Chapter 70 A Hidden Talent
Seeing through Serena’s fake concern, Eleanor said dryly, “Oh, you know about that? Yeah, what i was doing was really
shady”
Clearly not expecting that, Serens smile slipped
Eleanor pressed on, “So, Serens, tell me What exactly was I doing over there? i was it en charty?
“How would I know? Serens replied quickly “I was just making conversation, El
“Madam, I have something for you, Eleanor said, changing the subjet
Don’t take it riencely”
Eleanor stood up and left the dining room briefly When the ratmad, the was holding a decorative place
“Madam, this is a double–sided embroidery by Master Artisan Mariana Petrova” she explained 1 remember you love hand embroidered silk artwork, and she just finished this piece. I had someone acquire it for you”
It was a square display piece featuring a Persian cat One side showed the cat with golden for the other with black fur. The embroidery was so lifelike, the cat seemed ready to pur
“Double–sided, different colors! Madam exclaimed, clearly delighted ‘Eleanor, dear, you’n so thoughtful Petrovd’s work has such soul, but it’s notoriously difficult to obtain unless you have a connection Do you know her
“Yes,” Eleanor confirmed “Serena was just asking what I was doing all those years. I was actually running a business focused on preserving and promoting hand embroidered silk artwork. Master Petrova happens to be a friend of my mentor “Ah, I see,” Madam said, nodding. “That’s no simple task. It must have been quite demanding
“Oh, so that’s what you were doing, Eleanor,” Serena chimed in quickly. “But that’s nothing bad, why didn’t you ever mention it? Please don’t be upset about what I said earlier.”
Eleanor ignored Serena and continued speaking to Madam. “It really was hard work. My mentor told me that not many people are willing to stay long in Shavalyn Town, and once I got there, I understood why. Besides the artisan shops, there’s nothing – no restaurants, no entertainment. It’s a bit busy during the day, but dead quiet at night. You really have to be okay with solitude to live there. Back then, I spent my days learning the craft and my evenings doing live streams to showcase the art. After the streams, I’d negotiate with international clients. There was a period when it was incredibly exhausting.”
“Live streams?” Serena interjected sharply. “No wonder you didn’t want the family to know, Eleanor! Isn’t that usually just pretty young women trying to look seductive online? If someone dug that up later, it would be humiliating for the Langford family!”
Eleanor scoffed. “If you don’t know what you’re talking about, Serena, then shut up. No one mistook you for a mute. Have you been living under a rock? Don’t you know even local officials use live streams for community outreach these days? Besides, my streams weren’t just about selling. I had to thoroughly research the history and techniques of various textile arts – not just the silk embroidery, but other traditional styles too. Later, I even developed a new line of accessories. Honestly, the only reason I left was because my mother kept insisting I needed to come back and work on my relationship, that we couldn’t keep living separately. Otherwise, I would have happily stayed.”
Eleanor hadn’t mentioned anyone by name, but Chris couldn’t help but look over at her. He realized with a jolt that he’d known absolutely nothing about any of this.
Seeing Chris’s gaze fixed on Eleanor, Serena felt a stab of jealousy, but she kept a smile plastered on her face. “Eleanor,” she said, her voice dripping with fake sweetness, “you make it sound like you’re regretting this engagement. Weren’t you serious about Chris back then?”
Eleanor rolled her eyes, a flash of annoyance in her bright eyes. “Of course I was serious,” she snapped, “but all that sincerity? Wasted. Might as well have thrown it to the dogs.”
Chris Langford stared at Eleanor and said after a while, “Were you really busy with work back then, or were you trying to create distance to make the heart grow fonder?”
Eleanor turned to face Chris, her expression hardening. “Mind your manners, Chris,” she said sharply. “What’s the point of
ng?” digging up the past? I’m being the bigger person here, not bringing up all the stupid things you did. Why are you still Chris’s hands clenched slightly. He remembered hearing back then that Eleanor was doing it for ‘distance makes the grow fonder, wanting him to miss her, which was why she hadn’t come back after graduation. He’d been skeptical, but then he’d met Eleanor’s mother, who’d mentioned not liking long–distance relationships. Soon after, Eleanor returned. This made him even more convinced that it was all a play Successfully unlocked!
Madam Langford asked, “But wouldn’t coming back mean dil your at work was wasted?”
“Not at all,” Eleanor replied. “I handed over some responsibilities to my partners, but international trade is still our main source of income, and I’m still managing that. The time difference means I have to take video calls with my overseas team at night sometimes.”
Chapter 70 & Holden Tatem
“So you are experienced in business then, Madam Langford calda si Excellent sy aka Tyler
company
Kara clenched her het, speaking up “Mom, have you forgotten? The berjovan family has a consang 650 foot they desert our Eleanor in charge. Doesn’t that mean they don’t trust her adhat sewing help at the clipany would we be ad chaos.”
“That’s right.” Serens Farrell echoed from the side,” Kui is not at age with this matter, Granne, we d cautious‘
“You two don’t know anything.” Caden sudderity interjected, a hint of calculation faching in his ajan Pengle need opportunities to learn. It would be great if Eleanor could help Tyler
Eleanor looked at them all, a small smile playing on her tips She former her gaze to Tyler “Everyone den has at the car she said, “but you’re the person this concerns. Why haven’t you said anything
“Nothing much to say, Tyler replied “Of course, it would be helpful if you could assist me. We do need someone with international experience from time to time”
Serena sighed dramatically. “Being born with a silver spoon in your mouth is really something she said dripping with sarcasm “If I had Eleanor’s background, I could do just as well.‘
Tyler scoffed. “To each their own.”
Chris felt a bitter taste in his mouth, but what came out was sharp and sarcastic. “Eleanor he said, don’t bite off more than you can chew. You’ll regret it.”
“Oh?” Eleanor propped her cheek on her hand, watching Chris with amusement. “Like what?”
Chris said, “I’m just saying this for your own good. We’ve known each other for so long, Eleanor. I know you pretty we “Is that so?” Eleanor picked up a fork from the table. “Nephew,” she said, her tone shifting slightly, “let me ask you something. Can a fork kill people?”
Before Chris could answer, Eleanor twirled the fork in her fingers with fluid grace. In a blur of motion, before anyone could quite register what was happening, the fork was pointing directly at Chris’s throat.
Eleanor stared intently at Chris. “Chris,” she repeated, her voice low, “did you know this before?”
With Eleanor pointing a fork at him, for a moment, Chris felt a chilling certainty that Eleanor really could kill him, and maybe even wanted to.
“Eleanor, what are you doing?” Serena exclaimed, her voice laced with false alarm. “Be careful, don’t hurt Christ it’s just twirling a fork, anyone can do that.”
Chris ignored Serena completely, his gaze fixed on Eleanor. “Do you know martial arts?” he asked, his voice hushed with a mix of fear and awe.
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