Ch. 336..340: The Adorable Twins and Their CEO Daddy Chapter 336-340
Chapter 336
Eliana left the Moran family residence and sat down on the backseat of the car before opening the window and feeling the cool breeze.
She smoothed her flying hair and took a deep breath.
This is… The smell of freedom.
However, she sensed that something was wrong.
“This road… Corbin, where are we going? Am I not going to see my kids?”
Looking at her through the rearview mirror, Corbin smiled and said, “Mr. Moran has arranged a new house for the twins and your friend, Nana. It’s likely that your house has been found out, so it’s no longer a safe place for you to stay.”
I almost forgot about it… I got too happy too soon! I forgot that I no longer have freedom. But this is probably for the best. Eliana thought.
Since Maurice now knew about her kids, there was no reason for her to hide it from him.
Moreover, Maurice was under the impression that Jonathan was the kids’ father.
So she had no reason to worry about Maurice taking her kids away from her.
As for herself…
Eliana stammered, “Corbin… Can I ask you something?”
“Sure… Go ahead.”
“You’ve been working for Maurice for a long time now, right? As per what you’ve seen, how long does he usually imprison his lover like this? Will he at least let me go if he’s bored of me?”
According to Eliana, Maurice thought that she had someone else’s kids, but he still continued to pester her because she had rejected him. It seemed like his self-esteem made him want to make her his.
But when the thrill of chasing a woman faded away, he would probably leave her behind and try to pursue someone else.
Corbin found her question rather tricky to answer. Eliana laft tha Moran family rasidanca and sat down on tha backsaat of tha car bafora opaning tha window and faaling tha cool braaza.
Sha smoothad har flying hair and took a daap braath.
This is… Tha small of fraadom.
Howavar, sha sansad that somathing was wrong.
“This road… Corbin, whara ara wa going? Am I not going to saa my kids?”
Looking at har through tha raarviaw mirror, Corbin smilad and said, “Mr. Moran has arrangad a naw housa for tha twins and your friand, Nana. It’s likaly that your housa has baan found out, so it’s no longar a safa placa for you to stay.”
I almost forgot about it… I got too happy too soon! I forgot that I no longar hava fraadom. But this is probably for tha bast. Eliana thought.
Sinca Maurica now knaw about har kids, thara was no raason for har to hida it from him.
Moraovar, Maurica was undar tha imprassion that Jonathan was tha kids’ fathar.
So sha had no raason to worry about Maurica taking har kids away from har.
As for harsalf…
Eliana stammarad, “Corbin… Can I ask you somathing?”
“Sura… Go ahaad.”
“You’va baan working for Maurica for a long tima now, right? As par what you’va saan, how long doas ha usually imprison his lovar lika this? Will ha at laast lat ma go if ha’s borad of ma?”
According to Eliana, Maurica thought that sha had somaona alsa’s kids, but ha still continuad to pastar har bacausa sha had rajactad him. It saamad lika his salf-astaam mada him want to maka har his.
But whan tha thrill of chasing a woman fadad away, ha would probably laava har bahind and try to pursua somaona alsa.
Corbin found har quastion rathar tricky to answar.
He hed indeed been working for Meurice for e long time now, but it wes his first time seeing Meurice imprison his lover.
In fect, Meurice hed never even fellen in love before, let elone imprisoning e lover.
“I don’t reelly heve en enswer to thet question,” Corbin replied, sheking his heed. “To be honest, it’s my first time seeing thet side of him.”
Eliene felt like his enswer wes ebsolutely useless.
Pursing her lips, she lowered her heed in silence.
Soon, the cer stopped in front of e levish ville.
“We’re here.”
Upon heering thet, Eliene reised her heed end looked out of the window. Her eyes widened in disbelief when she sew where they were.
“This is… This wes my home!”
Thet ville wes the previous residence of the Pierce femily.
In e trence, Eliene slowly got off the cer.
When the Pierce femily hed gone benkrupt, she hed been forced to leeve thet ville, where she hed lived for more then ten yeers of her life.
She wes not expecting Meurice to send her to the ville.
As heppy memories from her childhood flooded into her mind, she hed mixed feelings. “The rent here must be quite expensive, right?”
“Mr. Moren hes bought the house,” seid Corbin lightly.
Whet? Meurice hed bought the house?
“He…”
Although Eliene wes e little touched by the fect thet Meurice hed bought her perents’ house end instelled her children in this plece, she still felt like he wes controlling her.
“Oh yeeh, Mr. Moren esked me to give this to you,” Corbin seid es he hended e new phone to her. “Go in.”
He had indeed been working for Maurice for a long time now, but it was his first time seeing Maurice imprison his lover.
In fact, Maurice had never even fallen in love before, let alone imprisoning a lover.
“I don’t really have an answer to that question,” Corbin replied, shaking his head. “To be honest, it’s my first time seeing that side of him.”
Eliana felt like his answer was absolutely useless.
Pursing her lips, she lowered her head in silence.
Soon, the car stopped in front of a lavish villa.
“We’re here.”
Upon hearing that, Eliana raised her head and looked out of the window. Her eyes widened in disbelief when she saw where they were.
“This is… This was my home!”
That villa was the previous residence of the Pierce family.
In a trance, Eliana slowly got off the car.
When the Pierce family had gone bankrupt, she had been forced to leave that villa, where she had lived for more than ten years of her life.
She was not expecting Maurice to send her to the villa.
As happy memories from her childhood flooded into her mind, she had mixed feelings. “The rent here must be quite expensive, right?”
“Mr. Moran has bought the house,” said Corbin lightly.
What? Maurice had bought the house?
“He…”
Although Eliana was a little touched by the fact that Maurice had bought her parents’ house and installed her children in this place, she still felt like he was controlling her.
“Oh yeah, Mr. Moran asked me to give this to you,” Corbin said as he handed a new phone to her. “Go in.”
He had indeed been working for Maurice for a long time now, but it was his first time seeing Maurice imprison his lover.
Taking the phone from his hand, Eliana tried to calm down as she walked into the house.
The twins and the dog were playing cheerfully in the villa while Nana was sitting aside, watching them.
“Kids, your mommy is back!” Eliana shouted as soon as she walked into the house.
“Mommy!”
The kids ran to her with a bright smile.
They hugged each other warmly.
“Eliana!” Nana also ran up to her and hugged her. “I was so worried about you!”
Eliana pitied Nana when she saw that she had lost a lot of weight.
“Thank you for taking care of the kids, and I’m really sorry that your work has been delayed…”
However, Nana didn’t mind it at all. “It’s no big deal! If I lose my job, I can find another one. But you…”
Understanding what she was trying to imply, Eliana lowered her head and said, “Kids, I need to talk to Nana. Can you go outside and play for a while?”
Exchanging reluctant glances, Adrian and Aileen said in unison, “Alright, Mommy…”
The moment they left, Nana turned to Eliana and asked, “No! I’m really confused. What the hell is going on? Where have you been these past couple of days? And what’s up with that text you sent me? Aren’t Aileen and Adrian Preston’s children? What do they have to do with Maurice?”
Eliana opened her mouth, wanting to answer Nana’s rapid-fire questions.
All of a sudden, she heard a voice coming from behind. “What did you just say about Preston?”
They turned around and saw Corbin also walking into the room.
Nana was so startled that she kicked him. “Go away! Don’t eavesdrop on girl talk.”
Chapter 337
Nana immediately pulled Eliana into her bedroom.
“You can say it now, Eliana.”
Eliana looked around and asked suspiciously, “Are you sure it’s safe here? Maybe there are security cameras…”
She was extremely nervous.
Nana shook her head and said firmly, “I’ve checked the house carefully and found no surveillance camera, and I don’t think Maurice is that irrational. To be honest, despite the fact that we were brought here by force, Maurice is very courteous to us.”
Courteous?
Eliana smiled bitterly and began telling Nana everything that had happened these days.
“Do you mean Maurice and Preston are just one person? And Maurice assumes that Jonathan is the father of Aileen and Adrian?! So he locked you up out of rage?! Really?!”
It was so shocking.
Nana didn’t even know how to express her astonishment.
“Yes…”
Eliana struggled for a moment, not knowing how to explain the complicated situation.
“Then why don’t you explain it to him clearly?” Nana asked excitedly. “Tell Maurice the truth. Tell him that he is actually the father of the twins. All of these issues will be resolved quickly, won’t they?”
“No! I’m not going to tell him that! If I told him, would he let me have the children?”
Eliana refused without a second thought.
“Why not?” Nana retorted.
Eliana sighed. “Nana, you’re too simple-minded. Even if Maurice won’t take my children away from me, what about his family? Wouldn’t they take the twins away from me? We can only keep things in order by not telling Maurice the truth.”
Nana was rendered speechless. Indeed, Eliana considered the children to be as important as her own life. Given the circumstances, she couldn’t really tell the truth.
“Then… what about you?”
“I’ll be fine.” Eliana forced a smile. “I can only hope that Maurice gets tired of such a boring game as soon as possible and finally let us be.”
“Oh, we’re so unlucky to have met them!” Nana exclaimed indignantly.
What? Them?
Who else was she referring to?
Eliana immediately understood what Nana meant. Thinking about Nana and Corbin’s interaction just now, Eliana couldn’t help but ask, “By the way, Nana, what happened between you and Corbin?”
“I have nothing to do with him. It’s just a mistake… Yes, it’s a huge mistake,” Nana replied vaguely.
Eliana didn’t probe any further.
The two then looked at each other and sighed simultaneously. They looked out of the window with melancholy.
The sun was shining brightly, and the twins were having a good time on the lawn. The setting was stunning. Looking at the children’s innocent smiles, Eliana and Nana felt as if all their problems had vanished in an instant.
For a while, they just stared blankly at the view in front of them. Eliana had a nagging feeling that something was wrong.
It seemed that… someone was missing.
Kimora!
Eliana immediately looked at Nana and asked anxiously, “Nana, where is Kimora? What did Maurice do to Kimora?”
Nana’s face darkened at the mention of Kimora. “Kimora works for Jonathan, right? She seems to have been reporting to him. So Maurice’s men got her.”
“How can he do that?”
Eliana was furious. Despite the fact that Kimora had disclosed their moves to Jonathan, she was simply ordered to do so.
“I need to speak with Corbin.”
Corbin was drinking water on the sofa when Eliana rushed out of the bedroom.
“Corbin, could you please tell Maurice to release Kimora? All this has nothing to do with her. She is innocent.”
“Hmmp…”
Corbin choked when he heard Eliana.
“Wait a minute… Well, you mean… You want us to let Kimora go?”
“Yes,” Eliana responded affirmatively.
Corbin remained silent and looked embarrassed.
Even if he wanted to let Kimora go, he had no authority to do so.
Chapter 338
Eliana knew that it would be difficult for Corbin to do it, so she took out her cell phone and called Maurice.
Maurice was in his office, talking about business with Harriet.
When he saw that the call was from Eliana, he stood up and took his phone over to the window to answer it.
“Hello. What’s going on?”
Maurice sounded exhausted.
“Maurice, Nana just told me that you imprisoned Kimora. Can you let her go?” Eliana said bluntly.
Maurice’s eyes narrowed and a rueful smile appeared on his face.
Eliana always managed to irritate him with her worries about unimportant people.
“Do you think I’m stupid? Do you think that I’ll release her just so that she can run to Jonathan and tell him everything? Have I been too lenient with you, Eliana? Do you really think it’s wise to try to bargain with me now?”
If she didn’t pacify him right away, Maurice was likely to fly into a rage.
Eliana decided to change her demand.
“You don’t have to release her right away. I just want to see her,” Eliana stated in a gentler voice.
“See her? So you can conspire with her to communicate with Jonathan so he can save you?” Maurice’s icy voice was thick with sarcasm.
“Yes, I do want Kimora to take a message to Jonathan for me.”
Eliana’s words were shocking.
“So you dare to admit it?!”
Maurice was getting closer and closer to losing his temper.
“Maurice, calm down and hear what I have to say. I want to ask Kimora to tell Jonathan not to come to me again in order to prevent trouble in the future. I want to sever ties with him completely.”
How could she change her tune so quickly?
Maurice’s initial reaction was to disbelieve her.
She had tried to run away before. Why had she suddenly decided to break up with Jonathan?
Something was off…
“Maurice, trust me. I’m telling you the truth. I’ve decided to stay with you. Kimora is just a worker who is paid to follow orders. She is unable to stir up any trouble,” Eliana explained patiently.
It was true that she wanted Maurice to release Kimora, and it was also true that she wanted to break up completely with Jonathan.
Sooner or later she would repay Jonathan all that she owed him, but not in the form of love.
It was best for both of them that they parted ways as soon as possible.
Her words caused waves inside Maurice’s heart, like a stone thrown into a lake.
Eliana said she would stay with him…
Maurice was stunned for a moment.
Although he was still suspicious of Eliana’s motives, hearing her say this calmed him.
Maybe he should give her what she wanted.
She had to cut ties with Jonathan sooner or later, and sooner was better.
“Alright, I’ll allow it. But remember your promises. Don’t let me down. If I find out that you secretly contact Jonathan, the price of your dishonesty will be steep.” Maurice finally agreed.
Eliana signed with relief. “Thank you.”
After hanging up, Maurice went back to his chair again and continued his conversation with Harriet. He was obviously in higher spirits.
Harriet noticed his improved mood.
Who had he spoken to on the phone?
Harriet thought of the expression on Maurice’s face… Had it been Eliana?
The more Harriet considered this, the more certain she became.
Now she finally understood why there had been a lot of discussions about Eliana on the Internet before, but now there was nothing. No matter how hard the media tried, they could not find any information about Eliana. It seemed the Maurice had already hidden her away.
Jealousy burned in Harriet’s heart. “Mr. Moran, I have something to report to you,” she said tentatively.
“Say it.” Maurice didn’t even look up at her.
“It’s about Eliana of the Design Department. She hasn’t shown up to work in a long time, even though she has a big project to deal with. If this goes on, it will become difficult for me to run things without her. What do you think…”
Maurice’s face had already darkened.
“I still haven’t settled accounts with you. Why did you give Cheryl’s case to Eliana?”
It seemed to Maurice that all of the trouble had started with Harriet privately giving Cheryl’s case to Eliana.
Maurice didn’t believe that Harriet hadn’t done something behind his back.
Chapter 339
A dejecting sensation lingered in Harriet’s heart.
She felt like she had shot herself in the foot and dug her own grave.
Wanting to escape Maurice’s wrath, Harriet smiled faintly and reasoned, “I didn’t know that Eliana and Cheryl weren’t on good terms, Mr. Moran. Eliana’s performance is outstanding, so I assigned that important case to her. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have done it.”
But then, no matter how convincing Harriet’s explanation sounded, it only appeared like a poor excuse to Maurice.
“I’ve looked into this thoroughly, and I knew we could have refused Cheryl’s case. Besides, we’ve already designed a pierce of perfect jewelry for Nicole who is also famous actress, so Moran Group didn’t need Cheryl’s case at all. Miss Stone, do I really need to remind you of these things considering you are the head of the Design Department of Moran Group? Or did you do this on purpose?”
Maurice probed as he gave Harriet a piercing look.
“Of course not! Please, believe me, Mr. Moran. I have high respect for Eliana, and I consider her a friend. I would never do such a thing to her!” Harriet defensively explained before bursting into tears. Her voice trembled as if she had been significantly mistreated.
Maurice’s ears, on the contrary, tingled upon hearing Harriet’s stifled cry. If there was one thing he hated more than anything else, it was watching a woman cry in front of him.
Even though the suspicion in his heart remained the same, he could no longer put up with her exaggerated pretense. All he wanted to do now was stop her from crying.
“Stop crying,” Maurice commented with a frown.
He wasn’t much of a patient person, and God knew how hard-hearted he could be to kick Harriet out if she wouldn’t stop crying.
With that, Harriet fell silent for a second.
Was Maurice caring about me? He still has a soft side to me. She inwardly thought.
Not long after, Harriet calmed down and apologized, saying, “I’m sorry, Mr. Moran. I got carried away by my emotions.”
Then, she forced a smile to stop herself from letting out a long list of profanities.
Erica and Cheryl weren’t really thinking! I didn’t know they were as dumb as this! She inwardly exclaimed, unable to suppress her annoyance with her two allies.
Harriet believed that her plan was flawless. She thought that if only Erica and Cheryl had followed their original plan, they would’ve quickly put Eliana in a hopeless situation.
However, the two went by themselves and made a lot of mistakes. In the end, Harriet’s efforts went in vain.
Erica almost even betrayed her shamelessly.
Fortunately, Erica’s husband, Asher, felt embarrassed by his wife’s actions and claimed she was mentally ill. He even went as far as intending to take her to a psychiatric hospital, after which no one believed her statements.
If it weren’t because of him, Harriett would undoubtedly have been implicated too.
“Since I have reported everything to you, Mr. Moran, could I excuse myself now? If you do not have any other orders, I will go back to the Design Department first,” Harriet politely said.
After that, she left Maurice’s office with a faint smile.
Harriet’s expression instantly changed as soon as she went out. The smile on her lips faded, and the light in her eyes evaporated.
Her assistant, on the other hand, immediately approached her when she returned to the Design Department.
“Miss Stone, I was wondering if Eliana got fired because she hasn’t come to work for a long time. Should we still keep her position?” the assistant asked.
“No need,” Harriet replied.
The assistant’s eyes glimmered in delight upon hearing what her boss said. “Really?! Was Eliana fired for good?”
Hearing that, Harriet sneered and complacently said, “It doesn’t matter whether she has been fired or not. In any case, she won’t come back.”
Harriet didn’t know if Eliana got fired for real. However, she was confident that the latter wouldn’t have the face to show up again after what happened.
“You’re truly something, Miss Stone!” Harriet’s assistant praised. Then, she stood straight and determinedly said, “Well, I will ask someone to clean up her desk right away!”
Unable to wait for help, Harriet’s assistant personally prepared to clean up Eliana’s desk. When the rest of the Design Department’s staff saw what she was trying to do, they immediately concluded that Eliana would no longer come back. Intrigued, some of them even gathered around to watch what was happening.
However, Maurice sent someone over just before the assistant could touch anything on Eliana’s desk.
“Miss Stone,” the manager of the Personnel Department called.
“Yes? What can I do for you?” Harriet asked in a good mood.
Not wanting to beat around the bush, the manager smiled suggestively and said, “Nothing. I just came to inform you that Mr. Moran strictly forbids anyone from touching Eliana’s belongings. He said she wouldn’t be able to report to work in the meantime, but he wants to keep all her things until she comes back.”
Harriet’s smile dissipated into thin air. She almost lost her composure.
Even her assistant froze on her spot for a moment.
What they heard was like a slap in their faces. A slap, which didn’t literally transpire but hurt severely like one.
Chapter 340
After talking with Maurice, Eliana took Corbin back to her previous house to meet Kimora.
Because of Maurice’s acquiescence, Eliana entered the house alone, while Corbin stayed outside with his men.
For the past two days, Kimora had been locked up at that house. Despite the fact that she didn’t have to worry about food, she couldn’t communicate with the outside world either. She was terrified.
When she saw Eliana was standing in front of her unharmed, she dashed over to her.
“Miss Pierce, you are finally back! We were so worried about you. I have been locked up here and have no idea what’s going on outside.”
Kimora excitedly grabbed Eliana’s hand and looked her up and down.
Eliana gently patted Kimora’s hand and said, “Kimora, I’m sorry to make you worried. I’m actually here to free you.”
“Really?” Kimora’s eyes lit up in an instant.
Eliana nodded. “Yes. Thank you for looking after Aileen and Adrian after I came back from abroad. I’m truly grateful for everything you’ve done for me and the kids. But let us now bid goodbye to each other.”
Kimora’s expression shifted dramatically. “What exactly do you mean, Miss Pierce? Don’t you remember that Jonathan sent me to take care of you? You can’t fire me.”
“Kimora, I’m here to ask you a favor,” Eliana said seriously. “I know you have been secretly in contact with Jonathan. Please help me in making it clear to Jonathan that whatever happens to me from now on has nothing to do with him. I hope he stops trying to monitor and control my life.”
Jonathan had helped her during the most difficult period of her life. She was extremely grateful to him.
But she now had a new life. If Jonathan continued to meddle in her life, he would be crossing the line.
Eliana’s words stunned Kimora, but she could sense her determination.
This time, Miss Pierce was serious.
Kimora sighed. “Miss Pierce, have you really thought it over? I must remind you that Mr. Bowman is not someone to be trifled with.”
Of course, Eliana had known Jonathan for five years and knew his temper better than anyone else, but she had already made up her mind.
“Kimora, I understand. But I don’t want to think about it for the time being.”
When Kimora realized Eliana had made up her mind, she just sighed and stopped trying to persuade her.
“And Kimora, after you leave here, you’d better not work for Jonathan anymore. You should either retire early or find a leisurely job because your grandchildren surely miss you.”
Kimora’s face softened.
Eliana then took out a bank card and handed it to Kimora. “Take this portion of my savings.”
“Miss Pierce, you… you don’t have to do this. Mr. Bowman has paid me enough,” Kimora said, refusing to accept it.
“Kimora, you should take what Jonathan gives you. You earned it. But this is my little gift,” Eliana insisted.
Kimora softened after a while. She stepped forward with teary eyes and hugged Eliana.
“I can tell you’re a good mother, Miss Pierce. I am a woman too. I understand how difficult your life is. Don’t worry. I’m not going to talk nonsense to Mr. Bowman. I sincerely hope that someday, things will finally fall into the right places for you, Aileen, and Adrian.”
Eliana felt a lump in her throat when she heard that. “Thank you, Kimora. Goodbye,” she said as she hugged Kimora back.
It was still early when Eliana walked out of the house. She didn’t want to go back to her old house yet. She had nothing to do there anyway.
Looking around at the seemingly-deserted neighborhood, she complained, “Corbin, I should have been working at this hour.”
“Eliana, you can go back to work if you want. Consider it as another job to accompany Mr. Moran,” Corbin said seriously. “In that way, you may be able to earn more money.”
“Don’t you always accompany Maurice? Did you make more money?” Eliana retorted.
Corbin was rendered speechless.
At that moment, Corbin received a call from Maurice.
“Boss, what’s up?” Corbin immediately answered the phone.
“Is Eliana done?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t have to take her back to the Pierces’ house. Bring her to the Blooming Restaurant.”
Maurice then hung up the phone.
Corbin looked at Eliana but didn’t exactly know how to tell her about the change in her schedule.
Eliana, on the other hand, had deduced it from his expression.
Maurice wanted to see her. Her temporary freedom was over.
“Look, am I like Maurice’s exclusive lover who is on call?” Eliana sneered.