, asked, "What if that person is you?"
Yosef was stunned. The dim yellow lamplight of the night fell on his face, illuminating his restraint and forbearance with nowhere to hide. "If giving me up would let you..."
"Get in the car!" Eleanor interrupted him. Some words she didn't want to hear. Between adults, not every sentence should be spoken out loud.
Some words, once spoken, can't change the facts.
What the river wind stirred up was more than just her coat hem.
Eleanor finished an entire cigarette before she heard the sound of a car behind her. Looking back, Raymond had driven away.
...
Half an hour passed, and Thalia didn't receive Raymond's call.
William came out after his shower and brought Thalia a glass of water. "Did he call?"
"No."
The man hummed. "It's still early. I'm going to the study to handle some things."
Thalia put away her phone, and the casual look on her face immediately disappeared. "Did I disturb your work by coming to see you today?"
"William, having sex with me at home during work hours—if Amara found out, could you still keep your workaholic reputation?"
"She's happily on an island right now, no time to worry about me."
"Where?" Thalia couldn't believe her ears.
The person who had been leaning on the bed suddenly sat up straight, staring at William in disbelief.
Happy on an island?
And they didn't bring her?
"An island."
"With who?"
"Harper," William said.
Thalia was unhappy. "Then why didn't they call me?"
"They did. I answered the phone and said you were filming and didn't have time."
"William, I'm going to kill you..."
The man quickly closed the door, and the pillow hit the door.
...
Early in the morning, the office atmosphere was tense. When Thalia walked in, she saw Layla looking down at a document in her hands.
Seeing Thalia come in, she waved her over. "Come here."
"Let me update you on work."
"Update me on work? Are you sure about that?"
"Look at this," Layla handed her the document.
Thalia took it and looked. Seeing the data, she was a bit surprised. "Isn't this pretty good?"
"I think it's pretty good too. Amanda's not bad—ambitious and willing to work hard. The web series she took on this time went viral. It's only a matter of time before she breaks through. I'm talking to her about cooperation, but several production teams have turned us down. I'm thinking, take her with you on your next project."
"No problem, if the script is suitable." She'd be more than happy to cultivate someone who could make money for her!
"Alright then. Another thing—there's a charity awards ceremony the night after tomorrow that you need to attend."
"Does it have anything to do with me?"
"You're not going as a company representative. You're going as a youth representative from Emerald City's West District. Do you know how much effort I put in to get you this opportunity? I even pulled your mom in on this."
Thalia was speechless.
"Mr. Brown will be there too, but he's going as Emerald City's richest man. If you don't want to attend as Emerald City West District's youth representative and would rather go as Mrs. Brown, that's fine too. I have no objections..."