Seven Years a Fool One Day a Queen (Kristine and Colton) novel Chapter 27

“What’s wrong?” Medea happened to catch the flicker in Calvin’s expression and asked with concern.

He slid the resignation letter into his drawer with a careless hand. “Nothing. I’m done here, let’s go eat.”

“Okay.” Her smile brimmed with anticipation at the thought of dining with him.

Eliza arrived at the airport gate right on time.

The moment Josh stepped out, he spotted her.

“You actually came to pick me up.” His tone was light, clearly pleased.

“I promised, didn’t I? Of course I wouldn’t stand you up.”

“Much better.” With easy banter, they left the terminal together.

Eliza had already reserved a restaurant. After collecting him, she drove straight there.

It was peak dinner hour, the place bustling.

As they sat down, she introduced him to the restaurant’s specialties.

Josh seemed satisfied, though he soon noticed something. Eliza’s choices leaned exclusively toward mild, bland dishes.

“I remember you used to love spicy food,” he remarked in surprise.

“My stomach’s been bad these past two years. The doctor forbade it. I’ve had to eat plain food to recover.”

“No wonder you’re so thin now.” He frowned, scanning her figure. “I still remember the first time I saw you at Master’s place, you had round, chubby cheeks. Now you’re just skin and bones.”

“Isn’t being thinner a good thing?”

“Not at all.” His rejection was instant. “You need to eat properly.”

Without hesitation, he summoned the waiter and ordered nearly every gentle, stomach–friendly dish on the menu.

She barely managed to protest, “I can’t eat that much!”

“Then I’ll help you. You have no idea how miserable foreign food made me abroad. Every time I came back, the first thing I did was head straight to a local restaurant and binge.”

The two chatted easily, laughter mixing with the aroma of food. The mood was harmonious.

On her way back from the restroom, Medea passed the restaurant and froze.

Through the glass she spotted Eliza.

She didn’t see the man’s face–Josh was sitting with his back to her–but she could tell at once Eliza was dining with another man.

The discovery sent a thrill through her. She hurried back to her private room to share it with Calvin.

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Seven Years a Fool. One Day a Queen

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Chapter 27

“Calv, guess who I just saw outside?”

“Who?”

“Secretary Grant!” She watched closely for his reaction.

His voice was calm. “And what’s so strange about that?”

“Running into her isn’t strange,” she pressed, eyes bright. “What’s strange is that she was on a date.”

“With a man.” She made sure to stress that part.

“Eat your food,” Calvin said evenly.

Medea noted every twitch of his face, satisfied when she found nothing there.

Her worries had been misplaced.

Clearly, Calvin felt nothing for Eliza.

Yes, she had been the only woman by his side all these years, but at most, he had treated her as a tool.

After all, men had needs.

To put it bluntly, Eliza had been nothing more than a convenient outlet.

Otherwise, how could seven years pass without a single step forward?

And truth be told, Medea had never taken her seriously.

Pretty as Eliza was, so what?

Medea was no less beautiful.

And unlike Eliza, she had the advantages that truly mattered-

A powerful family.

An elite education.

Things Eliza could never reach.

Her mother, Regina, had been right: there was no need to waste her eyes on Eliza. Better to fix them on Calvin.

Now, that wisdom proved true.

“Got it,” she said lightly, her mood bright.

Ottilie’s surgery was scheduled for Friday,

Eliza had arrived early at the hospital. For the past two days, she had been going to the office only to clear her workload before slipping away under the pretext of planning the upcoming celebration banquet.

In truth, most of her time was spent here, with her mother.

Ottilie always worried her daughter was neglecting her job to care for her.

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8.1%

Seven Years a Fool, One Day a Queen

Chapter 27

Eliza reassured her: “Calvin approved my leave.”

That answer soothed her mother. She even praised him as considerate.

Inside, Eliza scoffed bitterly. Considerate, yes but only to Medea.

Nearly every day, Ottilie asked about Calvin.

And every day, Eliza dodged with the same excuse: he was too busy with work.

Even during pre–op prep, the questions persisted.

“He’s busy,” Eliza murmured again. “He’ll come when he has time.”

This time, Ottilie sighed, regret seeping into her voice. “I’m only afraid… I might not make it through.”

“Mom!” Eliza cut her off sharply. “Nothing will happen to you.”

“…Alright.”

Josh soon arrived, bringing nutritional supplements.

Introduced simply as “a friend,” he won Ottilie’s acceptance without further questions.

When she was wheeled into surgery, Josh stayed by Eliza’s side.

“Thank you,” she said quietly.

He brushed it off, feigning irritation. “Still being formal with me?”

“You know that’s not what I mean.”

“Relax, I’m teasing. Why so serious?”

Just like in the past, he reached out to ruffle her hair.

Back then, she had always resisted. “Stop it, or I’ll never grow taller.”

He would laugh mischievously. “Then I’ll just keep you and feed you forever.”

It had only been childish banter, long forgotten until now.

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