Chapter 1204
It was their first real meeting, him and Isaac.
Isaac, blessed by the heavens, still commanded attention despite his long absence.
Dressed in a simple grey sweater, his athletic build was subtly hinted at beneath the fabric, one arm casually draped over Brittany's back, fingers gently massaging her waist. Brittany, seated beside him, radiated joy.
She had never shown such a side in front of him before!
"Bri, shouldn't you owe me an explanation for the headlines this time?"
Gone was Eltham's usual mild and humble demeanor, replaced by a palpable tension: "I've accepted the child, so why expose us to this media frenzy?"
"You think I did it?"
Brittany frowned, "You think I'd use this against you?"
"If not you, then who?"
Eltham's gaze shifted to Isaac.
Isaac, lounging on the couch, bore an indifferent expression, his aristocratic demeanor reminiscent of a prince.
"Eltham, let's talk, just the two of us."
Brittany led Eltham to the backyard, settling down in a gazebo.
Eltham followed, a serious look on his face.
"Are you really pushing for an annulment?"
"I mentioned it before, let's part amicably." Brittany looked at Eltham, "But you refused."
"This scandal wasn't my doing."
She indeed wanted an annulment.
But not at the cost of exploiting her and Isaac's affair.
Eltham knelt down, his eyes clouded with confusion:
"What did I do wrong?"
He had accepted the child Brittany was carrying, he had taken cooking classes for her, he respected everything about her, so why didn't Brittany like him back? Suddenly, Brittany realized, in a way, Eltham was a figure of pity.
Among many, Eltham was seen as an unattainable catch!
"Eltham, I've always wanted to ask, what do you like about me?"
"I'm decent-looking, but there are prettier. Skills, personality? I'm not the best out there."
Brittany had been curious for a while.
Eltham's eyes filled with sorrow: "I like everything about you. You're talented, confident, vibrant, and competent, I..."
"But that's not the real me."
Brittany shook her head: "You like the idea of me, not who I truly am."
"You've been restrained all your life, you met someone free-spirited, and you thought I embody traits you aspire to, so you liked me."
Brittany looked deeply at Eltham: "But you should know, I don't like you, I've never been my true self around you."
Eltham, visibly hurt, asked, "Can't you accept me?"
Brittany shook her head: "I can't."
Eltham lingered in silence before finally speaking, "The Lynette Corporation's stock plummeted. If you won't stand by me, the Lynette Corporation will face severe losses. Are you sure you want to pay such a hefty price?"
"The Lynette Corporation is indeed important." Brittany had anticipated Eltham would use the Lynette
Corporation as leverage: "But met
father entrusted the Lynette Corporation to me, and more than the corporation, he wants my happiness."
"Eltham, you've been kind to me, I don't want to end things on a bad note."
"You might be the queen's only son, but the royal family isn't limited to just you..."
Brittany's tone was noticeably
colder: "If you agree to the
annulment, I'll take all the blame, and the Lynette Corporation will support you. If not, even if the Lynette
Corporation crumbles, it will support others-"
Eltham's face darkened: "Are you threatening me?"
"Eltham, you know what matters more."
Isaac, having bided his time, held royal secrets. If Eltham refused the annulment, they were ready to drag the royal family into the mud!
Facing Brittany's resolute gaze, Eltham knew she was determined to cut ties.
"Is Isaac really that great?"
Thinking of Isaac, Brittany's eyes brightened with pleasure: "Yes."
"Eltham, you fell for a version of me adorned with glory, but that's not who I truly am."
"Your affection, I can't bear it."
Eltham stared at Brittany's pale face, taking a while to make up his mind: "Alright, I agree to the annulment."
That was all Brittany needed to hear.
"I don't need the Lynette Corporation's backing, nor any conditions."
"I just want, for you to be happy."
Brittany hadn't expected Eltham to agree to the annulment without any demands, her expression briefly revealing surprise before regaining composure.
Before leaving the Lynette family, Eltham had a lengthy one-on-one with Isaac.
Brittany was anxious they might come to blows, but thankfully, nothing happened.
As Eltham was about to leave, he hugged Brittany: "Take care of yourself."