Chapter 6

Angelica was already used to Elliot's commanding tone. Holden, the person Elliot mentioned in the text message, was Rosie's son from her previous marriage, Holden Rachford. Elliot must be really desperate. Although he was the heir of the Quigley family, he willingly became a lapdog for a divorcee with a child. Besides, the said divorcee was officially his sister. All Angelica felt was disgust. Instead of replying to Elliot's text, she deleted the entire chat, including all the texts she had humbly sent before and received no reply. All of them were deleted, as though she could draw the line with Elliot by doing this. In the late afternoon, Angelica called for the garbage truck and asked them to take away all the trash she had gathered last night. Staring into the empty room, she suddenly felt a missing piece in her heart, along with a numbing pain in her chest. Then, she heard noises from downstairs, followed by a maid banging on her door, yelling, "Ms. Thornton, Mr. Quigley is asking you to get down right now. He's looking for you." The maids in the villa had been watching. Knowing that Elliot treated Angelica badly, the maids lost respect for her over time. In front of her and behind her back, they'd throw sarcastic remarks at her. Angelica had opposed this before, but Elliot had shot her down every time. "I think you have too much time on your hands, and you're just stirring trouble. "Angelica, you can't force yourself to have a good life when you're not fated to have one. Have you checked your weight? Do some chores and take them as exercises." Keeping away the scrambled thoughts raging in her mind, she composed herself and headed downstairs. In the living room, Elliot and Rosie sat side by side. There was a chubby four year-old sitting in Rosie's arms. At one glance, they looked like a happy family. Before Angelica got close, she heard Elliot's deep voice questioning her, "Angelica, didn't I ask you to pick up Holden this afternoon? Why didn't you show up?" Angelica dug her nails into her palm and answered calmly, "Holden isn't my child. Why should I do it when even his mother didn't care to pick him up?" Rosie had taken Holden under her care a year ago under reasons unknown to Angelica. But since his arrival, Angelica seemed even more like a maid. Whenever Elliot and Rosie were busy, she would have to take care of Holden. It would be fine if he was a good kid, but he was a mischievous devil. Always causing trouble, he publicly called Angelica fat in front of other people. Angelica's gaze rested on Elliot before shifting to Rosie. The moment their eyes met, Rosie couldn't help but recall the scene when Angelica confronted her last night, and her face froze. Just when Angelica wanted to speak, Elliot berated her in annoyance, "Angelica, didn't you consider the situation when you're causing a scene? "Holden is just a child and your nephew. You made him wait at the thermal resort alone. What if he ran into a bad guy? "If Rosie and I hadn't rushed over in time, would you be able to bear the responsibility, should anything happen?" No matter what Angelica did, it was wrong in Elliot's eyes. When she used to babysit Holden before this, she was often blamed. Elliot was convinced that children wouldn't lie, but they would spout nonsense. Angelica smiled coldly. "Elliot, did I promise you that I'll pick him up?" That was all it took to make Elliot speechless, and his face sank solemnly. Hurriedly, Rosie tried to smooth things over. "Elliot, don't blame Angelica. Tomorrow, I'll hire a babysitter for Holden. "It's my fault for not considering this. Angelica is busy with her affairs as well—" Elliot took in a sharp breath and interrupted, "She's a housewife. What's keeping her busy?" Seeing that Elliot was siding with herself, Rosie was incredibly smug, throwing a provocative look at Angelica. To her surprise, Angelica wore a calm expression the entire time. She frowned, and Holden suddenly hollered in her arms, "The fatso is a babysitter! She's a maid!" "Holden, don't say that. Angelica is your aunt, not a maid. Stop calling her that, or I'll whack your little buttocks." Even though Rosie was reprimanding Holden, her tone held no trace of accusation at all. Holden sulked. "Bad Mommy! I was telling the truth. I hate you, Bad Mommy!" After yelling, Holden trotted off upstairs. Angelica was in the way where he would surely pass, and he charged into her strongly with his head. Angelica hissed, and her calm expression finally changed. "Holden!" Rosie went after him, leaving Elliot and Angelica alone in the large living room. Angelica only came downstairs to question why Rosie stole her design. Now that Rosie was out of the room, it only made sense that she followed after her. But Elliot stopped her. "Angelica, don't you have anything to explain to me?" "Explain what? I told you I didn't promise to pick Holden up—" "It's not about Holden," Elliot interjected, looking stoic as he tossed his cellphone to her. "You did this, didn't you?" His tone was firm, and the air turned still. When Angelica finished reading the contents on the screen, her face turned pale. She raised her head in disbelief, staring at Elliot. "D-Did you know that Rosie stole my design?" In the afternoon, she had posted the evidence she had gathered online. She wanted to use this opportunity to pin theft on Rosie's name, but her post was intercepted less than a minute after she posted it. And the person who did this was none other than her husband, Elliot. Elliot rose to his feet and paced toward Angelica. The sight of her reddened eyes brought a wave of frustration to him. "Didn't I give you enough money? Rosie is a divorcee. She has to raise Holden and desperately needs a job. Your stuff is useless sitting in a drawer. I might as well let Rosie use it." He sounded righteous, without a trace of guilt. Angelica shook from anger. "Elliot, you're the one who…stole my draft for Rosie?" she asked in a shaky voice. This was the idea Angelica derived from his words. This was a harder fact to accept than Rosie stealing it. Initially, Angelica thought that Elliot had a little sincerity for her, at least. It seemed like it had always been her own wishful thinking. Tears rolled down her face, and even her breathing was rugged. Her temples pounding, she staggered backward, trying to get away from Elliot as quickly as possible. Panic washed over Elliot's chest at the situation. "Angelica, I—" "Elliot, you're disgusting." Angelica didn't even say that when she saw Elliot and Rosie's affair. But now, Elliot really made her stomach turn. Angelica's eyes turned cold. The second she spun around, Elliot suddenly hugged her from behind, stunning her. Elliot's warm breath brushed past her ears. After a while, he said, "Knock it off, Angelica. I know you're upset over this matter. "You have me to support you, but Rosie is raising a child on her own. I can't just watch in silence. "For my sake, let this matter slide, and I'll sleep with you tonight—"