Chapter 92 Congratulations on His Engagement
Elizabeth had just gotten back from the club when she caught the scent of barbecue wafting through the house.
"Smells amazing!"
Mabel, holding a skewer of barbecue, laughed and said, "Elizabeth, wash up and dig in. I got a ton."
"Sure, just give me a minute."
Elizabeth washed her hands, changed into her comfy clothes, and joined Mabel to grab some barbecue.
"You hanging out at home tonight?" Mabel asked with a wink.
"Yeah, I'll be home." Elizabeth had barely finished her sentence when she got a text from Timothy.
Timothy: [Elizabeth, I'm starving and still stuck at work.]
Elizabeth chuckled at the message. He couldn't be that hungry; he just wanted to let her know he was still working.
Timothy had been swamped all day and finally found a moment to text her.
After munching on a few skewers, Elizabeth turned to Mabel. "Mabel, you'll have to hold down the fort tonight. I'm heading to the hospital."
"Why? You feeling okay?" Mabel suddenly realized, "Oh, you're going to see Mr. Robinson. Go ahead."
Elizabeth gave her a playful pinch on the cheek and headed to the fridge.
She had brewed some soothing licorice tea and decided to bring a thermos to Timothy.
Elizabeth changed into a white tracksuit, grabbed the thermos, and drove to the hospital.
By the time she got there, it was already late. She asked a nurse where Timothy's office was.
"Dr. Robinson just clocked out."
The nurse glanced at Elizabeth, thinking she might be Timothy's rumored girlfriend.
"Thanks."
Elizabeth felt a little silly. She had planned to surprise Timothy with the tea, but he had already left.
She decided to keep this embarrassing moment to herself.
Absolutely keep it to herself.
Timothy had no clue Elizabeth had come by. After finishing work, he went back to the Carlton Hotel and continued working on his company stuff.
The Robinson Group was still managed by Manuel, so Timothy was busy with his own company's affairs.
He heard the doorbell and went to answer it, smiling when he saw Elizabeth. "Elizabeth, it's late. Next time, let me know and I'll come to you."
He had just finished his work and taken a shower, barely having time to dry his hair.
Elizabeth glanced at his abs and coughed lightly. "I brought you some soothing tea."
She eyed him. "You didn't even check who it was before opening the door."
He was only wearing a towel around his waist. Who was he trying to seduce?
She had planned to go straight home after leaving the hospital but ended up at the Carlton Hotel instead.
Timothy fixed his gaze on her, pulling her inside and closing the door.
He towered over her, using his height to his advantage.
He looked down at her, fingers gently pinching her chin.
Then he laughed lazily. "Sweetheart, didn't you notice the video doorbell?"
A video doorbell lets you see who's outside before opening the door.
Elizabeth fell silent.
Oops, she really didn't know.
Timothy chuckled softly, releasing her and fetching a pair of slippers from the shoe cabinet.
"Elizabeth, stay with me tonight, okay?"
He was giving her an out; otherwise, she might storm off in embarrassment.
Elizabeth changed into the slippers and handed him the thermos. "Here, I made this tea myself."
Timothy looked at her. "Elizabeth, you're wonderful."
Elizabeth nodded. "Yep, I am."
She had brought tea, and it was too late to leave now.
She went to take a shower.
Timothy smiled, poured a cup of the licorice tea, and sat in a rocking chair on the balcony to enjoy it.
He sipped the tea and checked messages from a small hospital group, learning that a beautiful woman had come looking for him.
Timothy asked what the woman was wearing.
A nurse replied: [White tracksuit.]
What a coincidence—Elizabeth was wearing a white tracksuit tonight.
Elizabeth's attempt to keep her embarrassing moment secret had failed.
She came out after her shower and headed to the balcony.
Timothy laughed when he saw her. Elizabeth playfully punched his shoulder, confused. "What's so funny?"
Timothy put down the teacup, pulled her hand, and let her lean against him.
He kept laughing, his chest rising and falling.
"Are you being silly?" Elizabeth lifted her head and playfully bit his chin.
"You went to the hospital to find me tonight," Timothy said, wrapping his arms around her waist. "I'm really surprised now."
Elizabeth awkwardly pushed him away. "I won't do something like that again."
Too embarrassing.
"Next time, I'll surprise you," Timothy said seriously, looking at her.
The light from inside the room illuminated the balcony.
It lit up Elizabeth's radiant smile.
A captivating smile.
She touched his Adam's apple. "Alright, next time, Mr. Robinson, it's your turn."
Timothy tilted his head slightly, his lips pressed together, his jawline, Adam's apple, exuding extreme sensuality.
While Elizabeth and Timothy had a warm moment, things were different at Imperial Garden.
Armando left the club and went straight home, first checking on Sloane in her bedroom.
He saw her face was flushed and touched her forehead, realizing she had a slight fever.
Eloise, responsible for Sloane's care, was absent.
He called the family doctor.
When the doctor arrived, he took Sloane's temperature and gave her medicine. Then Axel brought Eloise over.
Eloise had been in her room making a phone call to her family.
"Mr. Armando Johnson, Ms. Sloane Johnson was fine when I went to make the call," Eloise explained nervously.
"And the other one?" Armando asked Axel.
There were two nannies for Sloane.
"The other nanny had family matters and took leave a few days ago."
Axel knew he was partly to blame. He should have arranged a replacement for the nanny on leave.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Johnson. It was my oversight."
Sherry returned home and saw Axel and Eloise standing in the living room. She didn't think much of it.
She was in a good mood after seeing Jessa get pelted with eggs by haters.
"Armando, my knee hurts from dancing today."
Sherry sat beside Armando, batting her eyes and looking at him with a pout.
Armando quietly observed Sherry.
They had met while studying, when the school occasionally organized volunteer work.
He remembered her patience and sunny smile during those times.
Later, they became lovers.
After graduation, Bronte opposed their relationship, offering Sherry two choices: leave the entertainment industry or study abroad.
She chose to study abroad.
Armando knew it wasn't Sherry's fault; he hadn't been capable enough at the time.
So he waited for her.
In this industry, few people maintain their integrity.
He kept his life clean while waiting for her.
When she returned after her studies, he had gained power. He was thrilled, so thrilled he overlooked the uncertainty in his heart.
Only when he looked back did he realize Elizabeth, who had been by his side for years, was no longer there.
And Sherry wasn't quite as he had known her.
"Armando? Why are you looking at me like that?" Sherry touched her face, puzzled. "Is there something on my face?"
"No, your makeup looks beautiful tonight." Armando smiled faintly.
Made up like someone else.
Hiding her true self behind the makeup.
Sherry smiled shyly. "You're sweet tonight."
She hadn't asked Eloise a single question about Sloane.
Armando glanced at Axel, who understood and led Eloise away.
Sloane would have a new mom soon.
He felt a sense of emptiness and went upstairs.
"You take a bath and rest. I'll be in the study."
Armando went to the study.
He took out a photo of Elizabeth from a drawer.
Tonight she had raised a glass to congratulate him on his engagement.
He had noticed her delicate fingers lightly holding the glass, her nails painted a deep red.