Winning Her Heart Back (Emelie Hoven )

Chapter 835 Lost

Ashley stared at the four dishes and the soup that Elias had prepared and stayed silent. She couldn't wrap her head around why he'd spent over an hour cooking. Wouldn't it be easier to just let the chef handle it?

She asked, "Don't you have a job to do? Are you that bored?"

Elias was unfazed, and he replied with a hint of bravado, "Exactly. I'm jobless. So, I need you, my wife, to take care of me. If you kick me out, I'd end up starving on the streets."

He ladled the soup into a bowl. "Honey, have some hot soup first."

It was a creamy fish head soup with a delicate flavor. There were red dates and ginger, and it was known to be good for the brain.

"Honey, have some hot soup first," he said.

Ashley glanced at the Xanther Group documents that she had been reviewing. Those were Beathan's main projects over the past three years, and she needed to look over them. However, written words weren't as clear as hearing it from the source.

Ashley said, "So, you joined Xanther as the executive director after falling out with the Undvike family..."

Elias looked up briefly. "That's not quite right. It wasn't just about the Undvikes. After the doctors said you were in a vegetative state and might never wake up, Jayden was worried that I'd lose it. He suggested that I should find something to do. That's why I went to work for Will at Xanther."

It wasn't because of the Undvike family. It was because of her. Elias was determined to make it clear to Ashley that, without her, he would be lost.

Ashley remained silent.

Elias added, "It was also Emelie's idea."

Ashley furrowed her brows. "Emelie?"

Elias gestured towards the meal. "I'll explain while you eat."

Ashley paused briefly then picked up a spoon and tasted the soup.

She had known that Elias could cook three years ago. Now tasting his food again, she realized his culinary skills have improved.

It was clear he had spent a lot of time in the kitchen over the past three years. It showed he wasn't just idly wasting time.

After all, which man in his twenties, full of energy, would spend long hours cooking? They would rather hang out at bars or clubs.

Ashley felt a twang in her heart.

Elias didn't notice the subtle change in her expression, and he continued talking. "Emelie told me that Beathan was the real mastermind. She said that, if I wanted to take him down legally, I have to work with her. But if I wanted to handle him quietly, she'd look the other way."

He let out a chuckle. "To be honest, I was tempted to choose the latter. I even planned how I'd make Beathan suffer, leaving him begging for death."

Ashley kept her gaze on Elias as he flashed a wide grin.

He said, "But I remembered you telling me to never to break the law. You're a lawyer, after all. How ironic would it be if your husband was a criminal? I didn't want people mocking you, so I held back and worked with her. Then, she got me into Xanther."

Though Ashley was in her coma, she had always influenced him.

Ashley lowered her gaze. "Xanther was formed after Emelie was killed. It's an alliance built by the four families."

"Mm-hmm." Elias affirmed her.

He handed her a piece of grilled salmon. It was seasoned with garlic and finished with a drizzle of olive oil. It was tender with a sweet aftertaste.

He added, "People trust each other even more after doing shady things together. Xanther is the symbol of an unbreakable bond between the families. They've invested a lot into it.

"Controlling Xanther means controlling the lifeblood of the four families' finances. Emelie brought me into Xanther so I can be her eyes and her weapon."

Ashley ate slowly, chewing her food thoughtfully. "What have you done for Emelie all these years?"

Elias curled his lips into a smile. "Not much, really. But Xanther has definitely turned into a leech on the four families. The mess Charles and Bryan are in now? That's mostly because they got mixed up with Xanther."

"How so?" Ashley knitted her brows together.

Elias explained, "The Davis Group's massive financial deficit? That's because Xanther drained most of their liquid assets. They couldn't cover their expenses.

"Well, as for the Swanson Corporation, they didn't have any cash flow issues. However, Xanther knew all their moves. Emelie outbid them for a tech company's patents because the information got leaked."

Ashley narrowed her eyes. "I'll let the first one slide. But the second sounds like straight-up industrial espionage."

"Me? Guilty of that?" Elias feigned innocence.

He placed a piece of beef on her plate. It was perfectly cooked, crispy on the edges, but tender in the middle. It was indeed a true test of a chef's skill.

He softly and playfully said, "Emelie was tapping my phone. I didn't want to leak anything. I

swear. Your Honor, you can't convict me without proof, or I'll just have to die to prove my innocence."

Ashley just watched him in silence.