Yet, the inner fire became increasingly difficult to contain. When Erick tried to get up and grab his phone, he bumped into the table and struck his head. Upon finding his phone, he quickly called his driver to pick him up. Elin’s tagging along was beyond his expectation.
This incident could have been avoided, and Erick had no time to deal with these complications now.
Furthermore, a bar was not an appropriate place for a young and naive girl like Elin. It was a breeding ground for danger, a crossroad of temptation and risk. In her innocent school uniform, Elin stood out starkly among the provocatively dressed women, becoming an easy target for unwanted attention, or worse.
A shadow fell over Erick’s face at these possibilities. He icily said to Elin, “None of my affairs are any of your concern. It’s obvious you don’t understand your place. Have I been too lenient with you?”
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Erick’s words were intended as a caution, a warning to make Elin aware of the dangers that lurked in places like this. However, when they reached Elin’s ears, they transformed into sharp blades, shattering her heart and leaving her wounded and resentful.
Elin’s gaze smoldered as she clenched her fists, holding back the tears that threatened to overflow. She knew that showing tears now would only attract more scorn.
The confidence Elin had meticulously built over the years crumbled under Erick’s scorn. She fell into a pit of self-doubt, unable to meet Erick’s gaze since that fateful day.
Erick, a man typically reserved and controlled, rarely showed such bursts of temper. He abruptly ended his call with the driver, then stood and tossed a suit carelessly onto the sofa, signaling for Elin to put it on.
This gesture was merely a condescending act of charity, a clear indication that he viewed her presence as an unwelcome inconvenience.
Elin draped the suit over herself, a dismal attempt at preserving some dignity. Despite the situation, she could not risk being seen in public in her current attire. Her mother’s voice haunted her, scolding her for not recognizing her place and for chasing impossible dreams. Just as Erick had pointed out, she was not even supposed to concern herself with someone of his stature.
Coming from vastly different worlds, Erick was the heir to the prestigious Foster family, and Elin was merely a maid’s daughter. It was inappropriate for her to mistake Erick’s kindness as an invitation to care for him, much less to develop feelings for him.
Erick’s harsh words abruptly snapped Elin out of her daydream. Indeed, she needed to understand her position. Who was she, anyway? Just the daughter of a maid, confined to the servants’ quarters of the Foster estate. That was her reality.
As Erick’s eyes shifted, he saw Elin standing there. Her head was bowed, her body seeming to have lost all its energy. The oversized suit hung loosely, almost reaching her knees, making her look like a ghost, vulnerable to being whisked away by the slightest breeze.
Elin’s usually bright eyes were now dim and lifeless, like stars smothered by the cold grip of despair. Her pale complexion made her look almost ethereal, as if she might faint at any moment.
A pang of guilt struck Erick when he realized his words might have been too harsh. Elin was only eighteen, probably even more lost than he was in the complex dance of relationships. He carefully chose his next words. “Tonight’s matter…”
“It’s fine,” Elin whispered softly, barely audible. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about it. I won’t say anything to anyone.”
Erick found himself momentarily speechless, his eyes locked with hers, both filled with unvoiced thoughts.
Thinking Erick doubted her, Elin quickly pledged her silence. “I swear I’ll keep this secret… I…”
Elin’s gaze drifted to a mirror, reflecting Erick’s imposing figure.
His features were striking, his presence almost otherworldly. Her voice trailed off to a whisper. “I know my place.”
Though it seemed everything was settled easily, Erick felt more irritated than relieved. A nagging thought bothered him that things shouldn’t have ended this way.
Erick leaned forward, about to speak, when Elin, like a bird startled into flight, quickly backed away and rushed out the door. Her departure Looked more like an escape than a mere exit.
As Elin raced through the door, she collided with the driver, who had just arrived. His worry eased a bit when he saw her. “Thank goodness you’re here! I’ve been worried sick. I couldn’t find you anywhere!” he exclaimed, his voice filled with relief.
The driver had served the Foster family for years and had grown close to Annis. Elin, a model child, had always had a special place in his heart, and over time, he had come to adore Elin as if she were his own daughter.