Ch. 276..280: The Adorable Twins and Their CEO Daddy Chapter 276-280

Chapter 276

Eliana went back to the company, exhausted, after dealing with Cheryl.

When she arrived at the company’s gate, she happened to meet Maurice.

He was standing in front of his silver Maybach, as if waiting for someone.

Since Maurice was here, she might as well tell him about Ethan’s invitation. She could seek Maurice’s opinion regarding the matter.

Eliana gathered her courage and approached Maurice, greeting him, “Mr. Moran, you…”

“Mr. Moran, I’m sorry for being late. Let’s hurry up so your grandmother and others don’t have to wait too long.”

Harriet rushed out of the company building and went straight to Maurice.

Apparently, Maurice was waiting for Harriet.

Eliana immediately stopped in her tracks. She lost the courage to take another step forward.

“Eliana, come here.”

Maurice ignored Harriet, who was already beside him. It was as if Eliana was all he could see.

“Oh, Eliana! Are you done with your meeting with your client? I’m sorry for not noticing you earlier. Don’t get me wrong. I’m just going to the Moran family today on behalf of the Stone family to see his grandparents.”

Harriet’s words were meant to distance herself from Maurice, but they also revealed the Stone family’s unusually close relationship with the Moran family.

Eliana realized something when she saw Harriet and Maurice standing next to each other.

Harriet and Maurice were a perfect match. They were of equal social rank, like childhood sweethearts.

Eliana had once been the daughter of a wealthy and powerful family. She knew better than anyone else that a marriage between equally powerful and closely-knit families was common.

It was Evelynn before, but now it was Harriet on the list.

There was a bitter taste in Eliana’s mouth. The courage she had just mustered was gone easily. All she wanted to do was to leave.

“I see. Miss Stone, you and Mr. Moran can go now. I have something to deal with in the company, so I’m leaving now.”

Eliana then turned around and hurriedly left in an awkward manner.

“Eliana, why are you leaving?”

Maurice was eager to catch up with her.

However, his phone rang abruptly. He picked it up and found that it was a call from his grandfather.

Without answering the call, Maurice knew Earle would just urge him to go back home.

His grandfather ordered Maurice to bring Harriet there today, or else he should not go home.

Maurice remained silent and immobile.

“Mr. Moran, what’s wrong? Your grandfather is waiting for us. Let’s go.”

Maurice felt annoyed as he looked at Harriet’s face.

But he didn’t want to defy his grandfather’s orders. He had to bring this woman there.

Maurice took a last look at the gate and got into the car with a gloomy face.

Harriet was secretly relieved. For a brief moment, she was terrified that Maurice would really follow Eliana. But he didn’t abandon her in the end, implying that Eliana was not as important to him as his family.

It seemed that his feelings toward Eliana were not that deep. Harriet laughed inwardly at the realization.

Meanwhile, Eliana went back to her desk.

The working hours had just ended. Lilian and her other colleagues in the Design Department were about to leave.

Seeing that Eliana ran back with a pale face, Lilian felt very satisfied.

Eliana must have been bullied by Cheryl. She deserved it.

“Eliana, it’s time to get off work. Why didn’t you go home directly and instead come back here?” Lilian asked purposefully.

“I just have a lot of work to do and need to work extra hours,” Eliana responded.

Since she was so stubborn, she had to face the consequences.

Lilian snorted and rolled her eyes. It was obvious that she was up to no good.

Another female colleague opened her mouth to say something, but Lilian shook her head, stopping the woman.

“Then we’re leaving now,” Lilian said, turning around. “Good luck with working overtime.”

Unfortunately, Eliana didn’t raise her head, so she missed Lilian’s strange smile.

Chapter 277

It was rush hour, and the road was completely congested. Whether it was the Volkswagen or the Maybach, they had to move at a snail’s pace.

Corbin was driving the car. Maurice sat in the passenger seat, leaving Harriet alone in the back seat.

There was an awkward atmosphere in the car.

Since getting in the car, Maurice had been thinking about Eliana.

Eliana had just come back to the company. Did she go to work somewhere else today? She had just returned to work for the company. Why did she have to go out today?

Was… was someone making things difficult for her again?

At the thought of it, Maurice looked at Harriet in the back row.

“Did Eliana go outside for work?”

Harriet was taken aback at first, but she quickly recovered and nodded.

“Yes, Miss Pierce is assigned to be the designer for a popular female star, who is as well-known as Nicole. She went there in person to show respect. Don’t worry, Mr. Moran. I simply admire Miss Pierce’s abilities, so I delegated such an important project to her.”

Harriet’s voice sounded sincere, but she deliberately didn’t mention that the star was actually Cheryl.

Maurice frowned and gave Harriet a serious look.

Would she try to get something from him like those stupid women before?

“Let me remind you, it was my grandfather who asked me to take you back to the Moran family today, but only this time. I won’t do it again. If you want to visit the Moran family in the future, you can do so on your own. I have nothing to do with it.”

Corbin had been paying close attention to the two, but when he heard Maurice’s words, he couldn’t help but take a deep breath.

Maurice seemed to be so cold to Harriet. He was so cruel.

Harriet flushed immediately, clearly embarrassed.

She didn’t expect Maurice to be this rude towards her in front of another person.

“I see, Mr. Moran. I know that you’re always busy. I won’t bother you again.”

Harriet clenched her teeth and pretended to be considerate.

They finally arrived at the Moran family’s mansion after going through a lengthy traffic jam.

Nancy was standing at the door, greeting them warmly.

“Maurice, you are finally here!”

Harriet got off the car and walked up to Nancy. “Long time no see, Mrs. Moran. How are you?”

Nancy smiled at Harriet and said, “You must be the Stone family’s daughter. You have grown up and become even more beautiful.”

Noticing Nancy’s friendly demeanor towards her, Harriet was excited and confident that she would be marrying into the Moran family soon.

Nancy then looked at Maurice behind Harriet and pulled a long face when she saw him get off the car alone.

“You brat! Why didn’t you bring Eliana here? I haven’t seen her in quite some time. I really miss her.”

Maurice was taken aback at first, but a smile flashed across his face soon after. He immediately softened.

“Grandma, Eliana is busy working. I’ll bring her here next time.”

“Forget it. It’s good to be busy with work. Young people should focus on their careers,” Nancy said dismissively, waving her hand. “It’s a shame that I can’t see Eliana today, though. But I’ll just make a video call with her later.”

Harriet had no idea that Nancy was so fond of Eliana. The latter seemed to have made a favorable impression on Nancy.

Harriet’s heart sank at the thought, but it was Maurice’s attitude that worried her the most.

Her thoughts were consumed by Maurice’s gentle expression and the smile that immediately flashed across his face when Eliana was mentioned just now.

This was not good…

Chapter 278

“Ahem…”

Maurice and Nancy’s talk was interrupted when Earle unexpectedly came and coughed.

He asked Harriet, the woman he wanted Maurice to marry, to visit them today. Maurice and Nancy continued to discuss Eliana, despite this.

“Harriet, I’m very happy to see you. Great. I haven’t seen you in a while. The Stone family seems to have raised you to be a well-cultivated individual.”

With each glance at Harriet, Earle felt more pleased.

Harriet carried herself with dignity and elegance, and she acted appropriately throughout. The Stone family had grown rapidly in recent years, and it was now a formidable force in every area.

It was safe to say Harriet deserved Maurice the most. Eliana was nothing like her.

Earle couldn’t stop himself from uttering, “You, Harriet, are the only one who can really claim to be a well-bred lady from a well-known family. Your demeanor is unlike that of Eliana, the conceited female in Maurice’s company. She lacks decorum, is nasty, and conceals a nefarious agenda…”

“Mr. Moran, do not make such a remark about Miss Pierce.” Even though Harriet was overjoyed to hear this, she feigned to be remorseful still. “The Pierce family was a wealthy family for a while, but the bankruptcy of the Pierce Group took its toll on Miss Pierce’s parents, who died in an untimely manner. According to reports, Mr. Gerald Moran was in control of the acquisition of their group. Surely, Miss Pierce would be devastated by this news.”

Sneering at this, Earle shrugged his shoulders. “When it comes to business, you may think of it as a battlefield. It’s impossible to condemn people for being merciless if one’s own skills aren’t up to par with those of others.”

When Maurice first heard these remarks, he didn’t think anything of them, but now he was irritated.

“That’s enough, Grandpa,” he said, frowning.

“What? I’m not allowed to say anything about her?”

Earle gave Maurice a peek. Earle’s disdain for Eliana grew as Maurice acted in this manner.

“Maurice, you’ve come a long way. You don’t look anything like the Moran Group’s heir apparently. You should use more caution going forward now that you’ve found the ring. Never lose sight of the fact that someone is keeping tabs on your every move,” Earle snapped and then narrowed his eyes.

To escape Earle’s gaze, Maurice did all he could. Earle’s statements were obviously not taken seriously by him.

There was a gloomy vibe in the air.

“That’s all fine,” Nancy abruptly exclaimed. “You are both adults, yet you are obstinate. I’m baffled as to why you’re such compelling human beings. There is a visitor present. Come inside and have a meal. My plan for today is to cook for you. You’ll be able to sample some of the delectable food I prepare.”

Nancy’s remarks were always taken seriously by the Moran family. The two men had to temporarily put their differences aside and walk inside the house together.

Harriet offered to help Nancy arrange the table and eagerly followed her into the kitchen to prove she wasn’t a couch potato. There were just Maurice and Earle remaining in the living room.

Silas returned at that exact moment.

After he entered the house, he was immediately struck by the strange ambiance. On one side of the couch, Earle had his eyes shut, and Maurice, who was seated on the other side, had a sullen

expression.

Silas recognized what had occurred when he saw them.

With his backpack on his back, he approached Earle and said, “Great-grandpa, have you found him another formidable woman?”

Silas squinted at Maurice. When this happened before, it was usually because his great-grandfather had arranged for a girlfriend for Maurice, but Maurice didn’t like the female that Earle had selected for him. Silas had become used to such occurrences due to the frequency with which they had occurred.

“Silas, you’re still a kid, so don’t worry about it. Your lack of comprehension is obvious.” Earle tried to dismiss his words.

‘Hmm,’ thought Silas, shaking his head. “Really? Your terrible taste, I believe, is to blame.”

Earle was stricken mute after hearing Silas’s comments.

These statements delighted Maurice, who responded with a broad grin. The living room regained its tranquil feel.

Maurice had a sudden spark of inspiration.

He rose up with a glitter in his eyes and whispered to Silas, “We are planning to eat, Silas. I’ll take you upstairs and put your backpack there.”

Silas could only think of one thing as he frowned.

Something wasn’t right with Maurice!

Chapter 279

Staring deep into Maurice’s steely eyes, Silas had a feeling that this man must be thinking of a bad idea.

“Well, okay.”

He silently followed Maurice upstairs, and the pair went inside the boy’s room.

“Go ahead and tell me what you want me to do,” Silas said bluntly while looking up at Maurice.

‘What a smart boy!’

Maurice raised his eyebrows and chuckled to himself. After a few seconds, he bent down and whispered something in Silas’ ear.

The bright young boy was very calm, but then his expression slowly changed. At last, he was so shocked at Maurice’s instructions that he could not close his mouth.

Did Maurice actually want him to do that?

Biting his lip in thought, he paused for a moment to assess the situation as a fierce struggle ensued inside Silas’ mind.

Finally, he came up with his own idea.

“I can help you out, but on one condition.”

“Alright. Tell me.”

“After I’ve done my part in assisting you, I want to go to my friend’s home for a sleepover.”

Silas was a child of principle. If Maurice didn’t agree to his terms, then the little boy would not help him.

“We have a deal,” Maurice gamely agreed.

‘Hooray!’

Resisting the urge to smile in satisfaction, Silas tried hard to suppress the joy in his heart. As long as he completed the task, he could go to Eliana’s house to play with the twins.

It only took a couple of minutes for the uncle and nephew to reach an agreement.

Following Maurice’s plan, Silas went downstairs and walked straight to the kitchen.

At the same time, Harriet emerged from the kitchen with a hot dish in her hands.

“Hold it right there! Who are you? What are you doing inside my home?”

Silas deliberately rushed to Harriet and shouted while pointing a finger at her bewildered face.

‘Who is this kid?’

Harriet lowered her head and stared at Silas in confusion.

“Come with me.” Silas tugged at Harriet’s arm and led her to the hallway.

Harriet had no clue what was going on, so she didn’t dare act rashly. Putting down the steaming dish on the table, the puzzled woman followed Silas.

Each servant they met along the way would lower their head and bow to Silas respectfully, which made Harriet even more confused.

‘Who on earth is this child?’

Silas didn’t stop walking until the two of them entered a small garden filled with colorful flowers.

The pair stood across from each other, and Silas looked at Harriet from head to toe. “I heard you’re the woman my great-grandpa found for my dad, right?”

‘What did he just say? How am I connected to his dad? Who the heck was he talking about?’

“Kid, I have no idea what you’re saying. You must have me mistaken for a different woman,” Harriet exclaimed in surprise.

“Could you stop pretending? My dad is the CEO of the Moran Group. His name is Maurice Moran. Does that ring a bell? I think you want to end up marrying him.” Silas looked up at Harriet with contemptuous eyes.

The boy’s father was Maurice?

“That’s impossible!” Harriet blurted out. “Mr. Moran is not a married man. How could he possibly have a son?”

“What do you call me then? He’s been a father for several years now. It’s just that I have been hidden away from public view for my own protection,” Silas explained in a serious tone.

Although Silas was quite a convincing actor, Harriet still didn’t believe the child, who suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

“Silas, what are you doing out here? Come back inside, son. Dinner is ready.”

Right on cue, Maurice walked outside and called for the little boy.

“Hello, Dad!”

Silas trotted towards Maurice happily, and the handsome man gently stroked his hair.

Observing the pair who shared a striking resemblance, Harriet began to doubt her initial belief.

If they were not father and son, how could they look so alike? Maybe the kid was telling the truth after all.

Maurice continued to play his part in their elaborate act. Grinning fondly at the boy, he carried Silas in his arms and said to the dazed Harriet, “It’s good that you have met Silas. I guess the two of you would’ve crossed paths sooner or later anyway.”

His sincere words broke through Harriet’s defenses and completely turned her into a believer.

This little boy was really Maurice’s son.

The mind-boggling revelation that Maurice already had a child with another woman dealt Harriet a heavy blow, so she was rendered speechless and absent-minded during the meal. She didn’t even notice Earle speaking to her.

This happened several times. Even Earle began to frown. He didn’t know why the person who had seemed so friendly and personable had suddenly become like this.

Knowing the truth, Silas couldn’t help but snicker. Maurice immediately glared at him.

After dinner, Harriet made up an excuse to leave early. There were so many concerns running through her mind that she needed to be alone. The dazed woman told herself she had to think things over for a bit.

Getting married to Maurice was a dream of hers, but she didn’t want to be the stepmother of another woman’s kid.

Earle became even more dissatisfied. He had always held Harriet in high regard. She was a lady from an eminent family, who supposedly knew the proper manners and rules. But now, he could see her true character. She wasn’t a good match for his grandson.

The absent-minded Harriet didn’t notice the unmistakable disappointment in Earle’s eyes, and Nancy didn’t intend to ask her to stay any longer. She said a few polite words and let Harriet go.

As soon as Harriet left, Nancy immediately pulled Maurice aside and handed him her phone.

“Make a video call to Eliana. I trust you know how to court a girl, right?”

Nancy patted Maurice’s shoulder with a serious face.

“Oh, alright. I’ll call her.”

Maurice took Nancy’s phone and pressed Eliana’s number.

Chapter 280

When the lights were turned on, the whole building of the Moran Group was silent, with just Eliana working overtime. It was getting close to ten o’clock by the time she approved the initial draft of the bracelet.

Time was not on her side! Eliana rose to her feet and started to gather her things, wanting to leave work immediately.

Her phone rang out of nowhere in the eerily calm building.

Who could have contacted her so late in the night? Eliana pulled out her phone as she walked out of the office.

It was Nancy’s video call request.

She then realized that she had not seen Nancy in quite some time.

Without delay, she answered the video call, “Mrs. Moran… Maurice?! Why are you the one calling?”

The person that appeared on the screen was Maurice, not Nancy.

“Did you not see the text messages I sent you?”

Text messages?

Eliana left the video interface. After that, she discovered that Maurice had truly sent her multiple messages, asking if she could arrange a video call and informing her that his grandma wanted to see her.

However, she was too preoccupied to see the messages sooner.

“Mr. Moran, what’s up? It’s just now that I’m getting home from work. When I was preoccupied, wasn’t it natural that I would miss the messages?”

Immediately after her remarks, she proceeded to the elevator and punched the down button.

“Preoccupied? Are you still in the firm at this time?”

“Indeed, I’ve been working beyond my normal schedule up to this point. When you have an employee like me, you might be secretly pleased as a boss.”

Maurice and Harriet returned to the Moran family’s home with smiles on their faces as she worked extra here.

Eliana’s heart sank as she contemplated this.

In the midst of their conversation, the elevator was about to come.

How long had Eliana been working overtime? How was she still in the company?

At ten o’clock, the Moran Group’s building would lose electricity for maintenance, and Maurice realized that it was nearly 10 o’clock.

Fuck!

Maurice’s eyebrows furrowed and he said, “Eliana! Listen to me! Don’t go in the elevator at this time.”

It was nevertheless too late for him to say so.

The elevator arrived.

And Eliana walked inside it.

“What was that?”

Eliana failed to hear what Maurice had just said. When she turned her head again, the elevator door had closed and it had begun to descend.

A few stories down, the elevator froze and would not go again. The surrounds were engulfed in darkness.

“The hell!”

Eliana’s screamed as a result of her being startled by the sudden darkness. Her legs began to tremble as a result of her terror. She squatted down while holding her head. Even her phone tumbled to the floor after slipping from her grasp.

The video chat on the phone abruptly ended due to a lack of reception.

What had gone wrong?

Eliana had no idea what was happening. With little light to guide her, she strained to locate her phone on the floor.

She carefully stood up with her back against the elevator wall after swiftly turning on the flashlight on her cell phone.

Eliana spotted the notification of a power outage and maintenance on the elevator wall in the low light of her cell phone. According to the notice, the electricity would be turned off for maintenance from 10:00 p.m. tonight to 6:00 a.m. in the morning.

The last clause was highlighted in red.

“Don’t use the elevator within the designated time period.”

The sight of it left Eliana in a state of disbelief. She could not refrain from cursing, “Fuck this! Why didn’t you install a caution sign in front of the elevator?”

Who in the devil placed that notice inside? Didn’t they realize that such an essential notification needed to be displayed outside the elevator for everybody to see?

As soon as she had stepped inside the elevator, warnings were of no use anymore.

In a fit of hysteria, the elevator went down as soon as she finished cursing.

“God!” Eliana let out another scream.

Now she was really scared.

“Eliana! Eliana! Eliana!”

Maurice couldn’t get through to Eliana when the video conversation was abruptly cut off.

Beep! Beep!

Damn! Eliana was still in the firm. Clearly, she was in danger.

Fear gripped Maurice as he clutched his phone desperately.

“Maurice, what’s the matter?”

Nancy, too, noticed something was amiss when she saw her grandson’s pale face.

“Grandma, there’s a chance Eliana’s in danger. I’m going to the company right now to look for her.”

When Maurice finished speaking, he dashed out of the door like a wind gust.

‘Eliana, hang on… I’ll be right there.’