Chapter 21
“Gregory, you’re wrong. I had no intention of coming back.” Eleanor remarked, her voice cold. If Donnick hadn’t insisted on my return, do you think I would have chosen to be here?”
“How dare you?” Gregory’s face twisted with rage in an instant
Lost for words, he racked his brain for a retort but ended up in vain. All that escaped his lips was a curse. “Bitch. You’re just a
Eleanor scoffed. “That’s a label you’ve affixed to me countless times. I am tired of it. Can’t you come up with a more original insult!” She was like a hedgehog bristling with sharp quill
Gregory, defenseless against Eleanor’s barbs, could only explode in anger, exclaming. “How dare you say that You’re reaping what you’ve soWEL Look at your current state. You’ve sunk so low that even the street begcars seem better than you.
Eleanor shot back. “That’s because none of the street beggars has a father like you
“Eleanor, you” Gregory was seething. He scanned the room, seized an ashtray, and hurled it at Eleanor with all his might,
Eleanor instinctively tried to dodge, but her lack of roost over the past few days had made her roo feeble to succeed. The crystal ashtray struck her forehead, tearing the skin at the brow’s edge, and blood began to pour forth
Eleanor clutched her forehead and shot Gregory a furious glare. Tyler stood there, utterly shocked, never expecting such an outcom
“Why are you staring at me?” Gregory, still seething with resentment after the smash, pointed at Eleanor and bellowed. “I should never have brought you into this world. You’re a wretched bitch..
“Enough” a deep yet chilling voice interrupted, as Dominick appeared suddenly at the door,
Eleanor turned her head to look at Dominick with a blank expression. He was aired in a pristine black tailored suit today, which accentuated his physique and highlighted his frosty demeanor even more.
Seeing Dominick, Gregory felt a fleeting pang of guilt and quickly approached him with a sycophantic grin. “Mr. Vanderbilt, why have you graced us with your presence so early Weren’t you with Alexis
Dominick disregarded Gregory’s insincere pleasantries and simply stated coldly. You shouldn’t have struck her
Eleanor was taken aback and a sudden warmth surged through her heart. It turns out that Dominick still cares about me anyway..
However, this warm feeling was shattered by Dominick’s heartless words the very next moment, Dominick said in a deep voice, “Even if you felt the need to strike her, you shouldn’t have done it yourself. Because she’s not worth the effort you put into that strike
Eleanor was left stunned with disbelief. She cried out loudly, “Dominick, what do you mean?”
“You’re not in a position to question me.” Dominick looked at her with disdain. “Besides, aren’t you aware of who you are? Anyone who strikes you would only smudge his hand”
Eleanor’s face dr
e drained of color. Her lips quivered for a long while, but no words came out.
As Alexis wheeled her chair into the ro
room, she happened to see Eleanor’s expression.
Alunt of self–satisfaction welled up inside Alexis, and she swiftly moved to Eleanor’s side, inquiring hypocritically, “Eleanor, what happened! Why do you apprar sua distraught?”
Deanor remained alent she merely cast a profound look at Dominick, her eyes brimming with despair and sortune
Dothanark turned i
away coldly, as if he had not noticed Eleanor’s expression at all. “Alexis, come t
here:
“Sure.” Alexis softly smiled and glided to Dominick’s side.
Dominick dipped bas ad and nonchalantly adjusted her silk scarf. “The morning chill is biting. You should have dressed more warmly before
“Oh. Dominack,” Alexis cheeks blushed slightly as she gently chided him, “theres a crowd here…Such an affectionate display is more fisting when we’re alone, wotu?
“Understood” Dominick’s response was barely more than a whisper as he rose to las feet.
Eleanor observed them with a piercing gaze, a pang of sorrow stabbing at her heart. Each display of affection from Dom
Dominick towards Alexis was a
3.00 PM c
Chapter 21
stinging rebuke to Eleanor.
“Dad. Mom has been toiling in the kitchen for a long time, Alexis smiled as she turned her attention back to Gregory. “She’s prepared a feast 10 welcome Eleanor back. Hurry, or we will have to warm the dishes up”
r at all. is
Gregory couldn’t suppress a sigh. “Alexis, you and your mother are truly kind. I don’t think we need to prepare a feast for this…for Eleanor: she even worthy of it!”
“Dad, it’s a small gesture.” Alexis smiled. “Come along. It’s not every day Eleanor returns home. Let’s not delay it further
“Alright, I’m on my way. Gregory conceded and made his way to the dining room.
Once Gregory had departed, Alexis addressed Dominick “Dominick you should join us too. Stay for dinner today, will you“”
“Okay” Dominick gave a slight nod of agreement.
“Mr. Vanderbilt. I’ll go with you” Tyler promptly followed behind Dommack
One by one, the others left, leaving only Alexis and Eleanor in the living room, With no one else present. Alexis s
saw no need to mask her true feelings.
She looked at Eleanor with a mocking gare, isking. “Eleanor, look at you. Dressed
ved in such a tattered and disgraceful manner, are you still the once- proud lady who commanded the entire city?”
Eleanor inquired coolly. You deliberately lingered here to mock me in privater
“Not merely that,” Alexis replied with a malevolent grin, though her words feigned benevolence. Truth be told, Eleanor, I’m acting in your best
Interext
“Once you left the Reed family, you’d never have the privilege of attending such gatherings again. I’m merely feeling sorry for you and offering you another opportunity to attend a feast. You should cherish it”
“Is that so!” Eleanor was not moved at all as she sneered. She had grown accustomed to Alexis petty schemes. Such words alone had no power to hurt her
Seeing Eleanor’s unchanging look, Alexis thought of another strategy as she rolled her eyes and inched closer to Eleanor. In a sudden, hushed tone, she munnured. “Eleanor, do you know the real reason why Dominick has requested your return?”
Eleanor remained silent, her brow furrowing as she stepped back to put some distance between herself and Alexis.
“It was I who planted the idea in Dominick’s mind to have you return. Alexis revealed with a smirk. “I was the one urging for your homecoming Eleanor’s brow furrowed further as she questioned, “Alexis, have you lost your mind?”
o slap som
some
ne respect into you, to
For a fleeting moment. Alexis tensed, then scoffed, “Oh, Eleanor, your tongue remains as cutting as ever. I want to s trach you a lesson in manners.”
“I may sprak frankly Eleanor met her gaze with a chilling stare. “But my sharpness is confined to words. Unlike you, Alexis, your malevolence runs derp, infecting every action you take ”
With a sport, Alexis retorted, “Your sharp tongue is all that gives you any sense of presence. Eleanor, look at this,” as she spoke, she dramatically yanked apart her lapels, revealing something beneath.
