Chapter 55 The Fire
“Huh?” Vera suddenly widened her eyes.
at did you say?”
“Why are you so surprised all of a sudden?” Eleanor was startled by Vera’s reaction.
Vera’s face was full of curiosity. “How far have you and Tyler gotten? Kissing, sleeping together? You’ve already gotten your marriage license; it wouldn’t be strange if you did something.”
“I’m just roommates with him. He said he liked me today, but there’s a reason behind it,” Eleanor said.
After hearing the whole story, Vera thought for a moment. “He’s fallen for you over time.”
Eleanor slowly looked at Vera. “What did you say?”
“I can see it clearly. Tyler has definitely developed some subtle feelings for you. Maybe he didn’t realize it himself, but when someone else provoked him, those feelings were amplified. Eleanor, your good days are ahead,” Vera said with a smile.
Eleanor was somewhat surprised, thinking to herself, ‘So Tyler’s words weren’t a joke after all. That’s why he got angry when I said what I said
understand. I’m leaving,” Eleanor said.
Seeing Eleanor about to leave, Vera asked, “Where are you going? You’re ditching me?”
Eleanor wanted to go back and apologize to Tyler, but on her way, she received a call from Linda.
Clearly, Linda hadn’t fully recovered yet. After pondering for a moment, Eleanor still drove back to the Donovan mansion.
She entered the house, and a maid informed Eleanor that Linda was sick and resting in the bedroom on the second floor.
“Where’s my dad?” Eleanor asked.
The maid hesitated. “Mr. Donovan has been sent to live in the greenhouse. Mrs. Donovan said that the divorce matter will be put off until after your wedding; it can’t affect your affairs.”
Eleanor nodded and went to the second–floor bedroom.
Linda was leaning on the bed, her face pale, and she looked haggard, having lost her usual sharp demeanor.
“Eleanor, you’re here?” Linda couched and beckened Eleanor to sit down. “If I hadn’t called you, you wouldn’t have co
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Eleanor said, “I came to see you just a few days ago.”
Linda said, “I’ve been strong–willed all my life. But this illness has made me suddenly
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Chapter 55 The Fre
realize that everything is an illusion; only family is real. Eleanor, I’m sorry.”
Hearing an apology from Linda surprised Eleanor.
Linda continued, “I knew your father had someone he liked, but I was arrogant in my youth. I thought there was nothing I couldn’t get, so I used money as bait to force your father to marry me.
“I didn’t expect that I only kept his body, not his heart, and it brought so much trouble, almost hurting you.”
“It’s not that bad. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise,” Eleanor said. “Without Serena, I wouldn’t have seen Chris’s true colors.”
“I called you here to talk about your marriage. You’re marrying Tyler mostly out of spite. A young man came to see me the other day, and I think he’s quite nice.
“If you like him, go and get a divorce from Tyler. Reputation isn’t important. Happiness is what matters,” said Linda.
Eleanor looked at Linda; it seemed that all these events had made her mother realize a lot. “Mom, Tyler is actually very good.”
Linda shook her head. “If he weren’t Chris’s uncle, would you marry him?”
“I don’t know.” Eleanor shook her head.
At that time, no one was more suitable to be her partner than Tyler.
“If you really don’t want to get married, just stay at home. I only have you as my daughter, and I can take care of you,” Linda said.
Eleanor gazed at Linda. “Mom, I think you’re better off being the same as before. You‘ re making me uncomfortable now. I wonder if the person in front of me is really my
mom.
Linda felt guilty. “You still can’t forgive me, can you?”
“Mom, don’t talk. Let me check on you,” Eleanor said.
Eleanor placed her hand on Linda’s pulse and, after a moment, said, “Mom, you don’t have any serious problems. It’s just that you’re too anxious. I’ll prescribe some medicine for you.”
Linda was surprised. “When did you learn that?”
“During the years I was with Chris,” Eleanor said. “Although I can’t claim to be proficient in medicine, I can ensure my family’s well–being.”
“Eleanor, about you and Tyler, you really don’t need to worry about anything,” Linda said.
“Mom, what are you talking about? I like Tyler,” Eleanor said. “I’m not going to divorce him. As for you, the longer you wait, the worse it gets. It’s better to get it over with sooner rather than later.”
Suddenly, a strong smell of smoke wafted over.
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Chapter 55 The Fire
Eleanor frowned and got up to check, but she heard the sound of the door being locked from the outside.
Eleanor’s face turned pale; someone wanted to burn them alive.
“I won’t divorce you. As long as you’re dead, I can inherit all your wealth,” Richard said.
Linda’s face turned even paler, and she closed her eyes. “Eleanor, I shouldn’t have called you back today.”
Eleanor paced over to the window and assessed the distance from the window to the ground.
She thought of something and called Tyler. “Tyler, I’m trapped in a fire again. I think not hating means liking.”
“Where are you?” Tyler said.
Without answering Tyler, Eleanor hung up the phone.
Eleanor tore the bedsheet into strips and looked at Linda. “Mom, do you trust me?”
Linda gazed at Eleanor and nodded.
“Alright, I’m going to climb down from the window,” Eleanor said. “Fortunately, there’s no security grille.”
“You?” Linda was skeptical but still let Eleanor tie her up with the bedsheet and then carry her on her back.
The fire was growing larger, and thick smoke was seeping in through the door cracks.
Eleanor tied one end of the strip to the window lattice and climbed out of the window
with Linda on her back.
Linda closed her eyes nervously, holding onto Eleanor’s neck, feeling her slowly descending along the wall.
“We’re on the ground.” Eleanor’s voice made Linda open her eyes in disbelief.
“Fortunately, I wasn’t drugged this time,” Eleanor said. “Mom, when I lived with Grandma, our neighbor aunt taught me some skills. She was a disciple of Evermist Peak.”
Linda was astonished. For a while, Richard’s mother often took Eleanor to live with her. Linda had once suspected that the woman wanted to take Eleanor away from her, but she never thought it was for Eleanor’s own good.
“Grandma didn’t want you to know about this, fearing you wouldn’t agree. But a girl needs to know how to defend herself. Although I’m your daughter, there are still many things about me that you don’t know,” Eleanor said. “Alright, let’s call the police.”
Eleanor saw a figure not far away; it was Richard. He locked eyes with Eleanor for a moment before turning and running away.
Everything has a statute of limitations. If, as Serena claimed, Richard had committed a
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Chapter 55 The Fire
crime, with a twenty–year statute of limitations, it would have expired. However, today‘ s incident would have completely ruined his fate.
The fire department arrived quickly and extinguished the fire.
“Eleanor, are you alright?” a concerned voice came through as Tyler rushed over and
embraced Eleanor. “Are you hurt?”
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