Chapter 3 Chris Slapped Her
“Serena, now that you’re back, why don’t you just stay? Your room’s been waiting for you this whole time.” Linda was all smiles as they reunited. “You left without a word back then. Why didn’t you say anything?”
Serena clasped her hands and looked down. Her voice was shaky. “Mrs. Donovan, please don’t blame Eleanor. It had nothing to do with her. She just cared too much about Chris. I don’t hold it against her for going to Mr. Tyler Langford about me.”
Linda’s smile faded. “So Eleanor was the one who drove you away?”
“Well…” Serena shook her head. “It was my fault for getting too close to Chris. I made her think the wrong thing.”
Seeing her tear–streaked face, Linda felt a pang in her chest. “You poor thing. Always putting yourself last.”
“Gee, ‘always putting yourself last? That’s funny.” Eleanor walked into the living room. Did you forget what you did? You knew I liked Chris since we were kids.
“And you kissed him on my birthday. If I hadn’t walked in when I did, were you two about to have sex?”
“I’m sorry.” Tears rolled down Serena’s face.
“It was just a kiss. We were drunk,” Chris muttered, tugging at his collar, clearly annoyed. “We didn’t even sleep together. Why can’t you let it go? But you–kicking a broke girl out to some random city? That’s cold, Eleanor. Real cold.”
Hearing that, Eleanor thought, ‘A broke, girl? Word is, Serena’s been living just fine these past few years. Someone’s definitely been bankrolling her–either Chris or Mom.. But I’ve got no proof.
She sneered, “Will you look at her? She’s perfectly healthy–what’s stopping her from earning a living? Even if all else fails, she could always panhandle. Not cut out for the -high life but still wants to live like a princess? Please.
“Or hey, she could always strip seems like she’s got no problem throwing herself at
men.”
“Eleanor, what is wrong with you today?” Chris snapped, then slapped Eleanor hard across the face.
Eleanor’s cheek stung, but it was her heart that really hurt. She looked at Chris, almost like she was seeing a stranger. This wasn’t the boy who used to stick up for her. That version of him was long gone…
She felt… numb. The kind of numbness that came after years of disappointment. Maybe it was finally time to let go.
Chris froze after the slap, thinking, ‘Shit. Hitting my fiancee right in front of her mother?
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Chapter 3 Chris Slapped Her
That’s some trailer park drama waiting to happen!
Nervously, he glanced at Linda. To his surprise, she didn’t look mad at all. That took a little weight off his chest.
Linda was floored by what Eleanor had spilled. In her mind, Serena had always been the quiet type–never caused trouble, easy to overlook. Sure, her grades had never been anything special, unlike Eleanor’s, but she was sweet, polite, never talked back… just easy to like.
“It’s all in the past. Everybody makes mistakes when they’re young and in love. Besides, Chris was drunk.” Linda waved it off, not wanting anything to ruin the upcoming engagement party.
She added, “Eleanor, maybe you should ask yourself if you’ve done enough. Maybe that’s why Chris started looking elsewhere.”
Eleanor stared at her in disbelief, thinking, ‘Did my own mother really just say that? I’m supposed to reflect on why my fiance isn’t loyal? I’m the one who got hurt–how is this my fault?‘
“I’m sorry, Eleanor. I really am.” Serena sniffled. “I was just jealous of what you two had -growing up together, being so close. I always felt like an outsider, just a foster kid trying to fit in.
That night… we were drunk, but nothing really happened. And you’re still the one he’s marrying. Look, this is the ring he picked out just for you.”
Eleanor glanced at the ring Serena handed over. She then shot Chris a mocking look, thinking to herself, ‘Oh, I remember this guy preaching about diamonds being a total
scam.
‘Had the nerve to gaslight me too–saíd even though the Langfords could afford it, I should be the understanding one.”
Chris could feel her stare and looked away, a little guilty. “After our fight earlier, I couldn‘ t reach pick it out.”
you. So I asked Serena to come with me t
Eleanor let out a dry laugh and slipped the ring onto her left ring finger. “Oops, too big.” Then, without warning, she grabbed Serena’s hand and slid the ring onto the same finger–it fit like a glove.
“Looks like this ring wasn’t for me after all.” Eleanor yanked it off and hurled it to the ground. It clinked against the floor and rolled under the coffee table.
Chris‘ face darkened. “You’re way out of line, Eleanor!”
“Yep, so what?” Eleanor shot back. “You didn’t like my temper, so I toned it down for you. Even when we fought, I never made a scene. But that’s over now, Chris. From this moment on, we’re done.”
“Eleanor, what the hell are you doing!” Linda jumped in before Chris could speak. “The invitations are already out. How are we supposed to explain this? You call off the
Chapter 3 Chris Slapped Her
engagement now, no man’s ever going to want you again!”
“Why not?” Eleanor asked, feigning innocence. “Anyone who really loves me should accept me as I am. And as for the engagement–hey, you’ve still got her.”
Serena flinched as Eleanor walked toward her. “W–What are you doing?”
“Relax. Don’t fall over again and blame me for pushing you.” Eleanor took her hand, her voice calm but sharp. “I’m genuinely worried about you.
“Tell you what I’ll step aside and let you have Chris. That way you can stop lusting after him like some pathetic creep.”
“No!” “Absolutely not!” Two voices rang out in unison.
Linda stepped in. “She’s adopted, after all. The engagement has to be you, Eleanor. And Serena, don’t be upset. I’ll find you a more suitable match.”
Chris said, “Eleanor, I know what you’re up to. You’re trying to drag Tyler into this again, aren’t you? Well, he invited us to dinner tomorrow night. If you’re serious about breaking off the engagement, go tell him yourself.”
“Think I won’t?” Eleanor let out a cold laugh. She’d been bending over backward this whole time, and it only made Chris think she was weak and easy to manipulate. Clearly, when she said she wanted to break up, he never took hér seriously.
Eleanor looked at Serena, pale as a ghost. “See that? No matter how hard you suck up to my mom or my fiancé, when it really counts, they still won’t choose you. You’re just…. not one of us.”
Serena let out a scream. A piece of paper fluttered from her purse. Chris snatched it up. “Serena, you’re… depressed?”
“Just let me die!” Serena sobbed as she ran out the door.
“Serena!” Chris shot Eleanor a death glare. “If something happens to her, I swear you’ll
pay!”
As he rushed after Serena, Eleanor smiled–but the smile looked tired. She pulled out her phone. “Tyler, where are you? I need to talk to you about something.”
Guessing what she was about to do, Linda’s face turned to stone. “Eleanor, don’t pull this nonsense. Go apologize to Chris. You’re marrying into the Langfords whether your like it or not.”
Eleanor snorted and walked out without a word.
At a private lounge in Nocturne, Eleanor found Tyler.
The lighting was dim, casting a warm amber glow over his sharp features. Even with the shadows, it was impossible to miss how good–looking he was–tall, young, and way too composed for someone his age.
Tyler basically ran half the Harborview economy. He didn’t even need to say much- just sitting there, he gave off this intimidating, icy energy.
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Chapter 3 Chris Slapped Her
He was supposed to meet someone else tonight, but after Eleanor called, Tyler dropped everything and came here instead.
Tyler set his whiskey aside and ordered Eleanor a glass of juice. His tone was calm, almost indifferent. “It’s late. What’s going on?”
His gaze locked onto Eleanor with those piercing, ice–cold eyes. The moment he noticed the marks on her cheek, his stare turned even frostier. “What happened to your cheek? Did Chris slap you?”
Eleanor touched her cheek. It was already swollen on one side. “Tyler, remember you once promised you’d help me with three things? I need the second one now. I want to break up with Chris. Please cancel next week’s engagement party.”
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