Chapter 75 Another Hidden Identity
Chapter 75 Another Hidden Identity
Eleanor ignored Catherine and pulled Vera toward the Range Rover.
“Wow, already found yourself another sugar daddy, huh?” Catherine sneered.
Eleanor stopped in her tracks, her icy gaze landing on Catherine. “Yep. If you’re so capable, why don’t you go find yourself a sugar daddy too? Mine’s way wealthier than anyone you could ever land.”
Eleanor reached for the rear passenger door, but Vera nudged her toward the front and opened the door for her. “You sit up front. I’ll take the back. If you’re with me, someone might get jealous.”
Eleanor smirked faintly but didn’t argue. She slid into the front passenger seat.
“Who’s that woman outside?” Tyler asked.
“Just an old classmate who’s basically a stranger now. Not worth paying attention to,” Eleanor replied.
As she finished fastening her seatbelt, Vera chimed in, “Tyler, you’re my best friend’s husband now. If you ever land a sweet deal or hear about something good, throw one my way, alright?”
Eleanor shot Vera a sharp look, clearly annoyed at being used as a bargaining chip.
“As long as it doesn’t damage my reputation, I might consider it,” Tyler replied in his deep, steady voice.
“You don’t have to worry about that,” Vera said. “With our skills, you can rest easy. So, Mr. Langford, where are you taking us for dinner? I’ve heard of this new grand hotel that has some amazing dishes.”
“Where do you want to go?” Tyler turned to Eleanor.
“Let’s go to the place Vera mentioned,” Eleanor said. “Alright.” Tyler nodded.
“Not bad, you actually asked for Eleanor’s opinion,” Vera remarked. “Definitely better than the last one.”
The hotel had a sleek, modern look, with a bright and clean lobby. The predominantly white decor gave the space a comfortable and inviting atmosphere.
“Keith has already reserved a private room,” Tyler said. “Let’s head in.”
Vera pulled Eleanor aside and whispered, “Now that’s what I call efficiency. I have to say, he’s definitely better than the last one. Let me tell you, men like to put on a show before marriage, but after marriage, their true colors come out.
“Someone like Chris, who couldn’t even bother pretending before marriage, clearly never cared about you in the first place.” Eleanor kept her eyes on Tyler and said, “He’s always a step ahead of Chris.”
“Even so, don’t lose yourself. Stay grounded, Eleanor,” Vera reminded her.
Inside the private room, a black leather sofa was set against the wall. On the coffee table nearby, there were fresh flowers and an eight–inch painting.
The artwork depicted a chubby little girl kneeling beside a basket of persimmons, with a pot of water behind her and a lush persimmon tree overhead.
The inscription read: [A peaceful heart can cure a thousand woes; all it takes is a sliver of serenity.] Below it was a seal with the name “Yael.”
Noticing Eleanor’s gaze lingering on the painting, Tyler asked, “Do you like it? I can find out where to get one for you.” “No need,” Eleanor replied. “I just think the owner of this place has great taste.”
The head server, who had been attending to them, overheard and said, “Our boss is a big fan of Yael’s work. Every private room here features one of her paintings.
“She rarely creates hand–painted pieces–only when she’s in the mood, and she only does one at a time. Luckily, she collaborates with a gallery, so all her works are available as prints.”
“Impressive. The owner really knows their stuff,” Eleanor remarked.
er paintings. If someone does well, their meal
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“We also have an activity here where guests can try their is on the house. If you’re interested, feel free to
“Okay.” Eleanor nodded.
The hotel served individual portions. The waiter explained that it was to cut down on waste and keep things clean.
“Our signature dishes include cheese–baked lobster, slow–braised short ribs, and pan–seared sea scallops,” the head server
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Chapter 75 Another Hidden Identity
introduced. “If you’d like, we can also arrange for entertainment, such as dance performances”
“No need. We prefer a quiet atmosphere,” Tyler said as he slid the menu toward Eleanor. “You decide.”
“Alright.” Tyler nodded.
Sitting across from them, Vera propped her chin on her hands. “Wow, talk about night and day. Same Langford blood, totally different vibes.”
Tyler glanced at Vera. “Do you really have to keep digging up the past?”
“I’m just making an observation. I want to make sure Eleanor doesn’t jump from one bad situation to another. But to be fair, you’ve been decent so far.”
“Huh?”
“You probably don’t know this, but Chris has always been arrogant and never cared about Eleanor’s opinions. In that regard, you’re better than him. Just because I kicked him once, he even tried to stop Eleanor from hanging out with me. Talk about overstepping.”
Tyler gave Vera a sidelong glance. “That kick of yours really hit the mark. His mom was ready to go after your family, but I talked her down.”
“Well, if that’s the case, I should’ve aimed lower and made sure he couldn’t get it up.”
“Totally agree.”
Eleanor glanced at Tyler. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Tyler really couldn’t stand Chris. “You’re his uncle. If someone hears you, they’ll start gossiping.”
Tyler let out a cold laugh. “He’s been spoiled rotten since he was a kid. A little lesson wouldn’t hurt him.
“Everywhere he goes, he can’t wait to flaunt his identity. But does he even realize that the status he’s so proud of isn’t something he earned himself?”
Something clicked in Eleanor’s mind. “So, you’re saying all those rumors about him back in school… he spread them himself?”
Tyler sneered. “Does he strike you as someone who knows how to keep a low profile? Dad always said the Langford kids should blend in and live like ordinary people while in school. He clearly wasn’t listening.”
The door opened, and the dishes were brought in. “Enough about him,” Eleanor said, grabbing her fork. “I’m starving.” Eleanor took a bite of lobster, and Tyler noticed a bit of cheese at the corner of her lips. He grabbed a napkin and leaned in, carefully wiping it away.
Vera sighed. “Ugh, so this is what they mean by being force–fed romance.”
Eleanor lowered her gaze, thinking, ‘How would I even know if Tyler’s just putting on a show? After all, actions speak louder than words, but it’s the rumors people spread that really stick.‘
“Stop overthinking. I’m not putting on an act,” Tyler said, as if he could read Eleanor’s mind.
Eleanor blinked, surprised he’d picked up on her thoughts so fast. Nobody said much after that.
“I’ll step out for a bit,” Eleanor said, getting up. She returned about forty minutes later.
“What were you up to?” Tyler asked.
“Oh, just trying to see if I could score us a free meal,” Eleanor replied casually.
Tyler chuckled. “You know this isn’t going to break the bank, right?”
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed outside, and the door swung open. A sharp–looking woman with glasses and her hair neatly tied up stepped in, her eyes scanning the room with excitement. “Who just did the sketching?”
“That would be me,” Eleanor said. “Is there a problem?”
“I’m the owner of this hotel,” the woman said, stepping forward and pulling out a sleek black card. She handed it to Eleanor. “From today onward, you’re one of our VIP members.
“My mom’s been sick, and I’ve been searching for a hand–drawn blessing piece to hang in the house–something to bring peace and healing. I was even considering settling for a printed version. Thank you so much. Tonight’s meal is on the
house.”
“I saw your message on our official account,” said Eleanor. “And when I connected the dots, I realized–you must be Xena.” “That’s me,” the woman, Xena, replied with excitement.
Tyler looked confused at first, then it started to make sense.
It wasn’t until they were outside the hotel that Vera suddenly pieced it together. “Wait a second, Eleanor… you’re not Yael,
Chapter 75 Another Hidden Identity
are you?”
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