Chapter 4: The Slender Waist

Elizabeth Black deliberately worked overtime today.

Until Stacey Charley dragged her into a more than hour-long discussion about the budding romance between architectural master Rupert Washington and rising star Nydia Leighton, Elizabeth Black finally couldn't take it anymore and went home.

The house was unusually quiet; Diana Moses didn't come to greet her as she normally did.

She was nowhere to be seen.

As Elizabeth Black passed by Diana Moses's room, she found it empty.

Both Diana Moses and her belongings had vanished.

She wasn't too surprised.

From the second-floor study, she could faintly hear Rupert Washington in a video conference.

She went upstairs and peeked through a crack in the door.

"Make sure your bid document is perfect. No need to worry about the competition; our Starlight Design Institute has no rivals."

...

Rupert Washington's tone was slightly heavy, as always, with his usual arrogance.

Just as Elizabeth Black was about to close the door and leave, Rupert Washington suddenly said, "Come here."

The colleagues on the other side of the video call were confused.

"What do you mean, 'come here'?"

Rupert Washington swiftly sent the finalized bid document to his assistant and then announced the meeting was over.

Colleagues: ???

Ignoring their shock, Rupert Washington turned off the video and looked at Elizabeth Black, who had just walked in.

She was wearing a high-waisted hoodie, revealing a sliver of her slender waist. Her downcast eyes made her look especially endearing.

Rupert Washington licked his back teeth, and the annoyance in his heart instantly dissipated.

He reached out and pulled her onto his lap.

"How did you manage to put up with that disgusting nanny for a whole year?"

When he got home earlier, he opened the door to a strong, cloying perfume, and then saw Diana Moses, dressed in the lingerie he had given his wife, saying, "Oh, Mr. Ling, you're back!"

Rupert Washington almost threw up.

Without a word, he told her to get out.

But the nanny thought he was playing a game and rolled on the floor twice.

Finally, she rolled to his feet and even tried to hug his leg!

Hello? What's going on?

Elizabeth Black couldn't help but laugh.

"You’re still laughing? You shouldn't give away anything I give you, especially not lingerie," Rupert Washington pinched her cheek hard.

It felt nice, and with a playful smile, he continued to knead her cheek for a while.

Only when Elizabeth Black begged him to stop did he let go.

"You have no sense of crisis. Aren't you afraid I might be lured away?"

With his naturally flirtatious eyes, he hooked her chin, looking extremely roguish.

Elizabeth Black pushed his hand away, wanting to say, "I did it on purpose. I gave the lingerie to Diana Moses so that this evil and delusional woman could taste your indifference."

But what came out was, "If it were Nydia Leighton, it might be possible."

Possible to be lured away.

Nydia Leighton and he had been trending on the top of the hot search, and everyone in the office was gossiping. Even the nanny, whom he found disgusting, thought she was a temporary replacement.

As the main wife, she felt a bit uncomfortable.

However, Elizabeth Black regretted it as soon as she said it.

Though the nanny's words were harsh, they hit a sore spot.

It was the truth.

She was a replacement.

Rupert Washington, unable to pursue his goddess, settled for her because she looked similar.

There was a brief, eerie silence in the study.

She wanted to hear what Rupert Washington would say.

But she was also afraid of what he might say.

At that moment, Rupert Washington's phone on the table vibrated.

Both of them shifted their attention.

Caller ID: Mrs. Washington.

Elizabeth Black: "It's your mother."

Elizabeth Black had never met Rupert Washington's mother, but she knew their relationship wasn't good.

The last time she heard about Mrs. Washington was last year in the fire escape.

Rupert Washington had said to Mrs. Washington, "Since my marriage is such an urgent matter, should I just pick someone off the street and get married tomorrow?"

Elizabeth Black didn't have a good impression of his mother, but it was because of her that they ended up together.

Rupert Washington hesitated for a moment before answering the call.

As soon as he picked up, a sharp screech came from the other end, "Rupert Washington! Since you’re back in the country, why don't you come home once! How many messages do I have to send before you respond? Do I need to carry you in a sedan chair?"

Rupert Washington was used to his mother's tone and replied calmly, "Busy."

Like hitting a soft cushion, Mrs. Washington became even angrier.

"What kind of influence are you under! Ever since you married some random woman, you’ve lost all respect and filial piety!"

Sitting on Rupert Washington's lap, Elizabeth Black heard everything clearly.

She was a bit surprised; she never imagined Mrs. Washington would have such hostility towards her.

Rupert Washington shook his head apologetically, kissed her forehead, and comforted her. Worried about what his mother might say next, he released her and stood up to continue the call.

"What do you mean by 'random woman'? She is my wife, well-behaved, and has a proper job."

Mrs. Washington's sarcastic tone continued.

"She's not worthy, I won't accept her!"

Rupert Washington looked at Elizabeth Black, his eyes filled with deeper apology.

Elizabeth Black turned and left the study, mouthing three words to him.

"I'm fine."

Rupert Washington felt a pang in his heart, the apology overwhelming and painful.

"Enough," he said sternly, telling the phone, "I’ll find time to come back," and hung up.

Elizabeth Black closed the study door, blocking out the sounds inside.

To say she didn't care was a lie; after all, Mrs. Washington was Rupert Washington's mother.

Her mother-in-law.

Random woman? No respect? Not worthy?

Who knows how many days and nights Mrs. Washington had been insulting her like this.

A chill ran down her spine.

A large hand suddenly pressed on her back, patting gently, "Don't think too much. I won't let her bully you."

Rupert Washington was casual with her, but sometimes he was unexpectedly reliable.

"Mm," Elizabeth Black nodded, "What do you want for dinner? I’ll cook."

Diana Moses didn't want to stay, but without her, there would be no one to cook.

Rupert Washington, used to being pampered, could only rely on her.

"No cooking tonight, let's eat out."

Rupert Washington grabbed her hand, "These hands will be saving lives on the operating table someday, as precious as a pianist’s. We’ll find another nanny tomorrow."

The more Rupert Washington looked at her hands, the more precious they seemed.

Not only precious, but also beautiful.

He couldn't resist kissing them.

Elizabeth Black was about to speak when he added, "Let's find an older one. Young ones are too flashy."

Turning to look at her, he asked, "What were you going to say?"

Elizabeth Black: "I work in medical aesthetics."

Saving lives...

He didn't even know she was a plastic surgeon.

Rupert Washington: "..."

Rupert Washington took Elizabeth Black out for a candlelit dinner and then went on a shopping spree at the mall.

He bought her clothes, bags, high heels, and lingerie, spending extravagantly.

Elizabeth Black knew he was compensating for Mrs. Washington's behavior, and she accepted it gracefully.

His money, if she didn't spend it, would he save it for Nydia Leighton?

Back home, she tried on the new lingerie, and Rupert Washington was very pleased. He immediately showed her what it meant to "soften with gifts and soften with his legs."