Hiding Behind Her Superficiality by Kyla Olson

While Elspeth was deep in her thoughts, Isabel, who happened to be passing by, suddenly patted her shoulder and asked, “What’s on your mind, Elspeth?”

Meeting Isabel’s pure and innocent smile, Elspeth suddenly felt much better. “Oh, nothing. I was just wondering why today’s cooking smells so terrible.”

The next second, a chili hit her head, and Elspeth looked in the direction the chili came from to find Arthur wearing a half-smile, looking grimly at her not far away. “What was that, Elspeth?”

The young woman immediately realized she had spoken too loudly just now, and she hurriedly shut up. At that, she took a gander at Isabel, and the two smiled at each other.

“Actually, I think the cooking today’s not too bad…” Isabel sniffed the air in bafflement, leading Elspeth to ruffle her hair with a smile. “Alright, I was just joking. Wash your hands and get ready for dinner. I’m heading to my room. I still have something to attend to.”

“Is it the medicine? Have you made progress with it?” As brilliant as Isabel was, she guessed it immediately when she saw the glow on Elspeth’s face.

“Shh. Don’t say it even if you’ve figured it out, or it wouldn’t be a surprise anymore.” Her words upset Elspeth, and the latter ruffled the young girl’s hair with a moue.

“Thank you, Elspeth!” said Isabel, so overwhelmed with joy that her voice was shaky as she felt her somewhat mottled face.

“Aww, this is nothing.” Elspeth felt somewhat sentimental. “This is all for you. You wouldn’t have suffered this injury if you hadn’t saved me.”

Isabel nodded and scratched her head bashfully. “Well, I’ll wait for your good news.”

“Sure.” With that, Elspeth returned to her room in a brilliant mood.

Her phone rang just as she entered her room.

At that, she pulled her phone out and immediately saw the caller ID.

Gilbert?

she still answered

now?” It sounded more like an order rather than

recall owing you anything,”

was worrying here, yet the person on the other line

Eden. Treating my Mom’s

your mom away for medical treatment and coupled with what you said just now… Does this mean you’re with Arthur

and found the man in question answering Gilbert with a smile.

you, drop whatever you want to do to

did nothing to affect Arthur. Instead, the latter countered with a fatal question. “What about you? Do you think you’re

time, not only was Gilbert stumped but even Elspeth was

do you mean?” asked the man on the other end

she frantically hinted

worthy of Elspeth,

it.

felt somewhat humiliated, and his heart twinged painfully. After

and I are together have to do with you? Straighten your own problems first. To think a father like you

certain Gilbert had never suffered such humiliation in the past twenty-plus years of his life. But for some

his child, he suddenly spoke up.

it has finally occurred to you that you should look for her? You really are a wuss, Payne. As if you can’t even find a pregnant woman with your large connection.” Arthur didn’t answer his question and hung up

protesting, she even whacked

appear angry. “You should reflect on why you’d fall for such a man who can’t even take up the slightest responsibility,” he said while chucking the phone onto the

relate to Gilbert. He didn’t have feelings for Ginna, yet he was drugged into having sex with the young woman and

said, Arthur was right as well. Gilbert

her throat and said, “Alright, let’s put this aside for now. This