The subordinate left. Erik felt a pang of heartache for Janelle. Yet, words of comfort were useless right now. She wasn't hearing them. He asked the flight attendant to prepare food for her.
"Eat something. Your stomach can't take this." He knew she was worried, but she still needed to eat. Otherwise, she'd collapse before even reaching the border.
"Janelle, your mother still needs you."
"Hmm." Janelle truly had no appetite, but she knew Erik spoke the truth. At times like this, she couldn't afford to fall apart. She was Madalyn's only support. If she faltered, Madalyn would be truly alone.
Erik tried to feed her. She wouldn't allow it. She took the food and ate large mouthfuls. She had to replenish her energy; she couldn't collapse. She had no right to collapse.
Seeing her eat, Erik poured her a glass of juice. Janelle finished the entire box of food, then closed her eyes to rest. Even if sleep wouldn't come, she needed to conserve energy. She had to regain her composure.
Erik's heart ached for her. He couldn't bear to imagine how she would react if something truly happened to her mother. She cared so deeply. They had deployed everyone they could; he could only hope his men or hers would find Madalyn soon. He held her hand, silently offering his strength.
The over-ten-hour flight was excruciating.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Hill, learning that Janelle and "that man" had left Graham City, immediately launched a counterattack. She declared that all the recent allegations against The Hills were malicious rumors. The masterminds behind them, she claimed, were Janelle and that man, deliberately smearing The Hills' reputation. The Hills issued an official statement vowing to pursue Janelle and the man for the damages caused to the company.
Overnight, The Hills' PR department sprang back to life. They spent heavily, buying trolls who began viciously attacking Janelle and the man online. Some even dredged up Blue Whale Co., Ltd.'s scandal from five years ago. Public opinion online shifted rapidly. Influential accounts began steering the narrative, loudly praising Mrs. Hill's philanthropy: how much money she donated during the earthquake, the vast quantities of supplies during the pandemic. Several university students even came forward, claiming The Hills had funded their education, stating they couldn't have graduated without its support.
With Erik absent, his subordinates sought instructions from Bryan. Seeing the trolls viciously slandering Janelle online, Bryan couldn't tolerate it.
"Track down these rumor-mongering trolls! Do they think spewing lies online means they won't be held accountable? This time, I'll make sure they pay the price!" he ordered. "As for The Hills... let them dance for a couple of days. Erik will deal with them when he gets back."
Having barely slept for days amidst constant turmoil, Mrs. Hill finally relaxed. Amber came to visit, and the two shared a leisurely afternoon tea.
"Mrs. Hill, we absolutely cannot let this Janelle return alive." Janelle's return had thrown Graham City into chaos.
"Rest assured. No matter the cost, I never want to see that little bitch Janelle again." Neither Janelle nor Madalyn should ever set foot in Graham City again. She had already hired the most elite assassins. This time, she would eradicate the root of the problem. She kept this plan to herself, however. Later, she could conveniently pin it on the Rovellas.
Lillie went to Nelson's room. He hadn't had time for her lately and had even stopped going to the Research Institute. She couldn't understand what he was so busy with. Wasn't the assessment imminent?
"Nelson, I know you don't want to hear this, but as your fiancée, I have to say it: the assessment is almost here. How can you pass if you keep this up?" She took a deep breath. "Nelson, Janelle has another man now. Can't you stop pining for her?" She had avoided admitting it, but denial couldn't change the facts.
Nelson had no patience for her words. "I can handle my own affairs. Don't be like my mother, okay? She wants to control me, and now you do too?" Did he, as a man, not even have the right to make his own decisions?
"But everything I say is for your own good!" Lillie felt deeply wronged. "We've been together for five years. Doesn't that mean anything to you?" What did Janelle have that she didn't?
Lillie wrapped her arms around him from behind. "Nelson, didn't we promise to be together forever? Have you changed your mind? But we're engaged now. You can't abandon me. If you leave me now... what will happen to me? I'll become the laughingstock of all Graham City!" She couldn't bear that thought. Tears welled up instantly, her face a picture of delicate sorrow.
Seeing her cry, Nelson softened. "Don't cry. My mother likes you so much; of course I'll marry you." No matter what, he couldn't escape this marriage.
"But what about you? Do you like me? I never wanted someone else's approval; I only want yours." She leaned in and kissed him. Lillie was unusually passionate. She wanted him; she missed his body, missed the feeling of him surging inside her.
Faced with her fervor, Nelson immediately responded. He tore at her clothes, lifted her onto the bed, and plunged into her. Lillie cried out loudly; she loved this impulsive Nelson. Only in these moments could she truly feel his presence.
Amber and Mrs. Hill, now allies, shared a single goal: they never wanted to see Janelle in Graham City again. When Amber prepared to leave, a maid went to fetch Lillie but returned blushing. Both women, being experienced, understood immediately.
"Well, they're engaged. Lillie can stay the night," Mrs. Hill said dismissively. Weren't young people all like this nowadays? Besides, they were engaged and would marry eventually. Even if she got pregnant now, it wouldn't matter.
Amber frowned. While she had told Lillie to find ways to bind Nelson to her, doing it here at The Hills, before marriage, felt inappropriate. Moreover, Lillie had the upcoming assessment. Getting pregnant now would mean forfeiting that opportunity – a completely irrational move.
"Mrs. Evans, perhaps you should head back first?" Mrs. Hill suggested, a hint of smugness in her voice. No matter how outstanding Lillie is, she's still utterly captivated by my son, isn't she?