The Billionaire Who Stole My Heart

The butler supported Eltham back to his room, while Hestia whipped up a hangover cure, a steaming cup of strong black coffee with a dash of honey, just about to deliver it when she was stopped by the butler. "Ms. Bennett, I'll take care of it. You should get some rest."

The butler wasn't fond of Brittany.

Nor did he have any respect for Hestia.

Plainly speaking, he believed Eltham deserved the finest woman in the world.

In his eyes, Hestia, coming from a humble background, even with a daughter, still wasn't fit for high society.

Hestia's eagerness to please Eltham was, in his view, a mere chase after a status upgrade.

The butler knew exactly what game Hestia was playing, pretending to care with her hangover remedy.

"Alright."

Hestia felt as if she had been slapped across the face. Her cheeks burning, she handed over the coffee and headed to Twila's room.

Twila had already drifted off to sleep.

The scars on her wrists were glaringly visible.

The doctors had said the damage was severe, and even with reconstructive surgery, playing the piano was out of the question.

Twila had her moments of tears and tantrums over this, but eventually, she had to let go.This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

Watching her daughter's frail figure, Hestia felt a surge of resentment for the first time.

If only she had been stronger, could she have protected Twila from harm?

Eltham had a restless night, with the butler by his side the entire time.

Only at dawn, when Eltham finally fell into a deep sleep, did the butler step out, instructing the staff to be extra attentive and not let anyone take advantage of the situation. After the butler left, the staff guarded the door.

Hestia emerged from Twila's room and asked a servant, "Is Eltham feeling better?"

"Yes, much better."

Hestia nodded, tempted to check on him, but the servant's stance didn't invite further action, so she reluctantly backed off.

Eltham seldom drank to excess. The Queen, upon hearing of his condition, was displeased.

"To be so drunk over a woman, it's disgraceful!"

The butler brewed her a strong coffee, "The young master has always been disciplined. It's no surprise that a confident and bold woman like Ms. Lynette could stir his heart." en

Yet, for a Queen Consort, Brittany still lacked something.

The Queen sipped her coffee, "I approved of Brittany for him, but to defy me over her, even accepting a..."

Hestia, about to descend the stairs, stopped in her tracks upon overhearing their conversation.

The Queen hesitated, then with a sigh, "Well, even though Brittany is not ideal, she has the Lynette Conglomerate behind her. I suppose she's a match for him."

Hestia felt useless; after all this time, she hadn't managed to make Eltham see her in a romantic light. And with Twila's injury rendering her dreams of being a pianist impossible, they no longer held value in the Queen's eyes, who lost any interest in playing matchmaker.

The butler went on with trivial matters, managing to bring a smile to the Queen's face.

Frozen in place, Hestia didn't move for a long while.

When Eltham woke, refreshed and rid of the alcohol's scent, he found Hestia at the corridor's bend, raising an eyebrow, "What are you doing here?" Startled, Hestia quickly regained her composure, "Nothing... nothing at all."

Eltham, indifferent to Hestia's presence, simply said, "Let's have breakfast."

At the breakfast table, the butler greeted them warmly and served Eltham a bowl of chicken broth, "Sir, please have some broth to settle your stomach." Eltham thanked him.

The Queen glanced at Hestia, then as if recalling something, asked, "And Twila?"

"Twila's awake. She said she's not hungry."

Lately, Twila had been refusing to eat, surviving only on nutritional supplements. Hestia tried

persuading her, but to no avail due to her young age and stubbornness.

en

"How have you been raising her? What's with this absurd fasting?"

"I'm sorry, I have failed to raise Twila properly."

Hestia dared not speak up.

The Queen seemed to remember something, "Your and your daughter's presence here, given your status, has always been... inconvenient for the royal household."