Chapter 5 A New Beginning

An hour later.

Elodie dragged her small suitcase to her newly rented apartment.

One bedroom, one living room—not big, but clean and cozy. A new place, a new beginning.

She and Adrian had their own separate villa, but most of the time she had to go back to the Stewart Manor to serve that family. Now, suddenly having a space completely her own, she sank into the sofa, feeling a long-lost sense of "freedom."

While she was enjoying this peaceful moment, things were completely different elsewhere.

After a few drinks, a slightly tipsy Adrian leaned lazily on the sofa, his long legs crossed, his slender arm casually draped over the leather armrest. He lowered his eyes and picked up his phone again.

"Hello, the number you have dialed is currently on another call."

Had she blocked him?

He narrowed his eyes, thoughtful. No one had ever dared to block him before.

Looking up, through the crowd, he spotted Ryan chatting with people, and his eyes darkened.

The charity gala ended, and night fell.

In the luxury car, Adrian rested with his eyes closed. The driver asked carefully, "Mr. Stewart, where to?"

"The new villa." He gave the address without thinking.

The car soon stopped at the villa entrance. The yard was pitch black, not a single light on, eerily quiet.

Adrian's face was expressionless as he walked to the door. When he turned on the lights, the interior was bright as day. Everything was in its usual place, yet somehow felt emptier.

The living room, kitchen, dining room—all empty.

Where was Elodie? Had she run away from home?

Thinking of her worthless birth family, a mocking smile played at his lips. She was getting bolder—she was the one who embarrassed herself at the charity gala, yet she dared to throw divorce papers in his face and even block him?

His irritation turned into rising anger—fine, she was good at playing games. If she wanted to run away from home, he'd just ignore her for a few days and let her think about what she'd done.

Just then, the roar of an engine came from outside. The door was pushed open, and a figure stumbled in.

Aiden Stewart reeked of alcohol and flopped on the sofa like it was his own place. "Where's that woman? She knew I was coming back today—why didn't she cook? My head is killing me. Make me some hangover soup while you're at it. That's about all she's good for anyway—her hangover soup works pretty well."

He rubbed his temples while giving orders impatiently, his tone like he was ordering around a servant.

Adrian frowned. "No manners, no respect. That's your sister-in-law."

Aiden sneered. "I don't recognize her as my sister-in-law—she's too embarrassing. And she's getting bolder too. Not going to the Stewart Manor to cook for me, making me come all the way here—she's really good at slacking off. Adrian, get her back here quick. My stomach is killing me."

He'd had stomach problems since childhood, which had only improved over the years under Elodie's care. She'd gone through countless medical books and studied meal plans to take care of his three meals every day.

Adrian wasn't unaware of all this.

He instinctively pulled out his phone and dialed Elodie's number.

"Hello, the person you are calling is not available at the moment."

Aiden sat up straight, eyes wide. "What's going on? Did she block me?!"

He looked at Adrian's dark expression and shrank back. "I'll call myself."

A few seconds later, the call connected. His tone was as bossy as usual. "Where are you? Get back here and cook for me. My stomach hurts. I want a proper meal in half an hour—"

A busy tone cut him off abruptly. She'd hung up on him.

Aiden was stunned. "That woman is too much!"

Not giving up, he called again.

Soon, Elodie's cold voice came through. "Starting today, I have nothing to do with your family. Don't come looking for me again."

With that, she hung up directly.

Aiden's eyes widened in disbelief. "Did... did you drive her crazy?"

Adrian's face darkened further. He said coldly, "Go back to the Stewart Manor and have the servants cook for you."

Before he finished speaking, he turned and headed upstairs, leaving Aiden cursing downstairs.

"She's too much! I'm telling Mom when I get back—she needs to put her in her place. After just a few years as a Stewart family daughter-in-law, she's gotten so bold. How dare she refuse me!"

Hearing this, Adrian's steps paused slightly, an inexplicable tightness in his chest.

As a Stewart family daughter-in-law, she should have been living comfortably, but from his brother's entitled tone, Elodie seemed more like an accepted "high-class nanny." He rubbed his temples irritably, said nothing, and went straight upstairs.

On the other side, the moment she hung up, Elodie's heart was unexpectedly calm.

All these years, since becoming part of the Stewart family, she'd been like an invincible all-purpose warrior—serving her mother-in-law and taking care of Aiden's stomach problems.

To help treat Aiden's stomach, she'd gone through countless books, carefully studying dietary combinations. After several years, he hadn't had another episode. But who had ever thanked her?

Now, even staying alive was a luxury. Why should she still grovel and please this family?

Elodie shook her head, pushing down the messy emotions, and continued organizing the work files she'd brought out.

Whether it was divorce or resignation, life had to go on. The harder things got, the more she needed to cherish every single moment.

She glanced at the balance on her phone—finding a job was urgent.

Accidentally, she knocked a stack of files off the table. As Elodie bent down to pick them up, her fingers touched an elegantly decorated envelope, and she paused.

She opened the envelope and looked at the job offer inside, her eyes reddening uncontrollably.