Reborn Heiress: Taking Back What Is Rightfully Hers!
Chapter 198: Taken Away

Chapter 198: Taken Away

Amelia was nearly speechless with frustration. She couldn’t believe the lengths Rachel would go to just to get close to Richard and Eric—her shameless tactics knew no bounds!

Ella, on the other hand, remained unfazed, looking at Rachel with a calm expression. "Your cousin is the host here, and yet you’ve decided to work as his subordinate. That must be quite the sacrifice for you."

Rachel quickly shook her head with a forced smile. "Not at all! I consider it an honor to work for my cousin."

Just then, Richard and Eric emerged from the cabin. Upon seeing Rachel dressed in a maid’s outfit, both men frowned, their displeasure evident.

Amelia felt relieved when she saw their reactions. She had been worried that Eric might be charmed by Rachel’s cutesy maid act.

Richard’s eyes narrowed with a cold gleam. "Who let you in?"

"Cousin... I got the job on my own!" Rachel replied, trying to sound innocent.

Richard almost lost it. He had specifically instructed his staff to hire a few waitstaff for Amelia’s birthday party, and somehow Rachel had managed to slip through the cracks. He knew full well that neither Ella nor Amelia liked her.

"Let it go, she’s here now," Amelia said, biting her lip and letting out a cold laugh. "People like her, who can slip through the tiniest cracks, are hard to keep out anyway."

Richard sighed and tried to smooth things over with a smile. "Alright, don’t be upset. How about we all go inside and sing karaoke?"

"I’m not interested!" Amelia pouted.

Ella couldn’t help but find the situation amusing. Amelia had just been complaining about how much they fought, but now it seemed more like playful bickering.

Eric moved closer to Ella, completely ignoring Rachel, and wrapped his arm around her waist. "What do you want to do later?" he asked softly.

Ella blinked. "What activities do you have planned?"

"The yacht will stop near an artificial island soon. We could go swimming, fishing, or maybe have a barbecue tonight," Eric suggested with a smile.

Ella hesitated for a moment, then frowned slightly. "But I haven’t learned how to swim yet!"

"No worries, I’ll teach you until you’re a pro!" Eric said, his voice full of warmth.

Ella’s mood lifted immediately. Learning to swim would be a useful survival skill, after all.

The afternoon turned cloudy, and the sea breeze tousled Ella’s long hair as she stood on the deck. The vibrant yellow dress she wore clung to her body, accentuating her graceful figure in the wind.

Eric’s gaze softened as he watched her. He leaned in, planting a gentle kiss on her earlobe, then slowly trailed kisses across her soft, delicate face.

His kisses were so tender that Ella’s heart skipped a beat. She looked up, meeting Eric’s gaze, and saw the sparks of affection dancing in his eyes.

Richard and Amelia exchanged a glance, smiling as they linked arms and headed back into the cabin, leaving the couple to their moment.

Rachel, however, stood frozen in place, watching in agony as Eric tenderly kissed Ella. Her heart felt like it was being torn apart, making it hard to breathe.

How could her dream man be kissing another woman?

Rachel had been secretly obsessed with Eric for years. She had spent her savings on a private detective just to get candid photos of him from afar. Her room, her private sanctuary, was plastered with pictures of Eric.

Even in her dreams, the male lead was always Eric.

But now, seeing him kiss Ella with her own eyes, the pain in her heart was unbearable.

Just then, Amelia’s voice called out from the cabin, "Hey, server, hurry up and bring the juice in!"

Rachel snapped back to reality, lowering her long lashes. The pale look on her face showed a brief moment of confusion, and the hatred in her eyes faded away. She turned around, acting as if she hadn’t seen anything.

Ella’s breathing grew more and more rapid, her smooth, fair face flushed with a deep, intoxicating red. Her eyes were hazy, and her lips, now a vivid red, had been thoroughly kissed by Eric. The intensity of the kiss left her almost unable to stand, forcing her to lean against Eric for support.

"Mmm... stop it!" she gasped. She was genuinely worried that Eric might lose control and do something really embarrassing.

Eric, breathing heavily, his handsome face now tinged with a seductive charm, his brows filled with desire, leaned in and whispered, "If we weren’t here, I’d really... want you."

Ella quickly pushed him away. "Go back and drink some water to cool off."

Eric chuckled softly, elegantly adjusting his disheveled collar. "Do you think I’m some kind of animal that goes into heat at random?"

Ella shrugged helplessly. "I’m just worried you might suddenly turn into one..."

"Ella... you’re really asking for it. How about I give you some punishment tonight?" Eric teased, lifting her chin with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"No, no, really, no need!" Ella waved her hands in protest. Being "punished" by him? No, thank you. When this man got into one of his more intense moods, she was genuinely afraid...

If she ended up bedridden for three days, Chloe would definitely mock her to no end.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed in her skirt pocket. Ella paused for a moment, then pulled it out to check.

It was from an unknown number.

Eric raised an eyebrow, giving her a sly smile, his voice cool, "Have you attracted another admirer?"

With that, he snatched the phone from her.

Ella pouted. "Admirer? My admirers aren’t like yours, popping up everywhere with their baggage."

Like Leah and Rachel, for instance.

These people seemed to exist solely to annoy her.

Eric answered the call, and as he listened to the voice on the other end, his expression slowly darkened.

Ella had a bad feeling. Could it really be a suitor calling to confess and disgust Eric?

"What did you say? Say that again?" Eric’s voice turned icy, sending a chill down Ella’s spine.

His lips pressed into a thin line, and his once gentle features hardened instantly, a violent aura emanating from him.

"I understand. I’ll hand the phone over to her."

Ella, puzzled, took the phone. "This is Ella..."

"Ms. Davis, this is Brianna’s brother... I came to see Hannah today, and the doctor said someone took her. Did you arrange for someone to pick her up?"

Anthony’s anxious voice came through the phone, and Ella felt her mind go blank. It took her a few seconds to process what he was saying.

So that’s why Eric looked so grim—Hannah had been taken!

"No, I didn’t arrange for anyone to pick up Hannah. Mr. Baker, did you get the contact information of the person who did?"

Ella took a deep breath, thinking the situation had been resolved, only to be faced with the sudden appearance of a mysterious person!