Chapter 7 Alone

As the bodyguards closed in, Eleanor quickly recognized that this wasn't the moment for direct confrontation.

"Fine," she said, her tone steady. "I'll marry Becker."

Shelly's lips curved into a self-satisfied smile, her confidence growing.

She knew Eleanor would never allow her father's legacy, the business he'd built from the ground up, to crumble.

Becker was the only solution that ensured the family's financial stability-and Shelly knew Eleanor couldn't refuse.

Shelly's expression softened, a hint of feigned concern crossing her face.

"It's been a long day for you. Go upstairs and get some rest. And what happened to your forehead?"

Eleanor said nothing, merely turning and heading up the stairs.

But as she ascended, her mind raced. Approaching Becker was something she'd considered for a long time-not for his wealth, but to get close enough to him for answers.

Years ago, her father had died under mysterious circumstances. The official report cited a heart attack, but the timing was uncanny.

She had argued with him the very night he passed, and Shelly and Yvette had seized on this, spreading rumors that Aaron Harvey's death had been the result of his daughter's irritating behaviors.

Whispers circulated that Aaron, disappointed, had changed his will, leaving everything to Shelly.

But Eleanor knew something didn't add up.

After her father's death, Eleanor had returned to his study and discovered fragments of nuts-a strange find, given his severe allergy.

Even a small amount of nuts could trigger breathing difficulties and, ultimately, a heart attack.

There had been no chance for him to change his will under such circumstances.

Moreover, after the will was read, the lawyer responsible vanished without a trace.

The unusual events planted a seed of suspicion in Eleanor's mind: she suspected Shelly had orchestrated her father's death and the will in her possession was a forgery.

Recently, Eleanor learned that the missing lawyer now worked for Becker's company, known for serving the Ferguson family with utmost loyalty and discretion.

If she married into the Ferguson family, Eleanor might finally get close to this lawyer and uncover the truth.

She could retrieve the genuine will, reclaim her family's inheritance, and seek justice for her father's death.

...

Eleanor slid the memory card into her laptop, but, as she feared, it refused to work.

The blood had likely seeped into its circuitry, and it would need time to dry out.

She set it aside in a ventilated spot, then, utterly drained, went to bed.

At least the weekend would offer her a rare break to regroup.

When she awoke, dusk had fallen, casting long shadows across the quiet, empty house.

Just as she moved to check the memory card, a sharp sound outside her room made her freeze.

Heart pounding, she crept to the doorway, peeking into the dim hall.

Her breath caught. Strangers-several men she'd never seen-were prowling through the house.

Realizing her danger, Eleanor turned and sprinted for the door.

Behind her, the men swore and started after her.

"Miss Buckley said no marks on her face, but we need that memory card."

Outside, a brutal wind whipped through the falling snow, sharp and biting against Eleanor's thin pajamas. Teeth chattering, she pushed forward, heading toward the nearest crowded area, her only hope for refuge.

She knew too well the extent of Gemma's cruelty- being captured wasn't an option.

No one was coming to her aid; she had no family left to turn to now. Even if she were tortured to death, no one would notice, let alone seek justice for her.

Alone as she was, Eleanor forced herself onward, determined to survive.

The light turned green, and the street was flooded with moving cars.

Eleanor glanced back, her heart racing as the men closed in, relentless. Without a second thought, she darted across the road.

Suddenly, a blinding white light caught her, freezing her mid-step.

Tires screeched, and a sleek Maybach skidded to a stop mere inches from where she stood.

The cars behind it halted abruptly, and people dressed in black poured out, positioning themselves in a protective circle around the Maybach.

As the tinted window slowly lowered, Eleanor's gaze locked onto the figure inside. Her breath hitched-it was him!