Although Ella had blocked and deleted him, he didn’t bother to reach out to her again, knowing there would be plenty of opportunities to cross paths in the future.
That afternoon, after school, Eric came to pick up Ella, telling her they were going to have dinner at the Nelson Group Hotel.
But just as Ella sat down, Eric received a call from James.
"I’ve reserved a table at Sapphire Shores Tavern, room 206. Come over, I have a secret about your mother to tell you."
James hung up immediately, leaving no room for Eric to argue or question him.
"James says he has a secret to tell me and wants me to meet him at Sapphire Shores Tavern. Shall we go together?"
Ella nodded quickly, "Yes, let’s go together!"
What kind of trick was James trying to pull this time?
Ella had a deep disdain for both the Nelson family and the people from Carter Group. All she ever really wanted was a quiet, peaceful life. After all, Grandma Carter had long passed away, her mother’s matters were resolved, and only Hannah remained missing.
But Ella believed that one day, Hannah would return to S City.
That day would come when Ella had grown powerful enough, but by then, she would have grown in other ways, too.
However, as much as she longed for peace, trouble always seemed to find her. Who knows how long she has to wait before she can live a completely peaceful life?
Twenty minutes later, Eric and Ella stood outside room 206 at Sapphire Shores Tavern.
When they opened the door, they found James, Grace, and Henry sitting inside. James’ eyes were cold, with a seemingly endless chill lurking in them.
Eric and Ella walked in, closed the door, and casually sat down.
"If you’ve got something to say, just say it. I have no interest in eating with you." Eric said coldly.
James stared at him deeply, then glanced at Ella. "Miss Davis, we’re about to discuss some family matters, so if you wouldn’t mind..."
"Either shut up or get to the point. She’s my woman," Eric cut James off coldly, exuding an air of nobility and arrogance, yet it made Ella feel warm and secure.
Henry frowned, though he wasn’t surprised. He kept sneaking glances at Ella.
Ella, still wearing her light gray school dress, appeared more poised and serene.
James took a deep breath. Grace whispered, "Maybe it’s best not to say anything. Why hurt the child’s feelings?"
"You just sit there and keep quiet!" James said indifferently. Grace anxiously looked at Eric, "Eric, your father doesn’t have anything important to say. You should just..."
"There’s no need for Miss Miller to be so anxious. After all, it’s not your business we’re discussing." Eric sneered. That hypocrite was as annoying as ever.
Henry looked at Eric. "Brother, Mom is only trying to help you!"
"What kind of brother are you? I don’t remember my mother giving birth to a brother. Next time you see me, call me Mr. Nelson."
Eric’s expression darkened sharply.
Henry glanced at Ella, then looked away without saying another word.
Grace sighed softly, looking at Eric with a hint of pity in her eyes. Ella remained composed, simply noting how deeply Grace seemed to hide her true self.
"I invited you here for dinner today because... this might be the last meal we have together as father and son." James spoke quietly, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes.
"The last meal? Has Mr. Nelson been diagnosed with terminal cancer?" Eric sneered, his words as sharp as ever, with no hint of mercy.
Ella’s heart tightened slightly. Deep down, how could Eric truly want this kind of encounter between father and son?
It was just that James had hurt him too deeply, which is why Eric acted this way.
James, seemingly used to Eric’s sharp tongue, coldly put down his utensils. "You are not my biological son."
Ella’s head snapped up, staring at James in disbelief!
Eric’s expression shifted as well. "Mr. Nelson, this is absurd. I’m old enough to marry and have children, and now you choose to drop this joke on me?"
His heart was in turmoil, shocked and unable to grasp why James would say such a thing.
"Mom would never betray you!" Eric’s gaze turned bloodthirsty, his expression savage. "But you—bringing this woman home, driving Mom to commit suicide by jumping off a building!"
Grace’s face turned deathly pale, and her eyes quickly filled with tears. "Eric, I... I never meant for that to happen!"
"Mom, why explain yourself to him?" Henry quickly pulled Grace back, giving Ella a deep, meaningful glance.
Ella remained composed, understanding this was something Eric and James needed to sort out between themselves.
"What benefit would I gain by lying to you? I’m not thrilled about being made a fool of. When you were ten and had that car accident that required a blood transfusion, the doctor told me you needed AB-type blood. But both your mother and I are type A—it’s impossible for us to have an AB-type child!"
James laughed coldly, his eyes icy. "Do you know why I sent you abroad? Because after raising a son for ten years, I found out you weren’t even my biological child!"
Henry stared at Eric in shock. They weren’t biological brothers? But why... did Eric and James still seem to share some resemblance?
Grace sat there, full of sorrow, not saying a word.
Ella watched coldly from the sidelines. Grace certainly knew how to act. Even now, when things had escalated this far, she still put on a sorrowful front, as if genuinely remorseful for what had happened all those years ago.
Eric began to laugh softly, his laugh wild, mocking, and cruel, with waves of disgust and rage surging in his eyes.
He stood up, picked up a glass of red wine from the table and slammed it on the ground, shattering the room’s uneasy calm. Grace flinched in fright.
"James! I will never believe that my mother would betray you! If you’ve got the guts, sever our relationship right now!"
Eric spoke each word slowly and clearly: "You heartless dog, you’re not worth my time!"
With a cold sneer, Eric pulled Ella close and stormed out with her, leaving in a blaze of defiance.
James clenched his fists tightly but didn’t say a word to stop him.
Because in Eric’s heart, Victoria could never be that kind of person. He simply couldn’t accept such a reality!
"Dad, why did you have to tell him this? And for the record, I don’t care about Nelson Group shares. I just want to study law. I’m going to be a lawyer!" Henry said coldly, his troubled gaze causing James to pause in surprise.
Grace quickly shot a glare at her son. "If you don’t inherit Nelson Group, who will?"
"Big brother can have it!" Henry snorted. "I’m not interested in competing with him for anything!"