Chapter 110
Chapter 110
As soon as Chris heard movement from inside the room, a wave of regret hit him. He wasn’t even sure what he was afraid of, he just knew he was bursary second guessing his earlier impulse.
He turned to leave, but before he could take a step, the door opened. “Come in,” Tyler said.
Chris stood there with his back to Tyler, fists clenched, a dazed look flickering across his face. “Sorry, I must’ve knocked on the wrong door he mumbled.
“I knew you’d come,” Tyler said, his voice calm and steady. “Don’t you want to know what happened?”
Chris hesitated for a moment, then said, “It’s late. I don’t want to bother you and Eleanor. If someone saw me here, they’d start talking
“For once, you’re being smart,” Tyler replied, his tone unreadable. “Alright, I’ll respect your choice.”
Chris dropped his gaze, staring at his shoes, lost in thought. After a long pause, he turned back. “I want to know.”
Chris caught a flash of mockery on Tyler’s face, but he didn’t care. He needed to find out what he’d been missing.
“Come in. She’s still up,” Tyler said coldly, heading back into the room.
Chris hesitated for a second, then followed him inside.
Eleanor was seated on the edge of the bed, dressed neatly, flipping through a book. She looked up and smiled. “Hey, Chris, what brings you here so late?”
Chris suddenly realized Tyler hadn’t changed into loungewear either. The thought popped into his head–they must’ve known he was coming and were waiting for him on purpose.
With that in mind, Chris blurted out, “You guys did this on purpose.”
Eleanor laughed. “Did what, Chris? You’re hilarious.”
“If you didn’t know I was coming, then why are you both still dressed up?”
Eleanor shot back, full of sarcasm, “Wow, you’re something else. I’m in my room–what’s wrong with dressing up? Didn’t you see your uncle and me playing chess? We’re not even getting ready for bed yet. Do I need your approval for what I wear?”
Chris followed where Eleanor pointed and saw a chessboard on a small table with two teacups next to it.
Chris wasn’t a chess master, but he could tell the white side was winning, and the black commander was surrounded.
“Tyler, you’re the one playing white, right?”
Chris wasn’t just trying to flatter him. Tyler had been entering chess tournaments since he was five and had never lost a single match. His style was fearless, ruthless, and decisive–he’d sacrifice a rook without blinking if it meant turning the game around. Eleanor couldn’t even get the basic rules. down until Chris taught her himself, and every time they played, she lost.
“No,” Tyler said. “I’m playing black.”
“Then you must’ve let Eleanor win,” Chris said.
Tyler shot back with a smirk, “Chris, ever heard the saying, ‘There’s always someone better out there‘?”
Chris was adamant. “No way. Girls aren’t good at this stuff, and her chess is terrible. She always loses to me.”
Tyler laughed. “Or maybe she was just letting you win on purpose.”
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Chapter 110
Chris shook his head hard. “No way.”
Tyler glanced at Eleanor and said, “See? Your so–called kindness meant nothing to him. You missed your chance”
“What?” Chris immediately sensed something was off and asked nervously.
“The past isn’t worth talking about,” Eleanor replied coolly. “Chris, you didn’t come here just to dig up old stories, did you?”
“Why keep it from him?” Tyler said. “You could’ve joined the chess club and become the next legend after me. But because Chris kept complaining he could never beat me, you pretended to be a total newbie and let him win on purpose, just to stroke his ego. To avoid hurting him, you even told the club president you wouldn’t join.”
Chris’s eyes widened as the memories came flooding back. Everyone praised Tyler’s brilliance, and he’d never accepted that. He kept challenging Tyler to chess, but always lost, and lost badly. That one time, after another defeat, he stormed off in a huff. That was when Eleanor found him with a chess set asking shyly if he could teach her.
He’d always thought Eleanor was a rookie. Yet it was with Eleanor that he finally tasted victory. That thrill became something he clung to. Over time, he convinced himself Eleanor was mediocre, beneath him in every way, and had nothing going for her except a wealthy family background.
“You both lied to me,” Chris muttered.
Eleanor let out a cold laugh. “You’re the one who wanted to know, but now you can’t handle the truth? Don’t worry, this is just the beginning. Here.
Chris looked at the recorder she tossed in front of him. “What’s this?”
Eleanor smirked. “Didn’t you say you want to know what happened? This will tell you.”
Chris picked up the recorder suspiciously, turned it on, and as he listened to the voice inside, his face changed dramatically.
“Too bad anything said under hypnosis doesn’t count as evidence,” Eleanor said coolly. “Surprised, Chris?”
Chris went pale, the recorder slipping from his hand and hitting the floor. He was gasping for air, heart pounding, a wave of fear washing over him like never before. Still, something inside him kept him from facing the truth.
“This isn’t real,” Chris muttered under his breath. “Eleanor, what did you do to get back at me and Serena?”
Eleanor let out a cold laugh. “You think I faked it? This is the truth. But even if you go digging, you won’t find anything. So, believe it or not, it’s up to you.”
Suddenly, Chris dropped to his knees in front of Eleanor. “Eleanor/what did you do to Serena? She told me there’s a blank spot in her memory. She said she was scared, that you were terrifying. I didn’t believe her before, but now…” His voice broke. “Please. Let us go. Tyler, are you going along with Eleanor
on this?”
Eleanor looked at Chris like he was a complete idiot. “I’d really like to ask my past self–what the hell did I ever see in you?” she said, voice dripping with contempt. “You’re so painfully stupid. You two are a match made. Why on earth would I even bother breaking you two up? What a waste of my time.”
She gestured toward the door. “You got your answers. Now get out. Tyler, let’s play another round.”
“Sure,” Tyler said, glancing at Chris, who was still kneeling. “Why are you still here?”
Chris’s eyes landed on the chessboard.
Eleanor grinned. “Looks like our.nephew wants to watch. Fine. Pull up a chair.”
Almost without thinking, Chris agreed. He’d expected Tyler to go easy, maybe let Eleanor win Instead, what unfolded was a fierce, high–level battle. The chessboard was a battlefield, quiet but deadly–each move calculated, merciless, elegant.
“Checkmate,” Eleanor said with a bright smile. “You lost again, Tyler.”
Tyler shook his head. “Haven’t played in a while. I’ve gotten rusty.”
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11:28 Sat, 24 May
Chapter 110
24 May au
Eleanor laughed. “A loss is a loss. Stop making excuses.”
All of a sudden, Chris felt a sharp pain in his chest. Staring at Eleanor’s radiant smile, it felt like he’d just lost something important. His voice trembled. “Eleanor, why did you keep this from me?”
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