Chapter 325
After a layover flight, they arrived in Eden at long last. Arthur took them to his residence. Elspeth observed the huge mansion, and a dubious glint fleeted across her eyes.This is not a bungalow, but a manor. He spends most of his time in the country, though. How did he have the time and money to build such a spacious manor?“You rarely leave the country. How do you own such a big property here?”Ignoring her, he unlocked the door before leading Isabel and Helena into the house.“Arthur Winthrop, is this house on a lease?” Elspeth followed them, shouting from behind.This idiot. Arthur’s face darkened as looked back at her. “My dad bought it.”Dad? That unfamiliar address conjured Theodore’s face, but she soon recalled that Arthur was no longer one of the Winthrop Family.Does he mean Yoel Blue? she guessed while following them into the house.The interior design was not Arthur’s cup of tea. She once had the chance to visit his room in Winthrop Residence. The gray theme color in that room bore no warmth at all. Yet, the warm tone color in this manor could readily lift one’s spirits.“You guys can stay here for the time being. I don’t come here often.”“Where will you stay?” Elspeth was curious.Seeing how Elspeth was asking too much, Helena pulled the hem of Elspeth’s sleeve. “Enough. We shouldn’t pry on Dr. Winthrop’s privacy as the guests. He must be busy with his work.”Guests? We are fugitives.Elspeth could never say that aloud, though. Meanwhile, Arthur raised his chin at her provocatively.“Fine. It’s none of my business even if he’s dead,” she muttered under her breath.“Hey. Don’t say that. Apologize to Dr. Winthrop, hurry.” Helena was livid this time. To her, Arthur was the person who helped them out; not only did he save her life, but he also helped her daughter and treated Isabel. She perceived him as a good person.Yet, her daughter was not grateful to him one bit.Elspeth lowered her head meekly in fear that her rebellion would result in Helena’s relapsing. “I’m sorry, Arthur Winthrop. I shouldn’t have said that to you.”Although the short apology bore zero sincerity, it was enough since Arthur was not offended in the first place. “It’s okay. Why would I fight over it with a kid?”She glared at him. Whom are you calling a kid?You. He returned her an indifferent look.She could not let the steam off in front of Helena no matter how angry she was. Thus, the agitated Elspeth headed upstairs with her luggage and cooped herself in a room she randomly chose.Helena sighed helplessly. “Dr. Winthrop, Elsie’s always like this. I hope you won’t take it to the heart.”“It’s okay. She’s cute.” He smiled affectionately.Helena had a guess at that response. Cute? Is he into Elsie? If so, I should somehow make the ship sail. Elspeth locked herself up in the room for three days straight ever since they came to Eden. She did not show up every single time Arthur called her for meals.Just as he thought she was going to starve herself to death, she suddenly turned up. Her face was glowing and her hair fell over her neatly dressed clothes.“I thought you were going to starve yourself to death.” A laidback Arthur leaned against the door, pinching a cigarette between his fingers.Elspeth snorted. “Thank you for worrying about me. Isabel brought me food every night.”He shifted his gaze onto Isabel, who lowered and scratched her head awkwardly. The scar on her face was recovering well; the burns were almost healed, covered by a new layer of skin. She looked definitely better than before.“Elspeth didn’t want anyone to disturb her. And she didn’t want to see you.” Isabel was obviously on Elspeth’s side.“Wow. Look at this sisterhood. You guys win. To grant your wish, it seems like I should no longer make the meals.”Elspeth glared at him. “I’m glad to hear that. Your cooking is not as delicious as Isabel’s.”Isabel hung her head low upon hearing that compliment. “Actually, the food I brought you every night is the leftovers.”“And will there be any leftovers if I didn’t make extra servings?” A cheeky smile appeared across his lips.His faint smile was so engaging that Elspeth turned her head sideways. She was grateful to him, yet she could not put her ego aside. Thus, she steered the topic away. “I’ve been giving it a thought these days. I’m going to work in the red light district.”The red light district?!The smile on Arthur’s face faded immediately. “Don’t you know what kind of place that is?”Forget about safety, how can she work when we’re in this kind of circumstance? Does she have a death wish?“No!” Even Isabel’s visage went pale. “Elspeth, don’t be hot-headed. We know what kind of place that is. You mustn’t go there!”If Miss Joneson finds out that Elspeth works as a… at the red light district, she’ll have a heart attack!“Every girl who goes there ain’t gonna come back the same.” Words escaped through Arthur’s gritted teeth as he was holding in the urge to punch her.“What are you guys thinking?” The corner of Elspeth’s lips twitched at their worried face. “I’m going to work there, but not to sell myself. It’s not what you think it is.”“You’re not?” He sighed in relief. He did not know what concerned him, but it felt like someone squeezed his heart when he heard that. Ire rose in him on the account of her decision to work at such a place.“Elspeth, I will never let you go to that kind of place. If you insist, I will tell Miss Joneson.” A protesting Isabel did not give in still.Elspeth became speechless. Why does this soft girl become all stubborn during crunch time?“Tell me what?” A soft voice behind them sent them into a trance.
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