Chapter 5 I Won’t Regret This
“Oh, don’t you dare bring that up again,” Linda snapped. “We’ve been nice to her to clean up your mess. If you hadn’t been messing around with matches and burned the house down, Serena’s father wouldn’t have died trying to save you.
“And look at you–ungrateful as ever, always picking on Serena. Just like your grandmother Birds of a feather, huh?”
Eleanor let out a dry laugh. “Wow, Mrs. Donovan, guess I should be thanking you. Thank you for never having my back, for believing some outsider over your own kid.
“And thanks for showing me exactly how you treated your mother–in–law–what a great example you set. You couldn’t stand her when she was alive, and now she’s in the ground and you st
won’t let her rest.”
Linda frowned. “What’s wrong with you? Everything I’ve done is for your own good!”
“For my good?” Eleanor shot back, her tone ice cold. “Or just to save your own pride? You know damn well I’d never be happy in that marriage, but you still pushed me toward it like it was some kind of prize.
“Every woman has to go through this kind of thing. You’re just being dramatic,” Lindal huffed. “Love doesn’t matter. What matters is that he can bring something to the table.
“Who cares what he does behind your back, as long as he doesn’t rock the boat? A man like Chris? A couple women on the side is normal.”
“Oh yeah?” Eleanor gave a bitter smile. “Then how come Tyler doesn’t have anyone hanging around him? Men like Chris are just using that as an excuse for being trash.”
“That’s different,” Linda said. “People say Tyler’s basically a monk. Almost forty and still single. There’s got to be something wrong with him.”
Eleanor had no energy left for this conversation. “I’m tired. I’m going to bed.”
“Hey, wait! You never told me–did you apologize to Chris or not? And tomorrow, when you go to the Langfords‘, watch your mouth.”
Eleanor ignored her and headed straight to her room. Her dad, Richard Donovan, was away on a business trip, but his call came right on cue. Clearly, Linda had already filled him in.
Unlike Linda, Richard kept his tone soft, calmly laying out all the supposed benefits of marrying Chris. He ended by telling her not to be so immature.
Eleanor clenched her jaw, thinking ‘Here we go again. I’m always the one who has to be mature. They keep saying it’s for my own good, but nobody ever asks me if I’m even happy.
“Got it. If Chris is so
amazing, then you all can keep him. I’m tired.” She tossed her
phone aside, frustrated.
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Chapter 51 Won’t Regret Thin
Eleanor thought, ‘No matter what, this engagement has to end.”
The next day, Tyler called. “Where are you? I’ll come pick you up for the Langford dinner.”
“I’m home. You don’t have to go out of your way I can get there myself,” Eleanor said.
“There’s something we need to talk about on the way,” Tyler replied. His tone left no
room for argument.
A moment later, Eleanor got his text: [I’m outside.]
Eleanor didn’t want to keep him waiting. She threw on some quick makeup and rushed
out the door.
A black Range Rover was parked out front. Eleanor recognized it as Tyler’s car and hurried over, pulling open the back door. “Ty–Tyler…” she stammered.
Tyler usually sat in the front passenger seat, but today, he was in the back. Eleanor hesitated, unsure if she should get in, until Tyler said, “What are you standing there for?
Get in.
“Okay.”
Tyler had always given off this intimidating energy–it was impossible not to feel the pressure around him.
“Why are you sitting in the back today?” Eleanor asked softly.
“Easier to talk to you back here,” Tyler said flatly. “I spoke to Chris. He’s at the hospital taking care of someone. Said he couldn’t make it. Did he tell you?”
“I blocked him,” Eleanor said. “You’re going to help me today, right?”
Tyler smirked. “You’re not curious who he’s taking care of?”
Eleanor turned to look out the window, biting her lip. “Whoever it is, it’s none of my
business.”
Tyler studied her. She looked like she was trying hard not to care, but he could tell- she was hurt. Really hurt this time.
“Perfect,” he said. “Let’s go with the flow, and hand them a ‘fairytale ending.‘ But you- you sure you won’t regret it?“.
“No regrets.” Eleanor’s answer came quick, with no hesitation. Her eyes held steady. “I spent seven years chasing Chris. If that didn’t warm his heart, nothing will. I’m done.”
“Good,” Tyler said in his low voice. “You deserve better. I’ll loop the media in, stir things up. Once the story spreads, there’s no turning back.”
Eleanor lowered her eyes, digging her nails into her palms. She understood exactly what he meant. “My family kept telling me to just deal with Chris cheating, while everyone else watched me make a fool of myself.
“I used to love him so much I could put up with all of it. But not anymore. He means
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Chapter 51 Won’t Regret This
nothing to me now. It still hurts, yeah–but dragging this out would hurt way worse. So no, I won’t regret this.”
Tyler looked at her for a long moment. “Alright. When we get there, just follow my lead.”
Eleanor nodded. “Thanks.”
Chris‘ grandfather, Arthur Langford, had basically watched Eleanor grow up. He’d always had a soft spot for her. When he saw her walk in with Tyler, his face lit up. There you are! Where’s Chris? Didn’t he come with you two?”
Eleanor glanced over at Tyler. He gave a slight shake of his head–the universal “don’t say anything” signal.
Chris’s mom, Kara Langford, chimed in out of nowhere, “We’re all family here, sure. But since Eleanor’s about to be engaged to Chris, maybe the two of you should be a bit more mindful. Tyler, why are you arriving with Eleanor?”
“She needed to talk to me, so we came together, Tyler replied. “Kara, you made a good point–once people are engaged, they should definitely be careful with their boundaries. As for where Chris is… you should probably check today’s headlines.”
