Chapter 557: The Eliads

"Who is he?"

"She," Gabi said when Earl asked. "And stop staring at her. Is this the first time you saw a bodyguard?"

"That — That is a bodyguard?"

"She. And her name is Cyrus."

"That is a kid."

"Yeah…"

"You know child's labor is— "

"Please stop it." Talking about being a child just reminded her of Aden's teasing. Does she really look like a child? She was gaining weight and some muscles, alright!

"Alright… Alright… sorry. It's just surprising that you would choose someone with a small stature to guard you."

"Hey, you are judging someone base on how they look. How about you spar with her?"

"Huh?"

"You. Spar. With. Her." Gabi turned her head towards Cyrus, " Why don't you show this man that being small doesn't mean we are weak?"

"Sorry, young miss, but I am not allowed to fight someone that isn't an enemy."

Gabi frowned. "Why is that?"

"I fight… to kill," Cyrus said almost immediately. "There is no in-between."

"Heh… such an arrogant little kid." Earl couldn't help but be amused. "I hope you're not all talk, kid."

"Can you stop calling her little kid?"

"Why would I? She looked like one."

"Just stop, alright?" Gabi is slowly getting irritated. "Or I won't talk to you anymore."

"Hehe… alright. I was just joking around. I have a stressful day today so… I need to eat a lot of stuff. Ah, speaking of which, are you ready? I am so hungry. We should leave now so we could make it to our reservation."

"Hmmm… alright."

Earl asked her to have some dinner in some high-end restaurant inside one of the famous hotels in this city. Since she came to the Ren residence, this cousin of hers had been asking to see her almost every day.

And for some reason, this made Gabi smiled. In fact, she felt a little closer to this man.

"This steak… Wagyu beef and the taste is phenomenal." Earl said as they started to look at the menu.

"Alright. I'll take that." It took them a few minutes to arrive at the restaurant. She looked at the time. It was already seven in the evening yet she was already hungry. Was this the effect of increasing her exercise routine?

That's right, Mr. Glen suggested it was time for her to increase her exercise. Right now, she is already running ten kilometers every morning. Even the other exercises had been tripled.

"What are your next plans?" Gabi asked her cousin after the waiter left to process their orders. "You seemed too idle these days. For a vice president, I can see that your workload is very light."

"Ah, stop it. I am working hard, alright. Even grandfather praised me every day."

"But how come you still have the time to dine with me?"

"Well… " Before Earl could answer, a gasp interrupted his words.

"Mr. Ren?"

Both of them looked at the man and woman walking towards them. Both had blond hair and tall stature. They looked like models.

"Ah, Miss Eliad, Mister Eliad. Fancy seeing you here."

Eliad? Gabi hid the surprise in her face. These two should be related to the Eliad Family from the Xu Country? The Eliads aren't really a big name in politics but they are well known in the business industry because of Eliad Shipping.

Recently, the Eliad establish a new base in Xu Country. This became a piece of big news recently. So… why are they here?

"And may I know who the name of this lady is?" Ms. Eliad smiled at Gabi.

"This is Gabrielle Sutton… my cousin."

"Oh, a cousin." Miss Eliad smirked. "I thought she was the reason why you refuse to become my fiance."

"Cough. Cough." Gabi couldn't help but let out a series of coughs. Really? Did Earl refuse to become this woman's fiance? She wanted to laugh out loud. For some reason, she found this information really funny. Her cousin is already in his late twenties and yet, he still refused to get married. Gabi couldn't help but wonder why he is still single.

Even in the previous lifetime, Earl didn't get involved in any women and just focused on the family business.

"Stop saying things like that, Miss Eliad."

"Ah, you are calling me Miss Eliad now? You used to call me Cathy. Why not call me by my first name?"

"That — That is inappropriate."

Seeing Earl flustered, the smile on Miss Eliad's red lips turned wider. "My… my… how cute. Should I tell my father to ask for an engagement again? This time… he should ask your grandfather, right?"

"Miss Eliad!"

"Kidding… I am kidding. How could I force someone to love me? I am not that kind of woman." Despite her words, her eyes were obviously saying a different thing. She was staring at Earl's neck before dragging her gaze towards his chest. "Ah… what a waste."

"Miss Eliad…"

"Hehe…. Anyway… I don't want to tease you anymore. Kevin let's go… oh? Why are you looking at her?"

"Elder sister…"

"Ah… Miss Sutton, right?"

"Yes," Gabi nodded. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Eliad."

"The pleasure is all mine." Miss Eliad walked towards her side. "Now… my younger brother is blushing while staring at you. I believe he likes you. Can you please give him your number?"

"…" This woman… was too direct!

"Sorry for my attitude. It's just that… I am starving. I am in a hurry."

"Is that so?" Gabi's lips twitched. She didn't miss the fact that these two were already walking towards the exit. What a lousy excuse. She immediately gestured towards Cyrus who stood a couple of feet towards them. "Give them my card."

"A business card?" Miss Eliad looked surprised. "I think Miss Sutton misunderstood… I meant your personal phone number."

"Sorry… I don't have a personal phone anymore." Well… she was partly telling the truth. She turned it off because of Alfons.

"Really?"

"Really."

"That's too bad. Well… we are taking your card." Miss Eliad handed the card to her brother. "Alright… we are leaving. I'm sorry to disturb your evening."

With that, she left them a beautiful smile before leaving.

"That woman…"

"Don't mind her. She always acts like that in front of a man."

"Oh?"

"She is the next head of the Eliad Family. She acts domineering and just orders everyone around her as she owned them. She was used to it."

"Interesting."

"Hm… there were rumors that she is acting like that because she had her heartbroken by the heir of the Shen family."

"Really?"

"Yes, this was the reason why they created a base in Xu Country."

"That — Isn't that going too far for a man?"

"I don't know." Earl shrugged. "Aiyo… you are too innocent. This world is dangerous. There are a lot of people like that everywhere. You just have to be more careful in the future. Also… did Cyrus really give them your number?"

"No. That is… Kasper's number."

"…"

"What? Why are you looking at me like that? I really don't have a personal phone."

"Well… I don't know about Mr. Eliad, but if he is just like his sister, then you have to be careful if he would take a liking to you."

"Why is that?"

"He might suddenly meet grandfather a propose for an engagement."

"Really?"

"Really."

Gabi nodded. Those people… are weird. She could only sigh. "Hm?"Isn't that… Alfons and Lyle Quigly? Her gaze was glued at the man and woman who just walked inside the restaurant. It was indeed Alfons. And he was actually holding Lyle's hand.

"Oh. Sorry… the restaurant doesn't allow walk-in." Gabi heard the waiter who welcomed the two.

"Then call your manager." Lyle said before Alfons could stop her.

"Lyle... it's alright. We should just leave and find another restaurant."

"But..."

"Let's go. My apologies. I'm sorry about that, my partner isn't feeling well today." Alfons said. He looked at the waiter and patted his shoulder. "You are doing a good job. Please keep up the good work."

"But... my father knew the manager here." Lyca tried to argue, but Alfons just kindly shook his head.

"No need to hurt some other people. Why don't we choose a simple restaurant instead? We already ate such delicious food at home. Let's try something new this time."

"Really? Do you have something in mind?"

"Hmmm... how about some hotpot?"

"A hotpot? But I- I never tried them before."

"Then... Miss Quigly, are you willing to try it with me?"

Lyle's face flushed. She bashfully smiled at Alfons and nodded. "Alright. Let's go. You take the lead."

Just hearing the two talk, made Gabi grumbled, "What the fuck."

"They... they looked like they were made for each other," Earl, who also witnessed what happened, noted. That Alfons had top-notch acting skills. He truly looked like a genuine, kind soul just now. Even I was almost convinced that he truly cared."

Of course he did. If Alfons wasn't that good, then he wouldn't be able to convince Gabi in the past life. However, this isn't the most important thing right now.

It seems that Alfons and Lyle... are really going to get married anytime soon. Then, Aden's words about Gabi's death rung in her ears. Right now, the Quigly family would never approve of someone like Alfons.

But this would indeed change if Gabi dies.