Chapter 36 The Investigation
Eleanor was sitting with Madam Langford in the living room, chatting, when suddenly, she heard Chris shouting from upstairs.
Madam Langford was clearly annoyed, “Don’t mind him, Eleanor,” she said. “He’s probably still de
probably still drunk and hasn’t sobered up yet.”
Eleanor chuckled. “We’re family now. Of course, I’m not going to hold it against him.
“Good,” Madam Langford smiled. “This afternoon, a friend of mine is holding an afternoon tea party. I’ll take you there. You know, I’m getting old, and I just can’t get used to coffee. Tea is still the best.”
Eleanor didn’t mind either one, so she nodded. “What suits you best is always the best
choice.”
“That’s exactly how I see it,” Madam Langford said, clearly pleased. “It’s the same with people. Honestly, I never thought you and Chris were a good match, but I kept my mouth shut. At least now, you’ve officially joined our family.”
Eleanor smiled warmly. “It’s all fate, really. Tyler might be a force to be reckoned with outside, but at home, he still listens to you, doesn’t he? Even the strongest have their soft spots when it comes to relationships.”
“Relationships?” Madam Langford raised an eyebrow. “I never arranged anything for
him.”
She knew her son well–trying to set him up was pointless. Even with a knife to his throat, he wouldn’t agree to marry anyone. So matchmaking was out of the question.
Suddenly, a thought struck her. Could it be that Tyler and Eleanor had made some kind. of deal between themselves? She couldn’t risk messing that up and causing a rift
between the two.
“Let’s not talk about dating–it just gets me riled up,” she said, quickly changing the subject. “If he doesn’t get married soon, I’ll line up ten blind dates a day for him. To be honest, Eleanor, I thought you were just pretending to be his girlfriend at first.”
She gave Eleanor a look, trying to gauge her reaction.
Eleanor smiled serenely. “How could that be? I like him. Honestly, who wouldn’t? He’s handsome, successful, and has a decent temper. In my eyes, Tyler’s always been the best man out there. So when the opportunity came up, I just went for it–and proposed.” “You proposed?” Madam Langford blinked, then chuckled to herself. No wonder Tyler had seemed so clever–he’d made it look like she was the one taking the lead.
Successfully unlocked!
Just then, Chris stormed downstairs and overheard their conversation. His face. turned red with fury.”
“So that’s it, Eleanor? You only dated me to get close to Tyler? You planned the whole
Chapter 36 The Investigation
breakup, didn’t you?” Chris exploded. “Serena was right all along–you never loved me. You saw her marry me, and you made her lose the baby. How could you be so heartless?”
Eleanor’s brow furrowed. She hadn’t realized how clueless Chris still was.
“Shut your mouth!” Madam Langford snapped. “Eleanor is your elder now. Is that how you talk to your elders?”
Chris finally seemed to register that Madam Langford was in the room, and his arrogance deflated. “Grandma, I didn’t see you there…”
“Didn’t see me? Have you gone blind?” Madam Langford shot back. “But then again, maybe you really are blind.”
“My eyesight’s fine,” Chris mumbled. “I just couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Grandma, Tyler shouldn’t have married her.”
“Then go cry to Tyler, not me,” Madam Langford retorted. “You’re not just blind–you’ve got no sense. The younger generation gets more disappointing by the day.“” Then her eyes lit up and she looked at Eleanor with a grin. “But you and Tyler–both sharp as tacks. Your kids will be something else.”
Eleanor forced a smile. “Mom, you’re putting too much pressure on me.”
“Grandma, you’re all forgetting something. This woman caused Serena to lose her child yesterday. And you’re still standing up for her?” Chris sneered. “She’ll never have kids of her own, and if she does, they’ll be stillborn!”
“Enough!” Madam Langford snapped, her voice cold as steel. “Do you want the Langford family to have no heirs? And as for lying–someone who plays dirty games all the time, even if they manage to get pregnant, who’s to say the child’s even ours? And that baby that was lost? Maybe it just wasn’t meant to be. Survival of the fittest.”
“Grandma! How can you be so biased? It’s all her fault!” Chris shouted.
“You know what happened yesterday?” Madam Langford shot back. “And you’re still running your mouth like this?”
“I do know!” Chris insisted. “Eleanor lured Serena to the pond and pushed her in. She even called a doctor to get rid of the baby.”
Eleanor let out a soft, mirthless laugh. “Wow, someone’s been busy digging up stories.” Madam Langford’s expression turned even darker. “Now I see why Eleanor broke up with you.”
“Martha, don’t be angry,” Eleanor said gently. “It’s not worth it. I bought some new tea- I’ll make you some when it arrives.
“That’s my sweetheart,” Madam Langford took her hand before turning to Chris. “Some people just need to stop yelling and check themselves into a hospital. Chris–don’t you see how used you are to bossing Eleanor around? It’s second nature to you now.”
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Chapter 36 The Investigation
Chris’s expression shifted. The truth hit him like a punch to the gut: he’d shouted Eleanor’s name earlier, which had driven Serena into a rage and caused her to storm off. And then Eleanor had stepped in.
He clenched his fists. “Eleanor, I don’t care what games you’ve played with Grandma and Tyler. You’re going to apologize to Serena!”
Eleanor’s lips curled into a cold smile, her eyes sharp and icy. The scene felt painfully familiar–just like that time in Himvar. Chris had demanded an apology from her then, too. No matter how she’d explained, he never listened.
Back then, she’d been young and stubborn, refusing to give in. If Tyler hadn’t stepped in, she might’ve been completely ruined by Chris’s foolishness.
“Apologize?” Eleanor said with a scoff. “Sure. Just as soon as Serena apologizes to me. Maybe then I’ll think about forgiving her.”
Chris’s face turned beet red. “Do you even hear yourself?”
“Martha, it’s getting loud in here, Eleanor said, rising to her feet. “Let’s go out for a walk. No point wasting time on someone who can’t think straight.”
“Chris, you can’t just take everything at face value. Sometimes, what looks like the truth at first glance starts to crack the moment you look closer. And you still haven’t investigated anything properly,” Madam Langford gave Chris a disappointed look.” Eleanor, let’s go.”
Chris stood frozen, frowning deeply as he watched them leave. Then, ignoring his grandmother’s words, he turned and rushed to the hospital.
Serena was lying pale and weak in bed at the hospital. As soon as he saw her, a wave of guilt washed over him.
“Chris, the baby’s gone, and Kara wants us to get a divorce…” Serena burst into tears. What am I supposed to do?”
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