Hiding Behind Her Superficiality by Kyla Olson

Chapter 316

Chapter 316

“Really? You’re going over to Joneson Residence today?”

Elspeth was so excited that she grabbed Arthur’s hand. All along, she thought she would have to wait for much longer as she didn’t think Arthur would agree to do so this quickly.

“That’s right. If I don’t go, someone might end up destroying my house.” Arthur glanced down at their clasped hands and carefully withdrew his. His tone and manner seemed disdainful.

“Who are you calling a nuisance?”

Elspeth fished a cherry tomato out of the salad bowl and tossed it into her mouth in a huff. However, since he was willing to help her rescue her mother, she forgave him, albeit reluctantly. “Do you need me to head over to Joneson Residence with you today?”

Arthur set down his spatula and eyed her as she fiddled inside the salad bowl with her bare hand. “You? Are you even considering going over with me?” he remarked distastefully. “Aren’t you afraid that you’ll get caught and be locked up again?”

“Hah!”

Elspeth stuffed the final mouthful of salad into her mouth. After recalling Michael’s refusal to stop coming after her, she gave up on the idea. “You’d better go by yourself, then.”

Arthur grilled the last steak and cracked some black pepper over the top before serving it up on the dining table. “Go and get the fried eggs from the kitchen. We can have breakfast first.”

Elspeth was a little nonplussed to hear Arthur instructing her so casually. I’m not your maid, so why must I listen to you?

She stubbornly turned away and pretended she didn’t hear him.

“Hurry up and bring it over, or else, you won’t be getting breakfast.”

“Can’t you do it…”

Elspeth gritted her teeth. She was going to protest, but she remembered that her mother would be coming over soon, and if she didn’t have breakfast, her mother would be worried and upset, so she begrudgingly brought the eggs over from the kitchen.

Arthur placed one of the fried eggs on Elspeth’s plate and said, “What a good girl. Here’s a fried egg as your reward.”

“Why are you talking to me like that, Arthur?”

Elspeth was confused as she eyed the fried egg. His attitude toward me has taken a 180-degree turn!

For the past few days, even though she kept doing things that would rile him up, he didn’t get mad at her.

In the past, he would’ve gotten someone to teach her a lesson by now, but this time, he didn’t do anything to her no matter how unreasonable she was.

How… strange!

“What’s the matter? Do you not like the way I talk to you now?” Arthur raised his fork and took an elegant bite of his steak before flashing her a faint smile.

“Nope. We’re not that close either, so don’t act as if we know each other so well.”

Elspeth rolled her eyes. To avoid hearing any other kind of suggestive comments from him, she avoided his gaze and focused on eating her egg.

She stabbed her knife into the egg so hard that it squeaked against the plate.

“Even then, so what? Either way, you and I will be getting engaged soon, so what’s wrong with an engaged couple like us talking to each other this way?” Arthur didn’t stop teasing her.

How nauseating.

Elspeth was griping on the inside, but she had no choice but to force a smile for the sake of getting what she wanted. “Right. Nothing’s wrong. Anyway, let’s drop this subject. Hurry up and eat. Once you’re done eating, you can go and bring my mother over.”

Arthur raised his eyebrow. “Using me?”

“Isn’t this a trade? How can you say I’m using you?” Elspeth finished her food and wiped her mouth elegantly with a tissue before saying with a smile, “Well, I’ll be waiting to hear the good news.”

Surprisingly, she cleared the table and brought the dishes back to the kitchen.

A peculiar feeling rose in Arthur’s chest as he watched her bustling around the kitchen.

Why have I never noticed that she’s not as loathsome as I thought?

…

To avoid delaying the trip abroad, Arthur headed out to Joneson Residence.

Michael had just “lost” his granddaughter, so he was visibly haggard. He even had more gray hairs now.

He eyed Arthur warily. “You’re saying that you want to take Helena abroad for treatment?”

“Yes. Her illness is rare and peculiar, so she needs to get her treatment abroad,” Arthur advised patiently.

“Just tell me what you need, and I’ll get it delivered to our country.” Michael rubbed his temples. He seemed reluctant.

“I need the treatment facilities and environment that’s available abroad. It won’t be easy to set these things up elsewhere. Even if you bring in the medical professionals and the equipment, there’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to achieve the optimum results.” Arthur smiled faintly and took a sip of tea. “Why would so many people head abroad for treatment if they could’ve easily gotten their treatment in the country?”

Arthur had a point, so Michael’s frown slowly disappeared. “Can you keep my daughter safe for me if I hand her over to you?”

Arthur had a point, so Michael’s frown slowly disappeared. “Can you keep my daughter safe for me if I hand her over to you?”

“Of course not. I’m just a doctor, not a bodyguard. I can’t ensure her safety.”

“Since you can’t keep her safe, why should I let her go?” Michael fumed as he slammed his hand on the table.

“Well, I do have an excellent candidate who can certainly keep your daughter safe.”

“Who is it?” Michael’s fury eased as he kept his eyes trained on Arthur.

Arthur didn’t cower under Michael’s piercing gaze. Instead, he calmly replied, “The Great Elspeth.”

The Great Elspeth who’s the head of Evil Wind Sect?

Shock rippled through Michael’s eyes.

…

In the afternoon, a black Lincoln pulled up outside Arthur’s villa.

Elspeth looked down from the balcony and saw a familiar silhouette sitting inside the car.

The moment the person stepped out of the car, her eyes misted over.

Afraid that the person would look up, she cupped her mouth and quickly drew the curtains.

She calmed herself down and quietly waited for the person to come over.

The door opened with a creak, and when Elspeth saw the woman in front of her, she became extremely emotional. “Mom…”

“My dear girl! What are you doing here?” Helena walked over in excitement and clutched Elspeth’s hand tightly. “Everyone’s saying that you died. When I got the terrible news, I almost followed you.”

Elspeth’s heart panged. As she held Helena’s frail hand, she could feel how cold it was. Elspeth’s tears streamed down her face and dripped onto her hand.

“I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. I made you worry.”

“It’s okay. It’s alright. My dear girl… everything’s fine as long as you’re still alive. As long as you’re fine.” Helena could barely vocalize her thoughts. All she could do was keep repeating that everything was fine as she stared affectionately at Elspeth. It was as if she was afraid that Elspeth would disappear at any given moment.

“Don’t worry. I won’t leave you again this time.”

Elspeth hugged Helena tightly, and the latter’s thin, feeble body made Elspeth swear to herself that she would do her best to protect Helena. She was going to make sure that Helena could live a happy, healthy life.

Even if it means sacrificing everything I have!