Chapter 9
Alexis’s face turned even paler after Eleanor’s words. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, and she looked like someone deeply wronged. But Eleanor wasn’t buying her act. She knew Alexis too well to fall for her innocent facade.
“Aw, feeling fragile again! Who are you putting on this pathetic show for this time? Eleanor scoffed, her tone dripping with sarcasti
Then, the sharp sound of a slap echoed in the room cutting through Eleanor’s mockery. Her hand flew to her stinging cheek as she stared at Dominick’s cold, unfeeling face. She couldn’t believe that he had actually hit her.
“Apologize to Alexis,” he commanded, his tone as icy as his gaze, completely ignoring the pain in Eleanor’s eyes.
“You hit me?” Eleanor’s voice cracked with disbelief. “You slapped me.. for her?”
The
Don’t think sleeping with me can give you any sort of power, Dominick said flatly. Remember, the woman who will be my wife is Alexis, not you Eleanor’s eyes turned red, her voice shaking. “Dominick Say that again to my facef
“Get out of here.” Dominick barked, his voice rising “Who gave you the guts to speak to me like that?”
Eleanor clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging into her palms. She stared at his indifferent face and felt a chill run through her. She could. hardly believe this was really the same man who once treated her like she was his entire world.
Then, his next words shattered what late remained of her composure. “If those years in prison weren’t enough to teach you a lesson, I have no problem sending you back there.”
Alexis shot Eleanor a glance, and her lips curled into a subtle, smug smile. She spoke up with a soft, almost pitying tone, “Nick, don’t be so harsh. She’s already suffered enough.”
Wah a small nigh, Alexis added. “Eleanor, you better go home now. Last night whatever happened… let’s just keep in quiet. How will you ever find a husband if people hear about this? My mom has been working so hard to match you with someone decent.
“Nothing happened last night” Dominick interrupted, gripping Alexis’s hand. With that he wheeled Alexis out of the room without sparing Eleanor another glance.
Eleanor sat frozen and covered her swollen cheek. Watching the man who once cherished her leave without a shred of besitation, the let out a bitter laugh. She scoffed. Im such an idiot.
Her tears finally spilled over, soaking into the dark sheen beneath her. She threw herself at him, only to be met with humiliation and disgust. She thought Alexis’s comment on her made sense. She was shameless, and she deserved it.
telling herself it didn’t matter. 1
Looking around the wreckage of the room, Eleanor found her phone and called Rachel. She tried to laugh it off, telli wanted to disgust him, didn’t! Anyway, mission accomplished. I should feel satished, she thought.
But no matter how hard she tried, the tears wouldn’t stop, and the ache in her chest refused to fade.
When Rachel arrived with a new outfit, she took a look at Eleanor’s bruised body and let out a sharp breath Sitting beside her, she asked. “Was he sleeping with you or punishing your
Eleanor gave her a weak smile while shaking her bead. She pulled on the fresh clothes Rachel had brought and said, “He thinks touching me is revolting. What do you think?”
Rachel frowned, sympathy and frustration warring on her face. “So what’s the plan now? Those reporters you called are all under a gag order. Not a single one of them is going to risk leaking anything about Dominick’s scandal,”
“Doesn’t matter.” Eleanor said, her jaw tightening as she held back the tears threatening to spill again. “I don’t need it to go public. As long as I got under his skin, that’s enough for me
As they talked, Bruce walked in with a small box of pills.
As soon as Hache
chel noticed him, she shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her gaze darting nervously to the side.
Bruer placed the box on the table in front of Eleanor and said, “Mr. Vanderbilt instructed me to make sure you take the pill-
Heanor’s eyes laneled
Bruce remained
tira
the box of contraceptives, and the sterred,”
1,“Oh, is Dominick afraid 111 trap him with a baby” calm and shook his head. “It’s just a precaution.
Relax. The last thing I want is to be pregnant with his baby Eleanor snapped. Without hesitation, sh
the popped a pill and swallowed it, her
D
Dreame–Read Romance Storles
Installed
Chapter 9
movements sharp and deliberate.
Rachel watched the scene, her chest tightening with secondhand humiliation
After his job was done, Bruce left the room,
Rachel turned to E
to Eleanor, her voice soft but filled with concern. “Dear, what are you going to do now? Dominick… he really-
Eleanor cut her off, forcing a deep breath to steady herself. “I’m not some helpless linle girl. I can take care of myself.
Her tone wavered, but her eyes sparked with defiance. “If he thinks I’m disgusting, then good. He’s blind anyway. For now, I’ll find a job. The Reed family is completely under Jennifer and Alexis’s control. And my so–called father, fine, forget about him.”
Who could have thought the previous Miss Charming would end up in such a sorry state?
Rachel gripped Eleanor’s hand tightly and sighed, “You’re not alone, okay? Whatever you need, I’ve got your back.”
Eleanor felt a lump rise in her throat at her friend’s words. She leaned over to hug Rachel, grateful for her support.
Currently, she wasn’t in any shape to head home just yet. Her body ached too much to even stand, let alone deal with Alexis’s antics if she returned now. She decided to stay in the suite for the night. When she recovered well, she’d take back what was hers from Gregory.
Seeing how wrecked Eleanor looked, Rachel ordered some extra food for her and made sure she was as comfortable as possible.
The presidential suite was practically Dominick’s permanent residence, and no one seemed to care that Eleanor stayed overnight.
With nothing else to do that evening. Eleanor browsed the Internes, and she marveled at how much the world had changed in three short years. Technology had raced ahead, and even phones now did more than she could’ve imagined before prison.
She scrolled the screen but found nothing about Dominick’s recent scandal. His name, however, still popped up frequently, especially in smaller forums dissecting his mysterious royal background.
This man wasn’t just an enigma to the general public. Even among Avaris’s elite, Dominick was a puzzle no one could solve.
Even Eleanor, who had spent years by his side, knew little more than they did. She didn’t know where he came from, never met any of his family, and lud no clue how he had built his empire.
The only thing she knew for certain was that Dominick was brilliant and powerful, and back then.. he adored her.
Her eyes lingered on a post speculating about his influence. In just three years, he had transformed into something untouchable, almost mythical This man, who had once held her so gently, was now the undisputed king of this city’s shadowy underworld.
COUMINT
