Chapter 16
Eleanor openest ber ossal to respond, but before she could get and out, Mexis yanked her hair back lund
“A” Eleanos let out a cry of pain and glares at Alexis
Alexis urinechanely put on her most uniscent lace, het voor sweet av lmney. “Utham, L’in so sorry Dil 1 pull too hard? I was only trying to lix your
Before lesson could fire back, Eric jumped in, histone dripping with sycophanis charm. “Ms. Foster, you’re bring way too gradle on laer. You’ve been in a wheek hair for so long how strong could your grip possibly be?”
“But kas,” Alexis replied una soll, concerted tone. “I think I might love hurt her
by waste your cherry worrying
Ene shot Heanor a scornful glane and sneered, “Ms. Keeit, you kinone how she is She loves playing the victim. Why
you can play lapalog for Alexis without THY
Eleanor turned her ley gare to Frie and retorted, “And who asked for your opinion, Eric You think ya pemmission?
Trex sinug gran faltered, his face falling in ankwand silence..
“Nis–gave Eleanor a cautious look, and saul. “Eleanor, be nice. Eric lans heen with our family for years–he’s practically part of it. He’colder i you too. Shouldn’t you show him a litle respect?”
Eleanor let out a cold laugh, her words sharper than glass. “Respect Some people earn it, and some don’t deserve event i
Li grassing R
glance. Alexis, don’t pretend you actually respect him. We both know you just treat him like a loyal dog who clors your birding”
The room tell deathly quiet. Eri
Alexis stiffened 190, her fake smile wavering for a split second before she recovered. “You’re so cynical, Eleanor,” Alexis said with a forced sigh. “Do you think there’s not a single good person in the Reed LumilyF
Lace turned glasstly pale, the sting of those wonk cuting deeper than he cared to admit.
Eleanor sported, too tired to give the question with a real answer. She steered in her mind. ‘Don’t you know the answer? There’s no need to spell it
With another exaggerated sigh, Alexis ailisted her tone to sound heartbreakingly sorrowful. “It’s such a shame, Eleanor. The misunderstandings betwreilus
Lus are so deep. And now that you’re getting nurries, I guess there’s no chance of us ever clearing the air, right?“.
Despite her pitiful act, the glee in
in her voice was unpusssible to miss, Eleanor’s fists clenched tightly at her sales, her anger bubbling just beneath the
The maids steppest in and began their work, painting Eleanor’s face with cheap makeup. When they were done, Alexis wheeled closer and held up a mirror with a falsely admining side. “Wow, Eleanor. Look how stunning you are. Don’t you think you look beautiful?”
Eleanor glanced at her reflection and had to fight back a laugh. Her face looked like a mess. The blush was garishly heavy, plastered like two clownish splotches on her cheeks, and her skin looked rough and uneven, thanks to the low–quality products they’d used.
Eleanor finally said, her tone laced with mockery. “Alexis, this is your big play! You think making me look like this on my wedding day will make me despair? hiline”
Alexis frigned shock, her eyes widening dramatically. “How could you think that? You’ve got it all wrong, I swear,”
Eleanor rolled her eyes and turned away, not bothering to entertain Alexis’s insincere apologies.
Deanor sorely wouldn’t feel disappointed with just the makeup. Whatever Alexis thought she could achieve with this, it couldn’t possibly compare to the despair Eleanor felt at being forced into this marriage in the first place
Alexis posited slightly, though her smile quickly turned. “Well, no point swelling on it. Let’s get moving shall we? We don’t want to be late for your big–day”
Eleanor didn’t trust, and the guards and maids need her out of the cramped attic room and down the stairs.
The so–called “wedding” Dominick had planned for her was nothing short of an insult. There was no grand ceremony, no celebration, not pretense of pry. Instead the Bred fainily had thrown together a small meal in the dining room.
even the
Eleano
canon was dragged downstairs, and she saw the man she was supposed to marry. The puiful, but has slanting eyes betrayesi a sly, calculating glim
stood stiffly in
in a cheap white suit, his face plain and
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Chapter 16
The sight of him made Eleanor’s stomach churn. This was the first time she’d seen the man Dominick had picked for her, and it hit her like a bucket of for water. Dominick knew her too well–he’d found the kind of man she despised most. This wasn’t a marriage but a punishment.
Eleanor scoffed in her mind, Well, to get revenge for Alexis, he wants me to marry such a man.
Gregory and Jennifer were already waiting in the living room, their patience clearly wearing thin. The moment they saw Eleanor, both of them visibly relased.
Jennifer’s eyes swept over Eleanor’s garish makeup and deliberately ruined face. A small, satisfied smile tugged at her lips, Gregory, on the other hand, wasted no time barking orders.
“Alright, enough stalling. Let’s get this over with. The wedding starts now,” he said impatiently.
“What’s the rush?” Eleanor shot back, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Can’t wait to see me
me gone, huh?”
“Exactly Gregory sneered. “Do you think we want you hanging around the Reed family any longer? Eleanor, if you had even an ounce of self- respect, you’d have left ages ago instead of being the disgrace you are?
Eleanor let out a dry laugh and retorted. “Do you honestly think I want to stay here?
“You-!” Gregory stepped forward, hand raised, ready to slap her.
Honey, stop
p it, Jennifer said softly, stepping between them with her usual feigned gentleness. “Don’t lose your temper on the big day. Gregory gritted his teeth, barely reining in his anger. He jabbed a finger at Eleanor and growled, “If it weren’t for Jennider, you’d meet your demise today.”
“Oh, really?” Eleanor scoffed, utterly unimpressed. “Do you even have the guts for that? Or the authority? Don’t forget this whole wedding was Dominick’s idea.”
Gregory’s retort died in his throat. He grimaced and snorted. “Since you know this is Dominick’s decision, stop deluding yourself. You’ll never have what doesn’t belong to you.”
Eleanor’s eyes narrowed, her voice equally frosty. “Don’t worry, I only take what’s mine. I don’t give a shit to touch anything that doesn’t belong to
The implication of her words was clear Whatever belonged to her would finally go back into her pocket
Gregory’s brow furrowed. Her words felt pointed, layered with a threat he couldn’t quite unravel. But he was too eager to get rid of her to linger on
Clearing his throat, Gregory snapped, “Enough talking Now I declare, the wedding officially started
The band struck up a painfully off–key rendition of the wedding march. Eleanor, dressed in a faded, secondhand wedding gown, was | showed forward by the guards flanking her. She trudged toward the groom. her steps heavy with despair.
Shed barely made it halfway when a cold, unmistakable voice cut through the room. “Oh, looks like I’m late”
Hearing the voice, every
everyone turned their heads toward the door.
Alexis’s eyes lit up as she wheeled herself toward Dominick “Hi, Nick, you finally y made it
practically
Dominick stepped into the room, his gaze sweeping over the scene with barely concealed contempt. He glanced down at Alexis briefly and replied,
Alexis’s smile grew syrupy, and she asked, “You came to see Eleanor off, didn’t you?”
A flicker of disgust flashed across his face “See her off? She isn’t that important to me
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