Reborn Heiress: Taking Back What Is Rightfully Hers!-Chapter 61: Outbreak of quarrel

Ella’s eyes reddened as she stared at Eric, barely able to believe his pettiness.

Eric’s expression darkened, his voice icy. "What is it, Miss Davis? Just got over your heartbreak, so now you’re upset because I hurt your new prospective boyfriend?"

"What nonsense are you spouting, Eric? I’ve always seen Charles as a brother! He has never wronged anyone, and yet you set him up like this! Eric, you’re truly cruel!" Ella’s anger made her words harsh. Her defense of Charles stemmed from the deep affection he had shown her in her past life.

She only wanted to keep Charles out of her entanglements, to prevent him from getting hurt because of her. Yet she had failed.

"Ella, stay out of this. Go back to your seat," Charles urged softly, noticing the storm brewing in Eric’s eyes. He was beginning to understand why Eric targeted him but didn’t want Ella involved.

"So, in Miss Davis’s heart, I’m just a cruel person. But no matter how cruel I am, I’ve never betrayed anyone openly and shamelessly! Miss Davis, isn’t that true? Comparing the two of us, you might be even worse than me, don’t you think?" Eric laughed bitterly, his eyes cold as ice, hiding a tremendous fury.

She had hurt him, despite having many ways to avoid Brandon’s proposal, she hadn’t discussed anything with him. In her mind, he was just a pawn to be used.

His heart was filled with surging anger. It was the first time Eric’s heart had been moved, and he had been used. As a proud man, he couldn’t just let it go.

It was because of his pride that he hadn’t chased after her in the morning.

Now, in front of Ella, the budding love in Eric’s heart quickly withered.

"Eric... you..." Ella’s eyes brimmed with tears. In the short month they had been together, their relationship hadn’t stabilized, but her heart ached as if being cut by a knife.

"No matter how heartless I may be, there’s always a reason! Unlike you, who randomly targets Charles! Do you understand? Marriage is the most important decision in one’s life, and you forced him to marry a woman he doesn’t even like!"

Ella felt deeply guilty toward Charles. If not for her, Charles wouldn’t be in this situation.

"Ella, you’re the unreasonable one! To achieve your goal, you counted on me to go upstairs and catch Hannah and Brandon in the act! You used me as a pawn, and quite effectively!" Eric sneered, and Ella’s face turned pale.

She had explained to him that it was just an act!

But he took it so seriously, was it because he was petty or because he loved her too much?

"A noble lady like Miss Davis, so shrewd and calculating, is beyond my reach! Ella, don’t appear before me again, or else..." Eric’s chest felt like it was about to explode. He feared that if he stayed any longer, he would do something even more irrational.

He had always been calm, but why did he lose his composure whenever he saw Charles?

Eric didn’t want to investigate further. He strode away, disappearing from Ella’s sight with a cold, swift pace.

Ella’s body trembled, her eyes filled with glistening tears. She could only watch helplessly as he walked away, unable to say a word.

"Ella, don’t cry... Don’t be sad over someone like him. He’s not worth it!" Charles said, his heart aching as he reached out to wipe away her tears.

Ella quickly pushed him away and ran into the women’s restroom.

Inside the clean, fresh-smelling restroom, Ella slammed the door shut and sat on the toilet, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face.

She smiled bitterly at herself. How could she have been so naive to expect Eric to be understanding and supportive no matter what she did? Emotions are fragile, and one misstep can shatter them completely.

Now that he was gone, she had to rely on herself for everything from here on out.

Ella, you’ve been given a second chance at life. You must not repeat the tragedies of your past!

Ella fiercely wiped away her tears, determination shining in her eyes like never before.

Seven days later, the new school term began, and little troublemaker Kevin officially returned.

Ella registered for her classes. This year she was in twelfth grade. Despite some unpleasant incidents, they were minor in the grand scheme of things.

Lily, upon seeing Hannah, began to mock her coldly. Hannah, baffled by Lily’s sudden change in attitude, repeatedly asked for an explanation but received none.

Lily also secretly exaggerated the events she had witnessed at the party, spreading rumors that led to many students looking at Hannah with disdain.

Ella paid no mind to these matters. Even though some classmates looked at her with sympathy, Brandon was not someone who could hurt her feelings.

As school started, Ella’s schedule was packed, yet she often found herself distracted, glancing at her phone for missed messages or calls.

There were none!

Not a single one!

It was as if he had disappeared from the world, leaving no trace, as if he had never existed.

Ella’s heart ached with a suffocating pain.

She stayed in her study, unaware of when the rain outside had stopped.

"Enough, why am I still thinking about him? We were destined... to be mere passersby in each other’s lives."

Ella chuckled lightly, tossing her book aside. Unable to concentrate, she decided to take a walk outside.

What Ella didn’t know was that Eric was equally out of sorts, unable to focus.

"Mr. Nelson... Your signature ended up in the wrong place..." Early in the morning, his secretary cautiously brought over some documents, keeping her head down to avoid Eric’s gaze.

Eric frowned. "Leave them here. Print a new copy."

"Yes, sir. Right away." The secretary sighed in relief. For the past few days, Mr. Nelson’s temper had been unusually short, making the office a tense place.

Eric rubbed his temples, trying to alleviate his headache.

He had been working obsessively, hoping to numb himself, but every quiet night brought images of Ella’s mischievous smile to his mind.

That girl seemed to have rooted herself in his heart, making her impossible to forget.

"Damn it!" Eric angrily slammed his fist on the desk, his heart full of frustration.

"She’s just a little girl, as Adam said... When did my tastes become so peculiar?"

Eric pondered, unable to understand what made Ella so captivating.

He sat there in a daze, involuntarily recalling his first meeting with Ella.