Darien panicked.
He looked at Ellie in shock, unable to believe that she was truly refusing to help him. He couldn't stop himself from shouting, "Ellie Cobb, what are you playing at?"
Ellie's gaze stayed icy as she stared at him wordlessly.
Mollie, who was standing nearby, was also stunned. She glanced at Ellie and then at Darien before cautiously asking, "Brother Darien, what's going on?"
Before Darien could explain, Ellie laughed. "What's going on? Can't you see by now? The man you hold in such high regard, Mr. Britt, is nothing but a penniless nobody! The only reason he has money is because he once saved my life, and I gave him money to spend. Did you truly think he was some wealthy heir? Let me enlighten you…"
Ellie stepped forward, staring straight at Mollie. "He has no job and no income whatsoever. As for his parents—they're just rural villagers who've spent their entire lives toiling in the fields. They exhausted every penny they had to put him through college!"
