Chapter 7

When David’s gaze landed on Elizabeth, her face lit up with joy. She blushed and said sweetly, “Mr. David, let me serve you some tea.” She eagerly walked to him with the tea, shoving Caroline aside without hesitation. Caroline stumbled back several steps, barely managing to steady herself, finding the situation absurd. Back when Elizabeth first heard about the proposal to marry David, she had rolled her eyes in utter disdain, clearly looking down on him. Now that David was in control of the Ellison Group, she was quick to flatter and shamelessly throw herself at him. Samantha positioned herself carefully, blocking Caroline’s way to ensure she couldn’t disrupt Elizabeth and David. Caroline saw through their petty schemes completely. David slowly turned the teacup in his hand, a slight frown crossing his face. “Mr. David, do you not like the tea?” Elizabeth asked eagerly. “I’ll prepare a new pot for you right away!” “That won’t be necessary.” “Seeing you frown, I was worried my hospitality wasn’t enough to please you,” Elizabeth said softly, leaning slightly toward him. “I’ve always heard how extraordinary you are, Mr. David. Meeting you today, you truly stand above the rest; no one compares to you.” David leaned back, keeping his distance. “If that’s what you think, why didn’t you agree to the marriage from the beginning?” Elizabeth was frozen, unable to respond. She couldn’t possibly admit that she had tried to avoid him back then. David pulled back further, the coldness in his eyes unmistakable as his patience wore thin. From William’s investigation, David had learned that the room he entered by mistake on the wedding night was reserved in advance by the Brooks family under Matthew’s name. The Brooks family had only two daughters. Caroline had been in the bridal suite that night, leaving Elizabeth as the only possibility for the other room. The room had been dark, so David hadn’t seen her face. But her graceful figure, the subtle scent of her skin, and her smooth, delicate touch had left a lasting impression. These were traits only a pampered young lady of a wealthy family would possess. Moreover, it had been her first time. All signs pointed to Elizabeth as the woman from that night. Yet the Elizabeth standing before him now felt like a completely different person. The contrast was staggering. The more David thought about it, the more irritated he became. David tugged at his tie; he caught a glimpse of Caroline standing far away and frowned. “Why are you standing so far away? Come over here,” he ordered, his voice cold. Caroline glanced at Elizabeth, then replied calmly, “There’s no place for me at your side.” Her words carried an obvious subtext that no one could miss. Elizabeth’s expression shifted awkwardly before she forced a smile. “Caroline, don’t overthink it. I was just so excited to see Mr. David and wanted to speak with him a bit longer. That’s all.” “I’m not overthinking it,” Caroline shot back, “but whether or not you are, you know that better than anyone.” Elizabeth’s intentions to charm David were blatant, practically written across her face. Caroline doubted David couldn’t see it, but maybe he didn’t care and just enjoyed the attention. After all, men all shared the same nature, unable to resist temptation. David observed Caroline’s sharp demeanor, a side of her he hadn’t seen before. He stood abruptly, walked over to her, and lifted her chin with his hand. “A place by my side isn’t handed to you; it’s something you fight for and keep. Understand?” “No, I don’t,” Caroline replied, her voice steady. She had once thought marrying into the Ellison family meant living a quiet, uneventful life, maybe even becoming a widow. That simple life had been enough for her. But David becoming the most powerful man overnight had completely upended her expectations. Being adopted, how could I be worthy of standing beside him? How could I possibly match up to him, especially after everything that occurred? “Then step aside,” David said coldly, dismissing her with a wave before turning to Matthew. “I need to talk to you alone.”