“You deserve someone who cherishes you tenderly, instead of hanging up on you without listening to a word of explanation,” Finn added, “If you were with me, I would give you enough freedom, wouldn’t meddle in your social life, at the very least, respect and trust are essential.”
Elisa’s expression darkened. She understood Hamish better than anyone else; there was no need for a stranger’s concern.
“Trying to sow discord is pointless with me,” she retorted.
A sly smile played on Finn’s lips. “Whether it’s sowing discord, you’ll know once you return.”
Elisa’s mind wasn’t as sharp as before, but it didn’t mean she was foolish. She could almost confirm that what Finn said indicated his approach to her was not mere infatuation but rather had an ulterior motive.
Elisa stared at her phone, her face somewhat pale. She looked at the cake in front of her; it smelled sweet and appetizing, but her stomach felt as if it were blocked, making it impossible to eat.
How does one appease an angered man?
This question consumed Elisa. She knew she was at fault today. She shouldn’t have deceived Hamish by claiming she was dining alone.
Elisa called the waiter and asked for two slices of matcha cake to go.
“Aren’t you going to finish?” Finn glanced at her plate; she had only taken a few bites of the beef and barely touched the appetizer, let alone the soup.
“I’m full. Thank you for the meal,” Elisa took out her card. “This meal is on me. Let’s go dutch.”
She had made up her mind to set boundaries with Finn.
Finn observed her cold demeanor but said nothing. However, his hazel eyes grew even more profound.
Elisa carried the cakes to the counter to pay. She was informed that the meal was on the house because Finn was the owner.
Elisa was taken aback. Turning around, she saw Finn winking at her.
“Do you want to transfer the money to me?”
“Yes, provide me your account.”
“Why bother? Just add me on Facebook.”
Finn took out his phone. Elisa had recently created a Facebook account with only Hamish as a friend, without any posted content, keeping her social circle clean and devoid of any privacy.
After a cursory look at his Facebook account, Elisa transferred the money to him.
“Done.” Finn acknowledged the payment, knowing he couldn’t keep her. “Let me drive you home. It’s raining outside.”
“No need,” Elisa’s expression was indifferent.
Finn didn’t press further. After watching Elisa leave, he pulled out his phone, scrolled to his messages, and opened the top one.
Upon seeing the photo sent by the other person, he smirked and saved a few pictures that seemed ambiguous from different angles, then sent them to Hamish.
Meeting Elisa today was entirely coincidental; he hadn’t anticipated such a significant gain. He was curious about Hamish’s reaction upon receiving these photos. Could he truly remain indifferent and believe Elisa’s words? Was there no reservation in his heart?
Seeing the other party receive the message, Finn sneered, his shrewd eyes glinting, and he tucked the phone into his jacket.
…
Meanwhile, Hamish was in his office at the group’s headquarters, dealing with work. The phone call he had just made to Elisa had left him restless. He couldn’t focus on the text on his computer screen. A throbbing headache made him rest his head on his left hand while the other held an unfinished cigarette.
His phone suddenly vibrated on the desk. Hamish glanced at it.
Upon seeing the name on the message, his deep, dark eyes grew even more intense, devoid of warmth.
He opened the message and found photos inside, each igniting every cell in his body.
There were a total of five photos, all featuring Finn and Elisa. Their intimate poses suggested they were a loving couple.
In the cinema, the man leaned on Elisa’s shoulder. In a fancy restaurant, the two sat at a romantic table. There was also a photo of Elisa adding Hamish on Facebook.
Apart from anger, Hamish felt an indescribable complexity in his eyes, his heart sinking to the bottom of an abyss.
This was what Elisa meant by watching a movie alone? Dining alone?
He couldn’t believe that even with her memory loss, and a seemingly dulled mind, she could lie so adeptly!
But what he couldn’t fathom more was Finn being with Elisa.
Hamish’s eyes flashed with a fierce rage as he forcefully hurled his phone against the wall. The device shattered upon impact.
He pushed his chair aside and headed for the door. At that moment, Tobias approached, holding some documents. Seeing Hamish’s grim expression, he instinctively halted.
“MrBurns, where are you going?”
“Home.”
“But there’s an important meeting this afternoon…”
“Postpone it.” Right now, he wanted to confront Elisa about why she had deceived him. She knew he detested dishonesty the most.
As Tobias thought he might be reconsidering, Hamish picked up the shattered phone from the floor.
“Go to the phone store, pick a new phone, and have it delivered to my office tomorrow morning.”
“Very well.” Tobias glanced at the broken phone in Hamish’s hand, realizing the extent of his anger.
Though strict at work, Hamish rarely lost his temper, so this outburst clearly stemmed from a family matter.
Tobias thought of Elisa.
As Hamish left, Tobias had no choice but to postpone the meeting and rearrange the schedule.
…
Elisa stood at the mall entrance, seeking shelter from the rain while trying to hail a cab. A cold gust mixed with drizzle made her shiver, but she held the cake firmly.
Sweetness could uplift one’s mood, and she hoped Hamish wouldn’t be too angry after having the cake.
Elisa contemplated going straight to the Burns Group to find Hamish, but she didn’t know where his office was located.
After hesitating, she nervously dialed Hamish’s number.
The call connected, and after a few seconds of waiting, he answered.
“Hamish, I’ve brought cake. Where is your office? I’ll come find you.”
“No need, go back home and wait for me,” he said, then hung up without waiting for Elisa’s response.
Elisa stood there, feeling numb to the cold wind. Her heartache was colder than her skin.
A surge of sour, painful anger welled up in her, causing her eyes to redden from frustration. She had been so confident that Hamish would believe and respect her. Now, his changed attitude left her uncertain of his thoughts. In this ever-changing game, the momentum always shifted, leaving people hesitant and fearful of uncertainties.
Elisa exhaled deeply, feeling as though a heavy stone was weighing down her heart, making it hard for her to breathe.
A taxi pulled up, and after checking the license plate, Elisa left the mall, holding the cake close to her.
The distance from there to her home was short, and she arrived in just a few minutes.
Mr. Clegg stood at the door, holding a teacup and gazing into the distance. When he saw Elisa return, the butler’s eyes lit up. “Mrs. Burns, you’re back. Have you taken your medication?”
“I have,” she replied.
Noticing her red, frozen fingers, the butler hurried over. “Mrs. Burns, what are you carrying?” he asked, reaching out. “Let me help you. Go and take a hot bath.”
Mr. Clegg was old enough to be her father, and everyone in the house treated her well. With no family of her own, she had come to regard them as such.
Seeing the gentle smile on Mr. Clegg’s face, Elisa felt a bit warmer. “Mr. Clegg, I can manage by myself,” she declined.
“Very well.”
Elisa took the cake to her bedroom and placed it on the bedside table. She didn’t take a shower, just dried her damp hair with a clean towel before changing into her pajamas.
People with cancer were often physically weak, unable to withstand exposure to wind and rain. Having just taken her medication, she felt dizzy and tired, yearning for sleep.
As she relaxed, the surroundings grew eerily quiet, save for the sound of rain outside.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Elisa gazed at the dark carpet, took off her shoes, and let her bare feet sink into its softness, which eased her nerves slightly.
Elisa’s mind wandered for a moment, and then she flipped open her phone.
No missed calls, no messages. She checked the time; it was two in the afternoon.
Hamish would return around six. After ensuring her phone wasn’t on silent, she set an alarm for four o’clock.
At three in the afternoon, a luxury car pulled into the driveway outside the villa.
Hamish stepped out, his lips tightly pursed, his face a mix of anger and darkness, his eyes as intense as an impending storm.