Chapter 10 Repay It With Your Life

• Eloise was puzzled. Since when did I have such capabilities?
• "Why will you lose your job if I leave?" Eloise asked.
• Andrea explained, "When Mr. Barker found out I acted on my own and sent you away, he got furious. He even said that I would be fired if I failed to bring you back to the company. Eloise, I know that it was my fault. I can assure you that I will not bully you again. Please come back with me."
• "Does Mr. Barker know who I am?" Eloise questioned.
• Andrea shook her head. "I don't know."
• Still, it felt like something was amiss. Just then, Eloise suddenly recalled what Chloe had said in the morning and asked, "Is Mr. Barker Chloe's fiancé?"
• "Yes." Andrea nodded. Doesn't everyone in Cythais know that?
• Eloise finally understood why Chloe was so angry. It seemed like Chloe was upset that she was working at Deligrace Enterprise.
• "Okay, I will return to the company tomorrow. But my workload..."
• "I will assign three more staff to help you." Without waiting for Eloise to finish, Andrea happily held up three fingers and swore. Then, she left, and Eloise closed the door.
• Meanwhile, the phone in her room was ringing non-stop. There were a dozen missed calls and invitations to a video call, all from Dexter. Feeling frustrated, Eloise deleted the entire call history and found the chat box with Jace.
• The video had just been connected when the boy's pitiful voice was heard. "Mommy, why did you take so long to answer? I miss you."
• "I was busy. How about I pick you up tomorrow?" Eloise gently asked.
• Jace played with his fingers. "Madam Aggie has no one to accompany her. She is so pitiful. I told her that her son was useless today, and she almost gave her son a beating."
• "How can you say something like that? It is very rude. Don't say such hurtful words again." Eloise was surprised by her son's actions and quickly educated him.
• Jace obediently made a sound in acknowledgment and then explained, "But I wasn't wrong. I heard Madam Aggie say that her son is old but is unable to produce a child. He even ignored the doctor's advice after being told he was unwell. I guess he must be very sick. Poor Madam Aggie." Jace paused for a moment and asked, "Mommy, should we ask my godfather to treat her son?"
• "But… your godfather is a surgeon!" Eloise said.
• Jace innocently blinked his eyes. "Can't a surgeon treat him?"
• "He needs to go to the Andrology Department." Eloise's face flushed slightly when she said that.
• However, Jace seemed even more confused. "Is the andrologist different from a surgeon?"
• "Jace, just be a good boy and don't ask so many questions. I will pick you up tomorrow," Eloise cooed.
• Jace reluctantly hugged the pillow and nodded. "Okay, I will wait for you."
• After hearing Jace saying his goodbyes, Eloise smiled and hung up. She washed up and was prepared to head to bed when she received a call from Phoebe. Her drowsiness disappeared instantly, and she guessed Phoebe was probably calling to tell her how ungrateful she was for destroying Chloe's future and bullying her. Knowing Phoebe, she was probably wishing for her death.
• Eloise had a determined look on her face when she cut the call off. She would not leave before she found out who Jace's biological father was.
• Meanwhile, Phoebe's face turned red with anger. She had nowhere to vent her pent-up emotions, so she turned to the aggrieved Chloe and said, "You were right. Eloise is an ungrateful brat. If I knew she would turn out like this, I would have left her on the streets."
• "Mom, she is working at Jonathan's company and is still investigating the incident from six years ago. What should I do if she uncovers the truth?" Chloe tugged at Phoebe's hand in panic.
• "Old Mrs. Barker never liked me. If she knew she had a grandson, she would definitely bring Jace home. There is also a possibility that she would make Jonathan marry Eloise, too. If that happens, what would I do? I will become the joke of the town and will probably be better off dead."
• Phoebe's heart ached. She pulled Chloe into her arms and comforted her, "Don't worry, I will not let that day come. I'll go look for Eloise tomorrow. Since I adopted her, her life belongs to me, and I will not let her be a stumbling block to your happiness."
• With her mother's guarantee, a smile finally returned to Chloe's face.
• After having a good night's rest, Eloise headed to the office early the next morning. Andrea was extremely happy and ordered the staff, who were originally in charge of taking inventory, to help Eloise with her workload.
• Overall, it was a relaxing day for Eloise. She worked the entire morning and was about to head home at noon when her phone rang.
• "I'm outside your company. Come out." It was Phoebe speaking in an authoritative tone.
• Eloise clutched her phone tightly as she recalled the words that Phoebe had said to her six years ago. "I have nothing to say to you."
• "If you don't come out, I will go inside. Don't blame me if your colleagues overhear our conversation," Phoebe threatened and implied the incident that happened six years ago.
• Innocence was of the utmost importance to a woman.
• A worried look crept up Eloise's gorgeous face, and she gritted her teeth. "Fine."
• They met at a high-end restaurant beside Deligrace Enterprise. Phoebe was dressed in branded clothing with sunglasses and a hat. Half of her face was covered by her outfit, as though she did not want anyone to recognize her.
• When she saw Eloise, she could not help but scan the latter's appearance from head to toe. She sneered. "It's been six years. How did you end up like this? You still won't have enough to buy Chloe a pair of socks if you sell every piece of clothing on your body. Who gave you the courage to return to Cythais?"
• Eloise did not back down and retorted, "You don't need to worry about me. But you need to watch out for the retribution coming at you and your daughter for what you have done all these years."
• Phoebe was infuriated. "Who are you to talk to me like that?!"
• Her high-pitched voice was so loud that it attracted other diners' attention. For a moment, she forgot that they were in a high-end restaurant with a quiet environment. Phoebe, who realized that she had overreacted, quickly lowered her voice. "I don't want to waste my time with you. I only have one request. Leave with your child. Seeing that you're so pitiful, I can compensate you fifty grand."
• As though she were trying to get rid of a beggar, Phoebe took out a bank card and threw it on the table snidely. The way she behaved was as though Eloise was some disgusting vermin.
• However, Eloise did not spare a glance at the card and ridiculed, "You disregarded my life for money six years ago, yet you want me to listen to you now? Fifty grand is not even enough for beggars. If you are so sincere, pay me back with your life."
• Having said that, she broke the card in half. The crisp and distinct snap angered Phoebe. She took off her sunglasses and looked at Eloise in disbelief. "Looks like you are asking for trouble."
• Ignoring her words, Eloise got up and turned to leave.
• Phoebe refused to let Eloise leave because she had not achieved her purpose. Thus, she rushed forward to tackle Eloise.
• At the end of the corridor, Zachary was walking alongside Jonathan while making his report. Suddenly, Jonathan stopped in his tracks and froze as something appeared to have caught his eye. Out of curiosity, Zachary followed his cold gaze and was surprised to see Eloise there.