Chapter 87 Tired?
Elizabeth hadn't expected Timothy to take her to the coast.
"We'll wait until morning to watch the sunrise," he said.
He pitched a tent right there on the sand, hanging a lantern at the entrance. A small fire crackled nearby, throwing shifting light across his bare shoulders as he moved. Without the usual polish of his tailored suits, there was something freer about him—less aristocratic, more untamed.
The low rush of waves rolled in from the dark horizon, rising and falling in a steady rhythm.
Elizabeth called Mabel to let her know she wouldn't be coming home tonight. When Mabel heard she was with Timothy, she didn't press for details.
"Just enjoy yourself, Elizabeth," Mabel said, though there was still a trace of worry in her voice about the mess online.
"I will," Elizabeth promised before hanging up.
By the time Timothy finished tending to the fire, he disappeared into the RV to shower. He returned moments later, hair damp, skin warm from the steam.
Elizabeth slid into his arms without hesitation, curling against his chest.
"Shame there's no moon tonight… no stars either," she murmured.
"Tired?" He brushed his fingers over her cheek, noting the coolness of her skin. He tightened his hold. "If you want to sleep, go ahead. I'll wake you for the sunrise."
"Not tired. Just curious why you'd bring me to the beach for sunrise. Doesn't seem like your style."
Her lips curved into a small smile.
Timothy's laugh was lazy. "Joe suggested it."
Elizabeth arched a brow. "Does Joe have a girlfriend?"
"No."
She tilted her head, grazing his jaw with her fingertips. "Then… shall we go inside the tent?"
"Sure."
Later, half-asleep, she could still hear the waves breaking on the shore, a soft percussion against the night. She clung to him.
Timothy stilled, pushing her hair back from her face. He looked down into her flushed, drowsy eyes, and Manuel's earlier warning echoed in his mind. He almost laughed. If Elizabeth ever went to Border Ridge City, it should be them fearing her—not the other way around.
"Tired?" His voice was low, rough.
Elizabeth caught her breath, stubborn as ever. "I'm fine. Not that tired."
God, he loved that defiance in her, even now.
He wrapped her in his jacket, lifted her effortlessly, and carried her to the RV to wash up. She asked to walk, but he ignored her.
They never saw the sunrise. Somewhere in the early hours, the rain came.
Timothy was unimpressed. Elizabeth laughed at him without mercy.
Back in the city, Joe woke in the middle of the night for a glass of water. Hearing the patter of rain outside, he froze, then padded back to his nightstand, slipped on his glasses, and checked the weather app. Rain had been in the forecast. Not his fault. He was single, after all.
Meanwhile, overseas, Armando had also learned about the story of Elizabeth being assaulted at ten. Beatrix had sent him screenshots from the internet.
Beatrix: [I can't even go outside now. Look at the kind of person you married.]
Armando told Tom to contact the company's PR team and have the trending topic suppressed.
Tom acted immediately, but soon returned with news from the PR department.
"Mr. Johnson, the story's already been taken down."
Armando thought of Timothy.
So did Sherry.
She woke early, only to discover that the trending topic she'd paid to push about Elizabeth had vanished. In the dance studio, she stopped mid-routine to check her phone again. Sure enough, nothing remained.
She smiled as if it didn't matter.
Della looked at her like she was insane. "You're still smiling?"
Sherry set the phone down. "Deleted or not, plenty of people saw it. You can't erase memory."
Della considered this, then nodded. "True. Still… I didn't think Elizabeth had that kind of pull. Maybe you should stop targeting her."
Della wasn't stupid. Stories didn't vanish from the internet without reason.
Sherry's laugh was sharp. "Don't worry. She won't be on top for long."
She refused to believe the Robinson family would ever approve a marriage between Elizabeth and Timothy. To him, Elizabeth was probably just a mistress. For now, he spoiled her.
Della hesitated, debating whether to share what she'd heard.
"What? You've got something else?" Sherry asked.
"Don't underestimate Elizabeth." Della paused. "A friend of mine works in the Johnson Group's PR department. She said Mr. Davis contacted them to have Elizabeth's trending topic removed."
The words hit Sherry like a slap. She'd spent weeks setting this up, and now it had unraveled—because Elizabeth was still breathing.
"Has Mr. Johnson talked to you about marriage?" Della pressed. Time was running out, and she knew it.
Sherry's frustration was palpable. "We were supposed to get the marriage license last time, but then Elizabeth got in the way. Why didn't she just die?"
"Don't say things like that," Della warned. "Even if no one's listening."
Sherry decided she'd bring up marriage with Armando as soon as he returned from his trip.
She switched topics. "What about the Yvonne situation?"
"It'll take more time to set up."
Sherry's mood soured further. Jessa's popularity had already surpassed hers. At a recent show, Jessa had been given a better time slot and a higher appearance fee. The disparity stung.
Elizabeth, meanwhile, went to work as usual. She greeted colleagues in the hallway, heels clicking smartly against the floor. Some looked at her with a flicker of admiration. If they'd been through what she had, they might have stayed home out of pride.
"I wouldn't have the face to come in," someone muttered—a comment edged with mockery.
Not everyone in the office was kind. A few gathered to gossip about her.
In his office, Yosef looked up as Elizabeth walked in with a coffee. He set his phone aside and pretended to study a file.
"It's upside down," she said mildly.
He cleared his throat and flipped it right side up. "About yesterday… I'm sorry. I didn't know Emma would bring Miss Greer upstairs."
He'd heard bits and pieces after the fact.
Elizabeth smiled faintly. "It wasn't your fault. And Miss Sutter wasn't wrong."
Her tone sharpened just enough to cut. "Dragging family drama into the office is ugly. She was right to bring her up. Thank Miss Sutter for me."
Yosef tugged at his collar, irritation flickering in his eyes. "I'll have her apologize to you."