Chapter 260
The words came quietly this time, but not from Nolan—from Eliza.
She stopped Lucian and Hudson just as they were about to leave and asked, “And what about Isabelle and your son…?”
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Lucian, already sweating through his collar, bowed quickly. “As soon as I return, I’ll have Isabelle’s contract delivered. I’ll also make Hudson write a dismissal letter to formally release her from his household.
Traditionally, only wives received formal release letters, not concubines. But today? Today, convention could go to hell.
Lucian was terrified–terrified that if he made even one more misstep, it wouldn’t just be Hudson who was ruined, but the entire Bradford family.
Eliza arched a brow. Seeing how cooperative he was, she didn’t push it further.
“Good. Just make sure it arrives promptly. I won’t wait forever.”
Lucian let out a breath of relief, grabbed his son, and fled the scene as fast as dignity would allow.
Once Nolan had dealt with the rest of the corrupt officials involved in Isabelle’s case, Eliza turned to him with a playful smile and said, “Thank you for standing up for me. I’ve got nothing to repay you with… except maybe praying for your good fortune every single day.”
“I wouldn’t mind daily prayers from the Holy Lady,” Nolan teased, smiling faintly.
Then, remembering something, he glanced at her and asked, “What about Isabelle? What are you planning to do with her?”
Eliza leaned her chin on her hand and shrugged. “I haven’t decided.”
She sighed. “Once her contract arrives, let her go. We’re not the same anymore, and we never will be.”
But the moment the words left her mouth, a tear–choked voice called out behind her.
“Liza…”
Eliza turned.
There, at the door, stood Isabelle–pale, teary–eyed, barely held back by two Black Flag guards.
She didn’t try to come closer. She just stood there, looking utterly heartbroken. “You… You’re leaving me again?”
Eliza froze for half a second–but then her face hardened. Her voice turned ice–cold. “Don’t make me sound like the heartless one. You do remember who betrayed whom, don’t you?”
Isabelle opened her mouth, but no excuse came out.
“I already told you I don’t hate you anymore,” Eliza cut her off, irritation flashing in her eyes. “How many times do I have to say it?”
But Isabelle couldn’t believe that. She didn’t want Eliza to stop hating her. If Eliza still hated her, then at least she stil‘ mattered.
She bit her tongue–literally–to stay sharp, to keep from crying harder. Then she forced herself to say, “Even so… this time, I owe you. You saved me and helped me get my contract back. That means… I’m yours
now.”
Both Nolan and Renee gave her a look.
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Chapter 260
Eliza’s brows twitched. “What do you mean ‘yours‘? Don’t get ideas. I helped you on impulse. If it had been anyone else begging me that night, I still would’ve stepped in. This has nothing to do with you personally.”
“But I have nowhere else to go…” Isabelle’s voice broke as tears slipped down her cheeks. “Liza, you’re all I have left.”
Her voice dropped to a lethal whisper. “I may have saved you, but don’t forget–you’re also the one who tried to kill me. If I’m still willing to speak to you civilly, it’s only because you once saved me, too. But keep pushing, and all you’ll get is the side of me that remembers why I should hate you.”
That hurt more than Isabelle expected. She had wanted Eliza to hate her, to care enough to be angry.
But Eliza? She just wanted to be done.
Isabelle’s shoulders drooped. “Alright then. I’ll go.”
She looked at Eliza one last time… then let her eyes flick toward Nolan and Renee with a glint of something unreadable.
Another one, she thought bitterly. But that’s fine. This isn’t over.
Not long after Lucian returned, the contract and a hastily written release letter arrived.
Eliza
gave
them to Isabelle, who left without another word.
But not without a tail.
Eliza sent Tina to follow.
When Tina returned, Eliza asked, “Well?”
“She had a few hidden silver bits. Bought some food, wrapped it up, and left the city on foot,” Tina reported. “Looks like she’s headed back to Hasen City.”
Eliza frowned. ‘Walking? That far? With what waiting for her there–her father, her stepmother, her oh–so–loving half–sister? And she still wants to go back?‘
But then Eliza shook her head. ‘Why am I even thinking about this? Isabelle’s life or death has nothing to do with me
anymore.‘
She turned back into her room and let the matter drop.
Their final day in Plutonville passed uneventfully. The next morning, Eliza and Nolan set out for Hasen City.
Everything should’ve gone smoothly from there.
But barely half a day into the journey… a body was spotted lying in the middle of the road.
Eliza got a very bad feeling.
She stepped out of the carriage–and sure enough, there she was.
Isabelle. Collapsed in the dirt like a corpse, her limbs limp and face ashen.
Eliza’s face twisted in frustration. She turned right around and stormed back into the carriage.
‘Let her die here, then. Let the vultures have her. I’m not touching her again.
But then she hesitated.
Those words from her dream came back, low and heavy: “The one who lays you to rest… will be the person you hated most.”
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Chapter 260
Eliza clenched her fists–then sighed.
“Tina. Bring her
Fine. I’ll bring her back. But once we reach Hasen City, I’m tossing her out into the street. And this time, I mean it. Vizz thought
Three days later, Isabelle woke in the swaying carriage
She opened her eyes with great effort, stared at the wooden ceiling for a long moment–then began to laugh softly.
That was all she managed before a coughing fit took over, bringing up the familiar taste of blood
She tried to sit up–but a hand slammed her back down.
“What the hell are you doing?” Eliza’s cold voice snapped above her. “Want to die in the middle of the road ap exactly are you trying to impress?
Isabelle let out a weak chuckle but had no strength to argue. She lay there, eyes fluttering shut again.
She could fix it with spirit water, but she didn’t trust Isabelle. Not even a little.
Then, without another word, she ordered the carriage to stop, climbed out, and got into Nolan’s instead.
Inside, Nolan was already there… lying down, pale and sweating.
He’d been leading the entire caravan himself on horseback. The effort had clearly taken its toll.
Eliza knelt beside him and, for once, her voice was soft. “Open your eyes.”
She leaned in, thinking he had something to say.
Instead, Nolan rasped, “Eliza… my head… it really hurts.”