“Tell Eleanor, my engagement tomorrow depends entirely on her presence.” It was an ultimatum. A concession, in Adam’s mind. A few minutes later, the assistant stammered.”Sir, She said… to go to hell.” Eleanor’s POV Three hours ago, Adam Hayes called. It was the first time he’d reached out in three months. His voice was as cool and detached as ever, brief and to the point “Eleanor, come to my villa. I need to talk to you.” Then the line went dead. No room for questions. Just an order, like calling a dog he owned. I admit, for a split second, that stagnant pool in my heart, long since silent, rippled with a pathetic hint of hope. After all, I’d been that pet for seven years. I even stood in front of the mirror, carefully covering the shadows under my eyes with my most expensive concealer. I spritzed on the woody scent he liked and slipped into the white dress he’d once said looked nice on me. Seven years of feeling, of bending and yielding, had carved this sad reflex into me. He crooked a finger, and I’d run to him like a trained thing, eager for approval. Even though I knew another carefully orchestrated humiliation probably awaited me. The car smoothly pulled up to Adam’s villa. Mr. Henderson, the butler, saw me and a complicated look flashed in his eyes. He seemed about to speak, then stopped. My heart sank, but I managed a small smile and nodded at him, walking straight inside. In the foyer, a pair of unfamiliar pink high heels lay crookedly on the floor, scattered next to a man’s suit jacket and tie. I stopped. No tears, no outbursts. My expression didn’t even flicker. I just quietly changed into slippers and walked up the stairs, one step at a time. Every corner of this villa was painfully familiar to me. I could walk to his study with my eyes closed. The study door was ajar. From inside came muffled, intimate sounds and a girl’s petulant whine. “Adam, stop…you’re crushing my dress…” I pushed the door open. Inside, Adam held a young woman against him. Her face was buried in his chest, only the pale curve of her neck visible. Three buttons of his shirt were undone, his usually immaculate hair was messy, and a smile I’d never seen before, tinged with desire and indulgence, played on his lips. He glanced up at the sound. When his eyes met mine, that smile died, replaced by a flash of impatience and distaste. “Eleanor, don’t you know how to knock?” The girl in his arms startled like a deer, lifting her head timidly. A face of pure innocence, with wide, round eyes now brimming with tears, stared pathetically up at me. I recognized her-Selena Blake, a film academy sophomore who’d recently gotten some attention from a web drama. My own social media still had traces of posts I’d written defending her from trolls. had called her a “promising talent” and asked me to take care of her.” So this was how he took care of her. “Adam, who is this?” She whispered, her voice sweet and cotton-soft, perfectly timid. Adam didn’t answer her. He slowly straightened his collar, then turned his gaze back to me. “Now that you’ve seen, I won’t bother hiding it..” He pulled a velvet box from the desk drawer and tossed it onto the coffee table between us. “This, it’s yours.” I looked down. Inside the box lay a pair of diamond rings, the ones Adam’s grandmother had given us when we got engaged. Adam’s indifferent voice sounded above me. “I want to marry Selena. So, let’s call off our engagement.” No hint of guilt, no trace of hesitation. I didn’t look at the rings. My gaze fell on my left wrist. It was a silver bracelet, the one Adam had given me for my eighteenth birthday. He’d said I should wear it forever, just as he’d be with me forever. For seven years, I had never taken it off. It had long become a part of me, more familiar than my own skin. I raised my eyes, calmly meeting his gaze. “Understood.” My calm seemed to throw him. Then he said mockingly. “What, no performance this time? I expected tears. Screaming. The usual threats. Eleanor, that act is getting stale.” I didn’t answer. Instead, I lifted my left hand and began working the bracelet loose. I’d worn it for so long the clasp had stiffened. It caught against my knuckle, grinding the skin red and raw. The harder I tugged, the more it seemed to cling. Selena covered her mouth in a show of concern. “Eleanor, please don’t. Adam didn’t mean it like that. You’ll only upset him if you hurt yourself.” Her words sounded like an act, and a challenge. Adam crossed the room and seized my wrist. “Eleanor, what’s the game now? Trying to play hard to get?” I gasped, wincing in pain, but then I laughed. “Adam,” I said. “You ended the engagement. This bracelet is yours. Why wouldn’t I give it back?” He stared intently at me, as if trying to find even the slightest trace of pretense on my face. But he failed. On my face, there was nothing but the tears brought on by the pain. It seemed a broken heart really made no sound. He finally released my hand, his gaze unreadable. With all my strength, enduring the sharp pain, I finally tugged the slender silver bracelet off my wrist. A raw, red mark was seared onto my skin, a stark sight. I gently placed the bracelet on the coffee table, next to the diamond rings. “Adam, I wish you and Selena a happy marriage.” Then I turned and walked out of the study. I didn’t look back. Driving away from the villa, I finally couldn’t hold back anymore. My tears poured down, a torrent. Seven years. It turned out to be as short as a single slap. Loud. And agonizing.
Eleanor’s POV It was past eleven when I got home. The living room lights were blazing. My ‘dear’ father, Robert Vance, and my stepmother, Brenda, sat stiffly on the sofa, clearly waiting up for me. The moment I stepped inside, Brenda spoke in that familiar, needling tone. “Oh, look who finally decided to come home. We thought you’d be spending the night at Adam’s again-forgetting where you belong.” I was too exhausted to lift my head. I walked past her without a word and headed for the stairs. “Stop!” Robert roared, slamming a tablet hard at my feet. “Look at this yourself!” On the screen was a statement just released by Hayes Group’s PR department, announcing the happy news of Mr. Adam Hayes’ upcoming engagement to Ms. Selena Blake. The accompanying picture was an intimate shot of Adam and Selena. He had his arm around her waist, smiling broadly. How fast he was, Adam. Less than three hours after we broke up, he was desperate to announce it to the world, to cut ties with me, afraid that I, his clingy little pet, might tarnish his reputation even slightly. “Eleanor! What did you do?” Robert’s face was livid. “Why has Adam called off the engagement? ” He never asked how I was. Only whether his ladder to the Hayes family had snapped. I was too drained to speak. All I wanted was my room, my bed, and silence. Brenda saw her opening. “Robert, why bother asking? Have you seen what’s being said online? They’re calling her a barren hen, saying she trapped Adam with every dirty trick in the book. Her name is mud now. And the Hayes family-what would they want with a daughter-in-law like that?” When had those rumors even started? It was probably three years ago, when I drank myself into alcohol poisoning, damaging my body, trying to cover for Adam at a crucial business dinner. The doctor said it would be very difficult for me to conceive in the future. I had only told Adam about it. I looked at the two snarling faces in front of me and suddenly found it all very laughable. “I was the one who ended the engagement,” I said, flatly. Robert looked as if he’d heard the funniest joke. “You? What right do you have? Eleanor, I’m telling you, your brother and sister’s tuition and living expenses for studying abroad this month haven’t been sent yet! If you can’t sort things out with Adam, they can just pack their bags and come home!” It was the same old trick. Threatening me with the family members I cared about most. For the past seven years, this was why I’d lived like a dog in front of my own parents and Adam. But now, it was different. I looked up, meeting his gaze calmly. “So? What do you want?” My reaction stunned both Robert and Brenda. They were used to my meek compliance and hadn’t expected such a calm retort. Brenda’s eyes flickered, then she pasted on a sweet, false smile and took my hand. “Eleanor, don’t be upset with your father. He just wants what’s best for you. Since Adam is no longer an option, we can’t let you go to waste. Do you remember the Sterlings of Virginia? Their eldest son is seeking an arranged match. We were going to send your sister Lily, but she’s still so young and silly…” The Sterlings of Virginia. The top tier, the unimaginably wealthy family rumored to have a disabled heir. Alexander Sterling, who had turned volatile and cruel after an accident in his youth. No attendant lasted more than three months. No woman dared enter that fire. So this golden opportunity fell to me. The one Adam had thrown away. The scandalous one. The one who might never bear children. It sounded like a bargain. They were selling me, wringing out every last drop of value. “If you agree, the Sterlings will give us three hundred million. They’ll also cover your brother and sister’s Ivy League tuition-everything,” Brenda’s voice was laced with temptation. Three hundred million. My high school siblings. My life. In Robert’s eyes, that was my total worth. I looked at his greedy face, my heart turning to ice. Out of the fire, straight into the furnace. But at least, Virginia was far away from here, so far that I would never have to see Adam again, never have to live in the shadow of the past seven years. At least, this time, it was my choice. My marriage for my siblings’ future and my own freedom. It was a worthwhile trade. I pulled my hand from Brenda’s grasp, looked at Robert, and clearly uttered two words. “I agree.” Robert and Brenda’s faces instantly lit up with the wild joy of immense relief. Adam Hayes. This city, this relationship, these awful people and things. I was done with them.
Eleanor’s POV Three days after agreeing to marry into the Sterling family in Virginia, I met my best friend, Chloe Miller, at a Western restaurant downtown. It was a farewell, and a change of scenery. Chloe was the only genuine friend I had in our circle. As soon as she sat down, she grabbed my hand, her eyes red. “Eleanor, I know everything. Adam, that jerk, how could he do this to you? And Selena, that little bitch, if you hadn’t spoken up for her back then, she would’ve been drowned by her haters’ comments!” I smiled, handing her a tissue. “Why are you crying? I’m not the one who should be crying. I asked you out today to tell you I’m getting married.” Chloe’s crying stopped abruptly. “Married? To whom? Did Adam change his mind? No way, if he came back, I’d break his legs first!” “Not him.” I stirred the lemon water in my glass, my voice calm as if talking about someone else’s business. “It’s Alexander Sterling from the Sterling family in Virginia.” Chloe gasped, her face instantly looking worse than mine. “Alexander Sterling? The one rumored to be crippled and have a terrible temper?” I nodded. “Yes, him.” “Eleanor, are you insane?!” She shot up, drawing stares from nearby tables. “You’re going from the frying pan into the fire! What kind of pressure did the Vance family bloodsuckers put on you? If you need money, I have it. Don’t do anything stupid!” I pulled her back down, a wave of warmth washing over me. I knew she truly cared. “Chloe, listen to me,” I looked into her eyes, earnestly. “This is my own choice. You know what my family is like. If I don’t leave, my parents will control me forever. Marrying into Virginia, far away from this city, at least I’ll be free. And… the Sterling family offered me an offer I couldn’t refuse.” I told her about the Sterling family’s promise to cover all my siblings’ educational expenses. Chloe fell silent. After a long pause, she sighed. “You’re always like this, carrying everything alone. But what about you, Eleanor? When was the last time you thought about yourself??” Myself? It had been so long since I’d asked that question. For seven years, my life had orbited Adam. I learned what he liked, shed what he didn’t. I’d nearly forgotten who Eleanor was. Maybe marrying a stranger-a disabled man-was the first real choice I’d made for myself in years. We were still talking when a familiar figure paused beside our table. It was Selena. She wore a crisp new Chanel suit, her makeup flawless, a limited-edition Hermès bag over her arm. She looked nothing like the wide-eyed girl from the villa three days before. Adam wasn’t with her. “Eleanor, what a coincidence.” She spoke with a beaming smile, but her eyes were like poisoned needles, stabbing directly at me. Chloe was about to erupt, but I held her back. I shook my head at Chloe, then looked up at Selena, forcing a small smile. “Not a coincidence. I specifically chose this restaurant, one you couldn’t afford, to avoid people like you.” Selena’s smile froze for a moment, then she recovered it. “You’re so funny. Oh, by the way, Adam and I are getting engaged next week. You absolutely have to come, you know? It just wouldn’t feel right without a blessing from the ex.” As she spoke, she deliberately tossed her hair, revealing a dazzling diamond necklace around her neck. I recognized that necklace. Adam had bought it at an auction. It was his twenty-fifth birthday gift to me. So, the things he gave me could be worn by another woman in an instant. My heart, though numb, still felt that dull ache. “Ms. Blake,” I put down my fork and knife, leaning back in my chair, looking at her languidly. “Does wearing someone else’s discarded belongings give you a sense of accomplishment?” “You!” Selena’s facade finally cracked. “What are you talking about? Adam gave this to me! He said he’d never given anyone such an expensive gift!” “Is that so?” I laughed softly. “Then do you know the name of the necklace you’re wearing? It’s called ‘Eternity.’ When he gave it to me, he said it stood for forever. It seems Adam’s forever has a rather short expiration date” Selena snapped. “What do you have to be so proud of?” she burst out. “You’re just a woman Adam grew bored with! Do you think I don’t know? You can’t even have children-a useless hen! What could you possibly have over me?” She lowered her voice on that last sentence, but it struck my most painful spot. All the blood in my body rushed to my head in that instant. She continued, her voice filled with malicious glee. “Oh, right, I forgot to tell you. Adam bought the rooftop where your mother jumped off. He said the view was nice, and he’s going to turn it into a sunroom. We can have afternoon tea there, plant flowers. Your mother’s anniversary is coming up, isn’t it? Do you want to come up and join us then?” Smack! A sharp slap echoed through the entire restaurant. I stood there, my palm stinging. Selena clutched her face, staring at me in shock. Her eyes welled up instantly. “You…you hit me?” I could stand her flaunting Adam’s affection. I could endure her taking what was mine. But using my late mother to taunt me? That was a line she never should have crossed! “That slap,” I looked at her, my voice cold, “was for my mom.”
Eleanor’s POV The commotion in the restaurant attracted the manager, and then, Adam. He arrived so quickly, like a dog guarding its bowl. Without a glance at me, he pulled a weeping Selena behind him and turned a look of cold disdain in my direction-a look I’d never seen on his face before. “Eleanor, what is wrong with you?” Selena, still tucked against him, pointed a trembling finger at me. “Adam, I only asked her to our engagement party… and she hit me.” His expression darkened further. He stared at me as if I were some deranged stranger. “Apologize to her,” he commanded. I looked at him, and a chilling thought settled in my chest: the man before me was a stranger.. Seven years. He had never once asked why. No matter the fight, no matter the reason, he would always make me back down, make me apologize. Because in his world, I, Eleanor Vance, was meant to be the sensible, accommodating, utterly trouble-free accessory. “I won’t repeat myself. Apologize.” When I didn’t move, he warned. Chloe, trembling with rage beside me, couldn’t help but speak up. “Adam, are you blind? She was the one who provoked Eleanor with her mom’s death! She’s the one who should apologize!” Adam’s gaze swept over Chloe, and he said coldly, “This doesn’t concern you.” Then, his eyes landed on me again, filled only with impatience and disappointment. “Eleanor, don’t make me completely lose the last bit of consideration I have for you.” The last bit of consideration? So, seven years of our relationship, to him, had dwindled to this. I laughed, but tears streamed down my face. I looked at Selena, protected in his arms, at his blaming face, and asked him, word by word, “Adam, what if today, I say no?” His brows furrowed tightly. He seemed surprised by my defiance. “Eleanor, don’t push me.” Push him? What had I pushed him to do? Had I pushed him to fall in love with someone else? Had I pushed him to break off our engagement? Had I pushed him to trample on my dignity? Smack! Another sharp slap. But this time, it landed on my face. The entire world fell silent. My cheek burned, a searing pain that soon turned numb. My ears rang, making me unable to hear the gasps and whispers around me. I only saw Adam with his hand raised, a flicker of shock on his face, as if he hadn’t expected himself to actually hit me. And behind him, Selena’s lips curved into a fleeting, triumphant smile. So, this was the end. This slap, more than the broken engagement in the villa, more than seeing my necklace on another woman, finally sobered me up. I raised my hand, wiped away my tears, then looked at him and said, incredibly calmly: “Fine, I apologize.” Adam seemed to relax, believing I’d finally given in. I turned toward Selena, met her expectant gaze, and spoke slowly. “I’m sorry.” Then, under the stunned eyes of everyone, I looked straight at Adam and went on. “Adam, I’m sorry for loving you these past seven years.” “I’m sorry I gave up myself and my dignity for you.” “I’m sorry I was blind enough to mistake a stone for a jewel.” Adam’s expression turned terrifying. “Eleanor! You-” “Adam,” I cut him off, forcing a smile. “You were the one who let go first.” “I promise you. From today on, I will never appear before you again.” “Never again. Just as you wish.” With that, I picked up my bag and, leaning on a worried Chloe, walked out of the restaurant without a backward glance. Behind me, Adam’s furious shout echoed through the dining room. But I didn’t care anymore. The wind outside was bitingly cold. But that was good. At least it could freeze a person clear.
Eleanor’s POV The day after returning from the restaurant, I started packing. ‘Luggage’ wasn’t really the right word. I disdained to take anything from the Vance house, and just looking at the things Adam had given me was painful. I cleared out all the designer bags, high-end fashion, and jewelry from my walk-in closet, piling them in the center of the room. Finally, I took out a heavy red velvet keepsake box from the safe. Adam had given it to me for my twentieth birthday. He’d said that every year, he would put a piece of jewelry he thought best suited me inside. When the box was full, he would marry me. Seven years later, the box was already overflowing. Inside were the tiny diamond earrings he bought me with his bonus after he landed his first project. There was the antique brooch we found at a flea market during our first trip abroad to Paris. And his mother’s sapphire ring, meant for his future wife… Each item had once been treasured. But now, they were just a pile of cold stones. I closed the lid of the box and, along with the blank wish card he’d signed when he was younger, promising to grant my every wish, placed it into the cardboard box meant for return. That wish card was my last resort. Back when Adam’s grandfather was still alive, to reassure me, Adam had signed this card in front of both our families. He’d said that as long as I held this card, no matter when or where, I could make a request, and he would never refuse. I once believed this card would be the most romantic fulfillment of a vow when I married him. Later, I thought it would be my final card to play to win him back. But now, I just wanted to return it to him. I didn’t want to owe him anything anymore. I called Adam’s assistant, Mark, gave him the address, and told him to come pick up the items. Mark’s voice was his usual business-like tone. “Ms. Vance, Mr. Hayes is very busy these days, preparing for his engagement party with Ms. Blake. I’m afraid he doesn’t have time for these irrelevant matters.” “Irrelevant matters?” I controlled my emotions. “There are his personal belongings in the box, very important ones.” Mark’s tone grew impatient. “Ms. Vance, I know you’re upset, but Mr. Hayes is truly starting a new life. Why cling on in this way? It would be better for everyone to maintain some decency, wouldn’t it?” He thought I was playing games, trying to cling to Adam. I took a deep breath and said as calmly as possible, “The box contains Mr. Hayes’s personal insignia and important tokens. You must come and collect them before five this afternoon. Otherwise, if anything goes missing, you’ll be responsible.” There was a few seconds of silence on the other end, then he reluctantly agreed. “Understood, I’ll be there this afternoon.” At four-thirty that afternoon, Mark arrived as promised. He didn’t even step inside, just stood at the doorway. I pushed the few large cardboard boxes I’d packed towards him. “Ms. Vance,” he said pointedly, while instructing his driver to move the boxes, “you need to look forward. Mr. Hayes and Ms. Blake are a perfect match, everyone knows that. You’re only making yourself look worse.” I didn’t explain, nor did I argue. Arguing with someone living in their own delusion was the most foolish thing in the world. I just looked at him and said blandly, “Check the items thoroughly. Take them back to him. From now on, we’re even.” After they loaded everything into the car, I closed the front door.
Eleanor’s POV Three days later, a black stretch limousine pulled up to my house. I wore a simple white dress, carrying a small suitcase. Under the complex gazes of Robert and Brenda, I got into the car, bound for Virginia. After a flight of over ten hours, the plane smoothly landed on a private airstrip at Virginia Airport. A middle-aged man in a black suit came forward, bowing respectfully to me. “Ms. Vance, I presume? I am Mr. Alexander Sterling’s butler, Mr. Davies. Mr. Sterling is waiting for you at the hillside villa.” “Hello, yes, thank you.” I responded with a smile. Mr. Davies seemed surprised by my polite demeanor. He paused, then offered a kind smile. “Ms. Vance, please get in the car.” The black Rolls-Royce drove smoothly along the mountain road. The scenery was entirely different from the city I had left behind. The car finally stopped in front of a white villa nestled among green trees. The villa’s design was minimalist and modern, exuding luxury in a subtle way. The butler opened the car door for me and led me into the living room. In the center of the living room, a man in a wheelchair sat with his back to me. He wore a simple white shirt, his figure slender and tall. Even seated, his excellent proportions were evident. Hearing my footsteps, he maneuvered his wheelchair, slowly turning to face me. In that instant, my breath caught. The man before me bore no resemblance to the gloomy, violent image I’d conjured of someone disabled. His features were strikingly handsome, almost perfect, and his deep eyes seemed to see right through me. He was Alexander Sterling. I instinctively clutched the hem of my dress, breaking the silence first. “Mr. Sterling, hello. I’ve arrived.” He lifted the corner of his lips slightly, and his cool demeanor softened somewhat. “I know. I’ve been waiting for you.” His gaze slowly moved from my face down to my tightly gripped suitcase handle. “Mr. Davies, show her to her room. It’s been a long flight; she must be tired,” he ordered softly, his eyes never leaving me. “Yes, sir.” Mr. Davies stepped forward, ready to take my suitcase. “No, thank you, I can manage.” I quickly refused, not wanting to seem delicate right after arriving. I pulled my suitcase, ready to follow the butler upstairs, but just as I turned to pass his wheelchair, the suitcase wheel unfortunately caught on the edge of the rug. The entire case suddenly tipped to one side. “Careful!” Mr. Davies exclaimed. I instinctively reached out to steady it, my body also losing balance. I tumbled forward unexpectedly- I didn’t fall to the carpet. My hands landed on something warm and firm. Through a thin layer of shirt fabric, I could clearly feel the smooth, powerful lines of muscle beneath my palms. My cheek was only a few centimeters from his neck. I could even smell his clean, fresh scent. I… I had practically fallen into Alexander Sterling’s arms. My hands were pressed against his chest. My mind went blank, my cheeks flushed crimson, feeling as though they could start bleeding. In all my life, aside from Adam, I had never had such intimate contact with any man. I fumbled to get up, clumsily pushing against his chest, but the more I rushed, the more my strength failed me. All the while, Alexander Sterling sat steadily in his wheelchair, without even a tremor. He didn’t push me away, nor did he help me. He just sat there quietly, letting me struggle clumsily in his arms like a startled rabbit. I could feel his steady, powerful heartbeat, tapping against my palm, a rhythmic thud, then another. My heart, however, felt like it was about to pound out of my throat. Finally, with a burst of effort, I pushed against his chest and straightened up, retreating a few steps in disarray, my head bowed so low it almost touched my chest. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to!” I stammered, my face so hot it felt like it could fry an egg. He still didn’t say anything. I secretly lifted my eyes, quickly glancing at him. He maintained his calm expression, as if I hadn’t just thrown myself into his arms. He slowly reached up and smoothed the wrinkles on his chest that I had caused. Then, his thin lips parted, his voice a few shades deeper and huskier than before. “Eleanor,” he said, “we’ve just met. Are you that eager?”
Adam’s POV My bachelor party took over the penthouse suite of the city’s most exclusive club. The place was packed-friends, hangers-on, top-shelf liquor, beautiful faces. The air hummed with decadence. Yet I, the guest of honor, couldn’t focus. I sat slouched on the sofa, a cigar smoldering between my fingers. My gaze drifted through the haze, seeing nothing. My friend Garrett North leaned in, offering a glass of whiskey. “Adam. You’re getting engaged tomorrow. Why are you so upset?” I ignored the drink, tugging at my tie. “Nothing.” Garrett followed my absent stare toward Selena, who was holding court across the room, laughter too loud. He snorted. “Still hung up on Eleanor? Honestly, Adam. Why trade a woman like her for someone so common? Look at her. You can practically see her head inflating.” Eleanor again. My expression hardened. “Eleanor and I are done.” “Done?” Garrett scoffed again. “Come on. It’s been seven years of this dance. When has she ever been the one to walk away for good? Give it three days. She’ll come crawling back, tears and all. That stunt at the restaurant? Just her playing hard to get. Again.” My friends were quick to agree. “Exactly. Eleanor’s crazy about you. She won’t just walk away.” “She’s jealous, that’s all. You know how women are. Just smooth things over a little.” “You’re getting engaged tomorrow, Adam. I’d bet anything Eleanor shows up to make a scene!” I took another drink. My irritation had little to do with them. It was Eleanor’s silence these past few days that grated on me. Ever since the restaurant disaster, she’d disappeared. Vanished. No calls, no texts, not a single social media post. It wasn’t what I’d expected. The script called for her to be blowing up my phone by now, pleading for another chance. But she wasn’t. And that loss of control-it churned in my gut, a blend of pure annoyance and the first cold trace of panic. I picked up my glass and downed the burning liquor. It did nothing for the tightness in my chest. I pulled out my phone and tapped Eleanor’s chat window on instinct. It was blank. “Damn woman!” I cursed under my breath and threw the phone onto the table. Garrett watched me, eyes glinting with a mischievous idea. “If you’re that worried, Adam, just call her. Make up an excuse-tell her to bring you something. If she comes, she still cares. If not…” “She’ll come,” I sneered, utterly confident. I waved my assistant Mark over. “Call Eleanor,” I ordered, sinking back into the sofa. “Tell her I’ve drunk too much. I need hangover soup. She has thirty minutes.” It was an old trick. No matter the hour or what she was doing, one call from me and Eleanor would drop everything, make the soup, and drive across the city to deliver it. Because Eleanor adored me. “Tell her,” I paused, adding, “my engagement tomorrow depends entirely on her presence.” It was an ultimatum. A concession. This was the greatest concession I’d ever grant. Mark nodded and stepped away to make the call. He returned a few minutes later, his expression strained. “Mr. Hayes,” he said, leaning in close. “Ms. Vance answered.” My brow lifted. A cold, knowing smile touched my lips. Just as I’d predicted. Eleanor couldn’t stay away. “What did she say? Is she crying? Ask her where she is now.” Mark stammered. “She… wasn’t crying, Sir. She said… to go to hell.” My smile froze.
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