Chapter 4

The door to Eloise's room was wide open. Jeremy stood there, looking bewildered. Eloise stared at the lunchbox in his hand. She never thought he'd one day look after someone else, and too bad she'd never get to enjoy it. The mix of stomachache and heartbreak drove her crazy. Meanwhile, the nurses looked embarrassed. They didn't expect Eloise to be acquainted with the subject of their gossip. Jeremy wandered over with a frown. He asked the nurses, "What happened to her?" One of the nurses blinked in surprise but gathered herself soon. "She suffered from acute gastritis. She nearly lost consciousness when she arrived at the hospital. Thankfully, we managed to stabilize her." Jeremy looked like he was choking on something. Memories of that dinner came into his mind. He looked at Eloise, who stayed calm. Puzzled, he furrowed his brows. "Why didn't you tell me that you can't handle spicy food?" Eloise heard him ask. She could never handle spicy food, but since Jeremy loved it, she pretended to like it as well so that they'd have more in common. It was easy to see through her pretense if only he had cared more about her. Lowering her head, she smiled bitterly. "I told you before, but you didn't take me seriously." Jeremy had no words. His phone started ringing when he was about to say something. He answered his phone. "Do you need water? Wait for me. Don't get out of your bed, you hear me?" Jeremy quickly hung up. He had no time to waste on Eloise. He told her, "I'll bring you some food later." He left after that. The nurses exchanged a look and silently sneaked out of Eloise's room. She was alone now. Her phone started to ring, and she took the call. "I've made arrangements with the lawyer. I told you, didn't I? You and Jeremy are incompatible." She lowered her gaze. For the first time, she did not argue against it. … Jeremy never showed up again. Late at night, Scarlett came to Eloise's room in a wheelchair and knocked on the door. When Scarlett entered the room, she fell on her knees before Eloise in a dramatic fashion. Eloise frowned at Scarlett. Scarlett started crying before Eloise could say a word. "Ms. Loughlin, I… I had no idea you couldn't handle spicy food. You fell sick because of me. It was all my fault. "And, clumsy as ever, I twisted my ankle. Mr. Gibson felt so guilty that he ended up neglecting you to care for me. "It was all my fault. Don't blame it on Mr. Gibson!" Eloise couldn't bring herself to look at Scarlett, who was sobbing pitifully. "Scarlett, Jeremy isn't around. You don't have to put on a show." Everyone on Team A knew that Eloise could not handle spicy food due to her gastric problems. Yet, Scarlett played dumb and repeatedly flaunted Jeremy's thoughtful actions in her face. Scarlett burst out laughing. "Eloise, I want him to hate you. I want him to get tired of you! "But I didn't even need to do anything. He's abandoned you now. He doesn't love you. What makes you think you're my competition?" Right after that, Scarlett suddenly slapped herself in the face and cried loudly. "It was my fault! I'll give up on the directorship. Ms. Loughlin, please don't be mad at me!" Jeremy burst through the door amidst the chaos, the lunchbox in his hand falling by Eloise's feet and spilling everywhere. Soup splashed on her legs. He lifted Scarlett from the ground with a somber expression. Then, he turned to Eloise, who was in bed. "Eloise, apologize!" he demanded sternly and coldly. Eloise placed a hand over her cramping stomach with a defiant look in her eyes. "Why should I? Scarlett slapped herself!" This was one of the rare instances where Eloise talked back to Jeremy. As a result, she set him off, and Scarlett was happy to fuel the flames. Scarlett said, "Yeah, Mr. Gibson. I slapped myself. Ms. Loughlin has nothing to do with it. "Put me down. She's still mad at me. Let me apologize to her because it's my fault!" Jeremy looked at her red, swollen face sympathetically. Sharp nails had left behind bloodied marks on her cheeks. He looked at Eloise again with increasing hostility. "Eloise, I am the head of Gibson Group. Know your place before you throw your weight about! "How could you bully Scarlett over a directorship? Since you refuse to apologize, give up your 30 percent shares in the company to Scarlett as compensation!" Her eyes wavered at the mention of her shares.