Chapter 21 True Love Or Hidden Agendas.
“Oh, of course I’ve prepared everything carefully,” hearing Tyler’s words, Eleanor let out a playful smile. “But I have to admit, I really love the dress you gave me. Plus, when I
I
propose to you, I want you to act completely shocked. You have to refuse me with all your heart, then storm off in frustration.”
Tyler raised an eyebrow, clearly puzzled. “Why would you want to do that?”
Eleanor, always quick to explain, replied, “It’ll make it look like you had no choice but to go along with it. That way, people won’t gossip so much.”
Tyler looked at her, his expression thoughtful. “And what’s the point of all this? I’ve already made it clear I’m married, even if I didn’t exactly shout it from the rooftops. If we do things your way, doesn’t that just make it worse in the long run?”
“Well,” Eleanor said, after thinking for a moment, “if anyone asks, we can always explain it later. I’m just trying to protect you, Tyler.”
Tyler let out a soft sigh. “I never asked you to protect my reputation. People already think I’m sneaky, and now, with your plans, I’ll definitely be living up to that reputation.”
“Don’t let other people’s opinions control you, Eleanor said, her tone gentle. “That’s something I’ve learned over the years. The most important thing in life is to be happy.” Tyler smiled faintly. “It seems like, despite everything, you’ve learned something from this situation.”
He stared at Eleanor for a moment, his eyes softened slightly, and just as he was about to say something, his phone rang, cutting the moment short.
He glanced at the caller, a bit irritated it was Kara.
“Tyler, have you heard? Chris’s been beaten up,” Kara called out in the phone.
“He’s an adult. He needs to take responsibility for his own actions, Tyler replied, his
voice cold.
“Do you know why he was beaten?” Kara didn’t reply but continue. “It’s because someone has feelings for Eleanor, so Chris went to ask for an explanation. I can totally tell he’s still in love with Eleanor. Can you help bring her back? Eleanor’s the real Donovan, after all.”
Tyler put the phone on speaker, then shot Eleanor a look that said it all.
Eleanor scoffed and turned her head away, muttering under her breath, “Crazy.”
Tyler gave her a pointed look before responding, “Kara, when it comes to matters of love, I can’t help. Chris is in love with Serena. There’s a big difference between liking someone and being unwilling to let go.”
“Love can grow over time,” Kara insisted. “For the Langford family’s sake, we can’t just accept any foster daughter, especially one with such a past. There’ll be too much
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gossip.” She paused for a second and then continued. “By the way, I heard Eleanor was behind what happened all those years ago. If she didn’t have feelings for Chris, would she have done something like that?”
Tyler’s face darkened, and his voice turned sharp. “Kara, stop listening to rumors. And as for the Langford family’s reputation, Chris doesn’t need to worry about that. Just focus on preparing for his wedding instead.”
Kara’s anger only intensified at his cold response. Watching Sereria tend to Chris’s wounds, she marched over, grabbed Serena by the arm, and slapped her hard. “A woman who’s been with someone else still thinks she can marry into a rich family?” she barked. “Chris’s going to be the laughingstock because of you!”
Serena didn’t try to argue. Instead, silent tears fell from her eyes, her face an image of delicate sorrow. But to Kara, it only made Serena more repulsive.
“What a manipulator. Chris was completely fooled by you!” Kara sneered. “You see? He still cares about Eleanor. Or why would he fight for her?”
Unable to sit by any longer, Chris snapped, “Mom, how can you say that about Serena? You didn’t even like Eleanor before!”
“Is that so different?” Kara shot back angrily. “If you marry. Eleanor, the Donovan family can help you. But if you marry Serena, even Tyler doesn’t like her, not to mention the Langford family. You’ll be in big trouble!”
“Why should they like her?” Chris said, looking at Serena with affection. “I like her, that’s all that matters. Besides, Serena is carrying my child.”
and
At the mention of the pregnancy, Kara’s fury reached new heights. She was convinced that Serena wasn’t really carrying Chris’s child–that she was just using him to find someone to take responsibility.
“Look at you, Chris. You didn’t get Eleanor pregnant, but now you’re going to have a child with this mess of a woman?” Kara hissed. “Do you even know where Eleanor is?”
“Why should I go looking for Eleanor?” Chris snapped. “Mom, you look down on Serena, but do you know that, right now, Serena and Eleanor are in similar situations? Serena was forced into this, while Eleanor chose to live this way.”
Kara was left speechless, her face reddening with frustration. Without the Donovan family’s backing and the life–saving debt owed to Tyler, things were starting to look really complicated.
“Mom, stop worrying,” Chris said firmly. “I’m not marrying Eleanor.”
The big day finally arrived, and Serena was absolutely radiant as she looked at herself in the mirror, dressed in her wedding gown. She was finally getting what she’d always wanted.
Meanwhile, Eleanor had still not appeared, and there was no sign of her anywhere. It was as if she’d vanished off the face of the Earth. Serena suddenly had a thought:
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what if Eleanor really had disappeared for good?
“Here she is, the bride’s here!” someone called out from outside the dressing room.
Serena was about to step out when the door was suddenly flung open, and a group of reporters stormed in.
“We’re here to follow up on the story from last time. Miss Farrell, it seems like you’re really the bride after all,” one of the reporters spoke up. “On this big day, could you tell us how you managed to steal a man when everything seemed set in stone?”
‘What kind of question was that?’ thought Serena. Her face immediately darkened, and her eyes flashed with anger.
“You don’t need to worry,” the reporter continued in a mocking tone. “Your success story will be truly inspiring.”
“I didn’t do anything underhanded,” Serena replied coldly. “Chris and I are in love, and that’s the truth.”
Just then, Serena’s expression faltered. She thought she saw Eleanor in the crowd, but when she looked again, there was no sign of her.
“Miss Farrell, just one more question, asked the reporter. “If Chris were kicked out of the Langford family, would you still be in love with him?”
Serena’s face tightened, and she instinctively clenched her fists. “Who sent you here? Is it the same person from last time? I’ll sue you all and make sure you never work again.”
“Aren’t you afraid to answer? Is that because you’re scared?” the reporter taunted.
Before Serena could respond, a voice rang out, full of anger. “How did you get in here, and what are you doing?”
“Mr. Langford, it’s a big day for news, after all, the reporter, seeing it was Chris, stood up straighter. “We wanted to ask your wife a few questions, and also see if, in case you weren’t part of the Langford family anymore, she would still care about you. Aren’t you also curious?”
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