Chapter 7 I Dump Him
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Theron furrowed his brows tightly, obviously displeased.
Sensing his irritation at Adrienne’s joke, Johanna immediately said, trying to intervene, “Adrienne, that’s not funny.
“Mr. Howland takes care of me for Efren’s sake. That’s all. Jokes like that will tarnish his reputation.” Her voice was soft, delicate, and a bit weak.
Theron’s gaze fell upon her as he gradually stopped frowning.
“Get some rest. I’ll go and check on Lizzie now,” he said and turned to leave.
Adrienne curled her lip. “Hanna is suffering, and Lizzie still wants you to take care of her, Mr. Howland? She’s so petty. Sure enough, orphans are selfish and touchy. Unlike her, Hanna is so gentle and understanding.”
She didn’t say this in a loud voice, but she made sure it was loud enough for Theron to hear.
Theron stopped in his tracks and turned back, his eyes icy.
“Ms. Stanley, Lizzie is my fiancée. I don’t want to hear such words ever again,” he said in a stern, warning tone.
Adrienne was momentarily stunned before wanting to say something else, but Johanna tugged at her arm while shak- ing her own head. Seeing this, Adrienne pouted and said nothing more.
Then Johanna smiled at Theron, not looking upset at all, “Lizzie is always understanding. Talk to her nicely, OK? I’m sure she’ll calm down soon.”
Theron nodded and turned to leave. Soon, his figure disappeared into darkness.
Johanna pursed her lips while gazing at his tall, upright figure.
Meanwhile, Adrienne glanced at her before shifting her gaze onto Theron’s back, teasing, “Hanna, your eyes give you away…”
Johanna covered Adrienne’s mouth. “Mr. Howland is engaged. We’re just friends. Don’t make jokes like that.”
Then she went into the dorm.
Adrienne’s eyes darted between the two again as she snorted, thinking, “Lizzie is just an orphan. Mr. Howland, a young, promising researcher is so out of her league.
“Only Hanna–someone who’s educated, capable, and pretty–is worthy of being with Mr. Howland.”
Theron stepped into Lizzie’s ward, only to find another patient inside.
He stopped a nurse passing by. “Where’s Lizzie? She’s the former patient who stayed in this room.”
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“She was discharged. I don’t know where she is now,” the nurse answered and then walked away.
Theron felt inexplicably irritated.
He thought Lizzie was just throwing a tantrum and would wait for him to come back and explain to her.
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After all, she loved him so much–she always did everything he asked her to do. Though he now wanted her to give her job to Johanna, he also promised her that he’d marry her and provide her for life. Why was she overreacting like this?
Meanwhile, Glenna wheeled Lizzie back home.
Glenna knew Colton had already come back home from school.
She entered the yard while wheeling Lizzie and shouting, “Colton! Guess who’s here!”
The sound of running footsteps rang out.
Seconds later, a tall, thin teenager rang out.
“Lizzie!” His eyes lit up as he saw Lizzie, and he beamed.
But he immediately noticed the wheelchair, the cast on her leg, and her pale face. The smile on his face vanished right away as he asked anxiously, “Lizzie, what happened to you?”
He looked behind her. Not seeing Theron, he pulled a long face.
He lowered his head and pursed his lips, a cold glint flashing across his eyes.
Then he walked over to Lizzie in silence.
They lived in a small house with two rooms and a high threshold that made it impossible for Lizzie’s wheelchair to
enter.
Still not saying a word, he bent over, helped Lizzie up from the wheelchair, and stepped over the threshold while sup- porting her. His movements were clumsy but steady.
After sitting her in a chair in the living room, he straightened up and said in a low voice, “Lizzie. have some rest. I need to go out for a bit.”
Then he was about to walk out.
“Stop!” Lizzie quickly pulled his sleeve. “Where are you going?”
Her voice was gentle yet firm.
His body stiffened for a second as he lowered his head, not saying a word while clenching his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned pale. It seemed he was hesitating,
Studying his expression, Lizzie realized something. But she didn’t urge him. Instead, she waited in silence for him to speak.
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Chapter 7 I Dump Him
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Under her gaze, he finally couldn’t hold back any longer. He jerked up his head and said indignantly, “I’m going to Theron! He bullied you. I’m gonna make things right for you!”
Lizzie’s heart tightened. Her guess was right.
Judging from his earlier reaction, she knew he must have misunderstood something or heard some rumors.
He was just a junior high schooler and didn’t have many classes these days, so he spent a lot of time on the streets, which partly resulted in his impulsive, bad–tempered personality.
Of course, Lizzie wouldn’t let him rush out like this, and she’d never allow him to develop a habit of fighting and hurting others.
In her past life, he had been sentenced to eight years for intentional injury after losing his temper.
She’d never let that happen again.
“Colton, did you hear something?” she asked patiently.
Colton kept his head dropped, not responding a word.
When he was outside the school, he’d sometimes go somewhere near Equinox Research Institute.
He told his peers that Lizzie, his cousin, worked at Equinox Research Laboratory.
They knew who she was upon hearing her name, saying she didn’t even make it to high school and slept her way into the lab. They mocked her for not being good enough for Theron at all and claimed that Johanna, who was pretty and highly educated, was the one Theron loved.
Furious, Colton had a row with them and almost fought them.
He didn’t tell Lizzie any of this.
But Lizzie suddenly realized something. She thought, “It turns out my ‘perfectly hidden‘ bitterness is obvious to ev- eryone who loves me. They know everything before things between Theron and me go south.
“I must explain everything to Colton clearly.”
In her past life, after knowing about Johanna, Colton had rushed to Equinox Research Institute and made a big scene there.
He had ended up being grounded for three days and almost lost his job.
She had to beg Theron, saying she’d never see Colton, Emery, and Glenna again. Only then did Theron pull some strings and get Colton released.
As those memories flooded back to her, she felt a lump in her throat, overwhelmed by great heartache.
This time, she’d never let that tragedy happen again.
She looked at Colton utmost seriously. “Theron isn’t a decent man. I dumped him.”
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Hearing this, Colton jerked his head up, his eyes filled with great disbelief.
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