The Billionaire Who Stole My Heart

Eltham recoiled at the words, shaking off Hestia's grasp. "Hestia, I've told you before, don't harbor any feelings for me!"

Hestia, defiant yet desperate, pressed on. "Eltham, I've been pining for you all these years. Why won't you even give me a chance?"

She bore a striking resemblance to Brittany. Why couldn't Eltham see her the same way?

Eltham found Hestia as persistent and unwelcome as a bad cold. "Hestia, if I had any affection for you, don't you think I would've sought you out over the years?" Hestia's face went ashen, as if slapped. "If you can't let go of Ms. Lynette, I don't mind "

"I mind!"

Eltham's patience had run dry, especially now that Hestia was offering herself as a substitute. "Hestia, it's never going to happen between us."

"Our story ended long ago. If you can't accept that, you have no place here in Craneville."

Panicked, Hestia pleaded, "Don't send me away!"

Clutching Eltham's hand tightly, she implored, "Ms. Lynette may not care for you, but I do. Why won't you accept me?"

"Do you really think you compare to her?"

Eltham scoffed. Brittany was leagues beyond Hestia in every way. How could she even dare to compare?

"Even if she was playing both sides, you knew the child wasn't yours, and yet you accepted her. Why won't you give me a chance?"

In her frenzy, Hestia blurted out more than she should have.

"Hestia." Eltham's grip tightened on her collar, his gaze narrowing. "How do you know whose child it is? You... you leaked those rumors?" Realizing her slip, Hestia went pale, attempting to deny it.

"Hestia, I've underestimated you."

He had never taken Hestia seriously, yet she knew far too much.

"Eltham, it's not what you think-"

Desperate, Hestia continued, "I just love you. I wanted to start over, to give Twila a complete family."

Was it so wrong to want a complete family for Twila when Brittany seemed to have everything, including the man they both desired? With a cold laugh, Eltham dragged Hestia out of the villa and dumped her outside. "Hestia, you shouldn't have crossed her."

"I've been more than patient with you for Twila's sake. But not anymore."

Eltham towered over her, resolute.

Realizing it was over, Hestia tried to appeal, only to be rebuffed. "Process her departure immediately. Ban Hestia from Craneville for life!" "Daddy-"

From the second floor, Twila ran down, tears streaming as she clung to Eltham's leg. "Daddy, please don't send Mommy away. I don't want to leave her!" "Eltham, I know I was wrong. Twila needs me. I won't do it again, I swear..."

Hestia attempted to soften Eltham's heart.

Twila's crying was heart-wrenching.

For a moment, Eltham wavered, but his resolve quickly hardened. "If you can't bear to part, then leave together."

Twila was stunned. "Daddy..."

She never expected this from Eltham, who had always indulged her. Now, he was sending her away.

"Daddy, don't you love me anymore?"

Her eyes brimmed with tears, a picture of sorrow and innocence.

"Didn't you say you couldn't live without your mother?" Eltham was unmoved. "I'm merely granting your wish. Are you not pleased?"

Tears fell freely from Twila's eyes. "But I also can't bear to leave you."

Or her grandmother. Or the lavish life she'd grown accustomed to.

"Twila." Eltham kneeled, meeting her

gaze. "The choice is yours. If you can't leave Hestia, go with her, and

I'll have no daughter. If you wish to stay, then be obedient."

Despite her youth, Twila knew where her best life lay. She immediately clung to Eltham. "Daddy, I want to stay."

Hestia turned pale. "Twila "

Twila couldn't bear to look at Hestia, focusing on the ground in silence.

Eltham signaled for the staff to take Twila away, not sparing Hestia a glance as he walked away.

Hestia lay crumpled on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

That night, Hestia was put on a plane, exiled from Craneville forever.

Twila hid in her room, crying, until a servant threatened to inform Eltham. Wiping her tears, she insisted, "I won't cry anymore. Don't tell Daddy." The servant sighed in relief. "That's more like it."

With Hestia gone, Eltham investigated the whole affair. Anyone involved was dealt with, including Saskia.

Holden had warned Saskia, but to no avail. Now, facing Eltham's judgment, even Holden's efforts couldn't sway the outcome.

Saskia was expelled from Craneville, her husband severing ties immediately.

Her assets were frozen, effectively exiling her penniless.

Saskia, trying to reach out to Holden as she was led to the plane, found his phone switched off.

...

Eltham's decisive actions spared Brittany the trouble.

Learning of Saskia's fate, Holden couldn't help feeling a bit down.

Brittany poured him a cup of coffee. "Bro, you holding up okay?"

Holden let out a sigh. "I'm sorry for what Saskia did. I apologize on her behalf and to you."

He sighed again, deeper this time. "I never thought she'd do something like this."

Brittany set down her coffee mug. "Bro, I can separate the two."

Saskia is Saskia.

Holden is Holden.

She never took her anger out on others.

fnet

Holden knew Brittany was clear about where she stood on matters of principle, which made it all the more painful for him. "This time, didn't det Saskia get away with it, hoping she'd come to her senses sooner." .

s won

Brittany could see the disappointment in Holden towards Saskia was profound.

As she left the study, Brittany received a call from Katelin Bishop. "Bri, you're heading back to Imperial City,@ight? Come over to my place tomorrow."