Chapter 27
Since there were only the four of them at dinner, Justin, Elena, Nadine, and Josephine were seated at a small, ordinary dining table.
This made it easy for Nadine’s leg to brush against Justin’s leg under the table.
Justin looked up at her briefly, then quickly averted his gaze. He scooped a bowl of soup and set it down
in front of Elena.
His expression remained neutral, as if the little movement under the table didn’t exist.
Nadine became even bolder, lifting her foot to lightly rub against his leg.
Justin remained perfectly composed, not even glancing at her.
Instead, he asked Elena in a gentle voice, “Why not have some soup? I remember you used to like it.”
Elena cast a brief look at the bowl but said nothing. She had indeed enjoyed Josephine’s soup, but since Justin had served it, it only made her stomach turn.
One of the main reasons she intended to break up with Justin tonight was that she had overestimated her
patience. She could no longer tolerate Justin’s hypocrisy or any physical contact with him.
Even if he simply sat close, she felt aversion. In that regard, she knew she couldn’t match Justin’s skill at
pretense.
Meanwhile, Nadine kept brushing her leg against Justin under the table. Sitting at the same table as
Josephine and Elena made it even more thrilling for her, and she even began shooting secret, teasing glances at Justin.
Suddenly, Josephine let out two sharp coughs.
Startled, Nadine instinctively pulled her leg back.
“Josephine, are you okay?” Elena asked, concern in her voice.
“It’s nothing, just a minor health issue,” Josephine said with a smile. “Now, let’s eat.”
Although it seemed like a minor interruption, the tension around the dinner table was palpable.
After dinner, Josephine chatted with Elena for a while, expressing her concern while also suggesting that
Elena and Justin should consider having children soon.
“Since you’re already married, it’s better to have kids while you’re still young. Then I can help take care of
them at the Riggs residence, and you won’t have to worry.”
Elena hesitated, planning to give Josephine a gentle warning since she and Justin were going to separate. “Josephine, actually, Justin and I…”
“Mom, aren’t you going to rest?” Justin came over, interrupting Elena.
“It’s late. You should go to bed. Lena’s tired too.”
“You’re right. It’s getting late. Lena, you should get some rest,” Josephine said warmly.
Justin’s arrival made Elena feel uncomfortable. She said nothing further and returned to her own room.
She had already made up her mind that she wouldn’t stay at Justin’s tomorrow.
No matter how much she cared for Josephine, she couldn’t stay with Justin for her sake. She would
slowly explain the breakup to Josephine later.
Soon, her phone vibrated.
Elena picked it up, her eyelashes trembling slightly as she saw the caller ID.
She swiped the screen and answered. “Dad.”
A stern, commanding voice came through the phone, belonging to a middle-aged man. Samuel Miller huffed, “So, you still recognize me as your dad?”
“Dad… I never said I didn’t,” Elena replied softly.
Years ago, when Samuel found out she was involved with Justin, he strongly opposed it. He had warned
her that Justin wasn’t a good man and wasn’t someone she should trust with her future.
But Elena hadn’t listened, insisting on being with Justin. After graduating from college, she chose not to
return to Hupolis and stayed in Slushire, by Justin’s side.
Samuel had been furious with her for years and had mostly ignored her ever since. No matter how many
calls or messages she sent, he never responded.
She had tried to change his opinion of Justin, but all her efforts had been in vain.
Still, every time she video-called her grandmother, Jane Hudson, she could hear Samuel coughing in the background. She knew he hadn’t stopped caring about her-he had just been angry.
Now, Elena finally understood what Samuel had meant back then and felt a deep pang of guilt.
“You… never mind,” Samuel said, his anger still simmering, but he didn’t want to be harsh with Elena.
“What made you suddenly decide to come home?”
Two months ago, during a video call with Jane, she mentioned that Samuel had been trying to set her up with someone through a marriage alliance.
Jane explained that Samuel wasn’t trying to control her life-he just didn’t want her to waste her youth on Justin. The match Samuel had chosen for the marriage alliance was solid and dependable, but Elena had refused outright.
Samuel had been nearby at the time, and they had argued briefly.
Chapter 27
A few days ago, when Elena messaged him saying she was willing to return home and take the marriage alliance seriously, Samuel had only replied, “Okay.”
After that, he said nothing more.
However, he had called today.
“Dad…”
Hearing his voice, Elena’s eyes instantly welled with tears.
“What’s wrong?” Samuel’s tone suddenly turned serious. “Did Justin upset you? I knew it-he wasn’t a good man!”
Elena quickly cleared her throat to hide the lump in her voice. “No… Dad. It’s just that… Justin and I aren’t right for each other. I’ve finally made up my mind.”
She hadn’t yet figured out how to tell her family about everything. It was difficult to explain, and she didn’t want them to worry or be upset.
“Ah, Elena, as long as you’ve thought it through, that’s what matters,” Samuel said with a deep sigh.
“Come home soon. Running such a large company on my own all these years has been exhausting.”
Elena replied, “Okay… I’ll be back on the 15th of next month.”
Thinking about returning home and the marriage alliance that awaited her, Elena couldn’t help but ask, ”
Dad… Who is the match for the marriage alliance?”
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