Chapter 4 Would you take responsibility

"Today was so much fun. Eliza, I want to go again tomorrow," Leon said excitedly, tugging Eliza's hand as they walked into the living room.

Eliza reached out to pat Leon's head, her smile bright. "Of course, Leon. If there's something you want to do, I'll definitely take you. But everything I let you eat today was just the kind of stuff Oliver eats all the time. Nothing special."

Leon pouted and started complaining, "My mom never lets me eat those things. Eliza, you don't even know how jealous I am of the other kids. Their moms are way better than her."

Serena had just come out of the bathroom and heard the entire conversation. She walked down from the second floor, and the moment she looked up, she saw the ketchup still smeared on the corner of Leon's mouth.

Serena asked sharply, "If you knew I don't let you eat that stuff, why did you still eat it?"

Leon looked up at the sound of her voice. The moment he saw Serena, his face turned sour.

Eliza spoke up, sounding apologetic, "I'm sorry, Mrs. Powell. I didn't know you don't usually let Leon eat that kind of stuff. But it's really no big deal once in a while. Oliver eats it too."

Serena snorted, "Fast food is junk–loaded with fat and salt. It causes weight gain. Leon has a sensitive stomach. What makes you think it's no big deal? Or do you just assume everyone's like you people?"

Eliza's expression stiffened slightly.

Leon shot back, "I've never eaten fast food before. It's just this once because Eliza brought me along. If you want to blame someone, blame me. Don't take it out on hef."

Leon's automatic defense of Eliza made Serena feel bitterly ironic. After everything Serena had done to take care of him, all it took was one fast food

meal from Eliza to win him over.

Eliza explained patiently, "Mrs. Powell, I understand how you feel as a mom. I'm a mom too. It's normal that kids like fast food. It's not like they eat it all the time.

"Plus, Leon is fine right now. I just think maybe sometimes you don't need to be so strict with him.""

Serena sneered, "Really? And if something did happen, would you take responsibility?"

"Eliza would never be as stingy as you. Ollie eats this stuff all the time and he's fine. You just can't stand seeing me happy." With that, Leon wiped his tears angrily and ran upstairs.

Seeing Leon run upstairs, Victor lost his temper and snapped, "Serena, was it really necessary to blow up over something so small?

"Ellie was just being kind. If you didn't keep telling Leon what he can and can't eat, he wouldn't crave junk food so much."

They all acted like it was Serena's fault. She didn't bother arguing and turned to leave. She thought, 'Since Victor, as Leon's father, doesn't care, why should I go out of my way to cause trouble for myself?

Back in her room, Serena packed up her things and thought, 'Just a little longer. Once I get through this, I won't have anything to do with this family ever again.'

Early the next morning, just as Serena was waking up, she heard a knock at the door. Before she could respond, the door was already pushed open.

Eliza walked in with a smile, holding a glass of milk. "Mrs. Powell, Victor took the kids out. He asked me to let you know you don't need to prepare any meals for us today."

Serena didn't even glance at her. She turned and sat down at the vanity, calmly taking off the bracelet from her wrist.

"I'm not interested in any of that. You don't need to tell me. And Me, Stone, didn't anyone ever teach you to knock and wait for permission before entering someone else's room?" Serena remarked.

Eliza's fingers tightened slightly around the glass, her knuckles turning pate. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Powell. I wasn't thinking, I just felt like maybe there's been a misunderstanding between us.

"When I had issues with my house, Victor invited me to stay here. I didn't think too much at the time. But don't worry. Once my place is fixed, I'll leave with Oliver right away"

Serena could hear the provocation in Eliza's words. "Eliza, there's no one else around right now. You don't need to keep pretending. Do you think that act of yours still works?" Serena turned and looked her straight in the eye.

"Mrs. Powell, I'm not sure what you mean," Eliza said as she sat down on a stool across from her. She set the glass of milk on the table, rested her chin on her right hand, and put on a troubled expression,

She continued, "I thought you were smart. When you saw me come back, I figured you'd know better and leave.

"I know the Powell family has a lot of money, and you want to stay a bit longer to get a bigger cut. But think about it–do you really believe someone like Victor would give you anything?"

Now that Eliza had dropped the act, Serena smirked coldly. She had no interest in the Powell family's money. But now, she was genuinely curious about why Eliza had come back to the country.

Serena asked, "Eliza, if you chose to leave Victor back then, why come back now? Is it because your ex–husband broke?"

Eliza's face darkened. Her hand clenched slightly, but after a pause, she let out a breath. "Serena, stop trying to get a read on me. It won't be long before Vic divorces you. You'd better start thinking about how you're going to live after that."

As she spoke, the smile on her face grew wider. "I've only spent a few days with Leon and he already adores me this much. There's no way he'll choose you."

It felt like a sharp knife stabbed straight into Serena's heart. She thought, "If even the son I gave birth to prefers another woman, then so be it. I don't want anything anymore.'

Sensing the shift in Serena's emotions, Eliza got an idea. She stood up, walked over, and snatched the emerald bracelet Serena had just put away.

The emerald bracelet was high–quality, clearly expensive, and easily worth millions of dollars. Eliza hadn't expected the Powell family to give Serena something this valuable.

"You're not allowed to touch that." Serena reached out to take it back, but Eliza dodged her and stepped away.

Eliza turned the emerald bracelet over in her hands, clearly amused. "So this bracelet's enough to make you lose control. No wonder you're clinging to the Powell family like your life depends on it. Let me help you out."

Eliza's expression shifted instantly as she suddenly hurled the emerald bracelet to the floor. Even with carpet underfoot, the bracelet still snapped apart.

Serena's expression changed. She rushed over in a panic, picked up the broken emerald bracelet from the floor, and looked it over carefully. Only when she saw that it was still salvageable did she calm down.

With proper jewelry repair, it should be possible to restore it. When Serena returned it later, at least she'd have something to show for it.

Eliza stood there, looking down with open disdain and contempt in her eyes. "You really are pathetic. Sorry. But since it's already broken, I'll throw it out for you."

Caught off guard, Serena let Eliza snatch the bracelet away.

The emerald bracelet was only broken into two pieces–there was still hope to get it repaired. But if Eliza damaged it further, there would be no way to fix

Serena's eyes turned cold as ice. She stepped in front of Eliza at the top of the stairs. "Eliza, give me the bracelet."

Eliza glanced toward the front door and heard the sound of Victor returning with the kids.

Just as the door opened, Eliza suddenly grabbed Serena's hand. Tears streamed down Eliza's face, and her voice trembled with sorrow as she said, "Mrs. Powell, it's all my fault."