Chapter 361 Coercion
Margaret suppressed her impatience. "Fine, let her blow off some steam. I'll handle her later."
Octavia glared at her. "Margaret, where were you when Elizabeth hit me? I saw you. Why didn't you help?"
Margaret stood up, her voice cutting. "Are you questioning me? Know your place! Do you really think you're someone important?"
Octavia quickly looked down, hiding the anger in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Ms. Taylor. I overstepped. It won't happen again."
Margaret waved her hand dismissively. "Enough, not another word. This ends here. Even if it just annoys Elizabeth, I've done what I needed. The internet loves drama. Who cares if it was really Elizabeth?"
"Even if she clears her name with the cops, her reputation's still trashed. Unless she goes around with a megaphone shouting her innocence. If she does that, people will think she's nuts."
Octavia pretended to be compliant. "Yes, Ms. Taylor. I'll follow your lead. Please don't send me back."
Margaret's expression softened a bit. "Good. Behave, and with your looks and figure, I'll find you a rich husband. You'll live comfortably."
Octavia faked gratitude. "Thank you, Ms. Taylor. You're so generous."
"Stop talking. Your face is still swollen. I'll leave now. The maid will take care of you. Don't let the wound get wet."
Margaret turned and walked towards the door, her face hardening as she moved away from Octavia.
This Octavia was too rebellious. Maybe, once her task was done, there'd be no need to keep her around.
After all, she was never meant to be a "person."
At the café.
Anthony sat across from Elizabeth, grinning. "Elizabeth, I didn't expect you to invite me for coffee."
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Haven't you noticed nothing good ever happens when we have coffee?"
Anthony chuckled awkwardly. "Elizabeth, you've got a sense of humor now."
Elizabeth asked the waiter for a cushion to support her back. As her belly grew, she often felt back pain.
Anthony glanced at her belly. "Elizabeth, how far along are you? Looks like you're about to pop."
Elizabeth stared him down. "You care about that? I thought you hated kids."
Anthony quickly defended himself. "Elizabeth, you've got it wrong! It's my uncle who hates kids, not me!"
Elizabeth sneered. "Really? Then why did you team up with outsiders to drive the mother of your child to her death? I thought you hated kids."
Anthony's eyes widened in fear. "Elizabeth, you can't say that! Calla committed suicide! She was pregnant with my child. How could I harm her?"
Elizabeth's gaze was icy. "You couldn't do it yourself, so you conspired with others? Pretended to be me, made her blind, and then blamed it on me?"
Anthony looked at the woman across from him. She was no longer the timid, obedient Elizabeth he once knew. Nor was she the fearful wife in front of Michael.
Five years had passed, and Elizabeth had transformed from a girl into a woman with a commanding presence.
She exuded the confidence of someone who had been in a position of power for a long time.
Anthony didn't dare raise his voice in front of her. Elizabeth was unpredictable, and he had no idea why she had asked him out today.
One thing was certain: it wasn't just to catch up.
The waiter brought their coffee.
Anthony stirred his coffee carefully, watching Elizabeth's expression. "Elizabeth, why did you ask me out? It can't just be for coffee."
Elizabeth took a sip, not looking at him. "I heard your company is struggling, so I'm here to give you money."
Anthony was about to be overjoyed, but suddenly realized that Elizabeth wouldn't be so kind. He immediately restrained his expression. "You must be joking."
Elizabeth watched his changing expression, thinking he wasn't completely hopeless. She asked directly, "How much did Octavia pay you to help her make Calla blind?"
Anthony quickly glanced around. The café was empty except for them.
He nervously wiped his forehead and swallowed hard before speaking. "Elizabeth, would you believe me if I said I didn't take a penny?"
Elizabeth nodded. "Explain."
Anthony spoke bitterly. "Calla dragged me into this. She forced me to do a lot of bad things from the start, holding it over my head."
"After she broke up with Michael, she came to me. She treated me well, spent money on me. I was greedy for her money, so I left Aurora Bay with her."
"Later, when she ran out of money, I wanted to leave. She wouldn't let me, using my past against me. I had no choice but to stay with her."
"Elizabeth, you don't know how twisted Calla was! In front of others, especially Michael, she was so gentle and elegant. But behind closed doors, she made me obey her like a dog."
"My time with her was like living in hell! I hated her! I hated her for taking away my freedom! I hated her for turning me from a rich kid into a servant!"
"So, when Octavia approached me, I agreed without hesitation!"
Elizabeth had always known Anthony was cowardly, selfish, and a liar. Otherwise, she might have believed his story.
She gently set down her coffee cup. "Name your price. I need you to help me deal with Margaret and Octavia."
Anthony quickly pledged his loyalty. "Elizabeth, I'm happy to help you. Why would I ask for money?"
Elizabeth ignored his act. "Is ten million dollars enough?"
Anthony continued to pretend. "Elizabeth, you don't need to give me that much. You're the only woman I've ever truly loved. Whatever you need, I'll do it, no questions asked."
Elizabeth inwardly scoffed. He probably said that to all the women he dated.
The men of the Thomas family were all the same.
Elizabeth mocked him. "You talk a good game. Back at the Thomas Mansion, when Calla accused me of causing her miscarriage, you saw I was framed."
"Why didn't you stand up for me? Why did you let your family, especially Michael, wrong me?"
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