Chapter 45

Chapter 45 A Stingy Man

Nancy and Eliana talked for a very long time.It wasn’t until night fell that Nancy finally bade goodbye

and left.

The second she stepped out, Eliana’s sweet smile vanished, as if it was never there in the first place.

She turned to Maurice and said to him in a robotic tone devoid of any emotions, "Our cooperation is

over.Don’t forget the rewards you’ve promised me."

Her curt and cold tone hardened Maurice’s gaze.He hissed icily, "Is that all you care about? Money?"

"What else?"

Eliana stopped in her tracks and stared at him, scoffing, "Are you saying you’ll be responsible for me?"

Maurice frowned.

"I can do that."

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"No, thanks.I don’t need someone like you to be responsible for me.But if you really want to make up to

me, answer my question honestly."

Eliana took a deep breath, steeling herself.

"Hodge Chadwick talked to you at the dinner party.Has he worked for you?" Maurice’s eyes darkened

instantly.

"Why are you asking that?"

How odd.

Why was Eliana asking him about Hodge out of the blue? Maurice found it suspicious.

Perhaps Gerald told her to pry into something? Eliana was unwavering.

Her eyes bore into Maurice’s as she pressed in a firm tone, "Answer me, Maurice.It’s very important to

me."

She looked so serious that Maurice found the whole situation to be delicious irony.

As it turned out, she couldn’t hide her secret anymore.

Maurice wasn’t about to answer.

Instead, he sneered disdainfully, "That’s our company’s confidential information.Do you think I have to

tell you everything just because you slept with me?"

His callous words were such that Eliana felt her entire body heat up from anger.She was so furious that

she ended up laughing despite herself.

Obviously, she never expected there to be any difference in their relationship even after that night.

Maurice’s refusal to answer her further strengthened her assumption.She had been right.

The ambiguous feelings she harbored for him that had been swirling about at the back of her mind

disappeared instantly.

Gone were her lingering desires for him.Her heart turned cold, and she no longer cared.

Maurice stared down at her, ever cold and imposing.

He reminded her icily, "Don’t forget, you’re an employee of the Moran Group.Behave yourself."

"Well then, Mr.Moran.As you refuse to answer, there’s no point in me staying in the company.I’ll

resign.We’ll never see each other again after this."

Having said that, Eliana leveled a burning gaze at him.

There was not a hint of fear in her eyes, only steely determination.She should have known better.

The Moran Group had strict management, and finding the truth here would be a near impossible task.

Rather than continuing a fruitless effort, it was much better to stop while she could.

Right now, it was obvious that any interaction with Maurice was a pointless attempt with a guaranteed

failure.

Maurice, for his part, was stunned.

Never did he imagine she would tell him such words.He was instantly flustered and upset, but quickly

recomposed himself.

Suppressing his emotions, he maintained his cold front.His eyes were dark and unfathomable,

rendering his thoughts unreadable by anyone who looked at him.

"So, you’re intent on drawing a clear line between us?"

"That’s right."

"What if I don’t agree?"

It was Eliana’s turn to sneer.She scoffed, and replied to him in a voice dripping with mockery.

"Oh my, Mr.Moran.Do you enjoy keeping all the women you’ve had a one-night stand with in your

company?"

Maurice, annoyed, grabbed her chin and lifted it slightly so that he could look into her eyes.He wished

he could read her mind and see exactly what she was thinking.

"Tell me, why are you in such a hurry to leave? Perhaps you harbor feelings for me…?"

"No."

Eliana was quick to cut him off.

Despite her firm reply and cold appearance, what she felt on the inside was another story.His question

sent her into a fluster and her heartbeat rose rapidly, thumping painfully against her ribcage.

Somehow, her throat grew dry and her voice was stuck.She didn’t harbor feelings for him, nor did she

have a crush on him.She shouldn’t.

Never!

"Goodbye, Maurice."

Having said that, she spun on her heels and left without sparing him another glance.

This time, Maurice didn’t stop her.He simply remained rooted at the spot and watched quietly as her

figure strode out of the villa.

As soon as Eliana reached the exit, Corbin stopped her.

Corbin gave her a polite nod and said respectfully, "Mr.Moran instructed me to see you off."

"That’s unnecessary."

She immediately refused without missing a beat.

Corbin, however, didn’t move.

Instead, he reminded her patiently, "It’s not easy to hail a taxi here."

Eliana stopped in her tracks to take a deep breath.

She turned around to head to Maurice’s Maybach, which was parked at the garage.

Just as she was about to approach it, however… She was startled by the sudden roar of ignition.

The Maybach drove away and disappeared right before her eyes.

"Huh…?"

Eliana was left with her jaw hanging.

Corbin smiled and pointed at a spot in front of them.

"Your ride is over there."

In confusion, Eliana’s eyes followed the direction he pointed.

A bicycle.

Before her lay a bicycle.

Eliana was struck dumb, too shocked to say anything.

Gnashing her teeth, she took in a deep breath and hissed, "Corbin."

Corbin kept smiling innocently, not a single change in his expression.

"Mr.Moran said that since you have resigned, you no longer have the right to enjoy employee

benefits.This bicycle is a free gift from our company.By the way, there’s no need to thank him."

Eliana clenched her teeth and made her way towards the bicycle.

The moment she held it, the brace fell out of its body and crashed to the ground with a bang.

Eliana was rendered speechless from shock.This was unbelievable! She shoved the bicycle away and

put it against the wall.

No longer wanting to entertain this ridiculousness, she readied herself to leave.

Corbin took the chance to give her another sly reminder.

"You’ll have to walk about ten kilometers."

Eliana turned around one last time, forcing herself to smile ever so sweetly.

"I’m very grateful for the reminder."

A tiring journey later, Eliana finally reached the kindergarten gate, albeit out of breath.She approached

a teacher standing in wait by the gate and asked politely, "Excuse me, but I’m Adrian and Aileen’s

mother.Have they set off for summer camp?"

"Not yet," the teacher replied warmly with a smile.

"Oh dear, if it isn’t Eliana! What are you doing here?"

An obnoxiously high-pitched voice caught Eliana’s attention.She looked in the direction of the voice,

dreading to see its owner.

Erica strutted over proudly in her high heels, holding the delicate hand of a well-dressed little girl.She

shot a disdainful glare at Eliana and sneered arrogantly, "My, are you here to send a child as well? May

I know whose child it is?"