Chapter 8 So It Was an Act After All

He always had a poker face, but his brows unconsciously furrowed tight, and for the first time ever, a trace of worry flashed across his eyes.

Chloe, standing nearby, took in the whole scene. She was so jealous she nearly ground her teeth to dust: "Wasn't everything fine just now? What's wrong with Mrs. Stewart?"

"What could be wrong with her? She's obviously faking it!"

Aiden watched Elodie being held in Adrian's arms, burning with rage. "This woman's tricks are getting more and more shameless! How dare she fake fainting to get sympathy—I'm going to expose her right now!"

With that, he grabbed the ice bucket used for chilling wine and dumped it viciously over Elodie!

The freezing water mixed with ice cubes poured down on her head! The bone-chilling cold instantly shocked Elodie awake from unconsciousness. She gasped sharply, her whole body shaking violently.

"Adrian, see? I told you! This woman is just putting on an act!"

As soon as Aiden finished speaking, laughter erupted around them.

"Her acting is so terrible. If it were me, I'd rather freeze to death than open my eyes."

The mocking laughter pierced her heart like arrows.

Elodie's stomach cramped with pain. Her features twisted in agony as she struggled to lift her head, only to meet a pair of ice-cold, piercing eyes.

Their eyes locked.

Seeing Elodie open her eyes, the tiny bit of concern in Adrian's heart instantly vanished, replaced by endless disgust and coldness.

"Elodie, you're really something."

Years ago, she had schemed to marry him—setting him up, climbing into his bed, playing the victim. Now that she was his wife, she was still pulling this pathetic fainting stunt in front of everyone!

His eyes were full of mockery. Before Elodie could steady herself, he let go without mercy.

Without support, Elodie crashed hard onto the floor tiles. Her bones felt like they were falling apart, and her forehead instantly broke out in a cold sweat from the pain.

The burning sensation in her stomach raged wildly, and a strong taste of blood rushed up her throat.

She bit her lip hard, suddenly curious: if one day Adrian found out she was really dying, would he regret it?

Elodie covered her mouth and dry-heaved twice, desperately swallowing back the bloody taste in her throat. But this extremely weak appearance, in everyone else's eyes, was just another performance.

Adrian stood up and brushed off the ice chips that had splashed on him, looking down at her condescendingly: "Are you done with your act? Don't embarrass yourself here."

Every word cut to the bone.

Elodie endured the overwhelming pain, supporting herself against the cold wall, using every last bit of strength to slowly straighten her body.

To everyone's surprise, she didn't cry pitifully as usual, nor did she try to defend herself.

She ignored Adrian. She just gave everyone a cold glance, then turned and left, supporting herself against the wall with her back straight.

"What are you pretending to be upset about?" Aiden cursed behind her. "Adrian, I'm telling Mom when I get back. She needs to teach this woman how to be a proper Mrs. Stewart!"

So noisy.

Adrian didn't respond to his brother's ranting. He stood silently in place, staring hard at the woman's thin, fragile figure, an inexplicable irritation rising in his chest.

What was wrong with this woman?

After being exposed in front of everyone, he had only scolded her a couple of times, yet she dared to ignore him and leave? As if she didn't care about any of this anymore, including him, Adrian.

But how was that possible?

She had used every trick in the book to marry him years ago. He knew better than anyone how humble she had been these past few years to secure her position as Mrs. Stewart.

Suppressing the irritation in his heart, Adrian looked away coldly: "Alright, let's go back inside."

Everyone quickly made a fuss and crowded back into the private room. Chloe stayed close to Adrian's side intimately, looking every bit like his legitimate wife, but her eyes kept anxiously watching the man's expression.

Club restroom.

The woman in the mirror was deathly pale, her white shirt stained with wine and ice water, looking as wretched as a dying ghost.

Her life was already counting down, yet Adrian thought even her pain was fake.

Sure enough, in front of someone who doesn't love you, even if you hang yourself, they'll think you're just swinging on a swing.

Elodie tilted her head back, forcing the tears in her eyes back down.

"Why are you crying? No one cares about you anyway."

With no one to care, even if she cried herself to death here, no one would comfort her.

Her phone rang—a client was urging her.

Elodie used the hand dryer to barely dry her clothes and quickly fixed her appearance. Because she had wasted time going to the wrong floor earlier, she hurried down the elevator to the correct private room.

She was walking too fast. Just as she turned the corner after exiting the elevator, she ran straight into a solid chest.

"Careful—"

Just when Elodie thought she was going to fall again, her wrist was suddenly caught by a warm, steady hand.

"I'm sorry..."

Elodie hurriedly looked up to apologize, but when she saw the man's face clearly, her voice stopped abruptly.

It was Lucas.

The founder of Blackstone Law Group, the legend who was undefeated in the legal world.

"What a coincidence. Are you okay?" The man wore a well-tailored suit, his gaze gentle behind gold-rimmed glasses, his tone carrying just the right amount of concern.

Seeing the cold water still on her temple, he naturally handed her a clean silk handkerchief.

"You..." Elodie was shocked as she accepted the handkerchief. He knew her?

Seeming to see her confusion, Lucas chuckled: "What, Elodie, don't you recognize me?"

Elodie was even more shocked.

Just as she stood there stunned, an anxious and slightly impatient female voice came from the end of the hallway: "Are you Ms. Turner? What took you so long..."

Elodie snapped back to reality and recognized her client: "Ms. Davis, I'm so sorry, I just ran into an unexpected situation..."

"Alright, enough talk. Hurry up and come in to discuss business." Ava Davis turned and entered the private room.

Elodie quickly apologized to Lucas and said goodbye, took a deep breath, composed herself, and walked into the room. This was the first case she had taken on independently—no matter what, she had to win it.

Inside the room, Ava got straight to the point: "Listen, I'm not short on money. As long as you can help me get custody of my child back, name your price for the legal fees."

Elodie sat down, her expression returning to absolute professionalism and composure: "Understood. But I need you to tell me all the details honestly before I can help you."

Ava stared at Elodie for a moment, then her eyes suddenly reddened: "When we divorced, I didn't fight for custody because he had better financial conditions than me. But now that bastard has found another woman, and they're abusing my daughter!"

Getting emotional, Ava's voice choked up as she pushed a folder toward Elodie.

It was full of photos of the child being abused.

"I know my work isn't respected, that I don't deserve to be a good mother. But I'll risk my life to get my daughter out of this suffering..."

A woman becomes stronger when she becomes a mother.

Looking at the photos, Elodie's eyes instantly sharpened. She collected the documents, her tone firm and steady: "I understand the situation. Ms. Davis, rest assured, I will definitely help you get custody of your child back."

Half an hour later, having settled the details, Elodie left the private room, only to be surprised to find that tall figure still in the lounge area.

"Lucas... You're still here." Elodie walked over and returned the handkerchief with both hands. "Thank you for the handkerchief earlier."

Lucas stopped typing on his laptop and looked up slightly: "No need to be so formal."

Seeing Elodie insist on returning it, he smiled helplessly: "Alright. Our professor was right—you really are stubborn."

Instead of taking the handkerchief, he handed her a business card.

"This is my card. I sent you an invitation years ago, but you turned it down. However, you can join my firm anytime—the invitation is permanently valid."

Elodie accepted the card, flattered and bewildered: "You... why?"

That was five years ago, and she had been practically invisible these past few years.

Lucas didn't answer directly. Instead, he turned his laptop around to face Elodie: "Take a look at this case file. What do you think?"

Elodie paused, her eyes falling on the screen.

After just a quick scan, her previously gentle eyes instantly became sharp, her expression serious: "The opposing company's financial statements have hidden fraudulent activities. Here, and here—the cash flow has obviously been manipulated with two sets of books..."

She spoke eloquently about the case, clear and organized, every sentence hitting the key points.

After talking for a while, she looked up to meet Lucas's gaze full of appreciation and amazement, only then realizing she had overstepped. She smiled awkwardly.

Lucas nodded approvingly, his eyes full of amusement: "That's exactly why I invited you. So, Ms. Turner, will you consider joining my team now?"

Confirming that Lucas wasn't joking, Elodie gripped the business card tightly, her eyes welling up, and nodded firmly.

"Thank you. I'll join."

Blackstone Law Group—the place so many lawyers dreamed of—she had no reason to refuse her own life anymore.