?Chapter 261:


    Whatever Katie said drifted right past Eloise. All her attention remained fixed on the search for Christina.


    A sh of a familiar silhouette caught Eloise’s eye. She turned, drawn toward what she hoped was Christina weaving through the guests.


    But Katie blocked Eloise’s path just as Eloise took her first step forward. “Miss Hubbard.”


    Annoyance flickered across Eloise’s face. She grew impatient with Katie repeatedly blocking her path.


    “I just want to say thank you for letting it go,” Katie said smoothly, reaching out to snag two sses of wine from a passing waiter. “Let’s have a drink.”


    With a quick shake of her head, Eloise signaled she’d rather have something else, grabbing a ss of orange juice instead.


    “Juice is fine too,” Katie remarked, her smile turning a little awkward as she put down one ss of wine. She raised her own ss, tapping it gently against Eloise’s juice. “Here’s to starting over and brighter days ahead!” A broad smile lit Katie’s face as she tipped back her wine.


    Eloise only managed a careful sip of orange juice, her expression guarded. Then, she offered Katie a polite smile, eager to slip away.


    Noting Eloise’s intention to leave, Katie hurriedly reached for her wrist and said, “What’s with the rush? Could we talk for a while?”


    Eloise had zero interest in talking with Katie. Unable to speak, she waved her hands, trying tomunicate through signnguage, but Katie’s puzzled frown showed she didn’t understand a thing.


    “Maybe we can text? How about we exchange numbers?” Katie suggested, pushing forward. “After this banquet, I’d love to buy you dinner at Morfort Restaurant to show my sincerity.” Determined to keep the conversation going, Katie blocked any escape, clinging to the opportunity she had finally found.


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    Eloise felt the sting of old memories—she remembered feeling this stuck before, back when bullies cornered her and she couldn’t defend herself due to her muteness. She opened her mouth, desperate for words, but all she could manage was a strained, broken sound that failed to carry her meaning.


    Ignoring Eloise’s feelings, Katie continued, “Let’s swap numbers.”


    Pulling out her phone, Katie smiled, acting as if Eloise had already agreed. Deep down, she counted on Eloise’s gentle nature to stop her from rejecting this.


    Even with Eloise’s brows knitted in frustration and her lips drawn into a scowl, Katie sailed along, pretending nothing was wrong.


    Thoughts of old wounds wed at Eloise, each memory of being bullied surfacing with an unwee rity. Katie mirrored those bullies, steamrolling right past her strained, broken protests as if her pain meant nothing. Those horrifying bullies hadn’t bothered to consider her feelings. Worse, they’d always twisted her words, making her hurt all the more.


    Katie’s relentless insistence pressed on Eloise like an invisible hand, leaving her feeling breathless.


    Gritting her teeth, Eloise pulled out her phone from her pocket, dashed out a message, and shoved the screen into Katie’s view.


    At first, Katie’s face glowed with expectation, convinced Eloise was giving her contact details. But that hope flickered and died as her eyes scanned the message. Color rushed to her cheeks. Her mouth opened in shock, her confidence crumbling.


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