Things weren’t going great on Hannah’s end either. The moment Logan hung up, her anger flared.
She’d never liked the Lyons family to begin with. After all these years of marriage, she still looked down on the now–fallen Lyons family, and she’d never once shown Sarah or Charles any real respect.
Now Logan wanted her to lower her head and call them herself. She just couldn’t bring herself to do it.
She tried to ignore it, but Samuel’s nonstop crying on the hospital bed wore her down in the end. With no other choice, she finally gave in and told Sophie to call Sarah instead.
The phone connected almost immediately. The moment Sophie mentioned that Samuel had been hospitalized, Sarah nearly dropped the phone.
She rushed straight to Eliana’s door, knocking as she called her name. One look at Sarah clutching the phone, worry written all over her face, and Eliana already knew what was going on. She reached out, took the phone from Sarah’s hand, and hung
- up.
“Eliana, what are you doing?” Sarah said anxiously. “Samuel’s in the hospital. Aren’t you going to go see him? I heard him crying over the phone just now.”
She patted Eliana on the shoulder, trying to convince. “I know you and Logan probably had a fight, but no matter what, the child is innocent. Let’s go see him first, okay?”
Eliana looked at her for a long moment before speaking calmly, “No, we’re not going. There are plenty of people in the Eliot family. It’s not like they can’t take care of one child.”
She hadn’t planned on laying everything bare in front of her mother. But seeing the confusion on Sarah’s face, Eliana knew she had no choice.
“Yesterday at the birthday banquet, I reminded them over and over that Samuel is allergic to nuts. But because the cake was bought by Isabella, no one took me seriously,” she continued.
“Today, Isabella took him out for barbecue. I already knew he’d end up with diarrhea and in the hospital, but this was bound to happen sooner or later. I can’t keep draining myself dry for them anymore.”
As she spoke, Eliana also folded in things that had happened in her previous life, passing them off as recent events.
“The more I rush to please them, the more they think I’m cheap and easy to push around. I really do want a divorce from Logan. I’m not even fighting for custody,” she sighed.
“I spent five years giving everything I had to Samuel. But after just a few months with Isabella, she’s suddenly the center of his world. He even teamed up with Logan to set rules for me. Well, if that’s what he wants, I’ll give him exactly that.”
Sarah listened, her heart aching. She knew Eliana too well. If Eliana hadn’t been completely crushed, she would never have made such a clean, ruthless decision.
Just then, Logan’s call came through on Sarah’s phone. Sarah hesitated, but Eliana reached over and rejected the call without a second thought. Only when Logan called for the third time did Eliana finally answer.
“Stop it, Logan. Do you even know what time it is?” she started before Logan could speak. “My mom has her own life too. Can you stop calling her every time something happens? Three calls in a row. Don’t you think you’re crossing a line?”
The other end of the call went dead silent. Logan was clearly not expecting this. Those were his words. Words he’d once thrown at her. Now she was just handing them back. And clearly, they stabbed just as hard when he was the one hearing
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Chapter 11
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Logan took a deep breath, forcing his temper down before speaking. “Samuel’s in the hospital. You should come to see him.”
“And what exactly would I go for?” Eliana shot back. “Without me, does Samuel suddenly not know how to see a doctor? Do you remember I used to take him to the hospital every time he got sick?”
She then raised her voice, irritated. “I’m his mother, not a live–in nanny for the Eliot family. What I can do, you should be perfectly capable of doing too. Now stop calling again. We’re going to rest.”
With that, she hung up. On the other end, Logan nearly choked on his own breath.
Nathan had arrived earlier, and he’d heard most of the call without trying. Leaning casually against the wall, he flicked on a lighter and lit a cigarette, watching Logan with open interest.
It wasn’t until the sharp click of the lighter sounded that Logan realized Nathan was already there. His expression changed instantly, forcing on a polite smile. “Mr. Turner, this way, please.”
Nathan lifted a hand, signaling he wanted to finish his cigarette first. Then, he took a drag and spoke up lazily, “What was it? You’re having a fight with Mrs. Eliot?”
Logan gave an awkward chuckle. Family drama wasn’t something he wanted outsiders hearing about, especially not something like this. But of all people, it had been overheard by Nathan.
Thinking about Eliana’s sharp words and how she’d embarrassed him in front of Nathan, Logan’s irritation flared even hotter. Six years of marriage meant he knew Eliana inside out. He didn’t believe for a second that she’d actually dare divorce him.
At the end of the day, this was just jealousy over Isabella. He believed she was just making a scene, fishing for attention, and trying to force him to go comfort her.
And the more she pulled stunts like this, the more determined Logan was to put her in her place.
With that in mind, Logan smoothed out his expression and smiled. “Just a little tantrum. I spoiled her too much. Sorry you had to see that.”
Nathan curved his lips into a faint smile and stubbed out his cigarette. But instead of heading inside right away, he said casually, “I’ve heard rumors that Mr. Eliot has been dealing with a divorce lately. Looks like that wasn’t true after all?”
“Of course not,” Logan replied quickly. “My wife and I have been married for years. We’re very much in love. Mr. Turner can rest assured. None of those messy rumors apply.”
“Fine. Only then did Nathan’s smile fade. “Let’s go then.”
He turned and walked into the meeting room. Logan followed close behind.
Logan had thought he’d been more than cooperative and even offered concessions. He expected the negotiations to go smoothly. Instead, Nathan pressed him at every turn.
Logan had never been treated like this before. Finally, unable to take it anymore, he looked straight at Nathan and asked bluntly, “Mr. Turner, I don’t even know what I did to offend you.”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
